WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House results, recap, grades: Women’s main event steals nostalgic show

WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House results, recap, grades: Women’s main event steals nostalgic show
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Living up to the high standards set by years of incredible NXT TakeOver events is always a tall task for the locker room. At NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, the action of an incredible card on paper failed, in many ways, to do just that. But an incredible performance by the women in the main event saved the card and provided the kind of memorable match fans have come to expect from the brand’s showcase events.

In the main event, Io Shirai finally made good on a lengthy chase of the NXT women’s championship, pinning Rhea Ripley as the former champion was locked in a Charlotte Flair Figure-Eight to win the title. The match was a wild affair that saw the three women battle in the ring, at the top of the entrance ramp among the throwback set and even featured Shirai hitting an amazing crossbody dive from the set onto both women. Where some of the other matches on the card — most notably the Backlot Brawl between NXT champion Adam Cole and challenger Velveteen Dream — fell short, the women delivered action and excitement in heaps before the spectacular payoff of a Shirai title victory.

The In Your House branding invited a throwback feel to the card, with Todd Pettengill, the 1990s WWF backstage interviewer, opening up the show and classic “promotional consideration” spots peppered throughout the broadcast. Between those moments and a smaller scale version of the classic ’90s In Your House set, the look and feel of the event was a perfect while still not over-the-top on a retro feel.

In the other title matches on the card, Cole defeated Dream to retain the NXT championship in a match where it was stipulated Dream would not receive another title shot as long as Cole holds the title. Also, Keith Lee outlasted the vicious attacks of Johnny Gargano to retain the NXT North American championship.

CBS Sports was with you all night, bringing you results, highlights and grades for all the NXT TakeOver: In Your House action. You can catch up on everything from Sunday night below. 

NXT TakeOver: In Your House recap, grades

Mia Yim, Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez: Kai and Nox mixed it up early with Nox getting the back. Gonzalez’s size was a big factor early before a bit of forced big moves and dives spots a little too early in the match, but Nox coming off the top rope to the floor with a flipping dive onto the crowd was a nice highlight. After some aggressive Yim offense, a Sole Food attempt was countered into a suplex, letting Gonzalez get back in the mix where she delivered a massive powerbomb to Nox. After Yim broke up the pin, she and LaRae battled off into the back, leaving the opening for Nox to hit Kai with the Shiniest Wizard for the victory. The match was a little too rushed in the build and suffered for it, but it was still a solid enough way to get the show going. Yim, Nox & Blackheart def. LeRae Kai & Gonzalez via pinfall — Grade: B-

Finn Balor vs. Damien Priest: Balor jumped Priest from the opening bell, getting an early advantage that disappeared after the ring steps got involved as Priest used the steps for extra leverage for a side suplex onto the ring apron. Priest hit the Broken Arrow, but as he tried to follow up was hit by a takedown into a standing double-foot stomp, an opening that was presented by Priest wasting a bit of time. As the pair battled to the outside, Priest hit a Razor’s Edge onto the ring apron. The big moves continued with Priest hitting a diving chokeslam off the second rope for a near fall. Balor countered an attempt at a Razor’s Edge from the ring apron onto the ring steps, knocking Priest back onto the steps with a forearm in a brutal looking bump. Moments later, Balor was able to hit the Coup De Grace for the win. The victory marked TakeOver win No. 11 for Balor. This was a good, hard-hitting match with plenty of big moves and served both men well. Priest took the loss, but it shouldn’t hurt him in any way going forward. Balor def. Priest via pinfall — Grade: B

NXT North American Championship — Keith Lee (c) vs. Johnny Gargano — Gargano used some smart offense in the match, including pressing his fingers and wrist into Lee’s injured eye while working a cobra clutch. Gargano got the better of some striking exchanges before locking in an armbar. Every attempt by Lee to use power offense in the middle stretch of the match was met by Gargano attacking Lee’s injured hand. Between the hand and the eye, Gargano had laid out vulnerabilities in the lead-up to the match that allowed him extra advantages. Lee finally had his moment, though, body-checking Gargano through the ringside Plexiglas. Moments later, Candice LeRae made her way to ringside but was chased off my Mia Yim. Gargano used the distraction to dig at Lee’s eye with a key and hit a series of superkicks to Lee’s head, with each one resulting in a two count. Lee, having survived the onslaught, managed to hit a Spirit Bomb. He then followed up with a powerbomb and a Big Bang Catastrophe to retain his title in a solid match that was almost all Gargano on offense. Lee def. Gargano via pinfall to retain the title — Grade: B

