WWE has revealed how the next NXT Champion will be decided.
After Karrion Kross had to relinquish the NXT Championship due to injury, William Regal announced tonight that a four-way 60-minute Iron Man match on next Tuesday’s episode of NXT will decide the new champion. Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor, and Adam Cole will be the four wrestlers vying for the title.
Regal said Gargano, Ciampa, Balor, and Cole were chosen because they’re all former NXT Champions.
Ciampa returned to NXT television tonight and quickly defeated Jake Atlas. He destroyed Atlas after the match, including giving Atlas a DDT on the floor after Atlas had been put on a stretcher. This was Ciampa’s first appearance since the aftermath of his loss to Kross at TakeOver: In Your House this June.
Balor and Cole both got wins at TakeOver XXX, defeating Timothy Thatcher and Pat McAfee in their respective matches. Gargano was part of the ladder match for the North American Championship that was won by Damian Priest.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee in the main event of TakeOver XXX but suffered a separated shoulder during the match.
Due to a conflict with the NHL playoffs, next week’s NXT will air on Tuesday (September 1) instead of Wednesday. It’s being called the Super Tuesday edition of the show.
Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream are the final two wrestlers to qualify for the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver XXX.
Gargano and Dream won their respective second chance qualifying matches on tonight’s NXT, defeating Ridge Holland and Finn Balor. The five wrestlers in Saturday’s ladder match for the vacant North American title will be Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Cameron Grimes, Gargano, and Dream.
All of the other ladder match participants got involved in tonight’s Dream vs. Balor main event. Timothy Thatcher also interfered and attacked Balor, leading to Dream getting the win.
Dexter Lumis previously qualified for the ladder match but was removed due to injury.
After Keith Lee defeated Adam Cole for the NXT Championship in their winner-take-all title vs. title match at Great American Bash night two last month, it was announced that Lee had vacated the North American Championship. It was said that Lee didn’t want to limit the roster’s opportunities and wanted as many people to get a chance to win the North American title as possible.
TakeOver XXX is taking place this Saturday. Here’s the updated card for the show:
NXT Champion Keith Lee defending against Karrion Kross
Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defending against Dakota Kai
Ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship (Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano, and Velveteen Dream)
Triple threat number one contender’s tag match: Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Breezango vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch (pre-show)
Johnny Gargano was briefly injured Wednesday during a match being taped for next week’s NXT, but was able to recover and finish the match.
Gargano was wrestling Ridge Holland with the winner going to the five-way ladder match at NXT TakeOver XXX for the vacant North American Championship. According to reports, Gargano was dropped on his head, causing the match to be stopped for several minutes. After being checked out by personnel that included Paul Levesque and Shawn Michaels, they resumed the match with Gargano being checked out further afterward.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that he doubted the spot would make air and that they likely went a different direction once the match resumed so the final edited version made sense.
Next week’s NXT show was taped after the one that aired Wednesday night and will also feature Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream in the final qualifying match, a face-to-face confrontation with Adam Cole and Pat McAfee, and a six-man tag featuring Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Isaiah Scott & Breezango.
WWE has revealed much of the lineup for NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver XXX.
Two second chance qualifying matches on next Wednesday’s NXT will decide the final two participants for the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver. Those two qualifying matches are Johnny Gargano vs. Ridge Holland and Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream.
Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, and Cameron Grimes have already been confirmed for the ladder match. Dexter Lumis had also originally qualified for it, but he’s been removed from the match due to injury.
Gargano, Holland, Balor, and Dream weren’t involved in the falls of their original qualifying matches.
Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) will face Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango in a six-man tag match on next Wednesday’s NXT. There will also be a face-to-face segment with Adam Cole and Pat McAfee ahead of their match at TakeOver.
Scott saved Breezango from Legado del Fantasma on NXT tonight after Escobar defeated Tyler Breeze in a non-title match. Escobar got the win after involvement from Mendoza and Wilde.
Via Twitter, former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano revealed that he and his wife Candice LeRae will once again invite us into their home tomorrow night. If prior evenings in the Gargano home are any indication, the black-and-gold brand’s self-proclaimed Power Couple will have plenty to say, especially after seeing NXT North American Championship and NXT Women’s Championship opportunities slip through their fingers in recent weeks.
As Johnny & Candice prepare to open their door for the NXT Universe less than two weeks before NXT TakeOver XXX, Johnny Wrestling also teased the NXT TV debut of their puppy, Pawdmé Amandalorian Amidala Wrestling Gargano.
Don’t miss what promises to be an eventful evening with the Garganos tomorrow night on WWE NXT at 8/7 C on USA Network.
Gargano lost a TakeOver XXX qualifying match to Bronson Reed and Roderick Strong last month, but he’ll get another chance to qualify next Wednesday because he didn’t lose the fall in that triple threat match. There will be two singles matches next week between the wrestlers who didn’t lose the fall in their qualifiers. Reed and Damian Priest have already qualified for the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver. They’ll be joined by three more wrestlers.
