For the first time in almost eight months, NXT takes over once more. After a triumphant return, the brand of the future is set to crown four new champions tonight. Natalya faces the debuting Ember Moon for the women's championship, the Authors of Pain take on The Ascension for the tag team titles, and four men compete to be crowned the face of NXT. Welcome to Chicago.
Universe Mode
NXT Takeover: Chicago
May 20th, 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Cedric Alexander vs Ricochet- NXT Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Match
With a hot crowd here in Chicago eager for action, these two cruiserweights took to the skies to deliver an incredible opening match. You could tell how much this meant from their body language throughout, as the sense of desperation on every near fall was palpable. Neither of these men expected to be in this position, but made the most out of their opportunity. In the end, it was the Future of Flight, Ricochet, who delivered an incredible 630 senton to advance to the main event.
Winner: Ricochet
Hideo Itami vs Kota Ibushi- NXT Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Match
This was perhaps the hardest hitting match of the tournament, as neither Japanese competitor held anything back. Ibushi, after a controversial win over Kassius Ohno in the last round, took the lead in the match, as he looked to wear Hideo down. Both men carried fatigue, as both had just fought three days previous, and it showed. There was a desperate air about Hideo Itami on this night, as he missed on some of his signature strikes. He wouldn't be denied though, and despite the Golden Star's kickout of the GTS, he had enough wits about him to counter a suplex into a small package and steal the win.
Winner: Hideo Itami
Authors of Pain vs The Ascension- NXT Tag Team Championship Match
On paper, this seemed like an exciting clash between two dominant tag teams. In actuality, this was a mugging, as Akam and Rezar just blitzed through Konnor and Viktor. The boys from the Wasteland were completely dominated, as the ending was obvious from the very start. Two massive powerbombs from both Authors of Pain put Konnor down for the count.
Winners and the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: Authors of Pain
Natalya vs Ember Moon- NXT Women's Championship Match
Ember Moon, who refers to herself as the War Goddess, was a complete unknown heading into this match, and you could tell Natalya was out of her game. Try as she might, the Queen of Harts couldn't keep up with Moon's impressive high-flying acrobatics and swift strikes. Time and time again, she stayed one step ahead, before delivering an impressive stunner from the middle rope that seemed to knock Natalya unconscious. In her debut match, Ember Moon became the champion, and I have a feeling that her reign may last for a long, long time.
Winner and the NEW NXT Women's Champion: Ember Moon
Ricochet vs Hideo Itami- NXT Championship Tournament Finals
Both of these men had gone through wars earlier in the night, but neither held anything back, each determined to be NXT Champion. The story in this match, though, was the performance of Hideo Itami. Even after going through a grueling match with Kota Ibushi, Itami was on top of his game. He lit Ricochet up with everything in his arsenal, kicks and foreams, suplexes and even high-flying maneuvers. Hideo took to the skies several times, stealing from his opponent's playbook, even connecting on a suicide dive. For his part, Ricochet hung tough, and gave Itami a taste of his own medicine with a brutal roundhouse kick. But Hideo was not to be denied, as he delivered a GTS, then another, to finally bring the contest to a close. At long last, he held singles gold, atop the mountain on NXT.
Winner and the NEW NXT Champion: Hideo Itami
A dream is realized as the International Sensation Hideo Itami becomes the new NXT Champion. Tune in tomorrow for Backlash, when AJ Styles put the WWE Championship on the line against the Beast, Brock Lesnar.
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