NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III Recap

Preshow:

We head into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York where Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts, Corey Graves, and Lita welcome us to the show. The panel talks about the past TakeOver events at Brooklyn and hypes up tonight’s show and runs down the card for the show. Graves says Hideo Itami and Aleister Black will steal the show, but Lita and Roberts say Asuka and Ember Moon will steal it. We head backstage and join Renee Young.

Renee says she got started in NXT and it feels great to be back. She welcomes Kurt Angle. He says this is his first time at an NXT show and he says the reason he is here will be kept close to himself, but he is excited to see Bobby Roode vs. Drew McIntyre and Asuka vs. Ember Moon. Graves says Angle is always doing what’s best for Raw and Lita says of course Angle is here scouting the talent. Graves wonders if Daniel Bryan will be here as well.

We take a look at the video hype package for the match between The Authors of Pain and SAnitY. Big E has joined the panel in place of Lita. We take a look back to 2013 when Big E defeated Seth Rollins to win the NXT Champion. Big E says being in FCW and NXT helped him learn so much to be ready for the main roster on Raw and Smackdown. Big E says SAnitY have been on a tear, but The Authors of Pain have run roughshod over everyone. He picks AOP to retain. He compares Paul Ellering to all of the classic bald villains in comic books. Roberts asks him if The New Day would rather defend the Smackdown Tag Team Championship against The Authors or SAnitY. He says The Authors because there would be less people.

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We head backstage with Renee Young and she welcomes Shinsuke Nakamura. He says he loves the NXT vibes and he is back home. He says he is calm and ready for his match tomorrow. He says he agrees with Drew McIntyre about this being “our NXT.”

Neville has joined the panel now. Neville says he is a little bit predisposed right now and apologizes if he is not overly-thrilled to be in Brooklyn. He says he has been counting the hours and this is Christmas Eve for the King of the Cruiserweights. He says we can expect what he has done for the past months in 205 Live: domination. He says he can’t deny that NXT was a big part of his journey, but sometimes it is hard to look back at NXT without resentment. He says NXT built him for success, but he didn’t get that success when he first arrived on the main roster. Neville says he is proud of what he achieved in NXT, but but he is not done yet. Graves asks Neville about Aleister Black and Hideo Itami. He says he knows both very well and looks forward to seeing them kick each others heads off. He says Itami needs to embrace his new emotion and use it to his advantage. Neville says Itami needs to look out for Black’s striking abilities like he did when he defeated Black back in January. Talk then turns to the match between Johnny Gargano and Andrade “Cien” Almas. Neville says he sees Gargano attempting to bounce back after a betrayal from a tag team partner and he knows how that feels. Neville tells Gargano to not trust anyone.

We see footage from earlier today showing Ember Moon and Asuka arriving to the arena as we head to a break.

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We’re back from the break and we see the video hype package for the match between Asuka and Ember Moon. Lita rejoin the panel, and Carmella and Sasha Banks have joined. Sasha says it’s great to be back and says she and Bayley tore the house down at the first TakeOver Brooklyn. Carmella says she has never been on a TakeOver and jokes that Asuka should watch her back. She says she learned so much in NXT and can’t wait to see what happens. Carmella says everyone wants to be the one woman to take down Asuka. Sasha says the only reason Asuka is undefeated is because they weren’t in NXT at the same time. Sasha picks Asuka to win and Carmella picks Ember. They talk about the upcoming Mae Young Classic and Lita says it was a privilege to call those matches and it will live up to the hype. Carmella says it’s just a great experience to be a part of the Women’s Revolution. Lita reveals that the Mae Young Classic Bracketology will take place tomorrow night after SummerSlam.

We head backstage with Renee Young, who is with Becky Lynch and Bayley. Becky says it’s amazing to be back and it’s amazing to see how far NXT has come. Bayley says being back in very special to be back because of her matches in the Barclays Center. Bayley says her shoulder is healing and she has a follow up in about a month and will know more after that. Becky says Asuka has been so dominant but Ember might take her tonight. Bayley says Asuka kicked her out of NXT and wants to see her continue the streak.

