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NXT TakeOvers are some of the most anticipated events in the wrestling calendar, and NXT TakeOver XXX was no exception. Fans were treated to some great matchups between the stars of NXT, as to be expected from NXT TakeOver events.
The talent in the NXT roster is strong, and we saw this in full display during NXT TakeOver XXX. We saw a new NXT North American Champion crowned after an action-packed ladder match, and a new star in the form of Pat McAfee proved himself between the ropes. The PPV was great from start to finish, and we saw great in-ring performances as well as shocking title changes.
There were plenty of fantastic moments through the night at NXT TakeOver XXX, and here are the five jaw-dropping that stood out the most.
#5 Rhea Ripley saved Io Shirai from a post-match beatdown at the hands of Raquel Gonzalez at NXT TakeOver XXX
Dakota Kai has been targeting NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai over the past few months, routinely interrupting the Superstar's entrances and matches to attack her. At the start of August, Kai faced former champion, Rhea Ripley, in a number one contender's match for the NXT Women's title and was successful, with the match-up set for NXT TakeOver XXX.
In the build-up to their battle over the championship, the relationship between the two women became increasingly heated. The match between the two at the PPV was intense, with Kai's ally Raquel Gonzalez becoming irate at ringside. Gonzalez later became involved after Kai accidentally knocked out the referee, and dragged Kai's lifeless body across Shirai's to see her friend win.
However, this backfired, and Shirai was able to retain her title. Gonzalez then lashed out at The Genius of the Sky, hitting out at the champion. The star was then saved by Rhea Ripley, who squared up to Gonzalez.
This post-match moment set up a potential rivalry between the pair, who could surely put on a fantastic match later down the line. After Gonzalez and Kai left the scene, Shirai celebrated in the ring whilst Ripley watched on. Is this also a hint towards Ripley having her sights set on the title again?
#4 Bronson Reed and Candice LeRae take flight from the top of the ladder during the NXT North American Championship match at NXT TakeOver XXX
Before Candice LeRae came to NXT, she was known on the US independent scene for her strength in intergender wrestling. During the ladder match for the NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver XXX, LeRae decided to become involved.
The Poison Pixie intended to support her husband Johnny Gargano in his quest to become NXT North American Champion for the second time, but her plans backfired somewhat. LeRae managed to get in some great offense against the men and was determined to stop her husband's opponents from reaching the top of the ladder.
When Bronson Reed began to scale the ladder, Candice LeRae ran up the rungs and jumped onto his back to try and stop the Australian star from reaching the belt. To stop LeRae from sabotaging his chances, Reed launched the pair off the top and onto Johnny Gargano who was lying beneath them.
We seem to be seeing more of Gargano and LeRae working as a pair on NXT of late, and it will be exciting to see the next steps for the duo after NXT TakeOver XXX.
#3 Pat McAfee's top rope backflip in his match against Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX
The build for the debut NXT match of former NFL star Pat McAfee has been huge. The feud between the star and Adam Cole started when the pair came into dispute during recording for McAfee's podcast over comments the presenter made about Undisputed Era, and Cole's height. This continued when McAfee was invited onto NXT and the duo ended up fighting at the commentary table. Triple H challenged McAfee to a match against Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX, which he accepted.
Pat McAfee was more than able to prove himself against the former NXT Champion. There were some excellent moments between the pair during the night, and McAfee even cut a great promo before the match, proclaiming that he had "the strongest leg in the history of humans and the history of legs in general".
The standout moment of the match at NXT TakeOver XXX was when McAfee, who is inexperienced in the ring managed to pull off an impeccably smooth backflip from the top rope, landing on his feet. It was a great point of the match-up, but even more admirable when McAfee had only two weeks to train for the match.
Although McAfee had a great first match, he lost to Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX. Hopefully, we will see more from the Superstar in time to come.
#2 Damian Priest is victorious in the NXT North American Championship ladder match at NXT TakeOver XXX
Over the past few weeks on NXT, we have seen many performers go head-to-head in matches to decide who would face off at NXT TakeOver XXX and determine the next NXT North American Championship. The title was relinquished by Keith Lee, who wanted to give more opportunities for the rest of the men on the roster.
The men who earned their way into the match were Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, Velveteen Dream, Cameron Grimes, and Damian Priest. The Superstars in this ladder match are all talented members of the roster and proved this during the bout.
There were many great spots in the match at NXT TakeOver XXX and one of these moments has also featured on this list. The match heated up when both Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano scaled the ladder, and the duo fought it out over the belt. Both stars had the title in their grasp, but it was Priest who emerged victorious, managing to grab it from his rival just in the nick of time.
#1 Karrion Kross defeats Keith Lee to become the new NXT Champion at NXT TakeOver XXX
NXT fans were delighted when long-time favourite Keith Lee won both the NXT Championship and the NXT North American at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Shortly after becoming a double champion, Lee decided to relinquish his NXT North American title to create more opportunities for the men on NXT. Following on from this, Karrion Kross and Scarlett had their eye on Lee's NXT Championship, and the duo targeted the champion regularly on WWE TV. In the build-up to NXT TakeOver XXX, Kross signed a contract to face Lee for the title.
Before the contract was handed back to Lee, it was tampered with by Scarlett and the paper went up in flames when the Superstar opened it, causing him to need medical attention.
During their championship match at NXT TakeOver XXX, the pairing of Kross and Lee were well matched with the pair both managing to unleashed great offense against one another. However, Kross overcame Lee in the end, pinning him to win the championship at NXT TakeOver XXX.
Kross and Scarlett have been dominating the scene on NXT since their arrival. The pair have worked together to tear through the roster and seem unstoppable at the moment. The reign of Karrion Kross as NXT Champion is sure to be eventful.
