| NXT TakeOver: Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand(s) | NXT | ||
| Date | May 20, 2017 | ||
| City | Rosemont, Illinois | ||
| Venue | Allstate Arena | ||
| WWE Network event chronology | |||
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| NXT TakeOver chronology | |||
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| NXT TakeOver: Chicago chronology | |||
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NXT TakeOver: Chicago was the 15th NXT TakeOver and inaugural TakeOver: Chicago professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's NXT brand division. The event aired exclusively on the WWE Network and took place on May 20, 2017, at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois as part of that year's Backlash weekend.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) defeated DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in a Ladder match to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship. In other prominent matches, Pete Dunne defeated Tyler Bate to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship, Asuka defeated Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot in a triple threat match to retain the NXT Women's Championship, and Bobby Roode defeated Hideo Itami to retain the NXT Championship in the penultimate match.
Production
Background
TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling shows that began in May 2014, as WWE's then-developmental league NXT held their second WWE Network-exclusive event, billed as TakeOver.[1] In subsequent months, the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by WWE for all of their NXT live specials. Announced on April 3, 2017, TakeOver: Chicago was scheduled as the 15th NXT TakeOver event and was held on May 20, 2017, as a support show for that year's Backlash pay-per-view. It was held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Rosemont is a suburb of Chicago from which the event takes its name. Tickets went on sale April 8 through Ticketmaster.[2]
Storylines
The card included matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on their weekly television program, NXT.[3][4]
At TakeOver: Orlando, Bobby Roode retained the NXT Championship over Shinsuke Nakamura.[5] On the April 19 episode of NXT, Roode came out and insulted Nakamura. Hideo Itami interrupted Roode's speech, slapped him and attacked him with a GTS.[6] The following week, general manager William Regal made a title match between the two official for TakeOver: Chicago.[7]
Asuka successfully defended the NXT Women's Championship against Ember Moon at TakeOver: Orlando, but during the match, Asuka shoved the referee onto Moon to avoid Moon's finisher, the Eclipse, continuing Asuka's transition into a villainess that began at TakeOver: Toronto.[5] On the May 3 NXT, Moon, Ruby Riot, and Nikki Cross were the final three combatants remaining in a #1 Contender's Battle Royal. During the match, Asuka attacked all three women, resulting in a no contest and cementing Asuka's heel turn. After the match, William Regal announced that Asuka would defend the NXT Women's Championship against Moon, Riot, and Cross in a fatal four-way match at TakeOver: Chicago.[8] However, Moon suffered a legitimate shoulder injury after being thrown out of the ring awkwardly during Asuka's attack. Therefore, Moon was pulled out of the match, making the match a triple threat.[9]
On May 6, during at a United Kingdom Championship Tournament live event, Tyler Bate defeated Joseph Conners to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship. Following the match, it was announced that on May 7 at the United Kingdom Championship Special, Bate would defend his title against Mark Andrews, who had become the number one contender after defeating James Drake. Bate would go on and win the match. Also on May 7, Pete Dunne defeated Trent Seven to become the new number one contender for the United Kingdom Championship at TakeOver: Chicago.[10]
Event
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Tom Phillips |
| Nigel McGuinness | |
| Percy Watson | |
| Jim Ross (UK Championship match) | |
| Ring announcer | Mike Rome |
| Referees | Darryl Sharma |
| Drake Wuertz | |
| Eddie Orengo | |
| Pre-show panel | Charly Caruso |
| Peter Rosenberg | |
| Nigel McGuinness |
Preliminary matches
In the opening match, Eric Young faced Roderick Strong. Strong performed "End of Heartache" on Young to win the match.[11]
Next, Tyler Bate defended the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Pete Dunne. In the climax, Dunne performed the "Bitter End" on Bate to win the title.[11] The match was rated 4.75 stars by journalist Dave Meltzer, tying for Meltzer's best-reviewed WWE match of 2017 thus far. The match was also voted as the NXT Match of the Year.
