One last stop before NXT TakeOver: XXX!

Johnny Gargano or Ridge Holland. Finn Balor or Velveteen Dream. Which two qualify for the NXT North American Championship Ladder match? Plus, Pat McAfee and Adam Cole have a face to face before they face off in their grudge match!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae VS Ridge Holland; Gargano wins and advances to TakeOver: XXX.
• Dakota Kai VS Jessi Kamea; Kai wins.
• Six Man Tag: El Legado del Fantasma VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango; El Legado del Fantasma wins.
• Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart VS Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone; Ripley & Blackheart win.
• NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Finn Balor VS Velveteen Dream; Dream wins and advances to TakeOver: XXX.

PLAY BY PLAY

NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae VS Ridge Holland!

The #WednesdayKnight and his Pint-Sized Poison Pixie princess are here to “save the magic kingdom” that is NXT. But if Johnny Takeover wants to get back to TakeOver, he’ll have to get through the Yorkshire Grit! Will Holland keep #TheJohnnyGarganoWay from getting their way?

The bell rings and Gargano circles with Holland, but avoids the grapple. Gargano welcomes Holland to “the big leagues,” and says Holland doesn’t even belong in the same ring. Holland just shrugs off the trash talk as they tie up and he throws Gargano down! Then puts Gargano in the corner for European Uppercuts! Holland grabs Gargano’s arm, wrenches to a knuckle lock, and uses just that one hand to bring Gargano to his knees. Holland brings Gargano up to wring him out! Holland whips, hip tosses and then runs Gargano over! Gargano bails out and flounders about but Holland goes out the side.

Holland sees Gargano and follows him around the way. Candice wants Holland to take it easy, Gargano gets in and slingshots out! Holland catches Gargano and pops him up, but Gargano slips out to get to the apron. Gargano Penalty Kicks Holland, then STOMPS Holland’s hands on the apron! Holland gets in the ring and Gargano hurries after. Holland still throws EuroUppers! Gargano stands and baits Holland into giving the ropes a EuroUpper! Holland staggers from this unique hotshot, Gargano wrenches the arm , but Holland powers through to wrench and CLOBBER Gargano!

The crowd fires up as Holland drags Gargano to his feet to club him down. Holland stalks Gargano to a corner and throws more EuroUppers! Holland shakes out the arms before he knees Gargano in the corner. Candice protests but Holland whips Gargano corner to corner HARD! Gargano tumbles up, out and to the apron! Holland drags Gargano back in, wraps on an arm triangle but Gargano elbows free. Gargano kicks the bad arm, wrenches it, then elbows the shoulder. Holland gets to a corner and pushes back but Gargano throws forearms. Gargano hits more but Holland ROCKS him with another EuroUpper!

The crowd is fired up while Candice panics. Holland CLUBS Gargano on the back again! Gargano keeps his legs up for a guard, gets a leg of Holland’s and brings him down! Gargano grapevines and heel hooks, but Holland powers around and STOMPS Gargano off! Gargano gets the arm again and wrenches, but Holland pushes him away. Holland runs in but hits buckles! Holland tumbles out, Gargano builds speed, and DIVES! Direct hit sends Holland between the ladders on display! Gargano catches his breath and is relieved a little as NXT goes picture in picture.

Gargano follows Holland around the ladders and back to the ring. Gargano keeps Holland on the apron to SLAM the arm! Holland clutches that arm while Gargano gets a good luck kiss from Candice. Gargano goes back to the ring, hurries after Holland in a corner and stomps away! The ref counts but Gargano lets up on the mudhole at 4. Holland flounders up but Gargano chokes him on the ropes! Gargano lets up at 4 again and Holland gasps to the corner. Gargano wraps the bad arm around ropes and CHOPS, but Holland pushes him away! Gargano throws forearms now, then runs from center, only to leap into Holland’s arms! Holland carries Gargano but Gargano fights free with elbows! Gargano gives Holland an armbar DDT!

Holland kicks and writhes while clutching the bad arm. Gargano stalks him to a corner and brings Holland up. Gargano climbs up to rain down left hands on Holland. Holland stops him before 10 and carries him. Gargano sunset flips but Holland brings Gargano back up. But Gargano gets the arm and drags Holland down! Gargano has the hammerlock but Holland endures. Gargano reaches for the other arm but Holland  resists so Gargano elbows away into his ribs! Gargano shoots the half nelson and turns Holland over for a cover, TWO!! Holland is free but Gargano is after his arm again.

Gargano wrenches the arm, twists the wrist and hits a shoulder breaker! Gargano hooks a leg and brings Holland into another hammerlock. This modified stretch twists Holland, but he powers out of the leg hook to elbow free! Holland runs, Gargano leaps, but Holland catches him for a ROUGH landing! Holland and Gargano got stuck somewhere between powerslam and driver, the ref has to check on Gargano as NXT returns to single picture.

