NXT’s first TakeOver-level event since its NXT 2.0 rebranding looks to be set for next month.
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics first reported that a special NXT event is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 5. Whether or not the events will continue to be called NXT TakeOver isn’t known.
“Tentative date for the first NXT 2.0 Takeover is Sunday, December 5, according to multiple sources,” Thurston tweeted. “Have asked but couldn’t confirm if ‘Takeover’ will continue to be the brand name.”
NXT’s final TakeOver event before the rebranding was this August’s NXT TakeOver 36. NXT Halloween Havoc took place last Tuesday, but that was a special episode of TV and not a Peacock/WWE Network event.
Halloween Havoc was headlined by Tommaso Ciampa retaining his NXT Championship against Bron Breakker. The show also featured three title changes, with Mandy Rose winning the NXT Women’s Championship, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles, and Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner winning the NXT Tag Team titles.
Samoa Joe is the first three-time NXT Champion in history.
In the main event of TakeOver 36 on Sunday night, Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship. The finish of the match saw Joe pin Kross after hitting a Muscle Buster.
This was Joe’s first match since February 2020. After concussion issues forced him out of action, he was a color commentator on Raw until being released by WWE this April. Joe made his return to the company in June, joining NXT as an on-screen authority figure and part of the talent scouting department.
After feuding with Kross while he was an authority figure, there was an angle where Joe resigned from that position, got reinstated to the NXT roster, and was given a title match against Kross at TakeOver. NXT general manager William Regal said earlier in tonight’s show that, even though he’s supposed to stay unbiased, he hoped that Joe kicked Kross’ ass.
Kross made his main roster debut on Raw last month, losing to Jeff Hardy. He has a 3-2 record in his matches on Raw.
During his first stint in NXT, Joe held the NXT Championship twice in 2016.
After two unsuccessful attempts, Cameron Grimes has finally captured the Million Dollar Championship.
Grimes became the new Million Dollar Champion by defeating LA Knight at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday night. Grimes pinned Knight after hitting a Cave-In double stomp to the chest.
A stipulation of the match was that “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase would have had to become Knight’s butler if Grimes lost. DiBiase got involved in the finish of the match, knocking Knight down with a punch and then putting him in the Million Dollar Dream. The referee was distracted when Knight tried to use the Million Dollar title belt as a weapon.
Grimes and DiBiase hugged and DiBiase presented him with the Million Dollar title after the match.
The Million Dollar Championship was reintroduced for the first time in more than a decade when Knight defeated Grimes in a ladder match at TakeOver: In Your House this June. Knight then turned against DiBiase and attacked him following that TakeOver event.
Knight retained the Million Dollar Championship against Grimes at NXT Great American Bash last month. Grimes had to become Knight’s butler after that loss. DiBiase challenged Knight to face Grimes a third time and agreed to be Knight’s butler if Grimes didn’t win.
When Grimes entered for his match against Knight tonight, he threw his butler clothes into a trash can and revealed new gear with dollar signs on it.
There will be a Million Dollar Championship celebration with Grimes and DiBiase on Tuesday’s episode of NXT.
Samoa Joe’s return to the ring highlights tonight’s NXT TakeOver 36 card.
Joe will challenge for Karrion Kross’ NXT Championship at tonight’s TakeOver event. It will be the first time Joe has wrestled since February 2020. He had been out of action due to concussion issues.
Former tag team partners Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai will collide in the NXT Women’s Championship match. Kai turned against Gonzalez three weeks ago and laid her out with a kick.
The feud between former Undisputed Era stablemates Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly will culminate as they face off in “The Undisputed Finale.” It will be a two-out-of-three falls match with stipulations chosen by O’Reilly, Cole, and NXT general manager William Regal. The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match. The second will be a street fight. If a third fall is necessary, it will be a steel cage match.
A rematch of one of the best matches of 2020 will take place as WALTER puts his NXT United Kingdom Championship on the line against Ilja Dragunov. Plus, LA Knight will defend the Million Dollar Championship against Cameron Grimes. If Grimes loses, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will have to become Knight’s butler.
In the pre-show match, Ridge Holland will take on Trey Baxter. The half-hour pre-show begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
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Pre-show —
Sam Roberts and McKenzie Mitchell were the hosts of the pre-show. We got the usual mix of video packages and promos hyping the main card. Rob Armstrong from BT Sport appeared to discuss WALTER vs. Dragunov.
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Ridge Holland (w/ Pete Dunne) defeated Trey Baxter
This went about a minute. Baxter attacked right away but Holland immediately overpowered him and hit repeated suplexes. Baxter came back with a hip attack and a springboard, but Holland hit a headbutt to maintain control. Holland then hit Northern Grit for the quick win.
– After the match, Holland called out Timothy Thatcher, saying the match was a direct look into Thatcher’s future.
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Main show —
The announce team of Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, and Beth Phoenix introduced the show.
Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes (w/ Ted DiBiase) defeated LA Knight (c) to win the championship [16:32]
This was a pretty good opener. The crowd was hot for the feud, but some of the work was off.
If Knight wins, Ted DiBiase must become his butler.
Knight got in Grimes’ face and was met with a slap and a knee lift for his trouble. Grimes kept up the offense and went for the Million Dollar Dream, but Knight rolled to the floor. Knight avoided a couple kicks, but the third caught him, allowing Grimes to send him into the barricade. DiBiase whipped Grimes into a dropkick on Knight for the assist.
Back in the ring, Grimes climbed the ropes, but Knight knocked him off to take control. After a short beatdown, Grimes came back with a running crossbody. He countered a corner neckbreaker and went for a hurricanrana, but Knight turned it into a powerbomb for two. Knight then worked over Grimes’ neck before hitting a tilt-a-whirl slam.