—

We see the video hype package for the match between Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre. Baron Corbin has joined the briefcase. He calls the fans dumb for chanting “Where’s your briefcase?” at him. He says being involved in the first TakeOver Brooklyn was an amazing experience. Corbin says he was never in a wrestling ring before walking into NXT and NXT gave him every tool necessary to succeed. He says he came to NXT with a purpose and it worked out for him. Corbin says he owes John Cena a beating, but having that match is a testament to the grind and all the time in NXT. Corbin picks Bobby Roode to win tonight because of his confidence. Graves also picks Roode, while Roberts picks McIntyre as the preshow comes to a close.

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NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III:

The show kicks off with Code Orange performing “Bleeding in the Blur” live as we see the video hype package for the show. Afterward, Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson welcome us to the show.

Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/Zelina Vega)
They lock up and Almas drops Gargano to the mat. They mat wrestle for a bit before Gargano gets free. Almas applies a wrist-lock, but Gargano turns it into one of his own. Almas counters with a head-scissors down on the mat. Gargano flips over into a pin, but Almas kicks out at one. Gargano sends Almas off the ropes, but Almas comes back with a shoulder tackle. Almas sends Gargano off the ropes, but Gargano takes him down with a hurricanrana and a head scissors take down. Gargano applies a front face-lock down on the mat. Almas comes back and drives Gargano into the corner. Gargano turns it around and chops Almas in the corner. Almas turns it around and drops Gargano with a draping neck-breaker.
Almas takes Gargano to the corner and slaps him across the chest. Almas takes Gargano down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Gargano comes back and picks Almas up, but Almas gets to the ropes and applies a hanging arm-bar submission over the top rope. Almas gets back into the ring and continues to work over Gargano’s arm. Gargano fights out with an arm-drag and then sends Almas to the corner with a drop-toe hold. Almas comes back with a kick to the midsection, but Gargano connects with a knee strike. Gargano sends Almas away and they charge at each other and connect with a double clothesline.
Both men get back to their feet and exchange rights and lefts. Almas slaps Gargano across the face, but Gargano keeps control and drops Almas down with a few kicks and then connects with a roundhouse kick. Almas comes back and sends Gargano to the apron. Almas charges, but Gargano connects with the middle rope spear. Gargano goes for the cover, but Almas kicks out at two. Gargano tosses Almas into the ropes and Almas holds onto the ropes, but Gargano kicks him in the face and sends him to the floor. Gargano connects with a tope suicida and then tosses Almas back into the ring. Gargano takes Almas down with a springboard DDT and goes for the cover, but Almas kicks out at two.
Almas comes back and sends Gargano to the apron again and charges, but Gargano goes for another middle rope spear. Almas catches him and drops him with a face-buster and then an inverted tornado DDT. Almas goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two. Almas puts Gargano on the top rope and delivers a monstrous chop. Almas climbs as well and goes for a suplex, but Gargano counters with a headbutt. Gargano delivers a chop ans=d goes for a sunset flip power bomb. Almas lands on his feet and connects with a back elbow. Gargano comes out of the corner with a kick to the back of the head, but Almas comes right back and sends Gargano into the corner. Almas goes for the running knees in the corner, but Gargano moves out of the way. Gargano takes Almas down and locks in the Gargano Escape, but Almas fights out of it and connects with a buckle bomb. Almas delivers the double knees in the corner and goes for the cover, but Gargano kicks out at two.
Almas grabs Gargano and works over his arm, but Gargano counters with a back kick and then a kick to the face. Gargano tosses Almas face-first into the turnbuckle, but Vega tosses a shirt at Gargano. Almas dropkicks Gargano into the corner and then drops him with a DDT and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas. (13:30)

We see Kurt Angle, Daniel Bryan, and various NXT Superstars watching the show from a skybox.

We see Drew McIntyre gearing up for his match backstage.

We see the video hype package for the match between The Authors of Pain and SAnitY.

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) (c) (w/Paul Ellering) vs. SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain) (w/Eric Young and Nikki Cross)

Corey Graves joins the commentary team for this match.

