10 Terrible Wrestlers With One Incredible Match

2. Eva Marie (Vs Bayley, WWE NXT November 19th 2015)

Jinder Mahal AJ Styles
WWE

Proof if proof be need be that Eva Marie really could put the "everything" in her own nickname, and that NXT was once every bit as gold as its branding suggested, a television main event with Bayley saw apexes converging in masterful, stunning fashion.

Marie had never been more loathed in Full Sail University, backed as she was by the transparent bias of the main roster machine. Michael Cole was installed as an interim General Manager for the night, WWE head official Charles Robinson took officiating duties, and the Challenger was even given her own locker room. Bayley, meanwhile, was soaring as Champion. Workhorse, carthorse and legitimately the biggest star of the show, she wore her heart on her sleeve and NXT's in her soul.

Never had NXT and Raw and SmackDown felt further apart, and for Triple H to spot and exploit this for a gripping and nerve-wracking main event only spoke to his own personal peak as the show's chief creative force.

The match goes a mere 6:45 but the entire 45 minute episode is worth every bit of investment with it. Just over half a decade later, it already feels like time capsule content of a bygone era.

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