"Rival" was the theme of the latest NXT TakeOver special, and given everything that unfolded in the night's main event for the brand's heavyweight title, it was more than fitting.
Good friends turned bitter enemies Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens waged war in what was a one-sided match for the most part as Owens relentlessly brutalized Zayn for the first three-quarters. Then, Zayn battled back, but a high-risk maneuver saw the champion smash his own head on the steel entrance ramp, leaving him with concussion-like symptoms.
Owens exploited the injury, leaving the referees with no alternative but to stop the match and announce the former Ring of Honor star the new champion.
Earlier in the night, Finn Balor defeated Adrian Neville in a Match of the Year candidate to become No. 1 Contender.
Elsewhere on the card, Sasha Banks captured the NXT Women's Championship, Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake retained the tag titles and Hideo Itami defeated Tyler Breeze.
What hit, and what missed?
Which matches graded the highest, and which disappointed?
Find out now, with an in-depth look at NXT's latest two-hour live event.
Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze
The NXT Arena erupted as Hideo Itami made his way to the squared circle to kick off the evening's broadcast. His opponent? "Prince Pretty," Tyler Breeze.
A female fan jumped on the back of Breeze as he made his entrance, complete with a decorated selfie stick.
Breeze dodged two straight attempts at kicks to the face but could not duck out of the way of a knee to the midsection.
Itami unloaded on Breeze with a series of kicks. To counter that striking ability, Breeze targeted the knee of his opponent, trapping him in a single-leg Boston Crab.
The Japanese star teased GTS, but Breeze countered out with a rollup. Itami answered with a kick to which Breeze responded with the Supermodel Kick for two.
Itami mounted a comeback, firing off a series of hard kicks about the chest, then delivered a hesitation dropkick in the corner. The running kick to the face won the match for him.
Result
Hideo Itami pinned Tyler Breeze.
Highlight
The trading of kicks that led to Breeze's Supermodel Kick made for a phenomenal series.
Grade
B
Analysis
Itami and Breeze may not have had a match that measured up to anything that followed it later on the card, but it was a great way to kick off the night's proceedings.
Both men are incredibly over with the NXT Universe, and their in-ring styles meshed well. Despite their hard work and a hot crowd that greeted every near-fall with a thunderous ovation, it was a match that is unlikely to be remembered much past Wednesday night.
Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey
Trying to prove that the third time is the charm, or something like that, Bull Dempsey made his way to the ring for his match with Baron Corbin. After causing the Lone Wolf his first defeat in the No. 1 Contender's tournament, Dempsey was looking to pick up his first win over the former Arizona Cardinal.
Corbin rushed the ring, taking the fight to Dempsey in what was revealed to be a No Disqualification match.
Dempsey delivered a huge snap suplex on the entrance ramp.
After several moments of being on the defensive, Corbin blasted Dempsey with a spinebuster before an ugly clothesline over the top rope sent both stars to the outside.
Moments later, Dempsey delivered a diving headbutt for two, much to the shock and dismay of the Last of a Dying Breed.
Dempsey sent Corbin back-first into the steel steps, determined to do whatever it took to pick up the win. He grabbed hold of a steel chair, but Corbin delivered the End of Days to pick up the win.
Result
Baron Corbin pinned Bull Dempsey.
Highlight
Corbin blocking the attempted chair shot by Dempsey and countering with End of Days.
Grade
C-
Analysis
This was not pretty.
Neither Corbin nor Dempsey appeared overly comfortable in the No Disqualification setting. That the stipulation never really came into play leaves one to wonder why it was even implemented in the first place.
The finish was very cool, and Corbin proved that he can take a beating and sell it effectively. But it is time for the big man to move on to other Superstars not named Dempsey.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Lucha Dragons vs. Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake
Just weeks after losing the NXT Tag Team Championships, Sin Cara and Kalisto had the opportunity to regain the straps as they challenged the upstart team of Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake.
Blake and Murphy made their entrance to techno music that could not possibly suit them less.
Sin Cara started the match off on the right foot, thwarting a double-team attempt by the champions, then wracked Blake in the Gory Special. A big chop and headscissors continued his early success.
Kalisto botched a dive over the top rope but eventually took Murphy with a second try.
Sin Cara caught Blake with a victory roll off the top rope for two before allowing Blake to tag in his partner.
The challengers executed a beautiful wheelbarrow senton on Murphy for two, but the champions delivered a big toss into a neckbreaker on Sin Cara.
Kalisto entered the bout, delivered a corkscrew cross-body block and drove Murphy face-first into the mat.
Both men made the tag, allowing Sin Cara to deliver a springboard body block to Blake for two. Counter wrestling reigned supreme, with neither team really gaining the upper hand. Near-falls ensued before Sin Cara delivered a powerbomb for two.
Murphy caught Sin Cara with a running brainbuster, and Blake came off the top rope with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory.
