WWE NXT TakeOver: Phoenix Results, Highlights, And Grades

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1089320828683018240

Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno

Result: Matt Riddle forces Kassius Ohno to tap

Rating: Good, Loved the story-telling and character development here. This was the right match to follow up the fast-paced War Raiders vs. Undisputed Era match.

Surely this match will go much better for Kassius Ohno, who lost in mere seconds to Matt Riddle at TakeOver: WarGames 2, which was Riddle’s TakeOver debut. Riddle and Ohno had one more counter on NXT Television, and Ohno defeated his friend Keith Lee thanks to a “knockout” low blow.

Riddle and Ohno fought to a stalemate in the early moments, predictably trading plenty of strikes. Ohno showed off his brilliance, using the apron of the ring to drape Riddle’s head when “The King of Bros” attempted to sunset-flip powerbomb Ohno to the floor; it’ll take a lot more than that for Riddle to put the strong and savvy Ohno away this time.

After Riddle barely kicked out of a big move, Ohon followed up with some stomps, calling Riddle a “bum” as he disrespectfully kicked him in the face. That only got Riddle fired up, but his flurry of energy was short-lived against a pissed-off Ohno, who sent Riddle sprawling outside the ring. And just like on television, Ohno drove Riddle into the ring post and the steel steps, reminding Riddle and the fans of his previous attack on the NXT newcomer.

Blood pouring out of his mouth, Riddle took Ohno’s best shot on the apron and screamed, countering a vertical suplex into a sleeper hold. Riddle went to suplex Ohno, who took note of Riddle’s bare feet and stomped the living hell out of Riddle’s left foot.

But Riddle ignored the pain to hit a lovely bridging German for a nearfall…and then the kicks to the mid-section started coming hard and fast.

Ohno nearly won the match with a NASTY Liger Bomb, as Riddle just barely got the shoulder up. Desperate, Ohno went to the top rope for a moonsault that bagged the Knockout Artist another moonfall. Ohno overshot the moonsault a bit, which enabled Riddle to get out at two.

The crafty Ohno tried to beg Riddle off with some tears and a fist-bump attempt as a callback to their earlier television encounter, but Riddle wasn’t buying it. Riddle went right at Ohno by locking in on the elbow with relentless strikes, and the furious “Bro” got Ohno to tap out to the strikes, giving him a second highly impressive TakeOver victory for Riddle over Ohno (third win against Ohno overall).

It’s rare for a superstar to win by submission via strikes, and this was the perfect way for Riddle to beat the Knockout Artist. We saw some more great character development from Riddle, who is here to own 2019.