13 NXT Superstars Who Will Make An Impact In 2017

RIGHT NOW, NXT IS THE PLACE TO BE. YOU DON’T GO TO THE SUPER BOWL TO LOSE, AND YOU DON’T  BECOME A WRESTLER TO WRESTLE IN THE INDIES (not that there’s anything wrong with wrestling indies). EVERY WRESTLERS GOAL IS TO MAKE IT TO THE WWE AND THERE’S NO WAY TO MAKE IT IN THE WWE WITHOUT AN OUTSTANDING INDY CAREER OR A DEVELOPMENTAL CONTRACT WITH NXT. HERE ARE 14 SUPERSTARS THAT DIDN’T FIND THEIR FOOTING IN 2016, BUT MOST LIKELY WILL IN 2017.  

Honorable mentions: Buddy Murphy, Wesley Blake, Aliyah, TM61, SANITY 

13. Oney Lorcan

There’s not really that much to say about Oney Lorcan because we haven’t seen him that much on NXT TV. He has shown up a few times though, and when he does the Full Sail crowd seems to be really into him. He’s been competing at NXT live events over the past year or so and seems to be really impressing the producers behind the scenes of NXT. We can’t wait to see what Oney Lorcan can do when he makes his official NXT debut.

12. Mandy Rose

The Tough Enough 2015 runner up has made a couple NXT TV appearances in the last year and has been performing numerous NXT live events. Mandy faced some backlash on social media after posting a controversial picture of a woman’s hair and that could be the reason her push on TV stopped. The hate being thrown her way has dialed down over the past few months and hopefully the producers behind NXT see that she could be a top heel in NXT. We haven’t seen her do much but we can tell that she has top notch selling and average wrestling skills. Hopefully she is featured more on NXT TV this year.

11. Daria Berenato

Despite being eliminated early in the season, the Tough Enough 2015 competitor was offered an NXT contract and even competed in a 6 woman tag match at the NXT taping before NXT Takeover: Toronto. She was given a UFC type character which has been done multiple times for men but never for women. Her catchphrase “put your hair up and square up” symbolises her obsession to beat people up and will take her very far in the year to come.

10. Liv Morgan

Debuting as a jobber for Eva Marie, Liv Morgan has come a long way. She was put in the picture for the NXT women’s title, despite losing to Asuka in 28 seconds, and got to perform in front the NXT Takeover: Toronto crowd at a TV taping. She recently started appearing at Raw live events but that doesn’t mean that her call up is soon approaching. She still needs a lot of character development before stepping into a Raw or Smackdown ring. Her high flying, quick paced abilities will get her to the NXT women’s championship eventually, but for now it’s time we watch as she gets into heated rivalries with the likes of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, and Ember Moon.

9. No Way Jose

No Way Jose has been back and forth as of late. He hasn’t been getting solid booking since his debut, but when the likes of Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura leave NXT, you better believe that guys like No Way Jose and Austin Aries are going to grab that brass ring. He looks like he could be getting into some kind of feud with Elias Samson which would be extremely beneficial for both men. No Way Jose has the fans behind him, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets a shot at the NXT championship.

8. Andrade “Cien” Almas

His debut match against Tye Dillinger at NXT Takeover: The End really brought a lot of eyes of curiosity to Andrade Almas. He was recently repacked as a heel due to poor booking and it’s been really good for his career. He is set to face Roderick Strong this Saturday at NXT Takeover: San Antonio and that match is sure to be a nail biter. Almas always seems to impress during high stake matches and with his new persona, this match is a definite must see. As for the rest of the year, Almas is slowly but surely climbing to the top of NXT mountain.

7. Ember Moon

What a few months it has been for Ember Moon. She debuted at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn against Billie Kay in a winning effort and has been undefeated ever since. She has ran through the likes of Daria Berenato, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, and Liv Morgan. Although she isn’t booked for NXT Takeover: San Antonio, she has her sights set on winning the NXT women’s title very soon. With outstanding athletic ability, Ember finishes off her opponents with a flipping neckbreaker from the top rope, which caught the eyes of the NXT Universe from day one. A lot of people see bright lights in this woman’s future, and i’d be lying if I said I didn’t also.

