[instrumental rock music playing]
[music fades out]
[instrumental soft music playing]
It is not the critical counts,
not the man who points out how the strong stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood.
Who strives valiantly, who airs, who comes up short again and again.
Who at the best in the end knows the triumph of high achievement,
and, who at the worst, if he fails, at least, he fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls,
who neither know victory nor defeat.
["Fill the Crown" playing]
[Poppy] ♪ Poison the children ♪
♪ No peace of mind ♪
♪ Poison the family ♪
♪ Make the children cry ♪
♪ Poison the fountain ♪
♪ empty your mind ♪
♪ Follow the leader ♪
♪ The leader is blind ♪
♪ You can be anyone you want to be ♪
♪ You can be free ♪
♪ I believe you're the one who's meant for me ♪
♪ We can be free ♪
♪ Come with me. ♪
[instrumental rock music playing]
[rock music stops]
-[crowd cheering] -["Anything Like Me" playing]
♪ I feel her heart ♪
♪ Beating in me ♪
♪ Get her out of me ♪
♪ Sorry for what I've become ♪
♪ Because I'm becoming someone ♪
♪ Your hand on my neck you call up the press ♪
♪ Die for attention ♪
♪ You pray for a reaction ♪
♪ I'll stop when it's no more fun ♪
♪ If this is the start ♪
♪ Then let's see how far You're going to take this one ♪
♪ You shouldn't be anything like me ♪
♪ This isn't a fight to be won ♪
♪ Go on and give up the gun ♪
♪ If this is a test with all due respect ♪
♪ You're not gonna fool no one,
♪ I'm everything she never was ♪
♪ Now everyone's out for my blood ♪
♪ Stop, you're making a scene ♪
♪ You're coming at me with blood in your teeth ♪
♪ You shouldn't be anything like me ♪
♪ You'll never be anything like me ♪
♪ You shouldn't be anything like me ♪
[electronic rock music playing]
♪ You shouldn't be anything like me ♪
♪ You'll never be anything like me, me, me, me ♪
[crowd cheering]
[male announcer] And now, WWE Network presents
NXT Takeover: Portland.
[Mauro] Poppy popping off as we get things started.
The majestic Pacific Northwest
is playing host to its first blockbuster black and gold brand event.
From the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon
this is NXT Takeover.
[crowd cheering] NXT!
And in city known for its microbreweries,
NXT serving up a six pack that will feature plenty of hops
including our first of four championship matches.
[bell ringing]
[male announcer #2] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT North American championship.
Making his way to the ring, from Wichita falls, Texas,
weighing in a 340 pounds,
he is the NXT North American champion,
Keith Lee.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] NXT North American champion,
Keith Lee getting set to renew his epic rivalry with Dominik Dijakovic.
Mauro Ranallo along with Nigel McGuinness,
WWE hall of famer, Beth Phoenix
on what promises to be another momentous night for NXT.
[Nigel] And we are starting off with a true battle of the titans.
Hall of famer Mark Henry had said this is the match to watch.
We're kicking it off with the big one, Beth.
[Beth] Keith Lee had said on Twitter, "2020 shall be all about change,
change the industry, growth and progress,
personally and professionally"
and he has done just that.
[Mauro] This titans
have been on the collision course over the past year
in a series of matches
that have truly redefined what big men can do inside the squared circle.
Tonight, the rubber match, they are one, one and two.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Portland basking in the glory of the limitless one, Keith Lee,
making his Portland Oregon debut
in his first North American tittle defense
on his first single matchup at Takeover.
[crowd cheering]
[male announcer #2] And his opponent from Leominster, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 270 pounds,
Dominik Dijakovic.
[Mauro] Will it be his last title defense?
[Nigel] If heavy DD has his say, I dare say it might be.
This man is six-foot-seven, nearly 300 pound himself.
You heard what Mark Henry has said about this man,
he moved like the best of them.
[Beth] One thing you can say about Dominik Dijakovic is he is hungry.
He feels he's paid every conceivable due, he sacrificed to get in this moment
and he deserves it.
[Mauro] After Dijakovic's victory over Killian Dain,
he was given the opportunity to challenge Lee.
The question is will the respect
that they have forge over the past few months
go out the window
when the North American tittle is on the line?
And handling things in español,
our good friends, Carlos Cabrera and Jerry Soto.
[Carlos] [speaking in Spanish]
[speaking in Spanish]
[Jerry] [speaking in Spanish]
[Mauro] The North American Championship.
Keith Lee, the sixth man to hold this prestigious crown
but he faces his stiffest test ever
in his number one rival, Dominik Dijakovic.
[crowd chanting]
[Mauro] Portland living up to its reputation as one of the most
electric and intense sports entertainment crowds anywhere.
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[Mauro] And Lee and Dijakovic about to go at it like Portland icons
Playboy Buddy Rose and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper back in the day.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Don Owens would love this match up, here we go.
[Beth] One thing I could tell you from experience
is when you find another competitor that can up your game, raise your level,
you look forward to that challenge, that matchup.
[Mauro] This two know each other extremely well.
The rivalry dates back to before they both made it
to the ultimate proving ground, NXT,
and of course, Lee with the psychological advantage
of being the NXT North American champion.
Already, their agility on display.
[Mauro] Oh.
Oh, oh, discuss kick blocked by Lee.
Tip up by Dijakovic and Lee catching him in midair.
[Beth] Remarkable quick movement by both of these big men,
[laughs] completely denying physics.
-[Mauro] Wow. -[Nigel] My goodness!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] We are all basking in the glory of that incredible hurricanrana.
[Nigel] Just look at the incredible agility from a man 320 pounds.
[Mauro] Oh.
First leg Magnum was block by Dijakovic.
Spinning heel kick missed for Lee.
And in the immortal words of WWE hall of fame announcer
Gorilla Monsoon
the irresistible force has met the immovable object in Portland.
-[crowd chattering] -[Dijakovic] [inaudible]
[Beth] You could see a smile at Lee's face enjoying this competition.
[Dijakovi screams in pain]
Oh, you could an example of the crushed grip right there.
Keith Lee has incredible strength in the hand tendons.
[Nigel] Oh, wow, look at that straight arm Lee brought with the lift.
Applying pressure to the elbow and the shoulder.
[Mauro] How strong is Keith Lee,
once pulled a Jeep with a rope forty yards in twelve and half seconds
as Dijakovic response with a chop to the chest.
Unable to break that vise-like grip employed by Keith Lee.
Lee sending Dijakovic for the ride-- and what a leap frog by Lee.
-Oh! -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] Discus, the cyclone kick connected, Nigel.
[Nigel] And finally Lee goes down,
in hypothesis the bigger they are,
the harder it is they fall, they just don't fall quite so often.
[Beth] Oh, my god!
[Mauro] Talk about a jumbo jet fall
And Lee catches Dijakovic.
Oh, a look of disbelief from a face of Dijakovic sets in.
Two hundred and seventy pounds whip it up like that.
[Nigel] Dijakuvic fighting for his life to prevent the powerbomb on the apron.
[Mauro] And Lee driven head first into the ring post.
Remember champion's advantage,
the only way that Dijakovic can become North American champion
is by pin fall or submission in the ring, Beth.
[Beth] Absolutely, but if he were to get a little damage done
-if he place his chances on. -[Mauro] Up to the count of five inside.
-[Nigel] Oh-- -[Mauro] Oh, and a suplex and wow.
Hard landing,
Keith Lee crashing and burning
after Dijakovic had a little difficultly picking up the 623 pounder.
[Nigel] We can understand why,
trying that suplex really had to dig down deep
and you saw Lee's arm there going underneath the bottom rope
which broke the officials count.
[Beth] For the first time Lee has been stopped.
Dijakovic needs to hurry up a little bit, get him in the ring, go for a cover.
-[Nigel] Dijakovic doing exactly that now. -[Crowd cheering]
Dijakovic picking up his victory over Keith Lee in dynamic fashion
and really these two, every time they meet in the squared circle,
it is an NXT moment featuring the moment maker,
Keith Lee and a man who's looking to seize the moment, Dominik Dijakovic.
[Djakovic] The title is coming with me.
[Mauro] Uf!
[Nigel] A well-earned journey for Dijakovic beating Damian priest.
[Mauro] And Killian Dain in his last matchup.
[crowd boo]
[Dijakovic] …there's nothing you can do about it.
[Mauro] Dijakovic giving it to Lee physically and verbally, Beth.
[Beth] This is such an important moment for Dijakovic.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Clubbing forearm by Dijakovic and a boot to the face,
keeping the NXT North American champion grounded
and obviously all respect
has been thrown out the window by Dominik Dijakovic
who uncorked a vicious right hand.
[Nigel] Did he ever-- and Lee is not even getting his hands up to protect himself.
[Beth] Dijakovic smart to be the aggressor in this situation.
[Crowd] Oh.
[Mauro] The impact across the sternum of Keith Lee who has been staggered
by the dauntless and destructive Dominik Dijakovic.
[Nigel] Wait a second. Dijakovic tried this on the outside.
[Beth] Dijakovic's got to lower the hips to get the leverage to hoist the big man.
[Mauro] Lee with the low center of gravity showcasing his strength.
-The ultimate test of strength. -[Beth] Oh.
[Mauro] And the southpaw unloads on Dijakovic.
[crowd] Oh.
[Beth] That neck and trap area that's been bothering Dijakovic
from earlier in the matchup.
[Mauro] He can-- that's poetic about how athletic,
how agile these two warriors are, but at the end of the day,
they're two behemoths
and they are two of the heaviest hitters in NXT.
[Beth] So much torque behind
-each of those strikes. -[Mauro] Oh!
Backbreaker by Keith Lee,
looking for the German suplex.
[Nigel] Oh, wow.
Keith Lee, North American champion goes for the cover
and Dijakovic shoots the right shoulder up before the count of three.
[Nigel] Take a look at this, German suplex
but from a standing position,
he elected to stay up which made the fall that much more awkward for Dijakovic.
[Beth] And Dijakovic trying to shake off the cobwebs from that impact
but again, favoring that left--
excuse me, that right trap, neck, and shoulder area.
[Mauro] Both gladiators born with athletic genetics,
Dijakovic standout three-sport athlete in school,
Keith Lee a former football player and basketball player
and Dijakovic looking to avoid the big bang catastrophe,
and, oh!, there's a catastrophe for Lee
but not for long as he buries Dijakovic in the corner
with his massive girth.
[Nigel] That's what Lee needs to do right now,
close the distance between himself and Dijakovic.
-Dijakovic has a reach advantage. -[crowd] Oh.
Oh, there it is, the cyclone kick by Dijakovic.
[Beth] Wow! In the-- oh, insult to injury across the sternum.
[Mauro] Dijakovic steps over the champion,
Dijakovic going all the way to the high red district,
wedges-- oh, wow! Mamma Mia!
Corkscrew moonsault, Dijakovic,
one tap away from winning his first championship in NXT.
[Beth] Look at the shock and disappointment on Dijakovic's face.
Let's take another look at this huge boot to the mush on Lee
Dijakovic heads to the top
and you can see the impact from that beautiful corkscrew moonsault.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] And thunderous applause from the NXT universe.
[Nigel] Can Dijakovic follow-up now?
Look at this.
Three hundred and twenty pounds…
-[Mauro] Are we… -[Nigel] dead weight squat.
[Mauro] Are we about to feast our eyes on the-- well, no.
Keith Lee keeps Dominik Dijakovic
from showing off his impressive strength, momentarily,
Dijakovic walks right into the sharpest point of the elbow.
[Beth] You got to imagine Mauro,
every time you pick up an opponent of that size,
it takes just as much out of you.
-[crowd] Oh! -[Mauro] Wow.
A striking smorgasbord and you can hear the impact.
[crowd cheering] Oh!
[Beth] Neither of these men willing to go down to their feet.
Thudding blows by both the champion Lee and the challenger Dijakovic
unable to level Lee,
and you don't wanna make Keith Lee angry,
you wouldn't like him when he's angry.
[Nigel] Lee smash.
-[Beth] Uh-oh. -[croed] Oh.
[Beth] Wow.
[Mauro] A war of attrition unfolding here in our opener.
[crowd cheering and clapping]
They're at a stalemate in terms of their record against each other
and they are giving as good as they are getting in this struggle
for the NXT North American championship.
[Beth] These two men so evenly matched in strength
and they know each other so well.
[Mauro] Dijakovic blocked the grizzly Magnum
and delivers a well-placed knee.
[Nigel] Loves to follow-up, yes.
[crowd] Oh!
But unfortunately for Dijakovic,
the impact of that clothesline took Lee underneath the bottom rope.
[Beth] He's got to get Lee
back to the center of the ring to get a pin fall.
[Mauro] Two superstars bigger than stacked exponentials,
looking to reap the dividends of hard work, tenacity, perseverance,
and the sacrifice that it takes to be a champion.
[crowd chantiing]
[Mauro] Keith Lee ascending the turnbuckles
and, Beth, he wants to take Dijakovic on a trip.
[Beth] Lee has enjoyed Dijakovic as a challenge
but he certainly does not wanna give up
or give way to lose that North American championship.
[Mauro] And Nigel, Dijakovic driving Lee's head into the top turnbuckle.
[Nigel] Trying to stall maybe the advance of Keith Lee-- oh, my god, look at this.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Lee climbing up to try to get the advantage but instead,
it's Dijakovic who's done it.
[Beth] No way.
[Mauri] An avalanche feast your eyes, no way.
-[Nigel] Oh! -[Mauro] Mamma Mia!
That's it.
Cover!
Dijakovic with the back press.
Lee kicks out.
[cloud cheering]
[crowd cheering] NXT!
[Mauro] Rappers Pop Smoke and Quavo
aren't the only ones shaking the room,
this registered on the Richter scale.
[Nigel] Watch the impact here,
six hundred pounds clattering into the mat,
here's from a different angle.
[Beth] Let's take a look at one more angle you can hear the thunderous impact
and see Lee's body bounce when he hit the mat.
[Crowd cheering]
[Mauro] What's more awesome?
The avalanche feast your eyes,
or the fact that Keith Lee kicked out, Nigel?
[Nigel] Oh, I'm impressed with both.
-Still one man-- -[Beth] Oh!
[crowd] Oh!
-[Nigel] Oh, no. -[Mauro] See the pounce
and Dijakovic's head hit the bottom turnbuckle.
[Nigel] Just take a look here.
One word two: Aw.
[Mauro] And it was that middle turnbuckle
that spelled doom for Dijakovic.
More pounce to the ounce for Lee
and Beth, he is definitely not clowning.
[Beth] That precarious landing,
Dijakovic riving on the floor
here, looking to get a breather.
Could be his only hope of recovering to get back to his feet.
[Mauro] And they're getting a little too close for comfort, again,
championship advantage belongs to Keith Lee.
Referee administering the 10-count.
-[crowd cheering] -[referee] Two!
[Mauro] I don't know about you but I'm-
Oh, wow.
A ferocious left forearm on Dijakovic.
[crowd cheering]
The official up to five now.
[crowd chanting]
[Nigel] Is the official gonna show some leniency here?
[Mauro] Well especially knowing how epic this rivalry has been.
-[Dijakovic breathing heavily] -[Lee] Ugh!
-[crowd] Oh! -And that grizzly magnum
reverberating throughout the Moda Arena here in Portland.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] One more time!
[Mauro] Oh, wow.
Keith Lee inhospitably giving Dijakovic a seat.
[crowd] Oh!
I just got hit with Dijakovic's perspiration.
Oh, my god.
[Nigel] I'm retired. I could feel that percussion in my chest.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The count has been broken.
Keith Lee and Dijakovic are still on the outside
and now it's Keith Lee who's taking a seat.
-[Mauro] Oh! -[crowd] Oh!
Oh, the superkick!
and that connected flush on the face
of the North American champion.
-[Nigel] Wait a minute. -[Beth] No!
[Mauro] Mamma Mia.
Mamma Mia.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Holy shit!
I have never seen anything like this
Two hundred pound missile through the air.
perfect landing.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Oh, my lord.
[Beth] Pinpoint accuracy.
[Mauro] It's a bird, it's a plane,
it's heavy double D.
Wow.
[Nigel] Half a foot to the left or the right, this match would be over.
[Mauro] And finally back inside the confines of the ring
where Dijakovic appears ready to be crowned NXT champion, Beth.
[Beth] If there was ever a time Mauro, it is now.
Dijakovic's got him in his sights.
[Nigel] Oh, wait a second. Lee's got the advantage back.
[Mauro] He looking for the big bang catastrophe
instead of back elbows that are taking their toll, or are they?
-[crowd cheering] -[Beth] Oh, my god.
[Mauro] Rising like a Phoenix.
-And-- oh, Dijakovic on his feet. -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] Superkick connects.
