Tag: nxt cruiserweight title

WWE unifies NXT North American and Cruiserweight titles at New Year’s Evil

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A unified North American Champion was crowned on the first NXT episode of 2022.

At New Year’s Evil on Tuesday night, Carmelo Hayes defeated Roderick Strong to unify the NXT North American Championship and NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Hayes was North American Champion going into the match, while Strong held the Cruiserweight title.

With the titles being unified, Hayes will be recognized as the NXT North American Champion going forward.

Hayes pinned Strong after hitting his diving leg drop finishing move from the top rope. There was a spot leading into the finish where Strong hit an X-Plex from the top on Hayes. Hayes was able to put his arm on top of Strong and try to pin him after they both landed, but Strong kicked out.

The title unification match was set up by Hayes and Strong both calling themselves the true champion in NXT.

Hayes has been North American Champion since winning the title from Isaiah “Swerve” Scott last October. After winning last year’s NXT Breakout Tournament, Hayes cashed in his title shot contract on Scott to win the North American title.

Cruiserweight title open challenge announced for WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

An open challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight title will take place Tuesday on NXT.

It was announced on tonight’s NXT TakeOver: In Your House that Kushida will defend the NXT Cruiserweight title in an open challenge match. Kushida has issued these open challenges since winning the title, defeating the likes of Oney Lorcan and Carmelo Hayes, who Kushida defeated two weeks ago on NXT.

Kushida won the Cruiserweight title after accepting an open challenge, defeating then champion Santos Escobar back on April 13. Kushida defeated Escobar in a rematch on the May 11th edition of NXT, winning a two out of three falls match.

Also announced for Tuesday is a tag team tornado match, where the team of Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher will take on Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson). The two teams have feuded in recent weeks, with the match being announced on last week’s episode of NXT.

Jordan Devlin Cruiserweight title defense set for next week’s NXT UK

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the first time since returning to WWE television, Jordan Devlin will defend his version of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship next week.

WWE has announced that Devlin will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Amir Jordan on next Thursday’s episode of NXT UK. The match was set up by a backstage segment that aired on NXT UK this week.

In the backstage segment, NXT UK assistant general manager Sid Scala announced that he and NXT UK general manager Johnny Saint have sanctioned defenses of Devlin’s title. Devlin interrupted Scala and asked if he should be thankful for that. Devlin said they should be thanking him for winning the Cruiserweight Championship and all he’s done for NXT UK.

Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams then walked up to Devlin and Scala. Williams said he picked up a little injury last week but will be happy to challenge Devlin once he’s better. Jordan said Williams might be injured, but he’s good to go. Jordan asked Williams if he was okay with Jordan challenging for the title. Devlin mocked Jordan for asking for permission. Devlin said he gets that Jordan is an ambitious guy and doesn’t want to be in a tag team. Devlin said that whenever Jordan and Williams sort out their little odd couple pairing, whoever it is should come and challenge him.

WWE lists Santos Escobar and Devlin as both being NXT Cruiserweight Champions. Escobar’s version of the title was introduced this spring when Devlin was unable to defend the championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Escobar’s title was originally called the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship, but WWE dropped the interim branding for the title during the tournament where Escobar was crowned champion.

Devlin returned to NXT UK TV last month for the first time since an allegation was made against him during the #SpeakingOut movement this June. NXT UK was on hiatus from March to September due to the pandemic.

Next Thursday’s NXT UK will also feature A-Kid vs. Trent Seven in the finals of the Heritage Cup tournament.

WWE reveals format for interim NXT Cruiserweight title tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE’s interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament will feature a departure from the traditional single-elimination format.

It was announced today that eight wrestlers will be taking part in the interim Cruiserweight title tournament. They’ll be split into groups of four, with everyone facing the three other wrestlers in their group. The wrestler with the best record from Group A will advance to face the wrestler with the best record from Group B in the finals.

WWE wrote that any ties will be broken by head-to-head record.

The full groups will be revealed on WWE.com and WWE’s social media accounts tomorrow.

With NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin unable to travel and defend his title amid the coronavirus pandemic, the interim title tournament was announced by NXT’s on-screen general manager William Regal during an appearance on WWE’s The Bump this week.

Devlin tweeted after Regal made the announcement: “First things first, absolutely shocking and disrespectful decision by @WWE management. Secondly, you can crown a fraud champion and give him a little replica of my title, but everyone around the world knows who the REAL NXT Cruiserweight Champion still is.”

The interim title tournament will kick off on NXT this coming Wednesday.

New NXT Cruiserweight Champion crowned at WWE Worlds Collide

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NXT UK’s Jordan Devlin is the new Cruiserweight champion.

He defeated former champion Angel Garza, Isiah “Swerve” Scott and Travis Banks in a fatal four way for the title tonight at WWE Worlds Collide. The finish came when Garza was about to finish Scott with the wing clipper. Devlin came in and took Garza out of the equation with a headbutt  then pinned Scott with the devil inside suplex to win the championship for the first time.

After the match, Devlin cut a promo asking people if they believed in him now. He said he couldn’t be denied and you don’t bet against an ace.

Garza had held the championship for 45 days, defeating Lio Rush on the December 11 edition of NXT.

The Cruiserweight championship has undergone a number of changes in recent months. Originally a championship designed only for the 205 Live brand, it has since been moved to the NXT brand and has been renamed the NXT Cruiserweight championship. Earlier today, a new design was given to Angel Garza featuring darker colors.