The stakes have been raised for Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
It was announced on tonight’s NXT that the Million Dollar Championship will be making its return at Sunday’s TakeOver event. Grimes vs. Knight will now be a ladder match where the winner will become the Million Dollar Champion.
The story of Grimes vs. Knight at TakeOver is that Grimes and Knight have each been vying for Ted DiBiase to choose them to be the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. The return of the Million Dollar Championship was the “Priceless Announcement” that WWE hyped that DiBiase would be making on tonight’s NXT.
The Million Dollar Championship was first introduced by DiBiase as an unofficial title in 1989. It was most recently featured on WWE television when Ted DiBiase Jr. held it in 2010.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Winner-take-all six-man tag match: NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defend against Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
The NXT North American Championship and NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line in a winner-take-all six-man tag match at TakeOver: In Your House.
On tonight’s NXT, it was announced that NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will face Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a six-man tag match at TakeOver: In Your House this Sunday. If Reed & MSK win, they’ll retain their titles. If Legado del Fantasma win, Escobar will become the NXT North American Champion and Mendoza & Wilde will become the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Reed defeated Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match to win the North American Championship on NXT three weeks ago. MSK have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April.
Legado del Fantasma confronted Reed on NXT two weeks ago and were about to attack him, but MSK came out to even the odds. Reed and MSK then sent Escobar, Mendoza, and Wilde packing.
Reed returned the favor during MSK’s NXT Tag Team title defense against Mendoza & Wilde last week. After Escobar interfered, Reed charged at Escobar and squished him against the barricade. MSK then defeated Mendoza & Wilde to retain their Tag Team titles.
MSK again came out to back up Reed during a confrontation with Legado del Fantasma on tonight’s NXT. Legado del Fantasma bailed when MSK entered. Escobar then proposed the winner-take-all six-man tag match for TakeOver — and Reed & MSK accepted the challenge.
This is the fifth match to be announced for Sunday’s TakeOver: In Your House event. Here’s the updated card for the show:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Winner-take-all six-man tag match: NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defend against Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
Tonight’s NXT is the final stop before TakeOver: In Your House.
Sunday’s TakeOver event will be headlined by Karrion Kross defending his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. Tonight, Kross and his challengers will take part in a face-off segment.
Ember Moon is challenging for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver. As part of the final build to that match, Moon will face Gonzalez’s tag team partner Dakota Kai tonight.
Ted DiBiase is set to make what WWE is hyping up as a “Priceless Announcement” on tonight’s show. The announcement will relate to Cameron Grimes and LA Knight’s match at TakeOver. Grimes and Knight are each vying for DiBiase to choose them to be the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy.
Also on tonight’s NXT, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will face Killian Dain, Oney Lorcan will take on Austin Theory, and music artist Poppy will make an appearance.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show opened with a grudge match. Johnny Gargano & Pete Dunne got in a brawl earlier today, and their stablemates also got into it. Thus, the opening match tonight on NXT.
Oney Lorcan defeated Austin Theory
Lorcan pinned Theory after a uranage. Theory was distracted by Dunne & Gargano brawling at ringside. Good match with a finish that was very WWE.
Both had a lot of fire at the start. Not sure who the fans are supposed to cheer for, but shades of grey I guess. The match itself was action-packed with Theory doing some cool moves, and Lorcan being vicious in return.
Hard chops during the match. When the fight spilled outside, they again traded chops. Lorcan tripped Thoery, and Theory bumped on the apron. Pete Dunne soon walked down to ringside as the show cut to a commercial break. Lorcan worked over Theory’s back during the break, and Lorcan seemed still in control as the show returns. Theory suddenly popped up to deliver a blockbuster, which began to turn the tide.
Theory clothesloned Lorcan out of the ring. Lorcan in return threw Theory outside the ring a moment later. Theory fired up at ringside, and he explodes with offense. In the wildest move of the match, Theory springboarded into a Spanish Fly.
