NXT TakeOver: New York results: Johnny Gargano captures heavyweight title; WALTER wins UK gold

Steven Muehlhausen

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NXT TakeOver: New York results: Johnny Gargano captures heavyweight title; WALTER wins UK gold image

The NXT heavyweight championship was the one title eluding Johnny Gargano. 

Well, not anymore. Gargano submitted Adam Cole in the third and final fall to win the vacant gold in a two-out-of-three-falls match in the main event of NXT TakeOver: New York at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday night. It was a well-paced affair that had the crowd at a fever pitch for the last 15 minutes. The win makes Gargano the first male in NXT to win all three titles.

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That wasn't the only championship to change hands Friday night. WALTER made his WWE U.S. debut and ended Pete Dunne's 685-day title reign to win the United Kingdom title in a hard-hitting battle. 

Expectations were high leading into this edition of NXT Takeover, considering every match on paper was expected to thrill. Once again, NXT delivered and set the bar high for everyone competing at WrestleMania 35 on Sunday night.

Here's how the entire NXT TakeOver: New York show went  (all times Eastern):

NXT TakeOver: New York results

10:23 p.m.: Gargano and his wife, fellow wrestler Candice LeRae, were walking to the ramp when Tommaso Ciampa came up. He, Gargano and LeRae embraced in a tearjerker moment. Great way to end a great show.

Johnny Gargano def. Adam Cole to become the NXT heavyweight champion

10:22 p.m.: The final moments had Gargano securing Cole in the Gargano Escape, and with Kyle O’Reilly of the Undisputed Era raking his eyes. Cole pushed Gargano into the referee, who flew through the ropes. 

Bobby Fish and O'Reilly came in and attacked Gargano from behind. Cole rushed over for the pin, but Gargano kicked out at a deep count of two. Cole’s face was in utter shock.

Gargano roars back and is getting the better of all four members of the heel faction. He comes back into the ring and Cole hits two superkicks and the last shot. Somehow, Gargano dug deep and kicked out again.

Cole tells Gargano he’s going to finish him with the last shot, but Gargano ducked and locked in the Gargano Escape. Cole was mere inches away from the ropes when Gargano flipped him over and sunk in the Gargano Escape one more time. Cole immediately tapped out and Gargano wins his first ever NXT heavyweight championship.

An exceptional match that told a fantastic story. You had a slow build, which climaxed at the third fall and from there, Cole and Gargano had the crowd in the palm of their hand and they went from there. The ending was the right call. Job well done by Cole and Gargano.

9:59 p.m.: These last two spots by Cole and Gargano were out of this world. Gargano hit a reverse frankensteiner, which Cole rolled to the outside. Cole then picked up Gargano and reversed him head first to the edge of the apron. They are going all out here in the final fall. 

9:53 p.m.: Gargano wins the second fall by submission when Cole quickly taps out to the Gargano Escape. It is one fall apiece. The winner of the next fall will be the NXT heavyweight champion. Something to think about here — Gargano is bleeding above his right eye.

9:51 p.m.: Pace is picking up for both guys since Cole's pinfall. Gargano had a chance to win by count-out, but for some reason, he went back to the outside and Cole made him pay by ramming him into the turnbuckle. What was Gargano thinking? Take it any way you can.

9:45 p.m.: Cole wins the first fall when he hits the last shot. Gargano needs to win two straight or Cole walks out with the gold. 

9:37 p.m.: Loud chants for Cole and Gargano in the early going. You always know a match is going to be a while when both wrestlers start out by being methodical. So far, that is what we are seeing. Good mat wrestling from Cole and Gargano.

9:29 p.m.: It is now time for the main event: Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano will meet for the vacant NXT heavyweight title in a two-out-of-three-falls matchup. The title holdup is due to the former champion, Tommaso Ciampa, having neck surgery and being forced to relinquish the belt. 

This should be nothing short of spectacular. Who will win his first NXT heavyweight crown? 

