Date: 05/18	7:00 PM
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Nickolye's WWE NXT recap for May 18, 2021 at 8 PM ET. After attacking him last week in the locker room ahead of their title bout, Johnny Gargano has angered the beast Bronson Reed into requesting a steel cage match for the NXT North American Championship! Also, Zoey Stark is scheduled to take on Toni Storm in a TakeOver rematch, and we get an apearance from "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase! NXT is back in the Capitol Wrestling Center, now on Tuesday night! Hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for the latest updates!

* Toni Storm vs. Zoey Stark

Storm slaps Stark to get things started, but Stark is not having it as she takes her down iwth a dropkick and a plancha to the floor. Zoey hits a missile dropkick from the top, but Toni drops her back-first onto the hard apron and throws her into the steel steps followed by a running hip attack against the steps. Stark makes it back into the ring before getting counted out, but Storm is all over her with clear control of the match right now, hitting a snap suplex for a 2-count, and a big boot for another 2-count. Toni Storm slaps her again and throws her across the ring without a care, then puts her in a backbreaker submission over her knee. Stark catches her in a backslide for 2 and a jumping enziguiri before the first commercial break.

We get picture-in-picture during the break and Zoey goes on offense with a high knee in the corner. It doesn't take long for Storm to regain control as she throws Stark out the ring and lets the referee start the count. Stark gets back in, does a jackknife cover for 2, then Storm puts her in a chinlock and hits an elbow drop for good measure. Storm headbutts her, Stark hits forearms, and they trade punches.

When we come back Stark superkicks her in a corner, hits the sliding clothesline, sliding knee connects, but only gets a 2-count. Stark counters Storm Zero with a hurricanrana pin for 2, superkicks her, delivers the half-and-half suplex, and gets another near-fall. Storm comes back with a German suplex, hits Storm Zero, and gets 2.9! Zoey Startk kicked out! Storm pulls out a new spinning maneuver dropping Zoey on her head and gets the win! WINNER: TONI STORM.

The lights go dark, and Franky Monet takes the spotlight on the stage. This is only to promote her in-ring debut next week. Legado Del Fantasma are hear sans Santos Escobar and they're complaining about not getting a tag title shot yet. Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher show up to say they haven't beat them. LDF take them up to challenge for a match, and the two teams accept.

Earlier today, Cameron Grimes pulled up and tossed his keys to Jake Atlas as if he was a valet, but Atlas told him that Ted DiBiase already has a spot here tonight. Grimes took offense to that and challenged him to a match.

After the break, we see the new NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell of The Way getting pampered at a spa. Dexter Lumis showed up appears over Indi massaging her cranium as they talk bad about him, and it looks like Dexter's heart is broken. From there we go to a Prime Target video package to focus on Finn Bálor vs. Karrion Kross part two.

Grimes doesn't even let his music play because he wants us to see the "real" Ted DiBiase, which is just a video package highlighting DiBase's greatest and most humiliating moments in the past, including Virgil defeating him in a match. The crowd chants DiBiase's name much to the chagrin of Grimes, so he charges at Atlas but receives a dropkick instead. Grimes stews outside the ring as we take a commercial break.

* Jake Atlas vs. Cameron Grimes

When we come back both men are striking each other going back and forth. Atlas does a springboard armdrag and diving hurricanrana for a 2-count, but Grimes kicks him in the jaw and tosses him out the ring. Grimes hits a clothesline for 2, digs his fist into Atlas's jaw, and beats him down in a corner. Atlas fights back, and delivers a German suplex as a white limo pulls into the parking lot. Atlas hits a jumping knee, discus clothesline from the left side, and covers for a 2-count. Grimes catches him in the flipping slam, and TED DiBIASE SHOWS UP IN NXT!! Atlas does a springboard sunset flip for 3! WINNER: JAKE ATLAS.

Ted DiBiase simply laughs at Grimes and walks away. Grimes is so furious he stomps to the back searching for the Million Dollar Man, tries to get into his locked limo, and DiBiase lowers his window laughing at him before telling his chaffeur to drive off. Breaktime.

Bronson Reed gives us some backstory as May 18, 2007 was his first match. Fast forward 14 years later on May 18, 2021 and he has the biggest match of his life challenging for the NXT North American Title. "Gargano, I will not let you deny my destiny. I'm going to walk out new North American Champion from this steel cage. And I'm going to walk over to my wife, look her in the eyes, and say 'We did it.'"

Pete Dunne has a sit-down interview Arash Markazi and he's asked about who he wants to face next. Dunne mentions he defeated Kushida already, says he has unfinished business with Walter, and wants to face Karrion Kross to become the NXT Champion. He goes on to say people leave the ring differently after facing him in a match. His inspiration comes from his own style of British style wrestling. Dunne's equates his style as a more vicious Fit Finlay. He wants to go after the NXT Title as his ultimate goal in NXT.