[Nigel] Oh, here we go, hooking him up.
Wait a second, no.
-It's the strength of Lee. -[Beth] Oh, my god.
Unbelievable!
Now Dijakovic in trouble.
[Mauro] Dijakovic ready to take-- oh, wow!
The six-seven Dijakovic lands on his feet.
Dijakovic-- oh, my god!
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] No, don't tell me!
Spirit bomb!
And yet Dijakovic's still on his feet.
-[Beth] What? -[Nigel] How is he standing?
[Mauro] And a draculous look on the face of Lee rolling up Dijakovic.
This clash of titans continues.
[Beth] This is unbelievable.
-[Mauro] A scintillating spirit bomb. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[crowd cheering] -[Mauro] No.
[Mauro] I have a feeling this match is going to be limitless.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] NXT!
[Nigel] What a moment.
What a match.
[Mauro] These two have been treating each other
like twitter troglodytes as they both want to secure the title, Beth.
And you know what? There is a part, the professional pride,
the rivalry that has been the talk of the industry.
They want resolution here tonight.
[Beth] Mauro, you mentioned it, there is also a deep respect
between these two competitors.
Like we said before, they are elevating each other,
and elevating intern competition
across the entire landscape of NXT.
[Mauro] This fantastic crowd in Portland with chants of fight forever
so they do want this match to be limitless,
and Keith Lee with the corner mount,
look, Dijakovic's body language speaks volumes, Nigel.
[Nigel] He's out on his feet,
Dijakovic, but somehow-- wait a second!
-Oh, there you go. -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] Keith Lee--
[Nigel] Desperation from Dijakovic.
And Dijakovic finds himself moments of respite,
moments of recovery
as he sends Keith Lee
unceremoniously out of the ring.
[Beth] At this point, precious time,
considering everything that these competitors
-have been through. -[referee] 3!
[Nigel] The decision of this championship
hangs in the balance.
[Mauro] And both superstars again,
Keith Lee over 300 pounds,
Dijakovic close to 300 pounds
as athletic, as agile as they are,
takes a lot to oxygenate those muscles,
and the longer this match goes, fatigue will become a factor.
[Nigel] You see, Dijakovic grabbing the left ankle of Keith
preventing him from going to the top rope.
[Mauro] And was doing the same to Killian Dain
and then, delivers the yakuza kick,
and now it's Dominik Dijakovic.
[Beth] Spectacular display of balance.
That nimble brutality.
[Mauro] I have a feeling,
-this is not going to end well. -[Nigel] Oh, my god.
[Beth] Oh, lord.
[Mauro] Unbelievable!
-Avalanche-- -[crowd] Two, three!
[Nigel] A new champion.
[Mauro] Dominik Dijakovic on the cusp,
one of the most spectacular victories
we would have ever witnessed in NXT.
But Keith Lee now in trouble. Dijakovic can't lift him up.
-[Nigel] Dijakovic is going… -[Mauro] Can you blame him?
[Nigel] Of course, not.
Everything that both these competitors-- can you hear the back giving way?
Lee able to fight off the attempted feast your eyes.
-Lee delivering the big bang catastrophe! -[crowd cheering] One, two, three!
-[bell ringing] -[Mauro] It's a big bang in Portland.
[female announcer] Here is your winner and still the NXT North American champion,
Keith Lee.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] What a competition.
This has left everyone absolutely breathless.
You got to hand it to both of these men.
[Nigel] What a matchup that it epitomizes everything that NXT is about.
The hungriest competitors of combat sports on this grand,
the chance to make or break their destiny their own.
Lee will change the North American title
in this epic clash of titans.
And Lee defeats Dijakovic in incredible fashion.
[Nigel] Talk of incredible.
This was the thing that Dijakovic have to hit and hit it he did.
Absolutely perfectly.
[Beth] The strength of Keith Lee on display here with the huge powerbomb,
but it would Dijakovic a moment to find that fire.
[Mauro] Ultimately, Keith Lee would come back with another powerbomb.
Somehow Dijakovic just scooting the shoulder off the mat.
[Beth] Take a look at this top rope,
incredible maneuver here, so close.
We almost saw a new North American champion.
Dijakovic did everything within his power.
[Nigel] Yes, can hold his head up high,
even if perhaps because of his back, he can't stand up right.
He certainly won't be able to after this.
Big bang catastrophe for Dijakovic.
But a victory for Keith Lee
At six-seven, Dominic Dijakovic always holding his head up high.
But you're right, Nigel, another legendary battle
left the superstar soak it up from the crowd.
[rap music playing]
[Mauro] R-e-s-p-e-c-t.
That's what rivalries like this mean to NXT.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering intensifies]
[Mauro] And we have just witnessed another moment.
[Nigel] And what a start to Takeover,
following a huge night of action
still ahead here tonight.
Can you believe? This is just the first of six matches.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Well, Dijakovic stunt
definitely elevated in our opener here at NXT Takeover
as Keith Lee
retains the North American championship
in epic fashion.
[Nigel] Here's night of action ahead which will include this man,
the wild veteran, Tommaso Ciampa,
who faces Adam Cole from the NXT title here tonight.
And of course, Bianca Belair ever confident
will face Rhea Ripley for the NXT women's championship.
Both could leave Portland as NXT champion tonight.
[Beth] And from championship dreams to heartbreaking betrayal.
The highly anticipated return of Tegan Nox
was destroyed by her former best friend, Dakota Kai.
This bitter physical rivalry culminates in the very first women's street fight
in a takeover.
Their fractured friendship has come to this.
June 1st, 2017, from that day, we became best friends and sisters.
You know, we went through knee rehab at the same time.
She was there with me every single step of the way.
I can't think of a better way than with my best friend.
When I go in that cage, and I hear Dakota's music,
my best friend, she's finally going to do takeover with me.
We're going break history together.
And then, the countdown happened.
Dakota Kai is attacking her best friend.
I knew exactly what I was going to do.
I was trying to hear the snap of your knee.
[Nox crying in pain ]
My best friend just turned her back on me.
[Nox] That kick was like nothing I've ever felt before.
I did everything for you.
I just wish I could get into your head and understand.
So, throughout all this, you want to say that you were a good friend to me.
That's funny. I think we have a different definition of friendship.
Dakota, you know more than anyone else in this world
how much this business means to me.
[Nox] And yet, you try to rip it away.
You get what you want, but more importantly,
[Kai] I get what I waited a long, long time for.
This friendship is nothing anymore, Dakota.
[Nox] There is no coming back.
This isn't giving you what you want anymore, Tegan.
Because I played that game before and we're playing on my rules.
I'm going to hurt you way more than you can ever imagine hurting me.
I'm going to end you
and I'm going to enjoy it every single second doing it.
All good things must come to an end.
The clock is ticking
and we all know that you're due for another injury.
-[crowd cheering] -[rock music playing]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is a street fight.
Introducing first from the Welsh valleys,
Tegan Nox.
Tegan Nox has had to overcome two serious knee injuries.
Has had to overcome betrayal.
-[Beth] Whoa! -[Mauro] and now, she has to overcome
being ambushed by Dakota Kai in this-- the first ever women's street fight
in NXT Takeover.
[Nigel] Well, you got to admire Dakota trying to get this match started.
Oh, wow!
[Beth] Admire?
You really imagine you would admire that smashing someone from behind?
Nothing Dakota Kai has done lately has been admirable.
[Mauro] Nox promised she would not be controlled in her emotions tonight.
You know her heart is racing like Daytona.
And the bad blood dating back to
-an NXT Takeover war match. -[crowd] Oh.
As Nox just blasted Kai through the barricade.
[Nigel] Landed very awkwardly on lower back on the barricade, Kai.
Oh, wait a second.
[Mauro] And remember, the match has not officially started.
[crowd] Oh.
And it might not get started after that ddt by Kai.
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] Kai doing the right thing with Nox in the ring, cover.
-This could be it. -[bell ringing]
[Mauro] A bell rings.
Oh, my god.
Pinfall or submission, the only way you can win this street fight.
They can take it throughout the streets of Portland.
But again, the only way you can win is inside the ring, Beth.
[Beth] Nox looks to be completely stunned.
Kai looking for a variety of weapons.
[Mauro] Remember, Kai attacking Nox at wargames,
bushwhacking her bestie.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] Of course, Kai no stranger to weapons,
attempted to use a ring bell on Candice LeRae.
And she also threw Nox's own knee brace at Nox.
[Nigel] But Kai-- wait a second.
[Mauro] Oh, Nox gets smashed into the ring steps.
[Nugel] Kai is a product of her environment.
She tried to tame--
[Mauro] Oh, captain of team kick with a vicious kick.
Kai has been an absolute buzzsaw since this match began.
[Nigel] Has been a great start for Kai after a brief respite for Nox.
But wait--oh, wait a second.
A cricket bat.
-[Beth] Look at the-- -[Mauro] It could be going for six.
[crowd] Oh.
[Kai] Ah!
Got the weapon, throughout the hands of Kai
giving Nox a chance to watch herself.
Off the steps with a diving crossbody.
Kai eliminated Nox from the number one contender women's battle royale.
That match is still to come as Rhea Ripley defends
against the winner of the battle royale, Bianca Belair.
But the distain, the antipathy.
[Beth] And in a vicious rivalry, a personal battle like this,
you can see Nox throwing caution to the wind,
using her own body as a weapon.
[Mauro] If you watch the comeback…
-[Man #1] Come on, you can win it. -[Mauro] the incredible return of Nox,
you know what NXT means to the woman of the Welsh valleys.
[Beth] Uh-oh.
[Mauro] And she is looking to take out the trash in a form of Dakota Kai.
Interesting strategy from Nox there with the inverted senton.
Why not just run up and kick it.
[Beth] She was just so emotional,
and wanted to use as much body weight as possible to throw that in Kai's face.
[Mauro] Nox going for the cover.
Looking for a measure of revenge and getting a two-count.
And remember, guys, I was a little concerned
when I heard that Nox said she would not control her emotions.
Granted, I can understand that.
But Nigel, you know, in this type of environment, in NXT,
in an all-combat sports, you need to control your emotions
and focus.
[Nigel] Absolute. That's the word. Focus your emotions.
And now, the focus of Tegan Nox is on that table.
[Beth] I think Nox is coming into this with quite a strategy.
And that's to hurt Dakota Kai.
[Mauro] Nox intimating that revenge is a dish best served
going through a table and she wants to take out Dakota Kai.
[Beth] Kai looking to block that suplex attempt.
[Mauro] This officially being Nox's NXT Takeover debut.
Even though, she was a member of the victorious team at wargames,
but that moment ruined by Dakota Kai.
[Beth] Uh-oh.
-[crowd] Oh. -[Mauro] Oh, my god.
She just waylaid Nox with that trashcan lid.
[Beth] That lid shattered on impact. Did you see that?
Anything goes.
It's come down to a street fight between two young ladies
who traveled the streets,
who had the hunger, the tenacity, the perseverance to make it to NXT,
who celebrated that fact. And now, look at Dakota Kai.
There's a black hole where here soul used to be.
[Nigel] We're gonna hear that reaction from the NXT universe,
you could almost feel in the air, the potential for damage.
[Beth] And this is not about victory.
This is about hurting one another.
-[Mauro] Kai. -[Beth] No!
[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] Gets tied up on the top rope.
A series of super kicks by… Tegan Nox.
[Beth] Amazing that Nox had the wherewithal to move so quickly.
[Mauro] You're not expecting a catch as catch can wrestling clinic.
You're expecting garbage cans and more brutality…
-[crowd] Oh. -[Mauro] in what is a street fight.
[Beth] Look at the metal on that can being around the body of Dakota Kai.
[Mauro] But she doesn't wanna bend Kai, she wants to break her.
[Nigel] This might do it.
Looking for it. Yes!
-[crowd] Oh. -[Nigel] Oh, my god. Come on.
[Mauro] Cover by Nox. This has to be it.
-How the hell did Dakota Kai kick out? -[crowd boo]
[Nigel] Just great and determined. Just look at the angle.
That is hard to watch.
Oh, my lord.
And we can say so much,
we can cast so many aspersions on the shifting attitude of Kai,
but she's also faced her fair share of injuries.
And the girl with the shiniest wizard missing on that attempt.
[Beth] Oh. Goodness.
[Nigel] Chiropractor into the cover.
[Mauro] Cover here by Kai.
Whoa.
[Beth] We talked about the change of demeanor in Dakota Kai,
but how about what she's brought out in Nox, this new aggressive side?
I have never seen Nox so vicious.
[Nigel] Nox is known as being one of the nicest competitors on the brand
but we're not seeing a strand of it here.
[Mauro] You saw what her NXT peers thought of her,
in riveting four-part series, the comeback,
but Dakota Kai tried to ruin it here.
Tied in the clutches, awaiting pain.
-[Beth] Could we see it? -[Mauro] Oh, wow.
What a strike by Kai.
-[Nigel] Scorpion back kick… -[Beth] Uh!
[Nigel] Can't get ahold it on with that kick, but it stunned Nox.
[Mauro] And they're going at it like two scorpions in a bottle
in this street fight, Beth.
[Beth] My god. Almost had that knee brace right to the face.
[Mauro] Oh, face-first on the apron.
And Dakota Kai, writhing in pain.
Can Nox make it into the ring
and get the pinning attempt or the submission?
Nox, weak in the knees, struggling to stand.
Let's take another look at this.
-Kai swept… -[crowd] Oh!
[Beth] To the mat.
[Nigel] We saw Kai's jaw--
-[crowd] Oh. -[Mauto] Kai using her educated feet
to thwart the offense of Tegan Nox.
Kai, the first New Zealand female athlete
to crack the world of WWE
and now she wants to more than crack the back of Tegan Nox.
[Kai screaming]
[Beth] You see the vicious frustration.
[crowd boos]
Kai has something evil deep inside her.
[Mauro] Oh, Tegan Nox paying tribute to the big red machine.
Dakota Kai landing hard on her back.
Nox.
[Beth] Molly-go-round.
-[Mauro] And the cover. -[crowd] One, two, oh!
[Mauro] Tegan Nox with her homage to Molly Holly, and the Molly-go-round
almost stuck with the victory there, Beth.
[Beth] And you see the look of shock on Nox's face quickly turn to anger.
-[Nigel] Brazen mistakes. -[crowd cheering]
Kai hanging on desperately. Nox, with pained expression on her face.
Not anymore.
-[Mauro] Dakota Kai just might-- -[Beth] High force this.
-[Nigel] No. -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] She's gonna take out Kai and that super kick connects.
-[Beth] Oh. -[crowd] Oh.
[Nigel] That's what you get.
[Nigel] Do not mess with Dakota Kai.
[Beth] Nox doing her best in this moment,
struggling with remorse, the emotional side of this situation.
[Mauro] No remorse on the part of Kai.
[Beth] The former best friend of Nox.
[Mauro] She has made it clear it's not even about winning matches
or titles for her at this stage,
it's about taking out the competition, literally.
[crowd] Oh!
[man #2] Get her inside.
[Nigel] Oh, wait a second.
-[Beth] Oh, no. -[Mauro] Dakota Kai has duct tape and--
-[Beth] Oh, no. -[Mauro] She is going to attempt to
neutralize Tegan Nox.
[Crowd boos]
-[Mauro] Nox struggling. -[Beth] Nox is gonna be helpless.
[Mauro] Nox trying to break the tape,
-but Dakota Kai… -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] kicks her right in the face.
[Nigel] That was the left boot of Nox-- excuse me, Dakota Kai.
And she's gonna try again.
-[crowd] Oh. -[Nigel] The right boot this time.
[Mauro] Oh, wow. And that kick was so forceful, it broke the grip.
And now, Nox, helpless at the hands--
[Kai] …you asked for this Tegan.
[Nigel] Kai saying, "you asked for this, Tegan."
Kai looking for more… tools to plunder.
-[crowd] Oh, no. - [Mauro] There's an attack to the knee,
the knee wearing the brace of Dakota Kai.
- And Tegan Nox… -[crowd] oh.
-[Mauro] attacking the knee. -[Nigel] Come on.
There is no need for that.
[Beth] That's a laptop.
That's a surgically repaired right knee.
It's a knee for a knee here between Nox and Kai.
[Beth] Every bit of this, Kai asked for.
[Nigel] Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] Look at the weight of that heavy steel chain.
[Mauro] A chain of pain across the knee of Kai.
Nox wrapping her fist and then creating a weapon.
[Mauro] A merciless attack by Tegan Nox.
The chain is like a form of brass knuckles
and now she's tearing away at the brace.
[Nigel] Nox has snapped.
[Mauro] Do you blame her, Nigel?
[Beth] She was pushed to the limit, Nige.
-[Mauro] There're no limits… -[Nigel] Wait a second.
