The Top 5 Candidates Who Could Become The New NXT Champion

3) Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle is definitely a candidate to walk out as the next NXT Champion. Before he even made his NXT debut, fans were already discussing him as a future Champion. Since making his debut, he has shown off his in-ring skill and also his charisma.

The question for me is not if Riddle is worthy of becoming NXT Champion. The question is if WWE wants to pull the trigger on him this early.

My guess is that the company had Riddle pencilled in for an potential NXT Championship reign by the end of 2019. I am sure that they were going to let him have a few great Takeover matches first before putting the belt on him. WWE might be forced to fast-track him due to the injury to Ciampa.

Riddle is a maybe for me. I could see WWE pulling the trigger on him. While saying that, I think it is more likely that they are going to stay the course for his development and go with someone else for now.

2) Johnny Gargano

Johnny Gargano is a strong candidate in my mind to become the new NXT Champion. Gargano has done pretty much everything to do in NXT, except win the NXT Championship. Maybe Ciampa’s injury leads to Gargano finally winning the belt?

It felt to me like the Ciampa-Gargano storyline was leading to Gargano defeating Ciampa to finally win the NXT Title. This would have been a pretty perfect storyline and a great way for them to do it. Unfortunately, the injury to Ciampa has scrapped those plans.

The only reason Gargano isn’t in the number 1 spot is because of his recent call-up to the WWE main roster. I am not sure if WWE is going to put him back in NXT or if they will keep him up on the main roster by himself. There is no doubt in my mind that he is ready for the main roster, I am just not sure what WWE’s plan is.

Due to the question marks surrounding his main roster call-up, Gargano takes the number 2 spot on this list.

Use the buttons below for more of the top candidates to become the NXT Champion.