10 NXT TakeOver: Portland Impulse Reactions
8. Dakota Kai Vs. Tegan Nox
There's a caveat coming at the conclusion of this entry, but much like the match itself, try not to let the sense of disappointment cloud any enjoyment elsewhere.
Before a finish that echoed one of AEW's worst habits, this was absolutely blistering. Literally so, if one imagines how much it might hurt to have a cricket bat explode in the hand, as happened to Dakota Kai when she attempted to make the boundary of the Moda Center with Tegan Nox' head. Whilst she didn't manage to hit her face for a four, the pair hit one almighty six with the rest of a brawl that didn't allow for breath until a run-in brought it to a rather subdued climax.
It was the first time since Kai's TakeOver: WarGames turn that the feud felt as violent and visceral as it needed to as the pair seemed content to kill each other for some much-needed vindication. The smiles of yesteryear gave way to scowls of believable hatred as the kneebraced former friends went for broke...until relative unknown Raquel Gonzalez ran-in and mopped up Kai's mess.
The match was at least immediately decided by the interference, but your writer was exactly as confused as the live crowd as to the who, what and why of it all. This was a shame and may yet get over eventually, but tempered what had otherwise been an all killer no filler fireworks display.