7 Ups And 2 Downs From NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

Vikings, ultimate fighters and do-it-yourselfers reign supreme!

by Scott Carlson
Aleistar Black Ricochet
WWE.com

It’s become harder and harder to find something negative about NXT TakeOvers. They show runners have gotten really good at churning out these special events that include incredible wrestling from the opening bell.

Saturday was no exception, as TakeOver: Phoenix delivered a five-match card where the worst match was “good” and the best were “jaw-droppingly good.” We saw two new champions crowned during the PPV, with two first-time champs leaving the event with gold in their possession. We also saw what hopefully will be the last chapter in a mini-rivalry, and a wrestler trying to live up to his nickname at TakeOver.

We learned whether an undefeated wrestler was overrated. We learned if Vikings could end an era. And we learned if we would get another two-time NXT Champion.

As we’ve said numerous times after a TakeOver, it will be tough for WWE to follow this act, but we’re obviously hoping the main roster will step up and deliver, because it’s clear this company is capable of putting on a really, really good wrestling show.

For now, let’s just enjoy what we got from the black-and-yellow brand and worry about Royal Rumble when it’s time.

Let’s find out how things went down. Let’s get to it…

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Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.