WWE Must Have NXT Match on WrestleMania 31 Card

Ever since it first burst onto our screens, NXT has quickly established itself as the high-octane, no-nonsense brand in the WWE.

It has a strikingly different feel to Raw and SmackDown on occasions, and seems to have more of a generic focus on wrestling as opposed to entertainment. For wrestling fans, that can only be a good thing, and that's why it's held in such high esteem of late.

Its live two-hour shows are the perfect example of how distinctive and unique NXT has become, and the recent NXT Takeover: Rival show only confirmed even more that the real brand worth watching for pure wrestling lovers is NXT.

As campaigns continue to go on about which wrestlers in NXT should be called up onto the main roster—with Sami Zayn's name now touted around after his loss to Kevin Owens at Rival—perhaps the WWE should continue to grow the brand in different ways. And the best way to do that would be giving the NXT stars their own match on the card at this year's WrestleMania.

It's important to remember that at this time of the year, there's very little opportunities for guys like Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville and Finn Balor to make a worthwhile impact. We're well on the road to WWE WrestleMania 31 now, and clearly the focus from the company will be on building feuds such as Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker and John Cena vs. Rusev.

But that doesn't mean the bright, shining lights of NXT don't deserve a promotion of sorts—far from it, in fact. The talent, energy and the level of excitement NXT brings to the ring deserves to be showcased in front of a bigger audience—which is why having an NXT match at WrestleMania would be the perfect solution.

With an extended card at that show to fill up, it makes perfect sense for the talent in NXT to be let loose on the main stage once again.

We saw back in September—when the WWE showcased Zayn, Neville, Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd in the buildup to NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way—that fans on Raw were hugely into what was going on in the ring. Imagine the reaction at WrestleMania if the best that NXT had to offer was given a bigger audience to work with.

Kidd himself has since worked his way back onto the main roster and could end up a WWE Tag Team Champion before too long alongside partner Cesaro.

The production line that NXT was once considered to be is now going through a personality transplant—fans now see NXT as its own brand. It provides unique storylines for its characters and has arguably the best in-ring action anywhere in the WWE. The "NXT" chants you frequently hear on TV leave you wondering whether instead of calling talent up, would the WWE be better off pursuing with NXT in its own light?

Regardless of that, a match for the NXT Championship at WWE WrestleMania 31 would be a brilliant addition to the card, and it would give validity and substance—as well as genuine interest—to the lower end of the card. Having Kevin Owens defend his title against the likes of Zayn, Neville, Balor and even Hideo Itami would be a great way for the WWE to also gauge whether these young and emerging talents are ready for the step up.

And whilst we're at it, if there is an NXT match in any form at WrestleMania, give the excellent commentary team from the weekly show a chance to call it. Corey Graves has excelled since having to call time on his in-ring career, and he seems to have a real sparkle to his commentating. Jason Albert is another who has thrived in a new role away from the ring calling the action, too.

Anyway, a match for the NXT brand at WrestleMania is the least it deserves. It has very much become its own thing in recent months and has a popularity that is growing by the day. The WWE need to give it the recognition it deserves and let the talent that NXT has entertain a bumper WrestleMania crowd. It could even steal the show.