Ranking the Best Matches of the WWE NXT Black and Gold Era Ahead of Reboot | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Gargano was the heart and soul of NXT for a long time entering Philadelphia for TakeOver 2018. He had won some and lost others and withstood a shocking betrayal at the hands of former friend and partner Tommaso Ciampa. He had also seen opportunities pass him by following heartbreaking defeats.

There was reason to think, in the City of Brotherly Love, that his NXT Championship match against Andrade "Cien" Almas would end in the same disappointing fashion that so many major matches had for him.

It was with that in mind that he and Almas crafted the perfect match, built on dramatic near-falls that had fans guessing that Gargano's run would end on a sour note, especially as the champion upped the aggression.

Gargano fought his way back into the match, though, and appeared to have victory in-hand, only for Almas to slam his head into the ring post, delivering his trademark running knees into him and finish him off with the draping DDT.

A night so many expected to be Gargano's was, instead, confirmation of Almas as champion. The disappointment was tempered by what was a truly special match, probably the best in NXT history. It was the product of superb storytelling over a long period of time and two guys in the prime of their careers, just throwing everything at the canvas as an appreciative Philly crowd watched on.

Probably a perfect match, accentuated by the return of Ciampa after the match and a brutal crutch shot to the back of Gargano's head to set up that match.