7 Ups And 0 Downs For WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand And Deliver Night 1 (Apr 7)
1. New Mami At The Top
A match seemingly in the making for most of the last twelve months, Raquel Gonzalez finally got her hands on the most dominant NXT Women's Champion in black and gold history at TakeOver: Stand and Deliver Night 1.
Once again hammering home the fact that she would not die (!), Io Shirai went straight after her powerful challenger, catching Big Mami Cool off-guard with her rapid fire kicks, an effective hurricanrana, and a crossbody into the corner. This, coupled with a wicked dive to the outside seemed to suggest that Shirai well and truly had Gonzalez' number. Not even some devious Dakota Kai interference could take the sting out of her assault, with the former title challenger being ejected from ringside for her troubles.
With the playing field levelled slightly, 'The Genius of the Sky' then lived up to her name with a springboard moonsault, only to be lawn-darted into the ring post in response to said exclamation mark. This momentum shift gave way to an explosive sequence of pain from the bigger woman, battering Shirai with a flipping slam, reverse powerbomb onto the ropes, and an excruciating torture rack-esque submission.
The Champ would wiggle back into the driver's seat with a precise double stomp, quickly followed up a tiger feint kick and springboard dropkick. If it wasn't clear by now, the pace in this contest did not let up for a minute!
As the action spilled outside of the ring, Shirai nailed her challenger with a moonsault on the entrance ramp and a running double knee to the chops as a follow up. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the gold standard was atop the looming skull on stage, launching herself off the top of the head onto a no doubt dumbfounded Gonzalez. Yet, the challenger still somehow managed to kick out, despite being hit with ANOTHER moonsault on the inside of the ring.
A single-arm powerbomb on the outside, body exploding lariat, and one more of her patented finishers in the middle of the ring later, your new NXT Women's Champion was standing before you. And long may she reign.
Though the headlines will no doubt be occupied by justified praise being sent the new champ's way, let the record show that Shirai's run will go down in the history books as one of the finest in NXT history. The question is, with such an emphatic conclusion to her glorious tenure, just who stands a chance of usurping the new top Mami?