The highest point of professional wrestling transcends athletic competition to create a complete storytelling experience, and the main event of WWE NXT TakeOver: New York 2019 demonstrated this concept when Johnny Gargano faced Adam Cole in a two-out-of-three falls match for the vacant NXT Championship.

The match receives recognition as one of the most important modern wrestling matches due to its extended duration and impressive array of wrestling moves. It achieved its success through its structured match development, its character-driven plot presentation, and its ability to engage the crowd.

WWE fans consider it to be the greatest match in the company’s history, while Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer awarded it the highest rating he has ever given to a WWE match. The match received endless praise as an instant classic when it occurred seven years ago and established Gargano and Cole as two of the finest performers in the entire company. Despite this acclaim, it requires evaluation because its actual worth and historical value remain uncertain.

First, we have to look at the context that led to it. The NXT Championship was vacated when Tommaso Ciampa sustained his legitimate neck injury, which ended one of WWE’s most intense rivalries. Ciampa had won the title in July 2018. However, he needed to leave it because of his injury, which occurred during his Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic match with Gargano, who had temporarily put their hatred aside.

For Gargano, the burden increased because his situation required him to deal with additional challenges. The former tag partner of Ciampa spent more than a year pursuing the NXT Championship. However, he failed to win the title because people adored him, and his abilities were clear. His story in NXT was built on heartbreak, betrayal, and near-misses, which established him as the brand’s underdog. Because his long and frustrating journey remained active, Triple H confirmed Gargano’s title match even with Ciampa unavailable to compete.

On the other hand, Cole emerged as Gargano’s opponent after winning a Fatal 5-Way match to earn his spot. Because he wanted to prevent any disruptions and outside interference to ensure an undisputed winner, Triple H announced how the championship would be decided through a two-out-of-three-falls match.

To summarize, the match demonstrated complete character opposition between Cole and Gargano. Cole embodied the leader of The Undisputed Era through his arrogance, his ability to manipulate others, and his mastery of warfare, while Gargano showed dedication through his selfless behavior. This contrast created an ideological dispute between him and his opponent instead of a simple athletic contest.

By such of the existing contrast, it became an essential turning point for NXT. The championship match would determine which outcome the brand chose between its base and Cole, who used his aggressive personality to gain advantages. It obtained its main power from the existing tension between the two competing forces.

The two-out-of-three falls stipulation establishes a match structure that follows a clear and deliberate structure. Instead of the extended duration of the match proving beneficial, each fall represents a separate section of a broader narrative, while the crowd fully supports Cole during the initial moment when both he and Gargano remain inactive. It begins with a gradual opening that emphasizes technical wrestling as its main focus.

Gargano takes Cole down early and controls him with mat-based holds. Cole responds with a tight headlock, but Gargano breaks free and performs a double-arm submission while achieving a momentary bridging one-count. Cole slips back into the headlock, but Gargano handstands out of the corner before Cole stops him again with a takeover.

Both exchange dominance through their quick bursts, which begin with Gargano escaping his hold and Cole executing a shoulder tackle before they engage in a rear waistlock until Cole successfully ducks against a roll-up attempt. Gargano avoids a running kick and achieves a one-count before he avoids additional kicks and uses an armdrag to bring Cole down into an armlock. They respond to each counter with another counter as Cole attempts to break free, but Gargano maintains control through skillful techniques, which include head-butting Cole’s hand.

Cole finally forces a rope break and lands a big elbow, which changes the momentum. They exchange strikes until Cole throws Gargano into the corner, but Gargano escapes and performs a running headscissors, followed by a dropkick, and then clotheslines Cole out of the ring.

The pace increases from this point onward. Gargano attempts his apron kick, but Cole avoids it, so Gargano responds with a running dropkick through the ropes. Cole jumps to the far ring corner and executes a jump kick at Gargano when he reaches out to him, using chops, a cravat, and a rear chinlock. As Gargano ascends to his feet after throwing an elbow, he gets knocked down by a back elbow and kicks out at one. Cole applies a dragon sleeper to Gargano, who escapes the hold, and both crash together after performing running crossbody attacks.

