Match of the Year
Jeter: I already discussed this at length last week, so I’ll keep this relatively brief. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa’s “Unsanctioned” Match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans stood out as the best match of the year for the developmental fed. The two exhibited the chemistry that made them such a great tag team in what was a violent (by today’s WWE standards) battle between the friends-turned-enemies. This was the best match of their trilogy and the best NXT match of 2018, in my opinion.
Mauro: As I mentioned above, Black and Gargano wins hands down for me. Perfectly paced, with moments of wince-inducing violence, there were so many incredible moments in this match: Black’s kick to Gargano mid-suicide dive, a series of smooth-as-silk counters, the mimicry and the mind games and that perfect moment at the very end.
I could talk about it forever, and I could watch it over and over and never get tired of it. The story this match told was exactly what it needed to be, and both Black and Gargano played their parts to perfection. Good vs Evil stories can be boring. Morally Grey Destroyer vs Fallen Angel is way, way cooler.
Myrick: Johnny Gargano vs Aleister Black at Takeover War Games II. To implement storytelling into a match is a difficult thing to do. By storytelling, I’m talking about full-blown Oscar-worthy performances driven by character-driven moments. It’s not easy. Just ask Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. If done poorly, it can make a match fall flat on its face in the worst way possible.
A handful of NXT matches this year prove that these type of stories can be well told in the middle of that ring. Many of those matches happened to feature Johnny Gargano, but he delivered his best work alongside Aleister Black at TakeOver: WarGames II. This was Black’s first match back since returning from injury but displayed no signs of ring rust.
Alternatively, this was Gargano’s first big match since turning heel and being revealed as Black’s parking lot attacker, but managed to adapt to the character change with ease. Together, these two managed to execute expert storytelling. No gimmicks or weapons were needed and never for a second did they overdo the storytelling elements nor did they let it sacrifice the actual wrestling.
They gave us two sluggers slugging it out like they hated each other whilst balancing out the feud-driven intensity with some quick paced technical wrestling. It was a masterclass to behold and the very best match that NXT had to offer in 2018.
Velasquez: Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano: NXT Takeover War Games II. Johnny Gargano is in every one of my top three NXT matches in 2018. He just missed by a hair being my wrestler of the year. While his matches with Andrade “Cien” Almas and Tommaso Ciampa were barn burners, this one with Black was mind-blowing. I love matches that can tell a great story and keep a fast pace for longer duration.
This was a beautiful ebb and flow for 18 minutes that captivated everyone’s attention for the entire match. From the countered kicks, multiple DDT’s, chain wrestling and the “absolving of Johnny’s sins” that was followed by a second Black Mass. I was left astonished and wanting more. That’s what a match should look like.