WWE NXT: In Your House Results, grades and analysis: We have a new NXT Women’s Champion

WWE NXT TakeOver In Your House was live and in your face tonight from the WWE Performance Center. We had 6 matches on this spectacular card headlined by the NXT  Women’s Championship match featuring Charlotte Flair, Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley

A nostalgic opening to this presentation brought Todd Pettingale to our television screens and reminds us that we will not win a house tonight. Touche Todd. Code Orange brought us the In Your House theme song to open the proceedings and we are ready to rock and roll this evening.

Mauro Ranello and company were live on the broadcast tonight. The stage has the old In Your House backdrop which is a sensational touch!

Shotzi Blackheart entered the arena on a tank as Tegan Nox and Mia Yim follow closely behind. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez enter together, Candice LeRae flies solo to the ring and we kickoff NXT Takeover with the  Six Woman Tag Team Match.

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Shotzi Blackheart, Tegan Nox and Mia Yim vs Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez and Candice LeRae

Raquel Gonzalez and Mia Yim open up the contest. Gonzalez throws Yim into the corner twice before Yim charges and delivers two chops which Gonzalez no sells. Tegan Nox is tagged in and she’s quickly thrown by Gonzalez who tags in Dakota Kai.

Kai and Nox exchange near falls and double headbutts before Tegan gains control. Tegan runs into the corner and hits a senton before tagging out to Shotzi. Kai escapes and a melee ensues. Blackheart hits a top rope dive. Yim follows through with one of her own.

Candice LeRae hits a top rope senton and Tegan Nox caps it off with a 450 dive onto the other 5 women on the floor. The wrestlers in the crowd chant, “NXT, NXT”

The action is fast and furious back in the ring as Blackheart is being picked apart by the other 3 women. Kai misses her variation of the Helluva kick in the corner and Blackheart hits an enziguri. Blackheart scrambles to the corner and tags in Mia Yim.

Yim and Candice LeRae finally meet face to face after weeks of banter back and forth. LeRae hits a release German suplex on Yim as the crowds attempts to gather support for Yim. Nox and Gonzalez are tagged by for their respective teams.

Nox attempts a hurracanrana, which is countered with a Gonzalez powerbomb for a 2 count. Yim and LeRae brawl to the back as it now becomes a 2 on 2 matchup.

Nox and Blackheart hit double team moves on Gonzalez and Kai. Nox follows through with the Shiniest Wizard on Kai and picks up the 1-2-3 victory for her team.

Winners: Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart and Mia Yim

Grade-B 

This was a fun opening match. Lots of offense, LeRae and Yim weren’t involved in the outcome of the match which furthers their feud. Nox gets a measure of revenge by finally pinning her former tag team partner.

Rhea Ripley is shown in the back prepping for her NXT triple threat, championship match. We get a video package for The Prince Finn Balor and Damien Priest. These two will square off next!

Finn Balor vs Damian Priest

Balor wastes no time and delivers a running dropkick to Priest. He follows up with a chop block and a chop as Priest retreats to the outside. Balor hits a running forearm on the outside, as he looks to gain more control, Priest hits an uppercut and slams Balor’s head into the side of the ring apron.

Priest moves the steel steps and picks up Finn. He then delivers a side walk slam to the apron on Balor. Both men enter the ring and Priest has the upper hand. Priest starts jawing with the referee and throws Balor into the corner. As Balor runs out of the corner, Priest hits a beautiful flatliner for a two count.

After a few rest holds from Damien, Balor begins to gain momentum and hit a flying forearm to Priest. He follows up with a vertical suplex and a sliding dropkick to the outside. Balor begins a vicious of series against the guardrail to Priest. As they hit the ring together, Both men exchange moves before Balor gains the advantage with a double stomp.

Priest hits a series of knees and Balor comes back with a forearm. Both men hit kicks, with Balor conquering control with a Pele kick for a 2 count. Mauro makes an In Your House: Canadian Stampede 97 reference about the crowd at full sail. All 20 some wrestlers surrounding ringside stirring up commotion.

Priest hits a Razor’s edge on the apron and tosses Balor back into the ring for a 2 count. Priest begins to hit Balor with running elbows in the corner. Priest runs for a 3rd and Balor counters with a sling blade. Priest hits a running kick, which Balor counters. Balor hits the running dropkick into the corner.

