10 Best WWE NXT Wrestlers Of 2017

5. Ember Moon

Johnny Gargano Brooklyn III
WWE

It is to Ember Moon's immense credit that she was not overshadowed by the very good field of Mae Young Classic participants in 2017.

It did feel at times that NXT creative, usually so adept at engineering long-term storylines, had hesitated over the trigger. Ember's bout with Asuka at TakeOver: Orlando was a display of great storytelling, the elemental likes of which NXT has long perfected. The "War Goddess" - a curious nickname, perhaps indicative of Ember's shallow character - had the Empress beat in credible fashion. At the climax of a very well structured and worked match, Asuka was compelled to cheat to rescue her title. Again: it is to Ember Moon's immense credit that she exhibited the quality and presence - and the masterful psychology - required to make it work. That storyline failed to reach its logical, foreshadowed conclusion - Ember didn't force Asuka into full heel mode - but since their Brooklyn III sequel was so breathlessly, dramatically brilliant, it hardly mattered.

The currency generated by what was the best Women's match wrestled in the company all year allowed fans to both accept and savour Ember's belated, enforced title win at the expense of the fresher Kairi Sane.

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!