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On NXT last week, Danny Burch was injured in the main event match, teaming up with his partner Oney Lorcan to defend the Tag Team Titles against Karrion Kross and Finn Balor. Due to this fact, the titles have been vacated. Hopefully, we'll hear more on this tonight.
The NXT UK Champion WALTER also appeared last week, joining Imperium in beating down Tommaso Ciampa. Tonight, WALTER would go after Drake Maverick, who believed that Imperium was responsible for Killian Dain's disappearance.
We kicked things off with a tag team match, featuring the first-ever NXT Women's Tag Team Champions.
Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai vs Zoey Stark and Io Shirai on NXT
Raquel Gonzalez kicked off this opening contest with Zoey Stark. The No. 1 contender to Io Shirai's Women's Title looked set to prove her dominance by tearing down one of the brand's brightest newcomers.
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Gonzalez, though, was surprised by Stark's technical prowess. An arm wrench left Raquel in a lot of pain and set her up for a running hurricanrana.
Gonzalez was rocked by a step-up enziguri on the apron and a pump knee strike in the corner, but one heavy clothesline was enough to shift momentum. Dakota Kai tagged in, and the inaugural NXT Women's Tag Team Champions pulled out an assisted diving double stomp.
Stark kicked out and eventually got Kai to her corner, tagging in the NXT Women's Champion. Io Shirai ducked a big boot and caught the Captain of Team Kick with a running basement dropkick.
Shirai and Stark took turns wearing down Kai, but a hair pull was enough to give Dakota time to get to her partner. Gonzalez squared off with Stark once again.
Gonzalez was battered by a series of kicks but caught Starks when she went for a running crossbody. Kai tagged back in and the duo hit the elevated Go To Kick for a close call. Throughout the break, Kai and Gonzalez mauled Stark as she continued to reach for NXT's Genius of the Sky.
A high Gory Special nearly got a submission victory, but Gonzalez couldn't keep the grip. Stark rolled through and dazed Gonzalez with an enziguri. Kai tagged in, as did the NXT Women's Champion.
Shirai ran wild on both Kai and Gonzalez, pelting them both with strong strikes. A series of running knees rocked them both, leaving Gonzalez alone for a 619. Shirai hit a missile dropkick and set up Starks for a springboard version of the same kick.
Gonzalez fell to the floor but wasn't safe as a crossbody from Stark took her out. The newcomer drove Kai and Gonzalez headfirst into the ring post, setting up Io Shirai for the moonsault on Gonzalez. Back in the ring, though, Gonzalez avoided the 450 Splash and hit her Single arm powerbomb, though she wasn't able to capitalize.
After booting Shirai off the apron, a second powerbomb nearly drove Stark through the ring. That was enough for the win.
Results: Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai defeated Zoey Stark & Io Shirai via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A-
Kai distracted Shirai, allowing Gonalez to run through her with a big boot. On the floor, Gonzalez lifted Shirai and bounced her off the announcer's desk with her powerbomb.
We got footage of Adam Cole interrupting Kyle O'Reilly's BJJ class and trying to get some early revenge. Kyle was seen coming into the CWC, flanked by security. Roderick Strong approached, saying that they needed to take the fight to Cole.
O'Reilly appreciated the gesture, but there was no more "we." There was no more Era. This was between O'Reilly and Cole. Strong told both of them to go to Hell before storming off.
The NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin would take on Kushida tonight, and ahead of their match stated that he respected, and even liked, Kushida. However, he needed to make an example of the Time Splitter before going onto NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Bronson Reed vs LA Knight on NXT
LA Knight struggled early on against NXT's Colossal One, Bronson Reed. The big man tossed the newest signee around the ring with ease. Knight was clotheslined, slammed, pressed, and chopped around the ring, unable to defend against Reed's heavy offense.
Knight was able to eventually get the better of his opponent, hanging him up in the ropes and slingshotting into the big man to finally take him off his feet. Throughout the break, Knight focused on weakening the base of Reed, going after his legs and sending him into the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Knight rocked Reed with a knee trembler, but it wasn't enough to put NXT's Aus-zilla away. The former IMPACT Wrestling star avoided a body splash in the corner, following that with a neck breaker for a two-count.
Reed finally hit that big splash and shook off a knee to the head for a big chokeslam. Reed moved up for the Tsunami Splash, but Knight dropped him on the top rope. Knight looked for the superplex but was sent crashing to the mat by Reed. He was unable to avoid the Tsunami Splash this time around and earned his first loss in NXT.