Dexter Lumis had qualified for TakeOver but has been removed from the ladder match due to injury.
Gargano defeated Strong on NXT two weeks ago. That show also featured NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox defeating Dakota Kai & LeRae. Shirai pinned LeRae in that match after Kai forced LeRae to tag in.
Kai defeated Rhea Ripley in a number one contender’s match last week and will challenge for Shirai’s title at TakeOver XXX.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Wednesday’s NXT:
Karrion Kross vs. Danny Burch
Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest
TakeOver qualifying match: Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes vs. an opponent who has yet to be announced
Non-title match: NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar vs. Tyler Breeze
Fallout from last week’s Adam Cole-Pat McAfee confrontation
The build to TakeOver XXX continued on last night’s NXT.
The episode was headlined by Finn Balor, Timothy Thatcher, and Dexter Lumis facing off in a triple threat qualifying match to determine the next participant for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX. Lumis got the win when Thatcher passed out in his Silence choke. Lumis applied the move as Thatcher had Balor locked in a leg lock.
Bronson Reed and Lumis are the first two participants to qualify for the five-man ladder match.
Reed became the first wrestler confirmed for the ladder match when he defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in a triple threat last week. Last night, Gargano and Strong faced off in singles action.
NXT Champion Keith Lee responded to Karrion Kross and they appeared to set up a match for TakeOver, but William Regal later said he won’t be bullied into making title matches and noted that they’ll have to be earned.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox defeated Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae in last night’s opener. Next week, there will be a number one contender’s match between Kai and Ripley to determine Shirai’s challenger for TakeOver.
Plus, the Undisputed Era attacked Imperium, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott took on Jake Atlas, and new Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez faced Shotzi Blackheart.
A new match has been announced for this week’s episode of NXT.
NXT general manager tweeted today that Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong is set for NXT this Wednesday: “After the comments made by two of our competitors this past week, I am making it OFFICIAL for tomorrow’s episode of #WWENXT on @USA_Network… Tomorrow night’s episode of @WWENXT will now feature @roderickstrong taking on @JohnnyGargano one-on-one!”
Gargano and Strong both took part in a triple threat qualifying match on last week’s NXT to determine the first participant for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX. Bronson Reed defeated them to qualify for TakeOver.
Gargano hit the One Final Beat DDT on Strong in the qualifying match and put his arm over Strong to pin him, but Reed hit a splash from the top rope to break it up. Reed then pinned Strong to get the win.
Gargano tweeted after last week’s qualifying match: “First Finn blows it against Keith and stops me from becoming Double Champ and now Rick Strong gets squished by some guy named THICC BOI so I’m not in the North American Title Ladder Match?!!!! Triple Threat Matches SUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.”
The ladder match for the vacant North American title will feature five wrestlers in total. Finn Balor, Timothy Thatcher, and Dexter Lumis are facing off in a qualifying match on this week’s NXT.
There will be a segment on this week’s NXT where NXT Champion Keith Lee will respond to Karrion Kross after Kross defeated Dominik Dijakovic in last week’s main event. New Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez will also be in action against Shotzi Blackheart on the episode.
Gargano and Scott argued on last week’s show after Scott tried to break up a backstage brawl between Candice LeRae and Mia Yim.
LeRae vs. Yim in a street fight is also set for Great American Bash night two.
The final nights of NXT’s Great American Bash and AEW’s Fyter Fest are both airing this Wednesday. The Great American Bash will be headlined by NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee facing off in a winner-take-all title vs. title match. Lee was confirmed as Cole’s opponent for the match by retaining the North American title against Finn Balor and Gargano in a triple threat match on NXT two weeks ago.
Great American Bash night two will also feature Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Drake Maverick & Breezango in a six-man tag match.
A triple threat match in the main event of last night’s NXT set the stage for a winner-take-all title vs. title match.
Keith Lee defeated Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano on last night’s show to retain his North American Championship. With that result, it will now officially be Adam Cole vs. Lee on the July 8 episode of NXT with Cole’s NXT Championship and Lee’s North American Championship both on the line.
Lee hit the Big Bang Catastrophe on Gargano near the end of the triple threat match. Balor jumped off the top rope with a Coup de Grace in an attempt to break up the pin, but Lee moved and Balor only hit Gargano. Lee then hit the Big Bang Catastrophe on Balor to get the win.
Cole came down to the ring after the match and had a staredown with Lee as the episode went off the air.
It was announced last night that the Great American Bash is returning for the next two weeks of NXT. Next Wednesday’s show will have Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim in a fatal four-way number one contender’s match, Rhea Ripley vs. Aliyah & Robert Stone in a handicap match, and Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong in a strap match.
If Ripley loses, she’ll have to join the Robert Stone Brand.
The NXT Championship and North American Championship will both be on the line in a winner-take-all title vs. title match next month.
It was announced tonight that Keith Lee will defend his North American Championship against Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor in a triple threat match on NXT next Wednesday. The winner will advance to face NXT Champion Adam Cole in a winner-take-all title vs. title match on the July 8 episode of the show.
