NXT revisits TakeOver: Stand & Deliver’s top title bout!

The Prince wants his throne back, but that means taking on Doomsday a second time around! Will Karrion Kross make history repeat itself and defeat Finn Balor once and for all?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon VS Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai; Blackheart & Moon win.
• Bobby Fish VS Pete Dunne w/ Oney Lorcan; Dunne wins.
• Mercedes Martinez VS VS Zayda Ramier; Martinez wins.
• Franky Monet VS Cora Jade; Monet wins.
• NXT Championship: Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Finn Balor; Kross wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon VS Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai!

It’s a rematch of the first two teams to hold the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships! Will the wild child and Shenom #TCB and head after The Way? Or will Ricky Desperado & #CobraKai look to make up for their one-night-only reign?

The teams sort out and Raquel starts with Shotzi. The two approach, Shotzi gets around and hops on to be a sleeper hold backpack, but Raquel throws her off! Shotzi avoids the stomp but can’t drag Raquel down! Raquel shoves Shotzi down with one hand, then scoops her. Shotzi slips out and leaps, but no code breaker as Raquel shoves Shotzi away again! Ember tags in and she gets around to sunset flip! Raquel stays up, drags Ember up but Ember bobs ‘n’ weaves! Ember runs, leaps but into Raquel’s arms! Raquel pops Ember to a whip but Ember uses that to RANA! Cover, ONE!! Ember hurries to Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Schoolgirl, TWO!!

Ember says it was that close, but Raquel is pissed! It becomes a cat ‘n ‘mouse game, Ember turns it around and leaps but Raquel catches her again! Dakota tags in, Raquel SLAMS Ember, then Raquel gives Dakota a boost for the DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Dakota keeps Ember from Shotzi, tags Raquel back in and Raquel stomps a mudhole. Raquel whips Ember to an open corner, tags Dakota, but Ember avoids the boot wash! Dakota is stuck, hot tag to Shotzi! Shotzi arm-drags Dakota around, runs but Dakota dodges. Shotzi goes up and over and clotheslines to roll Dakota for a SLING-DOG!

Fans fire up as Shotzi runs, and welcomes Dakota to the BALLPIT! Cover, TWO! Shotzi keeps her cool, drags Dakota away and tags in Ember. They whip, trip and elbow drop on Dakota! Ember hits a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ember tags Shotzi back in, they wrench Dakota to whip her to a corner. Shotzi runs in but blocks boots! Figure four SLAM, then a CLOVERLEAF! Shotzi bends Dakota back but Dakota endures! Fans rally, Dakota reaches, and Raquel helps her get to the ropes! The ref reprimands but Dakota is free, and tags to Raquel! Raquel drops elbow after elbow on Shotzi, then powers her to a cover, TWO! Shotzi gets to ropes while Raquel seethes, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES take down Dakota and Shotzi! Fans fire up, both women crawl, hot tags to Raquel and Ember! Ember dropkicks Raquel! And again! Raquel staggers, Ember JABS and JABS, then pops, locks, says eat it and DECKS Raquel with a rolling elbow! Ember runs to handstand KNEE DROP into Raquel! Raquel is in a corner, Ember runs but Raquel dodges. Ember goes up, FLYING CODE BREAKER! Fans fire up, but Dakota swipes at Ember to keep her from climbing a corner! Ember glares at Dakota, but turns around into Raquel’s BOOT! Raquel tags Dakota, they get Ember up, ASSISTED GO TO KICK! Cover, Shotzi breaks it with a senton!

Shotzi BOOTS Raquel down, then goes back to her corner! Dakota anchors Ember as she crawls, but Ember BOOTS Dakota away! Tag to Shotzi! Shotzi rallies on Dakota with clotheslines and an ENZIGURI! Dakota staggers into a KNEE, then the ROLLING ELBOW! QUESTION MARK KICK! Shotzi reels Dakota in for a fireman’s carry to a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Dakota survives but Shotzi drags Dakota away. Shotzi whips her to a corner, tags in Ember, and Ember gets Dakota up in an Electric Chair! Raquel saves Dakota but Shotzi CROSSBODIES Raquel! Dakota SCORPION KICKS Shotzi, but jumps into Ember’s QUEEN ANGELITO! Raquel drags Ember off to CLUB her down!

Raquel drags Ember back up, has the leg, DESPERADO- STUNNER!! Ember got free of the bomb, and she goes after Dakota! Shotzi joins in, CLIFFHANGER CUTTER!! Cover, Ember & Shotzi win!!

Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon, by pinfall

The first time wasn’t just a fluke, this is why they were the tag team champions! But then Raquel COBBERS Ember, and BOOTS Shotzi! Raquel is still THE NXT Women’s Champion, and she tells Dakota to make Ember watch! Raquel gets Shotzi up for a PLEXIGLAS BOMB, that then becomes a POST BOMB, and then back to the boards! Raquel tells Ember she’s next, after this GORILLA PRESS BARRIER SNAKE EYES!! Big Mami Cool says it doesn’t matter, those tag titles are still coming home to her and Dakota! Will Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell make sure they stay far away from Raquel & Dakota?

Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher speak.

“Take two steps forward, one step back. Such is life.” But the second they called out MSK, they made a mistake of putting the cart before the horse. “Enter GYV. Clearly, they had different plants for us. A certain grudge. And that’s okay. Because the final destination has many paths.” And now their path runs straight through the Grizzled Young Veterans! So while GYV won round one, Ciampa & Thatcher won round two. And there will be a round three. Ciampa storms off and Thatcher smiles before throwing his chair. “I am gonna enjoy breaking your limbs!!” Will Old Man Ciampa and Toothless Timmy make Liverpool’s Number One and Mr. Mayhem into number two?

Bobby Fish VS Pete Dunne w/ Oney Lorcan!

The Infamous One is finally back in action! But while he and Kyle O’Reilly are still good, this is something he has to do alone. Will Fish’s thirst for vengeance be quenched? Or will the Bruiserweight break him apart all over again?

The bell rings and Dunne ducks a kick but not the elbow! Dunne flounders and Fish KNEES him in the corner! But Dunne wrenches an arm, only for Fish to break free and KICK the legs out! And KICK Dunne down! Fish taunts Dunne while throwing body shots and knees! Dunne is in the ropes, the ref counts and Fish lets off at 4, but Dunne DECKS Fish with a sucker punch! Dunne snarls, drags Fish up for a neck wrench, and fish hooks Fish’s face before raining down rights! Fish gets away, Dunne gets his legs, and twists the ankle in a standing toehold! Fish fights, Dunne drops down to tie up legs, but Fish hooks Dunne!

Dunne pries free, gets a mount and throws hammering hands! Fans rally and duel as Dunne stomps Fish! Fish mule kicks but Dunne KICKS the leg! Dunne wrenches an arm, snapmares Fish then hooks the arm to JAM it! Fish crawls, Dunne gets him for a headlock and takeover. Dunne traps an arm, cranks the headlock, but Fish fights up. Fish powers out but Dunne puts him in a corner! Fish back elbows, BOOTS Dunn’s arm, but Dunn cravats to another snapmare! Dunne tries a chinlock but Fish slips through to get a Fujiwara! Dunne rolls, gets up, but Fish stays clamped onto the arm! Dunne endures and fights up as Fish has the shoulder.

Dunne throws forearms but Fish holds on tight! Fans still rally and duel, Dunne whips but Fish reverses to wrench, hammerlock, and HOTSHOT the arm! Fish KICKS the arm, ROCKS Dunne with a right, then BOOTS him out of the ring! Oney is in a bit of shock as Dunne writhes and NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Dunne tortures Fish by bending him back in a modified Half Crab! Fish powers up but Dunne shifts to get both legs and hook them up. Dunne SLAPS Fish on the back of his head and shoulders then rains down fists! Fish powers out of the leg hooks but Dunne is after his arm! Dunne kicks Fish in the face but that only fires Fish up! Fish eggs Dunne on, Dunne kicks more, and Fish RAMS Dunne into a corner Fish fires off on the legs then DRAGON SCREWS! Fans fire up for Fish as he gets legs, but Dunne BOOTS him away! Dunne hobbles up but runs into a SPINEBUSTER! Fish rains down knees and hands, then drags Dunne back up. Fish has a sleeper!

Dunne endures, reaches around and finds fingers! Dunne bends the fingers back, wrenches Fish to put the arm on the mat, and DROPS KNEES on the bad arm!! Fish writhes and rolls out of the ring, and Oney gives Fish space. Dunne goes out, but runs into a back drop! Fish grits his teeth, runs at Dunne and KNEES him into the barriers! Dunne staggers into the ring, Fish follows but Dunne ENZIGURIS! Fish drops to his knees, Dunne gets him up and has body scissors! Dunne wants to get the bad arm in a Kimura, but Fish EXPLODERS free! Dunne hits ropes, is down, and Fish covers, TWO!! Dunne survives and clutches his head now, but he’s alright to continue.