As he climbs the top for the Coup De Grace, Priest grabs Balor by the throat for a top rope chokeslam and gets a 2.8 count on Balor. These exchanges have been magnificent! Balor and Priest after a minute of being down on the mat make their way to the apron. Priest unsuccessfully tries for a Razor’s Edge onto the stage and Balor hits a forearm to Priest who falls back unto the steel steps!

Balor hits 2 Coup De Grace’s on Damien Priest and pins him for his NXT record 11th Takeover victory!

Winner- Finn Balor

Grade A-

This match will be very difficult to top. Finn Balor has been a man possessed since returning to NXT, looking like the Prince Devitt we saw in New Japan. Priest looked equally impressive in defeat. This is how to book a monster strong in defeat, I will definitely re-watch this bout later.

An Adam Cole Ico Pro commercial spoof is played. (I mean, he could pack some much needed muscle on with weighlifting and these supplements) They show a video package for the NXT North American title match which is next!

Keith Lee vs Johnny Gargano (NXT North American title match.

Gargano comes to the ring. Before he does, he walks past a Doc Hendrix photo on the wall. Michael P.S. Hayes at his finest folks. Keith Lee strolls to the ring with the North American title on his shoulder. This one should be a classic.

Lee tosses Gargano a couple of times into the corner. A series of missed chops, forearms and a flying, Rob Van Dam like kick by Keith Lee also misses the mark. Gargano knocks Lee to the outside and runs to attempt a Tope Suicida and Lee catches him. Gargano thumbs Lee in the eye and goes for a running kick, which Lee dodges.

Lee picks up Gargano and throws him on the apron. Gargano attempts to exit where he entered through the house door and cannot open the door. Lee lurks over his shoulder and chops in the back before he throws Gargano back down the ramp and Johnny rolls into the ring.

Gargano tries to gain control by attacking Lee’s fingers to no avail. Gargano picks up control and begins to work on Lee’s arm with a elbows and kicks to it. Gargano bends Lee’s fingers back behind the bottom turnbuckle as Lee yells in anguish. Gargano locks on a cobra clutch to slow Lee down.

Gargano continues to work Lee’s eye and fingers, and tells the crowd to “bask in his glory”. A Johnny sucks chants breaks out. As Gargano hits a step up enziguri, Lee counters with a forearm and knee drop to the back of Gargano’s head. As Johnny attempts to regain control with multiple forearms, Lee counters with 2 massive forearms which neutralize Johnny.

Gargano locks on a half triangle armbar, Lee bicep curls Johnny up and hits him with a thunderous clothesline.  Lee goes for a powerbomb and Johnny again attacks the fingers. He rolls behind Lee and does a sunset flip for a two count. An old school blend of working on a body part and wearing down your opponent. After multiple counters, Lee misses a big powerslam as Johnny rolls through with a pin attempt.

Lee hits a one arm slam and Gargano rolls to the outside. Gargano hits a running DDT as both men are down on the outside. The ref begins to count to 10 and Johnny stops the count as Lee is still down on the outside. As Gargano walks to the outside, Keith Lee emerges up with a thunderous shoulder block to Gargano through the plexiglass!! Beth Phoenix states that ” A new GIF was just born.”

As Keith Lee picks up Gargano, Candice LeRae walks down to ringside. Only for Mia Yim to follow in pursuit. Gargano gouges Lee’s eye with a key that was in his trunks and hits him with a slingshot DDT for a 2 count! Gargano runs at him with 3 superkicks that end up with 3 separate two counts!

Gargano again stomps Lee’s fingers and Lee somehow fights it off and hits Gargano with a Spirit Bomb as both men are exhausted. Lee hits a Spirit Bomb and the Big Bang Catastrophe to pick up the 3 and retain the NXT North American title!

Winner-Keith Lee

Grade: A-

This match was excellent, smart spots and impressive counters. Old school working on a body part, a good mix of paces throughout. I’m a little surprised Lee won but this was an impressive one for him. He could potentially bring some extra prestige to the North American title.

More old school commercials with WWE cookie sandwiches as we get a preview of the Backlot Brawl for the NXT championship. This means we are getting a women’s title main event!

Adam Cole vs Velveteen Dream- Backlot Brawl for the NXT championship

Cars surround the backlot as Adam Cole drives up in a Undisputed Era monster truck! Velveteen Dream arrives in style with a corvette and with a baseball bat. There is a ring in the middle of the lot, this just gets more interesting by the minute. The ref says “I’m here for reason, to make sure there it ends in the ring.” It’s pitch black outside.

