WWE NXT Takeover: New York 04/05/19 Live Review By Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to the official TJRWrestling Live Coverage of NXT Takeover: New York. There are five title matches on the card and we are guaranteed to see a new NXT Champion when Johnny Gargano faces Adam Cole in a 2 out of 3 Falls match for the vacant NXT Championship. This has potential to be the best NXT Takeover ever, which we seem to say a lot lately.

We start with an awesome video package set to Disturbed’s “Are You Ready”. Barclays Center is jam packed and red hot. Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness and Mauro Renallo are our announcers tonight.

NXT Tag Title Match
War Raiders (c) vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet

The champs get the special entrance treatment again that they received back in January with the Viking horns and Viking clan coming out. Ricochet gets a MASSIVE response from the crowd. You can hear them yell the “One and Only” part over the music. Black gets a strong ovation as well. The crowd is HOT. Black and Rowe start things off. A feeling out process to start with some great chain wrestling and counters. Rowe mounts Black and has a dead to rights shot he can take, but he instead gives a clean break to a good ovation.

They go at it again, and this time it’s Black with a dead to rights kick that he can take, but he instead just leaves the foot on Rowe’s shoulder. Rowe gets up and they fist bump as a sign of respect before tagging in their partners. Ricochet with his handstand headscissors takedown that sends Hanson to the floor. Black tags in and sends Rowe to the floor. Black teases a dive and he and Ricochet sit cross legged in the middle of the ring to a huge reaction.

The champs come in and steal a move from Ricochet with dual rollovers on the challengers backs. Now it’s all 4 men going at it after that. Hanson with a urinagi on Black and a bodyslam on Ricochet. Rowe tags in and bodyslams Hanson onto Ricochet. Rowe with a body slam on Black and then an arm bar as they are officially the legal men. Hanson tags in and continues on the arm. Another bodyslam and Rowe tags back in. Rowe tries to bodyslam Hanson on Black, but Black trips Rowe, which sends the champs down and he’s able to tag in Ricochet. Ricochet with a springboard clothesline and then a standing shooting star press for a two count.

Ricochet can’t lock on a submission on Rowe, so he tags in Black, who drops Rowe with a running ax handle. The crowd is going nuts for something and chanting, “you deserve it” while Black has a rest hold on. Not sure if someone got kicked out. Black with a series of kicks on Rowe. Rowe comes back with the Judo back throw into the knee strike and that allows Hanson to tag in. Ricochet comes in and gets a body press from Hanson for his troubles. Hanson had the challengers in opposite corners and here comes his train of clotheslines. Black ends up getting dumped to the outside on accident by Ricochet, but Ricochet recovers enough to somehow catch Hanson in mid-air and hits a fallaway slam! Wow!

That gets the first Mamma Mia chant of the night as Rowe and Black tag back in. Black with a standing kick and then tries a standing lionsault but Rowe catches him with a knee strike. Black comes right back with another kick and then a bridging German suplex for a near fall. Hanson and Ricochet back in. Hanson is matching Ricochet move for move on athleticism. Hanson hits a back handspring elbow for a two count! Hanson teases a moonsault off the top rope but Ricochet cuts him off. Ricochet tries a rolling DDT but Hanson stops his momentum and tags in Rowe. Rowe with a running double knees into the corner and then lifts Hanson and throws him into Ricochet in the corner.

The champs then connect with a double team wheelbarrow suplex/lariat on Ricochet, which Black is just able to break up at last minute with a double foot stomp. The Champs try to double team Black, but he throws them both out of the ring. Black hits a Golden Triangle moonsault on Hanson. Rowe then dives through the ropes and takes out Black. Ricochet then does a handspring Phoenix Splash over the top rope!! My God. Now it’s Hanson on the top rope and somersault senton splash takes out everyone! The crowd has lost their minds.

It was almost a double countout but Ricochet and Rowe come in at literally the last moment. Now they trade blows in the middle of the ring. Ricochet with a superkick and tags in Black. Black takes out both champs. Black hits Black Mass and Ricochet with a insanely high Shooting Star Press! We have new champs… No! Hanson JUST breaks it up. Wow. Ricochet sets up Rowe for the 630 but Rowe slides out of the ring and Ricochet lands hard in the ring. Black misses a moonsault on the outside and the champs single out Ricochet. They hit Thor’s Hammer on Ricochet and then Hanson dives out on Black to take him. Fallout on Ricochet and the champs survive.