[Mauro] as to where they can go… [Nigel] She's ending Kai's career.
[Mauro] in this street fight.
-[crowd] Oh! -[Beth] Oh!
[Mauro] And the NXT universe loves it.
[Beth] This is retribution for what she did.
[Mauro] Shiniest wizard.
The girl with the shiniest wizard just gave Dakota Kai a shiner.
[Nigel] What a moment of realization for Nox.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Tegan Nox on the verge of victory.
I'm not done yet. I'm ending you.
[Beth] Nox saying, "she's not done yet."
[Nigel] Wow.
[Mauro] She had the opportunity right there to exorcise Dakota Kai.
And you have to wonder,
are emotions getting the better of Nox?
[Nigel] There's no doubt about it.
The emotions are so thick between both of these competitors.
[Beth] And I'll point it out, Nige, Nox is the one still on her feet,
so it's serving her well.
[Mauro] She had a chance to go for the pinfall or submission,
but I cannot argue with the fact that she wants to do to Kai
what Kai did to her, putting her on the shelf
for a lengthy period of time.
[Beth] You've seen the footage of that despicable display at wargames,
how she smashed Tegan's knee in those steel bars.
Her best friend.
[Mauro] Oh! Former best friend turned most bitter enemy.
And now, Dakota Kai in a supine position on the table.
[Nigel] Oh, come on. This is not fair.
[Beth] Anything's fair in a street fight, Nige.
[Nigel] There's no way Kai can protect herself.
[Mauro] All's fair in love and in NXT women's--
-[Nigel] Come on. Alright, I agree. -[Mauro] Come on! Stop this now.
[Mauro] Dakota--Tegan Nox, I think-- No, she's not gonna--
[Nigel] Stop this now.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Tegan Nox, Beth, she's about to cross the line.
[Beth] Nox's got to rethink this.
[Mauro] Oh, my--what--?
[Beth] Oh, my god.
It's Raquel Gonzales.
-From the Mae Young Classic. -[referee] This does not involve you.
[Mauro] We know that Gonzales has been a standout at the WWE PC,
but what the hell is she doing here?
[Nigel] We're about to find out--
-[Mauro] No disqualifications. -[Nigel] Exactly.
No disqualifications, this match continues.
And it's obvious--
[Raquel speaks in Spanish]
[Mauro] Gonzales targeting Tegan Nox.
-And driving Tegan Nox… -[Nigel] Oh!
[Mauro] into the table.
Hasn't Nox been through enough?
[crowd boo]
And now, Dakota Kai looking to reap the rewards
following the nefarious actions of Raquel Gonzales.
[ring bells]
Here is your winner,
Dakota Kai.
[Beth] What a heartbreaking ending.
Give the assist to Gonzales.
[Nigel] If you're Dakota Kai, thank god for Raquel Gonzales.
[Mauro] Well, we know the what, where, when, and how.
The only question left to be answered
is why.
[crowd boo]
[referee] You should´t be here.
[Mauro] Even Dakota Kai looks confused.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Well, like it or not, Kai is bidding done by one Raquel Gonzales.
[Nigel] It was Tegan Nox trying to end this match up.
And Raquel Gonzales changing the direction of the match, 180 degrees.
Driving Nox off the edge of the table,
even more impact.
It has gave Dakota Kai the opportunity to secure a victory.
[Beth] And what is the nature of this alliance?
Is there an alliance between Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzales?
[Mauro] Dakota Kai defeats Nox
in the first-ever NXT women's street fight.
[rock music fades out]
[Mauro] It is only fitting that during Valentine's day weekend,
NXT Takeover comes to you from the Rose city,
the home of the Trail Blazers Gondola,
Portland, Oregon.
[Beth] And Takeover Portland has been off the chain.
But let's turn to former NXT UK women's champion
and now NXT women's champion, Rhea Ripley
preparing as she defends the NXT women's championship
against the athleticism of Bianca Belair.
[Nigel] Well, talking of NXT UK, we just have huge breaking news.
For the first time ever, NXT UK Takeover outside the UK,
Sunday, April 26th, NXT UK Takeover Dublin,
at the 3 arena.
It is gonna be historic.
[Mauro] Irish eyes are smiling.
Everyone is smiling for the simple fact that for the first time ever,
the man who put NXT on the map,
Finn Balor, will battle the man who put NXT's flag on the moon,
Johnny Gargano.
It's the rebel heart versus the heartless,
coming up at NXT Takeover.
[Crowd cheering] NXT!
[Mauro] What the hell!
[Nigel] Oh, my god.
[Mauro] Oh, my god.
[Nigel] No.
[Mauro] What the hell has gotten into Finn Balor?
Look at the eyes of Finn Balor. Oh, my god.
[Crowd cheering]
-[Nigel] No. -[Mauro] Oh, Balor.
[crowd] Oh!
[instrumental music playing]
[Male reporter] You kicked Gargano on the face and--
It's been a long time coming.
Time to shake the trees, dude, and see what falls out.
[male announcer] Let's make one thing clear.
[female reporter] The WWE universe
had a field day with Finn's shocking betrayal.
[male reporter #2] I don't watch this business.
I'd say this is a real Finn Balor.
This business watches me.
For me, Raw and Smackdown is like Hollywood.
It's easy to hide behind
all the special effects and the bright lights.
NXT, it's like Broadway.
Let's just say the prince is back.
That was the heart of NXT,
that's what all the hype was about. Johnny Gargano.
I built this place.
When I was gone, a bunch of little boys moved in.
so, I am begging someone
to stand in this ring with Finn Balor.
[male announcer #2] That´s quite a scene.
[Beth] Oh, my god.
[Mauro] Johnny Wrestling has returned to the NXT arena.
Johnny Gargano is looking to get revenge on Finn Balor.
[Gargano] Finn Balor, you put me out for three months.
Well, your past is standing right here,
because you didn't finish the job on the ramp.
You put NXT on the map.
You left, Finn.
You abandoned this place
and we took this place to new heights without you.
I've been counting down the days for four years to get my hands on you.
All I've been hearing is Johnny Wrestling, Johnny Takeover.
Well, now it's time to step up and prove it, Johnny.
Right there I see it.
I see it in your eyes.
That's NXT Finn Balor.
That's the Finn Balor I need to beat
to solidify myself as the face of this brand.
That's not Raw and Smackdown Finn Balor, no.
Because if that guy shows up to Portland, I am gonna eat him alive.
You're gonna wish that guy show up in Portland,
but that guy is dead.
Johnny Gargano, I'm coming for you.
And I don't miss.
[Finn] I ain't here to have match of the year.
I'm here to have match of your life.
[Johnny] I'm gonna to take that NXT flag you left behind.
The flag I wave proudly,
and I'm gonna drive it straight through your heart,
and I don't miss.
Johnny, I don't have a heart.
There are three matches
and then there are Finn Balor against Johnny Gargano.
[Rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
[female announcer] Introducing first from Cleveland Ohio,
weighing at 199 pounds,
-Johnny Gargano. -[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Johnny is looking to exorcise his latest demon
adding to his record for NXT Takeover matches with his 16th.
He also holds the benchmark for Takeover main events with eight.
But tonight, Nigel, not about the numbers,
it's about proving who wins the true heart and soul of this brand.
[Nigel] We heard Gargano say that he wants NXT Finn Balor
because that's the man he has to beat
to solidify his status as the heart of NXT.
[Mauro] Can he do it, though? Because Balor to me
is as aggressive and as devastating as I've ever seen him.
That, and remember Balor shocking the NXT universe last October
with the savage attack on Johnny Gargano,
putting Johnny Wrestling on the shelf.
[Beth] Putting Johnny on the shelf
out of bitterness and jealousy
for the success Gargano had achieved.
Gargano, the first NXT triple crown winner.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[male announcer] And his opponent from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland,
Finn Balor.
[Mauro] The longest reigning NXT champion.
The inaugural universal champion.
A man who raged against the WWE machine.
And now, back here in NXT,
looking to pull the strings like Tom Morello.
[Nigel] We heard Balor said in the past,
he wanted to shake the trees and see what fell out.
He came back with a purpose,
focused on the NXT championship,
taking out every potential challenger.
Gargano was one of them,
but there's more to this, Mauro, than just about the title.
There is that deep scented resentment
that he feels he made NXT what it is,
after he left, there were a bunch of boys that filled his shoes.
And remember Johnny Gargano
did cause Finn Balor his chance of beating Adam Cole
for the NXT title when Gargano returned to NXT.
[Beth] This rivalry is deeply personal.
Again, like you said, Nigel, Balor believes that Gargano
was part of NXT's degradation.
How the glory was dissolved when Gargano came to become a star in NXT.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] If you come at the prince, you must not miss.
[instrumental rock music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[instrumental rock music fades out]
[crowd cheering]
Johnny Gargano known also as Johnny Takeover.
But it's Finn Balor who has the best record at Takeover's,
nine and one.
He also holds the longest win streak for men in NXT
with eight straight victories,
looking to make nine one of his most memorable.
Balor talking about the future being his past,
he has to deal with the present.
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] You feel the energy,
the anticipation between these two athletes.
[Mauro] Aren't many opportunities to witness a first.
Two of the very best to tie up the boots here in NXT,
former NXT champions.
But Balor's heinous attack on Gargano.
[crowd cheering]
Two transcendent talents, capable of shifting accepted realities.
What do you anticipate we will see in this match up, Nigel?
I think at the beginning here we're gonna have a feeling out process.
A great trick from Balor, he's trying to get inside.
Look at Johnny Gargano's face there, a little bit of a smile,
trying to show that it didn't get to him, I bet it did.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] See the incredible foot work of Finn, no wasted movement.
[Mauro] Roll up here by Gargano, looking for the quick victory.
And just as quick Finn Balor kicked out.
[Nigel] Both competitors in incredible physical condition
at a post negative.
[Mauro] Finn Balor had his first match
at the age of 18.
Johnny Gargano long-time wrestling fan
who started training at the age of 16
and now, putting his grappling skills
against Finn Balor who's equally proficient on the mat.
[Nigel] Remember, Gargano back in those early days,
how far he's come from then,
but the one thing he has maintained is his love of this job and this industry.
And his love of the Marvel Universe and he is an example,
of not all superheroes wearing capes away.
He has connected with the audience of all ages.
Johnny is going from ultimate underdog to top dog in NXT.
But he's have to overcome so much to get there.
[Beth] He has overcome so much.
And like you said, Mauro, he connects with our NXT universe.
But when it comes time to perform, Johnny Gargano delivers.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Oh, look at that, having a bit of fun.
Rubbing it in the face.
Look, I can do push-ups while you can't get out,
that is the prince.
[Beth] Wow.
[Mauro] That is what the kids would call extra Mister Mcginnis
as Finn Balor putting extra pressure on Johnny Gargano.
Johnny Gargano known for his conditioning,
his limitless fuel tank.
And there, showing off his quick ability,
the alacrity of Johnny Gargano,
then now turned the tables on Finn Balor, utilizing a side headlock of his own.
[Beth] And a little payback for that arrogance just shown by Finn.
I hope Balor takes this very seriously.
Johnny Gargano is Mr. Takeover for a reason.
[Mauro] The bad blood brewing for months.
Balor showing his true colors when he attacked Johnny Gargano.
And who will ever forget, not only the visual,
but the sound of Johnny being planted
on the ramp with 1916 ddt,
getting taken out of full self the ambulance as he takes it to Balor.
[Naigel] Perhaps, now, Gargano will use that experience in this matchup.
[Mauro] Reversal on the average whip by the average spin,
-there is a roll through and-- -[Beth] wow.
[Mauro] Roll up here. Oh.
[Beth] Oh, my goodness. Did you see that quick kick to the jaw?
[Nigel] Finn Balor didn't and it caught him right underneath it.
Gargano's got to follow up.
What makes this match so compelling, one of the reasons is, yes,
two of the best technical practitioners in the sport.
But the fact that this become so personal,
It will be interesting to see how deep
Johnny and Finn dig to produce victory.
[Nigel] Gonna be a human game of chess as Gordon Solie love to call it.
[Mauro] Are you gonna say "su-play" in his honor as well?
[Nigel] Well, if we see one, perhaps.
[Mauro] You know what, it's tough doing a match like this right?
-As Balor-- -[Nigel] Oh.
[Mauro] Hoist up Gargano.
-[Beth] We are seeing the pace pick up. -[Mauro] Cover.
[Nigel] Just a one-count.
Just a one-count.
Johnny trying to make a statement with that kick out at one,
telling Finn Balor, "uh-uh. Not close."
[Beth] Both of these athletes with a very cautious start,
nobody wants to be the one to make the first mistake.
[Mauro] Finn Balor, the T-man of NXT says he has no heart.
Meanwhile, facing someone who has more heart than Valentine's day.
And Johnny getting lit up by the prince.
[Beth] There's an old saying, "being defeated is a temporary condition,
giving up is what makes it permanent."
-And there is no quit in Johnny wrestling. -[crowd] Oh!
[Mauro] And there's no quit in the chop feast of Finn Balor.
[Nigel] This Balor is so impressive to me.
It's the aggression we've always known
with a new wisdom of experience.
[Mauro] Balor has surgical precision,
just targeting the lower back of Johnny
-really versatile in his attack. -[crowd] Oh.
[Beth] I agree with you on that, Nigel.
This is the best version of Finn we have ever seen.
[Nigel] Wait a second.
[Mauro] Counter kick by Johnny
as Balor's momentum took him crashing.
And now, Johnny wrestling saying,
"you want a chop?
I've got the chop for you."
Medium rare or maybe as rare as they come, Nigel.
[Nigel] That one, getting right up the chest,
underneath the jaw.
Johnny hit him so hard, he hurt his own hand.
And Gargano unloading with the lefts, the south paw taking it to Finn
with each every strike,
trying to eliminate what transpired in October at the NXT arena.
[Beth] Gargano trying to remain composed,
even though deep emotions bubbling out in both of these competitors.
[Mauro] Finn Balor misses.
Johnny Gargano on the edge. And then Johnny Gargano spearing
Finn Balor off the apron.
[Nigel] Take a look at Gargano, though, grabbing his left arm,
maybe an awkward landing for him, too.
[Mauro] In addition to the bad blood that exist both Gargano and Balor
would love another opportunity at the title.
[Nigel] And certainly, I think the arm as we mentioned there,
Gargano's arm crashing into the apron.
[Mauro] And remember, Finn Balor taking Gargano out
with the downward dropkick at the NXT arena
before planting him with a 1916 ddt.
And Johnny Gargano willing to give Balor a 2020 beating.
Of course, that robbed Johnny of doing what he loves best
being in the squared circle.
[Mauro] He has that treasured cat smile, maybe he heard me.
Johnny trying to take a page out of Balor's playbook.
And Balor blastinghim with a sling blade.
[Mauro] You knew that Gargano was looking for that move dropkick
through the barricade.
[Nigel] Absolutely, he had that in mind, but Balor was a step ahead.
-[crowd cheering] -[Nigel] And a day early.
[crowd] Oh.
[Mauro] What a knee strike, Beth.
[Beth] Balor is breathing fire like a dragon.
[Nigel] Balor breaking the count by throwing Gargano back in,
now with the advantage.
[Mauro] Yeah. Balor looking to be more devastating and dragging glass
as he again cinches this neutralizing lock on Gargano.
[Nigel] Yes. And listen to the sound of his knee.
-[crowd] Oh. -[Mauro] Oh, what a sick thud.
Bone against bone, speaking of which.
[Nigel] Forearm being driven across the cheekbone,
extremely painful.
[Mauro] That's like a cat scratching a sunburn.
[Beth] And this is the pace where Finn Balor is at his best.
[Mauro] Basement dropkick by Balor,
goes for the lateral press,
but Gargano quickly kicks out.
[Nigel] Interesting target with a dropkick.
A lot of people would like to go for the back of the neck.
It was to the same cheek
that he just put some damage to.
[Mauro] Can't overstate how much the NXT universe was looking to this,
first ever matchup between two of the star wars,
Finn Balor, Johnny Gargano, mano a mano
for the very first time here on NXT.
[Beth] Balor looking to put pressure on the carotid arteries of Johnny.
[Nigel] Almost a version of the head and arm crotch there,
gonna drive Gargano's forearm into his own carotid artery.
But he doesn't have it in deep enough
and that's why Gargano able to get back-- oh, no, wait a second.
-[Beth] Wow. -[Mauro] Balor trained in Japan.
In fact, he has picked up all of the styles as has Johnny Gargano.
That's what makes them two of the upper class in the business, Nigel.
[Nigel] I've learned that everywhere they've gone against everybody they faced.
Both students of the game.
[Beth] You see Balor trying to get a little more leverage,
to put a little more pressure on the neck.
[Beth] Driving his chin into the top of Gargano's head.
