As it reaches the half-way point of the year, NXT delivered yet another outstanding show in June and also set itself up well for the second half of 2018.
This month’s NXT programming focused on the build to NXT Takeover: Chicago, which took place on June 16th. The event was yet another home-run from the company, making it three for three in terms of Takeovers so far in 2018.
The show was once again headlined by Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, who have been having what many consider to be the best program of 2018. Elsewhere on the card, Aleister Black defended his NXT title for the first time against Lars Sullivan, while The Undisputed Era and Shayna Baszler also defended their respective belts.
The NXT roster is perhaps stronger than it has ever been at the moment, and the show continues to deliver excellent television, week in, week out. With the brand now building towards their biggest show of the Summer, NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, let’s take a look at what superstars have impressed the most throughout the month of June.
Source: WWE.Com
10: Kairi Sane (May: N/A)
Kairi Sane has to be one of the most active performers on the NXT roster. It seems like barely a week goes by where she isn’t involved in some capacity.
In June, she brought an end to her mini-feud with Lacey Evans, picking up the victory in their rubber match, and it now looks as though she is being primed to take on Shayna Baszler at the next Takeover event.
Sane is one of the most popular female performers on the NXT roster, and it seems like it is only a matter of time before she gets her hands on the title.
Source: WWE.Com
9: Shayna Baszler (May: #7)
Shayna Baszler continues to dominate the women’s division on NXT this month. Her feud with Nikki Cross, which started back at the end of May and finished at Takeover: Chicago was one of the most unique and entertaining feuds I’ve seen in the women’s division.
Baszler played her role as the brand’s big bad bully to perfection and Cross helped to get the best out of her with her demented psychological warfare.
Baszler and Cross had a solid match in Chicago and Baszler’s victory further cemented her place as the women to beat on the yellow brand.
Source: WWE.Com
8: EC3 (May: #9)
Given EC3’s success outside of the WWE, and the fact that he has already worked for the company before, there is an argument to be made that he should not even have to go through the ‘system’ and looking at what we have seen so far from him, it’s definitely an argument worth considering.
EC3 has a great look, he is great on the mic, and his in-ring work isn’t too shabby either. We have seen him have more interactions with regular roster members in June, and his match with Kassius Ohno earlier in the month was a nice glimpse of what he is capable of.
It looks as though he is moving into a feud with Johnny Gargano, though, how long that will last is anybody’s guess.
Source: WWE.Com
7: Velveteen Dream (May: #5)
Velveteen Dream could well be the next big star in the WWE. His in-ring work is flawless and his character work is inspired.
A sign of a real star is their ability to look great in defeat and The Dream proved that once again this month, making Ricochet look excellent in their match at Takeover: Chicago, but also still getting himself over in the process.
Now his feud with Ricochet is over, for the time being at least, I’d love to see Velveteen move up to the North American Title picture. It seems only a matter of time before he gets his hands on some gold in NXT and who knows, he could even end up on the main roster before the year is out.
Credit: WWE.com
6: Pete Dunne (May: #2)
Pete Dunne is one of the hottest young stars in the WWE right now and his run with the UK title is now the second longest of any champion in the WWE.
I’ve decided not to include the UK tournament as part of this ranking but even without that, Dunne has had a great month. His performance in tag team bouts against The Undisputed Era have been excellent, and his singles match with Kyle O’Reilly was probably the best non-Takeover match of the month.
Dunne has also become one of the most popular superstars on the NXT roster and is now playing much more of an anti-hero role. His partnership with Tyler Bate and Trent Severn has a lot of promise for the Bruiserweight over the Summer.
5: Kyle O Reilly (May: N/A)
The Undisputed Era has had perhaps their most impressive month in NXT yet, and Kyle O Reilly feels like he has had his moment in the spotlight in June.
The team’s feud with Burch, Lorcan and Dunne leading into Takeover: Chicago provided us with some excellent matches and promos and the title match at the event itself was one of the best tag team bouts NXT has seen since the days of DIY and The Revival.
O’Reilly also took part in a thrilling UK title match against Pete Dunne on June 13th. This was the first time fans have really had any exposure to O’Reilly in a singles match and he didn’t disappoint.
Their rivalry with Dunne, Bates and Severn, otherwise known as British Strong Style has already shown plenty of promise, and they will likely all meet each other at the next takeover in Brooklyn.
Credit: WWE.Com
4: Johnny Gargano (May: #8)
Johnny Gargano may have been unsuccessful in his match against Tommaso Ciampa at Takeover: Chicago but the aptly named Johnny Wrestling still makes it high on this list thanks to the incredible performance he put on during the match.
Gargano has developed a more aggressive approach to his character over the last month and it makes a lot of sense. He was fuelled by anger in Chicago and that is what ultimately cost him the match, he will now enter into a feud with EC3 away from Ciampa, and the two men will likely meet again later in the year.
Gargano has been a wrestling machine in 2018, putting on a match of the year candidate every time he has stepped foot in the ring, and making everyone else around him look excellent as well.
NXT Champion Aleister Black lets loose on Lars Sullivan. Photo Source: WWE.com
3: Aleister Black (May: N/A)
NXT Champion Aleister Black has a difficult match coming up against Tommaso Ciampa at NXT Takeover: Chicago, but he reminded fans what a capable performer he was once again at Takeover: Chicago, getting a great match out of Lars Sullivan.
While the result may have been predictable, Black’s first title defence was still a highly enjoyable bout and it looks as though the NXT champion is going to be on television more regularly now that he is feuding with Ciampa.
2: Ricochet (May: #4)
Ricochet has quickly become one of the biggest names in NXT, and watching his performances in recent weeks, it’s easy to see why.
The former NJPW star has adapted to the WWE’s style no problem, and his match with Velveteen Dream at Takeover: Chicago ran the night’s main event close for a match of the night contender.
Not only has he shown that he is excellent in the ring but he has improved his mic-skills an awful lot since arriving in NXT, which has always been one of weaker points as a performer.
It looks as though he is now moving into a feud with Adam Cole, which will hopefully claim his first piece of gold in NXT in the coming months.
Credit: WWE.com
1: Tommaso Ciampa (May: #1)
Tommaso Ciampa is the best heel in all of the WWE, there is no question about that. His character work and commitment to the role are unrivalled and it looks as though he could be crowned NXT champion before the Summer is out.
Ciampa’s big moment this month came when he defeated Johnny Gargano in yet another thrilling encounter in the main event of NXT Takeover: Chicago.
While it may not have quite been as good as their encounter at Takeover: New Orleans, their Chicago match was a much more brutal affair and it really allowed Ciampa to show what an expert heel he can be.
Next: WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV Match Card Predictions Version 1.0
His Twitter game continues to be miles ahead of everyone else as well, and his feud with Aleister Black, which started on the final NXT episode of the month, looks to have plenty of promise.