NXT TakeOver: Phoenix
Preshow
Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts, and Pat McAfee welcome us to the preshow. The run down the weekend festivities and then throw it to Sarah Schreiber, who says she will announce all of the winners for the 2018 NXT Awards throughout the preshow. We then see the video hype package for the feud between Ricochet and Johnny Gargano. Roberts says Gargano always puts on the match of the night at TakeOver events, but always loses. McAfee says he could see that being different tonight and would enjoy seeing Gargano as the NXT North American Champion.
We see the rundown for the nominees for the 2018 NXT Breakout Star of the year, and then Schreiber tells us that Ricochet is the winner. Ricochet accepts the award and says he had an incredible 2018 and his favorite moment was winning the NXT North American Championship. He says he will beat Gargano tonight and prove to everyone why there is one and only one NXT North American Champion.
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Back from the break, we see that Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas from TakeOver: Philadelphia won the 2018 NXT Match of the Year Award. Gargano is backstage accepting the award. He says “Gargano” and “Match of the Year” go hand in hand since he has won it twice. Zelina Vega interrupts and accepts the award for Almas. She says Gargano didn’t even win the match and asks him what he has done since. She says they have moved to Smackdown and are taking over the world, while Gargano is still coming up short. Gargano saus she is right, he didn’t win, but he is going to have another Match of the Year tonight and it will end the right way.
Roberts says Vega was 100% right and says Gargano won’t get it done, but McAfee disagrees and says he cannot wait to see the title around Gargano’s waist. We then see the video hype package for the feud between Kassius Ohno and Matt Riddle. Roberts says it seems like Ohno has been used as a welcome mat for NXT and he may take it out on Riddle tonight, but McAfee says Riddle will be ready to go and was right when he told Ohno to be better, not bitter.
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Back from the break, we see the nominees for the 2018 NXT Male Competitor of the Year. Tommaso Ciampa is announced as the winner, but he doesn’t accept the award. He hands it back to Schreiber and just holds his NXT Championship as he walks away. We then see the nominees for the 2018 NXT Female Competitor of the Year. Kairi Sane is the winner. She thanks the fans and says she loves NXT, the NXT Universe, and wrestling.
Back to the panel and they run down the card for the show and then Bobby Fish interrupts them with the 2018 NXT Tag Team of the Year Award. McAfee mocks him and Fish acts like he doesn’t know who McAfee is. Fish says the plan tonight is for them to be the Undisputed ERA and to prove again that TakeOver is their stage. McAfee tries to talk, but Fish rings the bell on his award to interrupt him. Fish says they do not need extra motivation because they run the show.
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Back from the break, we see the video hype package for the feud between Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair. McAfee says we are in for something special tonight and jumps on Belair’s bandwagon. Roberts says the women’s match tonight is not TakeOver worthy and Belair is not on the level as some of the elite women in NXT history. He says Baszler does not have to worry about a challenger who can hit her with her ponytail. Roberts says Belair is not ready and Baszler will end her undefeated streak.
We see the nominees for the 2018 NXT Overall Competitor of the Year Award, and the winner is Kairi Sane. Sane says she can’t believe it and she is honored to be here and starts crying as she walks away.
We take a look at the video hype package for the feud between Tommaso Ciampa and Aleister Black. McAfee says this is a road to redemption for Black, while Roberts says Ciampa has done what it takes to retain the title every time he has defended it. McAfee says he thinks Black will get it done tonight.
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NXT TakeOver: Phoenix
We see the opening video for TakeOver and then Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson welcome us to the show.
