NXT might never be the same again!

Two huge title matches and two big announcements from GM William Regal! Will NXT be forever changed on this Road to WrestleMania?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai VS Toni Storm; Shirai wins and retains the title.
• Jake Atlas VS Pete Dunne w/ Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch; Dunne wins.
• NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez VS Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon; Blackheart & Moon win and become the new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
• Kayden Carter w/ Kacy Catanzaro VS Xia Li w/ Tian Sha; Xia wins, by disqualification.
• El Legado del Fantasma VS Grizzled Young Veterans; Legado wins.
• NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Adam Cole; Balor wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

NXT General Manager, William Regal, is already in the ring!

“WrestleMania is always a very special time here in WWE. And with that in mind, I have two game-changing announcements for you tonight. The first…” A dramatic video package plays and the narrator says, “Seven years ago, NXT revolutionized the sports entertainment industry, and we haven’t looked back. From London to LA, Toronto to New York, WarGames to In Your House, when we TakeOver, NXT always delivers.” So now, for the first time ever, TakeOver is so big, it has to be TWO NIGHTS!! TakeOver: Stand & Deliver! April 7th, TakeOver will be LIVE on television, and then April 8th, it will be live exclusively on Peacock! “Two nights, one message: We will Stand & Deliver, because we are N! X! T!”

The Capitol Wrestling Center loves that news! But Regal says NXT will continue the trend in making history, because the second announcement, the Women’s Division is here to hear that “each and every week, these ladies prove that they are the greatest women in the wrestling business. To be a competitor in the NXT Ladies’ Division, you have to be very special, and these ladies prove it week in and week out.” Therefore, the winners of the inaugural Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez, now join Regal in the ring.

The CWC is thunderous as Regal formally announces that after the “unfortunate happenings of last week, and the injustice of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship” that these two suffered, Regal is sick and tired of waiting for others to make decisions for him! Therefore, the NXT management has made a decision of their own! These two are now the inaugural NXT WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! Congratulates, “You Deserve It!” Raquel and Dakota raise up their belts and the rest of the division applauds, because now they, too, get to compete for their own belts. Dakota and Raquel are feeling amazing!

They thank Mr. Regal and he’s right, this IS the most talented division in the world! “And we went through every single one of you!” Don’t shake your heads for not facing them in the tournament, you would’ve lost, too! Dakota & Raquel dominated, NXT had to make these belts just for them. But this is just the beginning! Taking over the entire world is next! “Y’all better get used to this. Because we’re going to carry these championships for a very long time.” But then Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon step up as the very first to “congratulate” the new champions. It is amazing, really. NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships! Truly amazing!

But if there are champions… Then there will be challengers! And in the Dusty Cup, Dakota & Raquel beat everyone in their bracket. But so did Ember & Shotzi. But in the finals, it could’ve gone either way. So the point is, why not defend those titles against Shotzi & Ember, tonight? Dakota and Raquel talk it over, and with Regal right here, the match is made! Another historic moment as the Women’s Tag Titles will have their first defense in a Women’s Dusty Cup rematch! Will Dakota & Raquel lose these titles the same night they get them? Or will they #Stand&Deliver to take these titles to TakeOver and beyond?

NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai VS Toni Storm!

But speaking of the amazing Women’s Division, the top title is on the line in another rematch! The Evil Genius of the Sky and the Lightning From Down Under were two very different people when they met in the Mae Young Classic finals! But if lightning doesn’t strike twice, does that mean Shirai will get back that loss and retain her title? Or will it be #ToniTime then, now and forever?

NXT returns and Toni makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this 1v1 rematch a long time coming finally happens!

Shirai and Storm circle, tie up, and Shirai puts Storm on ropes. The fans rally, the ref counts, but Shirai lets off clean. She and Storm tie up again, and this time Storm powers Shirai to ropes. Storm lets off to SLAP Shirai! Shirai tackles Storm and rains down rights! Storm pushes Shirai over to rain down rights in return! Shirai rolls Storm, Storm kicks Shirai away and then BOOTS her down! Storm paces while Shirai goes to a corner. Storm runs in to HIP ATTACK! Shirai flops out of the ring, Storm builds speed but slides into a forearm! Shirai slingshots to stomp Storm on the back, and Storm ends up in a corner. Shirai stomps Storm, digs her boots in, then hits a swinging METEORA!

Shirai fires up, stomps Storm more, then brings her up for forearms. Shirai CHOPS and CHOPS Storm, runs but Storm follows to BOOT! Shirai forearms, goes Matrix to dodge a boot to roll Storm, and then basement dropkicks her! Storm gets to ropes, Shirai drags her up to bump off buckles and stomp her down. Shirai clubs Storm, brings her up, whips her to ropes, but Storm reverses. Shirai reverses back to reel Storm into an IRON OCTOPUS! Storm endures, Shirai digs her elbow in, but then Shirai CLUBS Storm, wrenches her hair, and CHOPS her to a corner! Shirai CHOPS again, whips her, but Storm reverses!

Storm runs in but is put on the apron. Shirai ducks the forearm to shoulder Storm down! Shirai goes to the apron and kicks Storm, but Storm YANKS Shirai out of her springboard, and Shirai crashes off the apron! Storm drags Shirai up and throws her into steel steps! Fans boo and Shirai writhes while NXT goes picture in picture.

