NXT TakeOver Phoenix
January 26, 2019
We get the usual promo putting over the desert of Arizona and how tonight it is the home of tonight's NXT TakeOver.
Mauro welcomes us to the show.
NXT Tag Team Championships
The Undisputed Era (O'Reilly and Strong) (c) vs. War Raiders
The lights go out in the arena and fire shows up in the entrance way. A bunch of knights are lined up on the stage. Fire is shown on the LED boards behind them. The War Raiders come out. And the knights are pounding their shields to the beat of the "War" chant. (Yeah. They aren't losing this match with all these shenanigans.)
The Undisputed Era's big entrance includes Bobby Fish coming out on stage with them. If entrances won championships, The War Raiders would be ahead by a lot.
The bell rings. The Undisputed Era goes to work immediately on the Raiders to try to catch them offt guard. Rowe forces both men to the outside where Hanson double clotheslines them. Rowe picks up Hanson and slams him off the apron into the Undisputed Era on the floor! The War Raiders continue to punish Roderick Strong. O'Reilly finally stops the double team and throws Rowe into his own partner, sending both crashing to the floor.
Hanson gets double-teamed by The Undisputed Era in their corner. O'Reilly gets a Front Chancery in, but Hanson easily gets a tag to his partner. Rowe just launches Strong into O'Reilly. Strong and O'Reilly get Rowe on the floor. Hanson tries to do a suicide dive, but there was no one for him to hit. Rowe gets chopped down and isolated in the ring by the Undisputed Era. Rowe powers out of a triangle lock by O'Reilly, but Strong catches him with a vicious backbreaker. Rowe throws Strong off of him, but the UE do everything they can to keep the tag from happening.
O'Reilly and Rowe go at it back and forth until Rowe hits a vicious knee to the head of O'Reilly. Hanson gets the tag and beats down on Strong. A Cartwheel Clothesline by Hanson defies logic, but it was awesome! Forever Clotheslines by Hanson. Hanson just decimates the Era, but he's only able to get a 2 after a running Bronco Buster in the corner. A big lariat by Strong to Hanson. Rowe and O'Reilly get the tags from their partners. All four men start firing big shots at each other. A pop-up Powerslam on O'Reilly followed by a Suicide Dive to Strong (preventing him from saving O'Reilly) only gets a 2 for the Raiders. O'Reilly gets powerbombed and splashed by Hanson, but Strong gets in to break the count. Fallout is avoided for a moment. Rowe is sent to the floor. STRONG HITS A SUPERPLEX ON HANSON!!!! DIVING KNEE BY O'REILLY! 2 count only!!!
A loud "This is Awesome" chant as Rowe gets planted on the edge of the ring. Strong is legal again. Olympic Slam to Hanson. 2 count ONLY for Strong. "Fight Forever" chant from the crowd. HIGH/LOW by Undisputed Era ONLY GETS A 2! Their finish didn't... finish! Another High and Low misses. HANDSPRING ELBOW BY HANSON!!!! A POWERSLAM/POWERBOMB BY HANSON! FALLOUT! 1-2-3! NEW CHAMPIONS!
Winners: The War Raiders (NEW NXT Tag Team Champions)
Match Grade: A. Strong and O'Reilly continue to produce excellent tag team matches. And War Raiders show that given a few minutes to tell a story that they are among the best teams in recent memory. Great match to start off the show. Hats off to both teams.
2) Kassius Ohno vs. Matt Riddle
The bell rings and the shots are firing. Riddle chases Ohno to the floor and hits a flying forearm off the steps. Back in the ring, Riddle continues to go right after Ohno. He deadlifts Ohno off the mat into a Gutwrench Suplex. Impressive. Riddle goes for the Sunset Bomb off the apron, but Ohno uses the apron skirt to wrap up Riddle's head and stomp it.
Ohno now begins the attack on Riddle with a running Leg Drop for a 2 count. Ohno hits an elbow on Riddle for a 2 count pin attempt. Ohno continues to stomp and riddicule Riddle. Riddle starts fighting back, but Ohno fires back just as quickly. On the floor now, Ohno throws Riddle into the ring post. And now, Riddle gets introduced to the ring steps. Riddle gets on the ring apron. Forearm by Ohno followed by a big boot. Riddle gets fired up.
