5 Reasons NXT TakeOver: Chicago Was WWE NXT’s Best Show Ever

NXT TakeOver: Chicago, WWE.com

There have been some incredible WWE NXT live specials before, but NXT TakeOver: Chicago may have been the best.

On Saturday night, WWE NXT went back for its latest live special: NXT TakeOver: Chicago. They took over the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL, and put on a show to remember. From the instant classic matches to an unforgettable moment, it was a night that will be difficult to be rivaled with for the rest of 2017.

There have been over one dozen TakeOver events, but never one like this. It had all the necessary ingredients toward being a successful show, and turned into potentially the greatest TakeOver event of all time.

Why is this the best of them all? Well, let’s take a look at this stacked event and wonder:

WWE.com

5. Hideo Itami’s Opportunity

It took over two years for Hideo Itami to get an NXT Championship Match. It looked like he’d get one right out of the gate in 2014, but injuries ate up the next 24 months of Itami’s career, sidelining him as other big names like Shinsuke Nakamura, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens passed him by.

Well, on Saturday night, Itami got his long-awaited opportunity. He put on a fun match with Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship, lasting about fifteen minutes. The Japanese Sensation came close to winning a few times, but didn’t come out successful.

Despite the missed chance at winning the title, it was a positive to see Itami get involved in his first match for a belt. Given all the injuries he’s dealt with since 2015, saying he had one chance to try to achieve what he came to NXT to do is worthwhile. It’s also about the company getting a return on its investment, which they haven’t gotten much out of since TakeOver: Rival in February ’15.

It was an overall positive and redemptive story for Itami, making it one of the ways this TakeOver topped the charts. None had as unique of a tale as this, with nostalgia even factoring in. Hopefully it won’t be the last time he gets to go for the NXT Championship.