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There weren't any title changes at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, but there were still many newsworthy moments. Winners were crowned for both Dusty Classic Tournaments, and each duo has a future tag title shot in their pockets. Johnny Gargano lost Austin Theory but retained his NXT North American Championship.
Io Shirai retained her NXT Women's Championship in a triple threat contest. The announce table broke as Toni Storm was clearing it of debris. Perhaps it had enough of people being driven through it. Cameron Grimes aired a music video to remind the NXT Universe that he is very rich now. Does that mean he'll still be a heel or a fun-loving face going forward?
Finn Balor and Pete Dunne tried to rip each other's limbs off numerous times. In the end, however, Balor kept his fingers and his NXT Championship. After he won, the NXT Tag Team Champs, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, came out to attack the Prince. The Undisputed Era made the save, and Kyle O'Reilly claimed that the Champ could trust them.
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As the four posed in the middle of the ring, Adam Cole delivered not one but two Superkicks to people who were supposed to trust him.
What else did we learn from NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day? Here are five lessons from the event.
#5 Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai made history at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day
Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai won the first-ever Women's Dusty Classic Tag Team Tournament at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. By winning the tournament, the duo earned a future title shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
The tandem has already unsuccessfully challenged for the WWE Women's Tag Team belts. Even though they might not have won in their first attempt, it's clear that management has plans for Gonzalez. She's picked up big moments over the last few months, including pinning Io Shirai at WarGames and defeating Rhea Ripley in a Last Woman Standing match.
Winning the first-ever Dusty Classic at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day is just another step on her path towards becoming an even bigger player in NXT. It's just not known exactly when Kai and Gonzalez will tussle with Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. The Champs might be headed for a match with Naomi and Lana but should be able to get through the new team.
With WrestleMania season in full swing, it's quite possible that Kai and Gonzalez will get a shot at or before The Show of Shows. Winning the first-ever Women's Dusty Classic is a big deal, so it could be very likely that Kai and Gonzalez will win the titles sooner rather than later. NXT is filled with a lot of talented women and could feature those titles better than they have been featured lately on RAW. NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day was the start by crowning future challengers.
#4 MSK may be new but showed at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day that they are ready by winning the Dusty Cup
Fans of pro wrestling know exactly who MSK are. The duo wrestling at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day in the finals of the 2021 Dusty Classic isn't a surprise to their fans. Those who have watched IMPACT Wrestling and independent promotions throughout the United States know how skilled and exciting the duo is.
NXT officials must have had faith in the tandem to pick them to win this year's Dusty Classic. Past winners have been impressive, including Finn Balor/Samoa Joe, The Undisputed Era, The Authors of Pain, and Aleister Black/Ricochet.
The current NXT Tag Team Champions, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, did not compete at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, but they did make an appearance. Following the main event, the duo attacked Finn Balor.
Now that they know that MSK will be future challengers, will Lorcan and Burch launch a pre-emptive strike on the 2021 Dusty Classic winners? They may be new to NXT, but Nash Carter and Wes Lee will have eyes on the back of their heads going forward. It's just a matter of time regarding when the two teams will square off.
#3 The man formerly known as Eli Drake returns to WWE at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day
It might have happened on the NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day pre-show instead of the main card but a big addition to the roster was revealed nonetheless. The man known as Eli Drake in IMPACT and NWA is now going by a different name. During the broadcast, a brief clip was shown with Drake, now going by LA Knight, cutting a promo on the pre-show analysts and the NXT locker room.
Knight was previously in the WWE developmental system back in the 2000s before it became NXT. He departed to pursue opportunities elsewhere, including a run with IMPACT Wrestling, where he won the IMPACT World title. He also had a recent run in the revamped NWA promotion.
One thing that Knight brings to NXT in spades is the gift of gab. There are few performers who can spin a promo on the mic like the former Eli Drake. He's entertaining as a heel or a face, and whichever he portrays in NXT will only help energize the brand. NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day may have debuted him differently than other Takeovers would have, but it was an exciting and effective debut nonetheless.
#2 Finn Balor and Karrion Kross are headed for a collision after NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day
Karrion Kross confronted Edge last week on NXT and said it didn't matter who won at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day because he'd be holding the gold sooner rather than later. It was well known that once he came back from injury, Kross would be targeting whomever was holding the NXT Championship.
Finn Balor retained the NXT Championship - and his fingers - in a back-and-forth slugfest with Pete Dunne. He also endured a post-match attack not from Kross but Lorcan, Dunne, and Burch. He was also superkicked in the face by Adam Cole. Despite all of the tumult that marked NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day for Balor, he'll take it as long as he's holding the NXT title.
Even though Kross did not have a match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, he did send out his usual time-themed tweet following Balor's title win. How long will the Prince continue to hold his belt?
There isn't a TakeOver event before WrestleMania 37, so there is a strong possibility that Kross will get his match against Balor at The Grandest Stage of Them All. There have been rumblings of having the NXT Championship featured at the Show of Shows this year. The NXT Women's title was defended last year by Rhea Ripley, so it could be time for the men to be showcased on the biggest stage there is.
There are few match-ups in NXT bigger than Kross vs. Balor at the moment. Edge also hasn't made his decision yet, so that could also be factored in since he has a title shot in his back pocket.
#1 There is trouble in the Land of the Undisputed after NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day
Finn Balor may have retained his title at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, but he had to endure three different battles on the night. His match with Pete Dunne was brutal and hard-hitting, and he came out on top in that bout. Balor also survived a post-match beatdown from Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch.
The Undisputed Era made the save, but there was clearly dissension in the ranks of the most dominant faction in NXT history. Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong came to Balor's aid, but Cole kicked both Balor and O'Reilly in the face.
It shocked even Strong as he was left in the ring with his mouth wide open. The shock ending to NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day had the NXT Universe pondering if this was it for The Undisputed Era or if it was just frustration from Cole.
Cole does have some respect for Balor, but perhaps he has had enough of the mutual admiration between the Prince and O'Reilly. If Strong had taken part in a beatdown with Cole, then things would have been clearer. Instead, everyone is left pondering if the end is near for NXT's most dominant team.
