I somehow had these reviews written for this week but lost them, along withm mistakenly thinking I had them scheduled to post already. Therefore you have 4 days in a row where I'm going to be posting! Yay, lucky you guy(s? please?) I can finish off my review of NXT: R Evolution for this weekends (should have been weeks) posts, and next week it shall be Episode 2 of Lucha Underground.
MATCH 4: THE ASCENSION VS. HIDEO ITAMI & FINN BALOR
The Ascension enter first and they're just looking to annihilate the two new signees. Itami enters next to a fantastic reaction. Balor is the last man to make his way to the ring, and it's the debut of DEMON BALOR! He really pushed the boat out for these Takeover matches. Even one that could be considered a bit of a throwaway tag match.
The Ascension don't know what to make of the Demon facepaint, and they go right on the attack. Balor and Itami get the advantage as they pair off in opposite corners. Stereo corner dropkicks clears the ring of The Ascension and Balor and Itami pose for the crowd. The Ascension regroup on the outside as Balor lets Itami start the match. Viktor starts off as the bell rings and Itami ducks a pair of clotheslines, picking up speed. Flying kick sends Viktor spinning in the air. Viktor quickly kicks out of the cover, and Itami brings him over to Balor. Tag out to Balor who slingshots in the ring, stomping on Viktor. Balor sends Viktor's head into the top turnbuckle and hits him with a chop. Viktor sent across the ring, and Balor chases him, connecting with a running chop. Balor quickly covers for a nearfall. Viktor gets to his feet in the corner and Balor sends him across the ring. Balor runs into a knee and Viktor tags in the big man.
Konnor knocks Balor down with a right hand, but walks into a standing dropkick. Balor covers but barely gets 1. Balor is able to keep Konnor in the corner long enough for Itami to make the tag. Itami hits Konnor with chops in the corner, more open palm strikes send Konnor back before Itami lays into him with kicks. Itami runs into a flapjack and Konnor covers for a nearfall. Konnor tags back out and holds Hideo Itami for Viktor to knock him down with kicks. Viktor covers for 2 and gets a standing chinlock as we see a replay of the flapjack. Viktor tags back out to Konnor and they kinda hit a double shoulder tackle. Konnor covers for another nearfall and brings Itami back to his feet. Itami fires back with a right hand but Konnor scoops him up, Itami slides out the back and hits a spinning kick, but he falls to the floor. Konnor is able to stumble to his teams corner and Viktor tags in, sending Balor down off the apron before he stomps the shit out of Itami's shoulder and gets down to talk trash to him. Corey Graves mentions that Balor and Itami have excellent experience over in Japan, but The Ascension have been a team that have travelled together for a long time as Viktor covers for another nearfall.
Itami fires back with a forearm, but Viktor hits him back and sends him into The Ascension's corner, Viktor sends Itami down in the corner, but again Itami kicks at him. Not taking this beating lying down. Viktor tags back out and Konnor continues stomping Itami before covering for 2. Viktor back in, toying with Itami, choking him with his shin.Viktor holds Itami in a modified camel clutch facing Balor before striking at him again. The hits seem to be firing Itami up as he gets to his feet. Itami fires back with forearms but gets cut off with a knee to the gut. Itami falls to the mat and Viktor covers but Itami kicks out. Viktor gets amazing elevation on a fist drop, but it's still not enough for 3.Viktor applies a modified chinlock, clasping his hands in front of Itami's face, keeping himself between Itami and Balor, who's willing his partner on from the apron. Itami eventually kicks out but can't swing the momentum, as Viktor sends him into The Ascension's corner. Viktor tags out and holds Itami in place for Konnor to avalanche him, 1, 2, no! Itami still has some gas in the tank.