[crowd chanting]
-[Mauro] The crowd is split. -[Nigel] Oh.
[Mauro] Divorce court delivered by Johnny
taking a page on a beautiful Bobby Eaton's playbook
as Gargano as you mentioned student of the game.
Studies tape, picks what works,
and adds it to his impressive repertoire.
[Nigel] And of course, as Gargano, again,
tries to focus on the arm that could pay dividends
-late in the matchup. -[Beth] Oh.
[Nigel] Gargano may attempt the Gargano escape.
Submission maneuver.
Balor is writhing in pain,
there might be some serious damage done to the elbow and wrist here.
[Mauro] You bring up a salient point, Nigel.
and also so not allowed Balor to try to hook that 1916 ddt.
[Nigel] I have to let to try to hit it from the other side.
-There would need to be some duct tape-- -[Mauro] Shoulders are down.
And, oh, Balor just able to slip out.
[Nigel] Balor is hurt.
You can see the way he's trying to protect his left arm.
-Oh. -[Mauro] Oh.
What adjustments does Balor need to make
to try to thwart this attack of Johnny Gargano, Nigel?
[Nigel] That's a good start right there,
keep a distance and using a good arm.
-Oh, wow. -[Mauro] Oh, that screw leg
while Gargano was on the top rope.
Beth, you suffered an injury to your leg,
how does Gargano cope?
[Beth] Twisting to the joint is the quickest way to tear an ACL,
MCL, PCL, you name it.
It's very difficult and that makes the knee loose.
-[Mauro] Oh. -[Nigel] Aw-cl.
[Mauro] And nicely-put, Nigel,
as Balor's left arm injured now,
Johnny Gargano's right knee.
[Nigel] To your point, what does Gargano--
excuse me, what does Balor have to do?
You take my arm, I'll take your leg.
[Mauro] And he is doing just that.
Break down what's happening here, Nigel, with the way that--
[Nigel] Look at the left elbow of Balor
being driven into the medial cruciate ligament of the left knee of Gargano.
[Mauro] And Gargano, how does he escape this, Beth?
-What can he do? -[Beth] What he's doing right here.
He's got that free leg, he's got to strike his way out
and roll to his stomach.
If he's got any chance--there we go.
[Mauro] Looking for the juji gatame,
looking for that cross armbreaker
before Balor shoulders are down for Gargano.
-Oh, man. -[crowd] Oh.
And of course we know all about Finn Balor's stomps,
especially from high elevation.
[Beth] We were expecting a clinic from these two competitors
and we are certainly getting it.
[Mauro] Gargano into the corner,
Balor with the shot to the bread basket,
looking to just work on both legs
taking out Gargano's foundation.
[Nigel] Gargano known for his speed,
in Balor's sights.
See, Balor didn't rush in there.
[referee] Knock it off, come on.
[Beth] You see the aggression being turned over here.
Oh my goodness.
[Nigel] Oh.
-[Beth] Wow. -[Nigel] Snap, crackle, pot.
-Ask him. -[referee] All right.
-[Finn] You know who you're in with? -[Mauro] Into a painful morning,
will make that night for Johnny Gargano.
Just watch here the poor angle of the knee being driven down.
[Beth] Balor's foot sending the knee
all the way to the mat from the front and back.
[Mauro] Finn Balor decimating the leg of Johnny Gargano
and this speaks to the attitude,
the new attitude that Balor has brought to NXT.
[Beth] And the knee is a--oh! The knee is a hinge joint,
it's not a ball joint, it's not meant to bend in that direction.
[Nigel] Mauro, you said this was a dream match,
it's a dream match to everyone except the two involved,
the bitterness and the resentment between these two is absolutely palpable.
[Beth] Not again.
[Nigel] Oh, wait a second.
[Mauro] Gargano looking to take advantage
as Balor is outside of the ring and--
he quickly gets back into the squared circle,
small package, Johnny looking for the victory
and Gargano almost able to give Balor his comeuppance.
-[Beth] Uh. -[Nigel] The kick landed low,
a great catch from Balor.
[Nigel] And the figure-four of the legs,
oh, this could be it here.
Looking for a submission.
And Johnny writhing in pain.
[Beth] Balor has the fingers intertwined
to put more pressure on the left leg of Gargano.
And we see the pain.
[Mauro] Both of the mental-level mat technicians in here.
Finn Balor--
[Nigel] He can't pull up the shoulders.
[Mauro] Tying up Johnny Gargano.
[Beth] Laying on your back, getting that space is the only way
to get a little respite from the pain.
[Mauro] And the deathlock being applied here by Finn Balor,
and of course again, you talk about being students of the game,
this was a devastating move back in the day and it serves its purpose here.
[crowd chanting]
[Mauro] Listen to this vociferous reaction from the NXT universe.
[Beth] Gargano testing out that leg.
[Mauro] So as Finn Balor.
[Maurto] Step-up enzuigiri rattles Finn.
[Beth] And Gargano struggling to stay on his feet.
[Mauaro] Reversal.
[Nigel] On to the bad knee.
[Mauro] Injured knee and, oh, Gargano though able to plant Finn Balor
and again delivering that roundhouse kick
and levels Balor with a lethal lariat.
[Nigel] What we see is a great show of grit and determination from Gargano
pushing through the pain.
And it's got to be etched into that left knee.
[Mauro] The onslaught of damage to that knee slowed Gargano down.
Both, Balor and Gargano being taxed to the Max
and Gargano looking for the tope,
-caught by-- -[Beth] Oh my god!
[Mauro] Not again, not again.
[crowd] Oh!
Balor was looking to deliver the 1916 ddt,
instead Gargano blasts him into the ring steps.
[Beth] That could have been a tragic ending for Johnny Gargano.
[referee] Come on guys, let's go.
[Naigel] Oh, wait a second.
What's Gargano got in mind?
[Mauro] Oh, rolling senton by Johnny Gargano
and while he wiped out Finn, he landed hard as well.
[Nigel] No question, came bounced off of Balor onto the mat on the outside.
That wouldn't help Balor's-- that wouldn't help Gargano's left knee.
[Beth] But you can see Finn Balor still favoring the left arm.
Let's take a look at this incredible maneuver
which Balor telegraphed
and looked to give him the 1916 and into the steel steps.
[Nigel] Here it would be the great tumbleweed
but skipping off of the shoulder of Balor and landing hard on the mat.
[Mauro] And breaking the referee's--
oh, slingshot spear,
Johnny Gargano is putting away Finn Balor but only gets a two.
[Nigel] Oh, they say revenge is a dish best serve cold
but Gargano is gonna make Balor eat every last bite steaming hot.
[Mauro] And remember, Finn Balor ominously sent a message
as he gets nailed with that slingshot spear.
He said, "Johnny Gargano, you might not make it to takeover."
He's made it to Takeover but now Balor says
he's going to end Gargano's career for good.
[Beth] Did it look like-- was Balor begging for a little mercy there?
[crowd] Oh.
[Mauro] He's not going to get any mercy from Johnny Wrestling.
-Oh, no. -[Beth] Uh-oh.
Johnny looking to drive-- oh,
wait a minute, the counter, Balor misses,
Gargano comes off the ropes.
[Nigel] Johnny taking time into the cover.
[Mauro] Balor with the back press,
Johnny Gargano gets that left shoulder up in the nick of time.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] And the pain continuing to radiate in the arm of Finn Balor.
[Mauro] Two NXT Takeover legends
squaring up here for the first time and it is delivered.
Johnny, Finn having to resort
deep into their vast arsenal of weapons.
[crowd chanting]
[Mauro] Two former NXT champions,
and Finn Balor looking to stop the heart,
the will, the wrestling out of Johnny.
[Nigel] One thing we know about Gargano is he really has the capability to go--
oh, watch out.
[Beth] Whoa.
[Mauro] Monster superkick from Gargano, Balor may be out.
[man at the audience] Come on, Johnny!
[Mauro] Finn Balor trying to clean out the cobwebs
-and Johnny Gargano looking for the ddt. -[crowd] Oh!
[Nigel] Didn't have the leverage over Balor--
[Mauro] Oh, what a counter by Johnny.
-[crowd] Oh! -[Mauro] Lawn dart.
Lawn dart by Gargano.
And Balor was able to break the real brutal aspect of the--
[Nigel] Balor did his best to break the impact but now--
[Mauro] Oh, Pele kick.
Shades of what happened in October.
Oh, wait a second! Gargano--
…on Balor for a two.
Wow.
[crowd chanting] NXT!
[Mauro] Just watch these strikes from every angle,
but watch after the Pele kick, serendipitously,
Gargano landed on top and almost secured the victory.
And the reception from the NXT universe
is gotta make these gentlemen's heartbeat just a little bit faster.
Remember, Balor's Pele kick was what sent shockwaves throughout NXT.
It precedes the 1916 ddt.
Balor on his feet.
Oh, walks right into the left foot.
And now Balor and Gargano, ferocious strikes.
[crowd chanting]
[Beth] Wow.
[Mauro] Now it's a fight.
[crowd] Oh.
[Mauro] Both of them were on the same page
of the same brutal book, Nigel.
-[Nigel] A tough book to read. -[Mauro] Whoa.
[Nigel] Oh, hold on. Counter by Balor.
[Mauro] Well-placed knee. Another knee.
[Beth] And this flurry begins, but how will Balor finish it?
[Mauro] Balor going all the way to the top turnbuckle.
Johnny Gargano in trouble.
Oh, Gargano missed.
Gargano able to miss the coup de grace.
-[Beth] Cover him. -[Mauro] Looking for the slingshot ddt.
Johnny Wrestling.
Almost. Oh my.
How frustrating.
How taxing is that?
[Beth] Take a look at the height here.
Johnny Wrestling able to counter
and hit that huge ddt,
but it would not be enough to put Finn Balor away.
[Nigel] Much to the disagree of my broadcast colleagues,
Finn Balor still alive in this one.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] I beg your pardon, Nigel, I call it down the middle.
And by the way, Gargano calling that a thunderstruck ddt,
imagine the thunderous roar
if it would have put away Finn Balor and-- the stand-off.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Here we go.
[grunts]
[Mauro] Oh, forearm from Gargano
and then wiping out Balor,
discus clothesline, Balor on his back.
Gargano rallying the incredible crowd here in Portland.
[crowd cheering and booing]
DIY, Johnny Gargano-- But so is Balor with that sling blade.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Beth] Uh-oh.
[Mauro] John Woo blocked by the superkick,
and back and forth we go.
Oh, another sling blade by Finn Balor.
John Woo dropkick.
Oh my, the impact of Gargano crashing into the turnbuckles.
[Nigel] And the face of Finn Balor as he prepares to put Gargano away.
[Beth] This match has been incredible so far.
[Mauro] Finn Balor on the cusp,
about to deliver the coup de grace, no!
-Into the Gargano escape -[Nigel] he's got it.
In the center of the ring.
[Nigel] Lock at the torque.
Gargano writhes with his hips.
[Mauro] The present's about to haunt Finn Balor.
The prince desperately trying to make it to the rope.
[Beth] Oh no.
[Nigel] Finn Balor did the right thing trying to get his knees under his hips.
[Mauro] Everyone in Portland is on their feet.
[Beth] Balor is screaming, "no."
[Mauro] Oh, the reversal by Balor, he stomp in the air,
onto the lungs of Johnny Gargano.
[Nigel] Well done, Finn Balor.
Oh, here we go, we're going back into a 19--no.
Another reversal of by Gargano,
back to the Gargano escape.
[Beth] He's got it
and Balor is in the center of the ring
nowhere to go.
[Mauro] Can Finn Balor escape?
[crowd cheering]
Oh, yes and again.
Beautiful work from Finn Balor.
-[Mauro] The inner resolve. -[Nigel] Oh, come on.
[Mauro] Where did he summon that strength from?
Finn Balor showing why he is one of the best champions in NXT history
but the same can be said for Johnny Gargano.
[Nigel] Take a look at the welts on Finn Balor's body,
under his armpit, across his lats.
These here guys are going to carry battle scars for a lifetime, Beth.
[crowd chanting]
Physically and mentally.
[Beth] And it is all through the glory of NXT,
who will be the flag bearer?
Remember what happened at the NXT arena,
Johnny Gargano didn't forget.
Johnny Gargano just John Woo dropkicked
Finn Balor into the barricade.
[crowd booing and cheering]
[Nigel] What an interesting reaction as we take a look at the face of Johnny.
[Mauro] It's Johnny carnage tonight at Takeover.
[Nigel] Looking for more carnage now.
Gargano enjoying the damage he's been inflicting but--
[Mauro] Johnny sees what happened in October.
[Mauro] What the--
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Uh-oh.
[Nigel] Oh dear, this does not look good.
-[Beth] Oh, no. -[Mauro] Johnny-- Finn Balor, my god.
My god, driving Johnny into the table.
[breathing heavily]
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] I can't believe the look in Finn's eyes.
What the hell is the prince thinking?
Oh no.
Finn Balor on our broadcast table.
Johnny on the Spanish announce table.
Woo dropkick by Balor.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Holy bleep indeed.
What an incredible match between Balor and Gargano.
Balor looking to put NXT's pedigree
through the heart of Johnny Gargano.
Coup de grace connects.
-[Nigel] Gargano got a little bit-- -[Beth] My god.
[crowd cheering]
Driving the soles of his feet
through the heart of Johnny Gargano.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Nigel] And you don't have to like him and perhaps, he prefers it if you don't.
[Mauro] Oh, Gargano 1960 ddt.
-That's it. Finn Balor has won. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
Here is your winner, Finn Balor.
[Mauro] [laughs] The future is his past,
the present is one of his most impressive victories here on NXT
taking out the heart and soul of the black and gold brand, Beth.
[rock music playing]
[referee] [indistinct]
[Beth] You see Balor sending a message
over the prone body of Johnny Gargano.
What a heinous act and poor sportsmanship.
[Nigel] It was great action from Balor,
the John Woo dropkick right on the Spanish announce table,
that would set up this from the top rope,
but just look, every pound of his body
right into the chest of Johnny Gargano.
[Beth] And then Balor with steely blue eyes
drops Gargano on his head
with the 1960 ddt.
And you see the look on his face in victory.
[Mauro] And just like that, Finn has taken the NXT flag and flagpole
and driven it through the heart of Johnny.
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] The prince wants to be coronated king
and he's just taken out a former NXT champion.
[rock music continues]
Finn don't miss.
Johnny Gargano, Matt Riddle, Ilja Dragunov, anyone who wants it,
-come get it. -[Mauro] The sisyphean struggle of Johnny.
[Mauro] First and last blood drawn by the prince.
[music fades out]
[narrator] This Wednesday.
The Dream remembers what you and your undisputed bullies
did to him like it was yesterday.
You take the Dream to the very top of the trailer,
and then you throw me off.
[narrator] There are some lines you just don't cross.
You put my wife and my son on your stupid gear.
[narrator] Roderick Strong.
What you did was so disrespectful.
[narrator] The Velveteen Dream.
If anything ever happen to you,
someone will fulfill all of Marina's dreams.
[narrator] One-on-one.
NXT live this Wednesday 8:00, 7:00 central only on USA.
Roderick Strong, tonight is a huge night for the undisputed era
but as we just saw, this Wednesday
you go one-on-one with velveteen dream.
And things have gotten extremely personal between you two.
He's a dead man. Velveteen dream is a dead man
and that is Wednesday, tonight is tonight.
Tonight the baddest team on God's Green
shows the loserweights why they are, who they are.
-[man #1] Everyone knows. -[man #2] Time to learn.
And this man right there, he finally finishes the delusional Ciampa
and shows the world once again why he is the greatest NXT champion of all-time.
All-time.
[Cole] Now you can leave Cathy, get--go.
[crowd booing]
Roderick strong furious and understandably so.
Come next Wednesday,
he's gonna make Velveteen Dream realize he overstepped the line.
Well, what about what we just witnessed, you guys?
Two former NXT champions,
a battle for the ages,
Finn driving the NXT flag and flagpole
through the heart of Johnny Gargano.
And hey, we wanna thank Poppy,
you saw her kick off the show earlier tonight
and you are listening to "anything like me".
From the album "I disagree".
It's an NXT loud theme song for NXT Takeover, Portland
and it's available now on Apple Music and Spotify.
[Nigel] And still to come tonight,
can Bianca Belair realize her goal
of ending Rhea Ripley's championship reign
after Ripley's meteoric ascent
toward the end of last year?
[Mauro] Rhea Ripley's been ripping it up across all three brands.
[bell ringing]
[male commentator] Rhea Ripley picking up a pin fall over Charlotte flair.
[Mauro] Ripley wins the first ever women's wargames match.
[Beth] Rhea Ripley does it again. What a moment for team NXT.
This is mine!
[Mauro] And the last riptide!
