{"id":197859,"date":"2025-05-27T13:05:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T18:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=197859"},"modified":"2025-05-27T13:05:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T18:05:55","slug":"5-yrs-ago-nxt-tv-report-5-20-2020-rhea-ripley-vs-iyo-shirai-sky-plus-tozawa-karrion-kross-kushida-dexter-lumis-roderick-strong-gargano-lerae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/05\/27\/5-yrs-ago-nxt-tv-report-5-20-2020-rhea-ripley-vs-iyo-shirai-sky-plus-tozawa-karrion-kross-kushida-dexter-lumis-roderick-strong-gargano-lerae\/","title":{"rendered":"5 YRS AGO \u2013 NXT TV Report (5-20-2020): Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Shirai (Sky), plus Tozawa, Karrion Kross, Kushida, Dexter Lumis, Roderick Strong, Gargano &#038; LeRae"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4146090985\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p><em>The following report originally published 5 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>KELLER\u2019S NXT ON USA REPORT<br \/>\nMAY 20, 2020<br \/>\nORLANDO, FLA. AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTER<br \/>\nAIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, Byron Saxton<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>(1) KARRION KROSS (w\/Scarlett) vs. LIAM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The full ring entrance aired for Kross and Scarlett in black and white with Scarlett entering the ring and lip syncing the \u201cFall and Pray\u201d lyrics. Kross landed a Doomsday Saito Suplex and two other suplexes, then won with his Kross Jacket submission quickly.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Kross in 1:00.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: The ring entrance remains really cool. Kross was intense and impressive with those suplexes.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-As they soaked up the win mid-ring, Tomasso Ciampa came out to his music. \u201cAllow me to officially introduce myself,\u201d he said. \u201cMy name is Tomasso Ciampa, and that ring you\u2019re standing in, all of this, is my home. You already knew that, didn\u2019t you? Of course you did. That\u2019s why you attacked the main attraction \u2013 to make a point. I get it. Part of me kind of respects it.\u201d He talked about him having a special aura at 6-4, 265. He said he stands out in a locker room of the greatest wrestlers in the world. He said it\u2019s a special ring entrance. Ciampa entered the ring, with Scarlett opening the ropes for him. He walked up to Kross and said he is also special, which is why he had to look him in the eye and let him know that on June 7 at Takeover, he\u2019s facing him. \u201cAnd that\u2019s special,\u201d he said. \u201cWelcome to the main event.\u201d He then dropped the mic. They stared at each other intensely. Mauro said his heart is racing and his goosebumps have goosebumps. As Ciampa left the ring, Scarlett laughed.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I like this a lot as the next thing for Ciampa to do. Even having lost the feud with Gargano, he can step up and defend NXT as his home turf against the new sensation with the buzz-generating ring entrance and rep. This is a good pivot for him that feels significant and meaningful for him. It also gives Kross a chance to show he can deliver a good match and look like a big star opposite of an NXT top tier beloved player.)<\/em><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-4272255041\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>-Phoenix hyped the Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai main event.<\/p>\n<p>-A video package aired on the Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament with recaps of the match outcomes so far and the win-loss record of each. The screen closed with an image of the two matches scheduled tonight.<\/p>\n<p><strong>(2) EL HIJO DEL FANTASMA vs. AKIRA TOZAWA \u2013 Interim Cruiserweight Tournament match<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Phoenix noted that Jordan Devlin took to Twitter to say that he is the true Cruiserweight Champion and only travel issues have him sidelined from defending it now. A graphic in the corner hyped Dexter Lumus vs. Roderick Strong coming up later. Saxton said Fantasma came to NXT with high expectations.<\/p>\n<p>They wrestled with countermoves early and then stood and circled each other for a reset at 2:00. Phoenix said neither want to make the first mistake. They exchanged chops to the chest. Tozawa landed a punch to the face and then a head scissors, sending Fantasma to the floor. Tozawa leaped off the ring apron to head scissors Fantasma to the floor. He rolled into the ring to break the count. Tozawa landed a running flip off the ring apron onto Fantasma opposite the ringside steps. [c]<\/p>\n<p>Back in the ring, Tozawa controlled Fantasma mid-ring. Fantasma took over including a splash on Tozawa\u2019s chest on the edge of the ring apron. Fantasma set up a top rope move in the corner. He lifted and dropped Tozawa over the top turnbuckle, then scored near fall in the ring. Saxton said Fantasma can smell victory. Just then, Tozawa came back with a bulldog and then a top rope seton. Fantasma rolled to the floor to recover. Tozawa rolled him into the ring and scored two count, then stayed on offense with a barrage of strikes. Fantasma dove through the ropes a minute later and speared Tozawa into the ramp. He quickly threw him into the ring and then corner splashed him. He set up the Fantom Driver, but Tozawa maneuvered him into an octopus. Fantasma countered again and landed his Fantom Driver for the win. That moved Fantasma to 2-1 and Tozawa to 2-1.