NXT TakeOver Portland

[Dark One]

I’m outside in line in a wide open space and I can already smell some people. Send help.

[Dark One]

One confederate flag tattoo spotted already and we’re not even inside. Oh no

[Dark One]

https://i.imgur.com/NHsS6ch.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pYVDqMc.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

Guess unless WWE is running a main roster show the next night, not even USA Network's money is enough to sway NXT into using a unique stage for their PPV events these days.

[Evil Vito]

Should be a good one.

[Dark One]

Every new person who gets into the arena thinks they’re the first to say “ADAM COLE ... ... BAYBAY”

I might murder someone before the show starts.

[Dark One]

Based on the read off of the match card, gonna guess Ciampa gets booed here.

[Dark One]

I think Long Hair Fan and his mom are in front and to the right of me. Lock Jaw will be excited to know he’s grown a goatee.

[Evil Vito]

Every new person who gets into the arena thinks they’re the first to say “ADAM COLE ... ... BAYBAY”

I might murder someone before the show starts.

lol that happened at Takeover NY and Takeover 25 too. It's the modern version of yelling "MISTERRRRRRRRRR KENNEDYYYYYYY" to get the "KENNEDY!" response.

[Dark One]

Poppy wearing something from the Nia Jax collection.

[Emperor Smeat]

That might be the most random opening video to a NXT TakeOver ever. Had nothing to do with tonight's show at all.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Poppy wearing something from the Nia Jax collection.

Paige size though.

Did anybody catch a Mamma Mia chant when Mauro was announced?

[DaveWadding]

What the hell is this

[DaveWadding]

HERE WE FUCKIN GO

[DaveWadding]

BIG MEATY MEN SLAPPING MEAT

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

I figured this was going to be on yesterday and I would miss watching it live. Woooo!

[slik]

Lets go Keith Lee

[slik]

I’m outside in line in a wide open space and I can already smell some people. Send help.

Devon Sawa is there somewhere, go ask him about Idle Hands or Final Destination

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Some in the crowd knew to say Feast Your Eyes.

[Triple A]

Sweet seats Dark One.........

[Emperor Smeat]

Lee vs. Dijakovic starting things off is a great choice.

Ring's lighting seems brighter than usual.

[xrodmuc316]

How the hell did Lee catch him on that move?? That was nuts.

[Emperor Smeat]

Either Dijakovic botched his flip to the outside and suplex afterwards or he meant it to look awkward which seems weird.

[Triple A]

Wish they would let Lee do more cool shit.......... Hasn't really done anything in this match

[Emperor Smeat]

Wish they would let Lee do more cool shit.......... Hasn't really done anything in this match

Yeah, the match feels a bit too slow paced and Dijakovic dominating the big spots at the moment.

Their previous encounters were a lot more balanced although plenty of time left for this match to really kick things up.

[Dark One]

What the actual fuck

[Triple A]

Wow

[Emperor Smeat]

Dijakovic must have a death wish tonight since that's like thrice he came close to smashing his head onto something.

[DaveWadding]

Jesus Christ.

[DaveWadding]

7 stars

[Emperor Smeat]

Ending felt a bit abrupt but Lee vs. Dijakovic was very good overall.

Also was better than most of the opening matches at TakeOver in recent times.

[Triple A]

That was cool but Lee barely did anything... felt like 90% Dijakovic. Have seen way better Keith Lee matches! Good job from Dijakovic though

[Dark One]

The way Lee won seemed a little weird in the arena too. Didn’t get the impression of a lot of back work beyond the apron spot.

[DAMN iNATOR]

That was cool but Lee barely did anything... felt like 90% Dijakovic. Have seen way better Keith Lee matches! Good job from Dijakovic though

dZqo4OZ0Pqs

[slik]

Good opener, a little overbooked per usual, but good!

[Dark One]

I could have died from that breaking.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Really been enjoying heel Dakota Kai.

[Triple A]

Getting flashbacks to Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin with the words "street fight"........

[slik]

If AEW did this spot they'd get criticized for no-selling


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">this moment made me start clapping and screaming in my living room <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://t.co/fYi2hVOWts">pic.twitter.com/fYi2hVOWts</a></p>&mdash; Brandon Stroud (@MrBrandonStroud) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBrandonStroud/status/1229201912920231936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Emperor Smeat]

When was the last time a Street Fight in WWE actually involved fighting outside the venue and/or in the streets?

Want to say the time Cena and Eddie Guerrero fought outside on some episode of Smackdown but that might have been just a Parking Lot Brawl and not a Street Fight.

[Triple A]

Worried about both of them injuring their knees,,,

[Dark One]

CONCUSSIONS EVERYWHERE.

