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WWE NXT this week saw the continuation of the recent rivalry between NXT Champion Karrion Kross and NXT enforcer Samoa Joe.
Last week, Samoa Joe was the special guest referee for the NXT Championship match between defending champion Karrion Kross and challenger Johnny Gargano. However, the real talking point was the events that unfolded after the match had taken place.
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After the NXT Champion had successfully defended his championship against his challenger, Karrion Kross attacked Samoa Joe from behind. Locking in his Kross-Jacket submission hold, Karrion Kross caused the Samoan Submission Machine to pass out.
This week on NXT, Samoa Joe stated that he had been physically provoked, therefore, as per his agreement with NXT General Manager William Regal, he would be getting physical with the NXT Champion.
Kross managed to evade Joe for the entirety of the broadcast and even assaulted NXT General Manager William Regal. This has led many to speculate that Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Samoa Joe at the upcoming NXT TakeOver: 36 event during SummerSlam weekend.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at three reasons why Samoa Joe should beat Karrion Kross for the WWE NXT title and two reasons Kross should retain.
#5 Should: Karrion Kross recently made his WWE main roster debut
Karrion Kross made his WWE main roster this week on Monday Night RAW.
The NXT Champion's RAW debut was surprisingly announced as RAW came back from a commercial break earlier on in the broadcast. It was then later announced that Kross would be squaring off against former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy in his RAW debut match.
Karrion Kross made his entrance in a slightly muted manner in comparison to his NXT entrance. Furthermore, the NXT Champion was without his usual companion Scarlett by his side.
Kross largely dominated his opponent. However, Jeff Hardy picked up a shocking victory, utilizing a roll-up with his feet on the ropes for leverage. This abruptly ended Karrion Kross' undefeated streak in singles competition since signing with WWE in 2020.
Questionable booking decision aside, it is plainly obvious that Karrion Kross' days in NXT are numbered. Kross has seemingly already begun the transition into becoming a fully fledged member of the Monday Night RAW roster. Therefore, a member of the NXT roster needs to defeat Kross for the WWE NXT Championship in the near future before he becomes a permanent fixture on Monday Nights.
Considering that Karrion Kross is currently engaged in a feud with Samoa Joe, the Samoan Submission Machine would appear to be the perfect candidate to dethrone the current NXT Champion.
#4 Shouldn't: A younger, less established talent should defeat Karrion Kross for the WWE NXT Championship
The WWE NXT Championship was introduced in 2012 as the black and gold brand was re-established as WWE's developmental territory. Since then, there have been 22 NXT Championship reigns amongst 18 separate NXT Champions.
Whilst many NXT Superstars are quick to point out that the black and gold brand is no longer WWE's developmental territory, it's obvious to see that it still works as a feeder system for Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown.
NXT is well known for creating, nurturing and developing younger, less-established wrestlers into WWE Superstars. It could therefore be stated that the NXT Champion shouldn't be an already established, veteran WWE Superstar such as Samoa Joe.
In addition to all of the championships he has captured outside of WWE, Samoa Joe is a former two-time NXT Champion and two-time United States Champion. He is one of the most respected and well known talents on the entire WWE roster, let alone the NXT brand.
It could be argued that the NXT Champion should always be an up-and-coming, less established talent that could be considered a major player in the future for WWE on the main roster. It's a category that Samoa Joe doesn't exactly fit into.
#3 Should: Samoa Joe finally makes his return to WWE in-ring competition
Former WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe last competed inside of a WWE ring in February 2020.
The Samoan Submission Machine was involved in a storyline with Kevin Owens, with both men facing off against Seth Rollins, Murphy and AOP on Monday Night RAW.
During that time period Samoa Joe suffered a serious concussion during a commercial shoot for Monday Night RAW on USA Network and was not medically cleared to compete. It was then subsequently announced that Joe had violated the WWE's wellness policy and was suspended for 30 days.
Joe then worked as a color commentator on Monday Night RAW for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021 before being released by WWE in April. After becoming frustrated with his release, Triple H re-signed Samoa Joe to work on the NXT brand.
The former NXT Champion has been vocal in stating that he has not retired and does intend on competing inside of the ring once again in the future. Considering his recent physicality with Karrion Kross, many are speculating that Samoa Joe may have quietly been medically cleared for in-ring action and could challenge for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: 36.
What better way to mark Samoa Joe's first match in 18 months than by having him defeat Karrion Kross and become the NXT Champion for the third time in his career.
#2 Shouldn't: Samoa Joe may not be a full-time wrestler for WWE NXT
Former WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe made his return to the black and gold brand during the June 15 episode of NXT on USA Network.
It was announced that current NXT General Manager William Regal had offered to step down from his position and offer the General Manager role to Samoa Joe. The Samoan Submission Machine declined the position of NXT General Manager, but stated he wished to act as an enforcer of such for William Regal instead.
Regal agreed to Joe's requests under certain conditions. He would not be an active competitor and he would not be allowed to get physical with NXT Superstars, unless physically provoked.
As the NXT General Manager's enforcer, Samoa Joe has breathed some desperately needed new life into the NXT product. It was recently revealed at an NXT television taping that Joe will resign as an authority figure to face Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver: 36. But, it's unknown if Joe will be competing as a wrestler in NXT on a full-time or part-time basis.
Should Samoa Joe defeat Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: 36, Joe could be in the awkward position of holding the brand's top title but not being able to compete on a regular basis due to his past injury history.
Whilst we don't know Joe's current physical limitations, perhaps it's not a wise idea to put the WWE NXT Championship on the former WWE NXT Champion whilst he begins his long anticipated return to in-ring action.
#1 Should: Samoa Joe can become the first-ever 3-time WWE NXT Champion
Former WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe has a lengthy history with the black and gold brand.
The Samoan Submission Machine made his NXT debut in the closing moments of the NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable event in 2015. After then-NXT Champion Kevin Owens defended the NXT Championship against Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe confronted KO much to the delight of those in attendance at Full Sail University.
Samoa Joe went on to win his first NXT Championship by defeating Finn Balor in shocking fashion at an NXT live event in Lowell, Massachusetts in April 2016. This was the first time in WWE NXT history that the NXT Championship had changed hands at a non-televised live event.
Samoa Joe would once again make history at NXT TakeOver: Toronto in November 2016. Joe defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to become the first ever WWE Superstar to hold the NXT Championship on two separate occasions.
If Samoa Joe faces Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: 36 in August he could once again make history on the black and gold brand. Should Samoa Joe defeat Kross for the title, he would become the first ever WWE Superstar to win the NXT Championship on three separate occasions.
Therefore, he would have the most single NXT Championship reigns in WWE history. An opportunity to make history such as that is too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Not only would it be an excellent way to mark Samoa Joe's return to in-ring action, but it would also be a fitting way to end Karrion Kross' dominating NXT Championship reign.
