NXT TakeOver: XXX REVIEW – A Drop In Standards?

NXT TakeOver XXX is the 30th iteration of NXT TakeOver and a celebration of the successful brand after six strong years. The event featured a relatively weak card in comparison to the usual high standards from previous years, but NXT has a history of exceeding expectations. The opening package featured classic alumni from previous PPVs, such as Sasha, Bayley, Nakamura, Undisputed Era, Gargano and Ciampa.

The stage looked cool, with the titular three Xs spread out across the stage. The middle X showed the entrance video for the wrestler entering, while the outer two displayed the card. It reminded me of Fully Loaded 2000, one of the more underrated Attitude Era PPVs. Corey Graves covered for the beloved Mauro Ranallo, working alongside Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix. Compared to his more grating main roster style, Graves was more akin to his old self: a good storyteller.

– Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
– Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Velveteen Dream
– Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee
– Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez vs. Io Shirai (c)
– Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux vs. Keith Lee (c)
– Final Verdict

Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher

The first match kicked off very quickly with Finn Balor attempting to surprise Thatcher with a sudden attack. Balor seemed determined to prove himself the wrestling equal of Thatcher, a hubris that Thatcher took advantage of. Thatcher’s scientific dissection of Balor’s left leg was methodical and vicious, forcing Balor under pressure for a significant portion of the match.
The use of submission and strikes by Thatcher helped demonstrate his underrated intelligence, as he focused his attack on Balor’s weakest areas. Not only would this help negate Balor’s speed and agility-based offense, but it set up the possibility of Thatcher locking in a submission at any point for victory.

Unfortunately, despite the fascinating back-and-forth, too often Balor’s ‘injured’ left leg seemed completely forgotten, only returning after a missed Coup De Grace. This felt slightly sloppy from two tremendous wrestlers, especially considering Thatcher demonstrated a wide range of submission techniques.

What should have been a major driving force of the match that could have allowed Balor to utilise a more tactical style instead felt like an afterthought. AInstead, after a slight bit of discomfort, Balor would successfully hit the Coup De Grace after a second attempt and land the 1916 Elevated DDT for the victory.

Winner: Finn Balor
Grade: C-

A flawed but okay opener that unfortunately didn’t set a high standard for the rest of the event. Balor achieved his record twelfth victory at NXT TakeOver, although I’m not sure whether Thatcher would have gained more from it. I can only imagine future booking will bring light to the reason behind this decision.

Five-Man Ladder Match – NXT North American Championship

Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Velveteen Dream

With Keith Lee successfully defeating Adam Cole for the NXT Championship, he made the decision to vacate his NXT North American Championship with the caveat of allowing as many individuals the opportunity to win the new title as possible. This led to four Triple Threat matches and a fifth match featuring second chance opportunities for those not pinned in the other matches.

Bronson Reed and Cameron Grimes both featured in their first TakeOver appearance, and both put on solid performances. Reed came across as a major threat, requiring multiple opponents to double team him to even the odds. At times, Reed used one opponent to take down another, demonstrating some tremendous strength. On the opposite side, Grimes was a comedic bumping machine, with two highlights in his mini ladder, or when he got caught between two ladders and did the splits mid-air. Both men have a good future in NXT.

Johnny Gargano has always been a reliable member of the roster, pacing around his opposition and using his intelligence to level the playing field. Candice LeRae getting involved led to the impressive image of Reed splashing Gargano off the cage with Candice on his back. While I still think turning Candice and Gargano heel was a mistake, you can’t fault their effort. Gargano’s Powerbomb off one ladder to Grimes onto another was slightly sickening, especially as Grimes looked like he caught his head on the side of the ladder.

Dream entered the match amid a cloud of controversy, and unfortunately didn’t really do enough to justify the decision to bring him back or add him to the match — you possibly could have removed him and not missed him. His only memorable moment was him being dropped off the ladder over the guardrail and then disappearing for good.

In comparison, Priest put on a great performance, mixing his size and power with impressive agility and ingenuity. His last ditch attempt to steal the championship from Gargano was quite clever, and he was a deserved winner.

Winner: Damian Priest
Rating: B-

The match itself was fun with some good bumps, an unrelenting pace throughout and a solid finish. Probably would have been a much better opener, with Reed, Grimes and Gargano possible challengers in future.

Grudge Match

Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee

I admit to having been less than excited for this match. McAfee had been an annoying personality that I had no time and no care for, his trash talking and obsession with jorts making him unbearable. The booking left me frustrated and underwhelmed. However, I would be lying if I didn’t begrudgingly give McAfee credit for his performance. He was very much protected, and Cole helped him look great, but McAfee was more than just a spectator.

