Paul “Triple H” Levesque spoke to the media Thursday afternoon prior to Sunday’s NXT TakeOver and gave some rarely aired frustrations regarding how people view pro wrestling these days.
The full audio is available for free down below.
While answering a question about frustrations regarding talents being misused when they get called up to the main roster, Levesque said the following:
“It’s so funny to me sometimes how in our business, everyone is so worried about where someone is going to go or land or how is this going to play out long-term in the future. How about watch it? Do you like it or do you not like it? Do you have to say ‘I like it, but I like this other thing more.” Just watch it or don’t.”
“And stop trying to figure out where everything goes. Fans ruin their own stuff half the time trying to figure out where everything goes and why it’s going there and how, and then trying to pick up their phone and search for the thing to find out what it is can ruin it for them so they aren’t surprised when it happens. I don’t understand that.”
He was also asked about whether they will send talent to the NWA all-women’s PPV headed up by Mickie James or do their own show again. Levesque said they have already done that and to him, equality is equality. If he did an all-men’s show, he would get criticised for that.
He then questioned James’ line about wanting the best regardless of contractual status without mentioning her by name. “From a businessperson’s standpoint, why do we have contractual status? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
“If you want to wrestle the best women in the world, come to WWE,” Levesque said.
For the rest of the call, including an update on the SummerSlam weekend TakeOver and the Million Dollar Title, click below.
The stakes have been raised for Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
It was announced on tonight’s NXT that the Million Dollar Championship will be making its return at Sunday’s TakeOver event. Grimes vs. Knight will now be a ladder match where the winner will become the Million Dollar Champion.
The story of Grimes vs. Knight at TakeOver is that Grimes and Knight have each been vying for Ted DiBiase to choose them to be the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. The return of the Million Dollar Championship was the “Priceless Announcement” that WWE hyped that DiBiase would be making on tonight’s NXT.
The Million Dollar Championship was first introduced by DiBiase as an unofficial title in 1989. It was most recently featured on WWE television when Ted DiBiase Jr. held it in 2010.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Winner-take-all six-man tag match: NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defend against Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
The NXT North American Championship and NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line in a winner-take-all six-man tag match at TakeOver: In Your House.
On tonight’s NXT, it was announced that NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will face Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a six-man tag match at TakeOver: In Your House this Sunday. If Reed & MSK win, they’ll retain their titles. If Legado del Fantasma win, Escobar will become the NXT North American Champion and Mendoza & Wilde will become the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Reed defeated Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match to win the North American Championship on NXT three weeks ago. MSK have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April.
Legado del Fantasma confronted Reed on NXT two weeks ago and were about to attack him, but MSK came out to even the odds. Reed and MSK then sent Escobar, Mendoza, and Wilde packing.
Reed returned the favor during MSK’s NXT Tag Team title defense against Mendoza & Wilde last week. After Escobar interfered, Reed charged at Escobar and squished him against the barricade. MSK then defeated Mendoza & Wilde to retain their Tag Team titles.
MSK again came out to back up Reed during a confrontation with Legado del Fantasma on tonight’s NXT. Legado del Fantasma bailed when MSK entered. Escobar then proposed the winner-take-all six-man tag match for TakeOver — and Reed & MSK accepted the challenge.
This is the fifth match to be announced for Sunday’s TakeOver: In Your House event. Here’s the updated card for the show:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Winner-take-all six-man tag match: NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defend against Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
The card for NXT’s next TakeOver event now has four confirmed matches.
WWE has announced that Mercedes Martinez will face Xia Li at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
After Martinez defeated Zayda Ramier on last week’s NXT, there was an angle where the lights went out and smoke began to fill the ring. A black mark from Li’s Tian Sha faction then appeared on the video screen. The lights went out again — and the mark was on Martinez’s hand when they came back on.
In a promo that aired on NXT tonight, Li said she’ll never forget how Martinez tried to embarrass her when they faced off in the 2017 Mae Young Classic. Martinez defeated Li in the first round of that tournament. The bout was Li’s first-ever pro wrestling match.
