Kevin Steen, Finn Balor and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News

The reality of Kevin Steen and Finn Balor on WWE NXT is almost here.

An update on when to expect former Ring of Honor world champ Steen and New Japan Pro Wrestling standout Balor to debut will make fans of both wrestlers quite happy.

As expected, both men aren't going to have to wait around at the Performance Center for ages: WWE is fast-tracking them through developmental.

In other NXT news, Sami Zayn worked more main-roster matches, NXT stars pulled a plane for charity and The Ascension were on the bench for Raw.

The NXT world is gearing up for some change, with that team likely to be moving up and two members of NXT's "new school" starting their WWE careers in earnest before long.

Kevin Steen to Debut Soon

Full Sail University is about to welcome a bad man. Kevin Steen, set to be known as Kevin Owens, will be powerbombing NXT prospects soon.

According to PWInsider (h/t Wrestling Inc), Steen has been filming vignettes for his upcoming TV debut. He is scheduled to make his first appearance at either the NXT Takeover special in December or the TV tapings afterward.

The explosive brawler is going to shift the balance of power right away at NXT. He will be one of the best talents on the mic and can draw upon 14 years of experience.

It's uncertain how much he'll retain of his indy persona. As long as he's not asked to be a lion tamer or something, he'll find a way to make it work. He's a charismatic, engaging performer.

Sami Zayn Wrestles as Part of Main Roster

Sami Zayn's promotion to the main roster appears to be a gradual one.

He has been working dark matches for WWE house shows and touring with the big boys but has yet to officially move up from NXT.

Add two main-roster gigs to his resume.

Zayn lost to Tyson Kidd on Tuesday's Main Event in his first appearance on that show. The announcers talked up his skill and did their best to put him over. WWE also showed an on-air video highlighting his journey so far.

Before that, Zayn was in Binghamton, New York on Nov. 2 for a live event. He battled Adrian Neville for the NXT title that night, per ProFightDB.com.

WWE usually just thrusts a new star onto the main roster but is trying a new strategy with both Neville and Zayn. This may prove to be a wise move, as it will allow fans to get to know the newcomers over time.

These opportunities make it clear that Zayn won't be at NXT for much longer. By the time his old Ring of Honor rival Kevin Steen arrives at Full Sail University, Zayn is likely to be a full-time member of the big leagues.

NXT Stars Participate in Charity Event.

NXT and the Special Olympics teamed up for a show of strength that raised money for charity. The two groups worked together on Nov. 1 at an event that involved athletes pulling a plane along a runway. 

Kate Santich reported for the Orlando Sentinel that trainer Bill DeMott would "field two 10-person teams with five wrestlers and five Special Olympics athletes each. Then he'll combine all his wrestlers and coaches on one team for a single pull to establish what he hopes will be a world best over 12 feet."

Santich also notes that there is a lack of clarity as to what exactly sets the world record for this type of feat. World record or not, the event was a success. 

WWE announced on its community website that "WWE NXT Superstars and coaches raised more than $8,000 to support the inaugural Special Olympics Florida Plane Pull in Orlando, Fla."

This is the kind of work WWE has been doing for years, and it's great to see it extend now to the NXT ranks. In that way, it serves as preparation for the charity work prospects will be doing should they become full-fledged Superstars. 

Finn Balor Teases Debut

Finn Balor wants you to know that he's on his way.

He tweeted screenshots of Hideo Itami promising to bring a new tag team partner to NXT on Nov. 6, writing "Who is your friend @HideoItami?" He also tweeted that he was coming in November.

It doesn't take a detective to piece this together: Balor is implying in heavy-handed fashion that he will be teaming with Itami in his ongoing fight with The Ascension.

It's smart to introduce Balor as a one-man cavalry. It will create a team of stellar in-ring workers who both became stars in Japan. Their matches with The Ascension promise to be excellent.

The Ascension Backstage at Monday's Raw

Fans inside the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York nearly got a chance to see The Ascension in person, and the former NXT tag champs nearly made their debut on Raw.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported that Konnor and Viktor were backstage at Monday's Raw. They did not compete or work a dark match, though.

It's strange that WWE would fly these prospects in and not use them. It seems as if the company wants them around just in case. One would assume that WWE Creative is mulling over ways to introduce the duo. 

In any event, this is a clear sign that The Ascension's official call-up is coming. Having them wait in the on-deck circle like that has to be the last step before giving them an at-bat.