In a recent interview, Triple H talked about NXT’s move to Tuesdays and their competition with AEW.
On Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg, Triple H explained that they weren’t just in competition with AEW, they were in competition with everyone and everything.
“The promotional opportunity for us is much better on a Tuesday,” he explained. “And also then not having to have a narrative where it’s just constantly about an imaginary war, or this imaginary battle. And, you know, people can say what they want, but the truth of the matter is you compete against everything. If you are creating a television product or content– that is the world we live in is content not television, not internet. It’s everything. So you’re constantly competing for eyeballs and time against everything under the sun, including sleep and time to do other things, and video games, and Tik Tok and everything else that’s out there.”
Triple H said he was thrilled with NXT moving to Tuesdays, as more talent will be able to shine through.
“Again, I’m thrilled with it, and I think the opportunity is the same as it was before, which is for talent to get out there live and show everything that they can do, and I’m a big believer in that talent will shine through, and they’ll get that opportunity and you’ll make bigger and bigger stars as time goes by,” he said. “But again, it’s about making stars and them having that opportunity not just the number every single week.”
NXT officially moved to its new Tuesday time slot on April 13. Going unopposed, NXT drew 805,000 while AEW Dynamite unopposed scored 1.219 million viewers.
Kyle O’Reilly appeared on NXT last night and declared that he’s ready to move on from Adam Cole.
After defeating Cole in their unsanctioned match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, O’Reilly returned to NXT television last night and opened the show with a promo. He brought up what’s next for him and mentioned potentially challenging for Karrion Kross’ NXT Championship or Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship.
Cameron Grimes interrupted O’Reilly and wanted to invest in him. That led to O’Reilly dropping Grimes with a punch and a match between them being made for last night’s main event. O’Reilly won with a knee strike from the top rope to Grimes’ back.
Before the main event, O’Reilly had a brief staredown with Kross and Scarlett backstage.
Sarray (formerly known as Sareee) made her NXT debut last night, defeating Zoey Stark. The finishing sequence saw Sarray hit a spinning kick, a forearm strike, and a suplex before pinning Stark.
Sarray and Stark showed respect to each other after the match. Toni Storm then attacked Stark on the ramp until Sarray came to Stark’s aid.
Also on last night’s show, new NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida issued an open challenge, former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai took part in a sit-down interview, Dexter Lumis faced LA Knight, and more.
NXT’s second episode since moving to Tuesdays takes place tonight.
Kyle O’Reilly will kick off the show by making his first appearance since defeating Adam Cole in their unsanctioned match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. On last week’s NXT, footage was shown of O’Reilly and Cole both being taken out by ambulance following their unsanctioned match. Cole yelled at O’Reilly and threatened him as they were being wheeled into the hospital.
The NXT women’s division will get a new addition as Sarray makes her debut. She’ll be facing Zoey Stark.
Tonight’s show will also feature Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight, an open challenge issued by new NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida, Breezango vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans, and a special sit-down interview with Io Shirai. This will be Shirai’s first appearance since losing the NXT Women’s Championship to Raquel Gonzalez at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Kushida answered Santos Escobar’s open challenge last week and defeated him to win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Kyle O’Reilly is opening the show with an in-ring promo. He sauntered to the ring in street clothes that including a denim jacket, sunglasses and a fedora. Cool as a fan. He ditched the shades and the hat when he started to get serious, but he would put them back by the end of the segment.
O’Reilly wanted his work in the ring to speak for itself. After defeating Adam Cole, it was time to move on. O’Reilly found that killer instinct he needed. He talked about his next goal, and he begins to mention the NXT Championship. Cameron Grimes interrupted him.
Grimes confronted O’Reilly in the ring, and Grimes wanted to “invest” in O’Reilly. Grimes thought O’Reilly was buying what he was selling, and O’Reilly jokingly played along. O’Reilly said he is cleared to wrestle, and his next opponent was nearby. Of course, it was Grimes, but he was the last to figure it out. O’Reilly decked him, and they have a match later tonight.
Sarray was entering the building when she was met by William Regal. He welcomed her before Zoey Stark approached them. Stark wanted to wrestle Sarray tonight, and Sarray agreed to the bout. They have a match later on.
LA Knight cut a promo making excuses for getting eliminated from the Gauntlet Eliminator. He then insulted Dexter Lumis. Knight and Lumis meet in match up next.
LA Knight defeated Dexter Lumis
Knight pinned Lumis after Lumis was distracted by Indi Hartwell.
Knight was getting his tail kicked when he cut off Lumis before a commercial break. Lumis fought back during the break, but Knight cut him off again. Knight was working over Lumis as the show returned from the break.
Lumis made a comeback, but Knight targeted the back by ramming Lumis into the ring apron. That again cut off Lumis. They were fighting at ringside when Lumis noticed Indi Hartwell at ringside.
Lumis and Hartwell looked longingly into each other’s eyes. Knight hit Lumis with a sneak attack, and then Knight started trying to run game on Hartwell. Lumis jumped over the ropes with a flying ax handle to the floor on Knight. However, Lumis was again distracted by Hartwell. Knight delivered a wacky neckbreaker, and Knight covered Lumis for a pinfall.
