Anther solid week of action on this week's NXT. Once again, there were a few questionable booking decisions, but overall it was a fun show with some enjoyable in-ring action and a main event that delivered. NXT has really upped its game recently. The move to Tuesday nights has obviously rejuvenated the brand, as has the news that WWE will soon resume live event touring.
Loser: Raquel González
The show opened with a tag-team match to determine the number one contenders for to the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. Former tag champs Raquel González and Dakota Kai were up against former tag champs Ember Moon and Shotzi Blakheart. Shotzi and Ember won the match -- to the detriment of NXT Women's Champion Raquel González.
There's no doubt that Raquel González is a worthy NXT Women's Champion. But for some reason she's still being utilized as a tag-team wrestler. What's weirder is the fact that she doesn't even seem like the leader of the tag-team she's in! So the current NXT Women's Champion is playing second fiddle to the title-less Dakota Kai in a tag-team that isn't winning matches. Thankfully, Kai ate the pin, and González gained some heat by messing Shotzi up after the bell, which was well done. They haven't completely dropped the ball on her booking yet, but the black and gold brand's Women's Champion should probably have some title challengers lined-up by now.
Winner: Pete Dunne
Another impressive performance from "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne who got a convincing win over the veteran Bobby Fish. Fish was wrestling for the first time in over year due to injury, but he showed few signs of ring rust. The two men exchanged stiff strikes, and got into a good rhythm from the get-go. Dunne hit Fish with the Bitter End for the win. After the bell, Dunne's associate Oney Lorchan attacked Fish and worked his injured arm with the goal of putting him back on the shelf.
It might be time for NXT to finally pull the trigger on Dunne. They've been treating him like a big deal for some time, and he continues to have good-to-great matches on a consistent basis.
Loser: The Million Dollar Man Humiliates Cameron Grimes (Again)
"The Million Dollar Face Off" between Ted DiBiase and Cameron Grimes would have been the perfect time to pay off this bizarre feud, and it seemed like it was heading that way at first. DiBiase is way better on the mic than most other old-timers who make occasional cameo appearances, and he added some gravitas to the segment. He began by informing Grimes that he had been tormenting him because he wants him to carry on the Million Dollar legacy, but that he needs to stay focused. Grimes and DiBiase appeared to be on good terms, until LA Knight appeared. Knight attacked Grimes, and made his way back up the ramp, DiBiase stood over Grimes and taunted him with his trademark maniacal laugh.
This whole endeavor has done absolutely nothing for Grimes. He's value as an NXT Superstar has plummeted. This could have been rectified if DiBiase had given Grimes the rub by passing him the million dollar baton, but in the end, Grimes was humiliated yet again.
Winner: Frankie Monet
An emphatic debut victory for the artist formerly known as Taya Valkyrie. She utilized her raw strength and dominated Cora Jade for most of the match. Jade eventually got some offence in, but this only energized Monet more. Monet hit Jade with a Glam Slam for the win, which prompted a "that looks familiar" from Beth Phoenix at the commentary table.
Winner: Zack Gibson
"If MSK were wrestling at the bottom of my garden, I would close the curtains."
Zack Gibson rules.
Winners: Legado Del Fantasma, MSK, and Bronson Reed
New NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed commemorated his victory and referenced his long journey to becoming a champion. He cut a solid babyface promo and encouraged fans to ignore the naysayers and keep grinding if you want to achieve your goals. Reed was interrupted by Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza, and Joaquin Wilde). Escobar made it clear that he wants the North American tile, and his logic made sense: as a person from Mexico, he has more of a right to hold the North American Championship than Reed, who hails from Australia.
"I wasn't even born to belong in this business. This business belongs to ME," Escobar proclaimed.
As Legado was preparing to to attack Reed, MSK came out and made the save. It seems likely that we'll get a six-man tag between the two teams in the coming weeks. This was s short but tantalizing segment, and moving Escobar from the Cruiserweight division into the North American Championship picture is the right move.
Winner: Finn Balor Vs. Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross retained his NXT Championship against Finn Balor in a main event that was better than most TV recent TV main events. Balor fought valiantly, and got more offence in than he did in their previous encounter. There were some beautiful counters in this match, but in terms of pure ring work, Balor did most of the heavy lifting and made Kross look very good. At one point, Kross countered a double stomp into a Kross Jacket. He also hit Balor with a back body drop onto the announce table. Kross dominated, buy Balor kept fighting bands with bouts of furious offence. Balor dodged one Kross's elbows that was aimed at the back of his head and countered it into roll up for a two count. Kross won the match after choking Balor out with a Kross Jacket.
Kross continues to perform adequately in the ring, and is being booked well as a dominant champion. Balor's time in NXT is almost certainly over. His second NXT stint was nowhere near as memorable as first, but he was the right man to carry the brand while Kross was out injured. Hopefully Balor returns to Raw and finally gets that main-event title run he's deserved ever since he was forced to relinquish the Universal Championship the day after winning it.