After improbably joining forces with NXT Champion Finn Bálor to challenge for the NXT Tag Team Titles, Karrion Kross decimated The Prince, sending a major message. Elsewhere, the war between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly escalated to unbelievable heights, NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER returned to the black-and-gold brand and laid out Tommaso Ciampa, Io Shirai demanded a match with Raquel González and more.
Photos | Highlights
WWE NXT results, March 17, 2021
NXT Champion Finn Bálor called out Karrion Kross
With their NXT Title showdown set for NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Finn Bálor and Karrion Kross were face to face for the second week in a row, and the tension was palpable with The Prince declaring Kross could not beat him. When Scarlett proclaimed she had foreseen both men "draped in gold," NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch joined the fray, insisting Bálor should be facing Pete Dunne and not Kross.
Little did Lorcan & Burch know they would be goaded by Scarlett into defending their titles later in the night — against the potent but volatile duo of Bálor & Kross.
Dexter Lumis def. Austin Theory
Austin Theory looked as intense as we've ever seen him in NXT, likely as a result of Dexter Lumis' hurtful comments about Theory's "abdominal region" — at least if one believes Johnny Gargano. "All Day" scored several near-falls, though eventually Lumis appeared to be ready to let bygones be bygones, offering Theory a handshake. Theory bought it hook, line and sinker, responding with a hug only to be pulled right into Silence by Lumis. Though Theory broke free, he found himself back in the potent hold moments later with Lumis putting him out for the win.
Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly were apprehended by police after an altercation
The already turbulent situation between Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly escalated to an entirely new gear Wednesday night. Incensed with O'Reilly costing him his NXT Championship Match last week, Cole refused to leave the ring until O'Reilly met him. But Cole instead got NXT General Manager William Regal, who informed Cole that O'Reilly was banned from the Capitol Wrestling Center after reaggravating his existing injuries.
Cole had harsh words for Regal, and that was just the beginning of the headaches for the NXT General Manager. Mr. Regal later found Cole and O'Reilly apprehended by police outside the CWC after an apparent altercation. Regal demanded both come together next week, promising a solution for the bitter rivalry that has spiraled out of hand in a hurry.
Legado del Fantasma def. Breezango; Jordan Devlin confronted Santos Escobar
Though they got the better of Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza a week earlier, Tyler Breeze & Fandango could not accomplish the same feat in this fast-paced, back-and-forth contest, with Breeze falling victim to Legado's devastating enziguiri-legsweep combination to seal the victory.
Afterward, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar demanded that fellow champion Jordan Devlin meet him, and The Irish Ace granted Escobar his wish. Devlin derided Escobar as merely a fill-in, and the Legado leader fired back by challenging Devlin to a bout at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver to finally prove who the true champion is.
Devlin answered emphatically without any words, blasting Escobar with a headbutt and hitting the Devlin Side before Wilde & Mendoza could come to Escobar's aid.
Dakota Kai def. Zoey Stark; Io Shirai demanded Raquel González face her
Already showing she could go toe to toe with Io Shirai, Zoey Stark impressed once again, taking Dakota Kai's hardest hits and coming back from more. Kai was even on her heels at several junctures, most notably following a spectacular leap to the outside from Stark. The Captain of Team Kick even received a dose of her own medicine, eating high-impact strikes from Stark.
But Kai took control, meeting Stark's springboard attack with a huge superkick and following up with a kick in the corner. Though that only netted Kai a near-fall — one that even stunned Raquel González at ringside — Kai connected with the Go-To Kick moments later to lock up the win.
Shirai hit the ring, making a beeline for González and shoving what appeared to be a match contract into her chest, once again making it clear what she wanted from "Big Mami Cool."
Tommaso Ciampa def. Marcel Barthel; WALTER returned to NXT
Tommaso Ciampa brought a calculated plan with him, ambushing Marcel Barthel before he could even get off the blocks. After deducting that Imperium were responsible for Timothy Thatcher's absence from the CWC tonight, it was a smart strategy deployed by The Blackheart, and one that earned him a victory after he dropped Barthel with Willow's Bell.
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER made a stunning return to the black-and-gold brand afterward, and Ciampa appeared eager to stand face to face with the dominant Austrian. But Barthel and Fabian Aichner attacked Ciampa from behind, setting him up for a thunderous chop and powerbomb from WALTER, allowing Imperium to stand tall.
LA Knight def. August Grey
While LA Knight walked the walk in his in-ring debut after talking the talk for weeks, he's not likely to be pleased after having his spotlight stolen by Bronson Reed. Reed came out with Knight's signature jacket during the bout and even tried it on for size, ripping it to shreds with his Colossal physique. Knight took care of August Grey with a huge facebuster, but he was livid afterward with Reed destroying his garb.
NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch def. NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Karrion Kross w/Scarlett
The dominant Karrion Kross immediately showed the champions they weren't dealing with an ordinary opponent, dropping Oney Lorcan on his neck before dealing Danny Burch the same fate moments later. Lorcan & Burch later took control with a double team while Finn Bálor was not in any rush to provide assistance for his TakeOver opponent.
