Tonight on NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, a rivalry is renewed. Sami Zayn returns to do battle with his former friend and partner Kevin Owens for his NXT Championship. Can Zayn put the belt over his injured shoulder leaving TakeOver? Plus, Finn Balor and Tyler Breeze compete for a shot at that very NXT Championship and Sasha Banks puts up the NXT Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch. All that and more on NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable.
We are LIVE from Orlando, Fla. Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves have the call for this week.
Tyler Breeze comes out after a mini-fashion show on the new NXT stage for his entrance.
The announce team looks at an attack on Hideo Itami in the parking lot and announce he will be unable to compete in the number one contender’s match.
Finn Balor unleashes the demon in his entrance.
Number One Contender’s Match for the NXT Championship: Tyler Breeze vs. Finn Balor
Finn Balor with the side headlock and shoulder block for a nearfall. Tyler Breeze returns the favor and reapplies the hold. Breeze with another shoulder block and he takes it to the mat where Balor counters out. Dropkick sends Breeze outside and Balor corners him with chops back inside. Breeze comes back with a springboard kick that knocks Balor off the apron. Breeze works Balor down back inside and gets a nearfall off a swinging neckbreaker. Breeze with a leg drop nearfall and he keeps Balor down. Dropkick comeback from Balor off a Breeze sunset flip. Breeze sent outside and Balor with a double foot stomp to the floor. Head kick in the corner gets Balor a nearfall. Sling Blade lands and Breeze comes back with a Supermodel Kick for a nearfall. The turnbuckle cover ripped by Breeze and he mises a Beauty Shot. Double foot stomp misses and Breeze with a rollup. Balor rolls Breeze up with the same results and Breeze kicks him into the turnbuckle. Beauty Shot lands and Balor able to kick out for a nearfall. Sling Blade on the ramp sees Balor come back with a dive off the stage. Dropkick in the corner followed by Coup de Grâce,
Winner by pinfall and number one contender for the NXT Championship: Finn Balor
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
Comments: Good opener. A little sloppier than I’d expect from these two. The entrances were probably the best part of this whole match. Nothing bad here, but a little underwhelming all things considered.
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The always-unique Finn Balor.
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Video package recaps NXT live events.
Dana Brooke & Emma vs. Charlotte & Bayley
Dana Brooke starts out with Bayley and Bayley and Charlotte drop her with the double team offense. Bayley returns and Emma tags in. Emma sent out and Bayley knocked off the top rope as Brooke distracts. Emma bounces the head of Bayley off the mat for a nearfall. Emma working Bayley down in the corner and Brooke and Emma play the isolation game. Emma-mite Sandwich lands for a nearfall and Bayley continues to be worked down. Emma distracted by Charlotte and Bayley with a t-bone suplex to get the tag. Charlotte attacks Brooke and is able to fend off the double team from Brooke and Emma with a DDT on both. Nearfall on Emma by Charlotte. Emma kicks Charlotte away in the corner and lands a flying crossbody. Charlotte rolls through and locks in a Figure Eight. Brooke tries to break it up and Bayley hits Bayley to Belly on Brooke. Natural Selection lands from Charlotte.
Winners by pinfall: Charlotte & Bayley
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Comments: Dana Brooke really needs some work. Charlotte was a little off as well and that threw the match into a bit of disarray. Bayley and Emma were able to bring it together and salvage it a bit.
Sami Zayn shown preparing for the main event.
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Barry Corbin is victorious.
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Rhyno vs. Baron Corbin
Rhyno with the side headlock and shoulder block. Baron Corbin comes back and sends Rhyno off the ropes. Rhyno hooks the ropes and sends Corbin out. Rhyno works Corbin down inside and gets knocked off the top rope. Corbin tosses Rhyno against the barricade and apron. Baron working Rhyno down inside. Nearfall for Corbin off sending Rhyno to the corner and he keeps Rhyno on the mat. Rhyno comes back and Corbin goes off on Rhyno in the corner. The referee separates the two and Corbin tosses Rhyno to the mat. Rhyno fights back and they knock each other own off shoulder blocks. Both men beat the count and Rhyno knocking Corbin own. Corner spear lands for Rhyno and Corbin headbutts out of a belly to belly suplex. Rhyno with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Belly to belly suplex lands and a Gore met by a clothesline from Corbin. End of Days lands on Rhyno.
Winner by pinfall: Baron Corbin
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Comments: Solid hoss brawl. A little slow and sloppy to start, but the two seemed to get it together in the end. Not great, but better than expected.
Greg Hamilton interviews NXT Champion Kevin Owens.
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A little help from Alexis Bliss allowed Murphy and Blake to keep their tag team titles.
