This week’s NXT was packed full of matches that ended in utter chaos as Finn Balor faced Velveteen Dream to see who would fill the final place in the ladder match for the NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: XXX. Dakota Kai sent a message to Io Shirai, El Legado Del Fantasma showed just why they aren’t to be messed with, The Robert Stone Brand was on fine form, and Adam Cole stood face to face with Pat McAfee before their match this Saturday. First up, Johnny Gargano wanted to earn a place in the ladder match, but the almighty Ridge Holland stood in his way.

Johnny Gargano W/ Candice LeRae vs Ridge Holland

Ridge Holland started off strong, tossing around Johnny Gargano like a rag doll. Gargano managed to use his experience to try and come back, but Holland’s brute force proved too much. The speed and skill of Gargano began to break down Holland’s attack, hitting a tope con hilo after Holland fell outside. After the break, Holland went for a slam, but Gargano landed awkwardly on his head, and it genuinely seemed as though Johnny Wrestling was hurt. The match continued, with Holland hitting a spinning Powerslam. Holland continued to use his power, but Gargano’s resilience proved a huge factor in his ability to hang on.

Holland dropped Gargano’s face into the ring apron, and as he went climbing back in, Candice LeRae hit a low blow. Gargano took advantage and finished off Holland with One Final Beat to advance to the ladder match for the North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: XXX. I’m still not sure how Gargano continued, because that head injury looked legitimate. It just goes to show what a phenomenal athlete he is.

Winner: Johnny Gargano Rating: 6.5/10

Dakota Kai vs Jessi Kamea

Dakota Kai was vicious from the moment the bell rang, and after hitting a Kaio kick and a face wash, it looked as though this match was over. Kamea landed a spinning heel kick, then a big splash. She dropped Kai from above and went for the pin, but Kai kicked out. After her brief flurry of attacks, Kamea ate a GTK and was pinned, giving Kai a convincing victory. After the match, Kai grabbed the mic, telling Shirai she must be “out of her mind.” Kai said Shirai was so focused on the people of her past, that she was focused on her future.

She said it would feel so good when she kicked her over and over and over until Shirai came out and the two brawled all over the ring area. From out of nowhere, Raquel Gonzalez came out and hit Shirai with a huge boot. Kai took her back to the ring, and Shirai attacked her, but Gonzalez delivered that devastating one-armed Powerslam. Is this a sign of things to come? It was a bit of a surprise seeing Gonzalez, but I guess it shows NXT hasn’t forgotten about her, which I’m happy about.

Winner: Dakota Kai Rating: 5/10

El Legado Del Fantasma vs Breezango and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

There was no fancy entrance for Breezango tonight, which means they must be mad. The bell rang, and chaos erupted as all six men went after each other. In the ring, Fandango started off against Raul Mendoza. Mendoza drove Fandango’s shoulder into the turnbuckle and tagged in Joaquin Wilde. Swerve hit a dropkick through the ropes on Mendoza, and as Escobar was about to dive outside, Swerve kicked him in the head whilst Breezango levelled out Mendoza and Wilde with stereo kicks.

Fandango kicked Breeze in the face back in the ring, and as he climbed to the top rope, Wilde knocked him off. He stomped on Fandgano’s injured arm, and Legado Del Fantasma got in some fantastic teamwork. Mendoza continued to work on Fandango’s injured left arm with an arm lock, then wrenched the arm in the corner. Wilde tagged in, and both him and Mendoza attacked Breeze and Swerve who were on the apron. This gave Fandango a chance to take both of them out which allowed him to tag in Swerve. Swerve took out Mendoza and Wilde, then went straight after Escobar. He hit a leaping flatliner on him, then wiped out Mendoza and Wilde who were trying to distract him outside the ring.

