The build to NXT TakeOver: In Your House picked up with the first match being confirmed for the show last night.
After Karrion Kross won his second match for NXT, he was confronted by the returning Tommaso Ciampa. It was the first time Ciampa has appeared since he was attacked by Kross last month.
Ciampa officially introduced himself to Kross. Ciampa said NXT is his home, but Kross already knows that and that’s why he made a point by attacking the main attraction. Ciampa said Kross is special and stands out even in a locker room full of the best professional wrestlers in the world. But Ciampa is special too, and that’s why he had to come out and let him know it will be Ciampa vs. Kross at TakeOver.
In a matchup of top contenders in the women’s division, Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai faced off in last night’s main event. They were interrupted by Charlotte Flair, with the NXT Women’s Champion standing tall after taking out both Ripley and Shirai.
Damian Priest issued a TakeOver challenge to Finn Balor, while the feud between Mia Yim & Keith Lee and Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano continued heading into the June 7 special.
Karrion Kross’ first TakeOver match is now official.
It will be Tommaso Ciampa vs. Kross at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. That was confirmed when Ciampa confronted Kross on NXT tonight.
Kross and Scarlett kicked off tonight’s NXT episode. Kross had his second match for the brand, quickly destroying enhancement wrestler Liam Gray and submitting him with the Kross Jacket. Ciampa then came down and officially introduced himself to Kross. Ciampa told Kross that NXT is his home, but he said Kross already knew that. Ciampa said that’s why Kross made a point by attacking him.
Ciampa said Kross is special and stands out even in a locker room full of the best professional wrestlers in the world. But Ciampa said he’s special too, and that’s why he had to come out, look Kross in the eyes, and let him know it will be Ciampa vs. Kross at TakeOver. Ciampa welcomed Kross to the main event.
Tonight was the first time Ciampa has appeared on NXT since being attacked by Kross at the end of the April 15 episode of the show.
Kross made his NXT in-ring debut two weeks ago by defeating Leon Ruff.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House is taking place on Sunday, June 7. Ciampa vs. Kross is the first match confirmed for the show.
Killer Kross attacked Tommaso Ciampa in the main event angle of last night’s NXT.
Last night’s show ended with Ciampa backstage speaking about his loss to Johnny Gargano from last week. Ciampa said he was done with Gargano and Candice LeRae. He said they agreed that when it’s over, it’s over and whoever wins, wins. As Ciampa was agreeing to call Gargano the better man, he was attacked by Kross. “Tick tock,” Kross said as the show went off the air.
Prior to the attack, the NXT Tag Team titles were on the line. Timothy Thatcher made his NXT debut as Matt Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel and defend the titles. Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish challenged Riddle & Thatcher for the titles last night.
Last night’s NXT featured two big matches that were originally scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa.
One of those was Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano in what was billed as the match that would settle their rivalry. It was presented in cinematic fashion and took up the last hour of the show.
Near the end of the match, Candice LeRae pleaded with Gargano and Ciampa to stop. She asked Gargano what he’s become and told Ciampa to finish it. When he wouldn’t, LeRae said she would finish it instead. She then gave Gargano a low blow.
But when Ciampa checked on Gargano, LeRae low blowed him too. It was then revealed that Gargano was wearing a cup. Before the match began, LeRae had given Gargano something in a paper bag that wasn’t revealed at the time.
Gargano pinned Ciampa after hitting the Fairy Tale Ending on the exposed ring. As Gargano and LeRae went to their car after the match, it appeared that they passed another car that Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux were inside of.
LeRae was also in action in the number one contender’s ladder match earlier in the night. Io Shirai won the ladder match and is first in line for a shot at new NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano will attempt to settle their rivalry once and for all tonight.
Tonight’s Ciampa vs. Gargano match is being billed as “Blackheart vs. Rebel Heart: One Final Beat.” Triple H has said that Ciampa and Gargano will be given an empty building, a ring, and a referee who will only be there to say it’s over. If things between them continue after this match, both will be gone from NXT.
The impending arrival of Killer Kross also looms over Ciampa vs. Gargano. In a brief video that played after Ciampa vs. Gargano was announced, Kross was confirmed as the person behind the apocalyptic-style vignettes that have been airing on NXT.
