Ranking Every NXT TakeOver Special - From Worst To Best
What has been the best NXT live special to date?
Similar to last year, WWE WrestleMania 33 had its work cut out for it with NXT hosting its latest live special the night prior. From Bobby Roode successfully defending his NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura to the stacked Triple Threat tag team title match, it was a solid show that met the lofty expectations of fans.
Then again, have any of the installments of TakeOver to date disappointed? That would be resounding no. Granted, some have been better than others, but by and large, every TakeOver has had something special to offer, which is incredible when you consider that there have been 15 of them since February 2014.
Even when the buzz surrounding the black-and-yellow brand isn't quite so fervent, TakeOver events never fail to deliver. Ranking each of the live specials is a tough task given that all of them ranged from good to great to extraordinary, but it's only appropriate we attempt to do so as TakeOver: Chicago looms large. Where will the latest live special rank among its predecessors?
15. TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way
The Highlights: To call NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way the worst live special to date isn't necessarily saying it was atrocious, because again, every TakeOver has been good at the very least. Rather, this installment had the weakest card of any TakeOver thus far, yet it was still an enjoyable show on the whole.
Of course, the eponymous Fatal 4-Way between then-NXT champion Neville, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze, and Tyson Kidd was absolutely exceptional and one of the best bouts of 2014. Hideo Itami also arrived that night and made a major statement by fending off The Ascension.
The Low Points: The rest of this TakeOver left a lot to be desired. Baron Corbin's debut and The Lucha Dragons winning the NXT Tag Team Championship were cool moments, but Bull Dempsey's squash of Mojo Rawley was a waste of time.
Enzo Amore vs. Sylvestor Lefort was a forgettable affair, and Charlotte vs. Bayley for the NXT Women's Championship paled in comparison to their future matchups against each other.