Good evening Fight Fans, and welcome to tonight's coverage for the go home edition of NXT before Takeover this Sunday night! We hope you enjoy the show and will stick around for the post show podcast afterwards!
Shotzi Blackheart vs Dakota Kai w/Raquel Gonzalez
Kai shoves the face of Shotzi before Shotzi takes her down with a single leg and they exchange standing switches. Shotzi rolls Kai up for two before Kai gets two off of a jack knife before Shotzi hits an inverted atomic drop. Shotzi hits a leg drop akin to Jeff Hardy before hitting an arm drag and an arm breaker into a sunset flip for two. Shotzi locks in an Indian death lock before Kai counters into a Fujiwara armbar. Shotzi blocks the arm bar and hits Kai with forearms in the corner before Kai chokes her in the corner.
Kai hits a snap suplex for two before laying into Shotzi with forearms in the corner. Shotzi drop toe holds into the middle rope before Raquel gets on the apron when Shotzi teases an inverted cannonball. Kai then capitalizes on the distraction by Shotzi and retakes control as we go to commercial.
We come back to Kai in control before Shotzi hits a shotgun dropkick and a running splash in the corner into a bulldog. Shotzi screams before rocking Kai with a knee and a discus forearm into an enzuigiri. Shotzi hits a Tiger suplex for two before Kai catches her coming in and stomping her down. Kai gets a deep two count before Shotzi counters GTK and they exchange on the apron. Shotzi hits a shiranui onto the apron before they both crash down onto the floor and Rhea Ripley comes out and attacks Raquel.
Rhea is then sent to the back before Kai misses a running boot in the corner and Shotzi rolls her up for the pin and the win.
Winner: Shotzi Blackheart defeats Dakota Kai via pinfall.
- We get a side by side satellite interviews with Cruiserweight champion Santos Escobar and the challenger for his title at Takeover, Isaiah Scott. Isaiah says that he's the only person to pin Santos in the WWE and that he has his number. Santos says that he's tired of Isaiah lingering around and that their match at Takeover will be fair. Isaiah calls into question whether or not it will be fair before Santos says that Isaiah is full of excuses. Isaiah talks about his adapting to everything in his life and his professional wrestling career.
Isaiah then says that he's going to expose Santos as a fraud before Santos tells him that he is the standard bearer of Lucha Libre.
- We get a graphic for a Prime Target segment for Kyle O'Reilly up next as we go to commercial.
- We get a Prime Target segment featuring an extensive look at the career of Kyle O'Reilly, beginning with his career in Canada and leading up to his title challenge at Takeover.
- We get another video package for the mysterious motorcyclist who will be returning to NXT this Sunday night.
- We then get a graphic for the face to face between Finn Bälor and Kyle ahead of their title match, moderated by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels as we go to commercial.
- Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are interviewed backstage ahead of their match against Damian Priest and Candice LeRae as well as their challenging for the NXT Women's Championship and North American Championship, respectively. Johnny reaffirms that they will both win their title matches and become the first married couple to hold titles at the same time.
- Cameron Grimes comes out to the ring before announcing an impromptu invitational he's holding tonight.
Cameron Grimes To the Moon Invitational Gauntlet Match
Cameron immediately defeats his first opponent with the Cave In for the pin and the win. Ridge Holland then comes out and takes out the second opponent before inserting himself into the match. Ridge then headbutts Grimes before tossing him across the ring and stomping him until the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Cameron Grimes defeats Ridge Holland via disqualification.
- Backstage Austin Theory is interviewed where he says that he should have been in the gauntlet last week before mocking Kyle O'Reilly. Austin then says that Kyle should catch up to him when it comes to his career since it took Kyle fifteen years to earn a title shot before leaving.
- We get an extended video package promo by KUSHIDA in Japanese ahead of his match against Velveteen Dream at Takeover. We are then told that KUSHIDA is in action up next as we go to commercial.
KUSHIDA vs Tony Nese
Tony mocks KUSHIDA and flexes before KUSHIDA dropkicks him and Tony snaps his neck across the top rope. KUSHIDA sends Tony into the post shoulder first before bringing him back into the ring and focusing on the arm of Tony. KUSHIDA counters a pump handle suplex before KUSHIDA hits a running arm breaker and stompsTony while holding his arms. KUSHIDA then locks in the Hoverboard Lock for the tap and the win.
Winner: KUSHIDA defeats Tony Nese via submission.
- After the match the lights turn purple and Velveteen Dream comes onto the big screen. Dream mocks KUSHIDA and says that Dream puts on his best performances under the brightest spotlights.
- Backstage Cameron Grimes is wandering around looking for NXT General Manager William Regal before he walks into Dexter Lumis. Cameron then tells Dexter to get out of his face before leaving and Dexter just stares blankly at him as we go to commercial.
- The leader of the Undisputed Era Adam Cole is in the ring as we come back from the break, and says that nothing has changed for UE. Cole says that they are the same UE who has dominated NXT unlike anyone before or since they debuted. Cole then demands that Austin Theory come out to the ring and repeat what he said about Kyle to Adam's face. Austin comes out onto the stage, refusing to get into the ring before Adam gives him two options. Adam then tells Austin to get into the ring with him or the rest of UE will beat him down and wish he chose the first option.
