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

WWE NXT Champion Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe

The fans chanted "Hardy" at Kross.  OUCH.

They squared up and Joe immediately beat Kross in the corner.  Kross fought his way out but Joe nailed an enziguiri in the corner.  Joe nailed him with kicks to the chest and the back.  Joe locked on a sleeper.  Kross made it to the ropes.  Joe let go but was grabbed and hit with a back suplex.  Joe rolled out to the floor.  Kross ran him into the barricade and tossed Joe back inside the ring.

Kross continued beating Joe with forearms and worked him over.  Joe fired back with chops and headbutts.  Kross nailed another Saito suplex.    He cinched in an anklelock.  Joe made it to the ropes and went to the floor.  Kross nailed another suplex for a two count.  Joe fought back and locked on a STF.     He maneuvered Kross into a crossface but Kross was able to drape his foot across the ropes.

Kross regained control and stomped Joe's hand.  He DDT'd Joe for a close two count.  Joe came back with a big elbow and nailed a belly to belly suplex.  Joe began drilling him with slaps and strikes.  He nailed an inverted atomic drop and a back senton splash for a two count.   Joe locked on the Coquina Clutch and pulled him down to the mat.  Kross fought his way out and locked on the angel's cross armbreaker.  

Kross maneuvered himself to Joe's back and locked on the Kross Jacket.  Joe was fading but came to life.  He drove Kross back into the corner.   Kross nailed a knee in the corner and went to the top but was nailed with an Ole Kick.  Joe nailed a Muscle Buster off the top and pinned Kross.

Your winner, the first-ever three-time WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe!

This was OK but you could feel the crowd wasn't into this anywhere near as close as the other top matches.  Kross' presentation on Raw really killed how the fans viewed him here.  Honestly, nothing could top WALTER vs. Dragonuv and an argument could made that in hindsight, they should have closed the show.

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