NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III recap & reaction

Johnny Gargano vs Andrade “Cien” Almas

The match started out back and forth. Almas locked in an Arm Bar but Gargano reversed it and wrestled Almas to the mat. Almas got back to his feet and leveled Gargano with a shoulder tackle. Gargano leap frogged Almas and then connected with a Hurricanrana. Gargano hit a chop in the corner and followed it up by bouncing Almas’ head off the top turnbuckle.

Almas connected with a chop of his own and connected with a kick to the back of Gargano’s head for a two count. Almas locked Gargano in a Triangle submission hold while on the ropes. The referee broke the hold but Gargano clutched his left arm in pain. Almas contined the attack and applied an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring.

The Brooklyn crowd chanted “Johnny Wrestling” as Gargano broke the hold and slammed Almas into the second turnbuckle. Both Superstars connected with a Clothesline at the same time and fell to the mat. Almas was the first to his feet and connected with a forearm. Gargano and Almas then started trading punches. Gargano knocked Almas to the mat and then booted him them in the head.

Gargano connected with a slingshot Spear for a two count. Gargano connected with a kick that knocked Almas out of the ring and then followed it up with a Suicide Dive. Back in the ring, Gargano planted Almas with a slingshot DDT for a two count. Gargano went for another slingshot Spear but Almas caught him and connected with a Tornado DDT for a two count.

Almas perched Gargano up on the top rope and hit him with a gigantic chop that echoed throughout the Barclays Center. Gargano responded with a headbutt and went for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb but Almas landed on his feet and connected with a running elbow. Gargano locked in the Gargano Escape in the middle of the ring but Almas lifted him up and Powerbombed Gargano onto the turnbuckle. Almas then hit Double Knees to Gargano in the corner for a two count.

Almas then focused his attack on Gargano’s left arm again. Gargano connected with a kick to Almas’ face and then launched him into the second turnbuckle. Zelina Vega threw a shirt at Gargano to distract him. Almas connected with a Dropkick and then planted him with the Hammerlock DDT for the victory.

Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas

Reaction: This match flowed very well. The crowd was very into it and I thought it was over several times. The finish was a bit goofy but that doesn’t take away from how great of an opening match this was.

RAW GM Kurt Angle and SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan were shown in the crowd with several NXT Superstars. Corey Graves joined the announce table for the NXT Tag Team Championship match.

NXT Tag Team Championship: The Authors of Pain (c) vs SAnitY

Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe were accompanied to the ring by Eric Young and Nikki Cross. A brawl broke out before the match even started. The match eventually started with Wolfe and Akam in the ring. Akam beatdown Wolfe for a bit and tagged in Rezar as Wolfe was isolated in the corner.

Rezar charged at Wolfe in the corner but Wolfe got out of the way. Eric Young then got up on the ring apron and Dain hopped down. Young was tagged in and he replaced Dain in the match. The action quickly spilled outside the ring and Young was launched over the barricade. Rezar and Young battled through the crowd as Wolfe and Akam fought in the ring. The fight eventually returned to the ring.

Rezar slammed Young to the mat in the ring for a two count. Rezar applied a Chin Lock in the ring but Young was able to break free. Rezar grabbed Young again and locked him in a Triangle in the middle of the ring. The crowd got behind Young as he powered his way to his feet.

Rezar grabbed Young by the neck and lifted him above his shoulders and then slammed him to the mat. Rezar went for an Elbow Drop but Young rolled out of the way. Rezar charged at Young in the corner but once again Young got out of the way and Rezar launched himself into the turnbuckle.

Wolfe was tagged in and he delivered a big boot to knock Akam off the ring apron. Wolfe connected with a boot to Rezar’s face. Akam ran into the ring and Wolfe planted him with an Exploder Suplex. Wolfe then connected with a German Suplex to Rezar. Wolfe connected with a Clothesline off the top rope and went for a pinfall but Rezar broke it up. Rezar then threw Young out of the ring.

AOP teamed up and Powerbombed Wolfe for a two count.Wolfe connected with a Frankensteiner off the second rope to Rezar. Akam then charged at Wolfe but Wolfe ducked and Akam flew out of the ring. Young was tagged in and he planted Rezar with a Neckbreaker. Young climbed up to the top turnbuckle but Rezar shook the ropes and Young fell crotch-first to the turnbuckle. Nikki Cross held onto Young’s legs and Akam accidentally Powerbombed Rezar. Young then hit an Elbow Drop off the top rope but Akam broke up the pinfall.

