NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3 Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3 was live at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NXT kicked off WWE's huge weekend of wrestling, live in the Big Apple.

** Takeover: Brooklyn 3 Card **

- Aleister Black battled Hideo Itami.
- Johnny Gargano battled Andrade "Cien" Almas.
- NXT Women's Champion Asuka defended her title against Ember Moon.
- NXT World Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain defended their titles against SAnitY.
- NXT World Champion Bobby Roode defended his title against Drew McIntyre.

** Takeover: Brooklyn 3 Recap **

- NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3 kicks off with the band Code Orange performimg "Bleeding In The Blur" which was used as the official theme song of the pay per view.

- Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas: The match closes out with Almas countering a slingshot spear and hits Gargano with a near fall inverted DDT. Almas counters a sunset flip power bomb and drills Gargano with a spinning elbow. Almas hip tosses Gargano into the turnbuckle. Gargano spins Almas around and traps Almas in the Gargano Escape submission. Almas escapes by buckle bombing Gargano for a near fall. Almas hits a knee to the face of Gargano and takes shots on Gargano's arm.

Gargano lands a back kick, a super kick and then tosses Almas face first into the turn buckle with the Lawn Dart. Gargano measures up Almas, but Zelina Vega distracts Gargano by throwing a #DIY shirt at him. Almas hits a running drop, sending Gargano flying into the corner. Almas plants Gargano with the Hammerlock DDT and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Andrade "Cien" Almas, by pinfall.

- RAW GM Kurt Angle and Smackdown Live GM Daniel Bryan are shown in the crowd sitting with Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, No Way Jose and Roderick Strong.

- Backstage, Drew McIntyre is getting warmed up for his NXT World Championship Match tonight.

- "NXT World Tag Team Championship Match": The Authors of Pain (c) vs. SAnitY: The match closes out with Young getting caught by Rezar, lifted by the throat and driven into the mat. EY dodges an elbow, tags Wolfe and Wolfe unloads on the AOP. Wolfe suplexes Akam and then german suplexes Rezar. Wolfe with a top rope clothesline on Rezar and gets a near fall. AOP hit a double team neckbreaker/power bomb combo on Wolfe for a near fall. Wolfe with a frankensteiner and Akam gets sent outside. EY tags in and hits a neckbreaker on Rezar. EY gets crotched on the ropes and Rezar and Akam attempt a superplex. Nikki Cross holds onto EY making Akam fall to the mat. EY and Wolfe both hit suicide dives on AOP as they both rolled outside. Nikki Cross and Paul Ellering go face to face inside the ring, but get separated by the referee. Nikki leaps outside, but gets caught by Akam. Killian Dain charges and spears Akam and Nikki right through a table. Wolfe and EY hit a double team elbow finisher on Rezar and score the pinfall to win the titles.
Winners: SAnitY, by pinfall, to win the NXT World Tag Team Championship.

- After the match, EY and Wolfe celebrate their title win when suddenly Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly, aka ReDragon, hit the ring and attack both men. Fish and O'Reilly get some shots in on AOP as well before grabbing the NXT Tag Team titles and celebrate with them.

- We see Neville, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kalisto sitting in the crowd.

- Backstage, NXT World Champion Bobby Roode is shown warming up for his title match tonight.

- Jim Ross arrives to do commentary for the next match.

- Cold Orange returns to perform Aleister Black's theme entrance live.

- Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami: Black catches a shot to the face in the match, bloodying Black's nose. The match closes out with Black unloading on Itami, but Itami hits a clothesline for a near fall. Itami hits a fisherman's suplex for another near fall. Black lays out Itami with a kick and goes to the top rope. Itami cuts off Black and goes for a superplex, but Black sends Itami to the mat with an elbow. Itami sends Black into the turnbuckle and hits a Falcon Arrow off the top rope for a near fall. Black and Itami trade shots in the middle of the ring. Black drills Itami with a knee, but Itami comes back with another Falcon Arrow for a near fall.

Itami hits a leaping hesitation drop kick on Black in the corner. Itami measures up Black and goes for the Go To Sleep. Black counters out and hits the Black Mass kick out of nowhere on Itami. Black covers and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall.

- We see Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch sitting in the crowd.

- Backstage, NXT Women's Champion Asuka is shown warming up. Ember Moon is then shown walking to the ring for her title shot.

