Top 5 NXT Matches of 2015
5) Finn Balor VS Apollo Crews
In at number four is another popular choice and another more recent match of the year. Finn Balor VS Apollo Crews. After surviving and coming up on top of a twenty man battle Royal, new guy on the NXT Scene, Apollo Crews found himself competing against Finn Balor for the NXT Championship. Of course the expectations of this match were extremely high. These are two of the best of the best. Two of the biggest names on the NXT roster and knowing what they are both capable of meant that we were all expecting one heck of a main event. The entrances showed that the crowd were split. We had team Balor and team Crews and both were vocal. What was even better about this match was even though it was a split reaction both superstars received an equal amount of respect from the fans. Just how a championship match should be. The introductions were made with the lights turnt down a little and spotlights on the two superstars, witch I know dived opinion but I actually liked it. Personally, I felt like it gave the match that real fight feel a little more and it just worked for me. The match itself lived up to the hype and the expectations. It was a complete back and fourth battle. It was like a game of chess in a wrestling match. Balor may have had the upper hand a little but it was almost unnoticeable because of just how even the match was. Neither superstar spent a great deal of time dominating the other and it made such an amazing true, pure, wrestling match. Every single move that was executed by both superstars looked so sleek, so effortless, and so neat. There was a single moment that I wasn't glued to my screen while watching the match. It was everything you could ask for and so much more. My only wish is that it lasted longer. When it comes to the ending, I liked it. I really liked it. I felt as though it all fitted together really well with the current storyline's. It was great seeing Corbin have such a strong role on the night, interrupting what was an amazing match and it was even more awesome seeing Samoa Joe turn heel to close the show. Altogether this was without a doubt one of the best NXT matches of the entire year in my eyes.
4) Sami Zayn VS Kevin Owens (NXT Takeover: Rival)
At number four is Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn. This match took place right at the start of the year in February and was without a doubt one of my favourite matches of the entire year and one of my all time favourite NXT matches. This was one of the strongest storyline's of the year and once again in NXT history and the way the match was booked and played out was just perfect. Heading into this match we were treated to a really good, strong, captivating story. Owens and Zayn had known each other for a long long time after competing with and against one another throughout their careers and time on the independent scene so they had a rare level of friendship and respect for one another. However, Owens was full of bitterness. The WWE focused their story on Owens finally getting he's moment. He had seen guys he had worked with outside of the WWE make it to the top from Seth Rollins, to Daniel Bryan, to Cesaro and of course Sami Zayn, and now that he was in the WWE he wasn't going to waste any time making he's way to the top and getting he's time to shine. And that is exactly what he did. Taking Zayn out in a shocking heel turn on he's debut night, Owens set he's sights on the NXT Championship and at Takeover Rival the two superstars did battle in a phenomenal match. Their chemistry was undeniably strong. You geniuenly felt as though you were watching two former friends compete against one another. You felt the betrayal, the frustrations, the desperations from both Zayn and Owens and it made this such a captivating match up. The story was clear and solid. You knew what was driving these two superstars and it was once again another example of NXT keeping storyline's basic but so extremely entertaining. The wrestling in this match was amazing. They both showed why they are two of the best and why they were main eventing. Owens dominated most of the match and we had pretty much that exact same feel that we had during that history making match between Brock Lesnar and John Cena. Owens dominated Zayn big time, showing he had no emotion what so ever and all he wanted was to become champion. But the resilience of Zayn was just insane. No matter what Owens throwed at him he didn't give up and kept fighting on. In the end the referee stopped the match with Zayn being unable to continue witch just added to the amazing story telling of this match. It was an ending we don't see done very often and it added to that ruthless feel Owens brings. It showed him to once again be the dominate character and then champion that he is/was. The match was intense and entertaining to watch. You didn't want to take your eyes off the screen and that is what I want in any and every wrestling match.
3) Kevin Owens VS Finn Balor (Beast in the East)
Content from top twenty matches of July: The build up to this match was great. The WWE had put a lot of effort into making this an all star match up and that is exactly what it was. The hype was lived up to, the expectations were exceeded, and this was by far not only the match of the month but one of the best matches of the entire year. After weeks, months even, of a great build up these two finally stepped in the ring together, one on one for the NXT Championship. Before we get into the actual match I want to talk about that build up. For weeks, since he became number one contender at NXT Takeover Unstoppable, Finn Balor was on a momentum high. He managed to pick up huge, clean victories over the likes of Tyler Breeze, Tye Dillinger, Rhyno and even the champ, Kevin Owens. He was made centre of attention on the NXT roster and when he wasn't in the ring competing everyone was still talking about him. We were treated to a three part mini documentary that told the story of Finn Balor generating even more attention. I thought it was an amazing idea and great Documentary, if you haven't seen it I really advise that you check it out. It was such a key part in the build up. It allowed the NXT universe to connect with Balor on a much more personal level and to be fair it was a big clue to how the championship match was going to end. There was then the little video that they did with Balor promoting the show and he's "demon" side coming out witch I loved as well. All of this tied together amazingly well and made the match something it wouldn't of been without it. The entire build up gave this match I haven't seen any other match have. There was a massive story in it and that's what I loved. It was as if we had bee invited into Finn's life and we were all in the big journey with him. Coming back to Japan, the place that truly made him a star was the story of this match. It was about Balor picking up the big one in the place that made him. It was such an important big chapter of he's life and career and we all felt apart of it. I haven't ever watched a match and it had had that feel to it. The energy from the moment Balor entered the arena to the moment he left was insane. It felt as though I was right there, in Japan watching the action from ringside. I don't think I have been that into a match all year round. I was cheering, clapping, banging the table, and screaming at my lap top like a mad person. The actual wrestling was mental! The diversity, the skill, the technique,it was all just amazing. These guys pushed each other to the limits and brought out the very very best in each other. Owens brought so much character. Throwing the flowers before the match started, the blatant disrespect shown it all just made the match a whole lot better. Throughout the match you Owens just kept reminding us why we should hate him but then he would just put on such a great performance that you have to admire him as a wrestler. He had a dominate performance but it was Balor who picked up the big win in the end. I was honestly expecting Owens to retain just because I was convinced he was dropping the title to someone else so that was a great surprise. I remember jumping up and down, cheering and clapping like I was there. I may even of had a little tear or two. It all just tied together so well. Balor brought so much heart and passion that I loved every moment of this match. I knew from the moment it finished that this was going to be the match of the month. It had a phenomenal story, outstanding wrestling, and it all just came together perfectly. There is no other match that could of topped this and so it deserves to be my match of July.
