Best Booking Options for Sami Zayn After WWE NXT Return

With Sami Zayn back in the fold, WWE NXT is about to boast more energy, more thrills and more options.

Officials again have a top-flight performer at their disposal after several months of recovery from a shoulder injury. They would be wise to have him seek out the NXT Championship, take part in an intense rivalry and use a veteran powerhouse as a bridge to the next stage of his career.

A showdown with Finn Balor is too good to pass up. And whether Baron Corbin can produce something magical in the ring with Zayn could be how the WWE brass evaluates just how good that big man is.

Considering what would lead to the best storylines and matches, let's dive into the best potential directions to take Zayn to maximize his return and beyond.

Against The Lone Wolf

With as much as he thrives in the underdog role, it makes a ton of sense to pit Zayn against Baron Corbin.

The two foes would share a similar physical dynamic Zayn and Kevin Owens did. The Lone Wolf is the bigger, imposing bruiser; Zayn would be forced to rely on his speed and agility. That makes for a good contrast in styles, and a chance for Corbin to have one of the best matches of his career.

If NXT wants to see what Corbin's ceiling is, it has to put him in the ring with a guy at Zayn's level. The former NXT champ is the type of wrestler who excels at making his opponent look good.

He would provide Corbin with a litmus test, a means to see if he's better off sticking around NXT or making his way to the main roster.

There's a compelling story to tell here, too. NXT can showcase Zayn's toughness as he has to survive against a larger foe in a series of brawls and battles that move outside of the ring.

Done right, NXT can elevate both men. Zayn can look great for just surviving for so long in there with a beast. Corbin can score his biggest victory to date.

A Respectful Rivalry

Balor vs. Zayn is the kind of dream match that would leave NXT's diehard fanbase shaking with anticipation.

It's indie darling versus indie darling, top-tier athlete versus top-tier athlete, the best against the best. There's no question that each of their clashes would have the potential to be a Match of the Year candidate.

The folks at Pro Wrestling Mag are among those who envision greatness should those two clash at NXT TakeOver: Dallas:

The story is easy to write, too. Zayn would presumably have been obsessing about the NXT title during his recovery. It was during the battle to take it back from Owens that he injured his shoulder to the point where he could no longer compete.

He was only champion for a short stretch, removed from his throne by a backstabbing friend and a bum shoulder. He has to be hungry to redeem himself.

Balor didn't beat Zayn en route to his title win. He could reveal that he feels he has to prove himself against the Canadian to be a true champion.

This face-against-face matchup would work thanks to the respect fans have for both men. They could begin their battles with hand-shaking and rule-abiding, but the intensity of the moment could have one of them flashing more of a heel side.

To the Big Stage

Zayn is plenty talented enough to flourish on the main roster. Fans saw a glimpse of that when Zayn took John Cena to his limit on Raw earlier this year.

Zayn's storytelling ability, presence, athleticism and experience had people wondering if he would even go back to NXT at all after he recovered. Former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas, for one, foresaw Zayn going to WWE proper:

Rather than just promote him to that spot, NXT would be wise to have him earn it on-screen.

William Regal can announce that there is a single opening on the main roster. He can either book a tournament or a Battle Royal to decide who the two wrestlers who fight over that spot will be.

Having it come down to Samoa Joe and Zayn is a recipe for a classic match and moment.

Credit: WWE.com

Should Joe and Zayn battle at a TakeOver special for the right to go to the main roster, count on both men coming through in the clutch. There's the David-and-Goliath narrative to play with, along with the idea that both men have waited so many years for an opportunity like that. Count on excellence when they collide.

Joe's loss could send him deeper into his current spiral of anger and frustration. It could leave him a more dangerous monster.

As for Zayn, craft some vignettes to introduce him to the casual audience, have him debut with his eyes pointed on revenge against Owens, and off we go.

WWE would get one last marquee NXT match from him and catapult him to the next stage of his career. And the main roster would have a deft storyteller to plug into its stories. Zayn could stay at NXT forever, being a part of dream matches, but eventually he's headed for Raw, SmackDown and the brighter lights that come with that move.