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NXT surprised us with a championship match out of nowhere tonight. Our main event would feature Bronson Reed defending the NXT North American Championship against Isaiah "Swerve" Scott of Hit Row.
With NXT Great American Bash a week away, we still needed to find challengers for The Way's tag titles. Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart would also face Io Shirai and Zoey Stark, along with Dakota Kai and NXT Women's Champion for a shot at the gold.
All that, plus Tian Sha continuing their dominance, Johnny Gargano attempting to outsmart Karrion Kross, and Diamond Mine's Roderick Strong returning to the ring. We kicked things off with the NXT Women's Tag Title number one contender's match.
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NXT Women's Tag Team No.1 Contender's Match: Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart vs Zoey Stark and Io Shirai vs Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai
Raquel Gonzalez started the match off with Ember Moon and Io Shirai, dominating them both. Shirai and Moon had to team up to bring down the NXT Women's Champion. A double dropkick connected, but Gonzalez bounced off the ropes for a double clothesline.
Raquel dumped Shirai up top with snake eyes, but was sent to Moon's corner with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Moon and Blackheart hit a one-legged facebuster and sunset flip combination on Gonzalez but the pin was broken up. Zoey Stark took Kai and Gonzalez to the floor where Shirai hit them with a moonsault.
Stark got out of the way and avoided Blackheart's suicide dive as well. Moon landed on everyone with a senton off the top, and Stark followed up with a double jump crossbody.
Back in the ring, Shirai and Stark focused on Gonzalez. Blackheart eventually got back in the fray, giving Gonzalez time to get to her partner.
Dakota Kai dumped Stark to the floor and went in on Blackheart. After nearly getting a pinfall on NXT's Tank Girl, Kai was blindsided by a returning Stark. The newcomer to the brand, impressively, laid out Kai but failed to get the pin. Dakota went back to Gonzalez and tagged her in, followed by Io Shirai shortly after.
Gonzalez drove Blackheart into the corner with a series of shoulder thrusts and left her collapsed with a big body splash. As she set up for a big gorilla press slam, Shirai tried to break it up.
A massive boot sent the former champion into the ropes and Blackheart was slammed. Shirai, Gonzalez, and Blackheart tagged out, bringing in their fairly fresh partners.
Stark went on a tear, lighting up both competitors with an array of strikes. A sliding knee took them both down in one shot. Stark sent Kai into the corner and tagged Shirai. NXT's Genius of the Sky hit the 619 and springboard missile dropkick on Kai, but Blackheart broke the pin up.
Blackheart pelted Shirai with a series of kicks and followed up with a bulldog. The former NXT Women's Tag Champions kept up the pressure with a drop toe hold/dropkick combination. Moon got a near fall on Shirai.
Kai tried to interfere and was nearly beheaded with a nasty rolling forearm. With Shirai and Kai on the ropes, Moon and Blackheart hit a pair of running kicks. Blackheart dumped Kai overhead with a tiger suplex and turned it into Cattle Mutilation. Luckily for Kai, Gonzalez made the save.
Everyone found themselves in the corner going for the Tower of Doom. Gonzalez knocked Shirai and Stark away, saving Kai from certain doom. Moon was planted with a powerslam, and Blackheart was dropped with a powerbomb.
Stark and Shirai eliminated Gonzalez, and as Kai hit a double stomp on Blackheart, she rolled into a kick from Shirai. Kai escaped the pin, but a double underhook backbreaker left her in position for the Moon Over Moonsault.
Gonzalez rolled in just in time to save her partner, taking the brunt of the damage. Moon and Shirai fell to the floor, and everyone hit their finishes, leaving Shirai and Kai in the ring alone once again.
The Moon Over Moonsault finally hit, landing on Kai.
Results: Io Shirai defeated Dakota Kai via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Shirai and Stark will move onto NXT Great American Bash next week to challenge The Way for the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano blindsided NXT Champion Karrion Kross. Before it could get out of hand, Samoa Joe's security broke it up.
NXT revealed that the NXT Breakout Tournament would be returning in two weeks. The tournament saw many major faces of the brand now make their debut. Bronson Reed, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Dexter Lumis, Cameron Grimes, Joaquin Wilde, Angel Garza, and Boa. Of course, they forgot to mention the winner, ACH, who's no longer with the company.