Winners: War Raiders retain

MY GOD. That was as good as any tag match in NXT history. I really thought we had new champs because Black had Hanson blocked out, but they did it perfectly for Hanson to be able to still break up the pin. Trainers check on Ricochet after the match, not sure if just a sell after the hard fall on the 630. The champs help Ricochet up afterwards and a huge sign of respect from all four men. Big hugs and handshakes. Great moment to see as the crowd gives the applause they deserve. All four men bow to each other in a really incredible moment. Mauro said this was the swan song for Black and Ricochet, so they are officially done with NXT. The ring is left to them and the crowd gives them a MASSIVE standing ovation, which brings Ricochet to tears. What a moment. I’ve got goosebumps. “You deserve it” chants as they bow to the crowd to end what was an incredible moment. So well deserved for two men that have revolutionized NXT again.

Piper Niven and Toni Storm are shown at ringside. Piper looks incredible from the last time I saw her at the Mae Young Classic.

NXT North American Title Match
Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle

The Original Bro is rockin the Original Pinstripes of the New York Yankees. Funny moment as he came out and a guy front row had the double thumbs down and Riddle was trying to convince him to cheer for Riddle. The Velveteen Dream comes out as only he can, he has a Statue of Liberty headdress and the torch as he’s on a throne on a platform. He’s carried to the ring by servants. We definitely have a split crowd for this one, which Mauro says is a record breaking crowd for NXT.

Both men play to the crowd to start. Riddle wants a fist bump from Dream but Dream says no and instead teases karate. Riddle with a couple inside leg kicks to Dream that catch him off guard. Riddle with a takedown and then trying to lock on a Kimura, but Dream gets to the ropes. They go to a test of strength. Riddle somehow turns it into a monkey flip that then turns into a Fujiwara arm bar. What a reversal. Dream gets to the ropes again. Dream stomps hard on the toes of Riddle to turn the tide and then tries a trio of quick pins to no avail.

Dream starts to get cocky, and Riddle comes at him with a trio of gutwrench suplexes. Dream escapes the last one and hits a dropkick to Riddle. Riddle with two ax handles off the top rope. He hits a 3rd that sends Riddle to the floor. He then goes for a fourth, but Riddle catches him and hits a release German suplex on the floor. That could not have felt good. They get back in the ring and Riddle with a couple hard chops and then a senton splash. Riddle all over Dream with kicks and clotheslines and another senton splash. Riddle with a running penalty kick for a two count. Dream doing all he can to escape Riddle’s submission attempts. Riddle with a straight kick to Dream’s face, and the heel looked like it caught Dream right in the eye.

Dream comes back with a release German of his own, but Riddle immediately gets up, hits a knee strike and then a Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. A 3rd senton splash for a two count. Dream gets to the ropes but Riddle unleashes forearm strikes anyways, which leads to a good amount of boos. Not sure if they’re trying to turn Riddle heel in this, but that was definitely a heel tatic. Riddle ends up locking on a standing triangle choke, bringing Dream to the mat. Dream powers out of it but gets caught with a knee strike, followed by a GTS, then a bridging German suplex for a near fall.

Riddle with YES kicks to Dream as more boos come from the crowd. Riddle says he’s the Bro that runs the Show and that leads to Dream Hulking up! Dream with the big boot, bodyslam, running knee strike, and then a clothesline over the top rope. Dream back to the top and hits a double ax handle to the floor. Rocker dropper on Riddle for a two count. Dream slowly back to the top rope, but Riddle catches him with a pump knee strike in mid air. Dream comes back with a Codebreaker for another near fall. Dream to the top one more time, but he thinks better of it and goes for a running knee instead. Riddle catches the leg and rolls it over into an ankle lock submission. Dream tries to kick out of it but Riddle just catches that leg and switches the submission.

Riddle tries a powerbomb, Dream lands on his feet, hits a superkick and then the Dream DDT. Dream Valley Driver and then he goes to the top but Riddle hooks him in the Bro-Mission as he comes down. He doesn’t lock it on fully though and Dream gets to the ropes. Riddle does an insane deadlift German suplex from the second rope!! Dream lands right on his head. Riddle to the top rope and then a Phoenix Splash senton that Mauro calls the Floating Bro and Dream is OUT but somehow just gets the arm up! Incredible.

