WWE NXT Takeover Phoenix, Live Commentary, Updates & Highlights, January 26th, 2019

That's it for tonight folks! Join us again tomorrow for our Live coverage of the WWE Royal Rumble!
This is Anirban Banerjee signing off!

Johnny Gargano comes out, and the show closes with him and Tommaso Ciampa standing shoulder to shoulder with their own championships.

What an NXT Takeover this was! Phoenix was witness to a huge card from NXT.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Aleister Black to retain the NXT Championship.
Shayna Baszler defeated Bianca Belair to retain the NXT Women's Championship.
Johnny Gargano defeated Ricochet to become the new NXT North American Champions.
Matt Riddle defeated Kassius Ohno.
War Raiders defeated Undisputed Era to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.

Ciampa has cruel intentions.
He hits a THIRD Fairytale Ending. He goes for a fourth, but Black hits a big kick. He was going for a Black Mass but his knee gave out.
A FOURTH FAIRYTALE ENDING.
This time that's enough. 1...2...3. The REIGN OF TERROR of Ciampa continues!
Results: Tommaso Ciampa defeats Aleister Black to retain the NXT Championship.

CIAMPA HITS A SECOND FAIRYTALE ENDING! THIS HAS TO BE IT!
No... No it's not. Aleister Black kicks out of a Second Fairytale Ending.

Black lands a big knee to the outside. Ciampa pulls back the mat, and as a result falls on the concrete.
Black hits a SUDDEN FURIOUS BLACK MASS! WHAT AN IMPACT!
But no. By the time Black gets to Ciampa, he has turned over.

The champ just turned @WWEAleister inside-out! @ProjectCiampa #NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/9NOSyGbnv1
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

NOOO! Black slips on the outside on the previously spilled water. Getting back in Ciampa hits the Fairytale Ending!
But BLACK KICKS OUT!

Ciampa tries to kick out Black's leg, but he avoids it. Black hits a huge Brainbuster on Ciampa. He then hits a big Moonsault to the outside!

✅ Spanish Announce Table physicality
✅ Hydration Breaks
✅ Self-Congratulating@ProjectCiampa vs. @WWEAleister has EVERYTHING! #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship pic.twitter.com/ScAh8t4GeW
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019

Black reverses the momentum and tries a Single Leg Crab, but Ciampa manages to get out. Ciampa then takes out Black.
Black hits a Jumping knee on Ciampa, but Ciampa returns the favour! What a match this is between the two.

Damage may done, but @WWEAleister still managed to pull THIS out of his arsenal! #NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/pWpRbGjZuP
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 27, 2019

Black catches Ciampa with two head kicks. He almost takes out Ciampa but he kicks out nonetheless. Black is showing a lot of heart, but is obviously in pain. Ciampa tries a Half Boston Crab, but Black gets out.

Black caught Ciampa with a good kick, A second-wind sees him drop Black and almost take him out with a near-fall. He continues with an attempted Suplex which Ciampa turns into a rollup.

Ciampa ties Black up into the Tree of Woe and punishes him. Black escapes and then drops Ciampa from the top turnbuckle with a huge kick to his head.

Be your own hype man. @ProjectCiampa #NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/jQckbZdhEL
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

#TommySportsEntertainment STRIKES!@ProjectCiampa #NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/3pTZBbuyjM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 27, 2019

Back in the ring, Ciampa is back to attacking Black's legs. The dropkick to the knees sees him taken out.

Ciampa might have just shattered Aleister Black's knee tendons. The attack on the left leg continues, but he is taken by surprise when Black kicks the bottle out of Ciampa's hands.

Ciampa is focusing all his energy in taking away the base leg from Aleister Black. The continuous focus on the left leg of Black sees him writhing in pain.

Is @ProjectCiampa making good on his promise to take #BlackMxss away from @WWEAleister?#NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/U7ImwE4jH0
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) January 27, 2019

Ciampa sends Black into the steps knee-first! Black's knee is hurt!
Ciampa is trying to stop Black Mass and take it away from Black's arsenal.

Classic @WWEAleister. #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship pic.twitter.com/jkRwuvzukU
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

Black hits Ciampa on the side of the head with a knee, but Ciampa rolls outside. He brings Black to the outside, but a kick from the challenger makes him regret it.

Black throws him outside instead, and dives onto Ciampa with an over the top rope dive to the outside.

The two exchange blows in the middle of the ring, but Black's strikes send Ciampa to the outside. Ciampa gets back in and avoids the Roundhouse Kick from Black. He gets back up and tries to throw Black to the outside.

Ciampa and Black start off strong, as they chain wrestled in the middle of the ring.

As only @WWEAleister can. #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/cneMR7s1Xr
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

Up Next: THE MAIN EVENT.
Aleister Black vs Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship
Will Ciampa prevail once again, or will he fade to Black?

Pure joy.@QoSBaszler @MarinaShafir @jessamynduke #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/wNfWbrdmPg
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

#ShaynaTwoTime prevails.@QoSBaszler is STILL your NXT #WomensChampion! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/Txk3pNMqqR
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019

Belair struggles and struggles and struggles, but is unable to get out of the Kerafuda Clutch. The match is over. Belair is unconscious. Shayna Baszler is the NXT Women's Champion.
Results: Shayna Baszler defeats Bianca Belair to retain the NXT Women's Championship

Belair goes to the top rope and jumps on Baszler, but is caught with a Kerafuda Clutch.

Belair BREAKS OUT OF THE CLUTCH! She throws Baszler away with a Fall Away Slam.

The champ is down... but so is the ref!!!!

What's @BiancaBelairWWE to do? #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/Dz3iQ9ngfa
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 27, 2019

You never forget your first @BiancaBelairWWE hair-whoopin'.#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/aLIY11ojgx
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

Can @BiancaBelairWWE rally through the pain? #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/svTwDRwJ89
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke try to interfere, but Belair gets rid of them. However, Baszler takes advantage and locked in the Kerafuda Clutch.

Belair is desperate, knocked down by Baszler, but she hits Baszler with a hairwhip, cutting her.
Baszler sends Belair into the referee, but Belair hits the KOD on Baszler. The referee is knocked out and does not count the pin.

Belair is in trouble with Shayna Baszler mocking her. However, Belair comes back dropping Baszler with her agility and then dropping her again and again before hitting the Spear.

Beware the hair? Not in @QoSBaszler's world. #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/oa6jrwg6Da
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

"un👏de👏fea----"@QoSBaszler #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/KSbBJ1a48S
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 27, 2019

Shayna Baszler has put Belair's hand under her foot and that's it. Belair's arm is badly hurt.

Bianca Belair is not scared of Baszler, but Baszler seems to have her number. She puls Belair by the hair into the ring post.

Baszler clearly does not respect Bianca BelAir, going by how she is trying to clean her hands of the challenger.

💋💋💋💋💋

The #ESTofNXT is un👏de👏fea👏ted and ready for her title opportunity! #NXTTakeOver @BiancaBelairWWE pic.twitter.com/OvGGdQGwzq
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 27, 2019

Up Next:
Bianca BelAir vs Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship

#WinsAndChampionships ✅@JohnnyGargano is your NEWWWW NXT #NorthAmericanChampion!!! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/CWvHprBkhZ
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019

🚨 WARNING 🚨

This is really, really painful to watch.#NXTTakeOver @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/DtuRzk9yhI
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 27, 2019

Gargano hits another huge DDT on Ricochet. That's it. That's the three-count.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeats Ricochet for the North American Championship.