Holland wants to cover but the ref has him wait. Candice is concerned and even the crowd has considerably quieted down. Holland gives Gargano space as Gargano gets to a corner. Gargano is somehow moving, but how is he in fighting shape? Holland wants to know the situation but the ref asks Gargano if he’s okay. Candice says to give Gargano a second and Gargano SUPERKICKS Holland!! Cover, TWO!! Gargano flounders around, still not 100% there. He gets Holland near the ropes and goes to the apron. Gargano slingshots but Holland BLASTS him with a forearm first!

Gargano stays on the apron, slingshots in, but Holland blocks the spear for a SWING!! Holland tosses Gargano, then brings him up for a proper POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!?! Gargano continues to be superhuman even as a super villain! Holland keeps his focus, drags Gargano back up and reels him in. Gargano resists the bomb lift so Holland clubs away on Gargano’s back. Gargano slips out to ROCK Holland with forearms from all sides. Holland DECKS Gargano with one! Holland gut wrenches and Canadian racks but Gargano wrenches the arm! Gargano digs his elbow in, Holland powers up and KNEES low!

Holland brings Gargano up but Gargano SUPERKICKS! Gargano point blank LARIATS, but Holland doesn’t fall! Gargano tries again and again, but Holland stays up. Gargano runs, Holland goes sideways to POUNCE Gargano out of the ring!! Candice checks on Johnny as the ring count begins. Holland hurries out after Gargano, Candice has to back away, and Holland warns her. Gargano tilt-o-whirls but Holland makes it an apron snake eyes! Holland drags Gargano into the ring, Gargano distracts the ref and Candice anchors Holland’s feet! Gargano kicks the ropes to hit Holland below the belt! The ref reprimands the Garganos but nothing he can do now! Gargano slingshots, ONE FINAL BEAT!! Cover, Gargano wins!!

Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall (advances to TakeOver: XXX)

The Johnny Gargano Way wins out, despite almost being crushed! Will the Wednesday Knight in not so shiny armor make his 18th TakeOver his best?

Dakota Kai VS Jessi Kamea!

#CobraKai is going to take on the Evil Genius for the NXT Women’s Championship, but first she’s going to tune up and stay sharp. Will the #1 contender keep from getting ahead of herself to go into TakeOver strong?

The bell rings and Dakota goes right at Jessi to tackle her down and rain down rights! Jessi kicks her away but Dakota clubs her back. Jessi throws body shots but Dakota pushes her to a corner. Dakota taunts Jessi and goes to buckle bump but Jessi blocks and hits back. So Dakota throws Jessi down by her hair! Dakota covers, TWO! Dakota grows annoyed but she toys with Jessi. Dakota cravats and chokes Jessi on the ropes, then lets up at the ref’s count of 4. The crowd boos but Jessi forearms back! Dakota ROCKS her with a right, then goes corner to corner and around the World with that Kai-O Kick! And then ANOTHER! Dakota snapmares to the cover, TWO! Jessi toughs it out and Dakota wraps her up with a straitjacket stretch!

Dakota pulls back and has Jessi in body scissors! Jessi kicks, fights up, the crowd rallies and she bumps Dakota into buckles! Jessi arm-drags free, dodges Dakota’s boot and then dodges again to waistlock and O’Conner Roll! TWO but Jessi comes back with a basement windmill kick! Jessi fires up and the crowd fires up with her! Jessi runs in for a BIG leaping forearm! Dakota sits down, Jessi goes side to side to sliding KICK! Jessi brings Dakota up, and SPINE BUSTERS! Cover, TWO!! Dakota survives but the #1 contender isn’t looking so sharp! Jessi runs at her but Dakota sends her into ropes! Dakota then brings Jessi around, fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall

GTK FTW and Dakota is rolling into TakeOver! Will she kick Io Shirai off her throne and take the title for the very first time? Dakota gets a mic and says “Hey, Io! You must be out of your mind!” Everything Shirai said about Dakota just proves Dakota right. Dakota is afraid of Shirai? Don’t make her laugh. Shirai is so focused on Dakota’s past while Dakota is focused on the future! TakeOver will see her take the title from Shirai. And it’ll feel so good when Dakota kicks Shirai in the face over and over and over- And here comes Shirai! Dakota wants the fight, Shirai brings it, and tackles Dakota down to rain down rights! Dakota bails out but Shirai pursues!

