[introduction music playing]
[soft music playing]
[narrator] Since its arrival,
NXT has been destined to take over.
[man 1] It is here
that dreams…
can become possibilities.
[Mauro] The gold standard in Sports Entertainment.
Returning to Barclays Center.
[man 2] NXT history is being made.
[Mauro] A two out of three falls mega main event.
[man 3] Johnny Gargano against…
[crowd] Adam Cole, Bay Bay!
[man 3] The winner will walk into the history books as the new NXT Champion.
[Disturbed "Are you ready?" playing]
[narrator] And as we pay homage to the past…
[Mauro] Ricochet and Aleister Black win the Dusty Cup.
And they will challenge War Raiders for the NXT Tag Team Titles.
[narrator] …it's the diversity of competition…
[Percy] The Roster will no longer stand for the tyranny of Shayna Baszler.
[Shayna] I don't care if it's Kairi, Bianca or Io, I'm ready.
[narrator] …that creates a worldwide appeal.
-[man 4] NXT UK belongs to me. -[man 5] Pete, it's Walter.
[man 7] Your time is up.
[narrator] And with opportunity around every corner…
[Adam] There's only one man who deserves to rule the world.
And that man is Adam Cole, baby.
[narrator] …a new road to destiny can be forged.
[Johnny] I fight for everyone who's ever been told their dream will not come true.
Cause this place is my life.
[Disturbed "Are you ready?" Playing]
[narrator] With every championship on the line…
[man 8] Bro.
[man 9] The dream is not your bro.
[man 8] I want to get a closer look at that North American Championship.
[narrator] …who will fulfill their destiny…
[Bianca] At TakeOver: New York, I will become NXT Women's Champion.
[narrator] …and lead NXT…
[man 10] That dream begins tonight.
[narrator] …into the next chapter?
[man 11] On the biggest stage of them all, TakeOver: New York.
[music stops abruptly]
[narrator] And now, WWE Network presents NXT TakeOver: New York.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] March Madness is fun,
but nothing compares to the April awesomeness that is WrestleMania weekend.
And tonight, in front of an NXT record crowd of 15,697,
we bring you the historic night known as NXT TakeOver: New York.
And tonight marks the 24th TakeOver.
And there is 24 carat magic in the air. It's a Gotham gold rush
5 with five championship matches guaranteed to have you putting on a happy face.
He's Percy Watson. He's Nigel McGuinness. I'm Mauro Ranallo.
We're all sporting happy faces, because it is a historic night for NXT.
Certainly is. Let's take you now to our Spanish announce team,
Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez.
[Mauro] And don't forget Jerry Soto.
[speaking Spanish]
-[crowd cheering] -[drums playing]
[crowd] War, war, war!
[horn sounding]
[rock music playing]
[crowd] War, war, war!
[man screaming]
War, war, war!
[man] War!
[drums playing]
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Making their way to the ring, they are the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Hanson, Rowe, War Raiders.
[Mauro] Notorious Norsemen Erik the Red and Leif Erikson
would approve of NXT Tag Team Champions. The modern day Vikings, The War Raiders.
Rowe and Hanson bring the plunder and lightning.
[Nigel] You just heard the drum beats of Viking Destruction.
[crowd] War, war, war!
[Nigel] Will The War Raiders leave with the NXT Tag titles tonight
as one of the hottest tandems in sports entertainment today come for those titles?
[Mauro] It was at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in January that The War Raiders
defeated the Undisputed Era to become NXT Tag Team Champions.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And tonight could be a night at the museum
with potentially five masterpieces being painted on the hallowed NXT canvas.
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music playing]
[blurred man voice] One and only.
[rock music playing]
[female announcer] And their challengers, first,
weighing in at 190 pounds, he's the one and only,
Ricochet.
[Mauro] The one and only, Ricochet.
Former NXT Champion and now one half of the winners
of the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
And with the Dusty Cup comes this opportunity tonight
to vie for the NXT Tag Team Titles.
[Percy] Ricochet is one of the most exciting superstars you will ever see.
And tonight, he's going to put on an absolute clinic in search
of the NXT Tag Team title.
[Mauro] The preeminent high flyer, Nigel, always energized like a nine bolt.
[Nigel] Absolutely.
NXT's resident Skywalker, he's teamed with Aleister Black has been nothing short
of astronomic in their success, both on Raw and SmackDown Live.
[Mauro] In fact, this fast and furious tandem,
the first team in Sports Entertainment history
to vie for the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Tonight, the NXT Tag Team Titles, Sunday at WrestleMania,
they get a chance to challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
No duo has ever done that in history,
and certainly not in the span of less than a week.
Incredible statistics.
But they are an incredible power tandem.
[Nigel] The question though, does that put a lot of pressure on Black and Ricochet?
That makes it difficult for them to focus on any one specific match.
They will certainly have to focus on their opponents tonight,
as we take a look at The War Raiders.
They are ready for a war.
[crowd] Ricochet, Ricochet, Ricochet!
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Oh, oh, oh, boy.
[slow rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[music crescendoing]
[Nigel] Well, beneath that stoic,
unflinching veneer lies the heart of a kickboxing master.
[female announcer] And his Tag Team partner from Amsterdam, Holland,
weighing in at 215 pounds, Aleister Black.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Sir Kicks a Lot, known for his patented black mass, but also known
for being, well, rather, he is…
He doesn't show much emotion and that's a good thing when you're in the ring during
the pros of a Tag Team title match, Percy.
[Percy] I agree. You're not getting much emotion from a man like Aleister Black,
one of the most dangerous strikers in the game.
Matter of fact, it's almost reached legendary status here in NXT.
But when you combine Aleister Black and Ricochet, you got something special.
You could be looking at the new NXT Tag Team Champions,
if they can overcome the War Raider.
[Nigel] Fantastic. Interesting clash of styles in this matchup.
High flying and striking on one side, power and brutal attack on the other.
[Mauro] And it's all for the NXT Tag Team Titles.
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[Mauro] Will Ricochet and Black be taking the NXT Tag Team Championships
to WrestleMania despite their short time as a team?
Black and Ricochet have displayed more chemistry
than Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
But this duo's definitely not in the shallow tonight.
It doesn't get any deeper in the talent pool than The War Raiders.
And already number one worldwide. Are you surprised?
NXT TakeOver. We are off and running.
[Nigel] Relatively slow start to the matchup.
[Mauro] I think there's mutual respect between these two teams.
[Nigel] It better be. If you don't respect the danger of Aleister Black,
you'll be knocked on your back pretty quickly.
[Mauro] Same can be said…
[Percy] You definitely have to respect the NXT Champions,
The War Raiders. They can shut you down in a heartbeat.
-Quick move by Aleister Black. -[Mauro] Nice counter by Rowe.
Quick escape by Black, but now Rowe, and some great chain wrestling going on here.
Counters leads to counters.
And Black on his back. And look at this!
[crowd cheering]
-[Mauro] R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Nigel. -[Nigel] Definitely a show of respect.
Rowe thinking twice about throwing the right hand.
-He knew he who he's in there with. -[Percy] Rowe wants him more on his feet.
He wants the very best of Aleister Black right now.
[Mauro] Waist lock, standing switch, high throw and a waist lock takedown.
But Black quickly trying to scramble to his feet,
expending energy here, looking to escape the clutches of Rowe.
[grunts]
-[Mauro] So some good… -[Percy] Oh, man. That could have been it.
[applause]
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] There it is, the fist bump.
We can't state it enough. It's all about respect,
and with all due respect, Aleister Black,
Ricochet is waiting to showcase his craft, and so is Hanson.
[Percy] Showtime, baby.
[Mauro] And whether you believe it or not, looking in the ring,
these two represent the high flyers of their respective teams.
[Nigel] Ricochet unable to make his opponent fly there.
[Mauro] Oh, beautiful head scissors take over.
And dropkick by the one and only.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Tag's made. Back come Black and Rowe, reversal on the Irish whip.
Rowe telegraphing the back body drop,
and it's Black throwing Rowe to the outside.
[Percy] Put the seat belt on!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] This moment of Zen brought to you by Aleister Black and Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[Nigel] Listen to that reaction. NXT universe know what they're in store.
-Wait a second! -[Mauro] Meditating.
It's time to get down to business.
-[Percy] The big guys got some moves too. -[Mauro] And Aleister Black
wiping out Hanson. And now Rowe with a back elbow to Ricochet.
The agility of Ricochet, the hard hitting offense of both Ricochet and Black.
Things have already broken down in this NXT Tag Team Championship match.
Oh, seated senton by Hanson. Power body slam. And there, a tag is made,
and Rowe now the legal man.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Wow. Rowe showcasing his strength.
Unorthodox tandem offense on display courtesy of War Raiders.
[Percy] War Raiders showing off the power advantage early on here in this matchup.
[Nigel] It is interesting though, you mentioned earlier, the relatively limited
amount of time Black and Ricochet have spent together as a team,
they've had such success in that limited time.
-[Mauro] Absolutely. -[Nigel] You can almost make an argument,
almost favorites in this match.
[Mauro] They have so much momentum coming
off victory in the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. And you don't think
that they want to bring… These two superstars bleed black and gold.
They would love to enter WrestleMania NXT Tag Team champs.
[Percy] Think about what they did on Raw and SmackDown,
defeating The Revival, defeating former champions, The Bar.
You're right, they could be the favorites tonight.
[Mauro] But they're in tough right now and there's Hanson grinding away
on the shoulder of Aleister Black.
[Nigel] I'll definitely say though
that Black and Ricochet are going to lose any kind of favorite status
if The War Raiders can keep them grounded.
[Mauro] A big weekend for Tag Teams. Harlem Heat and The Hart
Foundation inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, as Aleister Black
wipes up both War Raiders. Hall of Fame ceremony going down tomorrow night,
but now it's Ricochet, high flying offense on Rowe.
[man] Yeah.
[Nigel] Seamless offense from Ricochet.
[Mauro] Ricochet utilizing the ropes.
Springboard lariat across the jaw of Rowe. Standing shooting star press.
Do we have new Tag Team Champions? Wow!
[Nigel] Ricochet desperately trying to clearance the left arm of Rowe.
[Percy] Like you said, he needs to keep that fast paced offense.
It's a bit different from what The War Raiders are used to.
That would definitely be in favor of team Ricochet And Black.
[Nigel] Standing chin bar.
Now trying almost for an abdominal stretch of sorts.
But Rowe so strong, so powerful.
Ricochet is having no luck getting that submission attempt.
[Mauro] 2018 NXT breakout star of the year.
Ricochet making the tag to his partner, former NXT Champion Aleister Black,
who eats a forearm smash across the jaw.
But still able to drop Rowe. Goes for the cover.
Hard hitting offense from the Dutch destroyer.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Nice stretch across the shoulders of Rowe.
[Percy] Not a position that War Raiders are used to.
He's used to being the dominant one in the match.
[Nigel] Trying to extend the deltoids.
Have a look on the face of Rowe, clearly in a ton of pain.
Now Black looking for the right ankle of Row as well,
trying to turn his opponent up completely.
[Mauro] Black sticking to Row like a spray tan,
and just working on the torque, the leverage.
[Nigel] We're getting an example here.
Aleister Black, as we mentioned before, known for his striking ability,
but certainly that is not his only strength here.
And a great wrestling background as well.
[Percy] Black keeping Rowe immobile,
not letting him utilize any type of speed, any type of power, but…
[Mauro] Oh, and there's the kicking pedigree of Black on display as…
[Nigel] Certainly is an interesting strategy from Black.
If I'm Black, I'd go with what got me to the game, which he's got back to.
[Mauro] Oklahoma roll. Shoulders are down!
And Aleister Black almost put away Rowe right there.
-[Nigel] Deep kick, got caught. -[Mauro] Oh!
Oh! The ace ten Mao.
That judo back throw knee strike named as an homage
to Rowe's martial art sensei.
So Rowe showing Black he's also a martial artist.
Towering back body drop. Hanson on Ricochet.
Sidewalk slam. Hanson comes off the ropes. Cross body.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Man, Hanson possessing deceptive agility for a man his size.
And he is sizing up the situation.
[Nigel] Pick your poison.
-[Percy] This can be painful right here. -[Mauro] Send in the Saint Bernards.
Ricochet and Black being buried under
an avalanche of aggression courtesy of Hanson.
[Nigel] Hanson pillaging from corner to corner.
[Percy] When is this going to end?
[Mauro] When Hanson said so. Wow!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The pink battery rabbit has nothing on The War Raiders' Hanson.
And now Hanson firing Black. Oh, Black. Wow!
And Black hits his jaw on the ankle. Oh, God. Wow!
[Percy] Oh, my God.
[Mauro] Oh! Talk about insane in the membrane!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] You talked about deceptive agility on Hanson.
Who knew Ricochet had that kind of strength?
[Percy] That was absolutely unreal.
The power on display by Ricochet. But that took everything out of him.
[Mauro] An incredible feat of strength. But Percy, you mentioned it,
and Ricochet, cognizant of the fact, has made the tag.
Aleister Black and Rowe ready to renew hostilities one more time.
[Nigel] All four superstars now starting to show the signs of fatigue.
Oh, strong forearm lands.
[Mauro] And while they showed respect early in the match,
they are now earning each other's respect,
and a smorgasbord of strikes.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Oh!
Lightning quick offense. Great evasion of Rowe. Oh, and what a block by Black.
Roundhouse kick to the head. Black comes off the ropes.
Oh, right into a knee.
[Nigel] Black is out on his feet.
-[Mauro] Step up knee strike by Black. -[Nigel] I stand corrected.
[Mauro] Oh, talk about a higher platoon German suplex with a bridge.
Black came within one count, one count of winning the NXT Tag Team Titles.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The applause speaks for itself, Percy.
And by the way, did I mention, this is the opening match tonight
at TakeOver: New York?
All five matches worthy of main event status.
-Tag was made. -[Percy] This is a sign of things to come.
They gotta keep the pedal to the metal. Can't let up now.
[Mauro] Cartwheel escape again by Hanson. Boot to the face by Ricochet.
Roundhouse kick by Ricochet.
Handspring. Oh! Hanson avoided that kick. Oh, talk about…
[Percy] Look at this!
-[Mauro] Hanson handspring back elbow. -[Nigel] Into the cover.
[crowd] One, two…
[Percy] Whoa!
You talked about a big man with athletic ability.
Look no farther than any member of War Raiders.
[Mauro] Nigel, we talked about the clash of styles, and yet how about
-the similarities we see here tonight? -[Nigel] We're seeing it right here.
Look at this, handspring from a man nearly 300 pounds into the back.
Earlier we saw the strength of Ricochet. You're right, Mauro.
[Mauro] And so is the NXT universe.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Hanson on the second rope.
The War Raiders enjoy slighting their foes on the field of battle.
-What's Hanson thinking? -[Nigel] Oh, mistake.
[Mauro] Well, doesn't matter. Ricochet able to bring The War Raiders' Hanson
back to the mat.
Rolling! Oh, no. Ricochet caught by Hanson.
Tag is made. Rowe is now the legal man for The War Raiders.
And what a knee to the mouth of Ricochet.
[Percy] See that, Ricochet just went flying into the turnbuckle.
[Mauro] Teamwork makes the dream work!
[Percy] Or flatten your opponent just like that.
[Mauro] Wow!
-[Nigel] Oh, my God! That is it. -[Percy] Good night.
[Mauro] War Raiders looking to retain the Tag Team Titles.
Double pin and double stomp from Aleister Black
to put an exclamation point on what is already an instant classic.
[Percy] You got to be kidding me.
But that's what it's all about with the NXT titles on the line.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] And again, incredible agility from Hanson,
driving off the middle rope into the chest.
But look here, the ability of Aleister Black and the power of that double stomp
driving through both of his opponents to break up the pinfall attempt.
[Mauro] We talk about Harlem Heat and The Hart Foundation
going into the Hall of Fame.
We see Hall of Fame worthy performances in this NXT Tag Team Titles tilt.
[grunts]
[Nigel] And again, War Raiders with the offense.
-[Percy] Oh! Good counter by Black. -[Mauro] Meteora escape by Black.
Great counter.
We have a moonsault! Black to Hanson on the outside.
Firing up the sold out crowd at Brooklyn.
Tope suicida!
[crowd cheering]
-[Nigel] Wait a second. -[Mauro] How can you top that?
Space flying corkscrew tiger drop. That's how.
[crowd cheering]
-[Nigel] Oh, my God. -[Percy] What is this?
[Mauro] What is life?
-Hanson on the top turnbuckle. -[Percy] Incoming!
[Mauro] Cannonball! Mamma Mia!
[crowd cheering]
[Percy] You talked about teams laying it all on the line, leaving it all out there.
Check out Hanson right here.
Throwing caution to the wind. Taking out everybody.
[Nigel] Another look from a different angle.
Look how far the big Hanson through the air.
[Mauro] You've heard of hail the size of softballs.
We just saw hail the size of Hanson wiping out every other competitor.
-Oh my, they gotta make it back. -[Percy] Hold on.
We're at nine.
[Mauro] Shades of what happened Monday night on Raw, but no, not this time.
Ricochet and a Rowe able to break the referee's count.
[Percy] They both beat the count by like a half a second.
[Mauro] And remember, Ricochet and Black challenging for the Raw Tag Team Titles.
That ended up in a countout, Nigel. Revival holding on to the gold.
[Nigel] Certainly Ricochet and Black don't want that to happen here again tonight.
