10 Wrestlers Who Can Succeed Finn Balor As NXT's Icon
6. Kota Ibushi
Already one of international wrestling’s biggest stars, Kota Ibushi is a wrestler like no other. An eccentric personality who blends technicality, comedy, high-flying, and brutal striking, he’s a complete professional wrestler who’s just as able to put-on a compelling match with Shinsuke Nakamura (NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 9) as he is a blowup doll (seriously, look it up).
The Golden Star has already made a significant impact in WWE. First appearing in the crowd at April’s landmark TakeOver: Dallas event, Ibushi was confirmed as a CWC participant in June, and defeated Sean Maluta in one of the tournament’s most exciting matches thus far. He made his official NXT debut in a match with Buddy Murphy on July 27th, and if rumours are to be believed, he’s already signed a full-time WWE deal.
Kota Ibushi might be the best wrestler on this whole list. His NJPW resumé is jam-packed with breathtaking matches, he possesses an ideal combination of strength, agility, and speed, and he’s already immensely popular with the Full Sail crowd. The only question is whether or not he’ll head straight for the main roster if signed. The Cruiserweight division is on the horizon, and with Ibushi a favourite to win the CWC, there’s every chance he’ll find himself on Raw sooner or later.
Still, Ibushi would make an outstanding candidate to lead NXT into the future. NXT fans expect elite-level in-ring performances at the top of their cards, and few fit the bill better than Ibushi.