The clash between Keith Lee and Karrion Kross was everything and more of what fans had expected it to be. 

After weeks of building towards it, the battle took place in the main event of the WWE NXT TakeOver: XXX event in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University. Lee put the championship on the line against the rising contender. 

The match was a normal match with Kross working over the left arm/shoulder of Lee. The pace started to slow down and Kross dominated Lee. Things turned around when Lee battled out of an armbar. Karrion went back to dominating before Lee landed a major league clothesline. 

The finish saw Kross hit his suplex finisher off the middle rope for the win. 

Kross had set his sights on the NXT Title shortly after he had beaten Tommaso Ciampa at the NXT TakeOver: In Your House special a few months ago. 

 Last month, Kross beat Dominik Dijakovic, who is the good friend yet better enemy of Lee in a singles match. In the process, Kross gave him such a beating that Dijakovic hasn’t been seen since although he’s rumored to be called up to the main roster soon. 

On the August 12th episode of NXT, WWE did an angle where the two stars signed contracts for the match. After Kross signed it, Lee opened the folder and a fireball hit him in the face. 

• NXT Star Reportedly Seen As ‘The Next Big Thing’ By WWE Officials

Keith Lee vs. Karrion Kross has been announced for the upcoming WWE NXT TakeOver: XXX. 

After weeks of teasing it happening, WWE made it official during Wednesday’s episode of NXT. After Kross had beaten Danny Burch, Lee came out to the ring with a contract in hand. After Kross had signed it, Scarlett kissed it and when Lee opened the folder, a fireball hit him in the face. 

Once Lee won the title from Adam Cole, Kross had set his sights on Lee because he wanted the championship. Last month, Kross beat Dominik Dijakovic, who is the good friend yet better enemy of the NXT Champion. He gave him such a beating that Dijakovic hasn’t been seen since. 

Although NXT General Manager William Regal stated that Kross had to earn the title match, that has clearly changed. 

WWE presents the NXT TakeOver XXX event on Saturday, August 22, 2020 in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University. 

Updated WWE NXT TakeOver XXX Card

• WWE NXT Champion Keith Lee vs. Karrion Kross
• WWE NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Dakota Kai
• Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA – Ladder Match to crown new NXT North American Champion 
• Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee

Pat McAfee Shares Training Footage Ahead Of NXT TakeOver: XXX Match

What are your thoughts on this match being added to the card? Sound off in the comment section.

Drew McIntyre and Karrion Kross got fans talking when they planted the seeds for a potential match down the road.

The WWE Champion started it all when he responded to a fan on his official Twitter account who asked him to name one NXT superstar that he hopes to work with.

This led to him naming Kross by writing, “@Lady_Scarlett13 & @WWEKarrionKross have my full attention #DrewAndA.”

The NXT star took to Instagram where he shared a photo of McIntyre’s tweet and told fans to never miss an episode because anything can happen in NXT. 

“Anything can happen in the #WWE. And it’s all the more reason why you should never miss an episode no matter what brand it is. Think about the future.”

This match may not have to wait as WWE finds itself in two interesting situations. 

First up is the most alarming one which is how Monday Night RAW has seen its viewership numbers fall at a scary rate and they’ve been hitting new records low over the last few months while in the COVID-19 era. Thus, WWE could always have Kross appear on RAW for any reason. 

The second situation is the war between NXT and AEW Dynamite. WWE has had main roster stars appear on NXT in the past as a way to boost viewership. 

• WWE NXT Results (7/29): Triple Threat Match, Strong vs. Gargano

Karrion Kross is looking to do his own cinematic match in WWE NXT. 

The trend of this type of match began at WrestleMania 36 with the Boneyard between AJ Styles and The Undertaker, which was highly praised, in addition to the Firefly Fun House between John Cena and Bray Wyatt. 

Since then, WWE has done several of these types of matches including two in NXT. 

Kross recently spoke with Stephanie Chase of Digital Spy. During the interview, he noted that he has a few ideas in mind for doing such a match. The reason for that is due to him thinking that it would suit his character.

“I have a couple in mind,” Kross teased. “And I have a feeling that we may see one before the end of the year.”

Kross had been teasing challenging for the NXT Championship next. Originally, he dropped hints at coming after Adam Cole, but Cole just dropped the top championship on NXT TV to Keith Lee last week in a Winner Takes All Match. 

There’s speculation that Kross could challenge Lee, who is also the NXT North American Champion, for the strap at the upcoming Takeover event during SummerSlam weekend, but that has not been confirmed.

• Triple H Says Matt Hardy Didn’t Invent Cinematic Matches But Recognizes His Impact

New NXT Superstar Karrion Kross has already made a major impact since debuting on WWE’s black-and-gold brand. Turns out he’s already got an idea of who he’d like to face at WrestleMania. 

Speaking with the Gorilla Position podcast, Kross revealed he’d love to stand opposite none other than Brock Lesnar at “The Grandest Stage of them All.”

According to Kross, the “measuring stick” should be defined by who can draw the most people into a building and garner the most attention.

