Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 6:00 PM EST.
Tonight is the first NXT TakeOver event since WWE’s “empty arena” era. While the matches scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay ended up taking place over several weeks, this is the first genuine NXT TakeOver since the global pandemic, and with 6 matches on the card, it should be a fun show.
First up, in a match that was added last week, the team of Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, and Raquel Gonzalez will take on Mia Yim, Shotzi Blackheart, and Tegan Nox. This match will take place following weeks of all 6 of these women being deeply embroiled with each other’s stories for the better part of two months. With some really high quality performers in this match, it’ll be interesting to see how this one shakes out.
In one of the lesser-hyped matches for tonight, Finn Balor will take on the man who took him out backstage weeks ago, Damian Priest. This is one of Balor’s very limited performances since his return to NXT, and his promos for this feud have been very intense, but Damian Priest fits the WWE mold so well, so this one is tough to call but should be a fun match.
For Karrion Kross’s debut match, he couldn’t have a better opponent than Tommaso Ciampa. After being jumped backstage during a promo following his brutal match with Johnny Gargano, Ciampa challenged Kross to a match for TakeOver tonight, and this looks to be Kross’s real coming out party after just a few squash matches on NXT television.
For the first of three title matches tonight, Keith Lee will defend his NXT North American Championship against Johnny Gargano. Ever since turning heel back in February of this year, Gargano has transitioned from a deranged heel to a smarmy one who really needs his comeuppance. Will Lee hand it to him tonight, or will Gargano capture the NXT North American Championship for the second time in his career?
Speaking of two-time champions, two-time NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte looks to extend her title reign when she takes on both Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai in a triple threat match. One has to wonder if either Io or Ripley are in this match so that Charlotte will lose her belt without having to be pinned, but that is mere speculation. We’ll have to see who comes out on top in this one, but with three highly skilled women, this one could be the match of the night.
Finally, in a Backlot Brawl, the longest reigning NXT Champion of all time, Adam Cole, will defend his title against Velveteen Dream, and if Dream fails to capture the championship, he cannot challenge for it again while Cole is still champion. One must wonder how Dexter Lumis, Bobby Fish, Roderick Strong, and the recently returned Kyle O’Reilly will factor into this one. While some reports indicate that Cole has signed a new deal, earlier reports indicated that Cole’s contract is expiring soon, so could tonight be when Cole drops his NXT Championship?
With the return of NXT TakeOver events, it feels like the wrestling world is regaining a sense of normalcy, and hopefully, tonight’s six-match card can bring everyone a little bit more joy. We will begin coverage when the NXT TakeOver: In Your House preshow beings at 6:30 PM, EST!
Pre Show
Scott Stanford, Sam Roberts, and Pat McAfee are on the pre show panel. They go over the matches on the card generally before moving into buildups for the matches. Ciampa is shown walking to the arena earlier tonight, but we move on to recapping the card.
We get a video package about Adam Cole’s year as an NXT Champion and his upcoming Backlot Brawl match with Velveteen Dream, followed by a mock Table For 3, featuring just Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae, featuring Mia Yim and Keith Lee, building up to their upcoming NXT North American Championship match.
MIa Yim and Keith Lee are shown arriving together backstage for TakeOver. Johnny and Candice are also shown arriving, but Johnny stops and goes back to his car, telling Candice he will be just one minute, and he sends Candice ahead on her own.
We once again run through all of the matches and then lead into the main show.
Main Show
Code Orange perform their song, “Underneath,” the theme song for NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Shotzi Blackheart, Tegan Nox, and Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae, Raquel Gonzalez, and Dakota Kai
Yim and LeRae seem to start the match, but LeRae tags Raquel in. Gonzalez tosses Yim around the ring, but Yim fights back with chops and a guillotine hold. Raquel reverses, but Yim escapes and tags in Tegan Nox. Nox runs the ropes, but Gonzalez takes Nox down with a shoulder tackle.
Gonzalez tags in Dakota Kai, and Nox and Kai trade strikes, and Nox rolls up Kai for two. Kai and Nox trade roll up attempts, and Nox hits Kai with a headbutt, then an uppercut and a rolling senton. Nox covers Kai for two.
