NXT Championship

Last updated
NXT Championship
NXT Championship 2024.jpeg
The current NXT Championship belt with default side plates
(2024–present)
Details
Promotion WWE
Brand NXT
Date establishedJuly 1, 2012
Current champion(s) Trick Williams
Date wonOctober 1, 2024
Statistics
First champion(s) Seth Rollins
Most reigns Samoa Joe
(3 reigns)
Longest reign Adam Cole
(396 days) [a]
Shortest reign Karrion Kross
(1st reign, 4 days) [b]
Oldest champion Samoa Joe
(42 years, 158 days)
Youngest champion Bo Dallas
(22 years, 363 days) [c]
Heaviest champion Keith Lee
(340 lb (145 kg))
Lightest champion Finn Bálor
(190 lb (86 kg))

The NXT Championship is a men's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended as the top men's championship of NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The current champion is Trick Williams, who is in his second reign. He won the title by defeating Ethan Page with CM Punk as the special guest referee during NXT 's debut on The CW on October 1, 2024.

Contents

Introduced on July 1, 2012, it was the first championship established for NXT, and the inaugural champion was Seth Rollins. In September 2019, WWE began promoting NXT as its "third brand" when the NXT television program was moved to the USA Network. The NXT Championship was referred to as a world championship during this time; however, this recognition was dropped when NXT reverted to its original function as WWE's developmental brand in September 2021. In September 2022, the NXT United Kingdom Championship was unified into the NXT Championship.

History

The inaugural NXT Champion Seth Rollins Tyler Black (cropped).jpg
The inaugural NXT Champion Seth Rollins

From 2010 to 2012, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE hosted a competition reality television series called NXT . In June 2012, WWE restructured the show and established the NXT brand as their developmental territory, replacing Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). On July 1, the brand's first championship, the NXT Championship, was introduced as the top men's championship. NXT Commissioner Dusty Rhodes announced an eight-man single-elimination tournament, dubbed the "Gold Rush" tournament, involving four wrestlers from NXT and four wrestlers from WWE's main roster competing to be crowned the first NXT Champion. On the July 26 tapings of NXT (aired August 29), Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion. [1] [2] On November 19, 2016, at TakeOver: Toronto, Samoa Joe became the first performer to hold the championship on more than one occasion. [3] The title was defended for the first time on the main roster on the June 4, 2015, episode of SmackDown , where Kevin Owens retained the title against Zack Ryder. [4]

In September 2019, the NXT brand became WWE's third major brand when the NXT program was moved to the USA Network. [5] [6] After Drew McIntyre won the NXT Championship in 2017, the match description for his win in the official title history referred to it as a world championship. [7] In 2021, it was revealed that the NXT Championship was an option for the men's Royal Rumble match winner to challenge for at WrestleMania 37, along with the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] However, WWE revamped NXT in September 2021 and returned the brand to its original function as a developmental territory, with it no longer referred to as a world championship and no longer an option for Royal Rumble match winners. [13]

In August 2022, WWE announced that the NXT UK brand would go on hiatus and would relaunch as NXT Europe at a later time. [14] As such, NXT UK's championship's were unified into their respective NXT championship counterparts. On September 4, 2022, at Worlds Collide, reigning NXT Champion Bron Breakker defeated NXT United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate to unify the NXT United Kingdom Championship into the NXT Championship. Bate was recognized as the final NXT UK Champion, while Breakker went forward as the unified NXT Champion. [15]

Inaugural tournament

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
Richie Steamboat Pin
Leo Kruger
Richie Steamboat
Jinder MahalSub
Bo Dallas
Jinder Mahal Sub
Jinder Mahal
Seth RollinsPin
Seth Rollins Pin
Drew McIntyre
Seth RollinsPin
Michael McGillicutty
Justin Gabriel
Michael McGillicutty Pin

Belt designs

Kevin Owens with the original NXT Championship belt design (2012-2017). Kevin Owens, wrestler, March 2015.jpg
Kevin Owens with the original NXT Championship belt design (2012–2017).

