WWE NXT: Ranking Every Performer to Hold the NXT Championship

Credit: WWE.com

13. Big E. Langston

It’s easy to forget, but Big E wasn’t always the fun loving brute that he portrays as a member of the New Day. Rather, his initial character in WWE was that of a stone-cold powerhouse, known for demanding referees count his opponents down for five, rather than three (a la King Kong Bundy).

Defeating inaugural Champion Seth Rollins in a No DQ match, Langston went on to hold the strap for almost half a year, though, thanks to the magic of taping schedules, WWE recognizes his reign as officially being two weeks shorter than it actually was.

Big E. Langston only managed two successful title defenses as NXT Champion: against Brad Maddox and Conor O’Brian, respectively, before dropping the Championship to Bo Dallas.

While Big E’s time on the main roster has seen most of his success come as a tag team competitor and only somewhat as a singles competitor as a crony of Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee, his accomplishments as a the NXT Champion cannot be ignored and should be highlighted.

Had he been a champion in the more developed NXT of current day, there is little doubt that his talent and charisma would have allowed for a stellar title reign, but as it stands, there just isn’t much to see.