Gargano starts building momentum using his elbows, clotheslines, and his belly-to-belly suplex. While reaching its point through rapid roll-up attempts, which result in two-counts, Gargano delivers a rolling kick, which knocks Cole out of the ring. He pretends to execute a dive but instead chooses to stand on the apron, where he intercepts Cole’s running attack with a slingshot spear, which leads to another near fall.

The mind games continue when Cole predicts a dive and delivers a superkick while Gargano performs a fake out and waits for Cole’s leg to descend before he executes a diving flatliner. Still only two.

From there, it is chaos. Both exchange suplex tries while they avoid major attacks until Cole almost wins the match with a rope-hung backstabber. More roll-ups, more escapes, and more one-counts, Cole executes an enzuigiri after he removes his kneepad to prepare his finishing move. However, Gargano stops him with another roll-up hold. Again, it is two.

They teased superkicks while they attempted to take control of their legs, and their counter moves keep increasing. Before he executes a roll-through to land his finishing move, Gargano attempts too many roll-ups, which Cole evades. The score begins with one point, the second point follows, and the third point comes next. Cole wins the first fall after thirteen minutes.

The opening fall establishes Cole as a real dangerous threat, where the Last Shot shows unexpected results because Gargano’s matches follow different patterns. While it would make him appear as a cowardly villain, Cole demonstrates his ability to win matches through direct competition without needing to use deceptive tactics. The loss puts Gargano behind the eight ball right away and firmly locks him into the underdog role for the rest of the match.

After taking a brief rest, the second fall begins, and Gargano stands up again. Cole attacks Gargano with elbow strikes, which Gargano counters. Cole avoids a rolling elbow attack and performs a German suplex before hitting Gargano with another Last Shot. He attempts to pin his opponent but only gets a two-count. The Last Shot marks a significant moment because it contains the first instance of successfully escaping its effects. Instantly, it has undergone a transformation.

Gargano escapes from a fireman’s carry while Cole defends against an enzuigiri attack, and both men continue to strike each other. Cole lands an elbow strike to Gargano on the apron, but Gargano stops him with a spear. He executes a senton before he returns to the ring to perform a slingshot DDT, but Cole catches him in midair. Ushigoroshi connects for a near fall. Cole drags Gargano to the corner and pretends to perform a diving powerbomb, but Gargano counters with an avalanche Air Raid Crash for two.

Gargano attempts to execute the slingshot DDT yet again as Cole remains inactive on the ground. The moment his finishing move requires complete movement from his opponent to execute, he needs to accept that its complexity exceeds acceptable limits. Gargano attempts to bring Cole onto the apron, but Cole counters with a fireman’s carry. Gargano uses an enzuigiri to escape and delivers the slingshot DDT over the top rope onto the apron.

Gargano beats the count, breaks it to throw Cole back into the ring, but Cole catches him off guard and sends him into the ring post. He smashes Gargano into another post, pulls down the kneepad, and looks for another Last Shot, only for Gargano to grab him and lock in the crossface. Cole elbows free, Gargano rolls through into a bridging armbar, and Cole tries to counter into a crucifix. Gargano counters and cinches in the Garga-No Escape. Cole taps immediately.

Gargano takes the second fall after twenty minutes. The match is now tied at one fall apiece.

The second fall of the match causes a complete shift in competitive momentum. Gargano uses his technical abilities and his unyielding determination to achieve victory through submission. The combination of his ability to endure challenges and his capacity to adapt includes all aspects that define him. The match reaches a point of heightened suspense when the score becomes tied, which creates an ideal situation for the upcoming climactic showdown.

