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NXT TakeOver: New York is now in the books and while it didn't quite measure up to the likes of New Orleans, R-Evolution, and the original Brooklyn, it was still probably among the 10 best TakeOvers ever.
Some of the matches lasted a bit longer than they should have, and there was one glaring flaw (aside from Ciampa's injury) that prevented the show from reaching truly transcendent levels, but it was easily the best TakeOver in a year, and WrestleMania 35 has virtually no chance of topping it.
Five matches were contested and five championships decided. Which match was worst? Which match was first? Let's take a look
#5 NXT Women's Championship: Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane vs. Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair
In the shock of the night, Shayna Baszler retained her championship. It was not a good shock. The boos were disdainful. Shayna's act is growing beyond stale.
The bad ending certainly sullied the match, but it was otherwise a good effort, thanks to Kairi and Io, who were the highlights. Their short spurts against each other were mere hints of what the two are capable of, and will hopefully be a women's title match in the future.
The agony on Kairi's face when breaking up Io's pin after her moonsault was unforgettable. Dissension among the Sky Pirates was sowed in a well-done way.
Beyond their work, though, the match was somewhat clunky, though it was disguised well enough to make it a good contest.
Bianca Belair tapping cleanly in the middle of the ring was surprising, but that was the one right decision made in this match. She clearly isn't ready for a main event push and now will have the opportunity to reform her character and try to put the pieces together in a way she hasn't yet been able to do.
#4 NXT Tag Team Championship: War Raiders vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet
This was the explosive spotfest that we all expected to open the show. Black and Ricochet fought hard, but what was really surprising was just how well-prepared the War Raiders were to match them at their own game - speed and agility. Seeing those spots between Ricochet and Hanson will never not be a highlight.
Ricochet sold the War Raiders' finisher better than anyone I've ever seen, folding up like an accordion! He took the pin and the War Raiders' tag title reign continued.
After it was all over, War Raiders gave an emotional goodbye to Black and Ricochet, who stood in the ring to receive the thanks of the crowd. Then, with one final bow, they moved out, never to be seen in NXT again. We wish them luck on the main roster. They will need it.
#3 WWE UK Championship: Pete Dunne vs. WALTER
Here's where things get really hard. The three highlight matches were all outstanding in their own way. When looking back on them 12 hours later, I have to rank this one at third, which takes nothing away from it.
As we expected, this was a brutal war of attrition and a matter of seeing who would be able to take the most punishment. In the end, WALTER was able to withstand Pete Dunne's offense slightly better and ended his legendary UK title reign at 685 days.
This match went a bit too long and got a bit repetitive in the end, but it was still a brutally worked and sold affair. Unfortunately, the crowd wasn't into it as it should have been, as the first two matches sucked much of the energy out of it before this.
Nevertheless, this was a great way to start a new era in NXT UK.
#2 NXT North American Championship: Velveteen Dream vs. Matt Riddle
This was the surprise hit of the night. These two gelled well together and it was a well-told story match. Velveteen Dream came in as the obnoxious peacock, cocky as the day was long.
Yet, as the match went on, he was in for a shock. Riddle was the better man on the night, and as Dream was getting pilloried in the hostilities, the roles started to get reversed. Riddle was now the cocky one, and Dream was suddenly a scrappy underdog.
In the end, Dream's cleverness paid off. He reversed the Bromission into a roll-up to retain his title, ending Riddle's undefeated streak but keeping the King of Bros strong in doing so.
This was yet another piece of evidence that Dream is the real deal and it's actually the first time the North American title has been retained at a TakeOver.
#1 NXT Championship: Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole
Some aspects of this match will be controversial. The first two falls were relatively unremarkable, and the ending was definitely overbooked.
And yet, it was all so cathartic.
This was just one of those times where the normal rules of how to make a good match were thrown out the window. It was the culmination of Johnny Gargano's two year Odyssey, and if Tommaso Ciampa wasn't there to be his foil, it was smart to stack the odds against him to such a high degree to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
Adam Cole's use of some of Ciampa's tropes, like the Fairytale Ending on the table, was well-executed.
In the end, Johnny's "moment" finally came, and the hatchet with Tommaso Ciampa was buried once and for all after the infamous copyright screen before everything faded to black. Instead of an attack, Ciampa embraced his DIY brother.
