NXT Championship

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NXT Championship
Johnny Gargano with the second title design used from 2017 to 2022
Details
PromotionWWE
BrandNXT
Date establishedJuly 1, 2012
Current champion(s)Ilja Dragunov
Date wonSeptember 30, 2023

The NXT Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the WWE. The title is an NXT-only championship.

History[change | change source]

The title was introduced by NXT Commissioner Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes said that there would be a "Gold Rush" tournament that would feature 4 developmental roster NXT Superstars and 4 main roster WWE Superstars and that they would compete to be crowned as the inaugural NXT Champion. Seth Rollins became the first champion after he defeated Jinder Mahal in the final round.[1] At NXT TakeOver: Toronto in November 2016, Samoa Joe became the first wrestler to win the championship twice.[2]

Title history[change | change source]

Kevin Owens with the original NXT Championship belt design (2012–2017).

Bo Dallas was the youngest champion, winning the title 2 days before his 23rd birthday. Samoa Joe was the oldest champion at 42 years old.

The current champion is Ilja Dragunov who is in his first reign. He won the championship by beating Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy on September 30.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
Days
recog. 		Number of days held recognized by the promotion
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days Days recog.
1 Seth Rollins July 26, 2012 NXT Winter Park, Florida 1 133 133 The title was established on July 1, 2012. Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.
WWE recognizes Rollins' reign as beginning on August 29, 2012, and ending on January 9, 2013, both episodes of which aired on tape delay. 		[3]
2 Big E Langston December 6, 2012 NXT Winter Park, Florida 1 168 153 This was a no disqualification match.
WWE recognizes Big E's reign as beginning on January 9, 2013 and ending on June 12, 2013, both episodes of which aired on tape delay. 		[4]
3 Bo Dallas May 23, 2013 NXT Winter Park, Florida 1 280 260 WWE recognizes Dallas' reign as beginning on June 12, 2013, when the episode aired on tape delay. [5]
4 Adrian Neville February 27, 2014 NXT Arrival Winter Park, Florida 1 287 286 This was a ladder match. [6]
5 Sami Zayn December 11, 2014 NXT TakeOver: R Evolution Winter Park, Florida 1 62 62 This was a title vs. career match. Had Zayn lost, he would have voluntarily quit NXT. [7]
6 Kevin Owens February 11, 2015 NXT TakeOver: Rival Winter Park, Florida 1 143 142 Owens won when the referee decided that Sami Zayn was unable to continue. [8]
7 Finn Bálor July 4, 2015 The Beast in the East Tokyo, Japan 1 292 292 [9]
8 Samoa Joe April 21, 2016 House show Lowell, Massachusetts 1 121 121 [10][11]
9 Shinsuke Nakamura August 20, 2016 NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II Brooklyn, New York 1 91 91 [12]
10 Samoa Joe November 19, 2016 NXT TakeOver: Toronto Toronto, Ontario 2 14 13 [2]
11 Shinsuke Nakamura December 3, 2016 NXT Osaka, Japan 2 56 56 Aired on tape delay on December 28, 2016. [13][14]
12 Bobby Roode January 28, 2017 NXT TakeOver: San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 1 203 202 [15]
13 Drew McIntyre August 19, 2017 NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III Brooklyn, New York 1 91 91 [16]
14 Andrade "Cien" Almas November 18, 2017 NXT TakeOver: WarGames Houston, Texas 1 140 139 [17]
15 Aleister Black April 7, 2018 NXT TakeOver: New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 1 102 108 WWE recognizes Black's reign as ending on July 25, 2018, when the following episode aired on tape delay. [18]
16 Tommaso Ciampa July 18, 2018 NXT Winter Park, Florida 1 238 245 WWE recognizes Ciampa's reign as beginning on July 25, 2018 and ending on March 20, 2019 due to both episodes airing on tape delay. [19][20]
— Vacated March 13, 2019 NXT Winter Park, Florida — — — Vacated after Tommaso Ciampa got a neck injury. [21]
17 Johnny Gargano April 5, 2019 NXT TakeOver: New York Brooklyn, New York 1 57 57 This was a two out of three falls match. Johnny Gargano beaten Adam Cole 2–1 to win the vacant title. [22]
18 Adam Cole June 1, 2019 NXT TakeOver XXV Bridgeport, Connecticut 1 396 403 In September 2019, NXT became WWE's third main brand, along with Raw and Smackdown. WWE recognizes Cole's reign as ending on July 8, 2020, when the following match aired on tape delay [23]
19 Keith Lee July 1, 2020 The Great American Bash
Night 2 		Winter Park, Florida 1 52 45 This was a Winner Takes All match, in which Keith Lee also defended the NXT North American Championship.
WWE recognizes Lee's reign as beginning on July 8, 2020, when the match aired on tape delay. 		[24]
20 Karrion Kross August 22, 2020 NXT TakeOver XXX Winter Park, Florida 1 4 4 [25]
— Vacated August 26, 2020 NXT Winter Park, Florida — — — Vacated after Karrion Kross got a shoulder injury in winning the title. [26]
21 Finn Bálor September 8, 2020 Super Tuesday II Winter Park, Florida 2 212 212 A 60-minute fatal four-way iron man match for the vacant championship took place on the September 1 episode of NXT Super Tuesday between Finn Bálor, Adam Cole, Tommaso Ciampa, and Johnny Gargano, but the match ended in a tie between Bálor and Cole. NXT General Manager William Regal then scheduled a match between the two for the following week, in which Bálor beaten Cole to win the vacant title. [27]
