Tag: Aliyah

Two changes made to WWE Survivor Series teams

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of Survivor Series, a couple of spots have opened up on Team SmackDown.

Aliyah and Sami Zayn were removed from their respective Survivor Series teams on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Aliyah was removed from the women’s team by Sonya Deville, while Zayn lost his spot on the men’s team when he was defeated by Jeff Hardy.

WWE hasn’t announced who will be replacing Aliyah and Zayn.

Aliyah made her SmackDown in-ring debut tonight, teaming with Sasha Banks & Naomi to defeat Shotzi, Shayna Baszler & Natalya in a six-woman tag match. Aliyah got the win for her team when Naomi helped her reverse the Sharpshooter into a pin. That assist from Naomi came when Natalya grabbed the rope for extra leverage while she had Aliyah in the Sharpshooter.

Despite Aliyah getting the win, Deville informed her that she’s no longer on Team SmackDown. Deville is currently feuding with Naomi.

Hardy and Zayn’s match was made when Zayn went to Adam Pearce and tried to get Pearce to remove Hardy from Team SmackDown. NXT’s Von Wagner was in Pearce’s office when Zayn went to him, but Wagner wasn’t identified by name.

Survivor Series is taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday, November 21. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • Non-title match: WWE Champion Big E vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns
  • Non-title match: Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Women’s five-on-five elimination match: Team Raw (Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Carmella & Zelina Vega) vs. Team SmackDown (Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Natalya, and a partner)
  • Men’s five-on-five elimination match: Team Raw (Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio & Bobby Lashley) vs. Team SmackDown (Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, Xavier Woods, Baron Corbin, and a partner)

Dakota Kai works dark match prior to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Dakota Kai competed in a dark match prior to tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

Kai defeated Aliyah, who has worked dark matches in the past and reportedly has been called up. This is the first time Kai has appeared on the main roster. Austin Theory, who has also competed in dark matches in recent weeks, wrestled Keith Lee in another dark match, with Lee scoring the pinfall.

Multiple NXT talents have wrestled in dark matches since WWE returned to live crowds last month. Scarlett, Xia Li, Bronson Reed, Odyssey Jones, and Xyon Quinn have all wrestled in dark matches. Reed appeared on WWE Main Event. Harry Smith, who has recently re-signed with WWE, also has worked a dark match.

Shotzi, Nox, Karrion Kross, and Toni Storm all wrestled in dark matches as well, and have since made their debuts on the main roster, with Kross appearing on Raw and Shotzi, Nox, and Storm appearing on SmackDown.

Martinez replacing Kamea in NXT Women’s Tag Team title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced a change to tonight’s NXT Women’s Tag Team title match.

NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will now defend their titles against Aliyah & Mercedes Martinez on tonight’s show. It was originally announced that Blackheart & Moon would be facing The Robert Stone Brand’s Aliyah & Jessi Kamea.

In a video that WWE uploaded this afternoon, Robert Stone said Kamea was injured while training for tonight’s match. Stone and Aliyah approached Martinez and offered her the “life-changing opportunity” to challenge for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles with Aliyah tonight. When Martinez saw how much money Stone was offering her, she told Stone that would only be half of her pay. Martinez said she expects to be paid the other half after tonight’s match. When Martinez left, Stone said he doesn’t have any more money.

Martinez was formerly part of The Robert Stone Brand prior to her call-up to the main roster last year. She was written out of the group by being served with a restraining order from Stone after losing a steel cage match to Rhea Ripley last September. After briefly being part of RETRIBUTION on the main roster, Martinez returned to NXT in December.

This will be Blackheart & Moon’s first NXT Women’s Tag Team title defense. The titles were introduced two weeks ago and awarded to women’s Dusty Classic winners Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai, but Gonzalez & Kai lost the titles to Blackheart & Moon that same night.

The Robert Stone Brand had interrupted an interview with Blackheart & Moon on last week’s NXT and challenged them to a Women’s Tag Team title match.

Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:

  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Aliyah & Jessi Kamea
  • NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai
  • Karrion Kross vs. Oney Lorcan
  • NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin vs. Kushida in a non-title match
  • NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER vs. Drake Maverick in a non-title match
  • Bronson Reed vs. LA Knight
  • NXT general manager William Regal will address Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly
  • Regal will also give an update on the situation with the vacant NXT Tag Team titles

Ripley & Blackheart vs. Martinez & Aliyah added to WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced an addition to the lineup for tonight’s TakeOver XXX go-home edition of NXT.

Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart will team against the Robert Stone Brand’s Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah on NXT tonight. Martinez & Aliyah defeated Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro last week. After the match, Ripley came out to the ring and fought with Martinez. Blackheart then helped Ripley even the odds against Martinez and Aliyah.

Martinez interfered in Ripley vs. Dakota Kai on NXT two weeks ago, costing Ripley the match and preventing her from becoming the number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship. Ripley and Blackheart have both feuded with the Robert Stone Brand since declining offers to join the group.

Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:

  • Adam Cole-Pat McAfee face-to-face segment
  • Second chance qualifying match: Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream
  • Second chance qualifying match: Johnny Gargano vs. Ridge Holland
  • Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango vs. Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
  • Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart vs. The Robert Stone Brand (Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah)

The winners of Balor vs. Dream and Gargano vs. Holland will become the final two wrestlers to qualify for the ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship at TakeOver XXX. Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, and Cameron Grimes have already qualified for the match.

WWE announces Shotzi Blackheart vs. Aliyah for NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed a third match for tonight’s episode of NXT.

During Robert Stone’s appearance on WWE’s The Bump this morning, it was announced that Shotzi Blackheart will face Robert Stone Brand member Aliyah on NXT tonight. Karrion Kross vs. Dominik Dijakovic and Dexter Lumis vs. Killian Dain are the other matches that have been announced for tonight. WWE is also hyping that the show will feature a “huge announcement” by NXT general manager William Regal.

There was an angle on NXT two weeks ago where Blackheart rejected an offer to join the Robert Stone Brand. When that happened, Stone threw a cup of coffee over his shoulder and accidentally hit Dain. Dain then threw Stone against a cart and Blackheart ran over his ankle with the tank she uses to make her entrance.

Last week, Stone apologized to Dain and said it was all Blackheart’s fault. Aliyah then showed Stone a drawing Lumis made that had Stone’s ankle being run over by Blackheart’s tank and Dain being hit with the coffee cup on it. Dain told Stone that if he wants to make it up to him, he’ll get Dain a match against Lumis.

Stone and Aliyah also caused Blackheart to lose a match against Indi Hartwell on NXT last week.

Three matches announced for next week’s NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Three matches have been announced for next Wednesday’s episode of NXT:

– NXT North American Champion Keith Lee puts his title on the line against Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor in a triple threat match

The winner will advance to face NXT Champion Adam Cole in a winner-take-all title vs. title match on the July 8 episode of NXT.

– Karrion Kross vs. Bronson Reed

Reed quickly defeated Leon Ruff on NXT tonight and then issued a challenge to Kross. It will be Kross’ first match since his dominant win against Tommaso Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.

On last week’s NXT, Scarlett sent a warning to Cole on behalf of Kross. She placed an hourglass in the ring and turned it over, signifying that Cole’s time as NXT Champion is coming to an end.

– Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes

Priest defeated Killian Dain on NXT tonight. Later in the show, Priest found his tires slashed in the parking lot. Grimes then drove by and mocked Priest.

Priest punched Grimes last week after Grimes did an interview where he called Priest a loser for not defeating Balor at TakeOver: In Your House. Grimes tried to get out of his match against Balor later in the show by faking that he may have broken his jaw, but NXT general manager William Regal made Grimes still wrestle. Balor defeated Grimes in the match.

Two qualifying matches announced for this week’s NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Qualifying matches for NXT’s number one contender’s ladder match will resume tomorrow night.

Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter and Xia Li vs. Aliyah have been announced for this Wednesday’s episode of NXT. The winners will qualify for the number one contender’s ladder match that was originally supposed to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa.

Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, and Tegan Nox have already qualified for the ladder match. WWE announced today that — starting on April 1 — matches that were planned for TakeOver: Tampa will air on NXT television over the next few weeks.

LeRae had originally been scheduled to face Mercedes Martinez in a qualifying match on NXT last week.

