The NXT brand gets it's final showcase here in Season 5, as they take over New York one week prior to WrestleMania IV.
NXT Takeover: New York Card
Grizzled Young Veterans vs Heavy Machinery vs The Street Profits
These three teams have all come up short in their pursuit of the NXT tag team titles, but all will have a chance for redemption in this triple threat match. Triple H has offered the winner a title shot, though an even bigger opportunity could be at stake, with rumors swirling that Raw and SmackDown have both sent representatives to scout this match as the Free Agency period will be opening following WrestleMania. All of these teams has a good chance to be the future of tag team wrestling, and they will get a massive spotlight to show the world what they are capable of.
Mandy Rose vs Sonya Deville
The team of Fire and Desire both made their own impact back in January, with Rose failing in her challenge of Rhea Ripley, while Deville lasted to the final three of the Women's Royal Rumble match, coming very close to eliminating Nia Jax. Coming out of their dual defeats, both women struggled to get back in sync as a team, losing a tag match to Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai. That led to an argument where both alleged the other had lost focus, while defending her own high-profile loss. Eventually, it was settled that they would meet in a singles match to determine who was the superior of the duo.
Moustache Mountain(c) vs Imperium- NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Trent Seven and Tyler Bate have been the champions of NXT's tag team division throughout the entirety of Season 5, turning back every challenge, generally in dramatic fashion. This time, though, they face a far different threat. The new group known as Imperium are next to challenge Moustache Mountain, and they may well be unstoppable. WALTER, Alexander Wolfe and Marcel Barthel showed their dominance with a massive beatdown on Bate and Seven during the go-home show, after which WALTER declared that he and Wolfe would take the tag team titles in New York, and begin reshaping NXT's tag division in their image.
Buddy Murphy(c) vs Cedric Alexander- NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match
(Henry's Note- I don't know why I've never added the NXT prefix to this title's name, but I have now)
It's been a long and winding road to the top for Cedric Alexander. After trading the Cruiserweight strap with Mustafa Ali in Season 4, he then lost it in controversial fashion to Roderick Strong after interference from Triple H. Alexander got his revenge, costing Strong the belt in a defense against Buddy Murphy. Finally, in Phoenix, Cedric avenged some of his demons, sending Strong packing in a Loser Leaves NXT match. One week later, he met with Triple H in a very tense exchange, where the GM agreed to give him a title match as a reward. Alexander and Murphy had a contract signing on the go-home show, where Buddy expressed gratitude for Cedric's assistance in his title match against Strong, but made it clear that he intends to remain the face of the Cruiserweight division going forward. Alexander, not one to mince words, responded by smacking the champ in the jaw with his mic, before putting him through the contract signing table with a flapjack.
Drew Gulak vs Matt Riddle
Back at Takeover: Blackpool, Gulak faced Riddle for the first time, and the former Cruiserweight Champion came up short in a competitive effort, sending him into a spiral. For months, Gulak was shown training, lifting weights and receiving mat-wrestling instruction from the likes of Bret Hart and Kurt Angle, readying his mind and body for another match with Matt Riddle. Then, following his no contest with Keith Lee in Phoenix, Riddle returned to NXT with surprising news: he had met with a representative of one of the other two brands, and agreed to sign a contract once Free Agency opened. Riddle then hosted his farewell to NXT a few weeks later, apologizing to an irate Triple H for meeting with another brand behind his back. Hunter reminded Riddle that Free Agency doesn't officially begin until April 6th, meaning he could still be booked for matches on NXT. Gulak then jumped Riddle, hitting him with the Southern Lights Suplex on the floor, while Triple H walked out grinning, officially confirming the match a few days later. How will Matt Riddle's NXT career come to an end?
Rhea Ripley(c) vs Io Shirai- NXT Women's Championship Match
It was at Takeover: Seattle where Rhea Ripley finally fulfilled her monumental potential, dethroning the "Genius of the Sky". Since then, Shirai has taken some time off to get her head straight, returning to save the woman who took her gold away from an attack by Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Shirai offered her services as a tag team partner, under the condition that she would receive a rematch, and these two incredible wrestlers successfully conquered that challenge. However, Ripley proved to be one step ahead, taking advantage of a gassed Shirai that was just recovering from her first match in many months, hitting the former champion with the Riptide. Io got her revenge on the go-home show, throwing a bouquet of flowers into Ripley's face, causing the champion to lose her match to Bianca Belair.
Tommaso Ciampa(c) vs Keith Lee- NXT Championship Match
For the entirety of Season 4, Tommaso Ciampa has controlled the main event scene of NXT, and for a majority of that time, Keith Lee has been by his side. Lee had all the potential in the world, but hadn't found a true killer instinct, which Ciampa was more than happy to help instill. The master and his protege has formed an effective and terrifying duo, ruling NXT with an iron fist, as Ciampa survived challenges against Matt Riddle, WALTER and Brian Cage to remain champion. But after Lee's distraction assisted Ciampa to drive Cage out of NXT at Takeover: Phoenix, Keith violently ended their partnership. Ciampa demanded answers, and Lee was more than happy to oblige, bringing up a backstage conversation the two had after Keith's Last Man Standing match, where Ciampa told him that everything he had gone through was worth it as long as Tommaso remained NXT Champion. In that moment, Lee knew he needed to go out on his own, that he was just under the thumb of a dictator. Lee stated that he wasn't sure if he had learned enough from Ciampa to beat him, but he would find out in New York, as Triple H had just booked their title match. Ciampa laughed at Lee's confidence, saying he hadn't taught Lee every one of his tricks, but that might not be entirely true. On the go-home show, Ciampa attempted to gain an upper hand by hiding under the ring and jumping Lee after the latter picked up a win, only to be thwarted by Lee, who easily tossed the champion aside. Will "The Big Apple" bask in the glory of Keith Lee, or does Tommaso Ciampa have what it takes to once again escape as champion?
- Henry
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