NXT TakeOver: London

NXT TakeOver: London was the eighth NXT TakeOver professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's developmental brand, NXT. The event aired exclusively on the WWE Network and took place on December 16, 2015, at The SSE Arena in London, England. It was the first TakeOver held outside of the United States, which was also the finale of NXT's first tour of the United Kingdom, and the only NXT event held outside of North America.

Eight matches were contested at the event, including three taped for the December 23 episode of NXT. In the main event, Finn Bálor defeated Samoa Joe to retain the NXT Championship.

Production

Background

TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling shows that began in May 2014, as WWE's then-developmental league NXT held their second WWE Network-exclusive event, billed as TakeOver.^[3] In subsequent months, the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by WWE for all of their NXT live specials. Announced on August 27, 2015, TakeOver: London was scheduled as the eighth NXT TakeOver event and the first to be held outside of the United States. It was held on 16 December 2015, at The SSE Arena and was named after the venue's city of London, England. It was the finale of NXT's first tour of the United Kingdom. Tickets went on sale on August 28.^[1]^[4]

Storylines

The card included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT.^[5]^[6]

After TakeOver: Respect, a battle royal took place to determine the new #1 contender to Finn Bálor's NXT Championship, which was won by Apollo Crews.^[7] Bálor and Crews faced each other for the title on 4 November episode of NXT, with the match ending in disqualification after Baron Corbin interfered and attacked both men with his primary target being Crews. Samoa Joe came to the ring and fended off Corbin before attacking his friend Bálor, turning heel in the process. Feeling betrayed for not getting his title shot despite Bálor wanting to give him a shot, Joe took extreme lengths to get his title match. It was later announced that Bálor would defend the NXT Championship against Samoa Joe at TakeOver: London. Meanwhile, Baron Corbin explained his reason for costing Apollo Crews his title opportunity was because he held a personal grudge against him since after last eliminating him at the battle royal and challenged him to a match at TakeOver: London which Crews later accepted.

After retaining the NXT Women's Championship against Sasha Banks in the first-ever 30-minute Iron Woman match at TakeOver: Respect,^[7] Bayley continued to make successful title defenses. During Bayley's title defense against Eva Marie on 25 November episode of NXT, newcomer Nia Jax interfered on Marie's behalf by knocking out the official referee and having Charles Robinson officiate while being towards Marie. Despite this interference, Robinson was soon knocked out and Bayley retained her title by pinning Marie with another referee making the three count. After the match, Jax assaulted Bayley with the intention of going after the NXT Women's Championship. After a few confrontations, it was announced that Bayley would defend the NXT Women's Championship against Jax at TakeOver: London.

Event

Preliminary matches

The broadcast opened with a match between Asuka and Emma (accompanied by Dana Brooke). Asuka had the advantage until a distraction by Brooke allowed Emma to take control. During a comeback by Asuka, Emma countered the first "Asuka Lock" attempt by knocking them into the referee, thus disabling him. Brooke handed Emma a belt to use, which was snatched by Asuka. While Asuka protested against a possible disqualification to the referee, Emma capitalized with a roll-up for a near-fall and Asuka immediately applied the "Asuka Lock", only for Brooke to distract the referee. Emma eventually submitted, however, the referee did not notice this. Emma attempted to use the belt again, but Asuka executed a spin kick to win the match.^[8]^[9]

Next, Dash and Dawson defended the NXT Tag Team Championship against Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady (accompanied by Carmella). Amore and Cassady had a lively start, exemplified by Cassady throwing Amore over the top rope onto Dash and Dawson at ringside. However, the champions regained control by targeting Amore's arm and Cassady's leg, necessitating Amore saving Cassady from receiving a diving knee-breaker. Amore and Cassady combined for a "Rocket Launcher" onto Dash, with Dawson breaking up the pin and then sending Cassady into the ring-post. Dash and Dawson then caught Amore on the top rope, pinning Amore after a "Shatter Machine" to retain.^[10]

