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NXT TakeOver: Rival

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NXT TakeOver: Rival
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)NXT
DateFebruary 11, 2015
CityWinter Park, Florida
VenueFull Sail University
Attendance400+ (Sold out)
WWE Network event chronology
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NXT TakeOver chronology
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NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable

NXT TakeOver: Rival, was a professional wrestling event produced by WWE, under their NXT brand and was broadcast live on the WWE Network, available to subscribers. NXT TakeOver took place on February 11, 2015 at NXT's "home" arena, Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida and featured six matches as part of the main broadcast and one match prior to the televised portion of the show. The show was the fourth show in the "NXT TakeOver" series of Network exclusive shows. The main event of the show saw Sami Zayn defend the NXT Championship against former friend Kevin Owens in a match that played off their shared history prior to signing with WWE. Also on the show Charlotte defended the NXT Women's Championship against Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley in a Fatal 4-Way match as well as Blake and Murphy defending the NXT Tag Team Championship as the former champions The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) received their rematch. The show also featured the finals of a #1 Contender to the NXT Championship Tournament and two additional matches.

Production

Background

The NXT TakeOver series of professional wrestling shows started on May 29, 2014 as the WWE developmental league WWE NXT held their second ever WWE Network exclusive live broadcast billed as NXT TakeOver.[1] In subsequent months the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by NXT and WWE for all of their NXT live specials as they held NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way and NXT TakeOver: R Evolution prior to Rival.[2][3]

Storylines

See also: Professional wrestling

The main event of the NXT TakeOver: Rival show was a storyline between long time real life friends and often in-ring opponents Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The storyline played off the decade long friendship between the two, predating both of them working for WWE, back when they were known as Kevin Steen (Owens) and El Generico (Zayn). The two became friends when they worked for the Canadian International Wrestling Syndicate IWS and later on won several tag team championships as Kevin Steen and El Generico including the PWG World Tag Team Championship twice and the ROH World Tag Team Championship.[4][5][6] While they were close friends the two also had a very intense storyline feud in Ring of Honor (ROH) that lasted from late 2009 until late 2012 where Zayn signed a contract with WWE.[7] Steen, given the ring name Kevin Owens signed a WWE contract during the summer of 2015, joining Zayn in NXT. During the build to Owens' debut at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution they acknowledge the past history of Zayn and Owens, citing their friendship. At "R Evolution" Owens won his debut match against CJ Parker and then later on in the night Zayn defeated Adrian Neville to win the NXT Championship. After the victory Owens came to the ring to congratulate Zayn on the victory, but then turned on his and attacked Zayn, slamming him hard on the edge of the ring.[8] On January 14, 2015 Zayn successfully defended the championship against Neville, only to be attacked by Owens after the match once more.[9] At the following NXT show Zayn demanded a match against Owens, with Owens pushing back saying he was a "prize figher" and would only fight Zayn if the NXT Championship was on the line, a stipulation Zayn agreed to.[10][11]

In the weeks prior to the TakeOver: Rival show NXT held a tournament to determine the next challenger to the NXT Championship, announcing the tournament before Owens goaded Zayn into giving him a match for the championship. The eight man tournament included Finn Bálor, Curtis Axel, Hideo Itami, Tyler Breeze, Tyson Kidd, Adrian Neville, Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey. The first round of the tournament was broadcast on January 21 and 28 with Balor, Itami, Neville and Corbin all advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-finals of the tournament was shown on the WWE Network on February 4 and saw Balor and Neville qualify for the finals that would take place at TakeOver: Rival.[12]

NXT Championship #1 Contenders Tournament brackets
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
1 Finn Bálor Pin
8 Curtis Axel 04:55
Finn Bálor Pin
Hideo Itami 12:03
4 Hideo Itami Pin
5 Tyler Breeze 12:55
Finn Bálor Pin
Adrian Neville 13:25
2 Tyson Kidd 12:45
7 Adrian Neville Pin
Adrian Neville Pin
Baron Corbin 05:28
3 Baron Corbin Pin
6 Bull Dempsey 01:32

On January 15, 2015 (shown on January 28) the team of Blake and Murphy upset the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Caras) to win the championship.[13] Prior to the victory the team had only won a few matches since they became a regular tag team six months prior, so the title victory was seen as a surprise. Following the title change NXT quickly announced a rematch between the two teams for TakeOver: Rival.

Event

Preliminary matches

The event opened with Hideo Itami facing Tyler Breeze. Itami executed a Shotgun Kick on Breeze for the win.

A No-Disqualification match between Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey followed. Corbin executed the Ends of Days to win the match.

After that, Blake and Murphy defended the NXT Tag Team Championship against The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto). After Murphy executed a Brainbuster on Sin Cara, Blake followed with a Six Star Frog Splash for the pinfall to retain the title.

