Predicting the next NXT Champion

NXT is still a hot commodity in the WWE landscape and continues to be a proving ground for upcoming talent, as well as getting more seasoned wrestlers accustomed to the WWE style. Past NXT champions have included Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor, so each new NXT champion has big shoes to fill. There are currently several NXT superstars who have connected enough with the fanbase and could legitimately take the NXT title off of Andrade Cien Almas going forward.

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#5 EC3

Ethan Carter III

A dark horse on this list as he hasn't wrestled a match in NXT yet, but HHH sometimes throws a spanner in the usual works and this may be a time that EC3 gets a title match and a win in his first outing. Usually, the stars who show up at a TakeOver event are the ones who go on to receive star booking and EC3 is considered a big coup for NXT given his Impact stardom and name appeal.

#4 Adam Cole

The leader of the Undisputed Era requires some gold to be undisputed

Adam Cole 'Baybee' is currently heading towards the main event, primarily due to his prior stints as leader of the Bullet Club and being a three-time ROH world champion. His Undisputed Era stablemates have already captured NXT gold and although falling short in matches with Aleister Black, his weasely antics and winning by any cost mentality will surely put him on a collision course with whatever babyface champion NXT has.

#3 Aleister Black

Aleister is hoping there will be a title Black Mass

The ever-popular Amsterdam native has been on a tear in NXT since debuting at TakeOver: Orlando and will surely hold the NXT title at some point. Whether that happens sooner rather than later remains to be seen, but having only lost once in NXT in a multi-man match is still seen as largely undefeated. TakeOver: New Orleans has a match between Almas and Black slated, so the opportunity may be soon for Black to turn his dominance into gold. This match on paper has the possibility of being every bit as good as the Almas vs Gargano match.

#2 Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre will soon be back in NXT and wants his title back

The big Scottish native had to effectively give up his title to Almas back at TakeOver: WarGames and so will be on the warpath once he returns to regain his title. If Almas still has the title by this point, it will be a fitting return to the ring for Drew, however, if Gargano or Black have the title by this point, it could set the stage for a heel turn if Drew eventually does beat either of the two popular superstars. His return to NXT, however, may hinge on if the original plan was to have him on the main roster by now, so may become surplus to requirements in NXT itself.

#1 Johnny Gargano

Soon to be NXT Champion?

What better way to cap off Johnny Gargano's time with NXT than to beat Andrade Cien Almas for the NXT title. This would obviously be dependent on him retaining his place in NXT after putting it on the line one more time against Almas but the chase for the title and to beat the man he has lost to three times already would be a great story to follow for the fans of Gargano.

Once champion, this would nicely set up the series of matches we will get between Gargano and Ciampa once he is cleared to wrestle, and having the title on the line would be an extra boost to this already incendiary story.