Welcome one and all to Rajah.com's NXT TakeOver XXX live results! Bringing you tonight's results and making my ppv coverage debut is what many observers call the greatest play-by-play written results reporter in the business, Mike "Hulk" Hogan! I want to thank you, the readers, and the NBA Playoff Schedule keeping Matt busy, and my manager, and Jesus for making this all happen. So let's get to it!
After a solid NXT this past Wednesday, we found out who the final two participants for tonight's North American Championship Ladder Match will be!
As our Final Lineup article informs us, these will be tonight's matches:
- NXT Tag-Team #1 Contender Match on the Kickoff Show: Breezango vs Burch/Lorcan vs Legado del Fantasma
- Finn Balor vs Timothy Thatcher
- Adam Cole vs Pat McAfee
- NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: Damian Priest, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Cameron Grimes & Velveteen Dream
- NXT Women's Championship Match: Io Shirai(c) vs Dakota Kai
- NXT Championship: Keith Lee(c) vs. Karrion Kross
We've also learned earlier today that former NXT Commentator, Corey Graves will be returning to the commentary table for tonight's TakeOver XXX.
Enough yappin', let's get to the slappin'.
NXT TakeOver XXX Live Results (8/22/2020) - Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL
Pre-Show Kickoff
We open with Metallica's "Moth to Flames" playing as it's our official theme for TakeOver XXX. We're welcomed by Scott Stanford and Sam "el Sam-o del Fantasma" Roberts.
Some highlights of the non-match sports commentary: - We get a clip of Regal warning McAfee not to make trouble when he faced Cole before NXT recently - We get a quick recap of the Keith Lee/Karrion Kross rivalry, featuring Metallica's "Frantic" (as it features a "tick tick tick tock" verse piece, presumably--hear the song here). - Booker T adds his opinion on the Keith Lee/Karrion Kross match and says that he's picking Keith Lee to win.
Kick-off/Pre-Show: NXT Tag-Team #1 Contender Match: Breezango vs Burch/Lorcan vs Legado del Fantasma
Our first match of the night, here on the Pre-Show, is for the number one contender to the tag titles! I've corrected my article title to note that this is at Full Sail University, complete with the usual crowd--not the ThunderDome. Breezango are out first, followed by Burch & Lorcan, and lastly the trio known as Legado del Fantasma.
Traditional triple threat tag team rules are in effect for this match. It starts off a bit slow, with Legado controlling things early on. Beth wonders what will happen if Legado capture yet more gold to go with their leader, Santos Escobar, who already has the Cruiserweight championship. Lorcan and Fandango slugging it out in the room. Fighting spills outside as their partners come to confront. Mendoza goes flying over the top ropes and takes everyone out at ringside. Wilde takes advantage as Lorcan and Breeze, now legal for their teams, make their way in. He attempts a quick pin on both but gets nothing. Wilde tries to control the ring, attacking both men as they get to their feet. Wilde misses Lorcan tagging in Burch, and Burch comes in wild for Wilde. Burch takes out Wilde with a fast dropkick. Burch attacks him in the corner, then hits a beautiful German Suplex followed by a clothesline to plant Wilde. Burch tags in Lorcan. Lorcan attempts to climb the ropes but Wilde stops him. Burch tagged in; Burch escapes a grapple by Wilde and tags in Lorcan again.
Mendoza is tagged in; Breeze tags in. The ref is letting a lot slide here. Wilde comes off the top to break a pinfall attempt. Breeze and Mendoza slug it out in the middle of the ring. Breeze goes off the ropes and Mendoza hits a Spanish Fly from outta nowhere! The commentator yells Spanish Fly, and a crowd member mocks him and yells it back. Attempted pin but Breeze out. Mendoza pulls Breeze to his feet; Lorcan attempts a superkick and uppercut but Breeze dodges so Lorcan hits Mendoza, uppercuts Lorcan which sends him to the outside, and covers for the win!
Your Winners and New #1 Contenders for the NXT Tag-Team Titles, Breezango!
NXT TakeOver XXX Main Show Opener
We get a special graphic/video package that highlights on the previous 29 TakeOvers to precede this one. We get clips from WarGames past, Shayna's record reign, and then cut into a video packaged to Metallica's "Moth Into Flames" that features the various rivals talking about their opponents for tonight. Kai, Shirai, Adam Cole, everyone makes comments about how they're coming out on top tonight. We shall see!