Another big match that was originally scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa will also air on NXT tonight. Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai will face off in a ladder match, with the winner becoming the number one contender to new NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show began with a video package hyping the Gargano vs. Ciampa. Mauro Ranallo was back on commentary, and doing it solo like Joey Styles way back in the day.
Ranallo opened the show saying “hello all you cool cats and kittens” — which is pop culure reference to Tiger King. He also noted the show was taking place on a closed set.
Io Shirai defeated Tegan Nox, Chelsea Green (w/ Robert Stone), Mia Yim, Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai (w/ Raquel Gonzalez) in a number one contender’s ladder match
Shirai won the match to become the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. There were a few stunts throughout the match, and it was good even without a crowd to pop for the big spots.
Everyone paired off at the start. Kai was the only one left standing after a moment, and she called for Gonzalez to get the ladder. Yim and LeRae and stereo basement dropkicked the ladder into Gonzalez.
All the faces teamed up on Kai until Shirai leapt into the ring with a missile dropkick. As Shirai was fighting with LeRae, Green bulldogged both of them onto a ladder seconds before the first commercial break of the show.
Green was bringing a chair into the ring when the show returned from break — only for Green to take a bump on the chair when Yim trippe her up. That left two rivals — Nox and Kai — in the ring to square off. They traded strikes, and Kai delivered a face wash. Nox came back seconds later with a chokeslam.
Green was driven into the guardrail when she lost a tug-of-war with Nox over the ladder. During a melee, everyone tried climbing the ladder after it was set up. A second ladder soon came into play.
Green hit Yim with a chair. Yim with a receipt whacked Green in the leg with the chair when Green’s foot became trapped in the ladder. That took Green out of the match for awhile as she sold her leg. Shirai then swooped in and catapulted Yim into the ladder. Shirai was a splash off the top to the floor onto to everyone as the show cut to commercial.
Gonzalez got involved as picked Kai up in a fireman’s carry and tried to climb the ladder with Kai on her shoulders. LeRae cut her off. Yim was trying to powerbomb off the apron, and Nox came in for an assist to help put Gonzalez through a table at ringside.
Kai booted Nox off the apron, and Nox crashed through a ladder bridge. Kai and LeRae were fighting on top of a ladder, and LeRae smacked Kai with the briefcase hanging above them. Shirai with a springboard into the ring knocked Kai off the ladder.
Shirai and LeRae both went down after trading German suplexes. Robert Stone coached Green to get up and climb the ladder with everyone else down selling. Green sold her leg, so she couldn’t climb. Stone took it upon himself to jump into the ring and climb the ladder to help Green. LeRae and Shirai teamed up to tip the ladder over. Green and Stone took a bump off the ladder.
Shirai and LeRae were fighting atop the ladder. Shirai racked her eyes, and LeRae fell backwards doinga Nestea Plunge onto a ladder bridged between the ropes. Shirai then unhooked the briefcase to win the match. Shirai now looks to be Charlotte Flair’s first challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship.
The focus of the show shifted to Finn Balor and his feud with WALTER and Imperium. Clips caught the audience up on the feud so far, with some footage coming from NXT UK.
A match between Balor against Alexander Wolfe from NXT UK was joined in progress. Imperium interfered, but were ordered by the referee to leave the ring. Balor then wen to defeate Wolfe via pinfall after a Coup de Grace and a 1916.
Balor in a pre-tape promo addressed WALTER. Balor alluded to them not being able to meet right now (due to recent world events, although that was not mentioned). Balor said WALTER is holding the NXT UK Championship on borrowed time.
A vignette hyped the arrival of Killer Kross, although he was not named.
Indus Sher mostly mauled Ever Rise, but the babyfaces got in some brief offense on the monster heels. That did not last long. Indus Sher toyed with them at times. Rinku & Saur wore different colored arm bands so you could tell one from the other. They used Demolition’s old finisher, and Rinku pinned Parker.
In another poolside promo, NXT Champion Adam Cole cut a promo on Velveteen Dream.
Footage from WrestleMania showed Charlotte Flair winning the NXT Women’s Championship over Rhea Ripley. Flair in a post-match interview said it was the woman makes the title. She bragged about winning the title saying everone bows down to “The Queen”.
Johnny Gargano defeated Tommaso Ciampa
Gargano pinned Ciampa after interference from Candice LeRae. She turned heel to help her husband win the match.