The new NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley.
[music]
Charlotte if you're gonna challenge
for any title at WrestleMania…
Girl, uh-uh.
[Beth] Who will face the NXT women's champion at NXT Takeover Portland?
[Mauro] With the K.O.D., launches her right to the outside.
Bianca Belair survives this battle royal.
I don't care about no queen I ain't here for one.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair will challenge Rhea Ripley
for the NXT women's title.
Come takeover, I'm coming home champion.
[crowd cheering]
Bianca Belair, I have a lot of respect for you.
But Rhea, overlooked you.
[man 1] The 2020 Women's Royal Rumble.
[man 2] Belair has the conditioning to go deep in this matchup.
Wow.
[man 1] Eight eliminations.
Bianca owns the women's elimination record.
I think you are an amazing athlete
but this is a conversation for champions.
You don't even go here.
[scream]
[Mauro] Ripley and Belair dropping the queen at the NXT arena.
You think you're gonna run through me at takeover Portland
but I'm the EST of NXT and you can't whoop me.
[Mauro] Belair delivers a K.O.D. to the champion.
[Rhea] I assure you that I'm not looking past you.
I'm telling you,
I'm gonna go right through you.
[rock music]
[Mauro] The nightmare, the EST of NXT,
it's time to get it on
for the NXT Women's Championship.
[music playing]
[crowd cheering]
What a run.
Bianca Belair has been on winning the number one
contender's Women's Battle Royal,
black history in the making, on a roll,
Beth, during black history month and what a…
what a night to make history for this young lady.
[Beth] Bianca Belair, an inspiration to so many young people,
we talk so much about her experience, her natural talent,
and her potential but it's… this is her time.
Bianca Belair has waited for this moment
and I have never seen her come together in such a great way.
Her performance at the royal rumble speaks for itself,
tied for the most eliminations,
she stepped up, stepped out,
and tonight is Belair's night.
[music playing]
[Nigel] Certainly a big opportunity for Belair,
she's had her opportunities before but you have clearly feel right now
is the time, it's the moment,
can she do the final thing,
the final piece of the puzzle?
[crowd cheering]
[music playing]
[Mauro] Rhea Ripley, fresh off,
successfully defending her title
against Toni storm at world's collide,
setting the stage for this incredible battle.
Ripley has been dominant since ending the 416-day reign
of Shayna Baszler and boy,
has she ever been bold stepping up
to "the queen" Charlotte Flair?
[Beth] Listen, the life of a champion is busy.
It's outrageous, meetings, appearances.
But Ripley's been in high demand and she keeps piling more on her plate.
[Mauro] She stepped up to Charlotte Flair on raw, Nigel,
and Bianca Belair feel she's being overlooked.
This match has to take place before anyone can face
Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania.
[Nigel] You can understand exactly.
You can understand Belair went to Twitter and she said,
"How do you know, after Takeover Portland,
you're still gonna be champion?
Girl, you doing too much."
[Mauro] Belair taking a page out of her favorite movie, the line,
"You don't go here", to Charlotte Flair.
Belair's ready to go tonight.
[bell ringing]
The following contest scheduled for one fall is for
the NXT Women's Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
from Knoxville, Tennessee,
Bianca Belair.
[crowd cheering]
And her opponent, from Adelaide, South Australia,
she is the NXT Women's Champion,
Rhea Ripley.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] NXT Women's Championship
hanging in the balance.
Rhea Ripley defending against Bianca Belair
after Ripley dethroned the only two-time
Women's Champion Shayna Baszler.
[Beth] I'll tell you, this is a matchup
I had been looking for to for a long, long time.
These two women have been changing the landscape of the women's division.
[Mauro] It's incredible, the strides that Bianca Belair
has made in the past four years
since WWE hall of fame, Mark Henry,
constructed her.
She's dominated the columbine and really the former CrossFit
and power lifter, and track star, she's an amazing athlete, Nigel.
[Nigel] No doubt she is the best athlete
in the entire brand and right here against Ripley,
it's often you see Ripley having to give up
some power advantage but I dare say
she might be doing that against Belair.
[Beth] Locking horns, going head-to-head, isn't the best strategy.
Ripley going to an arm looking to lay some damage
with that smash-mouth style she's really great at.
[Bianca] Go Bianca.
[Nigel] I think that would certainly serve Ripley well on this matchup,
as I mentioned, can't compete in terms of athleticism alone.
[Mauro] Reversal by Belair, arm wringer, side wrist lock employed
and the power, just a shoulder strike there by Rhea Ripley,
quick go behind waist lock by Belair and a take down
on the NXT Women's Champion.
[Nigel] This is what Belair has to do, keep close,
don't let Ripley have that distance where she can kick and strike.
[Mauro] Ripley and Belair
have had their issues for a while now
and when the NXT Women's title is up for grabs, I mean, the most…
one of the most stacked divisions in the entire sport.
[Beth] I do and I wanna say we have the greatest
female athletes in the world here in NXT
and if you're at the top of the mountain, that makes you the best of the best.
[Mauro] Tip up and there the athleticism of Belair
and there's the brutality of Rhea Ripley.
[crowd cheering]
[gasp]
Short arm clothesline by Ripley and again.
[Beth] Both of these athletes so young
at the beginning of their careers, look how good they are.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair in trouble here now.
You're kidding me, aren't you?
[Mauro] Getting tattooed by Rhea Ripley.
[Nigel] Incredible to think the success
that Ripley has had at such a young age.
[Beth] Twenty-three years old, our NXT Women's Champion.
[gasp]
[Nigel] That is incredible, I didn't step into a ring until I was 23.
[Beth] And Rhea, the sky is the limit.
[Mauro] Ripley has been overpowering her competition
and lighting up the EST of NXT.
And Bianca Belair wearing the wardrobe
that she personally designs and styles
but she's wearing the effects of these drops.
[astonishment]
[Nigel] Ripley.
[Beth] Belair, such a well-rounded athlete,
her great cardio conditioning, her greatest asset,
and knocking the wind off of her might be a good way to neutralize that.
[Mauro] Taking advantage of her sewing proficiency
but it's gonna be tough to sew up the victory here
against the NXT women's champ, but that's a great start.
[Nigel] Change things back in Belair's direction.
Belair has now the great start.
[crowd chatter]
[Mauro] Cover by Belair, hooks the leg.
[Nigel] Just the one count.
[Beth] See a lot of hair pulling and foot stomping,
Belair not afraid to get nasty in there.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair, in her fourth NXT Takeover event,
probably has never looked better as a challenge for the NXT women's title
on two different occasions, really coming into her own
at the Women's Royal Rumble,
lasting over 33 minutes, and as you've mentioned Bethy,
pulling the mark for most eliminations at eight.
And of course she eliminated the field to win the Women's Battle Royal
to earn the right to challenge Ripley tonight.
[Beth] I have locked horns with Bianca Belair…
[Mauro] Standing moonsault. Side press, hooks the leg. Ripley kicks off.
[Beth] I could tell you from experience just how hard she hits.
[crowd chatter]
[Nigel] Keeping the aggression,
keeping the advantage, Belair,
but not going too fast to make any mistakes.
-[Nigel] Hold on. -[Mauro] The strength.
[Mauro] Ripley able to shift her weight, land on her feet,
but Belair again going to the well.
And there, has control now, with the cover on Ripley.
[Beth] Rhea Ripley close to six feet tall,
it's a hard maneuver to try to keep balance with somebody in the air.
[Mauro] The modified suplex jackhammer by Bianca Belair,
dropping all her weight on Ripley now
employing that full Nelson.
-Come on, you want to give up? -No.
[Beth] Ripley's height, one of her best assets,
keeping her flat and low is to Bianca Belair's advantage.
[Nigel] Look at Belair's face
smiling, confident.
She knows this could be a long match.
She's happy to be in the driver seat right now.
[Mauro] Belair singing.
[crowd cheering]
Crowd showing support for both
superstars here in Portland.
Bianca Belair noticing that she's finally…
everyone is on the Bianca Belair bandwagon,
she says if you with me or not,
she's going to do what she does, but it is best that you're with her.
[Nigel] I saw in there Bianca Belair's parents
at ringside being supportive here.
[Mauro] Proud of the family support that she's received throughout her career.
Towering back body drop by Rhea Ripley.
[crowd clapping]
[Nigel] That will certainly hurt on Belair.
[Beth] Ripley shaking off the damage and started lowering the bombs.
[Mauro] And it's Ripley lowering the boom on Bianca Belair.
[Beth] The aggression from the nightmare we've been waiting.
[Mauro] The cravat and the knee strikes, snapmare by the NXT Women's Champion.
Dropkick to Belair.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] Now Ripley on the move.
There's the power and strength we've seen before from the…
[Mauro] Belair and the electric chair.
[Beth] The NXT Women's Champion.
[Mauro] Face first goes Belair.
Ripley with the cover here and Belair…
Able to remain active
in this NXT Women's Championship match.
Looks like Ripley looking for that mayor's grasp.
Oh, gosh.
[Nigel] Look at Belair flailing desperately.
[Mauro] This is one of the more painful submissions you will come across.
[Nigel] Okay. Ripley just slacking away.
[Mauro] Just as Bianca Belair
trying desperately to relieve the pressure, and does.
And now delivering kicks to Ripley,
launching her into that ring post.
[crowd chatter]
[Beth] Ripley stunned and Belair looking to…
[Mauro] Rollup here by the EST of NXT and she gets at two count.
[crowd screaming]
[Beth] Can Belair follow up with a huge spinebuster.
[Mauro] Huge spinebuster matched with cover by Belair, up for a two.
Belair coming so close to usurping the champion.
[Beth] Belair has to get a moment to gather herself.
She cannot get frustrated.
Let's take a look at this.
Ripley, huge spine buster from Belair
but it would not be enough
to take us to a new NXT Women's Champion.
[Mauro] Belair saying that in her previous three takeovers,
she learned to adapt, take those loses
and use them as motivation.
She has never felt more confident and it shows.
[Nigel] There it is, driving her left shoulder into the midsection
of the NXT Women's Champion.
[Beth] Right in the liver and sternum making it difficult to breathe.
There's the attitude and confidence we see from Belair.
[astonishment]
[Mauro] What about the rapid rise of Rhea Ripley?
[Beth] Look at the look.
[Mauro] Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[gasps]
Slap here in Portland as Belair and Ripley
just tattooing each other's faces.
[Beth] This just became a fight, guys.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And there's the hair braid,
beware the hair of Bianca Belair.
Whipping, whipping good, Nigel.
[Beth] Rhea Ripley was wailing in pain.
-[Nigel] Hold on. -[Beth] Oh, my God.
Now the strength of Belair comes into show.
[Beth] Oh, my God.
[Mauro] CrossFit's loss, NXT's gain.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Ripley's eyes rolling at the back of her head.
This is Belair's opportunity.
[Mauro] Bianca Belair.
[crowd cheering]
The crowd fueling Bianca Belair,
she notes her parents,
mom and dad, excited about the prospect.
Hand spring, but that moonsault crashes into the knees of Ripley.
[Beth] Oh, no.
[Nigel] Oh, yes.
[Nigel] Tried for the riptide, Belair escapes.
[Mauro] Belair looking for the K.O.D.
Torture rack on Ripley.
Ripley with those elbows to the, well, the ribs of…
giving Belair problems in her career, the leapfrog.
[gasp]
That kick by Ripley.
[Nigel] Oh, wow.
[crowd cheering]
And the aggression.
First of all, the boot from Rhea Ripley,
but a spike of adrenaline
into the spear from Belair.
[Mauro] Belair grateful for all the opportunities that she's getting.
She wants to show she's not the underdog, not the next star
she is the star in the future.
Will she be the future NXT Women's Champion?
[Nigel] Belair desperately trying to get a pinfall
but the champion would've let that.
[Mauro] Double axe handle by Belair.
[crowd cheering]
Chance of women's wrestling, Beth.
[Beth] This is the moment that we have waited generations to see,
women performing in this level.
This incredible athletes.
[Mauro] Incredible superkick by Rhea Ripley.
[Nigel] As I mentioned earlier,
Ripley is gonna stay in the wheelhouse with those strikes.
[Mauro] The momentum of Ripley crashing into the forearm.
[Beth] Beth Phoenix, take it away.
Double chicken wing, I know that one works well.
[Nigel] Tried for the braid whip a second time but Ripley had it scouted.
[Mauro] What an incredible battle,
both of them showing the rigors.
[Beth] So evenly matched, both of these women.
[Mauro] Oh, my God.
What a back body drop.
Ripley, lucky she didn't do more damage to her ankle.
-[Beth] Wow. -[Nigel] Ripley got some air.
[Mauro] Oh, wow. Speaking of getting some air,
it's air Belair about to take off at Portland.
[female scream]
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Take a look here.
Over the top and an awkward landing for both competitors,
here from a different angle,
just watch the way that Belair lands as well.
Boom, right onto the mat.
[Mauro] What a tope con hilo landing with that heel strike
right between the eyes of the NXT Women's Champion.
[Beth] One hundred percent vertical leap.
Bianca Belair such a well-rounded athlete.
[Mauro] World's champion's advantage.
Oh, my God, and the champion has the advantage.
The only way Belair can win the title is by pinfall
and submission in the ring.
And well, Rhea Ripley putting her inside the squared circle
but I think the nightmare just beginning for the challenger.
[Beth] Serious damage may have been done across the ribs of Belair.
[Nigel] Whatever it is, Belair is still fighting hard to stay in this match.
[Mauro] The champion finds herself on the outside looking to get back in.
Belair, that shot was blocked, Ripley unloads a forearm,
drives Belair into the top turnbuckle.
Incredible that these two women are still standing.
[Nigel] What's Belair got in mind? She took a look over her right shoulder.
[Mauro] And Rhea Ripley, the one in control, the champion,
looking to maintain or hold on to go down Belair.
Belair fighting off that high risk maneuver and now it's Bianca Belair.
[Beth] Some precarious teetering and tottering up there.
[Nigel] Who is going to win this battle of wills?
[Mauro] Oh, that headbutt by the champion.
Oh, no.
Oh, my God.
[Nigel] Oh, no, the strength of Belair too much,
preventing the sunset bomb.
[Mauro] And the right hands by Belair but now Ripley with the pumphandle.
Ripley looking for that riptide,
delivers it to Belair.
This could be it.
The champion looking to retain, and she does.
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner and still the NXT Women's Champion,
Rhea Ripley.
[Mauro] Rhea Ripley continues to build her reputation
only fitting that here in rip city,
she and Belair ripped it up
for the NXT women's title.
[Beth] And there you see the NXT Women's Champion standing tall
after an amazing effort and contest, both women so evenly matched,
but it was in this moment where Ripley was able to grab
the pumphandle and hit the vicious riptide for the victory.
[referee] One, two, three.
[Mauro] Many of the crowd here in Portland on their feet,
showing their affirmation for both, the NXT Women's Champion
Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair.
What the hell?
Oh, my God.
[Nigel] The queen is back.
[crowd cheering]
[Charlotte] So, I thought about it
and I'll see you at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The ultimate mic drop
from Charlotte Flair.
Oh, no.
The queen, the former NXT champion.
One of the greatest champions
in WWE history, Beth,
and her shocking arrival here at takeover.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] And you see Charlotte Flair.
Is this a sign of things to come?
Officially put her sights
on the NXT Women's Championship.
[Mauro] Well, I can't justify her means,
what does it say to the power
of the NXT Women's Championship and the black and gold brand, Nigel?
One of the most accomplished champions has come
and now will make it official,
Charlotte Flair versus Rhea Ripley
for the NXT Women's Championship at WrestleMania?
[crowd cheering]
-[Mauro] Oh, no. Hold on a second. -[Beth] Come on.
[gasp]
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] Come on. You've done enough.
Charlotte Flair incurring no favor with the NXT universe.
[Nigel] Let's not forget what happened to Charlotte Flair on NXT TV.
-[Mauro] Dropped by both Ripley… -[Nigel] Payback is a…
[Mauro] Payback is a queen.
Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley.
I mean, a seismic shift now
in the landscape, Beth.
[Beth] Huge.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[man 3] Who among you
has that one single ingredient?
[man 4] Using The Rock, using "stone cold" Steve Austin was a major hit.
The ratings are going to go down.
Who's gonna separate themselves from the pack?
[man 3] Who has enough ruthless aggression?
[announcer] Today marks the beginning of a new era.
We pushed the hell out of each other.
It was crazy.
[man 3] If you have it in you, reach up and … it, take it.
[announcer] Ruthless aggression.
[music playing]
[Mauro] Portland, Oregon, the home to NXT Takeover,
the picturesque Pacific Northwest
playing host to a momentous night
for the black and gold brand.
And I mentioned a momentous night,
well, it's become a WrestleMania moment type of night.