Knight went for a springboard, but Grimes moved out of the way. Grimes made his comeback with running forearms and a corner senton. He went for the Million Dollar Dream, but Knight fought out, so Grimes hit a German suplex and a hurricanrana cradle for two. Knight tripped Grimes into the ropes and covered for two. A bulldog and almost a burning hammer followed for another two-count.
They traded hard strikes until Knight sent Grimes to the floor. Grimes skinned the cat and hit his backflip powerslam for a near fall. Knight turned it around and perched Grimes on the top rope, hitting a top rope German for a near fall. Grimes countered the BFT and locked on the Million Dollar Dream. Knight nearly broke the hold with a jackknife cradle, but Grimes wouldn’t let go. After a long fight, Knight sent them both crashing into the ropes to force a break.
Knight went to the floor and picked up the Million Dollar Championship. He brought it into the ring, but Grimes hit a high kick. Out on the floor, DiBiase took Knight down with a right hand and used the belt to distract the official while he locked on the Million Dollar Dream. Back inside, Grimes hit the Cave-In to win the championship.
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NXT Women’s Championshp: Raquel Gonzalez (c) defeated Dakota Kai [12:27]
This was very good. Gonzalez has become quite consistent in title matches and Kai’s one of the best workers on the roster.
Kai used her speed and quickness to avoid Gonzalez’s attacks early on before capitalizing on an opening to lock on a cross armbreaker. Gonzalez fought out and looked for a powerbomb, but Kai hit a scorpion kick and regrouped on the floor.
Back in the ring, Gonzalez hit repeated powerslams. Kai came back with a diving crossbody, but Gonzalez rolled through and dropped her over the ropes. Kai snapped Gonzalez’s arm over the rope and hit a yakuza kick. She rolled Gonzalez back into the ring for two and followed it up with a draping facebreaker for two more.
Gonzalez fired up with a clothesline, a big boot, and a slam. A sidewalk slam set up a twisting Vader bomb for two. Gonzalez went for a powerbomb, but Kai turned it into a flying triangle. Gonzalez tossed Kai into the corner to break. She caught a scorpion kick and hit a powerbomb for two.
Kai came back with a hurricanrana driver and a jackknife pin for two. Gonzalez dropped Kai over the ropes from powerbomb position. Gonzalez shrugged off a thrust kick, but Kai hit the Kai-ropractor for a near fall. Kai got in Gonzalez’s face, Gonzalez went for a spinebuster, but Kai fought out and climbed the ropes. She hit a diving double stomp for a near fall.
Gonzalez drove Kai into the corner. They fought on the top rope, where Kai escaped and hit a pump kick. She went for the yakuza kick, but Gonzalez hit a second-rope Chignona bomb for the win.
– After the match, former NXT UK women’s champion Kay Lee Ray’s music played, and she stared down Gonzalez from the ramp.
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NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov defeated WALTER (c) to win the championship (22:03)
This was somehow better than their classic from 2020 and one of the best matches in WWE history.
WALTER hit a quick hip toss, but Dragunov avoided chops and attacked with chops of his own. That fired WALTER up, but Dragunov kept avoiding his attacks to frustrate him. WALTER countered a takedown and laid in grounded knees. Dragunov went for a heel hook but instead opted for a shoulder tackle. WALTER tried to leapfrog on a rope-run, but Dragunov turned it into a slam and hit a side headlock takeover to ground the big man.
There were a few attempts by WALTER to break the hold, but Dragunov wouldn’t relinquish it until being driven into the corner. Dragunov fought back out with forearms and caught a chop, wrestling WALTER back down to the mat. He went for a key lock, but WALTER powered out and perched Dragunov on the top rope. He hit a huge overhand chop, sending Dragunov crashing to the floor.
Out on the floor, WALTER powerbombed Dragunov onto the apron. Back inside, WALTER went for the Gojira Clutch before nailing a German suplex. He turned Dragunov over into a Boston crab before transitioning into an STF. WALTER then snapmared Dragunov over and hit a soccer kick to the back.
They traded forearms and chops in the center of the ring. WALTER locked on the Gojira Clutch and switched to powerbomb position, but Dragunov powered out. Dragunov hit repeated clotheslines, but WALTER turned the Constantine Special into an overhead uranage suplex for two. WALTER continued to dominate and just crushed Dragunov with a boot.
Dragunov fired back with right hands and turned a lariat into a takedown. He laid in knees and backfists to a seated WALTER. WALTER blocked an octopus hold and picked Dragunov up, but Dragunov fought out and caught WALTER with a rising knee. He went for another, but WALTER clotheslined him down twice for two.
WALTER hit an insane chop to Dragunov’s back, but Dragunov fired up and downed WALTER with a clothesline. Dragunov hit a back chop of his own followed by a German suplex. WALTER came back with a chop, Dragunov hit an enziguiri, then Dragunov hit a pumphandle suplex for two.
Dragunov climbed the ropes and hit a diving dropkick, then climbed the opposite corner and landed a top-rope senton. WALTER countered Torpedo Moscow into a sleeper suplex, but Dragunov got up and hit Torpedo Moscow to the back of WALTER’s head. He then hit Torpedo Moscow proper for a good near fall.
Once WALTER got back to his feet, Dragunov laid in repeated chops. He ran into a hard one from his opponent for a surprisingly good near fall. WALTER climbed the ropes, but Dragunov popped up and hit a superplex followed by a missile dropkick for the double down. WALTER hit a shotgun dropkick and a stack powerbomb for another good near fall.
WALTER slapped Dragunov across the face and hit a running knee followed by a powerbomb. He then climbed the ropes and hit a top-rope splash, the same way he won the title from Pete Dunne, but Dragunov kicked out for a great near fall.
