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NXT TakeOver 36 kicked off with the Million Dollar Championship match between LA Knight and Cameron Grimes. The kickoff show saw Ridge Holland defeat Trey Baxter before Holland called out Thatcher ahead of their match next week's NXT.
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LA Knight (c) vs. Cameron Grimes - Million Dollar Championship match at NXT TakeOver 36
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Grimes had the upper hand early on and hit a backdrop before Knight was sent outside. Grimes set Knight up on the steel steps before Ted Dibiase helped him land a big kick to the Million Dollar Champion.
Grimes was headed for the top rope, but Knight dropped him, and he fell to the outside. Knight was dominating at this point, but Grimes blocked a neck breaker but was caught in a headlock in the ring.
Knight hit a springboard moonsault, but Grimes dodged it. Cameron got a near fall before Knight hit a bulldog and got a near fall of his own. Grimes hit a superkick before the Million Dollar Champion almost tossed him out. However, Grimes came back for a crossbody.
Grimes took a moonsault for a near fall before locking in The Million Dollar Dream and almost making Knight tap. Knight fled the ring and got his title belt, but the ref told him to keep it aside.
Knight took a big kick while he was still talking to the ref. While the official was looking at Grimes, DiBiase hit Knight with some big moves on the outside, including the Million Dollar Dream. Grimes hit the Cave In after Knight was back in the ring for the win at TakeOver 36.
Result: Cameron Grimes def. LA Knight to become the new Million Dollar Champion
Grade: B
Raquel Gonzalez (c) vs. Dakota Kai - NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver 36
Gonzalez caught a slap from Kai and started unloading on her as the match started at TakeOver 36 before Kai managed to send her into the turnbuckles. Kai went for an armbar, but Gonzalez powered through and tossed her away.
Raquel Gonzalez (c) vs. Dakota Kai - NXT Women's Championship at TakeOver 36 (contd...)
Kai was stalling outside the ring before Gonzalez resumed her onslaught at NXT TakeOver 36. Kai was on the ropes, and Gonzalez caught her off the dive and dropped her on the turnbuckles.
Kai dropped Gonzalez outside before hitting some kicks on the ropes and got a few near falls. Gonzalez came back in and hit a sidewalk slam for a near fall before Kai countered the chingona bomb and locked in an armbar.
Raquel dodged the Scorpion Kick before she dropped Kai on the ropes and to the outside. Raquel no-sold a few superkicks before Kai got the Kai-ropractor for yet another near fall.
Kai blocked a chokeslam before hitting Gonzalez with a double stomp from the top rope. Gonzalez got the chingona bomb from the top rope and got the win after the brutal match at TakeOver 36!
Result: Raquel Gonzalez def. Dakota Kai to retain the NXT Women's Championship
After the match, Gonzalez was celebrating when Kay Lee Ray's music hit, and she came out to stare the champ down.
Grade: A
WALTER (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov - NXT UK Championship match at NXT TakeOver 36
WALTER got the first takedown before they traded chops, and the Ring General looked like he was losing his cool early on in the match at NXT TakeOver 36. Dragunov took WALTER down a few times, but the champ came back with his own offense before Ilja could take advantage.
WALTER was caught in a headlock before he caught Dragunov and set him on the ropes, dumping him outside with a chop before hitting a powerbomb on the apron. WALTER got a Boston Crab locked in and it was back to a one-sided onslaught before Dragunov managed to lift and drop the NXT UK champ.
Dragunov took an earth-shattering big boot but came back twice as strong and took down WALTER with knee strikes and shots to the neck. WALTER retaliated with some big lariats before he was hit with a German Suplex.
Dragunov took a German Suplex before hitting the Torpedo Moscow and nearly got the win. WALTER got two powerbombs and a splash, but Dragunov was still able to kick out at TakeOver 36!
WALTER (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov - NXT UK Championship match at NXT TakeOver 36 (contd...)
Dragunov came back once more and locked in a sleeper hold, but WALTER lifted him and got to the ropes for a backdrop at NXT TakeOver 36. Ilja locked it back in, even after WALTER got another backdrop.
