-[exciting music playing] -[cheering]
[narrator] History runs deep
in the lone star state.
[man 1] The free birds are born to fight, kick butt.
[man 2] They're middle-aged and crazy.
The show-stopper, the headliner.
[man 3] Are you wrestling a God?
[man 4] Give me a "Hell, yeah."
[cheers and applause]
[narrator] In a city where families
have become dynasties…
[man] I want to say thanks to the people of Dallas, Texas
because it's the biggest crowd ever been in the Sportatorium.
[narrator] It is tradition that is valued above all else.
[man] It is a constant reminder of a dream that lives on and on.
[rock music playing]
[narrator] But tonight…
a revolution emerges.
[rock song playing] ♪ There's a devil inside of me ♪
[narrator] Will strong style become the new standard in NXT?
Or can the heart and soul of a movement
once again reign supreme?
I'm not going to let Nakamura make his name
and his legacy at my expense.
[narrator] A seemingly invincible empress
poised to vanquish a proud and beloved champion.
[man] You have got to give Bayley credit,
you're never going to break her spirit.
She never says "Die,"
but she has never faced anybody
quite like Asuka before.
[narrator] And an anger-fueled wrecking machine
will unleash the devil
inside the champion.
I'm obsessed with being the absolute best.
Balor! You will not survive! You will not escape!
[man 1] My obsession is why I will walk out champion.
[man 2] I will take my championship!
[narrator] On this night, the course of history runs straight
through the heart of Texas.
On this stage, a new chapter will be written in the big D.
Tonight, NXT takes over… Dallas.
[music] ♪ There's a devil inside of me ♪
♪ And there's one inside of you ♪
[exciting music playing]
[narrator] And now, WWE Network presents
NXT Take Over: Dallas.
[rap music playing]
[cheering]
[commentator] We are live in the heart of the sports entertainment world.
We are sold out in Dallas, Texas.
Tonight we leave our own mark on an historic weekend.
Welcome to NXT Take Over: Dallas.
[rock music playing]
[cheers and applause]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one brawl
is for the NXT Tag-Team Championships.
Making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 465 pounds,
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable,
American Alpha!
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] Jordan and Gable are ready.
This is a huge opportunity for American Alpha here tonight,
at NXT Take Over: Dallas.
We kick off with the NXT tag-team titles.
But first, my broadcast partner, former NXT tag-team champion,
one of the hosts on the WWE Network, Corey Graves.
[Corey] As expected, the atmosphere is absolutely nuclear.
-Yeah. -This is our WrestleMania.
This is NXT's big night.
Let's make a little history, shall we?
[Tom] Tonight we saw in the pre-show, before things got started,
this is a big moment for not only The Revival,
but also for American Alpha.
[rock music playing]
♪ We go hard ♪
[announcer] And their opponents,
at a combined weight of 466 pounds,
they are the NXT tag-team champions,
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder, The Revival!
[Corey] No flips, just fists.
[Tom] This is a down and dirty
in-your-face tag-team.
The Revival, Dash Wilder to your left
Scott Dawson to your right.
This is the team that won the title
back in November
from the Vaude Villains, defending them in London
and at WWE Roadblock just a matter of weeks ago
against Enzo and Cass.
[Corey] There's a reason they are
the NXT tag-team champions, Tom.
Nobody does it better.
These two grew up together. They fight together.
You talk about teams being on the same page.
These guys are in the same syllable.
[Tom] A brash smash-mouth attitude
from Wilder and Dawson.
You think they want to set the pace tonight?
[Corey] Absolutely, they want to set the pace. These guys--
Check out these T-shirts.
I talked to Dawson before the match.
He said this is their homage
to the Fabulous Free birds
but it's a warning that Dallas
belongs to The Revival now.
[Tom] Going into the hall of fame
tomorrow night.
[Bell ringing]
And ladies and gentlemen, use the hashtag
#NXTTagTitles
when talking about this match on social media.
So here we go to start things off.
This is Chad gable of America Alpha
to take on Scott Dawson
of The Revival.
[fans chanting]
[referee] back it up, let's go
[fans booing]
A little blatant disrespect
by Dawson, but he only does it
because he can.
-A little amateur boy, huh? -[Tom] The revival's game plan is
just as much mental as it is physical.
[Corey] If he can get inside the mind of
Jordan and Gable, that's their
key to success tonight.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] I'm a little confused here in
Dallas separating the revival.
That's understandable.
[Corey] Texas wasn't known for its intelligence.
[Tom loughs] uh!-- Gable quick on the attack
here against Dawson.
You mentioned the mental game.
It might be necessary here for
Dawson. This is a former Olympian
in Gable at a near one-count.
Shoulders down again here and a
two-count early.
[Corey] Gable almost put this one
away early.
[fans cheering and applauding]
[fans chanting] Gable! Gable!
[Tom] Ha ha ha.
[Corey] Turn about is fair play.
You can't blame gable.
You've got to respect it.
[Tom] Look at this.
Things getting heated here, center of the ring.
Jason Jordan climbing in as well as dash Wilder.
Remember Graves
these are two teams that have never faced
each other one-on-one.
This has been building for
months and months for this
tag-team title match.
[Corey] I can't remember in recent
history a tag-team that has
ascended the ranks as quickly or
as impactfully as American Alpha,
but Dash and Dawson
are intent on knocking them right off the top.
[Tom] Dash and Dawson seem to pride
themselves on working as a unit,
having known each other
since being young kids
in North Carolina.
Growing up fighting together.
[Clapping]
[Cory] A little fun fact for you, Phillips.
I was just in north Carolina
and there's a territory
that seceded from flair country.
It's revival country now.
[Tom] Why did we stay in Asheville?-- Off the ropes.
Gable trying to pick things up
and Dawson manages to counter!
Remember the only way to retain
or win the tag-team titles
is by pinfall or submission.
Gable is having some fun.
Into the corner and there's the tag
to Jason Jordan
and a big drop kick!
250 pounds straight up in the air
[Corey] Let's take another look at this.
Not only is he a powerhouse,
the agility of Jason Jordan
is stunning.
[fans chanting]
And uhh-- hold on, Dash is trying to make a tag
to his partner on the apron.
You can't do that-- Now wait a minute!
Look at Dawson!
Dawson right across the eyes.
[Corey] Dawson went right to the eyes
That was brilliant strategy.
That's why these guys are the champions.
Nobody does it better.
[Tom] And there is a legal tag and
this is the revival's M.O.,
bending the rules to their way.
Look at Jordan explode out of the corner.
Jordan called for some backup here. Here comes Gable.
Whoa!
[fans clapping]
Now Jordan into the cover here
and a kickout.
[Jordan screams]
[Corey] I've got to say I'm impressed
with American Alpha's ability to
turn the tables after that
brilliant double-team diversion
by The Revival.
[Tom] You've got to believe American Alpha
has been scouting this team for weeks.
Cover here for the titles.
And the kickout at one.
[Corey] I got to be honest with you Tom
I don't think
things could have started any worse
for Dash and Dawson.
[Tom] And the one thing that's been
so unique about American Alpha
and, you're a former NXT tag-team champion.
They first started tagging
together in July.
And already
they are contending for the titles.
[Corey] It's unbelievable
the quickness with which they gelled
and became a cohesive unit.
It's stunning. But the fact is they are not
Dash and Dawson. They haven't known each other
their whole lives.
They haven't been tag-teams specialists for years.
[referee] - come on, let's go [Gable grunts]
[referee] Get him down-- Come on hey!
[Dawson grunts]
[Tom] Now Gable is just trying to create
a safe haven here for a moment.
No, breaks free.
Into the corner. Looking for the cover
and a kickoff by Dawson!
Is a cross by!
Another cover.
Hook to the outside leg
and another kickout.
[fans cheering and chanting] Hey!… Hey!
[Tom] There's the drop kick from Chad Gable
and Dash Wilder-- Oh!
He didn't want any part of that
but he caught Gable in midair.
[Corey] That could be the opening they need.
The revival could capitalize.
Here it goes.
[Tom] And the referee was trying to
tend to Jason Jordan.
Jordan! what a good teammate.
[fans cheering]
[Corey] America Alpha has had an answer
for absolutely everything.
Sometimes the answer is dueling German Suplexes, Tom.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] Look at this.
Jordan and Gable stereo German Suplexes
and this place
is on fire!
[Tom] the Kay Bailey Hutchison convention center.
This is just the beginning of
NXT-Takeover: Dallas.
And American Alpha going right
after the champs.
Now Dawson back into the ring
here with Chad Gable.
Oh, look at that.
Brilliant tag made.
[Corey] Gable didn't see it.
[Tom] And now Dash Wilder catching
the right hand.
[Corey] This is unbelievable.
America Alpha have countered
-and answered every -- -oh!
[Corey] I take that back.
[Tom] Spoke way too soon.
Dash Wilder with a devastating clothesline.
and Dash Wilder the legal man
in this match as is Chad Gable
for American Alpha.
Now, Wilder slides back into the ring
looking to put a little more abuse
here into Chad Gable.
There's the tag.
Dawson legal.
[Corey] Let's take another look
and just listen to this.
[smack sound] -[fans] oh!
Unbelievable.
Sounded like a firecracker.
Massive clothesline by Dash Wilder
and The Revival are finally in control.
That he weathered that early storm
-this could be --
-[Tom] cover, cover. -[Corey] the beginning of the end
[Tom] To retain the tittle shoulders down
and he got the shoulder up.
[Corey] In my opinion, nobody
-in the game -- -[Tom] tag.
[Corey] Isolates their opponent
like these two.
Here you go.
Utilizing the referee's count
to inflict maximum damage.
[Tom] Another cover forearm in the face.
And Chad gable staying in this match.
[grunt]
[Tom] This was something that was hotly discussed on the preshow
with the voice of smackdown Mauro Ranallo
and the hall of fame Marita, the brawling style
versus the amateur background.
[fans chanting]
[Corey] Yeah but Tom there was something else
discussed on the preshow
and that's the history
of both members of American Alpha
when it comes to the grand stage.
When it came to the Olympics,
when it came to the finals,
Jordan and Gable both failed.
Can they get it done tonight?
[Tom] Honestly, this is the biggest
opportunity they have had here
since they have come to NXT,
since they have come to WWE.
And it seems like everything is
coming together at the right
moment for them.
Gable trying to reach out into
the corner.
And there's the tag to Dawson.
Great job there by The Revival.
Another cover
to retain the tag-team titles.
And a two.
[Corey] This is exactly what America Alpha
were trying to avoid.
Falling right into the trap that
so many teams have
of The Revival.
[Tom] Oh, and look at this
-by Dawson! -[Corey] a gory special.
[Tom] Throwing his own little version
of it, hyperextending that back,
pulling down on the chin of Gable
making it a little more
extra painful.
[Clapping]
[Tom] Shoulders down.
Look at gable trying to counter.
And the kickout.
[Corey] But look how quick.
Look how quickly the revival
have smothered Gable and cut off the ring.
[Tom] Wow! Trying to make a tag.
Trying to make a tag into the corner!