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NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Undisputed ERA (Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong) (c) vs. War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe)
O’Reilly and Strong go on the attack early and send Hanson to the floor. They double-team Rowe in the ring, but he comes back with clotheslines and kicks. Hanson clotheslines them both on the floor and then Rowe scoop slams Hanson onto them. Rowe tosses Strong into the ring with Hanson and then they double team Strong for a bit. Rowe goes for the cover, but Strong kicks out at two. O’Reilly gets back into the ring and the ERA takes control again. They double team Hanson in the ring and then O’Reilly connects with kicks and knee strikes. The ERA send Hanson to the corner and connects with uppercuts before O’Reilly locks in a front face-lock. O’Reily turns it into a modified guillotine, but Hanson is able to make it to Rowe for the tag. Strong gets into the match, but Rowe catches him and throws him into O’Reilly. O’Reilly and Strong come back and double-team Rowe. Hanson goes for a suicide dive, but The ERA moves and Hanson crashes onto the floor.
The ERA takes Rowe back into the ring, but Rowe is able to fight Strong back to the apron. Rowe punches O’Reilly into the corner, but Strong tags in and delivers a back-breaker to Rowe. Strong goes for the cover, but Rowe kicks out at two. O’Reilly tags back in and he and Strong drape Rowe over the top rope. O’Reilly delivers knee strikes and elbows, and then palm strikes. O’Reilly goes for the cross arm-breaker, but Rowe powers out. Strong tags in and delivers another back-breaker. Strong goes for the cover, but Rowe kicks out at two. O’Reilly tags back in and applies a front face-lock and turns it into a sleeper. Strong goes after Hanson, but Hanson doesn’t budge. Hanson gets into the ring, but the referee stops him as The ERA double-teams Rowe in the corner. Rowe comes back and suplexes O’Reilly into Strong and sends them both to the floor. Strong comes back and kicks Hanson to the floor and takes Rowe down to the mat again. Strong goes for the cover, but Rowe kicks out at two.
O’Reilly tags in and he and Rowe exchange shots. Rowe drops O’Reilly with a knee strike. Hanson tags back in and takes Strong and O’Reilly down. Hanson smashes The ERA in the corners and causes O’Reilly to kick Strong in the face. Hanson power slams O’Reilly and connects with a Bronco Buster on Strong. Hanson goes for the cover, but Strong kicks out at two. Hanson delivers body shots to Strong in the corner, but Strong comes back with kicks of his own. Strong drops Hanson with a clothesline and then O’Reilly and Rowe tag in. O’Reilly connects with a kick and then he and Strong double-team Rowe. Strong delivers a gut-buster, but Hanson drops Strong with a clothesline. The Raiders double-team O’Reilly and then Hanson connects with a suicide dive to take Strong down on the floor. Rowe goes for the cover on O’Reilly, but he kicks out at two. Rowe slams O’Reilly to the mat as Hanson tags in. Hanson splashes from the top rpe and goes for the cover, but Strong breaks it up at two.
Hanson goes back up top, but O’Reilly cuts him off. Strong climbs as well and delivers a superplex to Hanson. O’Reilly delivers a knee strike to Hanson and goes for the cover, but Hanson kicks out at two. Strong drops Rowe onto the apron and tags into the match. The ERA double-team Hanson and then Strong drops him with an Olympic Slam. Strong goes for the cover, but Hanson kicks out at two. Strong connects with a knee strike and then The ERA hits the High-Low. O’Reilly goes for the cover, but Hanson kicks out at two. They go for High-Low again, but Hanson dodges it and takes both of them down with a handspring back elbow. Rowe tags in and he and Hanson slam The ERA to the mat. Hanson connects with the legdrop from the top and Rowe gets the pin fall.
Winners and new NXT Tag Team Champions: War Raiders (16:57)
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We see Pete Dunne and Toni Storm in the crowd, and then see Ricochet warming up backstage. We then see the video hype package for the feud between Kassius Ohno and Matt Riddle.
Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno
Ohno and Riddle go to the floor and Riddle uses the steps to his advantage. Riddle gets Ohno back into the ring and then slams him down to the mat. Ohno comes back with a boot, but Riddle delivers a forearm shot. Riddle goes for the power bomb from the apron, but Ohno wraps his head up in the apron and stomps on him. Ohno stands on Riddle’s head and then connects with a leg drop. Ohno goes for the cover, but Riddle kicks out at two. Ohno applies a side-headlock and then delivers an elbow shot. Ohno goes for another cover, but Riddle kicks out at two. Ohno kicks Riddle in the face, but Riddle comes back with a series of palm strikes. Ohno turns it around with forearm shots and a kick to the face. Riddle falls to the floor and Ohno slams him into the steps. Ohno gets back into the ring and delivers a forearm to Riddle on the apron. Ohno kicks Riddle in the face, but Riddle fires up. Riddle applies a sleeper hold, but Ohno makes it to the ropes. Riddle goes for a suplex, but Ohno stomps on Riddle’s foot.
Riddle comes back and delivers a German suplex and goes for the cover, but Ohno kicks out at two. Riddle stomps away on Riddle, but Ohno stomps him and then bites his toes. Ohno delivers a knee strike and hits a power bomb. Ohno goes for the cover, but Riddle kicks out at two. Ohno connects with a moonsault and goes for another cover, but Riddle kicks out again. Ohno goes for the rolling elbow, but Riddle ducks. Ohno kicks him in the face and hits the senton splash. Ohno goes for it again, but Riddle counters and locks in the sleeper again. Ohno makes it to the ropes, but Riddle stomps away on him. Ohno begs off and offers his fist for a fist bump. Riddle knees him in the face and delivers a sleeper suplex. Riddle delivers elbow strikes and Ohno taps out.
Winner: Matt Riddle (9:17)
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We see Tommaso Ciampa warming up for his match, and then see The Velveteen Dream arriving to the arena. We then see the video hype package for the feud between Ricochet and Johnny Gargano.
NXT North American Championship Match: Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano and Ricochet start off with some technical wrestling with neither man gaining the advantage. Gargano applies a side-headlock and then delivers a shoulder tackle. Both men exchange offense again and neither man can get the advantage. Ricochet delivers a forearm shot, but Gargano turns it around in the corner and delivers a few chops. Ricochet comes back with a head-scissors take down and then a dropkick to follow. Gargano goes to the floor and Ricochet connects with a moonsault to take him down. Ricochet delivers a few chops and get Gargano back into the ring. Gargano comes back with an elbow, but Ricochet gets Gargano on the top rope. Ricochet connects with a right hand and then climbs himself. Gargano counters and slams Ricochet face-first into the turnbuckle. Gargano kicks Ricochet in the head and goes for the cover, but Ricochet kicks out at two. Gargano applies a face-lock submission, but Ricochet counters with elbows and then trips Gargano up.
Gargano comes back and takes Ricochet down to the mat and then delivers a neck-breaker. Gargano goes for the cover, but Ricochet kicks out at two. Gargano applies a modified shoulder-bar submission, but Ricochet counters into a pin attempt for two. Gargano delivers a chop to Ricochet and kicks him in the face. Gargano delivers a few chops, but Ricochet counters back and sends Gargano to the apron. Gargano goes for the slingshot spear, but Ricochet dodges it and hits a standing moonsault. They exchange shots and Ricochet drops Gargano with a clothesline and a head-scissors take down. Ricochet connects with a springboard European uppercut and then a brain buster. Ricochet goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Ricochet goes for a springboard clothesline, but Gargano dodges it and takes Ricochet down with a powerbomb. Gargano goes for the cover, but Ricochet kicks out at two and then Gargano locks in a cross-face submission.
