Who are deemed the Best of the Best in NXT 2019?

The New Year has begun, but NXT looks back fondly on 2019. Who will win the coveted Year End Awards to start 2020 off strong?

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“2019 was a beautiful year.”

But Pat McAfee says, “The only thing we’ll remember 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now, is 2019 was the year that the NXT brand got propelled into the spotlight and showed up, and showed out.” The 25th TakeOver event and blew the roof off in Hartford. NXT went to live national television with the USA Network, truly making Wednesday nights must-see “each and every single week.” The women made history with WarGames, and not just as Match of the Year nominee, but as Greatest Match with Two Rings and Two Cages EVER! 2020 will only be bigger as the black ‘n’ gold takes over, over and over again. NXT WON Survivor Series, so everyone in the WWE Universe can’t help but shout at the top of their lungs, “WE! ARE! N! X! T!” If 2019 was unbelievable, will 2020 be unstoppable?

It’s the Year End Awards 2019!

Speaking of Pat McAfee, he and Sam Roberts once again join Cathy Kelly in the NXT Commander Center to kick off the New Year by doling out the accolades for the best moments of last year! Cathy does commend Pat on that great opening video narration. Sam says 2019 was perhaps NXT’s best year ever. Tonight, we celebrate the best by counting down to NXT’s NUMBER ONE Match of the Year in 2019! First up is Number 3, from TakeOver: XXV!

Third Best Match of the Year – TakeOver: XXV, 6/1/19

NXT Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way Ladder Match: The Street Profits VS The Forgotten Sons VS Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch VS The Undisputed Era!

The titles are vacant and literally hang in the balance! The Raid has moved on, but now it’s time for someone to step up. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford want to finally cash-in. Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler want to be remembered. The Brit-Am Brawlers want to finally hold some gold. And Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly want to again be undisputed tag team champions! Who reaches new heights to be on top of the entire NXT Tag Team Division?

The introductions are made, with the Profits in new blue and gold ring gear and with the Forgotten Sons tempting luck by going under a ladder. Lorcan & Burch keep it simple while the Undisputed Era’s reDRagon look to be the first-ever three-time NXT Tag Team Champions. The bell rings, and we begin this massive match!

All eight men look up at the belt, and then it sparks into a fight! Four different brawls go all over the ring. Cutler & Blake drag Lorcan & Burch out while reDRagon throws Dawkins out. Fish & O’Reilly focus on Ford with double whips and kicks! Cutler returns but he gets kicks and palm strikes and knees from O’Reilly! O’Reilly sweeps and Fish fights with Blake. Fish dragon screws Blake out, then reDRagon mugs Cutler. They double whip but Lorcan dumps Cutler out. Lorcan and Burch throw hands with reDRagon! They go back and forth, then criss-cross. Lorcan CHOPS Fish, but O’Reilly catches Lorcan’s kick for Fish to kick the leg. Burch headbutts O’Reilly but O’Reilly kicks back. Fish forearms Burch but Lorcan CHOPS Fish and O’Reilly!

O’Reilly grabs the arm, Fish knees and O’Reilly sweeps. O’Reilly throws Burch out, and then boots Dawkins down. Fans cheer as reDRagon hurries for ladders. They get a couple ladders over to ringside, but settle on one. Only for Blake to DIVE the ladder into them!! Fans lose their minds over the double-edge risk Blake just took! Cutler drags two ladders over but gets blaseted by Lorcan’s uppercut! Burch and Lorcan drag Cutler up for more uppercuts, but Blake fights back. The teams brawl, but Dawkins runs and LEAPS onto them all! The Curse of Greatness wipes them all out! Fans fire up with Dawkins, and he and Ford regroup. The Profits get a ladder up and in and are all alone as they set it up! Both climb but reDRagon stops them both.

O’Reilly and Fish climb but Blake shoves the ladder over! O’Reilly lands ON the ladder! The Forgotten Sons get in and get the ladder back up, and ram Lorcan with it! And Burch! But the Profits return, to get bulldozed! And so does reDRagon! Lorcan & Burch return, but they edge dodge the Forgotten Sons, to double German Suplex them! The ladder goes flying at ropes! Everyone is down but the fans are losing their minds all over again! O’Reilly drags himself out while Lorcan & Burch flounder to their feet. But the Profits take them out with an exploder suplex, and a whip to a SPINEBUSTER! Ford climbs up and gives Burch a FROG SPLASH! The fans are thunderous as the Profits grab a ladder. They ram Blake with it, then set him on it. Dawkins makes it a bridge, for Ford’s Leap Frog!

Blake tumbles out and Cutler runs in, for a double flapjack on the ladder! But Dawkins builds another bridge! Fish intercepts Ford, O’Reilly missile dropkicks Dawkins! But O’Reilly still hits ladder! Even so, reDRagon powers through to give Ford the butterfly wheelbarrow DDT! And suplex to the ladder! Fans know “This is Awesome!” while also losing their minds. O’Reilly and Fish drag the ladder up and ram Dawkins with it. They set the ladder up but Lorcan returns. Fish hits Lorcan, then kicks Burch. But Cutler comes around back, only for Fish to body check! O’Reilly falls and hits his jaw! O’Reilly tells Fish to go up instead, and then tackles Blake! Fish reaches, but Blake powerbombs O’Reilly into the ladder!! “They killed Kyle!”

Everyone is down again as fans chant “Mamma Mia!” Cutler puts the ladder in a corner and regroups with Blake. They grab a second ladder as well as Fish. Blake bumps Fish on buckles while Cutler sets the other ladder over O’Reilly. Cutler climbs and Blake keeps guard. But O’Reilly trips Cutler up! It’s a kneebar through the rungs! Cutler taps but that doesn’t matter! Blake stomps O’Reilly out and drags him away to throw him out. Cutler climbs again but Fish kicks him! Blake goes after Fish, and the Sons give Fish Memories Remain! Blake and Cutler climb up together, but Burch and Dawkins stop them with double electric chairs! Lorcan returns, and they give Cutler a EuroUpper Doomsday! Ford returns to give Blake the Blockbuster Doomsday! The fans are at a fever pitch over this newest tag team classic!

