NXT, let me talk to ya.

Tonight, LA Knight makes his in-ring debut and sees Austin Theory confront Dexter Lumis of the lies he’s been told! But will The Way get their way?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Austin Theory w/ The Way VS Dexter Lumis; Lumis wins.
• El Legado del Fantasma w/ Santos Escobar VS Breezango; Legado wins.
• Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez VS Zoey Stark; Kai wins.
• Tommaso Ciampa VS Marcel Barthel w/ Fabian Aichner; Ciampa wins.
• LA Knight VS August Grey; Knight wins.
• NXT Tag Team Championships: Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch VS Finn Balor & Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux; Lorcan & Burch win and retain the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

Finn Balor heads to the ring!

The Prince is still the NXT Champion after defeating Adam Cole, but he already knows who is coming for him next. “St. Patrick’s Day, 2021, Finn Balor, still NXT Champion!” Kyle O’Reilly? Beat him. Pete Dunne? Beat him. Adam Cole? Beat him. And now, only one man remains. Karrion Kross, Finn has been waiting! And at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Kross’ time is up. But speaking of, here comes Mr. Doomsday and his femme fatale! They go right to the ring to join Finn, and Kross has a mic to say, “This entire situation was never gonna happen until you and I settled our separate affairs.

“And now, it’s me and you, one on one, mano a mano, nobody else involved. Otherwise, this whole entire confrontation is meaningless.” Here in NXT, the fans need to know who the REAL champion is around here. Kross says Finn needs to know it, Kross needs to know it, the entire world needs to know it. Finn says everyone wants to be champion until the real champion walks in the room. Finn tells Kross what no one else has the balls to say directly to him: Kross walks like a champion, he talks like a champion, but the problem is, FINN’S THE CHAMPION! Kross doesn’t have what it takes to beat Finn!

Kross smirks and says, “I promise you, at NXT TakeOver, you are going to know exactly what it feels like, when I squeeze all the oxygen out of your skull and I choke. You. Out!” Finn says Kross will know what it feels like to be in the main event of TakeOver and just CHOKE. Fans are on Finn’s side, but Scarlett says she’s already foreseen this in the cards. “This right here, two champions, both draped in gold, the world in awe. It all happens for a reason.” But wait, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch walk out and Burch says, “Lads, lads, lads, lads, LADS!” To get this right, these two “burks” standing there, chatting big ol’ fighting words. Make no mistake, boys, they’re just words.

Does Balor know who he should be fighting for that title? The best technical wrestler in NXT history, Pete Dunne! “The man who held the UK Championship for 415 days!” As for Lorcan & Burch, they know Dunne can win. And “Big man” Kross, Dunne can definitely beat Kross! Kross wants to talk about time, but sooner or later, Dunne will be NXT Champion! Scarlett says, “There are moments in time, moments like this, that lead us to an inevitable future. Moments like this, where you two put your tag titles on the line against them.” Is this what she meant about two men draped in gold?! Did she foresee Balor & Kross taking the tag titles?!

Burch and Lorcan talk but Scarlett says these “boys” are confident, and know what they want. She’s got a point. So these two know what they bring to the table, right? And they wouldn’t dare to be called cowards, would they? Scarlett gets these two to step up, and they’ll put the titles on the line tonight! Fans are fired up, and Scarlett asks Balor if he sees what she’s saying. “Every moment happens for a reason. You can’t change fate.” Balor might be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Will he really win tag titles alongside the man who wants the NXT Championship?

BREAKING NEWS!

One thing is for sure, Stand & Deliver will have Balor VS Kross for THE NXT Championship! Kross never truly lost the title, but will he be able to get it back? Or will the Prince prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is the GREATEST NXT Champion ever?

Austin Theory w/ The Way VS Dexter Lumis!

Was the #RealSuperstar kidnapped by the Tortured Artist? Technically, yes. But did Lumis really want to be Theory’s friend? Who knows. Theory tries to figure out where The Way is, and he gets them on video chat, but they’re at home? Gargano is glad to see Theory got the gear Gargano sent. Gargano says tonight is the night, Theory is going to face his fear and break through his therapy, on his own. But The Way believes in him! Teach Lumis a lesson for saying those things about your abs! But will being motivated by a lie really help Theory win?

The bell rings, Theory and Lumis tie right up, and Theory knees low! Theory throws Lumis out, goes out after him and bumps him off the desk! NXT goes picture in picture as Theory gets in Lumis’ face!

Theory clearly wants to know why Lumis said the things Gargano told Theory he said, and Lumis blocks a desk bump to bump Theory in return! Lumis ROCKS Theory with an uppercut and Theory ends up in the ring. Lumis slithers in but runs into a drop toehold into buckles! Theory goes out, slingshots in and somersault SHOTGUN dropkicks Lumis down! Theory paces around, drags Lumis around to rain down angry fists and stomps. Theory clubs Lumis, shouts at Lumis, and then wraps on a chinlock. Theory clubs Lumis to ropes, then brings him up for a EuroUPper! Theory bumps Lumis off buckles now, then whips him corner to corner. Lumis reverses and CLOBBERS Theory!