[Mauro] Revival, of course. Two-time NXT Tag Team Champions.
What a forearm.
[Nigel] Spaghetti legs from Ricochet.
[Percy] I don't know how either competitor is still standing at this point.
[Mauro] They have difficulty in doing so. It's incredible.
A testament to what they're made of. And again, oh, super kick by Ricochet.
Black now making the tag, boot to the face. Step up knee.
-Wiping out Hanson. -[Percy] Strikes just so quick.
[Mauro] But it's Rowe that Black has to focus on.
[Percy] Oh, those eyes of Aleister Black.
[Mauro] Black mass! Black mass!
Oh, wow. We're going to send NXT Tag Team Champions to WrestleMania!
-[Nigel] Seal the deal. -[Mauro] Shooting star press!
The cover, Ricochet the legal man. The count to new tag…
Oh, so close!
-Oh, wow. -[Percy] That was a smart move by Hanson.
Just tackling Black just right through the cover.
[Nigel] Black and Ricochet giving The War Raiders their absolute best.
[Mauro] You have to believe there's no kicking out of a black mass
followed by a shooting star press, and Ricochet going back to the top.
Going back to his office in the penthouse of NXT.
Ah, oh! Looking for the 630, but he hit hard water.
And now it's Aleister Black with a moonsault,
but narrowly escaped by Hanson.
Oh, and Hanson just wiping out Black with the clothesline.
And War Raiders have taken over.
[Nigel] Hanson, the fresher of the two champions.
[Percy] Tag made. Hanson in. This could be it.
[Mauro] But Ricochet, knowing what's at stake,
able to summon up an extra kick.
Avoids that spinning kick.
But the pop up Thor's hammer delivered by The War Raiders
and a tope suicida to Aleister Black.
[grunts]
[Nigel] Ricochet.
[Mauro] Incredible performance by Rowe and Hanson.
[Percy] Raiders looking to seal the deal.
[Mauro] Fall out! Fall out!
[crowd] One, two, three!
[Mauro] War Raiders folded up Ricochet like an envelope, sealing the deal…
[female announcer] Your winners and still NXT Tag Team Champions,
War Raiders.
[rock music playing]
[Percy] You talked about a hardcore match.
Even as talented as Ricochet and Aleister Black,
still yet wasn't enough to defeat The War Raiders.
[Mauro] A Tag Team thriller to kick off the biggest event in NXT history,
In front of a record crowd at Barclays Center of over 15,600 and change,
and they are
sitting agog at what they just displayed here tonight. War Raiders are a force.
[Nigel] A cacophony of war chants throughout
the NXT universe as Hanson and Rowe reclaim their titles.
Take a look at the look on Aleister Black there.
Wham! He knew what was coming. Rowe did not.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] And here a thing of beauty, precise action.
Look at the way Black stood guard to block the defense,
but it was Hanson who drove Black in to break up the pinfall attempt.
[Mauro] And The War Raiders, well, Ricochet on the verge here.
[Percy] Ricochet looking for the 630.
But no one was home. And this was the huge
turning point for The War Raiders right here, looking to seal the deal.
Ricochet left defenseless. The double cover by the NXT Tag Team Champions,
and they retained right here in New York.
[Mauro] War Raiders continuing to remove all obstacles like snow plow parents.
But let's not forget, Ricochet and Aleister Black came so close
and they've earned the respect of War Raiders.
And On Sunday at WrestleMania,
Black and Ricochet have an opportunity to become SmackDown Tag Team champs.
[Nigel] An opportunity just two days away. But tonight,
as you said, Mauro, a moment of respect between four gladiators.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] This is what makes NXT so special. The ultimate proving ground.
[Percy] That's definitely what you like to see, sportsmen going at it.
It's all about the competition. But tonight was War Raiders' night.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Wow. The ultimate show of respect by the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Knowing that this is the swan song for two of the most superlatively
talented superstars to ever represent the Black and Gold.
[Nigel] One more look at this.
Oh, the impact and the power off the top rope.
[Percy] One more time, another angle. Look at the impact right here
from the back of the neck of the one and only Ricochet, which led to his demise
and the victory by The War Raiders.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] A fantastic title defense for Rowe and Hanson,
solidifying their status as the top team in NXT.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[applause]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] You deserve it, you deserve it!
[Batista] There is nothing that this man hasn't done in this business,
except beat me.
Hey, Hunter.
Do I have your attention now? Huh?
[Triple H] You attacked a 70-year old man, and I'm supposed to hand you stuff?
I am not giving you a damn thing except the beating you deserve.
Pay attention. I'm going to end his in-ring career.
You know what I want. I want you at WrestleMania.
We're going to do this on my terms.
[Triple H] It might be on your terms, but the match will be on mine.
[Batista] There will be no hold score.
[man] We want to give a special thanks to Disturbed for "Are you ready?"
One of the official theme songs of NXT TakeOver: New York.
Available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Disturbed "Are you ready?" playing]
[Mauro] It was supposed to be the culmination of the most intense rivalry
in NXT history.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT title. Ciampa underwent neck surgery.
Gargano preparing for the biggest night of his life.
[Nigel] Johnny Gargano hopes to win championship gold tonight.
We see there another champion, NXT Women's Champion Toni Storm,
along with NXT UK newcomer Piper Niven.
They will be watching the NXT Women's Championship match later tonight.
-[crowd cheering] -[rock music playing]
[Mauro] And for a superstar who doesn't like to share the spotlight,
Velveteen Dream has had trouble with Matt Riddle openly courting
the Dream's North American Championship.
Can Dream be the man to end The Original Bro's unbeaten record?
Or will it be dream over for the sartorial superstar, Velveteen Dream?
[rock music playing]
[soft music playing]
[man 1] The Velveteen Dream, NXT's Prince without the crown.
[man 2] Whoever wins this tournament,
you get to challenge a champion of your choice.
[man 3] Nothing could stop Velveteen Dream, his next experience could be one
-that puts gold around his waist. -The dream wants you.
[man 1] February 20th, NXT Full Sail University. It was all but a dream.
[Mauro] Purple Rainmaker! Another rain begins!
[soft music playing]
[Velveteen] The Velveteen Dream is your new NXT North American Champion.
[Matt] Bro.
Bro. I want to get a closer look at that North American Championship.
The Dream is not your bro. Here's a reminder.
The spotlight belongs to me.
[Matt] When he won the North American Championship, I saw my opportunity.
What have you done to get the Dream's attention?
[Matt] I knew he wouldn't be able to resist,
because he loves to be in the spotlight,
and he knows if he's in the ring with me, he's in the biggest spotlight of them all.
[Velveteen] The Dream just had to know, what's all the hype about?
The Dream came, front row and center.
And Matt, you didn't disappoint the Dream. No, you did not.
That's why the Dream gave you the biggest highlight of your NXT career.
Dream said your name.
Ladies and gentlemen, your winner and the man who gets to journey
to TakeOver: New York to face your Velveteen Dream,
Matthew Riddle!
[Matt] Well, he might be a dream, but I think The Bro is his nightmare.
I want to beat the best in the world, and Dream is one of the best in the world,
but he's not the best in the world. I think he can be better.
And he's focused too much on the experience.
Matt Riddle, you are a poser, because you want to pose with the Velveteen Dream's
North American Championship. And that was not a pose.
At best, photo shop.
TakeOver: New York. The Original Bro finds himself looking up,
no, not at the bright lights of New York City,
but the spotlight that is the NXT North American Champion.
[Matt] I'm gonna be the one with my hand raised,
wearing the crown as the North American Champion.
Dream over.
[crowd cheering]
[Matt] Bro.
[crowd cheering]
[hip hop music playing]
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT North America Championship.
Introducing a challenger from Las Vegas, Nevada,
weighing in at 216 pounds, "The Original Bro",
Matt Riddle.
[Mauro] And just like basketball whiz-kid, Zion Williamson, is expected to make
an immediate impact in the NBA,
the same was expected when Matt Riddle signed with NXT.
And with all due respect, to New York's public enemy, guys, believe the hype
when it comes to The Original Bro.
Riddle has thus far been as good as advertised,
and thus far he's been unbeaten.
[Percy] This man's also been talking on Twitter. He's been counting down the days
he gets to lock horns with the Velveteen Dream.
He just wanted to see what the North American title will look like
around his waist. He's got a good opportunity
to leave out of New York with the North American title.
[hip hop music playing]
[Percy] NXT TakeOver: New York is brought to you by DAZN.
Stream over 100 fights a year. Sign up now at dazn.com.
And by Orange Vanilla Coke. Yeah, you heard that right.
[Mauro] And here in the Big Apple,
The Original Bro, Matt Riddle, sporting the Yankee pinstripes and…
Well, he'll be definitely trying to emulate his favorite Bronx Bombers
by dropping some bombs on Velveteen Dream tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[soft music playing]
[man] Velveteen Dream.
[upbeat music playing]
[female announcer] And his opponent from Capitol Hill, Washington DC,
weighing in at 217 pounds, he is the NXT North American Champion,
the Velveteen Dream.
[Mauro] WrestleMania weekend kicking off with NXT's version of Game of Thrones and
North American Champion Velveteen Dream. A proud American is sitting on his, Nigel.
[Nigel] From sea to shining sea,
a statuesque physique of Velveteen Dream, the North American Champion.
[Percy] Do you see this? Are you kidding me?
It's the statue of Velveteen Dream. This man is a symbol of hope.
He's a symbol of freedom. He is the North American Champion. Check him out.
[Mauro] One of the NXT loud things is
Billy Eilish's "You Should See Me in a Crown".
Well, we are seeing Velveteen Dream in his, the American meme.
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music playing]
[Mauro] Wow.
[Percy] I cannot believe this dude. I mean, this dude, Loves Me Some Me.
[Mauro] A silhouette of patriotism, exhibited by the pugilistic provocateur.
There is only one Velveteen Dream, and tonight he set sail in his maiden voyage,
defending the North American title against Matt Riddle.
[Nigel] He does not seem too impressed with the sartorial superstar.
[Percy] That's because Matt Riddle expects just this from the Velveteen Dream.
He knows he's going to get a show.
Velveteen Dream wants the spotlight on him.
He wants all the world to see.
[Mauro] And you talked about the future is now for NXT.
Velveteen Dream in his early 20s,
Matt Riddle, one of the most highly prized free agent signings.
Undefeated and an opportunity to win his first title here tonight.
[Nigel] You'd have to think this is going to be the biggest night
of Matt Riddle's career. Never competed in front of a crowd this size.
[Mauro] Yes, he was a professional mixed martial artist, but this,
this is next level for Matt Riddle,
who took to Sports Entertainment like a fish to water.
And here he is, in Brooklyn, in front of an NXT record-crowd,
WrestleMania weekend.
Velveteen Dream defending the North American title against The Original Bro.
[crowd cheering]
Bro, Bro, Bro!
[Nigel] The NXT universe is somewhat split.
[Percy] Velveteen Dream is going to be on point here tonight.
[crowd shouting]
[Percy] Keep in mind, Matt Riddle's got one of the fastest wins in NXT history.
[Nigel] Knockout knee strike against Kassius Ohno.
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] Bro bump?
Velveteen Dream, a preening cock of the walk,
who possesses intoxicating charisma, mocking Matt Riddle. Crane kick pose,
and Riddle well versed in many martial arts disciplines.
He could use that to his advantage, as he immediately does
-against the North American Champ. -[Nigel] Inside leg kick for Matt Riddle.
Electing to drive strikes from the beginning.
Oh.
Landed hard. Of course, Riddle fighting barefoot.
[Percy] Whatever game plan Dream had,
he may want to rethink it and change it up a bit.
[Mauro] Talk about the advantages that being a barefooted competitor
gives Matt Riddle.
[Nigel] Very little protection on the bones of your feet and shin as well.
[Mauro] And the traction on that mat, the waist lock takedown.
And immediately Matt Riddle looking for the double wrist lock.
Looking for the kimura on Velveteen Dream.
[Nigel] But it drives through, keep his body tight.
[Mauro] Wow!
[Percy] This is where Riddle thrives, right here on the mat.
[Nigel] If he can get the extension here, we could see a new champion.
[Mauro] Almost record-time, Percy, like he did against Kassius Ohno,
but this for much higher stakes.
And you wonder, Velveteen Dream used to getting into the mind of his opponents,
used to using that intoxicating charisma. But once that bell goes,
he's as proficient, as ruthless, and as crafty as they come.
[Nigel] Certainly is, the look on Matt's face,
he is fairly nonplussed with Velveteen Dream.
And sometimes that gets into the head of your opponent.
Much like a Nate Diaz.
[Mauro] Greco-Roman knuckle lock employed here by Velveteen Dream and Matt Riddle.
The test of strength and a stalemate thus far.
[crowd shouting]
[Nigel] Which superstar gets the better of this exchange? Oh, here we go.
[Mauro] But Riddle lands on his feet, looking for that…
Right into the armbar.
What an incredible transition by Matt Riddle. Looking for the armbar submission.
[Nigel] Seeing evidence of just how dangerous Matt Riddle is. You see there?
Ref was doing a five-count. Riddle made a tight, a slight extension on the armbar.
[Mauro] He was looking for that Russian style armbar, the belly down version.
And Velveteen Dream finds himself retreating and forced to regroup early
in this match, and yet goes back to the well.
And there's the one disadvantage of performing barefoot.
[Nigel] Exactly what I was going to say.
[Mauro] Marco Ruas strike to the foot, old school.
[Percy] Dream taking advantage of what's open, what's given to him.
[Mauro] He takes it into the streets and almost retaining the title.
Oklahoma road, shoulders are down for a two-count.
[Nigel] Plus the other disadvantages. We see another attempt.
[Mauro] Shoulders down! Matt Riddle escapes.
[Nigel] Another disadvantage of nothing on your feet is an ankle lock
much more easier to complete.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And there's a little homage to "Ravishing" Rick Rude,
and Riddle found it very rude
and now goes towards showcasing his strength and technique.
[Percy] Velveteen took too much time to gloat.
[Mauro] A testament, maybe an unorthodox tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero, maybe…
The three bro-migos coming up. Oh, no. Quick roll-up there.
Wow, what a dropkick by the Velveteen Dream.
[Nigel] Matt Riddle able to get his hands up to block some of it.
-Didn't get anything on that. -[Mauro] Counter-elbow. Wow!
And Dream all the way to the top with a double ax-handle.
-[Percy] Going back up. -[Mauro] You know that Dream
is a student of the game, patterning himself to so many legends,
and yet bringing his own unique flavor to the NXT North American Championship.
Springboard! Ax-handle across the arm of Matt Riddle, who's on the outside.
-What's Dream gonna do here? -[Percy] Oh, boy.
[crowd shouting]
[Mauro] Oh! Riddle snatched Dream.
And a German suplex on the outside of the ring.
Velveteen Dream crashing and burning.
[Nigel] Matt Riddle has got to get Velveteen Dream back inside the ring.
[Mauro] Yeah, champion's advantage.
The only way to become North American Champion via pinfall or submission, Percy.
[Percy] Dream looking for a homerun,
but Matt Riddle able to turn things around back into his favor.
The momentum now back on the side of the OG Bro.
[Nigel] And with the mats on the outside it's a very different feel to the ring.
When you've competed in the ring for so many years, you get used to that.
You get used to landing on the mat on the outside.
That could completely throw you off.
[Mauro] I was talking to… Oh, senton splash by Matt Riddle.
I was talking to him earlier today about butterflies, about nerves,
about the pressure. All he said… He looked at me and said, "Bro."
So I took that as he wasn't worried at all. Oh!
And a lightning quick offense here By Riddle.
[Nigel] Nice teep kick. Looked for another strike. That one landed.
[Mauro] Unorthodox kick employed by The Original Bro.
Picking up a head of steam, flying forearm to the jaw of the Velveteen Dream.
And another one, keeping Dream in the corner. Exploder suplex by Riddle.
[Nigel] The champion is stunned.
-[crowd cheering] -[grunts]
[Mauro] Wow, the athleticism and agility and that timing.
He catches him with a broton.
Oh, what a kick. Penalty kick by Riddle, and Dream is down.
We can have a new champion. Velveteen Dream just barely, barely escaped.
[Nigel] I could hear slap on the top of Riddle's foot.
Hold on a second. Could be looking for the bro-mission.
[Percy] He's trying to get it in. Velveteen's going for the block.
[Mauro] Velveteen Dream has scouted this maneuver, knows that it's Matt Riddle's…
-[Nigel] Trying for double wristlock. -[Mauro] And now looking for the armbar.
Gable grip employed here by Velveteen Dream.
And let's hope Velveteen Dream's grip is like a pistachio nut,
otherwise he's going to be in trouble.
-[Nigel] Look how aggressive Riddle is. -[Percy] Think about how many times that
the bottom rope has saved Velveteen Dream in this match.
It's been about three times already.
[Mauro] Velveteen Dream has had to resort to plans B, C, and D already,
unable to get on track. Wow, the strength of The Original Bro.
Oh!
[Nigel] Again, the ropes coming to save the champion.
That's an interesting difference between Sports Entertainment and MMA.
Matt Riddle never would have had to deal with that in MMA.
In Sports Entertainment, anytime his opponent gets the ring,
he's forced to break the hold.
[Mauro] Unless he competed in an old school contest.
German suplex by the Velvet Dream! Riddle with the jumping knee strike!
Remember that's what put away Kassius Ohno.
