By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Aired January 30, 2019 on WWE Network
Taped January 26, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona at Talking Stick Resort Arena
A highlight video teaser aired which showcased the high points of NXT Takoever: Phoenix…
Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson were on commentary and welcomed viewers to the NXT Takeover aftermatch show. Mauro hyped Street Profits vs. Forgotten Sons for later in the show…
1. Io Shirai and Kairi Sane vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Kairi Sane got a huge reaction from the crowd during her entrance. Nigel compared Shirai and Sane to the Jumping Bomb Angels. (As we saw on Saturday) Shafir is wearing a nose injury mask. Shafir and Shirai started off the match. Shirai ran circles around Shafir. Duke and Sane tagged in. Duke teased a test of strength but mocked Sane’s height. Duke and Shafir traded mounts and ground and pound. Sane and Shirai isolated and double teamed Duke. Mauro called Shirai and Sane “The Sky Pirates” (I like this name). Duke was hit by a meteora from Shirai. Duke tripped Shirai off the apron to turn the tables.
Shafir tagged in and got a basic takedown on Shirai. Duke and Shafir hit a tandem kick move on Shirai. Duke locked in a butterfly lock on Shirai. Shafir tagged in and locked in a dragon sleeper to keep Shirai out of her corner. Shirai escaped with Sliced Bread #2. Shirai tagged in Sane for the hot tag. Sane took down Shafir with a blockbuster and her signature spear. Shirai double kicked Duke off the apron. Shirai assisted Sane with an elbow drop. Shirai took out Duke with a Tope. Sane hit Shafir with an InSane Elbow for the victory.
Kairi Sane and Io Shirai defeated Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir 6:39.
Mauro reiterated the “Sky Pirates” name.
John’s Thoughts: I’m ok with this and I’m glad NXT understands that Duke and Shafir are better utilized as stooges. As has been the story with their work during live events, both Duke and Shafir are really green, but Duke looks like she has something there with her technique and height. Sane and Shirai are looking good as a tandem and this could be a good way to acclimate Shirai to the WWE audience, but I did note before they signed that Sane’s personality might make her a bigger star in WWE despite Shirai being better in the ring in terms of moveset.
Highlights from the Ricochet vs. Gargano match was shown…
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Johnny Gargano about winning his first championship. Gargano said he delivered on a match of the year and a win. Gargano said “Johnny Takeover” is the new NXT North American Champion. Gargano said winning feels great as he acted like he was in some sort of euphoria and dark trance… [c]
Percy Watson thanked YouTube star Poppy for providing the song “X” for NXT Takeover: Phoenix…
Mauro talked over highlights from the Shayna Baszler vs. Bianca Belair match…
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Bianca Belair after her match. Belair said being undefeated is more than a record, it’s a midset. Schreiber then brought up Sam Roberts saying that Belair didn’t belong at takeover. Belair said “Mr. Sam, you can kiss my ass”…
John’s Thoughts: That Belair response to Sam Roberts simple was great! I wonder why WWE is trying to force Roberts into this picture?
After more match highlights, Cathy Kelley interviewed War Raiders, Hanson and Raymond Rowe, after their title win. Rowe said that UE won their respect but their era was over. Hanson talked about how the war is here, the raid has begun, and the war raiders reign starts now… [c]
Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno highlights were shown…
Cathy Kelley interviewed Matt Riddle after his match. Riddle said it’s not about the victory this time since Riddle beat him twice before, Riddle said it was about making a point. Riddle talked about making Ohno submit and how he broke Ohno. Riddle said he can break anyone…
A video package aired that recapped Tommaso Ciampa vs. Aleister Black for the NXT Championship…
A tweet was shown of Paul Heyman praising Tommaso Ciampa for being an example of Triple H’s vision for the future…
The post-Takeover brawl between three heels and three babyfaces were shown which will set up WWE Halftime Heat. Steve Carino was shown helping Hunter keep the peace. They then aired Shawn Michaels hyping Halftime Heat. Coach announced that Shawn Michaels is going to be the guest commentator of Halftime Heat… [c]
Percy Watson thanked the band Alien Weaponry for providing the song “Holding my Breath” for NXT Takeover: Phoenix…
NXT guests in the Royal Rumble were spotlighted in the next video…
Percy Watson hyped Johnny Gargano live next week to address his really successful weekend which included an EOTY Award win, NA Title win, and appearance in the Rumble…
The Street Profits made their entrance wearing all red wile carrying red Solo cups. Nigel noted that Percy seems so happy, it sounds like he had some happy drank earlier…
John’s Thoughts: Maybe someone should pour some Vodka in Watson’s cup to bring back homeboy “Showtime” Percy Watson…
2. “The Street Profts” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkings vs. “The Forgotten Sons” Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake (w/Jaxson Ryker). Watson pointed out that Dawkins and Ford were wearing similar gear to Booker T and Stevie Ray, Harlem Heat. The Profits sent Blake and Cutler outside. The Profits flapjacked Cutler on top of Blake. Blake came back by hitting Ford with a lariat. They isolated Ford away from his partner and initiated methodical offense. Cutler kept yelling “you want to forget us?” at Ford. More methodical isolation offense ensued. Cutler pulled out a rebound backbreaker on Ford for a nearfall after a prolongued headlock sequence from Blake.
Ford cleared the way by tossing Blake and Cutler outside. Blake went for a splash, but Ford rolled aside. Ford leaped and tagged in Dawkins for the hot tag. Dawkins cleaned house. Dawkins missed a 360 lariat. Ford hit a rope clearing Tope Con Hilo on Cutler. Street Profits hit Blake with an Electric Chair Blockbuster. Cutler broke up the subsequent pin. Ryker hit Ford with an exe handle strike while the referee and Dawkins were distracted on the other side of the ring. Dawkins saw the attack and teased confronting Ryker but Cutler caught Dawkins off guard with a Suicide Dive. The Forgotten Sons hit a double team (Stomp-Russian Legsweep) finisher for the victory.
The Forgotten Sons defeated The Street Profits via pinfall in 7:17
The Forgotten Sons grunted and posed to close the show with about 10 minutes left in the hour…
John’s Thoughts: An okay match, but the Forgotten Sons are back to that plodding and boring style that made them so forgettable to start their NXT runs. I point this out because before this match they had two really strong matches. They’re heels, I get it, but in those two good matches the Sons came off as cunning and vicious. The Profits looked good but they are still yet to wrestle at a NXT main event level (compared to a team like Lorcan/Burch, Barthel/Aichner, or Moustache Mountain). Hopefully, we see better matches from this feud but the problem they are posed with here is both teams need to build credibility. The Sons are in a worse spot because their generic-ness makes it easy for the crowd to show apathy toward them.
A break week as usual after big Takeover shows. No need for a hit list this week due to that nature. I will be by tomorrow with an audio review for the dot net members…
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