The June 15, 2021 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center.
WWE NXT Results
- Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) def. Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner).
- Kushida def. Trey Baxter to retain Cruiserweight Title.
- Dalota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez def. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro.
- Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher def. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson).
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
William Regal’s Change
WWE did an angle at the end of Sunday’s NXT TakeOver: In Your House special where NXT General Manager William Regal said it’s time for a change before walking away.
This week’s show opened with Regal coming out and saying that he’s been with NXT since the start from working as an announcer. He said he’s watched everyone develop and the product grow. Regal was clearly emotional and crying. He said that he has given everything he can and doesn’t think he can do that anymore.
Karrion Kross came out and said that they always knew this day would come, but wanted to see it for himself. He mocked Regal for crying and called him pathetic. Kross said that he told Regal that he lost control.
Samoa Joe came out to the ring and said that Regal wanted to speak with him. Regal said that Joe is the right man to become the new GM. Joe declined and said that Regal has large shoes to fill. Joe said that Regal deserves the respect from everyone and he will ensure that happens. Regal said Joe can’t be a competitor and lay a hand on anyone unless provoked. Joe accepted the offer. Thus, Joe is Regal’s new enforcer.
LA Knight’s Million Dollar Championship Coronation
Ted DiBiase presented LA Knight’s Million Dollar Championship Coronation.
This came after Knight beat Cameron Grimes at NXT TakeOver: In Your House in a ladder match to win the title.
This segment saw DiBiase show a video package to further hype Knight. LA came out for a promo where he talked about how much he respects Ted and is so thankful to carry the Million Dollar legacy. He said that all the pain he went through was worth it.
Ted gave him the title and they both started laughing with pyro going off. Knight said that now it’s time to drop the dead weight he doesn’t need and punched him. Knight told him that he is the only Million Dollar Champion. Knight put the boots to him before Cameron Grimes ran out to make the save.
Io Shirai Addresses
Io Shirai returned to address the fans after making her return last week.
Shirai made her return to NXT TV after Poppy was called out by Candice LeRae and she brought out Shirai to beat down LeRae.
Shirai cut a promo about how she’s back and her next target is…LeRae walked out. She said that Io picked the wrong time to screw with her. Indie Heartwell attacked her from behind. Io fought back, but the numbers game was just too much. Zoey Starks eventually came out to even the odds and the babyfaces stood tall in the ring to close the show.
Open Challenge
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida defended the title in an Open Challenge, which was answered by Trey Baxton.
WWE aired a video package to hype Baxter’s arrival. This is the former Blake Christian. The fun back and forth match ended when Kushida hit his finisher. It was revealed after the match that Kushida would face Kyle O’Reilly next week.
Kushida has issued these open challenges since winning the title and has beaten the likes of Oney Lorcan and Carmelo Hayes.
Kushida won the title after accepting an open challenge that was issued by then-champion Santos Escobar back on April 13. They worked a rematch, which was a two out of three falls match, back on May 11th.
Tornado Tag Team Match
Tomasso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher faced The Grizzled Young Veterans in a Tornado Tag Team Match.
The match saw them put on a strong style type of match with the heels mostly dominating. Ciampa hit a powerslam on the announce table. Ciampa and Thatcher hit their double team submission hold for the win.
Last week on NXT, The Grizzled Young Veterans were in action against August Grey & Ikemen Jiro. During it, Ciampa and Thatcher came out to watch and tried to distract the rival team, but they still won the contest.
Post-match, The Grizzled Young Veterans said that they’re focus on getting a title shot, but Ciampa said they won’t get it until they go through them.
The Grizzled Young Veterans were in action on NXT tonight, facing August Grey & Ikemen Jiro. During the match, Ciampa and Thatcher came out to ringside and watched on from steel chairs. The Grizzled Young Veterans were momentarily distracted but still got the win. This led to this match getting booked.
Their first match took place last month where Ciampa and Thatcher went over. Three weeks ago, The Grizzled Young Veterans cost Ciampa and Thatcher their match against Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde.