NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, out of the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, just wrapped up. We’ve got the NXT TakeOver: New Orleans results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about TakeOver by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
NXT TakeOver: New Orleans Quick Stats
- Date: April 7th, 2018
- Attendance: 13,955 // Capacity: ~18,000
- Featured Songs: It Follows & Lord of the Flies, both by Cane Hill
EC3 vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Ricochet vs. Adam Cole vs. Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan
NXT North American Championship Ladder Match
You’ve got to see it to believe it. @KingRicochet #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/ZiuMR87ct5
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 8, 2018
This was very possibly the hottest opening match of all time. All six men absolutely destroyed each other and themselves in one of the best ladder matches we’ve ever seen. This was anyone’s game, even the crowd couldn’t decide who they loved the most. After 30 minutes straight of awe-inspiring, death-defying stunts, Adam Cole climbed to the top of the ladder and claimed the new North American Championship.
Winner: Adam Cole
Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
NXT Women’s Championship Match
All caution has been thrown to the wind for #WWENXT #WomensChampion @WWEEmberMoon! #NXTTakeOver #WomensChampionship pic.twitter.com/Ws5jQ285fu
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 8, 2018
This match was exactly what it needed to be: a psychological showcase. The Queen of Spades came out ready to tap, nap, or snap, but it was Ember Moon who would turn the tables and attempt to break Baszler’s arm with an elbow stomp. This was not enough to bring down The Queen, however, who came back and took the Women’s Championship by reversing the Eclipse and putting Moon to sleep with her Kirifuda Clutch.
Winner: Shayna Baszler
The Undisputed Era (c) vs. The Authors of Pain vs. Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong
NXT Tag Team Championship Match/Dusty Classic Finale
Never turn your back on The #BruiserWeight. @PeteDunneYxB #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/mEpGp8jC9V
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 8, 2018
These three teams had fairly even back-and-forth, even with Undisputed at a disadvantage due to Cole’s match earlier in the night. Toward the end, The Authors of Pain got a near fall, but it was broken up by Roderick Strong. Pete and Roderick were building momentum and just when we thought they were about to snag the titles, Roderick Strong attacked Pete Dunne and assisted an “unconscious” Kyle O’Reilly in making the pin, joining The Undisputed Era in the process.
Winner: The Undisputed Era
Andrade “Cien” Almas (c) vs. Aleister Black
NXT Championship Match
.@WWEAleister wastes NO TIME bringing the fight to @AndradeCienWWE! #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship pic.twitter.com/z1GsHerUoE
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 8, 2018
With the title on the line, these two brought it. Andrade Almas used every trick in the book in an attempt to defeat Aleister Black: dirty maneuvers, interference, not to mention all of the intensity he could muster, even getting past the Black Mass at one point by Vega putting his foot on the rope, but his dirty deeds eventually came back to bite him. Vega attempted a dive onto Black but was caught by Almas instead, allowing Aleister Black to become the new NXT Champion by hitting his second Black Mass of the night.
Winner: Aleister Black
Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Unsanctioned Match // Gargano’s NXT Career on the Line
BATTER UP! @JohnnyGargano #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/DxaInBtO7v
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 8, 2018
In a word: wow. After Ciampa’s devastating attack at TakeOver: Chicago and a year-long build, ex-best friends Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano went one-on-one in the ring as enemies for the first time. This has been a blood feud for the ages and this match had everything; excellent psychology, great spots, two guys bringing a ton of history and emotion, each out to bring the other down once and for all. Although we’re not sure this was the end of their story, if it ends here, our only complaint would be that we could never get enough of these two. Johnny Gargano finally got his revenge and took down his arch-nemesis, Tommaso Ciampa, in what was quite possibly the greatest match to ever take place in a WWE ring to close out what was possibly the greatest show to ever take place under the WWE brand. What a night.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #NXTTakeOver
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) April 8, 2018
