[6.0] "My biggest criticisms of this match by far are that it went on way too long and it had too much interference and ref distraction bullshit going on (typical sports entertainment booking). Ideally this match should have been about 10 minutes shorter but even cutting it down 5 minutes would have helped a ton. Obviously both of these guys can go in the ring and I wouldn't say they put on a bad match by any means, but it still felt like a spotfest with too many false finishes (although not the most egregious example of either). WWE commentary is unbearable to listen to which doesn't help with my enjoyment of the match. Gargano having to hold himself up by the ropes so that Almas could hit the double knee to the outside was cringe. It sucked when Low Ki did it in TNA and it sucks here (kind of mind boggling that when Low Ki did that move against KENTA in his ROH classic he ground his foot into KENTA's knee first which made him sit up as a response before delivering the shot, why didn't he keep doing it that way? ). Anyway, I totally understand why people love this match but to see it ranked THIS high is puzzling. A classic case of "this is simply not for me". 3.25 stars."
[10.0] "An all-time classic. Near-perfect blend of storytelling, pacing, and raw emotion. Gargano's underdog fire meets Almas' peak form, with Vega and LeRae adding the perfect dramatic spice. The crowd lived every second. Easily one of the greatest matches in WWE history. 5/5"
[9.0] "Perhaps the best NXT title match ever. These two have amazing chemistry and went out there and tore the house down. Crazy to me that Andrade hasn't been one of the biggest names in the industry by now. The guy has everything you could want in a modern heavyweight. Gargano's coming out party as a main event guy in NXT, even in a loss the guy looked like a star. These guys were so in lockstep with one another in this match everything they did looked crisp from the opening stages full of technical wrestling to the climax full of huge moves and near falls. Builds to a roof-blowing climax without getting into absurd territory which some of Gargano's eventual NXT title defenses did. WON first 5 star match given to WWE in years and you can see why. 4.75 stars."
[9.0] "A tad too much interference for my taste, but I can see why it's so well-regarded. Pretty much set the standard for Takeover main events in the years to come."
[10.0] "This could be the best in ring match of all time in the NXT. Gargano played the role of underdog really well, and the crowd was completely on his side. But Andrade deserves credit as well. He played his part great as well. He's so good, and i just hope wwe utilizes him well."
"[10] One of the best matches I've ever seen. One of the only matches where I was at first rooting for someone pretty heavily (Gargano) but by the end of the match I did not care who won because I had just witnessed the art of pro wrestling at its highest standard. I was legit out of breath after watching this."
[10.0] "If the names involved here were "HBK vs Taker" at Wrestlemania or "Omega vs Okada" at Wrestle Kingdom....this match would be even more highly rated than it already is IMO. Its one of those few "perfect" wrestling matches in that its a spotfest...but its so flawlessly structured and paced that it doesn't feel like they're just spamming moves. Everything feels natural, despite the length and the amount of spots(including the closing sequence of near falls). Even the interference from Zelina and the added beef between her and Candice is done just right, and doesn't at all take away from the match itself. The ending is also amazing because the entire universe was certain that Gargano was bound to win after everything he had to overcome....so the shock value with Andrade getting the W only adds to its greatness. The technical in-ring ability on display is as good as it gets, including whatever match you may call "the best of all time", this match is on that same level in terms of pure wrestling. Again...the only thing holding this match back from "best ever" discussion, no matter how unfair it may seem, is the fact that these 2(especially Andrade) aren't nearly as popular or as historically important to the sport as names like Stone Cold, Rock, Cena, HBK, Undertaker, Flair, Kobashi, Misawa, Okada, Tanahashi, Omega, Ospreay, Danielson, etc.(names that you usually see involved in "greatest match of all time" candidates). But other than that....this is perfection. IMO its hands down one of the top 20 pro wrestling matches ever, and without a doubt the best NXT match. A must watch for anyone who hasn't already witnessed its greatness."
[10.0] "(5*) Yeah, this is the best match in NXT history, no doubt, this felt like more of an NJPW style than an American style, which isn't bad, honestly, a very good thing. This match made me a fan of Andrade and what he is capable of in the ring, is it one of the greatest matches of all time, strong contender."
[10.0] "Best match in NXT history. This match looked like a WrestleKingdom main event, one of the most agile matches I've seen. They never stopped for anything in the world. THIS IS HOW A TITLE MATCH SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK LIKE! These two are so underrated and you can understand this opinion if you watch this match. Beautiful counters, impeccable story-telling, PURE BLACK AND GOLD."
[9.0] "[4.25*] Fantastic match! I am not usually very high on Johnny Gargano singles matches as I think he has some mannerisms that pisses me off a little bit, but thankfully they were just a very minor part of this specific bout, which made me like it a lot. The fact that Andrade is Andrade helped a lot too, he was just perfect there, unbelievable talent and the MVP of the match. For once I thought Johnny's facial expressions were pretty good because he was not doing rah rah dramatic cinema (lol) stuff, he just had a bleeding mouth and looked terrified the whole time. Gargano has some over choreographed moves that are not very appealing to me, so I was not the biggest fan of the first part of the match, despite the match itself having more of a Jr. Heavyweight style than a US indy style, thankfully. The second half was just perfect with all the drama, character work, surprisingly great selling and ASTONISHING nearfalls. One of Andrade's best matches and obviously the best Gargano singles match."
[9.0] "Incredible match here. Starts off technical with the agility coming into it quickly. Some really good, in places brutal spots. Does turn into a bit of a finisher fest but really enjoyable. Surprise winner too!"
[10.0] "[*****] This start is extremely fast-paced so I can't single out specific spots for a couple minutes. Both get to the outside, trade and dodge moonsaults until Johnny does a cannonball with nobody home and wipes out back first. Andrade gets thrown through the ropes, hooks his arms into them and recaptures the momentum, slide kicking Johnny. Andrade does the same rope catch, Johnny goes after, Andrade dodges but he doesn't expect Johnny doing a SLINGSHOT SPEAR? Johnny hits a Penta-esque superkick btu Andrade counters the AVALANCHE sunset flip powerbomb, hits a meterora, counters the slingshot DDT and hits an inverted tornado DDT off the middle turnbuckle and JOHNNY KICKS OUT? Johnny then hits a damn slingshot DDT onto the apron to the outside. Andrade hits a nasty double stomp to the outside and chucks him onto the apron and shoves him again and again. Another meteora and Gargano literally stands up from the pin like a boss. Chop followed by super kick to poisonrana by Johnny, Andrade tries to counter, by Johnny counters the counter and syches in the Gargano escape. Zelina breaks the hold but Andrade gets slingshot by Andrade to the outside. Zelina hits a hurricanrana to Johnny into the stairs interfering for the third time. Andrade hits the hammerlock DDT only for Johnny to fucking kick out. Candice LeRae stops Zelina from interfering again and drives her out of the arena. Gargano hits the slingshot DDT, Andrade kicks out, but synches in the Gargano escape. Andrade gets his foot on the ropes and hits a meteora to Johnny into the post. Draping hammerlock DDT to Johnny finally puts him away. This felt like it was never going to end (in a good way)."
[10.0] "This match is legendary in NXT history as it's the first five-star rated match by Dave Meltzer, and for good reason. These two indie-guys were given no limits to put on what is essentially a perfect wrestling match. If I had to criticize one little thing, it's probably the overuse of false finishes at certain points, but it was still worked wonderfully. On an individual level, Gargano gives what I believe to be his greatest performance, an essential example of why his NXT singles run was so adored. He sells his character's heart and soul on his face and his movements at an impeccable level, and simultaneously works in his skills with Andrade's to a degree that I nearly forget that both men aren't some of the greatest to ever step into the ring. A standard of excellence and perfection near-impossible to replicate. Andrade plays the role of a heel perfectly as does Zelina. The commentators were pretty much perfect too, and it's probably one of the best general WWE matches I've ever seen to this day."
[9.0] "This match was legitimately a match that was part of what resparked my interest in mainstream professional wrestling and what I think resparked an understanding that there was a market that existed of American fans who wanted to watch a more elevated in-ring performance. You can absolutely criticize the overuse of false finishes in the match, and perhaps it was a mistake to not have Gargano win, but perhaps in spite of that, bell to bell, this was a wonderfully memorable match, and the winner was so secondary to the memory of their ability to perform at such a high level, with such high work rate, while making everything constantly look good. It's not my favorite match of all time, and I think you needed to be a Gargano fan in 2017/2018 to really get the full effect of the story they were trying to tell, but for me, its the best WWE match I've ever seen."
[10.0] "Writing this to highlight my favorite niche thing in wrestling which is kickout progression. Johnny Gargano is king of this, he starts off kicking out at 1, slowly progressing the count. It'll get to a quick 2 off reversals, a near 2 on signatures, an insane near fall on the move just before the finish, so when he does kickout of the finisher, it feels like even more of a shock because he breaks the progression. Listen to the pop off the Hammerlock DDT kickout and tell me it wasn't perfectly paced out."
[10.0] "[5 Stars] That's why NXT Black & Gold was just one of the best products in wrestling history. An exceptional match between 2 excellent wrestlers offering us magnificent technique, the chemistry between them is insane. This is clearly one of the best matches in the history of NXT and even WWE. If you haven't seen this match, go and see it, it's a classic (*****)"
[9.0] "This was a great match. Great technical wrestling from bell to bell. Also, both men looked strong throughout the match. Zelina also played the role of heel manager very well. So well that when Candace made her presence known in the match, not only did the crowd erupt but so did I. I was happy to see her finally get some hands put on her. Only thing keeping this match from being a 10 for me is Gargano losing, The crowd was so hot for Johnny and you had the perfect match to give him the title. Hot crowd, wife interference, despised heel, everything made sense for this to be the moment Johnny won the title. I understand the attack at the end is to further push Gargano as the top babyface but this match would be so much better with that crowd roar of a Gargano win."
[10.0] "One of if not my favorite match ever. Might not be for everyone, but it was to me an absolutely amazing match by two of my favorite wrestlers."
"Probably my favorite match of NXT black & gold Era. They both put on a clinic of high-flying moves, and hard-hitting offense, fast-paced sequences, flawless transitions, and several innovative spots."
[8.0] "This match was fantastic but I was shocked when I saw that this was WWE's first 5* match since 2011. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. I just don't think it's 5 stars."
[10.0] "Nothing to say but amazing, the Psychology of the match was amazing, the technique completely beautiful, moments like the Hurracarrana of Zelina to Johnny, Andrade and Johnny doing those backflips on the apron and the end of the match was sweet, and for me this is more than 5 stars, 10/10 [******1/2]"
[9.0] "I do think this match is a tad bit overrated, not a 5 star match but still a great match. Black and Gold NXT was really special, white and gold just doesnt hit the same and the mens division at the moment is really poor. Johnny was such a great babyface and Andrade in NXT really was incredible. Andrade plays the role of a heel perfectly as does Zelina. Many people complain that NXT Johnny Gargano kicked out of everything but it didnt feel over the top to me here."
[10.0] "This was an incredible match between Andrade and Johnny Gargano. Fast pace technical wrestling. It was a near perfect performance from both guys. There was so much counter wrestling. They were high pace for most of the match. Andrade played the heel very good. Johnny is the ultimate babyface and underdog. Very strong from both guys. One of the best matches in WWE history."
