NXT Tag Team Titles: Streets Profits (C) vs. The Undisputed Era
The black and gold brand kicked off NXT Takeover: Toronto with a Street Party amongst the NXT Universe in Scotiabank Arena. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins hype up the crowd before the Undisputed Era’s Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly make their way to the ring with a super fresh logo on the Titantron. This is a solid match to kickoff the NXT Takeover: Toronto, as both teams impressed throughout. Montez Ford, who I’ve been very high on for years now really got to show his athletic prowess as he executed several impressive high flying attacks.
As if Ford couldn’t get any more charismatic, he sets up for THE PEOPLE’S ELBOW to honor the Great One! Unfortunately the iconic maneuver is broken up, but Ford hits a Rock Bottom instead! It’s not enough for the win, but gets the crowd to erupt with “Rocky” chants. Great tandem offense throughout here by both teams, but a leg lock by O’Reilly combined with an elbow drop by Fish looked like it may have been the turning point. Dawkins and Ford were able to overcome with a tandem blockbuster and spear/frogspash combo to retain!
I thought for sure this was the night that the Undisputed Era would capture all of the gold. Clearly, I am way off. Regardless, I’m thrilled to see Ford and Dawkins establish themselves as relevant tag team champions. As Good Ol’ JR once said about the Hardy Boys, “One is the sizzle, and the other is the steak.” The future is bright for this team.
BRO! Matt Riddle isn’t scheduled for a match but he calls out Killain Dain. Dain comes through the crowd and a brawl ensues. Dain hits a Broque Kick of sorts but the brawl continues all the way up to the stage area. Toronto’s finest indie wrestlers try to break up the brawl to no avail. Riddle and Dain lay out the “security” members and continue to go at each other. Dain hits a running White Noise type maneuver onto Riddle through a table off the stage, and takes a security member with him. Fun spot, but I thought the security guy going off the stage as well was the icing on the cake. I mean, how cool would it be if some indie guy made his debut building off the random encounter with these two?
We’re shown current Evolve Superstar Austin Theory in the NXT crowd. This is VERY telling.
Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai
I absolutely loved this match. Everything about Shirai’s new “Evil Io” persona is awesome. She looks the part with her new gear, and something about her new swagger just works. I love the character and her ring work speaks for itself. Another personal fave, Candice LeRae opens this one by rushing the ring and laying into her former friend. Lots of big spots early including Io’s suplex on Candice on top of the announce table.
Shirai nearly wins the match right there with an early count out but LeRae beats the 10 count. Candice comes back with a picture perfect flying head scissors but Shirai lands on her feet! Shirai continues to be cocky and hits a running slam on Candice. Candice eventually retaliates with an Octopus submission on Io. Io escapes and attempts a 619 that is blocked into a neck breaker. Io’s second 619 attempt however, connects with Candice’s weakened neck. Candice isn’t done yet though as she hit an amazing suicide dive into a DDT on Shirai on the outside.
Shirai eventually hits a top rope German suplex into a bridge for the pin. Candice kicks out. Shirai attempts a fireman’s carry attack but LeRae executes an amazing backwards rana reversal. Io answers with a Spanish Fly off the top, but it’s not enough. Shirai tries to put her opponent away with her signature moonsault, but Candice still kicks out! The arrogant Shirai locks in the KOJI Clutch for the win as Candice fades. Great showing by both performers and I hope to see this rivalry play out a little longer.
NXT North American Title Match: Velveteen Dream (C) vs. “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong
Velveteen Dream makes his way to the ring with his Mountie Gear and accompanied by the NBA Champions Toronto Raptors’ Dancers. I dig it. Dunne and Strong make their much less grand entrances and we are underway.
Now on paper I thought this match was going to be epic. In reality it was just good. Dunn and Dream start out with some tandem offense on Strong, but as we know those alliances only last for a few minutes. Dunn attempts an early Bitter End to no avail, and Strong is crotched on the ring pole by Dream. This allowed for Mauro Ranallo‘s greatest call to date: “We’re in the home of the Raptors, and that was nothing but nuts!”
Later, Dream hits an impressive elbow coast to coast on both of his opponents. We also get a Dream Valley Driver, an Olympic Slam, and almost successful triple superplex variation. Strong performs a double Boston crab on both of his opponents as well. Dream attempts a double Dream driver but is unsuccessful.
As the match concluded, Dunn hits the Bitter End on Strong, but Dream literally stops the ref’s hand from hitting three. Dream is knocked out of the ring later, and Strong hits a massive backbreaker on Dunn, but Dream literally comes flying with an elbow to steal the victory! Dream On!
