Opinion: Sami Zayn’s Return to NXT

The rumors have been heating up about Sami Zayn returning to the ring for the first time since May of this year. The first report discussed his recent return to the WWE Performance Center. Then just a few days ago, Zayn was officially advertised for NXT’s tour of the U.K.

During this week’s edition of NXT, the following video aired during the show:

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=haRaMjftbZs

The landscape of NXT has changed dramatically ever since Zayn got hurt this past spring. At the time, Kevin Owens was the man in NXT and Samoa Joe had just come into the fold. Since then, Finn Balor has become the face of NXT, Owens has moved onto the main roster, Apollo Crews has flown onto the scene and more.

Honestly, it’s surprising that Sami Zayn would come back to NXT. His initial injury occurred just before his main roster debut in Montreal against John Cena on Raw. You can clearly see his shoulder give during the entrance, but he still gave it his all that night and again in his last match before his surgery at NXT: Unstoppable.

Given his NXT history with Kevin Owens, you’d think he would be on the fast track to the main roster to feud with his rival and that feud would eventually culminate at Wrestlemania 32 with Owens vs. Zayn III for the IC title.

However, Sami will be returning to the NXT sooner rather than later and the big question is how will Sami Zayn fit in the current landscape of NXT programming?

In my opinion, Sami Zayn embodies everything that I love about NXT. The heart, the passion, and the desire to make wrestling great are what drives NXT to new heights. Zayn embodies that spirit and in his absence, NXT has changed dramatically. It’s had to find a new identity in Finn Balor.

It’s being rumored right now that Zayn’s return will catapult the current NXT Champion Finn Balor to the main roster. That will leave NXT in a position where it needs to find another face, but Sami’s return allows him to fall right back into the spot he left earlier this year.

The NXT fans adore Sami Zayn. They will welcome him back with open arms. The question is where does NXT go from there. The scenario of Balor leaving NXT would most likely lead to him dropping the NXT Championship to Samoa Joe at NXT Takeover: London next month.

My expectation is Zayn won’t be in NXT long enough to have a substantial reign as its champion. I also think NXT should build Sami Zayn back slowly. A lot more eyes are on NXT than there were six months ago. Crews vs. Joe seems like the smarter feud for NXT in the short term.

Meanwhile, Sami feuds with another and builds to being the long term guy for NXT. Joe vs. Zayn sounds amazing on paper and if Zayn is to remain in NXT to give the brand the long title reign that Owens and an injury interrupted, that’s the best choice I can see for Sami Zayn’s return to NXT.