NXT Results: Controversial finish to title match; Former IMPACT Wrestling Champion makes TV debut

Tonight's NXT had promised two Tag Team Championship matches. Unfortunately due to an injury to Wes Lee of MSK, the NXT Tag Team Titles were off the card. The WWE Women's Tag Team Champions though, did show up to face Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.

Finn Balor's issues with The Undisputed Era continued, this time with Roderick Strong wanting a piece of The Prince. They delivered in an excellent main event ahead of a title bout next week. A former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion also made his first official TV appearance inside a NXT ring tonight.

While we didn't get that NXT Tag Team Title Match, the champs were in action tonight. One-Two, The Brit-Am Brawlers, whatever you want to call them, faced off against Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa in the opening contest. It was every bit as brutal as a fan would want.

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Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher on NXT

Timothy Thatcher hooked up with Danny Burch. The Thatch-as-Thatch-Can instructor seemed to hold the upper hand over the veteran in the early goings of this match. Burch evened things up with some right hands as we got to see a brief brawling trade between the two.

Tommaso Ciampa and Oney Lorcan tagged in, with Lorcan pelting the former NXT Champion with some nasty uppercuts. A back elbow rocked Lorcan and set him up for a running knee that launched him into the barricade. Thatcher laid out Burch with a running uppercut, and Ciampa was able to turn Lorcan inside out with a lariat.

Thatcher tagged in, leading to a great flapjack/uppercut combo from him and Ciampa. However, a devastating lariat by the Guvnor of NXT nearly decapitated Thatcher. Everything stopped as the former Evolve Champion rolled to the floor gripping his neck, with Ciampa and the referee looking over him as we cut to the commercial.

When we returned, Thatcher was in significant trouble as Lorcan had him locked in a single leg Boston Crab. Thatcher broke away from the NXT Tag Team Champions and made it to Ciampa, who came in like a house on fire. Lorcan and Burch struggled to keep up as The Psycho Killer hammered them both with running clotheslines.

Thatcher followed up with a series of uppercuts to Burch. A half-hatch suplex dropped Burch as Thatcher locked in a sleeper hold. Lorcan kicked Thatcher in the jaw, but he didn't break the hold. Thatcher and Ciampa beat the champs in tandem before the former NXT Champion applauded his partner for his grit.

Lorcan saved Thatcher from a German and knocked Ciampa off the mat. One-Two's Elevated Impaler DDT was blocked, leading to a fantastic and hard-hitting four-way brawl. Imperium appeared on the stage, distracting Ciampa and Thatcher long enough for the former Evolve Champion to be dropped with that Impaler DDT.

Results: Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch defeated Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa via pinfall on NXT.

Grade: A

It wasn't the tag team match we were hoping to see with MSK, but this ended up being a stellar surprise.

Roderick Strong calls out Adam Cole on NXT

Last week on NXT, Adam Cole betrayed yet another member of The Undisputed Era. Roderick Strong demanded that Cole explain himself, but got a surprise in the form of NXT Champion, Finn Balor.

Strong blamed Balor, claiming that the Era was fine until he arrived. Balor claimed that their "brotherhood" fell apart because of the lure of the title. He followed up, stating that he'd be putting the NXT Championship on the line against Adam Cole next week. As for The Messiah of the Backbreaker, he'll never be a leader.

Balor said that Strong didn't have the killer instinct necessary to make it to the top, leading to Strong assaulting the Prince.

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The Way take Austin Theory to therapy on NXT

The Way have been worried about Austin Theory and decided it was necessary to get him some help. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae tried to convince Mr. All Day that he was kidnapped by Dexter Lumis and hoped a therapist would convince him of the truth.

He definitely was kidnapped, but Theory claimed that he and Lumis actually became friends. Indi Hartwell was still infatuated with Lumis, calling herself "Mrs. Indi Wrestling Lumis."

The NXT North American Champion was confused why no one saw Lumis as the monster he truly was, as even the therapist was siding with Theory and Hartwell. The therapist ended up kicking out Johnny Wrestling before continuing the therapy.

NXT General Manager William Regal confronted Cameron Grimes, furious at him for hitting a crewman last week. Grimes tried to buy Regal's favor, but the GM couldn't be bought. Instead, Grimes would face 'The Colossal' Bronson Reed tonight.

Grimes was unable to pull off another classic Million Dollar Man spot, infuriating him.