The champion laid in ground and pound and went for the Gojira Clutch, but Dragunov flipped out of it and hit a diving headbutt. Dragunov rained down repeated elbows and locked on a sleeper of his own. WALTER climbed the ropes with the sleeper still applied and just jumped down to break it, but Dragunov popped up and laid in more elbows.
Dragunov locked in the sleeper again. WALTER got back to his feet and fell backwards, but Dragunov wouldn’t let go. He laid in desperation strikes and crossfaces and rabbit punches before locking on the sleeper once more for the submission victory.
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Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase were asked about Grimes’ victory earlier tonight. Grimes said there’s a man looking down on him who’s proud that he’s the champ. DiBiase called for a big celebration and passed out money. He said Grimes is carrying on the legacy of the Million Dollar Man. Grimes announced the Million Dollar Celebration for this week’s NXT TV.
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Samoa Joe was preparing for his championship match as William Regal walked up. Regal said he’s supposed to stay unbiased, but he wants Joe to know, he wants him to kick Kross’ ass.
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The Undisputed Finale: Kyle O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole (25:32)
This would be the best match on many TakeOvers, but it unfortunately had to follow WALTER vs. Dragunov. These guys killed each other in a completely different way than the previous match. Even so, this was a more than worthy finale to this long, drawn-out feud.
Fall one is a normal singles match, fall two is a Street Fight, and if a third fall is necessary, it will be a Steel Cage match.
They went right at each other at the bell. O’Reilly rebounded Cole between the barricade and the steps, but Cole caught his rival with a kick upon re-entry to the ring. Cole tried to suplex O’Reilly onto the steel steps, but O’Reilly countered it into a brainbuster on the floor.
Back in the ring, O’Reilly hit a front kick and a palm strike for two. He transitioned the mount into an ankle lock, but Cole kicked his way out of it and hit a leaping knee for two. Cole hit an enziguiri, but O’Reilly caught a superkick and hit a discus clothesline for two. O’Reilly went for the diving knee but was caught by a superkick. O’Reilly countered the Panama Sunrise into a cradle for a blazing first fall in 3:29.
Fall two is a Street Fight. Cole fled to the floor, but O’Reilly took him out and propped him on the chair. He placed a trash can over Cole’s head and took Cole out with a running dropkick. Back in the ring, O’Reilly tried to climb the ropes, but Cole immediately nailed a superkick and O’Reilly landed hard on his ribs on the apron. Cole turned the target of his attack to O’Reilly’s midsection.
Cole attacked O’Reilly’s abdomen with a chair. He propped the chair in the corner and taunted O’Reilly, but the latter came back with right hands. O’Reilly couldn’t follow the attack up as he was in too much pain from the midsection attack. Cole tried to whip O’Reilly into the chair, but O’Reilly rolled out to avoid it, inadvertently hitting his rib on the ring post.
Back inside, Cole whacked a kendo stick across O’Reilly’s ribs. He looked to go for the Last Shot, but opted for a kendo stick shot as O’Reilly covered up. Cole then hit a kendo stick-assisted backstabber for two. He locked on a Lockjaw of all things (his girlfriend Britt Baker’s finisher), then used the kendo stick for leverage before voluntarily breaking the hold to inflict more punishment.
Cole taunted O’Reilly, telling him to “stay down,” but O’Reilly fired up with right hands. He couldn’t overcome the pain, leading to a pump kick from Cole, but O’Reilly used a standing switch to hit a German and then a soccer kick through the pain. O’Reilly then dropped Cole’s knee over a chair before hitting a dragon screw into the chair.
O’Reilly charged at Cole, but Cole avoided it and O’Reilly went chest first into the propped-up chair in the corner. Simultaneous pump kicks led to the double down. Cole rolled to the floor and wrapped a chain around his fist, but when he looked up, O’Reilly had done the same. They laid in chain-assisted right hands on each other before a Cole superkick got two.
Out on the ramp, Cole hit a thrust kick on O’Reilly’s midsection. O’Reilly applied a guillotine before tossing his opponent off the ramp into the plexiglass barricade in front of the fans. Cole came back with yet another attack on O’Reilly’s midsection.
Inside the ring, Cole propped up more chairs, but O’Reilly turned it around and hit a ushigoroshi. He went to the top rope, but Cole popped up and dropped him over the propped up chairs in a brutal spot. The Last Shot followed for the pinfall, making it 1-1 at 16:58.
The final fall is a Steel Cage match. Officials came in to check on O’Reilly as the cage lowered, but Cole continued the attack, powerbombing O’Reilly on the announce desk. Cole finally brought O’Reilly back into the ring, and the cage lowered. They took a long time to get going as it seemed like O’Reilly may have been legitimately hurt — Cole only resumed the attack after about 3-4 minutes of rest.
O’Reilly immediately countered an perched Cole between the ropes and the cage. He hit repeated running forearms followed by a diving knee drop as Cole draped over the ropes. O’Reilly missed the diving knee, Cole missed the Last Shot, and O’Reilly hit a Last Shot of his own for two.
Cole hit a low blow, then climbed the cage. O’Reilly popped up and they traded strikes while standing on the top rope, but a hard right hand from Cole sent O’Reilly crashing to the mat. Cole then hit the Panama Sunrise for a good near fall. Cole handcuffed O’Reilly to the top rope and hit repeated superkicks. O’Reilly caught one and locked on a heel hook while still handcuffed, forcing Cole to tap.
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Ilja Dragunov was asked about his victory. He said the “ring general” has fallen.
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Legado del Fantasma called out Hit Row. Escobar began in Spanish. He then said Swerve would find out there’s nobody better than Legado. Mendoza said that this Tuesday, they’d finish the job. Escobar said “He who laughs last, laughs best.” It will be Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma this week on NXT.
