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WWE NXT started with recapping last week's major return of Samoa Joe, who was revealed as William Regal's enforcer. Joe promised Regal that everyone on the brand would respect his power as the NXT GM or face his wrath.
Regal made several announcements regarding this week. Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly will face off at Great American Bash but would pick their own opponents for NXT tonight. Cole, who faced Joe's wrath last week, kicked off the show.
Adam Cole refuses to wrestle on NXT
Adam Cole ran down the events of NXT last week, talking about Samoa Joe's assault on him, specifically. As far as picking his opponent for tonight? That wasn't happening. Cole was the new king of NXT, and Joe wasn't going to change that.
He was looking forward to his fight with Kyle O'Reilly at The Great American Bash but he wasn't wrestling tonight. At that point, NXT's latest signing, Carmello Hayes, came down to the ring. Hayes had a phenomenal showcase against Kushida last week and was looking to do the same tonight against Adam Cole.
Hayes said he knew how to change Cole's mind, alluding to John Cena's "Ruthless Aggression" moment before slapping the taste out of Cole's mouth.
Adam Cole vs Carmello Hayes on NXT
Hayes laid out Cole with some phenomenal high-flying maneuvers. A springboard clothesline followed by a press to the floor saw Cole stunned. However, he caught Hayes with a pump kick as he was getting back in the ring.
A hangman's neckbreaker dropped Hayes, and Cole kept up the pressure by choking him out on the ropes. Hayes set up for a dive off the top, but the former NXT Champion cut him off and sent him to the floor. Hayes was launched into the barricade as we cut to break.
Throughout the break, Cole tore Hayes apart piece by piece. An ushigoroshi dropped Hayes, and Cole slowed things down with a headlock in the middle of the ring. The Panama City Playboy continued to disrespect Hayes, claiming that he didn't have what it took to stand in the ring with him.
After getting slapped a few times, Hayes woke up and rocked Cole with a pump kick. Adam hit him with one of his own but was planted with a suplex counter into a cutter. Cole just barely kicked out.
An enzuigiri and a Codebreaker dropped Cole for yet another close call, and it seemed that Carmello Hayes had the NXT Triple Crown Champion's number. That was until Cole cut his offense off with a backstabber.
Hayes rolled away from a Panama Sunrise attempt, but when Cole went for it anyway he was caught with a superkick. Hayes hesitated slightly before going for a springboard maneuver, allowing Cole to hit a superkick mid-air. The Panama Sunrise spiked Hayes after a fantastic showing.
Results: Adam Cole defeated Carmello Hayes via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Backstage, Franky Monet was still trying to steal away Aliyah and Jessi Kamea from the Robert Stone Brand. When Stone himself entered the scene, Monet's dog barked at him.
The Robert Stone Brand was set to take on Io Shirai and Zoey Stark tonight, and we cut to those two backstage. Stark and Io shared mutual respect for one another...but nothing else.
On NXT last week, LA Knight dropped Ted Dibiase with a big right hand. The new Million Dollar Champion called Cameron Grimes an idiot for caring about "the old man" more than the title and money. That's why Grimes didn't inherit the legacy of the WWE Hall of Famer, according to Knight.
The Way's Johnny Gargano campaigns for an NXT Championship match
Johnny Gargano came to the ring with Austin Theory to talk about the importance of crowning a new NXT Champion to fully kick off Samoa Joe's regime the right way. Gargano stated that he could outwrestle Karrion Kross on his worst day and was fishing for a shot at the champ. It wasn't Kross who answered the challenge, though.
Former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan came to the ring, calling Gargano mad for thinking he deserved to be the No.1 contender. Dunne and Lorcan were trying to start a riot, but Gargano refused as he and Theory didn't want to antagonize Samoa Joe.
Before leaving, Theory said he was watching Dunne. The Bruiserweight responded by snapping Theory's fingers.
We saw footage of 205 Live's Ari Sterling making fun of Ted Dibiase getting attacked. Cameron Grimes laughed along before popping him with a Superman punch, dropping money on him and stating "that was for Ted."
William Regal confronted Adam Cole backstage, telling him that any beef between Cole and Samoa Joe was done. Cole laughed in his face but stated that he'd leave tonight to not cause any further trouble.