Johnny Gargano came to ringside, and he brawled with Dunne. Officials poured out to separate them. Theory was distracted by the melee, allowing Lorcan to smash Theory’s head into the top turnbuckle. Lorcan then gave Theory a uranage slam, and Lorcan covered him for a pinfall.
A vignette featured LA Knight basically doing a spoof of MTV Cribs. For us older fans, this was similar to the Million Dollar Man segment on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Here in 2021, Knight was at a big house on the beach, and two women were hanging with him in a hot tub. They laughed at his jokes, even when he was far from funny. Knight cut promos on Ted DiBiase, and then Knight drove away in a sports car.
Dok Hendrix (Michael Hayes) was back on WWE television to run down an In Your House card like it was 1995. Dok, here in 2021, looked like he borrowed a hat from Cameron Grimes. Running down the card for TakeOver: In Your House, Dok plugged the following matches (in order as he listed them):
NXT Women’s Championship: Raquel Gonzalez vs. Ember Moon
Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
Mercedes Martinex vs. Xia Li
Fatal Five Way for the NXT Championship: Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) vs. Adam Cole vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Another match for TakeOver was set up in the next segment.
El Legado del Fantasma were in the ring for a promo. Santos Escobar was very angry with NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed, so Reed came out to interrupt him. Reed joked about squashing Escobar last week with a splash, and Reed had a replay shown on a video screen. Reed got in the ring to confront him, and NXT Tag Team Champions MSK ran down to back up Reed.
Escobar challenged Reed and MSK to a trios match where all the champions titles are on the line. Both the North American and the Tag Team titles are on the line in a “winner takes all” six-man tag match at TakeOver. Reed and MSK quickly agreed to the match, and then Reed threw to the clip of Escobar getting squashed by the splash.
Hit Row entered the scene for a match. They walked past Legado del Fantasma, and the two factions glared at each other.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (with Hit Row) defeated Killian Dain (with Drake Maverick)
Scott pinned Dain after Dain was distracted by Hit Row. Another good match with another lame distraction finish. Very on brand for WWE.
Dain was getting the better of Scott, until Scott powdered outside. Top Dolla caused a distraction, which allowed Scott to jump Dain with a sneak attack. Dain fought back to drop Scott with a lariat. Hit Row created another distraction. This time B-Fab distracted Dain, and Scott capitalized to work over Dain.
Dain hulked up to trade strikes with Scott. Dain began to manhandle him. Scott springboarded on the ropes, flipped upside down, and he landed on his feet. Dain then met Scott with a flying crossbody for a two count.
Scott went on to counter Dain, and Scott delivered a flatliner and a jumping kick. Dain came back with power moves. Ashante “Thee” Adonis tried to interfere, but Maverick made a save to stop him. Top Dolla then grabbed Maverick, and Top Dolla dropped Maverick on the apron with a Death Valley Driver.
Dain was distracted by Maverick being attacked, and Scott struck after measuring Dain. Scott with a leaping kick, and then he covered Dain for a three count.
Poppy arrived at the building. Candice LeRae was not happy. She was vocalizing her anger over Poppy alongside her NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship partner, Indi Hartwell. While LeRae was angry with a singer, Hartwell was sure Dexter Lumis was still in love with her. Hartwell ran off to find Lumis.
Cameron Grimes in a vignette made his case for why he sould carry on the legacy of the Million Dollar Man. He was at a big house like Knight was earlier, but Grimes was way more entertaining during his MTV Cribs segment. He vowed to take the Million Dollar Man’s legacy to… the… moon.
Mercedes Martinez won a squash match
Xia Li attacked Martinez before the match. Li and Martinez brawled at ringside until they were separated by officials. Martinez rolled into the ring to face an unnamed opponent. She charged towards Martinex, and she ran into an knee strike by Martinez. Followed by an Air Raid Crash, Martinex scored a pinfall.
Breezango cut a promo on Imperium. Looks like a tag team in the making soon enough.