Li said during her promo tonight that she feels sick whenever she rewatches that Mae Young Classic match. Li claimed that Martinez tried to bring shame to Li’s name and disgrace to her family. Li said she’s a true warrior now and has been waiting for this moment for four years. Li said Martinez is standing in the way of her destiny. Li vowed that she’s going to purge Martinez at TakeOver: In Your House.
Martinez responded to Li later on tonight’s show. Martinez said Li may be more badass and dangerous now than she was in 2017 — but so is Martinez. Martinez said Li is standing in the way of Martinez’s way back to the NXT Women’s Championship. Martinez said she’ll run through Li at TakeOver.
Martinez unsuccessfully challenged for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship on an episode of NXT last month.
TakeOver; In Your House will air live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else. Here’s the updated lineup for the event:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
Ember Moon will be the next challenger for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship.
WWE has announced that Gonzalez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Moon at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 13. Moon called out Gonzalez on NXT tonight following an angle on last week’s show where Moon was forced to watch Gonzalez lay out her tag team partner Shotzi Blackheart.
Moon & Blackheart defeated Gonzalez & Dakota Kai in tag team action on NXT last week, but Gonzalez knocked Moon down after the match and attacked Blackheart. Gonzalez told Kai to make Moon watch her lay out Blackheart. Gonzalez powerbombed Blackheart into the plexiglass surrounding the ringside area, powerbombed her into the ring post, and then dropped Blackheart onto the barricade. Gonzalez warned Moon that she would be next.
On tonight’s NXT, Moon told Gonzalez to come out to the ring and said she wasn’t going to let what Gonzalez did to Blackheart slide. Moon brawled with Gonzalez and sent her outside of the ring, but Kai then ambushed Moon from behind and beat her down.
Moon vs. Kai is set for next Tuesday’s NXT. The episode is NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Gonzalez won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Io Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. In her first title defense, Gonzalez retained against Mercedes Martinez last month.
Moon previously held the NXT Women’s Championship from November 2017 to April 2018.
Here’s the updated lineup for TakeOver: In Your House:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match’
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Ember Moon
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.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House is returning next month.
WWE announced on Tuesday that NXT TakeOver: In Your House 2021 will take place on Sunday, June 13. The announcement was made on Barstool Sports’ Rasslin” with Brandon F. Walker podcast.
“From inside the CWC to your house … Sunday, June 13th, #NXTTakeOver: In Your House is LIVE on @peacockTV! @WWENetwork @WWENXT #WeAreNXT,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted.
This will be the second straight year that NXT has held a TakeOver: In Your House event. Last June’s TakeOver: In Your House was NXT’s first TakeOver event following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time WWE has used the In Your House name for a show since 1999.
Last year’s TakeOver: In Your House was headlined by Io Shirai defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match to win the NXT Women’s Championship.
1990s WWF broadcaster Todd Pettengill will be the host of TakeOver: In Your House. He was also involved in last year’s TakeOver: In Your House event.
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.
An undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion was crowned at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two tonight.
Santos Escobar defeated Jordan Devlin in a title unification ladder match to become the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion. As they were fighting while on a ladder near the end of the match, Escobar headbutted Devlin and sent him crashing through a ladder that was set up in the corner. Escobar then retrieved both Cruiserweight title belts that were hanging above the ring.
Going into tonight’s unification match, Escobar and Devlin had both claimed to be the rightful NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Devlin won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship at Worlds Collide in January 2020. But with him unable to travel and defend the title due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a tournament was announced to crown an interim champion. The interim label was later dropped from the tournament. Escobar won his version of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship by defeating Drake Maverick in the tournament finals last June.
There was a point in tonight’s ladder match where Devlin looked like he was about to retrieve the title belts, but Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma stablemates Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde ran down and attacked Devlin. After defeating Devlin, Escobar celebrated on the stage with his nine-year-old son, Mendoza, and Wilde.
