WWE NXT live results: Finn Balor returns
Finn Balor returns to NXT tonight for the first time since losing the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
At last month’s TakeOver event: Karrion Kross defeated Balor to become NXT Champion. Tonight, Balor will speak on NXT TV for the first time since that loss.
Two stipulation matches are also set for tonight’s show. The NXT Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line in a street fight as champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against The Way’s Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, while Leon Ruff and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will look to settle their rivalry in a falls count anywhere match.
Plus, Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher will face off with The Grizzled Young Veterans. Both teams are looking to be next in line for a shot at MSK’s NXT Tag Team titles. Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde will also likely be in the mix after Legado del Fantasma defeated MSK & NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida in a six-man tag match last week.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Leon Ruff in a falls count anywhere match
Scott pinned Ruff after interference by AJ Francis, who made a surprise debut during the finish. This appears to be the blow-off to the feud, but the finish was far from clean.
Ruff charged towards Scott when the ball sounded to start the match, but Ruff ate a knee strike. Ruff still fought back, but Scott dropped him again. Ruff eventually countered Scott to set up a tope. Scott caught Ruff on the attempted dive, and Scott sent Ruff crashing into the apron with a Death Valley Driver. Scott whipped Ruff into the barricades, and he slammed Ruff on the metal entrance ramp for a near fall.
A mighty superlex by Scott, and Ruff sold big before another two count. Scott looked to be in complete control as Ruff rolled outside. Ruff with a counter that tied Scott upside down in the ropes, and Scott fell to the floor after taking a dropkick. Ruff looked to make a comeback, but Scott dropped him in mid-air. The brawling on the floor continued, and Scott hurled a toolbox in Ruff’s direction. Ruff dodged the toolbox just before the show went to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
During the break, the fighting spilled into the locker room area. They were fighting on the stage as the show returned from the commercial break. Scott was blinded by a spotlight, and he went flying off the stage. They fought back into the ring. Scott went for another superplex, but Ruff countered into a crucifix bomb. Scott managed to kick out for a near fall. Ruff moments later with a crazy poison rana off the apron, and Scott flipped into a bump on the floor.
Scott with a modified Michinoku Driver to Ruff on the floor. Somehow, Ruff managed to kick out at two. Ruff moved when Scott charged at him, and Scott crashed his knee into the ring steps. Ruff took the toolbox that was hurled at him earlier in the match, and Ruff used the toolbox as weapon to hit Scott in the knee. Ruff then executed a frog splash for a close near fall. Ruff then applied a heel hook, but Scott was able to escape.
Ruff delivered two cutters. The first was in the ring. Scott rolled outside where he took the other cutter on the floor. Ruff climbed a ladder behind some production equipment. He went to leap off the ladder on to Scott, but football player-turned-wrestler AJ Francis stepped in to interfere. Francis caught Ruff on the attempted high cross, and Francis gave Ruff an ushigoroshi using the barricade. Scott followed up with his signature package driver, and he covered Ruff for a three count.
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, with Austin Theory in tow, barged into William Regal’s office. Regal was meeting with Scarlett at the time. Regal told Gargano he would met with him later. There was some comedy between Theory and Scarlett.
Cameron Grimes defeated Asher Hale
Grimes pinned Hale in a short competitive match. Grimes won convincingly, but Hale got plenty of offense.
Hale with missile dropkick for a near fall at one point. Grimes answered back with counters. Grimes then delivered the Cave In, and he Grimes covered Hale for a pinfall.
Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro were being interviewed backstage when they were interrupted by Franky Monet, who carrying her dog Presley. Monet in a condescending manner she was cheering for Carter and Catanzaro.
Cameron Grimes was celebrating his him when he was met by the tag team of Ever-Rise. Grimes wanted to celebrate, but he told the other two that there was only room for three. Those three were “me, myself and CAMERON GRIMES!” Grimes then cackled befoe saying he was headed to the VIP room.
Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson)
Thatcher submitted Gibson to win the match. Thatcher hit Gibson with a shoe in the process of winning the bout. Really good match.
Grizzled Young Veterans before the match cut a promo on their opponents and the audience. The entrance of Thatcher & Ciampa interrupted the heel’s speech.
Thatcher & Ciampa were in control when the show went to a commercial break. Drake cut off Thatcher after the break, and the heels began to work over Thatcher. Hot tag to Ciampa, and Ciampa was a house of fire.
Thatcher was left alone with the heels after Ciampa took a bump into the announce desk. Drake also flew threw the ropes with a tope that knocked Ciampa over the desk. Thatcher was being double teamed, but Ciampa was able to make a save. Ciampa also had a shoe that belonged to Wade Barrett, who was the desk doing commentary.
Ciampa with the JJ Dillion assist, he tossed the shoe in the ring. Thatcher waffled Gibson with the shoe, and Thatcher followed up by applying an arm bar. Gibson soon tapped out.
Johnny Gargano was backstage pestering William Regal again. Regal was having none of it. They did some comedy.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott left the building with his new stable that was only referred to as his “crew.”
Challengers, the champ, and a sneak attack
NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett entered the CWC for a in-ring promo. He went on to challenge Austin Theory to a match next week on NXT. Kross’ promo was interrupted Kyle O’Reilly, who is still doing the Kool Kyle thing. He was wearing an Easy E t-shirt, which is pretty cool in my book. O’Reilly confronted Kross, and O’Reilly was about to challenge Kross when they were interrupted by Pete Dunne.