Triple H and William Regal were backstage with Poppy. The two executives were gushing over Poppy and her music. Triple H asked when Poppy’s album drops? Poppy said “right now” before she pulled out her cellphone. Poppy tapped a button, and the album was dropped on the WWE Universe. Triple H was amazed at technology. Then things got weird.
Dexter Lumis approached Poppy with a picture he had drawn of her. Poppy was so happy with the picture she gave Lumis a hug. Indi Hartwell walked just in time to see Lumis and Poppy embracing with a hug. Hartwell was very upset by this, and she ran away in tears.
“Priceless Announcement” by The Million Dollar Man
Camreon Grimes and LA Knight arrived the building for their segment with Ted DiBiase. They did a lot of comedy, with each trying to upstage the other. They entered the CWC to join DiBiase in the ring.
DiBiase said this Sunday was an ultimate test, and it was time for them to “climb the ladder of success.” DiBiase laughed his evil laugh as a ladder painted gold was lowered into the ring from the ceiling. DiBiase indictaed there would indeed be a ladder match.
Knight cut a promo running down Grimes, and Grimes responded with a promo of his own. Grimes grew more animated before he ripped off his sports jacket, and he took off his fancy watch. Grimes climbed the ladder, and he vowed to go TO THE MOON!
Grimes asked what he was reaching for, and a briefcase was brought into the ring by guards. Inside the case was the Millon Dollar Championship belt. So, Grimes vs. Knight is now a ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship.
Ever-Rise annnouced they are hosting the pre-pre-show, whatever that is.
Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) defeated August Grey and Ikemen Jiro
Gibson pinned Grey to win the bout. This was basically an enchancement match. Jiro wrestled in a sports coat, which you don’t see every day. Gibson tried to rip off the jacket, and Jiro fired up. Not for long, as Grizzled Young Veterans went to work targeting a Jiro’s leg.
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher came down to ringside with folding chairs. They sat down to watch the match. Grey was able to catch the Vets slipping while they were distracted by the guests at ringside.
Grey was soon cut off, and he was given a Ticket to Mayhem. Gibson then covered Grey for a pinfall.
Grizzled Young Veterans exchanged words with Ciampa & Thatcher. This sets up a Texas Tornado match for next Tuesday on NXT.
Bobby Fish has his sights set on Oney Lorcan.
Io Shirai returns
Candice LeRae storms into the ring still upset by Poppy being there tonight. LeRae cut a promo on Poppy. Notably, LeRae in her speech acknowledged Hartwell and Lumis as a couple, referring to them was “In-Dex” in doing so. Putting heat on Poppy, LeRae blamed her for Hartwell leaving the building tonight.
Poppy entered the CWC, and she got a full entrance like she was wrestling superstar. Poppy said she doesn’t wrestle, but she knows someone who does. Cue the theme music of Io Shirai, and she returns to NXT!
Shirai rushed into the ring, and she attacked LeRae. After a Tiger Feint Kick, Shirai delivered a missile dropkick that sent LeRae rolling out of the ring. Shirai stood tall alongside Poppy as LeRae backpedaled out of the arena.
Dok Hendrix is back with a “Slam Jam Update” talking abou the new matches announceded for TakeOver on Sunday. Dok ran down the full card.
Ember Moon defeated Dakota Kai (with NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez) via disqualification
Gonzalez interfered for the DQ. Good match, but very lame finish.
Evenly matched at the start until Kai gained an advantage with an underhanded tactic. Kai twice with a face wash, and Moon was in peril. Moon soon hulked up, and Moon proceeded to clean house on Kai ahead of a near fall.
Kai cut off Moon, and Moon was rammed into the ring post before a commercial break. Moon sold throughout the commercials, but Moon was making a comeback when the show returned from the break. Moon was running wild on Kai, but Kai fought back with kicks.
Moon with a wickedly cool version of a modified stunner. Kai countered with a Bladerunner for a two count. Kai with a Kawada kicks and a face wash for another near fall. Moon countered Kai to deliver a powerbomb for count of two and a half.
