WWE NXT TakeOver 31

By Steve Ward

Just one week following Clash of Champions, WWE returned with NXT Takeover 31 from the brand new Capitol Wrestling Center at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Essentially, the Capitol Wrestling Center is a scaled down version of the Thunderdome as WWE has again implemented the virtual fans with the primary difference being Performance Center athletes, family, and friends also surrounding the ring. The event also marked the debut of Wade “Bad News” Barrett on commentary with Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix - a much needed infusion of life since the departure of Mauro Ranallo. The concise card featured five bouts with four titles on the line and was headlined by Finn Balor going head to head with Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT Championship.

NXT North American Championship

Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano

Winner: Damian Priest via pinfall

Takeover kicked off in electrifying fashion as the man formerly known as Punishment Martinez in Ring of Honor defended his North American Championship against Johnny Gargano. This hard-hitting contest fired on all pistons from the opening bell. One of the most brutal spots of the match evolved as the two men battled in front of the announce table where Priest hoisted Gargano up into the Razor’s Edge and propelled him so his spine collided with the edge of the ring apron. Following a low blow that caused a momentum shift late in the match, Priest was still able to prevail as he executed The Reckoning to solidify the victory.

Kushida vs. Velveteen Dream

Winner: Kushida via submission

This grudge match evolved after each man essentially cost the other their respective title opportunities for Takeover. Like the opening contest, this one also got off to a ferocious start as Kushida ambushed Dream in the midst of his entrance. The advantage did not last long as Dream was able to assert control over the contest by engaging in his well known mind games. Kushida was able to withstand the Dream Valley Driver and The Purple Rain Maker to systematically dismantle Dream’s left arm. The final moments of the match saw Kushida cinch in The Hoverboard Lock as Dream attempted another Dream Valley Driver and he sustained the hold throughout as he forced Dream to tap out.

NXT Cruiserweight Championship

Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Winner: Santos Escobar via pinfall

Since the demise of 205 Live, the Cruiserweight Championship has been adopted by NXT. Tonight’s bout featured two men who had their personas manipulated in typical WWE fashion shortly following their arrivals. First, we had the champion, Santos Escobar, who may be better known as El Hijo del Fantasma. In his case he debuted under that moniker until he unmasked himself and formed Legado del Fantasma. Escobar’s opponent, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, was formerly known in Ring of Honor as Swerve Strickland. Swerve was able to execute the impressive 450 splash late in the bout, however, it wasn’t enough. The two proceeded to jockey for position on the ring apron as Swerve was knocked down and inadvertently struck his head on the steel ring post. This opened the window of opportunity for Escobar who hoisted him up in a double underhook and drove Scott’s cranium into his knee to allow him to earn the pinfall.

NXT Women’s Championship

Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LeRae

Winner: Io Shirai via pinfall

Late in the match Shirai appeared to be in dire straits after the referee was inadvertently knocked out and LeRae’s husband, Johnny Gargano, made his way to the ring in a referee’s shirt. As the referee came to, Johnny Gargano was able to distract him while LeRae took the title and decked Shirai with it. This just wasn’t enough as Shirai first executed a perfect Spanish Fly and then immediately followed through with the Over The Moonsault to retain her title.

NXT Championship

Finn Balor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Winner: Finn Balor via pinfall

After Karrion Kross was forced to relinquish the NXT Champinship immediately after he defeated Keith Lee for it due to injury, Finn Balor quickly emerged as the new champ. This evening he was pitted in his first defense against the Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly. This opportunity was substantial for O’Reilly as he has been known throughout his career as a tag team specialist primarily alongside Bobby Fish and has never competed in a singles match at a Takeover event. Kyle O’Reilly certainly brought his A-game this evening as his submission prowess was on full display, however, The Prince was able to withstand the challenge as he finished him off with the Coup de Grace to retain his title.

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NXT Takeover Portland

By Steve Ward

In an interesting scheduling change last month, there was no Takeover event the night before last month’s Royal Rumble but instead a Worlds Collide show that pit NXT and NXT UK against each other. With WWE making another cash-grab trek to Saudi Arabia in a couple weeks for their only RAW/Smackdown pay-per-view in February, the Superstars of NXT took center stage in a rare Sunday extravaganza. The six bout card featured the defense of all four NXT titles, and was headlined by Tomasso Ciampa’s stab at redemption as he battled Adam Cole for the NXT Championsip - a title he never lost.