It could be on the cusp of falling away. Velveteen Dream…
[Nigel] We could have a new champion. Oh!
[Mauro] Fisherman buster almost led to a new North American Champion being crowned,
as Matt Riddle continues to crown Velveteen Dream.
[Nigel] As this match has developed, Matt Riddle has just gone from confidence
-to confidence. -[Percy] Speaking of that,
it's funny watching Matt Riddle, he's such a laid back, charismatic, easy going guy.
Until that bell rings.
[Mauro] Guys, Velveteen Dream was not expecting this, as he gets another broton
delivered across his midsection. And Velveteen Dream is bamboozled.
He's befuddled, he's been bedeviled by Matt Riddle.
[Nigel] And great strategy from The Original Bro from the outset.
[Mauro] But he is literally manhandling the NXT North American Champion,
now wanting to stretch him like a silly buddy.
Good escape though by Velveteen Dream, that gets to the ropes again.
Showcasing the champions ring IQ, ground and pound for Matt Riddle.
[Nigel] He's got to be careful here,
does not want to let frustrations get the better of him,
and lose this match by disqualification.
[Mauro] You bring up a salient point, Nigel.
It seems that there may be a crack in the stoic veneer of Matt Riddle.
[Percy] You guys think Velveteen Dream
might have taken Matt Riddle lightly coming into this match?
[Nigel] I think Dream just got caught off guard. A sleeper hold attempt.
[Mauro] His own version of the Million Dollar Dream, as Velveteen Dream…
-Wow, what a counter by Riddle. -[Nigel] Oh, beautiful.
Riddle driving with his hips to keep his own shoulders off the mat
in that pinfall attempt.
[Mauro] Oh, looking for the hanging armbar now, and the triangle armbar here.
-[Nigel] Doesn't have full… -[Mauro] So Matt Riddle's resorting
to his MMA bag of tricks to try to become NXT North American Champion.
[Nigel] Dream is in trouble.
[Mauro] He has to find a way to alleviate the pressure.
[crowd chatter]
[Nigel] See there, Riddle is trying to drive the right arm of Velveteen Dream
across his abdominal section to apply pressure.
-[Mauro] Shoulders are down! -[Percy] Dream on a steep.
[Mauro] Velveteen Dream picking up Matt Riddle.
-A cord knee strike. -[Percy] I think it's all over for him.
[Mauro] Go to sleep. And a German suplex with a bridge.
-[Nigel] This is it! -[Mauro] Matt Riddle!
So close to recording the biggest win of his massive NXT career.
[Percy] He just got to keep going. He's got Dream reeling.
[Nigel] Again, as I said before, Riddle cannot get frustrated.
He has the champion on the ropes.
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] But the big problem for the NXT North American Champion
Velveteen Dream is he's been unable to avoid this offensive onslaught.
He's been able to escape to try to regroup,
to try to find a different strategy.
And he is eating nasty knees from Riddle.
[Nigel] Dream almost unable to get his arms up
to protect himself at this juncture.
-[Mauro] A trifecta terror. -[Matt] Bad decision, Dream.
I'm the bro that runs the show.
[Mauro] Riddle saying he's the bro that runs the show.
Velveteen Dream beat Johnny Gargano to become the NXT North American Champion.
Gargano went cold to close the show,
but Riddle would like to steal it here and become…
-[Percy] Oh, hold on, hold on! -[Mauro] Dream is hulking up!
[crowd booing]
[Mauro] The Dream is hulking up in New York.
[Percy] Here comes Dream.
[Nigel] When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside,
-Velveteen Dream… -[Mauro] Big boot to the face.
Velveteen Dream turning the tables in a hurry.
[Percy] Velveteen Dream has had enough.
[Mauro] We know that Hulk Hogan will be inducting
Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake in the Hall of Fame.
Well, Velveteen Dream would like to induct Matt Riddle
in his own personal Hall of Shame.
[Percy] Going up top once again! Here we go!
[Mauro] Ax-handle from the Dream.
[Nigel] This time Velveteen Dream landing perfectly.
[Mauro] And Velveteen Dream finding that proverbial second wind, famouser.
For Billy Gunn inducted tomorrow. What?
Matt Riddle just barely escaped.
DX will be going into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.
[Nigel] A long way down. A lot of impact with the double ax-handle.
But Dream now slow to get to the top rope.
-Is this a mistake this late in the match? -[Mauro] A Dickensian turn of events.
The best of times, the worst of times for both superstars.
And right now it's Velveteen Dream with victory in his sight.
Oh, what a counter by Riddle!
[Nigel] It's Riddle in now back in offense.
Surely now the champion ready to be beat. No!
-[Mauro] Code-breaker by Velveteen Dream! -[Percy] Riddle's out!
[Mauro] Riddle could be out for the countdown.
An explosive kick out by Matt Riddle,
to show the NXT universe there's still plenty of fight left in The Original Bro.
[Nigel] Dream had expended so much energy, he was unable to get enough body weight
across the shoulders of Matt Riddle, which allowed Riddle to kick out.
-[Mauro] Oh! Counter. -[Percy] Smart move by Riddle.
-[Mauro] Ankle lock. -[Nigel] Oh, yes.
-[Mauro] Ankle lock. -[Nigel] Drags Dream back into the center.
[Percy] Bottom rope can't save Dream now.
[Mauro] Is the dream over for the North American Champion?
[Percy] He may tap, he may tap right here.
[Mauro] It's Matt Riddle about to become the king of New York?
[Velveteen screaming]
-[Mauro] Another counter. -[Nigel] And the other leg.
Beautiful creativity and awareness from Riddle.
[Mauro] Fluidity to his offense that belies his years of experience.
Oh, the roll up!
[Matt screaming]
[Mauro] Oh, Velveteen Dream lands on his feet, delivers a stunning superkick.
Dream DDT!
This could be it!
Matt Riddle could be tasting defeat for the first time.
-[Nigel] Wait a second. -[Mauro] We are in the midst
of a purple rain. Oh, and we could
be seeing Velveteen Dream delivering the devastating dream valley driver.
[Nigel] And the momentum propels Velveteen Dream to the top rope.
-[Percy] You know he's got in mind now. -[Mauro] Purple Rainmaker!
Countered by Riddle.
Riddle has the bro-mission employed!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Is Dream going to tap?
Dream is doing a good job of fighting it off. And breaks the hold.
[Nigel] Riddle was unable to get the foot extension. And again,
Dream saved by the ropes.
[Mauro] Into the ropes, as Riddle looking to break Dream's hold on the gold.
Instead it was Velveteen Dream
breaking the grip of Riddle. Riddle on the second rope.
[Nigel] Wait a second. Surely not.
[Percy] Oh my God. Whoa!
[Mauro] My God!
Unbelievable show of strength, and will this propel Matt Riddle?
-The floating bro! The floating bro! -[Percy] We have a new champ!
[Mauro] Dream is down, but not out. Down, but not out.
[Nigel] How on earth is Velveteen Dream still in this?
[crowd cheering]
[Percy] Look at this. Look at the power of Matt Riddle.
We thought this was over. The entire arena thought it was over.
And Matt Riddle going for the proverbial nail in the coffin.
Hits this, X marks the spot. But Velveteen Dream is still not done.
[Nigel] What is Dream doing? He wants more.
-Beckoned Riddle in. -[Mauro] Oh, slap.
Super kick by Velveteen Dream.
Riddle lands on his feet.
Oh! Powerbomb by Matt Riddle and a flash knee.
[Nigel] That's got to be it.
[Mauro] But not enough to put away the Velveteen Dream.
-[Percy] Look at Riddle! -[Mauro] Bro-mission!
-[Nigel] He's gonna tap! -[Percy] Dream's gonna tap.
[Mauro] Well, there… Riddle…
unceremoniously tapping the chest of the Velveteen Dream.
-[Percy] Hold on! -[Mauro] His shoulders are down!
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] Your winner and still NXT North American Champion,
the Velveteen Dream.
[Mauro] And the look on Matt Riddle's face says it all.
Velveteen Dream with the element of surprise.
And he maintains the prize known as the NXT North American Championship.
But Velveteen Dream had to overcome more adversity than ever before in his career.
[Nigel] Certainly did. That explains the look of disbelief
on the face of Matt Riddle. Frustration now.
He knows that he had the majority of the offense in the match.
Time and time again, the champion had to get to the ropes.
Time and time again, Riddle within a fraction of a second of prying
that North American title from around the waist of Velveteen Dream.
But ultimately Riddle got overzealous when he had
the bro-mission on, and that gave the opportunity for Velveteen Dream
to slip out the proverbial back door.
[Mauro] Hey, Percy, Matt Riddle has definitely arrived,
but the NXT North American title still belongs to the Velveteen Dream.
And now, with Riddle's undefeated streak broken, while it may not
be the case right now, he could take this as a learning experience.
There is some weight now off his back that he doesn't have to worry about
protecting that undefeated streak.
[Percy] I'm sure Matt Riddle is one of the live mismatch
for the North American Championship. But I guarantee it won't be the last time
the Velveteen Dreams sees Matt Riddle.
Going down the stretch, anybody would have thought that this was Matt Riddle's match,
that he would have walked away with the North American title.
But the craftiness, the intelligence, wise beyond this years,
Velveteen Dream found a way to walk out of New York
holding his title, North American Championship.
[Mauro] Velveteen Dream won the first World's Collide,
the tournament featuring stars of NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live.
With that came the opportunity to choose the title of his choosing.
He chose Johnny Gargano's North American title, and Velveteen Dream
on this night, showing everyone why he is
the NXT North American Champion. Dream on.
[upbeat music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Wow, a night of respect here on NXT's biggest stage.
But Nigel, how do you spell NXT North American Champion? D-R-E-A-M.
[Nigel] That was almost a nightmare though for the Velvety Dream
for the majority of the matches. We saw there
the high-angle German suplex, and then, what you call this move?
-The floating bro. -[Mauro] The floating bro,
a moonsault twisting into the senton, that came from the man himself.
[Nigel] A deep hook on the leg as well with the pinfall attempt,
a lot of mustard behind the kick out.
[Mauro] wasn't talking about Becky Lynch, although I'm impressed
with what they're doing on Sunday.
But you have to be impressed with what both Riddle and Dream did here tonight.
[Percy] How can you not be?
They put on an absolute show for the ages right here.
And right here is where we all
thought Matt Riddle, we thought the title was going to exchange hands.
But again, the Velveteen Dream is so slippery, so crafty.
He was able to turn this thing around at the very last second.
And look at the look of surprise in the face of Matt Riddle. That says it all.
[Nigel] Absolutely. You can see Matt Riddle made the one mistake.
He released the body scissors,
and that allowed Velveteen Dream to back-roll into the pinfall attempt.
[Mauro] Velveteen Dream always provides major star wattage in any NXT cottage.
He is the Velveteen Dream, NXT North American Champion.
[upbeat music playing]
[soft music playing]
[man 1] Seth Rollins has won the Royal Rumble match.
Who will Rollins choose?
[man 2] The last thing Seth Rollins wants to do
is to get into a fight with the Beast.
[upbeat music playing]
[Billie Eilish "You Should See Me in a Crown" playing]
[Mauro] New York City, where so many crowns are on the line.
WrestleMania weekend, including five championship matches
-here at TakeOver: New York. -[Nigel] And this is one of them.
Adam Cole's assertion that the Undisputed Era will be draped in gold in 2019.
Look like a fool's errand after they lost the Tag Team Titles.
But winning the Fatal 5-Way, way to get tonight's opportunity.
Cole has the chance to lead by example,
and grace the most prestigious title on NXT over his shoulder.
[Mauro] And the gold standard in Sports Entertainment NXT,
well, has just signed another renowned Japanese sensation, Kushida,
making it official with Triple H and William Regal.
And there he is,
the six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champ from the land of the rising sun.
I had the pleasure of calling Kushida's matches in the past.
And none other than Triple H told me that he coveted Kushida for a long time.
And we are super excited to welcome to the Black and Gold family.
[Nigel] Talking of welcoming to the Black and Gold family, two NXT UK superstars
tonight compete for the WWE United Kingdom Championship.
Historically Pete Dunne has struggled with larger opponents.
Tonight he faces his largest.
Will the gargantuan Austrian Ring General be the man who ends the most impressive
title reign of the modern era?
[rock music playing]
[man 1] Since May of 2017 at TakeOver: Chicago, one thing has remained the same.
[man 2] A new WWE United Kingdom Champion.
[man 3] Pete Dunne has been an absolutely dominant United Kingdom Champion.
-[Mauro] Bitter end! -[man 4] Danny for a chest attack.
[Mauro] Pete Dunne rotates.
[man 5] The fingers being bent back. Joe Coffey taps out.
[Mauro] The legend of Bruiserweight continues to grow.
[man 6] Closing in at nearly 700 days.
[Pete] I am still the WWE United Kingdom Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[man 7] Still your champion is "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne.
[suspension music playing]
[Nigel] It's him! It's Walter!
[crowd cheering]
[man 8] What does this mean for Pete Dunne and his hold
on the WWE United Kingdom title?
[man 9] This man punishes you. He is so precise and so violent.
[man 10] Oh! Good Lord.
[speaking German]
[man 11] Superstar who have titles in Germany, England and Ireland.
He has brought that dominance to NXT UK.
[Nigel] There is a new man in town, and his name is Walter.
Give me Walter.
[man 12] What a championship match.
[Nigel] One man clearly has his sights on that title.
[upbeat music playing]
[Pete] I am the Bruiserweight, and NXT UK belongs to me.
And the WWE United Kingdom Championship is and always will be mine.
[crowd cheering]
[Walter] Pete.
[crowd chatter]
[speaking German]
Your time is up.
And in New York City, the reign of The Bruiserweight will end.
Because this title is mine.
[upbeat music playing]
[man 13] European wrestling has been waiting.
The world has been waiting. Walter versus Dunne.
[music fading away]
-[crowd cheering] -[suspension music playing]
[Nigel] The opening notes of the fourth movement
of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" that inspired the theme to Jaws.
Only fitting for this megalodon of a man from Austria who has taken huge bites
out of the NXT UK roster.
And now faces the man on top of the pile, The Bruiserweight Pete Dunne.
[Mauro] Walter proving to be a conductor of a symphony of destruction
during his short tenure in NXT UK.
[suspension music playing]
[crowd cheering]
Speaking of NXT UK, proud to welcome the voice of NXT UK, Vic Joseph, and Vic,
couldn't be a bigger night for the NXT UK Championship.
Why is the walking doomsday clock Walter
being hailed as Pete Dunne's biggest threat?
He absolutely is Pete Dunne's biggest threat.
I'm amazed that we're here tonight. I'm excited to be here.
The pure presence of Walter is what makes him a threat.
What we have seen, Nigel, in a very short time
-is utter dominance by The Ring General. -[Nigel] It's been absolutely incredible.
A man of very few words, but absolutely devastating actions.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] 685 days, that is how long The Bruiserweight Pete Dunne
has been United Kingdom Champion.
-[crowd cheering] -[rock music playing]
[Vic] And you can see in the eyes of the WWE United Kingdom Champion, and Nigel,
we've had the opportunity on NXT UK every Wednesday, streaming
right here on the WWE Network to witness Pete Dunne
continue this reign that you guys talk about.
Think about this now.
He has held on to the championship longer than Brock Lesnar's
universal reign, longer than AJ Styles' historic reign of WWE Champions.
Even Asuka here on NXT. Pete Dunne has surpassed them all.
[Mauro] And doing it in his early 20s, living up to the prodigy status,
and he is more focused than a laser, Nigel.
Having to retain that title night in and night out.
And again, entering tonight, it has been nearly two years.
[Nigel] Absolutely incredible "statastic". Statistic, excuse me.
Pete Dunne has raised the prestige and the visibility
of the United Kingdom Championship.
[crowd] Bruiserweight, Bruiserweight!
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE United Kingdom Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] Introducing the challenger from Vienna, Austria,
weighing in at 297 pounds, Walter.
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And his opponent from Birmingham, England,
weighing in at 205 pounds,
he is the WWE United Kingdom Champion,
"The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Bruiserweight, Bruiserweight!
[Vic] You can feel the energy in here, guys. WrestleMania weekend kicking off.
WWE United Kingdom title on the line. I propose this question to both of you.
Is Pete Dunne the underdog in this matchup?
[Nigel] I think with the experience that Pete Dunne has over all these days,
weeks, and months as champion, there's no way he's an underdog to anyone.
But I would say it's 50/50.
Because this man, I think is going to be a big trouble for The Bruiserweight.
[Mauro] You can join the conversation on social media, #NXTUKTITLE.
Walter already proving to be
scarier than the shadow monster, casting sinister shadow in the ring.
And what do you look for early in this matchup, Nigel?
[Nigel] For me, I think we're gonna see Walter try to
exert his size and strength advantage against Pete Dunne.
[Vic] Well done. Giving up nearly 100 pounds to Walter in this matchup.
And again, guys, let's remember it was Pete Dunne who wanted this matchup.
[Mauro] "Give me Walter." After of course, Walter making an immediate impact
at NXT UK Blackpool, the TakeOver event.
[Vic] And Nigel, you and I were sitting there calling that matchup.
Pete Dunne victorious again. And then Walter coming out.
Do you think that kind of upset the champion?
[Nigel] I think to some extent. I mean, Pete Dunne is a man who's…
It's tough to catch him off-guard.
[Mauro] Instead of going for a test of strength against the much bigger Walter,
Pete Dunne showing off his craftiness. But look at Walter.
