NXT Superstar Prospects With the Brightest Futures

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. 

Bray Wyatt's Top 6 Promos

The Eater of Worlds. The New Face of Fear. The Man of 1,000 Truths. No matter what you call him, there's no debating the fact that Bray Wyatt has been one of WWE's most consistently entertaining wrestlers over the past 2 years since his debut. Arguably second to only Paul Heyman right now in terms of mic work (which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, Paul E is a legend), Wyatt has amassed quite an impressive collection of promo work already in his WWE career. With that in mind, here is this author's interpretation of Wyatt's top 6 promos ever:

Honorable mention: NXT farewell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBIKed_9gfg
While it may not necessarily have had the type of powerful lines or unforgettable moments that some of these other promos had (preventing it from being any higher on this list), this promo makes honorable mention based on its significance. After honing the Wyatt character in NXT for about a year, this promo officially wrapped up Wyatt's time at Full Sail University. Although it may not have been broadcasted to as wide of an audience as his promos on Raw and Smackdown, this promo shows how beneficial NXT truly was to Wyatt and his family. The crowd displayed a palpable respect for him, and the last line "...all you have to do is look up in the sky and follow the buzzards" was an excellent, excellent way to pay homage to NXT as he bid his old stomping grounds farewell.

6. "You three boys picked a beautiful hill to die on"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJvOGkbs45Q
This may not have been one of Wyatt's longest or most well-known promos, but it certainly is, in this author's opinion at least, one of his most memorable ones. Not only was it a part of one of the best feuds WWE has had in years in the Wyatt Family vs. The Shield (which, by the way, should totally have gotten a Mania match that year), but it was one of Wyatt's most convincing and chilling performances yet. Add in the classic line from Harper that titles this ranking, and it makes up a truly superb promo.

5. "If you look at me square in the eye, you will see a god."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI5dWmtBBQE (sorry for the commentary in the lower right, this was the best video available)
The fact that this promo isn't even in his top 4 shows just how amazing Bray Wyatt is. Wyatt's phrasing, delivery, and mastery of the crowd was simply beyond words for this promo. The WWE certainly must have had a lot of confidence in him to put him in a segment with John Cena and Hulk Hogan, arguably two of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and Wyatt most certainly took advantage of that opportunity, not looking out of place in the slightest. Also, it has to be said, the last line of this promo is simply a thing of beauty. "If you look up at me, you will see a friend. If you look down at me, you see an enemy. But if you look me square in the eye, you will see a god." If that's not epic, this writer doesn't know what is.

4. Sister Abigail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwEsCOYCkL8
This promo was so important primarily because it's the most Wyatt has ever really explained about his mysterious female inspiration "Sister Abigail". Here, Wyatt expands upon his childhood with the enigmatic Abigail, and how his special bond with her turned him into the man he is today. The line, "Her touch could save the world... but her kiss could burn it to the ground," is once again the type that sends shivers down your spine, providing just a tantalizing morsel of who Sister Abigail was, and why she had such power over Wyatt.

3. Wyatt calls out the Undertaker on the go-home Raw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ty5DNC2dIg
Given Wyatt's unique, supernatural character, sometimes, words just aren't enough to get off his point as effectively as WWE would like. This promo is an excellent example of how such smoke-and-mirror tricks can really enhance a promo by taking it to a whole new level. At the go-home Raw before WrestleMania, especially since Taker was still nowhere to be seen, something was needed to spice things up, to ramp excitement for the match up to a fever pitch. This promo provided just that. Wyatt was his usual amazing self for the first 2-3 minutes, and then the special effects ramped it up to an unbelievable level. Flashing lights, "thunder", fireworks, and the overall mystical aura that Wyatt talked about in this promo made for some absolutely epic images, leaving fans frantic for WrestleMania to roll around.

2. "He's got the whole world in his hands"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6yVUxXnyA
Simply put, this was an absolutely phenomenal piece of storytelling. WWE certainly does make some bad decisions from time to time, but kudos to them for getting this one absolutely spot on. The image of a children's choir all donning Rowan's infamous sheep mask after singing various verses of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" is one that won't soon be forgotten by anyone who watched it. While it may not technically have been much of a "promo", Wyatt's delighted cackling at the end of the segment while a masked child sat on his lap and John Cena cringed in the ring was an excellent, excellent way to showcase one of WWE's best and most engaging characters of all time.

