Raquel Gonzalez made an impact tonight on NXT, making an appearance in one of the key matches.
Gonzalez appeared toward the end of the Dakota Kai/Tegan Nox street fight that took place tonight in Portland, Oregon. Nox had Kai set up on a table and was about to launch off when Gonzalez cut her off. Kai escaped from the table, allowing Gonzalez to throw Nox through the table. The table didn’t break, but it was still enough for Kai to cover Nox for the win.
After the match, Gonzalez entered the ring and helped Kai to her feet, seemingly forming an alliance. Kai looked confused by Gonzalez’s involvement.
Gonzalez has been signed to WWE since 2016 and has worked for most of her run under the name Reina Gonzalez. She had previously tried out for the latest season of Tough Enough prior to her signing.
She competed in both Mae Young Classic tournaments, but lost both years to Nicole Savoy and Kacy Katanzaro in the first round, respectively.
Tommaso Ciampa will challenge for the title that he never lost as NXT TakeOver: Portland takes place at the Moda Center tonight.
Adam Cole will defend his NXT Championship against Ciampa at the show. Ciampa was forced to vacate the title after undergoing neck surgery last March, and he’s been focused on Cole since returning in October.
Three other title matches are also set for tonight. Bianca Belair will challenge Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship. The winner of that match will potentially have a title defense against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36.
After winning the title from Roderick Strong last month, Keith Lee will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Dominik Dijakovic. Dusty Classic winners Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne will also challenge Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish for the NXT Tag Team titles.
Two grudge matches round out tonight’s card. Johnny Gargano will take on Finn Balor, and Tegan Nox faces Dakota Kai in a street fight.
Tonight’s pre-show begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. The main card starts a half hour later.
**********
The pre-show opened with the panel of hosts welcoming us to the show. Charly Caruso was joined by Sam Roberts and Mansoor on the panel. Roberts immediately heeled on the town as he insulted the fans of Portland. Mansoor and Roberts would go on to bicker with each other as they ran down the card.
The live crowd booed Roberts any time her began to speak, and they cheered Mansoor upon his retort.
Recording artist Poppy — and what was described as her zombie band — arrived to the building in black SUVs. Poppy wore her gear to the building so she is ready. Always bring your gear. That’s a veteran move. She and her band are performing a song on the show later on.
Doing things a little different than most WWE telecasts, the introductions of the commentary team was shown on the air just minutes before the main card was set to begin.
The show opened with a canned intro, and then Poppy performed “Fill the Crown” from her new studio album titled I Disagree.
The opener is a hoss match.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic to retain his title
Lee pinned Dijakovic after the Big Bang Catastrophe. This was a fantastic opener. The bar is set very high from the start.
Dijakovic wore to the ring a hooded sweatshirt with a tribute to Kobe and Gigi Bryant. Nigel McGuinness got in a reference to legendary late Portland promoter Don Owen saying he would have loved this match.
The crowd seemed hot from the start. They marveled at the spots early on as the big bulls locked horns. Lee with a hurricanrana popped the crowd first, and then they ran through a series of spots that popped them even more.
Dijakovic went for a dive, but Lee caught him to attempt a powerbomb. Dijakovic escaped and a moment later he suplexed Lee on the apron. Lee went on to sell as Dijakovic worked him over in the ring.
Lee powered out of an attempted suplex. He struck down Dijakovic and got a two count on a release German suplex.
Dijakovic fought back with a cyclone kick and a corkscrew moonsault. They continued to trade strikes in a fighting spirit exchange. They threw a ton of lariats at each other. Both went down to a knee, and both rose back to their feet still locked in combat.
Dijakovic with an avalanche Death Valley Driver off the top rope, and the crowd came unglued. Lee with a pounce sent Dijakovic flying into a corner, which looked to turn the tide.
They were brawling near the announce desks. The crowd was chanting “we want tables” when Lee shushed them. They arena went silent so that Lee’s chops on Dijakovic could echo through the building.
Dijakovic with a superkick sent Lee into a seated announce chair. Dijakovic then did a springboard senton off the top rope onto Lee in the chair at ringside. Dijakovic looked to finish Lee, but Lee would fight back.
Lee took a chokeslam, and got up. Dijakovic twice took a Spirit Bomb, and kicked out both times.
Dijakovic with a Spanish Fly off the top for a close near fall. He went for his finisher, but his back gave out. Lee then executed his finisher — which is a fireman’s carry into a jackhammer that is now called the Big Bang Catastrophe.
Not sure if this was a blow off to their feud, but it sure seemed like it. Great way to go out, and they shook hands in a show of respect after the match.
Dakota Kai defeated Tegan Nox in a street fight
Kai pinned Nox after interference from Raquel Gonzalez. This was a wild brawl from the start and stiff as hell. Great weapons brawl that would fit on any ECW card in the 1990s.