Shirai clubs and kicks Dakota up the way, but Dakota shoves her back. Shirai CLOBBERS Dakota down! Shirai wants to see where that courage is now, but here comes Raquel Gonzalez! She BOOTS Shirai right down!! Big Mama Cool is back, and despite Dakota talking about not needing insurance policies, Raquel is back to her old job of doing Dakota’s dirty work. Raquel drags Shirai up and to the ring and tosses her in! Dakota grins as she taunts Shirai. Dakota laughs but Shirai SHOTEIS! Raquel CLOBBERS Shirai from behind, then brings her up for the CHOKE SLAM!! Raquel raises Dakota’s hand in victory, but will this be what we see this Saturday?

Backstage interview with Tegan Nox.

Obviously, Tegan saw as we all did, the poorly veiled threat Candice issued Tegan last week during her little “storytime” with Doggo Gargano. Tegan’s response? “Did it take me by surprise and hurt me a little? Yeah.” Tegan and Candice had been friends for years, it meant the world to Tegan. But Tegan could also easily call Candice on what she’s done these last few months. But that’s the thing about friendships. There are ups, downs and differences, and those can be fixed. Since Tegan’s the one being accused of “causing rifts,” Tegan will fix this. And it’ll be like old times: over a glass of wine. Tegan didn’t realize she was so annoying to Candice, but she’s ready to talk it out. Will words heal the apparent wounds in this friendship? Or will they have no effect on #TheJohnnyGarganoWay of thinking?

Finn Balor speaks.

“Velveteen Dream. Our first Experience was interrupted.” The attack by a still unknown assailant kept The Prince out of action when these two were meant to battle for #1 contender status. “I’ve earned my place in this business. But you? You keep getting chance after chance after chance. And in my book, you’ve failed.” Balor can’t deny Dream’s talent, but there’s no way Dream gets in his way of becoming the next NXT North American Champion. Tonight, the Experience everyone’s been waiting for finally happens. But the outcome will be the same as always: #FinnOver.

Six Man Tag: El Legado del Fantasma VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango!

The NXT Cruiserweight Champion and his cohorts have tried to humble and even break Tyler Breeze and Fandango as part of their mission of remaking Lucha Libre in their image. But Santos Escobar has also been ducking challengers for his championship, and now he’s in Swerve’s House. Will there be no avoiding what’s coming for the Leader of Leaders?

The teams don’t sort out, they just brawl with the bell! Swerve has Escobar while Breezango takes care of Mendoza and Wilde! The ref tries to restore order but Swerve and Escobar tumble out while Breeze stomps Wilde and Mendoza turns things around on Fandango. Escobar throws Swerve into railing while Wilde turns things around on Breeze. Breeze and Wilde spill out of the ring now, so Mendoza and Fandango are legal by default. Breeze rocks Wilde, Mendoza whips Fandango corner to corner, but Fandango comes back to clobber Mendoza! Fandango stalks Mendoza around the ring as Mendoza flounders. Mendoza gets to a corner and Fandango CHOPS him!

Fandango throws hands, whips Mendoza corner to corner, but Mendoza slips out and hotshots Fandango back! Mendoza hammerlocks the bad arm to ram it into buckles! Tag to Wilde, Wilde climbs up and leaps but into Fandango’s body shot! Fandango throws Wilde down by his hair then brings him around for a suplex. Fandango hangs Wilde out to dry and tags in Breeze. Prince Pretty and the Lord of the Dance DOUBLE BOOT Wilde down! Cover, ONE, but Breeze drags Wilde back up. Tag to Fandango, they mug Wilde and Fandango brings Wilde around. Wilde powers out of the back suplex to throw Fandango out!

Mendoza creeps around the corner but Swerve sees that! Swerve gets in to baseball slide Mendoza down! But Wilde comes around, only for Swerve to send him into barriers! Escobar runs but into a kick! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Wilde and Mendoza! Swerve and Breezango stand tall and NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Fandango fires off hands on Wilde in a corner! Fandango CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, then whips corner to corner. Wilde reverses, Fandango BOOTS him down! Fandango hurries up top as the crowd rallies. Escobar distracts, Wilde pushes Fandango down, and Fandango hotshots before hitting the apron and then floor! The bad arm is in bad shape again but Wilde goes out to put him back in the ring. Wilde stomps the bad arm from hand to shoulder then tags in Escobar. El Hijo del Fantasma tags in Mendoza, and the trio works together, double hip toss rebound splash! Mendoza basement LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!!

Fandango reaches for his corner but Mendoza fish hooks the face and kicks him back! Mendoza kicks the bad arm and has Fandango in the open corner. Mendoza hooks the arm with a leg to drop a knee on that elbow! Mendoza digs it in and taunts Breeze and Swerve at the same time. He also mocks the hip swivel before he stomps Fandango more. Mendoza wrenches the arm, digs a forearm in the shoulder and neck, but Fandango endures. The crowd rallies up as Fandango fights up. Fandango stands, but Mendoza wrenches and PELES the arm! Mendoza has Fandango in the corner again, wraps the arm on the ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Mendoza lets go and Fandango CHOPS! But Mendoza kicks the arm again!

