Best and Worst of WWE NXT before TakeOver 36 - Popular couple gets engaged, Spoiler for title change?

#2 Best: Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross end NXT with an epic brawl

SECURITY BE DAMNED. #WWENXT @SamoaJoe @WWEKarrionKross pic.twitter.com/TKFELbmw0K

— WWE (@WWE) August 18, 2021

The final NXT segment before TakeOver 36 did not disappoint one bit. Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross successfully turned a corner with their story. The stain of the NXT Champion's run on WWE RAW has been wiped out, thanks to a vicious brawl between him and the Samoan Submission Machine.

Joe and Kross began fighting despite security getting in the way. The former US Champion even busted out a suicide dive, as both Superstars took each other out all around the Capitol Wrestling Center. This was a great preview to their hostile affair on Sunday, which should see Samoa Joe become NXT Champion.

Luckily, there aren't any more episodes of RAW to ruin Karrion Kross' momentum before TakeOver 36.

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#2 Worst: Is the end here for WALTER's record-breaking reign?

pic.twitter.com/alatlODbSU

— WALTER (@WalterAUT) August 18, 2021

NXT's build to the big match between WALTER and Ilja Dragunov has been counterproductive in multiple ways. First off, the challenger lost to Pete Dunne last week. Dragunov did defeat Roderick Strong in a hard-hitting contest tonight, but his night was not over.

As WALTER tried to help Imperium in their NXT Tag Team Championship match against MSK, Ilja Dragunov rushed to attack him. This ended badly for the Russian, who was flattened by WALTER. The way Dragunov has been booked recently may suggest a title change is on the way.

If that is the case, it would be a shame for such a monumental moment to happen in a limited place like the Capitol Wrestling Center. NXT should hold off on ending WALTER's reign until a full crowd is there to witness it.