Generation NXT - NXT recap for February 24, 2021

Dexter Lumis beats Johnny Gargano with Silence after Gargano's attempts to cheat through the match backfire.

Backstage, General Manager William Regal waits for Santos Escobar.

We hear from MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee), who talk about their Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic victory. Nash Carter also talks about his late father.

We see an NXT Superstar profile for Shotzi Blackheart, courtesy of Burger King.

Backstage, MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) are being interviewed when they are ambushed by Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake).

We see footage from earlier today where Malcolm Bivens meets up with Leon Ruff - who is now medically clear - and proposes a match against Tyler Rust while also mocking the beating he got from Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. Leon Ruff accepts.

In the ring, Malcolm Bivens says that while everyone thinks highly of Leon Ruff, he considers Ruff like the son he never had and never wanted, and that tonight, Leon Ruff will prove why he is a "diamond in the rust." When Leon Ruff heads to the ring, he is suddenly attacked by Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, who says that he will ensure that Leon Ruff gets fewer handouts while he gets more opportunities before slamming him back-first into the ring apron.

In footage from yesterday, General Manager William Regal asks Zoey Stark if she would like a non-title match with Io Shirai, saying that there is no other match he would like to see than this. Stark accepts.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Zoey Stark. Stark says that a lot of emotions are running through her body and that she is ready. The interview is then suddenly cut off with a still image of Io Shirai, then the show cuts back to the ring.

In footage from earlier today, Cameron Grimes watches footage of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase humiliating a kid into dribbling a basketball, then does the same thing to a backstage worker, saying he will give him $1,000 for ten dribbles. The worker actually dribbles the basketball ten times, then takes the $1,000 out of his hand. Grimes says he wishes he watched the rest of that Ted DiBiase video.

It is announced that Kyle O'Reilly is not medically cleared to compete, and that he will return in approximately four to six weeks.

Io Shirai beats Zoey Stark. After a show of respect between Shirai and Stark, Toni Storm shows up and says Shirai is willing to fight anyone in the women's division except her and that she only pinned Mercedes Martinez because she couldn't beat her. Shirai tells Storm she will fight her anytime, anyplace, anywhere, but Storm says that Shirai has not asked for a match against her because she is scared before daring Shirai to prove her wrong by going to General Manager William Regal and making the match happen.

Backstage, The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Austin Theory, Indi Hartwell) is on the way out when McKenzie Mitchell interviews them. Gargano asks Theory why he did not hit him with a chair, and Theory says the chair is not necessary and that Dexter Lumis is misunderstood. Indi Hartwell admits that Lumis is "kinda hot." Gargano tells Theory that he is going to therapy, then The Way leaves.

Xia Li vs. Kacy Catanzaro is next!

In footage from earlier today, Cameron Grimes - now having watched the entire Ted DiBiase video - goes up to a group of people and dares one of them to dribble the ball ten times for $1,000. Unfortunately for Grimes, the woman he talks into doing this knows what is going on and outsmarts him. She also happens to be taller and more muscular than him.

Xia Li beats Kacy Catanzaro by referee stoppage after stomping Catanzaro in the leg and dragging her by the hair back into the ring. After the match, Kayden Carter tries to confront Xia Li's master, but Boa stops her. Xia Li then hits Catanazaro with a hook kick, knocking her out.

Backstage, General Manager William Regal is still waiting for Santos Escobar.

We see a video package for Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez vs. Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships next week.

Backstage, Cameron Grimes finds another person to sucker into dribbling the basketball. This time, an angry Grimes knocks the guy out before he can dribble it once.

Before the next match, Zack Gibson announces that Wes Lee's hand is broken, while James Drake says he and Gibson have been fined before stating they did it for the fans, as MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) were "joking around like little children." Gibson says that the better team lost in the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and that they are the tag team destined for championship greatness, not MSK or "Shrek and Donkey" (referring to Killian Dain and Drake Maverick).

Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) beat Drake Maverick and Killian Dain. During the match, it is announced courtesy of Burger King that Toni Storm will face Io Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship in two weeks.

Backstage, Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) finally arrive.

Backstage, Killian Dain helps Drake Maverick to the trainer's room. Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Alexander Wolfe) notices this, and Alexander Wolfe mocks him, saying "You used to be a monster."

Karrion Kross attacks Legado del Fantasma outside the arena to get the next match started early.

Karrion Kross beats Santos Escobar in a no-disqualification match.

In footage from earlier today, LA Knight says NXT is his game, and when he debuts, it will be on his time, his terms and his way.

Adam Cole heads to the ring. Cole says he had every intention of explaining why he did what he did to Kyle O'Reilly, then says he feels sick to his stomach after seeing the footage of his attack on O'Reilly. He says the NXT Championship has always been important, but he does not like who he has become. He says that he has been pissed off at O'Reilly getting opportunity after opportunity only to fail, then says it did not warrant those actions. He wishes that he could speak to O'Reilly face-to-face, but he cannot. Cole tells O'Reilly that he hates admitting he was wrong, and says he was dead wrong and that O'Reilly is not in the ring because he made a stupid mistake and he hates himself for it. Cole apologizes and says he will do everything in his power to fix it, but if he cannot, he will try. Suddenly, Roderick Strong shows up and says everything has changed, as The Undisputed Era was a brotherhood built on trust and had each other's back no matter what. He tells Cole that he shattered that trust, then says that while Kyle O'Reilly will heal, he may not be able to save Cole from what O'Reilly will do to him. Suddenly, Finn Balor shows up, shoves Strong and attacks Cole. Strong goes after Balor but gets beaten up for it, and Cole lays Baylor out with a superkick. When Cole gets in the ring and apologizes to Strong, Storng clotheslines him. Cole keeps apologizing and saying this is his fault, then Cole and Strong make up before Cole hits Strong with a low blow and tells him he is stupid. He then calls him dead weight and rips his dog tags off before superkicking him.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!