6 WWE Superstars you didn't know were NXT rookies

NXT is one of the hottest brands in wrestling, having taken the entire industry by storm for over five years now. It has been the biggest and most consistent positive for WWE during an inconsistent time. And it is safe to say that NXT's TakeOver events are the best that the company has to offer.

The Black and Gold brand has been in existence for over ten years now, but it started out a lot different to what it is today. NXT was born as a replacement for the dying ECW brand, slotting in as WWE's third brand. However, it was not your typical wrestling product.

NXT was originally a seasonal elimination-style competition, designed to test eight WWE developmental talents in a number of outlandish challenges. They included obstacle courses and wheelbarrow races, making some of the NXT "rookies" look a bit foolish on live TV.

Several well-known WWE Superstars made their debuts on the NXT game show, which lasted five seasons. The most notable group of names to do so has to be the entire cast of Season 1, with all eight contestants joining forces to become the Nexus and wreaking havoc in WWE.

However, other seasons have also seen several familiar faces begin their journeys. Some are still active today, some have left WWE and one is a regular non-wrestling face on the product today. Here are six WWE Superstars you didn't know were NXT "rookies".

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#6 Curtis Axel

The recently released Curtis Axel was one of the top prospects who made it onto Season 2 of NXT, as Michael McGillicutty. It was a name that failed to do his family's legacy any justice at all. With Larry "The Axe" Hennig as his grandfather and Mr. Perfect as his father, Joe Hennig should have been dealt a better introduction to the WWE Universe.

Anyway, the third-generation Superstar did fine on NXT, with Kofi Kingston as his mentor. McGillicutty, as he was called at the time, finished second behind Kaval, better known as Low Ki. Shortly after Season 2 ended, he joined the Nexus and was one of the last remaining members in the group.

Things eventually got better for him, especially in the name department. Curtis Axel would go on to win the Intercontinental Championship, before becoming a Tag Team Champion alongside Bo Dallas.

#5 Byron Saxton

It may come as a surprise to learn that current RAW commentator Byron Saxton was a wrestler on NXT. He was a part of Season 4, having spent a few months as a commentator on ECW before NXT took its place. Saxton was mentored by Chris Masters before Dolph Ziggler became his new pro by winning a battle royal to earn the chance to choose a new rookie.

However, Saxton would end up being the third competitor out of six to be eliminated. That did not spell the end of his in-ring days, as Saxton was a part of the following season as well, named NXT Redemption, this time being mentored by Yoshi Tatsu. He was eliminated from the show fairly quickly though.

Byron Saxton eventually transitioned back into an announcing role, contributing as the play-by-play commentator on the relaunched NXT in 2012. He gradually made his way to RAW and SmackDown, having been a part of the commentary teams on all three WWE brands.

Despite being the butt of several jokes among his colleagues, Saxton is an underrated and valuable member of WWE's broadcast team.

#4 Fandango

Before he was solving fashion crimes with Tyler Breeze or beating Chris Jericho at WrestleMania, Fandango was a part of the NXT game show. He was known as Johnny Curtis when he appeared on Season 4, with R-Truth as his mentor. And despite heavy competition from Brodus Clay, Curtis won NXT, earning a WWE Tag Team title shot alongside his mentor.

However, in light of Truth's heel turn and drastic character change in April 2011, Curtis never invoked their shot at the titles. He eventually debuted on SmackDown, before moving back to NXT, after the show's competition format was dropped.

Curtis finally received a WWE Tag Team Championship match over a year after earning it, alongside the aforementioned Michael McGillicutty. The pair took on Team Hell No in a losing effort. Johnny Curtis shortly became Fandango, enjoying a successful WWE main roster debut.

Fandango is a popular member of the roster and has since returned to NXT once again, this time with his tag team partner, Tyler Breeze. Unfortunately, he is currently out of action after undergoing UCL reconstruction.

#3 AJ Lee

Season 3 of NXT was the only all-female one, with six women competing to earn a WWE contract. The biggest name on the list in hindsight was AJ Lee, who was only known as AJ back then. She was presented as the alternative, with WWE adapting her "nerd" fandom to her character.

AJ was mentored by Primo, with a relationship being teased between the two throughout the season. Despite her not winning NXT, they ultimately kissed on the finale, beginning AJ's long list of relationships WWE would book her in over the years.

The three-time Divas Champion was linked with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, and eventual husband, CM Punk on-screen. AJ went on to become one of the greatest female champions in WWE history, holding the Divas title for 295 days. However, she ended up retiring right after WrestleMania in 2015.

It is a shame that AJ Lee retired that early. She was one of the primary influencers in the WWE's change in attitude towards women's wrestling, with many dream opponents still in NXT at the time.

#2 Naomi

As the only current WWE Superstar from the all-female season of the NXT game show, Naomi has come a long way in the company. It is fair to say that her accomplishments in WWE have far exceeded those of her pro, Kelly Kelly. Naomi was the last competitor eliminated from NXT Season 3, as Kaitlyn won the entire thing.

More opportunities would come her way after NXT, as she debuted on RAW alongside Cameron as Brodus Clay's valets. Naomi's athleticism eventually stood out, resulting in her rising up the ranks and having multiple shots at the Divas Championship.

The former Funkadactyl adapted with the times, slotting in seamlessly in the SmackDown women's division. Naomi won the SmackDown Women's Championship twice, including at WrestleMania 33 in her hometown of Orlando. She has shown constant improvement in the ring ever since her stint on NXT.

Naomi is one of the most solid in-ring workers in WWE's female roster, becoming one of the most popular Superstars as well. She was also the winner of the inaugural Women's Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34.

#1 Bray Wyatt

The single biggest WWE star who was a part of the game show version of NXT, aside from the first season, is Bray Wyatt. He, like Curtis Axel, is a third-generation Superstar who's identity in WWE was drifted away from his family's legacy. Being described as an army tank with a Ferrari engine, Husky Harris was the name he was given back then.

Harris was mentored by 'Dashing' Cody Rhodes but finished in fourth place out of eight on NXT Season 2. He joined the Nexus shortly afterward, staying in the group for four months. Harris returned to FCW in 2011 and ended up turning into Bray Wyatt by the time NXT became WWE's developmental brand.

Wyatt founded his faction in NXT, eventually moving on to the WWE main roster along with Erick Rowan and Luke Harper. Over the next few years, the Wyatt Family would see multiple changes until it all came crashing down when Randy Orton infiltrated and destroyed the faction, as well as the Wyatt Family Compound.

Two years later, the world was introduced to Bray Wyatt's new creation, the Firefly Fun House. It has been one of the best and most fulfilling parts of WWE programming in the past year, along with the rise of The Fiend, Wyatt's terrifying alter-ego.