'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Heading into NXT TakeOver 36, many fans speculated if this would mark the end of an era for the black and gold brand. According to Nick Khan, the NXT of old may be in the rearview mirror soon enough with the most recent batch of WWE releases along with changes coming to the brand. This all didn't stop their exceptional roster from stepping up in this significant event.
The NXT Championship Match featured a dominant champion facing a legend of the brand. There were four titles on the line, and rivalries were being settled. The NXT UK Championship was defended for only the third time on an NXT TakeOver in a rematch ten months in the making, while two former friends battled for the NXT Women's Championship.
With eyes set on this roster during SummerSlam weekend, there is simply no denying that the performers delivered a top-notch show. In this article, let's look at the star ratings for every match at NXT TakeOver 36.
LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes for the Million Dollar Championship (if Grimes loses, Ted Dibiase would become Knight's butler) - NXT TakeOver 36
The story of Cameron Grimes and LA Knight has been well built coming into NXT TakeOver 36. The two men fought over the Million Dollar Championship and the legacy of Ted Dibiase at first before Knight showed that he just wanted the gold. Knight then beat Grimes to make him become his butler. After weeks of torment, Dibiase convinced Cameron to fight for his freedom and for the title again.
This contest was really fun and felt like an ideal way to kick off this show in a major way. The Capitol Wrestling Center crowd was heavily behind Cameron Grimes and wanted to see him finally win the big one at NXT TakeOver 36. LA Knight had one of his better performances here, selling for Grimes and Dibiase as well as coming off like the perfect swarmy heel.
The finish saw Ted Dibiase get involved with a right hand and the Million Dollar Dream on the floor before Grimes hit the Cave In to win the Million Dollar Championship at NXT TakeOver 36. It was a very good opener with both men playing their roles extremely well until the feel-good ending. The only nitpick was the length being a bit long.
Star rating: ***3/4
Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai for the NXT Women's Championship - NXT TakeOver 36
The friendship between NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai finally came to a head at NXT TakeOver 36. The two ladies have been aligned since Raquel's re-debut back at TakeOver: Portland in February 2020. They became the best of friends, but the title and jealousy came between them after Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai at Stand and Deliver.
Dakota Kai's eventual betrayal felt like a culmination of a long-form story. It could have easily marked the end of Raquel Gonzalez's NXT Women's Championship reign here at NXT TakeOver 36. There was a great deal of animosity between the two women heading in, which was immediately felt.
It was a very physical matchup with the two women not letting up on one another. The encounter felt like a fight and centered around Raquel attempting to hit her Chingona Bomb finisher. Kai came close to winning using her Kai-ro-practor signature move and a top rope double stomp for near falls.
Dakota finally looked to hit her corner Yakuza Kick to Raquel while she sat on the top rope, but Gonzalez caught her and hit the avalanche Chingona Bomb to retain the NXT Women's Championship. It was a brilliant contest that saw Dakota Kai bring her A-game and lead the way here at NXT TakeOver 36, while Raquel more than held her own and delivered an outstanding performance.
Star rating: ***3/4
WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT UK Championship - NXT TakeOver 36
The most anticipated match heading into NXT TakeOver 36 was WALTER defending the NXT UK Championship against Ilja Dragunov. It was a heavily pushed rematch between the two men from last year. They put on one of the most physical encounters in WWE history and probably the greatest empty arena match in the history of the business.
The battle started with a feeling-out process of mat wrestling, submission attempts, and escalating into their strikes. WALTER took control with a vicious powerbomb on the apron and completely obliterated Dragunov with his signature lethal chops. The dominant champion brutalized Ilja with chops to the point that his chest looked like raw meat and was the color of his red boots.
Ilja Dragunov had a superb babyface performance with impeccable selling, engaging facial expressions, and body language that gripped the viewer in his journey to overcome WALTER. Whatever the champion threw at Dragunov, he preserved and kept fighting here at NXT TakeOver 36.
WALTER went through his greatest hits with terrific callbacks to his past victories. He hit the top rope splash that beat Pete Dunne at TakeOver: New York, the lariat which defeated Tyler Bate at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, and the standing chop that finished Tommaso Ciampa at Stand and Deliver. Through it all, Ilja Dragunov proved that he was more than ready at NXT TakeOver 36.
