The first NXT Takeover of the year took place at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday 26th January. The card looks really good so let's take a look.
The first match of the show is for the NXT Tag Team Championships as The War Raiders challenge The Undisputed Era. Strong and O'Reilly go at their opponents immediately but it doesn't last long. They get the advantage after sending Rowe into Hanson. The match then goes back and forth before The War Raiders come close after a splash by Hanson on O'Reilly. The Undisputed Era hit the Hi-Lo but Hanson kicks out. In the end, after hitting a powerslam/powerbomb combo, Hanson and Rowe hit O'Reilly with the Fallout to get the win and become the new NXT Tag Team Champions. This match was so much fun and a great way to start the show.
Winners: The War Radiers (1 for 1)
Next is Matt Riddle taking on Kassius Ohno. Ohno gets the advantage after trapping Riddle's head in the apron and stamping on it. Ohno contimued his advantage by sending him into the ring post and steel steps. When Riddle tries to make a comeback, Ohno attacks his bare feet. Riddle eventually gets back into it and hits a sleeper suplex followed by continuous elbows and forearms to the back of the head to get Ohno to tap out. This was a good match between the two and hopefully Riddle can move on to someone else.
Winner: Matt Riddle (2 for 2)
Now a match I was really looking forward to seeing: Johnny Gargano challenging Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship. After we get some chain wrestling, Ricochet does a beautiful Asai moonsault to the outside. Gargano reverses a hurracarrana to bounce Ricochet's head off the top turnbuckle and get the advantage. Ricochet hits a springbaord 450 to almost get the win; then Gargano hits a reverse hurracarrana followed by a slingshot DDT to get a near fall. Gargano gets frustrated and exposes the floor but stops himself from hitting Ricochet with a DDT to the floor. Ricochet puts Gargano in the Garga-No Escape but Gargano gets out of it and goes on to suplex Ricochet on the exposed floor. Gargano then hits another slingshot DDT to get the win. This was an amazing match between the two and I hope they have a rematch in the near future.
Winner: Johnny Gargano (3 for 3)
The penultimate match is Bianca Belair challenging Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship. Baszler uses Belair's hair against her when she uses it to send Belair into the ring post. Baszler then focuses on Belair's left arm and shoulder. Belair makes her comeback but her injured shoulder hampers it and has to whip Baszler with her hair. Baszler pushes Belair into the referee Jessika Carr and this gives Baszler's lackeys Jessamyn Duke and and Marina Shafir the chance to help Baszler out. Belair deals with them but Baszler applies the Kirifuda Clutch, which Belair manages to get out of with a suplex. Belair goes for the 450 splash but misses and Baszler again applies the Kirifuda Clutch. Belair can't get out of it and passes out, giving Baszler the win. This was a good match but I don't really think it needed the interference of Duke and Shafir.
Winner: Shayna Baszler (4 for 4)
The main event is for the NXT Championship as Aleister Black challenges Tommaso "Fuckface" Ciampa. Black tweaks his knee when he does a suicide dive to the outside and Ciampa takes advantage of that by slamming it against the steel steps. Ciampa continues his attack on the knee by slamming into the ropes and ring posts. Black gets back into it and manages to hit a brain buster for 2. Ciampa hits the Fairy Tale Ending but Black kicks out at 2. Ciampa, being inspired by Gargano earlier in the night, and exposes the floor. Black goes on to hit Black Mask but he can't get the pin. Ciampa then goes on to hit 3 Fairy Tale Endings to eventually get the win. Afterwards, Johnny Gargano comes out and they hold up their belts on the stage. This leads to a massive brawl involving Velveteen Dream, Black, Ricochet and Adam Cole (Bay Bay!)
This match was really good and I enjoyed the back and forth between the two. It looks increasingly likely that Gargano and Ciampa will get back together and I can't wait to see where that will lead.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa (5 for 5)
I really enjoyed Takeover Phoenix. NXT seems to be getting better and better and long may that continue.
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