WWE
NXT TakeOver: Phoenix Final Results and Grades
It’s the first American NXT TakeOver of 2019. Did it live up to the hype? Let’s take a look at the final grades and results for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix.
NXT Tag Team Championships: The War Raiders def. The Undisputed Era to win the titles
Final Grade: A
If the Undisputed Era wants to open every TakeOver from now until the end of time, I’m perfectly ok with that. They always put on a great show opener. War Raiders definitely held up their end of the stick and showed they were more than just big, powerful Vikings.
Kyle O’Reily and Roderick Strong use their speed and agility advantage. Hanson and Rowe show off their amazing strength. Hanson hits a cartwheel and a double springboard back elbow. Fallout decides the match in favor of War Raiders. Great effort from both teams.
Matt Riddle def. Kassius Ohno via TKO
Final Grade: C+
The referee stoppage ending was new and exciting. Ohno tapped out, not from a submission, but from Riddle hammering down on him over and over again with closed fists.
The rest of the match wasn’t bad. Just nothing exciting or unbelievable happened. It was a good match, just really average.
NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano def. Ricochet to win the title
TSJ101Sports Match of the Night winner
Final Grade: A
Johnny and Rick O’Shea are both great wrestlers. This match almost got its “A+” grading, but it felt like it was missing that extra push to make it amazing. It was a very good match, match of the night no doubt, but not perfect.
Ricochet bounced around the ring like ricocheting bullet (his name makes so much sense now). It looks like Gargano is heading for the dark side at several spots during this match. He suplexes Ricochet onto the floor after pulling away the padding. Johnny hits a viscous looking Springboard DDT for the win. It’s Johnny’s first NXT singles title.
NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler def. Bianca Belair via submission to retain
Final Grade: C-
Nothing bad against this match. It’s just average. Bianca powering out of the rear naked choke has been done multiple times before.
Average match correctly put in the “co-main” spot on the card.
NXT Championship: Tomasso Ciampa def. Aleister Black to retain
Final Grade: A-
If Johnny Wrestling didn’t pose with Tommy Champion after the match, then this would’ve gotten a “B-“. But the continuity in NXT is something to admire, and it looks like #DIY is back… or so it seems.
Ciampa targeted Aleister’s knee for the majority of the match. Black’s knee gave out when he tried for the Black Mass. Tomasso pulled back the outside padding, much like Gargano did earlier. Black swung for the fences several times with his sickening kicks and knees to the head. Ciampa hit his Pedigree/Angel Wings move twice in a row to pin his opposition.
Overall NXT TakeOver: Phoenix Final Grade: B
Pretty good show for the first TakeOver of the new year. It is disappointing in some spots, but it’s otherwise really good.
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Photo credit to wrestling_unico_amore via Instagram
