NXT 5/4/2021: New Champs Crowned; Multiple People Want Kross; Swerve/Ruff Falls Count Anywhere; More
Here's what's on tap for tonight’s NXT:
Finn Balor returns
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
Falls Count Anywhere Match: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Leon Ruff
Street Fight for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (champs)
We're in the Capitol Wrestling Center and starting the show with a video package hyping the falls count anywhere match between Leon Ruff and Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and the women's tag team championship match.
We're starting with falls count anywhere!
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott
Ruff can't wait for the bell to ring and Swerve makes him wait. The bell rings and Ruff charges right away into a knee to the face! Swerve takes control of the match although a brief amount of offense from Ruff. The action goes to the outside when Swerve throws Ruff spine first into the apron! That looked awesome. Swerve sends Ruff into the barricade. Swerve slams Ruff on the ramp and gets a near fall. Back in the ring they go where Swerve continues to have control. Kicks by Swerve with Ruff into the ropes and he puts Ruff on the top turnbuckle and goes up with him. SUPERPLEX BY SWERVE!! Near fall for Swerve! Ruff rolls to the outside. Swerve goes to the apron and tries a kick but Ruff avoids it and hangs Swerve upside down in the ropes. Ruff takes control and hits a nice kick. Leap from Ruff and Swerve swats him in mid air. Swerve sends Ruff into the barricade and throws a tool box at Ruff that just misses him. We go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, the action spills into the crowd and Swerve power bombs Ruff into some lockers. Swerve sends a road case into Ruff and admires his handy work. They make their way back to the ramp.
We come back with Swerve still in control. Ruff sends Swerve into the stage lighting. Ruff flips off the stage to take out Swerve for a near fall. Both men make it back to the ring. Ruff tries a spring board but Swerve cuts it off. On the top rope, Swerve tries a superplex but RUFF COUNTERS WITH A CRUCIFIX BOMB!! 1...2...NO!! Swerve rolls to the apron and they exchange blows. Ruff tries a power bomb but Swerve blocks! RUFF WITH A REVERSE RANA FROM THE APRON SENDS SWERVE TO THE FLOOR!!! Swerve rolls to his stomach to avoids being pinned. Swerve smiles and tells Ruff he's nothing. They trade counters and SWERVE PLANTS RUFF ON THE FLOOR!! Near fall! Swerve sends Ruff into the steps. Swerve charges but Ruff avoids and Swerve hits the steps. RUFF LEAPS OFF THE STEPS AND HITS SWERVE IN THE KNEE WITH THE TOOL BOX!! Back in the ring, RUFF WITH A FROG SPLASH!! 1...2...NO!! Ruff targets the knee of Swerve with a submission and Swerve is able to escape. JUMP SPINNING CUTTER OUT OF THE CORNER BY RUFF!! They go to the outside and another cutter by Ruff! He sends Swerve over the barricade. RUFF CLIMBS SOMETIHNG AND LOOKS TO JUMP ONTO SWERVE BUT AJ FRANCIS GRABS RUFF OUT OF THE AIR AND DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS HIM BACK FIRST ON THE BARRICADE!! Back in the ring, SWERVE HITS RUFF WITH THE JML DRIVER FOR THE WIN!! Awesome match to kick off the show! Well done by both men!
W: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott via pin @ 15:20
We see Balor arriving to the building.
Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory are talking backstage. Gargano says William Regal has been ducking his calls all day so they're just going to his office. Regal is talking to Scarlett in his office. Regal says he's in meeting. Gargano tells Scarlett he's the number one champ. Gargano wants to talk to Regal later. Theory hits on Scarlett and Gargano has to pull him away.
Asher Hale vs. Cameron Grimes
Grimes with a go behind and slams Hale to the mat. Grimes show boats and Hale takes control with a side head lock. It's short lived and Grimes with a shoulder tackle off the ropes. Hale responds with a drop kick and then with kicks to the legs of Grimes. Grimes takes control and beats down Hale in the corner with a series of strikes. They trade kicks and Grimes takes down Hale with an uppercut. Hale with more kicks and Grimes holds onto the ropes. Hale grabs both legs and hits a nice dragon screw! TORNADO DDT BY HALE FOLLOWED BY A MISSILE DROP KICK!! 1...2...NO!! Hale misses a kick but Grimes catches him with a knee. Grimes plants Hale with a slam in the middle of the ring. CAVE IN BY GRIMES! IT'S OVER!! Short and sweet.
W: Cameron Grimes via pin @ 3:06
McKenzie Mitchell is with Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro. They talk about Mei Ying. They're not concerned with her anymore. They'll be watching the women's tag match closely. They want the next shot. FRANKY MONET INTERRUPTS! She loves their fighting spirit. She says her and the dog believe in them sarcastically.