Commentary
Vic Joseph welcomes us with Corey Graves from the Commentary position and announces Beth Phoenix is with us, too, just not on screen. We're starting this one off right now!
Finn Balor vs Timothy Thatcher
Finn Balor is the first to come out. We're reminded that he's looking for his 12th TakeOver victory. We're reminded that Thatcher cost Balor a spot in the North American ladder match later tonight by causing an interference during Balor's second-chance shot just earlier this week. Balor poses as the announcers tell us that Balor cannot be intimiated no matter how many "thatch-cam" videos Thatcher is apparently sending him. Out next is Timothy Thatcher, who marches straight to the ring and wastes no time getting ready to go.
The bell rings and Balor immediately engages Thatcher. He throws a right into Thatcher's side, but Thatcher pushes in close and takes Balor to the ground. Thatcher nails a few open-hand slaps on Balor before going straight for the arm bar. Balor escapes and locks in an arm bar of his own, but Thatcher slips out of it. Thatcher recovers first and slips a rear waistlock on Balor; Balor grabs Thatcher's left arm and uses it to twist out of the waistlock. Balor holds on to the left arm, torquing it. Balor and Thatcher engage in mat wrestling at this point, attempting to lock in various maneuvers or slipping out of them. Thatcher with a front facelock. Thatcher takes Balor against the ropes and delivers a chop, then locks in another front facelock in the center of the ring.
Thathcher takes Balor back to the ropes, but Balor flips him out. Balor attempts offense outside but its quickly taken back inside. Thatcher locks in a left ankle lock, using his left knee in the joint of Balor's left knee as he wrenches that ankle back. Balor groaning in pain but makes it to the bottom rope, forcing the break. Thatcher is quick to his feet and delivers a clubbing blow to Balor's back, then a devastating knee is driven into Balor's side to ground the Irishman again. Thatcher applies a bow & arrow submission. Balor rolls, threatening to pin down Thatcher's shoulders, and slips out only for Thatcher to immediately take him back down. Thatcher locks in a standing leg split ankle lock (what it sounds like). Balor tries to kick him off. Thatcher kicks Balor hard in the back. Thatcher gloats for maybe two seconds before Balor pulls his best John Cena impersonation and is immediately up to his feet. He tosses a strike but Thatcher whips him down and locks in the kimura. Thatcher converts the kimura into another abdominal/arm submission. Thatcher breaks it long enough to drop a knee into Balor's back, then locks in a chinlock.
Balor attempting to get to his hands and knees but Thatcher smacks him before dropping another knee into Balor's back. Welts are forming on Balor's back. Thatcher lets Balor up and locks in a double chicken wing submission, but Balor is able to backflip him and pins for a two but Thatcher rolls out, keeping the chicken wing on! Balor finally manages to break it and gets to his feet. Thatcher up to a vertical base, too. Both men slowly exchange fists. Balor, then Thatcher. Balor again, Thatcher again--this carries on for nearly two dozen hits. Thatcher grabs Balor by the neck and hits an open head chop on his chest; Balor answers back with a desperation pele kick. Balor is too tired to capitalize on it though. Both men are slow to their feet!
Balor attempts a slingblade but Thatcher avoids it. Both men collide. Balor locks in a rear necklock on Thatcher and forces him to his feet. Thatcher and Balor jockey for leverage; Thatcher attempts an arm lock; Balor attempts to reverse it into a 1916; Thatcher escapes! Balor locks in a rear lock and lifts Thatcher up for an inverted DDT and covers for a two! Balor notices their positioning in opposing corners and charges in for the Shotgun Dropkick! Finn goes up top for the Coup de Grace and goes flying, but Thatcher moves and Finn lands hard on his already-injured leg, and goes down hard. Thatcher moves in and locks in a single-leg crab on Balor right in the middle of the ring! Balor can't reach the ropes! Thatcher's holding strong! Balor has a burst of energy and gets to the ropes and the ref forces the break!
Thatcher and Balor both attempt holds but neither can make headway. Balor with a stiff kick to Thatcher's ribs during a flurry of kicks as he tries to escape an attempted ankle lock. Balor gets the upperhand and locks in a side head/waist lock on a seated Thatcher. Thatcher manages to grab Balor's right arm and pushes it away, bending back the fingers of Balor to force the break. As soon as its broken, Thatcher slips back and locks in an ankle lock! Balor twists and rolls Thatcher up, releases, rolls through to his feet, leaps and hits a standing double stomp! Balor goes up top and hits the Coup de Grace! His leg's injured but he's able to get back over to Thatcher. He hoists Thatcher up and hits the 1916 for the one, two, three!
