Takeover: Stand & Deliver Night One
Date: April 7, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, Beth Phoenix

Things are changing a bit here as we have the first ever two night Takeover. It’s going to be interesting to see if they can make a two night event work, but I have learned never to bet against NXT. Hopefully they can make that work here, with Io Shirai defending the Women’s Title against Raquel Gonzalez in the main event. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Zoey Stark vs. Toni Storm

The fans are split on this one to start. They trade headlocks to start with Toni getting the better of things early on. Stark drives her down with a knee into the arm but Storm is back up with a shoulder. Stark gets away and hits a quick missile dropkick to rock Storm. That’s enough for Stark to go up but Storm pulls her off of the middle rope for a crash. Storm knocks her into the corner and stomps away a bit, followed by a slap out of the corner.

This time it’s Storm going up but Stark catches her with an enziguri, setting up a superplex for the double knockdown. A kick to the face rocks Storm and a half nelson suplex makes it even worse. Stark’s running knee to the face gets two but Storm is right back with an electric chair faceplant for two of her own. Storm Zero is blocked and Stark hits a heck of a superkick for another near fall. A pair of quick German suplexes drop Stark but she counters Storm Zero into a small package to pin Storm at 9:49.

Rating: C+. I’m surprised that it happened but Stark had to win something at some point. You can only be the one who comes close so many times while still losing for so long so the win is a good sign for her future. I’m not sure how much doubt there was that NXT wanted to push her, but now they are actually giving her a little something. Somehow Storm now needs a win to stop her downward slide, but I’m not sure when that is actually going to come.

Nita Strauss plays America the Beautiful to open things up.

A bunch of lightning goes off and the voiceover says welcome to the show. There are a lot more fans here here than there have been in recent weeks and you can feel more energy than NXT has had in a very long time.

There is even a ramp to the ring to make things feel even more unique this time around.

Pete Dunne vs. Kushida

Kushida takes him straight to the mat for a failed cross armbreaker attempt. A kneebar doesn’t work either but Kushida ties up the legs and grabs the arms. They get back up to fight over arm control with Dunne not being able to keep a hammerlock. Kushida tries a Tajiri handspring but Dunne cuts him down and starts in on the fingers. Dunne snaps the arm across the bottom rope for a nasty visual, followed by a painful looking stomp to the head.

Back up and Kushida kicks him in the arm, setting up the cartwheel dropkick to put Dunne on the ramp. Kushida misses a dive but manages the handspring elbow on the ramp instead. Back in and Dunne jumps onto Kushida for a Hoverboard Lock of his own but Kushida reverses into a quickly broken real thing. Kushida hits a fisherman’s buster for two and we take a break.

We come back with Kushida grabbing a Falcon Arrow into the cross armbreaker but Dunne is out in a hurry. Dunne’s armbreaker is broken up as well and they trade headbutts on the mat. Kushida hits a running dropkick to the arm and there’s a running flip kick to send Dunne to the apron.

The Hoverboard Lock goes on on top and Kushida flips him down into the full version on the mat. Kushida reverses into another arm crank, forcing Dunne to have to reach the ropes with his foot. A hard knee to the arm sets up another Hoverboard Lock but Dunne makes the rope. That’s fine with Kushida, who grabs the Hoverboard Lock on the other arm instead. Dunne escapes again and stomps on the hand, setting up the Bitter End for the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B-. I was getting into this one near the end and then it just wrapped up all of a sudden. They were getting somewhere with all of the arm work and building to a big submission battle but it felt like the match needed another five to six minutes to really hit that other gear. It’s good and Kushida was doing better than he usually does, but it just didn’t have the time to reach that next level.

Gauntlet Eliminator

There are six people involved here and a new entrant comes in every three minutes. Pinfall and submission only for eliminations and the winner gets a North American Title shot against Johnny Gargano for tomorrow night. We come back from a break with Leon Ruff in at #1 and Isaiah Scott in at #2, with both guys already fighting in the ring (possibly because the Peacock feed is continuing during the commercials). Thankfully we get the opening bell here and they fight to the floor in a hurry.

Ruff is dropped onto the barricade but comes back with the twisting cutter off the announcers’ table. Back in and Scott sends him into the corner but a superbomb is countered into a good looking hurricanrana to put them both down again. Bronson Reed is in at #3 so Ruff dives at him on the ramp, only to get thrown back in over a ducking Scott. Reed sits on Scott’s back to put him down and then German suplexes both of them at the same time.

Cameron Grimes is in at #4 and a quick triple team knocks Reed to the floor. Scott and Grimes start double teaming Ruff but he bounces off the ropes in the corner (that was cool) and slides between Grimes’ legs. That doesn’t work to get rid of Scott though and a faceplant puts Ruff down again. Scott goes outside to kick Reed in the face and keep him down.

Back in and a hard clothesline puts Ruff down and it’s Dexter Lumis is in at #5. During the entrance, Scott pins Ruff for the first elimination at 9:46. Lumis gets in and fires off the suplexes to everyone but Reed, meaning it’s time for a staredown. Back up and Lumis manages to lift him up in a fireman’s carry but that doesn’t quite last. Instead Reed is thrown outside with Lumis and Grimes being knocked down as well. LA Knight completes the field at #6 and it’s time to talk a lot of trash on the mic. Reed scares him down though and we take a break.

We come back with Lumis grabbing the Silence on Grimes but Knight grabs a rollup to pin Lumis at 14:50. Grimes plants Knight though and Reed adds a backsplash to get rid of Knight at 15:25, much to Barrett’s annoyance. Lumis Silences Knight after the elimination and it’s a three way slugout inside. Grimes puts Scott down but a staggered Reed falls onto both of them to leave everyone on the mat for a breather. Back up and Grimes manages to counter Reed’s crossbody with the flipping powerslam (that was impressive) but Scott rolls Grimes up with trunks for the pin at 18:29.

Reed knocks Scott down and goes up but Scott catches him with a running kick to the head. Scott manages something like a Death Valley Driver onto the apron for a big knockdown, followed by a 450 for two back inside. The House Call rocks Reed again but another attempt is countered with a grab to the throat. Scott isn’t having that and hits another House Call for another two. Reed is back up with a powerbomb into something like White Noise. The Tsunami sends Reed to tomorrow at 22:25.

Rating: B. This was another good one but it never came close to that top level. That being said, Reed is a very fresh name to push in this spot and that is something interesting. There is something to be said about a monster who can hit a heck of a splash like that and I could go for Gargano seeing what he can do with Reed. If nothing else, it isn’t Lumis and I’ll take that pretty much every time.

Post match Gargano comes out for the staredown.

United Kingdom Title: Walter vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Walter is defending and Ciampa is in trunks for the first time in a long time. Ciampa’s headlock doesn’t last long as the much bigger Walter drives him into the corner. You don’t do that to Ciampa, who goes into Blackheart mode and stomps Walter down into another corner. A running boot is cut off by a big chop though and they head outside, where a missed chop sends Walter’s hand through the announcers’ table.

The arms are fine enough to drop Ciampa onto the apron though and they head back inside. A big chop is cut off with a raised elbow and Ciampa kicks away at the bad hand. Walter kicks him down for a breather and a half crab has Ciampa in more trouble. That’s broken up so Walter kicks him in the face again. Walter slowly knocks him around but Ciampa gets in a few shots of his own and we take a break.

Back with Ciampa managing to hit the Fairy Tale Ending and not being able to believe the kickout. Walter can’t get the sleeper but he can hit a release German suplex into the huge clothesline….for two. Back up and Ciampa pulls another clothesline into a Fujiwara armbar with the hand being bent back as well. The rope is grabbed so Ciampa unloads on Walter, who can only cover up until he makes the rope again.

Walter gets up on the apron and headbutts Ciampa down but he is right back to catch Walter on the top. That means a super Air Raid Crash gets two and they’re both down. Walter is back up to chop him down again and the powerbomb plants Ciampa one more time. Then it’s another powerbomb with Walter stacking up the cover for two. A sleeper suplex drops Ciampa again and the big chop is finally enough to put him away at 16:05.

Rating: B+. These guys beat the fire out of each other and that’s what you want from Walter. I don’t think there was any drama over who was leaving with the title here, due to a combination of Rampage Brown already having a title match tomorrow at Prelude and, you know, Walter doesn’t lose. The hand injury being kind of forgotten near the end hurt things a bit, but these two beat each other senseless and that’s all this was for a good while. Pretty awesome stuff.

The dog from last week runs into an elevator, comes out of an elevator, and then runs into the ring where a woman (or at least her legs) are waiting. The name is confirmed as Franky Monet.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Legado del Fantasma

The titles are vacant coming in. Legado elbows Lee down to start and drop Gibson as well. There’s a double basement dropkick to Lee but the Veterans get together to dropkick Wilde in the knee and the head to send him outside. Caster comes back in with a high crossbody to Gibson but Drake hits a clothesline to take him down. Drake stomps Carter down in the corner and we hit the chinlock.

That’s broken up as well so Lee comes back in to double team Gibson to the floor. Carter hits a step up dive to take the Veterans down again but Mendoza kicks Lee outside. Legado hits stereo dives (one of which included a flipping springboard) to take everyone down at once and we take a break. Back with Carter in trouble in the corner as Legado keeps up the double teaming.

Some running charges in the corner set up a double a suplex, followed by a moonsault to give Wilde two. Carter manages to get in a shot of his own though and the hot tag brings in Lee to clean house. The big flip dive takes out Legado on the floor and there’s the moonsault kick to Drake’s head. The push moonsault gets two more on Drake but Gibson is right there to pull Lee off the apron. Carter knees Drake but Legado is back into drop Carter again.

Lee hits a springboard moonsault into a double reverse DDT to put Legado back on the floor. Gibson is right back up to tie Lee’s hand in the turnbuckle, with Drake adding a running dropkick to crush the hand. The Shankly Gates has Lee in trouble but Carter grabs his hand to break up the tap. Gibson chokes Carter out but Mendoza breaks it up. A Death Valley Driver plants Drake and Wilde hits a top rope splash on Gibson.

The Russian legsweep/clothesline combination gets two on Lee and Legado can’t believe it. The Veterans load up the running Doomsday Device to Wilde and Carter Racks Mendoza for a running knee from Lee. That leaves us with MSK vs. the Veterans in the big showdown into a slugout. Carter hits a double cutter to put the Veterans down again and the flipping neckbreaker Hart Attack finishes Gibson for the titles at 15:29.

Rating: B. Yeah this was exactly what it needed to be here and that is all you can ask for. They had three teams going nuts for fifteen minutes and the young team won. I would assume that they were going to win the titles here anyway, so maybe we can see them face Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch when they get back. If nothing else, NXT just did what Impact Wrestling didn’t do in the years the team was there as the Rascalz: win something important. This was the high energy match that you would expect it to be and I’ll certainly take that.

We run down the night two card, which does look a lot better.

Stephanie McMahon and Sarray are here.

Women’s Title: Io Shirai vs. Raquel Gonzalez

Shirai is defending and Dakota Kai is here with Gonzalez. We get the Big Match Intros and Shirai charges straight at her, only to get sent into the corner. A hurricanrana doesn’t work for Shirai so she slaps her legs around Gonzalez’s head instead. That sets up a good looking top rope hurricanrana but the slingshot knees are blocked with straight power. Shirai sends her outside and hits the suicide dive against the barricade to keep the pace up.

Kai goes after Shirai though and that means the big over the top ejection. A kick to the chest sets up a Lionsault to drop Gonzalez again but she blocks another one. Gonzalez lawn darts her shoulder first into the post for two, followed by a powerbomb flipped forward into a kind of spinebuster for the same. Another powerbomb is dropped backwards to send Shirai throat first onto the top rope for two more.

Gonzalez drops some elbows for three but Shirai kicks out at four (that was a REALLY bad mess up as the referee clearly knew something went wrong) so we can keep going. Back up and Gonzalez puts on something like a Gory Stretch but Shirai reverses for a hurricanrana. A double stomp has Gonzalez in more trouble and the 619 makes it even worse. The springboard missile dropkick into a Code Red gets two on Gonzalez so Shirai goes up top.

Gonzalez catches her in the lifting powerbomb but Shirai slips out into a Crossface to have Gonzalez in trouble again. The rope is finally reached and the moonsault onto the ramp drops Gonzalez again. Shirai hits some running knees to leave Gonzalez mostly done. Naturally Shirai has found a way to climb onto the skull set and hit a HUGE high crossbody to crush Gonzalez for about the ninth time.

Back in and Shirai hits the moonsault for two. Gonzalez is down on the floor so Shirai goes after her, only to get caught in the lifting powerbomb. Back in and Gonzalez blasts her with a clothesline to turn Shirai inside out. One heck of a lifting powerbomb gives Gonzalez the pin and the title at 12:54.

Rating: B. Gonzalez winning was the best way to go here as Shirai is all but out of challengers after holding the title for over ten months. I’m not sure if Shirai is on her way to the main roster, but she didn’t need to have the title any longer. You also needed a big moment to end the night here and Shirai was doing everything she could here. They told a nice story of having Shirai try everything she could, only to come up short in the end. This felt like a main event and that’s a nice way to wrap up the show.

The long celebration ends the show.

Overall Rating: A-. It says a lot when the worst match on the show would be one of the best matches of the month on Raw. I’m not sure if it felt like a Takeover (the commercials on the TV version took a lot out of it) but they kept things going here and it was a very entertaining show. Above all else, it was an awesome start to Wrestlemania weekend and I had a great time. Tomorrow night awaits us though and that’s when the big stuff goes down. For now though, more Takeover awesomeness, which really shouldn’t surprise you.

