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From The Network – NXT Takeover: Rival

February 16, 2015 | Posted by Dylan Diot
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From The Network – NXT Takeover: Rival  

NXT Takeover: Rival
2-11-15
Winter Park, FL

Your hosts are Rich Breenan, Corey Graves, and Jason Albert.

Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze
A woman jumps the rail and clings to Breeze until security takes her away. Breeze now has a selfie stick included in his entrance. Breeze hammers away to start and Itami comes back with a knee to the midsection. PK kick by Itami and Breeze bails. Back in, Itami dropkicks Breeze as he attempted a cross body and Itami throws some kicks. Breeze begins to target the leg of Itami and he grabs the post Figure-4. Texas Cloverleaf by Breeze but Itami makes the ropes to break. Itami goes for the GTS but Breeze escapes and rolls Itami up for 2. High kick by Itami but Breeze comes right back with a super kick for 2!!! Breeze hammers away but Itami fires back at him. Kicks to the chest by Itami and he hits a corner basement dropkick. Sick Kick by Itami gets 3.
Winner- Hideo Itami *** (Solid opener with a good story of Breeze going after Itami’s leg knowing it takes away the majority of Itami’s offense. Itami is slowly starting to get the hang of the WWE style and looks more comfortable in this setting.)

No DQ Match- Bull Dempsey vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin attacks to start and they head to the floor. Dempsey sends Corbin into the apron and he suplexes Corbin onto the ramp. Dempsey sends Corbin into the post and back in, Corbin catches Dempsey with a spinebuster for 2. They botch a clothesline to the floor and both men go crashing to the outside. Back in, Dempsey goes up and hits the diving head butt for 2. They go back to the floor and Dempsey sends Corbin into the steps. Dempsey grabs a chair and goes to swing but Corbin catches him with End of Days for 3.
Winner- Baron Corbin ** (I think people have been too harsh on this match. It was rugged with one messed up spot and an ugly finish but it was a decent big guy brawl and it was kept short to cover up their limitations. I really had no problem with this match.)

NXT Tag Team Championships-Blake and Murphy © vs. Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto)
Sin Cara and Murphy start. Double dropkick by Cara and he hits a springboard head butt. Cara botches a head scissors and Murphy stomps away. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Cara and Kalisto slips up on a dive on Blake. Enzuiguri by Cara to Murphy and he goes up with Murphy. Wheelbarrow Driver off the top by Cara gets 2. Tag to Blake and Kalisto. Dropkick by Kalisto and Cara tags in. Assisted wheelbarrow senton by the Dragons gets 2. Chinlock by Cara but Blake fights out. Blake and Murphy hit a back suplex into a neck breaker for 2. Blake stomps away on Cara and he tags Murphy who hits a hilo for 2. Chinlock by Murphy but Cara fights out and tags Kalisto. Springboard twisting cross body by Kalisto and he hits a hurricanrana driver. Kalisto counters a suplex into a hurricanrana for 2. Crucifix by Kalisto gets 2 and they trade roll-ups until their partners breaks it up. Tag to Cara and Blake. Cara goes for a springboard crossbody but Blake rolls through for 2. Small package by Cara gets 2. Back suplex is blocked by Cara for 2. Tag to Murphy and Cara rolls him into a one armed power bomb for 2. Tag to Blake as Murphy hits a Brainbuster into a Frog Splash by Blake for 3.
Winners and Still NXT Tag Team Champions- Blake and Murphy *1/2 (Now this match I understand the criticism it got. The Lucha Dragons were incredibly sloppy in the early portion of the match and neither team took on a defined role so the crowd couldn’t get emotionally invested.)

NXT Takeover has been hacked and tells everyone to stay tuned for next week.

Video package on the #1 Contender’s Tournament airs.

#1 Contender Tournament Finals- Adrian Neville vs. Finn Balor
Neville overpowers Balor to start but Balor escapes his hold and we reach a standstill. Balor rolls through a sunset flip attempt into a basement dropkick. Dropkick by Balor and Neville bails. Springboard dropkick by Neville gets 1. Chin lock by Neville but Balor fights out. Forearm smahs by Neville gets 1. Neville works Balor over in the corner and he goes back to the chin lock. Balor fights out again and Neville dropkicks Balor as he looks to springboard back into the ring. Neville hits a delayed suplex for 2. Back to the chinlock goes Neville but Balor fights out again. Neville goes up but Balor catches him with an enzuigiri knocking Neville to the floor. Summersault plancha to the floor by Balor!!! Shotgun dropkick by Balor against the barricade on Neville. Back in, Balor goes up and hits a double stomp to the back of the head for 2!!! Neville throws some kicks and Balor catches him with the Pele. Neville comes back with the super kick and both men are down!!! German suplex by Neville and he hits a dead lift German suplex for 2. Neville goes up and hits a second rope Phoenix Splash for 2. Running uppercut in the corner by Neville and Balor comes back with the Slingblade. Lariat by Balor and he hits Paroxysm for 2!!! Balor goes up but Neville stops him and hits an enzuigiri. Slam by Neville and he goes up. Neville leaps but Balor moves so Neville hits a high kick. Neville goes up for Red Arrow but eats knees!!! Small package by Balor gets 2!!! Shotgun dropkick by Balor and he goes up. Double stomp off the top by Balor gets 3!!!
Winner and New #1 Contender- Finn Balor ****1/4 (Awesome match. Just a back and forth battle where neither guy gave an inch because they want a shot at the title. The intensity picked up as the match progressed and the final few minutes were out of this world. Finn Balor continues to look like NXT’s megastar between his ring work and presentation. )

Video package for Charlotte/Banks/Bayley/Lynch airs.