Back in the ring, Ohno goes for a suplex. Riddle gets a sleeper lock on. Ohno escapes a move by stomping on Riddle's foot. Deadlift German Suplex by Riddle only gets a 2. Riddle fires off with kicks to the chest of Ohno. OHNO GRABS THE FOOT AND BITES IT!!!!!! (Remember, Riddle does not wear boots or shoes.) Knee Strike by Ohno! LIGER BOMB BY OHNO! 1-2-Kickout. Ohno goes to the top rope and HITS A MOONSAULT!!!! 1-2-KICKOUT! Big boot and a few running sentons by Ohno. Riddle catches him in a Rear Naked Choke, but Ohno gets to the ropes. Stomps by Riddle. Ohno begs off from any more beatings. He offers his fist to Riddle. Riddle gives him a knee to the face. Sleeper Suplex by Riddle. Riddle mounts Ohno and unleashes a flurry of elbows. Ohno Taps Out!
Winner: Matt Riddle
Match Grade: A-. How can you not give this match a good grade? I bought that Ohno was going to win this for a moment as Ohno has NEVER looked this good on NXT, even in a losing effort. Matt Riddle wins a war to continue his winning ways, and this will do more to build him up on NXT than a 3 second match did.
Velveteen Dream "arrives" backstage.
3) NXT North American Championship
Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Both men vie for dominance in the opening moments with some headlocks and fast paced maneuvering. Ricochet and Gargano keep flipping and reversing each other's offensive attempts. It again ends in a standstill, and the crowd goes nuts with "NXT" chants. And now, after a Gargano sucker punch, the punches and kicks are in play. Ricochet dropkicks Gargano to the floor. Ricochet jumps on the apron, avoids a trip by Gargano, and hits an ASAI MOONSAULT OFF THE SECOND TURNBUCKLE BACK ONTO GARGANO ON THE FLOOR! Both men are on the corner now. Gargano sends Ricochet crashing face first onto the top turnbuckle. Dang. Ricochet tries to mount some offense, but he meets the knees of Ricochet during a standing moonsault. Gargano locks in a submission maneuver on Ricochet. Seconds later, Ricochet avoids a slingshot spear by Gargano and nails the moonsault.
Both men start trading punches. Ricochet hits a flying head scissors on Gargano. 6-1-9 followed by a Springboard European Uppercut by Ricochet. Rolling suplexes followed by a brainbuster by Ricochet gets a 2. Ricochet rolls himself into a Powerbomb by Gargano and then into a Gargano Escape. Gargano is put on the apron. He tries a Slingshot DDT, but Ricochet dumps Gargano on the floor with his ribs hitting the edge of the ring. Running Flop to Gargano on the floor by Ricochet. Back in the ring, Standing Shooting Star Press and a Corner Moonsault only get 2 for Ricochet.
Ricochet goes back up, but Gargano grabbed the legs. Ricochet puts Gargano on his shoulders on the corner, but Gargano fights out. Frankensteiner by Gargano, BUT RICOCHET LANDS ON HIS FEET! Enziguri by Gargano. Backflip Kick by Ricochet. (These guys are moving too quick to capture all their moves!) HANDSPRING BY RICOCHET INTO... GARGANO ESCAPE!!! Ricochet stands up and suplexes Gargano into the corner! Again, Ricochet climbs that corner. Gargano rolls out of the way in a brilliant move. He's on the other side of the ring. Ricochet runs towards him, but he drops to the floor. RICOCHET RUNS OVER THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND THE RING POST TO DIVE ONTO GARGANO! BACK IN THE RING, SPRINGBOARD 450 BY RICOCHET ONLY GETS 2!!!!
Back on the top rope! Shooting Star Press INTO KNEES! ROLL-UP BY GARGANO! 1-2-KICKOUT! (These guys are killing it!) Superkick to Ricochet sends him back to the floor. Gargano dives onto Ricochet on the floor. Ricochet catches him... BUT GARGANO HITS THE REVERSE RANA!!! SLINGSHOT DDT!!!! 1-2-KICKOUT BY RICOCHET!!!! (This is a Match of the Year Candidate! Dear God.) Gargano rolls to the floor and PULLS THE MAT TO EXPOSE THE CONCRETE! He sets up Ricochet for a draping DDT onto the concrete. The referee talks him out of it. Ricochet rolls him up for a 2 in the ring. LARIAT BY RICOCHET! He climbs back up! PHOENIX SPLASH GETS NOTHING! SUPERKICK BY GARGANO!!!! WHAT?! RICOCHET HAS GARGANO ESCAPE ON GARGANO!!!! Gargano gets to the ropes.
