WWE NXT preview, Feb. 24, 2021: Santos Escobar faces Karrion Kross in No Disqualification Match * Is time up for Santos Escobar? The NXT Cruiserweight Champion must face Karrion Kross in a No Disqualification Match, or else he’ll be forced to relinquish his title. In addition, Adam Cole has vowed to explain his shocking actions, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano clashes with Dexter Lumis in a non-title match, Kacy Catanzaro faces Xia Li and more.

* Santos Escobar to face Karrion Kross in No Disqualification Match
* Adam Cole vows to explain himself this Wednesday on NXT
* NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai takes on Zoey Stark in non-title contest
* Johnny Gargano to clash with Dexter Lumis in non-title match
* Grizzled Young Veterans set to clash with Killian Dain & Drake Maverick
* More cards.


# Santos Escobar to face Karrion Kross in No Disqualification Match
* Time’s up for Santos Escobar. Will he survive doomsday?
The NXT Cruiserweight Champion will face Karrion Kross in a No Disqualification Non-Title Match this Wednesday night on NXT.
The strife that initially stemmed from Escobar maligning Kross’ snakebitten NXT Championship reign has grown more hostile each week as Kross and Scarlett stalk their next target.


# Adam Cole vows to explain himself this Wednesday on NXT
* or the second time in four days, Adam Cole shocked the system. Now, he plans to offer an explanation.
Cole’s stunning few days began with superkicks to NXT Champion Finn Bálor and former Undisputed ERA stablemate Kyle O’Reilly at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, shaking the black-and-gold brand to its core.
Cole erased any doubt about where he stood last Wednesday on NXT, decimating O’Reilly with a vicious suplex on the steel steps. O’Reilly, who was stretchered out of the Capitol Wrestling Center, suffered a neck injury and is not medically cleared, per the NXT Injury Report.
The NXT Universe has anxiously awaited word from Cole on his heinous betrayal, and this Wednesday night they’ll finally get it. What will Cole have to say?


# NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai takes on Zoey Stark in non-title contest
* Zoey Stark turned in an eye-grabbing performance in her NXT debut, and William Regal took notice.
The NXT General Manager is rewarding Stark with a non-title bout against NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai tomorrow night.
Stark decimated Valentina Feroz last week in her first action on the black-and-gold brand, but the difficulty will ramp up against one of the greatest NXT Women’s Champions of all time.
Shirai is coming off another impressive title defense, prevailing over Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a Triple Threat Match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. The Genius of the Sky might be looking over her shoulder, though, after Storm ambushed Shirai during a photoshoot last week.
Don’t miss Shirai in action against Stark, tomorrow night at 8/7 C


# Johnny Gargano to clash with Dexter Lumis in non-title match
* Johnny Gargano and company have been reunited with Austin Theory, but Dexter Lumis is still lurking.
The NXT North American Champion will square off with Lumis in a non-title match this Wednesday night on NXT.
Gargano and Theory have been at odds with the black-and-gold brand’s Tortured Artist for several weeks. The stakes grew more frightful at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day when Lumis seemingly abducted Theory right behind Gargano.
A dilapidated white van — similar to one we’ve previously seen Lumis involved with — pulled up last week on NXT, and Theory eventually reemerged in the Capitol Wrestling Center, though Lumis was nowhere to be found.
Can Johnny Wrestling finally rid The Way of their Lumis problem, or will he be Lumis’ next victim?


# Kacy Catanzaro to square off with Xia Li
* Xia Li has looked nearly unbeatable thanks to Tian Sha’s teachings, but Li has also undergone a dark transformation. Does Kacy Catanzaro have any hope of reaching her former friend, or for that matter, even surviving when they go one on one?
Under the leadership of Mei Ying, Li hasn’t lost, making short work of opponents while showcasing unbridled intensity and a newfound aggression.
Catanzaro and tag team partner Kayden Carter tried to talk some sense into Li, who responded by launching Carter off the Capitol Wrestling Center stage and delivering a devastating spinning heel kick to Catanzaro.
Last week, Li cryptically marked Catanzaro’s hand and promised to “purge” her.
Will Li continue her dominance, or will Catanzaro be the one to slow her down? Find out this Wednesday night at 8/7 C


# Grizzled Young Veterans set to clash with Killian Dain & Drake Maverick
* The Grizzled Young Veterans are likely unhappy after coming up short in the Dusty Classic Finals. They’ll look to channel their aggression against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick this week on NXT.
Zack Gibson & James Drake returned to the tournament finals for a second straight year, though they could not overcome MSK at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day after a scintillating, back-and-forth encounter.
Dain & Drake ran into the same buzzsaw last month, falling to MSK in the quarterfinals.
Which team is poised to get back on track with a victory?