A brawl breaks out before the match and AOP get the advantage and send Wolfe and Dain to the outside. Wolfe and Dain pull AOP out and Eric Young grabs a table from under the ring. AOP and Wolfe and Dain continue to battle on the floor and then Akam tosses Wolfe into the ring to begin the match. Akam tosses Wolfe across the ring and tags in Rezar. AOP double-team Wolfe for a bit and then Rezar beats him down with some forearm shots. Akam tags back in and keeps Wolfe grounded. Akam sends Wolfe to the corner and charges, but Wolfe rolls out of the way. Eric Young gets on the apron and replaces Dain on the apron. Young tags in, but gets taken to the outside. Akam clotheslines Young into the crowd and Rezar battles with Wolfe. Rezar and Wolfe get into the ring as Young and Akam battle in the crowd. Akam slams Young into the barricade and charges, but Young moves and Akam slams into the barricade. Akam comes back and tosses Young back to ringside and then back into the ring.
Young connects with a right hand, but Rezar tags in and Akam tosses Young into Rezar, who slams him down to the mat. Rezar beats Young down and then tags Akam back in. Akam stomps away on Young and goes for the cover, but Young kicks out. Rezar tags back in and keeps Young grounded with a rear naked choke. Young tries to fight out, but Rezar keeps the choke applied. Young fights to his feet and connects with back elbows. Rezar backs Young into the corner and sends him to the apron. Young delivers a shoulder shot and comes back into the ring, but Rezar picks him up and slams him right back down. Rezar goes for an elbow drop, but Young rolls out of the way. Rezar charges, but Young moves and Rezar hits the turnbuckles. Wolfe tags in and he delivers a boot to Akam. Wolfe drops Rezar with a few forearm shots and then delivers a big boot to the face.
Wolfe takes Akam down with an exploder suplex and then delivers a German suplex to Rezar. Wolfe goes up top and clotheslines Rezar from the top. Wolfe goes for the cover, but Akam breaks it up. Akam sends Young to the floor and then AOP double team Wolfe. They drop him with a neck-breaker power bomb and Akam goes for the cover, but Wolfe kicks out at two. Rezar tags in and goes up top and Akam hands Wolfe to him. Wolfe counters with a Frankensteiner and sends Akam to the outside. Young tags in and drops Rezar with a neck-breaker. Young goes up top, but Rezar hits the ropes and Young crotches the top turnbuckle. Rezar climbs as well and tries to suplex Young down to the mat, but Nikki Cross holds onto Young as Akam accidentally suplexes Rezar. Young connects with an elbow drop to Rezar and goes for the cover, but Akam pulls Rezar out of the ring.
Young takes Akam out with a tope suicida and Wolfe takes Rezar out as well. Ellering and Nikki get into the ring and the referee holds them apart. Nikki gets around and dives onto Akam. Akam catches her, but Killian Dain cross-bodies Akam and Nikki through a table on the outside. Young tosses Rezar back into the ring and tags in Wolfe. Wolfe and Young double-team Rezar and drop him with a suplex/elbow drop combo and Wolfe gets the pin fall.
Winners and new NXT Tag Team Champions: SAnitY. (12:00)
After the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly attack AOP and SAnitY and beat down everyone.

We see Neville sitting at ringside, as well as Shinsuke Nakamura and Kalisto.

We see Bobby Roode getting ready for his match backstage.

Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami

Jim Ross has joined the commentary team for this match.

Both men connects with kicks immediately and then get face-to-face. Black drops Itami with a kick and springboards down into the rung as Itami rolls to the floor. Itami gets back into the ring, but Black keeps him grounded. Black knees Itami in the head and goes for the cover, but Itami kicks out at two. Itami fights back, but Black kicks him in the face in the corner. Black sends Itami to the opposite corner and charges, but Itami moves and kicks Black across the chest. Itami drapes Black over the top rope and goes up top. Itami connects with a guillotine leg drop across Black’s neck. Itami connects with right hands and then drops him with a back elbow. Itami goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at one.
Itami wrenches Black’s neck down on the mat, but Black fights to his feet. Black comes off the ropes, but Itami takes him down with a knee lift. Itami kicks Black in the back with the Spinal Tap kick, and then delivers a few more. Itami applies a headlock down on the mat. Black tries to fight back, but Itami keeps control and then Itami sits down in the ring to mock Black. Itami drops Black with a DDT and goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two. Itami applies another headlock down on the mat, but Black gets free and leg whips Itami down to the mat. Black kicks Itami in the head and comes off the ropes with a moonsault. Black goes for the cover, but Itami kicks out at two. Black picks Itami up, but Itami goes behind. Black connects with an elbow and sends Itami to the corner. Black charges, but Itami counters with an elbow and sends Black down to the mat. Itami connects with a clothesline and goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two.
Itami takes Black down with a fisherman’s suplex and goes for another cover, but Black kicks out at two. Itami sends Black to the corner and charges, but Black cuts him off. Black connects with a spinning round house kick and goes up top. Itami cuts him off and takes him down with a Michinoku Driver from the ropes. Itami crawls into the cover, but Black kicks out at two. Black sits up and stares at Itami and both men battle to their feet. They exchange kicks and slaps and Itami connects with a spinning back fist. Black comes back with a knee strike, but Itami connects with the Falcon Arrow. Itami goes for the cover, but Black kicks out at two.
Itami connects with a hesitation dropkick in the corner and sets up for the Go To Sleep. Itami lifts Black, but Black counters with elbows. Itami comes back with a knee shot and then charges at Black in the corner. Black ducks under Itami and connects with Black Mass and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Aleister Black. (12:40)