Mendoza keeps between Fandango and his corner while Wilde taunts Fandango. Mendoza wrenches and YANKS on the arm, then whips Fandango into the corner! Tag to Wilde, Wilde and Mendoza sucker punch Swerve and Breeze! Mendoza whips Wilde in but Fandango tosses him out! Mendoza runs in but Fandango POSTS him! Fandango hot tags Swerve! Swerve rallies on El Legado, and makes sure to give Escobar big haymakers! Swerve clubs away and throws body shots on Escobar in a corner, stomps away but lets off at the ref’s count. Swerve brings Escobar out, throws him and somersault COMPLETE SHOTS! Mendoza runs in but is sent back out. Swerve sweeps the legs and mule kicks him down!

Wilde grabs Swerve’s feet but Swerve stomps his hands. Swerve slingshots out to the apron and BOOTS Wilde down! Swerve hurries to a corner and the top rope. He aims at Escobar and leaps, into a KNEE!! Both men are down but Breeze returns to his corner. Mendoza runs in but gets an enziguri for it! Escobar waistlocks Swerve, Swerve pries at the hold, but Wilde springboards in! Swerve swings Escobar into the missile dropkick! But that dropkick also sends Swerve stumbling into Breeze and knocks him down! Swerve staggers back up, Escobar fireman’s carries, but Swerve slips out and shoves. Escobar goes up but not over, JML DRIVER!! But wait, Swerve isn’t legal?! That collision counts as a tag?!

DOUBLE DROPKICK SANDWICH! Mendoza and Wilde take Swerve out with the GAMANGIRI LEG SWEEP COMBO!! But Breeze slips in to rally on them both! Haymaker after haymaker, and then Breeze clotheslines Wilde out! And Mendoza, too! Escobar hotshots Breeze down, then drags the sputtering Prince Pretty into the fireman’s carry, PHANTOM DRIVER!! El Legado wins!!

Winners: El Legado del Fantasma, by pinfall

A technicality helps Escobar survive, because Swerve had him dead to rights! Can Escobar continue to dodge Swerve’s shot? Or is Swerve only closing in on the target that is the NXT Cruiserweight Championship?

Pat McAfee arrives at Full Sail!

“Well, well, well. Look who’s here!” McAfee has back-up in former NFL Super Bowl winner, A.J. Hawk, and former Indianapolis Colts teammate, Darius Butler. Will Hawk and Butler be enough to keep the kicker safe?

NXT has a huge announcement for TakeOver: XXX!

A match so big it has to be on the preshow! It will be an NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders TRIPLE THREAT! El Legado del Fantasma puts up Wilde and Mendoza to face the One Two of Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, and Breezango! Will Prince Pretty & the Lord of the Dance get payback while also punching their ticket to a title match? Or will the BritAm Bruisers bust things up and take that right for their own?

The Undisputed Era heads to the ring!

We saw McAfee has his boys, so Adam Cole brings his! Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong dare Pat to show up already. Pat and his guys do, coming in through the back door. The crowd is torn between applauding and booing as Pat gets a mic. “Well hello, Undisputed Era. Last week, Adam, you said, ‘Please! Please come see me face to face!'” Come back to the arena Pat got kicked out of! And here he is, along with “28 years of NFL experience” by his side, because Pat knows Cole better than Cole knows Cole. Pat knows Cole doesn’t go anywhere without “the Three Stooges,” that Cole would be nothing without them, and that he could not handle a 1v1 with someone like Pat.

Cole talks to the UE and has them back off. Is Pat ready to start now? Pat has his guys back down, too, but is still wary of Cole. Cole backs off and says, “The floor is all yours.” Pat gets in and asks if Cole remembers what happened two weeks ago. Probably not, given what happened, but Pat will remind him. HBK was checking for vitals on Cole’s “soulless body, right over yonder, next to stupid Tom Phillips.” Last week, Cole goes on this rant about how Cole was being held back and that Pat took advantage. “Blah blah blah, I outsmarted you in your own house.” Pat outsmarted Cole in Cole’s own industry.

Then Cole went on another rant about how Pat isn’t special compared to the longest reigning NXT Champion, who has wrestled all over the globe. From five people at a time in armories, bingo halls and high school gyms, to arenas in Japan and everywhere else, and made it to NXT as the biggest star in the brand. What did Cole call himself? The King of NXT? He had all the people fooled. “400 and something days, you were undefeated.” Took Pat a minute and change to knock his ass out. One swing from this foot, and it was done. Cole says Pat’s not special? How was that not special? Pat’s never been in the ring before and made Cole look amateur!

