Predicting the results of the 2019 NXT End of Year Awards

NXT is wrapping up a fantastic year in 2019, and as they do every year (as opposed to the main roster's old Slammy Awards), the Year End Awards are here. Fans can vote on social media in a variety of categories, and as you'd expect, each and every category is incredibly stacked, and we have a feeling there will be a few surprises, as fans certainly have different tastes for their wrestling.

So sit back and read along as we look back on an amazing year for NXT, and cast our votes in each and every category. Let us know in the comment section below who you will be voting for in each category, as our opinions will definitely differ given how many amazing performers and matches make up each category.

NXT Takeover of the Year - Takeover: New York (Runner Up: Takeover: WarGames)

As you'd expect, every single Takeover of the year 2019 was fantastic, but from top to bottom, nothing matched the card that took place in New York over WrestleMania 35 weekend. 4 out of 5 of these matches are arguably Match of the Year candidates, and on the biggest wrestling stage of the year, NXT once again stepped up and showed why they are WWE's brightest brand, and have been for quite some time.

Despite missing the likes of Keith Lee and Tommaso Ciampa, this card still featured plenty of NXT's biggest stars, and from start to finish, this show was incredible, being arguably the best wrestling show in all of 2019. The early tag team match was frentic and fast-paced, the UK title match was hard-hitting, the women's matched showcased immense talent, the Riddle/Dream match was great storytelling and the main event had everything you'd like in a wrestling match, and if you haven't seen this event, you should.

Future Star of NXT Award - Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott (Runner Up: Kushida)

NXT is currently stacked with amazing talent, but looking to the future of the company, it could possibly be even brighter than it is now. Dakota Kai, Bronson Reed, and so many other talents are in this category too, but given how great Scott (the former Shane Strickland) has been on every show he has performed on, it's safe to say that he has the brightest future of anyone.

Whether it's the easy, cool charisma or his fantastic in-ring work, Scott has everything it takes to be a major star, and considering how Jordan Myles left the company, Isaiah may take his push. With so many other stars on the brand right now, it might be some time until he gets a significant push, but he has the potential to be an NXT Champion one day (at the very least the North American Champion).

NXT Breakout Star of the Year - Keith Lee (Runner Up: Rhea Ripley)

Few stars have risen as quickly as Keith Lee in recent memory (only Rhea Ripley comes to mind), and at this rate, NXT may have no choice but to put the top Championship on him. When he first debuted, too much of the spotlight was given to Matt Riddle (who is also in this category and amazing in his own right), but since the Survivor Series rivalry began, Keith Lee has become the hottest wrestler in all of WWE.

The latest episode of NXT seemed to be the Keith Lee show, and watching how he dispatched The Undisputed Era and took it to Finn Balor, it is entirely possible that Keith Lee is the next NXT Champion. Given how much of a fan Vince McMahon is, Lee could be on the main roster in 2020 just as easily as he could be NXT Champion, but one thing is for sure, in 2020, we are all ready to Bask in his Glory.

NXT Tag Team of the Year - The Undisputed Era (Runner Up: Street Profits)

It would be no surprise that The Undisputed Era were to rack up these awards, but no duo has been better throughout the entirety of 2019 than Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. They've shown a fantastic ability to be able to wrestle different styles against different teams, and with classics against every team NXT has to offer, there's no other option to choose in this category (unlike all the others, which have several worthy winners).

There have been bright spots in the rest of the division (War Raiders, Street Profits, Black & Ricochet), but these two have separated themselves with consistent brilliance at every turn. Given how all 4 men hold all the gold in NXT, it's hard to see anyone stopping this amazing group, and with no team standing out as the next challengers to these two, it's entirely possible that they win this award in 2020 too.

NXT Women's Performer of the Year - Shayna Baszler (Runner Up: Rhea Ripley)

This was one of the toughest choices to make, given what a force Rhea Ripley has been in 2019, but simply put, The Queen of Spades has been dominant all year long, and thoroughly deserves this spot. Although she isn't as flashy as some of the women we've seen come through NXT, Baszler is just as effective, and with Duke and Shafir by her side, there may be no stopping her going forward.

Rhea Ripley will do her best on the December 18th episode of NXT, but even if she does come out victorious on that night, you can't deny what a strong year Shayna Baszler has had. Baszler has been the Champion since 2018 at Evolution where she defeated Kairi Sane, putting her current reign at 403 days, and anytime you can hold a Championship for a calendar year or more, you deserve an award such as this.

NXT Men's Performer of the Year - Adam Cole (Runner Up: Tyler Bate)

Few stars have the presence and charisma of Adam Cole, and when you make him the leader of an incredibly talented group and put him in high profile matches, great things will happen. Some were worried that due to his size, Cole wouldn't succeed in WWE, but he's put those worries to bed, as he has been NXT's standout performer and top star throughout 2019, proving that he is someone you can build an entire brand around.

There have been many amazing performances throughout the year, but no one as consistent as Cole, and with a SmackDown victory over Daniel Bryan, he has sealed this award. NXT is in a wrestling war (even if they don't believe so) on Wednesday night, and Cole is the perfect man to lead NXT, so hopefully he stays there for quite some time, because we may be looking at NXT's greatest ever star if he sticks around.

NXT Match of the Year - Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT Takeover: New York) (Runner Up: Tyler Bate vs. Walter - NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff)

Johnny Wrestling has been NXT's best performer over the past few years, and while injuries kept him out of action and cost him a shot at Male Performer of the Year, he will sneak in and get the award for Match of the Year. Gargano has won NXT's Match of the Year in 2018 and 2016 (having 3 nominations but losing in 2017), and after a classic with Adam Cole, he should receive the award yet again in 2019.

This match was incredible, and by going Superman in the third fall of this contest, Johnny became NXT's first-ever Triple Crown winner, finally claiming the Championship he'd been chasing for 3 years. Ultimately, Cole went on to win this rivalry (we'll get to that), but on this night, Johnny Wrestling made us all believe again, proving that anything is possible with hard work.

NXT Rivalry of the Year - Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole (Runner Up: Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler)

There have been some incredible NXT rivalries in 2019, but the one that stands out is the rivalry that has 3 candidates for Match of the Year, being Johnny Wrestling vs. Adam Cole over the coveted NXT Championship. The video packages were sensational, and Cole as the leader of an evil group up against the purest babyface NXT has ever seen (sorry Sami Zayn) was a perfect pairing, and all 3 of their big matches delivered perfectly.

Ultimately, it was Cole that came out on top with the NXT Championship after a grueling 3 Stages of Hell Match, but not before Johnny Wrestling finally got his moment to become Johnny Triple Crown in NXT. Their trajectory has definitely been different since this rivalry, but nothing even came close to this in 2019 and given he won 2/3 of the bouts, Cole will be taking home another big trophy here.

NXT Overall Performer of the Year - Adam Cole (Runner Up: Shayna Baszler)

This one was a very hard one to pick, considering other contenders include Johnny Gargano, Velveteen Dream, Rhea Ripley and so many other talented performers, but no one had a better year than the Champ. From leading NXT throughout the year to several Match of the Year candidates to debuts on both RAW and SmackDown, Cole was all over the map in 2019 and just edges out amazing talent to take home yet another award.

Few in the entire WWE and wider wrestling world have a brighter future than Adam Cole (Bay Bay), and whether he goes to the main roster or stays in NXT, he will be one of the biggest stars WWE has for years. With O'Reilly, Strong and Fish beside him, there seems to be no one in NXT that can stop Cole, and if he continues his strong push through NXT, he could be the first to win this award in back-to-back years.