NXT Takeover: New Orleans (4/7/18) Review
6 Way Ladder Match to crown the first ever NXT North American Champion Lars Sullivan vs EC3 vs Ricochet vs Killian Dain vs Adam Cole vs Velveteen Dream: ****1/4 This was just an insane fast paced car crash style match between 6 guys wanting to be able to say they became the first NXT North American Champion. If you like the Money In The Bank style ladder matches you'll love this match. The big question after this match is if Adam Cole will be able to compete in the Tag Team Title match he has to wrestle in later after going through a 30+ minute Ladder match
NXT Women's Title Match Ember Moon (c) vs Shayna Bazsler: ***1/2 This was a really good match. I absolutely loved the finish where after having her shoulder popped Shayna couldn't hold on to the Rear Naked Choke with her left arm so she held on to her own hair to lock in the hold instead and while Ember Moon fought for all she was worth in the end she passed out to the choke
NXT Tag Team Title 3 Way Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs Authors Of Pain vs Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne: ***1/4 This match was great and originally I was going to give it ***3/4 but the finish of Roderick Strong turning on Pete Dunne and helping Cole ad O'Reilly retain made no sense and left a sour taste in my mouth. Roderick Strong had a hate filled feud with Undisputed Era less than 6 months ago and has made it clear his ultimate goal in NXT is to be a champion then right as he has the Tag Title won with Pete Dunne he turns on him and joins the group he hated just a few months ago makes no sense to me
NXT Championship Match Andrade "Cien" Almas (c) vs Aleister Black: ****1/2 This was just an awesome match that told a simple story of Andrade's manager Zelina Vega trying to screw over Black but Black kept overcoming it and in the end Zelina's interference backfired and Black won. I've been a huge fan of Black long before he was in NXT so I was rooting for him from the beginning and the fact they had me convinced Andrade had him beat more than once only for Black to come back and win made me love this match
Unsanctioned Match Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa: ****3/4 This was awesome. Just a hate filled brawl between 2 guys who used to be best friends turned bitter enemies. Gargano is an amazing babyface that makes it impossible to cheer against especially when he's going for revenge against someone who betrayed him and Ciampa is such a great asshole he had me wanting to just see him get the shit kicked out of him. Add into that a hot crowd and great action and this instantly becomes a match that I'll guarantee will be one of the best matches of 2018 when all is said and done
Overall Thoughts: This was a great show . My only complaint was that the Roderick Strong turn made no sense and brought the tag title match down. Even with that one complaint this was a show that is worth going out of your way to see.
If you saw the show feel free to share your thoughts on the show as well in the comments section