Results

Pete Dunne b. Kushida – Bitter End

Bronson Reed won a Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Isaiah Scott

Walter b. Tommaso Ciampa – Chop

MSK b. Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado del Fantasma – Flipping neckbreaker/spinebuster combination to Gibson

Raquel Gonzalez b. Io Shirai – Lifting powerbomb

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This is a different kind of Takeover as the whole thing is spread over two nights. That has caused a few issues with the build to the show as it is a little bit difficult to focus on two shows at once. Throw in the fact that this means we have twice as many matches as usual for a Takeover and I’m not sure how something like this is going to go. Then again, you don’t bet against Takeover so let’s get to it.

Night One

Kickoff Show: Toni Storm vs. Zoey Stark

Stark continues to be one of the more interesting cases in NXT at the moment as it is clear that they see something in her (because it’s there) but she keeps losing to one big name after another. At some point that is going to stop working out for her and the stock is going to drop, meaning she needs to win something. I’m just not sure if she is going to get that win here.

I think I’ll go with Storm to win here, as she has been kind of floating since the feud with Io Shirai, meaning she is going to need something to get her back on track. Beating Stark is not exactly the kind of thing that is going to be the big saving grace for her, but it is going to help her out a bit. Stark is going to get a win of her own someday, though I’m really not sure when that is going to be the case.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Legado del Fantasma

This is for the vacant titles thanks to Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch being injured. We’re starting off with a confusing one here too as I have no idea who is winning the titles. You really could go with all three as possible winners and that is a great thing to see. MSK would seem to be the likely winners here as they were guaranteed a title shot thanks to winning the Dusty Classic….but things have changed since then.

As much as I want to pick Legado as the team who could pick up the titles because the other two seem like the likely winners, I’ll go with MSK winning the titles here for a nice feel good moment. I’m not sure if that is the best idea though as the Veterans need to win something after coming up short time after time, but MSK seems popular enough that a win would be a nice energy boost to the show.

Gauntlet Eliminator: Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah Scott vs. Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight

This is something similar to a Royal Rumble, but you are eliminated by pinfall or submission and the winner gets a North American Title shot against Johnny Gargano on night two. In theory that eliminates the heels from getting their shot, but stranger things have happened around here. I would assume that we only have three potential contenders, and only two of them are interesting.

Unfortunately I think we’re getting Lumis here, as he has been tied up with Gargano and the Way for a few weeks now. Reed is the most interesting choice and Ruff has a history with Gargano, but Lumis makes the most sense here. Grimes is on a roll and could feud with a few people in the match. Scott is already feuding with Ruff and Knight….well I’m not sure you can call his stuff with Reed a feud just yet. Lumis goes over here and moves on to the title shot on night two.

Pete Dunne vs. Kushida

Yes please. I think I might need a bit more than that, but this one feels like possibly the most intriguing match on the entire card. Kushida is someone who is capable of busting out a great match at the drop of a hat and Dunne is Dunne, so how can this one be bad? These two have been having issues for weeks now and that sounds like a good enough reason for the two of them to spend fifteen minutes trying to break the other’s arm off.

While Kushida needs a win to get some footing underneath him, Dunne is a far bigger star and is going to win here. He is someone who could become a top star around here in the blink of an eye and it makes sense to have him go over here. This very well could steal the show and the entire Takeover, but it is more about getting us to the inevitable, which is Dunne getting the win.

United Kingdom Title: Walter(c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Speaking of matches that could steal all of Takeover, we have these two who are more than capable of doing just that. This time around it is for Walter’s title, as his seemingly never ending reign continues. Now the problem with this one is they have announced Walter’s next title defense, but that isn’t exactly the point here. What matters is Walter is back in the ring and that is a great thing for everyone.

Of course Walter wins here, because they aren’t going to end the epic title reign on a different continent in a match that feels a bit thrown together. Walter is someone who can have a classic with anyone he faces and if we get the old Ciampa here, these two could do something incredible. I know Ciampa isn’t as great as he has been before, but even a mostly there Ciampa is a sight to behold.

Women’s Title: Io Shirai(c) vs. Rhea Gonzalez

This is an interesting one as the champ issued the challenge for a change. You might not realize it but Shirai has been champion for about ten months now and has all but cleared out the division. Thankfully NXT is good at bringing in fresh talent and that is exactly what they are doing with people like Gonzalez (among others). This was the main focal point of last week’s NXT and it feels like a main event.

I’ve been betting that Shirai will lose the title for the better part of ever now and I’ll do that again here, as there just aren’t many people left to take it from here (save for maybe Xia Li, but I’m not sure how much someone with her current gimmick needs the title). They need to pull the trigger on someone eventually (though Shirai is doing fine in this role) and Gonzalez makes more sense than probably anyone else. Gonzalez wins here and ends a sneakily epic reign from Shirai.

Night Two

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon(c) vs. The Way

These titles are still brand new and one of the best ways to make them mean something is to have them on the line. Granted there still are not very many established teams to go after them, but at least the Way has a name. Blackheart and Moon don’t feel like long term champs, but losing in one of your first defenses seems like a quick drop (pun intended), even at a show like this.

Now the question is will they drop them here and I’ll go with not yet. I think the Way does get the belts eventually, but it isn’t happening so soon. It is just a little too early for the titles to change hands twice and NXT would be smart to have the titles sink in with Blackheart and Moon for a bit. The Way isn’t a team that needs to have multiple titles, so hopefully the titles don’t change here, because they really don’t need to yet.

North American Title: Johnny Gargano(c) vs. Gauntlet Eliminator Winner

This is a follow up from the previous night as the winner of the Gauntlet Eliminator (Lumis, assuming my completely accurate picks are right) gets a shot at Gargano. I’m not sure how much I like this idea as it can make for a hard match to set up in advance, but at least they have something going here between Gargano and Lumis. That sets up a rather scary possibility of even more of a focus on Lumis, though they have pulled back a bit in recent weeks.

I think I’ll go with Lumis winning here, as it has been teased long enough that it probably needs to just happen already. Gargano is fine in his role as champion, but it feels like he has held the title for the better part of ever at the moment. The title probably needs some fresh blood and while Lumis isn’t the most exciting or interesting blood, he certainly would be fresh. Now just get it over with already.

Cruiserweight Title: Jordan Devlin(c) vs. Santos Escobar(c)

It’s a special situation as both are champions, meaning there are two titles. Since Shawn Michaels is helping to run NXT and it has been at least a month since the last one, it is time to put the belts above the ring and have a ladder match. That makes things both a little more interesting and less interesting at the same time, as I wasn’t sure who was going to actually take the fall here. Throw in the ladder though and things are a little bit different. Someone has to stick around though and I think I know what that means.

I’ll go with Escobar to win here, as not being able to pull down a title from above the ring is not going to crush his momentum. Devlin still seems to be the guy who is going to go after Walter (and likely take the title from him) so getting him away from the Cruiserweight Title is a necessary step. I’m also not sure I can imagine him sticking around in America and NXT UK doesn’t need a Cruiserweight Title so let Escobar have it for good.

Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly

This is unsanctioned and I believe the words “oh boy” are appropriate. These two have some great chemistry together and it should be awesome to see them beat the living fire out of each other. I know the working theory is that it should be time to see Cole go to the main roster and while I’m not sure I believe that is the case, getting beaten by O’Reilly in a big blowoff feud would be a great way to go.

So yeah give me O’Reilly here, mainly for the reason that Cole absolutely does not need to win this match. O’Reilly has yet to have the big singles win and Cole has won everything he needs to win in all of NXT. I wouldn’t mind seeing Cole show up on the main roster as a post WrestleMania surprise, but I’m hoping that we see him go down to O’Reilly after one heck of a fight.

NXT Title: Finn Balor(c) vs. Karrion Kross

We’ll wrap it up with another match that could go either way. In theory the loser here should be on their way to the main roster, as Balor has already been a main roster star and Kross was pretty much ready for the main roster the day he debuted. I don’t know how well the gimmick would work there, but at least it would make sense to have Kross and Scarlett up there. Someone has to lose though and that makes it hard to figure out.

I actually think I’ll take Balor to win here, as NXT is going to want to keep some star power down there because the show moving over to another night. Hopefully the match is the hard hitting struggle that it should be, but I have no idea who goes after the title once Balor retains. Granted he probably doesn’t win here because it is a complete coin flip, but yeah we’ll go with Balor here.

Overall Thoughts

I’m not completely sold on the idea here as it feels like a pair of shows put together rather than one great Takeover. That could mean a bit of a downgrade, but if there is one thing that I have learned about Takeover over the years, it is that NXT knows how to figure out a way around anything. There is enough good stuff on the card to believe that they could pull it off and hopefully that is the case here.

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NXT
Date: March 31, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s the go home show for Takeover and that means we should be in for one of NXT’s specialties. They know how to hype up a show rather well and they can do it in a hurry, which is what they have to do here. I’m not sure how well that is going to work as they have to do it for two shows at once, but NXT has pulled off almost everything else. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video looks at the headline matches for Takeover.

Cameron Grimes vs. Roderick Strong

Strong’s heart does not entirely seem to be in this one, which is fallout from Grimes offering to restart the Undisputed Era and getting dropped by Strong as a result. Before the match, Grimes says strong is leaving a lot of money on the table with that Undisputed Era intellectual property out there. This time Grimes is ready though, complete with a GRIMES THE SYSTEM shirt. We also get a GRIMES THE SYSTEM intro but Strong runs him down to start the brawl in the aisle.

They get inside with Strong taking him down and hammering at the ribs at the opening bell. Back up and Grimes gets chopped in the corner but grabs the eyes for a breather. Strong isn’t having any of that and puts Grimes against the rope for a heck of a chop. A clothesline puts Grimes on the floor and Strong rams him into a few things, only to get distracted by an Undisputed Era shirt in the crowd. Grimes rams him into a light post and we take a break.

Back with Grimes cranking on the neck and hitting a running forearm for two. Strong fights out of an armbar and grabs a Rock Bottom backbreaker. Grimes is sat up top for a top rope superplex but Strong needs a second to follow up. Now it’s the running forearms against the ropes but Grimes is right back with the flipping belly to belly (that thing always looks cool) for two. Strong suplexes him down again but Grimes (intentionally) drops an Undisputed Era elbow pad. The distraction lets Grimes hit the Cave In for the pin at 11:46.

Rating: C+. I liked this one a good bit, though it was better a few years ago when Johnny Gargano had the exact same problem about letting go of DIY. Still though, years between an angle is better than the days that WWE goes at times so I’d call it an improvement. Grimes winning is good, even if it required a bit of cheating. Strong needs to get his head on straight and that could be an interesting way to go for a bit.

Video on Karrion Kross training, including a variety of martial arts. Kross is ready to end Finn Balor by cutting the ring off and hitting him really hard. Balor can’t run forever.

Walter is ready to end Tommaso Ciampa.

NXT is moving to Tuesday!

The WWE Network is moving to Peacock!

Here is Legado del Fantasma, with Santos Escobar issuing an open challenge because he wants to prove his greatness to Jordan Devlin. Cue Tyler Breeze to say Escobar has had everything handed to him but Breeze has worked for everything. Challenge accepted.

Santos Escobar vs. Tyler Breeze

Non-title. Escobar wastes no time by sending him into the corner, only to have Breeze come back with a dropkick. Breeze knocks him into the corner as well and then out to the floor for a crash. Back in and Escobar drops him onto the ribs, only to have Breeze come back with an enziguri. Breeze has to take out the rest of Legado but stays on the ground as we take a break.

Back with Escobar hammering away and slapping on a surfboard. That’s broken up and Breeze manages a hurricanrana. Breeze works on the leg for a bit, including a spinebuster into the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up as well and Escobar counters the Unprettier. A leg lariat sets up the Phantom Driver to finish Breeze at 10:40.

Rating: C. Just a match to give Escobar some momentum going into Takeover and that is fine. I’m curious to see which way they go there but either option is a possibility. Then you have Breeze and….my goodness I’m not sure what to do with him. He has just been so far down for so long and there is no reason to believe things are ever going to get any better. It’s a shame as I’ve always liked him, but how much further can you really go?

Post match here’s the returning MSK to go after Legado del Fantasma and clear the ring. The Grizzled Young Veterans come up on screen to say they’re winning the Tag Team Titles at Takeover.

Johnny Gargano goes on a rant about the Gauntlet Eliminator and calls William Regal Cuckoo Bananas. Austin Theory is way too happy and suggests the Fingerpoke of Doom. Gargano: “That killed the business.” Theory: “But we’re still here.” Gargano: “LET’S DO IT!” The women want their Women’s Tag Team Title shot and are ready to earn it tonight.

And now….a dog is walking and looks at the Performance Center. That dog looks rather familiar.

Last week Raquel Gonzalez took out Io Shirai, who hates Gonzalez as a result.

The Way vs. Gigi Dolin/Zayda Ramier

That would be Candice LeRae/Indi Hartwell for the Way, with Gigi kicking Indi around to start. A side slam gets Hartwell out of trouble and Candice comes in for some shots of her own. Hartwell comes back in but gives up the hot tag, allowing Ramier (Booker T. student) to come in and pick up the pace. A spinebuster cuts Ramier down and it’s the Wicked Stepsister into a springboard elbow to the back to give Hartwell the pin at 3:08.

Rating: C-. I’m sure this is going to set up the Way for a title match but as usual, it isn’t a good sign when a single win is enough to warrant you a pretty big title shot. It isn’t like there is anything to the division at this point so the Way is good enough for the shot, though I’m not sure how much drama there is going to be. Dolin and Ramier looked fine in defeat here, but it wasn’t about them here.

