WWE NXT Results - May 18, 2021: Johnny Gargano Vs. Bronson Reed Inside A Steel Cage

Outside of the North American Championship match, NXT had a more low profile episode this week but the black and gold brand still delivered entertaining in-ring action and advanced multiple storylines.    

Toni Storm def. Zoey Stark 

NXT got straight to the in-ring action this week and Toni Storm looked to avenge her TakeOver: Stand & Deliver loss to Zoey Stark. 

Both women fought back and forth for 11 minutes and Storm thought she had the match won after she connected with Storm Zero, but Stark got her shoulder up just before the three count. 

The former NXT UK Women's Champion didn't let up, though, and she hit a really cool looking Judo Throw into a Swinging DDT finisher for the win. 

Storm then tried to celebrate her victory, but the lights suddenly went out in the arena and Franky Monet hyped up her upcoming in-ring debut. 

Following the opening contest, the broadcast cut backstage to Legado del Fantasma and Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde demanded to know when William Regal would sanction their title match against MSK. They were quickly interrupted by Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa which set up a match for later in the show. 

Next was a clip from earlier in the day of Cameron Grimes arriving at the Capitol Wrestling Center in a Rolls Royce. The Technical Savage threw the keys at Jake Atlas, but the 205 Live man joked the spot was actually reserved for Ted DiBiase. This obviously got Grimes' blood boiling and he challenged Atlas to a match for later in the show. 

The clips then continued and next up was a vignette of Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell getting a massage at a spa. Dexter Lumis continued to stalk Hartwell during the segment as he posed as a masseuse. He ended up with a broken heart, though, as Indi thanked LeRae for making her realise how much of a loser The Tortured Artist is. 

It was then time for Prime Target with Karrion Kross and Finn Balor. Both men watched footage of their previous title match and Pat McAfee and Paul Heyman weighed in on next week's rematch.

Jake Atlas def. Cameron Grimes

It was then time for Jake Atlas vs. Cameron Grimes. Before the match, Grimes threw to footage of Ted DiBiase being embarrassed throughout his WWE career. 

Grimes was angered by the piped-in DiBiase chants, however, and his night only got worse. The Technical Savage set up for Cave In down the stretch after connecting with a Running Spanish Fly but Ted DiBiase's music suddenly blared over the titantron and The Million Dollar Man walked onto the stage. 

Grimes immediately turned his attention to DiBiase and it proved to be his downfall as Atlas rolled him up for the win. 

Grimes then chased after DiBiase after the match and Ted admitted The Technical Savage isn't bad, he's just no Million Dollar Man. 

After a break, Pete Dunne was interviewed by Arash Markazi and The Bruiserweight revealed he is pursuing the NXT Title. 

Killian Dain def. Alexander Wolfe

The broadcast then returned to the ring with Imperium already in the squared circle. Alexander Wolfe was originally supposed to face Killian Dain last week, but he wasn't cleared to compete. 

Wolfe might be hoping he still wasn't cleared as Killian Dain decimated him within two minutes. Marcel Barthel slid a chair into the ring for Wolfe to use after 90 seconds but the former wXw Shotgun Champion failed to use it and Dain caught him with a Crossbody and pinned his former friend for the win. 

Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner then went to do the Imperium pose with Wolfe after the match, but they suddenly decked their stablemate from behind and left him lying following a European Bomb. 

Legado del Fantasma def. Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher 

Next up was Legado del Fantasma vs. Toothless Tim and Tommaso Ciampa. 

Raul Mendoza ended up with a busted nose early in the match following a Forearm to the face from Ciampa. The commentary team noted that the Legado del Fantasma man was checked by WWE's medical team during the break and was allowed to continue. 

Both teams enjoyed time on top during the 12-minute match and Thatcher and Ciampa came close to picking up the win after The Blackheart connected with Willow's Bell on Joaquin Wilde, but Raul Mendoza came flying in from out of nowhere to break up the pin.

Drake Wuertz, who was back at work this week, then tried to break up the brawl between Thatcher and Mendoza and while this was going on, Grizzled Young Veterans headed to the ring and attacked Ciampa, leaving him easy prey for Legado del Fantasma to hit their tag team finisher for the win. 

The broadcast then cut backstage to an interview with Bobby Fish. The former Undisputed ERA man noted he was out for revenge against Pete Dunne and he planned to get it next week. 

Another vignette of Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae followed at the spa and The Poison Pixie was told her credit card had been declined because of an unpaid expense made three weeks ago at a florist. Indi immediately grew suspicious and she ran off in excitement because this meant Dexter Lumis still loved her. 

Sarray def. Aliyah 

Next on the show was Sarray's third match in NXT. Like most WWE squash matches, Aliyah got in some offence early on but Sarray quickly took control and picked up the win with a Saito Suplex. 

We then had a backstage vignette and former champions Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon staked their claim for an NXT Women's Tag Team Title shot.

After the break, we had another vignette on Diamond Mine, but no new information was revealed. 

Hit Row def. Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari

Ashante "Thee" Adonis teamed with Top Dolla in the next match and they made quick work of Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari. 

After two minutes, Top Dolla pinned Daivari following an Attitude Adjustment into a Neckbreaker. 

Following the match, William Regal announced Legado del Fantasma will challenge MSK for the NXT Tag Team Championship in two weeks. Next week's show will also feature Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart vs. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. 

Bronson Reed def. Johnny Gargano – Steel Cage Match for the NXT North American Championship

It was then time for the main event and Johnny Gargano defended the NXT North American Championship against Bronson Reed.   

Gargano immediately rushed to escape the cage, but Bronson Reed dragged the champion back into the ring and flung him into the structure. Bronson then dominated the next few minutes of action and he moved to escape the cage but Austin Theory blocked him from climbing and Gargano took advantage. 

The match then settled into a pattern of Bronson Reed trying to escape, only to be cut off by Theory on the outside. This led to some excellent spots, though, including a Super Powerbomb and a Poisonrana, both from Gargano. 

Bronson Reed then moved to escape again later in the match, but Theory once again cut him off and Johnny Wrestling capitalised with One Final Beat for a close near fall. Gargano switched tactics and tried to climb the cage, but Reed recovered in time and Powerbombed the champion off the top rope. 

Reed was then finally able to dispense of Austin Theory. Auszilla scaled the cage once again and as Theory went to block his ascent, Reed knocked him to the floor and he turned around and decked Gargano with a Tsunami off the top rope. 

Bronson then slammed the door and connected with a second Tsunami for the 1-2-3. 

With that, Bronson Reed is the new NXT North American Champion.