O’Reilly crawls to the ladder, bad back and all! Fans cheer for O’Reilly, but is that… That’s Jaxson Ryker! The Gunner is not dead, even after what happened on last Wednesday! Ryker grabs O’Reilly and drags him off, to powerbomb him on the other ladder! Ryker choke slams Burch! And tosses Ford way out! Fish runs into an urenage! Dawkins climbs but Ryker spots him. Ryker tips the ladder and dumps Dawins down! Fans boo as Ryker resets the ladder, to then ram it into Dawkins! And again, and again, and again! But Ryker turns around to see Lorcan, and back drop him on the ladder!! Ryker stands alone amidst the carnage. Fans say “We Forgot You!” but he doesn’t care. Ryker stands the ladder back up, but Ford attacks! Only to get clobbered.

O’Reilly returns to throw hands! As does Fish! Fans fire up for reDRagon as they go after Ryker! Burch and the Profits do, too! Lorcan brings in yet another ladder, and oddly enough, the other three teams work together to SLAM Ryker with it over and over and over! But then it’s right back to their own fight! Fish and O’Reilly clear the ring of the other teams, but Ryker is still stirring. O’Reilly says they need to end him, so he and Fish ram Ryker right off the apron! But Ryker still stands?! Ford FLIES over reDRagon to wipe him out!! But Ryker sits up again! Lorcan dodges the ladder to DIVE onto Ryker! Dawkins gets rammed by reDRagon! Burch climbs and dropkicks the ladder into reDRagon! Lorcan regroups with Burch to keep on Fish, arm wrench to running uppercut! Then they throw Fish into the post!

Burch clotheslines and kicks O’Reilly, then feeds him to Lorcan for the Half ‘n’ Half! Blake returns but he gets haymakers. Dawkins and Cutler get the ladder, as does Ford. Burch and Lorcan have a ladder each, and they sandwich the Profits! Then Lorcan and Burch TOSS a ladder at the Forgotten Sons in full! Burch and Lorcan are alone, and they stand a ladder up! They both climb, but Fish and O’Reilly return. Fish and O’Reilly kick them off the ladder, then get a ladder of their own. Fish and O’Reilly climb but Lorcan and Burch follow. The two teams brawl side-by-side on the pair of ladders. Lorcan falls, leaving Burch alone with reDRagon. But Lorcan returns from the other side and stops O’Reilly from reaching. Lorcan grabs but Fish stops him.

The four men brawl fast and furious way up high! But the Sons return to tip them all!! They shove one ladder out hard, then climb the other! But Dawkins SPEARS Cutler! Ford springboards to join Blake and punch him down!! The Profits climb and WIN!!

Winners: The Street Profits; NEW NXT Tag Team Champions

They did it! They finally have the gold! Ford and Dawkins win big in their TakeOver debut! And now they celebrate with the fans! Will the Profits only rise higher now that they’re golden?

The panel discusses this match.

Sam remembers being there to see this match himself, and you know it was an amazing moment. As ridiculous as they get on Raw, this ladder match made the Profits. Pat loved how Ford got up and got to the top of that ladder. Pat loves this team and would love to have a drink with them. But with this, we look at our first Year End Award!

NXT Tag Team of the Year!

The nominees are:

• The Street Profits, who of course won the NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: XXV.
• The Grizzled Young Veterans, who were the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions after TakeOver: Blackpool.
• The Viking Raiders, who have been both NXT Tag Team Champions and Raw Tag Team Champions already.
• South Wales Subculture, who were the historic first-ever Welshmen champions in WWE history when they won the NXT UK Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: Cardiff.
• The Undisputed Era, specifically reDRagon, who are still #DrapedInGold with Kyle O’Reilly as a three-time tag team champion by himself.

All these teams are great choices, but the winner of the Golden Bells are… Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly! The Undisputed Era walks out together, showing off their belts and their nice suits. They go to the ring and NXT General Manager, William Regal, is there to present the awards personally. Strong and Cole applaud their friends, but Fish never had any doubts. The bells say Tag Team of the Year but really, it should be “Collective Brotherhood of the Year,” because as Kyle has proven, any combination of the four of them makes for a world-class tag team. O’Reilly & Fish, O’Reilly & Strong, O’Reilly & Cole, it’s championship material. The Era is up, and they kindly take the bells off Regal’s hands. Another round of applause and the Era has their hands full. Undisputed group hug!

NXT returns with more awards!

Next up, Male Competitor of 2019! The men’s roster this year is perhaps “the most talented roster in the history of sports entertainment.” NXT and NXT UK makes for a global force so strong, not only were fans polled, but so were icons and legends of pro-wrestling, as well as the coaches at the performance centers, and even USA Network executives! Who did this huge conglomerate of fans choose? First, the nominees for Best Male Competitor of the Year:

• Adam Cole, BAYBAY, the current NXT Champion and charismatic leader of the Undisputed Era.
• WALTER, the Ring General, current WWE United Kingdom Champion, and commander of Imperium.
• Johnny Gargano, the first-ever NXT Triple Crown winner and a staple of NXT as a brand.
• The Velveteen Dream, a former NXT North American Champion and a genuine show-stealer.
• Tyler Bate, the inaugural WWE UK Champion and an all around #BigStrongBoy.
• Tommaso Ciampa, a former NXT Champion who never truly lost the title and has come back from a severe neck injury.