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Aliyah w/The Robert Stone Brand vs Ember Moon w/Shotzi Blackheart on NXT

Robert Stone was experiencing some horrific flashbacks after seeing Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon arrive in the tank. Ember had Aliyah's number early on, but a Robert Stone Brand distraction allowed Aliyah to catch her with a forearm.

It didn't rock Moon as much as it seemed to wake her up, as Moon responded with a spiking release back suplex. They brawled to the floor, but Stone again caught the attention of the former NXT Women's Champion. A roundhouse and running boot laid out Aliyah, leaving Stone and Jessi Kamea nervous.

Aliyah caught Moon with a nasty running boot in the corner, but it wasn't enough to keep the Shenom down. A running dropkick and spinebuster planted Aliyah for the two-count. The Eclipse stunned Aliyah for the three-count.

Results: Ember Moon defeated Aliyah via pinfall on NXT.

Grade: B-

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McKenzie asked Timothy Thatcher what happened with Imperium in the opening contest. Thatcher alluded to his past with the group, but Tommaso Ciampa claimed that it was just that... the past, and nothing more.

We got a video package highlighting the NXT Women's Championship match between Toni Storm and the champ, Io Shirai. We'll see that match next week. With Finn Balor and Io Shirai putting their belts, next week's NXT looks to be a can't-miss event.

This week's show was billed in a similar way, as we originally had two tag titles set to be defended. Though we didn't get the Brit-Am Brawlers defending their belts, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax, did defend the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles against the NXT Women's Dusty Cup Winners, Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.

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WWE Women's Tag Team Title Match: Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez vs Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax on NXT

Dakota Kai kicked things off and showed her growth over the years as she avoided Shayna Baszler's joint dislocating elbow stomp. A snapmare took Baszler down, but she caught a kick, swinging Kai's face-first into the mat. The two-time NXT Women's Champion had Kai's number, but Captain Kick was saved by Raquel Gonzalez on the floor.

Gonzalez was in next and overpowered the Queen of Spades. Baszler looked to work in some joint manipulation, but Gonzalez was just too strong. Gonzalez brought Kai back in for an assisted flying double foot stomp, but Baszler kicked out and began mauling her long-time victim in NXT.

Nia Jax and Baszler kept Kai in their half of the ring as Gonzalez was begging for the tag. NXT's Captain of Team Kick was able to break away with a jawbreaker, allowing Gonzalez to bulldoze Baszler. Gonzalez launched her into the corner, allowing Kai to follow up with another running boot.

Much like the rest of the match, though, Baszler took over the moment Kai was legal, planting her face on the apron. Jax came in, working over Kai's leg with the stretch muffler. She added a little extra spice to it, slinging Kai's face into the middle turnbuckle pad.

The WWE Women's Tag Team Champions dominated Kai with a military press slam/running knee strike. Gonzalez barely broke up the pin. Kai fought out of their corner and rocked Baszler with a superkick. Gonzalez finally tagged in, running wild on Baszler. A spinning slam nearly put the former NXT Women's Champion away.

Baszler made it to Jax, leading to a battle of the Titans. Gonzalez took Jax to the corner, stuffing her into the turnbuckle. Jax knocked her to the mat, allowing Baszler to stun her with a knee. Gonzalez shook off a sleeper and hit a nasty big boot. The elevated Go To Kick would've picked up the win had Nia not broken the pin-up.

Kai looked for another GTK, but her knee gave out, allowing Baszler to lock in the Khirifuda Clutch. Kai tagged out Gonzalez, who broke up the hold and hammered Jax with a boot that inadvertently caught the ref. Gonzalez took Jax over the table.

Shayna locked in the Khirifuda Clutch again, but the ref was still down. Adam Pearce appeared with another referee, who called the match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions despite Kai not being the legal competitor.

Results: Shayna Baszler defeated Dakota Kai via submission on NXT.

Grade: A-

Adam Pearce showed up on NXT to steal the gold from Dakota Kai and Gonzalez. What does this mean for the black and gold brand and the main roster?

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The Way, sans NXT NA Champion Johnny Gargano, were still in therapy. Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell continued to praise Lumis while Candice LeRae was being given her script by Gargano. The therapist kicked everyone out, Hartwell included, so she could have a one-on-one discussion with Theory. When she again asked what happened with Lumis, Theory looked genuinely worried.

