NXT TakeOver: XXX Results, Recap & Opinion

NXT TakeOver: XXX Results

A.K.A. The Pat McAfee Show

Results:

• Breezango def. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch and Legado del Fantasma to become #1 Contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championships
• Finn Balor def. Timothy Thatcher
• Damian Priest def. Cameron Grimes, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano & Velveteen Dream in a ladder match to win the NXT North American Championship
• Adam Cole def. Pat McAfee
• Io Shirai (c) def. Dakota Kai to retain the NXT Women’s Championship
• Karrion Kross def. Keith Lee (c) to win the NXT Championship

Match of the Night: Io Shirai def. Dakota Kai to retain the NXT Women’s Championship

We’ll talk more about the surprise that was Pat McAfee and the carnage that was the ladder match later. The match of the night though was the Women’s Championship battle between Shirai and Kai. Both women battled hard, and we knew that eventually Kai’s heavy Raquel Gonzalez would get involved. She did, but Shirai was still able to survive. Shirai would take out both women, and would hit a moonsault for the win. After the match Kai & Gonzalez attacked Shirai, and Rhea Ripley made the save. Ripley looks to have some business to settle with Gonzalez now, but could look to Shirai and her title sooner rather than later.

…$$ #NXTTakeOver https://t.co/8Y5zu51bvJ

— Triple H (@TripleH) August 23, 2020

Three Thoughts:

Fall and Pray

Karrion Kross’s meteoric rise to the top of NXT is complete. Keith Lee put up the best challenge to Kross yet, but in the end the power of Kross was too much. Kross even had to use an avalanche Saito Suplex to put Lee away, but he did get the job done. The NXT Championship picture is now clear: line people up for Kross to knock down. He should hold this belt for a long, long time. Lee is now likely on his way to Monday or Friday nights. He’d be a great addition to either roster, so now we just wait and see.

#WWENXT is now in the hands of the #KrossCult. 🔥#NXTTakeOver @Lady_Scarlett13 @WWEKarrionKross pic.twitter.com/quj0K88NI5

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 23, 2020

Pat McAfee Put It Down

The list of truly good celebrity matches in wrestling history is short. Stephen Amell, Lawrence Taylor, and Mr.T. Now it’s time to add Pat McAfee to that list. In his battle with Adam Cole, McAfee showed physical skills and psychological ability. He lost to a Panama Sunrise, but still managed to win the night. Nobody expected the former punter and current podcaster to do all the wrestling he did. If WWE wanted to sign McAfee to the Performance Center, I think it would be a sound investment.

Wrestling purists: “Why would they put Pat McAfee in a #NXTTakeOver match?!?”

Pat McAfee:

pic.twitter.com/EmBdeMpkL3

— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) August 23, 2020

Ladder Lunacy

The five-way ladder match was absolutely bonkers. All five men had moments to shine, as did Candice LeRae as she made her way out to help out Gargano. LeRae took a huge bump off the ladder on the back of Bronson Reed. Reed was also a standout performer in this match, but he came up short. In the end it was the Archer of Infamy who managed to fight off Gargano to pull down the belt. Priest was the best choice for the belt, as he was the freshest face and the wrestler on the best upward trajectory.

Wow!

Incredible from Bronson Reed, Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano!#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/oxGsT89994

— Gary Cassidy (@WrestlingGary) August 22, 2020

Grade: B+

There is no such thing as a bad TakeOver. Even the worst TakeOver is better than your average night of wrestling. Tonight’s show was not up to the level of most TakeOvers. Kai-Shirai was excellent, and the ladder match was a wild ride. McAfee’s match was entertaining, but the main event was a bit flat. Thatcher-Balor felt like a non-TakeOver level match as well. Something was just missing from this one. 

One More Thing:

No matter where you are, no matter what you do, you can’t avoid the Triple H point picture if you win a title.

It’s good to be the champ. Congratulations to the NEW @WWENXT North American Champion, @ArcherOfInfamy! #ThePoint #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/nrdZi8KG5B

— Triple H (@TripleH) August 23, 2020