NXT TakeOver: Phoenix is upon us. If you need a refresher on the card or information on how to catch the show live, you’re in the right place.
For fans of the product out of Full Sail University, we’re coming up on another great weekend of wrestling. NXT TakeOver: Phoenix is just around the corner, one night before WWE’s annual Royal Rumble pay per view.
This is the third straight year NXT will be hosting a TakeOver event in conjunction with the Royal Rumble. In San Antonio in 2017, Bobby Roode won the NXT Championship from Shinsuke Nakamura, while DIY dropped the NXT Tag Team Championships to the Authors of Pain. 2018 may have been even better, with Johnny Gargano and Andrade Almas putting on a five-star classic in Philadelphia.
That’s a pretty good set of shows to follow up on. Of course, saying a TakeOver event will be good is like saying water is wet. Each card of late has followed roughly the same formula — hot tag opener, a stack of solo title matches at the end of the show — but who cares? Good wrestling is good wrestling, and you don’t mess with success.
Per WWE’s official website, here’s the official card for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix:
"NXT Championship MatchTommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister BlackNXT Women’s Championship MatchShayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca BelairNXT Tag Team Championship MatchThe Undisputed Era (c) vs. War RaidersNXT North American Championship MatchRicochet (c) vs. Johnny GarganoMatt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno"
That gives us four title matches, plus the third installment of a great feud that kicked off in earnest at the last TakeOver back in November. There doesn’t look like a clunker in the bunch on paper, so hopefully all the bouts live up to expectations. (I suspect they will.)
How can you watch NXT TakeOver: Phoenix? The action gets underway on Saturday, January 26, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area, find a ticket somehow.
For the rest of us, we’ll have to settle on the award-winning WWE Network (subscription required, first month free for new subscribers). Before the main show starts, tune in to the TakeOver Phoenix Pre-Show at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. A panel of experts breaks down the entire card, and the 2018 NXT Year-End Award winners will be revealed.
Are you ready for NXT TakeOver Phoenix? Which match are you most looking forward to? Sound off in the comments below and head back for all our TakeOver coverage!