Say what you want about the announcement of a triple threat to decide Karrion Kross' next challenger at TakeOver: In Your House involving three men who seem to have only been given the opportunity because of a lack of any fresh main event contenders on the brand, but the eventual showdown delivered the goods... for a bit.
But it was always going to, look who was involved. Sure, Johnny Gargano was coming off an emphatic North American Championship loss to Bronson Reed, singles Kyle O'Reilly hasn't exactly set the world on fire so far, and Pete Dunne was one of the last people to fall to Finn Balor before The Prince lost his NXT title. But when these three are on form, there are few men on the planet who can touch them between the ropes.
So, it's just a shame that after a truly electric three-way dance, involving pulsating submission exchanges, more two-for-one specials than a Burger King saver menu, and a Bitter End reversal into a DDT capable of given those watching on a concussion, someone thought it would be a good idea to throw the whole thing out with a "shocking", totally telegraphed return.
Why wasn't Adam Cole involved in this match in the first place anyway? He was just about as qualified as every other guy in the contest - fitting the "you're a recognisable main event face, you'll do" bill. His interference may have planted the seeds for the eventual announcement of a sure-to-be captivating fatal-five way at TakeOver: In Your House for the NXT Championship, but you can't help but feel as though this show is making it up week to week when it pertains to the top title.
Fingers crossed this multi-man madness will pave the way for a clearer direction for the gold in the wake of NXT's upcoming home invasion. And at least that !*$% Cole pushed the right buttons to make Kross come across as a terrifying titan when the two came face to face later in the night.