NXT Women’s Title Match: “The Queen of Spades” Shayna Baszler (C) vs. Mia Yim
This matchup had more holds than a customer service phone number. Yim displays her in ring prowess and even plays a little bit dirty to wear down the NXT women’s champion. Mia tows the line with eye rakes, ear tugs, and more. Mia traps Baszler’s arm behind the ring steps and quickly weakens her right arm. Baszler evens the odds by damaging Yim’s left arm with several strikes and locks. The pace eventually picks up as Mia Yim hits a “Code Blue” (her version of the Code Rode/Sunset Flip Bomb) off the top with the champ’s left arm locked in. It’s not enough, and Baszler quickly locks in the Kirifuda Clutch out of nowhere. Yim escapes and continues to work the arm of Baszler. The champ reverses and locks in one more Kirifuda Clutch into a triangle choke with the legs for the win. Nice effort by Yim, but not enough to dethrone a very dominant NXT Women’s Champion. I’m not sure if anyone can stop the Queen of Spades.
NXT World Title Match – Three Stages of Hell: Adam Cole (C) vs. Johnny Gargano
Johnny Wrestling, or as I call him Johnny Match of the Year is back to regain his NXT Championship. Gargano hasn’t really been in a televised match in a while now, but Mr. NXT himself showed absolutely zero signs of ring rust. The former NXT champ makes his way to the ring with Classic Wolverine inspired gear and I love it BUB!! The current NXT Champion Adam Cole (Bay Bay!) makes his way to the ring and the two get down to business.
Every maneuver is either mirrored or reversed early. Both competitors know the each other so well, they realize they have to get creative. Johnny targets Cole’s knees and even throws him knee first into the apron. Gargano continues to work the leg in the ring. Cole takes it back outside and wheelbarrow suplexes Gargano back first into the apron. Later, Johnny TakeOver tries to comeback with a slingshot spear but is caught by Cole into a slam. Gargano decides to work the leg some more with absolutely vicious double stomp on his opponent’s leg followed by a Figure 4!! (Wooooo!) Cole escapes and eventually goes for his signature Panama Sunrise but Gargano reverses it into a devastating Sunset Driver for a near fall.
A frustrated Cole goes for a chair to distract the ref and hits a low blow on Gargano ensuring that he can now hit all of the high notes. Gargano is able to kick out and Cole grabs the chair again. Johnny is able to disarm Cole and take the chair. Johnny mimics Cole while sitting on the chair. This guy always knows how to tell a story in the ring. Garagno channels his inner “Johnny Psycho” and proceeds to beat the heck out of the Undisputed Era leader resulting in a DQ in the favor of Cole.
As the ring announcer informs the crowd of the “Street Fight” 2nd Fall, Johnny’s Eyes light up. He mouths a very sarcastic, “OK” and I can’t help but smile. Gargano absolutely lays into Cole and takes the fight into the crowd. Gargano has some fun attacking his opponent with drink ware and even takes a quick selfie. The two move to the ring side area where they both go through the ringside barrier on a Gargano Dive and they even take out an announce table. Cole gets some scattered offense but Gargano hits a VICIOUS lawn dart into a chair and locks in the Gargano escape to win the 2nd fall.
As for the third fall, I believe that the NXT crew was successfully able to HIDE a steel cage from the live crowd in attendance. This is based mostly on the crowd’s reaction to seeing the cage come down over the ring. We all realize that this match is about to get EXTREME as the cage is surrounded by Barbed Wire (No Escape) and lined with weapons galore. This is innovative. This is fresh. I’m in. The two start off with a kendo stick party before knocking each other out with simultaneous super kicks!
The crowd absolutely goes nuts. As the competitors recover they are able to incorporate a fire extinguisher, several chairs, and more. One very symbolic moment is when both men are reaching for the iconic sledgehammer. (A proverbial torch if you will) I thought that was an absolutely brilliant move and a nice touch. Cole hits one Panama Sunrise off the top and one from the ladder! Gargano kicks out of both!
Gargano later answers with a tornado DDT onto two chairs. Cole kicks out. The match goes for over an hour and the crowd is chanting “Fight Forever” Gargano finds bolt cutters and is able to get himself a strand of the barbed wire. Everytime Gargano gets an item, his face lights up and he holds it up over his head like Link the Zelda games. I love it. Both men make their way to a platform at the top of the cage and trade blows.
Gargano goes for a strike with the barbed wire. Cole blocks and both men fall with the barbed wire off the top of the cage and through two tables. Cole wills himself to make the cover and gets the 1, 2, 3 after the massive spot. You winner and STILL NXT Champion, Adam Cole BAY BAY!! What a phenomenal match. I won’t say that it’s the match of the year just yet, but I will say this one is going to be incredibly hard to top.
My final thoughts on NXT Takeover: Toronto — as always NXT delivered. What else can I say other than this brand has established itself as top tier. I will leave you in the words of Mauro Ranallo: “For those who get it no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t get it, no explanation will ever do.”