Post match Candice rants about how no woman deserves to be a champion more than her. The Way is coming for the titles at Takeover…..so here are Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart in the tank to interrupt. Trash talk ensues and the challenge is accepted, leaving Shotzi to shoot a foam missile at Hartwell. That’s rather violent.

Io Shirai comes up to Raquel Gonzalez in the back and says Gonzalez can’t kill her. The brawl is on and Shirai gets dropped in a hurry.

The dog has made it inside and runs in slow motion. Beth: “Ok what’s with the dog?”

Roderick Strong leaves, saying he is done. He seems to be out of the battle royal tonight too.

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Zoey Stark

Dakota Kai is here too. Gonzalez powers her around to start but Stark manages to flip over her out of the corner. There’s a dropkick into the corner but Gonzalez counters a monkey flip with straight power. A faceplant gets two on Stark and we hit a fairly lengthy chinlock. Back up and Gonzalez charges into a superkick, allowing Stark to hit a running knee. Gonzalez is sent outside but pulls the dive out of the air.

That earns Gonzalez a posting but a Kai distraction….earns Kai a clothesline over the barricade. Back in and another knee gives Stark two more but she gets caught on top. The powerbomb out of the corner is blocked though and Stark hits a spinning Blockbuster for two more. Gonzalez has had it though and tosses Stark down, setting up the powerbomb for the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C+. This is a tricky one as this match did a great job of making Stark look competitive, but I’m not sure how good of an idea that was at this point. Do you really want your #1 contender having trouble a week before the biggest match of her career? It certainly was an entertaining match but I’m not sure if it was the smartest.

Post match Io Shirai comes in for another brawl and Gonzalez has to bail.

The dog goes upstairs and runs through one of the training rooms.

Kushida is ready to win to go to Takeover but Pete Dunne comes in to say prove it. That seems fine with Kushida.

We get the Prime Target video on Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly. Cole says they have fifteen minutes and sits down. O’Reilly talks about how they have known each other for about eleven years and knew there was a connection. Cole says they have been either friends or opponents since then, complete with a New Japan photo of them kicking each other in the face.

We see the Undisputed Era forming and all of their success and O’Reilly talks about how much better they all became. Cole however is the same evil man who walked into NXT three and a half years ago and O’Reilly has to convince himself that the last three years meant nothing. If there was the slightest chance that they could be cool again, O’Reilly wouldn’t put Cole down. Cole talks about how O’Reilly is a lapdog and we see William Regal making this an unsanctioned match at Takeover. They both promise to end each other. A lot of this was made of clips from last week but DANG WWE knows how to nail these things.

Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro vs. Xia Li

This is supposed to be a tag match but Li is on her own. Kayden hammers away to start and takes Li into the corner so Catanzaro can get in her own shows. The running corner clothesline gets two but Li takes Catanzaro to the floor for rams into various hard objects. Back in and Catanzaro manages a spinning Codebreaker (that’s a new one) but hold on as Carter goes up to the throne, where she is quickly choked out by Mei Ling. (Well what else was she expecting?). That leaves Li to kick Catanzaro in the head for the pin at 3:08.

Rating: D+. The match was just there as a backdrop for Ling to show her power off. I’m not sure where this is going but it has certainly been one of the more unique stories NXT has had in awhile. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Carter join the evil now, because WWE likes having people join the dark side. Still though, good enough angle to go with a not very good match.

Io Shirai goes after Raquel Gonzalez again but this time gets thrown through a wall (for a great visual). Gonzalez: “STAY DOWN!”

The dog finds a woman in high heels and a message saying “See You April 13, Franky.” That’s an interesting way to set up a reveal.

Tommaso Ciampa talks about how Walter has reminded him of his own journey. Sometimes you need to be reminded of who you are, because people have been saying he has changed. And yeah, he has, and he still feels all of his supporters. At Takeover, he is chasing his dragon and climbing to the top of the dragon’s mountain to chop the dragon’s head off. Ciampa has been there before and knows what it is like to fall all the way back down. That changes a man and he knows what it takes to get back. The Blackheart still lives and he is taking the United Kingdom Title so Walter can learn how far of a fall it is. Intense stuff from Ciampa.

Takeover rundown.

Finn Balor knew he would face Karrion Kross one day and the time is now. The ring is his life and his stamina has always been his strength. He doesn’t get worn down and no matter how much Kross wants to keep the pace, Kross is drowning in the deep water.

Barrett and Joseph are in the ring to explain the rules of the main event.

Battle Royal

Isaiah Scott, Dexter Lumis, Leon Ruff, LA Knight, Bronson Reed, Pete Dunne, Kushida, Austin Theory, Cameron Grimes, Tyler Rust, Jake Atlas

The final six will be the six in the Gauntlet Eliminator on night one, with the order of elimination determining the order of entrance (the winner here comes in #6, the runner up comes in #5 etc.). The winner of that gets a North American Title shot on night two. Scott comes out first but Ruff jumps him from behind and the fight is on outside. We take a break and come back with the start of the mat, meaning it’s time to have everyone (save for Lumis) fight on the ropes early on.

Scott dropkicks Atlas out and Rust follows him to clear the ring out a bit. Kushida works on Grimes’ arm near the apron and Theory is knocked to the floor but he lands on his back. He can’t get up….until he nips up…..to his feet for the elimination. Reed throws Kushida over the top but can’t get him out. Grimes and Knight can’t get rid of Reed, so Kushida hits a double handspring elbow to Grimes and Knight.

Dunne grabs Ruff’s arm and Kushida kicks Grimes’ arm, meaning it’s time for Dunne vs. Kushida. They slug it out until Kushida cartwheels out of a cross armbreaker. The Hoverboard Lock goes on but they fall over the top for the double elimination. That leaves us with the final six, meaning that Knight, Scott, Lumis, Ruff, Reed and Grimes are moving on to the Gauntlet Eliminator.

We take a break and come back (with Dunne vs. Kushida being added to night one) with Lumis still having barely moved as Johnny Gargano is on commentary. While Gargano makes references to Edge’s theme songs, Reed dumps out Ruff and then Scott to get us down to four. Knight and Grimes get together to go after Reed, with Lumis finally moving to help get rid of him.

Lumis stands in the middle now…and Grimes busts out some money to try and buy them off. Knight thinks it’s a good idea but Lumis hits Grimes in the face and it’s a double toss to get rid of him. We’re down to Lumis vs. Knight and Knight isn’t sure what to do here. Some right hands have Knight in trouble and a backdrop puts him down. Knight sends Lumis to the apron and a neck snaps rocks him again. A missed charge sends Knight through the ropes (not an elimination) and he pulls Lumis down for the win at 13:00.

Rating: C. This was a battle royal and I’m not sure what else to say about it. Knight winning is fine as it’s not like this is going to be the big definitive result that determines the gauntlet. This makes as much sense as any other heel winning and Knight needed a little something for his first big win around here.

Post match Knight gets in Gargano’s face but here’s Shirai AGAIN to call out Gonzalez one more time. The brawl is on and the women’s locker room is here to break it up. Shirai beats more of them up and the springboard dive takes out Gonzalez and more. A lot of yelling at the downed Gonzalez ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show had a heck of a trick to pull of and it worked well enough….I think. It certainly wasn’t a great night and they have had better go home shows before, but the made me want to see Shirai vs. Gonzalez through sheer will power. Throw in what should be an amazing fight between O’Reilly and Cole, plus the rest of the cards looking fine and I think they’ll be good to go, though the double shows are taking away some of the spark.

Results

Cameron Grimes b. Roderick Strong – Cave In

Santos Escobar b. Tyler Breeze – Phantom Driver

The Way b. Zayda Ramier/Gigi Dolin – Springboard elbow to Ramier’s back

Raquel Gonzalez b. Zoey Stark – Lifting powerbomb

Xia Li b. Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro – Spinning kick to Catanzaro’s face

LA Knight won a battle royal last eliminating Dexter Lumis

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NXT
Date: March 24, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix

We are two weeks away from Takeover and that means it is time for NXT to do what it does best by hammering home the big push towards the special. This time around that means we are going to be seeing William Regal dealing with Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly for getting into a fight earlier in the week. I think you know where this is going. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Karrion Kross attacking Finn Balor, his partner last week, and setting up their Takeover main event for Balor’s title.

Adam Cole came to work today, flanked by security.

Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez vs. Zoey Stark/Io Shirai

Gonzalez shoves Stark away to start and says this is her house. The armbar goes on to keep Gonzalez in control until Starks flips her way to freedom. Stark works on her own armbar and hits a running kick in the corner, followed by a knee to the face. Gonzalez isn’t having that and blasts her with a clothesline and hands it off to Kai, who is dropped onto Stark for two.

Stark takes her down for some right hands to the head though and Shirai comes in for the first time. Kai’s pump kick misses and Shirai stomps her down in the corner, setting up the slingshot double knees to the chest. Gonzalez’s distraction lets Kai roll her up a few times, only for Shirai to show her how it’s done with her own near fall. It’s back to Stark for a running uppercut in the corner but Kai pulls her down by the hair. Gonzalez comes back in but gets kneed in the chest in a hurry. Kai tags herself in for a reverse powerbomb/enziguri combination for two.

We take a break and come back with the double tag bringing Kai and Shirai, one of whom cleans house (I’ll let you guess which). There’s a pair of 619s to the villains and a missile dropkick puts Kai down. Stark adds a springboard dropkick of his own, followed by Stark’s slingshot dive onto Gonzalez. Stark posts her as well but misses a 450 back inside. Instead, Gonzalez powerbombs her down, knocks Shirai off the apron and hits another powerbomb for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: C. They accomplished a few things here, including making Gonzalez look like a killer. Shirai is going to be in trouble she she has to defend the title and that is a good thing for Takeover. Stark continues to look very good in the ring just by rubbing elbows with stars but she is going to have to win something at some point.

Post match Gonzalez and Shirai pull themselves up for the staredown. Kai offers a distraction though and Gonzalez lays her out with a big boot. The powerbomb onto the announcers’ table leaves Shirai laying.

We look at Adam Cole coming to Kyle O’Reilly’s Brazilian jiu jitsu training center and getting in a fight. William Regal has promised punishment.

O’Reilly arrives with security and Roderick Strong tells him to take out Col. O’Reilly doesn’t seem to want the help or advice. Strong looks sad and says O’Reilly and Cole can both go to h***.

LA Knight isn’t worried about Bronson Reed tonight because Reed made a mistake last week.

Jordan Devlin knows tonight’s match is huge because it involves someone who has been a top star in Japan, England and America and is universally respected. That is quite the star, and tonight he is facing Kushida! Devlin likes Kushida, but he is going down tonight.

Bronson Reed vs. LA Knight

Reed shoves him around to start and then sends Knight flying with a backdrop. A powerslam sets up the chinlock on Knight and there’s an elbow to the face to take him down again. The chinlock keeps Knight in trouble before Reed switches to a double arm crank. Make that a waistlock but Knight fights up and makes it over to the apron. There’s a neck snap to slow Reed down and Knight stomps away.

Knight’s rhythmic pointing takes us to a break and we come back with Reed fighting out of a chinlock. That’s broken up so Knight stomps him down into the corner and slowly hammers away. A missed charge into the corner lets Knight hit a jumping neckbreaker for two more. Reed fights up again and shrugs off a kick to the face, meaning it’s time to run Knight over again. The chokeslam plants Knight again but he’s up in time to break up the Tsunami. Reed shoves him off though and finishes with the Tsunami at 12:09.

Rating: C-. It’s interesting that they are having Knight lose so soon, but more important than that is Reed, who is looking like a heck of a monster face. That Tsunami is one of the best looking splashes I’ve seen in a long time and I’m curious to see where Reed can go from here. He needs a big win, but giving him this kind of a squash is a good sign for his future.

We look at Danny Burch’s injury, causing the Tag Team Titles to be vacated. As a result, MSK, the Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado del Fantasma will face off for the vacant titles at Takeover.

Video on Walter, who is a monster and coming to NXT, at least for the time being. Other wrestlers talk about how worried they are because of him.

Oney Lorcan vs. Karrion Kross

Kross has Scarlett with him and Lorcan goes straight at him to start. Lorcan gets in a few shots to the face and they head outside, with Kross driving him into the barricade. Back in and Kross kicks him outside again, this time for a suplex on the floor. They head back in again with Lorcan’s chops earning him….a third trip out to the floor, just in case the first two didn’t connect.

Lorcan manages to dropkick him into the corner but Kross explodes out of the corner with a clothesline for two. We take a break and come back with Kross firing off shoulders in the corner. A cross armbreaker doesn’t get Lorcan anywhere as Kross breaks out and hits a t-bone suplex out of the corner.

The neck crank goes on as Kross talks about being glad Danny Burch was hurt last week. Lorcan gets fired up and avoids a charge to send Kross shoulder first into the post. A DDT on the arm has Kross panicking a bit so Lorcan wins a slugout by taking out the leg. The Blockbuster misses though and Kross kicks him in the face. The Doomsday Saito into the running elbow to the back of the head finishes Lorcan at 9:17.

Rating: C+. This was the perfectly logical match to have and as usual, Lorcan’s offense can work on anyone while still looking good. That is what we had here and Kross survives anyway, as he also gets a boost on the way to Takeover. I’m really not sure what they are going to do with Kross, but I am starting to get the praise.

Post match Kross says he would like to take a moment to address the actions of Finn Balor. Last week, Balor’s actions included malice. Kross promises pain because there is no stopping what is next, which is him. Cue Finn Balor, who says Kross showed him his weakness last week. Balor says Kross fight with emotions last week and that makes him sloppy and vulnerable. At Takeover, Balor is going to exploit those weaknesses and walk out NXT Champion because Balor can’t control himself and will drown without emotions. The staredown is on.

