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While NXT TakeOver is a rare event, WWE NXT will sometimes venture to put together a TakeOver-worthy card. The May 25 edition of the black-and-gold brand had a good case to make as a card worthy of NXT's biggest night.
Karrion Kross crushed Finn Balor in impressive and emphatic fashion at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Neither wanted to wait any longer for the rematch. Arguably the two biggest threats in NXT would collide for the NXT Championship.
NXT women's champion Raquel Gonzalez was in action. She teamed with Dakota Kai against Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart, hoping to earn a future shot at the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships.
Cameron Grimes has been haunted at every turn by Ted DiBiase. The Million Dollar Man was ready to face off with The Technical Savage, possibly resolving their long-running dispute.
The card also included the debut of Franky Monet, Bobby Fish seeking revenge in a match with Pete Dunne and Bronson Reed's first words since winning the NXT North American Championship.
It was to be a jam-packed edition for the black-and-gold brand. From the NXT Championship clash to the future many more NXT titles soon to be determined, this show had all the potential to shine.
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Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez wanted to dominate early, but Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart were too in sync to lose control off the bat. The NXT women's champion had to pull Kai out of the ring to save her from a Blackheart Sharpshooter.
The War Goddess continued to frustrated Gonzalez, and the champion got too frustrated to put this away. Moon reversed the single-arm powerbomb into a stunner before Moon and Blackheart hit their tag team finisher to win.
Afterward, an angry Gonzalez struck, bashing Blackheart repeatedly into the barricade while Kai forced Moon to watch.
Result
Moon and Blackheart def. Kai and Gonzalez by pinfall.
Grade
B
Analysis
This was a good match, but it never quite hit the top gear these two teams can reach. It was all focused on back-and-forth action, which made the finish feel like it was out of nowhere. These teams have better in them, and it is coming.
Gonzalez vs. Moon or Blackheart is a good way to keep the NXT Women's Championship scene fresh. The War Goddess has been long awaiting a new title shot, and Blackheart proved herself truly when she wrestled at the highest level with Io Shirai.
The women's division in NXT can go any direction and shine. It's all a matter of keeping the stories fresh.
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Pete Dunne beat Bobby Fish into the mat early, but the motivation of Fish allowed him fight back. He went after the arm of The Bruiserweight with a Fujiwara armbar. Dunne further aggravated the former member of the Undisputed Era until he found his fire.
A powerful spinebuster put down The Bruiserweight for a moment and flipped Dunne onto the mat. Even after Dunne stomped on the surgically repaired of Fish, the returning star responded with an exploder suplex right on the ropes for a nearfall.
However, Fish got too focused on dealing damage to Dunne, trying to break the fingers. The Bruiserweight answered with the Bitter End, sealing the win.
Dunne allowed Lorcan to attack the right arm of Fish after the match, nearly putting him back on the shelf. Officials got involved just in time to save the arm.
Result
Dunne def. Fish by pinfall.
Grade
B+
Analysis
While this was Fish's first match back, it was also a rare singles match from him. He was the tag team stalwart of the Undisputed Era when healthy. However, that does not mean he could not compete at Dunne's level.
He did just that in this match. While The Bruiserweight is a rare breed that few can match, Fish kept up. He lost, but NXT set up for Fish to defeat Lorcan and begin rebuilding his momentum. It will be interesting to see what he can do on his own in an ever-evolving men's division.
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Hit Row called out every champion, promising to watch them all closely. Mercedes Martinez promised that she learned from her loss to Raquel Gonzalez, rebuilding to the future. Boa was shown watching her.
Zayda Ramier tried to pull out a surprise against Martinez, but she found herself in trouble early thanks to a suplex and dragon sleeper. The veteran knocked Ramier off the top rope then hit a running knee to set up the Air Raid Crash to win.
The lights went out afterward as smoke filled the ring. Tian Sha marked the right hand of Martinez.
Result
Martinez def. Ramier by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Analysis
It grows clearer by the week that Ramier's upset win was a blip, and she is not seen as a serious challenger. She has been squashed repeatedly in non-competitive sprints. Martinez needed the momentum. It just would have been nice to see what Ramier could do in a longer bout.
Martinez vs. Tian Sha is fascinating. She is a veteran that can help develop the next group of stars in NXT. Xia Li could use the rub, and this might be the chance to finally see the mystery woman behind this group of future Chinese stars.
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Cameron Grimes questioned why Ted DiBiase continued to embarrass him. The Million Dollar Man told The Technical Savage that he saw a lot of himself in Grimes. It seemed that DiBiase was ready to turn his legacy over to a worthy successor.