Dream kicks out of another knee strike after a powerbomb, as Riddle is all over him, and Riddle turns the kick out into the Bro-Mission! It’s locked on in the middle of the ring. Dream somehow shifts his body and rolls over Riddle for a pin attempt and he steals the win!!

Winner: Velveteen Dream retains

Riddle is in disbelief. He comes short of attacking Dream. He stays in the ring as Dream celebrates the win. Riddle applaudes him and wants the fist bump again. Dream acts for a second like he won’t do it but then he returns the fist, much to Riddle’s delight. Riddle salutes the crowd and leaves the ring. I guess he wasn’t trying to turn heel in the match, just showing an aggressive side. That German suplex off the second rope was absolutely incredible. This was a Riddle showcase while also solidly defining Dream as a top babyface. I would expect this feud to continue. Great match!

KUSHIDA is officially in NXT. They show his contract signing from earlier today with HHH and William Regal and then he’s shown at ringside. Mauro announces him as a 6 time IWGP Jr Heavyweight champion, which I feel is the first time they’ve acknowledged any of the New Japan titles? Either way, definitely makes KUSHIDA come across as a big deal. Another amazing acquisition.

NXT UK Title Match
Pete Dunne vs. Walter

Tremendous video package for this match, first one of the night, and a great choice to help show everyone who Walter is and also establish the amazing reign of Pete Dunne. He’s at 685 days heading into tonight. Vic Joseph replaces Percy at the announce table, which is an improvement onto itself. It’s gotta a good sign for the NXT UK brand that this crowd was excited from the moment it was announced this match was next. They are solidly behind Dunne. As I said in our preview, Dunne is one of my favorite perfomers period.

I told my wife that these men are going to hit each other so hard, its going to hurt us just watching it. There’s a strong tie-up to start, which leads to an actual clean break. Dunne works to get Walter off his feet, which he’s successful at and works over the left ankle. Walter kicks him off with the free leg and gets right back to his feet. Dunne trying the joint manipulation, but Walter gets out of it. Walter now just tossing Dunne across the ring. Dunne manages to escape one of Walter’s massive chops.

Walter starts to go to work on the left arm but Dunne gets to the ropes. Dunne with a forearm to the chin but Walter comes back with one of those chops, which drops Dunne dead in his tracks. Dunne gets back up and after trying to run Walter around, goes for a clothesline but Walter just runs through it. He leapfrogs Dunne and then drills Dunne with a big boot. He bends Dunne the wrong way over the top turnbuckle. Dunne falls to the apron and Walter goes to the floor and hits a back suplex on the apron.

They get back in the ring and Walter with a toe hold on Dunne. Dunne somehow spins out of it and turns it into a heel hook on Walter. Walter chops his way out of it and then locks on a Boston Crab. Dunne manages to get to the ropes. Walter clubbing Dunne on the apron, but Dunne catches one and bends the fingers the wrong way. Walter pulls his hand away and then a solid big boot right to the jaw of Dunne, which sends him falling to the floor.

Dunne comes back and hits a flurry of shots that catches Walter off guard. Walter tries a German suplex but Dunne lands on his feet and kicks Walter in the head. Walter goes to the floor and Dunne comes after him with a moonsault from the second rope. Dunne tries to go to the top rope but Walter cuts him off. Walter tries a superplex but Dunne cuts that off. Dunne somehow does a sunset flip into a sitout powerbomb for a two count! Walter back to the floor and Dunne once again to the top. Dunne comes down with a double foot stomp. Walter took that full force. Dunne loses his balance as they get back in the ring, trying a step up flip over Walter, and as Dunne turns around, Walter with a shotgun dropkick. Walter then with a big powerbomb, putting all his weight on Dunne, but Dunne still manages to kick out.

Both men with gunshot sounding chops to each other. Dunne then just slaps the hell out of Water, but Walter has a hold of Dunne and hits another chop. Dunne bending the fingers the wrong way again for Walter but Walter escapes. Dunne ends up on the mat and Walter just stomps right on his throat! He then does a neck twist with his feet. Walter sets up for a powerbomb but Dunne escapes. Dunne hits a step up enziguri. Dunne stomps on the fingers of Walter and then a kick to the head. Dunne tries to go to the top but Walter cuts him off again. Walter is trying a German off the second rope but Dunne blocks it. Dunne slams Walter’s hand on the ring post but Walter still locks on a Cobra Clutch suplex and Dunne lands right on his head.

