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Tonight was NXT's go-home show before TakeOver: In Your House. We needed to fill out the card just a bit more, as the NXT North American and Tag Team Titles were not yet being defended on the show. That was remedied in a pretty exciting way thanks to Santos Escobar
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and his challengers were seen brawling with one another throughout the night, as they couldn't wait until Sunday to get their hands on one another. Would they even make it to TakeOver?
All that and more on an exciting episode of NXT.
Austin Theory vs Oney Lorcan on NXT
Before NXT tonight, the two men, alongside Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano, got in a huge scrap.
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Once the match started Austin Theory rocked Oney Lorcan with a picture-perfect dropkick but struggled to keep control on the mat.
His luck wasn't so good in the standing game either, as Lorcan mauled him with his stiff uppercuts. The former NXT Tag Team Champion was schooling Mr. All Day.
Theory managed to turn things around, catching Lorcan with a clothesline/slingshot stomp combination. Unfortunately, his mouth wrote a check he couldn't cash.
Lorcan caught him in the mouth with a back elbow. The match moved to the apron, where Lorcan dropped Theory on his spine. The former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne strolled out to ringside just as we cut to break.
Oney wore the hide out on Theory, focusing on his back with a camel clutch and backbreaker. As Johnny Gargano made his way ringside, Theory fired up and caught Lorcan with a rolling blockbuster.
The inaugural NXT Triple Crown Champion cheered on Theory and distracted Lorcan, allowing Austin to drive him into the barricade repeatedly. Theory hammered Lorcan with a hellacious short-arm lariat and followed up with a fallaway slam.
A leaping slingshot Spanish Fly took Lorcan down for a near fall. As they fell to the floor once again, Dunne and Gargano picked up where they left off, brawling and forcing several NXT officials to break them up.
Theory was a bit more distracted than Lorcan back in the ring, and the veteran took advantage with a full nelson slam.
Results: Oney Lorcan defeated Austin Theory via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
We got some footage of LA Knight, who gave all the reasons he should inherit the Million Dollar Legacy. Of course, he'd have to compete with NXT's resident rich lad himself, Cameron Grimes. Ted Dibiase promised an announcement tonight regarding the situation.
WWE NXT saw the return of "Doc Hendrix" himself, Michael P.S. Hayes as he ran down a preview of NXT TakeOver: In Your House. That's awesome, should I give that a grade?
Grade: B+
Legado del Fantasma calls out the Bronson Reed on NXT
Santos Escobar blamed NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed for Legado Del Fantasma losing their Tag Team Title opportunity last week. He went to call out the champ, but The Colossal One was already on the ramp.
Reed cracked some jokes at Escobar's expense while showing off some footage of himself crushing Santos flat during that match. Reed, along with the NXT Tag Champions MSK, stepped up to LDF, leading to Escobar making a challenge. Six-man tag match, the winners walk away with all the gold.
Reed and MSK agreed just as Hit Row made their way to the ring. The group stared down Legado Del Fantasma and the Champions, letting them all know that they were coming for that gold sooner rather than later.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott was set for a match with Killian Dain.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott w/HitRow vs Killian Dain w/Drake Maverick on NXT
Killian Dain had a major power advantage, which Swerve countered with interference from Hit Row. Every time Dain took over, one of Swerve's cronies would catch his attention.
A big boot from Scott rocked the Hound of Ulster, and Swerve continued to hammer the big man with strong shots to the head. However, Dain would flatten him with The Divide, getting a near fall in the middle of the ring.
Swerve escaped a Samoan Drop attempt as well as a pump kick, dropping NXT's Beast of Belfast with a rolling flatliner. The House Call rocked Dain for a two-count. Drake Maverick cheered on his friend as Dain began to fire up.
Dain planted Swerve with the Wasteland before hitting a running senton. When Ashante "Thee" Adonis distracted Dain, Maverick dove on top of him. Top Dolla slammed Drake on the apron, allowing Swerve to take out Dain with a running single leg dropkick in the corner.
Results: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott defeated Killian Dain via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
The NXT Women's Tag Team Champions were backstage when Indi Hartwell began to think about her lost love, Dexter Lumis. Indi heard that Lumis had heard the playlist she was listening to last week and that he even cried. She ran off to find him, leading to Candice LeRae pouting in frustration.
NXT's Cameron Grimes was seen diving in his private pool, setting some cash on fire to light his cigar, and attempting to enjoy all the finer things in life. Grimes said that he was focused on taking the Million Dollar Legacy "To The Moon" and drove off looking for The Million Dollar Man's approval.
