So the Royal Rumble has me pretty excited about wrestling right now, and I have access to the WWE Network, so I’ve been trying to catch up on what I have been missing out on.

Tonight I watch the NXT TakeOver and give you my thoughts.

Here is the line up from WWE.com

NXT General Manager William Regal has revealed the following match card for this incredible event:

NXT Championship Match
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Bobby Roode (PREVIEW)

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Match
Asuka (c) vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross (PREVIEW)

NXT Tag Team Championship Match
#DIY (c) vs. The Authors of Pain w/Paul Ellering (PREVIEW)

Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young (PREVIEW)

Roderick Strong vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (PREVIEW)

 

 

I will update each match review as they happen! Keep in mind, I haven’t seen anything but bits and pieces of NXT in years…

Tye Dillinger vs Eric Young –

Dillinger goes after him right away, frankly the match is too fast to do a play by play.  Eric young is getting his ass handed to him or so it seems. Dane took Dillinger out and Young did a sweet top rope elbow drop. I guess he’s got his bearings back. This is a great match, sad I been missing this! There is a lot of interference from ringside, and Dillinger takes them out from the top rop to the outside, this match ends with Eric Young pinning Dillinger.
Really gotta catch up on whats going on here, but so far I am digging this show.

Roderick Strong vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas – It”s nice to see Roderick Strong on TV. This match is very back and forth  with a very classic wrestling type feel. The match starts with some grappling back and forth. Almas and Strong are a good matchup. Those kicks to the face Roderick gives are still just as impressive as I remember. Almas is great in his roll, with hair pulling, slapping, chocking with the boots. I like this guy’s style. He gets Strong into a submission hold in the ropes, not to win but to do some damage. Almas gets the first cover and a 2 count. He tries to get a submission on strong but it didn’t work, a lot more back and forth and Strong gets the second pin attempt in the match another two count. This match is definitely engaging to the point its hard to write. Almas goes for a second pin, two count again.  We have both men down, the ref is counting, both get back to their feet, Strong takes control but is counter by Almas. Almas gets Strong in another double arm lock. Strong gets out with a foot on the rope. Crowd chants “This is Awesome” I agree. Strong gives Almas a backbreaker on the turnbuckle, and goes for another pin. 2 count. Almas still down Strong picks him up for his finisher, but is cut off… more back and forth. Strong ends it with a boot to the face to win.

When we come back from break Michael Hayes is at ringside. Then we go into some ridiculously long promo/flashback videos.

Next match up is #DIY (c) vs. The Authors of Pain w/Paul Ellering – The Authors of Pain come out first, and honestly its pretty awesome to see a monster tag team with a diabolical manager. Pro wrestling need that. #DIY come to the ring, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano both made waves in the independents. It feels like WWE bought ROH one wrestler at a time…
Not even going to try to do a play by play her but will give you the highlights. The Authors of Pain are huge, but I am not sure they can out wrestle #DIY by the looks of them. They both weigh over 300lbs… Rezar is pretty agile for a big man, the commentators said he has a martial arts background. Gargano is taking a beating. Gargano takes both of the AOP out by diving onto them from the ring, on opposite sides of the ring. Gargano gets a busted face, why is he still in? Tag out fool. Paul Ellering is contributing to the mayhem, so Ciampa has yet to have been officially tagged in. AOP is keeping Gargano in their corner now that they have him. I’m really digging AOP but they need new gear. Something meaner.Gargano is still trying for that tag, but nope. Gargano is taking a beating. Gargano finally gets the tag after running one of the AOP into the steel post. Ciampa comes out on fire. He takes on both AOP at once. tried to get a pin but only a 2 count. Ciampa gets cut off and almost pinned by Akam. Ciampa tags gargano for a double spear, but Akam kicks out again, Rezar is down at ringside. Gargano tossed out,. but Ciampa is the legal man, Rezar tagged back in for a huge neckbreaker but Ciampa kicks out. Another pin on Akam, Both teams are in the ring double submission, Rezar picks up Gargano and throw him on the other two. Crowd is chanting “The is awesome again” they like this more than RAW…. The authors of pain put a beating on Ciampa, and give him “The Final Chapter” to pin him for the win. Authors of Pain are your new NXT Tag Champions.