Shayna Baszler def. Kairi Sana, Io Shirai and Bianca Belair to retain the NXT women's championship

9:21 p.m.: Sane was in control and ready to finish off Shirai with her insane elbow when Belair whipped Sane with her ponytail. Belair picked up Sane and Shirai with her version of the attitude adjustment. The title was in her grasp as she pinned Sane but Baszler came out of nowhere and attacked Belair and locked in the chicken wing. Belair tried her hardest to get out, but Baszler had it sunk in deep and Belair had no choice but to tap out.

All four women gave 100 percent and kept the action at a high level. It was the best women's match since Baszler-Shirai in August. 

9:14 p.m.: Seeing Shirai and Sane do battle one-on-one is a thing of beauty — so flawless and every move done to perfection.

9:12 p.m.: Could see the confidence in Belair compared to what we saw when she faced Baszler almost three months ago, when she was tentative and unsure if she belonged. She definitely belongs in this match.

9:06 p.m.: Great action so far. You could see it in their faces that they want to deliver a classic.

8:59 p.m.: It is time for the co-main event of NXT TakeOver: New York as Shayna Baszler puts her women's title on the line against Bianca Belair, Io Shirai and Kairi Sane in a fatal four-way match. Baszler won the title from Sane in August when TakeOver came to Brooklyn and then lost it to Baszler in November. Belair came up short against the champion at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in January. This is the first time Shirai, who is regarded as one the best female wrestlers, has gotten a crack at the belt. The women have a tall order, but all four are talented enough to get it done. Hopefully, the crowd gives them a shot to do so.

WALTER def. Pete Dunne to win the NXT United Kingdom champion

8:49 p.m.: A great end to a physically demanding match came when WALTER looked to finish off Dunne with a splash from the top rope. Dunne rushed up and tried for a triangle armbar. Unable to drop down, WALTER snatched up Dunne and powerbombed him halfway across the ring. WALTER proceeded to go up top once again, and this time around, he hit the splash to end the historic 685-day title reign.

The big question was whether an American audience would get into a hard-hitting European-style match. Not only did they accomplish that, but they told a great story for the crowd to get behind. 

8:40 p.m.: What a hard-hitting affair. Dunne and WALTER are hitting each with everything including the kitchen sink. They are bringing the lumber. 

8:30 p.m.: WALTER had been in control for the first seven minutes of the match, using his power to overwhelm Dunne. The champion isn't going down without a fight, though. He came back using his speed advantage and amazingly lifted the German up for a running powerbomb. Telling the little-man-trying-to-overcome-the-larger-foe story very well here.

8:17 p.m.: Coming up next at NXT TakeOver: New York is a matchup for the NXT United Kingdom championship. Pete Dunne is defending against WALTER. The latter made his WWE debut when he confronted Dunne after a title defense in January. Dunne challenged WALTER to this match so he could test himself against the best in the world. Looking forward to this match more than any other on this show and WrestleMania. 

Can WALTER end Dunne's 685-day title reign?

8:12 p.m.: Former six-time IWGP junior heavyweight champion KUSHIDA was announced to a loud ovation. Great to see him finally make the trek over to the United States.

Velveteen Dream def. Matt Riddle to retain the NXT North American championship

8:10 p.m.: An amazing finishing sequence: Dream attempted an elbow drop and Riddle snatched his arm for an armbar. With Dream on the apron, Riddle picked him up over the ropes and executed a German suplex in which Dream flipped over and landed on his stomach. Unable to secure the pin, Riddle went to the rope for a corkscrew moonsault for a near pinfall. Riddle hit two consecutive powerbombs, a flying knee and then the Bromission. Riddle seemed to be moments away from becoming the new champion until Dream somehow reversed it into a small package for the three-count to retain the title.

Great job by Dream and Riddle in maintaining the crowd’s interest after the tag title match. The bout wasn’t as good as that one, but everything was crisp and solid and these two showed why they are the future of WWE.

7:59 p.m.: Dream taking a beating for the entire match until he "Hulked up" like Hulk Hogan and started taking control. He capped it off with an axehandle from the top turnbuckle to the otuside.

