Title Match Runs Short At NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day

Io Shirai, Mercedes Martinez, and Toni Storm had more time to play with at NXT TakeOver...

by Andy H Murray
Io Shirai Toni Storm
WWE.com

Last night's NXT Women's Title match between champion Io Shirai, Toni Storm, and Mercedes Martinez ran short at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.

WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development and NXT chief Triple H said as much during his post-show media call last night, revealing that the trio had a full 20 minutes to play with. They ended up using only 12 minutes and 15 seconds of that.

'The Game' praised Shirai, Storm, and Martinez, saying that the match ended up going as long as the participants and agents desired.

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The bout ended when Shirai successfully retained her belt by pinning Martinez after breaking Storm's pin on Mercedes with a Moonsault. This should theoretically keep a Shirai vs. Storm singles match on the table. The two have gone one-on-one several times in the past, most notably at WWE Evolution in 2018, when Storm defeated Shirai in the Mae Young Classic finals. On top of this, the duo have four STARDOM singles matches and one in NXT to their name.

Io has now been NXT Women's Championship for 253 days, having taken the strap from Charlotte Flair at TakeOver: In Your House in June 2020, pinning Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.