Kai in a sneak attack jumped Nox during her enrtance. They brawled to the ring and the weapons came out early on from underneath the ring. Trash cans, lids, tables, chairs, a cricket bat, and more would be used as they fought in and out of the ring.
They took some crazy bumps in this match. Kai took a German suplex onto a trash can that looked particularly nasty.
Nox with a chokeslam off the top in honor of Kane, and then she did a Molly Go Round in honor of Molly Holly.
Kai fired up on Nox, and she kicked a chair in the face of Nox. Kai duck taped Nox to the ring post, and then measured her for several kicks. Nox blocked one attempt, and then targeted the knee brace on Kai. She hit her in the leg with a lap top.
Nox then got chain from underneath the ring, and used it on the knee. Nox took a chair and Pillmanized the leg. She delivered a Shining Wizard, and then Nox set up a table in the ring.
Nox laid Kai on the table and put her neck in a chair, and she teased jumping off the top on to the table. Suddenly, Raquel Gonzalez ran in to attack Nox. Gonzalez threw Nox backwards off the top on to the table — which didn’t break. Kai rolled over to cover Nox for the pinfall.
Finn Balor defeated Johnny Gargano
Balor pinned Gargano in one helluva great match. Balor won clean and looked like a contender in doing so. Gargano is such a great babyface. Probably the best in NXT history no less.
The crowd was electric for this from start. The grappled in the early moments doing some great exchanges as Balor heeled and taunted Gargano. Balor displayed a great mean streak.
Balor began to work over Gargano as he shined me up for a comeback where Gargano speared Balor on the apron. Later on Gargano would take a sling blade on the floor.
Balor soon cut off Gargano and grounded him again. Gargano got trapped on the top rope where Balor executed a dragon screw. Balor then targeted the leg of Gargano.
As Balor continued to work the leg and knee, Gargano created some distance at one point for a hope spot with a small package. Balor went back to working the leg as he tied Gargano in a leglock.
Gargano fought back with step-up enzuigiri, a roundhouse kick and a lariat. Gargano went for a tope through the ropes, but Balor caught him. Balor teased going for the 1916 on the floor — which previously injured Gargano months ago.
Gargano with a somersault senton off the apron.
Gargano sent Balor into the ring steps to block the move. Gargano with a slingshot spear as he began a comeback. Balor soon cut him off — but not for long. They traded big moves down the stretch.
There was a double down after a DDT. They were trading strikes when both hit the same high kick. Gargano then avoided a double stomp to deliver a slingshot DDT for a near fall.
There was stand-off before they launched into a closing minutes. Gargano was measuring Balor for a superkick, and Balor hit him with a sling blade. Superkick by Gargano and another sling blade by Balor.
Balor went for his double stomp finisher, but Gargano rolled away and then went for his submission finsiher. Balor escaped, but Gargano applied it seconds later. Balor got a rope break.
In callback to their brawl from months ago, Gargano measured Balor with pistol guns and then hit him with a shotgun dropkick into the barricade for a recepit.
Balor gave Gargano a gourdbuster on an announce desk. Balor then ran down annouce desks to give Gargano a shotgun dropkick to the floor.
Balor with the Coup de Grace, and then he delivered the 1916 DDT befoer pinning Gargano clean as a sheet in the middle of the ring.
Cathy Kelley was backstage interviewing Undisputed Era when Roderick Strong cut an impassioned promo, and then Adam Cole told Kelley to leave.
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Bianca Belair to retain her title
Ripley pinned Belair clean with the Rip Tide finisher. Charlotte Flair ran in after the match to attack Ripley. Charlotte also said she agrees to face Ripley in a match at WrestleMania.
Belair’s gear honored Black History Month. She looked great in the match, and was not hurt in losing.
Belair was aggressive from the start, and Ripley soon fired up too. Ripley hit Belair with a series of chops. Belair herself returned fire and looked to punish Ripley.
Belair with a standing moonsault. They appeared to twice try a vertical suplex of some sort — maybe delayed. Belair turned it into a brainbuster and the match went on.
Ripley with a sit-out facebuster for a two count. Ripley then applied her standing leglock submission hold, but Belair escaped to get a roll-up for two. A spingbuster netted Belair another two.
They traded hard slaps, and Belair hit Ripley with her hair braid. Belair with a gorilla press slam, and then she did a handspring into a moonsaullt. Ripley got her knees up. and Ripley blocked a KOD.
After a double down, they traded strikes and kicks. Belair with a high backdrop sent Ripley over the ropes to the floor. Belair followed with a running flip dive to the outside.
Ripley at ringside sent Belair into the steps. They were fighting on the turnbuckles when Ripley was able to execute Rip Tide to score the pinfall.
Flair with sneak attack jumped Ripley after the match. Charlotte got a microphone and said she accepted Ripley’s challenge to a match at WrestleMania. Flair grabbed the NXT title belt and posed with it before leaving the ring.
