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
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.
Ember Moon will be the next challenger for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship.
WWE has announced that Gonzalez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Moon at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13. Moon called out Gonzalez on NXT tonight following an angle on last week’s show where Moon was forced to watch Gonzalez lay out her tag team partner Shotzi Blackheart.
Moon & Blackheart defeated Gonzalez & Dakota Kai in tag team action on NXT last week, but Gonzalez knocked Moon down after the match and attacked Blackheart. Gonzalez told Kai to make Moon watch her lay out Blackheart. Gonzalez powerbombed Blackheart into the plexiglass surrounding the ringside area, powerbombed her into the ring post, and then dropped Blackheart onto the barricade. Gonzalez warned Moon that she would be next.
On tonight’s NXT, Moon told Gonzalez to come out to the ring and said she wasn’t going to let what Gonzalez did to Blackheart slide. Moon brawled with Gonzalez and sent her outside of the ring, but Kai then ambushed Moon from behind and beat her down.
Moon vs. Kai is set for next Tuesday’s NXT. The episode is NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. In her first title defense, Gonzalez retained against Mercedes Martinez last month.
Moon previously held the NXT Women’s Championship from November 2017 to April 2018.
Here’s the updated lineup for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
A matchup between wrestlers vying for the attention of Ted DiBiase is set for NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight will take place at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13. The match was announced after Grimes caused LA Knight to lose to Jake Atlas on NXT tonight.
Grimes and DiBiase had been feuding leading into them meeting for a “Million Dollar Face-Off” on NXT last week. DiBiase told Grimes that he sees a little bit of himself when he looks at Grimes. DiBiase said he was there because he’s looking for the one individual who can continue his Million Dollar legacy. DiBiase said Grimes has what it takes in the ring, but he’s lost his focus since becoming rich.
Knight then interrupted the Million Dollar Face-Off and said he can take the Million Dollar legacy to new levels. Grimes threatened Knight, but the segment ended with Knight laying Grimes out.
DiBiase watched on as Knight faced Atlas on tonight’s NXT. Grimes made his way out during the match and spoke with DiBiase. Grimes said the Million Dollar legacy should belong with him. When Knight was on the top rope, he turned his attention to Grimes and got distracted. The distraction led to Knight getting crotched on the top rope and Atlas hitting his cartwheel DDT to get the win.
DiBiase shook his head in disapproval at Knight before walking off. When he was interviewed backstage, DiBiase was asked who is truly deserving of carrying on the Million Dollar legacy. DiBiase said Knight dropped the ball tonight but Grimes showed that it takes both brains and brawn.
Atlas also picked up a win on NXT two weeks ago, defeating Grimes after Grimes was distracted by DiBiase.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Adam Cole returning to NXT tonight led to a fatal five-way title match being announced for NXT’s next TakeOver event.
Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on tonight’s show was supposed to decide Kross’ challenger for TakeOver, but it ended in a no contest as part of an angle where Cole returned and took out all three wrestlers. A furious William Regal then made his way out with security. Cole hit a superkick on O’Reilly before Regal and security finally got him to go to the back.
Cole appeared again later in the show and said that he wants the NXT Championship back. He called Kross a “big, overrated musclehead” who doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. Kross then came out to the ring and confronted Cole.
Kross said Cole’s motives in getting involved in the triple threat match were understandable. But Kross said that when he signed with NXT, Cole stopped being special. Cole said NXT has done everything in their power to make Kross feel special — but all they have to do to make Cole feel special is ring the bell. Cole said Kross isn’t on his level and anyone who watches pro wrestling knows that. Cole said Kross is just a guy who has his property.
Regal said he could see what Cole was doing and it wasn’t going to work, but Kross told Regal that he wants to face everyone at TakeOver: In Your House. Kross said to give him O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole. Regal agreed to make the match.
This was just the second time Cole has appeared on NXT since losing to O’Reilly in an unsanctioned match at April’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. A sit-down interview with Cole aired on the April 27 episode of the show.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He’s made one title defense since then, retaining against Balor in a rematch last week.
PWInsider is reporting that WWE is mulling over a decision on holding a two-night NXT TakeOver on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to this year’s WrestleMania.
If the plan comes to be, that would give WWE six straight days of programming between Wednesday and Monday with two nights of NXT, SmackDown, two nights of WrestleMania and Raw.
The PWInsider report said the first night of TakeOver would be on USA, its final one on Wednesday night, with the second night available on the WWE Network. At that point, it’s believed the Network will be available on the Peacock streaming service.
That would leave the Hall of Fame ceremony in question with Dave Meltzer speculating they could hold it on the Tuesday before or the Tuesday afterward — assuming they are still planning on having it this year.
From this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“It’s also notable that at this point, nothing has been said at all regarding the Hall of Fame. Usually at this point, most members would have been announced. We do know that the families of last year’s inductees were told it would take place virtually this year over Mania week. But things are always changing.”
Tom Cole, a key name from one of the most sordid public pro wrestling stories, committed suicide on 2/12, at the age of 50.