Mercedes Martinez was set for a match on NXT tonight but was blindsided by Xia Li. The right hand of Tian Sha laid into Martinez with some disastrous kicks before sending Martinez in the ring. Martinez fought back, dropping Li with a devastating big boot.
Martinez followed her to the ring, driving her spine first into the apron. The NXT officials broke up the brawl before Martinez's match started.
Mercedes Martinez vs Amari Miller on NXT
Martinez caught her opponent with a deadly pump knee to the jaw. An Air Raid Crash spiked her, giving Martinez the easy victory.
Results: Mercedes Martinez won via pinfall.
Grade: C-
Breezango was backstage, and the former NXT Champions were looking to get back to the top of the division. In order to do that, they were going to knock off the team that they'd beaten for the gold last year, Imperium, much to the chagrin of NXT UK Champion WALTER.
Ted Dibiase was on the way to the ring. What would the WWE Hall of Famer have to announce to the NXT Universe?
NXT GM William Regal and Triple H were backstage with Poppy, who decided to release the official NXT soundtrack live on TV tonight with the push of a button. Dexter Lumis came in to offer her some artwork, and Poppy was so overjoyed by the gift she gave him a hug.
Unfortunately, that was when Indi Hartwell came around the corner. The NXT Women's Tag Champion ran off in tears as Lumis' arms dropped in defeat. Poor guy.
Cameron Grimes and LA Knight arrived at the CWC just in time for the major announcement from the Million Dollar Man.
Ted Dibiase presents his Million Dollar Announcement on NXT
LA Knight was taking things a bit more seriously than Cameron Grimes, but had his music cut by the rich NXT star to play his own.
The Million Dollar Man revealed that the match between Grimes and Knight would be a ladder match. A gold ladder was lowered from the roof, covered in dollar signs. LA Knight called Grimes a hillbilly, but it didn't bother the man as Cameron was living on top of the hill.
Grimes said when he is in between these ropes, no one can beat him. So take his money, take his jacket, because no matter what he's gonna take the legacy "To The Moon." Grimes then asked what they would be reaching for when they got to the top of the ladder.
Of course, it was the Million Dollar Championship!
LA Knight, Cameron Grimes, and the crowd were ecstatic at the opportunity to see who would become the brand new Million Dollar Champion.
Backstage, Karrion Kross and his challengers at NXT TakeOver: In Your House were brawling. William Regal ran in with security, doing their best to break up the brawl.
Grizzled Young Veterans vs August Grey and Ikemen Jiro on NXT
The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions faced off against two of 205 Live's most exciting superstars. August Grey and Ikemen Jiro had Zack Gibson on the ropes for several minutes, especially Jiro who rocked Gibson with a big right and springboard head scissors takedown.
Some celebrating from Jiro allowed Gibson to take control, but the Japanese star fired up when he tried to take off his jacket. The Grizzled Young Veterans, though, proved their tag team dominance with some tandem offense to both Jiro and Grey.
James Drake focused on the left knee, which was sporting a knee brace, leaving Ikemen Jiro in agonizing pain. Before GYV could force Jiro to tap, Timothy Thatcher and former NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa, made their way to ringside.
This allowed Grey to fire up on both men. August hit his rope-walking crossbody on Drake, setting up for the So Much Prettier. Drake managed to shake it off just in time, leveling Grey with a clothesline. After that, Ticket to Mayhem sealed the deal.
Results: Grizzled Young Veterans defeated August Grey and Ikemen Jiro via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
Gibson and Drake said they were done with Tommaso and Thatcher, wanting only to go after MSK and the NXT Tag Team Titles. Ciampa said that they weren't getting an Championship shot until they went through himself and Thatcher. Gibson and Drake finally relented, leading to a Tornado Tag Match next week.
NXT Women's Tag Champion Candice LeRae was on the way to the ring without her tag team partner. Where was Indi Hartwell?
A few weeks back on NXT, Bobby Fish was attacked by Oney Lorcan after a match with Pete Dunne. The duo looked to injure him, but Fish vowed in a vignette tonight that he'd get his revenge.
Candice LeRae attacked by former NXT Champion Io Shirai
NXT's Poison Pixie Candice LeRae revealed that she came to the ring to confront Poppy. According to Candice, the musician not only stole the shine from the show but also tried to steal Indi's love, Dexter Lumis.
