WWE Stars Who Made the Step Up from NXT

We look at how NXT is now helping create the best WWE main roster we’ve seen in more than the last 10 years.

More from WWE

Coming out of WWE Night of Champions we now have four former Champions in NXT holding titles on the main roster. Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Big E and Charlotte are positioned as three of the top superstars in the company, but if they hadn’t come through the Performance Center, would they be in those positions?

Rollins was the first NXT Champion. Langston was the man who beat him for that belt. Owens came in to NXT and won their main title in only a two month period. Charlotte was one of the pivotal figures in establishing the women’s division in NXT, holding the NXT Women’s title after beating Natalya in a tournament final.

ALSO ON DAILY DDT: 30 Greatest Gimmick Match Types in WWE History

Rollins is the main man on WWE TV, most recently holding the WWE and United States titles at the same time. Rollins is without doubt the man to carry the company in the next ten years. He’s been likened to Shawn Michaels by many people and the comparisons are spot on. Seth has proved that he is more than capable in the ring, as he is probably the best all round wrestler in the company. You can see why he’s been placed in such an important position in the company, taken under the wing of the Authority, and given every opportunity to shine.

Live Feed

3 WWE superstars who definitely won't be back in 2024 /

Bam Smack Pow

7 WWE superstars CM Punk needs to feud with after Survivor Series returnBam Smack Pow

Why Fans Hope CM Punk Will be Added to WWE 2K23 SoonDBLTAP

It Actually Happened: CM Punk returns to WWE at Survivor Series 2023FanSided

How to watch WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023Bam Smack Pow

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 live results and highlightsFanSided

Owens has made a massive impact since day one in WWE. From starting in NXT and destroying his friend Sami Zayn for the NXT title, to his debut on the main roster and beating John Cena is his first official main roster match. After losing out on the United States title feud with Cena, he now holds the Intercontinental Championship after beating Ryback for the belt at Night of Champions. The way he won the belt, with the eye rake when it looked like Ryback was about to put him away with the Shellshock, only pushes him even further as the cocky heel who people love to hate. That’s why he’ll eventually be one of the biggest stars the company has ever had.

Big E holds one half of the WWE Tag Team Championships, alongside his New Day teammates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. He came up to the main roster after holding the NXT title for nearly 6 months, won the Intercontinental title and is now a two-time tag champion. While in the early days, it looked like the New Day was set to bomb, they are now one of the best things on WWE TV. It took them time to get to that point, but the recent feud with The Dudley Boyz and the “#savethetables” movement really is one of the most over segments on the show.

Charlotte, the daughter of one of the true legends of wrestling, Ric Flair, is a key part of the Divas Revolution. Since her debut in NXT, she was regularly one of the highlights of the show. Holding the NXT Women’s title, the division was built around her, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch among others. Now holding the WWE Divas Championship, with a large cast of supporting women who are all capable of producing the goods in the ring, the future of women’s wrestling in WWE is in good hands.

Would any of these people be in the positions they are without NXT? The answer is probably not. They have all honed their style in the Performance Centre, they have all proved they have the ability to put on five-star matches if they are given the time to show what they can do, they are all the future of the company!

With a crop of stars that are all ready to fill spots on the main roster at a moments notice, who have all put the effort in to prove their worth, and with a man in Triple H who isn’t afraid to push them to the top, the future is very bright for WWE.

Next: WWE Raw Review

More from Daily DDT

Home/WWE