5 things WWE NXT got right before TakeOver: Vengeance Day - Dogecoins & GameStop makes Superstar rich; Karrion Kross sends a final warning

Will Pete Dunne dethrone Finn Balor at WWE NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day?
Will Pete Dunne dethrone Finn Balor at WWE NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day?

Vengeance Day is upon the WWE Universe, and WWE NXT delivered a great final episode before Sunday’s event. Fans are looking forward to some big matches that are scheduled to be held at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

Io Shirai will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez at Vengeance Day. However, none of the three women got physical on this week’s show.

Finn Balor is also set to defend his NXT Championship against Pete Dunne. He had an intense face-off against his challenger before TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

Cameron Grimes returned to WWE NXT this week and came in with a surprising new character. The Superstar claimed that he’d made a fortune by investing in Dogecoins and GameStop over the past few weeks.

The finalists for the men’s and women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic tournaments were also confirmed for TakeOver. Also, Johnny Gargano’s fake injury was spotted by General Manager William Regal.

With Vengeance Day just a few days away, let’s look at five things WWE NXT got right this week.


#5 MSK made it to the finals of the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic

MSK had an impressive debut in WWE NXT, and the team is looking to go all the way and win the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Nash Carter and Wes Lee came out for their match against Legado del Fantasma’s Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza early in the night.

Wilde and Mendoza tried to use their strength to punish their challengers early. However, a hot-tag from Carter to Lee opened up the match for MSK. Lee and Carter hit their signature mid-rotation push dive outside the ring to make the match more exciting.

Legado del Fantasma mounted a comeback but they could not put the newer team away. An elevated running Blockbuster from the duo helped them secure the victory and progress to the final of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

Just like Santos Escobar did during the Interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament in 2020, MSK too has made an impressive debut and surprised everyone with their rise on WWE NXT.

The duo has a great chance of winning the tournament on Sunday and getting an NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity this early in their careers. Will Carter and Lee be able to go all the way and hold their nerves for a huge victory on Sunday?

#4 Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon reached the finals of the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic

Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon prepared to compete against The Way’s Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell on WWE NXT. The two teams were looking for a place in the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic finals against Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.

LeRae went after Blackheart early in the match and slammed her repeatedly. The Poison Pixie looked to do more damage to Blackheart but the babyface made a tag to Moon.

The momentum of the match shifted in the babyfaces’ favor as Moon took down both the heels and teamed up with Blackheart for some double-team moves. An impressive headsissors on Moon outside the ring helped LeRae get her team back in the match.

Both teams traded some big blows before LeRae hit the Wicked Stepsister on Blackheart. However, Moon helped Blackheart stay in the match after a springboard elbow from Hartwell.

Moon then hit the Poison Pixie with the Eclipse, but Hartwell took the diving senton for her leader. However, The War Goddess still managed to pin her and pick up the victory.

The match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day will be huge as both final teams are great at what they do. With a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship shot on the line, fans can expect this contest to be a show-stealer.

#3 KUSHIDA got what he wanted on WWE NXT

Johnny Gargano was trying to get out of his WWE NXT North American Championship match against KUSHIDA at TakeOver: Vengeance Day. However, his plan did not work the way he’d have liked.

Austin Theory competed against KUSHIDA next and the two went right at each other after the bell sounded. Theory used his impressive strength to try and ground KUSHIDA, but the Japanese Superstar’s experience was too much for the youngster.

Technical strikes kept KUSHIDA on top of the match and he went after Theory’s arm to work towards the armbar and Hoverboard Lock. While KUSHIDA stayed on top for some time, Theory tripped him and took advantage of the situation.

After KUSHIDA fought through a powerbomb and trapped Theory in an armbar, Gargano interfered to cause a disqualification.

The two men attacked KUSHIDA before Dexter Lumis appeared to take out Theory. Both men applied their signature locks to the heels to end the segment. KUSHIDA will now get a shot at the NXT North American title on Sunday.

This could be the perfect time to award the title to the Japanese Superstar. Lumis, on the other hand, is ready for a good rivalry against Theory.

#2 Karrion Kross sent a final message to Santos Escobar on WWE NXT

Karrion Kross isn’t someone who follows the rule book when it comes to challenging his opponents on WWE NXT. Fans have watched The Herald of Doomsday play mind games with his opponents, and also send them a message in the form of an hourglass or playing card.

After Scarlett stalked Santos Escobar during his match against Curt Stallion last week, Kross came out to lay waste to Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. He gave Escobar the gift of time before telling him to leave the ring.

This week on WWE NXT, Scarlett entered William Regal’s office and asked him to sanction a match between Kross and Escobar for next week. The NXT General Manager did not hesitate and agreed to put the former NXT Champion up against the current NXT Cruiserweight Champion.

Escobar was visibly shaken by the announcement and instructed Wilde and Mendoza to make up for their loss earlier in the night and take out Kross. Instead, fans watched The Herald of Doomsday take out both the men and send a message to Escobar.

This simple segment helped make this rivalry and match even better. NXT has ensured that both men don’t get physical before the match itself. This will help them book a better contest next week.

#1 The Grizzled Young Veterans reached their second WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic final

Let’s talk about the best match of the night, between four of the hardest individuals in WWE NXT. Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa teamed up once again in the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic to take on The Grizzled Young Veterans.

Ciampa went after Zack Gibson early and punished him for taunting the duo early on. Ciampa and Thatcher controlled the match at first, before James Drake got in on the action. The duo sent Ciampa down hard and he landed on his surgically repaired neck.

Thatcher had to do most of the work for his team from there on as the GYV used their experience to keep him grounded with submissions. Ciampa got back in the match, but it was evident that he had injured his neck following the spot.

The GYV controlled the match in the later stages and hit the Ticket to Mayhem to book their tickets to NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. This was a great match that showed why GYV deserves to win the tournament after losing the final last year.

GYV will likely be the favorites once again, even though the new MSK duo is ripping up the rest of the WWE NXT tag team division after an impressive debut.

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