Hartwell and Lumis were about to kiss when The Way came out to pull Hartwell off the ring apron. Austin Theory carried Hartwell away as Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano barked at everyone.
Beth Phoenix interviewed Io Shirai in a pre-tape sit-down at the PC. Shirai in English talked about possibly taking a break. They were interrupted by Presley the Pomeranian as he leapt onto the table. Franky Monet entered the scene apologizing for Presley. She has to be a heel putting the heat on poor Presley like that, because he’s a good boy.
Monet said it was nice to meet Shirai, and Monet was also thrilled to meet Phoenix. Since Shirai was taking a break, Monet said she wanted to fill her shoes. Monet went on to say her shoes were better anyways. Shirai jumped to her feet and cut a promo on Monet in Japanese. Monet said she didn’t understand. Shirai in English exclaimed, “I like cats!” Shirai then walked off. Monet said somebody must be having a bad day.
Breezango were cosplaying as the Queen’s Guard. This angered the Grizzled Young Veterans. They all fought through a commercial break. James Drake was leaping off the top turnbuckle when the show returned from break, and he sold his knee like it went out on him. The action stopped briefly, but it was dern dirty trick.
With the referee busy tending to Drake, Zack Gibson poked Fandango in the eye. Drake was playing possum like he was Bret Hart, and Drake peppered Fandango. The Vets began to work over Fandango, until a hot tag allowed Tyler Breeze to clean house on the heels.
Vets soon cut off Breeze. He did bot notice a bling tag, and Breeze was soon caught with a Ticket To Mayhem. Gibson then covered Breeze for a pinfall.
McKenzie Mitchell was trying to interview Indi Hartwell, but they were interrupted by The Way. Bronson Reed then confronted them. This led to Austin Theory saying he was booked in a match against Reed for next week. This skit was more like Saturday Night Live than a wrestling angle. That is good depending on if you like that sort of thing.
After a commercial break, Mitchell was back with another interview. This time it was with an angry Cameron Grimes. He was given an envelope that cheered him up … but not for long. Grimes thought he had the winning bid on a NFT, but a letter informed him he was instead outbid by Ted DiBiase. Grimes flew into a rage and screamed DiBiase’s name.
Sarray defeated Zoey Stark
Sarray pinned Stark after a Saito suplex. This was very different than most any other match on a WWE show. This was more of a joshi-style match than a WWE bout. It was hard hitting and pretty dang good.
Sarray was pushed like a really big deal. This was a showcase match for Sarray, but Stark did get plenty of offense. Stark first had to escape from a STF, but she came back to work over Sarray.
They traded strikes, and Sarray rocked Stark with dropkicks. That led into a near fall for Sarray with a fisherman’s buster. Stark answered back with a high kick, a suplex, a knee strike, and a two count.
Stark missed a 450. They traded near falls. Sarray delivered a kick and series of strikes before executing a suplex. Sarray then covered Stark for pinfall.
Toni Storm ran down to attack Stark after the match. Sarray came to Stark’s aid, and Storm backed away.
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez was interviewed with Dakota Kai by her side. Kai was clearly a heel, but Gonzalez was less heelish. Gonzalez was more of a strong champion ready for a challenge.
Candice LeRae was backstage trying to get Indi Hartwell to focus on something other than Lumis. LeRae was ranting and raving with Hartwell following her. LeRae did not notice when Hartwell stopped following her. LeRae then bumped into the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart. LeRae was cutting a promo on them thinking Hartwell had her back. Hartwell did not. The champs then attacked LeRae. That’s odd tactics for babyfaces, but whatever.
A video packeged hyped Kushida, and then the new NXT Cruiserweight Champion came to the ring for his first title defense. Kushida first cut a promo saying he was issuing an open challenge. Out came Oney Loran to answer the challenge.
Kushida submitted Lorcan with a Hoverboard Lock. This was fantastic. Legado del Fantasma attacked Kushida after the match.
Last week Kushida not only won the title, but he debuted his new trunks. Yet he still wore boots, even if he ditched the shorts he had worn. This week he also ditched the boots as well. He wrestled barefoot. The announcers speculated it had something to do with Kushida’s MMA background.
They grappled like this was a flashy Pancrase match, but they also did pro wrestling spots. Kushida went for an armbar, but Lorcan escaped. Kushida was clearly in control when the show went to a commercial break.
Lorcan was able to cut off Kushida during the break. Kushida after the break began to fire up into a handspring, but Lorcan hit him with a lariat. Kushida moments later came back with palm strike. More strikes and kicks by Kushida.
They trade strikes, and Lorcan catches Kushida with a blockbuster. Kushida kicked out a two. Kushida absorbs chops from Lorcan, and Kushida made a comeback as if the chops woke him up. Kushida locked in the Hoverboard Lock, and Lorcan tapped out.
Santos Esobar and Legado del Fantasma attacked Kushdia after the bout was over. NXT Tag Team Champions MSK made a save, and they ran off Legado del Fantasma.
Mercedes Martinez cut a promo calling out Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner with Alexander Wolfe) defeated Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel)
Barthel pinned Parker in dominate fashion. There was some gaga, but this was mostly Imperium looking like killers.