Storm drags Shirai up, CHOPS her, and then follows her around the way. Storm throws EuroUppers, CLUBS Shirai into the ring, then covers, TWO! Storm smirks as she drags Shirai back up, and wrenches Shirai’s hair to TOSS her to a corner! Shirai sits up, Storm stomps her down. Storm stomps a mudhole in, but lets off as the ref counts, and Storm “apologizes” before she snapmares Shirai to a cover. TWO, but Storm hooks Shirai up with a seated cobra twist and neck wrench. Shirai endures, Storm shifts the neck wrench the other way, but still Shirai endures. Storm stomps Shirai, drags her up, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO!

Storm wraps Shirai up in a half straitjacket, then switches arms to get a cobra clutch. Shirai endures and reaches for ropes as NXT returns to single picture. Storm CLUBS Shirai down, but Shirai avoids the elbow drop! Shirai rallies with shoulder tackles and a FLAPJACK! Storm is on ropes, Shirai hits a 619! Shirai springboards to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Shirai drags Storm up in a waistlock but Storm switches. Shirai wheelbarrows and victory rolls to STOMP 182! Shirai goes to a corner, climbs up top, but Storm intercepts with a headbutt! Storm climbs up, CLUBS Shirai over and over, then brings her up for the SUPERPLEX! Both women are down but fans fire up!

Shirai and Storm stir as a standing count begins. Fans rally and duel as Shirai rises but Storm follows. Storm runs and SLIDING LARIATS! Storm hauls Shirai up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shirai survives and rolls away but Storm is on her. Shirai fires forearms, counter punches Storm then runs, but Storm clotheslines at ropes Storm runs, Shirai goes Matrix again, but Storm drops an elbow on her! Storm runs again to SLIDING LARIAT Shirai at ropes! Shirai flops to the apron, Storm goes out to join her, and drags Shirai up. Storm underhooks Shirai’s arms but Shirai powers up to back drop Storm to the apron! Storm hits hard then flops down!

Shirai climbs a corner! ARIHARA MOONSAULT!! Direct hit and both women are down! The ring count climbs as they stir, and Champion’s Advantage could come into play! Shirai gets up and puts Storm in, she wants to win this without excuses! Shirai goes up but Storm clubs her! And carries her out for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Shirai survives and Storm is furious! Storm gets up, drags Shirai back up and underhooks again. Shirai wrenches out to SHOTEI! SHOTEI! SHOTEI! Then a takedown to a CROSSFACE!! Storm scrambles around, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Shirai lets off fast, but Shirai runs corner to corner, SHINKANSEN!!

Shirai steps on Storm, goes up top, and OVER THE MOONSAULT FLOPS!! Storm hauls Shirai up, STORM ZERO!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Shirai survives and shocks Storm but the CWC is thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Storm hurries to the corner and goes up top! Storm leaps, DIVING HEADBUTT FLOPS!! Shirai gets a CROSSFACE! Storm flails, reaches around, moves around, but TAPS! Shirai wins!!

Winner: Io Shirai, by submission (still NXT Women’s Champion)

The Evil Genius rarely wins like that, but it shows her arsenal has more depth than we knew! Will Shirai use every style to stay on top of the best Women’s Division anywhere?

Finn Balor speaks.

“Finn Balor, Adam Cole. Two biggest names in NXT history. You were talking real tough last week, Adam. Talking like a big man with a bunch of referees holding me back. But remember: You’re a one man act now. Might not be anyone to hold you back, but there’s no one to back you up. Tonight, no blindsides, no cheap shots. Just me and you, face to face, for that,” the NXT Championship. And remember, Adam: Balor beat you to win that, and will beat you again to keep it. Will the Prince stay on his throne against Adam Cole BAYBAY?

Backstage interview with LA Knight.

Since coming to NXT, he’s had a lot to say, and he made his presence felt. He requested this time, so what’s on his mind? “Let me talk to ya.” Last week, everyone thought, “Oh man, I bet it’s gonna be LA Knight’s in-ring debut!” WRONG! But to put it like this, quick spoiler alert for everyone out there: that time is about to come! If anyone can step up, “find enough tingle in their loins” to take LA Knight on, then we’ll see how that ends up. That is not an insult, that is just a fact of life. But then BRONSON REED attacks! The Colossal is still pissed over Knight screwing him over against Cameron Grimes, and he rams Knight into a wall!

Security and staff rush in to pull Bronson away from Knight, but Bronson tells Knight, “Good luck with your debut!” Will Knight wish he’d picked on someone closer to his size? Or will Reed end up playing LA Knight’s game?

Jake Atlas VS Pete Dunne w/ the Kings of NXT!

The price of El Monte has been wanting to show NXT what he’s made of, but has he bitten off more than he can chew taking on the Bruiserweight?

The bell rings and the two tie right up. Dunne wrenches to a wristlock but Atlas rolls, spins and handsprings. Dunne wrings the arm but Atlas handsprings through! They circle again, tie up, and Dunne gets the arm to wrench it and bend the fingers. Dunne hammerlocks the arm while also isolating fingers! Atlas endures, rolls over but Dunne wrenches through to bend fingers again. Atlas spins, slips through, wrenches and arm-drags Dunne! Atlas goes back for more but Dunne fakes him out to get a leg and trip him! Dunne stands on an arm, drops down to get a headlock, and cranks back on Atlas’ neck. Atlas fights up, powers out, hurdles and RANAS!

