John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast, starting off the show talking about, who else, but CM Punk as he made his return to WWE last Saturday at Survivor Series.
We then got to the rest of the Top 5 which included:
The end of NXT saw Ilja Dragunov give Baron Corbin an NXT Championship match at Deadline.
On Tuesday’s show, Baron Corbin defeated Wes Lee in a singles match thanks to a distraction from Dominik Mysterio. After the match, Dragunov came to the ring and charged at Corbin. However, Corbin laid out Dragunov with the end of days. As Corbin started to make his exit, Dragunov recovered and challenged Corbin to a match at Deadline on December 9 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On commentary, announcer Vic Joseph said that NXT officials would need to confirm the match.
After Dragunov defeated Carmelo Hayes on the second night of Halloween Havoc to retain the NXT Championship, he was laid out by Corbin as he was heading backstage.
The only matches confirmed for Deadline are the two Iron Survivor Challenge matches. On Tuesday’s show, Trick Williams and Lash Legend qualified for the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively. Last week, Tiffany Stratton and Dijak became the first to qualify.
Lee returned to NXT for the first time since September 12 on night two of Halloween Havoc. He attacked Dominik Mysterio and made it clear he wants another shot at the North American title. Mysterio defeated Lee to win the championship in July.
As for Corbin, this will be his first match on WWE programming since Carmelo Hayes defeated him and Dijak in a number-one contenders match on the October 17 episode.
WWE NXT lineup for Tuesday, November 14:
NXT Tag Team titles: Chase U defends against Tony D’Angelo and Stacks
Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier: Roxanne Perez vs. Lash Legend
Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier: Trick Williams vs. Joe Coffey
The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) vs. Out The Mud (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price)
After a huge episode last week, tonight’s NXT will set the stage for Halloween Havoc.
Halloween Havoc is a two-week event taking place on October 24 and October 31. Tonight, we’ll find out Ilja Dragunov’s NXT Championship challenger for Havoc. Carmelo Hayes, Baron Corbin, and Dijak are facing off in a triple threat number one contender’s match.
Dragunov won the NXT Championship from Hayes at No Mercy.
A “Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royal” on tonight’s show determines which team will challenge Tony D’Angelo & Stacks for the NXT Tag Team titles at Halloween Havoc.
NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch is defending her title against Lyra Valkyria at Halloween Havoc week one. Valkyria faces Tegan Nox one-on-one tonight.
Nathan Fraizer looks to be the next challenger for NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio after the two got into an altercation after Raw.
Last Tuesday, Cody Rhodes served as the special guest general manager of NXT. Rhodes has teased that he made one final decision as guest GM last week that will be revealed tonight.
Opening the show is the 10-team battle royal. The Creed Brothers get an entrance, but few others do. NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo are on perch overlooking the ring. The tag champs are seated at a table eating a pasta dish, while they watch the gimmick match that will determine their next challengers.
Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson) win the Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royal to become number one contenders
Chase U found themselves as one of the final two teams in the battle royal, setting up an immediate tag team match against Humberto Carillo & Angel Garza. Chase & Hudson go on to win the tag bout, after interference by the Creed Brothers.
If you have seen a battle royal, you have seen much of the early portion. Battle royal spots galore, with a few stories woven into the match. For example, the Creeds eliminated Gallus, which plays off a previous rivalry. The finish itself sets up the Creeds against Carillo & Garza as an upcoming program.
Another future match set up is Butch & Ridge Holland against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price. All four were tied up in a wad when Scyrpts jumped on top of the pile. Everybody went tumbling over the ropes, eliminated both teams. They all brawl at ringside as the match continues in the ring.
That left three teams remaining in the ring. Julius Creed dumped Humberto Carillo over the ropes, eliminating Carillo & Angel Garza. Or so it seemed. The referees apparently missed the elimination, as the refs were all busy trying to stop the brawl at ringside. Garza & Carillo rush back in and throw out the Creeds. The refs actually see that elimination, and the Creeds are out.
The final two teams came down to the Chase & Hudson against Garza & Carillo. With two teams remaining, now the match becomes a traditional tag match. Out comes Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne with pom poms, acting as cheerleaders for Chase U.
The tag bout goes through a commercial break, and Carillo & Garza are in control after the break. They work over Chase, and Hudson is also knocked off the apron. When Chase finally creates some separation, Hudson is not there for the tag, as Hudson is still selling on the floor. Hudson would eventually get back in the corner for a hot tag.