Gargano goes for the Gargano Escape, but Ricochet blocks it. Ricochet dumps Gargano the floor and connects with a suicide dive. Ricochet tosses Gargano back into the ring and delivers an uppercut. Ricochet connects with a standing Shooting Star Press and then another moonsault. Ricochet goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Ricochet goes up top, but Gargano stops him. Ricochet goes for a slam from the top, but Gargano cuts him off and goes for a Frankensteiner. Ricochet holds on, but Gargano goes for it again and Ricochet lands on his feet. Gargano comes back with an enzuiguri, but Ricochet blocks it. Ricochet kicks Gargano in the face and goes for a springboard back elbow, but Gargano counters and locks in the Gargano Escape. Ricochet counters and slams Gargano into the corner. Ricochet goes up top, but Gargano rolls out of the way. Gargano rolls to the apron and then to the floor to stop Ricochet’s offense. Ricochet dives over the ring post and takes Gargano down anyway.
Ricochet connects with a springboard 450 and goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Ricochet goes for a Shooting Star Press, but Gargano gets his knees up. Gargano rolls Ricochet up, but Ricochet kicks out at two. Gargano kicks Ricochet in the face and Ricochet falls to the floor. Gargano goes to the floor and connects with a reverse spike-rana and then tosses Ricochet back into the ring. Gargano delivers a slingshot DDT and goes for the cover, but Ricochet kicks out at two. Gargano goes to the floor and rips up the floor mats to expose the concrete. Gargano goes for the draping DDT, but then stops himself. He tosses Ricochet back into the ring, but Ricochet catches him with a roll-up for two. Ricochet drops Gargano with a clothesline and goes up top. Ricochet goes for a Phoenix Splash, but Gargano moves and connects with a super kick. Ricochet comes back and then locks Gargano in the Gargano Escape, but Gargano makes it to the ropes.
Both men go to the apron and Gargano slams Ricochet to the ring post. Gargano takes Ricochet to the floor and delivers a brain buster on the concrete. Gargano rolls Ricochet back into the ring and then connects with the slingshot DDT and gets the pin fall.
Winner and new NXT North American Champion: Johnny Gargano (23:34)
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We see the video hype package for the feud between Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair
They lock up and Baszler applies a side-headlock. Belair backs Baszler back into the corner, but they lock up again. Belair backs Baszler into the corner, but Baszler counters and takes Belair down. Belair trips Baszler up, but Baszler comes back with another side-headlock. Belair drops Baszler with a shoulder tackle and then another that sends Baszler to the floor. Belair slams Baszler into the apron, but Baszler grabs Belair’s hair and slams her into the ring post. Baszler stomps away on Belair and then delivers rights and lefts as well. Baszler goes for the cover, but Belair kicks out at two. Baszler works over Belair’s shoulder and then stomps down onto Belair’s arm. Baszler beats Belair around the ring and locks in a modified arm-bar. Baszler wraps Belair’s arm around the ropes and then goes for the cover, but Belair kicks out at two.
Baszler goes back to the arm, but Belair backs her into the corner. Baszler keeps advantage and kicks Belair in the chest. Baszler goes for the cover, but Belair kicks out at two. Belair comes back with a slap across the face and then spears Baszler in the corner. Belair connects with a hip toss and then a dropkick. Belair connects with a spear and goes for the cover, but Baszler kicks out at two. Belair stomps away on Baszler and goes for a splash, but Baszler gets her knees up. Baszler connects with a knee strike and goes for the cover, but Belair kicks out at two. Belair comes back and whips Baszler with her hair, which slices Baszler open. Belair goes for the double chicken wing, but Baszler counters and sends Belair into the referee. Belair hits the K-O-D and goes for the pinfall, but the referee is down. Marina Shafir rushes the ring, as does Jessamyn Duke, but Belair takes them both down.
Belair grabs Baszler, but Baszler counters into the Karifuda Clutch. Belair fights to her feet and counters with a suplex. Belair goes up top, but Duke gets involved again. Belair kicks her to the floor and goes for a 450, but Baszler dodgers and locks in the Karifuda Clutch and Belair gets to her feet again. She quickly drops back down, but gets up again. Baszler keeps it locked it and Belair passes out.
Winner and still NXT Women’s Champion: Shayna Baszler (16:25)
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We see the video hype package for the feud between Tommaso Ciampa and Aleister Black.
