10 Most Important Wrestlers In NXT History

Throughout his time in WWE developmental, Sami Zayn was the face of NXT, its most popular athlete, and a participant in some of the brand’s most notable stories and matches. More than anyone else, Zayn embodies the everything that NXT stands for, and the heart, grit, and his slow build to becoming NXT Champion is one of the best underdog stories that WWE have ever told.

Zayn was the lovable loser. Though talented, he could never win the big one, and that became the theme of his feud with Neville. Sami would fight valiantly to come within touching distance of glory, and fall at the last hurdle every single time.

Neville wasn’t shy in pointing that out, but Sami wasn’t hindered by his failings. He came back stronger every time he fell down, and Neville’s words served only to fuel him towards glory. When he eventually topped his long-time friend for the NXT Championship, the entire locker room poured out to celebrate with him: a testament to the character he’d shown to make it through such an arduous journey.

Zayn’s importance extends far beyond great stories and matches, however. Zayn’s win didn’t just validate him as NXT’s top star, but it validated NXT’s rise as a whole. From his Arrival bout with Cesaro to his last match in Dallas with Shinsuke Nakamura, Zayn was the glue that held NXT together, and his rise to prominence mirrored that of the brand itself.

Guys like Finn Balor and Nakamura weren’t around when Sami started. It was Zayn who helped build the platform on which they’d later succeed, and Zayn wasn’t just the face of NXT by the time he left, but a symbol of the promotion’s growth. He deserves to be remembered as a trailblazer and trend-setter in NXT, and without him, who knows how the brand would be viewed today.