On NXT last week we saw short vignettes of battery charging. First at 0%, then 21%. Tonight it was shown at 31%. What did this mean?
Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory went to NXT General Manager William Regal's office hoping to get Samoa Joe to attack Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan. Regal had a better idea: a tag team match pitting The Way against Dunne and Lorcan tonight.
The Robert Stone Brand vs Zoey Stark and Io Shirai on NXT
Former NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai dropped Aliyah with a flapjack and basement dropkick. In the corner, a slingshot double knee press crushed Aliyah into the turnbuckle. Zoey Stark tagged in, landing on her feet out of a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and rocking Aliyah with a basement clothesline.
Jessi Kamea ran in but was rolled up with several pinfall attempts. Kamea hung up Stark on the ropes, finally getting some offense in with a slingshot elbow drop. NXT Women's Tag Team Champions, The Way, came down to the ring while the match raged on.
Stark finally managed to get to Io Shirai, and NXT's Genius of the Sky took flight to hit Kamea with a picture-perfect springboard dropkick. The Moon Over Moonsault landed on top of Kamea, giving Shirai and Stark the win.
Results: Io Shirai and Zoey Stark defeated The Robert Stone Brand on NXT.
Grade: B-
The Way stood on the apron to confront the winners, but NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai came in, refusing to be jumped in the line for the Women's Tag Team Titles. Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon came down as well, leading to a three-team brawl while the champions backed up.
Samoa Joe brought NXT's security to separate everyone, getting a big pop from the crowd.
The Way vs Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan on NXT
Former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano kicked things off with Oney Lorcan before Pete Dunne tagged in. Gargano handled Dunne well early on, but when he tagged out to his partner, Austin Theory tagged him with the injured hand. Dunne took advantage, sending Gargano to the floor and bringing Theory to his corner.
Oney Lorcan battered Mr. All Day, as the former NXT Tag Team Champion continued to target the bullseye Dunne created earlier in the night. The Bruiserweight tagged in again, snapping more of Theory's fingers and tearing off the split. Austin was crying in pain as Gargano was forced to watch on.
Dunne continued to tear apart Theory, working on the upper arms of Mr. All Day as well. When we came back from the break, Theory finally tagged out to Gargano, who lit up Lorcan and Dunne with a series of kicks.
A bulldog/clothesline combination laid them both out, and Gargano connected with the slingshot spear on Lorcan.
Dunne was hammered with a suicide dive, and Johnny Wrestling tagged Theory in, who hit a phenomenal springboard sitting Spanish fly on Lorcan for a near fall. NXT's Bruiserweight countered a lawn dart from Gargano but was laid out with a discus lariat.
Dunne took over once again when Theory was left alone. A modified armbar nearly set up for the submission, but Gargano kicked Lorcan into Dunne to break it up. Gargano and Dunne traded shots, but Pete dropped the NXT Triple Crown champ with a slingshot German suplex.
Dunne countered the slingshot spear with a forearm to the face. A double powerbomb would've gotten the win had Theory not broken up the pinfall. Dunne escaped a powerbomb attempt from the young NXT Superstar, and Lorcan dropped him with the running uppercut. Gargano spiked Dunne on the floor with a tornado DDT and followed that with the One Final Beat on Lorcan to pick up the win.
Results: The Way defeated Oney Lorcan and Pete Dunne via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
After the match, Karrion Kross blindsided a celebrating Johnny Gargano. He didn't stick around long, lest he bring about the wrath of Samoa Joe. Still, he and Scarlett were pleased with themselves.
Samoa Joe confronted the NXT Champion backstage, who reminded him of William Regal's ruling. Joe scoffed and let him pass, but Kross and Scarlett continued to stare him down. When Joe turned around, Pete Dunne was doing the same.
Elektra Lopez vs Franky Monet on NXT
In Franky Monet's NXT "encore" debut, she faced Elektra Lopez. Monet took Lopez to the corner for a chop, but it only fired up her opponent.
Lopez slammed Monet and hit a series of elbow drops. Some dancing allowed Monet to recover, hitting Lopez with a kicking combination and an STO. Monet battered her opponent into the mat. Lopez responded with a leaping back elbow and a pump kick.
