NXT TakeOver
{{about|the series of events named NXT TakeOver|the original event|NXT TakeOver (2014)|the NXT UK events|NXT UK TakeOver}}
{{short description|WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming event series}}
{{Infobox wrestling PPV series
| name = NXT TakeOver
| image = nxttakeoverlogo.png
| image_upright =
| caption = NXT TakeOver logo
| alt =
| created_by = Triple H
| promotion = WWE
| brand = NXT
| first_event = TakeOver (May 2014)
| last_event = TakeOver 36 (August 2021)
}}
NXT TakeOver was a series of periodic professional wrestling events produced by the American promotion WWE for its NXT brand division. The first TakeOver was simply titled TakeOver and was held in May 2014 as the brand's second major live event, after Arrival in February. TakeOver subsequently became the name for NXT's major events that were held several times a year. Beginning with the second event, TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way, many events included a subtitle, which either revived old WWE event names or were named after the event's location, some of which occurred annually, but some of the later ones were simply titled by their installment number. A total of 36 TakeOver events were held from May 2014 to August 2021.
The events were originally livestreamed exclusively on the WWE Network until TakeOver 31 in October 2020, when the events also became available on traditional pay-per-view before also becoming available on Peacock beginning with TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April 2021. The TakeOver series came to an end following TakeOver 36 in August 2021, as in September, NXT was restructured with the brand's succeeding events no longer carrying the TakeOver name, including some former TakeOver events, such as Stand & Deliver, which has since been held as NXT's WrestleMania week event.
With the establishment of NXT UK in 2018—a sister brand of NXT based in the United Kingdom—the brand adopted the TakeOver name for its live events.
History
In 2012, WWE restructured their NXT brand from being a reality-based competition television show to a developmental territory for their main roster. In February 2014, the brand held its first live special that was uniquely titled Arrival, which was also the very first event to air live on WWE's online streaming service, the WWE Network, which launched earlier that same month. However, after NXT held an event titled TakeOver in May that year, the "TakeOver" name became the branding for all NXT live specials.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/41878|title=WWE News: update on NXT two hour specials|date=March 31, 2015|website=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405225134/https://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/41878|archive-date=April 5, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/article.php?41622|title=WWE News: NXT will not run monthly live specials after all|date=March 31, 2015|website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405091342/https://prowrestling.net/article.php?41622|archive-date=April 5, 2015}} All NXT live specials were initially held at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, as with the main NXT series. They were also originally exclusive to the WWE Network until TakeOver 31 in October 2020 when they also became available on traditional pay-per-view (PPV),{{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=NXT TakeOver 31 To Be Available On Traditional Pay-Per-View|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-31-be-available-traditional-pay-view|work=Fightful|date=October 3, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008213502/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-31-be-available-traditional-pay-view|archive-date=October 8, 2020|url-status=live}} before also becoming available on Peacock after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/standalone-wwe-network-app-shutting-down-44-new-details-wwe-transition-peacock|title=Standalone WWE Network App Shutting Down In The US On 4/4, New Details On The Transition To Peacock|date=March 8, 2021|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|access-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308183858/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/standalone-wwe-network-app-shutting-down-44-new-details-wwe-transition-peacock|archive-date=March 8, 2021|url-status=live}}
Beginning with TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015, the events were held at various U.S. and international locations, with most TakeOvers being named after their host city or U.S. state, which also began with that Brooklyn event.{{cite web|author=WWE.com Staff|title=NXT TakeOver comes to Brooklyn!|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-brooklyn-barclays-center-august-22|date=July 2, 2015|work=WWE|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705135910/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-brooklyn-barclays-center-august-22-27585527|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=live}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, all NXT events returned to Full Sail University in mid-March 2020{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Mike|title=WWE NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE SET FOR JUNE - UPDATED WITH PRESS RELEASE|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/136396/wwe-nxt-takeover-in-your-house-set-for-june-updated-with-press-release.html?p=1|work=PWInsider|date=May 13, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020}} until TakeOver 