Fish gets Dunn up but Dunne clinches back. Dunne throws knees, Fish gives knees in return! They both give knee back and forth, but Fish gets the edge! Fish backs Dunne into a corner with knee after knee! The ref counts, Fish lets off and Dunne falls in a heap! Fish walks into a trap! SNAP GERMAN! STOMPS to the hands! BUZZSAW! Fans fire up as Fish gets up, but he ducks Dunne’s kick to JUMPING KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives but Fish keeps his cool. Fish crawls after Dunne but Dunne drags him into an ARMBAR! Fish clasps hands but Dunne bends the fingers and SNAPS them!! Fish rolls back to pop free and CLUB away on Dunne!

Fish gets Dunne’s arm for a mounted Fujiwara! Fish bends it as far as he can but Dunne rolls through, pump handles, BITTER END!! Cover, Dunne wins!

Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall

Oney raises Dunne’s hand in victory as Dunne snatches victory from the jaws of defeat! And then Oney rains down fists on Fish! The ref backs Oney off but Oney gets Fish up to RAM him into the corner! Oney drags Fish to the corner and puts the bad arm through the apron skirt’s strap! “We’re going to put you on the shelf again, Fish!” Oney stands on Fish’s bad arm to bend it back! Dunne chuckles as Fish suffers! More refs rush out to stop this, and Dunne shrugs. Oney PUNTS Fish’s bad arm!! Oney and Dunne leave while Fish roars in pain! Is Fish already going to be back on the sideline? Or will he not stop until he has satisfaction?

Mercedes Martinez speaks.

“Raquel? I took her to her limit. Did I win? Nah. Did I learn from it? Hell yeah, I did. Tonight, it starts. Night one on the road back to the title!” But wait, is Boa lurking just behind her? What does Tian Sha want with Mean Ms. Martinez?

NXT hears from Hit Row.

B-Fab says, “Last week… No, every week, we’ve been putting people on notice, and they’ve been mad.” Top Dolla says they need a big bag, and the boys say, “And that’s big facts.” Thankfully, NXT is the land of opportunity. Facts. They’ve been shining, like a light switch, and now they need the gold. Tick-tock, tick-tock. All eyes are on the main event, but Swerve wants us to listen quick: He can’t wait to cross Karrion, or Finn, off his hitlist. And as for MSK and Legado, Hit Row has both of them covered! Slap L’s on their heads like they Mario’s brother! And Adonis sees Kushida, the so-called Time Splitter. Adonis might just split his wig! Hit him so hard, knock him back to the future!

Time’s almost up, and fools like them and Reed thinking Hit Row’s just here to sing songs. Bronson’s colossal, but what’s Godzilla to King Kong? NOT NADA! Talk to ’em, B! This is Hit~ Row~! And if you didn’t know, now you know! Will this fearsome foursome look to top the charts in all of the divisions?

Mercedes Martinez VS Zayda Ramier!

She said it herself, she’s back on the road to a title opportunity! But will she hit a road bump against the young star who’s already gotten some major upsets?

The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally as the two tie up. Mercedes waistlocks and SLAMS Zayda, drops down onto a facelock, and then floats to slap Zayda around. Mercedes has the facelock again, then drags Zayda up. Zayda arm-drags free, dropkicks Mercedes to a corner, and hits a corner uppercut! Mercedes blocks the whip, but Zayda ROCKS her! Zayda whips, Mercedes reverses but Zayda goes up and over! Zayda swings but into a lift! Zayda fights free and fights back, but Mercedes ducks the heel kick, only for the ENZIGURI to hit! Cover, ONE!! Mercedes gets up and pushes Zayda to then DECK her with a forearm!

Mercedes gets mad, drags Zayda up and hits a butterfly suplex! Mercedes holds on, gets Zayda up and hits another butterfly suplex! Mercedes then elevates Zayda for the third! Cover, TWO! Mercedes keeps cool as she clamps onto Zayda’s arm. Mercedes gets a dragon sleeper, but Zayda fights up and goes up and around to roll Mercedes up! TWO, and Mercedes hits a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! Zayda survives but Mercedes drags Zayda up to whip. Zayda ducks and dodges to hop up and RANA! A little rough, but Zayda shifts to a sleeper hold! Mercedes fights up to her feet and RAMS Zayda into buckles! Mercedes throws some back elbows, then hoists Zayda up top.

Mercedes ROCKS Zayda, climbs up, but Zayda shoves her away. Mercedes ROCKS Zayda then TOSSES her off the top! RUNNING KNEE! Mercedes isn’t done, she gets Zayda up to a fireman’s carry for the AIR RAID CRASH! Mercedes wins!