Theory goes to ropes, Lumis follows after to CLUB Theory down! Theory goes to a corner, Lumis throws body shots and then looms over him. Lumis reels Theory in for crossface forearms, then pushes him around so he can drop ax handles. Theory gets up and throws hands! Theory ROCKS Lumis, scoops him and hits a BACKBREAKER! Theory seethes and KICKS Lumis in the back! Theory keeps talking to Lumis and drags him up to throw more EuroUppers! Lumis leans on ropes, Theory gets in his face while choking him, but lets off as the ref counts. Theory snap suplexes Lumis then covers, TWO! Theory grows frustrated but he keeps on Lumis with forearms to the back!

Theory keeps shouting at Lumis, he must want Lumis to answer him about what he said. Theory whips Lumis to a corner and runs in to clothesline! Theory scoops Lumis for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Cover, TWO! THE SILENCE!! Theory flails, throws elbows and gets free. Theory breaks Lumis up to scoop and SLAM him! Theory drops an elbow, covers, TWO! We can finally hear Theory say, “We were friends!” Theory pushes Lumis around, fans rally up for Lumis but Theory clamps onto Lumis’ neck. Theory back suplexes but Lumis lands on his feet! Lumis waistlocks, Theory bucks Lumis off the roll-up, then slingshots in again, into a SPINEBUSTER!

Fans fire up as Theory flounders to a corner. Lumis adjusts the gloves and rallies with BIG haymakers! Theory flounders about, Lumis uppercuts then runs in to clothesline and BULLDOG! Theory staggers into a BIG back suplex! Lumis drops a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Lumis drags Theory up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Theory slips out! Roll up, TWO! Lumis pops Theory up for an UPPERCUT! Lumis reels Theory in, slingshot suplex! Theory is in a drop zone, Lumis climbs up top, and Lumis frames it for a LEAP! Theory dodges, Lumis rolls and slithers back! Theory CLOBBERS him with a forearm! Theory drags Lumis up to cross up the legs, ATAXIA!! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous as Lumis survives! Theory drags Lumis up and reels him in, but Lumis blocks the lift! Lumis powers out, ROCKS him, then ducks only for Theory to elbow him. Lumis LARIATS! Fans rally up as Lumis looms over Theory again. Theory looks up, and Lumis offers him a hand?! But he said all those things about Theory! Lumis seems genuine here, though, and he helps Theory up! Fans want them to “Hug It Out!” Theory says he knew it, and he hugs Lumis. But then Lumis puts on THE SILENCE!? Theory fights free, throws a hard forearm, and says he knew he shouldn’t have trusted Lumis! “Johnny was right! You are NOT The Way!”

Theory fireman’s carries, but Lumis lands out of the TKO to get a HUGE Urenage! SILENCE!! Theory fades out, and IS out, Lumis wins!!

Winner: Dexter Lumis, by submission

Lumis lets Theory go to pat his head, but does this mean he no longer wants to be Theory’s friend? Was Johnny right despite lying to Theory’s face? If only there was a way Lumis could tell us the truth!

BREAKING NEWS!

After Burch & Lorcan accepted the challenge, though goaded on by Scarlett, the NXT Tag Team Championships are on the line!! Will The Prince and Mr. Doomsday bring about the end of the BritAm Brawlers’ reign?

McKenzie Mitchell waits outside William Regal’s office.

She’s hoping to get a word from the NXT General Manager about the huge tag title match he just made, but Tommaso Ciampa walks over first. Ciampa says “Toothless Timmy” isn’t here tonight, so maybe Imperium didn’t like his answer and took matters into their own hands. But two can play that game, so Ciampa wants McKenzie to find Imperium, ask them if they’ve seen Alexander Wolfe. They’ll probably say no, so tell them that after the bell rings, Ciampa will leave only one of them standing. Then Imperium will know they messed up. Is Old Man Ciampa right about Imperium taking out Thatcher over what Ciampa said about their offer?

NXT returns and Adam Cole is already in the ring.

“Last week, Kyle O’Reilly made the biggest mistake of his life! Before last week, I was never mad at Kyle O’Reilly, I just didn’t need him anymore. And then Kyle decides to cost me the NXT Championship!” Cole explains something to Kyle, that “little punk.” Kyle knows deep down in his soul that he is jealous of Cole! Kyle knows he will never be as successful as Cole and that eats him alive! “So congratulations, Kyle O’Reilly, you just wrote your death warrant!” Cole doesn’t care if Kyle is cleared or not, Cole is not leaving until Kyle brings his ass down here so they can finish this once and for all!

Regal tells Cole that last week, Kyle wasn’t cleared to even be here. But because of that confrontation, Kyle’s further damaged his neck and now is going to be out for longer. Regal promises Cole that Kyle is not here tonight, he’s been banned. But Kyle is on video! He confirms he isn’t there, it’s all a safety precaution. More Cole’s safety but hey, surely they’ll have this out again. Kyle just finds it funny how upset Cole is over losing. The look of fear and desperation was great. Kyle is patient, too. But when it comes to Cole, Kyle can’t wait. When it comes to Cole, Kyle cannot and will not rest until he ends Cole like Cole tried to END Kyle!! Cole tried to end Kyle, when they’ve been friends for 11 YEARS!!

