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"This is a Takeover show so expect not to be disappointed" is something Triple H would tell everybody backstage before the show airs which would be surprising if he doesn't say something along those lines.
This is not a huge surprise when NXT always delivers their Takeover shows every single time on the WWE Network and the Portland, Oregon's edition of the fan acclaimed Takeover special is no exception.
Keith Lee vs Dominic Djakovic For NXT The North American Championship.
During the match, Lee catches Djakovic after he did a corkscrew moonsault (F'ing awesome spot). Dominic would then put every power in his body to carry the champion and deliver a big suplex but Lee's impressive talents somehow got out of it.
Speaking of impressive talents, Djakovic knocks Lee out with a discus kick followed by the second corkscrew moonsault of the evening (never gets old).
Another impressive thing among other impressive things was when Djakovic nailed an avalanche feast your eyes and Lee survived that big spot.
"We want tables," says an enthusiastic Portland crowd and while we didn't get to see some table smashing, we did, however, get to see a senton from the top rope all the way near the announce table on Keith Lee while Lee was unconsciously sitting on the announcer chair (Holy Sheeeeeeeeet).
The match concluded when Djakovic couldn't carry Lee but Lee did carry Djakovic with the suplex position into a powerslam to retain his championship.
Both competitors then paid their respects. God damn, what a match! I remember covering their first match against each other on NXT TV like it was yesterday so to now review a fantastic rubber match is just plain awesome.
Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai In A Street Fight.
Dakota Kai attacked Tegan Nox during Nox's entrance and the match went underway after Kai nailed a beautiful DDT on the outside.
Tegan threw herself with a cannonball on Kai but what's more devastating than that was when Kai swung the trash can lid on to Tegan Nox's face.
Nox then delivered a German suplex on the trash can or rubbish bin for all the brits. Dakota Kai brought up a duck tape and she rolled Nox's hands with the tape all over the ring post to which Kai brutally kicked Nox's left shoulder.
"You asked for this Tegan," says Kai and Nox replied with a strike on Kai's surgically repaired right knee.
Remember the "we want tables" chants earlier in the night? Well, the fans got it kind of when Reina Gonzalez now known as Raquel Gonzalez, former Mae Young classic tournament competitor threw Nox on the table but it didn't break.
Kai took that opportunity to pin Nox and won this brutal bout. Can Nox catch a break? I feel so sorry for Tegan.
Finn Balor vs Johnny Gargano.
Like the street fight earlier, this match is personal (no f'ing sh*t, Omar). Both former NXT champions started off this match with typical quick submissions one of which was a knee hold from Balor while he did some push-ups.
Gargano speared Balor and the prince landed on the ring apron. Johnny Takeover damaged Balor's arm which is smart given that Balor uses his arms to hook on the DDT or 1916 in this case.
"Payback's a b*tch," they say and Johnny felt that when Finn damages his leg repeatedly given that Gargano damaged Finn's left arm.
Moments later, Johnny Wrestling locked in the Gargano escape but Finn reserved it with a quick double stomp that led to Johnny locking in the Gargano escape once again.
After many times has Johnny reversed the 1916 finisher from the prince, the possessor of the demon finally nailed the 1916 to win this match.
Another good match of the night. Finn was the predictable yet right person to go over. Will see where Finn's win takes him.
Rhea Ripley vs Bianca Belair For The NXT Women's Championship.
Bianca Belair rocking a great rope with the saying behind it "black history month in the making" which makes sense as we're in the middle of black history month.
Belair applied a modified full Nelson on Rhea Ripley which looked cool not gonna lie.
Ripley then delivered a sitout electric chair drop followed by a cloverleaf but Bianca quickly escapes and hits a devastating spinebuster.
Belair threw Ripley over the top rope and then, Belair delivered a beautiful tope con Hilo. Rhea hits the Riptide to win this title match and the queen, Charlotte Flair ambushed her from behind.
Flair took the mic to accept Rhea's proposed Wrestlemania challenge and further damages Rhea as well as Bianca Belair. That ending made the triple threat match at Wrestlemania a definite possibility.
The Undisputed Era In Kyle O'Reilly And Bobby Fish vs Matthew "Riddell" And Peter "Dune" Aka The Broserweights For The NXT Tag Team Championship.
Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne wore a shirt that says "how much fish if Bobby Fish fry if Bobby Fish could fry fish".
Because the chorus couldn't get anymore catchier, he sang that line multiple times until The Undisputed Era rushed near the stage area to attack the challengers.
Dunne destroyed O'Reilly's arm with his signature stomp. Fish damaged one of Dunne's legs and Nigel Mcgunnies on commentary said: "how many legs could Bobby Fish break if Bobby Fish could break legs".
Nigel is doing Corey Graves' job but better based off that line. Matt Riddle hits the floating bro but Kyle O'Reilly raised his knees to avoid damage.
Bobby Fish delivered a suplex on the suplex from the top rope to Matt Riddle which later transitioned into a knee drop from O'Reilly and a kneebar submission.
Riddle accidentally hits the spear to Dunne and both UE members delivered a chase the dragon double team move to Dunne and the bruiserweight kicked out of that.
A series of kicks later and the Broserweights captured the NXT tag team championship. Boy, that was a match of the year contender guys.
I had an absolute blast watching this match and so did the Portland crowd. The Broserweights continue their friendship, this time with some gold on their waists.
Adam Cole vs Tommaso Ciampa For The NXT Championship.
This is it. The match that everybody's curious about how it's constructed and most importantly, how it ends. To ask the million-dollar question, was it any good? Yea, it was solid and here are some of the highlights.
Ciampa and Cole were fighting outside the ring throughout the first half of this match-up for instance, how Cole delivered a German suplex on the edge of the announce table which looked awful to watch.
Adam was about to hit the axe handle but Ciampa reversed it with a dropkick. Tommaso Ciampa drops Cole with white noise from the top rope.
Minutes later, Ciampa threw Cole with a powerbomb on the announce table that didn't break. Adam successfully connects the last shot but Tommaso escapes the pin by crawling near the ropes.
Tommaso nailed the fairytale ending and Cole kicked out of that pin. The Undisputed Era's distractions did not stop from the psycho killer to further inflict damage on Cole.
But, Johnny Gargano of all people, cost his best friend on taking Goldie with a strike on Ciampa's head with the belt and that's how Adam Cole is still champion.
What's with NXT and betrayal angles? I'm definitely tuning in NXT only to say "Johnny why?"
So, to recap for all of you slow mofos.
Like: Every match on the card.
Didn't like: Are you mad? This is a Takeover show, not Smackdown every week.
Let me know what do you think about NXT Takeover: Portland and follow me on the tweets @omartheplayaguy. Anyways, stay safe smarks.
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