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver concludes tonight with a double main event.
NXT Champion Finn Balor will put his title on the line against Karrion Kross. Kross, who had to vacate the NXT Championship due to injury just days after winning it last year, is getting the chance to reclaim the title that he never lost.
Former Undisputed Era stablemates Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly will look to settle their issues in an unsanctioned match. In storyline, NXT can’t be held liable for anything Cole and O’Reilly do to each other.
An undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion will also be determined as Jordan Devlin and Santos Escobar face off in a ladder match, Johnny Gargano will defend his NXT North American Championship against Bronson Reed, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will put their titles on the line against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell.
Tonight’s main card will air live on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a pre-show starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. On the pre-show, Breezango and Drake Maverick & Killian Dain will face off in a tag team number one contender’s match.
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The pre-show featured the standard mix of promos, video packages, and talking head segments. The hosts were Sam Roberts and Jimmy Smith. Smith was excellent, adding a ton of legitimacy and excitement to the broadcast.
Mickie James joined commentary for the pre-show match.
Killian Dain & Drake Maverick defeated Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) to become the #1 contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships
Breezango came to the ring dressed like pirates, matching the theme of this week’s Wrestlemania. Maverick frustrated Fandango by imitating his dancing gimmick, so Dain forcefully tagged himself in, downing Fandango before tagging Maverick back in by tossing him into his opponent. Fandango then took control with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, leading to a long beatdown where Breezango isolated Maverick in their corner.
Maverick flipped out of a suplex and used evasive maneuvers to reach Dain for the hot tag. Dain ran wild on both opponents, taking down Fandango with a running crossbody and a uranage. He followed it up with a slingshot senton before performing a Samoan drop / fallaway slam combination in a cool power spot.
Dain and Maverick set up for a big tag team move, but Breeze ran in to save his partner and dispatch Maverick. Dain fought off the attack and tagged in Maverick, who hit a top-rope hurricanrana on Breeze. Dain then came in and powerbombed his partner onto Breeze for the win.
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Rock artist Poppy performed to open the show.
Santos Escobar (c) defeated Jordan Devlin (c) in a ladder match to become the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion
This was a fun stunt show with some cool stuff, although the story was odd. The fact that both men are heels made it difficult to get into, and Devlin isn’t the type of person who should be working as a scrappy underdog at this point.
Both men were billed as the “NXT Cruiserweight Champion.” They performed a choreographed chain wrestling sequence to start until Devlin planted Escobar with a uranage and a standing moonsault. An Asai moonsault followed, with Devlin inadvertently banging his head on the announce desk on the landing. Devlin pulled out a ladder and smacked Escobar with it.
An early attempt at climbing the ladder from Devlin was foiled by Escobar. Escobar whipped Devlin into a propped-up ladder in the corner, sending Devlin crashing to the floor. He followed it up with a running knee on the outside. Escobar produced another ladder and propped it up against the fencing around the barricade. After re-entering the ring and dispatching Devlin by dropkicking a ladder into him, Escobar kept up the attack with repeated ladder shots.
Escobar climbed for the titles, but Devlin tried to stop him, so Escobar beat him down with repeated stomps. He set up a ladder over the turnbuckle, but Devlin reversed a whip into it with a whip of his own. Escobar popped up and downed his opponent with a dropkick. He tried to launch Devlin into the ladder, but Devling hopped up and almost reached the titles. Escobar pulled Devlin down, which Devlin turned into a DDT.
The propped-up ladder on the floor came into play when a dive from Escobar thrust Devlin into it. Escobar taunted Devlin until Devlin countered a suplex by dropping Escobar onto a ladder. They had a strike exchange, where Escobar temporarily gained the advantage after a rising knee. Devlin countered the follow-up into a Spanish Fly and a slingshot cutter.
