For the fourth straight year, NXT has sold out the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for TakeOver. The best and brightest show their talents and show why they are the future of WWE. Rivalries are at an all-time high and it is time to settle them in Brooklyn.
NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) v. Mustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) 5/5
In what some are calling a five-star trilogy, the best and brightest of the NXT Tag Team division faced off in a bout for the Tag Team Championships. Each team has exchanged the championships over the summer.
Mustache Mountain won the NXT Tag Team Championships at the United Kingdom Championship event in England. The Undisputed Era won them back on an episode of NXT in July. Who leaves Brooklyn with the gold in the rubber match?
Just like their first two encounters, this match did not disappoint. These two teams laid everything on the line for the NXT Tag Team Championships. Each team hit everything in their arsenals. These teams in the first match of the night stole the show using hard-hitting moves and false finishes that kept the crowd on their feet.
Watching this first match took my breath away and reiterates my belief that Tag Team wrestling is not dead. The Undisputed Era was able to capitalize and secure the victory retaining the Tag Team Championships. Instant Classic is the best way to sum up this matchup.
However, the celebration was cut short because after the match, The War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) destroyed Strong and O’Reilly. Their message is clear. They want the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Velveteen Dream v. EC3 3.75/5
Is the NX3 era finally upon us? Is the Dream Experience over? Two stars with bright futures in NXT and WWE face off for the first time ever. EC3 is getting a second chance with WWE after his run as Derek Bateman. Velveteen Dream is only 22 and looks to continue his momentum to be one of the biggest stars in wrestling today. Who leaves with their name in the spotlight?
This was a good match. However, I do not know if the crowd was exhausted from the first match or if it was the two styles clashing but the match I feel could have been a lot better. Each impressed me with their abilities, but I felt this match could have had more.
Velveteen Dream was able to pick up his first big victory in a while after he hit the Dream Valley Driver and then a Purple Rain Elbow for the pin and the win. He made his message clear though. On his tights, it stated “Call Me Up Vince.” Could we be seeing the Dream show up on the main roster sometime soon?
NXT North American Championship: Adam Cole v. Ricochet 5/5
Two of the biggest names in NXT square off for the North American Championship. One year after Adam Cole made the move NXT, he has won War Games, became the first ever NXT North American Championship, and won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with the Undisputed Era.
Ricochet since making the move to NXT has stolen the show every night he has stepped in the ring. Can he win his first championship in NXT in Brooklyn?
Remember when I said the Tag Team match stole the show. Well, this match overtook that. From a superkick countering a moonsault, to flying off the top rope for a hurricanrana. Ricochet dug deep and was able to hit the 630 for the win, becoming the new NXT North American Champion. I am lost for words. What a contest. What a match.
NXT Women’s Championship: Kairi Sane v. Shayna Baszler 4.5/5
In a rematch from the Finals of the Inaugural Mae Young Classic, Kairi Sane gets an opportunity at the NXT Women’s Championship against the woman she beat in the Mae Young Classic Shayna Baszler. Since their first encounter, they have gone on two different roads. Shayna has destroyed everything in her path to get to the NXT Women’s Championship, while Kairi has scratched and clawed to get to this opportunity.
Can Kairi beat Shayna one more time with the title on the line? Or, can Shayna rewrite the wrong and continue her dominance through NXT?
This was by far Shayna’s toughest challenge to date since winning the NXT Women’s Championship. Shayna and Kairi knocked the doors off the Barclays Center. Each woman gave everything they had, not leaving anything out. Kairi Sane was able to counter Shayna’s attempt at the Karamuna Clutch and rollup Shayna for the win.
Kairi Saine is the new NXT Women’s Champion. What a contest, showcasing the evolution of Women’s Wrestling.
NXT Championship: Tommaso Ciampa v. Johnny Gargano (Last Man Standing) 5/5
The historic rivalry between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano culminates in Brooklyn in a last man standing match for the richest prize in NXT. The Ciampa Era is just getting started. Tommaso beat Aleister Black for the NXT Championship at an NXT Taping in July. He won it because of Johnny accidentally hitting Black with the NXT Championship.
Johnny tends to rewrite the ultimate wrong at Takeover. This match was set to be a triple threat but due to an injury, Aleister Black was not able to compete.
These two have one goal in mind and that is to destroy each other. Whether it using themselves or their environment, they will destroy each other until there is only one man standing. This by far is one of the most physical rivalries I have ever seen. The rivalry must end with one man standing.
After beating the hell out of each other, Tommaso Ciampa was able to outlast Johnny Gargano to retain the NXT Championship and finally end the historic rivalry between Gargano and Ciampa. Johnny’s frustration and determination to destroy Ciampa led him to destroy himself after colliding his knee with stage equipment dislocating his knee. Tommaso Ciampa leaves Brooklyn still NXT Champion, showing that good guys do not always win.
Overall 4.75/5
Yet another TakeOver event that was flat out insane. NXT is the future of WWE and once NXT becomes the present, WWE will once again show why it is the biggest wrestling promotion in the world. What a show. NXT can go only but up. This is the future.
David Jacobus
Reporter