They Got NeXT: The Top NXT Matches Of All-Time

What's good folks?!  We all give acclaim to promotions such as PWG, NJPW, ROH, and British promotions such as PROGRESS, wXw, ICW, and RevPro.  Sometimes, because of the umbrella this brand is under, we forget that NXT is one of the single top brands in the game, in spite of being a WWE product.  It could easily be considered a promotion in itself, even if considered "developmental".  The brainchild of the late, great Dusty Rhodes, Triple H spearheads as the head honcho of the brand, and with William Regal acting as on screen GM, this promotion serves as one of the most talked about brands on Earth.  So much so that they recently expanded to have a British division called NXT UK, which I'm sure we'll be seeing as a prominent brand as well.  For now, however, we will go over some of the most profound matches within NXT and help defined them into what they are today.  Let's get started shall we.

20. Adrien Neville vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Tyson Kidd/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way

Before they became main roster mainstays, they were handling NXT quite well.  Kidd was struggling on the main roster before he came to NXT to help out, and he ended up flourishing.  Everybody was hot going into this match, so it was no wonder why this encounter was so thrilling.  Near fall after near fall dominated this match.  Neville was the exciting champion going into this match and he looked as good as everyone else did here.  Neville retained, but not without having one hell of a match with three other guys that turned it out right with him.

19. Authors Of Pain vs. DIY vs. The Revival/NXT Tag Team Championships

NXT Takeover: Orlando

Three of the most successful teams in NXT history merged together at Takeover: Orlando for a very intense Triple Threat Match for the NXT Tag Team Championships.  The highly skilled Revival, the incredible indie darlings DIY of Gorgano and Ciampa, and the ever vicious Authors Of Pain were all hell bent on walking out with the gold that night.  These teams were not going to be stopped.  The difference here was that this was also an elimination match so the first team to get pinned got eliminated and sent to the back.  This was filled with incredible physicality, and ended with AOP as the champs after being in a war they had never been in before.

18. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Unstoppable

Before being hugely successful on the main roster, the champion Sasha Banks and challenger Becky Lynch tore it down at Takeover: Unstoppable in a match many still talk about today as one of the defining matches within the women's division at NXT.  Lynch came in as the fiery, determined challenger wanting to show the world that she deserved to be mentioned within the same light as Sasha and Charlotte at this time.  Although "The Bo$$" came away with a hard fought win, Lynch did what she wanted to accomplish: getting people to talk about her, and her performance was an introduction to the "Lass-kicker" we know today.

17. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O' Reilly, Bobby Fish) vs. SaNity (Eric Young, Killian Dane, Alexander Wolfe) vs. Roderick Strong & Authors Of Pain/War Games

NXT Takeover: War Games

For the first time in nearly two decades, WWE reintroduced the legendary (and violent) match, War Games.  Introduced back in '97, the War Games has been synonymous with team brutality and bloody aggression.  This War Games match was slightly different.  Yes it was two rings together with a cage surrounding them, but there's no roof on the cage for one, and two, this also consisted of three teams of three, which was very different.  In any event, these nine men took themselves through virtual hell in this match.  Injuries were presumed everywhere, especially to Wolfe who suffered a hideous and lengthy gash in the back of his head.  In the end, with tables, chairs, trash cans, and more involved, it came down to The Undisputed Era defeating the others, and with the hardest of hard fought victories, they showed they were the new dominant crew in NXT.

16. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch/NXT Women's Championship

NXT Takeover: R-rival

In what was a competitive match if there ever was one within the women's division, the quadrant that would later become known as The Four Horsewomen all clashed with each other at Takeover: R-rival.  Bayley, Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky all presented a display of intense desire to become the head in charge of the division.  Sasha became the woman this night, but without earning the complete respect of everyone that viewed the event, along with Charlotte, Bayley, and Becky.  While these women have more than proven themselves on the main roster as four of the best in-ring workers in the business, this match gave a clue as to what each one was capable of.

15. Ember Moon vs. Asuka/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III

For over a year and some change, the statement was "Nobody's ready for Asuka", and it was proven time and time and time again.  Nobody had an answer for the Japanese phenom.  The young lady was undefeated for nearly two years straight before "retiring" from NXT undefeated and as Women's Champion.  However, one of her single toughest competitors and challengers was rising star Ember Moon (no pun intended).  Moon was highly regarded as the next big thing within NXT and was impressing people left and right.  This match was a rematch from their encounter in Chicago earlier in the year.  This match was not only better, but Ember came within an eyelash of winning.  Easily one of the greatest women's encounters in NXT history, Asuka nearly tasted defeat closer than any other time before.

14. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. The Undisputed Era (Kyle O' Reilly & Roderick Strong)/NXT Tag Team Championships

NXT Takeover: Chicago II

The Undisputed Era is collectively the most impressive faction possibly in all of WWE.  All these highly successful former ROH talents merged into quite the group in New Orleans when Roddie Strong joined the group.  They met a very formidable challenge at Takeover: Chicago II in the form of super tough veterans, Oney Lorcan and the UK's Danny Burch.  Almost nobody expected the fight they brought O' Reilly and Strong, but man oh man what a fight they gave them.  Strong and O' Reilly fought their asses off to retain the gold, but afterwards, those same people that didn't give Burch and Lorcan much of a chance were standing in applause for minutes.  Lorcan even suffered quite a devastating facial injury as a result of the match that kept him out for some months.  Best believe, after that kind of performance, they'll be champions sooner than later.

13. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro/Two Out Of Three Falls

NXT TV Taping- 8/21/13

Sami Zayn is what the term "workhorse" personifies: heart, grit, determination, and all around superb in-ring work ethic.  When he emerged in NXT, he was very quickly taken in by the NXT audience (most already were familiar with him as the masked Canadian Luchador, El Generico).  However, he had quite the rivalry with former FCW/NXT star Cesaro, as Zayn was never able to beat him.  Zayn had the temerity to challenge Cesaro yet again for a match.  While Cesaro was reluctant to accept the challenge due to him already frequently defeating him, he accepted one more time in a Best Of Three Falls match.  This match was without question the best of their series of matches, as Cesaro was so dominant throughout the majority of the match, but when Zayn shined, he SHINED.  The storytelling here was fantastic, and the athleticism that matched was just awesome.  

12. Asuka vs. Nikki Cross/NXT Womens Championship

NXT TV Tapings- 6/28/17

The commentators refer to her as Sanity's "twisted sister", but Scotland's Nikki Cross is as brilliant as she is nuts.  Fearless and intense, Cross challenged the historic-reigning NXT Womens Champion, Asuka to the first ever Last Woman Standing match (no, people, Becky vs. Charlotte was not the first, this was).  The mixture of the fierce aggressiveness of Cross with Asuka's staggering strong style offense made for a vicious affair on NXT TV.  To say these ladies threw everything at each other is quite an understatement.  Asuka had faced quite a variety of notable challengers including Nia Jax, Ember Moon, Bayley, and Dana Brooke, but this one was different.  This one met her brutal offense almost to the T, but once again Asuka survived, and I do mean SURVIVED.

11. Sami Zayn vs. Adrien Neville/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: R-Evolution

Adrien Neville (later just Neville) was a sizzling champion.  He had held the belt for about a year before super hungry challenger Sami Zayn was knocking on his door.  These two friends threw it all out the window and it became such a hotly contested encounter.  These two outstanding, world class talents gave us a hell of a match that still stands up today as one of the finest NXT Championship encounters in brand history.  Sami ended up obtaining the title over his close friend, only for the victory to be marred by best friend-turned-antagonist Kevin Owens.

10. DIY vs. The Revival/NXT Tag Team Championships/Two Out Of Three Falls

NXT Takeover: Toronto

In what was, without question, the standout match of NXT Takeover: Toronto, the self-assured, yet very impressive, champions The Revival were challenged by the hungry and focused team of Tamosso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, collectively DIY.  DIY had been fighting their asses off for this moment to obtain a shot at the gold.  They lost once to them in a fantastic match for the gold, however this time it was Two Out Of Three Falls, and DIY didn't come to play around with nobody.  This match was textbook precision at its finest between these two highly touted teams.  After two incredible falls, it came down to the third fall, and DIY finally grabbed the brass ring and won the gold in a match that would never be forgotten anytime soon.

9. Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne/WWE UK Heavyweight Championship

NXT Takeover: Chicago

Representing the United Kingdom, UK Champion, Tyler Bate, was challenged by the man he defeated in the finals of the tournament to declare the inaugural champion, "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne.  While their match at the UKCT was excellent in itself, this match was just out of this world.  Dunne had been on fire at this point, and it was clear he was chomping at the bit to become only the second man to hold the belt.  The very young champion and the almost as young challenger took things to higher levels than ever before with this unbelievable match.  Ultimately Dunne came out the new champion, and isn't terribly far from being a two-year champion, thus making him the longest reigning champion in the company and possibly the business overall now that Okada isn't IWGP Champion anymore.  In this match, Dunne had officially arrived.

