NXT Takeover XXX 2020
8/22/2020
Winter Park, Florida
Full Sail University
Announcers: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, & Beth Phoenix
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
During the pre-show, Pat McAfee arrived to the building with his fellow football players. William Regal was there to greet him and politely reminded him that it will be a one-on-one match tonight.
Kickoff Show Match
Triple Threat Tag Team #1 Contenders Match
Breezango vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. Legado del Fantasma w/ Santos Escobar (NXT Cruiserweight champ)
Escobar leads Wilde and Mendoza to the ring but doesn't stay at ringside. Fandango goes on the attack right away and the action quickly spills to the outside. Mendoza and Fandango go at it in the ring. Fandango knocks off Mendoza off the top to the floor and turns his attention to Wilde. Fandango Razor's Edges Wilde to the outside on top of everyone. Lorcan tries to suplex Fandango outside the ring from inside but Fandango blocks. They trade small packages for near falls. Lorcan no sells a series of strikes and delivers chops of his own. They battle to the outside. MENDOZA DOES A CORKSCREW DIVE FROM THE TOP AND TAKES OUT EVERYONE!! Wilde, Breeze, and Lorcan are legal. Wilde picks up a near fall on both men. Wilde remains in control of both men but Burch makes a blind tag. Burch hits a drop kick from the second rope on Wilde. German suplex follows that! Burch sets up Wilde for a Doomsday but Wilde counters and goes on the offense. Burch makes a tag and they hit a double team elevated DDT for a near fall. Fandango is back in and battles with Lorcan. Breeze is tagged in and him and Fandango and they double team Mendoza. BIG LEG DROP BY FANDANGO!! The pin is broken up by Wilde. Mendoza and Breeze exchange blows. MENDOZA WITH A SPANISH FLY ON BREEZE! WILDE HITS A 450!! 1..2..NO!! Broken up by both teams!! Lorcan smashes Wilde with a wicked uppercut! BREEZE DELIVERS A SUPER KICK TO LORCAN AND PINS HIM TO WIN!! This was a good fast paced match for the pre-show. They had the best match they could for the time they were given. I was a little surprised by the winner since Breezango already had a chance against Imperium. I still don't like their chances against Imperium next time either.
W: Breezango via pin @ 6:53 (***)
Metallica's "Moth into Flame" is the official theme song for NXT Takeover XXX.
Now we're on to the main card! A great video package opens with some of NXT Takeover highlights that leads to hyping up tonight's match ups!
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
Balor immediately goes on the attack! Thatcher goes after the leg and takes Balor down to the mat. Thatcher goes for an arm bar out of the gate and then Balor goes for one of his own. Thatcher goes back to try the leg but both men get to their feet. Balor works the left arm of Thatcher but Thatcher takes him down again. More mat work by both men. Thatcher locks in a front face lock but Balor back drops Thatcher to the outside. Thatcher gets back in but Balor delivers a series of stomps. Thatcher goes after the leg again. Thatcher delivers some knee strikes and continues the leg work before locking in a bow and arrow submission. Balor rolls into a pin but Thatcher kicks out and back to the leg we go. Balor hops up like he doesn't give a shit and delivers some strikes! THATCHER LOCKS BALOR IN A KIMURA LOCK! Balor gets out but now Thatcher works on his arm. Balor gets to his feet turns a chicken wing submission into a pin for a near fall. Balor is able to hit a basement drop kick to stop Thatcher's momentum. Both men trade blows now. PELE KICK BY BALOR! Both men down. Balor beats on Thatcher in the corners. Thatcher blocks a sling blade but Balor takes him down and hits a double stomp! Both men continually counter each other until Balor locks in an abdominal stretch. Balor is able to lift and plant Thatcher for a near fall. JOHN WOO DROP KICK SENDS THATCHER INTO THE CORNER! Balor goes to the top but Thatcher avoids the Coup de Grace!! Balor tweaked his knee! Thatcher locks in a single leg crab!! Balor makes the ropes. Thatcher goes after the legs and arms some more but Balor delivers a kick to stop that. German by Thatcher! Balor locks in the abdominal stretch again and they continue to trade submissions. Balor rolls through and hits another double stomp to the midsection! Balor drops the elbow across the face and neck. Balor goes to the top and HITS THE COUP DE GRACE!!. Balor holds his knee. 1916 BY BALOR!! IT'S OVER AND BALOR GETS HIS 12th TAKEOVER WIN! They worked a good match with good psychology. Thatcher had a plan but Balor had a come back for everything he tried.
W: Finn Balor via pin @ 13:33 (***1/2)
Keith Lee is arriving. Sasha Banks and Bayley are watching in the stands.
