10 Best NXT TakeOver Matches Of 2017
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
In 2017, NXT was forced to absorb the most damaging knock to what had otherwise become one of the hottest products in all of wrestling. Not the loss of a particular talent, nor an unexpected interjection from Vince McMahon meddling with Triple H's careful plans, NXT was made to face up to an inconvenient truth - it wasn't actually working.
Or, put pragmatically, it was working too well.
As the weekly show became Sports Entertainment's hottest hour in 2014, the product looked bursting from the seams with emerging potential megastars. Between January 2014 and January 2017, 36 talents left Full Sail for the big leagues. The number represented a huge percentage of the brand's golden era, and flooded the split Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live! rosters with talent already known and beloved by WWE's core audience. On paper it was perfect, in practice it was too often a complete nightmare.
It highlighted how ill-equipped the main roster was at nurturing characters week-to-week. Bonds between audiences and special talents were ripped apart as said superstars were reduced to rank-and-file. Even the most iconic NXT performers were normalised, humbled and abused more by the system than their opponents.
The potentially fatal wound reframed NXT altogether. Why pine for your favourite to make the main roster, when the main roster can't make them your favourite? To be enjoyed for what they are at little else, the isolated TakeOver specials remained just that - special.
10. Andrade 'Cien' Almas Vs Johnny Gargano (Brooklyn 3)
Crafted exquisitely to reflect Andrade Almas' major career upswing after associate Zelina Vega reversed his losing streak, the Brooklyn 3 opener between 'Cien' and Johnny Gargano was a glorious assault on the senses.
Hugely over and garnering massively sympathy following Tommaso Ciampa's turn on him at the climax of the last TakeOver: Special, Gargano was the perfect foil for the rejuvenated Almas, affording him the best match he'd had on NXT to that point as well as briefly welcoming him into the fringes of the #DIY split.
Gargano's acting performance bell-to-bell made the match. As he entered, commentator Nigel McGuinness noted how he just couldn't get over the split, and the obsession revealed itself in his desperation as the match progressed.
Entering a scintillating final stretch, Almas powered out of a Gargano Escape with vicious buckle bomb/running knee combo. Where lesser opponents would have failed, 'Johnny Wrestling' fought back, chasing misplaced redemption against the Mexican star.
Just as Gargano set himself to finally finish Andrade, Vega lobbed a #DIY t-shirt at him. Frozen in regret, rejection and remorse, he was subsequently defeated after a wicked dropkick to the face and a hammerlock DDT. A powerful closing shot of the crumpled t-shirt next Gargano spotlighted the profound turmoil at play.