WWE taped the next three weeks of NXT TV, heading into the next NXT PPV Special in February:
Dark Matches
1. Solomon Crowe beat Jason Jordon. Crowe dark matches have become somewhat of a running joke by this point.
January 21, 2015 show
The show opened with a pre-tape where NXT GM William Regal announced that the next Takeover live special will take place on February 11. He also announced a tournament to determine the next No. 1 Contender to the NXT Championship.
1. Sami Zayn vs. Tye Dillinger never started. Zayn was fuming from last week’s attack by Kevin Owens so he attacked Dillinger before the bell and beat the hell out of him. Zayn called out Owens, but Regal came out instead. After some back-and-forth, Regal makes Zayn vs. Owens a match at the 2/11 Takeover.
2. Finn Bálor beat Curtis Axel in the first round of the No. 1 Contender Tournament.
3. Charlotte over Sasha Banks by DQ. Becky interfered in the match, which led to Bayley making the save. However, Bayley picked up the title belt and when Charlotte went to take it back, Bayley dropped her with the Belly-to-Bayley. (This wasn’t a heel turn as much as an angle to get Bayley over as a more serious competitor). Regal came out and announced a Fatal Four-Way for the NXT Women’s Championship at the 2/11 Takeover.
4. Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy beat The Vaudevillains. [sic]
5. Hideo Itami beat Tyler Breeze in the first round of the No. 1 Contender Tournament. This one was described as ‘pretty darn good.”
January 28, 2015
1. Adrian Neville beat Tyson Kidd in the first round of the No. 1 Contender Tournament.
2. Bayley and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch went to a double-DQ. Everyone started brawling, beginning with Bayley and Charlotte when Sasha and Becky ended up outside the ring.
3. Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy defeated The Lucha Dragons to win the NXT Tag Team Championships. Yes, you read that right.
4. Baron Corbin beat Bull Dempsey in the first round of the No. 1 Contender Tournament.
There was a contract signing between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Regal said that if things got physical, he will cancel their match. Zayn cut a long promo about their history as a team and rivals; said he should’ve seen this coming but he didn’t, and now he’s going to beat the hell out of Owens. Owens noticed that the contract was for a non-title match and said he fights for the prize, and the prize is the NXT Championship, not Zayn. Zayn agrees to the stip and Regal makes Owens vs. Zayn for the NXT Championship at the 2/11 Takeover. Owens threw the pen at Zayn after signing and left while Regal held Zayn back.
February 4 show
1. Carmella defeated Emma.
2. Adrian Neville beat Baron Corbin in the semifinals of the No. 1 Contender’s Tournament. Bull Dempsey rammed Corbin into the ringpost, leading to Neville hitting the Red Arrow for the win. This was Corbin’s first loss since his re-debut. By virtue of this win, Adrian Neville advances to the finals of the tournament at the 2/11 Takeover.
3. Bayley defeated Becky Lynch. Sasha Banks cost Lynch the match and the two bickered afterward. Charlotte came out and watched from the stage as final hype for the match at the 2/11 Takeover.
4. Finn Bálor beat Hideo Itami in the semifinals of the No. 1 Contender Tournament. By virtue of this win, Bálor advances to the finals of the tournament against Adrian Neville at the 2/11 Takeover.
5. Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville defeated Kevin Owens and Tyson Kidd by DQ. Owens would not leave the ring despite not being the legal man so the referee was forced to call for the bell. Owens laid out Zayn with a powerbomb and stood over him as final hype for the 2/11 Takeover.
Note: The quality and pacing of these shows were said to be a big improvement over past tapings. Additionally, the three-show taping made for a significantly easier set to sit through and kept the crowd more energized throughout.
