NXT TAKEOVER CHICAGO HOLT REPORT 5/20: Another in-person perspective on crowd chants, dark matches, Velventeen Dream, big heel turn reaction

NXT TAKEOVER: CHICAGO – HOLT (Happenings Off Live TV) REPORT
MAY 20, 2017
CHICAGO, ILL. AT ALLSTATE ARENA
REPORT BY JOEY GALIZIA, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

DARK MATCHES

(1) Aleister Black defeats Curt Hawkins.

(2) Velveteen Dream defeated a local jobber. People weren’t that into it, but I cheered.

(3) Drew Mcyntire beat Wesley Blake.

OTHER NOTES

-Lots of “Adam Cole” chants.

-The crowd was not only very excited before things even began, but extraordinarily serious about respecting the show. Three beach balls began rummaging around and they were popped immediately. “C.M. Punk” chants were started by very few groups and the rest of the arena shut it down with boos much like they did during the Itami vs. Roode match.

-Crowd was exhausted from Dunne vs. Bate and unfortunately were too tired to give the women the praise, although I thought they had some nice spots to awaken us. I don’t think Ruby’s finisher was too well known since when she hit it there was silence, and Asuka’s victory pin didn’t seem like the finish. I feel bad since this is the second time Asuka has had to follow a match that shook an arena. (Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn.)

-Ciampa and Gargano have strong support in Illinois (pretty much everywhere these days) because of AAW, so it only made sense for them to go on last. Lots of fans wearing Psycho Killer and Johnny Wrestling shirts from indy promotions. Don’t know how long the network ran the closing beatdown, but fans did not clear out immediately. They gave Johnny a stretcher job and Ciampa watched the whole thing because he’s an evil son of a bitch.

NOW CHECK OUT THIS ADDITIONAL REPORT FROM CHICAGO: NXT TAKEOVER CHICAGO HOLT REPORT 5/20: In-person perspective on live experience, fan response to key matches and angles