Chris King shares his thoughts and takeaways from this week’s episode of NXT Live. 

Io Shirai vs. Candace LeRae

The show started with Poppy playing live delivering a spectacular TakeOver-worthy entrance for Io Shirai. Candace LeRae stormed down to the ring for their second encounter since “The Genius of the Sky” turned on her. In my opinion, this match was even better than their clash at TakeOver: Toronto the pace felt red-hot with both competitors ready to beat the hell out of each other.

LeRae grew leaps and bounds during this match her timing was impeccable and in turn in cranked up the volume of intensity. Unfortunately for the resilient babyface, the wily veteran took advantage of a missed springboard moonsault as LeRae landed on a steel chair and Shirai got the easy win.

Finn Balor Segment: Balor came down to the ring with all the spotlight on him as it should be. He doesn’t care about what everyone thinks whether it’s the fans or the rest of the roster. Balor arrogantly congratulated Johnny Gargano on making it out of the hospital. He warned “The Heart of NXT” if he stepped to him again he’d send his ass back to the hospital and turn him into “Johnny watches wrestling!”

👀 👀 You watching, @JohnnyGargano?

Because @FinnBalor just CALLED YOU OUT! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/e8TWALBmdK

— WWE (@WWE) October 31, 2019

Bronson Reed vs. Shane Thorne

Shane Thorne shocked the hell out of me and the NXT Universe when he blasted Bronson Reed right out of the gate with running dropkicks and a massive cannonball. Reed answered back with a ferocious clothesline stopping him dead in his tracks. The action picked up as both Australians engaged in a chop-fest in the middle of the ring. The end came when both competitors were in the corner and Reed just hurled Thorne to the mat and delivered a wicked top rope splash.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox vs. The Kabuki Warriors

If you want a lesson in how dangerous Asuka and Kairi Sane are, go watch this fantastic wrestling match and take some notes. The champions isolated Dakota Kai from Tegan Nox for the majority of the match. Both wily veterans viciously and relentlessly attacked both of Kai’s legs making her incapable of doing anything let alone make the tag.

Once Nox got the hot tag, she bulldozed through anything that moved. The heels once again attacked and “The Empress of Tomorrow” delivered the green mist and “The Pirate Princess” executed her jaw-dropping InSane Elbow for the win.

As Team Kick was left battered and bruised, The Horsewomen came down to pick the bones like rabid animals. Rhea Ripley made the save but Shirai, Bianca Belair, and LeRae made their presence felt. Absolute chaos ensued with everyone fighting everywhere until General Manager William Regal announced that this would all come to a head at TakeOver: WarGames III.

Tyler Bate vs. Cameron Grimes

Last week Tyler Bate decked Cameron Grimes with his one-punch fakeout and the inaugural United Kingdom Champion was ready to do it again tonight. Both Grimes and Bate started things off with Ambar takedowns and incredible armdrag takedowns. Grimes answered back with a beautiful flip into the Carolina Reaper for a near-fall.

The “Big Strong Boy” executed a stunning exploder suplex followed by a magnificent hurricanrana with extra torque for a long near-fall. Bate went for his signature off the ropes lariat but Grimes countered into a perfectly-timed Collision Course for another long near-fall. The action spilled outside when Bate drilled Grimes with a tope suicida. Killian Dain appeared which allowed Grimes to execute Cave-In for the victory.

“The Beast of Belfast” delivered a bone-crushing Senton and a nasty-looking cannonball to Bate through the steel steps. He then instructed Bate to deliver a painful message to his buddy “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne.

Not laughing now are you son@Tyler_Bate pic.twitter.com/MjErkvqgcn

— Killian/Damo (@KillianDain) October 31, 2019

Main-event: Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish vs. Keith Lee and Matt Riddle

The match started and the NXT Tag Team Champions went right after Keith Lee but were outsmarted and overpowered by the big man who delivered a double crossbody. O’Reilly and Fish go outside for a breather but get blasted with a stiff kick from Matt Riddle. Riddle delivered back-to-back gutwrench suplexes but Fish fires back with a stiff strike to the jaw.

After the champions isolated Riddle for a quick fury of a two-on-one beatdown, Lee gets the tag and flattens both members of The Undisputed Era. O’Reilly locked in his armbar and triangle choke submission but Lee powered out with an incredible powerbomb. Riddle gets the tag delivering stiff knees and sentons.

Riddle had everything under control until Adam Cole and Roderick Strong stuck their nose where it didn’t belong. Riddle delivered a jaw-dropping Twisting Asai Moonsault on the outside wiping out Come and Strong. Riddle for his finisher but he got blasted with High-Low for the win. A four-on-one attack ensued until Tommaso Ciampa made the save drilling all of Undisputed Era with his crutch. “The Greatest Sports Entertainer Of All Time” then declared that “Goldie would have to wait as daddy has to go to war first!”

"Daddy's going to WAR."@NXTCiampa will do anything for his beloved Goldie. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Jxz8tvxqZz

— WWE (@WWE) October 31, 2019

Another explosive episode of NXT from start to finish with incredible matches and huge storyline developments. Two HUGE WarGames matches were announced and I love that Triple H is jumping the gun with the Wednesday Night Wars with AEW. It’s just business as usual with fantastic matches and intriguing stories being told every week. I haven’t watched Dynamite yet but it definitely has its work cut out for them!