A star-studded group of six, but the winner is… ADAM COLE. Seems the Undisputed Era didn’t need to go far after that Tag Team of the Year category. This comes as no surprise to them, of course. “How many more things can we win?” “Can we just stay out here?” Regal presents Cole with his Golden Bell, and Cole figured it could’ve just been his award in the middle of 2019. November alone proved that. But not just best in NXT, but best in all of the WWE, and 2020 will be no different. In fact, the 2020’s as a decade! Ding ding. It’ll just be The Adam Cole Award or something. But Cole is so proud, and yet not at all shocked, that this award is his, BAYBAY. Another group hug!

Now to the NXT Female Competitor of the Year!

In an equally competitive field, it was a tough task narrowing it down. But here are your nominees:

• Shayna Baszler, the first and only two-time NXT Women’s Champion and winner of the Survivor Series Women’s Champions Triple Threat.
• Io Shirai, who has been impressive as both the Good and the EVIL Genius of the Sky.
• Toni Storm, the second-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion, who vows to become the first-ever two-time.
• Kay Lee Ray, the current NXT UK Women’s Champion who vows to deny #ToniTime from restarting.
• Bianca Belair, The EST of NXT up and down.
• Rhea Ripley, the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion, and the ONLY woman to have held both NXT and NXT UK Women’s Championships in her career.

Dominant years and incredible transformations, but the winner is… Shayna Baszler! The two-time and total longest reigning NXT Women’s Champion has her Horsewomen by her side as she walks out to accept her Golden Bell from Regal. “Of course I won Female Competitor of the Year.” She’s the most dominant woman in the entire WWE. And if you think her losing to Rhea stops that, “think again.” The Horsewomen head back out, will they regroup and rise back up in 2020?

Pat and Sam agree that with those 548 days as the top woman in NXT, Shayna is not to be taken lightly. Shayna definitely deserves this award. Anyone can have a good night, but the Queen of Spades was a warrior to have the total run she’s had. And chances are, she’s even more dangerous now than when she was champion. But there is still Overall Competitor of the Year, so naturally Adam Cole and Shayna Baszler are in that category, who will be THE NXT Superstar of 2019?

NXT returns with the award for Rivalry of the Year!

Sam’s personal favorite award names the best, most passionate feuds between superstars. And those rivalries make the matches even greater! Full on hatred, even! And with that, the winner is… Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano! This heated feud over the NXT Championship stretched from TakeOver: New York to TakeOver: Toronto to TakeOver: XXV, ending in an insane Three Stages of Hell, from a normal singles match to a Street Fight to an ASYLUM MATCH.

To accept the award, Johnny Gargano walks out to the ring for his Golden Bell. But then Adam Cole makes his entrance so that he may accept his second Golden Bell of the night. The two familiar foes stare down for a moment, but Gargano says this is his second Rivalry of the Year award. It’s apparently a sign that he gets involved with “a lot of horrible people.” Oh, haha. But people talked about this rivalry as one of the best wrestling trilogies. But out of curiosity, who won again? Well Gargano’s biggest regret is that when Cole visited the Gargano’s Deli in Ohio, Gargano’s 77-year-old father didn’t just punch Cole right in the face. Keep talking and Cole might punch Gargano in the face. Gargano eggs Cole on but Cole says they need to be professional about this. “Some things never change.” Will these two spark a new rivalry with each other in the New Year?

Sam loves the new attitude Gargano has. That attitude is going to be what helps Gargano get back on top and after some titles. Pat also wishes Gargano’s dad would’ve punched Cole, too. But congrats to that feud that teared the house down multiple times. And speaking of great matches, we continue the countdown with NXT’s second best match of the year!

Second Best Match of the Year – NXT WarGames III, 11/23/19

Women’s WarGames: Team Ripley VS Team Baszler!

The Head Baddie was taken out and the culprit will be found, but for now she, Candice LeRae and Team Kick, Kai and Nox, are going 4v4 against the NXT Women’s Champion, the NXT UK Women’s Champion, the EST and the Evil Genius! History is being made to open the show, who survives to still go on to Survivor Series?

The sirens blare and the cage lowers. The rules are run down: each team sends a brave first volunteer in. Team Baszler has the advantage, meaning they will send a new member first each three-minute round. Only once all eight superstars are in can the match officially end.

Stepping up for Team Baszler, it is Io Shirai! For Team Ripley, it is Candice LeRae! Mrs. Wrestling wants payback on the Evil Genius for turning on her. The cage is closed, the bell rings and five minutes counts down. Shirai pie faces but Candice fires off! It is a furious brawl already! Candice tackles Shirai but Shirai turns it around. They get up, Shirai kicks Candice then throws her at the cage. Candice stops herself to hit Shirai back. Candice tilt-o-whirl headscissors but Shirai handsprings through! Shirai ducks the enziguri to waistlock. Candice blocks and standing switches, full nelson and lift, to a DDT! Shirai crawls away to the second ring, but Candice just builds speed! Candice DIVES, into a forearm! Candice gets stuck in the middle, Shirai runs to 619 her in the back! Candice flounders but Shirai goes again, redial the 619!

Shirai soaks up the cheers and jeers as she has Candice stuck in the alley, METEORA! Candice flops and crawls back to the first ring as Shirai takes aim. Shirai hops up and springboards in to missile dropkick Candice down! Fans are fired up as Shirai toys with Candice. Shirai neck wrenches but Candice fights up. Shirai bumps Candice off buckles then runs corner to corner, a big corner dropkick! We reach the two minute warning as Shirai grinds her boot into Candice. Fans duel as Shirai brings Candice back to the middle. Shirai whips Candice but Candice blocks! Candice reverses but Shirai drop toeholds Candice onto the steel! Shirai grinds Candice’s face into the cage wall! The time is almost up, and Shirai is just toying with Candice at this point. Candice hits a jawbreaker!

