Happy Holidays everyone! It’s your girl, Kat AKA @TXSports Queen! Throughout 2019, we’ve seen some unbelievable moments in the WWE! When I talk about moments, it’s more than just one night or one match. It’s about groundbreaking, history-making, sending chills up and down your spine events! For this installment of The Queen’s Take – Top 5 WWE Moments of 2019!!!
5. The Rise of NXT
In the past, NXT had always been referred to as ‘developmental’ and the final stepping stone before making the ‘main roster’ on Raw or SmackDown. Despite its popularity, the Black and Gold brand stood in the shadows of the A and B shows of the WWE.
A little Wednesday night competition changed everything!
When AEW announced they would start airing weekly shows in October, WWE knew they had to counter and out from the shadows came NXT. September marked the premiere of the Black and Gold brand on the USA Network. The switch grabbed everyone’s attention and even brought back Finn Bálor, the brand’s longest champion ever. The Full Sail residents wanted to solidify their standing as part of the ‘main roster’ and slayed Raw and SmackDown at Survivor Series to prove it! NXT Champion Adam Cole along with the Undisputed Era and new NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley lead NXT into 2020 as they continue to make their mark in the WWE. Do we dare say even at WrestleMania??
Next on The Queen’s Take – Top 5 WWE Moments of 2019……
4. Sasha and Bayley make their mark
Sasha Banks and Bayley went into 2019 looking to make history again in the WWE as The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection. Mr. McMahon dropped the news on Christmas Eve 2018 that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships would be introduced in 2019. In January 2019, the announcement came that the inaugural champions would be crowned at Elimination Chamber with a match inside the demonic structure.
The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection accomplished their goal by winning the titles at the February pay-per-view and would hold onto them until WrestleMania. Although Sasha stepped away from the WWE during the summer, Bayley kept her hand in the cookie jar. She won the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match in May and became SmackDown Women’s Champion in the same night. This accomplishment made Bayley the first-ever Women’s Grand Slam Champion. Although she lost the belt at Hell in a Cell, she quickly regained it within a week. Bayley still holds the title today and carries a new attitude along with it.
Sasha Banks would not stay gone for long. She surprised the WWE Universe the night after SummerSlam with her return. Banks also shocked them at the same time with her new hair and heel attitude to go with it. The Boss’s attitude and drive led her to possibly the Match of the Year when she went against Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch inside Hell in a Cell. Although she was unsuccessful in her quest, Fox executives respected her efforts and made her the first woman drafted to Friday Night Smackdown in October.
Who knows what 2020 will bring for this dynamic duo?
3. KofiMania
When one door closes for a superstar, another one opens for the next man in line. This was the case earlier in the year with Kofi Kingston. Due to injury, Ali forfeited his spot inside the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. Kingston earned his way into the match as Ali’s replacement.
Fast forward to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view! As the title match went on, the final two were Kingston and the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. The energy in the Toyota Center was off the charts! Although Kingston lost the match, but earned the respect of the WWE Universe with his fight and determination.
Despite objections and obstacles placed in front of him by Mr. McMahon and Bryan, all members of the New Day fought to get Kingston his first 1-on-1 WWE title match at WrestleMania. Kofi took advantage of the spotlight and won the WWE Championship on the biggest stage of all! He celebrated inside the ring with his New Day brothers and his sons as the first African-born superstar to win the WWE title. News later broke that people in his home country of Ghana watched their countryman win the title. That inspired Kofi to visit his home country just a few weeks after his big night.
Kingston went on to hold the WWE Champion for almost six months and accepted every challenge that came his way. I won’t dredge up how he lost the title, but he will always be respected for his reign! Kofi ends 2019 with gold around his waist as part of the SmackDown Tag Team Championships and has now logged over 1,000 as a tag team champion in the WWE.
To finish up this installment of The Queen’s Take – Top 5 WWE Moments of 2019, here’s your Top Two!
2. The Year of The Man
2019 belonged to Becky Lynch! She came into the year with a ton of momentum on her side. Despite losing the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Asuka at TLC in December and her rematch at the beginning of the Royal Rumble in January, she would not lay down for anyone! Lynch inserted herself into the Women’s Royal Rumble match and eliminated her biggest nemesis Charlotte Flair to win it. While her significant other contemplated his decision, Lynch announced her WrestleMania opponent within 24 hours – Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. (If you recall, the two were supposed to face off at the previous Survivor Series before Nia Jax’s right hook took Becky out of the match.) Lynch faced uphill battles on her way to WrestleMania (knee injury, suspension, another opponent being added to the match, and having to fight her way back into the match).
WWE recognized what they had with this WrestleMania showdown and decided to honor it in a historic way by making the match the main event. After Charlotte Flair won the SmackDown Women’s title from Asuka, Stephanie McMahon added another log onto the fire by making the match ‘Winner-Takes-All.’
Becky Lynch came out on top by winning the first-ever women’s main event. She became the first woman to hold both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships at the same time and turned into the face of WWE! The Man found herself in multiple ESPN commercials and was the first WWE superstar to appear on the cover of ESPN Magazine. Lynch also graced the cover of WWE 2K20 along with Roman Reigns – another first for a female superstar.
Lynch ends the year on top of the WWE and looks to continue her dominance in 2020. She does have one last debt to collect before she carries on!
1. The Big Dog Returns
Coming into 2019, the WWE Universe wondered if they would ever see Roman Reigns in the ring again. The Big Dog shocked the world in October 2018 when he announced the return of the leukemia he’d been living with for 11 years. Reigns had no other choice but to relinquish his Universal Championship. Before leaving the stage, he stood side-by-side with his Shield brothers Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose for their signature pose as he stepped away from the WWE.
Fast forward to February 2019! WWE announced that Roman would appear on Raw to provide an update on his health. He came onto the stage with a grin on his face and light in his eyes. The WWE Universe welcomed The Big Dog with open arms! He entered the ring and thanked the fans for their love and support. Reigns’ announcement included the one word that everyone waited to hear – REMISSION! The Big Dog was officially back in the WWE and it was just the beginning!
Reigns teamed up with The Shield a few more times before Ambrose left WWE. He even locked horns with the Scottish Psychopath at WrestleMania 35. Reigns now leads the charge on Friday Night SmackDown. We all know it’s only a matter of time before Roman has gold around his waist again. At this time, just seeing Roman Reigns healthy and back in the ring symbolizes the best reward of all for his family, the WWE and more importantly, himself!
That’s it for this installment of The Queen’s Take – Top 5 WWE Moments of 2019! Do you agree with the list? What changes would you make? Sound off in the comments below.
Until next time, Belly Up fans!
Your queen has spoken!
