11 Ups & 7 Downs For NXT In 2018

by Andy H Murray

1. The Treatment Of Titles

Tommaso Ciampa
WWE.com

Consider WWE's main roster titles.

The WWE, Raw Women's, and SmackDown Women's are in good health. The rest? Not so much. Strangled by Brock Lesnar's neverending absentee reign, the Universal Title has been shunted back into the shadows after being placed back on 'The Beast's' shoulder at Crown Jewel. The Intercontinental and United States Championships aren't treated like big deals at all, with Shinsuke Nakamura lucky to make TV most weeks, and Seth Rollins more occupied with deep, personal issues. The tag belts? L-O-L.

Now, look at NXT's.

The top belt is currently held by the best heel in the company, and has starred in countless classic fights this year, from Gargano vs. Almas to Ciampa vs. Dream. Shayna Baszler has proved herself a worthy Horsewomen/Asuka heir and an indomitable divisional figurehead. The North American Title was introduced perfectly in New Orleans, and is currently held by a bona fide star in the making, while the two Undisputed Era runs have maintained the lofty standards we've come to expect from NXT tag teams.

This is yet another area in which NXT consistently outshines the main roster, and the way they've booked their belts in 2018 deserves special praise. These straps feel like prizes. Far from Raw and SmackDown's glorified fashion accessories, these are prestigious, protected, and powerful. They're to be strived for, and the bookers deserve credit for preserving this.

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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.