Samoa Joe Must Remain on NXT Roster for Lengthy Period Following Debut

When Samoa Joe appeared at the end of NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable last Wednesday, his debut in the WWE ranks was one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises in recent years.

Joe was one of the real shining lights of TNA's roster prior to his departure, and he seemed to be one of the few stars who could have made the transition to WWE and thrived.

His debut on NXT justifies the brand's reputation as a standalone entity as opposed to a conveyor belt of talent for the main roster.

But the big question now is, when should Joe make his presence felt on the main roster? He is 36, so it may be sooner rather than later, but he should remain an active member of the NXT roster for at least the remainder of this year.

NXT is proving itself to be perhaps the most entertaining brand the WWE has at the moment, and that naturally leads to calls for some of its hottest talents to move up to the main roster. We've seen Neville and The Lucha Dragons move up in recent weeks, with both managing to establish themselves as solid additions to the roster.

And if Kevin Owens' match against John Cena at Elimination Chamber goes as well as expected, the calls for Owens to be the next big star to make the switch will only intensify. However, now isn't the right time for Owens to move up.

Joe is a big draw for NXT, and although it's great to see so many young and exciting stars burst through, it's important to retain a level of seniority in the brand if it is to grow. Rhyno is one such example in the middle of the card, and Joe fighting at the top end of the brand could serve the same purpose.

He should be allowed to slowly ease his way into NXT life, both in and out of the ring, before an eventual run toward a championship feud with Owens later in the year. Although Neville and other stars have made the transition, there's always the danger of being lost in the shuffle of the main roster somewhere along the line, something WWE needs to be careful with when it comes to booking Joe.

Although WWE initially booked Neville effectively, the fact that he isn't competing for the Intercontinental Championship and is instead fighting Bo Dallas on pay-per-view shows just how easy it can be to be booked poorly.

Joe isn't a rookie; he's a major name. The storyline and momentum have to be right for him to make his leap to the main roster, and in the meantime, he must remain on NXT. His star power will also provide some much-needed strength for NXT's card in a testing time.

You also have to look at the caliber of stars who are stuck on the sidelines at the moment in NXT. With top babyfaces such as Sami Zayn and Hideo Itami set for spells on the treatment table, Joe's presence will be hugely important. 

There's no rush for Joe to be brought up to the main roster in a matter of weeks. That could produce a calamitous piece of booking for the guy who is a major draw for the WWE.

Right now, NXT needs Samoa Joe, and Samoa Joe needs NXT too.