On her way out Flair also attacked Belair, and she sent her into the ring steps. Maybe Belair will remain involved in this angle in some way, but Flair vs. Ripley nonetheless looks all but official for WrestleMania.
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne defeated Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish to win the NXT Tag Team Championship
The Broserweights earned the title shot after winning the Dusty Classic. Riddle & Dunne rode out in their tricked out golf cart. Riddle led the crowd in singing his jingle about Bobby Fish frying fish.
Undisputed Era grew increasingly more angry before they ran out of the ring to attack Riddle & Dunne in the aisle. A melee erupted before the bell could even sound.
The match eventually moved to the ring. Undisputed Era proverbially cut the ring in half as they began working over Dunne.
Riddle cleaned house after a hot tag. He ran wild on Undisputed Era looking like a true superstar. Dunne and Riddle both climbed the turnbuckles. Dunne with a moonsault to the floor, and Riddle with a Floating Bro in the ring.
O’Reilly and Riddle with a fantastic series of exchanges and both fell in a heap. Fish tagged in and chop blocked the knee of Riddle. Undisputed Era with double team moves, but Riddle was able to tag in Dunne.
Dunne targeted the joints. Both Riddle & Dunne both applied ankles locks at the same time on their foes.
Everybody went down in a spot, and that also served to hype the crowd even more.
Dunne & Riddle were going for a Doomsday Device when they got tripped up.
Riddle got trapped in a leg bar, but Dunne leapt off the ropes to make a save.
Dunne inadvertently knocked Riddle off the apron. Moments later Riddle tried to make a save, but that backfired.
Chasing the Dragon let to a near fall for Undisputed Era.
They fought on and suddenly the Broserweights were executing their tandem finisher. Stereo jumping knee strikes out of a fireman’s carry led to the pinfall and the title change. Broserweights are the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
NXT Champion Adam Cole defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain his title
Cole pinned Ciampa after Gargano turned heel where he interfered in the match.
Gargano hit Ciampa with a belt shot in the finish of a long match that was great up until a referee bump.
They started slow building to a fever pitch later on. This felt like an updated version of the early stages in an old school NWA title match from back in the day. Then it got even better from there.
Ciampa showed fire and aggression as Cole tried to counter the onslaught of Ciampa. The fight spilled outside the ring, and Ciampa fired up on Cole when Cole started taunting him.
Cole was begging off, and Ciampa kept laying in the offense. Cole was reeling as Ciampa manhandled him around the ring and at ringside.
Ciampa on the floor with a leg lariat on Cole would pop the crowd.
As they fought by the announce desk, Cole with a wheelbarrow suplex sent Ciampa into the table neck first. That was crazy.
A lungblower got Cole a near fall, and Cole went back to work on working over Ciampa.
Ciampa countered and fought on to block a Panama Sunrise.
Ciampa exploded with a series of lariats and a German suplex. A Torture Rack bomb by Ciampa led to a near fall.
Cole cut off Ciampa to deliver an ushigoroshi.
Ciampa with an avalanche Air Raid Crash for a very close near fall and a callback to earlier in the feud.
Ciampa powerbombed Cole on an announce desk, and then he did it again. The table broke on the second attempt.
Cole threw a superkic, but he ate a lariat from Ciampa. Cole took Project Ciampa and somehow kicked out.
They traded strikes in the center of the ring, and Ciampa took some kicks that sent him out of the ring. Cole for the first time in NXT — as noted by Mauro Ranallo — went for a tope. Ciampa with a knee lift made Cole crash and burn.
Cole seconds later used another ushigoroshi for another near fall.
Cole hit the Last Shot, but Ciampa rolled over to get in the ropes — thus blocking any pin attempt.
They teased a Canadian Destroyer on the apron, but Ciampa instead gave Cole an Air Raid Crash on the apron.’
Not to be out done, Cole jumped off a table for a Panama Sunrise pn the floor.
Ciampa miraculously hulked up for the best near fall of the night.
They traded crossfaces, until Ciampa had it locked in deep. Cole crawled over to get a rope break.
Roderick Strong ran in to cause a distraction. O’Reilly & Fish ran in to jump Ciampa. Cole covered Ciampa as Undisputed Era looked on. Ciampa kicked out, and he would soon run wild. He flew through the ropes with a dive.
Cole cut him yet again and Ciampa kicked out again.
O’Reilly threw the title in the ring. They bumped the referee, and he went flying out of the ring. Ciampa with a Jay Driller but no ref to count.
Johnny Gargano caem to ringside, and he grabbed the title belt away from Ciampa. He was seemingly in the corner of Ciampa…or was he? Gargano hit Ciampa with a belt shot to turn on him.