Young and Wolfe connected with back to back Suicide Dives and Nikki Cross got in the ring. Paul Ellering got in the ring and the two began shouting at each other. Nikki Cross went for a Crossbody onto Akam but he caught her. Killian Dain then sprinted and leaped onto both Cross and Akam and they fell through a table next to the ring. Back in the ring, Wolfe held up Rezar and Young leaped off the top rope and connected with a Neckbreaker for the victory.

After the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly attacked SAnitY and beat them down. They then raised the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Winners & New NXT Tag Team Champions: SAnitY

Reaction: The best way to describe this match is pure chaos. It was incredibly fun to watch. You’ve got to believe that The Authors of Pain are on their way to the main roster soon after dropping the titles.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Kalisto were shown in the crowd. Jim Ross joined commentary for the Black versus Itami match.

Aleister Black vs Hideo Itami

Black and Itami traded a couple big boots right when the bell rang. Black got the upper-hand and leveled Itami with a kick to the chest. Black connected with a knee to the back of Itami’s head. Itami hung Black up on the top rope and then climbed to the top turnbuckle and connected with a flying knee.

Itami applied a headlock as Black was bleeding from his nose. Black broke the hold but Itami connected with a kick to Aleister’s back. Itami then mocked Black’s pose in the ring and Black got pissed off. Black connected with a forearm but Itami responded with a DDT for a two count.

Itami applied a Chin Lock in the middle of the ring. Black broke out of the hold and connected with a knee to the side of Itami’s head. Black hit a springboard Moonsault off the second rope for a two count. Itami climbed up to the top rope and connected with a Clothesline for a two count.

Black rolled up Itami for a two count and then connected with a massive kick to Itami’s head. Black then climbed to the top rope but Itami met him up their and connected with a couple jabs. Itami then hit a Dropkick and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow off the top rope for a two count.

Black and Itami then traded punches in the ring. Black caught Itami with a knee but Itami immediately connected with the Falcon Arrow for a two count. Itami hit a Dropkick in the corner and then Hideo pulled down his knee pad to prepare for GTS. Black blocked it and Itami kicked him in the head. Itami then shouted at the crowd to show him some respect and Aleister connected with Black Mass for the victory.

Winner: Aleister Black

Reaction: This match was very physical and I thought it was awesome. Despite the injuries, Itami is still excellent in the ring. Black has all the potential in the world. His in-ring work is terrific and he has a great look as well.

NXT Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs Ember moon

Ember Moon connected with a Dropkick right away and then followed it up with another one. Moon planted Asuka with a Suplex and Asuka rolled out of the ring. Moon went for a Baseball Slide on Asuka outside the ring but Asuka avoided it. Moon then booted Asuka in the face and hit a Cannonball onto Asuka outside the ring.

Asuka battled back and planted Moon with a Suplex on the steel ramp. Back in the ring, Asuka targeted her attack on Ember’s arm. Dueling “lets go Ember!” and “lets go Asuka!” chants broke out as Asuka locked in an Arm Bar. Ember powered to her feet and Suplexed Asuka to the mat.

Moon connected with a kick to Asuka’s head for a two count. Asuka battled back and planted Ember with a German Suplex into the bottom turnbuckle. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock but Moon was able to break the hold and connected with a Clothesline that knocked Asuka to the mat.

Moon hit a Tornado Suplex from the second turnbuckle for a two count. Ember hung up Asuka on the second rope and then stomped on her for a two count. Ember then leaped off the turnbuckle and hit the Eclipse but Asuka kicked out at two. Ember climbed up the turnbuckle again but Asuka hid behind the ref. Ember then went for a Crossbody but Asuka rolled through and tried to pin Ember while grabbing her tights. The referee caught Asuka and stopped counting at two. Moon then connected with a massive Superkick for a two count. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock in the middle of the ring and Ember tapped out.

After the match, Ember Moon got a great ovation as she stood in the ring after the match.

Winner & Still NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka

Reaction: Another great match on tonight’s show and Asuka remains undefeated. I figured that Asuka would win this match, but the match was executed so well I went crazy when she kicked out of the Eclipse. Like every other match on the card so far, it is worth worth watching if you missed it.

