2021 NXT TAKEOVER VENGEANCE DAY PARTICIPANTS’ TAKEOVER HISTORY

Since I do the blogs looking at every Pay-Per-View every month, I thought I would do one looking at NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day. To see the entire history of Takeover, visit the Takeover History HERE. And for any feedback or comments about this, comment below or tweet me (@hbkid718). Thanks.

This will be the 1^st Takeover since Brooklyn III on August 19, 2017 that no member of The Undisputed ERA wrestled. It will be the 5^th Takeover in a row that the NXT Tag Team Championship will not be defended.

Since no opening match has been announced, here are the facts about it. If a Women’s Match opens, it will be the 2^nd Takeover in a row & will be Shotzi Blackheart, Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, & Ember Moon’s 2^nd Takeover opener in a row, making them the 1^st since War Raiders at Phoenix on January 26, 2019 & New York on April 5, 2019 to wrestle in 2 back-to-back Takeover openers. If MSK VS Grizzled Young Veterans opens, it will be the 2^nd Tag Match in a row to open Takeover. If Kushida VS Johnny Gargano opens, it will be the 3^rd North American Championship Match to open Takeover & the 1^st since Keith Lee VS Dominik Dijakovic at Portland on February 16, 2020, would be Gargano’s 1^st opener since Brooklyn II on August 19, 2017, & Kushida’s 1^st Takeover opener. If the Women’s Championship Match opens, it would be the 1^st ever Women’s Championship Match to open a Takeover, & Shirai & Storm’s 2^nd Takeover in a row, making them the 1^st since War Raiders to wrestle in 2 openers back-to-back.

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: NXT CHAMPION FINN BALOR VS PETE DUNNE

Finn Balor VS Pete Dunne was the 2^nd NXT Championship Match of 2021, the 1^st since NXT on January 6, the 30^th in Takeover History & the 1^st since Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020. This will be Finn Balor’s 15^th Takeover Match & 1^st since Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020, giving him the 2^nd most Takeover Matches of All-Time after Johnny Gargano’s 21. This will be Balor’s 3^rd NXT Championship Defense, so if he loses, he would be the 1^st NXT Champion since Tommaso Ciampa, who vacated the title after his 3^rd Defense at Phoenix on January 26, 2019, to lose the title in their 3^rd Defense. As of Vengeance Day, Balor’s NXT Championship Reign has lasted 159 Days, which is the 8^th Longest of All-Time & would be the 1^st to lose the title in 159 Days. This will be Pete Dunne’s 9^th Takeover & 2^nd in a row, his 1^st ever NXT Championship Match at Takeover, & his 1^st 1-on-1 Match at a Takeover since he lost the NXT UK Championship to WALTER at New York on April 5, 2019. This would be the 25^th NXT Championship Match to main event a Takeover & 1^st since Finn Balor VS Kyle O’Reilly at Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020, Balor’s 6^th Takeover Main Event, which is the 3^rd of All-Time after Adam Cole & Johnny Gargano (8) & Tommaso Ciampa (7) & 1^st since Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020, & would be Dunne’s 3^rd Takeover Main Event & 2^nd in a row. The NXT Championship hasn’t changed hands in 2021, but has changed hands 11 times at a Takeover, with the last title change taking place at Takeover 30 on August 22, 2020, when Karrion Kross defeated Keith Lee, & has changed 22 times in History. If Pete Dunne wins, he will be the 1^st first time Champion since Karrion Kross & would be the 1^st ever wrestler to be NXT & NXT United Kingdom Champion.

Finn Balor (13-1-0)

1. With Hideo Itami defeated The Ascension (Konnor & Viktor) (12/11/14 NXT TAKEOVER: R EVOLUTION)
2. Defeated Adrian Neville in the Finals of the NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament (2/11/15 NXT TAKEOVER: RIVAL)
3. Defeated Tyler Breeze in an NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match (5/20/15 NXT TAKEOVER: UNSTOPPABLE)
4. Defeated Kevin Owens in a Ladder Match to retain the NXT Championship (8/22/15 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN)
5. With Samoa Joe defeated Dash & Dawson (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) in a Semi-Final Match of The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (10/7/15 NXT TAKEOVER: RESPECT)
6. With Samoa Joe defeated Baron Corbin & Rhyno in the Finals of The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (10/7/15 NXT TAKEOVER: RESPECT)
7. Defeated Samoa Joe to retain the NXT Championship (12/16/15 NXT TAKEOVER: LONDON)
8. Defeated Samoa Joe to retain the NXT Championship (4/1/16 NXT TAKEOVER: DALLAS)
9. Lost to NXT Champion Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage Match (6/8/16 NXT TAKEOVER: THE END)
10. Defeated Matt Riddle (11/23/19 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES III)
11. Defeated Johnny Gargano (2/16/20 NXT TAKEOVER: PORTLAND)
12. Defeated Damian Priest (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)
13. Defeated Timothy Thatcher (8/22/20 NXT TAKEOVER XXX)
14. Defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain the NXT Championship (10/4/20 NXT TAKEOVER 31)

