WWE News: WWE names top 10 NXT TakeOver matches ever

What's the story?

It's often been said that there hasn't been a bad NXT TakeOver yet, but what about the standout matches from each one? There's been a lot of debate about the greatest NXT matches ever with some absolute classics taking place even just over the past few months.

Well, WWE decided to try and put an end to the arguments by posting their top ten greatest TakeOver matches of all time.

In case you didn't know...

NXT TakeOver events have been taking place since 2014 but, unlike WWE main roster pay-per-views, they only run maybe four or five per year, normally coinciding with "the big four" WWE events.

There have been less than 20 TakeOvers to date, but way more than 20 classic matches with much of the WWE Universe having a "How will the main roster follow that?" mentality after WWE's developmental brand tries to steal the show.

The heart of the matter

Well, it's quite the task trying to rank some of these matches and, while they're no doubt a pleasure to watch, I don't envy the man or woman responsible for putting them into order.

WWE's list looks like this:

#10 Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro, ArRival

#9 Asuka vs. Ember Moon for the Women’s title, TakeOver: Brooklyn III

#8 Authors of Pain vs. #DIY vs. The Revival, Triple Threat for the Tag Team championship, TakeOver: Orlando

#7 Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley, Fatal 4Way for the Women’s title, TakeOver: Rival

#6 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn, TakeOver: Dallas

#5 The Revival vs. #DIY, 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the Tag Team championship, TakeOver: Toronto

#4 Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate for the UK title, TakeOver: Chicago

#3 Sami Zayn vs. Neville for the NXT championship, TakeOver: R Evolution

#2 Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, 30-Minute Iron Man match for the Women’s title, TakeOver: Respect

#1 Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas for the NXT championship, TakeOver: Philadelphia

Gargano v Almas has been labelled the greatest NXT TakeOver match of all time

What's next?

It's no surprise Gargano v Almas took the number one spot after getting a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer - the first for WWE since 2011.

NXT TakeOver New Orleans is up next. No pressure!

Author's take

Well, obviously there were only ten spots for the taking but there are some talents who put on classics in their time in NXT who haven't made the list - Kevin Owens, Finn Bálor, Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode have all been omitted.

I personally would have slipped Dunne v Bate into third spot and Nakamura v Zayn fourth, but the top two are pretty spot on, and who am I to argue with WWE? All of these matches were absolutely incredible.

Banks and Bayley in Brooklyn should have probably taken a spot there too, but maybe WWE didn't want to replicate any and the Iron-Man Match was incredible.

Here's hoping NXT TakeOvers continue to give us such classics, and hopefully there's even the need for a new list very soon!

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