Did the “sure thing,” WWE NXT Takeover Phoenix, deliver? Bobby lets you know in his Good, Bad, and Ugly review!

The predictions have been made.  The stage is set and ready to go.  It is the popular opinion, including my own, that Takeover Phoenix will be nothing but Good.  Will they be able to live up to the hype?  Can they fail? 

THE GOOD

NXT Tag Team Championship Match – Undisputed Era (c) vs. War Raiders

“Predicted” Match of the Night.  Nothing to lose but everything to gain, the War Raiders Hanson and Rowe undoubtedly demand respect and attention.  This being possibly their biggest match in their careers you can expect their best.  Undisputed is in the business of showing up, winning and looking Good doing it.  Opening Match honors is only going to fuel this more.  Underhanded tactics and skill was shown early on by Undisputed Era attempting to isolate either of the two Viking Warriors, and this was just filled the action.  The War Raiders however being the wild beast they are continuously countered and overpowered the smaller foes.  This went back and forth and as always delivered.  A rare but huge miss by Hanson to the outside kept him out of action letting Undisputed Era finally get the upper hand punishing Rowe. 

Unfortunately for the Champions, Rowe is an absolute freak.  He just kept fighting back, Hanson recovered and came back on fire.  Hanson put on a show, outdoing the Champions.  All four guys went at it, countering constantly, move after move.  War Raiders had it won but only a two count.  Strong regained hit a sick “superplex” to Hanson, O’Reilly followed with a flying knee off the top, but Hanson kicked out.  No matter what The Champs did, Hanson kicked out.  War Raiders took it from there, Hanson and Rowe flattened the Undisputed Era hitting the “Fallout” for the victory.  War Raiders win at NXT Takeover are the new Tag Team Champions!

Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno

The “King of Bros” has been a thorn in Mr. KO’s side.  It will all come to a head here at Takeover.  No doubt physical and brutal right away.  Matt Riddle came to impress showing great strength and athleticism.  Riddle had full control until getting his face stomped while wrapped in the apron.  Ohno then tried to end it several times.  Ohno is so stiff, he lays into it making every strike count.  Riddle got his face kicked in. His foot stomped on, beaten down, but he still came back fighting.  Nothing worked, Ohno even bit Riddle’s toe.  Ohno finally got some ground and hat the undefeated rookie beat.  Riddle just would not quit though.  Instead, Riddle snapped beating Ohno with repeated strikes.  He then got Ohno trapped and rained elbows on Ohno making him tap.  Matt Riddle continues his Win streak with an impressive showing at NXT Takeover. 

NXT North American Championship Match – Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano

This match will be a clinic.  The level of talent is astronomical.  Expected, as on a show like Takeover this is as high level as you possibly can get.  Every time Ricochet comes out, he just looks ready.  This was just beautiful, a dozen exchanges, counters and every kind of throw you could imagine.  Ricochet is doesn’t stay in one spot very long, making flying look easy.  Ricochet is such a star.  The contrast here made for a great story.  Gargano at one time had Ricochet unable to move completely tied up.  Gargano had complete control after countering Ricochet’s high risk style  These guys try so hard out there, it shows on every move.  Gargano had it going finally, but got bounced off the apron hard on his ribs followed by a corkscrew dive to the outside by Ricochet.  Ricochet had the match won but Gargano would only give him a two count. 

Ricochet countered a hurricanranna by Gargano off the top, but Gargano got the hurricanranna only for Ricochet to flip onto his feet.  Gargano kept going but would just get countered.  Gargano instinctively retreated but got dove on by Ricochet to the outside once inside got a near fall, he then hit a “shooting star press” but Gargano got the knees up, only for a two count.  Gargano hit move after move including a sick “reverse spikerana” and his “spike DDT.’  He just couldn’t finish the Champion.  After some more unspeakably impressive acrobatics Ricochet hit Gargano’s own submission only to have Gargano get to the ropes.  Gargano did not forgive this easily drilling Ricochet onto the exposed floor on the outside.  He hit a second Spike DDT this time finishing the unstoppable Ricochet and becoming for the first time the North American Champion.  Wow! Best match at NXT Takeover? We shall see!

