It’s NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, the alternative to Valentine’s Day! Look – they said it, not me.
Eli Drake made a surprise debut on the Pre-Show, re-christened “LA Knight” which sounds like an 80s movie or sports franchise. At first discovery it sounds awful, but it’s wrestling so maybe it works.
1. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic – Final: Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel González
There was plenty of good action here, so much so I think they could’ve shaved off a few minutes and gone all-action for a better match. She did it admirably but I just don’t think I’m a better person for watching Dakota Kai get her leg worked over. Raquel González got another nice showcase and helped them rally, which gets the marketing point across if not the wrestling one — I spent less time impressed by her domination and more a mixture of bored and confused. Solid wrestling smothered in NXT’s half-stories and general weirdness. **3/4
2. NXT North American Title: Johnny Gargano [c] vs. KUSHIDA
KUSHIDA did like 10 things here to remind you he’s still awesome, it’s just… different now, you know? There was plenty of cool grappling and ridiculously impressive armbar spots; it all just would’ve been more exciting a few years ago — WWE, NXT and the whole world has been on a journey since then and Gargano/KUSHIDA wasn’t really a priority.
Beth Phoenix really really wanted to make sure the viewer knew this was a Dream Match, and I guess it was if you compare it to what Dream Matches have always been: a bunch of cool grappling and impressive spots from two of your favorites. Occasionally fun, sometimes stupid, and probably no follow-up. ***1/2
3. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic – Final: MSK vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans
The Grizzled Young Vets on TV aren’t much besides a Zack Gibson promo, but give these gents a spotlight tag match and they will deliver more than you might have ever expected. MSK kind of rules too, somehow pulling off stuff more impressive than all the other stuff. All the beats here were familiar but they hit incredibly well, even more impressive that they just powered through the drab Capitol Wrestling Center environment and had a whole epic tag match. ****
4. Triple Threat Match – NXT Women’s Title: Io Shirai [c] vs. Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Martinez
Here’s Io Shirai, the most spectacular wrestler in the world having another dumb Triple Threat match sitting atop a roster so stacked it’s ludicrous – ludicrous enough they keep getting put in these dumb Triple Threats. Then a table broke and they ended it after like 10 minutes. No good. **1/4
5. NXT Title: Finn Balor [c] vs. Pete Dunne
They spent a lot of time on the mat early and it was was just as fun as Balor’s recent (very good) stuff against O’Reilly, with more emphasis on hooking limbs opposed to attempting concussions. There’s a lot of wrestling out there, but I buy Finn and Pete as guys working a strategy and taking their openings and it kept the early matwork credible while adding a dynamic they kept going back to as they closed. They got way too cute with Dunne working over Balor’s fingers, but at some point you accept that it’s just part of The Game. ****
Happy Thoughts: The three dude matches are actually worth checking out, though I’m not OK with the NXT’s Valentine’s Day show ending with me rating the women’s matches poorly and wondering where that special TakeOver feeling went. Good wrestling with a lineup that deserved a better journey. 7/10