Pete Dunne (5-3-0)

1. Defeated WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate to win the title (5/20/17 NXT TAKEOVER: CHICAGO)
2. With Roderick Strong lost to NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed ERA (NXT North American Champion Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly) along with The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) in a Triple Threat Final Match of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament (4/7/18 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW ORLEANS)
3. With NXT North American Champion Ricochet & War Raiders (Hanson & Rowe) defeated The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, & NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) in an 8-Man War Games Match (11/17/18 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES II)
4. Lost the WWE United Kingdom Championship to WALTER (4/5/19 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW YORK)
5. Lost to NXT North American Champion The Velveteen Dream along with Roderick Strong in a Triple Threat Match (8/10/19 NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO)
6. Defeated Killian Dain & Damian Priest in an NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match (11/23/19 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES III)
7. With Matt Riddle as The Broserweights defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed ERA (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) to win the titles (2/16/20 NXT TAKEOVER: PORTLAND)
8. With NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan & Pat McAfee as Team McAfee lost to The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, & Roderick Strong) in an 8-Man War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION IO SHIRAI VS MERCEDES MARTINEZ VS TONI STORM

Io Shirai VS Mercedes Martinez VS Toni Storm will be the 1^st NXT Women’s Championship Match of 2021, the 31^st at Takeover & 1^st since Io Shirai VS Candice LeRae at Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020. It will be the 4^th Triple Threat Match of 2021, the 1^st since Smackdown on February 5, the 1^st in NXT in 2021, the 9^th at Takeover & 2^nd in a row after War Games IV on December 6, 2020. It will be the 3^rd Women’s Triple Threat Match in Takeover History after Asuka defeated Nikki Cross & Ruby Riott at Chicago on May 20, 2017 & Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley at In Your House on June 7, 2020. It will be Io Shirai’s 1^st match overall since the Women’s War Games Match at War Games IV on December 6, 2020, her 9^th Takeover, which is the 2^nd most for a woman after Asuka & Shayna Baszler (10), & 5^th in a row. It will be her 6^th Women’s Championship Match at Takeover, which is the 4^th of All-Time after Shayna Baszler (9), Asuka (8), & Bayley (7) & will be her 2^nd Triple Threat Match in her Career after she defeated Flair & Ripley at In Your House on June 7, 2020. It will be her 6^th Women’s Championship Defense, so if she would lose she would be the 1^st since Bayley who lost to Asuka at Dallas on April 1, 2016 to lose in her 6^th Defense. As of Vengeance Day, Shirai’s Women’s Championship Reign has lasted 252 Days, which is the 5^th Longest of All-Time after Asuka (522 Days, 4/1/16- 9/6/17), Shayna Baszler’s 2^nd Reign (416 Days, 10/28/18-12/18/19), Paige (273 Days, 7/24/13-4/24/14), & Flair’s 1^st Reign (258 Days (5/29/14-2/11/14). This will be Mercedes Martinez’s Takeover debut, making her the 1^st wrestler since Io Shirai at New York on April 5, 2019, to make their Takeover debut challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship, & will be her 1^st ever Triple Threat Match in NXT. This will be Toni Storm’s 2^nd Takeover in a row, her 2^nd Women’s Championship Match in her career, after she lost to Rhea Ripley at Worlds Collide on January 25, 2020, & her 4^th Triple Threat Match in her career after she defeated Isla Dawn & Killer Kelly at the United Kingdom Championship Tournament on June 25, 2018, she defeated Bianca Belair & Nikki Cross at Worlds Collide on April 24, 2019, & lost to Kay Lee Ray along with Piper Niven at Takeover Blackpool II on January 12, 2020.The Women’s Championship hasn’t changed hands in 2021, but has changed hands 8 times in Takeover History, with the last title change taking place at In Your House on June 7, 2020, when Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley, & has changed hands 12 times in NXT History. Titles have changed hands twice in Triple Threat Matches at Takeover, the aforementioned Women’s Title Change at In Your House on June 7, 2020 & Johnny Gargano defeated Damian Priest & Leon Ruff at War Games IV on December 6, 2020. If either Martinez or Storm win, they will be the 2^nd first time Champion in a row & Storm would be the 2^nd wrestler after Rhea Ripley to be NXT & NXT UK Women’s Champion.

