NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe def. Dash & Dawson (Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semi-Final)

Tension was running high in the NXT Arena as the first Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semi-Final got going. The mega team of NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe was out to continue their tear through the tournament, while the roughneck duo of Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder were out to pull the biggest upset of the tournament.

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Despite Dawson & Wilder's best efforts to control the pace of the bout, Bálor & Joe bulldozed them at the start. The NXT Champion nearly had the victory wrapped up in minutes, with Dawson in position for the Coup de Grace, but Wilder distracted Bálor, allowing his partner to take out the enigmatic champion's knee.

Dawson & Wilder trapped Bálor in their corner, relentlessly working over the NXT Champion's knee, as he screamed in agony. Things looked bleak for the mega team as Bálor struggled to stand up, let alone fight back to his corner. But somehow, the demonic champion slipped out of Wilder's grasp and tagged in the submission master. Joe went on a rampage, until Bálor demanded to tag back in. Joe relented, hitting Wilder with the Muscle Buster, while Bálor came crashing down with the Coup de Grace after to cement their place in the tournament final. However, that Coup de Grace appeared to do further damage to Bálor's left knee, leaving the NXT Universe to wonder if he would be able to compete in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic at all.

EXCLUSIVE: Dash & Dawson look to the future

Baron Corbin & Rhyno def. Jason Jordan & Chad Gable (Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semi-Final)

The mat masters of Jason Jordan & Chad Gable looked to have the massive duo of Baron Corbin & Rhyno off their game, using their speed and pure wrestling ability to stay one step ahead of their monstrous foes. The Man Beast was baffled early as Jordan & Gable took him down to the canvas repeatedly.

After Gable trapped him in the ropes with an armbar, Rhyno finally had enough, sending Gable crashing to the floor with a big knee. The Lone Wolf smelled blood and pounced on Gable, hurling him into the LED boards on the ring apron. That gave the team of titans the opening they needed to take control of the match. Corbin & Rhyno worked over the former Olympian, with Gable trying to slip out of their clutches, only for a dirty trick to keep him away from Jordan.

But after Rhyno whiffed on a splash from the top rope, Gable finally reached his partner. Jordan came into the bout on fire, taking on The Man Beast and The Lone Wolf himself. The bout broke down into a brawl as all four men went at each other. Gable looked to have the victory in sight, after pulling off a stunning German suplex on the massive Corbin. However, Gable tried to spin around Corbin, only to meet the End of Days, as The Lone Wolf sent himself and Rhyno to the finals.

Asuka def. Dana Brooke

The debuting Asuka attempted to offer a show of sportsmanship at the start of the bout, offering to shake Brooke's hand, only for The Total Diva to slap it away. The NXT newcomer showed her experience, keeping a hammerlock on tight as Brooke rolled through on several occasions attempting to escape.

Brooke tried to get inside Asuka's head by slapping her across the face. That only incensed Asuka, who unleashed a flurry of devastating strikes on her rival. Unfortunately, Asuka also had to deal with Emma, who tried to interject herself into the bout at every opportunity. Brooke tried to take control of the bout, but ended up in an Asuka submission hold more often than not.

Asuka finally put a stop to Emma's interference with a hard spinning back fist, before trapping Brooke in the Asuka Lock to earn her first WWE victory! The newcomer didn't hesitate to get a measure of payback for Dana ruining her contract signing after the bell, flooring The Total Diva with one last devastating roundhouse kick.

EXCLUSIVE: Asuka checks up on Dana Brooke

Apollo Crews def. Tyler Breeze

Tyler Breeze's quest to regain respect in NXT continued at TakeOver, as he battled undefeated newcomer Apollo Crews. There was no slowing down the red-hot Crews, who clobbered Prince Pretty with a dropkick, then followed Breeze out to the floor to hit him with a big shoulder tackle.

Breeze had trouble overpowering Crews, having to rely on trickery to gain control