NXT TakeOver New Orleans Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Championships were up for grabs, rivalries were settled in intensely personal grudge matches and six Superstars thew caution to the wind in the name of making history as NXT presented TakeOver: New Orleans on Saturday night.

Just 24 hours before WrestleMania 34, Andrade "Cien" Almas defended his NXT Championship against Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa battled in a brutal Unsanctioned match and the first NXT North American champion was crowned in an explosive ladder match, setting the bar incredibly high for the main-roster stars to meet.

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic wrapped up with the NXT Tag Team Championships on the line, as The Undisputed Era's Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly defended against The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne in a Triple Threat match. And the rivalry between Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler came to a head in a match for the NXT Women's Championship.

With championship matches all over the card and rivalries wrapping up in grand fashion, who emerged victorious, and what does it mean for WWE's most consistently acclaimed brand going forward?

6-Man Ladder Match to Determine the First NXT North American Champion

Adam Cole, EC3, Killian Dain, Velveteen Dream, Lars Sullivan and Ricochet kicked off Saturday's spectacular, with the allure of history fueling them as they put their bodies at risk in the name of becoming the first NXT North American champion.

Ricochet made an immediate impact in the ladder match, popping the audience during his entrance and wowing them with his high-flying offense once the bell rang. Not to be one-upped, big man Dain delivered a suicide dive that wiped out half the field at ringside.

The massive Sullivan wreaked havoc, using a ladder to wipe out his opponents, with his unmatched fury his greatest weapon.

Sensing the need to collude in order to combat the massive opposition, EC3 and Cole momentarily worked together to flatten Dain and Sullivan before the former Ring of Honor star delivered a Death Valley Driver to his ally on to a ladder. A flurry of superkicks wiped out the competition as chants of "Adam Cole" rang throughout the arena.

Velveteen Dream seized the opportunity to steal the spotlight next, delivering his top-rope elbow drop to Ricochet and then climbing the ladder to deliver another from the top of it to Sullivan. In the process, he launched himself higher in the air than the title.

The war continued, with the six Superstars continuing to punish each other for the right to etch their name into the history books. In a notable spot, Ricochet launched himself off the top rope with a Shooting Star Press, landing on a prone EC3, who was sprawled out on a ladder.

Dream delivered a Death Valley Driver to Ricochet on a ladder. Sullivan returned to the fray, delivering a Freak Accident to EC3 off the apron, on to Dream and through another ladder. Dain followed up that spot with a slam to Cole, on to Ricochet and through yet another ladder.

In the finish, Cole knocked Ricochet off the ladder and became the first NXT North American champion.

Result

Cole defeated Dream, Ricochet, EC3, Sullivan and Dain to win the NXT North American Championship.

Grade

A+

Analysis

This was the car crash everyone expected it to be, with extraordinary performances and risks from all involved.

Sullivan and Dain were the monsters they have always been and brought their ferocity to the match, manhandling the opposition on more than one occasion. Their paths of destruction were solid storylines throughout the match, but their ongoing rivalry doomed both to defeat because they wiped each other out.

Dream continues to earn the respect of the audience thanks to gutsy performances against wrestlers widely considered to be better than him. He is a future star for both NXT and WWE.

EC3's performance was the most noteworthy, as the former TNA champion put his body on the line in his first match after returning to NXT, taking big, brutal bumps more than once. He was brilliant here, with the one-percenter getting his ass handed to him by a crop of Superstars who do not care how much money he has.

Right, Percy Watson?

Ricochet and Cole held the match together and were, fittingly, the last two involved.

Cole's victory sets him up to be the braggadocios heel, successful despite being forced into an unfavorable scenario by general manager William Regal on this show.

NXT Women's Championship Match: Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler

Lzzy Hale of the band Halestorm played NXT women's champion Ember Moon to the ring before The Shenom's title defense against The Ace of Spades, Shayna Baszler.

The grand entrance was the only thing to go Moon's way early, as the challenger caught her with a hard right hand and immediately seized control. Confident, Baszler took the fight to Moon, moseying in and out of submissions but never able to keep them on for an extended period of time.

Still, Baszler controlled the pace of the match. That is until she tried to stomp her opponent's elbow, only to miss and end up on the end of the same maneuver.

Moon seized control of the bout and scaled the ropes. An alert Baszler crotched her and took to popping her own shoulder into place using the ring post. Moon seized an opening and delivered the Eclipse from the top rope and to the arena floor.