Cole covered Ciampa for the pinfall as the crowd showered Gargano in jeers. The announcers played it up like the loss to Balor earlier on had flipped a switch on Gargano.
Cole retained the title, and the rivalry between Gargano and Ciampa is born again.
Thus ened a fantastic card from top to bottom. This was a really great show from start to finish.
A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made. We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
Also covered in the new issue:
2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,. We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.
Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.
More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.
New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.
Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.
WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.
Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’re looking for reports from the WWE show last night in Eugene, OR, Warrior Wrestling last night in Chicago, WWE tonight in Kennewick, WA and the OTT show in Dublin yesterday to [email protected]. We’re also looking for your thoughts on the NXT Takeover show tonight, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Takeover and the latest wrestling news. You can send questions to the show to [email protected].
Our F4W/WON Convention will take place once again in Las Vegas this year during Double or Nothing weekend. More information can be found here.
Takeover tonight in Portland has:
Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for NXT title
Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor
Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for women’s title
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne for tag titles
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic for North American title
Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai street fight
On paper this show looks super. Lee vs. Dijakovic has the potential to be incredible and the tag title match, Gargano vs. Balor and Cole vs. Ciampa almost can’t help but be great. One would think they’d also try and shoot some angles for Wednesday and do a surprise intro or two.
Both Tito Ortiz and Simone Johnson have been training of late at the PC.
On the weekend Google searches, nothing from pro wrestling made the list. For today at this moment, Diego Sanchez was No. 4 with 50,000, largely due to Conor McGregor mentioning him, and Caleb Plant, a boxer, was No. 8 with 20,000. For yesterday, UFC was No. 12 at 50,000. For Friday, boxer Ryan Garcia was No.8 at 200,000 and Tyson Fury was No. 10 at 100,000.
WWE
Raw tomorrow night is from Everett, WA, has Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza vs. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo and Big Show is scheduled to be there (not advertised at this point).
Friday’s RevPro show in London will go up on their service tomorrow morning U.K. time. That’s where Will Ospreay beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the British title.
PWA iPPV from last night in Australia: Big Fudge b Dazza, Mikey Broderick won over Carter Deems, Silvio and Tree Hugger Luchi, Madison Eagles b Matty Wahlberg, Jack Bonza & Kingley b Jimmy Townsend & William Preston, Sam Osborne b Adam Hoffman, Ricky South b Mat Diamond, Ricky South b Headhunter Rig, Ricky South b Caveman Ugg-COR, Paris De Silva b Michael Spencer, AJ & Rhys Angel b Concrete Davidson & Shazza McKenzie, Jessica Troy b Steph DeLander (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
NEW from last night in New Bethany, CT: Jake Manning b Brian Anthony, Keith Youngblood b NEW champ Dan Maff-DQ, Facebook champ Christian Casanova D Flip Gordon 15:00, Bear Country & Richard Holiday b Chris Battle & Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux, Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn b Aiden Aggro & Danger Kid, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Mike Verna, JT Dunn b Sledge, Brad Hollister b Brett Ryan Gosselin (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
SICW from last night in East Carondelet, IL: War Machine b Richard Shaw, Billy McNeil b Jake Prater, Frankie D b Kowalski-DQ, Steve Fender b Bobby D, Ax Allwardt b Damian Blade-DQ, Mauler McDarby b Chris Kade, Gary Jackson & Gil Rogers b Ken Kasa & Christopher Hargas, Ricky Cruz b CurtisWylde with Tito Santana as referee (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
EVE runs 3/7 at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London, UK. It will air live on FITE TV. Jazzy Gabert returns as Alpha Female to face Rhia O’Reilly. Gisele Shaw also faces Sammii Jayne, plus Holidead vs. Kasey. Session Moth Martina from ROH will also be there.
Stardom from today in Tokyo: Jamie Hayter b Hina, Momo Watanabe & AZM b Hana Kimura & Rina, Jungle Kyona & Itsuki Hoshino b Leo Onozaki (retirement match) & Saya Iida, Giulia & Maika b Konami & Leyla Hirsch, Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima & Bea Priestley & Natsu Sumire & Zoey Skye b Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Riho & Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid, Utami Hayashishita b Saya Kamitani to keep the Future of Stardom title, although she then vacated the title.
Ultimate Championship Wrestling from last night in Bay City, MI: Nick Green b John E. Bravo, Adrian Chase & Alex Little & Brandon Marcinko b Nate Bock & Kyle Barrett in 3 on 2, Ingrid Isley b Kexy Blakk, Tommy Dreamer b Lawrence Jeter, Rohit Raju b Cousin Jake, Brooklyn Brawler & Bry Sullivan b Kurt Hendik & Kodiak K Fabio Morocco, El Ridiculoso b Billy Ray Daniels in a ladder match. Sgt. Slaughter was a special guest and the show sold out. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
A story on former wrestler Patric Tanaka, who is now training wrestlers in Fargo, ND.
