NXT Takeover: In Your House emanated from Full Sail University last night. This was the first Takeover event since the start of the pandemic and despite this, the show was definitely another exceptional installment into the great streak of Takeovers NXT has delivered.
It ended rivalries, furthered others, and set up some intriguing stories heading into the future of the brand. Furthermore, this was the first ‘In Your House’ event since 1999, conveying that nostalgic feeling to fans of what introduced ‘Judgement Day’ and ‘Unforgiven’.
Technology, amirite? #NXTTakeOver @TripleH @ShawnMichaels @WWERoadDogg pic.twitter.com/7OlRNnpTSp
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) June 8, 2020
The set design certainly went retro and the transitions had an Attitude Era aura about them. With all that being said, let’s discuss “Six Biggest Takeaways From NXT TakeOver: In Your House”:
6. Io Shirai Wins The NXT Women’s Championship
The NXT Women’s Championship match between Charlotte Flair, Io Shirai, and Rhea Ripley closed out the show. This interestingly was the first Women’s main event on Takeover since NXT Takeover Respect in 2015. That show, of course, was headlined by Bayley and Sasha Banks’ battle over the Women’s Title.
This was certainly an eventful way to cap off the show! Charlotte proved why she is still relevant to the NXT brand, Ripley tried to get her redemption over Charlotte and Io Shirai became the biggest star in the division by finally beating the odds and becoming NXT Women’s Champion for the first time.
Shirai was thrown through the window of the In Your House set, incapacitating her for a short time. When she recovered, she managed to ascend to the top of the structure and hit a phenomenal crossbody onto her opponents. Charlotte soon locked Ripley in the Figure Eight, allowing Shirai to hit a Moonsault on Ripley and get the pin.
Io is now champion! Hopefully, it isn’t a red herring for Charlotte just winning the title back in the next few weeks.
Charlotte losing the title this early in her run was quite strange and a bit pointless. Considering she halted Ripley’s momentum at WrestleMania only to drop the title to Shirai two months later, this was a poor decision to say the least.
Anyways, congratulations to Io Shirai! She felt like she transitioned into a babyface on this show and will more than likely have a rematch with Charlotte, Ripley, or reignite her feud with Candice LeRae – roles reversed.
5. Damian Priest Took The Bump Of The Night
At first, I wasn’t much into Finn Balor vs Damien Priest. However, as soon as the bell rang my eyes were glued to the action.
Balor has built up his reputation since returning to the black and gold brand and Priest proved his potential in a defeat from the former Universal Champion.
Priest’s legs are like a homing missile – it never misses its target and Balor got kicked left, right and centre during this fight! Also, the ‘Archer of Infamy’ must have woke up with a sore back this morning as he took the most painful looking spot of the night.
It was during a moment that Priest tried to deliver a horrific razor’s edge to Balor out of the ring and onto the steel steps. If that move did occur Balor may not be here to hear the tale. Instead, Balor reversed and dropped Priest onto the steps. His back impacted onto the edge of the steps before he crashed into the ground. This bump had me on the edge of my seat for the finale as Balor went into intense mode and destroyed Priest for the win.
Great match to fill the gap in between Balor’s and WALTER’s rivalry which has been put on hold due to the pandemic.
4. Keith Lee Defeated Johnny Gargano
If both competitors were face and focussed on putting on a breathtaking match then this could have countered Edge vs. Orton’s “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” slogan. However, this match didn’t have that intention and instead was used to further the feud.
The bout was focussing on Gargano trying to escape the grizzly hands of the ‘Limitless’ North American Champion. The key Gargano put in his pants before the match started was symbolic to the car-key spot on last week’s NXT and hinted at the item playing into the match in some way.
When the partners of both stars, Candice LeRae and Mia Yim, got involved, Gargano managed to hit Lee in the eye with the key and almost got the win. This was an unexpected kick out as many guessed this new heel persona for Gargano would lead to victory.
I believe this feud will continue, become more personal and then with a trick up his sleeve, Gargano will manage to beat the unbeatable, Keith Lee.
3. What Is Next For Velveteen Dream?
Velveteen Dream lost his opportunity to win the NXT Championship, which has led many to question: “What is next for Velveteen Dream?”
It has been stated, exclusively, by WrestleTalk’s Louis Dangoor, that Dream’s main roster plans were dropped.
This means that Dream will be on the NXT brand for the foreseeable future and begs the question who will he face next?
There are a couple of options which will keep him away from the main event picture:
- Johnny Gargano – With Gargano displaying mega heel traits, this rivalry can now happen.
- Finn Balor – Balor confronted Dream on the 04/15 episode of NXT and was scheduled for a match for the next again week. This didn’t happen because Damian Priest attacked Finn Balor. Which gives a viable reason for this feud.
- Dexter Lumis – Lumis has strangely been allying with The Dream as of late and even got involved in the Backlot Brawl by fulfilling his promise to keep the Undisputed Era at bay. However, his creepy character does fit that of a heel gimmick. Therefore, a betrayal on Dream is bound to happen and this rivalry seems feasible before Dream’s eventual main roster debut whenever that may be.
2. Adam Cole Retains NXT Championship
WWE’s most recent “cinematic” came in the form of a Backlot Brawl between Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream for the NXT Championship. After being smashed into a car and a Panama sunrise into a pile of chairs to Dream, Cole retained his NXT Championship from this hectic fight. Due to the stipulation of Dream no longer gaining an opportunity for the title, this leaves the door open for a fresh feud for Cole and the Undisputed Era.
Keith Lee is one of the biggest stars on the brand, alongside the current NXT Champion and therefore, will most likely challenge Cole upon losing his own championship.
The most likely challenger for Cole looks to be Balor who has said on multiple occasions that winning that title is the reason he returned home. Shortly after that he would be blindsided or attacked halting his opportunity to ever square up Adam Cole in the ring.
Well, it seems like it could be as close as Wednesday’s NXT for this rivalry to get underway.
1. Karrion Kross Squashes Tommaso Ciampa
Finally, Karrion Kross didn’t just gain a victory over Tommaso Ciampa. He crushed him!
This TakeOver did feel like the passing of the torch for most guys. Gargano, Ciampa and Dream have been holding up the roster for years. Main eventing and putting on an NXT-calibre match was in their nature. However, times are changing and when the new ones come in, the old ones have to leave. Kross made Ciampa look like an old dog compared to this new beast on the loose.
Kross is a force to be reckoned with on NXT and I’d say a guaranteed NXT Champion before he ever thinks about RAW or SmackDown. Doomsday is here and NXT has been put on notice.
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