WWE: Who are the top 10 NXT exports on Raw or SmackDown?
By Tom Colohue
10. Sasha Banks
It is still very popular to talk about Sasha Banks’ NXT run, particularly when it comes to her heel feud with Bayley. It comes up almost every time that Sasha Banks is discussed. That says great things about her time in NXT. It also says bad things about her time in WWE.
Sasha Banks has made a huge impact on the main roster that has often been overlooked in favor of her NXT past. While Banks may be known for short, truncated championship runs, she still has won the Raw Women’s Championship on many occasions and was one-half of the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions. Following on from an extended break, she is now back in contention for the championship and with blue hair to boot.
All the best champions have had blue hair; don’t ask questions.
After a brutal fight at Clash Of Champions, which included a gruesome mustard based post-match assault, Sasha Banks seems to be on the up and up right now. As a company favorite and in a renewed heel partnership with Bayley, the time is now for Sasha Banks.
9. Finn Balor
Balor might be the most important wrestler in the NXT family. He presided over the greatest period of prominence, represented NXT in the 2016 brand split and is possibly the most recognized NXT Champion of all time. From there, he launched on to WWE proper absolutely ablaze.
Winning a Fatal Four Way and then defeating Roman Reigns clean the same night, Balor was launched straight into a championship feud with number one draft pick Seth Rollins. Balor was the first to win the Universal Championship, but immediately had to relinquish it due to injury.
Since then, bad luck has held Balor back hard. He is taking a little time away now and hopefully he comes back all the better for it.
Finn is one of very few wrestlers to move from NXT into WWE and maintain the same momentum and prominence that he had previously. The Demon King has created huge moments that go beyond wrestling and the “For Everyone” gimmick has global reach if used right.
Balor will undoubtedly recover. If that time could come a little faster, that would be great.