# NXT TakeOver: Dallas
**NXT TakeOver: Dallas** was a professional wrestling event produced by WWE for its NXT brand, held on April 1, 2016, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, and aired live on the [WWE Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-network).[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01) It was the ninth [NXT TakeOver](https://www.edgepedia.org/nxt-takeover) event and the first ever held during a [WrestleMania](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania) weekend, taking place two days before WrestleMania 32 at nearby AT&T Stadium.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-wrestlemania-32-week) The show featured Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE in-ring debut against Sami Zayn, Austin Aries's TakeOver debut against Baron Corbin, and three championship matches, and it drew a sold-out crowd of 9,000.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016/) • [3](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-and-hof-attendance-609593/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Friday, April 1, 2016, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01) |
| Broadcast | Live on WWE Network, main show at 10 p.m. ET after a 9:30 p.m. ET pre-show[4](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/nxt-takeover-dallas-pre-show-wwe-network) |
| Attendance | Sold out, 9,000 fans[3](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-and-hof-attendance-609593/) • [5](https://indeedwrestling.blogspot.com/2017/01/wwe-attendance-2016.html) |
| Title changes | Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship from Bayley; American Alpha won the NXT Tag Team Championship from The Revival[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01) |
| Main event | Finn Bálor retained the NXT Championship against Samoa Joe[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01) |
| Debut | Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn in his first WWE in-ring match[7](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/sami-zayn-shinsuke-nakamura-results) |
## Background and announcement
WWE COO Triple H announced the event on Twitter, scheduling it for Friday, April 1, 2016, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, two days before [WrestleMania 32](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-32).[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-wrestlemania-32-week) It joined a Dallas-area week that also included WrestleMania Axxess, the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Monday Night Raw, and WrestleMania itself.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-wrestlemania-32-week) NXT had sold out its previous specials in Brooklyn, New York, and London in 2015, and the Dallas show continued that run.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-wrestlemania-32-week)
The broadcast opened with a pre-show at 9:30 p.m. ET featuring a panel of Renee Young, Mauro Ranallo, and WWE Hall of Famer Lita, with the main card going live at 10 p.m. ET.[4](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/nxt-takeover-dallas-pre-show-wwe-network)
## The card
**Opener: American Alpha vs. The Revival.** The event opened with the only tag team match on the card, as [Jason Jordan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-jordan) and Chad Gable of American Alpha defeated champions Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson of The Revival to win the [NXT Tag Team Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/nxt-tag-team-championship). Gable outwrestled Dawson early, and after a clever tag behind Dawson's back, American Alpha raised him for Grand Amplitude to win the titles.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
**Austin Aries vs. Baron Corbin.** Austin Aries, making his NXT in-ring debut, faced the much larger [Baron Corbin](https://www.edgepedia.org/baron-corbin). Aries attacked Corbin's knees, survived a Deep-Six on the floor, and when Corbin went for End of Days, Aries slipped through and rolled him up for the pin, securing his first NXT victory.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
**Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn.** In his first official WWE match, [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://www.edgepedia.org/shinsuke-nakamura) faced NXT's longtime ace [Sami Zayn](https://www.edgepedia.org/sami-zayn). The crowd split into dueling chants of "Nakamura" and "Sami Zayn"; Nakamura battered Zayn with knees and boots, Zayn answered with a Michinoku Driver and a dive to the floor, and the two traded submissions, including a cross armbreaker, a Shining Triangle, and Zayn's Koji Clutch. After an exchange that prompted a "Fight forever" chant, Nakamura evaded an exploder suplex, hit a knee from the top rope, and followed with the Kinshasa knee strike for the pin.[7](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/sami-zayn-shinsuke-nakamura-results) Afterward, Nakamura shook Zayn's hand and left the ring to his opponent, who took in the crowd's adulation, possibly for the last time; fans chanted "thank you Sami" in what was likely his final NXT match before moving to the main roster.[7](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/sami-zayn-shinsuke-nakamura-results) • [8](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-dallas-results-609259/)
**Bayley vs. Asuka.** Bayley defended the [NXT Women's Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/nxt-womens-championship) after a 223-day reign against Asuka in their first meeting. Bayley countered a second hip attack and pressed the champion with a top-rope hurricanrana and a dragon screw leg whip, but when her Bayley-to-Belly was blocked, Asuka nailed her with a spin kick and applied the Asuka Lock. Bayley could not reach the ropes and appeared to pass out, giving Asuka the title by referee stoppage.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
**Main event: Finn Bálor vs. Samoa Joe.** Champion Finn Bálor, in his Demon persona and brandishing a chainsaw, met [Samoa Joe](https://www.edgepedia.org/samoa-joe) in a bloody brawl in which Joe was cut open over his right eye. Joe controlled long stretches with a uranage, powerbomb, Boston crab, and crossface, and trapped Bálor in the Muscle Buster, but Bálor kicked out at two-and-a-half. Bálor landed the Slingblade and Coup de Grace, and when Joe countered a 1916 DDT into the Coquina Clutch against the turnbuckles, Bálor walked up the ropes and flipped backward to pin Joe's shoulders for the three-count.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
## Crowd appearances and reception
Two highly regarded wrestlers appeared in the audience rather than in the ring. [Kota Ibushi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kota-ibushi) was seen sitting among the fans, prompting speculation about a future NXT role and the recently announced Global Cruiserweight Series, and former world champion [Bobby Roode](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-roode) was also shown watching closely from his seat.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
The event was received as one of NXT's strongest shows. TJR [Wrestling](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestling) rated TakeOver: Dallas 9 out of 10 and identified Nakamura-Zayn as a five-star-level WWE Match of the Year contender.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016/) The Dallas result also preserved [Finn Bálor](https://www.edgepedia.org/finn-balor)'s record-setting championship reign through the biggest NXT weekend to that point, although Samoa Joe won the title from him later that month.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016/)
## Place in the TakeOver series
TakeOver: Dallas established the pattern of NXT running a major special during WrestleMania weekend, a slot the brand filled with TakeOver events in subsequent years. The show's scale reflected NXT's growth: it drew 9,000 to a sold-out convention center arena, while WrestleMania 32 two days later set a WWE record with 101,763 fans at AT&T Stadium.[3](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-and-hof-attendance-609593/) • [9](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/11162016_431.pdf) The event also served as a launch point for talent who moved upward: Nakamura and Aries debuted on the card, Zayn exited for the main roster, and Asuka began a championship era in NXT's women's division.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016/) • [6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
## References
1. [NXT TakeOver: Dallas tickets available now, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-wrestlemania-32-week)
2. [NXT TakeOver: Dallas (2016) Review & Final Grade, WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/events/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016/)
3. [WWE NXT Takeover And HOF Attendance, WrestlingInc](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-and-hof-attendance-609593/)
4. [Don't miss the TakeOver: Dallas Pre-Show tonight, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/nxt-takeover-dallas-pre-show-wwe-network)
5. [WWE Attendance 2016, Indeed Wrestling](https://indeedwrestling.blogspot.com/2017/01/wwe-attendance-2016.html)
6. [Finn Bálor withstands Samoa Joe's onslaught at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01)
7. [Shinsuke Nakamura def. Sami Zayn, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-takeover-dallas-2016-04-01/article/sami-zayn-shinsuke-nakamura-results)
8. [WWE NXT "Takeover: Dallas" Results, WrestlingInc](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/04/wwe-nxt-takeover-dallas-results-609259/)
9. [WrestleMania Generates Record $170 Million for Dallas/Arlington Region, WWE corporate press release](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/11162016_431.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › WWE promotion and brands › NXT and NXT UK events*
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