Your WInner, Finn Balor!
After the Match
We get replays. We see the Golden Role Models, Sasha & Bayley, are in attendance. We get a recap of how the North American title became vacated and the build up to tonight's ladder match.
NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: Damian Priest, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Cameron Grimes & Velveteen Dream
We see a darkened arena, with the North American Championship suspended above the ring. Hailing from NYC and weighing in at 249lbs, our first competitor is Damian Priest! We see his shadow, backlit by a spotlight as he does his archer gimmick in the shadow of the ladder. From Cleveland, OH and weighing in at 199lbs is Johnny Gargano, our second competitor out! We're reminded that he calls himself Johnny TakeOver and the Hero that NXT Deserves. Out next, from South Australia and weighing in at 330lbs is the Aus-zilla, Bronson Reed! From Burlington, NC weighing in at 220lbs is Cameron Grimes. Graves is a fan, "despite that he probably came from a really shallow gene pool." And finally, from Capitol Hill, Washington DC and weighing in at 217lbs, sliding into your DMs is The Velveteen Dream! He comes out wearing Scott Steiner-style chain mail on his head and a glittery robe.
Before Dream can even strut on a ringpost, the bell rings as Damian Priest wastes no time! Bronson Reed and Priest clear the ring and begin circling one another. Dream comes up from behind and shoves Reed into Priest. Johnny comes in and Dream hits a Famouser immediately on him. Priest up; Dream takes him out with a DDT. Reed is up; Dream hits a superkick. Grimes comes in and grabs Dream, but Dream slips free and sends Grimes over the top rope. Only dream is up in the ring. He exits, looking for a ladder, but Grimes comes in and knocks him down. Grimes pulls a ladder out from under the ring but it's a three-foot ladder. He screams "what the heck is this?" only to be answered by a clothesline from Priest. Priest and Grimes slug it out, with Grimes getting in the ring. Grimes attempts to pull a ladder that was on the apron in, but Johnny grabs it and they play tug of war. Grimes is sent flying. Gargano attempts to set up the letter but Priest takes him out. Priest goes for a Crucifix Bomb but misses and Reed catches Priest, heaving the big man aside like he's nothing! Reed sees a ladder and yanks on it, and Dream slides in, taking Reed down and sending him out the ring. Dream and Priest both set up a ladder side by side and climb up, only for Grimes to shove the ladders apart and send both men flying.
Grimes begins to climb both ladders but Dream and Priest recover and pull the ladders apart, leaving him stuck doing a split mid-air like JCVD. Reed approaches him from behind and ducks under, looking up at Grimes. Grimes seems to fall down as if he were hit in the junk. Dream and Priest slam the ladders onto an unsuspecting Reed, and he rolls from the ring. Dream takes down Priest. Gargano and Reed into the ring. Gargano and Dream struggle for a moment but get a ladder up. Before they can attempt to clothesline anyone with the ladder, Reed charges the ladder and knocks them down, then hits a standing senton drop onto the ladder so it'd smoosh Dream and Gargano. Reed is up slow, grimacing in pain, but still on his feet.
Priest up but Reed clears house. Gargano to his feet and attempts to sneak up the ladder but is blocked by Reed. Gargano attempts a hurricanrana on Reed but the Auszilla lifts him up for a powerbomb--only for Gargano to escape tot he ladder behind him! Priest is up. Reed picks Gargano up in a powerbomb position. Priest slaps a chokelock on Gargano as if he's going to chokeslam him, but Grimes slips in and hits a fast rear suplex as Dream takes out Reed. Gargano is now coaching the heels, Dream and Grimes. He gets them to agree to take out the two bigger men, Priest and Reed. Gargano and Dream use ladders to choke and hammer the big men in the corners. Grimes comes in with a ladder and hits Priest in the gut. Grimes celebrates in the ring before Dreams attacks him hard. Dream takes Grimes down and goes up top, only for Gargano to attack him in the corner. Priest takes a ladder and pancakes Gargano in the corner with it; Grimes takes a ladder and takes out priest; Reed smashes them all in the corner.
