Well, in my opinion, I have drawn the long straw here, reviewing what on paper is the better and shorter show. Also, NXT never disappoint’s. That last comment may well be the kiss of death, but I doubt it. Also, Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa 3 excites me more than a virgin at a year 11 ball, and yes I have been listening to Tim Minchin recently before anyone picks up on that. Well, let’s go…..
Tag Team Championship Match
Moustache Mountain vs The Undisputed Era
5/5
War Raiders show up after the match and destroy The Undisputed Era, that match will be a barn burner guaranteed.
EC3 vs Velveteen Dream
Dream is my favourite character (not wrestler, even though he isn’t bad at that) in WWE right now, EC3 has a banger of a tune for his entrance and also isn’t a bad wrestler, not great, but not bad. This match should be good, but my suffer following that red hot tag match, hope the crowd energy doesn’t drop. Bit of a slow start to this one, and a spot which confused me, Dream just sort of threw himself across the buckle and EC3 seemed to take an age to kick him. A great twisting DDT from Dream on the ramp put some much needed spark into the match. Mama Mia has replaced “What” or “CM Punk” as the most annoying chant in wrestling. Not much else to write about this encounter, it wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great, very middle of the road, would have been a fine TV or kickoff match, certainly Dreams worse effort on a Takeover. EC3 has upper mid-card written all over him. Velveteen Dream picked up the, I think surprising win, in the most exciting sequence of the match, a Rolling Dream Valley driver on the apron followed quickly by his elbow off the top for the three.
2.5/5
Matt Riddle is shown in the crowd, big pop for that.
North American Championship Match
Adam Cole vs Ricochet
Can see why EC3 vs Velveteen Dream was sandwiched between the tag match and this one. Give everyone a breather, high expectations for this one, as in, I think it may make Marshall’s list for match of the year, and expectations don’t get much higher than that. I really hope that happens now……..
Adam Cole is on top early on, despite a great looking dropkick from Ricochet which sends Cole to the outside, leading to Ricochet executing a lovely looking Iron Man landing off the ropes fake out, see Roman, that’s how you do a superhero movement and still look cool, no wanking off the arm here. When Ricochet does take control he hits a beautiful flop to the outside, and the pace quickens. What I like about Ricochet is his flips and tricks don’t feel like a spot fest, they fit a narrative, and make sense. A wonderful back stabber reversal from Adam Cole puts him back on top. Not for long as Ricochet blocks a super kick attempt while in the air hits a discuss forearm which leads Ricochet to go for a Moonsault off the second rope, only for Cole to hit the Superkick while Ricochet is upside down. I don’t do the spot justice in my description, it was marvellous. And looked like it hurt like fuck. Crowd are back to being red hot. A great strike for strike spot which again, you need to see, leads to Cole collapsing on a fallen Ricochet for a near fall. That stupid Mama Mia chant rears its head again. Ricochet is simply amazing, a beautiful leaping hurricanrana to the outside followed by the 630 for the Ricochet win. It didn’t reach the heights that I expected, but still a quality match by two of the best.
4.75/5
Mark Henry and Kevin Owens shown in the crowd, not quite as exciting as Matt Riddle.