No nonsense. Catch wrestler.
[Vic] Right in the middle of the ring, Dunne doing his best.
[Nigel] He's not letting go for sure. Dunne escaped that to a toe-and-ankle.
[Vic] And Dunne now cranking the left ankle of Walter.
Smart strategy, Nigel. Chop down the bigger competitor.
[Nigel] Absolutely. Try to take out the legs under this big man.
[Mauro] And of course, Dunne, a master of joint manipulation.
Walter hoping to be the master here tonight.
[Nigel] Walter at 6 foot 4 inches, 297.
But it looks perhaps he's trained a little bit light for this match.
Perhaps he realized this could go long, and he wanted to have the cardio.
[Vic] You've mentioned that in the past, the cardio of Walter,
if he was to go in the ring with Pete Dunne heading into this matchup…
There's Dunne with that joint manipulation model that you brought up,
trying to focus on the left hand and bending back.
[Mauro] As a vegan, it's surprising that Dunne has a propensity for finger food.
Loves to just work the hands.
And now Walter trying to stave off that attempt.
[Vic] And Walter was looking for one of the big chops and strikes early.
[Nigel] One of the trademarks of The Ring General.
-He learned Firsthand from Kenta Kobashi. -[Mauro] Yes, the Japanese legend.
We have seen Walter punish opponents undefeated in NXT UK competition.
Now tossing around round Dunne.
[Nigel] Look at the look of the face on Pete Dunne.
Feeling firsthand that strength and that power disadvantage again.
[Mauro] But give credit to the champion.
He's not backing down from Walter. And whoa!
He avoids that lightning shot by Walter.
Walter looking to light Dunne up like Times Square here in New York.
And Dunne says, "None of that."
You would think a match of this magnitude, Vic,
both of them have done their homework,
studied hours upon hours of tape, knowing what tonight means to NXT UK.
[Vic] Absolutely. This is allowing NXT UK, the brand itself,
to be put on a whole new platform here at TakeOver,
as we mentioned, WrestleMania weekend.
And, Nigel, going back to the start of this matchup,
who does this slow start help? Walter more, or does it help Pete Dunne?
[Nigel] The way that this is starting has certainly been to the advantage of Walter,
because he's maintained that advantage, making it difficult
for Bruiserweight to breathe, but here throwing a…
-[Mauro] A chop connects. -[Nigel] Bang!
[Mauro] Down goes Dunne. And look at Dunne's face.
And now Walter turning up the aggression for a moment.
[Nigel] What will be interesting in this match, as you mentioned, Vic,
the aggression of Walter. Oh, and again the chop.
[Mauro] Every chop is knocking Pete Dunne down. Let's make note of that.
[Nigel] You mentioned how Dunne earlier
likes to attack the fingers and the joints.
He also likes to hit the bitter end to beat opponents.
Can he get 300 pounds up to do it?
[Vic] Walter into the cover for a moment and Dunne doing the wise thing,
able to roll through for just a moment.
But now wearing down Dunne center of the ring. And you talked about all
the grueling matches Pete Dunne has had.
[Mauro] Walter simply overpowering Pete Dunne here, modified scarf hold.
And again, the number one trend worldwide, #NXTTAKEOVER, where we
are showcasing the most dominant champion right now at Sports Entertainment.
-That being the UK Champ, Pete Dunne. -[Vic] Dunne going up and over Pete Dunne,
now trying to use his quickness here and charges in.
-What a clothesline. -[Mauro] What? Against any mere mortal
that would have been a devastating… What a big drop, the agility of Walter!
-Wow! -[Vic] And Walter now trying to follow up,
grabbing on to the United Kingdom Champion in placing… Oh!
Where's Walter going?
[Mauro] It's like a thunderclap, those chops. Wow!
[grunts]
[referee] Come on, get him out of there.
[Mauro] What an incredible athlete, the Austrian anomaly Walter.
One name says it all.
And he wants to be the one representing NXT UK moving forward.
First goes Dunne.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Walter said he was going to end The Bruiserweight tonight.
[Nigel] It's up, Pete Dunne. Your time is up.
The clock is ticking.
[Vic] And Walter methodically, look at the face on Pete Dunne.
And again, we have seen Pete Dunne in plenty of wars in NXT UK,
but he has never faced anyone the likes of the ring.
[Mauro] Plenty of wars in NXT period. He has faced a murderers' row,
including all members of the Undisputed Era.
And he has retained the title against some of the toughest competition anywhere.
But he may be in super tough tonight against Walter.
[Vic] And now it's Walter cranking on the left ankle of Pete Dunne.
And if you go back, it wasn't long ago, just a couple of months, foot injuries,
ankle injuries for Pete Dunne. He has fought a lot.
Shoulder was down for a moment, comes up at one. Look at Dunne transitioning.
[Nigel] Escaped, trying perhaps to a knee…
[Mauro] He's got heel hook, employed by Pete Dunne, and Walter center of the ring.
And look at Walter, just the size of Walter.
Dunne not letting go. Continuing to crank on the left ankle now feet to the face.
[Nigel] Now for the first time in the match,
Pete Dunne has his opponent down to his size of the match.
[Vic] After that last chop, the hold broken.
And now it's Walter trying to turn over Pete Dunne.
And he does it in a Boston crab.
[Nigel] How deep The Ring General has sat.
[Vic] Is Pete Dunne going to tap out? Look at the face,
the vein in the middle of the forehead.
And Dunne continuing to fight, now crawling to the bottom rope.
And Dunne gets there. Walter breaks the hold.
[Mauro] Ring presence of Pete Dunne,
showing his resiliency and already realizing that
Walter hits with the force of a natural catastrophe, as Pete Dunne has definitely
tasted the ungodly power of Walter. And he's about to do it again.
[crowd chatter]
[Nigel] Official telling Walter, "Get Pete Dunne back inside of the ring."
That's good advice. Can't win the championship on the out…
[Vic] Oh, wait a minute. Dunne catches Walter.
And now Pete Dunne trying to bend back the fingers again.
The right hand this time being bent, and Walter with a right foot.
[Mauro] And that sends Pete Dunne crashing to the outside.
[Vic] But Walter now has to remember,
he's got to be able to get Pete Dunne back into the ring.
Title cannot change hands on a countdown. Listen to this. Bam!
[Mauro] Pete Dunne cannot get going. He is unable to get on track
in this NXT UK Championship title defense.
[Nigel] I mentioned it before,
how Pete Dunne has had trouble with bigger, more powerful opponents.
You think of the big Scott, Joe Coffey,
that match at TakeOver: Blackpool.
[Mauro] Walter with Ring General written across his trunks.
Vic, he is living up to the moniker and then some.
[Vic] Absolutely. And right now, again,
just beating down the WWE United Kingdom Champion.
That being Pete Dunne. But look at the eyes, look at the grit.
The determination on a champion, who has held the title for 685 days.
[Nigel] The determination of The Bruiserweight, who grew up in a tough…
[Vic] There we go! Dunne unleashing now, unleashing a flurry onto Walter.
[Mauro] But Walter stopping Dunne in his tracks.
And there's the agility up and done on display.
[Vic] It's a enziguri connects. Walter is rocked.
Can Dunne get the big man up and over? Walter standing switch.
Dunne lands on his feet, and Dunne connects.
[Mauro] And there's a show of Pete Dunne's power.
And it sends Walter rolling to the outside.
[Nigel] The experience of Walter rolling immediately outside,
knowing he was in trouble.
[Vic] We have never seen Walter in this position,
as Dunne continuing to use his momentum. A moonsault to the floor.
[Mauro] And Pete Dunne wipes out Walter, and guys, Vic,
this is what it's going to take for Pete Dunne to prevail.
He has to utilize the ropes. He has to utilize his speed.
[Vic] He's got to use everything to his advantage.
The environment around him to take out Walter as the referee is up to five.
Championship cannot change hands on a countout.
Walter is in at seven. Pete Dunne's a fighting champion.
And look at Dunne, walking right back into the ring.
[Nigel] Look where he's going, to the top rope.
That's an interesting strategy at this juncture in the match.
And it's not paying off, because big Walter caught him.
[Mauro] Chop by Walter. And now it's Walter going to meet Dunne on the top.
[Nigel] This could be the biggest mistake that Dunne made in the match, by going to
the top rope instead of trying to roll under the bottom ropes.
[Vic] Look at Dunne again to the fingers, to the hand,
bending back the digits of Walter.
And now Dunne up and over. Wow. Can he get Walter?
[Mauro] Walter holding on. We talked about Dunne's strength.
The Bruiserweight plants Walter! Cover to retain, and Walter kicks out.
Sitting powerbomb on the much bigger Walter by Pete Dunne.
[Vic] And again, Walter rolling to the outside.
We've never seen Walter in this condition, Nigel.
[Nigel] A couple of times now,
Walter rolling to the outside. But look at the impact, bruiser-bomb.
And that is a lot of power from Pete Dunne,
to be able to take 300 pounds halfway across the ring
and drive it into the mat with such impact.
[Mauro] To your point, Vic, I don't know if I've seen Pete Dunne
this vulnerable in an NXT UK Championship match before.
[Vic] These two superstars laying it on the line now.
Biggest stage for Pete Dunne and Walter, and Dunne all the way down!
Double foot stomp to the massive chest of Walter.
[Mauro] Sky high double foot stomp. And that will drive the wind
out of the sails of Walter. And we know how much conditioning is crucial,
-especially when you're the bigger man. -[Vic] Take a look, Nigel, at this.
[Nigel] That's got to be 10, 15 feet through the air.
You heard the impact. The double boot
into the chest, driving the wind that has just may have broken or cracked the rib.
[Vic] And again, the referee counting up to four, and Dunne
gonna get Walter right back into the ring.
Dunne doesn't want to retain this championship on a countout.
He wants to beat Walter and prove that he is the most dominant in NXT UK.
[Mauro] And wanting to do it the right way in the ring.
Wanting to win by pinfall or submission. Malfunction at the junction there.
-[Vic] Walter just hit a dropkick. -[Mauro] Shotgun dropkick by Walter!
[Vic] That's 300 pounds flying through the air.
And now Walter has the sleeper possibly locked in. Has Dunne to the top rope.
And Walter's going to have to break the hold. Whoa.
Oh, man!
Walter has Dunne, turned Dunne inside out.
-[Mauro] The no-nonsense Walter. -[Vic] Walter looking for the powerbomb.
-[Nigel] That's it, new champion! -[Mauro] Cover, and Dunne kicks out!
[Nigel] Oh, did you see the way Walter put all 300 pounds across the shoulders?
He actually came off the mat.
[Vic] We have seen Walter defeat everyone he's faced with the powerbomb.
It couldn't get the job done, yet here against Pete Dunne. What a match.
[Nigel] Forcing The Bruiserweight to expend even more energy.
And now conditioning becomes a big factor in this match.
[Mauro] And guys, what about the toll, the travel,
the pressure of being a champion for 685 days?
It has to be taxing both physically and mentally.
And again facing a threat the size of Walter,
again Dunne incredibly vulnerable here tonight.
[Vic] Walter now trying to hoist up Dunne.
What clubbing blow to the back of the champion.
Walter now. Dunne almost looks out on his feet.
What a chop!
[Mauro] Reverberating throughout the confines
of the record crowd here at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
[Nigel] Oh, wow!
Oh!
[Vic] Dunne's knees buckled. Walter stomps on the champion.
[Nigel] This display of brutality is almost ungodly.
[Mauro] Bursting the blood vessels in the chest of Pete Dunne.
Hellboy-esque right hand could be in the future of Pete Dunne.
Oh!
[Vic] And Dunne continuing to fight back. And look at Dunne again.
Unleashing flurry button chop from Walter.
[Mauro] And all it takes is one, Vic, to unequalize.
[Vic] It's the unbelievable strength in the challenger.
But Walter has not let go of the left wrist of Pete Dunne.
[Nigel] Take a look at Pete Dunne's body. It is bruises and welts all over it.
-Oh, hold on. -[Vic] Wait a minute.
Done trying to bend the hands. Trying to snap the fingers of Walter.
And now a test of strength, and Walter center of the ring.
[Nigel] Surely only one man's gonna win this.
[Mauro] Another stomp. Right to the face of the champion.
Oh, a spinning head snap, right to the throat of Pete Dunne.
[Vic] Powerbomb. Trying to connect a second time.
Step-up enziguri by Dunne. Walters down.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] NXT universe showcasing its approbation for this wrestling clinic.
[Nigel] But big Walter went down hard with that enziguri.
[crowd] Bruiserweight, Bruiserweight!
[Nigel] What a night it is for the NXT UK brand here.
[Vic] And look at Pete Dunne, the champion who has been the leader of the brand,
the cornerstone of NXT UK, taking on his biggest test to date, that being Walter.
[Nigel] Hand is trapped. Oh!
[Vic] Follow up with another kick.
And now it's Dunne again, scaling all the way to the top.
[Mauro] Speaking of scales, Walter won't be playing any concertos with
-that kind of offense from Dunne. -[Nigel] He won't be chopping
any more much if he break those fingers too.
[Vic] Now, Walter, who caught The Bruiserweight.
The massive hands now. Locking around the WWE
United Kingdom Champion, Dunne hanging out for everything right now.
[Nigel] The vice-like grip with both hands now on the turnbuckle.
-[Vic] Look at this. -[Nigel] Trying to get that sleeper hold.
He has suplexed opponents out of the sleeper hold.
[Vic] Dunne just smash Walter's hand against the post.
[Nigel] But grit and determination from the Austrian,
refusing to give up on this suplex attempt.
[Vic] Walter again.
And up and over goes Dunne.
Walter, can he get into the cover?
Are we about to witness a new WWE United Kingdom Champion?
Dunne kicks out again.
[Mauro] Dunne able to kick out from that avalanche sleeper suplex.
Incredible.
[Nigel] Just look at this vicious maneuver.
And the way Don landed, like he came out of a car in a car wreck.
Good Lord.
-[Nigel speaking German] -[Vic] You see Walter, though, guys?
He's going, he's holding his hands. He's clutching at his fist.
How much damage has been done to the massive hands of Walter?
[Mauro] And as impressive as Walter has looked,
he is yet to vanquish the United Kingdom Champion, Pete Dunne.
[Nigel] But he is getting closer. Oh, again, it's the…
[Vic] Wait a minute, it was Dunne. Dunne just caught the hand of Walter.
And again. Make a wish!
Make a wish. And again, Dunne to the fingers.
[Nigel] Now both hands damaged.
[Vic] Wait a minute. German suplex connects.
-[Nigel] Snap German. -[Vic] Dunne trying to follow up.
And crucifix pin. Shoulders down to retain. Oh, wow!
[Mauro] Dunne almost put him away with that rolling crucifix.
After Walter doing his best to crucify the United Kingdom Champion here tonight.
[Nigel] Who is going to win this and take the WWE United Kingdom Championship home?
[Mauro] A war of attrition here
in Brooklyn TakeOver: New York, WrestleMania weekend.
And the United Kingdom's…
Hey, this match already as contentious as Brexit, guys.
[Nigel] Almost a stunned silence now turns into a cacophony of respect.
[crowd] Bruiserweight, Bruiserweight!
[Vic] Oh, and look at The Bruiserweight.
[Nigel] Unprotected to the side of the jaw.
[Vic] That's right. After another, one after another by Dunne.
Walter is rocked. And now it's Walter answering back,
maybe with one last-ditch effort from both these superstars.
Dunne answers right back, repeatedly by Dunne.
[Mauro] And Dunne has the advantage.
[Vic] Dunne got caught. Is Dunne gonna tap out?
Dunne rolls his weight, rolls through that gambling. Back to the face.
[Mauro] Taking me back to the Pride Fighting
Championship days in Japan with those head stomps.
[Vic] And Walter. Oh, the fingers bent! Is Walter gonna tap out?
Is this it, is it over? Is Walter gonna give up
on the biggest stage here at TakeOver: New York? The finger being bent.
No way for Walter to let go. Is Walter gonna quit?
Will the reign continue for Pete Dunne?
[Nigel] How tough is Walter?
[Vic] Oh, Dunne continuing relentlessly.
And again, that length of Walter coming into play.
[Mauro] Yeah, his physical attributes serving him well there.
But Pete Dunne's resilience, Pete Dunne's tenacity, has given him an opportunity now
to chop Walter down to size.
[Nigel] And it has pulled The Bruiserweight back into this contest.
I mentioned earlier, if the match goes long, how that could affect
a bigger opponent like Walter.
You take a look at Walter now, starting to breathe very heavily.
[Mauro] Pete Dunne won the NXT WWE United Kingdom Championship
in the 2017 Match of the Year at TakeOver: Chicago against Tyler Bate.
Would love to retain here on the biggest stage in NXT history.
[Vic] Oh, Walter, almost an open palm strike.
Just a bare slap to Dunne. And now Dunne, and again. Oh, the champion!
-[Mauro] Oh, my God! -[Vic] Drop from the top rope.
And now… Where's Walter going?
No way. Walter all the way to the top rope.
[Nigel] If he hits this, it's only…
[Mauro] He gets caught! He gets caught! Dunne again, has Walter caught.
[Nigel] Dunne looking for the triangle.
-Gotta be careful of his shoulders. -[Mauro] The fingers again.
Walter may be out now.
Reversal by Dunne! Dunne trying to snap the fingers one more time.
[Nigel] But the strength, the strength of Walter! Look at that.