Ladder Match for the NXT North American Championship
Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Velveteen Dream
Everyone brawls to start! The action is at a fast pace in the early going. Dream controls the early parts of the match as he is left all alone. Dream goes for a ladder but Grimes attacks him on the outside. Grimes pulls out a ladder but it's a two stepper haha. Grimes and Gargano fight over a ladder and Gargano gets the better. Reed clears the ring of Gargano and Priest. Dream back in to stop Reed. Priest and Dream both have ladders set up but Grimes stops them both. Grimes climbs both ladders at the same time but Dream and Priest pull them apart to make him do the splits! Reed takes out Dream and Gargano with a senton onto the ladders onto them! Reed and Priest go at it now. Reed turns Grimes inside out with a clothesline. Gargano tries to climb but he's stopped by Reed and Priest. Double super kicks by Grimes and Dream to Reed! Gargano tries to trick Grimes but it doesn't work. Gargano and Dream use ladders to take out Priest and Reed. Dream goes to the top but Gargano throws a ladder into him. Priest takes them both out in the corner. REED PILES UP EVERYONE ALONG WITH LADDERS IN THE CORNER AND SPLASHES EVERYTHING!! DREAM GETS SUPERPLEXED BY PRIEST OFF THE TOP AS PRIEST IS PULLED DOWN BY REED AND GRIMES! Everyone is down except Gargano. Grimes climbs but is knocked off. PRIEST CLIMBS AND ALMOST HAS IT BUT DREAM BRINGS HIM DOWN! Priest kicks out Dream's feet taking him off. Grimes and Gargano are back. Super kick by Gargano to Priest. Reed puts the ladder around his neck and starts taking out everyone. Dream throws a ladder that takes out Priest on the outside. Everybody is diving to the outside to take out someone. Grimes takes out Gargano outside with a modified Spanish Fly. Everyone down on the outside! Priest stops Grimes from climbing. PRIEST RUNS UP A LADDER THAT WAS LEANING ON THE ROPES AND DIVES OUTSIDE ONTO EVERYONE EXCEPT GRIMES! CANDICE LERAE IS HERE TO CHECK ON JOHNNY! GRIMES IS CLIMBING BUT CANDICE STOPS HIM! Candice and Johnny take out Grimes! CANDICE WITH A RANA TO GRIMES SENDING HIM OUTSIDE WITH A GARGANO ASSIST! Gargano climbs but Reed stops him. REED ALMOST HAS THE TITLE BUT CANDICE STOPS HIM!! REED SPLASH GARGANO WITH CANDICE ON HIS BACK!! Reed tries to climb again but Priest is here to stop him. Grimes has a monster ladder! Dream stops Grimes as both Priest and Reed already fell off. Dream sets up a ladder bridge across the ropes and lays Grimes on it. Dream sets up the monster ladder and goes to deliver an elbow but realizes the title is close. Priest stops him! Reed stops him! GRIMES HITS A CAVE IN ON PRIEST! Gargano stops Grimes! Gargano and Grimes take a hard fall off the top with Gargano sunset flips Grimes off the ladder! Super kicks for everyone. WITH PRIEST ON A LADDER, DREAM HITS A DREAM VALLEY DRIVER ON GARGANO ONTO PRIEST!! Dream climbs but REED TIPS HIS LADDER SENDING DREAM INTO THE STANDS!! HOLY SHIT!! Grimes stops Reed! Grimes climbs but Gargano stops him. GARGANO HAS THE TITLE IN HAND BUT PRIEST GRABS IT TOO!! THE TITLE IS UNLATCHED!! PRIEST HITS GARGANO AND HE FALLS AND PRIEST HAS THE TITLE!! They did some good stuff here but at times it felt like the flow wasn't good. They hit some crazy spots. I feel like the match could have benefited from being a few minutes shorter. It was a lot of run up the ladder then someones stops them and hits a big move.