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Lineup for NXT TV this week:
Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma
NXT Breakout Tournament Finals: Odyssey Jones vs. Carmelo Hayes
Cameron Grimes’ Million Dollar Celebration
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NXT Championship: Samoa Joe defeated Karrion Kross (c) to win the championship (12:19)
I’d have to check to be sure, but off the top of my head, this was the shortest NXT TakeOver main event in history. It was well-worked but never got to any sort of next level.
This is Joe’s first match since February of last year. No Scarlett with Kross.
Joe landed a palm strike early, forcing Kross into the corner and peppering him. A back elbow and an enziguiri took Kross down to the mat. Joe kept up the attack with a reverse chop, a soccer kick, and a running senton. Kross answered back with a forearm, but Joe went for the Coquina Clutch, forcing Kross to break at the ropes. Joe wouldn’t break, so Kross hit a Doomsday Saito and a running forearm to the back of Joe’s head.
Out on the floor, Kross sent Joe into the barricade. Back in, Kross kept up the attack until Joe came back with chops. Kross countered another into a second Doomsday Saito before applying an ankle lock. Joe fought out and sent Kross to the floor, following it up with a great tope suicida.
Back in the ring, Kross hit an exploder suplex for two. Joe countered a running attack into a powerslam for two. He then hit a powerbomb for another two-count before turning the kickout directly into an STF. Kross had to fully extend to reach the ropes and force a break.
Kross hit a hammerlock knee strike and a DDT for yet another series of two-counts. Joe finally came back with an overhead throw, giving him some breathing room. Joe laid in strikes and hit a big boot followed by a running senton for two. He locked on the Coquina Clutch in the center of the ring. Kross eventually rolled out of it and locked on for the Kross Jacket.
Joe fired up and finally broke the hold, but Kross hit a forearm to the back of Joe’s head. Joe reversed a clothesline into a uranage and hit a top-rope enziguiri, leaving Kross in perfect position for Joe to hit the Muscle Buster for the surprisingly quick win. Joe is the first three-time NXT champion.
A pre-show match has been added to the card for NXT TakeOver 36.
WWE has announced that Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter will take place on the pre-show for NXT TakeOver 36 this Sunday. It will be Holland’s second televised match since returning from injury.
Last October, Holland suffered a left ankle dislocation and fracture and a right knee patellar dislocation and patellar tendon rupture. He made his return on NXT three weeks ago, aligning with Pete Dunne & Oney Lorcan and helping them defeat Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher.
Holland defeated Ikemen Jiro on NXT two weeks ago. Holland vs. Thatcher is set for next Tuesday’s NXT episode.
Baxter (formerly known as Blake Christian) was one of the entrants in the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament. He defeated Joe Gacy in the first round but lost to Odyssey Jones in the semifinals.
The TakeOver pre-show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The main card will then start at 8 p.m. Eastern. Here’s the full lineup for the show:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
The Undisputed Finale: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has to become Knight’s butler)
Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter (pre-show)
Cole vs. O’Reilly is a two-out-of-three falls match. The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match, then the second fall will be a street fight. If a third fall is necessary, it will be a steel cage match.
WWE has set a date and given the stipulations for Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly III.
In what’s being billed as the “Undisputed Finale,” Cole and O’Reilly will face off at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22. It will be a two-out-of-three falls match, with Cole and O’Reilly each picking one of the stipulations.
The first fall will be a traditional wrestling match, the second fall will be a street fight, and, if necessary, the third fall will be a steel cage match.
The match and stipulations were announced during a face-to-face segment with Cole and O’Reilly on tonight’s NXT. O’Reilly chose the first fall, then Cole chose the second. The third fall was chosen by NXT general manager William Regal.
Cole and O’Reilly have a 1-1 record against each other since the breakup of Undisputed Era. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April, O’Reilly defeated Cole in an unsanctioned match. Cole then defeated O’Reilly at NXT Great American Bash last month.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver 36:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
The Undisputed Finale: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly (two-out-of-three falls match)
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, Ted DiBiase has to become Knight’s butler)
Cameron Grimes is getting another shot at the Million Dollar Championship.
It was announced tonight that LA Knight will defend his Million Dollar Championship against Grimes at NXT TakeOver 36. If Grimes loses, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will have to become Knight’s butler.
Grimes has been Knight’s butler in storyline since unsuccessfully challenging for the Million Dollar Championship at NXT Great American Bash last month. Knight won the title by defeating Grimes in a ladder match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House this June.
Knight turned against DiBiase and attacked him after TakeOver: In Your House. Grimes then made the save for DiBiase.
On last week’s NXT, Knight walked out on Grimes during a tag team match against The Grizzled Young Veterans. After Grimes lost, DiBiase came out to the ring and told Grimes that he has to find some way to get out of being Knight’s butler.
Knight defeated Andre Chase on tonight’s NXT. DiBiase then appeared after the match and challenged Knight to give Grimes another shot at the Million Dollar title. The only way Knight would agree is if DiBiase would become Knight’s butler if Grimes loses. Grimes didn’t want DiBiase to accept, but DiBiase agreed to the stipulation and the match was made official.
TakeOver 36 is taking place on Sunday, August 22. Here’s the updated card for the show:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
The Undisputed Finale: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly (two-out-of-three falls match)
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, Ted DiBiase has to become Knight’s butler)
The first fall for Cole vs. O’Reilly will be a traditional wrestling match. The second fall will be a street fight. If necessary, the third fall will be a steel cage match.
Former tag team partners will face off for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver 36.
WWE has confirmed that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will defend her title against Dakota Kai at NXT TakeOver 36. The show is taking place on Sunday, August 22.
