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This week's NXT was action-packed as always. However, we were given two incredible championship bouts. Adam Cole would finally face Velveteen Dream in singles action, putting his NXT Championship on the line against the Vainglorious One.
Charlotte Flair also looked to successfully defend her NXT Women's Championship against her #1 contender, Io Shirai. The Joshi Judas earned that right when she won a six-woman ladder match against five of the best competitors NXT has to offer. It's been a little under a year since Io Shirai's nasty turn to the dark side. Tonight, she hoped that all her hard work would bring her the one thing she's wanted all this time; the NXT Women's Championship.
We kicked off the night with the soulless Johnny Gargano taking on Dominik Dijakovic.
Johnny Gargano vs Dominik Dijakovic
Johnny Wrestling tried to pick Dominik Dijakovic's leg, but the brute strength was too much to overcome early on. Dijakovic battered Gargano around the ring, clobbering him with massive right hands and boots to the chest. A standing backbreaker and release sidewalk slam gave Dijakovic an early two-count.
In the corner, Gargano escaped Dijakovic's wrath and took down the big man with a chop block. Gargano drove Dijakovic headfirst into the middle turnbuckle, following up with a devastating roundhouse to the jaw. However, a discus clothesline turned Gargano inside out, giving him the upper hand once again.
In the corner, Dijakovic connected with his trapped elbow strikes followed by a sidewalk slam. However, Candice LeRae came down to distract him, allowing Gargano to send him over the ropes and connect with a suicide dive.
Gargano wouldn't be able to maintain the advantage for long. A devastating boot and some nasty forearms left Gargano dazed, and the Cyclone Kick nearly gave Dijakovic the victory. Gargano crawled to LeRae, who attempted to drag her husband out of the ring. Dijakovic yanked him back in, but was rolled up.
Dijakovic kicked out and set up Feast Your Eyes. Gargano escaped, landing on his feet, and hit a superkick combo that almost fell the big man. Dijakovic baited Gargano in and connected with a giant superkick of his own.
Gargano was left in the corner trying to untie the turnbuckle pad. Dijakovic yanked him away for a powerbomb, but Gargano was successful in ripping the pad off. A hurricanrana counter sent Dijakovic into the exposed turnbuckle, allowing Gargano to plant him with One Final Beat for the win.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeated Dominik Dijakovic via pinfall.
Grade: B
Imperium's Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel cut a promo on the NXT Tag Team Champions. Imperium said they were tired of Matt Riddle and Timothy Tatcher embarrassing the NXT tag team division. The're officially challenging the BroserWeights for their titles.
NXT Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament: Akira Tozawa (1-0) vs Jack Gallagher (0-1)
Akira Tozawa avoided the Gentleman's Dropkick in the corner and trapped Jack Gallagher in the Iron Octopus. Gallagher escaped, slamming the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion with a Samoan drop.
Tozawa recovered, lighting up Gallagher with some kicks before dumping him with a release German suplex. He looked to finish Gallagher early, going up for the Senton Splash. Gallagher rolled outside and caught Tozawa running in for a suicide dive with an elbow to the jaw.
Gallagher took over here, slowing the momentum of the match and stretching out his long time rival. Tozawa took Gallagher to the apron where they traded chops. As Gallagher blocked Tozawa's right hand, Tozawa spiked Gallagher with a DDT on the apron. On the inside, the Senton Splash put Gallagher away.
Results: Akira Tozawa defeated Jack Gallagher via pinfall.
Grade: C
Akira Tozawa is now 2-0, holding the best record in both brackets of the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Gallagher is now tied for the worst with Tony Nese.
Xia Li vs Chelsea Green w/Robert Stone
Chelsea Green dossed some clothing at Xia Li, following up with a running boot on NXT. Li managed to quickly recover, bringing Green down with a clothesline and a few boots of her own. Aliyah rushed down to the ring in order to distract Li.
Like months ago, Li knocked out Aliyah with a well-placed kick. However, the distraction allowed Green to plant Li with the Unprettier.
