On the Saturday before the biggest pay per views on WWE’s calendar, the future of the company, NXT, showcase their talents with their own events called Takeover. Tempers boiled and rivalries climaxed in this massive showcase of the future of the business. In front of a raucous crowd in Chicago, Illinois, NXT took over. Let’s see if Money in the Bank can top this?

The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) v. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan: NXT Tag Team Championship 4.5/5

   In the opening contest of the night, hard-hitting seems like an understatement when talking about these two teams. This match made me believe tag team wrestling will make a resurrection sometime in the future. Teams with chemistry like these two show what tag team wrestling is all about.

   After knee strikes, submissions, insane dives, ejections and so many moments that had not only the crowd, but me on my feet, The Undisputed Era was able to seek the smallest opening and capitalized to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

   I did not know too much about Burch & Lorcan, but they definitely impressed me. They have a future in NXT and with the correct progress and development, they will have a bright future in the tag team division.

   The Undisputed Era together with Adam Cole continues to shock the system and make statements in NXT. They have two of the three men’s championships in NXT and will do anything to keep it that way.

Ricochet v. Velveteen Dream 5/5

   In the anticipated matchup of the night, two of the best talents on the NXT roster meet head to head for the very first time. The charismatic Velveteen Dream faces the high flying Ricochet. In a side note, Velveteen’s Hulk Hogan with also a Prince Puma (Ricochet’s Lucha Underground character) vibe inspired gear definitely gets an A plus from me.

   In the match of the night, the two best of NXT put on a phenomenal match showing their ability to steal the show. Each men using not only their arsenal but also using each others moves to try to get an advantage in this matchup.

   Velveteen’s frustration and ego got the best of him as he attempted to hit the Purple Rain Elbow from across the ring but missed. Which led to Ricochet to hit the 630 from the top rope for the win. To sum this match up in a word if that is even possible, it would be unbelievable.

   The future is bright for both of these competitors, but at the end of tonight. It is bright on “The One and Only,” Ricochet.

Shayna Baszler v. Nikki Cross: NXT Women’s Championship 3.75/5

   The next contest for the NXT Women’s Championship brings the chaos driven Nikki Cross against the dominant champion Shayna Baszler. Nikki took every shot given to her with amusement. However, when she got locked into the Kirifuda clutch she passed out

   However, right before Nikki passed out and after the match, she grinned with a sadistic smile. Whether she enjoyed the pain or passed out to ease the pain I will never know. Then again, who really knows what is going on in the mind of Nikki Cross?

Aleister Black v. Lars Sullivan: NXT Championship 4/5

   In the last championship match of the night, the monstrous Lars Sullivan took on the “Dutch Destroyer” Aleister Black for the top prize on NXT.

   In by far the toughest test put in front of Aleister Black, he was able to hit 3 “Black Mass” kicks to put away the monstrous Lars Sullivan. Truly showing the importance of the NXT Championship to Aleister Black.

   This match would be rated higher, however in a crucial part of the match, Aleister attempted a “Black Mass” kick but completely missed the landing of the kick on Lars.  All in all, it was a great match between the two.

Johnny Gargano v. Tommaso Ciampa: Chicago Street Fight 5/5

   The rivalry between two once best friends culminates where it all began. 390 days before in Chicago, a friendship went up in smoke when Tommaso Ciampa turned his back on his former tag team partner and once friend Johnny Gargano. This match was not a wrestling match, it was a fight. The feud heightened in New Orleans, but it ended in Chicago.

   Before the match, Johnny’s wife, Candice LeRae gave a crutch similar to one Tomasso continuously used against Johnny. The once best friends have grown to become bitter enemies.

   This fight was as personal as it could get. Each man beat the living h-e- double hockey sticks out of each other. From tables, chairs, trash cans, ripping the ring apart and spitting and throwing wedding rings, these men did everything to try to kill each other. This got out control so far to a degree that officials had to come and try to break it up multiple times.

   After almost getting stretchered off Ciampa was led and handcuffed by Gargano and made Ciampa tap, but there was no referee present because the referee was knocked out by Gargano rolling Ciampa on a stretcher.

   After trying to continue his attack on Ciampa, Gargano got caught and got hit with a DDT on the exposed wood under the ring leading to the pin and the win for Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa finally get his vindication in the same place he ended the friendship.

Overall Thoughts

   I went into NXT Takeover with not much anticipation except for Ricochet versus Velveteen Dream and Ciampa versus Gargano. However, at the end of the night, just like NXT does every time with their Takeover events, they blow me away.

   This was an unbelievable show from NXT.  If this is the future of WWE, then I can not wait for what it will bring to WWE. Which leads again to saying, can Money in the Bank top this?

David Jacobus
Intern