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In the ever-changing world that is NXT, the talent that is brought in isn't necessarily there for a long time, but for enough time.
Looking back on those that have come through the brand and achieved success on either Raw or Smackdown Live, the names are countless.
Whether it's Kevin Owens or Seth Rollins, both brands have been provided with enough NXT graduates that have become legends on the main roster.
However, in NXT today, a number of men and women are carving a niche for themselves and stood out, raising questions as to where they will be in the future.
How will their careers be measured when it is all over? Will they simply be would-have-been and could-have-been, or legends that eventually go into the WWE Hall of Fame?
If their professional stars align and they continue on the path that they are headed, there may be nothing stopping them. Here are five NXT superstars who could become WWE legends.
#5 Authors of Pain
On the surface, Rezar and Akam may only seem like two massive men that are well booked, but when we look closer their sheer size is not the only determinant of how dominant this team has the potential to be moving forward.
Akam is a former amateur wrestler and competed for Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Rezar is a former MMA fighter for Bellator and a kickboxing champion. Their backgrounds ensure that they are more than capable of taking their past achievements and turning their team into a successful tandem.
Throughout their time in NXT, before their recent main roster debut, they were led by the manager of the multiple time tag team champions, Hawk and Animal, The Road Warriors, in Paul Ellering.
In their debut in 2016, they immediately made an impact, wiping out former NXT tag team champions Chad Gable and Jason Jordan.
The duo captured the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Classic, and only a few months after that captured the NXT tag team championship, defeating #DIY at NXT Takeover: Orlando.
And they have not plateaued in their rise with the company. Could they be the Road Warriors of a new generation? That would certainly be a legendary achievement.
#4 Lars Sullivan
If the name Dylan Miley doesn't strike fear in the hearts of his opposition, maybe a description of his size, weight, and shape will.
Billed as being 6'3 and weighing over 300 lbs, Miley has been striking fear in his opposition since he first appeared on screen in May 2017.
What is interesting to note about Sullivan is that he has been with NXT since 2013. Sullivan first debuted on NXT TV in tag matches, but he didn't take defeat well and took it out on his partner week after week.
It was clear the next fearsome big man had emerged in the promotion.
Despite being billed from the Mile-High city (Denver, Colorado), Miley was born in Manitoba, in Canada.
This massive man has yet to be defeated and has wiped out everyone in his way regardless of whom they are or what they have achieved.
Sullivan was unsuccessful in a fatal four-way to determine a new No.1 contender for the NXT championship but wasn't the one that took the pinfall loss.
What does his future hold? A potentially legendary WWE career.
#3 Velveteen Dream
With the allure of the artist known as Prince and a move set reflective of a cruiserweight, the Velveteen Dream has all the makings of a WWE legend.
His first appearance to a WWE audience was as Patrick Clark, the aspiring young WWE superstar that was part of Tough Enough.
Clark wasn't successful in winning the competition, but that didn't mean his dream was over. What it provided Clark was an opportunity to push himself, reinvent himself, and think outside the box.
A returning Clark also meant a reinvented Clark. Velveteen Dream has echoes of what Goldust was in the 1990s, adding a new persona that while still, like Goldust, playing on his opponent's inhibitions and throwing them off their game.
His strength, speed, and finesse in the ring have made Clark an unforgettable performer that fans will not forget to say the name of.
His feud with Aleister Black in 2017 not only stood out as NXT feud of the year but elevated him to a whole new level.
#2 Shayna Baslzer
While many have applauded the Four Horsewomen of the WWE, the meteoric success of Asuka, and now the addition of Ronda Rousey to WWE, there is another female athlete that has the potential to be every bit as dominating as those that came before her.
At 38 years of age, Shayna Baszler’s time to shine is now. From the moment she was introduced to WWE, Baszler became a threat to the NXT women’s championship, a title she recently captured.
She kicked down the door, beat up other women in the division, and left behind a path of destruction unlike many before her.
Much like Asuka taking names and going through the best that NXT had to offer, Baszler has systematically beaten up and broken women in the division with ease.
She has toyed with capable opponents and made them look foolish in the process. Dubbed the ‘Submission Magician’ and the ‘Queen of Spades,’ Baszler has not had any fear of anyone she has stepped into the ring with.
With an MMA background that saw her achieve notable success, her legitimate striking and submission ability doesn’t just open the door to be a champion, but to be a legend in WWE.
#1 Aleister Black
The phrase 'Speak softly but carry a big stick' was never more fitting than when applied to this new phenom in NXT.
He was involved in the feud of the year, arguably some matches of the year, and is the newly crowned NXT champion. Black has emerged as not only a dominant competitor but a character that is both dark and brooding while embracing light and eloquence.
The master of the Black Mass finisher is confident in his ability in the ring and has faced everyone that has stood before him.
Whether it has been the Dream, Adam Cole, or Killian Dain, Black has yet to back down from any challenge, and in the process wiped out everyone that has stood in his way.
His ascent to the top of NXT began with an undefeated streak that very few before him could match.
His sole defeat came in a four-way match. Will he remain undefeated one-on-one? That isn't likely, but he has the potential for a legendary WWE career.
