In a year of amazing action for WWE NXT, these 6 matches rose to the top.

In 2018 NXT had one of the finest years of any promotion in American wrestling history. Of the 19 Takeover matches, there was exactly 1 clunker. Throw in the occasional PPV-worthy match on Wednesday night and the match of the year candidates quickly add up. After rewatching every Takeover (oh how I suffer for my craft), here are my top 6 NXT matches of 2018.

HONORABLE MENTION

• Ricochet versus Velveteen Dream, Takeover Chicago
• War Games match, Takeover: War Games
• Undisputed Era versus Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, Takeover Chicago
• North American Title Ladder Match, Takeover New Orleans
• Shayna Baszler versus Kairi Sane, Takeover War Games

6. Pete Dunne versus Ricochet, NXT Television

This match is awesome but somewhat of a cheat. Both guys had great years and deserve to make the list. I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone. Here’s why I give it such high marks. One of the hardest things in wrestling to do is create drama when everybody knows the finish. It was almost a given that UE would ruin the ending. Despite that, Ricochet & Dunne didn’t slow down or hold back one bit. Luckily for us, this rivalry is far from over.     

5. Undisputed Era versus Mustache Mountain, part 2, NXT Television

UE went old school, picked a limb & obliterated Trent Seven’s knee. Tried to cripple him. Tyler Bate had to choose between his best friend’s health & saving their tag team titles. Every time the Big Strong Boi reached for the towel, it tore at my guts. Some people didn’t care for the ending, but the drama in this match would have not been as intense any other way. This was the best match of the second best trilogy of the year.

4. Velveteen Dream versus Tommaso Ciampa, Takeover: War Games

This match had less build than the others on the list. Dream simply showed up and wanted a title shot. I’m a big fan of the little things, & these guys pay attention to the little things. I loved when Ciampa threw the notepad at Ranallo. Then when the match is over, they are so exhausted they lay in a heap for about 2 minutes. Ciampa even takes the belt from the ref while he’s still draped across Dream. Those little touches separate good from great, and this was a great match.

3. Andrade Cien Almas versus Johnny Gargano, Takeover Philadelphia

This match was closer to dancing than wrestling. That’s how well these two worked together. Could Johnny Wrestling, the heart and soul of NXT, finally achieve his dream and capture the title? Could he beat a man he’s never beaten? Everything made sense, even the interference. Zelina Vega and Candace Lerae did just enough to add to the storyline without overshadowing it. This match was so good and so early in 2018, we were left to wonder what Johnny could do to top it. Well…

2. Johnny Gargano versus Tommaso Ciampa II, Takeover Chicago

Any of the trilogy could have made the list. This is my personal favorite. Gargano’s Air Raid Crash was absolutely sick. The belt shots were brutal. The moment that sealed it for me was when Ciampa spit on Gargano’s wedding ring & threw it into the crowd. Wow. What a dick move. If this match happened in 1986, Ciampa would have needed a real police escort to get out alive. After another 5 star classic, we were left to wonder what Gargano could do to top it. Well…

1. EC3 versus Kona Reeves, NXT Television

This was easily the finest match NXT had to offer in 2018. The top 1% of…screw it. What am I doing?

1. Aleister Black versus Johnny Gargano, Takeover War Games

The moment this match ended, I went full Meltzer and gave it 6 stars. I stand by that. Some people talk about looking at a painting or listening to a piece of music and it brings them to tears. They are so touched by the level of beauty achieved by human hands. I feel this way about this match. The story was gripping. The action was beyond intense. There were at least 5 times I thought someone legit got knocked out. Aleister’s second Black Mass is as pretty as a finisher gets. I’m not saying it’s the best match I’ve ever seen, but I don’t think I’ll ever see one better.  

That’s right. I said it.