11 Ups & 7 Downs For NXT In 2018

3. Best TakeOver Ever?

ricochet ladder
WWE.com

Though we've just waxed on TakeOver's all-around quality throughout the year, New Orleans deserves its own spot.

This was a special wrestling show. Arguably the event of the year and one of the finest in WWE history, every single minute delivered, though it was bookended by its best moments. The North American Title ladder match was an incredibly well-coordinated spotfest that could've gone to sh*t, given the amount of moving pieces, but finished as a near-perfect execution of the car crash formula. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa's unsanctioned fight, meanwhile, demonstrated everything great about that programme before the former's character went to hell, and will almost certainly finish highly on many a 'Match Of The Year' ballot.

Not a second was wasted, and with the Shayna Bayszler/Ember Moon Women's Title match, Roderick Strong's turn to join The Undisputed Era, and Aleister Black's NXT Championship victory over Andrade 'Cien' Almas all on deck, the night delivered the big, dramatic moments to match its high-octane action.

Shows like TakeOver: New Orleans only come around a couple of times a decade. Not since Money In The Bank 2011 has WWE produced such a hot show, and while WrestleMania 34's marathon variety show was better than could've been expected, it's thunder was stolen the night before. This is the new benchmark.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.