[10.0] "The all time best match in all of NXT and one of, if not, all of WWE. Just an absolute masterpiece in both the in ring work and storytelling. Just wrestling perfection."
[10.0] "La mejor lucha de la historia de NXT USA, asombrosa exhibición de parte de ambos luchadores. Fácilmente por calidad in ring es Top 5 de la historia de la compañía. En lo personal Andrade siempre es sinónimo de calidad, de mis luchadores favoritos desde su etapa como La Sombra, actualmente Top 3 del mundo sin dudarlo."
[8.0] "This match is the epitome of what Black and Gold NXT was. For better or for worse. The roster was talented from top to bottom, and on any given night, you could see an instant classic, or some of the most offensive shit ever. This time, Andrade proved he was the right choice as champion, and Gargano cemented himself as the the brands top underdog. Again, for better or for worse.The spots and strikes look and sound nice, the crowd eats everything up, and the involvement from LeRae is both fun and excellent, and the post-match stuff is legendary to the makeup of NXT. The craziest thing? This holds up too. Can't say that about 99% of NXT matches. 4ish Stars."
[10.0] "This is one of the best WWE Matches in history. It's quite literally unrivaled in that regard and one of the best NXT matches that really put the black and gold brand on the map and really the beginning of the GOLDEN era of NXT. Truly a very special match and one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Go watch this one. You won't regret it. Truly something special."
[10.0] "This was an amazing match. The match was given plenty of time to develop, the action was amazing, the strikes were stiff and Johnny plays an amazing underdog."
[6.0] "I will say that the match all the way to the strike exchange near the end was very good, a showcase of why these two are so great. They go move for move with each other. Not only do they come up with incredible counters for the others move but they actually learn to counter each other as the match is happening. However, there are several things that really hold this match back for me. Firstly, the strike exchange itself was good. However past that, it really felt that the match came to a screeching halt. This could have been fine had then Andrade's manager not interfered multiple times. I guess Gargano's wife coming in to put a stop to her tatics was a nice touch but it really did not need to happen. Lastly, I don't really like the ending, I really wish Andrade had won without those interferences as it really soured me on the ending as a result."
[10.0] "***** -- Quite simply one of the greatest matches of all time, and perhaps the most perfect one. The pairing here is exquisite, as a heel Andrade and his manager Vega manage to create perfect chemistry with Gargano throughout the entire match. Despite its length, and the standards of the "big match" Black & Gold formula, both men's finishers are well protected here, which only adds to the suspense that exists throughout. Emotional, impactful, hard-hitting, shocking, and executed at a degree of near-perfection, there is very little to pick apart here. On an individual level, Gargano gives what I believe to be his greatest performance, an essential example of why his NXT singles run was so adored. He sells his character's heart and soul on his face and his movements at an impeccable level, and simultaneously works in his skills with Andrade's to a degree that I nearly forget that both men aren't some of the greatest to ever step into the ring. A standard of excellence and perfection near-impossible to replicate."
[10.0] "Just a classic. The crowd is behind Gargano and both Zelina and Andrade play their roles to perfection. While there's a ton of counters it never feels over the top when it come to kick outs, since they both only hit their finishers once. a fantastic ending where Andrade look strong but wins in a heelish way but Gargano also gets put over since he lost by just one mistake."
[10.0] "Changing my score. What the actual fuck was I thinking giving this a 9 the first time I watched this? This is one of the most clear cut 10/10s possible. This is a perfect match. Gargano and Andrade have such a high level of chemistry that I think its in the top 10 best pairings. They work off of eachother so well with sequence after sequence with some of the greatest reversals in wrestling history. Every big move you can think from these two comes out and I genuinely think each and every move here is executed perfectly. Andrade kills it as a heel here with Vega being a big portion as to why. Her constant interferences make every possible end to this match a true shock. Gargano is one of the best wrestlers alive and puts on one of the greatest performances in wrestling history. You can feel every ounce of energy he has and every bit of his heart he lets out, refusing to quit or lay down no matter what Andrade does. There is not a single slow point to this match, its nonstop action of the highest caliber for half an hour. Even the ending was perfect with Andrade getting the win when nobody expected him to. And then just to make sure this is a 10, they have the return of Ciampa after the match. Just perfect wrestling. The greatest match in the career of Andrade for sure, but whats amazing is that this isnt even the best match of Garganos career. Fight forever truly. This is what I think of when I think of NXT."
[10.0] "Probably the best WWE match ever. There are enough comments describing what was great here, but I also remember this one being such a sleeper before the show, Almas was known by some parts of the fanbase, but he didn't have that huge standing as some darlings from the US indie scene, so many did not expect him to play that big role against Johnny Wrestling. Aleister Black vs Adam Cole was, pre show, as highly anticipated if not higher. And few people banked on a win by Andrade over Gargano. But then they went out and delivered exactly what Black and Gold NXT was all about, a true 10/10 wrestling classic where 0% was left in the ring. If you want to ciriticize something here, it's probably the finish stretch that is great but not among the greatest of all time, and the lack of a deeper story putting emotions into play like we've seen with Gargano & Ciampa. But it showed how great wrestling will always win people over, no matter the story, no matter the starpower. ****3/4"
[10.0] "I don't even know what to say, there is an NXT before this match and another NXT after this match. Both wrestlers gave the performances of their lives. One of the best fights in WWE history. One of my favorite. 10/10"
[10.0] "I remember at the time of watching this match I hadnt seen Gargano as singles guy yet so I was wondering what he would be like. Immediately he became my favorite in wrestling. This is my most shocking 10 star match. That might factor why I love this match but the wrestling is what makes it. Gargano showed me some of the best face work Ive seen in recent memory and Andrade had his best match to date."
[10.0] "This is one of Gargano's best matches in NXT, and maybe Andrade's best match in his entire career. From start to end the match is entertaining to watch, with a good mix of slow and fast-paced moments. Some people may not be a fan of the interferences during the match, but I loved them and thought that it helped the crowd get even more hyped for Johnny. My only minor complaint about the match would be that the selling did lack a bit at times (both competitors made the moves look devastating, but the recovery time was very fast). However this didn't take away anything from my enjoyment of watching the match, and this is still one of my favourite matches to this day."
[10.0] "Just thinking about this match makes me want to watch it again these two men put on a hell of a performance. I hold the belief that Andrade is or defiently was one of the best in the world and there is a reason Gargano used to get compared to the likes of Daniel Bryan because he can be that DAMN good."
[10.0] "This is one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. Johnnys underdog work was great. He made crowd cheer him and Andrade was very devastating in this match. Johnnys superkicks were just awesome. And I like Zelina and Candices interfere. Both superstars are good all rounder and they knew how to make wrestling match. One of my favorite matches of all time."
[10.0] "A classic. Super well constructed from start to finish. I haven't seen this match since it was broadcast live. A little disappointed at the beginning even if the sequences are very well executed and mastered. The rest of the match is impeccable. The crowd goes all out for Gargano. LeRae intervenes to stop Vega's interventions. It goes fast when it needs to and more slowly when it needs to too. It's great to see. (5*)"
[10.0] "I love how everything in this match looks so effortless and consequential, it's crazy to me that Johnny Gargano himself initially wasn't keen on the quality of this match for a couple of imperfection, not even full-fledged botches"
[9.0] "The selling was very good for an NXT match I just dont like the last second kick outs at every spot, it was very smooth and good and a great match."
[10.0] "This is probably the perfect wrestling match. A Heel you love to hate, and a Face you love to cheer. The finish leaves you wanting more but without the feeling of being cheated."
[10.0] "Miraculously good match. Gargano is very hit or miss for me, but here he gives his best performance ever. Very compelling as and underdog and willing to take an absolute beating from Andrade that doesnt go overkill. Andrade is someone I should really like more, but its strange to me that he doesnt have any more matches like this. Ffs someone just give him 30 minutes with another great wrestler. It's a shame we didnt get that in the other place, but I hope his return to the WWE lets him finally have more classics. The interference was also very tastefully done and executed, leading to a great moment in Candice attacking Selina. The ending with Ciampa is also -chef's kiss-."
[9.0] "[4.75*] This is perhaps the best match in NXT history, Gargano and Andrade have a historic match here. Andrade and Gargano are incredibly talented, their skill and agility always impresses me. Andrade's Spinning back elbow is one of the cleanest moves I've ever seen and Gargano's selling not only in this move but in the entire match was spectacular, he sells like no one else and always makes matches more dramatic. The end of the match was very exciting, both wrestlers were at their limit. The sequence of Superkick, Poisonrana and gargano escape was sensational. The only thing I didn't like about the match was Zelina Vega's interference, the rest of the match was an instant classic, the level they both reached was historic, WWE will never again be able to make a wrestling product as good as NXT Black and Gold."
[8.0] "Some good chain wrestling/grappling starts this, and it soon becomes clear that this is gonna be a capital w wrestling match. There are many great sequences, which keeps this from feeling spotty, but by about halfway we're in do a move/lay around for two minutes rinse/repeat mode. These guys do love to slap their leg, seems like NXT in 2018 was ground zero for this being done all the time. Audience solidly behind the babyface and several good near falls. The psychology is pretty solid, and there are some great bumps, but I don't see this as one of the best NXT matches of all time. It almost felt a little long but this match's final wind is pretty impressive, the zelina/candace moment hits pretty hard."
[8.0] "Gargano's suffering and withering in this match helped catapult Andrade's look soon after. The selling and counters were marvelous. Although I expected a better and more defining match because of the reception I've seen for it. Still, it was very fun to watch. (8/10)"
[9.0] "Ich bin kein Fan von Matches jenseits der 30 Minuten, aber ich muss anerkennen, wenn dies sehr gut umgesetzt ist. Das Geschehen empfand ich zu keiner Zeit als langweilig und beiden gelingt es dennoch sich von Minute zu Minute zu steigern. Es gibt gerade in der Schlussphase einige Set-pieces rund Zelina und auch Candice, die dem Ganzen Struktur geben, doch auch davon abgesehen ist dieses Match schon sehr nah an der Perfektion."
[9.0] "While the technical execution of the opening minutes were just fine, and the selling suffered in certain regions, these two put on one of the most memorable NXT Championship classics in the history of the black and gold brand. The moves were hit with crisp intensity; Andrade as agile as ever, Gargano having his first singles match in which he's the biggest underdog babyface in NXT, a role he'd suit perfectly for the next year or so. Zelina Vega was a great thorn in the side, and the inclusion of LeRae to take her out was well booked and properly timed. A lot of great nearfalls, especially in the closing stretch. Brutal spot with the running knees on the apron. Not a perfect, era-defining match, but perhaps the best main event a TakeOver would have ever seen up until that point in time. 4.75"
[10.0] "An amazing match. They do so much in this to build Gargano as the perfect underdog babyface and Almas is perfect as a brutal and vicious wheel. The involvement of Zelina and Candice is limited but very good to create tension (with a crowd chanting "thank you Candice"). 10/10."