Cole cut a promo on NXT tonight and addressed those who are coming after his title. He said Karrion Kross was impressive at TakeOver: In Your House, but he’s been on the brand for five minutes and has a long way to go before he earns a shot at Cole’s title.
Cole then mentioned Lee. He said Lee has his eyes on the NXT Championship — and Cole has his eyes on Lee’s North American title too. Cole reminded everyone that he was the first-ever North American Champion and called himself the greatest North American Champion there’s ever been.
Lee then came out to the ring, but Gargano’s music hit before he could say anything. Gargano said he pinned Lee in last week’s mixed tag match and wants the North American title. Gargano also said it’s about time that he gets the NXT Championship reign he deserves.
Balor was out to the ring next. He said he’s held titles all over the world, but he’s never been North American Champion. Balor warned that he’ll take the North American Championship and then come right for Cole’s NXT title.
NXT general manager William Regal appeared on the video screen and announced Lee vs. Gargano vs. Balor for the North American title next week, with the winner advancing to face Cole in the winner-take-all match on July 8.
For the first time in more than 20 years, In Your House makes its return tonight in the form of an NXT TakeOver special.
Three title matches are set for the show. The NXT Championship will be up for grabs as Adam Cole puts his title on the line against Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl. If Dream loses, he can’t challenge for the NXT title again as long as Cole is champion.
The NXT Women’s Championship will be on the line in a triple threat match between Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Io Shirai. Charlotte has been champion since winning the title from Ripley at WrestleMania 36.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee is also defending his title against Johnny Gargano. On NXT last week, Candice LeRae & Gargano defeated Mia Yim & Lee after Gargano stabbed Lee in the eye with his car keys.
Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) will make his TakeOver debut against Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor is taking on Damian Priest, and Yim, Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart will face LeRae, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez in a six-woman tag match.
The event starts at 7 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a 30-minute pre-show prior to that.
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NXT TakeOver: In Your House pre-show:
Former WWE announcer Todd Pettengil appeared the pre-show. He hosted many of the original In Your House pay-per-views in the mid-’90s.
Scott Stanford, Sam Roberts and Pat McAffee hyped up the show early on. McAffee was off-set, sitting at his own desk.
Before they started, Sam Roberts explained that right now is the “golden era” for NXT and then compared the current scene to the idea of social darwinism. Yikes. Not the best term to use on television around these days.
The announce team continued running down tonight’s card. They showed a short clip of Tomasso Ciampa walking outside the venue.
Pat McAffee talked about the Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano match later on. He Gargano a scumbag and made fun of his clothes and his recent heel-ish behavior of late.
A promo montage aired for Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. They aired clips from the angle lead-up and included the segment where commissioner William Regal explained the stipulations to Cole over Skype. Dream vowed to capture the belt in tonight’s Backlot Brawl.
Sam Roberts said that Bret Hart vs. Hakushi from the first In Your House was his all-time favorite match of the series.
A promo montage aired for Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. They aired clips from the angle lead-up and included the segment where commissioner William Regal explained the stipulations to Cole over Skype. Dream vowed to capture the belt in tonight’s Backlot Brawl.
Sam Roberts said that Bret Hart vs. Hakushi from the first In Your House was his all-time favorite match of the series.
A package of Johnny Gargano and Candace LeRae aired next, followed up with more clips from NXT TV forwarding the current angle between Gargano and Keith Lee, or Gargano/LeRae vs. Lee/Mia Yim.
Stanford explained how Lee was still angry over Gargano using his car keys on Lee’s eyes. Roberts explained that this would be the first time we’ve seen Garagno “like this,” as a heel, and that his recent mean-streak would help him beat Lee tonight. Announcers then went over the women’s trios match of LeRae’s team vs. Mia Yim’s team.
A package for Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest was next. “Attack the guy, get the push,” Balor explained. Roberts said that this might the “low-key most important match tonight.”
The final montage on the pre-show focused on Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s title tonight. In the voiceover narration, it was explained to the audience that this was a “battle for valor.”
NXT TakeOver: In Your House
Todd Pettengil reappeared. He did the voiceovers for tonight’s show and sounds exactly the same. I feel like I’m watching an episode of WWF Mania.
Code Orange performed next.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House
*****
Six-woman tag team match: Mia Yim, Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox defeated Candace LeRae, Dakota Kai, & Raquel Gonzalez
The venue was designed to look like an In Your House event in the ‘90s. It worked in a setting like this.
There was a “this is awesome’ chant before the match by staff behind the plexiglas in the crowd. Forcing chants here isn’t necessary.
Yim and LeRae were the first in, though LeRae tagged out before the two even touched. Reina Gonzalez was in next.
Nox and Kai were really good together in this. Kai clearly relishes the heel role she’s in these days.
Shotzi Blackheart did a dive to the floor but Gonzalez caught and ragdoll’d her. Yim followed up with a dive, then LeRae did a springboard plancha. Nox did a somersault senton from the top onto all wrestlers.