Imperium was squashing Ever-Rise, until Killian Dain entered the scene. When Dain appeared at ringside, Aichner was distracted by him. That allowed Parker to roll up Aichner for a two count. Parker paid for it, and he was clobbered.
Drake Maverick came down to ringside wanting to fight Wolfe, but Dain carried Maverick away. Meanwhile, Parker took a Doomsday upper cut, and Barthel covered him for a pinfall.
Announced for next Tuesday on NXT are two matches. Dakota Kai against Mercedes Martinez in a singles match, and Bronson Reed meets Austin Theory in a stipulation match. If Reed wins, he earns a title match for the NXT North American Championship.
Kyle O’Reilly on his way to the ring was met by NXT Champion Karrio Kross and Scarlett. They all stared at each other. Looks like O’Reilly is being positioned as the next challenger.
Kyle O’Reilly defeated Cameron Grimes
O’Reilly pinned Grimes in a fantastic match. Great wrestling in this match, although it did not have the aura of a main event at first. The action made up for the lack of aura, and it was a really great match nonetheless.
Lots of nifty chain wrestling, and O’Reilly was seemingly in control. Grimes struck with a German suplex to turn the tide, and the show cut to a commercial break. Grimes targeted the neck, and Grimes was working over O’Reilly as the show returned from the break.
O’Reilly eventually fired up after they traded strikes. O’Reilly went for a heel hook, but Grimes reached the ropes. Grimes fought back, but O’Reilly locked in a submission. O’Reilly then delivered a PK. Grimes still fought back with a spinning slam.
O’Reilly countered a German suplex with a leglock. They traded more strikes, and Grimes with another near fall. O’Reilly fired up one last time, and he nailed Grimes with Ax and Smash. O’Reilly delivered a brainbuster, and then he climbed the turnbuckles. O’Reilly leapt into a Bobby Eaton flying knee drop, and then he pinned Grimes.
Tonight’s NXT will feature Io Shirai’s first appearance since losing the NXT Women’s Championship.
In an email sent out promoting the show this afternoon, WWE announced that a special sit-down interview with Shirai will take place on NXT tonight. Shirai lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Raquel Gonzalez in the main event of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one earlier this month.
A few more announcements were also made for tonight’s NXT. Kyle O’Reilly will kick off the episode, making his first appearance since defeating Adam Cole in their unsanctioned match in the main event of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two. Zoey Stark will be Sarray’s opponent as Sarray makes her NXT debut tonight, and Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Breezango) vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) has been added to the card for the show.
On last week’s NXT, footage was shown of O’Reilly and Cole being taken out by ambulance after their unsanctioned match. As they were being wheeled into the hospital, Cole yelled at O’Reilly and threatened him.
Sarray (formerly known as Sareee) is 24 years old and from Tokyo, Japan. World Woman Pro Wrestling Diana, SEAdLINNNG, and Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling are among the promotions she’s wrestled for during her career.
MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one to win the then-vacant NXT Tag Team titles. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain defeated Breezango in a number one contender’s match on the TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two pre-show. MSK retained their titles against Maverick & Dain last week.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
Kyle O’Reilly will kick off the show
Sarray vs. Zoey Stark
Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight
New NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida will issue an open challenge
After winning the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in an open challenge, Kushida is set to issue one of his own.
Kushida posted a tweet today announcing that he’ll be issuing an open challenge on tonight’s episode of NXT: “Tonight, I’m repaying the favor. I’m issuing an open challenge for MY Cruiserweight Title @WWENXT.” It had already been announced that a championship celebration with Kushida would be taking place on tonight’s episode.
Last week, Kushida answered Santos Escobar’s open challenge and defeated him to win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. This is the first title Kushida has held since signing with WWE in 2019.
Escobar had become the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion by defeating Jordan Devlin in a ladder match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver earlier this month. After Kushida’s title win, Devlin confronted him backstage. Devlin told Kushida that he has to go home for a little while but will be coming for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship when he returns.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
Kyle O’Reilly makes his first appearance since defeating Adam Cole in their unsanctioned match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Sarray debuts
Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight
New NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida will issue an open challenge
A championship celebration has been added to the lineup for this week’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that a championship celebration with new NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida will take place on NXT this Tuesday night. Kushida answered Santos Escobar’s open challenge on last week’s NXT and defeated him to win the Cruiserweight Championship.
This is the first title that Kushida has held since signing with WWE in 2019. He’s a former six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in NJPW.
Escobar had defeated Jordan Devlin in a ladder match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver earlier this month to become the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion. After Kushida’s title win last week, Devlin confronted Kushida backstage. Devlin called himself the best wrestler in the world under 205 pounds and said Kushida is lucky that Devlin has to go home for a little while — but he’ll be back and he’ll be coming for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Kushida told NXT general manager William Regal that he’ll face Devlin anytime.
This week’s NXT will be the show’s second episode since moving to Tuesday nights. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
Kyle O’Reilly makes his first appearance since defeating Adam Cole in their unsanctioned match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Sarray debuts
Dexter Lumis vs. LA Knight
New NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida’s championship celebration
Dexter Lumis is set to face off with the person who eliminated him from NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver’s Gauntlet Eliminator match.
