10 Best NXT TakeOver Matches Of 2017

6. The Authors Of Pain Vs DIY (Chicago)

Scott Dawson Rezar Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

Thanks to the unfortunate timing of Tommaso Ciampa's injury shortly after this show. the #DIY implosion story arc may never even earn a payoff worthy of such an incredible build. But really, is there even such a thing?

Going out with a bang (as well as a crash and a wallop), the pair lost their last shot at The Authors Of Pain in another absorbing NXT ladder match with a series of death-defying moments almost entirely overshadowed by Ciampa's heartbreaking post-match assault on his former friend.

Entrusted with the show-closing spot on May's NXT TakeOver: Chicago special, the quartet flew at one another having already given everything to incredible efforts in San Antonio and Orlando (more on that later). The saddest (and most brilliantly booked) fact of of all revealed itself as the duos attempted to scale figurative and literal heights - Gargano and Ciampa couldn't beat The Authors Of Pain.

That nothing in their arsenal would subdue Akam and Rezar long enough to allow them to scale a ladder only made the heartbreaking demise of #DIY all the more depressing. Ciampa let his growing frustration manifest in the form of a brutal beatdown to his closest confidant, but this bruising war highlighted how nothing 'Johnny Wrestling' did on the night would have changed the grim reality. It was, subsequently, a perfect contest for the team and the feud to climax with.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett