The women were the real stars down at NXT There has been nothing that has been as consistently meaningful in the WWE as NXT. 2015 was a momentous year in its history as it finally expanded its reach and went out of Full Sail to entertain fans around America and the world.All of its success is to the fact, how well they’ve developed many characters and storylines. they’ve presented such good writing, performances and matches that one could seriously consider NXT a separate entity from the whole of WWE that could really give the main roster a run for their money.Here are the best 5 rivalries that have made NXT what it is today-
#1 Bayley vs Sasha Banks
This rivalry gave us the best match of NXT in 2015. Their stint at Brooklyn became so successful precisely because how these characters have developed and it was a story that was being written for the past 4 years.
They came to developmental in 2012, and since then, up until today, have grown into their characters so much that it’s impossible to imagine them as anyone else.
These were two women who were once just like the fans in the arena and they’ve grown into these two polar opposite characters. Bayley, whose sense of optimism couldn’t be broken despite her many defeats when it came to her title matches – hugs and smiles and colors all round.
Sasha Banks – the champion who just would not let past failings haunt her again, being the best and baddest she could be, constantly getting allies and letting them go just because only she gets to be The Boss and for your information, she owns that role.
That’s why Brooklyn was such a great platform to bring these two together to fight it out in such a hyped situation. These two then went on to main event a Takeover together.
#2 Sami Zayn Vs Kevin Owens
Best friends to mortal enemies. Typical angle but boasted by great performances and wrestling.
Owens is so good as a dastardly heel and Zayn lives and breathes the role of a perfect babyface. It is so difficult to write babyfaces in pro wrestling these days but NXT has somehow excelled so very well in that aspect.
Zayn won the NXT Championship in a magical moment that got an Attitude Era-esque pop. The same night Kevin Owens made his NXT debut and made a huge statement. The same night these two had an emotional embrace after Zayn finally won the championship he so wanted.
We knew their history, that they were best friends and also knew how much their respective moments meant to them.
And then Owens clotheslined Zayn on the ramp and then delivered a vicious Pop Up Powerbomb on the ring apron. That decimated Zayn and countless other fans who were just in a surreal journey.
That began one of the most emotionally powerful feuds of the year with Zayn trying to come to terms with this betrayal and Owens being nonchalant about it trying to do what’s best for him and his family.
Zayn lost both their Takeover matches and Owens came out looking like a monster we all wanted Zayn to overcome. Till now, Owens can’t fathom Zayn being in front of him as he is still a threat to him. Just watch his reaction when Zayn entered the Rumble to win the same championship Owens was fighting for.
#3 Sami Zayn vs Adrian Neville
This feud was so good that even the predictable outcome of Zayn having his crowning moment was all the more worth waiting for.
It was so good that it made Zayn want to quit wrestling if he did not win the title from Neville. Both of them started off as babyfaces but one was just too good in that role to be considered anything but.
Neville wanted to be a good friend and a wise one at that, in which he kept trying to make Zayn understand that he won’t win and as a good friend, he wouldn’t want to see the Canadian suffer defeat after defeat.
Zayn was overcome by determination and resolve to prove Neville wrong and it all culminated into the most beautiful NXT moment of 2014, when he finally won the prize he wanted so badly.
#4 Charlotte vs Sasha Banks
A second Sasha Banks feud and you know how important she has been to the narrative of NXT and to women's wrestling in general. When Charlotte won the NXT Championship, that obviously led to a discussion as to what all she can achieve in the WWE.
After all, she improved in such a short period of time.
Her championship reign began as her alliance with Summer Rae and Sasha Banks in a team called ‘BFFs’ (Beautiful, Fierce Females) came to an end. With that, she became more of a babyface than a villain and it was around that time that Banks began gaining the reputation of being one the best female performers in the WWE.
Banks could not defeat Charlotte in a singles matches until it came to Takeover: Rival where NXT’s Four Horsewoman faced each other in a fatal four way for the title, and it was then that Banks finally won the championship and became a worthy successor to the title, which has had worthy champions in Paige and Charlotte.
#5 Asuka vs Emma
This may not be in NXT’s radar to be repeated again, but this feud was so entertaining that it needs to be revisited.
Heel Emma is such a cool character and so is her team with the wildly entertainingly and annoying Dana Brooke. This was Asuka’s first feud after signing with WWE and it sure shot made her into a star that she deserves to be.
A menacing babyface who went off against the meanest female group in NXT right now. Their match in London was the best opener the show could have asked for – perfect drama, great wrestling and a good bit of storytelling.
It made the show that much more to look forward to and definitely established Asuka as a major star to follow.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
