WWE NXT TakeOver New York Results, Grades, and Review

WWE NXT TakeOver New York features a card that is as loaded any TakeOver Special in recent memory, and it even includes a bout between two of NXT UK’s best in United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne and the recently-signed WALTER.

Though Tommaso Ciampa’s heart-breaking neck injury threw a wrench in NXT‘s plans, the two-out-of-three falls match between Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole for the NXT Championship still feels incredibly special. Whether that match or the women’s Fatal Four-Way main events WWE NXT TakeOver New York is unclear, but what is clear is that the Barclays Center will play host to another very special show.

Gargano vs. Cole is a prime example of how adept NXT is at creating storylines on the fly, as the NXT Universe is fully invested in this championship match despite there only being weeks of build. Everyone understands who Gargano and Cole fundamentally are as performers and characters, and their verbal sparring on NXT TV two weeks ago featured some of the best promo work we’ve seen from these two superstars. We also know that both men are more than capable of delivering in the ring, as Gargano is arguably the best wrestler in the world right now.

Shayna Baszler’s title defense against Io Shirai, Kairi Sane, and Bianca Belair has the crowd just has hyped, and the closing moments of NXT’s go-home show were dedicated to hyping this match up. Baszler, once again, ruined a great match between Sane and Belair, and the latter really should win this match.

Though Shayna has been a huge star in NXT over the past year, it’s time for the only two-time NXT Women’s Champion to make her way to the main roster. Plus, Belair would have had Baszler beat at TakeOver: Phoenix if it weren’t for a referee bump, and it’s about damn time one of NXT’s best homegrown talents ascended to the top of the show. Belair’s crowning moment following what should be an amazing match (Kairi and Io are two of the absolute best in the world, too) should be in consideration as the show’s main event.

Another potential show-stealer pits The Velveteen Dream and Matt Riddle against each other. The Dream is accustomed to stealing (being?) the show, and Riddle’s WrestleMania Week heroics have been well-documented. The build to this match has arguably been the best of any of the matches on this card, and we should be headed for some more special story-telling from The Dream, who has “superstar” written all over him.

Pete Dunne is in the same bracket in terms of star power, seeing as how he’s the longest-reigning champion in the modern era. But he will face his toughest test on Friday night against WALTER, who made his debut to stare down Dunne in the closing moments of NXT UK TakeOver Blackpool, the first Pay Per View event for WWE’s newest brand. While Dunne remains the favorite, don’t be surprised if WALTER is the one to dethrone Dunne, especially on a stage as big as the TakeOver before WrestleMania at the Barclays Center.

Don’t sleep on the NXT Tag Team Championships match between War Raiders and Aleister Black and Ricochet. Though a newly-formed team thanks to their main roster call-ups and Ciampa’s injury, Black and Ricochet have two title opportunities this week for a reason; they have quickly become one of the best tag teams in the world. I mean, their chemistry is just amazing already!

That said, Hanson and Rowe have been the cream of the crop for quite some time, and they dazzled the NXT Universe at TakeOver: Phoenix in January.

With five matches on the WWE NXT TakeOver New York card, the Black and Yellow brand has once again gone for quality over quantity. And the quality is just oozing off the page. This will be another special night for wrestling fans, and I sincerely hope everyone in attendance has the time of their life this evening.

WWE NXT TakeOver: New York kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET, and the actual show will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. Check back here for live results, grades, and review commentary during the main card. The show, like all TakeOver Specials, can only be watched on the WWE Network.