Results: Bronson Reed defeated LA Knight via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Future of NXT Tag Team Titles revealed
With the NXT Tag Team Titles now vacated, MSK will face Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado Del Fantasma in a Triple Threat match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver to crown the new champions.
That match will take place on night one.
Karrion Kross w/Scarlett vs Oney Lorcan on NXT
The former NXT Tag Team Champion rushed Karrion Kross, full of rage after Kross injured his partner last week. He shrugged off the onslaught, though, sending Oney Lorcan to the floor and driving him into the plexiglass.
Lorcan was completely eviscerated as Kross drove his forearms and elbows into the skull of the Star Destroyer. After minutes of punishment, it seemed that Lorcan would finally take control with a nasty running dropkick and running uppercut in the corner. Kross, though, nearly took his head off with a lariat, sending him to the ground and almost knocking his lights out.
Lorcan escaped an armbar from the former NXT Champion, just barely getting to the ropes. An exploder suplex dumped Lorcan on his head, but he continued to fight back, pelting Kross with more of his hellacious uppercuts. After sending Kross into the ring post, he focused on that shoulder.
A series of chops to the chest and face angered Kross, but a wild arm missed allowing Lorcan to hit a chop block and a series of running uppercuts. Kross avoided the running blockbuster and hit the big boot. The Saito Suplex spiked Lorcan, and the elbow to the back of the skull finally knocked out the former NXT Tag Team Champion.
Results: Karrion Kross defeated Oney Lorcan via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
After the match, Kross addressed the NXT Champion, claiming that Finn Balor purposely hurt Scarlett in the main event last week. Balor interrupted, to the shock of Kross and Scarlett.
Lorcan was laid out on the floor, and Balor stepped right over him while claiming that he'd found the weakness in Kross' armor. He stated that young men fought with pure emotion. More experienced fighters like himself learned to control it. That's something Kross hasn't learned yet. Kross's actions are all reactionary.
Balor knew that, should Kross walk into TakeOver without changing that, he'd never be able to beat The Prince of NXT.
Kushida addressed the NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Well...the original one? The Japanese superstar stated that he wasn't one to be trifled with, and would put down the Irish Ace tonight.
Drake Maverick vs WALTER w/Imperium on NXT
The NXT UK Champion fended off a short flurry, picking up Drake Maverick for a big slam. A powerbomb bounced Maverick off the mat, and WALTER followed up with a single leg Boston Crab. Maverick was already out at that point, though, forcing a referee stoppage.
Results: WALTER defeated Drake Maverick via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
It was a squash, but it was a perfect squash match.
Soon after the bout, Tommaso Ciampa's music hit, and Imperium got nervous. Even with a three-on-one advantage, The Psycho Killer was in the heads of WALTER, Fabian Aichner, and Marcel Barthel. Ciampa said that a few weeks ago he was intrigued by WALTER, but he misspoke. What he was intrigued by was the NXT UK Championship.
Ciampa challenged WALTER for the Title at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. WALTER shrugged it off, leading to Ciampa slapping the taste out of his mouth. Imperium jumped on him and the NXT UK Champion ripped off his dog tag. Aichner and Barthel held him in place as WALTER hit one of his world-famous chops on him.
That was enough, though, for WALTER to agree to the match.
Ahead of the NXT Women's Championship Match, The Robert Stone Brand needed a new partner for Aliyah, as Jessi Kamea was injured. They went back to their old colleague, Mercedes Martinez, paying her off.
Johnny Gargano busted into William Regal's office, upset and confused about the plan for the NXT North American Championship qualifier. Needless to say, Gargano left fuming. A twelve-man battle royal will take place, with the final six facing off in a gauntlet match on night one of TakeOver. The winner of that will challenge Gargano on night two.
NXT Women's Tag Team Championship match: The Robert Stone Brand vs Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (c)
Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart took the fight to Mercedes Martinez, with her only getting time to breathe when Robert Stone jumped up on the apron. Martinez rocked Blackheart with a big boot before tagging out to Aliyah.
A gutbuster/blockbuster combination dropped Blackheart for a two-count. NXT's own Tank Girl couldn't get away from their corner and was nearly pinned after another tag team maneuver, a wheelbarrow facebuster/codebreaker combination.
Moon finally tagged in and lit up Aliyah. The former NXT Women's Champion drove Aliyah into the mat with a powerbomb, with the pin only being broken thanks to Martinez.
Blackheart spiked Martinez with a tilt-a-whirl DDT, taking her to the floor. Moon set her sights on Aliyah, connecting with The Eclipse for a quick title defense.
