NXT 6/1/2021: Huge Takeover Match Announced; Cole Returns; Two Titles Defended; Plus More!
Here's what's on tap for tonight's NXT:
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Legado del Fantasma vs. MSK (champs)
NXT Championship #1 Contenders Triple Threat Match - Winner faces Karrion Kross at NXT Takeover: In Your House: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne
Kushida's Open Challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Non-Title Match: Zayda Ramier & Zoey Stark vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (NXT Women's Tag Team Champions)
Jake Atlas vs. LA Knight
We're in the Capitol Wrestling Center and we open with highlights of Karrion Kross vs. Finn Balor from last week. A new #1 contender will be named in a triple threat and a video package hypes that. The video package transitions to run down the rest of the night listed above. We're kicking off with the triple threat!
NXT Championship #1 Contenders Triple Threat Match
Winner faces Karrion Kross at NXT Takeover: In Your House
Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O'Reilly
Oney Lorcan and Austin Theory are banned from ringside. O'Reilly goes right after both men to begin. Dunne and O'Reilly trade blows. O'Reilly throws Gargano out of the ring and Dunne attacks O'Reilly from behind focusing on the arm. O'Reilly counters and tries a cross arm breaker. Gargano is back but O'Reilly gets him in a heel hook. Dunne locks O'Reilly in a submission. O'Reilly is sent to the outside and Dunne takes down Gargano with a side head lock. Back to their feet, shoulder tackle by Dunne and then Gargano takes down Dunne with a head scissors. Dunne regains control and wants a surfboard. O'Reilly is back to take out Dunne. O'Reilly with a knee to Gargano and an arm breaker takes him down. O'Reilly with knee strikes to the back and ribs of Gargano. Dunne is back in and grabs the arm of O'Reilly. DUNNE GRABS THE ARMS OF BOTH O'REILLY AND GARGANO!! Dunne stomps them both! Dunne with forearms to O'Reilly and Gargano in opposite corners. Gargano hits Dunne with an uppercut. O'Reilly picks the legs and double dragon screws both men. O'Reilly with an ankle lock on Dunne but Dunne rolls through and ankle locks O'Reilly. O'Reilly rolls through to send Dunne outside. Gargano wants One Final Beat DDT on O'Reilly but Dunne stops that. Gargano with a kick to Dunne in the process of tornado DDTing O'Reilly! Near fall for Gargano as we go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, Gargano with a snap mare and basement drop kick to O'Reilly. Gargano wants a suplex and Dunne is back. Dunne with a leap frog and he sends Gargano to the outside. Dunne works the arm of O'Reilly while Gargano is on the outside. Gargano gets to the apron but gets knocked back off. Dunne has a head scissors on O'Reilly and elbows O'Reilly's face. Dunne with a stomp to the arm of O'Reilly. Dunne with a shot to Gargano on the outside before turning back to O'Reilly in the ring. Dunne is in firm control at the moment.
We come back to Dunne hitting O'Reilly with knee strikes. Gargano gets back to the apron which distracts Dunne. O'Reilly chops down Dunne and hits Gargano with a series of strikes. O'Reilly with a forearm to Dunne followed by an arm breaker. Double underhook suplex from O'Reilly to Dunne and rolls through to hit another one. Gargano breaks up a pin! O'Reilly turns his attention to Gargano. Dunne brings O'Reilly to the floor and O'Reilly hits a knee from the apron. Gargano takes out O'Reilly and dives out onto Dunne. Back in the ring, it's Gargano and O'Reilly. Gargano with the diving spear through the ropes gets a near fall on O'Reilly! Gargano chops O'Reilly in the corner and tries to long dart him but O'Reilly counters and wants a back slide. Gargano bocks and Dunne is back to take them both out. Dunne power bombs O'Reilly for a near fall. Dunne with a suplex to Gargano for a near fall. Dunne bends the arm of O'Reilly and locks in a Kimura! Gargano stops that with a clothesline. O'Reilly sends Dunne out of the ring. Gargano rolls up O'Reilly for a near fall. O'Reilly gets the heel hook on Gargano but Dunne is back to break it up. DUNNE WANTS THE BITTER END TO GARGANO BUT GARGANO COUNTERS WITH A DDT!! Gargano with the long dart sending Dunne into O'Reilly! O'Reilly falls out of the ring. Near fall for Gargano. Gargano and Dunne trade punches from their knees. Back to their feet, O'Reilly is also back. O'Reilly with kicks but Gargano avoids one and rolls through with a kick. They all trade counters! O'Reilly takes out both men! All men are down! Gargano rolls to the apron and wants the spear gain but O'Reilly blocks it and locks in a guillotine. Dunne with a sleeper to O'Reilly! Gargano goes up and over and LOCKS IN THE GARGANO ESCAPE ON DUNNE!! O'Reilly was sent out of the ring in the process. Dunne targets Gargano's fingers forcing the break. DUNNE WITH THE BITTER END TO GARGANO!! 1...2....O'Reilly breaks it up!! O'Reilly and Dunne battle on the apron before going to the outside. They take each other out with a double clothesline. ADAM COLE IS HERE TO HIT O'REILLY AND DUNNE WITH A CHAIR!! COLE TAKES OUT THE REF AS WELL!! COLE GETS IN THE RING AND LAST SHOT TO GARGANO!!! HERE COMES WILLIAM REGAL!! He has security with him. Cole tells security to back up. COLE SUPER KICKS O'REILLY AGAIN!! Cole is being escorted out as we go to a commercial. We're back with Cole refusing to leave. Regal and company back him up finally. I guess the match is over?? Great stuff before the finish. Make you wonder where they're heading with this.
