NXT TakeOver Toronto: Live results, grades, and analysis

NXT TakeOver: Toronto descends on the Scotiabank Arena tonight with five exciting matches and four titles on the line!

NXT returns to Toronto for the first time since 2016 (a show I was at live!) for NXT TakeOver Toronto 2. One can expect NXT to pull out all the stops at this show in an attempt to top the main roster’s SummerSlam show on Sunday, something NXT has made a habit of.

The main event of the show will be Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match. Also on the card will be Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) for the NXT Tag Team Championship, Velveteen Dream vs. Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong for the NXT North American Championship, Shayna Baszler vs. Mia Yim for the NXT Women’s Championship, and Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai in a grudge match.

All five matches on this card have the potential to steal the show, but you know Gargano and Cole is going to be given a lot of time, and you can expect it to end up match of the night. The feud has been one of the more personal feuds in NXT history, with Gargano and Cole both having victories.

What is the third fall of the match? We will find out if it goes there, as William Regal picked it. I suspect it will be Loser Leaves Town, and Adam Cole will remain champion. Regardless, they are hoping to deliver a spectacular night of action.

NXT TakeOver: Toronto Match Card

Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole (c) – 2 out of 3 falls for the NXT Championship

Street Profits vs. The Undisputed Era – NXT Tag Team Championship

Velveteen Dream vs. Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong – NXT North American Championship

Shayna Baszler vs. Mia Yim – NXT Women’s Championship

Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Street Profits (c) vs. The Undisputed Era

After the opening video, the music for the Street Profits played, and the opening match was on!

The match opened with the Profits getting the shine early on, working over Fish and O’Reilly with a series of quick tags and good offense. While the Undisputed Era were the heels in this match, they were the favorites as O’Reilly is Canadian. Undisputed Era proved their worth with their tag team experience getting the advantage with hard strikes and offense.

Ford went for the People’s Elbow at one point but got cut off to a series of boos. Ford dumped O’Reilly over the top rope onto Fish and dove onto both men. O’Reilly managed to lock on a kneebar but it was broken up when Dawkins choke slammed O’Reilly onto Fish to break it up. O’Reilly and Fish tried to get the advantage back here, but they just couldn’t keep it for long.

Dawkins came into the ring and killed O’Reilly with a spear, then the same to Fish. Ford hit a massive frog splash on O’Reilly and got the pinfall victory! The Street Profits celebrated in the crowd after successfully defending their titles.

Result: The Street Profits retain the NXT Tag Team Titles

Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars)

All four men worked very hard here to deliver a perfectly well-paced opener. It seems the Undisputed Era’s attempts to win all the gold have failed for now.

Io Shirai vs. Candace LeRae

Candice LeRae immediately went and attacked Io, but Io cut her off quickly on the outside and began to work over Io. Candace hit a flying headscissors but Io did a handspring and landed on her feet. Io stayed on top of the action but LeRae avoided a missile dropkick and Io crashed hard to the at. Candice started to strike with big elbows and forearms.

Candice hit a brainbuster and then locked on an octopus stretch. Io fought out and went for a 619, but Candice caught her. Both women ended up on the top rope, but Io shoved her off onto the apron and hit a 619 to the back of Candice’s head. Candice LeRae hit a suicide dive into a DDT on the floor! LeRae only got a 2 count.

Shirai locked on a crossface in the middle of the ring. Candice fought out into a pinfall attempt, but Io kicked out and killed her with a big forearm. Io hit a German Suplex, but Candice got up and hit a snap German suplex of her own. Candice went for a springboard, but Io caught her in midair and hit a German suplex with a bridge for a two count.

Candice LeRae hit a reverse hurricanrana and got a two. Candice followed with a neckbreaker from the middle rope to the ring and got another two count. Candice went to the top rope again, but Io cut her off and hit a Spanish Fly from the top rope! That was incredible! Candice kicked out. Io hit a butterfly backbreaker and then followed with a moonsault, but Candice kicked out. Io locked on a Koji Clutch in the middle of the ring, and she went out! Candice is unconscious! The match is over!