Devlin set up a ladder near the corner, which both men climbed. They traded strikes, with a right hand from Devlin sending Escobar to the mat. Devlin climbed to the top of the ladder and landed a high moonsault on Escobar in a great spot. Devlin nearly reached the championships, but Legado del Fantasma ran out and pushed Devlin off the ladder to the floor before tossing him into the steel steps.
Escobar sent Mendoza and Wilde to the back before climbing to the titles. Devlin stopped the climb by just tossing a ladder into his opponent before setting up the ladder right next to Escobar’s. After a struggle, Devlin hit a Spanish Fly from halfway up the ladder. Devlin nearly reached the titles, but Escobar climbed up and sent Devlin crashing through a ladder to the canvas with a headbutt, which allowed Escobar enough time to grab the titles and retain.
– After the match, Escobar celebrated with his son and Legado del Fantasma.
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MSK were interviewed backstage about their tag title victory from night one. They were excited about the championships and said they were ready for Killian Dain and Drake Maverick, who will be their first challengers. They then disagreed on who would win tonight’s two main event matches.
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Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (c) defeated The Way (Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) to retain the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships
This was a nice, compact match that didn’t overstay its welcome. Hartwell looked strong in there with some really good workers.
Hartwell & LeRae attacked before the bell, and a step-up senton from LeRae got a quick two count. The challengers worked over Blackheart with frequent tags and double team moves. Occasionally Blackheart would get a hope spot, but she’d get cut off every time by The Way.
An enziguiri finally bought Blackheart enough time to reach Moon for her first tag of the match, five minutes in. She laid in strikes on LeRae, downing her with a strong right hand. Moon set up for the Eclipse, but a distraction from Hartwell allowed LeRae to push Moon down. The Way tried to hit a double team superplex, but that was foiled by Blackheart, leading to a tower of doom spot that got Hartwell a two count on Moon.
The Way continued to work over Moon until she fought off a double team to tag in Blackheart, who entered the match with a crossbody on both opponents. A tiger suplex sent LeRae rolling to the floor, where Blackheart attempted a suicide dive. Blackheart wasn’t caught at all — looked like she went face first into the barricade and the floor. Scary moment.
Moon took out The Way with a dive before tagging in Blackheart for a tandem maneuver for two. LeRae rolled up Blackheart for two and sent Moon to the floor, tagging in Hartwell for a tandem maneuver of their own for two. Blackheart fought out with an enziguiri and hit a double Eclipse on both opponents. The diving senton from Blackheart followed to win and retain.
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NCAA champion and Olympic amateur wrestler Gable Steveson was shown in the crowd.
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Johnny Gargano (c) (w/ Austin Theory) defeated Bronson Reed to retain the NXT North American Championship
This was a perfect midcard match for TakeOver, stuffed with great in-ring work, a compelling babyface vs. heel dynamic, and some close near falls.
Reed surprised Gargano early on by matching his athleticism before overpowering him with an overhead press into a fallaway slam. Gargano stretched Reed’s arm over the rope and went for a slingshot spear, but it wasn’t enough to take Reed down. Reed chopped Gargano down to the mat before Gargano came back with a chop block and a running forearm.
Gargano sent Reed to the floor and tried to follow it up with a plancha, but Reed caught him out of midair. Gargano escaped the grip of the challenger and thrust him into the corner of the announce desk. In the ring, Reed went for his seated splash, but Gargano rolled out of the way and landed a diving crossbody, which only got a one count.
The ribs of Reed were the target of Gargano during his beatdown. Reed started his comeback by turning a Gargano dive into a powerslam. He hit repeated forearms and a corner splash before planting Gargano with a chokeslam. Reed had a nice power spot where he went for a vertical suplex, Gargano tried to knee his way out of it, but Reed maintained control to turn it into a Death Valley driver.
Gargano managed to tie Reed up in the corner, taking control with an enziguiri and a backstabber. He landed a thrust kick on Reed’s midsection, but Reed countered the follow-up into a vertical suplex. Reed hoisted Gargano up into the electric chair, which Gargano turned into a reverse hurricanrana. Gargano then applied the Garga-No Escape.
