9 Ups & 2 Downs From NXT TakeOver: In Your House

5. Johnny Smarts

Keith Lee Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

This writer has to admit when he's wrong, and he was totally wrong about what should headline TakeOver. Rather than go with the predicted Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano closer, WWE ended the night with the women's Triple Threat. That was absolutely the right call, because Lee vs. Gargano was more of a slow burner.

A slow burner with some epic storytelling.

Gargano's TakeOver matches always have some logical thread running through them, and this one was no different. He constantly focused on his opponent's injured hand whenever Lee looked to be on top, and he also aimed a few choice spots at big Keith's kayfabe scratched cornea. Fighting through all of this made Lee look tough as nails.

Credit to Tom Phillips for pointing out that Gargano targeted Lee's "good eye" (as in, the one Johnny hadn't previously injured) when he keyed it on the ring apron too. That defended a possible botch and eliminated any complaints from eagle-eyed fans.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.