Adam Cole vs Austin Theory
Austin rushes the ring and Adam beats him down once the match starts before stomping and chopping Austin while yelling at him. Adam hits a neckbreaker before Austin rolls out of the ring and Adam superkicks him before smashing his face into the apron. Adam sends Austin into the steps before tossing him back inside and Adam hits an enzuigiri when Austin tries to capitalize on Adam getting back inside. Adam gets two before hitting a snap suplex and hitting Austin across the back with clubbing blows. Adam dropkicks Austin before grounding him with a side headlock and wrenching on his neck.
Austin gets to his feet and gets dropped with a back elbow before hitting him with forearms in the corner. Austin then comes back with a rolling dropkick for two as we go to commercial.
Austin is still in control as we come back to the ring, stomping Adam before locking in a straight armbar with a chin bar before Adam gets to his feet. Austin hits a backbreaker into a standing moonsault for two before Adam comes back and rocks Austin with an enzuigiri. Adam hits a back stabber for two before rocking Austin with a pump kick into an ushigoroshi for a near fall. Austin counters a Panama Sunrise and superkicks the back of Adam's head before hitting a blue thunderbomb for a near fall. The two exchange strikes until Adam sends Austin out of the ring and onto the apron with a superkick.
Adam then hits a Patella Drop Brainbuster into the Last Shot for the pin and the win.
Winner: Adam Cole defeats Austin Theory via pinfall.
- After the match Adam cuts a promo to the camera and says that Kyle was born ready and he'll shock the world at Takeover when he wins the NXT Championship.
- Damian Priest and Io Shirai are interviewed backstage where Priest says that tonight will be a preview of Takeover. Io talks entirely in Japanese before agreeing with Priest's sentiment that they're rockstars before they fist bump. Io then says that Priest is alright in English before they leave in opposite directions.
Xia Li vs Kayden Carter w/Kacy Catanzaro
Kayden and Xia immediately get several pin attempts for a series of one and two counts before Kayden gets two off of a roll up. Kayden hits a front dropkick before Xia drags her out of the ring and slams her down onto the floor before Kacy checks on her. Back in the ring Xia gets two before chopping Kayden and hitting her with knees to the midsection. Xia hits a whirlwind kick for two before catching a kick and Kayden kicks her away. Kayden then rolls through into a superkick for two before Xia and Kayden exchange sunset flips until Kayden pins Xia.
Winner: Kayden Carter defeats Xia Li via pinfall.
- Kayden tries to help Xia up after the match before Xia shoves her down and leaves.
- We get a graphic for the face to face between Finn Bälor and Kyle O'Reilly up next as we go to commercial.
- We come back to Shawn Michaels moderating the face to face between Finn Bälor and Kyle O'Reilly in an empty arena. The segment is pre taped with ambient music in the background as the two shake hands and sit down. Shawn says that Kyle may be the best kept secret in the WWE before Finn says that Kyle isn't a secret at all. Finn says that the business watches him because he watches the business and that he knows how good Kyle is. Kyle says that Finn is very good at stroking his ego and that he's a fighting champion.
Kyle tells Finn that defeat is certain before Finn asks Kyle if the rest of UE will be at ringside for their match. Kyle says that UE won't be there and that it's his moment Sunday and his alone before Finn tells Kyle that there will be no excuses after he defeats him. Kyle says that the match is the biggest moment of his career before mocking Finn and saying that he's not the underdog. Kyle tells Finn that he's never faced him or anyone like him before Finn tells Kyle that he'd be champion if the title were around the waist of anyone other than him.
- We come back to a breakdown of the card for NXT Takeover 31 this Sunday night before we go back to the ring for our main event.
Damian Priest & Io Shirai vs Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae
Priest and Shirai clear the ring when Johnny and Candice come out to the ring before they get into the ring and the match officially starts. Johnny and Damian kick things off by running the ropes before Priest dropkicks Johnny and hits him with right hands in the corner. Priest hits a sidewalk slam before Johnny falls back into the corner and Candice tags in. Candice hits Io with clubbing blows before Io hits an enzuigiri and Candice counters a snap dragon suplex into a roll up for two. Io comes back with a flap jack into a basement dropkick before the four face off and Priest sends Johnny out of the ring.
Io then hits a running meteora in the corner before Io dives off of the shoulders of Damian and takes out Johnny and Candice at ringside as we go to commercial.
Candice is in control of Io as we come back from the break before Io rocks Candice with a Shotei and hits a German suplex. Priest gets the tag and runs over Johnny before hitting a leaping elbow in the corner into the Broken Arrow for two. Johnny counters a Razor's Edge and sends Priest face first into the canvas before Io gets the tag. Io dodges an enzuigiri before Io locks in a cross face and Candice nearly taps before Johnny interferes. Priest takes out Johnny at ringside before Candice drops Io and misses a moonsault off of the top.
Io hits Johnny with a moonsault when he rolls Candice out of the way. Candice capitalizes on an inadvertent distraction by Io by low blowing Damian behind the referee's back. Io then chases Candice at ringside and stomps her before Johnny hits Damian with One Final Beat for the pin and the win.
Winner: Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae defeat Damian Priest and Io Shirai via pinfall.
- After the match Candice takes Io out with a back stabber before Johnny brings the title belts into the ring and he and Candice hold the belts up high as we go off the air.
