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WWE NXT had some big matches scheduled for this week’s show. Three of the brand’s top competitors were set for a Triple Threat Match to crown Karrion Kross’s challenger for NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
MSK were also scheduled to defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Legado del Fantasma’s Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. The NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions took on Zoey Stark and Zayda Ramier in a good contest.
Xia Li issued a challenge to Mercedes Martinez because of their history in the Mae Young Classic. The powerhouse gladly accepted Li’s challenge, vowing to teach her a lesson.
Ember Moon suffered an attack from Dakota Kai in the ring and issued a challenge to Kai and the NXT Women’s Champion later on.
LA Knight and Jake Atlas also competed in a decent match that helped elevate the action on Tuesday night.
Take a look at the five things WWE got right on this week’s NXT.
#5 Adam Cole made an impactful return to WWE NXT
Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano were booked to open WWE NXT with a massive Triple Threat Match. The position of the main event-worthy match on the card suggested that it would lead to something bigger later in the night.
All three men were looking for a chance to challenge Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at the upcoming TakeOver event. O’Reilly tried to slow his opponents down with some tactical submission holds.
Dunne returned the favor by working on both men’s arms before stomping on their hands. Gargano tried to show off his wizardry in the ring with some big strikes and kicks. Dunne and Gargano tried to work together to eliminate KOR from the equation, but he took both men down with a double clothesline.
Gargano survived a Bitter End after KOR hit a diving knee on both men. O’Reilly seemed to have the upper hand in the match, but Adam Cole came out with a steel chair to attack all three men.
He took out the official and then hit Gargano with the Last Shot to leave a lasting statement. William Regal came out to take Cole out of the ring and the match was called off without a winner.
The match itself was decent and gave all three men a chance to show off their skills at the top level. Cole’s involvement was unnecessary, but it looks like NXT wants to give more men a shot at Kross’s title without having any superstar lose to him in a one-on-one match.
#4 Jake Atlas took down LA Knight to kick off Pride Month on WWE NXT
Jake Atlas and LA Knight were scheduled to compete on WWE NXT on Tuesday night. Before the match, Knight told the NXT Universe that Ted DiBiase would be watching him closely during the contest.
Atlas came out looking strong early on and took the fight to the newcomer. Atlas showed off his gymnastics skills as he looked to outdo the powerful Knight.
After the two men traded some moves, The Million Dollar Man showed up on the stage. Knight decided to show off to DiBiase but was rolled up by Atlas. Knight fought out of the pin and tried to overpower Atlas in the hopes of picking up a quick victory.
Cameron Grimes came out next and started talking to DiBiase. Inside the ring, Atlas took advantage and hit Knight with some big moves. He finished off his opponent with a beautiful top-rope cartwheel DDT to pick up the victory.
After the match, Knight blamed Grimes for the loss. It was a great match that allowed Atlas to shine at the right time. It also further fueled the rivalry between Knight and Grimes.
It was good to see Atlas pick up a clean victory rather than getting a roll-up pin. This could allow the NXT Superstar to get in contention for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship soon.
#3 Carmelo Hayes had a good debut match against KUSHIDA on WWE NXT
KUSHIDA was all prepared to put his WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship on the line this week. A video package was shown for the debuting Carmelo Hayes before the newcomer showed up.
Hayes tried to make an impact right away and took the fight to KUSHIDA. He showed off his striking ability by keeping KUSHIDA on the back foot for some time. The NXT Cruiserweight Champion assessed the situation and made a comeback with some top moves.
The newcomer caught KUSHIDA with a Superkick and then took him down with a fireman's carry spin-out facebuster. The Japanese Superstar kicked out of the pin and then started to counter many of Hayes’ moves, eventually catching him in the Hoverboard Lock.
Hayes tapped out after an impressive first performance in front of the NXT Universe. KUSHIDA shook hands with his challenger and showed respect before leaving the ring. The match was good and will likely give Hayes a big boost in the weeks to come.
Oddly, KUSHIDA does not have a rivalry going on after waiting to win his first title for so long. Hayes could perhaps continue this rivalry and challenge KUSHIDA for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship again at TakeOver.
#2 The WWE NXT Championship scene got even more complicated this week
Adam Cole decided to come out to and remind the WWE Universe that he became the NXT Champion two years ago. He spoke about his two-month hiatus and claimed that no one has been able to present themselves on the level he had been on for years.
The Panama City Playboy called his shot at the NXT Championship after taking out Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano earlier in the night. Cole made the mistake of mocking Karrion Kross, and the NXT Champion decided to show up.
The Herald of Doomsday was not happy with Cole’s actions and decided to make a match for himself for TakeOver. The NXT Champion revealed that he would fight Cole, Dunne, O’Reilly and Gargano for his title at TakeOver.
This was a decent segment that allowed Cole to come out and explain his actions. It also allowed NXT to book an even bigger match for TakeOver. It would be best to take the title off Kross without getting him involved in the outcome of the match.
However, it looks like Kross will get a chance to dominate all four men to continue his push and come out looking absolutely phenomenal.
#1 MSK retained the WWE NXT Tag Team Championships
The WWE NXT Tag Team Championship match between MSK and Legado del Fantasma was saved for the main event of Tuesday night. Before the match, both teams spoke about how they would win the contest.
Wes Lee and Nash Carter tried to take the fight to their opponents early, but that did not work out for too long. Joaquin Wilde dodged a charge by Carter and sent him hard into the corner.
The two superstars dominated Carter for some time and isolated him. The Grizzled Young Veterans decided to show up and tried to interfere in the action. However, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher followed them out and attacked them to protect the action inside the ring.
Legado del Fantasma continued to dominate the NXT Tag Team Champions for some time before Lee made a comeback for his team.
Santos Escobar showed up and attacked Lee from behind while the referee was distracted. Wilde and Mendoza tried to hit their finisher, but Nash Carter saved his partner. Bronson Reed arrived to lay out Escobar for good.
This allowed MSK to hit their finisher on Wilde to pick up the victory and retain their titles in a good match.
It also allowed Reed and Escobar to continue their storyline and work towards an NXT North American Championship match at TakeOver: In Your House.
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