Did you know… Takeover Dallas was the first to ever start a “Fight Forever” chant? A guy one row down from me, 3 seats over started it and it caught on like fire.
I adored the ending to Rivals it put over KOs merciless brutality and Sami's never give die spirit with the ref having to stop the match and basically say to Owens "look if I give you this title will you please stop hurting Sami" who just wouldn't stay down for 3. That kick out where he basically just rolled his shoulder almost lifelessly is an incredible visual. At the time I couldn't believe that was the end of the Sami championship story so soon after he won it, and so savagely, but by the next day I thought it one of the best examples of in ring story telling and made me care about both characters so much more.
The way they introduced Owens was legitimately scary. Dude looked like a monster, I wondered who would even be strong enough to stop him. And how? His character was someone who could have realistically decisively beat the Brock Lesnar of that Era. I really hoped for that, to be honest. Then, he ran into Cena. Props to Cena for putting him over in their first match. Owens didn't need to win all three matches, but he should have won the feud along with the last match. Instead, Cena beat him multiple times, making Owens' first win look like a fluke. And the last match, they had Owens tap out. So much for a dangerous new monster!!
Sami's selling towards the end of the match with KO is legitimately the only time I've ever used the word "cinema" talking about wrestling. It was SO GOOD and blows away any other moment that is called "cinematic" by fans.
Almas v Gargano at NXT Takeover Philadelphia is what made me a hardcore wrestling fan. It's my favorite match of all time, and I will forever support both guys in what they do. Andrade should be World Champion and Gargano should be HBK's second coming.
My 3 words for the first In Your House: Priest. Stairs. OW. Literally the one and only thing I remember about that PPV was the Finn Bálor/Damian Priest match where Priest got knocked off the apron onto stairs that had been placed at ringside and instead of taking the bump flat-back on the full width of the stairs like a sane person, bumps on the sharp corner with just the lumbar region of his spine before folding up like an accordion. The sound it made still haunts me.
I'm glad it was included, cuz like, idk why, but Shirai vs Lerae is genuinely in my top 3 fav matches. Idk if it just surprised me when I saw it the first time or what but I love it
One of the most underrated matches ever, never gets mentioned in the lists for best women's matches which I think is a shame cause Io is incredible in it
the alister black and Velveteen dream match was my first full on wrestling match i watched in a long time. the match got me back into wrestling when it happend.
The thing I hated most was that SAniTY and AOP's themes sounded so godsdamned similar that I never knew who was coming out until I saw the graphics/people on stage
Right out the gate, Charlotte vs Nattie is NOT the start , that was Paige vs Emma.. Stephanie McMahon herself said why "for the first time in wwe history there was a this is awesome chant for a womans match" Every single title defense Paige had after that was WRESTLING, and people cheered for it as such. Hell rumor has it she went against creative with the "im not a diva, im a wrestler" line but it was well recieved so HHH had her continue building it all.
This was a really fun video to recap some of NXT pay-per-view one thing I did notice about the NXT PPVs is WWE dropped the Takeover theme for the NXT shows. Also that Adam Cole versus Pat McAfee really brought back memory.
Nope, I disagree strongly, Luke. It felt like that at first, like Ember should win going into that match, but that twist was glorious(no pun intended) with Asuka kicking out of, at that moment NXT's ultimate move, Ember's Eclipse/O-Face at the last second, that's when Asuka became 'The Monster', a 5 foot something woman, and I believe it. That kick-out had both Ember and my jaw on the floor(the first women's match were I experienced that) with the crowd reaction being the same(Go watch it back) & then locked in the asuka-lock.The Asuka-Ember Saga should have continued with long term storytelling of Ember being the only one evvvvveeeeeerrrrrr to beat Asuka at WrestleMania instead of Charlotte, after everybody tried, damn that Charlotte win annoyed me.😂 Nobody should have beaten her after Ember did to keep Asuka's mystique, at least for a year. It would have made things feel special, but of course Vince ruined it.
For Chicago: "ONE MORE SWEEP!" Before the show went live on air, the ring crew were cleaning up from the matches taped for NXT TV, and the person who was sweeping the mat was getting cheered on by all of us in Allstate Arena that night, to rhe point the arena chanted ONE MORE SWEEP just 2 minutes before the show went live on the Network. AND THE GUY SWEPT AGAIN TO A POP!
i was also at takeover london, was about 12. I LOVED the jack the ripper demon. NXT black and gold was my intro to wrestling that i remember and london was my first wrestling show! was INCREDIBLE. but balor as the ripper was so cool 😅
Another amazing video. This is the new subject that needs to be the topic for the next episode of Survival Series, every NXT Champion. The same way that AEW one was done. Also you should do a sequel to Fantasy Booking Warfare, and have one of the matches be rebooking Cole versus O’reilly
This made me sad because I remembered how much I loved NXT and that the era I watched ranks a close 2nd to watching ECW in high school as my 2 favorite times as a wrestling fan.