Employees in the crowd chanted “N-X-T!” once this part of the match wrapped.
Kai, and later Gonzalez, worked over Blackheart back in the ring.
Blackheart finally tagged out to Yim after taking a beating for a few minutes. Yim pinned LeRae with a bridging dragon suplex for two. LeRae responded with a release German suplex and the two were out for a few moments.
After Gonzalez used a falling power bomb on Nox, LeRae and Yim ended up brawling on the floor and into the backstage area. This allowed Blackheart and Nox to take out Gonzalez; Nox then pinned Kai clean with the Shiniest Wizard running knee-strike.
Finn Balor defeated Damian Priest
Balor jumped Priest before the bell and landed a shotgun dropkick that sent Priest to the floor. The bell rang soon after, and Priest was able to shift the momentum early. Early on, he started throwing the steel steps around ringside, as though he had a plan for them. He sidewalk-slammed Balor onto the apron from one of those steps next. Balor going above and beyond for Priest in this match.
Priest taunted Balor while he used a half-nelson facelock on him. Balor countered out of it with a jawbreaker. He landed a perfect flying forearm next, then brought the match back out to the floor. Balor went nuts with stomps on Priest, who was prone against the crowd barricade.
Priest used a gigantic Broken Arrow (aka Falcon Arrow) on Balor. Balor rallied back with a standing double stomp and the two were both out.
Priest did a box jump onto the apron towards the end of this. He then grabbed Balor and did a Razor’s Edge onto the edge of the apron.
Balor made another comeback late and took Priest out with a Slingblade. Priest countered with a few high roundhouse kicks. Balor came back at Priest with another shotgun dropkick, but when he went for the Coup de Grace off the top, Priest grabbed him by the throat, climbed to the ropes, then did a huge flying sit-out chokeslam … for two.
The employees chanted a lot while both sold for a minute after the nearfall. The final spot saw Priest try using another Razor’s Edge on Balor, this time to the floor on the aforementioned steel steps, but Balor escaped and kicked him, which knocked Priest to the floor. I think the idea here was for Priest to land flat onto the steel step, but because it was in a horizontal position, Priest landed on the middle and lower part of his back. It made a loud thud when he hit the steel and it looked rough, more like something you’d see on MTV Jackass.
Balor took care of Priest back in the ring, and finally put him away with the Coup de Grace diving double-stomp for the win. Balor stared Priest down after the match.
NXT U.S. Championship match: Keith Lee (c) vs. Johnny Garganno
Before Gargano got to the ring, we saw him inside the In Your House set, designed like the interior of an actual house. There was a framed picture of Dok Hendrix hanging inside the place, which Gargano shot a thumbs-up gesture to before heading to the ring.
The backside of Keith Lee’s tights read “BLACK LIVES MATTER” in pink and black letters.
Keith Lee threw some high roundhouse kicks early on in the match but missed. Since Gargano couldn’t get an early advantage on Lee, he rolled to the floor. Lee went after him, which is where Gargano got a few sneaky licks in. When he tried kicking Lee’s head off but missed, he kicked the steel steps. Him and Lee then had a funny staredown, Gargano in the role of chickensh*t heel.
Gargano ran away and tried going back into the house, which was apparently locked. Lee krept up on him and we saw the scene from the “security cam” point of view, in black and white, as if we were also inside the house. Cool idea here.
Garganno did a great job making Lee feel invincible. He chipped away at Lee back in the ring by climbing on top of him in the corner and laying in punches, then tried wearing Lee down to the mat with a cobra clutch.
When Gargano went for a slingshot spear, Lee stepped to the side and dropped a knee on Gargano in response.
The two lots traded forearms next. Lee went for a pop-up power bomb, but Gargano held on and turned the hold into an armbar. Lee used a Rampage Bomb to break the hold. He took Gargano’s head off with a standing lariat for a close two.
Lee went for Bg Bang Catasrophe but Gargano countered it into a sunset flip pin. Lee landed what Tom Phillips called a “one-armed spinebuster” which is also known as a chokeslam.
Gargano finally spiked Lee headfirst on the floor with a flying tornado DDT, but he had trouble getting Lee back into the ring because he was too big, so Gargano rolled back into the ring and broke the count, which the ref scolded him for.
Gargano went back to the floor to get Lee back into the ring, but Lee was back up. He used a pounce that sent Gargano flying through the plexiglass near the audience area.
Candace LeRae came out to distract Lee, but Mia Yim followed her out. When those two started fighting, Gargano gouged Lee’s eyes again with keys. Two-count. Before Lee could get up, Gargano superkicked Lee in the head. Two-count.
After landing a Spirit Bomb, then a power bomb into Big Bang Catasrophe for the emphatic win.