WWE has announced that Lumis vs. LA Knight will take place on Tuesday’s episode of NXT. It will be the second NXT episode since the show moved to Tuesday nights.
In the Gauntlet Eliminator match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one, Knight pinned Lumis as Lumis had his Silence choke locked on Cameron Grimes. Knight taunted Lumis and then turned around into a knee strike from Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. Grimes slammed Knight, then Bronson Reed hit a senton on Knight and pinned him. After Knight was eliminated, Lumis put him in the Silence choke outside of the ring.
Reed won the Gauntlet Eliminator match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one and then unsuccessfully challenged for Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship at night two.
On this week’s NXT, Lumis, Reed, Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defeated The Way (Gargano, Austin Theory, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) in an eight-person tag team main event. Lumis carried Hartwell out during the match, but she returned to The Way during an interview that WWE uploaded after the show.
Here’s the updated lineup for Tuesday’s NXT:
Kyle O’Reilly makes his first appearance since defeating Adam Cole in their unsanctioned match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
For the first time in more than a year, Moustache Mountain are set for tag team action.
WWE has announced that Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) will face Noam Dar & Sha Samuels on next Thursday’s episode of NXT UK. It will be the first time Bate & Seven have teamed together since NXT UK returned with new episodes in September of last year.
Bate & Seven teaming against Dar & Samuels comes after Bate defeated Dar at NXT UK: Prelude last week to become the number one contender to A-Kid’s Heritage Cup Championship. Seven was in Bate’s corner for the match, while Samuels was in Dar’s corner.
When A-Kid and Bate’s Heritage Cup Championship match will be taking place hasn’t been revealed. A-Kid became the first-ever Heritage Cup Champion by defeating Seven in the finals of a tournament last November. A-Kid successfully defended the title against Bate in December, winning the match two falls to one.
Two other matches have also been announced for next Thursday’s NXT UK. Joe Coffey will face Eddie Dennis, while Jinny will take on Dani Luna.
Andy Shepherd opened the show at London, England’s BT Studios as some highlights from WrestleMania week and matches of current and former NXT UK stars aired.
Nathan Frazer pinned Saxon Huxley (6:06)
Huxley ragdolled Frazer right away, but the former Ben Carter used his speed and athleticism to evade the bigger man to the best of his abilities. He still got thrown around and pummeled a good amount. He got in some offense, but quickly was beaten down again and again.
Frazer finally managed to hit a reverse crossbody off the ropes as Huxley looked to put him on the top rope. He sent Huxley to the outside and then followed up with a vicious dive through the ropes. He hit a quebrada into a reverse DDT followed by a top rope dropkick. Frazer went up top again and delivered a beautiful frog splash that got him the pin and the win.
— Noam Dar (with Sha Samuels) was asked about losing his match with Tyler Bate at Prelude. Samuels shouted and went off about Trent Seven being handed opportunities on a silver platter. Dar revealed that he signed a match between himself and Samuels against Moustache Mountain (Bate and Seven) next week.
Supernova Sessions with Gallus
Dar plugged the tag tam match for next week. Gallus then entered and sat down on Dar’s couch which didn’t make him happy. He tried getting on the couch with them, but they made him sit on a folding chair.
Mark Coffey talked about them being on holiday, training in the morning and drinking in the afternoon. Wolfgang said he worked on his anger management. Joe Coffey said he wanted to go at a rampage.
Eddie Dennis walked up to the set and asked Gallus if they really held themselves to a higher standard in the tag team division. He said they only lost the tag titles to Pretty Deadly because Joe got involved in their business. He said he wasn’t dressed to fight and neither were Gallus, but “they were” as The Hunt (or Primate & T-Bone if that’s what they are called now) attacked Mark and Wolfgang as Joe got into it with Dennis. A number of referees ran out to break things up as Dar was having a blast and called for his “funky music” to be played.
— Sam Gradwell walked up to BT Sport Studios and didn’t want to answer any questions. The door to the arena was closed and he banged on it. Dave Mastiff opened and Gradwell asked if he could get the door any slower. Mastiff closed it again and left Gradwell out in the cold.
— Moustache Mountain talked about their match against Dar & Samuels next week.
Isla Dawn pinned Emilia McKenzie (5:34)
Dawn backed McKenzie into the corner, but quickly was hit by a kick and found herself in a side headlock, followed by a suplex. Dawn hit a backdrop driver for a two count. McKenzie caught her in a small package for another near fall. Dawn locked in a butterfly submission, but McKenzie powered out. She hit a dropkick to the leg and a running European uppercut and then did a forward roll off the turnbuckles into a spear for another pinfall attempt.
Dawn came back with a running knee into the corner, followed by a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. McKenzie hit a high angle back suplex for two. She threw a shoulderblock and strikes in the corner, but caught a Dawn kick as the referee stopped her. Dawn followed up with a bridging German suplex for the pinfall victory.
— Jinny (with Joseph Conners) cut a promo on Dani Luna, who she will face next week. She said Luna walked around with her ugly face like she didn’t want to be here and she didn’t deserve to be either. She said Luna wore the same dirty outfit to the ring every time and would become a fashion victim when she faces Jinny.