Charlotte Flair will challenge Rhea Ripley
for the NXT Women's Championship.
Possibly one of the greatest announcements in the history of NXT,
Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley has a WrestleMania match.
Tonight, Charlotte Flair made it real.
Absolutely. Everybody will be talking about it.
There's one person whose opinion I wanna hear,
it's the WWE COO and the creator of NXT, Triple H.
He will take to Facebook Live immediately following Takeover Portland.
I can't wait to hear what he says about Flair and Ripley at WrestleMania.
[loudspeaker] Shock the system.
[Mauro] And the heat's just keep on coming
here in the stacked NXT Takeover.
[music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall is for
the NXT Tag Team championship.
Representing the Undisputed Era,
they are the NXT Tag Team champions,
Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly.
[Mauro] On a night where Keith Lee had successfully defended
the NXT North American title and Rhea Ripley retaining
the NXT Women's Championship,
here comes Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish
to defend the NXT tag team titles.
[Beth] O'Reilly took to Instagram to say,
"We are the definition of cohesiveness and masters of combat.
We plan on dismantling this makeshift tag team with precision and efficiency.
That's what Undisputed does."
[Nigel] You'd have to say, Fish and O'Reilly
are the favorites in this matchup.
They've been a team longer than NXT has even existed.
[Mauro] O'Reilly, the only wrestler to defend the NXT tag team titles
with three different partners at an NXT Takeover,
those being the other three members of the UE.
His steady partner Bobby Fish,
Roderick Strong, and the NXT champion, Adam Cole,
who will defend the title against Tommaso Ciampa
in tonight's main event.
[music playing]
[loudspeaker] Bro.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Well, here we go.
[announcer] And their opponents, the team of Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle,
The Broserweights.
[Mauro] Matt, the Stallion
is driving the broat or in this case, the brosermobile.
[Beth] Now, that is riding in style.
And check out the fashion choices on Dunne and Riddle.
[music playing]
Can you see that, Mauro?
[music stops]
[crowd cheering]
Bro.
[crowd cheering]
Portland.
[crowd cheering]
The Broserweights got one question.
[crowd chatter]
How much fish could Bobby Fish fry
if Bobby Fish could fry fish?
[crowd chatter]
Oh, hold on.
Everyone.
How much fish could Bobby Fish fry
if Bobby Fish could fry fish?
How much fish could Bobby Fish fry
if Bobby Fish could fry fish?
[crowd cheering]
One more time.
How much fish could Bobby Fish fry
if Bobby Fish could fry fish?
How much fish could Bobby Fish fry
if Bobby Fish could fry fish?
[Nigel] Oh, finally. Thank god for that.
[Mauro] Fish and O'Reilly not about the Fishy business
and they are getting this battle underway.
Of course, it will not officially start until all four are in the ring
and the Broserweights, the 2020 Dusty Rhodes
tag team classic winners
making it to Portland following their excellent adventure.
But not off to a…well, now, Riddle turning the tables on Fish.
[Beth] We have not even had a bell ring yet.
These men have yet to start this matchup.
[Nigel] Excellent adventure,
more like a craptastic voyage in my book.
-[referee] Get back in the ring. -[Nigel] And finally.
[Mauro] Bobby Fish putting the boots to Pete Dunne "The Bruiserweight."
And talk about instant chemistry.
I know that Dunne sometimes finds Riddle as annoying as autocorrect
but you cannot deny the fact
that they became the winners of the classic.
As the match is officially underway.
[Nigel] Bell has rung now, the match is underway.
[Beth] They certainly found lightning in a bottle
with their tag team and it's taken them all the way to this moment.
[Mauro] Much like Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
did in the inaugural Dusty Rhodes tag team classic,
Balor coming off that incredible victory
over Johnny Gargano earlier tonight.
And O'Reilly dropping Riddle
before making the tag to Fish.
[Nigel] And Matt Riddle now tries to exchange strikes with Bobby Fish,
that Muay Thai experience to give the advantage to Fish.
[Beth] Fish does not appreciate being reduced to meme material.
He's an accomplished athlete.
[Nigel] Bobby Fish and O'Reilly… hold on a second.
[Mauro] Gut-wrench suplex, Matt Riddle,
former mixed martial artist,
took to the sports entertainment game
like a Fish to water.
-[Mauro] See what I did there? -[Nigel] I did, unfortunately.
[Mauro] Pete Dunne now making the tag, the legal man,
and the combination of the Broserweights
continues to be highly effective.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] Fluid continuous strikes,
great tag team work.
[Nigel] Oh, yeah.
[Mauro] O'Reilly and Fish, one of the most decorated tag teams on the planet.
Whether here, across the pond, in Japan,
they have dominated the tag team scene,
and there's a reason that the UE is a faction,
the only three-time NXT Tag Team champions in history.
Pete Dunne wants to make that reign history.
[Beth] O'Reilly getting overcome with emotion here.
-[Nigel] Hold on. -[Mauro] O'Reilly.
-[Mauro] And now it's… -[Nigel] No, no, no.
[Mauro] Pete Dunne in the NXT kitchen, wrist twisting like it's stir fry.
[Beth] His air guitar-playing career is over.
[crowd cheering]
-[Nigel] Watch out. -[Mauro] I'm getting hungry here.
[Mauro] The X-Plex there by Pete Dunne.
Kyle O'Reilly missing with that Superman punch.
[gasps]
[Nigel] Pete Dunne having the Undisputed Era
scouted evidently.
[Mauro] And my goodness, X-Plexes for everyone.
You get an X-Plex, you get an X-plex.
[crowd clapping]
[Nigel] Time to look under your seat. There might be something there for you.
[Beth] Dunne bringing the action back into the ring.
[Mauro] That's broserweight type chemistry there, mister McGuinness.
Bobby Fish now in the throes of a hammerlock here
by "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne,
involved in the 2017 NXT match of the year
at takeover Chicago against Tyler Bate.
[Nigel] Joint manipulation again from Pete Dunne.
-[Beth] It's hard to watch. -[Nigel] It's this vicious, sadistic man.
[gasp]
[Mauro] And that's a sadistic boot
right to the ribcage of Bobby Fish
who has had of course his fair share of injuries.
Who hasn't when you're at this level?
When you are competing at the highest level.
[Nigel] Look at that.
[Beth] Being champion, it's one thing to become a champion,
it's another thing to stay champion, and Undisputed Era
has done a great job as Tag Team champions.
[Nigel] Pete Dunne striking his way out of the corner.
-[Mauro] Jumping knee strike. -[Nigel] Oh, yes.
[Mauro] Look at Kyle O'Reilly, sublime striking.
[Nigel] Beautiful leg sweep on Pete Dunne.
-Just go in. -Tag.
[Nigel] Now, a tag, in comes Fish,
the veteran of the team.
Shot to the midsection to the liver.
[Mauro] And the UE keeping things very methodical,
slowing down the pace.
Keeping Dunne from making the tag and driving Dunne into hostile territory.
Dunne though valiantly fighting off the UE
before Bobby Fish delivers the Samoan drop.
[Beth] They may have hoped that their antics
would throw the UE off their game but it doesn't seem to be the case.
[Nigel] Knee on belly there.
[Mauro] Talk to the fluidity, the smoothness of O'Reilly's offense.
[Nigel] We're getting a great example, knee on belly
transitioning from one side, it is the hallmark
of Brazilian jiu-jitsu there, riding for an off…oh, hold on a second.
[Mauro] And now it's Dunne looking to take a page out of O'Reilly's playbook.
The tag was made though, Johnny-on-the-spot,
senton atomico by Fish.
-[Nigel] Yes. -[Mauro] Cover by Fish.
[Mauro] Double shoulders are down. Dunne bridging out.
Little matrix escape.
[Beth] Great example of why you wanna cut the ring
and keep your opponent as close to your partner as possible.
-[Mauro] Oh, yes. -[Nigel] Shut to the jaw.
And now, the midsection and the leg.
[Mauro] Notice that Fish targeting different aspects of the body,
setting the table for Kyle O'Reilly.
[crowd cheering]
Incredible.
Cohesion here between the UE, but Pete Dunne again
desperately trying to fight, out of danger.
And Pete Dunne now.
[Nigel] Got some space on the outside.
-[Mauro] Hold on. -[Beth] Oh, no.
-[Nigel] Yes. -[Mauro] Dragon screw.
[Mauro] Leg whip and then adding insult to injury.
[Nigel] Look at that.
How many legs could Bobby Fish break if Bobby Fish could break legs?
[Beth] Nigel, come on. Give yourself that [indistinct]
[Nigel] Get with it.
[Mauro] Where's Barry Horowitz when you need him?
There's a cover by Booby Fish.
And Bobby Fish almost putting away Pete Dunne for the NXT tag team titles.
[Nigel] There it is.
Put that on a t-shirt.
[Mauro] Exhibit a why the UE is the only three-time NXT Tag Team champions.
It's a tag team clinic.
[Nigel] Undisputed era have been looking hard for this matchup,
spending time in the gym.
[Mauro] Well they've spent a lot more time together than the Broserweights
who teamed specifically to entered the dusty classic
and then they end up winning it.
[Beth] Nonetheless, the Broserweights have done such a great job of figuring out
of chemistry what works for them.
It might be an unorthodox but it's got them here.
[Mauro] It was instance.
-[Mauro] Both teams… -[referee] Wait a second.
[Mauro] Too much chemistry.
Here's the UE double team on Dunne, tip up.
Fish on his feet, and there's a boot to the face of O'Reilly
as Dunne desperately trying to make his way across the ring.
-[Beth] Oh, no. -[Mauro] Malfunction at the junction.
[Beth] And there's a clear path for Dunne.
[Nigel] Set just half a foot away.
-[Nigel] Now both members of… -[Mauro] Wow. O'Reilly. Tag is made.
[Mauro] Fish caught him with the step-up Enziguri and now Matt Riddle.
[crowd cheering]
The original bro using
his original offense on the UE.
[Beth] Whoa.
[Mauro] Exploder suplex.
[Beth] Get out of Riddle's way.
[Mauro] Wow.
Matt Riddle manhandling the UE
and putting the dot in the exclamation point
with a pair of brotons and a PK.
-[Nigel] And following up, beautiful. -[Mauro] And German buster.
-[Mauro] Wow. -[Nigel] Riddle won't be stopped.
[Mauro] Matt Riddle, a one-man wrecking crew.
Bro to sleep and the Everest German suplex.
Oh my goodness.
[Nigel] Riddle wished he wore boots.
You could see there as he tried to drive.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] The NXT universe appreciating
the incredible technique, power, and speed
of Matt Riddle.
-[Mauro] What a knee. -[Beth] O'Reilly saw it coming.
[Nigel] And tag was made there to Pete Dunne.
-[Mauro] Pete Dunne there, Nigel. -[Nigel] Not in Canada.
[Nigel] All the way up.
[Mauro] There's again, the tandem offense of the Broserweights.
Dunne looking to win the NXT tag team titles.
Remember, Dunne had made it to an NXT tag team title match
with Roderick Strong before he…
well, strong showed his true colors
in making the Undisputed Era
into a dominant quartet.
[Beth] The Undisputed Era have fulfilled their prophecy of dripping in gold.
[Nigel] Wait a second. What is this?
[Mauro] It's the Broserweights who looked up dripping in gold.
Mamma Mia.
[Nigel] O'Reilly was lying in wait. He got his knees up.
Riddle is hurt now.
[Mauro] The floating bro of the Orihara Moonsault,
the Broserweights and the UE
showing the effects of this physical battle.
[Nigel] A look on Pete Dunne's face now.
The eyes, the offense…
[gasp]
-[Mauro] Booby Fish… -[Nigel] God, both of them.
-[Nigel] Kicked the post. -[Beth] O'Reilly's is back up.
[Mauro] O'Reilly with a Superman forearm.
Misses that kick.
And it's… Matt Riddle was looking for that riptide knee,
ripcord knee I should say.
[Nigel] Fighting spirit and another German again.
[Beth] One more.
[Mauro] The final flash.
German suplex with a release.
Oh, wow. Lulling elbow by O'Reilly
and another nasty knee strike by Riddle.
[crowd clapping]
[crowd cheering]
A standing ovation for this NXT
tag team title match here in Portland, Beth.
[Beth] Well-deserved. Both of this men have been through so much
but can Undisputed Era pull one out?
[Nigel] Riddle to the outside.
[Mauro] Riddle spearing Bobby Fish.
Matt Riddle more motivated than I have seen him in an NXT ring.
[Nigel] And now, he is poised.
Come on, Bobby, get back up there.
[Mauro] Bobby Fish trying to make his way back into the ring.
Kyle O'Reilly… the chop block.
The chop block by Fish.
[Beth] You could see Riddle's knee buckled.
[Mauro] Oh, my.
[screams]
-[Nigel] Cover. -[Mauro] Here.
[Mauro] Matt… the cover, both shoulders down.
-[Nigel] He's got it. -[Mauro] He does, he does.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] But there is no one in Matt Riddle's corner.
And if Undisputed Era can be quick enough, they can end this match now.
Come on.
[Beth] What an incredible series of maneuvers.
[Mauro] But Matt Riddle with the waistlock.
That was broken up by O'Reilly.
Double knee strike, tag is made.
In comes Pete Dunne.
[Nigel] Double waistlock with the body scissors.
[Mauro] British strong style on display here in the USA.
[Beth] Oh, no, no, no. O'Reilly's got it.
-[Nigel] And an arm clutch. -[Mauro] And an arm…
[Nigel] Oh, look at this.
[Beth] He's gonna put…
[Mauro] Axe kick.
Axe kick as O'Reilly taking a page out of the late great Andy Hug.
And now, he was great
doing his impression of Nigel McGuinness with the pendulum lariat.
[Nigel] He's killing him, and now into the arm bar.
[Mauro] Barely down, rushed an arm bar attempt by Dunne.
Roll through by O'Reilly into… ankle lock.
-[Nigel] Yes. They gotta get up early. -[Beth] Hold on.
[Mauro] Wresting here at the NXT Takeover event.
[gasp]
-[Nigel] Come on. - [Mauro] Fish trying to…
[Mauro] Broserweights looking for a submissions in stereo.
[Nigel] O'Reilly is the legal man.
[Beth] Fish kicking to get out of it.
[Nigel] Oh, yes. Look at that scorpion deathlock.
[Mauro] O'Reilly with the scorpion deathlock.
Fish looking for that guillotine choke,
but Matt Riddle now reversing it.
Riddle's strength, Fish on his feet.
-[Mauro] And now with the back… -[Nigel] Sleeper hold.
[Nigel] Come on. Sit deep. Sit deep. This could be it.
[Mauro] Looking for that sleeper lock. What a knee. What a knee.
The special awareness, the ring presence of Matt Riddle.
[crowd cheering]
An incredible night here
at NXT Takeover: Portland,
the first blockbuster black and gold brand
here in the Pacific Northwest.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] But the Undisputed Era able to effectively take the steam
out of the Broserweights.
[Mauro] Fish, the legal man, Dunne playing a little possum,
launches Fish into the ropes and the momentum
with that German suplex release.
[Nigel] That German, double stomp.
This time, the kick lands to the back of the neck.
[Mauro] Bobby Fish is in posturing position face-first on the canvass.
And now Matt Riddle
going all the way to the top.
Dunne has Fish in the electric chair.
[Nigel] Doomsday device attempt.
[Mauro] And it's doomsday for the Broserweights.
Great minds, Nigel.
[Nigel] O'Reilly with the kick.
From Kyle O'Reilly.
-[Beth] Speaking of great minds. -[Mauro] Mamma Mia. What a suplex.
[Mauro] An avalanche suplex by Fish and O'Reilly.
The king Kong knee drop by O'Reilly looking for this offense.
[Nigel] Knee bar, looking for the leg lock, he has it.
Oh, dear. Oh, dear.
Matt Riddle is gonna have to tap.
Look at the angle of the knee.
[Beth] He's got it cinched in deep.
[Nigel] He is hurt.
[Mauro] And Fish keeping Pete Dunne at bay.
How much can Matt Riddle sustain?
How much can he endure?
He has trained for years
in BJJ submission and striking.
How do you train for that?
[Nigel] Dunne with the stomp.
To the wrist, the left wrist of Kyle O'Reilly.
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] And you saw the look of emotion of Pete Dunne's face.
Riddle crawling to the corner.
[crowd chanting]
[Nigel] Awesome, indeed. As strikes raining in.
[Mauro] Three words that best describe NXT.
And you are seeing an awesome display
in this NXT tag team championship. Matt…
Wait a minute.
We saw the malfunction between the UE and now we just saw Dunne
inadvertently wipe up his partner Riddle.
[Nigel] I can't wait to see what happens now.
