NXT Takeover: Pheonix

NXT Takeover: Pheonix

Pheonix, Arizona - January 2019

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into the show, the NXT Champion was Ciampa, the NXT North American Champion was Ricochet, the NXT Tag Team Champions were The Undisputed Era, and the NXT Women's Champion was Shayna Baszler.

COMMENTATORS: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuiness, and Percy Watson

The War Raiders challenged The Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong and Kyle O'Reilly) for the NXT Tag Team Championships to kick off the show. I really liked the production of the War Raiders' entrance - when they eventually do get the call-up, it should be replicated, tweaked to be a bit "smaller," and used consistently. To me, it had the same vibe as the entrances of Bray Wyatt or Undertaker - ominous and scary, but not so grandiose that it couldn't be repeated weekly. Anyway, this was a nice long match that featured the usual MVP-level work out of Roderick Strong, though there were a few not-so-hot moments that "took me out of things" at various times. For example, Strong hitting power moves on a super heavyweight like Hanson is just not something that should happen at any point. That being said, there were also moments that I really liked - Hanson's backspring elbows, Kyle O'Reilly's big boots, Raymond Rowe hitting a powerbomb-bodyslam combo. I also liked the booking of the finish as NXT, like the main roster, can sometimes book away from giving the crowd what it wants (think Johnny Gargano's Takeover record). Here, we got a crowd-pleasing end that felt completely deserved and appreciated. (3.5/5)

"The Knockout Artist" Kassius Ohno took on Matt Riddle next, bros. Their last Takeover match lasted under a minute, so I was excited to see them actually spend some time in the ring here. Riddle showed surprising strength, lifting Ohno (who was wearing a Pheonix Suns-inspired outfit) with a gut-wrench suplex. Ohno fought back with clever use of the ring apron, pulling it over Riddle's face and then stomping on him. From here, Ohno took control and hit Riddle with all variety of stiff front kicks to the head. Riddle showed perseverance, fighting through a busted lip to apply a rear-naked choke. When he went for a belly-to-back, Ohno stomped on his bare foot and grinded it into the mat in a cool moment. Riddle again fought back, connecting with a German Suplex and then a series of Bro Kicks. Ohno showed how far he was willing to go to win the match by biting Riddle's toes, following it up with a big knee to the jaw and a running powerbomb. Ohno then launched himself off the top with a moonsault for two. I wasn't floored with the transitions, but the big strikes and moments of this match were all well-executed. The finish came a bit of nowhere - Riddle forcing Ohno to tap with a series of elbows to the head, which isn't a legit submission move. Is that his finish? Why not just have him tap out to the rear-naked choke? Not a classic, but no worse than average. With a better finish, I could see this even getting an extra half-star. (2.5/5)

The Velveteen Dream was shown walking into the arena.