[Mauro] Walter able to fight his way free.
Oh, Walter just beating the hell out of Pete Dunne.
[Vic] At this point, Walter, almost out of sheer desperation,
was able to get out of the submission attempt by Dunne.
[Mauro] Walter proving to be a throwback to the eras led by WWE Bruno Sammartino.
[Vic] Once again it's Dunne with the left hand.
Dunne whose offense is focused around the fingers of Walter. Oh!
[Mauro] And that focus may be hurting Pete Dunne, Nigel.
[Nigel] Again going to… Oh.
Gonna get back to what brought him to the race in the first time.
[Mauro] And now it's Walter stomping away. But Dunne has not let go of the left hand.
And I wonder if he shouldn't let go, should let go of the left hand.
Try to create that separation.
-[Nigel] This is it! -[Mauro] Oh, my God!
Burning lariat by Walter!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Challenger following up.
Charges in it to a forearm.
The champion blocks Walter, clothesline takes down The Ring General and now Dunne,
second time's the charm. Bitter end connects, Pete Dunne to retain…
[crowd] One, two…
[Vic] What? Walter kicks out at two.
[Mauro] Are you kidding? Walter just kicked out of the bitter end.
That's how Dunne has retained the title on myriad of occasions.
Oh, wow. I wonder what that does to the psyche of Pete Dunne.
[Nigel] If you're Pete Dunne, what do you do now?
[Vic] You saw for a moment the eyes of Dunne
having that look that you just brought up, Nigel. What's next? What do I have to do?
Was that Dunne's best opportunity to put Walter away tonight?
[Mauro] You see it in his body language. Dunne is demoralized.
Dunne thought he was able to escape New York with the United Kingdom Championship.
[Nigel] But you can hear the NXT universe stunned as well.
I think they know we are perhaps on the verge of losing, of seeing the end
of the most historic title reign of the modern era.
[crowd chatter]
[Vic] He's done it before. He can do it again.
It is Pete Dunne, The Bruiserweight.
Can he rise to the occasion again tonight against The Ring General?
[Nigel] And Dunne met his day.
[crowd] Bruiserweight, Bruiserweight!
-[Vic] And Dunne with a forearm. -[Mauro] Wow. What a counter by Walter.
And Dunne forced to dig down deep.
The impact of those chops.
Come on!
-[Nigel] Walter wanting more beckoning. -[Mauro] Dunne said, "Give me Walter."
Walter saying, "I'm right here. Come on!"
[Walter] Come on. Come on!
[grunts]
[Nigel] And again, Walter returning fire.
[grunts]
[Vic] And now Dunne answering back.
Oh, Walter and Dunne, champion and challenger.
[Nigel] What a battle!
[Mauro] A keg of dynamite exploding here at TakeOver: New York.
[Vic] This is what NXT UK is all about.
-Oh, my God! He just got laid out. -[Nigel] He's out. Come on!
[Mauro] He is out like a light. Like a light.
[Vic] Walter to the outside. Oh, wow. Again it's Walter looking to climb.
Dunne is out. Dunne is out.
[Mauro] The crowd here at Barclays Center on its feet in anticipation
of what we potentially could witness right here, right now.
[Vic] Walter…
[Mauro] Dunne with the fingers again. And he snapped them back.
It's Dunne trying to capitalize.
[Nigel] Pete Dunne had to be playing possum, had to be lying in wait.
[Vic] It's Dunne now going to the top. Meeting Walter.
One last huge move from The Bruiserweight.
[Nigel] Trying to get up there perhaps for a hurricanrana.
[Vic] Oh, the position of that arm, could be looking…
[Nigel] Trying for a triangle. He's not going to get a submission on the ropes.
[Mauro] He's going to receive more blistering chops courtesy of Walter.
[Nigel] No, no. What have you done?
Powerbomb!
From the top.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] But look! Look!
He's back to the top!
-The champion is prone! -[Mauro] Walter, watch out!
[Vic] Hooks the leg. Walter is the new WWE United Kingdom Champion.
[female announcer] Your winner and new WWE United Kingdom Champion,
Walter.
[Vic] Walter has dethroned Dunne in New York.
[Mauro] Stunning display of power
by Walter, who becomes the new United Kingdom Champion.
But let's also not forget just how dominant
The Bruiserweight Pete Dunne was holding the title,
an astronomical 685 days.
[Vic] 685 days indeed.
And Nigel, this was the match we have been waiting for for months.
It did not disappoint on the biggest stage.
Let's go back to some of the action in this amazing
championship match. Got just absolutely absolute brutality.
[Mauro] Brutal changing of the guard is what we just witnessed.
[Nigel] The incredible brutality,
the sounds of those impacts.
A war of attrition between two gladiators.
[Vic] A turning point of the matchup. Right, bam!
That right foot laid Pete Dunne out.
Dunne would continue to show the heart of a champion.
And in the end, Walter with this huge powerbomb, boom!
Planting Dunne in the center of the ring.
And then moments later, 685 days erased by bam!
That massive splash from Walter.
[crowd] …two, three…
[Mauro] Walter delivering a bitter end
to Pete Dunne's legendary United Kingdom Championship reign.
-[applause] -[classic music playing]
[Vic] Well, no doubt there has been a seismic shift, Nigel, in NXT UK.
-The Walter era has begun. -[Nigel] You are not kidding.
Good luck stopping this mountain of a man.
What a historic moment we have just been witness to.
[Mauro] And you can hear, Vic Joseph and Nigel McGuinness, chronicle,
the exploits of Walter
and the rest of the NXT UK brand Wednesday nights on the WWE Network.
But there's the former champion, Pete Dunne.
[Vic] And let's go back again, Nigel.
We've never seen Walter go to the top rope before.
[Nigel] He knew he had to pull out all the stomps in the match.
He tried it earlier in the match. He got caught by Pete Dunne.
But when he had exhausted the champion enough for that powerbomb off the top,
he was able to beat him.
[Mauro] Walter, your new WWE United Kingdom Champion.
-[crowd chatter] -[classic music playing]
[soft music playing]
[woman 1] I don't care who I have to beat.
I am reclaiming everything they have tried to take from me.
I'm deserving.
I'm about to show you how deserving I am.
I'm going to embarrass and humiliate Charlotte and Becky
on the grandest stage of them all.
[woman 2] For the first time in 35 years,
our women will be the main event of WrestleMania.
It's winner take all.
[man] WrestleMania streaming on WWE Network. Watch anytime on demand.
[Billie Eilish "You Should See Me in a Crown" playing]
[Mauro] A special thanks to Billie Eilish for "You Should See Me in a Crown".
One of the official theme songs of NXT TakeOver: New York.
It's available now on iTunes and Spotify. And talk about kings and queens,
-Mr. McGuinness. -[Nigel] Absolutely.
A husband and wife WWE Hall of Famers.
The glamour of Beth Phoenix, of course. They will be paying very
close attention to the NXT Women's Championship match later tonight.
[Mauro] And of course, Beth Phoenix coming out of retirement teaming with Natalya,
and she will be challenging for the WWE Tag Team Titles.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And of course, Natalya's Gad Gymnit are going in the Hall of Fame,
tomorrow's part of the Hart Foundation.
[Nigel] Absolutely. But with three very credible challengers
all gunning for her title tonight, Shayna Baszler is in a tough night,
because Io Shirai, Kairi Sane, both hold victories over her.
While Belair has surveyed Baszler's Kirifuda clutch longer than anyone.
Can the Queen of Spades maintain her throne, or will we no tonight
see the end of her reign?
I want you to take a look at this championship.
Really look at it.
Look at it.
Get in on this. Zoom in on this. Look at this title.
This is the NXT Women's Championship,
held by the most dominant force this business has ever seen.
[Mauro] Shayna Baszler's a scary good champion.
[Shayna] I'm so dominant they had to stop giving me one-on-one matches
to defend this, and they're throwing three at me now.
[Disturbed "Are You Ready?" playing]
[Shayna] I don't care if it's Kairi, Bianca, or Io.
I'm ready for TakeOver: New York.
Girl. Uh-uh.
[Mauro] Kirifuda Clutch.
I'm not gonna focus on the past.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair no longer undefeated.
[Bianca] I'm focusing on the present.
[music continuing]
[Bianca] Being undefeated is a mindset.
You got Jessamyn and Marina, who have Shayna's back.
Io and Kairi are best friends. And all I have is me, myself and I.
But that's all I'm gonna need to get the NXT Women's Championship.
Because I'm undefeated.
[music continuing]
Io and I both want the NXT Women's Championship.
[music continuing]
[man] It's the genius of the sky,
Io Shirai, going to be the new NXT Women's Champion?
I will fly higher than ever as champion.
If we need to, we will fight against each other.
[music continuing]
The NXT women's title is the ultimate treasure.
[Mauro] Will Kairi Sane become a two time NXT Women's Champion?
I've heard it all before. Every word, every threat,
every broken promise from everybody in that locker room.
[Mauro] Baszler doing her best to silence everyone in the NXT Women's Division.
[Shayna] The problem is they picked three wild animals.
And this…
[Bianca] Bianca Belair is going to walk out the next NXT Women's Champion.
[Shayna] This is just a piece of red meat I need to hang in front of them.
I have been champion before.
[Shayna] What happens when you hang meat in front of a pack of wild animals?
But they've seen nothing yet.
[Shayna] I'm gonna sit back and watch them tear each other apart for this.
I am ready to take over.
[Shayna] While you hear, "And still NXT Women's Champion."
[music ends abruptly]
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music playing]
[Mauro] NXT superstar who has gotten the best of Shayna Baszler.
First in the finals of the inaugural Mae Young Classic and then to become
NXT Women's Champion.
This is Kairi Sane, The Pirate Princess.
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following Fatal 4-Way match
scheduled for one fall is for the NXT Women's Championship.
Introducing the challengers, first from Yamaguchi Japan, Kairi Sane.
[Mauro] And Percy,
The Pirate Princess has enjoyed smooth sailing here at Barclays Center.
It was at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn Four last August where she supplanted Baszler
as NXT Women's Champ.
[Percy] As you said before, she's had a great career so far.
She's in the Royal Rumble match last year,
the first ever women's battle royal at Mania last year,
won the Mae You Classic and has also held the title.
Matter of fact, she feels like she would still be NXT Women's Champion
if it wasn't for Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke interfering at Evolution.
[Nigel] To your point, Percy, and to your point, Mauro,
Kairi is going to feel a certain sense of confidence to come back
to the same venue where she won the NXT Women's Championship.
[Mauro] Amen. She is always supremely confident.
A magnetic personality, has really endeared herself to the NXT universe,
and she has said that she is here in Brooklyn to reclaim her treasure.
[crowd cheering]
[hip hop music playing]
[Mauro] Meanwhile, the EST of NXT Bianca Belair,
the last to challenge the Queen of Spades Shayna Baszler, but she fell short.
[female announcer] Next, from Knoxville, Tennessee, Bianca Belair.
[Nigel] Well, yes, Mauro, she did fall short in terms of not winning the title,
but she proved a lot to herself, to the NXT universe, to me as well.
She's battled the Kirifuda clutch longer than anybody else.
We take a look there at the tights of Bianca Belair.
[Mauro] She designs her own tights.
She's very good with a needle and thread, she says.
[Nigel] Images of all the offense against everyone of her opponents here tonight.
Will be hoping to reenact some of that offense here.
[Mauro] And as always, you need to beware the hair.
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music playing]
[female announcer] Making her way to the ring from Tokyo, Japan, Io Shirai.
[Mauro] And Percy, the genius of the sky, Io Shirai,
the lone participant in this Fatal 4-Way, who has yet to get an opportunity
at the NXT Women's Championship.
But she, along with her Sky Pirate partner, Kairi Sane,
only superstars to pin Baszler in NXT.
[Percy] That's right, specifically in a six woman Tag-Team.
Shayna Baszler before with The Horsewomen, it was Bianca, Kairi, and Io.
And Io was the one with the pin. Bianca is the lone soldier in here without
a victory, without a pin over Baszler.
[Nigel] It'll be interesting to see whether the friendship between Sane
and Shirai goes out the window in this match.
[Percy] NXT TakeOver: New York is delivered to you by Papa John's.
Any large handcrafted specialty pizza, just 12 bucks.
[Nigel] Shirai, a member of the infamous Triple Tales Team,
the form of free agents in Japan with her sister
and the former Smackdown Live Champion, Asuka.
-[crowd cheering] -[upbeat music playing]
[Mauro] Led by other members of The Horsewomen,
the only two-time NXT Women's Champion, the alpha female, Shayna Baszler.
And talk about reverse psychology. She thinks she's been mistreated?
She's been treating the rest of the division like a baby treats a diaper.
[Percy] I completely agree. Matter of fact she brought all this upon herself.
All she's been trying to do is bully and intimidate the Women's Division.
This cost her. If she would have left well enough alone in the contenders match,
she would be facing either Io or Bianca in single competition.
[rock music playing]
[female announcer] And their opponent, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She is the NXT Women's Champion,
Shayna Baszler.
[Mauro] And while we are about to marvel at captains of their craft,
tonight NXT TakeOver: New York has six of the top ten trends worldwide.
Nothing can stop us. We're all the way up, Nigel.
[Nigel] Certainly NXT is what the world is not only watching,
but it's what they're talking about as well. And right now they're talking
about this Fatal 4-Way for the NXT Women's Championship.
The Queen of Spades there.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Baszler seamlessly making the transition from MMA to NXT.
And look at this. Three on one.
It looks like the lines have been drawn here, Percy.
And there it is, the crown jewel in the NXT Women's Division,
where Shayna Baszler's already making history.
But tonight facing three other formidable foes,
in the form of Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane, and Io Shirai.
Fatal 4-Way rules, Nigel, bring us up to speed.
[Nigel] No countouts, no disqualifications.
As this one starts to break down,
the odds are certainly against the champion.
[Mauro] And immediately The Sky Pirates get thrown out of the ring.
And here's a…
[Percy] Similar situation to TakeOver: Phoenix.
[Mauro] The last TakeOver event where Belair came so close
to supplanting the champion. And Blair, pound for pound,
maybe the best athlete in NXT, already tossing Shayna Baszler around.
[Nigel] Look how calm Shayna Baszler stays. Oh, look at this.
[Mauro] Baszler already looked well-scouted by Belair.
Oh, the power.
Quick cover here by Bianca Belair.
[Nigel] Oh, wow, those knees.
[Mauro] Belair with the cover again.
The champion doesn't need to be pinned or submitted to lose the title.
[Nigel] So Shayna Baszler has got to be very careful, cover again.
[Mauro] Oh, and this time it's Kairi Sane.
[Nigel] Sane hitting a neckbreaker
rather than just trying to break up the pin in a conventional manner.
[Mauro] Yeah, running blockbuster there by Kairi Sane. Oh, double thrust by Belair.
Wow, Sane's not going to take any cut from Belair.
Oh, Belair's going to deliver that bulldozing type power.
[Percy] Just mowed down Kairi Sane.
[crowd chatter]
[Percy] Oh! It's out of here.
[Mauro] Some Gleyber Torres power on display here by Io Shirai.
Or is it maybe Ichiro Suzuki,
the legendary Japanese player just ended his legendary career.
Double dropkick there by The Sky Pirates on Belair.
[Nigel] Wait a second. Now we're starting to see some collusion
between Sane and Shirai.
[Percy] Belair talks about it all the time. She's alone in this game.
Kairi and Io have each other.
[Mauro] Oh, Shirai and Sane have been friends for many years,
going back to their days in the land of the rising sun.
And they are one step ahead here of the NXT Women's Champion.
Or is it two steps ahead?
-[grunts] -[shouts]
[Mauro] And now what do you do?
The Sky Pirates, to your point, Nigel. It's every woman for themselves.
[Nigel] To a certain extent, Mauro, but until it comes to beating the champ…
-[Mauro] Well, look. Look at this. -[Percy] It's all about competition.
They knew that sooner or later that one point in this match it might be…
[Nigel] This isn't my point now, Percy, this is not the time.
[Mauro] They've had pitch battles in Japan.
A friendship based on respect.
And they want to showcase that they are worthy to be
the next NXT Women's Champion.
[Nigel] Why expend energy?
[Mauro] Joshi Puroresu at its best here at Barclays Center.
Oh, well, leave it to Shayna Baszler to spoil the party.
Much to the chagrin of the NXT universe.
Oh, whoa. We talked about bewareing the hair.
I think that's the first time that it actually hurt Bianca Belair.
[Nigel] Custard.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Oh, no. We've seen… This is how Baszler made her statement
against Dakota Kai when Baszler made her NXT debut.
Oh, my God!
[Nigel] And of course, a Fatal 4-Way , as I mentioned earlier, no disqualification.
Shayna Baszler has been known to be statistics at times.
Can do whatever she wants.
[Mauro] Oh, and yet with that injured arm, Bianca Belair knowing the stakes.
Showing off her athleticism. dropkick on Baszler.
And Bianca Belair, homegrown success story from the WWE Performance Center,
elevating herself to challenger status.
Has had one opportunity. Oh, look at this!
[Nigel] Baszler lying in weight.
Oh!
[Mauro] Bring back any memories, Nigel? My God! Wow.
Wow! Baszler face first into the post.
[Nigel] Incredible. Let me take another look. Listen to this.
[referee] Let go, Shayna.
[Nigel] First to block. Oh, my God.
