Austin Theory vs Karrion Kross
We open NXT 5/11 with what Uncle Buck would describe as “a ritual killing.” After annoying Scarlett, Austin Theory was slated for this match but he and his The Way mentor, Johnny Gargano, exacerbated things by attacking (alongside half of NXT’s upper card) Karrion Kross last week. Austin manages to beat the Vegas clock by gouging the eyes of the champion to avoid a third Saito suplex in under a minute.
Theory dodges, dips, ducks, dives, and dodges a few strikes and runs Kross into the barricades and a ring post. He even hits a sweet dropkick and impressive fallaway slam. But anger fuels Kross and his tank gets topped off by the action. Another Saito Suplex and a running forearm to the back of the neck usually does it but that’s not enough for Kross tonight. He continues to rain blows down onto a prone Austin Theory before rolling him over into an RNC, all the while staring laser beams right through Johnny Gargano.
Winner: Karrion Kross
As Kross and Scarlett watch The Way retreat up the entrance ramp, Finn Balor sneaks into the ring behind them. Finn says that he doesn’t wait in lines and Kross assures him that he won’t have to. Their rematch is on.
We get a look at footage from William Regal’s office earlier today where Leon Ruff petitions him for a match tonight but the NXT general manager tells him, despite the clearance by the medical team, he doesn’t feel Leon is fully recovered from last week’s beating at the hands of Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Swerve’s crew. Leon gets irate, mussing Regal’s desk but he holds firm in the decision.
Breezango vs MSK
In a rarity, Tyler Breeze enjoys a size advantage over both their opponents but, also a rarity, Breezango is noticeably outclassed in speed and agility. MSK (rascalz that they are) even have a bit of a laugh, emulating the dances and posing of Breezango. As entertaining as that is, they’re not to be outdone by… the referee? Ref does a little drop-down-and-leap-frog action to avoid getting bowled over!
Breezango nearly bullies MSK into a win but Breeze’s Unprettier gets reversed and the Spinebuster/Blockbuster combo ends the match. MSK reminds Legado del Fantasma where to find them as they clutch the NXT Tag Team Championship belts.
Winners: MSK
Johnny Gargano is back in William Regal’s office, accusing the GM of hating him. Regal assures Johnny that he’s valued by him for being the North American champion… but he’s still facing ronson Reed next week in a title match.
Mercedes Martinez is shown warming up for her title match against NXT Women’s champion, Raquel Gonzalez. This is going to be a big jump for Gonzalez as champion. Martinez is a well-traveled and well-seasoned opponent but, if she can keep up in the ring as well as she has in their Spanglish-spangled promos, Gonzalez can really prove herself tonight.
NXT Takeover has been announced as “In Your House” and, moreover, special guest host, Todd Pettengill, will be featured! No BS; Pettengill is a Hall of Fame candidate. Less likely are Ever Rise who put their poster behind the broadcast team from the front row.
Pete Dunne gets to the ring with Oney Lorcan to give us his feelings about Finn Balor getting the next title shot against Karrion Kross. He doesn’t blame Kross for ducking him but still asserts that he’s the best. He offers an open challenge to the locker room to prove him wrong. Leon Ruff rushes him from behind and it is on!
Leon Ruff vs Pete Dunne
Ruff is running off emotion and falling right into Dunne’s game plans. Continuously out-grappled by Dunne, Ruff is often punished for his mistakes. A rally of pure heart gives him hope but Dunne dodges a flying cutter attempt and pulls Ruff into a side triangle hold complete with downward elbows. The referee calls for the bell, declaring Dunne the winner “by stoppage.”
Winner: Pete Dunne
After the match, Dunne goes after the fingers of Ruff, snapping the with a sickeningly crackle of bone and sinew.
Legado del Fantasma assure us all that, after his 2-out-of-3 falls match against Kushida, Santos Escobar will once again reign as NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
Not to be caught cold, Raquel Gonzalez is warming up for her match as Dakota Kai hypes them both up.
A hype package plays inviting us to the “world premiere” of Franky Monet in two weeks. (I guess, technically, they’re right about that.)
Mercedes Martinez vs Raquel Gonzalez (c) for the NXT Women’s Championship
During the tale of tape, I wonder if the reason LA Knight has stepped away from his “Gravy Train” is because it’s also Martinez’s finisher (but that’s neither here nor there.) Mercedes goes 0-60 as soon as the bell rings trying to take the fight directly to the towering Texan.
During the picture-in-picture commercial break for live watchers, Mercedes keeps trying to pull Raquel towards the deep waters but the six-footer can stand just fine from the looks of things. A mental mistake allows Martinez to capitalize with a neckbreaker from the turnbuckles. She pours on the heat with vicious strikes but Raquel can turn the tide with one move to Mercedes’ five. Mercedes is no quitter, either, kicking out over and over again and sliding out of the powerbomb. Raquel has too much left her tank, though. Big boot and power bomb to extend her championship reign.
