Samoa Joe Wins NXT Championship in Return Match at WWE NXT Takeover 36 (Clips)

Samoa Joe’s return match saw him become a three-time NXT Champion, beating Karrion Kross at WWE NXT Takeover 36. Joe defeated Kross in the main event of Sunday’s PPV, pinning him with the Muscle Buster.

The win makes Joe victorious in his first match since February of 2020, when he was on the losing side of a six-man tag match on Raw. Joe was sidelined with a concussion after that and has had an eventful road since, working commentary and then being released before he was quickly brought back for NXT, initially as an enforcer for William Regal.

Joe ends Kross’ NXT Championship run at 136 days, having win the title at night two of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April. The win makes Joe the first three-time NXT Champion.

You can see highlights from the match below. Our live coverage of NXT Takeover 36 here.

HERE WE GO.
MAIN EVENT TIME at #NXTTakeOver 36!@SamoaJoe returns to the ring to challenge @WWEKarrionKross for the #WWENXT Championship.

🦚 @peacockTV https://t.co/O4Pyhh5k3P
🌎 @WWENetwork https://t.co/nlCkSwiAuM pic.twitter.com/PCJLjvoNUu

— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021

#WWENXT Champion @WWEKarrionKross is on a path of destruction!@SamoaJoe#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/q9jjVq4R0z

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1429628717740040193

The SAMOAN SUBMISSION MACHINE!@SamoaJoe
@WWEKarrionKross#NXTChampionship#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/4OVq6Xw5SE

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 23, 2021

COQUINA CLUTCH!!!#NXTChampionship#NXTTakeOver@SamoaJoe
@WWEKarrionKross pic.twitter.com/CF2ffRP0wM

— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021

It's going to take a lot more for @WWEKarrionKross to put away @SamoaJoe. #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/3txTbqEqZQ

— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021

The legendary @SamoaJoe has dethroned @WWEKarrionKross to become the NEW #NXTChampion at #NXTTakeOver! pic.twitter.com/S9vC0UKbqw

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 23, 2021

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE.@SamoaJoe is the first ever THREE-TIME #NXTChampion!#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/7qe5CK4Yzv

— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021