NXT TakeOver 31 Results – Oct. 4, 2020 – Balor vs. O’Reilly

Oct 4, 2020

October 4, 2020
Orlando, Florida (Capitol Wrestling Center)
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

NXT North American Championship: Damian Priest (c) defeated Johnny Gargano via the Reckoning (18:39)
Kushida defeated Velveteen Dream via Hoverboard Lock (13:00)
NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar (c) defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott via double underhook facebuster (15:14)
NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) defeated Candice LeRae via Over the Moonsault (16:45)
NXT Championship: Finn Bálor (c) defeated Kyle O’Reilly via Coup de Grace (28:28)

A video kicks off the show highlighting the Capitol Wrestling Corporation that launched in 1953 by Jess McMahon with Vincent J. McMahon managing, the grandfather and father, respectively, of WWE Chairman and CEO Vincent K. McMahon.

We go live into the newly renovated WWE Performance Center, now known as the Capitol Wrestling Center. Vic Joseph welcomes us to the show. Wade Barrett and Beth Phoenix are also on commentary.

Welcome to the Capitol Wrestling Center. Let’s make magic tonight. #NXTTakeOver #WeAreNXT pic.twitter.com/a074gGdTgM

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 4, 2020

NXT North American Championship
Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano

The bell rings, and Gargano starts peppering Priest with some punches. Priest pushes him back, but Gargano ducks him and keeps jabbing him. Priest eventually hits him with a spin kick. Gargano gets out of a sidewalk slam and goes for a Gargano Escape, but Priest takes him out. Priest punches him down, gets him to his feet, sends him into the ropes, and hits a jumping back elbow for a two count. Priest applies a wristlock to Gargano and starts to climb the ropes. Priest slips to the apron, but jumps back to the top rope to try to save it. Gargano kicks the knee and goes for a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor, but Priest holds the ropes. Gargano then grabs the leg and flips him off the apron to the floor! Gargano quickly follows up with a suicide dive into the barricade and sends him headfirst into the steel steps.

Gargano gets into the ring for a few moments before going to get Priest. Priest punches back and puts him in the ring. Gargano attacks him as he gets on the apron and ties him up in the ropes. Gargano attacks before hitting the ropes and hitting him with a dropkick. Gargano then comes off the second rope with a flying elbow for a two count. Gargano applies a single leg crab, but Priest turns over and kicks him off. Gargano is knocked out of the ring. Gargano gets in and goes after him with kicks to the leg. Priest shoves him off, but Gargano stays on the leg. Priest eventually kicks him off. Priest attacks Gargano’s arms and kicks away at him before hitting a flatliner. Priest hits him with a pair of avalanche elbows in the corner. Priest backs up and does some theatrics before hitting a third one. Priest follows up with a Broken Arrow for a near fall.

Priest signals for the end and goes for a Razor’s Edge, but Gargano gets out and elbows him in the face. Gargano goes for a roll-up into a kick, but Priest blocks it. Priest punches Gargano and hits a wild full nelson facebuster. Priest goes for the Razor’s Edge, but Gargano counters into a roll-up for a near fall.

Gargano attacks the knee again, and Priest is writhing on the mat in pain. Gargano punches away at him before hitting the ropes, but Priest rocks him with a right hand. Gargano bounces back with a clothesline, but Priest doesn’t go down. They trade punches before Gargano hits an enzuigiri. Priest fights back and goes to the ropes. Priest holds on to avoid a kick and hits a springboard forearm. Gargano quickly counters by throwing him shoulder-first into the ring post and knocking him over the top rope. Gargano goes for a suicide dive, but Priest catches him with a South of Heaven attempt. Gargano gets on the apron to get out of it and charges, but Priest takes him out. Priest then hits him with a Razor’s Edge on the apron! Priest rolls him into the ring and picks up a near fall.

