Shotzi Blackheart returned at this weekend’s NXT TakeOver: In Your House to help her tag team partner Ember Moon and get some revenge in the process. Blackheart has been out for a number of weeks after suffering an attack by Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai. Moon challenged Gonzalez in an attempt to become a two-time NXT Women’s Champion. Despite Blackheart returning and removing Kai from the equation, Moon wasn’t able to put Gonzalez away and the championship stayed put.
Moon hit a huge Eclipse on Gonzalez prior to Blackheart’s return. As the count was heading in Moon’s favor and she was a mere second away from becoming the new champion, Kai inserted herself. Kai placed Gonzalez’s foot on the ropes. The referee saw Gonzalez’s foot but didn’t see Kai do it so the official called for the rope break to keep Gonzalez alive in the match.
Blackheart made her return and chased Kai around the ring slamming her into the plexiglass at ringside. The two then battled back and forth as they made their way to the stage where the In Your House set up was. Blackheart threw Kai into the plants below the set window. The two disappeared as they battled to the backstage area.
Moon tried to capitalize with Kai now out of the picture and she executed a big DDT from the ring apron onto the ramp. She tried for a second Eclipse, however, the champ was able to stop the attempt and grabbed Moon for the one-armed powerbomb to get the pin to retain her title.
The second women’s match from In Your House had Xia Li facing Mercedes Martinez in a very personal match. Li felt disrespected several years ago when Martinez defeated her in the Mae Young Classic. Martinez may have the experience but she knew she was heading into a three-on-one disadvantage because with Li comes the rest of Tian Sha (Boa and Mei Ying).
Li was able to finally get her retribution from many years ago as she came out with the win. As the match approaches its ending, Boa gets in the way of Martinez and the two exchange words before Boa is shoved to the side for Martinez to get to Li. After she is able to get a back drop on Li, Martinez goes for the Air Raid Crash but is unable to execute it as Li breaks free. Li connects with a spin kick to the face of Martinez which is enough to get the pin for the win.
After the match, things get intense as Mei Ying gets involved. Martinez didn’t back down from Ying and said she wasn’t scared of her. She tries to go for the steel chair which she just had to fight off Li and Boa post-match, but that wasn’t enough. Ying grabbed Martinez by the throat and slammed her into the plexiglass. All three members of Tian Sha then regrouped on the ramp as Martinez lays at ringside.
Other notes from the night includes a message from General Manager William Regal. Regal was leaving the building with tears in his eyes saying: “It’s been seven years since I became the GM of NXT and I’ve never seen so much bedlam. It’s complete madness. I think it’s time for a change.”
Could this be the end of Regal as GM? At this time it is just speculation. He will be at NXT this Tuesday to further address his concerns and statement.
The next special event will come in July and it will be the return of The Great American Bash. This event theme returned last year along with several others including In Your House and Halloween Havoc. It will be on July 6 on NXT’s regular night of Tuesday.
What did you this weekend’s TakeOver event? Leave your thoughts below.