NXT Championship Match: Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister Black
They lock up and fall to the floor immediately. They quickly get back into the ring and Ciampa slaps Black across the face. Black comes back with a waist-lock take down, but Ciampa comes back and drops him to the mat. Ciampa stands on Black’s hair and pulls him up. Ciampa slams him back down, but Black gets to his feet and applies a side headlock. Black takes Ciampa down to the mat and applies another side headlock. Ciampa gets to his feet and takes Black to the corner. Black counters back and goes for a roundhouse kick, but Ciampa dodges it. Black sits down and stares at Ciampa, but Ciampa kicks Black in the face. Black tosses Ciampa to the floor and then takes him down with a suicide dive. Black tosses Ciampa back into the ring and connects with knee strikes and elbows. Black trips Ciampa up and delivers another knee strike. Black takes Ciampa down with a rana and goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two.
Ciampa rolls to the floor, but Black follows him and takes him down on the floor. Ciampa comes back and slams Black into the ring steps. Ciampa suplexes Black into the steps and then gets Black back into the ring and continues to work over his knee. Ciampa wraps Black’s knee around the ropes and drops down onto it and then wraps his leg around the ring post a few times. Ciampa slams Black’s knee into the announce table and then he pats himself on the back. Ciampa grabs a drink of water, but Black comes back and kicks Ciampa in the face. Ciampa gets back into the ring and kicks Black’s legs out from under him as Black got back into the ring. Ciampa continues to work over Black’s knee and then puts him up top. Ciampa hangs Black upside down and beats on his injured knee on the top rope. Ciampa sends Black down to the mat, but Black comes back with an enzuiguri that sends Ciampa to the floor.
Ciampa comes back for leg work, but Black counters with a knee strike. Black kicks Ciampa in the face and then connects with another one. Black drops Ciampa with a few clotheslines and then kicks Ciampa in the chest. Black goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Ciampa comes back with a roll-up, but Black kicks out at two. Black goes for Black Mass, but Ciampa counters and goes for Fairytale Ending. Black counters out, but Ciampa connects with a forearm shot. Black comes back with a roll-up, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Black delivers a German suplex and goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Black sets up for Black Mass, but Ciampa blocks it. Ciampa whips Black’s leg and then locks in a single-leg Boston Crab. Black gets free and locks in a single-leg Boston Crab of his own. Black’s knee gives out and he has to release the hold. Black sends Ciampa to the floor, but Ciampa comes back and delivers the Tower of London on the apron. Ciampa goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two.
Ciampa delivers a knee strike in the ring and goes for another cover, but Black kicks out at two again. Black comes back with a knee strike, but Ciampa delivers one as well. They exchange shots in the ring and Ciampa gains the advantage. Ciampa keeps on the attack, but Black counters and takes him down. Black goes for a double stomp, but Ciampa moves. Black connects with a brain buster and goes for the cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Ciampa comes back and hits the Fairytale Ending and goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two. Ciampa goes to the floor and exposes the concrete in the same place Gargano did earlier tonight. Ciampa gets into the refs face and Black takes advantage by delivers double knees onto the concrete. Black tosses Ciampa back into the ring and connects with Black Mass. Black crawls into the cover, but Ciampa rolls over before Black can pin him. Black goes for Black Mass again, but the referee gets in the way. Ciampa counters with a draping DDT and hits the Fairytale Ending. Ciampa goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two.
Ciampa hits the Fairytale Ending again, but keeps Black’s arms locked. Black counters with a kick to the head, but his knee gives out and Ciampa hits the Fairytale Ending and gets the pin fall.
Winner and still NXT Champion: Tommaso Ciampa (22:10)
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As Ciampa stands on the entrance ramp, Gargano comes out. Ciampa stares at him and then Gargano raises the NXT North American Championship in the air. Ciampa does the same with the NXT Championship and they both smirk at the crowd as the show comes to a close.