Ricochet and Gargano are on the ring apron. Ricochet gets thrown back into the ring post. Oh God. It's the side with the exposed floor. OH MY GOD! A SUPLEX ON THE EXPOSED FLOOR BY GARGANO! Gargano rolls Ricochet back into the ring. Gargano HITS THE SLINGSHOT DDT! 1-2-3!!! JOHNNY WRESTLING HAS FINALLY WON GOLD! WHAT A FREAKING MATCH!
Winner: Johnny Gargano (NEW NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION)
Match Grade: A+. And the new standard for "Match of the Year" in whatever promotion you want to talk about has been set. This match was insane. I couldn't keep up with all the reversals and counters that happened in this match. These guys both delivered an absolute classic. Forget whatever Meltzer says. Check out this match and bare witness to the greatness yourself.
4) NXT Women's Championship
Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair
The bell rings. Both women tease the other to start the match and tie up. Baszler using her size advantage early on with a standing headlock. Belair shoulder tackles her down a couple times to send Baszler to the floor. Belair goes after Baszler on the floor. Baszler whips Belair into the ring post USING BELAIR'S EXTREMELY LONG PONY TAIL. Belair sells her shoulder hurting as she rolls in the ring. Baszler sets up Belair's arm and hits the triceps stomp! Belair screams! Baszler works the arm like a technician, wrenching and pulling the arm in awkward positions. Belair gets mocked and kicked down at the same time by Baszler. "You are O-VER-RA-TED!"- Baszler to Belair.
Belair uses this to start mounting offense. She knocks Baszler down and hits some dropkicks. Spear by Belair using the hurt arm (for which she holds in pain in good selling) gets a 2. Baszler goes for an arm lock, but Belair stomps Baszler's face. Belair dives at Baszler, but she hits knees coming down. Jumping Knee Strike by Baszler gets a 2. Cue the forearm exchange. Belair uses her hair to WHIP Baszler in the arm. Baszler actually has a cut around the midsection. Baszler sends Belair into the referee! Baszler has Belair by the hair. But Belair gets Baszler in the KOD! 9 count and no referee to count. Here come the Horsewomen! Shafir gets dropped. Duke gets dropped on Shafir. She goes back to work on Baszler. CLUTCH BY BASZLER! Baszler has her legs around Belair! Belair gets up WITH BASZLER ON HER BACK!!!! SHE BREAKS THE MOVE! SUPLEX BY BELAIR! WOW!
Belair is going up the corner. Duke gets kicked off the apron. Belair MISSES A 450! CLUTCH BY BASZLER! BELAIR continues to fight, but she's passing. She's getting back up again!!!! NO. She's done! NO! Belair is getting back up again! Baszler refuses to give up on the move. Belair crumbles to the mat. The referee calls for the bell. UNDEFEATED NO MORE!
Winner: Shayna Baszler (STILL NXT Women's Champion)
Match Grade: B+. Really good performance by Bianca Belair here. Shayna Baszler is one of the unsung great performers in NXT at this point. She is not going to wow or dazzle you with 450 splashes or dives to the floor. But she's one of the most legit badasses in wrestling period. You buy every match that she's in because you know she can legitimately hurt people. With that type of a reputation, she can have a long career in pro wrestling. As for Belair, she was made to look like an absolute star in the last five minutes. Yes, she's no longer un-de-fea-ted. But being able to power out of the Clutch so many times and fight off the Horsewomen helps make Belair a star and a likely challenger for the title again at Brooklyn.
Main Event
NXT Championship
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister Black
The bell rings. Tie-up happens in a hurry. Ciampa slaps Black. Black starts going after Ciampa. Ciampa has an armlock on Black and smacks that arm against the mat. Black ends up escaping Ciampa and, after a few moments, locks in a headlock. Black and Ciampa start going at it with more kicks and punches. Both are sitting in the ring now, and Ciampa just boots Black in the face. Black hits a flying somersault dive onto Ciampa on the floor a moment later. Black knees Ciampa on the side of the head and hits the Asai Moonsault to a standing Ciampa for a 2 count. Ciampa and Black go to the floor. Kick by Black. Ciampa whips Black's knee against the ring steps and throwing him knee first into another set of ring steps. Now, Ciampa suplexes Black knee first onto those same steel steps. Ciampa goes to work on Black's left knee in the ring. (He can't use Fade to Black if he's got a bum leg, right?)