Kyle cools off, and says know where Cole lives, where he likes to hang out and where he buys his video games. The only thing Kyle doesn’t know is what it is he’ll have to do, but Kyle hopes Cole understands Kyle is willing to do it. If that sounds like a threat, then he’s right, it is a threat. Kyle signs off, and Cole confronts Regal about the threats just made. Cole tells Regal that Kyle can find him and hurt him, but not if Cole finds him first! Cole storms off, Regal follows, will anything keep the Undisputed Civil War from happening?

Backstage interview with Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon.

The new and already second ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions have not gotten over the moment. It is still surreal that Shotzi got to celebrate with her dad about this! These titles didn’t exist until last week, but they’re already champions! Moments like this are exactly why Ember returned to NXT. Making history, being a face of a division, and it’s time to #TCB with Ember’s Law!

But then The Robert Stone Brand walks in, and Robert Stone himself says, “A wise woman once said that all champions need…” Aliyah and Jessi Kamea finish the quote by saying, “Challengers.” And these champions know more than anyone that champions can lose titles just like that. Besides, those titles will look way better on Jessi and Aliyah anyway. So then, how about Aliyah & Jessi do that next week? Ember’s & Shotzi’s first challenge? DONE! See you next week. Oh, and Stone’s suit sucks. BURN!! Will Ember & Shotzi be howling to the moon after tanking the Robert Stone Brand?

Jordan Devlin arrives at the Capitol Wrestling Center!

The Irish Ace and real NXT Cruiserweight Champion is back in the United States! And as promised, he’s heading in to confront the other NXT Cruiserweight Champion! Will Santos Escobar and El Legado del Fantasma be waiting to “welcome” him?

El Legado del Fantasma w/ Santos Escobar VS Breezango!

While Escobar hasn’t confronted Devlin yet, Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza are looking to settle things with Prince Pretty & the Lord of the Dance! It’s all business tonight, will Tyler Breeze & Fandango get back at Wilde & Mendoza for jumping them a couple weeks ago?

The teams sort out and Mendoza starts with Fandango. The bell rings, Mendoza runs right at Fandango but the dropkick is sent into buckles! Fandango CHOPS Mendoza, throws jabs, haymakers, but Mendoza hits back! They brawl, Fandango whips but Mendoza handsprings through the hip toss, only for Fandango to CLOBBER him! Wilde gets in but Fandango swings on him. Wilde ducks but Fandango spins through to CLOBBER Wilde! Fandango fires off on Mendoza, brings him over to suplex and hang out to dry! Tag to Breeze, they make it rain with DOUBLE BOOTS! Cover, TWO! Breeze keeps on Mendoza and CLUBS him, then whips.

Mendoza reverses, Breeze sunset flips, but Mendoza rolls through to SHINING WIZARD! Tag to Wilde, Wilde throws body shots on Breeze. Wilde snapmares Breeze, jams a knee into Breeze’s back, then runs to BASEMENT CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Wilde whips Breeze into a corner, runs in but Breeze BOOTS him down! Breeze steadies himself, drags Wilde into the corner but Wilde fights to get free. Breeze goes after Wilde, kicks low and puts him in the corner. Tag to Fandango, whips him around and Fandango dropkicks him down! Cover, ONE!! Wilde jawbreakers Fandango, drags him up and CLUBS him down! And CLUBS him again!

Wilde eggs Fandango on, mocks the hip swivel, then clamps on a facelock. Fandango endures, fights up, but Wilde knees him low! Wilde bumps Fandango off buckles, tags Mendoza in and Mendoza CHOPS! Mendoza whips, Fandango reverses and Mendoza hits buckles hard! Fandango climbs but Mendoza hits first! Mendoza climbs up, they brawl, Fandango sends Mendoza down with a GOURD BUSTER! Fandango adjust but Wilde rushes over! The ref and Fandango see him so Wilde stops, but Mendoza handsprings to PELE Fandango down! Fandango falls to the floor, Wilde tags in and looms over Fandango as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns, Mendoza and Fandango again are on the outside. Mendoza talks trash and whips but Fandango reverses, and Mendoza hits barriers so hard, he tumbles up and over! Fandango gets back in the ring, the ring count is 5 of 10, but Mendoza gets up and over to get back in the ring at 7! Hot tags to Breeze and Wilde! Prince Pretty rallies on Legado, mule kicks then runs to DROPKICK Wilde! Breeze runs to forearm smash in the corner! Breeze whips, Wilde reverse but Breeze kicks and ENZIGURIS! Mendoza runs in but Breeze hits him first, then clotheslines him out! Breeze body scissor rolls Wilde to a HALF CRAB! Wilde endures and turns, but Breeze sits deep!