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NXT Tag Team Championships: Blake & Murphy (c) vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady
Enzo Amore starts with Blake and Amore gets a rollup and a running crossbody for a nearfall. Dropkick gets Amore a nearfall. Murphy tagged in and Colin Cassady is in. Blake and Murphy move back into their corner and Murphy lands chops that do nothing. Tornado DDT attempt thrown off by Big Cass for a nearfall. Amore in and Big Cass tosses Amore into Murphy. Crossbody off the top gets Amore a nearfall. Amore on the apron and he gets distracted and dropped for a nearfall by Murphy. Isolation game being played and Amore kept on the mat. Murphy charges Amore in the corner and lands on the ring post. Blake in to prevent the tag and he locks in an abdominal stretch. Big Cass knocked off and a pop-up lungblower nearly finishes Amore. Amore comes back with a tornado DDT from the top and makes the tag. Big boot and Empire Elbow from Big Cass nearly win the match. Cass tags in Amore and gets him up top. Alexa Bliss drops Carmella and Big Cass with a superkick outside as he checks on her. Bliss knocks Amore off the top.
Winners by pinfall and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: Blake & Murphy
Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Comments: About as good as you’re going to get with Enzo and Big Cass. Decent match with a good comeback from Amore and solidly incorporated interference.
Video package recaps the rivalry between NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
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Sasha Banks finishes off the strong challenge of Becky Lynch.
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NXT Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch exchange pinning combinations for nearfalls to start. Lynch goes for the Fujiwara Armbar and Banks goes to the ropes to get some space. Banks works Lynch to the corner and Lynch with a springboard thrust kick to put Banks to the apron. Arm wrench from Banks on the apron. Nearfall back inside by Banks and she works Lynch in between the ropes. Banks drops Lynch and applies a straitjacket after a nearfall. Lungblower from Banks and she keeps the hold. Lynch fights up and corners Banks. Hold broken and Lynch fights out of the corner. Banks whips her around and lands the double knees on the left arm of Lynch. Armbar in and Banks stands on the arm before stomping it into the mat for a nearfall. Shoulder locks applied by Banks. Lynch rolls out for a nearfall and Banks grabs the hold again. Banks picked up off the cross armbreaker and electric chair from Lynch breaks it. Lynch with a leg lariat and she bounces the head of Banks out of the corner. Missile dropkick nearfall for Lynch. Knees in the corner from Banks get a nearfall and she slaps Lynch. Banks goes for the arm and Lynch throws her out. Banks pulled into the ring post and they go back inside. Suplex on the left arm sees Lynch try an armbar. Banks gets free and Lynch with a belly to back suplex for a nearfall.
Banks rolls Lynch and looks for the Bank Statement. Lynch rolls her up and gets a Fujiwara Armbar. Banks struggles and is able to get a rope break. Banks pulls Lynch outside and goes for a crossbody through the ropes. Lynch catches her and runs her into the steps on her arm. Lynch goes up top and Banks gets up there to land an armbreaker. Bank Statement applied and Lynch left with nowhere to go.
Winner by submission and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Sasha Banks
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Comments: Banks and Lynch tore the house down. The match had a little bit of everything for everyone. Mat work, brawling, flying, high spots, storytelling, you name it. A few slips here and there, but for the match to be this good despite those is really a testament to how great this match was.
Video package recaps the rivalry between NXT Champion Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
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The Sami Zayn-Kevin Owens rivalry continued.
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NXT Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens moves outside as soon as the bell rings and Sami Zayn follows him out. Zayn landing the punches and sending Owens tumbling around ringside. Zayn sends Owens back outside with a clothesline and Owens tries to catch him with a powerbomb. Zayn backdrops him to the floor and Owens strikes Zayn down back inside. Zayn thrown out and Owens dragged outside. Zayn tosses Owens into two sets of steel steps. Owens breaks the count and Zayn brings him back out. Owens punched into the front row and the fight spills to the audience. Owens tries a powerbomb and Zayn holds on to the bleacher railing. Owens backdropped back ringside. Blue Thunder Bomb back inside gets Zayn a nearfall. Zayn looks for a half nelson belly to back suplex. Owens tries to elbow out and Zayn connects to nearly win the match. Tornado DDT attempt by Zayn turned into a backbreaker, but Owens misses a cannonball into the corner. Exploder suplex lands on Owens in the corner and Owens moves outside before taking a Helluva Kick. Zayn follows him out and lands an exploder suplex on the floor. Zayn looks for Helluva Kick against the post and Owens picks Zayn up. Pop-Up Powerbomb on the apron lands for Owens and referees and the doctor immediately rush to ringside. Owens keeps attacking and throwing off referees to get to Zayn with more kicks and punches.
Owens pummels Zayn and takes him back inside. NXT General Manager William Regal makes his way out and gets Owens to move aside. Owens goes back and Regal fishhooks him away. Owens drops him with a headbutt and gets a chair from ringside. Owens takes a chair to Zayn and music hits. Samoa Joe makes his way out to the ring and goes face to face with Owens. Owens leaves the ring with his belt in hand.
No Contest
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Comments: You can’t really rate a moment in regards to the match, but the combination of the two was about as perfect as you can get. The match itself was a great story and did a lot with a little. Samoa Joe making the save made it a 5 star moment.
Kevin Owens makes his way down to the bottom of the ramp and looks ready to go. The show closes as Samoa Joe is in the ring and Owens makes his way back, saying tonight isn’t the night.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Comments: What started out looking like a real disappointment of a show delivered in the title main events. With a classic match and a classic moment, the show went from “meh” to can’t miss.