31 that October, when events were moved to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, presented as a virtual fan viewing experience with a small live crowd called the "Capitol Wrestling Center", an homage to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the predecessor to WWE. The Capitol Wrestling Center was similar to the WWE ThunderDome, which was a bio-secure bubble that the company utilized for Raw and SmackDown's programs. Most COVID restrictions were lifted in mid-2021 with the events no longer including a virtual audience and resumed having a live audience. Although the Raw and SmackDown brands resumed live touring in July 2021, NXT remained at the Capitol Wrestling Center. As TakeOvers were only held in Florida since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, they were named either by their installment number (e.g., TakeOver 31) or revived old WWE pay-per-view names (e.g., TakeOver: In Your House), with the exception of TakeOver: WarGames that year.{{cite web|title=Capitol Wrestling Center to be unveiled tonight at NXT TakeOver 31|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/capitol-wrestling-center-nxt|work=WWE|date=October 4, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=NXT TakeOver 31 To Feature The Debut Of The Capitol Wrestling Center|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-31-feature-debut-capitol-wrestling-center|work=Fightful|date=October 4, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026121534/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-31-feature-debut-capitol-wrestling-center|archive-date=October 26, 2020|url-status=live}}
Since TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015, several TakeOver events were scheduled as a support event for each of WWE's "Big Four" pay-per-view events at the time (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series), and occasionally, their other monthly pay-per-views, such as Backlash and Money in the Bank. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, TakeOvers also shared the same venue as those PPVs, except when those PPVs were held in a stadium; in these cases, TakeOver was held at an arena in the same city instead.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-schedule-list-of-ppvs-for-2018-tlc-2019-royal-rumble-date-location/|title=WWE schedule, list of PPVs for 2018: TLC, 2019 Royal Rumble date, location|work=CBS Sports|last=Silverstein|first=Adam|date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119220820/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-schedule-list-of-ppvs-for-2018-tlc-2019-royal-rumble-date-location/|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=live}} There were also recurring subseries of TakeOver events; TakeOver: Brooklyn was also the first to have its own subseries of TakeOvers. Other subseries of TakeOvers included Toronto, Chicago, In Your House, and the most prominent, WarGames, which had been held on the night preceding Survivor Series from 2017 to 2019; in 2020, it was held two weeks after Survivor Series. The event featured the namesake WarGames match as its main event.{{cite web|author=WWE.com Staff|title=NXT TakeOver: WarGames comes to the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, Nov. 18|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/nxt-takeover-wargames-houston-tickets|date=October 4, 2017|work=WWE|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100648/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/nxt-takeover-wargames-houston-tickets|archive-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=live}} TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April 2021 was the only TakeOver held across two nights.{{cite web|last=Wells|first=Kelly|title=3/10 NXT on USA report: Wells's report on Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole and Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm in championship matches, Regal making two "major announcements," more|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/03/10/3-10-nxt-on-usa-report-wellss-report-on-finn-balor-vs-adam-cole-and-io-shirai-vs-toni-storm-in-championship-matches-regal-making-two-major-announcements-more/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311054809/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/03/10/3-10-nxt-on-usa-report-wellss-report-on-finn-balor-vs-adam-cole-and-io-shirai-vs-toni-storm-in-championship-matches-regal-making-two-major-announcements-more/|archive-date=March 11, 2021|url-status=live}}
Only one NXT TakeOver event had to be canceled. TakeOver: Tampa Bay was originally set to air live from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on April 4, 2020. The event was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began effecting WWE's programming in mid-March; however, it was ultimately canceled with matches planned and scheduled for the event moved to weekly episodes of NXT, beginning April 1.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2882740-nxt-takeover-tampa-bay-matches-scheduled-for-usa-network-starting-april-1|title=NXT TakeOver Tampa Bay Matches Scheduled for USA Network Starting April 1|last=Chiari|first=Mike|work=Bleacher Report|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324165617/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2882740-nxt-takeover-tampa-bay-matches-scheduled-for-usa-network-starting-april-1|archive-date=March 24, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2020-03-25/article/triple-h-preview|title=Triple H to appear on tomorrow night's NXT on USA Network|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020|author=WWE.com Staff|work=WWE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324165637/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2020-03-25/article/triple-h-preview|archive-date=March 24, 2020}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2020/03/24/wwe-nxt-takeover-matches-usa-network-tv|title=Matches Slated for 'NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay' Will Take Place on NXT TV Show|last=Barrasso|first=Justin|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324191616/https://www.si.com/wrestling/2020/03/24/wwe-nxt-takeover-matches-usa-network-tv|archive-date=March 24, 2020|url-status=live}}