Wilde crawls, reaches, but Breeze has him stuck! Breeze even drags Wilde away! Escobar tells Wilde to fight through, and he does, but Breeze shifts to CATAPULT Wilde up and out! Breeze builds speed, but Mendoza swipes at him! Fandango LEAPS but Mendoza deflects him into barriers! Wilde runs in, only to get a SUPER MODEL KICK! Cover, but Mendoza breaks it! The ref reprimands but both men are down again. Escobar feels a bit more relaxed now, but Breeze drags Wilde up with chicken wings. Wilde gets free to a waistlock, Breeze bucks the roll but Mendoza tags in at the same time! Mendoza HOTSHOTS Breeze! Legado forms up, ENZIGURI LEG SWEEP! Cover, Legado wins!

Winners: El Legado del Fantasma, by pinfall

Escobar says NXT belongs to Legado! But where is this Devlin guy, huh? Escobar is the TRUE Cruiserweight Champion. Everyone talks about Devlin, “Devlin this, Devlin that,” but where is he? Haven’t seen him yet. But speak of the Devlin, and here he is! Devlin goes down to the ring while Escobar gets up on the announce desk. They both get mics and Devlin says, “Y’know somethin’, mate? You’ve been running around for a year now, claiming that you’re this and you’re that. But I want you to take a good, long look at what’s in the ring right now, because this is what a REAL champion looks like!”

Devlin says he didn’t come here to jump Escobar from behind, because he told the whole world that he was coming to call Escobar out. And he doesn’t need two stooges with him to do it, either! Escobar tells Legado to stand down, because he’s got this. Escobar hops down off the desk to go into the ring. Devlin says Escobar’s problem is that he’s been claiming to be the King of the Cruiserweights, but The Ace is back in town. So Escobar can take his replica, throw it in the trash, because the guy he’s been filling in for is back! Filling in? Escobar laughs, and says he REDEFINED what it means to be a Cruiserweight! “You’re welcome.”

Escobar says he wasn’t filling in, he was making history! And he’s proven time and time again. Does Devlin know why he still has his belt? Because everyone here forgot Devlin had it in the first place! So wrap up business in the UK, then come back and face Escobar on the one stage big enough for the Emperor of Lucha Libre: NXT TakeOver, Stand & Deliver! Irish Ace VS Santos Escobar, to settle this once and for all! Devlin HEADBUTTS Escobar down!! And then hits a DEVLINSIDE!! Devlin gets away after dropping Escobar! But with Trent Seven having made weight, Devlin has to face him tomorrow on NXT UK! Will Devlin defeat Seven to then dethrone Escobar?

Backstage interview with Adam Cole.

Is he concerned about what Kyle had to say earlier tonight? Concerned? Cole will explain something here. Cole is going to leave now. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the parking lot or outside Cole’s house, when he finds Kyle, he is going to do exactly what he said he is going to do and END him! That isn’t just Undisputed, that’s a promise!

The NXT Women’s Division just keeps getting stronger!

“In the world’s most elite division, for every sun that sets, a new warrior will rise.” From the Land of the Rising Sun, a shining star in Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling and World Pro-Wrestling Diana, the newest recruit to the NXT roster is The Warrior of the Sun, Sarray!

Cameron Grimes tweets his “vacation photos.”

Though the pictures are so blatantly Photoshop’d, the GameStonks Doge Coin Carolina Caveman says, “Is it Wednesday already?! Dag on I meant to come to work today but I’ve been busy vacationing. #KissMyGRITS it’s a holiday!” Whether or not Grimes is swimming with dolphins or soaking up some sun on a beach somewhere, is Grimes ever to return to work again?

Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez VS Zoey Stark!

The inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions are trying not to be upset that they lost those titles already. At the very least, will #CapKota crush the dreams of the young and promising superstar in front of her?

The bell rings and Starks stares down with Kai before they circle. They tie up, Stark powers Kai to a corner, but then Kai throws Stark down. Stark turns that around but Kai holds onto the collar ‘n’ elbow. They get up, fans rally as they go around and around, and Kai goes after an arm. Kai wrenches, YANKS the arm, then wristlocks. Stark rolls, handsprings and wrenches to a wristlock of her own! Kai bridges as Stark pushes her back, and Kai rolls, handsprings and wrenches to a keylock. Stark slips through and hammerlocks to a headlock. Kai endures the grind, pulls hair and gets a headlock back. Stark powers out then drops to hurdle, Kai leaps over but Stark arm-drags her!

Stark arm-drags again and has an armlock! Raquel is upset for Kai as Kai endures. Fans rally as Stark drops knees on the arm! Stark pulls back on the arm, fans rally and duel, Kai fights up and ROCKS Stark with a forearm! Stark scowls, Kai dodges her but Stark senses Kai following, and CLOBBERS her! High stack cover, TWO! Stark keeps cool and drags Kai back up. Stark scoops, Kai slips off to throw Stark down! Cover, TWO! Kai rains down forearms, covers, ONE! Kai scowls and drags Stark up to whip her to a corner hard! Stark sits down, Kai runs side to side to BOOT WASH! Raquel taunts Stark as Kai covers, TWO!