Dunne goes to a corner, Atlas runs in but is put on the apron. Atlas kicks a leg out, slingshots and springboards to arm-drag again! Atlas rolls under the clothesline, handsprings back to headscissor, but Dunne PENALTY KICKS an arm out! Dunne grabs that arm and drops knees on it! Dunne even chinbars to pull Atlas’s head around. Fans boo as Dunne digs his knee into Atlas’ arm and bends it back! Dunne twists the wrist, tortures the fingers, and bends the arm around again, to drop a knee on it! Atlas writhes but Dunne KICKS him in the back! Dunne sits Atlas up to SLAP him to a corner! Atlas seethes but Dunne stands him up to SLAP him down, and STOMP him!

Dunne keeps Atlas from ropes, but Atlas body shots and CHOPS and throws forearms! Dunne shoves but Atlas rebounds to BOOT! And ROUNDHOUSE! Dunne avoids the Penalty Kick but Atlas STANDING MOONSAULTS, only for Dunne to catch him to a TRIANGLE HOLD! Atlas handsprings out, throws uppercuts, and then hits a SNAP GERMAN, to PENALTY KICK! STANDING MOONSAULT hits this time! Cover, TWO!! Oney and Burch are a bit worried as Atlas brings Dunne up. Dunne disrupts the tornado DDT, Atlas gets around to spin Dunne and DISCUS LARIAT! Fans fire up with Atlas as he goes to a corner. Atlas cartwheels but Dunne UPPERCUTS the arms out!

Dunne STOMPS Atlas’ arm, hooks one to grab the other, and then Danielson Stomps Atlas on the head before he tortures the fingers and SNAPS them! Then YANKS the arm into an armbar!! Atlas verbally quits, Dunne wins!!

Winner: Pete Dunne, by submission

The Bruiserweight makes Atlas suffer a little longer, then lets go to simply shrug. Dunne then gets a mic as he stands with the NXT Tag Team Champions and says, “This is the time of year that everybody wants to step up their game. When you step up to me, that’s exactly what happens.” Dunne made a name for himself in the UK, but he is THE best technical wrestler in the world! Dunne dares someone to try and prove him wrong. The gauntlet has been laid down, but who will accept this open challenge?

Imperium speaks.

Marcel Barthel tells Timothy Thatcher, “The entire NXT Universe is talking about us. What I said last week, what I proposed to you. Well, a long, long time ago, we created something very special. Something only we could create. Something so unique, no one ever will be able to represent it like you did.” Barthel wants “Tim” to take his rightful spot, step in, and together, they can take what has always been theirs. Fabian Aichner tells “Tim” that Imperium is here for him. They’re doing all this for him.

But if Thatcher has to go ask “his friend,” Ciampa, for permission, then please, bring him along. They’ll still make it work, out of respect for Thatcher. Because Imperium is taking over, no matter what. Will Thatcher accept this invitation? How will Ciampa receive it?

Leon Ruff speaks.

“Let’s talk about it, Swerve. I mean, let’s talk about it. I knew you were a snake the moment I met you! You want to say I tripped and fell into my opportunities? I am so sick of people thinking that I lucked into this! I busted my ass to get here!” Ruff scratched and clawed for everything that he’s gotten, and it wasn’t luck when he beat Swerve two weeks ago! Swerve says this is his house? Ruff is the one who’s been holding it down since he got here! The opening match to the main event! And he’ll be holding Swerve down again in another #RuffLanding!

NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez VS Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon!

These titles are brand new, and the inaugural reign is barely 40 minutes in! Will the inaugural Women’s Dusty Cup winners stay the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions just one month away from WrestleMania Week? Or will the rematch go the other way, with the wild child and Shenom howling to the moon?

The introductions are made, the brand new belts are raised, and history is once again forged in gold!

Ember rushes Raquel and dropkicks her to the corner! Dakota tags in fast to kick and SCORPION KICK! Ember goes to her corner, Shotzi tags in and gets around to waistlock. Shotzi dodges the elbow, shoves Dakota to a corner and runs in, but has to block boots first. Shotzi ties up the legs, drags Dakota out of the corner, and gets a CLOVERLEAF! Dakota endures, Raquel reaches out and even tries to push the bottom rope closer to her! Dakota claws her way around, but Shotzi drags her away! Raquel is freaking out but Dakota still endures as she heads for more ropes. Dakota finally gets the ROPEBREAK!

Shotzi lets go fast, kicks but Dakota ducks. Shotzi blocks a kick and DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSES take them both down! NXT goes picture in picture as fans rally up!

Shotzi and Dakota crawl for their corners, Shotzi clamps onto Dakota first to throw forearms. Dakota forearms back, Shotzi forearms again and the two brawl, Shotzi fires forearms, has Dakota against ropes then runs, but Dakota avoids the cannonball, sucker punches Ember, and gives Shotzi a DRAPING STOMP! Dakota drags Shotzi away, Raquel tags in and drops elbows! Raquel drags Shotzi up to scoop and SLAM her! Cover, TWO! Raquel looms over Shotzi, drags her up again, and CLUBS her down! Raquel kicks Shotzi to a corner, drags her up, but Shotzi throws forearms. Raquel makes her pay by throwing even more forearms!

Tag to Dakota, Raquel stomps Shotzi down for Dakota to BOOT WASH! Dakota drags Shotzi to a cover, TWO! Shotzi crawls for her corner but Dakota drags her away while mocking Ember. Dakota bumps Shotzi off buckles in an open corner, but Shotzi boots back! Shotzi hops up to leap for the sunset flip! TWO, and Dakota BOOTS Shotzi down! Cover, TWO! Dakota is annoyed but she drags Shotzi up into a seated cobra twist. Shotzi endures, Dakota leans on the hold, and Shotzi fights up, only for Dakota to throw her down! Cover, TWO! Dakota keeps Shotzi from Ember, puts her in the corner and tags in Raquel. Raquel throws back elbows, then brings Shotzi out.

