Karrion Kross chokes out Samoa Joe following NXT title defense

Samoa Joe got his first taste of in-ring action since February of last year when last night he was attacked by NXT champion Karrion Kross.

Joe was the special guest referee for the NXT main event which had Kross successfully defending the NXT title against Johnny Gargano. After the match was over, Joe handed over the title to Kross and Kross said something back. But as soon as the former champion turned around, Kross locked him in a choke hold and took him down, leaving him motionless in the ring.

Friction between the two had been building since Joe returned as the enforcer for William Regal last month.

Joe has not wrestled since February 2020 as a result of a concussion he had. He was never cleared to compete again, at least not yet, although the actions from last night suggest that this will eventually lead to Kross vs Joe at an upcoming Takeover show, possibly during SummerSlam weekend.