The North American Championship was on the line next as Ricochet defended against Johnny Gargano. I've not been a fan of Gargano's heel turn and reformed alliance with Tommaso Ciampa and it doesn't seem like the audience is totally buying it either as Gargano had plenty of fans in the crowd. Ricochet got a good reaction too, though, the match beginning with dueling chants. There was a sequence early on - around minute 3 or 4 - that was batshit insane, Ricochet and Gargano countering and rolling through eachother's attempts to gain an advantage for a solid minute. It was a dazzling showcase of agility from both guys, two of the quickest workers in the company. Ricochet hit a moonsault from the apron to the floor, but when he attempted a hurricanrana from the top rope, Gargano wisely slipped below him and, instead of hitting a powerbomb, lifted him and dropped him jaw-first onto the post. Gargano followed it up with a dropkick to the back of the head and then a weird stretch submission. Ricochet fought out and tried to hit a standing moonsault, but Gargano countered by just straight-up booting him out of mid-air. Gargano tried to keep the pressure on, but Ricochet proved too elusive, blocking Gargano's slingshot spear and rallying with a nasty hurricanrana and a huge back elbow from the top rope. Ricochet then hit a suplex-into-a-brainbuster combo for two. The crowd was a bit hushed for all of this, not necessarily disinterested, but maybe expecting this match to feature a touch more brawling? The biggest "Oooh!" of the moment came when Ricochet countered a DDT attempt and Gargano flopped face-first into the ring apron. The North American Champion hit a series of impressive splashes and the crowd woke up a bit with a "This is Awesome" chant despite seeming dead a few minutes earlier. Onto the top rope they fought, Gargano attempting a hurricanrana, Richochet attempting to powerbomb out of it but settling to escape with a ridiculous 450! After another great exchange, Gargano was able to lock in his patented crossface, but Ricochet powered out and sent him into the corner. Ricochet went to the top, but Gargano rolled away and out of the ring. Ricochet followed him out, though, with an incredible cannonball splash over the post and then a springboard 450 in the middle of the ring for 2! Ricochet attempted a Shooting Star Press, but Gargano got his knees up and rolled him up for a nearfall. Gargano then knocked Ricochet into next week with an absolutely devastating superkick to the jaw that sent Ricochet to the outside. Gargano tried to follow it up with a spear, but Ricochet caught him - only to get planted headfirst into the floor and then slingshot DDT'd back into the ring for a HUGE nearfall that the crowd exploded for. Gargano then went to the outside and removed the padding of the floor, setting up Ricochet for a DDT onto the concrete. The ref prevented him from doing so and Gargano came back into the ring, only to nearly get defeated with a small package. Ricochet attempted another ridiculous high-flying move, but Gargano avoided it and hit a superkick. Ricochet had too much momentum, locking Gargano in his own Gargano Escape submission. Johnny Wrestling got to the ropes, though, and the match continued. A "Fight Forever" chant started as they stood on the apron. Gargano sent him crashing into the post and then hit him with a brainbuster on the concrete floor! Gargano then hit his second slingshot DDT of the match for the win, earning his first singles championship in what was an incredible match. In terms of acrobatics, agility, and speed, this was an insane showcase by both men. (4/5)

Bianca Belair challenged Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship next. The pre-match video package was excellent - both women getting their respective characters over really well with their recorded comments. For all the talk about how great Ronda Rousey has been in her rookie year, its easy to forget just how great Baszler has been from the start as well. Unlike the previous match, which started with a ton of nifty counters, this one started with a simple story of Baszler trying to hold onto Belair and lock her up and The EST using her speed to keep distance between herself and the champ. Baszler then fought a bit dirty, pulling Bianca by her hair right into the post. With her shoulder damaged, Belair was in a bad place, Baszler hitting her with a series of strikes and then delivering her NASTY arm stomp move (that Bianca sold perfectly). All the arm work was brilliant, as was Baszler's facial expressions throughout the match - her smirk is the perfect balance of unlikable and scary. Baszler made a mistake taking time to trash talk instead of keeping the pressure on her opponent. Belair used the brief opening to hit some offense of her own (including a spear in the center of the ring). Baszler attempted a triangle choke, but Belair fought out with a bunch of harsh stomps. Baszler hit a jumping knee strike and we then got a strike exchange before Belair used her hair like a whip, catching Baszler right on the stomach to the point that she was actually cut open! Belair tried a straightjacket drop, but the ref got hit! Belair hit the KOD and made the pin, but the referee was out! Talk about classic wrestling. At this point, Baszler's two flunkies came out, but Belair took them both out. Baszler then locked in a rear naked choke as the ref came to, Belair struggling to stay awake as the crowd went absolutely insane. Belair somehow got to her feet and then hit Baszler with a suplex! I did not go into this match thinking Belair had much of a chance, but I was a believer after that spot. Belair went to the top and attempted a 450, but Baszler rolled out of the way and locked her back in her Karamuta Clutch (spelling?). Belair was practically in tears trying to fight out and miraculously got back to her feet a second time as the crowd erupted into an "EST" chant. Baszler kept her locked in and, when she fell back to the mat, Belair passed out in a heap. A spectacular, emotional match. (4/5)

