Welcome to our WrestlingINC.com Live WWE NXT “Takeover: Phoenix” Viewing Party. Tonight’s show comes from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, AZ. – The WWE NXT “Takeover: Phoenix” Pre-show opens up from the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Charly Caruso welcomes us. She’s joined by Pat McAfee and Sam Roberts. They plug the WWE Network and go over the card for Sunday’s WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Caruso talks about the 2018 NXT Year-End Awards. She sends us backstage to Sarah Schreiber, who says she will be handing out the awards later tonight on the pre-show. We see NXT North American Champion Ricochet arriving to the arena. The panel hypes Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet and we get a video package on the match. We go back to the panel and they briefly discuss the match. It’s time for the first award reveal. We get a video package for the Breakout Star of the Year award. Schreiber is backstage with the winner, Ricochet. Sarah hands Ricochet his golden ring bell plaque. He talks about the incredible 2018 and said his biggest moment was winning the North American Title. He goes on and talks about retaining over Gargano later tonight. We cut to another promo for Gargano vs. Ricochet. We go back to the panel and Charly reveals the award winner for Match of the Year – Gargano vs. then-NXT Champion Andrade at “Takeover: Philadelphia” in January 2018. We get a look back at that match. Gargano is backstage with Schreiber to accept the award, his second time winning this one. Zelina Vega interrupts Gargano and she also has a plaque. She reminds Gargano he lost that match. Vega goes on and says 2019 will be the year of Andrade. Vega walks off. Gargano says he did lose that match but he’s going to have another match of the year tonight, and he will win that one. Schreiber sends us back to the panel. Charly leads us to a video package for Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno. The panel discusses Riddle vs. Ohno and Charly sends us to another break. We come back and get a video package for the Male Competitor of the Year award. We go backstage and the winner is NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa accepts the plaque and holds the title up, looking at them both. He hands the plaque back to Schreiber, clutches the title and walks off. Sarah leads us to the video for the Female Competitor of the Year award. Kairi Sane is the winner. She accepts the award and says 2018 was great but she will try to make 2019 better. She thanks everyone for the support, and says she loves NXT and she loves wrestling. We go back to the panel. The panel goes back over tonight’s card. They also hype the Royal Rumble on the WWE Network. The panel starts talking about tonight’s NXT Tag Team Title match when Bobby Fish interrupts, ringing one of the ring bell plaques. Fans chant for Fish. Fish reveals that The Undisputed Era won the award for Tag Team of the Year. Fish goes on about how NXT belongs to The Undisputed Era, and how they will win all the gold in 2019. Fish and McAfee are trading shots. Charly leads us to a video package for tonight’s NXT Women’s Title match. Sam starts blasting Bianca Belair, shocking Pat and Charly with his comments. Sam says Bianca has no chance. We get a video package for the Overall Competitor of the Year award. Schreiber is backstage to reveal the winner and it’s Kairi Sane again. Sane can’t believe it. Sane says this made her day. Schreiber says the rest of the winners can be found on the WWE website. We go back to the panel for more discussion on tonight’s show. We see Aleister Black backstage arriving. We also get a video package for tonight’s main event. The panel discusses Black vs. Ciampa now. That’s it for the pre-show. – The WWE NXT “Takeover: Phoenix” event opens up with a video package. – We’re live from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona as Mauro Ranallo welcomes us. He’s joined by Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson. They introduce the Spanish announce team at ringside next to them. NXT Tag Team Titles Match: The War Raiders vs. The Undisputed Era The announcers are interrupted by horns going off in the arena. A group of Viking soldiers appear on the stage and get in formation, with spears and shields. The War Raiders, Hanson and Rowe, appear from out of the group and they head to the ring. Kayla Braxton does the introductions. Out next come the NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong of The Undisputed Era. Bobby Fish is with them but he heads to the back, showing off the NXT 2018 Year-End Award for Tag Team of the Year. The champs attack their opponents as soon as the bell rings and they beat them down. Hanson gets sent to the floor. Rowe comes back and levels both opponents. Hanson flattens them on the outside with a double clothesline. Hanson with another big power move. Hanson goes at it with Strong in the ring now. Hanson drops him and hits a big corner splash. Rowe tags in and keeps up the attack going on Strong. They double team Strong and Rowe covers for a 2 count. O’Reilly comes in and helps Strong turn it around. Hanson gets sent into Rowe and they go down to the outside. The champs double team Hanson in the ring now. O’Reilly with strikes to Hanson now. Strong tags in for some double teaming. Hanson blocks a suplex twice, going for one of his own. Strong slides out and they double team Hanson again. Hanson blocks a double whip but they finally get him to the corner as the double team continues. O’Reilly grounds Hanson now. Rowe finally gets the tag and uses his opponents on each other in a power move. Hanson is the only one in the ring now.