For the first time in WWE history, the company decided to put together a two-night NXT TakeOver event and the company didn't hold back when it came to the quality of matches put on display over those nights. It was clear that NXT was trying to steal WrestleMania week, and they certainly set the bar high.
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Whether it was competitive technical masterclasses, brutal unsanctioned matches, or super title matches, the two shows had everything. They were both two of the strongest TakeOvers that have ever happened, but out of all the matches, which was the strongest across the two nights?
12 Breezango vs. Killian Dain & Drake Maverick
This was the pre-show match on night two of the event and was actually a number one contender's match, which added some stakes to it. The match itself was comedic at times, but these two teams do that well, which ensured it was entertaining.
Breezango isolated Drake Maverick for much of the match and the Englishman sold everything perfectly. However, Killian Dain's power proved to be too much in what was a simple, yet entertaining match.
11 Zoey Stark vs. Toni Storm
This was the match that kicked off the TakeOver event on night one, with this taking place on the pre-show. It was a solid encounter but nothing overly special, feeling like a standard NXT quality match (which is still high).
They started out a little slow-paced here, but as things went on, they picked up the action and created something fun. Toni Storm was dominant, but Zoey Stark showed her plucky ability to keep fighting, getting a roll-up victory.
10 Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (c) vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (NXT Women's Tag Team Championship Match)
The heels dominated a lot of this match that was well put together in order to let them shine. They cheated and bent the rules as much as possible to gain an advantage, but the babyfaces were able to come out on top.
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Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon went all out here with highflying action and some scary bumps at points. They told a nice story and got to put together a good title match, helping to establish the new belts.
9 Io Shirai (c) vs. Raquel Gonzalez (NXT Women's Championship Match)
This match got to main event the first night of TakeOver and it was an enjoyable encounter between them. It was physical and saw Raquel Gonzalez dominating, with Io Shirai refusing to give up no matter what was thrown at her.
Shirai launching herself off the top of the skull on the set was a lot of fun, but that's something that is becoming a trope for her. But it did look great visually, and the two women pushed each other to their limits, with Raquel eventually just being too much for the champion.
8 MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Legado Del Fantasma (NXT Tag Team Championship Match)
This one was very spot-heavy as all three teams hit specific moves to look great, and at times the gaps in time where one of the teams was out of action was a little bit too long.
However, Legado Del Fantasma got to really thrive in this one, looking incredible throughout. Plus, when Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK put the finish together, everything fell into place with a fast-paced tag team match that was fun to watch.
7 Gauntlet Match
This match also had a lot of orchestrated spots, but in a bout featuring six people, that was expected. However, this match was packed with story, whether it was Isaiah Scott (who had a breakout performance) and Leon Ruff, or a callback to Dexter Lumis' feud with Cameron Grimes, there was plenty to enjoy here.
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It was fast-paced and some creative pinfalls and moves were placed into the match. But it was the way WWE weaved the storylines in and out of the match that made this such an enjoyable one.
6 Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed (North American Championship Match)
After winning the gauntlet match, Bronson Reed got a North American Title shot the next night and he made the most of it. While Johnny Gargano did get the victory, Bronson looked fantastic in this one, proving his dominance.
It was a physical match with Reed's strength being too much for the champion, who had to try his best to outthink Reed. The back and forth nature of this with Reed coming so close to winning at different times helped to make this an enjoyable encounter.
5 Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar (NXT Cruiserweight Championship Unification Ladder Match)
This match was an amazing ladder match that saw both men bring everything they had. Two of WWE's best cruiserweights going toe-to-toe in what was a genuinely brutal match filled with some amazing spots.
Jordan Devlin, in particular, took some insane bumps here, hitting a moonsault from the top of a ladder as well as being sent crashing into the ladder for the finish. It was well booked throughout, giving both men a chance to showcase their ability in what was a very fun clash.
4 Pete Dunne vs. Kushida
WWE promised a technical masterclass with this match, and Pete Dunne and Kushida didn't disappoint. They went hold-for-hold in a great encounter that was filled with submissions and strikes as they tried to take each other out limb by limb.
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The match was well orchestrated and both of them were able to shine here. While it was Pete Dunne who picked up the victory, both of them came away looking great here in what was an amazing technical match.
3 Finn Balor (c) vs. Karrion Kross (NXT Championship Match)
When it comes to physical matches, they don't get much better than this. The two men were out to do whatever it took to take each other out, which led to a lot of big strikes and some amazing in-ring psychology.
Finn Balor was trying to push Karrion's buttons, laughing and smirking throughout, which was a nice touch. Balor smartly tried to take the bigger man down by working on the ribs and specific body parts, while Kross just used his brute force and power to eventually come out on top.
2 Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole (Unsanctioned Match)
While it did run five minutes too long, Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly delivered on everything fans expected. It was a brutal exchange between two heated rivals that saw a variety of weapons, some unique spots, and an overall excellent fight.
Whether it was being slammed through the ramp, or being dropped on an upside-down chair, this one had it all. There was clever work on specific body parts too, but people wanted a fight from this one, and that's what they got.
1 WALTER (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa (NXT UK Championship Match)
Heading into these two shows, this was the big dream match and it didn't disappoint. This was the best Tommaso Ciampa has looked since his injury, and the fact they took out WALTER's chop after he snapped the announce table desk in half with one was clever booking.
It allowed Ciampa to attack WALTER and look dominant, with the champion on the ropes for a lot of it. Targetting the hand and arm was a great touch and led to some close calls for Ciampa in what was an extremely physical and entertaining match, with WALTER eventually securing the win.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Tommaso Ciampa Is The Greatest NXT Champion (& 5 Reasons It's Adam Cole)
