Top 10 Best NXT Matches in 2018

WWE has the biggest wrestling roster in the world. Between Raw, Smackdown Live, NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live, there's way more than anybody has time to count. We've watched people like Seth Rollins burn it down on Monday nights.

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We've seen people like AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura carry the load on Smackdown Live, but what ignites the fans more than seeing the superstars of tomorrow tearing it up in the middle of the ring?

Today, we'll be looking at some of the most exciting NXT matches of this year, picking out the best and the brightest, for all to see. Providing stellar performances, storylines, and an element of curiosity with how short NXT TV tapings are, this makes our hearts grow fonder of the black and yellow brand. Here are the top 10 best NXT matches in 2018.

*This list is in no particular order, they all delivered amazing, jaw-dropping performances and are just getting recognition*

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#10 NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia - Johnny Gargano vs Andrade Cien Almas (NXT Championship Match)

Everything was perfect about this match

This match is both an amazing example and a perfect candidate for the greatest match of all time. You honestly couldn't ask for anything more from a wrestling match. Putting on an absolute clinic, both men looked strong coming out of it which is a testament to how good they really are inside a wrestling ring.

Everything was perfect about this match. The build-up, the story, the match itself, and the aftermath.

The position that Johnny Gargano was in made everyone really buy into the story, making the match that much more important.

Being the underdog in this storyline made the NXT Universe really get behind him, similar to that of when the WWE Universe got behind Daniel Bryan in 2014.

Another thing that made this match so entertaining was Almas' manager, Zelina Vega. She interfered on more than one occasion. Given the stakes of this bout, you can only imagine that it would grind the gears of Gargano fans at the show, and around the world.

If you knew nothing about wrestling and someone showed you this match, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that you'd be more than impressed.

For pro-wrestling fans, watching it really helps to get away from reality for a bit and really enjoy a good show.

It makes our jobs as fans that much more easier when the product isn't a pain to watch and they put on great matches. This match is just that and more. If you haven't seen it, go watch it.

#9 NXT TV Taping, June 13, 2018: Pete Dunne vs Kyle O' Reilly (NXT UK Championship)

Both men really outdid themselves and we can't wait to see them square off again someday

Both Kyle 'O Reilly and Pete Dunne had great chemistry in this match for the NXT U.K. Championship.

Stellar bouts like these are what make fans happy to be watching wrestling. O' Reilly's cerebral submission technique mixing with Dunne's British strong style (no pun intended) certainly delivered in more ways than one.

If matches like these happened every week on the main roster, it would definitely help the ratings for weeks, months, and even years to come.

The idea of this match is ingenious, to say the least, because the story is that if 'O Reilly wins then he becomes the U.K Champion. Which would look great on someone from The Undisputed Era.

Having factions rack up titles is a thing of beauty. So, given how good this match was, it really gives off the idea that O'Reilly really could've won the match, defeating Pete Dunne to become the first one in his faction to have held the title.

This proves that it doesn't have to take place at an NXT TakeOver to be a great match. Dunne's hard-hitting way of wrestling, O'Reilly not backing down, looking to shine through as an amazing technician, both men really outdid themselves and we can't wait to see them square off again someday.

#8 NXT TakeOver Chicago II: Oney Larcan and Danny Burch vs The Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Championships match)

Both the teams got a standing ovation from the crowd

To say that this match was amazing would be a huge understatement. It's extremely refreshing to see heels gladly defend their titles and not running away in fear. Every Undisputed Era tag team title defense is entertaining to say the least.

Then on the other hand, you have Oney Larcan and Danny Burch. With hard-hitting styles and attitudes as tough as nails, these guys really fit the description of "professional wrestler".

Putting these two teams together, at first thought, you wouldn't really think much of it. Which, explains why at the start of the match, no one cheered for Larcan or Burch.

But by the end of it, they received a standing ovation because the match was so good. Undisputed Era is a stable that gets the rare reaction from the crowd where they cheer for the bad guys knowing that they're heels.

And with the performances of Undisputed Era and Larcan and Burch, after it all ended, the crowd were on their feet, cheering for both teams. Every spot in this match deserves a spot of the year in the eyes of most fans.