Shirai staggers, but sends Candice into the corner! Then snap suplexes! Shirai grinds Candice down, and fans want to know what time it is on the clock. The clock returns for the countdown as Candice puts Shirai in a corner. The cages open up, and here comes Bianca Belair! Candice climbs up, leaps over her, then turns around into a shoulder block! Bianca chicken wings Candice to Glam Slam and shooting star! Bianca dares Candice to get up, but reels her in for a powerbomb lift, only for Candice to huricanrana her into buckles! Candice CHOPS Shirai and backs her down with forearms! Candice fires off, then dodges to send Bianca into her! Candice fires off on both of them! Candice runs in but only gets Shirai. Bianca DECKS Candice! And then another lift, POWERBOMB! But then a second! And a third, into the cage! Fans fire up for the pure power of The EST!

Shirai and Bianca bully Candice with stomps, then Bianca puts Candice in a camel clutch. Shirai builds speed, faster and faster and faster, to basement dropkick Candice down! Fans are loving this action already, and the countdown returns! Here comes Team Ripley’s… TEAM CAPTAIN! Rhea herself rushes to the ring! And she stops by under the ring to get a trash can! Chicago loves things getting extreme! Rhea tosses the can in, Bianca just gets clear, but then Rhea slams the door shut on Bianca! Rhea hurries to get more goodies, and brings out even MORE trash cans! Rhea puts those in, but goes back for even more, and has kendo sticks! And then chairs! Fans of course want tables, but Rhea gets more chairs first. Rhea gets in and looms over Bianca. Rhea drags Bianca up and atomic SLAMS Bianca on one of those trash cans!

Candice and Shirai brawl in the second ring while Rhea goes to get a chair. Rhea sits that chair up and Candice comes over to borrow one. Rhea bounces Bianca off whatever is around, and then works with Candice to make a chair square. Rhea and Candice go after Bianca together, and they double suplex, but Shirai saves Bianca! The four brawl all over, Bianca knees and clubs Rhea down hard! The countdown returns already, and Baszler adds KLR! She goes under the ring to bring out even more chairs! And then, as Chicago wants, a table! Only to put that back. KLR doesn’t care what fans want,s he gives Rhea and Candice some chair shots! And then Rhea gets a tornado DDT to a chair! KLR grins as she looms over Rhea and Candice. Team Baszler regroups and decides to use Rhea’s work against her.

Bianca is up top, KLR decks Rhea onto the chairs. Candice hurries to stop Bianca, elbows KLR away, and climbs up to join Bianca! Rhea helps out, but Shirai jumps in! Shirai throws Bianca away and KLR gets Candice. Rhea is thrown into the cage wall and KLR folds up all the chairs. KLR and Shirai go after Candice, aiming at the pile they’ve made. Rhea gets in and gets KLR and Shirai! TOWER OF DOOM! Double Powerbomb German Superplex, all onto the chairs!! Bianca stays on the top rope as fans cheer, “NXT! NXT!” 450 onto Rhea and the chairs!! All five women are down and the countdown returns! Team Ripley now sends in Dakota Kai! Captain Kick BOOTS Tegan Nox?! She’s beating up her best friend! She grabs Tegan’s arm from the outside to YANK her into the bars! And then SLAMS the door closed on Tegan’s bad legs!! It was Dakota who attacked Mia, wasn’t it?! But why!? Why is she doing this now!?

William Regal pulls Dakota off Tegan but Dakota shoves him back! Dakota has lost her damn mind! But Shayna just laughs. Now Team Ripley is down two women! Dakota come back!? Regal drags Dakota off Tegan, and Dakota shouts at Rhea. This is all because Dakota wasn’t chosen in the first place! And the countdown returns, so obviously, who is left to enter? The Queen of Spades! She grins and does the math for us: 4v2! Shayna leaves Tegan behind, Dakota did enough. Shayna takes her time as her team beats down Rhea and Candice. Shirai keeps Candice down while KLR and Bianca drag Rhea up. Rhea fights out and fights back! But that’s 3v1! Shayna knees Rhea down! Bianca goes to fetch a trash can and wedges it into a corner. KLR borrows a kendo stick as she helps Shira beat down Candice.

This match finally can start and finish, as KLR and Shirai double suplex. But Candice double DDT’s! Those there are down but Candice crawls her way over. Shayna and Bianca beat Rhea down, and then Shayna handcuffs Rhea! But Candice saves Rhea from being trapped! The two regroup in the middle, but Team Baszler flanks them on both sides… WIth no choice, they fight! Candice uses a trash can lid to SMACK away while Rhea takes Shayna down! Candice has KLR and Shirai down, but Shirai hits back. Bianca helps Shayna get back at Rhea, but Rhea throws her into that wedged can! Rhea hurries to help Candice, she dropkicks KLR into Shirai on the top rope! KLR turns Rhea around, but the tornado is blocked! Rhea suplexes KLR into the steel! KLR grinds down the cage wall!

Rhea sees Shirai stuck up top and heads right over. Rhea climbs up but Shirai fights back. Rhea stomps Shirai down, then laces the legs, for a HANGING Inverted Cloverleaf! Shirai endures, but Shayna has Candice in a HANGING KIRAFUDA! Who gives up on their hold? Candice fights out to SHORYUKEN! KLR KICKS Rhea down! ICONOCLASM onto a chair for Shayna! Candice LIONSAULTS! Cover, but Bianca uses a trash can to break it! Bianca drags Candice up to trophy lift, and long dart at Rhea! KLR drags Candice up, Gory BOMB! Shirai is up top, DESCENT INTO DARKNESS! Cover, but Rhea barrels through KLR to break it! Rhea throws KLR hard into steel! And BOOTS Shirai! Bianca HAIR WHIPS Rhea over and over and over! Candice kendo SMACKS away on Bianca over and over and over!

