NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Review

By Nathan Neumann (@Headliner5)

Hello once again Eyes On The Ring readers, Nathan here once again to bring you a review of last night’s NXT Takeover Brooklyn as it aired last night on the WWE Network.  As you may remember I did a review like this for NXT Takeover Rival, which aired back in February on the network.  That review ended up being ten pages and probably a bit to long on my part so this time around I figured I would just do my best to provide the best thoughts and recap of the matches as they happened so it wont be too much of a chore to read through.

I won’t talk too much about the kick off show but I will say that Renee Young, Lita and Corey Graves as well as Byron Saxton were live from Barclays Center to kick off the show.  They hype the matches and than Byron Saxton for some reason points out that Beyonce has nothing to do with the Barclays Center and he immediately gets made fun of for his comments.

Kevin Owens is shown making his way through the backstage area.  From there we go to a hype video for the match between Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin that is taking place tonight.  We catch up with Samoa Joe who is backstage who says that the only thing he cares about is Baron Corbin and his well being because Joe is going to put him to sleep tonight.  We then flash to hype of more of tonight’s including but not limited to the long awaited debut of Apollo Crews.  We then see Bayley and the NXT Women’s’ champion Sasha Banks arriving to the arena in a split screen presumably at the same time before heading to a video package that hypes their match.

Greg Hamilton and Dasha Fuentes (Is she related to Daisy?) are shown outside of the arena with a bunch of fans who are somehow still outside.  We then go back inside of the arena where the panel discusses the NXT Tag Team Championship Match between The Dub Step Cowboys (Blake and Murphy) and The Vaudevillians.  

A car pulls up to the arena and out steps Neville along with NXT Champion Finn Balor.  Cesaro walks over and greets them before heading on into the arena.  We then flash to more hype for the matches taking place tonight and finally the main event.  Saxton picks Balor for the win while both Lita and Graves picks Owens to win the match.  I think this whole pre show was a ruse against Byron Saxton but that’s it for the pre show.

Triple H kicks off the show with a live in ring promo about how NXT is the future which gets a huge pop from the Brooklyn Crowd who chant “WE ARE NXT” in unison so nothing that we haven’t seen before out of Triple H on the start of one of these.

Match 1
Tyler Breeze vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

We come straight into the arena and some random women make their entrance onto the ramp as Tyler Breeze’s music begins playing. Out walks Tyler onto the ramp and joins the women before walking to the ring on his own.  We then go to the commentary table as Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, and Rich Brennan will bring us all the action from ringside.

The Legendary Jushin Thunder Liger is out next to a massive pop in a historic moment that sees him not only step foot inside of a WWE Arena for the first time but also a WWE ring for the first time in his 30 year historic career.  Sadly wasn’t able to come out to Ikari No Jyushin but it was a cheap knock off instead still a cool moment none the less and I guess I shouldn’t have expected his actual theme song because after all this is WWE and they didn’t want to foot the bill for Metallica at Wrestlemania 27 so there’s that whole thing.

The match starts and the two lock up, Breeze hits Liger with a shoulder block and poses on top of the turnbuckle ala Shawn Michaels for a pop.  Breeze hits a headlock while Liger sweeps his leg and hits an elbow drop.   Liger mocks Breeze with his pose on the turnbuckle to an even bigger pop from the crowd.  The two end up on the mat and Liger applies a surfboard stretch.  Breeze escapes but misses an attack in the corner and gets caught with a kick to the gut.  Liger applies a surfboard and launches Breeze onto his face before picking up the selfie stick.  Liger takes some Selfies to a big pop from the crowd.

Liger hits some chops and tries to hit a Liger Bomb but it’s blocked by Breeze who drops him with a Supermodel kick for a near fall.  Breeze capitalizes with kicks in the corner; Breeze hits a leg drop and gets a near fall out of it.  Breeze controls Liger on the ground but Liger fights up before Breeze drops him with knees for another near fall.  Breeze taunts Liger before dropping a knee for a near fall. Breeze forces Liger back down to the mat but Liger fights up, he tosses Breeze to the mat before catching his breath in the corner.  Breeze runs at him and Liger backdrops Breeze onto the apron. Breeze comes back but Liger hits a rolling Koppo kick in the corner.  Liger hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker.  Liger goes for a move off of the top rope but lands on his knees before Breeze takes him down for a near fall.

