10 Best Wrestling Pay-Per-Views Of 2018

7. NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV

Omega Okada IV
WWE.com

The match between Adam Cole and Ricochet was a stunning marriage of their Independent work and NXT's advancement of traditional WWE storytelling.

That take might annoy some - they didn't need the TakeOver arena to prove they are worthy of it - but there was a big time heft to this, nonetheless. Cole, in refusing to buy into Ricochet's special factor, was in a state of denial. He couldn't deny it when Ricochet unleashed a match-winning spot so spectacular he didn't account for it. Calculated study is one thing - but Ricochet is so special that he invents new, astonishing ways of putting opponents away every time he steps foot in the ring.

Johnny Gargano Vs. Tommaso Ciampa and Undisputed Era Vs. Moustache Mountain were both slightly lesser versions of their best, outright classic matches - but NXT is so consistently excellent that you cannot really criticise it. You can only nitpick.

Let down slightly by EC3 Vs. Velveteen Dream - a spluttering non-starter of a match with zero narrative build - this was the outlier of yet another yellow brand triumph, elevated into this list by Kairi Sane's excellent win over Shayna Baszler.

Wrestling is always amazing on Saturday nights - and for all the whining, Sundays are sometimes glorious, too...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!