The next match between Adrian Neville and Finn Bálor was to determine the #1 Contender for the NXT Championship. During the match, Bálor performed a Running Front Dropkick on Neville, who was leaning against the guardrail. Balor performed a Diving Double Foot Stomp to the back of Neville's head for a near-fall. Neville executed a Phoenix Splash off the middle rope for a near-fall. In the end, Bálor performed a Running Front Dropkick on Neville, knocking him into the turnbuckles, followed by a Coup De Grace for a pinfall.

A Fatal Four Way match that saw NXT Women's Champion Charlotte defend her title against Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch followed. During the match, Lynch performed an Exploder Suplex on Charlotte for a near-fall. Bayley performed a Bayley-to-Belly Suplex off the top rope on Charlotte but Banks broke up the pinfall attempt. Banks pinned Charlotte with a Crucifx to win the title.

Main event

In the main event, Sami Zayn defended his NXT Championship against Kevin Owens. During the match, Zayn performed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Owens for a near-fall. After Owens executed a Pop Up Powerbomb for a near-fall, Zayn appeared to be injured. Medical personnel repeatedly checked on him. After Owens performed another four Powerbombs, the Referee declared Owens the winner by technical knockout. As a result, Owens won the NXT Championship.[14][15][16]

Aftermath

Owens defended the NXT Championship against Sami Zayn at the following TakeOver, NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, again the match ended without a pinfall as Owens injured Zayn, attacking him until Samoa Joe made his surprise debut for NXT and stopped Owens from attacking further.[17]

Results

No.Results[14][15][16]StipulationsTimes[14]
1Hideo Itami defeated Tyler BreezeSingles match[18]8:13
2Baron Corbin defeated Bull DempseyNo Disqualification match[19]4:15
3Blake and Murphy (c) defeated The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto)Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship[20]8:10
4Finn Balor defeated Adrian NevilleSingles match to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship[21]13:45
5Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte (c), Bayley and Becky LynchFatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship[22]12:28
6Kevin Owens defeated Sami Zayn (c) by referee stoppageSingles match for the NXT Championship[23]23:27
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References

  1. ^ Howell, Nolan. "Neville tops Kidd at NXT Takeover". canoe.ca. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  2. ^ Howell, Nolan. "Neville shocks, defies odds at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way". Canoe.ca. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ^ James, Caldwell. "Caldwell's WWE NXT Takeover results 12/11: Complete virtual-time coverage of Neville vs. Zayn for the NXT Title, Itami & Balor, Charlotte, Kevin Steen/Owens's debut, Corey Graves retires". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  4. ^ "El Generico & "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  5. ^ "El Generico & "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen (2nd Reign)". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  6. ^ "Ring Of Honor Tag Team Championship". Ring of Honor. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  7. ^ Caldwell, James (January 9, 2013). "WWE News: Independent star reportedly signs with WWE". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  8. ^ Caldwell, James (2014-12-11). "WWE NXT Takeover results 12/11: Complete virtual-time coverage of Neville vs. Zayn for the NXT Title, Itami & Balor, Charlotte, Kevin Steen/Owens's debut, Corey Graves retires". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  9. ^ Caldwell, James (2015-01-14). "WWE NXT report 1/14 - Week 135: New timeslot kicks off with Zayn vs. Neville NXT Title re-match, plus Charlotte & Natalya, Balor vs. Kidd, Corbin vs. Dempsey; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  10. ^ Howell, Nolan. "NXT: NXT Championship contender tourney kicks off". Canoe.ca. Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  11. ^ Howell, Nolan. "NXT: Tournament and contract signing heat up". Canoe.ca. Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  12. ^ "WWE NXT Title #1 Contendership Tournament". CageMatch.net. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Parry, Josh (January 15, 2015). "NXT spoilers from Full Sail University". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c James, Justin. "WWE NXT Takeover report 2/11: Zayn vs. Owens NXT Title match, Women's Title semi-main event, Neville-Balor; Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  15. ^ a b Varsallone, Jim. "Hot crowd at Full Sail Live as Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens win WWE NXT titles; WWE NXT bound for Cleveland". Miami Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  16. ^ a b Caldwell, James. "NXT News: Big title changes on "Takeover" special, tournament finals, pre-show dark match, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  17. ^ James, Justin. "WWE NXT "TakeOver: Unstoppable" report 5/20: Owens vs. Zayn for the NXT Title ends in wild fashion with a major debut of Samoa Joe, plus spectacular NXT Women's Title match, more; Overall Reax". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  18. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Hideo Itami def. Tyler Breeze". WWE. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  19. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Baron Corbin def. Bull Dempsey in a No Disqualification Match". WWE. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  20. ^ Melok, Bobby. "NXT Tag Team Champions Blake & Murphy def. The Lucha Dragons". Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  21. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Prince Devitt def. Jungle Pac (NXT Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament Finals)". WWE. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  22. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Sasha Banks def. Charlotte, Bayley and Becky Lynch in a Fatal 4-Way Match to become NXT Women's Champion". WWE. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  23. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn by referee stoppage to become NXT Champion". WWE. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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