Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News

As Sami Zayn leaves WWE NXT to repair his shoulder, Samoa Joe enters with a unique contract in hand.

The latest updates on Zayn's status and Joe's deal with the company headline the latest WWE developmental news. In other stories, a handful of names from the independent circuit are set to try out, NXT is venturing out to the West Coast and two top prospects worked with the main roster on Tuesday.

Even with Zayn and Hideo Itami injured, there's a healthy supply of buzz around NXT right now. Thank the developmental brand's leaving Florida once again and the women of NXT's killing it for part of that.

Having The Samoan Submission Machine at Full Sail University, looking for a fight, certainly helps as well. 

Samoa Joe Update

Samoa Joe is, as he puts it himself on Twitter, "re-writing the book" on how a wrestler does business.

The former TNA and Ring of Honor star stormed into NXT last week with his sights set on Kevin Owens. WWE quickly began to sell his shirts. Fans began to dream up what matches he would have with the company.

Joe, though, is not limiting himself to NXT.  

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports, "We are hearing that Joe will, for the time being, continue to work existing and future independent dates. So, if he's already advertised somewhere, chances are he will be there unless WWE NXT requires him."

The powerhouse is already busy filling up his calendar. After working the recent NXT TV tapings, he will now make a return to ROH. As James Caldwell of Pro Wrestling Torch notes, Joe will be wrestling for ROH on June 20 in New York City, where he will be tagging with AJ Styles against Kazarian and Christopher Daniels.

With this contract, Joe can bolster NXT's profile while still exploring other avenues. It's a bit like Rhyno's current deal, but Joe's non-WWE appearances are going to be more newsworthy. 

Indy Stars Set for WWE Tryouts

WWE officials are set to get a closer look at some well-respected names from the independent circuit. According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), Biff Busick, Matt Riddle, Chuck Taylor and Drew Gulak are scheduled for a WWE tryout next month. 

Busick has worked for a variety of promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling and EVOLVE. He's a powerful wrestler with solid technical skills. He will remind some fans of Cesaro, though he's not as skilled as the Swiss strongman just yet.

Taylor is the other well-known name on this list. His strength is personality, as he displays better interview skills than most indy stars.

Riddle comes from the world of MMA. During his UFC career, he showed off impressive wrestling ability. 

WWE has proved in the recent past that it will welcome prospects of a variety of styles and sizes. So despite the fact that these prospects don't fit the Superstar molds of the past, history says that they will get fair shots. 

Word on Sami Zayn and Hideo Itami's Injuries

NXT won't be featuring either Sami Zayn or Hideo Itami tearing it up in the ring for a long while. Both men are on the mend.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports that Zayn was in Birmingham, Alabama, this week, "likely for surgery on his rotator cuff." He noted that Zayn has been dealing with this injury before he signed with WWE.

Even if Zayn opts for a non-surgery option, he will certainly miss significant time. This latest flare-up of the injury happened right after Zayn stepped away from the ring earlier this year. For the sake of his long-term career, the company has to be patient here.

As for Itami, backstage talk is that his injury wasn't the product of his many years of wrestling. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestleZone) reports that officials view this as a fluke injury which is not thought to be a result of wear and tear.

Itami tweeted a photo of his arm after his surgery. He is likely to soon have a rehab buddy in Zayn.

Like with any injury at NXT, the bad news creates opportunity for someone else. There will be some major space available in the spotlight with these two guys gone. It's a prime chance for someone to prove that he belongs in the same class as Itami, Zayn, Finn Balor and Kevin Owens.

NXT to Appear at Music Festival

Credit: WWE.com

Consider 2015 the year of experimentation for NXT. The developmental brand has explored a variety of places to entertain fans. That list will soon include a venue featuring the likes of Marilyn Manson and Slipknot.

WWE announced on its official website that NXT is headed to the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, on Oct. 24 and 25. Finn Balor, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Bayley, Baron Corbin are among those advertised to appear.

This is a rare trip out west for NXT, and yet another chance to raise the brand's profile. Working in front of a crowd that is not necessarily made up of wrestling fans is a challenge that will better the prospects, as well as potentially allow Superstars to win over new folks. 

Other News, Notes

Fans concerned about Mikaze, who looked to be hurt during the recent NXT tapings, can rest easy. He says he's okay. Mikaze tweeted, "Got knocked loopy at the tapings on Thursday, but I'm fine now."

Despite still wearing the NXT Championship, Kevin Owens is creeping ever closer to a main-roster promotion. Not only did he attack John Cena for the second Raw in a row before the two collide at Elimination Chamber, but he also traveled with the main roster the next day.

According to ProFightDB.com, Owens worked a dark match before WWE taped Main Event. Charlotte had a similar opportunity. She took on Alicia Fox before the SmackDown taping began.

Both wrestlers are expected to make the leap from NXT to WWE before long. If Owens wins on Sunday, you can count on that transition happening pronto.

They may even not be around for the next live special. 

PWInsider's Mike Johnson notes that the next TakeOver event will be on Aug. 12. That will be less than two weeks before SummerSlam, making for an exciting stretch of the summer for WWE fans.