WWE NXT TakeOver Philadelphia: Highlights, Grades, and Analysis
Credit: WWE NXT on Twitter
Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (c) for the NXT Championship
Result: Andrade “Cien Almas Wins Via Pinfall (Hammerlock DDT)
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The redemption story for Johnny Gargano will take place in Andrade “Cien” Almas’s first title defense since shocking everyone by defeating Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. One of the best wrestlers in the company and one of the most over babyfaces in the world, Gargano might be the hottest act in WWE right now, but many expect Almas to retain due to Zelina Vega’s confident words and the luring presence of Gargano’s former tag team partner Tommasso Ciampa. Then again, Gargano has already lost to Almas twice now. Will he really lose a third time?
Gargano and Almas immediately go to work, grappling on the ring and neither can get the upper hand on the other. They also know each other’s moves quite well, and Almas scouts Gargano’s flip off the top rope into a chop at one point to show this.
The two of them counter each other’s big moves outside the ring, and Gargano is sent sprawling on the outside near his wife, Candice LeRae. I’d consider noting her presence ringside, because it could be a big factor in this match.
The counters and near-falls in this match came at a breathless pace, and the desperation from these two elite competitors was apparent. There were so many insane spots, including a double moonsault spot from Almas that showcased his severely underrated athletic ability. I won’t even begin to describe most of the big moves, because my words could never do them justice.
Johnny Gargano thought he had the match won with the Gargano Escape, but Zelina Vega grabbed Cien’s arm and that was the end of the finishing submission hold. After avoiding the Hammerlock DDT, Gargano threw Almas to the outside of the ring and hit him with a suicide dive. But he couldn’t capitalize, because Vega hit him with a headscissors into the stairs. That set up a Hammerlock DDT for Almas, but Gargano kicked out! Insane!
Vega was pissed, and she marched over to Gargano to try and end him once and for all. But Candice LeRae came from out of nowhere to save Gargano, spearing Vega for another incredible moment.
Gargano put Almas in the Gargano Escape for what looked like the win, but Almas just got his foot on the rope to break the submission hold again.
Almas kept targeting the back of Gargano’s neck, and you could sense the desperation from the crowd as this was happening. The ref started to ask Gargano if he wanted to stop the match. In the end, Almas ascended the top rope with Gargano and hit him with a Hammerlock DDT to successfully retain the title.
Next: Ranking The Top 20 WWE Matches Of 2017
After the loss, Gargano climbed the ramp with LeRae, and there was Ciampa. He hit Gargano from behind with one of his crutches, and thus begins the greatest feud of 2018.
And by the way…F**K CIAMPA! (Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.)