nXt Takeover New York - Johnny Champion

I decided instead of a match by match recap of the show I would save all of that until the show this Monday. In fact going forward I will probably do less and less show reviews here since it is something we cover every Monday at 6:30 pm CST on Lords of Pain radio.

Takeover was what Takeover always is, it was a phenomenal show with no less than a 4 star match anywhere on it. From the War Raiders entrance to the surprise final shot, this show hit all the right notes and left me satisfied in a way that I haven't been by a wrestling show in a long time. The opening tag team match was easily 5 stars without the intro and the great show of sportsmanship by the Raiders letting Ricochet and Aleister Black say there good bye's to the nXt crowd. Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream tore the house down while Pete Dunn and Walter put on a great showing with Dunne looking extremely strong in defeat. The woman's four way told a great story but the highlight for me was the 2 out of 3 falls match between Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano.

Johnny Wrestling, Johnny 5 Star, Johnny Takeover, Johnny Badass, Johnny Champion, what ever name you choose to call him, well he fits all those and so many more. For the last two years Johnny Gargano has been the heart and soul of the black and gold brand. He has put on mat classic after mat classic while making stars out of every opponent he is in the ring with. Last year Tommaso Ciampa was my nXt wrestler of the year and that never would have happened with out the feud of the year he had with Gargano. Throughout the last two years whether it was Ciampa, Aleister Black, Ricochet, Velveteen Dream, or Andrade Cian Almas, their best matches came when they were in the ring with Johnny and because of the fact that every match he is in tends to be an instant classic, From this day forward I think I will be referring to him simply as Johnny Classic.

Johnny came to play in his 2 out of 3 falls match with Adam Cole. Through out the match both competitors showed us why they are on top of the mountain and the story told couldn't have been a better one. The interference by the Undisputed Era and the finisher kick outs, that would have normally turned me off on a match, fit so perfectly with Johnny's character that I couldn't help to be entirely invested in what I was watching. 

Then when I thought my emotional strings couldn't have been tugged anymore Ciampa comes out in a neck brace to celebrate his best friends win. Watching those 2 embrace after the bitter feud they had, after all the recent history. Then factor in that this was supposed to be Ciampa vs Gargano in a continuation of what could honestly be considered the best feud in the history of wrestling. No one could have done what Johnny did. The journey that Gargano has been on since the Cruiser Weight Classic was such an incredible story and is one that should be and will be remembered for decades. 

While I think certain chants, especially in nXt, are over done. None are more over done then the "you deserve it chant" However, if there ever was a time to chant it this was it. Johnny you have been through hell and back, you started at the bottom and scratched and clawed your way to the pinnacle and I for one am standing on my feat, applauding and chanting at the top of my lungs.

Johnny Classic..................... You Deserve It!!!!