Kai grows frustrated but she says, “Okay, okay.” Kai reels Stark into a body scissor squeeze! Stark endures, pushes back to make it a cover, ONE! Kai clubs Stark, squeezes more, and digs palms into Stark’s head. Stark endures, fans rally and duel, Stark goes for another cover, ONE! Kai kicks low, whips Stark to a corner but Stark goes up and over and elbows her! Stark runs corner to corner, but Kai slips out! Kai ducks the forearm, hits a forearm, then trips Stark to spin her. Stark avoids the boot to mule kick back! Stark slingshots to PLANCHA! Direct hit and Stark fires up! The ref has Raquel stay back as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Kai has Stark in a chinlock. Stark fights up, fights back but Kai throws her by her hair! Kai rains down forearms again, covers, TWO! Kai grows frustrated, runs but Stark ducks the boot, DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES take both women down! Fans fire up as Kai and Stark slowly stir. Kai and Stark go to opposite corners, Kai runs but Stark CLOBBERS her! Stark rallies with clotheslines, kicks and kicks then kicks out a leg! Stark runs but Kai dodges the punt! Kai swings, into a HALF ‘N’ HALF! Stark kips up, fires up, and runs to KNEE Kai down! Cover, TWO! Kai survives and scrambles away but Stark runs in. Kai drop toeholds Stark into ropes!

Kai trips Stark, spins her and BOOTS her! Kai goes up onto the apron and brings Stark up. Stark HEEL KICKS back! Stark reels Kai in but Kai fights the lift and elbows free! Kai gets space, but runs in only for Stark to toss her into the ring! Stark springboards into a SUPERKICK!! Kai runs Around the World to BOOT!! Cover, TWO!?! Stark survives but Kai drags her up to a fireman’s carry. Stark sunset flips, TWO!! Kai powers her way to a jackknife bridge, ONE as Stark bridges up! Backslide, TWO! KNEE!! Kai wobbles, Stark yanks her into a fireman’s carry and ROLLING SENTON! Stark keeps going, goes up top, but Kai GAMANGIRIS!

Kai drags Stark out along ropes, for the DRAPING GO TO KICK!! Cover, Kai wins!!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall

Stark again showed promise, but #CobraKai took her down! Kai tells Stark she was crazy to think she could compete with her. But wait, here comes Io Shirai! The Evil Genius has a contract in hand! Kai steps up to Shirai, but the NXT Women’s Champion walks right past her to Raquel. “I told you, I want you next.” Shirai shoves the contract at Raquel, then makes sure Stark gets out of the ring safely. Is the ball in Big Mami Cool’s court now?

Backstage interview with William Regal.

Obviously Regal is busy, but can he comment on what we saw with Devlin and Escobar? He was about to right now. But then a staffer tells him something happened to Cole! Cameras follow after Regal but NXT goes to break! Did Kyle come through on his threat already?

Grizzled Young Veterans speak.

James Drake starts by saying, “MSK, we don’t expect you two clowns to understand the gravity of your actions. But trust me, you will soon enough.” Zack Gibson says that the little stunt MSK pulled last week “will go down as the biggest mistake of their short, insignificant careers.” Gibson isn’t sure if MSK was “blinded by the opportunity to play dress up, or too distracted simping for Fandango,” but GYV will not forgive or forget what they did to Gibson’s hand, and it will not go without a receipt. They are Grizzled Young Veterans, SSSSOON to be recognized as NXT’s Number One, and they promise MSK will not like where this is going next.

Tommaso Ciampa VS Marcel Barthel w/ Fabian Aichner!

Ciampa called them out, and then he attacks the Pride of Italy! Ciampa throws Aichner WAY over the barriers, then brawls with Barthel! Ciampa puts Barthel in the ring, he’s getting the fight he asked for! Will the Psycho Killer make sure Imperium pays for whatever they did to Timothy Thatcher?

The bell rings, Ciampa waistlocks and drags Barthel down. Barthel fights up, slips around to a waistlock, but Ciampa fights up. Fans rally, Ciampa pries free and elbows Barthel away. Ciampa wrenches, whips Barthel, Barthel reverses to wrench back. Ciampa gets a leg, Barthel throws haymakers! Barthel throws EuroUppers, Ciampa BOOTS back! Ciampa CHOPS, CHOPS, but Barthel headlocks! Barthel grinds, Ciampa puts him on ropes, things turn around and the ref wants Barthel to back off. Barthel throat chops then headlocks to a takeover! Fans rally, Ciampa fights up and tries to power out but can’t before Barthel hits another takeover! Barthel throws down palm strikes then grinds a forearm.

Barthel makes it a cover, ONE. Barthel traps an arm, Ciampa clubs back, but Barthel grinds the headlock. Ciampa fights up, pries the hold, but Barthel shifts to a chinlock! Barthel drags Ciampa down to elbow him in the head! Barthel still has the chinlock, Ciampa powers out and ROCKS Barthel! Ciampa runs but Barthel EuroUppers hard against ropes! Barthel puts Ciampa in a ring, gets him on a rebound for a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Barthel goes up, leaps, but into a dropkick! Ciampa runs to clothesline Barthel out! Fans fire up as Ciampa drags Barthel through ropes, but Aichner saves Barthel! Barthel then BOOTS Ciampa!

