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Triple H has just announced NXT Takeover XXV, the 25th edition of the event that has become so special for the NXT brand, and we thought this would be a great opportunity to look back on some of the biggest moments in Takeover history. NXT has become a third brand for WWE, and its Takeover events often outshine the main roster in every way possible; and with the amount of talent that has come through the brand, it's bound to have some amazing moments and matches.
We've looked back on the greatest matches in NXT history several times, but sometimes, a great championship win can overshadow all of that, especially with the right build. The right build is something that NXT get right more often than not, and that leads us into our list today, as we are looking back on 25 great events and bringing you the 5 greatest title wins we've seen.
#5 American Alpha - NXT Takeover: Dallas
NXT has become famous for their incredible tag team division, and all of that started with The Revival and American Alpha, and the peak of their rivalry was this victory for the latter in Dallas. Gable and Jordan were the perfect tag team, and with a heel opposition like Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson, this was the perfect storm; although it's overshadowed by the incredible Nakamura vs. Zayn match, it's still fantastic.
They would end up losing the titles shortly after back to The Revival, but for this moment, in front of a sold out crowd in Dallas, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan revived our faith in tag team wrestling in WWE. Ultimately, the duo would fail to achieve much success on the main roster, but together, these two were absolutely magic. That night in Dallas, they caught lighting in a bottle.
#4 Sami Zayn - NXT Takeover: R-Evolution
Before Johnny Gargano, Sami Zayn was the heart and soul of NXT, and although his reign didn't last long, his victory over Adrian Neville was one of the greatest moments in the brand's history. The build was long and it was captivating. After putting his career on the line, most people assumed Zayn would come out on top, but the moment was still incredible to witness.
Zayn was one of the first stars in NXT, and this build to the championship match proved that Creative could tell a great long-term story with a fantastic payoff; the ending honestly could not have been better. His NXT career went longer than expected after suffering a major injury, and he'll go down as one of the greatest stars to ever come through WWE's new developmental system, and this is the crowning moment of his fantastic run.
#3 DIY - NXT Takeover: Toronto
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are arguably the two greatest performers in NXT history, and it was their first run as #DIY that put them on the map as a pair of stars to watch. Their road to the NXT Tag Team Championship took quite some time, and after falling just short in a classic against The Revival in Brooklyn, they brought the crowd in Toronto to their feet. Their chemistry is on another level, like nothing NXT has witnessed before.
This encounter was 2-out-of-3 Falls, and it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Dual submission moves got them the win, as is pictured above, and the entire NXT Universe erupted the moment it happened. The two have gone on to achieve incredible success since, which comes as no surprise. This one was the culmination of the greatest tag team rivalry in NXT history.
#2 Bayley - NXT Takeover: Brooklyn
Despite her recent struggles on the main roster, Bayley was once one of the hottest performers in all of WWE.After victory on this fateful night, she became a big time star. The match was a perfect clash of styles between Bayley and the reigning Boss Sasha Banks. The match showcased 15 minutes of classic back and forth wrestling and storytelling, which was capped off with Bayley hitting a Bayley-to-Belly for the win.
The great thing about Bayley was how relatable she was to the fans, and thus they were completely behind her. As you can see from the photo, everyone in the locker room and that ring was completely emotional after the match was over. This will go down as one of the greatest rivalries in NXT history, featuring two classic encounters, the first of which was the high point. The finishing sequence was truly unforgettable.
#1 Johnny Gargano - NXT Takeover: New York
NXT has told several long, fantastic stories, and the greatest of the lot has been the rise of Johnny Gargano - from small, indie star to NXT Champion 4 years later; and it culminated at NXT Takeover: New York. The match itself was incredible, and after grinding all these years to make it to this moment, Johnny Takeover defeated Adam Cole to become the first-ever Triple Crown winner in NXT history.
Johnny Wrestling is the greatest performer in NXT history, and after competing at a record 13 Takeovers, this is the place for him on the list, as his championship celebration brought people to tears. It's yet to be seen how his reign will play out, especially with all of the great performers he is surrounded by to compete agains. Regardless, for the simple match and moment that Johnny made history, there's been no bigger moment than this.
