Top 5 NXT Championship Matches of 2018

Ah, The NXT Championship. The belt that is cherished and valued among wrestling fans. It isn't a stretch to say that everywhere the main roster lacks or drops the ball, NXT does more than make up for it with their high impact matches. Don't even get us started with the storylines.

NXT, in general, is a gift from The Wrestling Gods and we are forever grateful. Enough small talk, the NXT main event hasn't disappointed as of late. They've done a great job of showcasing their talents and blurring the lines between the world of professional wrestling and reality.

NXT title matches feel extremely important like a title should. As opposed to Brock Lesnar never showing up with The Universal Championship, The NXT Championship is the cornerstone of the black and yellow brand. Here are the Top 5 NXT Championship matches of 2018.

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#5 NXT Takeover New Orleans: Aleister Black vs Andrade Cien Almas

To be fair, every match that happened the night of TakeOver: New Orleans was great. But each one had different reasons why. What drew most fans to this match was that Almas and Black were both just willing to FIGHT. There's nothing greater than when both the heel and the babyface don't mind duking it out all for the sake of entertainment.

If you're not a fan of the "coward" type heel, then you'd be glad to know that this match is pure entertainment and nothing less. To no surprise, this match ranks pretty high. Whether you place it with the entire card or as a stand alone match, this bout had little to no diappointment.

Zelina Vega played a big role in this as well, adding to what was already a spectacular match. Specifically for Aleister Black fans, she definitely became more of a thorn in the side that night. But, overall, everything shown in this match ultimately made it better.

#4: WWE NXT: Johnny Gargano vs Andrade Cien Almas - Career vs Title

Nowadays, Almas represents the blue brand, while Johnny Wrestling still holds it down on Wednesday Nights. But every time these two stepped in the ring together, magic was bound to happen. As opposed to someone who's complete gold on the mic or a larger than life persona like The Rock or Stone Cold, these guys can WRESTLE. Period.

This match up had Johnny Gargano's back against the wall so to speak. If he won, this would place him on top of the NXT mountain as champion. But if he lost, he would have to leave the company. Along with Zelina Vega's interference (which is expected), Tommaso Ciampa also took it upon himself to strike when the referee was down and it cost Gargano the match.

Despite putting on a classic, Gargano ultimately came up short. But despite losing, the fire and passion shown in this match will forever be the reason that the NXT Universe is rarely disappointed. Hands down, this was an absolute classic.

#3: WWE NXT: Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black

This match took a lot of people by surprise. Especially because no one actually expected for the title to change hands so soon. Despite the fact that this bout revealed Aleister Black as a transitional champion, the match itself was nothing short of greatness. Even with Gargano being so hellbent on stopping Ciampa from becoming champion, the outcome surely shifted our focus.

The story here is that Gargano and Ciampa's problems have gotten in the way of Aleister's title reign. It only makes you wonder what could've been with the planned triple threat match that was going to take place with those three. Also, the thought of Ciampa going from a tag team champion all the way to the main event wasn't exactly a thought for most.

That's one of the reasons this title change was so shocking. Nevertheless, these guys went and left everything in the ring, putting on an amazing show for everyone in attendance and everyone watching at home.

#2: NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 4 - Tommaso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano Last Man Standing

In what seemed to be an even bigger match up compared to their street fight at Takeover: Brooklyn, this match surely didn't send us home wondering. Everyone involved did a great job showing the fans that this isn't just a wrestling match, they came here to FIGHT. Miles ahead of the debauchery that was NXT's first run, both Gargano and Ciampa are responsible for making NXT what it is today.

This match comes equipped with enough entertainment to knock your socks off and maybe enough to turn a critic into a wrestling fan. Either way, you slice it, these guys will continue to put their bodies on the line for the fans and haters alike. For that, this match will be a fan favourite among NXT Championship matches for years and maybe decades to come.

#1: NXT Takeover: Philadelphia: Johnny Gargano vs Andrade Cien Almas

Finally, at the final spot, we have Almas vs Gargano. Dubbed "The greatest match of all time in NXT" by Dave Meltzer, this match does proper justice to every fan around the world. You could show this match to a former wrestling fan and it wouldn't be surprising if they started watching the product again. Yes, this match was THAT good.

Whether you knew the performers, the storylines, and everything in between, it has very little to do with the match's greatness. Looking back on it, Johnny Wrestling never got the job done against Almas. So it makes you appreciate everything Gargano can do in the ring even more.

It can honestly be said that if this match was with anyone else, it wouldn't have anywhere near the same effect on fans and critics who watch faithfully. Both Gargano and Almas did an amazing job contributing to this bout and representing the black and yellow brand in the process.

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