Next was the match pitting Apollo Crews against Baron Corbin. Corbin gained the advantage by dropping Crews over the top rope onto the ring steps. Later, Corbin executed "Deep Six" for a near-fall. Crews countered Corbin's "End of Days", then executed an enzuigiri and a standing moonsault for a near-fall. Despite lifting Corbin in preparation for a powerbomb, Corbin grabbed the ropes and escaped, then pinned Crews after the "End of Days" to win the match.^[9]^[10]

In the penultimate match, Bayley defending the NXT Women's Championship against Nia Jax. Jax dominated much of the match, countering all of Bayley's attempts of a guillotine choke into repeated leg drops or Samoan drops, but only for near-falls. After much of this, Bayley forced Jax to tap out to a fourth guillotine choke hold to retain the title.^[9]

Main event

In the main event, Finn Bálor defended the NXT Championship against Samoa Joe. During the match, both men performed dives out of the ring on their opponent, with Joe using an elbow suicida and Bálor a running flip over the top rope. Bálor managed to escape Joe's attempts at executing a muscle buster, and also rolled out of Joe's "Coquina Clutch". In the end, Bálor chopped Joe to the mat when both battled on the top rope, and then pinned Joe after a "Coup de Grâce" to retain the title.^[8]^[11] The event is also notable for the Jack the Ripper inspired entrance that Finn Bálor performed before his match against Samoa Joe. Bálor stated in an interview with Rebellious Noise that the night in London was special for him, and he could not have expected how well the production team would shoot the entrance stating "it was mind blowing".^[12]

Reception

The show generally received positive feedback from both the critics and the fans. Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter rated the Women's Championship match 3.25 out of 5 stars and the NXT Championship match 4 out of 5 stars, which is the same rating as the Emma vs. Asuka match. The lowest rating was the Apollo Crews vs. Baron Corbin match, which got 2.5 out of 5 stars.^[13] History of Wrestling scored the show 89/100.^[14]

Aftermath

After defeating Apollo Crews at the event, Baron Corbin declared his intentions of going after Finn Bálor's NXT Championship, proclaiming himself as the No. 1 contender. However Sami Zayn also returned from injury at the event also wanting to have a match for the title. This led to a Triple Threat Match between Zayn, Corbin and Samoa Joe that took place on 27 January 2016 episode of NXT to determine the No. 1 contender to face Bálor for the NXT Championship. The match ended without a winner after Corbin tapped out to both Zayn's Sharpshooter and Joe's crossface at the same time, leaving a shocked William Regal to review the match. Zayn and Joe faced each other in a No. 1 contenders match on 17 February episode of NXT from CFE Arena in University of Central Florida, which once again ended in no contest after both men's shoulders were pinned.

A women's battle royal took place on 13 January 2016 episode of NXT to determine the next No. 1 contender to Bayley's NXT Women's Championship. The match was won by Carmella after last eliminating Eva Marie. Bayley successfully retained her title against Carmella on 10 February episode from CFE Arena in Orlando, Florida, but afterwards Carmella was attacked by Eva Marie and Nia Jax leading to Bayley coming to Carmella's aid before gaining assistance by Asuka who fending off Marie and Jax. Asuka then confronted Bayley and looked at the NXT Women's title belt, signaling a challenge for the title.

Despite his title opportunity gone, Apollo Crews challenged Finn Bálor to a non-title match as he did not want their bout to end in a disqualification which Bálor later accepted. Bálor defeated Crews on 3 February 2016 episode of NXT with both men shaking hands in respect afterwards.

Results

No.

Results

Stipulations

Times^[21]

1^N

American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) defeated Blake and Murphy (with Alexa Bliss), The Hype Bros (Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder) and The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)

Fatal four-way tag team match^[15]

—

2^N

Elias Samson defeated Bull Dempsey by pinfall

Singles match^[15]

7:10

3^N

Sami Zayn defeated Tye Dillinger by pinfall

Singles match^[15]

—

Asuka defeated Emma (with Dana Brooke) by pinfall

Singles match^[16]