Winner and still champion: Raquel Gonzalez
“Swerve” Scott’s ride and his crew rolls up. The cameraman gets knocked over but they’re convinced that he’ll be alright.
McKenzie Mitchell is in the hallway just in time to see Austin Theory and Johnny Gargano being pushed out of the locker room and the building. It’s apparent that they have attacked Bronson Reed who vows revenge.
Swerve and his Hit Row stable set up camp in the middle of the ring. Swerve introduces his new associates: “Top Dolla” AJ Francis, Briana “B-Fab” Brandy, and 205 Live’s Ashante Adonis.
Earlier today, Alan Frankel Auctions were putting up a lakefront mansion for $2M when Cameron Grimes steps in to make his bids but keeps getting one-upped until he’s twenty-upped! By whom? You know. That durned Ted DiBiase!!! (Of course.)
Toni Storm and Zoey Stark are not shying away from the cameras or each other. Their collision course continues nest week with a one-on-one matchup.
Oney Lorcan vs Kyle O’Reilly
Kyle O’Reilly has ditched the naughts nerd threads for ring walkouts at least, taking a page from Randy Orton and AJ Styles’ closets for a hooded vest. As grappling-focused and hard-hitting as Lorcan is, O’Reilly’s submission game has him on the defensive early on. If anything, Kyle is more concerned with Pete Dunne at ringside and that costs him for a bit. Lorcan blindsides him for the advantage. Kyle wakes up in time to land his signature strike combo and nearly gets a heel hook in before Lorcan gets to the ropes. A Brainbuster lays Lorcan out and a knee drop from the top turnbuckle ends it.
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly
Pete Dunne immediately attacks O’Reilly after the bell. Lorcan joins in but Kyle gets a guardian angel in the form of… Bobby Fish! Bobby Fish is back! The two shake hands after clearing out Dunne and Lorcan. They make it clear that this is no ReDragon reunion but they’ll see each other down the road.
A superheroic hype package plays for The Way. Bronson Reed is not in the fan club, though. He has petitioned William Regal for next week’s title match to be inside a steel cage; a request that has been granted!
The Main Event of NXT 5/11: Santos Escobar vs Kushida (c) for the NXT Crusierweight Championship in a 2-out-of-3 falls match.
The fighting champion is fired up but Escobar is as cool as a cucumber. When the bell rings, it’s the opposite. Escobar batters Kushida and tosses him to Legado del Fantasma at ringside. MSK appears from nowhere to keep Legado from shenanigans and the whole lot of them are banished from ringside!
Escobar plays it brutal, making use of the turnbuckles and ring post to wear down the champion. Kushida is about to throw his fastball when Escobar beats him to the punch with a high knee, a Phantom Driver, and a very tight stretch cover for the first fall. From there, it’s a quick turnaround as Kushida hits a kimura from standing guard that he rolls into a cross arm breaker. Beth Phoenix and Wade Barrett tell the production truck not to cut to commercial yet (a great touch) as Kushida gains the second fall by submission!
Battered and broken but not yet beaten, the legacy luchador gets back into the ring. Kushida is on him and the left arm right away. Escobar is in survival mode, using the barricades, high-risk moves, and his strength advantage stay in the game. Kushida is sucking wind and Escobar makes his move. They nearly recreate the pinning maneuver exchange that won Kushida the title but Escobar slips out this time and his face tells the story of just how close it came. Double clothesline drops both men. Escobar goes for a fireman’s carry on the top turnbuckle but Kushida turns it into a flipping Hoverboard lock! All credit to Santos Escobar, he holds on long enough to grasp the bottom ropes. One tough hombre still fighting but a bridging hammerlock suplex is just too much to kick out of for the injured Escobar!
Winner and still champion: Kushida
Five Takeaways from NXT 5/11:
1. Tonight’s match should end the feud between Santos Escobar and Kushida, at least, for the time being. It was the kind of match that I could see being given 25+ minutes on a Takeover. If Legado del Fantasma fails to capture the tag straps from MSK by Summerslam’s Takeover, too, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them on Mondays or Fridays. Santos Escobar checks many of the boxes that the recently released Andrade did. Easy to imagine that his English skills and how well he uses them in promos is huge advantage he has in the eyes of the office.
2. Dakota Kai has helped Raquel Gonzalez along. Mercedes Martinez is pulling up parts of her game now. If they do this right and take their time, the sky is the limit.
3. The pop of Bobby Fish’s return and the “aww” of his not joining forces with Kyle O’Reilly was a noticeable contrast (especially when the truck controls the reaction noise.)
4. Some might gripe about “too many factions” but it always makes sense. Pro sports leagues add more teams every few years. MMA fighters train and get managed by team gyms. The introduction of Hit Row to NXT tonight is welcome on my TV. They grab your attention, each has a promising resumé, and it elevates Swerve as a star player who can bring others up.
5. It’s entertaining and kiss my grits if I don’t really like Cameron Grimes but there’s a mystery here: If Grimes isn’t going to face off against Ted DiBiase (and let’s all hope that he isn’t,) then what, exactly, is going to give us our payoff?