Barthel sets Ciampa up in ropes, to then dropkick Ciampa down! The ref tells Aichner to stay back, but Barthel talks trash on Ciampa. Barthel chokes Ciampa with the ropes! Barthel shouts at the camera, “Is this what you want, Tim?! Is that your future?! Step in line!” Barthel stands over Ciampa, then runs but Ciampa blocks the kick! Ciampa KNEES back, then throat chops in return! Ciampa whips, and CLOBBERS Barthel! Ciampa rallies, DECKS Aichner, then side steps Barthel to REBOUND GERMAN! Barthel flops to the apron, Ciampa drags him in for WILLOW’S BELL!! Cover, Ciampa wins!

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall

But wait, here comes more members of Imperium! But that’s not Alexander Wolfe, that’s WALTER!! The Ring General has returned to the United States! Ciampa wanted the dominant NXT UK Champion and here he is! Walter has Imperium stand down as he gets in the ring with Ciampa. But NOW Imperium is let loose! Ciampa fights off Aichner and Barthel but turns around into a WALTER CHOP!! Walter has Aichner rain down fists, then Walter drags Ciampa up for a WALTER BOMB!! Aichner talks trash on Ciampa, and Imperium stands tall together. Will Imperium take over NXT on both sides of the Atlantic?

Regal finally finds Cole, and Kyle!

Kyle is being arrested for what he did to Cole! Cole shouts that Kyle is going to pay! Cole claims Kyle was trying to run him off the road!! Kyle has gone too far! Regal tells Cole to shut up, but Cole won’t shut up. Kyle tried to run Cole off the road, and he refuses to calm down because he says Kyle is screwed! If it’s gotten this serious, is there anything Regal can do?

NXT Media checks in with LA Knight.

He’s backstage in the locker room, takes a big gulp of water, and spots the camera. “You are always looking for a word, huh? You wanna know what I’m going to say? Well let me talk to ya, cuz here’s how it goes. Everybody’s talking about what’s about to go down right now, ain’t that right, Andre?” Knight talks to the picture of Andre the Giant in the hallway. It’s all about L A Knight. Wait, Bronson Reed is lurking, but he goes into Knight’s locker room. Knight says everyone here are “superstars,” but someone called Knight a MEGA STAR. That’s fitting and we’re about to find out why! But the match aside, will we find out what Reed is doing to Knight’s room?

LA Knight VS August Grey!

The hottest free agent turned mega star is having his NXT in-ring debut! Will #RetroAG find that this is Knight’s night and nothing’s going to change that?

The bell rings, Knight kicks and ROCKS Grey, then whips him to ropes. Knight elbows Grey down, then embraces the fans cheering for him. Knight chokes Grey on ropes, lets off to go to the apron and he KNEES Grey back in. Knight SLINGHOT SHOULDER TACKLES! Knight drags Grey up, scoops but Grey slips out to waistlock. Knight bucks Grey, Grey dodges but Knight scoops and POWERSLAMS him! Fans fire up and Knight spells out his name, to then snatch Grey’s bandanna. Wait, Reed walks out and has Knight’s blue leather jacket! Reed tries it on, but obviously it’s a few sizes too small, and it RIPS! Knight is furious but Reed just keeps trying, and the jacket just tears to shreds!

Knight is furious with Reed but Grey rolls Knight up! TWO!! Grey ROCKS Knight and CHOPS him, then ROCKS him again! Grey runs, spins Knight around, jawbreaker to NECKBREAKER! Grey goes to the corner, climbs up and tightrope walks for the CROSSBODY but flops! Knight rains down fists, then waits for him to rise. Knight spins Grey for a cravat KNEE, then a cravat DRIVER! Cover, Knight wins!

Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall

Knight is still heated after what the Colossal did to his custom leather jacket! Will he be able to cool off and focus on his real favorite thing in the world: himself?

Backstage interview with Raquel Gonzalez.

She still holds onto the contract Shirai gave her, and it is for an NXT Women’s Championship match. Of course it is! But it’s a big mistake to give it to her. Once Raquel puts pen to paper, Shirai’s reign has an expiration date. Kai comes in and they celebrate, but they need to continue things next week. Kai just talked to Regal, and it is set: Kai & Gonzalez VS Shirai & “her new best friend,” Zoey Stark. But Gonzalez can have Shirai whenever she wants. Yeah, but Kai needs this for herself, and they need this as a tag team. Controversy aside, they had back-to-back losses in title matches! They need to remind the NXT Women’s division who runs this place! Raquel agrees to that. Will Ricky Desperado and Cobra Kai make sure Stark knows her place, and Shirai knows what’s coming?

Xia Li has a message.

First in Mandarin, then in English, “Resistance will not be tolerated. Obstacles will be removed!” Tian Sha’s weapon is ready to strike again, but who will it be that suffers?

NXT Media catches up with Regal.

What just happened? Everything is out of control! The police officers hopefully drop charges and release Kyle. If they do, Regal will demand both Kyle and Cole come to the CWC so they won’t destroy each other. Regal promises to have a solution to this, but what could possibly contain the animosity between these two?