A discus forearm caught Lopez, and The Road to Vallhalla planted her for the win.
Results: Franky Monet defeated Elektra Lopez via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed was backstage, and in an interview promised that he'd face anyone that is step to him. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and HitRow approached, with Swerve and Top Dollah stepping up to Reed. Ashante "Thee" Adonis called out Ever-Rise ahead of their tag team match tonight.
Ever-Rise vs HitRow (Top Dollah & Ashante "Thee" Adonis) on NXT
NXT's latest top group faced off against Ever-Rise, with Top Dollah dominating Matt Martel in the opening moments. Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Chase Parker tagged in, with Adonis rocking Parker with a standing dropkick.
Dollah lost Parker, who slipped through a powerslam attempt. Ever-Rise sent the big man to the floor before screaming "Ever-Rise rules!"
Dollah knocked Parker out of the air with a big forearm before taking Martel to his corner.
Ashante stuck Martel with the Long Kiss Goodnight and HitRow finished things off with the Hit Maker powerbomb/neckbreaker combination.
Results: Hit Row defeated Ever-Rise via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
Mercedes Martinez was attacked by Xia Li and Boa backstage. At NXT TakeOver: In Your House, Martinez fell to Li and was laid out by Mei Ying. Martinez was saved by Jake Atlas, who vowed to join her fight next week. That should make for a fun match-up.
We'll see that, a triple threat tag team match to determine The Way's No.1 contenders, and NXT Tag Champions MSK meet their challengers Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher face-to-face.
The battery ended it's charge at 51% tonight, meaning it may be at 100% by The Great American Bash in two weeks.
Kushida vs Kyle O'Reilly on NXT
The NXT Cruiserweight Champion met Kyle O'Reilly in a dream match to close the night. The mat wrestlers looked to earn the edge on the ground, with Kushida nearly getting an armbar.
O'Reilly responded with an armbar attempt of his own, catching The Time Splitter out of mid-air in the handspring back elbow attempt. Kushida broke away and tried to wear down his opponent's arm to open up for the Hoverboard Lock. O'Reilly, in turn, moved in for the leg and an easier attempt at the heel hook. They caught each other at the same time, sending O'Reilly to the floor.
During the break, Kushida went after O'Reilly with several arm breakers. O'Reilly fought back, bringing Kushida down to the mat for a series of knees to the gut. They made it back to their feet, where Kushida laid out O'Reilly with a massive clothesline.
The hiptoss into an armbreaker failed to keep O'Reilly down. Kyle broke away from the NXT Cruiserweight Champion's Hoverboard Lock several times over, refusing to let Kushida truly lock it in. A series of kicks painted O'Reilly's left arm black and blue, and he dropped Kyle with the hammerlock suplex.
O'Reilly synched in a heel hook only for Kushida to counter the multi-time NXT Tag Champion's hold with a pinfall attempt. O'Reilly was rocked with a pele kick, rebounding off the ropes with a clothesline. With Kushida down on the mat, O'Reilly moved up for his diving knee. The Japanese star knocked him to the apron where they traded more strikes.
Another hammerlock suplex on the spine of the ring left O'Reilly in a bad way. Kushida had the momentum, but both men struggled to get off the floor. Kushida finally got them both in the ring and blasted O'Reilly with a Fast Ball Punch.
Kushida got the Hoverboard Lock on Kyle, only to be rolled up by O'Reilly for the three-count.
Results: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Kushida via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A+
Kushida was dumbfounded that O'Reilly found a way out of the Hoverboard Lock. Both men showed each other mutual respect after a fantastic main event match. Adam Cole rushed the ring, and O'Reilly pushed Kushida aside to take him to the floor. Cole and O'Reilly brawled around ringside while Kushida watched on.
As Samoa Joe and security took Cole and O'reilly out of the CWC, Kushida was attacked by Roderick Strong, who was revealed as the leader of Diamond Mine.
The new faction made their debut, and it seemed like the former Undisputed Era member aligned himself with Tyler Rust and Malcolm Bivens as well as Hideki Suzuki. What a unit this is going to be on NXT!