We see Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Becky Lynch sitting at ringside and then we see Asuka warming up for her match backstage. We then see Ember Moon walking backstage.

We see the video hype package for the match between Asuka and Ember Moon.

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon
Moon catches Asuka with a kick immediately and then connects with a basement dropkick. Moon goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at one. Asuka comes back for a kick, but Moon catches her and drops her with a suplex. Asuka goes to the outside and dodges a basbeall slide from Moon. Asuka connects with a kick, but so does Moon. Moon goes up and takes Asuka out with a cannonball. Moon tosses Asuka back into the ring, but Asuka rolls right back out. Moon follows and Asuka slams her into the steps. Asuka kicks Moon, but Moon comes back with a chop. Asuka drops Moon with a series of quick kicks and then drops her with a suplex on the entrance ramp.
Asuka tosses Moon back into the ring and begins delivers kicks to Moon’s injured arm. Asuka applies a standing arm bar submission and turns it into a hammer-lock. Moon finally gets free, but Asuka takes her down with an STO. Asuka goes back to work and stomps away on the back of Moon’s head. Moon fights to her feet, but Asuka applies a full body octopus submission. Asuka sits down onto Moon’s arm and applies the Fujiwara arm-bar. Moon comes back and drops Asuka with a teardrop suplex. Moon connects with a few forearms in the corner and then connects with a series of kick. Moon takes Asuka down with a standing enzuiguri and goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two. Asuka comes back and delivers a release German suplex into the corner and then goes for the Asuka Lock. Moon turns it into a cross-face chicken-wing, but Asuka comes right back and goes for the Asuka Lock again.
Moon gets free and drops Asuka down to the mat. Asuka almost gets the pin fall with a quick back roll, but Moon kicks out and drops Asuka with a seated lariat. They each duck a clothesline and Asuka drops Moon with the hip attack. Asuka goes for another hip attack, but Moon blocks it. Moon connects with a knee and then a tornado suplex from the corner. Moon goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two. They exchange strikes and Moon connects with a series of knees. Moon knees Asuka in the face now, but Asuka fights back with spinning back fists. Asuka kicks Moon in the face a few times, but Moon turns it into a modified side slam. Moon goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two.
Moon goes up top, but Asuka cuts her off. Moon goes for a Liger-bomb, but Asuka holds on. Moon kicks Asuka’s legs out from under her and Asuka crashes to the mat. Moon goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two. Moon goes back up top and connects with the Eclipse. Moon goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two. Moon goes back to the top, but Asuka hides behind the referee. Moon dives over the ref, but Asuka rolls through and grabs the tights, but the referee sees it. Moon connects with a superkick and goes for the cover, but Asuka kicks out at two. Moon grabs Asuka, but Asuka grabs her in a cross arm-breaker. Moon rolls through or a two count and Asuka applies the Asuka Lock and Moon taps out.
Winner and still NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka. (14:50)
After the match, Asuka takes her title and heads backstage as the NXT Universe gives Ember Moon a standing ovation.

We see Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe at ringside and then see the video hype package for the match between Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre.

