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Contrary to what many fans online say or believe, Dave Meltzer has been one of the biggest names in professional wrestling media for several decades, with him likely to have watched more wrestling than most individuals on the planet. His star ratings are certainly subjective, and fans shouldn’t ever get to the point where they emit anger based on his opinion, but it is easy to argue with some of his match ratings over the years. In particular, his highest-ever rated WWE match, which took place at NXT Takeover: New York in 2019, when Adam Cole battled Johnny Gargano, is subject to some discourse when it comes to rating.
WWE Doesn’t Often Receive 5-Star Ratings From Dave Meltzer
When looking at the WON star ratings, it is clear to see that Meltzer has particular styles of wrestling that he prefers over others, despite him stating that most of his ratings are intended to not base themselves too much on his opinion alone. However, it is nearly impossible for any individual to do this without an element of bias. When it comes to WWE over the years, reaching the full five-star rating is incredibly difficult, with it only happening fifteen times in over half a century, whereas in other promotions such as NWA back in the day, NJPW, and more recently with AEW, getting a higher rating is much more commonplace.
WWE’s developmental brand, NXT, began to rise to prominence at the start of 2014 with their NXT Arrival show, and from there it developed into WWE’s definitive third brand. NXT would draw some of the biggest names from the independent wrestling scene to become a legitimate touring entity, which provided some variety to WWE’s usual product. With a tighter focus on work rate, in-ring action, and long-term storytelling, it became one of the hottest products in the world, with NXT alone giving WWE some of their highest ratings ever when it came to Meltzer, as he gave one match five and a half stars.
Johnny Gargano’s Run In NXT Saw Him Wrestle Multiple 5-Star Matches
In 2018, Johnny Gargano and Andrade wrestled in a five-star match, which was WWE’s first in seven years, and only second in twenty years. From there, the floodgates opened, and more matches were rated as classics. Gargano was on a role around this period, battling his friend-turned-rival Tommaso Ciampa in a trilogy of match of the year candidates. He was set to oppose him one more time too, this time with the NXT Championship on the line. Unfortunately, Ciampa picked up an injury and was made to vacate the NXT Championship, with Adam Cole taking his place in the match.
This huge title match was set for NXT Takeover: New York, and whilst it was a huge shame that Gargano couldn’t get his defining moment over his greatest rival, Cole was a more than suitable replacement given that he and the Undisputed Era had been on the rise ever since his debut in NXT. Going in, it did feel a little predictable, with Gargano clearly on course to win the belt, but the pair managed to overcome that predictability with a truly stunning match.
Johnny Gargano Vs Adam Cole Received Five And A Half Stars From Dave Meltzer
Whilst it is true that this match is certainly not to everyone’s tastes, with it running for 38 minutes and jam-packed full of kickouts, which would become a big trend in their feud going forwards, it was the first time these two had clashed under the WWE banner, so the kickouts didn’t feel too overwhelming or ridiculous in this match, with it only adding to the intensity, drama, and crazy nature of the bout.
The wrestling itself was consistently fluid, smooth, and perfect during several sequences that blew the roof off the arena. Having the level this high without many extended breaks showcased just how well conditioned these two athletes were, and it elevated their stocks to being two of the best in the world. Gargano and Cole proved that regardless of the conventional stereotypes of ‘stars’, they could bring an arena of thousands of fans to their feet.
Gargano’s heart and soul were felt throughout this match with him refusing to give in, despite interferences, multiple finishers, and the odds being firmly stacked against him. Whilst this would get a little overdone in their subsequent rematches, which got a little too over-the-top when it came to the punishment they endured, it was fine for one match, and if this existed in a vacuum of its own, then it would perhaps be even better. Meltzer breaking his five-star system for this match felt like overkill for some, especially when other WWE classics hadn’t even reached five stars, but it was still a phenomenal match.