Backlot Brawl for the NXT championship: Adam Cole (c) defeated Velveteen Dream
Adam Cole came to the match in a giant truck with a slick Undisputed Era design painted on the sides. He cut a short promo on top of the truck until Velveteen Dream rolled up in a yellow Lamborghini. He dressed like Negan from The Walking Dead and carried with him a baseball bat not unlike Negan’s “Lucille.” Dream also had a picture of Hulk Hogan airbrushed on his jacket.
This was a part wrestling, cinematch. HD cameras were in use. It looked kind of cool, honestly.
The black NXT ring was in the center of a circle of parked cars. Each of the car’s lights were turned on, lighting up the ring. There were also spotlights shining down from the “neighborhood” set they filmed on. It’s an interesting arrangement, much better seen than read about.
Cole went to smash Dream with his belt before the match, but Dream rolled him up for two.
Cole then shouted “I’m leaving!” and rolled out of the ring with his belt and into a car. Dream started hitting the car with his bat until Cole got out.
The two were brawling in the lot when an SUV rolled into the scene.
“Did anyone order an Uber?” A female voice came from inside the vehicle. Dream tried throwing Cole into the Uber, but they ended up on the ground soon. Uber was gone after this.
The two walked and brawled around the set until Cole escaped from the lot. Dream shouted “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” like he was in Cape Fear.
Cole doused Dream with a fire extinguisher when he jumped out from behind a door. He was hiding. Cole yelled at Dream and called him stupid.
Dream rallied back and landed a double ax-handle off the apron to the ground. We could see a lot of extra production staff around ringside trying to keep things lit.
Dream brought out a ladder planned on jumping off it until the rest of Undisputed Era showed up in a sedan. They honked their horn then went after Dream, who was still on the ladder. Then, Cole’s three teammates started tossing him folding chairs to use on Dream.
“Tortured Artist” Dexter Loomis then appeared from nowhere and took care UE, scaring them to the back after pounding on them for a bit.
Cole’s arm was scarred, bleeding and filled with glass by the end of this. When he went for the Panama Sunrise back in the ring, Dream countered it into the Dream Driver.
Next, Dream landed the Purple Rainmaker flying elbowdrop onto Cole, who was sitting on a chair. Two-count.
Cole landed a low blow on Dream while Dream trash-talked him, then used the Panama Sunrise onto a pile of steel chairs for the win. Cars honked their horns, then Cole celebrated on top of his Undisputed Era truck. “Nobody can beat me for this! Nobody!” It wasn’t perfect, but it felt fresh, if anything.
Todd Pettengil spoofed his old 1-900-WWE-SHOP segments from back in the day; it was actually an ad for WWE Shop online. DX then appeared and pretended like they didn’t know how to use a computer, joking around that they’re old. It was hokey but so were the original events. It was clever.
Ciampa landed elbows early on, but Kross no-sold them, then landed a hard standing front kick into Ciampa’s face in the corner. Kross then launched him from the corner with a uranage-stype suplex.
On the floor, Kross picked Ciampa up with two hands and slammed him back-first against the apron. Kross tossed Ciampa twice more with his overheard arm-clutch suplex, then washed Ciampa’s face with his knee in the corner. Mauro Ranallo made a UWFi in reference to Kross’ style.
Ciampa tried chopping his way out of harm’s way, and after a bit of effort, he was able to plant a running knee into Kross’ face, then tried pinning him after a draping DDT for two.
Kross returned Ciampa’s attack, first spinning him into the air with an inverted F-5, then forced Ciampa to pass out in the Kross Jacket, a modified neck crank submission. The referee called for the bell once Ciampa was out.
“Karrion Kross just routed Tomasso Ciampa!” Great call from Tom Phillips after the match.
This was probably the best match on of the night, or at least the most effective, and Kross truly came across like a monster. IMPACT really should have let him use more of his shoot-style offense, because in 2020, that’s the kind of stuff that will help guys get over inside the ring, not just the size.
Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair (c) and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat match to become NXT Women’s champion
Flair rolled to the floor and insisted that Shirai and Ripley start the match off. Ripley went after Flair on the floor, so Shirai went after Ripley. From here, the match was underway.
Flair took over early on, chopping both her opponents and talking trash at them until they both fought out. No alliance here, though, as Shirai and Ripley went right back after each other.
Ripley went for a somersault senton off the apron but missed when Flair side-stepped out of the way. Flair then smashed Ripley into the barricades ringside.
Shirai shot back with a frankensteiner off the apron to the floor on Flair.
Flair had a Boston crab on Shirai for a while. Ripley finally returned to the match and took out Flair. Shirai landed a 619 to Flair next; Ripley had been knocked to the floor again.
Flair took Ripley and Shirai out with a double spear for two separate two-counts. She then went for a double moonsault but took too long: Ripey moved and Shirai got her knees up while Flair was on her way down.
The three then exchanged high spots and submissions. Shirai landed a big springboard dropkick on Ripley, then landed the Bullet Train knees attack. As Shirai celebrated, Flair caught her with Natural Selection, then locked Shirai into the figure eight until Ripley dragged Flair to the floor.
Shirai then landed an absolutely perfect plancha onto Ripley.
