NXT Takeover XXV Review

NXT Takeover XXV took place at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As usual, the card looks good. So, let's take a look.

The first match on the show was between Matt Riddle and Roderick Strong. In the early going, Riddle hits 3 gutwrench suplexes. However, Strong sends Riddle back first onto the apron to get the advantage. Riddle goes for the Bro-Mission but manages to hit a high angle suplex instead to start a comeback. After some amazing back and forth, Strong hits a powerbomb then applies a Boston Crab. Riddle gets out of it and after trying to get Strong to submit to the Bro-Mission, hits the Bro-Derek to get the win. This was a really enjoyable match and I would like to see them wrestle again in the near future.
Winner: Roderick Strong (0 for 1)

The next match was a ladder match for the vacant NXT Tag Team Championship between The Street Profits, The Forgotten Sons, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly and Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan. Highlights of the match include: Wesley Blake hitting a suicide dive onto Fish and O'Reilly; Lorcan and Burch hitting a stereo German suplex on The Forgotten Sons;  Steve Cutler powerbombing O'Reilly onto Fish, who was on the ladder; Jaxson Ryker coming in and helping his fellow Forgotten Sons. Blake and Cutler look like they're going to win it. However, Hawkins spears Cutler and Ford jumps onto the ladder. He knocks Blake off the ladder and grabs the belts to get the win. This was a good match and congratulations to the Street Profits on becoming NXT Tag Team Champions.
Winners: The Street Profits (1 for 2)

Our third match is for the NXT North American Championship as Tyler Breeze challenges The Velveteen Dream. Breeze does well in the early going on to injure Dream's left knee. Dream gets the advantage after slamming Breeze's head onto the announce table continuously. Dream goes on to hit a Dream Valley Driver and a Dream-DT but he can't keep Breeze down. Dream goes for the Purple Rainmaker but Breeze blocks and hits The Unprettier for 2. The match goes to the outside and Breeze has to stop the referee from ending it on a count out. Dream tries to hit Breeze with the belt but Breeze grabs it and gives it to the referee. This gives Dream the chance to hit the Dream Valley Driver followed by The Purple Rainmaker to get the win. Afterwards, Breeze and Dream take a selfie. This was a really fun match and I can't see to see how they do in the future.
Winner: Velveteen Dream (2 for 3)

The penultimate match is for the NXT Women's Championship as Io Shirai challenges Shayna Baszler. Shirai goes straight after Baszler but Sharai gets thrown off the turnbuckle then gets her left elbow stamped on. Baszler goes on to focus on the left arm before Shirai hits a delay German suplex. Shirai makes a comeback and is about to go for the Asai Moonsault but Baszler's lackeys Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke but they get fucked up by Candice LeRae with a kendo stick. The match goes back and forth however, Shirai goes for a pin and Baszler manages to get her into a Kirifuda Clutch. Despite her best efforts, Shirai taps out to give Baszler the win by submission. Shirai doesn't take the loss well and fucks up Baszler, hitting an Asai Moonsault with a steel chair. This was good match and at the minute, I can't see anyone beating Baszler. As for Shirai, I was surprised at her post match beatdown as I didn't really think it was earned. It will be interesting to see if they develop that further.
Winner: Shayna Baszler (2 for 4)

The main event is for the NXT Championship as Adam Cole (Bay Bay!) challenges Johnny Gargano. The match starts at a fast pace with lots of reverses and counters. Gargano goes for a superplex but Cole gets out of it and hits a superkick to the calf and Cole goes on to focus on the knee. The match goes back and forth before Gargano puts Cole in the Garga-No Escape. However, Cole gets out of it and applies the Figure Four. Cole applies the Garga-No Escape but Gargano gets out of it and hits the Last Shot for 2. Cole manages to hit a Last Shot of his own but it only gets 2. Cole decides to go "fuck it" and grabs a steel chair. The referee goes to stop him and gets creamed by a suicide dive by Gargano. While the referee recovers, Cole tricks Gargano into thinking that The Undisputed Era are coming down, giving him the chance to get a near fall. In the end, Cole hits a beautiful Panama Sunrise followed by a Last Shot to get the win. Whilst this wasn't as good as their match in New York, and to be fair that's almost impossible; it was still really good. I was quite surprised that Gargano lost but I feel that Cole really deserved it and I'm looking forward to seeing how his reign will go.
Winner: Adam Cole (2 for 5)

I really enjoyed this Takeover. All of the matches were pretty good and fun to watch. The Undisputed Era now have the biggest Championship on NXT and I can't wait to see how they will go.