- "NXT Women's Championship Match": Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon: The match closes out with Asuka and Ember trading shots until Asuka hits the running hip attack. Ember blocks a second hip attack attempt and plants a knee on Asuka. Ember hits a tornado suplex for a near fall. Asuka takes over on offense, plants a kick on Ember then unloads more lethal kicks. Ember catches a kick and plants Asuka for a near fall. Ember goes to the top rope, but gets cut off by Asuka. Ember hits a double foot stomp on Asuka for a near fall. Ember goes back on the ropes and hits the Eclipse Stunner on Asuka, but Asuka kicks out at two and a half. Ember can't believe it as she goes back to the top rope. Asuka grabs the referee and uses him as a shield, but Ember still leaps and cross body blocks Asuka.

Asuka rolls through, grabs Ember's tights and tries to steal a pinfall, but the referee catches Asuka cheating. Asuka argues with the referee and catches a huge kick to the face from Ember. Ember covers and gets another two and a half on Asuka. Ember again is stunned that she can't put Asuka away. Asuka catches Ember in an arm bar submission, but Ember fights out of it. Asuka releases the arm bar submission and catches Ember in the Asuka Lock submission. Ember tries to escape, but Asuka applies the pressure and locks up Ember tight. Ember can't fight it any longer and taps out. Asuka retains her title and has now been champion for 504+ days.
Winner: Asuka, by submission, to retain the NXT Women's Championship.

- After the match, Ember Moon gets a standing ovation from the NXT fans.

- Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe are shown sitting in the crowd.

- The NYPD Pipe and Drums Band are out to play the opening intro to Drew McIntyre's theme music.

- "NXT World Championship Match": Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: The match closes out with McIntyre getting a near fall backslide and then a near fall Future Shock DDT. McIntyre attempts a fireman's carry on Roode off the top rope, but Roode counters with a near fall Liger Bomb. McIntyre unloads kicks and chops on Roode and Roode returns with slaps. McIntyre drills Roode with The Claymore and gets a near fall. Roode rolls outside, but gets taken out as McIntyre flies outside with a plancha. McIntyre tosses Roode back in the ring and sets him up for The Claymore.

Roode catches McIntyre charging and hits a spine buster. McIntyre counters the Glorious DDT and gets a near fall rollup on Roode. McIntyre goes for a tilt a whirl, but Roode counters it and drills McIntyre with a Glorious DDT for a near fall. Roode hits a second Glorious DDT on McIntyre, keeps McIntyre hooked and goes for a third attempt. McIntyre counters the third attempt and drills Roode with The Claymore. McIntyre covers Roode and scores the pinfall to win the title.
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall, to win the NXT World Championship.

- After the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly suddenly hit the ring and distract McIntyre from the apron. McIntyre makes a move toward them but suddenly gets attacked from behind by.........ADAM COLE BAYYY BAYYY!! Cole, Fish and O'Reilly all triple team McIntyre and beat him down. Cole drills McIntyre with a super kick and celebrates with the NXT World Championship to end the show. 

NXT Takeover: Chicago Recap #NXTTakeover

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

NXT Takeover: Chicago was live in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois, at the Allstate Arena. Home of some of the greatest sports franchises in history. Also home of some of the best damn pizza ever created, sorry New York, I'd take a Chicago deep dish pizza at Giordano's in downtown Chicago any day of the week.

WWE brings us day one of their two day pay per view event, with Smackdown Live taking place Sunday night. All the major NXT titles were on the line tonight and a lot more.

** NXT Takeover: Chicago Card **

- NXT World Champion Bobby Roode defended his title against Hideo Itami.
- NXT World Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain defended their titles against #DIY in a Ladder Match.
- NXT Women's Champion Asuka defended her title against Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot in a Triple Threat Match.
- WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate defended his title against Pete Dunne.
- Roderick Strong battled SAnitY leader Eric Young.

** Tommaso Ciampa Update **
Tommaso Ciampa suffered an ankle injury during an NXT house show on Thursday night. Many have been speculating on whether or not Ciampa would be able to compete with Johnny Gargano against The Authors of Pain in their Ladder Match tonight. Early Saturday afternoon, Ciampa was shown getting his ankle heavily taped up so it appears Ciampa will be good to go for NXT Takeover: Chicago.

