Top 5 NXT promo packages of all time

Let’s be honest, folks: Choosing only five was definitely hard. As it turns out, they happen to be pretty good over at NXT with these promo packages. They always know how to hype up a match and get you ready to watch the action unfold. Just recently, the Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov promos leading to the upcoming match definitely got me excited for TakeOver 36 this Sunday.

But I did end up choosing 5 that stuck out in my head as memorable, so I guess you could say that I regard them as the best, although I certainly wouldn’t put any of the many others I’ve seen over the years down, that’s for sure.

And NXT has been around for a wee bit now, and there were a lot of feuds to choose from, believe me, but these had an element to them that enabled them to stay etched in my mind as these last few years rolled on. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens Promo Package leading into NXT TakeOver: Rival

As I’ve already written about, these two wrestlers can fight forever as far as I’m concerned. We just love seeing them pitted against one another and perhaps it has a lot to do with their history together, but they are definitely marvelous in that ring.

The chemistry they have can definitely be attributed to that history, and that history was definitely on display in this promo package that was put together as a lead-in to their epic match at TakeOver: Rival.

The match didn’t at all disappoint and this package had us all hyped and ready to watch it all unfold.

The promo is chock full of their rich history—complete with pictures from them traveling the world together—which made the shocking betrayal that led to the feud and subsequent match that much more of a shock.

Samoa Joe vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Promo Package leading into NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II

Like so many of you, dear readers, Samoa Joe was someone whose career I’d followed since his days in Ring of Honor, and I was just waiting until he got a chance in WWE.

When I found out that he’d be starting in NXT after all he had done in the business, the legends he had faced (Kurt Angle especially), I must admit I was a tad disappointed. But to see what he accomplished on the brand (then and now), I see why he chose to wrestle there. He was able to accomplish incredible things in the squared circle and he helped get a lot of young guys ‘over,’ and that’s certainly saying a lot—about him and about NXT overall.

This feud and match is the perfect example.

The training Montage in the promo is a special added attraction. Training montages are essential in telling a physical story. Just take a look at the Rocky franchise.

Sasha Banks vs. Bayley Promo Package leading into NXT TakeOver: Respect

This promo package has always reminded me of the promo package for Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels leading into their sixty-minute Iron Man match at WrestleMania 12. The cameras followed them around too, showing the fans back then just how they were preparing for the battle ahead.

This tactic was used again and the similarities are quite obvious, which is why I always thought that that was the original idea to begin with, and what better ladies to compare to the two legends?

Austin Aries vs. No Way Jose Promo Package leading into NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II

And very much like Samoa Joe, I had followed this man’s career for years and although his time in WWE didn’t last as long as I would have liked, he certainly made his mark and made some great memories, like this one here, imprinted on our minds.

Austin Aries to me is the joining of Harley Race (in his composure and the way he carries himself), Bret Hart (in his execution), and Steve Austin (in his attitude)…all that being delivered in this great promo package from days gone by.
I hope we get to see him back in some capacity sooner rather than later. He was last seen in MLW in 2020.

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa Promo Package leading into WWE NXT, April 1, 2020

Along with Adam Cole, I’d say that these two can be considered the three fathers of NXT. They took what was originally thought up to be one thing…a place where the younger breed could learn and grasp the business from the inside…to what it is today (no matter what the trouble is with the brand right now).

NXT is its own brand that has its very own legends and stars…Cole, Gargano, and Ciampa are these legends in my eyes, no matter where they end up or go from here.

This feud between Gargano and Ciampa lasted forever, it seemed, and their final confrontation after the pandemic hit was something that became highly anticipated; especially after this promo.

As I watched the action unfold, for those moments of sheer and utter excitement, I even forgot about the pandemic. And I was covering the pandemic for a local paper at the time, so that’s saying a lot.

But that’s the power of good wrestling, epic feuds, and an astounding build, and this one certainly had all those components.

See what a little hype can do?