[2016-11-19-WWE-NXT Takover: Toronto] The Revival vs #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa)

[Microstatistics]

While their August match is a great **** affair, this was on another level. Felt like a hybrid between DreamRush and a Midnight Express-RnR bout. They escalated the intensity and drama well and brilliantly played off their previous match. Iconic finish too. **** 1/4

[WingedEagle]

That was my initial feeling as well, but after rewatching both recently I gave the slight edge to the August affair. Ciampa's stretch as FIP along with the teases eventually building to Gargano's hot tag were so great and timed just about perfectly, and then you had the posting on the floor along with the ultimate chop block setting up the finish when it felt like we were getting a title change. Its funny, I almost always prefer a happy ending but this time dug the heel victory more. But its really splitting hairs. These are likely #2 & #3 on my 2016 MOTY list and the best tags I've seen since the heyday of All Japan.

[Makai Club #1]

This was just nothing. The first two falls were so filled with nothing. Paint by numbers on an engeigous level. Basic can usually be better but this was basic on top of basic. The third fall was better in parts. Much better tag wrestling with the two interacting more past house show offence. Disliked the forced drama at the end where Dawson seemed more pre occupied by telling Dash not to tap then sell the seemingly "painful" hold locked upon him. Big step down from their last match. **1/2

[cactus]

This was classic tag team psychology mixed with the high energy modern indie style. The Revival were masters of cutting #DIY off. I loved the spot where Dash charges under the ring to get to his opponent's side and break up the hot tag attempt. The stuff with Gargano in the submission hold was a bit hokey, but it's nothing that would compare to some of his worse moments when he would eventually get a singles run. This might be the best ever tag match the 'E has ever put out.

★★★★¾

[Superstar Sleeze]

NXT Tag Champions The Revival vs DIY - NXT Toronto 11/19/26 2/3 Falls

First Fall: 5 efficient minutes. Demonstrate the quickness of Johnny G with cradles and roll ups. Dax as the bruiser, good chops. Like quick tag and the simultaneous dropkicks by DIY. Eye rake solid transition. Hard hitting. The Dax suplex Into Cash legdrop was cool. Johnny G hot tag leaves a lot to be desired. He has pretty bad offense. I like how he got caught with a fish Shatter Machine. Revival goes up 1-0. Good stuff. 
 

Second Fall: Man DIY Cant buy a good hot tag. I liked the heat segment on Gargano. Lots of good chicanery with two people messing with the ref using the ropes. The missed hot tag spot should be in all tag title defenses it’s such a good spot. They way they had DIY discombobulated and hit Hart Attack was great. Johnny G reversing the weight on a super belly 2 back Suplex was great transition to hot tag. I thought Ciampa would have a better hot tag than Gargano. Still too much do see do bullshit. Some good Nearfalls with the knee to the head and the crossbody from the top and Meet In The Middle wins the fall. I wonder what will win the match??? Tied 1-1. 
 

Third Fall: Both of these matches benefit from red hot finish stretches on bodies that are great but aren’t exactly special. Until Gargano hit his foot on the title belt on that awful kick this was pretty forgettable. But then it kicked into overdrive and it never let up. They run the Brooklyn finish but of course this time Johnny G gets the ropes. They run each other finishers But FTR hits themselves and Shatter Machine is successful but no three count. Great barrage of near falls. The double submission victory is a great fist pumping end. 
 

To paraphrase Bob Seger, “Today’s wrestling just don’t have the same soul”. This is a very solid body with a red hot finish stretches tacked on taking into great category. They make the right choices and incorporate a lot of what made 20th Century wrestling great but there’s something about the execution. It doesn’t have the same oomph or zing or charisma that oldies but goodies has. It just doesn’t have the same soul. HOWEVER they do excel at finish stretches and so many of those 80s matches you wish had better high octane fireworks grand finale finishes but they never happen. But we get that here. I think August match is better in all ways but this isn’t far behind. **** 1/4