NXT Great American Bash 2021: Cole/O'Reilly Main Events; Title Changes Hands; Surprise Return!
Here's what's on tap for tonight’s NXT Great American Bash:
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. MSK (champs)
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Johnny Gargano meet face-to-face
Million Dollar Championship Match - If Grimes loses, he comes Knight's butler: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight (champ)
Hit Row to host Championship Cypher
NXT Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Zoey Stark & Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (champs)
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole
We're opening tonight's show with an awesome video package highlighting tonight's card and it has a Dusty Rhodes voice over. Commentary welcomes to us the show! Tonight's show is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. Never had one! Can anyone recommend? Starting with men's tag action!
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
MSK (champs) vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
"Ciampa's going to kill you" chants to begin! Ciampa and Carter are starting. Lock up and Ciampa backs Carter to the corner. Ciampa works an arm but Carter flips out of it only to get chopped. They run the ropes and Carter hits a spring board corkscrew! We get a stand off. Thatcher tags in. They jockey for position until Thatcher tries to manipulate the joints. Thatcher with strikes and some to Lee as well. Ciampa comes in to help Thatcher and they club the chests of Lee and Carter respectively. Thatcher with a chin lock on Lee. The crowd is hot for this! Thatcher with a knee to the ribs. Thatcher bends Lee's leg back to where he almost kicks his own back. Ciampa gets a tag and stomps Lee. Big chop from Ciampa backs Lee to the corner and he follows with a running knee! Near fall for Ciampa before going to a chin lock. Lee fights to his feet and avoids a slam. Ciampa charges into a drop kick by Lee. Lee with a running elbow and Carter gets a tag. They double team Ciampa and Carter hits an enziguri. Carter hits a kick and Ciampa rolls outside. Carter wants a moonsault but Thatcher pushes Ciampa out of the way to take the move himself on the outside. Carter gets up only to be clotheslined by Ciampa on the outside as we go to a break.
We're back with Ciampa taking it to Carter. Ciampa tries a back suplex but Carter lands on his feet and tags Lee. Lee builds momentum and goes to run the ropes but Thatcher low bridges him. Ciampa hits Lee with knees to the back when Lee tries to get back in the ring. Tag to Thatcher who goes after a leg. Lee kicks his way free and tags Carter. Double team kicks by MSK. Carter with an assisted SHOOTIN STAR PRESS!! Thatcher kicks out at 1. Thatcher with a belly to belly on Carter. Ciampa tags back in and beats on Carter in the corner. Quick tags by Ciampa/Thatcher to isolate Carter. Carter tries to fight out of the corner but Ciampa hits a wicked knee strike! Both men trade forearms in the center of the ring now. Carter with a take down. Ciampa throws him off! Ciampa charges into a knee strike! Lee tags in. Lee builds momentum and hits Thatcher with a 619 in the corner. Ciampa is legal though. CIAMPA HITS PROJECT CIAMPA!!! 1......2.....NO!!! Ciampa wants the Fairy Tale Ending but Lee blocks. Lee hits a suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Thatcher tags in. As does Carter. Thatcher wants a submission but Carter rocks him. Ciampa tags himself in and takes Carter to the top rope. Ciampa wants an Air Raid but Carter wiggles free and super kicks Ciampa in the face. Lee tags in. They double team Ciampa in the corner. CARTER HITS A SWANTON!! Lee tags in. LEE WITH A CORKSCREW OFF THE TOP!!!! 1.....2.....Thatcher pulls Lee out!!! Thatcher hits Carter with an uppercut and throws Lee in the ring. Thatcher tags in. FAIRY TALE ENDING BY CIAMPA!!! THATCHER LOCKS LEE IN AN ANKLE LOCK!!!! CARTER SAVES IT!!! LEE CRADLES THATCHER FOR THE WIN!!! Awesome pace to start the show even if the finish was anti-climatic.
W: MSK via pin @ 15:29
Commentary hypes Knight vs. Grimes.
Battery is 91%.
We see Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly arriving earlier today (separately).