NXT Championship Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
They lock up and McIntyre backs Roode into the corner. Roode comes back with a chop and takes McIntyre to the corner. McIntyre comes back and drops Roode with a shoulder tackle and Roode goes to the floor. Roode gets back into the ring and chops McIntyre into the corner. McIntyre comes back, but Roode ducks under and delivers more chops. Roode reverses and goes for a quick Glorious DDT, but McIntyre gets away and backs into the corner. Roode and McIntyre exchange wrist-locks and Roode takes McIntyre to the corner and chops him a few times. McIntyre comes back with kicks Roode in the midsection and then sends him to the corner and delivers chops of his own. McIntyre sends Roode off the ropes and drops him with a big boot.
McIntyre tosses Roode across the ring and then out to the floor. McIntyre follows him out and chops him down to the floor. McIntyre drapes Roode over the barricade and then goes for a scoop slam, but Roode lands on the apron. Roode kicks McIntyre and goes to dive from the apron, but McIntyre catches him. Roode shoves him away, but McIntyre comes back and drops Roode on the apron with a tilt-a-whirl slam. McIntyre tosses Roode back into the ring and attempts to go up top, but Roode cuts him off. McIntyre connects with a right hand and then delivers a swinging neck-breaker over the middle rope that sends McIntyre down to the floor. Roode comes off the apron and delivers a blockbuster neck-breaker to McIntyre on the floor.
Roode puts McIntyre back into the ring and drops a few forearms onto him. Roode slams McIntyre into the corner and delivers a few right hands. Roode chops McIntyre and then delivers a clothesline in the corner. Roode drops McIntyre with a neck-breaker and goes for the cover, but McIntyre kicks out at two. Roode stomps away on McIntyre and chokes him with his boot down on the mat. Roode stomps away again, but McIntyre begins to fight back. McIntyre backs Roode into the corner, but Roode counters and sends McIntyre into the opposite corner. Roode connects with a missile dropkick and goes for the cover, but McIntyre kicks out at two.
Roode applies a headlock down on the mat, but McIntyre backs him into the corner. Roode comes right back and locks in a sleeper hold. McIntyre backs Roode into the corner again to break the hold. Roode kicks McIntyre in the face and comes off the ropes, but McIntyre counters with a belly-to-belly throw. McIntyre connects with a back elbow and then tosses Roode into the corner. McIntyre splashes Roode in the corner and then delivers a running forearm. McIntyre goes up top and connects with a clothesline from the top. Roode comes back with shots to the back and an atomic drop. Roode connects with a knee lift and comes off the ropes, but McIntyre catches him and drops him with a Celtic Cross. McIntyre goes for the cover, but Roode kicks out at two.
Roode comes back and rolls to the floor and drapes McIntyre’s neck over the top rope. Roode goes up top, but McIntyre cuts him off. McIntyre climbs as well and they battle on the top. Roode fights back and takes McIntyre down to the mat. McIntyre comes right back and goes for a superplex, but Roode crotches him on the top turnbuckle. Roode beats McIntyre down and McIntyre hangs in the tree of woe. McIntyre pulls himself up and pulls Roode down to the mat. McIntyre sets up for the Claymore, but Roode doesn’t get up from the mat. McIntyre picks him up and Roode goes for a quick roll-up but McIntyre kick out at two. McIntyre goes for the Future Shock, but Roode counters and takes McIntyre down to the mat with a back-stabber. Roode goes for the cover, but McIntyre kicks out at two.
Roode clotheslines McIntyre in the corner and goes for a neck-breaker, but McIntyre counters with a back-slide for a two count. McIntyre delivers the Future Shock DDT and goes for the cover, but Roode kicks out at two. McIntyre and Roode go to the ropes and Roode delivers a Liger-bomb to McIntyre. Roode goes for the cover, but McIntyre kicks out at two. Both men exchange right hands on the mat and battle back to their feet. They exchange chops and kicks and brawl in the middle of the ring. Roode delivers an enzuiguri, but McIntyre comes out of the corner and connects with the Claymore. McIntyre goes for the cover, but Roode gets his foot on the rope at the two count.
Roode rolls to the floor, but McIntyre dives over the top rope and takes himself and Roode out. McIntyre picks Roode up and tosses him back into the ring. McIntyre sets up for the Claymore in the corner, but Roode counters with the Double R spine-buster. Roode goes for the Glorious DDT, but McIntyre rolls through and gets a two count. McIntyre goes for a spinning neck-breaker, but Roode counters with the Glorious DDT but only get a two count. Roode grabs McIntyre and drops him with another Glorious DDT, and goes for a third, but McIntyre shoves him away and connects with the Claymore and gets the pin fall.
Winner and new NXT Champion: Drew McIntyre. (22:21)
After the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly appear on the ring and Adam Cole attacks McIntyre from behind. Fish and O’Reilly join in on the beat down and Cole drops McIntyre with a superkick. Cole picks up the NXT Championship and holds it over McIntyre before tossing it aside. Cole, Fish, and O’Reilly stand tall over McIntyre as NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III comes to a close.