Finn Bálor retained the NXT Championship after a grueling classic with Pete Dunne, but all eyes were on Adam Cole after he floored Bálor and longtime friend Kyle O’Reilly with superkicks. Elsewhere, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai prevailed against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez, Raquel González & Dakota Kai won the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and more.
Highlights | Exclusives | Photos: Bálor and Dunne's war
Raquel González & Dakota Kai make history
Raquel González & Dakota Kai made history at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, knocking off Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon to win the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
González repeatedly overwhelmed Blackheart & Moon with her unparalleled power, proving to be the x-factor. Blackheart & Moon turned the tables early when Blackheart dodged Kai’s facewash kick in the corner, and they traded holds targeting Kai’s legs, leaving her in desperate straits.
That was until “Big Mami Cool” once again found her way between the ropes, dominating both foes and brutally rag-dolling Blackheart into the ringside plexiglass.
Despite being caught in a 2-on-1 situation, Moon rallied to land the Eclipse on González before Kai prevented the referee’s count.
Again and again, Moon & Blackheart hit González with their best, but González simply refused to stay down.
The imposing powerhouse neutralized Moon by sending her crashing off the stage, then launched Kai onto Blackheart for a big splash before dropping Blackheart with her thunderous one-armed powerbomb.
Capping a dominant tournament run, González & Kai ensured their names would be the first etched on the Women’s Dusty Cup.
Gargano shows why he’s still Johnny TakeOver
Johnny Gargano proved once again why “Johnny TakeOver” may be the most apt nickname in wrestling, emerging victorious in a back-and-forth mat classic against Kushida to retain his NXT North American Championship.
Kushida was more than game to step to Gargano, though, and two of the black-and-gold brand’s most technically proficient Superstars treated the NXT Universe to an epic battle full of masterful counters and reversals.
NXT’s resident Time Splitter avoided Gargano’s trusty slingshot attack, instead planting him with a roll-through DDT into a bridging suplex for a near-fall.
Gargano appeared to be all but out, but he miraculously countered a potential superplex with a twisting suplex off the second rope, then followed with a big-time second rope-assisted tornado DDT.
Continuing to prove he did his homework on his opponent, Gargano caught Kushida’s springboard elbow, pulling him down into the Gargano Escape with Kushida writhing in pain.
The challenger had Gargano equally well-scouted, pulling off his own reversal into the Hoverboard Lock before using an inverted matchbook cover for a near-fall.
Kushida later hit a spectacular top-rope Spanish fly, transitioning immediately into a cross armbreaker. Gargano found a way out of the ring, but Kushida refused to break the hold — until Gargano rammed him into the barricade.
At this point, Kushida was out of answers for Johnny Wrestling, who spiked him with the One Final Beat DDT on the entrance ramp before dropping him with it once more inside the ring to preserve his gold.
Carter & Lee cap storybook run by capturing Dusty Cup
A month ago, MSK were strangers to the NXT Universe. Now, they’re winners of the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Nash Carter & Wes Lee put a bow on one of the most amazing first months in NXT history, knocking off Grizzled Young Veterans to earn a future NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity.
GYV initially seemed stymied by MSK’s style, not having run into such explosive offense to this point in the tournament. But MSK’s high-octane attack also got them into early trouble.
Lee helped launch Carter to the outside to take down Drake, but Gibson was unscathed, and she nearly beheaded Carter with a huge clothesline. They continued to take the wind out of Carter’s sails with quick tags and double-team offense, highlighted by a top-rope dropkick by Drake into a flatliner from Gibson.
Carter dodged Drake’s spinning heel kick to find his way to the corner and tag in Lee, who battered GYV with an electric series of strikes, then uncorked a jaw-dropping Swanton over the corner post to the outside, taking down both opponents.
Gibson finally slowed the onslaught with a running knee to Lee. The writing seemed to be on the wall for an MSK loss with Gibson dropping Lee via Helter Skelter and Drake following with a 450 splash, but Lee somehow kicked out.
Lee dodged GYV’s first attempt at a Doomsday Device, then suffered an even worse fate as Drake used a tope suicida to blast Lee off Gibson’s shoulders on the outside.
Carter somehow fought off both men long enough for Lee to recover and remerge, and MSK tattooed their foes with superkicks in stereo before hitting their double-team blockbuster on Drake for the win.
Shirai stays on top after fast-paced Triple Threat triumph
After facing down perhaps her most daunting challenge yet, Io Shirai still stands alone atop the mountain in the NXT Women’s division. The Genius of the Sky overcame Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm in an exhilarating Triple threat Match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
But Shirai was on the defensive from the get-go, as Martinez bludgeoned her during the ring announcement, leaving Martinez to square off with Storm until the champion burst back in with a meteora.
Again, Martinez got the better of Shirai, who crashed and burned on a moonsault attempt to the outside before Martinez dumped her over the barricade.
The frenetic pace didn’t slow from there as action spilled back in — and again out — of the ring. Shirai hit a 619 and springboard missile dropkick on Martinez to finally slow her down.
Storm took control, dropping Martinez on the unforgiving outside safety mats, though the announce table collapsed before she could put Martinez through it. Martinez took advantage, spiking her with a DDT.
