7 key numbers from the men's 2018 Royal Rumble Match

2 - the number of NXT stars who entered the Royal Rumble Match

Adam Cole and Andrade Cien Almas made NXT cameos in the 2018 Royal Rumble Match

If you are a pro wrestling fan, then you know that NXT has become a juggernaut over the past few years. It's been home to the rise of several homegrown talents, but it was also the WWE start for many of the best in the indies. That mix has made NXT a brand that stands out on its own and gets bigger and better each year.

NXT's importance was shown in both the men's and women's Royal Rumble Matches as each had two NXT competitors become entrants. For the men, it was the first time more than one NXT Superstar was in the Rumble match when Andrade Cien Almas came in at #7 and Adam Cole came in at #23.

After having one of the greatest matches in NXT history at Takeover, Almas impressed the following night when he lasted nearly 30 minutes and ranked 5th among the entrants for the most time spent in the Rumble.