This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Akira Tozawa defeated Joaquin Wilde (5:25)
This was a high energy sprint that was a lot of fun to watch and marked Wilde’s Main Event debut.
Tozawa is both a safe pair of hands and also the ideal opponent for someone trying to make a mark. He was giving here and allowed Wilde plenty of time to dominate and show off his skill.
Wilde was able to get in snap suplexes, head scissors takes downs and even a suicide dive. As always, Tozawa sold really well and this meant that as he was in peril, the crowd rallied behind him.
I’m never a fan of the rest hold in these short matches, but it served its purpose here as Tozawa was able to come from behind and fight his way out. They did a false finish as Wilde got in a DDT, but once Tozawa kicked out he hulked up, tore the shirt and they went home.
Tozawa nailed Wilde with an enzuigiri and then went up top and hit his senton to get his arm raised.
The Authors of Pain w/Paul Ellering defeated The Creed Brothers (6:13)
While The Creed Brothers are a huge highlight every week on this show, it felt like a backward step to beat them here and, equally, to humble them against such stiff opposition at this stage in their run wasn’t ideal.
In the first few minutes, it was all quick tags as Julius and Brutus took early control, eventually dumping Rezar and then Akam. Julius dived over the top rope with a cross body, much to the crowd’s joy and we went to a very early break.
It was then all about the hot tag after the ads. Julius was in trouble for a long time here as they cut the ring in half and wore him down with a series of power moves and basic, slow ground and pound.
Akam eventually got too cocky, missing a charge to the corner so that Julius could use an enzuigiri before finally giving the hot tag to his brother. Brutus ran wild, finishing with a standing moonsault on Akam but Rezar had to come in and break up the pin and make the save.
Rezar quickly nailed Julius off the apron and after hitting Brutus with a Rock Bottom, he and Akam combined to use the Last Chapter to get the win.
The Authors of Pain angrily refused to let the ref raise their hands and insisted on Paul Ellering doing it for them instead. They mounted the ropes at either corner in front of the hard cam and Ellering stood between them in a perfectly shot, dominant pose to finish the match.
The Authors of Pain and Paul Ellering are officially back in WWE.
One week after their return was teased, Akam & Rezar arrived back in WWE on SmackDown tonight. A new faction has formed with Karrion Kross, Scarlett, The Authors of Pain, and Ellering.
AOP ambushed Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits on SmackDown. Kross then joined them in the attack. AOP hit their Super Collider finisher on The Street Profits, then Kross laid out Lashley.
Two weeks ago, a vignette aired on SmackDown with Kross teasing that AOP and Ellering would be returning.
AOP had been signed with WWE for some time before finally returning tonight. Their initial run with the company lasted from 2016-2020.
AOP held the Raw Tag Team titles and NXT Tag Team titles one time each during their first WWE stint. Ellering, a WWE Hall of Famer from his time managing The Road Warriors, managed AOP when they were in NXT.
After their release, AOP tried to start a new promotion named Wrestling Entertainment Series. The promotion canceled its debut show and never got started.
AOP’s attack on Lashley and The Street Profits happened right after Lashley declared that he’ll be entering the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.
Scarlett debuted a new look on SmackDown with brown hair.
Several former WWE stars — along with the pro wrestling debut of a former UFC fighter — are advertised for Wrestling Entertainment Series’ debut show.
Wrestling Entertainment Series is a new promotion that’s being launched by the tag team formerly known as The Authors of Pain. Its debut show is taking place at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England on Saturday, June 4. The event will air live via Fite TV.
In the main event of the show, former UFC star Alistair Overeem will make his in-ring debut against Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman). It’s advertised that the match will be to crown Wrestling Entertainment Series’ first World Champion.
World Championship match: Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) vs. Alistair Overeem
Women’s Championship match: Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) vs. CJ Perry (Lana)
Tag Team Championship match: Gzim Selmani & Sunny Dhinsa (The Authors of Pain) vs. Westin Blake & Steve Maclin (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler)
Killer Kross (Karrion Kross) vs. Samuray Del Sol (Kalisto) vs. JONAH (Bronson Reed)
Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green
Dean Muhtadi (Mojo Rawley) vs. Lince Dorado
Pre-show match: Mike Bennett (Mike Kanellis) vs. Biff Busick (Oney Lorcan)
Pre-show match: Dirty Dango (Fandango) vs. Levis Valenzuela Jr. (No Way Jose)
This will be the first time Fanene, Perry, Selmani, Dhinsa, and Muhtadi have wrestled since their WWE releases.
Selmani & Dhinsa are going by the name “Legion of Pain.” They’ll be managed by their former NXT manager Paul Ellering.
When the launch of Wrestling Entertainment Series was announced, it was stated that the promotion has “several yet-to-be-revealed dates across Europe & the Middle East” scheduled for 2022.
