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Prior to this week's episode, it was declared that Finn Balor would defend the NXT Championship against Karrion Kross at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Tonight, both would come face-to-face with one another, and maybe a little more.
Last week, Kyle O'Reilly returned to NXT and laid waste to Adam Cole after his loss to Finn Balor. O'Reilly got a taste of revenge but needed more. What would he say about the Undisputed Era on NXT tonight? All that and more would follow tonight.
We kicked off the show with the NXT Champion Finn Balor.
NXT Champion Finn Balor addresses Karrion Kross
Finn Balor ran down the list of NXT Superstars he'd beaten in his reign on top. The only logical step forward was, of course, the former NXT Champion Karrion Kross. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Balor will knock him of just like the rest.
Kross and Scarlet then made their way to the ring, with the former NXT Champion claiming that the only reason this hadn't happened already was that they both had some other issues to solve.
He said that now that it's truly one-on-one, it's time to find out who the real NXT Champion was.
Balor refused to back down from Kross. He said that while Karrion walks and talks like a champion, the former IMPACT Wrestling star doesn't have what it takes to beat The Prince. Kross vowed to choke out the two-time NXT Champion. Balor responded, claiming that Kross would be the one choking in the main event.
Scarlett claimed to have seen this confrontation in "the cards." Two champions both draped in gold with the whole world watching. Before they could finish their confrontation, the NXT Tag Team Champions interrupted. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch stated that the man who should be facing Balor for the title at TakeOver should be Pete Dunne.
They knew that Dunne could beat both Balor and Kross, something that irked both men standing in the ring. Scarlet decided to make things interesting, challenging the champs to a title match. Their opponents? Karrion Kross and Finn Balor.
Scarlett talked the Brit-Am Brawlers into the match, securing the bout for later on in the night.
Dexter Lumis vs Austin Theory on NXT
Lumis was forced to the floor by Austin Theory. But after getting his face bounced off the table a few times, he shook off All Day's assault on NXT.
In the ring, Theory avoided a running boot in the corner and hit a slingshot rolling dropkick.
Throughout the break, Theory kept up the pressure, taking his frustrations out on Dexter Lumis. When we returned, Theory tossed Lumis overhead with a fallaway slam. The Tortured Artist attempted to lock in The Silence, but Theory broke it up with a series of back elbows to his head.
Lumis planted Austin with a spinebuster, following up with the clothesline/bulldog combination. A back suplex planted Theory for Lumis' kip-up leg drop. A massive uppercut left The Way member out on his feet, and Lumis dropped him with a rope-assisted suplex. The NXT Blue Chipper avoided a dive, sending Lumis to the mat with a running forearm smash.
RP1, a cross-legged fisherman's neckbreaker over the knee, took Lumis down for an incredibly close near fall. Lumis blocked a powerbomb and nearly took Theory's head off with a clothesline.
The apprentice of the NXT North American Champion seemed to be done for, but The Tortured Artist offered his hand in friendship.
They hugged one another, but Lumis went for The Silence. Theory broke away and nearly hit the ATL. Unfortunately, Lumis escaped and finally locked in The Silence.
Results: Dexter Lumis defeated Austin Theory via submission on NXT.
Grade: B-
Some horrible Dexter Lumis chants were piped in after the match, which was a shame because otherwise, it was a fun match.
Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa explained that Timothy Thatcher wasn't around, and he blamed one of the newer NXT returnees, Alexander Wolfe. The former NXT Champion vowed that he would take Imperium down tonight and get to the bottom of things.
Was Thatcher attacked by Imperium, or was he looking to reunite with his former team from his days in the indies?
Adam Cole calls out Kyle O'Reilly on NXT
NXT Triple Crown Champion Adam Cole claimed that he was never mad at Kyle O'Reilly. At least, not until last week when he cost Cole the NXT Championship in the main event. It didn't matter if O'Reilly was cleared or not, he wanted to end this tonight.
NXT GM William Regal confirmed that O'Reilly wasn't cleared, and wasn't even in the building as he was banned from the CWC until further notice. A video played on the screen with Kyle O'Reilly vowing that he would never end his pursuit of the Panama City Playboy. He knew where Cole liked to hang out, where he worked out, where he bought his video games.
