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This week's edition of NXT was action-packed, as we began setting up for the next major event, TakeOver: In Your House. Our main event, of course, was the NXT Championship match between Finn Balor and Karrion Kross, a long-awaited rematch from TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
Several teams revealed their intentions of going after the NXT Tag Team Titles. MSK would hear from the Grizzled Young Veterans, Imperium, and more, leading to a major announcement for next week.
Franky Monet made her in-ring debut tonight as well, and La Wera Loca was all business. With Monet and Sarray on the roster, Raquel Gonzalez has a lot of competition for her gold.
Speaking of Gonzalez, we kicked the night off with the previous two NXT Women's Tag Team Champion teams, Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon taking on Dakota Kai and the NXT Women's Champion.
Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon vs Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai on NXT
Raquel Gonzalez countered the speedy offense of Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart with her unmatched brute force. Moon eventually earned a few near falls over Gonzalez but was caught a mid-cross body. Gonzalez tagged out before slamming Moon, and Dakota Kai followed with a leaping double-foot stomp.
Moon made it to her partner, and Blackheart caught Kai with a reverse slingblade before hitting that running senton in the ropes. The Tank Girls of NXT hit Kai with an elbow drop/standing moonsault combination, but Dakota kicked out. Blackheart locked Kai in a Texas Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring.
Kai was in extreme agony but refused to tap out. Gonzalez reached in, bringing her friend to safety before tagging in. The NXT Women's Champion demolished Blackheart as we cut to break, hitting a big series of elbow drops.
Back to the match on NXT, Moon tagged in and hammered Gonzalez with a series of big right hands. A handspring dropkick and a Codebreaker left Gonzalez in serious trouble, only for Kai to distract Moon and make the save. Gonzalez and Moon hit an elevated Go To Kick, but Blackheart broke the pin up.
Moon made it to her partner and Blackheart battered Kai with a nasty kicking combination. A fireman's spin-out facebuster dropped Kai for another two-count.
Gonzalez saved Kai from certain doom but was taken down by the opponents for the trouble. Moon trapped Kai in a modified STF, and it seemed she was going to tap. Unfortunately for Moon, Gonzalez made the save.
Moon wasn't finished, though, and countered the one-armed powerbomb with the Eclipse. Moon and Blackheart drove Kai into the mat with the dominator/cutter combination, earning them a much-needed win over their rivals.
Results: Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart defeated Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez via pinfall.
Grade: B
After the match, Gonzalez attacked Shotzi Blackheart while Dakota Kai forced Ember Moon to watch on.
Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and "Toothless Timmy" Timothy Thatcher cut a promo on the Grizzled Young Veterans, claiming they were tied at this point 1-to-1.
It was time to finish this once and for all. After that, it would be onto MSK for the NXT Tag Team Titles.
Pete Dunne w/Oney Lorcan vs Bobby Fish on NXT
Former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne was caught off-guard by the explosive fury of Bobby Fish. The tactical striker laid in some significant shots to the body but failed to keep the upper hand when Dunne clocked him with a forearm to the jaw.
Dunne kept up that pressure, laying in some kicks to the legs and beginning to tear at Fish's shoulder. An arm breaker to the surgically repaired arm created a major weak point for Dunne to target. The Bruiserweight battered the face of Fish with boots, but Bobby fired up and sent him into the corner.
Fish countered a leaping forearm with a spinebuster, following up with some stiff strikes to NXT's Bruiserweight. A sleeper trapped Dunne in the middle of the ring, but Pete managed to break away when he went after Fish's fingers.
Dunne chased Fish to the floor but failed to capitalize, getting tossed onto the floor with a back body drop. The former UE member drove him into the barricade with a running knee. Fish countered a standing Kimura Lock with an exploder into the ropes that dumped Dunne on his neck. Somehow, Dunne kicked out.
Fish nearly took Pete Dunne's head off with a leaping knee, but still couldn't get the win. The Bruiserweight went for the cross armbreaker and extended the digits. Fish couldn't prevent the finger snap but went for his own armbar. Dunne slipped through his feet and dropped Fish with the Bitter End.