** NXT Takeover: Chicago **

- Eric Young vs. Roderick Strong: Young consistently uses Dain and Wolfe to get in cheap shots and distractions on Strong and the referee throughout the match. The match closes out with both men trading shots until Young drops Strong. Young goes to the top rope, Strong cuts Young off, goes for a superplex, but takes a Young head butt sending Strong to the mat. Young hits the flying elbow drop on Strong and gets a near fall. Young attempts to hit Youngblood, but Strong counters with a near fall rollup. Strong lands two kicks on Young, kicks Dain off the apron and then tosses Young into Wolfe, who also jumped on the apron. Young rakes Strong in the eyes and goes to the top rope. Strong cuts Young off and both men battle on the ropes back and forth. Strong hits a jumping knee on Young that sends Young flying off the top rope and on top of Dain and Wolfe outside. Young gets back inside the ring and ends up taking the backbreaker from Strong. Strong covers and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Roderick Strong, by pinfall.

- "WWE United Kingdom Championship Match": Tyler Bate (c) vs. Pete Dunne: The match closes out with Bate airplane spinning Dunne and getting a near fall. Dunne hits a forearm and a sit down power bomb for a near fall. Both men are up and trade shots back and forth until Bate drops Dunne. Dunne hits an enziguri, but gets taken out and nearly pinned by Bate. More back and forth action until Bate attempts Tyler Driver 97. Dunne counters it and attempts the Bitter End. Bate counters that and lays Dunne out with a DDT. Fans erupt with "Holy S***" and "Fight Forever" chants. Dunne rolls outside where Bate flies off the top rope and takes Dunne out with a moonsault. Back in the ring, Bate hits a corkscrew 450 on Dunne and gets a near fall. Fans erupt with "UK" chants as Bate runs the ropes. Dunne dodges a charging Bate and Bate gets laid out on the floor. Dunne pulls Bate back into the ring, hits the Bitter End and scores the pinfall to win the title.
Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall, to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship.

- "NXT Women's Championship, Triple Threat Match": Asuka (c) vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ruby Riot: The match closes out with Asuka hitting a german suplex on Ruby for a near fall. Nikki counters a german suplex from Asuka, plants Asuka and gets a near fall. Asuka and Ruby trade offense and pinfall attempts until Asuka traps Ruby in the Asuka Lock submission. Nikki hits a splash to break the submission and then sends Ruby outside. Nikki has Asuka on the apron and unloads strikes on her. Nikki drags Asuka into the corner and then hits a hanging neck breaker for a near fall, as Ruby breaks it up. Nikki and Ruby charge each other and connect on each other with cross body block attempts. Asuka is back in, but gets tossed right back out to the floor. Ruby hits a Pele Kick on Nikki and gets a near fall, after Asuka breaks up the pinfall, hitting a running knee. Both Ruby and Nikki are knocked out as Asuka falls on top of both ladies and scores the pinfall to retain her title.
Winner: Asuka, by pinfall, to retain the NXT Women's Championship.

- We get a highlight video of "The Velveteen Dream" Patrick Clark making his NXT debut this Wednesday night.  

- "NXT World Championship Match": Bobby Roode (c) vs. Hideo Itami: The match closes out with both men brawling on the floor. Roode gets sent into the steel steps shoulder first and Itami misses a drop kick hitting the steel steps. Both men barely make it back into the ring before the countout and the match continues. Roode and Itami trade shots until Itami takes control and sends Roode into the corner. Itami hits the hesitation drop kick, goes for Go To Sleep, but his leg gives out from crashing into the steel steps. Roode hits the Glorious DDT, but gets a near fall. Itami catches Roode and nails Go To Sleep, but Roode falls outside to the floor. Itami rolls Roode back into the ring and covers, but Roode kicks out at two and a half. Roode counters another Go To Sleep with a rollup, but Itami counters with his own rollup and gets a near fall. Itami counters the Glorious DDT and unloads on Roode. Itami pulls down the knee pad and goes for Go To Sleep on Roode. Roode counters and hits the Glorious DDT. Roode pulls Itami back up, hits another Glorious DDT and scores the pinfall to retain his title.
Winner: Bobby Roode, by pinfall, to retain the NXT World Championship.

- "NXT World Tag Team Championship, Ladder Match": Authors of Pain (c) vs. #DIY: The match closes out with the AOP climbing for the titles. Ciampa runs up the ladder and cuts off Rezar. Ciampa sends Rezar flying off the ladder and right through another ladder lying down below. Akam climbs for the titles, but Gargano follows. Akam shoves Gargano to the side and then kicks Gargano as he hangs on. #DIY unload kicks on Akam and then wrap a Ladder around Akam's head. #DIY hit Akam with Meet In The Middle and Ciampa clutches his injured leg. #DIY set up a ladder and begin to climb to the titles.

