Creating Team NXT for the 2017 Survivor Series men's elimination match

In yet another chapter in our three-part discussion about a fantasy booking scenario where NXT is represented in the battle for brand supremacy at Survivor Series 2017, let's shift gears from the champions to the elimination matches — specifically, in this post, the men from NXT.

Also read: How would NXT's title holders fare in the 2017 Survivor Series champion vs champion matches?

As Drew McIntyre, SAnitY and Pete Dunne would be busy fighting their respective equals, those men would be out of the running to join the lineup of Team NXT, but there are still a large number of wrestlers who could easily step up to showcase what the developmental system has to offer.

Since none of this is actually happening, it opens up the discussion to our imaginations to decide which Superstars would be in the group to carry the yellow flag into battle.

Without further ado, here are the five best candidates to be on Team NXT in this fantasy world where the developmental system gets inserted into the 2017 Survivor Series event.

#1 Johnny Gargano

When it comes to someone who could be the team captain and really showcase what NXT is all about, there's no better option on the entire brand than Johnny Gargano.

He's not the most physically imposing and he's never held the NXT Championship, but he is a former NXT tag team champion and he's one of the most popular wrestlers on the brand as well as the epitome of what the "we are NXT" movement strives to be.

Gargano's connection with the audience is unparalleled compared to the rest of the roster, making him the best candidate to lead the team and try to garner support from the crowd.

Johnny Wrestling may not be wrestling at TakeOver: WarGames, but if there were a Team NXT at Survivor Series, he would certainly be at the forefront of the fight.

#2 Andrade "Cien" Almas

Andrade Almas would be 100 percent on Team NXT

With Drew McIntyre busy representing the NXT Championship in a theoretical match against Jinder Mahal and Brock Lesnar, Andrade "Cien" Almas would not be gearing up for a title opportunity.

Since that match would be taken off the menu, Almas would have to be in the mix for a spot on Team NXT as he's one of the top two heels on the brand.

The addition of Zelina Vega has boosted Almas to greater heights than he's ever reached before and she's proven herself to be very advantageous as a ringside "spectator" during his matches, so having her in Team NXT's corner would almost be like having a team manager in a sense.

Of course, even without Vega, Almas would still be justified as a top star of the brand even though his focus might not entirely be on the match itself and he could easily be more of a nuisance than a benefit, as history has shown in the past with his showboating costing him victories.

With Vega as a package deal, Almas becomes a highly valuable member of the team.

#3 Aleister Black

It's not hard to come into NXT and start off with an undefeated record, but it's rather difficult to keep it going for a long stretch of time.

As the months have gone by, Black has continued to win over and over again, creating an impressing amount of momentum.

Realistically, if he were to go to 205 Live tomorrow and win the Cruiserweight Championship, it's doubtful anybody would bat an eye, but he isn't limited to that division, either, as he clearly has a bright future ahead of him with the way he's been booked.

That type of booking would have to continue in regards to Survivor Series, where his inclusion in a Team NXT would feel like a given and it would seem strange if he were bypassed in favour of somebody else.

More than anybody on this list, if someone were to stand out as a potential sole survivor, Black would be the one to take that honour.

#4 Roderick Strong

Take one part Johnny Gargano, add one part Undisputed Era, mix with some leftover non-demon Finn Balor and you're left with the concoction of Roderick Strong who can't quite catch a break to be the top guy in NXT but is always lingering around.

Strong is effectively the B+ player of the brand, which would sadly make him the most expendable person on this list if Team NXT were to suffer a quick elimination.

Still, he would certainly be someone who would at least be on the team and not overlooked like some others such as Oney Lorcan or Buddy Murphy.

When looking for people who represent the "we are NXT" mentality, he's not on the same level as Gargano, but he's the next best option and someone who could help rally the cause and easily follow Gargano's lead, even if he could be tempted to think differently by the fifth member of the team.

#5 Adam Cole

Honorable mentions go out to a bunch of men, including Hideo Itami, Kassius Ohno, Lars Sullivan and No Way Jose, but let's face the facts and just admit that Adam Cole should assuredly have a spot on this team. If you don't believe us, ask his former rival Kenny Omega.

The Undisputed Era is being pushed too much to be ignored in that kind of capacity and since Cole is the leader of the stable and the true focal point above Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, he would be the second heel on the team, for sure.

This would create some uneasy tension between Cole and the babyfaces, particularly Strong, which would be rather interesting to see come to a head or, more surprisingly, not be too much of an issue at all.

In fact, the latter would pique even more curiosities as it could be a catalyst for Cole to suggest to Strong that it is proof that they work well together and that he should join the stable, furthering that storyline.

Any way you book it, Cole is one of the top heels on the brand right now and his exclusion would diminish his character's importance, so he would be a must, and if Team NXT were to be victorious, maybe he would have a reason to be so cocky.

With that team in place, do you think NXT would have a shot against Raw and SmackDown? Tell us why or why not by leaving a comment below!

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