I was in the building for Phoenix and even I didn’t remember Riddle vs Hero. All I remember is a woman in the crowd who wouldn’t stop chanting for Aleister Black for the whole main event and my wrestletalk sign being taken.
If I not mistaken, Philadelphia was the one where he gets on the apron just to faceplant off lol. I was at the jersey live event nxt did the day before, UE and AOP basically did the takeover match spot for spot, it's like they were using the match to train for the next day lol
Damn, going through all of those brings back some awesome wrestling memories. What a great time I had watching NXT... PS: Great Hunter and Donald Trump impression, Luke!
The NXT House show title change for Nakamura wasn't just showing the match on TV the next week, they aired both the a Japanese house show and an Australian house show in basically their totality in "2 hour NXT specials" over two weeks around christmas and new year instead of clip shows because they didn't tape "new" shows for that period
I have an idea for you guys. Please hear me out and consider Oli. Can you guys make a list of Best entrances ranking from 1-10 just like how make other lists of best and worst things in wrestling.... Pick multiple performers and rank their best entrances. Have a score given and finalize who had the best Top 3!
The thing that bugged me about War Games being Undisputed Era vs 4 randos, is, they could have just brought over Imperium. from NXT UK. Also, they already had Pete Dunne, they could have brought Mustache Mountain over from NXT:UK as well. Granted, they still would have needed a 4th person. Though, didn't WCW once have a 3 team War Games with 3 members each? WCW vs nWo vs Wolfpac or something stupid? They could have had British Strongstyle vs 3 members of Imperium vs 3 members of UE.
NXT London was my first time in England. I was 2nd row entrance way. My face is on screen after 10 seconds with the Danish flag. Right after across town for the world premiere of Star Wars
Here's my 3 words (or less/fewer) for that four horsewomen 4 way. Somehow only match. It still baffles me how this is the only time they've done a four horsewomen 4 way and it was never done on the main roster
Not playing the 3-count rules just how I view the NXT Eras. Reality Competition Era: How to make your future stars look like dorks Redemption Era: How the 1st era should have been. Black and Gold Era: The GOAT WWE Era 2.0 Era: Vince Ruins everything White and Gold Era: How 2.0 should have been.
I will say WWE 2k I make a Custom WCW Style Wargames match with Submissions only and customized timer Cause definitely you gotta have a Roots version of it
Such an amazing first half and brilliant, brilliant matches. But I have to say it reinforced that I will always maintain that 2.0 didn't destroy Black and Gold NXT so much as going all in on the Undisputed Era destroyed Black and Gold. Great wrestlers and such, but never should have dominated the main event scene. From a few months into Cole winning the title the indie-riffic flavour just started getting too overwhelming.
Although technically not a Takeover, I think you should have started with NXT Arrival, since it was the first live event on the WWE Network, and was basically a trial Takeover in many ways.
That HHH imitation was impressive Luke!!
Yeah. I like that it wasn't an impression of the Rock doing and impression of Triple H like every other youtuber, cough, Brian Zane, cough
FACTS.
Almas vs Gargano to me was:
"Peak Mauro Ranallo."
Man, his commentary was out of this world that night.
Did you know… Takeover Dallas was the first to ever start a “Fight Forever” chant? A guy one row down from me, 3 seats over started it and it caught on like fire.
That’s what I thought! I’m surprised they didn’t say “First Fight Forever” or something for their three count
Well first time in WWE
@@reecepower8906 yeah lmao, been on the Indies for years before
Imma give Luke some props, that was an actual valiant attempt at a Triple H impression👏👏
FACTS.
I adored the ending to Rivals it put over KOs merciless brutality and Sami's never give die spirit with the ref having to stop the match and basically say to Owens "look if I give you this title will you please stop hurting Sami" who just wouldn't stay down for 3. That kick out where he basically just rolled his shoulder almost lifelessly is an incredible visual. At the time I couldn't believe that was the end of the Sami championship story so soon after he won it, and so savagely, but by the next day I thought it one of the best examples of in ring story telling and made me care about both characters so much more.