The Big News: Since Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly caused a double disqualification in the finals, there was no winner in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Instead, Cole & O’Reilly will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against both The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne at TakeOver: New Orleans.
The Medium News: As you may have figured out by reading all that, Bobby Fish is injured and won’t be medically cleared to defend the NXT Tag Team titles. Cole has been ordered to defend for him.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain ended in a no contest when everyone in the ladder match ran in and stared at each other.
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The show began with Charly Caruso recapping the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Michael Hayes, Terry Taylor, and Dustin Rhodes were all in the arena to observe the finals.
Caruso also confirmed that Bobby Fish has not been medically cleared to compete, but left it hanging as to what would happen at TakeOver.
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The Authors of Pain vs. Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic ended in a double DQ
The show kicked off with the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. AOP defeated TM61 and The Street Profits to make it to the finals. Strong & Dunne were a replacement team and had to get through Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch and SAnitY to get to this point. Once upon a time, Strong formed an alliance with The Authors of Pain in order to enter War Games together, but that alliance is out the window now.
Dunne got beaten and muscled down by Akam and Rezar, but he put up a fight in going down. Rezar connected with hammer fists to Dunne’s face and it took a double-team effort for them to maintain the advantage. Dunne snapped Akam’s fingers and cut him down with leg kicks, which gave him the chance to make the tag to Strong.
Strong ran wild on both men, getting multiple near falls on Rezar as Akam was knocked outside the ring. Dunne got back in and locked on a triangle choke, but Rezar lifted him up and carried him across the ring and AOP used a double-team neckbreaker. That was the moment that took Strong and Dunne to the next gear as they used an amazing series of double team moves on their larger foes. Akam and Rezar laid them out with a pair of boots.
As all four men were laid out, Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly suddenly hit the ring. The match was ruled a double disqualification as Cole and O’Reilly put the boots to both teams.
NXT General Manager William Regal came out and announced that at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans it will be The Undisputed Era vs. The Authors of Pain vs. Dunne & Strong for the NXT Tag Team Championship and for the Dusty Rhodes Cup. It wasn’t mentioned here who from Undisputed Era would be in the match, but it was confirmed later that it would be Cole & O’Reilly.
So, to sum things up, Undisputed Era could win a tournament they never competed in.
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We had a video package previewing the North American title ladder match at TakeOver.
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A video package for the Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa unsanctioned match aired.
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Kairi Sane defeated Vanessa Borne
Borne got a new theme song and light show for her entrance. This was more competitive than you’d imagine, with Bourne getting her fair share of offense. Sane hit the Interceptor spear, the sliding punch, and a Kabuki elbow before picking up the win with the Insane Elbow.
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Lacey Evans was backstage to make a statement. She said she won’t be able to do anything until Mr. Regal disallows societal trash from walking around NXT. She was offended that a complete psycho like Nikki Cross gets opportunities. She also put down Ember Moon, Dakota Kai, and Sane.
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Mr. Regal was leaving the building when Cole and O’Reilly ran up to him screaming about the situation they are in at TakeOver.
Regal told them they had three options: Cole competes in two matches, O’Reilly defends by himself, or Cole steps out of the North American title match.
Undisputed Era weren’t very happy.
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Next up was a video package for Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aleister Black.
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More recaps! We were reminded of the Ember Moon-Shayna Baszler fight from last week.
Moon then cut a promo saying she was not sorry for getting into the fight. Baszler disrespected a coach so she deserved to be attacked. Baszler walks around like she owns the place and that’s not how you behave as a champion. Moon said Baszler started the war, but she is going to end it.
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Next week:
Kairi Sane vs. Lacey Evans
Seven or eight video packages (this part wasn’t said, but it happens on every single post-TakeOver episode of NXT)
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Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan ended without a finish
These two monsters will join Ricochet, EC3, Adam Cole, and Velveteen Dream in a six-way ladder match to determine the first-ever North American Champion on Saturday night.
Dusty Rhodes would have been screaming at the announce desk about the clubbering happening here as these two wailed away on one another with one heavy blow after another. Sullivan finally got the brief advantage by ramming Dain into the ring apron. Dain used the Belfast Blitz, but Sullivan got his knees up on a Vader Bomb attempt.
They fought to the top rope and Dain delivered a headbutt, which caused them both to fall to the ground outside the ring. Suddenly, both Velveteen Dream and Cole ran in and glared at one another. EC3 decided that now was the best time to come out and stare down his fellow heels. From the dead, Dain and Sullivan appeared back in the ring. Ricochet’s music then played and the man himself was here.
Ricochet ran into the ring and stared at each man individually as the show went off the air. Dain and Sullivan didn’t seem to mind that their match just randomly ended.
