8 Best Options For Dethroning Samoa Joe As NXT Champion
Who will follow in the footsteps of Joe, Balor, Owens, Zayn et al?
It is one of the weird quirks of modern professional wrestling, but whenever an individual wins a championship thoughts immediately turn to who will defeat them. We may not like it, but it is true. When Zack Ryder won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32 and the dust had cleared on appreciating the moment, the next question to be asked was 'who will beat him?'
Sometimes, it is easy to imagine a plethora of individuals dethroning the incumbent champion. Well, NXT is not such a place right now. The two singles champions on the show are almost the dictionary definition of wrestling dominance. Asuka hasn't lost since arriving in NXT at the end of last year and, with the exception of Bayley, it is difficult to imagine anyone coming close to her, let alone beating her.
The current NXT Champion is Samoa Joe, and he is equally dominant. Sure, he has tasted defeat a couple of times, but with his defeat of Finn Balor at TakeOver: The End, he has built a new aura of invincibility around him. Samoa Joe has been a dominant champion in the past, and Samoa Joe could be about to become a dominant champion once more.
Still, someone has to beat him for the title, right? He can't hold it until the day he dies can he? Of course not, and here are the eight men that could eventually vanquish Joe.
8. Tye Dillinger
News coming out of the latest set of NXT tapings suggests that the company aren't planning on running with him any time soon, but the unexpected popularity of Tye Dillinger could be an avenue for NXT to explore in the future. Dillinger has slipped into the 'lose to new stars in their debut match' role, but the love afforded to him at TakeOver: The End... suggests that role may no longer be the best option for the brand.
The NXT audience loves Dillinger. His entire character revolves around his love of the number 10, and that seems to be enough for the Full Sail faithful. It is incredibly simple to get behind after all, and Dillinger really gives his all to the gimmick. He has also spent a huge amount of time in WWE developmental, being a part of OVW and FCW between 2006 and 2009 before returning to NXT in 2013.
It would take a bit of work when it comes to rehabilitation, but you are pretty much guaranteeing a huge moment if Tye Dillinger eventually becomes the man to defeat Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship. The very thought of the vignettes in the build-up are enough to excite.
Heck, why not have Tye Dillinger win the NXT Championship in a Last Man Standing match. Imagine the crowd as the referee gets closer to that magical number 10? It would be a thing of beauty.