Multiple WWE NXT Superstars “Specifically Requested” To Work With Free Agent

A new report details the thought process behind Baron Corbin and Mustafa Ali working on WWE NXT.

The May 30th episode of WWE NXT saw both Mustafa Ali and Baron Corbin make surprise appearances. Ali appeared in the crowd as North American Champion Wes Lee teamed up with Tyler Bate to take on The Dyad, and later Ali helped even the odds when Lee and Bate were being attacked by The Schism.

Meanwhile, Corbin made his appearance following Carmelo Hayes’ successful NXT Championship defense against Noam Dar in the main event of the show. Corbin laid out Hayes with a spectacular End of Days before posing with the NXT Title.

Both Corbin and Ali remained free agents following the WWE Draft, and according to a new report from Fightful Select, remained undrafted as part of a plan to have them work in the company’s developmental promotion.

The report notes that plans have been in place for “quite a while” to have both Corbin and Ali work in NXT, and that’s the reason they were not drafted to either Raw or SmackDown. Fightful quotes one source as saying that “despite a lot of things from the previous regime that made that cynicism around the free agent tags understandable, there was more of a plan for them this time.”

In addition, Fightful notes that several NXT stars specifically requested to work with Mustafa Ali, who was happy to comply. According to the report, the free agents’ appearances serve to build interest in NXT, refresh both Corbin and Ali in a new environment, assess the NXT talent they’re working with, and give NXT stars a chance to work with people who have main roster television experience.

Fightful Select states that Corbin and Ali are expected to continue working in NXT for some time, but that this isn’t being considered a permanent move and they could still work Raw or SmackDown as needed due to their free agent status.