10 Best NXT Champions Of The Black And Gold Era

The former Kevin Steen entering the company gave rise to the first wave of suspicion that Vince McMahon had no idea what Triple H was doing down at Full Sail. Steen was indie-tastic and his body shape was so outside of Vinny Mac’s mould of almost exclusively Greek Gods, not to mention that his merchandise was emblazoned with “Kill Steen Kill”.

This was arguably the only real edge that WWE shaved off as it became “Fight Owens Fight” instead. The character was still a selfish, ruthless warrior and he proved, on his first night, that he was the same man as ever by brutalising the newly crowned NXT Champion - his former friend - Sami Zayn.

Owens wasted no time planting his flag, claiming the promotion’s top prize by stoppage and becoming the most despicable villain in NXT to that point.

Whilst his reign was only 142 days, Owens left a huge mark on the legitimacy of the title. The most impactful moment of his run happened on Monday May 18th 2015, when the Prizefighter appeared on Raw to answer John Cena’s open challenge. It was unfathomable: Cena lay prone, Owens stood tall; holding his championship aloft and stomping on the United States title.

The NXT Champion would go on to beat Cena cleanly and, whatever else happened after that feud that we’d like to forget, it was a declaration that the Black and Gold had arrived.