8 Ups & 0 Downs From NXT TakeOver 36
1. The Reign Is Over; A New One Begins
Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov was...wow, it was special.
Their intensity was off the charts, and the overall story was an incredible piece of work. It's been 10 long months since their first match at the tail-end of October 2020, but that was a mere appetiser for the sequel. Ilja would not be denied - he kept coming at the record-setting NXT UK Champ, and eventually wore him down enough to score the win.
The way both guys built that tale was stunning. Dragunov's determination overwhelmed Walter, and brought his mind-blowing 870-day reign to an end. What a f*cking pro wrestling match this was. It's an overused phrase, but this could be a genuine contender for match of the year come the close of 2021.
Remember it. It'll be hard not to.
The welts and bruises all over Ilja's chest and neck were agonising to look at. Christ knows how they actually felt for the man himself! Put it this way: Edge used their NXT UK original as motivation to recover from a triceps injury and get back to full fitness. That's how extraordinary the first match was, and this was even better.
What did you think of NXT TakeOver 36? For more WWE, check out 17 Things You Probably Missed From WWE SmackDown (Aug 20) and 35 Things You Probably Missed From WWE SummerSlam 2021!