WWE: Every NXT TakeOver of 2019 ranked from worst to best

3. Phoenix

While not the first TakeOver event of the year (that honor goes to the earlier mentioned Blackpool), Phoenix was the first TakeOver for the main NXT brand and was able to kick the year off with a bang.

For many Superstars on this night, this TakeOver was a make or break show for them where they needed to rise like, well, phoenixes with the spotlight bright on them for the first time. The Viking Raiders did just that by defeating The Undisputed Era for the NXT Tag Team Championships in their first shot at the titles at TakeOver.

In her very first TakerOver match, Bianca Belair was able to steal the show alongside a dominant Shayna Baszler. The young rookie was able to prove why not only she belonged in the main event picture of the women’s division, but why EST was N-E-X-T U-P. Either that match, or a fantastic Ricochet vs. Johnny Gargano stole the show.

Meanwhile, while not his first TakeOver, Matt Riddle’s match with with Kassius Ohno was his first real TakeOver match (his official first TakeOver match only lasted six seconds). As such, Riddle showed out in a technical masterclass.

Then, of course, Aleister Black and Tommaso Ciampa produced a strong main event before a creatively chaotic show ending bled perfectly into WWE’s Super Bowl Halftime Heat that took place shortly after.