Breeze hits a few more strikes in the corner before getting warned by the official.  Breeze complains to the referee, which gives Liger some time to recover before dropping Breeze with a palm strike. Breeze rolls to the floor and Liger nails a somersault plancha from the apron.  Liger takes the match back into the ring and hits another strike before nailing Breeze with the Liger Bomb to pick up the pinfall victory.

Match Result: Jushin Thunder Liger defeats Tyler Breeze via Pinfall after the Liger Bomb.

Match Rating: ***

I honestly wasn’t expecting Liger to win the match here but I’m okay with it as he deserved the moment but I’m just wondering where Breeze goes from here and what’s next.

After the match Liger bows to the crowd as we go to the replays of the action that took place in the match.

From there we flash to Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Sean Waltman who too sweet the camera because they are the originators of that whole thing and not a bunch of posers (a la the Bullet Club).

We catch up with Bayley backstage as she gets a big pop, Charlotte is shown hugging her while Becky Lynch shakes her hand.  We then go to a vignette of Nia Jax, who is apparently a new, upcoming Diva.

From there, we go to the next match of the night.

Match 2
The Vaudevillians vs. Blake and Murphy {C}

NXT Tag Team Championship Match

We head back to the ring and Aiden English and Simon Gotch make their way down the entrance ramp to a big pop.  They are wearing blue, out next is the NXT Tag Team Champions Blake and Murphy with Alexa Bliss.  Bliss grabs a microphone and taunts them for not being able to find someone to combat her.  This brings on a blue pants chant from the crowd and she makes her way to the ring to a big pop.  The fans chant “This is awesome” and “Blue Pants City” prior to the start of the match.

The match starts with Blake and Gotch as they begin trading holds.  Gotch gets an early near fall, Gotch counters a move in the corner and an armbar.  There’s more back and forth action until Gotch focuses on the arm once again.  English gets the tag into the match and hits a running kick to the face for a near fall.  English takes Blake to the mat while Murphy comes into the ring for some double team action.  However it doesn’t work for long as English is able to turn it around.

English flexes for a brief minute before going back to the arm, English gets knocked down off of the apron and hits the floor as Blake comes back in and brings English in to pick up a near fall.  More quick tags by the champions as they keep English isolated in their part of the ring.

Blake and Murphy end up colliding with each other while Gotch gets the hot tag.  He unloads some punches on both guys but Murphy is the legal man.  English makes his way back in and they double-team him up top.  They go for a double superplex but Gotch feels left out so he comes in to powerbomb them both to the mat.  English nails a senton for a near fall.  This brings Alexa Bliss up onto the apron but Blue Pants yanks her off of it before chasing her around the ring.  Bliss kicks her away and makes her way into the ring, she goes to hit Gotch and English but Blue Pants makes her way into the ring with a tackle.  They brawl to the floor as Gotch gets rolled up from behind for a quick 2 count.  The Vaudevillians get the last laugh as they hit the Whirling Durvish to pick up the win and the tag team championships.

Match Result: The Vaudevillians defeat Blake and Murphy via pinfall after the Whirling Durvish to win the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Match Rating: **1/2

Post match, the Vaudevillians celebrate the win with the titles and Blue Pants as fans cheer them on. From there we go to a Summerslam promo.

We see an earlier shot of Finn Balor arriving to the arena, we then flash to Rick Rubin who is at ringside for the show before going to the next match of the night which is the debut of Apollo Crews.

Match 3

Tye Dillinger vs. Apollo Crews

We head to the ring and Tye Dillinger makes his way to the ring.  Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring as the former Uhaa Nation receives a huge pop.