Konnor again tags out and The Ascension are wondering what they have to do to put Itami away. Konnor stomps Itami before staring off with Balor, another stomp gives Viktor the confidence to go for the win but Itami kicked out again, straight into another chinlock.Itami fights to his feet and he's able to throw Viktor momentarily, but gets caught leaping for the tag, Viktor sends Itami into the opposite corner as Balor moves closer to Balor with the tag rope. Viktor shoulder blocks Itami until the referee pulls him away, Itami avoids a running attempt sending Viktor shoulder first into the ring post. Konnor charges into the ring but Itami dumps him outside, Konnor able to trip Balor before Itami can make the tag! Viktor drags Itami back to Viktor's home turf and chokes him again with the shin. I wouldn't like to be Konnor heading to his car on this night. Konnor gets the tag and sends Itami into the ropes, but ducks too early allowing Itami to kick him in the chest. Viktor is sent off the apron before Itami slowly starts crawling to his corner. The referee sends Viktor out of the ring and we get a double tag. Finn Balor cleans house as the crowd goes nuts. He uses Viktor as a platform to jump off and knock Konnor out of the ring with a shotgun dropkick before hitting a slingblade on Viktor in the middle of the ring!
Finn soaks in the crowd chanting his name as Viktor makes his way to his corner, Konnor isn't there for the tag though and Viktor catches Balor with a back elbow before perching himself on the top turnbuckle. Finn Balor launches himself into the air and knocks him down to the floor with an enziguri! Balor hits a running suicide swanton on both members of The Ascension. He quickly throws Viktor back in the ring and climbs to the top rope, Konnor attacks him but eats an enziguri for his troubles, those precious seconds let Viktor avoid the double stomp attempt though, Balor ducks a clothesline, hitting Viktor with an inverted elevated brainbuster, 1, 2, Konnor saves the match! Itami in, he charges at Konnor sending them both tumbling outside! heavy "Finn, Finn, Finn" chants, but Balor misses the spin kick, Viktor hit a European uppercut on his feet and STO's Balor out of nowhere. Viktor covers but Itami breaks it up, he then breaks my speakers by lifting Viktor for a GTS, Konnor again reminds us of a heel's job by saving his partner and dumping Itami out to the floor, drawing major boos from everyone alive.
The Ascension have Balor set up for Fall of Man but Itami drags Viktor under the bottom rope, Balor avoids a clothesline and hits a pele kick! Balor covers but only gets a nearfall. Itami and Konnor both enter the ring again, and Itami hits Konnor with his running knee. The Ascension are set up in the middle of the ring so Itami and Balor climb to opposite corners for stereo double stomps! Balor covers as Itami stalks Konnor exiting the ring. 1, 2, 3.
WINNERS: FINN BALOR & HIDEO ITAMI
Unbelievable that this was Itami and Balor's third time teaming together. They really could have had an amazing run together as a tag team (in fact, it makes sense to me for that to have been the plan originally, with the Samoa Joe/Finn Balor story that takes place later in NXT. As for the match, The Ascension were able to show why they were such a dominant tag team on the brand, controlling a lot of the match and using special tag team tactics that they've perfected since they formed the tag team. Itami and Balor got a FIGHTING SPIRIT finish for the match and had the crowd with them the whole time. Itami only has to lift someone for a GTS and the crowd goes nuts. He took one hell of a beating and really looked good pushing through it all. The Ascension looked strong in the loss and really looked like affective heels. I'd rate it 6.4/10
Balor and Itami celebrate in the ring to a standing ovation as we see highlights of the match.
Rene Young is backstage with Roman Reigns, who won the Slammy for 2014 Superstar of the Year. He puts over the show and especially the main event of Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn. He says they're the future and his future holds his goal of becoming the first NXT alumni to win the WWE World Heavyweight champion, an honor that would end up being held by Seth Rollins when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at Wrestlemania 31. Corey Graves wants to know who the next Roman Reigns will be before we cut to see Charlotte getting ready with her dad backstage. She defends her NXT Women's championship next against Sasha Banks.
Itami fires back with a forearm, but Viktor hits him back and sends him into The Ascension's corner, Viktor sends Itami down in the corner, but again Itami kicks at him. Not taking this beating lying down. Viktor tags back out and Konnor continues stomping Itami before covering for 2. Viktor back in, toying with Itami, choking him with his shin.Viktor holds Itami in a modified camel clutch facing Balor before striking at him again. The hits seem to be firing Itami up as he gets to his feet. Itami fires back with forearms but gets cut off with a knee to the gut. Itami falls to the mat and Viktor covers but Itami kicks out. Viktor gets amazing elevation on a fist drop, but it's still not enough for 3.Viktor applies a modified chinlock, clasping his hands in front of Itami's face, keeping himself between Itami and Balor, who's willing his partner on from the apron. Itami eventually kicks out but can't swing the momentum, as Viktor sends him into The Ascension's corner. Viktor tags out and holds Itami in place for Konnor to avalanche him, 1, 2, no! Itami still has some gas in the tank.