[10.0] "Outstanding match. Both storytelling and in ring action at its best. Gargano and Andrade wrestling in the best match of their life. Excellent pacing, spectacular action, amazing storytelling and thrilling nearfalls. Even Zelina's interference helped in creating drama. The last few minutes from the involvement of Candice Lerae and to that one final brutal hammerlock DDT that drove the nail to Johnny Gargano's fairy tale story was just beautifully executed. Everything just clicked in the way I wanted. This was a true classic and easily one of my all time FAVOURITES. And although Johnny Gargano lost, he has gotten over much more than he ever had been before in his career. One of the best match in all of professional wrestling and My FAVOURITE WWE match of all time. This is professional wrestling at it's finest. *****"
[10.0] "This is the best wrestling match that I have ever seen in person. I remember at first I was not so sure that I liked the idea of Andrade vs Gargano being the main event, but both of them proved why they deserved to be top guys in NXT with this match. Andrade proved that he was not the weak champion that I thought he would be, and Gargano showed that he was capable of being an ultimate underdog that fans actually want to root for. Things would only get better for Gargano in particular, as Ciampa's return and attack on Gargano after the match would go on to set up what would become quite possibly one of the best wrestling feuds of all time. This era of NXT was truly something special."
[10.0] "One of the best matches of the NXT Black and Gold era and probably of WWE as a whole. I couldnt recommend this enough. 30 Minutes of pure excitement."
"10/10 one of favourite matches of all time. The match was near perfect with multiple false finishes, Candice LeRae attacking Zelina Vega was brilliant and the ending shot after the match with Ciampa was so well done. One of those matches I could happily watch multiple times."
[10.0] "This was just outstanding. These two men were on their absolute A-game on this night. Leaps and bounds above their match in Brooklyn, and I really enjoyed that match too. While what we saw in Brooklyn was a fun, fast-paced outing for both, this was their long-winded epic. I went into this thinking Almas was winning, but Gargano managed to make me believe a few times. He's just so good in the underdog role, and Almas works great as the cheating heel. Amazing main event here."
[10.0] "This was simply astonishing. I was not a fan of Andrade but this match made me one. If I want to make someone a wrestling fan I would simply ask them to watch this classic. This is NXT at its peak and this is what a championship main event should look like. Both men looked like freakin all timers in this. Arguably the greatest NXT match."
[10.0] "What a fucking incredible match this was. When I first watched this back in 2018, I was genuinely in awe of how good this match was. I knew that Andrade was most likely to retain, but Gargano makes you believe that he will overcome the odds and win, leading to some absolutely breathtaking near falls. And the crowd. Holy shit the crowd are insane for this match, and they are super behind Gargano as they go wild anytime he kicks out or hits a big move. And somehow, the match gets even better after it ends. After Andrade wins, Johnny receives a standing ovation, leaves the ring and stands at the top of the ramp, only for Tomasso Ciampa to come up behind him and attack him with a crutch, setting up the best rivalry in NXT history. This match is not only absolutely incredible, but it's extremely important to the history of NXT, as from this point forward, NXT went on an insane run of putting on the best wrestling shows in the world, with an insane roster of some of the best talent that the indies had to offer. *****"
[10.0] "In reviewing Zayn vs Nakamura at Takeover Dallas, I said that that was my favorite match ever, but not the best match I've ever seen. Well, this might be the best match I've ever seen (tied with Walter vs Bate at Cardiff). THIS IS WHAT A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH LOOKS LIKE. Caputred a big fight feel in all aspects, and a perfect example of letting the match be the story. Fantastic wrestling happens when you give talented athletes the opportunity to tell a story, and that's what happened here. Beyond perfect. 10+/10 / *****+"
[10.0] "Watching this match live made everything even better, I knew Andrade was going to retain the belt, but Johnny is such a good babyface and the match was so perfect that deep down I started to believe and with each move I was thrilled and thought what was going to happen, it turned out that Andrade retained it, Ciampa returned in the post-match and I had one of the best experiences possible as a wrestling fan (*****)"
[10.0] "The match that made me believe and love wrestling once again. I wasn't a real NXT fan the moment that I watched the first time, but since then I was full in."
[6.0] "This match is overrated. It feels more an exchange of moves than a proper match. One thing tha I like about this match is Zelina attacking Gargano and Candice entering to help him."
[9.0] "So much was happening so fast in this match. Commentary was solid and definitely deserves recognition also. Incredible delivery of moves throughout. One of the rare matches I really enjoy watching over and over again. It felt like the ending came at an awkward time, but nonetheless this was very entertaining."
[10.0] "The single greatest match I have ever seen and I was in the front row and I cant tell you how lucky I was to be there. This event and this match especially was amazing. We in the crowd were on the edge of our seats!"
[10.0] "The 2010's decade had a plethora of spectacular showdowns for some of the richest prizes in the league. This match is one among them and one of the best NXT Championship matches of its fascinating lineage. The story of Gargano pushing himself to the absolute limit to gain the biggest prize ever was magnificent as it carved a rocky path of failing constantly & blowing off his career almost for this. That shows the value of a mainstream championship and Gargano simply excelled in that "underdog" arc throughout. The same goes to Andrade for being such a desperate champion who reaches out for all the tricks in his bag in order to retain the title. From the starting minutes, the pattern of wrestling followed is top tier. Chain wrestling, hand fighting, momentum builders, comeuppances, rapid fire exchanges, emotion fueled moments within the combatants as well as from the outside sources - name the format, it'll be found here! This is not an over exaggeration; this is a lifetime example of how a wrestling match should be contested with high octane action & nail-biting sequences of emotions. Massive props to Zelina for her constant kindling of sparks that added more intensity, Candice for evening the odds in a captivating moment and the encore commentary team for presenting this combat on a world-class level. Andrade winning here not only brought a load of heat towards him, but also made his dominance feel real. Gargano's bigger target was known here as well which laid the foundation of one of the stupendous rivalries of the decade in Gargano vs. Ciampa. Full montage of 5 stars!"
[10.0] "the greatest professional wrestling match in the history of NXT, the athletical brilliance and excellently paced spots, this match had absolutely no flaws, beloved babyface johnny vs chicken shit heel andrade have unbelievable chemistry and built a real barnstormer"
[8.0] "This is, for my money, the best NXT match that they've ever put on. Gargano and Almas had unbelievable chemistry, and the addition of Zelena really completes Andrade."
[10.0] "Certainly in the top 5 best NXT matches of all time. The pace, the moves, the crowd, Zelina and Candice, everything works perfectly. This match has no flaws and should be shown in every wrestling school"
[10.0] "9.5. Still holds up and matches like this really have me hoping that AEW continue to puts andrade (and maybe gargano? ) In more situations like this."
[10.0] "This match is one of the first matches that really got me into more competitive styles and matches. It opened the door to the world of holds, "flippy stuff" and more, and eventually got me out of my previously closed wrestling mindset. Andrade and Gargano go past the limit in this match and it left me wanting more, which was given with the late 2010's of wrestling in NXT and NJPW."
[10.0] "This match is just amazing. The wrestling, the amazing sequence's they do, and the near falls and spots are just aw inspiring. This was Gargano's ultimate low, because even after losing the match Ciampa has to ruin everything for him even more. But the just adds to the long term storytelling NXT loves to do. This match is one of the best ever. *****"
[10.0] "Johnny wrestling has put on a classic with anyone he has wrestled, and the magnificent Andrade Almas is not an exception. A perfect finish that made both wrestlers look incredible."
[10.0] "*****- One of the best NXT Title matches ive ever seen, enjoyed it throughout and was on the edge of my seat at times, especially towards the end."
[10.0] "Every time I restart WWE Network, I came back to this match, even if I can watch this for free on YouTube anyway. The fight on the apron is amazing, and, of course, so is the other parts."
[10.0] "Um clássico, qualidade absurda dentro do Ringue, drama muito bem feito. Gargano faz o Underdog perfeito, enquanto Andrade junto de Zelina souberam manipular muito bem a platéia como Heels, sem dúvidas uma das melhores matchs na história do NXT, 5 Estrelas merecidas."
[10.0] "A masterpiece that was fully deserving of WWE's first five-star rating in six years. Gargano and Almas' feud, though it was fairly short, was one of the most memorable of NXT's run and produced one of the best matches in WWE's long history."
[10.0] "Pure perfection of a match between Gargano and Almas here and definitively a classic for the ages that will forever remain one of the most memorable matches of this decade without a doubt. I think anyone who comes to see this match whether it be hardcore fans, anti-NXT guys, those who never watch NXT or whatever, will immediately be IN LOVE by the content who's offered in this bout. I don't think anyone can argue with me on the impact this match had and the mark it left, four years later people are still talking about it as one of the most incredible matches to happen in recent years even comparing it to the legendary saga between Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega in New Japan Pro Wrestling. And I can tell you that this match deserves all the recognition it gets, it's not something that's overrated or overhyped, it's a match that's just tremendous from start to finish and with a clear STORYTELLING. You know, it's important to tell a story in wrestling and this is living proof that you can still do it in modern wrestling even with the inclusion of Superkicks or some no-selling sequences, everything about this match made sense and was exactly what it was supposed to be except for his result. Over thirty minutes and I enjoyed every single one of them as if I were rediscovering the match, and yet I see it multiple times since 2018. The action is interesting, relevant and compelling from the first to the last of those minutes in question. There's never a dull moment, everything is important, the crowd is DAMN LOUD and the commentary by Mauro Ranallo is fantastic. That nearfall when Gargano kicked out of the Hammerlock DDT is one of the most beautiful moments I've ever seen. Not only is it one of the best matches in NXT and WWE history, but it's more importantly one of the best pro wrestling match EVER."
[10.0] "My favourite match of all time. Just had absolutely everything you could possibly want from a match. Liquid mat wrestling. Hard-hitting strikes. Crazy, innovative moves/dives. Excitement. Intensity. Drama. Storytelling. Moments of entertaining magic like Candice attacking Vega. An emotionally resonant finish as the underdog just came up short again. Masterful. I've briefly tried here but in truth there are no words that sum up my adoration for this match. The peak of the art form in my opinion"
[9.0] "This was an absolutely spectacular match and was everything I want from wrestling. Had great action, a great villain and an absolutely lovable and awesome babyface that the live crowd was trying to will to victory and hell. The drama and the storytelling made me emotionally invested where the near falls, the teases, and the final 10-minutes almost had me out of my seat."
[10.0] "The best match of 2018, is a mixture of many things that made me love wrestling like never before, 32 minutes where andrade and gargano made an unforgettable performance, a perfect underdog was born that night, while the Mexican expanded his legacy as a convincing heel and Above all, with an impressive in-ring quality, the match is a set of everything, quality, psychology, elite selling, emotions, euphoric public, interventions, everything, we will rarely see something like this in WWE and in wrestling [* * * * *]"
[10.0] "A classic that ranks among the best matches in both WWE and NXT-specific history. Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega formed one of the best partnerships I have ever seen in how flawlessly they managed to bridge character work and unique managerial contributions in and out of the ring. On the other end, Johnny Gargano was about as over as a babyface ever has been. That inevitably created an electric environment that made every shocking strike, devastating grapple, and captivating near fall all the more exhilarating. There were extraordinary displays of counter wrestling, from the excellent trading of holds early on to the seemingly endless supply of tension-building exchanges of high-impact offense. There were masterful examples of storytelling, including the closing sequence and every one of the moments in which Gargano made one question if the match should continue. There were even remarkable moments with Vega, all leading to an almost Attitude Era type of finish including Candice LeRae and a remorseless approach by both champion and challenger. This match had everything you could ask for. And then some. A modern classic that helped establish NXT as the go-to destination for great American professional wrestling. 5 stars, 10 out of 10."
