NXT 8/26/2020: Ciampa Returns; Kross relinquishes title; Iron Man scheduled for next week!
Here’s whats on tap for tonight:
New NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett kick off the show
Tommaso Ciampa returns!
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Breezango vs. Imperium (champs)
NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match: Isiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Santos Escobar (champ)
An appearance by NXT North American Champion Damian Priest
NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai & Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
The show opens with highlights of NXT Takeover XXX.
We kick off the show with NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett! Karrion Kross does have his right arm in a sling because of the injury suffered at Takeover. Kross says he told us this would happen. He also says he warned us that everyone would suffer. Kross says at Takeover XXX, he kept his word. Kross admits he has a separated shoulder. Kross says he's a realist and understands they won't let him defend the NXT Championship in his condition. KROSS LAYS THE TITLE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING ALONG WITH A HOUR GLASS!! He says this is warning and changes nothing because doomsday is still upon us. Kross says god help the obstacles that will be in his path! It appears as though Kross has given up the NXT Championship!!!
WADE BARRETT IS A GUEST COMMENTATOR FOR THE WEEK!! I personally love Barrett and am excited for this!!
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Breezango vs. Imperium (champs)
Breezango attacks Imperium before the bell rings. Aichner and Fandango start the match. Aichner is in control early and makes blind tag to Barthel. Fandango gets the upper hand with a drop kick as we head to our first commercial,
During the commercial, Imperium trades tags and works on Fandango in the corner. It's all Imperium during the break.
We're back and Imperium is still working on Fandango. Imperium continues the double team and gets a near fall. Fandango avoids another double team and makes the tag to Breeze!! Breeze is a house of fire and running wild on the champs! Breeze eventually eats an uppercut and suplex. Barthel comes off the second rope but eats a kick and Breeze gets a near fall. Breeze works over Barthel. Breeze goes for the Unprettier but it's countered. Aichner gets tagged back in but Breeze is still in control. Tag to Fandango and he hits a leg drop off the top!! Aichner rolls to the outside but Fandango flips to the outside taking him out but takes a German by Aichner as we go to a commercial.
Back again and Aichner is working on Fandango in the middle of the ring. A moonsault gets a near fall for Imperium. Things break down as Breeze comes in. Aichner and Fandango are still the legal men though. Aichner gets a tag from Barthel. Imperium double teams Fandango and gets a near fall. Imperium tries a drive by drop kick combo but Fandango avoids it and tags Breeze. IMPERIUM TRIES THE EUROPEAN BOMB BUT EATS SUPER KICKS BY BREEZE!! FANDANGO HITS BOTH MEMBERS OF IMPERIUM WITH THE LEG DROP OFF THE TOP FOR THE WIN @ 15:17!! NEW CHAMPS!! Breeze and Fandango celebrate!!
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest is interviewed backstage and says he is still celebrating. TIMOTHY THATCHER interrupts and he wants a shot.
We see William Regal, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Matt Bloom talk in a board room about how to crown at new NXT champion since Karrion Kross relinquished the title. Tommaso Ciampa is up next!
Jake Atlas vs. Tommaso Ciampa
God help Atlas!! Ciampa backs Atlas to the corner and we get a clean break. CIAMPA GOES ON THE ATTACK!! WILLOW'S BELL BY CIAMPA AND IT'S OVER @ 0:51!! Ciampa continues to beat the hell out of Atlas after the match!! That's about what I expected!! Welcome back Ciampa!! CIAMPA SLING SHOTS ATLAS WHEN HIS HEAD IN UNDER THE RING!! ATLAS IS STRETCHERED OUT!! Atlas is on the stretcher with a neck brace and CIAMPA GIVES HIM ANOTHER WILLOW'S BELL ONTO THE FLOOR!!!
Candice LeRae video package where she talks about her history with Tegan Nox. She says they are like peanut butter and jelly. LeRae says she's on the right path and Nox could be on the patch too if she did things the Gargano way.
Interview with Bronson Reed. He's asked about Timothy Thatcher's comments. Reed wants a shot at Damian Priest. AUSTIN THEORY IS HERE!! Theory says Reed may be a champion when he turns 55!! REED SLAPS THEORY.
Mia Yim vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Mia was suppose to face Mercedes Martinez but Robert Stone says it isn't happening thanks to Rhea Ripley. SHOTZI BLACKHEART RUNS OVER STONE WITH HER TANK!! Robert Stone is carried to the back. The match starts and both ladies trade grappling counters. Shotzi hits a double leg drop to the midsection Jeff Hardy style. Blackheart gets a roll up for a near fall. Yim gets a near fall as well. Stale mate now as they have a stand off. Yim takes control and gets another near fall. Barrett;s commentary is comical as he calls Blackheart a "weirdo". A submission by Yim is turned into a near fall by Blackheart. Bulldog by Shotzi! Good back suplex by Blackheart for a near fall. Yim with a suplex to stop Blackheart's momentum. Senton by Blackheart! ANOTHER SENTON OFF THE TOP BY BLACKHEART AND SHE GETS THE WIN @ 4:31!! Commentary plays it up as a big upset! Yim looks pissed!
Regal is asked about the NXT Championship. He says he's going to the ring the make an announcement next!
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez are interviewed and asked about their tag match later. Dakota isn't worried because they are actually a team unlike Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley. Kai says she should be champ and Gonzalez says Ripley made a mistake by getting in her face.
William Regal is in the ring now and talks about the Takeover XXX main event. Regal says Kross has to relinquish his title. Regal wishes Kross a good recovery. Regal says next week on a Tuesday night episode of NXT, there will be a fatal four way match to determine the new NXT champion. It'll be Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole IN A 60 MINUTE IRON MAN MATCH!!
NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match
Isiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Santos Escobar (champ)
Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza accompany Escobar to the ring but then he sends them to the back. Escobar tries to take control early but Swerve uses an arm drag off the top to send Escobar to the outside and we go to a commercial.
We're back from the break and Escobar works on Swerve in the ring. Barrett and Vic Joseph talk about the fatal four way next week and Barrett says he will be back next week for that. Swerve works a submission and gets a back slide for a near fall. Chops and strikes by Escobar and Swerve tries to lock in another submissions. Escobar rolls to the outside. Escobar throws Swerve off the apron and into the plexiglass!!! Escobar beats Swerve down on the outside. Near fall for Escobar back in the ring. All Escobar at the moment. Double knees to the chest of Swerve in the corner by Escobar. Near fall. Both men fight in the corner. SWERVE GOES FOR A RANA BUT ESCOBAR COUNTERS AND POWER BOMBS HIM AS WE GO TO ANOTHER COMMERCIAL.
Back again and Escobar is in control. ESCOBAR SPITS IN SWERVE'S FACE!! Swerve is pissed!! Swerve beats him down in the corner!! Swerve hits a back elbow from the second rope. Swerve sends Escobar outside and then back flips out onto him!! Back in the ring, flat liner by Swerve!! Near fall. WILDE AND ESCOBAR ARE HERE!! They distract and Escobar hits a kick for a near fall. BREEZANGO IS HERE TO TAKE OUT WILDE AND MENDOZA!! German suplex by Swerve gets another near fall. Another big kick by Swerve for another near fall! Swerve plants Escobar in the corner and goes for a pin but Escobar grabs the rope. ESCOBAR ROLLS OUT OF THE RING AND PUTS ON A LUCHADORE MASK!! ESCOBAR HITS SWERVE WITH A HEAD BUTT AND GETS THE WIN @ 16:45!! Makes me wonder if something was in the mask. Escobar retains in a good match.
Johnny Gargano is interviewed and says he was inches away from breaking his neck last week. He still plans to fix NXT. Karrion Kross' injury has given him a golden opportunity. He is the iron man of NXT and next week he will prove it.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Drake Maverick is coming up next!
Finn Balor says the business comes full circle. The Prince will rise to the occasion as the four cornerstones of NXT meet. Balor says he will prove he is the center piece. Everyone will get what they want when Balor wins the title.
Kyle O'Reilly w/ Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong vs. Drake Maverick
Maverick attacks immediately!! All Maverick in the early going. Maverick takes O'Reilly out at the knee and O'Reilly goes to the outside. Maverick wipes out Fish and Strong on the outside with a swanton. Back in the ring, O'Reilly takes advantage. O'Reilly beats on Maverick but Maverick gets right back up and fights back. Senton by Maverick! O'Reilly gains the upper hand then both men trade strikes. O'Reilly works the leg but Maverick hits an enziguri. O'REILLY LOCKS MAVERICK IN A HEEL HOOK FORCING MAVERICK TO TAP @ 3:25!!! After the match, the UE attacks Maverick!! Fish gets a chair and HERE COMES KILLIAN DAIN TO MAKE THE SAVE!! DAIN USES THE CHAIR ON STRONG AND THEY BAIL!! DAIN FACES OFF WITH MAVERICK AND DECKS HIM!!
Highlights of the NXT Women's Championship match at Takeover XXX.
Rhea Ripley is interviewed backstage. Rhea admits she wants the NXT Women's Championship. She came out at Takeover to show Dakota and Raquel that Io is hers now.
Adam Cole says next Tuesday, he can make history again against the Mount Rushmore of NXT! Cole says now that he is done with Pat McAfee, he can focus on regaining his title. He'll reclaim the gold and that's undisputed!!
Io Shirai (NXT Women's champ) & Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
Ripley and Kai start. All Ripley early on as she over powers Kai. Kai tags Gonzalez. They trade blows and Io tags herself in! Io uses her speed to send Gonzalez outside the ring with a rana. Io sends Dakota to the outside with a kick and Gonzalez catches her as we go to a commercial.
The heels isolate Io during the break. Raquel uses her power to overwhelm Io and keep the heels in control. Kai is back in as Io tries to battle back,
Officially back from the break, Io hits a double stomp and tags Rhea! Rhea is a house of fire going crazy. Raquel helps Dakota and Rhea is pulled to the outside. Raquel takes over and gets a near fall. Ripley tries to fight back but Gonzalez isn't having it and over powers her. Kai back in now and works a submission. Ripley is able to make a tag to Shirai! Io picks up the pace and works on Dakota. Io blocks Dakota's kick and sends her foot into Raquel! Double knees to Kai! Io sends Raquel to the outside and gets a near fall on Kai! Kai hits a scorpion kick on Io! German with a bridge by Io on Kai but Raquel breaks up the count! The heels hit Ripley to make sure Io doesn't tag. The heels hit a kick to the face power slam combo but Io kicks out at 2!! Shirai tags Ripley but the ref doesn't see it!! MERCEDES MARTINEZ IS HERE TO TAKE OUT RIPLEY ON THE OUTSIDE!! Gonzalez plants Shirai but only gets a near fall!! Io is all alone now!! RIPLEY MAKES IT BACK AND TAGS HERSELF IN!! RAQUEL HITS RIPLEY WITH A POWER BOMB FOR THE WIN @ 10:13!! Good win for the heels even though they had help. It appears that Io isn't done with Dakota and Rhea seems to have a feud going on with Raquel and Mercedes. Dakota and Raquel celebrate to end the show!
Next Week:
Fatal Four Way 60 Minute Iron Man Match for the NXT Championship: Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole
Six Man Street Fight: Isiah "Swerve" Scott & Breezango (NXT Tag Team champs) vs. Legado del Fantasma
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