May 20, 2017
(aired live)
#NXTTakeover
City: Rosemont, IL
Venue: Allstate Arena
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Theme Songs
“Judas” by Fozzy
“Over-Throne” by Hacktivist
Video
Welcome to the city where champions become legends and where underdogs defy the impossible.
Match 1
Eric Young w/ Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain vs Roderick Strong
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Roderick Strong wins via pinfall after a release suplex into a double-knee backbreaker
Time: 13:44
Match Thoughts
Very good match! Strong had a decent game plan going into the match. He ambushed Dain and Wolfe before the match and took the fight quickly to Eric Young once the opening bell rang, but the longer the match went on the less it seemed like Strong would be able to maintain control. Wolfe and Dain recovered and both attacked Strong during the course of the match. Strong managed to survive despite the numbers, and increasingly was able to hit some big, strong moves. I really enjoyed the finish. A great opening match!
Video
The history between Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne in the WWE.
Ring Area
Mike Rome introduces the guest commentator for the UK Title match, Jim Ross.
Match 2
UK Title Match
Pete Dunne vs Tyler Bate (UK Champ)
(referee: Darryl Sharma; guest commentary: Jim Ross (replacing Phillips and Watson))
Result: Pete Dunne wins via pinfall after a Bitter End and becomes the new UK Champ
Time: 15:29
Match Thoughts
Fantastic match! The two men started with a feeling-out period where neither man had a clear advantage. Bate eventually seemed to get the better of Dunne, so Dunne starting fighting dirty. Dunne took control of the match with his tactics and a few big moves, but his arrogance got the better of him. Bate got mad and starting fighting back with some great power moves. As the match continued, both men traded big moves and great counters. They pulled out moves we haven’t seen before and completely stole the show.
Video
How the triple threat women’s title match came to be.
Match 3
Triple Threat NXT Women’s Title Match
Ruby Riot vs Nikki Cross vs Asuka (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Asuka pins both Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross after a running knee to Ruby Riot to retain the title
Time: 12:28
Match Thoughts
Very good match. All three women looked good. I thought the feud between Cross and Riot would lead to more one on one time between them, but all three women really worked most of the match all at the same time. There were a number of believable near falls towards the later part of the match. I feel like this match would have been even better had Ember Moon not gotten injured, but I still really liked it.
Video
The Velveteen Dream is coming this Wednesday.
Video
Hideo Itami’s path to his title match.
Match 4
NXT Title Match
Hideo Itami vs Bobby Roode (NXT Champ)
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Bobby Roode wins via pinfall after two Glorious DDTs to retain the title
Time: 17:44
Match Thoughts
Great match. This was pretty even throughout. It started with a little arrogance and showboating from both men, but it quickly got serious. This was the most hard-hitting match of the night so far. Itami focused on Roode’s arm, and Itami hurt his ankle part-way through the match, so both guys had injury issues that helped make the match very interesting. The final portions of the match were pretty tense with some good near falls and a very solid finish.
Ring Area
Eric Thames and Kevin Owens are in the crowd. Sami Zayn, Kassius Ohno, and Pat Patterson are also in the crowd.
Video
DIY’s road to their title match.
Match 5
Ladder Match for the NXT Tag Team Titles
Authors of Pain (NXT Tag Champs) w/ Paul Ellering vs #DIY
(referee: Drake Wuertz; outside referees: Darryl Sharma, Eddie Orengo)
Result: Authors of Pain retain the titles after hitting a Super Collider on Gargano and Ciampa
Time: 20:09
Match Thoughts
A very good match. I think it took a little while to get going and there was a little bit of furniture manipulation, but not too much. The final segment of the match had some big spots and some very tense and hopeful moments. This was a solid tag team ladder match, though I can’t help but be a little disappointed by the outcome. Despite the outcome, the finish was well done.
Ring Area
After the match, #DIY are on the stage when Ciampa attacks Gargano. Ciampa hits a running knee on Gargano before hitting him with an air raid crash of the announce table through a pair of tables below the stage. Ciampa sits and watches as officials and medical personnel attend to Gargano as the show ends.
Show Impressions
This was a great show, better than the Takeover during Wrestlemania weekend. All the matches were good, but the last part has me feeling a little bitter. I’m not a fan of the Authors of Pain and I want to see them drop the titles. To be fair though, the match was very good. The bit with Gargano and Ciampa at the end of the show did feel a little inevitable, but it will lead to some good matches.
Match of the Night
Pete Dune vs Tyler Bate
This match had everything, and it was the most exciting of the night. This match, and every UK Title match they’ve aired so far, is doing a very good job of building interest in a weekly UK show. At least for me it is.