The NXT Champion and his likely next challenger will go face-to-face at the NXT Great American Bash.
WWE announced today that NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano will take part in a face-to-face segment at NXT Great American Bash on Tuesday. NXT authority figure Samoa Joe will also be there to make sure things don’t get out of hand.
Kross told Gargano to leave his family at home for the face-to-face segment. Kross said he’ll leave Scarlett at home as well.
Kross and Gargano brawled throughout this past Tuesday’s NXT episode. As they fought in the parking lot, Kross put Gargano in the Kross Jacket and then tried to run him over with his car. Joe moved Gargano out of the way before Kross could hit him. Joe told Gargano that perhaps Gargano pushed Kross a little too far.
WWE has also announced that Hit Row will host a “Championship Cypher” at the Great American Bash. The segment will be a freestyle rap from Hit Row. It’s in celebration of Hit Row’s Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeating Bronson Reed on this past Tuesday’s NXT to win the North American Championship.
This is the second straight year that WWE has presented a special Great American Bash edition of NXT. Here’s the updated card for the show:
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defend against Io Shirai & Zoey Stark
Million Dollar Champion LA Knight defends against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, he has to become Knight’s butler)
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano will go face-to-face
Four NXT wrestlers, including Toni Storm and Odyssey Jones, worked dark matches prior to tonight’s SmackDown.
Dave Meltzer has confirmed that Toni Storm, Karrion Kross, and Shotzi Blackheart worked dark matches tonight. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful was the first to report that Storm worked a dark match. PWInsider additionally reported that Storm faced Shotzi Blackheart. Odyssey Jones, real name Omari Palmer, faced Robert Roode in a singles match. He is a former football player for Syracuse University who has been signed with WWE since 2019.
Karrion Kross, who has worked dark matches for WWE officials for the last few weeks, faced Cesaro tonight in a singles match. Kross and Blackheart have previously competed in dark matches. Kross appeared on Main Event two weeks ago, defeating Shelton Benjamin. Blackheart competed in a dark match prior to last week’s SmackDown, facing Scarlett.
Bronson Reed is another name that has appeared in recent dark matches. He also competed on Main Event two weeks ago, defeating Drew Gulak.
This week’s show featured the much-discussed debuts of NXT’s Karrion Kross and Bronson Reed.
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed defeated Drew Gulak in a non-title match (4:13)
Reed came out holding his North American title in his main roster debut.
Reed has been in and around the developmental system since 2019, having worked the indies in Europe and Japan in his twenties. Now at 32, he is making a name for himself with this his first main roster appearance, having become the first Australian to win his title back in May.
Gulak continues to hold on to his roster position despite culls to the roster happening everywhere he looks around him. But, as usual, he was excellent here. He was particularly good here in a heel role, as well as making Reed look like a monster.
Reed appeared to be having the time of his life. He has a ton of charisma and enjoyed throwing Gulak around with lots of little smiles and asides to taunt his opponent.
He finished Gulak off by using a fireman’s carry slam to put him in position for his finisher. And boy, is it a finisher. Reed used a top splash that came down with such force that the entire ring shook to get his first main roster win.
This was exactly what it should have been: not quite a squash, but it showed off what Reed could do and made him look a force to reckoned with.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defeated Shelton Benjamin in a non-title match (6:43)
After Reed’s appearance, this was a nice additional treat for Main Event viewers and gave the show a really fresh feel. Kross came out with his title around his waist, looking and moving with the confidence of an absolute superstar sans Scarlett and his usual smoke-filled entrance.
At 35, Kross’ main roster debut comes after such a meteoric rise since he joined WWE in 2020. Having worked GFW, Lucha Underground and Impact amongst others before joining NXT, he has brought everything he has learned over the last 10+ years with him.
Benjamin was the perfect ring partner for him. Not only is he a veteran who knows exactly how to put Kross over, he’s also an ideal physical match. Although it is far from ideal that Benjamin should find himself back on Main Event after everything he’s done over the last two years, he is at least working with someone on the way up.
After a tense opening where both men had their moments, Kross dominated after the commercial break. He took his time, using both power moves and then an array of holds.
In fairness, they ended with a few sloppy spots, but got to where they were going as Kross locked in the Kross Jacket, causing Benjamin to pass out. It seemed a little hurried with Benjamin losing consciousness so quickly, but it served to put over Kross as a huge threat to someone of Benjamin’s size and stature.
Final Thoughts:
This was an infinitely more interesting show this week due to the two new faces from the NXT roster. The opener was probably a better match because Kross and Benjamin didn’t jell quite as well as Gulak did with Reed. But, both matches delivered exactly what they needed to.
All told, this was a pleasure to watch. More of this, please.
Both Karrion Kross and Bronson Reed worked matches on WWE Main Event prior to tonight’s episode of Raw.
Kross defeated Shelton Benjamin in a match that Dave Meltzer had reported earlier in the afternoon. Scarlett, the manager of Kross, was not at ringside for the match. In the second Main Event match, Bronson Reed defeated Drew Gulak.
Meltzer noted in today’s Daily Update that Scarlett is being talked about for a tryout of her own on Friday. Reed, Scarlett, and Kross were also at the SmackDown tapings this past Friday.
Both Kross and Reed hold championships in NXT. Kross is the current NXT Champion, successfully defending the title at NXT TakeOver: In Your House in a five-way match. Reed holds the NXT North American title, and with NXT Tag Team champions MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) successfully defended their titles against Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Jouaqin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) at TakeOver.
New episodes of Main Event are added every Thursday on Peacock.
Karrion Kross, Scarlett, and Bronson Reed are all backstage at SmackDown, but are not expected to be used on tonight’s show.
Dave Metlzer has confirmed that all three are backstage tonight, with PWInsider first reporting the names. Both Reed and Kross are working dark matches so that the key powers could see them live and get a first-hand look.
Kross and Reed both hold championships in NXT. Kross is the current NXT Champion, recently defending the title in a five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House last weekend, defeating Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole. Kross confronted William Regal on this week’s NXT, but backed off when Samoa Joe was introduced as the new enforcer of the brand.
Bronson Reed is the current NXT North American Champion. He retained the title at TakeOver: In Your House, teaming with NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee and Nash Carter) to defeat Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza, Jouaqin Wilde) in a match where all titles were on the line.
In Your House returns for the second straight year as NXT TakeOver takes place tonight.
The show will be headlined by Karrion Kross defending his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. A match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano was originally supposed to determine Kross’ challenger, but Cole made his return to NXT TV and put a stop to the match. Kross later declared that he wanted to face all four challengers.
Three other title matches are also set for TakeOver: In Your House. Ember Moon will challenge for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship, the revived Million Dollar Championship will be on the line in a ladder match between Cameron Grimes and LA Knight, and there will be a winner-take-all six-man tag match with NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK facing Legado del Fantasma.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li rounds out the TakeOver card. Li is looking to avenge her loss from the 2017 Mae Young Classic.
Todd Pettengill will return as the host of TakeOver: In Your House. The event will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with there also being a pre-show starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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Show Report —
The pre-show featured the typical mix of talking head analysis and promo packages. There was an “earlier today” segment involving participants in the five-way main event.
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Naomi Fox performed a song to open the show.
Former WWE backstage interviewer Todd Pettengill is the host of the show. He announced the largest gathering of fans yet in the Capitol Wrestling Center.
Winner Take All match for the NXT North American Championship and NXT Tag Team Championships: Bronson Reed (c) & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) (c) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza, & Joaquin Wilde) (13:41)
This was good, solid six-man tag action.
Lee and Mendoza started with a rapid-fire exchange. Carter and Wilde were next, with Wilde hitting a nice springboard arm drag. He showboated, however, and received a kick for his trouble. Escobar tagged in and faced off with Carter, but Carter tagged in Reed. Escobar retreated and tagged in Mendoza.
Mendoza used some high flying, but Reed shrugged off a series of clotheslines before leveling Mendoza with one of his own. Reed hit his sit-down splash, but Escobar had blind tagged in and hit a soccer kick. Reed took him down with a crossbody before planting Wilde with a press slam.
MSK hit frequent tags, with a somersault senton from Lee getting two. Reed hit an assisted senton for two more. The champs continued to dominate Wilde until Escobar finally made a tag. Carter hit an Orihara moonsault out on the floor, but Wilde took Carter out with a dive. Lee and Mendoza hit dives of their own, building to the big man Reed taking everyone out with a tope.
Back in the ring, MSK tried to hit a double team, but Legado del Fantasma pulled Carter out of the ring, allowing Escobar to take Lee out. A top-rope hurricanrana from Escobar got two, as did an assisted 450 from Wilde. Lee finally escaped to Reed for a tag.
Reed ran wild on all of Legado del Fantasma, including a double Samoan drop on Wilde and Mendoza. Reed wanted Escobar to tag in, but Wilde took him out from behind. Escobar tagged in and hit a Michinoku Driver, but Carter broke up the pin. Wilde and Mendoza hit a high low on Carter, but Wes Lee dove in to break up the pin.
Escobar grabbed the belt at ringside but was blindsided with a running splash from Reed, sending him through the barricade at ringside. A Mendoza dive was cut off with a superkick, then MSK hit an assisted blockbuster. Reed pulled the straps down and hit the Tsunami splash to win and retain.
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Kyle O’Reilly was interviewed earlier today, saying “it’s a good day for a fight.” Johnny Gargano and The Way arrived at the same time, goading O’Reilly into a fight and forcing officials and William Regal to break it up.
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A comedy segment aired where Pettengill was trying to cut to a video using a VHS tape. The video recapped Mercedes Martinez defeating Xia Li in the Mae Young Classic four years ago.
Xia Li (w/ Boa) defeated Mercedes Martinez (7:39)
This was maybe the least spectacular match in TakeOver history. It was short, very little happened, and the finish came completely out of nowhere.
Li took the fight to Martinez right away, but Martinez took her down with a backdrop and a fallaway slam. Li dragged Martinez to the floor and pushed her shoulder-first into the ring post. She continued to target Martinez’s shoulder, including with a running dropkick that sent Martinez to the floor.
They traded strikes in the ring, with Li maintaining control with kicks and knees. Martinez came back with a butterfly suplex, but Li regained control with an exploder. Martinez avoided a corner attack and hit a Cliffhanger for two. She followed it up with repeated knees.
Boa pulled Li out of the ring, preventing further attack. Martinez pushed him aside and countered a running attack with a back body drop on the floor. Back in the ring, a cyclone kick from Li surprised Martinez for the win.
– After the match, Boa threw Li a chair, but when she was about to use it, Martinez kicked her legs out from under her. Martinez grabbed the chair and hit both Boa and Li with it.
Li’s entrance effects showed up and Mei Ying appeared in her throne on the ramp. She and Martinez stared each other down until Ying grabbed Martinez by the neck and tossed her off the ramp into the barricade.