[10.0] "This, to me, is the greatest NXT and probably WWE in general match of all time. Either this or Walter vs Dragunov from this year. Johnny Gargano is incredible. Every single person who went through NXT and had a PPV match with him, that match is their greatest in the company and sometimes in their entire career. Cole, Ricochet, Ciampa, Kushida, Black etc. Andrade, while looking quite promising so far in AEW, was still at his best in NXT, his pairing with Zelina was perfection. This match was awesome, the chemistry between the two was amazing, not a single akward moment and the hope spots fueled even more by a crowd that was desperate for Gargano to win. Perfect pro wrestling. *****"
[10.0] "Mein persönlich liebstes NXT Match aller Zeiten. Ich hatte bei diesen Match über 30 Minuten meinen Spaß und wurde durchgehend unterhalten. Die Matcherzählung war perfekt. Almas durchgehend mit Heel-Aktionen und auch Zelina, die immer wieder eingriff, machten es Gargano nicht leicht, der die Rolle als absolutes Babyface natürlich perfekt widerspiegelte. Die letzten Minuten als dann auch noch Candice herauskam und Zelina vertrieb, waren an Dramatik fast nicht zu überbieten. Auch die Finishsequenz war sehr gut umgesetzt und rundete das ganze natürlich perfekt ab."
[9.0] "Undoubtedly the best NXT match of all time. Two guys with something to prove going out there and creating a fun technical match with big moves and layered psychology topped off by an incredibly hot if somewhat smarky crowd. Almas uses great traditional heel tactics to gain the advantage throughout, but Johnny's fire and quick snappy offense get him back in no time. Almas has few sections of complete control over Johnny, going for a more even match throughout rather than a traditional structure, but boy does Johnny take some great bumps. Almas and Vega brutalize Johnny, until Candice LeRae chases Vega off in a heartwarming moment. Gargano's back-of-the-head selling verges on legitimate concern sometimes, and that's the best kind of selling. The rope-hung Hammerlock DDT finish made both Almas and Gargano look incredibly strong. Possibly the greatest WWE-style match ever, this thing fires on all cylinders throughout and never lets up. It is a moment of wrestling joy where you just watch two of the greatest performers on the planet go out and have a 30+ minute main event that feels like 20. ****3/4, greatest NXT match of all time."
[10.0] "I think it is an absolute classic. This was Gargano at his best and hottest and he really carried Andrade up to a 5 Star match. Vega though is absolutely sensational as the heel manager."
[10.0] "Just watched the match again today. I now think the match dethrones Okada/Omega IV as the best match of 2018. Everything about this battle was perfect. The wrestling, the story, the emotion, the expressions, the chemistry, the crowd reactions. Everything was right. When I watched their match from August of 2017 I was incredibly impressed and saw that match was one of the best of that year. Little did I know that they'd put on one of the greatest wrestling matches of the century just five months later. *****"
[10.0] "This match gets me every single time, the drama, the nearfalls, Andrade's brutal work over Gargano + his emotional babyface performance made this one of the best matches of all-time, at least in america, perfect perfect, *****."
[10.0] "I've watched the kind of match that leaves you speechless at the end. It was amazing. It was complex, with different layers that all tied together, but at the same time just as simple, because it managed to get the reaction out of all the fans in the arena. Gargano's performance can hardly be beaten. Almas even though he didn't win the McIntyre match very cleanly, he looked like a true champion here, largely aided and abetted by Gargano. I'm overjoyed that he's finally found his character, and the addition of Zelina Vega has contributed a lot to Almas' rise. They have chemistry, and their characters fit, and her intervention in the match really made sense, because it gave Candice a chance to show up. In fact anything that happened in the match made sense, which reminds me of Daniel Bryan's ROH matches, apropos of the fact that the Bryan/Gargano comparison was made several times throughout the match."
[10.0] "I saw the full match on youtube and kinda missed seeing Andrade on Raw, and had never really watched NXT that much. This match was absolutely amazing and any wrestling fan should watch this."
[10.0] "One of those matches I will never get tired of watching. It's worthy of all the praise that it gets. One of the best matches of the past decade at least."
[10.0] "This was a great match. I'm not a fan of the NXT big match formula because they're pure "MAtCh Of thE yeAr" bait but this one was different. They had a good story and the classic heel/face dynamic. I've never loved Gargano as a babyface but he was good here. He fit the underdog role well against the cocky heel duo of Almas and Vega. The match has a fantastic pace. The chain-wrestling was smooth and slowly built to the fluid sequences. It felt very competitive and the crowd gradually got into it. Some psychology with Almas working over Gargano's back/neck. Gargano's worst habits are kept at a minimum here. Probably his least offensive big match performance. He's not overindulgent and most of his moves are delivered with good impact. He definitely whiffs a couple kicks and sells oddly but he was still really good throughout. Loved Almas getting vicious and slamming Gargano's head against the apron several times The Zelina/Candace ordeal was well executed too. The nearfalls were great and it never felt overkill. They might've missed their peak but i still enjoyed the ending with Almas capitalizing on his work on Gargano's neck. The double knees on the apron looked awesome. I think Gargano losing was the wrong choice but that doesn't effect my rating. Not an all time classic for me but still a terrific match that i always enjoy rewatching. ****3/4"
[10.0] "I didn't think these guys had it in them to keep a half-hour match interesting, but they sure showed me. This is one of the rare few times you get a smark-heavy crowd fully immersed with the traditional face/heel dynamic. None of that 'Let's go Gargano, Let's go Almas, ' dueling chant bollocks here. Every time Almas would look for a shortcut or his manager would interfere with the match, the crowd was calling for their heads. Johnny Gargano was one of the best babyfaces in wrestling at this time. His facial expressions were next level whenever he takes a brutal move and looked concussed. Speaking of brutal moves, they were plenty here and it never felt like they were there for the sake of popping the crowd. Just pure magic."
[7.0] "The beginning of the match was very cool but that's almost all, the building is not great but not bad, fortunately Andrade won when the whole match gave us the information that Andrade was gonna win. The lack of selling from Gargano is always a problem, and it's one big here, that bothered me a lot. It's not a bad match at all, like other overrated NXT matches can be, but it's not as good as it is described. ***1/2"
[10.0] "An excellent match, honestly it has everything, and the public is 100% committed, I could not describe what this great match has to do with it. without a doubt the best match for the NXT title."
[10.0] "This is my favourite match of all time and the moment watching live wrestling that I truly felt that this was the business for me. No matter what garbage they pull in future, NXT will always have a piece of my heart for this one."
[10.0] "Other than Sami Zayn vs. Pac I can't think of an NXT match this great. It's in some ways miraculous, mostly in how the structure managed to keep the worst impulses of Gargano in check. He still can't help himself with some of his selling choices but this was easily the most complete performance I've ever seen from him. And Andrade, who didn't get the nearly the credit for this match at the time, is absolutely incredible. Throw in some great pacing, especially in the back end of the match, Mauro at the height of his commentary powers and a great brawl involving Candice LeRae and Zelina Vega on the floor and this is among the best stuff you'll ever see from a WWE brand. The only major flaw really is that Gargano lost; the way the crowd reacts after he kicks out of the first Hammerlock DDT feels like a moment where he could've been made if he came back to win, and instead he loses just minutes later and it all feels very deflating (even with a good post match angle with Ciampa). Missed opportunity there, but everything else? Magnificent."
[10.0] "This match was special. Andrade Almas was just heating up, and showing the world (including me! ) that he was one of the best as NXT champion. Johnny Gargano, coming in during his feud with Tommaso Ciampa, was the most popular he has ever been with the crowd clamouring to see him become champion. What followed next was two performers with something to prove tearing the house down in wrestling and in storytelling. Not only did both men come out looking like stars, but they also made their case for being two of the best in the world. One of the greatest matches ever in NXT."
[10.0] "I think it would be accurate to call this natch one of the best ever in NXT history. Almas and Gargano were so fluid with their chain wrestling. Almas' running knees to the corners are so fast. I'm not really a fan of the diving stomp tree of woe spot, but they made it work. Zelina Vega also played an important role here and was a great manager. The commentary really pushed Gargano as the next Daniel Bryan, and at one point in the match, the crowd sure did react like this. I really liked the ending as well, the running knees to the ring post, the close up to Gargano's face was very dramatic. ****1/2"
[9.0] "I avoided this match for a while because I felt sure I would think it was overrated, but while I don't think it's an all timer like some do, I was surprised and pleased to find that I thought it was actually fairly great. I have my quibbles but a very hot crowd and a lot of good action takes this a long way, and who couldn't smile when Candice finally comes in and takes out Zelina?"
[10.0] "Sensationelle Leistung beider Worker! Langsamer Start mit einer Temposteigerung, bis beide Worker auf dem Zahnfleisch krochen. Die Eingriffe waren perfekt getimet und absolut passend! Die Crowd war durchgehend und komplett investiert. Auf jeden Fall eines der besten WWE Matches, das ich je gesehen habe! Zudem dürfte es ein klarer Match of the Year Kandidat 2018 sein!"
[10.0] "Brilliant match! Two wrestlers just showed their best skills in the ring and the crowd was totally hot, too. Almas did a very good job as a villain title defender, who used any means to stop Gargano from getting his title. Gargano sticked with the legal way to tryna beat Almas, but failed. The great storyline, superb arrangement, and extraodinary techniques made this match the best NXT title fight so far in my mind. (*****+)"
[10.0] "This is almost a perfect match. Everything clicked and worked. I'm not a fan of the outside interference but it didn't play a role in the outcome and only added to the intensity. Besides one extended rest hold, the workrate was off the charts. If I'm being overly picky it's ****3/4 but otherwise it's *****."
[8.0] "This is a good match don't get me wrong. But I personally feel like it's a little overrated. The sequences, while good, weren't all that breathtaking to me. And for whatever reason I couldn't buy into Johnny as the underdog. But the action was pretty great and the crowd really elevated the atmosphere."
