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May 24th, 2017 On commentary tonight, at the All State Arena in Chicago, IL, are Tom Phillips, “Showtime” Percy Watson, and Nigel McGuinness Opening Segment Singles Match: Aleister Black vs. Curt Hawkins So, these two had a run-in on WWE Main Event two weeks ago, where Black took out Hawkins with the Black Mass kick. Hawkins seems to want some more. He starts out on the offensive, throws Black to the ropes and Black springboards into a back flip, landing cross-legged on the mat- a picture of serenity. Hawkins approaches and is rolled up by Black for a 1 count. Loud kick to the shins by Black. That slows Hawkins down. He tries to throw Black out of the ring. Black blocks the suplex attempt. Another strike, this time to the chest. Black goes to the top rope, leaps over a sliding Hawkins and connects with a high knee to Hawkins’ jaw. Black raises Hawkins, by the chin, with his foot, but Hawkins slides out. This begins a game of tag, in and out of the ring until Hawkins catches Black with a few strikes. Snapmare and a strong knee to the back. A chinlock doesn’t keep Black down for long. Black with high knee strikes, followed by a springboard backflip splash and…Black Mass. 1-2-3. Winner: Aleister Black via pinfall in 3 minutes One cool point for Hawkins because he’s the first guy in a long while to visit nXt from the main roster. I appreciate that decision, as well as his strategy of quick exits from the ring to lure Black into his attack. A shame that didn’t work better for him. Oh, I suppose I’ll dish a cool point to Black for continuing this undefeated streak. He’s showing a little more personality as he gets more comfortable in an nXt ring. He also needs a serious feud, pronto. Possible opponents for Takeover: Brooklyn? Coming Up:Drew McIntyre vs. Wesley Blake, a Championship recap and “D.I.Why?”- a segment on the team’s breakup Second Segment Recap: Highlights from the nXt Tag Team Championship Ladder match between the Authors of Pain (c) and #DIY were shown, including the shocking aftermath where Tommaso Ciampa turned on his partner, Johnny Gargano. The doctors refuse to release any medical updates on Gargano’s condition, following the beatdown. Promo: Ember Moon is seen sitting in the stands before nXt Takeover: Chicago. This is where she was supposed to compete for the Women’s Championship and it sucks that she’ll be watching a triple threat match instead. Ember wants Asuka to retain so she can be the one to beat her. She says time heals all wounds but battle scars last forever. Following this, we see highlights from Asuka’s win over Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross later that evening. She’s interviewed afterwards on WWE.COM. Asuka says no one can stand toe to toe with her. The title is all hers! Promo: A new wrestler will be debuting soon in nXt: Velveteen Dream. Third Segment Recap: Highlights from Roderick Strong vs. Eric Young were shown, where Strong outsmarted SAnitY to get the win. In a WWE.COM exclusive, after the match, he’s asked about being the first person to pin Eric Young in nXt. Overcoming the odds is something Strong has done all his life. Once you bring his family into it, like Young did, there’s nothing that will stop him from ending them. This is one more step towards the nXt Championship. Singles Match: Velveteen Dream vs. Robert Anthony This is Dream’s debut match. McGuinness says he looks a bit ambiguous but hopefully he’s looking for a clear and definitive win tonight. Fans aren’t sure what to make of him just yet, says Phillips. The two run the ropes to begin the match. Dream connects with a flying shoulder block and a dropkick. He unloads a barrage of strikes in the corner on Anthony. He’s quick and strong with his offense so far. Anthony tries to escape the corner again but receives slaps and punches instead. Dream flies off the top rope, after an Irish whip reversal, and comes down hard with a slap to Anthony’s face. Dream poses for the fans and connects with a neckbreaker. He ascends the turnbuckle, standing tall on top, and rains down with a big elbow drop. 1-2-3. It’s over! Winner:Velveteen Dream via pinfall in 2 minutes One cool point for the airtime and form Dream showed on that top rope elbow drop. Not a big fan of the character so far but, obviously, he’s going to get some time to work on it. Dude can go in the ring and, with any luck, he’ll have consistent matches this summer. Up Next:Championship Recap Fourth Segment Recap: Highlights from the UK