TakeOver: Chicago card takes shape at NXT TV tapings
Image: JJ Williams
Most of the card for TakeOver: Chicago appeared to be set coming out of last night’s NXT television tapings.
Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa in a street fight was officially announced for TakeOver, along with NXT Champion Aleister Black defending against Lars Sullivan. Following their unsanctioned match in New Orleans last month, this will be the second straight TakeOver special where Gargano has faced Ciampa.
Before Gargano could challenge for Black’s title at the tapings in April, he was attacked by Ciampa and stretchered out. He came out in a neck brace last night, took it off, and called out Ciampa despite Candice LeRae not wanting him to. LeRae was then accidentally bumped off the apron by Gargano while he was fighting with Ciampa.
Sullivan interrupted Black during a promo and announced himself as Black’s challenger for Chicago, laying him out with the Freak Accident.
Shayna Baszler defending against Nikki Cross looks to be the Women’s Championship match for TakeOver. Cross made the save for Dakota Kai and posed with the title after Kai lost to Baszler last night.
Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream looks likely for the show and may be announced when NXT returns to Full Sail University for more TV tapings tonight. What’s planned for The Undisputed Era after they lost a six-man tag match to Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch last night (with Burch pinning Kyle O’Reilly) may also become clear.
The Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois is hosting TakeOver: Chicago on June 16th as part of Money in the Bank weekend. It’s the same venue where Ciampa turned against Gargano last May.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.