"Everyone knows InDex is a thing," LeRae confirmed it, the name's official.
LeRae called Poppy out, claiming that if she didn't come to the ring, Candice would find her in the parking lot.
Poppy emerged, claiming she didn't wrestle. However, she did know someone who wouldn't mind filling her shoes. It was the returning Io Shirai!
Shirai took LeRae to the mat with a double leg takedown and a flapjack. The 619 was followed up by a springboard dropkick that launched LeRae to the floor. Poppy and Shirai celebrated in the ring while LeRae pouted once again.
Dox Hendrix was back with another NXT TakeOver: In Your House "slam jam." Santos Escobar's challenge was made official. Bronson Reed and MSK would defend the North American and Tag Titles against Santos Escobar. Cameron Grimes and LA Knight would fight for the returning Million Dollar Championship.
Dakota Kai w/Raquel González vs Ember Moon on NXT
Thanks to the NXT Women's Champion, Dakota Kai was able to pick up an early advantage against Ember Moon. A series of running kicks and knees leveled the Shenom, but couldn't put her down for good. Moon caught Kai, slamming her with a sliding flatliner for a near fall.
The former NXT Women's Champion had Kai in the ropes, setting up for something sinister. However, Dakota was able to slip to the floor and sling Moon face-first into the steel ring post.
During the break, Kai kept up the pressure with her iconic kicks, leveling the former NXT Women's Champion with some stiff boots to the jaw.
Moon fought out of a rear-naked choke, getting to her feet and sending Kai into the corner with a snapmare. A diving codebreaker stunned Kai for a two-count. A crescent kick to the back of the head dropped Kai, and a somersault stunner nearly picked up a win for Moon.
Kai surprised Moon with the Test Driver rolling cutter. A pendulum kick rocked Moon, as did the running boot in the corner.
Still, Moon kicked out. Ember responded with a sit-out powerbomb, just nearly getting a victory in the NXT main event.
On the floor, Raquel González tried to intimidate her challenger, but Moon rocked her with a heavy right hand. A suicide dive hit both González and Kai before Moon took Kai in for the Eclipse. Before she could jump off, a big boot from the NXT Women's Champion knocked her to the floor.
Results: Ember Moon defeated Dakota Kai via DQ.
Grade: A
Moon ran back in and sent Kai to the floor with a boot. However, González dropped her with one of her own. When González went for her powerbomb, though, Moon countered with a modified version of the Eclipse.
Moon moved to the top and hit the Eclipse, laying González out cold. Will Ember Moon fulfill her destiny and regain the NXT Women's Championship?
NXT Champion Karrion Kross offered all four of his challengers the opportunity to take him out before NXT TakeOver: In Your House. He and Scarlet moved to the ring, with Kross reminding them that their time was running out.
Karrion Kross confronts his challengers before NXT TakeOver: In Your House
NXT GM William Regal met Karrion Kross in the ring, stating that he was the running the show and nobody else. Kross stated that this show had been out of control for a long time, and the NXT Champion took care of things on Tuesday nights.
Kyle O'Reilly was the first out, claiming that no NXT Champion in the past had thinner skin than Kross. O'Reilly vowed to be the one to walk away with the gold on Sunday.
Johnny TakeOver was next, insulting O'Reilly's Canadian Tuxedo. Gargano said Kross wasn't Johnny Wrestling, not even in his league, but he should be able to choke out O'Reilly right now.
Kross talked down to Gargano before Pete Dunne told them all to shut up. The Bruiserweight of NXT promised that he'd be the champion by Sunday. Adam Cole finally appeared though he was on the screen.
Cole said Kross was supposed to be unbeatable, but he beat him last week when he verbally dressed him down and Kross did nothing about it.
Cole said that he could beat Kross, or one of the guys that he'd already beaten before in Dunne or Gargano, or he could pin the one that didn't deserve to be in the match (Kyle O'Reilly) to walk out as the new NXT Champion.
Cool Kyle said Cole didn't have the guts to show up tonight, but he did, before rushing the champion. Karrion Kross ran through the three challengers and the NXT security team with a series of exploder suplexes.
Security eventually got a hold of him, allowing Gargano, Dunne, and O'Reilly to rock him with a series of kicks.
O'Reilly took out Dunne and Gargano before being blasted with the NXT Champion's elbow smash. As Kross held the gold above his head, he was blindsided by a superkick from Adam Cole.
The Panama City Playboy laid out Kross with the Last Shot before taking what he believed was rightfully his, and would be his again on Sunday.
