10 Most Important Wrestlers In NXT History

2. Sasha Banks

Adrian Neville NXT Arrival Champion
WWE.com

Charlotte had a longer reign as Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch is more technical, and Bayley more lovable, but nobody had a more memorable run through NXT’s women’s division than Sasha Banks.

Banks debuted for NXT back in 2012, though it took her a while to develop the villainous “Boss” persona that made her a star. She started coming into her own while teaming with Summer Rae, but really started breaking out as a singles wrestler upon entering the title chase. What she lacked in natural talking ability Sasha more than made up for with presence and her pitch-perfect performances as The Boss, and her intangibles are off the charts.

Nobody could match Sasha’s star power and “it factor”. She was hugely popular at Full Sail, even when working as a heel, and her title run produced some of the best singles matches in NXT history against Becky Lynch and Bayley. Charlotte might have given the NXT women’s division its first great champion, but Sasha was its first genuine star.

Over a year removed from her NXT run, and Sasha is currently playing a prominent role in Raw’s Women’s Title scene. The Four Horsewomen’s WWE destinies are intrinsically linked, and while Lynch is separated from the others in SmackDown, all four will form the backbone of WWE women’s wrestling for years to come. It started in NXT, where Sasha was the star of the pack.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.