This Saturday is NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, so please check out my live play-by-play that night. Enjoy WrestleMania weekend and, until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
The Big News: The Authors of Pain will challenge Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT Tag Team Championship at TakeOver: Philadelphia.
The Medium News: Ember Moon will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against the Queen of Spades, Shayna Baszler at TakeOver.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Just three days before his main event championship match, Johnny Gargano puts his title shot on the line against Velveteen Dream next week.
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Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli defeated Heavy Machinery
One of Otis Dozovic’s New Year’s Resolutions was to marry Mandy Rose. I wonder if Rose is aware of this. This match was set up about a month ago when Sabbatelli parked his Maserati in a spot that was not helpful for Heavy Machinery. Thankfully we have well thought out, intelligent angles.
Sabbatelli used both a dropkick and a running crossbody to Dozovic. Unfortunately for him, neither of those worked, especially the crossbody, as Dozovic caught him and dropped him. Tucker Knight tagged in and used a spinning front face lock, but he allowed Sabbatelli to tag out to his fresh partner. Moss only fared slightly better as Heavy Machinery took back over. They paid tribute to The Bushwhackers and Scotty 2 Hotty, including Dozovic doing the Worm.
Everything was going well for Heavy Machinery until Moss used a schoolboy with his feet on the ropes to pin Knight. This was a seven-minute match where they got 30 seconds of offense, but that last three seconds was all that was important.
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The Undisputed Era cut a promo about their respective matches at TakeOver: Philadelphia. Basically, they have made every TakeOver about them and this will be no different.
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A video package aired, showing what happened last week with Adam Cole and Aleister Black. While building up their extreme rules match, they showed a bunch of famous ECW clips, including Taz and Bam Bam Bigelow going through the entrance ramp and New Jack diving off the balcony.
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Roderick Strong defeated Fabian Aichner
Aichner is the guy who was in the Cruiserweight Classic but has gained 30 pounds of muscle since.
Aichner can still move, which is impressive when you’re 230-240 pounds of muscle. He did, however, almost drop Strong on top of his head with a powerslam. Aichner slapped on an abdominal stretch, which always disappoints me when no one does the Mike Rotunda grabbing of the ropes.
Aichner went for a springboard clothesline, but Strong caught him, dropped him with a uranage into a backbreaker, and picked up the submission win with the Strong Hold.
After the match, Strong said last week Lars Sullivan talked about how he has gone through everyone, well Sullivan is a force that Strong wants to destroy.
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We had a TM-61 video package. They have been out for a year thanks to injury and now are coming back. They were traced back to being in wrestling school together, becoming closer friends, and ultimately making it to WWE together. They showed footage of them training with Harley Race and trying out at the Performance Center.
Next week is part two.
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Lacey Evans defeated Aliyah
There have been a half dozen times the last two years where I’ve asked “Whatever happened to Aliyah?” and the very next week she’s on television. Triple H must be reading my mind and booking the show based off it. I don’t believe Evans has been on TV since being in the Mae Young Classic. Her parents named their daughters Stacy, Tracy, Lacey, and Macey (Lacey’s real name).
The story of Aliyah is a weird one. Seemingly every match she ever wrestles she performs very well (well, very acceptably) for 80 percent of the match, but that other 20 percent is so atrocious you wonder how she’s ever allowed on TV. They tried to get around that by having Evans take the majority of the match, however Aliyah had to do something, so we got her falling on her behind instead of her feet and strikes that missed by three feet that Evans had to sell.
Evans literally won with a punch to the face. Not sure if she meant to, but she appeared to really connect with it.
After the match, Evans asked how could Mr. Regal allow the lowest forms of trash in the NXT women’s division. It’s time for a proper, sophisticated lady to clean house. She’s going to start with classless psychos like Nikki Cross, Ember Moon, or the pathetic Kairi Sane.
Before she could continue, Shayna Baszler walked out and glared her down, which caused Evans to leave. It’s okay because Baszler got in the ring and put Aliyah in a rear naked choke. The referee could not break it. Moon waited for her music to start, but she eventually made the save.
Moon dared Baszler to bully her right here, right now. Baszler said she didn’t have her gear on, but would do it for Moon’s title.
Moon told her to name the place and name the date, telling her not to forget to bring her gear because Moon is going to kick her ass. Baszler yelled back to bring the title to Philadelphia for TakeOver.
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After a commercial break, Regal acquiesced to Moon’s request and made Moon vs. Baszler for the title at TakeOver.
In walked Zelina Vega, who said everyone knows Johnny Gargano has zero chance of winning at TakeOver. She said Velveteen Dream deserves it more and Gargano should put his title shot on the line in their upcoming match.
Regal said no and Vega said Gargano is a loser and a sham.
