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WWE disbanded their version of 'ECW' in 2010 after lasting for nearly 4 years. The show was replaced with a new one called NXT and later in the fifth season, it was called 'NXT Redemption'. The five seasons of NXT were more or less like a game show.
Several participants- male and female, entered the show and the winner got a chance to become a WWE Superstar. In 2012, this show was revamped with the FCW developmental territory and is now called NXT.
Only this time, the wrestlers were truly able to perform and showcase their talents to the audience. The show garnered a lot of popularity mainly because the wrestlers had great matches and intriguing yet simple storylines.
NXT has become a huge deal in WWE in the last few years. The crowd at NXT(particularly Full Sail Arena) is more interactive with the wrestlers due to the small, intimate nature of the tapings.
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With that being said, there have been 14 NXT champions in past. Here's a list of 5 superstars who could very well become the NXT Champion in 2018.
#5 Aleister Black
Aleister Black, formerly known as 'Tommy End' made his NXT debut in early 2017. Black had an extraordinary year in NXT. He went on and faced some big names in NXT like Hideo Itami and Velveteen Dream. Both the matches he had with Itami and Dream at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn 3 and War Games respectively, were well received by the audience and critics alike.
2018 is about to begin and there are some amazing things planned in for Black. Backstage officials are very impressed with Black and this will surely give him the boost he needs in the coming year. With a unique move set and hard hitting strikes, Black will surely become a top contender in the NXT brand.
With that being said, Black might become the NXT Champion in 2018. With the list of opponents he defeated and the matches he has had, Black can surely be an excellent NXT Champion in the coming year.
#4 Tommaso Ciampa
Over a year ago, DIY faced The Revival in a 2 out of 3 falls match at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. This in my opinion, became the match of 2016 and one of the best matches in their careers. The future was extremely bright for both the men as a tag team and the main roster call was just a few months away. Sadly, all of this changed in 2017 for DIY.
Ciampa turned on Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, after their match with the Authors of Pain (AoP) where they lost a rematch for the NXT tag titles. This was the biggest heel turn of the year by far.
The split of DIY made Johnny the ultimate babyface and Ciampa as a solidified heel. Unfortunately, Ciampa missed most of 2017 due to an injury sustained during the match against AoP. This made Johnny start his own journey as a singles competitor while Ciampa was sitting on the bench throughout the remaining of 2017.
According to various sources, Ciampa will return by the start of 2018. Hopefully, he begins where he left off, in a rivalry with his former partner, Gargano.
Ciampa has the potential to become NXT Champion in 2018. A feud with Johnny Gargano will elevate both these men and hopefully an NXT Championship for Ciampa.
#3 Adam Cole
One of the hottest free-agent in 2017 was none other than Adam Cole. Cole has had an impressive career prior to coming to WWE. Cole has won the ROH World title on three different occasions, plus the ROH Tag team titles and ROH Television Title. Adam Cole has wrestled from ROH to NJPW. The next step for Cole, after competing almost everywhere in the world was to join the WWE.
Adam Cole made his debut in late August 2017 when he attacked the newly crowned NXT Champion, Drew McIntyre. Upon his grand arrival in the WWE, Adam Cole along with Bobby Fish and Kyle O' Reilly created a stable known as "The Undisputed Era". They achieved a huge victory in the War Games match, at TakeOver: WarGames and shot to the top of the tag team division two weeks later, by winning the tag titles from SAnitY.
As the leader of the group, the only way to maintain his dominance in the stable and in NXT would be to win the NXT Title. Cole certainly has the charisma and is an excellent performer. 2018 can certainly be the year when he wins the big one and proves that his stable and he are the most dominant one in the recent era.
#2 Drew McIntyre
According to the rules, a former champion is entitled to a rematch (Except for the Universal Title it seems). Drew Mcintyre was a dominant superstar throughout 2017. He had an undefeated streak in NXT ever since he returned to the company.
Drew won his NXT title at TakeOver: Brooklyn 3 after defeating the undefeated Bobby Roode. This marked him as the first superstar to win the NXT championship after winning a major singles title on the main roster. Everything was going according to the plan, seeds were being sowed for a future rivalry with Adam Cole. Although fate had other plans as an injury took all of that away from Drew and with that, the NXT Championship.
Drew is set to be back sometime in early 2018. It is implied that he will be going back for the title i.e, the one he lost to Andrade 'Cien' Almas at WarGames. The coming year will be interesting for McIntyre and I can definitely see him becoming a two-time NXT Champion.
#1 Johnny Gargano
In 2016, Gargano established himself along with his former tag team partner Ciampa, as one of the world's best tag teams. From the start, these men had amazing tag team matches and elevated the entire tag team division. The following year could have been better but with an unfortunate injury of Ciampa, things changed drastically.
This year after their splitting up as a tag team, Gargano started his journey as a singles competitor. The year ended with Gargano as the #1 contender for the NXT title. After a year full of ups and downs, Gargano earned his rightful spot as a top contender in NXT.
Next year will be filled with challenges for Gargano, as he will face the NXT Champion, Andrade 'Cien' Almas at TakeOver: Philadelphia and a long due rivalry against his former partner, Tommaso Ciampa.
I personally think that Gargano vs Ciampa for the NXT Championship can be one of the best matches of 2018. The coming year seems to have a lot in store for good ol' Johnny Wrestling. The NXT Championship would be perfect for Johnny in 2018.
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