The original NXT Championship belt's design was simple: a large gold center plate shaped as the letter "X", with smaller letters "N" and "T" to the left and right of the center. The belt contained six total side plates on a large black strap, three sitting on either side of the center plate; each side plate only featured the WWE logo. When first introduced, the side plates had the WWE scratch logo but in August 2014, all of WWE's pre-existing championships at the time received a minor update, changing the scratch logo to WWE's current logo that was originally used for the WWE Network that launched earlier that year in February. [16]

One-time champion Aleister Black with the 2017-2022 version of the championship belt Aleister Black NXT Champ crop.jpg
One-time champion Aleister Black with the 2017–2022 version of the championship belt

During WrestleMania Weekend 2017, all existing NXT title belts at the time were redesigned. The new title belts were unveiled at TakeOver: Orlando that same night and given to the winners of their respective matches. Like the previous design, the plates were gold and on a black leather strap. The letter "X" again dominated the center plate with smaller letters "N" and "T" sitting on the left and right sides, respectively. On this new design, however, the letters were on an octagonal shaped plate. Above the "X" was the WWE logo, while below the "X" was a banner that read "Champion". Simple ornamentation with some silver filled in the rest of the plate. Coming in line with WWE's other championships, the new design included side plates with a removable center section that could be customized with the champion's logo; the default plates featured the WWE logo. [17]

On the April 5, 2022, episode of NXT, reigning champion Bron Breakker debuted a new belt design; it was largely similar to the previous version (2017–2022), but the silver behind the logo was replaced by multi-colored paint (matching the NXT 2.0 colorscheme) and the letters "N" and "T" on the center plate were updated to the font style of the NXT 2.0 logo. The default side plates were also updated, replacing the WWE logo with the NXT 2.0 logo. The new title retained the black leather strap. [18] When "NXT 2.0" went back to being called "NXT" in September, the default side plates were updated with the new NXT logo.

The NXT 2.0 version of the championship belt (2022-2024). NXT Championship 2.0.png
The NXT 2.0 version of the championship belt (2022–2024).

With NXT's move to The CW on October 1, 2024, the show got a new logo. As a result, both the men's and women's NXT championship belts received an update that same episode. They mostly have the same design as their respective previous version, but with The CW era NXT logo on the center plate and side plates, with more of a globe visible behind the logo on the center plate. The multi-colored paint from the NXT 2.0 version (2022–2024) was also removed, and the plates are now primarily silver with gold accents. [19]

Reigns

As of December19, 2024, there have been 32 reigns among 24 different champions and three vacancies. The inaugural champion was Seth Rollins. Samoa Joe has the most reigns at three. Adam Cole's reign is the longest singular reign at 396 days (recognized as 403 days by WWE due to tape delay), while Karrion Kross' first reign is the shortest at 4 days (recognized as 3 days by WWE) as he had to relinquish the title due to a legitimate injury he suffered in winning it. Finn Bálor has the longest combined reign at 504 days. Bo Dallas holds the record as the youngest champion, winning the title two days before his 23rd birthday (although WWE recognizes it was 18 days after his 23rd birthday due to tape delay), while Samoa Joe is the oldest champion, winning the title at 42.

Trick Williams is the current champion in his second reign. He defeated Ethan Page with CM Punk as the special guest referee during NXT's debut on The CW on October 1, 2024, in Rosemont, Illinois. [20]

Notes

  1. ↑ 403 days as recognized by WWE due to the episode airing on tape delay.
  2. ↑ 3 days as recognized by WWE.
  3. ↑ WWE recognizes that Dallas won the title when he was 23 years, 18 days old due to the date of his championship win airing on tape delay.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling world championship

The WWE Championship is a men's professional wrestling world heavyweight championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the WWE Universal Championship as the Undisputed WWE Championship, but both titles have maintained their individual lineages. It is one of three world titles in WWE, alongside its companion Universal Championship on SmackDown, and the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. The current champion is Cody Rhodes, who is in his first reign. He won the undisputed title by defeating previous champion Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match at WrestleMania XL Night 2 on April 7, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Intercontinental Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling championship

The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a men's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the Raw brand division. It is one of two secondary championships for WWE's main roster, along with the WWE United States Championship on SmackDown. The current champion is Bron Breakker, who is in his second reign. He won the title by defeating Jey Uso on the October 21, 2024, episode of Raw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Tag Team Championship (WWE)</span> Mens professional wrestling championship

