Rate NXT Takeover: Philadelphia

[Jacob Fox]

Rate NXT Takeover: Philadelphia and leave a few comments to let us know what you thought of the show.

Spoiler: NXT Takeover Philadelphia Results

NXT Tag Team Championship: Champion The Undisputed Era vs The Authors of Pain

The Undisputed Era retained the tag titles by pin fall

Velveteen Dream vs Kassius Ohno

Velveteen Dream won by pin fall

NXT Women's Championship: Champion Ember Moon vs Shayner Baszler

Moon retained by pin fall

Extreme Rules Match: Aleister Black vs Adam Cole

Black won by pin fall

NXT Championship: Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Johnny Gargano

Almas retained by pin fall. After the match, Gargano was attacked by Tommaso Ciampa

 

[Zany Clowny]

loved the queer vs queer match tonight great stuff

 

[Rosie]

Another great Takeover. Every match wasn't bad. Maybe Ohno vs Dream was a bit sloppy at some parts, but the main event and Extreme Rules match made up for it. Like, the main event I think is five stars or just about as close as you can get to five stars as possible.

 

[Smg]

Amazing takeover, really can't think of a spot that I would book better. I absolutely love that Dream got the victory over a well known veteran, really because he's the g.o.a.t alongside elias of course. The main event match was amazing, just everything. Loved that they did have ciampa make an appearence but he only hit gargano once, cause man, johnny deserves all the rest he can get after that performance.

For everyone who has a sour taste that almas retained, remember that the velveteen dream will one day dethrone him and make NXT great again!
[HASHTAG]#PurpleRainMaker[/HASHTAG]

 

[Grievous 3D]

I'm glad Aleister Black & Velveteen Dream both had a win...
& both should have a spot in the Rumble match...especially
Black.

Ember Moon retaining is interesting as I was sure they were
going to put the title on Baszler...but...they didn't.

And I guess Moon won't be in the rumble...Baszler on the
other hand...well...we will have to wait and see.

I won't have an opportunity to watch this event for a few days
so can I ask if any of the other NXT women were seen during
the broadcast or if there was any mention of them taking part
in the Rumble?

 

[SWL]

I love the fact that they only have like 4 or 5 matches set for these things. They go by so fast but you end up wanting more. Something you're only able to feel during TakeOvers anymore these days lol.

• Kassius Ohno vs Velveteen Dream was fun, but it's basically just a Velveteen showcase if we're being honest. To be honest, I'm not into Kassius all that much, he looks like a dork and even though a lot of people praise him for being a genius in the ring or something, I've yet to see him make a mark on one of these shows. Anyways, I'm happy for Velveteen Dream and I'm also happy for NXT, as this is their only home grown talent that's getting over right now.
• Ember Moon vs Shayna Baszler turned out better than I expected. It's a lot like Cena/Brock from Extreme Rules 2012 where Brock just beat the shit out of him, but then Cena had this heroic comeback to pull a W out of the bag. This felt a lot like it and it's definitely a great story plot because, as Triple H said in his post TakeOver Interview, Ember beat Shayna.. but did she really defeat her or was it just a 3 second difference? The crowd popped huge for Ember's roll up, so that shows that people are fully invested in her, which is always nice to see/hear. Good stuff
• now to the 2 bangers of the night, first imma talk about the NXT title match which was ok and then all of a sudden picked up tremendously. I think they're doing a great job with Gargano as a whole right now. It just feels like Daniel Bryan all over again and I love it. I actually thought there's a big possibility for Gargano to finally pull it off, just to have Ciampa ruin it for him to set up a match between those 2 for the title, but I guess that'd just be a re-do of Owens and Zayn from '15. Anyways, Almas keeps on proving that he's got what it takes but I still don't see him going far on the main roster tho.
• Now, next to Styles and Zayn, Black is one of my favorite vanilla midgets in the company right now. Every match this guy has is a great one and I truly believe he should get called up as soon as possible. The longer he stays in NXT, the longer you waste this man's potential of actually making an impact in this company as a whole. And this is my general problem with NXT, these guys are in there for way too long. Back when developmental was just developmental, it made sense to have them stay there until everything is perfected. But now, it just seems like you're holding people back. By the time Black gets called up to the main roster, expectations for his run there are probably gonna be so high, that it'll be tough for him to live up or exceed those expectations thanks to the great matches he already had on NXT. Anyways, like I said they killed it with their Extreme Rules match and I hope Black doesn't go for the NXT title next, as fucked up as it sounds, it's probably better for him to not win it before getting to the big stage

Overall, not as good as their previous TakeOvers but the last 2 matches really killed it, so who am I to complain?

 

[Jacob Fox]

I gave this an 8. I would have given it a 9 and possibly even a 10 but I personally believe that Almas has no business being the NXT Champion. I'm not even that big on Gargano and I personally believe the two of them put on an amazing match. But Almas, in my view, has never been good enough to wear that belt. Him retaining, especially because the match was so good, just soured the whole evening a tiny bit. Really, NXT, take the belt off him.

The Undisputed Era vs The Authors of Pain *** An enjoyable match and very happy the Undisputed Era retained the belts. Not much more to say about it.

