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The WWE NXT Championship has become one of the most prestigious titles in all of professional wrestling as it has been held by massive stars such as Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre and many more. The future looks even brighter for NXT's top Championship. Sure, the brand has just lost 4 of its top stars (seemingly, not yet been officially confirmed on screen), but with all the new and fresh talent coming through, it's safe to say that the brand is in safe hands.
From former UFC stars to independent wrestling standouts, there are a plethora of guys gunning for this Championship, and although injuries and unexpected call-ups can change the future, we feel confident in our predictions. So sit back and read along as today we attempt to predict the next 5 NXT Champions to add to the great lineage of what is becoming a very sought after prize in professional wrestling.
#1. Johnny Gargano
After being called up to RAW alongside the current NXT Champion, many people figured that it was the end of the road Johnny Wrestling. However, his story has been going for 3 years now and there's no way that NXT won't pay that off. Johnny Wrestling briefly became Johnny Champion in NXT with the North American title, but he's been chasing that NXT Championship since day one, and a match with Tomasso Ciampa seemingly looms large at NXT Takeover: New York.
With his promotion to RAW, his NXT Title reign won't likely be the long one that many people expected, but often, it's the journey to get to the title that matters more than the destination. That's certainly true in the case of Gargano. He's been the heart and soul of NXT ever since Sami Zayn permanently left for the main roster, and Johnny deserves this more than anyone, so expect to see his big crowning moment come in New York.
#2. Matt Riddle
In terms of future potential down in NXT, there's no one on the roster who has it more than 'The Original Bro' and former UFC superstar, Matt Riddle. He came to NXT with plenty of hype behind him after 3 years on the independent scene and has made quite a splash in his short time with NXT. It's clear the company see him as a future main event player.
He's currently positioned as a babyface, and while taking the title away from Johnny Gargano may not be a popular move, if done in the passing of the torch manner, it could cement him as the face of NXT for quite some time. The two would put on an incredible match too, and with Johnny's time in NXT likely coming to an end, this would possibly occur in the very near future. Matt has all the tools to be a top talent in the WWE, and taking the NXT Championship is just the next step in that great road to retiring The Beast, Brock Lesnar.
#3. Adam Cole
In terms of physicality, there are very few in the wrestling world that can match Matt Riddle, but when it comes to charisma, presence and the 'it factor', the leader of The Undisputed Era (UE) has him covered. Cole has been wrestling for 10 years now, and his character work inside the ring is second to none. With Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly in tow, it's easy to see how he could take down 'The King of Bros.
Like Gargano before him, Riddle's day in NXT is no doubt numbered, especially given how quickly he's progressing through the system, So his reign, while dominant, will likely not be exactly long. Cole and the UE have been rumored to stay in NXT well past 2019 and deep into 2020 to anchor the show, and if they do indeed plan on holding all the gold, then having Cole as the top dog in NXT should be the final piece of that puzzle.
#4. Jonah Rock
NXT just recently announced a new signee class, and in it, we see at least 3 potential NXT Champions of the future. The first of them, who could succeed in our minds is the Aussie standout, Jonah Rock. The King of Monsters has become a bigger name around the world over the past few years, and with his combination of size and speed, it's easy to see him getting over big with the Full Sail crowd.
Rock has yet to debut on screen, but he's an intimidating character with a phenomenal work-rate for a man his size, and if the WWE slowly build him up, he could be a dominant Champion for quite some time. Pictured above is his SexRock partner and fellow TMDK stablemate Elliot Sexton, who also has quite a lot of potential heading into NXT. The two could potentially be interchangeable in this situation, but given his experience, unique look and work-rate, we have to take The King of Monsters in this spot.
#5. Trevor Lee
Speaking of the recent NXT signings, Trevor Lee is arguably the biggest name from that group, and the Carolina Caveman is ready to take his game to the next level in NXT. He's a very versatile performer that is capable of working babyface or heel, but with The King of Monsters on top of NXT already, this would be a fantastic underdog story and an easy one to tell.
The two are both incredible performers in the ring, and great character workers, so getting their story over would be easy within NXT. Building to that ultimate moment (ala Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano) would make it an even more incredible moment. This arguably won't be until mid-2020 or even later in that year, so it's very hard to predict how the crowd will be reacting to the product at that point, but NXT continues to grow and get better, and a Trevor Lee vs. Jonah Rock rivalry would be one for the ages.