Shotzi Blackheart comes in and hits a slingblade on Kai. Kai grounds Blackheart with a scorpion kick and covers her for two. Kai tags in Candice, who goes for a senton but misses. Shotzi hits Candice with a kick, sending her out of the ring. Kai, LeRae, and Gonzalez regroup on the outside.
Blackheart, Yim, Kai, and Nox all hit dives to the outside. LeRae and Blackheart get back in the ring and Shotzi hits a double knees on Candice from the top rope, then covers Candice for two. Shotzi locks in an underhook front chancery, but Kai breaks up the hold.
The referee tries to get Kai out of the ring, and Raquel Gonzalez uses the distraction to take Shotzi down with a lariat. Candice tags in Dakota Kai, and Kai pushes her boot into Shotzi’s face. Kai brings Shotzi into her team’s corner, and Raquel Gonzalez tags in.
Raquel kicks at Shotzi and then tags Kai back in. Kai looks for a Facewash on Blackheart, but Blackheart escapes. Candice LeRae tags in, and Shotzi tags in Mia Yim. Yim hits Candice with a series of kicks and a neckbreaker., following by a dragon suplex, bridging into a pinfall attempt for two.
Yim goes for Sole Food, but LeRae hits a suplex on Yim, taking both women down. Gonzalez and Nox get the hot tags, and Nox hits Raquel with strikes to the midsection, an uppercut, and attempts a crossbody, but Raquel catches her and hits a powerbomb, covering her two.
Yim comes in and tries to make a save, but Candice takes Yim out and they brawl to the back. Raquel tags in Kai, and Kai accidentally hits Raquel with a kick, and Shotzi and Blackheart send Raquel to the outside. Nox hits the Shiniest Wizard on Kai, pinning her for two.
Winners: Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart, and Mia Yim
William Regal narrates a commercial for Good Humor WWE Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Rhea Ripley is shown getting ready for her match backstage.
We get a video package explaining the build-up for Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest.
Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
Before the bell rings, Balor hits a running dropkick on Priest. Priest escapes the ring and the bell rings, but Balor does not let up when Priest enters the ring, laying into him with a chops and tackles. Priest escapes the ring again, and Balor gives chase.
Priest whips Balor into the steel steps shoulder first, then Priest hits Finn with a snake eyes on the apron. Priest tosses aside the top part of the steel steps. Balor tried to hit a slingblade on Priest on the steps, but Priest catches him and hits a power slam on Balor onto the steps.
Balor and Priest get back in the ring, and Priest tosses Balor around the ring, then shoves him into the corner. Balor runs at Priest, but Priest catches him and hits him with a leaping flatliner. Priest hits a leaping back elbow on Balor, then kicks away at him in the corner. Priest covers Finn for two.
Priest locks in a chin and shoulder lock on Balor. Balor fights to his feet, but Priest grinds Balor back to the ground. Finn gets to his feet and hits a jawbreaker on Priest, but Priest rings Finn’s bell. Finn runs the ropes and hit takes down Balor, then sends him into the corner.
Finn hits a vertical suplex on Priest, then hits him with a dropkick, sending Priest out of the ring. Finn chases to the outside, then kicks away at Priest on the outside. Finn gets back in the ring and looks to hit a dive onto Priest, but Priest enters the ring and hits a lariat. Priest hits a Broken Arrow on Balor, then goes for The Reckoning, but Balor hits a double foot stomp on Priest, with both men collapsing.
Balor and Priest trade kicks and strikes. Balor takes Priest down with a Pele kick, covering Priest for two. Balor hits a few leaping forearm smashes on Priest. Balor rolls up Priest for two, then sends Priest out of the ring.
Priest leaps to the apron from the ground and kicks Balor, sending Balor to the outside. Priest hits Finn with a Razor’s Edge onto the apron. Priest tosses Finn into the ring and covers him for two.
Priest runs at Balor and hits a series of splashes on Balor in the corner, but Balor avoids the third and hits Priest with a slingblade. Balor runs at Priest, but Priest hits Balor with a roundhouse kick and goes for The Reckoning, but Balor reverses and hits Priest with a dropkick into the corner. Priest catches Finn on the top rope and hits a with a chokeslam from the top rope. Preist lays an arm across Finn, covering him for two.
