If she’d connected with the GTK in any other part of the ring, Dakota Kai would be the new NXT Women’s Champion.
Instead, Io Shirai was able to place her foot on the ropes and survive Kai’s knockout blow during their epic bout for the title at NXT TakeOver XXX.
Win or lose, Paul “Triple H” Levesque was blown away by Kai’s performance.
“I just thought Io and Dakota tore it up tonight and continued the legacy of NXT,” he said.
“To see where [Dakota Kai’s] come to where she is now, to see her step into herself and to see her go out there week after week and put on great performances, to see her get the microphone and cut promos that are great … to go out there and hang with [Io Shirai], to make you believe, it’s awesome.
“I can’t say enough good stuff about her and her growth.”
#NXTTakeOver was the top trend on New Zealand Twitter during the women’s championship match as Kiwis flocked in droves to see Kai contend for the title.
LIVE | #NXTTakeOver is trending #1 in New Zealand. And here is the reason why! pic.twitter.com/BD30zxIhD4
— WWE New Zealand (@WWENZ) August 23, 2020
Sadly, New Zealand will have to wait a little longer for a WWE titleholder. After a back-and-forth bout, Shirai finished Kai with a Moonsault.
WWE NXT TakeOver XXX Results:
- #1 Contenders’ Match to the NXT Tag Team Championship:
Breezango def. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan and Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza) - Finn Balor def. Timothy Thatcher
- North American Championship, Ladder Match:
Damian Priest def. Bronson Reed, Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream - Adam Cole def. Pat McAfee
- NXT Women’s Championship:
Io Shirai (c) def. Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez - NXT Championship:
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett def. Keith Lee (c)
