Projecting When Kevin Owens, Other NXT Stars Will Make Move to WWE Roster

Whenever Kevin Owens pounds some unlucky NXT wrestler into the mat, it's hard not to wonder just when we will see him issue that kind of punishment on the WWE main roster.

The depth of NXT's talent pool goes far beyond Owens, though. Sasha Banks, Finn Balor and Sami Zayn are all killing it at Full Sail University. With talents like that around, WWE officials have a great number of choices of who to promote next.

What schedule WWE is offering these prospects, their readiness from a talent standpoint and what the company has planned for them all factor into predicting when they will follow Neville to the big time. Backstage reports help as well.

Owens fans will look into the crystal ball and grow impatient. Those pulling for Finn Balor are lined up for more immediate gratification.

Finn Balor

When to Expect Main Roster Call-Up: By the Summer

Finn Balor will head to WWE without picking up a single championship at NXT. Expect him to head to Raw and SmackDown soon.

It's not as if he needs to stick around the developmental system to learn his craft. His years of experience in Japan have served as a rock-solid foundation to build on. He's shown early on that he connects with the crowd and produces great matches.

It's not surprising that WWE is inching him toward a promotion.

Per CageMatch, Balor has battled Cesaro, Tyler Breeze and Neville as part of several WWE house shows lately. In addition, he worked a dark match before last week's SmackDown taping. These opportunities generally signal an upcoming move to WWE proper.

The backstage word points to Balor moving up soon as well. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestle Zone) notes that officials had discussed bringing both Balor and Neville up at the same time.

With guys like Fandango, Adam Rose and others struggling to gain any traction, look for WWE to try and add new life to its programming with Balor's arrival.

Sasha Banks

When to Expect Main Roster Call-Up: By the End of the Year

Sasha Banks is plenty ready to move up to the main roster. That doesn't mean she will beat Charlotte there, though.

Banks has been tremendous, serving as a cornerstone for the NXT Divas division. She apparently caught Vince McMahon's eyes at a live event in San Jose, California, during WrestleMania week. Mike Johnson writes for PWInsider, "I was told by several that Vince McMahon also loved Sasha Banks' work on the NXT live event."

That's a sign that Banks will make the move up to WWE before long. 

The NXT Women's Championship and the woman to wear that title before Banks are the reasons to think that Banks won't be the next woman to make the jump, however. Officials would have to write her out of the championship picture, which they may want to take their time with. Yes, Paige was promoted while still champ, but it's highly unlikely they tell that same story twice in a row.

Charlotte has the advantage of the Flair name, and keeping Banks around for a while longer allows the company to groom the next top Diva. Count on Bayley engaging in a long feud with Banks before taking over for her as NXT's boss.

Charlotte

When to Expect Main Roster Call-Up: By the Summer

Vince McMahon's opinion of Charlotte is the best reason to think she'll be taking on Nikki Bella, Naomi and the other Divas before SummerSlam.

After the NXT events in California at the end of March, PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported, "There was talk of her moving to the main roster Mania week and that only multiplied after McMahon saw her work." Johnson adds that McMahon is "super high" on the former NXT women's champ.

She also has something no other NXT prospect has: connection to a Hall of Fame father. WWE can simply play up her Flair name or have The Nature Boy serve as her manager. That's a big bonus that will expedite her arrival to the main roster.

Charlotte has already appeared on Raw and once took on Sasha Banks on Main Event. AJ Lee's retirement leaves the division in need of a new face. Count on Charlotte being that face in the coming months.

Not being tied to the women's title also frees her to make that move at any time.

Hideo Itami

When to Expect Main Roster Call-Up: Early 2016

Of the prospects listed here, Hideo Itami has the most to work on. He's already a fantastic worker, but he's been in adjustment mode since coming to Japan. Itami is learning a new wrestling style, a new language, a new roster and how to project a new persona.

As well as he has done so far, one has to imagine that WWE would like to see him continue to smooth things out at the NXT level before coming up.

WWE hasn't yet had Itami work dark matches or go on international tours like it has with Sami Zayn and Finn Balor (or Neville before them). That speaks to him being below those wrestlers' levels in officials' eyes for the moment.

If he sticks around WWE developmental a while longer, he can work on his promos in a less stressful environment. He can refine his English skills as well.

It's clear, though, that WWE is high on him. The company made a bigger deal about signing him than his peers, having Hulk Hogan announce his arrival. The fact that he was the one NXT representative in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal says that WWE sees big things for him ahead.

Expect WWE to dub him ready before next year's WrestleMania. 

Kevin Owens

When to Expect Main Roster Call-Up: After WrestleMania 32

In terms of skill, Kevin Owens is ready to come to the main roster today.

He has great presence on the mic, is a top-level brawler and exudes intensity that will have fans compare him to Brock Lesnar. In just a few months at NXT, he has shown himself to be among the brand's very best.

Don't count on him making it to WWE's top level before Finn Balor, though.

For one, Owens is recovering from knee surgery. It doesn't make sense to throw him on Raw before he heals. Being NXT champ is also a factor in delaying his entry to the main roster.

He has been a captivating champion so far, and WWE is likely to milk his reign more. Wrapping up his title run too quickly doesn't make sense from a storyline standpoint. And count on Sami Zayn getting several cracks at the belt, keeping both men at the top of NXT rather than on Raw and SmackDown over the course of the next few months.

Owens is a blue-chip prospect who WWE is going to want to make a big deal about when he makes the move to the main roster. He won't be just another wrestler in a wave of new faces. His excellence and potential demands that he get the kind of spotlight that the Raw after WrestleMania offers. 

Sami Zayn

When to Expect Main-Roster Call-Up: Early 2016

Few wrestlers have a bond with the crowd the way that Sami Zayn does. He's been stellar at NXT, showing himself to be an exciting athlete and top-notch storyteller.

Readiness is not the issue with him.

It's his feud with Kevin Owens that is the main reason we'll see Finn Balor beat him to the main roster. Their rivalry is so rich with history and so overflowing with intensity already that WWE is sure to keep showcasing it at NXT. 

He and Owens going to war is a good way to sell the WWE Network and the NXT brand. With Neville and Kalisto already called up (with Balor likely to join them), count on the company saving his promotion for later. 

Perhaps he makes his way into the Royal Rumble or pulls a Hideo Itami and enters the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Either way, Zayn is too good not to move up before long.