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed was challenged by Swerve for a title match tonight. Reed accepted.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross calls out Johnny Gargano
Karrion Kross and Scarlett made their way to the ring to call out Johnny Gargano for his attack earlier. Kross claimed that he didn't have the guts to do it face to face, but Johnny claimed he was no coward. Gargano said the ring was his world, and unlike Kross, he's got actual talent.
"You may be bigger than me, but everyone knows I'm smarter than you," said Gargano. At that moment, Austin Theory attacked Kross.
The Way laid into the champion, who easily shook off their attempt. Kross took Gargano to the floor and drove him repeatedly into the barricade. Before he could crush him with the steel steps, Samoa Joe and NXT security made the save.
As Kross was held back, Gargano rocked him with a superkick. Kross stood back up and confronted Joe, but didn't lay a hand on him.
Roderick Strong w/Diamond Mine vs Asher Hale on NXT
The former NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong faced off against one of the last 205 Live talents left in WWE, Asher Hale. While Strong has been incredibly decorated in his career, Hale has been impressive in his own right as of late.
Hale escaped Strong's grasp and nearly locked Roddy in an ankle lock. When Strong blocked, Hale moved in for the sleeper hold. Strong broke away again and followed up with a uranage style backbreaker. From then on, Roderick dominated Hale. Diamond Mine's Malcolm Bivens encouraged Strong as he kept Hale on the mat.
Strong stunned Hale with a spinning back elbow and the jumping knee, leaving Hale out on the mat. A modified Rings of Saturn forced the submission.
Results: Roderick Strong defeated Asher Hale via submission on NXT.
Grade: B-
After the match, Diamond Mine celebrated with Strong. Bivens said that things are just getting started. What's that mean for the NXT Cruiserweight Division?
Cameron Grimes vs Ari Sterling on NXT
NXT's HillBillionaire faced off against 205 Live star Ari Sterling. Cameron Grimes managed to keep up with the high flyer, hitting a handspring out of a headscissor takedown. A hurricanrana sent Sterling to the floor, but he blocked Cameron's apron kick.
After dropping Grimes on the apron, Sterling hit the Moonsauce. A running corkscrew moonsault press hit Grimes on the inside, and it looked like Cameron was in serious trouble. In the corner, Grimes was pelted with a series of kicks. He avoided the double stomp, though, and drove Sterling into the mat with the Cave In.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Ari Sterling via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
After the match, the NXT Million Dollar Campion LA Knight came to the stage. Knight said Grimes was just not worth getting invested, leading to Cameron challenging him to a title match at NXT Great American Bash. Knight initially denied it but then had an idea.
He'd give Grimes a shot next week, but if he lost he'd be the new butler of LA Knight. Grimes happily accepted.
NXT Women's Tag Champions The Way congratulated Io Shirai and Zoey Stark for their win tonight, but said they had no chance next week. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae were family. LeRae warned Stark about Shirai's past, with Shirai reminding Candice she'd never beaten her.
Kyle O'Reilly prepares for NXT Great American Bash and Cole-O'Reilly II
Kyle O'Reilly came out to the ring to amp up the fans for his highly anticipated rematch against Adam Cole at NXT Great American Bash next week. He called out Cole, and it seemed like we were about to have another brawl. However, Samoa Joe's music hit, as Joe brought out some security.
The NXT enforcer said he was here to make sure none of the events from last week happened again. He stood in the ring with O'Reilly before Cole stepped between the ropes. The former NXT Champion claimed that O'Reilly was jealous of him. Cool Kyle mocked the claim, aggravating Cole further.
Cole said that without him, O'Reilly was a nobody. He took it a bit far, claiming that everyone knew it, including Kyle's wife. O'Reilly said that he was ashamed of The Undisputed Era and the fact that it took this long to realize who Cole really was.
Before they could brawl, Joe stepped in. Cole tried to attack Joe, but he ducked, and when O'Reilly took him down, Joe decided to walk away.
Joe finally sent in the security after Cole suffered for a bit.