Flair took Shirai and threw her into the event monitors on set. Ripley smashed a plant on Flair.
Shirai then did a goregeous-looking cross body block from the top of the In Your House doorway. She got great hangtime.
Shirai tried a top-rope Frankensteiner but Ripley blocked it; Flair then ran over and booted Ripley in the face. Ripley fought back and landed the Riptide to Flair from off the ropes. Shirai broke up the close two-count.
Ripley caught Shirai in the Prism Lock, but Flair broke it up when she brought a kendo stick into the ring and whacked both Ripley and Shirai with it. She then put Ripley into the Figure Eight leglock, but before Ripley could tap, Shirai landed a moonsault off the top onto Ripley and pinned her. Since Flair was still entangled inside the Figure Eight, she couldn’t break the pinfall attempt. Shirai “didn’t quite get all of it” with regard to that final moonsault, but it’s negligible, as much of this match was really good.
Final thoughts:
No show today will come close to perfect due to world’s condition right now; real fans aren’t even allowed to attend yet.
But if you’ve been jonesing for a solid night of modern wrestling, this was a pretty much a success.
It wasn’t the greatest night of pro wrestling ever, but it did the trick. And there weren’t any bad matches, which is still par for the course for TakeOver shows.
I imagine the most-talked about match might be the Backlot Brawl. As mentioned earlier, it wasn’t a perfect match, but it felt and looked fresh, which is what every company needs right now the plan is to continue running empty venues. The match itself wasn’t great, but was creative enough to keep me distracted from Dream’s wrestling.
The main event triple threat was really good, but of course would have been that much better with a crowd. Flair was outstanding in this. Shirai was perfect aside from the weird landing on the moonsault finish. Ripley felt like a natural in this, which is impressive since three-way matches never feel smooth. It was well put-together.
Overall, it was a solid supercard from the NXT crew, with Io Shirai’s title win as the only real surprise of the night.
The card for NXT TakeOver: In Your House is up to five officially confirmed matches.
NXT’s Instagram account announced last night that Keith Lee will defend his North American Championship against Johnny Gargano at TakeOver: In Your House. Lee and Mia Yim have recently been feuding with Gargano and Candice LeRae.
Yim and LeRae will face off on next Wednesday’s episode of NXT.
Lee has been NXT North American Champion since winning the title from Roderick Strong in January. Gargano previously held the title in early 2019.
TakeOver: In Your House is taking place on Sunday, June 7. Here’s the updated card for the show:
NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against Velveteen Dream
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defending against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai in a triple threat match
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defending against Johnny Gargano
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett)
Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
Cole vs. Dream has a stipulation where, if Dream loses, he can’t challenge for the NXT Championship again as long as Cole is champion.
WWE has also been building up an NXT Tag Team title match between champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) and Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, but when that will be taking place hasn’t been announced.
WWE is loading up the card for next week’s episode of NXT.
In the second title match that’s been announced for the show, Charlotte Flair will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Io Shirai. NXT Champion Adam Cole defending his title against Velveteen Dream is also set for next week.
This will be the first time Charlotte has defended the NXT Women’s Championship since winning it from Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36. Shirai became the number one contender to Charlotte’s title by winning a six-woman ladder match on NXT three weeks ago.
Charlotte defeated Mia Yim in a non-title match on NXT tonight. Shirai then confronted Charlotte and set up the match for next week.
Also announced for next Wednesday’s NXT are:
Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic. The match was announced after Dijakovic cut a promo issuing a challenge to Gargano tonight.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett will officially arrive in NXT. That was hyped in a video that aired tonight, with Scarlett saying that time’s up and the clock stops on NXT next week.
Finn Balor will call out the person who attacked him last week. Balor was supposed to face Velveteen Dream in last week’s main event, but there was an angle where Balor was attacked in the locker room and left the premises before the show went on the air.
Last night’s NXT featured two big matches that were originally scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa.
One of those was Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano in what was billed as the match that would settle their rivalry. It was presented in cinematic fashion and took up the last hour of the show.
Near the end of the match, Candice LeRae pleaded with Gargano and Ciampa to stop. She asked Gargano what he’s become and told Ciampa to finish it. When he wouldn’t, LeRae said she would finish it instead. She then gave Gargano a low blow.
But when Ciampa checked on Gargano, LeRae low blowed him too. It was then revealed that Gargano was wearing a cup. Before the match began, LeRae had given Gargano something in a paper bag that wasn’t revealed at the time.
Gargano pinned Ciampa after hitting the Fairy Tale Ending on the exposed ring. As Gargano and LeRae went to their car after the match, it appeared that they passed another car that Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux were inside of.
LeRae was also in action in the number one contender’s ladder match earlier in the night. Io Shirai won the ladder match and is first in line for a shot at new NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano will attempt to settle their rivalry once and for all tonight.
