NXT 7/29/2020: Another Qualifier for the Ladder Match at NXT Takeover XXX
Here's what's on tap tonight:
NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae & Dakota Kai
NXT Champion Keith Lee will address Karrion Kross
Roderick Strong vs. Johnny Gargano
Mercedes Martinez vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Isiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Jake Atlas
Imperium will be in action
Triple Threat Qualifying Match for the Ladder Match at NXT Takeover XXX for the NXT North American Championship: Dexter Lumis vs. Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
We open NXT tonight with the classic "End is Near" theme that WWE has used for events in the past. The video package highlights all that has happened with Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and Karrion Kross.
We got some tag team action right away!
NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae
Dakota attacks Io during her entrance! This leads to all four brawling before the bell! The match begins and it's Tegan and Candice starting. Candice controls the early going. Tegan starts to come back and both ladies tag out. Io runs wild on Dakota! Kai looks frustrated and it's all Shirai! Kai lands a couple kicks to stop Shirai's momentum. Candice is back in to work on Io. Quick tags in and out by the heels. Near fall for Kai. Io stops Dakota;s momentum with a flapjack that appeared to be botched a little. Candice tries to save Dakota but Tegan throws Candice out of the ring. Candice pulls Io out of the ring and also sends Tegan into the steps giving the heels the advantage as we head to a split screen commercial.
During the break, the heels isolate Tegan in the corner. The wear down of Nox continues. Dakota got a couple of near falls during the break and tagged Candice back in. It's kind of odd that they happened to go for pins during the commercial break like the match was really going to end during commercial. Minor complaint I guess. Back from the break, Nox and Kai heads collide and Nox is able to tag Shirai! All Shirai now as she works on Kai and takes out LeRae on the apron. SHIRAI GOES TO THE TOP LOOKING FOR A MOONSAULT BUT KAI CUTS HER OFF!!! Kai tries a superplex but Shirai blocks and GETS KAI IN THE TREE OF WOE. DOUBLE STOMP BY IO!!! 2 COUNT!! LeRae gets an UNWANTED TAG FROM KAI!! TIGER KICK BY IO AND FOLLOWS WITH DOUBLE KNEES!! Io takes out Dakota on the outside with a suicide dive! Kai walks out on LeRae!! THE SHINIEST WIZARD BY NOX ON LERAE!!! MOONSAULT FROM SHIRAI TO LERAE WINS IT @ 12:59!! Good opening match with Io getting a little retribution on Dakota. It seems certain Dakota will face Io at Takeover.
Tom Phillips brings up the incident that happened on the Pat McAfee Show with Adam Cole. For those that don't know, McAfee took some jabs at Cole and Cole blew up and cussed out McAfee. It's been debated whether or not it's a work. Triple H appears on the Pat McAfee show two days ago to discuss Cole's apology.
We see highlights of Bronson Reed winning last weeks triple threat match to advance to the ladder match at Takeover. The loss for Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong led to them exchanging words and us getting a one-on-one match between the two tonight.
Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong
These two are capable of stealing the show. We start with some mat work and counters by both men. Beautiful grappling and counter wrestling by both men in the early going. We get a stand off! Back to the mat wrestling and Strong is in control as the moment. Gargano counters, focuses on an arm and attempts the a modified Gargano Escape. Near fall for Gargano and back to the mat work. The pace quickens and the action goes to the outside where Gargano avoids a back breaker and continues working on Strong's arm as we go to a commercial.
Back from the break, Strong drops Gargano with a back breaker in the ring and follows with chops. Gargano fights back but Strong remains in control. Step up enziguri by Gargano from the apron. Gargano goes for the One Final Beat DDT but Strong blocks it into a back breaker for a near fall. They battle in the corner and Gargano lays Strong out with a flat liner. The momentum shifts to Gargano as he targets the arm. Gargano counters an Olympic Slam attempt and looks to lock in the Gargano Escape! Strong avoids! Both men trade punches/chops in the middle of the ring. Super kick by Gargano. Action goes to the outside where Gargano sends Strong into the barricade with a hurricanrana and a flying scissors. He follows up by sending Strong into the barricade and plexiglass multiple times. Back in the ring, ONE FINAL BEAT DDT BY GARGANO!! IT'S OVER @ 12:56!! Good match here but the finish felt as though it were a little sudden.