Results: Ember Moon defeated Aliyah via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
Roderick Strong isn't interested in Grimes' proposal on NXT
Cameron Grimes ran into former NXT NA Champion Roderick Strong backstage and told him they could buy the intellectual property of The Undisputed Era. Strong needed someone to take his anger out on and figured the loudmouth was the perfect target. A big right rocked Grimes, who flailed on the ground crying "that's not how you do business, Roddy!"
The NXT Women's Tag Team Champions were celebrating backstage when they ran into The Way's Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart laughed at the challenge, as they'd already beaten them before. LeRae vowed that they'd do it Their Way, on their time.
Jordan Devlin vs Kushida on NXT
Jordan Devlin got first blood in the final match on NXT this week, spiking him with a uranage and hitting a standing moonsault to follow up. A back elbow rocked Kushida, but he was able to counter a hip toss with one of his own, hitting the NXT Cruiserweight Champion with a basement dropkick.
Kushida wrenched the left arm of Devlin using only his feet, leaving the Irish Ace writhing in pain. On the floor, though, Devlin caught Kushida with a springboard moonsault, regaining control in an exciting fashion.
Throughout the break, Devlin worked over the shoulder of Kushida, hoping to weaken that Hoverboard Lock as much as possible. The Japanese superstar was able to turn things around with the springboard back elbow and the wind-up punch. Devlin was stunned but was able to get to the ropes to avoid the Hoverboard Lock.
Kushida set up for the hammerlock suplex, but Devlin was able to block. A slingshot cutter planted Kushida for the two-count. The NXT Cruiserweight Champion failed to hit the Devlin Side due to his bad arm, forcing him to get creative. They fought to the top, but Devlin was distracted by Legado Del Fantasma.
Kushida hit a rolling double kick and a superplex. Floating over, Kushida went into a cross armbreaker. He made it to the ropes, only to be pulled to the floor by Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde. He made it back inside and sent Kushida into Legado Del Fantasma before rolling him up for the three-count.
Results: Jordan Devlin defeated Kushida via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Kushida took his frustration out on Legado Del Fantasma while Santos Escobar made his way inside the ring. Both NXT Cruiserweight Champions got in each other's faces, but before anything could happen they were interrupted by Shawn Michaels.
Shawn Michaels makes the Cruiserweight title bout at Stand & Deliver a Ladder Match
The Heartbreak Kid pulled a ladder out of the ring, sliding it in and walking away. It looks like, much like HBK's Intercontinental Title Unification Match against Razor Ramon, Escobar vs Devlin at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver will also be a Ladder Match. That's going to be phenomenal, and could be a show stealer.
Shawn Michaels walked into Adam Cole, who was making his way to the ring to confront Kyle O'Reilly.
Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly sign the contract for NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
NXT GM William Regal had Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole sitting down at a table in front of the CWC crowd, with three security guards on each side. Regal offered them a contract for Stand & Deliver.
However, O'Reilly still wasn't cleared for action. Therefore, this match would only happen if both men put pen to paper and acknowledged that NXT wasn't accountable for anything that happened to them.
Adam Cole brought back a little gem from his ROH past, "Storytime with Adam Cole."
He asked Regal to imagine himself being born blind, only to gain your sight later on. That's what he compared to him turning on The Undisputed Era. He was blind, but now he saw.
The NXT Triple Crown Champion was furious that O'Reilly tried to befriend Finn Balor after getting opportunity after opportunity at the gold. O'Reilly lost sight of what The Undisputed Era truly was. It was never about friendship or brotherhood. It was about being the best, and Adam Cole believed he was truly the best.
Cole took it a step further, claiming that without Cole, The Era doesn't work and O'Reilly doesn't get to where he is today without him.
Kyle said that The Undisputed Era was all about making a statement. It didn't matter who was footing the bill, and for the rest of their time in WWE they'll always have heat with the NXT General Manager, along with the rest of the locker room. He grew up, and he was tired of all the sneak attacks.
The Era became better wrestlers in NXT. However, between O'Reilly and Cole, only one of them grew as a person.
Cole was the same egotistical maniac that he was when he came to this company according to Kyle. O'Reilly sold his soul for The Undisputed Era, and now he wanted it back. Cole used his best friends to get to the top and threw them away when they didn't matter anymore.
O'Reilly knew that the fans were eagerly awaiting the moment he beat Cole into a bloody pulp, and he was waiting for the moment that, for the first time in four years, he could get a good night's sleep.
The two men had to be held back by the security so that they didn't engage in a brawl.
