WWE NXT: Kyle O’Reilly defeats Kushida

There was a lot of buzz heading into this week’s edition of WWE NXT as Kyle O’Reilly and NXT Cruiserweight champion Kushida were booked for a dream match. Plus, the Diamond Mine was set to debut along with much more that occurred on the NXT brand.

Adam Cole was out first, and he was scheduled to take on an opponent of his choosing. The open challenge was answered by Carmelo Hayes. Hayes slapped Cole in the mouth and a match kicked off immediately after.

Hayes was rolling early until taking a boot to the face while on the apron. From that point, Cole was having his way, beating Hayes down in the corner before hitting a snap suplex. Hayes recovered nicely and returned the favor with shots of his own in the corner. It was not long after that Cole was bouncing Hayes around the outside of the ring and into the barricade.

Cole continued to roll offensively, even as Hayes tried to fight back. Cole locked in a tight chin lock until Hayes fought out of it before being laid out with a stiff elbow. Hayes eventually answered with a pump kick, but Cole gave him one of his own. Hayes landed a big enziguri and code breaker, but Cole kicked out of the pinfall.

The finish came with Cole countered a springboard into a superkick. With Hayes stunned, Cole hit the Panama Sunrise to get the pinfall.

Adam Cole defeated Carmelo Hayes via pinfall.

Women’s tag team action was up next as Zoey Stark teamed with Io Shirai against Jessi Kamea and Aliyah.

Aliyah and Shirai started out with Shirai beating the brakes out of Aliyah. She made the tag to Stark and that offense continued. Kamea gets the tag and starts out well with an innovative kick to Stark’s chest, but Stark took over after hitting a double stomp. Kamea was able to answer back, going for her own pin attempt but there was another kickout.

The Robert Stone brand continued to roll as they had Stark isolated in the ring. Stark fought out of the position, making the tag to Shirai and Kamea was tagged in as well. Stark and Shirai continued to roll until Shirai hit her moonsault on Kamea to get the pinfall victory.

Zoey Stark and Io Shirai defeated Jessi Kamea and Aliyah via pinfall.

Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory ended up in tag team action against Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan.

Gargano and Lorcan started off with Gargano looking great. That continued when Dunne tagged in, at least until Theory joined the action. Dunne began to focus on Theory’s hand which allowed them to isolate him in the ring.

Theory was finally able to get to Gargano and they would double team Lorcan. Dunne checked back in, but Gargano and Theory remained in control. Dunne and Theory exchanged a lot of offense, with Theory knocking both men outside of the ring. He tried to continue outside the ring before being flattened by a clothesline.

The damage done to Theory put him in a bad spot back in the ring. Theory finally made the tag to Gargano who went after both Lorcan and Dunne. Gargano went for a pinfall, but it was broken up. Dunne nearly had Theory in a position of submission, but Gargano used Lorcan to break it up. Dunne countered the slingshot spear with a stiff elbow.

Gargano was finally able to secure the win after he hit a dive into a tornado DDT outside the ring. He then sprung back up to his feet to hit the One Final Beat on Lorcan to pick up the victory.

The Way defeated Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan via pinfall.

Elecktra Lopez was out next to take on Franky Monet in singles action.

Monet had the early advantage but Lopez fought her way out of the corner. Monet took over and planted Lopez with a foot sweep, before going to the mount position for ground and pound. Lopez got back in some more offense of her own, knocking Monet down with an elbow. But Monet answered with a big forearm of her own before hitting the Glam Slam to pick up the win.

Franky Monet defeated Elecktra Lopez via pinfall.

Hit Row was out to face Ever Rise in a tag team match. Ashante Adonis and Top Dolla were the two members in the match.

Dolla started the match by clearing the ring of both men. He tagged out to Adonis kept things going with a big dropkick. Ever Rise attempt to double team Dolla before sending him from the ring. Chase Parker was laid out first and Martel soon followed. Martel was hit with a nasty tag team maneuver and pinned immediately after.

Hit Row defeated Ever Rise via pinfall.

The main event of the evening was Kushida versus Kyle O’Reilly.

Kushida and O’Reilly went right to the grappling early. Kushida attacked an arm bar first that O’Reilly had to pull out of it quickly. Kushida attempted to pick up some momentum but O’Reilly countered with an arm bar of his own. Kushida responded with a basement dropkick to slow O’Reilly down. Kushida and O’Reilly attempted multiple takedowns until they accidentally collided heads.

Kushida focused on O’Reilly’s arm, controlling much of the match. O’Reilly broke out some striking, but Kushida answered with a big clothesline. Both men exchanged arm attacks again. Kushida went for a pinning combination, but O’Reilly got his foot up on the rope. O’Reilly rolled into the heel hook, but Kushida countered it into an unsuccessful pin attempt. Kushida kept attacking O’Reilly’s arm with kicks and shoulder submissions. Both men were laid out after landing combinations on each other.

Kushida attempts to roll into the Hoverboard Lock but Kyle O’Reilly counters into a pinfall, getting the win.

Kyle O’Reilly defeated Kushida via pinfall.