12 Things NXT Gets Right About Wrestling

3: Call backs

Andrade "Cien" Almas nails a meteora on Johnny Gargano, a move that would be recalled several times during their feud

With some possible influence from NJPW's knack for in-ring storytelling, NXT as of late has taken the path of using matches to rehash and modify spots and sequences from previous encounters when competitors face off in new ones, in order to tell a larger narrative.

Johnny Gargano and Andrade "Cien" Almas' above-average opening exhibition at Takeover: Brooklyn III in 2017 laid the foundation for the sequel months later, as their 5-star main event at Takeover: Philadelphia featured several allusions to the Brooklyn match that added a layer of depth to the story and ultimately rewarded the viewer for paying attention. Their Full Sail match just weeks after Philadelphia would do the same, generating an even greater layer of meaning to their epic series of bouts.

More recently, Gargano and Velveteen Dream's weekly show match recalled previous moments from Dream's successful victory over EC3 at Takeover: Brooklyn IV, such as the rolling death valley driver and Purple Rainmaker elbow drop on the outside apron, contrasted with Gargano's hesitant attempt at a spiked DDT on the floor, that ultimately led to him failing and continuing the storyline of his mentally-conflicted losing streak. This is brilliant pro-wrestling storytelling.