William Regal and Samoa Joe are in the ring. Regal has a mic. Regal says with the way things have gone down, it's obvious he needs to address the Johnny Gargano/Karrion Kross situation. Regal asks Gargano to come to the ring and he does. NXT Champion Karrion Kross comes out immediately after. Regal says things need to be settled. Gargano says the formality is Kross sucks! Gargano says he's rent free in Kross' head and says Kross isn't in his league. Gargano says Kross tried to run him over because he is afraid to face him. Regal makes a NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH FROM NEXT WEEK!!! Kross denies being afraid of Gargano. Kross says Gargano almost got himself run over. Kross says he wakes up wanting to stay NXT Champion, main event WrestleMania, and become WWE Champion. Kross says he knows Gargano thinks he can beat Kross. The reality is that this isn't a comic book. It's reality. Regal says SAMOA JOE WILL BE THE SPECIAL REF FOR THE MATCH! Gargano is happy about this and says it's funny Kross mentioned Candice's pants because Gargano thinks Kross couldn't lace Candice's boots!! Kross says why wait until next week? Joe steps in front of Kross.
A video package hypes Knight vs. Grimes. It's next!
Kushida promo. He talks about being attacked by Diamond Mine. He says he's ready.
Million Dollar Championship Match
If Grimes loses, he becomes Knight's butler
LA Knight (champ) vs. Cameron Grimes
Grimes charges and hits a boot right away. Knight falls to the outside. Grimes with a kick from the apron! Grimes throws Knight back in the ring and hits a crossbody from the top rope for a near fall. Side head lock by Grimes now. Knight gets to his feet and takes down Grimes with an elbow. Knight with stomps in the corner. The crowd chants "You suck" at Knight. Grimes turns it around but Knight hangs him up on the top rope. Knight wants a sling shot shoulder tackle but Grimes decks him in the face. Standing moonsault by Grimes for a near fall. Grimes goes back to a chin lock. Knight is up and tries a back suplex but Grimes lands on his feet. Grimes with a waistlock but Knight is able to send Grimes into the turnbuckle. Grimes comes off the ropes but Knight catches him in a power slam as we go to a picture in picture break.
Knight controls the majority of the break. We come back to Knight still in control. Grimes creates separation with a jaw breaker. Knight sends Grimes into the ropes and they both run them. Grimes hits his flipping slam!! Both men are down. They get up and trade punches in the middle of the ring. Knight grabs the hair of Grimes but Grimes with rights and lefts to back Knight into the ropes. Grimes builds momentum and plants Knight with a slam!! 1....2....NO!!! Grimes with a clothesline in the corner. Grimes tries a German but Knight blocks. Knight throws Grimes over the ropes but he skins the cat! Knight hits a reverse Death Valley Driver! Near fall!! Back slide by Grimes gets a near fall. Grimes charges in the corner but is sent to the apron. He goes up top. Knight runs up with him and SUPERPLEXES GRIMES!!! 1.....2....NO!!! Knight goes to the outside to grab the championship. The ref sees it. Grimes with a roll up and Knight counters with a roll up using the tights! 1.....2.....NO!! POISON RANA BY GRIMES!!!! 1.....2.....NO!!! Grimes can't believe it! Grimes wants the Cave In but Knight rolls out of the ring. Grimes goes to the apron where Knight pulls him down. KNIGHT SPIKE DDTS GRIMES ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE OUTSIDE!!! GRIMES MAKE IT IN AT 9!!! Knight stalks him. KNIGHT HITS THE BFT (CUTTER) AND IT'S OVER!!!! Solid stuff and now we get to see Grimes as the butler for a bit.
W: LA Knight via pin @ 13:15
Post match, Knight taunts Grimes and says he has a lot of stuff for him to do.
NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai are interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. McKenzie is asks who they think will win the women's tag and Raquel gets pissed. Dakota says she would be walking out as a champion tonight if not for Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon. They say Ember is a bug they will squash and they plan to put Shotzi on the shelf again.