William Regal announces his plans for the North American Title match at Takeover. Next week there will be a twelve person battle royal with the final six remaining going on to a gauntlet eliminator match at Takeover Night One. The winner of that will move on to get the shot at Gargano on Night Two.

Kushida has accepted Jordan Devlin’s challenge for tonight.

Yesterday, Drake Maverick got on Imperium’s nerves and got a match with Walter as a result.

Walter vs. Drake Maverick

Non-title and Walter hits a powerbomb into the half crab for the immediate stoppage at 27 seconds.

Post match Imperium poses but here is Tommaso Ciampa to interrupt. Ciampa isn’t wasting time and challenges him to a UK Title match at Takeover. The brawl is on and Walter takes Ciampa’s necklace, which incenses him. One heck of a chop leaves Ciampa laying and Walter accepts the challenge.

Pete Dunne is ready to dominate the locker room and wants the North American Title.

Jessi Kamea is injured so Robert Stone pays off Mercedes Martinez to take her place. Mercedes agrees but wants the other half after the match. Stone agrees, but after Mercedes leaves, admits he has no more money. Oh dear.

A panicked Johnny Gargano goes to see William Regal and recaps the NXT Title situation for Takeover. Regal tells him to chill.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon vs. Mercedes Martinez/Aaliyah

Martinez and Aaliyah are challenging and have Robert Stone in their corner. Martinez throws Moon around to start but she snaps off a headscissors. Blackheart gets in the figure four necklock over the rope but Stone gets up on the apron to throw a quick fit. That’s enough for Martinez to get in a clothesline on Shotzi, followed by a fireman’s carry gutbuster.

Aaliyah comes in and even kicks Moon off of the apron without much trouble. It’s back to Martinez, who is quickly send into the corner, allowing the hot tag. House is cleaned in a hurry and a powerbomb gets two on Aaliyah. Blackheart plants Martinez with a tornado DDT and the Eclipse finishes Aaliyah at 4:02.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure what you were expecting here but it was only so good. This was mainly there to give the new champs their first defense. It wasn’t exactly a great match and the Eclipse at the end didn’t look great, but they kept it moving and didn’t try to stretch out into some unnecessary drama.

Cameron Grimes comes in to see Roderick Strong and suggests they restart the Undisputed Era. Strong hits him in the face.

Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart are proud of their win when the Way comes in. The challenge is issued and accepted.

Takeover rundown.

Jordan Devlin vs. Kushida

Non-title. Devlin takes him down in a hurry and hits a standing moonsault for an early two. That’s fine with Kushida, who hiptosses him into a basement dropkick before starting in on the arm. Kushida cranks on it with his feet and then his arms before sliding between Devlin’s legs to the floor, Devlin is waiting with an Asai moonsault (that was as crisp and well timed of a sequence as I have seen in a good while). We take a break and come back with Devlin holding a chinlock but getting caught with a jawbreaker. Kushida hits him in the face and bulldogs the arm down but the Hoverboard Lock is countered into a cradle for two.

Devlin nails his slingshot cutter, though he is still badly favoring the arm. Said arm gives out on the Devlin Slide attempt so Kushida goes up top. Devlin catches him with forearms but here is Legado del Fantasma for the distraction. Kushida gets in a kick to the head and superplexes him into the cross armbreaker. Legado pulls Devlin to the floor, which isn’t enough for a DQ. Devlin dives back in and sends Kushida into Legado, setting up a bridging O’Connor roll (meaning no need to use the bad arm) to pin Kushida at 9:26.

Rating: C+. Is it any surprise that these two could have a good match together? This was a rather nice display from both as Kushida took apart the arm but Devlin is on another level at the moment and took out the cruiserweight legend. I’m really not sure where they go with the unification match, but Devlin winning would not surprise me as he seems to have a lot more upward potential.

Post match Kushida goes after Legado and takes down Wilde and Mendoza. Santos Escobar gets in the ring for the staredown with Devlin….and we have a Shawn Michaels. He slides a ladder in the ring and points, leaving both guys to hold up their titles.

Adam Cole runs into Shawn as he leaves and glaring ensues. I’d be down for that.

We get the big showdown between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly, with William Regal in charge and a lot of security. Regal rants about everything that has gone on between the two of them, even down to having the police involved. He has a contract for the two of them to be in an unsanctioned match in the co-main event for Night Two of Takeover so he would like them to sign in peace.

Cole takes the pen but has a story first. He asks Regal to imagine he was blind but then one day could see everything. That is what you call a revelation and Cole had one of those when he saw O’Reilly joining forces with Finn Balor. He thought O’Reilly had lost his mind but then it all came clear.

O’Reilly is just a lapdog on the sidelines but that is not Adam Cole. He is nothing like O’Reilly, who has lost sight of what the Undisputed Era was about. The team was about being the best and that is Cole. Does O’Reilly think he would be here without Cole? There is no team without Cole because he had the title run and sold the shirts and without him, O’Reilly is nothing. Everyone but O’Reilly knows that Cole wins at Takeover so Cole signs.

O’Reilly says they have known each other for a long time and didn’t care who they stepped over on their way to the top. Then O’Reilly grew up and started taking some accountability for his actions. There are no more sneak attacks or 4-1 beatdowns and since then, the team became better. They became stars but only one of them became a better person. Cole is the same a****** who came here three and a half years ago and that makes O’Reilly believe the Undisputed Era meant nothing. He wants to believe they can be cool again but now he won’t hesitate to put Cole down for good.

Cole used his friends to get to the top and O’Reilly is not surprised. No one is going to be surprised……LOOK ME IN THE EYES…..when O’Reilly beats Cole into a pulp. O’Reilly goes to sign, with Cole calling it a death warrant. The contract is signed and the table it turned over but they are held apart to end the show. Awesome promos from both guys with both of them making sense and selling how much they want to hurt the other.

Overall Rating: B. They hit the gas on the build towards Takeover here and that is the kind of show where NXT tends to shine. There are a lot of things to cover on the way there with a pair of shows but this one did a nice job of setting things up in a hurry. Next week will be the big hard sell for the shows, but they did a rather nice job here of making me want to see Takeover. Well done, as this was right in NXT’s wheelhouse.

Results

Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez b. Io Shirai/Zoey Stark – Powerbomb to Stark

Bronson Reed b. LA Knight – Tsunami

Karrion Kross b. Oney Lorcan – Running elbow to the back of the head

Walter b. Drake Maverick via referee stoppage

Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon b. Mercedes Martinez/Aaliyah – Eclipse to Aaliyah

Jordan Devlin b. Kushida – Bridging O’Connor roll

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: March 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

We’re on the road to Takeover and this time around that means we have twice the usual amount of matches to set up. The end of last week’s show set up a pair of matches for Takeover and I’m curious to see what else they have for the show. Throw in a few more title matches to be set up and we could be in for a nice pair of shows. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at last week’s main event, followed by Kyle O’Reilly laying out Adam Cole and Karrion Kross confronting Finn Balor. There are your Takeover main events.

Here is Finn Balor, who says he is still champion. He has defeated everyone and at Takeover, Karrion Kross’ time is up. Cue Kross and Scarlett, with Kross saying this could never happen until the settled their other affairs. This had to be one on one because that is all that matters around here. The people need to know who the real champion is around here, as do the two of them. Balor says Kross doesn’t have what it takes to beat him so Kross promises to choke him out.

Scarlett says that she has already seen this in the cards: two champions, both draped in gold clashing. Cue Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to say that Pete Dunne is going to be champion anyway because he’s the best in the world. Scarlett issues a challenge for the Tag Team Titles tonight but the champs don’t seem sure. That’s fine with Scarlett, who talks them into the match and we have a main event.

Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis

During the entrances, the rest of the Way talk to Theory on a tablet, with Johnny Gargano reminding him of what Lumis said about Theory’s abs. The bell rings and we take a break less than thirty seconds in (gah). Back with Theory hitting a fall away slam but having to elbow his way out of the Silence. Lumis is right back with a spinebuster and the jumping legdrop gets two.

A pop up uppercut rocks Theory again and there’s a slingshot suplex to make it worse. Lumis misses a dive off the top though and Theory hits a running forearm for two. What looks like a powerbomb is broken up and Lumis offers him a hand up. They stare each other down and Theory hugs him, earning himself the Side Effect into the Silence for the knockout at 9:49.

Rating: C-. This was the next step on the way to Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis at Takeover and in that vein, it worked out fine. It wasn’t a particularly good match but Lumis was doing a bit better with the storytelling here. You can do that in silence perfectly well, but Lumis is rarely the strongest in that area. I’m still not wild on him, though at least this was a bit better.

Tommaso Ciampa does not like Imperium jumping him last week and suggests that he took out Alexander Wolfe. The team won’t be standing after tonight.

Here’s Adam Cole for a chat. Cole is sick of Kyle O’Reilly, who he used at first but now O’Reilly is completely worthless. Last week O’Reilly came at him so Cole calls O’Reilly out here right now. Cole gets William Regal instead and it turns out that O’Reilly is not here due to his neck getting hurt again last week. O’Reilly pops up on the screen to say that he will deal with Cole in time, because Cole tried to end his career. This is not the Cole that he has known for eleven years and revenge is coming. Cole says if Regal won’t tell him where O’Reilly is, he’ll find him on his own.

We recap the Women’s Tag Team Titles being awarded and lost last week.

Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon still can’t believe they’re the champions but now it’s time to take care of business. The Robert Stone Brand comes in to challenge them for next week and it’s immediately accepted.

Jordan Devlin arrives in a very nice car.

Breezango vs. Legado del Fantasma

Fandango and Mendoza slug it out to start with Fandango hitting a clothesline to the back of the head. Another one to the front lets Breeze come in for two but Mendoza is back for a knee to the face. It’s off to Wilde into a basement crossbody for two but Breeze is right back to send Wilde into the corner. A jawbreaker rocks Fandango though and there’s the mocking of the dance. Fandango reverses a superplex attempt into a super gordbuster, only to get kicked out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Fandango making the hot tag to Breeze to clean house via a stream of forearms. A half crab has Wilde in trouble and pulling it back to the middle makes it worse. Wilde escapes so Breeze catapults him over the top but Fandango misses a dive onto Mendoza. The Supermodel Kick gives Breeze two with Mendoza making the save. The Unprettier is broken up though and the Russian legsweep/running kick to the face finishes Breeze at 9:52.

Rating: C. Breezango continues to feel like such an unimportant team despite being former Tag Team Champions. This should wrap up the feud though as Jordan Devlin being back should let Legado need to be there to help Santos Escobar. The match was fine too with most of the action working well enough.

Post match Santos Escobar asks where Jordan Devlin is. Cue Devlin to say this is what a champion looks like. Escobar can drop his replica because the real champ is here to call him out. Escobar talks about redefining what it means to be a cruiserweight time after time. Devlin only has that title because everyone has forgotten about him. The challenge is made and Devlin hits a headbutt into the Devlin Side.

Adam Cole is going to find Kyle O’Reilly.

Cameron Grimes is on vacation, including swimming underwater while taking pictures and still wearing his hat.

Sarray is coming. I believe that has been in the works for about a year now.

Zoey Stark vs. Dakota Kai

Raquel Gonzalez is here with Kai. They fight over a lockup to start and take it to the mat before fighting over a top wristlock. Kai flips out but can’t get out, instead getting taken into a headlock. Stark takes her down into a hammerlock to crank on the arm. Back up and Kai sends her into the corner for the running knee to the face and two of her own. Stark jumps over her in the corner and sends Kai outside for the big slingshot dive. We take a break and come back with Kai hammering away for two but Starks grabs a neckbreaker.

A half nelson suplex lets Stark nip up but Kai catches her with the pump kick. They head to the apron with Stark hitting her own kick to the face. Kai gets sent inside, where she is able to superkick Stark out of the air. The running boot in the corner gets two off a heck of a kickout but Stark is back with a knee to the face. That lets her go up top, only to get kicked back down. The Go To Kick finishes Stark at 12:37.

Rating: C+. I like both of these two a good deal and it was interesting to see Kai do this well without Gonzalez getting involved. Stark continues to have a lot of potential and having her in there against some bigger names helps a lot. She needs to win something, but there is still a lot of time to get to that.

Post match Gonzalez and Kai yell at Stark but here’s Io Shirai to stare at Gonzalez and hand her a contract.

William Regal is interrupted because of something that has happened with Adam Cole.

The Grizzled Young Veterans say that MSK made a mistake and vengeance is coming.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Marcel Barthel

Ciampa jumps Fabian Aichner at ringside to start as Barrett thinks Alexander Wolfe and Timothy Thatcher have gone fishing. The bell rings and Ciampa hammers away but gets taken down into a headlock for some shots to the face. Ciampa fights up but Barthel steps on the knee to make it a chinlock. Back up and Barthel goes up, only to get dropkicked out of the air. Ciampa fights up and makes the comeback, including knocking Aichner off the apron. A running forearm drops Barthel and Willow’s Bell is good for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C-. This was all about getting the two sides in the ring for a change. Ciampa vs. Imperium with Timothy Thatcher thrown in somewhere could be rather interesting. It is a different kind of feud for him and if it gives us some fresh matches and a way to get more Imperium on a bigger stage, everything will be fine.

Post match Ciampa is pleased….until Walter arrives. The rest of Imperium goes after Ciampa but alter walks him out with a chop into the powerbomb.

William Regal goes to the parking lot where Kyle O’Reilly is being arrested. Adam Cole shouts that O’Reilly tried to run him off the road but is being arrested too.

LA Knight is ready for his debut so he can prove that he is a megastar. Bronson Reed glares from behind.