[10.0] "Es ist lange her, als ich das letzte Mal 10 Punkte für ein WWE Match verteilt habe, aber dieses Match hat es auf jeden Fall verdient. Gargano ist für mich mittlerweile der beste Wrestler in der WWE und 2018 und vor allem dieses Match sollte ihn als diesen für mich etablieren. Von Anfang an gab es tolles Chain-Wrestling zu sehen und die beiden haben das Tempo sehr früh aufgenommen. Die Spots waren großartig und wunderbar in die Matchstruktur mit eingebaut und zu jeder Zeit flüssig. Es ist hierbei beachtenswert, wie gut das Pacing war, da es in den 30 Minuten zu keinem Zeitpunkt eine Downphase gab. Die letzten zehn Minuten waren dann vollkommen verrückt mit vielen fantastischen Kickouts, die auf eine Art und Weise von dem Publikum gefeiert wurden, wie ich es noch nie gesehen habe. Die Schlussphase selbst war etwas overbookt für meinen Geschmack, aber die Frauen haben ihre Rolle tadellos gespielt und am Ende hatte man eigentlich nicht wirklich das Gefühl, das die Begegnung durch das Eingreifen entschieden wurde. Das Finish selbst war gut, aber dann leider etwas zu eindeutig und ich hätte mir nach den Interferences vielleicht noch eine kleine Schlussphase mit Kontern gewünscht. Trotzdem war es für mich das beste WWE-Match seit den legendären Taker Matches bei Wrestlemania und natürlich auch das Match des Jahres in der WWE. **** 3/4 (1)"
[10.0] "Beautiful match, they put on a performance for the ages. I was scared that Zelina would ruin the match by screaming every 2 seconds but she actually added to the drama and, even with her interferences, Andrade looked like a true god. The atmosphere, the commentary, the talent, the story, all those things made this match one of the best in WWE's history. Definitely a match you have to see before you die. What a time to be a wrestling fan ! *****"
[10.0] "Without question the best WWE match I've ever seen. The story going in was small compared to the feuds that followed in NXT but was so simple that everyone could pick up on it: Gargano had lost his touch & now had worked his way into a title match with Andrade Almas, a man he'd never beaten before. Almas had his number in their prior outings & with the help of Zelina Vega by his side, tonight wouldn't be easy for Johnny Wrestling. It begins with some extremely smooth chain wrestling, each jockeying for position & even teasing their finishers early on. It results in a standoff each time, but it's clear Andrade is a slight step ahead, a tad more relaxed inside the ring. The chemistry between them is undeniable; they're both well-acquainted with the other's style, allowing each to break the other's sequence to take control. It also forces both competitors to get creative with their moveset, keeping an audience who've seen these two clash before on their toes. Gargano pulls out various manoeuvres we've rarely ever seen from him before this point, while Almas' craftiness keeps Gargano grounded when an opportunity arises. Momentum constantly builds throughout the match, with their offense & spots getting more brutal as it continues. There were several instances where either man could've won, and the kickouts only elevated the drama at hand. For all the crap Gargano gets from New Japan marks, he's tailor made for the role of an underdog, risking his body to gain the upperhand & fighting from behind when it works against him. There's clear tension, determination & palpable emotion here that doesn't fall into the realm of self-indulgence. It's anxious when Gargano's on the verge of losing only to stay alive at the last second & give the live fans a sigh of relief. It's cathartic seeing Candice get involved to neutralize Zelina. And it's absolutely heartbreaking seeing Gargano hit with the killing blow, but he came out just as much a victor. *****"
[10.0] "Eines meiner Lieblingsmatches.. Gargano ist einfach bei NXT der Topproduzent für hochklassige Matches. Einfach eines der besten Matches im Jahr 2018 (*****)."
[8.0] "Pretty good match. Both played their roles well. Gargano was a subdued face that the face rallied behind easily. Almas and Vega were great heels. Good stuff. There was a nice tempo for the entire match. Not much downtime. Both guys kept on moving to keep the competitive tone of the match up. The crowd was quiet at first but got really into it by the end. There were a few sequences that looked a bit awkward but it was generally smooth and well set up. I did think that they went slightly too long, missing their peak, and some of the offence felt recycled. ****"
[10.0] "What a match! This is by far the best match in NXT, I remember screaming in front of the computer every single time Gargano and Almas kicked out of a move. Johnny is an amazing underdog and one of the best american wrestlers, not only in WWE! *****"
[10.0] "I'm the type of person that has trouble going back and rewatching any match even if they're one of my all time favorites. This one, however, never gets old and is breathtaking every time I see it. This really was the gold standard for wrestling. From the action to the overall story this match was simply brilliant. (*****)"
[8.0] "Gutes Match, nicht weniger aber halt auch nicht mehr. Für mich ist es insgesamt dann doch deutlich überbewertet. Ist aber Kritik auf hohem Niveau."
[10.0] "9. 6/10 - #1 Best of 2018 : Here we go... What did we just witness. It has been around 10 hours since the match has finished and I am still reeling and fanboying over this "top 7 WWE matches of all time"-worthy masterpiece ! It was incredible, let me extend that, it's in the top 7 matches I ever watched ALL promotions included ! Put away Alpha vs Omega, push aside Naito vs Okada : THIS is the match of the year and it's only January. I would be more than surprised if anything tops this this year and it won't be an easy task. This hands down at least a 5 stars match if Meltzer's ratings are anything to go by. And if he gives it less then his hypocrisy would reach inhuman proportions. Nothing from WWE last year even inches close to this match and he gave away 3 4. 75 Stars matches. So I wouldn't be surprised if this gets more than 5. I am still blown away by this. I was privileged to watch this match live, and when it comes to my rating it's with a heavy heart that I can't give it 10/10. Not because of the wrestling, oh hell no (although if they can figure out how to make those first 10 minutes of mat wrestling less boring that would make this match even more perfect if that makes any sense). Not because of the storytelling, OH HELL TO THE NO. But for the star factor, by giving this 10/10 I would be saying it's the best wrestling match I have ever seen and it just doesn't feel like that because of how "small" of a star each of these two is. I can't just say the best match of all time is... Johnny Gargano vs Andrade Almas, it just doesn't sound right. And that's why it's important to create stars and make no mistake about it this match just made these two of the biggest stars in pro wrestling today. The wrestling is perfect and if two of these (Shinsuke, Styles, Seth, Cena, Finn, Owens) had had this match between them I would have surely given it 10 out of fucking 10 ! A privilege and an honor to have watched this match live."
[10.0] "What a freakin' match! NXT always delivers, but this was on another level. Perfection at it's best. Incredible storytelling, incredible psychology and top notch wrestling. *****+."
[8.0] "A very good match for sure, but I think it's a little bit overrated. There have been better NXT Championship matches (Zayn vs Neville still being the peak) but this is a damn great match and just judging the body of work of the two men you can't really go below ****."
[10.0] "Such a brutal match; both guys, in particular Gargano, take such a helluva beating. Sometimes that's all you need to have a classic championship match - just two guys trying to destroy each other over it. Gargano's babyface work in this is just wonderful, Almas' is absolutely nasty with his offense + the whole Zelina/Candice deal was executed perfectly. ****1/2"
[9.0] "Even though I didn't think this reached the 5-star level for me, it was certainly a fantastic match that delivered on all the hype surrounding it. For starters, both Gargano and Almas proved to be fascinating characters, with Gargano being the perpetual underdog that never gives in and Almas being the arrogant heel with a newly-acquired killer instinct from his manager, Zelina Vega. The match thus highlighted these two qualities, as throughout the match, Almas worked over Gargano's neck, which Gargano sold magnificently. This got both me and the red hot Philly crowd invested emotionally in Gargano, so every time he pulled off his great offense, he made you believe he could pull off this huge upset. Almas on the other hand got more and more vicious as the match wore on, desperately trying to snuff out any sort of fight Gargano had in him, but Gargano seemingly had an answer for everything with his unparalleled resilience. Of course, Almas still had Zelina in his corner, and she attempted to sabotage Gargano's momentum and succeeded... until Gargano's wife stepped in. Even though, it seemed the playing-field was even, Gargano had taken just too much punishment to his neck, which Almas capitalized on with a brutal double-knee strike into the post and draping hammerlock DDT. Just an all-around amazing match with great physical action, brilliant pacing, and immense drama. Certainly one of the best in NXT history. **** ½-¾"
[10.0] "The story told here is just so powerful: Johnny Gargano the ultimate underdog, coming off a terrible 2017 following the dissolution of his tag team with Tommaso Ciampa and a subsequent losing streak, who has fought back on the comeback trail. Andrade "Cien" Almas is the champion, the man seemingly destined for glory by birthright with his third generation wrestling lineage, with all the momentum having recently gained the belt, and crucially, already holding two wins over Gargano. This was one of the best types of wrestling story, where your logical brain tells you Almas likely holds onto the belt until the big WrestleMania weekend show to drop it to Aleister Black while Gargano goes off to fight Ciampa, but Gargano draws you in and emotionally invests you to the point where you're thinking maybe, just maybe, he might upset those expectations... Not that this is a one man show. Both Gargano and Almas are superb here. For all the talk about how some folk are great in the indies or Japan and not the same once they hit WWE, you could argue both these guys have hit a whole other level in NXT this year. It's like watching Bret Hart in 1992 or Shawn Michaels in 1995, including the excitement of knowing there's potential for both to get even better. I love the story of Almas at first being one step ahead of Gargano at every turn, until Gargano digs deep and matches him, then Almas tries obliterating Johnny with the big moves, but Gargano won't quit and brings the fight right back. Then Zelina Vega, playing her role to the hilt, gets involved. At every stage, the crowd are right there in the palm of their hands, utterly invested in every moment, which is as essential to the match's success as any of the incredible moves and exchanges featured. Kudos also to Mauro Ranallo for some all-time great commentary."
[10.0] "Bisher definitiv das WWE Match des Jahres und eines der stärksten Matches überhaupt in den letzten Jahren der WWE. Beide zeigen hier absolut großartiges Wrestling in einem atemberaubenden Tempo. Mehrmals kippt das Momentum binnen weniger Augenblicke und zum Schluss weiß man überhaupt nicht mehr wie das hier jetzt ausgehen soll. Das hat zuletzt kaum ein WWE Match bei mir so geschafft. Auch die Eingriffe der Damen passen hier gut rein und bringen zusätzliches Drama mit ins Spiel, ohne das Match selbst abzuwerten. Einzig der Goodfeel Moment am Ende bleibt einem verwehrt, weshalb man im ersten Moment enttäuscht ist, als das Match endet. Ansonsten schlicht und ergreifend ganz großes "Kino" was die beiden hier abliefern, welches den starken Matches bei NJPW in nichts nachsteht und das als WWE Match! *****"
[7.0] "Mich hat dieses Match nicht so sehr beeindruckt wie manch anderen. Die Spannung und die Geschwindigkeit in diesem Match waren gut, aber ich mochte das es sich in eine Aneinanderreihung von Spots verwandelt hat und das Ende empfand ich auch eher als Abschwächung des Matches."