The way they introduced Owens was legitimately scary. Dude looked like a monster, I wondered who would even be strong enough to stop him. And how? His character was someone who could have realistically decisively beat the Brock Lesnar of that Era. I really hoped for that, to be honest.
Then, he ran into Cena. Props to Cena for putting him over in their first match. Owens didn't need to win all three matches, but he should have won the feud along with the last match. Instead, Cena beat him multiple times, making Owens' first win look like a fluke. And the last match, they had Owens tap out. So much for a dangerous new monster!!
I always love when Luke, who regularly toes the line of three words or less/fewer, challenges Oli toeing the line of three words or less/fewer.
Takeover Nostalgia hits so hard, Some of the best shows i've ever seen
My favorite thing about WWE at the time prior to the pandemic. And also... Takeover New Orleans: THAT LADDER MATCH!
FACTS dude.
Sami's selling towards the end of the match with KO is legitimately the only time I've ever used the word "cinema" talking about wrestling. It was SO GOOD and blows away any other moment that is called "cinematic" by fans.
Almas v Gargano at NXT Takeover Philadelphia is what made me a hardcore wrestling fan. It's my favorite match of all time, and I will forever support both guys in what they do. Andrade should be World Champion and Gargano should be HBK's second coming.
Gargano's 5 ft 6 that's all I'm saying
My 3 words for the first In Your House:
Priest. Stairs. OW.
Literally the one and only thing I remember about that PPV was the Finn Bálor/Damian Priest match where Priest got knocked off the apron onto stairs that had been placed at ringside and instead of taking the bump flat-back on the full width of the stairs like a sane person, bumps on the sharp corner with just the lumbar region of his spine before folding up like an accordion. The sound it made still haunts me.
Oh yeah right that was painful 😖
2015-2019 NXT is the greatest wrestling promotion of all time and I will die on that hill.
FACTS.
yes.
I would personally say that 2016-19 New Japan is also right up there alongside it
I don't know where it all went wrong but there was the greatest moment of my wrestling life as an adult 30$
can’t agree more, although i would extend that to 2014 - early 2020
Dam Luke that was a good Triple H impression
FACTS and the whole arena being black expect triple h who has the light on him😂.
I’m now going to rewatch all the black and gold takeovers 😭😭
I'm glad it was included, cuz like, idk why, but Shirai vs Lerae is genuinely in my top 3 fav matches. Idk if it just surprised me when I saw it the first time or what but I love it
One of the most underrated matches ever, never gets mentioned in the lists for best women's matches which I think is a shame cause Io is incredible in it
NXT black-and-white gold era was fire for such a long time definitely miss it and need that smackdown reviews back
NXT Unstoppable, all I remember is Owens walking by Itami going
"what a shame."
NXT used to be the best thing ever. Just ROH but with WWE budget it was crazy
Black and Gold NXT is probably one of the best ever eras in wrestling
This seems like a good reason to go back and watch all the takeovers again!
I'm gonna watch a takeover match or an entire show after this dose of nostalgia
Arguably a modern fan's favourite wrestling era 😌
Ah! I was at Full Sail when they announced the iron man match and wimped out of starting an "Iron Maiden" chant. It haunts me still...
The cough after "are you ready" killed me
9:51 Banks Brah!, Making kids cry Brah!
the alister black and Velveteen dream match was my first full on wrestling match i watched in a long time. the match got me back into wrestling when it happend.
That was a great triple h impression 😂😂😂
The thing I hated most was that SAniTY and AOP's themes sounded so godsdamned similar that I never knew who was coming out until I saw the graphics/people on stage
'It's like you got too many consonants by accident on Countdown...!"
That was a great impression Luke 😂
The Sanity theme was basically 'My Name Is Mud' by Primus.
Also Asuka's Theme was King Crimson '21st Century Schziod Man', and Camella was an Iggy Azalea song.
Luke did an INCREDIBLE Triple H!!!
That's a pretty damn good American accent Luke
Right out the gate, Charlotte vs Nattie is NOT the start , that was Paige vs Emma..
Stephanie McMahon herself said why "for the first time in wwe history there was a this is awesome chant for a womans match"
Every single title defense Paige had after that was WRESTLING, and people cheered for it as such.
Hell rumor has it she went against creative with the "im not a diva, im a wrestler" line but it was well recieved so HHH had her continue building it all.
This was a really fun video to recap some of NXT pay-per-view one thing I did notice about the NXT PPVs is WWE dropped the Takeover theme for the NXT shows. Also that Adam Cole versus Pat McAfee really brought back memory.
NXT Asuka was the best. I need Paul to brinng back that level of her again. She was amazing.
