10 Forgotten Hidden Gems From WWE NXT

5. Paige Vs. Natalya - December 4, 2013

Rob Van Dam Neville NXT
WWE.com

The exceptional women's matches on NXT were a major factor in helping put the brand on the map and distinguish it from the main roster. They weren't labeled as "Divas" down in developmental; instead, they were allowed to showcase their skills and contest the kind of remarkable matches fans knew they were capable of.

Paige ran rampant over the division during her time as NXT Women's champion and knocked off everyone who stepped up to challenge her for the strap. But she faced off against her toughest opposition to date in the form of Natalya on the Dec. 4, 2013 edition.

With her gold up for grabs, Paige had to fight valiantly to retain her title, and the established Natalya gave her a fantastic fight. It was a women's technical masterpiece that not only stole the show but proved Paige was ready for the next level of competition, now having beaten a former Divas champion.

As phenomenal as her NXT Arrival match with Emma was in February 2014, Paige had already begun to usher in a new era in women's wrestling as evidenced by her championship clash with Natalya.

Contributor
Contributor

Since 2008, Graham has been a diehard pro wrestling fan and, in 2010, he combined his passions for WWE and writing when he joined Bleacher Report. Equipped with a master's in journalism, Graham has contributed to WhatCulture, FanSided's Daily DDT, Sports Betting Dime, and GateHouse Media. Along the way, he has conducted interviews with wrestling superstars like Chris Jericho, Edge, Goldberg, Christian, Diamond Dallas Page, Jim Ross, Adam Cole, Tessa Blanchard, Ryback, and Nick Aldis among others.