The NXT Championship has become one of the most sought after titles in WWE over recent years, and a lot of that is down to the prestigious lineage the title has. Great names such as Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, and Samoa Joe have all dominated with the title, helping to make it really mean something.

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Because of that, plenty of wrestlers have had a shot at the gold, but far more have failed than have succeeded. There's been a lot of opportunities wasted and wrestlers who just haven't been able to get over the line, with plenty of chances, but no title to show for it. This was brought together using CageMatch.net, including WWE live event shows.

10 Apollo Crews (5 Matches)

Apollo Crews WWE

When Apollo Crews was first brought to WWE, he was given a big push in NXT. While Crews was perhaps pushed a little too quick to the NXT Championship scene, he was able to make an impact.

Most of Apollo's title shots came on live events, but he did get one television bout against Finn Balor, which was a really strong encounter between the two of them that showcased Crews' in-ring talent.

9 Matt Riddle (5 Matches)

Matt-Riddle

It is actually quite surprising that Matt Riddle never managed to win a singles championship during his time in NXT. He was heavily pushed throughout his time on the brand, but he was never able to win the NXT Title.

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Riddle didn't get the chance to fight for the NXT Championship at a Takeover event, but he did get one moment on an episode of NXT where he battled Adam Cole. However, the King Of Bros fell short in his quest.

8 Kassius Ohno (7 Matches)

Kassius Ohno

Kassius Ohno was always seen as a top star throughout his career, but in NXT, he never quite hit the level his talent should've led him to. It's unclear why things didn't work out for him in NXT, but that was the way it went for him.

However, that didn't mean that opportunities didn't come for him. He was able to have several title bouts against Bobby Roode and Tommaso Ciampa, but because he wasn't seen as a top star he was never pushed all the way.

7 Leo Kruger (7 Matches)

Leo Kruger

When Leo Kruger was being showcased as a threat to the NXT Championship, few people would have expected him to end up as the partying Adam Rose. The gimmick people remember him by didn't exactly showcase his in-ring ability to full effect, which was a shame.

However, when he worked as Kruger, he was able to be seen as a far more serious wrestler, which worked out well for his championship prospects. While his shots came in live events against Bo Dallas, he was certainly proven to be someone who could've won the title.

6 Tye Dillinger (10 Matches)

Tye Dilliner makes his entrance in WWE

Tye Dillinger was always the 'nearly man' in WWE, not managing to quite reach the level that he had the ability to achieve. The Perfect 10 was an incredibly popular member of the NXT roster, and during Bobby Roode's title reign, he did come close to getting the title.

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Dillinger would have been widely accepted as a champion due to the fact his gimmick was so great and in the ring, he was able to deliver. However, WWE never gave him the chance to quite reach his full potential.

5 Roderick Strong (11 Matches)

Roderick Strong

Roderick Strong has had an incredible career in NXT, winning the Tag Team and North American Championships as a member of the Undisputed Era. However, before he joined the faction, he had several opportunities at the NXT Championship.

Roderick Strong is an immense in-ring talent who is well-known for having brilliant stamina. He may not have been given title opportunities since joining the group, due to Adam Cole being the main singles star, but he has certainly come close in the past.

4 Tyson Kidd (13 Matches)

Tyson Kidd

Fans often forget just how big of a role Tyson Kidd played in the early growth of NXT. He was one of the top stars in the black and gold brand, and his battles with the likes of Tyler Breeze, Sami Zayn, and Neville were outstanding.

Kidd was perfect for NXT due to his technical ability, but despite getting major title opportunities, even at Takeover events, Tyson was never able to win the big one.

3 Velveteen Dream (13 Matches)

Velveteen Dream WWE

The Velveteen Dream has often been pushed heavily in NXT, mainly because of the charisma and energy that he has brought. At points, Velveteen Dream has been incredibly popular and has always felt ready to be NXT Champion.

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2020 saw a dip in quality for the Dream, not quite being at the same level that he once was. However, he has certainly got the potential to one day take NXT's top prize.

2 Baron Corbin (17 Matches)

Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin has often been used by WWE as someone who could challenge for titles, but ultimately not win them. This has happened on both the main roster and in NXT, with WWE making the most out of the fact he's a fantastic heel and can get a great response from fans.

However, while he has certainly polished his in-ring ability on the main roster, the fact is that during his NXT career, Corbin simply wasn't ready to be a top main event champion.

1 Tyler Breeze (32 Matches)

Tyler Breeze

With over 30 matches for the NXT Championship under his belt, Tyler Breeze has had way more shots than anybody. He was always a big part of NXT during his initial run, and he would certainly have benefited from having the North American Championship at that point.

It wasn't to be for Breeze, despite the fact he was very popular with audiences, and incredibly talented inside the ring. Breeze would have made a great champion had he been given the opportunity, but it wasn't to be for him.

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