LA Knight vs. August Grey

Knight runs him over to start and hits a slingshot shoulder. Grey’s O’Connor roll is broken up and Knight nails a powerslam. Cue Reed with Knight’s jacket, which he tears apart while trying to put on. The distraction lets Grey get a rollup for two and a neckbreaker puts Knight down again. Grey’s springboard spinning crossbody misses and a headlock driver finishes Grey at 2:22. Knight did his thing and the charisma alone will carry him a long way.

Raquel Gonzalez is happy with the contract to face Shirai but Dakota Kai comes up to say they need to face Shirai and Zoey Stark last week. They have lost twice in a row as a team and need to remind everyone who runs this place. How much running can you do of a division with about four teams that has been around for a few weeks?

Xia Li says resistance will not be tolerated and obstacles will be removed.

William Regal is ticked off and has a solution for Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly next week.

Tag Team Titles: Karrion Kross/Finn Balor vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Kross and Balor are challenging and have Scarlett with them. Kross throws Lorcan to start so it’s off to Burch, who is slammed face first into the mat. The bearhug goes on but a shot to the head breaks that up. The champs try a double suplex but Kross suplexes both of them instead, with Burch landing HARD on his shoulder. The referee checks on him and Kross has to just stand there as we take a break. Back with Balor armdragging Lorcan and grabbing the armbar.

Lorcan fights up and sends Balor into the corner for some chops. We hit the chinlock as we see the medic looking at Burch on the floor. Balor fights back but Lorcan is up to knock Kross off the apron. Some chops put Lorcan outside for the Sling Blade on the floor and there’s the John Woo dropkick, sending Lorcan crashing into Scarlett. Kross grabs Balor and sends him into the barricade before throwing him inside. Lorcan hits the running uppercut for the pin on Balor (who was out on his feet) at 10:59.

Rating: C+. This was much more angle than match and given how things went with Burch, this was fairly impressive. The entire point was to have Kross attack Balor and Scarlett served as his trigger. I didn’t think they would change the titles as it would be very un-NXT to do so, but now I don’t know where the titles are going if Burch is badly hurt.

Post match Kross destroys Lorcan before destroying Balor even worse. Kross chokes him out and drops the title on him to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Definitely not their strongest show but you can see where a lot of Takeover is going. They only have a few weeks left to set the show up and that is the kind of schedule that usually works well for NXT. This was a pretty off week for them, but given the amount of Coronavirus cases, that might not be the biggest surprise.

Results

Dexter Lumis b. Austin Theory – Silence

Legado del Fantasma b. Breezango – Russian legsweep/running kick to the face combination to Breeze

Dakota Kai b. Zoey Stark – Go To Kick

Tommaso Ciampa b. Marcel Barthel – Willow’s Bell

LA Knight b. August Grey – Headlock driver

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Finn Balor/Karrion Kross – Running uppercut to Balor

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: March 10, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Beth Phoenix, Vic Joseph

This is one of the most stacked shows that NXT has had in a long time, with a pair of title matches to cap off the show. In addition though, General Manager William Regal is making two major announcements this week, both of which could be quite the game changers. Or they are either short term or not overly interesting ideas. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The champions and the challengers arrived earlier today.

Here’s William Regal to make the big announcements to start the show. First up, we go to a video on the history of Takeover, which is coming back over Wrestlemania weekend….for two nights, Wednesday and Thursday, on USA and Peacock respectively. This one is called Takeover: Stand And Deliver, which is at least better than Vengeance Day. Back in the arena, Regal has asked the women’s division to stand in the aisle. These women have proven themselves over and over, week in and week out, so Regal would like Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez to come to the ring.

They got cheated out of their Women’s Tag Team Titles last week, so Regal is making his own move. Therefore, the two of them are the first ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. Kai is rather proud and thanks Regal before bragging about running through the tournament to win the titles. Cue Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon to say if we have champions, we are going to have some challengers. Regal agrees and makes the match tonight. Well that was fast. These titles absolutely do not need to (and should not) exist, but at least it was fast.

Women’s Title: Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm

Storm is challenging and takes her up against the ropes for an early slap. They go to the mat to slug it out with Shirai being knocked into the corner. Shirai manages a shot to the ribs and hits a slingshot double stomp to the back. A rollup gives Shirai two and we hit the abdominal stretch with an elbow into Storm’s ribs. They head outside with Shirai being whipped into the steps as we take a break.

Back with Shirai hitting a flapjack, followed by the springboard missile dropkick for two. Storm nails a sliding clothesline into a bridging German suplex for two of her own. Another sliding clothesline against the ropes but Shirai backdrops her onto the apron. That’s enough to send Storm to the floor and there’s the big moonsault to drop her again.

Back in and another moonsault is broken up, setting up a sitout powerbomb out of the corner for two. Shirai snaps on a Crossface but Storm makes it over to the ropes in a hurry. Another moonsault misses and now Storm Zero connects for a rather near fall. Shirai is right back with the Crossface….and Storm actually taps at 12:00.

Rating: B-. I was surprised by the ending, though I do like the idea of Shirai having another finisher. She has been the champion for a very long time now and I’m not sure who is going to take the title from her this time around. Storm losing actually threw me here and I’m not sure where the two of them go from here.

Finn Balor wants tonight to be him and Adam Cole one on one and face to face for that title.

LA Knight says he’s ready to debut next week but here’s Bronson Reed to grab him by the throat. Drake says this is his time and I think we have a showdown for next week.

Pete Dunne vs. Jake Atlas

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are here with Dunne. Atlas starts with a cartwheel and gets hammerlocked down to the arm for his efforts. Back up and Atlas snaps off a hurricanrana, followed by a springboard armdrag. Dunne isn’t having any of this and kicks the arm in. There’s a knee to the arm to put him down again and the armbar goes on. Atlas is right back with a snap German suplex for two and a discus lariat drops Dunne again. The cartwheel DDT is broken up though and Dunne snaps the fingers into the armbar to make Atlas tap at 4:26.

Rating: C-. This was all about making Dunne look like a monster who picked Atlas apart. Dunne not having any time for Atlas’ flips and ripping him to pieces was great. I’m not sure what is next for Dunne, but he is the kind of guy who could face anyone in NXT today and have a great match. This wasn’t a squash, but it was a heck of a beating.

Post match Dunne says he made his name in the UK but he is the best technical wrestler in the world today. Prove him wrong.

Imperium says that they are awesome and want Timothy Thatcher to join them.

Leon Ruff is tired of being told that he lucked into the title so now he’s ready to prove that Isaiah Scott is in for another rough landing.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Raquel Gonzalez/Dakota Kai vs. Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon

Moon and Blackheart are challenging. Shotzi wastes no time in grabbing the Cloverleaf on Kai, which is pulled into the middle of the ring. Kai finally makes the rope so they can both hit kicks to the face at the same time. We take a break and come back with Gonzalez dropping Kai into a double stomp onto Blackheart. Back up and a quick enziguri allows the hot tag off to Moon to clean house.

Moon picks Kai up for a powerbomb and spins her down into a faceplant (that didn’t look good), followed by the middle rope Codebreaker on Gonzalez. Blackheart dives onto Gonzalez and Moon throws Kai back in. Kai nails a running boot to the face in the corner and Gonzalez comes in for a gorilla press into Kai’s bicycle kick.

Gonzalez knocks Blackheart off the apron but Moon slips out of a powerslam and brings Blackheart back in. Blackheart dives onto Gonzalez off the top as everything breaks down. Moon comes back in but Gonzalez blocks the Eclipse with straight power. A hurricanrana sends Gonzalez and Moon to the floor though, leaving Blackheart to roll Kai up for the pin at 12:16.

Rating: C+. The match was kind of all over the place but the title change on the night the titles debuted is certainly an exciting way to go. Moon and Blackheart had potential as a team so it’s nice to see them getting a chance as a team. It’s a better fit for the titles anyway and maybe this can finally get Moon some momentum after the first few months of her rather uninspiring return.

Adam Cole talks about how he got rid of the dead weight in the Undisputed Era. Then he played Finn Balor like a fiddle because it was always about getting the NXT Title back. Tonight, the next reign begins.

Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon get a standing ovation in the back but the Way walks off. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell find Johnny Gargano, who is looking for Austin Theory. They can’t believe he paid off the therapist last week. Gargano says he did it to show Theory that Dexter Lumis does not care about him. Theory comes in and starts to cry, before ripping his shirt off and saying that Lumis has crossed the line. Storming off ensues.

Video on WWE working with Girl Up.

Xia Li vs. Kayden Carter

They start fast with Carter kicking her down and hitting some clotheslines. A scissors kick into a running boot in the corner gets two on Li but Carter misses a charge. Cue Kacy Catanzaro on crutches as Li loads up the leg in the corner. Li says this is for Catanzaro, who hits her with the crutch for the DQ at 2:04.

Post match Boa comes in and blocks the crutch shot from Catanzaro. Carter gets in a cheap shot on Boa so she and Catanzaro can escape.

Jordan Devlin says his travel ban is lifted and he is coming back for Takeover because the Cruiserweight Champion should be on the card.

Video on Zoey Stark, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and used wrestling as her escape. It lets her focus and then she got a job here through hard work. It’s cool to see her getting some focus like this because she certainly impressed in her early matches.

Santos Escobar yells at William Regal about Jordan Devlin and stays backstage during Legado del Fantasma’s match.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Before the match Zack Gibson asks what it feels like to be Santos Escobar’s goons. What they did to Wes Lee’s hand is going to be nothing compared to what they do to these two. Gibson gets knocked to the apron to start so Drake comes in and gets knocked into the wrong corner. A hiptoss into the ropes sets up a splash for two on Drake. Back up and an enziguri gives Drake a breather….and we’ve got astronauts ala Breezango last week. It’s MSK though, and the distraction legs Wilde sunset flip Drake for the pin at 1:43.

Post match MSK take off the helmets and smash Legado’s hands. Breezango runs in as well and the beatdown is on. With Legado done, dancing ensues.

Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez are livid but they were the first champions. Io Shirai comes in to challenge Gonzalez, who says be careful what you wish for.

Timothy Thatcher is asked about Imperium but here’s Tommaso Ciampa to interrupt. Ciampa doesn’t want to put the cart before the horse and since they’re against Imperium, it’s a tag match next week. Thatcher doesn’t seem sure about this.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor

Balor is defending. They start fast with the takedowns to the mat and an exchange of headlocks. Balor holds a headlock for a bit and then Cole holds one for a bit, followed by a standoff to send us to a break. We come back with Cole unloading in the corner Cole unloading in the corner but walking into a dropkick. Balor grabs a chinlock for a bit so Cole fights up, only to have his leg dropkicked out.

A shinbreaker can’t quite set up a half crab so Balor settles for a double stomp to the chest instead. The Nightmare on Helm Street gets two on Cole and he gets kicked outside, where he manages a quick pump kick. Cole loads up the steps but Balor manages a suplex onto the ramp to send us to another break. Back with Balor hitting a brainbuster onto the knee for two but the Panama Sunrise misses. Balor nails the Sling Blade, only to miss the Coup de Grace.

Cole’s superkick gets two and he grabs a Crossface of all things. They roll into the middle with Balor in trouble until he rolls back to escape. Cole is right back with the Crossface so Balor goes to the rope this time around. Cole kicks the knee out and the Last Shot connects for two, followed by the Panama Sunrise for the same. Another Last Shot is countered with a toss to the floor and Cole winds up in front of Kyle O’Reilly. The distraction lets Balor hit the big flip dive and 1916 on the floor knocks Cole silly. Back in the Coup de Grace retains the title at 20:07.

Rating: B+. They surprised me again as I would have bet on Cole taking the title here. That being said, I’m kind of glad that they didn’t because Cole as champion has been done, even if he was transitioning it to O’Reilly at Takeover. Balor is all but guaranteed to face Karrion Kross so they’re both set. As for the match, what else were you expecting? They’ve had great ones before and they had time on the big stage here. How else was this going to go?

Post match O’Reilly gets in the ring so Cole begs off but his low blow is blocked. O’Reilly shouts that Cole did this to him but referees break up the brainbuster onto the steps. The fight heads up the ramp and Balor is left in the ring….with Karrion Kross behind him. Kross asks what took him so long and the staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B+. If there is one thing that NXT knows how to do, it is turn on the jets and crank things up on the big stage. That is what they did here as this show was billed as a big deal and then wound up being a big deal. There were two major announcements, three title matches and a bunch of stuff set up for Takeover. That’s a heck of a way to use two hours and I had a great time with this. Awesome show and Takeover is looking great already.

Results

Io Shirai b. Toni Storm – Crossface

Pete Dunne b Jake Atlas – Armbar

Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon b. Raquel Gonzalez/Dakota Kai – Rollup to Kai

Xia Li b. Kayden Carter via DQ when Kacy Catanzaro interfered

Legado del Fantasma b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Sunset flip to Drake

Finn Balor b. Adam Cole – Coup de Grace

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

NXT
Date: March 3, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Beth Phoenix, Vic Joseph

The big story around here continues to be the complete implosion of the Undisputed Era after Adam Cole turned on the team and left them laying. Finn Balor is involved as well and that could make for some interesting situations. On top of that, the Women’s Tag Team Titles are on the line tonight as Shayna Baszler/Nia Jax are defending against Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last week’s brawl between Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Finn Balor.

Last night, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch got into an argument with Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher, setting up a non-title match for tonight. This is due to Wes Lee’s broken hand, meaning MSK’s Tag Team Title shot is being postponed.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Tommaso Ciampa/Timothy Thatcher

Non-title. Thatcher and Burch start things off with Thatcher taking him to the mat for an armbar. Back up and Thatcher takes him right back down into another armbar, setting up an elbow drop to the arm. They get up again and this time it’s an exchange of uppercuts, with Thatcher knocking him into the corner for the tag off to Ciampa. Lorcan comes in as well and they strike it out as well until Lorcan grabs him by the head.