The match starts and the two start by tying up and trading holds, Crews goes for a splash in the corner as Dillinger gets a “10” chant going.  Crews counters a headlock and mocks Dillinger by getting his own “10” chant going.  Crews hits a dropkick, Dillinger hits Crews with a kick before throwing him to the apron.  Crews goes to springboard back into the ring but Dillinger counters with a dropkick out of mid air.  Dillinger begins stomping away in the corner and gets a near fall after a stomp.  Dillinger stalks Crews before trying to lock in a sleeper. Crews falls to one knee but fights back up and out of it Crews puts Dillinger on his shoulders but Dillinger escapes. Crews gets a near fall Dillinger drops him with a big kick for a near fall.  Dillinger goes right back for another pin to create another near fall situation.  

Dillinger maintains control before getting hit with a standing enziguiri, Crews fights back hitting a clothesline.  Crews hits a splash in the corner and keeps control before getting hyped up a bit.  Crews picks up Dillinger in a press slam position and drops him to the mat, he follows it up with a standing moonsault to pick up the win.

Match Result: Apollo Crews defeats Tye Dillinger via pinfall after a standing moonsault.

Match Rating: **

Not quite the debut I was expecting from Crews, I’m not saying it was bad because that’s far from the truth. But I normally expect debuts to be offensive exhibitions and Tye Dillinger get a bit more offense in than I am used to seeing in a debut from another guy. Still Crews looked good and I can’t wait to see what he can do in the WWE.

After the match Crews hits the ropes to celebrate his win before yelling that NXT is his house.  We go to highlights of the match.

From there we go to William Regal as he announces the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic that will begin on the September 2nd NXT episode.  The Finals of the tournament will be at the next Takeover event on October 7th.  Regal hopes that all the action of this tournament will make Dusty Rhodes proud of his kids.

From there we go to a vignette that hypes up the next match.

Match 4
Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin

We head back to the ring and out comes Baron Corbin to a mixed reaction.

Samoa makes his way out to the ring as the crowd goes wild, the two men lock up and break almost immediately.  Baron Corbin misses an offensive strike and Joe grabs Baron’s arm and tries to take him down.  Corbin rams Joe into the corner, Joe goes for the Coquina Clutch but Corbin quickly escapes as he frantically scrambles to the floor in order to regroup.  They argue on the Floor while the referee is between them, they come back in and Corbin hits Joe with a kick before following it up with a forearm.

Joe takes the advantage and dropkicks Corbin over the top rope, fans begin chanting for Joe as he goes for a dive but Corbin intercepts it with a forearm.  Corbin punches Joe before taunting the crowd, Corbin comes in and hits a few quick splashes in the corner, which causes Joe to fall to the mat, which allows Corbin to get a near fall.  Joe fights back after more offense from Corbin, Joe rolls Corbin up for a near fall and out of the fall turns it into a half Boston crab.  Joe locks in a cross face, Corbin tries to make it to the bottom rope but Joe pulls his arm back.  Corbin gets his foot on the bottom rope to force a break.

Corbin Dumps Joe to the floor before running off of the apron and getting caught as Joe chops Corbin’s leg out from under him before grabbing him and throwing him into the ringside guardrail.

Joe brings the match back into the ring but Corbin locks in a heel hook submission. Joe reaches for the bottom rope and this time he makes it.  Corbin uses the referees full five count before breaking the hold as Joe sells the knee.  Joe recovers and hits a big chop and before getting caught with a sideslam for a Corbin near fall.  More back and forth action before Joe drops Corbin with an Enziguri as Corbin kicks him at the same time.  Joe gets up to his feet before Corbin and begins rocking him with right-handed punches.  Corbin fights back and the two begin trading blows.  Joe starts with the open hand slaps before hitting more strikes.  Joe attempts a muscle buster in the corner.  Corbin hits a kick and a suplex for a near fall.  Corbin begins stomping away on Joe in the corner.  Corbin hits a few rights in the corner before posing and getting booed by the fans.