2) Sasha Banks VS Bayley (NXT Takeover Brooklyn)
Content from top ten divas matches of the year. Full blog post will be linked bellow: This was a match that changed the game completely and changed the way women's wrestling would be seen forever. The date: August twenty second. The Venue: Brooklyn New York. The match: Sasha Banks VS Bayley for the NXT Women's Championship. The build up to this match was strong and the expectations were extremely high. Both women had spent the past year building up their names as two of the best in WWE and NXT history. For twelve months they had both been re-shaping the divas division, providing fans with phenomenal matches proving that women could do exactly what men can do in the ring only better. However, nothing could have prepared us for what these two women were about to deliver at NXT Takeover Brooklyn. The entrances alone where history making in themselves. Usually, even at a WWE special like Wrestlemania you don't see the divas get any special entrance in fact, because of timing they are usually rushed and used as bathroom breaks along with the actual match. But on this night in particular the girls were able enough time to create a strong fight feel and get everyone ready for what was bound to be a match for the ages. Sasha Banks in particular arrived like a true boss in her own car and personal security team.The reaction from the live crowd said it all and everyone knew we were about to get something special. This was a match the WWE did not want us to forget. The match itself was phenomenal. I honestly, cannot think of a word strong enough to describe just how amazing it was. The story telling was so so strong. The build up to this match was all about Bayley proving herself and finally becoming champion after years of being told she just wasn't good enough.Throughout the months leading up to the title match she proved herself time and time again defeating former champion and one of the most decorated NXT talents we have ever seen,Charlotte along with many other divas along the way including fellow four horsewomen member, Becky Lynch. This was the story of a girl who for fifteen years wanted to be a professional wrestler and wanted to be champion and we were all lucky enough to witness her dream come true. From the start of this match Sasha made it clear she had zero respect for Bayley, laughing at her, belittling her, and talking trash, but Bayley made sure that she was going to make Sasha respect her and no matter what was thrown at her the baby face always had a comeback and refused to give up even when Sasha stooped low working on the injured hand of Bayley. The match was full of trick and monomers that we have never seen from a female compositor in the WWE including Sasha using the referee to jump over the ropes and an incredibly dangerous backwards hurricanrana from the top rope. These girls proved that women can captivate and entertain just as much as anyone else. They both had the arena full of fifteen thousand plus on their feet and when Bayley closed in on the victory everyone was left applauding the girls and the this is awesome, holy shit, and this is wrestling chants became an understatement of how great the match was. The emotional moment between the four horsewomen after the match topped the night off. It added to the emotion and left a lot of we eyes in the arena. These were the four women who changed the game and became a very special moment. Sasha let everyone know that Bayley had earned her respect and trust me, it gives me goose bumps just thinking about how great this moment was. This was truly a match for the ages. Introduced by Stephanie McMahon as the first of two main events these girls revolutionised women's wrestling. They earned respect from the entire footlocker and NXT universe putting on the stand out and match of the night at the biggest NXT special to date. After this match women's wrestling was never same and both ladies proved they are two of the best wrestlers in the world and gender doesn't even come into it.
1) Finn Balor VS Samoa Joe
And finally we have the most recent match to take place to feature in the list as the NXT Championship match at Takeover London between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe makes its way into the list. After teaming up together to win the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic at the last Takeover event, Joe had asked for a championship match against Balor but after General manger William Regal forced him to earn the right at a championship match by participating in a Battle Royal the cracks slowly began to show and after falling short in the royal Joe took matters into he's own hands and attacked Balor and gaining the attention of the NXT universe, the champion, and William Regal. Eventually Joe got what he wanted and the contract was signed. At NXT Takeover London it would be Samoa Joe VS Finn Balor for the NXT Championship but before they could get to the UK Joe wanted to send one last message and was able to get the upper hand over the champion on two separate occasions allowing him to gain some serious momentum. It became perfectly clear to Balor that Samoa Joe was a new kind of competition and like something he had never been faced with before. The build up for this match was simple. NXT once again kept to a basic storyline but it didn't change the fact that this was a brilliant feud with an entertaining, solid build up. There was nothing fancy but it made sense and the NXT universe were able to get into the action easily and quickly. At London both superstars received a strong reaction from the live crowd and trust me, being there myself I can honestly say that it felt very even when it came to picking a side. Balor of course channelled he's inner demon and gave us another epic entrance adding to the intensity. The match
So that is my list! They are officially my top five NXT Matches of two thousand and fifteen! Bellow I have listed a thew more stand out matches and some of my favourites so give those a little look and see if your favourite make the final cut. If not, let me know what has been your NXT Match of the year by leaving a comment bellow or by tweeting me at @TezangiVictoria.
Other matches that didn't make the list but were just as amazing:
Finn Balor VS Adrian Neville
Sasha Banks VS Bayley at NXT Takeover Respect
Top 10 Divas Matches of the year
Top WWE Heels of the year
Top 5 Divas of the year
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