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Last month's WWE NXT shows had some of the best matches from the roster in some time. Heading into the Royal Rumble, there were some last-time matches with Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest both possibly being called up to the main roster. Damian Priest was called up the very next night on WWE RAW, but the WWE Universe is still waiting for Rhea Ripley's debut on either brand.
With several top matches taking place on the Black and Gold brand, a few managed to stand out of the crowd completely.
This article will pick out five of the best matches from all of the spectacular bouts that stood out of the crowd for WWE NXT in January. Without any further ado, let's get into it.
The honorable mention goes to Damian Priest's amazing battle with Karrion Kross, in what was his farewell match from NXT.
#5 MSK vs Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott and Jake Atlas (NXT, January 13)
When WWE announced that they had signed Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz to their Performance Center, fans sat up and took notice. During their time in IMPACT Wrestling as part of The Rascalz, Xavier and Wentz were two of the top stars, and while Trey Miguel did not make that jump with them, they were still an extremely formidable team.
During the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament for the men, The Rascalz made their WWE debut on NXT as MSK. Renamed as Wes Lee and Nash Carter, both Superstars impressed everyone with their very first match on the roster.
Facing Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott and Jake Atlas, they put on a clinic in which both tag teams came out looking better than could have been expected. In the end, with an extremely fast-paced match-up, it was the debuting team of MSK who went on to win the match.
While they would eventually win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament completely, that win in their first match made a statement as they announced themselves to WWE NXT fans.
#4 Shotzi Blackheart vs Candice LeRae (NXT, January 13)
Shotzi Blackheart has been looking good on WWE NXT for some time now, but for some reason has not been able to get that winning combination she needs to rise to the top level.
In a feud that has been raging for some time, on the January 13 episode of WWE NXT, Shotzi Blackheart faced off against Candice LeRae in a match hoping to bring that rivalry to an end. Despite a strong start from Blackheart, in the end, it was LeRae who came away with the win.
Candice LeRae used the distraction from the interference by Indi Hartwell to hit the Swinging Neckbreaker and pin Shotzi.
The match was an incredible one that saw Shotzi Blackheart answer everything that Candice LeRae threw at her in the WWE NXT match. LeRae also established herself once again as a solid heel on the NXT women's roster.
#3 Finn Balor vs Kyle O'Reilly (NXT, New Year's Evil - January 6)
Kyle O'Reilly and Finn Balor's chemistry in the ring has been undeniable every time the two stars have faced each other. The ability of both stars to wrestle and hit each other with everything they have captured the imagination of the fans.
The first time they faced each other, Finn Balor's jaw was left damaged. That was the focus of Kyle O'Reilly as he battered the jaw of the WWE NXT Champion the entire time they faced each other.
The battle was fierce, with Kyle O'Reilly even using his teeth to grab the rope in the absence of any other free appendage. Finally, however, Finn Balor was able to retain the WWE NXT Championship as he took down O'Reilly and made him tap out to retain his title.
#2 Tommaso Ciampa vs Timothy Thatcher - Fight Pit Match (NXT, January 20)
A match that was set to be one of the big features on NXT heading into the new year, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher's fight suffered from a delay. Instead of taking place at NXT: New Year's Evil, it instead took place on the January 20 episode of the Black and Gold brand.
In some ways, this helped the match, as New Year's Evil was already packed with fantastic matches. When Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher met in the ring to continue their brutal rivalry, the Fight Pit was the best place that it could happen.
The match was understandably brutal, but it was Timothy Thatcher who won the second-ever Fight Pit match after he made Tommaso Ciampa tap out by putting pressure on his surgically repaired knee. Thatcher now holds a 2-0 record in Fight Pit matches.
#1 Raquel Gonzalez vs Rhea Ripley - Last Woman's Standing Match (NXT, New Year's Evil - January 6)
In possibly one of the all-time best matches in the women's division in WWE NXT, Raquel Gonzalez and Rhea Ripley put on a show for fans.
The match itself was extremely brutal and even surpassed the title match between Finn Balor and Kyle O'Reilly that would take place later in the night. With the addition of weapons and handcuffs, both women went all-out putting their bodies on the line as they battered one another with everything from their fists to the ring bell.
What made the match even more fantastic was the fact that it was a star-making performance from Raquel Gonzalez. Both women went crashing through the stage, but only Raquel was able to stand up and win the match. It was possibly Rhea Ripley's last match on WWE NXT, as it appears she has been called up to the main roster.
