NXT
Date: March 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph
We’re on the road to Takeover and this time around that means we have twice the usual amount of matches to set up. The end of last week’s show set up a pair of matches for Takeover and I’m curious to see what else they have for the show. Throw in a few more title matches to be set up and we could be in for a nice pair of shows. Let’s get to it.
The opening recap looks at last week’s main event, followed by Kyle O’Reilly laying out Adam Cole and Karrion Kross confronting Finn Balor.
Here is Finn Balor, who says he is still champion. He has defeated everyone and at Takeover, Karrion Kross’ time is up. Cue Kross and Scarlett, with Kross saying this could never happen until the settled their other affairs. This had to be one on one because that is all that matters around here. The people need to know who the real champion is around here, as do the two of them. Balor says Kross doesn’t have what it takes to beat him so Kross promises to choke him out.
Scarlett says that she has already seen this in the cards: two champions, both draped in gold clashing. Cue Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to say that Pete Dunne is going to be champion anyway because he’s the best in the world. Scarlett issues a challenge for the Tag Team Titles tonight but the champs don’t seem sure. That’s fine with Scarlett, who talks them into the match and we have a main event.
Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis
During the entrances, the rest of the Way talk to Theory on a tablet, with Johnny Gargano reminding him of what Lumis said about Theory’s abs. The bell rings and we take a break less than thirty seconds. Back with Theory hitting a fall away slam but having to elbow his way out of the Silence. Lumis is right back with a spinebuster and the jumping legdrop gets two.
A pop up uppercut rocks Theory again and there’s a slingshot suplex to make it worse. Lumis misses a dive off the top though and Theory hits a running forearm for two. What looks like a powerbomb is broken up and Lumis offers him a hand up. They stare each other down and Theory hugs him, earning himself the Side Effect into the Silence for the knockout at 9:49.
Result: Dexter Lumis b. Austin Theory – Silence (9:49)
Tommaso Ciampa does not like Imperium jumping him last week and suggests that he took out Alexander Wolfe. The team won’t be standing after tonight.
Here’s Adam Cole for a chat. Cole is sick of Kyle O’Reilly, who he used at first but now O’Reilly is completely worthless. Last week O’Reilly came at him so Cole calls O’Reilly out here right now. Cole gets William Regal instead and it turns out that O’Reilly is not here due to his neck getting hurt again last week. O’Reilly pops up on the screen to say that he will deal with Cole in time, because Cole tried to end his career. This is not the Cole that he has known for eleven years and revenge is coming. Cole says if Regal won’t tell him where O’Reilly is, he’ll find him on his own.
We recap the Women’s Tag Team Titles being awarded and lost last week.
Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon still can’t believe they’re the champions but now it’s time to take care of business. The Robert Stone Brand comes in to challenge them for next week and it’s immediately accepted.
Jordan Devlin arrives.
Breezango vs. Legado del Fantasma
Fandango and Mendoza slug it out to start with Fandango hitting a clothesline to the back of the head. Another one to the front lets Breeze come in for two but Mendoza is back for a knee to the face. It’s off to Wilde into a basement crossbody for two but Breeze is right back to send Wilde into the corner. A jawbreaker rocks Fandango though and there’s the mocking of the dance. Fandango reverses a superplex attempt into a super gordbuster, only to get kicked out to the floor as we take a break.
Back with Fandango making the hot tag to Breeze to clean house via a stream of forearms. A half crab has Wilde in trouble and pulling it back to the middle makes it worse. Wilde escapes so Breeze catapults him over the top but Fandango misses a dive onto Mendoza. The Supermodel Kick gives Breeze two with Mendoza making the save. The Unprettier is broken up though and the Russian legsweep/running kick to the face finishes Breeze at 9:52.
Result: Legado del Fantasma b. Breezango – Russian legsweep/running kick to the face to Breeze (9:52)
Post match Santos Escobar asks where Jordan Devlin is. Cue Devlin to say this is what a champion looks like. Escobar can drop his replica because the real champ is here to call him out. Escobar talks about redefining what it means to be a cruiserweight time after time. Devlin only has that title because everyone has forgotten about him. The challenge is made and Devlin hits a headbutt into the Devlin Side.
Adam Cole is going to find Kyle O’Reilly.
Cameron Grimes is on vacation, including swimming underwater while taking pictures and still wearing his hat.
Sarray is coming.
