10 Best WWE Matches Ever (According To The Internet)
1. Andrade Almas Vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia)
A match that became an instant genre classic before audiences began tiring of the genre itself, Andrade Almas Vs Johnny Gargano from 2018’s TakeOver luxuriated in all that NXT had become as a super-indie under WWE's seemingly-expanding umbrella.
Building on a total ripper they'd had the prior summer, this was - fittingly for its placement - the main event version of their killer opener format. Both had ascended up the card since then but the difference was in their routes, with the Champion forced to prove his killer instinct against a Challenger to haunted by the ghosts of his recent past to keep kicking out when it counted.
'Johnny Wrestling' as the sympathetic (almost-)never-say-die babyface had clicked for the brand like never before, while the violent snap behind Andrade's kicks, knees and elbows never ever looked as terrifying as when they appeared to be concussing Gargano into early retirement.
The impact of it all broke everybody's brain and the sheer quality broke through Dave Metlzer's five star ceiling for the first time in the "developmental" brand's history, but it most importantly broke everybody's hearts. The defeated and depleted Gargano gained more in defeat than he ever could have in victory here, and it was painfully clear how his hostilities with Tommaso Ciampa needed to be settled before he stood another chance of competing for the show's biggest prize.