Cameron Grimes celebrates backstage. He says he's going to the club. Ever-Rise is here to hang out with him. Grimes isn't interested in partying with them. He's going to the VIP room.
The Grizzled Young Veterans are in the ring. They run down the crowd and address Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. They claim they should be celebrated but they're interrupted!
Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
Drake and Ciampa will start. They lock up and Drake backs Ciampa to the corner. Off the ropes they go and Ciampa with a shoulder tackle. Quick pin and a kick out. Ciampa with a head scissors. Drake escapes and Ciampa covers him for a near fall. Tag to Thatcher who works on the left arm of Drake. Drake is able to get free and goes to his corner. Tag to Gibson. Lock up and Thatcher targets his arm. Thatcher with a take down. More arm work by Thatcher and he hits Gibson with a knee to the spine. Gibson counters and goes after an ankle with an ankle lock. Thatcher regains control with a sleeper. Gibson signals for Drake to come in. He hits Thatcher with a boot. Ciampa comes in to stop that. Thatcher and Ciampa club the GYV in stereo and we head to a commercial.
Back from the break, Thatcher with uppercuts in the corner to Drake. Thatcher sends Drake to the opposite corner but he flips over and makes an illegal tag. Thatcher pulls Drake back in the ring. Drake grabs Thatcher's ear to regain control. The beat down starts and Gibson tags back in. Double team by the GYV and Gibson gets a near fall. Gibson works on the head and neck of Thatcher with a submission. Thatcher fights free. Drake tags in and Thatcher kicks him away. Tag to Ciampa! Ciampa takes out both GYV! Clotheslines in the corner! Chops to Drake in the corner. Thatcher tags back in and he unloads on Drake in the corner. Tag to Ciampa. Knee strike! Double chops by Ciampa and Thatcher. Running knee to the jaw of Drake by Ciampa!! 1...2...NO!! Ciampa bites the hand of Drake and tags Thatcher. Thatcher grabs a leg but Drake kicks his way free. Thatcher prevents a tag but Drake eventually tags Gibson. Thatcher with a belly to belly. Drake breaks up the cover. ALL FOUR MEN BRAWL!! Ciampa clotheslines Drake out of the ring and goes with him. Uppercuts by Gibson to Thatcher. They trade blows. Double underhook suplex by Thatcher! 1...2...NO!! Thatcher goes after the arm looking for an arm bar. Drake gets back in the ring and Ciampa tries to stop him. Drake kicks Ciampa into the announce table. Drake dives to the outside to take out Ciampa. Back in the ring, GIBSON HITS THATCHER WITH A SPINNING NECK BREAKER!! 1...2...NO!! Drake wants a tag but Ciampa pulls him off the apron. Uppercut by Gibson. THE REF IS DISTRACTED BY CIAMPA!! THATCHER HITS GIBSON WITH A SHOE!! ARM BAR BY THATCHER!! GIBSON TAPS!! Solid technical match that delivered as you'd expect.
W: Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher via submission @ 14:25
Gargano and Theory are backstage and threaten to bust down the door of Regal's office. Theory is about to punch the door and Regal comes up behind them. Gargano complains about his title match against Bronson Reed. Regal says that match is still happening. Regal then tells Theory that he has a match against Kross now for what he said to Scarlett.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott celebrates backstage with AJ Francis and his crew. Swerve is asked what happened tonight. Swerve says he beat Leon Ruff just like he said he would.
A video package hypes the Sarray and Zayda Ramier. They'll face each other tonight.
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett make their way to the ring. Scarlett hands Kross a mic. Three weeks ago, Kross says he made things crystal clear. All you have to do is step up and roll the dice. Kross says he was only met with people who claim he isn't afraid of him. Kross says he isn't afraid either. Kross says what is everyone waiting for? Let's fight! Kross isn't going to wait for someone to show up and stab him in the back. Kross talks about what he's going to do to Austin Theory next week. HERE COMES KYLE O'REILLY!! O'Reilly takes off his hat and bows to Scarlett. O'Reilly has a mic and says he gets why Kross thinks everyone should be afraid. Pure dominance. O'Reilly says he came out to tell Kross to his face that he isn't afraid of him and he wants the NXT Championship. O'Reilly says this is the match he wants and he thinks Kross wants it too. HERE COMES PETE DUNNE!! Dunne wants to know if they're having a laugh and he doesn't care who wants to see this match. Dunne doesn't care about the new O'Reilly. Dunne says the truth is that he's the baddest man in NXT. Dunne says for someone to prove him wrong. HERE COMES FINN BALOR!! Balor says he's already beat Dunne and O'Reilly. Balor is about to address Kross and ATTACKS HIM!! ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE BETWEEN ALL FOUR MEN!!! SECURITY IS OUT TO TRY TO SEPARATE THEM!! Kross knocks Balor off the apron! KROSS WITH A SAITO SUPLEX TO A SECURITY GUARD! Kross and Balor have a stare down. GARGANO AND THEORY ATTACK KROSS FROM BEHIND! SAITO SUPLEX FOR THEORY!! Gargano super kicks Kross. GARGANO AND THEORY BOTH SUPER KICK KROSS AND GARGANO LAYS OUT KROSS WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN TITLE!!