While Bálor later found himself in trouble against the hard-hitting Lorcan, The Prince soon took control, and the action spilled to the outside, catalyzing a series of events that would not end well for the NXT Champion. Bálor's flying dropkick sent Lorcan crashing into Scarlett. By the time Kross recovered and realized what had happened, he snapped on Bálor, slamming him into the ringside barricades and sending him back into the ring to eat a big-time uppercut from Lorcan, who then pinned Bálor to retain the titles.
Kross disposed of Lorcan with a Doomsday Saito before refocusing his attention on Bálor and brutalizing The Prince, almost putting him unconscious with the Kross Jacket. Scarlett helped Bálor slowly find his footing, only to be smashed with an elbow to the back of his head from Kross.
Draping Balor's NXT Championship over his fallen body, Scarlett told The Prince that "Everything happens for a reason. You can't escape fate," and Bálor's odds of preserving his title at TakeOver suddenly looked much less probable.
The Tortured Artist takes on “All Day”
When Dexter Lumis abducted Austin Theory last month, that wasn’t even the most heinous thing NXT’s Tortured Artist did to “All Day,” at least from Theory’s perspective.
No, that distinction was earned by Lumis making disparaging remarks regarding Theory’s “abdominal region,” at least according to NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano.
Theory will get a chance to get back at his captor this Wednesday night when he goes one on one with Lumis.
Lumis has been a thorn in the side of The Way for weeks, even pinning Gargano in a singles contest.
Will Lumis land another significant blow against The Way? Or will Theory score some six-pack payback?
Tune in to NXT this Wednesday night at 8/7 C on USA Network to see what unfolds!
LA Knight to make his in-ring debut on NXT
The highly anticipated in-ring debut of LA Knight is finally upon us.
One of the hottest recent free agent signings in wrestling will hit the ring this Wednesday night on NXT for his first action, live at 8/7 C on USA Network.
If Knight has made one thing clear since he arrived on the black-and-gold brand, it’s that he marches to the beat of his own drum and no one else’s.
But Knight has already made at least one enemy. After costing Bronson Reed a bout against Cameron Grimes earlier this month, the Colossal Superstar nearly came to blows with Knight last week.
What will we see from Knight when he finally steps in the ring? And will Reed be keeping a close eye on the action?
Zoey Stark seeks signature win against Dakota Kai
Zoey Stark has already proven she can hang with the best competition NXT has to offer. Now she’ll look for a signature victory to take her to the next level.
Stark will face Dakota Kai in one-on-one action tonight on NXT at 8/7 C on USA Network.
Since arriving in NXT, Stark has impressed, most notably turning heads in a valiant effort against NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai.
Kai figures to be in a foul mood after her and Raquel González’s reign as the first-ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions was quickly ended last week by Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart.
Can Stark knock off one of the top Superstars in NXT? Or is she catching an angry Kai at the worst possible time?
Breezango look for more payback against Legado del Fantasma
If last week was any indication, Legado del Fantasma may have picked the wrong team to make an example of.
Breezango will get a chance for more payback tonight as they face Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde, accompanied by NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar.
Escobar and company took out Tyler Breeze & Fandango two weeks ago, looking to reassert their dominance and send a message to the rest of the roster.
But Breezango fired back last week, ambushing Wilde & Mendoza following their win over The Grizzled Young Veterans.
Who will have the last laugh this time? Find out tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!
Jordan Devlin heads to NXT this Wednesday night
Jordan Devlin says he’s the “real” NXT Cruiserweight Champion, and he’s coming to the black-and-gold brand to prove it.
The Irish Ace will be live on NXT this Wednesday night at 8/7 C on USA Network.
Devlin, who won the title in a Fatal 4-Way Match last January at WWE Worlds Collide, addressed the NXT Universe this past Wednesday.
Devlin said NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar’s time “playing make believe” with the title was over — a comment that clearly irked Escobar, given the conversation we saw between him and NXT General Manager William Regal.
What does The Irish Ace have in store, and how might Escobar respond?
Finn Bálor and Karrion Kross with Scarlett set to kick off NXT
NXT is still The Prince’s kingdom, but a new challenger has set his sights on Finn Bálor’s NXT Championship. And he may be Bálor’s most daunting adversary yet.
Bálor and Karrion Kross with Scarlett will kick off NXT this Wednesday night, one week after a heated face-to-face confrontation that followed Bálor’s successful NXT Title defense against Adam Cole.
The Prince’s celebration was quickly cut short by Kross, whose presence suggested he wants to reclaim the title he never lost. Kross won the championship at NXT TakeOver XXX last summer before being forced to relinquish it due to injury.
What will Bálor and Kross have to say as they appear to be on a collision course? Find out on NXT Wednesday night at 8/7 C on USA Network!