Velveteen Dream vs Kassius Ohno **1/2 Weakest match on the card but it may be that I really just didn't care. I put that more as the fault of Ohno than Velveteen Dream though. It had some good spots but really I couldn't get too much into it.

Ember Moon vs Shayner Baszler ***1/2 I really enjoyed how this match played out. I really began even feeling the pain in my arm watching Ember Moon constantly take damage in it. I really thought she was going to lose but glad she didn't. I really thought they wasted a good opportunity to have someone come to the aid of Moon after the match and with Baszler walking backwards at the ring entrance, it seemed like they were leading that way.

Aleister Black vs Adam Cole **** I'd give this a higher rating but I still don't get happy when my favorite wrestlers lose and Adam Cole is undoubtedly my favorite wrestler in NXT. But the match was entirely enjoyable other than that. Both guys did great. All I would have changed was the ending.

Almas vs Gargano ****1/2 The ONLY thing wrong with this match was the outcome. Unlike the previous match, I didn't rate it down because one of my favorites lost. Gargano is not one of my favorites. I rated it down because someone I dislike won. The match was wonderful and there was a great fan moment when Candice LeRae just attacked and beat the holy living crap out of Zelina Vega. That was just completely enjoyable. But they kept the belt on someone who had no business winning it in the first place so a match that would have been five stars lost half a star. Pity.

 

[Death Walker]

I personally believe that Almas has no business being the NXT Champion.

Almas, in my view, has never been good enough to wear that belt. Him retaining, especially because the match was so good, just soured the whole evening a tiny bit. Really, NXT, take the belt off him.

OMG YES!!

 

[Death Walker]

I won't have an opportunity to watch this event for a few days
so can I ask if any of the other NXT women were seen during
the broadcast or if there was any mention of them taking part
in the Rumble?

They did a Year-End award show during the pre-show but as far as I could tell (since barely watching it every second), there was no mention but Candice LeRae was ringside for her husband until she had enough of Zelina Vega interfering in the match and well you'll see when you get it.

 

[The Sheik]

8/10

Enjoyed most of it, but i started getting bored in the middle of Cole/Black match, I think i was just done with the show at that point. The Cole/Black match was very good, but i just wanted the show to be over. The main-event i skipped to the end to see if Almas retained and he did. Gargano should not be anywhere near the title picture.. Shayna Bazler is the best, she should totally become NXT Women's Champion soon.. Overall it was a good show.. The opener was the match of the night, in my opinion.

 

[Grievous 3D]

But they kept the belt on someone who had no business winning it in the first place

I've actually been wondering that since Almas won the title...& I mean no
disrespect to the guy...but he seems on a "lower level" than most of the past
NXT Champions...well...apart from Bo Dallas that is.

Is it possible the WWE is using Almas to appeal to a certain "demographic"?

 

[Jacob Fox]

I've actually been wondering that since Almas won the title...& I mean no
disrespect to the guy...but he seems on a "lower level" than most of the past
NXT Champions...well...apart from Bo Dallas that is.

Is it possible the WWE is using Almas to appeal to a certain "demographic"?

No idea but I seriously doubt it. There are much better options than him if they wanted to do that. If he was on the main roster, he'd be a jobber completely. So that being said, he shouldn't be anywhere but the lower mid card in NXT.

 

[Grievous 3D]

Also...completely off topic...but wasn't
Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain booked for this show?

I mean why wouldn't they...

Oh Wait...

The Rumble match is tomorrow...got it.

*Crosses Fingers*

 

[Rosie]

I gave this an 8. I would have given it a 9 and possibly even a 10 but I personally believe that Almas has no business being the NXT Champion. I'm not even that big on Gargano and I personally believe the two of them put on an amazing match. But Almas, in my view, has never been good enough to wear that belt. Him retaining, especially because the match was so good, just soured the whole evening a tiny bit. Really, NXT, take the belt off him.

Honestly, with his performance here, I think he proved himself worthy. He's improved a hell of a lot, and this was a breakout performance from both him and Gargano. Johnny's selling and Almas' overall work as a heel was really what put the match over.

 

[Mike Thunder]

Overall Rating: 8/10

NXT Tag Team Championship: Champion The Undisputed Era vs The Authors of Pain 3 Stars. Good match.

Velveteen Dream vs Kassius Ohno 2.5 Stars. Worst match of the night. They have no chemistry with each other. Dream is still green and it showed, with him botching a few spots. Very forgettable match.

NXT Women's Championship: Champion Ember Moon vs Shayner Baszler 3 Stars. Good match but not really memorable. Ember Moon isn't very good and Baszler still needs to work on her ring skills.

Extreme Rules Match: Aleister Black vs Adam Cole 4 Stars. Very enjoyable match. It should have been about 5 minutes shorter than it was. I didn't like the interference towards the end of the match. The right person won.

NXT Championship: Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Johnny Gargano 5 Stars. Amazing match, my favorite of the year so far. The storytelling was great, very good psychology and some amazing spots. Almas and Gargano have great chemistry with each other and they both did very well. Gargano is a great underdog babyface. Almas proved once again he is in the top 5 workers in the WWE and one of the most charismatic. He's the best NXT Champion in a very long time. The right wrestler won, once again. Gargano vs Ciampa doesn't need to have the title on the line for it to be amazing and Almas needed the win.