Double DDTs from Gable.
[fans clapping]
[Corey] Gable needs to make this tag.
The playing field is as close to
even as it's going to get now.
[fans cheering and clapping]
[Tom] Inches away from Jason Jordan --
what the? --
did dash --
are you kidding me?
[Corey] Genius, absolutely genius.
Dash Wilder taking a shortcut
under the ring stopping the tag.
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] I don't know if they got all of it
Gable ended up back on his head.
[Tom] Dash into the cover, but Dash
Wilder is not the legal man.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] A smile on Dawson's face.
[Corey] He's enjoying it.
He's in Dallas.
He's a tag-team champion and
he's in control.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] The Revival getting caught
here by the referee trying to
bend the rules once again.
[Corey] I'll tell you, they are lucky
they didn't get disqualified but
they need to stick to the plan.
Just continue to attack and
isolate Gable.
[Tom] Another legal tag.
Back in comes Dash Wilder.
Into the corner and he missed.
[Corey] Yeah. But you see the way
that Gable fell.
He's even further away from Jordan
He's gone the other direction.
Got out of the way from instinct.
[Tom] Another tag here to Scott Dawson.
Chad Gable reaching out again
and Dawson grabbed the leg.
[Gable grunts]
Look at this.
-Oh, there's the tag. -[Corey] Uh-huh!
[Tom] Here comes Jason Jordan.
Drop kick right on the button.
Heads up
and the Delayed Suplex to Dawson.
[fans cheering]
[Corey] Jordan is fired up!
[Tom] He's about to come out of his
skin.
Oh, into the corner.
[Corey] Dawson got out of the way
but Dash ate all of that.
[Tom] Dash may have a broken rib.
Another Suplex.
Cover.
To retain the titles.
Jason Jordan nearly had him.
[Corey] You mean to retain the titles --
[Tom] To win the titles?
[Corey] American Alpha this close to
winning the tag-team
championships.
[Tom] What a way to kick off
NXT take-over: Dallas.
[Corey] Got to wonder what Jordan has
got in mind.
This guy is so strong, so agile.
Dawson is in dangerous
territory.
[Tom] And look at that.
Look at Dash Wilder helping out
his teammate.
Grabbing the foot there of Dawson.
Look at this again here.
And Jason Jordan still kicked out.
Just speaks to the strength,
the fortitude of Jason Jordan.
Dash and Dawson using every
trick they can think of.
You saw the towel across the
feet, extra leverage.
Jordan still had the wherewithal
and power to kick out.
[Tom] Yeah, The Revival just plain
breaking the rules there.
They could have gotten
disqualified.
[Corey] Remember, if they do get
disqualified, they keep the titles.
[Tom] By any means necessary.
[Corey] Jordan able to land on his feet.
[Tom] Whoa, whoa.
Shoulders down here on Dawson.
And the kickout.
-[Corey] Oh! -[Tom] Oh, no!
-Great upper cut. -[Corey] That's it.
[Tom] Shoulders down on Jordan.
And gable saved it.
[Corey] Where did gable even come from?
[Tom] Who knows?
Tossed out.-- Oh, man.
A nasty landing.
[Corey] This is not where Jordan
wants to be.
[Tom] Hold on.
Look at this.
Jordan looking to go
for a pinfall.
Drop kicked out of the ring.
Shoulders down on Dawson
to win the titles now!
[fans chanting] - No!
[Corey] American Alpha can taste the gold.
Dash and Dawson must be
feeling it slip away.
It is so so close.
[fans chanting]
Look at the power of Jordan out
of nowhere.
[Tom] Belly-to-belly into the corner.
Dawson doesn't know where he's at.
Oh, and Dash saved Dawson.
[Corey] Dawson knew where he was
enough was to get out of the way.
The tag is made.
Gable is the legal man.
[Tom] Dawson saw it.
Shoulders down. Trying to surprise Gable
and the kickout.
I think he may have had the title
while he was at it.
[fan yelling] -Pinn him down!
[Tom] Whoa, whoa.
Dawson the counter.
Now Gable.
The cover, now a kickout!
-Oh, and again -- -[Corey] There's that cradle.
[Tom] Gable, Gable nearly had him.
Counter for counter, looking for
a bunch of covers here
and nearly had him.
Now Dawson kicked out.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] Brings up memories of Owen Hart
using that pin.
[Tom] Shoulders down.
and Dawson powers up
off the mat.
All this for the NXT tag-team titles.
-[Corey] Up and over -- -[Tom] Oh, wait a minute.
Ref says there was a tag.
[Corey] Jordan made the tag.
Jordan tagged Gable
-as he was going over the top -- -[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] Dawson didn't see it!
[fans cheering wildly]
[Tom] Right to the mid-section.
Planted with 'tude!
[fans counting down with ref] -One! Two! Three!
-[Bell ringing] -[Tom] We have new champions!
[crowd cheering wildly]
[announcer] Here are your winners and new
NXT tag-team champions!
American Alpha!
[fans cheering and applauding]
[Corey] Look at the emotion on the faces
of these two unbelievable athletes.
How hard they have worked to
reach the pinnacle of the
tag-team division.
My hats are off to American Alpha
They deserve it.
[Tom] They have had opportunities
on other platforms in amateur wrestling.
They found their calling.
They found their home here on
NXT as champions.
We have got to look back at this one.
This was incredible, Graves.
[Corey] This was classic Revival.
Dastardly, brilliant, genius even.
Saving the tag-team
championships there.
And it would continue.
[Tom] Jason Jordan with a near fall there.
And a devastating upper cut
nearly put away American Alpha.
But then Chad Gable would save
Jason Jordan, his teammate,
another big tag in the corner.
[Corey] We talk about the fluid tag
work of the Revival.
You've got to give it to American Alpha.
Dawson never saw it coming.
[Bell ringing]
And, Phillips, we've got new
tag-team champions.
[fans cheering]
[Tom] What a way to start
WrestleMania weekend.
And take a look at what is trending
#NXTTakeOver.
[Corey] I guarantee you, Gable should
be trending.
Jordan should be trending, the
tag-team division trending.
This is the best thing going right now.
Congratulations to American Alpha
I am incredibly proud
of both of these guys.
[commentator] And take a look who's here!
The old favorite, good ol' J.R. Jim Watson
ESPN's own with Michelle Beadle.
Everybody here is for NXT Take-Over: Dallas.
[Corey] Tom, That's Kota Ibushi.
That is one of the greatest
cruiser weights in the world.
It's ironic we happen to have a
global cruiser weight tournament coming up.
Do you know anything about this?
[Tom] I mean it's coming up here.
He's sitting at ringside with Inoki
[Corey] Kota Ibushi is in Dallas, Phillips.
[Tom] it's going to be a big night.
[Corey] We are just getting started.
[Tom] Speaking of global, it's been
roughly a year since NXT stepped
outside the state of Florida.
We have taken over the United States.
We have gone international.
And I'm here to tell you right
now we're just getting started.
[rock music playing]
[narrator] This June get ready…
to get loud.
See: Finn Balor
Baron Corbin
Bayley
and so much more, with all
of the excitement of NXT
heads your way this summer.
WWE presents NXT live coming to
the Download festival in Derby
and a city near you on the
following dates.
Tickets available
the 8th of April.
For more information head on
over to WWE.Com
[Punk music playing]
[Corey] There's a look and scenic
downtown Dallas where NXT and
and the WWE universe has taken over
completely.
WrestleMania week is in full
swing.
[Tom] We are in full swing with a
fantastic tag-team match to kick us off.
But don't forget still to come.
Take a look at Bayley here
earlier at NXT access, WWE access.
right here in Dallas
meeting with some young fans.
Later on, tonight Bayley will
defend the NXT women's
championship.
Bayley getting ready
the only way she knows how.
[Corey] Well, this is the only way
Asuka knows how.
There you see her with the NXT
striking coach Sam Petruzelli.
Asuka warming up.
So incredibly dangerous.
The empress of tomorrow has not
been defeated since arriving in
NXT and I don't see it stopping
tonight, Tom.
[Tom] That is going to be
a fantastic match.
Still to come here on NXT.
Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next
NXT - Take Over: Dallas
we will see the lone wolf
Baron Corbin
who is sought to make his own mark here.
Will face the greatest man
that ever lived, Austin Aries.
Now, after Baron's victory in
London this past December,
Corbin was granted
an opportunity to compete.
to become number one contender.
-[Bell ringing] -[announcer] The following contest is a
triple threat match to determine
the number one contender.
[Tom] Sami is looking for a
sharpshooter on Baron Corbin
and he's got it.
Joe with a cross face.
[crowd yelling]
-[Bell ringing] -[Corey] Baron Corbin tapped
out, but to who?
[Baron] Now, I don't know what you
are in here talking about.
But it better be about what
you're going to do about this match.
[William Regal] The one thing that was 100%
certain is that you lost.
You are no longer in any
rematch.
-[deep voice] You'll regret this.
[William] NXT's dedicated in bringing
to you the absolute best and
most talented competitors from
around the world.
And I am extremely excited to
introduce to you one of our
greatest signings to date.
[Corey] Oh, my God!
He's here!
Austin aries!
[Austin] I am the greatest man that
ever lived.
It's a great day to be great.
It's going to be a bad day to be you.
[Tom] Oh, my God.
Baron Corbin, what the heck is
he doing out here?
[Corey] This is an absolute
all-out assault.
This was supposed to be Austin
Aries' big unveiling, his
moment, his welcome to NXT.
[Tom] Oh, no, no.
Don't do this!
[suspense music playing]
[Baron] An eye for an eye!
[suspense music playing]
[Corey] You heard him say an eye for
an eye, Tom.
Baron Corbin is a monster right now --
[Engine revving]
[Metal music playing]
[crowd chanting and booing]
[Bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is
scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from
Kansas City weighing 275 pounds.
Baron Corbin!
[Tom] This is a man in Baron Corbin
who after NXT takeover London
believed he was the, quote,
uncrowned NXT champion.
Believed things should be been
handed to him by our general manager
Mr. William Regal.
[Corey] Whatever you think of baron Corbin
Austin aries has to be hoping
he doesn't wind up
with the same fate
as whatever creature was
that Corbin was wearing on the way to the ring.
[Tom] Baron Corbin used Austin Aries
as a way to send a message
to Mr. Regal.
But did he bite off
more than he could chew?
[cheers and applause]
[Rock music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent from
Milwaukee, Wisconsin weighing
202 pounds, Austin Aries!
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] Well, graves, it's a night of
debuts.
Austin aries making his official
in-ring debut for NXT.
I know you two go a long way
back.
[Corey] I could sit here for hours
and tell you stories, except
most of them would end up with me
fired, arrested, and divorced.
So I'll just keep to what I know.
[Tom] Go for it!
[Corey] The guy has been a champion
everywhere he has gone.
He's one of the most talented,
fierce, competitors in the world.
He's right where he belongs here
in NXT.
But he's never faced anyone like
the Lone Wolf.
[Tom] Austin Aries told WWE.Com
that he said, quote, I want to
make an impression.