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Fantasma in 12:00.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: Good match, but such a shame that Tozawa has been a jobber on Raw while this spirited and credibility-building series of Cruiserweight Tournament matches have been taking place. It also diminishes the value of Fantasma\u2019s win that it took him that long to barely beat a wrestler who is getting crushed elsewhere regularly.)<\/em><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-113171091\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>-Mauro commented on a video package on the break up of Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher in their NXT Tag Team Title loss to Imperium last week leading two a singles match that Riddle won.<\/p>\n<p>-Backstage, Thatcher said he enjoyed leaving the Riddle circus last week. He said he wants to go another time. \u201cPinfalls don\u2019t count,\u201d he said. \u201cNo fluke pins this time. You win by knockout or tapout. Those are the rules, Riddle.\u201d He said he can pick the place, because he\u2019s ready.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I get the sense that Thatcher would just as soon wrestle without pay or a TV audience. He\u2019s just ticked off and wants to beat people up who irritate him.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-Phoenix hyped Mia Yim vs. Santana Garrett was up next.<\/p>\n<p>-A Shotsi Blackheart vignette aired with her sitting on a tank saying she\u2019s ball to the wall and she\u2019s your daddy. She said she likes to rock, and tanks are how she rolls. \u201cI am just like a tank because tanks don\u2019t give a sh\u2013.\u201d She said she was raised by her dad, who was a motorcycle-riding badass. \u201cHe introduced me to rock \u2018n\u2019 roll which led me to punk rock, and so I joined a punk rock band.\u201d He said pro wrestling is like punk rock, ballsy and rebellious. She said in the ring she feels she can do anything to anybody at anytime. Then they went to a drone shot of her riding the tank. She said she makes no apologies for who she is. \u201cWhat you see is what you get,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd what you get you can\u2019t handle.\u201d She called out various wrestlers and delivered one-liners about them, as the tank drove over a crushed car. She told them all to prepare to get crushed.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I liked that a lot. It\u2019s memorable and really defined her forward-leaning demeanor and attitude, with a family backstory to give it credibility.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of &#8220;PWTorch &#8217;90s Pastcast&#8221; with Patrick Moynahan and Alex McDonald, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/pwtorch-90s-pastcast-moynahan-mcdonald-discuss-pwtorch-newsletter-333-334-5-6-95-and-5-13-95-incl-huge-international-shows-more--66136948\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"PWTorch \u201890s Pastcast - Moynahan &amp; McDonald discuss PWTorch Newsletter #333-334 (5-6-95 and 5-13-95) incl. huge international shows, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=66136948&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>(3) MIA YIM vs. SANTANA GARRETT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Phoenix noted that Garrett makes her out outfits. After an early back and forth, they both whiffed with dropkicks. Garrett landed a handspring back elbow to Yim in the corner and then snap suplexed her for a near fall. Yim came back with kicks and then landed her Protect Ya\u2019 Neck finisher for the win.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Yim in 2:00.<\/p>\n<p>-After the match, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae came out. They said she dropped the ball against Charlotte because she was too busy pandering to the fans. Candice said she would have thrived if she had that opportunity. Gargano agreed she wouldn\u2019t have blown it like Yim. Gargano said she\u2019s about to find out what happens when she gets an opportunity she doesn\u2019t deserve. Gargano pulled down the middle rope as LeRae threw Yim to the floor. Keith Lee walked out to protect her. They looked at each other, then charged into the ring. Gargano and LeRae fled. Lee\u2019s music played.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: Good shift for Lee to a feud with Gargano, and adding LeRae and Yim is an added layer beyond just a Lee-Gargano feud.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-Phoenix recapped Damien Priest interfering against Finn Balor last week, helping Cameron Grimes score the biggest win of his career so far. Priest then attacked Balor with a chair.