She's undefeated in nxt to this day, even after having gone back there for one-off matches a handful of times.
NXT! NXT! NXT!
This has me going back and watching all these Takeover entrances.
They were just on another level with music and entrances in Black and Gold...
I agree with Luke's opinion of New Orleans.
That TakeOver truly was NXT's equivalent to Mania X-Seven. It was THAT good in my opinion.
That “small child” that Sasha made cry back then Luke is izzymania! She’s a professional wrestler now! (not called izzymania)
"Mechanic" is a term wrestlers use to describe a really good in mat wrestler, iirc
Technician
More than just mat wrestling - they basically act as in-ring mentors for their less experienced opponents. Somewhat similar to "carpenter" I guess
Nope, I disagree strongly, Luke. It felt like that at first, like Ember should win going into that match, but that twist was glorious(no pun intended) with Asuka kicking out of, at that moment NXT's ultimate move, Ember's Eclipse/O-Face at the last second, that's when Asuka became 'The Monster', a 5 foot something woman, and I believe it. That kick-out had both Ember and my jaw on the floor(the first women's match were I experienced that) with the crowd reaction being the same(Go watch it back) & then locked in the asuka-lock.The Asuka-Ember Saga should have continued with long term storytelling of Ember being the only one evvvvveeeeeerrrrrr to beat Asuka at WrestleMania instead of Charlotte, after everybody tried, damn that Charlotte win annoyed me.😂
Nobody should have beaten her after Ember did to keep Asuka's mystique, at least for a year. It would have made things feel special, but of course Vince ruined it.
Now we need the TLC of Takeovers
My hot take is NXT black and gold is the greatest period for wrestling for me personally.
What a great video to watch during my lunch break. Also the great thing about that fatal 4 way they tease Neville turning heel
For Chicago: "ONE MORE SWEEP!" Before the show went live on air, the ring crew were cleaning up from the matches taped for NXT TV, and the person who was sweeping the mat was getting cheered on by all of us in Allstate Arena that night, to rhe point the arena chanted ONE MORE SWEEP just 2 minutes before the show went live on the Network. AND THE GUY SWEPT AGAIN TO A POP!
i was also at takeover london, was about 12. I LOVED the jack the ripper demon. NXT black and gold was my intro to wrestling that i remember and london was my first wrestling show! was INCREDIBLE. but balor as the ripper was so cool 😅
Another amazing video. This is the new subject that needs to be the topic for the next episode of Survival Series, every NXT Champion. The same way that AEW one was done. Also you should do a sequel to Fantasy Booking Warfare, and have one of the matches be rebooking Cole versus O’reilly
I meant to really say rebook the Undisputed Era implosion and the fallout of Cole and O’reilly
Nxt takeovers are the best series if shows in wrestling history.
Great video. I would love to see a ranking of worst to first takeovers!
My biggest NXT hot take is that AOP/DIY/Revival match is better than the DIY/Revival 2 out of three falls match
This made me sad because I remembered how much I loved NXT and that the era I watched ranks a close 2nd to watching ECW in high school as my 2 favorite times as a wrestling fan.
I was in the building for Phoenix and even I didn’t remember Riddle vs Hero. All I remember is a woman in the crowd who wouldn’t stop chanting for Aleister Black for the whole main event and my wrestletalk sign being taken.
Thanks Ollie, thanks for no selling the intro, lol.😂
We REALLY need "Roman Reigns Title Defenses in 3 Words or Less"
Note on "The Mechanics." Apparently "mechanic" was a backstage term for good workers usually in the mid card.
New Orleans was life changing for me. I'm so glad NXT is recovering from the mess Vince left it in
9:30 cue Bill and Ted going 'EXCELLENT!' and air-guitaring.
That Lee vs Dijakovic match is my favourite match of all time, 2 men that large should not move like that
The Kyle O’Reilly gif of him falling out of the ring was Takeover New Orleans, not Philadelphia.
If I not mistaken, Philadelphia was the one where he gets on the apron just to faceplant off lol. I was at the jersey live event nxt did the day before, UE and AOP basically did the takeover match spot for spot, it's like they were using the match to train for the next day lol
Damn, going through all of those brings back some awesome wrestling memories. What a great time I had watching NXT... PS: Great Hunter and Donald Trump impression, Luke!
That imitation was impressive
Kevin Owens and Dakota Kai and ciampa the greatest heal turns in NXT history
9:22 unless the male version is renamed to Iron Bachelor Match, it makes no sense to call it an Iron Maiden Match.
