Csonka’s Top 6 NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Matches

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. Today I thought that I would look at the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn and the top matches that have taken place at those three events. Triple H and the NXT talents have repeatedly said that the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn events are essentially the brand’s WrestleMania, and since we just had the third installment of the series, I thought today would be a good time to shine some light of the best from the three shows. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful of other’s opinions and don’t be a dick.” We all have opinions, we’re going to disagree, just be cool about it.

Missing The Cut
* From 2016 – Austin Aries defeated No Way Jose @ 10:43 via submission [***½]
* From 2016 – NXT Title Match: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Champion Samoa Joe @ 21:10 via pin [***½]
* From 2017 – Aleister Black defeated Hideo Itami @ 12:31 via pin [***½]
* From 2017 – NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Sanity defeated Champions The Authors of Pain @ 12:13 via pin [***¾]

6. From 2015 – NXT Title Ladder Match: Champion Finn Balor defeated Kevin Owens @ 21:45 [****]: I was a bit worried that the crowd may have been burnt out from the Banks vs. Bayley match, but these guys did a great job of getting them into the match. Owens was a spectacular asshole in this match, which served as a more than fitting sequel toothier match in Japan. Owens’ character played well off of Balor’s never say die babyface act, who was looking to prove himself again against Owens. The match had great brawling, fun and creative ladder spots and great intensity as well as a tremendous sense of urgency. Owens looked to have things in control, but his desire to inflict more damage in order to punish Balor cost him in the end; allowing Balor to retain. I always love that ending, when the overconfident heel with tunnel vision gets bit in the ass due to the fact that winning alone isn’t good enough. They may as well deliver a monologue and reveal their plan; it works just as well.

5. From 2017 – NXT Women’s Championship Match: Champion Asuka defeated Ember Moon @ 14:52 via pin [****]: This was a tremendous effort from both ladies, much better than their last match. They kept a great pace the crowd was invested and Asuka smartly targeted the previously injured arm of Moon. The selling was on point, there were great callbacks to their previous match, and they flat out delivered. The closing stretch was really great, with near falls that were easily believable for both. Moon finally hit the eclipse during the match, but no on is ready for Asuka. She even got a great reaction following an emotional loss. Her facial reactions throughout were just so great, putting over the importance of this match to her. This was easily her best WWE performance, but even so, she still didn’t have enough to stop the empress. As of this writing, this is Asuka’s final NXT match (more info here), and it was a great way to go out.

4. From 2016 – NXT Women’s Title Match: Champion Asuka defeated Bayley @ 12:40 via pin [****]: They told the right story and a great one, as Bayley went from being fearful and doubting herself (following her loss to Asuka) to fighting to survive to finally overcoming and daring Asuka to hit her and going out on her shield. This was a good evolution of the Bayley character, and something similar should have happened when she faced Bliss in the kendo stick match; allow Bayley to get a bit angry and hardcore before losing that match. That was a real missed opportunity in my eyes. But back to this match, Asuka was the heel here, but she didn’t have to cheat to win, the story was that while Bayley overcame her fears and nearly overcame, Asuka was once again just that much better. She was more ruthless and wasn’t afraid at any time to hurt Bayley to keep the title. This was a great match, better than the Dallas one, and they did an awesome job following the tag match (which is coming up later on this list). This served as a great set up for Asuka to be the dominant force she would become.

3. From 2017 – Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Johnny Gargano @ 13:25 via pin [****¼] : This was an absolutely great match to kick off the 2017 Takeover show, with both guys working at the top of their games from the opening bell. They constantly built the action; they had the crowd behind them and reacting to the near falls in a big way, which only added to the match. The finish was really creative, as Gargano was on his way to victory, but Vega mind-fucked him with the DIY shirt, showing that Ciampa will be a ghost that haunts Gargano even when he’s not on TV. Almas needed that win and that great performance; Gargano proved that he’s a top guy, even in loss, and a tremendous babyface. I’d say that this also opens the door for Candice LeRae to be brought in after the MYC. This felt like one of those great sub 15-minute G1 sprints, with top guys busting ass and giving it their all.

2. From 2016 – NXT Tag Team Title Match: Champions The Revival defeated Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa @ 19:15 via pin [****¾]: This was an absolutely incredible match, with everyone playing their role perfectly and the structure allowing it to organically build all the way through. The juxtaposition of the Revival’s old school approach against the current independent style of Gargano and Ciampa worked perfectly together. This was during the time where The Revival were one of the best big match tag teams in wrestling, while DIY was hitting their stride as a team (in better times). I loved this match and the way it set up the future of Gargano and Ciampa as the mega faces as things moved forward. This was just a joy to watch, everything they did felt was effortless, and the crowd was into everything they did in a big way, creating an absolutely awesome environment.

1. From 2015 – NXT Women’s Title Match: Bayley defeated Champion Sasha Banks @ 18:29 via pin [****¾]: It started a bit slow, but they played off of the established story of Banks being the entitled champion who looked down on Bayley, and they kept slowly building and building in layers very well (including Banks attacking the previously injured hand of Bayley, leading to a great moment down the stretch where Banks was working the Banks statement and then stomped the shit out of the injured hand). And then they just started to go wild and got the crowd into a frenzy, and once again the NXT ladies delivered. Not only because they have talent, but also because they are put in a place to succeed. They (bookers and agents) keep the picture simple, they told the story and they give them the chance to deliver in the ring when it comes to it. That was the opposite of the muddled attempt at the initial revolution on the main roster. Anyway this was a spectacular match, and was a top tier match of the year candidate. This was simply sensational work here from both ladies. The match had a great story, great work, and at the time was a huge step up for Bayley and another feather in the cap for Sasha Banks. Also, for those that say women’s wrestling isn’t and never will be over and can’t main event, this was the proof that they could if built right and if you have the right women. They worked a big time match in a big time venue in front of a big time crowd and absolutely delivered. What puts this over the top as the #1 NXT Takeover: Brooklyn match for me is not only its greatness, but also it’s importance and its place in the history of WWE women’s wrestling.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”