WWE NXT Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from 2015

For NXT, 2015 was a year of evolution, growth and expansion. It was also a year of dynamic characters, emotional stories and phenomenal matches, all of which helped make it the hottest brand in professional wrestling.

Proving to be so much more than merely a developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment, NXT overshadowed the company's main roster and excelled at everything Vince McMahon and Co. failed. Compelling stories fueled much-anticipated matches, and the brand took their show on the road, both for untelevised live events and TakeOver specials.

Sellouts of arenas in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Detroit for shows in 2016 ensured that the momentum would carry over into the new year.

As Triple H and his roster of young, talented individuals embarks on a new year, one must take a journey back through 2015 and pay homage to the Superstars and women who left a lasting impression—the biggest winners and losers from the last 12 months. 

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: Finn Balor

The Demon awakened in 2015, capturing the NXT Championship from Kevin Owens on July 4 in Tokyo and reigning over the brand every minute since then.

A fantastic wrestler with flair for the dramatic, he brings a certain big-match feel to every one of his matches, especially since he is not typically overexposed on the weekly television broadcast.

Balor is highly marketable, with a boatload of merchandise to back it up, and should do big things whenever he is called up to the main roster.

Until then, he will continue dominating NXT with his Coup de Grace, collecting wins and headlining the most important shows in brand history.

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: Bayley

The hug-loving Diva realized her dream by defeating Sasha Banks at TakeOver: Brooklyn, in front of 13,000 fans, capping one of the most emotional journeys for any wrestler NXT has ever seen.

From there, she successfully retained in a subsequent rematch, a 30-Minute Ironman match that tested her stamina as well as her desire to retain the title she had worked so hard to win. That contest against Banks set the standard for everything women in wrestling are capable of.

A title defense against imposing newcomer Nia Jax in London, with fans serenading her as she overcame her bigger, stronger opponent to retain, capped off her year and was further proof of the connection the character has with the audience.

Credit: WWE.com

Loser: Sami Zayn

Through no fault of his own, Sami Zayn is the biggest loser of the year in NXT.

The Canadian-born star was in the midst of a rivalry with Kevin Owens and a potential call-up to the main roster when tragedy struck and he dislocated his shoulder. Forced to the sidelines, he had to watch from home as the brand he was an integral part of expanded and grew. How disappointing it must have been for him to miss out on the opportunity to compete in Brooklyn, in front of a mass of 13,000 fans as NXT achieved its greatest moment to date.

The year ended with Zayn returning to the ring and downing Tye Dillinger, then vowing to make sure 2016 is his year. Whether he spends it on the NXT roster or not is the biggest question.

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: Sasha Banks

The Boss kicked off 2015 by winning the NXT Women's Championship in a Fatal 4-Way match at TakeOver in February, defeating Charlotte to capture the title that she would lend credibility to as the lead heel in the women's division.

A Match of the Year candidate against Becky Lynch at TakeOver: Unstoppable had Banks surging as one of the hottest wrestlers in the business. By the time August's TakeOver: Brooklyn broadcast hit the WWE Network airwaves, there were very real arguments to be made for her status as the best wrestler in the entire company, regardless of her gender.

Two more Match of the Year nominees against Bayley cemented her status as an elite performer and, arguably, the greatest women's champion in the history of the brand.

Credit: WWE.com

Winner: Kevin Owens

The WWE Universe has just now begun to witness the destruction and devastating violence that Kevin Owens is capable of, but fans of NXT have known all along just how dangerous the Canadian can be.

Winning the NXT Championship from former friend Sami Zayn, Owens embarked on a months-long reign that saw him drive Neville from the brand courtesy of an apron powerbomb, defeat the likes of Hideo Itami and Finn Balor in title defenses and become the most hated villain on the roster.

His call-up to the big show halted his momentum and stole from NXT a performer who could have been the face of the brand for a long time. At the same time, though, it was a testament to the effect he had on the brand in such a short period of time that he was valued so immensely by Vince McMahon and WWE Creative.