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NXT Women's Championship Triple Threat Match: Mercedes Martinez vs Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai (c)
Before the ring announcer could finish, these NXT Superstars ran at one another. Mercedes Martinez was sent to the floor, leaving the Mae Young Classic Finalists in the ring with one another.
The former NXT UK Women's Champion dropped Shirai and hit a sliding clothesline, but was taken to the floor by Mercedes Martinez. An elevated rolling neckbreaker took Toni Storm out momentarily. The NXT Women's Champion looked for a moonsault, but Martinez walked away, sending Io Shirai crashing into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Martinez was focusing on Storm. A Three Amigos attempt was stopped when Shirai came off the top for a missile dropkick, sending Mercedes into the corner. Before she could follow up, a Bossman Slam from Storm dropped her. Storm took the fight to Shirai, but taking her eyes off of Martinez allowed the powerhouse to plant her with a spinebuster.
Shirai broke up Martinez's submission and locked Storm into a crossface. Martinez quickly woke up, locking Shirai in a dragon sleeper. Shirai wouldn't tap, so Martinez took her over with a reverse suplex. Shirai responded by sending Martinez into the ropes for a 619 and a springboard missile dropkick.
Storm stopped the NXT Women's Champion from following it up, looking to bring Shirai down to the mat with a superplex. Mercedes Martinez broke up that attempt, launching Io Shirai off onto the floor and spiking Toni Storm with a spider suplex.
When Mercedes rose back up, Shirai was waiting. NXT's Genius of the Sky hit a diving double stomp on a hanging Martinez, leaving her out in the corner. On the floor, Martinez ran Shirai into the plexiglass, but was taken out by Storm.
The former NXT UK Champion cleaned off the announce desk, looking to drive Martinez through it. Martinez blocked it, hitting a DDT instead. As they both stood up, they were taken out by Shirai, who hit a diving crossbody off the truss.
Mercedes Martinez was up first and launched the champion spine first into the steps. In the ring, a knee lift left Toni Storm nearly out cold. A series of arm trapped knees to the jaw were probably enough to pick up the win. Storm couldn't escape the Fisherman Buster, but she was somehow able to escape the pinfall.
Storm responded with a headbutt, and planted Martinez with Storm Zero, the move that won her the NXT UK Women's Championship. It didn't do the job here tonight, so Storm followed up with a diving headbutt into the sternum. It was broken up, though, by the Moonsault from Io Shirai. 1-2-3, Io Shirai retained the NXT Women's Championship.
Results: Io Shirai defeated Mercedes Martinez via pinfall at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
Grade: B+