Results: Chelsea Green defeated Xia Li via pinfall.
Grade: D+
Could Robert Stone be adding a new member to the Robert Stone Brand? Aliyah just did Green a big favor while also screwing over the woman that broke her nose back in 2019. Aliyah and Green could be a nasty duo.
Velveteen Dream cut a promo on Adam Cole, stating that the lifespan of the Panama City Playboy's NXT title reign was coming to an end. Soon enough, it would be Dream Over. Adam Cole is currently running with the longest reign in NXT Championship history. WIll it finally be ended by the Vainglorious One tonight?
After months of terrifying vignettes and a heinous assault on Tommaso Ciampa last month, Karion Kross and Scarlett debuted on NXT tonight. It was an entrance that...well...you just have to see it for yourselves.
Scarlett walked ahead of her monster, serenading (?) the WWE Universe or Kross with a hypnotizing message; Fall and Pray. In the end, when you're in a ring against Kross, those are your only two options.
Karion Kross w/Scarlett vs Leon Ruff
Ruff rushed in but was immediately spiked on his neck with a Doomsday Saito from Karion Kross. Another Doomsday Saito left Ruff squirming and crying in pain. Kross finished him off with the Kross Jacket, forcing a quick yet painful submission.
Results: Kairon Kross defeated Leon Ruff via submission.
Grade: D-
As a match, it wasn't much to call home about. However, as an introduction to the new Devil of NXT, it was perfect. Leon Ruff was only the first in a long line of sacrifices to the man that's promised Doomsday to all of NXT. In due time, everyone will Fall and Pray to Karion Kross and Scarlett. It's only a matter of time...tick tock.
Backstage, Matt Riddle was asked about the audacity of Imperium to demand a NXT Tag Team title match after ruining their fun last week. Riddle said it wasn't up to him, it was up to Stallion Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher was all for it. "You knock em out, I'll tap em out."
NXT Women's Championship Match: Io Shirai vs Charlotte Flair (c)
The Queen tried to humble her challenger, overpowering her with a shoulder block. Io Shirai matrixed out of a big boot, sending Charlotte Flair into the corner. Caught off guard by Shirai's speed, she escaped through the ropes for a break.
Back inside, a boot to the gut set up for a figure-four headlock where Flair dribbled Shirai's face on the mat. Flair followed Shirai around the ring with chops and right hands.
Following a commercial break, Shirai landed a pinpoint springboard missile dropkick, sending Flair across the ring. Shirai followed Flair to the top, dumping Flair with a super hurricanrana. She followed up with a running attack in the corner but was caught by Flair, who connected with a backbreaker/ringpost facebuster combination.
Shirai avoided the moonsault and sent Flair in the ropes for the Tiger Feint Kick. A running double knee strike in the corner gave Shirai a two-count. Shirai moved up top for the moonsault, but Flair countered, lifting her knees. Following up with a big boot, Flair almost put her #1 contender away.
Flair was launched into the bottom turnbuckle with a head scissor takedown. Shirai flew to the outside with a moonsault, but Flair avoided it again. She then yanked out a kendo stick and broke it over Shirai's back.
Results: Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair via DQ
Grade: B-
Flair tried to injure the leg of Shirai much like she did to Rhea Ripley before their WrestleMania bout. However, Ripley rushed Flair, sending her hightailing it over the barricade. Shirai, though, wasn't happy about being saved, leading to an argument between herself and Ripley as they walked up the ramp.
Rhea Ripley was interviewed in the parking lot, but Io Shirai ran in to confront her. Oddly enough, no kidnappings in the lot on NXT tonight.
They began to brawl but were pulled apart by officials.
NXT Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament: Kushida (1-0) vs Jake Atlas (1-0)
Jake Atlas stayed away from the grip of Kushida, managing to send the Time Splitter to the mat with a top rope corkscrew arm drag. As he set up for a handspring head scissors takedown, Kushida kicked his arm out from under him.
