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Another choice to take the Battle Royal: Samoa Joe.
After WrestleMania, I'd be shocked if Sami Zayn isn't called up to the main roster full-time to work a program over the Intercontinental Title with Kevin Owens. Looking at the guys and gals in NXT that are also ready to be called up, Samoa Joe has to top the list. Finn Balor is ready, but is currently the NXT Champion. With Shinsuke Nakamura in NXT, it seems like The Demon Prince vs. The King of Strong Style is too obvious a match to pass-up. I think Balor will likely surpass Neville as the longest reigning NXT Champion of all-time before eventually dropping the belt to Nakamura in Japan in July.
Either that or Balor retains there with assistance of a very special club...
I know people want Balor main roster now, but I feel that everyone knowing he's ready while he dominates NXT is a good way to build anticipation. Balor vs. Nakamura is more than capable of headlining Takeover Brooklyn 2: Electric Boogaloo, and when he drops the belt there (or loses the rematch as a face), he'll be ready to jump onto either RAW or SmackDown.
But Joe is a guy that has a few years left to make some main roster money. He's a unique enough presence in the ring and his crisp and firm promo style is enough to make him stand out. I see Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens defining the SmackDown mid-card for a few months, with the rise of Joe being a prominent story on the RAW side of things. Zayn vs. Owens for the IC Title and Joe vs. Cena for the US Title on a PPV card? Yes, please. If we're talking SummerSlam, you could also have Reigns vs. Brock vs. Ambrose II and Triple H vs. Seth Rollins. SummerSlam sold.
You could also have Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady for a trash-talking feud with The New Day, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows jumping AJ Styles & Chris Jericho ("You left us behind, AJ!") and Bayley coming up and finding resistance from "veterans" like Natalya & Paige.
A lot of people want the tag belts on one brand and the women's on another, but I feel having travelling champions might be better. They're "World" titles right? Bayley, Paige & Natalya can have SmackDown and Charlotte, Becky & Sasha can have RAW -- although it won't be long before it gets an Asuka injection.
But the big point in this: What better way to debut Samoa Joe than at WrestleMania after failing to win the NXT Title the night before? A sour Joe wins the Battle Royal, finds himself aligning with Shane McMahon's RAW and enters a feud with John Cena after beating Kalisto for the US Title.
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