This week’s NXT was packed with plenty of build-ups to NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Stipulations and matches were added, but we still had plenty of action in the ring. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott battled Killian Dain, Grizzled Young Veterans wrestled August Grey and Ikemen Jiro, and Ember Moon looked for payback against Dakota Kai. First up, though, was Austin Theory vs Oney Lorcan.

Austin Theory vs Oney Lorcan

Before the bell rang, footage was shown from earlier where Theory and Gargano were brawling with Lorcan and Dunne backstage. Theory hit an elevated dropkick. Lorcan trapped Theory’s head between his legs, but Theory reversed into a headlock. Both men traded uppercuts until Lorcan locked in a heel hook. Theory hit a double stomp over the ropes and a suplex. Lorcan took advantage of Theory’s cockiness and chopped at his chest and knocked him down to the mat. He kneed Theory’s jaw and knocked him outside the ring. Theory tried to connect with a move on the apron, but Lorcan swept his leg and he smashed his back as he fell off.

Pete Dunne walked out as the show went into a commercial. After the break, Gargano was now at ringside as Theory hit a blockbuster. He clotheslined Lorcan over the ropes, and as Theory turned his back, Lorcan returned the favour. Outside the ring, Theory threw Lorcan into the barrier a couple of times. In the ring, Theory hit a fallaway slam and an insane modified Spanish fly off the top turnbuckle. Outside the ring, Theory and Lorcan hit a double clothesline. Dunne and Gargano went at it, but officials tried to split them up. As Theory looked to see if Gargano was OK, Lorcan smashed his head against the post and delivered his finisher to pick up the win.

Winner: Oney Lorcan Rating: 8/10

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott W/ Hit Row vs Killian Dain W/ Drake Maverick

Dain twisted Swerve’s arm and controlled the early stages. He hit a fireman’s takedown as Swerve slapped the back of his head and left the ring. Top Dolla distracted Dain as Swerve came in from behind. Dain knocked Swerve to the mat and Hit Row distracted him again. Swerve kicked him to the outside. Back in the ring, Swerve smashed Dain in the back of the head and got a two-count. Swerve and Dain traded blows, with Dain taking advantage and hitting a standing crossbody.

Swerve hit a House Call but only got a two-count. Dain slammed Swerve and connected with a standing senton. Adonis distracted Dain so Maverick attacked him but got hit by Top Dolla. Dain went to see if Maverick was OK, but Swerve hit a big kick as Dain stood on the turnbuckle, pinning him for the win.

Winner: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott Rating: 7.5/10

Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) vs August Grey & Ikemen Jiro

Gibson got taken down with a hurricanrana by Grey. Jiro tagged in and knocked Gibson off his feet with a punch. Jiro took out Gibson with a modified hurricanrana off the top rope and hit a flurry of strikes. Drake tagged in as GYV took both of their opponents out. Drake worked on Jiro’s injured left leg. Gibson tagged in as GYV slammed Jiro into the ropes. Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher walked down the ramp and sat on steel chairs. Grey took out both members of GYV. Grey hit a bulldog and flying crossbody on Drake.

Drake tagged in Grey as they hit the Ticket to Mayhem and picked up the win. They stared down Ciampa and Thatcher as Gibson said they were done with them. Ciampa said GYV didn’t seem to get the fact they had to go through them to get a title shot. Gibson said that next week they adhere to tornado tag rules and have a scrap. Ciampa said they didn’t need to wait and rushed the ring, but GYV ran away. Thatcher said he was going to enjoy breaking their legs.

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans Rating: 6.5/10

Dakota Kai W/ Raquel Gonzalez vs Ember Moon

As Kai and Gonzalez headed to the ring, she had a brief staredown with Shirai. Both women went for different kicks but couldn’t connect. Kai pulled Moon into the second turnbuckle then hit a huge running kick into her jaw. Kai hit another running kick into Moon’s face in the opposite turnbuckle. Moon drove Kai’s face into the mat then booted her in the back. She threw Kai into the corner and hit an elbow. Kai whipped Moon’s head into the ring post as the show went into commercial. After the break, Moon hit a step-up enzuigiri and a snapmare. Kai fought back with some kicks, but Moon hit a spinning sit down stunner and got a two-count.

Moon locked in a dragon sleeper, but Kai reversed and dropped her face-first into the mat. Kai hit a Scorpion kick and a high kick into Moon’s face as she was stood in the corner. Moon landed a powerbomb, but Kai kicked out of the pin. Gonzalez went to check on Kai. Kai headed back in the ring. With the referee distracted, Gonzalez went for a big boot but Moon moved out of the way and punched her in the jaw. She then hit a Tope con Hilo on both women. As Moon went for her finisher, Gonzalez attacked her. After the bell, Gonzalez went for her finisher but Moon reversed into a modified Eclipse. Moon hit a proper Eclipse and raised the NXT Women’s Championship over Gonzalez, draping it across her stomach.

Winner: Ember Moon (via DQ) Rating: 7.5/10

The Final Showdown

William Regal said he was the GM and there wouldn’t be a fight. Kross said Regal didn’t run a thing, and he wouldn’t leave the ring until his opponents headed out and faced him. O’Reilly walked out and said Kross had the thinnest skin he’d seen. He called him insecure and it was only a matter of time before he took the title from him. Gargano walked out and stood on the announce table. He said Kross certainly wasn’t Johnny Wrestling or Johnny TakeOver, but he was NXT Champion. Kross said Gargano should head to the ring. Pete Dunne walked out and said he was tired of all the talking and by Sunday they could call him NXT Champion. Adam Cole appeared on the big screen and called Kross the biggest moron of everyone.

