NXT TakeOver: Phoenix opens with a video package hyping the matches.
The lights in the arena go out and Viking war music kicks-in. Guys dressed in battle armour come out onto the stage, shrouded in smoke, and it’s time for The War Raiders!
NXT Tag Team Championship
(C) The Undisputed Era Vs. The War Raiders
No Cole or Bobby Fish accompanying The Undisputed Era tonight, so O’Reilly and Strong will do things by themselves.
As soon as the bell rings Strong and O’Reilly run across the ring and attack Hanson and Rowe. They toss Hanson from the ring and Strong connects with a dropkick through the ropes. They double-team whip Rowe into the ropes but he comes back with a clothesline to both and they roll from the ring.
No rest for the wicked though, because they rolled right into the path of Hanson, who beats them down. Rowe then scoop slams Hanson from the apron onto both Strong and O’Reilly. They get Strong back into the ring and Hanson bats him out of mid-air like a fly, before squashing him in the corner with splashes.
Hanson and Rowe look to double-team Strong but O’Reilly kicks Rowe from behind and they toss him from the ring. Strong and O’Reilly beat-down Hanson with kicks until the referee forces Strong from the ring. O’Reilly kicks Hanson repeatedly in the corner before tagging Strong, who looks for a suplex but is reversed. Strong tags O’Reilly and they whip him into the corner, before connecting with kicks. O’Reilly takes Hanson down with a front headlock.
Hanson tries to throw Kyle off but the Champion transitions into a guillotine. Hanson powers through to tag Rowe and Strong comes running in to help but the big man knocks them both down with shoulder tackles. He hits Strong with a gut buster, and no sells a punch from O’Reilly, before throwing Strong into him! Rowe gets knocked from the apron to the floor, where O’Reilly takes him out with a flying knee. Hanson then knocked Strong out of the ring and looked to hit a suicide dive but nobody was home and he landed hard on his back.
Inside the ring, Rowe and O’Reilly are the legal men. Rowe connects with a huge STO, before dropkicking the returning Roderick Strong. A chop-block from O’Reilly takes Rowe down and allows the heels to take a breather. Strong tags in and catches Rowe off-guard with a backbreaker. Strong keeps the big man down with a submission before tagging O’Reilly. The two Champions hit a double-team suplex to Rowe, landing him on the top rope. O’Reilly unleashes palm strikes to Rowe and looks for the cross armbar but can’t release his hands. Strong tags in again and lands another backbreaker for a two count.
Quick tags continue from the Champions as they keep the big man isolated from his partner, who is back on the apron. Hanson is finally able to make the tag and he comes in like a wrecking ball. He slams O’Reilly and Strong in opposite corners. A sidewalk slam, followed by a crossbody splash to Strong. Hanson somehow jumps from his feet to a seated senton to Strong, then a cartwheel to dodge O’Reilly and a huge clothesline. The crowd are on their feet now.
Strong manages to regain some momentum by clotheslining Hanson, before both O’Reilly and Rowe are tagged. Bedlam ensues as every man starts connecting with big punches and kicks to each other. War Raiders hit their finisher – a pop-up powerslam – to O’Reilly, then Hanson hits a suicide dive to Strong as the referee pins 1…2…no! O’Reilly kicks out! Loud “NXT” chant from the fans. Rowe hits O’Reilly with a backbreaker, gutbuster, then slams him down, and Hanson hits a splash from the top rope but Strong breaks the pin.
O’Reilly fights back as they look to double-team him again, and Strong comes back to clear Rowe from the ring. Strong meets Hanson on the top rope and hits a superplex, followed by a leaping knee from O’Reilly from the top rope but Hanson kicks out! Strong gets Rowe on the apron and hits a backbreaker onto the apron! O’Reilly makes the tag to Strong and the duo hit Hanson with kicks and elbows, followed by an Olympic Slam from Strong for a near-fall. O’Reilly and Strong hit the High/Low to Hanson but he kicks out!
They look to hit the High/Low again but this time Hanson dodges it with another cartwheel, before hitting a springboard double back elbow! Rowe tags in and he hits a powerslam/powerbomb to O’Reilly and Strong at the same time. They hit Viking Fallout on O’Reilly for the win!
Winners and New NXT Tag Team Champions: The War Raiders
The era of The Undisputed Era is over! Hanson and Rowe have emerged from NXT TakeOver: Phoenix as the new Tag Team Champions, and that match was insane!