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Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher cut a promo. They said that in 48 hours, they’d show everyone how dangerous they are.
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Before the match, Ted DiBiase discussed the history and legacy of the Million Dollar Championship. He made an entrance and watched the match from ringside.
Million Dollar Championship ladder match: LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes (19:33)
This was the worst ladder match in TakeOver history.
After a strong lockup, Knight took down Grimes with a shoulder block. Grimes popped up and taunted before outwrestling Knight for a couple sequences. Knight rolled ot the floor and tossed in a ladder before sending Grimes to the floor. He tried to throw the ladder at Grimes, but Grimes avoided it before falling victim to a clothesline.
Knight set a ladder up in the ring and both men climbed it, but Knight sent Grimes to the floor. They fought over a ladder before Knight grabbed another. They had a ladder fight until Grimes booted Knight to the floor. They fought over a ladder yet again, with Grimes getting the advantage by pushing the Knight and the ladder into the barricade. He followed it up with a soccer kick.
Grimes opted to take the fight to Knight on the floor, but Knight sent Grimes into the barricade and smashed him with the ladder. Knight continued to send Grimes into ringside objects until Grimes turned it around. Knight popped up and took Grimes down yet again. I know this report sounds redundant and repetitive, but there was no ebb or flow to the match early on, just unfocused brawling.
Back in the ring, Knight hit a slingshot shoulder block. Grimes countered with a German suplex into a ladder. He tried to follow it up with a ladder attack, but Knight moved out of the way and hit a neckbraker onto a propped-up ladder. That looked terrible.
Grimes tried to make a comeback with right hands, but Knight sent him into a ladder. Knight leaned a ladder against the ropes before propping another one up on the top turnbuckle. Grimes reversed a whip and sent Knight face-first into the latter ladder. He laid in kicks, but Knight pulled Grimes’ hair, sending him hard to the mat. Grimes countered a running attack with a back body drop onto a ladder.
Knight was sent over the top rope onto a ladder bridge. Grimes went after a gold ladder on the stage and brought it to the ring. He climbed it and made it to the belt, but Knight met him at the top. Knight fell off, but was able to push the ladder over, sending Grimes crashing to the mat.
After a long double down, Knight set up more ladders to create a bridge over the ropes. Grimes surprised him with a thrust kick, but Knight hid behind DiBiase’s security, allowing him to take Grimes out. Knight whipped Grimes into a ladder, but Grimes climbed it and then grabbed onto some staging when Knight pushed the ladder away. Grimes then leapt off the staging with a crossbody.
Grimes climbed the gold ladder in the ring. Knight tried to powerbomb him out of the ring, but Grimes turned it into a hurricanrana. Grimes shouted “to the moon!” and nearly reached the championship, but Knight pushed the ladder over, sending Grimes onto the bridge from before. Knight then unhooked the belt to win the championship.
– Knight celebrated with the Million Dollar Man afterwards.
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Pettengill tried to advertise the WWE Shop, but was interrupted by Hit Row. They plugged their new song, “Now You Know.”
This was a very good match and a nice showcase for Moon, who is one of the more underrated talents on the roster.
Moon came out firing with strikes, but Gonzalez planted her to the mat on a crossbody attempt. Moon countered the one-armed powerbomb with a hurricanrana, sending Gonzalez into the turnbuckle, but Gonzalez sent Moon into the barricade on a shoulder block. Out on the floor, Gonzalez continued to dominate.
Back in the ring, Gonzalez maintained control until Moon kicked her way out of a corner attack. She went for a diving codebreaker, but Gonzalez caught it and planted Moon with a sidewalk slam. A twisting Vader bomb followed for two. Moon tried to fight back with strikes before a thrust kick caught Gonzalez under the jaw. Another series of kicks staggered Gonzalez before a forearm finally took the champion down.
Moon hit a Code Red for two. She locked on a modified deathlock until Kai assisted Gonzalez by helping her reach the ropes. Gonzalez and Kai regrouped on the floor, so Moon took the champion out with a tope suicida. Back in the ring, a flatliner from Moon got two.
Kai distracted Moon while the latter climbed the ropes, allowing Gonzalez to take control with a superplex. Gonzalez went for her one-armed powerbomb, but Moon cradled her for two. Gonzalez came back with a big boot for a near fall of her own. She went for an inverted suplex, but Moon turned it into a modified Eclipse.
Moon gained some separation with a jawbreaker and followed it up with a diving Codebreaker. The Eclipse followed, but Kai put Gonzalez’s foot on the ropes. Shotzi Blackheart appeared to chase off Kai, sending her into the staging and bringing her backstage.
Gonzalez fled to the apron, where Moon climbed the ropes and hit a tornado DDT on the ramp. Moon rolled Gonzalez into the ring, where Gonzalez kicked out at two. She went for another Eclipse, but Gonzalez caught her and hit Snake Eyes in the corner. The one-armed powerbomb followed for the win.
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Another Pettengill comedy segment aired. He was about to play Karate Fighters, and his opponent was Dexter Lumis. Pettengill asked how the women were treating Lumis these days, so Lumis broke the game and smashed Pettengill’s piece in his hand.
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The NXT: Great American Bash TV special was announced for Tuesday, July 6 on USA.
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This week’s NXT lineup:
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. Grizzled Young Veterans in a Tornado Tag Team Match
KUSHIDA’s Cruiserweight Championship Open Challenge
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NXT Championship Fatal 5-Way: Karrion Kross (c) (w/ Scarlett) defeated Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne (26:25)
This was an insane spotfest from start to finish, with tons of great action. The crowd wasn’t super invested at the start but eventually got into it; however, they’re definitely not into Kross as champion.
