WWE: 5 NXT/NXT UK acts for Raw and Smackdown

1) Finn Balor to Raw

Even though colleague Raphael Garcia argued for Balor to move to Smackdown, I’m making the opposite argument here.

This is also all but telegraphed with Balor discussing the “allure” or returning to Raw or Smackdown on the Out of Character with Ryan Satin podcast earlier this week and his subsequent loss to Karrion Kross on Tuesday night for the NXT Championship (above).

Balor completely reinvented himself in his return to NXT. No longer was he the affable babyface that became NXT Champion and the first Universal Champion. Instead, he channeled more of his Prince Devitt character from New Japan.

He seems more comfortable now than at any time in his WWE career, a point he raised with Satin by saying this character is the closest to who he is as possible.

This is why I believe scoffs at the suggestion of moving him to Raw based on his previous stints on Monday and Friday nights are short-sighted. This isn’t just a completely different character, but a different person altogether.

In the ring, his abilities have never been in question. His Prinxe character carries a little more edge that makes his offense that much more believable. He can quicken the pace or slow it down. He can go hold-for-hold and fly with the best. He’s stronger than his size suggests, and takes on all comers.

His style also adds to the diversity of in-ring work. Lashley, McIntyre, Sheamus, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Humberto Carrillo, Ricochet, Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Riddle, Randy Orton, and A.J. Styles are just some names that show the depth of talent and styles on Monday nights. Adding Balor is just an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent and styles.

Balor has a ready-made story for him on Raw. Sure, the Universal Championship is now blue and on the other show, but Raw is where he had to relinquish the title after suffering an injury in his title-winning match with Rollins. He could also turn it into a, “I already won that one, now I’m going to win the WWE Championship,” mission statement.

This character really works well when he faces larger foes like Kross or on Raw, potentially Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and Sheamus. Remember his match with Lesnar? That’s a match Balor told Satin he wished he could “bottle up and sip,” but also shows how well he can work with bigger opponents.

This Prinxe character also makes it more believable that he’d win. I don’t think he should be the one to immediately dethrone Lashley or McIntyre should the latter win it again, but a solid build toward a future match should be enticing and probably a better time to crown Balor.

Looking at things more holistically, his entrance screams Raw. He does well enough on promos, especially when he brings the intensity.

His message of inclusivity is also a fit for the larger Raw audience and WWE’s PR campaigns, however superficial.

Hey, there’s nothing scarier than an inclusive, accepting badass.

I hope all five acts are shifted to the shows I suggested because, you know, I like to be right. Still, there are many possibilities to consider, particularly if you take out the caveats I listed in the beginning to make my decisions.

Who would you move and to what show? Why?