Last night, NXT took its much anticipated TakeOver specials to Toronto, which is home to a ton of wrestling greats like the Hart Family, Trish Stratus, Edge, and Sami Zayn. For TakeOver, Toronto got a huge card of amazing matches. All NXT Championships were defended, and we witnessed the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Bobby Roode vs. Tye Dillinger
In the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Roode and Dillinger formed a seemingly formidable team, but then the match started. The debuting SAnitY was surprisingly aggressive, and Bobby Roode was having none of it. Roode would leave Dillinger all alone to get assaulted by SAnitY, and now the Perfect 10 has a chance at revenge.
Roode and Dillinger have each other perfectly matched, but it is just a little misstep that ruins the match for the Perfect 10. Dillinger accidentally runs head first into the turnbuckle, and Roode takes advantage to send him into the ring post and follow it up with the lifted DDT for the win. Winner: Bobby Roode
Predicted Winner: Bobby Roode (1/1)
The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) vs. TM61 – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals
Both of these teams have had impressive journeys to get to the finals of the Dusty Classic. TM61 had something to prove, and they did so by defeating SAnitY, Austin Aries and Roderick Strong, as well as NXT newcomers Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss. The Authors of Pain, while being undefeated in general, defeated the Bollywood Boyz (Harv and Gurv Sihra), No Way Jose and Rich Swann, and DIY. Since the win over DIY was underhanded because of Paul Ellering’s help, the legendary manager is spending this match suspended above the ring in a cage.
Even though Paul Ellering wasn’t at ringside to help them get a win, The Authors of Pain dispel Nick Miller and hit Shane Thorne with the Last Chapter to win the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The only other team to win the Dusty Classic consisted of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. Winners: The Authors of Pain
Predicted Winners: TM61 (1/2)
The Revival (c) vs. DIY – NXT Tag Team Championships (2 out of 3 Falls Match)
The Revival arguably stole a win at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, when the successfully defended the NXT Tag Team Championships against DIY. Since then, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have been trying to get a rematch, and thanks to the Revival attacking them during their Dusty Classic match against the Authors of Pain, they get their chance.
While Tommaso Ciampa is laid out outside the ring, The Revival hit the Shatter Machine on Johnny Gargano to pick up the first fall. This puts DIY in a must-win situation for two consecutive falls. First Fall: The Revival
While the referee tries to get Dash Wilder out of the ring, Ciampa and Gargano hit their superkick/running knee combination on Scott Dawson to even things up. Second Fall: DIY
Johnny Gargano locks in a modified crossface on Dash Wilder, and while Scott Dawson was in an armbar from Ciampa, Wilder taps out to lose the gold. Winners, and NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: DIY
Predicted Winners: DIY (2/3)
Asuka (c) vs. Mickie James – NXT Women’s Championship
Like the Authors of Pain, Asuka also goes into TakeOver: Toronto undefeated. Because she has destroyed the entire NXT Women’s Division (including Bayley and Nia Jax), William Regal had to bring in a 5-time WWE Women’s Champion: Mickie James. This is the first time in six years that Mickie James has wrestled in a WWE ring, and she has defeated some of the best Women’s Champions in WWE history. However, she has never faced anyone like Asuka.
James used her intellect to keep Asuka off of her game, but the former WWE Women’s Champion couldn’t keep up with Asuka’s quickness and intensity. After several failed attempt of escape, Asuka gets the crossface chicken wing locked in to give James no choice but to tap out. Winner, and STILL NXT Women’s Champion: Asuka
Predicted Winner: Asuka (3/4)
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe – NXT Championship
At TakeOver: Brooklyn II, Shinsuke Nakamura captured the NXT Championship from Samoa Joe, and Joe has been dead set on getting “his” title back. Joe injured Nakamura, then attacked different members of the NXT roster until he got what he wanted. Nakamura returned from injury sooner than expected, and is ready to give Joe his rematch. If Joe wins tonight, he will be the only Superstar to hold the NXT Championship twice.
Outside the ring, Samoa Joe low blows Nakamura behind the referee’s back, slams the champion onto the steel steps, and finishes off Nakamura with a muscle buster to capture his second NXT Championship. Winner, and NEW NXT Champion: Samoa Joe
Predicted Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (3/5)