Billed as “Black Heart vs. Rebel Heart”, this was very cinematic. More like the Boneyard Match than the Firefly Funhouse — but with even less gimmicks — this was very different from a typical match.
Gargano and his wife — LeRae — arrived to an undisclosed location in an SUV. Gargano got out of the driver’s seat, and LeRae walked around the vechile to meet him. He told her that she knew why he had to do this.
LeRae got into the driver’s seat — but before she drove away — LeRae handed Gargano something wrapped in paper. Gargano walked into a building where Triple H was seated on a chair in the ring. Ciampa was already in the building.
Triple H said they were right on time. He went on to say this is where it ends. Triple H told them he doesn’t care what they do to each other, but it ends after this. He introduced Drake Younger as the referee in charge. Triple H then left the building.
They began with a slugfest as they traded blows. Gargano took a Ric Flair bump over the turnbuckle. Gargano went for a slingshot, but Ciampa caught him with a knee as the show went to commercial.
Ciampa was in control after the commercial break. Gargano fought back and targeted a leg. He posted Ciampa’s leg several times, and then began to pummel him at ringside.
Ciampa lifted Gargano intoa vertical suplex and then posted him in a crazy bump. Gargano still fought back, and flew through the ropes with a tope suicida. Gargano taunted Ciampa while he adminstered a beatdown. Gargano used weapons like a trash can lid and a chair.
Gargano unfolded a chair and sat down in the ring to gloat. He then picked up the chair and hit Ciampa with it. Gargano wedged the chair into a corner, but he tasted the steel when Ciampa reversed a whip.
After a commercial break, Ciampa cracked Gargano in the head when Gargano attempted to slingshot himself out of the ring. Ciampa put a chair around the neck of Gargano and posted him. That was a callback to a previous angle in their feud.
Gargano was crawling away, and Ciampa showed no mercy. Ciampa retrieved a crutch, and he attacked Gargano with it. This was also a callback.
Gargano shot Ciampa in the face with a fire extinguisher. Ciampa came back to powerbomb Gargano through a table.
In yet another callback to a previous match between them, Ciampa pulled back the mats in the ring to expose the bare boards underneath.
The fight spilled outside the building. Gargano tried to decapitate Ciampa, but Ciampa moved out of the way at the last second. Cimapa climbed on top of a cargo truck, and he dared Gargano to follow him. A decal on the truck indicated it was 13 feet high.
They squared off on top of the truck, and Younger as the ref climbed up to join them. Not sure why this wasn’t falls count anywhere, but whatever. They traded strikes, and Ciampa threatened to throw Gargano off the truck. Ciampa became locked in the Gargano Escape on top of the truck.
They were still on top of the truck before cutting to commercial, and they had climbed down when the show returned from break. They went back inside, and Gargano was hiding to ambush Ciampa. Gargano with a flying crossbody on the floor put Ciampa through a table.
They got back into the ring — where the mat was still pulled back to expose bare boards. They fought on the turnbuckles, and Ciampa gave Gargano a Code Red off the top to the floor.
Ciampa rolled Gargano back into the ring and covered him for the only near fall of the match. Gargano kicked out before the show cut to commecial.
Gargano choked Ciamoa with a crutch, and hit him repeatedly with a trash can lid. Ciampa ate some superkicks, and Gargano screamed at him that he was a failure.
Ciampa fired up after Gargano mentioned Cimapa’s family. Ciampa broke the crutch hitting Gargano several times with it. They were fighting over the crutch and the referee was inadvertently raked in the eyes. Younger winched in pain as he rolled out on the apron. Younger was then hit with a running knee and he took a bump off the apron.
Gargano took a draping DDT on the exposed boards in the ring. There was a closeup of Gargano putting his hand over Ciampa’s hand as if they were pals again, but Ciampa quickly jerked his hand away.
There was a double down, and suddenly Candice LeRae walked into the building. An visibly emotional LeRae got into the ring, and through tears she begged them to stop. She asked her husband, “Who are you, Johnny?” LeRae then turned to Cimapa and screamed, “Are you happy?!”
“I hate my husband,” LeRae said. “Are you happy?!”
She sobbed and told Ciampa to finish it. Ciampa was reluctant. LeRae turned to her husband. “Fine, I’ll finish it!”
LeRae then kicked Gargano with a low blow, and he fell to the mat. LeRae fought back tears as she left the ring.
