NXT TakeOver Brooklyn Review
The show started with Triple H in the middle of the ring cutting a promo, introducing Takeover, saying The Future Is Now. 15,589 is the announced number in the building and the crowd was hot.
Excellent show. Good luck to SummerSlam trying to top it.
Excellent show. Good luck to SummerSlam trying to top it.
NXT Championship (Ladder Match)
Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor
Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor
Finn got a special entrance with several people dressed like him standing on either side of the ramp doing his poses. Owens sat outside the ring during Finn's elaborate entrance.
They worked a different type of ladder match, this was more a crazy brawl where a ladder was involved, as opposed to what you'd normally get. Owens went for a power bomb on the ladder, but Balor back dropped him and he crashed through the rungs. Owens later went for his Cannonball, but Finn moved and KO slammed into a ladder. Balor hit the Coup De Grace and climbed the ladder, but Kevin yanked him down and threw him down with a power bomb!
Owens hit the Power Bomb on the ring apron, but sold everything from the match so he was unable to get up the ladder in time. Owens used a pair of superkicks and yelled at Finn to stay down, but Finn didn't listen. Kevin set up a ladder bridge, but Finn knocked Kevin off the top of the ladder, causing Owens to crash on the ladder.
Time stood still as Balor was too far away to reach the title, so he hit Kevin with the Coup de Grace from the top of the ladder. He then moved the ladder over, climbed it and captured the belt.
They worked a different type of ladder match, this was more a crazy brawl where a ladder was involved, as opposed to what you'd normally get. Owens went for a power bomb on the ladder, but Balor back dropped him and he crashed through the rungs. Owens later went for his Cannonball, but Finn moved and KO slammed into a ladder. Balor hit the Coup De Grace and climbed the ladder, but Kevin yanked him down and threw him down with a power bomb!
Owens hit the Power Bomb on the ring apron, but sold everything from the match so he was unable to get up the ladder in time. Owens used a pair of superkicks and yelled at Finn to stay down, but Finn didn't listen. Kevin set up a ladder bridge, but Finn knocked Kevin off the top of the ladder, causing Owens to crash on the ladder.
Time stood still as Balor was too far away to reach the title, so he hit Kevin with the Coup de Grace from the top of the ladder. He then moved the ladder over, climbed it and captured the belt.
NXT Women’s Title Match
Bayley vs Sasha Banks
Bayley vs Sasha Banks
This is the third time Bayley is challenging for the championship on Takeover.
They were on the middle rope, teasing a superplex when Sasha kicked Bayley's leg, sending her crashing and burning to the outside in a nasty looking fall.
Sasha was talking trash, so Bayley kicked her in the mouth and went crazy. Sasha ripped off her arm brace that she'd been wearing since injuring her hand 3 months ago. Sasha placed Bayley's hand between the steps and the ring post and kicked it. Just as Bayley began to stand up, Sasha broke out a flip dive to the floor!
Bayley made her comeback with a bunch of Polish Hammer's and went for the Bayley to Belly, but Sasha reversed it and got on the Bank Statement. When Bayley tried getting the ropes Sasha kicked her hand. Somehow Bayley reversed it into her own Bank Statement, but Sasha got the ropes.
Sasha kicked out of the Bayley to Belly Suplex. Bayley then went for a Hurricarana from the top rope, but Sasha shoved her off! Sasha got a near fall with the Thesz Press from the middle rope and BAYLEY HIT A REVERSE FRANKENSTEINER FROM THE TOP ROPE! Jesus! Bayley then won the title with a Bayley to Belly Suplex.
Charlotte and Becky Lynch came down to join in for the celebration. Sasha hugged Bayley and the four women held up the four fingers to symbolize themselves as the Four Horsewomen of NXT.
They were on the middle rope, teasing a superplex when Sasha kicked Bayley's leg, sending her crashing and burning to the outside in a nasty looking fall.
Sasha was talking trash, so Bayley kicked her in the mouth and went crazy. Sasha ripped off her arm brace that she'd been wearing since injuring her hand 3 months ago. Sasha placed Bayley's hand between the steps and the ring post and kicked it. Just as Bayley began to stand up, Sasha broke out a flip dive to the floor!
Bayley made her comeback with a bunch of Polish Hammer's and went for the Bayley to Belly, but Sasha reversed it and got on the Bank Statement. When Bayley tried getting the ropes Sasha kicked her hand. Somehow Bayley reversed it into her own Bank Statement, but Sasha got the ropes.
Sasha kicked out of the Bayley to Belly Suplex. Bayley then went for a Hurricarana from the top rope, but Sasha shoved her off! Sasha got a near fall with the Thesz Press from the middle rope and BAYLEY HIT A REVERSE FRANKENSTEINER FROM THE TOP ROPE! Jesus! Bayley then won the title with a Bayley to Belly Suplex.
Charlotte and Becky Lynch came down to join in for the celebration. Sasha hugged Bayley and the four women held up the four fingers to symbolize themselves as the Four Horsewomen of NXT.