Meanwhile, Shirai scaled the ringside scaffolding and took out both competitors, but again, it wouldn’t slow Martinez for long, as she threw Shrai into the steps.
Storm was on the verge of victory when the brawl returned to the ring, getting a near-fall after delivering Storm Zero to Martinez. Taking an even bigger risk, Storm connected with a brutal top-rope headbutt.
However, Shirai came out of nowhere to hit a moonsault on both women to not only break up Storm’s ensuing cover, but also allowed her to get the three-count on Martinez. And just like that, The Genius of the Sky had overcome the odds once again.
The Prince keeps his crown after thriller against Dunne
Finn Bálor continues to pile up the wins on the black-and-gold brand’s brightest stage, and NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day was no different as he overcame Pete Dunne to retain the NXT Championship in an instant Match of the Year candidate.
The intensity was palpable from the get-go in this highly anticipated dream matchup following a smoldering staredown. Dunne immediately turned to his patented joint manipulation, first honing in on Bálor’s left hand and fingers to put Bálor on his heels, an unfamiliar position for The Prince at TakeOver.
The champion turned things around by digging into his bag of holds, targeting Dunne’s left leg until The BruiserWeight transitioned into a guillotine and dropped Bálor with an X-Plex out of nowhere.
Bálor answered by continuing to zero in on Dunne’s left knee, and he tested The BruiserWeight’s resolve with an STF, but the maneuver also left his left fingers exposed. Once again, Bálor felt Dunne’s wrath as his fingers were snapped.
Bálor bounced back to hit a string of signature maneuvers, including the slingblade and corner dropkick. But Dunne caught Bálor’s Coup de Grace attempt, countering with a triangle choke to seemingly put the champion unconscious.
The Prince insisted he could continue and ate a massive stomp to the head from Dunne for it. Bálor fought off Dunne’s Bitter End attempt and progressed into an abdominal stretch. Once again, though, it ended with Bálor’s fingers being splayed, this time on his right hand.
Dunne finally found paydirt with the Bitter End, but Bálor kicked out at two and found a lifeline, countering The BruiserWeight’s powerbomb attempt into a DDT.
The Superstars exchanged a series of big-time strikes, with Dunne stomping Bálor’s already severely injured fingers. Bálor battled through the agony to answer with a stomp to the back, then extracted Dunne’s mouthguard before drilling him in the jaw with a dropkick.
With the challenger on dream street, Bálor finally connected with the Coup de Grace. But instinctively knowing it wouldn’t be enough to keep Dunne down, The Prince followed with the 1916 to ensure a grueling victory, his 15th at TakeOver.
Adam Cole sends shockwaves through NXT Universe by blasting Finn Bálor, betraying Kyle O'Reilly
Is this the end of the most dominant faction in NXT history?
The Undisputed ERA seemingly imploded at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, with Adam Cole shocking the NXT Universe by betraying longtime friend Kyle O’Reilly.
Cole, O’Reilly and Roderick Strong arrived as reinforcements for NXT Champion Finn Bálor, who was ambushed by Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch after retaining his title against Pete Dunne.
The tenuous alliance formed between The UE and Bálor in recent months initially appeared stronger than ever — and then Cole blasted Bálor with a superkick, bewildering his UE allies.
Cole still had one more shocker up his sleeve, though. Moments later, the former NXT Champion uncorked another superkick, this time to O’Reilly, stunning the Capitol Wrestling Center.
Cole’s treachery elicited reactions from around the NXT Universe.
Meanwhile, one former rival wasn’t entirely blown away.
What possessed Cole to do this, and how will O’Reilly and Bálor respond?
Bálor and Dunne to clash for NXT Title at TakeOver: Vengeance Day
It's time to go it alone for Pete Dunne.
After weeks of brawls involving Dunne and his cohorts Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan, The Bruiserweight will now go one-on-one with NXT Champion Finn Bálor at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
The ongoing attacks directed at Bálor forced The Prince to turn to an unlikely alliance with Undisputed ERA. Now Bálor and Dunne will now look to settle their differences in the ring in what promises to be a punishing encounter. Making matters more interesting, Royal Rumble winner Edge has promised to be keeping a close eye on the showdown.
Who will come out on top when the two hard-hitting Superstars meet in the squared circle?
Don’t miss NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, streaming at 7 ET/4 PT on the award-winning WWE Network.
Will MSK or GYV hoist the cup?
MSK are one win away from capping possibly the most amazing first month in NXT history. But standing in their way are a couple of determined Grizzled Young Veterans.
Nash Carter & Wes Lee will face Zack Gibson & James Drake in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, with the winners receiving an NXT Tag Team Title opportunity.
Carter & Lee have rolled through the tournament thus far with eye-popping athleticism and innovation. And though they may be new to the black-and-gold brand, they’ve demonstrated the seasoning built over years of competition on the independent scene.
Meanwhile, The Grizzled Young Veterans have been on a mission from the start after coming up short in last year’s finals. Gibson & Drake have vowed to achieve what they couldn’t before, but can they cool off the red-hot MSK?
In either event, NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch await the victors. Who will they face?
