WWE NXT has delivered some of the most captivating, technically masterful, and emotionally charged main events in modern wrestling history. From grueling title matches to deeply personal rivalries, NXT live main events have consistently raised the bar for storytelling and athleticism. Below is a countdown of the top 10 NXT live main events that left an indelible mark on fans and the wrestling world.
10. WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov – NXT UK Championship Match (NXT UK, October 29, 2020)
WALTER and Dragunov brutalized each other with stiff strikes. Dragunov survived multiple powerbombs and slaps. Dragunov locked in a sleeper hold and forced WALTER to tap, ending one of the longest reigns.
9. DIY vs. The Revival – 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match for the NXT Tag Team Championships (NXT TakeOver: Toronto, November 19, 2016)
This match saw DIY take on the dominant Revival. Both teams split the first two falls, with DIY surviving the Shatter Machine and the Revival escaping the Meeting in the Middle. The final moment came when both members of The Revival tapped out simultaneously to DIY’s submission holds.
8. Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa – NXT Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: Portland, February 16, 2020)
Ciampa, returning from a career-threatening neck injury, sought to reclaim his title from Cole. The brutal battle saw multiple Panama Sunrises and Fairytale Endings, with Ciampa appearing to have the match won. However, Johnny Gargano betrayed Ciampa, allowing Cole to retain after a Last Shot.
7. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks – 30-Minute Iron Woman Match for the NXT Women’s Championship (NXT TakeOver: Respect, October 7, 2015)
In a groundbreaking first-ever Iron Woman match in WWE history, Bayley and Sasha pushed their limits. Sasha mocked Bayley’s biggest fans in the crowd. With the match tied in the final seconds, Bayley applied a modified armbar, forcing Sasha to submit as time expired.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe – NXT Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: Toronto, November 19, 2016)
Nakamura and Joe engaged in a hard-hitting encounter with brutal strikes and near-falls. Nakamura seemed poised to retain after multiple Kinshasas, but Joe low-blowed him behind the referee’s back before hitting a Muscle Buster, making history as NXT’s first two-time champion.
5. Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Johnny Gargano – NXT Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, January 27, 2018)
The match saw Zelina Vega interfere multiple times, but Candice LeRae neutralized her. Gargano came within inches of victory with the Garga-No-Escape, but Andrade reversed into a top-rope hammerlock DDT, retaining his championship.
Also Read: Ranking the Top 10 WWE NXT Matches of All Time
4. Samoa Joe vs. Finn Bálor – NXT Championship Steel Cage Match (NXT TakeOver: The End, June 8, 2016)
The culmination of an intense rivalry, this was NXT’s first-ever steel cage match. Joe and Bálor used the cage to inflict damage, with Bálor hitting a Coup de Grâce from the top rope but failing to win. The decisive moment saw Joe counter a second Coup de Grâce with a Muscle Buster from the second rope, securing the win.
3. Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens – NXT Championship Ladder Match (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, August 22, 2015)
The first NXT TakeOver in Brooklyn saw Bálor defend his title against Owens in a brutal ladder match. Owens dominated early, powerbombing Bálor onto a ladder, but the Demon fought back. A turning point came when Owens attempted a ladder-assisted Senton but missed. Bálor capitalized with a Coup de Grâce from the top of the ladder, retaining his championship.
“Demon” Finn Bálor vs Kevin Owens
Ladder Match
NXT Championship
NXT Takeover Brooklyn 2015
🎶 Underground – Gob 🎶@FinnBalor @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/C1JXhTe4sP
— CV (@CVHighlights247) January 30, 2025
2. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano – Unsanctioned Match (NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, April 7, 2018)
Former DIY partners turned bitter enemies in one of the most personal feuds in NXT history. Ciampa displayed unrelenting cruelty, targeting Gargano’s neck. In a standout moment, Gargano hesitated before using Ciampa’s knee brace as a weapon. Ultimately, Gargano locked in the STF with the knee brace, forcing Ciampa to tap and reclaim his spot in NXT.
Which is the greatest NXT live main event of all time?
Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole – NXT Championship 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match (NXT TakeOver: New York, April 5, 2019)
In a battle for the vacant NXT Championship, Gargano and Cole delivered a masterpiece. Cole secured the first fall with a Last Shot, but Gargano evened the score by making Cole submit to the Garga-No-Escape. The final fall saw interference from The Undisputed Era, but Gargano overcame the odds, forcing Cole to tap out once again.