W: Damian Priest via retrieval of championship @ 21:24 (***1/2)
Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee w/ NFL Players
Pat has a mic backstage and talks trash before making his way to the ring. His NFL guys are accompanying him. They lock and McAfee taunts Cole. Lock up again and Cole takes control. More taunting by McAfee and he almost eats a super kick before begging off. A third lock up with McAfee getting the head lock. McAfee takes Cole down with a shoulder block. Cole goes for a kick but McAfee ducks out of the ring. McAfee takes his time getting back in. Cole goes outside but the NFL players step between him and McAfee. The Undisputed Era is out now for back up. PAT MCAFEE GOES TO THE TOP AND SWANTONS ONTO EVERYONE!! In the ring, McAfee beats down Cole in the corner. McAfee talks trash while he continues to beat down Cole. McAfee picks up Cole for a big scoop slam and does squats while holding Cole. Near fall for McAfee. Cole fights back but McAfee throws him down by his hair. Cole tries to fight back again but McAfee hits a surprising drop kick to take him down. MCAFEE TALKS TRASH AND THEY TRADE SLAPS!! NOW THEY BRAWL! PUNCHES BY COLE HOCKEY STYLE! Big kick by Cole. Cole kicks the crap out of McAfee in the corner. Neck breaker across the knee by Cole and McAfee kicks out at 2! Back stabber by Cole but he gets another near fall. Cole looks a little surprised that McAfee kicked out. Cole goes to the top but McAfee racks him. COLE PUSHES MCAFEE OFF BUT HE BACK FLIPS AND LANDS ON HIS FEET! MCAFEE LEAPS TO THE TOP AND SUPERPLEXES COLE!! 1..2..NO!! MCAFEE SETS UP A PUNT ON THE OUTSIDE BUT COLE MOVES AND MCAFEE PUNTS THE STEPS!! Back in the ring, figure four by Cole on McAfee! McAfee makes it to the ropes. McAfee talks trash and Cole is pissed and delivers a bunch of kicks. MCAFEE HITS A LOW BLOW BY THE REF DOESN'T SEE IT!! McAfee clotheslines Cole and then MCAFEE HITS THE PUNT KICK!! 1...2...COLE KICKS OUT! MCAFEE LOOKS SHOCKED!! McAfee goes to the top rope, taunts Cole, and jumps into a super kick!! COLE DEMANDS MCAFEE GET UP!! Cole thinks about the Last Shot but changes his mind and HITS THE PANAMA SUNRISE FOR THE WIN!! This way surpassed by expectations. I thought Cole would be able to carry McAfee to something watchable but I dare say that McAfee was shockingly good! It would be great to see him have a couple more matches because the man is super athletic. He more than held his own. They did everything right and had the best match of the night so far! Props to all involved. Not sure if this match will hold up over time, but for now it's great.
W: Adam Cole via pin @ 16:12 (****)
Drew McIntyre joins commentary. He briefly talks about Randy Orton. They ask McIntyre for his thoughts on the main event.
NXT Women's Championship Match
Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez vs. Io Shirai (champ)
Io goes on the attack right away. Dakota turns the tide but Io blocks a kick. Io lands hard on a moonsault. Shirai beats down Kai in the corner with some kicks and Kai bails to the outside. Io goes after her but Gonzalez steps between them. Kai sends Shirai into the ring post before going back into the ring. Near fall for Kai. Kai works on Shirai's arm. Shirai tries the tiger kick with Kai draped across the middle rope but Kai avoids it and continues her attack on Shirai. Near fall for Kai after a kick. Back to the arm work and another near fall for Kai. Kai works on Shirai in the corner and remains in control. Kai repeatedly stomps Shirai and continues the arm work. It's effective but I wouldn't call it exciting. Shirai starts fighting back and hits a big palm strike. Io goes on the attack now. 619 BY IO! DROP KICK FROM THE TOP BY IO! Near fall. Shirai rolls through a German and hits a double stomp. Both ladies fight to the apron. Kai tries to German Shirai but Shirai blocks. Kai tries a power bomb instead but Shirai avoids it and stomps Kai! Kai kicks out of a pin and goes back to work on the arm. DAKOTA KICKS IO IN THE FACE BUT IO NO SELLS IT! Io is fired up but walks into a scorpion kick. Dakota goes for a kick in the corner but Io avoids it. DOUBLE KNEES TO KAI IN THE CORNER MULTIPLE TIMES!! Io goes to the top but is stopped. Kai tries a superplex but Shirai stops it! DOUBLE STOMP FROM THE TOP BY IO!! 1...2...NO! Shirai goes for a double under hook but eats a head butt. After some knees to the back, Kai locks in an arm bar on Shirai! Shirai tries to block it and prevent it. Io makes it to the ropes. Shirai is on the apron and delivers an elbow but Kai kicks her in the face. Io goes to the top but Dakota pulls her off and delivers a kick to the face! 1...2...Io gets her foot on the ropes! Kai goes for a kick in the corner BUT KICKS THE REF IN THE FACE WHEN IO MOVES!! GERMAN TO KAI BY SHIRAI!! MOONSAULT BY SHIRAI BUT THERE IS NO REF!! GONZALEZ GETS IN THE RING AND PLANTS IO WITH A SLAM!! Gonzalez revives the ref! 1...2...IO KICKS OUT!! IO LOCKS IN A CROSSFACE!! Kai rolls through but Io knees her in the face! IO TAKES OUT KAI AND GONZALEZ WITH A MOONSAULT ON THE OUTSIDE!! Back in the ring, ANOTHER MOONSAULT BY IO AND IT'S OVER! These two women gave us a great match. Kai did some great arm work while Io's comeback was equally great. I didn't even mind the interference from Gonzalez because it was well done in my opinion.