Back inside the squared circle, Baszler trapped Moon in a choke, but the champion targeted the shoulder. Baszler then put Moon in the triangle choke, but The Shenom powerbombed her way out. Baszler countered the Eclipse, again trapping her in a choke.

Moon nearly made it to the ropes, but Baszler rolled back to the center of the ring. Moon passed out from the pain, and the referee called for the bell as Baszler won her first championship under the WWE umbrella.

Result

Baszler defeated Moon to win the NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This match did not live up to the first match between these competitors, but it did get to where the booking of the feud has been headed for months: Baszler's first championship victory.

Moon's confidence proved her downfall, as she stepped out of her comfort zone and right into Baszler's trap. She deserved to lose, and she did. She will have to recollect herself and try to win back the title she gave her all to win in the first place.

Whether she can overcome Baszler's tenacity is the question.

Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne vs. Undisputed Era vs. The Authors of Pain

The Authors of Pain had the opportunity to become both two-time NXT tag team champions and two-time Dusty Rhodes Classic winners Saturday. In order to do so, they would have to overcome WWE United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong's team and The Undisputed Era's Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole in a Triple Threat match.

Cole was hobbled by the injuries he suffered during the night's opener and would have to gut through the agony if he and O'Reilly were to retain the tag titles. 

It was a rough start for the new North American champion, who was put through the announce table by The Authors of Pain.

Left to fend for himself, O'Reilly grappled with Dunne after laying out Akam and Rezar at ringside.

The action broke down, with the official unable to maintain control.

Eventually, things settled down, and The Authors of Pain seized control, isolating Strong and working him over in their corner. Strong made the hot tag to Dunne, who exploded into the match and delivered some stunning strikes to Akam and Rezar. The Bruiserweight leveled the opposition with his furious offense before engaging O'Reilly in a slap fight.

Strong broke up a near-fall from the Authors of Pain, saving the match.

The action continued to break down until Dunne delivered The Bitter End to O'Reilly. But Strong stunned the world, breaking up the pinfall before delivering a backbreaker to his partner, helping Undisputed Era retain the titles.

After the match, Strong put on an Undisputed Era armband and posed with Cole and O'Reilly to a big ovation.

Result

Cole and O'Reilly defeated The Authors of Pain and Strong and Dunne.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Strong joining Undisputed Era has been teased for months, and though he had resisted, it makes sense he would go all-in with the faction after so many frustrating and disappointing losses.

The turn was pulled off perfectly, popping an NXT audience not expecting a heel turn.

It was a moment in time that creates a new wrinkle in storytelling and sets up a Strong-Dunne rivalry, in which The Messiah of the Backbreaker could well win the United Kingdom title and bring even more gold to the faction.

A great ending to a match that may not have quite lived up to the talent of the performers involved.

Nor did it have to.

NXT Championship Match: Aleister Black vs. Andrade 'Cien' Almas

Aleister Black had the opportunity to cap off an extraordinary first year with NXT when he challenged for the NXT Championship on Saturday night, battling Andrade "Cien" Almas in the first of the night's two main events.

The always influential Zelina Vega accompanied Almas to the squared circle for what she hoped would not be his final match as the top dog of NXT.

Black took the fight to Almas right out of the gate, but Vega soon sent Black into the steps, allowing Almas to take control. Said control lasted only a short period of time, as the Superstars managed to counter each other, with neither able to keep the other grounded for any period of time.

A big moonsault from Almas put Black down for a two count. The champion dodged strikes by Black but ate a kick moments later that scored the challenger a two-count.

Almas hip-tossed Black into the corner and tried for the running double knees, but the challenger countered. Almas fought out and dumped Black to the floor. A corkscrew plancha followed as Almas built momentum.

Vega provided a distraction, sliding the NXT Championship to Almas and then entering the ring to deliver a headscissors to Black that earned the champion a near-fall.

Black countered the hammerlock DDT and delivered Black Mass, but Vega put Almas' foot on the bottom rope, saving her man's title. She provided another distraction that allowed Almas to drape Black in the ropes and deliver a double stomp to the floor. The running knees only netted the champion a count of two.

Almas delivered the running knees into the ring post, leaving the challenger prone.

The finish saw Vega attempt more interference, diving from the top rope, but she landed in the arms of her charge, which provided a distraction the wrong way, and Black delivered Black Mass. Three seconds later, the brand had a new champion.

