NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day results: Cole shocks Bálor, O’Reilly and the NXT Universe with stunning betrayal

Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai made history at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, knocking off Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon to win the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. 

Gonzalez repeatedly overwhelmed Blackheart & Moon with her unparalleled power, proving to be the x-factor. Blackheart & Moon turned the tables early when Blackheart dodged Kai’s facewash kick in the corner, and they traded holds targeting Kai’s legs, leaving her in desperate straits. 

Raquel Gonzalez puts her strength on display in the historic Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

That was until “Big Mami Cool” once again found her way between the ropes, dominating both foes and brutally rag-dolling Blackheart into the ringside plexiglass.

Despite being caught in a 2-on-1 situation, Moon rallied to land the Eclipse on Gonzalez before Kai prevented the referee’s count. 

Again and again, Moon & Blackheart hit Gonzalez with their best, but Gonzalez simply refused to stay down. 

Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez make history as the first-ever winners of the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

The imposing powerhouse neutralized Moon by sending her crashing off the stage, then launched Kai onto Blackheart for a big splash before dropping Blackheart with her thunderous one-armed powerbomb.

Capping a dominant tournament run, Gonzalez & Kai ensured their names would be the first etched on the Women’s Dusty Cup. 

Johnny Gargano proved once again why “Johnny TakeOver” may be the most apt nickname in wrestling, emerging victorious in a back-and-forth mat classic against Kushida to retain his NXT North American Championship.

Kushida was more than game to step to Gargano, though, and two of the black-and-gold brand’s most technically proficient Superstars treated the NXT Universe to an epic battle full of masterful counters and reversals.  

NXT’s resident Time Splitter avoided Gargano’s trusty slingshot attack, instead planting him with a roll-through DDT into a bridging suplex for a near-fall. 

Gargano appeared to be all but out, but he miraculously countered a potential superplex with a twisting suplex off the second rope, then followed with a big-time second rope-assisted tornado DDT. 

Kushida tries to end Johnny Gargano’s reign as NXT North American Champion with a vicious strike.. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Continuing to prove he did his homework on his opponent, Gargano caught Kushida’s springboard elbow, pulling him down into the Gargano Escape with Kushida writhing in pain.

The challenger had Gargano equally well-scouted, pulling off his own reversal into the Hoverboard Lock before using an inverted matchbook cover for a near-fall. 

Kushida later hit a spectacular top-rope Spanish fly, transitioning immediately into a cross armbreaker. Gargano found a way out of the ring, but Kushida refused to break the hold — until Gargano rammed him into the barricade. 

At this point, Kushida was out of answers for Johnny Wrestling, who spiked him with the One Final Beat DDT on the entrance ramp before dropping him with it once more inside the ring to preserve his gold.

A month ago, MSK were strangers to the NXT Universe. Now, they’re winners of the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Nash Carter & Wes Lee put a bow on one of the most amazing first months in NXT history, knocking off Grizzled Young Veterans to earn a future NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity.

GYV initially seemed stymied by MSK’s style, not having run into such explosive offense to this point in the tournament. But MSK’s high-octane attack also got them into early trouble. 

Wes Lee & Nash Carter team up for an aerial assault on Zack Gibson & James Drake in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Lee helped launch Carter to the outside to take down Drake, but Gibson was unscathed, and she nearly beheaded Carter with a huge clothesline. They continued to take the wind out of Carter’s sails with quick tags and double-team offense, highlighted by a top-rope dropkick by Drake into a flatliner from Gibson.  

Carter dodged Drake’s spinning heel kick to find his way to the corner and tag in Lee, who battered GYV with an electric series of strikes, then uncorked a jaw-dropping Swanton over the corner post to the outside, taking down both opponents. 

Gibson finally slowed the onslaught with a running knee to Lee. The writing seemed to be on the wall for an MSK loss with Gibson dropping Lee via Helter Skelter and Drake following with a 450 splash, but Lee somehow kicked out. 

MSK celebrate an incredible victory over The Grizzled Young Veterans to earn the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Lee dodged GYV’s first attempt at a Doomsday Device, then suffered an even worse fate as Drake used a tope suicida to blast Lee off Gibson’s shoulders on the outside. 

Carter somehow fought off both men long enough for Lee to recover and remerge, and MSK tattooed their foes with superkicks in stereo before hitting their double-team blockbuster on Drake for the win. 

After facing down perhaps her most daunting challenge yet, Io Shirai still stands alone atop the mountain in the NXT Women’s division. The Genius of the Sky overcame Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm in an exhilarating Triple threat Match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

But Shirai was on the defensive from the get-go, as Martinez bludgeoned her during the ring announcement, leaving Martinez to square off with Storm until the champion burst back in with a meteora.

Again, Martinez got the better of Shirai, who crashed and burned on a moonsault attempt to the outside before Martinez dumped her over the barricade.  