Results: Pete Dunne defeated Bobby Fish via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
After the match, Dunne and Oney Lorcan attacked Fish. Lorcan nearly reinjured the arm of the multi-time NXT Tag Team Champion before the officials managed to separate them.
HitRow puts the entire NXT roster on notice
NXT's latest major group, Hit Row, called their shots tonight. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vowed to take out whoever walked out as NXT Champion tonight. The group made sure to name the NXT Tag Team, Cruiserweight and North American Champions.
Mercedes Martinez vs Zayda Ramier on NXT
Prior to this match, Boa was seen stalking Mercedes Martinez backstage. Martinez went toe-to-toe with one of the latest surprises to come out of the NXT Women's division, Zayda Ramier.
A series of strikes from Ramier battered Martinez for a near fall. A rolling forearm from Martinez, though, sent her to the mat. A series of butterfly suplexes tossed Ramier around for the two-count. Mercedes rocked Ramier with some elbows on the top turnbuckle, but unlike Toni Storm, she didn't give Ramier the chance to hit her Shooting Star Press.
After tossing her off the top and hitting a hellacious running knee, Martinez dumped her opponent with the Air Raid Crash.
Results: Mercedes Martinez defeated Zayda Ramier via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
After the match, Martinez was confronted by Tian Sha. At least, she was marked by them. The lights came down, and when they came back her hand had been marked by the group.
The Million Dollar Faceoff on NXT
NXT's Stock Market Sky Rocket finally had a chance to confront The Million Dollar Man. Cameron Grimes was frustrated, saying that he was only recently a wealthy man, and didn't know why Ted Dibiase was doing all of this to him.
Grimes said he looked up to the WWE Hall of Famer and idolized him. Dibiase said that when he looked at Grimes, he saw a little bit of himself. He had been trying to find one in a million who could embody The Million Dollar Man's legacy. Dibiase said it's not all about money and treating people like trash, but also in-ring prowess.
He said Grimes had what it took to be the next Million Dollar Man but he'd lost his focus. Recent NXT signee LA Knight broke up the conversation and believed that he deserved to reap the benefits of the Million Dollar Legacy.
Knight tried to tear Dibiase away from Grimes, claiming that they could make a ton of money together. Dibiase knew who Knight was, knowing the former IMPACT Wrestling Champion could be a megastar. He's got the million dollar body and mindset. Grimes cut off Knight.
Cameron was tired of talking and demanded Knight to get out of the ring before Grimes beat him up. Before the NXT star could finish talking to Dibiase, Knight dropped him from behind.
The Million Dollar Man laughed in his face, stating he was never going to get it. Had NXT's loudmouth found a new financial partner in Ted Dibiase?
NXT Women's Tag Team Champion Indi Hartwell tried to find Dexter Lumis backstage. When she stumbled upon his art studio, he found various drawings of his heart being stabbed.
After Indi said some hateful things about Lumis last week, The Tortured Artist of NXT was left in a state of grieving. Could InDex be saved?
Franky Monet vs Cora Jade on NXT
The former Taya Valkyrie made her in-ring debut for NXT tonight. Franky Monet bounced Cora Jade off the mat with a hair pull before talking trash to her opponent.
In the corner, the running double knees cracked Jade in the back of the head. A running hip attack and another set of running knees nearly left Jade unconscious. Franky Monet doubled her opponent over with a back kick to the gut. A knee lift and clothesline dropped Jade.
Monet talked a bit too much, and Jade fired up on the latest addition to the NXT Women's division. A tilt-a-whirl into the side Russian leg sweep drove Valkyrie headfirst into the mat.
However, La Wera Loca cut her down with a spear and a sit-out powerbomb. After that, the Road to Valhalla/Glam Slam earned Monet her first win on NXT.
Results: Franky Monet defeated Cora Jade via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
The Grizzled Young Veterans brushed aside Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher's challenge. GYV said they better than that, and they're better than Legado Del Fantasma. It's time to focus on the NXT Tag Team Champions and nothing else.