Shotzi throws body shots but Raquel CLOBBERS her! Cover, TWO! Raquel keeps close to Shotzi, and brings her up for a bearhug! Shotzi endures, starts to fade, but she powers up to throw forearms! NXT returns to single picture as Shotzi gets free, only for Raquel to CLOBBER her again! Tag to Dakota, and she gets a boost to DOUBLE STOMP Shotzi down! Cover, TWO! Dakota keeps on Shotzi with body scissors and clubbing forearms. Shotzi endures as Dakota pulls her hair. Dakota clubs Shotzi, fans rally up, and Shotzi pushes back to a cover, TWO! Dakota lets Shotzi go, to BOOT her back down!

Dakota drags Shotzi up, scoops her, but Shotzi slips out to DECK Raquel, and dodge Dakota! Dakota almost runs into Raquel, but Raquel tells her to hurry after Shotzi. Dakota stops Shotzi but Shotzi breaks free to ENZIGURI! Hot tag to Ember! Ember dodges Dakota, DECKS Raquel, then rallies on Dakota! Ember spins Dakota to a back suplex SLAM! Ember runs to drop the back senton! She keeps going, mule kicks Dakota down, then drags her up for a Canadian rack, AK 47! Basement dropkick! Raquel gets in, Ember dodges, goes up and hits a FLYING CODE BREAKER! Raquel drags Dakota out to save her, but Shotzi joins in, to DIVE! Direct hit takes Raquel down!

Ember fetches Dakota and bumps her off the apron. Ember puts Dakota in, runs and rolls her up, with a bridge, TWO! Dakota flounders around, Ember grabs a leg but Dakota kicks her away. Dakota gets to her corner, Ember storms in but is put into buckles! Dakota runs side to side to BOOT Ember! Raquel tags in, she brings Ember around to a fireman’s carry, and Dakota coordinates, ASSISTED GO TO KICK! Cover, TWO!!! Raquel is furious! Raquel drags Ember around, but Ember throws body shots. Raquel kicks low, hauls Ember up to a Canadian rack and bends Ember, before the DOMINATOR BOMB!! Cover, Shotzi breaks it!!

Shotzi gets away from Raquel’s wrath, Raquel drags Ember and tags in Dakota. Dakota waits as Raquel scoops Ember, but Ember slips off to avoid the boot! Raquel and Dakota steady themselves, Shotzi tags in and climbs up, to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Raquel is up but Shotzi springboards to RANA her out! Shotzi runs at Dakota to forearm smash, snapmare and SLING-DOG! Fans fire up with Shotzi as she KNEES and ROLLING ELBOWS! Then QUESTION MARK to a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi keeps going, dragging Dakota up and putting her on ropes. Tag to Ember, Ember holds Dakota, WELCOME TO THE BALL PIT!

Ember adds a KNEE, then a SLINGSHOT SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Ember grows frustrated but she tags Shotzi back in. They drag Dakota up for knees, then get the legs for a double wheelbarrow GERMAN! Cover, but Raquel breaks it but dragging Shotzi into a sleeper! Ember climbs up, Shotzi jawbreakers free, and Ember hits the ECLI- NO!! Raquel blocked the Eclipse, pops Ember up, and blocks a rana to get Ember up. Ember keeps fighting, they end up on ropes, and Shotzi staggers. Raquel hauls Ember back up, but Shotzi dodges and shoves Dakota into Raquel! Raquel and Ember go tumbling out of the ring! Shotzi rolls Ember, with a bridge!! THE CHALLENGERS WIN!!

Winners: Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions)

A second reign on the same night as the first?! Now THAT is historic! And Ember is the first ever woman to have been both NXT Women’s and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion in her career! Will she and Shotzi set the pace for this new era in NXT?

Adam Cole speaks.

“A lot of people have been asking me why I did what I did. But instead, I’m going to explain how we got here.” A couple weeks ago, Kyle O’Reilly decides to step out of line, and Cole “put him in his place.” Roderick Strong tried to play tough guy and Cole beat him where he stood, and he “reminded both of those chumps who the leader of the Undisputed Era is.” But don’t get Cole wrong, the UE is dead when COLE says it’s dead, and he was just getting rid of dead weight.

“Which brings us to tonight. Because, boys and girls, TakeOver comes to us four weeks early, because it’s Adam Cole VS Finn Balor for the NXT Championship.” And Balor thinks he has Cole right where he wants him, but Cole played Balor like a fiddle. This has always been about the NXT Championship, and it will always bee about that. A lot of people looked at Balor as the greatest NXT Champion of all time, and then Cole showed up to have the greatest reign at 483 days! Cole beat everyone from NXT to Raw to SmackDown! And tonight, Cole becomes a two-time NXT Champion! And if we thought Cole’s first reign was something special, “trust me, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Are we about to see something that is even more than Undisputed?

The NXT Women’s Division celebrates their new new champions.

Shotzi & Ember are so happy to hold gold together, and many of the women are happy they’re the ones holding the belts. However, The Way are the lone dissenters. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell of course believe it should’ve been them, but they regroup with Johnny Gargano. They all wonder where Austin Theory has been, but he walks up behind them. Theory learned that Gargano paid the therapist off, mostly because it was all on tape. Gargano admits to it, and Theory asks why he’d do that! Well, therapy ain’t free. Oh, true. But Gargano spared no expense, and he got Theory the best money could buy. And now we all know how Dexter Lumis really feels about Theory.