While O’Reilly and Cole brawled on the floor, Kross and Dunne faced off in the ring. Dunne peppered him with leg kicks and went for a guillotine, but Kross caught him and hit a Northern Lights suplex. O’Reilly entered the fray and traded with Kross until a high kick gave Kross an opening. O’Reilly countered into a heel hook, which Kross fought out of, hitting a German.
Gargano was next for Kross. He went for the Garga-No Escape before chopping down Kross’s leg and taking him down with a hurricanrana. Kross caught a corner attack and hit an exploder suplex. Cole immediately took advantage by kicking out Kross’s knee and hitting an enziguiri. Dunne pulled Cole out of the ring and trapped him between the apron and the skirt, allowing the entire field to beat him down.
Kross continued to dispatch all four opponents. He hit a double Northern Lights suplex on Dunne and Gargano before a lariat on O’Reilly got two. O’Reilly fought out of a powerbomb and landed muay thai strikes, finally taking Kross down. He laid in knees on Cole before mounting him and going for an armbar. Dunne locked on an armbar on O’Reilly before Gargano tried to get involved. Dunne attacked the fingers of both O’Reilly and Gargano before Kross powerbombed him onto both men.
Cole retreated to the ramp, where Kross wanted a fight. Dunne and Gargano got involved, sending him through the door of the In Your House stage. In the ring, a leg lariat from Cole took down O’Reilly, followed by the ushigoroshi for two. Gargano hit an enziguiri on O’Reilly before propping Cole in the tree of woe over O’Reilly in the corner. Dunne surprised Gargano with a roll-up, but Gargano turned the Bitter End into a DDT before throwing Dunne into the corner with a lawn dart through Cole and O’Reilly for two.
Gargano went for his end of #DIY, but a parade of strikes from Cole, Gargano, Dunne, and O’Reilly led to a quadruple down. O’Reilly caught a Cole thrust kick and applied an ankle lock, but Cole kicked out of it, sending O’Reilly into Kross. Kross sent both O’Reilly and Cole over the barricade before a double-hand powerbomb sent Gargano into the ring apron. He tossed Dunne onto the pile on the outside.
It was just Kross and Gargano in the ring. Kross hit an F-5 for two. Gargano made a comeback with a tornado DDT, using Cole as an assist, before taking out O’Reilly with a tope suicida. He followed it up with a spear on Kross and a diving DDT on Dunne but was met with a superkick from Cole. Gargano avoided the Last Shot and locked on the Garga-No Escape, but Cole fought out and countered a slingshot spear with a thrust kick. Gargano countered the Panama Sunrise into belly-to-back driver for two.
O’Reilly was taken out with stereo kicks from Gargano and Dunne, then Cole and Gargano took out Dunne, then O’Reilly and Gargano took out Cole as O’Reilly covered for two. Kross entered the ring and hit corner clotheslines on all four opponents before eating lariats from everyone. O’Reilly briefly got the upper hand on everyone until Kross took him out with a lariat.
Kross hit German suplexes on everyone. Dunne flipped out of one, allowing everyone to hit kicks to Kross’s head. Cole and O’Reilly paused their rivalry to try to powerbomb Kross through the announce desk, which didn’t break. The four challengers faced off in the ring. Gargano and Dunne hit stereo superkicks, then Dunne and O’Reilly both applied submissions. They dropped their victims and traded strikes, with O’Reilly dropping Dunne with a forearm. Dunne transitioned into a standing kimura before a triangle hold, with Gargano taking them down with a slingshot spear. A ushigoroshi from Cole on O’Reilly got two.
Cole and Dunne exchanged forearms in the ring. Dunne went for his corner backflip, which Cole and Gargano countered with superkicks. Gargano locked both Cole and Dunne in the Garga-No Escape, but O’Reilly broke it up. He and Gargano had a strike exchange, with O’Reilly finishing it with a brainbuster. He climebed to the top but was sent to the floor by Cole, who hit the Panama Sunrise on Gargano, but Dunne pulled him out of the ring and killed him with a brainbuster on the floor.
Kross popped up from the announce desk as Dunne invited him in for a fight. Dunne unleashed on Kross, forcing him to cover up, but Kross hit a German. Dunne hit one of his own, followed by the Bitter End, but Kross kicked out for a great near fall. Dunne immediately locked on a triangle, but the other three broke up the hold.
Dunne dispatched his opponents with kicks before catching a low blow and going for the finger-break spot. Kross broke it up with a double Doomsday Saito. The Kross Jacket followed, but Dunne snapped Kross’s fingers to break out of the hold. Gargano hit One Final Beat on Dunne, but Kross locked on the Kross Jacket on Gargano. Gargano jackknifed over for a cradle for two, but Kross maintained the hold. Cole hit the Last Shot on Kross but was subsequently chopped down by O’Reilly, who hit the diving knee on Kross. Cole broke up the cover with a superkick.
O’Reilly avoided the Last Shot and locked on the heel hook. After a long fight, Kross locked the Kross Jacket on O’Reilly, with the hold still locked on Cole. O’Reilly faded, relinquished the heel hook, and passed out for the referee stoppage as Kross retained.
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An interviewer caught up to William Regal to ask about the events of In Your House. He said he’d been GM for seven years, and he’s never seen so much bedlam. “I think it’s time for a change.”
WWE has announced a couple of additions to the lineup for NXT’s TakeOver: In Your House go-home show.