Kai turned against Gonzalez by laying her out with a kick on NXT two weeks ago. On last week’s NXT, a video aired where Kai explained her actions. Kai took credit for putting Gonzalez in the spotlight and called Gonzalez selfish for going after the NXT Women’s Championship when it should have been Kai’s opportunity.
Gonzalez will respond to Kai on this Tuesday’s episode of NXT.
Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. Gonzalez has since had successful title defenses against Mercedes Martinez, Ember Moon, and Xia Li.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver 36:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Dakota Kai
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
On tonight’s episode of NXT, it was announced that Joe will challenge for Karrion Kross’ NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 36. The show is taking place on Sunday, August 22.
After being released by WWE this April, Joe returned to NXT as an on-screen authority figure in June. He’s worked as an enforcer alongside general manager William Regal. But, after weeks of escalating issues between him and Kross, there was a segment where Joe resigned as NXT management tonight.
Joe’s resignation was a three-step process. The first step was him resigning as management, the second was him being reinstated to the NXT roster, and the third step was Joe getting an NXT Championship match against Kross at TakeOver 36. Regal signed the paperwork to make all three steps official.
Two weeks ago, Kross choked out Joe after Joe was the special guest referee for his NXT Championship defense against Johnny Gargano. There was then an angle where Kross sent a message to Joe last week, with it being revealed that Kross had laid out Regal.
TakeOver 36 will be the first time Joe has wrestled since February 2020. He’s been out of action due to concussion issues. Before being released in April, Joe was working as a color commentator on Raw.
Joe also has a behind-the-scenes role in NXT as part of the talent scouting department.
Kross has appeared on Raw each of the past two weeks. He made his debut on last week’s show, losing to Jeff Hardy. Kross then defeated Keith Lee on Raw this Monday.
TakeOver 36 is taking place the day after WWE’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. Here’s the updated TakeOver card:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Samoa Joe
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Ilja Dragunov
A new date has been set for WALTER and Ilja Dragunov’s NXT United Kingdom Championship rematch.
WALTER will now defend his NXT UK Championship against Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22. The match was originally set to headline today’s NXT UK episode, but it had to be postponed due to WALTER suffering an injury to his left hand.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Shawn Michaels, and William Regal appeared in a video that aired on NXT UK today and announced the new date for WALTER vs. Dragunov.
In storyline, it was said that WALTER’s injury happened during a backstage altercation with Dragunov following their in-ring press conference on last week’s NXT UK. The altercation wasn’t shown on TV.
In what was one of the best matches of 2020, WALTER retained the NXT UK Championship against Dragunov on NXT UK last October. The match ranked fifth in the Match of the Year category in the 2020 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards.
Dragunov has been involved in a storyline where he’s struggled with temper issues and has worked to get them under control since his loss to WALTER. He was set up as WALTER’s next challenger when he defeated Rampage Brown and Joe Coffey in a triple threat match on NXT UK last month.
WALTER has been NXT UK Champion since winning the title from Pete Dunne at TakeOver: New York in April 2019.
WALTER also defended the NXT UK Championship at a TakeOver event in the United States this April, retaining against Tommaso Ciampa.
After more than a year away from the ring, Samoa Joe is making his return.
It was set up at Wednesday night’s NXT television tapings that Joe will challenge Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 36 next month. The TakeOver event is taking place on Sunday, August 22.
There was an in-ring segment at Wednesday’s tapings where Joe offered NXT general manager William Regal his resignation as an NXT authority figure so that he could face Kross at TakeOver. Regal, who wanted to fire Kross during the segment, agreed to Joe’s deal and signed the paperwork.
Last night’s NXT ended with an angle where it was shown that Kross had laid out Regal. The attack on Regal was Kross sending a message to Joe. The previous week, Kross choked out Joe after Joe was the special guest referee for Kross’ NXT Championship defense against Johnny Gargano.
Joe hasn’t wrestled since February 2020 due to concussion issues. He was working as a color commentator for Raw until being released by WWE in this April’s roster cuts. Joe returned as an on-screen authority figure for NXT this June. He’s also working in the talent scouting department in NXT.
On Fox Sports’ Out of Character with Ryan Satin podcast in June, Joe was asked if he’s still working toward a return to the ring. “Absolutely,” Joe said. “We’ll just say yes. We’ll leave it at that.” Joe named Kross, Pete Dunne, WALTER, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bronson Reed as opponents that he would like to face in NXT.
Kross made his Raw debut this Monday, losing a non-title match against Jeff Hardy. Hardy pinned Kross while having his feet on the ropes for extra leverage.
WWE has confirmed the date for NXT’s next TakeOver event.
During tonight’s NXT episode, it was announced that NXT TakeOver 36 will take place on Sunday, August 22. That’s the day after this year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view.
With SummerSlam being held on a Saturday this year, this will be the first time that an NXT TakeOver show has taken place the day after a WWE PPV.
Further details about the TakeOver event weren’t revealed during tonight’s announcement, though NXT’s Capitol Wrestling Center was mentioned during it. Dave Meltzer reported last month that the show is expected to take place at the Capitol Wrestling Center.
SummerSlam is being held at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
This will be NXT’s first TakeOver event since June’s TakeOver: In Your House.
WWE has yet to announced any matches for NXT TakeOver 36. There are four episodes of NXT left before TakeOver. Two of those will air on Syfy, with NXT shifting stations for the Tuesday, July 27 and Tuesday, August 3 episodes of the show. The change is due to a scheduling conflict with the Olympics airing on USA Network.
Coming out of TakeOver: In Your House, the date and location for NXT’s next TakeOver event look to be set.
Dave Meltzer stated on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that it appears that NXT’s next TakeOver event will take place on Sunday, August 22. Meltzer added that the show is scheduled to be held at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida.