Io Shirai (4-4-0)

1. Lost to NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler along with Bianca Belair & Kairi Sane in a Fatal 4-Way Match (4/5/19 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW YORK)

2. Lost to NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler (6/1/19 NXT TAKEOVER XXV)

3. Defeated Candice LeRae (8/10/19 NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO)

4. With NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, & NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray as Team Baszler lost to Team Ripley (Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, & Rhea Ripley) in an 8-Woman War Games Match (11/23/19 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES III)

5. Defeated NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat Match to win the title (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)

6. Defeated Dakota Kai to retain the NXT Women’s Championship (8/22/20 NXT TAKEOVER XXX)

7. Defeated Candice LeRae to retain the NXT Women’s Championship (10/4/20 NXT TAKEOVER 31)

8. With Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai as Team Shotzi lost to Team Candice (Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, & Toni Storm) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

Mercedes Martinez (0-0-0)

This will be Mercedes Martinez’s Takeover debut

Toni Storm (1-0-0)

1. With Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, & Candice LeRae as Team Candice defeated Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley, & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: KUSHIDA VS NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION JOHNNY GARGANO

Kushida VS Johnny Gargano was the 1^st North American Championship Match of 2021, the 12^th at Takeover & 6^th in a row. This will be Kushida’s 2^nd Takeover & 1^st since Takeover 31 on October 4, 2020 & will be his 1^st ever Title Match of any kind in NXT. It will be Johnny Gargano’s 21^st Takeover, which keeps his spot with the Most Takeover Matches of All-Time & his 6^th in a row. It will be his 6^th North American Championship Match at Takeover & 5^th in a row, which is the most in Takeover History. This will be his 2^nd North American Championship Defense, so if he lost he would be the 1^st since Leon Ruff who lost to Gargano at War Games IV on December 6, 2020 to lose in his 2^nd Defense. As of Vengeance Day, Gargano’s North American Championship Reign has lasted 70 Days, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1^st to lose the title 70 Days, & his reign is right in the middle as the 6^th Longest & 5^th Shortest Reign, as he just beat Damian Priest’s 67 Day Reign (8/22/20 – 10/28/20). The North American Championship hasn’t changed hands in 2021, but has changed hands 5 times at Takeover, with the last taking place at War Games IV on December 6, 2020, when Gargano defeated Damian Priest & Leon Ruff. If Kushida wins, he will be the 1^st first time Champion since Leon Ruff.

Kushida (1-0-0)

1. Defeated The Velveteen Dream (10/4/20 NXT TAKEOVER 31)

Johnny Gargano (5-15-0)

1. With Tommaso Ciampa lost to NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) (8/20/16 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN II)
2. With Tommaso Ciampa as #DIY defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match to win the titles (11/19/16 NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO)
3. With Tommaso Ciampa as #DIY lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) (1/28/17 NXT TAKEOVER: SAN ANTONIO)
4. With Tommaso Ciampa as #DIY lost to NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) along with The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) in a Triple Threat Elimination Match (4/1/17 NXT TAKEOVER: ORLANDO)
5. With Tommaso Ciampa as #DIY lost to NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) in a Ladder Match (5/20/17 NXT TAKEOVER: CHICAGO)
6. Lost to Andrade Almas (8/19/17 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN III)
7. Lost to NXT Champion Andrade Almas (1/27/18 NXT TAKEOVER: PHILADELPHIA)
8. Defeated Tommaso Ciampa in an Unsanctioned Match to reinstate his NXT Contract (4/7/18 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW ORLEANS)
9. Lost to Tommaso Ciampa in a Chicago Street Fight (6/16/18 NXT TAKEOVER: CHICAGO II)
10. Lost to NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa in a Last Man Standing Match (8/18/18 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN 4)
11. Lost to Aleister Black (11/17/18 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES II)
12. Defeated NXT North American Champion Ricochet to win the title (1/26/19 NXT TAKEOVER: PHOENIX)
13. Defeated Adam Cole in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match to win the Vacant NXT Championship (4/5/19 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW YORK)
14. Lost the NXT Championship to Adam Cole (6/1/19 NXT TAKEOVER XXV)
15. Lost to NXT Champion Adam Cole in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match (8/10/19 NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO)
16. Lost to Finn Balor (2/16/20 NXT TAKEOVER: PORTLAND)
17. Lost to NXT North American Champion Keith Lee (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)
18. Lost to Damian Priest along with Cameron Grimes, Bronson Reed, & The Velveteen Dream in a Fatal 5-Way Ladder Match for the Vacant NXT North American Championship (8/22/20 NXT TAKEOVER XXX)
19. Lost to NXT North American Champion Damian Priest (10/4/20 NXT TAKEOVER 31)
20. Defeated Damian Priest & NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff in a Triple Threat Match to win the title (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

