A popular point of discussion in 2016 was the status of multiple superstars down in NXT who would make great additions to the main WWE roster. It looks like one of those marquee names might be headed there very soon, and he might be in for a big push from the company.
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The feud between Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe has played out over the last few months and has resulted in some fantastic matches. That feud seemingly came to a fitting end at NXT Osaka when Nakamura retook his Championship status from Joe in the show’s main event.
With Nakamura firmly at the top of the promotion for awhile, it seems like a great time to move Joe to the main roster, with rumors swirling he will appear as a surprise entrant in the upcoming Royal Rumble. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via SEScoops), the company is considering a “monster push” for Joe once he debuts, a push that could place him on the card for WrestleMania 33.
Joe isn’t scheduled to appear on NXT before the Rumble, so there are heavy odds that he will make his big debut there. What’s not clear is if he will enjoy the reported massive push. While stars from NXT do get a momentary push once they hit the roster, evidence has shown WWE likes to hit the brakes soon after, slowly integrating them into programs with other superstars. Granted, Joe is a big name, and isn’t someone who needs the slow buildup time, but then again neither did Finn Balor.
Even if they decided to push him, with all the part-timers they have involved in their next few pay per views, seeing him in one of the main event programs would be a stretch to believe. Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker, and a returning John Cena are all guaranteed spots on those cards, and it’s hard to see where Joe fits in there.
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