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Speaking of people who haven’t been on the show in forever, No Way Jose is coming back. He’ll be on next week’s episode.
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Gargano came to the ring for a promo. He said he just saw Vega talking to Regal. He knows what everyone is saying behind his back. Everyone doubts his ability to beat Andrade “Cien” Almas. He shouted that he is done being doubted. He is not a broken man or a loser. This is not a fluke, but this is his time and opportunity — and no one will stop him.
He agreed to put his title shot on the line against Velveteen Dream next week. For the first time in a long time, he knows who he is. He is Johnny Wrestling and he is the next NXT Champion.
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Last week, Undisputed Era destroyed SAnitY before they had to defend the Tag Team Championship against them. In theory this should lead to another SAnitY title match, but instead they aren’t in the TakeOver title picture.
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The Authors of Pain defeated The Street Profits in a number one contender’s match
Despite flirting with a babyface turn, Akam and Rezar were definitely the heels in this match, as the fans at Center Stage loved the Street Profits. We did get dueling chants, with the AOP’s fans louder and lasting longer.
The Authors got the heat on Montez Ford. Ford, who is not a small man, looked tiny in the arms of Rezar, but he was able to make the hot tag to Angelo Dawkins. Dawkins ran wild on his own and it was looking like it could be the end, but Rezar took Dawkins’ head off with a clothesline. We got a Super Collider and a Last Chapter to Ford and that was that.
Ten days from now, Akam and Rezar will try to become the second two-time NXT Tag Team Champions when they challenge Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia.
So, that does it for this week. Thank you all for reading and until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
Approximately 300 people attended last night’s house show on the Florida loop.
– Raul Mendoza defeated Fabian Aichner
– Dan Matha defeated Lio Rush
– Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville defeated Ruby Riott & Dakota Kai
Following the match, Riott hit Kai with an up-kick.
– Heavy Machinery came out for a promo but were interrupted by Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss.
– Brennan Williams defeated Chad Lail
– The Street Profits defeated TM61
– Kassius Ohno defeated Christopher Dijak
– Ember Moon defeated Lacey Evans
– Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defeated The Authors of Pain
Fish got busted open above his left eye during the match. Referee Drake Wuertz called for the doctors, with the finish being improvised as O’Reilly rolled up Rezar after it was determined that Fish couldn’t finish the match.
There will be a steel cage that surrounds two rings.
A member from each team will start the match, with there being three separate shark cages near the entranceway that the other wrestlers are put in before they enter.
After five minutes, the remaining two members from one team will be let out of their shark cage and into the ring. Following that, there will be a three-minute period until the next team’s wrestlers are let in. There will then be a final three-minute period until the last team’s members are allowed to join the match.
The match can be won by pinfall or submission once all of the teams have fully entered.
The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly), SAnitY (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain), and Roderick Strong & The Authors of Pain will be the three teams involved in War Games, which is the first time WWE has used the concept since acquiring WCW in 2001.
The Toyota Center in Houston, Texas will host NXT TakeOver: War Games on November 18th. Other matches that have been confirmed for the show are Drew McIntyre defending his NXT Championship against Andrade “Cien” Almas, Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce vs. Ember Moon vs. Nikki Cross for the vacant Women’s title, and Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream.
The show kicked off with the announcement, via Twitter, that Drew McIntyre will defend the NXT Championship against Andrade “Cien” Almas at TakeOver: Houston. They will sign the contract for that match tonight.
Nikki Cross defeated Taynara Conti
This was set up when Conti interfered in a four-way match a few weeks back, initially costing Cross a shot at joining the NXT Women’s title match at TakeOver before she won a battle royal to earn a spot last week. Conti was in the Mae Young Classic and is a judo black belt.
This broke down into a brawl quickly with them fighting on the outside almost immediately. Conti gained control once they got back in the ring with basic kicks and punches. Cross was smiling and begging to get hit more.
Cross took control and beat on Conti in the Tree of Woe. She then hit a draping DDT and a swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker to get the pin.
Mercedes Martinez was interviewed backstage following the battle royal last week. She was asked who would win the title at TakeOver. She wouldn’t give a winner, but she did say that Ember Moon would not win. Perhaps they’re setting those two up to feud following TakeOver.
Fabian Aichner defeated Johnny Gargano
These two were featured in 2016’s Cruiserweight Classic, though Aichner looks to have put on about 25 pounds of muscle since then. Gargano used technical mat wrestling to get the early advantage. Mauro Ranallo noted on commentary that Aichner is just the second Italian-born wrestler to be under WWE contract, after Bruno Sammartino.
Aichner took control after catching Gargano on a pescado and slamming him into an outside barricade. After a commercial break, they went back and forth in the ring with Gargano selling his ribs as the crowd chanted “Johnny Wrestling.”