The third fall begins with direct fighting between the two. Gargano gets hit by two pump kicks but responds with a powerful discus clothesline. Cole ducks a superkick, Gargano avoids an enzuigiri, and cracks Cole with a thrust kick to the side of the head. Cole stops a satellite DDT attempt and converts a suplex into a damaging knee-assisted brainbuster, resulting in a near fall.

The crowd now completely supports them as they perform their battle at the moment when Gargano almost loses to a Panama Sunrise, and Cole pulls him back into the match. Gargano lands an enzuigiri and lawn-darts Cole into the opposite corner, then follows with a full-nelson flatliner for two. The fighters exchange elbows, but both refuse to take superkicks, which leads them to exchange enzuigiris instead. Double lariats. Simultaneous superkicks. Both collapse in exhaustion.

Cole attempts to execute a Rainmaker, but Gargano interrupts him with an elbow. Gargano attempts a leapfrog but receives a superkick from behind. Cole performs a bridging arm-trap German suplex, resulting in another close two-count. He attempts a lifting Pedigree, but Gargano escapes and tries to apply the Garga-No Escape. Cole uses a backdrop suplex to counter, but gets hit by a superkick after blocking the Panama Sunrise. Gargano executes a poisoned Frankensteiner–superkick combination, forcing Cole to roll out of the ring to prevent a pin.

The chaos extends beyond internal boundaries. Cole sweeps Gargano off his feet with a wheelbarrow suplex from a standing position at the ring’s edge. He returns Gargano to the ring as the audience chants “this is awesome,” but Gargano suddenly bursts into action with a draping DDT followed by another slingshot DDT for a two-count. Gargano executes a tope suicida that sends Cole out, then throws him back inside. Gargano attempts a spear through the ropes but receives a superkick directly to the face. Panama Sunrise connects—two-count. Somehow.

Gargano tumbles to the ringside, and Cole starts trash-talking him, which only wakes Gargano up. Gargano storms back with an elbow and hurls Cole over the Spanish announce table. The ref is not even counting as Gargano sets something big up, but Cole strikes first, drilling a lifting Pedigree onto the table. The object refuses to break. The referee begins his count when Cole enters the ring because he follows inconsistent rules. Gargano barely beats the count at around 9.75 and immediately eats another superkick. Cole covers—still only two.

Cole tries to execute his Last Shot, but Gargano anticipates it and delivers a backward superkick. Cole responds by launching another attack and follows with a Panama Sunrise attempt, but Gargano stops him with Garga-No Escape. Roderick Strong interrupts the match by stepping onto the apron before Gargano completes the hold. Gargano knocks Strong down before facing Cole. Gargano defends against the attack while reestablishing his submission. Cole taps out, but the referee remains unaware because he is watching Strong instead.

The situation becomes disastrous. Kyle O’Reilly rakes Gargano’s eyes while Cole kicks him into the referee, and the rest of the Undisputed Era swarm the ring. They execute a double-team finisher, bring the referee back into position, and Cole covers for the pin. The attempt results in a two-count. Gargano manages to stay alive.

Cole charges again, but Gargano dodges, sending Cole crashing into his own teammates at ringside. Gargano operates as a single-person demolition force, eliminating all members of the Undisputed Era before confronting Cole. When he returns to the match, Cole attacks him with two superkicks and another Last Shot, which only achieves a two-count. The disbelief is unreal.

Cole performs his final demonstration of trash-talking skills while preparing for his last shot attempt. Gargano ducks, grabs him, and locks in the Garga-No Escape dead center. Cole reaches for the ropes, but Gargano rolls them both into the middle of the ring. The current situation does not permit any way out for the people involved. Cole taps. Johnny Gargano wins the third fall and becomes the new NXT Champion after thirty-eight minutes.

The third fall is the emotional and physical peak of the match, showing continuous escalation through its multiple fake endings. The Undisputed Era’s interference does not diminish the story because it makes it more intense. Every extra obstacle makes the point clearer: Gargano is not just fighting Adam Cole. He fights the entire system that opposes him, yet he achieves victory.