Samoa Joe vs Baron Corbin
This is probably the biggest US crowd Joe has ever wrestled in front of. The match went longer than 30 seconds, but Joe almost won with the choke in less than a minute, but Baron bailed. Joe at one point went for the Suicide Dive, but as he came through the ropes, Baron forearmed him in the head.
Joe did his pinfall attempt into a Boston Crab, but instead of an STF he turned that into a Crossface. Baron took a beating for most of the match, but then got in a desperation Heel Hook. It reminded me a lot of the first Brock Lesnar-Frank Mir match, but Joe didn't tap. Corbin got a near fall with a Black Hole Slam.
This was the longest match of Corbin's career and it was also the best, better than the Corbin-Rhyno match in May. Baron fought out of the Muscle Buster and almost won with the Jackhammer. The finish saw both men reverse each others finishers and Joe won with the Coquina Clutch when Corbin passed out.
Joe did his pinfall attempt into a Boston Crab, but instead of an STF he turned that into a Crossface. Baron took a beating for most of the match, but then got in a desperation Heel Hook. It reminded me a lot of the first Brock Lesnar-Frank Mir match, but Joe didn't tap. Corbin got a near fall with a Black Hole Slam.
This was the longest match of Corbin's career and it was also the best, better than the Corbin-Rhyno match in May. Baron fought out of the Muscle Buster and almost won with the Jackhammer. The finish saw both men reverse each others finishers and Joe won with the Coquina Clutch when Corbin passed out.
NXT Tag Team Title Match
The Vaudevillians vs Blake and Murphy
The Vaudevillians vs Blake and Murphy
Blue Pants ended up being the girl in the corner of The Vaudevillians. The fans seemed to know what to expect, as they chanted for her. Yes, I am the only person who didn't think it would be her. The fans chanted "Blue Pants City".
Aiden was running wild on both foes, when that treacherous, devious, villainous Blake tripped English on the ring apron, sending him crashing and burning to the pretty black mats. Blake did the same thing to Gotch when English got close for a hot tag.
Blake & Murphy tried a double superplex on English, but Gotch gave them a double power bomb. English got a near fall with a senton and that led to the girl fight. Alexa went to slap Aiden and Simon, but Blue Pants knocked her down. Murphy almost won with a school boy, but The Vaudevillians came back and won the belts with the Whirling Dervish. Much better match than expected.
Aiden was running wild on both foes, when that treacherous, devious, villainous Blake tripped English on the ring apron, sending him crashing and burning to the pretty black mats. Blake did the same thing to Gotch when English got close for a hot tag.
Blake & Murphy tried a double superplex on English, but Gotch gave them a double power bomb. English got a near fall with a senton and that led to the girl fight. Alexa went to slap Aiden and Simon, but Blue Pants knocked her down. Murphy almost won with a school boy, but The Vaudevillians came back and won the belts with the Whirling Dervish. Much better match than expected.
Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs Tyler Breeze
Breeze had a similar entrance to his last Takeover match, where models all came out to line the aisleway as he entered. The fans popped big for Breeze and just as big for Liger.
The fans were really into this match. Liger twice used the Surfboard, which is a move not seen on WWE TV in over a decade. Liger mocked Breeze by taking a selfie with Tyler's phone and by lounging across the top rope. Breeze got a near fall with the Super Model Kick and again with a rolling Back Stabber.
The fans chanted "Full Sail Sucks" to the tune of "New Day Rocks" during a rest hold. The story was Breeze got frustrated the longer the match went, since he could not put away Liger. Breeze got out of the Liger Bomb twice, but Liger hit it on the third try and won.
The fans were really into this match. Liger twice used the Surfboard, which is a move not seen on WWE TV in over a decade. Liger mocked Breeze by taking a selfie with Tyler's phone and by lounging across the top rope. Breeze got a near fall with the Super Model Kick and again with a rolling Back Stabber.
The fans chanted "Full Sail Sucks" to the tune of "New Day Rocks" during a rest hold. The story was Breeze got frustrated the longer the match went, since he could not put away Liger. Breeze got out of the Liger Bomb twice, but Liger hit it on the third try and won.
Debut of Apollo Crews vs Tye Dillinger
Crews was really impressed with his own Titantron. The fans were really into both men. I was surprised they were so into Dillinger's Perfect 10 gimmick since he's only done it once on tv. Crews looked super athletic, but Tye held his own and probably looked better than any other time on NXT.
Crews blocked a second superkick and hit a beautiful Inzigiri. Crews won in 5 minutes with a Gorilla Press Slam and a standing Moonsault. This was a very different debut than any other "big name" debuting, but not bad in the least.
Crews blocked a second superkick and hit a beautiful Inzigiri. Crews won in 5 minutes with a Gorilla Press Slam and a standing Moonsault. This was a very different debut than any other "big name" debuting, but not bad in the least.