Result

Black defeated Almas to win the NXT Championship.

Grade

A

Analysis

Aleister Black has been phenomenal since the Velveteen Dream feud and has been poised to win the title for months. This was the culmination of his journey and another extraordinary entry into Almas' NXT portfolio.

The storyline of Vega's constant interference until she went to the well one time too many was engaging and made sense given her recent history. That Black capitalized on it with a knockout shot was appropriate.

Black as champion, Almas as a challenger and a stronger-than-ever Undisputed Era should make for some compelling main event title picture television.

Unsanctioned Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa

A match a year in the making headlined TakeOver: New Orleans, as Johnny Gargano squared off with Tommaso Ciampa in an Unsanctioned match. With no liability on the part of NXT, the friends-turned-enemies would be able to bring their intense rivalry to a head in a war of attrition.

Ciampa entered the arena with a chorus of boos replacing theme music and a look of disdain and disgust for the NXT faithful in his eyes.

The unreal heel heat for Ciampa ended the moment Gargano's music played, and the most beloved member of the NXT roster made his arrival. Referee Drake Wuertz sported an all black referee's outfit, complete with gloves, selling the unsanctioned stipulation.

The fight spilled to the floor, where Gargano launched himself over the guardrail and into his former tag team partner. Ciampa grounded Gargano and hinted at suplexing him on to the exposed concrete of the arena floor.

Gargano sent Ciampa into the commentary table and teased a piledriver through it. Instead, Ciampa delivered a suplex off of it on to the arena floor.

Ciampa seized control to the dismay of the NXT faithful. The fight finally returned to the ring, and Ciampa took delight in systematically stomping away at his opponent. That includes a brutal stamp on Gargano's neck, after which he mockingly clapped. A running knee lift was added for his own personal enjoyment.

The Sicilian Psychopath grabbed crutches from a fan at ringside and attempted to hit Gargano with one of them on a number of occasions, but Johnny Wrestling escaped and delivered a kick that created some separation.

Gargano finally earned a measure of revenge, delivering a powerbomb to Ciampa on to the previously exposed concrete. Both men made it back into the ring and played tug of war over the crutch. Gargano won and unloaded on Ciampa to the delight of the fans.

He delivered a slingshot DDT that scored a two as a nervous energy built in the arena.

Ciampa mocked DIY and delivered a big running kick for two. Gargano answered moments later with a series of slaps but ate a big lariat. He recovered and countered Ciampa, locking him in the Garga-No Escape. Ciampa gouged the eyes of his opponent, forcing the break.

An exchange of blows gave way to a backbreaker from Ciampa that should have ended the match, but Gargano shot his shoulder off the mat at two. Ciampa talked trash to Gargano, allowing the underdog to fight back, send him face-first into the exposed turnbuckle and deliver two straight superkicks for another dramatic near-fall.

After another false finish, arguably the best of the year, Gargano blasted Ciampa's surgically repaired knee with his own brace, then grabbed hold of a crutch He went to hit him but stopped, apparently having doubts about hurting his former friend, whose eyes were nearly swelled shut.

Gargano suckered in Ciampa and applied an STF using the knee brace, and Ciampa tapped out, ending the rivalry and earning Johnny Wrestling his job back.

Candice LeRae hit the ring to celebrate with her husband after the match.

Result

Gargano defeated Ciampa.

Grade

A+++++++

Analysis

If Dave Meltzer can break his own rating system, anyone can.

This was the match of the year and the culmination of the best story WWE has told in aeons. 

Not since Daniel Bryan's triumphant WrestleMania XXX in the same city has a storybook ending been this effective of emotional. Consider the fact this program had a better beginning, a more lucid story and better twists and turns along the way, and you have a professional wrestling epic fans can appreciate.

This was a brutal fight between two Superstars who cared as much about punishing each other as they did winning.

Ciampa was delightfully despicable. Gargano was the underdog fans know and love, and the audience enhanced everything they did.

This was the best match since John Cena vs. CM Punk in Chicago at Money in the Bank 2011, and the conclusion of a story was as good as WWE has ever told.

There will be some who argue that the reaction is in the moment, that it is fresh and thus somehow lacks credibility. Those who appreciate superb storytelling, which professional wrestling is at its core, will understand the greatness of this contest in the immediate aftermath and for years to come.

It was that good.