Result: Io Shirai

Rating: ****1/4 (4.25 stars)

Before the North American title match, Matt Riddle came out and called out Killian Dain. The referees came down as both men started to brawl at ringside. Riddle hit a massive knee on the stage to drop Dain.

Riddle took out all of the security himself and afterward, Dain hit a flying crossbody to get Riddle down. Riddle hoped on Dain’s back and locked on a Rear Naked Choke, but Dain slammed him into the LED wall and then jumped off the stage with Riddle on his back! They went flying through two tables and took a security guard with them.

NXT North American Championship Match: Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne

The Mountie’s music hit, which was surprising. Some Mounties came out did a brief jig before some upbeat music hit and it was revealed they were dancers from the Toronto Raptors. Dream’s music announced himself as Canada’s representative despite being American, and he was wearing red and white.

Strong was trash-talking, and Dream put a finger on his lips. Strong didn’t like this and threw Dream out of the ring before attacking Dunne. Strong hit the ropes, but Dunne killed him with a lariat! Dream sent Strong to the floor and Dunne and Dream faced off, but Strong pulled Dunne out of the ring and came in to attach Dream.

Dream did a few corner punches and hit a springboard double ax handle on Strong. Dream went for the Sharpshooter, but Strong got away into the ropes. Dunne and Dream proceeded to double team Strong, sending him to the mat. Dream setup Strong on the mat and Dunne stomped his arm. Strong was sent to the floor and Dream and Dunne started fighting.

Strong took Dream into the ring post, causing him some lower extremity pain. Strong proceeded to kill Dream and Dunne with backbreakers. Dream made a comeback and managed to lock on the Sharpshooter on Strong, but Dunne flew off the top rope with a missile dropkick to the back of Velveteen Dream.

Dream crashed to the floor after a Strong dropkick, but Dunne hit a moonsault off the middle rope to the floor onto both men. Dunne hit a German suplex on Dream, and then a German on Strong that sent him crashing onto Dream. All three men exchanged strikes, and Dunne stomped on both their hands. Dream hit a Dream Valley Driver on Dunne, Strong hit an Olympic Slam on Dream, and Dunne hit an X-Plex on Strong.

Dunne knocked Dream off the top rope and tried to suplex him off, but Strong hit an Olympic Slam off the top rope on Dunne and Dunne was holding Dream’s hand, do Dream flipped off the ropes. Dunne tried to get a triangle choke on Strong and both men fell into the corner. As Dunne was trying to armbar Strong, Dream flew off the top rope from the opposite corner with a coast to coast elbow on Pete Dunne!

Strong got up and hit a flying knee on Dream and Dunne both before hitting multiple elbows on both men and then locking on the Strong Hold on both Dream and Dunne! Strong couldn’t hold on anymore and let go of both men. Dunne broke the fingers of both men and went for the pinfall, but Dream dove over the bodies and caught the refs hand before it hit three.

Strong went for a suplex but Dunne flipped out and kicked Strong. Strong caught him and rolled through into the Strong Hold! Dream threw Strong out and hit the Dream Valley Driver on Dunne! Strong threw Dream out and hit his backbreaker, but Dream flew in before the count and nailed Strong with the Purple Rainmaker! Dream pinned Pete Dunne!

Result: Velveteen Dream retains the NXT North American Championship

Rating: ****1/2 (4.5 stars)

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Mia Yim

Yim got a mixed reaction here, as she acted a bit like a heel leading into the match, attacking Duke and Shafir with no provocation.

Yim started right away by hitting a corner kick and a cannonball in the corner. Yim went for a flying suicide dive, but Baszler cut her off with an uppercut. Yim sent Shayna into the stairs and put her arm between the post and stairs before dropkicking the stairs and driving the stairs into her pinned arm.

Baszler tied up Yim after stomping on her arm and then going for a kimura. Shayna kicked Yim right in the chest and then tied her arm up in the ropes. While Yim’s left arm was injured, Shayna ‘s right arm was worked on, leaving both women with a disadvantage. Baszler hit a dropkick on Yim and got a near fall.