Tonight’s Ciampa vs. Gargano match is being billed as “Blackheart vs. Rebel Heart: One Final Beat.” Triple H has said that Ciampa and Gargano will be given an empty building, a ring, and a referee who will only be there to say it’s over. If things between them continue after this match, both will be gone from NXT.
The impending arrival of Killer Kross also looms over Ciampa vs. Gargano. In a brief video that played after Ciampa vs. Gargano was announced, Kross was confirmed as the person behind the apocalyptic-style vignettes that have been airing on NXT.
Another big match that was originally scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa will also air on NXT tonight. Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai will face off in a ladder match, with the winner becoming the number one contender to new NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show began with a video package hyping the Gargano vs. Ciampa. Mauro Ranallo was back on commentary, and doing it solo like Joey Styles way back in the day.
Ranallo opened the show saying “hello all you cool cats and kittens” — which is pop culure reference to Tiger King. He also noted the show was taking place on a closed set.
Io Shirai defeated Tegan Nox, Chelsea Green (w/ Robert Stone), Mia Yim, Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai (w/ Raquel Gonzalez) in a number one contender’s ladder match
Shirai won the match to become the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. There were a few stunts throughout the match, and it was good even without a crowd to pop for the big spots.
Everyone paired off at the start. Kai was the only one left standing after a moment, and she called for Gonzalez to get the ladder. Yim and LeRae and stereo basement dropkicked the ladder into Gonzalez.
All the faces teamed up on Kai until Shirai leapt into the ring with a missile dropkick. As Shirai was fighting with LeRae, Green bulldogged both of them onto a ladder seconds before the first commercial break of the show.
Green was bringing a chair into the ring when the show returned from break — only for Green to take a bump on the chair when Yim trippe her up. That left two rivals — Nox and Kai — in the ring to square off. They traded strikes, and Kai delivered a face wash. Nox came back seconds later with a chokeslam.
Green was driven into the guardrail when she lost a tug-of-war with Nox over the ladder. During a melee, everyone tried climbing the ladder after it was set up. A second ladder soon came into play.
Green hit Yim with a chair. Yim with a receipt whacked Green in the leg with the chair when Green’s foot became trapped in the ladder. That took Green out of the match for awhile as she sold her leg. Shirai then swooped in and catapulted Yim into the ladder. Shirai was a splash off the top to the floor onto to everyone as the show cut to commercial.
Gonzalez got involved as picked Kai up in a fireman’s carry and tried to climb the ladder with Kai on her shoulders. LeRae cut her off. Yim was trying to powerbomb off the apron, and Nox came in for an assist to help put Gonzalez through a table at ringside.
Kai booted Nox off the apron, and Nox crashed through a ladder bridge. Kai and LeRae were fighting on top of a ladder, and LeRae smacked Kai with the briefcase hanging above them. Shirai with a springboard into the ring knocked Kai off the ladder.
Shirai and LeRae both went down after trading German suplexes. Robert Stone coached Green to get up and climb the ladder with everyone else down selling. Green sold her leg, so she couldn’t climb. Stone took it upon himself to jump into the ring and climb the ladder to help Green. LeRae and Shirai teamed up to tip the ladder over. Green and Stone took a bump off the ladder.
Shirai and LeRae were fighting atop the ladder. Shirai racked her eyes, and LeRae fell backwards doinga Nestea Plunge onto a ladder bridged between the ropes. Shirai then unhooked the briefcase to win the match. Shirai now looks to be Charlotte Flair’s first challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship.
The focus of the show shifted to Finn Balor and his feud with WALTER and Imperium. Clips caught the audience up on the feud so far, with some footage coming from NXT UK.
A match between Balor against Alexander Wolfe from NXT UK was joined in progress. Imperium interfered, but were ordered by the referee to leave the ring. Balor then wen to defeate Wolfe via pinfall after a Coup de Grace and a 1916.
Balor in a pre-tape promo addressed WALTER. Balor alluded to them not being able to meet right now (due to recent world events, although that was not mentioned). Balor said WALTER is holding the NXT UK Championship on borrowed time.
A vignette hyped the arrival of Killer Kross, although he was not named.
Indus Sher mostly mauled Ever Rise, but the babyfaces got in some brief offense on the monster heels. That did not last long. Indus Sher toyed with them at times. Rinku & Saur wore different colored arm bands so you could tell one from the other. They used Demolition’s old finisher, and Rinku pinned Parker.
In another poolside promo, NXT Champion Adam Cole cut a promo on Velveteen Dream.
Footage from WrestleMania showed Charlotte Flair winning the NXT Women’s Championship over Rhea Ripley. Flair in a post-match interview said it was the woman makes the title. She bragged about winning the title saying everone bows down to “The Queen”.
Johnny Gargano defeated Tommaso Ciampa
Gargano pinned Ciampa after interference from Candice LeRae. She turned heel to help her husband win the match.
Billed as “Black Heart vs. Rebel Heart”, this was very cinematic. More like the Boneyard Match than the Firefly Funhouse — but with even less gimmicks — this was very different from a typical match.