[xrodmuc316]

Christ that German suplex on the trashcan

[Triple A]

Is the action being shown on a screen anywhere in the arena? @Dark One

[Emperor Smeat]

Either Tegan is wearing ill-fit pants for wrestling or somehow put them on backwards.

[Dark One]

Who is she? Toru Yano?

[Dark One]

Is the action being shown on a screen anywhere in the arena? @Dark One

On the score box overhead which I can’t see from my spot very well, so we didn’t have any idea what was going on at the start.

[Dark One]

Either Tegan is wearing ill-fit pants for wrestling or somehow put them on backwards.

They look good in perso.

[Emperor Smeat]

Poor Anonymous Raw GM, got abused and tossed around like a toy in this match

[DaveWadding]

Ouch Tegan

[xrodmuc316]

Well, Tegan is dead!

[DAMN iNATOR]

OOF Nasty looking botch.

[Emperor Smeat]

Were they chanting "Who Are You?" to Raquel Gonzalez?

Also another match with an abrupt-style ending.

Street Fight was pretty good though.

[Dark One]

Were they chanting "Who Are You?" to Raquel Gonzalez?

Also another match with an abrupt-style ending.

Street Fight was pretty good though.

Yeah. No one knew who she was here. Thought it might be her but hard to know.

[Dark One]

Ouch Tegan

She walked out on her own so she’s “okay”

[DAMN iNATOR]

Poor Anonymous Raw GM, got abused and tossed around like a toy in this match

I didn't see Hornswoggle anywhere. :shifty:

[xrodmuc316]

That was nothing like I was expecting the Street Fight to be. Was a pretty enjoyable match.

[Dark One]

She walked out on her own so she’s “okay”

Well. Other than the concussions probably. She took a lot of weapon shots to the head.

[DaveWadding]

Balor Gargano next. My wife is interested all of a sudden :lol:

[slik]

Let's go Finn!

[Emperor Smeat]

Yeah. No one knew who she was here. Thought it might be her but hard to know.

Had no clue who it was at first till Mauro mentioned her name and then suddenly remembered who she was.

Outside of a handful of matches on NXT, she pretty much did nothing besides be Rhea Ripley's tag partner for some NXT house shows.

[Evil Vito]

Not so bold prediction: Balor/Gargano will be a very good wrestle

[Dark One]

I have now been closer to Finn’s dong than Slik ever will.

[slik]

A+ entrance for Finn

[slik]

I have now been closer to Finn’s dong than Slik ever will.

I am actually jealous tbh

[Triple A]

Do they wear cups in WWE... feel like I can see a clear outline of Balor's shaft

[Emperor Smeat]

Do they wear cups in WWE... feel like I can see a clear outline of Balor's shaft

I'd assume not. They likely wear a thong or briefs to deal with bulge issues unless your name is Cena and randomly get a boner during a match.

Lesnar would look like a bigger doofus if everyone wore one except him considering the amount of nut shots he's taken over the years.

[slik]

No, they all wear these black briefs underneath if they wear trunks

Seth wears like underarmour or something tho for his long tights

[slik]

Finn giving lots of material for https://www.reddit.com/r/WrestleWithThePackage/new/

as always

[Triple A]

Kinda bored with this match so far... but assuming it will get good

[Emperor Smeat]

This already feels like its going to be 30-40+ minutes long based on the pacing soo far.

[slik]

I like this new figure four variation

[Triple A]

Which 1 of those guys do U think is Dark One

[Triple A]

Maybe the guy with the long hair and mustache... looking cool if so...

[Emperor Smeat]

Apparently it wasn't Triple H's idea for NXT and NXT UK Takeovers to be on Sundays during non-WWE PPV weeks nor was he fond of the idea but couldn't do anything about it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very interesting that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NXTTakeOver</a> has seemingly moved to Sunday's permanently now, with the assumed exceptions of big PPV weekends where they slot in on Saturdays.<br><br>Triple H told me in January it wasn't his choice and he wasn't exactly happy about it either. But, here we are.</p>&mdash; Alex McCarthy (@AlexM_talkSPORT) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexM_talkSPORT/status/1229210246800986112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

Which 1 of those guys do U think is Dark One

I have been trying to figure this out too

[slik]

Sat so much better for Takeover

[Emperor Smeat]

Ouch at Gragano's ribs/chest. Went right into the little monitor on the table.

Last few minutes of that match was great although I'd put it more towards the middle half of all-time Gargano TakeOver matches.

[Dark One]

WHO AM I?!

[Dark One]

Frank Drebin in shambles not knowing who I am.

