#5.) Andrade
This may come as a surprise to some, but the reason why Andrade’s NXT Championship run was so great is that it represented a big change in NXT. From 2015 onwards, the NXT title was always held by the “hottest free agent” and there started to be a repetitive pattern where this free agent would come in, pick up an undefeated streak and then become NXT champion within months. It wasn’t really a good look and the quality of the program dropped.
With Andrade, it was a fresh change because he was not the hottest free agent and he had a year and a half build before capturing the title. In that time, we saw him change from a suspender-wearing babyface to a ruthless heel managed by his clever business associate Zelina Vega. Even though his reign was short, the one match alone against Johnny Gargano instantly elevates the status of his reign.
Next Page: Ranking The 5 Best NXT Champions In History