The World Tag Team Championship is a men's professional wrestling world tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the Raw brand division. It is one of two male tag team championships for WWE's main roster, along with the WWE Tag Team Championship on SmackDown. The current champions are The War Raiders, who are in their second reign, both as a team and individually. They won the title by defeating The Judgment Day on the December 16, 2024, episode of Raw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT Tag Team Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT Tag Team Championship is a men's professional wrestling tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The current champions are Nathan Frazer and Axiom, who are in their second reign, both as a team and individually. They won the title by defeating previous champions Chase U at No Mercy on September 1, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT Women's Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The current champion is Roxanne Perez, who is in her record-tying second reign. She won the title by defeating Lyra Valkyria at Stand & Deliver on April 6, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Women's Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The WWE Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. It is one of two women's world titles for WWE's main roster, along with the Women's World Championship on Raw. The current champion is Nia Jax, who is in her second reign. She won the title by defeating Bayley at SummerSlam on August 3, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's World Championship (WWE)</span> Professional wrestling championship

The Women's World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the Raw brand division. It is one of two women's world titles for WWE's main roster, along with the WWE Women's Championship on SmackDown. The current champion is Liv Morgan, who is in her second reign. She won the title by defeating Becky Lynch at King and Queen of the Ring on May 25, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Tag Team Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling championship

The WWE Tag Team Championship is a men's professional wrestling world tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. It is one of two male tag team championships for WWE's main roster, along with the World Tag Team Championship on Raw. The current champions are #DIY, who are in their second reign, both as a team and individually. They won the titles by defeating The Motor City Machine Guns on the December 6, 2024, episode of SmackDown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT Cruiserweight Championship</span> Former WWE professional wrestling championship

The NXT Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that was created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. Before its retirement, it was defended across the NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live brand divisions, which were developmental territories for WWE. During its short tenure, it was the promotion's only championship with a weight limit, wherein only wrestlers 205 lb and under—designated as cruiserweights—could compete for the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT United Kingdom Championship</span> Former professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT United Kingdom Championship was a men's professional wrestling championship that was created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It was primarily defended as the top championship of the NXT UK brand division, a sister brand of WWE's developmental territory NXT based in the United Kingdom. It was also occasionally defended at NXT events and had also been defended on independent wrestling shows in the United Kingdom before the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Universal Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling world championship

The WWE Universal Championship is a men's professional wrestling world heavyweight championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the WWE Championship as the Undisputed WWE Championship, but both titles have maintained their individual lineages. It is one of three world titles in WWE, alongside its companion WWE Championship on SmackDown, and the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. The current champion is Cody Rhodes, who is in his first reign. He won the undisputed championship by defeating previous champion Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match at WrestleMania XL Night 2 on April 7, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damian Priest</span> American professional wrestler

Luis Martínez is an American professional wrestler. As of October 2018, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Damian Priest. He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor (ROH) under the ring name Punishment Martinez, where he is a former one-time ROH World Television Champion. He also worked in Japan through ROH's relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT North American Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT North American Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended as the secondary men's championship of NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The current champion is Tony D'Angelo, who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating Oba Femi on the October 8, 2024, episode of NXT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT UK Women's Championship</span> Former professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT UK Women's Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship that was created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It was defended on the NXT UK brand division, a sister brand of WWE's developmental territory NXT based in the United Kingdom. Established on 18 June 2018, the inaugural champion was Rhea Ripley. On 4 September 2022 at Worlds Collide, the title was unified into the NXT Women's Championship, officially retiring the title in the process, with Meiko Satomura recognized as the final champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT UK Tag Team Championship</span> Former professional wrestling championship in WWE

The NXT UK Tag Team Championship was a men's professional wrestling tag team championship that was created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It was defended on the NXT UK brand division, a sister brand of WWE's developmental territory NXT based in the United Kingdom. Established on 18 June 2018, the inaugural championship team was James Drake and Zack Gibson. On 4 September 2022 at Worlds Collide, the title was unified into the NXT Tag Team Championship, officially retiring the title in the process, with the team of Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs recognized as the final champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWE Women's Tag Team Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship in WWE, thus is defended across both main roster brand divisions, Raw and SmackDown, and the developmental brand, NXT. The current champions are Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill from SmackDown, who are in their record-tying second reign as a team and second reign for each individually. They won the title by defeating The Unholy Union at Bash in Berlin on August 31, 2024. Due to an injury incurred by Cargill, Naomi is filling in for her as of December 13, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World championships in WWE</span> Listing of mens professional wrestling world championships

The American professional wrestling promotion WWE has maintained several men's world championships since Capitol Wrestling Corporation seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance in 1963 to become the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which was later subjected to various name changes, including World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)—in April 2011, the company ceased using its full name and has since just been referred to as WWE. The company's first world championship was the WWE Championship, which was established along with the promotion's creation in 1963 as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship; it is still active today and is WWE's oldest active title. Whenever the WWE brand extension has been implemented, separate world championships have been created or allocated for each brand.