Cole was a key accuser in the WWF ringboy scandal, which was part of coverage of the company that involved media heavyweights of the time including Phil Donahue, Larry King and Geraldo Rivera. It also greatly involved New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick (no relation to Irv Muchnick, who was also a reporter covering the same story, the nephew of Sam Muchnick, who was one of the most powerful figures in pro wrestling history as President of the National Wrestling Alliance during most of the period from 1950 to 1975).
Cole passed away due to his hanging himself. His older brother Lee, 60, who talked extensively to the media at different points and appeared on a number of radio shows in the early 90s on the topic, announced the news and immediately blamed Vince and Linda McMahon. Cole left behind a wife and three daughters.
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
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.
The first NXT TakeOver event of 2021 is set for Valentine’s Day.
It was announced on tonight’s New Year’s Evil episode of NXT that the brand’s next TakeOver will take place on Sunday, February 14. It will be the first TakeOver since December’s NXT TakeOver; WarGames.
Love is in the air — and so is NXT’s next showcase event!
The next edition of NXT TakeOver will come your way on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 E/4 P on the award-winning WWE Network.
The NXT Universe just saw a spectacular New Year’s Evil, with Finn Balor retaining the NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Karrion Kross taking down Damian Priest, and more. What’s in store when the black-and-gold brand takes over next month?
This will be the 33rd TakeOver event in NXT’s history.
Ahead of TakeOver, the men’s 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will begin on NXT next Wednesday (January 13). WWE hasn’t announced when the tournament will be concluding. The winning team will receive the Dusty Cup and a shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles. It was also announced on New Year’s Evil that the first-ever women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will take place soon.
A short vignette that aired tonight on NXT signaled a return for Karrion Kross.
Following the strap match between Cameron Grimes and Dexter Lumis, a vignette aired showing a vulture. The video ended with Kross saying ‘tick tock’, his trademark phrase.
Kross has been out of action since winning the NXT Championship at TakeOver XXX on August 22, suffering a separated shoulder during the match. He vacated the title on the next episode of NXT due to the injury.
When asked about a Kross return this week in a Q&A with Fox Sports’ Ryan Satin, Triple H said it was just a matter of timing.
“He’s one of those guys that, again, you want to run through a brick wall for,” he told Satin. “But, he’ll run through the brick wall for himself. That’s the other thing. He’s not here to sit back and go, ‘Man, I hope this heals well.’ He’s going to. If it doesn’t heal well, it’s not on him. It’s not on lack of effort. He did everything conceivable to get there and he’s ready to rock and roll. It’s just a timing thing now.”
The most detailed look at the life and career of Pat Patterson, from his childhood in Montreal, through his being Vince McMahon’s assistant, and everything in between, is the lead story in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
This will likely go down as one of the best issues in history, with the stories on Patterson and Bobby Lee, the guy you never heard of who set box office records in the summer of 1978.
We look at Patterson’s career highlights, comments from some of the biggest names in the history of the business, where he got the name from, finding out he wa gay, his start in Boston, how Mad Dog Vachon made his career, the days in San Francisco, the greatest tag team of the era, being in the middle of the Cow Palace vs. HIC feud, his first encounter with Mae Young, Pretty Boy Patrick Patterson, the different stages that led to the Texas Battle Royal, the Cow Palace Battle Royal and the Royal Rumble.
We look at the character of Roy Shire, matches with the likes of Ray Stevens, Bob Backund and Sgt.Slaughter, the birth of the Intercontinental title, tours of Japan, the Quebec Dream, and WWE honoring him in Montreal.
Also in this issue:
Kenny Omega winning the AEW title, Sting coming, Don Callis and Impact Wrestling, and full coverage of AEW’s Winter is Coming.
The life and career of Bobby Lee, who made himself a legend in two months, and then how it all ended.
Agovernmental rule now protecting talent from having to adhere to the rules the rest of us go by, notes on Tribute to the Troops, notes on new WWE signings including one of the highest level athletes they’ve ever signed, update on a lawsuit against the company and how they are trying to get out of it, Talking mack, Slammy Awards, foreign ratings, how WWE & AEW are doing in the sports ratings, Broken Skull Sessions, Undertaker talks about ling to Shawn Michaels, top Exec makes more than $1 million in stock sale, and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
A feature on Jimmy Rave as his career comes to an end.
This year’s TripleMania show as well as a look back at the main events of every show to date.
Saturday’s UFC show with match-by-match coverage, business notes and ramifications of the key matches.
Television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking NXT Takeover, UFC, Shiozaki vs. Sugiura, NJPW as well as taking questions that you can send to [email protected]. We’re doing polls today for NXT Takeover, the NOAH PPV show on FITE TV and today’s New Japan show in Fukuoka, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected]
I recorded a show on Pat Patterson with Chris Jericho that will be released shortly. I did another one with Pat Laprade and Garrett Gonzalez on Friday night.