Pat has made a million dollars in seven different professions. “And you,” Cole, along with Strong, “stupid you” O’Reilly and “mustache stooge” Fish, and the wrestling community watching at home, better hope he doesn’t stick with pro-wrestling, because this would be number 8! And Saturday, it’ll end the same way it did two weeks ago. Cole will be left unconscious after throwing a temper tantrum, after losing his mind and losing his cool, because he and Pat are different levels. Pat only has two weeks to twin for a match. HHH talks trash on ESPN, saying if Pat wants to act tough, HHH can make him famous. Two weeks is all Pat will need to beat Cole! And then Cole will have to explain to the entire wrestling fandom how he lost to an outside!

Pat explains how: Cole is great in this world, but Pat is next level. Pat is above Cole as a human, as an athlete, and it will end with one swing of Pat’s foot, meeting Cole’s face and sending it to the moon! The only sound “any of these idiots in here” will hear, is “BOOM!” Pat throws the mic down and Cole nods. Cole’s turn to talk. But security gets in to keep him back! Pat talks smack from the other side of that line and Cole backs off. Cole then shoves one guard into another, DECKS the third and throws the fourth into the first! BOOT for the second, SUPERKICK for the third! And Pat realizes he’s in trouble. Cole steps closer but Pat’s boys step up. So Cole’s boys step up.

Cole says if Pat wants to go, he and his boys can get in and get mangled! We won’t have to wait until Saturday! No? That’s what the UE thought. Cole steps closer and tells him that this Saturday, “I’m gonna make you my b*tch.” Cole backs away, and the UE takes their leave. Pat talked a big game, but game day is coming. Will Cole rough the kicker so bad Pat decides to stick with podcasting?

Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart VS Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone!

The Aussie Nightmare and the Wild Child look to TCB, Take Care o’ Business. And by business, they really mean the Robert Stone Brand! Will they make sure the brutal and the bougie finally back off and mind their own business?

The teams sort out, Mercedes starts with Rhea, and Rhea TACKLES Mercedes right away! Rhea rains down rights, Mercedes gets up and the two brawl to the corner. Aliyah tags in, she goes after Rhea but Rhea throws Aliyah to the corner! Tag to Shotzi but Rhea still brings Aliyah up for an atomic TOSS! Shotzi howls and backs Mercedes off as she runs, to then CANNONBALL into Aliyah at the ropes! Shotzi brings down the suspender straps to unleash the leather, but Aliyah dodges in the corner! Aliyah runs in but Shotzi goes up and over to come back with a splash! Shotzi rolls Aliyah and hits a SLING DOG! Stone asks if Aliyah’s okay but Shotzi has her legs.

Shotzi shouts, “Welcome to the Ball Pit!” as she drops the Jeff Hardy style leg splitting leg drop! Jackknife cover, TWO! Shotzi bridges up to her feet but Mercedes swipes at her! Aliyah pulls green hair to throw Shotzi down! Tag to Mercedes and she covers, TWO! Mercedes drags Shotzi into a chinlock with the knee in Shotzi’s back, but NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Aliyah runs at Shotzi in a corner, but Shotzi boots back! Shotzi hops up, sunset flips, TWO! Aliyah spins Shotzi around for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Aliyah is angry with the ref but she drags Shotzi over. Tag to Mercedes, Russian Leg Sweep to a KNEE! Mercedes pie faces Rhea just because, then she drags Shotzi away. Mercedes stomps Shotzi to ropes, stalks her and drags her up to choke her on the ropes, with a sleeper hold adding on! The ref counts, Mercedes lets up, and Aliyah pushes Shotzi down! Mercedes goes after Shotzi in a corner and throws forearm after forearm, then she CHOPS Shotzi down.

Mercedes underhooks Shotzi and brings her over to tag Aliyah. The Brand mugs Shotzi, Aliyah double chicken wings Shotzi now, and Mercedes tags in to continue the mugging! Mercedes DECKS Shotzi, covers, TWO! The crowd rallies but Mercedes keeps on Shotzi with a grounded cobra twist. Shotzi endures the stretch, Mercedes rolls back for a cobra cover, ONE and Shotzi has a cover of her own! TWO and Mercedes clubs Shotzi on the back. Mercedes underhooks to butterfly suplex! Cover, TWO! Mercedes grows annoyed, kicks Shotzi around and taunts her. Mercedes chokes Shotzi on the ropes but the ref reprimands.

Mercedes drags Shotzi up, fisherman but Shotzi fights the suplex to cradle counter! TWO, and Shotzi dodges a boot to SATELLITE DDT! Both women are down, the crowd rallies up and Stone coaches Mercedes up. Shotzi and Mercedes crawl, hot tags to Aliyah and Rhea! The Mosh Pit Kid rallies on Aliyah with lariat after lariat! She spins Aliyah for the cravat and knee smashes! Snapmare to basement dropkick! Rhea fires up with the crowd and she keeps Aliyah from getting away by reeling her in for an Electric Chair! Aliyah shrieks before she takes the FACEBUSTER! Cover, Mercedes breaks it!