Dunne cut a promo on both O’Reilly and Kross. Dunne claimed to be the baddest man in NXT, and he dared them to prove him wromg. Cue Finn Balor, who entered the scene. Balor stormed to the ring, and he went to hit Kross. A brawl between erupted between all four. Kross was left standing in the ring as security poured out. One security dude took a Saito suplex from Kross. Just when the segment seemed over, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory jump into the ring for a sneak attack.
Gargano and Theory jumped Kross, but he fought them off. Yet, Kross was outnumbered, and the numnbers soon caught up with him. Gargano and Theory with stereo superkicks on Kross, and he was laid out. The heels left him laying in the ring. Kross meets Theory in a singles match next Tuesday.
The Way then fled the scene, and they jumped in a waiting car like they were Earl Hebner in Montreal. Away they sped.
Sarray defeated Zayda Raimer
Sarray pinned Raimer in a short competitive match.
Sarray fought from underneath, dropped Raimer on her head with suplex, and then Sarray covered her for a pinfall.
WALTER via Zoom was giving Imperium a pep talk. WALTER is even intimidating in video form.
A teaser hyped the Diamond Mine.
Zoey Stark was having a staredown with Toni Storm in the backstage area. Stark won the staredown I guess, becuase Storm walked away. Dang, Storm can’t even win a staring context, much less a match these days. What gives? She at least gets a promo later in the show.
LA Knight defeated Jake Atlas
Knight pinned Atlas in what was a showcase match for Knight. Atlas is so much better than the nonexistent push he is getting at the moment. Then there’s LA Knight. Bless his heart.
Knight cut a promo on his way to the ring. Atlas rallied after being pummeled early on in the match. Knight soon cut him off again. Atlas with a few counters, but Knight struck with a headlock DDT. Knight then covered Atlas for a pinfall.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell were in their locker room preparing for their title challenge later tonight. Dexter Lumis appeared in a window holding flowers. Hartwell did not see him, but LeRae did. She closed the blinds on the window, keeping Hartwell from seeing Lumis.
Toni Storm cut a heel promo on Zoey Stark. Storm said he brought Stark into the business, and she will take her right out.
El Legado del Fantasma was in the ring ring for a promo. Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde want a title match against NXT Tag Team Champions MSK. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida appeared on the video screen to challenge Santos Escobar to the title match.
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez on a split-screen debated ahead of their title match next week.
Franky Monet’s dog, Presley, apparently pooped in Shotzi Blackheart’s tank.
Cameron Grimes arrived at a night club, but a very tall bouncer would not let Grimes into the club. Grimes insisted he was headed to the VIP room. The bouncer said the club was booked for a private party. Grimes continued to pester the bouncer when a limousine arrived at the club. The limo was adorned with golden dollar sign on the hood. Out of the limo stepped Ted DiBiase. The Million Dollar Man remarked not to rent a booth when you can buy the whole club. DiBiase concluded by saying everybody has a price for the Million Dollar Man. Grimes was angry that remark wasn’t even funny.
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart in a street fight to win the titles
LeRae pinned Blackheart to win the straps. There were some wild and crazy bumps in this match. They beat the heck out of each other.
During their entrance, the champs were cosplaying as Freddie Krueger from Nightmare On Elm Street and Jason from Friday the 13th.
The match began with brawling, and weapons were soon in play. Tables, chairs and trash cans were littered around ringside. The champs began to double team Hartwell. LeRae was eventually able to make a save. LeRae went for a baseball slide, but she was instead sandwiched between two trash can lids.
Hartwell’s turn to make a save, and she cleaned house. Hartwell then four chairs at ringside, which ironically were used on her. Moon smashed Hartwell into the chairs. Blackheart added another chair, placing it on top of the other four. The heels sat Blackheart in the fifth chair, and the champs were going for a dive. LeRae saved Hartwell by shooting the champs with a fire extinguisher.
During a picture-in-picture commercial break, Hartwell set up a ladder bridge at ringside. Meanwhille, LeRae propped table in the corner of the ring. LeRae also wedged a chair between the top and middle rope, but LeRae ate the chair when the show returned from the break. The champs with a comeback after the break.
Blackheart jumped off the top rope to deliver a senton with LeRae on the ladder bridge. They both crashed to the floor. In the ring, Moon gave Hartwell an Alabama slam into the table propped in the corner. The table barely break, and Hartwell took a hard bump into the table. Moments later, Hartwell had enought fight to kick a ladder into Moon & Blackheart.
A ladder was propped on the ropes, and Blackheart was placed on it. LeRae then did a moonsault quebrada onto the ladder with an assist from Hartwell. Moon took a spinebuster on a ladder. Blackheart and Hartwell were brawling near the announce desk, and Blackheart shattered a coffee mug on Hartwell. Blackheart then climbed a truss that was part of the set, and Blacheart leapt off with a splash to put Hartwell through the announce desk.
Hartwell with a springboard flying elbow drop to the outside, and in doing so she put Moon through a table. Meanwhile, LeRae gave Blacheart the Wicked Stepsister on a chair. LeRae then pinned Blackheart to win the titles.