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BRONSON REED & MSK vs. LEGAO DEL FANTASMA (13:40): This was kind of a strange match because the North American title and the tag team titles were on the line. The reason they did this was probably because instead of having Bronson Reed face Santana Escobar for the North American title and thus having 6 matches on the show instead of the usual 5, they just threw them into this match. The problem was that with two guys in this not used to wrestling in tag team matches a lot of it was a little sloppy and a little off. They definitely could have had a 6th match on this show, though, as it was pretty short and a lot of good wrestlers like Ciampa, Kushida, and Finn Balor weren't even on the show. This match was entertaining though nothing great. They did one spot where everyone did a dive over the ropes onto the floor leading to the fat man, Bronson Reed, diving through the ropes onto everyone. This was by far the worst Takeover I've ever seen (there was at least one audience-less Takeover during the pandemic that I didn't bother to watch). I think NXT has suffered in quality ever since they started doing their 2 hour live show to compete against AEW Dynamite. They're kind of in the same boat that the WWE is in with having too much programming now instead of building up Takeover shows with huge matches. Now a lot of those huge matches are just on their weekly TV show, like Finn Balor vs. Karrion Kross for the title that was on a month or so ago. **
XIA LU vs. MERCEDES MARTINEZ (7:40): This was terribly boring. Xia Lu was given this super racist samurai gimmick that is just cringe inducing. She came out with a straw hat on and wielding a sword. They really didn't do much in this match besides present a stale, basic, wrestling match that the fairly dead crowd didn't give a shit about. -No Stars-
LA KNIGHT vs. CAMERON GRIMES "LADDER MATCH" (19:30): This was the best match on the show and that isn't really saying a lot. Ted Dibiase was sitting at ringside because above the ladder was the Million Dollar belt. They even had one ladder that was gold. They did some brutal ladder spots. The big finale had Grimes falling off the big ladder onto a ladder bridge on the entrance ramp. Knight was tossed over the top rope onto a ladder bridge at ringside. Grimes is amusing whereas Knight seems to just be a forgettable, muscled heel. This at least held my interest. **1/2
RAQUEL GONZALEZ vs. EMBER MOON (12:40): It probably doesn't help that the two big NXT champions are not exciting or good wrestlers. Gonzalez and Kross are champs because they're big and tall. I can't really see any other reason. During the match, Moon's friend/partner, Shotzi Blackheart ran out to beat up Gonzalez's friend/partner, Dakota Kai. Those two are so much more exciting and entertaining in the ring that I was wishing I was just watching them wrestle instead. There was literally nothing memorable about this match besides the outside interference spots with Shotzi and Dakota. 1/2*
KARRION KROSS vs. PETE DUNNE vs. JOHNNY GARGANO vs. ADAM COLE vs. KYLE O'REILLY (26:15): Everyone on the internet didn't like the idea of this match but I thought it would be great. Four of these wrestlers are awesome and some of the best wrestlers in the world. The internet was right, though, as this didn't turn out that great. The problem a lot of people had was that it felt like by having a 5 way for the title it meant that NXT was just out of ideas and not even trying. The real problem turned out to be having 5 guys in the ring just didn't work at all. There were a lot of moves but no cohesion, no built up drama. There couldn't be, as it was just a mess of guys all over the place. Even the guys that laid out this match know that Kross sucks because twice he was taken out leaving the other 4 to wrestle each other. Kross was thrown through the door that was part of the entrance set and then onto the announce table later on. Kross ended up winning by choking out O'Reilly. This wasn't a bad match, it just felt like more a TV main event type of thing than a big PPV main event. Having a singles match wouldn't have been any better, though, because Kross isn't a very good wrestler and his matches are usually boring. Vince will fucking love him and push him to the moon on the main roster, though, simply because he's big and tall and has muscles. In a perfect world he'll go to RAW tomorrow night and maybe just lose the NXT title in one last match down the road and leave NXT forever. **
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