August 22 is the day after this year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. SummerSlam is being held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When asked about the potential August 22 TakeOver date by Spectrum News 13’s Jon Alba on his pre-TakeOver: In Your House media call last week, Paul “Triple H” Levesque said it was a little bit of a “work in progress” as far as where the SummerSlam weekend TakeOver would land. Levesque said it’s a unique time with WWE getting back on the road and there’s a little bit of an ebb and flow in terms of where things exactly will land.
Before NXT’s next TakeOver, a special Great American Bash episode of NXT television will air live on Tuesday, July 6.
At NXT TakeOver: In Your House tonight, WWE crowned the first Million Dollar Champion in more than 10 years.
LA Knight became the new Million Dollar Champion when he defeated Cameron Grimes in a ladder match at tonight’s TakeOver event. As Grimes appeared to be on the verge of winning the match, Knight pushed over the golden ladder that Grimes was on. Grimes went crashing through a ladder that was bridged above the ramp. Knight then set the golden ladder back up, climbed it, and retrieved the case that the Million Dollar Championship was in.
Ted DiBiase watched the ladder match from ringside and then presented the Million Dollar Championship to Knight after he won.
Leading into TakeOver, Knight and Grimes had each been vying for DiBiase to choose them as the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. DiBiase announced the return of the Million Dollar Championship on last week’s NXT.
The Million Dollar Championship was first introduced by DiBiase as an unofficial title in 1989. The title has previously been held by DiBiase, Virgil, The Ringmaster (Steve Austin), and Ted DiBiase Jr.
Knight (formerly known as Eli Drake) arrived in NXT when he made his debut during the pre-show for TakeOver: Vengeance Day this February.
In Your House returns for the second straight year as NXT TakeOver takes place tonight.
The show will be headlined by Karrion Kross defending his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. A match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano was originally supposed to determine Kross’ challenger, but Cole made his return to NXT TV and put a stop to the match. Kross later declared that he wanted to face all four challengers.
Three other title matches are also set for TakeOver: In Your House. Ember Moon will challenge for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship, the revived Million Dollar Championship will be on the line in a ladder match between Cameron Grimes and LA Knight, and there will be a winner-take-all six-man tag match with NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK facing Legado del Fantasma.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li rounds out the TakeOver card. Li is looking to avenge her loss from the 2017 Mae Young Classic.
Todd Pettengill will return as the host of TakeOver: In Your House. The event will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with there also being a pre-show starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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Show Report —
The pre-show featured the typical mix of talking head analysis and promo packages. There was an “earlier today” segment involving participants in the five-way main event.
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Naomi Fox performed a song to open the show.
Former WWE backstage interviewer Todd Pettengill is the host of the show. He announced the largest gathering of fans yet in the Capitol Wrestling Center.
Winner Take All match for the NXT North American Championship and NXT Tag Team Championships: Bronson Reed (c) & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) (c) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza, & Joaquin Wilde) (13:41)
This was good, solid six-man tag action.
Lee and Mendoza started with a rapid-fire exchange. Carter and Wilde were next, with Wilde hitting a nice springboard arm drag. He showboated, however, and received a kick for his trouble. Escobar tagged in and faced off with Carter, but Carter tagged in Reed. Escobar retreated and tagged in Mendoza.
Mendoza used some high flying, but Reed shrugged off a series of clotheslines before leveling Mendoza with one of his own. Reed hit his sit-down splash, but Escobar had blind tagged in and hit a soccer kick. Reed took him down with a crossbody before planting Wilde with a press slam.
MSK hit frequent tags, with a somersault senton from Lee getting two. Reed hit an assisted senton for two more. The champs continued to dominate Wilde until Escobar finally made a tag. Carter hit an Orihara moonsault out on the floor, but Wilde took Carter out with a dive. Lee and Mendoza hit dives of their own, building to the big man Reed taking everyone out with a tope.
Back in the ring, MSK tried to hit a double team, but Legado del Fantasma pulled Carter out of the ring, allowing Escobar to take Lee out. A top-rope hurricanrana from Escobar got two, as did an assisted 450 from Wilde. Lee finally escaped to Reed for a tag.
Reed ran wild on all of Legado del Fantasma, including a double Samoan drop on Wilde and Mendoza. Reed wanted Escobar to tag in, but Wilde took him out from behind. Escobar tagged in and hit a Michinoku Driver, but Carter broke up the pin. Wilde and Mendoza hit a high low on Carter, but Wes Lee dove in to break up the pin.
Escobar grabbed the belt at ringside but was blindsided with a running splash from Reed, sending him through the barricade at ringside. A Mendoza dive was cut off with a superkick, then MSK hit an assisted blockbuster. Reed pulled the straps down and hit the Tsunami splash to win and retain.
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Kyle O’Reilly was interviewed earlier today, saying “it’s a good day for a fight.” Johnny Gargano and The Way arrived at the same time, goading O’Reilly into a fight and forcing officials and William Regal to break it up.
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A comedy segment aired where Pettengill was trying to cut to a video using a VHS tape. The video recapped Mercedes Martinez defeating Xia Li in the Mae Young Classic four years ago.
Xia Li (w/ Boa) defeated Mercedes Martinez (7:39)
This was maybe the least spectacular match in TakeOver history. It was short, very little happened, and the finish came completely out of nowhere.
Li took the fight to Martinez right away, but Martinez took her down with a backdrop and a fallaway slam. Li dragged Martinez to the floor and pushed her shoulder-first into the ring post. She continued to target Martinez’s shoulder, including with a running dropkick that sent Martinez to the floor.
They traded strikes in the ring, with Li maintaining control with kicks and knees. Martinez came back with a butterfly suplex, but Li regained control with an exploder. Martinez avoided a corner attack and hit a Cliffhanger for two. She followed it up with repeated knees.