[9.0] "Even though this is not exactly really my type of a match or nowhere near 5 stars IMO, i´m basing my rating on the athletic delivery(and stuff mentioned below) alone, which makes it a 9 for me, because it was exceptionally good. The illusion of competition and raw athleticism, little story addition and momentum with the crowd is what made this match. First the positives; Conditioning and skill at the peak level is always nice to see. The tempo with the chains of moves that they were able to keep up almost the whole match was impressive. It obviously was a great effort and a tremendous athletic showdown with a great deal of physicality. Candice looking worried for her fiance and taking out Almas valet was a good story element. Negatives: The actual action inside the ring did not have a great length of psychological depth or even heel/face dynamic. Not that every match needs to have, but for such obvious heel/face starting point you would expect a lot more of that from a big ME WWE match like this. There was a moment where i zoned out for a while. Setting up for the next spot was very visible at some points. (For example the reversed ´rana) Gargano shows exhaustion well but not really pain that much. Gargano going over would have made the Candice interference meaningful. Now it was; you take out the heels valet and the heel still beats you almost clean. At times with all the yelling by the announcers & crowd and all the indy wrestling cliches and chants packed in to one was a just too much to handle. In closing: half an hour of hard athletic performance art deserves to be praised, but not maybe in the scale such as what this has received. Great performance but not even close to being among the greatest matches as a "big production match. " (Lacked in planning, drama, dynamic & psychology)"
[9.0] "This was the best WWE match i've seen in a very long time. Both guys were amazing in this match. The finish did feel somewhat deflating though and it seemed like the crowd didn't really react to it much. Everything leading up to it though was fantastic. ****3/4"
[9.0] "Ein wirklich sehr starkes Match und für WWE Verhältnisse brilliantes Match von beiden ... bin seit Jahren und auch schon zur DGUSA Zeit ein großer Gargano Mark und Johnny macht es auch hier wieder fantastisch ... spielt gut mit der Crowd zeigt super Aktionen und schöne Konter und hat mit La Sombra hier auch den richtigen Gegner ... Aber 5 Sterne sind für mich hier übetrieben ... 9 Punkte und 4 1/2 Sterne sinds"
[5.0] "Beide Wrestler bringen bei mir nichts rüber, beide finde ich solide aber eher überbewertet. Trotzdem habe ich das Match mir sogar 2 Mal angesehen um auch diese Begeisterung zu haben wie fast alle anderen. Das Match hat mich aber durchgehend eher gelangweilt als unterhalten. Dabei wollte ich es doch einfach nur lieben. Aber trotzdem schön für alle die es so sehr genießen konnte, dann habt wohl ihr ein sehr gutes Match und ein Erlebnis mehr zum zukünftigen Ansehen als ich."
[10.0] "This is the best WWE can offer. Almas and Gargano walked in the ring as totally unworthy of main eventing a Takeover, and instead showed everybody that they were two of the best of the roster, hyping the crowd with a lot of strong attacks and incredible near falls."
[5.0] "Apparently disliking this match means I have "no idea about wrestling in general", lmao. This was a small-time indy mess. Zero psychology and basic 50/50 work which suddenly went to big move overkill. It honestly felt like Almas and Gargano just retconned the entire match on the fly to get to the 'good' stuff. There was literally zero story before they started randomly hitting each other with big moves. Almas worked over Gargano's back for like a tiny amount, but Gargano never sold it to any meaningful extent and Almas never worked over the back again. That was the only slightly psychological aspect I could see. I got totally desensitised to these two hitting their big moves on each other after the first few times it happened, but then it just kept going and going. It reached ridiculous levels, since it wasn't even like this was the type of match with a story befitting such an 'epic' structure. A few things about Gargano also annoyed me. Firstly, his selling is pretty bad. I don't mean limb-selling, I mean selling of exhaustion and pain. His facial expressions look comical with his dead eyes and lips and cheeks constantly filling up and blowing out with air. It was hard to take him seriously. Secondly, maybe I'm mistaken but it felt like he was stealing a lot of noticeable moves from NJPW talent. He took Ospreay's Cheeky Nandos, Omega's standing reverse frankensteiner, Ibushi's lawn dart into the turnbuckle and double moonsault, and Scurll's 'just kidding' superkick. It felt far too coincidental for Gargano to just so happen to use so many signature moves from wrestlers all from the same Japanese promotion. It made Gargano appear sort of uncreative. Gargano's own offence often looked extremely contrived and weak too. Both wrestlers' moves seemed to lack proper connection all throughout. Vega and LeRae's interference didn't add anything imo. An alright match but far too focussed on being trademark epic. **3/4"
[10.0] "No doubt that this was top 3 matches of NXT (if not the top match) along with the Revival vs DIY and Sami Zayn vs Adrian Neville. Great story. Gargano is the best babyface in wwe since Bryan and Zayn. Some awesome sequences and the typical hot crowd that is usual in the Takeovers events. 4 3/4 stars **** 3/4."
[10.0] "Ich hatte hohe Erwartungen an dieses Match - und die wurden alle übertroffen. Andrade ist als Asshole-Heel so so viel besser als als farbloser Lucha-Babyface, Vega tut ihr Übriges dazu. Fantastische Kombo zur Zeit. Verstehe sowieso nicht, wieso man den Superstars aus dem Ausland, deren Englisch noch nicht so gut ist, nicht viel öfter einen Manager an die Seite stellt. Ich meine, der Mann wurde vor Monaten noch als Flop, "der eh bald wieder in Mexiko ist" betitelt. Zu Johnny muss denk ich nicht mehr viel gesagt werden: dass er tolle schnelle Matches mit vielen Kontersequenzen und schönem Matchstory liefern kann war ja bekannt. Aber sein Selling hier war in Sachen "Underdog-Face" so ziemlich das beste, was man zumindest in den USA in den letzten Jahren gesehen hat. Erinnert doch auch ein bisschen an den NXT-Werdegang von Sami Zayn - hoffentlich dann auch mit dem großen Feel-Good-Moment am Ende. Das einzige was mich ein wenig traurig macht, ist, dass die WWE (bzw voraussichtlich Vinnie) nicht viel mit dem prototypischen Underdog-Face anzufangen weiß. Befürchte dass, wenn Johnny irgendwann ins Mainroster darf, er da in der Undercard untergehen wird. Aber das ist Zukunftsmusik. Für dieses Match von mir ganz klar 10 Punkte!"
[10.0] "La mejor pelea de NXT de todos los tiempos, un combate que al principio tenia como una rivalidad ya vista y como que floja de otro punto de vista, pero se vio prometedor tan solo verlo desde el Main Event, y VAYA QUE SI! , Le dieron todo en el Ring, apoyaba a Johnny Gargano pero no hubo algún problema con que ganara Cien Almas, Me quede satisfecho con este combatazo."
[10.0] "This was a fantastic match, with a ton of story added to compliment great in-ring work. Gargano is really a marketable babyface, and the WWE would be foolish not to capitalize on that. His selling in this match as top-notch, as he invoked a ton of sympathy from anyone watching. Almas is just a joy to watch in this match -- mixing ruthlessness with confidence and of, course the cherry on the top is Zelina Vega. Her barking order, her continued interference in the tail-end of the match, leading to Candice LaRae getting involved. Maybe the wrong person won, but I think the match did an amazing job getting us invested and is truly worthy of all the praise."
[9.0] "Wow! Johnny Wrestling and Almas put on a show! Great effort by both men. NXT found something very special putting these two together. Instant Classic!"
[10.0] "Das NXT Championship-Match liefert dann nicht weniger als das beste WWE-Match seit ewigen Zeiten. Eine bessere Story im Vorwege und hier entsteht ein echter Klassiker, aber auch so liefern die Herren ein sehr starkes Match. Aufbau, Pacing (geniale Steigerung), Intensität und Dramatik sind auf einem hohen Niveau. Die Kontersequenzen und das Wrestling sind absolut überzeugend. Der Part der Damen fühlt sich authentisch an und zerfleddert das Match nicht. (*****)"
[9.0] "So many matches these days feel contrived when they put the climax in the middle and then have kick-out after kick-out. And of course the impeding "This is Awesome" chant is about to come when that happens. While redundant, is no fault of the performers. It worked here. Because despite the climax in the middle, it never really felt like it ever ended like a lot of kick-out fests do so very often, usually in WWE TV matches. I admit I haven't seen some of the earlier NXT, but I've watched wrestling since the mid 80's so I'm a pretty good judge of talent, and I've reviewed for multiple websites. Not going to get to carried away here but the chain wrestling intro is always a favourite of mine, and I'm not to hard on "FINISHES". If the finish is bad, it doesen't really make a difference to me. Not a big one anyway. Mind Games 96 Shawn-Mankind, Austin-Rock WM X7, Savage-Steamboat WM 3 are three of the greatest matches ever, all three in my top 25 and have pretty stupid endings. This one here wasn't even that bad to begin with and its the only "flaw" this one has. A very short and fun 32 minutes for Wrestling purists, or even the casual fan. Top notch, best NXT match I've seen. **** 3/4"
[10.0] "Nobody expected this match to be so good. Professional wrestling at it's finest. One of the best matches I have ever seen. Everyone got really emotionally invested in it."
[10.0] "Andrade Cien Almas (c) vs Johnny Gargano NXT Championship - Good lord I was completely blown away by this match. Johnny Gargano is a fantastic wrestler in terms of getting you emotionally invested in a match whilst Andrade played his role perfectly. Some of the moves and sequences in this match had me on the edge of my seat shaking(which is a very much rarity in itself) whilst I was excited wondering what on earth is coming next. The Candice interference was played at the perfect time to take out Vega(who played her role as well fantastically in this match as well) and the Gargano Escape had me at the end because I thought it was gonna be the end of the Almas reign. The Double Knees on the apron were brutal and Gargano looked out of it at that point whilst the finish I was perfectly satisified with because those two had just gone through an absolute war. This is professional wrestling at it's finest. [*****]"
[10.0] "The guy who put a 5 has no idea about Wrestling in general. This match marked a before and after in the life of both competitors. Pure wrestling in the broadest sense."
[6.0] "Not my favorite match of all time but It's still a great match and worth a watch. Awesome to see those 2 superstars working so great. I understand who love's this match, but for me, just not worth the hype. But still good."
[10.0] "This is the best NXT match ever and Johnny Gargano is one of the best sellers I have ever seen in wrestling. He manages to look totally destroyed just from facial expressions yet at no point does it feel hammy, just pitch perfect. The structure of this match is so excellent, it feels fairly conventional in the opening but then takes you on so many twists you really don't know what's gonna happen next. When's the last time a WWE match had so many believable nearfalls, and yet the match never feels like it's peaked too early? The multiple acts of interference from Zelina Vega really added to the match by adding more insurmountable odds Johnny is having to overcome, and Candice kicking her ass was a great resolution to it that delighted the crowd. You really feel how totally invested they are in the outcome of the match and they're totally behind Johnny, and not in a "I hope the booker made him win" way."
[10.0] "They haven't the best status in NXT roster, according to a Championship match, but the building of this match is satisfactory with a good babyface Gargano's promo and good Zelina Vega's trash talking in the previous NXT shows. The match is huge. There are excellent fighting actions, a very good booking with Candice LeRae and Zelina Vega interferences. The selling is very good, about Gargano he sells well the back injury. The underdog role emerges in a perfect way. The crowd is hot. This two perfomers deserved a better status, that could have brought the match better even more."
[10.0] "It's been a long time since I can watch a match and think once it's done that it was a 'perfect' match. But I can say after watching this match it gets the 'perfect' tagline - people will be referencing this match for the rest of both mens careers. They've had excellent careers pre-WWE/NXT, but now they've stepped it up to a whole new level and have been given an opportunity to get more eyes on each other; therefore growing their popularity with crowds. The crowd, the announcing, the outside shenanigans involving both men's managers/wives also is added to how great this match actually is. Watching live you're on the edge of your seat waiting for more, waiting to see who'll pull of their finisher to get the win. As a fan you want to see Johnny Gargano finally win the big one and beat the heel Almas and finally claim to win the big one.. but when he loses cleanly it leaves you wanting more, it leaves you with the excitement of what can Gargano do next to have another opportunity at the NXT Championship and redeem his loss. I should add that this is their third match in their trilogy and I recommend everyone watches their two previous matches as well to see how they've studied each other and know what each competitor is going to do before they do it."