McKenzie catches up to Gargano and Theory during the break. They're leaving! McKenzie asks about the women's tag title match. Gargano says they're getting ready for the celebration.
Zayda Ramier vs. "Warrior of the Sun" Sarray
They shake hands to start. Lock up and Ramier takes Sarray to the mat. They trade counters and Sarray with a knee strike. Side head locks by both. Sarray with a drop kick takes down Ramier. Ramier takes Sarray to the corner and hits a couple strikes. They trade counters and Ramier goes from a leap frog to a STF! Sarray gets to the ropes. Kick by Sarray and a roll up for a near fall. Sarray plants Ramier in the middle of the ring. Sarray locks in a submission but Ramier gets to the ropes. Ramier is leaning across the bottom rope and Sarray hits her with a sweet drop kick! Fisherman suplex by Sarray gets a near fall. Sarray with a missile drop kick off the top! Ramier fights back with forearms. Sarray with another drop kick. Sarray tries to drop kick in the ropes again but misses. Near fall for Ramier. Ramier takes Sarray to the corner and hits an uppercut. Sling blade by Ramier for a near fall. Spin kick by Sarray followed by a German! ANOTHER GERMAN WITH A SICK LANDING! THAT DOES IT!
W: Sarray via pin @ 4:40
Backstage, Imperium talks to WALTER on an iPad. He's speaking German so I don't know what he's saying. Alexander Wolfe walks off at the end.
For the second week in a row, we get a Diamond Mine vignette. Not sure who's coming.
A vignette hypes Throwback Smackdown this Friday.
Backstage, Sarray checks on a fallen Zayda Ramier. Toni Storm is there and Zoey Stark gets in her face.
Jake Atlas vs. LA Knight
Knight runs down Atlas before the match. Atlas with an arm drag to begin and he controls the arm of Knight. Another arm drag by Atlas but Knight fights back. Knight with kicks in the corner. Off the ropes they go, Knight runs into a boot. Another kick by Atlas. Knight rolls outside. Atlas looks for a dive but Knight cuts that off. Kick on the apron by Knight followed by a spring board shoulder block. Knight takes control. Snap mare by Knight but he misses a knee drop. Atlas with right hands that look awful. Knee strike by Atlas follow by a German! Near fall for Atlas. Knight sends Atlas face first into the middle turnbuckle. Knight puts Atlas on the top turnbuckle. Atlas fights him off. They trade counters and THEN KNIGHT WITH THE CUTTER TO WIN!!
W: LA Knight via pin @ 3:06
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell are backstage. LeRae says it's their night. They talk about their match. DEXTER LUMIS appears in the window holding flowers. LeRae notices and closes the blinds before Hartwell can see him.
Toni Storm backstage promo now. She calls Zayda Ramier the flavor of the month. She says Ramier doesn't deserve to be here or basically breath the same air as her. Storm says she brought Zoey Stark into this business and she can take her out of it.
Legado del Fantasma is in the ring now. Escobar says we've heard him talk about blood, heritage, legacy. We've seen him become NXT Cruiserweight Champion and the undisputed emperor of lucha libre. Last week, we all witnessed and iconic moment. A premonition. He will recover what's rightfully his. Wilde and Mendoza tell MSK they haven't forgotten about them. They says MSK hasn't beaten them but they've beaten MSK. They says we know what needs to happen next. They want a tag title shot. Escobar says the measure of man is now what he does for himself but what he does for his brothers. KUSHIDA IS ON THE TRON! Kushida says Escobar crossed the line and says he'll put up the title next week! Escobar accepts!
Sit down interview with Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez. Beth Phoenix asks how Raquel plans to stop Mercedes. Raquel says pure power. Raquel says she respects Mercedes to which Mercedes questions that. Mercedes says she's hungry. Mercedes says when Raquel looks in her eyes, Raquel cuts her off and says she sees a woman who's ass she's going to kick. Mercedes says everyone may be afraid of Raquel but she isn't. Mercedes calls Raquel cookie cutter. Raquel says she's done more in a year that Mercedes has done her whole career. Hard to argue that. Mercedes plans to end the title reign. Raquel says Mercedes is the first challenger but won't be the last.
