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NXT TakeOver: XXV opened with a promise from the commentary team that the yellow brand was the "true alternative." We know where that shot was directed. But as usual, TakeOver delivered for the most part. Unfortunately, there was one glaring exception that has been the normal exception for some time now, and it has consistently dragged down each and every TakeOver it's been a part of, preventing it from getting perhaps a perfect grade.
Let's take a look back at the five matches on the card and rank them from worst to first.
#5 NXT Women's Championship: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai
Another TakeOver, another Shayna Baszler match that's the worst on the card. Typical. Io Shirai managed to make a better show of it than anyone since Kairi Sane at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 last summer.
Nevertheless, it was disappointing. It was ultimately the same Shayna Baszler match like all the other Shayna Baszler matches have been. Same moves. Same attempt at interference from the two geeks that NXT is trying to portray as intimidating, same stupid choke finish. It's been basically the exact same match for about a year now
The real story came after the match, when Io Shirai, seemingly channeling Becky Lynch, attacked Shayna Baszler with a kendo stick and moonsaulted her with a chair. The crowd went nuts, chanting "you deserve it."
We'll see what happens afterward, but as I predicted, it was yet again time for the title to change hands, only for it not to, because of Shayna Baszler's bizarre, nonsensical booking.
Something has to give. This can't continue. It's not only dragging down the women's division; it's dragging down the entirety of NXT. If Triple H is hoping that Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke will be ready anytime soon, he's deluded.
#4 NXT Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits vs. The Forgotten Sons vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs. The Undisputed Era
Perhaps it just couldn't live up to the standard now set for TakeOver ladder matches in last year's classic in New Orleans, but this also compared unfavorably with the men's Money in the Bank ladder match (sans the ending) just last month.
That isn't to say this wasn't very good, however. The match teased the Forgotten Sons getting the titles several times, which the crowd wasn't into at all. Jaxson Ryker's presence was the biggest tease, but an unusual alliance of all the other teams took him out.
Eventually, Montez Ford showed his amazing athleticism by jumping onto the ladder, knocking his opponent off it, and securing the gold for his team. It was the babyface moment of the night. The rest of it would be heel heavy.
#3 NXT North American Championship: Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Tyler Breeze
Tyler Breeze's return to the TakeOver stage went about as well as he could have hoped for. This wasn't a technical clinic like we would see at the opening and ending of the show, but it was a great character driven match that played to the strengths of both men.
Dream tried to show Tyler Breeze that he was old news, but the challenger took it to the champion in a way to prove that he wasn't.
The highlight of the match was undoubtedly the selfie spot near the announce table. In every match, Dream does something different that gets people buzzing. This was no different. Has anyone ever done a selfie spot in a match before?
Either way, Dream won the match after using the distraction of making it seem as if he'd attack his opponent with his title. Dream worked heel, but everyone loved it, and yet another selfie spot at the end of the match.
#2 Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong
At first, I thought that this was an odd way to open the night. Usually, that sort of stuff gets reserved to things like ladder matches, but here we saw the opening go to a match without a title on the line. Nobody argued with this, though. It was a superbly worked psychological match.
Roderick Strong attacked Matt Riddle's back relentlessly. Matt sold it excellently. The punishment just got more and more severe, and the crowd got more and more into it as Strong dished it out. Matt Riddle couldn't even secure the Bromission at first. A Final Flash knee strike also failed.
But eventually, Riddle fought through the pain and prevailed. Title aspirations have to be part of his near term future. Indeed, rumors are now swirling that he'll take on Adam Cole in Toronto, though I think it's too soon for that.
#1 NXT Championship: Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Adam Cole
This match went a little bit too long with false finish kick outs for my taste (though it wasn't anywhere near the absurdity of the Bucks match last week). Nevertheless, it was much better than the match in New York. There were some smart spots in the match, like Adam Cole falsely summoning the Undisputed Era from backstage, keeping Johnny Gargano on his guard.
The Panama Sunrise spot to the outside of the ring isn't something that will easily be forgotten.
The selling by both men in the match was also superb. It really felt like they were killing each other and couldn't capitalize on anything that they were doing.
In the end, though, Cole hit the Panama Sunrise and the Last Shot inside the ring, cutting Johnny Gargano's title reign short and becoming NXT Champion in a move that will no doubt have surprised many people.