Gonzalez at ringside tried to attack Moon, but Moon rocked the champ with a punch. Moon with a tope suicida won both Gonzalez and Kai. Moon followed up by climbing the turnbuckles, seemingly going for her finisher. Gonzalez jumped into the ring, and she booted Moon off the ropes. The referee called for a DQ as Gonzalez checked on Kai.
Once again Gonzalez saved Kai from near defeat, which continues a developing backstory for down the road.
Fatal Five Face-Off Go-Home
NXT Champion Karrion Kross & Scarlett cut a promo ahead of the closing segment. After a commercial break, the champion is in the ring with William Regal for a face-off segment.
Regal was trying to lay the law down with Kross, but Kross was having none of it. Kross said NXT has been out of control for a long time. Kross said he was not leaving until “the four of them” (meaning his challengers at TakeOver) come down to “get their asses kicked.”
Kyle O’Reilly was the first to answer the call. O’Reilly cut a promo that concluded with him saying, “It’s a matter of time before a guy like me walks down here and takes that title from you.”
Johnny Gagrano appeared at ringside sarcastically saying those were some “sick burns” by O’Reilly. Gargano made fun of O’Reilly blue jean jacket. Gargano stood on the announce table to cut a promo on Kross. Somewhere in this all, Kross called Gargano a “mark.”
Out next is Pete Dunne to interrupt. Dunne said he was sick of all the talking, and he was tired of waiting around. Adam Cole appeared on the video scree, and he called the rest of them “chumps.” Cole cut another harsh promo on Kross for the second week in a row.
O’Reilly called Cole a “bitch” for not being there in person. O’Reilly said that was not himself. Kross asked O’Reilly who he is, and O’Reilly responded by slapping Kross in the face. A brawl erupted as the always inept security detail tried to break up the fight.
Kross suplexed everybody like he was Taz in 1996. Security grabbed Kross and held him, which allowed Gargano to superkick him. Dunne also attacked Kross. O’Reilly jumped into the melee, and he stood tall for a few seconds. Kross mowed down O’Reilly with an forearm strike from behind.
Standing tall with the title belt held overhead, Kross was celebrating when he was blindsides by Adam Cole. He was in the building after all. Cole superkicked Kross, and then Cole delivered a Last Shot on the champ.
Cole picked up the NXT title belt, and Cole held the belt over his head. Cole once again stands tall, but who will leave TakeOver as the champion?
WWE has announced a couple of additions to the lineup for NXT’s TakeOver: In Your House go-home show.
– At Sunday’s TakeOver event, Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. But before that match happens, there will be a face-off segment with Kross and his challengers on this Tuesday’s NXT episode.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on last week’s NXT had originally been set to determine Kross’ challenger for TakeOver: In Your House, but Cole interrupted the match and attacked all three wrestlers. Cole cut a promo on Kross later in the show, which led to Kross confronting Cole. Kross told NXT general manager William Regal that he wanted to face all four of O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole at TakeOver.
– WWE is also hyping that Ted DiBiase will make a “Priceless Announcement” on this Tuesday’s NXT. The announcement comes in advance of Cameron Grimes facing LA Knight at TakeOver: In Your House.
Grimes and Knight have each been vying for DiBiase to choose them as the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. A distraction by Grimes on last week’s NXT caused Knight to lose a match against Jake Atlas. When he was interviewed backstage after the match, DiBiase said Knight dropped the ball but Grimes showed that it takes both brains and brawn.
DiBiase’s Million Dollar Championship appears on the poster for TakeOver: In Your House, but WWE has yet to confirm the return of the title or that it’s going to play a part in Grimes and Knight’s match at TakeOver.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Face-off with NXT Champion Karrion Kross, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai
Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Killian Dain
Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy returns to NXT
He added “the belief is that talent will be asked to get vaccinated as something mandatory because they are going to be running in some rural, heavy right-wing markets and the feeling is with that fanbase, they wouldn’t be able to enforce a mask ordinance.”