Boa pulled Li out of the ring, preventing further attack. Martinez pushed him aside and countered a running attack with a back body drop on the floor. Back in the ring, a cyclone kick from Li surprised Martinez for the win.
– After the match, Boa threw Li a chair, but when she was about to use it, Martinez kicked her legs out from under her. Martinez grabbed the chair and hit both Boa and Li with it.
Li’s entrance effects showed up and Mei Ying appeared in her throne on the ramp. She and Martinez stared each other down until Ying grabbed Martinez by the neck and tossed her off the ramp into the barricade.
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Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher cut a promo. They said that in 48 hours, they’d show everyone how dangerous they are.
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Before the match, Ted DiBiase discussed the history and legacy of the Million Dollar Championship. He made an entrance and watched the match from ringside.
Million Dollar Championship ladder match: LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes (19:33)
This was the worst ladder match in TakeOver history.
After a strong lockup, Knight took down Grimes with a shoulder block. Grimes popped up and taunted before outwrestling Knight for a couple sequences. Knight rolled ot the floor and tossed in a ladder before sending Grimes to the floor. He tried to throw the ladder at Grimes, but Grimes avoided it before falling victim to a clothesline.
Knight set a ladder up in the ring and both men climbed it, but Knight sent Grimes to the floor. They fought over a ladder before Knight grabbed another. They had a ladder fight until Grimes booted Knight to the floor. They fought over a ladder yet again, with Grimes getting the advantage by pushing the Knight and the ladder into the barricade. He followed it up with a soccer kick.
Grimes opted to take the fight to Knight on the floor, but Knight sent Grimes into the barricade and smashed him with the ladder. Knight continued to send Grimes into ringside objects until Grimes turned it around. Knight popped up and took Grimes down yet again. I know this report sounds redundant and repetitive, but there was no ebb or flow to the match early on, just unfocused brawling.
Back in the ring, Knight hit a slingshot shoulder block. Grimes countered with a German suplex into a ladder. He tried to follow it up with a ladder attack, but Knight moved out of the way and hit a neckbraker onto a propped-up ladder. That looked terrible.
Grimes tried to make a comeback with right hands, but Knight sent him into a ladder. Knight leaned a ladder against the ropes before propping another one up on the top turnbuckle. Grimes reversed a whip and sent Knight face-first into the latter ladder. He laid in kicks, but Knight pulled Grimes’ hair, sending him hard to the mat. Grimes countered a running attack with a back body drop onto a ladder.
Knight was sent over the top rope onto a ladder bridge. Grimes went after a gold ladder on the stage and brought it to the ring. He climbed it and made it to the belt, but Knight met him at the top. Knight fell off, but was able to push the ladder over, sending Grimes crashing to the mat.
After a long double down, Knight set up more ladders to create a bridge over the ropes. Grimes surprised him with a thrust kick, but Knight hid behind DiBiase’s security, allowing him to take Grimes out. Knight whipped Grimes into a ladder, but Grimes climbed it and then grabbed onto some staging when Knight pushed the ladder away. Grimes then leapt off the staging with a crossbody.
Grimes climbed the gold ladder in the ring. Knight tried to powerbomb him out of the ring, but Grimes turned it into a hurricanrana. Grimes shouted “to the moon!” and nearly reached the championship, but Knight pushed the ladder over, sending Grimes onto the bridge from before. Knight then unhooked the belt to win the championship.
– Knight celebrated with the Million Dollar Man afterwards.
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Pettengill tried to advertise the WWE Shop, but was interrupted by Hit Row. They plugged their new song, “Now You Know.”
This was a very good match and a nice showcase for Moon, who is one of the more underrated talents on the roster.
Moon came out firing with strikes, but Gonzalez planted her to the mat on a crossbody attempt. Moon countered the one-armed powerbomb with a hurricanrana, sending Gonzalez into the turnbuckle, but Gonzalez sent Moon into the barricade on a shoulder block. Out on the floor, Gonzalez continued to dominate.
Back in the ring, Gonzalez maintained control until Moon kicked her way out of a corner attack. She went for a diving codebreaker, but Gonzalez caught it and planted Moon with a sidewalk slam. A twisting Vader bomb followed for two. Moon tried to fight back with strikes before a thrust kick caught Gonzalez under the jaw. Another series of kicks staggered Gonzalez before a forearm finally took the champion down.
Moon hit a Code Red for two. She locked on a modified deathlock until Kai assisted Gonzalez by helping her reach the ropes. Gonzalez and Kai regrouped on the floor, so Moon took the champion out with a tope suicida. Back in the ring, a flatliner from Moon got two.
Kai distracted Moon while the latter climbed the ropes, allowing Gonzalez to take control with a superplex. Gonzalez went for her one-armed powerbomb, but Moon cradled her for two. Gonzalez came back with a big boot for a near fall of her own. She went for an inverted suplex, but Moon turned it into a modified Eclipse.
Moon gained some separation with a jawbreaker and followed it up with a diving Codebreaker. The Eclipse followed, but Kai put Gonzalez’s foot on the ropes. Shotzi Blackheart appeared to chase off Kai, sending her into the staging and bringing her backstage.
Gonzalez fled to the apron, where Moon climbed the ropes and hit a tornado DDT on the ramp. Moon rolled Gonzalez into the ring, where Gonzalez kicked out at two. She went for another Eclipse, but Gonzalez caught her and hit Snake Eyes in the corner. The one-armed powerbomb followed for the win.
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Another Pettengill comedy segment aired. He was about to play Karate Fighters, and his opponent was Dexter Lumis. Pettengill asked how the women were treating Lumis these days, so Lumis broke the game and smashed Pettengill’s piece in his hand.
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The NXT: Great American Bash TV special was announced for Tuesday, July 6 on USA.
