10 Greatest NXT Matches of 2019 so far

#3: NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet (c) (NXT TakeOver: Phoenix)

Ricochet defended the NXT North American Championship for the first-time at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix.

Johnny Gargano and Ricochet started a feud after Tommaso Ciampa goaded Johnny Gargano into challenging Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship after his victory over Aleister Black in a steel cage match. Johnny Wrestling would then attack Ricochet on multiple episodes of NXT.

While Johnny Gargano's heel turn had mixed results, this match was exceptional. Both superstars worked their hardest to wow the crowd. The two superstars had several innovative counters as Johnny Gargano countered a dropkick into a powerbomb and a springboard into the Gargano Escape.

One incredible spot saw Johnny Gargano counter Ricochet's avalanche fireman's carry into an avalanche rana only for Ricochet to land on his feet. Ricochet hit a fantastic Tope Con Hiro over the ring post before one especially amazing sequence saw Johnny Gargano counter a Fireman's Carry into a Reverse Rana followed by the slingshot DDT for a nearfall.

The ending sequence saw Johnny Gargano realize that he needed to go to the darkness to get the victory and further enhanced his storyline with Tommaso Ciampa while also allowing Johnny Gargano to win his first-ever singles title finally.