[Triple A]

Wasn't really "feeling" that match tbh... Feeling kinda tired now!!!

[Dark One]

Maybe the guy with the long hair and mustache... looking cool if so...

Nope

[Dark One]

Wasn't really "feeling" that match tbh... Feeling kinda tired now!!!

It was slow until the last 5-10, which doesn’t come across great in person without the commentary storytelling, if they’re doing that.

[slik]

I like this spot


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The prince is in effect. ������������������������������ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/balorclub?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#balorclub</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FinnBalor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FinnBalor</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vuox7UYodm">pic.twitter.com/Vuox7UYodm</a></p>&mdash; Justin Speece (@justinmspeece) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinmspeece/status/1229216855551856645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Dark One]

I would just like to state for the record that Kai and Nox were FINE AS HELL

[slik]

This should be good

[slik]

I would just like to state for the record that Kai and Nox were FINE AS HELL

are there any 'smelly' fans around you or did u luck out

[Triple A]

Is this the usual NXT ring announcer... never noticed her before

[slik]

jesus


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Note: This was <a href="https://twitter.com/FinnBalor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FinnBalor</a> AFTER he won the match. �� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://t.co/zG9aXbWbhI">pic.twitter.com/zG9aXbWbhI</a></p>&mdash; WWE Network (@WWENetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWENetwork/status/1229216539104219136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Dark One]

are there any 'smelly' fans around you or did u luck out

No smelly dudes, but a few rows back are dudes shouting random and stupid shit every fifteen seconds to try and get themselves over. So that’s real great.

[Emperor Smeat]

Is this the usual NXT ring announcer... never noticed her before

Yeah. She's been there for a while now.

Wikipedia says she's been there since April 2019 which feels about right since that's around the time WWE did their last Superstar Shakeup.

[Triple A]

Mauro keeps saying "Bolair"... annoying me

[Emperor Smeat]

Rhea's lucky she didn't blow out her knee after that landing to the outside.

Wonder what WWE's backup plan for Charlotte and NXT at Mania would have been had she actually been seriously hurt. Doubt it would be Belair vs. Charlotte

[Dark One]

Sudden finish.

[Dark One]

CHARLOTTE

[Emperor Smeat]

Women's title match was decent although that's like 3 out of 4 matches where the ending felt rushed and/or abrupt.

:lol: at Charlotte completely overshadowing that match.

[Triple A]

Yeah not sure if "my standards" are too high or something suddenly but these matches haven't seemed that great compared to past TakeOvers...

This tag match should be sweet though... Was looking forward to this one and the Keith Lee match the most

[Dark One]

Got to see KOR play air guitar. Life is complete.

[slik]

I wonder if Charlotte wins and goes to NXT if she would be good at the multiple kickouts type of matches in NXT vs when she was there

[slik]

Riddle not wearing shoes 'bothers me'

[Emperor Smeat]

:y: Riddle and Dunne coming out in the Broser mobile.

For a team made up of two guys randomly put together, they've been amazing and feel natural as a pairing.

[Emperor Smeat]

Yeah not sure if "my standards" are too high or something suddenly but these matches haven't seemed that great compared to past TakeOvers...

This tag match should be sweet though... Was looking forward to this one and the Keith Lee match the most

Yeah. The past few TakeOvers have been pretty good but not really matching or surpassing the bar like TakeOvers used to almost always do on a constant basis.

This one has been pretty solid but I'd put it near the middle of the pack or upper-middle at the moment.

[Triple A]

Riddle not wearing shoes 'bothers me'

Seems good 4 "foot fetish guys" on that subreddit you linked though maybe...

[Triple A]

Crowd seems like it is losing steam

[slik]

Bianca didn't get all that Rumble spotlight for nothing. If she's not added I bet she shows up on SD in Bayley's orbit.

[slik]

nxt tag team division is boring IMO

[slik]

Feel like Adam Cole is 'significantly better' than the rest of UE

[DaveWadding]

Nice sequence with Riddle and KOR

[slik]

NXT is good but overbooked...every match has too many kickouts of finishers and submissions

[Emperor Smeat]

Bianca didn't get all that Rumble spotlight for nothing. If she's not added I bet she shows up on SD in Bayley's orbit.

Unless she requests it, she'd have to be on RAW due to WWE's couples rule.

Also wouldn't be surprised if they gave her that big Rumble spotlight solely to beef up her star appeal for her match tonight and not because they had any real big plans for her.

[Emperor Smeat]

The amount of WWE style booking on tonight's show is a bit much now.

[DaveWadding]

BROOOOOOOOO

[Dark One]

The amount of WWE style booking on tonight's show is a bit much now.

