NXT brought the firepower early on an big night for the promotion. On the eve of WrestleMania, with the Bullet Club across town at SuperCard of Honor XII, TakeOver hanged its newest title above the ring and brought out three of their biggest recent acquisitions along with a prize developmental prospect and a couple of hosses for a ladder match.
The crowd in The Big Easy was excited to see all six men, but when Ricochet came out after EC3, Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain, it was clear who fans who were most excited for. And The One And Only didn’t take long to show why Smoothie King Center was pumped:
THE ONE AND ONLY, @KingRicochet!!!#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/ZYZcePsrzp
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 8, 2018
.@LarsSWWE is using the ladder as a device of DESTRUCTION to take out the rest of his competitors in this #NorthAmericanChampionship match! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/mOs0XeQlyP
— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2018
Faced with monstrous obstacles in the form of Sullivan and Dain, EC3 and Cole decided to team up. But when the former Impact star mocked Undisputed ERA’s signature chant/taunt, it started a Superkick party, with everyone from EC3 to Ricochet taking a shot from The Panama City Playboy.
Dream came close to ending things after a beautiful elbow drop off the top of a ladder onto Lars, but when he climbed again to reach the North American Championship, EC3 powerbombed him down onto another ladder!
⭐ ️ pic.twitter.com/EZGSfFsfsk
— The Tag Rope (@tagropemag) April 8, 2018
Mauro Ranallo declared this wasn’t a match so much as a demolition derby, and he was right. When Sullivan and Dain took turns throwing Ricochet across the ring at each other, not sure what else you can call it.
You've got to see it to believe it. @KingRicochet #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/ZiuMR87ct5
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 8, 2018
A busted open Velveteen returned from getting checked to duel with Ricochet, delivering an unbelievable rolling DVD while standing on a ladder draped across the top turnbuckle and through another ladder! Then, he was laid across a ladder stretched from the ring to the announce table while Lars Super Freak Accident-ed EC3 through him! Then Dain did broke another ladder in similar fashion with Cole and Ricochet!
Six men ended up on three ladders, climbing over one another grasping for the belt. EC3 and Cole fell off first, then it looked like it would be either Dream or Ricochet... but the King took Velveteen down with a neckbreaker off the top. Sullivan took out Dain and looked to have it, but Ricochet sprung onto his back and took them both to the ground.
He looked to climb, but out of nowhere, Undisputed ERA’s leader appeared to dump the ladder over. Cole climbed himself, and won the first of two matches he’s scheduled to appear in tonight.
And make history as the first North American Champ... BAY BAY!
You can find all the results from TakeOver: New Orleans here.