NXT TakeOver: Orlando was a 2017 professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE, held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's developmental brand, NXT. It was the 14th NXT TakeOver event and took place on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. It was held as part of the WrestleMania 33 weekend festivities and aired exclusively on the WWE Network.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Bobby Roode defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the NXT Championship. In other prominent matches, Asuka retained the NXT Women's Championship against Ember Moon and Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) retained the NXT Tag Team Championship against #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) and The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder). All of the championships were given new belt designs. This was also the final NXT event for Shinsuke Nakamura, Tye Dillinger, and The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder), who were called up to the main roster. This event was also notable for the debut of Aleister Black and the return of Drew Galloway (who returned under his Drew McIntyre ring name which he used during his first tenure in WWE), who was sitting in the front row, with ESPN confirming that Galloway had re-signed with WWE and would perform on NXT.
Production Background
TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling events that began in May 2014, as WWE's developmental brand, NXT, held its second WWE Network-exclusive livestreaming event, billed as TakeOver. The "TakeOver" moniker subsequently became the branding for all of NXT's major events held periodically throughout the year. Announced on December 12, 2016, TakeOver: Orlando was scheduled as the 14th TakeOver event and was held on Saturday, April 1, 2017, as a support show for WrestleMania 33 for the main roster. It was held at the Amway Center and was named after the venue's city of Orlando, Florida. Tickets went on sale on December 16, 2016, through Ticketmaster.
Storylines The event comprised five matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT.
Event + Other on-screen personnelRole:Name:CommentatorsTom PhillipsNigel McGuinnessPercy WatsonRing announcerMike RomeRefereesDarryl SharmaDrake WuertzEddie OrengoPre-show panelCharly CarusoSam RobertsNigel McGuinness
Preliminary matches The event opened with Sanity (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, and Nikki Cross) facing Tye Dillinger, Ruby Riott, Roderick Strong, and Kassius Ohno (who was a replacement for No Way Jose) in an eight-person mixed tag team match. Dain performed an "Ulster Plantation" on Dillinger to win the match.
Next, Aleister Black faced Andrade Cien Almas. Black performed "Black Mass" on Almas for the win.
After that, The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) (accompanied by Paul Ellering) defended the NXT Tag Team Championship against #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) and The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a triple threat elimination match. Akam and Rezar performed "The Last Chapter" on Ciampa to eliminate #DIY. Akam and Rezar performed the "Super Collider" on Wilder and Dawson to retain the titles.
In the penultimate match, Asuka defended the NXT Women's Championship against Ember Moon. In the end, Ember attempted the "Eclipse" on Asuka but Asuka pushed the referee into the ring ropes, causing Moon to fall. Asuka performed a roundhouse kick on Moon to retain the title.
Main event In the main event, Bobby Roode defended the NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. During the match, Roode targeted Nakamura's leg. Roode performed a "Glorious DDT" on Nakamura for a near-fall. Roode then retrieved the ring bell but the referee prevented Roode from using it, allowing Nakamura to perform an inverted exploder suplex on Roode. Nakamura attempted a "Kinshasa" but Roode countered into a spinebuster on Nakamura for a near-fall. Roode performed a rotating "Glorious DDT" on Nakamura to retain the title.
Results
1 Kassius Ohno replaced No Way Jose, who was unable to compete after an attack by SAnitY.
Tag Team elimination match EliminationWrestlerTeamEliminated byElimination moveTimes1Tommaso Ciampa#DIYAkam Pinned after The Last Chapter18:552Scott DawsonThe RevivalAkam Pinned after a Super Collider23:50Winners:The Authors of Pain (c)
References
External links