#DIY are about to unhook the titles when suddenly AOP kick out the ladder from under them. #DIY are hanging on for dear life, grasping onto the hook that the titles are hooked to. AOP grab #DIY from off the hook and hit a double power bomb and then the Super Collider. AOP climb the ladder and grab the titles for the victory. 
Winners: Authors of Pain, by title retrieval, to retain the NXT World Tag Team Championship.

- #DIY Disbands: After the match, the fans give Ciampa and Gargano a standing ovation. Ciampa and Gargano share a bro hug and head up to the NXT stage as fans continue to applaud their effort. Ciampa bro hugs Gargano again when suddenly........Ciampa turns on Gargano and launches him head first into the LED board on the stage. Ciampa mounts Gargano and unloads punches as the fans reign the boos. Ciampa measures Gargano and knees Gargano's head off. Ciampa pulls down his knee pad and knees Gargano's head off again. The fans chant "F*** You Ciampa" as Ciampa tosses Gargano onto the announcers table. Ciampa scoops up Gargano and falls backwards off the stage, putting himself and Gargano through tables below. Ciampa climbs back on top of the announcers table and takes in the "A**hole" chants to end the show.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 3/30/17: NXT Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you this week's NXT recap.

We are just 3 days away from NXT Takeover: Orlando during Wrestlemania weekend!

This week's NXT saw a Triple Threat Match between Dash Wilder of The Revival, Akam of The Authors of Pain and Johnny Gargano of #DIY, giving us a preview of their huge NXT World Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match at Takeover: Orlando. Heavy Machinery returned to NXT and battled Mike Marshall and Jonathan Ortagun in tag team action. NXT Women's Champion Asuka and Ember Moon sign their contract, making their NXT Women's Championship Match official at Takeover: Orlando. The main event of the show saw Kassius Ohno battle Elias Samson in a Loser Leaves NXT Match. 

** NXT **

- "Triple Threat Match": Dash Wilder vs. Akam vs. Johnny Gargano: The match closes out with Akam going for a power bomb, but Gargano escapes and connects with a boot on Akam. Gargano goes for the pinfall, but Rezar grabs Akam and pulls him outside. Ciampa goes after the AOP, but gets dropped by Akam on the floor. Gargano goes for a DDT on Akam, but gets caught and power bombed hard into the mat. Scott Dawson grabs Akam's leg and distracts him. Wilder slides back into the ring, covers Gargano and steals the pinfall.
Winner: Dash Wilder, by pinfall.

- Heavy Machinery vs. Mike Marshall and Jonathan Ortagun: The match closes out with Heavy Machinery making quick work of their opponents in a squash match. Dozovic power bombs his partner Knight on top of their opponents and score the easy pinfall.
Winners: Heavy Machinery, by pinfall.

- Backstage, William Regal is seated with Asuka and Ember Moon. Ember says Asuka is a great champion, but it's all going to her head and she will dethrone the champion. Asuka says that Ember isn't ready for her, but Ember disagrees. Both ladies sign their contract and Asuka walks out.

- "Loser Leaves NXT Match": Kassius Ohno vs. Elias Samson: The match closes out with Samson trapping Ohno in a crossface submission. Samson blocks Ohno from escaping the submission on several attempts until Ohno finally reaches the ropes. Both men unload punches on each other until Samson plants Ohno and gets a near fall. Ohno counters a boot, lands a jumping knee strike and then a kick for a near fall. Samson tries to steal a rollup pinfall with his feet on the ropes, but gets busted by the referee. Samson plants Ohno with his neckbreaker finisher, but Ohno kicks out at two and a half. Ohno connects with the Roaring Elbow out of nowhere and scores the pinfall on Samson. After the match, NXT Officials and NXT Security are forced to escort Samson out of the building as he refuses to leave. Ohno offers to give Samson his guitar on the way out, but ends up smashing it to pieces as Samson is dragged out to end the show.
Winner: Kassius Ohno, by pinfall.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 3/2/17: NXT Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you this week's NXT recap.

This week's NXT saw Patrick Clark battle Sean Maluta in one on one action. Asuka defended her NXT Women's Championship against Peyton Royce. The Authors of Pain defended their NXT World Tag Team Championship against #DIY.

** NXT **

- Patrick Clark vs. Sean Maluta: The match closes out with Clark tossing Maluta across the ring and then unloading kicks. Clark with a suplex on Maluta and then applies a submission hold. Maluta is able to escape, but gets laid out with a modified Famouser by Clark. Clark covers and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Patrick Clark, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Eric Young says that Tye Dillinger has sealed his fate and is a disease in NXT that needs to be eradicated. Young says it needs to be him and Dillinger one on one to settle this.