Larcan being pushed off the top rope onto the apron, Roderick Strong and Kyle O'Reilly getting hit with a Blockbuster outside the ring, both teams just brawling it out in the middle of the ring, this match was a helluva n opener for an amazing night of high caliber wrestling.

#7 NXT TakeOver: Chicago II: Ricochet vs Velveteen Dream

The story here was that anything Ricochet could do, Velveteen Dream could do better

Early on, it was clear to see that this would be an instant classic. Also, most fans considered this to be the match of the night.

What really gave this match a boost, in terms of star power, is that John Cena favored Velveteen Dream, and The Rock favored Ricochet. So it basically gave off the idea that this match has ties to one of the most electrifying rivalries in WWE.

The story here was that anything Ricochet could do, Velveteen Dream could do better. At least that's what The Dream has stated multiple times before, and during their match at TakeOver Chicago II.

There are lots of things that stood out about this match, one being that Velveteen Dream pulled out some of Ricochet's moves to use against him early on in the bout. Ricochet returning the favor later on, really made everyone connect to the rivalry and the match on a deeper, much more personal level.

It's surprising to most fans that with such short time for a rivalry to really develop into anything, the match itself did way more than deliver.

With Velveteen Dream's ability to put people over and look good in defeat, this match actually makes both men look superior, because The Dream didn't have a problem switching up his moveset and look great doing it, and also because of Ricochet's pure athleticism that's always on display every time he steps into a WWE ring (or any ring, for that matter).

#6 NXT TakeOver: New Orleans- Aleister Black vs Andrade Cien Almas (NXT Championship match)

Black's title win was a long-time coming

To a lot of fans, Aleister Black's NXT title win at TakeOver: New Orleans had been a long time coming. At the time this article is being written, Black is no longer NXT champion so it looks as if he was just a transitional title holder.

Nonetheless, he looked absolutely great winning the title, in a match that most people thought would go the other way (mainly because of continuous outside interference by Zelina Vega).

This really showed how good these two are at wrestling. When Almas hit Black with his last Hammerlock DDT, you can bet every single dollar that the hearts of every Aleister Black fan in that building, skipped a beat.

That's what good wrestling is supposed to do. By making you fall for the false finishes, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and very much entertained.

Almas being the heel in this matchup, really helped boost the cheers for Aleister, because everyone had been waiting so long for the title to be taken from Almas.

The result did not disappoint and neither did the match. Seeing that every match on the card delivered in one way or another, it's hard to say exactly which one was the match of the night.

But it wouldn't matter honestly, because everyone poured their hearts into it and they ALL looked great. But if we're being honest, there will always be something special about this particular match, simply because this was finally Aleister's moment to shine.

#5 NXT TakeOver: Chicago II - Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa (Street Fight)

This is one of the best rivalries at the moment

In more ways than one, this has to be the most intriguing storylines in professional wrestling and in WWE at the moment.

This match saw Tommaso Ciampa SPIT on the wedding ring of Johnny Wrestling, there's nothing more personal than that.

Mixing the ever-so-entertaining storyline with phenomenal in-ring work, along with the amount of time and energy put into this feud, this match was more than stellar.

Ciampa getting the win in this situation more than likely will set up the rubber match between them some time down the line.

Also, having him say things like "I put an end to the Johnny Gargano fairy tale!" puts the idea in the minds of fans that Chicago II was the last match we'll see Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano in on the NXT roster. Given that they've now thrown Aleister Black in to the mix, It wouldn't be a stretch to say that we're going to get nothing but amazing matches and awesome promos in the near future.

When they fought at New Orleans it was nothing short of amazing, having outdid every other match on the card. But then they did it again this time, really outdoing themselves. it's results like these that make fans wonder what their next encounter will be like.

#4 NXT TakeOver: New Orleans - Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa (Unsanctioned Match)

NXT has done an amazing job in building up this rivalry

As mentioned before, this match really outdid every other match on the card, story-wise, athletically, and they managed to put just enough extreme into it to please the hardcore fans.

It's matches like these that remind you that it's still a good thing to be a fan of professional wrestling. Everything about this match made it so easy to enjoy. The hardcore spots, the false finishes, the length of the match, the stipulation, everything was great about this one.