Gargano got a near fall after hitting his cool-looking springboard spear. Aichner missed a double springboard moonsault and Gargano hit a springboard DDT for another two count. Aichner hit a backbreaker/powerbomb combo but only got two.
Aichner hit another backbreaker but missed a moonsault. He then countered a Gargano Escape into an abdominal stretch pin to get the win. This was a very good TV match. Gargano looked despondent In the ring following the loss.
McIntyre was backstage with William Regal signing the contract for the title match at TakeOver. A promo video also played for Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream in Houston.
Earlier today, The Street Profits were fawning over a Maserati in the parking lot at Full Sail. Turns out, it belonged to Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss. They went back and forth verbally, likely setting up a future match between the teams.
McIntyre was out with his signed contract, but he was attacked by Almas before he could get to the ring. Almas signed the contract and then stuck it to the downed body of the NXT Champion with gum from Zelina Vega.
The Iconic Duo were interviewed backstage earlier today. Peyton Royce was upset that Billie Kay won’t be in the Women’s title match at TakeOver. They were making fun of Kairi Sane until she interrupted their interview in her pirate costume and walked away smiling. Sane and Billie Kay will meet on NXT TV next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions SAnitY and The Authors of Pain went to a no contest
Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe were the combination defending the belts this week, with there being loud chants for SAnitY prior to the match. Young started off for his team and Wolfe was holding the tag rope in his mouth, which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before.
SAnitY took control early by cutting off the ring until AOP gained the upper hand after slamming Wolfe into their own corner. AOP trapped Wolfe there by mostly using clobbering offense to keep control.
Wolfe eventually got the hot tag after several minutes of that. Young ran wild on both members of AOP, then hit a Randy Savage elbow drop for a near fall. After another two count when SAnitY double-teamed AOP, it became a four-way brawl.
AOP hit the Super Collider and the Last Chapter on Young, but the pin was broken up by The Undisputed Era. Killian Dain came out to help his stablemates until he was quickly downed by the triple-teaming of Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly.
Roderick Strong sauntered down to the ring and teased joining Undisputed Era, even putting on their armband, but he turned on them and quickly got triple-teamed. The Authors of Pain came to help him and Cole bailed, quickly followed by Fish and O’Reilly.
William Regal was out and announced the return of War Games for TakeOver. It will be The Undisputed Era vs. SAnitY vs. Strong & The Authors of Pain in a three-team War Games match.
The Big News: After defeating Heavy Machinery in the main event, The Authors of Pain were confronted by an unlikely set of new challengers: SAnitY.
The Medium News: Speaking of SAnitY, Killian Dain will face Drew McIntyre next week, with the winner facing Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Bobby Fish debuted in a losing effort against Aleister Black.
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The show began with an excellent video package recapping the breakup of DIY back at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. This segued to the announcers opening the show and recapping last week where Roderick Strong lost his NXT Championship match. We will be joined by the NXT Champion, Bobby Roode tonight.
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Aleister Black defeated Bobby Fish
The former Tommy End kicked the show off tonight, as he was here to go one-on-one with the debuting former ROH TV and Tag Team Champion, Bobby Fish. Fish got a decent reaction, but nothing in the same league as some of the other debuts we’ve had over the years.
Fish was allowed to look competitive in this match, as it went through a commercial break. This was one of those matches where it was painfully obvious that Percy Watson is the sore thumb at the announce table. Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness were just reciting factoids about Fish off the top of their heads, while Watson was nervously reading them off his notes.
Anyway, despite the big debut, no one believed Fish was going to win this one, but they definitely tried hard enough to make you think otherwise. The fans woke up for Black’s comeback, specifically his Asai moonsault and a jumping knee to Fish. Black then picked up the win with Black Mass.
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Hideo Itami and Kassius Ohno argued backstage after their match last week, with Itami blaming Ohno and “people like Ohno” for their loss to SAnitY. Ohno said he went out of his way to try to get Itami out of the funk he’s been in since Chicago, but no more.
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The Street Profits did a series of Snapchat videos to build to their NXT debut soon.
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Two weeks ago, Kayla Braxton tried to interview Velveteen Dream while he was leaving the arena. Dream refused to be interviewed and told Braxton to figure something else out.
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Vanessa Borne defeated Jayme Hachey in a Mae Young Classic qualifying match
Who will join the group of 32 in the Mae Young Classic tournament? Will it be Vanessa Borne or Jayme Hachey? Borne previously competed under her real name of Danielle Kamela and Hachey is the former Jayme Jameson.
These two had a mid-level NXT women’s match. It was not remarkable by any means, but not offensive either. Borne won with a spinning suplex.
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Drew McIntyre was leaving after NXT last week when he was attacked by Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain. Wolfe yelled “tick tock” and said that McIntyre’s time as being undefeated is running out.