Result
Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy defeated Lucha Dragons to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Highlight
The double-team finish beckoned back to a time when tag teams worked like a well-oiled machine, coming up with a finisher that allowed both members of the duo to be involved.
Grade
B-
Analysis
The competitors tried so very hard to pack as much action into the time given that the match actually suffered from it as a result. The action was sloppy early, with all involved missing or botching spots. As things settled down, however, the performers were able to recover nicely and put together a competitive match.
Kalisto outclassed everyone else in the bout, while Sin Cara was his typically solid self. In the end, though, the young duo of Blake and Murphy picked up the win to continue its reign.
The biggest question is who the champions are programmed with next.
While The Vaudevillains would be the most logical choice, there really is no division past them, something Triple H will have to address in the coming weeks.
No. 1 Contender Tournament Final: Finn Balor vs. Adrian Neville
A video package detailing the respect that Adrian Neville and Finn Balor have for each other preceded the much-anticipated finals of the No. 1 Contender's tournament.
Balor's entrance was goosebump-inducing as he brought back the paint and the theatrics for his second NXT live-special appearance. Unlike The Ascension, Neville did not appear fazed, nor did he appear impressed as he stood across the ring from the Irish-born competitor.
The action was fast-paced and action-packed early, with Balor stunning Neville following a dropkick. The former NXT champion answered with a springboard dropkick that took his opponent down and allowed him to apply a side headlock.
After several minutes of Neville grounding Balor with a headlock, Balor delivered an enzuigiri kick that sent Neville to the floor. A big dropkick to the guardrail further stunned the former heavyweight champion.
A double stomp to the back of the head nearly brought Neville down, but he was able to kick out at two.
Neville and Balor exchanged kicks, leaving both men lying flat on their backs as chants of "this is awesome" broke out inside the NXT Arena.
With Balor lying prone, Neville delivered a corkscrew splash that brought the audience to its feet but only kept his opponent down for two.
An intense Neville caught Balor with a forearm but had it answered by the Sling Blade. A lifting inverted DDT scored Balor a two count.
Neville planted Balor and tried for a Red Arrow, but Balor caught him. A big kick to the back of the head led to a second attempt. Balor got the knees up, scored a rollup and nearly scored the win.
Seconds later, Balor caught Neville with the Coup De Gras double stomp for the win.
Balor and Neville exchanged a handshake as the crowd applauded their superb effort.
Result
Finn Balor pinned Adrian Neville.
Highlight
The finishing sequence, which saw Balor get the knees up to counter the Red Arrow then finish Neville off with the double stomp, was fantastic and the perfect culmination to a molten-hot bout.
Grade
A+
Analysis
With a shot at the NXT Championship at stake, Finn Balor and Adrian Neville beat the unholy hell out of each other Wednesday night. They unleashed on each other with a series of bone-crushing strikes, all in hopes of being the man to emerge with a future title shot. That is a simple story to follow and one the competitors told phenomenally.
Neville was brilliant, refusing to be fazed by the theatrics Balor incorporated into his performance. He was intense and determined, but at the end of the night, he simply could not overcome the buzzsaw that was the Irishman.
As a former NXT champion, arguably the best to date, Neville still has a credibility and legitimacy about him that helps elevate others when he does suffer a rare pinfall or submission defeat.
By beating the Man Who Gravity Forgot, Balor instantly established himself as a main event talent in NXT and a very real threat to the champion—whomever it may be by night's end.
Fatal 4-Way Match for the NXT Women's Championship
Give the quality of recent NXT Divas matches, there was every reason to believe the four women involved in Wednesday night's bout would deliver another outstanding match as they took to the ring for the women's title match.
Bayley found herself on the receiving end of a two-on-one assault at the hands of Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch, whose history as partners fell apart with a big suplex.
Charlotte recovered after finding herself down early, delivering a big neckbreaker to Banks. Another neckbreaker followed, this time to Lynch. A spear to Lynch by Charlotte followed by one to Banks by Bayley ignited an ovation from the crowd.
The NXT women's champion found herself shoulder-first into the ring post. Moments later, Banks delivered a double knee to the midsection on both Charlotte and Lynch.
An aggressive Bayley unloaded on Charlotte, mounting an offensive that had her in position to capture the title. A hurricanrana off the top rope and the Bayley-to-Belly nearly ended Charlotte's title reign, but Lynch pulled her out of the ring before the three count.
The action spilled outside the ring, where Banks caught Bayley and Lynch with a suicide dive.
Charlotte followed suit, taking all three of her challengers out with a dive over the top rope.
Bayley delivered a huge Bayley-to-Belly suplex off the top rope, but Banks tossed her out of the ring. She pinned Charlotte for two, then locked in the Bank Statement. She kicked Lynch and Bayley off the apron and reapplied the hold.
