Steve Notes NXT 4/13/21

NXT has some fancier pants graphics now

Kross with fancy dress shirt under leather jacket Starts NXT

It was only a matter of time before I was champion again, with respect to Balor, one of the greatest, when Balor had this belt, he went on a tear, but unfortunately, he believed my emotions were a weakness. He didn’t understand, anything can be a driving force when you learn to control it, and I control everything. Understand this, I am in command of NXT until I say so. When you’re at the top, the only place you can go is down, that’s a lie. No one is gonna outwork me, NXT has the hungriest guys and girls in the planet. In the end, everyone pays the toll.

MSK vs. Killian Dain/Drake Maverick

Dain has one of the best funsplashes in the business

Oh wow, Dain hit a sitout driver on Wes Le sitting out on Nash Carter
Dain powerbombs Maverick on no one when MSK get out of the way

MSK hit their finish on Maverick, Lee pins Drake, Carter takes out Dain

***

Wolfe approaches Dain after the match, Imperium attacks

Earlier today- Robert Stone backstage, Mercedes comes up, asks for her money, chokes out Alyah, Jesse Kamea comes up, gets between them, a match is set up

Cole/O’Reilly package

Exclusive footage afterwards, they’re stretchered out and taken in ambulances, it’s all pretty ridiculous

Cole keeps yelling at him

Mercedes Martinez vs. Jesse Kamea

Jesse takes over early, but she misses a funsplash, Martinez takes over, air raid crash for 3

**

After the match, she shakes down Robert Stone for money, she goes to commentary and calls out Raquel Gonzales

The Way Interview

JOHN calls the mixed tag match coo coo bananas, Austin says he gets his revenge, Candice says they’re gonna get revenge. Indi says she hopes she gets in the ring with Dexter, so she can handle her business. John gets them back on track with a THE WAY all in, they bring in mckenzie, then split, Austin goes the wrong way

Swerve in the studio, he says after tonight, Swerve and Leon are done

Open Challenge with Santos
One year ago, this was the title of a forgotten division, well no more, LDF was born, and what was the side show became prime time, main events, takeovers, the emperor of lucha libre stole the show at SD, and now, Escobar, is the undisputed cruiserweight champion, just like my father was, just like my son will be. We are warriors, we never back down, we always fight. Which is why tonight, I lay out an open challenge- KUSHIDA immediately accepts.

KUSHIDA vs. Santos

KUSHIDA has Cena’s debut trunks on

KUSHIDA does the Liger pose!

Out of commercial, Santos has control, swinging him into steps on the outside

Kushida hits armlock suplex off the top, another for the pin, Santos gets foot on the ropes

A series of pin attempts lands KUSHIDA a three count for the win, NEW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION

****

Ciampa/Thatcher promo

Ciampa: The Dusty Classic tested our strength as a team, WALTER tested our loyalty. Did we win every fight? No. we passed every test. And now we come out on the other side stronger as a unit, ready to face a new NXT, new landscape.

Thatcher: New NXT champion, new tag champions, its standard procedure for us to finish what we start. MSK, we’re coming.

In the training room, Devlin comes up to KUSHIDA, says Santos running up a ladder faster than him doesn’t make him a better wrestler. Devlin says the travel Gods smile on him, because he’s going home for a bit, but he’ll be back.

Dakota Kai in the ring, introduces Raquel Gonzales

She says a year and half ago, NXT live on USA, she was supposed to have her big debut, but she wasn’t ready. She went home promising herself she would be ready next time. She’d bust her ass. A year and a half later, she stands there NXT champ. And the one person who recognized my dedication was Dakota Kai. Without her, I don’t debut, we don’t become women’s champs, I don’t stand here as champion.

Kai: For 14 months, we dominated the best women’s division in the world.

Raquel: All respect to Io, she was a great champion, but the Raquel era has begun.

Franky Monet’s music hits, she debuts

She introduces herself, says the best division on this planet got shinier, boujier, and a whole lot better, and seeing as she’s at the top of her division, you’ll be seeing a whole lot more of her.

Raquel: You’re lucky I’m in a good mood tonight, cuz if you interrupt me again, I’m gonna shove your dog up your ass.

Franky: Ok CABRONA, I’ll see you every single tuesday.

(Editor’s note: I think that means asshole)

Wut, Rhea is here?

They face off, then cheers with the titles

Bianca’s music hits, they show a pic from their NXT days

Pete Dunne promo, says he’s the best wrestler from any brand, anyone wants to step to him, I dare ya. He’s getting focused on gold now.

Sarray video package, Regal talks about signing her, Meiko mat chats in,

Backstage, Regal says he’s excited about Sarray, Roderick Strong is in his office, he has a manilla envelope. He says he’s done. Regal says dealing with you and the UE was trying, but you’re the ultimate professional.

SIX SEGMENTS LATER, a match!

Leon Ruff vs. Swerve Scott

Swerve’s in-ring shit talk is fantastic

Aggressive Ruff is so good, for too long they booked him as happy to be there

Ruff hits a SUPER HIGH top rope Rana for 2

Swerve gets in a bunch of offense, Ruff surprises with a rana counter for a SUPER close 2

Ruff tries for a top rope rana, Swerve counters by dumping him face first onto the top turnbuckle, Swerve hits his driver finish for the win

***½

Zoey stark promo: How’s it feel? How would you feel if 4 months ago you were in Vegas struggling to make ends meet? I was training a bunch, it got me here, and then, I got to have that Toni time match at Takeover, and now I have my sights set on the NXT women’s title- Mercedes interrupts, says everyone knows I’m next for a title opportunity. Not some rookie.

WALTER promo

All of NXT will understand what I mean when I say the mat is sacred.

Totally setting up Finn

Swerve interview: I made a statement. RUFF ATTACKS, smashes him with a case, he says it’s not over til I say its over!

The Way vs. Lumis/Reed/Shotzi/Ember

Austin starts with Lumis, Candice comes in

This whole match is for the Indi/Lumis stuff and it’s kinda great

Candice tries to come off the top to dropkick Reed, bounces off, Austin comes in, huge dropkick, Lumis takes over, Ember hits Austin with suicide dive, Candice drops Lumis with suicide dive DDT, Shotzi has Reed throw her onto the field

Lumis drops Gargano with Side effect, then silence, Indi comes in, about to kick him, can’t, bumps to the floor, Lumis notices, goes, she wants that KISS, Austin kicks him, Indi throws Austin out, bumps again, Lumis picks her up off the apron, she gives the old thumbs up to the camera and fakes being out again

OH WOW Eclipse off Reed’s shoulders onto Austin, Candice throws Ember out, Reed goes up top, Gargano nuts him on the top, goes up, Reed throws him off, Candice runs up, tries to suplex him off, Shotzi grabs her, throws her onto Austin, Tsunami onto Austin for 3

Tons of fun

***¾