I'm a difference maker.
When I debuted on NXT --
-[bell ringing] -[Tom] I felt validated.
Tonight he has a big
opportunity, going right after
Baron Corbin.
[Corey] Wasting no time at all.
That pitbull mentality of Aries
has served him well around the world.
But, look at the size difference.
Look at the power of Corbin.
[Tom] Corbin swiping at the head
there of Austin Aries.
-[referee] one, two, three… -[fans chanting] Austin Aries!
[Tom] This crowd just excited for
this big matchup here between
Baron Corbin and Austin Aries
here in Dallas.
[ Corey] Yeah, they are fired up.
They have been electric all night.
But if there's one guy that
doesn't care what the crowd
thinks, it's baron Corbin.
He makes a living angering the
NXT universe, insulting them.
[Tom] And small early strategy here
from Austin Aries trying to take
out the knee of the 275-pounder,
Baron Corbin.
[Corey] Smart strategy.
Austin aries has spent his
entire career fighting bigger
guys.
But I don't know how many with
the agility, the raw power, the
boxing background of Baron
Corbin.
Any one of those right hands can
lay a man out.
[Tom] And Corbin trying to launch
Austin Aries out to the floor.
Corbin again.
Oh, and there's a rolling
forearm and Corbin is out flat
on the floor.
[corey] Corbin is stunned.
Aries heading up… to the high
rent district.
[Tom] Aries sees an opportunity.
Top rope but he got Corbin.
[Corey] That pitbull like mentality
of aries working very well out
of the gate here.
I'll tell you what.
He's got to keep it up.
You can't give baron Corbin any quarter.
You can't give him time to recover.
[Tom] Now remember
this is a man, Austin Aries who-- oh!
once broke up a championship
reign of Samoa Joe's once upon a
time that was 645 days long.
He knows what it's like to face
monsters.
[Corey] Yeah, but let's talk about what making
Aries tick right now.
Oh, God.
[Tom] That rope, that rope is
what's making him tick.
And Baron Corbin taking
advantage.
[Corey] Austin aries asked for this match.
Went to general manager William Regal and said
don't punish Corbin
for what he did in my debut.
Let me have him.
Let me have him on the big stage
in Dallas on WrestleMania weekend.
Let me teach him a lesson.
But it looks like right now
Aries is being taught the lesson.
[Tom] We know the entitled and
arrogant attitude of Baron Corbin
[corey] Let's take another look at this
Corbin, wow.
Aries staggered by that.
And a big forearm to the back of
the head of aries.
Corbin in control.
Corbin doesn't buy into the hype.
Corbin doesn't care.
I talked to him before.
He said it doesn't matter what
you did before you got here.
It matters what you do when
you're here.
[Corbin] Where you at now?
[Tom] Remember, we talked to Austin
Aries here on NXT just a matter
of weeks ago.
And he said Corbin made a mistake
That Corbin should have come and
asked my advice.
But instead Baron Corbin decided
to obliterate Austin Aries in
his signing debut.
[Corey] Hey, Austin aries has never
been known for being humble.
All right. The man is good.
He knows how good he is.
Corbin just thinks he's better.
We're finding out for sure
tonight.
[Tom] It's one thing that Baron
Corbin has taken very
personally.
He took to Instagram earlier
this week to say "you will all
hopelessly watch me destroy
another indy darling"
-[Corbin yells] -[Austin grunts in pain]
Oh, and shot into the post
shoulder first.
Now into the cover here on
Austin Aries and a kickout.
That is one thing
where Baron Corbin is mistaken.
Austin Aries, I mean you've talked about him.
He is greatest man that's ever lived.
This is a man that's won championships
all over the world. He's faced
a variety of NXT and WWE talents
before even arriving here.
Baron Corbin, did he go into
this match underestimating
Austin aries?
[Corey] I think that strategy has
worked out pretty well for
Corbin.
Corbin underestimates everybody.
It's almost by design.
He disrespects them and then he
dominates them.
When Austin aries arrived here,
Baron Corbin said yeah, I know
who you are.
I just don't care who you are.
[Corbin] I own this place!
Do you realize I don't even want to.
You all got nothing!
[Corey] Look at Corbin just grinding
down on that trapezius muscle
of Austin Aries. The big hands of Corbin
that'll cut the blood flow
and circulation to your right arm
and make arm that completely useless
for Austin Aries.
[Tom] Goes back to that football background
he's got. Former offensive lineman
once upon a time in the NFL.
Got to be able to use those
hands to your advantage.
[Corey] I don't think he ever used
that hold in the NFL.
[Tom] No. I don't think it's legal.
[Corey] Got to be impressed out of
the gate with Corbin.
I mean despite all the hype and
despite the fan love display for
Austin Aries, Corbin has made
this his match so far.
[Tom] This is something we thought
coming into this.
Austin Aries, how long would he
be able to avoid, using his
speed and his agility and finesse to get
around a gigantic in comparison
style of Baron Corbin?
A man 6'8", nearly 300-pound size.
[Corey] Look at the agility of Corbin
right there.
[Tom] You're right.
[Corey] And Aries heats a clothesline
for his troubles and another.
-[referee] come on knock it off -[Corbin grunts]
Look at this.
Corbin with those elbow strikes.
He's got aries propped up with
his knee in the corner.
He had Aries' entire body
trapped and propped up on his
own leg to drive those elbows.
[Tom] Another cover here.
And Baron Corbin thinks he's got
it and the kickout.
[Corey] I'll tell you what, though.
Corbin can't get frustrated.
Aries will make him pay.
[Corbin] Ring it!
Ring the bell!
[Corey] You can't discount the
experience of Austin Aries.
He's been around the world.
He's been in the ring with
everybody.
[crowd booing and cheering]
[Corbin] Oh, yeah?
Sit down, big boy!
Ahhh!
Yeah!
I'm doing just fine!
Ahhh!
Huh?
[Tom] Look at Austin aries trying
to fight from deep down.
Trying to find a little
breathing room here against
Baron Corbin.
But another sharp right elbow.
[Corey] Corbin just toying with
Aries, enjoying this right now.
[Tom] That rolling forearm from
earlier on in this matchup.
It did stun baron Corbin and
Aries lighting up the chest of
Corbin.
Oh!
They heard that one.
[fans screaming]
[referee] One, two… pick it up.
[Tom] Sold out crowd here at the Kay
Bailey Hutchison convention center.
Kicking off WrestleMania weekend.
And the greatest man that ever
lived, a double trying to knock
off Baron Corbin.
[Corey] The tides are starting
to shift, Tom.
A knee right to the spine of Corbin.
[Tom] Look at how smart Austin
Aries is trapping Baron Corbin
between the ropes.
[Corey] Genius.
[referee] Knock it off, get on the ring.
[Tom] Oh, right to the neck.
[Corey] Wow.
Double axe handle right across
the back and the base
of the skull of Corbin.
[Tom] Oh, using the second rope.
This could be a turning point
here for Austin Aries.
[Corey] I think you're absolutely
right, Phillips.
Corbin is in a bad way.
[Tom] Corbin uses the top rope just
to prop himself up.
He's on wobbly legs and the
catches the drop kick.
[Corey] Corbin looks dazed like he's
gasping for breath.
This could be the conditioning
of Austin Aries could come into
play right here.
[Tom] Into the corner!
Another drop kick.
[Corey] Nowhere to go for Corbin
except out of the ring.
[Tom] Perhaps doing the smartest
thing here.
Aries with the window of
opportunity.
Into the barricade!
[Corey] What was that you said
about the smartest thing, Tom?
[Tom] Not exactly any safe haven
right now from Austin Aries.
[Corey] When you're in the ring with
with Austin aries, it's like a chess match
You better be thinking three
moves ahead.
Corbin was one but Aries cruising
through those bottom and middle
ropes with a Plancha.
[Tom] Oh!
Deep six on the floor!
[fans chanting]
[Tom] And Corbin climbing back into
the ring telling the ref to
count him.
[Corey] Aries might not get up.
Corbin got all of that deep six.
[Tom] The momentum and the torque
behind deep six on the floor
could spell disaster here for
Austin Aries.
[Corey] Take a look at this.
Aries with a full head of steam.
Corbin using his momentum. Bam!
Driving him right down into the floor.
Corbin doing a smart thing
right here.
[Tom] Count of six here.
Has until the count of 10 to get
back into the ring.
Austin Aries.
Count ups.
[Corey] He better hurry up.
[Tom] Count of nine.
Trying to climb back into the
ring and just beats the count.
[Corey] Yeah, but did he just climb back
into the wolf's den?
[Tom] He absolutely did.
[Corey] It's almost a look of
disbelief in the eyes of Corbin, thogh.
[Tom] And frustration.
Look at that.
Look at Austin Aries.
[Corey] Aries is asking for more.
It might not be the smartest
decision, but Aries knows what's
going to take to make it here at NXT.
[Tom] Aries is looking for validation
tonight.
He's not going to quit even
against a near 300-pounder like
Corbin.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] Corbin regaining his
composure and catching his
breath.
Here we go.
End of days.
[Tom] Looking for a second, Austin
Aries into the cover
-shoulders down -- -[Corey] he got him!
-[Tom] He got him! -[Bell ringing]
[fans cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner
Austin Aries!
[Corey] The look on the face of baron
Corbin tells the story.
Completely out of nowhere Austin
Aries came to NXT to make his
legacy known, to make his name
for himself.
And he just did it at the lone
wolf's expense.
[Tom] Absolute disbelief in the
eyes of Baron Corbin.
I don't think I've ever seen
anyone breaks free of end of days
just like we just saw from
Austin Aries.
[Corey] When it comes to things you
can count on, when Baron Corbin
hits end of days, that's it.
Obviously, the veteran
experience comes into play.
Aries had it scouted.
Just that millisecond to adjust
and he's able to roll up Corbin.
Let's take another look at what
aries survived in this match.
[Tom] This was brutal.
Deep six right on the hardest
part of the floor here outside
the ring.
And then watch this.
We thought this was end of days.
But how smart, how quick was
Austin Aries here to roll into a
cover and put away Baron Corbin?
[Bell ringing]
[Corey] Aries asked for Corbin
tonight to teach him a lesson.
Baron Corbin, lesson learned.
[Tom] That smile that says I gotcha
from Austin Aries.
Some anger in the face
of Baron Corbin.
All I can say, welcome to NXT,
Austin Aries.
[Rock Music]
[Rap music playing]
♪ it's my house, come on, turn it up ♪
♪ hear the knock on the door and
the night begins ♪
[The Rock] Finally the rock has come
back to WrestleMania!
♪ Welcome to my house ♪
♪ baby, take control now ♪
♪ we can't even slow down ♪
♪ we don't have to go out ♪
[The Rock] The most electrifying man in
sports entertainment history.
♪ Show me what you do now ♪
♪ we don't have to go out ♪
[The Rock] If you smell!
♪ Welcome to my house ♪
[The Rock] What the rock is cookin'!
