In a dramatic finale to NXT TakeOver: New York, Johnny Gargano had to overcome not only Adam Cole in their best two-out-of-three fall match but also Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong to become the new NXT champion.

Gargano never stopped fighting even with the odds stacked against him with interference from the Undisputed Era. Gargano was able to fend off the Undisputed Era with just enough time to lock in a cross face to force Cole to tap out.

Hanson defies gravity.
– NXT TakeOver: New York Photo Gallery

 

War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) (c) vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet – Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship

Emanating from the Barclays Center in New York City, NXT TakeOver New York kicked off with the Dusty Cup winners challenging the NXT tag team champions. NXT chants started before the bell rang. Black and Rowe started the match off with chain wrestling with Rowe getting the better of Black.

Ricochet entered the ring and performed a series of quick moves to knock Hanson out of the ring. Ricochet and Black double teamed Hanson to gain the advantage in the match. However, Rowe was tagged in and slowed down the match by grounding Black. Once Ricochet was tagged in, the match quickly picked up.

Hanson repeatedly clotheslined Ricochet and Black in the corners of the ring. Incredibly, Ricochet body slammed the big Hanson. Black delivered a high angle German suplex on Rowe for a near fall. Hanson hit a back hand spring elbow on Ricochet for a near three count. The War raiders hit a wheelbarrow suplex with a flying clothesline on Ricochet that was broken up by Black’s double stomp off the top rope. Ricochet dove over the top rope onto the War Raiders. However, Hanson retaliated by diving off the top rope to the outside to take everyone out.

All this high flying resulted in a near count out for all wrestlers. However, they were able to return to the ring and both teams had near falls on each other. War Raiders delivered the Fall Out on Ricochet to win the match and retain their titles. After the match the crowd gave Black and Ricochet a standing ovation and chanted “you deserve it!”

Winners: War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe)

Match Rating: 8.5/10

Best entrance of the night, by far, was Velveteen Dream channeling the Statue of Liberty.
– NXT TakeOver: New York Photo Gallery

 

Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle – Singles match for the NXT North American Championship

Riddle walked to the ring wearing the New York Yankee style pinstripes. Velveteen Dream was not to be outdone as he walked out wearing the statue of liberty head garb. The crowd seemed divided between the Dream and Riddle. Riddle offered his fist out for the bro bump. The dream refused to bro bump and attempted to take him down. However, Riddle quickly took Dream to the mat and dominated him. Dream was able to grab the ropes to force a break in the action.

Both men stood up and attempted a test of strength, which was a stalemate between the two. Riddle locked in an arm bar from nowhere and then hit a side suplex on Dream three times. Dream dove from the top rope to the outside of the ring but Riddle caught Dream and German suplexed him.

When the match returned to the ring Riddle hit a suplex and kicks followed by another arm bar. Dream delivered a suplex out of nowhere, which Riddle no sold and continued his domination on Dream with many forearms. Riddle hit another German suplex to get a near fall. The Dream Hulked up and delivered a big boot to the face of Riddle followed up by a fameasser ala Billy Gunn.

Riddle German suplexed Dream from the ring apron to the inside of the ring followed by a floating bro for a near fall. Riddle locked in the bro mission. However, Dream rolled Riddle up to win the match.

Winner: Velveteen Dream

Match Rating: 7.5/10

Kushida was announced to be the newest member of NXT and was sitting in the crowd.

Like hard-hitting action? Pete Dunne vs. Walter delivered.
– NXT TakeOver: New York Photo Gallery

 

Pete Dunne (c) vs. Walter – Singles match for the WWE United Kingdom Championship

Both men locked up and Walter pushed Dunn on the ropes, which forced a break. Dunn was then able to show off his catch wrestling ability by applying various submission holds and small joint manipulations. However, Walter just tossed Dunn across the ring. Dunn nailed Walter with a forearm and Walter came back with a stiff chop.

Walter placed Dunn onto of the rope and delivered another hard chop followed up with standing on Dunn. Dunn was able to kick Walter while on the ground in desperation but Walter was able to shake off the kicks and put Dunn in a heel hook. Walter locked in a Boston Crab and Dunn was able to grab the ropes for a break.

Dunn grabbed Walters fingers but Walter booted Dunn to the outside of the ring. Dunn was able to make a comeback with multiple strikes followed up with a moonsault to the outside of the ring. When the match returned to the ring Walter delivered another chop and Dunn grabbed Walters fingers to distract him enough to power bomb him off the second rope. Walter rolled to the outside of the ring and Dunn performed a double stomp from the top rope to the outside of the ring.

