Wednesday, April 7th 2021
WWE Performance Center
Orlando, Florida
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Nina Strauss is here to shred her way through the "Star Spangled Banner". This leads to some cool lightning effects and a giant skull logo on the stage.
Pete Dunne vs. Kushida
These two go right to the mat wrestling, as expected. Dunne is able to hit a suplex on the edge of the ring and that leads to some more physicality. Kushida hits a handstand springboard elbow and takes control. This has almost been too fast of action to even recap here. Beth Phoenix actually makes a good analogy, calling this a tennis match. Kushida hits a suplex into the Hoverboard Lock off the top rope. Kushida gets a close call on a submission hold, but Dunne gets to the ropes. Dunne then starts smashing Kushida's hands and hits the Bitter End for the victory. I'm a little surprised that it ended that way, but with it being on USA they couldn't go too long. I know my recap did very little to show how action packed this match was, but it was balls to the wall from start to finish. It was nice to see a match go back and forth without relying on nearfalls.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Six-Man Eliminator Gauntlet Eliminator MatchTo Determine The #1 Contender For The North American Championship
Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah Scott vs. Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight
Leon Ruff and Isaiah Scott are first here and Ruff hits a nice variation of the Stunner off the table. Scott catches his dive though and drops him on the barricade. Ruff counters a second rope powerbomb into a hurricanrana. In comes Bronson Reed. Ruff leaps at him, but Reed catches him and throws him back into the ring. Reed and Scott team up to hit a vertical suplex/top rope crossbody combo. Reed then squashes Ruff, which doesn't look fun. Reed then hits a double German suplex and now it's Cameron Grimes turn. Scott and Grimes decide to team up and work on Ruff. Scott tosses upside down and that looked like that may not have been a good landing. Lumis is in next, who slowly walks to the ring. Ruff is eliminated during the entrance and Lumis attacks Reed on the ramp. Lumis dominates Scott and in walks Reed for a showdown. Lumis gets Reed up on his back on a second attempt, but Reed gets down and then through the ropes to the floor. Lumis clotheslines Grimes and it sends both of them over the top rope. LA Knight comes out with his mic and insults Ruff and talks some more trash. Reed grabs him from behind and throws him in the ring. That entrance felt a little bit like a TNA type gimmick. Knight slingshots himself into the ring, but Reed catches him and hits a Samoan drop. Knight avoids Reed and hits a neckbreaker. Knight then leaps up to the top to hit a superplex on Scott. Lumis puts The Silence on Grimes, but Knight comes in and pins Lumis while he's locked into the hold. Scott then hits a knee on Knight and he gets attacked by everyone and eliminated? I definitely thought he'd be in the final two, but instead Lumis attacks him and it looks like that will be the next feud. We then get some crazy triple threat action that ends with Reed falling on top of Grimes and Scott. Grimes rolls up Scott, but he reverses it and Grimes is eliminated. Reed starts climbing the the turnbuckles, but Scott hits a dropkick on him. Scott then hits a powerslam on Reed onto the edge of the ring. Scott puts him back in the ring and hits a 450 splash for a 2 count. Scott hits three House Calls, but Reed is able to kick out. Reed fights back and hits the huge splash off the top rope for the victory. Once Knight was eliminated, I figured this was the route they were going. It will be interesting to see what Gargano can do with a guy like Reed. This was a good match, although I would have rather seen the opener get a few more minutes.
Match Rating: ***1/2
NXT United Kingdom Championship Match
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Walter
Walter chops his way out of a Ciampa burst and kicks him out of the ring. Ciampa again gets in some offense, but this time it's stopped by a huge boot from Walter. Walter puts in a half crab into a STF, but he is selling an injured right hand. He hits another boot to the face and they show the cracked table where Walter his hand. Ciampa comes back with a series of clotheslines, but Walter is still standing. Ciampa has to hit close to 20 and he's finally down. Ciampa goes for the Fairy Tale Ending, but Walter counters and almost steals the victory. Ciampa hits the Fairy Tale Ending, but Walter kicks out. Walter hits a German suplex with a release and a big clothesline for a 2 count. Ciampa hits White Noise off the second rope and that's still not enough to keep Walter down. Walter hits two powerbombs, but Ciampa is still able to kick out. Walter hits a suplex that turns Ciampa inside out and a big chop and that's enough for the victory. I'm not sure I really loved that ending. These guys beat the crap out of each other though. Each match so far has been equally good, but in three different ways.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Triple Threat Match For The NXT Tag Team Championships
MSK vs. Legado Del Fantasma vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
Each team takes a turn dominating with GYV being the last ones and are able to sustain control. We get a fun spot where MSK hits a Hardy-like dive and then Fantasma hits stereo dives off the corner and ring apron. Much like the opener, the action is just too quick and engaging for me to even really recap. We have double submission by GYV, but Fantasma breaks it up and they almost pick up the victory. GYV hits a Doomsday Device and they MSK hits a stomp on the top of a Torture Rack. We have a showdown between MSK and GYV and they're off. Nash Carter hits a double Stunner of the top rope and MSK are your new Tag Team Champions. MSK is for real and they have a legit chance of being actual tag team stars. I hate giving every match the same rating, but so far everything has been very good, but not quite to great.
Match Rating: ***1/2
NXT Women's Championship
Raquel Gonzalez vs. Io Shirai
They've done a really nice job of building Gonzalez. They go right at it and don't slow down until Shirai hits a crossbody dive through the ropes. When the referee is checking on Gonzalez, Dakota Kai attacks Shirai and she is sent to the back. Shirai hits a springboard moonsault on the outside. She goes for another one, but Gonzalez grabs her and throws her into the ring post. Both women get in a bit of offense and some near victories. Shirai hits a moonsault onto the elevated ramp. Shirai then hits a running double knees to the face. Shirai is then on top of the skull on the stage and she hits a big dive. You knew something was happening with that skull and it still was pretty cool. I can't imagine that landing was fun. Shirai hits another moonsault back in the ring, but Gonzalez kicks out at 2. Raquel hits a huge clothesline that spins Shirai inside out and hits the one armed powerbomb to become the new champion. There wasn't much else for Shirai to go with the title and they completely have built Gonzalez as a monster. This made sense and was a good match. I hate to do this, but I'm also going...
Match Rating: ***1/2
I have never given every match on the same show the same rating, but here I am. Everything was very good, but nothing hit greatness here tonight. With that being said though, this was a highly entertaining way to spend 2 hours, even if it won't be talked about among the top TakeOver events. I am very big on MSK and I am glad that creative agrees with me. Tomorrow night has the slightly stronger card, so we'll see what we get here tomorrow.
Overall Rating: 80%
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