To many fans, this is the type of match they would watch back in the Attitude Era or early Ruthless Aggression. When a match can give you that nostalgic feeling but keeps the modern day vibe, you've got a gold mine on your hands.

These two are perfect for each other in terms of rivalries and being able to keep people interested in their feud.

It seems like an eternity ago that Ciampa turned on Gargano, and that's all the more reason to enjoy and invest into this feud. This rivalry is the COMPLETE opposite of AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura (in WWE).

As much as it hurts to say, WWE managed to get everyone to not care about a feud that had so much potential, especially because of how Styles and Nakamura tore it up at the Wrestle Kingdom 10. NXT, however, is doing an amazing job with Gargano vs Ciampa. Every time something else happens, it causes fans to think about what direction they're going to go with the feud next. They were beating a dead horse in Styles vs Nakamura by the time Backlash rolled around, and everyone was kind of tired of it.

Fingers crossed that they protect and cherish this feud like their own children.

#3 NXT TakeOver: New Orleans - NXT North American Championship Ladder Match

This match had all the elements of a classic

When you have so many combustible elements inside one ring, disaster will strike. It did just that and more at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans in the six-man ladder match to crown the first ever NXT North American Champion.

Even on paper, this match has excitement written all over it. You've got people like Adam Cole who brings that unique "cool heel" type of vibe.

People like EC3 and Ricochet who were making their NXT debuts, so that's even more excitement from a "wildcard" kind of perspective.

It really did bring up the question "What are they going to do?" and they did more than surprise everyone in attendance and everyone watching at home.

People like Velveteen Dream dripping in finesse, as always, and people like Killian Dain and Lars Sullivan really showcasing their strength and raw power.

One thing that really stood out to most fans was that even though it's a multi-man match, everyone got their chance to shine and did just that.

Dain and Sullivan smashing their opponents through ladders, Ricochet flipping off of everything, Velveteen Dream hitting the Purple Rain Maker off of that huge ladder, EC3 hitting a powerbomb onto a ladder, and Adam Cole winning the whole thing.

This was the start of what would be an amazing and shocking night for the fans in attendance and watching on the network. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that NXT will keep up this momentum and continue to deliver great wrestling and entertainment.

#2 NXT Takeover: Philadelphia - Aleister Balck vs Adam Cole (Extreme Rules Match)

There were many good spots in this match

Let's get one thing clear, even without the stipulation of this match, I'm sure it still would've been a sight to see and extremely entertaining, to say the least. Aleister Black and Adam Cole are so good when it comes to that. They do the work themselves, matches with weapons are just a bonus.

The spot of the night, hands down, when Cole hit Black with the Van Daminator with a steel chair and Black fell through not one, but TWO tables!

Another spot that just reeked of awesomeness, was when each man had a Kendo stick then Aleister Black throws his away and motions for Cole to bring it on.

These two don't need weapons, or a ring for that matter, this could've been two regular guys fighting on the street and it would be equally entertaining.

When you get someone as good as Adam Cole and throw them in the mix with someone as good as Aleister Black, you're bound to get an amazing show. These guys really represent the black and yellow brand, they could've been off working for another company, but we as NXT fans, wouldn't have it any other way.

#1 Royal Albert Hall: Moustache Mountain vs Undisputed Era (NXT Tag-Team Championships)

A true classic!

In the eyes of many fans, this title change was nothing more than a ploy to direct attention to NXT's U.K brand.

Nonetheless, it was a very entertaining bout and it definitely delivered considering the hype surrounding it.

So the story here was, if Moustache Mountain could just get the win, then they would reap the benefits in the best possible way in professional wrestling. Gold on your waist, a smile on your face.

For a lot of people, the result was the equivalent to Christmas day. Not only are Moustache Mountain in WWE, but they're the tag champions! Just perfect, right? Well, they aren't the champions anymore. They lost it in an equally entertaining match on NXT TV in Undisputed Era's rematch. They'll more than likely become champions in the U.K brand, but it's only a matter of time now.

Back to this match, being that the main roster sometimes doesn't like to showcase the talent of tag teams, whether they don't get as much time in matches, or they get booked badly, NXT does more than make up for it with their tag team matches. Whether it be watching the War Raiders squash people, or having teams like Moustache Mountain and Undisputed Era duke it out in 4-5 star bouts.

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