The May 20, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from the Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University and we have the results. Â
The show was headlined by Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley.
WWE NXT Results (5/20)
- Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) def. Liam Gray.
- El Hijo del Fantasma def. Akira Tozawa
- Mia Yim def. Santana Garrett
- Roderick Strong def. Dexter Lumis
- Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan def. Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
- Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley ends in no contest
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Killer Kross Opens The Show, Daddy Comes Home
WWE had Killer Kross and Scarlett open the show by doing their cool entrance right before Kross’ second NXT match.
As expected, Kross worked a squash match against some jobber named Liam Gray. The former Impact Wrestling star squashed Gray with a series of suplexes before locking in his finisher.
After the match, Tommaso Ciampa walked out and introduced himself to Kross. He says that NXT is his home but Kross already knew that which is why Kross attacked the main attraction. He respects Kross’ aura of being special. Ciampa said that NXT has the best pro wrestlers in the world but Kross stands out. He pointed out that Kross has a killer entrance.
Ciampa stood on the apron and Scarlett held the rope for Ciampa to get in. He said that on June 7 at TakeOver, it’ll be Ciampa vs.Kross and that’s special. He said welcome to the main event.
An excellent segment and a match many will look forward to seeing.
Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis, Velveteen Dream Seeks Revenge
A late addition to the card was Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis in a singles match.
It was a decent hard-hitting affair. In an interesting finish, Strong went over Lumis.
This match was interesting as WWE has been pushing Lumis, a former Impact Wrestling star, in recent weeks by having him do squash matches. This was his first real test against Strong, who has been someone that NXT has been behind for quite some time now as part of The Undisputed Era.
After the match, Lumis attacked Strong but was beaten down by the group until The Velveteen Dream ran out and made the save. Lumis and Dream stood tall to end the segment.
Dream already lost to Cole with the title on the line but it appears this feud is going on further.
Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley
The biggest match announced for the show over the last week was Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley and rightfully so.
It marked the first match back for Ripley since she dropped the NXT Women’s Title to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36.
The match was solid and they had plenty of time to work. The finish saw Flair walk out to the ring to watch the contest only for her to run in and attack both stars to cause a no contest.
Clearly, WWE is reigniting the feud with Ripley and Flair, which has played out over the last few weeks since Ripley made her return to television. The real interest is how WWE plans to get there.
Will WWE make it a three-way bout at the NXT TakeOver: In Your House special? Perhaps they go right back to Flair vs. Ripley but with the inclusion of Io, she’s either a blockage in the middle of the road or a third person in this match to allow WWE to extend the Flair-Ripley feud for a later date and one final singles match.
Drake Maverick vs. Kushida
Kushida faced Drake Maverick to close out Group A in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament.
WWE had hyped going into the contest that if Maverick won then he would force a three-way tie atop Group A as Jake Atlas previously lost to Kushida, but he also defeated Maverick. On the flip side, a victory for Kushida would put him in the Interim Cruiserweight Title Match opposite the winner of Group B.
As seen on the show, Maverick went over after he countered an armbar into the pinfall. The match was decent but didn’t get a ton of time for these guys to tell whatever story that was needed.
Maverick’s situation with the company is still odd as it plays out as he was released from the company along with other talent last month due to budget cuts.
It was announced after the match that due to Kushida, Maverick, and Atlas being tied in the standings of Group A, there will be a Triple Threat Match next week. The winner of this contest will then advance to the finals of the tournament.
El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Akira Tozawa
After several weeks of building and following along to this moment, the finals of Group B took place when El Hijo del Fantasma collided with Akira Tozawa.
This was the fastest-paced match on the show due to the styles that these two bring to the squared circle, which made for quite the entertaining bout even though the two stars don’t have much drawing power.
The contest isn’t one to boost viewership but WWE is clearly behind Fantasma and someone that could become a decent name in star power for them should he get the proper booking to go along with it.
As seen on the show, Fantasma went over to advance.
New Feuds
It appears that Candice LeRae will be feuding with Mia Yim going forward.
Yim beat Santana Garrett. After the match, LeRae and Johnny Gargano walked out to the ring where they mocked her for losing to NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. LeRae congratulated her for actually winning a match tonight.
LeRae blamed Yim’s loss on playing to the crowd. LeRae blamed Yim for not letting her have the chance of facing Flair. Gargano said that LeRae wouldn’t have dropped the ball and blown that type of opportunity. Yim and LeRae started to brawl.
Gargano pulled down the rope and Yim flew to the floor. Keith Lee walked out and ran Gargano into the ring. Gargano and LeRae retreated to the back and the segment ended with them staring down.
So there are the next feuds for these four stars. Perhaps singles or even a mixed tag team match on task at TakeOver?