Hudson cleans house after the hot tag. Hudson is on fire. Chase recovers and joins in the fun, while flying back into the ring with a high cross. Chase is on a roll, but Hudson is given a DDT on the floor. Chase fights on, but he is now outnumbered by the other two.
The Creed Brothers run down to ringside. Brutus Creed distracts the referee while Julius Creed interferes in the match. Julius pulls Carillo out of the ring. That allows Chase to cradle Garza for a pinfall. Chase U is victorious. They go on to challenge the tag champs at Halloween Havoc.
Blair Davenport challenges Gigi Dolan to a match at Halloween Havoc.
Lexis King is the focus of another vignette. He talked about how wrestlers in the locker room would tell him they loved his father Brian Pillman. King said he lied to them, saying he loved his father too. King in reality doubts he love him. King says he is no one’s shadow. This is the start of his career, not the continuation of someone else’s career. King vows to make his name bigger than his father. King debuts next week.
Triple threat match becomes a fatal four way … or so it seems
Carmelo Hayes, in street clothes and a leather jacket, comes to ring for a monologue. Hardly anyone ever gets to finish an in-ring monologue in NXT, so Hayes faces several interruptions. Hayes is bragging about him being in the ring last week with John Cena and Undertaker. Hayes is supposed to be a babyface, but there is a subtle heel element in the way he brags.
Baron Corbin, also wearing a leather jacket, interrupts Hayes. Corbin accuses Hayes of being a fanboy. They bicker about it, with Corbin basically accusing Hayes of marking out for the legends. Their bickering is interrupted by Dijak, which leads to even more bickering.
Dijak storms the ring, and he too is wearing a leather jacket. Dijak bickers with Hayes and Corbin. Suddenly, NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov appears on the Titantron, and he announces the triple threat match set for later in now a fatal four way. Dragunov then reveals the fourth possible contender.
Out comes Trick Williams, and Hayes is in shock. He is shook. His associate is now going against him in a number one contender’s fatal four way. Williams comes out wearing a letterman jacket. Although it was not completely leather, it does have leather sleeves. Join the meeting of the leather. Williams jacket was way too small for him, though.
Dijak and Corbin try to pit Williams and Hayes against each other. Williams is accused of stabbing Hayes in the back. Corbin jumps Williams, and Dijak jumps Hayes. Williams and Hayes throw the other two out of the ring. There is a tease Hayes will turn on Williams, but they instead embrace in a united front.
After all this, turns out the fatal four way would become a triple threat again. In a swerve after a Tonya Harding angle later on, Williams would be taken out of the match by an unknown assailant.
Tiffany Stratton and Fallon Henley have words in a locker room skit
Karmen Petrovic defeated Jaida Parker in a first round match of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament
Petrovic submitted Parker to win the match. Petrovic advances to the next round, where Petrovic meets Lola Vice.
In an in-set promo, Petrovic says she is bringing her 23 years of combat experience along with her 3rd degree black belt. Petrovic also had a sword for her entrance.
They tried, but the match probably went too long. Arguably, they are probably not ready for a live match on national television. Both still show a lot of promise.
In a locker room skit, Natalya surprised Tegan Nox. Nattie will be in Nox’s corner for her match tonight, just like Nox had Natte’s back last night on Raw.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Tegan Nox (with Natalya)
Valkyria pinned Nox to win the match. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven came down to ringside just before the finish. This was a much better match than the previous women’s bout. Levels above even.
The match goes through a commercial break. When Green & Niven come down to ringside, Nox leaves the ring to briefly argue with them alongside Nattie. Nox then gets back into the ring, and she runs through some spots before Valkyria hits her with a spin kick. Valkyria then covers Nox for a pinfall.
In a post-match promo, Valkyria cuts a promo on NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Valkyria is clearly the next contender for the title. Lynch appears on the video screen, and Lynch responds to Valkyria. Great promo by Lynch. She welcomes Valkyria to “the big time.” They meet next week in the main event of the first week of Halloween Havoc.
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes bicker in a locker room skit, but they make some amends. However, there is tension heading in their match tonight.
An announcement plugged ticket going on sale for Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. I could not think of a worse time to visit the Middle East than right now.