♪ Welcome to my house ♪
♪ You heard me. ♪
♪ We ain't gotta go out. ♪
[exiting music playing]
[Corey] Send a special thanks to
Yellow Wolf for "Fiddle Me This"
It's one of the official songs
of NXT - Take Over: Dallas.
It's from the album
"Love Story."
You can get it now on iTunes
and Spotify.
[Tom] We are just getting under way
here at NXT - Take Over: Dallas.
Still to come, our main event.
Finn Balor earlier today
arriving to the arena.
He feels this moment.
He understands what it means to
compete here on the Eve of
WrestleMania weekend.
[Corey] Finn Balor understands what's
at stake, what it means to be here
But Finn knows what it's like to
have to survive Samoa Joe.
When that NXT championship is on
the line, Joe is willing to go
to the end of the earth.
Can he survive at Dallas?
We'll find out.
[Tom] Finn Balor versus Samoa Joe
in our main event.
But we talked about it being a
night of debuts.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
coming up next here on NXT
Sami Zayn given a brilliant
opportunity by our general
manager Mr. William Regal.
He will go one-on-one with
Shinsuke Nakamura. And for Sami Zayn
this journey
to Dallas began for Sami Zayn
back in London after marking his
long-awaited return to NXT.
[Sami] We've been waiting for this
moment for months.
[cheers and applause]
[Suspense music playing]
[Sami] Sami is back!
[commentator] This has got to feel great
for Sami to hear this ovation.
[Sami] For about seven months now,
there's something I've been waiting
to say and I've got to
get it off my chest.
I'm back!
[cheers and applause]
[Narrator] Sami Zayn who many have
referred to as the heart and
soul of NXT has showcased to the
NXT universe, moments that will never
be forgotten.
But a challenge unlike anything
the world has seen, has appeared
on the horizon. Known as
NXT - Take Over: Dallas.
[William Regal] Sami, for all the hard work
that you have put in for NXT and
for all our wonderful fans here,
you deserve to face one of the
best in the world.
At NXT Take Over Dallas, your
opponent will be NXT's newest
signee, this man.
[music]
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Corey] I'm stoked beyond words right now.
The king of strong style!
[Narrator] Shinsuke Nakamura
a charismatic ball of entertaining
energy has not only created a
swagger all his own, but
embodies a preternatural
agility, technical mastery and
indomitable fighting spirit
that has earned him the sobriquet
king of strong style.
After conquering the land of the rising sun
Nakamura hopes his fortunes will continue
to rise on sports entertainment's
colossal stage as he looks to
make an indelible first impression.
just like his opponent
Zayn did in 2013.
[Sami] Nakamura, I know exactly how
gifted he is.
I know how great he is.
But you only get one chance at a
first impression in Dallas.
Let's see if he's got what it
takes to step up to the plate
when the pressure is on.
[narrator] Sami Zayn and Shinsuke
Nakamura, no strangers to the
pressures of big-time
match-ups, go one-on-one
for the first time ever.
Tonight, at NXT Take-Over: Dallas
[Nakamura] Sami Zayn
I will see you in Dallas.
[suspense music]
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] Graves, one of the most highly
anticipated match-ups in NXT history.
Take a look who's here.
[Corey] The bad guy and X-Pac
they know what the hottest ticket in
Dallas is tonight.
[Tom] Ha ha ha.
[Corey] What a show!
[music]
-[fans] Let's go!
[Bell ringing]
[commentator] The following contest is
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Montreal.
Quebec, Canada weighing
212 pounds Sami Zayn!
[upbeat rock music]
[fans chanting]
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting] Nakamura!… Nakamura!
[music]
[announcer] And his opponent from Kyoto
Japan, weighing 220 pounds,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[cheers and applause]
[music]
[euphoric crowd cheer]
[fans chanting]
[Corey] The word surreal
comes to mind, Tom.
And if you are not excited right now
you better check your
pulse.
Shinsuke Nakamura
one of the top wrestlers on earth.
Arguably the biggest star in Japan
We never thought he would make
it to the United States.
We never thought he would be in
a WWE ring.
He is here in NXT versus the
heart and soul Sami Zayn.
This is unbelievable.
[Bell ringing]
[fans chanting] Sami Zayd!… Nakamura!
[fans continue chanting]
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting] yes! yes!
[Tom] Here we go, #ZaynVsNakamura
And right out the gate, there is
that charisma, Graves.
[Corey] This guy has…
a freaky amount of charisma.
He's so unique. His in-ring style
everything about this guy
is different. When he gets inside
his opponent's head, it messes
their mind the entire time.
Not to mention he might be
the most dangerous striker in the game.
[Tom] Shinsuke Nakamura with a
diverse combat background as we
heard from Mauro Ranallo on the preshow.
Experienced in mixed martial arts.
In boxing, every sort of discipline
you can imagine, he applies it in the ring.
[Corey] This is what I'm talking about.
Head games.
[Tom] The knee right to the mid
section and down goes Zayn.
And look at Sami.
[fans cheering]
[Corey] Sami wisely avoiding those kicks.
Any one can turn your lights out
in an instant.
and if for some reason you ar not familiar
with Nakamura, let's put it this way.
the guy was the youngest
IWGP champion in history.
that's the same tittle held by
Brock Lesnar, by A.J. Styles.
The guy was a prodige of Daniel Bryan.
This guy is involved with a
who's who of our business.
[fans chanting] Nakamura!… Sami Zayd!
[Tom] Nakamura just trying to wear
down Sami Zayn to the mat here.
We know about Sami Zayn's Helluva kick.
But what does Nakamura
bring to the table?
-[Corey] Tom I can barely hear you here. -[Tom loughs]
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Sami trying to turn things in
his favor.
[Corey] I spoke to the translator for
Nakamura earlier today.
If you watched Nakamura in the
past he has a knee strike he's
call the Kinshasa… and it will
turn your lights out in an instant.
If Sami Zayn hits it, it's lights out.
[Tom] There goes Nakamura.
Here's some classic Sami Zayn
here that we have seen over the
last few years.
And there goes Nakamura.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] A little one-upsmanship from
Sami Zayn.
This is his house, Tom.
This is the heart and soul of
NXT.
This isn't his first rodeo.
He's not going to let Nakamura
come into his house.
[Tom] Well, we are in Dallas.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Nakamura has claimed for
years that he resurrected,
quote, strong style in Japan.
Calls himself the king of strong style.
And you see those knees and
those strikes, so stiff
so on point.
Here's the cover and the kickout.
[Corey] Strong style, of course, is
popularized by Antonio Inoki.
A combination of strikes,
grappling, submission.
The guy can basically do it all
and it all hurts really bad.
[Tom] Inoki the WWE hall of famer
who trained Nakamura.
[fans chanting]
[Corey] Look at this arm bar.
He's got the arm bar locked in
right now.
He can look to end this quick.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] And another stiff knee right
to the mid-section.
Oh, and that caught him.
Sami Zayn buckling into the corner.
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] And look at sami.
Look at sami fight back!
[Corey] Look at sami get kicked in
the skull.
[Tom] Another cover from Nakamura
early and the kickout out one.
[Tom] Take another look at this.
Bam!
Connected with I think the
opposite foot that zayn was
expecting, Graves.
[Corey] I don't think Sami Zayn knows what to expect
I'm sure he did his homework,
but Nakamura is so dangerous.
It's like he's got eight arms and legs
The guy can hit you from all
over the place.
[Tom] Sami Zayn with the suplex.
Now Sami looking to put away Nakamura.
Hook to the leg. Kickout at two.
And you can't forget what
tonight is all about for Sami Zayn.
When he returned to NXT, he said
he wanted to become a two-time
NXT champion.
Competed against Samoa Joe.
And now, this opportunity-- oh!
[Corey] I can tell you Sami Zayn is
not focused on anything in the
world right now other than
Shinsuke Nakamura. He has done a great job
of weathering the storm, listening
to the ovation for Nakamura.
Sami not impressed.
Sami is out there to compete
with one of the best in the world.
[Tom] off the ropes and there's the
boot right into the jaw.
Sami thinks he's got it here.
Another cover and Nakamura kicks out.
[Corey] It's that one-upmanship.
Everything Nakamura has been able to do.
Sami has had an answer to.
Like we said at the outset,
Nakamura came in with all the hype.
One of the most hyped superstars
maybe ever signing to WWE as a whole
Sami Zayn, this is like defending his turf
This is his home. He helped build this. He's not going to let Nakamura
come in and take it as his expense.
[Tom] Oh! And a sharp forearm.
You have got to wonder, Sami Zayn
any inkling that he could
be looking ahead for this Sunday
at WrestleMania, a ladder match
for the intercontinental title?
And there goes Nakamura.
[Corey] It doesn't look like it to me.
Sami is laser focused on Nakamura
as he needs to be.
[referee counts] one… two!
[Corey] Look at Sami.
I don't want to call him tentative.
But he's just watching, he's observing
everything Nakamura does.
He's studying and scouting as the match goes on.
That's what you've got to do with a guy this dangerous.
[Tom] Well, especially for a guy that's-- oh!
[referee] Nakamura get into the ring!
There's that flashy side with a hard knee right to the nose
it looked like of Zayn.
Oh, and another knee!
[Corey] There was nothing flashy about that.
That was lethal.
[cheers and aplause]
[fans chanting]
[Corey] Swag game, starting to feel it.
[Tom] Oh! Caught in the corner by Sami.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Oh! And another knee.
Hook to the inside leg.
Sami Zayn, shoulders down and he
got another shoulder up.
[Corey] We warned you about the knees of Nakamura.
So dangerous.
[Tom] Take a look.
[Corey] Running start right into the mid-section.
Knocking all the wind out of Sami Zayn.
I'm surprised it didn't end right there.
[Tom] We know for many NXT fans
this was a dream match on paper.
The two superstars trying to
feel each other out early on but
it's gotten very physical here.
[Corey] Agility by Sami.
[Tom] And Sami using Nakamura's
momentum against him.
[Corey] Sami lured him in.
He's right in Sami's wheelhouse.
[fans cheering and applause]
[Tom] Sold out crowd waiting on Sami Zayn.
[fans chanting]
Sami diving outside the ring!
And Sami wisely not wasting any
time trying to dive back into
the fray.
Going to the top turnbuckle now.
Cross body!
Cover on Nakamura.
[fans count] One! Two!
And the kick out.
[Corey] Sami Zayn could almost taste the victory.
Let's take another look at this.
Sami zayn flying through the
skies of Dallas.
Lands on Nakamura. Sami will not be one-upped.
[Tom] And then watch this from the
top rope, the cross body
flattening Nakamura.
But Shinsuke manages to stick around.
[fans chanting] This is awesome!… This is awesome!
[Tom] Another knee in midair.
[Corey] Sami looking for a Suplex-- Uh-huh.
Ground and pound.
Look at these knees.
That MMA background of Nakamura
coming into effect right here.
Will Sami have an answer?
He'd better if he wants to
survives much longer.
-[Tom] And caught by Sami! -[Corey] The Michinoku driver!
[Tom] That was right on the neck of Nakamura.
