Date: July 22, 2015
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton
We’re officially on the way to the next Takeover in Brooklyn with an announced main event of new NXT Champion Finn Balor defending against former champion Kevin Owens. This makes for an interesting match as Owens has kind of outgrown NXT despite only being there about seven months so far. It should be interesting how they get to the show so let’s get to it.
A quick opening video shows us Balor returning to Japan to win the title.
We open with the champ, holding the title in his hand instead of around his waist. After a quick YOU DESERVE IT chant, Balor talks about all the places he’s wrestled and how hard of a decision it really was to come to NXT. However, the moment he was handed the NXT Title, he knew it was all worth it so he could hold this title up. As for Owens, yeah he’s done a lot, but there’s one thing he couldn’t do: pin Finn Balor. He couldn’t do it in Tokyo and he won’t do it again in Brooklyn.
Eva Marie is very thankful for an opportunity tonight and is taking it so seriously. There’s a misconception about her but she’s ready to show what she has so open your eyes.
Eva Marie is very thankful for an opportunity tonight and is taking it so seriously. There’s a misconception about her but she’s ready to show what she has so open your eyes.
Eva Marie vs. Cassie
The LET’S GO EVA/EVA SUCKS chants start up almost immediately as Eva cranks on a wristlock followed by a decent suplex for two. We hit the armbar on the mat for a good while before Cassie kicks her in the face for two of her own. Eva grabs a quick Sliced Bread #2 for the pin at 3:52.
Result: Eva Marie b. Cassie – Sliced Bread #2 (3:52)
Tyler Breeze is in Regal’s office and wants something good for Takeover.
Baron Corbin vs. ???
End of Days wraps this up in 12 seconds. The jobber’s name was Jesus de Leon, which I didn’t have time to look up before the match ended.
Result: Baron Corbin b. Jesus de Leon – End of Days (0:12)
Samoa Joe vs. Mike Rallis
Joe has new, far more sinister music which takes out the upbeat sound of his original. Mike goes right at Joe to start and pounds away with some forearms, only to have Joe stomp him into the corner. The Rock Bottom out of the corner sets up the Muscle Buster to end Rallis at 2:05.
Result: Samoa Joe b. Mike Rallis – Muscle Buster (2:05)
Emma and Dana Brooke aren’t worried about Bayley.
Bayley vs. Emma
This is about revenge after Emma broke Bayley’s hand about two months ago. Emma slaps her in the bad hand (still in a brace) to start and takes over for a few moments, only to have Bayley send Emma face first into the buckle a few times.
A bulldog gets two but Dana offers a distraction so Emma can post the bad hand. Emma pulls on the fingers and cranks on both arms for a choke but Bayley comes back with ax handles to the chest. A pull of the hair tie sets up a middle rope elbow to the jaw for two and the fans are right back with the BAYLEY chants. Dana tries to interfere again but gets ejected, setting up the Bayley to Belly for the pin at 5:37.
Result: Bayley b. Emma – Bayley to Belly (5:37)
Post match Bayley says she wants the title and wants to beat the best to get there. Therefore, she wants a match with Charlotte.
We get a clip of the NXT girls making their in ring debut at Battleground.
Charlotte is thankful for the opportunity when Dana Brooke comes in. Dana is tired of everyone getting a chance because of their last name when she has never gotten a single shot. Charlotte likes the sound of that and says Bayley can wait a week.
Vaudevillains vs. Angelo Dawkins/Sawyer Fulton
Gotch and Dawkins get things going but it’s quickly off to Fulton to lay a beating down on Simon. Something like a Hart Attack with a dropkick instead of a running clothesline gets two on Gotch and it’s off to an abdominal stretch. Gotch picks up his own boot and kicks Angelo in the face to escape and makes the tag off to English. The Whirling Dervish puts Dawkins away at 2:47.
Result: Vaudevillains b. Angelo Dawkins/Sawyer Fulton – Whirling Dervish to Dawkins (2:47)
Blake/Murphy/Alexa aren’t impressed by the Vaudevillains and think Gotch and English are from the old days of 1999. The title match is next week and Bliss guarantees they retain the belts.
It’s time for Balor and Owens to sign the contract for Takeover with Regal moderating. He talks about the largest audience in NXT history but Owens comes out to cut him off. Before he can say or do anything though, here’s Finn Balor to even things up. Balor goes to sign but Owens asks him how it feels to be champion. How does it feel to defend the title in the biggest main event in NXT history (“which takes place in BROOKLYN!”)? And how does it feel to go in as the underdog.
Balor was exactly right earlier in the night when he talked about all the things Owens did, such as beating up Rusev, sending Neville out of NXT, crippling Sami Zayn twice and beating John Cena. All that was in his first six months, so now he gets to show the fans that Japan was just a fluke. Balor can’t wait to make Owens eat those words and both guys sign. There goes the table and Regal gets punched in the face. Balor forearms Owens to the floor and dropkicks him for good measure to end the show.
Results
Eva Marie b. Cassie – Sliced Bread #2
Baron Corbin b. Jesus de Leon – End of Days
Samoa Joe b. Mike Rallis – Muscle Buster
Bayley b. Emma – Bayley to Belly
Vaudevillains b. Angelo Dawkins/Sawyer Fulton – Whirling Dervish to Dawkins
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