Ciampa dropped to his knees over a fallen Gargano. They got face to face as Ciampa looked at Gargano with empathy in his eyes. This was playing out like the finish of Old Yeller. Ciampa was telling Gargano he was sorry for what he was about to do.
LeRae ran back in and kicked Ciampa with a low blow from behind. Ciampa fell to the mat in a heap. Gargano reached into his pants and pulled out a cup to show he had been protected from the earlier low blow. This was premeditated by him and his wife.
Gargano dropped Ciampa witth a Jay Driller on the exposed boards. Gargano then covered Ciampa for the pinfall. Gargano smirked and embraced LeRae. They walked arm-and-arm out of the building. Meanwhile, Ciampa was still down selling in the ring. LeRae and Gargano got into their SUV and slowly drove away like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde as the show faded to black.
Triple H addressed Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano on last night’s NXT and set a date for them to finish their rivalry once and for all.
It was announced that Ciampa vs. Gargano will air on the April 8 episode of NXT. Triple H said he would find an empty building, put a ring there, send them the location, and give them a referee who will only be there to say it’s over. He also told Ciampa and Gargano that if this situation continues after their match — neither of them will be in NXT anymore.
A brief but foreboding video then interrupted them at the end of the show, confirming that the recent apocalyptic-style vignettes have been for Killer Kross.
The number one contender’s ladder match that was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Tampa will also air on the April 8 episode of NXT. Candice LeRae and the returning Io Shirai both qualified for the ladder match last night.
A date has been set for Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano to settle their rivalry.
Ciampa vs. Gargano will air on the Wednesday, April 8 episode of NXT. Triple H announced the match on tonight’s show and said he would find an empty building, put a ring there, send them the location, and give them a referee who will only be there to say it’s over.
It was announced going into tonight’s show that Ciampa and Gargano would have to answer to Triple H after their brawl at the Performance Center two weeks ago. Triple H brought up that he went through the same things with Shawn Michaels and understands where Ciampa and Gargano are at, but this has gone on long enough. Triple H said he can’t have Ciampa and Gargano tearing up buildings and endangering other people.
Triple H said this deserves to end on the biggest stage there is, but Ciampa and Gargano agreed that they didn’t need that.
Ciampa said this is about proving who the heart and soul of NXT is. Triple H told Ciampa and Gargano that if this continues after their match — neither of them will be in NXT anymore.
At the end of the segment, a brief video of Killer Kross interrupted the show. It confirmed that the recent apocalyptic-style vignettes that had been airing were for Kross.
The number one contender’s ladder match that had originally been set for NXT TakeOver: Tampa will also air on the April 8 episode of NXT. It will feature Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae and the winner of next week’s second chance gauntlet match. Dakota Kai, Xia Li, Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Shotzi Blackheart, and Deonna Purrazzo are the wrestlers who will be in the gauntlet match.
After weeks of vignettes building up to it, Killer Kross made his first NXT appearance tonight.
The brief appearance by Kross came at the very end of the program. Triple H confirmed that Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa would meet in two weeks on NXT television. Gargano and Ciampa had a staredown, then a video suddenly started to air. A number of images were displayed on the screen, some of them clearly showing Kross, who was not mentioned by name.
Kross signing with WWE was officially confirmed back on the February 4 episode of WWE Backstage. Scarlett Bordeaux, who is in a relationship with Kross, signed with WWE last year after being granted her release from Impact Wrestling. Them being paired together in NXT appears to have been teased in Kross’ videos.
Before joining WWE, Kross had runs in Lucha Underground, AAA, and Impact Wrestling. Months after he requested his release, Impact confirmed in December that it had been granted. Kross also wrestled at MLW Fightland in February.
With their regular venue not available due to Full Sail University’s Hall of Fame week, last night’s NXT was a special episode live from the WWE Performance Center.
The show-closing angle was a wild brawl between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. It went throughout the Performance Center and ended with Ciampa giving Gargano an Air Raid Crash off of a perch and through the announce table.
Prior to the brawl, Gargano offered an explanation for why he turned against Ciampa. Gargano said it seems like everyone has forgotten the past three years, but Gargano hasn’t. Gargano hasn’t forgotten about what Ciampa did to him, the fans, and to NXT. He called Ciampa the worst person in NXT history and asked why Ciampa has been redeemed.
WWE uploaded a post-show video where Gargano was taken out by ambulance.