— A video recapped Aoife Valkyrie challenging Meiko Satomura after the tag team match at NXT UK: Prelude last week as she put a feather down in the aisle. They showed Satomura walking up to Valkyrie backstage later and telling her she knew what this meant and that she accepts.
Jack Starz (w/ Piper Niven) pinned Ashton Smith (5:58)
Starz briefly got Smith in an ankle lock early, but quickly got kicked off. Smith worked over Starz’ arm but got rolled up. Smith came back with a stiff clothesline out of the corner and hit a back suplex and a gorilla press slam, but Starz kicked out of pinfall attempts after each move.
Starz escaped a vertical suplex, but got slingshotted over the top to the outside. Niven encouraged him and told him to dig deeper. He eventually evaded a clothesline and rolled Smith up for the victory. Niven celebrated with Starz and even kissed him on the cheek.
Kenny Williams pinned Amir Jordan (11:30)
A great video recapped their career and eventual breakup aired before the match.
Jordan attacked Williams with a clothesline before the bell even rang. He got thrown to ringside, but hit Williams with a kick as he somersaulted over the ropes. Jordan drove Williams into the steps and continued running wild on his former partner back in the ring. Jordan hit a baseball slide on Williams who was on the outside once more, but the “Luckyan” kicked Jordan as he came through the ropes and took over.
Williams attacked Jordan’s taped-up shoulder and then rained down blows on him. He hit a northern lights suplex followed by a kick for a two count. Williams had a huge red welt on his side. Jordan threw Williams off the top from a superplex attempt and followed with a dropkick.
Jordan hit a somersault senton off the top for another near fall. He got Williams on his shoulders, but Williams escaped and rolled him up for another two. Williams hit a seesaw lariat after which both men went down. They traded strikes and Williams hit a wheelbarrow face buster for another near fall.
Williams went to remove the turnbuckle, but the referee stopped him and Jordan rolled him up for another near fall. Jordan hit a superkick for a very close near fall. Williams managed to partially remove another turnbuckle and slammed Jordan’s head into it, readjusted it and followed with a headlock driver for the pinfall.
Final Thoughts:
This was another fun show which nicely progressed some storylines. Kenny Williams could become an intriguing, cheating heel character and certainly has the look. He talked about wanting a more prominent position on the roster. Isla Dawn also is looking to move up on the card and should Emilia McKenzie be the one to dethrone UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, there is an automatic backstory for a title match built in.
Gallus vs. The Hunt should lead to some fun mean guy matches and an inevitable six-man tag down the road. Piper Niven pushing Jack Starz to victory also is a nice feel good story with some slight romantic undertones, too. The question is will this build to an on-screen romance or will Starz at some point misinterpret things?
A new era for NXT began as the show debuted on Tuesday nights.
Last night’s TakeOver Stand & Deliver fallout edition of NXT featured NXT Champion Karrion Kross and NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez first promos since winning their titles. Kross declared that he’s now in command of NXT and vowed to defeat every single challenger until there’s no one left.
Gonzalez was interrupted by the debuting Franky Monet (formerly known as Taya Valkyrie), then SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley appeared and celebrated their title wins with Gonzalez.
A new champion was crowned as Kushida answered Santos Escobar’s open challenge and defeated him to win the NXT Cruiserweight title. New NXT Tag Team Champions MSK made their first title defense, defeating Killian Dain & Drake Maverick.
Footage of the aftermath of Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole’s unsanctioned match showed both being taken out by ambulance. As they were being wheeled into the hospital, Cole repeatedly yelled at O’Reilly and threatened him. There was also an angle last night where Cole and O’Reilly’s former Undisputed Era stablemate Roderick Strong said he’s “done” with NXT and handed in his resignation.
Plus, an eight-person tag match headlined the show, Leon Ruff faced Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in a grudge match, and Mercedes Martinez took on Jessi Kamea.
Next week’s NXT will feature Kyle O’Reilly’s first appearance since TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
WWE has announced that O’Reilly will be appearing on NXT next Tuesday night. In the main event of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two last week, O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole in an unsanctioned match.
Neither O’Reilly nor Cole appeared live on NXT tonight, but WWE showed footage of what happened in the aftermath of their unsanctioned match. The footage showed Cole being stretchered out and being transported to the hospital by ambulance. The angle also showed O’Reilly collapsing backstage after the match and being taken out by ambulance.
Cole and O’Reilly’s ambulances arrived at the hospital at the same time. As they were being wheeled in, Cole repeatedly yelled at O’Reilly and threatened him.
Tonight’s NXT also included an angle with Cole and O’Reilly’s former Undisputed Era stablemate Roderick Strong. Following the breakup of Undisputed Era, Strong met with NXT general manager William Regal on tonight’s show. Strong handed Regal an envelope and told Regal that he was “done” in NXT. Regal called Strong the ultimate professional and said he’s welcome back in NXT at any time.
Strong’s wife/fellow WWE wrestler Marina Shafir appeared with him during tonight’s meeting.