Ciampa continues to torque and twist at the knee of Black with a leg lock on the mat. Now, Ciampa jumps on Black's leg in the corner, trying to hyperextend it. Classic leg work by Ciampa here. Ciampa calls Black a "one trick pony." And now, Ciampa wraps Black's leg against the ring post repeatedly.
Now, Ciampa drops Black knee first on the Spanish Announce Table and sits on it afterwards to taunt the challenger (who is screaming on the floor). Black kicks Ciampa in the face as he tried to taunt Black with water. Black slowly follows Ciampa in the ring, which allows Ciampa to dropkick the knee of Black. (Great scientific work here by both men. Ciampa is working the leg like a classic heel should, slowing down the match and getting the crowd worked up for the comeback later in the match.) Black is now in the Tree of Woe as Ciampa continues to stomp down on him. Now, Ciampa climbs up the same corern and punches the knee of Black. Black kicks his way out. Black runs up and hits a running knee, sending both men crashing over the top rope onto the floor. Black is holding his knee in agony from the high-risk move. Both men get back in the ring by 8.
Black is back on offense and catches him with a series of kicks and clotheslines. Black gets rolled up for a 2 count. Black Mass misses. Fairy Tale Ending misses for Ciampa. Forearm by Ciampa to Black. Black rolls up Ciampa for a 2 count. Kicks and a German Suplex get a 2 count for Black. Black teases going for Black Mass, but Ciampa gets a Dragon Screw and a Single Leg Crab on Black's bad leg. Black kicks off Ciampa and locks in his own Single Leg Crab. However his leg gives out on him (good selling, by the way) causing the hold to be broken. Ciampa gets elbowed off the apron to the floor. Both men are on the corner, and Ciampa hits a TOWER OF LONDON on Black (ode to Nigel). 2 count. Running knee attack by Ciampa gets a 2.
Ciampa signals for Black Mass but eats a jumping knee. Ciampa responds back with a jumping knee of his own. Forearms are exchanged by both men. Big boot by Ciampa and Black. Strikes by Black. Lariat by Ciampa. Running knee stopped. DOUBLE STOMP TO CIAMPA! Jumping Knee Strike and a Brainbuster by Black only get a 2 count. Ciampa rolls to the floor. Black hits the running corner moonsault to Ciampa on the floor. Ciampa hits FAIRY TALE ENDING (Butterfly Faceplant Piledriver) to Black in the ring. 2 count.
Outside the ring, Ciampa RIPS OFF THE PROTECTIVE MAT IN THE SAME SPOT THAT JOHNNY GARGANO DID EARLIER TONIGHT! Ciampa moves Black into position, but the referee argues with him enough to allow Black to hit a running knee off the apron. Black rolls Ciampa back in the ring. BLACK MASS!!!! Ciampa is able to roll on his stomach to avoid getting pinned. Black and Ciampa are back on their feet. Ciampa puts the referee in the way of him and Black. Black gets put on the ropes for a Draping DDT! FAIRY TALE ENDING! 1-2-KICKOUT! FAIRY TALE ENDING AGAIN! Black's knee gives out of going for Black Mass! FAIRY TALE ENDING AGAIN! 1-2-3!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa (STILL NXT Champion)
Match Grade: B+. I don't know if this reached the next level that I would have hoped for this match, but it was still a very good main event match here. This makes Ciampa look even greater as NXT Champion as he has vanquished the former champion clean in the middle of the ring. Black is likely heading to the main roster very soon. So, this isn't the biggest surprise in the entire world.
After the match, Gargano is on the stage with Ciampa. Both men have their titles and hold them up next to each other!
Show Grade: A. They did it again folks. I feel like I'm a broken record repeating how awesome NXT is at these big shows. But all five matches delivered great action. Gargano vs. Ricochet just set the bar for wrestling
(And I went 5-0 on predictions tonight, for the record!)
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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