NXT: Takeover THE END took place at Fullsail University on 6/8/2016 and was LIVE in front of a packed house!
I always sit and enjoy the NXT PPV’s on the network and don’t do play by plays because I focus solely on the action. Having said that, I wanted to bring you fine folks and fans of the Scrum Sports a recap of the matches and highlights of the event. So to start things off…
Singles Action:
Tye Dillinger vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
Tye Dillinger, the Perfect 10, is so main roster ready it’s ridiculous. He could really make a splash on the main stage and hopefully he’ll have that opportunity as part of the brand split, but we’ll see. The absolutely incredible Manny Andrade, better known as La Sombra in Mexico, was the founder of the mega-over LOS INGOBERNABLES stable that is featured prominently in New Japan at the moment. The stable consists of the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Tetsuya Naito, as well as Sanada, Evil and Bushi. If that doesn’t explain how prominent Andrade was in CMLL, I don’t know what will. He once beat Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP IC Title and they had some memorable matches. Having said that, this match was a splendid opener. We saw some amazing spots from both men including some great chain and counter wrestling and some aerial excellence from Andrade. Andrade took home the victory following his patented finish that we saw often in CMLL which was an awe-inspiring running double knee strike. Needless to say, it was quite the affair with a grand finish that made both men look like a million bucks.
Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
NXT Tag Title Match:
American Alpha (c) vs. The Revival
For the first time in NXT history, we have two time tag team champions. The Revival were able to come away with the victory following a Shatter Machine after a tag team match that actually raised the bar on their affair from Dallas. I can run on about the back and forth action and the high spots in this match, but please, do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourselves. American Alpha is like a perfect blend of The Rockers and The World’s Greatest Tag Team. The Revival are like Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, The Brainbusters, in their prime. Alpha will certainly be headed to the main roster in short order, and the Revival look like they are headed for a tag team situation with Gargano and Ciampa. The biggest shocker took place after the match. After the crushing defeat, The “Authors Of Pain” who have been making waves at NXT House shows across the country, debuted with a brutal assault on the former champs and just when you thought it was over, “PRECIOUS” PAUL ELLERING made his way out onto the ramp. Ellering appears to be managing these brutes and they will certainly be a force to reckon with, especially having the legendary Road Warriors manager at their side!
Winners: The Revival (New Tag Team Champions)
Singles Action:
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Austin Aries
To sum up the contest between “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” and “The King Of Strong Style” in a paragraph is something I cannot do. There were SO many great spots and examples of pure wrestling in this match, I won’t do it justice. This might have raised the bar on the Nakamura debut against Sami Zayn, it’s that good. Aries used an incredible array of submission holds as well as moves to work a part of Nakamura’s body, something too often ignored by main roster staples. There were a brilliant death valley driver on the apron that Aries hit as well as a point where you thought Nakamura would tap to the Last Chancery, but Nakamura came away with the victory after a great comeback that he ended following a second rope knee strike, an inverted exploder suplex and of course, the dreaded Kinshasa which put Aries down for the three count!
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT Women’s Title Match:
Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax
There are a great many Nia Jax haters out there. I am not one of them. She is a very unique presence and she gets better each time she’s in the ring. She and Asuka worked STIFF. There were some great counters and Nia hit a suplex at one point that brought me out of my chair. This was one that could have gone either way, but after a series of kicks and strikes, Asuka managed to keep her opponent down for the three count, retaining the title and perhaps heading to a blowoff match with Bayley? I suppose that remains to be seen.
Winner: Asuka (Retaining the Title)
A crucial backstage segment took place as NXT General Manager, William Regal, had words on the action backstage and as he did, BOBBY ROODE, coffee in hand, strolled past him and into an office. Regal excused himself and we can only be led to believe that the “ink is drying” as I type this and we’ll get to see Roode competing in front of passionate fans in short order!
NXT World Title Steel Cage Match:
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Finn Balor
Balor looked incredible as his demon persona took on what seemed to be a very fitting “Venom” vibe and he and Joe tore the roof off the joint, this time without a blood stoppage. Balor looked to be on the righteous path following several sling blades and a near-fall following a Coup De Grace. He looked to put away the champion with an attempted “1916”, I still wanna call it “Bloody Sunday” but Joe, who couldn’t put away the challenger earlier with a Muscle Buster, looked for the submission victory with the Coquina Clutch. Balor escaped with a counter a-la Bret Hart/Steve Austin from Survivor Series ’96, and after a double stomp impact, Balor tried to escape the cage. Joe had other plans and the show ended after a high impact second rope muscle buster that kept Balor grounded for the three count. Joe retains the strap and could be headed towards a program with Roode, Nakamura or even a returning Hideo Itami depending on the direction they want to take. Balor is main roster bound, sooner rather than later at this point. A fantastic show from start to finish, something to be expected from NXT at this point!
Winner: Samoa Joe (Retaining the Title)