Eventually, Reed reached the ropes to break the hold. Gargano attempted the One Final Beat, but Reed caught him and tossed Gargano back into the ring with a huge Splash Mountain. Gargano rolled out of the way of the Bullfrog Splash and landed his half of #DIY for two. He tried it again, but Reed caught the kick and fought back with a headbutt and a short-arm lariat.
Reed climbed the ropes for the Bullfrog Splash, but Theory distracted him, giving Gargano the chance to stop the dive. Gargano then attempted a top-rope hurricanrana, which didn’t come together correctly — it looked like Reed was supposed to catch Gargano, but he slipped. Reed hit a powerbomb, but when he went for the cover, Theory put Gargano’s foot on the ropes.
Out on the floor, Reed got in Theory’s face before catching a Gargano dive and sending him into Theory. Theory then took a bullet for Gargano as Reed hit a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Reed countered the One Final Beat into a slam for two. He tried to follow it up with a powerbomb, but Gargano rolled out of it and landed repeated thrust kicks. Reed came back with a kick of his own, but missed a top-rope moonsault.
Gargano hit a One Final Beat and then a second to retain the championship.
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Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) defeated Finn Bálor (c) to win the NXT Championship
Despite starting a bit slow, this built to a nice finish and was Kross’s best performance yet in NXT.
Neither man established an advantage for the first few minutes. Kross fired up with power moves until Bálor moved out of the way of a corner attack, forcing Kross shoulder-first into the ring post. Bálor then made Kross’s injured shoulder and arm the target of his attack.
Kross tried to power his way out of an armbar, but Bálor turned it into almost an arm-trap flatliner. Forcing Kross into the corner, the champion nailed Kross with a heel kick. Kross collapsed from the pain, in a clear callback to Bálor’s match with Kyle O’Reilly.
After that, Bálor altered his strategy, instead opting to target Kross’s midsection. Kross fired up and called for his finisher, but Bálor countered it with repeated shotgun dropkicks. Bálor went to the top rope and hit the Coup de Grace, but Kross kicked out at two, Kross then immediately applied a rear naked choke, which Bálor rolled out of with a stomp for good measure.
The champion applied a grounded abdominal stretch. Scarlett implored Kross to reach the ropes, and he finally did, crushing Bálor with a second Doomsday Saito. Two running forearm smashes were enough for Kross to pin Bálor and win the championship.
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Santos Escobar, flanked by Legado del Fantasma, was interviewed about his title win. He said LDF are family and called himself the emperor of lucha libre.
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The ring was filled with security ahead of the main event, trying to keep the two apart.
Kyle O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole in an Unsanctioned Match
This match went 40 minutes. Some will say that’s too long or that it jumped the shark, but I loved the wacky melodrama. These two absolutely killed each other in one of the most brutal WWE matches in history.
Right off the bat they traded strikes. O’Reilly sent Cole to the floor then immediately followed it up with a plancha. He applied an armbar at ringside, which Cole fought out of. O’Reilly downed Cole with a double-leg and sent him face-first into the barricade. He propped Cole up on a chair and laid in kicks, but Cole went for a piledriver, which O’Reilly fought out of.
Back in the ring, O’Reilly used the ropes to assist on a guillotine, but Cole shoved O’Reilly onto the apron and back to the floor. Cole produced a half-dozen chairs and attacked O’Reilly with one. He targeted O’Reilly’s back, hitting a neckbreaker onto a chair. O’Reilly eventually fought back, going for a kimura, but Cole countered with a ushigoroshi for two.
Cole continued his beatdown until a knee lift from O’Reilly bought him some time. O’Reilly went for a knee bar, but Cole was able to roll to the floor. As Cole regrouped on a chair, O’Reilly landed a diving dropkick. O’Reilly chucked a chair into Cole’s face for two before grabbing a chain. Cole stopped whatever O’Reilly was planning to use the chain for with a draping neckbreaker for two.