NXT North American Championship

Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominic Dijakovic

Winner: Keith Lee via pinfall

Takeover got off to an electric start as two of the most agile heavyweights in the industry renewed their rivalry in a war. Dijakovic wasted no time delivering a move worthy of a “Mamma Mia” chant as he delivered a top rope moonsault to Lee who was seated in a chair positioned between the announce tables. Dijakovic appeared poised to earn his first NXT title after executing another spectacular move in the form of a top rope Spanish Fly, however, his back gave out in an attempt to subsequently hoist up Lee which opened the window for the champion to land the Big Bang and retain his title.

Street Fight

Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai

Winner: Dakota Kai via pinfall

Close friends became bitter enemies at NXT War Games when Dakota Kai viciously attacked Tegan Nox preventing her from participating in the match. The bitter rivalry came to a head this evening as the two battled in a Street Fight. Dakota Kai wasted no time bringing the fight to Nox as she launched an ambush while Nox made her entrance to the ring. What was a fairly solid match ended up being ruined by a mishap in the end. Raquel Gonzalez made her way to ringside as Kai was laid out on a table thwarting Nox’s attempt to put her away. Gonzalez first hung Nox up on the rope and pushed Kai off the table. Gonzalez then scaled the ropes, grabbed Nox by the throat, and propelled her toward the table - unfortunately the table didn’t break. This allowed Kai to seal the victory and apparently earn a new cohort in the process.

Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano

Winner: Finn Balor

After viciously attacking Gargano and putting him on the shelf, Balor made their feud personal. Gargano responded with a vow to use a victory over him to solidify his NXT legacy.  What began as a slow-paced bout, finished in a blaze of glory. Shortly after the fight had spilled to the outside of the ring, Finn sealed the deal with a gut-busting Coup de Grace followed by the 1916 DDT to put an exclamation point on an impressive victory.

NXT Women’s Championship

Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Bianca Belair

Winner: Rhea Ripley via pinfall

After an impressive showing in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, Belair earned a shot for the title as she won a #1 contender’s battle royal on a recent installment of NXT TV. While Belair has made quite the name for herself since her debut, it has seemed inevitable that Ripley will defend her title against Charlotte Flair at Wrestlemania - Flair only waiting to accept the challenge until after Takeover. Belair certainly pulled out all of the stops in arguably her best performance to date, however, it wasn’t enough as Ripley put an abrupt end to a very entertaining contest as she executed the Riptide for the pinfall. 

Following the match, Ripley’s celebration came to a crashing halt as Charlotte Flair emerged from the crowd and flattened the champion in the ring. Flair then requested a mic and told Ripley she would see her at Wrestlemania!

NXT Tag Team Championship

The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’ Reilly) vs. The Broserweights (Pete Dunne & Matt Riddle)

Winners: The Broserweights

Following their rather surprising chemistry and subsequent victory in the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, the Broserweights found themselves with a title opportunity this evening at Takeover. It appeared that a lack of experience as a team would bring about the demise of Dunne and Riddle in the closing moments after Dunne received an inadvertent spear, however, they overcame the superior tag team prowess of the Undisputed Era to win the NXT Tag Team Championships with an overwhelming flurry of tandem offense.

NXT Championship

Adam Cole (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Winner: Adam Cole

Adam Cole’s 260 day title reign was put on the line this evening as Tommaso Ciampa sought to regain the title he was forced to relinquish prior to his neck surgery. This bout was an absolutely visceral affair as both competitors left nothing on the table with the greatest prize in NXT at stake. Ciampa withstood a Panama Sunrise (Cole’s version of the Canadian Destroyer) at ringside to answer with Willow’s Bell and the Fairytale Ending but it wasn’t enough as Cole kicked out.

Cole’s Undisputed Era cohorts then made their way to ringside in an attempt to implement the number’s game, however, Ciampa briefly disposed of them with a vaulting corkscrew over the top rope. As if things couldn’t get more intriguing, the referee was then knocked out (of course). In what seemed to be a modest evening of the odds, Johnny Gargano arrived at ringside and grabbed the title belt. As Ciampa went to the ropes, Gargano struck him in the face with the belt all while wearing a DIY shirt in a shocking turn of events. This allowed Cole his opportunity to cover Ciampa for the victory as the referee conveniently reemerged to count the 1-2-3.

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