War Games from NXT starts at 7 p.m Eastern time. On paper it looks like a strong show. Takeovers are never bad, War Games matches are usually great so there you go:
Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong vs. Pat McAfee & Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch & Pete Dunne – McAfee’s team right now is a -125 favorite using the 5 Dimes odds.
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon & Io Shirai & Rhea Ripley vs. Toni Storm & Candice LeRae & Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai – Blackheart’s team is the -260 favorite.
Leon Ruff vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Damien Priest for the North American title – Ruff is the -105 favorite to retain
Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes in a strap match. Lumis is a -305 favorite.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher. Ciampa is a -245 favorite.
The men’s War Games match is almost a local when you consider the talent involved. Everything looks good but whether or not it’s a classic show will likely be determined by the women’s match and the three-way match.
The TLC card itself was finalized at a meeting on Thursday so they should be rolling out the matches now.
I have not seen this match yet, but today’s Go Shiozaki vs. Takashi Sugiura match on the NOAH PPV show (FITE TV) is getting a ton of praise as a potential match of the year. At the show they announced a return to Budokan Hall on 2/12 with Shiozaki defending against Keiji Muto, who has never held the GHC title in his career.
Some schedule updates for the next two weeks. The 12/18 Smackdown show may be moved to FS1. The Pac-12 football championships will be on either 12/18 or 12/19 on FOX. If it’s 12/18, Smackdown moves to FS1, if it’s 12/19, it will air as usual on FOX. The 12/23 Dynamite show will not air in its usual time slot. At one point TNT was going to be carrying two NBA games that night, but now it’s only a 7:30 p.m. game. One would think Dynamite will air after the game, but that is not yet certain.
WWE
Kambi has star ratings odds for TakeOver so you can bet over or under:
Thatcher vs. Ciampa ***3/4
Lumis vs. Grimes *1/2
North American title ***3/4
Women’s War Games ****1/4
Men’s War Games ****1/2
Lacey Evans was on the NFL pregame show today on FOX to promote Tribute to the Troops. In this market, on the grid for the FOX channel, the show was listed as “to be announced.”
This was an angle that was shot right after Dynamite ended, involving Eddie Kingston, Jake Roberts and Lance Archer.
OTHER STUFF
Jack Hermansson suffered a broken toe and broken orbital bone in last night’s loss to Marvin Vettori via decision in the UFC main event.
The Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia fight was the No. 2 most searched for topic on the Internet yesterday with 500,000 searches. UFC did not crack the top 20, but the name Marvin Vettori was No 11 at 20,000 for this morning. The only other combat sports related stories to chart this week was Sting at No. 20 on Thursday with 20,000 and Pat Patterson on Wednesday at 200,000.
EPW ran with fans yesterday in Perth, Western Australia. They had a reduced capacity, but no restrictions on favor behavior past no high-fives or touching of fans. Western Australia had no community transmission of COVID and they are still careful. Jack Edwards & Taylor King b Aaron Hawk & Twitch to win the tag titles, Del Cano b Jarrad Slate, Joel Hagan b Toro Blanco, Steela Nyx & Chadwick Johnson b Rya Allen & Gorgeous Garry, Michael Morleone b Dan Moore, Gavin McGavin b Davis Storm-DQ, Davis Storm b Garvin McGavin to retain Coastal title. Morleone vs. itt said to be really good. Main event was said to be phenomenal. Said to be must see. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
CWE from last night in Winnipeg for an empty arena show on Facebook: The Winnipeg police were called by people trying to get it shut down but the police said they were following all protocol and allowed the event: Danny Duggan b Tommy Lee Curtis, Travis Cole b Dragneel, Mentallo b Johnny Devine, Kevy Chevy won four-way over Cliff Corleone, Cory Diamond and Roy Cheeks, Danny Dugga b Travis Cole, Mentallo b EZ Ryder, Kevin Cannon won vacant jr. title in a three-way over Bobby Collins and Tyler James, AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle b Dick Blood & Adrien Burton, Dany Duggan b Mentallo In the tournament final to become the CWE champion.
WWE has added two new matches to the card for NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
The North American Championship will be on the line at TakeOver: WarGames as Leon Ruff defends his title against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match. Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes will also face off in a strap match at TakeOver.
The North American Championship match was announced after Gargano and then Priest interrupted a KO Show segment with Ruff as the guest on NXT tonight. Ruff shockingly won the title on NXT two weeks ago after getting help from Priest distracting Gargano.
Ruff and Gargano faced off in a rematch last week, but the match ended in a disqualification when Priest punched Ruff so Gargano wouldn’t be able to win the title back. Ruff wasn’t happy with Priest treating him like a joke. He slapped Priest and later got the better of a three-way brawl with Gargano and Priest.
Lumis and Grimes have previously faced each other in a Haunted House of Terror match and a blindfold match. Grimes defeated Jake Atlas on NXT tonight, but Lumis appeared after the match and taunted Grimes. Lumis pulled a strap out and threw it toward Grimes.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver:
WarGames match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) vs. Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch)
WarGames match: Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart and three partners to be announced) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae; Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm)
NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff defends his title against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match
