WWE NXT: Ranking the Top 10 Women’s Title Matches of All-Time

1. Asuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III)

Yes indeed, controversial or not this is for me, the greatest women’s title match in NXT history! After being sidelined by injury, Moon’s road to redemption wasn’t a smooth one but in the end that seemingly brought out a brand new verbal fire which in turn, allowed for her strongest promos yet as she did a quite tremendous job building this match. For Asuka, this looked like a very feasible finish to her NXT run. She’d beaten everyone and if it wasn’t Moon, who would it be? A combination of all these factors made for a big match feel and unlike last time, an invested live crowd.

Moon’s aggression from the outset still stands out in my mind as it perfectly fit not only this match’s importance but moreover it replicated Ember’s verbal aggression since their last bout. Things then transitioned into Asuka working over the challenger’s shoulder and though this made for a brief lull in action, it added a pivotal layer to the match and gave things a genuine emotional hook as Moon sold miraculously, fighting through pain valiantly. Just like in their initial encounter, the actual work was incredibly sharp and crisp but the aforementioned injured shoulder aspect gave things a whole lot more gravity.

Things really escalated though when Moon hit The Eclipse. This match’s whole build-up and story was built on that move and the ideology that if it hits, it ends the streak. Asuka kicked out though and in that moment, this match reached a new level as shock and horror emerged on Ember’s face. Now panicked and desperate, Asuka once again attempted to take a shortcut but it failed and Moon hit a superb looking superkick for another false finish.

In the end, the champion retained her crown with the Asuka Lock and would then move up to RAW undefeated. Regardless of your thoughts on the match’s chosen winner, its actual finish was perfection as all of Asuka’s prior work on Moon’s shoulder paid off in the end. This match and #2 are different, so for that reason, I completely understand if you prefer the latter. But for me, this was the perfect blend that all elite pro wrestling strives for.

Next: What Were The 15 Greatest Royal Rumble Moments Ever?

Physically slick and smooth whilst still explosive and aggressive – but also emotionally engrossing with truly captivating character work. This rivalry’s impact is best represented by the crowd’s response to their recent Royal Rumble staredown. It took a while but in the end, this all really did connect with people. A fabulous title match and a fitting end to Asuka’s NXT run, I have nothing but praise for this memorable Brooklyn encounter and for me, it’s a more than worthy No. 1!