WWE Superstars who were instrumental in getting NXT to where it is today

#3 Finn Balor

Balor is the longest-reigning NXT Champ.

Finn Balor was the face of NXT throughout his entire run as a part of the Yellow and Black brand. He debuted to back up Hideo Itami after the Japanese Superstar was engrossed in a feud with the Ascension. After Balor debuted to save and join Itami, it was clear that he would become a bigger player going forward in NXT.

It took a few tries, but Balor eventually won the NXT Championship from the dastardly Kevin Owens. It started a reign of 292 days and is still the longest reign for an NXT Champion.

During that run, he was seen as the face of the brand and was arguably one of the most popular NXT stars of all time. He was also a part of the first ladder match in NXT history.

Just like Asuka, he was a stabilizing force atop the brand while others debuted and were integrated into the company. Because his NXT run was so successful, he was hand-picked to become the first-ever Universal Champion.

While his reign was literally only one day, it still showed a lot of faith from management. Where did that faith come from? His extremely successful run in NXT.