Yim gouged the eyes of Shayna and the crowd went pretty mild. I understand the idea is that Yim would do anything she can to win but having her break the rules led to the crowd dying in the middle of the match. Yim hit a series of lariats and some punches and a drop toe hold that sent Shayna into the ropes. There seemed to be a miscommunication of some sort, but Yim hit a belly-to-belly.

Yim hit a tope and a tornado DDT in the ring for a near fall. Shayna hit another kick and went for a suplex but couldn’t get it due to her hurt arm. Shayna went headfirst into the top turnbuckle and Yim locked on a Tarantula. Both women ended up on the top rope and Yim hit a Code Red off the middle rope, but Shayna kicked out. Baszler tried to lock on her Rear Naked Choke, but her injured arm wouldn’t let her.

Yim then stomped on Shayna’s arm and went for an armbar! She started kicking Shayna in the face, but Shayna floated over and back into the Rear Naked Choke. Yim fought out again, but Shayna transitioned into an inverted triangle choke on Yim and managed to tap her out! Yim and Io both got wins with leg chokes. Very interesting.

Result: Shayna Baszler retains the NXT Women’s Championship

Rating: *** (3 stars)

The heat of this match was hurt quite badly by Yim acting like a heel, but the match got better as it went and by the end they had an awesome finish.

NXT Championship 2-out-of-3 Falls Match: Adam Cole (c) vs. Johnny Gargano

Gargano entered wearing Wolverine inspired gear. Logan, of X-Men fame, is Canadian after all.

1st Fall – Standard Wrestling Match

Cole won the coin toss for the first stipulation, and the first fall is a standard wrestling match. Cole tried very hard to outwrestle Gargano in the early portion of this match, but Gargano was more than one step ahead. Gargano dodged a kick and Cole kicked the stairs, injuring his foot. Gargano drove the foot into the apron and started working over the legs with an Indian Deathlock.

Gargano went for a slingshot DDT onto the apron but Cole blocked it and both men spilled to the outside where Cole did a wheelbarrow suplex onto the apron on Gargano! Cole hit a neckbreaker on Gargano and got a two count. Cole locked on a figure four head scissors on Gargano in the middle of the ring.

Gargano broke free due to grabbing the bad ankle and knee of Cole, and locked on an ankle lock. Cole rolled forward, sending Gargano into the corner. Cole went for the Panama Sunrise, but Gargano dodged, and Cole hurt his knee. He turned and hot hit with a belly-to-belly in the corner. Gargano hit a chop and a roll-up into a kick on Cole. Cole stopped the slingshot spear and went for the Last Shot, but Gargano hit him with a Fisherman’s Driver and got a near fall.

Gargano tried a few punches in the corner, but Cole slipped out and tried to superkick the knee of Gargano. Gargano dodged and Cole got his knees caught in the ropes and Gargano hit a flying stomp to the back on Cole’s knee! Gargano locked on a figure four leglock, but Cole made it to the ropes.

Cole hit a wheelbarrow suplex on Gargano but Gargano kicked out. Gargano and Cole exchanged kicks as Cole finally dropped him with a superkick to the knee. Cole went for the Panama Sunrise, but Gargano caught him and hit the Sunset Driver for a near fall! My goodness. Cole hit a Michinoku driver, but Gargano kicked out. Both men hit the ropes and collided with duel clotheslines.

Gargano went for a suicide dive, but Cole hit a kick and went for a wheelbarrow suplex again. Gargano reversed and rolled forward driving Cole into the barricade. Cole got nailed with a slingshot DDT and then a superkick on the floor. As Gargano went to slingshot himself into the ring, Cole hit a superkick and then the Last Shot, but Gargano kicked out.

Cole went out to get a chair and the referee took it away from him. Cole kicked Gargano right between the legs, but Gargano kicked out. Cole set up the chair in the ring and took a seat and posed to cheers from the crowd. Cole and the ref continued to argue about the chair, and Gargano killed Cole with a superkick and grabbed the chair.

Gargano grabbed the chair and absolutely killed Adam Cole with a shot to the back. The winner of the first fall was Adam Cole due to DQ, but Gargano beat the crap out of him with the chair and then sat on it as the bell rang for the second fall.

