The scripted violence of a Chicago Street Fight

History · Published 2 November 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Professional wrestling is a choreographed theater of physical conflict. At NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, this art form reached a peak of cinematic brutality. While the results were predetermined by writers, the emotional stakes and high-impact maneuvers were designed to create an immersive experience for fans.

The Allstate Arena hosted NXT TakeOver: Chicago II within Rosemont, Illinois, during June 16, 2018. As the 20th event in the TakeOver series, it served as a support show for WWE's main roster Money in the Bank weekend. The event was produced exclusively for the WWE Network, highlighting NXT as a developmental brand where wrestlers could hone their craft through scripted storylines and high-production livestreaming.

The centerpiece of the evening was a Chicago Street Fight between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. This match was the culmination of months of narrative tension on weekly television, including incidents like Ciampa attacking Gargano to prevent a title shot and subsequent brawls involving Gargano's wife, Candice LeRae. The match featured extreme elements such as the removal of the ring canvas to expose wooden floor boards, the use of trash cans, belts, and even a crutch provided by LeRae.

Beyond the main event, the card showcased various wrestling styles. Aleister Black retained the NXT Championship by defeating Lars Sullivan, marking Sullivan's first pinfall loss in the brand. Other highlights included Ricochet defeating Velveteen Dream with a 630º senton and Shayna Baszler retaining her title via technical submission against Nikki Cross. These matches were meticulously planned by WWE writers to advance the ongoing arcs of the developmental roster.

This specific event marked the conclusion of the TakeOver: Chicago subseries at the Allstate Arena. While the venue would host other events like WarGames in 2019, the unique branding of TakeOver: Chicago ended here. The event remains a significant milestone in the history of NXT's major live events, illustrating how narrative-driven sports entertainment builds long-term audience investment.

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