NXT Championship — Adam Cole (c) vs. Velveteen Dream: Cole arrived in a Shock the System monster truck, while Dream arrived in a sports car and brought a bat to the ring. The ring was in the parking lot, which was surrounded by talent in their cars illuminating the ring with their headlights. After a brief opening, Cole grabbed the title and said Dream didn’t deserve the match before climbing in a car and attempting to leave. Dream hit the car with a bat before an Uber pulled up and the two briefly fought in the car. Cole hid behind one of the doors on the set, and when Dream opened the door, he was met by a fire extinguisher blast which allowed Cole to take over. A ladder was brought into play but The Undisputed Era arrived in support of Cole. Dream, however, still pushed Cole off the ladder and through a car windshield. Undisputed Era still attacked Dream and began to fill the ring with steel chairs. Dexter Lumis then crawled out from under the ring and threw Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish in the trunk of a car and drove off. Dream hit a Dream Valley Driver for a near fall after Lumis left, but then hit a Purple Rainmaker on Cole who was sitting on a chair. Again, he only drew a two count. Cole hit Dream with a low blow and then a Panama Sunrise onto the chairs in the ring, scoring the pin to retain his title. This was visually difficult to watch, with significant lighting issues and a jumbled mess of spots and “things happening.” These two would have been far better served to have a straight wrestling match rather than going the “cinematic route.” Cole def. Dream via pinfall to retain the title — Grade: C

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross:  Ciampa jumped on Kross immediately, trying to keep the bigger man from getting going, ending in a big kick from Cross before he threw Ciampa to the floor. Kross took over from there, throwing Ciampa around ringside and back inside the ring. Cross hit Ciampa with suplex after suplex before Ciampa finally exploded with a flurry of strikes and a big running knee to Kross’ face. Ciampa hit Widow’s Bell for a near fall and a few more running knees as he tried to explode into a finish. But a Fairy Tale Ending was countered into a big throw and then a Kross Jacket that put Ciampa to sleep. Kross winning a quick match in emphatic fashion was a perfect move here. Kross is the new threat and Ciampa is bulletproof in NXT, so he can deal with losing a one-sided, relatively quick pay-per-view match with no damage done. Kross def. Ciampa via stoppage — Grade: B+

NXT Women’s Championship — Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai: Flair bailed from the ring immediately and told Ripley and Shirai to go at it. Flair still wasted no time getting back in the mix and eventually locked up Shirai in a high-angle Boston crab, but Ripley ran in for the save, destroying Flair with some huge strikes.The match continued along at a perfect pace, with each woman getting in high-impact offense without any lulls in the action. Flair locked Shirai in the Figure-Eight but was pulled from the ring by Ripley and the two brawled on the outside of the ring before Shirai hit a big dive on Ripley. Things broke down into a brawl around the set, with Flair throwing Shirai through one of the set pieces. As Flair and Ripley brawled, Shirai dove off the house at the front of the set and hit both women with a huge cross body. Ripley nailed Flair with Riptide off the second rope but Shirai broke up the pin. Shirai and Ripley battled, but as Ripley had Shirai locked in the Prism Trap, Flair entered the ring with a kendo stick and began laying waste to both. After assaulting Ripley with the cane, Flair locked Ripley in the Figure-Eight but Shirai came off the top rope with a moonsault onto Ripley and scored the pin as Flair tried to untangle her legs from Ripley’s. This was a brilliant main event, perfectly paced and with all three women looking outstanding. Flair’s time as champion needed to end, and Shirai as champion gives Ripley someone to chase in an immediately interesting program. Shirai def. Ripley and Flair via pinfall to win the title — Grade: A-

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NXT Women’s Championship Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai: Flair bailed from the ring immediately and told Ripley and Shirai to go at it. Flair still wasted no time getting back in the mix and eventually locked up Shirai in a high-angle Boston crab, but Ripley ran in for the save, destroying Flair with some huge strikes.The match continued along at a perfect pace, with each woman getting in high-impact offense without any lulls in the action. Flair locked Shirai in the Figure-Eight but was pulled from the ring by Ripley and the two brawled on the outside of the ring before Shirai hit a big dive on Ripley. Things broke down into a brawl around the set, with Flair throwing Shirai through one of the set pieces. As Flair and Ripley brawled, Shirai dove off the house at the front of the set and hit both women with a huge cross body. Ripley nailed Flair with Riptide off the second rope but Shirai broke up the pin. Shirai and Ripley battled, but as Ripley had Shirai locked in the Prism Trap, Flair entered the ring with a kendo stick and began laying waste to both. After assaulting Ripley with the cane, Flair locked Ripley in the Figure-Eight but Shirai came off the top rope with a moonsault onto Ripley and scored the pin as Flair tried to untangle her legs from Ripley’s. This was a brilliant main event, perfectly paced and with all three women looking outstanding. Flair’s time as champion needed to end, and Shirai as champion gives Ripley someone to chase in an immediately interesting program. Shirai def. Ripley and Flair via pinfall to win the title — Grade: A-

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