Joe blocks an End Of Days attempt and applies the Coquina Clutch.  Corbin ends up slamming him by his neck for a near fall.  Joe rolls into the Coquina Clutch once again as Corbin tries to fight out of it but in the end he passes out and the referee stops the match before calling for the bell.

Match Result: Samoa Joe defeats Baron Corbin via Submission with the Coquina Clutch.

Match Rating: **1/2

Joe did what he could here but Corbin was really exposed in this match and it will be interesting to see what happens to him going forward as a result.

After the bell, Corbin is visibly upset with the referee as he recovers, we go to replays of the match before they show Joe getting his hand raised.  Back inside of the arena Joe is shown up on the apron by the exit as Corbin looks on.  Something tells me that this isn’t over.

From there we flash to Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter and Japanese Joshi Wrestler Kana who are seated at ringside.  We also see Tamina Snuka and Naomi who are also in the crowd.

We head back to the ring and out comes Stephanie McMahon, she says that tonight NXT is making history, she says she called for a Diva’s Revolution on RAW a few weeks ago but that the Revolution really started in NXT.  She basically tried to take credit for something that she had absolutely nothing to do with.  

She says that she agrees with her husband that you don’t put NXT Diva’s (WOMEN GODDAMNIT) into the main event because they are the main event.  She announces the next match as we head to the video package hyping up the match.

Match 5
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks {C}
NXT Women’s Championship Match

We head to the ring and out comes Bayley she is wearing Polka dots in a tribute to Dusty Rhodes. The NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks makes her way out next. She comes out of a Cadillac Escalade that pulls in alongside the stage.  Personal security all surround the Boss as she makes her way to the ring.  Two of the security guards lift her up onto the apron as Bayley looks on. We get formal ring introductions from Greg Hamilton prior to the start of the match.

Bayley and Sasha face off in the middle of the ring and face off, Bayley starts by tackling Sasha as Sasha runs her mouth and they brawl on the mat.   Bayley goes for an early pin attempt, which Sasha kicks out of with ease.  The crowd is super into this one, Sasha slams Bayley’s face into the turnbuckles as she shakes it off and comes back with her own brand of offensive maneuvers. Bayley ties Sasha upside down in the corner and hits a running elbow drop to pick up a near fall.  Sasha kicks out and picks up a quick 2 count of her own, Sasha hits a kick to the gut as the dueling chants for Sasha begin. Bayley counters a move out of the corner as Sasha rolls out to the floor to catch her breath.

Bayley follows Sasha out to the floor and dropkicks Sasha from around the ring post.  Sasha lays out Bayle on the second rope but Bayley escapes to the apron.  Sasha brings her up for a superplex but Bayley fights it off.    Sasha kicks Bayley’s knee out from her as she falls to the floor.  Bayley comes back in and gets beaten down to the mat by Sasha.  Sasha hits an elbow to the back of Bayley and smacks her in the face before picking up a near fall.  Bayley tries to fight back but Sasha maintains control.  Sasha keeps Bayley grounded as Bayley begins fighting back out of the corner.

Sasha attempts the double knees but it’s blocked, Sasha hits the double knees in the corner but does it with Bayley on the top rope instead of the middle rope before picking up another near fall.

Sasha talks trash in the corner before getting knocked down by Bayley.  Bayley begins making a comeback but gets thrown to the apron by Sasha who ends up back on the floor.  Sasha follows it up and takes Bayley’s hand brace off.

Sasha brings it back to the ring and tosses Bayley right back to the floor, Sasha grabs Bayley’s casted hand and slams it into the ring steps.  Sasha stomps on Bayley’s hand before kicking her hand in between the steps as Bayley goes down.  Sasha leaps out of the ring over the referee to a big pop.  Sasha brings it back into the ring and picks up a two count.  Sasha begins looking frustrated as Bayley sends her flying to the floor.  Sasha makes her way back into the ring by 8 as they trade punches from their knees.

