Samoa Joe Wins NXT Title From Karrion Kross At TakeOver 36

Samoa Joe is once again NXT champion, after defeating Karrion Kross in the main event of NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday night in Orlando.

In the closing stages, Joe fought his way out of the Kross Jacket. He then hit Kross with a clothesline, followed by an enzuigiri, before finishing the champion off with the Muscle Buster after 12 minutes.

With the win, Joe becomes the first ever three-time NXT champion. He first won the title from Finn Balor at a house show in Lowell, MA in April of 2016. His second reign came later that year, regaining the title from Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: Toronto, before losing it back to Nakamura at an NXT card in Osaka, Japan two weeks later.

The third reign of Joe's breaks a tie with two time champions Balor, Nakamura, Kross, and Adam Cole.

With the loss, Kross' second reign as NXT champion ends at 136 days. He won the title from Finn Balor at Stand and Deliver on April 8.

During his reign, Kross appeared on the Raw brand, where the previously unbeatable heavyweight infamously lost in under two minutes to Jeff Hardy in his debut.

Scarlett did not appear in Kross' corner whatsoever before or during the match.