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NXT has become a force in its own right after sweeping the Survivor Series 2019 results. Post that, they have been recognized as a full third brand of the company.
Several NXT Superstars have seen their stock rise in recent times. And, at WrestleMania 36, the NXT Women’s Championship was defended at The Showcase of Immortals for the first time, that too between Superstars belonging to two different brands.
Apart from that, we are seeing several top Superstars switch to the NXT brand to increase its viewership and take on a lighter schedule while making their name there.
After WrestleManias, we often see several NXT Superstars switching to the RAW or SmackDown brand and many of them go on to make a big name for themselves and win some titles.
Finn Balor, for example, did not waste much time after moving to RAW from NXT as he became the inaugural Universal Champion in no time.
Shayna Baszler recently tried to become the RAW Women’s Champion in record time after appearing on the Red brand and earning her shot at the title for WrestleMania 36.
In this article, we will look at the seven NXT Superstars who are doing a great job in NXT and could potentially become the next World Champions on RAW or SmackDown.
#10 Toni Storm
The former NXT United Kingdom Women’s Champion had also won the 2018 Mae Young Classic in the company and taken on some top Superstars to prove her worth to the WWE Universe.
Toni Storm is an outstanding talent who has done a lot in the company but still has a long way to go to become one of the finest female Superstars to have ever fought in the company.
With a refined character and a hunger to progress, Storm is another youngster who has a bright future in WWE and the company should not let her talent go to waste.
She has had several top-class matches with Kay Lee Ray and Rhea Ripley, and the company should allow the 24-year-old to move to RAW or SmackDown soon where the New Zealander can aim to become the leader of one of the brands' women’s division.
Storm is an above-average athlete and wrestler who has shown that she can carry a storyline very well and transform them into great matches, and WWE should not let the opportunity of letting such a talent thrive go to waste.
#9 Keith Lee
NXT’s mammoth Superstar Keith Lee is one of the most athletic big men we’ve ever seen perform in the WWE ring. The Superstar, who started slowly in NXT, picked up pace halfway through 2019 when the build-up to Survivor Series was taken over by NXT.
Since then, we’ve seen Lee do well in Survivor Series and he has also earned the praise of former Universal Champion Roman Reigns. From there onwards, the Superstar went on to win the NXT North American Championship and even star in the Netflix movie ‘The Main Event’.
Lee has gained an extremely impressive fan following in recent months and was seen in the ring with Brock Lesnar during the Royal Rumble before he was eventually knocked out by The Beast.
Keeping in mind his current rise and popularity, we could watch The Limitless One move to RAW or SmackDown quicker than any other NXT Superstar and aim high right off the bat.
This could allow WWE to cash in on his popularity and give him a run with the WWE Championship as he is a fan-favorite babyface.
A quick push up the ladder could help the Superstar and the company, who is constantly looking to unearth and develop top Superstars who can represent them on different levels.
#8 Pete Dunne
Former NXT United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne has proven time and time again that he is one of the best overseas Superstars that the company has ever signed.
The longest-reigning NXT UK Champion is currently holding one-half of the NXT Tag Team Championships and brutalizing his opponents.
Dunne is arguably one of the most distinctive performers in the ring and has taken on the biggest wrestlers there are in NXT and defeated them all to prove a point.
While the ‘Scottish Psychopath’ Drew McIntyre recently became the first British WWE Champion, Dunne is one man who can really climb the ladder and truly become the first English WWE Champion.
Dunne has earned the praise of several former WWE Superstars and legends such as Willian Regal and Triple H, and he seems to be on the right track.
The 26-year-old has a long career ahead of him and he already has won several different Championships in different promotions. Dunne is one man WWE must not lose and rather they should push him even further to become the leader of NXT before heading to RAW or SmackDown and win the WWE Championship.
#7 Io Shirai
Japanese Superstars have slowly started taking over WWE in recent times, with Asuka, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Kairi Sane leading the pack.
After a great reign as the NXT Women’s Champion, Asuka has been the only one out of the three to win a world title in the form of the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and will hopefully go on to win many more titles.
Io Shirai is one Superstar in NXT who is just getting started but has proven to be much better than many other women out there. In fact, many have been so impressed with her skills that they have put her ahead of Asuka and Sane in terms of the impact she could have in the women's division in the future.
While Shirai is currently looking to win her first Championship in WWE in the form of the NXT Women’s title, the Superstar has what it takes, and much more, to potentially become the RAW or SmackDown Women’s Champion.
The Genius from the Sky is extremely skilled and has some of the best high-flying moves in the industry. Along with that, her character is incredible and she has proven to be a great heel during her time in the Black & Gold brand.
If Shirai gets the right bookings in the coming years, nothing will stop her from becoming the next biggest World Champion for the women’s division.
#6 Matt Riddle
Good on the mic and incredible in the ring, there has never been anyone like Matt Riddle, nor will there ever be. One-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, the Superstar is much more than just a tag team wrestler.
The former mixed martial artist is one of the cleanest strikers in the ring today and has unmatched strength that allows him to pull off unconventional moves with ease.
The Original Bro has a great character that clicks with the fans and allows him to play a unique gimmick that keeps him at the top of the Black & Gold brand.