They go back and forth for a bit before Sasha blocks Bayley to Belly.  They do a few more counter sequences which leads into Sasha slamming Bayley before applying the Bank Statement.  Bayley nears the bottom rope before Sasha pulls her back out.  Bayley hits a move for a near fall but Sasha gets her foot on the bottom rope.  More offense from Bayley before she takes Sasha up to the top rope, Sasha knocks Bayley to the mat but Bayley runs back up and hits Sasha with a forearm.  Bayley gets dumped on a her neck in a bad fall, Sasha jumps down from the rope with double knees but Bayley manages to kick out at 2.

The two women make it back up to the top rope but Bayley fights back with Elbows.  Sasha gets knocked to the mat but fights back.  We get more fighting up top between both before Bayley nails a hurricanranna before hitting the Bayley to Belly to pick up the win via pinfall and become the new NXT Women’s Champion.

Match Result: Bayley defeats Sasha Banks via pinfall with a top rope Bayley to Belly suplex.

Match Rating: ****

Great match not just for women but also for wrestling in general.

After the match, Bayley celebrates while getting emotional, Becky Lynch comes out to the ring along with Charlotte to celebrate with her.  Sasha gets up and hugs Bayley to another pop.  Becky and Charlotte join in for a group hug as the fans chant.  They raise arms and hold up the four fingers as Bayley’s music begins playing throughout the arena.

From there we get a Summerslam promo before WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is shown sitting at ringside with his girlfriend, NXT Diva Zahra Schreiber who he had that spat with earlier this year that none of us will soon forget.  Her name was not shown on the screen.

The announcers recap Triple H’s announcement from earlier that NXT will debut in the UK this December.  There will be a tour from December 10th through the 16th.

We get a vignette heading into the main event.

Main Event - Match 6
Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor
Ladder Match for the WWE NXT Championship

The ladders are out as Kevin Owens makes his way out to the ring to a mixed reaction Finn Balor is out next with another great Demon entrance as Owens looks on.  We get formal ring introductions as the title is raised high above the ring.

The match starts as Owens begins talking trash before Finn unloads on him, Finn hits a dropkick and follows it up with a big chop before going back and forth in the corners.  The two run the ropes before Owens drops Finn with an elbow.  Owens hits a senton splash before the two go back and forth once again.  Owens hits a cannonball in the corner before trading shots with Finn who has made it to his feet.

The two trade shots as “Ole!” chants start up, Balor hits a slingblade and charges before Owens escapes out to the floor.

Owens goes for a ladder on the ramp and gets nailed by Finn from behind.  Finn brings the ladder back into the ring and Owens follows.  The two play Tug Of War with the ladder before Owens uses it to ram Balor into the apron.  Owens hits another shot to the chest before using the ladder once again. He leans the ladder up against Balor.  He goes to run up the ladder but stops and nails Balor with a right hand to the face to a big pop.

Balor hits Owens with a ladder on the floor.  Balor hits a forearm as the two fight around the ring, Balor tosses Owens over the barricade but Owens manages to pull Balor over as the action spills out to the crowd.  Owens goes for a powerbomb on the floor but Balor drops him back over the barrier. Finn jumps off of the barrier but is caught by Owens who throws him into the barricade.  Owens launches Balor a good distance over the announce table and into the barricade.  He takes the top of the announcers table and chucks it at Finn’s face.  Owens stands a top the announcers table to a big pop.  Owens pulls a ladder from underneath the ring while Balor is still down.  Owens turns around and Balor dropkicks him off of the top of the announcers table.  The ladder hits Owens and also falls on Balor.  