I’m not sure what else you do here. UE has beaten everybody.

[Emperor Smeat]

Tag match was very good although don't know why they did the classic planting seeds of a team disbanding if it meant nothing in the end.

Like its too early for Dunne and Riddle to be doing any team chemistry issues between the two.

[Dark One]

I didn’t read it like that. I just read that as underscoring that they’re a “newer” team and can’t read each other’s minds.

[Triple A]

That was easily the best match of the night so far imo

[Dark One]

Spent half of that match DMing the arena to get them to deal with the drunk assholes who have now devolved to telling shit like “Kyle is a pedophile” and “let’s go round eye samurai.”

[Emperor Smeat]

Mauro - "Arguably the greatest champ in NXT history ... Adam Cole"

Yeah going to call BS on that one.

[Emperor Smeat]

I didn’t read it like that. I just read that as underscoring that they’re a “newer” team and can’t read each other’s minds.

That's fair.

Felt they could have done just one of those "accident" spots and not two or maybe let the match play out a bit longer if it wasn't going to really mean anything in the end.

[Dark One]

Ciampa looks huge and Cole looks tiny despite them being the same height.

[slik]

Looks that way on tv too @ Dark One

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Plus everyone has phones. Just bring it with you when you take a big fat shit <a href="https://t.co/nqrDOXTRxQ">https://t.co/nqrDOXTRxQ</a></p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1229231542242828288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This was a Cesaro-level string of offense from Matt Riddle. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NXTTakeOver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NXTTakeOver</a> <a href="https://t.co/pDG2t5tn8v">pic.twitter.com/pDG2t5tn8v</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryansatin/status/1229232070318100482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guys IM CRYING. Guy behind me “This is Adam Cole, his dad is Michael Cole one of the announcers.”</p>&mdash; Hannah (@allhailhann) <a href="https://twitter.com/allhailhann/status/1229230477971640320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guys IM CRYING. Guy behind me “This is Adam Cole, his dad is Michael Cole one of the announcers.”</p>&mdash; Hannah (@allhailhann) <a href="https://twitter.com/allhailhann/status/1229230477971640320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:lol:

[Dark One]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Plus everyone has phones. Just bring it with you when you take a big fat shit <a href="https://t.co/nqrDOXTRxQ">https://t.co/nqrDOXTRxQ</a></p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1229231542242828288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Moda Center has like four bathrooms. It would have to be an hour long match.

[DaveWadding]

Michael Cole's BAY BAY

[Emperor Smeat]

Mauro suddenly sounds quieter now.

Either NXT suddenly had an audio issue happen or someone in the back purposely lowered Mauro's mic volume.

[xrodmuc316]

Mauro - "Arguably the greatest champ in NXT history ... Adam Cole"

Yeah going to call BS on that one.

It's hard to say with how far the brand has come in the last 6 years, it feels like they have a few different time periods where they have reset and reached higher levels.

Shinsuke was champion just 3 years ago, and that feels like a lifetime ago.

That said, I'd easily say Finn, Joe, Shinsuke, and Bobby Roode all had better runs. K.O. also had a great run in that he really gave the title and brand credibility by feuding with and beating Cena while champ.

I'd even put Ciampa's reign above Cole just based on the absolute nuclear heat he had as champion.

[Dark One]

I can hear Mauro all the way over here.

[Emperor Smeat]

Spanish table refusing to be broken tonight.

Nevermind, it broke after another dastardly attack to it tonight.

[xrodmuc316]

Spanish table refusing to be broken tonight.

That Spanish table is no selling like 1997 Kane!

[Dark One]

Cole’s head hit the rope. Yikes.

[slik]

My network keeps crashing...pissing me off...

[Triple A]

damn, was worried about the panama sunrise onto the apron...

[Triple A]

This match is great...

[Emperor Smeat]

Ciampa with a better STF than Cena ... well until Cole managed to start moving to break it.

[DaveWadding]

The corkscrew!

[Dark One]

MOTHERFUCKER

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at the amount of shenanigans these past couple minutes.

All that's missing is a sudden brawl to break out.

[DaveWadding]

JOHNNY NO

[DaveWadding]

WHY JOHNNY WHY

[slik]

Johnny Heel Turn

[Emperor Smeat]

NXT title match was great.

Guess Ciampa and Gargano are back to blood feud status. Also guess Gargano channeled his inner Buddy Murphy with the abrupt heel turn.

[Evil Vito]

WHY JOHNNY WHY?

[DaveWadding]

:'( RIP DIY

[slik]

Watching Ruthless Aggression doc now

[Emperor Smeat]

Last two matches plus the crowd being hot almost from start to finish tonight elevated this Takeover from middle of the pack tier status to great tier status for TakeOvers.

