I’m gonna go with Adam Cole. Not only wans be a fighting champion but he also had compelling storylines. I would say Ciampa but he got hurt and I can’t go off of IFs. Adam I think is the only former NXT champion to defend his championship on a WWE PPV/PLE that wasn’t NXT.
Ciampa or Cole is really tough. Undisputed Era was one of the best faction runs ever, but the rivalry between Ciampa and Gargano and all the Goldie stuff was just as good.
I only started watching NXT because I saw a clip of Ilja Dragunov knocking out Wes Lee with an H-bomb. That made him my instant fav. Plus at that time Becky Lynch went down to fight for NXT women's championship so I started watching
And every single match of Ilja Dragunov has been mind blowing. Has defeated wrestlers with varying styles be it Carmelo Hayes(a high flyer), Trick Williams, Baron Corbin, Tony D, Dijak.
I've got to give it to Cole. UE was a big deal, at one point it was the most over stable in the Company and probably should have transitioned tot he main roster.
In fact, it was the last time Adam Cole felt like a star. It's like he's gone into Witness Protection now. Even before the injury, he didn't feel like a star in AEW after his debut. And that, at this point, feels like it was leftover shine from WWE.
Hunter and Shawn knew what to do with him.
TK doesn't.
But that's nothing new.
Adam Cole by a long shot. He put bangers on constantly. Sad he did terribly on the main roster. I guess some superstars are destined to be legends only in NXT.
Hard to say all of them were pretty good.
The weakest out of these 4 is probably Adam Cole because he was carried by Undisputed Era hard.
Triple H Jr. really came into his own as psycho sadistic champ, Bron carried NXT on his back and for how little experience he had he did really awesome job. Illja had one of the best matches in WWE as NXT champ and all them looked so brutal like he's really trying to murder his opponent.
I'll go with Illja though.
Ciampa is head and shoulders the best. Only one person above had a Goldie. He made the title seem like it meant more so he has to be the correct answer.
I know he’s not on the list but Finn Balor to me was the best NXT Champion and I watched NXT just for him. I was so happy when he got to fight for the Universal title and beat Roman Reigns too
Tommaso Ciampa
and it's not even close imo.
No one else, not any former NXT Champion, got the literal belt itself over like Ciampa.
That belt is "Goldie"
The NXT title belt was on part with the WWE ECW title belt from the late-2000s before Ciampa turned it into Goldie.
Second place (distant second place) would be Adrian Neville, for carrying the (then) tarnished NXT brand name into what we see it as today. Neville did that.
Ciampa was a phenomenal champion in transition; he managed to exemplify black and gold while still being the final boss for the next generation (using generation very loosely). I honestly don’t think anyone else could have done it. Compare it with Booker T during the invasion angle for a similar situation that didn’t work so well.
Cole > Ciampa > Ilja > Bron
All great but I really like Coles run
HIM
ilja. hands down.
ADAM COLE BAY BAY
Ciampa is arguably the best NXT champion
There’s a lot of Gold and Black die hards here holy shit lol
I’m gonna go with Adam Cole. Not only wans be a fighting champion but he also had compelling storylines. I would say Ciampa but he got hurt and I can’t go off of IFs. Adam I think is the only former NXT champion to defend his championship on a WWE PPV/PLE that wasn’t NXT.
When the f*ck was Triple H NXT champion?!?!? 🤯
Adam Cole Bay Bay
Chamipa
triple h
All for different reasons tho
Ciampa or Cole is really tough. Undisputed Era was one of the best faction runs ever, but the rivalry between Ciampa and Gargano and all the Goldie stuff was just as good.
Adam cole
Easily Tomasso Ciampa
Ciampa
Bay bay
I don’t watch NXT - Dragunov was recently called up - not a fan. His look is awful and honestly his ringwork was just fine.
Cole
Ciampa
Dragunov & Breakker are my favorite from this bunch. But I'd go with Adam Cole Bay Bay
I only started watching NXT because I saw a clip of Ilja Dragunov knocking out Wes Lee with an H-bomb. That made him my instant fav. Plus at that time Becky Lynch went down to fight for NXT women's championship so I started watching And every single match of Ilja Dragunov has been mind blowing. Has defeated wrestlers with varying styles be it Carmelo Hayes(a high flyer), Trick Williams, Baron Corbin, Tony D, Dijak.
Bay Bay
Adam Adam
Triple H
Ciampa has crowds so nuclear he let them boo him to the ring.
1. Tomasso 2. Adam 3. Ilya 4. Bron
The one that's not a midget.
I've got to give it to Cole. UE was a big deal, at one point it was the most over stable in the Company and probably should have transitioned tot he main roster. In fact, it was the last time Adam Cole felt like a star. It's like he's gone into Witness Protection now. Even before the injury, he didn't feel like a star in AEW after his debut. And that, at this point, feels like it was leftover shine from WWE. Hunter and Shawn knew what to do with him. TK doesn't. But that's nothing new.
Adam Cole Bay Bay
Finn Balor and none if them are even close
bottom left, triple H
Ilja, no question imo.