Is Theory crying? N-No…! He’s mad! Well good! Theory should be mad and should want to rip Lumis’ head off! Lumis said Theory was annoying, and doesn’t know how to dress himself, and that he has “a mediocre abdominal region.” Theory is furious and he rips his shirt off! Lumis crossed a line!! Theory storms off, The Way hurries after him, but will things really be okay when Gargano’s lies are exposed?

WWE and Girl Up team up again!

Female athletes set an example for young women and girls to dream big and succeed! Learn to #LeadLikeHer by going to Girl Up’s official website!

Kayden Carter w/ Kacy Catanzaro VS Xia Li w/ Tian Sha!

Though brutally injured by her last week, Kacy is still going to be ringside to watch Xia take on Kayden, in hopes that justice will be served! But will Kayden only end up the same way as Kacy at the hands and feet of Tian Sha’s living weapon?

The bell rings and Kayden dropkicks Xia right down! Xia sits up and Kayden KICKS and KICKS! Xia blocks to ELBOW Kayden down, then stomps away! Xia clubs Kayden down, then drags her up, only for Kayden to jawbreaker! Kayden rallies with clotheslines, CLUBS Xia and whips her to ropes. Xia reverses, Kayden comes back to victory roll and mule kick! Xia is staggered Kayden runs to BOOT WASH her into ropes! Cover, TWO! Xia flounders but Kayden is after her at ropes! The ref backs Kayden up and Xia kicks a leg out! Kacy cheers Kayden on but Xia drops elbows on Kayden’s leg! Then KIKCKS it!

Xia glares at Kacy as she whips Kayden HARD into buckles! The legs take a hit, and Xia grabs them to drag Kayden to the apron. Xia stomps away on Kayden’s legs! Kacy shouts at Xia but Xia just glares at her and says, “This is for you!” Xia puts Kayden’s leg against a crossbar, but Kacy uses a crutch to SMACK Xia!!

Winner: Xia Li, by disqualification

Kacy won’t let Xia break Kayden’s leg like she did to hers! And she SMACKS Xia again to make sure! Kacy gets in with a crutch, Xia wants mercy, but Kacy JAMS Xia in the stomach! Kacy won’t show mercy to the one who took it too far first! Kacy smacks away on Xia, but Boa gets in! Boa blocks the crutch attack and takes it away to break it! But that’s just one crutch, because Kayden has the other! Tian Sha orders Boa to break Kacy, but Kayden SMACKS Boa with the second crutch! KC Squared get away together, but is this only the beginning of a much more brutal battle?

NXT hears from Jordan Devlin!

“Y’know something? I absolutely love this time of year. So much to be excited about. Summer’s right around the corner, WrestleMania season. NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver’s coming up in a couple of weeks. The only thing I don’t like is this Irish weather, man. Could really use a change of scenery. And it would be an awful shame if the biggest TakeOver in history didn’t have the NXT Cruiserweight Champion on the card. The real one, I mean.” So lucky for Devlin, and for NXT, his travel ban exemption got lifted today. That means, Santos Escobar, “your time playing make believe is up!”

Devlin is coming to the States and we are finally finding out who the REAL NXT Cruiserweight Champion is!! Devlin reveals he’s at the airport, his flight booked. Will you be foolish enough to bet against the Irish Ace?

NXT profiles one of their newest standouts.

“I’m Zoey Stark. There were quite a few things from my childhood that I’ve seen that were very rough. Growing up on the wrong side of those tracks, I had two roads. One road was continue living my life this way, where another road was to live a better life for myself and for my family.” Pro-wrestling was her escape. Whenever she was mad or upset, she’d turn on wrestling and it was her favorite thing in the world. Stark made an impressive debut that even champion Io Shirai acknowledges. Stark graduated, chased her dream from 18 and is here. Training helps her focus, and after years of hard work, NXT offered her a spot, it was mind-blowing! To be here is amazing.

As soon as she got in the ring, all the insecurities went away and she knew she was home. She’s a powerhouse, a striker, a chain wrestler, and goes all out in the ring. She is putting the Women’s Division on notice. “Hard work pays off, and there is no limit to Zoey Stark.”

Santos Escobar complains to William Regal.

“Who the hell does this guy think he is?” Devlin coming here, telling people that he’s the champion? Regal knows, Escobar knows, everyone knows that the REAL champion is him, Santos Escobar! Regal tries to explain to Escobar the situation, but he doesn’t want to hear. The music starts, but he tells Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza they can handle their business just fine without him, and that he needs to sort this out with Regal. Wilde & Mendoza head out, will Escobar convince Regal of his perspective?

El Legado del Fantasma VS Grizzled Young Veterans!

Naturally, Zack Gibson & James Drake have mics as they enter. “How does it feel, lads, to be internationally recognized as Santos Escobar’s puppets? Is this honestly how you wanted your life to go? Because while you have been taking bullets for your boss, running his errands, giving him massages, we have been making an impact in this division!” But what they did to MSK and poor Wes Lee’s hand is nothing compared to what Legado is in for! These are the Grizzled Young Veterans, SSSSOON to be recognized as NXT’s Number One! But will Gibson & Drake be feeling like number two after taking on a riled up Wilde & Mendoza?