The chain that O’Reilly brought into the match was tied around the top rope by Cole. The two fought over the chain, with O’Reilly winning the battle with a forearm. O’Reilly landed chain-assisted Kawada kicks, but Cole countered with a chain-assisted figure four leglock. O’Reilly reversed the pressure, then they landed simultaneous knockout strikes for the double down.
They exchanged more strikes, but Cole countered running offense with a clothesline using the chain. Cole then hit a chain-assisted backstabber for two before propping up two chairs. They each tried to send each other into the chairs, with Cole attacking with a German suplex and a shining wizard for two.
Cole moved to the floor and tried to suplex O’Reilly onto the steel steps. O’Reilly countered and applied a guillotine before crushing Cole with a knee strike. It looked as if O’Reilly was about to suplex Cole into the steps, but he hesitated as the announcers discussed his inner turmoil. Cole tried to take advantage of the hesitation, but O’Reilly had it scouted.
They exchanged forearms on the announce table until O’Reilly crushed Cole with a brainbuster. The table did not even buckle. Cole retreated to the broadcast area and smashed a monitor over O’Reilly’s head. He searched under the ring and found a toolbox, removing a wrench from the box. Cole appeared to try to stab O’Reilly with it, but O’Reilly fought him off. Cole then grabbed a tire iron, but O’Reilly took him out and hit a rebound lariat.
O’Reilly used the chain to apply an armbar and then a triangle choke. Cole rapidly faded, but grabbed the tire iron and struck O’Reilly across the ribs with it to break the hold. The two then set up chairs in the middle of the ring and exchanged strikes. O’Reilly looked to gain the advantage until a low blow sent him to the mat. Cole followed it up with a great superkick for two.
Cole grabbed a chair and wrapped it around O’Reilly’s head. He was about to Pillmanize O’Reilly until a referee implored him to stop. Cole crushed the official with a right hand and then hit Panama Sunrise, but the official couldn’t make the count. Cole berated the unconscious official as O’Reilly rolled to the ramp, where Cole threw another chair into his face.
O’Reilly rolled to the floor, where Cole repeatedly sent him into the ringside fencing. It looked like Cole was setting up for something dastardly, but O’Reilly locked on a jumping guillotine. Cole drove O’Reilly into the stage, sending them crashing through it. He then kicked out the side of the stage, pulling O’Reilly through it.
Both men were bloodied from the bump through the stage, Cole on his hand and O’Reilly on his back. Cole crushed O’Reilly with a brainbuster onto the steel steps. He rolled O’Reilly into the ring and covered, but O’Reilly barely got his shoulder up at two.
Cole pulled down the knee pad and went for the Last Shot, but O’Reilly collapsed to the mat before he could hit it. O’Reilly avoided another try and locked on a kneebar on both legs, but Cole fought out of it with a right hand using a chain. Cole went for Panama Sunrise, but O’Reilly countered into a Death Valley driver and a soccer kick. O’Reilly then hit a Last Shot of his own for a fantastic near fall.
O’Reilly wrapped a chair around Cole’s ankle and set up for a diving stomp, but Cole popped up and smacked him with the chair. Cole propped O’Reilly in the corner and berated him by saying he was always better than him, so O’Reilly sent him to the mat with a low blow. O’Reilly then wrapped a chain around his knee and hit a diving knee drop to finally pick up the win.
A number one contender’s match is set for tonight’s NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver pre-show.
WWE has announced that Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain will take place on tonight’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two pre-show. The winner will get a shot at the NXT Tag Team titles, but WWE hasn’t revealed when that title match will be taking place.
At night one of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match to win the NXT Tag Team titles. The NXT Tag Team titles were vacant going into that match. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan had to relinquish the titles last month after Burch suffered a separated shoulder.
