WWE NXT Results - May 25, 2021: Kross Vs. Balor II, Million Dollar Face-Off

NXT once again delivered a very good night of in-ring action which was capped off by an entertaining NXT Championship match between Karrion Kross and Finn Balor.

Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart def. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai 

The number one contenders match between Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart and Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai opened the broadcast. 

Both teams fought back and forth during the opening contest and Raquel Gonzalez thought she had the match won for her team after she set up for the One-Arm Powerbomb. Ember Moon managed to counter into a modified Eclipse, though, knocking Gonzalez out of the ring, and The War Goddess and Blackheart followed up with a Dominator-Cutter combination to Dakota Kai for the win. 

Moon and Blackheart then briefly celebrated after the match, but Raquel Gonzalez blindsided them and followed up with repeated Powerbombs on Shotzi into the ring post and cage before she dropped her across the barricade. All Ember Moon could do was watch on helplessly and it appears The War Goddess will be the next challenger for the NXT Women's Championship. 

Following the match, the broadcast cut to a backstage promo from Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. They said there will be a round three between themselves and Grizzled Young Veterans and Thatcher admitted he will enjoy breaking their limbs.   

Pete Dunne def. Bobby Fish 

Bobby Fish tried to get revenge on Pete Dunne in the next match on the show. 

The Bruiserweight goaded Fish into a cheap shot in the early going and Dunne soon gained the upper hand and repeatedly targeted his opponent's previously injured arm. 

Fish managed to fight back, though, and he caught Dunne with a Jumping Knee for a close near fall. Both men then exchanged counters before Fish tried to lock in an Armbar and tear Dunne's triceps in the process. The Bruiserweight managed to roll through, however, and connect with the Bitter End for the 1-2-3. 

Fish's night only went from bad to worse after the bell as Oney Lorcan suddenly attacked him. The beatdown only came to an end after a sea of officials headed to the ring, but Lorcan still managed to get in one more cheap shot before he and Dunne finally skulked backstage. 

A backstage promo from Mercedes Martinez followed and the 21-year-veteran said tonight was the start of her road back to the NXT Women's Title. Boa was spotted following her, though, hinting that Tian Sha has other plans.

After a break, Hit Row appeared in a pre-taped promo and put their names in the hat for all of NXT's titles. 

Mercedes Martinez def. Zayda Ramier

It was then time for the next match of the evening. While Zayda Ramier may have picked up a win over Toni Storm some weeks back, her placement within the black and gold brand has become clearer since and Mercedes Martinez pinned her after three minutes. 

Ramier managed to hit a flurry of offence in the early going but Martinez soon took control and she scored the 1-2-3 following an Air Raid Crash. 

After the match, the lights went out inside the Capitol Wrestling Center and the room was suddenly bathed in red light and smoke. Tian Sha then appeared on the titantron and marked Martinez, causing her to fearfully head backstage. 

Million Dollar Face-Off 

After a break, it was time for the Million Dollar Face-Off between Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase.

Grimes began the interaction by asking why DiBiase had decided to embarrass him, especially as he had looked up to The Million Dollar Man.

DiBiase admitted he liked Grimes and that they have a lot in common. He revealed he only put Grimes through hell because he saw a little bit of himself in The Technical Savage and he was looking for someone to revive his legacy.

The WWE Hall Of Famer then said Grimes was worthy of that legacy in the ring, but he had lost his focus since he became rich. This brought out LA Knight and the former IMPACT World Champion put himself over as "the perpetual motion machine of badassery" before he proposed he be DiBiase's protégé. 

DiBiase liked the sound of that which only irritated Grimes and The Technical Savage ordered Knight to get out of the ring or he would kick his ass to the moon. 

Knight then gave a cheeky look at DiBiase before he decked Grimes with a modified Neckbreaker. 

DiBiase then stood over Grimes and said, "Kid, you're just never gonna get it are you?" before he gave his trademark cackle and left with LA Knight. 

Following a break, the broadcast cut backstage to Indi Hartwell looking frantically for Dexter Lumis. After speaking to Ever-Rise and Drake Maverick, she walked into a room filled with drawings of how she had broken his heart. 

Franky Monet def. Cora Jade

Franky Monet made her in-ring debut against Cora Jade next. La Wera Loca dominated the three-minute squash match and she picked up the win with the Glam Slam. 

Grizzled Young Veterans then cut a promo and they said they were done with Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher because they came to NXT for the tag team title, not for some petty rivalry.

WALTER dressed down Imperium in the next segment and he set Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner the task of taking out Breezango. 

New North American Champion Bronson Reed then headed to the ring and reflected on his journey. He was quickly interrupted by Legado del Fantasma, though, and Santos Escobar said he can't relate to Reed because he was born to be a champion. 

The former Cruiserweight Champion then said he wants a shot at the North American Title and Legado del Fantasma looked set to jump The Colossal One but MSK suddenly slid into the ring and the babyfaces took out Escobar, Wilde and Mendoza to end the segment standing tall. 

By this point in the broadcast, the main event wasn't far away and William Regal announced ahead of the final match that Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano and Kyle O'Reilly will face off in a number one contender's match for the NXT Championship next week. The winner will challenge for the title at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. 

Karrion Kross def. Finn Balor – NXT Championship 

It was then time for the main event and Finn Balor looked to reclaim the NXT Championship from Karrion Kross. 

Both men fought back and forth during the two commercial breaks but Kross was in control after the broadcast returned and he decked Balor with a Razor's Edge into the cage barricade. 

Balor managed to fight back after the action re-entered the ring and he floored the champion with a Slingblade and a Tope Con Giro once Kross tumbled to the floor. Kross no-sold the move, though, and he Back Suplexed Balor on the announce table. 

Balor then fought back once again and The Prince set up for the Coup De Grace but Kross rolled out of the way and the champion capitalised with a German Suplex and Saito Suplex. 

The Herald Of Doomsday then set up for his Forearm finisher but Balor countered into a cradle for a close near fall and followed up with clubbing blows to the back of Kross' head. The challenger locked in a sleeper moments later and Kross was close to passing out, but he just managed to escape with a Deadlift Powerbomb. 

Kross then decked Balor with a Forearm to the back of the head and he stomped a hole into The Prince before he locked in the Kross Jacket. Balor tried to cling on but he faded away and the referee called for the bell. 

Karrion Kross is still NXT Champion.