WWE has also announced that Sarray will make her NXT debut next Tuesday. The 24-year-old Sarray (formerly known as Sareee) is from Tokyo, Japan. World Woman Pro Wrestling Diana, SEAdLINNNG, and Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling are among the promotions she’s wrestled for during her career.
Sarray coming to NXT was officially confirmed last month. She was originally supposed to move to the United States and start with WWE in 2020, but that was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarray is using the nickname “The Warrior of the Sun” in NXT.
Now going by the name Franky Monet, Taya Valkyrie arrived in WWE on tonight’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver fallout edition of NXT.
Monet made her NXT debut by interrupting new NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez on tonight’s show. WWE had been hyping for the past two weeks that Monet would be debuting tonight.
After defeating Io Shirai to win the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one last week, Gonzalez cut a promo on tonight’s show and declared that the Raquel Gonzalez era has officially begun. Monet’s music then hit and she came out to the ring with her Pomeranian dog. Monet congratulated Gonzalez on her title win but said she was here to formally introduce herself to Gonzalez and the world. Monet called herself La Wera Loca Franky Monet.
Monet said the best division on the planet has now gotten a little shinier, a little more boujee, and a whole lot better. Monet said that since Gonzalez is at the top of Monet’s division, she’ll be seeing a whole lot more of Monet. Gonzalez responded by saying Monet is lucky that she’s in a good mood tonight. Gonzalez said that if Monet interrupts her again, she’ll shove Monet’s dog straight up Monet’s butt. Monet told Gonzalez that she’ll be seeing her every single Tuesday.
After Monet left the ring, new Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and new SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair appeared on NXT and celebrated their title wins with Gonzalez.
It was announced this February that Valkyrie had signed with WWE and joined the Performance Center. She’s a former Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion and has also held the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship three times during her career.
Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley appeared on tonight’s episode of NXT, celebrating their recent title wins with Raquel Gonzalez.
After a confrontation with the debuting Franky Monet (Taya Valkyrie), both Ripley and Belair came to the ring and congratulated Gonzalez on her NXT Women’s Championship win. The three posed in the ring, holding their championships high as a picture of themselves during their time in NXT was displayed in the background.
All three women won the WWE’s top singles titles last week. Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai on the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver. Belair beat Sasha Banks in the main event of the first night of WrestleMania 37 to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion, while Ripley defeated Asuka on the second night of WrestleMania to become Raw Women’s Champion.
Earlier in the segment, Gonzalez came to the ring to celebrate winning the NXT Women’s title when Monet made her debut. In her debut, Monet called out Gonzalez and said that since Gonzalez was at the top of the division, she would be seeing a lot more of her going forward.
A new Cruiserweight Champion was crowned on the TakeOver: Stand & Deliver fallout edition of NXT.
On NXT tonight, Kushida answered Santos Escobar’s open challenge and defeated Escobar to win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Escobar was going for the Phantom Driver near the end of the match, but Kushida turned it into a pinning attempt. They traded two counts, then Kushida pinned Escobar to win the title.
This is the first title that Kushida has held since joining WWE in 2019. During his NJPW career, Kushida was IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion six times.
Going into tonight’s show, Escobar was the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion after defeating Jordan Devlin in their ladder match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two last Thursday. Escobar and Devlin had both claimed to be the rightful NXT Cruiserweight Champion leading into that match.
Kushida was also in action at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He lost to Pete Dunne on night one of the event.
As NXT general manager William Regal was congratulating Kushida backstage after his title win tonight, Devlin walked up and confronted Kushida. Devlin said Kushida might have beaten Escobar, but Devlin is the best wrestler in the world under 205 pounds. Devlin said Kushida is lucky that Devlin has to go home for a little while — but he’ll be back and will be coming for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Kushida told Regal that he’ll face Devlin anytime.
Devlin defeated Kushida when they faced off on NXT three weeks ago.
The fallout from TakeOver: Stand & Deliver takes place as NXT debuts on Tuesday nights.
New NXT Champion Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) will kick off tonight’s show. Kross defeated Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two last week to win the NXT Championship.
A new NXT Women’s Champion was crowned as Raquel Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai in the main event of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one. We’ll hear from Gonzalez tonight.
Santos Escobar became the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion by defeating Jordan Devlin in a ladder match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two. Tonight, Escobar will issue an open challenge.
Four more matches are also set for tonight’s show. New NXT Tag Team Champions MSK will defend their titles against Drake Maverick & Killian Dain, Leon Ruff will face Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, The Way (NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, Austin Theory, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) will take on Bronson Reed, Dexter Lumis, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in an eight-person tag match, and Mercedes Martinez will face Jessi Kamea.
Plus, Franky Monet will debut and we’ll see footage of what happened after Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole’s unsanctioned match at TakeOver. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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New NXT Champion Karrion Kross opened the show alongside Scarlett. Kross addressed the audience for the first time since capturing the championship at TakeOver. He said time comes full circle, and it was only a matter of time before he was champion again.
Kross put over Balor as “one of the greatest” of all time. Kross went on to say his weakness were emotions, but Kross used his emotions to his advantage. Kross added that he is in command of NXT until he says otherwise. Kross also put out a challenge for anyone to step up.