[Mauro] Oh, quick cover and Belair waiting for the cover.
And Bianca Belair almost finished her climb right there.
[Nigel] That's a memory I wish I didn't remember.
[Mauro] And I'm sure Shayna Baszler feels the same way.
Kairi Sane used… Oh, wow!
And the cover by Kairi Sane.
[Nigel] And again, evidence there of the problem that Shayna Baszler
is going to face as champion.
Right now she has to get back in the ring, because if either Sane or Belair
beats the other, they're taking the title.
[Mauro] And Kairi Sane trying to do just that. But Bianca Belair
landing on her feet.
Oh. Avoiding the dropkick was Sane with the ax-kick to the back.
Meanwhile, Shayna Baszler still on the outside.
Reversal on the Irish whip. Straight for a dropkick by the genius of the sky,
-Io Shirai. -[Percy] Io Shirai joining the party.
[Nigel] Almost telepathic communication between the two Japanese superstars.
[Mauro] Oh! Running double knee strikes into the corner by Shirai.
On Baszler or, excuse me, Bianca Belair.
Baszler still on the outside, as is Kairi Sane.
[Percy] It's a great opportunity right here for Io Shirai. One-on-one situation.
No one else in there to interfere.
[Mauro] Driving crossbody. Look at the power of Bianca Belair.
Oh!
Fallaway slam with authority by Bianca Belair.
Goes for the cover, but it's Baszler to save her title reign.
For the time being, that is.
[Nigel] And the dominant champion now controlling this matchup.
Fatal 4-Way doesn't really favor Baszler in terms of her methodical style.
But now this match has gone on,
and her opponents are starting to show the signs of fatigue.
She can settle into that normal methodical style that she's used to employing.
[Mauro] Ember Moon won a Fatal 4-Way match to become
the new NXT Women's Champion to take over War Games.
And look at the war games here between Baszler and Belair.
[Nigel] Trying for the Kirifuda clutch perhaps in the top rope.
[Percy] Regardless, Shayna Baszler going to have to have eyes
in the back of her head at all times.
The competitors down does not mean they're out.
[Mauro] Oh, my. From the second rope. And there, Kairi Sane now.
[Nigel] Uh-oh.
[grunts]
Trying for the powerbomb,
but couldn't get it. Not enough strength or leverage for Kairi Sane.
-This might help. -[Percy] Here we go.
She's got some help. Wow!
[Mauro] Double powerbomb suplex.
-[Nigel] Cover, the opportunity is there. -[Mauro] For who?
[Nigel] Either. Sane or Shirai. But here's the interesting point.
-[Mauro] Bodies hit the floor, bro. -[Percy] One more time.
Kairi Sane got some assistance from Io, and down went Bianca Belair.
The NXT Women's Champion, Shayna Baszler.
[Nigel] Sane and Shirai can team up as much as they want,
but when they get the offense, when they get an opportunity to beat an opponent,
they've got to fight each other to take it.
[Mauro] And they may get that opportunity right now, as The Sky Pirates,
the two standing in the ring.
Shirai and Sane ready to do something insane!
And Sane elbow over the top rope and saying, "What's up, Belair and Braszler?"
[Nigel] The Pirate Princess, mainsale unfold.
The genius of the sky will fly.
[Mauro] Lightning quick moonsault out of the corner by Shirai.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And yes, The Sky Pirates,
they're using their friendship, their partnership, to their advantage.
Oh, Belair intercepts with the spear. Belair goes for the cover on Shirai!
And Sane short circuits that pinfall attempt.
[Nigel] Spinning back fist misses.
[Mauro] And the double chickenwing facebuster by Belair.
-[Percy] Oh, man. -[Mauro] Step up knee strike by Baszler.
[Nigel] Baszler got caught.
[Mauro] Wow. What a German suplex with a bridge by Io Shirai.
[Nigel] Shirai landed awkwardly on that German suplex to where she couldn't bridge
into the pinfall attempt. Perhaps damage done.
-[Mauro] Wow. -[Nigel] All four superstars now, yeah.
[Mauro] A frenetic Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship.
-And this scene says it all. -[Percy] Someone can get a cover here.
[Mauro] And there it is. Shirai for the cover, but Belair rolls Shirai off.
-[Percy] Kairi with a cover. -[Mauro] Sane now
going for the pin on Baszler.
And you know what they say about chaos,
or Sun Tzu said, "In chaos, there is opportunity."
And all four, especially Shirai, Sane, and Belair, would love to usurp
-the NXT Women's Champ. -[Percy] Belair outnumbered yet again.
[Nigel] Well, Belair was talking trash to both
Sane and Shirai before. Now she's paying for it.
[Mauro] She's paying for it in a brutal game of pinfall.
-[shouts] -[grunts]
-[Mauro] Oh! -[Nigel] Wait a second.
[Mauro] Baszler pulls Sane out of the ring.
Belair, new champion, no.
Oh, wow. What a forearm by Bianca Belair on Io Shirai,
and Belair wants to finish what she started at the last TakeOver event.
She wants to become the NXT Women's Champion.
Military press slam.
Super strength on display from the EST of NXT.
[Nigel] 7-10 split from Belair.
[Percy] The most powerful woman in the game. The EST of NXT.
[Mauro] An incredible athlete, Bianca Belair.
[Percy] Look, look. One more time. Look at the strength.
Look at this right here by Bianca Belair.
[Mauro] Oh, wow.
And forget the Fresh Prince. Double B could become Queen Belair.
And I'm sure if that happens, Nigel will bust out the Carlton dance.
She has the opportunity here against Baszler.
[Percy] Of all the opponents out there,
she brought back in Shayna Baszler into the ring.
She wants to defeat the champ one-on-one.
-[Mauro] Elevated double chickenwing. -[Nigel] Very little Baszler can do.
-Except that. -[Mauro] What an escape,
right into the Kirifuda clutch.
Unbelievable, by Baszler.
[Nigel] Of course,
if Belair gets to the ropes, there will be no break of this hold.
[Percy] Not looking likely. She's stuck in the middle of the ring.
Even though she did Fatal 4-Way, wouldn't matter.
[Nigel] We saw in the last match between these two superstar,
Belair spent a long time in the Kirifuda clutch that can weaken the carotid artery,
almost like a glass jewel of a boxer,
making her more susceptible to the hold again.
[Mauro] Will Blair be able to survive the Kirifuda clutch?
Will Baszler's dominant reign continue with NXT Women's Champ?
[Nigel] That is deep underneath the jaw, right across the carotid artery.
[Percy] Look at the determination of Belair trying to get to her feet.
[Mauro] The strength she shows in elevating herself
back up to a vertical base.
Unbelievable grit and determination by Bianca Belair.
-As Baszler… KOD, KOD! -[Percy] Here we go.
[Mauro] Is it gonna lead to the one, two, three? The biggest win of Belair's career.
[Percy] No!
[Nigel] Saved by Io Shirai.
[Percy] Like a heat-seeking missile breaking up the pin.
[Nigel] And now Belair unleashing a fury on Shirai.
[Mauro] A volley of clubbing forearms to the back of Shirai.
Oh, what a counter!
X factor there by Shirai.
An X-Pac, a part of DX, going into the Hall of Fame.
And there's a Hall of Fame moonsault by Shirai.
[Percy] Io's going for one more!
[Mauro] Double spring… Oh, wow. The genius of the sky
showing she has a mid-town level moonsault. Do we have a new champion?
[Nigel] But see there, Shayna Baszler almost half out of it.
She knew where she was going.
[Mauro] Guys, Kairi Sane just cost Io Shirai the NXT Women's Championship.
[Percy] Hey, too bad, it's every woman for herself right now, friends or not.
[Mauro] And Shirai… Well, Sane now.
[shouts]
[Mauro] Oh, slam on Baszler, friendship be damned, at TakeOver: New York.
[Nigel] Look where she goes now.
[Percy] It's about to get crazy up in here.
[Mauro] Sane ready to deliver the insane elbow on Shayna Baszler!
Kairi Sane going to become a two-time champion!
Oh! Turnabout is fair play.
Turnabout is fair play. Shirai gives Sane a receipt
in the form of costing her a chance at becoming a two-time champ.
[grunts]
[Nigel] There's no ill will between these two superstars.
-[Mauro] Oh, yes, there is. -[Nigel] They know what is on the line.
[crowd chatter]
[grunts]
[shouts]
[Mauro] Whoa, I know what you're trying to get at, Nigel, but the NXT Women's
Championship is on the line, and Shirai says,
"I can put the friendship on the back burner. I came to NXT to be the best."
[grunts]
-[Mauro] Oh, wow. -[Nigel] Forearms a flurry into the neck.
[Mauro] My God, Shirai treating her best friend like a crash test dummy
here in this Fatal 4-Way match. And Io Shirai…
Good counter into a DDT by Sane.
[Nigel] All the way, Sane there kicked her legs frantically
to disturb the balance of Io Shirai.
[Mauro] Hey, you could see the emotional turmoil on the face of Kairi Sane.
Kairi Sane doesn't want to have to do this.
[Percy] She got to stab her friend in the back, but it's the Women's Championship.
[Mauro] Beware the hand.
Belair whipping it and whipping it good.
She now interjects herself back into this Fatal 4-Way match.
Looking for another KOD.
-Oh, instead… Oh, my. -[Percy] Oh, look at this.
Belair going for a two for one special.
[Mauro] WrestleMania weekend!
And it's Bianca Belair with a titanic TakeOver.
[Percy] Here we go.
[Mauro] KOD exterior.
[Percy] Pick one. Bianca Belair is about to do it.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair on the cover!
Ans instead, she gets a vicious kick from Shayna Baszler.
Back to the Kirifuda clutch.
[Nigel] They're frantically struggling. That is deep. That is deep.
[Percy] This could be lights out with Belair, if she can't find a way out.
[Mauro] Belair is fading.
[Nigel] Belair like a fish out of water.
Crawling, scratching, desperately trying to go for the eyes.
[Mauro] The squeeze on Belair. Baszler knows that victory is nigh.
[bell ringing]
[Mauro] There's the tap.
[rock music playing]
[female announcer] Your winner and still NXT Women's Champion, Shayna Baszler.
[Mauro] With no help from other members of The Horsewomen,
Shayna Baszler just solidified the reason why she is the alpha female.
The reason why she is giving Asuka a run for her money
as the most dominant NXT Women's Champion ever.
And guys, on this night in Brooklyn, Shayna Baszler conquered three other
superstars to continue being the only two-time champion
in NXT Women's history.
[Percy] Aside from Baszler's dominating abilities in the ring,
what makes her so special is her timing.
She waited for the right moment, the right opportunity, which she sees
when she found a moment against Bianca Belair, and took it and retained
the NXT Women's Championship.
[Nigel] This is how the match went down early on here.
Some of the collisions that we saw between The Sky Pirates,
Shirai propelling Sane over the top rope.
[Percy] And Io Shirai right here thought she had it, was going for it.
Hit it right here on Bianca Belair.
But her best friend Kairi Sane was saying, "Not today, I want the title for myself."
And the power of Bianca Belair hitting not just one, but two, Io and Kairi.
Planting them face first.
She's gonna take her pick, but this is what I was talking about.
The intelligence and the timing of Shayna Baszler out of nowhere.
[Nigel] It took so long for Belair to try to turn over Shayna,
it gave Belair, it gave Baszler the opportunity
to kick and hook in the Kirifuda clutch.
[Mauro] I know long time, Shayna Baszler, trainer,
former UFC Heavyweight Champion, now Bellator MMA Heavyweight,
who you can see on the zone, by the way, Josh Barnett is in attendance,
and I know Billy Robinson is somewhere smiling, knowing that the Queen of Spades,
knowing that the queen of NXT,
Shayna Baszler is as dominant as ever.
And here comes the rest of The Horsewomen cavalry here.
And it is a scene of a taste of what's to come when the women make history,
WrestleMania Sunday with Ronda Rousey representing The Horsewomen against
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch in the main event of Mania.
[Nigel] What an incredible way to end WrestleMania weekend that would be.
[Mauro] But what an incredible performance, by hook or by crook.
Shayna Baszler continues to run
the NXT Women's Division and she is running this town tonight.
[rock music playing]
[suspense music playing]
[Shane] I'm the best in the world because I was born that way.
From this point forward, I'm going to start doing things for me.
And that's why it felt so good beating the holy hell out of The Miz.
I proved everyone wrong. I became the most must see WWE superstar of all time.
[man 1] On the grandest stage of them all.
Get ready for another best in the world beating.
[The Miz] I am going to destroy Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
[man 2] WrestleMania streaming live on WWE Network this Sunday, 7 Eastern, 4 Pacific.
[piano music playing]
[narrator] In a house of legends, there's only one hall of Immortality.
[suspense music playing]
[narrator] The Attitude.
What couldn't you knock down with that?
[narrator] The Music Man.
Bigger than the Rolling Stones. Even bigger than a Beatles reunion.
[narrator] The Tag Team.
[man 3] Many consider them the dominant Tag Team of the 90s.
[narrator] The All-American Girl.
[man 4] Torrie Wilson, a true trailblazer.
[narrator] The Barber.
[man 5] The Barber is a cut above the rest.
[narrator] And a family legacy.
[man 6] You're gonna find out we are
the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.
[narrator] In our house, greatness lives in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Streaming live on WWE network tomorrow night, 7 Eastern, 4 Pacific.
A moment to catch our breath as we kick off WrestleMania weekend with a bang.
The Black and Gold brand continuing to raise the bar higher
than the Empire State Building. This is NXT, my friend.
It absolutely is. So much has gone on tonight.
Everybody's going to be talking about it, talking about, talking about it.
Following TakeOver: New York tonight,
WWE COO, the founder of NXT Triple H, will be giving you his opinion
on the winners, the losers, the triumphs, and the controversy directly following
TakeOver: New York tonight, only on Facebook Live.
[Disturbed "Are You Ready?" playing]
[Percy] Here we go. This is what it's all about.
Following Tommaso Ciampa relinquishing
the NXT title, the championship is now up for grab.
So, the question is, who will claim the most coveted prize in the land?
We'll find out when Johnny Gargano
faces Adam Cole in a 2 out of 3 Falls match next.
[Disturbed "Are You Ready?" playing]
[soft music playing]
[man 1] I was going to stand out here tonight and announce the main event
of NXT TakeOver: New York. Johnny Gargano and the NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa.
Reality has made that match an impossibility.
For Tommaso Ciampa, reality has dictated that he need neck surgery
and has had to relinquish the NXT Championship.
[soft music playing]
[man 1] The beautiful part of NXT is that when one dream ends, another dream begins.
The dream continues on for Johnny Gargano as he goes
to New York City to compete for the NXT Championship. But against who?
[Adam] There's only one man who should headline NXT TakeOver,
who has earned his right to become NXT Champion.
[man 2] It is a Fatal 5-Way match to determine who will challenge
Johnny Gargano for the now vacant NXT Championship in NXT TakeOver: New York.
[Adam] There's only one man who deserves to rule the world, and that man
is Adam Cole, baby.
[Mauro] Ricochet on the cusp of going to the Big Apple.
Last shot by Adam Cole. He gets the next shot.
Heading an NXT title in the main event of TakeOver: New York
in a 2 out of 3 Falls mega main event.
[Adam] I had to show not just NXT, but all of WWE
that Adam Cole is once again deserving of the NXT Championship.
[Johnny] The name Adam Cole speaks for itself.
The big difference between me and him is he's hungry.
But I'm starving.
I've said my path ends with me becoming NXT Champion.
And now with Tommaso out, my path to the NXT Championship goes through you.
I let a monster become NXT Champion once, can't let it happen again.
To Adam Cole, I'm gonna show you why
they call me Johnny TakeOver, baby.
Are you kidding me? Johnny TakeOver?
[man 3] You haven't been in the old winner's circle when it comes to TakeOver.
[Adam] Johnny has not earned the right of the name Johnny TakeOver.
Not even close.
My debut in the Barclays Center, the first ever NXT North American Champion,
the first ever War Games match, and I did it at TakeOver.
[man 4] Johnny participation cannot beat Adam Cole 2 out of 3 Falls.
[Johnny] If I had his road, if I had his path here, I'd be a different person.
I don't want that. I'm proud of who I am. I'm proud of what I've done to get here.
[Adam] I'm gonna prepare for this 2 out of 3 Falls match
the exact same way I prepare for every other match that I have.
That's to win. Prepare.
I'm gonna do what I always do, that's be the best.
To prepare for this match
without a shadow of doubt the biggest match of my life,
I need to go back to my roots.
So I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna go to Cleveland.
I'm gonna remember why I love this.
I wouldn't change a thing about these past four years,
because it's made me appreciate where I'm going,
and where I'm going is the main event of TakeOver: New York.
[Johnny] Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole. The big money match.
[Adam] Johnny Gargano, you're in for a war.
[Johnny] And as long as my heart's still beating, I will not stop.
[Adam] You ever heard of the term strength in numbers before?
You will never become the NXT Champion.
That title belongs to me.
[Johnny] I will fight to make my dream come true.
Adam Cole will be the NXT Champion.
And that, that's undisputed.
[Johnny] I will do whatever it takes to finally have my moment.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] From stepping into a wrestling ring
for the first time as a chubby eight year old Cleveland kid in the parking lot
of the family-owned catering business,
to getting an opportunity at becoming the 15th NXT
Champion on the Black and Gold brand's biggest stage at TakeOver: New York.