A headlock takeover is countered with a headscissors, followed by a running knee to send Lorcan outside. Burch gets knocked outside as well and Thatcher uppercuts the heck out of him. Back in and a heck of a discus lariat drops Lorcan, followed by a flapjack into Thatcher’s uppercut.

Thatcher grabs a chinlock but Lorcan goes to the eyes and the knee to put Thatcher down for a change. A clothesline sends Thatcher outside, where he grabs his neck as we take a break. Back with Thatcher (whose neck seems fine) fighting out of Lorcan’s half crab and kicking Burch away, allowing the hot tag to Ciampa. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s back to Thatcher for the uppercuts. Ciampa fires off chops and Thatcher comes in again for some forearms.

Everything breaks down and stereo forearms to the chest have Lorcan and Burch bailing to the floor. Burch hits Thatcher in the head though and there’s the half and half suplex from Lorcan. Everyone goes down again and the NXT chants are on strong. Thatcher crawls over to Ciampa but here’s Imperium on the stage. Ciampa is knocked down and the elevated implant DDT finishes Thatcher at 13:14.

Rating: C+. This got some time and the Imperium deal has me interested, but it wasn’t the most thrilling match in certain parts. Thatcher and Ciampa are fine as a team and it’s nice to see the champs getting a win, even if it wasn’t exactly clean. Good opener though, and about as good of an option as they had given the injury to Lee.

Post match Ciampa does not look happy with Thatcher.

Here is a ticked off Roderick Strong to call out Adam Cole. He gets Finn Balor instead, who says that Cole isn’t coming out here for him. Strong blames Balor for the team falling apart but Balor says the title is what split them up. Balor knows how to get Cole out here and challenges Cole for a title match next week. That doesn’t bring Cole out, so Balor tells Strong to get a killer instinct. The fight is on until referees break it up.

It’s time to go to a psychiatric hospital where the Way is having group therapy. Johnny Gargano says Dexter Lumis has been affecting all of them, with Austin Theory not even being messed up by Lumis kidnapping him. Theory says nothing happened because it was just two dudes hanging out.

Gargano asks Indi Hartwell what she is doing on the notepad, which would be doodling the words “MRS. INDI WRESTLING LUMIS”. Gargano snaps, demanding to know why Lumis isn’t in jail. The therapist thinks Gargano has some deep seeded issues, sending Gargano into a complete meltdown. Gargano is thrown out but he’ll be outside if anyone needs him. More on this later.

Cameron Grimes wants to change the name of the CWC into the Cameron Grimes Auditorium, which he can absolute afford. William Regal comes in to say he has a potential lawsuit on his hands. Regal tells Grimes to chill and tonight it’s Grimes vs. Bronson Reed. Grimes is not pleased and offers Regal money because….everybody has….a price. Grimes: “THAT D*** TED DIBIASE!” Oh man that is going to be a great cameo when it happens.

Aliyah vs. Ember Moon

Jessi Kamea, Robert Stone and Shotzi Blackheart (with tank) are here too. Moon works on the arm to start but Aliyah flips up and hits a forearm to the jaw. That gets a rather annoyed look from Moon, who lets Aliyah try it again. That earns her a belly to back slam and it’s time to go to the floor. Moon….I believe kicks her in the face but the rapid camera cut makes it hard to see.

Either way it gets two back inside (with the replay showing that it was a dropkick which hit clean, making the camera cut pretty pointless) but Aliyah gets in a shot of her own for two of her own. We hit the chinlock with a knee in Moon’s back but she’s right back up with a spinebuster. Stone and Kamea’s interruption earns them a double clothesline from Blackheart and the Eclipse finishes for Moon at 4:53.

Rating: C. I can go for both the Eclipse being back and Moon/Blackheart staying friends after the tournament ends. The women’s tag team division could certainly use some more depth so why not let them see what they can do. Aliyah continues to astound me as she has barely progressed whatsoever in years now. She’s passable in the ring but you would think that being in developmental this long would mean a little more development no?

Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa say what happened with Imperium is in the past, where it is going to stay. How long has Ciampa had hair on his head?

Video on Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm before their title match next week.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Gonzalez/Dakota Kai

Kai and Gonzalez are challenging. Jax throws Kai around with ease to start and there’s a running splash in the corner to make it worse. Baszler comes in for a pat on the head, which does not sit well with Kai. It doesn’t seem to matter to Baszler, who takes her down to the mat, only to miss the stomp to the arm. Baszler knocks Kai down again and out to staredown as we take a break.

Back with Kai hitting the running kick to Baszler’s face in the corner. Baszler takes her down by the leg though and hands it off to Jax for the power. A gorilla press drop leaves Kai thudding onto the mat so Baszler can get two. Kai kicks out the leg though and the hot tag brings in Gonzalez for a big dropkick. A powerslam gets two on Baszler but the powerbomb is broken up. That means Jax comes in for the showdown and they go straight to the slugout.

Jax gets the better of things and it’s back to Baszler for two off a forearm. The Kirifuda Clutch is broken up though and Gonzalez kicks her in the face. Kai hits her own kick to the face for two more but something like a GTS is blocked. The Kirifuda Clutch has Kai in trouble but she crawls over for the tag off to Gonzalez. The referee gets bumped as Gonzalez goes after Jax and the two go over the announcers’ table. Baszler grabs the Kirifuda Clutch on Kai as Adam Pearce sends a second referee in to call the knockout at 13:15. Commentary makes a big deal out of Kai not being legal.

Rating: C. There wasn’t much drama to this one but the action was good enough. That’s kind of the problem with having these NXT teams challenge for the titles: it is almost impossible to imagine an NXT star beating the main roster wrestlers, especially when Jax and Baszler are already scheduled to defend the titles against Lana and Naomi at some point in the future. For a one off match, it was fine enough though.

It’s back to therapy, with Theory thinking Lumis wants a friend and Hartwell wanting to be that friend. Candice LeRae doesn’t buy it, even as Gargano texts her what to say to the therapist. The therapist checks the door and here’s Gargano to ask if anyone wants something from Uber Eats. That’s enough of Gargano, so the therapist wants to know what really happened when Lumis abducted Theory. Things get tense and we’ll be back later.

We go to Isaiah Scott’s recording studio, where he wants to talk about life opportunities. Leon Ruff had a North American Title shot handed to him but Scott had to scratch and claw to get his shot. This is NXT in the CWC and that makes it Swerve’s House. Ruff doesn’t want to go to war with someone who cares less than him because Swerve is just different. He doesn’t care anymore.

Here’s LA Night for his in-arena debut. Knight has waited way too long to step into this ring, look into that camera and say “let me talk to ya”. He isn’t going to stand out here talking about childhood dreams because he’s the one man revolution. Some people might say he’s the Tom Brady of wrestling but Brady wishes he was half the man that he is. Just like old Tommy Boy, Knight isn’t a first round draft pick but bet every dollar you have to your name that he will be the one setting trends and records.

Knight has been looking around NXT and sees your Johnny Gargano, Kyle O’Reilly, Adam Cole and Finn Balor. They all have their kicks, flips and dives so bring all of them to your front door. He isn’t here to do anything fancy and while you might not like the way he does it, he gets the job done. Knight is the last of a dying breed (ugh) and some people might be saying that he is the best of all time.

When his coronation takes place, don’t call him the GOAT. No, call him LA Knight, and that is just a fact of life. Bronson Reed comes out for his match and Knight isn’t pleased about being cut off but leaves in peace. I’ve always liked Knight’s promos but please not another last of a dying breed. There have been way too many of them in wrestling over the years.

Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes throws his money around during his entrance and offers Reed a payoff. That earns him a shot to the face so Grimes has to try and pick up his money (smart man). The powerbomb is broken up but Grimes is thrown outside as we take a break. Back with Grimes nailing an enziguri and managing the flipping crossbody for two. A crossface doesn’t last long on Reed so Grimes knees him in the head.

Reed fights up again and hits something like a Thesz press minus the press. Grimes hits a Superman punch but gets knocked down by a clothesline. That’s enough for Grimes so he tries to leave, only to get taken down by a suicide dive (ouch). It’s enough to knock Grimes’ hat off so here’s LA Knight for a distraction and a crotching. Grimes hits the Cave In for the pin at 8:28.

Rating: C. These guys are both doing rather well right now and it’s nice to see Grimes getting a win, even one like this. He has struck gold with this money deal and while it won’t last forever, it is one of the best things going in wrestling today. Reed vs. Knight could be interesting as Knight could use a first feud. Just let Knight talk a lot and he’ll be fine.

William Regal is yelling at Adam Pearce over the ending to the Tag Team Title match.

Kayden Carter isn’t happy about what Xia Li did to Kacy Catanzaro and it’s time for revenge.

We look at Karrion Kross destroying Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma last week.

Back to therapy where Theory talks about being in a really small room with Lumis. Theory ate cereal and watched cartoons all day because Lumis isn’t a bad guy. The therapist doesn’t get how Theory can imagine Lumis as a nice guy because she talked to Lumis this morning. She couldn’t make him stop talking and Lumis said he couldn’t wait to get rid of Theory.

Lumis found him rude, loud, and obsessed with cutting off the bottom half of his shirts to show off his average abdominal muscles. Theory runs out screaming and crying but the Way brings him back in. Gargano yells at the therapist but then thanks her for making everything work after the rest of the team leaves. Gargano tells Theory that they’re going to Chuck E. Cheese to calm him down.

Ever-Rise vs. Breezango

Breezango is still around? Actually hang on as Legado del Fantasma jump them during their entrances (astronauts this time around) and leave them laying. Legado chases Ever-Rise off too so Santos Escobar can jump both of them from behind. Escobar beats them both up and gets inside, saying do not mistake last week for weakness. If you do that, then this is what awaits you. No match if that wasn’t clear.

Here is what’s coming next week, including the Women’s and NXT Title matches.

Video on Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole.

In response to the ending of the Women’s Tag Team Title match, William Regal promises a game changing announcement next week.

Finn Balor vs. Roderick Strong

Non-title. They lock up to start and go to the mat with Balor grabbing a quickly broken chinlock. Back up and Strong goes for the arm but Balor blocks it for a good bit. Balor grabs the arm as well but Strong manages a backbreaker to send us to a break. Back with Strong sending Balor into the buckle and chopping away. Balor kicks him down though and stomps away before cranking on the arm even more. A big crank has Strong on the apron for a breather but Balor is right back with the armbar.

Balor pulls on the arm even more until Strong comes back with a powerslam. Another backbreaker connects for two but Balor comes back with something like an Anaconda Vice. Strong gets out and hits a running clothesline, setting up the belly to back faceplant. The running forearms against the ropes set up Strong’s Angle Slam into a tiger bomb for another near fall.

Strong goes for the Strong Hold but has to counter Balor’s counter into a rollup. The fireman’s carry gutbuster is loaded up but Balor spins into a double stomp to the chest to put Strong down again. A Pele knocks Strong into the ropes and there’s the shotgun dropkick into the corner. The Coup de Grace into 1916 finishes Strong at 13:46.

Rating: B. This worked well as they took their time getting going but then picked up the pace really well. Balor is money right now and he is helping to bring everyone else up with him, which is one of the best things that the champion can do. I liked this match a lot and Strong looked, well, strong, in defeat.

Adam Cole comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show this week as it did the most important thing by building up next week’s big show. I’m looking forward to the two title matches and we got a solid enough show setting things up. NXT has figured out how to make this work far better in recent weeks and I want to see where these things go. I’m not sure where this leaves April’s Takeover, but I can live with a big time weekly show

Results
Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Tommaso Ciampa/Timothy Thatcher – Elevated implant DDT to Ciampa
Ember Moon b. Aliyah – Eclipse
Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler b. Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez – Kirifuda Clutch to Kai
Cameron Grimes b. Bronson Reed – Cave In
Finn Balor b. Roderick Strong – 1916

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NXT
Date: February 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s the fallout show from Takeover: Vengeance Day, which was certainly a noteworthy show. Not only do we have two new Dusty Classic winners, but the big story came at the end, as the Undisputed Era seemed to split up. That might be long overdue, but you could also say it was too soon. Let’s get to it.

Here is Takeover if you need a recap.

Long recap of Takeover, including Adam Cole turning on the Undisputed Era.

Commentary talks about the show but here’s Kyle O’Reilly to interrupt. He has watched the clip time after time and doesn’t understand. The Undisputed Era was supposed to be different but then Cole kicked him in the face. Kyle needs to know what is going on so Cole can come out here and tell him. Now yes Kyle will probably punch him in the face, but get out here.

Cue Roderick Strong, which doesn’t make Kyle very happy. Strong says Cole did everything based solely off of emotion and he knows Cole regrets….and Kyle doesn’t want to hear it. He wants Cole himself out here and doesn’t need Strong playing peacekeeper. Strong gets on the apron but Kyle keeps shouting for Cole to get out here.

Cue Finn Balor, which only makes Kyle even madder. Balor says O’Reilly may want Cole but he’ll have to get in line. Balor knew that he shouldn’t have accepted O’Reilly’s hand on Sunday but here are Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to jump Balor and Strong. Pete Dunne joins in and O’Reilly gets beaten down as well, with Balor grabbing his leg.

Earlier today, Santos Escobar said the Karrion Kross match wasn’t happening tonight because he doesn’t like being threatened.

