Both great matches. Kofi vs Bryan was more amazing in the traditional sense. It felt like the world was behind the babyface like the days of old. The heat and build-up was so intense.
Adam Cole vs johnny gargano or Daniel Bryan vs Kofi?
- Thread starter ManBearPig
- Start date
When they talk about "telling a story" with a match, Kofi/Bryan is what they're talking about.
It built on their previous matchups. It featured logical selling. It took the sympathy Kofi's character has earned over the course of the storyline and BUILT on it, instead of simply simply exploiting it for heat at the expense of the babyface looking like a chump (Bayley is somewhere nodding her head in silent acknowledgement and disappointment). It understood that building tension doesn't require a string of absurd kickouts, at the risk of making the heels look like chumps (see: The Undisputed Era). The end of the match was simply that for a couple of minute stretch, one competitor was just plain better than the other. If/when they do a rematch, it'll be fine, since they didn't get there with a fukkery finish, or by having the heel immediately get their heat back after the match.
Not to mention that the win and celebration after were everything WWE preaches with their social outreach initiatives rolled into one. A guy won without compromising his morals, stayed true to his best friends who were incredibly supportive, refused to change who he was in order to gain favor, and then shared that moment with his friends and family.
In short, it's what happens when those involved just say fukk it, and try to come up with the best way to give the fans what they've been saying they want. This is the type of shyt that makes people say "WM was way too gotdamn long, but that Kofi match, though...."
I legit think that they may not have GAINED a ton of network subscriptions and weekly viewers, but I believe there are plenty of people out there that were on the edge of joining their own version of NWG, and that reminded them of why they watch, so they'll stick around for a while longer.
It built on their previous matchups. It featured logical selling. It took the sympathy Kofi's character has earned over the course of the storyline and BUILT on it, instead of simply simply exploiting it for heat at the expense of the babyface looking like a chump (Bayley is somewhere nodding her head in silent acknowledgement and disappointment). It understood that building tension doesn't require a string of absurd kickouts, at the risk of making the heels look like chumps (see: The Undisputed Era). The end of the match was simply that for a couple of minute stretch, one competitor was just plain better than the other. If/when they do a rematch, it'll be fine, since they didn't get there with a fukkery finish, or by having the heel immediately get their heat back after the match.
Not to mention that the win and celebration after were everything WWE preaches with their social outreach initiatives rolled into one. A guy won without compromising his morals, stayed true to his best friends who were incredibly supportive, refused to change who he was in order to gain favor, and then shared that moment with his friends and family.
In short, it's what happens when those involved just say fukk it, and try to come up with the best way to give the fans what they've been saying they want. This is the type of shyt that makes people say "WM was way too gotdamn long, but that Kofi match, though...."
I legit think that they may not have GAINED a ton of network subscriptions and weekly viewers, but I believe there are plenty of people out there that were on the edge of joining their own version of NWG, and that reminded them of why they watch, so they'll stick around for a while longer.
Saysumthinfunnymike
VOTE!!!
Kofi and Bryan had the perfect Mania story build. I like storytelling and they incorporated that into the match as well. Plus, I'm biased. I wanted Kofi to win over anything else. Gargano/Cole was great but it wasn't better than Gargano and Cien Almas.
Homer Simpson
Superstar
D Bry is a goat 
Gargano vs Cole was good, but these takeover main events are getting predictable. Kofi vs Dbry was historic and had some good sequences, so it gets my vote.
Toe Jay Simpson
Searchin’
A good match doesn’t have to have every single thing possible in it
This is what this generation doesn’t understand. It’s all the same spots just in different order. Kofi/New New told a story.
This is what this generation doesn’t understand. It’s all the same spots just in different order. Kofi/New New told a story.
ManBearPig
half man half bearpig
Meltz got you covered on that. Didnt he give them 6 stars, best WWE/WWF match of all time?
Probably gave Bryan and Kof 3 and a quarter
He gave the kofi vs Daniel Bryan match 4 1/2 stars. He should have just give it 5 stars like fukk it
But you're super close about the Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole match. It is officially the highest rated wwe match of all time
NXT TakeOver: New York at Barclays Center wrestling results - Internet Wrestling Database
El_Mero_Mero
All Star
I can't decide. I watched Kofi vs DBry on Sunday. I watched Cole vs Gargano yesterday. Both matches were, really, really good. Both had great stories (if you been following Gargano in NXT, the story is that he FINALLY won the big one.). Kofi's story is self-explanatory.
chill that match is MOTY Candidate its not their fault OP chose to compare themWhoever voting for Garganmos vs Adam Cole, I'm negging on sight. Yall know better
ManBearPig
half man half bearpig
Both matches were awesome.
Both matches can be match of the year in many prior years...if not most of them and we got them 3 days apart
I was there live watching Gargano and Cole the energy in the building was unlike anything I experienced. Crowd investment is the best influence on a match
Homer Simpson
Superstar
NXT marKKKs are worse than the impact zone back in the day
ManBearPig
half man half bearpig
Kofi vs DB was #6 and the other one was #7