If it’s the Russian machine that never breaks, consider NXT Alex Ovechkin. NXT is the indestructible black box in airplanes, the sun in the morning, and the moon at night. It is me falling asleep on the couch at 9:30 after three Miller High Lifes. It is a beautiful constant, and one that is wonderfully consistent.
It’s actually shocking to me that they are losing the ratings “war” with AEW considering just how superior the product is. Week after week, month after month, they continue to spoil the wrestling world with spectacular content. If the TakeOver during Wrestlemania week is considered their best event of the year, then we are in for a treat Sunday because this might be the best card NXT has ever put together in terms of star power.
I’m sure I have said that before in other previews, but that doesn’t make it any less true in the here and now: none of these matches would be out of place as a main event. It’s just that loaded.
The move to a two-hour show on USA has allowed them to do the little things better than they already were. This week’s opening match was a perfect example of that. Hot Rod Strong is both mad online and IRL about Velveteen Dream putting his family on his wrestling gear and wants to fight about it. But Dream doesn’t come out, Bronson Reed does. Reed, who is for sure is not it, came out because the Undisputed Era boys roughed him up last week and he is also mad about that. How many times has someone run around backstage on Raw roughing up the lower card? Those guys never do anything about it, even though they pretend fight for a living. It’s the subversion of expectations that NXT continues to do that puts them at the top of wrestling. They win on the margins and all the time.
The Portland, Oregon, show is going to be a blast and I’m excited to see all these matches live and in living color. Now like we always do at this time, let’s preview the card match by match and try to make sense of yet another NXT TakeOver.
Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox street fight
Another TakeOver and another shining example of how good the women’s division of NXT is. File “two female storylines getting shine at TakeOver” under things you absolutely love to see. This is a simple, formulaic, and a by the numbers type of feud: good girl turns on her best friend, gets a new look, and weaponizes a knee brace. Very regular, very standard stuff. NXT sure loves a threatening knee brace, huh?
The cool off of Kai has been fascinating. She was the story coming out of War Games and now, room temperature water. It is legitimately puzzling. The first thing she did after War Games was…lose to Mia Yim? What in the world? Then she went away for a bit, came back to eliminate Nox from a battle royal, and then…lose to her in, like, four minutes on TV? Something seriously weird is going on with all this.
Listen to the reaction when she came out this week and listen to the reaction when Nox came after her. This should be a blood feud that riles the crowd up and not one that gets mild applause. Maybe a street fight will heat things back up but, man, this could have been so, so much more.
Usually the babyface wins these types of matches, but I’d really hate for that to be the case here. There is still plenty more story to tell, but how can that story be told if Kai loses? She’d look like a chump (hey) and nothing is worse than a chump. The captain of #teamkick will get a much needed win in this one.
Finn Bálor vs. Johnny Gargano
Bálor has reached an incomprehensible level of cool in a way Gargano can only dream of. I can’t even imagine how exhausting it must be to be as cool and handsome as Finn. While Gargano lives his best life as an adult Disney weirdo, Finn is the hottest thing going today. One is a leather jacket wearing, Twitter riler upper rock star and the other is a leg slapping, Marvel-loving man child. Imagine a world where horny wrestling Twitter posts a picture of Johnny like they do whenever Finn debuts new, umm, ‘gear’? Never going to happen. But a funny thing happens when you pair up two polar opposites, they bring out the best in each other.
This is a feud they can both sink their teeth into. Gargano has done the best mic work of his career during this, and Finn just keeps sinking deeper and deeper into The Prince persona. My only issue, and it’s a small one, is that he feels too big for NXT. He was the one who ushered in the modern era of NXT, was the first Universal Champion, and might still be a superpowered demon. He’s well-established as a god tier level character in NXT, so the right opponent matters more with him than anyone else. As good as Ilja Dragunov is, there was no way he was ever beating Finn at Worlds Collide. But Johnny Wrestling? Johnny TakeOver? Mr. NXT? Now that’s a dude I believe can go toe-to-toe with The Prince and hold his own.
I’m really excited to see what Gargano’s performance looks like in a match that isn’t the main event and doesn’t last 30+ minutes. The winner of this match is probably positioned for a shot at the NXT championship, one that will most likely happen WrestleMania weekend. Does Finn’s return to NXT mean another run with the belt, but this time as a bad guy? Or, are we finally heading for the Gargano-Ciampa match that was always supposed to main event the Wrestlemania weekend TakeOver? I think Finn wins here, and I’m all sorts of excited to find out if I’m right.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic
Almost thirteen feet of combined height and pushing a combined 600 pounds, these two have done this before and they’ll do it again and again and again.