– At Sunday’s TakeOver event, Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. But before that match happens, there will be a face-off segment with Kross and his challengers on this Tuesday’s NXT episode.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on last week’s NXT had originally been set to determine Kross’ challenger for TakeOver: In Your House, but Cole interrupted the match and attacked all three wrestlers. Cole cut a promo on Kross later in the show, which led to Kross confronting Cole. Kross told NXT general manager William Regal that he wanted to face all four of O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole at TakeOver.
– WWE is also hyping that Ted DiBiase will make a “Priceless Announcement” on this Tuesday’s NXT. The announcement comes in advance of Cameron Grimes facing LA Knight at TakeOver: In Your House.
Grimes and Knight have each been vying for DiBiase to choose them as the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. A distraction by Grimes on last week’s NXT caused Knight to lose a match against Jake Atlas. When he was interviewed backstage after the match, DiBiase said Knight dropped the ball but Grimes showed that it takes both brains and brawn.
DiBiase’s Million Dollar Championship appears on the poster for TakeOver: In Your House, but WWE has yet to confirm the return of the title or that it’s going to play a part in Grimes and Knight’s match at TakeOver.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Face-off with NXT Champion Karrion Kross, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai
Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Killian Dain
Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy returns to NXT
Adam Cole returning to NXT tonight led to a fatal five-way title match being announced for NXT’s next TakeOver event.
Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on tonight’s show was supposed to decide Kross’ challenger for TakeOver, but it ended in a no contest as part of an angle where Cole returned and took out all three wrestlers. A furious William Regal then made his way out with security. Cole hit a superkick on O’Reilly before Regal and security finally got him to go to the back.
Cole appeared again later in the show and said that he wants the NXT Championship back. He called Kross a “big, overrated musclehead” who doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. Kross then came out to the ring and confronted Cole.
Kross said Cole’s motives in getting involved in the triple threat match were understandable. But Kross said that when he signed with NXT, Cole stopped being special. Cole said NXT has done everything in their power to make Kross feel special — but all they have to do to make Cole feel special is ring the bell. Cole said Kross isn’t on his level and anyone who watches pro wrestling knows that. Cole said Kross is just a guy who has his property.
Regal said he could see what Cole was doing and it wasn’t going to work, but Kross told Regal that he wants to face everyone at TakeOver: In Your House. Kross said to give him O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole. Regal agreed to make the match.
This was just the second time Cole has appeared on NXT since losing to O’Reilly in an unsanctioned match at April’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. A sit-down interview with Cole aired on the April 27 episode of the show.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He’s made one title defense since then, retaining against Balor in a rematch last week.
In the main event of last night’s NXT, Finn Balor fell short in his NXT Championship rematch against Karrion Kross.
Kross retained the NXT Championship by making Balor pass out in the Kross Jacket. It was Kross’ first title defense since winning the NXT Championship from Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver next month.
Kross’ next title defense will be against either Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, or Johnny Gargano. It was announced last night that O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano will face off in a triple threat match on NXT next week, with the winner challenging for Kross’ NXT Championship at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13.
Dunne was in action last night and defeated the returning Bobby Fish. Plus, Franky Monet made her NXT in-ring debut, Ted DiBiase and Cameron Grimes met for their “Million Dollar Face-Off,” Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai took on Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart, and more.
Karrion Kross vs. Finn Balor II headlines tonight’s episode of NXT.
The NXT Championship will be on the line as Kross and Balor face off in a rematch from TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. This will be Kross’ first title defense since defeating Balor to win the championship.
Tonight’s show will also feature the “world premiere” of Franky Monet as the former Taya Valkyrie makes her NXT in-ring debut. Monet first appeared on NXT five weeks ago. Her opponent for tonight hasn’t been announced.
With both teams wanting a shot at Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell’s NXT Women’s Tag Team titles, Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will take on Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai tonight. Bobby Fish will also return to in-ring action for the first time since December as he looks to get revenge on Pete Dunne. Fish had to undergo triceps surgery after December’s NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
The feud between Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase will continue as they meet for the “Million Dollar Face-Off.”
Plus, we’ll hear from new NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed. Reed defeated Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match last week to win the North American title.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a canned intro hyping the main event championship match. The former champion meets the current champ in a return bout that headlines the show.
The announce team of Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix and Wade Barrett welcome viewers to the show, and they offer a rundown of tonight’s card. They throw to the opening match, which is a women’s tag team bout.
Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart defeated NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai
Moon pinned Kai to win the match. Gonzalez defending against Moon looks like potential direction. Good opener for this show as well.
Gonzalez began the match with power moves on Moon, but Moon fought back to frustate the champ with counters and two counts. Cat-and-mouse until Kai tagged in, and the heels began to work over Moon. Blackheart tagged in, and she ran wild on Kai. The babyfaces were soon in control. Blackheart applied a Texas cloverleaf, and Gonzalez saved her partner.
The match went through some commercials, and Moon was cleaning house when the show returned from break. Kai caused a distraction that allowed Gonzalez to boot Moon in the face. The heels went back to working over Moon. Blackeart jumped in to make a save at one point, and then Moon made a hot tag.
Blackheart with a go to sleep facebuster for a near fall on Kai. Gonzalez saved Kai from a Doomsday Device, and Gonzalez jumped in again to save Kai by freeing her from a leglock/crossface combo applied by Moon. Gonzalez went for her signature chokeslam, but Moon countered into a stunner.
Moon & Blackheart then executed a double team combo where Moon suplexed Kai into a Dominator while Blackheart swooped in to deliver a cutter. Moon went on to cover Kai for a pinfall.