The frenetic pace didn’t slow from there as action spilled back in — and again out — of the ring. Shirai hit a 619 and springboard missile dropkick on Martinez to finally slow her down.

The NXT Women’s Champion looks to rise above Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a Triple Threat Match. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Storm took control, dropping Martinez on the unforgiving outside safety mats, though the announce table collapsed before she could put Martinez through it. Martinez took advantage, spiking her with a DDT.

Meanwhile, Shirai scaled the ringside scaffolding and took out both competitors, but again, it wouldn’t slow Martinez for long, as she threw Shrai into the steps.  

Storm was on the verge of victory when the brawl returned to the ring, getting a near-fall after delivering Storm Zero to Martinez. Taking an even bigger risk, Storm connected with a brutal top-rope headbutt.

However, Shirai came out of nowhere to hit a moonsault on both women to not only break up Storm’s ensuing cover, but also allowed her to get the three-count on Martinez. And just like that, The Genius of the Sky had overcome the odds once again.

Finn Bálor continues to pile up the wins on the black-and-gold brand’s brightest stage, and NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day was no different as he overcame Pete Dunne to retain the NXT Championship in an instant Match of the Year candidate. 

The intensity was palpable from the get-go in this highly anticipated dream matchup following a smoldering staredown. Dunne immediately turned to his patented joint manipulation, first honing in on Bálor’s left hand and fingers to put Bálor on his heels, an unfamiliar position for The Prince at TakeOver.  

The champion turned things around by digging into his bag of holds, targeting Dunne’s left leg until The BruiserWeight transitioned into a guillotine and dropped Bálor with an X-Plex out of nowhere.

Bálor answered by continuing to zero in on Dunne’s left knee, and he tested The BruiserWeight’s resolve with an STF, but the maneuver also left his left fingers exposed. Once again, Bálor felt Dunne’s wrath as his fingers were snapped.  

The Prince and The Bruiserweight go toe-to-toe in a punishing NXT Championship Match. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Bálor bounced back to hit a string of signature maneuvers, including the slingblade and corner dropkick. But Dunne caught Bálor’s Coup de Grace attempt, countering with a triangle choke to seemingly put the champion unconscious.

The Prince insisted he could continue and ate a massive stomp to the head from Dunne for it. Bálor fought off Dunne’s Bitter End attempt and progressed into an abdominal stretch. Once again, though, it ended with Bálor’s fingers being splayed, this time on his right hand. 

Dunne finally found paydirt with the Bitter End, but Bálor kicked out at two and found a lifeline, countering The BruiserWeight’s powerbomb attempt into a DDT. 

The Superstars exchanged a series of big-time strikes, with Dunne stomping Bálor’s already severely injured fingers. Bálor battled through the agony to answer with a stomp to the back, then extracted Dunne’s mouthguard before drilling him in the jaw with a dropkick. 

With the challenger on dream street, Bálor finally connected with the Coup de Grace. But instinctively knowing it wouldn’t be enough to keep Dunne down, The Prince followed with the 1916 to ensure a grueling victory, his 15th at TakeOver.

Is this the end of the most dominant faction in NXT history?

The Undisputed ERA seemingly imploded at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, with Adam Cole shocking the NXT Universe by betraying longtime friend Kyle O’Reilly.

Cole, O’Reilly and Roderick Strong arrived as reinforcements for NXT Champion Finn Bálor, who was ambushed by Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch after retaining his title against Pete Dunne.

The tenuous alliance formed between The UE and Bálor in recent months initially appeared stronger than ever — and then Cole blasted Bálor with a superkick, bewildering his UE allies.

Cole still had one more shocker up his sleeve, though. Moments later, the former NXT Champion uncorked another superkick, this time to O’Reilly, stunning the Capitol Wrestling Center.

Cole’s treachery elicited reactions from around the NXT Universe.

Nothing wrong with a little 💔💔#NXTTakeOver was incredible!!!! https://t.co/ghYOKWNsP1

— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) February 15, 2021

NOOOO! NOOOO! What is happening?? WHAT IS HAPPENING??? #NXTTAKEOVER

— Josiah Williams is Black. (@JDeanWilliams) February 15, 2021

Meanwhile, one former rival wasn’t entirely blown away.

Who would’ve thought??@AdamColePro’s a certified scumbag??

Color me surprised 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/S4b4NHxVtZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 15, 2021

Pretty easy answer here right? He’s a scumbag. That’s why. I’ve been saying it ALL ALONG.

You stooges wouldn’t listen. Say it with me you dum dums..

🗣🗣 #PatWasRight 👏🏻👏🏻-👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

🗣🗣 #PatWasRight 👏🏻👏🏻-👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 15, 2021

What possessed Cole to do this, and how will O’Reilly and Bálor respond?