WWE NXT: Lorcan and Burch defeat Balor and Kross

NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is three weeks away and there is a lot to unpack heading into that two-night event. Wednesday’s edition of WWE NXT looked to further storylines, while creating new ones before that important WWE special.

The evening starts off with Finn Balor staring down his next challenger, Karrion Kross. Kross lets Balor know that everyone needs to know who the real champion is in NXT. Kross and Balor exchange words before Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch interrupt, praising Pete Dunne. Scarlett talks them into defending their titles against Balor and Kross tonight.

The first match of the night brought out Dexter Lumis to compete against Austin Theory. Theory gets the initial upper hand, tossing Lumis outside the ring and continuing the assault. Things change for Lumis as he takes over when the two men get back into the ring. Theory continues to dominate Lumis, repeatedly grounding him with slams and backbreakers.

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Lumis started fighting back with a spine buster, bulldog and belly-to-back suplex, yet his first pin attempt was unsuccessful. Theory lays out Lumis as he crawled across the ring, hitting a neck breaker for another near fall. Lumis helps Theory up but was playing him into the head-and arm triangle, Theory breaks out. He tries to counter but ends back up in the Code of Silence and is choked out cold.

Dexter Lumis defeated Austin Theory: B-

Adam Cole calls out Kyle O’Reilly, who responds via video broadcast. Cole sets off to find O’Reilly, promising to hurt him when he does. Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart get new challengers for next week in the Robert Stone Brands’ Jessi Kamea and Aliyah.

Tag team action was up next, Legado del Fantasma against Breezango. Raul Mendoza rushes out only to get tricked by Fandango, who lays him out. Mendoza counters Tyler Breeze and drops him with a knee before tagging in Joaquin Wilde. Legado remained in control until Fandango reversed Mendoza on the top rope, but he was caught after a distraction. Fandango throws Mendoza over the barricade and makes the tag to Breeze.

Breeze starts to clear house and attempts a pin fall off a super kick, but Mendoza breaks it up. Wilde counters the Unprettier, and lay out Breeze with a tag team maneuver, picking up the victory. Jordan Devlin comes out to call out Santos Escobar and stake his claim as the true NXT Cruiserweight champion.

Legado del Fantasma defeated Breezango: B.

Zoey Stark and Dakota Kai were out next for an important match in the women’s division. Stark and Kai lock up, neither woman able to gain the upper hand. Stark gets the initial advantage after taking Kai down with two arm drags. Kai must use the hair to snatch Stark to the ground. That gave Kai a lot of time on top of Stark, but she did not stay in control forever, as she lands a crossbody over the top while Kai is outside on the floor.

Back in the ring, both ladies lay each other out after landing clotheslines. Stark picks up the pace, landing a half and half suplex but still unable to get the pinfall. Kai connects with a pump kick to Stark’s face, but Stark answers back with one of her own. Kai catches Stark with a superkick, and a kick in the corner but still cannot get the pinfall. Kai lifts Stark off the top rope and lands the Dakota Kick to pick up the victory.

Dakota Kai defeated Zoey Stark: A

Imperium is out next, and Tommaso Ciampa immediately attacks, going after Barthel for this singles match. Barthel’s size came into play and he grounded Ciampa, punching him in the face over and over. Ciampa counters Barthel coming off the top rope, nearly landing the Willow’s Bell DDT. Ciampa laid out Fabian Aichner who was on the apron, then hit Willow’s Bell on Barthel when he tried to get back into the ring to pick up the victory.

Walter comes out and the three men batter Ciampa, leaving him down after a big power bomb.

Tommaso Ciampa versus Barthel: C+

LA Knight is out next and has a dominating performance over a 205 Live performer. During the match, Bronson Reed comes out and destroys Knight’s jacket. Knight counters August Gray, faceplanting him immediately after and picks up the win.

LA Knight defeated Austin Grey: C

The main event of the evening was a tag team title match, Danny Burch, and Oney Lorcan against Finn Balor and Karrion Kross.

Kross starts the match, flattening both Burch and Lorcan. Neither of the tag team champs can put up much of a fight. Balor tags in and continues to dominate, controlling Lorcan with ease. Balor kept Lorcan grounded, slowing the match down while still toying with one-half of the champions. Balor was not able to stay in control for much longer, as Lorcan was able to isolate him on their side of the ring.

Balor was able to get back on the offense, chopping Lorcan in both corners and knocking him from the ring. Balor hits the shotgun dropkick on Lorcan, knocking him into Scarlett. Kross sees this and attacks Balor, throwing him back into the ring where Lorcan lands a big uppercut to get the victory.

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch defeat Finn Balor and Karrion Kross: B-