Vic Joseph was on commentary along with Beth Phoenix and Wade Barrett. Joseph called the recent TakeOver “the most watched NXT TakeOver ever.” Well, it was two nights. So are we adding the numbers together for those two nights? Did you take an average, or is this an aggregate? How did you come to that conclusion? Please show your work.
During a commercial break on USA Network was an ad for CarShield featuring Ric Flair. In it he was a styling, profiling, telemarketing, son of a gun. That’s a robocall I might actually answer.
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated Drake Maverick & Killian Dain to retain their titles
Lee pinned Maverick to retain the titles. Action-packed match, but the psychology was weird.
This was a match between two babyface teams. While this is an era of shades of grey, a babyfaces against babyfaces might not have been the best use of MSK. They just won the titles last week, and they looked like babyface superstars in doing so. Maybe put them against a heel team to continue that babyface momentum in their first title match. But what do I know, [insert Toru Yano shurg}?
Maverick was getting worked over during the match. That seems to be a pattern with him. Dain eventually was able tag in, and he mowed down Lee with a crossbody on the floor. The led into a commercial break, but when the show returned from the break Maverick was the legal man. Maverick again got pummeled until Dain made a save.
MSK with double team moves take down Dain. Lee with a corkscrew senton atomico for a two count. Dain began to fight back, and he pancaked Lee for a near fall. Maverick jumped in with a tilt-a-whirl into a DDT. Maverick & Dain with double team moves.
Dain powerbombed Carter, and then Dain went to powerbomb his tag partner, Maverick, on top of Carter. Lee rushed in and pulled Carter out of harms way. Maverick took the powerbomb, and Dain was soon dropped with a cutter.
Dain was knocked out of the ring. Maverick still managed to get a small package, but to no avail. MSK with their Hart Attack/Blockbuster combo on Maverick. Carter with a flip dive to the outside on Dain as Lee covered Maverick for a pinfall.
Alexander Wolfe confronted Dain in the ring after the match. Wolfe had recently tried recruiting Dain to join the Imperium stable. Others Imperium members, Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner, joined Wolfe in jumping Dain. They beat him down, and they stood over Dain.
Robert Stone was backstage with Aliyah when Mercedes Martinez confronted them. She wanted to know where her money was at. Martinez grabbed Aliyah by the throat and started choking her as Stone tried to explain himself. Stone yammered at Martinez until Jessi Kamea stepped in to get face-to-face with Martinez. This sets up a match for later on between the two.
Roderick Strong was shown arriving to the building with his wife Marina Shafir.
TakeOver Exclusive
Next up was “exclusive footage” from TakeOver of the unsanctioned match. Highlights set to music chronicled the unsanctioned match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. After the video package came the “exclusive footage” that showed both leaving the building in an ambulance.
Cole was stretchered out of the ring into a waiting ambulance. O’Reilly spoofed the final match of Katsuyori Shibata as he collapsed backstage after the match. He was rushed to the hospital alongside Cole. Their ambulances arrived at the ER at the same time, and they were wheeled in side-by-side. Cole cuts a promo on O’Reilly saying he going to kill him while both are still strapped to stretchers.
Mercedes Martinez defeated Jessi Kamea (with Robert Stone & Aliyah)
Martinez pinned Kamea, and Martinez got her money from Robert Stone.
Kamea was getting the better of Martinez, but Martinez soon cut her off with a running knee strike. Martinez then executed a modified Air Raid Crash, and she covered Kamea for teh pinfall.
Martinez after the match assaulted Stone, and she took the money from him she was owed. Martinez then issued a warning to the new NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Gonzalez.
The Way was part of a hilarious group promo ahead of their eight-person intergender tag match later in the show.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in a pre-tape vignette cut a promo on Leon Ruff ahead of their match tonight.
Legado del Fantasma was out from an in-ring promo by their leader, Santos Escobar. He bragged about making the cruiserweight championship relevant. Escobar talked about being a champion like his father, and he said his son would also be a champion. Escobar issued an open challenge, and out comes Kushida to answer it … in trunks no less.
Kushida defeated NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar to win the title
Kushida pinned Escobar to win the title in a great match.
Wickedly good start to the match as they grappled at a quick pace. Kushida begins to target a shoulder. They show cut to a picture-in-picture commercial break, so that is something that will continue despite the move to Tuesday.
Escobar was working over Kushida after the show returned from the break. He smashed Kushida into the ring steps, and then Escobar applied a liontamer on top of the steps. Escobar continued to work over Kushida, including a Super Frankensteiner for a near fall.
Kushida cut off Escobar with a reverse atomic drop, which is a move you don’t see enough of these days. Kushida started a comeback as he fired up on Escobar, and Kushida went for an arm bar. Escobar escaped, but Escobar was tripped up on the turnbuckles. Hammerlock superplex by Kushida, and another hammerlock suplex with a bridge. Escobar got his foot on the rope to break up the pin cover.
Escobar fought back, but he was dropped by Kushida. Double down led into a slugfest. They traded strikes and kicks. Kushida was going for a handspring back elbow, but Escobar caught him with a backstabber instead.
Down the stretch they were each rolling the other up trading two counts, and Kushida cradled Escobar for a three count. Kushida is the new champ!