Afterwards, Asuka defended the NXT Women's Championship against Ruby Riott and Nikki Cross in a triple threat match. The ending saw Asuka perform a running knee smash on Riot and pin both women to retain the title.[11]
In the penultimate match, Bobby Roode defended the NXT Championship against Hideo Itami. Roode performed a "Glorious DDT" on Itami for a near-fall. Itami performed a "GTS" on Roode, who rolled out of the ring, and scored a near-fall. Itami attempted a second "GTS" on Roode, who countered and performed two consecutive "Glorious DDTs" on Itami to retain the title.[11]
Main event
In the main event, The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) defended the NXT Tag Team Championship against DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in a ladder match. Gargano performed a splash off a ladder onto Akam, who was lay on a ladder bridged between the ring apron and the barricade, whilst Ciampa performed a splash off the ladder through a ladder, which was also bridged, on Rezar. After Paul Ellering interfered, Gargano performed a superkick on Ellering. Ciampa performed a German suplex through a ladder, which was positioned in the corner, on Rezar. Gargano and Ciampa performed "Meeting in the Middle" into a ladder, which Akam was trapped in. Gargano and Ciampa attempted to retrieve the title belts but Akam and Rezar performed powerbombs on Gargano and Ciampa. Akam and Rezar then performed the "Super Collider" on Gargano and Ciampa. Akam and Rezar retrieved the title belts to retain the titles.[11]
After the match, Ciampa attacked Gargano and performed two running knee smashes on Gargano, turning heel. Ciampa performed an "Air Raid Crash" through two tables near the announce table on Gargano. Medical personnel checked on Gargano as the event ended.[11]
Aftermath
Tommaso Ciampa addressed his attack on Johnny Gargano on the May 31 episode of NXT, stating that he accused him of trying to replace him after he was injured two days before TakeOver: Chicago. Ciampa then blamed the fans and Gargano for the downfall of DIY. He stated that if he was going to be out for a long time due to an injury, Gargano needed to do the same. Ciampa then promised to come back and be the biggest son of a bitch when he did so, and stated that he was professional wrestling.[12]
The 2017 TakeOver: Chicago would be the first of two events in a TakeOver: Chicago chronology, a subseries of TakeOvers that were held at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.[13][14] TakeOver: WarGames in 2019 would also be held at the Allstate Arena, but it was part of the WarGames chronology.[15]
Results
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times[16][11] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1N | Aleister Black defeated Curt Hawkins by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 2:51 | ||||
| 2N | Velveteen Dream defeated Robert Anthony by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 2:25 | ||||
| 3N | Drew McIntyre defeated Wesley Blake by pinfall | Singles match[17] | 8:50 | ||||
| 4 | Roderick Strong defeated Eric Young (with Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain) by pinfall | Singles match[18] | 13:42 | ||||
| 5 | Pete Dunne defeated Tyler Bate (c) by pinfall | Singles match for the WWE United Kingdom Championship[19] | 15:27 | ||||
| 6 | Asuka (c) defeated Nikki Cross and Ruby Riott by pinfall | Triple threat match for the NXT Women's Championship[20] | 12:30 | ||||
| 7 | Bobby Roode (c) defeated Hideo Itami by pinfall | Singles match for the NXT Championship[21] | 17:50 | ||||
| 8 | The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) (c) (with Paul Ellering) defeated DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) | Ladder match for the NXT Tag Team Championship[22] | 20:06 | ||||
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References
- ↑ Howell, Nolan (May 29, 2014). "Neville tops Kidd at NXT Takeover". canoe.ca. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (April 3, 2017). "NXT TakeOver: Chicago to take place on the eve of WWE Backlash". WWE. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
- ↑ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- 1 2 Campbell, Brian (April 1, 2017). "NXT TakeOver: Orlando results, recap -- Nakamura loses in possible final match". CBSSports. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ↑ Kahrs, Alex (April 20, 2017). "WWE NXT Results – 4/19/17 (Dillinger vs. Young in a Steel Cage)". WrestleView. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ↑ Kahrs, Akex (April 27, 2017). "WWE NXT Results – 4/26/17 (Tyler Bate vs. Jack Gallagher for UK Title)". WrestleView. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ↑ James, Justin (May 4, 2017). "5/3 NXT TV review: Women's Battle Royal with confusing finish, Hideo Itami in action, Heavy Machinery continue to impress". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ↑ Clapp, John (May 8, 2017). "Shoulder injury takes Ember Moon out of TakeOver: Chicago". WWE. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ Martin, Adam (May 7, 2017). "Spoilers: 5/6 WWE United Kingdom TV taping results in Norwich, England". WrestleView. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zimmerman, Zack (May 20, 2017). "5/20 Zim's NXT Takeover: Chicago live review – Bobby Roode vs. Hideo Itami for the NXT Title, Authors of Pain vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in a ladder match for the NXT Tag Titles, Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ruby Riott for the NXT Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
- ↑ James, Justin (May 31, 2017). "5/31 NXT TV Report: Tommaso Ciampa explains why he turned against Gargano, Ohno & Strong vs. Young & Wolfe". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ↑ Silverstein, Adam (November 23, 2017). "WWE schedule, list of PPVs for 2018: Royal Rumble, NXT TakeOver date, location". CBSSports. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (April 9, 2018) [March 5, 2018]. "NXT TakeOver: Chicago returns to Allstate Arena on Saturday, June 16". WWE. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ↑ Johnson, Mike (March 18, 2019). "WARGAMES RETURNING TO WWE NXT". PWInsider. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ↑ Zimmerman, Zack (May 24, 2017). "5/24 Zim's WWE NXT TV Review: Drew McIntyre vs. Wesley Blake, Aleister Black vs. Curt Hawkins, Velveteen Dream debuts". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- 1 2 3 "NXT results, May 24, 2017: Drew McIntyre blasts past Wesley Blake in rugged slugfest". WWE. May 24, 2017. Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ↑ Murphy, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "Roderick Strong def. Eric Young". WWE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
- ↑ Murphy, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "Pete Dunne def. Tyler Bate to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship". WWE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
- ↑ Murphy, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "NXT Women's Champion Asuka def. Ruby Riott and Nikki Cross in a Triple Threat Match". WWE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
- ↑ Murphy, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "NXT Champion Bobby Roode def. Hideo Itami". WWE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
- ↑ Murphy, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain def. Gargano & Ciampa in a Ladder Match". WWE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.