Shotzi ENZIGURIS Mercedes down! Rhea shouts at Stone to shut up, and then tags in Shotzi. Pump handle and RIPTIDE, before Shotzi climbs up top. Mercedes trips Shotzi up! Rhea ROCKS Mercedes with that right then hip tosses her inside! Mercedes staggers up but dodges Rhea to POST her! Rhea ends up on the apron, Mercedes runs at her but the boot misses! Rhea has Mercedes off the apron, for a POWERBOMB to the outside!! Where were the Plexiglas boards!? Stone freaks out and goes to check on Mercedes while Shotzi adjusts. SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Shotzi and Rhea win!!

Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Rhea Ripley, by pinfall

The heavy metal rebels just rocked the Robert Stone Brand to the core! Will this finally end the obsession and allow Rhea and Shotzi to move on?

NXT previews the coming NXT Championship match, Keith Lee VS Karrion Kross.

The return of the Great American Bash was the culmination of all the Limitless One’s hard work and perseverance in his career. It was Winner Take All as the then North American Champion challenged Adam Cole BAYBAY! Needless to say, it was one for the ages and made history by crowning Keith Lee as the first-ever dual NXT and North American Champion, ending Adam Cole’s incredible reign. But a champion with that big of a target on his back obviously had the attention of the doomsday duo.

Kross says that “Each day, a man attempts to climb the mountain. But only when he reaches the top can he see, he’s been climbing a volcano.” The volcano is waiting to erupt. Mr. Lee, this is your volcano. Kross came to NXT, warning us all of the end. Tommaso Ciampa tried to cancel that end at TakeOver: In Your House, but he got much more than he bargained for. The sand in the hourglass began to pour, but Keith smashed that hourglass. That only added to Kross’ aggression. As did Dominik Dijakovic saying Kross is not on Keith’s level. Kross took out Keith’s rival with viciousness rarely seen in NXT, and then made Keith watch as Dijakovic’s face turned purple in the Krossjacket.

Kross gave Keith a choice: the easy way or the hard way. William Regal refused to let it be that way, so Kross brutalized even more NXT superstars. This forced Regal’s hand, and he allowed Keith to hand Kross a contract. The contract was signed, but Scarlett Bordeaux added her own special touch in a flash paper fireball trap!! Keith’s eyes were nearly burned away but he’s still cleared to compete! “I will whoop that ass.” The collision course is coming. The clock keeps ticking. TakeOver: XXX is the time and place, but who survives to reign supreme?

NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Finn Balor VS Velveteen Dream!

Who will be the fifth and final man in the TakeOver: XXX ladder match? Who is truly the Prince of NXT? Both these questions will be answered with one match as we finally have our #fOreVERExperience!

Dream taunts Balor with some Too Sweets and finger guns as he makes his entrance. Balor keeps his cool as the bell rings and the two circle. They feel out the grapple but Dream backs away. They circle more, approach and tie up. Balor headlocks to the takeover and denies the headscissor counter. Balor throws Dream’s sunglasses away and hits a second takeover, but Dream gets the headscissors this time. Balor fights that off and then throws the do-rag away! Dream fights back up, Balor holds the headlock but Dream rolls him to a cover! ONE, Balor stays on but Dream powers up and out. Things speed up, Dream hurdles and sunset flips but Balor rolls through to aim his finger guns. The crowd are fired up but Dream bails out to take a breather.

Balor waits for Dream in the ring while NXT goes picture in picture. Dream takes his time trash talking the crowd, Balor gets impatient and heads for the ropes, but Dream ROCKS him with a sucker punch uppercut! Dream drags Balor out to throw into the boards! Balor flounders around, Dream mockingly applauds and hits a body shot! Dream gets his do-rag back before he leaps and clubs Balor on the back! Balor rests against the barriers while Dream refreshes the count. Dream puts Balor back in, takes his time going up the steel steps, and he takes his shirt off on his own before throwing more body shots in the corner. Dream rocks Balor with BIG haymakers but the ref backs him away.

Dream comes back to taunt Balor, but Balor gets up, only for Dream to ROCK him! Dream drags Balor into the suplex but Balor knees back! Balor knees more, cravats, snapmares and KICKS! Cover, TWO! Balor keeps on Dream with a thrashing chinlock but Dream flails and fights up. They go around, Balor wrangles Dream down and grinds on the hold. Dream endures, fights up and throws body shots. Dream ROCKS Balor, runs, but Balor elbows Dream down! Cover, TWO! Balor drags Dream into the chinlock, grinds him down again, and NXT returns to single picture.

