After an epic night one, night two of TakeOver had a big job in carrying the momentum after a great night of wrestling. While, personally I felt night one of Stand and Deliver was a better showing for the black and yellow brand, night two was still an outstanding night of wrestling.

So, as we get ready for WrestleMania let us rank the matches from night two of TakeOver: Stand and Deliver.

5. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae vs Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon

While this match was nothing special, it was still an extremely solid tag match on a card that has no weaknesses. This was a classic tag team match formula of heel vs faces as Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae isolated Shotzi and Blackheart early in the match, keeping them away from Ember moon who was waiting for a hot tag throughout the match, with Shotzi eventually getting the hot tag to Ember, allowing Ember to attack Hartwell and LeRae, changing the momentum in the match.

The Tag Team Champions would push the challengers to their limit but it would not be enough as Candice LeRae kicked out of a double team move from Blackheart and Moon. The challengers would then turn the tides on the Tag Team Champions and hit The Way on Blackheart only for Ember Moon to break up the pin.

The Tag Team Champions would then finish things after Ember Moon hit both Hartwell and LeRae with a double Elcsipe. Allowing Shotzi Blackheart to hit Indi Hartwell with a diving senton to retain the Women’s Tag Team Titles in a solid match that helped set up the prestige of the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

4. Johnny Gargano vs Bronson Reed 

Johnny Gargano’s Johnny Takeover nickname has been well earned over the years. Every TakeOver, Johnny Gargano has put on amazing matches every TakeOver whether he is a face or a heel and has helped make TakeOver a special event. Gargano’s match against Bronson Reed during night two, would no different has the North American Champion once again stood out the show, using his in-ring experience to push the big man in a thrilling contest.

Despite being in a gauntlet match 24 hours earlier Bronson Reed would start off the match strong, dominating the North American Champion early in the match. Gargano would then use his in-ring experience and target the ribs of Bronson Reed, to gain an advantage. Gargano would then lock in the Gargano escape with Bronson Reed, just getting to the ropes for the break.

After pushing the North American Champion and taking out Austin Theory with a suicide dive outside the ring, Bronson Reed would attempt to hit a moonsault on Johnny Gargano. Gargano would then move out the way and hit two Final Beat DDTs onto Bronson Reed to retain his North American Championship, with both men looking strong as they put on a great match.

3. Santos Escobar vs Jordan Devlin  

After months of mystery and questions surrounding the Cruiserweight Championship, it was finally time for the debate to be settled as Santos Escobar took on the Irish Ace, Jordan Devlin in a ladder match to open the show. Both men would push each other to the limit in a thrilling contest that saw Jordan Devlin change colors as he became the face throughout the match, surviving the onslaught of offense that Santos Escobar threw at him

The Irish Ace would be the first man to introduce a ladder in the match as he drilled Escobar in the face early in the match. Devlin would then attempt to end the match early and climb the ladder only for Santos Escobar to throw Devlin face first in the match. This would allow Escobar to dominate Devlin throughout the match. However, Devlin would push on through the pain and even hit an amazing moonsault from the top of a ladder.

Devlin’s moonsault would allow Devlin to climb the ladder only for Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde to run interference and throw Devlin off the ladder. Allowing Escobar to get back in the match. The match would end after both men fought on top of a ladder, with Escobar pushing Devlin off with Devlin landing on a ladder in the corner on the way down, breaking in half. Escobar would then grab the titles to end the match.

2. Adam Cole vs Kyle O’Reilly   

After one of the most intense builds in NXT history, it was finally time for Adam Cole to take on Kyle O’Reilly. This match, without a doubt, had a big match feel around it as both men made their new entrances surrounded by security. Both men would waste no time in attacking each other, brawling with each other just moments after the bell rang. Kyle would then get the upper hand over Adam Cole in the early seconds of the match. Cole would then change the momentum soon after, hitting his former Undisputed Era member with multiple chair shots.

Cole would then savagely attack the injured neck of Kyle throughout the match. Despite the onslaught of offense from Cole, Kyle would turn the tide and even look to hit the brainbuster on Cole on the steel steps, only to pull out, however, Kyle would later hit a brainbuster on Cole on the announce table. Both men would then trade strikes, sitting down with Cole hitting a low blow on Kyle. Cole would then get frustrated at the ref, taking him out for getting in the way. However, this would cost Cole as Cole hit the Panama Sunrise with no referee to count.

Cole and O’Reilly would then continue their fight outside the ring, on the entrance ramp. With both men getting sent through a steel plate of the entrance ramp. Cole would then hit a wounded O’Reilly hit a brainbuster on the steel steps and throw Kyle in the ring only for Kyle to kick out. Cole would then attempt to finish Kyle by dragging him to the top rope, allowing Kyle to hit Adam with a low blow. This would send Cole on the ring near a steel chair this would allow O’Reilly to wrap in his knee with a steel chain and hit a near drop pushing Adam’s throat against the steel chair, with Kyle then getting a pin in an amazing match, with the only downside being its long length.

1. Karrion Kross vs Finn Balor

Sometimes simplicity and basic storytelling is the best thing to watch in wrestling. Karrion Kross and Finn Balor showed this as they put on an amazing match with basic, simple storytelling. During the match, Balor targeted the arm and the mid-section of the challenger, using the raw emotion of Kross to bait him to make mistakes throughout the match.

The match would start off with the Champion, showing no fear, smiling despite Kross’s strikes and throws. This would then bait Kross into making his first mistake of the match, as he smashed his shoulder on the ring post. Balor would then target the arm of Kross and eventually hit him with a gutshot, with Balor taking the fight to Kross.

Kross would then fight back as both men continued to trade offense. Late in the match, Balor would lock in the Rings of Saturn onto Kross, only for Kross to escape the hold and hit a series of elbows onto Balor’s neck. Kross would then hit a series of offense onto Balor, with Kross finishing the fight with an elbow to the back of the neck.

These were my rankings from night two of TakeOver Stand and deliver. What were your favorite matches and what did you think of the two-night TakeOver format? Let us know in the comments below.