Last night, NXT put on another stellar TakeOver event.
When wrestling fans have conversations about the best TakeOver moments in history, there is no doubt that Vengeance Day’s matches will be mentioned.
Each match felt like it could be the main event and as a result, this made the closing angle that much more satisfying.
If you spent Valentine’s Day eating a fancy meal with a loved one, then you were doing it wrong because NXT TakeOver delivered the best takeaways last night…
6. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Winners Are Crowned
Two of the big marquee matches of the card displayed tag action on an epic scale as the sixth annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic was underway. This prestigious tournament emphasised its importance with the addition of the first women’s bracket.
The women’s final saw the makeshift duo of Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart battle the formidable team of Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez to open the show.
This was a tremendous way to get the adrenaline pumping and the “NXT” chants roaring. With huge power spots like Gonzalez slamming Blackheart into the barricade or innovate spots like the Kai-ropractor from Dakota Kai, it was obvious a new team in the women’s division was established.
Kai and Gonzalez won the trophy and scalped their names into the spotlight as the first ever female Dusty Classic winners. However, don’t subtract anything from the team of Moon and Blackheart. Even in defeat, they were put over strong.
Firstly, Moon hit an eclipse on Gonzalez. Which the ref was too distracted to witness allowing Gonzalez to barely survive. As well as both Gonzalez and Kai toppling on each other for the double-bodied pin to gain the victory. Any other night and this trophy could’ve been riding home on a tank.
With this win, the Women’s Tag Team Championship is in Kai and Gonzalez’s future. Whether that being against current champions, Baszler and Jax or Lana and Naomi, it is an exciting prospect to think that the tag titles can go to the black and gold brand.
This classic proved that they have some tremendous teams to battle for that prized possession.
On another note, MSK defeated Grizzled Young Veterans to win the Dusty Classic in their first TakeOver match. They literally debuted a month ago so this is a big win to kick their NXT careers off.
The match undoubtedly was going to be incredible, but it exceeded expectations. Gibson trash-talking is always music to our ears and MSK are highly charismatic and flip like gravity is non-existent.
With MSK now in line for a tag team championship match against Burch and Lorcan, the team of Wes Lee and Nash Carter potentially could go the distance.
5. Johnny Gargano Retains NXT North American Championship
Vengeance Day saw Kushida seek out vengeance on NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, but he wasn’t successful.
Nevertheless, the match was intense and saw two of the roster’s best wrestlers doing the best kind of wrestling.
Both men pull off moves that hurt my brain just thinking about how they were successful. How in the world can Kushida lock in an armbar from any direction?!
To really get a feel for how tense the attitude of this match was, you must watch it yourself. It saw both men raise the bar for North American Title contention and Gargano actually retained, which is quite an uncommon feat.
The title still being strapped around Johnny Wrestling’s waist is probably because he has a bigger contender lurking in the shadows.
Prior to this match, the Way was making their entrance as per usual. Then you could say that Austin Theory got more than lost in the moment as Dexter Lumis kidnapped him.
Gargano couldn’t focus on this much due to the threat of Kushida, but with that behind him, Lumis seems to be the story going forward.
4. LA Knight/Eli Drake Signs NXT Contract
Not much happens on the 30-minute pre-show for TakeOvers. There isn’t even a match. Just a couple of dudes hyping up the card.
However, Vengeance Day wanted to mix it up a bit as Wade Barrett was randomly interrupted by former NWA and TNA phenomenon, Eli Drake. Now going by the ridiculous name LA Knight.
Later in the show, Knight signed his official NXT contract. His presence on the roster should be a graceful one, although, his direction on the brand is yet to be seen.
Matches against Finn Balor, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Karrion Kross to name a few, already sound fascinating and therefore, a star like Knight is a fresh face for the Wednesday Night fight.
Best of luck to LA Knight – his options on the black and gold brand are boundless. Let’s just hope he isn’t EC3’d on the main roster.
3. Io Shirai Retains NXT Women’s Championship
Io Shirai managed to survive the onslaught from contenders Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a very good display of physical innovation.
There is a strong reason why Shirai is known as a ‘Genius of the Sky’ as she just freefalls from anything. For example, she leapt from the scaffolding structure in the Capitol Wrestling Center onto her opponents. She is basically a safer version of Jeff Hardy and Shane McMahon.
Then there is Mercedes Martinez. She has proven that her days in RETRIBUTION as RETALIATION are behind her as she was a beast in this match. Definitely a threat to be reckoned with in the NXT women’s division and a clear future NXT Women’s Champion.
Finally, we have Toni Storm. A technical powerhouse, willing to use any body part to inflict damage. Even if this means breaking the announcer’s table with one single glare.
This spot was comedic and out of nowhere, but it was saddening to see this botch ruin the momentum of what was a splendid match.
Big congratulations to the three women for continuing at their fast-pace. Although, unfortunately, this mistake resulted in the match ending 10 minutes earlier than expected.
Looking forward from this show, a singles feud between Shirai and Storm seems like the best bet. They have thrilling chemistry in the ring so a big “yes please” for that.
2. Finn Balor Defeats Pete Dunne To Retain NXT Championship
The main event featured the hard-hitting bout between Finn Balor and Pete Dunne for the pivotal NXT Championship.
This match was everything that fans expected. It was sharp, destructive, violent action to cap of another spectacular TakeOver event.
Dunne went for the fingers. Balor stomped Dunne like Mario to a Goomba. They both kicked each other’s heads in like they were jelly and wouldn’t feel the damage in the morning. ‘The Prince’ even ripped the mouthguard away from Dunne to increase the pain around his skull… which wasn’t very hygiene-friendly.
This was the intense, dramatic match that fans were eager to watch between the two. Definitely match of the night and even a very early match of the year contender.
Finally, Finn Balor walked away the victor and still the triumphant NXT Champion. But oh no, there are still five minutes left of the show… NXT love to have something drastic go down in tight time restraints. What is going to happen next?!
1. Adam Cole Shocks The System
As Vengeance Day approached its conclusion, NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan came out to ambush the bruised Finn Balor.
Dunne assisted in the beatdown, emphasising that he is not finished with the NXT Champion.
Therefore, the Undisputed ERA had to come out and make the save. As Cole, O’Reilly and Strong entered the ring, Balor was no longer outnumbered and ready to bring the fight back to the ambushers.
With Balor standing next to the other ERA boys, it looked like a closing shot of Balor joining the faction. This would have been a wholesome ending to the show with many exciting directions to head towards.
On the other hand, there was always the possibility that Pat McAfee would make his presence felt and ruin the closing picture, setting him up as the most arrogant heel on the roster.
Or they could just have Adam Cole superkick Finn Balor and then Kyle O’Reilly to disband from the Undisputed ERA. What?!?!
NXT is notorious for its closing logo swerve with previous examples seeing Kevin Owens turn against Sami Zayn or Tommaso Ciampa betraying Johnny Gargano.
It is an effective technique as it keeps fans watching till the second the show goes off the air. Plus, it gives an idea of the future direction of the brand.
Both Owens’ and Ciampa’s turns headlined Wednesday nights for the entirety of the feud. We are now eagerly awaiting Kyle O’Reilly’s response to this backstab and the eventual match between the two will be excellent.
Let’s hope it leads to Kyle O’Reilly finally winning the NXT Championship in a huge ceremonial moment. Lastly, it is intriguing to see where Strong and Fish fit into this.
This Valentine’s Day heartbreak has made this week’s NXT even more engaging as we will surely get some answers to a moment that will be spoken of for years to come.
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