NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4 Way

Background

The NXT TakeOver series of professional wrestling shows started on May 29, 2014 as the WWE developmental league WWE NXT held their second ever WWE Network exclusive live broadcast billed as NXT TakeOver. With the announcement of NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way, NXT used the "NXT TakeOVer" name as the brand used by NXT and WWE for all of their NXT live specials held on the WWE Network.

NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way consisted of professional wrestling matches involving different wrestlers from scripted feuds and storylines that played out on the NXT television program. Wrestlers portrayed faces (heroes) or heels (villains) as they followed a series of events that built tension and culminated in a match or a series of matches.

On February 27, 2014,Adrian Neville defeated Bo Dallas to win the NXT Championship at NXT Arrival. The May 8 episode of NXT saw a 20-man battle royal with the winner earning a match for the NXT Championship. The match ended in a three way tie between Sami Zayn, Tyson Kidd and Tyler Breeze. A week later, Kidd won a Triple Threat match between the three to earn a title match at NXT TakeOver, which he lost. On the same show, Tyler Breeze cheated his way to victory over Sami Zayn to earn a title match. After this, Neville, Zayn, Breeze and Kidd became involved in a four way feud, that led to a Fatal Four Way match for the championship at the event.

In August 2013 Bayley started to team with Charlotte on a regular basis, but they were almost immediately targeted by the BFFs ("Beautiful Fierce Females", Summer Rae and Sasha Banks) as they attempted to convince Bayley to join their side. This storyline culminated with Charlotte turning on Bayley during a match, promptly joining the BFFs instead. On May 1, 2014, Bayley failed to advance in a tournament for the vacant NXT Women's Championship after losing to Sasha in the first round. On June 12, Bayley earned a pinfall over Charlotte, the new NXT Women's Champion, in a six-woman tag team match. In August, 2014 Bayley defeated Sasha Banks to become the #1 contender for the Women's championship held by Charlotte.

Preliminary matches

The event opened with The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) defending the NXT Tag Team Championship against The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara). The match ended when Kalisto executed a Salida Del Sol on Viktor to win the title.

In the second match, Baron Corbin fought CJ Parker. Corbin executed End of Days on Parker, scoring a pin after only 29 seconds.

After this, Sylvester Lefort and Enzo Amore faced each other in a Hair vs Hair match. Amore pinned Lefort with an O'Connor Roll for the win. As Lefort quickly left after the match, his partner Marcus Louis had his hair cut instead.

NXT General manager William Regal introduced Kenta, who was making his debut. During his introduction Kenta announced that he would be known as "Hideo Itami" from that point on. Moments later he was attacked by The Ascension, who were still angry over losing the NXT Tag Team Championship. Konnor demanded a rematch but Itami attacked The Ascension and chased them away.

The fourth match saw Bull Dempsey wrestle Mojo Rawley. Dempsey executed a Diving Headbutt on Rawley for the win.

Next, Charlotte defended the NXT Women's Championship against Bayley. The match ended when Charlotte executed Natural Selection on Bayley to retain the title.

Main event

In the main event, Adrian Neville defended the NXT Championship against Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd in a Fatal Four way match. During the match, Kidd executed a Swinging Fisherman's Neckbreaker on Zayn for a near-fall. Breeze executed a Beauty Shot on Zayn, a Supermodel Kick to Kidd and a Dropkick in mid-air on Neville. After Neville executed a Shooting Star Press on Zayn, Breeze pinned Zayn for a near-fall. Zayn executed a Helluva Kick on Kidd but Neville broke up the pinfall attempt by pulling the referee out of the ring. Neville then performed a Red Arrow on Kidd to retain the title.