From AAW to Beyond Wrestling to Evolve to PWG and now NXT, they have torn it down. If there was ever an NXT match that would make Vince McMahon put down the protein bars and pay attention, it’s this. If he can’t manage to get up for this, he should just give the XFL his full attention (maybe he should do that anyway?). It’s cool to see NXT have some legit beefy boys mixed in with all of the 5’9: dudes with 6% body fat.
While this is probably going to lead the show in “This is awesome” chants, I can’t help but wonder if Lee is, no pun intended, too big for this. He was the star of Survivor Series and got the Roman Reigns rub. He was in the ring with Brock Lesnar during the Royal Rumble. With all apologies to Tommaso Ciampa, this is his moment. His star is starting to outshine the small, safe, solar system at Full Sail, and it’s only a matter of time before he goes supernova. Truly, NXT should not be planning long term booking around him because he won’t be around long term.
I recognize this does a bit of a disservice to Dijak, who is good in his own right and keeps on improving, but this is as clear a class disparity as there is. One could be the biggest thing in the company and the other is just a big thing. The biggest thing retains his belt here and proves that his ceiling matches his nickname, Limitless.
NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) vs. The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne)
Asking me to pick my favorite person in this match is like asking someone to pick their favorite part of the sky. Is it the funny Canadian that always makes you laugh? Is it his partner who also might be your friend’s very attractive stepdad? Maybe it’s the angry British short king with a bear tattoo on his kneecap? Oh I know! It’s the impossibly handsome stoner who wears flippy floppies everywhere and doesn’t care about anything except cracking you in the face. There’s a million ways to get it — choose one.
This is the third time in the five years of the Dusty Cup that it was won by an ‘unofficial’ tag team. Samoa Joe and Finn Balor started the trend, Ricochet and Aleister Black were a particularly egregious example of just putting two dudes together, and now, we get the Broserweights. Hey, at least they have a team name. I know that these are two of the best guys on the roster so of course they are going to win, but it’s a weird way to put over two guys that need no help getting there. Couldn’t a team unfamiliar to most of NXT like the Grizzled Young Veterans have used the rub a bit more? Even Imperium, really. But the real crime is that there wasn’t more of the Time Splitters. Give me more of a love that pure.
Will this match begin the end of the Undisputed Era’s time with the gold? Roderick Strong already dropped the North American Championship to Keith Lee and Adam Cole could easily lose the title to Ciampa. Will Fish and O’Reilly do the same? I think that is a future that isn’t too far off, but Portland isn’t the place for new title holders up and down the card. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before Dunne’s appetite for fingers grows to be more than he can control and turns on our precious Matthew. It would be some seriously great storytelling if Dunne turned on Riddle like Roddy did to him during the 2018 Dusty Cup, wouldn’t it? The Era boys retain…for now.
NXT Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair
Along with Keith Lee, these are the two performers with the most upside in the entire company. The only limits are the ones that bound the company itself. The main event of Wrestlemania is in play for both of these women, and if there was a higher peak to reach, that would be in play as well. Anything is possible for these two, and everything is even more likely.
Belair is such a sure thing and all the adjectives in my thesaurus don’t do her justice. It’s all there and I can’t help but wonder why she hasn’t achieved more already. Every time it seems like the rocket on her back is set to take off, there has been a failure to launch. Even now, she feels secondary to the Ripley/Charlotte Flair match that is a Wrestlemania inevitability. But she can overcome that. What will we remember about the segment with her, Rhea, and Charlotte from NXT two weeks ago? Will we remember the standard talking points that make up 90% of wrestling promos? No. Will we remember Charlotte getting laid out by the two NXT women? Possibly. Will we remember Bianca’s incredible presence and even better reactions to Charlotte’s words? Absolutely. Because when you are the brightest light in the sky, you are all anyone can look at.
I’d love nothing more than for Bianca to boat race Rhea and face Charlotte at Mania. Unfortunately, it’s just not her time, it’s Ripley’s. Her NXT career has been an absolute masterclass in how to turn a lump of coal into a perfect diamond. She’s been groomed for this from the start, and she’s proving that no moment is too big for her. The fact that she’s seen as a worthy opponent for Charlotte, at age freakin’ 23 no less, doesn’t feel out of place at all. She’s going over in Portland, and hopefully over at Wrestlemania, too.
NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa
There’s been a lot of praise for a lot of people in this column and that’s not going to stop when it comes to the main event. Do Cole and Ciampa have Wrestlemania main event ceilings like Lee, Belair, Ripley, and Balor do? Maybe not (feel free to disagree with this!) and at least not as long as Vince McMahon is still running the show. What these two are, though, are the two most well-rounded performers in NXT. When it comes to knowing their characters, selling a match, in-ring acumen and experience, mic skills, and everything else, these two have it all. I love both of them so much.