7:53 p.m.: After a battle of who can get the loudest crowd reaction, Riddle has taken control by using a variety of submission holds and suplexes. Riddle is so fluid inside the ring. He's such a natural.

7:41 p.m.: Up next at NXT TakeOver: New York, Velveteen Dream puts the NXT North American title on the line against Matt Riddle. Dream won the belt from Johnny Gargano in March. A contrast of styles should make for an exciting contest. 

War Raiders def. Aleister Black and Ricochet to retain the NXT tag team championships

7:35 p.m.: Black and Ricochet appeared to have the belts in their grasp when Ricochet nearly flew out of the building with a shooting star press. Hanson pushed Black on top of Ricochet to break up the fall. The War Raiders pummeled Black on the outside and shifted their focus to Ricochet inside the ring. Hanson finished off Ricochet with a leg drop off the top rope to hold onto the gold. 

After the match, both teams showed each other respect. Rowe and Hansen left the ring so the crowd could give a standing ovation to Black and Ricochet as they move up to the main roster.

A fantastic way to start the show. It's going to be hard to beat that for Match of the Night.

7:29 p.m.: What we are seeing is unbelievable. In a span of about two minutes, Rowe went through the ropes for a tope onto Black, Ricochet executed a corkscrew moonsault, and to top it off, Hanson did a splash from the top turnbuckle onto the other three competitors. 

7:22 p.m.: Hanson is incredible. He went for a minute straight splashing Black and Ricochet against opposite turnbuckles. Moments later, in an amazing show of strength, all 190 pounds of Ricochet picked up Hanson and slammed him to the mat.

7:16 p.m.: After showing the challengers respect in the early going, The War Raiders have taken control over Black. A minute later, Black is able to make the tag to Ricochet, who dominates Rowe with his aerial moves.

7:14 p.m.: Rabid crowd inside Barclays Center. The fans are going nuts for everything right now. 

7:09 p.m.: Kicking off the main card of NXT TakeOver: New York, the War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) face Aleister Black and Ricochet for the NXT tag team championships. Black and Ricochet earned the opportunity by winning the Dusty Rhodes Classic. The War Raiders captured the belts for the first time when they defeated Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong of The Undisputed Era at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in January.

A win by Black and Ricochet would set them up for a potentially big weekend. They are in the fatal four-way for the SmackDown tag team titles. Shocked this is starting the show, but it should be a great one.

7:02 p.m.: Welcome to Sporting News' live coverage of NXT TakeOver: New York. Five championship bouts will take place at an event wrestling pundits feel could be the best WWE card so far this year.

6:49 p.m.: Benson runs through Styles to win the million. Pretty cool contest with a good ending.

6:35 p.m.: "Monday Night Raw" and "Smackdown" analysts Corey Graves and Xavier Woods come out to promote the "WWE 2K19" Million Dollar Challenge final between AJ Styles and Stephan Benson. If Benson can defeat Styles in the video game, then he wins $1 million. Benson is going to play as Brock Lesnar while Styles will play as himself.

6:22 p.m.: Watching the highlight package for Pete Dunne vs. WALTER is giving me goosebumps.

6:05 p.m.: Our preshow panel for NXT Takeover: New York is Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts and Pat McAfee. Right now, they are previewing this evening's matches.

NXT TakeOver: New York card

— Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole in a two-out-of-three-falls match for the vacant NXT Championship

— Pete Dunne vs. WALTER  for the NXT UK championship

— War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet for the NXT Tag Team Championship

— Shayna Baszler vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane for the NXT Women’s title

— Velveteen Dream vs. Matt Riddle for the North American Championship

Steven Muehlhausen

Steven Muehlhausen Photo

Steven Muehlhausen is a contributing writer for DAZN News. He writes features and news stories, and provides analysis relating to the world of boxing. Over the past five years, he has interviewed some of the biggest names in combat sports, including Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Bill Goldberg.