2nd Fall – Street Fight (1-0 for Adam Cole)

Gargano threw the chair at Cole and did a suicide dive on Cole and they started brawling at ringside. Gargano took a fan’s phone and took a selfie with it, which was just plain awesome. Cole tried to make a comeback, but Gargano killed him with a superkick. Gargano loaded Cole up on a chair and then they went back to the timekeeper’s area. Gargano put Cole through the barricade and yelled “Mamma Mia!” at Mauro.

Gargano cleared off the announce table and locked Cole up for a suplex of some sort. Cole fought out, but Gargano ended up hitting a backdrop off the table into the Spanish table, which exploded as Cole hit it. Gargano then took out two tables from under the ring as the crowd chanted ‘Johnny Tables.’

Gargano threw a bunch of chairs into the ring, but Cole hit a giant shining wizard and then a ushigoroshi onto the chair, but he only got a two. Gargano managed to lawn dart Cole into the bottom turnbuckle and then locked on the Gargano Escape for the victory in fall two.

3rd Fall – Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match

The barbed wire on the cage means there is no escape and the match must go to a finish, as the crowd chanted ‘ECW.’ Both men started to exchange kicks and then kendo stick shots that ended with both men superkicking each other and collapsing on the mat.

Gargano sent Cole into a chair on the corner and then superkicked him off the chair. They set up a table in the ring and Cole grabbed a kendo stick and hit a backstabber while holding the kendo stick against Gargano’s throat. Cole set up two chairs in the corner and put Gargano on the top rope before climbing up himself and trying to suplex Gargano onto the chairs.

Gargano fought out, hit a tornado DDT onto the chairs and grabbed a kendo stick and nailed Cole. Gargano went for the sledgehammer at the top of the cage, but Cole met him on the ropes. Gargano hit a sunset flip bomb and grabbed the sledgehammer. Cole superkicked him and tried to throw the ladder off the top of the cage onto Gargano, but Gargano moved. As he got up, Cole hit the Panama Sunrise, but Gargano kicked out.

Cole hit a massive Panama Sunrise jumping off the ladder, but Gargano kicked out again. Gargano tried going for a kendo stick, but Cole grabbed it first and smashed him with it to drop him to the mat again. Cole grabbed the chair and put Gargano’s head against the backrest. Cole hit the ropes and went for a shinning wizard into the chair, but Gargano dodged and Cole’s knee smashed into the chair!

Gargano tried to lock on a crossface with the kendo stick, but Cole bit his hand. Gargano nailed Cole in the stomach with the kendo stick, Cole sunk into the mat coughing. Gargano put the ladder in the corner and the table in front of it. Gargano set up a second table and placed Cole on both of them before climbing to the top of the ladder. Cole rolled off the table.

Gargano hoped down and hit Cole with a kendo stick and tried to pull him to the top rope. Gargano hit a Canadian Destroyer off the middle rope into the ring! Holy crap! Gargano spilled a bag of weapons out and took a pair of plyers and took off a chunk of the barbed wire.

Cole tried to run away and both men ended up on a board that was across one corner of the cage. Both men fell off the cage and through a table in the ring as Gargano tried to wrap the barbed wire on Gargano’s head. Cole rolled over and put his arm on Gargano and scored the pinfall!

Result: Adam Cole retains the NXT Championship

Rating ****** (6 stars)

This match was utterly insane. What a show from these guys. Cole and Gargano topped themselves again, and I can’t even begin to explain how awesome this match was. This was WWE’s match of the year, and it’s absolutely up there with the best matches you’ll ever see. Very few can compete with that, except for the best of the best in NJPW.

Show Rating: ***** (5 stars)

This was an absolutely fantastic show where every match was given a chance to shine. NXT topped themselves again and finally brought an end to the feud of Gargano and Cole. Go out of your way to watch this incredible show. The only show that might top it so far this year would be Wrestle Kingdom or the G1 Finals on Monday, but barely at that. NXT is one of the best wrestling products in the world, and they proved it here again.