NXT Tag Team Championships: Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch VS Finn Balor & Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux!

A strange prophecy was closer at hand than either the current or the former NXT Champions realized. Scarlett managed to goad the would-be Kings of NXT into this war for the gold, is the end of Lorcan & Burch near? Will the NXT Tag Division be made to #FallAndPray should Balor & Kross become their champions?

From the way Balor and Kross glare at each other, you’d think this was their match for THE NXT Championship already. But the introductions are made, the tag titles are raised, and we see if it was truly in the cards or just in Scarlett’s head.

The teams sort out and Kross starts with Oney. They circle, Oney gets a headlock but Kross powers out and runs Oney over. Kross then scoops Oney for a single leg suplex! Oney tags to Burch, and Burch circles with Kross. They tie up, Kross throws Burch down, and Burch flounders up. Burch dodges but Kross runs him over, too! Kross runs, Burch elbows him but Kross CLOBBERS him in return! Balor applauds but maybe only somewhat genuinely. Kross brings Burch up for a bearhug! Burch endures, throws forearms but Kross thrashes him around! Burch keeps fighting but Kross keeps thrashing. Burch throws more hands, Kross squeezes tighter, but Burch finally gets free!

Kross hurries to scoop Burch and SLAM him back down! Kross stares Oney down and Oney might be a little intimidated. Kross drags Burch up and suplexes but Oney attacks from behind! Oney and Burch go after Kross together, but Kross DOUBLE SUPLEXES the champions! Balor lets it be what it is, and Burch might be in bad shape after a rough landing. Kross stands down just to watch Burch writhe, and NXT goes picture in picture.

Oney returns to his corner, Burch manages to make it over and tags out, so Balor tags in! Kross is a bit surprised by that but Balor and Oney circle. They tie up, Balor waistlocks and throws Oney down to then facelock. Oney fights up, Balor wrenches and hammerlocks to wrangle Oney down. Balor snaps the hammerlock then grinds, to snap again. Balor keeps Oney grounded, keeps snapping the hammerlock, but Oney fights up to reach back. Oney powers Balor into a corner, throws a hard back elbow, then throws EuroUppers! Oney wrenches an arm, gives the arm uppercuts, then wrenches to uppercut more! Oney wrangles Balor down now and grinds an armlock.

Balor endures, Scarlett and Kross watch and wait, and Balor fights up as NXT returns to single picture. Oney knees low, runs and sunset flips but Balor rolls through to basement dropkick! Oney staggers up but Balor arm-drags him down! Balor grinds the arm, Oney endures and both Scarlett and Kross are growing impatient. Oney gets up, puts Balor in a corner and knees low! Oney bumps Balor off buckles, throws EuroUppers, then whips Balor to ropes to CLOBBER him with an elbow. Oney bumps Balor off buckles, stomps away, but the ref backs him off. It’s of note that Burch is still recovering so Oney keeps on Balor with a boot to the head!

Oney brings Balor up and around, snap suplexes then covers, TWO! Oney clamps onto Balor with a chinbar and half nelson but Balor endures. Fans rally, medics check Burch’s arm out, but Oney wrenches Balor to throw EuroUppers. Oney taunts Kross that he’s a champion and not Kross, then he EuroUppers Balor again! Balor throws off his armbands off and brags that he’s the best NXT Tag Team Champion ever! Oney ROCKS Balor with EuroUppers then taunts him. Balor slowly gets up, and he jawbreakers Oney back! Oney throws another EuroUpper but Balor PELES Oney down! Fans fire up, Balor heads for the corner, but Oney DECKS Kross first!

Balor RAMS into Oney, CHOPS him, then whips him corner to corner to CHOP again! And then back the other way! Then back to the champions’ corner for another CHOP! Balor trips Oney to DOUBLE STOMP! The fans are thunderous as Balor clotheslines Oney out! Balor follows out and SLINGBLADES Oney down! Balor takes aim as Oney flounder sup, and he SHOTGUN DROPKICKS Oney, but into Scarlett?! That was not good, but Balor keeps on Oney. Balor puts Oney in the ring and checks on Scarlett. He tries to apologize, but Kross sees what happened, and he RAMS Balor into the barriers! Kross dribbles Balor off the Plexiglas then puts him in the ring!!

Oney BLASTS Balor with a EuroUpper! Cover, Oney & Burch win!

Winners: Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)

But then Kross DOOMSDAY SAIDOS Oney!! And then hauls him up for another DOOMSDAY SAIDO!! Kross then goes after Balor with a clothesline, an elbow and another clothesline! Kross hauls Balor up for an EXPLODER! Balor staggers up, into the KROSSJACKET!! Scarlett hurries in to stop Kross, and then she kneels down by Balor to help him up. Scarlett says she understands it was a mistake, but then she sets him up for Kross’ DOOMSDAY FOREARM!! Scarlett sets the title by Balor and says, “Everything happens for a reason. You can’t escape fate.” Was this the real prophecy she foretold? Or is Scarlett playing mind games so that Kross can conquer NXT once again?