[8.0] "the match was pretty good but the "one.. too. sweet" chant maked it way less enjoyable, also i don't understand why this match gets that much praise , it's good but it clearly lacks in ring psychology and storytelling"
[10.0] "5 Sterne! Dieses Match hatte alles, was ein Match haben. Man hatte zwei glaubwürdige Akteure, der eine der liebenswerte Good Guy, der mit seinem Partner große Erfolge feierte und von eben diesem Partner brutal hintergangen wurde und auf dem Boden war und sich dann aber bis zu diesem Match wieder hocharbeitete und hier nun wieder den nächsten großen Erfolg einfahren wollte. Auf der andere Seite den Bad Guy, der durch seine Managerin bis zum Titel kam und das Kryptonit des Good Guys ist, da er und seine Managerin dessen Vergangenheit brutal psychologisch gegen ihn ausspielen. Dazu gab es eine grandiose Matchstory, die sich immer und immer weiter aufbaute über einen ausgeglichenen Schlagabtausch hin zu einem Moment, wo der Good Guy am gewinnen ist und dann doch nicht gewinnt, weil der Bad Guy doch noch einen Trick aus dem Hut zieht (hier: Zelina Vega). Ein weiteres Puzzle-Stück in diesem Match dann, dass mit Candice LeRae auch die Ehefrau von Johnny Gargano anwesend ist und sich ansieht wie ihr Ehemann dieses Match bestreitet und wieder und wieder kurz vorm Sieg ist, die sich ansieht wie ihr Mann wiederholt betrogen wird und bei der dann auch die Sicherungen durchbrennen und die sich einmischt in dieses Match! Abgeschlossen wird das ganze dann durch eine sehr spannende Schlussphase, in der Mann als Zuschauer mit beiden Ergebnissen rechnet. Ein Happy End, bei dem der Good Guy den Bad Guy besiegen kann und dabei auch sein Trauma überwindet. Genauso aber rechnet man mit dem Gegenteil. Der Heel hat alle Tricks ausgespielt, oder hat er vielleicht noch was in petto? Man fiebert mit, ist drin in dem Match und dann kommt das Finish! In dieser Geschichte kein Happy Ending, sondern ein erneut geschlagener Guter, der nun von seiner Ehefrau getröstet wird und das ganze Publikum wünscht sich es ihr gleichzutun, während der Heel sich für seinen Sieg feiert und diesen erneuten Triumph in vollen Zügen auskostet und zelebriert. Ein absolut fantastisches Meisterstück! 10 von 10 Punkte!"
[8.0] "I heard a lot of buzz around Almas vs Gargano at NXT Takeover : Philadelphia. A lot of people rated it a 5 stars, so I decided to watch it. Imma be completely honest with you, that was the best WWE match I watched in a long time. Everything was great compared to what wwe have been giving us BUT the finish was kinda off and lame. I mean the finish wasn't as exciting or special as I expected, you just can't have a simple "wwe finish" after having an intense and brutal match with awesome sequences. Don't get me wrong that was an amazing match overall but I'll never call it a classic or a 5 star. I'm not saying Gargano should've kicked out after Almas' finisher. They could've simply done something cool before hitting the finisher. I don't know, maybe I'm used to NJPW finishes which are exciting af. Not two guys laying down and one getting up slowly and hitting the finisher to end the match like it was a normal wwe match when it wasn't. It's just my opinion. (****½ from me)."
[10.0] "I know the year is young, but this could easily the match of the year in WWE. While you could tell the ending deflated the arena a little bit, Gargano doesn't need the title to be over huge. Sets up one last bug feud before he can be the underdog on the main roster that Sami Zayn should have been."
[10.0] "That was the best damn match from WWE i`ve ever seen in my life. Johnny Wrestling proved all fans that he is Perfect Face in modern wrestling history. And Almas... Hell, the best work i`ve seen from him. These guys did phenomenal job. *****"
[10.0] "Absolutely excellent. Everything about this match came together so well. The build of Johnny Wrestling getting betrayed, losing his touch and finding his way again to earn a title shot, Almas the former carefree party goer and new champion trying to establish himself as a top guy. Both with something to prove. The match was action from start to finish with beautiful pacing, great move execution and all round great psychology. The story told in the match was perfect - Gargano the underdog with everything to prove to the world, going against the defending champion who has recently turned his career around with the help of Zelina Vega. I love how they'd get the crowd hyped up with a great sequence, then bring them down again only to build up more excitement with the next sequence. the near falls, and near submissions were intense - and the wildcard of Zelina Vega and her interference made the false finishes more intense. Adding to the drama, and changing the pace of the match was Candice LeRae taking Vega out of the match. Overall this match felt like a rollercoaster, with both men looking like they were about to win the match at multiple times. In the end, the finish was decisive, and cemented Andrade as NXT's top talent, but Johnny Wrestling came out of the match looking like a warrior. He endured so much and put up one hell of a fight. Perfection. After it was all said and done, Jonny Gargano gets his ovation from the crowd and walks off with is wife and all is well with the world. Until Ciampa attackes Johnny from behind, now continuing their multi-year story."
[10.0] "What an amazing match! Both Gargano and Andrade put up stellar performances, the match was paced to perfection and had drama till the last moment. I think the ending was awesome too. **** 3/4."
[10.0] "Denke, zu diesem Match wurde mittlerweile tatsächlich schon alles gesagt. Almas und Gargano stellen hier ein absolutes Sahne-Match auf die Beine, das nicht nur von den großartigen In-Ring-Skills der Beiden lebt, sondern auch vom überragenden Storytelling. Schön zudem, dass Ciampa erst nach dem Finish returned. Weltklasse-Match! (*****)"
[10.0] "Wow. Just Wow. I knew this was going to be great, especially after their amazing match at TakeOver Brooklyn III (****1/2 for me), but this was on another level. Shit, this was amazing. The high level of drama that they created, the psychology, the story of Gargano having to overcome everything to become champion. Man, this was on another level. I loved it, I absolutely loved it. This is the first WWE match that I'm giving this rating on this decade. Congrats, Almas and Johnny. *****"
[10.0] "I must admit i was no very hyped to this match, but the resolution of the match was perfect. Exceptional timing, great moves, almost botchless and a great storytelling with the right interferences. A phenomenal match that will surelly help Gargano and Andrade in a moment when the latter one was made champion in the last minute"
[10.0] "Best NXT match ever, in my humble opinion. While the Zayn/Neville classic always holds true in my heart, this match told an incredible story. It's wild looking back at where Cien Almas was last year and how he has become one of the best things on NXT while being one of the most talented guys on the roster. Gargano's story as an underdog really worked perfectly and every sequence in the match seemed carefully made to advance this fact and make you believe in Johnny even more! While a shame that Johnny did not win, I don't think that takes away from the match since there is still a story to be told between them and the obvious Gargano/Ciampa match that looms in the horizon. *****"
[10.0] "This match was a stone cold classic that absolutely smashed my (already high) expectations. The guys told a beautiful story of Gargano refusing to give up, constantly getting closer and closer to victory. An important aspect of said story was how brilliantly Almas, but especially Gargano played their parts as heel and face respectively. Johnny is a rare natural babyface and tonight he gave the performance of his life, having the people behind him and never losing them. The contest itself was a masterclass in counter-wrestling. An intense, back and forth epic, filled to the brim with spectacular sequences, exhilarating near-falls and dramatic moments. Everything they did had purpose and was executed perfectly. By the end of the night, Almas had solidified himself as worthy champion and Gargano had become possibly the most popular wrestler in the company. A true masterpiece. *****"
[10.0] "This is the greatest NXT match ever. It has everything. Great grappling, pacing, told an enthralling story and flew by quickly. Andrade Almas and Johnny Gargano are two of the most talented performers in the world, and they continued to prove that at TakeOver Philadelphia."
[10.0] "Vielleicht das beste NXT aller Zeiten. Unfassbarer ME und ein MOTYC, ich habe mir schon gedacht dass das Match gut wird, aber ich habe jetzt nicht so einen Klassiker erwartet. Gargano mit passt einfach perfekt als Babyface und Almas mit Vega verkörpern ein starkes Heel-Duo. Die Sequenzen, das Storytelling, das Drama einfach alles hat hier gestimmt. Schade, aber das Gargano hier leider nicht gewinnen konnte(*****)."
[10.0] "I knew this was going to be good but damn, Almas and Gargano put on one of the best WWE matches of the past decade. I can't believe this was 32 minutes because I was on the edge of my seat for the entire thing. Everything was just perfect. The pacing, the drama, the back and forth, the outside interference. And it also furthered the Gargano underdog story line which left us all thirsting to eventually one day see him climb the mountain. And make no mistake, Almas is a superstar and he was rewarded even further with a near 30 minute performance in the rumble the following night. Talk about worth the price of admission."
[10.0] "This match was amazing. *****. Best WWE match since Nak/Zayn at Dallas Takeover in 2016. Early MOTY candidate. Almas has successfully went from an NXT flop to a star. His early days at NXT we? re a bit rough, and I figured he? d be going back to CMLL or NJPW eventually. I? m glad to have been wrong."
[10.0] "I'm far from an NXT mark, but this is a deserved *****. The best match from NXT I've seen, which honestly puts it up among the best WWE matches ever. Truly excellent from start to finish. Still catching my breath."
[10.0] "Wow this was way better than I expected it to be! Johnny was amazing as the underdog who finally wanted his moment, and Cien was great on top as well, just dominating and mauling Gargano every chance he got. Everything that happened in this match, clicked so damn well. (*****)"
[10.0] "This match is piece of art , what a incredible display of wrestling , Perfect storytelling , perfect reversals, nearfalls , even the intervention of Candice , wow just perfect a ***** without any doubt."
[10.0] "Andrade Almas (c) -vs- Johnny Gargano - (NXT Title) [**** 3/4] This is the type of match you can ramble on and on about, or just say "This was epic style delivered right! " Almas came across as a true champion while Gargano was the heart and soul ? pumping hard! Amazing match which has got to be one of the main picks for Match of the Year 2018 regardless of it only being January!"
