10 Best NXT Matches Of 2019 (So Far)

4. Tommaso Ciampa, Adam Cole & Johnny Gargano Vs Ricochet, Aleister Black & Velveteen Dream (Halftime Heat)

NXT TakeOver NY 095
WWE

A cocaine classic that served to entertain both a cast of colleagues at the Performance Center and potentially half of the western world flicking over during the SuperBowl, Halftime Heat's return to television after a 19-year-absence reimagined the concept as a firepowered exhibition rather than an empty ratings grab.

On commentary, Shawn Michaels paid the six the ultimate compliment in expressing his fear at being trapped in the middle of a match worked at such a frenetic and furious pace. Unashamedly spotty, neither fan nor wrestler was given the opportunity to take a breath as the brand's top tier smashed f*ck out of one another with reckless abandon.

For five of the six, it carried echoes of their high-octane indie existence prior to signing on with WWE, but NXT homegrown star Velveteen Dream served as the reminder that the entire presentation was a reimagining of all their collective pasts into one dynamic new presence. Long elevated to this elite level, this was yet another showcase for those that may (inexplicably) still not be watching weekly, or at least for every TakeOver.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett