11 Ups & 7 Downs For NXT In 2018

7. The Use Of British Strong Style

They aren't on every set of tapings, but British Strong Style always bolster NXT's mainline product whenever they show up. WWE have used them perfectly this year. Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, and Trent Seven aren't appearing every other week, meaning that when they do show up, it feels special. Their combined and individual star power has been preserved, and they've been given some meaty storyline material to work with as well.

Undisputed Era vs. Moustache Mountain was a simple story done well. It came to life during summer's Royal Albert Hall shows, yielded a five-star banger in Full Sail, then a TakeOver bout only a shade or two below that impeccable level. Throughout it, we were treated to the kind of breathless tag wrestling we've come to expect from these groups. Each clash was in the same league as those classic DIY vs. The Revival bouts, and the only disappointment is that WWE didn't keep it going for longer.

Dunne, meanwhile, remains one of the biggest stars in the building whenever he steps through the door. His singles matches with Kyle O'Reilly and Ricochet were among the year's best. On top of this, he was a key figure in the War Games match, and with much of the bout's early story built around him (and the night's closing shot featuring Dunne and Ricochet atop the cage), it was the ultimate main event rub for 'The Bruiserweight.' He deserves it.

Let's hope for more of the same in 2019.