5 WWE Superstars who could become NXT Champion in 2021

#3 KUSHIDA could become NXT Champion in 2021

KUSHIDA arrived at NXT in April 2019 with a lot of hype behind him. Fresh from his nearly 10-year tenure with New Japan Pro Wrestling, KUSHIDA received a big welcome from WWE. The company officially announced his signing at a press conference in New York City, a few days before WrestleMania 35. KUSHIDA would go on to make his in-ring debut on the May 1 episode of NXT where he kicked off a winning streak, defeating Kassius Ohno. Since then, it has felt as though KUSHIDA's momentum had dipped.

In January 2020, KUSHIDA reunited with his former tag team partner, Alex Shelley, to reform the Time Splitters for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Unfortunately, this didn't have a fairytale ending, or even beginning, as NXT UK's Grizzled Young Veterans, James Drake, and Zack Gibson, as KUSHIDA and Shelley in the first round, cutting the reunion short.

KUSHIDA's next chance at glory came in April 2020, as the former IWJP Junior Heavyweight Champion took part in the NXT Cruiserweight Championship round-robin tournament. However, he was unsuccessful as Drake Maverick defeated him in a triple threat match that also featured Jake Atlas. It was unclear what direction KUSHIDA would go in next, as there didn't appear to be any feuds lined up for him.

That all changed in August 2020, when Velveteen Dream attacked KUSHIDA after the two men both landed on the losing end of a triple threat bout to Cameron Grimes. This would kick-start a feud between KUSHIDA and Dream. This culminated in a grudge match at NXTTakeOver: 31. KUSHIDA was more aggressive in this match, taking the opportunity to show another side to himself to the NXT Universe.

He ended the match by submitting Velveteen Dream, but KUSHIDA did not feel that was enough. Following the bell, he continued to attack Dream with officials having to come to Dream's aid and pull KUSHIDA away. This really cemented KUSHIDA as a big-time player on NXT as the Japanese Superstar really made the most of this opportunity

KUSHIDA's push continued, as he picked up arguably the biggest win of his NXT career on the Oct. 21 episode of NXT. In a triple threat match with Velveteen Dream and former NXT Champion, Tomasso Ciampa, KUSHIDA didn't just get the win but he managed to pin Ciampa following a beautiful dead-lift german suplex.

Following this win, you can see big things on the horizon for KUSHIDA. Capturing the NXT Championship and becoming only the second-ever Japanese superstar, after Nakamura to do so, would be a huge moment for KUSHIDA.