The Coconut Loop is made up of small venues in central and northern Florida that seat up to 400 people like Daytona Beach, Sebring, Cocoa, Sanford, Lakeland, and Largo. Those shows were mostly made up of talent that hasn’t made it to TV and/or are still new to the system.
It’s still unknown when the main NXT TV roster will begin touring again or if they even plan on running two separate touring groups again.
WWE announced plans to resume Raw and SmackDown touring starting this July for both TV and house shows with AEW also heading back out on the road in July for Dynamite.
Next week’s NXT UK will include an appearance by the NXT United Kingdom Champion.
WWE has announced that NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER will return to NXT UK on next Thursday’s episode of the show. It will be the first time WALTER has appeared on NXT UK since retaining his title against Rampage Brown at NXT UK: Prelude, which aired during WrestleMania week this April.
The announcement of WALTER appearing on next week’s NXT UK was made during this week’s NXT UK episode.
WALTER also retained the NXT United Kingdom Championship against Tommaso Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April. WALTER’s four most recent title defenses have been against Ilja Dragunov, A-Kid, Ciampa, and Brown.
WALTER has been NXT United Kingdom Champion for nearly 800 days. He defeated Pete Dunne to win the title at NXT TakeOver: New York in April 2019.
Next Thursday’s NXT UK will be headlined by Kay Lee Ray defending her NXT UK Women’s Championship against Meiko Satomura. Satomura became the number one contender to KLR’s title by winning a gauntlet match on NXT UK three weeks ago. This will be the second title match that KLR and Satomura have had against each other in NXT UK. KLR retained her title against Satomura when they first faced off this March.
Before this week’s NXT went on the air, WWE uploaded a video where Drake Maverick got into a confrontation with Hit Row. Dain stepped in and told Scott that if he has a problem with Maverick, he has a problem with Dain too. That angle also aired on this week’s NXT.
Scott’s Hit Row group formed on NXT last month. It also includes Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, and B-Fab. Top Dolla (AJ Francis) and B-Fab (Briana Brandy) made their NXT TV debuts as part of the group.
Hit Row cut a promo on NXT last week stating that it’s time for them to go after gold. They mentioned the NXT Championship, NXT North American Championship, NXT Tag Team titles, and NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Next Tuesday’s NXT is the go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House. Here’s the updated lineup for the episode:
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai
Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Killian Dain
Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy returns to NXT
A new match announcement has been made for next week’s NXT.
During this morning’s edition of WWE’s The Bump, it was announced that Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory will take place on NXT next Tuesday. The episode is NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Lorcan and Theory are each aligned with one of the wrestlers who will be taking part in the fatal five-way match for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: In Your House. Lorcan is aligned with Pete Dunne, while Theory is stablemates with Johnny Gargano. A triple threat match between Dunne, Gargano, and Kyle O’Reilly on last night’s NXT was supposed to decide NXT Champion Karrion Kross’ challenger for TakeOver, but it ended in a no contest when Adam Cole made his return and attacked all three wrestlers.
Lorcan and Theory got into a shoving match backstage after last night’s triple threat match and had to be separated by officials. Lorcan said Dunne would have won the match if it wasn’t for Cole. Theory disagreed and said Gargano would’ve won.
Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Dunne, Gargano, O’Reilly, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House. The event is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai is also set for next Tuesday’s NXT. It will be part of the final build to Moon challenging for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver. Plus, Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy will make her return to NXT as she appears on next Tuesday’s episode.
Adam Cole returned to NXT last night and put a stop to the show’s triple threat number one contender’s match.
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano on last night’s show was supposed to decide NXT Champion Karrion Kross’ challenger for TakeOver: In Your House, but the match ended in a no contest when Cole attacked all three wrestlers. It was announced later in the night that Kross will defend his NXT Championship against O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver.
NXT general manager William Regal initially didn’t want to give Cole a title shot, but Kross told Regal that he wanted to face all of O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole at TakeOver. Kross had confronted Cole after Cole cut a promo calling Kross a “big, overrated musclehead” who doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him.