Shotzi and Ember head to the tank and Franky's dog is sitting in it. Shotzi says the dog is cute and Ember says no because it crapped in the tank. So they're not riding tonight
The main event is next!
Cameron Grimes is out on the town heading to the club. He runs into the bouncer. The bouncer isn't letting him in but Grimes keeps telling him who he is. TED DIBIASE PULLS UP IN A LIMO!! He gets in! EVERYBODY HAS A PRICE!!
The Kushida vs. Santos Escobar match will be two out of three falls! Commentary runs down next week.
Street Fight for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (champs)
The Way attacks during introductions and we're under way. The brawl goes to the outside. Indi sends Shotzi into the barricade. Indi sets up a table and Candice gets a bunch of chairs from under the ring. The champs regain control. Ember is paired off with Candice and Shotzi with Indi. Ember gets trash cans out. Shotzi bounces Indi face first off the table. Ember sends Candice back first into the barricade. In the ring, the champs isolate Indi. Drop toe hold by Shotzi and basement drop kick by Ember. Ember puts a trash can over Indi's head. Double drop kick to the trash can. Candice breaks up the pin. Candice sends Ember out of the ring. Candice with a kick to the face of Shotzi. Shotzi rolls outside with Ember. Candice misses a baseball slide and both Shotzi and Ember hit Candice in the head with trash can lids! Ember and Shotzi get another table out and put it in the ring. Indi is back to send Ember into the barricade. Indi drops Shotzi face first on the apron. Indi puts Ember across the barricade and kicks her in the face! Indi sets up chairs on the outside. Four of them to be exact. Here comes Shotzi. Indi wants to suplex Shotzi on the chairs but Ember is back to hit Indi with a face buster on the chairs. The champs out a chair on the four chairs and put Indi on it. The champs look for a double team but CANDICE SPRAYS THEM WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER! We go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, Indi gets a ladder from under the ring. The challengers make a ladder bridge from the apron to the barricade. Candice controls Ember in the ring while Indi fights Shotzi on the outside. Candice sets up a table in the corner of the ring. Indi comes back in the ring and Candice gets a chair. Candice steps on Ember and wedges the chair in the corner.
We're officially back. The champ are trying to make a come back. Enziguri by Shotzi to Indi. Double team on Candice. They send Candice shoulder first into the ring post and she falls to the outside. Shotzi chokes Indi with her legs in the corner and Ember chucks a chair at Indi. DOMINATOR COMBO TO CANDICE BY THE CHAMPS! Indi breaks up the pin. Ember with a kick to Candice and she falls on the ladder bridge. They take out Indi in the corner. SHOTZI GOES TO THE TOP AND SENTON TO CANDICE ON THE LADDER!! THE LADDER BREAKS!! In the ring, EMBER BOUNCES INDI OFF THE TABLE! IT DOESN'T BREAK EXCEPT A SMALL CRACK ON THE BOTTOM !! 1...2...NO!! Shotzi brings the ladder in but Indi kicks it into her and Ember. Candice is back in! Indi puts the ladder draped across the ropes and puts Shotzi on it. SPRING BOARD MOONSAULT BY CANDICE ONTO SHOTZI WHO'S ON THE LADDER!! 1...2...Ember breaks it up! Ember with a punch to Candice and pump kick to Indi! INDI SPINE BUSTERS EMBER ON THE LADDER!! 1...2...Shotzi saves it! Shotzi and Indi go to the outside where Indi sends Shotzi into the plexiglass. Indi clears the announce table. Shotzi hits Indi with something and puts her on the table. SHOTZI CLIMBS THE SCAFFOLDING AND SPLASHES INDI THROUGH THE TABLE!! Damn!! "This is awesome" chants. Candice jackknife covers Ember for a near fall. Ember powers bombs Candice!! 1...2...NO!! Ember looks for the Eclipse but Candice blocks. Shotzi is back! Candice fights her off. Candice puts Ember on the table outside and INDI WITH A SPRING BOARD ELBOW DROP THROUGH IT!! Back in the ring, CANDICE HITS SHOTZI WITH BRASS KNUCKLES AND THEN WITH THE WICKED STEP SISTER ON A CHAIR!! WE GOT NEW CHAMPS!! This was all kinds of chaos but in a good way! Candice finally wins a championship. Much deserved.
W: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell via pin @ 15:32
Candice and Indi celebrate on the ramp to end the show!
Next Week:
Non-Title Match: Austin Theory vs. Karrion Kross (NXT Champion) w/ Scarlett
2 out of 3 Falls Match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar vs. Kushida (champ)
NXT Women's Championship Match: Mercedes Martinez vs. Raquel Gonzalez (champ)
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