William Regal isn’t happy and says Escobar can face Kross next week or be stripped of the Cruiserweight Title. Also tonight, Lorcan/Burch/Dunne vs. Balor/O’Reilly/Strong.

The Way vs. Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon

Johnny Gargano has missing posters for Austin Theory, who is still gone after being kidnapped by Dexter Lumis at Takeover. Johnny even sits in on commentary for a bonus. Candice LeRae gets taken into the corner and then knocked outside as we take a very early break. Back with the Way getting caught by stereo kicks to the face but Indi Hartwell finally kicks Ember in the face to take over.

The front facelock goes on but we cut to the parking lot where a white van pulls up. Back in the arena and Ember slips off of Hartwell’s shoulders but walks into a side slam for two. LeRae comes back in to crank on both arms and hands it back to Hartwell to forearm Moon in the face. Moon gets sent outside for a springboard dive from LeRae, but we cut back to the van again. That’s enough for Gargano to go check it out as we take a break. Back with Shotzi coming in off the hot tag to clean house but Hartwell drops her with a clothesline to put everyone down.

We cut back to the parking lot where Gargano can’t get in the van, which doesn’t seem to have anyone inside. LeRae hits a low superkick for two on Blackheart and everything breaks down. Hartwell hangs Moon in the ropes as Gargano is back with the still tied up (and in his underwear) Theory. LeRae goes to celebrate, leaving Moon to roll Hartwell up for the pin at 16:28.

Rating: D+. Well that was long and they had multiple parts of the match dedicated to the Lumis/Theory stuff, which is certainly going to continue because everything Lumis does has to go on forever. Moon and Blackheart get back on the winning track, as apparently they are continuing as a team. Maybe they could face the Women’s Tag Team Champions, assuming the titles come here, where they would make more sense.

Pat McAfee joins us from his plane, saying that he told us so about Adam Cole. Feel free to tweet him about how awesome and right he was.

Kushida says he is glad he faced Johnny Gargano and wants to do it again. Bronson Reed comes in and says he was impressed but he might need to beat Kushida to get his own title shot. That’s cool with Kushida and Reed leaves. Cue Malcolm Bivens, who suggests Kushida wrestle tonight.

Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah Scott

Ruff armdrags him down a few times but Scott grabs the rope to avoid another one. A dropkick sets up an armdrag into an armbar to have Scott down for a bit. That’s a short bit though as he’s back up with a running boot to the face and a powerbomb backbreaker. A hard running dropkick in the corner puts Ruff on the floor and Scott kicks him in the face again.

Back in and we hit the bodyscissors as Scott is getting rather cocky. Ruff fights up with some chops and an elbow to the face, followed by the spinning cutter out of the corner. Scott has to grab the rope for the save, which is a little closer than I would have expected. Some forearms rock Scott again and a double stomp to the back keeps him in trouble. The crucifix bomb gives Ruff the surprise pin at 5:25.

Rating: C. I’m hoping this is the kind of loss that is going to shake Scott up a bit because he has lost time after time around here. You would think that WWE would want to push him a bit based on his podcast alone but nothing has clicked so far. I do like that Ruff wasn’t just a goon who loses everything after his big story was over.

Post match Scott beats the heck out of Ruff, including a release Death Valley Driver into the corner. Scott says Ruff is handed everything while he has to scratch and claw for everything. This is Swerve’s time and Swerve’s house? Where is his North American Title shot opportunity?

Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter vs. Aliyah/Jessi Kamea

During the entrances, we see Carter and Catanzaro getting beaten down by Xia Li last week. We also get a chat from the two of them, who want Li back but also want a win tonight. Catanzaro spins out of a fireman’s carry and armdrags Kamea into the corner. Stereo kicks to the head get two and it’s already back to Kacy for a flipping anklescissors for two.

Cue Boa for a distraction so Kamea can get in a forearm and it’s off to Aliyah to hammer away. A combination wheelbarrow faceplant/cutter gets two on Carter but she’s over for the tag to Catanzaro in a hurry. House is cleaned and a neckbreaker/top rope splash combination finishes Kamea at 2:34. Catanzaro continues to look more and more comfortable every week.

Post break, Kacy goes to talk to Xia Li, who grabs her hand and marks it, meaning they’re on for next week. Well so much for Catanzaro’s rise, as this is going to hurt.

Malcolm Bivens thinks Kushida should face Tyler Rust tonight.

Here’s Beth Phoenix in the ring to present the Dusty Classic trophy. After a video on both tournaments, here is MSK for the first presentation. The team is rather fired up and call out Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan for their title shot on March 3. They promise to win the titles but there is something else that needs to be done. Beth brings out Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez to present them with….apparently the same trophy as we only have one.

They’re proud of their win but here are Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax to interrupt. MSK even holds the ropes for the, but Jax scares them off. Kai introduces Gonzalez to the champs, including saying that Shayna ran away after Rhea Ripley beat her up. Gonzalez brings up beating Ripley in the Last Woman Standing match but Baszler laughs at the idea of Kai being tough.

Kai offers to kick Baszler’s head off but Jax says she is here to honor Dusty Rhodes. They worked together in NXT and remembers him calling her a big bad*** b****. Gonzalez says Dusty never met her and gets in Jax’s face. Shayna says they’ll be back in two weeks for some humiliation. Gonzalez promises to put her boot so far up Jax’s hole that we’ll never find it. MSK found popcorn somewhere in there. This was kind of a mess, and the single trophy thing was a little amusing.

Balor and O’Reilly seem to argue in the parking lot but we can’t hear them.

We see the still amazing Cameron Grimes Is Rich music video.

Grimes has wrecked his car but who cares? He’ll just buy another one.

Toni Storm jumped Io Shirai during a photo shoot and kicked her in the face.

Kushida vs. Tyler Rust

Malcolm Bivens is here with Rust. Kushida goes for the arm to start but gets shoved into the corner. That means it’s time to go after the arm again, only to have Rust take him down by the arm as well. Back up and Kushida nails the handspring elbow, setting up a bridging rollup for two. That earns him a shot to the face from Rust but Kushida manages an enziguri from the apron.

Back in and Kushida gets pulled off the top rope for a crash and it’s time for more Rust arm cranking. Kushida is sent outside and we take a break. We come back with Kushida striking away but missing a running kick. He goes to Rust’s arm again though and some Kawada kicks put Rust right back in trouble. Rust doesn’t seem to mind and grabs a front facelock suplex into an ax kick for two.

Two more kicks to the head get two more and Bivens is annoyed at the kickout. Rust grabs a rear naked choke before switching to something like a bow and arrow. That’s countered into a rollup for two and Kushida kicks him in the arm again. Kushida has to elbow his way out of a fireman’s carry and the Hoverboard Lock goes on for the tap at 11:16.

Rating: C+. Good stuff here as Kushida manages to get back on track after a heck of a match on Sunday. I’m still not sure what they’re doing with Rust at the moment, but he is having some pretty good matches and keeping himself out there. The midcard is getting beefed up around here and that is always a good thing.

Video on Zoey Stark.

We look at LA Knight debuting at Takeover.

Knight knows that everyone thinks he’s already the best NXT star of all time. He’ll be the biggest star ever around here and that is just a fact of life. If he’s exactly the same thing as he was as Eli Drake, was there a point to the change other than owning the name?

Zoey Stark vs. Valentina Feroz

The bad name generator is back. Stark grabs a suplex and then drives her into the corner as the beatdown is on in a hurry. Feroz avoids a stomp though and judo throws her down for two but Stark is back with some knees to the ribs. A release hot shot in the corner sets up a kick to the face into a half nelson suplex to rock Feroz again. The running kick to the face into a flip over knee to the face (something like a belly to back suplex flipped into a GTS) for the pin at 2:40. Stark looked good enough but needs some more polish.

Scarlett says Santos Escobar is out of time and Karrion Kross says Escobar’s destiny has been decided. Even if Escobar doesn’t show up next week, Kross will catch up with him anyway. Tick tock.

Pete Dunne/Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Finn Balor/Roderick Strong/Kyle O’Reilly

Lorcan drives O’Reilly into the corner to start but he’s right back with some forearms to the face. Balor comes in to work on the arm, with O’Reilly coming back in to stay on said arm. It’s already back to Balor as Strong seems to be ignored on the apron. Lorcan finally drives Balor into the corner but Balor armbars Burch down without much trouble. Strong comes in to cut off the left out idea and armbars Burch as well.

It’s off to Dunne to work on the arm as well, only to have Strong hit a running kick to the face for two. Strong gets sent outside where Lorcan and Burch throw the steps around for no apparent reason. The distraction lets Dunne go after Strong but he snaps Dunne’s throat across the top. The tag brings in O’Reilly to strike away but Dunne blasts him with a forearm.

We take a break and come back with O’Reilly fighting out of a chinlock to dragon screw legwhip Dunne into the corner. Lorcan comes in but gets backslidden for two. O’Reilly manages a clothesline and, after bouncing off the rope, rolls over for the hot tag to Balor. House is cleaned in a hurry with Balor and Dunne being left in the ring. Dunne scores with an enziguri but Balor scores with the Sling Blade. Burch tries to bring in a title belt but the referee stops him only to get bumped.

Cue Adam Cole as the referee gets bumped again and there’s a bicycle kick to O’Reilly. A brainbuster onto the steps drops O’Reilly again but Strong cuts Lorcan off. Strong picks up the title. That earns him a Pele kick from Balor (who didn’t see who it was), allowing Dunne to hit the Bitter End on Balor for the pin at 12:03.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here and the important thing is they set up a few different angles. Odds are this sets up Cole vs. O’Reilly and Balor vs. Dunne II, both of which could be nice matches to counteract the power of Shaquille O’Neal on March 3. I’m not sure if they would do both of those on the same show, but the future is looking pretty bright, which is always nice to see.

Post match everyone else leaves so here’s Cole to superkick Balor and hold up the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show that set things going forward for the next few months after Takeover and there is nothing wrong with that. It also set up a few people into some slightly higher levels and hopefully that extends into the future. Throw in McAfee being back and this should be a fun way to go in the next few weeks. NXT is picking up a bit again and that’s worth a smile.

Results

Ember Moon/Shotzi Blackheart b. The Way – Rollup to Hartwell

Leon Ruff b. Isaiah Scott – Crucifix bomb

Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter b. Aliyah/Jessi Kamea – Neckbreaker/top rope splash combination to Kamea

Kushida b. Tyler Rust – Hoverboard Lock

Zoey Stark b. Valentina Feroz – Flip into a knee to the face

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch/Pete Dunne b. Roderick Strong/Kyle O’Reilly/Finn Balor – Bitter End to Balor

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Takeover: Vengeance Day
Date: February 14, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s time for the next big one and this time around, it means a rather strange name as St. Valentine’s Day something isn’t allowed anymore. Fair enough, but it’s not like it matters if the show winds up being great and the potential is there this time around. The card is stacked and hopefully it lives up to the hype. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is a Valentine’s Day rap about how much this place is loved, including a rundown of the card.

There’s a ramp instead of an aisle for a change.

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Ember Moon/Shotzi Blackheart vs. Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez

Gonzalez powers Blackheart around with ease to start and does the same to Moon. It’s already back to Blackheart, who is driven into the corner for a hard ram into the buckle. Kai comes in and gets two off Gonzalez’s knockdown. The running kick in the corner misses though and Blackheart gets in a kick to the leg. The Texas Cloverleaf goes on but Kai is all of eight inches from the rope for the easy break.

Blackheart hits the reverse Cannonball against the ropes and it’s Moon coming in with the slingshot splash for two. A double takedown slams Kai down and Moon cranks on the leg for a bonus. Moon pulls her back in to stay on the leg so Kai uses the free leg to kick her way to….well nothing actually as Moon drags her away again. Gonzalez comes in to yell so Blackheart switches without a tag.

Moon is smart enough to knock Gonzalez off the apron to break up the tag though and the ankle lock goes on. Kai finally sends Moon into the corner and the (Hot?) tag brings in Gonzalez to clean house. Some rams in the corner set up a fall away slam to drop Moon and Gonzalez drags Blackheart in for the same. Gonzalez is knocked outside so Blackheart tries a hurricanrana, only to get swung into the barricade.

Back in and Moon dropkicks Gonzalez off the apron but gets taken into the corner again. Kai hits the running kick to the face for two but Moon manages a leg lariat to Kai, causing her to DDT Gonzalez. Moon goes for Kai, only to get picked up by Gonzalez. That’s broken up by Blackheart’s missile dropkick to give Moon two and it’s Blackheart coming back in to clean house. Sliced Bread gets two on Gonzalez with Kai making another save. Blackheart hits a suicide dive to take Kai down again and then puts Kai up in an electric chair.

Moon dives off the top with a crossbody for a modified Doomsday Device and then kicks Gonzalez in the face. Back in and the STF has Gonzalez in trouble so Kai makes another save. Blackheart gets the tag so Kai takes her down with the Kairopractor for two. The assisted GTK gets two on Blackheart with Moon making another save. Gonzalez LAUNCHES Moon onto the ramp but Blackheart dropkicks her down. Kai is tossed onto Gonzalez, who is up to shove Blackheart off the top. A very high powerbomb finally puts Blackheart away to give Gonzalez the pin at 15:45.

Rating: B+. This was a lot better than I would have bet on here with straight action throughout. I’m rather happy to see the established team beat the thrown together team for a change, even though I can’t really imagine Kai and Gonzalez against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. What matters here though is the match itself, as these four beat the fire out of each other with some great saves and near falls.

William Regal comes out for the trophy presentation.

We recap Kushida vs. Johnny Gargano for the North American Title. Gargano won the title back a few months ago and Kushida has given him trouble since. Title match set.

Johnny Gargano and the Way do their pre-match dance and cheer for Gargano to retain the title.