The competitors for the 2021 Breakout Tournament are brought on stage. They are: Trey Baxter, Carmelo Hayes, Andre Chase, Josh Briggs, Ikemen Jiro, Joe Gacy, Odyssey Jones, and Duke Hudson. The tournament begins next week! Wade Barrett hypes the importance of it. Jiro faces Hudson next week.
NXT Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Zoey Stark & Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (champs)
Shirai and Hartwell start it. Hartwell with a go behind and takes Shirai to the mat. They trade counters before a stand off. Shirai takes down Hartwell and barely hits a kick as Hartwell rolls away. LeRae tags in and tries a couple covers. Hartwell comes back in but runs into double boots in the corner. Shirai takes out LeRae and then Hartwell with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Shirai takes Hartwell to the corner and tags Stark. They double suplex Hartwell. Back slide by Stark for a near fall followed by a super kick to the face. They trade counters in the corner. Elbow by Hartwell and she follows that but suplexing Stark gut first onto the ropes. Stark falls to the outside as we go to a break.
Back from the break, Hartwell is wearing down Stark. Stark is up and arm drags Hartwell. Hartwell prevents a Stark tag but Stark hits a kick. LeRae and Shirai both get tags! THEY BRAWL!!! Shirai gets the upper hand and hits a flapjack. 619 by Shirai! SPRING BOARD DROP KICK BY SHIRAI!!! 1....2.....NO!!! LeRae is sent to the corner. Stark gets a tag as they double team LeRae. Super kick/back breaker combo by Shirai/Stark! Stark gets a near fall on LeRae! Shirai gets a tag and goes to the top. Shirai misses a moonsault! LERAE WITH THE GARGANO ESCAPE!! Hartwell stops Stark from breaking it up and LOCKS STARK IN SILENCE!! Shirai rolls into a cover so LeRae is forced to break. Shirai hits LeRae with a palm strike uppercut. Shirai goes to the top and Hartwell distracts. LeRae with a suplex! Stark breaks up a pin. Hartwell gets a tag. Hartwell with a spinning slam on Shirai! 1....2....NO!! Hartwell can't believe it. LeRae gets a tag. Shirai with a roll up near fall. LeRae kicks Shirai in the face. LeRae tags Hartwell. THE LIGHTS GO OUT!!! BATTERY CHARGE 100%!!!! IT'S TEGAN NOX!!!! LERAE LOOKS SHOCKED!! Shirai with a kick to Hartwell who goes into LeRae and knocks LeRae out of the ring. Stark tags in. STARK HITS HARTWELL WITH A K-360 TO WIN THE TITLES!!! Another solid match with the champs taking the loss due to Nox's return.
W: Zoey Stark & Io Shirai via pin @ 11:33
Post match, TEGAN ATTACKS CANDICE!!! Stark and Shirai celebrate!
Kyle O'Reilly is warming up.
Hit Row is next!
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Toni Storm. Storm says she deserves a championship match. Storm says Raquel Gonzalez knows Storm can beat her. Storm is asked about Sarray wanting a match with her. Storm says she's won more matches in Japan than Sarray. Storm declines the match.
During the break, DEXTER LUMIS came out to help carry Indi Hartwell to the back.
Ashante "Thee" Adonis welcomes us to the Championship Cypher celebration on the stage. B-FAB and Top Dolla bless us with a rap. Top Dolla raps us his background and why he's called "Top Dolla". They put all of the other champions on notice. Now we get to hear from Swerve. Swerve has his own rap now. Top Dolla tells us to put respect on Swerve's name. They all rap their theme song as they head to the ring. The rapping just continues and continues. Swerve was alright but this went way too long.
We finally cut to a Cole/O'Reilly video package. It's next!
Regal and Joe are asks about how tonight has gone. McKenzie asks Joe about being the ref next week. Joe says he won't change the course of the match or get involved unless provoked. Joe wishes both men good luck.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole
Lock up and O'Reilly backs Cole into the ropes. Clean break. Heel trip by Cole but O'Reilly pulls Cole down by the leg. They trade counters until another stand off. O'Reilly backs Cole into the ropes again. O'Reilly with a kick and Cole rolls out of the ring as we go to a commercial.