“[Brock Lesnar] is a guy that transcended sports entertainment. He is in mainstream entertainment. I think that figures like that in our business are pretty important.”

Karrion Kross added how wrestling always wants to create new fans. He explained how, although there are hardcore purists amongst WWE’s audience, it’s important to have a mainstream appeal as well. 

He then juxtaposed Lesnar with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Kross argued that although he’d love to face Lesnar at WrestleMania, in terms of generating attention and interest, that he’d have to go with The Rock as his personal measuring stick.

“I think he is the highest paid actor in Hollywood. He came from here. If someone wants to emulate the absolute most success they can find in this business, I would say The Rock is the guy.” 

Karrion Kross featured during the tail end of this week’s episode of NXT Great American Bash Night Two. He was revealed to have been watching the main event clash from above the ring. This appearance heavily hints at his NXT Championship aspirations going forward.

Karrion Kross now can say that he had a match featured on the main card of an NXT TakeOver special. 

As seen at Sunday’s (June 7, 2020) WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House in Winter Park, Florida, the former Impact Wrestling star did so when he took on Tommaso Ciampa that saw Kross go over the former NXT Champion.

It was a short match that saw Kross be booked strong with Ciampa not getting a ton of offense in. The finish saw Kross lock in the Kross Jacket submission, which is a rear-naked choke.

When Kross first signed with the company, it was reported that he was being brought in as a top star and WWE is living up to that expectation. 

Back in April, this feud started when Kross attacked Ciampa from behind as Ciampa was doing a backstage promo. WWE paired Kross up with his real-life girlfriend, Scarlett. Fast forward to the May 20th episode of NXT, WWE had Ciampa cut a promo about Kross to make this match official. 

• Seth Rollins Comments On Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux’s NXT Debut

What are your thoughts on Kross going over? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

The first match has been announced for the upcoming WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House special and its Karrion Kross vs. Tommaso Ciampa.

Just after Kross had worked his second match under the NXT banner, which was a squash match similar to his debut, the returning Ciampa made his way out to the ring where he would cut a promo about how Kross is special. 

Ciampa thinks this because of his entrance and look, which makes Kross stand out from all of the other talented wrestlers under contract with WWE NXT. 

Ciampa ended his promo by stating that at TakeOver, it’ll be Ciampa vs.Kross and that’s special. He said welcome to the main event. 

WWE presents the NXT TakeOver: In Your House event on Sunday, June 7, 2020 and will air on the WWE Network. 

There’s no word yet on where the special will be held from but the company has been taping NXT television in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University. No matter where it’s held, it will be on a closed set. 

• WWE NXT Star Released After Reportedly Making Complaints About Medical Team

What are your thoughts on this match being added to the card? Sound off in the comment section.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett made their debuts on NXT TV last week in dominant fashion. Kross soundly defeated EVOLVE wrestler Leon Ruff.

Although Kross did not have a match on this week’s episode, the pair did feature a new vignette for the WWE Universe. The unsettling promo contained a warning to the rest of the NXT locker room. He acknowledged how fans were curious behind their motives in attacking former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa.

Kross addressed how the world constantly seeks answers to questions and wants to uncover the motives behind why “terrible people do terrible things.”

Karrion Kross and Scarlett promised that they aren’t in NXT to “shock a system” or save them from their “corrupted black hearts.” Instead, they are there to be the WWE Universe’s “entertainment” and stressed it was time to wake up from the dream.

ccording to Kross, Ciampa was the first but guaranteed he wouldn’t be the last as Kross and Scarlett look to cement themselves in NXT.

The video was accompanied by “The End is Near.” The song was previously used on several WWE Armageddon pay-per-views in the past, as well as a Survivor Series event.

You can watch the promo in its entirety below:

RAW Superstar Seth Rollins has shared his thoughts on the recent NXT debut of Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux. The duo made their official in-ring debut last week on NXT. Kross competed against Leon Ruff in a squash match, easily defeating Ruff. Their entrance prior to matchup captured the imaginations of the WWE Universe, and even impressed Rollins.

Speaking with Planeta Wrestling, Seth Rollins divulged how he remembered Bordeaux from the Chicago independent scene. He noted how he is impressed her her notable improvement, highlighting the potential that the pair have to make an impact on the black-and-gold brand. 

“Karrion is someone that I’m starting to become familiar with,” Seth Rollins admitted. “Scarlett is from Chicago, she came up in the Chicago indies. I was there before she was even training to be a wrestler. I remember she was this annoying little girl that wouldn’t go away at the shows in Chicago, and now to see what she’s turned into, it’s awesome, man.”

Seth Rollins confessed that it is “inspiring” to see someone he didn’t see much initial potential in flourish. He added how she’s made it to the “big time” and that Kross has all the potential in the world.

Looking back to their captivating entrance from NXT, Seth Rollins stated how it was “something to behold” and is looking forward to see what comes next. According to him, Superstars only have one chance to make a powerful first impression, something that did with “flying colors.”