Li defeated Aliyah on NXT in November, with WWE doing an angle where it was said that a spin kick from Li broke Aliyah’s nose. This will be Aliyah’s first match on NXT TV since then.

NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is defending her title against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36. The winner will defend their title against the ladder match winner at some point in the future.

WWE is also hyping that Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano will have to answer to Triple H on NXT tomorrow following their brawl at the Performance Center two weeks ago.

Matches set for next two weeks of NXT TV

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced matches for the next two weeks of NXT television.

On last night’s episode, it was revealed that The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner and Candice LeRae vs. Aliyah will air next Wednesday (April 10). Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic will air on April 17.

The Street Profits vs. Barthel & Aichner and LeRae vs. Aliyah will presumably be taped at the Barclays Center before TakeOver: New York tomorrow, while Lee vs. Dijakovic should be filmed at NXT’s TV tapings at Full Sail University next Wednesday.

Aliyah and Vanessa Borne interrupted LeRae during an interview on last night’s episode. LeRae was asked about Johnny Gargano’s NXT Championship match against Adam Cole at TakeOver and discussed her own goal of becoming NXT Women’s Champion.

Lee and Dijakovic went to a double countout on the February 27 episode of NXT. They were supposed to have a rematch at March’s TV tapings, but the match didn’t end up happening. Dave Meltzer reported that Lee had an injury that wasn’t thought to be serious and wasn’t expected to keep him out for too long.

NXT Jacksonville, FL, live results: Six-woman tag main event

Posted on by JJ Williams

Results and image courtesy of @FLWrestlingFan

Last night’s show was sold out and there were 350-400 people in attendance.

– Raul Mendoza defeated Cezar Bononi

– Bianca Belair defeated Zeda

Belair squashed her in five minutes or less, with the crowd cheering Belair because she was so dominant. Zeda didn’t get any offense.

– Marcel Barthel defeated Jeet Rama

– Peyton Royce and Billie Kay came out for a promo. They got a big reaction when they entered and there was so much heat that it took them a few minutes to start the promo. The crowd booed every time they would raise the mic. They said they had a surprise partner for the six-woman main event later.

– The Street Profits defeated Demetrius Bronson & Fabian Aichner

There was a big pop when the faces made their entrance.

– Adrian Jaoude defeated Chad Lail

– Velveteen Dream defeated Nick Miller

Dream won with his feet on the ropes. This got a lot of time and may have been the best match from Miller on the Florida loop. The crowd was dead at the start, but they were on their feet by the end chanting “This is awesome.”

– Kairi Sane, Liv Morgan & Aliyah defeated Peyton Royce, Billie Kay & Shayna Baszler

Sane hit her elbow drop on Kay for the win. The few minutes that Sane and Baszler were in the ring together were magic, with Baszler hitting a knee to the shoulder. Sane was over huge.

NXT Daytona Beach, FL, live results: Six-person tag main event

Posted on by JJ Williams

Images: @JJWilliamsWON

Approximately 200 people attended tonight’s show.

– Kassius Ohno defeated Adrian Jaoude

Ohno won with a rolling elbow.

– Sonya Deville defeated Kimberly Frankele

The former Daria Berenato hit a sliding knee strike to get the victory.

– Yanbo Wang cut an in-ring promo, saying that we can call him Boa. He was interrupted by Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler before Heavy Machinery made the save.

– Heavy Machinery defeated Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler

An assisted front slam with a pile on won this for Machinery.

– Jeet Rama defeated Kona Reeves

Reeves hit a slam to pick up the win.

– Roderick Strong & Buddy Murphy defeated Cezar Bononi & Lars Sullivan

The big men got the heat on Murphy to build to the hot tag for Strong. He ran wild and eventually applied a Liontamer on Bononi for the submission. Sullivan destroyed Bononi for losing after it was over.

– Lana (w/ Mary Kate) defeated Danielle Kamela

Lana submitted Kamela with the Accolade.

– Babatunde Aiyegbusi defeated Demitrius Bronson

Aiyegbusi won decisively.

– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka, Aliyah & Hideo Itami defeated Peyton Royce, Billie Kay & Andrade “Cien” Almas

Asuka hit a kick to take out Kay while Itami and Aliyah kept the other two occupied.