10 Best Wrestling Pay-Per-Views Of 2019 (So Far)

2. NXT TakeOver: New York

Cody Dustin Rhodes
WWE

Devoid of filler and boasting so much killer pro wrestling, NXT TakeOver: New York was among the best pay-per-views WWE has ever promoted.

The War Raiders' NXT Tag Team Title retention over Aleister Black and Ricochet was a jaw-dropping procession of scarcely-believable oneupmanship. Hanson and Rowe somehow levelled up to the workrate of their opponents in a phenomenal changing of the guard. Matt Riddle entered an immaculate, difficult tweener performance against the Velveteen Dream in a great match that somehow conspired to fuse two wildly clashing styles to character-driven perfection.

WALTER ended Pete Dunne's epic United Kingdom Title reign in an gripping war of attrition that built incredibly. WALTER had to take to the skies and pummel Dunne from sky to canvas to secure it in a blinding finishing sequence. It put over the risk required to win and doubled as a stratospheric high spot. The Women's Title Fatal 4-Way match did more for the flow of card than the integrity of the division, but the diverse action never relented.

The last 15 minutes of the scorching, emotional Johnny Gargano Vs. Adam Cole NXT Title match main event were among the best, most heated and manipulative in all of pro wrestling history. That finishing stretch somehow condensed the rich, long-term Gargano arc into a quarter-hour of insane drama.

NXT TakeOver: New York was a spellbinding triumph.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!