Top 5 Performers of WWE NXT 2018

# 2 Aleister Black (10 Points)

The former NXT Champion, who defeated Andrade 'Cien' Almas for the title at Takeover: New Orleans, had a great year. Unfortunately for Black, he had a groin injury that kept him from wrestling for a large period at the end of the year. Marked in a storyline as having been ambushed, there was a long investigation into his attacker on NXT in his absence.

Black returned fantastically destroying anyone and everything in his path. With his first televised match on his return being a 4.75 star classic against Johnny Gargano. The two also backed it up on the last NXT episode of the season with a phenomenal steel cage match.

Black would potentially have finished higher in the rankings, had it not have been for the groin injury that sidelined him from July to November. Black is due to face Ciampa at Takeover: Phoenix in a Last Man Standing match.

A highlight of 2018: Absolving Johnny Gargano at Takeover: War Games of his sins.

Losing the title, being jumped by Johnny Gargano and spending a few months on the sideline with an injury would have made this a hard year for Aleister Black. However, his victory against Johnny Gargano at Takeover: War Games 2 were he claims to have absolved Johnny Gargano of his sins for attacking and injuring him would have been sweet. The high was, unfortunately, short-lived as Gargano got his revenge in a cage match against Black in December.