Both men get to their feet after a few moments. Priest goes for an avalanche elbow, but Gargano clips the leg to counter. Gargano hits the ropes, but Priest clotheslines him down. Priest gets pumped up, but Gargano starts attacking the arm and tries for a takedown. Priest rolls through, but Gargano kicks him in the head. Gargano gets out of a Reckoning and hits a flipping reverse DDT. Gargano attacks him with an elbow for a near fall. Gargano angrily gets up and mocks the bow and arrow taunt. Priest counters a superkick, but Gargano counters into a roll-up for a near fall! Gargano rolls to the apron and shoulders Priest. Priest grabs him by the throat, but Gargano kicks out. Gargano goes for a slam, but Priest counters into South of Heaven for a near fall!

Priest goes to the top rope, but Gargano rolls out of the ring. Priest gets down from the top rope and looks exasperated as the crowd boos. Priest charges for a somersault plancha, but Gargano moves and pulls two security guards into his way! Priest wipes them out! Doctors run down to tend to the guards. Gargano low blows Priest and gets him in the ring for a superkick. Gargano covers… but Priest kicks out! Gargano takes him down for a Gargano Escape. Priest claws to the bottom rope, so Gargano pulls him into the center of the ring. Gargano reapplies the Gargano Escape, but Priest desperately gets to the bottom rope to break the hold.

Gargano knees away at the injured shoulder of Priest. We see that the lower half of the steel steps is next to the ring apron. Gargano looks down and puts Priest near it. Gargano punches away at Priest, hoping to knock him off the apron and onto the steps. Priest fights back and goes for a suplex out of the ring onto the steps. Gargano counters out and hits a running forearm. Priest is on wobbly legs, but manages to knock Gargano back. Gargano superkicks him twice and goes for One Final Beat, but Priest counters into the Reckoning off the ropes for the win!

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT North American Champion: Damian Priest (18:39)

Velveteen Dream vs. Kushida

As Velveteen Dream is making his entrance, Kushida viciously attacks him from behind. Kushida kicks and punches away at him. Kushida has a whip reversed, but he viciously kicks Dream out of the ring. Dream is disoriented at ringside and grabs a chair. Kushida takes it and goes to swing, but the referee stops him.

Order is restored, and the referee starts the match despite Dream still being outside the ring. Dream has his hair dyed gray. Kushida quickly grabs the injured arm and stretches it. Dream gets to the ropes to get out. Dream chases Kushida around ringside until Kushida kicks him in the midsection. Kushida gets in the ring. Dream gets on the apron, but Kushida knocks him off the apron with a handspring kick. Kushida has him in the ring and hits a vicious arm breaker. Kushida kicks him back and hits an inverted atomic drop. Kushida takes him down by the arm and stretches away at him. Dream is screaming in pain. Kushida ties up both of Dream’s arms and hits a double arm breaker.

Dream soon fights back and knocks him out of the ring. Dream goes to the top rope and hits a flying axe handle to the head. Dream sends him into the cage/plexiglass around the ringside area. Dream is apparently dressed as Dr. Emmitt Brown from Back To The Future. Kushida is Marty McFly. Dream uppercuts him for a one count. Dream strikes him down in the corner and hits a Bronco Buster. Dream puts him in the corner, but Kushida punches out. Dream reverses a whip and counters a handspring attack into a sleeper hold. Dream has him down on the mat with the sleeper, but Kushida fights it. Kushida fights up and backs him to the corner before elbowing him in the face.

They trade punches before Kushida spears him down and wildly punches away at him. Kushida hits a hip toss followed by a low dropkick to the face. Kushida grabs both arms and goes for a stomp, but Dream gets away. Kushida quickly punches him down and pulls back on both arms. Kushida stomps him in between the shoulder blades a few times before turning him over and stomping away at the face. Kushida walks around the ring before Dream puts him on the apron. Kushida quickly grabs the arm and leaps off the apron to drive Dream hard into the ring post shoulder-first. Kushida grabs the arm again, and Dream starts shouting that he’s sorry. The apology falls on deaf ears as Kushida pulls him into the ring post again. Dream’s arm is behind the ring steps, so Kushida dropkicks the steps into the ring post to crush Dream’s arm! Kushida gets in the ring, but Dream hits a desperation superkick to buy time.