My Thoughts:

A very good NXT, but perhaps with some odd choices for how to build to Stand & Deliver. The main event story is the main thing, with Kross & Balor challenging for the tag titles but losing because of a mishap with Scarlett ringside. Obviously if Kross and Balor were to lose, it had to be because of something screwy, and it wasn’t going to be Kross taking the loss because that’d be a lame way to end his undefeated streak. But then, I feel like letting Balor actually take the pin wasn’t the best either. Doesn’t this mean Oney should have a title shot before Stand & Deliver now? Not that WWE always follows that convention, but that just means it’s another point towards them being inconsistent.

I think it would’ve been better served if Kross annihilated Balor and Oney to the point of getting disqualified, the tag champions retain on that technicality. Granted, Kross annihilated them both anyway, but still. Also, the match didn’t really go the way they’d hoped anyway after Burch legitimately getting a stinger from the two awkward landings out of suplexes. The first was probably Oney being a little late on blindsiding Kross, then the other was because of the first, so that Burch wasn’t ready to take a suplex from Kross. Hopefully Burch will be alright and he can still defend alongside Oney at TakeOver.

GYV call out MSK, so of course they’ll be having a match. MSK is still owed a tag title match because they won the Men’s Dusty Cup, but there could be a case where that opportunity is put on the line. I want to say MSK finds a way to win in that scenario, as WWE still doesn’t do Heels VS Heels or Faces VS Faces, and Lorcan & Burch are definitely still Heels. Speaking of that, that’s why Devlin came off as the slightly more Face NXT Cruiserweight Champion, pointing out how Escobar has stooges and likes attacking from behind. Devlin got a great headbutt in on Escobar, and I am so ready for this Winner Takes All to crown THE ONE TRUE Cruiserweight Champion. Sorry, Trent, your hard work and heartfelt promos were just so Devlin can have in-ring momentum.

Kai VS Stark was a good match, but naturally Kai wins as the more experienced competitor. Shirai showing up to personally deliver the title match contract was a good touch, and was establishing a tag match for next week. There’s a chance Stark takes the loss there so Gonzalez gets momentum, but she could also pull of a quick pin on Kai so that Gonzalez stays strong, and there’s reason the team might start to crack. Meanwhile, Shotzi & Ember VS Robert Stone Brand was set up with a good promo segment, and the match will naturally be won by Shotzi & Ember because the Robert Stone Brand is definitely not championship material just yet. The third NXT Tag Team Champions will probably end up The Way’s Candice & Indi.

NXT signing another great Joshi wrestler is of course great for NXT. The name is of course changed enough so that WWE can have all rights to it, but it isn’t so far off. Sareee becomes Sarray so that phonetically it’s all the same, but the spelling is where it counts for WWE’s purposes. And with this being the fourth Joshi wrestler, I have to believe Io Shirai’s time in NXT really is on the latter end. Shirai’s sun will set but of course Sarray’s star will rise, and if Raquel wins at TakeOver, that will be a perfect transition for Shirai to Raw or SmackDown (preferably SmackDown) and then Sarray can start her journey to the top with Raquel being the new dominant alpha female in NXT.

The Way had far less to do tonight, but Theory VS Lumis was great. I just wish it wasn’t picture in picture as Theory was trying to get Lumis to confirm or deny what Gargano said he said. The moment of reaching out a hand was a good detail, but maybe Theory shouldn’t have hugged Lumis. Lumis is surely headed for a title rematch with Gargano with this story continuing the way it is, maybe he wins it at Stand & Deliver. Grimes’ “vacation” photos were so goofy for being fake, making them is probably what Grimes was actually spending his time doing.

Ciampa gets a good win off Barthel, gets what he wants in Walter showing up, but then gets beat up. I bet Thatcher wasn’t beat down by anyone, but he was perhaps convinced by Walter to stand down. Thatcher reuniting with Barthel and Walter is anyone’s guess, but I have a feeling it’ll be Imperium VS Thatcher & Ciampa to put it to the test. I like that Reed tried to cost Knight his debut match only for it not to work, but he still cost Knight an expensive jacket. Knight VS Reed could happen next week or it could somehow build to Stand & Deliver, but either way, their match will be big, no pun intended.

Another thing that was big was the development between Cole and Kyle tonight. Both promos were good, especially the fact that yes, Kyle probably does know where Cole lives and his lifestyle habits so he could easily get after Cole wherever and whenever outside of NXT’s two hours. We didn’t see the alleged vehicle attack so Cole could be lying. Plus, wouldn’t Kyle want to hurt Cole with his bare hands, not a car? Regal says he has an idea that can settle things but there are a lot of possibilities. Last Man Standing, I Quit, maybe even “Unsanctioned” like they did for Ciampa VS Gargano a few years ago as opposed to the One Final Beat cinematic. I have a feeling the one thing that’s solidly part of the stipulation is “Loser Leaves NXT.” That would be the perfect way for Cole to move on from NXT to Raw or SmackDown (again hopefully SmackDown) and make Kyle a sort of alpha in his own right.

My Score: 9.4/10