Image: WWE
Though TakeOver: Vengeance Day is taking place on Sunday, WWE has already made their first match announcement for next week’s episode of NXT.
Karrion Kross vs. Santos Escobar is set for NXT next Wednesday (February 17). The match was announced by NXT general manager William Regal after Scarlett appeared in his office on tonight’s NXT and proposed the match for next week. Scarlett told Regal that she was there because it wouldn’t be good if Kross was there instead.
Escobar ordered his Legado Del Fantasma stablemates Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde to make sure Kross doesn’t make it to next week’s match. Mendoza and Wilde were later shown laid out backstage, with Kross warning Escobar that he’ll do the same thing to him next week.
Escobar is the NXT Cruiserweight Champion. After mentioning Kross’ name in a promo, he received a tarot card as a warning from Kross and Scarlett on NXT two weeks ago. Scarlett then watched on during Escobar’s title defense against Curt Stallion last week. Kross attacked Mendoza and Wilde after the match and then confronted Escobar.
Kross also confronted men’s Royal Rumble winner Edge on NXT last week. Kross warned Edge that if he challenges for the NXT Championship at WrestleMania 37, it won’t be Finn Balor or Pete Dunne that he’s facing. Kross said he’s going to defeat Balor or Dunne and win back the title that he never lost.
Kross had to relinquish the NXT Championship in August of last year due to suffering a separated shoulder during the match where he won the title from Keith Lee. Kross returned to action in December.