22 Karrion Kross April 8, 2021 NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Night 2 		Orlando, Florida 2 136 136 [28]
23 Samoa Joe August 22, 2021 NXT TakeOver 36 Orlando, Florida 3 21 20 [29]
— Vacated September 12, 2021 — — — — — Vacated after Samoa Joe got positive for COVID-19. [30][31][32]
24 Tommaso Ciampa September 14, 2021 NXT 2.0 Orlando, Florida 2 112 111 This was a Fatal four-way match for the vacant championship, also involving LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and Von Wagner. Ciampa pinned Knight to win the vacant title. [33]
25 Bron Breakker January 4, 2022 New Year's Evil Orlando, Florida 1 63 63 [34]
26 Dolph Ziggler March 8, 2022 NXT Roadblock Orlando, Florida 1 27 26 This was a Triple threat match also involving Tommaso Ciampa. Ziggler pinned Ciampa to win the title. [35]
27 Bron Breakker April 4, 2022 Raw Dallas, Texas 2 362 362 [36]
28 Carmelo Hayes April 1, 2023 NXT Stand & Deliver Los Angeles, California 1 182 182
29 Ilja Dragunov September 30, 2023 NXT No Mercy Bakersfield, California 1 182+ 182+ [37]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "NXT spoiler - first champion crowned". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 James, Justin. "JAMES' NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO REVIEW 11/19: Nakamura vs. Joe, Asuka vs. James, #DIY vs. The Revival, and more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Seth Rollins' first reign". NXT Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  4. ↑ "NXT spoilers: New champion, The Shield involved, Nash's role, Hall of Famer at next TV taping". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Santiago, Andres. "5/23 NXT spoilers from Full Sail University". PWInsider. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "James' WWE NXT "Arrival" report 2/27 - Week 87: Live Network show coverage, plus Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ Caldwell, James (December 11, 2014). "Caldwell's WWE NXT Takeover Results 12/11". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ James, Justin (February 11, 2015). "James' WWE NXT TakeOver Report 2/11". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  9. ↑ Caldwell, James (July 4, 2015). "Caldwell's WWE Network special report 7/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Beast in the East" - Lesnar's in-ring return, Owens vs. Balor for NXT Title, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ Caldwell, James (April 21, 2016). "Breaking News – Samoa Joe wins NXT Title Thursday night (w/Pics)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Samoa Joe captures NXT Championship at Live Event in Lowell, Mass". WWE. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  12. ↑ James, Justin. "8/20 "WWE NXT Takeover: Brooklyn" Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Live Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  13. ↑ Martin, Adam. "Shinsuke Nakamura becomes the new NXT Champion capturing the title in Osaka, Japan at NXT live event". WrestleView. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ Witner, Arya. "WWE NXT results: Matches from Osaka, Japan". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ Powell, Jason. "1/28 Powell's NXT Takeover: San Antonio Live Review – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode for the NXT Title, DIY vs. Authors of Pain for the NXT Tag Titles, Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce for the NXT Women's Title". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  16. ↑ Zimmerman, Zack. "8/19 Zim's NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III live review – Bobby Roode vs. Drew McIntyre for the NXT Title, Asuka vs. Ember Moon for the NXT Women's Title, Authors of Pain vs. Sanity for the NXT Tag Titles, homecoming". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 19, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  17. ↑ Moore, John. "11/18 Moore's NXT Takeover: WarGames live review – The Undisputed Era vs. Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong vs. Sanity in a WarGames match, Ember Moon vs. Kairi Sane vs. Nikki Cross vs. Peyton Royce for the NXT Women's Title, Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade Almas for the NXT Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  18. ↑ Moore, John. "4/7 Moore's NXT Takeover: New Orleans live review – Andrade Almas vs. Aleister Black for the NXT Title, Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship, Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa in an unsanctioned match, ladder match for the new North American Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Major news from Wednesday night's NXT tapings (CAUTION: SPOILERS)". WWE. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  20. ↑ James, Justin (July 25, 2018). "7/25 NXT TV REPORT: Aleister Black vs. Tomasso Ciampa for the NXT Title, Cole vs. Maluta, Evans vs. Price, Ricochet, War Raiders, William Regal". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  21. ↑ "New NXT Champion to be crowned at TakeOver: New York". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  22. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 5, 2019). "4/5 Powell's NXT Takeover: New York live review – Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole in a best of three falls match for the vacant NXT Championship, Pete Dunne vs. Walter for the WWE UK Championship, Velveteen Dream vs. Matt Riddle for the NXT North American Title, NXT Women's Title four-way, NXT Tag Title match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  23. ↑ Powell, Jason (June 1, 2019). "6/1 Powell's NXT Takeover: XXV live review – Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole for the NXT Championship, Shayna Baszler vs. Io Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship, Velveteen Dream vs. Tyler Breeze for the NXT North American Title, four-way ladder match for the vacant NXT Tag Titles, Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  24. ↑ Moore, John (July 8, 2020). "7/8 NXT TV results: Moore's review of the Great American Bash night two with NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee for both titles, Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae in a Street Fight, Legado Del Fantasma vs. Drake Maverick, Tyler Breeze, and Fandango, Johnny Gargano vs. Isaiah Scott". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  25. ↑ Moore, John (August 22, 2020). "NXT Takeover: XXX results – Moore's live review of Keith Lee vs. Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship, Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee, Io Shirai vs. Dakota Kai for the NXT Women's Championship, a ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Title, Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  26. ↑ Moore, John (August 26, 2020). "8/26 NXT TV results: Moore's review of new NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett, Tommaso Ciampa returns, Santos Escobar vs. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel vs. Tyler Breeze and Fandango for the NXT Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  27. ↑ Moore, John (September 8, 2020). "9/8 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Super Tuesday II featuring Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole for the vacant NXT Championship, Rhea Ripley vs. Mercedes Martinez in a cage match, Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory, Killian Dain vs. Roderick Strong". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  28. ↑ Moore, John (April 8, 2021). "NXT Takeover Stand & Deliver results: Moore's live review of night two with Finn Balor vs. Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship, Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly in an unsanctioned match, Santos Escobar vs. Jordan Devlin in a ladder match to unify the NXT Cruiserweight Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  29. ↑ Moore, John (August 22, 2021). "NXT Takeover 36 results: Moore's live review of Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai for the NXT Women's Title, Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly in a best of three falls match, Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT UK Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Samoa Joe Relinquished NXT Title After Positive COVID Test, Vince McMahon Changing NXT Direction | Fightful News".
  31. ↑ Samoa Joe [@SamoaJoe] (September 12, 2021). "Samoa Joe Relinquishes the NXT Championship" (Tweet). Retrieved September 13, 2021 – via Twitter.
  32. ↑ Sapp, Sean Ross (September 12, 2021). "Samoa Joe Relinquishes WWE NXT Title Due To Injury". Fightful. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  33. ↑ Moore, John (September 14, 2021). "9/14 NXT TV results: Moore's review of the NXT 2.0 premiere with Tommaso Ciampa vs. Kyle O'Reilly vs. LA Knight vs. Pete Dunne for the vacant NXT Championship, Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis wedding, Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro vs. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne, B-Fab's in-ring debut". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  34. ↑ Moore, John (January 4, 2022). "1/4 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bron Breakker for the NXT Title, Walter, Fabian Aichner, and Marcel Barthel vs. Riddle and MSK, Mandy Rose vs. Raquel Gonzalez vs. Cora Jade for the NXT Women's Title, Carmelo Hayes vs. Roderick Strong in a title unification match, AJ Styles confronts Grayson Waller". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  35. ↑ Moore, John (March 8, 2022). "3/8 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of the Roadblock themed show featuring Bron Breakker vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Title, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel vs. The Creed Brothers for the NXT Tag Titles, LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller in a Last Man Standing match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  36. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 4, 2022). "4/4 WWE Raw results: Powell's live review of the Raw After WrestleMania with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, the return of Cody Rhodes, new Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair appears, the 'debut' of Veer Mahaan". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  37. ↑ Moore, John (September 30, 2023). "NXT No Mercy results: Moore's live review of Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Title, Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton in an Extreme Rules match for the NXT Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 30, 2023.

Other websites[change | change source]

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