W: No Contest via Adam Cole interference @ 18:29
Ember Moon is walking past them on the way to the ring. She wants Raquel Gonzalez and won't go anywhere until she gets her. Gonzalez comes out and THEY BRAWL!! Regal and security are back out to separate them!! Tough night for Regal so far! DAKOTA KAI ATTACKS MOON FROM BEHIND! Regal finally realizes what happens and stops the chaos and checks on Moon.
Legado del Fantasma is backstage. Santos Escobar says they were with him when he won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship so he'll be there for them when they win tag gold. Legado says tonight is their coronation and they will take what's theirs.
LA Knight has a mic and says it's that time of the night. Knight name drops Ted DiBiase and says DiBiase will be watching in the back while he takes care of Jake Atlas. That match is next!
Earlier today we see Drake Maverick arriving. He's asked about getting involved with Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis. Ever-Rise is here to talk to him. HIT ROW arrives and punks out Maverick. Killian Dain is here to defend Maverick. Hit Row backs off.
LA Knight vs. Jake Atlas
Knight takes down Atlas but Atlas gets right back up. Knight talks to the crowd and Atlas gets a roll up near fall. Atlas picks up the pace to build some offense as he focuses on the arm of Knight. Atlas with a submission as he continues the arm work. Atlas with an arm drag. Knight gets to his feet and hits sunset flip but Atlas blocks a cover and gets a near fall of his own. Atlas with a kick to the jaw and an uppercut. Knight backs back as they trade blows. Knight with a stun gun dropping Atlas across the top rope. Knight takes control and DIBIASE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE RING! Knight focuses on DiBiase allowing Atlas to get a near fall. Big scoop slam by Knight followed by a fist drop. Knight chokes Atlas across the middle rope. All Knight at the moment and he stomps Atlas in the gut. Knight again chokes Atlas across the rope and then hits Atlas with a knee to the face. Knight leaps from the apron to the ring to hit Atlas with a shoulder tackle and taunts as we go to a break.
Back from the break, Atlas blocks a suplex as does Knight. Knight counters Atlas suplex attempt and hits a neck breaker. Knight tells DiBiase to watch. Knight looks for the Million Dollar Dream but Atlas backs him into the corner. Knight wants it again but Atlas avoids it and hits a cross body. Atlas fires up but Knight sends him out of the ring. Knight talks trash from the top rope. Atlas gets back in at 9 to break the count. Knight goes back on the attack. Knight goes to the middle rope and jumps into a right hand from Atlas. Jaw breaker by Atlas followed by a clothesline. Atlas is building momentum. CAMERON GRIMES IS OUT NOW! Atlas with a suplex for a near fall. Grimes is chatting with DiBiase. Atlas lifts Knight but Knights with a knee strike. Atlas hits a Death Valley Driver and a standing moonsault!! 1...2...NO!! Atlas goes to the top but Knight cuts him off. Knight goes up but Atlas knocks him off. Knight runs back up but is too busy talking to DiBiase and Grimes. ATLAS HITS KNIGHT WITH THE CARTWHEEL DDT FROM THE TOP FOR THE WIN!! Post match, Grimes laughs and DiBiase shakes his head before leaving. Knight screams for DiBiase to comes back as he pleads his case.
W: Jake Atlas via pin @ 12:40
Backstage, we see Oney Lorcan checking on Pete Dunne. Lorcan says to cut the camera because if it wasn't for Cole, Dunne would of won. Austin Theory is here and claims the same for Gargano.
McKenzie tries to get a word with Ted DiBiase. DiBiase says Knight missed the mark tonight. He starts talking about Grimes and ADAM COLE storms past them and it appears that he's heading to the ring. We go to a commercial.
A vignette hypes NXT Takeover: In Your House. It's June 13th.
Poppy is returning to NXT next week.
