WWE NXT: Velveteen Dream defeats Finn Balor in main event

Velveteen Dream pinned Finn Balor to advance to WWE NXT TakeOver XXX on Saturday.

WWE is heading toward an action-packed weekend with two major events scheduled. NXT TakeOver XXX and SummerSlam are on the docket. Wednesday’s edition of NXT wrapped up all storylines before the payoff battles this coming Saturday.

Ridge Holland and Johnny Gargano took each other on in the opening match. A slot in the ladder match for the NXT North American title was on the line. Holland did not waste any time before he started to muscle the only NXT Grand Slam champion around the ring. Gargano was eventually able to cut Holland down and off his feet, using his grappling to gain the advantage.

Momentum suddenly swung back in the other direction when Holland went for a powerslam but dropped Gargano square on his head and neck. It looked like he was seriously injured, but he used the pause to create an opening to land a super kick. Holland continued to overpower Gargano both inside and out of the ring. Candice LeRae got involved and allowed the space needed for Gargano to hit the One Final Beat, securing the win.

Dakota Kai was looking to keep her position near the top of the NXT women’s division. She had a singles match against Jessi Kamea, a new face on NXT. Kamea put up a respectable fight throughout this match, but she was unable to thwart Kai, who is heading into this Saturday’s event with a shot at Io Shirai’s title.

A six-man tag match was up next. Legado del Fantasma faced Swerve Scott and Breezango. This broke down into a fight from the very start, as all six men fought in and around the ring. Breezango and Scott started off the match hot and laid out their three opponents, hitting them with high-flying and grounded offense at the same time. The tide swung back in the other direction as Fandango began to get assaulted by all three members of LDF.

Scott back into the match and went on an offensive assault. It came to a crashing halt when he ate a knee to the face as he dove off the top rope at Escobar. A miscalculation between Scott and Tyler Breeze allowed Escobar to attack Breeze and put him away for the victory.

Rhea Ripley and Shotzi Blackheart get revenge

A women’s tag team match was up next. Robert Stone Brand members, Aliyah and Mercedes Martinez were paired together to compete against Shotzi Blackheart and Rhea Ripley. Right out the gate, Ripley and Blackheart singled out Aliyah, keeping her at a disadvantage. Martinez had to create a distraction to allow for the tag before she could come in to cause damage. Aliyah and Martinez would focus their assault on Blackheart, keeping her away from Ripley.

They could not keep Ripley out of the ring forever and when she got in, she made it a point to beat up on Aliyah while sending a message to Martinez. Ripley and Martinez would fight outside the ring while Blackheart would put away Aliyah with a Senton Bomb from the top.

The main event featured a one-on-one affair between former NXT champion, Finn Balor and the recently returned Velveteen Dream. The match started with a fast pace until Dream slid out the ring to goad Balor into a sneak attack. When they got back into the ring, Dream kept things at his pace, slowing Balor down and controlling his offense.

Balor began to focus on Dream’s legs to keep him off his feet, but that momentum swing did not last long in his favor. Just as Balor began to gain some steam, Cameron Grimes came out to make his presence known. Balor used the distraction to turn things in his favor and it looked like he was on the way to win the match … until Dream landed a super-plex on Balor from the top rope. All the five men involved in the match would come out to cause havoc, but it would be Timothy Thatcher that did enough to Balor to allow Dream to hit the Rainmaker Elbow for the victory and advance to the PPV.

August 19 NXT Results

• Johnny Gargano defeated Ridge Holland via pin fall
• Dakota Kai defeated Jessi Kamea via pin fall
• Legado del Fantasma defeated Breezango and Isiah Scott
• Rhea Ripley and Shotzi Blackheart defeated Aliyah and Mercedes Martinez
• Velveteen Dream defeats Finn Balor via pin fall