[Dark One]

Last two matches plus the crowd being hot almost from start to finish tonight elevated this Takeover from middle of the pack to great tier status for TakeOvers.

You’re welcome.

Rep to whomever can find me.

[Triple A]

Do you have facial hair...

[DaveWadding]

Really great show overall. Every match delivered the way I expected it to.

[Dark One]

Do you have facial hair...

Yes

[xrodmuc316]

That was a great Takeover.

[Dark One]

JOHNNY GARGANO IS DEAD TO ME

[slik]

Chris Jericho makes an appearance in the Ruthless Aggression doc getting pinned by HHH

[Emperor Smeat]

Does WWE take another cheap shot at WCW and their legacy in the doc?

[Triple A]

This doc is pretty interesting

[slik]

Does WWE take another cheap shot at WCW and their legacy in the doc?

They say the WCW invasion bombed bc they didn't buy the big contracts because Vince thought they were 'bad investments'

[slik]

WWE lies about name change from WWF

"Vince came up with it because he thought it would boost ratings" - Bruce Pritchard

[Emperor Smeat]

Apparently Vince was the one who came up with the idea for Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley at Mania.

Triple H revealed it during Takeover's post-show media call.

I asked HHH about the potential of the Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley storyline going back and forth from Raw and NXT on USA and whether USA had any involvement in that story coming to pass. Triple H said that USA wasn't involved and he was as surprised as anyone when the Charlotte vs. Rhea was pitched to him and pretty much gave Vince McMahon credit for the match and the story.

Would give more explanation for Charlotte's Rumble win since that was also Vince giving her an "I owe you" after Becky derailed their mega push and Mania plans for Charlotte last year.

[xrodmuc316]

Apparently Vince was the one who came up with the idea for Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley at Mania.

Triple H revealed it during Takeover's post-show media call.



Would give more explanation for Charlotte's Rumble win since that was also Vince giving her an "I owe you" after Becky derailed their mega push and Mania plans for Charlotte last year.

Vince is nothing if not stubborn, you have to give him that lol

[Droford]

One of the best Takeovers I can remember, oddly though I forgot it was last night since Takeovers are usually Saturday. Crowd being really into it was also a plus.

[Dark One]

Mostly recovered from the show this morning.

Re: the crowd: Portland hasn't had a "PPV" in like 15 years or something, so that probably contributed to the energy.

The most surprising thing for me is how much NXT's production actually adds to the product. Like, Mauro & co. actively contribute positively to NXT events. I found myself missing the color from them during a lot of the matches. I definitely haven't felt that way with Raw/SD/WWE PPVs I've been to in the past.

Matches themselves were good to great. I know a lot of people feel like the Ciampa/Cole match was kind of middling--too long, too spotty, et cetera--but I've never been into a match live like I was that one. The Panama Sunrise on the outside basically being no sold was the one major negative, but even with that I was still super into it.

I think the growing sentiment that the matches on Takeovers are "too much" sometimes is valid. By the midway point--like Gargano/Balor--it was kind of exhausting and starting to blur together. I haven't really felt that way watching these events at home, but by the latter half of the show, I was getting a bit numb to some of the stuff. I'm not sure what the answer is here, since that's kind of NXT's identity at this point and Balor/Gargano starting out so slow didn't help. It's also possible that the drunken assholes shouting dumb shit a few rows behind me for three straight hours was a big reason for feeling so exhausted.

All in all, it was worth the money. I'm on camera an uncomfortable amount of time. The matches were mostly great. It was fun being part of a majorly engaged crowd. I'm a bit gutted I didn't get to see Ciampa win the title--and in the grand scheme of things I'm not sure there's going to be anything super memorable about this event (including Gargano's heel turn)--but it was a good time.

[Fignuts]

https://i.imgur.com/AiPFyjE.png

[xrodmuc316]

Takeover Tampa is gonna be an interesting card.
Feel like that will be the end of UE in NXT, likely headed to the main roster.

Ciampa vs Gargano is surely happening.
Cole will be losing the NXT title, I'd assume to Demon Balor.
I'm guessing Rhea won't have a title match since she is defending the next day. Maybe a tag with Nox against Kai and Raquel. Could see Bianca attacking Rhea here.
Thinking Dream vs Strong, giving Dream the rub with Roddy on his way out.
Keith Lee's opponent likely depends on if there are plans to call him up and dropping the title.

Being Mania weekend probably some kind of multi team tag match and a woman's scramble type match.

[Dark One]

https://i.imgur.com/AiPFyjE.png

Strong guess