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TITLE CHANGES, AN UNDISPUTED ENDING, THE BEST WWE MATCH OF 2021 & MORE: COMPLETE WWE NXT TAKEOVER 36 COVERAGE

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE NXT Takeover 36 from the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida.

PRE-SHOW

Sam Roberts and McKenzie Mitchell are the hosts.

They ran a video package on the history of Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly.

They then ran a history package on WALTER vs. Ilja Dragonuv.

Next was a rundown of the Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight history.

Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter

Baxter dropkicked Holland immediately at the bell but Holland overpowered him and drilled him with an overhead suplex.  Holland yelled that Baxter asked for this and lifted him for another suplex.  Baxter caught him with a knee to the face but was thwarted and caught with another suplex.

Holland worked over Baxter with strikes but was kicked away.  Baxter used the ropes for leverage with a kick and nailed another leaping kick.  He used a handspring into a kick and went for another but was caught and drilled with a headbutt.  Holland smashed Baxter and scored the pin.   

Your winner, Ridge Holland!

Short but nice action. 

Holland said this is what happened when people think they have the bollocks big enough to challenge Holland.  He said he hoped Timothy Thatcher was watching as this was a direct look into his future.

They discussed Samoa Joe vs. Karrion Kross.

TAKEOVER 36

Million Dollar Champion L.A. Knight vs. Cameron Grimes - If Grimes Loses, Ted DiBiase becomes Knight's Butler

Over and under on a Virgil appearance, anyone?

Grimes ripped off his butler gear and threw it in a trash can, revealing some DiBiase-inspired gear.  Nice pop for Grimes.  

Knight kicked over the trash can coming out.

They went back and forth.  The crowd is really into this.  Knight was sent to the floor, where Grimes drilled him on a kick off the apron and sent him into the barricade.  DiBiase whipped Grimes towards Knight with Grimes hitting a leaping kick.  That looked cool.  Grimes drilled Knight with a kick to the chest as he returned to the ring and then knocked him back to the apron outside.

Grimes went to the top but Knight took his legs out from under him.  Grimes crashed to the apron hard.  Knight followed to the floor and stomped away on Grimes.  He tossed him back into the ring and peppered him with right hands.  Grimes kicked out of several pinfall attempts and blocked a neckbreaker attempt.   He went for a rana but was caught and powerbombed.

Knight worked over Grimes' neck, tweaking it.  Grimes was beaten down until Knight missed an elbow.  Knight missed a moonsault, allowing Grimes to recover.  He nailed a running leg lariat in the corner and went for the Million Dollar Dream.  Knight blocked it but was nailed with a German suplex, then a hurancanrana.  He scored a two count.  Grimes went for a lariat but Knight rebounded by taking out Grimes' legs and scoring another two count.  The crowd tried to rally Grimes.  Knight nailed a bulldog off the ropes and scored another close two count.

Knight charged Grimes for a high cross bodyblock but Grimes turned it into a powerslam for a two count.    They battle back and forth.  Grimes locked on the Dream again.  They crashed through the ropes.  Knight went to use the Million Dollar title as a weapon but Grimes kicked him.  As the referee grabbed the belt. DiBiase snatched Knight in the Million Dollar Dream.  He tossed Knight in.  Grimes hit the Cave-In to score the pin.

Your winner, Cameron Grimes!

Good opening bout with a nice babyface vs. heel chemistry.

WWE NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai

Kai used her smaller stature to try and avoid the champ early but was caught with a series of shoulderblocks in the corner.    Kai nailed Gonzalez with a big Yakuza kick in the corner, knocking her to the floor.  Gonzalez was almost counted out but Kai got her back in the ring but the champ kicked up at the last  second.  Back in the ring, Kai kept kicking away at Raquel, who fired back.

Gonzalez nailed a lariat and a boot to the face, then elevated and slammed Kai, who crashed to the mat below.     Gonzalez nailed a Vader Bomb style splash off the ropes for a close near fall.  She went for her one-handed chokeslam but was snatched in a hanging armbar.  Gonzalez smashed her into the buckles (and it looked EVIL) to break it but was selling that her arm was hurt.    Kai went for a Scorpion Kick but was caught and powerbombed for a two count.

The champ went for Kai but was snapped into the ropes.  Kai began kicking away at the stunned Gonzalez. Kai went for a pinfall but Gonzalez escaped and tossed her into the ropes with a reverse powerbomb.  Kai battled back with several kicks and the Chiropractor but Gonzalez kicked out at the last second.  They ended up on the floor but Kai tossed her back in the ring.  Kai nailed a big doublestomp for another close near fall. 

They battled to the ropes, where Kai trapped Gonzalez and set up for a Yakuza kick.  She charged but Gonzalez was prepared and caught her with the one-handed chokeslam off the ropes for the pin.

Your winner and still WWE NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez!

Good, competitive bout.  One has to wonder if this was the NXT storyline exit for Kai and if so, she left with a really damn good performance.

Kay Lee Ray, who PWInsider.com had reported had come to the United States and had been seen at the WWE Performance Center, came out and stared down Raquel.  I think we know the next program.

Coverage continues on Page 2!

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