Johnny Gargano is, as his father Frank said, quote, "Actually living the dream."
And with all due respect to Tony Stark, Percy, Johnny Gargano is NXT's Iron Man.
And he'll have to be tonight in the biggest fight of his life.
[Percy] This man's come a long way from making pizza at his dad's shop.
And this man said… You think after 4 years, 2 titles and 12 TakeOvers
he'd be satisfied, but this man is clearly not.
He wants the NXT title.
[Nigel] While we're on the road of quoting people, Triple H said,
"Two different paths, one goal.
Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
Will it make the difference for Johnny Gargano tonight?
[Mauro] Johnny Gargano, his record 12th TakeOver match,
and he is below the Mendoza line.
He's only had one TakeOver victory in the last year and tonight he's got a win
two times in one night to become NXT Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And while the betting odds probably a pickup
in this first ever matchup on NXT
with so much at stake, not only the vacant NXT title vacated by the injured Tommaso
Ciampa, but tonight we will crown NXT's first Triple Crown winner, Adam Cole.
Riding a wave of momentum, winning that Fatal 5-Way match
to get this opportunity here tonight.
[Percy] Cole believes that he will win this match tonight, because
he was the first North American Champion. He was the first winner of NXT War Games.
He was the one that beat down newly-crowned NXT
Champion Drew McIntyre right here in this very building.
But hey, look, that's all the past. It's about what you do right now.
What you do tonight.
[Mauro] Was it a harbinger of things to come
at Adam Cole's debut in Brooklyn at TakeOver when he attacked…
[crowd cheering]
…the then newly-crowned Drew McIntyre, the champion holding the title up in the air?
And here we are, full circle.
Tomorrow marks the 11th anniversary of the start of Adam Cole's sterling career.
[crowd chatter]
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following is a 2 out of 3 Falls match
for the vacant NXT Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing first from Cleveland, Ohio,
weighing in at 199 pounds, Johnny Gargano.
[crowd cheering and booing]
And his opponent, representing the Undisputed Era,
Adam Cole.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] A sold out Barclays Center.
A NXT record crowd of nearly 16,000
on hand for this epic encounter.
The vacant NXT Championship hangs in the balance.
2 out of 3 Falls to determine the new NXT Champ.
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Guys, both superstars know that this match
has the potential to be a marathon,
especially with the 2 out of 3 Fall stipulations.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] But both Cole and Gargano have, in the words of the dearly departed,
Nipsey hustle, "More game than ESPN."
And whomever becomes the new NXT Champ and first NXT Triple Crown winner
is deserving of the key to their respective cities.
And if you want to talk about it, and I know you will, #NXTCHAMPIONSHIP.
[Nigel] So 2 out of 3 Falls match.
You mentioned, Mauro, a different strategy to this match.
A lot of times people talk about the danger,
you do not want to lose the first fall, but to me, you need to save energy.
If you expend too much in your first fall, it's gonna cost you in the second.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And as we crown a new NXT Champion here tonight,
11 former NXT Champions will be competing at WrestleMania on Sunday.
And again, the 11th anniversary of the big beginning of Adam Cole's career.
And for Johnny Gargano, 15 years of hard work, blood,
sweat and tears to get to this point.
And let's not forget, winless in three matches here at Barclays.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Gano not letting that statistic get to his head.
[Mauro] How important, you talked about conserving energy.
How important is it to get that first fall here tonight, Nigel,
knowing what is at stake, knowing what it took for them to get here?
[Nigel] it is important statistic. You certainly don't want to go full down.
But Mauro, if you expend all of your energy getting that first fall,
I guarantee your opponent's going to get two pretty quickly afterwards.
[Percy] I'm not sure if I can actually agree with that or buy into that, Nigel.
You do want to get that first pinfall as fast you can.
Not saying you got to expend all your energy.
[Mauro] That's what Gargano's trying to do right here.
[Nigel] That is the point. If you take a look at perhaps the rope-a-dope theory
Muhammad Ali used against George Foreman.
George Foreman had him on the ropes and once he was exhausted, he took him apart.
[Mauro] Arguably the two most conditioned athletes in NXT.
Great job by the WWE crew to chronicle their preparation
for this incredible matchup, Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano are in tip top shape.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The biggest city in America, NXT's biggest stage in the biggest match
in the respective careers of Cole and Gargano.
[Nigel] Adam Cole with a simple side headlock.
If you've never been in the side headlock, it's a Sports Entertainment version
of the case of kesa-gatame, which of course
Josh Barnett used to tap out Dean Lister.
[Percy] Knowing Cole, that's just his way of trying to dictate the speed,
the tempo of his match.
He wants to control it, even if at a small minute level.
[Mauro] Reversel. Oh, but Cole with the shoulder tackle on Gargano.
Cole utilizing some speed. Leapfrog by Gargano.
Standing switch by Gargano on Cole.
And trying to stay one step ahead of the other. Shoulders are down.
Float over by Gargano, looking for that Gargano escape.
Avoids the knee strike, snapmare.
[Percy] These two know each other so well.
[Mauro] Deep arm drag by Johnny Gargano.
Slowing the pace down momentarily, much to the delight of this record NXT crowd.
And guys, Cole participated in a lot of water exercises
as part of his strength and conditioning preparation.
And I think that will behoove him the longer this match goes.
[Percy] This match can definitely be a marathon in a 2 out of 3 Falls match.
We know both these competitors can go the distance.
[Nigel] You can tell from their physiques.
If you look at the lean physiques of both superstars,
they have trained hard for a long match.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] It was Nelson Mandela who said, "It always seems impossible
until it's done."
Johnny Gargano never dreamed he'd be here for Adam Cole.
He believes this is his destiny.
[Nigel] Not just Adam Cole. A lot of other great superstars have
thought well of Adam Cole. Triple H, for example, called him a complete package.
Said he can do all of it.
A key player who has had big moments and stolen shows, cementing himself.
[Mauro] And both Gargano and Cole idolize "Heartbreakkid"
Shawn Michaels, who's also another instrumental at the PC.
And back and forth we go. Shawn Michaels, of course,
Mr. WrestleMania, as we culminate NXT TakeOver: New York's
contribution to WrestleMania weekend with this epic encounter.
Kick-up on Gargano.
[Nigel] Giving Gargano a lot of space to get out of that.
Again Cole being very cautious in the early going.
[Mauro] Both of them so crisp in their offense,
both of them showcasing hermetically sealed defense as well.
Oh, but Cole finds himself on the outside looking in.
[Percy] Gargano is going to make Adam Cole rethink that whole Johnny
participation thing if he gets this win here tonight.
-[Nigel] Oh. -[Mauro] And you, you talk about
going through… Dropkick between the ropes! Gargano on Cole.
Gargano was looking for a dynamic denomon to his intense rivalry
with Tommaso Ciampa. And yet here he is for the first time
on NXT, squaring off with a man who he met many times on the come-up.
[Nigel] Both these superstars extremely familiar with themselves.
Oh!
See Cole there, wile, veteran experience, rolling to the outside,
luring Gargano in, and an enziguri to the side of the jaw.
[crowd] Adam Cole!
[Mauro] Seth Rollins, who will battle Brock Lesnar for the universal title,
WrestleMania Sunday, the inaugural NXT Champion winning the Gold Rush Tournament.
And as I mentioned at the top of the show, we are in the midst
of a Gotham gold rush tonight. All matches championship affairs,
none bigger than this 2 out of 3 Falls contest.
[Nigel] Talking of former NXT Champions, had a chance to talk to Tommaso Ciampa,
asking for a prediction in this match. He said, "No comment."
[Mauro] And regardless of what you think of Tommaso Ciampa,
the former NXT Champion, the fact that he has now
faced two serious injuries, the one word that describes him is perseverance.
And both these superstars want to persevere here tonight.
Again, Nigel, 2 out of 3 Falls yet to record a first fall here as Cole
and Gargano give each other as good as they're getting.
[Percy] It's clearly going to be a marathon, that's for sure.
Adam Cole is trying to do his best to wear down Johnny Gargano.
He believes only one man should be able to rule the world.
And with the NXT title around his waist, he believes he's that man.
[Nigel] Here Cole with a rear chin lock.
But you can see there the way that Adam Cole was driving with his hips,
he's putting all of his body weight there again driving
all the body weight into the neck. It becomes almost a neck crank.
[Mauro] It's textbook fundamental wrestling by Adam Cole.
[Nigel] Very simple, trying to drain the energy out of Johnny Gargano's body.
[Mauro] But he's facing Johnny Wrestling.
And Johnny Wrestling just got wiped out by The Panama City Playboy.
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] Cover by Cole, looking for the first fall.
[Nigel] Barely a one-count.
[Mauro] And that should bode well for Johnny Gargano's fans,
knowing that despite the fact that Cole is wearing him down,
Gargano very aware of when his shoulders are on the mat.
[Nigel] Again, Cole trying to work on the neck.
Of course, the last shot we saw him hit that on Ricochet in the Fatal 5-Way
to create the opportunity to win the match.
It's a great strategy of Panama City Playboy.
[Mauro] It was Ricochet who dethroned Adam Cole for the North American Championship.
And Adam Cole of course, in the Undisputed Era,
saying they were going to be draped in gold this year.
And it's been some rough seas for Cole. But again,
one win, Percy, a Fatal 5-Way match.
And here he is headlining TakeOver: New York for the NXT title.
[Percy] You gotta imagine, that's all that's on Adam Cole's mind.
Undisputed Era has nothing.
They had the North American Championship, the Tag Team Championships.
Now they get to fight for the greatest prize in the NXT.
[Nigel] Both men had the same idea. The crossbody landing awkwardly.
[Mauro] They're on the same page of a graphic novel,
and a graphic display of what has been already a barn burner here tonight.
[Nigel] I can tell you from experience,
you go for a crossbody, you don't expect to meet that type of resistance.
And it knocks the wind out of you, making it very difficult to breathe.
I saw earlier in the match, Gargano's rib cage moving up and down quickly.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Gargano and Ciampa, the 2018 NXT rivalry of the year.
But here we go! Overhead belly-to-belly release suplex
by Johnny Wrestling, who looks to light up Cole
like his beloved Cleveland Browns' new look offense
will light up the scoreboards in the NFL.
And he's looking at score first. No counter, roll-up by Cole.
[Nigel] Roll through. That landed.
Textbook Johnny Gargano. The record isn't broken.
[Mauro] And there's the veteran Cole rolling out of the ring,
looking for a respite.
Goes back into the ring. Oh, slingshot spear by Gargano!
He could drop his blood her, no! Cole kicks out.
So Nigel, when you're that close, you have to quickly recover.
You have to quickly get back into the match.
But what about frustration here, as you look at this near fall.
[Nigel] You've got to control that frustration.
As I said, another one from the playbook of Johnny Gargano.
That slingshot spear off the middle.
But you see here, take a look at the face of both superstars
when they pin their opponent.
They realize if they get this pinfall here, the match will continue.
They both know they're in for a long night.
-[Percy] For sure, but it takes that… -[Mauro] Oh, the leg down by Gargano!
[Percy] Here we go.
[Mauro] Is Gargano going to record the first fall victory? No.
[Percy] But it takes that initial pressure off. You don't have to take it easy,
but you can now focus and start to slow things down in your mind and really
having a effect on your opponent.
[Mauro] At NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in January of 2018, Gargano fell short
in trying to conquer on then NXT Champion Andrade as we revisit the action,
-the impact. -[Nigel] Oh, oh, oh. Whiplash.
[Mauro] That night in Philadelphia Gargano's father was ill.
Frank wasn't there, but he's here tonight.
And you know that's going to boost Gargano's confidence.
[Nigel] Emotional support, a big factor in this match for Johnny Gargano.
[Mauro] And of course, Cole has the support of the Undisputed Era.
Oh!
Back cracker, the lung blow there by Adam Cole.
And backstabber gets a two and almost a three-count.
That's going to jack your back in a hurry.
[Percy] For sure. This is going to be an out-and-out, all-out war.
[Mauro] And remember, it's a 2 out of 3 Falls match.
[Percy] And nobody has a pinfall yet. Unbelievable.
[Nigel] Here we see back and forth action and back cracker, you can hear the snap.
[Mauro] Remember, we talked about the influence of Sean Michaels
on both Cole and Gargano.
Michael's boyhood dream came true at WrestleMania
in an Iron Man match against Bret Hart.
A match that went to overtime because there were no falls in 60 minutes.
[Nigel] Certainly see a lot of similarities between that
and this matchup here tonight.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Small package! Shoulders down, reversal by Cole.
Gargano now has Cole's shoulders down. Now back and forth we go.
[Percy] Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Oh, Cole has Gargano in a fireman's carry…
Oh, what a back elbow crashing into the nose of Gargano.
Evasive tactics by Gargano. Misses with the kick.
Backdoor escaped by Gargano. But he eats a jumping enziguri by Cole.
[Nigel] The toe of the boot landing right underneath the jaw of Gargano.
[Percy] The knee!
[Mauro] You know what, that usually is a prelude too, but not this time.
Gargano rolls up Cole for two. Cole has Gargano down for a two.
Wow, these two know each other so well.
And he had that exposed knee and wiping out Cole, but now Cole drops down Gargano.
I mean, Gargano and Cole are playing chess
in a world that plays checkers, guys.
[Percy] They're going to have to go unconventional.
They're stopping each other at every turn.
-There's nothing they can do. -[Mauro] Sunset flip, roll through.
Cole comes off the rope.
Last shot by Adam Cole!
[crowd] One, two…
[Mauro] It's over, wow! Adam Cole wins the first fall!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Oh, my. Just like that.
[female announcer] The winner of the first fall, Adam Cole.
[Mauro] And it's now sudden death for Johnny Gargano, who must win
two straight falls to realize his boyhood dream.
And now that's his fourth loss here at Barclays.
-A house of horrors for Johnny Gargano. -[Percy] That's just it.
Johnny Gargano, he has to keep in mind that he's still in this fight.
-He can't go too hard and get emotional. -[Nigel] That's exactly right.
Can't go too hard, because the pace of this match has been
incredible up to this first pin.
[Mauro] Yes. Both of them tax with expending exponential jewels of energy.
[Nigel] I mentioned, the beginning of the match,
you don't want to lose the first fall, you don't want to expend a lot of energy.
[Mauro] Cole wants to make a two straight quick.
Cole wants to leave Barclays NXT Champion in a hurry.
[Percy] Now the pressure's off, but he can't get cocky.
-[Mauro] He's Adam Cole. -[Percy] Enough said.
[Mauro] Oh, good counter by southpaw throwing…
Now Gargano throwing with the left and right.
German suplex by Adam Cole.
[Mauro, Percy, and Nigel shouting]
[Mauro] Gargano kicks out. Johnny Gargano saw his career
flash before his eyes, and he was somehow able to kick out.
And, guys, the first time anyone has kicked out of the last shot.
[Nigel] And to that point, Adam Cole cannot believe it,
but look how he continues.
He's not letting that fluster him. He's not losing focus.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Oh, Gargano desperately fighting. Cole kicked…
Gargano unable to block that forearm smash.
Oh, wow. On the apron… Oh!
Johnny Gargano explodes with a spear, sending Cole flying off the apron!
[Percy] He's got something else in mind. Oh!
[Nigel] Gargano hit the tidal wave senton, but landed awkwardly off it.
Take a look. Didn't get full contact here.
First of all, to create the opportunity, the spear on the apron.
[Percy] Gargano quickly followed up with something.
But he needs to get Adam Cole into the ring and see if he can get a cover.
[Mauro] And Gargano making like rapper J. Cole,
slapping the hate out of the voice and the body of Adam Cole here.
Gargano wanting to look for the equalizer,
but Cole catches him into the fireman's carry. Oh!
Ushigoroshi! Ushigoroshi
by Cole. We have a new NXT Champion. Oh, my goodness.
Johnny Gargano has more heart than Valentine's Day, Percy. It's incredible.
[Percy] That's something Johnny Gargano does not lack, and that's heart.
But he's got to find some more drive.
He's got to get to his feet and find some offense.
[Nigel] Gotta make Cole make a mistake. Because thus far, Adam Cole
has had an answer to every one of Johnny Gargano's questions.
[Mauro] The pressure has never been greater for Johnny Gargano.
[grunts]
[Nigel] Gargano said that Cole was hungry, but Gargano is starving.
And right now he's suffocating.
[referee] Let's go. Get him down.
[Nigel] Look at Cole slowly dragging Gargano to the top rope.
He's trying for a powerbomb off the top rope, perhaps.
-[referee] Com on now. -[Adam] Yeah.
[Nigel] Gargano is blocking and rightly so.
[Mauro] What kind of… Oh, my goodness!
An avalanche air raid crash!
[Percy] Gargano with the cover!
[Mauro] Johnny Gargano taking a page out of his former
Tag Team partner Tommaso Ciampa's playbook. Avalanche air raid crash.
And yet Cole was able to kick out. You gotta be kidding me.
[Percy] Exactly what I was talking about.
Both competitors need to go unconventional.
Johnny Gargano was the first to strike,
showing Adam Cole something different from his former Tag Team partner, Tommaso.
[Nigel] It was a mistake from Adam Cole to drag Gargano up to the top rope.
And Gargano made Cole pay.
[Mauro] And it's all about desperation at this point.
It's all about a sense of urgency for Gargano. Already down a fall.
Needs to find a way to get the equalizer, and then do it again.
