10 Greatest NXT Matches of All Time

#2 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn (Takeover: Dallas)

Zayn vs. Nakamura had great intensity, athleticism and sportsmanship

In 2016, Sami Zayn was ready to end his incredible run in NXT and go to the main roster following the festivities at WrestleMania 32 weekend. Although his tenure in developmental wasn't without agony, being turned on by his ex-friend Kevin Owens whom he would also lose his NXT Championship to, and also suffering a real-life concussion that put him on the shelf for months before finally returning to action in a dark match before Takeover: London, Zayn had nevertheless won over the hearts and minds of NXT fans during his time there, becoming the most popular star in the black and yellow brand up to that point.

Naturally then, he deserved a great sendoff and fresh in WWE off the shores of Japan following an excellent semi-main event match with AJ Styles at WrestleKingdom 10, the legendary King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura was the perfect candidate for the job. Nakamura and Zayn, two well-respected wrestlers that had both spent years travelling the world putting on excellent performances, had never actually wrestled a match together anywhere so when Mr. Regal announced Nakamura as Zayn's opponent for NXT TakeOver: Dallas, the fan response at Full Sail and across the Internet was an appropriate "Holy S$#!%".

Entering the ring to brand new, excellent theme music, Nakamura was dripping with charisma. The red leather-drenched Japanese striker had an odd appearance (eccentric body language and the attire of an extra from Michael Jackson's "Beat It" video) but this unique presentation made him all the more interesting to watch, especially when coupled with seeing how talented he is in the ring. The elbow strike-fest between him and Zayn, the tope suicida from Zayn, the knee strike countered into the blue thunder bomb, and the clothesline from Zayn countered into an armbar from Nakamura were just a few of the epic moments, along with the atmospheric crowd response of "fight forever". This match alone undeniably took NXT to the next level in popularity, and as announcer Tom Philips said the time, it had all the hype, attention and star power, then it delivered.