Championship match are shown. In this must-see title match, the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne defeats Tyler Bate. Afterwards, WWE.COM catches up with Dunne. He says he’s had to watch Bate carry the title since January, knowing it was his. Now…it is. nXt Championship Recap: Highlights from the Bobby Roode (c) vs. Hideo Itami match are shown. Roode successfully retained the nXt championship and he was interviewed backstage afterwards. He asks if the interviewer was actually surprised he won? Roode didn’t realize Itami was even still under contract with nXt and he proved Itami wasn’t in his league tonight. What’s next for Roode? Whatever he decides, and, for now, he’s going to enjoy some time off by his pool. It’s his nXt and it will continue to be glorious. Final Segment Next Week: A Glorious celebration with Bobby Roode Singles Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Wesley Blake From the opening grapple, Blake is the first to lock McIntyre up but he’s also the first to hit the mat, thanks to a clothesline from the Scot. McIntyre kneels down, like Blake, and motions with his finger to come get some. McIntyre with a side headlock on Blake. Blake fights out of it, in the corner, and yells at him a bit. McIntyre responds with a high kick to the face. He sharply chops Blake a few times across the chest. This angers the Texan and he brings the fists and knees to McIntyre in the adjacent corner. Running out from the corner, McIntyre throws Blake over his head, landing back-first on the mat. Blake ends up on the outside and, when McIntyre approaches, Blake stops him by slamming his arm on the top rope. Big clothesline by Blake and a 2 count cover. Commercial Break On the return, Blake’s going to work on the left arm of McIntyre. He wrenches it behind McIntyre’s own back until McIntyre lifts him up on to the turnbuckle. Blake executes a flying head scissors, transitioning it into an armbar. Wow! But McIntyre gets a leg out on to the bottom rope to break the count. Blake gets thrown out of the ring but gets right back in to wrench the arm further. McIntyre with nasty cross chops to defend himself. Blake throws him into the corner but McIntyre walks out with a big boot to Blake’s face. Now it’s his turn to send a barrage of punches on Blake in the corner. He’s up on the top rope now…single axe-handle! He lifts Blake up on the shoulders. Blake squirms down. He runs the ropes. McIntyre catches him in the air…powerbomb! 2 count. Blake slams McIntyre’s arm into the ringpost. 1-2-…kickout. Blake with a crossface submission on McIntyre. McIntyre isn’t in it for long before he fights out, lifting Blake up. While he misses a running knee in the corner, he doesn’t miss catching Blake by the legs, behind him, and swinging him forward into a front face slam. Pinfall attempt is a close 2 count. Blake surprises McIntyre with an armbreaker over his knees. 1-2- kickout. Blake’s keeping it close. He ascends the top rope. McIntyre kips up! He meets Blake on the top rope and falls into a tree of woe position. Still, from there, he’s able to throw Blake to the mat below. McIntyre calls for Blake to stand up. Blake defends the big boot. McIntyre opts for a nasty headbutt instead. He calls for Claymore aka a single leg yakuza. Blake eats it and he’s out. 1-2-3. Winner: Drew McIntyre via pinfall in 9 minutes One cool point for McIntyre’s victory, in which he showed resiliency, brutality, and speed. Blake’s a pretty good hand in the ring, but McIntyre always had an answer even with Blake attacking his left arm. I wonder if he’ll be the next target for Eric Young and SAnitY. I feel like they’d have a good match and it would help build him up further towards the title picture. Takeover: Chicago Predictions I went 2 for 5, my weakest showing yet. Probably means I should’ve put a little more effort into them, not expecting Takeover: Chicago to be as excellent as it was. Like some of you, I didn’t see the #DIY breakup happening, and I thought the SAnitY/Strong program might be continuing. With Strong getting the win, he seems to be heading towards a new feud, unless SAnitY doubles up and sends Dain to face him. I don’t think that feud carries to Takeover: Brooklyn III though. All the champions deserved to keep their titles, based on their track record and their effort in Saturday’s matches. No complaints on that. Looking forward to your thoughts, cool point suggestions, and Takeover: Chicago fallout comments. Peace!
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