Right now, simply put, NXT is untouchable. It's been delivering the highest quality wrestling content out of any promotion in the world for some time now, utilizing the undeniable talent on its roster to produce unforgettable match after unforgettable match. Of course, with the sheer number of aforementioned talented superstars on the roster, many have begun to debate which of these superstars will end up going the farthest in the promised land of the WWE. So, here is this author's attempt at ranking how far each superstar will go:
*Side note: since, at the time of writing this article, Neville and Sami Zayn have just recently made their debuts, so they will still be included in this list. Samoa Joe will not be included.
1. Finn Bálor- In this business, people often talk about the "it" factor. That unspoken, unquantifiable quality that separates the good wrestlers from the great ones, that changes them from show-stealing to must-see. Finn Bálor has that "it" factor. Sure, he's got other things as well—he's got them in abundance, in fact—such as his awesome special entrance (side note: why doesn't he change that up anymore? I never did actually watch him in the indies, but from what I understand, he would change up that entrance every time he did it, doing entrances like Bane, Hannibal Lector, the Joker, etc. His current one's not bad, but just saying, it would be sick if he changed it every time), his undeniable good looks, and his incredible wrestling ability. However, that "it" factor simply pushes him over the line from simply great to "one of the best". Every time he comes out, the crowd goes insane, and in the humble opinion of this author, that excitement will most certainly translate over to the world of the WWE. Expect multiple WWE World Heavyweight Championship reigns from this guy.
2. Sami Zayn- Frankly, this author can't help but look at Zayn and think of Daniel Bryan. Think about it: both guys have worked their rear ends off for years and years to get to where they are today, both are terrific technical wrestlers, and most importantly, they both connect with the fans on an emotional level. When Sami finally won the NXT Championship for the first time at NXT Takeover: R Evolution, it was undoubtedly one of the best moments of the year. Not a single person in that building was not totally invested in Sami and his seemingly never-ending quest to capture the brand's top prize. That sort of emotional connection with the fans, as well as his top-class work ethic, his endearing underdog persona, and his skills both on the mic and in the ring will ensure that Zayn has a bright future in the WWE. Expect this man to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at least once (probably more than that), and for him to become one of the most popular superstars in the company.
3. Kevin Owens- When the decision makers backstage have enough confidence in a man who's never appeared on a WWE screen before, a "rookie" (in the eyes of the mainstream viewers, at least), to let him get in the ring with John Cena, go toe-to-toe with Cena on the mic, and to actually lay the 15-time world champion out in the middle of the ring with his signature finishing maneuver, that's when you know bright things lay ahead in that man's future. However, longtime fans of Kevin Owens know that he is anything but a rookie. Formerly Kevin Steen (his real name) in ROH, Owens has quickly developed a reputation at Full Sail University for being one of the baddest, toughest, and meanest guys on the roster. With multiple dominant, Brock Lesnar-esque displays in the ring already under his belt, as well as his terrific mic work and his in-ring psychology (which, in this writer's opinion, is a very underrated quality. Psychology is a HUGE part of pro wrestling), Owens is capable of doing big things in the WWE, perhaps even surpassing guys like Bálor and Zayn (the top 3 for this list was very close). Expect at least one WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign, along with some terrific matches and moments, particularly with his lifelong friend Sami Zayn.
4. Neville- Simply put, this man can do things in the ring that a human being should not be able to do. Flying and flipping around the squared circle with the greatest of ease, the now singularly-named Neville is straight-up fun to watch. One particular moment about this man stands out in this author's mind: in a match on Raw shortly after he debuted, Neville was standing on the apron while his opponent was lying on the floor a few feet in front of him. Instead of simply hopping down and continuing his offense, or even waiting for the guy to get up, Neville hits a picture-perfect 450 splash. From the apron. Onto a guy on the floor. Most superstars can't even hit a 450 splash off the top rope, but Neville hit one (with ease) from the freaking apron! If that's not impressive, this writer doesn't know what is. However, as good as Neville is in the ring, there are two things that are preventing him from being any higher on this list. Firstly, his look. As much as this writer hates to say it, to be in the WWE, it helps massively to be super good-looking. While Neville certainly does have the physique, his small stature and his apparently unattractive face may hurt him. Secondly, unfortunately, Neville is nothing special on the mic. He's solid enough to carry an interview, or a short promo, but he simply doesn't leave the fans hanging on his every word like a Wyatt, Heyman, or Owens. That being said, however, still expect multiple midcard title reigns from this guy, who may take the Kofi Kingston spot as king of the midcard, as well as many, many unforgettable spots.
5. Hideo Itami- The fact that Itami isn't any higher than 5th on this list shows just how incredibly talented the NXT bunch is. The man formerly known as KENTA is quite possibly the most well-known international superstar to ever step foot through WWE's doors. Making his name in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Itami (real name Kenta Kobayashi) developed a well-earned reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world not under a WWE contract. With maneuvers such as Daniel Bryan's running knee and CM Punk's Go To Sleep—both of which were first used by Itami—in his repertoire, Itami is certainly one of the most dynamic superstars out there. However, as much as this writer hates to say it, it may be hard for him to ever leap past the midcard in WWE. Again, his size becomes an issue, as well as his heritage. WWE has been almost notoriously reluctant to put any championships on those of Japanese descent (as well as African-Americans, but that's irrelevant here), for both legitimate reasons (it's hard to have a champion who isn't fluent/has a very thick accent) and rather illegitimate ones. Despite this, however, expect Itami's undeniable global drawing power to help him garner at least a relative amount of success in the WWE, most likely in the form of multiple midcard reigns, potentially with a few world title opportunities here and there.
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