Isaiah "Swerve" Scott sends a message on NXT

NXT is Swerve's House according to Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. Swerve said that he just didn't care anymore, and was ready to show the black and gold Brand what he was about. It was about time that Swerve got what he deserved.

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L.A. Knight debuts on NXT

L.A. Knight entered the CWC for the first time since NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. Knight said he changed the game at TakeOver. He said some called him the Tom Brady of wrestling, but Knight said Brady wished that he was half the man that he was.

Much like Brady, he didn't show up at the top, but he'll be setting records and solidifying himself as the greatest of all time sooner rather than later. However, he said that he shouldn't be called the GOAT. What should we call him? Simple. L.A. Knight. He said he'll take over NXT in no time.

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Bronson Reed vs Cameron Grimes on NXT

Cameron Grimes attempted to buy off The Colossal One, but the big man couldn't be bought. A big seated senton nearly pinned Grimes, but he kicked out just in the nick of time.

Grimes managed to catch Reed with the Collision Course, finally putting the big man down. Grimes looked for a crossface, but it didn't take long for NXT's resident powerhouse to break away. Reed stomped out Reed's hand and pelted him with some boots.

Reed crushed Grimes with a body splash in the corner, followed by a clothesline that turned him inside out. Grimes attempted to leave the ring but was crushed by a suicide dive. Reed rolled him back inside, but a distraction from L.A. Knight allowed Grimes to catch him with the Cave In.

Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Bronson Reed via pinfall on NXT.

Grade: B

Was L.A. Knight paid off by Grimes? The Million Dollar Man of NXT pulled off a fast one over one of the most dominant stars on the brand.

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Kacy Catanzaro promised to take out Xia Li. However, she was unsuccessful and Li took out Catanzaro, leaving her with a partial LCL tear.

Catanzaro's tag team partner, Kayden Karter, promised to take revenge on Xia Li on behalf of her friend.

NXT's Austin Theory was talking with his therapist again and was beaming about how nice of a guy Dexter Lumis was. The therapist said she'd talked to Lumis ahead of this session, and said that The Tortured Artist of NXT claimed he was an obnoxious loser with mediocre abs. Theory ran off crying, hurt that his new best friend would say something like that.

The Way comforted him, and as they took Theory away, Gargano paid the therapist for helping Theory...see the way.

Ever-Rise was set for a tag team match against Breezango, but both teams were attacked by Legado Del Fantasma. Santos Escobar and the duo stormed the ring, stating that despite what happened last week with former NXT Champion Karrion Kross, they were not weak.

They vowed to dominate, not just the tag division, but NXT as a whole. Aside from Karrion Kross himself, who can stop the NXT Cruiserweight Champion?

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Finn Balor vs Roderick Strong on NXT

Roderick Strong took the fight to the NXT Champion. Finn Balor couldn't seem to break away from The Undisputed Era, whether they're working together or not. Balor took Strong to the mat, working over the left arm.

Strong managed to crack Balor with a backbreaker as we cut to the final commercial of the night. The former NXT North American Champion hammered Balor throughout the break, but an arm wrench sent him down to the mat. Balor kept up the pressure, nearly kicking Roddy's left arm out of the socket.

The Messiah of the Backbreaker cracked Balor's spine again, and Strong began to finally fire up. Strong unloaded on the Prince of NXT and hit a pendulum backbreaker for a two-count. Strong ducked a pump knee strike, sending Strong's knee into the top turnbuckle. Balor followed up with a modified crossface, but Strong made it to the ropes.

Balor was set up on the ropes for Strong's running forearm smashes. The Olympic Slam and powerbomb dropped Balor for a close call. Balor couldn't block The Stronghold. After quite some time, Balor countered into a roll-up. Strong kicked out, setting up for the fireman's carry gutbuster. Balor shifted in mid-air, hitting a leaping double stomp.

Balor sent Strong into the corner with a shotgun dropkick and set up for the Coup De Grace. Strong couldn't avoid it, and the 1916 DDT followed up, putting Strong away after an intense NXT main event.

Results: Finn Balor defeated Roderick Strong via pinfall on NXT.

Grade: A

Finn Balor saw the former NXT Champion Adam Cole at the top of the ramp. Next week, the title is on the line. Will Adam Cole be able to dethrone The Prince?