Priest gets to his feet first and he stalks Finn. Finn and Balor are on the apron trading blows. Priest goes for another Razor’s Edge onto the steel steps. Balor hits a forearm smash on Priest, sending him crashing onto the steel steps back first. Priest gets back in the ring and Balor hits two Coup de Graces on Priest, covering him for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Balor stares down at Priest who sits in the corner and does his finger guns at Priest. Priest returns it with a bow and arrow pose at Balor.
Io Shirai is shown backstage getting ready for her title match. Then, we get a video package for the NXT North American Championship match (the same one from the pre show).
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship
Johnny Gargano uses the door on the stage for his entrance, then drops the keys in his trunks.
Lee tosses Johnny around the ring. Johnny tries to leap onto Lee, but Lee tosses him to the ground. Lee goes for a kick, but Gargano avoids it and goes for an enziguri. Lee goes to the outside and Gargano ties to hit a dive on Lee, but Lee catches him. Lee goes for a Spirit Bomb, but Gargano rakes at Lee’s eyes and he drops Gargano.
Gargano tries to kick Lee’s hand into the steel steps again, but Lee avoids and taeks down Lee. Gargano runs up to the door that he came in, but can’t open the door. Lee throws Gargano into the door and then hits him with a double hand chop to the chest.
Lee tosses Gargano into the ring, and Gargano jumps on Lee, nailing him with strikes to the head. Gargano goes after Lee’s injured hand, but Lee tosses him off. Lee punches Gargano in the face, but Lee seems to injure his hand just as much.
Gargano stands on Lee’s hand, then chops at Lee’s chest. Gargano mounts the corner and tries to go after Lee’s eyes. Gargano takes down Lee with kicks to the face. Gargano rubs his forearm into Lee’s face. Gargano again goes after Lee’s injured hand, using the steel section of the ring posts to cause further damage. Gargano pins Lee for one.
Gargano again goes after Lee’s eyes with his hands, pushing his thumb into the eye socket on Lee. Lee fights to a sitting position, then to his knees. Gargano holds on and is completely off of his feet, but Gargano grounds Lee with an elbow to the back.
Gargano hits a few stomps on Lee, then covers him for two. Gargano again stomps on Lee’s hand and fishhook’s Lee’s mouth. Gargano punches away at Lee and taunts the crowd. Gargano continues to strike away at Lee’s eyes with open palm strikes. Lee punches Gargano in the midsection, but Lee injures his own hand.
Lee grabs Gargano’s hand and picks him up. Lee strikes away at Gargano, and Gargano goes for a spear from the apron, but Lee avoids and hits a backbreaker on Gargano. Lee goes for a Spirit Bomb on Gargano, but Gargano escapes through the legs. Lee takes Gargano down again with a huge punch.
Both men are dazed, but Gargano locks in an armbar on Lee’s injured arm. Lee picks up Gargano, but Gargano uses Lee’s injured fingers to make Lee drop him. Lee hits a lariat on Gargano, covering him for two. Lee stands over Gargano and goes for a Spirit Bomb, but Gargano hits a series of heel strikes to Lee’s head and rolls him up for two.
Gargano hits a series of headbutts and kicks to Lee and try to maintain an upperhand. Gargano goes for a Gargano Escape but cannot get it in. Gargano hits a superkick, and Lee goes for a Big Bang Catastrophe. Gargano rolls up Lee for two. Lee hits a single-arm spinebuster on Gargano, but Gargano rolls out of the ring.
Lee tosses Gargano into the ring, but Gargano kicks at Lee’s injured hand, then hits a tope into a DDT on Keith Lee. Gargano tries to get Lee to his feet so that he can roll Lee back in teh ring, but Lee is too heavy. Gargano enters the ring and breaks the referee’s count. Gargano leaves the ring again, but Lee hunts him down and hits him with a pounce through the plexiglass in the crowd.
Lee drags a ragdolled Gargano back towards the ring. Lee picks up Gargano and carries him the rest of the way to ringside. Candice LeRae runs down to the ring and tries to stop Lee, but Mia Yim runs down and chases off Candice LeRae. Gargano uses the distraction to dig the keys from his trunks and dig them into Lee’s eyes. Gargano hits a slingshot DDT on Lee and covers him for two.
Gargano hits Lee with three DIY-style superkicks, but Lee kicks out after two after each one. Gargano stands on Lee’s hand, but Lee gets to his feet and hits a Spirit Bomb on Gargano. Lee gets back to his feet and stands over Gargano. Lee picks up Gargano and hits Big Bang Catastrophe, pinning Gargano for three.