Main event time - Aleister Black vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship. After a lengthy video package and some elaborate entrances, Ciampa and Black got to work, Black focusing on grounding Ciampa with a side headlock. The crowd was a bit hushed early (which was something of a pattern the whole night), maybe a bit burned out by the card's structure, which didn't offer too much variety. Black showed off his agility then did his trademark cross-legged sit - only to get booted straight in the face by Ciampa. Black hit a front flip onto the floor as Mauro Ranallo made a not-so-subtle "He's going to END TOMMY!" joke that will go over the heads of half the audience and make the other half of the audience's eyes roll. No matter how many stiff kicks or elbows Black delivered, Ciampa kept coming, eventually tossing Black into the steel steps to try to buy himself some time. Ciampa followed it up with a suplex onto the steps, driving Black's knee into the steel. Ciampa continued his attack on Black's knee, at one point driving it onto the announce table as well. Ciampa's innovative attacks made this basic story interesting and Black's selling was believable too. Ciampa strung Black up in a tree of woe and continued to work on the knee, but Black was able to fight out and strike with a big running knee that caused both men to spill to the floor. Black finally got a chance to rally for the next few minutes, his adrenaline allowing him to fight through his pain and connect with a bunch of his signature kicks. Black whiffed on a Black Mass and Ciampa attempted his Fairy Tale Ending finish to no avail. Black then delivered a brutal kick to the head-german suplex combo for 2. Black positioned him for a Black Mass, but Ciampa was able to counter and then apply a half-crab. Black fought out and it was then Ciampa who was locked in the half-crab, but only briefly as Black's knee gave out. To the apron Ciampa went, only to get back-elbowed straight in the mouth. Black went to the top rope, but his knee was not allowing him to move as quickly as he usually would and he ate a neckbreaker onto the apron for 2. Ciampa seemed to be setting up Black for his own Black Mass, but Black countered with a big jumping knee - only for Ciampa to deliver one right back! The two traded forearms, rights, lefts, and even front kicks before a pinning sequence. Ciampa attempted another running knee, but Black blocked it and hit a huge double-stomp! Black then hit another knee strike to the back of Ciampa before hitting a suplex for 2. Ciampa went to the outside, but Black caught him out there with a moonsault from the 2nd turnbuckle! As Black was trying to get back into the ring, he slipped on some water and Ciampa hit his Fairy Tale Ending for 2. In a callback to the Ricochet/Gargano match from earlier in the night, Ciampa exposed the concrete floor. Ciampa was distracted by the referee, though, and Black hit double-knees onto the floor! Back in the ring, he then struck a Black Mass out of nowhere, but Ciampa had the sense to roll onto his stomach - a brilliant little twist to protect the move by not having Ciampa kick out at 2. Both men got back on their feet and Black attempted another Black Masss only for Ciampa to pull the ref between them. Black hit a knee, but Ciampa countered and eventually draped Black over the ropes and hit a DDT. He then delivered another Fairy Tale Ending for 2, followed by a THIRD one! Black miraculously escaped a fourth attempt, but when he tried to hit his Black Mass, his knee gave out and Ciampa hit a FOURTH Fairy Tale Ending to finish him off. Ciampa was great, Aleister Black's selling throughout was on point, and the story was clear and well-executed, but this match was just missing that "je ne sais quoi" to make it a true classic. Maybe it was the crowd being somewhat dead? Maybe that we'd already seen a bunch of finisher-kickouts in the North American Title match? Maybe it just didn't have the emotion of the NXT Women's Championship match? Whatever it was, this was close to must-see, but not quite there. (3.5/5)


With a Kwang Score of 3.5-out-of-5, Takeover: Pheonix featured a ton of great wrestling (as the score indicates), but wasn't quite perfect. Shaking up the match order would've helped things - by the time the main event came on, the crowd seemed a little bit burnt out on super-serious epic title matches. That being said, each super-serious epic title match was strong. The North American title match may not be everyone's cup of tea and, typically, I'm not a huge fan of "flippy shit" heavy "spotfests," but this was top shelf acrobatics and high-flying and the suspense escalated to a thrilling final act. I enjoyed the Belair/Baszler match even more. The main event was solid, but lacked that singular moment that would've pushed it into a MOTY candidate level. Like every other Takeover show, this one is worth your time.

FINAL RATING - Watch It