Swerve jumped off the top rope, but Escobar countered with a jumping knee. Escobar grabbed Swerve, and Wilde jumped off the top rope, hitting Escobar with a dropkick that forced Escobar to shove Swerve into Breeze. Swerve then hit the JML Driver, but the referee wouldn’t count because he wasn’t the legal man. Mendoza and Wilde then took advantage, hitting a deadly Russian Leg Sweep and running kick combo on Swerve. Breeze came in and took out Wilde and Mendoza, but Escobar hit him in the face from outside. He came in the ring and finished him off with the Phantom Driver for the win. El Legado Del Fantasma never fail to deliver, and tonight was no different.

Winners: El Legado Del Fantasma Rating: 7.5/10 

Pat McAfee And Adam Cole: Face To Face

The Undisputed Era headed to the ring as Cole was ready to face Pat McAfee in the ring. McAfee came to the ring with some of his NFL friends, including AJ Hawk and Darius Butler. He said he’d brought 28 years of NFL experience with him. Cole sent the rest of UE outside so McAfee would step through the ropes alone. McAfee stepped through the ropes and reminded Cole how he attacked him a few weeks ago, and how he was moaning last week about him. Fair play to McAfee. He delivered a pretty decent promo about how Cole was 403 days undefeated as NXT Champion, but it took him one second to knock him out. He called himself special and said on Saturday it would end the same when they fought each other.

McAfee went on to say how he has only had two weeks to prepare for the match, but it was enough. He would defeat Cole at NXT TakeOver: XXX and the only sound anyone would hear was “boom!” He threw the mic at Cole, which led him to confront McAfee. Cole took out security, then UE squared up to McAfee and his buddies. “At NXT TakeOver, I’m going to make you my bitch,” said Cole, as Undisputed Era headed to the back, never taking their eyes off Pat McAfee. I’m actually more excited about this match after that face to face. McAfee is an idiot, but he can certainly talk the talk.

Aliyah & Mercedes Martinez W/ Robert Stone vs Shotzi Blackheart & Rhea Ripley

Rhea Ripley and Mercedes Martinez started off, but it didn’t last long as Aliyah and Shotzi Blackheart were tagged in. Blackheart dropped a double leg drop between Aliyah’s legs, but after a distraction from Martinez, Aliyah knocked Blackheart on her head. Blackheart hit a sunset roll-up, but Aliyah kicked out and hit a neckbreaker. Martinez tagged in and kicked the life out of Blackheart, followed by a choke on the ropes and multiple strikes in the corner. Martinez hit a snapped butterfly suplex. The punishment continued, but Blackheart managed to deliver a DDT out of nowhere.

Ripley was finally tagged in and hit some vicious knee strikes to Aliyah, followed by a basement dropkick. Ripley hit a facebuster and went for the pin, but Martinez broke it up. Ripley hit the Riptide, and as Blackheart climbed the ropes, Martinez took her out. Ripley got revenge by Powerslamming Martinez over the barricade into the concrete floor. Back in the ring, Blackheart hit a diving senton for the victory.

Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Rhea Ripley Rating: 7/10

Finn Balor vs Velveteen Dream

An intense start saw Balor lock in a headlock. Dream went outside the ring to gather his thoughts as the show went into a break. When NXT returned, Dream was in control, delivering a Lou Thesz press. Balor fought back and tied up Dream’s left ankle, transitioning into a bow and arrow crossface. Dream managed to turn the tide by wrenching Balor’s left arm, then went for a superkick to knock him to the ground. He delivered punches to Balor’s head in the corner, taunting him by thrusting his crotch in Balor’s face.

Balor fought back, but Dream hit a double axe handle. Dream was outside after thrusting Balor’s throat into the top rope when Cameron Grimes walked out. After the break, Grimes was sat on top of one of the ladders at ringside holding the NXT North American Championship as the match continued. Balor was struggling to get back into the match, but he hit a basement dropkick. He caught Dream up in the tree of woe and delivered some kicks to his sternum.

