To kick off the Road to WrestleMania, NXT hosts its first TakeOver special of the year in San Antonio, Texas. The Authors of Pain, Bobby Roode, and half of the women’s division are all challenging for championships tonight, in what will undoubtedly be a great show. If NXT has proven something over the past few years, it is that they always deliver good TakeOver shows.
Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young (w/Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain)
As soon as Eric Young gets to the ring, there are two things right out of the gate that stand out. First, Killian Dain has accompanied him to the ring along with Alexander Wolfe. Second, Nikki Cross is not with her allies because she is preparing for her NXT Women’s Championship match later on. While Tye Dillinger may be the Perfect 10, he is clearly outnumbered by the group that demands he join them.
Tye Dillinger spends to much time focusing on Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe, and Eric Young takes advantage of the distracted Dillinger to hit a wheelbarrow neckbreaker for the win. One question remains: Will SAnitY’s dominance continue throughout the night? Winner: Eric Young
Predicted Winner: Eric Young (1/1)
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Roderick Strong
Several weeks ago, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Roderick Strong competed in an Elimination Fatal Four Way match to determine a #1 Contender for the NXT Championship. Bobby Roode would end up winning the match, but Strong eliminated Almas in the process. Cien took this personally, and has had a bone to pick with Strong ever since.
Strong and Almas beat the hell out of each other, but it was Strong who came out on top. Almas could never successfully hit his running double knees, and Strong capitalized with a Sick Kick for the win in a very impressive match. Winner: Roderick Strong
Predicted Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas (1/2)
#DIY (c) vs. The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) – NXT Tag Team Championships
This isn’t the first time that #DIY and The Authors of Pain have faced each other. Back in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, the current challenger won the match thanks to some help from The Revival. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano have been on a roll, capturing the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Revival at NXT TakeOver: Toronto (voted to be the Match of the Year). Unfortunately, The Authors of Pain are undefeated and twice the size of the champions.
Ciampa and Gargano have The Authors of Pain right where they want them, two powerbombs and a Russian leg sweep/clothesline combination later, we have new champions. Winners, and NEW NXT Tag Team Champion: The Authors of Pain
Predicted Winners: The Authors of Pain (2/3)
In-ring Segment
In between matches, we are reflecting on what just happened when Seth Rollins storms the ring and calls out Triple H. Knowing Triple H runs NXT, it’s a smart move for him to invade the show. The Game calls for security, Rollins tries to take them out, and he is eventually dragged out of the arena. Expect this to unfold more tomorrow at the Royal Rumble.
Asuka (c) vs. Nikki Cross vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce – NXT Women’s Championship
Over the past several weeks, all three challengers have tried to take out Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow, enraged, demanded that a championship match should be made against all of them. Without a doubt, Asuka is more enraged than ever, but the problem is that she has three women in her way.
Billie Kay and Peyton Royce suplex Nikki Cross through a table, making the rest of the match a 2-on-1 situation. Peyton Royce almost won the gold with the Widow’s Peak, but Asuka had enough kicks left in her to knockout Kay and Royce, covering the latter to retain the gold. Winner, and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka
Predicted Winner: Nikki Cross (2/4)
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Bobby Roode – NXT Championship
After Shinsuke Nakamura retained his second NXT Championship against Samoa Joe in a steel cage match, a new #1 Contender was needed. Bobby Roode won the #1 Contender’s match, as mentioned above, and it has led to a battle between two of the most charismatic Superstars in NXT, or even WWE for that matter.
Nakamura seems to have injured his knee during the match, and Bobby Roode takes advantage to target the injury, to hit the Glorious DDT, and to capture the NXT Championship. Whether Nakamura is truly hurt or not is unknown, but we’ll find out soon enough. Winner, and NEW NXT Champion: Bobby Roode
Predicted Winner: Bobby Roode (3/5)
