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Kyle O'Reilly and Candice LeRae are heading to NXT TakeOver 31 after winning the first-ever Gauntlet Eliminator Match and a massive Battle Royal, respectively. Elsewhere, tensions flared between North American Champion Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano ahead of their TakeOver clash, Tommaso Ciampa defeated Jake Atlas, and more.
Photos | Highlights | Exclusive: O'Reilly on his massive victory
WWE NXT results, Sept. 24, 2020: O'Reilly, LeRae punch tickets for TakeOver title opportunities
Candice LeRae won a Battle Royal to become the No. 1 Contender to the NXT Women's Title
Rhea Ripley and Raquel González dominated much of the Battle Royal, showcasing their impressive strength as they both racked up eliminations left and right. But when they finally faced off, they ended up eliminating each other and had to be separated by officials afterward.
Elsewhere, Kacy Catanzaro used her impressive athleticism to narrowly avoid elimination in creative fashion on several occasions, helping her survive as one of the final four remaining competitors before being taken out by Dakota Kai. Shotzi Blackheart dumped Kai, pitting her against Candice LeRae as the final two competitors.
The Poison Pixie and Blackheart fought their way to the steel steps where LeRae launched Blackheart with her feet to claim victory and a date with NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai at NXT TakeOver 31.
Tommaso Ciampa def. Jake Atlas
Jake Atlas likely didn't get all the payback he was seeking, but he did have Tommaso Ciampa on his heels at multiple junctures in this bout. However, Atlas had no answer for Ciampa hitting the Willow's Bell DDT followed by a modified Fairytale Ending.
Roderick Strong & Danny Burch def. Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza
Fandango's bizarre brainchild for determining the No. 1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championship came to life in this bout, as members of different tag teams joined forces with the winners' teams to meet in a future bout for a title opportunity. The Undisputed ERA will clash with The Brit-Am Connection after Danny Burch pinned Raul Mendoza following an elevated neckbreaker.
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest def. Austin Theory in a Non-Title Match
The up-and-coming Austin Theory showed his promise against the North American Champion, holding his own as they went toe-to-toe. But Damian Priest claimed victory after hitting a Razor's Edge on the apron, followed by the Reckoning.
Afterward, though, Johnny Gargano ambushed Priest, taking him down and mocking The Archer of Infamy's signature pose ahead of their TakeOver clash next month.
Ridge Holland def. Antonio De Luca
Ridge Holland may be a problem for the rest of the black-and-gold brand for a long time. The brutish Brit overwhelmed Antonio De Luca, pinning him after planting him with the Northern Grit.
Kyle O'Reilly won the first-ever Gauntlet Eliminator Match for an NXT Championship opportunity
Kyle O'Reilly passed the biggest test of his career as a singles competitor, and now he has an even greater challenge ahead of him: facing The Prince.
O'Reilly went the distance, starting off the bout opposite Kushida before they were joined by Bronson Reed, who imposed his will on the smaller competition. The Velveteen Dream played a key role, interfering to spike Kushida with a Dream Valley Driver, teeing him up to be eliminated after Reed's Tsunami Splash from the top rope.
But The Aus-zilla was later eliminated by O'Reilly, who also took out Timothy Thatcher with a crafty pin, leaving only he and Cameron Grimes. O'Reilly just beat a three-count after eating the Cave-In, barely getting his boot on the bottom rope. He later dodged a second Cave-In attempt and forced The Technical Savage to tap to a leg lock.
First-ever Gauntlet Eliminator Match becomes colossal with addition of Bronson Reed
Who will get the first chance to challenge The Prince? The answer to that question will be decided in the first-ever Gauntlet Eliminator Match tonight on the NXT Takeoff to TakeOver.
Kushida, Cameron Grimes, Kyle O'Reilly, Timothy Thatcher and Bronson Reed will battle in this unique bout with the rules as follows:
Two men will start in the ring.
Every four minutes, another competitor will enter.
The only way to be eliminated is via pinfall or submission.
The last man standing will be named the No. 1 Contender and challenge Finn Bálor for the NXT Title at the next edition of NXT TakeOver on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Which Superstar will emerge victorious and earn an opportunity at the NXT Championship?
Battle Royal to determine No. 1 Contender to Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship
The next Superstar to step to Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Title will have to earn their opportunity in a massive Battle Royal tonight on NXT Take Off to TakeOver.
As the only former champion in the field, Rhea Ripley has to be considered a strong favorite, especially after toppling Mercedes Martinez in a brutal Steel Cage Match earlier this month. Can The Nightmare take the next step toward recapturing the gold she lost earlier this year?
Dakota Kai came up short in her quest to dethrone Shirai last month at NXT TakeOver XXX, but The Captain of Team Kick is still dead set on becoming champion. Plus, Kai’s enforcer Raquel González is also in the bout, and we’ve seen that “Big Mami Cool” is anything but shy about inflicting pain on Kai’s behalf.
The Battle Royal will also play host to former friends Candice LeRae and Tegan Nox, whose long-simmering issue has intensified in recent weeks after Nox’s tense visit to The Gargano household. Will LeRae and Nox be able to focus on the task at hand, given their increasingly bitter rivalry?
Additionally, the up-and-coming Shotzi Blackheart impressed in going toe-to-toe with Shirai this past week. Can Blackheart bounce back to earn another chance at bringing the NXT Women’s Title to the ball pit?
But with the field also including promising upstarts such as The Robert Stone Brand’s Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Kacy Catanzaro, Xia Li and Indi Hartwell, might an underdog be able to pull off a stunner for the right to challenge challenge Shirai?
Tune in to NXT at 8/7 C tonight on USA Network to find out who will get an opportunity to compete for the NXT Women’s Championship!
Will Ciampa make Atlas regret asking for a rematch?
Tommaso Ciampa struck down Jake Atlas as the first victim of his resurgent sadism, but he failed to put Atlas on the shelf is good. Now Atlas will be out for payback in a rematch.
After a nearly three-month absence, Ciampa returned to the black-and-gold brand last month, defeating Atlas and committing a savage assault afterward, including a Willow’s Bell DDT from a stretcher to put Atlas on the NXT Injury Report.
The Blackheart appears to have rediscovered the same vicious side that helped him win the NXT Championship, which is likely bad news for the rest of the roster. Atlas learned that lesson again last week when he was ambushed in the parking lot after confronting Ciampa earlier in the evening.
Fortunately for Atlas, Kyle O’Reilly stepped in before the attack escalated. But will Atlas be able to fight off the vicious Blackheart when they step in the ring again?