NXT general manager William Regal also tweeted to further the angle: “The actions of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to each other and to the WWE Performance Center are beyond unprofessional and UNACCEPTABLE on every level. I will be dealing with this privately with both gentlemen.”
Dijakovic won with Feast Your Eyes. The crowd was really into Priest’s entrance.
– Bianca Belair defeated Kayden Carter
Belair got a nice pop from the crowd.
– Dexter Lumis defeated Rik Bugez
Lumis was cool and mostly dominated the match. He won with a roll-up while hooking the tights.
After the match, Bugez did his air guitar routine with the referee and ring announcer.
– Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Mia Yim & Tegan Nox
The heels got the win with a roll-up while having their feet on the ropes. Nothing special in this one.
– Finn Balor defeated NXT North American Champion Keith Lee by DQ
The crowd exploded when Balor’s music hit. The fans were pretty split during the match, but I thought Balor was more over.
There was a cool spot in this match where Balor countered the Spirit Bomb into a double stomp. The fans turned on Balor when he hit a low blow after a ref bump. He grabbed the North American title belt, but Dijakovic came down, took the belt away, and superkicked Balor. The ref saw Dijakovic with the belt and disqualified Lee.
Lee and Dijakovic had a staredown and the crowd was booing Dijakovic as he walked away.
– Kushida defeated Cameron Grimes
Kushida won by submission. The match was okay but not great.
– NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Chelsea Green to retain her title
Green had a bit of offense, but this felt like a longer squash match. Ripley got a big pop.
– Tommaso Ciampa, Velveteen Dream & NXT Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne defeated The Undisputed Era (NXT Champion Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
There were some fun spots in this one, including all four members of Undisputed Era taking a superkick at the same time. Everyone got time to shine. Ciampa hit the Fairytale Ending on Fish for the win. As he usually is in Minnesota, Velveteen Dream was very over.
After the match, Ciampa thanked the fans, roster, and Triple H on NXT’s 10th birthday. He then led the crowd in a happy birthday song.
– NXT Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne defeated The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) to retain their titles
I thought this was the match of the night. The crowd chanted “Fish Fry Friday.” Riddle got the pin on Fish.
– Cameron Grimes defeated Rik Bugez
Grimes pinned Bugez in a quick match. Dexter Lumis ran in after, but Bugez stood tall after multiple belly-to-belly suplexes and then played air guitar for his hometown crowd.
– Finn Balor defeated Kushida
Balor won with the 1916.
– Bianca Belair defeated Kayden Carter
Belair then cut a post-match promo on Charlotte Flair.
– Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong ended in a double countout
– NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest to retain his title
Lee retained with a powerbomb on Dijakovic.
– Before Tegan Nox vs. Chelsea Green began, there was a run in by Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. Rhea Ripley and Mia Yim made the save to set up a six-woman tag. Ripley got the loudest pop of the night
– NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Mia Yim & Tegan Nox defeated Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
Ripley hit Riptide on Green and pinned her after Robert Stone was ejected from ringside.
– NXT Champion Adam Cole defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain his title
Cole got the win after two Last Shots. The Milwaukee crowd was definitely behind Ciampa throughout the match.
Ciampa got on the mic after, thanked the crowd, and talked about how Milwaukee has a place in his heart and they kept him going the last 16 years. He ended with “We are NXT.”
Tommaso Ciampa’s first match since TakeOver: Portland will take place on next week’s episode of NXT.
Ciampa vs. Austin Theory is set for NXT next Wednesday. The match was announced after Ciampa interrupted Theory on tonight’s show.
Theory entered for a match tonight, but it never got started. Ciampa came to the ring, got on the microphone, and addressed Johnny Gargano. Ciampa said it’s clear that — if he wants to get his life back — there can be no Johnny Gargano in NXT.
Ciampa punched Theory when Theory tried to grab him. Theory went to attack Ciampa again, but Ciampa laid him out by repeatedly throwing him into the guardrails.
Adam Cole retained his NXT Championship against Ciampa at TakeOver: Portland when Gargano interfered and turned against Ciampa.
WWE is also advertising an appearance by Finn Balor for next Wednesday’s NXT. Balor defeated Gargano in their match at TakeOver. A video with Balor then aired on tonight’s show. He said he proved NXT is his chessboard at TakeOver and told everyone to watch his next move.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
