9 NXT Champions who went on to become world champions in WWE

#9 Asuka

Asuka remained undefeated during her run as NXT Women's Championship

Asuka made her name across various promotions in her native Japan before making the move to NXT in 2015. She would feud with the likes of Dana Brooke and Emma following her debut in September before entering the NXT Women's Championship picture.

The Empress of Tomorrow would manage to win the title by beating Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Dallas on April 1st, 2016. Asuka then defended the championship against the likes of The IIconics, Nikki Cross, Ember Moon, and Ruby Riott before eventually relinquishing the same in August 2017 after injuring her right collarbone, capping her reign at 510 days.

Asuka would continue her undefeated streak on RAW, eventually winning the Women's Royal Rumble Match in 2018. She would lose the subsequent title match against Charlotte at WrestleMania 34, eventually ending her streak at 914 days.

Asuka finally won a women's title when she captured the SmackDown Women's Championship in December that year in a TLC match at the titular event. Asuka managed to win the triple threat affair also involving Charlotte and Becky Lynch following interference from Ronda Rousey.

The Empress of Tomorrow has since lost the title to The Queen and had a successful run in the women's tag division with Kairi Sane, winning the tag titles in the process.

However, Asuka seems primed for a singles run and has already qualified for the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. She could also become a Grand Slam Champion if she's able to win the briefcase and successfully cashes it to claim the RAW Women's Championship.