NXT 8/19/20: Final Qualifiers for Takeover Ladder Match Official!
Here's what's on tap tonight:
Pat McAfee returns to NXT to confront Adam Cole face-to-face
Six Man Tag Team Match: Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango & Isiah "Swerve" Scott
Second chance NXT North American Championship Qualifying Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Ridge Holland
Second chance NXT North American Championship Qualifying Match: Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream
Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart vs, Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone
Tonight's show kicks off with some qualifying action!
Second Chance NXT North American Championship Qualifying Match
Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae vs. Ridge Holland
Gargano talks trash in the beginning but Holland goes on the offense. Holland over powers Gargano early and sends Gargano out of the ring. Holland goes to the outside. Gargano rolls in and dives to the outside but Holland catches him. Gargano gets the upper hand. We go back in the ring where Holland hits an uppercut. Holland goes for a second one but Gargano avoids it and targets the arm of Holland. Holland works over Gargano in the corner and sends him to the opposite corner. Holland remains in control but Gargano fights back and works on Holland's left arm. Holland delivers a big forearm but Gargano goes after the leg of Holland. Holland sends Gargano into the corner but misses a knee strike and goes to the outside. Gargano dives out and hits a toupe as we go to a split screen commercial.
During the commercial, Gargano stays on the offensive as they go back into the ring. Gargano beats down Holland in the corner. All Gargano during the break as he works Holland's arm. Gargano pounds on Holland in the corner until Holland tries to counter but Gargano stops him by working the arm some more. Gargano gets a pin for a near fall. More arm work by Gargano. Both men collide in the middle of the ring when Holland tries to power slam Gargano and GARGANO TAKES A BAD LANDING ON HIS HEAD!!
We're officially back from the commercial now and the ref is checking on Gargano. Super kick from Gargano to Holland!! Near fall!! Gargano goes for the Final Beat DDT but eats a punch from Holland! Power slam by Holland gets a near fall. Holland is in control and was looking for a gut wrench of some kind but Gargano avoids it and hits a super kick. Gargano runs into a pounce by Holland sending Gargano to the outside! Holland goes outside to get him as LeRae talks trash. Holland drops Gargano face first on the apron. Back in the ring, LeRae holds Holland's leg allowing Gargano to hit a low blow that the ref doesn't see!! ONE FINAL BEAT DDT BY GARGANO AND IT'S OVER @ 12:13!! Solid match between these two to kick off the show. Not sure how I feel about Holland losing his first two matches in NXT but I do like Gargano advancing to the ladder match.
Dakota Kai is in action next!
Dakota Kai vs. Jessi Kamea
This could be ugly. Kai takes Kamea down immediately. Kai goes on the attack by beating down Kamea corner to corner. Early near fall by Kai. All Kai early on. Kai delivers two big kicks to the face with Kamea in the corner and gets a near fall. Kai locks in a straight jacket submission but Kamea escapes. Near fall by Kamea. Kamea builds some momentum and gets another near fall. Kai turns the tide and DELIVERS THE GTK FOR THE WIN @ 2:56! A squash for Kai as she heads into Takeover XXX looking to win gold. After the match, Kai gets on the mic and says Io Shirai must be out of her mind because Kai isn't afraid of her. Dakota says she's taking the title at Takeover. IO SHIRAI INTERRUPTS!! THEY BRAWL!! Kai tries to bail but Shirai beats her down in the entry way. RAQUEL GONZALEZ IS HERE TO ATTACK SHIRAI!! Gonzalez carries Shirai to the ring! Shirai tries to fight back but Gonzalez lays her out!
Tegan Nox is interviewed backstage about Candice LeRae. Nox says she's a little surprised by LeRae's words last week. Nox says she needs to fix whatever is going on between the two of them. Nox says she's ready to talk to LeRae.
Finn Balor video promo now where he talks about Velveteen Dream getting multiple chances. Balor says Dream won't get in this way tonight.
Six Man Tag Team Match
Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango & Isiah "Swerve" Scott
We start the match with all six men brawling!! We officially start with Fandango and Raul Mendoza. Fandango beats him early but Mendoza turns the tide sending Fandango into the corner. Wilde makes the tag but Breeze also tags in as Breezango isolates Mendoza. Things break down and Breezango deliver stereo super kicks on the outside to Legado del Fantasma as Scott delivers a kick to stop a dive as we go to a commercial break.
We're back and Fandango is beating down Joaquin Wilde in the corner. Fandango goes to the top but Escobar distracts him allowing Wilde to take advantage. Escobar is in for a second until Mendoza comes in. Good team work by Legado del Fantasma. Mendoza wheres down Fandango focusing on the arm. Fandango almost makes a tag but a kick from Mendoza prevents him. Legado del Fantasma isolate Fandango in the corner and wipe out Scott and Tyler Breeze. Fandango finally tags Scott and he runs wild!! Leaping flat liner by Scott!! Things break down, and Scott leaps off the top but Escobar catches him with a knee to the jaw! Joaquin Wilde does a spring board drop kick but accidentally hits Escobar! Scott has it won but Breeze was accidentally tagged in by Scott. The ref calls off the pin because Scott isn't the legal man. Breeze goes crazy on Wilde and Mendoza but ESCOBAR HITS BREEZE WITH THE PHANTOM DRIVER TO WIN @ 12:01!! Swerve had it won at one point but the referee said Breeze was the legal man. The feud between Scott and Escobar continues. In my opinion. they should face each other for the title soon. Why not add it to Takeover?
Pat McAfee arrives with some former NFL players by his side including AJ Hawk.
Metallica's "Moth into Flame" is the official theme song of NXT Takeover XXX.
