Tag: takeover vengeance day

Undisputed Era implode in WWE NXT TakeOver show-closing angle

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Undisputed Era imploded with Adam Cole laying out Kyle O’Reilly in the show-closing angle of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

After Finn Balor retained his NXT Championship against Pete Dunne in the main event of tonight’s TakeOver event, Balor was attacked on the stage by Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch then beat down Balor in the ring until Undisputed Era (Cole, O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong) ran out and chased them off. O’Reilly helped Balor up and told him how much he respects him. Undisputed Era posed in the ring and Balor was about to do his own pose, but Cole then dropped him with a superkick.

O’Reilly was furious with Cole and said what he did to Balor was “bullsh*t.” Strong tried to keep the peace between his stablemates, but Cole then laid out O’Reilly with a superkick as well. The show ended with Strong looking conflicted after what Cole had done.

Balor retained his NXT Championship against O’Reilly at TakeOver 31 in October and at NXT New Year’s Evil last month. Balor & O’Reilly defeated Lorcan & Burch on NXT three weeks ago after O’Reilly agreed to team with Balor.

Balor became NXT Champion by defeating Cole for the vacant title in September. The title had been vacated by Karrion Kross after he suffered a separated shoulder during the match where he won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee in August.

Undisputed Era weren’t in action at TakeOver: Vengeance Day tonight. Cole & Strong made it to the quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic before being eliminated. Undisputed Era member Bobby Fish underwent triceps surgery in December. Dave Meltzer reported at the time that Fish was expected to be out of action for about eight weeks.

Men’s Dusty Classic winners crowned at WWE NXT TakeOver

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

A pair of former Rascalz are the winners of the men’s 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

In the finals of the men’s Dusty Classic, MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day tonight. As the men’s Dusty Classic winners, MSK will get a future shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles.

MSK debuted for NXT in this year’s Dusty Classic. They defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas in the first round, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain in the quarterfinals, Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in the semifinals, and The Grizzled Young Veterans in the finals.

It was announced in December that MSK (former Rascalz Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) had signed with WWE. Their farewell match for Impact Wrestling aired in November.

MSK are the sixth team to win the men’s Dusty Classic since it was first introduced in 2015. Finn Balor & Samoa Joe, The Authors of Pain, Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly, Aleister Black & Ricochet, and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne won the tournament in previous years.

The finals of the first-ever women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic also took place at TakeOver: Vengeance Day tonight. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in the finals and will get a future shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles, which are currently held by Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler.

Eli Drake arrives in WWE NXT, announces new in-ring name

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The former Eli Drake arrived in WWE on tonight’s NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day pre-show.

During the pre-show, Drake interrupted panelists Wade Barrett, Sam Roberts, and Barstool Sports’ Brandon Walker. Drake cut a promo about joining NXT and announced that his new in-ring name is LA Knight.

Drake insulted the panelists and said that he was injecting a little bit of star power into the pre-show. Drake announced his new name and said NXT might have a stacked deck, but while they’re playing cards — he just walked in rolling dice. Drake said he just changed the game. He mentioned the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship and said anyone walking around with those titles should make sure they have their eyes open because he’s coming for them.

Drake ended his promo by declaring that this is now LA Knight’s game.

Prior to signing with WWE, the 38-year-old Drake was most recently with the NWA. He held the NWA Tag Team titles with James Storm from January of last year to November.

Drake is also a former Impact Wrestling World Champion.

Drake, whose real name is Shaun Ricker, was part of WWE developmental from 2013-2014. He used the name Slate Randall during his first stint with the company.

PWInsider first reported earlier today that Drake has signed with WWE.

Barstool Sports’ Brandon Walker set for WWE NXT TakeOver pre-show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A guest appearance is set for Sunday’s NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day pre-show.

WWE has announced that Barstool Sports’ Brandon Walker will appear on the pre-show for TakeOver: Vengeance Day. Walker will “help break down the upcoming matches and offer predictions for the night’s championship and Dusty Cup clashes.”

Walker hosts Barstool Sports’ “Rasslin'” podcast. He also made an appearance on WWE’s The Bump two weeks ago.

In December, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani made a guest appearance on the pre-show for NXT TakeOver: WarGames.

The TakeOver: Vengeance Day pre-show will air on the WWE Network, WWE.com, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time this Sunday. TakeOver will then begin at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Here’s the card for TakeOver: Vengeance Day:

  • NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Pete Dunne
  • NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a triple threat match
  • NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Kushida
  • Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals: The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter)
  • Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals: Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez

Two title matches added to WWE NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two title matches have been added to the card for NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

WWE has confirmed that NXT Champion Finn Balor will defend his title against Pete Dunne at TakeOver: Vengeance Day on Sunday, February 14. Kushida challenging for Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship has also been made official for the show.

Balor and Dunne took part in a segment on NXT tonight that was interrupted by men’s Royal Rumble winner Edge. Edge spoke about how watching NXT helped him find the passion to get his career back after nine years. Edge said he used that passion to win the Royal Rumble — and that allows hin to challenge any champion in the company. He called Balor and Dunne two of the best and said he’d be watching their match at TakeOver.

Edge said that if he hasn’t decided which title he’ll be challenging for at WrestleMania 37 by TakeOver: Vengeance Day — Balor vs. Dunne may cause him to make his choice. Karrion Kross later confronted Edge as he was leaving the building and warned Edge that it’ll be Kross he’s facing after Kross takes the NXT Championship from Balor or Dunne.

Gargano was informed during an interview on NXT tonight that he’ll be defending his North American Championship against Kushida at TakeOver: Vengeance Day. Gargano didn’t believe the news and went to go question NXT general manager William Regal about it, but Kushida was in Regal’s office when Gargano got there. Gargano attacked Kushida, but Kushida got the better of their brawl before it was broken up.

Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: Vengeance Day:

  • NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Pete Dunne
  • NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a triple threat match
  • NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Kushida
  • Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals
  • Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals

‘Vengeance Day’ name set for February’s WWE NXT TakeOver

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NXT’s Valentine’s Day TakeOver special now has its name.

WWE has announced that NXT’s next TakeOver event will be NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. The show is taking place on Sunday, February 14 and will air on the WWE Network starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

WWE used Vengeance as a pay-per-view name from 2001-2007. Vengeance then returned as a PPV for one year in 2011.

A Women’s Championship match has already been confirmed for TakeOver: Vengeance Day, with NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defending her title against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a triple threat match.

Pete Dunne challenging for Finn Balor’s NXT Championship appears to be the direction for TakeOver: Vengeance Day, but that match has yet to be announced. The men’s and women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classics are also currently taking place. The quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Classic will conclude on NXT tonight. Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter are also facing Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez in the first semifinal match in the women’s Dusty Classic on tonight’s show.

Vengeance Day will be the 33rd TakeOver event in NXT’s history.