References

  1. ↑ Parry, Josh (July 26, 2012). "NXT spoiler – first champion crowned". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ James, Justin (September 5, 2012). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 8/29 – Week 11: First NXT champion crowned in big-match setting". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ James, Justin (November 19, 2016). "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.
  4. ↑ Holland, Dustin (June 5, 2015). "WWE Smackdown Results - 6/4/15 (Reigns vs. Sheamus)". WrestleView. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ Csonka, Larry (May 10, 2016). "Triple H Discusses NXT as a Third Brand, Putting Talent in a Position to Succeed, More". 411Mania .
  6. ↑ Rollins, Khadrice (August 19, 2019). "NXT moving to cable TV on Sept. 18". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "NXT Championship". WWE . Fulfilling a prophecy first laid out by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon years earlier, Drew McIntyre captured a world championship in a WWE ring when he defeated Bobby Roode to claim the NXT Title at TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
  8. ↑ Burdick, Michael (February 5, 2021). "SmackDown results, Feb. 5, 2021: Owens attacks Reigns as Edge's WrestleMania opponent remains a mystery". WWE . Retrieved February 16, 2021. In the wake of his Herculean effort, The Rated-R Superstar traveled first to Raw to inform WWE Champion Drew McIntyre that whomever he decided to face, he would be walking out of The Show of Shows with the World Title. He then ventured to NXT and put both NXT Champion Finn Bálor and Pete Dunne on notice as well.
  9. ↑ Thomas, Jeremy (February 3, 2021). "NXT Title Match Set For NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day, Edge Hints at Possibly Challenging Winner". 411Mania . Retrieved February 16, 2021. Edge noted he will be watching the Takeover [NXT Championship] match and may challenge the winner of that match if he hasn't decided who he will challenge by then.
  10. ↑ Stewart, Rob. "Stew's Thoughts on NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day". 411Mania . Retrieved February 16, 2021. ...if Karrion Kross hadn't gotten injured, we wouldn't have Finn Bálor and his Opponent Of The Month actively trying to bludgeon each other in a ring for a world title.
  11. ↑ Matthews, Graham (February 12, 2021). "Finn Balor Shoots on NXT, Bullet Club, Potential WWE WrestleMania 37 Match, More". Bleacher Report . Retrieved February 16, 2021. For the first time ever, the NXT Championship is officially among the top titles the men's Royal Rumble winner can choose to contend for at WrestleMania.
  12. ↑ Burdick, Michael (February 21, 2021). "Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Edge". WWE . Retrieved February 22, 2021. In the wake of his Herculean effort, The Rated-R Superstar [Edge] traveled to Raw, NXT and SmackDown to scope out the World Champions before declaring that he would not announce which World Champion he would challenge until after WWE Elimination Chamber [2021].
  13. ↑ Currier, Joseph (December 3, 2021). "Preview and Predictions for 'NXT WarGames'". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ Defelice, Robert (August 18, 2022). "WWE Announces The Impending Launch Of 'NXT Europe' Final NXT UK Event To Be 'Worlds Collide' On 9/4". Fightful. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ Moore, John (September 4, 2022). "NXT Worlds Collide results: Moore's live review of NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate in a unification match, NXT Women's Champion Mandy Rose vs. NXT UK Women's Champion Meiko Satomura vs. Blair Davenport in a unification match, Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ Graser, Marc (August 15, 2014). "WWE Rebrands With New Logo Tied to Digital Network". Variety . Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  17. ↑ WWE (April 1, 2017). "Exclusive: WWE NXT General William Regal arrives at WrestleMania Axxess with a HUGE announcement regarding NXT TakeOver: Orlando!". Facebook . Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  18. ↑ WWE [@WWENXT] (April 12, 2022). "It's all in the details. #WWENXT" (Tweet). Retrieved April 12, 2022– via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Russell, Skylar (October 1, 2024). "Shawn Michaels Debuts New NXT Championship And NXT Women's Championship Belts On Tuesday's WWE NXT". Fightful. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  20. ↑ Moore, John (October 1, 2024). "NXT TV results (10/1): Moore's review of The CW premiere featuring Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Championship with CM Punk as special referee, Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia for the NXT Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.