Gigi Dolan responds to Davenport’s challenge from earlier. Dolan ups the stakes, making it a “Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal.” Dolan then spins the wheel and makes the deal. The wheel stops on a “light out match,” thus setting up a gimmick match for Halloween Havoc.
Von Wagner is focus of a vignette showing him doing physical therapy. Wagner in storyline is recovering from the injury angle weeks ago. Mr. Stone was helping to motivate a depressed Wagner.
Kiana James, who has a new entrance routine, enters the soundstage for a grudge match set up last week.
Shotzi defeated Kiana James
Shotzi pinned James, thanks in part to interference by Roxanne Perez.
The match runs through a commercial break. There was a wacky DDT spot on the apron, and thankfully no one was injured doing it.
Just before they go home, Roxanne Perez appears at ringside. She goes over to James’ loaded bag. Perez pulls out a brick from the bag, but Perez puts drops the brick back into the bag as James snatches the bag away.
Perez is on the apron arguing with the referee about the loaded bag. Shotzi takes the bag away from James, and Shotzi waffles James with the bag. Shotzi then does an Eddy Guerrero spot where she tosses the loaded bag to James, and Shotzi takes a phantom bump. The ref turns around to see James holding the bag, and the ref has a tug-o-war over the bag with the ref.
The ref takes the bag away, and James then runs shoulder first in the ring post. Shotzi leaps off the top rope with a back senton, and Shotzi covers James for a three count.
Akira Tozawa is in a wacky skit with Oro Mensah and Lash Legend, who are the phone with Noam Dar. Jakara Jackson is out with an injury, and Dar is taking care of her. Meanwhile, Tozawa wants it known he is looking for Dar.
Next up is a Tonya Harding angle. Trick Williams was ambushed, and he is down selling his knee like Nancy Kerrigan. Carmelo Hayes is there to check on Williams, and Hayes acts like he is super concerned, but he supposedly does not know who jumped Williams.
Reporter Kelly Kincaid offers an update after a commercial break. Williams was taken to a local hospital, and he is out of the main event. The fatal four way is now once again a triple threat match.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio. Nathan Frazier interrupts and starts a brawl with Dom. They brawl around the backstage area. They brawl their way on the set and into the ring. Frazier is getting the better of Dom, and Frazier sets up for Phoenix Splash. Rhea Ripley runs down and pulls Dom out of the ring, as “Mami” saves her man.
A skit with Shotzi and Roxanne Perez sets up another Spin the Wheel gimmick. Perez spins the wheel, and it stops on “Devil’s playground match.” That stip is added to the grudge match at Halloween Havoc between Perez and Kiana James.
Arianna Grace, dressed like she won a beauty pageant, cuts a promo in the ring. Grace, wearing a sash that reads “MISS NXT,” talks about Jakara Jackson being injured. Grace wants to “gracefully” accept her bye in the tournament now that Jackson is out. The bookers have other ideas.
Arianna Grace defeated Brinley Reece in first round match of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament
Grace cheated with an eye rake just before the finish. Grace then suplexed Reece, and she pinned her to advance. Grace now moves on the semifinals, where Grace meets Kelani Jordan next week at Halloween Havoc.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Bron Breakker, and Mr. Stone walks in to interrupt Breakker. Stone cuts a promo on Breakker over Von Wagner’s condition. Breakker laughs at Stone, and that angers Stone even more.
Breakker dares Stone to do something about it. Stone blurts out a challenge for a singles match at Halloween Havoc. Breakker accepts the challenge, and Breakker threatens to put Stone in the hospital. So, it’s Stone against Breakker at Halloween Havoc.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Dijak and Baron Corbin in a number one contender’s triple threat match
Hayes pinned Dijak to win the match. Good match, and easily the best bout on tonight’s card.
The early portion of the bout is Hayes basically having a handicap mach against the two larger men. Dijak and Corbin eventually tangle with each other. Hayes still attacks them both like he is a David facing two Goliaths.
After a commercial break, the match is more typical of a triple threat, with more fighting among all three. Several near falls along the way, as they run through a bunch of high spots.
Hayes teases his finisher, but Corbin pulls Hayes down off the top rope. Corbin gives Hayes a Spicolli Driver on the floor. Even more near falls as they get back in the ring, and several were really good near falls. They build to a Tower of Doom, in which Corbin does an avalanche German on Dijak while Hayes powerbombs Corbin.