North American Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Kushida

Gargano is defending and sends the rest of the Way to the back. Kushida goes straight for the Hoverboard Lock to start but Gargano is out in a hurry. They head to the mat with an exchange of armbars, followed by an exchange of front facelocks. Gargano tries the Gargano Escape but Kushida gets it on him instead, with Gargano escaping in a hurry. They head outside with Gargano sending him into the steps but getting caught in the cross armbreaker.

Instead it’s a German suplex into a kick to the back of the head for two on Gargano. A chickenwing northern lights suplex gets two on Gargano so he heads to the apron. That’s fine with Kushida, who breaks up a springboard and sends him shoulder first into the post. Kushida puts him on top but Gargano hits a swinging superplex, followed by a tornado DDT for two of his own. Back up and Gargano can’t get the Escape but neither can Kushida.

Instead Kushida goes for the arm again, only to get stacked up for two. Another double shot to the face gives us a double knockdown and the NXT chants strike up again. They slug it out from their knees with Kushida getting the better of it. The handspring elbow is countered into the Gargano Escape but Kushida goes for the bad arm and gets the Hoverboard Lock.

That’s escaped as well and a bridging rollup gives Gargano two. A superkick into the lawn dart knocks Kushida silly though and they’re both down again. Kushida manages a chickenwing suplex into the corner and they go up top, with Kushida flipping him down into the cross armbreaker. Gargano is about to tap but rolls over and gets the feet in the ropes. They head outside with Gargano sending him into the barricade for a breather but Kushida slips around to the stage.

That means a running kick to the arm and the Hoverboard Lock goes on, with commentary taking away the drama by declaring it over. Gargano drives him neck first into the rope for the break and One Final Beat onto the ramp knocks Kushida silly. Another One Final Beat back inside retains the title at 24:47.

Rating: A-. This got some serious time and the action worked well as both guys beat the heck out of each other. I’m not sure how many people were expecting a title change here but it’s by far Kushida’s best match in NXT. The biggest problem here was a lack of drama near the end, as Gargano getting out of the cross armbreaker cut off any real drama about a title change, but it takes something pretty great to make about 25 minutes fly by this fast. Awesome stuff here in a Takeover worthy match.

We recap the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with MSK and the Grizzled Young Veterans meeting in the finals.

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

That would be Nash Carter/Wes Lee vs. Zack Gibson/James Drake. The Veterans do their usual intro and it’s Gibson cranking on Carter’s arm to start so it’s off to Drake for a headlock on the mat. Carter fights up and brings Lee in though and the pace picks up. The Veterans are sent outside with Lee hitting a cartwheel into a dive to take them out, followed by Carter’s dive to hit Drake.

Gibson gets away though and blasts Carter with a clothesline to take over again. Back in and Drake gets a series of near falls before slapping on a chinlock. That doesn’t last long either so Drake runs Carter over with an elbow for two more. It’s back to Gibson to work on the arm before switching to a front facelock. Drake comes back in but Carter manages a suplex for a breather.

Gibson breaks up the tag by pulling Lee to the floor though and it’s a Downward Spiral/missile dropkick combination (or “Maximum Skullduggery” according to Barrett) for two on Carter. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Carter ducks a spinwheel kick and brings in Lee to clean house. A big dive to the floor takes out the Veterans and then faceplants Gibson back inside.

Carter comes in for a running dropkick to Drake and some rather questionable language to Gibson. A bunch of right hands and a cutter out of the corner gets two on Gibson and they’re both down. Lee’s backflip kick to the head is cut off with a knee though and Helter Skelter into Drake’s 450 gets two with Gibson not believing the kickout. Lee rolls Gibson up for two and sends the Veterans into each other. The push moonsault his Gibson and a poisonrana hits Drake, setting up the Spinal Tap (Lee called it the Final Flash in Impact) gets a very close two.

Lee is sent outside where Drake puts him in an electric chair for the suicide Doomsday Device and a nasty landing. That leaves Carter to fight them both off but it’s a powerbomb/Backstabber combination for a rather close two. Lee is back in though and it’s a spinebuster/middle rope spinning neckbreaker for the pin and the tournament at 18:45.

Rating: B+. And that’s how you pull the trigger on someone, which Impact Wrestling didn’t do for the Rascalz in the two or so years they were in the company. They had one crazy spot after another here and that’s all it needed to be. There’s something awesome about seeing a new team come in and tear the house down like this and it worked to near perfection. Great match and there is going to be a heck of a moment when the Veterans finally win something. The Tag Team Title match should be great too so everything works out.

William Regal comes out for the trophy presentation.

Video on Cameron Grimes being rich, complete with him rolling around in cash in his underwear. This might be the best thing in NXT today.

We recap the triple threat match for the Women’s Title. Io Shirai has been champion since June and Mercedes Martinez attacked her. Then Toni Storm decided she wanted the title too. The triple threat was on.

Women’s Title: Mercedes Martinez vs. Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai

Shirai is defending. Martinez isn’t waiting around to start and jumps Shirai during the Big Match Intros to get things going fast. Shirai is right back in to put Martinez down but Storm shoulders her over. Another shot knocks Martinez off the apron and Shirai plants Storm. A slingshot dropkick hits Storm in the corner but she’s back up with a basement clothesline to knock Shirai against the ropes.

The holds are both broken up and Martinez hits a reverse suplex on Shirai. That’s fine with the champ, who is back up with a 619 and missile dropkick to put Martinez down again. Storm and Shirai go up but Martinez German superplexes Storm off. The Alberto double stomp hits Martinez, leaving Storm to get back up. They head outside with Storm clearing off the announcers’ table….which breaks after she just touches it a bit.

Storm Zero onto the wreckage is countered into a DDT from Martinez but Shirai climbs onto the lighting structure to dive onto both of them. Shirai is done so Martinez takes Storm back inside for some knees to the face. A fisherman’s buster gets two on Storm and Storm Zero gets two on Martinez with a pair of shocked faces in between. Storm adds a top rope headbutt to Martinez but it’s Shirai moonsaulting in for the pin to retain at 12:42.

Rating: B. This was another match that was almost all action and it worked out well, though I’m not sure who is going to take the title from Shirai. She is coming up on nine months as champion and could hold onto the thing for a lot longer to come. Maybe she drops it to Storm in a singles match, or maybe it is someone else coming up to go after her. Either way, good match here and Shirai’s reign is starting to get kind of historic.

We look at LA Knight (Eli Drake) signing with NXT earlier tonight and then interrupting the Kickoff Show.

We recap Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne for the NXT Title. Balor has been champion for a few months now and bumped into Dunne in the back one night on TV. Dunne seemed interested in the title and they have brawled a few times, setting up a UK dream match for the title.

NXT Title: Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne

Balor is defending and they take their time on the entrances. Dunne takes him down by the arm to start but Balor reverses into an armbar of his own. A monkey flip can’t get Dunne out of trouble so Balor works on a headlock on the mat. The grinding continues until Dunne finally counters with a headscissors to work on the neck. That’s broken up as well and we’re at a standoff as second gear continues.

Dunne starts in on the arm so Balor tries to flip out, only to get pulled into a triangle choke. That’s escaped as well and Balor cranks on the arm to keep Dunne in trouble. Dunne reverses as well and starts cranking on the arm to put the champ in more trouble. This time Balor reverses into a leglock so Dunne tries for the arm again, only to have his leg kicked out again. Another leglock goes on but this time Dunne reverses into a front facelock to work on the neck a bit.

The X Plex gets two on Balor and it’s time to slug it out. Balor blasts him with a clothesline for two and it’s back to the leg. An STF has Dunne in more trouble but he sends Balor’s fingers into the mat for the break. Back up and Balor goes for the knee again but 1916 is broken up. Dunne stomps at the face and plants him with a sitout powerbomb for two more. The big stomp on the arm has Balor in more trouble and there’s a German suplex, only to have Balor kick the knee out again.

Another powerbomb attempt is countered into a DDT from Balor but Dunne is back with an enziguri. The Bitter End is countered into the reverse 1916 for another near fall and they’re both down one more time. Dunne grabs the hand and bends the fingers back so Balor double stomps him in the back. Balor ribs Dunne’s mouthpiece out and nails a basement dropkick. The Coup de Grace connects but Balor can’t immediately cover. 1916 retains the title at 25:17.

Rating: A-. This took its time to get going but then they beat the heck out of each other, which has been a theme tonight. Dunne losing still feels weird but it also comes off as a huge deal because he barely ever gets beaten. Balor is a full on legend in NXT and whoever takes the title from him is going to be an instant star no matter who it is. They could have gone either way here as the winner is going to be facing Karrion Kross for the title anyway.

Post match Balor poses but here are Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to jump him from behind. The three on one beatdown is on but the Undisputed Era runs in for the save. Balor isn’t sure what to do and is scared to accept Kyle O’Reilly’s help up. Eventually he does though and they respect each other….and then Adam Cole superkicks Balor. The rest of the team asks what he’s doing so Cole lays out O’Reilly as well. Roderick Strong isn’t sure what to do and looks back and forth from O’Reilly and Balor on the mat to Cole to end the show. It might not be popular, but was there anything else for the Era to do?

Overall Rating: A. The worst match on the show would have been the match of the week 90% of the year so I’m not sure what there is to complain about here. This was five straight awesome matches because that’s what Takeover does. The ending was a surprise but a necessary one to give it a big moment that carries things into the next cycle. As usual, the action was great and they gave you a reason to come back, which are two of the most important things a show can do. Outstanding stuff here, in case there was any doubt there would be for some odd reason.

Results

Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez b. Ember Moon/Shotzi Blackheart – Powerbomb to Blackheart

Johnny Gargano b. Kushida – One Final Beat

MSK b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Spinebuster/Spinning middle rope neckbreaker to Drake

Io Shirai b. Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm – Moonsault to Martinez

Finn Balor b. Pete Dunne – 1916

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

We’re back to the good ones here as NXT returns with another Takeover event. This time around we have Vengeance Day, which isn’t the best name but maybe the obvious St. Valentine’s Day Massacre is a little too violent for them. Believe it or not, the card is stacked as we have three title matches plus the two Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals. Let’s get to it.

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

We’ll start with a good one here as I’m actually not sure who is going to win this thing. MSK debuted in the start of the tournament and have made it all the way to the finals. This certainly works for me as I’ve been a fan of the team since they debuted in Impact Wrestling and now they might actually win something. At the same time, the Veterans lost in last year’s finals and it seems that they are due.

I’ll go with MSK to win in an upset though, as they would make for a more interesting matchup against Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. This is one of those matches that could get some time with some awesome near falls at the end and that’s where NXT’s tag team division shines. The good thing is that they are building up some new teams (like these two) and the future might be a bit brighter. See how nice it is when there is a problem and the promotion actually addresses it?

Women’s Title: Io Shirai(c) vs. Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Martinez

Did you realize that Shirai has been champion for over eight months? It always seems like she is ready to lose the thing at any given time but here she is again, getting rather close to the elite level of Women’s Champions. This is quite the task though as you could see either one of these two taking the title. That’s exactly the point of something like this though and NXT has set things up well.

I’m tempted to pick Martinez here as she has gotten the least hype out of the three but I’ll take Storm to win here. This is more along the lines of a gut feeling as they have been building towards Storm taking the title. They could go multiple ways here, but I’ll go with Storm winning. It gets the title off of Shirai, though I’m not sure what is next for her either. But yeah, Storm wins here.

North American Title: Johnny Gargano(c) vs. Kushida

This has been built up for a long time now and I wasn’t sure if they were ever actually going to do it. Kushida is my favorite guy out of New Japan and while he isn’t the same as he was there, I still like seeing him out there and getting a bit of a push like this. Above all else, it’s nice to see someone new getting a shot at the title.

As nice as it is to see Kushida getting a chance like this, Gargano keeps the title. We’ve done the thing with him losing the title in a hurry far too often already so they need to have him retain here. Gargano needs the win more than Kushida here as it’s not like Kushida is going to lose anything by taking the loss here. He’s been playing with the house’s money for this entire feud so Gargano going over here is fine.

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez vs. Ember Moon/Shotzi Blackheart

Yes, believe it or not a team with no history together has made the finals of a Dusty Classic. That is as much of a tradition as the tournament itself because WWE really, really likes that idea. This time around we do at least have a regular team included, though I have a bad feeling that it isn’t going to matter, which tends to be the case throughout the history of the tournament.

In other words, yeah Blackheart and Moon win here because they’re a more logical team to lose to Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. I’m rather sick of seeing the thrown together teams winning here but I guess it makes for a better story or something. Granted that might not be the case when you see the same thing taking place so often but it’s likely taking place here so I’ll go with Blackheart and Moon.

NXT Title: Finn Balor(c) vs. Pete Dunne

And then we cap it off with a dream match as these two seem like they could have an absolute classic. The cool thing about NXT: it is more likely than not that they will. This is going to be a hard hitting fight and they are going to get the time that they need to make it work out as well as they could. It’s a match I would have preferred to see a year or two ago, but I’ll certainly take what I can get.

As for a winner……dang it where’s a quarter I can flip? I’ll take Balor here, but my goodness this one could go either way. I’m not sure how this one is going to end but they are going to beat the living fire out of each other and it’s going to be absolutely awesome. This feels like a Takeover main event and that’s about as good of an accolade as you can give to a match these days.

Overall Thoughts

This is as stacked of a card as there has been in a long time and that’s a great thing to see. I want to see how almost everything goes and it’s nice to have the hype back for these shows. It has all of the potential in the world and it’s even better to have Takeover’s reputation behind the whole thing. Just go with what works here, and that means following Takeover’s tried and true formula.

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