Geektified's NXT Takeover: Chicago Review 5.21.17

Geektified's NXT Takeover: Chicago Review 5.21.17

By Anton Ware

Official Results

-NXT Takeover is LIVE from Chicago, Illinois.

-Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, and Tom Phillips are your hosts for this evening.

-Roderick Strong vs. Eric Young: Eric Young’s rivalry with former NXT star Tye Dillinger has now carried over to Dillinger’s ally, Roderick Strong. Young suffered a loss against Dillinger in the Perfect 10’s last NXT match and decided to take out his frustration on the Messiah of the Backbreaker. Young has even gone so far to make mention of Strong’s fiancé and newborn son, Troy. This was a simple opener to start the show. Strong sneak attacked SaNiTY members Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dane to even the odds before the match started. Strong took control early on, but Wolfe and Dane would get involved when the action spilled to the outside with Dane delivering a running cross body to Strong. This allowed Young to take over on offense (even busting out a Wheelbarrow Neckbreaker on the floor), but Strong would not only take back the offensive end with a Fishermen Backbreaker, he would overcome Dane and Wolfe’s interference by laying them out at ringside. Strong hit a Jumping High Knee and the End of Heartache (Release Suplex into Backbreaker) for the pin and win!

-United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate: This is a rematch from the finals of the inaugural United Kingdom Tournament. On the May 19th edition of WWE Network’s exclusive UK program, Pete Dunne would defeat Trent Seven to become the number one contender for Tyler Bate’s championship. Jim Ross joined Nigel McGuinness to call the action. The match of the night! Tremendous effort from the UK staples. The story of the match was Bate’s high flying vs. Dunne’s strikes and ground game. Highlights included Bate’s Airplane Spin on Dunne, Dunne’s Mid-Air Forearm/ Suplex into a Powerbomb combo, a fist fight AND strike sequence (which Bate won) and a Spiral Tap by Bate. The ending saw Bate go for another a dive to the outside only for Dunne to block it which caused Bate to crash and burn. Dunne capitalized by throwing him in the ring and hitting his Bitter End finisher (Pump Handle into front slam) for the win! NEW CHAMPION!!

-NXT Women’s Title Match: Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ruby Riot: Originally set as a Fatal-4-Way, Ember Moon was taken out of the match due to a shoulder injury. This match would come about due to Asuka interfering in the final stretch of a number one contender’s battle royal, so NXT General Manager William Regal made this match as punishment for Asuka’s actions. Ember Moon is seen watching the match from a skybox. This was a good match between the ladies of NXT. The story was similar to the Fatal 4-Way from Takeover: San Antonio where Asuka was the main focus due to her recent attack and undefeated streak giving her major momentum. Throughout the match, Riot would show her aerial skills with a Suicide Dive and two Cannonball Splashes only for Asuka to catch her in the second one with an Asuka Lock. Asuka would take to the top rope with a combination Dropkick on Cross and a Splash on Riot. The ending saw Riot take out Cross with a knee strike with Asuka hitting a running knee on Riot to pin BOTH women for the win! Asuka continues her dominance.

-NXT Title Match: Bobby Roode vs. Hideo Itami: After Roode’s successful title defense against Shinsuke Nakamura, he mocked the former champion and proclaimed his dominance over NXT. Hideo Itami would challenge Roode with a slap and GTS. A match was then set for Takeover. A solid outing by Roode and Itami. The match featured multiple teases of the GTS and Roode trying to match Itami’s hard-hitting strikes. Punches, slaps, and kicks were abundant throughout this contest from Itami, but his offense finally worked against him when he went for a dropkick on the outside only to hit the steel steps and injuring his knee in the process. The injury would come into play when Itami went for another GTS attempt only for Roode to counter with the Glorious DDT for a two count! Itami regrouped and FINALLY hit the GTS on Roode only for The Glorious One to roll out the ring. Itami would get Roode back in the ring, but Roode would have just enough strength to kick out at two! Roode regrouped and connected with two back-to-back Glorious DDTs for the pin and win! Roode retains the NXT Title.

Random Thought: Remember when Hideo got attacked in the parking lot the night of Takeover: Unstoppable (Owens vs. Zayn II)? Was the guilty culprit ever revealed? I wonder who did it.

-NXT Tag Team Ladder Match: DIY vs. The Authors of Pain: This match is a continuation of DIY’s and The Authors of Pain rivalry over the past few months. This is also DIY’s last opportunity to regain the NXT Tag Team Titles and the first time that the tag division will close out the show as the main event. During a recent NXT house show, Tomasso Ciampa suffered an injury during a tag match which gave The Authors of Pain the advantage. Another great, thrilling match and a fitting end to this rivalry. Moments included Gargano performing a Suicide DIve through a 20ft ladder, DIY hitting stereo splashes off the 20ft ladder onto both members of AOP who were on separate ladders, Ellering getting superkicked by Gargano for interfering and Ciampa German Suplexing Akeem off the ladder onto another ladder propped up in the corner. The ending saw Gargano and Ciampa hovering above the ring while gripping the tag titles for dear life due to AOP pushing the ladder from underneath them. AOP eventually caught them and hit the Super Collider (stereo Powerbombs) finisher. AOP climbed the ladder to retrieve the belts for the win!

-After the match was over, DIY received a standing ovation from the crowd for their efforts and as they’re on stage saying their goodbyes to the crowd, Tomasso Ciampa attacked Gargano by throwing him onto the video wall and proceeding to beat him down with punches and knee strikes. Ciampa finished Gargano off with an Air Raid Crash (Sheamus’ White Noise) off the announce table onto a set of tables off the main stage. Ciampa stands over Gargano as we…

-END SCENE

Final Thoughts: Another fine, thumbs-up outing from the yellow and black brand. The UK and Tag Team Title matches were the highlights and what should you go out of your way to watch.  The big story coming out of this show was the end of DIY. Why did Tomasso Ciampa turn his back on his partner, Johnny Gargano? What does this mean for NXT’s Tag Division since DIY is no more? Also, who on earth will stop the dominance of not only the Authors Of Pain, but the NXT Women’s Champion Asuka and NXT Champion Bobby Roode? One interesting aspect coming out of this show was the playing field of each division being wide open. Any newcomer can step up and make themselves a threat to the champion and his/her title. The question is… who? That remains to be seen.

Personal Enjoyment: The UK Title Match. Once again, great contest. Hunt it down and be in awe!

-What was your thoughts of the show Geekified family? Hit or miss? Let me know in the comments section. Thanks for reading.

-Anton