Zoey Stark vs. Dakota Kai
Raquel Gonzalez is here with Kai. They fight over a lockup to start and take it to the mat before fighting over a top wristlock. Kai flips out but can’t get out, instead getting taken into a headlock. Stark takes her down into a hammerlock to crank on the arm. Back up and Kai sends her into the corner for the running knee to the face and two of her own. Stark jumps over her in the corner and sends Kai outside for the big slingshot dive. We take a break and come back with Kai hammering away for two but Starks grabs a neckbreaker.
A half nelson suplex lets Stark nip up but Kai catches her with the pump kick. They head to the apron with Stark hitting her own kick to the face. Kai gets sent inside, where she is able to superkick Stark out of the air. The running boot in the corner gets two off a heck of a kickout but Stark is back with a knee to the face. That lets her go up top, only to get kicked back down. The Go To Kick finishes Stark at 12:37.
Result: Dakota Kai b. Zoey Stark – Go To Kick (12:37)
Post match Gonzalez and Kai yell at Stark but here’s Io Shirai to stare at Gonzalez and hand her a contract.
William Regal is interrupted because of something that has happened with Adam Cole.
The Grizzled Young Veterans say that MSK made a mistake and vengeance is coming.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Marcel Barthel
Ciampa jumps Fabian Aichner at ringside to start as Barrett thinks Alexander Wolfe and Timothy Thatcher have gone fishing. The bell rings and Ciampa hammers away but gets taken down into a headlock for some shots to the face. Ciampa fights up but Barthel steps on the knee to make it a chinlock. Back up and Barthel goes up, only to get dropkicked out of the air. Ciampa fights up and makes the comeback, including knocking Aichner off the apron. A running forearm drops Barthel and Willow’s Bell is good for the pin at 4:31.
Result: Tommaso Ciampa b. Marcel Barthel – Willow’s Bell (4:31)
Post match Ciampa is pleased….until Walter arrives. The rest of Imperium goes after Ciampa but alter walks him out with a chop into the powerbomb.
William Regal goes to the parking lot where Kyle O’Reilly is being arrested. Adam Cole shouts that O’Reilly tried to run him off the road but is being arrested too.
LA Knight is ready for his debut so he can prove that he is a megastar. Bronson Reed glares from behind.
LA Knight vs. August Grey
Knight runs him over to start and hits a slingshot shoulder. Grey’s O’Connor roll is broken up and Knight nails a powerslam. Cue Reed with Knight’s jacket, which he tears apart while trying to put on. The distraction lets Grey get a rollup for two and a neckbreaker puts Knight down again. Grey’s springboard spinning crossbody misses and a headlock driver finishes Grey at 2:22.
Result: LA Knight b. August Grey – Headlock driver (2:22)
Raquel Gonzalez is happy with the contract to face Shirai but Dakota Kai comes up to say they need to face Shirai and Zoey Stark last week. They have lost twice in a row as a team and need to remind everyone who runs this place.
Xia Li says resistance will not be tolerated and obstacles will be removed.
William Regal is ticked off and has a solution for Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly next week.
Tag Team Titles: Karrion Kross/Finn Balor vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch
Kross and Balor are challenging and have Scarlett with them. Kross throws Lorcan to start so it’s off to Burch, who is slammed face first into the mat. The bearhug goes on but a shot to the head breaks that up. The champs try a double suplex but Kross suplexes both of them instead, with Burch landing HARD on his shoulder. The referee checks on him and Kross has to just stand there as we take a break. Back with Balor armdragging Lorcan and grabbing the armbar.
Lorcan fights up and sends Balor into the corner for some chops. We hit the chinlock as we see the medic looking at Burch on the floor. Balor fights back but Lorcan is up to knock Kross off the apron. Some chops put Lorcan outside for the Sling Blade on the floor and there’s the John Woo dropkick, sending Lorcan crashing into Scarlett. Kross grabs Balor and sends him into the barricade before throwing him inside. Lorcan hits the running uppercut for the pin on Balor (who was out on his feet) at 10:59.
Result: Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Finn Balor/Karrion Kross – Running uppercut to Balor (10:59)
Post match Kross destroys Lorcan before destroying Balor even worse. Kross chokes him out and drops the title on him to end the show.
Results
Dexter Lumis b. Austin Theory – Silence
Legado del Fantasma b. Breezango – Russian legsweep/running kick to the face combination to Breeze
Dakota Kai b. Zoey Stark – Go To Kick
Tommaso Ciampa b. Marcel Barthel – Willow’s Bell
LA Knight b. August Grey – Headlock driver
Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Finn Balor/Karrion Kross – Running uppercut to Balor
Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 50,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his- Amazon author page with 30 wrestling books.
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