[Nigel] Gargano was looking that slingshot DDT, very serendipitous perhaps
-of Cole to just fall to his knees. -[Mauro] Oh, wow.
Cole has him up again, Gargano desperately trying to fight off Adam Cole.
Steps up, rattles Cole on the apron.
Oh, my goodness! Slingshot DDT on the unforgiving ring apron.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The cranium cruncher courtesy of Johnny Gargano.
[Nigel] Gargano was looking for that inside the ring…
[Mauro] He could even the series with a countout twin here, if they both get…
Although he has to make it to the ring, he could win via countout,
-but he has to get in the ring. -[Percy] He has to get up.
[Nigel] Gargano is back to his knees. What does Gargano do here?
The referees are for… Oh, man.
[Nigel] Oh, wait a second. It's a double counter.
-That's two, one… -[Percy] Come on, get up.
-[referee] Seven! -[Mauro] The referee's up to seven.
Gargano here, he could get the… Oh, wait a minute.
Johnny Gargano not wanting to win the fall,
and this again, the embodiment of the heart and soul.
But he is paying dearly for his humanity.
He is paying dearly for showing his character. Adam Cole doesn't give a damn.
[Nigel] He's paying for his pride and his hubris.
He could have taken the countout victory,
but instead he elected to try to get Cole back in the ring.
[Mauro] And now Adam Cole, on the verge of becoming the 15th NXT Champion.
Was looking to expose the knee again.
But Gargano now looking to get him into the Gargano escape.
Cole firing off a series of right hands. Nice reversal by Gargano.
[Nigel] Trying for the armbar, breaching armbar. The fuliwara.
[Mauro] And remember, it was Tommaso Ciampa when they won the Tag Team title…
[Percy] Here we go.
[Mauro] Tap by Adam Cole!
A quick tap by Adam Cole, and it's one-one. And you know what?
[female announcer] The winner of the second fall by submission, Johnny Gargano.
[Mauro] Give the devil his due.
Adam Cole tapped out immediately, knowing that there was yet another fall,
not risking any further damage.
[Percy] And just like that, Johnny Gargano is back in this fight. Wow.
[Mauro] But you see Johnny Gargano taking pages out of the playbook of his former
DIY partner, former NXT Champion Tommaso.
[female announcer] This is now the third and deciding fall.
And the winner will be crowned
the new NXT Champion.
[Mauro] Welcome to sudden death over time at NXT TakeOver: New York,
winner take all.
[Nigel] A moment of breath air. Fresh air, excuse me.
For Johnny Gargano. Disappointment for Cole.
[Mauro] It has all come down to this one fall.
Let's listen to the NXT universe.
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] All right, and pulling out all of the stops.
A hockey fight breaking out here in Brooklyn. Oh!
Bicycle kick. And another kick to the face by Cole.
-[shouts] -[crowd cheering]
[Percy] Cole got turned inside out.
[Mauro] Oh, DIY flashback. No, waist lock.
Oh!
[grunts]
[Mauro] My goodness, Johnny Gargano… Oh, and Adam Cole!
And of course, here he goes looking for the title. He only gets a two-count.
And the frustration, the pain etched on the face of Adam Cole,
it doesn't get more intense than this.
Oh, wow.
[Nigel] As now, as the time starts to tick on in the match,
both superstars will start to feel the effects of fatigue.
That lactic acid building up in their bodies.
[Mauro] I have often asked
that Johnny Gargano's DNA should be tested,
because his heart cannot belong to a mere mortal.
But Adam Cole, showing why he is considered the cream of the crop as well.
It's all about this. It's all about making history at TakeOver: New York.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Oh, Gargano step up enziguri!
-[Percy] Like a lawn dart. -[Mauro] Right into the turnbuckle.
-[grunts] -[crowd cheering]
-[Percy] Oh, this could be it. Come on! -[Mauro] Gargano one count away!
One count away from realizing the dream that began as an eight year old child
in Cleveland.
[Nigel] Take a look here how quickly Gargano followed up.
First the lawn dart in the corner, and then hooking up from a full nelson
-to a flatliner facebomb. -[Mauro] He calls it "hurts donuts".
And he used it to great success on his rise as a sports entertainer
before coming to NXT. And that shows you he has to go way back.
He has to dig down deeper than he ever has in order to try to vanquish Cole.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And the same holds true for The Panama City Playboy.
[shouts from the crowd]
[Nigel] You can almost hear now the breaths deep
in and out of both superstars. Oh!
[Mauro] In preparing for the match, Cole said he was #MOREREADY.
Well, Gargano was ready for that attack, but Cole wasn't ready for that one. Wow!
Going at it tooth and nail in the way they are nailing each other
have resulted in the loss of many teeth.
It does not get any closer than this.
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[Nigel] Both superstars here with the same idea, drawing at the same moment.
And you can see there with the superkick. No way to protect yourself.
Both those superkicks landed hard
underneath the jaw into the neck of each opponent.
[Mauro] No better way to kick off WrestleMania weekend
in front of an NXT record-crowd
enthralled by this 2 out of 3 Falls matchup to determine a new NXT Champion.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Oh! Superkick to the back of Gargano's neck.
[Nigel] Gargano now, a straight jacket.
-[Mauro] German suplex! -[Percy] Oh, man!
[Mauro] Oh, God. And it was Adam Cole
going back to his toolbox with the straight jacket German suplex.
It's incredible to see it play out
this way at Barclays, where we're seeing glimpses into
how these two superstars got to this point,
and the depths they are willing to go.
It was Muhammad Ali who said, "You need will more than you need skill."
And these two possess plenty of both.
[Percy] Look at the face of Cole.
That tells the tale. He's getting confused.
He can't figure out how to put away Johnny Gargano.
[Nigel] There is confusion on the face of Cole.
It's absolute exhaustion now, I'm sure, on the face of Gargano.
[Mauro] Oh, wow.
[grunts]
[Nigel] Oh, wait a second. Trying to get Cole down.
-Oh! Back drop driver, high angle. -[Mauro] Wow.
[Nigel] Gargano is out staggering.
[Percy] Cole knew that wouldn't be enough. He's going high risk now.
One more big shot. The Gargano might do it.
[Mauro] Superkick by Gargano from the corner second rope. Now electric…
Reverse spike runner by Johnny Gargano staggering Cole.
There's a superkick by Gargano. Adam Cole rolls out of the ring!
Johnny Gargano can't buy a break.
[Percy] I couldn't tell if he intentionally
rolled out, or the momentum from the shot knocked him out of the ring.
[Nigel] Well, either way, certainly was that may have been
Johnny Gargano's last opportunity, reverse runner, hit the superkick.
[Mauro] There have been many times we thought that Johnny Gargano
had made his last stand, and yet he continues to showcase character, guile,
pride, technique, and above all else, heart.
But the opportunistic Cole,
wheelbarrow suplex into the edge of the apron.
[Percy] What in the world?
[shouts from the crowd]
[Nigel] That's hard to watch.
Wheelbarrow suplex and absolutely no give there.
-[Percy] Part of the neck. -[Mauro] And that may have,
well, been the not so fairy tale ending of Gargano's quest
to become the NXT Champion, guys.
I mean, what an impact.
[Percy] See the way Gargano's neck snapped.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Johnny Gargano…
DDT, spiked DDT by Gargano!
Gargano with a few tricks up his proverbial sleeve. Slingshot DDT!
[crowd] One, two…
[Mauro] No! So close!
-[Nigel] And again, Cole… -[Mauro] Cole rolls outside of the ring!
Tope suicida!
[Nigel] Cole is hurt. Gargano knows it.
[Mauro] Gargano's going… Thought he got him.
But not anymore. Adam Cole! Oh, Adam Cole!
[Percy] What?
[Mauro] Wow, springboard, Canadian destroyer.
Oh my God. Oh my God.
Where is Gargano getting this from?
And the Panama sunrise from Adam Cole. When's the last time you saw him do that?
[Nigel] Forget about that. When was the last time you saw someone
kick out afterwards?
[crowd] NXT, NXT, NXT!
[Mauro] With all due respect, Nigel,
we will not forget a single scintillating second of this match for the ages.
[Percy] Both these superstars for the NXT title just kicked in a fifth gear.
But yet still no one can outdo the other.
Johnny Gargano kicking out before a three-count.
[Mauro] The Panama sunrise led to a sunset on that pinning attempt by Cole.
And there's still just a glimpse of light in Johnny Gargano's eyes.
[Nigel] That light is flickering and ready to be extinguished.
[shouts from the crowd]
[Mauro] Adam Cole, born destined to be a champion.
[Percy] Looks like Cole's got one more trick up his sleeve.
[Adam] You're a failure, Johnny.
[Mauro] Cole calling Johnny Gargano a failure.
[Adam] You're a disappointment.
[crowd chatter]
You're a disappointment.
[shouts from the crowd]
You hear me? What you do is fail.
[shouts]
[Percy] You saw the anger in the face of Johnny Gargano?
[Mauro] And that action by Gargano spoke much louder than words.
And Gargano wipes out Adam Cole!
Mamma mia!
The Barclays Center is en fuego, and Johnny Gargano looking to prove
to Cole he is not a failure.
He is looking to prove to Cole that Johnny Gargano is worthy
of calling himself NXT Champion.
[Nigel] Adam Cole tried to drive the will out of Gargano's body.
[Mauro] Fairy tale ending! Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! The fairy tale ending, but it's a nightmare for Gargano.
Tommaso Ciampa not that far removed from this NXT Championship match,
a match he was supposed to defend the title in.
-Oh, that table did not give. -[Nigel] Not an inch.
[Mauro] And Johnny Gargano, I'm looking at him right now, and guys,
you talked about the light flickering, his eyes are glazed.
I don't even know if Johnny Gargano's gonna be able to beat the count.
[Nigel] This is it.
[Mauro] Cole wants to win by countout. Unlike Johnny Gargano,
Cole wants to win by any means necessary.
[Percy] Like you said…
-[Mauro] Oh, not like this, Adam Cole. -[Percy] Come on, get up.
[Mauro] Not like this.
Six!
[Percy] Come on, try to get up. Come on! Come on!
[Mauro] The NXT universe…
[Percy] Come on, come on!
[Mauro] Gargano beat the count! Oh, wow.
But will he be able to beat Adam Cole?
Oh, good night, Adam Cole.
Oh, come on. Come on.
Johnny Gargano, you are not human.
[Percy] I've never seen anything like this.
The amount of punishment that Johnny Gargano has taken, the average man
would have been done a long time ago.
[Mauro] And Nigel, Adam Cole is throwing everything,
including the proverbial kitchen sink, at Gargano.
How emotionally taxing is this for him?
-He should have won the title right now. -[Nigel] It's gonna be
absolutely exhausting. And to that point, Cole cannot get frustrated,
because he has Gargano a fraction of a second from being beaten.
[Mauro] An atmosphere worthy of WrestleMania weekend.
Oh! Superkick, Johnny Gargano…
Oh, my God. Cole immediately responds with one of his own.
Go looking for that Canadian destroyer.
-This time Gargano escape! -[Percy] He just did it on… There it is!
[Mauro] Gargano's got Cole in the Gargano escape.
Oh, come on. Roderick Strong. Oh, no. Oh.
Roderick Strong of the Undisputed Era.
Wait a minute.
Gargano's going for the Gargano escape again.
[Percy] Oh, look at this.
What is happening? Cole is tapping. Gargano should have won this match.
[Mauro] Undisputed Era.
The referee never saw it, Undisputed Era rearing heads ugly and…
[Nigel] Cole said, "There's strengths in numbers." What?
[Mauro] Oh, my. It is, it is bedlam.
Johnny Gargano. Oh, O'Reilly. O'Reilly, since there is no referees…
[Percy] You snakes! You snakes!
Get the ref in, get ref in!
[Mauro] Referee has been in the boat. This is absolutely ridiculous.
-Cole got… No, Gargano kicks out! -[Percy] That's what I'm talking about.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Where in the hell did Johnny Gargano
find the ounce of energy to kick out?
[Percy] Throw your best shots, bring all of Undisputed Era,
it does not matter to Johnny Gargano. That's the true sign of a champion.
[Mauro] Gargano knew the odds would be against him.
Gargano's always known that the odds have been against him in his pursuit of glory.
[Nigel] What the hell does Adam Cole have to do?
[Mauro] Oh, Cole ends up wiping out the other members of the Undisputed Era.
Can Gargano capitalize?
[shouts from the crowd]
[Mauro] Cole lays down!
Talk about seizing the moment. Gargano cleaning house.
-[Nigel] Oh, wow! How is he doing this? -[Mauro] But the most important thing is,
yes, he's got to get back… Right in the mouth. Oh, no. Adam Cole.
Adam Cole, last shot.
[all three shouting]
[crowd] One, two, three!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] I've done combat sports for over three decades.
This may be the most damnedest thing I have ever seen!
The Barclays Center englobe a record NXT crowd,
loving every minute of it, and especially trying to
wheel Gargano back into this match.
[Percy] Adam Cole is starting to feel this match slipped through his fingers.
He has thrown his best shot.
The rest of his team, Undistributed Era, has thrown their best shot.
It's my time. Mine!
[Mauro] Cole is saying, "It's my time." Oh!
Gargano avoids the last shot. Gargano, Gargano escape!
-Gargano escape! -[Percy] Tap.
[crowd cheering]
[Percy] Oh, Cole trying to…
[Mauro] In the middle of the ring!
[Percy] Cole's in trouble. He's got to tap.
[Mauro] Oh, wow!
[bell ringing]
[Mauro] From ultimate underdog to NXT's top dog!
[rock music playing]
[female announcer] Your winner by submission and new NXT Champion,
Johnny Gargano.
[Mauro] Cleveland, Ohio,
stand up and cheer. Johnny Gargano is coming home.
The new NXT Champion
and the first ever NXT Triple Crown winner.
[Percy] This is a man who fights for those who was told that their dreams would
not come true. There was no red carpet, there was no debut in front of 15,000.
This man has earned it every step of the way. Bravo, Johnny Gargano.
You are the new NXT Champion.
[Mauro] Nigel, like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity
become fuel for your potential.
After 15 long hard years, Johnny Wrestling fulfilled his potential
tonight at TakeOver: New York.
[Nigel] The dream of a boy becomes a reality for the man.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] And here comes his wife, Candice Lerae.
She's been in the midst of the emotional turmoil that was
that epic rivalry with Tommaso Ciampa. But tonight it's all about family.
Tonight it's all about celebrating. The good guy doesn't always have to
finish last, and Johnny Gargano has proved that here tonight.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] But what an effort by Adam Cole, as he proved more than worthy
of an opportunity to become NXT Champion.
[Nigel] Adam Cole, the entire Undisputed Era, did absolutely everything they could
to get the NXT title around Adam Cole's waist.
But Johnny Gargano would not be denied.
What an incredible matchup.
A war of attrition here. The final moments almost,
Cole was tapping, but the Undisputed Era came to the aid of their leader.
As the match would continue,
the Era again would try to prove a factor in this matchup
when the opportunity arose.
In comes O'Reilly.
[Percy] Undisputed Era, doing what they do, two-on-one, completely unfair.
This should have been it for Johnny Gargano.
But as I stated before, Johnny Gargano has the true heart of a champion.
Still able to kick out with the odds stacked against him.
[Nigel] Look on the face of Gargano, clear exhaustion.
Wham! Right to the back of the neck. Last shot from Adam Cole.
But it was not the last shot for Johnny Gargano.
[Percy] It was at that point right there where Adam Cole knew he was in trouble.
And when the Gargano escape was applied
and Gargano rolled through to the center of the ring,
this is where Johnny Gargano, his dreams have now came true.
[Mauro] A night of memorable battles ends with the exclamation points
of all exclamation points.
Johnny Gargano, Johnny Wrestling, is indeed the whole shebang.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] And remember, his father Frank, unable to be in Philadelphia.
What a special moment this is.
Gargano's celebrating with his mother and father, his wife, Candice Lerae's parents.
It's his mom, Adrianne. It has always been about family for Johnny Gargano.
A chubby eight-year-old who had a dream,
whose parents allowed him to chase the dream.
And there is goosebumps on top of goosebumps here tonight.
[Percy] I can only imagine what it feels like to be Johnny Gargano right now.
To go to hell and back, to lose yourself,
to find yourself, this big moment of redemption here in New York.
Standing tall, holding high the NXT Championship.
[Nigel] One last look.
Cole talking trash, trying to drive the will out of his opponent.
And he would not be able to do that.
Gargano lying in wait, ducking underneath the last shot attempt.
And there, right in the center, doggedly holding on to the Gargano escape.
There would be no escape for The Panama City Playboy.
Gargano would have his day and his moment as NXT Champion.
[Mauro] And Gargano is all for no more at Brooklyn Barclays Center,
picking up his first victory here in BK.
The most satisfying and biggest win of his career.
Guys, when you look back at what it took for Johnny Gargano to get to this point,
man, you can make movies and sequels.
NXT's Iron Man, Johnny Gargano, the endgame, it's NXT…
[Percy] Oh, oh, oh.
-[crowd cheering] -[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering louder]
[Mauro] Oh, wow. I never thought I would see this moment.
Talk about things coming full circle.
[cheers and music continuing]
[Mauro] The most emotional night in NXT history.
It's all about DIY, doing it yourself.
Johnny Gargano, you have made yourself proud.
What a way to kick off WrestleMania weekend. What a way to say good night.
Subtitles: Isabella Holmin tleMania weekend. What a way to say good night.