NXT Championship: Bobby Roode (c) vs Drew McIntyre

Roode connected with a chop but McIntyre leveled him with a shoulder tackle. Drew grabbed Roode by the neck and threw him into the turnbuckle. Roode connected with a kick to the midsection and went for the Glorious DDT but McIntyre blocked it. Roode then taunted McIntyre and shouted that this was his NXT.

Roode trapped McIntyre in the corner and connected with a series of chops. McIntyre booted Roode in the chest and Bobby bounced across the ring. McIntyre hit a big boot and Roode fell to the canvas. McIntyre picked up Roode with ease and simply tossed him across the ring. McIntyre then Clotheslined Roode out of the ring and then joined him out there.

McIntyre connected with a chop while Roode was against the barricade. Roode hopped up on the ring apron and went for a Crossbody but McIntyre caught him. Roode fought his way out and charged at McIntyre but got a Tilt-a-Whirl Slam onto the ring apron for his troubles.

The action returned to the ring as dueling chants broke out. Roode hit a Neckbreaker onto the second rope and McIntyre crashed down to the floor outside the ring. Roode then leaped off the ring apron and connected with another Neckbreaker onto McIntyre outside the ring. Roode bounced McIntyre’s head off the barricade outside the ring and then elbowed him in the throat as the action once again returned to the ring.

Roode connected with a Clothesline in the corner and then planted McIntyre with another Neckbreaker for a two count. Roode launched McIntyre into the turnbuckle and then hopped up onto the second turnbuckle as Drew got back to his feet. Roode hit a Dropkick for a two count and then applied a Chin Lock.

McIntyre broke free but Roode locked in a Sleeper Hold. McIntyre powered to his feet and drove Roode back-first into the turnbuckle to break the hold. Roode charged at McIntyre but Drew caught him with a Belly to Belly overhead Suplex and Roode splatted on the mat. McIntyre continued to be in control and launched Roode into the turnbuckle and followed it up with a Clothesline.

McIntyre leaped off the top rope and connected with a Clothesline. Roode hit an Atomic Drop and went for a Crossbody but McIntyre caught him and slammed him to the mat with the Celtic Cross for a two count. Roode battled back and climbed to the top rope but McIntyre clubbed him across the back. Roode connected with a right hand and then crotched McIntyre on the top turnbuckle.

Roode punched McIntyre in the face and Drew fell to the mat with his legs caught up in the top rope. McIntyre leaned up and grabbed Roode by the head and launched him off the top rope and across the ring. McIntyre geared up for the Claymore but Roode stayed on the mat. McIntyre approached him but Roode went for a roll-up for a two count. Roode then connected with a Backstabber but McIntyre was able to kick out at the count of two.

Roode attacked McIntyre in the corner and hit him with a Clothesline. Roode went for another Neckbreaker but McIntyre reversed it into a backslide pin for a two count. McIntyre then hit the Future Shock DDT but Roode was able to kick out at the last second. McIntyre lifted Roode up in a Fireman’s Carry and climbed to the second rope. Roode escaped and Powerbombed McIntyre off the second rope for a two count.

Both Superstars traded punches while they were on their knees. They got back to their feet and traded chops. McIntyre got booted in the head and fell to the corner. McIntyre connected with the Claymore out of the corner and went for the pinfall but Roode was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pin.

Roode then rolled out of the ring and McIntyre went to follow him but the referee shoved him back for some reason. McIntyre sprinted across the ring and hit flipped onto Roode outside the ring. Roode barely broke his fall and McIntyre fell hard to the floor. Drew brought Roode back into the ring and then geared up in the corner for the Claymore. McIntyre charged at Roode but Bobby was ready and planted him with a Spinebuster.

Roode then went for the Glorious DDT but McIntyre blocked it. Roode then went for another one and this time he hit the Glorious DDT but McIntyre kicked out at two. Roode hit another Glorious DDT but didn’t let go of McIntyre. Roode went for another Glorious DDT but McIntyre blocked it and hit the Claymore for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly showed up on the ring apron. Adam Cole then attacked McIntyre from behind and connected with a Superkick. Cole then grabbed the NXT Championship and leaned next to Drew McIntyre.

Winner & New NXT Champion: Drew McIntyre

Reaction: This match started out slow but it picked up and wound up being a great bout. I hope Roode joins the main roster soon because there is no doubt that he is ready. NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III was a terrific show and SummerSlam has a hell of an act to follow tomorrow night.

What did you think of NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III? Let us know in the comments below.

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