10 Best Wrestling Pay-Per-Views Of 2019 (So Far)

6. NXT TakeOver: 25

Cody Dustin Rhodes
WWE

Not as objectively blow-away great as TakeOver: New York, but, to many, a warming return to a bygone NXT, 25 was a fitting and mostly spectacular retrospective celebration of the black-and-gold brand.

Matt Riddle Vs. Roderick Strong was killer, physical, intense, realistic pro wrestling - the sort of testosterone-fuelled showdown that Steve Austin would describe as a hell of a d*mn match. Kyle O'Reilly, meanwhile, channelled Austin's legendary fortitude in his lynchpin role throughout the NXT Tag Team Title Fatal 4-Way Ladder match, amongst the most bone-crushing and carefully immersive in company history. The Street Profits, sentimental favourites, won out, harking back to the lovely spirit of 2015, in which the brand was something more endearing than its latter, big-budget PWG incarnation.

Tyler Breeze Vs. Velveteen was a subjective waste - the restored 2014 version of Prince Pretty was surely a better opponent than this more serious update - but objectively well-worked. Mostly. Shayna Baszler and Io Shirai displayed awesome chemistry in their great little sprint, even if the Women's Division formula is growing predictable. Adam Cole is a superstar and a super-worker, and if I found this otherwise sensational sequel a tad indulgent, I was about the only one.

The place went apesh*t throughout, conducted by two masters, in a phenomenal, unforgettable spectacle.

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!