Results, Recap, Review NXT Takeover: Chicago
Tonight was the first ever Takeover event in Chicago and this was one had me amp’d up due to Chicago being a great wrestling city. I wondered all week how the crowd was going to be, if there were going to be any surprises and how intense the matches would be. With that being said here the results of NXT Takeover Chicago:
-Roderick Strong defeated Eric Young
-Pete Dunne defeated Tyler Bate to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship
-Asuka defeated Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross to retain the NXT Women’s Championship
-Bobby Roode defeated Hideo Itami to retain the NXT Championship
-The Authors of Pain defeated DIY to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship
The opening match of the evening was between Sanity’s Eric Young and Roderick Strong which has been an ongoing feud since before Wrestlemania. Before the match could being Roddy attacked the members of Sanity at ringside. Once Dain and Wolfe came to they interfered consistently in the match. Even though there was constant interference Roddy prevailed with an incredible finisher the rivaled Cedric Alexander’s Lumbar Check. The United Kingdom made it’ presence felt with a UK Championship match between champion Tyler Bate and his challenger Pete Dunne. This was one of the most incredible matches I’ve seen in quite awhile. This was so physical, so athletic and so technical. It made for a beautiful match that the crowd was completely on fire for. Even though Bate lost the title to Dunne he has nothing to ashamed of. He has a great body of work so far in WWE and I am sure that body of work will continue.
After the great encounter with the UK competitors we go to three crazy women in Ruby Riot, Nikki Cross and Asuka for the NXT Women’s Championship. I was really disappointed in this match for two reasons. I was already disappointed the Ember Moon was injured and couldn’t compete in the match. Secondly they had a chance for some shock value and they didn’t take it. What did shock me though is that the NXT Title match was not the Main Event. I love how Itami toyed with Roode at certain parts of the match. This match got me really amp’d up with the hard striking, the multiple false finishes and the fact Roode could hang with Itami’s striking. I am really impressed with Roode and how he’s been able to handle two versatile strikes these last three Takeover’s. You know you’re a great performer when you can adapt to different styles. I was happy to see Hideo Itami get a marquee match upon his return. I hope he finally stays healthy so he can have a good body of work in WWE.
The Main Event of the evening was between DIY and The Authors of Pain for the NXT Tag Team Championships in a Ladder Match. It was a different dynamic having a small team and a big team in a Ladder Match. I really think there should have been a third team because it was slow paced for a ladder match. As green as The Authors of Pain are they did handle themselves really well. They are learning a lot but I feel like DIY should have won the titles back. Now that DIY has lost their rematch they really need to be moved up to the main roster. There is absolutely nothing left for them to do. Unfortunately if they do get moved that leaves only two established tag team in The Authors of Pain and Heavy Machinery. Neither team has the experience to lead the NXT Tag Team Division. Before the show could end Ciampa turned on Gargano. The heel turn by Ciampa and the way he delivered it makes me think that he’s going to be a huge singles competitor in NXT and the main roster. I really enjoyed NXT Takeover Chicago. They had some very hard hitting matches and just downright raw physicality. I will give NXT Takeover and 8.5 for excellent matches and amazing ending that some people didn’t see coming. I have a feeling Backlash is going to have a hard time following NXT. NXT took over Chicago and it took over in a big way.
