NXT: 10 Best Matches of 2023 (Part 2)
It’s time to conclude our look back on 2023 with the second part of our countdown of NXT’s best matches from 2023. In part one, we saw main roster performers shine in a way they haven’t been able to on Raw and Smackdown, future stars coming into their own in front of the world, and some of the most talented wrestlers in the world proving why they are considered to be the best in the world. These five matches we are about to talk about are examples of what NXT does best, with some of these bouts being so good, that they could be considered better than what WWE’s main roster had to offer.
This is your man Sam Palmer from Vendetta Sports Media, and here are the five best NXT matches of 2023!
5. Ilja Dragunov vs Dragon Lee vs Wes Lee vs JD McDonagh vs Axiom [Fatal Five Way Match for the NXT North American Championship] – Stand & Deliver:
The fact that three of the men in this match have gone on to win either the NXT Championship or move up to the main roster just goes to show how much talent was on offer in the brand’s midcard leading up to Stand and Deliver. We’ve already discussed how much Wes Lee proved how good he was as a singles wrestler in part one, and this was his opportunity to show off his skills against four of WWE’s most talented workers. One thing that NXT has done well in recent years is multi-man matches, and this was the best pure example of what the company can do when they have the talent to back it up.
Dragunov and Axiom were the ones who shined brightest in this one. While I have never been able to take the former A-Kid seriously since he put on the Axiom mask, he was at his best in this one. Dragon Lee impressed massively in his first televised WWE match, JD hit hard in his exchanges with the rest of the cast of characters and Wes Lee managed to take down the toughest man in the match in Dragunov to take the victory. One of the best matches of WrestleMania weekend, and proof that the WWE was in good hands.
4. Bron Breakker vs Dijak vs Josh Briggs vs Trick Williams vs Tyler Bate [Iron Survivor Challenge] – Deadline:
Easily one of the best match stipulations WWE has come up with in years: The Iron Survivor Challenge. The staggered entrances of an Elimination Chamber, the chaos of a championship scramble and the storytelling beats of an Iron Man Match, it’s genuinely innovative and wildly entertaining. This year’s lineup included Bron Breakker, the former NXT Champion who has been on the verge of a breakthrough to the main roster for months: Tyler Bate, who has been in NXT longer than some people have been alive; Dijak, who has been rejuvenated in NXT; Josh Briggs, a man who has been excellent since transitioning over from the UK; Plus Trick Williams, the next big superstar in the making.
The reason why Trick is going to be a superstar is because of a match like this. Being able to pin all four of his opponents in 90 seconds to escape with the victory at the last possible moment is a prime example of what NXT does best. It’s the highest of drama that WWE is known for, combined with the high-octane action that NXT has become known for in recent years. 2024’s Iron Survivor Challenge should be appointment viewing for everyone next year, especially if it’s anything like this one.
3. Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak [Last Man Standing Match] – Battleground:
The Last Man Standing stipulation hasn’t been seen as the best in recent years. It’s a match that grinds to a halt every few minutes so the referee can count to 10, making a match type that could more often than not last for around 25 minutes and have roughly 10 minutes of action. The only way to get a match like this over in the modern day is to do something innovative that’s never been seen, or have two men try and literally murder each other in front of the world. Ilja Dragunov and Dijak decided to go for the latter of those choices.
This bout didn’t overstay its welcome. It was just over 15 minutes of brutal action that, despite not having any blood, was made to feel much more violent thanks to the selling from Dragunov. As always, no one has told Ilja that wrestling isn’t real as he is willing to go as far as possible to get the win, and Dijak was more than happy to dish out the punishment. It’s not really a star-making performance for Draugnov as everyone knew he was fantastic, but it did set him up for his journey to the NXT Championship. Speaking of which…
2. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes [NXT Championship] – The Great American Bash:
We already covered their third match in the trilogy in part one, which was good, albeit hampered by commercial breaks ruining the flow of it. Though if you ever wondered why so many people were excited to see Ilja Dragunov take on Carmelo Hayes on free TV, this is one of the reasons why. The city of Austin, Texas, got a pure treat with this one as one of the most charismatic NXT Champions in recent memory finally got to mix it up with one of the best wrestlers in the world, and they didn’t disappoint.
The freshness of this pairing is a joy to see. Dragunov sells everything like it’s the end of the world, making Hayes look fantastic in the process. But Dragunov makes himself look great by just being great at everything. The selling, the counters, the will to push on and finally achieve something that a few years earlier, it didn’t seem like he would ever make it to this sort of a match. A classic case of a fairly simple rivalry built on being the best reaching a climax where both men want to put their opponent in the ground in order to pick up a win. There are only two men who could top Carmelo and Ilja for the top spot, and funnily enough, they share the same names.
1. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes [NXT Championship] – No Mercy:
Much like Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, the first one takes everyone by surprise with how fantastic it is, and the third one is still great but not to everyone’s tastes. However, everyone can agree that the second one is the best by a reasonable margin. Dragunov and Hayes had a lot of expectations going into their rematch from The Great American Bash, and being bumped to the semi-main event in favor of Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton, these two men were not going to exceed expectations, they were going to blow them up.
An extra coating of intensity is placed on this match. Dragunov, still willing to break every bone in his body for the title. Hayes, channeling a more destructive version of himself that will not only dish out severe amounts of punishment but take it as well. This just rules, it’s that simple. Dragunov picking up the big win to cement himself as the man in NXT was one of the best moments WWE produced all year, and it set Hayes up for a main roster run that could be great as well. Had it not been for the IC Title three-way at WrestleMania, this might have been the best WWE match of 2023. However, it is, for me at least, the best NXT match of 2023.
AND THAT IS THAT! What was your favorite NXT match of 2023? Let us know in the comments section below! Don’t forget to follow myself and Vendetta Sports Media on all your favorite social media platforms.
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