Shirai ducks the kendo to kick, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Shirai drags Candice into a drop zone, climbs up, and then climbs ALL the way up! But Candice pursues right after her! KLR goes after Candice, and the three are way up top. KLR has the Electric Chair, but gets a SUPER POISON RANA!! Cover, but Bianca breaks it! Those three are down, as are Shayna and Rhea in the first ring. Bianca gets up and brings Candice into the torture rack. Candice slips out of the KOD! She has the hair, but Shirai FLIES!! SUPER DESCENT INTO DARKNESS!!! Chicago is thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” while losing their minds! “MAMMA MIA!” echoes out as all six women are down. But Rhea rises to go after Shayna with a SMACK of the chair! Chair shot after chair shot, and then Rhea sits this chair up. She sets two together and sits a can in place.

But KLR leaps in, only to get SMASHED by the can! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Rhea is caught, there are no ropebreaks in this match, but Rhea pries the hold open. Shayna switches hands, Rhea starts fading, but Rhea remembers the handcuffs! She cuffs herself to Shayna?! And then just knees away on her!! Rhea kicks a leg out, but her buzzsaw misses. Pumphandle, RIPTIDE ONTO CHAIRS!! Cover, Team Ripley wins!?

Winner: Team Ripley, Rhea Ripley by pinfall

The irony is that Dakota gets the win for the night because she was on the team! But in the end, history is still made as the team of only two wins!

The panel discusses this historic match.

Historic and brutal, especially Captain Kick turning on her team as well as her best friend, Tegan Nox. The women stole the weekend in Chicago, from this to Survivor Series, and 2020 will only get bigger for all of NXT. The NXT Women’s Division might be the best of any Women’s Division in the world today. And while we’re looking to the future…

Here are the nominees for NXT Future Star of the Year:

• KUSHIDA, the NJPW acquisition that has already shown this is his time.
• Xia Li, the first ever Chinese-born female superstar to compete in the WWE, whose “spicy” style definitely has kick.
• Bronson Reed, the literally biggest Breakout Tournament participant who is ready to show what Aussie Strong Style is capable of.
• Tegan Nox, who has powered through severe knee injuries with the power of the Shiniest Wizard.
• Dakota Kai, who was right there with Tegan, until her savage and shocking betrayal at WarGames III.
• Ilja Dragunov, the Moscow Madman making major waves in NXT UK.
• Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, the Breakout Tournament superstar that oozes confidence.
• Taynara Conti, the Brazilian black belt in Judo, who vows to prove “Latinas Do It Better.”
• Cameron Grimes, the Breakout Tournament finalist who wants to Cave-In the competition.

Week after week, these superstars and many more are showing that the future is bright for NXT. The winner is… Dakota Kai! Sam admits he is eating some crow, but the change in her attitude and style has proven to him that she is ready for the big time.

Dakota makes her way out with a satisfied smile on her face, but also just a hint of annoyance in having to come out here at all. She takes the Golden Bell from Regal. “NXT Future Star?” She knew this all along. Everyone that voted for her are just late tot he party. Dakota makes her own opportunities now. Dakota sneers as she leaves, but will she be leaving 2019 in her rear view for bigger and better?

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is back again!

“I’ve always loved the competitiveness of the great tag teams of the past.” Dusty’s contribution not only to NXT but to the WWE and pro-wrestling as a whole is once again honored by this great tournament. First it was the unlikely duo of Samoa Joe and Finn Balor. Then it was the dominant duo of the Authors of Pain. Then the Undisputed Era  #ShockTheSystem thanks to Roderick Strong betraying Pete Dunne by helping Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. And most recently, it was another unlikely duo in Aleister Black and Ricochet. “Now we look for tag teams of the future.”

The 2020 Dusty Rhodes Classic is even bigger this year, because it is a crossover of both NXT and NXT UK! For NXT UK it is: The Grizzled Young Veterans; Gallus; Imperium; and South Wales Subculture! For NXT USA it is: The Forgotten Sons; The Undisputed Era’s O’Reilly & Fish; the surprising duo of Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne; and an even bigger surprise, Kushida and a mystery partner! Who is joining the Time Splitter in this amazing tradition? Who is taking the Dusty Rhodes Classic trophy for 2020?

NXT now names the TakeOver Event of the Year!

TakeOvers are always the best, because they are the culmination of the best in NXT. Each one tops the last. Pat will go so far as to say that TakeOvers aren’t just the best events in wrestling, but in all of entertainment! They’re just the best thing you could watch at all! But with so many to choose from in just 2019, what was THE BEST TakeOver of the Year? That would be… TakeOver: WarGames III!! After all, it had the historic Women’s WarGames, the epic Men’s WarGames to main event, and was all around “the most savage evening” in wrestling that Pat’s ever seen, certainly in Chicago. Congrats for being a game-changing trail-blazing night! And of course, many of those competitors from that night are in this next category…

NXT Breakout Competitor of the Year!

Your nominees are:

• Damien Priest, the Archer of Infamy and all around scary human being.
• Piper Niven, the dominant Scottish Viper and inspiration to us all for her perseverance.
• Dominik Dijakovic, the Croatian Colossus who moves like now towering titan should be able to.
• Angel Garza, El Latino en la Casa and the NEW NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
• Joe Coffey, the Iron King and leader of Gallus, poised to potentially take down Walter in Blackpool.
• Keith Lee, the Limitless One with memorable moment after memorable moment.
• Candice LeRae, aka Mrs. Wrestling, who is going to live her dream by any means necessary.
• Matt Riddle, The Original Bro who is ready to fight anyone anywhere, anytime.
• Rhea Ripley, who is again the first and only woman to hold both NXT UK and NXT Women’s Championships in her career.

