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WWE NXT remains the hottest commodity in professional wrestling. Since its inception, Seth Rollins, Big E, Bo Dallas, Neville, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Finn Balor have captured the prestigious NXT Heavyweight championship. Aside from Dallas, the ones who went to the main roster have maintained a successful career thus far. Rollins and Big E are the superstars at this point, because of their championships and accolades since their promotion. While in WWE NXT, fans often wonder who the next “big guy” is.They ask the same question about who the next John Cena will be. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to predict the next WWE megastar. Even when Cena and the Rock debuted in the WWE, few actually knew how great they both would turn out to be. Others are rare cases like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. Unless the person predicting their success had a crystal ball, their independent achievements weren’t enough to gauge the same amount of impact each man would have.WWE has a great problem on their hands. In WWE NXT, too many guys have the potential to become NXT Heavyweight champion. After Balor drops the belt on his way to WWE Raw, somebody will have to pick up where he left off. These five men are the best candidates to take over as NXT champion.
#1 Apollo Crews
WWE fans have considered him as the next John Cena and first African-American WWE World Heavyweight champion. Whether those feats come true or not, there is no denying the skill that Apollo Crews contains. He’s only been on WWE NXT for a few weeks, but in that time, he’d made an impact and connection with the WWE Universe.
The automatic charisma is definitely a help towards the young man, which is only going to help his case for NXT champion easier. Right now, he’s headed for a mini-feud with Tyler Breeze. Whoever wins that may become a contender for the NXT title.
#2 Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe winning the NXT Heavyweight championship is unlikely, but there is a lot of potential between him and Finn Balor. The two are a tag-team in the Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic. If they make it to the finals, something is bound to happen between their friendship. One of them is rumored to turn heel soon, which could be all speculation.
Since it’s likely one of them will turn anyway, the obvoius choice if Joe. Let him take the title from Balor and have Balor lose, so that his promotion to the main roster can happen. From there, Joe can put over a young babyface who would benefit from a NXT championship.
#3 Hideo Itami
If it weren’t for an injury, Hideo Itami would’ve won the NXT championship at Beast in the East. That was supposed to be his moment, no Balor’s. Regardless, Itami is close to returning to action after a bad shoulder injury. The WWE Universe loved him before he left and the affection he was receiving didn’t go away.
Since he will return from a long hiatus, he won’t work as a heel. That will leave plenty of opportunities if Balor does turn heel. Itami is multi-faceted and a talented wrestler, so the opportunities are endless.
#4 Tyler Breeze
This is one man that hasn’t been treated fairly in the WWE. Some may disagree with that claim, especially after the match against Jushin “Thunder” Liger at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. Breeze never won a NXT championship, but that should change soon. Breeze can wrestle as a heel or babyface.
Triple H already has big plans for him on the main roster. Not only is he good in the ring, but his promos are great. There isn’t anything Breeze can’t do on WWE NXT, which is why a title reign would encapsulate a great career in the minors.
#5 Sami Zayn
He’s the ultimate babyface. Sami Zayn was on pace to defeat John Cena at Elimination Chamber. That push was meant for Zayn, but an injury is keeping him out of action for the remainder of this year. When Owens defeated him for the NXT championship, his ticket to the main roster was punched.
It may be back to square one for the former-NXT champion, but another reignw ould do the guy wonders like never before. Zayn has that special bond with the fans that is almost unrepeated. When he does return, a NXT championship program should be the least of his rewards. It won’t be long before he’s a main event guy full-time.
