The NXT Fight Pit served Timothy Thatcher’s savage style well, as he toppled former tag team partner Matt Riddle despite getting his teeth knocked out. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair enlisted the help of Chelsea Green to score a win over Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai, Adam Cole agreed to defend the NXT Title against Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver: In Your House under a special condition, and Drake Maverick pulled off another stunning upset and is now one victory away from the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
WWE NXT results: May 27, 2020
Drake Maverick def. Kushida and Jake Atlas to win Group A and will face El Hijo del Fantasma for the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title
Drake Maverick again stunned the NXT Universe, albeit this time with some controversy. Replays revealed that Maverick pinned Kushida for the three-count a split-second after Jake Atlas tapped to Kushida's armbar, but the original ruling stood. Later in the evening, Kushida showed Maverick his respect, urging the underdog to go win one more and become champion.
Johnny Gargano def. Adrian Alanis in the first-ever Johnny Gargano Invitational
Johnny Gargano offered up-and-comer Adrian Alanis what he called a golden opportunity, but it proved to be little more than an opportunity for Gargano to bully the young Superstar. But Johnny Wrestling didn't have the last laugh, as Keith Lee and Mia Yim poked fun at the Garganos with a dinner party of their own.
Raquel González def. Shotzi Blackheart
What was supposed to be a one-on-one encounter nearly devolved into an all-out melee between multiple adversaries. Tegan Nox came to ringside to try to thwart Dakota Kai's attempts to interfere on her enforcer's behalf, but Kai still left her mark, assisting in Raquel González's victory while the referee was distracted by Nox's confrontation with Candice LeRae.
NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair & Chelsea Green def. Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai
Choosing Chelsea Green as her partner paid off for The Queen. Green sacrificed herself in service of Charlotte Flair, pushing her out of the way to eat Io Shirai's springboard missile dropkick before Shirai inadvertently struck Rhea Ripley moments later. The NXT Women's Champion pinned Shirai with use of the ropes for leverage, stealing victory in a way that would make The Dirtiest Player in the Game proud.
Adam Cole agreed to defend the NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver: In Your House
After labored negotiations with NXT General Manager William Regal, Adam Cole agreed to give Velveteen Dream another opportunity at his NXT Title — under the condition that Dream would never again be allowed to challenge him. Meanwhile, Regal declared that he would find a special location for the match where Cole and Dream could shine in the spotlight they so crave.
Tommaso Ciampa def. Leon Ruff; Karrion Kross addressed Ciampa
The Blackheart made short work of Leon Ruff in his first action since One Final Beat against Johnny Gargano, but he wasn't alone. Scarlett came to ringside to get a closer look at Tommaso Ciampa, who also received a stern message from his NXT TakeOver: In Your House opponent afterward.
Timothy Thatcher def. Matt Riddle in the NXT Fight Pit
The first-ever NXT Fight Pit played host to a barbaric showdown between the former tag team partners with WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle as special guest referee. Matt Riddle landed a massive blow when he launched himself off the side off the cage for a kick that knocked Timothy Thatcher's teeth loose. After Thatcher assured the doctor at ringside that he could continue, he and Riddle eventually took their clash to higher ground atop the scaffolding surrounding the ring. The Original Bro sent Thatcher crashing to the ring below with a ripcord knee before dropping jaws with a Floating Bro from high above. But Thatcher claimed victory, refusing to relinquish a rear-naked choke and rendering The Original Bro unconscious, despite Riddle's best efforts.
Kurt Angle to referee Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher in the NXT Fight Pit tonight
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher are stepping into the cage, and Kurt Angle will be joining them. The WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold Medalist will serve as special guest referee for The Original Bro’s battle against Thatcher in the NXT Fight Pit tonight.
Thatcher debuted as Riddle’s partner in place of Pete Dunne, who was unable to appear to defend the NXT Tag Team Championship. Riddle & Thatcher seemed to catch lightning in a bottle, fending off The Undisputed ERA’s Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong to retain the titles.
But The Newly-Bros imploded in less than a month and lost the titles to Imperium, with Riddle’s easy-going demeanor apparently driving Thatcher mad. The Original Bro craftily rolled up Thatcher two weeks ago to win their first bout against each other, though the tension was far from settled.
Thatcher called for a match that could only be won by knockout or tap-out. Riddle one-upped him, proposing that they meet inside a cage. We've seen a glimpse of the NXT Fight Pit that will surround the foes, but what exactly can we expect? And what sort of impact might Angle have?
Find out when it all goes down tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!
Rhea Ripley will team with Io Shirai to face Charlotte Flair and a partner of her choice
Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai are both getting their chance at Charlotte Flair and the NXT Women’s Championship come NXT TakeOver: In Your House — but they want a piece of The Queen sooner.
NXT General Manager William Regal took notice, and the two top challengers to The Queen’s throne will get exactly what they’re looking for tonight as they team up to face Flair and a partner of her choice.
Can The Nightmare and The Joshi Judas coexist to send a message to the champion ahead of TakeOver? Meanwhile, The Queen hasn’t exactly endeared herself to her peers since returning to the black-and-gold brand. Whom will she call upon as her partner?
Adam Cole to have live negotiation with William Regal regarding The Velveteen Dream
Convincing Adam Cole to postpone his own celebration is no easy task, but The Velveteen Dream seems to have accomplished it.
Cole, who was planning on commemorating one full year as NXT Champion this Wednesday, altered course and posted a short video to Twitter, wherein he demanded a live negotiation with NXT General Manager William Regal and laid out his plans to “make sure The Velveteen Dream disappears forever!”
Regal has since accepted Cole’s proposal, but what exactly does the NXT Champion have in mind? Will His Purple Highness be far behind? Find out on the black-and-gold brand tonight at 8/7 on USA Network.
Kushida, Maverick and Atlas collide for the right to face Fantasma for Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title
Three NXT Cruiserweights. Three unique stories. Three incredible paths to this moment. Only one winner.
Kushida, Jake Atlas and Drake Maverick have produced jaw-dropping bouts throughout the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, as all three competitors have posted a 2-1 record, and all three will compete in a high-stakes Triple Threat Match tonight to emerge as the winner of Group A.
Maverick appeared to be in dire straits when he lost his first tournament match against Atlas, but he has since rallied for a hard-fought victory against Tony Nese and a shocking upset win against Kushida. NXT’s Time Splitter entered the bout against Maverick with a 2-0 record and had a chance to claim Group A with a victory, but a crafty rollup by Maverick earned him the win and forced a three-way tie.
Whomever claims victory in what is sure to be a pulse-pounding clash will take on El Hijo del Fantasma, who went 2-1, including a victory in a seesaw battle with Akira Tozawa to determine the winner of Group B.
Kushida. Atlas. Maverick. Who will claim a potential career-altering win and move on to face Fantasma in the tournament finals? Tune in to NXT tonight at 8/7 on USA Network to find out!