6. Authors of Pain

Akam and Rezar have already made a huge impact on the NXT tag team division this past year. They debuted after American Alpha lost their NXT tag team championships at NXT Takeover: THE END, handing them one of the most destructive beatdowns in NXT to date. They went on to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic the night before Survivor Series at NXT Takeover: Toronto. They will challenge for the NXT tag team titles at NXT Takeover: San Antonio. If they don’t win the titles then, there is a big chance we will see them at the top of the tag team division, but for now we’ll just have to sit back and watch them manhandle every wrestler until then.

5. Roderick Strong

Coming into NXT, he had the support of millions of fans across the nation. The fans always mark out when a well-known indy guy comes to NXT, and Roderick Strong’s reaction was no different. The fans have awaited his arrival for the longest time, and now that he’s finally here, the fans are making sure to cherish every moment he pops up on NXT TV. His year is going to be big. Many fans have already picked out Roderick Strong dream matches, putting him up against the likes of Bobby Roode and Austin Aries. An NXT title opportunity, or at least main event spot, is undoubtedly in his near, near future.

4. Tye Dillinger

The perfect ten has so much to offer to NXT but wasn’t displayed greatly on NXT television in 2016. He finished out the year in a losing effort to fellow Toronto Hometowner Bobby Roode at NXT Takeover: Toronto. His talent is already being put to use in a rivalry with SANITY leader Eric Young. Tye has the support of the WWE/NXT Universe behind him as we’ve seen on NXT in the past. He has the fans chanting “Ten! Ten! Ten!” every time he comes out and some fans thinking he’s entering the royal rumble at number ten. It’s only a matter of time until Tye is put in the NXT title picture and the fans cannot wait. 

3. Austin Aries

Austin Aries has already proven that he can do everything a wrestler needs to do. He has the wrestling ability, the athleticism, the cardio factor, the mic skills, the storytelling, and now we know that he can also commentate! We don’t know if his commentating gig is permanent but while he heals an eye injury, it’s a good way for him to keep TV time. We all want to see Austin Aries return to be put in an NXT title match, and he’s proven he can go at it with the best of the best. Hes fought big stars like Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura in the past and we look forward to when he fights future big stars like Tye Dillinger and Bobby Roode in NXT.

2. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce

Arguably the best women’s wrestlers in NXT today, the iconic duo has gained so much attention over the past year. The heel tag team has shown no remorse towards rival Liv Morgan and has now turned their attention to Asuka and the NXT women’s championship. There is a big chance one of them will win the title at NXT Takeover: San Antonio and that means we’ll get to see more of Peyton and Billie. The two have been wrestling since they were teenagers living in Australia. They have many fans but with fans also comes doubters and Billie and Peyton have their sight set on proving every single one of them wrong in 2017 and for the years to come.

1. Bobby Roode

So far. Bobby Roode’s NXT run has been exactly what he thinks it’s been… GLORIOUS. He’s been on TV for less than six months and has already put on 5 star matches and been given an NXT title opportunity. Whether he wins it in San Antonio or not, he’s going to go down as one of the best NXT performers of all time. His nasty and disgusting attitude has gotten him very far. He’s been a fan favorite, despite being a heel, and has put on some classic matches. Everytime he shows up on NXT TV, the fans’ eyes are glued to the TV to see what Roode will do next. The fans have already been picturing him on either Raw or Smackdown, facing the likes of AJ Styles or Seth Rollins. Just imagine Bobby Roode headlining Wrestlemania 34 against John Cena. It’s been totally great seeing Bobby in NXT and many fans have been waiting in anticipation to see when he snatches that title, but for now let’s just enjoy his presence while he fights the top guys in NXT.