5 WWE Superstars who could become NXT Champion in 2021

#2 Karrion Kross could become NXT Champion in 2021

"On the path there are obstacles, but for me, the obstacles are the path."Due to injury, @WWEKarrionKross must relinquish his #NXTTitle. #WWENXT @Lady_Scarlett13 pic.twitter.com/usClkIAdMX

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 27, 2020

Karrion Kross had an unbelievable start to his NXT career, experiencing both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Back in February, WWE announced that Kross has signed with the company. Afterward, mysterious vignettes started to air on NXT TV over several weeks. In April 2020, Kross finally made his debut, attacking Tommaso Ciampa as he cut a promo backstage. Kross went on to make his in-ring debut on the May 6 edition of NXT, absolutely obliterating Leon Ruff.

However, it wasn't just his brutal in-ring work that got people talking, but also his fantastic entrance. Accompanied to the ring by his real-life partner Scarlett in a dark and spooky setting with smoke surrounding him, Kross looks intimidating with the words 'Fall and Prey' repeated throughout his gripping theme music. Karrion Kross had been presented as an absolute beast from the get-go, and it was only the beginning.

''Karrion Kross is the damn devil, what the hell did NXT just let in it's doors?''. - Tom Phillips (Moments after Kross' debut victory)

Karrion's feud with Ciampa culminated in a match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House event on June 7, 2020. Kross absolutely destroyed the former NXT Champion, as Ciampa struggled to get much offense in. The match ended at around the 6-minute mark when Kross applied the Kross Jacket submission, making Ciampa pass out. This was a huge victory for Kross and cemented him as a main-event player on NXT. Taking out one of the biggest stars on NXT so easily put him over as a huge threat to the entire roster.

Kross' dominance would continue, as he went on to challenge for Keith Lee's NXT Championship in only his second NXT TakeOver appearance. On Aug. 22 at TakeOver XXX, Kross defeated Lee to capture his first NXT Championship in another hard-hitting bout. This match was a lot more competitive than the match with Ciampa, but it ultimately ended with the same result.

Kross came out on-top after he hit a devastating top rope Doomsday Saito Suplex to pin Lee for the win. He really hit the highest of highs just 4 months into his run with NXT. Unfortunately, the lowest of lows would soon come. On the following day, WWE announced that Kross suffered a separated shoulder during the main event, which forced him to vacate the title on Aug. 26 episode of NXT. It was the shortest NXT championship reign in history.

Kross hasn't appeared since his injury. While there is no word on exactly how long the former champion is out of action, one thing is for certain, the man that makes his opponents Fall and Prey will be chomping at the bit to regain the championship that he never lost.