NXT Championship
Soon after, O'Reilly began to pursue the NXT Championship, Therefore, beginning a feud with the reigning champion Karrion Kross. On the June 1 episode of "NXT", O'Reilly faced Johnny Gargano and Pete Dunne in a triple threat match for an NXT Championship opportunity at which ended in a no contest after Cole returned and laid out all three men. Later that night, it was announced that Kross would defend his title in a fatal five-way against Cole, Dunne, Gargano, and O'Reilly. At the event, O'Reilly failed to capture the title after he passed out to Kross's "Kross Jacket" submission. After failing to win the championship, O'Reilly resumed his feud with Cole and a rematch between the two was made for The Great American Bash, where O'Reilly was defeated by Cole.