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Beginning its spell as a full-fledged brand of WWE back in May 2012, NXT has been the breeding ground for many of WWE's biggest Superstars over the last eight years. The likes of Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, and countless others all spent time in NXT before being called up to the WWE main roster as part of either RAW or SmackDown.
For much of NXT's existence, its sole purpose was to prepare the next generation of WWE Superstars. The Black and Gold brand served as a stepping stone for performers before they got their break on either of WWE's two flagship shows.
A new era for NXT
All this changed in September 2019, though, as WWE struck a deal with the USA Network to broadcast a two-hour NXT television show on Wednesday nights. The brand, which had previously aired exclusively on the WWE Network, was now being positioned to go head-to-head with All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite - in what was quickly dubbed the "Wednesday Night War".
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The need to compete with AEW every week meant that NXT was now no longer merely a developmental group. Instead, it was now very much WWE's third brand and required its own Superstars in order to thrive.
While a few talents were plucked from the WWE main roster to help increase the depth of the brand, NXT was mainly reliant on its existing Superstars when it made its bow on prime time television.
Recently, however, the brand has seen several names called up to WWE's more established brands, including long-time NXT Superstar Matt Riddle moving to SmackDown. The suggestion is that more performers might also be making the switch from Wednesday nights shortly.
There are some NXT Superstars, though, that may never leave the brand. Whether they have publically stated a desire to stay or would just be better served by avoiding the cramped rosters of both RAW and SmackDown, several individuals might well have found their permanent home in NXT.
Here are five Superstars that may never leave the brand.
#5 Finn Balor
A former NXT Champion, Finn Balor made his shock return to the brand on the episode of NXT that aired opposite the debut of AEW Dynamite.
Balor, who turns 39 years old next month, enjoyed a reasonably successful run on the main roster between 2016 and 2019. The Irishman had stints on both RAW and SmackDown during that time, even becoming the first-ever Universal Champion.
It is in NXT, though, that Balor is most valuable to WWE - both now and in the future. Having faced pretty much every big name in WWE already in his career, Balor brings 20 years of in-ring experience to the NXT locker room. Capable of having great matches with almost anyone, Balor is the perfect veteran for WWE to have as part of the brand.
Balor's exposure on WWE's more prominent platforms is also a big plus for NXT. The brand needs a certain number of genuine stars to keep television ratings steady - and Balor definitely fits that bill.
Staying in NXT would not necessarily prevent Balor from facing Superstars from WWE's other brands, either. Over the past year, talent from NXT has frequently featured on some of the promotion's biggest annual pay-per-view events.
On a week-to-week basis, however, Finn Balor should remain an NXT Superstar.
#4 Walter (and Imperium)
Although the faction was born in NXT UK, Imperium has undoubtedly made their presence felt stateside as well. Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner currently hold the NXT Tag Team titles, while Walter reigns as the NXT UK Champion. The only member of the group that does not possess NXT gold at present is former SmackDown Superstar Alexander Wolfe.
Despite their success, though, Imperium do not seem likely to make a move to the main roster. Walter, in particular, has made it clear that he has no desire to relocate to the US permanently.
Speaking to talkSPORT last September, he said the following regarding a move:
"I would go on the main roster at some point but I wouldn’t move to America. Moving to America is not for me. American lifestyle is not for me. No, I couldn’t imagine that. When it comes to that, I stay where I am."
Realistically, in order to be a regular part of either RAW or SmackDown, Walter would need to be based in America. Both the above brands combine monthly to produce pay-per-view events. NXT TakeOver specials, on the other hand, are far less frequent.
NXT is the perfect home for Walter
The lighter schedule of NXT when it comes to big events means that Walter is far better suited to the Black and gold brand and can continue to appear on both NXT and NXT UK - lending his unique star power to shows on both sides of the Atlantic.
Remaining in NXT also makes sense for the other members of the Imperium. Barthel and Aichner stand out far more in NXT than they likely would do on the main roster. The same can be said for Wolfe, who was barely featured during his previous SmackDown stint.
#3 Drake Maverick
Drake Maverick is once again a WWE employee - and, more specifically, is now an official NXT Superstar.
Despite losing in the final of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament, Maverick has excelled both in and out of the ring during his time on NXT in recent weeks. The former 205 Live General Manager has been allowed to show his worth as a wrestler, as well as continuing to demonstrate his excellent character work.
The contract that Triple H presented to Maverick prominently featured an NXT logo and the Black and gold brand is where Maverick should stay. The fact that the 37-year-old was released by WWE before he got his second chance on NXT tells us everything we need to know about Maverick's prospects if he were to return to RAW or SmackDown.
Do we really need to see Maverick chasing R-Truth over the 24/7 Championship in a backstage segment ever again?
Drake Maverick will be taken seriously in NXT and could have great matches with a wide variety of opponents. His verbal skills could also be used to good effect on the brand. Interactions between Maverick and NXT General Manager William Regal could be particularly entertaining.
WWE has been fortunate to find the success that they have with the Drake Maverick comeback story in NXT. Let's hope that the company takes full advantage of this opportunity.
#2 Johnny Gargano
A man known as the "Heart and Soul" of NXT before his recent heel turn, Johnny Gargano has been involved in many of the brand's greatest ever matches.
"Johnny Wrestling" is at his best in both longer matches and storylines, where he has the opportunity to truly get the audience to invest in what he is presenting. NXT, under the leadership of Triple H, has traditionally been far better at allowing long-term rivalries to play out than either RAW or SmackDown - where plans frequently change often.
Another factor that would surely work against Johnny Gargano elsewhere in WWE is his size. Billed at just 190 pounds, the track record of success for performers the size of Gargano on the main roster is far from great.
Much still to do in NXT
Despite his rich history with the brand, there is still much for Gargano to do in NXT. Having only just turned full heel alongside his wife Candice LeRae, Gargano is taking his character in a new direction - and feels all the fresher for it.
A truly versatile performer, Johnny Gargano can be a key player in NXT for years to come. So long as he continues to find creative fulfillment, he may never leave the brand.
#1 Tommaso Ciampa
The Superstars featured previously on this list may well prefer to stay in NXT, but nobody has ever gone quite as far as Tommaso Ciampa - who stated last year that he would rather quit WWE altogether than leave the brand.
Speaking on Lillian Garcia's "Chasing Glory" podcast, Ciampa bluntly addressed his feelings on the possibility of him leaving NXT for either RAW or SmackDown.
"If I have to go to RAW or SmackDown then I’m gonna retire. I would love to produce or coach or be a part of it, but there’s no way I’m taking on that load and going, ‘Yeah, I’ll just have a six-month run and then call it quits.’ I just won’t do that. It’s not worth it to me."
That may seem like an extreme course of action, but Ciampa clearly feels very strongly about remaining an NXT Superstar. In many ways, it is easy to see why.
The 35-year-old has a history of injuries, including a neck injury that forced him to relinquish the NXT Championship last March. The nature of the NXT schedule means that Ciampa can massively limit the number of matches he takes part in each year - a privilege that he likely would not be afforded on the main roster.
Ciampa, it should not be forgotten, already has experience of performing on WWE's flagship shows. He debuted, alongside Johnny Gargano, on the February 18, 2019, edition of RAW. The pair performed as a tag team following their debut but were largely presented as a midcard act. The run would be abruptly ended by Ciampa's above-mentioned neck injury, but it is understandable that he is not in any rush to trade a top spot in NXT for a midcard role elsewhere.
Ciampa has a good relationship with NXT boss Triple H and enjoys working for him. A departure from NXT seems very unlikely for the former champion.