And Cathy can’t help but be biased about this category, because one of her favorites won this award. And to present the Golden Bell, it’s Triple H! HHH is honored to present the award to… KEITH LEE! Lee takes the bell with pride and thanks all those who voted for him. “Thank you for your passion, your pride, your love.” And you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Pat loves Keith being the ultimate combination of size, speed and mic skills! An outstanding 2019, and a truly amazing 2020 is coming. Sam agrees that no one had a year like Keith Lee. Big impacts on all three brands, a pinfall on Seth Rollins and the respect of Roman Reigns, this track is leading Keith Lee to the very top of the WWE. He is the gift that keeps on giving gifs, what more memorable moments will we see as we #BaskInHisGlory?

NXT returns with THE Match of the Year for 2019!

Well when you have a Rivalry of the Year like Gargano VS Cole, of course one of their matches is in this countdown! But which one of their three is THE Number One Best Match of NXT 2019?

NXT Match of the Year 2019 – NXT TakeOver: New York, 4/5/19

NXT Championship 2-out-of-3 Falls Match: Johnny Gargano VS Adam Cole!

No matter what happens, history is being made tonight! The title is vacant, and this match will have a definitive winner. But will that definitive winner be Undisputed? Or will he be NXT’s first Triple Crown Champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin the first fall!

Fans are divided between the Panama City Playboy and #IronJohnny even before the bell. Cole and Gargano hear it all as they slowly circle. Gargano and Cole slowly approach and tie up. Gargano waistlocks and brings Cole down then holds on as Cole rolls. Cole breaks free and backs off, and he circles with Gargano again. Cole headlocks but Gargano pries his way out. Gargano steps over to a hammerlock then gets Cole’s other arm. Gargano makes it a cover, ONE, but he holds onto the hammerlock. Cole sits up and switches to a hammerlock of his own. He shifts to another headlock, but Gargano pries his way out. Fans continue to duel as Gargano gets Cole in the headlock. Cole powers out and avoids Gargano going up and over to get the headlock takeover. Gargano works against the hold but Cole holds on.

Fans rally and Gargano stands up. Gargano powers out but Cole runs him over with a shoulder. Things speed up and Gargano hurdles and standing switches. Cole bucks Gargano but Gargano dodges the Last Shot knee. Gargano rolls Cole but Cole slips out. Cole misses the boot but Gargano misses the mule kick. Both men dodge more, Gargano gets Cole with an arm-drag and fans applaud! Cole arm-drags but Gargano arm-drags him again. Gargano has Cole down, grinding a knee into his head and twisting the wrist. Fans duel as Cole gets up and Gargano yanks his arm. Gargano wrenches but Cole whips. Gargano runs Cole over and sees Cole’s duck coming, so he hops on for a headlock! Cole scrambles and gets a ropebreak! Gargano lets go and backs off.

Gargano comes back but gets a forearm from Cole! Cole walks into Gargano’s forearm and now both men throw forearms back and forth. Cole gets the edge and has Gargano in a corner. He wrenches and whips Gargano corner to corner but Gargano goes up and over. Gargano rolls and whips Cole then headscissors and dropkicks Cole down. He clotheslines Cole up and out, then heads to the corner. Gargano aims from the apron, but Cole runs away from the canonball. So Gargano wrecks him with a dropkick from the ropes! Gargano drags Cole back up and into the ring, but Cole scrambles all the way out the other side .The ref keeps Gargano back for a moment, and Gargano walks into Cole’s enziguri! Gargano gets to a corner and Cole hurries over.

Cole drags Gargano up for forearms, then CHOPS! Cole decks Gargano with another forearm, then drags Gargano up for a cravat. He drives in knees and Gargano drops to a knee. Cole stalks Gargano then drives in a knee for a chinlock. Gargano endures and fans rally up. Cole puts pressure on the hold but Gargano gets a second wind. Gargano stands up and fights back with forearms. He runs but into Cole’s back elbow! Cole drags Gargano for a cover, ONE! Cole drives elbows in then wraps on a dragon sleeper! Gargano fights back but Cole holds on tight. Fans rally up again and Gargano powers up. Gargano fights back again and breaks free. Cole headlocks again but Gargano powers out. Things speed up, double crossbodies wipe both men out!

Cole and Gargano slowly stand up and they start throwing forearms. Gargano gets the edge and starts rallying. Cole runs into Gargano’s overhead belly2bellY! Gargano rolls Cole, TWO and Cole has the cover, TWO! Cole runs but into a rebound school boy kick! Cole bails out and Gargano slingshots, but Cole gets back in, only to get a slingshot spear! Cover, TWO! Gargano keeps his cool while Cole gets to ropes. Cole goes to a corner and Gargano runs in for a chop! Gargano whips but Cole reverses. Cole runs into boots, then Gargano hops up. Gargano fakes out the superkick to hit a tornado complete shot! Cover, TWO! Cole denies the first fall but Gargano keeps his cool. Gargano gets up and drags Cole to his feet.

Gargano suplexes but Cole knees out. Cole suplexes but Gargano slips out. Gargano full nelsons but Cole slips out. Cole waistlocks but Gargano fights back. Cole shoves Gargano to a corner, deflects, draping backstabber! Cover, TWO! Gargano refuses to let Cole take the first fall. Cole slowly stands up but Gargano follows. Cole is on Gargano first but Gargano holds on, so Cole clubs away. Gargano counters the suplex to a cradle, TWO! Cole has it, TWO, back to Gargano, TWO and Cole has it again! TWO, and both men stand. Cole fireman’s carry but Gargano slips out only to get an elbow.

Gargano ends up in a corner but he goes up and over to school boy Cole again. Cole sees it all coming and ducks the kick. Gargano slides under but gets an enziguri! Cole brings down the knee pad and runs, but Gargano rolls him up! TWO and Cole has Gargano, TWO! Both men show superkick and that gets them to hesitate. Gargano mule kicks Cole’s knee out! Gargano buzzsaws but Cole ducks it to mule kick Gargano back. Cole tries another superkick but Gargano ducks that to victory roll, TWO! Cole kicks low and runs, but Gargano dodges and runs to sunset flip. Roll through to sit Gargano up, Last Shot shining wizard! Cover, Cole scores the first fall!

