NXT TakeOver: top five matches in the event’s history
2. Johnny Gargano vs Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia)
This match was unbelievable. It was Gargano’s breakout moment as a singles wrestler; Gargano’s family — except his father, who underwent quadruple heart surgery — was even in attendance.
Gargano was the biggest babyface in NXT since Sami Zayn. He was losing a lot since Tommaso Ciampa attacked him and broke up #DIY. That stopped when he qualified for a Number One Contenders match. He also won that Number One Contenders match, allowing him to face Andrade “Cien” Almas for the NXT Championship.
Gargano slowly went up the top rope. Almas saw that and stopped him from doing his move. Almas placed Gargano in the tree of woe position, but he did it outside of the ring. He then hit the double foot stomp and he and Gargano landed on the floor.
They again went back and forth until Gargano managed to put on the Garga-No-Escape. Almas tried to escape but, Gargano wouldn’t let go of the submission. It took Vega grabbing Almas’ hand, distracting the ref again, and Almas poking Gargano in the eye to get out of the hold.
Near the end, Gargano hit the Slingshot DDT, but that wasn’t enough to win the match. So, he puts the Garga-No-Escape again only for Almas to touch the ropes with his foot. They both went to the apron. Gargano tried to pick up Almas, but Almas pushed Gargano to the post. He then did the Running Knees, this time on the post. Almas then hit a draping Hammer-Lock DDT and that won Almas the match.
They went back and forth. Everything about this match was great. Almas tried so many times to defeat Gargano but, unfortunately, Gargano’s relentless was not enough to win the NXT title. Almas’s heel tendencies help him win this match.
I would put this at one, but the reason it’s not at one is because of Gargano not winning the match. I know that they had other plans for Gargano, but it would’ve been a great time for Gargano to win it here. Then again, we probably would not have the Cole vs. Gargano trilogy if he won the championship here instead.