Konnor again tags out and The Ascension are wondering what they have to do to put Itami away. Konnor stomps Itami before staring off with Balor, another stomp gives Viktor the confidence to go for the win but Itami kicked out again, straight into another chinlock.Itami fights to his feet and he's able to throw Viktor momentarily, but gets caught leaping for the tag, Viktor sends Itami into the opposite corner as Balor moves closer to Balor with the tag rope. Viktor shoulder blocks Itami until the referee pulls him away, Itami avoids a running attempt sending Viktor shoulder first into the ring post. Konnor charges into the ring but Itami dumps him outside, Konnor able to trip Balor before Itami can make the tag! Viktor drags Itami back to Viktor's home turf and chokes him again with the shin. I wouldn't like to be Konnor heading to his car on this night. Konnor gets the tag and sends Itami into the ropes, but ducks too early allowing Itami to kick him in the chest. Viktor is sent off the apron before Itami slowly starts crawling to his corner. The referee sends Viktor out of the ring and we get a double tag. Finn Balor cleans house as the crowd goes nuts. He uses Viktor as a platform to jump off and knock Konnor out of the ring with a shotgun dropkick before hitting a slingblade on Viktor in the middle of the ring!
Finn soaks in the crowd chanting his name as Viktor makes his way to his corner, Konnor isn't there for the tag though and Viktor catches Balor with a back elbow before perching himself on the top turnbuckle. Finn Balor launches himself into the air and knocks him down to the floor with an enziguri! Balor hits a running suicide swanton on both members of The Ascension. He quickly throws Viktor back in the ring and climbs to the top rope, Konnor attacks him but eats an enziguri for his troubles, those precious seconds let Viktor avoid the double stomp attempt though, Balor ducks a clothesline, hitting Viktor with an inverted elevated brainbuster, 1, 2, Konnor saves the match! Itami in, he charges at Konnor sending them both tumbling outside! heavy "Finn, Finn, Finn" chants, but Balor misses the spin kick, Viktor hit a European uppercut on his feet and STO's Balor out of nowhere. Viktor covers but Itami breaks it up, he then breaks my speakers by lifting Viktor for a GTS, Konnor again reminds us of a heel's job by saving his partner and dumping Itami out to the floor, drawing major boos from everyone alive.
The Ascension have Balor set up for Fall of Man but Itami drags Viktor under the bottom rope, Balor avoids a clothesline and hits a pele kick! Balor covers but only gets a nearfall. Itami and Konnor both enter the ring again, and Itami hits Konnor with his running knee. The Ascension are set up in the middle of the ring so Itami and Balor climb to opposite corners for stereo double stomps! Balor covers as Itami stalks Konnor exiting the ring. 1, 2, 3.
WINNERS: FINN BALOR & HIDEO ITAMI
Unbelievable that this was Itami and Balor's third time teaming together. They really could have had an amazing run together as a tag team (in fact, it makes sense to me for that to have been the plan originally, with the Samoa Joe/Finn Balor story that takes place later in NXT. As for the match, The Ascension were able to show why they were such a dominant tag team on the brand, controlling a lot of the match and using special tag team tactics that they've perfected since they formed the tag team. Itami and Balor got a FIGHTING SPIRIT finish for the match and had the crowd with them the whole time. Itami only has to lift someone for a GTS and the crowd goes nuts. He took one hell of a beating and really looked good pushing through it all. The Ascension looked strong in the loss and really looked like affective heels. I'd rate it 6.4/10
Balor and Itami celebrate in the ring to a standing ovation as we see highlights of the match.
Rene Young is backstage with Roman Reigns, who won the Slammy for 2014 Superstar of the Year. He puts over the show and especially the main event of Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn. He says they're the future and his future holds his goal of becoming the first NXT alumni to win the WWE World Heavyweight champion, an honor that would end up being held by Seth Rollins when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at Wrestlemania 31. Corey Graves wants to know who the next Roman Reigns will be before we cut to see Charlotte getting ready with her dad backstage. She defends her NXT Women's championship next against Sasha Banks.
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