The teams sort out, Gibson starts with Mendoza and they tie up. Gibson waistlocks, snapmares Mendoza but he handsprings through to headlock. Gibson throws body shots then powers up to hit a back suplex! Gibson drags Mendoza up, throws forearms, then tags in Drake. Drake holds Mendoza back as Gibson runs in but Mendoza dodges to RANA Drake and dropkick Gibson! Drake ends up in the Legado corner, Mendoza runs in to clotheslines and Wilde tags in! Wilde runs in to clothesline and then Mendoza tags in. Mendoza runs corner to corner to GAMANGIRI, tag to Wilde!

Wilde gets a boost to dropkick Gibson, then Mendoza helps with the hip toss rebound SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Wilde is annoyed, but wait what is going on now? The Fashionable Astronauts are back! Breezango finally get to have the entrance they were supposed to last week as they walk through space. Drake ENZIGURIS Wilde, and surprise! It wasn’t Breezango! It was MSK! Nash Carter and Wes Lee get the better of Legado AND GYV with that trick! Wilde rolls Drake up, and Legado wins!!

Winners: El Legado Del Fantasma, by pinfall

MSK has the last laugh on GYV, but then are ready for a fight! Lee SMACKS Gibson with his space helmet, and then Carter does the same to Drake! And then Lee SMASHES Gibson’s hand on the steel steps!! An eye for an eye, a hand for a hand! But wait, the REAL Breezango gets the drop on Legado! Fandango and Tyler Breeze brawl with Wilde and Mendoza, then DECK them with haymakers over and over! SUPER MODEL KICK for Mendoza, and a SUPER MODEL KICK for Wilde, to the FALCON ARROW!

MSK gives Breezango their helmets back, and they do the Dango! Fandango makes sure Carter does it right, with the helmet on! They all hip swivel together, but will they all get proper payback on their common enemies?

Backstage interview with Dakota & Raquel.

They’re obviously in bad moods after what happened. We all saw what happened so stop asking questions! But it doesn’t matter if it was for five seconds, five days or five weeks, they were STILL the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions and they still made history! But then Io Shirai walks in and in Japanese then English, tells Raquel that she’s calling her out! Raquel tells Shirai, “Be careful what you wish for.” Will Big Mami Cool and the Evil Genius #Stand&Deliver in a battle over THE NXT Women’s Championship?

Backstage interview with Timothy Thatcher.

Imperium revealed their takeover plans, and they even offered an invitation to him and Ciampa. How does he respond? But before he can answer, Ciampa walks over. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, man, but I know my answer. I’m not interested. I’ll tell you what I am interested in: the Ring General. Y’know, the guy who sits safely across the pond, holding onto his NXT UK title while his recruits come here and do his bidding for him.” Walter is intriguing.

Now not to put the cart before the horse, there’s that old saying of, “If you’re not with them, you’re against them.” Ciampa is pretty sure they’re against Imperium. So how about “Toothless Timmy” and “Old Man Ciampa” VS Imperium next week? Sounds good to Ciampa. But Thatcher doesn’t answer. Will his actions speak for him?

BREAKING NEWS for next week’s episode!

After The Way riled him up, Austin Theory is getting his match with Dexter Lumis! But will the Tortured Artist reveal the truth to Theory? Plus, after the back and forth both in and out of the ring, Swerve and Ruff have a rematch! Will this still be Swerve’s House after Leon runs #Ruffshod? And LA Knight gets in the ring to wrestle! Will it be against Bronson Reed? Or someone a bit less colossal?

NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Adam Cole!

This match has been building for months, and once again the two best NXT Champions ever battle it out! Cole makes sure to remind us all of history as he wears the ring gear he wore the first time he won this title. Will history repeat itself for ADAM COLE BAYBAY~!? Or will the Prince deny the Triple Crown Champion his throne?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and perhaps we’ll finally see who is THE GREATEST in NXT history!

Fans are thunderous already as these two stare down and talk some trash. Balor rushes right in to get a headlock but Cole powers out, only for Balor to run him over! Cover, ONE, Cole headlocks but Balor powers out for Cole to run him over! Cover, ONE! Cole headlocks to a takeover but Balor rolls him over to get the headlock instead! Balor grinds Cole down, fans rally and duel, and Cole pushes with his forearm, only for Balor to crank the head. Cole makes it a cover, ONE, and Balor holds on. Cole tries again, ONE, but they stand up. Balor grinds the headlock, Cole pries at the hold, but Balor wrangles him back in. Cole brings Balor to a knee, slips out the back, and hammerlocks.

Balor reaches back, Cole shifts to a headlock but Balor tries to power out, only for Cole to hold on. Cole grinds Balor down now, and pushes back for leverage. Balor endures, Cole talks trash, but Balor fights up. Cole fights off the back suplex, hits the takeover but Balor headscissors. Cole kips out, Balor headlocks and takes over but Cole headscissors. Balor kips free, and avoids a superkick! The fans are fired up as the two stare down and NXT goes picture in picture.

Balor and Cole reset, circle, and tie up again. Balor gets an arm to a wristlock, then hammerlocks to wrangle Cole to the mat. Cole endures as Balor leans on the hold, and gives it a SNAP lock! Cole sits up, reaches back, stands up, but Balor spins Cole to a headlock and goes for the other arm, only for Cole to DECK him! Cole shakes out the arm, drags Balor up and wrenches his arm to a wristlock and has Balor on his knees. Balor fights up, rolls and hooks a leg, but Cole throws body shots. Cole wrangles Balor back down and leans on the short arm scissor. Balor kips up, wrenches but Cole DECKS him again! Balor checks his jaw but Cole bumps him off buckles.