Adam Cole: 1; Johnny Gargano: 0

This is a huge advantage for Cole and Gargano finds himself behind the 8 Ball. Can Gargano make a huge comeback? Or will this be over quickly?

Cole brings his knee pad back up while he watches Gargano flounders to a corner. Fans rally and Gargano manages to stand. The second fall officially starts and Cole fires off! Cole punches and stomps Gargano down then brushes his hands. He drags Gargano up but Gargano fires forearms back. Gargano spins but nito a German Suplex! Cole runs and hits another Last Shot! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives and Cole is annoyed. Cole drags Gargano up into a fireman’s carry. Gargano grabs ropes and fights free but gets a right forearm. Cole joins Gargano on the apron, only to get a SPEAR! Both men tumble but Gargano’s back up for a cannonball! Gargano drags himself up then drags Cole up and in. Gargano refuses to do this by count-out, but his slingshot DDT is caught into Ushigoroshi! Cover, TWO!!

Gargano survives and Cole is starting to wonder what it’ll take for this second fall. Cole climbs up but Gargano anchors his feet. Cole and Gargano brawl, and Cole drags Gargano up top. Gargano holds on for dear life, then grabs Cole for a SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives Gargano’s take on Tommaso Ciampa’s move, but Gargano crawls over to him. Gargano drags Cole closer to ropes then goes to the apron. Gargano would slingshot but Cole flops down. Cole joins Gargano on the apron again, but Gargano brings him up. Cole fireman’s carry again but Gargano slips out to enziguri! Gargano slingshots to DDT Cole on the apron! Both men fall to the floor and the referee checks on them. They’re both somehow okay to continue and a ring count begins.

Fans duel as both men stir. Gargano sits up at 3 and drags Cole up at 5. Cole is dead weight and the count is climbing, so Gargano leaves Cole to the count’s mercy. No, wait, he refreshes the count? But Cole shoves him into a post! And then another! Cole puts Gargano in and follows to bring the knee pad down again. But Gargano grabs an arm! Gargano again borrows a move from Ciampa, the bridging Fujiwara! Cole endures and pops through for a crucifix! But Gargano slips right out to put on his GargaNO Escape! Cole taps, Gargano ties it up!!

Adam Cole: 1; Johnny Gargano: 1

Now it’s sudden death! With just one last fall to go, who will win it all to become NXT Champion!?

Gargano has a bloody eyebrow, but he wills himself to sit up. Cole gets himself to ropes while the ref patches up Gargano. The third and decisive fall officially begins, and Cole glares daggers at Gargano. Gargano and Cole both stand and Brooklyn is fired up for “NXT! NXT!” Cole and Gargano trade forearms back and forth, fast and furious! Gargano gets the edge and runs, into a bicycle boot! And another! But Gargano returns with a roaring elbow on the rebound! Gargano calls upon DIY but Cole dodges the mule kick. Cole enziguris but misses, Gargano’s buzzsaw hits! Gargano runs and tilt-o-whirls, but Cole blocks into Last Shot Brainbuster! Cover, TWO!! Cole’s frustration grows but so does the energy from the crowd.

Cole gets to a corner and hops up but Gargano pursues. Gargano then gets away but Cole brings him in for buckle bumps. Fans duel as Cole puts Gargano in position. Cole climbs up but Gargano enziguris! Gargano scoops Cole for a corner-to-corner LONG DART! Full Nelson Facebuster, the Hurts Donut! Cover, TWO! Cole survives and Gargano starts to see his own blood. Gargano and Cole both get up and throw forearms on his knees. They stand and still throw hands, but Cole gets the edge. Cole aims, but Gargano blocks the kick to give one. Cole blocks that but gets an enziguri, to give an enziguri! Both men stay up, throw more hands, but then they both SUPERKICK! They take each other down but fans give a standing ovation! Gargano and Cole stir as fans cheer for “Both These Guys!”

Cole and Gargano meet and swing, but Cole waistlocks and clubs away. Cole swings Gargano out but Gargano forearms first. Gargano reverse-rana misses, SUPERKICK to the back! Cole straitjacket suplexes to a bridge, TWO!! Gargano still has that superhuman heart even after two falls! Cole drags Gargano up and underhooks, but Gargano avoids the driller to get the arm! But Cole saido suplexes! Cole climbs up again, leaps, but Gargano avoids the destroyer to SUPERKICK! Gargano hops up and over for a Reverse-Rana! MULE KICK! But Cole tumbles out of the ring! Gargano can’t believe Cole’s luck. But Gargano also gets a wild idea. Gargano turns to run but Cole drags him out for a wheelbarrow suplex into the apron!! Cole may have just broke #IronJohnny! Cole drags Gargano up and in, and fans know “This is Awesome!”

Gargano springs up and gets Cole with a draping DDT! Another shout-out to Ciampa! But then slingshot DDT added on! Cover, TWO!? Cole survives two DDT’s so Gargano DIVES! Gargano sends Cole into barriers but then into the ring, slingshot- SUPERKICK! Cole leaps for a Panama Sunrise DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!?! Gargano still lives?! Brooklyn reaches that fever pitch again but this match is far from over. That’s just fine by them, too, because the fans chant “Fight Forever!” Gargano crawls to an apron but Cole scrapes him out. Cole pursues, also not content for the ring count to take care of this. He says Gargano’s a failure and a disappointment, and he pie faces Gargano down. Gargano keeps getting up but Cole keeps pushing him down. “What you do is fail!” Gargano doesn’t fail to forearm Cole back!