[fans claping]
[Corey] Look at this.
Out of desperation, Sami scooping up
Nakamura, Michinoku driver
Right on the back of Nakamura's neck.
The playing field is even, Tom.
Both of these men need tonight.
This is essential for both
superstars.
Who's got more left in the tank?
Who's got more left in the arsenal?
[fans chanting] Ole, ole ole ole! Sami!… Sami!
[fans yelling] Yeah!… Yeah!
[Corey] Sami Zayn gets the upper hand here.
Oh, my God!
[fans chanting] Yes!, Yes!
[Tom] Two men just wailing away on
each other to exhaustion.
[Corey] This thing is turning into a
dogfight real quick, Tom.
[Tom] I like it… Oh!
[fans chanting]
[Corey] Nakamura's nose is busted wide open.
[Tom] He's feeling it.
[Corey] I don't know too many men
that can stand with Nakamura and
live to tell about it.
[fans chanting] Yes! Yes!
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] The exhaustion starting to
set in, but neither man will quit.
[Tom] Oh!
You could hear that one.
[Corey] Sami.
Sami zayn, he might be out.
He's not even protecting himself.
[Tom] Oh, look at Nakamura.
[Corey] Look at this. Look at how nasty.
look at how dangerous those knees.
Sami hung up in the ropes.
He might be out.
The ref better get in there and check.
[Tom] And the referee breaking
things up before the count of five
[Corey] Oh!
Just disrespect from Nakamura
sending a message, yeah, Sami,
I'm going to come into your
house and I'm going to go into
your refrigerator and drink your beer.
I'm going to do what I want.
Because I'm the king of Strong Style.
[fans chanting] King of Strong Style!
[Tom] Nakamura torn inside-out by Sami!
[Corey] Where did that come from?
[Tom] We know about the heart.
We know about the guts, the
resilience of Sami Zayn.
And he's got it on display right
now against Nakamura.
Sami may have effectively turned
the tables here in this match.
And another knee.
[Corey] Oh!
Into the arm bar!
This could be it.
[Tom] Arm bar, middle of the ring.
[Corey] Sami has got those hands locked.
Nakamura can't lock it in.
He can't hyperextend that arm
as long as Sami has his grip.
[Tom] Remember, these two were
throwing forearms for the better part
of a few minutes consecutively.
Just trying to wrench the hand
of Sami Zayn free is Nakamura.
[Corey] He's got a triangle.
[Tom] Triangle, triangle.
He's got shoulders down and
manages to get his shoulders up.
[Corey] If he can get that foot a
little deeper behind the knee,
Sami Zayn is going to go good night.
Really quick.
[Tom] Nakamura, to be careful to avoid the pin fall.
Now look at Sami.
[Corey] This is awesome… This is awesome!
[Tom] A little strong style from Sami
That's how you get out of that.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] What a straight right by Sami.
[Tom] Look at Sami. I don't know if we have ever
seen this side of Sami.
-[Corey] Look at this. -[Tom] Ha, Ha!
[Corey] Shinsuke, not in my house.
[fans cheering and clapping]
[Corey] What a kick by Zayn.
The ref being lenient here
letting these two guys know, he knows-- good God!
[Tom] That was brutal.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Face first.
Koji clutch!
[Corey] He's in the center of the ring.
Nakamura may tap out.
[Tom] Nakamura, caught here with a Coji Clutch!
Sami Zayd, could he make Nakamura
tap out in his NXT
debut?
Sami trying to squeeze and put
the pressure here on Nakamura.
But Nakamura is hanging around.
[Corey] Is he now? He looks like he might be out.
The referee needs to go and check.
[Tom] Oh, look at Nakamura.
Caught Zayn for a moment there.
Shoulders down and the kickout.
[Corey] Brilliant counter, so close.
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] Step up Enziguri.
How is sami zayn still on his feet?
[Tom] How can any man take this
much punishment?
Watch this… Bam!
Right on the ear.
Sami Zayn… collapsing to the mat.
[fans chanting] Fight forever!… Fight forever!
[Tom] Fight forever, I'm with them.
This is incredible.
[Corey] Nakamura the first to his feet
[Sami] Oh!… Ahh!
[Tom] Oh.
Oh, and there's a kick.
[Corey] Just a one-legged dropkick right
on the jaw of Sami Zayn and another knee.
[Tom] Oh! And Sami! Nearly caught him with the Helluva kick.
And now Nakamura with an opening!
Oh!
Inverted exploder!
[Corey] Uh-oh.
This could be a prelude.
[Tom] We're going to see the knee.
Blue thunder bomb!
-[fans chanting] One! Two! Th-- -[Tom] Oh, he almost had him!
[Corey] Oh, my God.
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting]
[Corey] Nakamura looking for that Kinshasa.
Sami, somehow able to counter into the blue thunder bomb.
Somehow Nakamura able to survive.
Look at this. Both of these guys, is disbelief.
[fans chanting] This is awesome!… This is awesome!
[Tom] Sami, Sami building-- Oh!
Went for his signature DDT
through the turnbuckle.
And Nakamura found enough
wherewithal to kick him in the head.
[Corey] That was unbelievable.
We have seen sami attempt that
successfully.
It's paid off big time in the
past.
But the king of strong style had
it too well scouted.
[Tom] Now, Nakamura caught in a
in a precarious position here top rope.
Sami Zayn to the top rope.
[Corey] Where is Sami Zayn getting this?
Where is it coming from?
[Tom] Nakamura with a headbutt and Sami Zayn.
Oh, it's barely holding on.
[referee] in the ring Nakamura, in the ring!
Now Nakamura looking to close the gap.
No, no, no, no.
[Corey] Blocking the exploder.
[Tom] And more vicious
elbows to the neck of Sami Zayn.
[Corey] Just raining down the strikes.
Oh, my God!
To the back of the head!
That's got to be it.
Sami Zayn is in a bad, bad place.
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] Here it comes!
[Corey] Kinshasa!
[fans count] One! Two! Three!
[Bell ringing]
[cheers and applause]
[announcer] Here is your winner!
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[cheers and applause]
[music]
[fans cheering]
[Tom] This match had all the hype
and all the anticipation, all
the star power in the world.
It delivered.
[Corey] Shinsuke Nakamura coming to
NXT as advertised.
We knew he wanted
to make a point, make a statement.
[Tom] This was only on Sami Zayn when missed
with the Helluva kick that would open
the door for Nakamura.
and the Inverted Exploder Suplex.
And Nakamura is not done there.
[Corey] He was looking to end it right now.
Sami had it well scouted.
Into the Blue Thunder bomb.
But this was a battle for pride.
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] And speaking of well scouted,
a way that Sami Zayn once put himself
on the mat, was a way
to get kicked right in the face!
Tonight here at NXT - Take Over: Dallas.
[Corey] Check this out.
Knee to the back of Sami Zayn.
Sami fighting position for the Kinshasa.
Good night, sweet dreams.
[Bell ringing]
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] You've got to take your hat off
to both of these guys.
-[Tom] Absolutely. -[Corey] we knew it.
We said it from the outset.
This is NXT's WrestleMania.
This is a WrestleMania moment.
This is incredible.
The atmosphere, Nakamura
welcomed.
And sami zayn, what a battle.
What a warrior.
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting] Thank you, Sami!… Thank you Sami!
[music]
[Tom] We heard from Sami Zayn earlier tonight.
Shinsuke will only get one chance
to make a first impression.
Hell of a first impression, Shinsuke.
[Corey] That goes to show you what's at stake here at NXT.
It was a battle for respect.
A battle for pride.
And these guys went to the ends
of the world to get it done.
Shinsuke Nakamura reigns supreme
as the king of strong style tonight.
[fans chanting] Ole ole ole ole!
[fans continue chanting]
[Punk music playing]
[Tom] Graves, Sami made it absolutely clear.
Upon his return from injury that
he wanted to be a two-time NXT champion
But clearly, his pursuit just
brought him elsewhere.
His goals have brought him. Zayn has a brilliant opportunity
this Sunday.
You have to wonder, did Sami's
last chance to make that dream
a reality slip through his fingers?
[Corey] Only one man knows, Tom.
And that's Sami Zayn.
You know what, Let me say this.
In any case… thank you, Sami Zayn.
[music]
[man 1] This is a wonderful ceremony
because you can't have a present
without the past.
♪ The one night that we wait for ♪
[woman] You know this one is like the Super Bowl
meets the Oscars for me.
[man 2] So many generations and eras.
It's a great time, great experience.
[Sting] Thank you to all the little
Stingers out there.
[Godfather] I… have a deal… of a lifetime for you.
[Jaqueline] I can beat any man.
This is the real deal.
[Stan] I know the people out there don't like me. And I don't really care.
[Big Boss] Don't mess up or you're gonna serve hard time.
[Freebirds] Nobody flies higher than the Free birds!
[Snoop] Snoop D.O. double Gizzle fo' shizzle dizzle.
[Joan] This is one challenging journey, and I really thank all of you.
[man 3] If it wasn't for the legends
and the Hall of Famers, we wouldn't be here today.
[Tom] Tomorrow night Dallas, Texas
home to the WWE hall of fame
induction ceremony.
Tonight it's time for NXT.
NXT Take Over is presented by Digiorno
Watching at home, don't settle for delivery.
Rise to the occasion with Digiorno.
[Corey] And that man in just a short
while will be challenging for
the NXT championship.
Samoa Joe is focused, and ready for Finn Balor.
[music]
[Tom] And a special thanks to
Hailstorm for "Mayhem" one of the official
NXT Take Over: Dallas, themes.
It is off of the album "Into the Wildlife".
Available now on iTunes and Spotify.
This could be a night of mayhem
as we see with Samoa Joe, coming up in our main event.
But coming up next, the NXT
women will have their
opportunity to make their mark.
Bayley defends her title against Asuka.
But for Bayley, the championship
has been around something truly
bigger than herself.
[Bayley] We started something special
and we started something real.
[woman] Bayley represents everything
even a Divas champion should be.
[Bayley] We started a whole new level
of the divas revolution.
[cheers and applause]
[woman] She is a perfect role model for
little girls or boys, grown women.
Grown men.
She epitomizes the NXT women's division.
[Baley] We want women's wrestling to
be respected!
[cheers and applause]
[woman] She's going to prevail, not only for her but for every
little girl in the crowd
watching her with tears in their
eyes, hoping that she's not
going to lose that title.
[woman] Every time she goes out there, she just shows the world
that she wants to be the best.
And she is the best.
[Bayley] And I think the NXT women's
division looks like the future
has been validated.
[cheers and applause]
[William Regal] Ladies and gentlemen.
I'm extremely proud to introduce to you.
the newest signee here
at NXT and possibly the greatest
competitor to ever sign here to NXT.
[announcer] From Osaka, Japan… Asuka!
[Corey] Asuka has such an unusual
style with sudden, devastating
attacks.
[woman] Asuka is dangerous when it comes down to it.
[Corey] Don't disrespect Asuka…
or she'll kick you in the skull.
[woman 5] She's very dangerous.
