Welcome to the 30th NXT Takeover! History is made tonight as we crown new champions, tease future rivalries, and prepare for what comes next, as Doomsday descends on NXT!

NXT Pre-Show

Triple Threat Tag Team #1 Contender’s Match – Breezango def. Lorcan/Burch & Legado del Fantasma

Honestly, do any of these teams deserve this opportunity? The tag team division has been on a steep downhill trend ever since Undisputed Era left the title scene. Lorcan and Burch have had opportunities and failed. Breezango had a shot, also failed. Legado del Fantasma could’ve deserved a shot, but they haven’t done anything either. The division needs a lot of work to rebuild.

NXT Takeover XXX

Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix, and Corey Graves are on the call. No Mauro Ranallo? Big miss, and it comes into play throughout the night.

Finn Balor def. Timothy Thatcher

Finn Balor secures his record 12th Takeover victory in a hard fought match against Timothy Thatcher. This match is a great pace-setter for this show, as it’s a hard-hitting affair between NXT Legend Balor and newcomer Thatcher. Thatcher has greatly improved in the ring, and knowing more about his character has helped give a new appreciation for his wrestling style. The “Thatch-as-Thatch-can” vignettes have been top-notch, and he utilizes that style in the match against Balor.

Balor gets a much needed win over Thatcher, as he has been floundering in recent months, having failed to win the big matches when they counted. Thatcher’s stock continues to rise as he brought the fight to Balor, but came up just short.

NXT North American Championship Ladder Match – Damian Priest def. Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, and Velveteen Dream

As ladder matches go, this one was great. Five hungry competitors going all out for the North American Championship. Lots of unique spots and crazy bumps, including the sunset bomb that Gargano delivers to Grimes, glancing Grimes’ body off the propped ladder and crashing to the mat. Velveteen Dream might be dead after his spot, being tipped off the tall ladder and sent outside the barricade, through a pair of tables. The spot of the match for me is Bronson Reed with the flying splash onto Johnny Gargano, while Candice LeRae is draped over Reed’s back. Unreal!

I felt like this was a toss-up as to who would walk out as the new champ, and only one name would’ve upset me. But in the end, the result pleased me, as Damian Priest survived the carnage, and a tug of war with Gargano, to bring down the gold and stake his claim in infamy as the NEW NXT North American Champion!

Adam Cole def. Pat McAfee

Opinions were split going into this match, as to whether Pat McAfee would take his “training” seriously going into a match against one of the greatest in NXT history. And boy, my expectations were blown away! McAfee proved that he isn’t like Rob Gronkowski, a football star looking to come in and just have some fun. Pat put his all into becoming a true wrestler, and he absolutely delivered! McAfee has charisma for days, and he’s a great character, so he fits well into the brand.

This match has no business being as good as it is. McAfee talking trash throughout, Cole being stoic and focused, lots of back and forth action, and McAfee blowing minds with the swanton bomb to the outside AND the backflip from the top rope! Obviously there was no way that McAfee would pick up the win over Cole, but he brought it through the whole contest, and I, for one, can’t wait to see more from him! I certainly hope this isn’t a one-off, because Pat is a great character and can bring a lot to the table, doing it FOR THE BRAND.

NXT Women’s Championship – Io Shirai def. Dakota Kai

Not taking anything away from these women, but I just cannot get invested in this match. Kai hasn’t been built as a viable challenger for the top women’s title in NXT, and is only in this position to show that they’re giving opportunities to everyone. The action starts off slow, but picks up towards the end. The ref bump is planned well, with Io surviving the outside interference from Raquel Gonzalez and the submission attempts from Kai. Shirai makes her furious comeback, and finishes Kai off with a pair of “Over the Moonsaults” to retain the title.

The post-match happenings have me salivating. Gonzalez tries to attack Shirai on Dakota’s behalf, but is interrupted by Rhea Ripley. Gonzalez and Ripley stand toe-to-toe, before Gonzalez backs out and leaves with Kai. Shirai stands center stage with her title, while Ripley is in the background, eyeing the title. Give me Gonzalez vs. Ripley NOW!

NXT Championship – Karrion Kross def. Keith Lee

With both men on the highest levels of momentum going into this match, who does a loss hurt more? Lee just won the title at Great American Bash, and Kross has been undefeated and dominant ever since his debut. Something’s gotta give…and that certainly happens here.

Keith Lee has been ready for the next level for a LONG time, but taking the title off of him this soon? I can’t say that I agree with that. But at the same time, how do you build someone like Karrion Kross to be as dominant as he has been, only to have him go down in his first opportunity? After what Kross did to Tommaso Ciampa in their Takeover match, it seems like Kross has always been destined to be the top guy in NXT. And now that he is, we shall all FALL…AND…PRAY! –Josh L.