WWE NXT results, Aug. 19, 2020: Reed stands tall after show-closing brawl

Johnny Gargano def. Ridge Holland to qualify for the North American Title Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: XXX

Johnny Wrestling squares off with the impressive Ridge Holland with a spot in the North American Title Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver XXX on the line. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

The Johnny Gargano Way may still lead to a second North American Championship reign. Gargano used his signature craftiness to overcome the much larger Ridge Holland, surviving a nasty head-first collision earlier in the match to defeat the hulking Englishman after hitting the One Final Beat DDT.

Dakota Kai def. Jessi Kamea

Raquel Gonzalez returns with a vengeance to give Dakota Kai the upper hand against the NXT Women’s Champion. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Io Shirai may be in her final days as NXT Women's Champion if tonight's events were any indication. Dakota Kai pinned Jessi Kamea in singles action after blasting her with the Go To Kick, then wasted no time calling out Shirai. The Genius of the Sky overwhelmed the No. 1 Contender initially until Raquel González emerged from the shadows to floor the champion with a massive boot to the face. The Captain of Team Kick and her enforcer stood tall, leaving Shirai in a heap days before their title match at NXT TakeOver: XXX. 

Legado del Fantasma def. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott & Breezango

With Santos Escobar and company no longer enjoying a numbers advantage, who will come out on top? Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and Breezango joined forces to finally even the odds in their fight against Legado del Fantasma, but it still wasn't enough to knock off Santos Escobar and company. "Swerve" finally got his hands on the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, overwhelming him with offense. But when it came time for a cover, the referee informed "Swerve" that he had inadvertently tagged Tyler Breeze. Legado del Fantasma took control, and Escobar planted Breeze with a Phantom Driver for the victory. 

Adam Cole and Pat McAfee shared a heated confrontation

The leader of The Undisputed ERA shares a heated confrontation with Pat McAfee days before they face off at NXT TakeOver XXX. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Flanked by former Super Bowl Champion A.J. Hawk and former Indianapolis Colts teammate Darius Butler, Pat McAfee met Adam Cole face-to-face in the ring days before their NXT TakeOver: XXX showdown. Unleashing a scorching diatribe, McAfee said he made the former NXT Champion look like an "amateur" when he nailed him with a devastating punt two weeks ago. After single-handedly dismantling the security keeping them separated, Cole didn't put his hands on McAfee, instead opting to wait for TakeOver. But he confidently promised he would "end" the former All-Pro punter on Saturday. 

Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart def. Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/Robert Stone

The new duo of The Nightmare and Shotzi Blackheart look to score a decisive blow against The Robert Stone Brand. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Rhea Ripley had been wanting to get her hands on Mercedes Martinez for costing her a chance to once again become NXT Women's Champion, and she got exactly what she wanted. Ripley laid out The Robert Stone Brand's newest signee with a vicious powerbomb over the barricade to the concrete, while Shotzi Blackheart connected with a top-rope senton on Aliyah inside the ring to pick up the win. 

The Velveteen Dream def. Finn Bálor to qualify for the North American Title Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: XXX

Finn Bálor battles Velveteen Dream while all hell breaks loose between the North American Title Ladder Match competitors. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

The field is set with Velveteen Dream earning the final spot in Saturday's North American Title Ladder Match, but His Purple Highness didn't get there without controversy. Cameron Grimes, another competitor in the Ladder Match, took it upon himself to grab a bird's eye seat on top of a ladder positioned at ringside. The rest of the field — Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed and Damian Priest — soon joined him, and all hell quickly broke loose.

The biggest difference-maker in the brawl, however, was Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher ambushed Bálor, leaving him easy pickings for Dream, who planted him with a Dream Valley Driver and Purple Rainmaker elbow drop to steal the win. The chaos continued from there, and Reed stood tall over his fellow competitors when the dust cleared.