-[Corey] Oh. -[Tom] Oh, no.
[woman] Those kicks are so stiff.
Those hits to the face are just
knockouts.
[upbeat rock music]
[woman] There's nothing that gets her
out of her element.
I mean obviously look what I tried to do.
-[Tom] Oh.
[commentator] That is not going to sit well with Asuka.
[woman] It didn't work.
♪ A little mayhem never hurt anyone ♪
♪ Imma gonna get some, get some ♪
♪ get some! ♪
[Regal] Bayley, you set the standard
for what a champion should be in NXT.
And, Asuka, you have elevated
what already was the standout
division in the entire industry.
So I'm very pleased to announce
at NXT Take Over: Dallas.
the new number one contender for the NXT
women's championship will be…
Asuka.
[woman] Bayley is someone who never gives up.
And asuka, she's a powerhouse.
[woman] I've got to go with my fellow
four horsewoman.
[woman] I have no doubt in my mind
that Bayley will win.
[woman] Nothing will get her ready
for the ass kicking she's gonna get from Asuka.
[woman] Once she gives you that smile, it's game over.
[woman 2] So while the momentum might be
behind Asuka, Bayley worked so hard and she is the NXT
women's champion for a reason.
[commentator] You've got to give Bayley credit.
You're never going to break her spirit.
She is never going to quit.
But she has never faced anybody
quite like Asuka before.
[music stops suddenly]
[high pitch sound]
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] And there you see her.
Stephanie McMahon is in the house!
She's an integral part of the
women's division at NXT
and on Raw and SmackDown.
We're happy to have her. I'm happy to have her here.
I know she doesn't think too much of you, Tom.
[Rock music]
[Corey] Take a look Tom, as cherry blossoms fall from the sky.
A future champion walks to the
battlefield.
I could not be more fired up for about this one.
[Tom] From her native Japan, the old adage
the perfect blossom is a rare thing.
Could tonight be perfect for Asuka?
Do we see her in a matter of six months
from her debut to now
become NXT women's champion?
[Corey] Well, the word perfect is
very fitting because her record
is perfect.
Asuka is yet to be defeated in any situation.
I don't think she's going to be
stopped tonight, Tom.
[Tom] You see that mask there that
Asuka sports to the ring.
It's haunting in a way.
It is what Asuka calls part of
her art form.
Combat is her art form.
Traditionally worn by Japanese
artists and performers.
Graves, it's a beautiful disaster.
[Corey] It masks her emotions for now.
When it comes off, you can see it in her eyes.
She is ready for battle.
[cheers and applause]
[Rock music playing]
[Corey] beautiful as it is, Tom, that
is one of the most terrifying
smiles you will ever see in your life.
It is a precursor to a throw-down.
[Tom] We saw flamboyance and flashes a few moments ago
from Shinsuke Nakamura.
Very similar type of
hard-hitting style from Asuka.
[Corey] Definitely a fair comparison.
[Upbeat Pop music]
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] It wouldn't be Bayley without
the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man, Graves.
[Corey] She's always having a good
time everywhere she goes.
But she knows what lies ahead.
I don't know if there's a
superstar on the roster, male or female, as beloved as Bayley is.
From children to adults.
Everyone loves this girl with good reason.
[Tom] It was last night on the WWE network that we saw
the unveiling of the new statue for
the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
And earlier today Bayley
tweeted, quote, pep talk with
the dream before the big night.
He awesome believed in us.
[Corey] That was an incredibly
emotional night last night.
Bayley wears her emotions on her
sleeve.
Dusty Rhodes essential to NXT
being where it is today.
You know she's fighting with him in mind.
But, can she get it done?
[Tom] The Genesis of Bayley from
underdog to champion to standard-bearer.
She has taken on all comers.
She has represented the NXT
women with distinction.
Tonight she takes on an opponent
in Asuka like no other.
[Corey] You can't forget Bayley is
one of the original four
horsewomen.
Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Sasha Banks, competing this Sunday
-[Corey] at WrestleMania. -[bell rings]
This is her Mania moment--
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT women's championship!
[cheers and applause]
[announcer] Introducing the challenger
from Osaka, Japan… Asuka!
[cheers and boos]
And her opponent from San Jose,
California… she is the NXT women's champion
it's Bayley!
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting]
[Bell ringing]
[Tom] #Women'sChampionship on social media.
Take a look at this trending
number one worldwide #NXTTakeOver.
And Asuka out of the gates
looking for those kicks.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] These two women trying to
feel each other out here,
Graves. What does Bayley has to do to
get the best of Asuka here tonight?
[Corey] I don't know. To be perfectly
honest with you, I do not know.
I don't know anybody who has had
an answer to what Asuka is capable of.
She's got, like you mentioned, the striking ability.
She's got submission ability.
Nobody has been able to solve
Asuka to this point.
[Tom] Straight broke--
[Corey] She might have just broken Bayley's nose.
[Tom] Yes, straight right hand there
and Bayley just trying to shake it off.
[Corey] She got her in the jaw.
That'll wake you up real quick.
As for Asuka, to be successful tonight, she just needs to keep
doing what she's been doing
since she arrived at NXT.
She has such a deep arsenal
of maneuvers, strikes and
submissions, anyone can end a
match at any time.
[Tom] Off the ropes and Bayley a run-down there by Asuka.
Bayley trying to use Asuka's
momentum against her now.
And Asuka-- Uh! Nearly connected with a kick.
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] You've got a stalemate.
Good old-fashioned Texas standoff, Tom.
Bayley can't be intimidated by Asuka.
And from the look in her eyes, she's not.
[Tom] You talked about how you wouldn't know necessarily --
what Bayley should do against Asuka.
She's taken on all comers over
the last few months since
winning the title in Brooklyn.
Oh.
And Asuka another forearm.
Asuka with the hip attack.
[Corey] Flying hip attack by Asuka.
As dominant as Asuka has been --
oh!
[Tom] Wow!
That was unloaded.
[Corey] As dominant as Asuka has been
to her rise to the number one contendership, Bayley has been
just as dominant as champion.
[Tom] Wow, wow, wow… Asuka, Asuka.
Oh! Going for another one and caught in the ropes.
And Bayley takes her to the mat.
[Corey] Well scouted by Bayley.
[Tom] I was thinking about the Iron Man match
for the NXT women's title that Bayley sustained against Sasha Banks.
Cover here to retain the title, and the kickout.
Remember the only way to retain
or win the championship is by pinfall or submission.
[fans chanting] Uh! Ah!… I wanna know!
[Tom] Shoulder first into the post.
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] And Bayley, oh, sent out to the apron there
by Asuka.
[referee] Alright, come on, bring it in.
[Corey] Bayley off to a pretty strong
start here.
She's well in control.
[Tom] Cross body, cover the challenger and the kick out
Oh, and there's the knee.
Bayley caught.
[Corey] She's going for the Fujiwara arm bar
[Tom] And Look at how smart Bayley is
using her legs.
Gets herself to the bottom rope here
and Asuka breaks the hold.
[Corey] Lightning quickness by Asuka.
Right into the submission, Bayley able to fend it off long
enough to get to the ropes.
That's not the place you want to
be when you're in the ring with Asuka.
[Tom] Going for the kick and got
caught there on the top turnbuckle.
[fans chanting]
Bayley using the bottom rope for
a little leverage.
Drops the elbow.
Now the cover to retain her
championship and the kickout.
It was endurance against Sasha Banks.
It was mind games against the
likes of Alexa Bliss.
And Eva Marie it was personal.
Personal feelings with Carmella.
And then, oh, straight dominance.
Dealing with Nia Jax.
Whole different animal here with Asuka.
[Corey] There's no doubt at all.
Bayley is the most capable woman
in the division.
That's why she's the champion.
She can adapt to any situation.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Top rope.
Going for the Hurricanrana.
-[Corey] Could be it-- -[Tom] Hook to the leg here on Asuka.
And Asuka powered out.
[Corey] wop…
Looks like Bayley is looking
for that guillotine choke.
That's the thing that she beat Nia Jax with.
[Tom] That is the exact way she
took down Nia Jax in London
-[Corey] She's got it in -[Tom] this past December.
[Tom] And Asuka could be in a lot of trouble right now.
[Corey] She's got it cinched in.
Can asuka withstand this
onslaught?
[Tom] Oh! And now Bayley trying to
sink it in even deeper here on Asuka.
Asuka trying to stand and hold
the weight of Bayley at the same time.
And down to the mat.
[Corey] Bayley has that -- had the guillotine choke.
Oh, my God!
[Tom] Look at asuka break free.
[Corey] The tide can change. She's got that ankle lock.
[Bayley screams in pain]
[Corey] Look at this.
Expert submission.
[Tom] Asuka can win the title by pinfall or submission.
And asuka now tossed out of the
ring by Bayley.
But how much damage did that do
to the left ankle of Bayley?
[Corey] Bayley's quickness is so
important to be able to defend
against the onslaught that is
all of Asuka's striking.
An injured leg, an injured ankle, an injured knee, it could
be the end.
[Tom] Oh!
Oh, catching Asuka!
[Corey] She seems all right to me.
She comes up limping.
[Tom] Fighting through the pain. It doesn't matter.
It's all about the championship.
[Corey] Bayley knows her women's championship is at stake.
She's got to pull out all the stops.
Fight through all the pain. We know about Bayley and her heart
[Tom] Cover to retain her title here. Asuka is still in the match.
[Clapping]
[Asuka screams in pain]
[Tom] Oh, and now Asuka with a full head of steam.
Asuka, those measured strikes
here to the mid section of Bayley.
Asuka using that speed to her advantage.
[Corey] What agility.
You heard that guttural primal
scream from Asuka.
And the tides have changed
since.
That fighting spirit on full
display.
[Tom] Oh, and Bayley with a great counter there
and came back with a forearm.
[Corey] That straight right it looked like to me.
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] Oh!
[Tom] Asuka with a knee!
Cover here on Bayley for the title!
And the kickout.
Asuka a split second away from
becoming the new NXT women's
champion.
[Corey] Bayley will make you work for
that last split second.
She has no intention of leaving
Dallas without her most prized possession.
[Tom] Hold on. Shoulders down. Champion nearly had the challenger.
[Corey] Look how quick Asuka right back on the offensive
with those forearms.
Oh, look at the strike to Bayley!
[Tom] Bayley and Asuka in midair
there for a moment.
And there is a suplex.
[fans clapping]
[Corey] Looks like Bayley is starting to feel it.
but how is that leg going to hold up?
[Tom and Corey] Oh!
[Tom] Another strong connection there from Asuka.
[Corey] The champ might be unconscious.
Asuka got all of that one.
I just don't think she's going to be able to capitalize.
[fans chanting] This is awesome!… This is awesome!
[referee counts] Five!
[Tom] Both women have to the count of 10 to get back to their feet here.
Count of 7.
Asuka and Bayley starting to
stir on opposite sides of the ring.
And it's Bayley who is on her feet first.
Oh!
[Corey] Both with the same idea.
Oh.
Game changer.
That just made Bayley mad.
