5 Best NXT Main Roster Debuts

The man who never lost the Universal Title
The man who never lost the Universal Title

The main roster debut is what every NXT Superstar looks forward to. Many NXT Champions have jumped over to the main roster but have failed to make an impact in the big leagues. Superstars such as Bo Dallas and Sami Zayn are classic examples of these cases.

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To have an indelible run, a Superstar must not only be over with the crowd but also make a lasting impression on his/her debut. As much as in-ring dominance and mic work seem important in the WWE, so does the lasting first impression a Superstar makes when he/she is called up to the big leagues.

Here is a list of five Superstars who made that memorable impression in the minds of the WWE Universe:


#5 Finn Balor

Finn Balor is destined to be World Champion someday
Finn Balor is destined to be World Champion someday

The Demon King wasn't someone new to the wrestling community. Before making his way to NXT, Balor had conquered the much familiar territories of NJPW, where he led the famous Bullet Club. He was the fifth member to be drafted to RAW in the 2016 WWE Draft.

What makes his debut so memorable is that he won a fatal four-way match, which also involved Rusev, Cesaro and Kevin Owens and later went on to beat Roman Reigns in the same night.

These two victories gave him the opportunity to face Seth Rollins at SummerSlam in a match to crown the inaugural Universal Champion.

Balor went on to win the Universal Title but injured his shoulder in the process. He was forced to relinquish his newly won championship belt the night after he won it. Since his return from injury, Balor has been a part of different feuds but never got his rematch for the Title he never lost.

After an underwhelming and prolonged feud with Bray Wyatt, Balor finally found his path to the main event scene by qualifying to be a part of Team RAW at Survivor Series. Since Survivor Series, The Demon King delivered an iron man performance in The Royal Rumble match of 2018, lasting 57 minutes and contended for the Intercontinental Title at multiple occasions.

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#4 Braun Strowman

The Abonimal Strowman
The Abominable Strowman

Braun Strowman has never been NXT Champion, but that doesn't seem to hamper his credibility as possibly the most dominant force in WWE today. Strowman has wrecked havoc ever since his debut and there has been nobody who could put an end to his dominance.

Strowman made his debut on RAW when he intervened a match between The Wyatt Family and Reigns & Ambrose.

He single-handedly ripped apart the duo, officially lining with Harper and Wyatt. His monstrous size and unmatchable strength made him stand apart and these attributes prove to be too much for his opponents to still handle.

Since his debut, Strowman can be defined as a gargantuan dominator. He has annihilated almost everyone who has stepped in his path.

It is surprising that he hasn't won any major singles title in the WWE yet. The Monster among Men has flipped over trucks, single-handedly won the Tag Team Championships and overshadowed all competitors he has been in a match with.

Strowman recently won the Greatest Royal Rumble as well as the MITB briefcase. With his abilities and incredible strength, Strowman is a definite WWE Champion in the near future.

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#3 The Shield

The most dominant faction possibly ever
The most dominant faction possibly ever

The Shield has been one of the most dominant forces in WWE. Each member of the faction is a Grand Slam Champion now and will be a part of the Hall Of Fame someday.

Before Rollins turned on his brothers, The Shield beat many teams that included Superstars such as Big Show, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Kane, Randy Orton, Ryback, Sheamus and The Undertaker.

The trio made its debut at Survivor Series 2012 and attacked Ryback. Since their debut, they have been part of the most memorable six-man tag team matches. Their matches against the Wyatt Family and Evolution were instant classics.

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#2 Kevin Owens

Not everybody can say that they beat John Cena on their debut
Not everybody can say that they beat John Cena clean on their debut match

The Prizefighter made a statement when he answered John Cena's US Title Open Challenge on RAW. Owens came out and instead of competing in a match, he attacked Cena and left. At Elimination Chamber, Owens beat Cena clean in a singles match and there has been no looking back since.

Owens has won the Intercontinental Title, US Title as well as the Universal Title in the WWE. Owens is great on the mic and delivers matches worth watching. He surely is a gem in the WWE and we will get to see him main event WrestleMania someday.

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#1 Paige

Winning a title on her debut
Winning a title on her debut

Paige rightly tops the list as she won the Divas Title on her debut. On the RAW after WrestleMania XXX, she made her way to the ring to congratulate AJ Lee on successfully defending her title on the previous night.

Lee slapped her and challenged her to an impromptu match. Paige won the match quickly to become the youngest Divas Champion in history at the age of 21.

Paige has held the Divas Title two times. Her career came to crashing halt in 2016, at the age of 24 due to a neck injury.

She made her return in 2017 and formed the stable known as Absolution along with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. She helped these wrestlers hold their own before retiring at the age of 25.

Paige is now the GM of SmackDown Live and is doing a great job. With Daniel Bryan coming out of retirement, Paige's fans will be hoping that she makes an in-ring return as well. She is an amazing talent that the WWE lost too early. But one can never say never in this business.

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Which NXT main roster debut was your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below!

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