Winner: Mercedes Martinez, by pinfall

Zayda put up a fight but it wasn’t enough to derail Mercedes! But wait, the lights go out! And when they come back up, everything’s red, and there’s smoke everywhere, and Mercedes looks to the titantron to see Tian Sha! The Dragon Lady of NXT has marked Mercedes as her prey! Then the lights go back to normal, but Mercedes sees the black paint on her hand! What does Tian Sha have planned for Mercedes’ future?

Toni Storm talks with Ted DeBiase!

The Million Dollar Man likes the Lightning From Down Under’s style, and then heads out. The Robert Stone Brand tries to schmooze with him, but he just throws money in their face. Better than nothing! DeBiase laughs while Stone still tries to talk to him. The Million Dollar Face-Off happens after the break!

Cameron Grimes heads to the ring!

The Carolina Cash Money Caveman is first out for this Million Dollar Face-Off, but before he can introduce the concept, here comes DeBiase! Grimes is not amused, but DeBiase has the fans on his side. Grimes is sure we all want to know, “Why, man?” Grimes seriously wants to know why. Grimes wasn’t always rich, live this lavish lifestyle and have all this stuff. He starts flaunting it a bit and DeBiase shows up to show him up. DeBiase may not see this, but Grimes looks up to him. Grimes saw that because of DeBiase, money can help you treat people terribly and they’d still like him! Grimes could make kids dribble a basketball and he’d kick it away and the people would still like him!

But maybe it’s true what they say: Never meet your idols. DeBiase says he likes Grimes, he really does. They have more in common than Grimes knows. Would you consider the fact that DeBiase put him through all that hell because he sees a bit of himself in Grimes? And another thing: Why is DeBiase back? He’s here because he is looking for that one person, whoever it might be, that embodies everything the Millions Dollar Legacy stands for! It isn’t all about the money or about humiliating people. It’s also about performing in the ring. That’s right! DeBiase will tell Grimes that he’s got “it!” But here’s another thing: Since Grimes got rich, he’s lost his focus.

But wait! Here comes LA Knight! What does he want with DeBiase and Grimes? LA Knight soaks up the heat and then says, “Let me talk to ya!” Ted, Knight hears about the “legacy” and sees himself a million dollar opportunity! He’s searching and searching but Knight will take that burden off him. This is a man who does get a job done! This is a man who has the undeniable “it,” and this is a man who is a perpetual motion machine of badassery, YEAH. And not just someone who struck it lucky with virtual money, but is personified, walkin’, talkin’ gold! Grimes says Knight needs to stay out of this! This is a conversation of millionaires, not Mr. Nickel ‘n’ Dime!

DeBiase wants Grimes to hold on a moment. Let’s hear Knight out. Fans taunt Knight with “Nickel ‘n’ Dime!” but Knight says no one asked the incels. But Knight says Grimes is right, he’s not a millionaire. But with DeBiase by Knight’s side, they can put that last piece of the puzzle in! You could search high, low and everywhere in between but the answer is the same: Whose game is it? L A Knight! DeBiase knows who Knight is, and that he’s been around the world with a great deal of success. He could be a MEGA STAR here. He has a million dollar body, a million dollar mindset, but-

Grimes stops DeBiase right there! We get it, Knight’s got this, that, shoulders here, there and everywhere! He’s jacked, but he’s not Grimes! This was a Million Dollar Face-Off just between millionaires! So Grimes tells Knight right here and now, “You, get out of this ring, or I’m gonna kick your ass to… the… Moon.” Knight is taken aback but he kicks Grimes and hits the CRAVAT FACEBUSTER! Knight storms off while DeBiase stands over Grimes. “Kid, you’re just never gonna get it, are ya?” DeBiase laughs, but does this mean he’ll pass the torch on to Knight instead of Grimes? Can Grimes redeem himself before it’s too late?

Franky Monet finishes in the make-up department.

She heads out, leaving Preston the Pomeranian with his trusted puppysitter. Will Monet put her money where her mouth is and cash in big in her in-ring debut?

Backstage interview with Indi Hartwell.

Well, not exactly, as Indi is too busy looking for Dexter Lumis. Congratulations, blah blah blah, where is Dexter?! She interrupts Ever-Rise’s show! What show? She only cares about Dexter! What show?! This is Ever-Rise Live! It sounds like Indi’s got a problem! Does she want to take a swing?! No, she’s just- Drake Maverick walks in and says Indi’s been through enough. If she’s looking for Dexter, Drake last saw him in that room back there. Indi hurries to a darkened room, and calls out his name. The lights turn on, and there are many, many, many pictures, mostly about broken hearts and Indi rejecting Dexter. Indi feels awful for how she treated him, and hurries away! Does #InDex still have a chance?