[Corey] There's intensity to this one.
Oh! and Bayley dropped her.
[Corey] Bayley's got the knee bar!
Bayley's got the knee bar locked in on Asuka.
[Tom] Asuka flailing around center of the ring.
I don't think she expected this from Bayley.
[Corey] Bayley has Asuka's own submission locked in.
There is nowhere for Asuka to go.
[Tom] Asuka now trying to drag herself to the bottom rope
and a great transition here into an ankle lock from Bayley.
Asuka inches away. Great move by the champion.
[Corey] Bayley driving that kneecap down into the mat.
[Tom] And Bayley sees her opportunity.
Asuka just trying to get mobile again.
[Corey] Look! On the other leg, Bayley is trying
to take out both of asuka's legs which is brilliant.
You take away those kicks from Asuka.
You give yourself a much better chance of surviving.
[Tom] On top of that wouldn't be able to cinch in the Asuka lock.
[Corey] Dragon screw leg whip by Bayley.
This is incredible.
This strategy is brilliant by the champion.
[cheers and applause]
I don't know if to this point in
her career in NXT we have seen
Asuka in this much trouble.
[Tom] You're absolutely right. You said Bayley, we didn't know
what her plan would be coming into this.
She found her opportunity! Oh-no!
Caught the arm bar.
Bayley caught the arm bar by Asuka that quick.
[Corey] Bayley blocked it. She's got the fingers up.
Asuka has got the arm bar, but Bayley is still trying to fight.
Trying to stop the arm from
being extended, from the elbow
hyperextending.
Oh, no, this could be it.
This could be it.
[Tom] Asuka reversing things here middle of the ring.
Bayley in even more trouble than she was moments ago.
Trying to roll free.
Cover here to win the title
and the kickout!
Oh, here's another cover.
The champion to keep her title-- No.
[Corey] Unbelievable.
[Applause]
Oh… She's going for the Asuka lock.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] And Bayley with a suplex.
Bayley with a clothesline there taking Asuka to the mat.
Another cover. Hook to the leg.
And Asuka is still around in this match.
[Corey] Bayley looking for submission of her own maybe.
[Tom] Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Trying to break loose that arm of Asuka.
[Corey] We have seen this before, Tom
[Tom] This is the way Bayley got the final fall in the Iron Man
match against Sasha banks.
Asuka trapped. Now into a pinfall.
Bayley nearly had her.
[Corey] How was Asuka able to escape?
Bayley throwing everything
she can think of, matching, hanging in there
with submissions against Asuka.
An expert.
Going for the Bayley to belly.
[Tom] Caught middle of the ring.
Asuka saw it coming.
Trying to land on the back there
with Bayley.
Oh, it's one of those kicks.
[Corey] Again Bayley is still on her feet.
But is she still with it?
[Tom] And Asuka.
Asuka with a suplex. Here's a cover.
[Corey] That's it.
She's got the arm bar locked in.
She's got it fully locked in.
We're going to have a new
women's champion.
[Tom] Asuka to win the NXT women's
championship right here.
Is Bayley perhaps going to tap out
here at NXT Take Over Dallas?
Oh, wait a minute. Look at Asuka trying to transition here.
[Corey] She's looking for that Asuka lock but Bayley can't let her lock it in.
[Tom] Bayley reaching for the ropes, trying to break this hold
trying to break this submission.
[Corey] Her NXT women's championship
dangling in the balance.
Asuka is hell-bent on locking those hands.
And Bayley is doing everything she can possibly think of.
[Tom] Bayley was reaching out for the ropes.
Asuka middle of the ring.
[Corey] Asuka lock! She's got it in.
[Tom] Asuka with it cinched in deep here on Bayley.
Bayley in trouble.
The NXT women's championship on the line!
[Corey] It's locked in.
Asuka trying to separate that shoulder.
Bayley trying to survive, trying
to withstand.
[Tom] The official is right on top of it.
Bayley… trying to squeeze the life out
of Bayley here middle of the ring.
Bayley again finding a way free.
[Corey] That fighting heart of Bayley on full display!
[Tom] Again to the mat.
Asuka lock again.
Bayley caught.
Bayley caught here by asuka.
Asuka.
Asuka deep within the Asuka lock.
What is the champion going to do?
[Corey] There is no quit in Bayley.
But asuka has got this.
She's had this on for almost a minute now, Tom.
[Tom] Bayley is trying to reach her leg to the bottom rope here.
Trying to break free.
[Corey] She's done.
[Bell ringing]
She's done!
[cheers and boos]
[announcer] Here is your winner and new
NXT women's champion, Asuka!
[music]
[Corey] The feeling in this building right now with good reason is shock.
But Asuka came in, did exactly what she set out to do.
And she's your new NXT women's champion.
I can't believe -- I don't even
know what we just saw.
[Tom] Bayley passed out at the
hands of the Asuka lock.
[cheers and applause]
The empress proud here in
Dallas.
[Corey] Obviously a lot of disappointed
fans here in Dallas.
But you have to respect Asuka.
What she's done, what she's
fought for, what she's withstood
to dethrone the beloved Bayley.
[Tom] You have to be astonished at
what we saw in this match.
Not only in the result for
Bayley, but at the same time the
way Bayley brought the fight to
Asuka in a way we didn't expect.
[Corey] We absolutely didn't expect it.
Bayley proving that she was a
deserved women's champion.
Let's take a look at this.
Watch this suplex by Asuka.
Right into the arm bar.
Bayley able to withstand the arm bar.
But eventually the Asuka lock
sets in… Look at this.
Absolutely, move into handle.
[Tom] This was one of the first
opportunities that Asuka had at
at the Asuka lock here.
She would cinch it in a second
time here as that would spell
the end of this matchup for Bayley.
[Bell ringing]
[Corey] And let's not forget, Tom,
Bayley didn't quit.
Bayley didn't tap out.
Her body gave up on her.
But unfortunately, the
championship is Asuka's.
[Tom] And you have to take your hats off to Asuka.
Asuka came in here on a roll.
She has been ripping through the
NXT women's division.
And tonight validation for Asuka
as champion.
[music]
[Corey] They have to get Bayley some medical attention.
She could have irreparable damage done to that shoulder.
She was in that Asuka lock along time.
But the empress of tomorrow came
to NXT because that's where
women's wrestling is being
revolutionized, where it was on top of the game.
She wanted in.
She's the champ.
[music]
[music still playing]
-[Explosion] -[cheers and applause]
[Corey] We want to send a special thank you to Frank Carter
and The Rattlesnakes for "Devil Inside Me"
it's one of the official NXT Take Over Dallas
themes from the album "Blossom"
and you can check it out right
now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Tom] It has been a fantastic night
in front of a sold-out crowd
here in Dallas.
It is time
for our main event of the evening.
The champion Finn Balor ready to
defend his title against 100%
straight monster Samoa Joe.
These two men
ignited their rivalry
with their first collision in London.
[music]
[announcer] The following contest
scheduled for one fall is for
the NXT championship!
[Joe] What stands before you is the
inevitable.
[Balor] I've been in a lot of battles, but today, today was a war.
Ahhh!
Samoa Joe, I'm not taking
that as a victory.
Comes to a single case.
[announcer] We thought Samoa Joe had
Balor's number.
[Balor] It was survival.
[Tom] The demon had to go through
hell to retain his championship.
[Joe] The champ said it himself.
[Balor] The champion never rests.
[Joe] He didn't beat me.
He barely survived.
[Balor] I face every challenger head to head.
[Corey] His aggression, every dark
part of his body firing on all cylinders.
[Joe] Balor, did you see that?
[Corey] Joe is sending a message.
[Joe] You will not survive. You will not escape.
I am coming for you and I will
take my championship!
[Balor] Samoa Joe is just a monster
that will never go away.
[man] He's becoming obsessed with Finn Balor
♪ There's a devil inside of me ♪
[Corey] This could be exactly what
happens to Finn Balor.
[Bell ringing]
♪ And I don't know if he's staying or for how long ♪
[man] But what Joe doesn't realize
is he's obsessed with all the
wrong things.
[Tom] The NXT champion Finn Balor!
Finn is going after Samoa Joe.
♪ There's a devil inside of you ♪
[Corey] We may not make it to Dallas.
[Tom] Oh, my God!
[Joe] I stand here, undeniable.
[Balor] You see me, my obsession is
in the absolute best.
I will beat Joe again at Take Over Dallas.
[Joe] I will stand here --
[Balor] and walk out --
[Joe] your new --
[Balor] come on, Joe.
[Joe] NXT champion.
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] It is time for a big -- Wow.
[Corey] ha ha!.
Tom Phillips, no matter who you
are or where you've been, you
want to be here in NXT.
[Tom] That is one of the hottest
free agents in sports entertainment.
-[Suspense music] -[Joe] Yes!
[Tom] This past fall was a long standing friendship.
It was only in tag-team success
that things unraveled.
A shattered relationship
destroyed by Samoa Joe, all for
an NXT title opportunity.
Since London, Joe has been on a
rampage clawing his way back to
claim what he believes belongs
to him.
The NXT title.
[Corey] You heard him in the video.
Finn Balor says Samoa Joe is obsessed.
And he's absolutely right.
Joe is obsessed with the NXT championship.
It's why he came here.
It's why he does what he does.
And unfortunately for Finn Balor, it's around Finn's waist.
[Tom] Samoa Joe upon arriving here
on NXT believed he was owed a
title opportunity, period.
He has sought to claim that from any and all comers.
Tonight Finn Balor said that,
well, he survived Joe in London.
Can Joe finally win the title
tonight here in Dallas?
[music]
[Heartbeat thumping]
[cheers and applause]
[music]
[Engine revving]
[music]
[fans chanting]
[cheers and applause]
[Intense rock music playing]
[Bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest
scheduled for one fall is for
the NXT championship!
Introducing the challenger from
Huntington Beach, California.
Weighting 282 pounds,
Samoa Joe!
[fans chanting and booing]
And his opponent from Bray County, Wicklow, Ireland.
weighing 190 pounds, he is the
NXT champion.
Finn Balor!
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] When you stare across the ring at one of the best
wrestlers in the world who transformed himself physically
and mentally into a chainsaw-wielding-maniac.
Most men would run. Most men would give up.
Not Samoa Joe.
You don't see any fear.
He is completely undeterred.
You know why?
Because Godzilla wasn't afraid
of Mothra.
T-Rex wasn't afraid of Indominus Rex
Samoa Joe is a monster doing battle with a demon.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] And Joe right out of the gates going right after the NXT
champion Finn Balor.
Finn Balor, the demon, could he be unleashed here
tonight by Balor?
Joe immediately catching it from
Finn Balor here to start off
this match.
So much personal animosity
between these two.
[Corey] Looks like right off the bat Samoa Joe… Samoa Joe is cut.
And the shots from Finn Balor
opened up Joe.
But Joe not backing down at all.
[Tom] And Joe tossed outside the ring
Finn!… Finn flies!
[cheers and applause]
Joe is already feeling the
effects of this match.
The referee was trying to tend
to him.