* Alexander Wolfe vs. Killian Dain

Wolfe's body language appears that he's not into this match. Both men are former members of the group SANITY, but years later they're on separate paths and are not at odds with each other. Wolfe uppercuts him, Dain uppercuts him harder, splashes him in the corner and throws him down. Fabian Aicher causes a distraction by wiping out Drake Maverick, so Dain gives him a pump kick, and that allows Wolfe to deliver a German suplex. Marcel Barthel slides in a steel chair to Wolfe for him to use, the referee yells at him, Wolfe picks up the chair, but Dain levels him with a crossbody block for the 3-count. WINNER: KILLIAN DAIN.

Barthel and Aichner help Wolfe to his feet, and they attack him from behind!! They hit the European Bomb on their stablemate to teach him a lesson!

After the break, Raquel González the NXT Women's Champion and Dakota Kai talk about dealing with Mercedes Martinez last week, then turn their attention to the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles. Ever-Rise show up to stir the tea (or coffee) mentioning Shotzi Blackheart and Emner Moon are next in line, then plug their show Ever-Rise Live on social media. Raquel slaps Matt Martel and he goes limp.

* Legado Del Fantasma vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher

Joaquin Wilde starts the match with Ciampa, tries to use his quickness as an advantage, but Ciampa is just smarter than him and throws him around at ringside. Ciampa holds him down with a headlock, Thatcher tags in and applies a cravate. Raul Mendoza tags in, Thatcher takes him down for an armbar, Ciampa tags in to chop him on the chest, puts him in a head scissors, then hits a forearm smash in the corner. Mendoza finally gets in some offense and has a bloody face from the forearm smash awhile ago, but Ciampa sees an opening with a big boot and tags out. Thatcher puts him in an arrmbar, Mendoza counters with a headlock, but Thatcher counters into the armbar again. Mendoza dropkicks him in the knee, kicks to the chest, Thatcher catches his leg for the ankle lock, Wilde gets pulled into the ring, and Ciampa puts him in the ankle lock as well! Legado counter with double pins, the ref waves it off, all four men battle in the ring, Ciampa clotheslines Wilde, Mendoza kicks Ciampa in the head, Thatcher dropkicks Mendoza, and we go to break!

When we come back, Ciampa clotheslines both men in different corners over and over and over and over, ducks both of them and hits a jumping clothesline to both! Wilde saves his partner and causes a distraction, all for Mendoza to get the sneak attack and stomps him down as he is cleared to continue the match. They drop Ciampa, hit double basement dropkicks, Wilde gets a 2-count, and we a replay of the forearm that busted Mendoza's nose. Mendoza tags in, traes strikes with Ciampa, attacks the midsection, but Ciampa side-steps him making him crash into the ringpost. Thatcher gets the tag, hits a belly-to-belly suplex to Mendoza, another to Wilde, uppercuts to Mendoza, a facelock suplex for 2, more uppercuts, Ciampa and Thatcher do quick tags in and out, Ciampa hits a running knee and gets a near-fall. Mendoza kicks him in the head, Ciampa hits another forearm, Mendoza counters the Fairytale Ending with a back body drop and hits the shining wizard. Wilde tags back in for a suplex, Mendoza hiptosses Wilde into a moonsult, hits his own springboard moonsault, and Thatcher breaks the count. Thatcher blocks their tag team finisher, Wilde wipes him out, Ciampa hits Willow's Bell to Wilde, and Mendoza breaks the count with a missile dropkick! The Grizzled Young Veterans attack Ciampa outside the ring behind the ref's back, Thatcher is dumped to the floor, Mendoza gets the tag, they hit their legsweep/gamengiri finisher, and that scores the big victory!! WINNERS: LEGADO DEL FANTASMA!

Bobby Fish is interviewed next, and he says last week had little to do with Kyle O'Reilly, and more to do with Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan injuring him at War Games. Fish had to sit on the sidelines for a long time with a triceps injury and had to watch the Undisputed Era implode just like the rest of the audience. There's a debt to be paid now, and Bobby Fish calls out Pete Dunne for next week!

After commercials, we cut back to The Way in the spa, and the clerk tells Candice that her credit card was declined. The woman says sh ran the card a few times but there is an unpaid expense, and they assume it was Austin Theory. But apparently it was from three weeks ago that flowers and choclates were bought, and Indi puts the ieces together about Shotzi and Ember getting flowers three weeks ago. She realizes that those flowers weren't actually from Dexter Lumis, and is super excited that Dexter Lumis actually loves her. The men of The Way are on screen next, and Johnny Gargano says he is the #1 champion on this brand, and brags that he left Karrion Kross laying. Austin Theory is acting as his hype man, and Gargano says he will show why he's the champion because he is untouchable.