Jake Atlas and Mercedes Martinez vs Tian Sha (Xia Li and Boa) w/Mei Ying on NXT
This NXT mixed tag match kicked off with a brawl before the ref took Xia Li and Mercedes Martinez to their corners. Jake Atlas took Boa down with a step-up springboard arm drag, forcing him to tag out.
Martinez was stunned with a thrust kick by Li. In the corner, a leaping forearm dropped the former NXT Women's Championship contender. However, Martinez was able to fight back and send Li down to the floor. As Xia writhed in pain, Martinez called out Mei Ying, who just stared on from the entrance ramp.
During the break, Tian Sha took over as Boa delivered a hellacious palm strike to the throat of Jake. Li followed up with a leaping clothesline off of Boa's back. Atlas eventually sent him to the floor and made it to Martinez, who came in like a house on fire.
Li was cut down with a clothesline and a series of strikes in the corner. An avalanche butterfly suplex probably would've gotten the pinfall but Boa broke it up. Boa went on to hit Martinez, only to be rocked by Atlas. Martinez and Atlas took Boa out, and Li was rocked with a big right from Martinez.
Unfortunately, Martinez turned her attention to Mei Ying, who stood out from her throne. Back in the ring, Xia Li hit an exploder suplex and followed with the cyclone kick.
It looked like Martinez was knocked out and the referee had to call for the bell.
Results: Xia Li defeated Mercedes Martinez via knock-out on NXT.
Grade: C
NXT Tag Champions MSK come face to face with Tommaso Ciampa and TImothy Thatcher
At the Great American Bash, the NXT Tag Team Champions MSK will put the gold on the line against Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa. All four men brought chairs to the ring to "sit" in. Ciampa told MSK that they were the underdogs, not him and Thatcher.
Thatcher is yet to win gold in NXT, and Ciampa said that he was motivated. As far as Ciampa went, there's not a man on the live that elevates a title like the Blackheart. MSK stood up, as did their challengers. MSK said that they respected them, and they've heard the talk. The CWC started a "Ciampa's gonna kill you" chant.
Nash Carter and Wes Lee were tired of being disrespected, and reminded Ciampa and Thatcher were the challengers, not the other way around.
Nash caught Ciampa with a right to the jaw, and Ciampa didn't react at all. Thatcher tried to attack, but Tommaso held him back.
Ciampa leaned into Nash and said that was a free one, but he won't be so lucky next week.
NXT GM William Regal was going down the card for next week's Great American Bash. As he wrapped up, recent NXT signee Sarray came into the office. Sarray said she wanted a match, specifically against Toni Storm.
The battery has at 81%. What will happen when it reaches full charge at Great American Bash next week?
NXT Champion Karrion Kross was blindsided by Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory on his way to his car. Gargano drove the door into his head, but he shook it off and choked out Gargano. Kross laid out Theory with the Doomsday Elbow. After that, he nearly ran over Gargano, but Samoa Joe saved him from certain doom.
NXT North American Championship: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott w/Hit Row vs Bronson Reed (c)
The NXT North American Champion controlled the early goings of the match. A big shoulder tackle bounced Isaiah "Swerve" Scott off the mat. Bronson Reed swatted him out of the air with one hand.
A headbutt sent Swerve into the corner, and Reed launched him chest first into the turnbuckle across the ring. On the apron, Reed challenged his challenger to bring it. Scott hit a chop to the inner thigh, but when he went for a sunset flip bomb, Reed sat down, crushing him into the apron.
During the break, Swerve managed to take over. When we returned, he hit a rebound German suplex for a near fall. Reed managed to get back to his feet, but Swerve dropped him again with a rolling flatliner.
Reed still kicked out, and HitRow couldn't believe it. Reed blocked the House Call and turned Swerve inside out with a lariat. Somehow, Swerve was able to respond with a dropkick. When he went for another rolling flatliner, Reed caught him out of mid-air with a death valley driver.
As Reed moved up for the Tsunami, Top Dollah distracted the referee. Ashante "Thee" Adonis knocked him off the top, leading to Reed sending Dollah through the plexiglass. Adonis was next.
After that, though, Reed was caught with the House Call in the ring. A 450 Splash followed up, giving Isaiah "Swerve" Scott his first championship in NXT.
Results: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott defeated Bronson Reed via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott is the new NXT North American Champion. If ya didn't know, now ya know.
