The long awaited NXT: Takeover is finally here! This stacked card features 3 championship matches, a number one contenders match, and much more. Tyson Kidd is set to take on Adrian Neville for the NXT Championship. Kidd is trying to climb back up the WWE ladder since his return a few months ago and winning the NXT Championship will prove that he is more formidable than ever. Adrian Neville, however, is one of the best in the sport today and will do everything he can to remain NXT Champion.
The vacant NXT Women's Championship is up for grabs as Natalya is set to take on Charlotte. Accompanying these two lovely ladies to the ring are WWE Hall of Famers Brett Hart and Rick Flair, respectively. The Tag Team Champions, The Ascension, will finally meet a real challenge in the luchador team of Kalisto and El Local. Also on this special, Tyler Breeze is set to take on Sami Zayn for the #1 contenders spot for the NXT Championship. Its now or never for Zayn to step up and continue the journey to his deserved spot atop the NXT, but Breeze has been looking better than ever and is sure to do everything he can to stop the former El Generico dead in his tracks.
The show begins with a video package highlighting former NXT stars who have made it to the main roster.
Adam Rose makes his way from outside the arena, dancing all the way with The Exotic Express.
Match: Adam Rose vs. Camacho
The match begins with Adam Rose ducking a forearm and dancing around the ring. Camacho lock in a full nelson. Adam Rose fights out, ducks a clothesline and jumps into Camacho's arms. Camacho throws him down, hits a forearm and stomps on Rose. He hits a double underhook suplex for a 2 count. Camacho applies a single arm necktie but Rose fights out. Rose hulks up but eats a big boot from Camacho. Camacho again applies the necktie. Rose tries to fight out but is sent to the mat. Camacho hits a leg drop for a 1 count. Rose is sent off the ropes but reverses with a kick to the face. Rose hits several right hands and sends Camacho to the mat with an uppercut. Rose hits a spinebuster followed by a running elbow to the corner. Rose then hits a bronco buster. He hits the Party Foul for the 3 count.
WINNER: Adam Rose via. Pinfall
A video package plays highlighting Sami Zayn's career since NXT: Arrival and his rivalry with Tyler Breeze.
MATCH: The Ascension vs. Kalisto and El Local
The match begins with Konnor and Victor attacking Local and Kalisto. They are sent out of the ring. Kalisto and Local go for a double suicide dive but meet big forearms. Viktor and Kalisto start things out in the ring. Kalisto gets stomped and Viktor makes the tag. They double team Kalisto. Konnor hits an elbow drop for a 2 count. Konnor lifts Kalisto into a full nelson and tags in Viktor. Kalisto is sent to the mat. Viktor hits a big chop for a 2 count. Viktor sits Kalisto on the top rope and drapes him off the top turnbuckle. Konnor is tagged in and stomps on Kalisto in the corner. Viktor is tagged back in and drives Kalisto tto the mat for a 2 count. Viktor applies a sleeper hold. Kalisto tries to fight out but is thrown outside the ring. Konnor is tagged in and throws Kalisto against the ropes. He tries it again but Kalisto catches himself. Back in the ring Konnor drives Kalisto to the corner and tags in Viktor. Kalisto fights out of the corner and hits a headscissors from the top rope. El Local is tagged in and takes down victor. He is sent to the corner but fights out with a kick to the head and a moonsault from the to rope for the 2 count. Viktor fights back and tags in Konnor. They hit the "Fall of Man" for the 3 count.
WINNER: The Ascension via Pinfall
Sami Zayn and Tyler Breeze are shown preparing for their match backstage.
A video package plays for Tyler Breeze.
MATCH: Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze
The match begins with Tyler Breeze getting behind Zayn. The two exchange holds until Zayn takes Breeze down to the mat. Breeze grabs Zayn's nose and gains the advantage. Zayn fights back and hits several armdrags, ending with Breeze in an armbar. Breeze drives Zayn to the corner. Zayn fights back with a headlock and a kick to the face of Breeze. Breeze is sent to the corner. He reverses an Irish whip and sends Zayn over the ropes and out of the ring. Zayn gets back in the ring and Breeze drives him to the corner. Breeze stomps Zayn to the mat and chokes him with his boot. Breeze drives his knee to Zayn's face for the 2 count. He follows up with a bulldog to the middle turnbuckle for a 2 count. Breeze picks Zayn up by the hair and drives his face to the mat for another 2 count. Breeze applies a front facelock on the mat. Zayn fights out with a facebuster and sends Breeze out of the ring. Zayn bounces off the top rope from the apron and hits a moonsault. Back in the ring Zayn hits a big crossbody for the 2 count.
