2 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE NXT (Jan 11, 2017)

by Michael Sidgwick

1. A Notch Below, But A Cut Above

Gargano Dropkick
WWE.com

The show was headlined by a TakeOver: Toronto rematch, in which The Revival attempted to reclaim their NXT Tag Team titles away from DIY.

It was a slight notch below their Match Of The Year-standard best. Lacking the big fight feel of their TakeOver specials, and the inherent suspense - that the number one contenders are heels rather telegraphed the finish - it was still very, very good. Exponentially better than anything else on the show, the overarching listlessness of which helped by association.

Most everything both teams did in there made sense. Everything which occurred in the opening third was paid off in the final act, and it’s rare that television matches offer such immersive continuity. The Revival’s strategy of marginalising Johnny Gargano was too one-dimensional a tactic; ignoring Tomasso Ciampa at their cost, his saves in those breathless five minutes were both cathartic and congruous. He was fresh enough to overcome the combined threat of the best tag team on the planet.

Gargano’s selling was a bit suspect. When he overshot his suicide dive late on, his knee smacked against the barricade - but he only remembered to faintly clutch it seconds after the fact. It had been worked over throughout the entire match. He should have cried out in agony, at the very least.

In the post-match, DIY were decimated by the Authors Of Pain. Gargano will need to raise his game to drag a good match out of them in San Antonio.

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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!