What NXT Got Right and Wrong at TakeOver: Vengeance Day

Right: Adam Cole turning on Kyle O’Reilly

Undisputed Era in some way, shape, or form have been a significant element of TakeOver shows since their debut in 2017, which made their collective absence from Vengeance Day strange but all made sense by the very end of the show.

UE as a unit of faces worked for the time being as at WarGames, they had credible foils in Pete Dunne, Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, and Pat McAfee who turned out to be way better than anyone expected. However, with no leftover threats to the group as a whole and the unsuccessful challenges for the NXT Championship, the seeds of dissension had to be planted here.

Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly is a story that just about writes itself and already sets the track to a headline-worthy performance at the next TakeOver event. It also leaves a string of questions that may spark fans to tune into the upcoming NXT shows. Is this the official end of The Undisputed Era? Which side will Roderick Strong choose? What role will Finn Balor play in all of this?

For a show that has taken a step back in terms of storytelling, the fall of The Undisputed Era is set to be a major step forward.

Wrong: Johnny Gargano beating Kushida clean

Johnny Gargano vs. Kushida proved two things: The “Johnny TakeOver” moniker is well-earned—duh—and Kushida belongs on more TakeOver events.

Kushida’s laser-focus on Gargano’s arm left me wondering at a few points in the match if this was going to be the latest Johnny Gargano title reign to end in a relatively short fashion. Thanks to Gargano targeting Kushida’s neck and consecutive One Final Beat(s), it didn’t.

As good as the match was, I highly question why Kushida—who has not been as prominently featured throughout the course of his NXT run as he should be—was beaten clean as a whistle by a smarmy Gargano.

Gargano had sent Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae to find a neutralized Austin Theory before the match began, but it appeared to be a setup for The Way sans-Theory to return later on in the match and directly influence its outcome. For some reason, it never happened.

Dexter Lumis taking out Austin Theory before Johnny Gargano even made it to the entrance ramp foreshadows “The Tortured Artist” as the next challenger for Gargano’s NXT North American Championship. The danger here is whether or not Kushida will get lost back in the shuffle with an ever-growing roster.