Winner: Keith Lee
We see a repeat of the Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream video package from the pre show.
NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl for the NXT Championship
Dream gets in the ring and brings a baseball bat into the ring, but Cole says he won’t get into the ring until Dream drops the bat. Cole tries to hit Dream with championship, but Dream avoids and catches Cole with three rollups, each for two.
Cole takes down Dream with a big boot and then gets in his car to try and drive away. Dream grabs his bat and swings away at Cole’s car, smashing windows. Cole leaves his car and tries to take down Dream.
An Uber drives up and distracts them and Dream tosses Cole into the Uber, but the referee makes them drive away. Dream tosses Cole around the backlot. Dream takes down Cole with a shot to the face. Cole continues to run away, checking every door that he come across to find an escape.
Dream lost Cole as Cole seems to have found an open door. Dream finds an open door and starts to walk trough it, but Adam Cole blows a fire extinguisher into Dream’s face. Cole uses the distraction to get the advantage on Dream and strike away at Dream. Cole brings Dream to ringside and hits a pump kick on Dream.
Cole taunts Dream and punches away at him, leaving him sitting against a car. Cole taunts , but Dream uses some of his shirt to choke out Cole momentarily. Dream tosses Cole into the ringpost. Dream gets on the apron and hits a double ax handle on Cole to the outside.
Dream rolls Cole into the ring and tries to pin him, but Cole escapes and runs around the ring, calling for a time out. Dream goes for a Purple Rainmaker on Cole, but Cole catches him with a superkick. Cole goes for a Panama Sunrise from the apron, but Dream catches Cole with a superkick.
Dream hits a spinebuster on Cole onto a car. Dream finds a ladder and brings it over to Cole, who lays prone on the car still. Dream climbs the ladder, but before he can dive, the rest of Undisputed Era drive up and blow a horn, distracting Dream. Cole climbs the ladder, but Dream pushes him off onto the car. Cole crashes into the windshield.
Fish and Strong beat down Dream then go and check on Cole. Cole says, “You know what to do. Fish and Strong grab chairs and toss them into the ring, but Dexter Lumis emerges from under the ring and dispatches Strong and Fish using a steel chair. Lumis tosses Strong and Fish into a trunk and drives the car off.
Dream is in the ring along with the chairs that Fish and Strong threw in there. Cole picks himself up off of the car and claws his way to the ring. Cole goes to the top rope and goes for a Panama Sunrise, but Dream catches him and hits a Dream Valley Driver on Cole onto the chairs, pinning him for two.
Dream goes to the top rope and Cole sits down in a chair. Dream hits Cole with a Purple Rainmaker onto the sitting Cole, pinning him for two. Dream gets to his feet and taunts Cole, but Cole hits Dream with a low blow. Cole hits a Panama Sunrise onto Dream onto the steel chairs, pinning him for three.
Winner: Adam Cole
We see a video package for Karrion Kross vs. Tommaso Ciampa.
Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Ciampa and Kross stare at each other across the ring. Ciampa hits Kross with forearm smashes, but Kross is not phased. Kross tosses Ciampa into the corner then nails him with a kick and a suplex.
Ciampa rolls out of the ring and Cross gives chase. Ciampa tosses Kross’s face into the steel steps. Ciampa looks for Widow’s Bell when Kross gets back in the ring, but Kross blocks. Ciampa takes down Ciampa with a kick to the face, but Kross gets back to his feet. Cross picks up Ciampa by his neck and hits him with a powerbomb onto the ring apron on the outside.
Back in the ring, Kross hits Ciampa with an overhead suplex. Kross picks up Ciampa and hits another suplex, tossing him across the ring. Kross nails Ciampa with knees to the face in the corner. Kross puts his hands behind his back and taunts Ciampa to hit him. Ciampa went to hit him, but Kross ducks and hits a northern lights suplex, following by a lariat.
Ciampa chops away at Kross, and Kross grabs Ciampa’s neck. Ciampa breaks the hold and goes back to his strikes and step-up enziguri. Ciampa follows it up with a running knee to the face and a Widow’s Bell, covering Kross for two.
Ciampa hits Kross with another pair of running knees to the face. Ciampa goes for a Fairytale Ending, but Kross escapes and locks in a Kross Jacket on Ciampa. Ciampa passes out, and the referee rings the bell.
