Every NXT TakeOver Main Event In History: Ranked

Which match gets the honour of being the best of an amazing bunch?

NXT TakeOver Brooklyn IV Tommaso Ciampa Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

Since its debut in 2014, NXT Takeover has gone on to be one of the most must-watch wrestling in the world.

When tuning in, fans just know that they are likely going to be entertained for the entire broadcast. This is because the cards are often expertly built, delivering bang after banger leading to a crescendo of wrestling excellence in the main event.

There has been a total of thirty-six Takeovers to date and every single one of them have been finished with an outstanding match. This is what made this list perhaps the hardest that this writer has ever embarked on writing. Having to sort through all thirty-six of these matches and somehow picking the worst and best out of a simply amazing bunch is certainly as hard a task as any. However, one thing is clear: that every single one of these matches deserves to be rewatched and appreciated.

Each one sharing crazy athleticism, dramatic storytelling and stiff strikes, yet each unique in their own way, constantly one-upping the ones that came before them.

As fans, all we can do is sit back and admire the fact that in the last seven years, NXT has produced thirty-six of some of the best matches in modern wrestling history...

36. Karrion Kross Vs. Keith Lee – Takeover XXX

NXT TakeOver Brooklyn IV Tommaso Ciampa Johnny Gargano
WWE.com

Now don’t get this wrong, this is far from a bad match. The decision on which match to put last on this list was a difficult one. That’s because there has fortunately never been a bad Takeover main event. Pretty hard to pick the ‘worst’ out of a consistently fantastic bunch.

While Karrion Kross has proved a worthy successor of Keith Lee, it’s always risky to have a star so young in his company tenure to dethrone such an over champion who is equally young in his title run. While both men tried their best to outshine one another and make the match good enough to be worthy of the brand's 30th main event, it was largely forgettable. A great chunk of the match was slow, clunky and rife with rest holds, broken up with sporadic sequences of the speed and agility both big men are known for.

With the ability that we know they both have, it’s a shame the pair never got to the level of intensity and showstopping energy that they could have, otherwise they wouldn’t be at the bottom of this list.

Contributor

Just an Australian wrestling fan who grew up admiring the sport that we all know and love. All round wrestling fanatic, wouldn’t mind if you just sat down and listened to his humble opinions on the wrestling world.