Dream fights up to jawbreaker free! Balor staggers back, brings Dream around and CHOPS him! And CHOPS him! And whips, but Dream reverses. Balor ducks the heel kick, comes back but into Dream’s Thesz Press! Dream rains down fast hands then shouts, “Wolfpac in the house!” Dream howls as his gear makes sense now. Dream stalks Balor and clamps onto the shoulders! He bumps Balor right into buckles then CHOPS him to the other corner. Dream bumps Balor off more buckles, Too Sweets and SLAPS him! Balor sputters but Dream CLUBS him on the back. Dream goes for another buckle bump but Balor blocks to throw body shots back!

Balor sweeps the leg with a kick! Then another kick! Dream flips upside down but Balor keeps kicking! Balor drags Dream to the center to drop an elbow on the knee! Balor cranks the leg in a toehold and keeps Dream from using a leg to counter. Dream’s shoulders are down, TWO as Dream clubs Balor. Dream throws more shots then uses his leg again. Balor just uses that leg against the first for a modified deathlock! Dream powers up, avoids Balor adding a crossface to this, and drags himself towards ropes for the ROPEBREAK! Balor lets go quick but he comes back to go after the legs again! Balor puts the leg on the ropes to dig his knee in and then drop down on it! Balor stomps, the ref reprimands and Balor backs off.

Dream crawls, Balor gets the leg again and pulls Dream from the ropes. Balor trips Dream up again to drop back down on the leg for another toehold. Dream pulls at Balor’s arm to turn this but Balor clasps hands. Dream uses his longer legs to break that grip and then stomp away on Balor! Dream lets go of the arm as he works out his legs. The crowd rallies up as Balor and Dream stand. Balor goes for the leg but gets a knee and LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Dream grows frustrated but Balor gasps. Dream slaps Balor on the back of the head, but Balor gets up. Dream DECKS Balor but Balor gets up. The crowd rallies, Dream CLUBS Balor but Balor throws forearms. Dream DECKS Balor again!

Dream looms over Balor at the ropes but Balor gets to a corner. Dream climbs up to rain down rights, then swivels his hips right at Balor’s head. Dream keeps punching, “Where’s my count?” Dream makes sure he gets 10 before he lets off. Dream leaps but the leg lariat gets buckles! Balor CHOPS and CHOPS and sweeps the other leg! Balor stomps away on Dream but the ref backs him off. Dream flounders up, Balor comes back but Dream elbows him hard! Dream leaps and ax handles! Balor staggers back up, Dream brings him for a hotshot bulldog! Does Tony Nese know Dream knows his move? Balor snaps back and Dream tumbles to the ladders.

Dream sees the title hanging just overhead, but Cameron Grimes comes out, boasting already that the belt belongs to him. The ref tells Grimes to stay back, this match is still going. Grimes continues to talk as Dream gets back in the ring. Will the Technical Savage shut up while NXT goes to break?

NXT returns once more and Dream apologizes to the ref about something, while Grimes sits on top of a ladder and holds the North American Championship! Seems Grimes didn’t shut up at all, and Dream whips Balor corner to corner HARD! Dream hurries over, tells Grimes to watch as he KICKS Balor in the ribs! Grimes isn’t impressed, he’s too busy looking at the belt. Dream brings Balor up and scoops him and hits a backbreaker! Grimes is still not impressed, even as Dreams swivels at him. Dream throws a BIG uppercut on Balor then flexes. Dream brings Balor up, whips him to ropes but Balor reverses. Dream sunset flips, Balor rolls through to basement dropkick! Grimes laughs again as both men go to opposite corners.

Balor runs in but into a haymaker! Dream hops up but Balor trips him up! Balor drags Dream backwards into the Tree of Woe, stomps away on the legs and hips until Dream falls out! Grimes laughs more but Balor is on Dream with CHOPS! Balor whips corner to corner, runs and CHOPS! And then back the other way, Dream tumbles over and out! Grimes decides to start climbing down as Dream crawls over to his ladder. Balor goes out and stomps away on Dream right at the ladder. Balor then climbs up to get at Grimes, but Dream yanks Balor down! Dream gives Balor an apron snake eyes! Grimes feels relieved as he gets to sit on the ladder alone again.

Dream puts Balor in the ring, Too Sweets and brings Balor in, but Balor turns the DreamDT into the dragon sleeper. Dream slips around to trip and jackknife roll to the fireman’s carry! But no Dream Valley Driver, either, as Balor hits that elbow drop DDT! Balor grits his teeth as he takes aim from the corner. Dream stands up, and gets the SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Dream bounces off buckles, Balor glares at Grimes as he climbs up the corner. Grimes decides to climb down again, but Dream hops up to join Balor! SUPERPLEX!! Both men are down and Grimes sits on the ladder again. But wait, here comes Gargano! Gargano pushes the ladder over and Grimes FLIES into the ring, crashing into the ref!!

