10 greatest title changes in NXT history

Over the last few decades, WWE's developmental system has changed in many different ways. From OVW to FCW to NXT, we've seen many makeovers and transition periods - but only in the latter have we been able to witness legitimately moving moments involving championship changes that have nothing to do with the main roster.

Triple H has been able to pull off something incredible, in that he has helped us to care about every single little thing that happens in NXT. Whenever a great match happens or a title change comes around, you know for a fact that the wrestling world will be talking about it the next day.

As such, we've been treated to several high profile championship switches since NXT's inception - and with that being said, here are our 10 greatest title changes in NXT history.

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#10 The Lucha Dragons

While this may not be a title change that everyone wanted to see, it's notable for being arguably the biggest upset in NXT history. At the time, not only were The Ascension the longest running champions in the history of the 'promotion' if you want to call it that, but they were also tipped to become one of the biggest teams in WWE history.

So, when Kalisto hit his finisher and The Lucha Dragons won the tag titles, nobody could quite believe it. The move was one that legitimately caught people off guard, and while some questions were initially raised, it actually made a lot of sense. Unfortunately, The Ascension haven't quite been given the chance to shine on the main roster, but perhaps that'll change one day.

#9 Aleister Black

Ever since debuting at Takeover: Orlando, it was quite clear that Aleister Black was going to be something special. The man formerly known as Tommy End had a very 'Undertaker'-esque feel to him, and over the course of the last twelve months, he has quickly established himself as one of the most well-rounded performers in all of WWE.

From his Black Mass finisher to his creepy entrance, Black is a superstar in the making - and his crowning moment in New Orleans was a big moment. The storytelling conducted by himself, Vega and Almas worked perfectly, ending with Black knocking Andrade into next week to ensure that he would be walking out of NOLA with the NXT Championship.

#8 The Vaudevillains

The Vaudevillains were never destined to succeed on the main roster, and while that's a hard pill for many to swallow, it's the truth. They were always better off down in NXT where they had more creative freedom and as such, their finest hour was obviously going to have come there. Of course, the Takeover in question is usually linked to another title change, but this one is just as fun.

The addition of Blue Pants as a foil for Alexa Bliss made all the sense in the world, and while Blake & Murphy were fun together as a duo, they didn't hold a candle to the potential of The Vaudevillains. It seemed like such a random title change at the time, but as you can tell by the reaction of the crowd, the moment itself was executed brilliantly.

#7 Seth Rollins

Yes, Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal did, in fact, go head to head in the first ever NXT Championship match. It may seem like a mismatch right now, but back in the day, Mahal was seen as a promising young talent - whereas Seth, of course, was always seen as 'the future'. The match between the two future WWE champions was intense, but it wasn't necessarily an instant classic.

What made it great, however, was the fact that an NXT champion was crowned for the first time ever. It was a sign of things to come for the developmental system, and it proved that fans were legitimately invested in what was happening. With Jim Ross calling the action it was always going to be a memorable moment, and it didn't disappoint.

#6 American Alpha

We're on a tag team streak with some of these selections, and it continues with American Alpha. For months prior to Takeover: Dallas, it felt like everyone was just waiting to see the crowning of Gable & Jordan as NXT Tag Team Champions. They had great rivals in the form of The Revival, and everyone was eagerly anticipating WrestleMania weekend to see what they'd end up producing.

They won the titles, as everyone expected, and while some would call it obvious, that isn't something that always matters when it comes to professional wrestling. Just because you're expecting one outcome doesn't mean it's a bad thing when it actually plays out, because the journey is often the best part anyway.

Hopefully, they'll reunite one day and tear up the main roster together.

#5 Samoa Joe

It wasn't exactly surprising to see Samoa Joe win the NXT Championship. After all, the guy was and still is one of the most popular superstars in WWE - so it made sense. What was a bit shocking, however, was the fact that The Samoan Submission Machine finally got the job done on a house show in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Nobody in the arena could quite believe what they'd just witnessed, and not long after, the news reached social media. Fans were questioning whether or not this was all a work or whether Balor had suffered an injury, when in reality, it was just a genius move from NXT and Triple H. From that moment on, they knew that fans would attend their live events with the hope of seeing something equally as special.

#4 Adam Cole

Adam Cole is an acquired taste at the best of times, with some members of the WWE Universe still not being fans of his work. That makes sense, and not everyone can be over with the crowd, but the guy still deserves to be respected for what he's done in this business - especially considering he hasn't even reached the age of 30 yet.

One of Cole's finest moments came just last month when he became the first man to ever win the NXT North American Championship. It was great to see a new title being introduced into the fold in NXT but beyond that, it was great to see a decisive winner in what was one of the most stacked ladder matches we've seen in a long time.

Cole may not be 'the man' just yet, but he's on his way, and we can't wait to see what happens next.

#3 Sami Zayn

There's a reason why Sami Zayn is called the underdog from the underground. His journey towards the NXT Championship involved several knockdowns and problems, with many wondering whether or not he'd ever get his hands on the strap. Eventually, however, he managed to overcome the odds by defeating Adrian Neville in front of an electric Full Sail crowd.

The moment itself was remarkable, but beyond that, the aftermath was legendary. Kevin Owens, who had debuted earlier in the night, came down to the ring so that he could congratulate his 'best friend' Zayn: and we all know what happened next.

Owens turned heel and decimated Sami, completely ruining what was supposed to be a career-defining victory. It doesn't get much better than that, folks.

#2 DIY

In order to fully appreciate the beauty and spectacle of Tommaso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano from Takeover: New Orleans, you must first go back and watch everything that happened leading up to their demise as a tag team. That includes Takeover: Toronto, which saw them finally defeat The Revival to win the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Having failed before, it was crucial that they came out on top on that night - and they did. The lead-up to the finish was as exhilarating as you could ever imagine, with the actual conclusion being a thing of beauty. As Dash & Dawson clasped their hands together before finally giving in, it became evident that all four of these guys were destined to be stars.

#1 Bayley

Professional wrestling is an art-form whether the critics want to admit it or not. Some will always reject that idea no matter how hard you try and reinforce it, but that doesn't make it any less true. If you want an example, just go back and watch this match which saw Bayley, the ultimate underdog, defeat Sasha Banks to win the NXT Women's Championship.

Banks was playing the role of the bitchy heel to perfection, whereas Bayley was trying to prove that she could hang with the top female stars down in NXT. It was a match that was pretty much flawless from start to finish, and it's probably the crowning moment of Triple H's time down in developmental - which is saying something.

Will we ever see a title win greater than this? Time will tell.