Cole was an NXT champion the second he signed with WWE. Ciampa was, at best, an afterthought. One was a replacement in the Cruiserweight Classic, the other debuted on and closed the show of a TakeOver. Cole was built for this, but Ciampa needs this. They both mean so much to NXT. Both of them wound up at the same place, but their journeys could not have been more different. I know Gargano is kind of like Ciampa’s forever rival, but really it should be Cole. It’s the man who walked into NXT and succeeded against someone who was never even supposed to be here.
It’s the greatest NXT champion that ever lived vs. the man who never lost the belt. Would the so-called “greatest champ” even exist if Ciampa never got hurt? Probably, if only because Cole as champ was always an inevitability. Does the Undisputed Era’s golden dynasty start if Ciampa has a normal neck? We will never get the answers to those questions, but Sunday does give NXT a chance to reset Ciampa’s title run and do it the way they wanted to.
The story tells itself. My initial thoughts had me thinking Cole would retain the belt and move on to face Bálor. Then I watched this week’s NXT and Ciampa’s incredible promo changed my mind. TakeOver Portland ends with Ciampa regaining what he never lost, Goldie.
A member of the WWE/NXT broadcast team is departing the company after this weekend.
In a statement that she posted on her social media accounts today, Cathy Kelley announced that she’s come to the decision to leave WWE. Her final day for the company will be NXT TakeOver: Portland on Sunday.
Kelley wrote:
I’ve typed out and deleted this about 20 times over the past few days, still unsure what to write… I have come to the decision to leave WWE, with Sunday’s NXT Takeover being my last day. If you know me, you know this was more than a job, you know how much I loved it and how difficult this decision was. But sometimes in order to have room for growth, you have to step away.
I am so thankful for getting to live out a crazy dream the past four years. Thank you to the WWE digital team for being a platform that never stifled creativity. Thank you to Stephanie McMahon for being a mentor and inspiration in every way. Thank you to Triple H for heading up the best wrestling show currently on tv and letting me be a part of it. And thank you to everyone who has supported me, whether it’s watching a video I’ve done or sending a tweet of encouragement. Words cannot begin to express how much it means.
I’m not sure yet where my next chapter will take me, but I am damn excited for it. And I promise this isn’t a goodbye, it’s just a see you later – CK
After Sunday’s TakeOver event goes off the air, Kelley will interview Triple H on his Facebook page and WWE’s YouTube channel.
Kelley joined WWE in 2016. This week, she appeared in her backstage interviewer role on NXT and also interviewed new WWE signee Simone Johnson about joining the Performance Center.
The card for NXT TakeOver: Portland is now up to six matches.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee will defend his title against Dominik Dijakovic at the TakeOver special. The match was announced after Dijakovic defeated Killian Dain on NXT tonight.
On last week’s NXT, Dijakovic defeated Damian Priest after both interrupted Lee and wanted the first shot at his title.
Tonight’s Dijakovic vs. Dain match was set up by an angle where Dain confronted Dijakovic at the Performance Center over who should be next in line for a shot at the North American title.
Lee came out to the stage and went face-to-face with Dijakovic after he defeated Dain tonight. Lee and Dijakovic then shook hands ahead of their title match at TakeOver.
Lee became the North American Champion by defeating Roderick Strong for the title on NXT two weeks ago.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Here’s what’s been announced for the show:
NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against Tommaso Ciampa
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Bianca Belair
NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defending against Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defending against Dominik Dijakovic
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne are the winners of this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
The finals of the tournament headlined tonight’s NXT, with Riddle & Dunne defeating The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) to win the Dusty Cup. In addition to getting the trophy, Riddle & Dunne will challenge for Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish’s NXT Tag Team titles at TakeOver: Portland.
Riddle & Dunne were put together as a team for the Dusty Classic. They defeated Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in the first round of the tournament, Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) in last week’s semifinals, and The Grizzled Young Veterans tonight.
This was the fifth Dusty Classic tournament that NXT has held. Samoa Joe & Finn Balor, The Authors of Pain, Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & O’Reilly), and Aleister Black & Ricochet were the winners in previous years.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting NXT TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Here’s the updated card for the special:
NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against Tommaso Ciampa
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Bianca Belair
NXT Tag Team Champions Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defending against Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne
Tommaso Ciampa is officially getting a shot at the title he never lost.
On tonight’s NXT, it was confirmed that Ciampa will challenge Adam Cole for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Portland. The special is taking place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, February 16.
WWE had advertised that William Regal would reveal Cole’s challenger for TakeOver on NXT tonight. Ciampa did an interview on the show and said the NXT title is coming home to him at TakeOver.
Ciampa walked out of the interview with a lead pipe, and he attacked the other members of Undisputed Era with it backstage. Cole then went to confront Ciampa. William Regal said he had been in his office with Cole — and Cole doesn’t care who he faces at TakeOver. Regal said Cole had already signed the contract and Regal was coming to give Ciampa the opportunity to sign it.