FINALS OF THE 2021 DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC: MSK (NASH CARTER & WES LEE) VS GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS (JAMES DRAKE & ZACK GIBSON)

MSK VS Grizzled Young Veterans will be the 1^st Non-Title 2-on-2 Tag Team Match at a Takeover since The Authors of Pain defeated TM-61 at Toronto on November 19, 2016. This will be Nash Carter, Wes Lee, James Drake & Zack Gibson’s Takeover debut, making it the 1^st match since Tyler Bate VS Pete Dunne at Chicago on May 20, 2017 where both wrestlers made their Takeover debut in the same match.

Nash Carter (0-0-0)

This will be Nash Carter’s Takeover debut

Wes Lee (0-0-0)

This will be Wes Lee’s Takeover debut

James Drake (0-0-0)

This will be James Drake’s Takeover debut

Zack Gibson (0-0-0)

This will be Zack Gibson’s Takeover debut

FINALS OF THE 2021 WOMEN’S DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC: SHOTZI BLACKHEART & EMBER MOON VS RAQUEL GONZALEZ & DAKOTA KAI

Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon VS Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai will be the 1^st ever 2-on-2 Women’s Tag Team Match in Takeover History. This will be Shotzi Blackheart’s 3^rd Takeover & 2^nd in a row. She has only wrestled in Tag Team Matches at Takeover. This will be Ember Moon’s 8^th Takeover & 2^nd in a row, tying her with Bayley for the 3^rd most Women’s Matches at Takeover & after Asuka & Shayna Baszler (10) & Io Shirai (9). This will be Raquel Gonzalez’s 3^rd Takeover & 2^nd in a row. She has only wrestled in Tag Team Matches at Takeover. This will be Dakota Kai’s 6^th Takeover & 3^rd in a row.

Shotzi Blackheart (1-1-0)

1. With Tegan Nox & Mia Yim defeated Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, & Candice LeRae in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)

2. With Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai as Team Shotzi lost to Team Candice (Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, & Toni Storm) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

Ember Moon (3-4-0)

1. Defeated Billie Kay (8/20/16 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN II)
2. Lost to NXT Women’s Champion Asuka (4/1/17 NXT TAKEOVER: ORLANDO)
3. Lost to NXT Women’s Champion Asuka (8/19/17 NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN III)
4. Defeated Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, & Kairi Sane in a Fatal 4-Way Match to win the Vacant NXT Women’s Championship (11/18/17 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES)
5. Defeated Shayna Baszler to retain the NXT Women’s Championship (1/27/18 NXT TAKEOVER: PHILADELPHIA)
6. Lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Shayna Baszler (4/7/18 NXT TAKEOVER: NEW ORLEANS)
7. With Shotzi Blackheart, Rhea Ripley, & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai as Team Shotzi lost to Team Candice (Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, & Toni Storm) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

Raquel Gonzalez (1-1-0)

1. With Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae lost to Shotzi Blackheart, Tegan Nox & Mia Yim in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)

2. With Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, & Toni Storm as Team Candice defeated Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley, & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)

Dakota Kai (3-2-0)

1. With Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, & Rhea Ripley as Team Ripley defeated Team Baszler (NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, & Io Shirai) in an 8-Woman War Games Match (11/23/19 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES III)
2. Defeated Tegan Nox in a Street Fight (2/16/20 NXT TAKEOVER: PORTLAND)
3. With Raquel Gonzalez & Candice LeRae lost to Shotzi Blackheart, Tegan Nox & Mia Yim in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match (6/7/20 NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE)
4. Lost to NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai (8/22/20 NXT TAKEOVER XXX)
5. With Raquel Gonzalez, Candice LeRae, & Toni Storm as Team Candice defeated Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley, & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) in an 8-Women War Games Match (12/6/20 NXT TAKEOVER: WAR GAMES IV)