10 Biggest Breakout WWE Stars Of 2016
2. Finn Balor
Finn Balor was already a gigantic star when he arrived in NXT. An independent standout who had earned international recognition as the leader of The Bullet Club, he entered the developmental program ready to champion it. He succeeded, becoming the franchise star of the brand.
Until one achieves greatness on the main roster, though, they have achieved nothing. Or so Vince McMahon's thought process would dictate.
Balor immediately achieved something, defeating Roman Reigns to earn a shot at the WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam. During the match, he suffered a catastrophic shoulder injury, yet fought through it to become the first titleholder in that championship's history.
Unfortunately, Balor was forced to hand the title over, his shoulder in need of surgery.
Still, the impact Balor made on Raw is undeniable and will serve him well headed into 2017 and what should be a dramatic return to action.