Every NXT TakeOver Main Event In History: Ranked

For the third straight Takeover event, the former partners turned enemies clashed once more in yet another weapons-based stipulation. Last Man Standing was on the cards and fans were hungry for Gargano to take the strap.

Many spots were set up in the first few minutes and quickly forgotten about, that’s just how good of a distraction the back-and-forth action was. When the exposed wooden boards and stacked tables did eventually come into play it was as shocking as it was expected. The story that Gargano and Ciampa were able to craft over the thirty-three-minute contest is a testament to just how talented they both are. Ciampa took the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ phrase a little too literally by piling the entire ringside area on top of Gargano at one point, yet it still wasn’t enough. Ciampa was defeated and he knew it, but he also knew how to turn this weakness into a strength, suckering Gargano in, inviting more and more punishment.

Not learning his lesson from their previous encounters, Gargano was once again too emotional to see reason, falling right into the trap and ended up losing by his hand. It was a result that was as frustrating as it was brilliant and yet another feather in the cap of the incredible DIY saga.