Gonzalez attacked Blackheart & Moon after the match, and she laid them both out. Upon ordering Kai to make Moon watch the attack, Gonzalez powerbombed Blackheart into the barricade and the ring post. Gonzalez then dropped Blackheart throat first on the barricade. Looks like Moon is a potential challenger for Gonzalez, and now there is an added layer of a grudge match.
Pete Dunne (with Oney Lorcan) defeated Bobby Fish
Dunne pinned Fish after delivering The Bitter End. Great match. Lorcan attacked Fish afterwards for a post-match beat down.
Fish showed a lot of fire at the start, yet Dunne baited him into taking a cheap shot. They grappled on the mat, and Dunne stomped Fish in the face. Dunne then began to target an arm. Fish reverses to work Dunne’s arm. Fish booted Dunne out of the ring just before the show cut to a commercial break.
Dunne was again targeting Fish’s arm when the show returned from the break. Fish fired up, and he caugth Dunne in a sleeper. Dunne with joint manipulation to break the sleeper. Dropping a knee on Fish’s previously injured arm, Dunne looked vicious. Dunne followed Fish when Fish rolled outside. At ringside, Fish smashed Dunne into the barricade.
Fish got back into the ring, only for him to walk into an enzuigiri. Fish answered back with an exploder into the ropes, which led to a near fall on Dunne. They traded knee strikes, and Dunne buckled over in a corner. Taking a page out of Bret Hart’s playbook, Dunne was playing possum. Dunne exploded into a flurry of offense, but Fish cut him off to get another two count.
Dunne snapped Fish’s fingers while attempting to apply an arm bar. Fish still managed to roll through apply his own joint lock. Dunne countered for The Bitter End, and Dunne covered Fish for a three count.
Lorcan jumped a prone Fish after the match. Lorcan beat him down, and then he tried to re-injury Fish’s weakened arm. Officials poured out to break up the beatdown. Lorcan got more for cheap shot in by kicking Fish, but Fish got back to his feet to glare at Lorcan as he and Dunne backed away.
Mercedes Martinez was cutting a promo about working her way back up the ladder, as she wants another title shot. Boa was spying on her like a creep, so maybe Martinez meets Xia Lee in a match soon.
Hit Row in a pre-tape vignette cut promos in a really cool segment. This could easily become a hot new act in WWE.
Mercedes Martinez defeated Zayda Ramier
Martinez pinned Ramier in an enhancement match. Afterwards came an angle setting up Xia Lee against Martinez.
Ramier got some offense, but not for long. Martinez pressed slammed Ramier off the top rope, hit her with a knee strike, and Martinez then dropped her with an Air Raid Crash. 1…2…3.
The arena lights turned red, and the ring filled with smoke. The lights then turned blue, and Martinez had a mark written on her hand. Spooky stuff similar to what Scooby Doo and the gang might investigate. Quick, to the Mystery Machine! Might even flash the Bat signal too. Couldn’t hurt.
Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase in a “Million Dollar Face-Off”
Grimes asked DiBiase “why?” Why has DiBiase been embarrassing him? Grimes told DiBiase he looked up to him, and Grimes learned people would like him if he had money. Grimes sadly said to never meet your idols.
DiBiase responded by saying he really like Grimes. They have a lot more in common than they might think, according to DiBiase. He put Grimes through hell because he saw a little bit of himself in Grimes. DiBiase said he was here because he was looking for that one individual to basically embodies The Million Dollar Man.
DiBiase went on to say Grimes has lost his focus since becoming rich. LA Knight interrupted them for one of those LA Knight promos, if you like that sort of thing. Knight wanted to DiBiase to pick him as a protege.
Grimes finally had enough of Knight. Grimes ordered Knight out of the ring, or Grimes threatened to kick his ass to … the … moon. Knight responded by laying out Grimes, and he left the ring.
Dibiase stood over a fallen Grimes and said, “Kid, you’re just never going to get it.” DiBiase cackled with his signature over-the-top laugh.
Indi Hartwell was backstage looking for Dexster Lumis. She interrupted Ever-Rise, and one of them wanted to fight her. This was supposed to be comedy I think. Drake Maverick told Hartwell he saw Lumis last in a room, and Maverick pointed to the room. Hartwell went into the room, and there were a bunch of drawings supposedly drawn by Lumis. He was heartbroken apparently. Hartwell was in turn upset. This courtship was cut at first, but it has become kind of weird. Regardless, to each their own.
Franky Monet defeated Cora Jade
Monet (formerly Taya Valkyrie) in her WWE in-ring debut pinned Jade in an enhancement match. Monet was able to get in her “Wera Loca” catchphrase during the match. She ran through most of her signature moves, and Monet looked dominate.
Jade got some offense, but Monet soon cut her off. Monet won with a version of the Glam Slam, which is basically a chicken wing into a sit-out facebuster.
Grizzled Young Veterans cut a promo on Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa, after Ciampa & Thatcher cut a promo on them earlier in the show. Ciampa & Thatcher cut the better promo on this night. The two teams meet soon in a rubber match.
NXT UK Champion WALTER addressed the remaining members of Imperium as if WALTER was the evil Emperor from Star Wars. WALTER looked more sinister than the Emperor as he dressed down Imperium.
Legado del Fantasma confronts NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed is the new North American champ, and he came down to the ring for his first promo as the new title holder.