<\/p>\n<p>-Cameron Grimes cut a promo outdoors, gloating about his win. He said he used to look up to Balor, but at the end of last week\u2019s match, Balor was looking up at him. He laughed and said some might call it a surprise or an upset, but he doesn\u2019t care what they think because he knows it\u2019s Grime Time.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: He\u2019s coming along, but I still see and hear someone putting on a performance and not fully feeling natural saying what he\u2019s saying the way he\u2019s saying it.) [c]<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-In a backstage interview with McKenzie, Drake Maverick said you can say any cliche such as his back is against the wall, he\u2019s fighting from underneath, and he\u2019s an underdog story. He said he has to go in the ring against the best cruiserweight in the world. He said he\u2019s tired of feeling sorry for himself and people trying to give him a pep talk or a Ted Talk. He said he has to do one thing tonight and one thing only: Win.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: Drake has been really strong in his performances in this ongoing story the last month or so.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>(4) RODERICK STRONG (w\/Adam Cole, Bobby Fish) vs. DEXTER LUMIS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As Undisputed Era walked out, Cole bragged about being NXT Champion for over a year now. Lumis walked out to his creepy music. Mauro said he is another Dexter in touch with his dark passenger, and waking up in a cold sweat means he had a good night\u2019s sleep. Phoenix said he gives them the creeps, but they know little about what drives his methodical actions. Mauro talked about him coming to the aid of Velveteen Dream. Phoenix said he slithered out from under the ring and she\u2019s never seen anything like it. Mauro said Strong has to solve the puzzle that is Dexter Lumis.<\/p>\n<p>Lumis opened with an armbar. Strong reversed out of it and put on a side headlock. Lumis came back with an elbow lock. Strong grabbed the ropes. Lumis broke and began to turn around, but then snapped his head back toward Strong as Strong made a sudden move toward him, so Storm bailed out to ringside. After Lumis got the better of Strong again, Strong bailed out to ringside a second time. When Strong got in some shots, Phoenix asked if they even know if Lumis feels pain because his expression never changes. Saxton said they are learning that Dexter can hang with the best. [c]<\/p>\n<p>Strong grounded Lumis with a seated abdominal stretch. He yanked on Lumis\u2019s nose as Lumis looked up at him with an expression that spooked Strong. Strong let go and backed away. Strong fended off Lumis with an Olympic Slam for a two count. Lumis blocked an Olympic slam and hit a Thesz Press, then rallied including a high back bodydrop followed by a slingshot suplex for a near fall.<\/p>\n<p>Strong made a comeback with some kicks and a hard chop to the chest. Dexter rubbed his pecs as if he was enjoying the pain. Strong threw more chops, Dexter rubbed his chest and then hit a spine buster. Strong suddenly caught Dexter with a jackknife pin for the win.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Strong in 14:00.<\/p>\n<p>-When Strong celebrated at ringside afterward, Lumis grabbed him and applied a cobra sleeper on the floor. Cole and Fish came out and told him to break the hold. Lumis didn\u2019t. They kicked him. Velveteen Dream then attacked Cole and Fish. He leaped off the top rope and landed on Cole. He then held Strong\u2019s head in his lap and pet his hair. Mauro called Dream and Dexter \u201cthe oddest couple ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I was curious how Dexter would be framed against Strong, and they played this well with a match and a finish that let Dexter further establish his personality while also protecting Strong from doing a job to him. The closing scene caressing Strong\u2019s head was creepy.) [c]<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-They showed Fantasma driving up to Tozawa in the parking lot wishing him luck. They hugged. Tozawa thanked him. The thugs then drove up from the other side and attacked Tozawa against the driver\u2019s side door of Fantasma. Then they sped away. Fantasma came out the other side of his car and checked on Tozawa.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I love the ongoing \u201ccoincidence\u201d of Fantasma not getting hurt or hurting the thugs whenever they\u2019re around each other. This sets up a cool payoff, presumably in the tournament finals.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>(5) ONEY LORCAN &amp; DANNY BURCH vs. EVER-RISE (Matt Martel &amp; Chase Parker)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Phoenix noted Ever-Rise have been friends since the third grade and have been a team for 15 years. She said they\u2019re looking to continue in the tradition of other French-Canadian teams like the Quebecers. Mauro said Burch and Lorcan redefine smash mouth. Lorcan and Burch dominated, with Lorcan getting a tapout win a minute in with a single-leg Boston Crab. Mauro said it was an inexorable, merciless attack by Lorcan &amp; Burch looking to send a message to Imperium. After the match, they struck a post to mock Imperium.