By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV Live Review
Taped August 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario at Scotiabank Arena
Streamed August 14, 2019 on WWE Network
Highlights from NXT Takeover Toronto aired…
The NXT theme provided by Slipknot aired…
Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, and Beth Phoenix were on commentary. Tyler Breeze and Fandango made their Breezango entrance…
John’s Thoughts: I hope this is temporary. Johnny Curtis would be so much better. Or even just a new act in general because this Fashion Police thing is played out…
1. “Breezango” Tyler Breeze and Fandango vs. “The Forgotten Sons” Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake (w/Jaxson Ryker). Fandango gave Cutler a lariat to send him outside. Breeze tagged in and tossed around both Forgotten Sons on the outside. The referee was distracted trying to keep Dango in the ring which allowed Ryker to get a cheap shot in. Blake gave Breeze a backbreaker and knee for a series of two count pin attempts. Cutler tagged in, backbreakered, and nearfalled Breeze. The sons worked methodical isolation offense on Breeze. Mauro pointed out Cutler’s Marine background.
John’s Thoughts: I keep harping about how forgettable the Sons are, but why not lean on their military background and turn them babyface? They need to try something different.
Ryker tripped Dango off the apron. The referee caught this and ejected Ryker. Dango got the hot tag and cleaned house with the other two sons. Dango ran off one son and DDT’d the other. The sons recovered, took down Dango and then got a nearfall on the Dango. The Dango sent both sons outside and hit them with a Tope Con Hilo. Breezeango hit one son, I think it was Blake, with a catapult elbow drop combo for the victory.
Breezango defeated the Forgotten Sons via pinfall in 5:24.
Mauro said that Breezango might have entered into title contention…
Highlights from the Takeover North American Championship triple threat match aired…
John’s Thoughts: A decent TV match. Nothing special. Good to see Fandango back in action though after being gone for so long on WWE television. Not sure where they go with the Sons from here because the tag team part of the Sons have been booked to look so weak. As I said, Babyface run
Cathy Kelley interviewed Pete Dunne about his title match loss. Dunne pointed out that he would have won if Dream didn’t hold the referee’s hand. Dunne said Dream just did what he had to do and that Dunne will just have to do whatever it takes to take the title from Dream…
Jordan Myles was shown getting ready for his match backstage. NXT then cut to a Breakout Tournament highlight package…
Nigel McGuinness hyped a video package titled “Io Shirai’s descent into darkness”… [c]
Corey Taylor thanked NXT for allowing Slipknot to provide the NXT TV and NXT Takeover themes. Nigel returned the thanks on behalf of NXT…
A Street Profits vs. Undisputed Era highlight package aired…
Cathy Kelley tried to interview Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish. They yelled at her and asked for William Regal. Fish started ranting about how he and O’Reilly were supposed to lead off Adam Cole’s prophesy of UE being draped in gold. O’Reilly talked about how the Profits pinned the illegal man. After the interview, they cut to slow motion video of the sneaky tag that O’Reilly was referencing. Nigel said this might be enough evidence for Regal to grant UE a reamatch…
A music video aired of Poppy’s song Scary Mask aired and it was built around the Io Shirai heel turn…
John’s Thoughts: As I said, I liked Io Shirai before NXT, but to me she wasn’t the “greatest women’s wrestler” that everybody was talking about. She wasn’t even my favorite of the “Stardom Big Three” (Io Shirai, Kairi Sane, and Mayu Iwatani). Sane was the one I thought was the one with the biggest box office potential. This heel turn has turned me on Shirai and I’m all in on Shirai being the next big thing in WWE. It looks like WWE has some confidence in Shirai too because they’re giving her the big push, the video packages, and the mainstream music video.
Nigel hyped Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano highlights for later in the show…
Cathy Kelley caught up with Shayna Baszler after her match. Kelley wanted to know if Mia Yim was Baszler’s biggest challenge. Baszler just responded with “and still…”…
Highlights from Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano Best of 3 Falls aired… [c]
Highlights from the Matt Riddle and Killian Dain brawl at Takeover aired…
Nigel hyped Matt Riddle vs. Killian Dain for next week’s NXT…
Jordan Myles made his entrance with a vest and Naruto headband around his next…
2. Jordan Myles vs. Cameron Grimes in the finals of the NXT Breakout Tournament. Grimes pointed out the former Trevor Lee’s “Technical Savage” nickname. Grimes dominated early on with methodical chain wrestling. Myles eluded Grimes with his quickness and he dropkicked the knee of Grimes. Myles worked on Grimes with round house kicks. Grimes came back on the outside with a Superman Punch. Mauro noted that Grimes was trained by Matt and Jeff Hardy. Grimes clawed at the face of Myles.
Myles got a moment of respite by grounding Grimes with a Dragon Screw. Myles showed off a few flips and caught Grimes with a basement dropkick. Myles hit Grimes with a PK from the apron (that’s usually a Grimes move). Myles hit Grimes with a High Fly Flow for a nearfall. Grimes came back with a release front suplex for a two count. After a bit of an exchange, Grimes wowed the quiet crowd with his signature flip power slam for a nearfall. An obligatory “this is awesome” chant aired. Grimes caught Myles iwth a roundhouse kick. Myles blocked a whip by putting his foot on the buckle. Myles hit Grimes with a 450 for the victory.
Jordan Myles defeated Cameron Grimes via pinfall in 9:33 to win the NXT Breakout Tournament.
Mauro noted that Myles got the biggest win of his career. Myles wins a title shot of his choice. William Regal walked out and handed Myles a contract book. The WWE signature aired to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A decent match, but I held like they were holding back a bit. They definitely could have done more with maybe five minutes of more time to tell a story. I say this because I’ve seen much better from both men over the years, even in situations where Grimes was put in position to look like a goof in Impact. I would have hoped, and would have predicted a Grimes win, but there is no problem with Myles winning because he’s talented too. To be honest, I would have had Garza Jr. win the whole tournament if Grimes didn’t win because I feel like he could use the launching pad. Anyway, this was a harmless show. Not must see, but fairly enjoyable too. One of those easy-to-watch “fallout” episodes.
Io’s video was excellent everything about her heel turn has been on point. I feel Kairi as an underdog babyface has huge potential if they would just get behind her, She makes being a white meat babyface look easy in an era where it’s tough to do so i’ll always lean towards her. If NXT is going up against AEW in the fall then bringing Kairi back to feud with Io is an absolute must as that would outshine the joshi wrestlers AEW are bringing in they are both on another level.