NXT Minus 6: Takeover Vengeance Day, After

Bradley Jay ranks the matches from WWE NXT Takeover Vengeance Day in his order of enjoyment!

You know the drill. Before the show, I ranked the matches based on my excitement to see them. Now we see who disappointed and who was better than expected.

6. Io Shirai versus Mercedez Martinez versus Toni Storm

Shirai is untouchable and nobody wants to say this, but I will. Her matches are stale. She hits her standard offense, jumps off something tall, and gets the victory. But wait. There’s more! After the match, no matter how grueling it is, there she is smiling and pointing at her belt, looking like she’s posing for a Revlon ad. Pre-match Io: crazy psycho. Post-match Io: buy my eye liner! 3 stars, stays at 5

5. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez versus Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon.

Blackheart is the new Lita, for all the wrong reasons. There were two spots that I thought she would maim herself or her opponent. It’s like she gets in the middle of something and has no idea how to finish. Visually, I see her appeal. Her presentation is much better than her in-ring. Everybody else looked like the three best women in the division, because that’s what they are. 4.5 stars, drops from 2 to 4 

4. Finn Balor versus Pete Dunne

I heart Pete Dunne. He’ll main event PPVs for the next decade. But damn if he doesn’t know how to sell. The entire match Balor is wearing out his knee, crippling the guy. Then at the end, he pops up like nothing happened and starts running around the ring. Before he got the pin, Balor took one more brutal shot at Dunne’s leg, as if to say, “You’re injured, dumb ass, and here’s a reminder.” By comparison, there’s victorious Balor making gun fingers with his gnarled, broken digits. The Prince knows that the match isn’t over when the bell rings. 4.5 stars, drops from 1 to 3

3. KUSHIDA versus Johnny Gargano

I am so thankful this got a clean finish. It was everything I thought it would be from two of the best in-ring workers in the world. This had more counters than a kitchen & bath remodeling store. For me as a wrestling fan, there’s nothing better than having sky high expectations for a match and it delivers. Gargano cements his spot on the Mt. Rushmore of NXT. Sadly, and for no fault of his, I never thought KUSHIDA had a chance to win. 4.6 stars, from 3 to 2 

2. Grizzled Young Veterans versus MSK

It’s my favorite cliche in all of wrestling: the tag team match will steal the show at Takeover. I wanted to see MSK deliver in a longer match. Wow. I got what I asked for. I loved the end when Nash Carter flipped the switch from goofy skater boi to a guy who can get angry and kick some ass. As for Wes Lee? Shades of Ricochet! And I’m already looking forward to GYV in the finals of next year’s Dusty Cup Classic. You know my motto: Good Things Happen When You Let Wrestlers Wrestle. 4.8 stars, up from 3 to 1

1. Now about that ending…

I’m a simple person. I like simple things. I like honorable Kyle O’Reilly extending a hand to the man who has given him two of the best matches of his career. I like jealous Adam Cole kicking everyone in the face because he’s not the center of attention anymore. I like Roddy Strong, looking like the poor kid stuck in the middle of a divorce. I like Pat McAfee gloating about the downfall of the UE on social media. I like NXT.