Taking place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The show begins with a live musical concert from the artist Poppy. A video package in the background hype the oncoming six matches as short versions of her songs are playout. All of this was a pretty unique way to open a wrestling event up. It's way different than the main brand hype speech. I kinda like that this promotion started doing this for certain shows. However, the performance kinda felt like a rethread as the artist already sung on NXT Oct. 30, 2019 taping; hyping some of the same feuds that was on this card. So, it felt a little like déjà vu. Regardless, it was nice to see Keith Lee versus Dominik Dijakovic yet again even if their once intense feud seems to running out stream and turning code of honor neutral. Anyways their title bout for the North American Championship did have similarities to their previous matches at Full Sail with the big hosses flying around sequences and hard-hitting strong style kicks and punches. Yet they did pull off some new, I never saw before from them. They did a lot more outside of the ring fighting to the point that I wonder if the ref is ever going to start a ten count. This was something that they couldn't do in the smaller venue. So that was kinda cool to see. Sadly, the next contest on the card couldn't live up to the hype. I found this street fight bout between Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai to be highly disappointing. Certain moves were delivered very sloppily. I really hate the clichés duct tape to the post spot. I always found that sequence very silly as the tape is highly breakable in real life; which in no surprise broke off a few seconds later. Because of that, Tegan had to act like she was tired and still stuck near on the post until Dakota could finish her spots there. Then there was the ending. The whole run in by Raquel Gonzalez felt awkward and confusing. First off, the majority of the crowd didn't know who she was. After all, this is her first appearance on the network since losing the Mae Young Classic two years ago. She only wrestled a hand full of matches before and since then. Second, there was really no good reason for her to make an interference as none of these women had any connection with each other. Honestly to tell you the truth, that spot could had gone to somehow more established within the feud like Candice LeRae or Mia Yim. It would had made the story made more sense that some near unknown. Third off, I felt that the match ending could had been better if they book Tegan to lose by getting 'kayfabe' injured by rolling her ankle or leg while seeking to dish out more punishment on Kai rather than gaining the win. It would had shown how reckless her actions were as it cost her the match. Instead we got this botch table bump ending and the crowd looking baffled. Next on the card was Finn Balor versus Johnny Gargano to show who is the truly the heart of promotion. Everybody was really looking forward to this match. It really delivered, even if the contest started in a very snail pace with rest holds. The fight picked up after that with some brawling, high spots, submissions and near pin falls. The ending was really good as it would had gone either way. The results for this contest was hard to predicted. Sadly, that wasn't the same with the next fight as the buildup for a match with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 kinda made Bianca Belair into an afterthought. It was crystal clear by all the marketing who will retain the Women Championship. Regardless, I kinda glad she put out a showing with Rhea Ripley even if the finish felt under whelming due to the rush botch nature place movement. I still feel bad for her. Hopefully, WWE wouldn't interference further with TakeOvers events with awkward place inter brand bookings. It kinda ruins the unpredictable nature of the orange and black promotion. The next match saw the BroserWeights (Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne) versus The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) for the Tag Team Championship. While the comedy during this feud has been a mixed bag for me with getting the golf cart ride with the Dusty Rhodes Trophy to Portland being the highlight and Riddle making fun of Fish's name using a really cheesy and lame tongue twister being the low point; the match was highly entertaining between both teams. It was a good showing. More for Riddle and Dunne, as they were only put together within the last two months. In the main event, Adam Cole defend his NXT Championship against the challenger Tommaso Ciampa. The match was brutal. Lots of deadly neck relation's moves. Especially the wheel barrel to the table spot and the Panama Sunset on the floor. Those two were just hard to watch. While, all the near falls was bit unrealistic seeing how killer the moves set were, it didn't really take me out of the match too much, along with the run-in inferences from the rest of Undisputed Era and Gargano. I just wish Velveteen Dream show up as well, since he is related to this feud. As for the ending. The betrayal kinda works within the story. After all, it was Ciampa that nearly ended Johnny's career. However, I kinda not looking forward to seeing yet another match between the two. That feud was buried. Yet NXT wants it to thread water. I don't see much life in it. As for the rest of the card, I'm a bit curious where they will go from here. Overall: It was an incredible show in Portlandia. One worth getting on the trail for.
4 Reviews
What an amazing show
hellawakeoo18 February 2020
TakeOver: Portland
bobcobb30123 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The crowd reacting to every single move in Lee vs. Dijakovic was too much as a lot of stuff wasn't anything we haven't seen before, but this was still a wild night top to bottom.
It was a mistake to have the Gargano turn here and done the way it was, but people love the feud between him and Ciampa so maybe it can work.
It was a mistake to have the Gargano turn here and done the way it was, but people love the feud between him and Ciampa so maybe it can work.
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