[10.0] "Excellent match. I wonder people who talk about "psychology" even know what it is. Gargano as the never-say-die babyface and Almas as the arrogant but great heel play their parts perfectly. It is paced very well building up to the conclusion. Some great moments like Candice beating the fuck out of Vega and the great post-match angle. Early contender for MOTY. Better than anything on Wrestle Kingdom. *****"
[10.0] "Wow. I heard this match was good, but I was honestly not expecting it to be THAT good. Easily the best NXT match I have ever seen. The storytelling, pacing, and psychology were all fantastic. Andrade's relentless attack on Gargano's neck was top notch heel work, and Gargano sure know's how to play a good babyface. I will also add that this match had a type of intensity that I haven't seen from a WWE match in a long, long time. Easy MOTYC. *****"
[10.0] "Amazing selling from Gargano. The crowd were so hot, which elevated the match from a mere contest to a battle. Really liked how they set up some of the spots - especially the cheeky nando's kick and the (first) double stomp to make them seem more legitimate. *****"
[10.0] "This might be one of the greatest matches I've ever seen. Technical, hard-hitting, and full of excellent psychology, these two tore the house down. Gargano is fantastic here, getting more and more desperate as the match goes on and shows a lot of heart, and Almas gets frustrated with Gargano's numerous counters and his inability to keep him down for the three. Easily recommend to any fan of wrestling. (*****)"
[10.0] "I honestly cannot say that I have seen a match from WWE this AMAZING since the RR '15 triple threat, or maybe even since MITB Cena vs Punk. This had a perfectly built story with a pace that went from slow (for good reason as they were coming off an extreme rules match) to intense when both guys started pulling out all the sick moves and amazing sequences. Don't take that the wrong way though as this was not your stereotypical "movez" match as there was fantastic selling from both guys, especially Gargano. Add in a really hot crowd with delicate storytelling featuring Zelina and even Candice getting involved, all the stars aligned (figurativly and literally). Can't believe I am able to say a WWE match will most likely be in my top 10 MOTY, but here we are, and it's only January, *****."
[10.0] "I saw people hyping this match up and I saw the rating on this skyrocket in about an hour and I knew I was in for a treat but I didn't know it would be this good. From the initial grappling to the final dramatic minutes with Candice chasing off Zelina, Gargano putting on one of the best selling performances I've seen, counters upon counters with both guys targeting each others's necks with a plethora of knees and DDTs from Almas with one of Gargano's attacks in this match, a tope suicida aimed straight to the back of Almas's neck. Gargano got hit by the hammerlock DDT and kicked out in one of the most shocking nearfalls I've ever seen. The story of Gargano being the underdog was told perfectly, MOTY so far, I know it's only the end of January but I don't see this being beaten for a while, at least until Sakura Genesis. I love me some New Japan but this outclassed anything I've seen from them since August and that's saying a hell of a lot. I'll stop here but there's so much more I could say. (*****) oh and fuck ciampa"
[10.0] "I'm not going to write a novel containing my thoughts of this match. I feel this match was exceptional and that's not even enough to describe the emotions and energy behind how I really feel. In my almost 30 years of watching wrestling, I've never had the feeling at the end of a match where I felt like I was broken up with and had my heart punched. The match was phenomenal (and that's an understatement), hit all notes perfectly, however the ending just pissed me off. I'm still giving it a 10 because of the work rate and how perfect these men are together in terms of match quality. The ending just wasn't what it should be."
[10.0] "Best NXT match I've ever seen and the best WWE match in quite a while. Stylistically it reminded me of a New Japan style Heavyweight main event. My only gripe with it was the finish. I think it would've been better if Almas had gone for the draping DDT straight after hitting the knees on the post, I didn't like the pause with the ref. Besides that the match really was outstanding. MOTYC ****3/4"
[10.0] "Wer hier weniger als 9 Punkte gibt hat das Match wahrscheinlich nicht gesehen, denn das war der absolute Wahnsinn und wurde mehr als nur der Erwartung gerecht. Ich fand sogar alle Eingriffe gut, denn sie haben das Match und die Story super verbunden. Einfach nur ein großartiges Match."
[10.0] "Match hat mich von vorne bis hinten begeistert. Selling, Story, Movevielfalt, Finish. Einfach nur WOW! Gargano als ultimatives Babyface nun angekommen. Almas beweist wie klasse er mit Vega an seiner Seite ist. MOTYC! *****!"
[10.0] "The best match in NXT history. It's as simple as that, it's rare that a 30+ minute match holds my complete undivided attention from start to finish, but this one had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Just phenomenal."
[10.0] "Was soll man da noch sagen? Nach so vielen ausgezeichneten Matches auf der Takeover-Card kam noch dieses Meisterwerk zum Schluss. Almas und Gargano schaffen es, das Publikum über 30 Minuten durchweg bei der Stange zu haten. Egal, ob dramatische Submission-Phase, dynamische Action, überraschende Moves oder fantastisches Selling. Sowas sieht man sonst nur bei NJPW. In dieser Wundertüte steckt alles. Ganz klar ein früher MotY-Kandidat, 5*-Anwärter und ein harter Konkurrent für Omega/Jericho."
[9.0] "Great takeover main event maybe the best since Neville vs Zayn. Great storytelling, the crowd was on fire and both men gave all they had to offer the best. The interference were smart and made this match better. Even if I am not the biggest fan of gargano, this ultimate underdog was a joy to watch here."
[10.0] "I had high expectations for this but they definitely surpassed those to which I had prior to the bout. Almas and Gargano have such amazing chemistry that it just made this instant perfection for me. A second viewing really solidified this bout as being a high end MOTYC for 2018 and it's only January but honestly I don't know what will top this as this match had everything from the story of Gargano needing to beat Almas for the title and make it the true underdog ending and the top-notch psychology and just flow of the match as a whole. The build to this was great but the match was just perfect and definitely a match that is well worth watching. *****"
[10.0] "Everything about this match, from top to bottom, is great. The story is great, the build up was great, the match was sure as hell great. This is what professional wrestling is all about. Overall, greatest singles match in NXT history."
[6.0] "Wieso neigen Fans eigentlich dazu, gute Matches bei NXT immer so in den Himmel zu loben und völlig überzubewerten? Das Build Up war zweifelsohne sehr gut und der cocky Champion, dessen La Sombra Flashback echt Geil gemacht war, hatte mit Gargano seinen idealen Konterpart. Aber die ersten zwanzig Minuten waren mehr oder weniger ein Move Austauschen ohne rechtes Ziel, man hat es völlig verpasst von Anfang an auf einen Höhepunkt zuzuarbeiten. Das hat den letzten 10 Minuten allerdings kaum Abbruch getan, die waren dramatisch und gut inszeniert. Trotzdem waren die meisten Near Falls ziemlich schlecht. Das Almas am Ende verteidigt passt auch nicht ins Bild. Trotzdem ein gutes Match, ein "befriedigend" geben möchte. (***3/4)"
[9.0] "Wirklich ein richtig rundes Match, das zwar nicht von Beginn an Hackengas gibt, sich aber im Verlauf immer mehr in ein dramatisches Tempo hineinsteigert, während Bedeutung und Impact der Moves auch linear zur Matchlänge zunehmen. Man weiss bis zum entscheidenden Pinfall nicht, ob Johnny Wrestling nicht doch der große Coup gelingt, denn er ist authentisch als Contender, was auch dem Champion wirklich hilft, das Match mit Sinn zu gestalten. Ich brauche da einige Aktionen von Zelina Vega nicht und das Hochschalten zu Beginn verläuft in den Restholdphasen doch arg langatmig, aber am Ende ist das ein richtiger Kracher und verdient sich die neun Punkte äusserst seriös. Ein würdiger Mainer."
[10.0] "I picked the right Takeover to go to because wow this blew me away. After that Brooklyn match (and NXTV as well) it was clear to me I was getting a 4. 5* level main event but holy shit did they go above and beyond. Absolutely incredible. This thing went over 30 minutes and it never dragged. Flowed so effortlessly with each big spot building up natural, and man did those spots deliver. "Fight Forever" had never been more applicable to me than this match. Just perfect *****"
[10.0] "Amazing match with a lot of great selling. I was legit afraid a few times for Gargano with the moves they pulled off tonight. Was really hoping for a Gargano win, however. Well, now I am firmly behind Gargano. I also liked the commentary team bringing up the parallels to Bryan. This is my MOTY so far."
[10.0] "Haben das von Brooklyn III nochmal überboten und zwar richtig. Am Anfang gedacht das Chien mit der Maske wrestlet gegen die Regeln von Mexiko verstieß aber dann hat er sie doch abgenommen. Hier bei diesen Main Event hat man sicher vielleicht Johnny bestes oder eins seiner allerbesten Matches gesehen. Teilweise waren die Lichter an aber es war keiner bei ihm da. Wie im Vormatch gab es auch hier Blut bei Johnnys Mund. Das man auch Candice ins Match noch einbaute gefiel mir sehr. Die 10 Punkte sind für das gesamte Match selbst bekommt von mir (****1/2)."
[10.0] "Gargano gg. Almas war dann einfach nur das ideale Mainevent Match. Der ehemalige La Sombra versteht es einfach so viel besser einen Mainer durchgehend spannend, wrestlerisch stark und vom Feeling her intensiv darzustellen. Mit Johnny hatte er auch den perfekten Partner, der den Fighting Spirit rüberbringen konnte wie kein Zweiter. Dieses tolle Hin und Her mit einem wohldosierten Einsatz der Damen war durchgehend unterhaltsam und hat mich sowas von reingesogen, dass ich bei den beiden Kickouts am Ende beim Aufspringen fast den Schreibtisch umgeschmissen hätte. Wirklich ein grandioser Mainer, der in meinem WWE Ranking 2018 weit vorne seinen Platz finden wird (*****). Chiampas hinterhältige Attacke nach Garganos Niederlage hat dem ganzen noch die Krone aufgesetzt und die Crowd richtig wütend gemacht, top."
[10.0] "Incredible match! In the match was demonstrated excellent technique, every blow and reception was breathtaking. Just do not describe the words you need to see! One of the best matches in the history of NXT. Match completely deserved five stars. *****"
[10.0] "I would probably put this in the top 5 matches in WWE since 2000 and in the top 10 of all time WWE matches. I had high hopes for this match seeing as they had already had 2 excellent matches in the last 6 months and they were absolutely topped. Gargano played the role of the underdog babyface so well. Almas once again showed here why he was going to be a star in WWE/NXT once he got his character right and put him in matches where he could get the desired reaction from the crowd. ***** - incredible"
[10.0] "HEILIGE MARIA! DAS BESTE NXT-Match ALLER ZEITEN! Was soll man dazu sagen ? Wenn Meltzer hier nicht ***** gibt dann ist dem typen da nicht zu helfen"
[10.0] "Nach Tanahashi vs. Suzuki dachte ich eigentlich das toppt an diesem Wochenende keiner mehr, aber dann liefern sich Almas & Gargano einen ebenfalls gleichlangen Klassiker. *****"
[10.0] "Der Main Event ist dann ein dramaturgisches Meisterstück. Johnny Gargano & Andrade Almas verkörpern ihre gegenseitigen Charakterrollen so einwandfrei, dass das Match Lay-Out exzellent zur Match Story passt. Unfassbar hohes Tempo, das durchgängig gehalten wird, und sich wenn nötig sogar steigert. Fantastische Konterserien bei großartiger Aktionsdichte, aber das ist gar nicht das Wesentliche. Das Wesentliche ist, dass die beiden aus ihren Fehlern lernen, emanzipieren und somit den zweiten Ansatz des Gegners immer kontern können. Somit entsteht eine plausible Dramaturgie, bei der die High Impact Spots sich immer weiter ausbauen. Insofern komplettieren sich beide auf erzählerischer Ebene vollkommen fantastisch. Die letzten rund 10 Minuten sind an Drama, Intensität und Sinn für Dringlichkeit kaum zu überbieten. Das ist das Beste NXT Match nach Zayn vs Nakamura und mein bisheriges MOTY. Wird hart das zu überbieten. Chapeau (****¾+)!"