1. Miss Teacher Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRUTIK2BUVE
While Wyatt's other work has all been superb, in the humble opinion of this author, this promo was simply out of this world. Not only was Wyatt perhaps more focused and convincing than he's ever been before, but the crowd's involvement made this an even more special segment. When Bray Wyatt forcefully said "I've got the whole (dang) world in my hands," and the crowd, without skipping a beat, launched into a rendition of "He's got the whole world in his hands," it was truly a spine-tingling moment, the kind of moment that can propel a superstar from being very good to being one of the best of all time. While this author may have a slightly biased opinion as a huge fan of Wyatt, there's no disputing the fact that he's produced a sizable number of classic promos already during his relatively short stint in the WWE so far, and there's certainly going to be more to come. Who knows, 20 years from now, we could all very well be watching a Hall of Fame induction video filled with some of the very same promos that have been included in this list.

Wrestlemania 31 Highlights: Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

The Juggernaut vs the Beast Incarnate. Wrestlemania 31's main event pitted one of the most physically imposing and dominant WWE superstars in history versus the seemingly hand-picked new face of the WWE. Would Lesnar come out on top, or would Romain Reigns make everyone in Levi Stadium "believe that"?

Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall after cashing in Money in the Bank midway through the match

Highlights:

• Brock Lesnar is his usual dominant self early on
• Lesnar hits an F-5 about 30 seconds into the match
• The crowd keeps a suplex count running
• Brock's amazing "suplex city, *****" quote
• Brock legitimately looking vulnerable- kudos to Reigns and the WWE for pulling that off
• Seth Rollins comes out mid-match and wins!!!

Wrestlemania 31 Highlights: Bray Wyatt vs the Undertaker

"He's got the whole world in his hands, he's got the whole wide world in his hands, he's got the whole world in his hands, he's got the whole world in his hands." Would the New Face of Fear Bray Wyatt come out of this match victorious, or would the Deadman's first match in a year end in retribution?
Result: Undertaker wins via pinfall 
Highlights: 

• Wyatt's entrance with the scarecrows was pretty sick
• Undertaker hitting a lot of his signature moves: Old School, the leg drop onto the apron, Tombstone Piledriver, etc.
• Wyatt doing his spider walk, then Undertaker doing his signature zombie sit up

Low points: 

• WWE tried, but simply put, neither of these guys' entrances really worked in the sunlight

Wrestlemania 31 Highlights: Rusev vs John Cena (United States Championship)

In a match with nationalistic implications, the Bulgarian Brute battled it out with the leader of the Cenation. Would the big man residing in Moscow prevail, or would Cena win yet another big match at Wrestlemania?
Result: Cena win the U.S. Championship via pinfall
Highlights: 

• Lana is back!
• Rusev coming out in a tank. In a frickin TANK!
• Cena escaping the Accolade
• Lana throwing her high heels into the ring
• Rusev accidentally knocking Lana off the ring apron

Low Points:

• Cena ending Rusev's undefeated streak

Wrestlemania 31 Highlights: Bella Twins vs AJ Lee and Paige

With the recent #givedivasachance movement taking place on Twitter, WWE seemingly placed more of an emphasis on its female performers this year heading into the show of shows. Would that pattern continue, and would these four talented performers be given the chance to shine?
Result: AJ Lee and Paige win via pinfall
Highlights:

• Brie hitting a big missile dropkick
• Paige launching herself onto the Bellas

Wrestlemania 31 Highlights: Sting vs Triple H

Legend vs Legend. The Icon vs the Game. The Franchise vs the Cerebral Assassin. The Last Soldier of WCW vs the King of Kings. Given the immense amount of star power, many fans came into this bout with high hopes. Were they disappointed, or was this match truly as legendary as two competitors in it would suggest?
Result: Triple H wins via pinfall
Highlights:

• DX appearance!
• Triple H does the crotch chop over a fallen Sting
• NWO appearance!
• Shawn Michaels appearance!
• Sledgehammer vs baseball bat- battle of the two awesome props
• Sting breaks the sledgehammer in half with his bat!!
• Show of respect to Sting by HHH after the match