Dragunov hit two Torpedo Moscow's that weren't enough, so he bombarded WALTER with strikes and locked on a sleeper that he wouldn't let go. Ilja eventually made WALTER tap out to win the NXT UK Championship. This was the WWE Match of the Year and just a stellar display of beautiful violence. It was undoubtedly the show stealer on this NXT TakeOver 36 card.
Star rating: *****
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly in the Undisputed Finale Two Out of Three Falls Match - NXT TakeOver 36
The showdown between the pillars of the Undisputed Era took place at NXT TakeOver 36 when Adam Cole battled Kyle O'Reilly in the "Undisputed Finale" two out of three falls match. The contest has been building ever since Cole turned on O'Reilly back on TakeOver: Vengeance Day. The two men had traded wins at Stand and Deliver and Great American Bash ahead of the event.
Cole and O'Reilly came out hot and immediately went at each other. They traded shots, and Cole hit a superkick. He then tried to follow with the Panama Sunrise, but O'Reilly countered with a pinning combination to win the first fall in just three minutes. The second fall was the bulk of this NXT TakeOver 36 encounter. This was a street fight that featured many weapons.
Adam Cole attacked Kyle O'Reilly's ribs, which became the story of the match. O'Reilly did a phenomenal job of selling the pain. He couldn't even run the ropes at times here. Cole eventually launched him off the top rope onto two open steel chairs and followed with the Last Shot to win the second fall. This led to the steel cage third fall at NXT TakeOver 36.
Once locked in the cage, Adam Cole dominated and handcuffed Kyle O'Reilly to the ropes. Cole attacked O'Reilly before the start with a powerbomb on the announce table. He hit a series of superkicks, but Kyle caught the last and locked in a kneebar for the submission win. This generated a negative response from the CWC crowd at NXT TakeOver 36 for its abrupt nature.
This bout was the perfect length and didn't overstay its welcome like their previous meetings. Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly engaged the crowd for the contest's duration with fun spots and good action. The finish felt anti-climatic and hurt the overall match despite the compelling story told
Star rating: ***1/2
Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship - NXT TakeOver 36
The main event of NXT TakeOver 36 was a showdown of NXT Champion Karrion Kross defending against Samoa Joe. The lead-up saw Joe return to the brand as an enforcer to General Manager William Regal. After weeks of tension with Kross, Joe was the special guest referee in his title defense against Johnny Gargano. Despite Kross getting the win, he choked out Joe following the match.
This broke one of the first rules set down for Samoa Joe upon his return. Regal told Joe that he couldn't put his hands on any talent unless provoked, which Kross definitely does just that. Samoa Joe went looking for revenge, but Karrion Kross attacked GM Regal instead. This further infuriated Joe and led to a challenge for NXT TakeOver 36.
The past few weeks have seen Kross avoid Joe until the go-home episode of NXT. The two men got into a huge brawl that went all over the CWC arena with security and officials trying to separate them. This was just a tease for how much animosity had built between both men heading into NXT TakeOver 36.
The entrances for this NXT TakeOver 36 main event told a story within itself. The crowd was heavily behind Samoa Joe from the start, while Karrion Kross's aura was severely hampered by the absence of Scarlett in his corner. Joe came out, winning an early strike exchange and nailing Kross with a Pele Kick. However, Kross got control when the action went to the floor.
Kross hit his vicious strikes, landed forearms to the back of the head, but Joe rolled to the outside. Samoa Joe made a comeback and hit a cool-looking belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. He also caught Kross with his signature uranage in the corner.
Kross attacked Joe with knees in the corner, but Joe landed a Pele Kick and followed with the Muscle Buster to win the NXT Championship. This felt off and didn't have the vibe of vintage NXT TakeOver main events. It wasn't bad, but it had just good wrestling from both men. Karrion Kross's booking made it challenging to care for him here at NXT TakeOver 36.
This was never clearer than during this NXT TakeOver 36 main event. Kross brought something different about a character and his presentation, but the main roster booking and Scarlett's absence ripped a lot of what made him successful. Despite it all, it was a special moment seeing Samoa Joe return to the ring and become the first three-time NXT Champion.
Star rating: ***