On their way to winning this year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, MSK defeated Maverick & Dain in the second round of the tournament.
The TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two pre-show will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time tonight. The pre-show will air live on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else, along with airing on WWE’s social media platforms. Tonight’s main card is airing live on Peacock in the U.S. and the WWE Network elsewhere. It will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Here’s the updated card for tonight’s show:
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two —
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Karrion Kross
Unsanctioned match: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Ladder match to determine undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Bronson Reed
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Tag team number one contender’s match: Breezango vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain (pre-show)
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver kicked off with two new champions being crowned on night one.
In the main event, Raquel Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai to become NXT Women’s Champion and end Shirai’s 300-plus day title reign. MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) also defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match last night to win the NXT Tag Team titles. The tag titles had been declared vacant after Danny Burch suffered a separated shoulder last month.
WALTER retained the NXT United Kingdom Championship by defeating Tommaso Ciampa in a violent battle, Pete Dunne staked his claim as the best technical wrestler by defeating Kushida, and Bronson Reed won a Gauntlet Eliminator match to become the number one contender to Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship. Reed will challenge for Gargano’s title at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two tonight.
Raquel Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai to win the NXT Women’s Championship in the main event of night one of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Highlights from the match included Shirai connecting with a moonsault off the post to the ramp and a crossbody off the skull stage set piece.
The closing sequence saw Shirai hit a moonsault in the ring, but Gonzalez kicked out. Gonzalez followed up with a lariat and a one-armed powerbomb to secure the victory.
Gonzalez, 30, signed with WWE in 2016. She appeared as enhancement talent on NXT television in early 2017, then participated in the Mae Young Classic in the summer of that year as Reina Gonzalez. Her NXT ascent began when she became associated with Dakota Kai at NXT TakeOver: Portland in February 2020.
Shirai’s NXT Women’s title reign ended after 10 months as champ. She claimed the Championship at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on June 7, 2020, dethroning Charlotte Flair by pinning Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match.
Less than three months after making their debut, MSK are NXT Tag Team Champions.
At NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one tonight, MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match to win the NXT Tag Team titles. Lee pinned Gibson after MSK hit a double-team corkscrew blockbuster with Lee jumping from the second rope.
The NXT Tag Team titles were declared vacant last month after Danny Burch suffered a separated shoulder. Before having to relinquish the titles, Burch & Oney Lorcan had been the NXT Tag Team Champions since October of last year.
MSK (former Rascalz Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) made their NXT debut as entrants in this year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They won the tournament, defeating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain, Legado Del Fantasma, and The Grizzled Young Veterans along the way.
Tonight was the first time MSK have wrestled since Lee suffered a broken hand while facing The Grizzled Young Veterans in the Dusty Classic finals this February. In storyline, Lee’s injury was blamed on an attack by The Grizzled Young Veterans. MSK were supposed to challenge Burch & Lorcan for the NXT Tag Team titles last month, but that was delayed due to Lee’s injury. Burch & Lorcan vs. MSK then never happened due to Burch separating his shoulder.
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano has his challenger for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two.
Gargano will defend his North American title against Bronson Reed at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two tomorrow (Thursday, April 8). Reed challenging for Gargano’s title was confirmed when he won the number one contender’s Gauntlet Eliminator match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one tonight.
Reed won the Gauntlet Eliminator match by last eliminating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. Cameron Grimes, LA Knight, Dexter Lumis, and Leon Ruff were the other participants in the gauntlet. Reed also eliminated Knight during the match.
After the Gauntlet Eliminator match, Gargano came out to the stage and exchanged words with Reed.
Gargano is a three-time NXT North American Champion. His current reign with the title began when he defeated Ruff and Damian Priest in a triple threat match at TakeOver; WarGames last December.
TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two is airing live on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network elsewhere. The main card will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a pre-show starting at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Here’s the updated lineup for night two of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver:
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Karrion Kross
Unsanctioned match: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Ladder match to determine undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Bronson Reed
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