We're back and both men trade submission counters. O'Reilly goes after the knee of Cole. Now O'Reilly targets the left arm of Cole. O'Reilly with knees to the back and then a running knee to the back and elbow. O'Reilly stomps the arm of Cole. Cole gets free with an elbow but runs into a kick. Cole heads to the outside. O'Reilly misses a jumping knee from the apron and Cole hits a neck breaker on the floor! Cole sends O'Reilly into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cole hits a pump kick for a near fall. Cole hits another neck breaker for a near fall. Cole takes O'Reilly to the corner and sends him to the opposite corner hard sternum first. Cole with a head scissors and the crowd is pretty much split 50/50. Cole with an elbow to the face of O'Reilly. Cole lifts O'Reilly but O'Reilly elbows free and hits Cole with a knee to the sternum. More knees by O'Reilly. Kicks now too and Cole goes down. O'Reilly with a running forearm in the corner and more arm work. O'Reilly with a double underhook take down and he holds on. Another one! DDT by O'Reilly for a near fall. O'Reilly goes back to the right knee of Cole and works on that. They trade counters and Cole hits a back stabber!!! 1....2.....NO!!! Cole tells O'Reilly that he'll always be better than him! More trash talk by Cole and he insults his wife!! O'Reilly tees off on Cole!! Cole escapes the corner and super kicks the leg of O'Reilly!! Cole slams O'Reilly's leg into the ring post multiple times and we go to a picture in picture break.
During the break, Cole continues to work on the injured leg of O'Reilly. We come back to both men slugging it out in the middle of the ring. Double clothesline takes both men down. Both men trade blows from their knees. To their feet now, O'Reilly gets the better of it but Cole with a pump kick. O'Reilly falls into the ropes and Cole with a single leg crab in the ropes. Cole breaks on four and O'Reilly falls to the apron. Cole goes after O'Reilly but O'Reilly dragon screws Cole across the middle rope. Both men want the brain buster but they're countered. More counters and Cole chop blocks O'Reilly! Cole hits a running knee to the face!! 1.....2.....NO!!! Cole wants Panama Sunrise but O'Reilly avoids it. O'Reilly catches a super kick and suplexes Cole!! Cole lands right on his neck!! O'Reilly with kicks to Cole's face. O'Reilly tackles Cole and mounts him. O'Reilly wants an arm bar but Cole blocks. O'Reilly with a cradle for a near fall. Cole blocks the heel hook and locks in a figure four!! O'Reilly rolls it over and Cole rolls it back over. O'Reilly gets free and transitions into a heel hook!!! Cole make the ropes!!! "This is awesome" chants. O'Reilly picks the leg but Cole with an enziguri. O'Reilly with a knee to the jaw and another kick! O'Reilly wants a German but enziguri by Cole!! O'Reilly falls to the floor on the outside. Cole goes to the apron. PANAMA SUNRISE ON THE FLOOR OUTSIDE!!!!! Cole throws O'Reilly back in the ring. 1....2....foot on the ropes!!! Cole sets up for the Last Shot but O'Reilly grabs the leg. O'Reilly misses a kick and super kick by Cole. O'Reilly turns Cole inside out! BRAIN BUSTER BY O'REILLY!! O'Reilly goes to the top but misses the knee drop! COLE HITS THE LAST SHOT!!!! 1.....2........NO!!!!!!! Cole goes to the second rope but O'Reilly pulls him off. O'Reilly misses a charge and Cole super kicks the knee. Cole wants Panama Sunrise but O'Reilly avoids it by using his knee. O'Reilly hurt his own knee though in the process. COLE HITS ANOTHER PANAMA SUNRISE!!! COLE HITS ANOTHER LAST SHOT TO WIN IT!!!! This is fantastic just like you'd expect it to be! Cole gets the revenge win and O'Reilly still looks good in defeat.
W: Adam Cole via pin @ 24:06
Cole celebrates to end the show!
Next Week:
Sarray in action
Breakout Tournament - First Round: Ikemen Jiro vs. Duke Hudson
NXT Championship Match - Special Referee: Samoa Joe: Johnny Gargano vs. Karrion Kross (champ)
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