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Back in Mr. Regal’s office, he was having a meeting with NXT Champion Bobby Roode. Regal mentioned both Killian Dain and Drew McIntyre. Roode said he could beat both of them any day of the week, but recommended McIntyre wrestle Dain and see what happens. He was then offended that Mr. Regal would imply that Roode would want the two of them to take each other out.
Regal ended up making that match for next week, between Dain and McIntyre and the winner will challenge Roode next month at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
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For the first time in 53 days, Johnny Gargano returned to NXT. He came to the ring to the loudest ovation of the night. When the music ended the crowd erupted into chants of “Johnny Wrestling.”
Gargano said he missed that and said the fans and the ring are irreplaceable. He used to be excited when he heard his music because the fans would see something special, but now all he can think of was what happened in Chicago.
He has spent all these days going over everything in his head, but he will never understand what happened. However, he is not here to dwell on the past, but he is here to look towards the future. He can’t control what happened, but he is here and is in front of all these people.
He said that no matter what, he wanted to be at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. He said he needs to be Johnny Gargano again, but he also needs to be Johnny Wrestling. The promo ended with what I presume is his new theme song, as he came out to the DIY theme.
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Ember Moon will wrestle Ruby Riot next week.
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NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain defeated Heavy Machinery to retain their titles
The Authors of Pain debuted 13 months ago and since then they have never lost a single match in NXT. Heavy Machinery re-debuted four months ago and, likewise, have never lost a single match. Streaks are about to end.
This match was everything it was promised to be. It was four 300-pounders slugging it out in their quest for championship gold. The first big spot of the match was Rezar being knocked off his feet by his challengers, which led to a four-way face-off and the commercial break.
Back from commercial, the champions cut off Tucker Knight for the heat, but a missed middle rope move by Rezar led to Otis Dozovic getting the hot tag. It broke down into a four-way, as Dozovic and Knight suplexed and slammed AOP around with such ease. They beat on the champs in a way that no one ever has before.
Heavy Machinery went for The Compactor on Akam, but Rezar broke it up with a boot to Knight’s face. That was the final swing of momentum, as the Authors of Pain quickly put Dozovic away with The Last Chapter.
Can any team stop the Authors of Pain? Well…if two can’t stop them, maybe three can. SAnitY came out and stood on the ramp as papers fell from the ceiling. The crowd didn’t know what to make of it, but the announcers sold it as pages from Paul Ellering’s book that he reads from.
So, that does it for this week. Thank you for reading, and until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
– Triple H introduced Mauro Ranallo as the new commentator before the show.
– Bianca BelAir defeated Aliyah in a Mae Young Classic qualifying match
Female referee Jessika worked this match. BelAir (previously Bianca Blair) got a huge reaction instantly for smacking Aliyah with her braided hair. BelAir won with a spear.
– Velveteen Dream defeated HoHo Lun
Velveteen Dream used a flying elbow to get the victory.
– Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan was stopped
Lorcan ran in to fight and caught Itami with a shot, then the referee backed Lorcan away and we saw that Itami was bleeding. The referee and doctors wiped him down and waved the match off.
– Vanessa Bourne defeated Jayme Hachey in a Mae Young Classic qualifying match
Bourne was formerly known as Danielle Kamela and Hachey was Jayme Jameson. This was a quick match that Bourne won to advance to the Mae Young Classic.
– Johnny Gargano made his return to Full Sail and talked about what Tommaso Ciampa did to him. He said that he’s going to get back to wrestling and he has to be at TakeOver: Brooklyn.
– Hideo Itami defeated Oney Lorcan
The match that they were supposed to have earlier got re-taped here. Itami hit a GTS to win one of the best sprints in recent memory. It had great action, then Itami called out Kassius Ohno to talk after the match. Before they could, SAnitY destroyed them both.
– No Way Jose defeated Cezar Bononi
Jose got the victory with his pop-up knockout punch. Andrade “Cien” Almas and Thea Trinidad showed up at ringside, with Almas jumping Bononi and destroying him. He then pointed down Jose before bailing out of the ring.
– Ember Moon defeated Ruby Riot
The crowd was hot for this one, with them doing dueling chants early. Riot hit a top rope rana for a close near fall, but Moon ended up winning with The Eclipse. The crowd was into this one the whole time.
SAnitY worked over Itami throughout. The story was that Ohno was out of position for the tag whenever Itami needed him, so Itami seemed weary of him. Dain hit a running crossbody splash on Itami for the finish. Ohno was frustrated as he looked down Itami after the match. They both then made their way to the back.
– Oney Lorcan defeated Danny Burch
Lorcan submitted Burch with a single-leg crab to win another physical match. Burch wanted a rematch in the future and Lorcan seemed to agree.