When both wrestlers returned to the ring Walter delivered a power bomb for a near fall. Walter hit repeated chops and dared Dunn to return chops. Dunn delivered chop, which didn’t phase Walter. Walter again hit his stiff chops on Dunn who went down to the mat instantly. Walter back suplexed Dunn off the second rope for nearly a three count.

As Walter was going for a chop, Dunn caught the hand and cracked Walters fingers. Dunn followed up with stiff stomps to the head. However, Walter followed up with hard stomps to Dunn’s head. Dunn hit the bitter end, which Walter kicked out of. Both men exchanged chops with Dunn switching from ineffective chops to close fist punches. Both men fought on the top rope and Walter delivered a power bomb off of the second rope followed up with a frog splash to become the new UK champion.

Winner: Walter

Match Rating: 9/10

Edge and Beth Phoenix were shown on camera siting in the crowd.

Io Shirai launches Kairi Sane onto Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair.
– NXT TakeOver: New York Photo Gallery

 

Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Kairi Sane – Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women’s Championship

The match started off with Baszler and Belair exchanging moves with Shirai running in to break up a pinfall. Sane ran into the ring so that all four women were brawling. Baszler grabbed Belair by the hair and threw her into the corner. Belair was able to dropkick Baszler. Both women went to the outside with Baszler grabbing Belair’s hair to attempt to drive her head first into the ring post. However, Belair reversed it to drive Baszler’s head into the ring post.

The action picked up in pace with all women exchanging various moves. Sane and Shirai double power bombed Belair with Baszler side suplexing Belair. Sane delivered an insane elbow to the outside of the ring onto the women. Sane and Shirai took their turns to pummel Belair. Baszler locked in the Kirifuda Clutch in the middle of the ring on Belair. However, Belair was able to fight her way out of it and delivered the torture rack on Baszler.

Sane hit an Alabama Slammer on Shirai to attempt a pinfall. However, Shirai delivered a stiff dropkicked. When both women returned to their feet Sane hit a DDT on Shirai. While Sane was looking remorseful for dominating her best friend, Belair hit Sane with her hair to take the advantage in the match. Baszler locked in the Kirifuda Clutch on Belair and she tapped out for Baszler to retain her NXT championship. This match was very fast paced and hard to follow at times.

Winner: Shayna Baszler

Match Rating: 7/10

Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole – Two-out-of-three falls match for the vacant NXT Championship

The crowd was solidly behind Cole before the bell rang. After the bell rang there were some “Johnny wrestling” chants. Both men locked up and did mat wrestling with no wrestler gaining an advantage. When both men returned to their feet Gargano took Cole down to the mat and attempted to pin Cole.

The match picked up as both wrestlers hit the ropes to attempt various moves. However, Gargano was able to deliver a deep arm drag to take the advantage in the match. Cole went to the outside of the ring and Gargano hit a drop kick. When Cole returned to the ring, he locked in a headlock to ground Gargano. Both men hit a cross body and the referee administered a ten count.

When both men returned to their feet, they performed roll ups for a few near falls. Cole hit a lung blower for near fall. Gargano grabbed Cole to try to climb up him. Cole cut Gargano off to dominate him. Cole hit a knee to the back of Gargano’s head to win the first fall of the match.

When Gargano got up Cole kneed him and got a near fall. Gargano hit a spear out of desperation. However, when Cole recovered, he dominated Gargano. Gargano was attempting to grab Cole to slow the match down. Both men returned to their feet at the same time. Gargano delivered a DDT on the ring apron. Cole rammed Gargano’s head into the ring post. When both men returned to the ring, Gargano locked in a cross face and Cole tapped out immediately.

Both wrestlers exchanged punches followed by bicycle kicks. Cole delivered a brain buster for a near fall. Gargano launched Cole into the second turnbuckle like a lawn dart. Both men exchanged strikes again and double super kicked each other. Cole hit a straight jacket suplex for a near three count. Gargano delivered a scary looking reverse Frankensteiner and Cole rolled out of the ring to attempt to recover. Cole was able to recovery enough to deliver a wheelbarrow suplex onto the ring LED board. Cole hit a Canadian destroyer for a near fall.

Cole returned to the ring while Gargano was nearly counted out. Gargano locked in the crossface in the middle of the ring and Fish, Strong and O’Reilly ran into the ring. Cole was tapping but the referee did not see it. Gargano back dropped Cole over the top rope onto Strong and O’Reilly. Cole said “it’s my time” Gargano locked in the crossface and Cole tapped out immediately. The new NXT champion is Johnny Gargano.

After the match Gargano hugged his wife Candice LeRae and when they were exiting up the ramp Tommaso Ciampa came out and hugged Gargona and LeRae.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

Match Rating: 8.5/10

Overall event rating: 8/10