Cole grabbed the contract instead and went down to the ring. He hit Ciampa with the microphone when Ciampa charged at him. They brawled, with Ciampa powerbombing Cole through a table that he had set up in the ring.
Ciampa went to sign the contract, but the crowd chanted for him to use the blood on his forehead. Ciampa then wiped his blood on the contract.
Ciampa had to vacate the NXT Championship when he underwent neck surgery last March. Johnny Gargano defeated Cole to win the vacant title at NXT TakeOver: New York in April, but Cole then won the title from Gargano at TakeOver: XXV in June.
Bianca Belair will challenge for Rhea Ripley’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland. Gargano vs. Finn Balor is also set for the show, and the winner of tonight’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals will challenge for Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish’s NXT Tag Team titles.
Adam Cole’s next challenger will be made official on Wednesday’s episode of NXT.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels took part in a post-show Q&A with Cathy Kelley after Worlds Collide last night. Triple H announced during it that William Regal will reveal who will challenge for Cole’s NXT Championship at TakeOver: Portland on Wednesday’s NXT.
Tommaso Ciampa has been being built up as a challenger for Cole. On the January 8 episode of NXT, a video aired with Ciampa talking about wanting his title and his life back.
Ciampa was forced to vacate the NXT Championship when he underwent neck surgery in March 2019.
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne will face The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals on Wednesday’s NXT. Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai is also advertised for the episode.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting NXT TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Rhea Ripley will defend her title against Bianca Belair, Johnny Gargano will face Finn Balor, and the team that wins the Dusty Classic will challenge for Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish’s Tag Team titles.
Bianca Belair is next in line to challenge either Rhea Ripley or Toni Storm.
In the main event of tonight’s NXT, Belair won a battle royal to determine who will challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland. The match came down to Belair and Io Shirai, with Belair eliminating Shirai by throwing her out of the ring with the K.O.D.
Storm is challenging Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship at Worlds Collide on Saturday, January 25. That will be Ripley’s first televised title defense since winning the championship from Shayna Baszler last month.
Baszler was a surprise entrant in tonight’s battle royal but was eliminated by Shotzi Blackheart, who came back into the ring after having not been eliminated. Belair then eliminated Blackheart to bring the match down to its final two wrestlers.
The returning Kacy Catanzaro was also a surprise entrant.
The battle royal was the first time Mercedes Martinez has wrestled for NXT since signing with WWE. She was eliminated by Baszler.
Tegan Nox was in action for the first time since the angle where Dakota Kai turned against her at TakeOver: WarGames. Kai wasn’t an entrant in the battle royal but got involved and caused Nox to be eliminated.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano is also set for the show.
Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor looks to be set for TakeOver: Portland coming out of last night’s NXT.
A promo segment with Gargano and Balor on last night’s show ended with Balor telling Gargano that he’ll face him at NXT TakeOver: Portland. Balor said he’ll give Gargano a match at TakeOver — if Gargano can make it that far — and told him to go talk to NXT general manager William Regal about it. WWE has yet to officially announce the match.
Gargano vs. Balor was originally scheduled for NXT TakeOver: WarGames, but Gargano had to miss the show due to a neck injury.
Gargano made his return three weeks ago, costing Balor an NXT Championship match against Adam Cole and then attacking him with a steel chair in a post-match angle.
TakeOver: Portland is being held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, February 16. A battle royal on next week’s NXT will determine who will challenge for Rhea Ripley’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver.
WWE has revealed ticket details for NXT’s next TakeOver special.
It was announced today that tickets for NXT TakeOver: Portland will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Pacific time this Friday. A pre-sale will begin the day before that, with it starting at 10 a.m. Pacific on Thursday.
TakeOver: Portland is being held at the Moda Center on Sunday, February 16. This will be the first time that a US TakeOver special has taken place on a Sunday.
NXT UK’s next TakeOver event is also set for a Sunday. The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England will host UK TakeOver: Blackpool II on January 12.
Instead of a TakeOver show, there will be a Worlds Collide special on the Saturday of Royal Rumble weekend. It’s taking place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on January 25, with the theme of it being NXT vs. NXT UK.
WWE has set the date for NXT’s next TakeOver special.
During tonight’s TakeOver: WarGames broadcast, it was announced that an NXT TakeOver event will take place in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, February 16. This will be the first TakeOver of 2020 and the first US TakeOver to be held on a Sunday.
The show will air live on the WWE Network. Further details and ticket information have yet to be announced.
NXT UK’s next TakeOver event is also set for a Sunday. The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England will host NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II on January 12.
When WWE revealed travel package details for Royal Rumble 2020, it was noted that a Worlds Collide event would be the Saturday, January 25 WWE Network special instead of an NXT TakeOver show.
Following TakeOver: WarGames, the Portland event will be the second TakeOver since NXT television moved to airing live on the USA Network.
