is a series of professional wrestling shows that began on May 29, 2014, as WWE's then developmental territory NXT held their second WWE Network exclusive live broadcast billed as TakeOver. In subsequent months, the "TakeOver" moniker became the brand used by WWE for all of their NXT live specials. TakeOver: XXV was aptly named as it was the 25th NXT TakeOver event.
Storylines
The card comprised five matches. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on their weekly television program, NXT. At, Johnny Gargano defeated Adam Cole in a two-out-of-three falls match to win the vacant NXT Championship. On the May 15, 2019, episode of NXT, a rematch between the two for the title was scheduled for TakeOver: XXV. During the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up, NXT Tag Team ChampionsThe Viking Raiders were drafted to Raw. They then voluntarily relinquished the titles on the May 1, 2019 taping of NXT, though had one final title defense against Street Profits that ended in disqualification after The Forgotten Sons and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch got involved. A four-way tag team ladder match was later scheduled for TakeOver: XXV between Lorcan and Burch, Street Profits, The Forgotten Sons, and The Undisputed Era.
Event
In the opening match, Matt Riddle faced Roderick Strong. Riddle performed a Cradle Belly to Back Inverted Mat Slam on Strong to win. Next, The Undisputed Era, The Street Profits, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch and The Forgotten Sons competed in a Ladder match for the vacant NXT Tag Team Championship. Ford retrieved the belts to win the title. After that, The Velveteen Dream defended the NXT North American Championship against Tyler Breeze. Dream performed a Purple Rainmaker on Breeze to retain the title. Following the match, the two would earn each other’s respect and take a selfie together. In the penultimate match, Shayna Baszler defended the NXT Women's Championship against Io Shirai. Baszler forced Shirai to submit to the Kirifuda Clutch to retain the title. After the match, Shirai struck Baszler with a kendo stick and performed a Moonsault on Baszler. Shirai then performed a Moonsault with a chair on Baszler.
Main event
In the main event, Johnny Gargano defended the NXT Championship against Adam Cole. Gargano performed a Slingshot DDT on Cole for a near-fall. Cole performed a "Panama Sunrise" off the ring apron on Gargano and scored a near-fall. Cole applied the "Garga-No-Escape" but Gargano escaped. Gargano performed a "Last Shot" on Cole for a near-fall. Cole performed a Last Shot on Gargano for a near-fall. Gargano inadvertently performed a Suicide Dive on Drake Wuertz, the referee, and then performed a Superkick into a chair on Cole. Gargano applied the Garga-No-Escape but Cole escaped. Cole performed a second Panama Sunrise and a second Last Shot on Gargano to win the title. As the show closed, Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong posed and celebrated Cole's victory.
Reception
NXT TakeOver: XXV was met with highly positive reviews among fans and wrestling journalists. Larry Csonka of 411Mania gave the show an 8/10. He described the event by stating "To the surprise of absolutely no one, NXT TakeOver: XXV was another great TakeOver event with all four titles on the line a big moment for some stars that have been waiting for their chance on the big stage, and a new champion being crowned as the power in NXT shifts." Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter also praised the event with all the matches getting positive ratings. Rating out of a possible 5 stars, he awarded Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong and the NXT Tag Team Championship ladder matches 4.5 stars, the NXT North American Championship match of Velveteen Dream vs. Tyler Breeze 3.75 stars, the NXT Women's Championship match of Shayna Baszler vs. Io Shirai 4 stars and the NXT Championship match of Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole 5.25 stars, making it only the second WWE match Meltzer has given more than 5 stars.