<doc-sep>On paper, NXT TakeOver: Phoenix is shaping up to be another opportunity for NXT to try to outshine the Raw and SmackDown rosters before a major WWE show. The four title matches feature a mixture of familiar matchups and fresh blood, as Aleister Black gets his long-awaited rematch against Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT championship, Johnny Gargano sets out for singles gold against Ricochet, War Raiders get another shot at Undisputed Era, and Bianca Belair gets her first chance at the NXT women's championship against Shayna Baszler. In a grudge match to round out the card, Kassius Ohno and Matt Riddle go one-on-one for the third time. Their first TakeOver meeting in Los Angeles lasted less than 10 seconds. Tim Fiorvanti is live at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix to cover the action, and Matt Willis rounds out the coverage with insights from the broadcast on the WWE Network. This story was updated in real time. NXT championship: Tommaso Ciampa (c) def. Aleister Black On a night that felt like a major transition point for NXT, with two title changes altering the trajectory of at least a dozen superstars, Tommaso Ciampa kept the status quo atop the NXT mountain. In what might have been the final chapter of Aleister Black's NXT journey, Black fell victim to every underhanded, deplorable tactic in the bad guy's handbook from Ciampa. Black ultimately fell after a staggering four Fairytale Endings from Ciampa, and a second NXT championship reign was not to be on this night. The parallels between Ciampa and Gargano on this night were staggering. There were moments when both champions sat and stared up at their opponents. Most obviously, both men peeled back the foam mats in an effort to secure their title victories -- another sign that Gargano has adopted the most evil tactics of Ciampa to taste success, sacrificing his morals in the meantime. To hammer home that point, as NXT TakeOver: Phoenix went off the air, Gargano walked out to the top of the ramp to join his former #DIY compatriot. As Gargano hoisted his newly-won North American championship, Ciampa responded in kind, and the broadcast faded to black with the pair as conquering villains. Under the spotlight of an NXT TakeOver main event that followed four stellar matches, Ciampa and Black once again stepped up to the challenge. With the champion's advantage, Ciampa stretched the rules to see what he could get away with, including standing on Black's ponytail during submission attempts. The story of the match was all about Ciampa taking out one of Black's legs to prevent the Black Mass kick. Ciampa first targeted the left knee by driving it into the steel steps by a few means, including a suplex into said stairs. He later used the ring post, a table, the ring ropes, submissions and anything else within his power. Black was able to hit enough of his devastating offense to stay in the match, but Ciampa's persistence kept Black from a chance at victory for most of the contest. In one final push, Black managed to hit the Black Mass spinning heel kick, only for Ciampa to turn onto his stomach while Black crawled after him. It took four successful finishers for Ciampa, with a draping DDT akin to Randy Orton's, to finish off Black, but the message and the result could not be much clearer. Black would have to climb a tall ladder to return to the NXT championship picture, and while that's possible, it feels as though he has done everything he can as part of the brand. For Ciampa, it was as decisive a victory as he has enjoyed as NXT champion. The list of challengers is long and includes Velveteen Dream, Ricochet and Adam Cole, but with Gargano potentially by his side heading into WrestleMania season, the possibilities for creative paths forward are vast. Shayna Baszler successfully defended the NXT women's championship with a victory over Bianca Belair at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. Courtesy @WWE NXT women's championship: Shayna Baszler (c) def. Bianca Belair Perhaps no wrestler on the NXT roster has had a faster rise over the past few months than Bianca Belair. At the same time, no performer has looked more dominant than Shayna Baszler. The early part of the match was dominated by the two battling for a mental edge. Belair told Baszler she was "un-de-fea-ted," and Baszler responded with "overrated." Belair's early match burst showed off her strength with a couple shoulder blocks and agility with some flips to escape Baszler, but Baszler took the advantage by using Belair's braid to pull her into the ring post, injuring her arm. Belair's injury became the story of the early part of the match, as Baszler stomped her elbow, a staple of her brutally technical style. She then began verbally berating Belair, but Belair made her comeback, first burying her injured shoulder into Baszler's midsection and then hitting a spear. That was cut down, however, when Baszler got her knees up on a splash attempt and then hit a running knee. Belair, in a desperate effort, reached into her bag of tricks by bringing back the hair whip, with the crack echoing through the arena and leaving a gash across Baszler's abdomen. Baszler shoved Belair into the referee, knocking her out of commission, and ultimately saved Baszler after Belair hit her finisher without a referee to count. Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke ran down to assist Baszler but were quickly dispatched. The distraction was enough for Baszler to lock in her finishing submission, the Kirifuda Clutch. What looked to be the end of the match was just the start of the finishing sequence, as Belair powered out and stood up, turning the submission into a snap suplex. Belair then went for a 450 splash, the move she hit at WrestleMania 34 during the battle royal, but Baszler just moved and locked the Kirifuda back in. Belair got back to her feet but collapsed.