- "NXT Women's Championship Match": Asuka (c) vs. Peyton Royce: The match closes out with Peyton missing a spin kick and getting lit up by an Asuka kick. Asuka unloads a series of strikes on Peyton and gets a near fall. Peyton catches Asuka with a jawbreaker and is able to regain some offense. Asuka counters a bridging suplex from Peyton, but Peyton connects with a spin kick on Asuka and gets a near fall. Asuka stuns Peyton with a strike out of nowhere and immediately traps Peyton in the Asuka Lock submission. Peyton has no choice but to tap out. After the match, Billie Kay attacks Asuka from behind and beats Asuka down. Ember Moon hits the ring and helps Asuka clean house. Asuka grabs her title as she and Ember stare each other down.
Winner: Asuka, by submission, to retain the NXT Women's Championship.

- Backstage, NXT GM William Regal announces that NXT World Champion Bobby Roode will defend his title in two weeks against Kassius Ohno.

- It's announced that the United Kingdom's Wolfgang is coming to NXT.

- "NXT World Tag Team Championship Match": The Authors of Pain (c) vs. #DIY: The match closes out with Gargano hitting a jumping slingshot DDT for a near fall. Ciampa connects with a clothesline and then locks in a Fujiwara armbar submission. The submission is broken and then Ciampa blocks a Rezar superplex. Ciampa and Gargano double team Rezar and hit a double power slam for a near fall. Akam takes out Ciampa, as AOP go for their double team finisher. Ciampa and Gargano escape AOP's double team finisher and lock in double submissions on Rezar and Akam. The Revival suddenly hit the ring and attack Gargano and Ciampa causing a DQ. The Revival and AOP go at it next with The Revival hitting Shatter Machine. The Revival celebrate their ruining of the tag team championship match as NXT closes out.
Winners: #DIY, by DQ. The Authors of Pain retain the NXT World Tag Team Championship.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 12.8.16: NXT Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you this week's NXT recap.

This week's NXT featured DIY, The Revival and The Authors of Pain arguing over the #1 Contendership. No Way Jose and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann battled SAnitY. Ember Moon battled Kimber Lee in Women's Division action. In the main event, Samoa Joe defended the NXT World Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. 

** NXT **

- DIY Promo: Gargano and Ciampa immediately get interrupted by Paul Ellering and The Authors of Pain. Ellering reminds us that the AOP are undefeated and the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament. The Revival interrupt next, state they are the rightful #1 Contenders and the only reason AOP won is because The Revival helped them. Both AOP members shove Wilder and Dawson to the mat. Ellering says the next chapter has been written already and it ends with the Authors of Pain winning the NXT World Tag Team Championship.

- No Way Jose and Rich Swann vs. SAnitY (Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe): Before the match, Young throws a jacket down in the middle of the ring, stomps on it, then tossed it out of the ring. The jacket is believed to be Sawyer Fulton’s and it appears he's been kicked out of SAnitY. The match closes out with Jose hot tagging and clearing the ring. Swann hits a corkscrew senton on Wolfe. Wolfe tosses Swann into the steel steps. Big Damo suddenly appears and attacks Jose. Young hits the wheelbarrow neck breaker on Jose and scores the pinfall.
Winners: SAnitY, by pinfall.

- Backstage, NXT GM William Regal announces that DIY will face The Revival for the NXT World Tag Team Championship with the winners facing Authors of Pain at NXT Takeover: San Antonio. Tye Dillinger interrupts and says he doesn't deserve to be in NXT. Regal announces that he's also booking a tournament to crown a #1 Contender to the NXT World Championship.

Ember Moon vs. Kimber Lee: The match closes out with Kimber missing a kick and Ember getting a near fall roll up. Kimber goes to the corner where Ember hits a front flip elbow on Kimber. Ember hits the O Face Stunner on Kimber to score the pinfall.
Winner: Ember Moon, by pinfall.

- "NXT World Championship Match": Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: The match closes out with Joe and Nakamura brawling on the floor. Nakamura blocks a Uranage Slam and hits the Kinshasa on Joe, sending Joe into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Nakamura and Joe trade strikes. Nakamura hits an axe kick, follows that with a knee to Joe's head then picks Joe up in a fireman's carry. Joe escapes, however, Nakamura hits a Super Kinshasa off the ropes on Joe. Nakamura hits another Kinshasa, covers, scores the pinfall and wins the title from Joe.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall, to win the NXT World Championship.