Dream goes to the top rope for a Purple Rainmaker, but Kushida counters into a Cross Arm Breaker! Dream immediately rolls to the bottom rope and slide out of the ring. Dream punches away at him and thumbs the eye behind the referee’s back. Dream punches him and hits a powerbomb in the ring for a near fall. Kushida immediately applies another Cross Arm Breaker, but Dream desperately punches out. Dream gets to his feet and hits a Dream Valley Driver. Dream goes to the top rope and hits a Purple Rainmaker… but he can’t follow up because his arm is too injured. Dream crawls over in pain and covers, but Kushida kicks out.

Kushida grabs Dream, but Dream absolutely annihilates him with a vicious clothesline. Dream goes to the top rope, but Kushida runs up to the second rope and punches away at him. Kushida goes to the top rope and slams him off the top rope into the Hoverboard Lock! Dream screams in pain, but he gets a foot on the bottom rope. Kushida rolls him to the center of the ring with the Hoverboard Lock, but Dream fights up. Dream gets him on his shoulders for a Dream Valley Driver, but Kushida keeps the Hoverboard Lock applied. Dream has no choice but to tap out!

Winner by Submission: Kushida (13:00)

After the match, Kushida continues to attack Dream. Kushida applies a Cross Arm Breaker and viciously stretches back at the arm. Referees run down to pull Kushida off. Dream is screaming in pain and tapping out. Kushida lets go and backs up, but he quickly returns and jumps on Dream with some punches. Kushida then applies another Hoverboard Lock. Dream screams in pain and continues to tap out. Dream is crying and begging for Kushida to stop. Kushida lets go and angrily storms to the back.

NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Santos Escobar makes his entrance wearing his luchador mask and a sombrero. Escobar removes the mask, hands it to Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza, and they go to the back.

The bell rings, and Escobar goes for some takedowns, but Scott counters him each time. Scott then stuns him with some offense. Escobar soon takes him down, but Scott gets up. They’re at a stalemate. Escobar quickly hits a jumping strike and charges, but Scott gives him a monkey flip over the top rope. Scott goes to the apron and hits a moonsault block. Scott punches him at ringside and goes to the top rope for a twisting plancha to the floor! Scott gets in the ring and hits Escobar with a Fosbury Flop. Scott gets him in the ring for a near fall.

Scott pulls Escobar outside the ring and bends his arm over the turnbuckle connector. Escobar screams in pain. Scott gets him in the ring and picks up a two count. Scott stretches the arm and splashes it to bend it back. Scott kicks him in the arm and applies an arm bar. Escobar gets out and soon kicks him off the apron. Escobar hits the ropes and connects with a stiff suicide dive into the barricade. Escobar holds his arm in pain and rolls Scott into the ring for a near fall. Escobar viciously kicks him in the chest and clotheslines him down. Escobar hits running double knees in the corner and puts him on the top rope. Escobar forearms him and hits a frankensteiner. Escobar drops an elbow for a two count. Escobar punches away at him and talks some trash. Escobar slaps him in the face and kicks him in the head. Escobar goes to spit in his face, but Scott covers Escobar’s mouth. Scott fights back and viciously punches him to the corner. Scott punches away at him in the corner, throws him into the ring, and hits a big clothesline.

The crowd is really pumped up. Scott uppercuts him and hits a snapmare. Scott hits a springboard uppercut to the back of the neck. Escobar quickly gets out of the ring to recover. Scott kicks him in the face twice to knock him down. Scott gets him in the ring and hits a rolling thunder flatliner for a near fall. Scott cannot believe it. Scott goes to the top rope, but Escobar cuts him off. Scott slides out and dropkicks him in the legs. Scott hits a NASTY DDT that spikes Escobar right on the head off the ropes for a near fall. That was a weak kick out by Escobar.

Scott grabs him, but Escobar holds the ropes. Wilde and Mendoza run down to the ringside area. Wilde distracts the referee while Mendoza grabs Scott’s foot. Escobar hits a shoulder-breaker for a near fall. Escobar goes to the apron after Scott rolls there. Escobar charges, but Scott drops him on the ropes. Scott then hits an INSANE leaping hurricanrana to the floor, but Legado Del Fantasma catches Escobar and stands him up! Ashante “Thee” Adonis runs down to even the odds and hits a corkscrew plancha on Legado Del Fantasma. Scott goes back to the ring and goes for a rolling thunder dropkick, but Escobar superkicks him. Escobar hits a Phantom Driver for a near fall! Escobar is stunned!