Dream is still in the corner. Priest climbs up for a superplex; Grimes and Reed all get involved. Reed has Grimes up in the powerbomb position, while Grimes had a back suplex locked around Priest and Priest has Dream in a suplex position, leading to a powerbomb-into-back suplex-into-superplex five-man combo! Wow! Priest sets up a ladder while everyone's down and climbs the ladder. he's got the belt in hand but Velveteen comes in at the last possible moment and smacks him in the back to stop him, then yanks him down. Dream attempts to climb the ladder but Priest kicks his feet out, sending the Dream tumbling out of the ring. Grimes comes in with a few strikes before Priest fires back with a series of fast kicks. Priest springboards off the middle rope, going for a springboard roundhouse--only for Gargano to lead up and catch him in a form of the blockbuster as a counter!
Johnny TakeOver is the only one up. He clears the stragglers in the ring. Dream gets to his feet and uses a ladder, running and throwing it at Gargano. Johnny ducks and the ladder goes outside. Dream runs for Johnny but is sent outside on top of Priest and the ladders. Johnny runs and suicide dives through the middle rope onto Bronson Reed! Johnny sprints around the ring only to be hit down by Grimes. Dream runs over and gets involved; Reed comes out of nowhere, fall three-hundred plus pounds diving through the middle ropes to take out the entire group.
Grimes gets in the ring first with a ladder, but Priest comes in and knocks him down, the ladder falling at a 45 degree angle onto the ropes. Damian Priest sees the group standing outside the ring and runs across the ring, up the ladder and dives over, taking out Reed, Gargano and Dream! Grimes is still in the ring and sets up the ladder. Grimes starts to climb when Candice Lerae hits the ring out of nowhere and yanks him off! He yells at her "what do you think you're doing?" The ref tells her to get out. She shoves the ladder down and threatens Grimes to do something about it. He goes to grab her but is taken out by Gargano. Candice then nods at Johnny, grabs his hand and runs for the corner with Johnny in tow. Johnny helps send his wife off the top and to the outside, landing on his other competitors!
Johnny sets up a ladder and Reed comes in, taking Johnny down. Reed climbs up to the top and sits on the top of the ladder, going for the belt. Candice runs up the back side of the ladder and hops on his back, so Reed stands and does a diving splash off the top of the ladder, with Candice on his back, landing on Johnny! Johnny got smashed flatter than a twinkie in my back pocket! Gargano and Candice roll out of the ring. Bronson Reed begins climbing the ladder, but Priest is now to his feet and climbs too. Grimes comes in and sets up another (and bigger) ladder perpendicular to them. Reed and Priest slug it out some. Reed sent flying. Grimes takes his spot on the smaller ladder, then shoves Priest off. Grimes is going for the title! But no, Dream comes in and pulls him off!
Grimes and Dream slug it out as Beth comments that the ring is nothing but twisted scrap metal from all the ladders involved and destroyed. Dream gets the upper hand and sets up three ladders against the ropes, making a platform to lay Grimes on. Dream climbs up and is looking to go off--then realizes the belt is right there! He goes for it but Priest comes up behind him and sends him off. Cameron Grimes gets involved. Priest is down, Dream is down. Grimes is struggling to his feet, using the ladder on the middle rope to help climb the other two ladders. Gargano grabs his leg and fights his way up the other ladder. Gargano leaps off his ladder and spins in mid-air, grabbing Grimes upside down and slamming him down hard into the ladder that was propped up by another ladder and the middle rope! Everyone is down!
Gargano is up to his feet slow. He takes out Priest, knocking him from the ring. Johnny sees Dream up on the apron and goes for the One Final Beat DDT but Dream catches him on his shoulders and hits the Dream Valley Driver, taking out Gargano through Priest at ringside! Dream is in. Dream is climbing unopposed. Dream's at the top and has a hand on the belt! Reed comes in and shoves the ladder, sending Dream flying out of the ring, over the barricade and through a desk set up on the other side of the barricade! Cameron Grimes takes out Bronson Reed and rushes up the ladder. Grimes has a hand on the belt, now his other! He's about to unbuckle it when no, Gargano climbs up and stops him! Gargano is going to get the title! No, here comes Priest with a grip on Johnny! The title's free, both Priest and Gargano have hands on the title! They're grapping, Gargano is leaning back to dive back off the ladder with the belt but it slips free and he falls! Damian Priest gets sole possession of the belt!
Your Winner and NEW North American NXT Champion, Damian Priest!
After the Match
We get replays as the announcers gush over Priest. We get a preview for the Fiend/Braun match tomorrow night, and another promo for Metallica's contribution. We're also reminded that Pat McAfee played the most protected, least used position in the NFL.
