NXT 30/1/2019 + Quick Takeover Thoughts

by JCH

It’ll be a short one today guys, Takeover recap then a few thoughts on the matches they taped on the pre-show. Will give a prediction of the WrestleMania Takeover card at the end. Going to make that a running feature. It’s 3 months and we’ll see how quickly I can put the pieces in place.

A few Takeover thoughts first. I watched the show live at the Boss’s with some friends, we’d been to WXW and I’d also been out for my birthday since 1.30. So I remember loving it but went back and watched it again and really loved it.

War Machine. Vs Undisputed ERA - WOW. That was bloody brilliant. Undisputed Era have just had banger after banger on NXT, you just expect it by now. Great showing from War Machine as well. Looking forward to how they carry the division forward.

Matt Riddle vs Kassius Ohno - Really good. Loved seeing Riddle angry. He has that zone to go to when you piss him off you will regret it. I like he’s beaten Ohno in 3 different way. Bromission, Killer Knee and now the repeated elbow strikes. Nice to be able to finish matches with a variety of moves. Makes him look super dangerous. His moveset looks violent. It’s everything Shane McMahon thinks his is.

Matt Riddle strikes - The opposite of Shane McMahon strikes

Ricochet vs Johnny Gargano - That was alright wasn’t it. What a match. Too much to recap. Loved the Ospreay/Ibushi spot, which from twitter I saw was originally a Ricochet/Ibushi spot. Learn something new every day. These are two incredible talents. I think Gargano’s range of face and heel work last year pegs him as the best in the company and definitely in conversation for best in the world. Ricochet can do things other men cannot. What a match. Johnny Takeover smashes January out of the park second year in a row and this year with his change of character also brings home a championship.

Bianca Belair vs Shayna Baszler - I really liked this. Belair with the more outgoing Attitude, but Shayna and her more quiet confidence. The hair whip that left a mark! Visual pin for Bianca with ref out, Duke and Shafir dealt with but then providing just enough distraction for Shayna to catch Bianca in the Kirafuda Clutch, which had already been escaped from once, and almost was again. Belair showing great heart in the pass out, but Shayna with the experience and the numbers gets the job done.

Black vs Ciampa - This was ace. Simple story. Ciampa only fears the black mass, so targets the leg to stop him being able to do it. Black sells it all the way though, the leg giving out on him on numerous occasions and in the end it ultimately fails him when it gives up going for the Black Mass allowing Ciampa the win. Ciampa’s strategy works and he is reputation as the new cerebral assassin is enhanced. Also lovely continuation of the DIY story as like Johnny, Ciampa also uncovers the concrete. Black looks hard, kicks out of multiple Fairytale Endings and nearly beat him on one leg. Call him up Vince, he’s got nothing left to do here.

The final visual of DIY together with titles on the ramp. There is so much story left to tell! Really great show.

This weeks NXT

That visual is now the closing shot of the credits. Awesome.

Io Shirai and Kairi Sane vs Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir

Io Shirai out first as her and Kairi will take on Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Speaking of calling people up, get these two in the Elimination Chamber tag team match. Shafir is sporting a protective face mask. She’s either injured or a big fan of Facundo Siva. I like that both these teams are friends from before getting to WWE. Shirai gets the crowd going, then Kairi comes in and they are hot! Kairi and Io are literally wrestles circles around Duke with double team combos. Including a double dropkick straight out of STARDOM.

Io and Kairi going back to their roots for this one.

Shafir interference causes the distraction and allows Duke and Shafir to take control isolating the genius of the sky. Io counters.a dragon sleeper into a sliced bread that Mauro called something else. That was awesome.

Hot tag to Kairi who destroys Shafir. Io with STARDOM apron punt on Duke. Pop up Elbow drop to Shafir. Io takes out Duke again with a huge tope crossbody. InSane elbow. Its over.

Shafir and Duke are loads better than they should be and were solid here, but Io and Kairi are so freaking good. They can definitely mix it up with the top of the main roster and would not look out of place. Top job.

Awesome tope Crossbody. Twist in the air from Io.

Johnny Gargano Interview - He did what he promised. Johnny Takeover delivered a MOTY and a Championship and he loves it.

No regrets for Johnny G

Half time Heat - DIY and Adam Cole vs Black, Dream and Ricochet - If the bar I’m in has Wi-Fi I will try and watch that live.

Bianca Belair Interview - Undefeated is a mindset, she’s still undefeated (sorry Bianca you aren't) and Shayna knows she was close and she’ll take the title one day. She also tells Sam Roberts to kiss her ass.

I missed the Sam Roberts pre-show comments as was watching Absolute Andy and David Starr have an Absolute 5 Starr Banger (sorry). I presume its leading somewhere? If not it’s just weird.

War Raiders interview - They literally are doing it straight after the match. I can hear the Bro’s music in the background. The Undisputed earned their respect, but that Era has ended. War is here. The Raid has begun and their reign starts now.

Street Profits vs Forgotten Sons

This match was happening. It was fine, but I just finished rewatching the last 2 Takeover matches and watched Io and Kairi tear it up so it was struggling to leave much of an impression on me. Then Montez Ford smashed an absolutely huge splash over the top rope and I was pulled in. Combo electric chair drop suplex from the Profits. Broken up at the last minute by Cutler?. Great.

O.K Montez, now you have my attention!!!!

Ryker gets involved on the outside and has a big stare down with Dawkins. The crowd are going nuts. Blake tope takes out Dawkins whilst he’s distracted by Ryker. Memory Remains, which is a sort of curtain call/double stomp combo? And the Sons win. That finishing stretch really perked my interest. Good job. Where the crowd saw this as the second match and just before Takeover would have been even better.

STARS OF THE WEEK TAKEOVER

1. Johnny Gargano

2. Ricochet

3. War Raiders

STARS OF THE WEEK NXT

1. Kairi Sane

2. Io Shirai

3. Montez Ford

Wrestlemania Prediction Card Take 1

Ricochet vs Tomasso Ciampa - NXT Title

Shayna Baszler vs Bianca Belair - NXT Women's Title

Velveteen Dream vs Johnny Gargano - North American Title

War Raiders vs Moustache Mountain - NXT Tag Team Titles

Matt Riddle vs Adam Cole