10 Best Achievements By Former NXT Champions On The Main Roster
5. Shinsuke Nakamura Wins The Royal Rumble
Shinsuke Nakamura is the first and thus far only former NXT Champion to win the Royal Rumble match. Doesn't that say it all.
Nakamura's arrival in WWE was treated like a huge deal. His debut match against Sami Zayn remains one of the best NXT matches of all time, and he quickly rose to the top of the NXT mountain, defeating Samoa Joe for the NXT title at TakeOver: Brooklyn II.
Even on the main roster, Nakamura had his moments, challenging numerous times for the WWE Championship and even managing to get a win over John Cena on an episode of Smackdown. Easily his biggest achievement to date came earlier this year, when he outlasted 29 other men to win the Men's Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Roman Reigns - of all people - to clinch victory.
Whilst Nakamura may have been booked into oblivion following his WrestleMania 34 loss to AJ Styles, we'll always have this moment in Philly when the indie darling won the big one.
Nakamura won one of the best Rumble matches in years and proved that, if WWE ever did become interested in him as a top contender, he could fill that role and then some.