Escobar angrily stomps away at Scott and starts the Three Amigos. Escobar completes the three suplexes and goes to the top rope for a frog splash, but Scott moves! Scott stomps on Escobar’s arm and hits a House Call! Scott goes to the top rope and hits a 450 Splash… but Escobar kicks out! Scott is yelling, “WHAT?! WHAT?!”

The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Scott grabs Escobar, but Escobar pulls him out of the ring. Escobar goes to the apron, but Scott gets on and goes for a half-and-half. Escobar fights it and knocks Scott back. Scott falls headfirst into the exposed turnbuckle connector! Escobar hits a double underhook facebuster for the win!

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Santos Escobar (15:14)

NXT Women’s Championship
Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LeRae

They shove each other at the sound of the bell. LeRae hooks a side headlock, but Shirai gets out and does a cartwheel. Shirai takes her down with a hip toss and dropkicks her. LeRae angrily gets out of the ring. LeRae gets in the ring and applies a waistlock, but Shirai turns it. Shirai goes for a crucifix pin, but LeRae gets out and sends her to the corner. LeRae goes for a monkey flip, but Shirai lands on her feet. LeRae then gets out of the ring to avoid a running boot in the corner. Shirai shoulders her when she gets on the apron and goes for a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, but LeRae holds on. LeRae then hits a spinning plancha to the floor. LeRae gets her in the ring, but Shirai kicks her back and hits an Asai Moonsault!

Shirai gets her in the ring and picks up a one count. Shirai continues to attack, but LeRae fights her off and hits a backstabber off the ropes for a near fall. LeRae applies a knee-to-the-back chin lock, but Shirai fights up. LeRae hits a head-scissor, but Shirai lands on her feet. LeRae quickly clotheslines her down for a near fall. LeRae rakes Shirai’s face on the middle rope, hits a snapmare and a rolling neck snapper for a two count. LeRae stretches her out before covering her, but Shirai again kicks out at two. LeRae hits a backbreaker for another two count. LeRae looks pleased and avalanches her in the corner. LeRae taunts her and punches away at the back. LeRae stomps her down in the corner and continues to taunt her. LeRae clubs Shirai and hits a suplex for a near fall. LeRae angrily covers again for another two count. LeRae looks like she’s losing her temper.

LeRae knees Shirai in the midsection and puts her in the corner. LeRae charges, but Shirai sidesteps her. LeRae goes for a senton splash, but Shirai gets away. Shirai then hits her with a double stomp. Shirai hits a pair of running shoulder tackles followed by a flapjack. Shirai hits a tiger feint kick and waits for LeRae to get up. Shirai hits a springboard dropkick and covers for a near fall. LeRae counters some roll-ups into a facebuster. LeRae hits a senton splash and goes for a springboard moonsault, but Shirai kicks her out of mid-air. Shirai hits a double underhook backbreaker. Shirai steps on the midsection and goes to the ropes, but LeRae counters into a sit-out powerbomb. Shirai somehow gets up and catches her with a meteora into the corner. Shirai hits a German Suplex, but LeRae comes back with a German Suplex of her own. LeRae hits a backstabber followed by a springboard moonsault for a near fall.

LeRae gets up and is furious. She talks trash and slaps Shirai. Shirai angrily takes her down and applies a crossface. LeRae manages to roll through for a two count. LeRae then applies a Gargano Escape. LeRae cinches it in, but Shirai eventually makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. As LeRae is letting go, she accidentally hits the official. Shirai hits LeRae with an Air Raid Crash and goes to the top rope. Shirai goes for Over The Moonsault, but LeRae gets the knees up. Shirai bounces into the referee and knocks him out of the ring. LeRae kicks Shirai and hits a viciously curb stomp into the mat! LeRae covers, but there’s no referee. All of a sudden, Johnny Gargano runs down in a referee shirt. Gargano fast counts, but Shirai kicks out!

