Csonka Ranks Every NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Match From Worst to First

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. Today I thought that I would look at the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn and rank all of the matches that have taken place at those four events, from worst to first. Triple H and the NXT talents have repeatedly said that the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn events are essentially the brand’s WrestleMania, and when you look at the 22 match history, I can see it from a match quality standpoint. 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. Lets get to work…

* 22. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn: Apollo Crews defeated Tye Dillinger @ 4:45 via pin [*¾]

* 21. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn: Ember Moon defeated Billie Kay @ 4:35 via pin [**]

* 20. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn: Samoa Joe defeated Baron Corbin @ 10:22 via pin [**½]
* 19. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III: NXT Championship Match: Drew McIntyre defeated Champion Bobby Roode @ 22:25 via pin [**½]

* 18. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn: The Vaudevillians defeated Champions Blake and Murphy @ 10:12 via pin [**¾]

~THE GOOD~

* 17. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn: Bobby Roode defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas @ 10:21 via pin [***]
* 16. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn: Jushin “Thunder” Liger defeated Tyler Breeze @ 8:35 via pin [***]

* 15. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV: Velveteen Dream defeated EC3 @ 15:05 via pin [***¼]

* 14. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn: NXT Title Match: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Champion Samoa Joe @ 21:10 via pin [***½]
* 13. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn: Austin Aries defeated No Way Jose @ 10:43 via submission [***½]
* 12. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III: Aleister Black defeated Hideo Itami @ 12:31 via pin [***½]

* 11. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III: NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Sanity defeated Champions The Authors of Pain @ 12:13 via pin [***¾]

~THE GREAT ONE… s~

* 10. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn: NXT Title Ladder Match: Champion Finn Balor defeated Kevin Owens @ 21:45 [****]
* 9. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III: NXT Women’s Championship Match: Champion Asuka defeated Ember Moon @ 14:52 via pin [****]
* 8. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn: NXT Women’s Title Match: Champion Asuka defeated Bayley @ 12:40 via pin [****]
* 7. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV: NXT Women’s Title Match: Kairi Sane defeated Champion Shayna Baszler @ 13:35 via pin [****]
* 6. From NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV: NXT North American Title Match: Ricochet defeated Champion Adam Cole @ 15:22 via pin [****]

~THE MUST SEE~

5. 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. At the time, I really thought that this opened the door for Candice LeRae to be brought in for anextended promgram, filled with mixed tags and the ladies also battling in singles matches. Anyway, this match felt like one of those great sub-15-minute G1 sprints, with two top guys busting ass and giving it their all andmaking it feel important.

4. From NXT Takeover Brooklyn IV: NXT Tag Team Title Match: Champions The Undisputed Era defeated Moustache Mountain @ 18:05 via pin [****¼]: The boys did it again, delivering yet another great tag team match with spectacular work and drama, as well as callbacks to their previous matches. I loved that they didn’t go for the immediate repeat of working on Seven’s knee, and changed it up by working over Bate’s knee this time around. These four can do no wrong, and while not quite as great as their last match, it still ruled and was an absolutely great opening match. Undisputed Era are making the case for tag team of the year with consistently great performances. This was a hell of a way to kick off Takeover, with a beautiful mix of old school tag formula and new school work.

3. From NXT Takeover Brooklyn IV: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano [****½]: Last man standing matches are tricky things, there are many more bland ones than great, due to the lack of near falls and fans many times showing little interest until the end. But with that being said, these two continue to be magic together and delivered an excellent main event. It had great drama, great heat, great throwbacks, and it even included that moment again where Gargano even teases a moment of forgiveness, but his anger got the best of him and that was his downfall as Ciampa survived due to Gargano’s mistake and ultimate desire to end his former friend. While the “weakest” of the three matches to me, it was still excellent, as they delivered once again. I’m just not sure where they go from here since while excellent matches, they’ve had the same match almost three times.

2. From NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn – 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 (boy how times have changed) 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 NXT Takeover: Brooklyn – 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; it’s the best WWE women’s match to me, just over Sasha vs. Becky & the Sasha vs. Bayley rematch. It’s just a shame to see that the company hasn’t had a clue what to do with them on the main roster.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”