Reed began by saying it took him 14 years to get to this moment. Not just a climb up the mountain, but falling down just to get back up. Falling yet again, but keep getting up. It was not an easy road to the North American title. Now that he has the title, good luck to anyone trying to take it. Reed had a mountain, but he says his challengers have a “colossal mountain to climb.”
Out comes Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma to interrupt Reed. Escobar said he cannot relate to Reed because Escobar himself was born a champion. Escobar went on to say the North American title caught his eye.
Escobar wants a title match against Reed. There was a joke about Canada, which seemed rather missplaced in an otherwise serious segment. Escobar got on the ring apron to further berate Reed. Legado del Fantasma was seemingly about to jump Reed when NXT Tag Team Champions MSK ran down to even the odds. Escobar and his charges fled. This segment needed Teddy Long to make it a tag team match. Luckily we still have William Regal.
NXT GM William Regal announced a thriple threat number one contender’s match for next Tueday on NXT. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano is set for next week. The winner faces the NXT Champion.
Also announced for next week is a tag team title bout with MSK defending against Ledado del Fantasma.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) defeated Finn Balor to reatin his title
Kross put Balor to sleep to end a pretty great match.
Balor started strong, and Kross powdered just before the show cut to a picture-in-picture commercial break. Kross gained control after the break. Balor countered Kross, and Balor targeted Kross’ back. Kross fought back and turned the tables.
Kross bieled Balor across the ring, and then Kross began to suplex him. Balor countered a second suplex to apply a crossface. Balor exploded into a double stomp, yet Kross struck back with a cheap shot.
Balor trapped Kross in the ring skirt, and then Balor landed a PK before the show cut to another picture-in-picture commercial break. Kross was mounting a comeback after the show came back from the break. They traded strikes. Balor with a sling blade, but Kross kicked out at one. Kross then hopped to his feet like a man possessed by something or other.
Balor leapt into a double stomp, but Kross was able to counter Balor. Fighting the Kross Jacket, Balor found himself trapped in Kross’s sleeper hold. Balor was able to escape, and he rolled outside. Kross sent Balor crashing into the barricade, and Kross gave Balor a Razor’s Edge into the barricade.
Upon a sudden burst of fire, Balor made a comeback. Balor flew over the ropes with a tope con giro. Kross no sold the dive, and he powerbombed Balor onto the announce desk. That further damaged the back Kross targeted earlier on in the match. Balor would not go down without a fight. He fought back to deliver another double stomp. Balor then went for the Coup de Grace, but Kross rolled out of the way.
Kross with a German suplex followed by a Saito suplex. Kross signaled for his finisher, but Balor countered for a two count. Balor applied a cobra twist, but Kross freed himself. Balor in turn countered Kross. Balor applied a sleeper. Kross tried to escape, yet Balor transitioned to catch Kross in a triangle. Kross with a deadlift powerbombed Balor.
Balor displayed fighting spirit as Kross struck with his signature forearm smash. Kross then stomped on Balor, and Kross locked in the sleeper. The referee checked Balor before stopped the match, and the champion retains his title.
This week’s NXT will feature a Prime Target segment building up an upcoming title match.
During Raw tonight, a commercial aired announcing that Prime Target: Kross vs. Balor II will air on NXT this Tuesday. The segment will be the final build for Karrion Kross’ NXT Championship defense against Finn Balor.
Kross is defending the NXT Championship against Balor on NXT next week (Tuesday, May 25). NXT’s Prime Target special features preview a big match by focusing on both competitors in it. The Kross-Balor segment will include interviews with them about next week’s title match.
Kross defeated Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month to win the NXT Championship.
On NXT two weeks ago, Kross was interrupted by Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, and Balor. After a brawl broke out, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory ambushed Kross and laid him out.
Kross defeated Theory in a non-title match on NXT last week. Balor confronted Kross in the ring after the match and told Kross that he doesn’t wait in lines. Balor told Kross that he wanted his rematch — and Kross said he wanted the match just as much as Balor.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Steel cage match: NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Bronson Reed
Zoey Stark vs. Toni Storm
“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase appears live at the Capitol Wrestling Center
– Finn Balor is getting his rematch against NXT Champion Karrion Kross — but the match won’t be taking place at NXT’s next TakeOver event.
WWE has announced that Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Balor on the Tuesday, May 25 episode of NXT. Kross defeated Balor to win the title at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month.
After Kross defeated Austin Theory in a non-title match on tonight’s NXT, Balor confronted Kross in the ring. Balor told Kross that he doesn’t wait in lines. Balor said he wants his rematch — and Kross said he wants the match just as much as Balor.
Balor, Kyle O’Reilly, and Pete Dunne had all interrupted Kross on last week’s NXT, leading to a brawl breaking out. When Kross was the only person left in the ring, Theory and NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano ambushed Kross and laid him out.
The Kross vs. Balor title rematch is taking place in advance of this year’s NXT TakeOver: In Your House event. It was announced earlier today that TakeOver: In Your House will be held on Sunday, June 13.
– The Tuesday, May 25 episode of NXT will also feature Franky Monet’s WWE in-ring debut. Monet (formerly known as Taya Valkyrie) made her first appearance for NXT four weeks ago. She’s had interactions with NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon, and Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro.
Three matches have been added to the card for next week’s NXT episode.
– The NXT Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line as Kushida defends against Santos Escobar in a two-out-of-three falls match on NXT next Tuesday. Kushida became champion by answering Escobar’s open challenge three weeks ago and defeating him to win the title.