Breeze tries to fights back but Zayn hits the blue thunder bomb for the 2 count. Zayn goes to the top rope but abandons the attack when Breeze gets to his feet. Breeze hits a sidekick followed by a DDT for the 2 count. Zayn is sent to the corner and Breeze hits a wheelbarrow powerbomb for another 2 count. Breeze hits several right hands in the corner. The ref breaks up the attack and Zayn hits an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles. The two exchange right hands. Breeze reverses an Irish whip and rolls up Zayn for a 2 count. Zayn and Breeze exchange holds. Breeze holds onto the rope and sends Zayn rolling. Zayn gets to his feet and eats a huge superkick from Breeze for a 2 count. Breeze delivers several right hands. Zayn slaps him in the face. Breeze tries to whip Zayn but Zayn holds onto the rope. Zayn and Breeze exchange roll ups. Zayn hits a modified powerbomb for a close 2 count. Zayn goes for the helliva kick but Breeze rolls out of the ring. Zayn htis a frontflip over the top rope. Back in the ring, Zayn goes for the helluva kick again but Breeze gets his hands up and hits Zayn in the groin. Breeze hits the Money Shot for the 3 count.
WINNER: Tyler Breeze via Pinfall
Bret Hart is shown talking to Natalya and Tyson Kidd backstage.
Lana comes out and introduces Rusev. In the ring, Lana compares Russia's expansion of power in Europe to Rusev's expansion of power in the WWE. Mojo Rawley comes out waving an American flag. He says he is going to shove Rusev's flag right up his Putin. Rawley rushes the ring and meets a huge forearm from Rusev. Rawley is sent to the corner. He is beat down to the mat and Rusev applies the accolade. Rusev breaks the hold and Rawley exits the ring. Lana tells Rusev to crush. Rusev chases Rawley up the ramp and applies the Accolade once again.
A video package plays recapping the Women's Championship Tournament.
Paige comes to the ring. She gets on the mic and says its good to be home at NXT. She then thanks the NXT Universe for their support. She says that whoever wins tonight, wins the key to the future, and the key to the WWE Diva's Championship.
MATCH: Natalya w/Brett Hart vs. Charlotte w/Ric Flair
The match begins with the two locking up. Natalya takes Charlotte to the mat for a 2 count. Natalya gets behind Charlotte and takes her to the mat. Charlotte reverses. Natalya fights back and applies an armbar. They lock up again and Charlotte is again taken to the mat in a headlock. Natalya applies a wristlock but Charlotte reverses into an armbar. Natalya fights out with a double leg takedown and applies a submission maneuver on Charlotte's legs. Charlotte gets out of the hold and cataches a kick from Natalya. Natalya again applies a leg submission. Charlotte gets Natalya into a headlock. Natalya fights out and reverses into a front facelock. Charlotte reverses an Irish whip but Natalya rolls up Charlotte for a 2 count. Natalya applies a body scissors and transitions into a cross armbreaker. Charlotte rolls out and slaps Natalya in the face. Natalya applies a waistlock and rolls up Charlotte for a 2 count. Charlotte hits a big chop and sends Natalya to the mat.
Natalya is sent to the corner but goes up and over. Natalya jumps on the back of Charlotte but Charlotte hits a backpack stunner for a 2 count. Charlotte sends Natalya to the corner and chokes her with her boot. Charlotte makes the cover for the 2 count. Charlotte applies the figure 4 headlock and repeatedly drives Natalya's head into the mat. Natalya tries to fight out but gets planted by Charlotte for the 2 count. Charlotte applies the abdominal stretch but Natalya reverses. Charlotte fights out and hits a dropkick. Natalya is sent to the corner and kicks her in the midsection. Natalya hits a butterfly suplex followed by a snapmare. She runs across the back of Charlotte and hits a dropkick for a 2 count. Charlotte is sent to the corner and goes over the top rope to the outside. Charlotte pulls Natalya off the apron onto the floor.
Back in the ring Charlotte makes the cover for a 2 count. Charlotte goes to the top rope but misses with the moonsault. Natalya hits the spinning clothesline for a 2 count. Natalya applies the sharpshooter. Charlotte reverses into the figure 4 leglock. Natalya reverses the pressure but Charlotte reverses it back. Natalya rolls to the bottom rope and Charlotte holds on, holding the figure 4 over the apron. The hold is broken up and both women go to the outside. Charlotte kicks Natalya into the steel steps. Natalya is sent back in the ring. Charlotte applies the sharpshooter on Natalya. Natalya counters but Charlotte fights out and hits her finisher for the 3 count.
