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Ever since NXT was rebranded as WWE's developmental brand in early 2014 (while also replacing Florida Championship Wrestling), it has been the source of most new main roster talents, with NXT superstars being 'called up' periodically to fill gaps on RAW and SmackDown.
While many of these call-ups have been - shall we say - less than successful, some have been incredibly successful in producing talent that have achieved the highest title achievable in the company; the WWE/Universal Championship. These successful superstars include the likes of Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and even the current WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre.
With many more main roster call-ups to come in both the near and distant future, it is certain that some NXT superstars are destined to win the World Championship at some point in their career.
As such, here are 5 NXT superstars who will likely win either of those very championships in the future.
#5. Tyler Bate
It's hard to believe that Tyler Bate is only 23 years old, considering how accomplished he is already. At just 19, Bate became the inaugural NXT United Kingdom Champion on his debut at the United Kingdom Championship Tournament in 2017. Since then, he has also won the NXT Tag Team Championship once with Trent Seven.
Bate is more than deserving of these titles, considering his precociousness in wrestling - at just age 20, he lost his NXT UK Championship to Pete Dunne at NXT Takeover: Chicago in a match which won the "2017 NXT Match of the Year" award in the NXT Year-End Award Ceremony, and received a remarkable 4.75 star rating from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
He attempted to regain the NXT UK Championship at NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff in August 2019 from WALTER, and failed to do so in a match that is widely considered to be one of the greatest WWE matches in history. The match was rated a better-than-perfect 5.25 stars by Meltzer, becoming one of only three WWE matches in history to break the 5 star rating system.
Part of what makes Bate so good as a wrestler is how versatile he is - while he is only 170 cm tall with a weight of 79 kg, he is able to pull off unbelievable feats of strength, such as his airplane spin and giant swing combination on Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong, seen below.
At the same time, he is able to pull off unbelievable high flying moves, such as the Spiral Tap, a corkscrew senton bomb, or a shooting star press off the top rope onto the outside of the ring.
This versatility, combined with his excellent knowledge of wrestling psychology makes him one of the most promising wrestlers in the world today, and at just age 23, the sky is the limit for Tyler Bate - it wouldn't be surprising to see him win the WWE Championship one day.
#4. WALTER
The second NXT UK superstar on the list, WALTER is the current NXT UK Champion and leader of the Imperium stable which features Alexander Wolfe and NXT Tag Team Champions Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel.
Standing at 193 cm (6'3") tall with a weight of 140 kg (about 308 lbs.), WALTER is a dominating presence in NXT. This presence is warranted, as in the ring he is one of the most violent wrestlers in the world. Rather than using flashy moves, WALTER usually opts for simple-but-brutal strikes on his opponents that look agonizing - most famously, his chops, which are considered to be among the hardest of all-time.
WALTER is also a master of in-ring storytelling, with an effective methodical style, expert of heelish tactics, and outstanding body language which give off a dominant aura around him, that might only be matched by the likes of Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman.
Considering how Vince McMahon famously has a penchant for wrestlers of a large stature, and how effective a heel he is, it is very possible that WALTER is destined for great things in the WWE.
#3. Keith Lee
As a sports entertainer, Keith Lee is the full package. For a man of his size, he is able to perform high-flying moves that he shouldn't be able to, such as his moonsault or corkscrew plancha to the outside. Additionally, he is also capable of performing feats of strength not many others can. More impressively, Lee is very charismatic, fueling crowds with his "Bask in My Glory" gimmick and cutting engaging promos on NXT TV.
2019 was a breakout year for Lee in the WWE, as he was able to show his wide array of skills to a large audience on both NXT and the main roster - most famously in the men's Survivor Series elimination match, where he was the last man pinned in the match.
Since then, Lee has been able to step up his game as the reigning NXT North American Champion, with excellent performances in his long-standing feud with Dominik Dijakovic, and more recently, his champion vs. champion mini-feud with NXT Champion Adam Cole.
With Lee being as skilled as he is both in-ring and on the mic, while having a massive 145 kg frame, it seems likely that he will have massive success on the main roster, and potentially win the WWE Championship once he gets called up.
#2. Pete Dunne
It should go without saying that Pete Dunne is likely to be very successful on the main roster. Despite only being 26, he has asserted himself firmly in the upper card of both NXT UK and the regular NXT brand - winning the NXT UK Championship, the NXT Tag Team Championship, and the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in the process.
Known as the 'Bruiserweight' of NXT, Dunne is one of the best workers in professional wrestling, capable of being a convincing face and a despised heel. He is also able to perform any type of match well, whether it be a technical classic such as his critically acclaimed match against Tyler Bate at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, an all-out brawl such as his brutal match with WALTER at NXT Takeover: New York, or even a comedy match like his tag team matches with Millie McKenzie in PWR.
In the main roster, such versatility puts Dunne above most WWE superstars, because of the focus on sports entertainment rather than wrestling.
He's only 26 years old, has an incredible amount of charisma, and he can pull of incredible matches in any given situation. It seems like Pete Dunne was tailor-made for the main roster, and as such, it is very probable that he will win the WWE Championship in due time.
#1. Adam Cole
The longest reigning NXT Champion of all-time, with a reign of 373 days (and counting). The inaugural NXT North American Champion. The former NXT Tag Team Champion. The 2018 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winner. The second-ever Triple Crown champion in NXT history.
Adam Cole came into NXT as the hottest free agent in professional wrestling, having dominated the independent scene for many years as part of promotions such as Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, and even New Japan Pro Wrestling. He made his long-awaited NXT debut in 2017 at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III, and since then, Adam Cole has established himself as by far, the most decorated superstar in NXT history.
Nicknamed the Panama City Playboy, Cole is the leader of the 'Undisputed Era' faction featuring Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Bobby Fish, which has governed over NXT's main event scene for the last couple of years - with the faction even holding every available title at one point in 2019.
As reigning NXT Champion, Cole has had many memorable title defenses, which include his breathtaking match against Tomasso Ciampa at NXT Takeover: Portland and his critically acclaimed trilogy with Johnny Gargano, which included the first two matches to have ever broken Dave Meltzer's 5 star rating system in WWE history.
As a result of his unparalleled level of brilliance as NXT Champion, Cole has made a huge name for himself among big names - when asked about Cole, Shawn Michaels stated that he was "flattered [because] he's unbelievably talented", and that he "sees comparisons" between himself and Adam Cole.
Similarly, in a recent interview conducted before NXT Takeover: In Your House, Triple H stated:
"I don't know if I can speak any higher of anyone than Adam Cole. He's that level of performer"
With such high praise from such influential names, it makes sense that Adam Cole is on track for massive success once he gets called up to the main roster - and it seems rather inevitable that he will win the WWE Championship one day.
