NXT is fast becoming one of the most must-see wrestling shows around. Since finding a new home on the WWE Network, the show has become the default attraction to those tired of the child friendly, corporate model the WWE operates under nowadays. Featuring a highly anticipated main event and a mouthwatering host of fan favourite performers, can TakeOver: Rival continue NXT’s upswing in popularity?
Tyler Breeze vs. Hideo Itami
What Happened? Blindsided by Breeze last week after failing to progress in the NXT championship tournament, Hideo Itami vowed revenge, and got just that in this last minute addition to the show. Trading a barrage of kicks with his brash adversary, the Japanese superstar survived a nasty looking sharpshooter and a well placed Supermodel kick to eventually overcome his opponent with a running kick to the face.
Winner: Hideo Itami via pinfall (Running kick)
Thoughts: Excellently structured and timed, Breeze and Itami kicked off the show in style with a nice, throwaway bout that, while not doing anything to further their careers, served as a great showcase of their skills and contrasting personas. Itami has been putting on quality matches for years now and could help Breeze reach the next level should their rivalry continue.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
No Disqualification Match
Bull Dempsey vs. Baron Corbin
What Happened? Defeated for the first time last week as a direct result of Bull Dempsey’s interference, Baron Corbin avenged his loss in this brief match...but not before being pushed to the limit by his deceptively agile opponent. Withstanding Dempsey’s signature diving headbutt, Corbin quickly turned the tide, connecting with a sudden End of Days STO for the victory.
Winner: Baron Corbin via pinfall (End of Days)
Thoughts: Every event will inevitably feature a match that doesn’t quite meet expectations. This was that match. Not given enough time and not properly utilising the no disqualification stipulation, the match started strong but quickly lost steam following a botched rope spot. Corbin and Dempsey are two promising prospects who’ll surely recover from this small hiccup to give us a match worthy of their intriguing feud. Not a great match, but not a total stinker either.
★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
NXT Tag Team Championship
Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake © vs. The Lucha Dragons
What Happened? Murphy and Blake continued their unlikely dominance of the tag team division, successfully defending their newly acquired gold for the first time against the former champions. A fast and furious battle, the champions fought fire with fire, matching Kalisto and Sin Cara’s high flying offense with some of their own, and eventually overcame their experienced opponents thanks to some excellent tagging strategy and a massive frog splash for the decisive fall.
Winners and STILL champions: Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake via pinfall (Frog Splash)
Thoughts: Fast, fun, and given just the right amount of time so as not to outstay its welcome, the two teams worked through a couple of botched moves, and once again and produced another quality match. Murphy and Blake have great chemistry together and with some further development and fine tuning, could go onto become a great main roster tag team, something that is practically unheard of these days.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
NXT Championship No.1 Contendership Tournament Final
Adrian Neville vs. Finn Bálor
Adrian Neville vs. Finn Bálor
What Happened? Battling to become the next title contender, Neville and Bálor put aside professional courtesy in a wild, back-and-forth battle. Knowing each other so well after years of touring the international circuit together, the two contenders traded and countered moves relentlessly before Bálor finally gained the upper hand, scoring the decisive fall after delivering a crushing diving stomp from the top rope.
Winner: Finn Bálor via pinfall (Coup de Grâce)
Thoughts: It’s hard to see either man topping their efforts after this unbelievable match. The scary thing however, is that they probably can. Both Neville and Bálor, just like Hideo Itami, are worthy of a main event slot on the main roster, they’re surely in NXT at the moment to add some luster to the emerging show. Hitting the other with some of the most exciting and outright dangerous looking moves seen in a long time, these two bona fide superstars put on a match of the year worthy effort. Main roster superstars take note; this is how you reach for that brass ring.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship
Charlotte © vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
What Happened? Out to show that the men aren’t the only ones who can scrap, these four female warriors put their bodies on the line in the hopes of becoming, or remaining champion. With a newfound aggression, Bayley seemed to have the title in her grasp, but was denied when the opportunistic Sasha Banks knocked her from the ring, picking up the pieces and rolling up the champion after an extended crossface lock.
Winner and NEW champion: Sasha Banks via pinfall (Rollup)
Thoughts: Another example of NXT doing something better than their main roster counterparts, these four women exhibited something that we just don’t see in many of the ‘Divas’ on Raw or Smackdown. Featuring some great double, triple moves in some cases, punishing bumps and wild outside dives, all combined with the obviously hungry attitudes of its combatants, this was yet another match on the card that far exceeded expectations.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
NXT Championship
Sami Zayn © vs. Kevin Owens
What happened? A bright start soon quickly faded for Zayn, making his first title defense against former longtime friend Kevin Owens. Weathering the champion’s initial onslaught, Owens soon took control of the match, wearing his rival down with an array of punishing strikes and slams. Zayn fought valiantly and refused to quit, but Owens wasn’t to be denied gold, repeatedly smashing Zayn with his patented pop-up powerbomb. The threat of a sixth powerbomb left the match official with no choice but to end the match, awarding Owens the title.
Winner and NEW champion: Kevin Owens via referee stoppage
Thoughts: Perfect old school-esque booking was the real story behind this excellent main event. Portrayed as an unstoppable monster heel, Owens was made to look like the next Brock Lesnar as he delivered an unrelenting beatdown to the former champion...and it was as excellently executed as it was completely believable. The finish was unexpected, and from my recollection, unprecedented as a method for a title to change hands, and will surely allow for this exciting rivalry to continue.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Overall: The NXT brand exists as a way for its roster to show why they should be performing on the biggest stage of them all...and wouldn’t you know it. Nearly every participant showcased on this latest special demonstrated their hunger to be ranked among the world’s elite. Every match but one delivered…and hell, even the lesser match would be considered a success on a standard episode of Raw or Smackdown.
In a nutshell: TakeOver: Rival was one of the best wrestling shows produced in a long, long time.
The irony of the success of NXT however is that public awareness has now made them superstars in their own right. NXT has now become to go-to brand for those wanting something a little different to the “sports entertainment” produced by the WWE, and few will want this fledgling sub-promotion to begin parting with some of its most prized assets.
Let’s hope that the success of this latest show forces Vince McMahon and his staff of writers and performers to re-evaluate their own product. The target market may be completely different, but tonight these developmental performers demonstrated an incredible desire to entertain through their art, something that has been missing from the WWE for a long time now.
Moment of the Event: The entire Neville/Bálor match. Ridiculously good.
Event MVP: Kevin Owens
Show Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆
Moment of the Event: The entire Neville/Bálor match. Ridiculously good.
Event MVP: Kevin Owens
Show Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