NXT preview (May 25, 2021): Loser leaves town

NXT returns tonight (May 25) from the Capitol Wrestling Center (CWC) in Orlando, Florida.

Advertised for the show:

• Karrion Kross defends the NXT title against Finn Bálor
• Franky Monet debuts
• Cameron Grimes & Ted DiBiase have a Million Dollar Face-Off
• Pete Dunne vs. Bobby Fish
• Raquel González & Dakota Kai vs. Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart
• New North American champion Bronson Reed speaks

As usual, here are our five questions about NXT tonight:

1) What happens to the loser of tonight’s main event?

We’ve been speculating on how long both Karrion Kross and Finn Bálor would remain on the black-and-gold brand for more than a year.

The Prince’s second NXT run was given second life by a strong title run, but at 39 years old, how much more of his career does he want to dedicate to what it clearly WWE’s least popular nationally televised show? Bálor gave a pretty clear indication this week on FOX Sports’ Out of Character with Ryan Satin when he said:

“I grew up as a wrestling fan watching WWE, and that’s essentially where I want to be performing. I feel like in my last run there I wasn’t doing myself justice and needed to change something. The change was NXT and I needed to figure out who I was again, and I managed to do that to some level, and I am definitely hopeful that a return to RAW or SmackDown will happen in the future.”

It’s a bit early to judge Kross’s second NXT championship reign, but it’s somewhat surprising they bothered with it all. I feel like a broken record saying he & Scarlett are a main roster act... but he & Scarlett are a main roster act.

Will tonight end with Bálor further establishing the champ’s credentials before heading off for another go at Raw or SmackDown? Or will Triple H put the strap back on a more well-known name in an attempt to bolster ratings, and see if the red or blue brands fall and pray to the 35 year old former Lucha Underground, AAA, and Impact star?

Hard to see what’s next for either man on Tuesday nights if they lose tonight.

2) Who will Ted DiBiase’s proxy be in his feud with Cameron Grimes?

Especially if the rumors are true about what Ted is bringing to his Million Dollar Face-Off (or “Multi-Dollar”) with Grimey tonight, there’s got to be a match coming up. Perhaps as soon as June 13’s TakeOver: In Your House.

67 year old DiBiase ain’t lacing up the boots, so who will Grimes wrestle? Jake Atlas was the beneficiary of a Ted’s laugh last week, and is a guy with a bright future in need of direction. Leon Ruff could be another possibility.

Beyond that, there aren’t many midcard babyfaces sitting around who’d work. So perhaps DiBiase will bring out someone we haven’t seen before as his 2021 Virgil? Whoever gets tapped for the role, their career could be going to... the... moon! Or to becoming a walking, talking meme like original recipe Virgil. Either way, we win.

3) Can we pull the trigger on the Dakota Kai/Raquel González split?

This is another topic where I feel like I’m repeating myself, but come on. Big Mami Cool needs to get off the fence and be a face. Being betrayed by a jaded soon-to-be-former friend is the way to get her there.

They’ve planted to seeds of Kai being unhappy with the Women’s champ honorable gestures toward challengers. With a defacto Tag title #1 contender’s match with Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon on deck for tonight, the stage is set. Dakota takes the pin, Raquel shakes Shotzi & Ember’s hands as they head off for a rematch with Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell for the straps, the Kiwi snaps and attacks González.

The champ’s officially a hero, and she has a personal rivalry with a villain all set. Easy peasey lemon squeezy.

4) Will Indi & Sexy Dexy ever find happiness?

Speaking of The Way, Hartwell found out about her mentor’s scheme to sour her love for Dexter Lumis (in a ludicrous scene where Candice’s credit card was declined because of a charge from last month, but whatevs, it was fun). But this was after Lumis heard his sweetheart run him down as creepy (which happened while he was being creepy and slipping into her massage session, but whatevs, it was fun).

When last we saw Indi Wrestling, she was racing off to explain things to the Tortured Artist. Fortunately, I think they’ve sorting things out...

But is LeRae done scheming? And how will this impact the champs as they get ready for a title defense?

5) Where the heck is Tian Sha?

We were anxiously awaiting the “what’s next?” for Mei Ying, Xia Li & Boa after they dispatched Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter. Then they disappeared.

I doubt the group will be tied to Franky Monet’s in-ring debut tonight, but they need to find something for them to do. Maybe they can be “what’s next?” for Zoey Stark after Toni Storm put her down last week?

Give us your questions and answers in the comments below. Then join us in our live blog and we’ll see what Qs and As tonight’s show gives us.