The go-home show for WWE NXT Takeover: Phoenix is in the books, and Bobby Fernandes takes a look at the episode from the Good, Bad, and Ugly perspective!

WWE NXT Takeover is coming on Saturday Night before a huge Sunday Royal Rumble.  The stories finalize before the big PPV and everyone has one final chance to solidify their place on the show.  Raw was packed with a ton of content, SmackDown in contrast was not, but was pure quality with the exception of a few small issues.  Now its NXT’s turn to get us and keep us sucked in.  Will NXT do their job as usual? 

THE GOOD

Opening Segment w/ Velveteen Dream

What an interesting way to open the show.  Dream always has a spectacular time in front of the camera in any fashion.  It is no secret that he has been a bit unhappy with his current “drawbacks” and wants more.  Just when he makes a claim to the North American Championship, Adam Cole and Bobby Fish, interrupted Velveteen Dream.  This would be such a brilliant feud.  Undisputed Era is just fantastic and brings the best to the audience constantly.  Dream doing what he does best, got in Undisputed’s head before fleeing safely away.  Very interesting open. 

Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan vs. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel

Burch and Lorcan are dangerously Good.  They pair up so well, and have great matches with anyone they face.  Aichner and Barthel didn’t seem like anything special from previous times but the chances for a better showing with Danny and Oney increase significantly.  Oney Lorcan got singled out early on by Barthel and Aichner and took a lot of punishment until Burch came in hot and took control.  Lorcan again however got singled out.  Aichner did some awesome stuff in there nearly getting the win, but Lorcan would not surrender.  There was a lot of action here.  Oney Lorcan is so freaking Good.  After a seriously kick ass back and forth match, Oney Lorcan gets a rollup for the victory.     

Io Shirai and Kairi Sane vs.  Tanea Brooks and Amber Nova

Shirai and Nova started out, full steam.  Shirai has a unique style and always delivers.  The same can be said about the ever popular Kairi Sane.  Her gimmick, style and absolutely talented abilities have been well showcased and appreciated.  Tanea Brooks is a powerful wrestler and had a Good energy.  She just was a bit of an afterthought while in the ring with Sane and Shirai.  With the Main Roster’s Women’s Tag Team division coming up Sane and Shirai could make a strong case for those new shiny Championship belts once things are in motion.  They certainly won this week in a decisive fashion.  Nothing great but passible as Good overall. 

Velveteen Dream vs. Bobby Fish w/ Adam Cole “BAY BAY”

Oh my God, what an awesome treat here.  We have an incredible match set up, and a surprise one at that.  The presence of these two, the respect they demand is unprecedented.  Bobby Fish is an unsung hero as to how talented he truly is.  Both competitors are greatly unique.  As it should be expected, the action went back and forth and was plentiful.  Dream is all over the ring, continuous action.  Fish finally got a chance and went after Dream’s legs and knees.  Great move keeping Dream down.  Fish really got in deep with a half crab on the injured knee of Dream, but Dream does not quit.  As hard as Fish tried he just couldn’t get Dream to stop but Fish countered an elbow drop an ended up almost getting dream to tap, but Dream again came back.  Dream hit his “Purple Rainmaker” for the win.  Adam Cole of course ran in but Dream got out in time.  Great match.       

Ricochet Promo

Ricochet is one of the most talented high flyers of all time, that will be repeated often his entire career.  He moves around like no other.  Gargano is called Johnny Wrestling confidently for well deserve reasons.  They will put it all out there.  Hyping it will only get Good attention and heat.  Ricochet is so confident and wears the North American Title well.  Ricochet’s Achilles heel is his mic skills.  He could use a Good hype man or woman so that he can only focus on his in ring talents.  Johnny Gargano could not interrupt fast enough and luckily for everyone he isn’t Bad to listen too.  Gargano and Ricochet did not waste any time and went at it.  Out of nowhere, Ciampa the NXT Heavyweight Champion attacked Ricochet coming to the aid of his former friend and heated rival.  Very interesting.  Of course Aleister Black came out and beat the hell of Ciampa for his trouble.  Gargano came to Ciampa’s rescue hitting Black with a devastating “superkick.”  The duo previously known as “DIY” dominated both Black and Ricochet before leaving their rivals laying in the ring.  Ciampa and Gargano seemed like they were about to bury the hatchet until Gargano’s wife Candace put a stop to it.  Decent promo and end to a successful week.

THE BAD – No

THE UGLY – and No

FINAL TALLY

• GOOD – 5
• BAD – 0
• UGLY- 0

OVERALL

Good which means it must be NXT.  Again, another successful, entertaining, content filled NXT.  They literally had as much impressive content as SmackDown did and they did it in an hour.  NXT sets the standard and hopefully WWE Main Roster watches and takes notes every chance they get. 

NXT continues to be the most entertaining brand of all weekly.  The sky is the limit and with HHH steering the ship, the momentum is surely going to continue for some time.  They have a lot of fresh talent as well as established Superstars, and Takeover should deliver above expectations.  That is what NXT does.