Top 11 longest-reigning WWE NXT champions of all time

Some of the biggest names in WWE today have held the NXT Title at some point in their careers.

WWE has established its third brand, NXT, as the proving ground for its upcoming and talented in-ring competitors. Furthermore, the top prize in the developmental territory, the NXT Championship, introduced by Triple H in 2012, has produced remarkable champions in their own right.

Moreover, some of those title holders have established stellar title reigns that have set records on their own. Here are the top 11 longest-reigning WWE NXT Champions of all time:

11. Big E (153 days)

The inaugural NXT Champion, Seth Rollins, began an impressive reign in 2012. That was until a few months later, when Rollins encountered Big E, then known as Big E Langston. The upcoming powerhouse dethroned the future Visionary to become champion. He took down many competitors during his time as champion, with his reign lasting for 153 days.

Also Read: Top 10 longest reigning WWE Champions of all time

10. Carmelo Hayes (182 days)

As the Champion of NXT, Carmelo Hayes proved his mantle as a top prospect with his impressive NXT tenure, winning titles and accolades. Hayes achieved the big time by winning the NXT Championship from Bron Breakker in the main event of NXT Stand and Deliver 2023. Carmelo Hayes reign lasted for 182 days until he was defeated by Ilja Dragunov.

9. Bobby Roode (202 days)

Bobby Roode became one of the most captivating NXT superstars of all time. His popularity and amazing in-ring acumen led to him clinching the NXT Championship at TakeOver: San Antonio in 2017. Roode proved to be a “Glorious” champion, holding the title for 202 days, and was regarded as a top NXT champion of the decade.

8. Ilja Dragunov (205 days)

The Mad Dragon of NXT, Ilja Dragunov, utilised his dominant style and impressive in-ring acumen to win the NXT Championship from Carmelo Hayes at NXT No Mercy 2023. He managed to cement his legacy as a top NXT Champion, holding the title for 205 days until his last match in the Black and Gold brand, losing the title to Trick Williams.

Also Read: Top 10 longest-reigning United States Champions in WWE history

7. Tommaso Ciampa (237 days)

After the end of his popular tag team, DIY, Tommaso Ciampa set out on his own as a singles competitor. He won the NXT title in 2018 from Aleister Black. Ciampa would dominate the scene for the next 237 days as champion. However, his title reign came to an end due to his neck injury, forcing Ciampa to vacate the title, which otherwise could have gone longer than expected.

6. Bo Dallas (260 days)

Bo Dallas’ worth as a top competitor was recognised in WWE NXT when he defeated Big E to win the NXT Championship in 2013. The current alter-ego of Uncle Howdy held the title for an impressive 260 days, defeating multiple top stars during his reign and proving to be a remarkable NXT Champion of all time.

5. Oba Femi (263 days)

After defeating Trick Williams at NXT New Year’s Evil, Oba Femi kicked off one of the most dominating NXT title reigns of recent times in the developmental brand. Femi held the title for an impressive 263 days, inching ahead of Bo Dallas to secure the fifth spot in this list.

4. Neville (286 days)

Neville started out in WWE NXT as a fan-favourite high-flyer whose exceptional athleticism led him to clinch the NXT Championship. He defeated Bo Dallas at NXT’s first pay-per-view, Arrival in a ladder match. The mesmerizing star set the reign at 286 days, which is credited as his most impressive championship reign in WWE so far.

3. Finn Balor (292 days)

Finn Balor has not only one but two longest title reigns when it comes to the NXT Championship. During his first stint in NXT, he set the record for an impressive and lengthy title reign at 292 days in 2015, which is the third-longest reign of all time. However, Balor also had a lengthy reign during his second tenure in NXT in 2020, holding the title for 212 days and having two spectacular reigns as NXT Champion.

Also Read: Top five longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champions in history

2. Bron Breakker (361 days)

Bron Breakker revamped the NXT 2.0 landscape with his dominance in the ring, speed, and power, not to mention the rich legacy of The Steiners he brought with him. Breakker’s conduct. After his first title reign ended at 63 days, Breakker won back the NXT title from Dolph Ziggler on RAW in 2022. The Wolf Dog’s reign lasted for a year at 361 days, cementing him as the future of WWE.

1. Adam Cole (403 days)

Former star Adam Cole clinched the spot as the longest-reigning NXT Champion in WWE history. The reign of the Panama Playboy began at NXT TakeOver XXV, where he defeated Johnny Gargano. Cole held the title for an impressive 403 days, cementing his spot in the history books of WWE NXT, a record that is yet to be broken by the current crop of the NXT division.

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