Minutes later Kushida was in the trainer’s room with his newly won championship belt. Jordan Devlin confronted him, so a match between them is apparently in the works.
Tommaso Ciampa is back to teaming with Timothy Thatcher. They cut a promo saying they want the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Franky Monet debuts and confronts NXT Women’s Champ Raquel Gonzalez
Dakota Kai did the ring announcing like Jim Cornette would the Midnight Express. She introduced the audience to the new NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said she was supposed to debut when NXT debuted on USA Network, but she wasn’t ready. A year-and-a-half later, and Gonzalez is the champ. She thanked Kai for the help along the way.
Gonzalez put over Io Shirai as a great champion, but the Raquel Gonzalez era “has officially begun.” With that the soundstage ligths went dark. The lights came back on for a the debut of Franky Monet.
Monet carried Prince Presley the Pomeranian with her as she got into the ring, where Monet confronted Gonzalez. Monet was here to introduce herself, and she put herself over. She told Gonzalez that they would be seeing a whole lot more of Monet. Gonzalez responded by basically saying she would shove the dog up Monet’s butt.
Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair return to NXT as champions
Gonzalez was still in the ring after Monet left the scene. Suddenly, Rhea Ripley’s theme song blares over the speakers. The new Raw Women’s Champion is back on NXT to confront Gonzalez. Ripley got face-to-face with Gonzalez, but instead of fighting they toasted each other. They clanked their title belts together and they hugged in a warm embrace. They were interrupted by another NXT alum.
New Smackdown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair joined the party, and she came down to the ring with her title belt. Belair stood alongside Ripley and Gonzalez, and all three held up their respective championship belts. The crowd chanted “NXT” while there was a group hug in the ring.
Pete Dunne in promo says he is looking for a championship.
William Regal in a vignette hyped Sarray signing with NXT. Sarray, billed by Regal as “The Warrior of the Sun,” debuts next week on NXT.
Roddy Strong gives notice
Regal in his office met with Roderick Strong and Marina Shafir. Strong handed Regal an envelope, and Strong told Regal he was “done” in NXT. Regal said he was welcome back anytime. The story here is Strong is leaving the promotion. He gave his notice. For a moment, Strong looked like an actual independent contractor.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Leon Ruff
Scott pinned Ruff clean in a decent enough match. They have wrestled serveal times, and as good as this match was, it seemed like just another match to fill time. No matter how good it was bell-to-bell, this still felt like old hat. However, the feud will continue.
Lots of action, and the match went through a commercial break. No picture-and-picture. Ruff was a babyface in peril after the break, but he soon fired up on Scott. Ruff hulked up after taking hard chops.
Ruff with a springboard cutter, and Ruff flew outside with a sprinboard flip dive to the floor. Ruff followed with a missile dropkick for a two count. Super Frankensteiner by Ruff for another near fall. Mikey Whipwreck victory roll by Ruff for another close two count.
Scott blocked a second Super Frankensteiner, and Ruff was given Snake Eyes. Scott with his signature package driver, and he covered Ruff for the pinfall.
Ruff minutes later attacked Scott in the locker room. Scott was laid out after Ruff smacked him with a storage crate.
Zoey Stark was being interviewed backstage when she was cofronted by Mercedes Martinez. Looks like they are a collision course.
Ember Moon, Shotzi Blackheart, Dexter Lumis & Bronson Reed defeated The Way (Johnny Garganp, Candice LaRea, Austin Theory & Indi Hartwell) in an eight-person intergender tag team match
Reed pinned Theory to win the match. The main story was IndIi Hartwell left with her Prince Charming, who is Dexter Lumis.
Heat on Lumis as the show went through picture-in-picture commercial break. Hot tag to Bronson Reed, and he cleaned house. LeRae tried to stop him with a flying crossbody, but she just bounced off him like a bullet hitting Superman. Theory then dropped Reed, but Theory gets dropped by Lumis as everybody seems to take turns getting a spot in.
The women attacked the men. Moon hit Gargano with a tope. LeRae delivered a tornado DDT to Lumis on the floor. Reed with a military press on Blackheart, and then he threw her into a flying crossbody onto a pile of bodies outside the ring.
Lumis was trying to submit Gargano when Indi Hartwell jumped in to make the save. The backstory is Hartwell has a huge crush on Lumis. She could not bring herself to attack Lumis, so she fell to the mat. Lumis let go of Gargano, and he lifted Hartwell off the mat to check on her. Theory then attacked Lumis. This upset Hartwell, and she tossed Theory over the top rope. Hartwell took a phantom bump again, acting as if she was knocked out. Lumis saw her lying on the apron, and he carried her backstage.
As Lumis was carrying Hartwell to the back, she perked up briefly to wink at the camera. Her plan was working, and she was working Lumis. In the ring, Reed mowed down Thoery. Moon then leapt off Reed’s shoulders to deliver an Eclipse to Theory. Reed went for a splash, but Gargano tripped him up.
Reed countered an attempted suplex by Gargano, and he blocked another attempted by LeRae. Reed was eventually able to deliver his tsunami splash, and he covered Theory for a pinfall.