Seth Rollins comes out and says he’s taking this bitch over. Hell yeah. He calls HHH out, and HHH comes out then is surrounded by security. Boo what kinda punk ass shit is this? He sends security after Rollins who takes his shirt off and beats the shit out of all of them, then more security on the way up the ramp. Hes got 6 or 7 guys on him, crowds screaming “let him go.” Refs come out, they push him up the ramp, crowd is shouting “BULLSHIT”. Now they are chanting “We Want Rollins”

Next match is a fatal 4 way match for the NXT Womens Championship. Asuka (c) vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross – Nikki Cross comes to the ring first, shes pretty intimidating. She reminds me of a young Amy Lee. Nect are Billie Kay and Peyon Royce. Askuka comes to the ring last, her ring coat is dope. She is the undefeated NXT Women’s Champion. She doesn’t have to be involved in the pinfall to lose the championship in this match. No count outs no DQ’s.
Nikki and Asuka start it off, the other wait to get involved for a moment before attacking. Asuka takes everyone out. Nikki is ranting at Asuka but Billie and Peyton get back into it. They do a dope double german suplex. Nikki and Asuka are going at it one on one again. Asuka gets first pin attempt on Nikki but she kicks out. These two are going at it and the Australian girls are nowhere to be found. Nikki is now in control and is abusing Askula, giving her a knarly neckbreaker off the apron  taking her out, then does a top rope cross body onto Billie and Peyton. The brawl goes outside the ring, to the announce table. Peyton and Billie give Nikki a big suplex to a table near the announce table. Nikki is out, Peyton and Billie go after Asuka, realizing she is still down. They both try to pin Asuka but Asuka gets up, Nikki still hasn’t moved. Peyton almost pins Asuka but she bridges out. Asuka takes both of the Australian girls gown, and retains her belt. Nikki Cross is still down, but eyeing Asuka as she walks up the ramp.

There is an appearance by UK champ Tyler Bate

Next up is NXT Championship Match: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Bobby Roode – Roode comes to the ring. Nakamura has an super elaborate entrance. Nakamura seems pretty confident in an overtly sarcastic way. God that is one ugly title belt… you sure you guys want that? Nakamura and Roode stare each other down. Roode has sequins from his jacket stuck to him… lol.
The first move is by Roode, but it is back and forth from standing to on the ground. Nakamura seems to be toying with Roode. Roode starts to toy with him by acting like hes going to get out of the ring. Nakamura grabs Roode in a waist lock, but Roode breaks it on the rops and takes over. He gets Nakamura into a submission hold but Nakamura gets out and verses, but still doesn’t get the upper hand. The crowd is clapping trying to get behind the champ. Nakamura comes back, and begins to take over the match. Roode rolls to the outside, Nakamura follows, giving the fans an up close and personal with Roode’s face, before bringing him back to the ring. Roode turns it around and Nakamura takes a nasty fall off the top rope to the floor backwards. Roode stays on him, tossing him into the stairs. Poor Nakamura. Roode pulls him to the ring to try to cover him, but only a 2 count. Crowd is cheering Nakamura on. as Roode continues to assault the champion. Nakamura builds up again, this match is too interesting for play by play. Roode cuts him off again and attempts a pin. gets 2 count. The crowd is super pumped for this match. Roode tries to suplex Roode of the top but Nakamura throws him off and drop kicks him.  Nakamura tried to get in into the corner but Roode gains control again or so Nakamura wants him to think. Nakamura takes back control over the match stomping the shit outta Roode. Nakamura does some crazy shit into an arm bar, but since he cant lock that in he goes for the triangle but hes is outpowered b Roode. Nakamura gives Roode this wicked sliding kick to the face, covers him, but only a 2 count. Nakamura goes to the top, Roode rolls outta the ring, Nakamura jumps to the outside hitting Roode in the heard, but hurting his knee in the process, They get back in the ring, Nakamura gives Roode the “Final Blow” but can’t get to cover Roode because of his knee. Nakamura wants to continue, the trainer doesn’t want to let him, but he does anyway Roode gives Nakamura a DDT but Nakamura kicks out. Roode goes after the hurt knee and works it hard in a submission, but Nakamura fights out of it. Roode gives him another big suplex and gets the 3 count, making Bobby Roode your new NXT Champion.

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this. I cannot believe I have been missing out on this and will try to stay current with this brand. I’m also digging 205 Live. You can watch all this. The Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania and more on the WWE Network.