We're back with Adam Cole in the ring. He says he became NXT Champion 2 years ago today. He's the real #1 contender whether anyone wants to admit it or not. Cole has watched everyone for two months and they all failed. He took out three top stars in one night. He wants the NXT Championship back! That brings Cole to Karrion Kross. Cole sees right through him. Cole calls Kross an overrated muscle head that doesn't deserve to be in the same ring as him. Cole says it wasn't an accident that he was NXT Champion for 403 days. HERE COMES KROSS AND SCARLETT!! Kross grabs a mic and calls Cole "little man". Kross understands Cole's motive. Kross that no matter what Cole ever does, it'll never change things. When Kross signed with NXT, he says Cole became no longer special. Kross tells Cole to entertain him and Cole would be happy to. Cole says Kross will never be ADAM COLE BAY BAY!! Cole says Kross has the nice entrance, fog and girl to make him special but HE CAN'T LACE COLE'S BOOTS!! THE WHOLE WRESTLING WORLD KNOWS IT!! Cole wants the title shot! HERE COMES REGAL!! He says Cole can't weasel into the title match. KROSS TELLS REGAL TO SHUT UP!! KROSS TELLS REGAL THAT HE WANTS ALL OF THEM IN THE TITLE MATCH!! DUNNE, GARGANO, O'REILLY, AND COLE!! IT'S OFFICIAL!! WE GOT A FATAL FIVE WAY!! Cole backs off and clears the announce table outside. Cole tells Kross that he runs this show! Always has and always will!! Cole throws a water bottle at Kross before leaving through the crowd.
McKenzie is backstage with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. LeRae says Gargano will beat Kross and talks about Poppy next week. Hartwell has head phones on listening to 80s ballads. LeRae takes the head phones off of her and Hartwell looks heart broken. They walk off.
Wade Barrett tells us we know who is answering Kushida's open challenge. It's Carmelo Hayes and we get a video package for him. He's formerly known as Christian Casanova. The open challenge is next!
Xia Li cuts a promo is Japanese about how Mercedes Martinez tried to embarrass her back in the Mae Young Classic. Li challenges Martinez for Takeover.
Dexter Lumis walks by and picks up the head phones Indi Hartwell has listening to. He listens and walks off with them on.
NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match
Kushida (champ) vs. Carmelo Hayes
They lock up and Hayes takes down Kushida. Kushida gets back to his feet and we got a clean break. Lock up again and they trade counters. Hayes with a side head lock take down. Kushida gets back to his feet and they run the ropes. Kick and arm drags by Hayes followed by a nice drop kick. Kushida fires back with strikes backing Hayes to the corner. Hayes sends Kushida to the opposite corner but runs into a boot. Hayes stays on the offensive and hits a kick for a near fall. Kushida is up and goes after the arm and gets a side head lock. Hayes shoots Kushida into the ropes and Kushida hits a hand spring elbow. They go to the corner where Hayes hits a kick to the back of the head. Spring board leg drop by Hayes and gets a near fall. We go to a break.
We're back with Hayes in control. Kushida is able to back drop Hayes to the apron and then Kushida knocks him off the apron with hand spring kick. Kushida with a kick from the apron. Back in the ring, Kushida goes to the top but misses the jump. Super kick by Hayes. Hayes lifts and drops Kushida face first across his knee. Hayes with a spring board. Not sure what that was but he got a near fall. Commentary tells us that Cameron Grimes will face LA Knight at Takeover. Kushida and Hayes trade strikes. Kushida gets the upper hand with a series of kicks and an open palm strike. Head scissors by Hayes plants Kushida face first. 1...2...NO!! Hayes tells Kushida to get up and he measures him. Kushida avoids another head scissors by cartwheeling free and hitting a kick. They trade counters. Kushida wants a Kimura but it's blocked. Kushida with a shot to the temple. KUSHIDA LOCKS IN THE HOVERBOARD LOCK AND HAYES IS FORCED TO TAP!! Good match and Kushida was more the generous. Hayes got lots of time to shine!
W: Kushida via submission @ 10:58
Post match, Kushida has the crowd give Hayes a standing ovation.
MSK promo time. MSK says all Legado does is back handed tactics but that won't happen tonight. MSK says they will be walking out tonight as champs. All night! All day!
Franky Monet is in the make up chair where she's reading what critics are saying about her debut and how great it was. She says she's just getting started.
Non-Title Match
Zayda Ramier & Zoey Stark vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (NXT Women's Tag Team Champions)
Ramier and Hartwell are starting it. Hartwell goes on the attack right away. Scoop slam by Hartwell and tag to LeRae. Early near fall for LeRae and she takes Ramier to her corner. Hartwell tags back in who throws Ramier to the apron and continues the beat down. LeRae tags back in and gets another near fall. LeRae works the head and neck of Ramier. Another near fall for LeRae before going to a chin lock. Ramier turns it into a roll up for a near fall. LeRae with a forearm. Hartwell tags back in and lays out Ramier before talking smack to Stark. LeRae tags in as they continue to isolate Ramier. LeRae knocks Stark off the apron. Ramier is finally able to get a tag. Stark goes wild on the champs. Enziguri by Stark to LeRae for a near fall. Ramier tags in and Stark throws Ramier onto LeRae. Ramier goes after Hartwell but is taken out by LeRae. LERAE HITS RAMIER WITH WICKED STEP SISTER AND HARTWELL WITH THE FLYING ELBOW FINISHES IT!! Easy win for the champs.