Just realized...Bron Breakker squashing people quick on Smackdown is like Baron's old gimmick.
The NXT House show title change for Nakamura wasn't just showing the match on TV the next week, they aired both the a Japanese house show and an Australian house show in basically their totality in "2 hour NXT specials" over two weeks around christmas and new year instead of clip shows because they didn't tape "new" shows for that period
That got so depressing. We really had it so good for so long and then lost it all.
Bring back the smackdown review
5:59 as opposed to doing it somewhere else luke?🤣
The Tall Boys - I'm surprised that was never the name of a WCW or WWF tag team. 😅
5:50 The question is Luke: Where do you want to kill Jushin Thunder Liger?
Watching this after Arsenal just lost to Villa... 😅
Pretty solid heche impression
that sami nakamura match got me hooked on wrestling again it was sensational seeing it live. the entrance and the match was perfect for me
The first they did the copyright logo takeout would be when Punk cashed in on Hardy
TLC Suggestions:
10 Best NXT Takeovers
10 Best WWE 'B' PPV's
I have an idea for you guys. Please hear me out and consider Oli. Can you guys make a list of Best entrances ranking from 1-10 just like how make other lists of best and worst things in wrestling....
Pick multiple performers and rank their best entrances. Have a score given and finalize who had the best Top 3!
The thing that bugged me about War Games being Undisputed Era vs 4 randos, is, they could have just brought over Imperium. from NXT UK. Also, they already had Pete Dunne, they could have brought Mustache Mountain over from NXT:UK as well. Granted, they still would have needed a 4th person. Though, didn't WCW once have a 3 team War Games with 3 members each? WCW vs nWo vs Wolfpac or something stupid? They could have had British Strongstyle vs 3 members of Imperium vs 3 members of UE.
Of we're talking about the favorite NXT Black and Gold era entrances, my favorite would be #Glorious.
I've always preferred Bayley vs. Sasha Banks Iron Woman from NXT TakeOver: Respect is better than NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Two classics.
Damn I almost forgot about Wonder Oli til they showed that clip
NXT London was my first time in England. I was 2nd row entrance way. My face is on screen after 10 seconds with the Danish flag. Right after across town for the world premiere of Star Wars
Until today i was thinking that i was only person on earth who loves bull dempsey in NXT
In fairness to Luke it's very easy to not have a good time in a club in Cardiff. From a Cardiff resident
Why were the names switched on the Auska vs Bailey graphic? It should have read Bailey vs Auska!😂😂😂
Here's my 3 words (or less/fewer) for that four horsewomen 4 way.
Somehow only match. It still baffles me how this is the only time they've done a four horsewomen 4 way and it was never done on the main roster
Not playing the 3-count rules just how I view the NXT Eras.
Reality Competition Era: How to make your future stars look like dorks
Redemption Era: How the 1st era should have been.
Black and Gold Era: The GOAT WWE Era
2.0 Era: Vince Ruins everything
White and Gold Era: How 2.0 should have been.
Couldn't have said it any better
I been waiting for y'all to do something for NXT. Adammmmmmmnnmmm😂😂😂
Maybe Ollie thought if he just said Deflating Inflatable Man we would be confused
Bro’s spirit got taken by Paul Levesque
Jonny vs champa or diy vs FTR vs AOP is goated
I really regret not watching NXT as much back then... but then I also didn't have the WWE Network either, so it's not like I could.
Please do this with the drafts for nxt and raw and Smackdown
😂😂😂 I could watch you guys all day lol
lowkey miss the black and gold nxt
I will say WWE 2k
I make a Custom WCW Style Wargames match with Submissions only and customized timer
Cause definitely you gotta have a Roots version of it
Such an amazing first half and brilliant, brilliant matches. But I have to say it reinforced that I will always maintain that 2.0 didn't destroy Black and Gold NXT so much as going all in on the Undisputed Era destroyed Black and Gold. Great wrestlers and such, but never should have dominated the main event scene. From a few months into Cole winning the title the indie-riffic flavour just started getting too overwhelming.
My hot take, Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Rival is the best Owens/Zayn match.
Although technically not a Takeover, I think you should have started with NXT Arrival, since it was the first live event on the WWE Network, and was basically a trial Takeover in many ways.
Oli, I have a question.
How much Fish could Bobby Fish fry if Bobby Fish could fry Fish?
Sami and Nakamura brought me back to wrestling 6 years or so after I stopped watching. One of the greatest matches ever.
How about tna ppvs from 2004 to 2016 before the impact name change please I'm sure Luke will love it