Cole and Dream are both in jeans and they enter the ring. Dream goes for a quick rollup and backslide for consecutive two counts and an Oklahoma roll for a third two count. Cole runs outside, Dream chases him and Cole gains the advantage with boots to the Dream he rolls back in.

Cole announces he’s leaving, he jumps in a car. Dream starts hitting the car with his baseball bat as Cole finally gets out of the car. Both men brawl and an Uber driver appears mid tussle. Both men stop and continue to fight. They brawl alongside some houses and Velveteen grabs a garbage can.

As Dream looks for Adam Cole, Cole appears with a fire extinguisher to the face of Velveteen. Cole attacks the knee of Dream and hits him with a high knee. As both men tussle, Dream throws against the ring post. A double axe handle to the back of Cole and he is rolled back into the ring as Dream pins him for a count of two.

Velveteen Dream climbs the top for a Purple Rainmaker which is countered by Cole with a superkick. Cole goes for a jump off the apron and Dream hits a superkick of his own. Both men are on the outside as Velveteen powerslams Cole on a car. Dream grabs a ladder and punches Cole on top of the car. Dream sets up a ladder and climbs it as Adam is down on top of the car.

A car drives up and starts honking the horn. It’s the other 3 members of the Undisputed Era. Cole climbs the ladder and Dream throws Cole off the ladder and into a car windshield!! The other members of UE begin to jump Velveteen as Cole has a lacerated arm. Bobby Fish, Roderick Strong and Kyle O Reilly climb into the back of the monster truck and throw a bunch of steel chairs into the ring.

As the 3 members climb down, Dexter Lumis appears from underneath the ring! He hits the other members with a chair and opens up the trunk. He puts Fish and Strong into the trunk of the car and drives away. Leaving Cole and Dream to battle as O Reilly is still laid out.

Adam Cole climbs the top rope and goes for a Panama Sunrise which is countered by a Dream Valley Driver in the ring for a two count. Dream climbs the top rope himself and hits Adam with a Purple Rainmaker through a chair that Cole was seated on for another two count! This match has been a Donnybrook folks!

Velveteen talk trash to a prone Adam Cole as the champ hits Dream with a low blow and climbs the top rope to hit Velveteen Dream with a Panama Sunrise onto the steel chairs and picks up the 3 count to retain his NXT championship.

Winner and still NXT champion- Adam Cole

Grade: B+

Another fun cinematic match with quite a few twists and turns. I had a feeling Cole would retain his title and he did in this thrilling Backlot Brawl. I could see Velveteen Dream being called up to the main roster very soon.

Todd Pettingale appears to show off some NXT merchandise and asks you to call a 1-900 number for merch. Which is quickly turned aside and asks you to go to WWE.com for your merchandise needs. He tells DX to go on AOL.com to shop for their needs as HBK appears in large reading glasses, typing slowly. Classic stuff.

Here comes your next match featuring Karrion Kross vs Tommaso Ciampa

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Tommaso Ciampa vs Karrion Kross

Kross and Scarlett enter to their impressive theme music as the crowd bangs on the glass chanting “Fall and Pray”. Ciampa stalks his opponent as he enters ever so slowly, this is going to be a very physical encounter.

Both men stare each other down as Ciampa lays 2 forearms and a series of punches to Kross which have minimal effect on him. Kross gains the edge and throws Ciampa to the outside. Ciampa counters by slamming Kross’ head on the steel steps. Both men enter the ring, after a running kick and clothesline by Ciampa, Kross picks up Ciampa and chokeslams him to the outside.

Kross hits Ciampa with a near one arm, release German suplex and continues dropping German suplexes at will. A series of knees by Kross as he stalks Tommaso and talks trash to his opponent. After a third German suplex, Kross rolls through with a vicious clothesline for a two count.

Ciampa escapes and hits some punches, a series of kicks and a thunderous apron DDT to pick up a two count. Ciampa hits a running knee and looks for the Fairytale ending but Kross counters with a tilt a whirl throw and then locks on the Kross Jacket. Ciampa passes out as Kross is successfully victorious in his NXT Takeover debut.

Winner Karrion Kross

Grade: B-  It was a quick match, Ciampa was able to get some offense in. They both did a wonderful job of selling Kross’ strengths. It was indeed an impressive display to ensure that Kross would like like a million bucks in his Takeover debut. We have a new threat to both championships building up.

Renee Young appears to remind us to head to Triple H’s Facebook Live page after the show is over tonight. A video promo appears hyping up the much anticipated Women’s main event!