Dakota Kai is interview backstage. Kai says she doesn't care about Candice LeRae. Kai declares herself the number one contender. She claims to be in Io Shirai's head. RHEA RIPLEY IS HERE!! Ripley doesn't care what Kai wants. Ripley says Shirai is hers and she'll go through anyone to get to her. Kai says we'll see what William Regal says about this.
Timothy Thatcher is interviewed by Mackenzie Mitchell. Thatcher says Finn Balor and Dexter Lumis will both get taught lessons tonight.
Roderick Strong is in the back with the other members of the Undisputed Era. Kyle O'Reilly is back and he says they all need to get it together and remind everyone who they are!!
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Mercedes Martinez w/ Robert Stone & Aliyah
I don't like Blackheart's chances. Blackheart immediately goes on the attack but Martinez throws her out of the ring. Stone talks trash as Martinez beats the hell out of Blackheart! In the ring, Martinez mounts Blackheart and continues the beat down. Shotzi tries to fight back!! Shotzi gets a near fall. Strikes by Blackheart and Martinez goes down. Shotzi hits her reverse senton with Martinez draped across the rope. Near fall! Shotzi runs into a spine buster from Martinez that gets a near fall. Shotzi tries a Slice of Bread #2 but Mercedes blocks it and pounds Shotzi!! RELEASE GERMAN OFF THE TOP BY MARTINEZ!! MARTINEZ FOLLOWS UP WITH AIR RAID CRASH TYPE MANEUVER FOR THE WIN @ 4:23!! This is pretty much a squash as Shotzi didn't get much offense in. The Robert Stone Brand gets back on track.
KEITH LEE IS UP NEXT!!
We see a vignette for Ridge Holland. We see highlights of him playing rugby and from some of his matches in NXT UK. He claims he's coming for the NXT North American Championship. He debuts next week!!
Keith Lee is out now and he looks pissed!! He wants to get something straight. Lee says we can talk all day about Dominik Dijakovic telling Lee he wanted that match. Lee says Dijakovic is a grown man and he'll be alright. Lee says Karrion Kross wants his attention but doesn't get why he did a bunch of bullshit!!! Lee calls out Kross but CAMERON GRIMES comes out!! Grimes says Lee gave away the NXT North American Championship before Grimes could take both titles. Grimes keeps running his mouth and LEE DESTROYS HIM!!! THE LIGHTS FLICKER BEFORE DIMMING!! SCARLETT APPEARS ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP!! Grimes tries to attack Lee and LEE SPIRIT BOMBS GRIMES!! Lee turns to Scarlett. KROSS APPEARS ON THE TRON! Kross asks what kind of man stands by and and watches his friend get destroyed. Kross says Lee has two choices. 1) Give Kross a title shot 2) You don't want to know but everyone will suffer. LEE SAYS PICK THE TIME AND PLACE AND LEE WILL WHOOP THAT ASS!!! Scarlett walks away.
Non-Title Match
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium vs. Ever-Rise
We haven't seen Imperium in weeks. All Imperium in the early going. Ever-Rise shows a brief flurry of offense but it's short lived. IMPERIUM FINISHES OFF PARKER WITH A EUROPEAN BOMB @ 2:17!! Thanks for coming Ever-Rise. Barthel is on the mic saying they're back to dominate. SHOCK THE SYSTEM!! ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF THE UNDISPUTED ERA ARE HERE!! THEY BEAT THE HELL OUT OF IMPERIUM!! COLE SAYS THEY STILL RUN NXT!!
A video package highlights Bronson Reed and his road to the Takeover ladder match. Reed claims no one can stop him from winning the championship at Takeover.
Finn Balor is getting ready for the main event as Dexter Lumis watches in the background.
William Regal announces that he won't be bullied into making championship matches and he tells Keith Lee and Karrion Kross that championship opportunites must be earned.
Isiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Jake Atlas
Both men are looking to get a shot at Santos Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. They trade counters early. They work to a stand off but not as good as the Gargano/Strong exchange earlier. Not that anyone expected it to be. Both guys are super athletic. Scott uses a crucifix for an early near fall. Atlas lights him up with chops in the corner. Scott stops his momentum with a kick to the face as we go to commercial.
Back from commercial, Atlas nails a springboard block buster on Scott!! Scott fires back and they trade elbows to the face until Atlas plants Scott face first into the canvas for a near fall. Strikes by Atlas but Scott hits a German before driving Atlas into the mat! Near fall for Scott. They trade counters in the corner with some awesome lucha libre work until Atlas drives Scott into the mat. Near fall! Scott avoids a cartwheel DDT and hits a super kick! HOUSE CALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE RING BY SCOTT!! JML DRIVER BY SCOTT AND IT'S OVER @ 9:57!! Both men got to shine and Scott continues his momentum as he heads toward an eventual clash with Escobar.
Damian Priest is interviewed about his triple threat qualifying match next week. He'll be facing Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland. Priest says there will be no upset next week as he will advance!
Main event is next!!
Next week there will be a NXT Tag Team Championship match between Imperium and the Undisputed Era. Also, Rhea Ripley will face Dakota Kai in a number one contender's match for a title shot at NXT Takeover XXX!!
Triple Threat Qualifying Match for the Ladder Match at NXT Takeover XXX for the NXT North American Championship
Dexter Lumis vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Finn Balor
Balor and Thatcher go after each other early on as Lumis just watches. Lumis then attacks both and sends Balor and Thatcher outside. Lumis dives over the top and lands on his feet!! In the ring, all three men to deliver heavy blows to each other until Lumis takes them both down. Lumis focuses on Balor with a back drop for a near fall. Lumis throws Thatcher out of the ring and Balor attacks Lumis! Thatcher comes back and attacks both men with uppercuts. Thatcher gets a near fall on Lumis after a suplex. Thatcher looks for the submission but Balor is back. Lumis drops Thatcher on ropes for a stun gun. Balor looks for a Coupe de Grace but Thatcher knocks Balor off the top as we go to a split screen commercial...
During the commercial, Thatcher wears down Lumis in the ring. Balor gets back on the apron and delivers kicks to both men. All three men are down. Lumis mounts and beats on Thatcher. Thatcher fights back and delivers a suplex to Lumis before turning his attention to Balor. Back from break, Balor fights back but Thatcher remains in control. Roll up by Balor gets 2. Thatcher goes right back on the offensive. Lumis tries to reenter the ring but Thatcher knocks him to the floor. This allows Balor to regain some momentum though. Lumis is back now and he targets Thatcher. Balor hits Lumis with a pele kick! All Balor now and he hits a sling blade on Lumis!! Balor looks for a shotgun drop kick on Lumis but Thatcher takes Balor's legs out from under him!! Thatcher targets Balor's legs. Balor falls to the outside. Lumis with a spine buster on Thatcher! Lumis looks for Silence but Thatcher avoids it! Dragon screw on Balor's leg by Thatcher takes Balor out again. URANAGE BY LUMIS INTO SILENCE ON THATCHER!! COUPE DE GRACE BY BALOR TO BREAK IT UP!! THATCHER LOCKS BALOR IN A KNEE BAR!! BUT LUMIS LOCKS THATCHER IN SILENCE!! THATCHER PASSES OUT!! LUMIS WINS @ 12:17!! Lumis stares at the NXT North American Championship as Balor looks on pissed to end the show.
Next week:
Ridge Holland debuts
#1 Contender's Match - Winner faces NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai at NXT Takeover XXX: Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Undisputed Era vs. Imperium (champs)
Triple Threat Qualifying Match for the Ladder Match at NXT Takeover XXX for the NXT North American Championship: Oney Lorcan vs. Damian Priest vs. Ridge Holland
Thank you everyone for reading!!! If you like what you read, become a site member and subscribe for updates! We appreciate all the support!!