Dunne blocks a chop and then makes a wish with the fingers of Walter. Snap German suplex by Dunne and then a rolling crucifix pin for a near fall. Both men trading unprotected stomps to the head. Dunne with a rings of Saturn type submission as he bends the fingers way back. Walter uses his length to get to the ropes. Both men end up by the turnbuckles, where Walter clotheslines Dunne off the second rope. Walter goes to the top himself and tries a splash but Dunne catches him in a triangle. Walter does everything he can to fight out of it and manages to do so. Walter stomps away at Dunne once again. Dunne isn’t giving up as he keeps going for the hands, trying the joint manipulation. Dunne tries the Bitter End but Walter is too big. Walter with a huge lariat. Dunne somehow comes back and goes for the Bitter End again! This time he connects! Walter kicks out! Wow.

Both men struggling to their feet. They meet in the middle and trade forearms and chops. Dunne is throwing anything he can at Walter but Walter just drops him cold with a big boot. Walter going to the top rope again but Dunne cuts him off. Dunne trying a triangle from the top rope but Walter fights it off and instead turns it into a tossing powerbomb off the top rope. Walter back to the top rope and a massive splash off the top… Pete Dunne’s reign is over at 685 Days!

Winner: New NXT UK Champion, Walter

That was everything you would’ve expected from these two. The announcers kept referencing the brutality of the match and that’s a great word to describe it. I loved the fight of Dunne but also loved how Walter shrugged off most of everything Dunne threw at him. This is a huge moment for Walter and showcases him as a big deal to finally dethrone Dunne. I’m sure this match will get more eyes on the NXT UK Brand, which is what they would clearly hope for.

Edge and Beth Phoenix are shown at ringside. Edge has the trademark long hair back. If you didn’t know any better, he looks primed for another run.

NXT Women’s Title Match – Fatal 4 Way
Shayna Baszler vs. Io Sharai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Kairi Sane

We’re already at about 2 hours and still have two matches left, so this may be going overtime for a Takeover. No complaints from me! The crowd, however, seems like it’s losing a little steam. Not a strong reaction for anyone, although the champ did get a good amount of boos. Kairi and Io dumped to the floor quickly. Bianca goes for a pin on Shayna but Io comes back in with a sliding knee strike. Shayna tries to pin Io but Kairi comes in with a running blockbuster on the champ. Bianca blows a kiss to Kairi, who catches it, pitches it to Io and Io hits it out of the park. That was pretty funny.

Io and Kairi double team Shayna and both hit dropkicks in stereo to the back of Shayna’s head. Now it’s down to the two friends and they agree to face off. Kairi with a headscissors but Io stays on her feet. Bianca and Shayna pull them out of the ring and go back to facing each other. Shayna does her stomp to the exposed elbow of Bianca. Bianca fights back and hits a dropkick that sends Shayna to the floor. Shayna tries to use the long ponytail to her advantage but Bianca ends up pulling Shayna into the LED board wrapped around the ring post. Bianca brings the champ back in the ring for a pin but she kicks out. Kairi comes off the top rope and hits Bianca with a flying forearm.

Io with a springboard dropkick on Bianca as Kairi with a wrecking ball dropkick to Shayna. Io tries to go off the top rope but Bianca catches her in midair and drops her with a fallaway slam. Shayna breaks up the pin. Shayna with a spinning gutwrench slam to Io and then a flying knee in the corner to Kairi. Shayna chokes Bianca over the top rope and pulls her up to the top turnbuckle. This leads to a tower of doom with all four women. Bianca and Shayna to the floor and Io throws Kairi over the top rope with a really cool dive. Then Io with one of her moonsaults onto both women. Io goes to dive on Shayna once again but Bianca spears her in the ring.

All 4 women attack each other in the ring and leave each other laying. Shayna ends up rolling to the floor as Kairi and Io double team Bianca. Shayna pulls Kairi out as Bianca tries to steal the win on Io but Io kicks out. Bianca gorilla presses Io over the top rope onto the other two opponents on the floor. Crazy strength from Bianca. Bianca brings Shayna back in and goes for the Glam Slam but Shayna rolls through and locks in her choke in the middle of the ring. Bianca powers out of it somehow and ends up hitting Shayna with the KOD! Io breaks up the pin. Bianca tries the alley oop on Io but Io turns it into a X-Factor. Io with two moonsaults on Shayna but Kairi breaks that up.

Io can’t believe it but Kairi catches her with an Alabama Slam onto Shayna. Kairi to the top rope and she hits the In-Sane elbow but this time it’s Io that breaks up the pin. Io with a great looking dropkick on Kairi. Lots of forearms by Io but Kairi turns a bodyslam into a spike DDT. Kairi tries another elbow drop but Bianca whips her with the ponytail. Bianca then really shows off her power by double a double KOD on Io and Kairi! That was impressive. Bianca goes for the pin but Shayna with the knee strike and right to the choke. Bianca is fighting off as best she can, but she finally taps out again to the champ and Shayna retains yet again.

Winner: Shayna Baszler

The crowd booed that finish heavily and not in a “the heel won” sense, but in a “we’re tired of this already” sense. I can’t disagree with them. We needed a new champion here and I do not agree with Bianca being choked out a second and taking the fall. If Shayna HAS to win, then why not get the fall on Kairi who’s already been champ and doesn’t lose steam? They were fighting an uphill battle in this match as the crowd was tiring out, but they did good with what they had. If not this match, then who and when for the next champion?

NXT Title Match – 2 out of 3 Falls
Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole

Another absolutely incredible video package hyping up this match. Especially since this match only got about two weeks to build due to Ciampa’s injury. Very old school, reminded me of HBK vs Bret for WrestleMania 12, showing both men training and going over what being champion means to them. Gargano out first with a really cool Iron Man attire. This is Gargano’s 12th Takeover match, which is a record. Another split crowd as you would expect, but I actually think Cole has the stronger support, which is a little surprising to me.

Both men circling each other, soaking up the dueling chants. If the crowd was tiring out last match, they’ve found their second wind. Slow pace to start, as you would expect. Standard chain wrestling by both men. Great sequence with both men avoiding everything the other throws at them, but Gargano finally with an arm drag and then a wrist lock. Both men trading forearm shivers. Gargano ends up clotheslining Cole over the top rope. Basement dropkick by Gargano through the ropes onto Cole.

Cole catchs Gargano with an enziguri. Long chinlock by Cole and then once Gargano gets out, drops Gargano with a running back elbow. Cole with a Dragon sleeper of sorts. Gargano gets out and both men end up going for a cross body at the same time. After some back and forth, Gargano comes through the ropes with his slingshot spear for a two count. Gargano comes off the second rope with a tornado flatliner on Cole for another two count. Both men still countering the majority of attacks, Cole hits a backstabber out of the corner for a two count.

Both men rolling small package attempts to no avail. Gargano misses his rolling kick and Cole comes back with a jumping enziguri. Both men try a superkick but doesn’t work. Gargano with a sunset flip but Cole rolls through, flips Gargano over and Cole comes from behind with the Last Shot!

Adam Cole – 1 Fall to None

Cole starts the second fall with a release German suplex and then a shining wizard, but Gargano kicks out. Mauro says it’s the first time someone kicked out of the Last Shot, but the Last Shot comes from behind and this was from the front, so I don’t count it. Both men are on the apron and Gargano gets a running start and hits a spear on the apron. He jumps back on the apron and hits a somersault splash on Cole. Gargano gets Cole back in and tries his slingshot DDT but Cole catches him and hits the DVD over the knee for a two count.

Cole to the second rope. He pulls Gargano up and tries a powerbomb but Gargano fights it off. Gargano powers Cole up and hits an Irish Curse off the second rope for a two count. Gargano back to the apron and tries the slingshot DDT again but Cole just crumples and rolls to the apron himself. Gargano flips back to inside the ring and now just decides to do the slingshot DDT on the apron! Cole takes a nasty fall on that. Gargano breaks up a 10 count but when he goes back to the floor, he ends up getting thrown twice into the LED ringposts. They get in the ring and Gargano locks on Ciampa’s armbar submission, then he rolls over and locks on the Gargano Escape. Cole taps out immediately, knowing there’s another fall left to go.

Tied at 1 Fall

Gargano is bleeding over his right eye. Both men trading forearms again as the 3rd fall starts. Cole with two bicycle kicks, but Gargano comes right back with a discus clothesline. Cole misses an enziguri and Gargano drills him with a kick. Cole comes right back with a brainbuster over his exposed knee for a two count.

Gargano with a lawn dart to Cole and then another flatliner but Cole kicks out at two. Both men on their knees going toe to toe. Both men catch superkicks, but then hit each other with enziguris. Then they both go for superkicks again at the same time, this time they connect and knock each other out. Cole with another superkick to the back of Gargano’s head and then a straightjacket bridging suplex, but Gargano kicks out. Cole tries for a Fairy Tale Ending but Gargano escapes, Cole with a Saito suplex instead. Gargano goes to the second rope and comes off with a reverse hurricanrana! Gargano with a superkick but Cole rolls to the floor to prevent being pinned.

Gargano goes the floor but Cole ends up whipping him hard into the edge of the ring with a wheelbarrow suplex. That looked ugly. Cole takes his time to get in the ring, but Gargano plays possum and hits Ciampa’s draping DDT! Gargano with a slingshot DDT but Cole kicks out! Cole goes to the floor and Gargano dives on him. He throws Cole back in, but as he tries the Slingshot spear, Cole superkicks him in mid air! Cole to the second rope and Panama Sunrise! Gargano is out but he somehow kicks out! The crowd came unglued for that sequence.

Cole kicks Gargano to the floor and follows him out there. Cole trash talking Gargano and Gargano finally fights back. Gargano throws Cole over the Spanish announce table and then clears it off. Cole fights back and he hits the Fairy Tale Ending! The table doesn’t break and Gargano just bounces off to the floor. Wow. Cole wants to win by countout now. Gargano is in at 9 and a half but he walks right into a Superkick. Gargano kicks out!

Cole drops the knee pad again and goes for Last Shot but Gargano with a superkick. Cole with a Superkick right back. Cole tries the Panama Sunrise again but Gargano turns it into the Gargano Escape! But here comes the Undisputed Era! Strong distracts the ref at first. They’ve blinded Gargano, who ends up taking out the Ref by accident. O’Reilly and Fish hit Total Elimination! They bring the ref back in but Gargano kicks out again!!! Incredible! This crowd is the loudest I’ve ever heard in NXT. This is amazing. Gargano ends up dumping Cole over the tope rope and he takes out everyone in Undisputed Era! Gargaro comes back in, 1 superkick, 2 superkicks, Final Shot….. GARGANO KICKS OUT!!!

Mauro is losing his mind and rightfully so. I can hardly type as this is happening! Cole misses another Last Shot and Gargano Escape is locked in! Gargano rolls through as Cole tries to get the ropes… COLE TAPS OUT!!!! Johnny Freaking Wrestling has finally done it!!!!!!

Winner: New NXT Champion, Johnny Gargano

Candice LaRae comes out and gives her husband a much deserved loving embrace. Gargano gets to hold the title high over his head finally. They show some highights and then come back to Gargano celebrating with the crowd. He then walks over to his family in the crowd and celebrates with them in a great moment. They show the finish again and then come back to Gargano walking up the ramp. Husband and wife are hand in and hand and holy shit, it’s Tommaso Ciampa!! Ciampa with a soft collar neckbrace and he comes up to Gargano and gives him a big embrace. All 3 hug in what is truly an emotional moment. Wow. I can’t describe that. There’s a lot to say, but I think it’s great to end that way. We don’t know when Ciampa is coming back. We don’t know IF he’s coming back. In real life, those 3 are the closest of friends and everything comes full circle. That ends our show at about 3 hours and 15 minutes.

I watched that moment a second time and the crowd was so into it. They were happy to see them reconnect like that, and I was too. It doesn’t throw away the last year, it brings it full circle. Mauro’s commentary was perfect for the moment, as it was for the entire match. He’s in a league of his own.

Like I said, there’s no way of knowing how long Ciampa will be out and even if he comes back, they’re like Owens and Zayn, destined to be together forever in some form or fashion. It’s just a great way to wrap this entire year and a half up with the three of them embracing at the end. Gargano was funny when Ciampa first walked out because he heard the crowd’s reaction and said audibly, “he’s behind me again, isn’t he?” Mauro called this the most emotional night in NXT history and it sure felt that way. SO much happened. The end of major eras, the beginning of new ones, just an incredible ride throughout.

I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did and thank you for joining me once again for NXT coverage here at TJRWrestling!