NXT UK Champion WALTER and Imperium explained why they tossed Alexander Wolfe to the curb last week, claiming he was too weak to accomplish what they were wanting to do. Next up? It was time for Imperium to go after Breezango.
Bronson Reed celebrates his NXT North American Title Win
The new NXT North American Champion was proud of everything he'd accomplished in his career. He was told no, quite a lot, but this just proved that hard work and dedication would make you a champion. As far as anyone looking to challenge for the belt, Bronson Reed had a big mountain to climb. For his challengers? Well, it's colossal!
Reed was interrupted by Legado Del Fantasma as the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar set his sights on a new prize.
Reed had to scratch and claw to hold the gold. But Santos Escobar was always a champion. He was born into this sport at the top and owned this business.
The North American Championship has the United States on it and Mexico as well, meaning Escobar was entitled to it.
"What about Canada?" asked Joaquin Wilde. Escobar put him at ease, letting him know Canada didn't count.
Before they could attack Reed, MSK made the save.
Next week, MSK will defend the NXT Tag Team Titles against Legado Del Fantasma. Pete Dunne will battle Johnny Gargano and Kyle O'Reilly in a triple threat as well, with the winner going on to challenge for the NXT Title at In Your House.
NXT Championship Match: Finn Balor vs Karrion Kross (c)
The former NXT Champion locked up the new top dog with a headlock. Karrion Kross easily shook off Finn Balor's grasp, but a sliding dropkick to the knee forced Kross to escape to the floor.
During the break, both men traded submission holds. Balor had Kross in the middle of the ring with a modified STF, but couldn't keep the pressure up for long. He transitioned to an armbar, but Kross stood out of it and slammed him. In this battle of two-time NXT Champions, Karrion finally took over when he slowed the pace down.
After some nasty clotheslines in the corner, Kross took Balor over with a suplex. Karrion missed another lariat, though, and Balor flipped over the champion for an abdominal stretch. Some seated sentons drove Kross into the mat for a two-count.
Kross responded by tossing Balor across the ring. Still, Balor would not die. A crossface was locked in, and when The Prince knew it wouldn't work, he quickly broke to lay some stiff strikes in. Kross caught a kick only to be rolled up for a leaping double stomp.
Kross was taken to the floor where Balor almost took his head off with the apron running kick to the jaw. During the break, Kross took over with some decapitating lariats, but he couldn't put The Prince of NXT away. A sunset flip into the dropkick left Kross down, giving Balor time to wake up.
They traded rights and lefts, and it seemed that Balor was about to take Kross down once and for all. However, he was caught in The KrossJacket. For several moments, Balor fought and squirmed to the edge of the ring to get to the ropes.
Kross followed him to the floor and drove him repeatedly into the plexiglass. A Razor's Edge into the glass left Balor out on the ground. Back in the ring, Kross went for a powerbomb. Miraculously, Balor countered it with a DDT. A slingblade connected, and a clothesline sent Kross to the floor. Balor hit a big dive, believing that he had brought down the monster.
The NXT Champion stood straight up and dropped Balor on the table with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Back inside, again, Balor found his second wind. That was until he went for the Coup de Grace, though. When Kross avoided it, Balor crumbled to the mat. A German suplex spiked Balor, as did the Doomsday Saito.
With that, Kross looked to end it all. Balor countered Kross' elbow to the back of the neck with a victory roll for a near fall. Kross broke away and hammered the neck with forearms. Balor responded with some of his own. Kross made it to the ropes but was pulled away as Balor locked in a sleeper.
Kross somehow refused to die and slid out of the hold. Balor transitioned into a triangle choke, and it seemed that Kross was out. At the last second, Karrion Kross woke up and powerbombed Balor. A devastating clothesline and forearm left Balor in a daze. Balor followed with his elbow to the back of the neck. After that, the Kross Jacket was synched in. With that, Balor went to sleep.
Results: Karrion Kross defeated Finn Balor via submission on NXT.
Grade: A
The NXT Champion dominated Finn Balor once again. Who from NXT will step up next? Can Johnny Gargano, Kyle O'Reilly, or Pete Dunne hope to stand up to Karrion Kross at NXT In Your House?