Adam Cole vs Pat McAfee
Out first is Adam Cole. The Undisputed Era show up on stage with Cole but he sends them to the back. He makes his way out to the ring. McAfee comes on screen, with a mic backstage, cutting a quick (and not bad) promo for himself. He comes out to some weird NES action side-scroller game music. McAfee's ring attire is a tank top saying "For the Brand" and black shorts, more "For the Brand" knee pads. Three of his NFL stooges (Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and some other dude) come out with him, each of them wearing a "Cole Sucks" shirt.
The bell rings and we start up. Cole and Pat grapple, with the veteran converting it into a side headlock. McAfee attempts to whip Cole into the ropes but Cole holds on, not letting the lock go. Pat tries to get out of it but can't, so he resorts to grabbing Cole's hair and backing him into the corner until the ref breaks the hold. Pat struts in the ring and Cole chases him; Pat attempts to dodge and leap out of the corner and near eats a kick from Cole. Pat lands on his butt in the corner and Cole backs up at the ref's request. Pat's stooges offer him a water bottle. Cole and McAfee grab up in the middle of the ring. McAfee drops Cole and celebrates. Cole to his feet and gives chase, and Pat smartly dodges through the ropes and stands with his stooges at ringside. The ref is counting. Cole yells for Pat to get in the ring; Pat yells back that he's a better human than Cole and mocks the UE. Cole dives outside the ring and confronts McAfee and his men; the rest of the Era charge ringside to back up their man, followed by security. While the crowd is hustling and yelling at each other, Pat sneaks out and goes into the ring, goes to the top rope and dives off with a beautiful swanton, taking out everyone. He Flair woo's a couple of times then sends Cole into the ring.
Pat takes control. Pat delivers a few kicks and blows while Cole is in the corner. Pat gets Cole on the apron and uses the ropes to hold him until the ref forces the break. McAfee lets Cole to his feet then delivers a hard right, sending the former NXT champ to the mat. Pat gloats. Cole attempts to get to his feet and Pat sends a kick to his face. Pat talks more smack then grabs Cole by the chin, standing him. McAfee lifts Cole up over one shoulder and squats with him, yelling "you like that, you like that?" McAfee slams Cole down. McAfee locks in a chin lock. Cole tries to escape and throws his elbows into Pat's side. Pat grabs Cole by the hair and slams him back down. The ref gets in Pat's face and tells him "you can't do that, that's the third time I've seen you do that." Pat yells "that's (hair grabbing) not in the rules!" Pat locks in another necklock but Cole fights to his feet and throws a few more elbows. Cole off the ropes but runs right into a McAfee dropkick. Again, Pat lets out a woo and shakes his limbs, loosening up, talking loudly how "this is easy" and "I was born for this!" He approaches Cole in the corner, and Cole slaps him. Pat and Cole exchange slaps before Cole closes his fist, and both men exchange fists. Cole fires up and grabs the back of Pat's shirt, yanking it over Pat's head and slamming fists into his gut before sending him to the mat. Cole drags Pat tot he corner and starts stomping away at him until the ref forces the break!
Cole waits for Pat to get to his feet, then lifts him up and hits the fireman's carry neckbreaker, covering for two but Pat kicks out! Cole says "that's very nice, Pat" then rebounds off the ropes, going for a kick--but Pat intercepts and rolls him up for a two! Cole escapes and goes for a pin of his own, but gets nothing. Cole decides to go up top but Pat catches him as he's positioning, knocking his feet out and crotching him in the corner. McAfee climbs the ropes and the two begin to hit each other, attempting to fight each other off. Pat leaps back off the top rope, landing on his feet! McAfee is fast in running back to the corner and jumps up the ropes in a single leap, nailing a picture perfect superplex and covering! Cole kicks out at two and a half! McAfee is showing off his athleticism big time.
Cole's rolled over, his head hanging off the outside apron. McAfee decides to take advantage, sliding outside and running full steam for a punt kick--but Cole moves! McAfee kicks the steel steps, hard. Cole takes him inside. McAfee in pain; ref checks on him but Pat won't give up. Cole slaps on the Figure Four! Pat won't tap; he leans back to alleviate the pressure but the ref starts to count the pin! Pat sits up, writhing in pain. Adam Cole does sit-ups while keeping the lock in place! Again, Pat leans back to take the pressure off and again the ref goes for the pin count! Pat manages to squirm just enough to get to the bottom rope and the ref forces the break, only after Cole eats up a four count first. Both men to their feet. McAfee calls Cole a "little punk" and Cole angrily attacks him in the corner. The ref forces the break, warning Cole. Cole charges in and Pat hits a lowblow kick while the ref was out of position! Pat sets up Cole and hits a high punt kick! Pat covers for one, two, no!