-[Beth] Dunne's got ahold of those fingers -[Nigel] O'Reilly's gonna break it.
[Mauro] Dunne loves the finger as long as it's vegan.
As long as it's vegan and O'Reilly now…
[screams in pain]
The left hand.
Looking for the bitter end.
Will it be the end of the NXT tag team title reign for the UE?
[Nigel] In comes Riddle.
[Mauro] Oh, no. Oh, no.
[Nigel] Again.
[Beth] Riddle's intentions were to take out O'Reilly.
[Nigel] Doesn't matter what his intentions were now.
He took out Dunne.
Chasing the dragon, it's over.
UE retain.
-[Nigel] Two and three. -[Mauro] No.
[Nigel] Come on.
[Mauro] Pete Dunne.
[crowd cheering]
I think Bobby Fish just turned a few more grades after that cover.
Unbelievable.
How the hell did Dunne kick out, Beth?
[Beth] I have no idea.
Pure heart and determination.
[Mauro] And UE, though. Tandem offense.
Dunne, back elbow and a forearm to Fish.
Dunne landing on his feet.
Tag was made by Riddle.
Pop up roundhouse kicks in stereo.
Riddle is the legal man for the Broserweights.
Final flash to Fish.
Tandem offense there.
[gasp]
[Nigel] Stereo strikes, but O'Reilly to the outside.
[Mauro] Fish with the…
[screams]
Broserweights.
[crowd countdown] [bell ringing]
Broserweights are the new NXT Tag Team champions.
[announcer] Here are your winners, and the new NXT Tag Team champions,
Pete Dunne, Matt Riddle,
the Broserweights.
[Mauro] A team that was put together
to compete in the Dusty Rhodes
tag team classic,
the Broserweights
are now the NXT Tag Team champions.
[Beth] I didn't think NXT Takeover could get any better,
but I was wrong.
Take a look at your new
Tag Team champions.
[music playing]
[Nigel] Absolute disaster for the Undisputed Era.
[Mauro] The Broserweights bested former NXT UK Tag Team champions,
Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster to open the tournament,
then prevailed over imperium's
Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner in the semis,
before they defeated the grizzled young veterans.
And then this happened, Nigel.
[Nigel] What stereo strikes
and with a deep hook of both legs,
the Broserweights take the titles
from the Undisputed Era.
[Mauro] Jubilation on the face of Matt Riddle
winning his first title here in NXT,
the former NXT UK champion,
Pete Dunne is now a tag team champ as well.
[crowd cheering]
The epic journey of the Broserweights
culminates with Riddle and Dunne
becoming NXT Tag Team champions, bro.
[crowd cheering]
[music playing]
[announcer] Welcome to WrestleMania.
[Mauro] The historic night known as NXT Takeover.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
WrestleMania weekend, NXT Takeover in Tampa.
But tonight is all about this epic night
at NXT Takeover: Portland.
Well, you mentioned NXT Takeover: Tampa.
One competitor who is definitely gonna be there, Keith Lee,
the still North American champion, talking with Lee.
We will see him this Tuesday
on WWE Backstage on FS1
with Renee Young, and the two-time hall of famer, Booker T
and of course the hall of famer,
Mark Henry, will be there as well.
[Beth] That's Tuesday, but tonight,
we wanna send a special thanks to Poppy, again,
for an unforgettable performance of "Fill the crown,"
one of the NXT Takeover Portland themes for tonight.
Thanks to Poppy.
[Mauro] And coming up,
the main event of the night,
arguably the greatest champion
in NXT history,
Adam Cole defends against the man
who never lost the title, Tommaso Ciampa.
It's next.
[Tommaso] Two-hundred and thirty-eight days,
I was the greatest sports entertainer of all time.
They were the greatest 238 days of my life.
Then it stopped.
[heart monitor sound]
Almost a year ago to the day, I stood in this auditorium,
and I gave away my life.
[voice in the distance] The greatest of all time.
Adam Cole, you took my life.
[Mauro] The coronation of Adam Cole is complete.
Adam, your legacy is tainted
because you had my title handed to you.
And Adam, it's just you and me.
That is all.
When it's just you, the champ.
[Tommaso] Adam Cole.
Who the hell do you think you are?
[screams]
[Mauro] What an ignominious way
to sign a contract.
[Adam] I'm so sick of the same song and dance.
Where's Ciampa?
This is my life.
My life is being the greatest NXT champion that has ever been.
Adam Cole, a man is most dangerous
when he has nothing to lose.
[Mauro] This hollering cannot be contained.
Come takeover: Portland,
I'm gonna teach Tommaso Ciampa a lesson.
[dramatic music]
[Mauro] Oh, no.
[bell ringing]
X across the back.
Your story with the NXT championship
is over.
Adam Cole, what is there's one guy
who's been through that much more?
Hurt or not, banged up or not,
I've shown the world nobody could stop me.
In Portland, Goldie comes home in Portland.
I take my life back.
Over my dead body with you.
[Adam] And that is Undisputed.
[Mauro] A tremendous night in Portland
culminates with the NXT championship match.
[heart monitor sound]
[flat line sound]
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Tommaso Ciampa was forced
to relinquish the NXT title
he calls Goldie back in March of last year
when he underwent neck surgery.
Ciampa was out of action for nearly seven months,
returning this past October
to confront Adam Cole.
And Nigel, Ciampa said
his life without the title has been empty,
but he has certainly been laser-focused
on the man who now calls himself champ.
[Nigel] Well, Ciampa identified
as the NXT champion to such an extent
that he absolutely had to get that title back
after it was taken from him
without anybody beating him for the title.
[Mauro] And the blackheart then leading the team to victory
over Cole's Undisputed Era in war games,
landing the final blow in the battle
by driving the NXT champ through two tables
with that air raid crash from the top of the cage.
[Beth] Ciampa certainly deserves to be standing in this ring.
He took to Twitter to say, "Takeover comes down to one thing,
who wants it more."
[music playing]
This is my revenge.
This is why I'm coming.
This is what I'm known for.
[Mauro] The contract signing culminated with Ciampa doing
what he said he was going to do, drive the champion through a table.
He took out the Undisputed Era,
UE tried to return the favor.
[loudspeaker] Shock the system!
[music playing]
[Nigel] That has been the M.O.
for the Undisputed Era.
A team that was a preeminent faction
in NXT,
as we seen the NXT champion, Adam Cole
in his rightful position at the top of the heap.
[Mauro] Fifty-five years ago yesterday, world-renowned singer
jazz pianist Nat King Cole passed away.
NXT's King Cole's title reign
has been unforgettable and Beth, Undisputed.
[Beth] By hook or by crook, Undisputed Era has done everything
that they possibly can to maintain the gold.
But tonight, as we saw earlier,
new Tag Team champions crowned,
we've seen cracks in the foundation of Undisputed Era.
Gotta ask yourself, is it gonna get into Cole's mindset?
[Mauro] Cole, the last man standing in the Undisputed Era.
Roderick Strong lost the NXT North American title to Keith Lee
and we just saw the Broserweights
supplant Fish and O'Reilly.
[Nigel] To your point, Mauro, that Nat King Cole, Adam Cole
has to straighten up and fly straight.
[crowd chanting]
[rock music playing]
[Mauro] Just how good is Adam Cole?
He's headlining his record fifth straight NXT Takeover.
[Beth] Cole tweeted, "I don't care who you are.
This is mine, and no one will take it from me."
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall is for the NXT
championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
weighing in at 201 pounds,
Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Cole and Ciampa continuing from where they left off…
And his opponent, representing the Undisputed Era,
he is the NXT champion,
Adam Cole.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] Adam Cole's title reign now at 260 days,
the record belongs to Finn Balor
at 292 days.
Tommaso Ciampa says Goldie's
coming home to daddy tonight.
[Nigel] And Adam Cole said in reply,
"Over my dead body as I'm not."
[Beth] Want to talk about days, Mauro?
One hundred and forty-two days,
the amount of days it took Ciampa to come back from neck surgery,
that's what he's made of as a competitor.
One shot.
[Mauro] A lot of talking but the time for talking is over.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
[Mauro] I have a feeling this won't be our last visit to Portland,
what a night, what a crowd.
And here we are with the main event,
the NXT championship match.
Tommaso Ciampa, you talk about impressive, he became champion
beating a former champ, Aleister Black
in his 10th singles match in NXT.
Think about that, Nigel.
[Nigel] You see that?
Trying to get inside the head of Adam Cole.
It wasn't an incredible statistics you just gave there, Mauro.
But really, statistics go out the out the door once this bell starts ringing.
[Beth] We've seen how effective Ciampa has been at mind games
in the past as well.
[Nigel] Both of these competitors
are wily veterans of the mat, I'll tell you.
[Mauro] Opportunistic and with high ring IQs,
that's why they have reached the summit.
But look at what Adam Cole was able to do in 2019,
an annus mirabilis with the Undisputed prophecy, but 2020?
So far and as horrible is for the UE and Cole wants to…
well, plug the leak as it were.
[Nigel] Straighten up and fly right if bay bay can do that.
Now, just trying to control Ciampa.
[Mauro] What do you want from this match
when you get another opportunity like Ciampa has?
What strategy do you recommend?
[Beth] Never seen an athlete as focused on the championship as Tommaso Ciampa.
He's come back from how hard that he's worked.
And he's gotta be careful to make sure
that he doesn't get stopped early by Adam Cole.
[Nigel] Ciampa looks very calm, very methodical,
he realize he's the caliber of champion.
[Mauro] Cole getting stopped twice. Shoulder tackles by the challenger
who dumps Cole out of the ring.
And already looking for Willow's bell.
Again there, it speaks to the intelligence
and the homework that's been done by the champion.
You don't let Adam Cole… bravado.
This guy does his homework.
This guy is a in an astute student.
[Nigel] Is a consummate pro without a doubt.
[Beth] But Ciampa revels in being able to rattle the champion.
Here we go, you see an example of that right here.
[Nigel] If you see a guy what Adam Cole who's incredibly handsome,
-[Nigel] confiden… -[Mauro] Ciampa…
[Nigel] How talented a champion he is.
[Mauro] Ciampa's securing the side headlock
keeping Adam Cole neutralized.
[Nigel] We know just how important the NXT championship was
to Tommaso Ciampa,
it meant absolutely everything to Ciampa.
It really was the epitome of everything… hold on.
[Mauro] The counter. Again, Ciampa securing the side headlock
and how just devastating it was for Ciampa to relinquish the title
or having to surrender what he's worked his entire career for.
[Nigel] I think it spoke so much to Ciampa's mental state.
Even when he first came to NXT… hold on a second.
[Mauro] Fish hook there by Cole.
[Beth] Well, Goldie was the drive each and every single day for Ciampa
to train and make his way back to the squared circle.
[Mauro] Cole returning the favor with a shoulder tackle trend.
Telegraphing the back body drop
and blocking the kick is Tommaso Ciampa.
So again, Beth, these two
know each other very well and it's…
I think it's going to take a critical mistake
to determine a winner in this match.
[Beth] You said Adam Cole did his homework coming into this, but so did Ciampa.
[Nigel] Boy, that Ciampa has controlled this matchup thus far very impressive.
To me, Ciampa reminds me of, like, a veteran of the yesteryears
when guys would rarely find their success until their 30s.
This man now has really got absolutely everything, mentally,
physically, he's at the peak condition,
but is it enough to stop Adam Cole?
[Mauro] Adam Cole became the NXT champion in arguably
the greatest match in NXT history
beating Johnny Gargano, of course,
their trilogy features some of the greatest matches in NXT history.
[trainer] Get him out.
[gasp]
[Mauro] It was the two out of three falls match
that Johnny Gargano became champion and that was named the match of the year
and the rivalry of the year, Cole and Gargano.
But tonight, it's Cole and Ciampa.
[Nigel] It's all about Cole and Ciampa
tonight in Portland for the NXT title.
[Mauro] And a methodical, very deliberate pace here, Beth.
[Beth] Deliberate pace, but again, I'm thinking about the mental state
of Adam Cole coming into this match after his teammates
just lost the Tag Team championship.
[Mauro] Bring up a great point, this will test his mental as champion
knowing that he is the last man standing for the Undisputed Era.
And Ciampa no longer standing thanks to Adam Cole.
-[referee] Come on, Ciampa, inside. -[trainer] Let's go.
[Mauro] Adam Cole, first NXT champion to defend the title on raw,
smackdown, survivor series,
and now giving himself a little too much credit.
Ciampa, taking it to the champ.
[Beth] Some mind games for Ciampa did not pay off.
[Mauro] Bouncing Cole's forehead off the ring post.
No. Oh, my God.
Sending Cole right over the broadcast table.
Again, champion's advantage, referee administering the count.
I know Ciampa's furious,
but he's gotta bring it to the ring.
Oh, my God.
[crowd clapping]
What a "Psycho killer" Tommaso Ciampa.
Oh, man, Adam Cole dead in his sights.
-[Beth] Cole hasn't moved. -[Mauro] Ciampa does.
The veteran breaking the count.
[Nigel] But now, Ciampa has to get the champion back into the ring.
Can't beat him for the title on the outside.
[Mauro] The intensity screaming out
of the eyes of Tommaso Ciampa.
[Nigel] Cole, smart, rolling to the other side,
creating more space, more separation.
Our NXT universe can hate all they want,
it's great strategy from the champ.
[screams]
[Mauro] Oh, no, Tommaso Ciampa,
basement dropkick got tangled up on the ropes,
but still managed to connect
on the NXT champion,
and Tommaso Ciampa, as aggressive as he's ever been,
and what does that talk about.
Remember what he's been through in his career.
[crowd clapping]
[Beth] The champ is paced very methodical calculated leaning on Adam Cole.
[Nigel] With everything that Tommaso Ciampa
has had to go through to get this title opportunity
with the pressure being out with an injury,
not knowing if you're gonna come back,
how you're gonna come back.
[Mauro] Adam Cole defending the title against Finn Balor,
against Pete Dunne at survivor series,
can he survive this challenge from Tommaso Ciampa,
as his ribs came crashing down
on the top of the barricade?
[Nigel] Hold on now.
[Mauro] I have a feeling this does not end well for the NXT champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] But Tommaso Ciampa up to the count of seven breaking the camp,
he's gonna stop grouching and gotta start trying to beat Adam Cole.
[Beth] Ciampa is not done yet.
His strategy might be to do as much damages as possible on the floor.
[Mauro] I think Ciampa just really showing his old feeling in his…
as he knows what he's had to overcome,
knowing that he never lost the title.
Unloading on Adam Cole,
and the referee imploring them to get back to the ring.
[crowd cheering]
-[Nigel] Hold on. -[Mauro] My god. Oh, my God.
[Mauro] Adam Cole is out cold.
[crowd clapping]
Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
Somehow, Ciampa's power dragged the carcass of Cole.
[Nigel] Just watch the impact to the side of the jaw.
I believe the left foot of Tommaso Ciampa
landing on the neck of Cole as well.
[Mauro] That is a scariest smile I've ever seen
as Ciampa stares at Goldie.
He can feel it, he can sense it, he can almost touch it.
But first, he's gotta touch Adam Cole
in a physical brutal sense.
[Nigel] The officially is showing some lenience here
in this NXT championship matchup.
[Beth] I don't like what I see at Ciampa's eyes.
[Mauro] Tommaso Ciampa eyeing our broadcast table.
Oh, Adam Cole landing on his feet.
Cole blocking the kick, avoids the step-up Enzuigiri.
-[Nigel] No. -[Mauro] Wheelbarrow.
-[Mauro] Oh, my God. Are you kidding me? -[Nigel] Oh, come on.
[Mauro] Holly…
Oh, Jesus.
[referee] Come on, let's go.
[crowd chanting]
[Mauro] Well, not many times when I'm speechless, Nigel.
I am speechless.
[Nigel] There's no words that can do that justice as injustice.
It's inhuman.
[Mauro] This match is over.
This match for all intents and purposes is over.
Tommaso Ciampa's surgically repaired neck is… oh, come on.
I know what Goldie means to Ciampa,
but he's got a family, Beth.
[Beth] He has a family, his daughter, Willow,
and you could see the way his neck snapped back,
possibly causing whiplash.
[Nigel] But it was Ciampa's back in the middle
of Ciampa's back landed right across the edge of our announce table.
[Mauro] I can't overstate being that close, Nigel,
hearing the impact, seeing the result.
I can't believe Ciampa is still stirring.
[screams]
[crowd cheering]
[Beth] And now, Cole continuing to lay the pressure
where the damage had been done.
This is my championship.
This is mine. No. Give up.
[Mauro] This incredibly vociferous crowd sitting here,
stunned as we are by what we witnessed.
Let's go!
[Mauro] The fact that Tommaso Ciampa desperate of trying to break this lock…
The bridge by Ciampa.
