NXT Takeover Toronto 2019 Report Card – Grades Are In!

NXT did what they always do and delivered an amazing Takeover show from Toronto. Each match has a grade and see how your favorite superstars did.

NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler vs. Mia Yim

Since Shayna Baszler arrived in NXT, she has been nearly unstoppable. Many women have tried to dethrone the champ with only person succeeding for a short time. Baszler is almost running out of opponents and that brought Mia Yim into the picture. I was surprised by Yim’s ability to trade submissions with the former MMA fighter. Spot of the match easily went to the sunset flip off the middle rope as that was the only chance Yim had to secure the title. Once the two started trading submission holds on the ground, you knew it was only a matter of time before Baszler was able to get the victory. I liked how Baszler got the win using her legs to choke out Yim compared to her previous submissions that most rely on the arms. Gade: B

Candice LeRae vs. Io Shirai

Johnny Gargano might have the most Takeover appearances, but I feel like his wife, Candice LeRae, was making her debut. Quick start to the match with Io Shirai using the announce table as a weapon to bring instant attention to the match and showing her new dark side. Once LeRae kicked out of the Spanish Fly from the top rope, you could see her progression as a contender for the title. Shirai got a technical submission win as LeRae passed out from the submission. Shirai got the needed win since turning heel and LeRae showed tons of heart. These two are the future of NXT’s women’s division. Gade: B+

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)

A busy evening for Undisputed Era, with Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish trying to bring home the NXT Tag Team Championships in the opener. O’Reilly & Fish are better technical wrestlers, but The Street Profits were not afraid to keep the pace going. Scoring the victory and the amount of RAW time The Street Profits have recently gotten, you must imagine WWE sees money in the tag team. Their win over arguably the greatest team in NXT’s tag division has elevated them to another level. Not my favorite match of the night and maybe not the best one to start the card, although all four men kept the crowd entertained. Gade: B+

NXT North American Championship Match: Velveteen Dream vs. Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong

We had the mind-games from Velveteen Dream, Pete Dunne’s mechanical destruction and Roderick Strong’s backbreakers in this triple threat. What I liked here was how all three men stayed in the bout instead of isolating one person for various parts. While I think Dream was the right choice to win, Pete Dunne getting pinned was the wrong call. For about two years, Dunne held the NXT UK Championship and looked like an unstoppable force until WALTER arrived. By losing again, it feels like that allure is escaping Dunne. Still, great performances by all three men. Gade: A-

Two Out Of Three Falls Match For The NXT Championship: Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano

For the third consecutive Takeover, Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano headlined. The first fall was a classic match where they showcased pure wrestling and a twist with Gargano getting intentionally disqualified. The street fight went through the building with destruction and chaos also ensuing ringside. Tons of weapons were used before Gargano got the submission win. We head to the third fall and see the steel cage has weapons attached. Wild final spot, but they did miss one table. Their previous matches were nearly perfect and this one was on the same level. Was it better than the other two, I honestly do not let. I do know Cole and Gargano looked amazing. Gargano is designed for NXT because he would be quickly lost on the packed main roster. Cole might do okay. No matter what is next for both, they gave fans some of the best matches in WWE history. Gade: A