– NXT Champion Bobby Roode defeated Roderick Strong to retain his title
The crowd was hot for this one as well. Strong had the early advantage, including when they were fighting outside of the ring. Roode ended up cutting him off and started working over the knee viciously. Strong fired up and fought valiantly, even kicking out of the Glorious DDT.
Strong hit a double knee backbreaker for the visual pin, but Roode had his foot under the ropes so the match continued. Roode then retained after hitting his DDT in the middle. This was a match worthy of a TakeOver main event and it told a great story with Strong’s fiancee at ringside. Strong sat in the corner devastated by the loss.
– Aleister Black defeated Bobby Fish
Ring announcer Mike Rome announced Fish as making his NXT debut and he received a full entrance. The crowd was quiet early and were unsure how to react until Black hit Black Mass for the victory.
– NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain (w/ Paul Ellering) defeated Heavy Machinery to retain their titles
As expected, they had a physical match. The audience was behind Heavy Machinery with a “Steaks and Weights” chant, but the champions retained with their double team stand-up lariat.
SAnitY’s music hit after the match and they made their way to the ramp and had a staredown with AoP.
– Jeet Rama defeated Johnny Vandal
Rama won this one very quickly.
– Drew McIntyre defeated Killian Dain in a number one contender’s match
Dain had the advantage early. He wore his opponent down until McIntyre fired up and hit the Claymore Kick to win. He will now face Roode for the title in Brooklyn.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka defeated Nikki Cross in a last woman standing match to retain her title
This had all types of brutality, with suplexes on chairs, Asuka putting Cross in a trash can and kicking it in, and more. Cross hit Asuka with repeated swinging neckbreakers, though they both kept making the ten count and continuing. Asuka hit four German suplexes in a row and a spin kick, but Cross kept getting up.
The brawl went out of the ringside area and made its way to the production and commentary side. Asuka suplexed Cross off of a ladder and through the commentary table. The champion made the 10 count and retained her title.
Reports submitted by readers Doug Forbes and Joseph Wyatt
– Kassius Ohno defeated Kona Reeves
Reeves got heat by hiding from Ohno for a large portion of the match. The match was nothing spectacular, but it was a fun opener to set the tone and Ohno won with some big strikes.
– Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Dan Matha
Matha is huge and Almas mostly played face in this. The crowd was probably least active during this match. Almas won with the hammerlock DDT after hitting his double knees in the corner.
– A video was shown with The Authors of Pain leaving Bobby Roode’s dressing room.
– Ruby Riot & Ember Moon defeated Kimber Lee & Mandy Rose
This was a great, well worked tag match. Riot and Lee looked as good as during their indie days. Rose actually held her own. Moon got the pin with the flipping stunner.
– Aleister Black defeated Patrick Clark
Clark got heat by calling the town other local places. Black looked great and won quickly after hitting a springboard moonsault and Black Mass.
– Shinsuke Nakamura & Hideo Itami defeated The Revival
The response for The Revival was loud. The response for Nakamura was louder. They had a fun match, with good comedy spots and great action. The crowd got to see everything but the Shatter Machine.
Itami hit a GTS on Dash Wilder before Nakamura hit the Kinshasa on Scott Dawson. The Revival pretended to come back for a handshake, but then moved their hands and left. The crowd was singing or chanting for the entirety of this one.
– NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain defeated DIY to retain their titles
Paul Ellering wasn’t present for this. They had a strong match, with Johnny Gargano taking most of the beating. AoP threw them around a bit and won with the Last Chapter.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka defeated Daria Berenato to retain her title
This went longer than might be expected and Berenato got some stuff in. They did lots of submissions and counters. Asuka came out on top with a roundhouse kick.
– NXT Champion Bobby Roode defeated Tye Dillinger to retain his title
The crowd went insane for this and they both had cool entrances. There was a lot of comedy. Dillinger kicked out of a Glorious DDT, then hit a bare knee Tye Breaker. The Authors of Pain interrupted, leading to Roode hitting a second Glorious DDT for the win.
Nakamura came in for the save. The Revival then came in, with no one quite sure what they were doing. They teamed up with Dillinger to take care of AoP and surprise Roode. There was a fun bionic elbow by Dawson into a face plant from Roode. The show closed out with Dillinger, Nakamura, and The Revival cutting promos in the ring. They thanked the fans and each other.
The Big News: The Revival were the ones left standing after the Authors of Pain vs. DIY NXT Tag Team Championship match.
The Medium News: Asuka and Ember Moon appear to be on a collision course.
The Little Beaver-sized News: Bobby Roode will make his first NXT title defense in two weeks against Kassius Ohno.