Kross said that when he signed with NXT, Cole stopped being special. But Cole said that while NXT has done everything in their power to make Kross feel special — all they have to do to make Cole feel special is ring the bell.
Three other matches were also confirmed for TakeOver: In Your House last night. Raquel Gonzalez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Ember Moon, Cameron Grimes will take on LA Knight, and Mercedes Martinez will face Xia Li. The TakeOver event is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
Last night’s NXT also featured two title matches. In the main event, MSK retained their Tag Team titles against Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida issued an open challenge and defeated the debuting Carmelo Hayes (formerly known as Christian Casanova).
The card for NXT’s next TakeOver event now has four confirmed matches.
WWE has announced that Mercedes Martinez will face Xia Li at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
After Martinez defeated Zayda Ramier on last week’s NXT, there was an angle where the lights went out and smoke began to fill the ring. A black mark from Li’s Tian Sha faction then appeared on the video screen. The lights went out again — and the mark was on Martinez’s hand when they came back on.
In a promo that aired on NXT tonight, Li said she’ll never forget how Martinez tried to embarrass her when they faced off in the 2017 Mae Young Classic. Martinez defeated Li in the first round of that tournament. The bout was Li’s first-ever pro wrestling match.
Li said during her promo tonight that she feels sick whenever she rewatches that Mae Young Classic match. Li claimed that Martinez tried to bring shame to Li’s name and disgrace to her family. Li said she’s a true warrior now and has been waiting for this moment for four years. Li said Martinez is standing in the way of her destiny. Li vowed that she’s going to purge Martinez at TakeOver: In Your House.
Martinez responded to Li later on tonight’s show. Martinez said Li may be more badass and dangerous now than she was in 2017 — but so is Martinez. Martinez said Li is standing in the way of Martinez’s way back to the NXT Women’s Championship. Martinez said she’ll run through Li at TakeOver.
Martinez unsuccessfully challenged for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship on an episode of NXT last month.
TakeOver; In Your House will air live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else. Here’s the updated lineup for the event:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
A couple of announcements have been made for NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai will take place on NXT next Tuesday. Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy will also make her return to NXT as she appears on the show.
Moon vs. Kai will be part of the final build to Moon challenging for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: In Your House. The TakeOver event is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
On NXT last week, Moon & Shotzi Blackheart defeated Gonzalez & Kai in a tag team match. But there was then a post-match angle where Gonzalez knocked Moon down and had Kai force Moon to watch on as Gonzalez laid out Blackheart. Moon wanted revenge on tonight’s show and called out Gonzalez. Moon and Gonzalez brawled and Moon sent Gonzalez out of the ring, but Kai then ambushed Moon and beat her down.
Poppy has appeared on NXT multiple times in the past. She most recently performed at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April.
During a backstage interview on NXT tonight, Candice LeRae asked why they keep letting Poppy come back to NXT and said Poppy probably wants to be the next Bad Bunny. LeRae told Poppy to grow up. LeRae wasn’t happy that backstage correspondent McKenzie Mitchell was mentioning other news during her interview.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated Zoey Stark & Zayda Ramier in a non-title match later on tonight’s show.
Ember Moon will be the next challenger for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship.
WWE has announced that Gonzalez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Moon at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13. Moon called out Gonzalez on NXT tonight following an angle on last week’s show where Moon was forced to watch Gonzalez lay out her tag team partner Shotzi Blackheart.
Moon & Blackheart defeated Gonzalez & Dakota Kai in tag team action on NXT last week, but Gonzalez knocked Moon down after the match and attacked Blackheart. Gonzalez told Kai to make Moon watch her lay out Blackheart. Gonzalez powerbombed Blackheart into the plexiglass surrounding the ringside area, powerbombed her into the ring post, and then dropped Blackheart onto the barricade. Gonzalez warned Moon that she would be next.
On tonight’s NXT, Moon told Gonzalez to come out to the ring and said she wasn’t going to let what Gonzalez did to Blackheart slide. Moon brawled with Gonzalez and sent her outside of the ring, but Kai then ambushed Moon from behind and beat her down.
