'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This week’s WWE NXT built towards some big rivalries, as Samoa Joe gave up his current role to get himself a big opportunity for the future.
He wasn’t the only one who had his eyes on the prize, and Dakota Kai too did the unthinkable by entering into contention for a major title. Apart from that, Imperium took on Hit Row this week in hopes of getting a victory under their belt.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Josh Briggs to progress in the NXT Breakout Tournament early in the night. There was also a match between Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis booked for next week. Indi Hartwell’s fate will hang in the balance during the contest.
Roderick Strong hyped up his partnership with Malcolm Bivens as part of Diamond Mine and made it clear that he would defeat Bobby Fish next week.
Many big matches and segments took place on this week’s show. Take a look at the five things WWE got right on NXT this Tuesday.
#5 Ridge Holland returned to help Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan on WWE NXT
After a couple of backstage interactions, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher finally met Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan in the WWE NXT ring. Ciampa and Thatcher went on the attack early and punished their opponents with a few solid strikes.
Thatcher and Dunne exchanged some good submission holds before the pace picked up. Ciampa and Lorcan got the tags and punished each other with a few brutal chops. Ciampa took control of the match while shooting daggers at The Bruiserweight.
Both teams exchanged some good moves and The Blackheart was able to counter many of Dunne’s offenses. Ciampa and Thatcher managed to lock in simultaneous submission maneuvers to punish their opponents.
Following some good moves in the ring, Ridge Holland returned to NXT. He came out to level Thatcher on the outside, distracting Ciampa in the process. Lorcan helped out his partner in the ring before The Bruiserweight hit Ciampa with a Bitter End for the win.
Holland stood alongside Dunne and Lorcan after the match before attacking Thatcher and Ciampa once again.
The match was fantastic and showed what these two teams are all about. It was physical and brutal from the beginning to the end.
Holland’s return should allow Dunne to become a top faction leader on the NXT brand. Will the three men continue as The Kings of NXT, or will The Bruiserweight come up with a new name for them?
#4 Imperium picked up a victory over Hit Row on WWE NXT
Hit Row was seen taunting Legado del Fantasma backstage on WWE NXT. Meanwhile, Triple H, William Regal, and Shawn Michaels announced that Imperium’s WALTER would defend his NXT UK Championship against Ilja Dragunov at TakeOver: 36.
This week, Imperium’s Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner took on Hit Row’s Ashante Thee Adonis and Top Dolla in a tag team match. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and B-Fab watched on from ringside as they tried to help their team (Hit Row) take advantage.
Barthel tried to stay focused and punished Adonis with a few submission holds. Top Dolla entered the contest and ran over his opponents. Soon after, Legado del Fantasma came out to distract Hit Row.
The distraction prompted Imperium to hit their tag team finisher on Adonis to emerge victoriously. The match was good and allowed Barthel and Aichner to pick up a crucial win. Both men haven’t been doing too well in the tag team division since losing the NXT Tag Team Championships.
The rivalry between Legado del Fantasma and Hit Row will likely be interesting. Santos Escobar could soon challenge Swerve for the NXT North American Championship.
#3 Dakota Kai turned on Raquel Gonzalez to demand a WWE NXT Women’s Championship match
Raquel Gonzalez defeated Xia Li to retain her WWE NXT Women’s Championship not too long ago. The champion came out with Dakota Kai on this week’s NXT to cut a promo in the ring.
Gonzalez asked who wanted to be her next challenger, reminding the WWE Universe that she was the best and most dominant superstar on the brand. Kai took the mic soon after.
She challenged anyone in the back to dare and step up to the NXT Women’s Champion. Kai assured Gonzalez that she would remain champion for as long as The Captain of Team Kick had her back.
Soon after, Kai struck Gonzalez with a Kaio Kick, betraying her in the process. She lifted the NXT Women’s title over her head and promised to take what was hers.
Fans had been waiting for Kai to turn on Gonzalez for some time now.
The creative team did well to keep the two women together for a long time and pulled the trigger on this angle right when Gonzalez was done with all the top women in NXT. A rivalry between them for the NXT Women’s Championship will surely be epic.
#2 Samoa Joe resigned from his job to get a match for WWE NXT TakeOver 36
Karrion Kross attacked Samoa Joe after his match against Johnny Gargano on WWE NXT a couple of weeks ago. Last week, Kross crossed another line and laid out NXT General Manager William Regal backstage.
Joe came down to the ring this week and grabbed a table and a steel chair. He also had a contract in his hand. Joe took a mic and called Kross a coward before calling Regal out to the middle.
The NXT General Manager was all prepared to fire The Herald of Doomsday before Joe came up with a better solution. He wanted to satisfy everyone in three steps.
First, The Samoan Submission Machine resigned from his post as the NXT enforcer. He then reactivated his status as an active competitor on the NXT roster. Lastly, Joe challenged Kross to an NXT Championship match at TakeOver: 36.
Regal gladly made the match between Joe and Kross for the NXT Championship official for TakeOver: 36. The news of Joe's in-ring return made this segment quite significant.
Their upcoming bout will be captivating, and it could be an efficient way to take the title off Karrion Kross without denting his credibility in NXT.
#1 Adam Cole defeated Bronson Reed on WWE NXT before being taken down by an old friend
Adam Cole and Bronson Reed squared off in the main event of WWE NXT this week. The two former champions were looking to prove a point in front of the NXT Universe.
Cole was overconfident but ended up being taken down by The Colossal One with ease. Reed tried to move Cole to the top rope early and paid the price as the former NXT Champion took out his leg and sent him crashing to the mat.
The Panama City Playboy continued to target Reed’s leg to keep the upper hand for some time. Reed fought back and planted Cole with a Samoan Drop.
The latter responded with a stunning Panama Sunrise to his massive opponent for a near fall. The Colossal One missed a Tsunami attempt, which allowed Cole to hit the Last Shot and win the bout.
After the match, Kyle O’Reilly appeared and took out Adam Cole with a steel chair, planting him with a brainbuster on the steel steps to pump up the NXT Universe.
The main event gave Reed a chance to shine against a former NXT Champion.
Meanwhile, KOR and Cole will likely have another match at TakeOver: 36. That bout could bring their long-running rivalry to an end.