McAfee climbs up top, stopping to take his top off. He goes flying off the top, looking for the Hail Mary, but Cole intercepts him with a superkick! Cole stalks across the mat then yells at Pat, "get up! I want you to watch me beat you! Get up!" Pat sits up and Cole slaps both hands to his own right knee, threatening to remove the knee pad. Cole instead climbs up to the top, sitting, awaiting on Pat to stand up. Cole goes for the Panama City Sunrise and gets all of it! Cole covers for the three and the win!
Your Winner, Adam Cole (bay-bay!)
After the Match/Commentary
We get replays showcasing some of the highlights. We have a few WWE-branded commercials, then see Drew McIntyre at the commentary position. They hype his match tomorrow against Randy Orton. We see Karrion Kross warming up backstage and are treated to a package promoting the next match, Dakota Kai vs Io Shirai.
NXT Women's Championship Match: Io Shirai(c) vs Dakota Kai
Out first is Dakota Kai, followed by the reigning NXT Women's champion, Io Shirai!
Shirai goes right after Kai as the bell rings. Shirai punches Kai into the corner before running in. Kai sidesteps and guides Io's face into the turnbuckle, then rains fists down on her. They take it to the middle of the ring. Kai sends Io into the ropes, and catches her with a big knee. Io lands rough but recovers. Io takes the lead, kicking Kai down into the corner. Kai rolls ot the outside. Io follows and Kai runs to hide behind Raquel Gonzalez. While Shirai is distracted by Raquel, Kai slips around by way of the ring and strikes Shirai from behind. Kai takes her into the ring and attempts a cover but gets nothing. Kai locks a left arm bar on Shirai. Shirai tries to fight her out of it. Kai repositions, getting the middle rope under Io's arm and cranking it back as the ref counts. Kai breaks the hold. Kai takes too long re-engaging with Shirai and Io sends Kai out. Io goes for a middle rope move but Kai blocks it. Kai slips up onto the apron and locks in another arm bar as the ref counts. Ref forces the break. Kai rolls into the ring and kicks the champ in the face, covering for a two. Io is favoring her left elbow, which was struck against the ring post during the Raquel distraction/Kai ambush earlier.
Kai slows the pace of the match, and begins working the left arm of the champ. Kai applies various arm bars, shoulder stretches, and does her best to hyperextend Io's left elbow. Kai covers but only gets a two. Shirai is still favoring her arm. Kai continues, locking in a rear neck lock. Shirai reverses into a quick cover but Kai kicks out. Kai rolls up Io but can't get more than a two. Kai continues to keep the pace slow, and keeps the high-flying champion grounded with slow-down and working holds. Finally Io starts to fight back, delivering a palm strike that drops the challenger. The crowd gets into this, pumping up their champ. Shirai starts her comeback sequence, charging in with a shoulder thrust, and another. Io hits the 6-1-9 with one arm, and follows it up with a springboard dropkick with a cover for two!
Io locks up Kai with a rear waistlock but can't get her up. Standing switch, Kai attempts a rear suplex but Shirai counters. Shirai hitting her arm to get some feeling back in it. Io Irish Whips Kai, who reverses it. Both women on the apron. Kai attmepting a German Suplex to the ringside area but Io won't release the ropes. Kai slides down and slips under her legs, going for a powerbomb but again, Io won't let go! Io leaps up and hits a double foot stomp on Kai against the apron. Both women move into the room. Kai begins to kick the champ in the face as she's knelt but Shirai keeps popping back up. Shirai to her feet and hits several elbows. The champ rebounds off the ropes but Kai catches her with the scorpion kick! Kai goes for her version of the Helluva kick but Shirai moves! Kai gets Shirai back in the corner and goes for a running knee strike but Shirai moves! Kai begins to attack the challenger in the corner. Io starts to climb the ropes but Kai attacks her, interrupting her. Kai climbs the ropes from within the ring and hooks the neck, attempting a superplex. Shirai strikes Kai; Kai loses her footing and is hung up in the tree of woe. Double stomp from the champ to the challenger! Io covers for one, two, no!