Closing moments were great, as Dijak went for Feast Your Eyes. Corbin counters to deliver End of Days on Dijak. Before Corbin can capitalize, Hayes leaps in for Nothing But Net on Corbin. Hayes then covers Dijak and hooks a leg for the deciding pinfall.
Hayes becomes number one contender, and he goes on to face Dragunov in a title match in the main event at Halloween Havoc in two week’s time.
Lyra Valkyria is seen watching the match from a monitor in a locker room. Valkyria takes a picture down from her locker of her with Becky Lynch. Valkyria rips up the picture, and Valkyria vows to win the women’s title next week.
Jade Cargill then appears on the screen, and Cargill points to her wristwatch as the show comes to a close. Her time is soon.
A match between Baron Corbin and Josh Briggs has been added to next Tuesday’s NXT.
On this past Tuesday’s show, Briggs was talking to Fallon Henley and Brooks Jensen backstage about Myles Borne’s betrayal when Corbin came in and told them to be quiet. Briggs and Corbin then got into an argument, setting up a future match between the two.
Tiffany Stratton will also be on the show. After she and Becky Lynch agreed to a No Mercy rematch on this past Tuesday’s show, Lynch made it an Extreme Rules match after Stratton attacked her with a steel chair following a tag match pitting Lynch and Lyra Valkyria against Stratton and Kiana James.
Thea Hail will also reveal her new look, brought on by her recent association with Jacy Jayne. She will face Dani Palmer.
Here is the updated card for this coming Tuesday’s NXT:
NXT Global Heritage Invitational Finals: Butch vs. Joe Coffey
Strap match :Eddy Thorpe vs. Dijak
Trick Williams vs. Joe Gacy
Gigi Dolin vs. Blair Davenport
Bronco Nima and Lucien Price vs. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
Baron Corbin vs. Josh Briggs
Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov sign contract for No Mercy title match
While being interviewed by Joe Karni of The Angle Podcast over SummerSlam week, Corbin was asked if NXT was his new home in WWE. Corbin said he’s still a “free agent” and can be on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, but he’s hoping to stay in NXT for a couple more months.
No, I’m still on all three shows. But I am fighting to stay in NXT a little bit because I really just want to give our audience a good break from me, you know? Give them a few months without me driving them nuts. So I would like to personally stay in NXT for a couple more months and just really fine-tune the details of what I’m trying to bring to the people. And I mean, NXT’s great, but also I love enjoying working the superstars down there. They’re hungry. They’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of excitement. They love this. It elevates your passion and energy for what we do. So it’s a fun place to be.
Gable Steveson is NXT, and his first match is on Sunday.
Steveson made his decision to remain in NXT on Tuesday’s show during an in-ring promo. He was about to announce his decision when Baron Corbin came out and urged him to either return to college or compete in the Olympics, ultimately saying he didn’t want him in NXT. Steveson responded by saying that Corbin confronting him made his decision that much easier, saying he would have his first match at the Great American Bash against Corbin.
Steveson, who signed with the WWE in 2021, started making appearances in NXT earlier this summer by helping Eddy Thorpe train in a NXT Underground match against Damon Kemp, Steveson’s real-life brother. Thorpe ended up winning the match, with Steveson throwing people around with suplexes once things got out of control.
Here is the updated lineup for the Great American Bash:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes defends against Ilja Dragunov
NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio defends against Mustafa Ali and Wes Lee
NXT Tag Team titles: Gallus defends against Tony D’Angelo and Stacks
NXT Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton defends against Thea Hail
Before his current stint in NXT, Baron Corbin felt like he was “drowning” on the WWE main roster.
Corbin was the guest on the latest episode of WWE’s After the Bell podcast. During the interview, Corbin spoke about his pairing with JBL on the main roster. Corbin said they tried to make it work, but there were a few things going against them. Corbin said it felt like he was in a movie where they’re stuck out in the ocean and waiting to get eaten by sharks.
Corbin recalled a promo where he knew there was nothing that was going to make it good. Corbin said that, before then, he had always been able to make things work.
There was a sense of panic there for me, because everything I had done up until then had worked. You know, I’d made things work. I had one promo in my career where I was in the ring in the middle of it going, ‘There is nothing that is going to make this good. We’re not saving it.’ It was a segment with multiple people, and I felt the crowd just going, ‘Dude. Like, this is not good.’ And you feel it in your gut.
