NXT Results: Former NXT Champion returns; Drake Maverick pulls off a shocker

Damian Priest addressed his reasoning behind attacking Finn Balor last week on NXT. The Archer of Infamy said that the path to infamy is multiple targets. He's got sights set on gold, but a chance to take out Finn Balor at NXT TakeOver? He couldn't pass that up.

Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley

Io Shirai ran out of the gate with a dropkick. Rhea Ripley absorbed it and caught Shirai in a fireman's carry. Shirai escaped, raking the back of the former NXT Women's Champion.

Ripley responded with a series of short-arm clotheslines and a dropkick. Two wheelbarrow facebusters plant Shirai. However, the third is countered with a victory roll, with Shirai rolling through for a double stomp to the gut.

Shirai rolled through a powerbomb attempt for another roll-up. Ripley kicked out, leading to a crossface from Shirai. Ripley stood up, taking Shirai to the corner for a superplex.

Shirai blocked the first attempt, but a top rope superplex took Shirai all the way across the ring. Ripley brought Shirai to her feet where the Joshi Judas rocked Ripley with a series of strikes. Ripley responded with a massive punch that laid her out.

However, Ripley was tied up in another crossface. She managed to get to the ropes this time, barely breaking it in time. As she crawled up the ropes, a 619 sent Ripley across the ring for a springboard senton. A suicide dive to the outside left both women out on the floor as the match continued on NXT.

Charlotte Flair came out and was immediately taken down with Shirai sent Ripley into her with a tilt-a-whirl head-scissor. Back inside, a tilt-a-whirl DDT spikes Ripley for a nearfall.

As she stood up, a big boot from Charlotte Flair knocked her out. Flair also took down Ripley with a spear on NXT.

About the author

Greg is a pro wrestling writer at Sportskeeda. He has been an avid wrestling fan since he was able to do elbow drops off bunkbeds at the age of three. He's gone through the highs and lows of the Attitude Era, Ruthless Aggression, and PG eras and lived to tell the tale, with his favorite wrestler of all time being Diamond Dallas Page. His other favorite star is the late great Bray Wyatt.

Greg has contributed to sites like Bleacher Report before joining Sportskeeda in 2017 as a content writer and editor. If you've ever checked out the various wrestling shows through our live coverage, chances are you've read Greg's work. Apart from the world within the squared circle, he also keeps track of other sports such as American football, baseball, golf, boxing, and MMA.

His goal with his writing is to be able to mentally take readers right into the action through his words. Greg strives to ensure his readers get nothing but the best and most accurate information by always checking and using only the best and most reliable sources.

Know More

WWE NXT Results (May 20th, 2020): Winners, Grades and Video Highlights

Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley