Top 5 Superstars in NXT History

One of the biggest news stories this week has been NXT's move to USA Network. WWE officially confirmed the news on Tuesday. It was reported earlier this week that the company would be announcing the move on Monday Night RAW. Following the announcement, several NXT Superstars and alumni of the Yellow And Black brand took to social media to congratulate on the move.

The move will see NXT produce two-hours of weekly live television on Wednesday Night, starting September 18. WWE is reportedly getting around $30-50 million per year from USA Network for NXT. This also means that NXT will be going head-to-head with AEW's weekly TV show on TNT.

NXT's journey from being a reality show to becoming a third-global brand of WWE has been a fascinating one. Triple H's pet project has been able to capture the imagination of hardcore wrestling fans, which has resulted in the brand garnering a massive rabid fanbase.

From being the breeding ground for WWE to producing some of the best feuds in recent memory, NXT has been a pioneer when it comes to simple yet effective storytelling.

Over the years, Full Sail University (the home of NXT) has seen a plethora of Superstars ply their trade in its bright lights and become household names in the process. But, there have been a few who have shone brighter than the others.These Superstars have done some of their career's best work during their time in NXT. They have become the very definition of the brand and left an indelible mark in the heart of the NXT Universe

Here are our picks for the top five Superstars in NXT history.

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#5 Asuka

Asuka was undefeated during her tenure in NXT

Asuka is the holder of the longest undefeated streak in WWE history. As NXT Women's Champion, the Empress of Tomorrow ran through the division defeating the who's who that NXT had to offer. The Japanese Sensation made her NXT debut at NXT Takeover: Respect in 2015 where she defeated Dana Brooke.

Her dominant run in NXT saw Asuka defeat the likes of Bayley, Nikki Cross, Ember Moon, Emma and Peyton Royce. Asuka was never defeated during her tenure in NXT and was undoubtedly the most dominant champion in the brand's history.

Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship from Bayley at NXT Takeover: Dallas during WrestleMania 32 weekend and would on to the title for 510 days, the longest in NXT history.

Although her call-up to the main roster and how she has been handled has left a lot to be desired, Asuka's unbeaten run in NXT is something which won't be replicated for sometime.

Asuka was one of the pioneers of the Women's Evolution, both in NXT and on the main roster. She is one of the talented female performers in the company's history.

#4 Tomasso Ciampa

Tomassi Ciampa with his beloved 'Goldie'

The Blackheart became the most despised man in the business when he turned on his long-time friend and tag team partner, Johnny Gargano, at NXT Takeover: Chicago in 2017.

The team of Gargano and Ciampa, collectively known as DIY, were one of the top tag teams in NXT during their time together. Their match against The Revival at NXT Takeover: Toronto in 2016 is regarded by many as one of the best tag team matches in WWE history.

Unfortunately for Ciampa, a series of injuries meant that the Blackheart had to step away from in-ring action for the rest of 2017. Ciampa would return with a vengeance at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia and attack Gargano with a crutch to close the show.

This would lead to Gargano and Ciampa having a trilogy of matches spread over the next three Takeover events. This classic heel-babyface feud has garnered cult status among wrestling fans. Ciampa's heel character was a major part of this feud being such a humungous success.

Ciampa would win the NXT Championship from Aleister Black on the July 18, 2018, episode of NXT TV due to an assist from Johnny Gargano.

The Blackheart would have a great run with NXT's top prize, whom he referred to as ' Goldie', before having to relinquish the title earlier this year due to a neck injury.

Ciampa's rise to the top of NXT especially given the fact that no one even remotely could've guessed he would be there made it all the more special. Although his run as the NXT Champion wasn't the longest, it most certainly was the most impactful.

#3 Bayley

Bayley was one of the major female stars during her time in NXT

The Huggable one has become a shadow of her former self on the main roster. Before her arrival on the main roster in 2016, Bayley was one of the driving forces behind the Women's Evolution during her time in NXT. Her series of matches against Sasha Banks for the NXT Women's Championship will go down as some of the best women's matches in history.

Bayley made her NXT TV debut in June 2012 and had to take a long road before she reached the top of the food chain. Bayley's character of a babyface connected with NXT fans in a big way. Bayley defeated Sasha Banks to win the NXT Women's Championship at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn in one of the best women's matches in wrestling history, in our opinion.

The Hugger would drop the title to Asuka at NXT Takeover: Dallas before moving to the main roster. Bayley's run on the main roster has had its ups and downs but it hasn't the heights when compared to her run in NXT.

#2 Finn Balor

Balor is the longest-reigning NXT Champion

Before becoming the inaugural Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016, Finn Balor was a major driving force behind the massive success that NXT would become during his time on the Yellow and Black brand.

Balor made his NXT debut on a September 2014 episode of NXT TV by helping Hideo Itami (KENTA) fend off an attack from The Ascension. The Irishman defeated Kevin Owens to win the NXT Championship at The Beast In The East on July 4, 2015.

Balor's run as the NXT Champion saw the brand scale newer heights and become a global third brand for WWE. He also won the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in 2015 alongside Samoa Joe. Joe would eventually turn heel and feud with Balor for the NXT Championship. Balor lost the NXT Championship to the Samoan Submission Machine in an NXT Live event in Lowell, Massachusetts on April 21, 2016.

Since leaving NXT and joining the main-roster in 2016, Balor has gone on to achieve major success on both RAW and SmackDown. His NXT Championship reign of 292 days, to this day, is the longest NXT Championship reign. Balor, alongside Bayley and Sami Zayn, were the first Superstars to usher in the Golden age of 'NXT' and help make it more than just a 'developmental ' branch of WWE.

#1 Johnny Gargano

Gargano is the very embodiment of what NXT stands out

If there is one man in the world who lives and breathes NXT, it is without a doubt, Johnny Gargano. The Rebelheart has not only been the longest-tenured Superstar in the brand's history, he has also been it's most decorated athlete as well. The Clevland-native signed with WWE in 2015 and lost his NXT TV debut to Apollo Crews.

Gargano's quest for the NXT Championship has been one of the best-told stories in WWE for quite a while now. We have Gargano even turn to the dark side for a while in late 2018 to become the top-dog in NXT.

His trilogy of matches against Adam Cole and Tomasso Ciampa will go down in history as some of the best matches WWE has ever put on. Gargano's love for the NXT brand has seen him stick with the brand longer than anyone else in the company. The man is without a doubt the heart and soul of NXT.

Gargano has main-evented more Takeover events than anyone in NXT history, earning him the moniker of 'Johnny Takeover'. Even though he hasn't necessarily won most of them, the passion and intensity that Gargano brings in his match have left fans awestruck and spellbound time and time again