Gargano is furious and talks strategy with his wife. Gargano gets out of the ring and grabs the NXT Women’s Championship. Gargano says LeRae has won. The original referee gets in the ring and ejects Gargano from the ring. While this is all going on, LeRae hits Shirai in the face with the NXT Women’s Championship! LeRae covers, but Shirai kicks out! Gargano and LeRae are equally amazed. LeRae goes to the top rope, but Shirai cuts her off. Shirai hits a Spanish Fly off the top rope and quickly goes back to the top rope for the Over The Moonsault for the win.

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT Women’s Champion: Io Shirai (16:45)

Toni Storm from NXT UK appears on the big screen and calls Io Shirai’s attention. Storm tells her to keep her head on a swivel because she’s back on NXT! She’ll show the NXT Universe that it will always be Toni Time. Storm says she’ll see her around.

Hey, #WWENXT.

It’s TONI TIME. Toni Storm is BACK in #WWENXT!!!!! 🤘

Sincerely, @WWE #NXTTakeOver @shirai_io pic.twitter.com/qEJl0iYfSK

— WWE (@WWE) October 5, 2020

A vignette shows the mystery person riding up on a motorcycle and walking into the Capitol Sports Center. The person walks out onto the stage. Shirai looks confused. They take off their motorcycle helmet and it’s Ember Moon!

NXT Championship
Finn Bálor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly

The Undisputed ERA walk Kyle O’Reilly over to the entrance and embrace him.

The bell rings, and they start to circle the ring. O’Reilly drops down looking for takedowns already. They cautiously approach each other. Bálor applies a waistlock, but O’Reilly wrenches the arm. Bálor hits a front facelock takedown, but O’Reilly slides out. O’Reilly kips up out of an arm bar. They’re at a stalemate. Bálor applies a side headlock. O’Reilly goes to whip him off, but Bálor holds onto the headlock. O’Reilly shoves him and whips him off, but Bálor takes him down for a one count. Bálor quickly goes back to a headlock and keeps him grounded. O’Reilly fights up and hits a back suplex, but Bálor keeps the headlock cinched in. O’Reilly fights up and goes for a takedown into an arm bar, but Bálor immediately gets to the bottom rope. O’Reilly grabs the arm and starts to pull away at it. O’Reilly twists the limb and powers him down to a knee. Bálor fights up and rolls out. Bálor goes for a takedown, but O’Reilly expertly counters it and applies an arm bar. Bálor kips up, but O’Reilly hits an arm breaker. O’Reilly knees him in the shoulder a few times and elbows away at him. O’Reilly hits a sliding knee to the ribs and hooks the arm into a hammerlock. Bálor tries to fight out, but O’Reilly keeps the hold applied. Bálor eventually gets to the bottom rope. O’Reilly takes him down, but Bálor knees him in the face a few times. O’Reilly keeps the arm bar applied, but Bálor rolls through and dropkicks him in the face.

Bálor shakes some feeling into his arms and kicks O’Reilly in the back for a two count. Bálor takes him down and applies an arm bar before playing air guitar on the bent limb. Bálor then stomps on the shoulder. Bálor takes him down and applies a hammerlock. Bálor starts to attack and chop away at him. Bálor whips him hard into the corner, but O’Reilly pops out and turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. O’Reilly hits some kicks to the chest and strikes away at him. O’Reilly knocks him down and attacks. O’Reilly slams him down, hits a double underhook suplex, and follows up with a double arm DDT for a near fall. Bálor tries to fight back, but O’Reilly keeps striking him. They exchange stiff blows. Bálor connects with a vicious kick to the midsection, and O’Reilly goes down and waves him off for a few moments. The referee keeps Bálor back, but he eventually runs through and kicks away at O’Reilly’s ribs.