As Charlotte tried to use her strength to fight out of the hold, Banks reversed into a crucifix rollup for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Charlotte attempted to embrace her mentor, but Banks shoved her away and gloated about the win.
Result
Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte, Bayley and Becky Lynch to win the NXT Women's Championship.
Highlight
The series of dives to the outside proved the extent to which the women would go to deliver a fantastic match.
Grade
A+
Analysis
Triple H mentioned during the live edition of the Steve Austin Show podcast that he would like to see the women get a better chance to prove their worth on the main roster.
Wednesday night, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch proved that if that opportunity ever presents itself, they are more than willing to step up and deliver high-quality wrestling matches.
Building drama with interference, near-falls, high-impact maneuvers and thrilling dives, the four women had the NXT Universe on the edge of its collective seat Wednesday night, awaiting the moment that one of them would score the fall that allowed them to leave Full Sail University with the NXT Women's Championship.
That woman would be Sasha Banks, who overcame past disappointment and three immensely talented competitors to put an end to Charlotte's title reign with a crucifix pin.
The disrespect shown by Banks after the match was in line with her character. In fact, willingly embracing Charlotte would have done more damage than good, as it would have gone against everything the character is and has been over the last year.
Yet again, the Divas of NXT proved that with time, they are capable of delivering when the lights are brightest and stage its grandest.
NXT Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
After years of friendship across various independent promotions, Kevin Owens attacked Sami Zayn at TakeOver: R Evolution. Wednesday night, after weeks of escalating personal attacks, they battled for the NXT Championship in the main event.
Two competitors who have waged war at each other's side and across the ring from one another, they stared each other down as JoJo performed ring introductions.
Owens stalled early, but Zayn responded by performing a breathtaking dive over the top rope and onto his rival. He rolled Owens inside the squared circle and pounded away with a series of rights and lefts.
Suddenly, Owens dropped Zayn jaw-first across the top rope, then delivered with a series of corner clotheslines.
Owens wore down Zayn, using a headlock to keep the champion grounded. He returned to the headlock after a brief flurry from Zayn then floored him with a back suplex for two. A chop to the chest and a big clothesline on the arena floor continued Zayn's pain and punishment.
A gut buster and a senton nearly ended the champion's brief reign.
Owens blasted Zayn with forearms, to which Zayn responded with slaps. A big clothesline over the top rope followed, and the champion began to mount a comeback.
Inside the squared circle, Zayn delivered the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Owens recovered and delivered a huge superkick. A cannonball in the corner put Zayn down for two as the challenger found his second wind.
Owens dropped Zayn across his knee with a neckbreaker, and Zayn responded seconds later with a huge suplex, both of which earned the stars a near-fall.
The challenger came off the top rope with a big senton from the top rope, but Zayn got the knees up. An Exploder Suplex in the corner followed, but Owens ducked out of the way of the Helluva Kick.
Outside the ring, Owens tried for a powerbomb on the concrete floor. Zayn escaped and delivered a springboard moonsault. Both men's heads smashed into the steel ramp. Zayn appeared to be out on his feet when he rushed across the ring for his finisher. Owens caught him and planted him with the pop-up powerbomb, which garnered him a two count.
The referee checked on the well-being of the NXT champion, but Owens cared not about whether his former friend was able to continue. He blasted him with forearms to the head, and the NXT trainer made his way to the ringside area.
Owens delivered another powerbomb, then a third. Another pinfall attempt netted a two count as Zayn was able to roll his shoulder ever so slightly off the mat.
The challenger delivered three more powerbombs to Zayn, and the referee called for the bell before announcing Owens the winner.
Medics checked on Zayn while the official handed the title over to Owens, who celebrated accordingly.
Owens was noticeably emotional as the special came to an end.
Result
Kevin Owens defeated Sami Zayn to win the NXT Championship via referee stoppage.
Highlight
Owens' heelish beatdown of Zayn, comprising of multiple powerbombs despite a likely concussion, was an outstanding, old-school style booking.
Grade
A
Analysis
The finish to the TakeOver: Rival main event may not be one fans necessarily hoped to see, but it certainly helped establish Kevin Owens as one of the most ruthless, detestable competitors in the sport.
Despite the fact that the man he once considered a friend was clearly hurt, that he was suffering from a likely concussion, Owens targeted the injury and relentlessly attacked. His actions built sympathy for Zayn and, at the same time, allowed the champion to lose the title without suffering a pinfall or submission defeat, something that would have hurt him and his credibility tremendously.
Instead, the storybook ending to Zayn's journey to the title turned into a nightmare courtesy of a despicable heel and an injury that prevented him from defending himself.
Owens' victory establishes him as the top heel on the roster and the centerpiece of a title hunt that includes Zayn, Finn Balor and Adrian Neville.
How can fans not be excited about NXT in 2015?
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