O'Reilly promised that he would get Cole one day. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but he would get his hands on The Panama City Playboy and make him pay. Cole was furious about the threat and told Regal that O'Reilly wouldn't get the chance.
Last week, Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart defeated the freshly crowned Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez, capturing the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles.
They promised to rule the division before being challenged by The Robert Stone Brand. Aliyah and Jessi Kamea demanded a shot next week, and the champions agreed.
Legado Del Fantasma w/Santos Escobar vs Breezango on NXT
NXT original Fandango took the fight to Raul Mendoza early on. He tagged out to Tyler Breeze, hanging Mendoza up for a pair of boots to the head.
Mendoza rocked Breeze with a sickening shining wizard, and tagged out to Joaquin Wilde. Breezango traded the upper hand with Legado Del Fantasma several times, leading to LDF finally bringing Fandango to their corner.
Fandango fell to the floor after he was knocked off the top of the turnbuckle, sending him down with a loud thud as we cut to break.
When we returned, Breeze was able to make the tag and lock Wilde in a single leg Boston Crab.
Wilde broke away but was rocked with a sidekick. Mendoza was able to break up the pinfall just in time. With Fandango taken out on the floor, Legado Del Fantasma was able to wipe Breeze out with their finish.
Results: Legado del Fantasma def. Breezango via pinfall.
Grade: B
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar grabbed a headset, demanding to know where Jordan Devlin was. Devlin's music hit right on cue, with the true NXT Cruiserweight Champion answering the challenge.
The Irish Ace of NXT revealed to the world last week that he'd be coming here to call out Santos Escobar, and unlike the Legado del Fantasma leader, he came here alone.
Devlin stated that what Escobar was holding was nothing more than a toy, a replica of the real thing. The latter claimed he'd redefined the definition of a cruiserweight, and proved himself time and time again.
What makes Jordan Devlin different? Devlin only had a belt because everyone forgot he had it in the first place.
He laid down the challenge for NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, and was dropped by Devlin with the Devlin Side.
Another top talent will be making their way to NXT. Sareee, now known as Sarray, will be debuting for the Black and Gold brand very soon.
Zoey Stark vs Dakota Kai w/Raquel Gonzalez on NXT
After losing the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles last week, Dakota Kai needed a big win this week. It wouldn't be easy, as she was put against Zoey Stark, a Superstar that had been taking some of the top talents in NXT to the limit.
A series of arm drags took Dakota down for an armbar attempt. She managed to shift to her stomach but was trapped in the wrong position, allowing Stark to hit a nasty arm breaker.
Still, Kai eventually turned things around, wrapping her long legs around Stark for some body scissors. Stark broke away and set up for a running clothesline in the corner.
Kai avoided it, turning Stark around for her apron-assisted pump kick. Stark had studied her tape though, and dodged it, taking out Kai with a big dive as NXT cut to a break.
When we came back, the former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion had taken over once again. Stark ducked a pump kick, though, leading to a big crash in the middle of the ring. Kai eventually was able to hit that apron-assisted pump kick but was met with a nasty kick from Stark in response.
Stark dumped Kai into the ring and went for a springboard, but was met with a superkick Shawn Michaels style. The running boot in the corner earned Kai a two-count. Next up was the Go To Kick, which finally put Zoey Stark away.
Results: Dakota Kai defeated Zoey Stark via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Immediately after the match, the NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai made her way to the ring. Dakota Kai thought she was going to challenge her, but Shirai walked right by her, handing a contract to Raquel Gonzalez. She helped Zoey Stark back up the ramp while staring down Gonzalez.
Backstage, NXT GM William Regal was told that something had happened to Adam Cole, and he rushed off to check on his talent.
The Grizzled Young Veterans cut a promo on the NXT 2021 Dusty Cup winners, with the former NXT UK Tag Team Champions ready to put an end to MSK. They plan on becoming NXT's No. 1, and MSK isn't going to stop that.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Marcel Barthel w/Fabian Aichner on NXT
Tommaso Ciampa attacked Imperium's Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner prior to the bout. The former NXT Champion then brought Barthel inside, kicking off the match and continuing his assault.
Barthel was no slouch, though, and didn't back down from the crazed Ciampa. They traded punches, with the Imperium member getting the better of the veteran. However, Ciampa caught Barthel flying off Bret's Rope with a flying knee to the jaw. As Ciampa set up for Willow's Bell, Aichner held onto Barthel's leg.
The former NXT Tag Team Champions were able to take advantage of the numbers game with no Timothy Thatcher around. The Psycho Killer managed to fight them both off, though, and eventually plant Barthel with Willow's Bell.
Results: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Marcel Barthel via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
After the match, Imperium's music hit. However, it wasn't Alexander Wolfe standing at the top of the ramp. It was the NXT UK Champion WALTER. The Ring General made his way to the ring where Ciampa struggled to fight off the rest of Imperium.
Barthel, Aichner, and WALTER demolished Ciampa, ending the assault with WALTER's hellacious powerbomb.
We saw William Regal near a road where Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly were in handcuffs, with the latter sitting in a police vehicle. Cole claimed that O'Reilly ran him off the road, and vowed to put an end to O'Reilly once and for all.
LA Knight vs August Grey on NXT
LA Knight finally made his in-ring debut for NXT tonight, and utterly demolished August Grey. A slingshot shoulder block dropped Grey to the mat. A powerslam planted Grey in the middle of the ring, but Knight was then distracted by Bronson Reed who pulled a classic "Tommy Boy" fat guy in a little coat moment.
Grey took advantage, dropping NXT's latest signing with a neckbreaker. The tight-rope walking cross body missed, and Knight took his frustration out on Grey. A cravate knee strike and headlock driver dropped Grey for the three-count.
Results: LA Knight defeated August Grey via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
Backstage, Raquel Gonzalez was excited about her opportunity against the NXT Women's Champion. Dakota Kai came in to reveal that they'd be facing Io Shirai and Zoey Stark next week.
Gonzalez was confused as to why she needed that match, but Kai stated that it was about sending a message to the women's division and getting back on track as a tag team.
William Regal was asked about the situation regarding Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly. If the police dropped the charges, he'd deal with them next week.
NXT Tag Team Title Match: Karrion Kross w/Scarlett and Finn Balor vs Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch (c)
Karrion Kross started off with NXT Tag Team Champion, Oney Lorcan. The Boston Brawler was easily overpowered by Kross, sending him over to tag out to Danny Burch.
The Guvnor of NXT was dropped twice with Kross' shoulder before getting his head ripped off with a clothesline. Kross locked in a bear hug, torturing Burch in the middle of the ring. Burch finally broke away after minutes in the hold but was dropped with a big slam for his transgressions.
The NXT Tag Champions teamed up on Kross but were dropped on their heads with a pair of suplexes. Kross stood next to Finn Balor while the ref checked on Danny Burch.
It seemed that Burch was legitimately injured, leading to Lorcan tagging himself in. Balor slapped the back of Kross, wanting to show off to his challenger.
The NXT Champion was taken to the opposite end of the ring as Oney Lorcan tore into him with a bevy of strikes. Kross stared on as his partner was battered around the ring. We saw the doctor checking on Danny Burch, who refused to leave ringside.
Balor managed to catch Lorcan with a kick, but the NXT Tag Team Champion knocked Kross off the apron before he could tag in. Balor decided he'd take care of the match on his own, lighting up the champion with a series of running chops. The double stomp connected, and Lorcan was dumped to the floor.
The Shotgun Dropkick connected, but it sent Lorcan into Scarlett. Balor checked on her, but Kross thought that it was on purpose. He laid out his partner, setting Balor up for Oney's running uppercut.
Results: Oney Lorcan defeated Finn Balor via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Kross rolled in and mauled Balor and Lorcan, dropping the NXT Tag Team Champion with the Doomsday Saito and choking out Balor with the Kross Jacket. Scarlett called him off, but only so Kross could lay into him with his forearm to the neck.
The NXT Champion was left out cold while Karrion Kross stood over him, triumphant despite the loss.
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