Finn Balor is going right after him.
Look at Joe.
[Corey] Joe just screaming in agony.
But what a shot!
[Tom] Oh, my God!
[Corey] Samoa Joe says, Finn Balor, you want a horror movie?
I'll give you a horror movie.
[Tom] Finn Balor was tossed and took out a member of the
security here at the Kay Bayley Hutchison center.
Oh, my God.
[Corey] As if Samoa Joe could somehow look
more terrifying than before.
That is a horrifying sight.
Let's take a look at this.
Samoa Joe launched the champ
over the barricade, through a security guard.
Look in the eyes of Balor.
[Tom] Finn coming right out of the
NXT universe going back after Joe.
Finn knew he was in for a war in London.
He knows he's in for another one
here tonight in Dallas.
And again the official is trying to --
it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter.
Balor is not going to back down on iota.
[Corey] Oh! Neither is Samoa Joe.
[Tom] Oh, my God.
[Crey] Look at this.
Joe just backing him up, talking
smack the whole time.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Oh! And an Enziguri to the champion.
[Corey] Oh.
Look at the confidence on the
face of Joe.
[Tom] Joe launching himself into Finn!
The barricade buckles.
[cheers and applause]
[fans chanting]
[Corey] We used the monster analogy
at the outset.
Let's take a look at this.
Godzilla destroyed Tokyo.
Samoa Joe is destroying Dallas.
[Tom] Godzilla didn't have wings, bro.
Look at this! Oh, my gosh!
[fans chanting]
[Tom] And the officials out here,
now the medical team from WWE
tending to Samoa Joe.
Joe is a mess.
It looks like the cut might be
on his eye, on his right eye there.
Has to be very careful that eye
doesn't swell up on him here in
this matchup.
That has to be the concern here
from the medical staff.
Joe will not allow it to be
worked on.
[Corey] Samoa Joe is going to have to
let them close this cut or they
can call this match right now.
[Tom] Absolutely. And lose his title opportunity.
[Corey] He didn't fight for this opportunity
to have it taken away like that.
But the problem is Finn Balor
has time to recover.
Samoa Joe with an all-out
assault on the champion.
[Tom] Joe got cut in the first 30
seconds of this match.
[fans chanting]
[Corey] I looks like the corner of his right eye is what's cut.
But Joe wasted no time.
They glued him up real quick and
let this thing keep rolling.
[Tom] Into the corner!
[fans chanting] Joe is gonna kill you!… Joe is gonna kill you!…
[Corey] You heard the crowd and what
they think is going to happen.
I've got to be honest with you, Phillips.
To this point, I wouldn't be
surprised if they were right.
Samoa Joe is a monster tonight.
[Tom] Remember, the championship can only
change hands pinfall or submission.
Whipped into the corner.
Joe caught with a kick!
Joe now into the cover to win
the championship.
Out at two.
[Corey] And the referee getting in there. He's got to get that cut under control.
But Samoa Joe --
[Tom] watch this.
Whipped into the corner. And Samoa Joe with an enziguri.
Graves, have you ever had a cut
like this in a matchup?
I mean it clearly was able to
help put away Finn Balor.
[Corey] Any cut like this anywhere near your eye, it's going to swell up.
You can get blood in your eye,
which basically renders your eye
useless.
The swelling, the pain, you're
going out there trying to
compete in a world championship
match with one eye.
[Tom] On top of that, I imagine Samoa Joe doesn't want
anything touched right now.
He just wants to get after Finn Balor
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Now Finn-- Oh! Catches an elbow.
[Corey] Samoa Joe undeterred.
The ref stoppage, it's almost like it enraged Joe.
Joe just wants to fight.
Wants to do what he does.
Each time the referee steps in,
he's getting more and more
angry.
More vicious.
More dangerous.
[referee] come out the corner, knock it off-- one!… two!
[Tom] That boot right across the face of Finn Balor.
And Joe with the boot connecting
in the corner.
Finn just trying to get vertical
here to defend the NXT
championship.
Oh.
And it looked like Joe was
trying to set up Finn Balor there.
For the muscle buster for a moment.
Finn saw it coming.
Top rope caught with the atomic drop.
Joe with a big boot.
[fans yelling] Oh!
Right into the chest of Finn Balor. And a knee.
The cover to win the championship.
Balor out at two!
[Corey] What a lethal combination by the challenger.
Finn Balor's NXT championship is in serious jeopardy right now, Phillips.
Tom, I just got word that Samoa
Joe is actually busted open in
the opening sequence of the match
-when they butted heads. -[Tom] Yes.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] Shades of Toshiaki Kawada right there.
[Tom] Oh, and a big drop kick from
Finn.
Finn doing a good job here in
this match, just trying to close
the space.
And you can see there at
ringside the medical staff again
tending to Samoa Joe.
[fans chanting]
[Tom] Now Finn Balor back up to his
feet to beat the 10-count.
Samoa Joe caught with a forearm.
[Corey] Joe is still on his feet
somehow.
[Tom] Finn trying to drop Joe and
he finally does.
[Loud smack sound]
[fans yelling] Oh!
[Corey] What a chop.
The demon building momentum. it's about the most--
[Tom] Oh!
[Corey] I spoke too soon.
[Tom] Straight punishment from
Samoa Joe wherever he can find it.
Finn dropping the near
300-pounder outside the ring.
Oh!
And there goes Joe.
[Corey] Balor got all that drop kick.
We have seen this before.
[Tom] Right on the jaw.
Balor would have cleared the post at AT&T Stadium.
[referee] Come on guys, get back inside the ring, let's go!
[Tom] Now Joe tossed back into the ring.
Joe's game plan completely out the window here.
And now Finn Balor trying to
take him out. Look at the sling blade belly-to-belly.
[Corey] Talking about game plan,
Balor just went for the sling blade.
Joe caught him.
[Tom] Cover here for the title. Finn Balor still in this match.
[Corey] Samoa Joe just countered the sling blade
into an over-the-head-- look at this kick.
How did Joe -how was he able
to think straight after the
demon kicked his face off?
And a mere minute later Joe is back in control.
[Tom] On top of that, the speed and
momentum that Finn would go for
the sling blade and able to catch Joe in midair.
Unbelievable.
[Corey] Joe using the maximum of the
referee's count not to get
himself disqualified.
[Tom] And Finn Balor connects!
Going for the drop kick.
Cover with senton.
Samoa Joe to win the title.
Cover here.
And Finn Balor is still in this
title match.
[Corey] You can't question Samoa Joe's preparation for this battle.
Let's take a look at this.
Here comes the drop kick we have
seen Finn use so many times to
set up the double stomp.
Joe had it countered.
The wherewithal to get out of
the way… and continue
this NXT championship match.
Unbelievable.
[fans clapping]
Joe looking for a power bomb.
[Tom] Joe connects. Shoulders down.
And Balor got his shoulder up.
And Joe transitions into the crab.
Boston crab here.
[Corey] That extra deep Boston crab. He's got the grip
of both Finn Balor's knees.
Balor bent completely backwards in half
[Tom] And now into the cross face.
Cross face and Joe loves it.
Look at the look in the eye of Samoa Joe
Finn Balor caught in the middle of the ring.
[Corey] Look at Samoa Joe.
Like prying open the jaws of the
demon, trying to pry that NXT
championship away from Finn Balor.
[Tom] And now trying to cover here.
[Corey] What?-- Double stomp!
Desperation double stomp by the champ.
But how much is left in the tank?
Can he capitalize on a prone
Samoa Joe?
[fans chanting]
[referee] Four!… Five!
Get up!
[Tom] Finn back up to his feet for
another sling blade.
And this time the drop kick works.
[Corey] We know what comes next.
[Tom] Finn going up to the top rope here.
Oh, and Samoa Joe right to the throat.
[Corey] Uh-oh. he's right in position
for that muscle buster.
[Tom] And Finn getting caught with an enziguri.
[Corey] This is it. Here we go.
-[Tom] Joe's got his moment. -[Corey] Here we go.
Muscle buster!
[Tom] Joe to win the NXT championship!
Cover on Finn. No!
[cheers and applause]
[Corey] Look at the look of absolute disbelief on Samoa Joe's face, Tom.
How did Finn Balor survive that?
[fans chanting]
Samoa Joe looks like he's just seen a ghost.
[fans chanting] One more time!… One more time!
[Corey] Right back to the assault comes Joe
and the demon able to fight
back.
[Balor grunts in pain]
[Tom] With those slaps right to Finn Balor, and--
Oh.
The two men back and forth
into the Pele kick.
[cheers and applause]
[referee counts] One!… Two!
[Tom] Both men to the count of 10
to get back to their feet here
in this matchup.
Finn Balor hasn't even moved.
Samoa Joe starting to stir.
Count of seven now.
The champion starting to move.
The demon is here in Dallas!
[Tom] Finn with a drop kick into the corner.
[Corey] Like Balor Rose from the dead
out of nowhere.
[Tom] Top rope!
Coup de grace!
Look at the monstrous look in the eye of Finn Balor.
He's looking to put him away. Coquina clutch perhaps.
[Corey] Samoa Joe, has he got it locked in?
He's got the coquina clutch locked in.
The oxygen being cut off to the brain. The demon gasping for air.
[Tom] Finn is fading. Finn is fading.
Finn once again summoning the power.
Shoulders down on Joe.
And Finn Balor has beaten him!
[Bell ringing]
[announcer] Here is your winner
and still the NXT champion
Finn Balor!
[cheers and applause]
[Heavy Rock Music]
[Tom] The look of utter shock and disbelief
on the face of the challenger Samoa Joe.
Finn Balor found another way to survive here.
The demon retaining the NXT championship.
[Corey] Finn Balor had to look deep within himself
in his mind down those dark hallways
you don't like to talk about
and find it deep inside
to retain, survive Samoa Joe.
But it would cost. Look at the champion.
He's not in a good situation. He's hurt.
But what's going to be going through that man's mind
right now?
[Tom] Finn Balor is still your NXT champion.
However, we talked about the battle from London.
Joe went through a battle, too, here tonight.
[music]
[Tom] This is the beginning of the matchup.
Here is the headbutt coming here in a second.
Watch this. Boom!
Right there on the corner of the eye of Samoa Joe
that would lead to that cut.
[Corey] Yeah. As Joe threw the knee strike
it only made Joe more intense, more determined.
Muscle buster, we thought this was it.
I thought we had a brand-new
champion right here.
And pure disbelief on the face of the challenger.
[Tom] A sold-out crowd here in
Dallas just as stunned.
Down the stretch after the coup de grace.
it was Joe who would find an opportunity
to cinch in the coquina clutch.
And it looked like Graves, that Finn was
fainting here in the corner.
[Corey] But watch this.
Somehow Balor had enough
left deep inside himself to counter,
to roll through, use Joe's own
momentum against him.
And we have --
take a look at this.
[music]
[cheers and applause]
[Tom] What a night it has been live
here from Dallas, Texas.
What a way to kick off
WrestleMania weekend!
Thank you for joining us
for NXT Take Over: Dallas.
[music]