W: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell via pin @ 3:37
Mercedes Martinez promo and she says Xia Li isn't the same girl she faced at the Mae Young Classic. Martinez promises to run through Li at Takeover.
Commentary runs down the matches that have been announced for Takeover.
The main event is next!
We get a Diamond Mine vignette. Opening soon!
McKenzie is backstage with Ember Moon asking how she feels. Moon asks how she's suppose to feel? Moon says Gonzalez if so dominant but Kai keeps fighting her battles for her. Moon plans to beat Kai next week and then take the women's championship from Gonzalez at Takeover.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Legado del Fantasma w/ Santos Escobar vs. MSK (champs)
We start with Lee and Wilde. They lock up and go behind by Lee who takes Wilde to the amt. Take down by Lee and the pace is quick. Escobar sits next to commentary. Side head lock by Lee. Wilde fights to his feet and takes down Lee by the hair. Trash talk by Wilde but Lee kicks him away. Wilde is taken to the champs corner where Carter tags in. Wilde fights out of the corner and takes Carter to the Legado corner. Mendoza gets the tag and he pounds Carter in the corner hitting boot to the ear. Wilde tags in and and hits Carter with an assisted moonsault for a near fall. Sliding cross bod by Wilde gets another cross body. Carter gets free and makes a tag to Lee. Kicks by MSK takes down Wilde. Double stomp by Carter. Wilde takes out Carter but Lee hits him with back flip kick. All four men are down. GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS COME TO RINGSIDE. CIAMPA AND THATCHER COME TO BRAWL!! All four men brawl to the back. MSK sends Legado to the outside. Carter with a moonsault to Mendoza and Lee dives to the outside onto Wilde as we go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, Lee works on the arm of Wilde. Arm drag by Lee but Wilde gets to his feet. Lee takes him back to the mat. Both men trade punches with Lee getting the better of it. Carter gets a tag and flips over the ropes onto Wilde. Front face lock by Carter. Carter goes back to Wilde's knee and drops a knee on it. Lee gets a tag and Wilde is able to sending a charging Lee into the middle turnbuckle face first. Legado takes control and Mendoza gets a tag.
We're back with Mendoza taking Lee to the corner. Lee is sent hard into the opposite corner but Mendoza runs into a boot. Mendoza with a nice jump kick to get a near fall. Mendoza stomps Lee before taking him to the challengers corner. Wilde gets a tag and they double team Lee including a double drop kick for a near fall. Wilde mounts and unloads on Lee with right hands. Snap mare by Wilde and he knees Lee in the back. Submission by Wilde now. Lee fights to his feet but runs into a back elbow. Near fall for Wilde. Quick tags by Legado now. Splash by Wilde followed by a moonsault off the second rope get a near fall. Mendoza chokes Lee with a boot in the corner. Lee counters Mendoza and plants him with a DDT. Both men are down. Carter and Wilde both get tags. Carter is a house of fire and an enziguri drops Wilde. Super kick to Mendoza. Lee gets a tag. ASSISTED SHOOTING STAR PRESS ON WILDE!! Near fall for Lee! Wilde stops the momentum with a jaw breaker to Lee. Mendoza makes a blind tag. MISSILE DROP KICK BY MENDOZA TO LEE!! SPINNING CORKSCREW NECK BREAKER FROM WILDE TO LEE!! 1...2...NO!! Carter gets knocked off the apron. Legado isolates Lee with quick tags. Wilde puts Lee on the top turnbuckle. POWER BOMB BY MENDOZA!! 1...2...NO!!! Wow! Lee fights back but Mendoza knocks Lee to the outside with a kick. ESCOBAR SENDS LEE INTO THE STEPS BEHIND THE REF'S BACK!! Back in the ring. LEGADO HITS THE RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP KICK COMBO!!! 1....2....CARTER BREAKS IT UP!! BRONSON REED SQUASHES ESCOBAR AGAINST THE BARRICADE!! THAT LEAVES MSK TO HIT WILDE WITH THEIR HART ATTACK BLOCK BUSTER COMBO FOR THE WIN!!! These guys have good chemistry and it showed again here. Looks like we're heading towards Reed/Escobar as well which shouldn't upset anyone.
W: MSK via pin @ 15:24
The show ends with MSK and Reed standing tall as Legado watches from the ramp.
Next Week:
Poppy returns
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez (NXT Women's Championship)
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