WWE NXT Minus 6: The Year in Review, Part 1

Bradley Jay is here with his unique look back at WWE NXT for the year of 2020…at least part 1 of it!

Let’s start the 2020 recap with non-traditional awards you won’t find anywhere else.

Sick Burn of the Year, runner up:

Bianca Belair tells Toni Storm and Charlotte Flair, “You don’t even go here.” 

Repackaging of the year: Raquel Gonzalez

I’ve always liked her in-ring, but let’s be honest. Cowgirl Reina certainly would not be going nose to nose every week with Rhea Ripley. Just a great makeover for a deserving talent.  

Sick Burn of the Year, runner up

Domanic Dijakovic calls Damian Priest a “Bootleg Marilyn Manson” 

Participation Award: Ever-Rise

Legendary NFL coach Bill Parcels was fond of saying, “The most important ability is availability.” In a year with injuries, quarantines and travel restrictions, no wrestlers have been more available than Ever-Rise. Every week, sometimes twice a week, they were on 205 Live and NXT. They have taken advantage of their opportunity and grown into a team I enjoy watching. Most importantly, they were available. 

Return of the year: Ember Moon

I was not a fan of Moon during her first run in NXT. I wasn’t excited when she showed up at Takeover. Her first match back didn’t dazzle me. Everything after that has blown my socks off. I’m still crazy about her character, but in ring she’s as good as anybody & I’m always excited when she’s in a match. Welcome home, Ms. Moon.

Sick Burn of the Year, runner up: 

Zack Gibson to the NXT audience, “I didn’t come here so the Full Sail hipsters could pretend to know who Alex Shelly is.” Gibson with the savage two-fer, roasting the fans AND Shelly. 

Loser of the Year: Damian Priest

It’s easy to shine bright when you win. You’re on another level when you steal the show in a loss. That’s exactly what Priest did when he lost to Finn Balor at Takeover: In Your House. After that match, the entire wrestling world knew Priest was a made man. 

Sick Burn of the Year: Winner

Johnny Gargano to Finn Balor “That’s not the guy who lost to Bobby Lashley 17 weeks in a row on Monday Night Raw” Gargano destroys Balor, Lashley and WWE’s flagship program. Scorch the earth, Mr. Wednesday Knight. Scorch the earth. Speaking of…

Best Forgotten Nickname: The Wednesday Knight

I think they dropped this after one week. Damn Shame. Would have looked great on a t-shirt.

The Mama Mia recognizes the one moment I could watch over & over and never get sick of. 

The Mama Mia (male): Bronson Reed, ladder match at Takeover 30

Watching the Thicc Boi jump off a ladder is impressive. Watching him jump off a ladder with Candace Lerae on his back is downright ridiculous. And bonus points to Reed for the Bam Bam Bigelow homage. I am down with the Thiccness.   

Female Mama Mia: Io Shirai, Takeover War Games

Last year, Shirai hit a moonsault off the top of the cage. What could she do for an encore? Throw herself off the top of the cage stuffed in a garbage can. A garbage can! I don’t know if jumping 15 feet in a garbage makes her a genius, but she certainly has balls of steel. She is also a 2020 double award winner…

The Most Wrestling Moment of the Year: Io Shirai, Takeover War Games

We have to be honest enough to admit that wrestling is totally cool and totally stupid. If there was one moment in 2020 that best captures the marriage of cool and stupid, it’s watching a woman fly through the air in a garbage can. I was in awe. I laughed my ass off. It was everything great and stupid about this thing we love so much. Long Live Wrestling.