NXT TakeOver: Toronto - 5 Mistakes made at the show

SummerSlam had some stiff competition over the weekend.
SummerSlam had some stiff competition over the weekend.

As WWE events go, NXT TakeOvers usually outshine the main-roster shows that they share the weekend with. TakeOver: Toronto: II certainly set a high bar for the main roster stars who had matches at SummerSlam.

Adam Cole escaped with his title once again, albeit under his own power. He did not get any help from his goons in the Undisputed Era as many thought that they would get involved at some point during the match.

Another strange moment was that the Street Profits retained their titles while they have already had face time on RAW. They haven't been active in the ring yet, but once an NXT talent is showcased on either RAW or SmackDown, it usually means that their time with the Yellow and Black brand is up.

Although practically all of the matches delivered, some moments were head-scratchers. Is Shayna Baszler ever going to lose her title? Did they not want to book a match between Killian Dain and Matt Riddle at the show?

While that segment did break up the transition time between matches, there was more than enough time on the card to have added another match. Here are five mistakes from NXT TakeOver: Toronto II.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's stand.


#5 Montez Ford doesn't sell his injury as Baszler and Cole did

Even after nearly getting his ankle ripped apart, Ford was as bouncy as ever after that.
Even after nearly getting his ankle ripped apart, Ford was as bouncy as ever after that.

One common staple of matches throughout wrestling is when a wrestler sustains a mid-match injury, that injury is used in the storytelling of that match. During the NXT Tag Team title match, Montez Ford had his ankle nearly shredded by Kyle O'Reilly on a few occasions.

O'Reilly wrapped him up in a leg lock for a long time until the move was broken up by Angelo Dawkins. At other points in the match after that injury, O'Reilly and Bobby Fish continued to target Ford's ankle.

But when it was their turn to go on the offensive, Ford moved around as if nothing had happened. He still performed high-flying moves and he netted the pin-fall after performing his usual frog splash.

Perhaps he isn't as versed in the entire craft of pro wrestling, but later in the night, both Baszler and Cole suffered injuries in their matches and continued to sell them throughout. It is a small nitpick, but it makes the injuries/moves seem pointless if they aren't sold by the Superstar that was hurt.

#4 Shayna Baszler beats Mia Yim even without her goons

The former MMA fighter is still your NXT Women's Champion.
The former MMA fighter is still your NXT Women's Champion.

With the way that Mia Yim was being built up before her title match with Shayna Baszler, all signs were pointing to her being the one to dethrone The Queen Of Spades.

Several vignettes were aired regarding her tough upbringing and Yim was even seen "taking out" Baszler's goons Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke on episodes of NXT leading up to TakeOver: Toronto II.

Baszler has been the Champ for what seems like forever, almost in the veins of Asuka. While she isn't undefeated like The Empress of Tomorrow was, her stranglehold on the belt is very similar.

Not many women seemed capable of beating The Queen of Spades for the title, but Yim was getting the treatment as if it was her time. But after falling to Baszler over the weekend -and without Shafir and Duke - all it did was make Baszler look even stronger.

She didn't need that. It would have made perfect sense to drop the title here and then have Io Shirai win the title down the road.

It would then set up a perfect match for WrestleMania 36 weekend between LeRae and Shirai for the title. It can still happen, but there aren't any feasible challengers remaining that could dethrone Baszler.

#3 The Street Profits are still the NXT Tag Team Champions

The Profits are still Champs and members of both NXT and RAW.
The Profits are still Champs and members of both NXT and RAW.

While Baszler is still only bound to NXT, the fact is that the current NXT Tag Team Champs are not. They were called up to RAW by Paul Heyman to get some new faces on the show. And while they have been entertaining at times, their constant yelling backstage gets a little annoying at times.

They have certainly grown into their current roles as the tag title holders, but with their featuring on RAW, what's the point of the still holding the titles?

It made sense for the Viking Raiders to relinquish the belts instead of losing them because they were a near unstoppable force.

The Profits didn't even beat the Viking Raiders, but might they get the same treatment? The fact is that the best possible team to run with the titles in the current landscape of NXT is the Undisputed Era.

The Forgotten Sons are bland and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are best as scrappy challengers. It was a missed opportunity to offer the Street Profits a clean break from NXT, but maybe management wants more eyes on them backstage while still holding the titles.

#2 No title changes

The outlandish nature of Velveteen Dream will continue to represent the North American title.
The outlandish nature of Velveteen Dream will continue to represent the North American title.

Going along with the last two slides, there were five matches total at TakeOver: Toronto II with a segment involving Matt Riddle and Killian Dain mixed in. Of those five matches, four were for titles.

How many titles changed hands? Absolutely none. It was the most opportune time to switch the titles for both the NXT Women's and Tag Team titles. The Street Profits have already moved up to RAW and Baszler has already done everything on the yellow brand.

The title retention that bothered me the least was that of Velveteen Dream. He's still young (23) and is one of the most entertaining parts of NXT. Taking him away from the brand would leave NXT lacking in unique talents.

TakeOvers usually involve at least one title change to help balance things out. When shows go on without title changes, it takes a little of the excitement out of the proceedings.

#1 Adam Cole still has his gold but his friends do not

Adam Cole Bay-Bay is the only member of TUE to be currently holding a title.
Adam Cole Bay-Bay is the only member of TUE to be currently holding a title.

Are we sensing a theme here? While the matches at TakeOver were great for the most part (Shirai vs. LeRae stole the show in my opinion), there was a looming declaration over the entire show. It loomed over TakeOver 25 as well, but when things ended this weekend, Cole was the lone member of The Undisputed Era to be a Champion.

At this event, every single member of the group had a chance to win gold. I've constantly stated that the promise Cole made at the beginning of the year needed resolution, otherwise he would look like a liar.

There is still time for his prediction to come true, but this was the perfect night to pull the trigger.

The Profits needed closure and the NXT North American title picture needed a different direction instead of Dream wins, rinse and repeat. By not pulling the trigger on all members winning their matches, it just means that things are in a strange position.

They either all needed to lose or all win gold. Instead, only Cole is a Champ. If they all lost out, then it would have made sense if they were going to debut on the first SmackDown of FOX.

If they all won titles, then it would have made sense so that they could run rampant. Neither of those outcomes came to pass, so I'm left shaking my head.

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