W: Io Shirai via pin @ 17:14 (***3/4)
Gonzalez attacks Shirai after the match!! HERE COMES RHEA RIPLEY!! They have a stare down! Kai pulls Gonzalez back. No physicality between Gonzalez and Ripley.
NXT UK Returns September 17th!!
TOMMASO CIAMPA RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY!!
Cesaro is in the crowd.
Damian Priest is celebrating in a hot tub with some ladies. Who wears their gear in a hot tub??
NXT Championship Match
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett vs. Keith Lee (champ)
Kross' entrance is impressive per usual. Lee immediately hits Kross with a pounce! Lee talks some trash and they start brawling. Lee backs Kross into a corner and delivers some bombs! Kross tries a few kicks but Lee isn't having it. More shots in the corner by Lee. Kross fights back but Lee takes him down with a cross body. Kross goes to the outside. Lee follows but Kross gains the advantage. Kross breaks the count and goes back out to deliver some more strikes. Kross throws Lee into the plexiglass but LEE NO SELLS!! Lee sends Kross into the plexiglass. Kross sends Lee into the ring post. Kross kicks the guard rail where Lee's arm was between the guard rail and plexiglass. Back in the ring, Kross target Lee's arm. Kross goes for a cover but Lee quickly kicks out. Kross looks surprised but immediately goes back to the arm. Kross sends Lee shoulder first into the turnbuckle multiple times and once into the ring post. Near fall for Kross. Back to the arm work. Lee tries to fight back but Kross takes him down with a single arm. Kross continues the arm attack. Lee works his way back to his feet but Kross does a nice take down and gets Lee in an arm bar. Lee locks his hands to prevent it and rolls into a cover but Kross avoids the cover. Lee uses his strength to lift Kross while in the arm bar and slam him. Punches by Lee and a forearm takes him down. Lee splashes Kross in the corner and then power slams him. Near fall. Lee appears to go for Spirit Bomb but Kross avoids it and they trade blows. Lee blocks the Doomsday Saito. Kross hits a DDT for a near fall. Lee blocks the Doomsday Saito again! Lee suplexes Kross and gets a near fall. Lee delivers some strikes now. The pace of this match is super slow. Kross runs the ropes before taking Lee off his feet with a big clothesline. Near fall for Kross. Both men trade shots in the middle of the ring. Kross goes off the ropes again but this time he eats a clothesline from Lee! Both men are slow to get up. KROSS HITS THE DOOMSDAY SAITO!! 1...2...NO!! KROSS LOCKS IN THE KROSS JACKET!!! THE REF LIFTS LEE'S HAND AND HE'S STILL IN IT! Lee crawls to the ropes!! Kross stalks Lee but Lee takes him down with a double chop to the chest. SPIRIT BOMB BY LEE!! KROSS KICKS OUT AT 2!! Lee drags Kross to the corner. Lee goes to the top rope but Kross stops him. Both men are on the top now. KROSS HITS A DOOMSDAY SAITO FROM THE SECOND ROPE AND IT'S OVER!! This was a twenty plus minute match that felt twice as long. Where do I start with what I don't like about this?? First off, the match was twice as long as it should of been. The big man brawling early on was good but then the arm work started and the rest dragged. I felt like the finish was anti-climatic and the booking makes Lee look like a fool. He gives up the NXT North American title then immediately loses the NXT title. The only logical thing Lee can do now is go to Raw or Smackdown.
W: Karrion Kross via pin @ 21:51 (**)
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
This event is a mixed bag for me. The women's match was great and Cole/McAfee far exceeded any expectations that I had. I may have overrated it but those two guys went out and surprised everyone. I give McAfee lots of credit and Cole made him look great. Balor/Thatcher was a nice hard hitting match. The tag match was good for the time given. I expected a little better from the ladder match. I'm not saying it was bad but I had higher expectations. What brings the event down for me....THE MAIN EVENT!! The match was too long and I can't stand the booking. I feel Lee must go to Raw or Smackdown now. Tommaso Ciampa is returning so he can go for Kross if Lee moves up.
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