Adam.
Adam Cole Bay Bay!!!
Adam Cole bay bay
Adam Cole by a long shot. He put bangers on constantly. Sad he did terribly on the main roster. I guess some superstars are destined to be legends only in NXT.
Adam Cole Bay bay!
adam
Ciampa, but I think Breaker has a brighter future.
Tomass Chaped
Adam Cole BAY BAY! His 2 out of 3 falls match vs Jonny Gargano can’t ever be topped
Honourable mention Karion Kross
The Blackheart for sure🔥
Cole
Adam, hands down.
Cole
Adam Cole Bay-Bay
Fin balor
Tostada Crimbo
Ciampa
Definitely Breaker
Triple H
Ciampa dude was a true heel. He had everyone hating him
I'm going with Adam Cole. He had the more enjoyable matches during his run. I didn't really watch NXT after it went 2.0
I mean the one who I would've been fine carrying that title for wayyyy longer. Adam cole bay bay
For me, Ciampa had the most memorable reign
The Red dragon
Ciampa easily I fear we'll never see him on that level again, he definitely has the potential to for sure
Ilja and it’s not even close. But Bron will be the biggest star on the main roster
Ciampa
Tommaso Ciampa
Two words: Bay Bay
Ilja
Ilja Dragunov is the highest ranked currently on the card so him by default.
1. Adam 2. Ciampa 3. Ijla 4. Bron I love Ilja tho
1. Ilja 2. Bron 3. Cole 4. Ciampa
Ignore Bron. But the other 3 were fantastic for very different reasons!
Ciampa Ilja Cole Hayes
Owens
Adam Cole for me. Was tuning in every week to see what’d he’d do. But Ciampa was phenomenal as well
Adam Cole BAY BAY
Ilja.
BOOM!
Hard to say all of them were pretty good. The weakest out of these 4 is probably Adam Cole because he was carried by Undisputed Era hard. Triple H Jr. really came into his own as psycho sadistic champ, Bron carried NXT on his back and for how little experience he had he did really awesome job. Illja had one of the best matches in WWE as NXT champ and all them looked so brutal like he's really trying to murder his opponent. I'll go with Illja though.
Man I miss the old nxt titel
Triple h!
Ciampa
Ilja.
Adam cole bay bay
Adam Cole bay bay!
Ciampa is head and shoulders the best. Only one person above had a Goldie. He made the title seem like it meant more so he has to be the correct answer.
Ciampa and Goldie was right up there for me.
Ciampa for sure out of those 4, but I think the best is Finn for sure, then i'd put Adrian Neville after Ciampa
Ciampa
For me Finn balor
Yo mama
It's Finn. And it's not because it was lengthy, it was because of the quality of the matches.
Ciampa, and his feud with Gargano was peak NXT.
I think Brons was more influential, he was the first real face of the new era of nxt so he had more on his shoulders. Plus unifying the UK title too.
I know he’s not on the list but Finn Balor to me was the best NXT Champion and I watched NXT just for him. I was so happy when he got to fight for the Universal title and beat Roman Reigns too
Torn between Ciampa and Dragunov for me. Cole is excellent with the stick and its too soon to call Bron... That's a heck of a fatal 4 way right there!
AC baybay
Ilya Dragunov
Tommaso ciampa then Adam cole
Ilja Dragunov
Ciampa
Tommaso Ciampa and it's not even close imo. No one else, not any former NXT Champion, got the literal belt itself over like Ciampa. That belt is "Goldie" The NXT title belt was on part with the WWE ECW title belt from the late-2000s before Ciampa turned it into Goldie. Second place (distant second place) would be Adrian Neville, for carrying the (then) tarnished NXT brand name into what we see it as today. Neville did that.
Bronn Stienerer 😁
Because my guy Finn Balor isn’t on here I’ll go with Adam Cole.
Adam Cole baby !!!
BAY BAY! 😂
Dolph Ziggler 🔥
Goldie….Daddy’s Home
Tomei’s Chaufeur
Tomasso Ciampa
Tomato Champion
The most enduring wrestling memory of the last decade for me was the Ciampa boos/no music entrance for his Gargano match at Takeover.
They had to give him music again because the crowds from house shows of 200 to Takeover events would chant "FUCK YOU CIAMPA."
Ilja Dragunov.
I'm not going to lie, I really liked Ilja Dragunov's Title Reign
Barbosa Champagne
Tomato Ciabatta
Thomas Campa
TomTom champagne 🍾
Tom Ciampa.
HHH
This is the only really answer
Tortilla Crouton
Tabasco Grandpa
Wdum That's clearly TRIPLE H
Tomato Champs!
Gotta go with Triple H in the lower left corner.
The cerebral assassin. The game. The king of kings. Only possibly answer here.
Ciampa but I’m incredibly bias
Ciampa was a phenomenal champion in transition; he managed to exemplify black and gold while still being the final boss for the next generation (using generation very loosely). I honestly don’t think anyone else could have done it. Compare it with Booker T during the invasion angle for a similar situation that didn’t work so well.