WINNER: Charlotte via Pinfall
A video package plays recapping Adrian Neville's reign as champion.
MATCH: Tyson Kidd vs. Adrian Neville
The match begins with the 2 locking up. They jockey for position and Neville is driven to the corner. The ref breaks up the hold and the 2 men shake hands. Kidd takes Neville to the mat. Neville powers out but is again taken to the mat. Neville applies a headscissors but Kidd breaks the hold. They lock up again and Kidd applies a wristlock. Neville does a cartwheel to break the hold and throws Kidd to the mat. Neville hits a big arm drag and applies the armbar. Neville hits a northern lights suplex and continues the armbar. Kidd makes it to the ropes. He is sent off the ropes and sends Neville to the mat with a shoulder block. Kidd goes for the monkey flip but Neville lands on his feet. The two wrestlers go for a dropkick and hits each other. They stare each other down and Kidd hits Neville with a huge elbow. Neville is sent to the corner and gets hung upsside down in the corner. Kidd hits a dropkick to the mouth of Neville. Neville is sent off the ropes and gets hit to the mat for a 2 count.
Kidd applies a headlock. Neville fights out but is sent outside with a dropkick . Kidd hits a frontflip through the middle rope for a 2 count. Kidd applies the sleeper hold. Neville is sent to the corner but fights out with a big boot. Both men go for the crossbody and they collide midair. Neville blocks a right hand but meets a kick to the midsection. Neville fights back and gains momentum. He hits a sliding kick to Kidd's head. Kid is placed on the top rope and draped from the top. Neville delivers a huge dropkick to Kidd's face. Neville hits a slingshot forearm for a 2 count. Kidd is sent to the apron and gets dropkicked to the outside. Neville goes for a suicide dive but meets a big forearm for a 2 count. Kidd goes to the top rope but is knocked down by Neville. Neville goes for the superplex but Kidd fights out. He goes for a powerbomb but Neville flips off the top and lands on his feet. Neville hits a powerbomb for a 2 count. Kidd reverses an Irish whip but meets a big kick to the face. Neville jumps to the middle rope but Tyson Kidd brings him to the mat with a side Russian leg sweep.
Kidd goes to the top rope again but stops short when Neville gets his knees up. Kidd hits a dropkick to Neville's head. Neville goes for a suplex over the top rope but both superstars end up going to the outside. They both get in the ring just before the ref counts to ten. They exchange blows in the middle of the ring. Neville hits a chop but Kidd fights back and applies a sharpshooter. Kidd transitions into a dungeon lock but Neville gets to the bottom rope. Neville is sent to the apron and meets a kick to the face. Kidd goes to the top rope and hits a front flip legdrop for a 2 count. Kidd goes to the top rope again. Neville tries to stop him but gets sent back to the mat. He gets back up and hits a huge hurricanrana from the top rope. Neville goes to the top rope and hits the Red Arrow for the 3 count.
WINNER: Adrian Neville via Pinfall
REVIEW
I don't even know where to begin with this review. This was easily the best show that WWE has put on in the past year, if not the past decade. With the exception of the confrontation between Mojo Rawley and Rusev, there was not a single weak point on the entire card. Charlotte and Natalya stole the show, putting on one of the best women's matches in history. I was expecting a good match, but nothing like what we experienced tonight. This was nothing short of an instant classic. Anything else I say would just take away from this epic showdown, it is one you have to see for yourself.
I was disappointed that Sami Zayn didn't win tonight, but him and Tyler Breeze put on one hell of a match. The winner and loser of a match like that does not matter because both men were at the top of their game and delivered an explosive performance. I definitely wasn't expecting Breeze to pick up the win and I am curious to see what NXT plans to do with Zayn going forward.
The championship match was another high octane roller coaster that pushed both men to their limits. Adrian Neville is one of the most exciting wrestlers in the industry today and definitely deserves to wear the NXT gold. Tyson Kidd is also an incredible performer, and I'm expecting to see him return to the main roster very soon.
Overall, NXT continues to put the main roster shows to shame. With a wrestling focused presentation, and storylines and rivalries that actually make sense, NXT is the best thing WWE has going for it today. Of course, sometimes NXT is lacking on its weekly programming, but both of its specials so far have really raised the bar across the entire company. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come with WWE and we begin to see a return to a product more focused on wrestling matches and less on horrible comedy routines and corny plot lines. WWE's main roster has a ton of talent right now, and their developmental system is just as stacked. The only thing holding it back, in my opinion, is the continued focus on a PG audience and its attempt to be more vaudeville than sports programming. NXT provides a remedy to both of those ailments. Hopefully we'll see the main roster take some ques from the success of NXT.
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