In September 2021, the NXT brand went through a restructuring, being rebranded as "NXT 2.0", reverting to a developmental territory for WWE.{{cite web|author=Wrestlenomics Staff|title=The future of WWE NXT 2.0 on the USA Network|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/2021/10/04/whats-the-future-of-wwe-nxt-20-on-usa-network/|work=Wrestlenomics|access-date=November 10, 2021|date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004141315/https://wrestlenomics.com/2021/10/04/whats-the-future-of-wwe-nxt-20-on-usa-network/|archive-date=October 4, 2021|url-status=live}} In October, it was speculated that the company may end the TakeOver series as another TakeOver event was not scheduled for 2021 after TakeOver 36 in August.{{cite web|last=Aguilar|first=Matthew|title=NXT TakeOver is a No Show on WWE's Updated Calendar|url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/nxt-takeover-is-a-no-show-on-wwes-updated-calendar/|website=ComicBook.com|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125185941/https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/nxt-takeover-is-a-no-show-on-wwes-updated-calendar/|archive-date=January 25, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Mike|title=WWE PPV Calendar Updates|url=https://pwinsider.com/article/152042/wwe-ppv-calendar-updates.html?p=1|website=PWInsider|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124070607/https://pwinsider.com/article/152042/wwe-ppv-calendar-updates.html?p=1|archive-date=January 24, 2023|url-status=live}} On November 9, 2021, NXT's next PPV and livestreaming event was announced as WarGames to be held on December 5, 2021. Unlike the previous WarGames events, however, the announcement confirmed that the event would not be a TakeOver event, thus ending the TakeOver series.{{cite web|last=Guzzo|first=Gisberto|title=NXT WarGames 2021 Announced During 11/9 Episode Of NXT 2.0|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-wargames-2021-announced-during-119-episode-nxt-20|work=Fightful|access-date=November 10, 2021|date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110030442/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-wargames-2021-announced-during-119-episode-nxt-20|archive-date=November 10, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|author=WWE|user=WWENXT|number=1458267287643987968|title=LFG!!!!! #WWENXT #WarGames Returns Sunday, December 5!|date=November 9, 2021|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110025633/https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1458267287643987968|archive-date=November 10, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|title=Updated: NXT WarGames Set For December, Takeover Name Removed|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-wargames-set-for-december/|work=411Mania|access-date=November 15, 2021|date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110063906/https://411mania.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-wargames-set-for-december/|archive-date=November 10, 2021|url-status=live}} Vengeance Day, Stand & Deliver, and In Your House would also continue on as their own events following TakeOver's discontinuation, although the 2022 Vengeance Day aired as a television special instead of airing on PPV and via livestreaming, while the 2022 editions of Stand & Deliver and In Your House only aired via livestreaming and not on PPV.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-vengeance-day-set-215-tv-special|title=NXT Vengeance Day Set For 2/15 As TV Special|last=Defelice|first=Robert|website=Fightful|date=January 25, 2022|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127155344/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-vengeance-day-set-215-tv-special|archive-date=January 27, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/updated-start-time-for-wwe-nxt-stand-deliver-during-wrestlemania-weekend/|title=Updated Start Time For WWE NXT Stand & Deliver During Wrestlemania Weekend|date=February 16, 2022|last=Lee|first=Joseph|work=411Mania|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216185404/https://411mania.com/wrestling/updated-start-time-for-wwe-nxt-stand-deliver-during-wrestlemania-weekend/|archive-date=February 16, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/wwe-nxt-in-your-house-theme-returning-this-summer/|title=WWE NXT In Your House theme returning this summer|first=Andrew|last=Ravens|newspaper=Wrestling News|date=April 29, 2022|access-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429175559/https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/wwe-nxt-in-your-house-theme-returning-this-summer/|archive-date=April 29, 2022|url-status=live}}
Events
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See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt Official website of WWE NXT]
{{WWE}}
{{WWEPPV|NXT TakeOver}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:NXT TakeOver, Wwe}}