8. Moustache Mountain vs. The Undisputed Era (Kyle O' Reilly & Roderick Strong)/NXT Tag Team Championship

NXT TV Taping- 7/11/18

The story here was the epic storytelling.  The team of Trent Seven and former WWE UK Heavyweight Champion Tyler Bate were Moustache Mountain, and they had defeated O' Reilly and Strong of The Undisputed during the taping of the second annual UKCT in London at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.  They brought the belts back to the States to defend the belts against the men they won them from in a spectacular match.  With Strong and O' Reilly injuring the knee of Seven, the story began, and it was compelling.  The heart shown by Seven and the conflict of Bate trying to decide whether or not to throw in the title was so classically done and done well.  Bate ultimately threw it in, thus allowing The Undisputed's second tag team title reign in what was an emotionally charged match and the first five star match on NXT TV.

7. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NXT Takeover: Dallas

In one of the most storied matches in NXT history, Sami Zayn had just gotten the call to go up to the main roster.  He had one last huge challenge before he left: to defeat the hottest free agent in the game at the time, Shinsuke Nakamura.  These two would meet for the first time ever, and JESUS what a match! The fans were going crazy before the bell even rang to give it a huge fight feel.  This match was the definition of the word EPIC. The match had a style that was the closest to a New Japan-like style we had ever seen in WWE. This was one of the first time WWE audiences had delivered the chant "Fight forever", and it was so richly deserved.  We could've seen these guys fight for an hour plkus.  It's not often we see this type of magic under the WWE umbrella, even NXT, but this match is surely a match generations will still speak about years down the road.  This was special, plus it gave Nakamura his first win in one of his most god-level matches ever!

6. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship/30 Minute Ironman Match

NXT Takeover: Respect

This rivalry has been considered the most impactful women's rivalry in NXT history and rightfully so. It redefined the division and made it possible for women to not only steal the show but main event all male programs.  This was evidenced in their amazing first encounter at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, and again at NXT Takeover: Respect.  Bayley defeated Banks in Brooklyn, and she came into this rematch as champion, facing a bitter yet utterly determined Sasha Banks.  This was the first Ironman match in company history, and this was one for the books.  The emotion going into this one was off the page as Bayley had to show she was worthy of the title and this was has hard fought of an encounter as you'll ever see in NXT.  This match showed some of Sasha's best heel work, even going so far as to make then seven year old Bayley superfan Izzy cry heartbreakingly.  The guts showed by both women made this a true NXT standout moment and the match got fans and peers alike standing on their feet in applause out of respect and admiration for a job very, very well done.

5. Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 vs. Killian Dane vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Ricochet/Ladder/NXT North American Championship/Ladder Match
NXT Takeover: New Orleans

When fans mention the term 'Ladder match', people go to such classics as Razor vs. Shawn, most Money In The Bank matches or Dudley Boys vs. E&C vs. Hardyz.  You need to add another to that profound list.  This was a ladder match for the newly activated North American Championship.  In the chase to become the inaugural champion and make history, these six guys KILLED in this match.  EC3 and Ricochet were the newbies in this match and Cole and Dream had a ton of momentum going into this match.  This was a brutal, at times hard to watch, encounter showing the future of NXT in their toughest forms.  Although nobody came out unscathed, Cole reached the top first and became the first N.A. Champion.  Easily the most awesome Ladder Match of 2018 and one of the best in recent memory.

4. Johnny Gargano vs. Tomassa Ciampa/Street Fight

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV

Arguably the greatest and most personal rivalry in NXT history has been former friends and partners, Johnny Gargano against Tomasso Ciampa.  At Takeover: New Orleans, they told the best story all year, but in this one, they tried to flat out destroy each other and came very close to accomplishing it.  They were in street clothes and fought like they were legitimately in the streets.  This was an uneasy encounter at times, as stiff shots were plenty and these two turned up the level of intensity and physicality from New Orleans.  Ciampa, with his hands handcuffed, pulled out a win in this ungodly physical match and continued a rivalry that has redefined the whole structure of NXT for 2018.

3. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

This is the match that completely redesigned the entire Women's division, not just in NXT, but WWE as a whole.  Bayley and Sasha were involved in twenty of the most compelling minutes we had ever seen within the Women's division under Vince's umbrella.  Underdog and constant ring-chaser Bayley was trying to capture the Women's Title from the arrogant, yet incredibly talented, Banks.  Bayley came out with the heart of someone who felt she had everything to lose and her back was against the wall.  What resulted was damn near a masterpiece.  A showing of two women looking to be bring legitimacy back to women's wrestling on a mainstream level (not counting TNA and their Knockout division).  Bayley finally did it, and it was one of the single most heartfelt moments in wrestling.  So much so that afterwards, the Four Horsewomen did a "curtain call" of sorts similar to The Kliq back in MSG.  This was a changing of the guard, and these women were responsible for it.  

2. Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: Philadelphia

The highly cocky, yet exceptionally talented, Andrade "Cien" Almas was the reigning NXT Champion, defeating previous champion Drew (Galloway) McIntyre.  With this match, Gargano had been the relative underdog.  The guy that fights and scraps and fights some more and scraps some more.  He was finally the number one contender, even though he had lost to ACA before.  With the cunning Zelina Vega in his corner, Almas showed no mercy and went after him quickly, but Gargano, ever the fighter, would always bounce back.  Folks, this was as close to a perfect match as you would get.  The storytelling, the action, the emotion, the adrenaline.  This was all here and in fabulous fashion.  If nothing else showed the world Johnny Wrestling belonged in the main event, this did, and both guys delivered career benchmark performances in this instant classic that will stand among the upper echelon of NXT Championship matches.

1. Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa/Unsanctioned Match

NXT Takeover: New Orleans

The event, NXT Takeover: New Orleans, has been referred to as the best Takeover event of all-time.  From the aforementioned Ladder Match to Aleister Black winning the NXT Title from Cien Almas, this event was exceptional.  However, it was capped off with what has to be considered WWE match of the year in Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa.  Gargano was "out" of NXT thanks to him putting his NXT career on the line and losing to Almas, however, Ciampa was the reason, as he interfered in the match.  The match for Johnny's future and another shot at competing in NXT was on the line, as he faced his former friend in an Unsanctioned Match, meaning NXT/WWE wasn't responsible for any injuries from this match.  This match had every element imaginable to be considered among the greatest matches ever witnessed in NXT.  Although not quite as brutal as later encounters, this match didn't need top be.  This match was as compelling as it was entertaining.  You rooted for this extremely talented, yet underachieved, star, and you wanted for him to live his dream so badly.  This match was simply an experience to watch.  In a year that saw perhaps the greatest wrestling match of all time with Okada and Omega at Dominion earlier this year, don't you dare leave this off the list of all-time great matches that will be spoken of twenty years from now.  Gargano won and got his NXT career back, but as thrilling of a victory as this was, it was only the beginning.


Honorable Mentions

Black vs. Almas (NXT Takeover: New Orleans)
Black vs. Dream (NXT Takeover: War Games)
Ricochet vs. Dream (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV)
Charlotte vs. Natalya (NXT Takeover)
Paige vs. Emma (NXT Arrival)
Charlotte vs. Banks (NXT Takeover: R-Evolution)
Black vs. Ciampa (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Dunne vs. O' Reilly (NXT TV Taping 6/13/18)
Balor vs. Owens (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn)
Nakamura vs. Roode (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Balor vs. Neville (NXT Takeover: R-rival)
Moon vs. Asuka (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Nakamura vs. Joe (NXT Takeover: Toronto)
Nakamura vs. Joe (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II)
Black vs. Cole (NXT Takeover: Philadelphia)
Liger vs. Breeze (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn)
Zayn vs. Owens (NXT Takeover: Unstoppable)
Asuka vs. Moon vs. Cross vs. Royce (NXT Takeover: War Games)
Bayley vs. Asuka (NXT Takeover: Dallas)
American Alpha vs. Revival (NXT Takeover: Dallas)


NXT has proven itself to be way more than a "developmental" brand. This brand is the real deal and continuously outdoes its major league company each and every time, especially with their Takeover events.  They have a deeper following plus critically they're more consistent.  Some have compared them to a higher production budgeted ROH. This could in instances be true.  In any event, NXT is legitimately one of the single best brand around, and with the addition of the UK division and rumors of a German division as well coming, can they be stopped?  Don't bet on it.  Until the next time!