Shirai goes for a double underhook but Kai reverses with a headbutt, then flips Io and hits a double knee. She attempts a cover but gets nothing. Kai immediately locks in the arm bar! Io is trying to get to the ropes but Kai's body is between her and the nearest ropes. Shirai tries to break the handgrip of Kai but can't! Io twists on the canvas, trying to get her foot onto a rope. Kai tries to twist her the other way but the champion gets her foot on the bottom rope, and the ref forces the break. Shirai was in that arm bar for a long time!
Kai gets to her feet and pulls Shirai up, who was seated on the apron. Io shoves Kai back and goes for a springboard, but Dakota catches her with a kick. Io knocks Dakota down and climbs the top ropes, but Kai strikes her. Kai yanks Io off the top rope, hitting a form of a falling Pele kick as Shirai drops off the top rope. The same maneuver that Kai used to beat Ripley last week. Kai covers but only gets a two because Io got her foot on the bottom rope. Kai whips Shirai, who nearly collides with the ref. Kai follows up with her Helluva kick, but Io moves and the ref eats it! The ref is down! Shirai takes down Kai and covers but there's no official. Raquel Gonzalez comes in and hits a huge choke bomb on the champ, then drags Kai on top of Io! Raquel drags the ref over who counts one, two, Io kicks out!
After a few moments of disbelief on behalf of everyone, Kai pulls Shirai up and goes for her GTK kick but Io reveres it into a submission! Kai manages to roll through and strikes Io with a knee, stunning the champ as Kai goes outside. Shirai goes off the top and takes out Raquel and Kai at ringside. Io takes Dakota into the ring and hits the Over-the-Moonsault, picking up the win!
Your Winner and STILL NXT Women's Champion, Io Shirai!
After the Match
Gonzalez attacks the champ from behind, which ques Rhea Ripley who runs out and stands toe to toe with Raquel. Raquel eventually backs off as they jaw at each other quietly. Rhea approaches her so Raquel steps up. Someone yells "stop talking, just make contact!" Rhea looks like she's trying not to laugh. Finally, Kai comes in and pulls Raquel back and the heels back up the ramp to the back. After replays, we see Rhea up the ramp staring daggers into Io's back as she celebrates in the ring.
NXT: UK Return Announced
We get a pretty decent promo for the return of NXT UK, coming back September 17th!
TakeOver XXX Main Event: NXT Championship: Keith Lee(c) vs. Karrion Kross
After another Metallica "Frantic" video promo, our challenger comes out first, led by Scarlett. He approaches the ring under a black adn white camera filter, laughing and standing in the entrance ramp. Scarlett then proceeds to the ring first, wearing all black leather like Michelle Pfeifer in a Tim Burton movie. She does her "fall and prey" bit to the music before the pyros and lights come up and the drums and raging sound fx show us that Karrion Kross is here to party. Scarlett crawls to the ropes and exits as Keith Lee makes his way out in less dramatic fashion. The Limitless Leegion leader, Keith Lee, comes out to rather mild crowd reactions to be completely frank.
The announcements are made and both men face up in the middle before the ref parts them to hold up the NXT title. The bell rings and our main event is underway for the NXT championship! Keith Lee and Karrion Kross clash in the ring, and Kross stumbles back. Lee wags a finger at him. Kross leaps at Lee and they begin to club each other. Lee takes control with clubbing blows, forcing Kross back into the corner. Lee rains haymakers into Kross in the corner. Kross attempts to fight out of the corner but with another big left hand, Lee sends Kross into the corner. Lee begins to beat Kross around the ring. Kross tries to regain control, but Lee charges off the ropes and hits a flying crossbody. Scarlett helps drag Kross out of the ring so he can recover. Lee goes straight outsdie and fights Kross at the entrance ramp as the ref yells for them to take it into the ring. Kross gets the upperhand and clubs Lee around the ring. Kross breaks the ref's count then continues to punch Lee outside the ring. Kross misses with a big right, his hand connecting with the plexiglass. Lee moves and throws Kross against the plexiglass and throws a huge haymaker, cracking the plexiglass. Lee reaches for Kross; Kross dodges and strikes, catching Lee's arm between the plexiglass and its frame. Kross now takes control and takes things into the ring.
