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The NXT Championship has become one of the most prestigious championships in the WWE. The title has been around the shoulders of some of the best in-ring performers of this era. From its inaugural holder Seth Rollins to the Current Champion Tomasso Ciampa, each superstar has only added value and prestige to the title.
With NXT being the hottest brand in the wrestling world today, the NXT Championship serves as a pat on the back for young and upcoming Superstars in the WWE.
With that being said, here are five superstars who we think will definitely hold the title in the near future:
Note: Johnny Gargano and The Velveteen Dream have not been included in the list as we believe they are going to be called up to the main roster without ever getting their hands on the NXT Championship.
# 5 Adam Cole
After being one of the stand-out performers on the independent circuit, Adam Cole finally arrived in NXT at last year's NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III. He stole the show on his debut by laying out the newly crowned NXT Champion, Drew McIntyre, forming 'The Undisputed Era' with Bobby Fish and Kyle O' Reilly in the process.
The Undisputed Era has dominated NXT for the past year and a half, winning every possible championship and accolade in the brand except the NXT Championship. Cole even pulled double duty at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, winning the NXT North American Championship in the opening match and then defending the NXT Tag Team Championship with Kyle O'Reilly also winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in the process.
Cole is destined for bigger and better things on the yellow brand and the next logical step for him is to challenge for the NXT Championship. Winning the NXT Championship will make Cole only the second superstar, after Neville, to win multiple championships in NXT.
# 4 Ricochet
One of the biggest signings in the brand's history, Ricochet has wowed the NXT Universe with his array of high flying manoeuvres since arriving on the brand earlier this year. The one and Only made his NXT debut in the insane ladder match at NXT Takeover: New Orleans for the NXT North American Championship, earning a 5-star rating from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in the process.
He is undefeated in singles competition and recently had a match of the year contender where he successfully defended his NXT North American Championship against former Champion, Adam Cole and WWE United Kingdom Champion, Pete Dunne in a triple threat Match.
Ricochet is one of the exciting Superstars in the WWE right now and him winning the NXT Championship seems to a matter of when and not if. The former Lucha Underground Champion has already defeated a host of top-tier talents on the yellow brand is expected to win the big one before moving on to the main roster.
# 3: EC3
EC3 is an NXT original ie, he was a participant of NXT Season 3 back when it was a reality show. He performed under the name ' Derrick Bateman' and even made it to the final three of the competition before being eliminated.
When NXT would become WWE's developmental territory, Bateman' would make sporadically appear on NXT TV and even participated in the tournament to crown the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions with Alex Riley but lost in the first round. He was released by the company in May of 2013.
He would then move to Impact Wrestling where he would become the storyline nephew of the promotion's owner, Dixie Carter and adopt the ring name 'Ethan Carter III'. Carter would win multiple World Championships in the company and would become of the top stars in the company before finally returning to NXT earlier this year.
EC3 made his debut at NXT Takeover: New Orleans in the Ladder Match to crown the inaugural NXT North American Champion. In spite of having a great personality and insane amounts of charisma, the former Derrick Bateman hasn't been able to set the yellow brand on fire suffering defeat after defeat against the likes of Johnny Gargano, The Velveteen Dream and more recently against Lars Sullivan. In spite of this initial hiccup, we expect EC3 to win the NXT Championship and turn NXT into NX3.
# 2: Keith Lee
One of the most recent NXT signings, Keith Lee has all the attributes to become a top superstar in the WWE. He is big, fast and has the ability to do things that men of his size can't do. Lee has won multiple Championships on the independent circuit and was one of the most recognized faces on Indy scene before arriving in NXT a few months.
Lee looks set for a great run on the yellow brand and has already racked up victories against Chris Dijack and had a mini-TV feud with Kona Reeves. Lee will most likely compete in the Wargames Match at the upcoming NXT Takeover: WarGames event before Survivor Series. He will no doubt be one of the standouts performers and with speed, size and ability will wreak havoc inside the deadly structure.
Keith Lee is truly limitless when it comes to doing the unthinkable inside the squared circle. He is destined for greatness in the WWE and is a future NXT Champion. It's only a matter of time before the Limitless One wins the NXT Championship and lets us to 'Bask in his Glory'.
# 1: Matt Riddle
Were you expecting anybody else? The King of Bros was one of the most sought-after stars on the independent circuit prior to his arrival in NXT at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV.
What makes Riddle special is the fact that he is a former UFC star holding an 8-4 record inside the octagon. One of the brightest Lightweight prospects in the UFC, Riddle was destined for greatness but his turbulent relationship with UFC President Dana White and insistence on living a certain lifestyle put an early end to that.
Riddle would then move on to the world of professional wrestling and wow wrestling fans with his unique mannerisms and incredible athletic ability.
Riddle signed with WWE a few months ago but he hasn't appeared on NXT TV yet. If rumours are to be believed, the King of Bros is pencilled into square off against Kassuis Ohno at NXT Takeover: WarGames which might just be his NXT TV debut as he has already worked some live events for the yellow brand.
Matt Riddle is a sure-shot NXT champion in the future and has all the needed to succeed in the WWE. If you think that he won't be the NXT Champion in the future, the question we'll ask you is ' What is wrong with you, Bro?
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