On the NXT Takeover XXX pre-show, Legado del Fantasma will face Breezango and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to determine the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
SHOCK THE SYSTEM!! The Undisputed Era are here now! Pat McAfee comes through the crowd with his NFL players by his side. McAfee says he brought 28 years of NFL experience with him because he knew Adam Cole would bring the UE with him. Cole sends the rest of the UE away. Cole offers McAfee to get in the ring and he does. McAfee reminds Cole what happened two weeks ago when he punted Cole. McAfee brings up Cole's rant last week and McAfee says he outsmarted Cole. McAfee talks about Cole being the biggest star in NXT but claims it only took McAfee a minute to knock him out. McAfee runs down the other members of the UE. McAfee says Cole will be unconscious on Saturday and it only takes McAfee two weeks to train for Cole. McAfee says Cole is great but McAfee is next level. McAfee says he'll win and "boom!" Cole goes to talk but security gets in the ring. COLE BEATS DOWN SECURITY! The NFL players back up McAfee as the UE backs up Cole. Cole gets in McAfee's face and says "At Takeover, he'll make McAfee his bitch". The UE leave and there is no further contact.
The women's tag team match is next!
Aliyah & Mercedes Martinez w/ Robert Stone vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Rhea Ripley
The match starts with Ripley and Martinez. Ripley goes after Martinez right away and Martinez tags out. Ripley and Blackheart isolate Aliyah. Blackheart hits a face buster before hitting a double leg drop to the midsection. Aliyah is able to make a tag to Martinez who beats on Blackheart as we go to a commercial.
Back from the break, Blackheart hits a sunset flip on Aliyah for a near fall. Aliyah comes back with a neck breaker to Shotzi before tagging in Martinez. Martinez continues the work on Blackheart. Aliyah gets a couple cheap shots in when the referee is distracted. Aliyah and Martinez trades tags as they isolate Blackheart. Martinez hits a double under hook suplex on Blackheart for a near fall. Blackheart fights back and hits a big DDT on Martinez. Both ladies are down. Both ladies tag out and Ripley beats down Aliyah. Basement drop kick to Aliyah's face by Ripley! Electric chair face buster to Aliyah by Ripley but Martinez breaks up the pin! Ripley tags Blackheart! RIPTIDE TO ALIYAH BY RIPLEY! Robert Stone gets on the apron to distract! Martinez crotches Blackheart on the turnbuckle. RIPLEY POWER BOMBS MARTINEZ OVER THE BARRICADE TO THE CONCRETE!! BLACKHEART HITS A SENTON FROM THE TOP ON ALIYAH FOR THE WIN @ 9:53!! Good win for the faces as Ripley and Blackheart get a little revenge.
Exclusive preview of Keith Lee vs. Karrion Kross next!
A video package shows highlights of Keith Lee beating Adam Cole to become NXT champion while Karrion Kross and Scarlett watched. We then see highlights of destruction caused by Karrion Kross. Then we see what happened with the contract signing last week, Good video package overall.
Second Chance NXT North American Championship Qualifying Match
Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream
It's odd but Dream is wearing street clothes it looks like. Balor takes Dream down early. They have a stand off early as neither man gets a clear advantage as we head to a split screen commercial.
During the commercial, both men brawl on the outside. Dream seems to get the better of it as they go back into the ring. Dream beats on Balor in the corner. Balor fights back and hits some knee strikes and gains a near fall. Balor locks in a chin lock to wear down Dream. Dream fights back but eats an elbow from Balor.
Back from the break, Balor is still in control until Dream catches him with a Lou Thesz press. Dream goes on the offense now. Balor fights back with some punches and kicks. Balor targets Dream's left leg and locks a submission but Dream makes it to the ropes. Balor goes back to the leg with stomps and a leg lock. Dream counters with some strikes to Balor's face. Big kick by Dream takes Balor down for a near fall. Both men trade strikes with Dream getting the better. Dream mounts Balor in the corner and taunts him while delivering punches. Balor comes back and delivers stomps to Dream but Dream catches Balor with an elbow. Dream leaps over the top rope to the outside and hangs Balor across the top rope in the process. HERE COMES CAMERON GRIMES TO RINGSIDE as we go to another commercial.
We're back and Dream is beating down Balor while Grimes is watching from on top of a ladder on the outside. Grimes is also holding the NXT North American title. Back breaker by Dream to Balor. Dream taunts as he be beats on Balor. Balor rolls through and hits a basement drop kick. Balor hangs Dream in the tree of woe and delivers kicks. Chops by Balor to Dream in the corner. Balor sends Dream to the opposite corner and he goes up and over to the outside. Balor continues the attack outside. Balor is distracted by Grimes allowing Dream to drop Balor face first on the apron. Dream goes for DDT but Balor counters. Dream sets up for Dream Valley Driver but Balor counters and drops an elbow across the face! JOHN WOO DROP KICK BY BALOR!! Balor goes to the top but DREAM GOES UP AN SUPERPLEXES HIM!! GARGANO IS OUT NOW AND HE SENDS GRIMES OFF THE LADDER AND THE REF GETS TAKEN OUT! Balor and Dream take out Grimes. Sling blade by Balor! Balor runs into a super kick by Dream. BRONSON REED IS OUT NOW AND SO IS DAMIAN PRIEST! Priest and Reed take out Gargano! Things break down and TIMOTHY THATCHER IS HERE AND TAKES OUT BALOR!! DREAM VALLEY DRIVER ON BALOR!! PURPLE RAIN MAKER AND IT'S OVER @ 20:27!! DREAM ADVANCES TO TAKEOVER!! Loads of interference by everyone at the end. Gargano takes out Dream afterward! Everyone gets involved again and hits their finishers! BRONSON REED STANDS TALL AS THE SHOW ENDS!
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