Franky Monet VS Cora Jade!

Finally, after weeks of waiting and wondering, NXT is going to see Franky get in the ring and show what makes #LaWeraLoca big money! Will the debut be worth they hype?

The bell rings, Monet and Jade tie up and Monet puts Jade in a corner. Monet lets off, pats Jade on the shoulder, and they reset. They tie up again, and Monet throws Jade down by her hair! “Do you know who I am?! I am La Wera Loca!” Jade BOOTS Monet! Jade tries to scoop but Monet CLUBS her! Monet stomps Jade to a corner, then CHOPS her down! Monet pulls Jade’s hair and bumps her off buckles, to then go corner to corner for a BLINDSIDE METEORA! Side to side for the HIP ATTACK! Corner to corner again for another METEORA! Monet smiles as she looms over Jade and drags her up. Monet puts Jade against ropes and CHOPS her again!

Fans rally and duel, Monet whips and mule kicks! And KNEES, then LARIATS! Monet grins, drags Jade back up, and taunts Jade more. Jade ROCKS Monet with forearms in return! Jade fires up, whips, but Monet reverses and scoops! Jade tilt-o-whirls through for the RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Monet SPEARS Jade down! Monet is mad now and she gets Jade up for a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! “You wanna play, Cora?!” Monet drags Jade up, chicken wings, GLAM SLAM!! Cover, Monet wins!

Winner: Franky Monet, by pinfall

Beth Phoenix approves of Monet’s power and aggression, will #BougieBad be taking over NXT soon enough?

Grizzled Young Veterans speak.

Zack Gibson tells Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher, “Last week, when we cost you a victory, that was nothing personal. That was simply a receipt from some veterans not put you in your place.” James Drakes says before those two get carried away, GYV “didn’t travel halfway across the world for some petty rivalry with some chair throwing hooligans.” They’re here for the tag titles. They’re done with Ciampa & Thatcher, but they’re not done with MSK. The GYV will watch MSK defend those titles against Legado, because the fact remains the same: GYV are the leaders this tag division needs. Not Ciampa & Thatcher, not Legado, and definitely not MSK.

Gibson adds, “If MSK were wrestling at the Garden, I would close the curtains.” They are Grizzled Young Veterans, and they promise they are SSSSSOON to be recognized as the next NXT Tag Team Champions!

Imperium does not accept failure!

That is why Alexander Wolfe was purged from the group. His weakness has cost the faction for the last time. Going forward, they will continue to set things straight. It is on Barthel & Aichner to right the first wrong, and that was the loss to Breezango! Those two are showmen, but they are wrestlers! When you stand in that ring against them, they are restoring the honor of their beloved sport! Because the mat is SACRED! Will the Ring General’s orders be carried out?

Bronson Reed is here!

The Colossal and NEW NXT North American Champion is back to celebrate his victory inside the Steel Cage! Fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and he thanks them for saying that. “Fourteen years to get here. And it wasn’t an easy road to become the North American Champion. It wasn’t just fourteen years of climbing the mountain. It was fourteen years of falling and getting back up, and climbing the mountain, then falling and getting back up!” He had his doubters, he had the people telling him, “No.” But this win is proof is that you don’t need to take “no” for an answer! You work hard, grind it out, and you can become champion!

Now that Reed has this, good luck trying to take it from him! To anyone in the locker room that things they can get a shot, well, Reed had a big mountain to climb, but they have a Colossal one to climb! But here comes El Legado, led by Santos Escobar! Escobar “applauds” Reed and says bravo! Reed has some telenovela going on! Reed brought tears to his eyes. Escobar mockingly dabs his eyes with tissues. But he has to say, he can’t relate to anything Reed just said. Escobar was born a champion! And not just to belong in this business, but to OWN this business! After Reed’s victory, something caught Escobar’s eye. And it wasn’t the colossal mass in the ring. No, it was the title.

Escobar IS the Emperor of Lucha Libre! He runs the bingo, which is why he took the Cruiserweight Championship. But now he sees the North American Championship, he sees USA and Mexico! Oh wait, what about Canada? Canada doesn’t count, Wilde, we talked about this. But as Escobar was saying, that’s the North American Championship. That means it also belongs to Escobar! So realize now that this little party is over, mate. Escobar is going to do what he does best, and that is take what’s his! But here comes MSK to back Reed up! Wes Lee & Nash Carter even the numbers, and swing on Mendoza! They get Wilde, and DOUBLE SUPERKICK him out!

