8 Ups & 9 Downs For WWE NXT In 2020
6. The Fight Pit
The rule-proving exception for NXT's otherwise-rotten gimmick innovations this year, Matt Riddle's swansong with Timothy Thatcher found both men entering the terrifying and unique Fight pit for a vicious and brutal war that felt almost entirely detached from the product at the time.
With a brand new structure to work with, Kurt Angle as referee, and the bulk of NXT's second hour to use, the two had an unseemly, gritty and bloody battle that put Thatcher over as a terrifying new force on the show. Having not been beaten endlessly by then, it was believable too.
It was helped by some fortuitous timing - occurring just weeks before the Speaking Out movement, Riddle wrestled without the cloud that's since hung over his act. As a goodbye, it felt fitting. As a beating, it felt real.