Grimes flounders back to his feet while Balor and Dream get up. They both glare at Grimes, Balor trips up and STOMPS Grimes down! Grimes flounders back up into Dream’s FAMOUSER! Balor SLING BLADES Dream! Balor takes aim again, but runs into a SUPERKICK! Grimes is out of the ring, Balor and Dream are down in the ring, and now Gargano picks up the belt as if it’s already his. But wait! Here comes Bronson Reed! Auszilla won’t let Gargano think he can just grin his way into TakeOver! Reed chases Gargano into the ring, Gargano wants Reed to take it easy, but he backs into Damian Priest! Gargano reaches up to check, and yes, it’s the Archer of Infamy.

Gargano tries to reason with both big men, but before he can use the belt as a weapon, Priest ROCKS him and Reed tosses him! Reed turns around to see Priest holding the belt. Priest tosses it to Reed so Priest can ROUNDHOUSE him! Reed stays up, Priest runs, Dream SUPERKICKS Priest first! Reed clotheslines Priest and himself out of the ring!! Dream holds the belt but Balor clotheslines him out! And then Balor FLIES out onto Reed and Priest! Balor tempts fate by walking under the ladder, and gets CLOBBERED by Timothy Thatcher!! The Professor of Pain already sent Balor a message, but here’s another one! Thatcher drags Balor up and throws him into the ring for Dream’s DREAM VALLEY DRIVER!!

Dream flounders to a corner, the ref finally revives and Dream drops the PURPLE RAIN MAKER!! Cover, Dream wins!!

Winner: The Velveteen Dream, by pinfall (advances to TakeOver: XXX)

We have our fifth man, brother! But before Dream can properly celebrate, Gargano SUPERKICKS him down! Gargano walks over to the North American Championship and picks it up. Gargano gives it a kiss, holds it up, but Grimes SUPERKICKS him down! But Priest gets Grimes for the SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM! Reed CLOBBERS Priest! Reed blocks Dream’s boot for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Reed holds up the title last tonight, but will he be the one to hold it in the end?

My Thoughts:

This was a pretty wild go-home, especially for NXT. We got right to the action with the first “second chance” qualifier, Gargano VS Holland was a great match but that was a scary powerslam botch! I thought Gargano was going to be done because of that, but I suppose he was able to take it like any driver move. Holland looked great even though Gargano goes over, but it makes for great stuff in the #TJGW story. Gargano getting involved in that wildly “overbooked” ending segment of the main event match also proves he was okay, and it is great to know he’ll be in the ladder match. Balor VS Dream was a great match, even with the other participants getting involved.

I should’ve figured Thatcher would attack Balor tonight to keep him out of the ladder match as opposed to getting involved in the ladder match and screw him out then. I don’t know if this sets up a TakeOver match this last minute, but that story can definitely be a major part of the build to the next one. However, I do feel like the #1 contender Triple Threat to the NXT Tag Team Championships is last minute just to counter Saturday Night Dynamite trying to counter program TakeOver. The overlap definitely complicates things for me, expect AEW Dynamite coverage to come after TakeOver coverage. That Triple Threat is partially set up by tonight’s Six Man, which was a really great match. I do have to credit the creativity of that technicality that cost Swerve and helped El Legado. I hope that, with help from 205 Live, Escobar VS Swerve is set up for either a big time NXT or the next TakeOver.

The NXT Championship preview was another great video package, the NXT team always does great with those. I loved the face-to-face of Cole and Pat. Pat talked a lot of great trash in his promo, Cole used actions to speak for him instead, and I actually am interested in seeing that match now. Dakota Kai gets a good enough win, but the big surprise is Raquel Gonzalez returning. It seems Dakota was just tricking everyone into thinking she ditched the Daughter of the Desperado and now she has her insurance policy back in her corner for TakeOver. I still feel like Io Shirai finds a way to overcome the odds because she’s that great. Candice and Tegan are slowly getting their rivalry on track and that can definitely help build towards the next TakeOver.

Rhea and Shotzi had a great match with The Robert Stone Brand, and WOW Rhea bombing Mercedes to the floor! Did not see that coming, it really added a lot to that finish and to this feud. I really hope Payback’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship challengers are also decided by a Triple Brand something or other, I feel like Rhea and Shotzi already have this chemistry and matching theme that works for a team. For one, Rhea has already faced Sasha Banks via Survivor Series’ Women’s 5v5v5, and then she can check off Bayley as another of the NXT Four Horsewomen. Plus, if Rhea and Shotzi were to somehow win, Rhea becomes a unique Women’s Triple Crown winner by having been NXT UK, NXT USA and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. But that probably won’t happen as Vince McMahon only barely allows NXT to be the third brand.

My Score: 9.1/10