He said Kross tricks people into thinking he’s the tough guy, and the thought of going against him has him shaking in his boots. Cole said he could beat Gargano or Dunne again to become champion. He ended by saying he would see them all this Sunday. O’Reilly said Cole was clearly a little bitch to get things started early. All five men started brawling with each other. Kross took out everyone with Doomsday Saitos. Security tried to break it up, but chaos continued to erupt. Kross ended things standing tall in the ring until Adam Cole superkicked him from behind. He connected with a Last Shot and picked up the belt, raising it up as all four men were lying on the mat.

What Else Went Down

– A promo aired with LA Knight singing Ted DiBiase’s theme song in the shower. He was shown in a hot tub with a couple of women telling them what he was going to do to Cameron Grimes this Sunday. He showed off his big house and his fancy car. Later on, a similar promo aired from Cameron Grimes’ house. He burnt some money and lit a cigar, but coughed as he struggled to talk. He was getting a massage, then he gave one to a woman. He drove off and said he was taking the Million-Dollar legacy to the moon. Cameron Grimes and LA Knight arrived in the parking lot and were told Ted DiBiase was waiting for them in the ring. The two of them bickered all the way to the ring. DiBiase announced their match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House would be a ladder match as a golden ladder descended from the rafters. After Grimes asked what he would be reaching for, DiBiase showed off the famous Million Dollar Championship. Wow.

– Dok Hendrix gave us a recap of the matches made for NXT TakeOver: In Your House so far. Later on, he provided an update to the card.

– Legado Del Fantasma were stood in the ring. Escobar said he was going to make Bronson Reed pay. Reed came out and replayed the footage of Escobar getting squashed against the barricades multiple times. Escobar called him to the ring and Reed obliged. MSK came out to help him out and all six men stood face to face. Legado Del Fantasma walked off. Escobar said they should have a six-man tag match where the winners walked away with all belts. Reed and MSK agreed and was made official later on for NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Hit Row walked out and stared down Escobar. They entered the ring and tried to intimidate Reed and MSK.

– Poppy was shown arriving backstage. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell were being interviewed. LeRae was moaning about Poppy when Hartwell said she heard about Lumis last week and she thinks he still loves her. Hartwell walked off to find him as LeRae went in the opposite direction looking annoyed. Later on, Triple H and William Regal were talking to Poppy. HHH asked Poppy when her new album was dropping, and she said now. Dexter Lumis walked over with a picture he’d drawn of Poppy. She gave him a hug as Indi Hartwell walked over. Lumis looked more shocked than usual. Haha, brilliant stuff. After the GYV match, LeRae walked to the ring and said she was so sick of hearing about Poppy. She said Indi has left the building in tears, and Poppy should head to the ring and face her, or she would be given a proper introduction to the NXT parking lot. Poppy came out and said she didn’t wrestle, but she knew someone who did. Io Shirai walked out and the two went at it. Shirai hit a 619 and a missile dropkick as Poppy celebrated with her.

-Mercedes Martinez walked to the ring, but Xia Li attacked her from behind. Martinez fought back and hit a big boot. They brawled on the outside as officials told her to get in the ring. Martinez hit the Air Raid Crash on her opponent to pick up the win.

– Breezango were being interviewed. They joked around about Imperium and said they seemed to be annoyed with them after their loss. Breeze said they would once again embarrass them.

– Kyle O’Reilly and Karrion Kross were shown backstage with officials trying to keep them apart. Near the end of the show, Kross cut a promo where he said that now was their opportunity to show him what they could all do.

– Ever-Rise announced they were going to host the “pre-pre-show” at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.

– We were shown what happened to Bobby Fish two weeks ago. He was then shown backstage training on a punchbag.

After The Bell

A huge match was added to NXT TakeOver: In Your House, with MSK and Bronson Reed teaming up against Legado Del Fantasma. I’m pretty excited about this, and it helps to make the relatively weak card a bit better. Cameron Grimes and LA Knight in a ladder match has also boosted my excitement. They were both great this week, and it has the potential to be a real showstopper. I feel as though the Xia Li and Mercedes Martinez match is by far the weakest of the lot, and I have no real interest in seeing how it plays out this Sunday.

Whilst Ember Moon and Raquel Gonzalez have the potential for a great match, it all feels rushed. At least with the main event, there have been multiple running feuds to give it credence. Speaking of the NXT Championship match, I’m more than excited to see all five men face off in one ring. I believe Karrion Kross is going to win, but I’m still hoping for that big Keith Lee return soon.

Star of the Show: Adam Cole Overall Rating: 7/10

NXT TakeOver: In Your House is airing live this Sunday night at 8 ET/5 PT (1 AM  BST), streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network, with a 30-minute pre-show on WWE social media.

NXT Champion Karrion Kross, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez, Ember Moon, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, Cameron Grimes and LA Knight will take part in a Global Press Conference Saturday at 11 am ET (4 PM BST), streaming on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network elsewhere, as well as across WWE social platforms.

Here is the card of the show:

• Winner Takes All Six-man Tag Team Match for the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Tag Team Championship: Bronson Reed (North American) and MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) (Tag Team) vs. Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raúl Mendoza)
• Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li (with Boa and Mei Ying)
• Ladder Match for the vacant Million Dollar Championship: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight
• NXT Women’s Championship Match: Raquel González (c) (with Dakota Kai) vs. Ember Moon (with Shotzi Blackheart)
• Fatal 5-Way Match for the NXT Championship: Karrion Kross (c) (with Scarlett) vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (with Austin Theory) vs. Pete Dunne (with Oney Lorcan)

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