NXT Women’s Championship-Charlotte © vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
Everyone attacks Charlotte to start and she catches Banks and Lynch with a double clothesline. Roll-up by Bayley gets 1. Banks pulls Charlotte off the apron and Lynch tosses her into the apron. Back in, they double team Bayley and swing her into the corner. They argue over the cover so Lynch takes out Banks with a pump handle suplex. Leg drops to Bayley gets 2. Dragon screw leg sweep by Lynch and she grabs the Indian Deathlock but Banks breaks it up. Banks throws some shoulders to the midsection but she misses the hanging double knee drop. Missile dropkick by Lynch gets 2 as Charlotte saves. Clothesline to Lynch and she hits a neck breaker on Banks for 2 as Lynch saves. Hanging neck breaker to Lynch gets 2 as Banks saves. They trade forearms and Charlotte catches Lynch with a spear as she was going for Banks. Asissted wheelbarrow gordbuster by Bayley to Banks. Charlotte charges at Banks but misses and hits the post shoulder first. Banks drives Lynch into Charlotte and she HITS THE DOUBLE HANGING DOUBLE KNEE DROP TO CHARLOTTE AND LYNCH!!!! Banks covers both but can’t get the 3 count. Exploder suplex by Bayley to Banks. Corner back elbows to Charlotte and Bayley puts her on top. She follows up and hits a Frankensteiner off the top. Belly to Bayley gets 2 as Lynch saves. They go to the floor and Bayley works over Lynch. Suicide dive by Banks to both on the floor!!!! Slingshot pescado by Charlotte onto everyone on the floor!!!! Bank in, Lynch hits an exploder suplex on Charlotte for 2. Uppercuts by Lynch and she puts Charlotte on top. Bayley hits a release German suplex on Lynch and she follows up. SUPER BELLY TO BAYLEY GETS 2 AS BANKS SAVES!!! Banks tosses Bayley out and she covers Charlotte for 2. Crossface by Banks but she releases to knock Lynch off the apron. She goes back to the Crossface but then converts it to the crucifix as Charlotte is fading for 3!!!!
Winner and NEW NXT Women’s Champion- Sasha Banks **** (Another NXT show with the girls going above and beyond what I expected. They went all out, every near fall and break up was smartly done and that finish was outstanding. Props to these girls for continuing to kick ass and especially to Charlotte for having one of the better Women’s title reigns I can recall in any promotion.)

Video package for Zayn/Owens airs.

NXT Championship- Sami Zayn © vs. Kevin Owens
Owens stalls on the floor to start, playing mind games with Zayn. Zayn has enough and hits a summersault plancha to Owens!!!! Back in, Zayn hammers away on Owens in the corner and Owens catches him with snake eyes. Corner clotheslines by Owens and he sends Zayn hard into the corner. Owens knocks Zayn down with a chop for 2 and he slams Zayn for 1. Chin lock by Owens but Zayn fights out, so Owens knocks him down with a back elbow for 1. Zayn starts to fight back again so Owens gordbusters Zayn onto the top rope for 2. Owens goes back to the chinlock but again, Zayn fights out. Back suplex by Owens gets 2 and he dumps Zayn to the floor. Owens works over Zayn on the floor and he clotheslines Zayn on the floor. Back in, Owens covers for 2 and he continues to work over Zayn. Gutbuster by Owens and he follows up with a back senton for 2. Owens goes back to the chin lock but Zayn breaks with a jaw breaker. Forearms by Owens and Zayn comes back with clotheslines. He clotheslines Owens to the floor and works him over on the floor. Back in, Zayn hits the Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Super kick by Owens and he hits the Cannonball in the corner for 2. Pump handle back breaker by Owens gets 2. Owens presses Zayn but he catches him with a dropkick. Half and half suplex by Zayn gets 2. Owens snaps Zayn’s neck off the ropes and he goes up but Zayn stops him and follows up. Owens fights him off and he goes for the Swanton Bomb but eats knees. Exploder suplex into the corner by Zayn and he goes for the Helluva Kick but Owens bails. Owens goes for the Apron powerbomb but Zayn blocks and hits the Arabian Press to the floor!!!! The momentum caused Zayn’s head to hit the ramp hard as well. Back in, Owens presses Zayn into the powerbomb for 2!!! Owens hammers away on Zayn and a trainer checks on Zayn’s condition. Powerbomb by Owens and he hits a second one for 2!!! The trainers continue to check on Zayn’s condition but Owens grabs Zayn and hits two more powerbombs. The ref stops Owens from hitting a fifth one and he calls for the bell. The ref gives Owens the win by KO!!!
Winner and NEW NXT Champion- Kevin Owens **** (This was surprising very methodical and slow paced but for the overall story of the match it worked like gold. Owens destroyed his best friend and didn’t care he was risking his health just so he could win the championship. An excellent match with a clever finish and it was a great first chapter in the NXT version of this epic rivalry.)

9.0
The final score: review Amazing
The 411
This was another winner of a show for NXT. The video packages on this show were outstanding, they made each of the three main matches feel important and gave great insight into the rivalries and the competitors. NXT continues to prove that simple is better. The stories and reasoning behind each match make sense, the finishes make the winner look like superstars, and everything has a purpose. The second half of this show is going to be one of the best hours of wrestling you will watch this year and the main event hopefully is the start of a long term program between Zayn and Owens. They truly are destined to do this forever. Make sure you check this show out, it will be in contention for show of the year.
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NXT, NXT Takeover: Rival, Dylan Diot