[Nigel] How on earth is Ciampa able to bridge?
[Mauro] What a kick to the face
by the NXT champion, Adam Cole.
He thinks his work is done.
Oh, my God. I don't know if I wanna see that again.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] There's no give whatsoever.
The table didn't break.
[Mauro] And while he did hit the back, Nigel, the reverberations
shot through his surgically repaired neck.
[Nigel] That could have hurt my toes.
[Beth] You can imagine how much pain Ciampa as he keeps clawing
at those trapezius muscles.
[Nigel] I mean this just speaks to Ciampa's doggy determination
to become NXT champion again.
[Beth] He keeps clawing, pounding away.
[Mauro] Cole and Ciampa,
they're at the summit of NXT
and now the summit of this ring.
Adam Cole looking for the sunset bomb.
Oh, my.
-[Nigel] That's got to be it. -[Mauro] Backstabber.
[Nigel] Cover the man. Match is over.
[Mauro] Not helping his neck or his back.
Adam Cole
inexorable in his attack,
going for the cover, NXT champion. No.
[Nigel] And the pain etched on the face here.
Look where the knees land,
the exact same position
it was driven into the announce table.
Tommaso Ciampa, he is a wounded animal.
[Beth] Look at the veins popping in his head from the pain
that he must be suffering in.
And Cole continues to lay it on him.
[referee] Come on, Ciampa.
[Nigel] The longer this match goes, the more it hurts.
The worst it gets for Tommaso Ciampa.
[Beth] And Cole merciless in his attack.
[Mauro] Well-placed knee to the midsection by Adam Cole,
looking for the hangman's neckbreaker.
Now, backslide by Ciampa, champion.
Shoulders are down for a two.
[Beth] But even that required him to post on the top of his head.
[Mauro] And now Cole on the apron.
Ciampa again looking for Willow's bell.
[Nigel] He might get it. No.
Adam Cole switching his hips to get inside the ring.
[Mauro] Cole was looking for Ushigoroshi,
counters with a step-up Enzuigiri to the neck area of Tommaso Ciampa.
Cole now setting the table for a potential Panama sunrise.
Countered beautifully by Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] The Panama sunrise, if he didn't hit it would have been the sunset.
But instead, look at the jumping knee strike
landing perfectly on the jaw of the NXT champion.
[Mauro] The metronome timing of Tommaso Ciampa.
And we've seen Adam Cole have impeccable timing.
Not that time.
[Beth] Adam Cole, one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots.
But Ciampa has heart.
He's been through so much.
[Nigel] Both have referred to themselves
as the greatest NXT champion of all time.
[Mauro] Clothesline from Ciampa and another one on the champion.
Reversal on the Irish whip, Ciampa…
able to take advantage of Cole telegraphing that back body drop.
[Beth] And the momentum continues to move.
There we go.
[Mauro] German suplex by Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Ciampa channeling parts unknown.
Here we go.
[Mauro] Tommaso Ciampa looking to join Samoa Joe
and Shinsuke Nakamura
as the only two-time NXT champions.
[Nigel] Torture rack bomb got very, very close.
[Beth] Once again, even lifting the body of Adam Cole
putting added pressure onto the neck and shoulders you see Ciampa
still suffering the effects of that German suplex into the announce table.
[Mauro] Ciampa has been a part of so many legendary moments at NXT Takeovers.
But this one would be something extra special
especially overcoming career threatening neck surgery
in hopes of reclaiming something he loves almost as much
as his child Willow, that being Goldie, the NXT title.
But now, Adam Cole has Ciampa up.
Rolling crucifix.
[Nigel] Keeps hold,
he was trying for a second.
[Mauro] But now Cole has the crucifix. Shoulders down for two.
[Nigel] Ciampa trying for the bridging arm bar, couldn't get it.
[Beth] Ciampa looked to block it and then Cole on the move.
[Mauro] And Cole blasting Ciampa with the knee.
And now Cole has Ciampa and delivers the Ushigoroshi on the neck.
-[Nigel] Into the cover. -[Mauro] On the neck.
[Mauro] Cole with the cover and Ciampa barely escaped.
[Nigel] And the NXT champion now clearly focusing
on the upper back and neck of Tommaso Ciampa.
You can understand why it's a perfect strategy
especially after the damage done here on the announce table.
What does Tommaso Ciampa have left?
[Beth] Cole himself has been through so much in this matchup.
Earlier on, it was all Ciampa.
[Mauro] Adam Cole defeated Johnny Gargano at NXT Takeover: XXV,
last June and now defending it here
at NXT Takeover: Portland,
the road to WrestleMania weekend underway.
And what a night it has been here.
And Adam Cole now on the precipice of maybe putting Tommaso Ciampa away.
[Nigel] Wait a second. What's going on here?
[Beth] Cole may have lost his balance there.
[Nigel] This is precarious to say the least.
Ciampa trying to get a better foot hold on the middle rope.
[Beth] There is not a lot of space to balance on those ropes,
only two or three inches.
[Mauro] Both of them willing to throw caution to the wind as Adam Cole
looking for an avalanche Panama sunrise.
Although we saw… we saw what Ciampa did to Cole
at NXT takeover: Wargames
with the air raid crash.
-[Nigel] No, no, no. -[Beth] Oh, my God.
[Nigel] Air raid crash by Ciampa.
We have a new NXT champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Just watch here the impact
to the neck of Adam Cole.
But look how Ciampa grabs his own neck when he hooks the leg.
He just couldn't get enough body weight across Cole's shoulder
to secure the victory.
[Mauro] It took an air raid crash from the top of the cage at war games
to put away Adam Cole.
An avalanche air raid crash almost cost Cole the title tonight.
[Beth] But guys, that speaks to what Adam Cole is made of.
[Mauro] Hold on. Kicked off by Ciampa.
Superkick by the champion on the challenger,
-[Mauro] and again, champion's advantage. -[Nigel] No, no.
[Mauro] Cole looking to take advantage of the real estate around ringside.
-[Nigel] Please. -[Mauro] No.
-[Beth] No, no, no. -[Mauro] Ciampa fights it off.
[Mauro] Powerbomb.
[crowd cheering]
What happened?
[Mauro] The carnage speaks for itself
here in Portland.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] Indescribable brutality.
[Mauro] And it's not over, Nigel.
Tommaso Ciampa staggering his way
to the prone NXT champion.
Beth, how much more can either of these gladiators sustain?
[Beth] This action has left all of us breathless.
[Mauro] Ciampa was almost maimed and now trying to do the same thing
to the NXT champion.
[crowd cheering]
The Undisputed Era's heir
couldn't get up to a much worse start.
[Nigel] Cole tried to move out of the way of the knee to protect himself,
but it landed somewhat.
Here comes Ciampa.
[Mauro] And there comes Adam Cole's foot to the face in the form of a superkick.
What a clothesline by Ciampa.
[screams]
[Nigel] Double knees, project Ciampa.
-[crowd] One, two. -[presenters] No.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] The NXT champion's still alive.
[Mauro] If project Ciampa couldn't deliver Goldie,
what the hell will?
[crowd cheering]
A thunderous ovation from this appreciative crowd here in Portland.
It has been a card for the ages.
[Beth] An unbelievable performance by both of these two competitors.
[Nigel] Ciampa's mouth wide open, gasping for air.
He realizes how close he is now.
[Mauro] And that's where mistakes happen, when fatigue sets in, Nigel.
[Nigel] But nonetheless, both competitors pushing forward.
-[Mauro] Are they ever? -[Nigel] What grit and determination.
[Beth] They may be operating purely on instinct at this point, Nigel.
[Nigel] Just reflex, strikes thrown from every angle.
[Mauro] And every strike expands valuable energy.
Will they have to make it pay.
[gasp]
Bicycle kick by Cole and another one.
Ciampa falls out of the ring.
Have Ciampa's title aspirations fallen with him?
Cole, Cole attempting a tope.
We've never seen the champion do that in NXT.
And Ciampa shows why.
Desperate times calling for desperate measures.
[Nigel] It was a desperate measure from Cole.
He realized it was late in the match.
[crowd cahnting] NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Nigel] Realized it was late in the match.
Thought that Ciampa would have been weakened enough
to hit the tope, but no, and Ciampa lying in wait.
[Mauro] And, Beth, again speaks of what the title means to Adam Cole.
Willing to risk his body in ways we've never seen him do it here.
[Beth] And again, at this point both of these men…
[Nigel] Where did they go?
[Mauro] Planting Tommaso Ciampa.
[Beth] Nothing Cole has been able to do has been able to put Ciampa away.
High risk here.
[Mauro] Another ushigoroshi, the neck crashing across the patella tendon.
Cover.
Oh, my God, man.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
-Ciampa, can you hear me? -I can hear you right.
You will never be the NXT champion again.
Goldy has a new daddy.
[Mauro] Ciampa, he's got that second wind. He is unloading on Adam.
[Mauro] Oh, my God. Cole unloads with a couple of kicks.
-[Beth] Cole have been trying to toss… -[Mauro] Last shot. Last shot.
[Mauro] Last shot connects for the NXT champion.
[Nigel] Cover, cover.
[Beth] It's mostly to the injured neck.
[Mauro] The look at the savvy, the guile,
the craftiness of Ciampa.
[Nigel] Even with his eyes closed,
Tommaso Ciampa rolled
until he felt that bottom rope and safety.
[Mauro] As if the last shot never happened.
Because now, Ciampa giving himself an opportunity to recover.
[Beth] Ciampa's ring awareness paying off.
[Nigel] He may recover somewhat more,
but no clear close to a full tank.
-[Nigel] Both have given so much. -[Mauro] Absolutely. Absolutely right.
[Mauro] It was very smart in his part to buy himself this valuable time.
[Nigel] What can he do with the time now?
[Mauro] My God. Adam Cole looking to take advantage.
-[Nigel] Hold on. -[Beth] No.
[Mauro] No. No. No. No. No.
[Mauro] Right crash of the unforgiving apron.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
Broken bodies leading to potential broken dreams.
[Nigel] Trying for the Panama sunrise again, but instead it was Ciampa
reversing, and bang.
Yeah, right crash into the apron.
[Beth] You could see the compression on Adam's first chest and ribs.
[Mauro] Ciampa not the only one with a pain in the neck
after Cole came crashing down on the apron.
But the only way Ciampa can win is by getting Cole back in the ring.
Fairy tale ending on the outside. No!
Oh, my God.
-[Mauro] There is a… -[Beth] Hold on.
-[Mauro] Cole is on the table. -[Beth] My God.
[Mauro] Adam Cole standing on our table.
Adam Cole looking for the Panama sunrise.
-[Nigel] That's it. -[Mauro] My god.
[Nigel] Let him in the ring, pin him. This match is over.
[Mauro] Ciampa's career could be over.
[Beth] Cole's looking to do just that.
[Mauro] Adam Cole rolls the challenger into the ring.
Cole, three seconds away from retaining the…
-[Mauro] What…? -[Nigel] You are kidding.
[Mauro] Bigger comeback than Lazarus.
Where the hell is Ciampa getting this?
Ciampa, looking for the fairy tale ending
and what a fairy tale it is.
Don't call it a comeback,
but Goldie is coming home.
[crowd cheering]
-[Beth] I do not believe my eyes. -[Mauro] I can't tell…
[Nigel] It was tears of elation that have turn into tears
of heartbreak now for Tommaso Ciampa.
[Mauro] And while it's been anything but a pleasure for Ciampa
and Cole, what a pleasure it is to be here ringside,
to be a part of this atmosphere in Portland.
[crowd chanting]
This is a recording, Ciampa…
Cole hanging on for dear life.
[Nigel] Two men who've given it there all,
for trying to hold on.
[Mauro] Cross face here.
[Nigel] Cross face from the champion.
[Beth] Cole cranking on that neck.
[Nigel] Look the left shoulder.
[Mauro] Cole demanding that Ciampa to tap.
-Let go. -Come on, Ciampa.
[crowd cheering]
[Mauro] And the choke on the neck is gonna be absolute agony.
[Mauro] And there's why Adam Cole is the champion.
And a quick reversal by Ciampa.
[Beth] There you go.
[Nigel] The left arm, the left arm almost did. Yes.
[Mauro] And Cole screaming, trying to get to that bottom rope.
Ciampa, maintain his grip on the NXT title.
I'm gonna stop it.
[Nigel] Right underneath the jaw of the champion.
Almost.
[Beth] But nothing will stop Ciampa.
[Nigel] Ciampa's left arm is almost useless at this point.
I think it was damage to the neck or the back.
[Mauro] Cole rolls out of the ring, will buy himself some time, but…
[crowd cheering]
-[Mauro] Wait a second. -[Beth] Hold on.
[Mauro] That's Roderick Strong, former NXT North American champion.
Roderick Strong diverting the referee's attention.
-[Beth] Come on. -[Nigel] Don't… better be careful.
[Mauro] You remember Roderick strong trying to interject himself.
There's O'Reilly, come on.
These pack of wolves are gonna get again.
[Nigel] No man's land, down goes Ciampa.
[Beth] The referee didn't see it.
[Mauro] The boos raining down here at the lotus center.
[Beth] This is despicable.
[Mauro] You mentioned hook or by crook, not like this.
[crowd cheering]
[Nigel] There is strength in numbers, but there's strength in belief and desire.
[Beth] And Adam Cole's insurance policy did not pay off.
[Mauro] Well said, Nigel.
And the strength of Ciampa's belief
and desire continues to unfold here.
And Cole misses with the last shot.
Ciampa on his feet.
And Ciampa sets Cole
into O'Reilly and Fish,
and Roderick Strong
welcome to Willow's bell.
Oh, my God.
Oh, and a screwjob by Ciampa.
[Nigel] Look at this, Tommaso Ciampa is taking out
all four men of the Undisputed Era.
[Mauro] Just like he did at the NXT arena, now looking to take out Cole
with a superkick, and another one.
It takes three.
-[referee] It's over. -[Nigel] Ciampa on his knees.
[Mauro] Last shot. God, he had the last shot.
And that is gotta be it for Tommaso Ciampa.
Adam Cole with the cover.
Okay. I've seen it all. I've seen it all, Nigel and Beth.
[crowd cheering]
I think Adam Cole has seen it all too.
Incredible.
[Beth] Ciampa is still in this, so we're not done yet.
[Nigel] How will this end?
-[Nigel] Wait a second. -[Mauro] O'Reilly has the NXT championship
leaving it in the corner for NXT champ,
Adam Cole in a [indistinct]
Again, referee trying to allow this match to continue.
Ciampa though trying to stop
Adam Cole's title reign.
Went into the referee goes Ciampa,
and things just got worst.
[Nigel] A whole lot worst for Tommaso Ciampa.
[Beth] Come on!
[Mauro] Into the garden of good and evil,
goes the evil Adam Cole.
And turnabout its fair play.
Fairy tale ending by Ciampa,
but no referee.
[crowd] One, two…!
Goldie can't come home yet.
[crowd countdown]
[Nigel] I can count to a hundred.
We gotta get an official out here.
[Mauro] A trustful In Tommaso Ciampa knowing that
three seconds away
from garnering Goldie again
and he can't do anything about it now, Beth.
[Beth] You can see the look on his face.
[Mauro screams]
[Beth] Hold on.
[Mauro] Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa's former partner,
the former NXT Tag Team champions.
Oh, no. They're also good in rivals at one time.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, my God.
[crowd cheering]
Adam Cole, covering Tommaso Ciampa.
[crowd] Three!
[bell ringing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the NXT champion,
Adam Cole.
[Mauro] Adam Cole, maybe the NXT champion,
but let's not bury the lead.
The rebel hearts, the heart and soul of the NXT, Johnny Gargano
has just broken the hearts
of every NXT fan.
[music playing]
[Nigel] What a turn comes Johnny Gargano
turned out to be,
but Adam Cole as right at the ship of the united…
Undisputed Era.
[Mauro] After losing to Finn Balor on here tonight.
Something has step in Johnny Gargano.
[Beth] I am shocked and disappointed.
This is not the Johnny Gargano that we know.
[music]
[Nigel] But it's hard to see.
It is unusual to see the Undisputed Era
without being draped in gold,
but being that as it may.
[Mauro] It's hard to wrap my mind around
what we just witnessed.
Johnny Gargano.
[Nigel] Taking the title from Ciampa
at the perfect moment,
thinking about it
and then doing it.
[screams]
Between the eyes of Tommaso Ciampa,
but it may as would have been into his heart.
[Mauro] Gargano and Ciampa,
with one of the most intense rivalries in NXT history.
Cole retaining the title.
And history looks like
it is repeating itself.
What an incredible night
it has been here at NXT Takeover:
Portland.
We will continue to see you
on the road to WrestleMania.
[music]
Subtitles: Clara Saralegui & Cecilia Rios NXT history.