NXT Womens Championship Match
Shayna Baszler vs Kairi Sane
I will be the first to admit, I was wrong. I wasn’t on board with Baszler to begin with, I thought she would be a massive flop. Oh, how wrong I was. I think she is probably the best thing to happen to the women’s division since Asuka, obviously before Vinnie Mac ruined her, but that is a different discussion for a different time, what she does well is she is an unashamed prick, it is also refreshing to have a heel persona, not be a coward. Kairi is easy to like, a great wrestler with a stunning elbow drop, don’t quite understand the pirate thing but I am sure someone with more knowledge than me could explain. It is kind of irrelevant really, this match should be good. Kairi goes for a quick knee bar- which is odd considering Baszler is known as the submission magician (I love that name) after that it’s all Baszler, battering Sane. Eventually applying submissions of her own, an ankle lock looked particularly nasty, followed by a stomp on the heel of the foot. See, Shayna is a proper prick even mocking Kairi Sane with her pirate march. Sane does her best Hulking up and screams in
Baszler’s face, which leads to more typical Kairi Sane offence. McGuiness and Ranallo are doing anexcellent job complementing the story. I think Percy Watson has died, or vanished, not heard from
him in ages, think I may have phased him out. Sane hits the insane elbow, but elects not to go for the
pin (not sure why) hits a lovely crossbody on the outside, then hits another Insane Elbow, and Braszler kicked out, she goes for the anchor which is reversed into the rear naked choke- broken by the bottom rope. This closing section is wonderful. Sane locks in a half anchor, Baszler breaks with the ropes, McGuiness great on commentary. Sane goes for a third insane elbow which is blocked by Baszler with the double feet, locks in the rear naked- but just before the hooks went in Sane rolls through for the surprising three count. A really good match, told a great story and probably, even though it goes against what I put down elsewhere, the right result.
4/5
NXT Championship Match - Last Man Standing
Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa
Do I really need to introduce this? From the DIY break up to now, these two have been on fire. Gargano playing the broken underdog who had to re-find himself, and fight back to position of prominence, to now becoming so obsessed with Ciampa that the fans gave Johnny “Freakin Wrestling” a you deserve it chant when Black kicked his head off, to be able to switch a passionate crowd who want to cheer you is what great wrestlers do. Ciampa became the biggest heel since Sgt Slaughter set fire to the American flag, so much so that he doesn’t have music, just boo’s. He has taken the art of being a prick to the next level, he is a mega prick. To what they have produced in the ring, telling different stories every time. Throwing Black into the mix was inspired and I can’t wait until he is back to take care of business. I am genuinely excited for this, and I hope so are all wrestling fans. Except maybe James Cornette, he will moan about facial expressions or something.
A quick start with Gargano not allowing Ciampa to even get introduced. Apparently, the finish can happen anywhere in the world, thanks Nige. Gargano exposes the concrete early, somebody will be hurt later…. The big spots are being hit early, Irish Curse from one announce table to the other from Ciampa to Gargano is a great spot. This match is going to hurt later, because these two are still only in second gear. Gargano reverses the tide with chair shots to the knee, back and chest, Gargano goes to run Ciampa into the chair which is reversed into a sleeper (rear naked choke really) for a six-count, Gargano gets up for Ciampa to locking again. Gargano gets his dart on Ciampa through the chair for another six count. Gargano pops to B&Q, the under the ring branch, and starts stacking tables on the aforementioned exposed concrete. Ciampa blocks the suplex attempt and ends up hitting three rolling Suplexes, who used to do that again… (It is okay, I know really) Three Project Ciampa’s on Gargano look painful, also gets a long nine, but pops up for a Superkick to the seated Ciampa (see, mega prick, he sits down, the wanker) It is reversal after reversal, strike for strike another stella effort from two of the best. Ciampa is back on top- hitting the fairy tale ending on the steel steps getting a loooonnnngggggggg 9 count! Ciampa starts to cut the ties on the apron exposing the wooden boards, a nice shout back to the last match. Gargano manages to hit his draping DDT on the exposed wood for another 9 count. Gargano takes out (accidentally) a member of the production letting Ciampa get on top, he smashes Mr Wrestling through the barricade then buries Johnny with anything he can grab- including the fallen production guy which made me laugh anyway. Handcuffs are out, remember that early exposed concrete, Ciampa gets reintroduced to it, another looonnng 9. Johnny locks in the Gargano escape, Ciampa taps but it doesn’t matter. Johnny handcuffs Tomasso and proceeds to kick the ever loving shit out of him. A massive knee to the head of Ciampa and both men get wiped out- Ciampa gets the win by falling off the stage and landing on his feet. Another great match, another different story, Gargano hates Tomasso so much he effectively beat himself. The story of these two is marvelous and fully deserves to have headlined the last three TakeOvers.
5/5
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