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Charlotte Flair vs Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley- Triple threat match for the NXT Women’s championship

All 3 women enter the ring with solid crowd reactions from the dozens and dozens of performers around ringside. Rhea Ripley has been involved in eight title matches, Io Shirai has wrestled in one title match, tonight being number two. Charlotte Flair is competing in her 66th title match in the WWE/NXT, my goodness.

All 3 women circle the ring. Flair rolls to the outside and starts egging on the crowd. They chant “You don’t go here” Ripley and Shirai tussle while Flair sneaks in pulls Ripley’s hair. Flair gains control with a swinging neckbreaker to Ripley and a fall away slam to Io.

Charlotte follows up with a series of chops to both women, grabs both women by the hair. Both Ripley and Shirai counter and Ripley tosses Shirai into the corner. Ripley takes Flair off of the apron and attempts a rolling senton which Charlotte steps. Flair proceeds to throw Ripley into the guardrail.

Shirai appears and hits a Frankensteiner on the outside to Charlotte Flair. Both women roll into the ring and Charlotte regains control and hits a Boston Crab on Io Shirai. Io’s flexibility allows her to escape the submission hold. Rhea Ripley runs into the ring and hits Flair with a series of knees and a running kick.

Io Shirai regains momentum. She throws Ripley outside and hits a 619 on Charlotte. Ripley reappears and she slugs it out with Shirai in the middle of the ring. Both women collapse in the middle of the ring after they throw a barrage of punches to one another.

Flair regains consciousness and hits a running double spear to the other women. Flair rolls them side by side and climbs the top rope. She misses the moonsault as Ripley counters with her knees. Io Shirai counters the Riptide and hits Charlotte with spinning arm bar. Ripley stands back up, counters the Natural Selection and tosses Flair to the ground.

Io Shirai stands back up and hits Ripley with a Springboard dropkick. As Shirai hits a running move in the corner to Ripley, Flair counters Shirai with a move of her own. Shirai goes for a backslide two count, which Charlotte counters with a figure four leg lock. Ripley breaks the hold and pulls Flair outside.

Shirai runs and hits a plancha to noth women on the outside. Flair stands back up and throws Io threw the house stage! Ripley and Flair battle it out on the grass of the IYH set, Flair slams Ripley’s head against the glass and looks for more. Io Shirai is now shown on top of the set and hits both women with a top of the house crossbody block!! All 3 women are down and the crowd chants “This is awesome!”

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Shirai rolls Charlotte back into the ring and climbs the top rope. Ripley greets them both with forearms. Ripley climbs the top rope and looks for a super-plex which Io counters effectively. Shirai slides underneath and attempts a top rope Frankensteiner which is blocked by a returning Charlotte Flair.

Ripley counters and hits the Riptide from the top rope on Flair for a two count which is broken up by Shirai!! As Ripley goes for a submission, Flair emerges in the ring with a kendo stick and clubs both women. She spears Ripley and locks on the figure four leglock, she bridges up to a figure 8. Io Shirai is on the top rope and breaks up the Figure 8 with a moonsault onto Ripley for the 1-2-3 and Io Shirai is your NXT women’s champion!!

Streamers fall from the sky as Io celebrates with the title on the top rope.

Winner and new NXT Women’s champion: Io Shirai

Grade: A 

This was such a fast paced encounter that made all 3 participants look strong. Shirai had the more memorable moves during this bout. Ripley took the pin, Flair lost the title without being pinned or submitted. Lastly, Io Shirai gets to begin her reign atop the NXT women’s division. The match was an incredible display of back and forth offense, counters and psychology. 

This will likely launch the Charlotte Flair-Rhea Ripley feud on RAW going forward. Or Charlotte retreats back to RAW on her own and we see Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley tussle for Shirai’s first NXT championship program. Either way, the women’s main event was the best match on the card.

Final Grade: A-

All things considered, this was a very good set of matches and an excellent Takeover considering the lack of a packed house. Finn Balor looked awesome and may be primed for an NXT title match. Adam Cole and Keith Leea are continuing their dominant championship reigns.

Karrion Kross looked dominant and is ready for another high profile program moving forward. I feel Velveteen Dream and Rhea Ripley are headed to the main roster. Dream permanently, Ripley is up in the air.

Io Shirai looked spectacular in the main event. The Genius Of The Sky who was the best wrestler in the World with the STARDOM promotion has stamped her claim as one of, if not the best women’s wrestler in the World today.