8 Great Wrestling Matches (That Weren't Supposed To Happen)

2. Johnny Gargano Vs. Adam Cole (NXT TakeOver: New York)

Stone Cold Triple H Survivor Series 2000
WWE

Had Tommaso Ciampa not fell foul of a devastating neck injury in March, he and Johnny Gargano would have concluded a series of matches that, whilst not quite on the same level as Okada and Omega's magnificent quartet, could realistically stand alongside the Flair-Steamboat benchmark of the late-'80s. The intervention of fate felt like a cruel tease in the direction of salivating wrestling fans.

They needn't have worried. In Ciampa's place was parachuted Adam Cole for the TakeOver: New York blow-off; not only was there no drop in quality, but the resultant match was arguably an improvement. The 2-out-3 falls contest for NXT's top strap was such a magnificent exhibition that it scooped a mammoth 5.5 star rating from wrestling doyen Dave Meltzer - the highest rated match in the company's history.

 
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.