10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE NXT TakeOver

4. The Rise Of #DIY Is As Good As Everybody Remembers...

Sami Zayn
WWE.com

When TakeOver pivoted from presenting the first best-in-class set of Performance Center standouts to Triple H and William Regal's grand collection of newly-signed indie darlings, guaranteed match quality all but replaced regular storyline development.

TakeOver was such a safe bet of a destination that less care was given to the journey, but the uneasy rise through the tag ranks by #DIY, their engaging run as reigning-then-former Champions and the brutal blood feud that spanned nearly two years from heel turn to babyface redemption ensured that every supercard had something with emotional substance.

Fittingly, it all peaked on what must surely be the most creatively satisfying night of Triple H's booking career.

April 2019's TakeOver: New York was one of the company's best-ever shows, NXT's WrestleMania X-Seven and - in hindsight - the season finale proper for this magic era of NXT TakeOver. Gargano and Adam Cole found the peak of the well-trodden black-and-gold in-ring epic over 38 impossibly electrifying minutes, and 'Johnny Wrestling's embraced by an injured Ciampa as he's crowned Champion of the place he loves.

It was the perfect conclusion to their saga, but as NXT content was suddenly of greater value to Vince McMahon with the advent of All Elite Wrestling, there was no chance the story could ever be allowed to truly end...

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