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This week’s NXT lineup:
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. Grizzled Young Veterans in a Tornado Tag Team Match
KUSHIDA’s Cruiserweight Championship Open Challenge
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NXT Championship Fatal 5-Way: Karrion Kross (c) (w/ Scarlett) defeated Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne (26:25)
This was an insane spotfest from start to finish, with tons of great action. The crowd wasn’t super invested at the start but eventually got into it; however, they’re definitely not into Kross as champion.
While O’Reilly and Cole brawled on the floor, Kross and Dunne faced off in the ring. Dunne peppered him with leg kicks and went for a guillotine, but Kross caught him and hit a Northern Lights suplex. O’Reilly entered the fray and traded with Kross until a high kick gave Kross an opening. O’Reilly countered into a heel hook, which Kross fought out of, hitting a German.
Gargano was next for Kross. He went for the Garga-No Escape before chopping down Kross’s leg and taking him down with a hurricanrana. Kross caught a corner attack and hit an exploder suplex. Cole immediately took advantage by kicking out Kross’s knee and hitting an enziguiri. Dunne pulled Cole out of the ring and trapped him between the apron and the skirt, allowing the entire field to beat him down.
Kross continued to dispatch all four opponents. He hit a double Northern Lights suplex on Dunne and Gargano before a lariat on O’Reilly got two. O’Reilly fought out of a powerbomb and landed muay thai strikes, finally taking Kross down. He laid in knees on Cole before mounting him and going for an armbar. Dunne locked on an armbar on O’Reilly before Gargano tried to get involved. Dunne attacked the fingers of both O’Reilly and Gargano before Kross powerbombed him onto both men.
Cole retreated to the ramp, where Kross wanted a fight. Dunne and Gargano got involved, sending him through the door of the In Your House stage. In the ring, a leg lariat from Cole took down O’Reilly, followed by the ushigoroshi for two. Gargano hit an enziguiri on O’Reilly before propping Cole in the tree of woe over O’Reilly in the corner. Dunne surprised Gargano with a roll-up, but Gargano turned the Bitter End into a DDT before throwing Dunne into the corner with a lawn dart through Cole and O’Reilly for two.
Gargano went for his end of #DIY, but a parade of strikes from Cole, Gargano, Dunne, and O’Reilly led to a quadruple down. O’Reilly caught a Cole thrust kick and applied an ankle lock, but Cole kicked out of it, sending O’Reilly into Kross. Kross sent both O’Reilly and Cole over the barricade before a double-hand powerbomb sent Gargano into the ring apron. He tossed Dunne onto the pile on the outside.
It was just Kross and Gargano in the ring. Kross hit an F-5 for two. Gargano made a comeback with a tornado DDT, using Cole as an assist, before taking out O’Reilly with a tope suicida. He followed it up with a spear on Kross and a diving DDT on Dunne but was met with a superkick from Cole. Gargano avoided the Last Shot and locked on the Garga-No Escape, but Cole fought out and countered a slingshot spear with a thrust kick. Gargano countered the Panama Sunrise into belly-to-back driver for two.
O’Reilly was taken out with stereo kicks from Gargano and Dunne, then Cole and Gargano took out Dunne, then O’Reilly and Gargano took out Cole as O’Reilly covered for two. Kross entered the ring and hit corner clotheslines on all four opponents before eating lariats from everyone. O’Reilly briefly got the upper hand on everyone until Kross took him out with a lariat.
Kross hit German suplexes on everyone. Dunne flipped out of one, allowing everyone to hit kicks to Kross’s head. Cole and O’Reilly paused their rivalry to try to powerbomb Kross through the announce desk, which didn’t break. The four challengers faced off in the ring. Gargano and Dunne hit stereo superkicks, then Dunne and O’Reilly both applied submissions. They dropped their victims and traded strikes, with O’Reilly dropping Dunne with a forearm. Dunne transitioned into a standing kimura before a triangle hold, with Gargano taking them down with a slingshot spear. A ushigoroshi from Cole on O’Reilly got two.
Cole and Dunne exchanged forearms in the ring. Dunne went for his corner backflip, which Cole and Gargano countered with superkicks. Gargano locked both Cole and Dunne in the Garga-No Escape, but O’Reilly broke it up. He and Gargano had a strike exchange, with O’Reilly finishing it with a brainbuster. He climebed to the top but was sent to the floor by Cole, who hit the Panama Sunrise on Gargano, but Dunne pulled him out of the ring and killed him with a brainbuster on the floor.
Kross popped up from the announce desk as Dunne invited him in for a fight. Dunne unleashed on Kross, forcing him to cover up, but Kross hit a German. Dunne hit one of his own, followed by the Bitter End, but Kross kicked out for a great near fall. Dunne immediately locked on a triangle, but the other three broke up the hold.
Dunne dispatched his opponents with kicks before catching a low blow and going for the finger-break spot. Kross broke it up with a double Doomsday Saito. The Kross Jacket followed, but Dunne snapped Kross’s fingers to break out of the hold. Gargano hit One Final Beat on Dunne, but Kross locked on the Kross Jacket on Gargano. Gargano jackknifed over for a cradle for two, but Kross maintained the hold. Cole hit the Last Shot on Kross but was subsequently chopped down by O’Reilly, who hit the diving knee on Kross. Cole broke up the cover with a superkick.
O’Reilly avoided the Last Shot and locked on the heel hook. After a long fight, Kross locked the Kross Jacket on O’Reilly, with the hold still locked on Cole. O’Reilly faded, relinquished the heel hook, and passed out for the referee stoppage as Kross retained.
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An interviewer caught up to William Regal to ask about the events of In Your House. He said he’d been GM for seven years, and he’s never seen so much bedlam. “I think it’s time for a change.”