Escobar slithers in but Reed BODIES him! Escobar bails out, Legado regroups and retreats! Wilde & Mendoza will face MSK soon enough, but will Escobar bite off more than he can chew with Auszilla?

William Regal speaks.

“Hello. I’m incredibly excited for tonight’s main event, as Karrion Kross will face Finn Balor for the NXT Championship. But after that match, we’ll need a new #1 contender for the NXT Championship, and I’ve evaluated the NXT roster. And next week, there will be a Triple Threat: Kyle O’Reilly VS Pete Dunne VS Johnny Gargano, and the winner of that match will go on to face the N XT Champion at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.” A huge showdown next week, but who will even be meeting that contender? We’re about to find out!

NXT Championship: Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Finn Balor!

TakeOver: Stand & Deliver was one for the ages, and it was Mr. Doomsday who came out on top. But The Prince says that you only die if you stay down. Will Balor rise back up and take the throne for the third time in NXT? Or has time passed him by, with the apocalypse as the future?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s like a TakeOver on a Tuesday as these two go around again!

Balor and Kross circle, fans rally and duel, and Balor tries testing kicks. Kross stays up so Balor gets a headlock! Kross tries to power out but Balor holds on tight. Kross tries again, gets free and he runs Balor over. Balor gets up to ROCK Kross with a forearm! Kross KNEES low, throws Balor out but Balor comes back for more forearms! Balor headlocks, Kross powers out right away but Balor ducks and dodges to dropkick legs out! Kross bails out and is furious but Scarlett calms him down as NXT goes picture in picture.

Balor waits as Kross paces. Kross goes up the steps while fans rally and duel, and he enters the ring. Balor and Kross circle, Balor gives more kicks, but Kross stays up. Kross shots in, waistlocks and SLAMS Balor, then keeps hold as Balor scrambles around. Balor gets an arm, switches and floats and SPANKS Kross?! Balor is back to pushing Kross’ buttons, though that only did so much at TakeOver. They circle, Balor gives more of those testing kicks, and then he goes after that leg. Kross stays up, shifts around to get Balor’s arm, and drops for an ARMBAR! Balor moves around to make it a cover, TWO as Kross pulls on the hold! Balor keeps moving around but Kross wrangles him down again!

Balor keeps his hands clasped, keeps his shoulders off the mat, and pushes to turn Kross. Balor has the legs laced up, pulls on the hold and adds a chinlock! Kross endures this modified STF, fights up and around, but Balor facelocks. Balor wrenches, uppercuts the arm, then clamps onto the shoulder. Kross endures, Scarlett coaches him, and he fights up to scoop Balor! Balor slips out, is right after the arm and grinds it down again! Kross endures, fights back up, but Balor arm-drags him back down! Balor pulls on the arm, and the fingers! Kross endures, shifts his weight but Balor has the armlock again.

NXT returns to single picture and fans rally. Balor grinds the shoulder, Kross endures and fights up, and he scoops to SLAM Balor this time! Kross takes off the gladiator pleats and bumps Balor’s head off buckles! Kross runs corner to corner to clothesline Balor, then spins around to CLOBBER him! Scarlett loves it but fans are divided as Kross looms over Balor. Kross gets Balor up, snap suplexes, then looms over Balor. Kross stomps down on Balor’s foot and grinds in his heel before he stomps Balor again! Kross clamps on a chinlock, Balor endures and pries at the hold, but Kross stays on tight. Fans rally, Balor fights up and pops out the bottom but Kross CLUBS him down!

Kross DEKCS Balor with a forearm, but holds onto the wrist as he dares Balor to get his ass up. Kross drags Balor up but Balor swings around to get a Cobra Twist! Balor throws elbow after elbow, then drops elbow after elbow as Kross is down! Cover, TWO! Kross grits his teeth and clutches his ribs, but Balor stomps him in the corner! Balor throws body shots, then wrenches the arm to go after the ribs more! Kross headbutts Balor away! Kross RAMS Balor in a corner, turns him around and RAMS into his back! The ref counts, Kross lets off, and BOOTS Balor in the back! Balor writhes, the ref reprimands Kross, but Kross dares Balor to get back up.

