Top 5 Matches NXT Should Produce In 2019
2018 proved to be a fantastic year for WWE's third brand as TakeOver after TakeOver continued to impress and the weekly hour-long NXT program was consistent and entertaining. While TakeOver: Phoenix has come and gone and wasn't exactly the greatest show by the brand, it was nonetheless a fine, solid outing that will more likely go down as a small pause in NXT's exponential rise than the start of a reversal in fortunes.
The reason for this high expectation of greatness is simple: the booking philosophy and sheer depth of talent under contract ensure that there's absolutely no reason last year's level of quality shouldn't remain firmly intact and that the good times shouldn't continue rolling.
With that in mind, a countless number of insane dream-scenario match-ups lie in wait for Triple H, William Regal and the road agents down in Orlando to put together, but there are a few that arguably stand above the rest in terms of urgency.
These are the top 5 matches NXT should produce in 2019.
#5 Pete Dunne vs. Velveteen Dream
A fresh matchup never before seen on NXT television, Pete Dunne and Velveteen Dream would absolutely tear the roof of any arena in the US or UK through a combination of both in-ring skill and character work. Though these two stars may not seemingly have a lot in common on the surface, they are in-fact more alike than not.
Both are hovering in their early to mid-20s; both were initially presented as heel characters then gradually became face when crowds began to enjoy them even more than their fan favorite rivals Tyler Bate and Aleister Black, and both are beloved for a combination of both their in-ring abilities and character work simultaneously.
While we can't say for sure that this dream match will happen, with Dunne spending at least half his schedule in England for NXT UK and British indie promotions, and Velveteen Dream rumored to be main roster-bound, it's still fun to think about.
Imagine Dream making his entrance in mock British monarch attire or Dunne trying to match Velveteen's charisma in a face to face standoff. Picture Dream reversing a Bitter End pump handle slam into his trademark spiked DDT, or Dunne countering a Purple Rainmaker elbow drop into a triangle choke. The possibilities!