Gargano throws Cole over the announce desk! And then he clears it off! Brooklyn is loving this as Gargano drags Cole onto the table top! Cole hits back, underhooks, butterfly driver onto the table! And it doesn’t break! Cole steals Ciampa’s Fairy Tale Ending to end Gargano! Fans lose their minds and want “One More Time!” Cole returns to the ring to leave Gargano for dead. The ring count begins, but Gargano somehow sits up at 4! Gargano drags himself to his feet at 7 and hurries to the ring! He beats the count at 9.9!! But Cole aims, mocks DIY, SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO?!?! How is this even possible!? Cole is in disbelief while Gargano eyes are completely glazed. Fans duel again as Cole aims again. The knee pad comes down again, but Gargano SUPERKICKS Cole! Cole SUPERKICKS Gargano! Cole hops up, leaps, but into a GargaNO Escape!

But here come the Undisputed Era! Gargano hits Roderick Strong away, and then gets Cole back in GargaNo Escape! Strong argues with the ref, but that’s so Fish & O’Reilly can come around the other side! Cole is tapping but the ref doesn’t see! O’Reilly rakes Gargano’s eyes! Brooklyn boos but Cole kicks Gargano into the ref! Now the Undisputed Era swarms, TOTAL ANNIHILATION from reDRagon! Strong gets the ref back in while reDRagon runs away! Cole cover, TWO?!??! There are not enough punctuation marks that exist for this! The Undisputed Era tell Cole to finish this and fans duel so hard. Cole runs in but Gargano dumps him out onto his friends! Gargano puts Cole back in, then throws Strong into a post! He SUPERKICKS Fish then tornado DDT’s O’Reilly while kicking Fish!

Gargano gets back in, SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK! LAST SHOT WIZARD!! Cover, TWO!?! Just like I already said, there are not nearly enough punctuation! No one can believe any of this, but all the fans are loving it! Cole is starting to lose his mind, but he tells Gargano this will end. He runs again, but Gargano ducks the shot into GargaNo Escape!! Cole flails, scrambles, but Gargano rolls him away! Cole taps, Gargano wins!!!

Winner: Johnny Gargano, by submission; NEW NXT Champion

FINALLY! Not only does this match finally end, but Johnny Wrestling finally becomes Johnny Takeover! Johnny Wrestling finally becomes Johnny Champion! Johnny Wrestling becomes NXT’s first Mr. Triple Crown! Candice LeRae appears to celebrate with her husband, because they’ve finally put the past behind them, and Gargano finally stands atop the mountain! Gargano also celebrates with fans, friends, but especially family. Papa and Mother Gargano are there by their son’s side as he raises the title high overhead. He had to fight this hard to get there, how much harder will #IronJohnny fight to stay there?

Wait! Is that Tommaso Ciampa?! He has a neck brace on, as he embraces Gargano! DIY truly buries the hatchet as they and Candice celebrate together!

And there you have it!

The best match was the first time Johnny Wrestling became #JohnnyChampion. It blew the roof off the place, and while Cole had the better year, it wouldn’t have been possible without Gargano, too. But now, the final and most important award of the year…

Best Overall NXT Competitor of the Year!

Sam has his pick but he won’t tell Pat in case it ruins the chances. With Adam Cole and Shayna Baszler as the respective Male and Female Competitors of the Year, the one with the most votes is… ADAM COLE, BAYBAY! Sam knew it!

The Undisputed Era again goes out to the ring, and with this, the quartet will have not one, not two, but SIX Golden Bells to hold! Cole himself accounts for FOUR of those bells with Best Male, Best Match, Best Rivalry and now this. He almost can’t get in the ring he’s got so many things to hold. He has to set his other two and Roddy even holds onto one of the others while Cole takes this newest prize. “First and foremost, I want to take a second to appreciate the Undisputed Era.” Just looking at them right here, right now, they are champions. They are winners. They are led by the Overall Competitor of the Year, meaning there is not one single superstar in NXT or in the WORLD that can touch him. He proves that time and time again.

The Undisputed Era IS NXT, and that’s not a catchphrase. This moment proves it. And Cole promises that this is only the beginning. This is not anywhere close tot he end. The Era of the Undisputed has only just begun. “God it feels good to be a winner.” Bells up and group hug, boys! Strong helps Cole pick up the bells and Fish asks for some assistance, “a lot of hardware.” “This is your future. This is NXT right here.” “We run this. Not you. Us. We do.” Braggadocios but backing it up, will NXT ever not be Undisputed?

My Thoughts:

NXT clearly took it easy for the holidays, but honestly, they earned it. As I said for Survivor Series, they have been the best part of WWE’s weekly programming every week without argument, so they can do something like this and still be really fun to watch. For a mostly copypaste night, this still had a lot of good original content, such as the awards presentations. But I kinda wished the arena wasn’t COMPLETELY empty. Why not have the other superstars sit out there and react to the award winners? How great would it have been for Candice to be there cheering Gargano for the awards he was part of, or for someone like Mia Yim or Rhea Ripley to boo Dakota Kai when she won. But at the same time, I suppose the part of the NXT roster that didn’t win or even get nominated earned their holidays off by just being a great supporting cast the whole year.

All the choices tonight were great. The top three matches of 2019 were definitely top matches for me. I probably would’ve gone with the TakeOver: XXV match rather than New York, but I suppose even that was too over-the-top to be better than a standard 2-outta-3 Falls with just a bunch of chaos. Also might’ve been too violent to put on USA Network… The fans did great in choosing all these winners, they really are all worthy. And those Dusty Rhodes Classic participants are going to give us great matches. I just wish NXT UK had more teams because their four are literally the four we’re going to see in TakeOver: Blackpool II’s Fatal 4 Way Ladder match. And seeing that we’ve had two unlikely duos win and two established teams win, this fifth year will be a tiebreaker, but I’m leaning towards established team. Depending on how tag titles go, I’d love to see whoever is the NXT UK Tag Team Champions by the end win the whole thing for extra history added on top.

My Score: 8.2/10