<doc-sep>1 of 5 Credit: WWE.com Conspicuous by his absence since the last TakeOver event, Velveteen Dream returned to television Wednesday and was welcomed by an enthusiastic fanbase. Dream announced his desire to capture the North American Championship in 2019, something that drew the ire of the title's inaugural holder, Adam Cole. Cole said this is the year every member of Undisputed Era has gold around his waist. Bobby Fish said much the same thing. Dream, questioning the hierarchy of the group, asked Cole's permission to face Fish next week. This angered them, leading to Fish and Cole rushing the ring and getting tossed to the floor. The enigmatic Dream left the ring and headed up the ramp, taunting the heels to close out the segment. Grade B Analysis This was a simple yet effective feud starter. Cole and Dream both want the same thing, and now they have a reason to fight. What this segment did really well, though, was tease potential dissension within Undisputed Era and whether everyone really answers to Cole. Is that the first hint of cracks within the foundation of the group, leading to a massive breakup and singles runs for some of its stars? Perhaps, but only time will tell. Maybe it was but an insult hurled by a master of mind games.<doc-sep>One night before WWE Royal Rumble gets us set for WrestleMania season, the tremendously talented superstars of NXT will again have the spotlight to themselves. Saturday night, NXT TakeOver: Phoenix will be the latest offering from the yellow brand that will unquestionably have us talking coming out of the weekend. In the main event of the five-match card, Tommaso Ciampa will put the NXT title on the line against the man he defeated (stole it from) last summer, Aleister Black. Below is all the information you need to catch the the show on Saturday, and be sure to check out full NXT TakeOver: Phoenix predictions. Listen to our audio preview of NXT TakeOver: Phoenix from the State of Combat with Brian Campbell podcast, and be sure to subscribe at the link in the player below. Watch NXT TakeOver: Phoenix live Date: Saturday, Jan. 26 Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena-- Phoenix, Arizona Start time: 7 p.m. ET (kickoff show starts at 6 p.m.) Watch live: WWE Network WWE Network: Web | Apple TV | Roku | Amazon Fire | PlayStation | Xbox | iOS | Android NXT TakeOver: Phoenix matches<doc-sep>
Another NXT TakeOver, another fantastic night of professional wrestling from WWE. The first NXT TakeOver: Phoenix delivered as only the brand's signature event can with five solid matches across a card that sets the stage for the brand's road to WrestleMania 35 weekend. With two title changes and a pair of former partners appearing to reunite at the show's close, there is plenty to get to from the event. That's not to say this was among the top tier of TakeOvers that have been presented from NXT. Quite the contrary, in fact. Unlike recent events that were filled with stellar matches, this card was driven more by storylines. In fact, only one match truly stood out from the show, while a couple others simply got the job done. As such, due to the high standards set by NXT TakeOvers that preceded this one, it must be judged accordingly. Grade: B Don't forget: the 2019 Royal Rumble is set for Sunday and CBS Sports will be with you the entire way with live results and grades from the show. For now, join the State of Combat with Brian Campbell podcast as the guys preview the show below. NXT TakeOver: Phoenix results, grades Tag Team Championship -- War Raiders def. Undisputed Era (c) via pinfall to win the titles: Rowe opened with a solid run as a tope suicida by Hanson missed and laid him prone at ringside, but Roderick Strong (through a bevy of backbreakers) and Kyle O'Reilly were able to assert their dominance with a two-on-one advantage. A single-arm overhead suplex by Rowe threw O'Reilly into Strong, knocking both outside the ring. Hanson eventually tagged in and hit a cartwheel lariat that brought the crowd to its feet, and a bronco buster to Strong resulted in a close count. A catch powerslam by Hanson and subsequent tope suicida nearly saw the titles change hands, but O'Reilly kicked out; Strong saved O'Reilly following a splash by Hanson, and he climbed to the top rope for a superplex on Hanson only to see Hanson kick out from a diving knee by O'Reilly. Undisputed Era took control as the crowd chanted "fight forever," but their High-Low finisher did not get the job done on Hanson. A second attempt was escaped with a cartwheel by Hanson, who hit a double back elbow to stun UE. Rowe then hit his patented press slam powerbomb followed by an elevated leg drop by Rowe for the 1-2-3. While it started slow, business picked up over the second half of the match as War Raiders got the opportunity to shine in their title victory. The change was necessary to breathe some new life into the division, and War Raiders went over strong by kicking out of the High-Low finisher on their way to victory. The match did not necessarily live up to the high standard set by some of the NXT tag team bouts over the past 12 months, but it was still a fun display and great start to the show. Grade: B Matt Riddle def. Kassius Ohno via submission: Ohno dominated Riddle in the early going, throwing him into the ring post and the steps as he delivered solid strikes; he even reversed a potential German suplex by stomping on Riddle's exposed foot, but Riddle wound up hitting it anyway. As Riddle began drilling Ohno in the chest, Ohno grabbed his foot and chomped down on his big toe before lifting him up for a Liger bomb followed by a moonsault from the top rope. Ohno missed his rolling elbow but hit a senton; as he went for another, Riddle put him in a rear-naked choke only to see it stopped via rope break. Ohno pleaded for mercy late and held out his fist for a bump, but Riddle grabbed it for a knee strike, followed with a sleeper suplex and hit repeated knee strikes on Ohno until he submitted. Call it a bias against Ohno if you want, but this match would have been much better if Riddle was able to display his true talents against better competition. Ohno got too much offense in early to be believed, and the finish was delayed with the referee out of position. Riddle was not given the opportunity to truly show what he can do, which should have been the case in his second TakeOver match. The right guy went over, but the crowd reaction told the story here. Grade: C North American Championship -- Johnny Gargano def.