LA Knight interrupted. He wanted The Million Dollar Man's fortune. Grimes told Knight to get out of his ring, leading to Knight laying out The Technical Savage. DiBiase laughed at Grimes and walked off with Knight.
Grade
A-
Analysis
This was as silly and over the top as expected. The obvious answer of DiBiase handing his legacy over to Grimes got only more complicated. Knight makes a lot of sense to potentially inherit the legacy of The Million Dollar Man.
A rivalry between Grimes and Knight is certain to be ridiculous in a good way for a time. If it goes long enough, there could be a plan to genuinely turn The Technical Savage face. He has never played that role, and his style is better suited for it.
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Indi Hartwell tried to find Dexter Lumis, only coming upon his room of art showcasing how Hartwell broke his heart.
After a dramatic entrance, Franky Monet stomped Cora Jade into the corner. She hit running knees and a hip attack in the corner, enjoying every second of the damage she inflicted on her opponent. Her taunting allowed Jade to respond with a series of elbow strikes and a Russian leg sweep.
La Wera Loca stopped Jade's momentum with a Spear followed by a spin-out powerbomb and Glam Slam to win.
Result
Monet def. Jade by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Analysis
It's hard to rate a squash match highly, but this was all that it needed to be. Monet looked dominant throughout. Her only flaw is her arrogance. She almost let Jade into the match, but she was always going to win.
What is important here is that La Wera Loca was established. Fans saw how dangerous she can be. Since she has been set up as a rival to just about everyone in NXT, it is only a matter of time before she gets serious competition.
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Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher promised to make The Grizzled Young Veterans pay for last week. Zack Gibson and James Drake just wanted to focus on MSK. WALTER told Marcel Bartel and Fabian Aichner that it was time to right the wrongs they have suffered, starting with Breezango.
Bronson Reed explained his road to the NXT North American Championship. He worked hard to get to this spot. He challenged anyone to step up to him. Santos Escobar arrived with Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde to mock The Colossal One.
Escobar explained that he was the opposite of Reed, entitled to greatness in this business. He wanted the title that represented Mexico. Just as Legado del Fantasma tried to storm the ring, MSK arrived to clear the ring.
Grade
B+
Analysis
The big positive here was that NXT chose to take a fresh road rather than the expected rematch. Escobar established himself as a foil to Reed, making fun of The Colossal One for his happy story of earning his dream through hard work.
The main negative here is that this felt so similar in the end to Escobar vs. Kushida. MSK even the odds every time. It would have been more impactful if Legado del Fantasma truly ruined The Colossal One's celebration.
It is likely that will be corrected in the coming weeks. Reed vs. Esobar is not a quick match that WWE would just throw out without build.
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William Regal announced that Kyle O'Reilly vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano next week would determine the next No. 1 contender to the NXT Championship.
Finn Balor and Karrion Kross started slow with technical offense, but The Prince found himself struggling against the explosive responses of the NXT champion. Kross answered an abdominal stretch with vicious strikes to the spine.
Balor ground him to the mat with a crossface that sent Kross reeling outside into a soccer kick. However, it did not take long for the NXT champion to respond with forearms and suplexes. The Prince hit the double foot stomp, but he fell right into the Kross Jacket.
Balor made it to the ropes and rolled outside where Kross powerbombed him repeatedly into the barricade. The Prince caught Kross with a Slingblade, clothesline and somersault plancha to the outside, but the champion got right back up to slam the challenger onto the announce table.
Balor managed to get Kross down for a moment to set up the Coup de Grace. Kross though stopped him and hit a Saito suplex. Balor avoided the running forearm, and the two traded forearms on the mat. Balor almost made Kross tap out to a sleeper, but the champion battled out with a powerbomb.
The two glared each other down before the champion clotheslined Balor. This set up the running forearm followed by the Kross Jacket for a technical submission.
Result
Kross def. Balor by referee stoppage to retain the NXT Championship.
Grade
A-
Analysis
This was strong rematch between two great competitors. While it did not tell as consistent a story as the TakeOver match, the action was more memorable. Balor and Kross truly brought it all to this back-and-forth clash that sold how great both of these men are.
The finish definitively made clear who the better man is. Kross is one of the most dominant men NXT has ever put over. At this point, it is hard to believe anyone can beat him. Only O'Reilly has a chance, and NXT will likely wait for the right moment on that match.
Ultimately, this was all it needed to be. It's unclear where The Prince goes from here, but his work in NXT has truly been accomplished.
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WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 25 - Bleacher Report
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