Kross stands Balor up to TOSS him across the ring! Kross drags Balor back up and GERMAN SUPLEXES him back the other way! Kross drags Balor up into another waistlock, but Balor wrenches the arm back to the FUJIWARA! Balor wants and gets the CROSSFACE! Kross powers up but Balor fires off shouts into the ribs! Kross blocks the Penalty Kick but Balor makes it a victory roll to DOUBLE STOMPS! Kross gasps for air as he clutches his ribs! The fans are thunderous as Balor runs in and CHOPS Kross! And again! Balor RAMS into Kross now, lets off at 4, but Kross CLOBBERS him from behind!

Kross drags Balor back up, throws him out of the ring, but Balor trips him up at the apron! Kross is in the skirt and Balor fires off! Balor gets on the apron to stomp away on Kross’ head and shoulders! The ref counts, Balor lets off at 4, and Kross gets free of the skirt, for Balor to PENALTY KICK down! Scarlett is worried as NXT goes picture in picture again!

Balor gets back in the ring while Kross winces and stands up slowly. Kross catches his breath but the ring count is climbing. Balor wants to go out after him but the ref stops him. Balor goes out around the side, builds up speed and CLOBBERS Kross against boards! Balor fires off kicks, goes back into the ring just to refresh the count, and then stomps away on Kross against barriers! Balor lets off to throw up a Too Sweet! Balor gets Kross up and into the ring, then aims from a corner. Balor runs, but into Kross’ BOOT! Kross snarls as he stomps Balor’s arms! Kross drives elbows into Balor’s shoulders, then drags him up for another hard snap suplex!

Kross paces, almost toying with Balor as he dares him to get back up. Kross stands Balor up but Balor fires off forearms! Kross NORTHERN LIGHTS, rolls through, and CLOBBERS Balor! Cover, TWO!! Balor survives and Kross can’t believe it! Kross gets Balor up again, reel shim in, but Balor back drops free! Kros sunset flips but Balor rolls through to basement dropkick! Both men are down as NXT returns to single picture again! Fans rally and duel as Balor and Kross slowly stand. Balor throws forearms, Kross gives them back, and we have a brawl! Balor fires off fast hands but Kross scoops and RAMS him into a corner! OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO!!

Scarlett is furious but the fans are fired up as Balor survives! Kross smirks as he stalks Balor to a corner. Balor CHOPS back! Kross stalks Balor again but Balor kicks low! Kross is still coming, he scoops Balor but Balor slips out to ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, ONE?!? And he glares at Balor! Kross choke grips, but Balor breaks free and trips Kross to DOUBLE STOMP again! Cover, but Kross makes it the KROSSJACKET!! Balor flails but Kross has him caught!! Balor fades, but he gets a second wind for the ROPEBREAK! Kross holds on until 4, and is furious! Balor survives but Scarlett says Kross can finish him now!

Kross throws Balor out of the ring, then dribbles him into the Plexiglas over and over and over! Kross reels Balor in, and hopes fans are watching as he RAZOR’S EDGE Balor into the boards!! The ring count climbs but Kross puts Balor in at 8! Kross drags Balor back up, reels him back in, and gets Balor up but Balor hits a DDT!! Balor has a third wind as he hurries to a corner! Kross staggers up into a SLINGBLADE! And then Balor clotheslines Kross out of the ring! Balor builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit in front of commentary! The fans are thunderous but Kross stands back up! BACK SUPLEX TO THE DESK!! “This is Awesome!” but the ref says this has to get back in the ring!

Kross takes his time dragging Balor from the desk’s hood and into the ring. Kross waits until 9 of 10 to get in, and Balor fires off on him in the ropes! Kross shoves Balor away but Balor trips him and DOUBLE STOMPS again! Balor aims from a corner, runs and SHOTGUNS Kross into buckles! Kross is in the drop zone and Balor heads up top! Fans are electric as Balor is up top! COUP DE- NO! Kross dodges, gets Balor up and RAMS him into the far corner! And then turns him around for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Kross roars and says it’s done now! Kross hauls Balor back up, reels him in, DOOMSDAY SAIDO! But he isn’t done there, he winds up the hands of time!

Balor slowly rises and Kross aims from a corner. But Balor catches Kross to a victory roll! TWO!! Balor gets around, Cobra Twist! Grounded Twist but Kross keeps off his shoulders! Kross pries free, and rains down forearms! But Balor slips out to rain down forearms on Kross! Balor hits the ribs, the head, the shoulders, over and over! The ref gets Balor to stop to check on Kross! Kross is still conscious but he crawls to Scarlett to focus. Balor puts a SLEEPER on Kross! Kross is holding the ropes, he lets go, and Balor drags him into a body scissors of his own!! Scarlett is furious, Kross is prying free! But Balor makes it a TRIANGLE HOLD!!

