Kushida and Escobar deliver a cruiserweight classic

The two-out-of-three falls Cruiserweight title match on the May 11 NXT played out in fairly predictable faction, but it was still a heck of a lot of fun.

Champion Kushida almost couldn’t wait for the bell to get violent, fitting for what’s quickly become a heated feud with the man he best for the belt, Santos Escobar.

It didn’t take long after the bell for Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma henchmen to get involved, and it didn’t take long for Kushida’s friends MSK (the Tag champs who also happen to be feuding with LDF’s Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza) to even the odds. Referees cleared all four men out, clearing the stage for the main eventers.

They battled for a while without any falls, then we got two in rapid succession - a pin off a Phantom Driver for Escobar, followed almost immediately by an armbar submission for Kushida.

Tied up at one fall apiece, the pace picked up. Big shots left both men weary, and two counts were plentiful. The champion looked to have things wrapped up when he held a Hoverboard Lock through a reversal attempt, and even managed to keep in on while he moved to the middle of the ring, but Escobar struggled to the bottom rope. He didn’t have anything left over after Kushida dumped him on his head in the corner and suplexed him into a winning pin, though.

Kushida’s reign continues, and it looks like it will finally be time for the former Hijo Del Fantasma to move on to something else.

Keep up with everything that’s happened on tonight’s NXT in our live blog here.