The April 13, 2021 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center.
The April 13, 2021 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center.
WWE NXT Results
- NXT Tag Team Champions MSK def. Killian Dain & Drake Maverick to retain.
- Mercedes Martinez def. Jessi Kamea.
- KUSHIDA def. Santos Escobar to become the new WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion
- Isaiah “Swerve” Scott def. Leon Ruff.
- Bronson Reed, Dexter Lumis, and Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon def. The Way
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Karrion Kross Opens
New NXT Champion Karrion Kross kicked off the show with an in-ring promo as he is fresh off beating Finn Balor for the NXT Title at last week’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
He put over Balor for being one of the greatest to ever do it but proved that Balor’s beliefs were wrong. He said that he controls everything and is in command of NXT until he says so. He said no one will outwork him and if anyone wants the title then step up because he’s ready to roll heads.
He said he doesn’t care who it is or what they’ve done because he will fold everyone until no one is left. He said it doesn’t matter where the time is, everyone pays the toll.
Raquel Gonzalez Speaks / Franky Monet Debuts
Raquel Gonzalez made her first appearance on WWE television after winning the NXT Women’s Title from Io Shirai on the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver event last week.
Gonzalez walked out to the ring for a promo about her road to being champion. She said that the one person to realize her dedication and that’s Dakota Kai.
Franky Monet, formerly known as former Impact Wrestling star Taya Valkyrie, made her debut on this show by interrupting the champion. Monet congratulated her on the title and said that she is La Wera Loca and the best division on the planet is a whole lot better now that she’s here.
Monet left and out walks Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley then SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. They held up their titles in the ring and congratulated each other. That was it.
WWE started airing videos a few weeks ago where a Pomeranian dog was shown entering the WWE Performance Center and running around the building. The latest video showed the dog coming up to a woman in high heels.
The dog in the videos was Valkyrie and John Morrison’s Pomeranian Prince Presley. WWE also filed for the ring name in February.
Roderick Strong Gone From NXT
WWE did this interesting angle backstage where Roderick Strong was with his wife, Marina Shafair, and gave NXT General manager Wlliam Regal an envelope.
Regal asked if he was sure about this decision and Strong said yes. So Strong is gone from NXT. It looks like he’s headed to the main roster whether that be on Raw or SmackDown.
Open Challenge
Undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar issued an open challenge on this show after Escobar became the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion by defeating Jordan Devlin in a ladder match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two last Thursday.
When the COVID-19 pandemic last year, WWE announced a tournament to crown an interim champion, which was won by Escobar. So who answered the open challenge?
Well, first, Santos cut a promo about being the undisputed champion and how his family is full of warriors as they always fight. Thus, that’s why he wanted this open challenge. KUSHIDA answered the call.
It was a fun back and forth match that came down to KUSHIDA getting a quick roll-up win. After a quick commercial break, Jordan Devlin walked up and told KUSHIDA that after he goes home for a break, he’s coming for KUSHIDA and the title.
Tag Team Title Match
New NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defended against Drake Maverick & Killian Dain.
The champions went over with their finishers in a solid match. Post-match, Imperium laid out MSK.
MSK became the NXT Tag Team Champions by defeating The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match at last week’s NXT TakeOver special. Maverick & Dain became the number one contenders to MSK’s titles by defeating Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) on the pre-show.
Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in a singles match took place.
The backstory behind this match is due to them being rivals as Ruff and Scott were participants in the Gauntlet Eliminator. Scott eliminated Ruff during the match, which was won by Bronson Reed to become the #1 contender to Johnny Gargano’s North American Title.
Scott went over with his finisher in a solid match.
Tag Bout
The Way (NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, Austin Theory, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) vs. Bronson Reed, Dexter Lumis, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in an eight-person tag match took place.
The reason this match was booked was due to Reed winning the Gauntlet Eliminator match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one and advancing to challenge for Gargano’s North American Championship at night two, but fell short to retain his title. On the flip side, Blackheart & Moon retained their titles against LeRae & Hartwell at night two.
During the match, Heartwell had Lumis walk her backstage and she winked behind his back. The finish saw Reed hit a splash off the top rope to Theory.