Great Khali's Release Frees Up Roster Spot for a Top NXT Talent

With The Great Khali now free to pursue other endeavors, WWE has the opportunity to showcase a star from NXT.

The lumbering giant is now gone from the company. It's a move that should have come a long time ago considering how little he contributed to the product, and Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville are both ready to flourish on the main roster.

Rumors of Khali's exit sprouted when WWE moved his profile to the "alumni" section of WWE.com.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson confirmed that Khali's run was over. Johnson reported, "We are told by WWE sources that Khali's contract with the company has expired and the company chose not to sign him to a new deal."

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The no-brainer move from here is to promote either Zayn or Neville. Both prospects have been shining at NXT, providing an abundance of evidence of their readiness to make the jump to the main roster. 

Khali's schedule had lessened of late, but he was still taking up valuable space. Wooden in the ring and ineffective on the mic, his matches were a cue to go grab a snack. 

Per CageMatch.net, Khali worked 113 matches in 2013. That's 113 times that a superior athlete could have entertained in his stead.

Going forward, those opportunities should belong to one of NXT's best. In choosing between Zayn and Neville, WWE can't lose.

Either man would be a massive upgrade over Khali.

The Case for Zayn

• Age: 30
• Height/Weight: 6'1", 205 pounds
• Pro Debut: 2002
• Finisher: Helluva Kick (running big boot in corner)

Zayn's strength lies in his storytelling abilities. He connects with the crowd through facial expressions, body language and his ability to create empathy.

That's a big part of why his matches against Cesaro, Kidd and Neville have been so great.

His struggles and triumphs in the ring feel real. He engages the crowd on a level that Khali never came close to reaching.

Zayn's physical gifts make him a valuable asset as well. 

The man once known as El Generico is quick, agile and has great footwork. Once he's officially part of the main roster, he'll instantly be one of its best high-flyers. He seems to dive effortlessly over the ropes and off the top turnbuckle.

However, Neville is superior in that department. The Man Who Gravity Forgot is uncannily athletic, surpassing even a top-notch wrestler like Zayn in terms of pure talent.

Zayn is better-looking, bigger and a better talker, though. His mic style is understated but genuine. At best, he's been solid on promos so far, light-years ahead of Khali. 

WWE will have far more options in terms of feuds and stories with Zayn than The Punjabi Playboy. 

The company looks close to giving Zayn a full-on call-up. He has wrestled on two consecutive editions of Main Event, losing to Tyson Kidd each time.

The Case for Neville

• Age: 28
• Height/Weight: 5' 10'', 194 pounds
• Pro Debut: 2004
• Finisher: Red Arrow (corkscrew Shooting Star Press)

Neville is not your typical high-flying cruiserweight.

For one, he's built more solidly than many of his peers. That will help him survive the grueling journey that is the WWE schedule. He has the toned look WWE has coveted throughout the years, which helps balance out the fact that he's not as tall as the average Superstar.

His athletic skills are beyond what most of wrestling's acrobats possess. Watching him cartwheel, spin and soar in the ring is an enthralling experience. He could make it to the main roster on that alone.

Neville is a skilled mat wrestler as well, which has helped him consistently produce high-quality matches during his tenure as NXT champ.

WWE has paired Neville with everyone from Brodus Clay to Rob Van Dam and has looked good each time. Khali lacked chemistry with the majority of the roster. Neville, on the other hand, will make the WWE booking team's job easy.

Just plug him in and watch him fly.

His presence on the mic is nowhere near as powerful as it is between the ropes. He comes off as likable but doesn't have the kind of charisma WWE's top talkers do.

Still, replacing Khali with Neville or Zayn will be a move up for WWE. For years, the big man has been a means for the company to fill time, and little else.

Trading Khali for one of NXT's finest is a switch that betters the roster, replacing a one-note song with a symphony of athleticism.