One thing McAfee possesses is good agility, and he utilised that strength to impress in early moments with a solid dropkick and an impressive senton off the top rope to the outside. Combined with his inability to shut up, McAfee drew tremendous heat, and Cole’s frustration was understandable. McAfee was stiff at times with his movement and you can see the lack of experience as he has to move himself into position, but Cole’s experience and professionalism worked well around it.

However, there is no question that the enduring image from this match will be the sequence where McAfee was thrown off the turnbuckle, did a backwards somersault onto his feet, and then jumped back onto the turnbuckle for a gorgeous Superplex. That was Ricochet/Will Ospreayesque, which made it even more impressive for McAfee in his first match. That jumped the match up an extra level, and the overall back-and-forth was engrossing.

The overall highlight of the match was getting to see a respected wrestler in Cole finally shut up McAfee after two years of insults and passive-aggressive taunts. However, McAfee deserves credit for an impressive performance as he proved to many doubters, including myself, that he just might have a future in this business.

Winner: Adam Cole
Grade: B-

NXT Women’s Championship Match

Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez vs. Io Shirai (c)

This had become a surprisingly bitter match with Kai’s insults and attacks on Shirai incensing the champion. Kai entered this match with a giant insurance plan in Gonzalez, while Shirai was determined to punish Kai for her actions. Kai focused her attack on Shirai’s left arm throughout, as well as antagonising Shirai with disrespectful kicks to the face. Kai’s hard hitting strikes demonstrated the more vicious edge to her character this year, making her a legitimate danger to Shirai’s title reign.

This match had Shirai having to battle from underneath, her injured left arm forcing her to rely on dives and stomps to survive. But every time Shirai seemingly survived one attack or submission, Kai utilised another, allowing Shirai little opportunity to regroup. This match was probably the highlight of the event so far as it was able to combine better selling than the opener, the nonstop pace of the ladder match, and the character work of Cole-McAfee. The overall standard was tremendous.

Some of the best character moments included Kai’s frustration and tiredness leading to her screaming in frustration when Shirai grabbed a rope instead of kicking out, or Shirai having to use one arm for her 619 attempt. The final sequence included a good nearfall when Kai knocked out the referee and Gonzalez wiped out Shirai, only for Shirai to kick out and grab the victory.

Winner: Io Shirai
Grade: B

This match accomplished three things: making Kai look like a serious challenger; Shirai a legitimate champion, and returning Rhea Ripley. Maybe not at the excellence of previous women’s matches, but a strong match on a solid TakeOver. Kai especially can take the plaudits from this match as she continues to show her potential as a mainstay in the NXT women’s division.

NXT Championship Match

Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux vs. Keith Lee (c)

I remember feeling a bit worried when this match was announced. Kross was obviously being booked for a big role in NXT as he was a Triple-H favourite, but Lee had only just won the championship. It felt like neither man could really lose, as it would halt Kross’ momentum, or end Lee’s title reign too soon, which would be a massive waste.

Starting off as a physical battle between two big hosses, it quickly transitioned into an awfully long sequence of heat spots by Kross. Every time Lee started battling back, Kross locked in a new submission on Lee’s left arm. This was an intelligent gameplan from the challenger, but unfortunately meant the momentum of the first few minutes went to a standstill, and the match struggled to recover.

Lee’s tiredness in the final third was an intentional move to show how effective Kross’ work had been, but it made the entire match feel more laboured. Some moments, such as Lee’s Spirit Bomb and Kross’ Kross-Jacket, created close nearfalls, but the actual finish with the Saito Suplex from the middle turnbuckle felt very anticlimactic. The silence afterwards seemed less from shock at the result and more of a “wait, that’s it?”

Winner: Karrion Kross
Grade: C-

This was an underwhelming main event, but I also think it was unfairly set up to fail. First of all, I think it was a mistake to book the match in the first place as both were in the midst of good pushes. Kross looked vicious in previous matches and boasted an awesome entrance with a captivating valet in Scarlett Bordeaux. He was a future NXT Champion, but didn’t necessarily need the title. By rushing to crown him, extra pressure has been placed on him to succeed.

In comparison, Keith Lee had been built up as a fighting North American Champion, but then they seemed to rush to a match with Adam Cole on a ‘special’ episode. The fact it was an obvious ploy to challenge AEW during their Fyter Fest meant NXT wasted a huge match. They made Lee champion, only for Lee to end up being used as a transition champion to put Kross over. It makes Lee feel wasted as he could have been an awesome NXT Champion, but instead he’s the shortest reigning record holder at 45 days. It didn’t feel like an NXT story; it felt like Goldberg beating Hollywood Hogan on WCW Monday Nitro.

Final Verdict

Grade: C+

As an entire event, NXT TakeOver XXX feels quite underwhelming, not just as a major TakeOver (even just compared to TakeOver 25, it feels weak), but as a TakeOver in general. The effort was there but the magic wasn’t. It didn’t feel special or like an important event. In fact, it barely felt above a solid episode of NXT on a Wednesday night.