Fans begin chanting for tables in a ladder match, as Balor brings the ladder into the ring and leers up at the title.  Owens pulls the ladder to the floor and Balor leaps onto him.  A huge NXT Chant begins Balor stands a ladder up and ascends towards the title.  Owens grabs his leg and pulls him down.  Owens shoves Balor face first into the ladder, which causes it to fall over.  Owens tosses Balor out to the ring and he hits another ladder.  Owens positions another ladder and climbs up it but Balor slides another ladder into the ring before Owens comes down off of a ladder to stomp on him.  Balor attempts to smash a ladder into Balor in the corner but Balor moves and sends Owens face first into the ladder that’s propped up in the corner.  Balor goes across the ring to charge back but Owens charges out of the corner with a clothesline.  Owens hits another ladder shot as we get dueling chants.  Owens jabs the ladder at Balor again and slams him on it.  Owens delivers a senton off on top of a ladder.  Owens yells before posing and looking up at the title, which allows Balor to fight back.

The two trade shots, Owens goes for a powerbomb to Balor on the ladder but it gets reversed and Owens lands on the ladder badly.  Fans begin a Holy Shit chant, Balor gets up to his feet and positions a ladder, Owens pulls him off and shoves him into another ladder in the corner.  Owens goes to do a cannonball onto Balor and the ladder but Balor manages to avoid disaster by moving out of the way which causes Owens to cannonball the ladder.

Balor hits a dropkick and goes to the top rope, he hits a Coupe de Grace.  Balor grabs another ladder and begins climbing, Owens grabs him off of the ladder and powerbombs him to the mat.  Owens climbs up the ladder but Balor tips the ladder over causing Owens to land in the corner, Owens rolls out to the floor to recover after hitting the turnbuckle hard.  Finn goes for a ladder but Owens pulls him out to the floor, Owens attempts a powerbomb on the floor but Finn springs up to the apron and nails Owens in the face with a kick.

Balor rolls through on a foot stomp from the apron, Owens nails a pop up powerbomb on the apron from the outside of the ring.  Owens makes it back to the ring first, He climbs up for the title but Balor flips it once again.  Owens lands on his feet and hits Finn with a kick to the jaw.  Balor hits the ladder hard on his way down, Owens yells at Balor to stay down and kicks him in the face once again.  Owens talks more trash and bridges a ladder from the bottom rope to the bottom rung of another ladder that’s upright.  Balor gets up and Owens drags him up the ladder, Owens attempts a suplex on Balor from up high on one side of the ladder to the bridge of the ladder underneath.  Finn fights Owens off and Owens falls back onto the ladder bridge.  The back of Owens head hits hard as Finn looks on from the top of the ladder dazed.  Finn reaches but he’s too far from the belt to be able to grab it.  Owens comes up but gets kicked once again and gets sent back down.  Finn still can’t manage to grab the title.  He starts looking around in anticipation before going to the top of the ladder and hits a huge Coup De Grace on Owens.  Finn Balor repositions the ladder and climbs up it to grab the title for the win.

Match Result: Finn Balor defeats Kevin Owens to retain the NXT Championship after retrieving the title from the top of a ladder.

Match Rating: ****

After the match, Finn poses on the top of the ladder with the title while the fallen Owens recovers on the Mat.  We flash to replays and come back to Finn celebrating on the ladder as the show goes off of the air.

That’ll do it for me and this review of NXT Takeover Brooklyn, Hell of a show from top to bottom so if you haven’t watched this show and are on the fence about it do it.  As always after these shows definitely deliver but it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks as the NXT shows themselves are kind of a let down for a while until the next special so we shall see what happens with that.

I was wondering how NXT would translate out of the usual Full Sail arena but this was a great atmosphere and after what happened recently at Full Sail with the crowd and Kevin Owens I really hope NXT leaves Florida permanently.

I hope you enjoyed this special review of NXT Takeover Brooklyn and until next Saturday when I bring you my next Ring Of Honor review I am Nathan saying so long for now and make sure to keep your Eyes On The Ring for all of the articles that True, Peagle, Jon, myself and the rest of the team will bring you throughout the coming weeks and months.

Give us a follow on twitter @EyesOnTheRing as well as following me @Headliner5 and make sure to check out http://www.EyesOnTheRing.com for everything Eyes On The Ring related.  Also make sure to check out the radio show as we bring you our Summerslam post show live this Sunday right after the show goes off of the air via http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ElitePodcastNetwork