NXT Women’s Championship Match – Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair

These two are tough.  We have complete Alphas about to fight up and up.  Belair pure strength and confidence vs Baszler who is precision and brutality. Belair beat the Champion from post to post, confidently making her claim to the Championship.  Baszler finally got some space and used Belair’s own hair to slam her into the steel post.  Belair looked to hurt her arm which was noticed immediately by Baszler.  Baszler had full control however Belair would not go quietly.  Injured arm and all, Belair kept fighting the dangerous Champion.  Finally out of pure desperation, Belair whipped Baszler with her hair whip. 

Belair then got slammed into the Ref, and hit her KOD but he ref was out.  Baszler’s crew came out to interfere but Belair tossed them out.  Baszler capitalized on the distraction gripping Belair into the Kirifuda Clutch. Belair showed resilience and freakish strength countering and suplexing the Champ.   Belair came off the top with a “450” but was countered on the ground locked into the Kirifuda Clutch a second time.  Belair again made it to her feet but collapsed from exhaustion.  Again though, Belair gets to her feet, but just couldn’t continue.  Belair finally passed out and Baszler retains in a fantastic match that belonged on an NXT Takeover.

NXT Championship Match – Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister Black

As once said in Batman by the infamous Joker himself.  Here we Go.  This is going to be chaos, the hype, the suspense is about to pop off.  Aleister Black’s entrance is just awesome!  The guy is so over and kills it in the ring.  Ciampa has been the Champ for a while now and is holding his own atop the mountain.  This match was fast paced, full on action packed.  Ciampa punished the challenger trying to end his chances of getting any offense. 

Ciampa would not let off and for Good reason.  He was just chasing Black around constantly inflicting unimaginable pain on him.  Black out of pure desperation got a sick kick across Ciampa knocking him off the top to the outside.  Black just had a lot of trouble standing from all of the punishment earlier on, but when he got Ciampa, it really took the Champion down.  This could have gone either way, back and forth, counter by counter, Black looked like he was back in it. 

However Black couldn’t stand and got rolled into a half crab.  Black then returned fire putting Ciampa in the “half crab” but couldn’t stand long enough for it to be effective.  Ciampa got a “Ciampa Drop” on the apron, Black kicked out.  Ciampa hit more and more, and kept failing to finish Black.  Black would continue to fight back even kicking out of the Fairy Tale Ending.  Black is one tough bastard.  Ciampa has no remorse and seemingly will do anything to win.  Ciampa removed the mat to expose the concrete outside. 

Black dove and hit a knee while Ciampa was distracted with the ref.  Aleister Black hit a huge Black Mass but could not get the cover.  Black had him but was hit with a DDT off the ropes and another Fairy Tale Ending.  Again, kicked out.  Ciampa hit two more “fairy tale endings” and finally got the win.  Ciampa Retains!  Interestingly as Ciampa was celebrating on the top of the ramp, he was joined by former DIY associate and partner the New North American Champion Johnny Gargano, who raised his belt next to Ciampa in unison.  

THE BAD/THE UGLY

“Will you be serious?” – Gorilla Monsoon

FINAL

• GOOD- 5
• BAD and UGLY:  No Showed

OVERALL

NXT as a whole, let alone a Takeover is just a superior quality product.  NXT really puts it all out there and tries with all effort to put on a fantastic show.  Takeover from top to bottom was entertaining.  It really impressed from the mat wrestling to the high risk.  The fans were into it the entire show.  It just seemed to run completely smooth.  NXT is the product that is setting the standard in our pro wrestling world, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. 

NXT Takeover was incredible, next we move to the WWE Royal Rumble.  Looks like it will be a great show, but will it finally be able to upstage the always on point, always impressive, NXT Takeover?  We will see Sunday.