Six Biggest Takeaways From NXT Takeover: In Your House
NXT Takeover: In Your House emanated from Full Sail University last night. This was the first Takeover event since the start of the pandemic and despite this, the show was definitely another exceptional installment into the great streak of Takeovers NXT has delivered.
It ended rivalries, furthered others, and set up some intriguing stories heading into the future of the brand. Furthermore, this was the first ‘In Your House’ event since 1999, conveying that nostalgic feeling to fans of what introduced ‘Judgement Day’ and ‘Unforgiven’.
The set design certainly went retro and the transitions had an Attitude Era aura about them. With all that being said, let’s discuss “Six Biggest Takeaways From NXT TakeOver: In Your House”:
6. Io Shirai Wins The NXT Women’s Championship
The NXT Women’s Championship match between Charlotte Flair, Io Shirai, and Rhea Ripley closed out the show. This interestingly was the first Women’s main event on Takeover since NXT Takeover Respect in 2015. That show, of course, was headlined by Bayley and Sasha Banks’ battle over the Women’s Title.
This was certainly an eventful way to cap off the show! Charlotte proved why she is still relevant to the NXT brand, Ripley tried to get her redemption over Charlotte and Io Shirai became the biggest star in the division by finally beating the odds and becoming NXT Women’s Champion for the first time.
Shirai was thrown through the window of the In Your House set, incapacitating her for a short time. When she recovered, she managed to ascend to the top of the structure and hit a phenomenal crossbody onto her opponents. Charlotte soon locked Ripley in the Figure Eight, allowing Shirai to hit a Moonsault on Ripley and get the pin.
Io is now champion! Hopefully, it isn’t a red herring for Charlotte just winning the title back in the next few weeks.
Charlotte losing the title this early in her run was quite strange and a bit pointless. Considering she halted Ripley’s momentum at WrestleMania only to drop the title to Shirai two months later, this was a poor decision to say the least.
Anyways, congratulations to Io Shirai! She felt like she transitioned into a babyface on this show and will more than likely have a rematch with Charlotte, Ripley, or reignite her feud with Candice LeRae – roles reversed.
5. Damian Priest Took The Bump Of The Night
At first, I wasn’t much into Finn Balor vs Damien Priest. However, as soon as the bell rang my eyes were glued to the action.
Balor has built up his reputation since returning to the black and gold brand and Priest proved his potential in a defeat from the former Universal Champion.
Priest’s legs are like a homing missile – it never misses its target and Balor got kicked left, right and centre during this fight! Also, the ‘Archer of Infamy’ must have woke up with a sore back this morning as he took the most painful looking spot of the night.
It was during a moment that Priest tried to deliver a horrific razor’s edge to Balor out of the ring and onto the steel steps. If that move did occur Balor may not be here to hear the tale. Instead, Balor reversed and dropped Priest onto the steps. His back impacted onto the edge of the steps before he crashed into the ground. This bump had me on the edge of my seat for the finale as Balor went into intense mode and destroyed Priest for the win.
Great match to fill the gap in between Balor’s and WALTER’s rivalry which has been put on hold due to the pandemic.
4. Keith Lee Defeated Johnny Gargano
If both competitors were face and focussed on putting on a breathtaking match then this could have countered Edge vs. Orton’s “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” slogan. However, this match didn’t have that intention and instead was used to further the feud.
The bout was focussing on Gargano trying to escape the grizzly hands of the ‘Limitless’ North American Champion. The key Gargano put in his pants before the match started was symbolic to the car-key spot on last week’s NXT and hinted at the item playing into the match in some way.
When the partners of both stars, Candice LeRae and Mia Yim, got involved, Gargano managed to hit Lee in the eye with the key and almost got the win. This was an unexpected kick out as many guessed this new heel persona for Gargano would lead to victory.
I believe this feud will continue, become more personal and then with a trick up his sleeve, Gargano will manage to beat the unbeatable, Keith Lee.
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