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Patrick Clark defeated Sean Maluta
It was Tough Enough vs. Cruiserweight Classic here. Clark refused a handshake at the start, so Maluta kicked his butt from the bell and almost picked up the win with a shining wizard before being cut off. Clark hit a few moves and got his first win with the famouser.
This show is so packed with stuff that we didn’t get a replay and seconds after the match we immediately cut to commercial.
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SAnitY were being kept warm by a fire in a barrel. Eric Young said they know Tye Dillinger’s fate and now he is reaching up and bringing his friends down with him. He called Dillinger a disease and pleaded to let Young get rid of him.
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NXT Women’s Champion Asuka defeated Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay) to retain her title
The undefeated, undisputed, reigning, defending NXT Women’s Champion is here to put her undefeated streak and the championship gold (well, silver) on the line against the alumnus of the Storm Wrestling Academy.
Royce gave it the old college try, but Asuka destroyed her at the bell, using the running hip attack in the ring. Royce rolled to the apron for a breather, so Asuka gave her another hip attack and Royce crashed to the mats outside. Royce did get the heat when she pulled Asuka shoulder-first into the post.
Royce worked on Asuka’s shoulder, which she sold constantly while making her comeback. Asuka used what was basically a hip toss into a nasty looking knee to the face. Asuka used the second shining wizard of the night, but like with Sean Maluta, it did not lead to a pin.
Royce got a near fall with a running elbow drop and spin kick to the face. However, Royce faced the same result everyone does, she tapped out to the Asuka Lock.
Billie Kay attacked Asuka after the match and we got a two-on-one beatdown, including the heels yanking her arm and shoulder into the ring post. Ember Moon ran in and made the save, taking out both Kay and Royce on her own.
Asuka and Moon nodded at each other and then had a staredown with Asuka holding the belt over her head.
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Up next was a recap of the Bobby Roode/Shinsuke Nakamura/Kassius Ohno story. This led to an announcement that Bobby Roode will defend the NXT Championship against Kassius Ohno in two weeks.
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Paul Ellering hyped up his Authors of Pain backstage.
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A video package for Wolfgang aired. He was also in the WWE UK Championship tournament and was actually my pick to win it.
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Shinsuke Nakamura will be back in the ring next week.
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WWE is releasing a brand new book, looking at the history of NXT. I may be a doubting Thomas, but I doubt they will have a full recap of the greatness that was NXT: Redemption.
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DIY defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain by DQ
It was now time for the main event! DIY won the NXT Tag Team Championship back at TakeOver: Toronto, but their title reign did not last very long, dropping the straps at TakeOver: San Antonio. In nine months, The Authors of Pain have won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and now the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Tommaso Ciampa was fast from the start, sending Akam outside the ring, but he got caught on a dive and ran back-first into the ring post. Ciampa took one heck of a beating, but fired back with some hard strikes to Rezar, but the big man no-sold them and the champs laid him out again.
Johnny Gargano eventually got the hot tag and ran wild on both men. Gargano flipped and flew and seemed poised to regain the titles. Gargano used his slingshot DDT for a near fall. Ciampa tagged back in, hit a discus clothesline, and slapped on the over-the-top armbar, but it got broken up.
Rezar went for a superplex on Ciampa, but Ciampa slid underneath and the challengers teamed up for a powerbomb. Akam broke up DIY’s attempt at their finish, however DIY slipped out of the Super Collider and locked on a double submission. Suddenly, The Revival ran in from out of nowhere (the backstage area) for the disqualification.
The Revival saved the titles for AOP, laying out Ciampa with the Shatter Machine. AOP didn’t appreciate this, so they attempted to lay out The Revival, however the Top Guys laid out Akam and Rezar, including giving Akam the Shatter Machine.
Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder have been left standing here tonight, but what does that mean for the future? Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
Results and image courtesy of @katieloud, who estimates that there were 250 people in attendance.
– Kassius Ohno defeated Kona Reeves
Death By Elbow for the win by Ohno.
– Babatunde Aiyegbusi was interviewed in the ring. He’s billed as 7 feet tall and towered over the ropes and the ring announcer.
– Heidi Lovelace defeated Macey Estrella
An impressive head kick put Estrella down.
– SAnitY (Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe) w/ Nikki Cross defeated The Ealy Twins
Cross was ejected from ringside towards the finish, but SAnitY was still able to put the twins away.
– No Way Jose defeated Patrick Clark
Jose hit the wind-up punch to win.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka & Liv Morgan defeated Kimber Lee & Mandy Rose
A running knee by Asuka on Kimber scored the pin.
– Elias Samson defeated Buddy Murphy
The finish came after The Drifter hit a swinging neckbreaker.
– Tye Dillinger, Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors of Pain & Noam Dar
Dar kept claiming to be a bear in this match, as he was teaming with the much larger AOP. Dar was finally put away by a Tye Breaker to send everyone home happy.