<\/p>\n<p>WINNERS: Lorcan &amp; Burch in 1:00.<\/p>\n<p>-They replayed the angle from earlier with Gargano and LeRae getting into it with Mia Yim and Keith Lee. Saxton said Tegan Nox posted on Twitter \u201cUm, Candice, who are you lately?\u201d Dakota Kai replied: \u201cSomeone that doesn\u2019t need to explain herself to you. Go make another Tegan Nox Comeback Story: Emotional. Gripping. Repetitive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>-Backstage, McKenzie interviewed Lee. He said he requested the interview. He asked who records themselves eating dinner. He said he doesn\u2019t care what the Garganos think or say. He said he has a problem with their new attitude and it will reach its limit at Takeover. He closed with: \u201cGo tell the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: Lee seemed like he was in his own world as he gave that promo, almost as if he\u2019d be saying that aloud to himself even if there was no camera there. Lee has an arrogance to him that can play both ways, and the key is to channel it as a confident charismatic babyface who knows he\u2019s good and maybe even thinks he\u2019s better than he is, but you still want to see him succeed because he\u2019s cool and fights people who deserve to be shown up by him.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-Mauro plugged Drake vs. Kushida. [c]<\/p>\n<p>-A commercial aired for NXT Takeover \u201cIn Hour House\u201d with the \u201cUnderneath\u201d theme song by Code Orange.<\/p>\n<p>-They showed Io Shirai preparing for her match with Ripley later.<\/p>\n<p>-Backstage Matt Riddle was pacing. He called Thatcher \u201cTrashy Tim.\u201d He said he\u2019s not a stallion, he\u2019s a putz. He said he\u2019s down for his challenge. He said he has an idea for the location, somewhere they\u2019re both familiar \u2013 the cage.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: I am enjoying them just letting Riddle be Riddle. The way he said Trashy Tim and was all proud of himself was delightful.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>(6) KUSHIDA vs. DRAKE MAVERICK \u2013 Interim Cruiserweight Tournament match<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kushida made his entrance first. Mauro said Drake is looking to keep his Cinderella story alive. Drake eyed the belt on his way to the ring and conveyed he was taking this seriously and trying not to let the pressure overwhelm him. Kushida outwrestled Drake in the opening minutes. Jake Atlas walked out and watched. Mauro said Atlas has a soft spot for the upset-minded Maverick and has become a fan of his. Kushida grounded Drake with an armbar and then landed a cartwheel dropkick for a two count. [c]<\/p>\n<p>Kushida dominated after the break. He knocked Drake to the floor where Drake caught his breath as the ref counted to six before he rolled back into the ring. He favored his arm as he tried to mount a comeback. Kushida brushed him off and continued to work over his left arm including a stomp and then a double wrist lock. Maverick screamed in pain. The ref asked if he wanted to stop the match. Drake said no way. After another nasty arm attack, hyperextending Drake\u2019s arm, Drake yelled at the ref not to stop the match. Drake put his leg over the bottom rope to force the break. Drake yelled at the concerned ref not to stop the match. The ref said that\u2019s on him.<\/p>\n<p>Kushida applied another double wrist lock while both were on the top turnbuckle and torqued, but Drake punched out of it. Drake went for a move off the top rope, but Kushida countered mid-air with an armbar, but Drake leveraged Kushida\u2019s shoulders down for a shocking three count. Mauro shouted, \u201cWe have just witnessed the miracle on the mat!\u201d Kushida was inconsolably in shock, dropping to his knees. \u201cWhat. Just. Happened,\u201d asked Mauro.<\/p>\n<p>That moved Kushida to 2-1 and Maverick to 2-1. Mauro wondered what this meant for the tournament finals. Atlas entered the ring to congratulate Drake.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Drake in 12:00.<\/p>\n<p>-Saxton stepped onto the stage and said he just received word from William Regal, the NXT G.M., that because the three of them are tied with the same head-to-head record, the three of them will face each other in a triple threat match \u2013 Drake vs. Kushida vs. Atlas, winner faces Fantasma in the finals. All three stood the ring and talked at each other.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: This worked for me. I think I see roughly where they\u2019re headed, and this all played out in a deliberate way with a payoff that I think will be satisfying, even if I\u2019m not sure where Atlas and Drake end up after next week\u2019s match. Are they friends and go their separate ways, does one turn heel on the other, do they end up a tag team, and how does Drake end up saving his job if he doesn\u2019t win the tournament? There\u2019s still a lot left to play out.