Bálor continues to attack the injured ribs and midsection before sending O’Reilly sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Bálor chops him against the ropes and ties him up in them. Bálor stretches him before kicking the exposed ribs. O’Reilly cries out in pain. Bálor applies a rear chin lock before letting go to drop an elbow for a near fall. O’Reilly is having trouble pulling himself up in the corner. Bálor greets him with a chop to the chest before whipping him hard into the corner. Bálor then applies an abdominal stretch, but O’Reilly quickly counters into a hip toss to counter out. Bálor chops the chest and hits the ropes, but O’Reilly follows him in and knees him. O’Reilly then hits a Regal-Plex right onto Bálor’s neck for a near fall!

Both men are down. O’Reilly gets up and grabs Bálor, but Bálor counters with a falling hammer for a near fall. Bálor gets up and levels O’Reilly with a Sling Blade. Bálor sizes O’Reilly up in the corner and goes for a Woo Dropkick, but O’Reilly dropkicks him in the knee to take him down. O’Reilly grabs Bálor, but Bálor goes for an abdominal stretch. O’Reilly is bleeding from the mouth. O’Reilly fights it, so Bálor takes him down and soon applies a Sharpshooter. Blood is pouring out of O’Reilly’s mouth as he gets a hand on the bottom rope to break the hold.

Bálor grabs his knee in pain as he gets up and stomps O’Reilly in the corner. Bálor talks trash and kicks him in the ribs. The referee is checking on O’Reilly. Bálor kicks him to the corner and stomps away at him. The referee backs Bálor up to give O’Reilly a moment to recover. Bálor digs a foot into O’Reilly’s face, but O’Reilly gets up and punches away at him. Bálor quickly kicks him in the stomach, but O’Reilly punches him back. Bálor hits an overhead kick, but O’Reilly bounces off the ropes and clotheslines him down again.

Both men are down again. O’Reilly is first to his feet and kicks Bálor in the chest. Bálor blocks a kick and stuns him with a slap to the face. O’Reilly gets out of a 1916 attempt and applies a guillotine choke. O’Reilly lets go and hits a vicious knee to the chest. O’Reilly connects with a brainbuster for a near fall. O’Reilly immediately goes to an arm bar. Bálor holds his hands together to prevent the hold from being applied completely. O’Reilly breaks the hold and goes to apply it, but Bálor gets to his feet and connects with some STIFF stomps to the mouth and jaw of O’Reilly! Bálor attacks the lower back with some forearms and hits the Bloody Sunday for a near fall.

Bálor takes a few moments before going to the top rope. O’Reilly cuts him off and hits a dragon screw over the ropes! O’Reilly gets on the apron, grabs the leg, and hits another dragon screw over the ropes. Bálor is hanging on the ropes by his leg. O’Reilly comes off the ropes with a diving splash. O’Reilly now goes to the top rope and hits a diving knee to the injured knee of Bálor. O’Reilly applies an Achilles Lock, and Bálor screams in pain. Bálor tries to twist out, but O’Reilly keeps the hold applied. Bálor teases tapping out, but he instead punches away at O’Reilly’s face. O’Reilly keeps the hold applied. Bálor tries to twist out, but O’Reilly keeps it applied. Bálor gets to his stomach and eventually gets to the bottom rope to break the hold.

An “NXT” chant fires up. O’Reilly kicks Bálor down, and Bálor cannot even stand. Bálor is clutching his knee in pain. O’Reilly goes for a running boot, but Bálor collapses before he can even hit it. O’Reilly approaches him, so Bálor sweeps the feet and hits a double stomp to the midsection! Bálor’s knee gives out, and O’Reilly holds his injured midsection in pain. O’Reilly quickly knees him and goes for a German Suplex, but Bálor quickly pops up and double stomps him again. The crowd is rooting both men on. Bálor is now bleeding from the mouth as he goes to the top rope and hits the Coup de Grâce for the win.

Winner by Pinfall and still NXT Champion: Finn Bálor (28:28)

Finn Bálor puts his NXT Championship on and looks down at Kyle O’Reilly. Bálor helps him to his feet and raises his arm up. All of a sudden, the camera pans over and shows Ridge Holland carrying an unconscious Adam Cole on his shoulder. Holland dumps Cole over the barricade. The Undisputed ERA runs down to help. There’s confusion as the show comes to an end.