It's the show before Takeover. I think we have a Gargano v Ricochet showdown scheduled. Also I saw Oney Lorcan tweet he had a match Excellent. I bloody love Oney. What else have we got in store I can’t remember?
VELVETEEN DREAM & UNDISPUTED ERA SHOWDOWN
Here we go. The Dream! Dream swans his way down to the ring as the announcers mention he’s not on the Takeover. It's a shame, but if there is nothing for him It makes sense rather than just throwing him on for no reason. Maybe he’ll be in the rumble…..
The Dream also wants the North American Championship. He’s interrupted by SHOCK the SYSTEM and out comes Cole and Fish. Cole reiterates thet that the Undisputed Era will soon have all the gold. Fish begins to talk and gets a huge SHUT UP BOBBY chant.
See that Adam Cole. Heel getting Booooed. I love you Bobby. Dream goads Fish into an attack by suggesting he answers to Cole, then bests Fish and Cole before leaving. Simple segment to set up a rivalry between I imagine Cole and Dream, which no doubt will occur after, sadly, Dream beats Bobby.
NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOS
Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair promo video. Featuring a mix of sit-downs and NXT footage.
Highlights from sitdowns. Bianca ‘She’s a 2 time women’s champion which means she’s done something I haven’t. Lost.’
Shayna ‘It doesn’t matter how strong you are, it doesn’t matter how fast you are. You still need air to breathe’. Cracking video that. Great job as usual from the production team.
We have Io Shirai and Kairi Sane teaming up tonight but next is Lorcan and Burch vs Barthel and Aichner. Yes Bloody Please.
Review of Ohno and Lee from last week and the aftermath with Rids. They meet for the 3rd time at Takeover. Surely Rids won’t win again will he….
1S AND 2S v THE EUROPEAN UNION
1s and 2s out to Lorcan’s banger theme tune. The EU out next. Aichner now has his own jacket. It’s faded black denim. Except for the rips I am a fan. Mauro notes that Dream vs Fish has been made for tonight.
Match Highlights: Early going Lorcan isolated in the corner, quick tags and strikes from the EU before Burch gets a tag and takes over. Highlighted by a headbutt on Barthel and a missile dropkick to Aichner. Lorcan then with uppercuts before Aichner turns him absolutely inside out with a clothesline. Incredible. Then we get Lorcan thrown into a brainbuster from Aichner by Barthel, who then takes out Burch with a tope on the shoreside into the barricade. Aichner with a double springboard moonsault for a 2. WOW.
They then lift Lorcan up for the doomsday uppercut but as Barthel hits him he turns it into a Rana and then rolls through into a single leg crab. As expected, this is great. Enziguri from Barthel on Lorcan breaks that up before Burch clotheslines him leaving all 4 down. Lorcan big slaps and running European Uppercut on Aichner then dive to the outside onto Barthel and Burch.
Just as they get up Aichner hits the turnbuckle and a monster frog splash to the outside on to all of them. The crowd is loud. This is great. Aichner misses a springboard onto Lorcan who rolls him up. Burch grabs Barthel and its over. What a match. Gutted that’s over. Two great teams.
Video package for ‘X’ by Poppy. One of the theme songs for Takeover. Thanks.
Video package for Ciampa and Black. Runs through the whole story. Another top job.
IO SHIRAI & KAIRI SANE v JOBBERS
They get a quick graphic. Tanaya Brooks and Amber Nova.
Match Highlights - Athleticism to start from Shirai. Big sliding forearm from Sane. Brooks distracts Sane from hitting the elbow early. Big Intersector from Sane gets them back in control and Shirai takes over. Springboard double missile drop kick from Shirai takes out both. Then Shirai pops up Sane for an elbow drop, before Sane assists Shirai for a standing moonsault and that’s it. Easy win for Shirai and Sane….do they have designs on the brand new WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships?
Io and Kairi celebrating, they’re interrupted by Marina and Jessamyn. Could that be a Takeover Pre Show match?
VELVETEEN DREAM v BOBBY FISH
Dream’s entrance is so Over The Top. It’s ridiculous. Cole is out with Fish for backup. Stack that deck boys.
Match Highlights - Fish gets early advantage with his MMA, as Dream is semi-distracted by keeping an eye on Cole as well. Huge Dropkick from Dream but he is again worried about Cole and Bobby takes advantage. Dream with a series of jumps around the ropes leaves him taking out Fish twice. The second time Cole ran out the way at the last minute. Seeds of kicking Bobby out? Cole is aggressively shouting at Bobby as well.
Dream well in control with strikes until Cole distracts him again. Bobby takes out the knee then hits a Dragon Screw on the outside smashing Dream into the railing. Springboard dive back into the ring on the knee by Bobby. He’s all over the knee. Great limb work from Bobby. Bobby goes for the takedown on the knee and Dream smashes him in the face with his good knee. Twice. That’s a DQ in UFC.
Huge spinebuster from Dream. Goes for Purple rainmaker but can’t get any elevation due to the bad knee and Fish catches him in a kneeler. Cole. Pulls the bottom rope away but the ref sees him. Cole and Fish argue with the ref and Fish gets caught in an Okada roll. Similar to how he lost to EC3. He kicks out. Dream for the Dream Valley Bomb but the knee gives out.
Dream throws Fish into Cole. Hits the DVB and is up for another Purple Rainmaker. This time he hits it and its over. Adam Cole costs Fish the match, seemed to be little hints at tension between Cole and Fish during the match. Dream overcomes the odds. Bobby seems purely in the position of the man people go through to get to Cole. Which is a shame.
Next week Street Profits will take on the Forgotten Sons and Kairi and Io vs Jessamyn and Marina. Nailed it.
Out now is Ricochet who is set to meet Johny Gargano for an in ring chat of sorts. Ricochet slags of Johnny for a bit until he comes out. Johnny says if this was 2018 he’d rush the ring, but 2019 he has a plan. He attacks whilst still talking.
Not the best plan as Ricochet fights him off only for Ciampa to save Johnny. Awkward stare down between the two and then Johnny just attacks Ricochet and batters. him. Black takes out Ciampa and Johnny looks for awhile. Then saves him! Ciampa beatdown Black. Johnny beats down Ricochet. DIY left standing in the ring. Another awkward look on the ramp. Johnny turns his eyes to the NXT title. Ciampa looks scared. He offers his hand. Johnny looks like he’s considering it but Candace is out to stop him. She takes Johnny out the back as NXT goes off the air.
Great final segment, the slow burn of a potential DIY reunion is great. Loving evil Ciampa as always and conflicted Gargano is brilliant. Will they have all the belts come Sunday morning???
Another really enjoyable show highlighted by the 1s and 2s vs EU tag match. I’m excited for Saturday. Birthday celebrations, WXW at the Dome followed by Takeover. If anything comes close to last years Almas v Gargano we’re in for a treat.
STARS OF THE WEEK
Fabian Aichner
Oney Lorcan
Marcel Barthel
Danny Burch
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