Thursday, May 29th, 2014
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida
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This is the original TakeOver event for NXT. After a preview package, we get the Adam Rose experience outside the building and heading in for his match.
Adam Rose vs. Camacho
After some goofing around from Rose, Camacho hits a double underhook suplex. The fans are ramped up for the live show and singing and chanting along for Rose. He makes a comeback and hits a spinebuster and then a bronco buster. Rose hits the Party Foul and that's it. Well, at least it was pretty short. I'm not really sure why this had to be on this show, but the crowd loved it, which means it did the job.
Match Rating: 1/2*
We get a Sami Zayn promo video ahead of his match tonight.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
The Ascension vs. El Local & Kalisto
The Ascension kind of feel forgotten as of late. The Ascension attack both opponents, which leads to them both being hit with headscissors. They roll outside and hit both men with uppercuts. After being beat down for a few minutes, Local makes a comeback and hits a sloppy springboard move and then a moonsault off the second rope. Kalisto comes in and hits a nice kick, but then gets tossed out of the ring. They hit the Fall Of Man and that is it. This was a more competitive version of the match we have been getting for months from the Ascension.
Match Rating: *
We now get a Tyler Breeze promo video.
#1 Contender Match
Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze
I think this may be the debut of Zayn's now very well known entrance music. We start off slowly, with Breeze dominating most of the beginning. Zayn has Breeze out of the ring and he hits a springboard moonsault to the floor. Zayn hits a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Breeze kicks out at 2. Breeze hits a DDT and Zayn is able to kick out at 2. Breeze hits a nice sit down powerbomb after pulling Zayn out of the corner for another nearfall. Zayn hits an exploder suplex into the turnbuckle and both men are down. I love how over Zayn is despite being a true babyface. We get lots of counter spots and it leads to Zayn hitting a superkick, but Zayn kicks out. The one nice thing about the kick outs in this match, is that they have only kicked out of moves that others have kicked out of. As I type that, Zayn hits an insane version of a powerbomb, but somehow Breeze kicks out. Breeze is out of the ring again and Zayn hits a pretty stiff senton over the top rope. Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick, but Breeze ducks it and I think they tried to make it look like a low blow. Breeze hits the Beauty Shot and gets the victory. This was easily one of the best NXT matches at this point in time. There was some really nice work by both men here and Zayn continues to be the best thing going in NXT.
Match Rating: ***3/4
Natalya is shown talking to Bret Hart and Tyson Kidd.
Lana brings out Rusev to the ring. She gives her usual Russia speech, but this time we get Putin's face on the big screen. This brings out Mojo Rawley waiving an American flag. He talks about this being America and charges the ring. Rusev attacks him and slaps on the Accolade. This instantly makes Rusev one of my favorites. In all seriousness, I loved this version of Rusev and thought he should have beaten John Cena at WrestleMania.
Charlotte is shown backstage with Ric Flair. After a nice promo package for the match, Paige is out to the ring. She gives a pretty generic speech thanking the fans.
NXT Women's Championship Match
Charlotte vs. Natalya
We get some mat wrestling to start things off, with Natalya dominating. This is already longer than most of the other tournament matches. Charlotte battles back and hits a dropkick for a 2 count. Charlotte goes outside the ring and uses a leg whip to throw Natalya to the mat. Charlotte goes for a moonsault, but Natalya moves out of the way. Natalya gets the strength to put on the Sharpshooter, but Charlotte counters it and puts on the Figure Four. They roll through the ropes, with Charlotte's shoulders falling to the mat and Natalya holding onto the bottom rope. The referee breaks the hold and they are both down. Charlotte locks in the Sharpshooter and Bret smirks. Natalya gets out of it, but Charlotte hits Natural Selection and becomes the new NXT Women's Champion. I know a lot of people really love this match, but this for me was more just a very well executed match that never captured my imagination. After the match, Charlotte and Natalya embrace and so do their dads.
Match Rating: ***1/4
We get a promo for Neville and see Christian and Cesaro in the crowd. Natalya and Tyson Kidd hug before his match.
NXT Championship Match
Tyson Kidd vs. Adrian Neville
This one starts off similarly to the previous one, just with a little bit more pizazz. After a nice sequence, we get a stare down until Kidd hits him with a forearm. Kidd sets up Neville in the tree of woe and hits a running dropkick to the jaw. Neville tries to come back, but Kidd dropkicks him out of the ring and quickly hits a somersault dive over the top rope. I love that he did that rather than playing to the crowd first. Back in the ring, both men go for a crossbody and both men are down. Neville returns the favor with a dropkick to the corner on Kidd and then hits a springboard forearm. Neville goes for a dive, but Kidd gets a leg up on the mat and hits him in the face. Kidd goes up to the top, but takes too long and Neville crotches him. Kidd goes for a sunset powerbomb, but Neville flips out of it and hits a sit down powerbomb for a 2 count. Kidd hits a second rope side Russian leg sweep. That was a cool move. The action picks up and we get a suplex over the top rope and that was perfectly executed. This has been a very cleanly wrestled match. Both men roll in the ring at the 9 count. Kidd goes for the Sharpshooter and Neville escapes, but turns it into a shoulder submission. Kidd goes up top and hits a somersault leg drop on Neville who was draped on the second rope. Kidd's facial expressions are a little on the weak side, but his performance here otherwise has been flawless. Neville tries twice to stop Kidd on the top rope, with no luck but on the third attempt, he hits a top rope hurricanrana. Neville goes back up top and hits the Red Arrow and retains his title. This was a really good match, with both men putting on very strong performances. After the match, Neville extends his hand, but Kidd gives him the cold shoulder and limps to the back.
Match Rating: ****
This was a much stronger show overall compared to Arrival earlier in the year. The roster is a little bit stronger and there are only better days to come. This wasn't a classic like what we will get in the future, but this is a thumbs up show.
Overall Rating: 74%
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