Kross locks in a rear hold, hyper-extending Lee's left elbow while locking in the neck. For about a minute, Kross keeps this locked in and Lee grunts in pain. Finally Lee makes it to his feet. They collide and Kross sends Lee to the mat. Kross covers but Lee is up before the ref can even lay in position. Kross sends Lee to the mat and stomps him. Kross slows the pace down, just how he likes it we're told by Vic, and locks in a left wrist lock that's torquing Lee's hurt elbow. Lee attempts to get out of it but Kross counters and sends Lee left-elbow-first into the corner. Kross continues to work on Lee's arm. The ref comes over to check on Lee, telling him that he can stop anytime. Lee brushes him off. Again, Kross slams Lee arm-first into the corner. And again, before attempting a cover. Lee is out at two. Kross straddles a prone Lee and locks in an arm bend, then rolls Lee and uses his own body weight to keep the champion on the mat. Kross cranks the left arm back behind Lee's back, wrenching over and over. Scarlett yells insults at Lee as Kross keeps yanking the arm. The crowd starts to chant for Lee and Lee fights to a knee. Kross keeps the arm on but then releases it, dropping a clubbing elbow to slow the champ's ascent. Kross takes Lee back down to the mat and again locks in the left rear arm bar, working the wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Kross continues this slow-down pace, working the arm for a few minutes until Keith Lee lifts him up and one armed powerbombs the challenger! Both men are down. Lee and Kross are both slow to their feet, and both threaten with fists. Lee with a right to Kross, then another that staggers him, then a right forearm that nearly drops him. Kross stumbles back and takes a left that floors him. Kross slow to his feet and Lee squashes him in the corner, then again! Lee off the ropes for a clothesline; Kross ducks and Lee picks him up and power slams him down, covering for a two and a half!
Both men up again, this time it's Kross who takes the advantage. Forearm from Kross, then dodges a Lee rush. Kross attempts a Doomsday Saito but Lee blocks it. Kross with a kick, another kick and the champ is down. Kross covers but Lee kicks out at two! Kross stalks for a moment, intensity in his eyes. Kross helps Lee to his feet and locks in the side waist lock but Lee battles out. Lee hits a devastating headbutt then hits a big suplex on the challenger. Lee barely rolls over and lays on top of Kross for a two count! Kross gets an arm up! Lee to a knee as Kross works to his. Lee is up and Kross punches him in the tummy. Again, another tummy shot! Another! Call him the Tummynator because he's slamming those fists into the soft midsection of the champ. Lee shrugs them off and picks up Kross. Lee tries to hoist him up but Kross escapes, goes ropes to ropes and hits a big clothesline, covering for a very close two!
Lee works to a knee. Kross hits him. Lee fires back. Both men answer each other with fists and forearms as Lee gets to his feet. Both men are tired and their blows are weak. Kross hits several forearms to the champ and rebounds off the ropes, but Lee hits a desperate right fist lariat, knocking them both down. Both men look tired. The ref has begun to count as they're both down. At five, both make it to their knees. Ref gets to seven when both get to their feet in opposite corners. They eye each other up and charge each other. Kross goes for a kick but Lee sidesteps it. Lee with a forearm but Kross answers with a front kick. Lee tries a double clubbing handle but Kross sidesteps it and hits the Doomsday Saito for a two!
Kross gives Lee time to get to his feet and goes for the Kross-jacket submission! He's got the champ down on his back with the move locked in. The ref checks Lee as he begins to fade! He lifts his arm and drops it but Lee stops it from making contact--he's still in this! The crowd is finally hot and behind Lee. Lee rolls over but Kross keeps the Kross-Jacket cinched in and lays on his back. Lee crawls to the bottom rope and makes it! The ref breaks the hold. Corey Graves said that Karrion Kross has been an absolute Terminator tonight. Kross moves in on the champ but Lee grabs him and pops him up, nailing the Spirit Bomb! Lee covers but only gets a two!
Lee goes up top but Kross moves in to block it. Left elbows from the challenger. Kross climbs up on the middle rope. He and lee begin exchanging fists and elbows as these two bulls fight perched upon the ropes. Both men are now standing on the middle rope and Kross hits the Doomsday Saito off the middle rope! Karrion Kross rolls over and covers for the win!
Your Winner and NEW NXT Champion, Karrion Kross!
After the Match
The crowd is legit stunned and goes completely silent for a few moments. The belt is presented to our new champ and we get replays.
In Closing
Well there you have it! TakeOver XXX is in the history books, as is a very short NXT championship reign by Keith Lee. One can only speculate if this is a sign that he'll be making a main-roster debut sometime soon! Be safe, have a great weekend and see y'all here Monday for Raw!
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