Kross moves around, falls on his side, but Scarlett shouts! The ref checks the arm, Kross revives!! Kross powers up, dead lifts and POWERBOMBS Balor!! Balor glares at Kross as he sits up! Fans are electric as both men stand, and Kross CLOBBERS Balor! Then CLUBS him, then DOOMSDAY FOREARM!! Kross stomps away on Balor over and over! The ref counts but Kross stops at 4 to wrap on the KROSSJACKET!! Balor is turning purple! He is OUT, Kross wins!!

Winner: Karrion Kross, by submission (still NXT Champion)

The apocalypse could not be stopped, and Kross still reigns! Balor did not pray but he did fall, is this the last time he’ll be fighting for this title? And with Kross’ path to TakeOver cleared, who will he be facing In Your House?

My Thoughts:

Another great episode for NXT! I nailed the order of the matches, other than Mercedes VS Zayda since that wasn’t advertised. Speaking of which, Mercedes was of course winning, but it is very interesting that Tian Sha (both the faction and the individual character) has taken interest in her. Mercedes VS Xia Li will be a great match, and I would love if Mercedes was Tian Sha’s first opponent. Mercedes could come out the winner of the feud, but it’d definitely help give some credibility to Tian Sha if we saw her take the fight to Mercedes.

The opening tag match was great, and I figured Shotzi & Ember would win to be seen as contenders to the tag titles. But Raquel wrecking Shotzi to send a message to Ember could be a sign that Ember challenges Raquel for the singles title. Ember and Raquel are the only two to have been NXT Women’s Champion and Tag Team Champion in their careers, so a match of those two would go a long way to having Raquel establish herself as the superior NXT Women’s Champion. Then, Franky Monet of course won her debut match, really dominating Cora Jade, but I feel like she could’ve had a slightly tougher time to imply that she was underestimating Jade and believing her own hype a little too much, similar to LA Knight when he debuted.

Speaking of which, I figured we’d get a proxy in the feud between DeBiase and Grimes, but I didn’t think it’d be Knight. Knight does make a good contrast to Grimes because he’s more muscular and is even more braggadocios in his promos, and he could trade that yellow jacket for a gold one with DeBiase’s help. I’m thinking we could get Knight VS Grimes with the “Million Dollar Legacy” on the line. They should even bring back the Million Dollar Championship belt and make it a ladder match so that the person who brings the belt down is the rightful protégé to DeBiase.

I like that Hit Row is putting every champion on notice, same as Pete Dunne did. All superstars in NXT should be greedy enough to want all the belts. Swerve could be North American Champion or even top champion. Top Dolla could even be North American Champion and Tag Team Champion with Adonis, and Adonis could even be Cruiserweight Champion and Tag Team Champion. I don’t know if Hit Row will become a golden faction like the Undisputed Era, but it would be awesome if they do. Escobar moving up to the North American title is great, I was thinking that was his next move, and it was natural to see MSK counter Legado to help Reed.

The tag titles are on the line next week, I feel that could go either way with Ciampa & Thatcher VS Grizzled Young Veterans also happening. One match will surely determine how the other goes, and then we’ll have our TakeOver match-up set by the end of it. Imperium is taking on Breezango, as well, and I’m thinking Imperium wins to move forward in their story. Or at least, the story we’re getting now that Wolfe was released. New SAnitY would’ve been great to face Imperium but oh well. Imperium can even wait on the other side of TakeOver to face whatever Face tag team champions we’re getting for a great stretch of matches over the Summer.

Fish VS Dunne was very good, but Dunne winning makes sense. Fish can’t be satisfied right away, he’ll surely have a match with Oney next, and then come back around to Dunne. Kross VS Balor rematch here was awesome, maybe even better than their Stand & Deliver match. Balor felt so close to winning this one, but again, Kross is making up for the reign he never really got to have, so he managed to come out on top. I even thought he was going to get disqualified at the end, but that would’ve felt a bit cheap. With rumblings of call-ups, and a chance Balor could return to RawDown in time for the return to touring, this loss does make sense. And even without that, Balor should try for another title to add to his legacy. Walter VS Balor maybe?

The Triple Threat contender’s match next week is going to be great, and so hard to call. Kyle had a stare down with Kross before, Gargano knocked Kross down, and Dunne called out all champions and says he’s the baddest man in NXT today. Kross plays Tweener well so he could face any of those guys and make it a great build.

My Score: 9.3/10