WWE NXT Takeover 31 Results
Sunday, October 4, 2020
From the Capitol Wrestling Center (WWE PC) in Orlando, FL.
Pre-Show:
Pre-show duties were handled by Scott Stanford and Sam Roberts. They introduced the new Capitol Wrestling Center. The show will be opened by Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship. Backstage, Triple H talked with Rhea Ripley. Either Candice or Io will be ready for Ripley after tonight. All matches were previewed.
Main Show:
There was a video shown that recapped the history and rebranding of the Capitol Wrestling Center, the WWE Performance Center. The live set featured live fans and virtual fans surrounding the arena. Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett and Beth Phoenix are the commentators. Vic is on-site.
Damian Priest beat Johnny Gargano by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship. The opener was hot with the new atmopshere offering a fan experience that is more normal for Takeover shows. Of note, Gargano hit a low blow punt on Priest while the referee was distracted. This resulted in a near-fall. Garagno put his opponent in the GargaNo Escape. but he made it to the ropes. The finish saw Priest block One Final Beat, counter to the Reconing and get the pinfall victory.
Cue a video hyping Kushida vs. Velveteen Dream.
Kushida beat Velveteen Dream by submission. Dream competed in Doc Brown gear, while Kushida was dressed as Marty McFly. The finish saw Kushida hit Dream wit the Spanish Fly into a hoverboard lock. Dream countered with a Dream Valley Driver, which Kushida no-sold. He locked in the Hoverboard Lock to win by submission. After the match, Kushida attacked Dream and put him in the Juji Gatame. Dream cried for Kushida to stop as referees separated them. This was Dream’s best showing in quite some time.
They announced a Halloween Havoc edition of NXT on October 28.
Santos Escobar beat Isaiah Scott by pinfall to retain the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Beth Phoenix made note of Isaiah “Swerve” Scott working as a masked luchador prior to working for WWE. Fans will remember him as Killshot in Lucha Underground. Esocar was accompanied by Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. The finish saw Escobar hit a double underhook suplex onto his knee and follow it with the pin. We know these two can go but it’s probably the first time we have seen them work like this in WWE.
The theme song for Takeover 31 is by Culture Head.
Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly were sparring backstage. Finn Balor was shown.
Io Shirai beat Candice LeRae by pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship. LeRae wore pixie queen themed gear, while Io Shirai sported her normal Kamen Rider Zero One themed gear. Alicia Taylor with the formal in-ring introductions. The finish saw Shirai hit a palm strike on the top rope. She followed with a Spanish Fly and moonsault to get the pinfall victory. After the match, Toni Storm showed up on the crowd video wall. She is going to be back on NXT and it will be “Tony Time.” The match was fine, a lot of no-selling for no big reason.
They showed the outside of the Capitol Wrestling Center with the night vision filter. The mystery biker lady entered the arena. It’s Ember Moon.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Ashanti The Adonis. Ashanti rambled in hyperactive tone, explaining how annoyed he is by Legado Del Fantasma
Finn Balor beat Kyle O’Reilly by pinfall to retain the WWE NXT Championship. Alicia Taylor did the formal in-ring introductions. The finish saw Balor reverse a suplex attempt into a footstomp. This allowed him to hit the double footstomp and get the pinfall for the victory. After the match, Balor bled from his mouth. O’Reilly grabbed his midsection. Balor helped him to his feet. The camera cut to the crowd where Adam Cole was being carried by Ridge Holland. Holland dumped Cole to ringside. Bobby Fish, Roderick Strong, O’Relly and referees checked on Cole to end the show. The main event was spectacular and well worth the near 30 minutes of show time it was given. O’Reilly lost but there is no way he is not elevated into the main event scene.
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