The match went beyond athletic competition because it emphasized psychological elements used during the performance. The entire match connected back to character development and the ongoing story that had been established. Gargano used his performance to demonstrate both his ability to act through facial expressions and his capacity to show deep feelings through his display of pain and frustration, which portrayed his emotional central role in NXT. The narrative advanced with each significant impact he endured as he rose back up again.

Cole’s psychology brought him the same effectiveness as his opponent. His offensive strategy targeted Gargano’s head and neck because it mirrored previous injuries and his match with Ciampa. Cole lost confidence when his special techniques began to fail during the match. The gradual decline of his self-control showed character development that prevented him from becoming a typical evil figure. The match featured submission teases and concrete spots from earlier Gargano bouts, rewarding dedicated viewers while keeping new audiences engaged by showing that past defeats determined the current battle.

The crowd played a huge role in making the match feel important and began to support Gargano after splitting their reactions as his penalties increased. The shift occurred because it felt natural instead of imposed, and the crowd showed their excitement when Gargano achieved victory by submission after enduring multiple Last Shots because they valued his entire journey.

Technically speaking, Gargano and Cole had a great rapport and contrasting styles. Cole relied on powerful blows and abrupt momentum swings, while Gargano focused on submissions, counters, and endurance. The match was meticulously paced, with each fall increasing in intensity despite lasting almost forty minutes. Moves like the Panama Sunrise and the Last Shot became narrative devices rather than cheap thrills because big spots and repeated finishers served the plot instead of existing only for spectacle. Gargano’s submission victory felt final, signifying triumph through perseverance rather than chance or outside influence.

However, the match has also received harsh criticism, especially regarding excess and structure. With extended periods of slow motion and needless movement, it often felt padded at nearly forty minutes. A large portion of the first half dragged without real tension, and the early falls lacked urgency. Large sections felt choreographed rather than competitive due to overly complex setups, excessive counters, and continuous rope-running.

The internal logic was further harmed by reliance on abrupt, “out of nowhere” offense. Many significant moves occurred at random rather than building toward key moments, which lessened their impact. By the end, there was heavy interference, endless kickouts, and superkick spam. Gargano’s portrayal veered into nearly unbeatable “Superman,” withstanding punishment that undermined the match’s original goal of realism and strained credibility.

The problem is made even more evident by comparisons to other well-known two-out-of-three falls matches, especially DIY vs. The Revival at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Although that match was lengthy and relied heavily on repetition, it retained more coherent internal logic and clearer escalation between falls. The pacing was more controlled, the psychology stayed rooted in competition rather than spectacle, and every major spot felt earned.

Gargano vs. Cole, on the other hand, often favored excess over structure, with chaos replacing cohesiveness and escalation giving way to overload. Length in this match was used to stack moments until they blended together, whereas DIY vs. The Revival used it to heighten tension.

On paper, Gargano vs. Cole at NXT TakeOver: New York 2019 is frequently commended for its coherence, with storytelling, psychology, athleticism, and emotion working in unison. Many see it as a declaration of what contemporary professional wrestling can be when long-term narratives are taken seriously, and the audience is trusted to follow along. The live audience embraced that notion, responding enthusiastically and viewing the match as a turning point.

However, in reality, that reputation seems exaggerated. The match goes on for far too long, with too many scenes and excessive movement that detract from the significance of individual moments. Nothing feels genuinely significant because nothing is allowed to breathe. The fight frequently veers into self-indulgent “MOVEZ” territory, filled with staged sequences and hollow escalation rather than a serious championship struggle. The constant chants from the crowd add noise but little substance, making it more of a spectacle than a real event.

The remaining match displays impressive elements but fails to justify its extended duration and promotional value. It fails to create suspenseful moments that lead to satisfying conclusions because it consists of repeated scenes that exceed their necessary length.

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