On last week’s NXT, Legado del Fantasma (Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) defeated Kushida & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) in a six-man tag match. That match was set up when MSK saved Kushida from an attack by Legado del Fantasma the previous week. The attack happened after Kushida issued his own open challenge and defeated Oney Lorcan to retain the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
– NXT Champion Karrion Kross vs. Austin Theory in a non-title match is also set for next Tuesday’s NXT. It will be the first time Kross has wrestled since winning the NXT Championship from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month.
Theory and NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano laid out Kross on NXT tonight. Gargano and Theory tried to meet with NXT general manager William Regal earlier in the show, but they couldn’t because Scarlett was in Regal’s office when they got there. Gargano called himself the number one champion in NXT. After an interaction between Theory and Scarlett during the segment, Regal later informed Theory that Scarlett made sure that Theory will be facing Kross next week.
Kross cut a promo on tonight’s show but was interrupted by a line of potential challengers. Kyle O’Reilly first appeared, followed by Pete Dunne and Balor. After a brawl broke out, Gargano and Theory ambushed Kross when he was the only one left in the ring. Kross tried to fight them off, but Gargano and Theory gave Kross stereo superkicks. Gargano then laid out Kross by hitting him with the North American title belt.
Gargano and Theory were shown leaving the building immediately after laying out Kross.
– Plus, Killian Dain vs. Alexander Wolfe will take place on NXT next Tuesday. Wolfe’s Imperium stablemates Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner defeated Drake Maverick & Dain on NXT last week. Aichner & Barthel hit the Euro Bomb on Maverick to get the win after Barthel had sent Dain into the ring post.
Going into last week’s tag match, Maverick was worried that Dain was going to turn against him and join Imperium. There was a moment during the match where Barthel ordered Wolfe to hit Dain with a steel chair. Wolfe, who was formerly a member of SAnitY with Dain, went to hit Dain with the chair but ultimately couldn’t do it. But Wolfe stood in Dain’s way when Dain tried to send Barthel into the ring post. That gave Barthel time to reverse the move and lay out Dain instead.
Here’s the updated lineup for next Tuesday’s NXT:
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Mercedes Martinez
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida defends against Santos Escobar in a two-out-of-three falls match
Non-title match: NXT Champion Karrion Kross vs. Austin Theory
After his first title reign ended abruptly due to injury, Karrion Kross has regained the NXT Championship.
At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two tonight, Kross (w/ Scarlett) defeated Finn Balor to win the NXT Championship. The finish of the match saw Kross pin Balor after hitting two forearm strikes to the back of the head.
Balor tried to frustrate Kross and force him to make a mistake during tonight’s match. Balor also focused on Kross’ midsection and hit the Coup de Grace at one point, but Kross kicked out and transitioned to the Kross Jacket. Kross later broke out of a submission attempt by Balor. He then pummeled Balor with strikes, hit a German suplex, a Doomsday Saito, and connected with two strikes to the back of the head to get the win.
In defeating Balor, Kross won back the title that he never lost. Kross defeated Keith Lee to win the NXT Championship at TakeOver XXX last August, but he had to vacate the title just days later due to a separated shoulder. Balor won the vacant title in September of last year.
Kross was able to avoid having to undergo surgery for his separated shoulder. He made his return to NXT in December.
WWE has made four new match announcements for this week’s episode of NXT.
Karrion Kross vs. Oney Lorcan, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin vs. Kushida in a non-title match, NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER vs. Drake Maverick in a non-title match, and Bronson Reed vs. LA Knight have all been added to the card for this Wednesday’s NXT.
Kross vs. Lorcan and Reed vs. Knight were both set up by messages that were sent to NXT general manager William Regal. After Regal announced that the NXT Tag Team titles have been declared vacant due to Burch suffering a separated shoulder, Lorcan sent out a tweet blaming Kross for Burch’s injury. Lorcan told Regal to give him a match against Kross.
Burch suffered the separated shoulder while he and Lorcan were defending their NXT Tag Team titles against Kross & NXT Champion Finn Balor last week. Lorcan & Burch retained after Kross attacked Balor during the match. Right before being attacked by Kross, Balor had hit a dropkick on Lorcan that knocked Scarlett down. Balor is defending his NXT Championship against Kross at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two on Thursday, April 8.
Knight posted a video on Tuesday night telling Regal that he wants a match against Reed. Reed then responded and said he wants the match as well. Reed said Knight stuck his nose in Reed’s business first by costing him a match against Cameron Grimes three weeks ago. This will be the second match that Knight (formerly known as Eli Drake) has had in NXT. On last week’s episode, Knight made his NXT in-ring debut by defeating August Grey.
Devlin vs. Kushida was announced after Kushida answered an open challenge that was issued by Devlin. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, NXT Cruiserweight Champions Devlin and Santos Escobar are facing off in a title unification match.
WWE uploaded video of an angle on Tuesday where Maverick was looking for Killian Dain and barged into Imperium’s locker room questioning them. WALTER took a weapon out of Maverick’s hands and asked him who he thinks he is. WALTER told Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner that he’ll take care of the problem with Maverick on Wednesday’s NXT.
Last week, WALTER returned to NXT for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He laid out Tommaso Ciampa on the episode.
Here’s the updated lineup for this week’s NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Aliyah & Jessi Kamea
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai
Karrion Kross vs. Oney Lorcan
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin vs. Kushida in a non-title match
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER vs. Drake Maverick in a non-title match
Bronson Reed vs. LA Knight
NXT general manager William Regal will announce a solution for Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly’s issues and will declare the consequences for their recent attacks on each other
Regal will also give an update on the situation with the vacant NXT Tag Team titles
