NXT TakeOver: top five matches in the event’s history
3. Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole (NXT TakeOver: New York)
Johnny Gargano vs Tomaso Ciampa for the NXT championship was the original plan for NXT TakeOver: New York, but plans changed due to Ciampa getting neck surgery. Gargano still got an NXT Title shot, but he instead faced Adam Cole in a Two out of Three Falls match at TakeOver for the vacant championship.
After going back and forth a couple of times at the beginning of the match, Cole hits a jumping enziguri and would’ve hit the Last Shot if not for Gargano rolling up Cole. Both wrestlers again went back and forth until Cole finally hit the Last Shot. With that, he scored the first fall to go up 1-0.
Gargano brought Cole back to the ring and was about to hit the Slingshot DDT, but at the last minute, Cole turned it into a Ushigoroshi, which only got him a two count. Cole went to the top rope to hit the Panama Sunrise, but Gargano blocked it and he went to the top. Cole looked to do a Sunset Flip Powerbomb, but Gargano turned it to Avalanche Air Raid Crash.
NXT Takeover New York was absolutely incredible. From start to finish I was extremely invested and there wasn’t a dull moment. Match of the night obviously goes to Johnny Gargano Vs Adam Cole for the vacant NXT Championship. The match definitely deserves 5 stars and maybe even
— TylerWelsh (@RipplyCreature) April 6, 2019
After a bunch of counters, Gargano locked in the Garga-No-Escape and Cole quickly tapped out, tying the score. Afterward, they exchanged punches right away. Cole eventually got the upper hand when he hit the Kneecap Brainbuster. He got a two-count. Cole tried the Panama Sunrise again, but Gargano turned it into Lawn Dart. After that, he did a Full Nelson Reverse STO, but he only got a near fall.
Both men traded superkicks. Cole went for the Panama Sunrise once more. Gargano reverses it into the Garga-No-Escape. However, the rest of The Undisputed Era interfered and changed the match. Cole controls the match until Gargano single handily takes out the UE.
Cole quickly hits the Last Shot, but Gargano kicks out! Cole went for the Last Shot again only for Gargano to counter it to the Garga-No-Escape and Cole tapped out. Gargano wins the two out of three falls match, and he finally captures the NXT Championship.
I know there are a lot of fans who believe this is the best match in NXT history, but I say otherwise. The match is really good, but it’s not good as the other two matches that are left on the list. The other matches told a better story than this one.