Velveteen Dream was thrown over the ropes after a big Irish whip. Outside the ring, Dream dropped Balor into the apron face first. Back in the ring, Dream went for the Dream DDT, but Balor countered and went for the 1916. Dream countered and set up for Dream Valley Driver, but Balor managed to hit the sling blade. Dream hit a superplex on Balor. Johnny Gargano then came out and pushed the ladder which had Grimes sitting on top, making him fly into the ring and knock the ref out. Grimes got to his feet, and Balor hit a double knee stomp followed by a Fameasser by Dream. With Grimes down, Balor hit a sling blade, but Dream got up and delivered a superkick.

Bronson Reed came out and faced off against Gargano. Damian Priest appeared behind Gargano and hit him square in the jaw. Reed threw Gargano over the ropes, and Priest kicked Reed in the face. Dream then superkicked Priest as Reed clotheslined both him and Priest over the top rope. Balor clotheslined Dream over the top rope, then dived on Priest and Reed. Timothy Thatcher ran down and took out Balor. Back in the ring, Dream hit the Dream Valley Driver and the Purple Rainmaker for the victory, sending him to NXT TakeOver: XXX.

After the match, Gargano superkicked Dream, then picked up the North American Championship. Grimes kicked Gargano, Priest chokeslammed Grimes, then Reed clotheslined Priest, followed by a Death Valley Driver on Dream. The show ended as Bronson Reed lifted the North American Championship above his head. I need to lie down. That was a ridiculously great way to end this week’s NXT.

What Else Went Down?

– Tegan Nox was backstage being spoken to about what Candice LeRae said about her in last week’s ‘at home with the Gargano’s segment. Nox said she needed to fix her friendship with LeRae, and she should do it over a glass of wine, and now is the time to do it.

– Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde vs Breezango vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch was made for the NXT TakeOver: XXX pre-show to see who the number one contenders would be to face Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championships.

– We got a video preview hyping Keith Lee vs Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver: XXX. Although we didn’t get to see these two on the show, this did a perfect job of getting me even more excited. This has the potential to be one of the best matches in NXT history. Both men are incredible athletes, and with so much at stake, we’re in for a classic.

After The Bell

The main event was a decent match, but when all the other competitors for the North American Championship came out, it was carnage. Now Lumis is out, I’d love it if Bronson Reed was able to win. He’s been on fine form over recent weeks, and it’d be nice to see a fresh face win the title over the likes of Velveteen Dream and Johnny Gargano. Pat McAfee and Adam Cole’s face-off was pretty good. I wasn’t particularly bothered before tonight, but McAfee delivered a great promo, and Cole is always amazing.

Dakota Kai is one of my favourites, but I’m not sure if I want her to beat Io Shirai for the title. Regardless of my personal thoughts, this is likely to be a great match, especially after Raquel Gonzalez turned up after a brief absence. Although we didn’t see Keith Lee or Karrion Kross, the video preview was brilliant, featuring great use of Metallica’s ‘Frantic’.

Star of the Show: Johnny Gargano Overall Rating: 7/10

The main card for NXT TakeOver: XXX is looking packed. Below are all the matches set to take place, and into brackets, I’ve put who I think will end up winning as opposed to who I want. I can’t wait for Saturday. The ladder match will be amazing, as will Lee vs Kross. Kai and Shirai could have a superb showdown as well. Roll on the weekend.

NXT TakeOver: XXX Final Card

Pre-Show: Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde vs Breezango vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch (Mendoza & Wilde)

Adam Cole vs Pat McAfee (Adam Cole)

Ladder Match for the NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano vs Cameron Grimes vs Bronson Reed vs Damian Priest vs Velveteen Dream (Cameron Grimes)

NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Dakota Kai (Io Shirai)

NXT Championship: Keith Lee (c) vs Karrion Kross (Keith Lee)

WWE announced after this review was put online Finn Balor will face off Timothy Thatcher at the PPV. 

All images and videos courtesy of WWE