Even though he has suffered several losses in top matches, Riddle has managed to maintain his value and image. This speaks volumes about the talent and charisma he possesses.
Riddle has already taken shots at former World Champions such as Brock Lesnar and Goldberg several times, and one day we could see him land up in a Championship match against a top Superstar owing to his antics.
This could result in Riddle winning the WWE Championship or Universal Championship much earlier than many other Superstars, and give him the boost that he needs to become a big wrestling star.
#5 Tommaso Ciampa
Wrestling is not only about in-ring skills, but a lot about mic skills and overall character too. There is no man with a more solid character in NXT than Tommaso Ciampa, and he is arguably one of the finest wrestlers we’ve seen in a long time.
Ciampa’s character took several years to develop and reach its final stage. But now, he seems to have one of the most complete and strong characters in WWE.
Along with that, his superior mic skills and ability to tell a story has kept him on top of the pack in NXT for several years. This, in turn, has also allowed him to become the NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT Champion.
The Blackheart had defeated The Miz on SmackDown prior to Survivor Series 2019 but has made it clear on several occasions that he doesn’t want to move to any other brand and stay in NXT.
Even though such statements and stubbornness could hurt his future chances, he is a big enough name and Superstar who could ultimately take on the reigning WWE Champion somewhere down the line while staying in NXT. Ciampa could win the top title and bring it to the Black & Gold brand in the future.
On the other hand, Triple H and others could convince him to switch brands to find some new rivalries and push his career ahead.
Ciampa is a truly great Superstar and plays a great heel, and his antics could shake up the entire landscape of WWE someday.
#4 WALTER
WWE is constantly on the lookout for massive Superstars who can take down their competition with ease and become heroes in the eyes of the WWE Universe.
WALTER is one man who arrived in NXT UK in early 2019 and took the brand by storm straight away. The reigning NXT United Kingdom Champion is seen by fans as a threatening force who can dominate any Superstar on any given day.
Even though WALTER failed to make the desired impression during Survivor Series 2019 where he was up against the finest Superstars of WWE, he has still managed to dominate Superstars all over NXT and make a huge impression.
While WALTER is still thriving in NXT UK, WWE must not waste too much time and push him forward as the ‘Next Big Thing’ on RAW or SmackDown. He is someone who can truly replace Brock Lesnar as a dominator once The Beast Incarnate retires.
The Ring General is one of the biggest and finest technical workers in the company who has worked five-star matches in the Black & Gold brand, and he could become the next dominating World Champion in WWE soon.
#3 Johnny Gargano
Having defeated every major Superstar in NXT and accomplished everything one possibly can on the brand, the first NXT Triple Crown Champion is a Superstar to watch out for.
Johnny Gargano is one of the finest wrestlers in the world and has demonstrated his superior skill and stamina in several top matches for NXT.
We’ve seen him perform in a few matches on RAW and SmackDown too where he has impressed. And, after achieving everything in NXT, we could see him make the move to either brand soon.
The Rebel Heart is a top player who plays a great heel and babyface character. Gargano's exploits have led the WWE Universe to compare him to some of the finest wrestlers in WWE history.
With that in mind, Gargano is not just the future of NXT, but the future of WWE. Therefore, we could see him become the next biggest Superstar of the company if he is moved to another brand and is put in the chase for a WWE Championship run.
Gargano has a huge fan following all over the globe, and his fans want to see him compete against the best of the best. This is something he can do as the top Champion of the company once he's given a fair crack of the whip.
#2 Rhea Ripley
Speaking of phenomenal talent, there is no one quite like Rhea Ripley in the entire wrestling industry. The former NXT UK Women’s Champion grabbed the opportunities presented to her with both hands and managed to defeat Shayna Baszler to win the NXT Women’s title.
Even though she lost the title to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36, she emerged from that loss brilliantly as she showed bravery by challenging Flair for a match WrestleMania herself, whilst having her first match at The Show of Shows as a Champion at the age of 23.
This proves that The Nightmare has a lot of potential. She has a long way to go and having won both the top titles in NXT at such a young age, there is nothing that can stop her from becoming the future face of the company.
The Australian may have faced a setback at WrestleMania, but we could see her come back stronger and better when she returns to our screens. Ripley could be moved to SmackDown or RAW sooner than later to shake up the division. This would then give her the chance to bag one of the top titles of the brand as the company seems to have a lot of faith in her.
#1 Adam Cole
If there is one Superstar who has emerged from NXT and is as complete as Seth Rollins or Kevin Owens, it is Adam Cole.
Cole is, by far, one of the best characters in all of WWE His faction, Undisputed Era, is one of the finest we’ve ever seen in any promotion. The Superstar is an NXT Triple Crown Champion and is currently holding the NXT Championship. His title reign is the longest in the history of the promotion.
Not only is Cole a great heel, but he’s a phenomenal wrestler who can carry the entire brand on his shoulders.
The Panama City Playboy has proven time and time again that he is dependable and has even battled through injuries to complete matches.
This makes him a true champion in the ring and someone WWE can look forward to while making their plans for the future of the company.
Cole is one Superstar who will move to RAW or SmackDown soon after dropping the NXT title, and we could watch him immediately get in the chase for the WWE or Universal Championship as he’s already proven to be an elite Superstar.