After a dive to the floor, Kushida brought Atlas back inside for a penalty kick and a palm strike. Atlas responded with a step-up enziguri. He avoided a clothesline with a backflip, following up with a backbreaker. A dive to the floor sent Kushida into the barricade.
Back inside, Atlas looked to follow up with another dive from the top. Kushida caught him mid-air, however, trapping him in the cross armbreaker for a quick tap out and another impressive win on NXT.
Results: Kushida defeated Jake Atlas via pinfall.
Kushida joins Akira Tozawa at 2-0 while Jake Atlas moves to 1-1, tied with Drake Maverick, El Hijo Del Fantasma, and Isaiah "Swerve" Scott.
Finn Balor came out to address the man who attacked him weeks ago on NXT. The Prince was set to face Velveteen Dream last month but was attacked by a mystery man backstage before it could happen.
Balor said that it's wrestling 101. Attack the top guy, get the push. However, to whoever attacked him, they'll be in the ring with the former NXT Champion soon. That assailant won't be getting a push, he'll be on the receiving end of a squash on NXT.
Cameron Grimes vs Denzel Dejournette
Cameron Grimes looked to take down his opponent with an immediate Cave In. However, Dejournette countered with an overhead belly-to-belly. It didn't do much but momentarily stall Grimes, as he was able to hit the Cave In almost immediately after that throw.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Denzel Dejournette via pinfall.
Grade: D-
Grimes cut a promo stating that he deserves more than whatever he just got. According to Balor, if you want to get to the top, you go through the Prince. However, Grimes said that he can take Balor out and slap him in the face. Balor walked right back out, demanding that Grimes slap him in the face.
Balor stopped a cheap shot from Grimes and took him down before hitting a standing double stomp, following up with the Sling Blade. Balor then moved in close to the camera, claiming that he'll find the snake backstage on NXT and cut off his head.
NXT Championship Match: Velveteen Dream vs Adam Cole (c)
It didn't take long for this match to move to the floor, with Velveteen Dream driving Adam Cole's shoulder into the steel steps. Back inside, though, Cole caught Dream with a pair of superkicks. The Last Shot was countered, though, with a rolling spinebuster giving Dream a two-count.
Dream took Cole to the top, but the champion held onto the ropes to escape a super Dream Valley Driver. Cole raked the eyes of his challenger and set up for the Panama Sunrise. Dream countered again, planting Cole with the Dream-DT.
Velveteen Dream turned the pressure up, laying out Cole with a flying forearm and a springboard corner clothesline. Cole kicked out at two. Rolling through into the fireman's carry, Dream set up for the Dream Valley Driver. Cole escaped, but a superkick caught him firmly on the jaw.
Dream went up for the Purple Rainmaker, but Cole avoided it, rocking Dream with a big boot and a backstabber. The two men traded blows, with Cole getting the upper hand with an enziguri and an Ushigoroshi. Dream kicked out.
Cole and Dram slowly rose to their feet, trading punches along the way. Cole dumped Dream to the floor. Dream hammered Cole with a knockout punch and moved up top for a diving double axe handle.
Cole caught Dream with a superkick, but fell backwards, exhausted. Dream fell on top of him, with Cole barely kicking out. Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong rushed the ring, only for Dexter Lumis to emerge from the ring to fend them off. In the midst of the chaos, the referee was taken out.
Dream saved Lumis from the two-on-one assault, but was caught with a superkick from Cole for his trouble. The Last Shot put Dream down for good.
Results: Adam Cole defeated Velveteen Dream via pinfall.
Grade: A-
Though Dream was unable to take the belt off of Cole, one has to wonder if he'll have a gripe considering what took place on the outside of the ring. Dexter Lumis also trying to prevent the interference poses a strange question as well. Why is Lumis protecting Velveteen Dream? We're left with more questions than answers this week, and Velveteen Dream is not at all finished with Adam Cole.
Episode Rating: A
Kross and Scarlett stole the show tonight while the feud between Cole and Dream is far from over. Same can be said for Charlotte, Rhea and Io Shirai.
