NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day results: Finn Balor retains

NXT TakeOver Vengeance felt like a throwback to NXT of old as every match delivered from start to finish. 

While some were celebrating love, the NXT community decided to celebrate violence with NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. The WWE Network special featured multiple title matches, and the conclusion of the Men’s and Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournaments.

Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai make history

The night started off with tag team action. Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon battled Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. The four women fought for the opportunity to be the first winners of the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and leaving with a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.

Blackheart and Moon struggled with Gonzalez’s strength early, but once they got Kai onto their side of the ring, they did not let her get away. With Gonzalez out of the match, Moon and Blackheart continued to focus on the smaller of their opponents.

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When Gonzalez was able to get the tag, she went back to dominating the opponents, throwing both ladies around the ring with ease. She used Blackheart like a wall ornament, throwing her against the barricade outside the ring. With Moon alone in the ring, Kai and Gonzalez were able to take it to the former NXT Women’s champion.

Blackheart finally got back into the match, attacking Kai. She and Moon hit Gonzalez with multiple tag team techniques but could not put her away. Both teams were taking sick bumps before the match would end, including Gonzalez sending Moon flying from the ring. The end came when Gonzalez hit a one-arm powerbomb for the win.

Kushida and Johnny Gargano were up next, battling for the NXT North American title.

The match started with a lot of grappling as Kushida focused solely on Gargano’s arm. The match kept a slow pace where Kushida had the initial advantage. When things picked up the stalemate continued, as both men broke out counter after counter. When they rolled outside of the ring, Kushida would land a chicken-wing suplex that did the damage to Gargano’s arm.

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Gargano was able to get the advantage after catching Kushida coming back into the ring. Gargano started to focus on Kushida’s neck and arm, to set up for the One Final Beat. Kushida got the momentum back in his favor, but Gargano was not going away, kicking out of every pin attempt. It looked like Kushida was going to hit a super-plex, but it was countered into the Cross Rhodes from the top.

The false finishes were aplenty at the end of the match. Kushida landed the avalanche arm bar but Gargano continued to fight out of the hold. Gargano fought through, landing the One Final Beat on the apron and in the ring to get the victory.

MSK complete their journey to the Dusty Cup

MSK and the Grizzled Young Veterans were out to see who would take home the Men’s Dusty Classic cup.

Zack Gibson and Carter started the match for their respective teams. Gibson looked to wear down Carter early, focusing on his arm to keep him grounded. Gibson and Drake made the tags to get Carter isolated on their side of the ring.

Things worked out in their favor until Wes Lee got the tag and set the tone back in his team’s favor. But once Carter tagged back into the ring things swung back, with GYV being able to divide and conquer the younger team. Carter was forced to kick out of pin attempt after pin attempt. Even after trying some underhanded tactics, Carter continued to kick out, not being put away.

Lee got the tag again and let everything go in the ring. He flew all around the ring, landing high-impact offense on both Drake and Gibson, tagging Carter back into the ring after the transition. The GYV were finally able to slow down Lee, but even after more tag team moves, he would not go away either. It looked like MSK were about to win after the back-to-back Senton variations, but Drake kicked out at the very last second.

GYV hit an amazing Doomsday Device on Lee outside the ring, leaving Carter to fight alone. Right when it looked like Carter was going to take the Ticket to Mayhem, Lee came back. Together MSK hit the assisted Blockbuster to win and take home the Dusty Cup.

Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm were looking to become NXT Women’s champions and to do so, they would have to go through each other and Io Shirai.

They could not even get through the announcement before the three women started brawling. The challengers tried to jump the champion, but Shirai wanted none of that. She got off to a good start, but Martinez eventually laid her out on the outside of the ring. Martinez was focusing on Storm, but Shirai continued to insert herself and keep Storm from being defeated.

Outside the ring the carnage continued. As Martinez and Storm battled, Shirai jumped off the production set structure to come crashing down on her challengers. For a moment it looked like Martinez was going to win after the Fisherman’s Buster, but Storm found a way to escape. Storm landed a head butt off the top rope, but before she could win, Shirai came crashing in with the Moonsault, pinning Martinez to keep the belt.

The main event of the night was as hard-hitting as expected as Pete Dunne and Finn Balor fought for the NXT championship.

The two men started out the match attacking each other’s arms, neither able to take control early. Dunne was able to get his advantage going early, keeping the match on the mat where he has the stronger abilities. Dunne focused on Balor’s fingers and arm, bending them in multiple directions. Balor would fight back with his own grappling attacks, but that did not stop Dunne from attempting to cause harm every way he could. The champion continued to batter Dunne with knees, elbows and more. Dunne would even hit the Bitter End, but Balor barely kicked out with less than a second left.

The two men continued to counter each other, even as they were writhing in pain. Dunne was determined to break every finger on Balor’s body. Balor ripped the mouthpiece out of Dunne’s mouth, kicking him square in the face. After the double foot stomp, he landed 1916 to keep the title around his waist.

WWE NXT Takeover Vengeance Day Results

• Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez defeated Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart pinfall
• Johnny Gargano defeated Kushida via pinfall.
• MSK defeated the Grizzled Young Veterans via pinfall
• Io Shirai defeated Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm via pinfall
• Finn Balor defeated Pete Dunne via pinfall