11 Ups & 7 Downs For NXT In 2018

9. Five Stars

almas gargano
WWE

2018 was the year Triple H's developmental project brought five-star matches back to WWE.

Regardless of how much stock you put into Dave Meltzer's controversial system, the frequency with which the Observer head honcho threw snowflakes upon NXT this year highlights another upturn in in-ring quality levels. Four bouts scooped ***** in 2018. What started with Andrade 'Cien' Almas vs. Johnny Gargano in Philadelphia continued with two matches at TakeOver: New Orleans, then, finally, we got an awesome tag clash between Moustache Mountain and Undisputed Era at the June tapings.

These bouts are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to NXT's awesome 2018 matches, and Meltzer's word has never been law (there you go, comments section). Regardless, that this brand continually finds ways to push its in-ring standards even further forward is borderline miraculous.

Gargano vs. Almas was the pick of the bunch. A pure wrestling match pitting the ultimate underdog babyface against an absolute c*nt of a heel, its fire, fury, and big-theatre drama set a nigh-on impossibly high benchmark for the rest of the year to follow. It's testament to the brand's continued excellence that they came close to hitting it on so many occasions.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.