Gargano and his wife — LeRae — arrived to an undisclosed location in an SUV. Gargano got out of the driver’s seat, and LeRae walked around the vechile to meet him. He told her that she knew why he had to do this.
LeRae got into the driver’s seat — but before she drove away — LeRae handed Gargano something wrapped in paper. Gargano walked into a building where Triple H was seated on a chair in the ring. Ciampa was already in the building.
Triple H said they were right on time. He went on to say this is where it ends. Triple H told them he doesn’t care what they do to each other, but it ends after this. He introduced Drake Younger as the referee in charge. Triple H then left the building.
They began with a slugfest as they traded blows. Gargano took a Ric Flair bump over the turnbuckle. Gargano went for a slingshot, but Ciampa caught him with a knee as the show went to commercial.
Ciampa was in control after the commercial break. Gargano fought back and targeted a leg. He posted Ciampa’s leg several times, and then began to pummel him at ringside.
Ciampa lifted Gargano intoa vertical suplex and then posted him in a crazy bump. Gargano still fought back, and flew through the ropes with a tope suicida. Gargano taunted Ciampa while he adminstered a beatdown. Gargano used weapons like a trash can lid and a chair.
Gargano unfolded a chair and sat down in the ring to gloat. He then picked up the chair and hit Ciampa with it. Gargano wedged the chair into a corner, but he tasted the steel when Ciampa reversed a whip.
After a commercial break, Ciampa cracked Gargano in the head when Gargano attempted to slingshot himself out of the ring. Ciampa put a chair around the neck of Gargano and posted him. That was a callback to a previous angle in their feud.
Gargano was crawling away, and Ciampa showed no mercy. Ciampa retrieved a crutch, and he attacked Gargano with it. This was also a callback.
Gargano shot Ciampa in the face with a fire extinguisher. Ciampa came back to powerbomb Gargano through a table.
In yet another callback to a previous match between them, Ciampa pulled back the mats in the ring to expose the bare boards underneath.
The fight spilled outside the building. Gargano tried to decapitate Ciampa, but Ciampa moved out of the way at the last second. Cimapa climbed on top of a cargo truck, and he dared Gargano to follow him. A decal on the truck indicated it was 13 feet high.
They squared off on top of the truck, and Younger as the ref climbed up to join them. Not sure why this wasn’t falls count anywhere, but whatever. They traded strikes, and Ciampa threatened to throw Gargano off the truck. Ciampa became locked in the Gargano Escape on top of the truck.
They were still on top of the truck before cutting to commercial, and they had climbed down when the show returned from break. They went back inside, and Gargano was hiding to ambush Ciampa. Gargano with a flying crossbody on the floor put Ciampa through a table.
They got back into the ring — where the mat was still pulled back to expose bare boards. They fought on the turnbuckles, and Ciampa gave Gargano a Code Red off the top to the floor.
Ciampa rolled Gargano back into the ring and covered him for the only near fall of the match. Gargano kicked out before the show cut to commecial.
Gargano choked Ciamoa with a crutch, and hit him repeatedly with a trash can lid. Ciampa ate some superkicks, and Gargano screamed at him that he was a failure.
Ciampa fired up after Gargano mentioned Cimapa’s family. Ciampa broke the crutch hitting Gargano several times with it. They were fighting over the crutch and the referee was inadvertently raked in the eyes. Younger winched in pain as he rolled out on the apron. Younger was then hit with a running knee and he took a bump off the apron.
Gargano took a draping DDT on the exposed boards in the ring. There was a closeup of Gargano putting his hand over Ciampa’s hand as if they were pals again, but Ciampa quickly jerked his hand away.
There was a double down, and suddenly Candice LeRae walked into the building. An visibly emotional LeRae got into the ring, and through tears she begged them to stop. She asked her husband, “Who are you, Johnny?” LeRae then turned to Cimapa and screamed, “Are you happy?!”
“I hate my husband,” LeRae said. “Are you happy?!”
She sobbed and told Ciampa to finish it. Ciampa was reluctant. LeRae turned to her husband. “Fine, I’ll finish it!”
LeRae then kicked Gargano with a low blow, and he fell to the mat. LeRae fought back tears as she left the ring.
Ciampa dropped to his knees over a fallen Gargano. They got face to face as Ciampa looked at Gargano with empathy in his eyes. This was playing out like the finish of Old Yeller. Ciampa was telling Gargano he was sorry for what he was about to do.
LeRae ran back in and kicked Ciampa with a low blow from behind. Ciampa fell to the mat in a heap. Gargano reached into his pants and pulled out a cup to show he had been protected from the earlier low blow. This was premeditated by him and his wife.
Gargano dropped Ciampa witth a Jay Driller on the exposed boards. Gargano then covered Ciampa for the pinfall. Gargano smirked and embraced LeRae. They walked arm-and-arm out of the building. Meanwhile, Ciampa was still down selling in the ring. LeRae and Gargano got into their SUV and slowly drove away like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde as the show faded to black.
