Tonight’s NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia is airing live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is the 18th TakeOver event in NXT history.
Below is the match-card for tonight’s show:
• NXT Championship Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
• NXT Women’s Championship Match: Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
• NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish (c) vs. The Authors of Pain
• Extreme Rules Match: Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole
• Kassius Ohno vs. The Velveteen Dream
The first match of the night is the NXT Tag Team Title match between Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish of Undisputed Era and former champions The Authors of Pain.
Inside out! pic.twitter.com/HG25y45Hxg
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
The end came when The Authors of Pain went for the Super Collider, but it backfired and O’Reilly ends up pinning Akam for the win.
Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish (c) def. The Authors of Pain to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles.
#ShockTheSystem. Leave with the gold. REPEAT! #UndisputedERA @TheBobbyFish @KORcombat are STILL your #WWENXT #TagTeamChampions! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/57gqtnhTzs
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2018
Top indy tag team War Machine is shown in attendance. They are expected to start their NXT career soon.
Up next is a singles match between Kassius Ohno & The Velveteen Dream.
After good back & forth action, Velveteen Dream ends up picking up the win after knocking off Ohno with a Purple Rainmaker (top rope flying elbow drop)!
The Velveteen Dream def. Kassius Ohno
D-R-E-A-M pic.twitter.com/q2PYS3PLDu
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Up next is the NXT Women’s Championship match between Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler. Baszler is working Ember’s arm and Ember is looking in trouble from the get-go.
After good back and forth action, Ember Moon manages to hit Shayna with the Eclipse, but isn’t able to pin her as she’s writhing in pain with a messed up arm – thanks to Shayna.
Shayna comes back into the match and locks in an armbar and Ember is looking in trouble! After surviving the pain during the armbar, Ember rolls up Shayna out of nowhere and pins her to retain the Title!
Ember Moon (c) def. Shayna Baszler to retain the Title
Shayna attacks Moon after the match and chokes her out.
A defeated @QoSBaszler will NOT leave Philadelphia quietly… at @WWEEmberMoon's expense! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/qf2aQbRMlP
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 28, 2018
Ricochet is shown in attendance next.
Up next is the Extreme Rules match between Aleister Black & Adam Cole.
OW. pic.twitter.com/1qMCmwmolP
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
You say you want tables? @AdamColePro's got something for you… pic.twitter.com/Sz1C00Sdbf
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Adam! Cole! Owie! pic.twitter.com/zsJEAQSbD4
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Other members of Undisputed Era interfere and lay out Black. SAnitY comes out and attacks Undisputed Era!
Aleister hits the Black Mass in the end for the win.
Aleister Black def. Adam Cole
Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion EC 3 is revealed as WWE/NXT’s latest signee and is shown in attendance!
You never know WHO you'll run into at #NXTTakeOver. Nice to see you, @therealec3! pic.twitter.com/6QsBQ14DZG
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 28, 2018
Up next is the main event for the NXT Championship between Andrade “Cien” Almas & Johnny Gargano.
.@JohnnyGargano and @AndradeCienWWE are tearing the house down! pic.twitter.com/F7i6i1xvyk
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
OOOOOOOOOOOH #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/ILcLGpqRjF
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 28, 2018
.@AndradeCienWWE trying to drive a stake through the heart of Johnny's title hopes! pic.twitter.com/10jNh2Dmt2
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Never turn your back on @Zelina_VegaWWE! pic.twitter.com/RawTDlCwZl
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Candice LaRae, wife of Gargano and NXT signee, attacks Zelina Vega and they go brawling out of the arena.
.@CandiceLeRae has seen enough! pic.twitter.com/gwPTLJto8t
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
NO. MERCY. ? pic.twitter.com/cIeIJRURMt
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 28, 2018
Almas nails a Hammerlock DDT with Gargano being on the top rope to win the match.
HAMMERLOCK DDT FRM THE TOP TOPE!!!!!!!! @AndradeCienWWE RETAINS THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship pic.twitter.com/DFbbogSHBn
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 28, 2018
Andrade “Cien” Almas (c) def. Johnny Gargano to retain the Title
And. Still.@AndradeCienWWE @Zelina_VegaWWE #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship pic.twitter.com/HM6PgElwnj
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2018
Tommaso Ciampa returns after the match and attacks Gargano with a crutch! Ciampa was Gargano’s former tag team partner and was out of action with an injury. You can watch it below:
He hasn't forgotten…@ProjectCiampa #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/c0RGAJAH76
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2018
We go off the air with Gargano laid out on the stage and his wife by his side.