Dragunov unloaded on the champ like a madman and locked the sleeper back in before making WALTER tap out to end the Ring General's incredible run.
Result: Ilja Dragunov def. WALTER to become the new NXT UK Champion
Grade: A
An unnatural show of skill from both men. There were no flashy moves, no showboating. Just flawless, hard-hitting action.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole - 2 out of 3 falls match at NXT TakeOver 36
Kyle O'Reilly was unloading on Cole as the match began, and Cole hit a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Cole landed a Superkick, but O'Reilly hit a spinning clothesline for a near fall. Cole went for the Panama Sunrise, but Kyle countered it into a pin for the first fall.
O'Reilly got the first pin, and the match turned into a streetfight for the next pinfall. Cole got a chair and set it up at ringside before O'Reilly sat him down on it, placed a trashcan on his head, and hit a dropkick from on top of the announce desk.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole - 2 Out of 3 Falls match at NXT TakeOver 36 (contd...)
Cole sent Kyle into the ring post and then the barricades outside before getting a Kendo Stick and hitting a backstabber using it at NXT TakeOver 36. Cole was sent into a steel chair before Kyle ran at him. The former NXT Champion sidestepped, sending O'Reilly straight into the steel chair set up in the corner.
Both men brought steel chains and hit each other before Kyle locked in the Guillotine and sent Cole into the equipment around the arena. Cole was set up with two chairs in the ring, but he recovered and dropped Kyle on top of the chairs. Cole hit the Last Shot and picked up the second fall.
Adam Cole got the second one, and the match turned into a steel cage match for the next pinfall. Adam sent Kyle outside while the cage was lowered and sent him into the announce desk before dragging him back to the ring.
In the steel cage, Cole tossed O'Reilly around the structure before Kyle reversed and slammed Cole into the cage wall a few times at TakeOver 36.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole - 2 Out of 3 Falls match at NXT TakeOver 36 (contd...)
Cole wiped out Kyle and tried to flee the cage, but O'Reilly went after him at TakeOver 36. Cole took him down and hit the Panama Sunrise before getting a near fall.
Cole handcuffed Kyle to the ropes before beating him up with superkicks. Kyle caught the last superkick and got a Heel Hook, making Cole tap out!
Result: Kyle O'Reilly def. Adam Cole
Grade: B+
Karrion Kross (c) vs. Samoa Joe - NXT Championship match at NXT TakeOver 36
Joe took Kross to the corner for a beatdown before hitting an overhead kick and an elbow drop. Kross tried to make a comeback but was caught in the Coquina Clutch.
Kross tossed him off with a Doomsday Saito Suplex and sent him outside before sending him into the railings and barricades.
Kross was in control and hit another Doomsday Saito and got an Ankle Lock. Joe rolled through and sent Kross outside before the Samoan Submission Machine demolished him with a dive.
Karrion Kross (c) vs. Samoa Joe - NXT Championship match at NXT TakeOver 36 (contd...)
Joe hit a massive powerslam in the ring at NXT TakeOver 36 and got a near fall before locking in a crossface. Kross found the ropes with his foot to break the hold before hitting a DDT for a nearfall of his own.
Joe hit a huge Belly-to-Belly suplex before going for an atomic drop and a big boot, following up with an elbow drop and a near fall. Joe had the Coquina Clutch locked in before Kross fell to the floor but reversed it.
Kross tried for the Kross Jacket, and Joe nearly passed out before breaking the hold. Kross was caught in a Uranage before Joe got the Muscle Buster for the win at TakeOver 36!
Result: Samoa Joe def. Karrion Kross to become the new NXT Champion!
Grade: A
PPV Grade: A
A great night for the black and gold brand, as we got three huge title changes and some of the most hard-hitting matches tonight on NXT TakeOver 36. Samoa Joe became the first Superstar ever to capture the NXT title thrice while Ilja Dragunov ended WALTER's historic title reign. Kay Lee Ray has her eyes set on the NXT Women's Championship and has put everyone on notice.