Cole wraps Balor’s arm around ropes and pulls, but the ref counts. Cole lets off at 4, Balor goes to another corner, but Cole ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again! Cole stomps Balor in a corner, digs his boots in, but lets off as the ref counts. Balor gets up but Cole brings him up for more forearms. Balor staggers to another corner, Cole is on him with haymakers. Cole stomps Balor down, but argues with the ref about it. Cole bumps Balor off more buckles and gives him more stomps as NXT returns to single picture. The ref backs Cole off, Cole wrenches Balor to whip him to ropes, but Balor reverses. Cole sunset flips but Balor rolls through and basement dropkicks!

Fans fire up and Balor clamps onto Cole with a cobra clutch! Cole endures, Balor drags Cole down and leans on the hold. The fans rally, Cole fights up, but Balor wrangles him back down! Cole fights up, Balor shifts to wrench but Cole knees low! Cole runs, but Balor elbows him down! Balor storms over to Cole at ropes but Cole throws him out! Balor gets on the apron but Cole BOOTS him down! Cole goes out and brings Balor around to whip into Plexiglas! The ref starts a ring count, Cole drags Balor up and puts him in to stalk him to a corner. Cole whips Balor corner to corner hard and Balor bounces off buckles to hit the mat.

Cole drags Balor up, wrenches again, and whips him corner to corner. Balor comes back to dropkick Cole’s legs out! Cole goes to the corner, Balor CHOPS him then KICKS the legs out! Cole is in the corner, Balor wants after the leg but the ref backs him off. Balor CHOPS Cole again, drags him out and hits a SHIN BREAKER! Balor is after the leg still but Cole kicks him away. Cole stands up, Balor trips him and DOUBLE STOMPS him! Balor drags Cole up by his leg but Cole ENZIGURIS! Cole brings Balor into a fireman’s carry, but Balor slips out to ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, TWO! Balor seethes and grits his teeth as Cole slowly rises. Balor stomps Cole at ropes, then stomps him more!

Fans rally and duel, Cole bails out to avoid stomps, but then grabs at Balor’s leg! Cole BOOTS Balor down! The ref starts a ring count but Cole pulls steel steps apart! Cole refreshes the count, brings Balor over to the base steps, but Balor suplexes first, and takes Cole all the way to the ramp! NXT again goes to picture in picture as both men are down!

The ref checks both men and somehow Cole, who got the worst of it, is okay to continue. Balor is also alright, but both men slowly stir. Balor sits up as the ring count starts again. Balor heads for the ring and leaves Cole behind. Cole crawls as the count passes 5, and gets in at about 8, for Balor to drop an elbow on him! Balor brings Cole up for a back suplex, covers, TWO! Balor keeps his focus and rams in KNEES! And then more knees! And more knees! Balor looms over Cole, gets the legs, and steps through to get a SHARPSHOOTER! Cole endures as Balor sits deep! Cole crawls and gets the ROPEBREAK! Balor lets off fast and drags Cole back up.

Balor CLUBS Cole, but Cole ELBOWS back! Cole throws a forearm, Balor staggers, but Balor comes back with a forearm! Cole forearms again, but Balor KICKS a leg! Cole forearms, Balor forearms, and NXT returns to single picture as they brawl! Fans rally as they pick up speed, and Balor CHOPS! Cole forearms again, then BOOTS! Balor PELES! Balor drags Cole in but Cole suplexes first, for an USHIGOROSHI BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Balor survives but Cole is too sore to be frustrated. Cole goes to the corner, climbs up slowly, and aims, but Balor avoids the Sunrise to SLINGBLADE! And SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Cole is down but Balor climbs!

COUP DE- NO! Cole moves, and comes back to SUPERKICK!! Balor clutches his jaw as Cole covers, TWO!! Cole is after Balor with a CROSSFACE!! Cole wants to break Balor’s jaw again but Balor endures and reaches for ropes! Cole rolls Balor away!! Balor still endures, shifts things around and pops free, to get Cole for a clinch of his own! Cole fights off that to get the CROSSFACE!! Balor endures, moves around, reaches, fades, but gets the ROPEBREAK! Cole holds on until 4.5! Fans are thunderous as Cole stomps Balor at the ropes. Cole lets off, but Balor trips him to ground ‘n’ pound! Cole kicks Balor away but Balor COBBERS him!

Balor drags Cole into the dragon sleeper, suplexes, but Cole slips out to mule kick the leg! Cole brings down the knee pad, runs, LAST SHOT to the jaw!! Cover, TWO!?! Balor survives and “This is Awesome!” Cole hurries back to a corner, climbs up again and takes aim. Cole leaps, PANAMA SUNRISE!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Balor survives and shocks Cole! Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but this has to end somehow! Cole waits for Balor to sit up, and then positions him, for another- NO! The Last Shot misses as Balor throws Cole out of the ring! Cole flounders to barriers, and he sees Kyle O’Reilly lurking in the shadows! It’s like he’s seen a ghost! Balor runs in to FLY and take Cole down!!

Balor drags Cole up, reels him in, and looks to Kyle. This is for him! 1916 to the floor!! Balor puts Cole in, climbs up top, and leaps for the COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Balor wins!!

Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)

The Prince holds on to his title, and now Kyle hops the barrier to survey the scene. Balor says Kyle can go ahead and handle his business with Cole, and Cole asks Kyle to have mercy on him. Cole says Kyle doesn’t have to do this, but then Kyle sees the low blow coming! Kyle takes Cole’s Undisputed Era armband off him, throws it away, then rains down furious fists on Cole! Cole flounders up but Kyle is just after him in the corner! The ref pulls Kyle away, Cole bails out, but Kyle pushes the ref to pursue! Kyle grabs Cole by his hair to drag him up, but Cole ROCKS Kyle with a haymaker! Kyle still hurries after Cole and gets him at the ramp!

The ref tries to stop this again, but Kyle knocks the ref down! Kyle brings Cole up to RAM him into barriers, then RAM him into the barriers on the other side! Kyle shouts that Cole did this! Cole tried to end Kyle’s career but now he’s going to pay! Kyle brings Cole to the steel steps but more referees rush out to stop this! They hold Kyle back as Cole runs away, but then Kyle gets loose and CLOBBERS Cole on the stage! The refs again grab at Kyle, Cole retreats but Kyle gets loose to pursue! And back to Balor in the ring, he stands triumphant, but then senses someone is near. “What took you so long?” KARRION KROSS stands in the ring with Balor!!

Kross stares Balor down and simply says, “Tick-tock.” Balor’s reign is on the clock, but will he cancel the apocalypse come TakeOver?

My Thoughts:

What an amazing episode for NXT! Firstly, one of the announcements was only expected. I did not think TakeOver would also be two nights for this year, completely packing WrestleMania Week aside from Tuesday, though they might still look to move normal episodes of NXT to it. The NXT Women’s Division getting their own tag titles was rather apparent after the nonsense from last week. This is still big, but it just continues to show WWE has no idea what they’re doing. NXT’s the third brand until it’s not the third brand because Vince McMahon is fickle and impulsive. But it does make a lot of sense for Dakota & Raquel to be crowned the inaugural champions as a prize for being Women’s Dusty Cup winners.

The tag titles being put on the line tonight was quite the surprise, and while it technically hurts Dakota & Raquel to lose them already, it’s great for Shotzi & Ember to be the new champions. Clearly, The Way’s Candice & Indi are going to challenge Shotzi & Ember for TakeOver, a great continuation of the feud between those teams. Then the was a great segue (a pun cuz the pronunciation is seg-way) where Theory finds out the truth but is easily tricked into believing Gargano again. Lumis VS Theory happening is the natural course of action, and I feel like Lumis winning will be his way of getting a North American Championship match come TakeOver.

Shirai VS Storm opening the night was a good call, really got things going. It wasn’t quite their MYC match, but it came very close. Shirai retaining makes sense, and Shirai challenging Raquel to be her next challenger makes the short tag title reign easier to accept. That match is going to be great, and could go either way at this point. Shirai’s had a great run in NXT, and losing to Raquel isn’t a bad way to go before (hopefully) going to SmackDown and taking on other great talent. Shirai was back on the rise while Bianca Belair was already heading out, so seeing Evil Genius VS EST on a Friday night would be pretty awesome.

Xia VS Kayden wasn’t as much as I expected, but it did make sense for her to threaten Kayden’s leg and for Kacy to attack first. Still waiting on Tian Sha to get involved, but with the crutches combined with the lore of Tian Sha the character, I wonder if NXT would be up for using one of the TakeOver nights to do a cinematic match. There haven’t really been that many lately, and certainly not with mostly women superstars. Sure, last year’s Corporate Ladder MITB had the women as much as the men, but Tian Sha & Xia Li VS KC Squared would be just the four women, very gritty and tough, almost like the Boneyard Match but with more acrobatics.

LA Knight finally has his in-ring debut, and it surely won’t be against Bronson Reed, but Bronson Reed could definitely make his presence felt in return for last week. He sure did this week, and if Reed VS Knight is for night one of TakeOver, that’d be pretty great. I am very happy that Devlin is going to be making the trip out to finally shut Escobar up and take away his title, and the lift of the travel ban is a great sign overall. Hopefully we can get more travel between NXT and NXT UK. That also bodes well for Thatcher & Ciampa VS Imperium. And it would seem Ciampa wants after Walter and the NXT UK Championship, which is awesome. There aren’t many in NXT UK ready to challenge Walter, so biding time with a great former NXT Champion is a good move.

GYV VS Legado being mostly a way for MSK to return was alright, but it was clever that it first looked like it was Breezango. I imagine we might get an 8 Man, Breezango & MSK VS GYV & Legado, but maybe with two nights at TakeOver, we just get both 2v2 grudge matches, and then MSK moves on to finally get that tag title match with Lorcan & Burch. Dunne VS Atlas was good, but of course Dunne wins. I hope Dunne calling out technical style wrestlers means we get Dunne VS Kushida at TakeOver.

Then of course, the NXT Championship match and the promos from tonight were great stuff. I like that Kyle didn’t directly screw Cole over, but his presence did mess with Cole. Kyle with the denim vest was a pretty cool look, and I feel like he should use that as part of his post-UE character. Kyle VS Cole is going to be great stuff, and I should’ve expected Kross to show up tonight. Balor VS Kross was clearly set even back when Edge visited NXT to at least tease that NXT was an option for WrestleMania. Kross and Scarlett can try their spooky stuff, but it won’t have any effect on the man who was also The Demon. Hell, Balor might even bring The Demon back just to throw it in Kross’ face and make TakeOver even more amazing.

My Score: 9.5/10