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>-A video package aired on the build to Ripley vs. Shirai.<\/p>\n<p>-Mauro said Damian Priest would speak next. [c]<\/p>\n<p>-Phoenix promoted the Drake vs. Kushida vs. Atlas match next week. Mauro announced Riddle and Thatcher would indeed battle in \u201ca cage fight\u201d next week.<\/p>\n<p>-Priest said championships will come eventually, but Balor\u2019s return became his priority because Balor \u201cput this place on the map.\u201d He said he\u2019s coming for him at Takeover, where he made a name for himself. He said the name Balor will turn to ash while the name Damian Priest will, you know, live forever. He laughed and extended his arms as the Damien Priest letters burned on the big screen behind him.<\/p>\n<p>-Saxton said they have confirmed Karrion Kross will make his Takeover debut against Ciampa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>(7) IO SHIRAI vs. RHEA RIPLEY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As Shirai came out, Mauro noted Shirai won by DQ against Charlotte. Phoenix said Charlotte got DQ\u2019d on purpose using the kendo stick, which must say something about how Charlotte feels about Shirai. Ripley then made her ring entrance. Phoenix said Ripley was billed as the next rising star, but she has an obstacle in her way in Shirai now to get another chance at the championship. Shirai landed a dropkick at the bell. Ripley fought right back. When Shirai leaped at her, Ripley caught her. Shirai then slipped free and scratched her back. Ripley said, \u201cAre you kidding me?\u201d Ripley dropkicked Shirai. Saxton said this is Ripley\u2019s first match since losing her NXT Title to Charlotte at WrestleMania. Mauro noted this is also the first singles match between Ripley and Shirai. With Shirai in control at 2:00, they cut to a break. [c]<\/p>\n<p>Shirai scored a near fall with a sunset flip after the break. She applied an immediate crossface. Ripley and Shirai battled on the top rope, blocking each other. Ripley eventually superplexed Shirai to the mat for a two count. Shirai caught Ripley with a sudden crossface again mid-ring. Ripley crawled over to the bottom rope to force a break. Shirai landed a 619 and then a springboard dropkick, sending Ripley to the floor. She then dove through the ropes onto her at ringside. With both down, Charlotte\u2019s music played. Charlotte walked out, wearing the NXT Title belt. Shirai used a head scissors to send Ripley into Charlotte. Shirai threw Ripley back into the ring. She charged with a double knee drive in the corner for a two count. Shirai countered Ripley with a DDT and scored another near fall. Charlotte entered and gave Shirai a big boot. The ref told her to get out of the ring. She speared Ripley. Charlotte held up the belt and said, \u201cNXT is Flair Country!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: No contest in 12:00.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Keller\u2019s Analysis: This sets up Charlotte being \u201cpunished\u201d by having to defend against both Ripley and Shirai in a Triple Threat at Takeover.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS:<\/strong> If NXT is almost always somewhere between a 5 and 10 on a 1-10 scale, this was a 7.5 show. It was good start to finish. Nothing off the charts great, but it made sense and what they did I think they did well. It moved a lot of storylines forward and also moved several wrestlers along in their journeys effectively.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"PWT Talks NXT - PWTorch NXT Post Show w\/Wells &amp; Lindberg\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VK_IomQmcTk?start=5&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-710745261\"><div id=\"pwtor-1210393632\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>The following report originally published 5 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com\u2026 KELLER\u2019S NXT ON USA REPORT MAY 20, 2020 ORLANDO, FLA. AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTER AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK Announcers: Mauro Ranallo, <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/05\/27\/5-yrs-ago-nxt-tv-report-5-20-2020-rhea-ripley-vs-iyo-shirai-sky-plus-tozawa-karrion-kross-kushida-dexter-lumis-roderick-strong-gargano-lerae\/\" title=\"5 YRS AGO \u2013 NXT TV Report (5-20-2020): Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Shirai (Sky), plus Tozawa, Karrion Kross, Kushida, Dexter Lumis, Roderick Strong, Gargano &#038; LeRae\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":97699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-197859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-specialfeatures","category-exclusives_flashbacks"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/05\/Screen-Shot-2020-05-20-at-12.24.10-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197859"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198497,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197859\/revisions\/198497"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}