WWE NXT: Ranking Every Performer to Hold the NXT Championship

Credit: WWE.com

11. Aleister Black

Aleister Black’s NXT Championship reign, while beginning promisingly enough with a great win over Andrade “Cien” Almas at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, ultimately wound up taking a backseat to the excellent feud between former #DIY partners Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.

Massively over with the NXT faithful, Black seemed primed to become the brand’s next big star, and his victory over Almas at TakeOver: New Orleans seemed almost a foregone conclusion the very moment the match was announced.

As NXT Champion, Black picked up victories over Eric Young and Lars Sullivan, seemingly poised for a memorable reign, before ultimately falling to Ciampa on NXT’s weekly show. Gargano then managed to insert himself into the situation, prompting Black’s scheduled rematch with Ciampa to be turned into a triple threat match. Black, as we all remember, was attacked later that night, being rendered unable to compete and sidelined indefinitely.

In reality, Black is currently rehabilitating a groin injury, but the backstage attack angle creates an interesting “whodunit?” story line for him upon his return. Maybe at some point in the future, Black will be able to recapture the NXT Championship and jump up a few spots on the list, but, for now, his reign falls short.