Moon vs. Kai is set for next Tuesday’s NXT. The episode is NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. In her first title defense, Gonzalez retained against Mercedes Martinez last month.
Moon previously held the NXT Women’s Championship from November 2017 to April 2018.
Here’s the updated lineup for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
A matchup between wrestlers vying for the attention of Ted DiBiase is set for NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight will take place at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13. The match was announced after Grimes caused LA Knight to lose to Jake Atlas on NXT tonight.
Grimes and DiBiase had been feuding leading into them meeting for a “Million Dollar Face-Off” on NXT last week. DiBiase told Grimes that he sees a little bit of himself when he looks at Grimes. DiBiase said he was there because he’s looking for the one individual who can continue his Million Dollar legacy. DiBiase said Grimes has what it takes in the ring, but he’s lost his focus since becoming rich.
Knight then interrupted the Million Dollar Face-Off and said he can take the Million Dollar legacy to new levels. Grimes threatened Knight, but the segment ended with Knight laying Grimes out.
DiBiase watched on as Knight faced Atlas on tonight’s NXT. Grimes made his way out during the match and spoke with DiBiase. Grimes said the Million Dollar legacy should belong with him. When Knight was on the top rope, he turned his attention to Grimes and got distracted. The distraction led to Knight getting crotched on the top rope and Atlas hitting his cartwheel DDT to get the win.
DiBiase shook his head in disapproval at Knight before walking off. When he was interviewed backstage, DiBiase was asked who is truly deserving of carrying on the Million Dollar legacy. DiBiase said Knight dropped the ball tonight but Grimes showed that it takes both brains and brawn.
Atlas also picked up a win on NXT two weeks ago, defeating Grimes after Grimes was distracted by DiBiase.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Carmelo Hayes wanted to make his NXT debut a memorable one, answering Cruiserweight Champion Kushida’s open challenge Tuesday.
After a competitive match, Hayes eventually succumbed to the Hoverboard Lock, giving Kushida his second successful title defense.
The 26-year-old Hayes was formerly known on the indies as Christian Casanova and signed a WWE developmental deal in February. He was part of the largest-ever Performance Center class announced that same month and was previously seen on TV as a unnamed security team member.
Hayes hung with Kushida the entire match, but the beginning of the end came when he ate a right hand as he sprung off the ropes. Kushida followed with a soccer kick and then the submission for the win, showing respect by shaking Hayes’ hand afterward.
William Regal recently said that new cruiserweights were coming to NXT. Kushida had won the title in an open challenge in April, defeating then-champion Santos Escobar.
Adam Cole returning to NXT tonight led to a fatal five-way title match being announced for NXT’s next TakeOver event.
Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on tonight’s show was supposed to decide Kross’ challenger for TakeOver, but it ended in a no contest as part of an angle where Cole returned and took out all three wrestlers. A furious William Regal then made his way out with security. Cole hit a superkick on O’Reilly before Regal and security finally got him to go to the back.
Cole appeared again later in the show and said that he wants the NXT Championship back. He called Kross a “big, overrated musclehead” who doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. Kross then came out to the ring and confronted Cole.
Kross said Cole’s motives in getting involved in the triple threat match were understandable. But Kross said that when he signed with NXT, Cole stopped being special. Cole said NXT has done everything in their power to make Kross feel special — but all they have to do to make Cole feel special is ring the bell. Cole said Kross isn’t on his level and anyone who watches pro wrestling knows that. Cole said Kross is just a guy who has his property.
Regal said he could see what Cole was doing and it wasn’t going to work, but Kross told Regal that he wants to face everyone at TakeOver: In Your House. Kross said to give him O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole. Regal agreed to make the match.
This was just the second time Cole has appeared on NXT since losing to O’Reilly in an unsanctioned match at April’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. A sit-down interview with Cole aired on the April 27 episode of the show.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He’s made one title defense since then, retaining against Balor in a rematch last week.