Winner: Karrion Kross
Renee Young tells us that she will interview Triple H on Facebook Live immediately after NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
We get a video package for the NXT Women’s Championship Triple Threat match.
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship
Charlotte exits the ring and let’s Rhea Ripley and Io fight it out. Charlotte fights off Ripley and takes down Io. Charlotte hit Ripley with a spinebuster and a fallaway slam on Io. Charlotte chops away at Ripley and Io. Rhea and Io strike away at Charlotte, then whip her over the top rope.
Ripley gives chase, but Charlotte tosses her into the plexiglass barricade. Io hits a hurricanrana from the apron on Charlotte, but Charlotte tosses Io into the ringpost, then tosses her into Ripley on the outside.
Charlotte stalks both women, then tosses Io back into the ring. Charlotte kicks away at Io’s face. Io fights back, but Charlotte takes her back down. Charlotte whips Io into the ring, but Io goes for a dropkick on Charlotte. Charlotte avoids and gets a Boston Crab on Io. Io fights out by kicking away at Charlotte, and Ripley takes her down with a knees to the face and a big boot.
Ripley hits a basement dropkick on Charlotte, and Io runs at Ripley and catches her with a kick to the face. Io hits Charlotte with the Tiger Feint Kick, then a dropkick to Charlotte’s head, pinning her for two.
Ripley runs in the ring and tries to roll up Io. Io rolls through and hits Ripley with a back elbow as Charlotte rolls out of the ring. Ripley and Io grabs each other’s hairs and Charlotte runs in a hits both women with a spear at the same time. Charlotte covers Io for two, then Ripley, but also gets a two count.
Charlotte drags Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai closer to one corner. Charlotte climbs the top rope, looking for her moonsault. Io rolled out of the way and Ripley got her knees up. Io rolls up Shirai, but Ripley rolls up Io. Ripley goes for a Riptide, but Io reverses into a cross body. Io locks a crossface in on Charlotte, but Ripley breaks it up with a kick. Charlotte hits Ripley with a big boot for two.
Io rolls out of the ring and Charlotte goes for Natural Selection, but Ripley blocks. Io hits Shirai with a springboard dropkick and hits double knees on Ripley. Charlotte catches Io and hits her with Natural Selection, covering her for a very close two count.
Ripley has rolled out of the ring, and Charlotte and Io are alone. Io goes for a crucifix pin, but Charlotte kicks out at two. Charlotte goes for Figure Eight on Io, but Rhea grabs Charlotte and drags her out of the ring. Charlotte and Ripley brawl on the outside, and Io hits a plancha on Rhea Ripley.
Charlotte runs by and hits Io in the back of the head. Charlotte picks up Io and tosses her through the window on the In Your House set. Rhea Ripley tosses a plant at Charlotte and then mounts her with a ground and pound. Ripley gets to her feet and Charlotte slams her head into the plexiglass barrier.
Io climbs to the top of the front door set as Ripley and Charlotte brawl. Io dives onto Ripley and Charlotte from the top of the house set and all three women are down on the ground.
Io picks up Charlotte and rolls her back into the ring. Io gets to the top rope and goes for a moonsault, but Ripley interrupts her moonsault attempt. Charlotte went to hit a spear on Ripley, but Ripley dodges and Charlotte runs into the ringpost, then rolls out of the ring.
Ripley climbs to the middle rope and goes for a superplex on Io, but Io slides out and then climbs to the top rope. Io goes for a hurricanrana on Rhea, but Rhea blocks it and Charlotte hits Io with a kick to the face. Io rolls out of the ring and Charlotte climbs to the middle rope. Ripley hits Charlotte with a Riptide form the top rope and covers her, but Io breaks up the pin.
Io and Ripley trade strikes and Io goes for a roll up, but Ripley locks in a Prisim Trap submission. Charlotte grabs a kendo stick and brings it into the ring and swings away at Ripley and Shirai. Shirai rolls out of the ring and Charlotte hits Ripley with a spear, then a Figure Eight. Io hits Rhea with a moonsault from the top rope onto Ripley, breaking up the submission and pinning Ripley for the three count victory.
Winner: Io Shirai
Io is covered in streamers and confetti as she celebrates her victory in the ring.