* Aliyah vs. Sarray

Robert Stone and Jessi Kamea are at ringside for Aliyah, who refuses a handshake from Sarray. Aliyah tries for some momentum, but Sarray does a springboard armdrag, basement dropkick, Jessi swipes at her, and Aliyah takes advantage to hit a running back elbow for 2, throws her around the ring, hits a leg lariat in a corner, and covers for 2. Sarray fires back, hits a back kick, 2-count, German suplex, top rope missile dropkick, dropkick against the ropes, T-bone suplex, and gets the 3-count! WINNER: SARRAY.

Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon are on video talking about Candice, Indi, Dakota and Raquel all trying to be in their way for the tag titles. Swerve's new crew will be in action, next! Afterwards, we get a promo for "Diamond Mine" again.

* Hit Row vs. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari

Ashante Adonis starts the match right away, ducks under a backflip, hits a flapjack, kips up, tags out, and Top Dolla launches Nese across the ring with one hand! Daivai tags in, Top Dolla hits a shoulder tackle, picks him Nese and Daivari for a double slam, and hits a short-arm clothesline. Daivari fights back, Adonis dropkicks him on the forehead, pummels him in the corner, Top Dolla pulls Adonis away, and Adonis superkicks Nese. Top Dolla splashes Daivari in the corner, hits a fireman's carry suplex, and covers for 3. WINNERS: HIT ROW.

They all take a microphone to hype themselves up, but ultimately Swerve expresses his interest in the North American Championship. Speaking of championships, Mr. William Regal is backstage to announce Legado Del Fantasma as the #1 contenders for the NXT Tag Team Titles and they will face MSK in two weeks. Also, he boasts the women's division, plans to bring in new competitors to the cruiserweight division, and makes a match for next week: Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel González! The cage walls lower for the main event before the break. Next week on NXT, Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase will have a Million Dollar Face-Off, and Karrion Kross defends the NXT Championship against Finn Bálor!

* NXT North American Championship - Steel Cage Match: Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano {C}

Gargano dives for the door but Reed pulls him back in. Gargano climbs up the cage but Reed pulls him back down. Reed blocks the cage, runs through a clothesline, shoves him down, tosses him into the cage, and shoves him into the fencing of the cage. Reed hits the cage as Gargano ducks him, but he gets stuck in the cage going for the slingshot spear, so Reed gives him a DDT. Gargano hits a chopblock, starts his climb up the cage, hits a diving moonsault from the top rope, climbs back up the side, Red catches him and plants him with a death valley driver for a near-fall. Reed goes up the ropes, Austin Theory climbs up outside the ring, Gargano dropkicks Reed in the knee crotching him on the top rope, and we take our final commercial break.

With picture-in-picture, we see the match ongoing as Gargano shakes the ropes to injure him further and kicks him in the head. Gargano has more confidence now that he is in control, but Reed still grabs him as he tries to climb up. Gargano traps him between the ropes and the cage, kicks the ropes into his groin, and chokes him on the ropes.

Back full screen now and Gargano dropkicks Reed as Theory jumps into the cage to attack him on both sides. Gargano gets a 2-count, so he decides to try and escape the cage, but Reed catches him with a powerslam, catapults him into the cage, goes up the turnbuckles with Gargano on his shoulders and hits a SAMOAN DROP FROM THE MIDDLE ROPES! Reed covers for a near-fall, climbs up the cage, Gargano punches him in the left knee, climbs up next to him, slams his face into the cage and does a SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB for 2.5! The door is opened, Theory tries to pull Gargano out the ring, but Reed pulls him back in and squashes the champ! Theory blocks the door from Reed, but Reed forces the door open squashing Theory into the cage. Gargano superkicks Reed, then Reed punches him, and Gargano counters a powerbomb with the POISON 'RANA!

Gargano pulls himself back up, notices Reed getting back up, Reed blocks One Final Beat, throws him into the cage, crawls towards the door, but Theory slams the door in his face. Gargano hits a springboard One Final Beat and gets 1-2-KICKOUT! Gargano gets to the top of the cage, Reed brings him down to the top rope, Gargano climbs over him, but Reed grabs him for a TOP ROPE FALLING POWERBOMB!! Reed climbs the cage, Theory climbs up the outside, Gargano climbs up next to Reed, but Reed knocks them both down, Gargano starts crawling to the door, but Reed stops him with the DIVING SPLASH to Gargano's back, slams the door shut, goes back up, and hits the TSUNAMI for 1-2-3~! WINNER and NEW NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION: BRONSON REED!!

14 years to the day since he started his professional wrestling career, Bronson Reed has won a championship in NXT - the North American Championship! Congratulations to Bronson Reed on an epic main event victory!