And then, when we got to the end of the JBL stuff, we were trying to make it work. I think there were a few things that went against us. Opportunity, timing, a few other things. And you could feel it. I felt like I was just in that movie where they’re stuck out in the ocean just waiting to get eaten by sharks. I was drowning, in a sense. And that’s when we had the conversation, and it was like, ‘Okay, well what do we do?’
Corbin was designated as a “free agent” in this year’s WWE Draft, meaning he’s able to appear on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. He arrived on NXT this May, attacking NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes.
On After the Bell, Corbin said he saw NXT as a place where he could make some changes in himself and his career. Corbin said he thinks it’s been a successful execution of that plan so far.
That’s when this NXT opportunity came up and I was like, ‘Hell yes. Let’s go. Let’s go down there and do this.’ And it’s been a lot of fun because I got to come in the door and run with Carmelo [Hayes] for a little bit. And we had that Lone Wolf entrance, and that was special, man. You could feel the energy in the building when that music hit, and had the jean vest on, and it was a little nostalgia. I mean, social media numbers were off the charts on that, and it was just an entrance.
Then we had one hell of a match. I mean, Melo’s a special competitor, and I think he’s going to have a bright career. But that was a match where I think it had been a while since I’ve gotten to just go. Like, [Seth] Rollins and I have had some amazing matches, Roman [Reigns] and I, Braun [Strowman], Kurt [Angle] — I’ve had these long matches with guys who are extremely talented, Kevin Owens, Sami [Zayn].
It had been a minute since I’ve had that opportunity, and I think we tore it down. And I reignited a little bit of fire in my gut that says, ‘I’m going to shove this down everybody’s face that kind of doubted me over the last year,’ or who said negative things in a sense — inside our world and outside our world. It was an opportunity to go out there and go, ‘Man, I can hang with the best there is. I can go with anybody. I can run 30 minutes with Seth. I can run 30 minutes with Roman. I can run 30 minutes with Melo down in NXT. It doesn’t matter. When that bell rings, I can go in the ring.’ So now it was getting that attitude to match that in-ring ability and the emotion. Because the emotion is back full throttle right now. It reignited something in my gut to ‘burn the ships.’ Let’s take this mother down.
Corbin said he could still be competing “in the middle” on SmackDown where it’s easy and comfortable, but he wanted to go back to NXT and restart.
Hayes retained the NXT Championship against Corbin at NXT Gold Rush last month. Since then, a series of vignettes have aired where Corbin has burned items from his past and prepared to face his future as his true self.
Baron Corbin is expected to remain part of the WWE NXT brand for the foreseeable future.
The 38-year-old was featured in a video on Tuesday’s edition of the show. He was shown burning several items related to his past gimmicks and said, “It’s time for no gimmicks, no-nonsense, and no bulls**t.”
Corbin was one of several wrestlers listed as a “free agent” after the WWE Draft in May. He then returned to NXT on the 5/30 episode and attacked Carmelo Hayes. He defeated Trick Williams on the 6/6 show, then beat Ilja Dragunov on 6/13 before dropping an NXT Championship match to Hayes on 6/27.
Mustafa Ali and Los Lotharios have also been involved in NXT storylines of late. AJ Styles, Rhea Ripley, and Seth Rollins have all appeared on the show in recent weeks as well.
On the eve of Money in the Bank, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown for the first time since being superkicked by The Usos two weeks ago.
Reigns will team with Solo Sikoa on Saturday against Jimmy & Jey Uso in what’s being billed as the Bloodline Civil War.
Also slated for tonight are two title matches. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defend against Pretty Deadly, while Asuka defends her WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair.
Also on tonight’s show: Logan Paul appears on The Grayson Waller Effect, Bayley puts her Money in the Bank spot on the line against Shotzi, LA Knight, Santos Escobar & Butch collide in a triple threat match, and Ridge Holland faces Austin Theory. If Holland wins, he’ll be in contention for a shot at Theory’s United States title.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– The show opened with a graphic remembering Droz, who died Friday.
– Michael Cole welcomed everyone in to open the show. We then got a recap of the what happened with the Bloodline two weeks ago. Wade Barrett and Cole ran down the card for the evening.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) [11:07]
This was a very fun opener that was taken to a higher level thanks to the hot London crowd, which was both welcome and expected. It still feels like Zayn & Owens don’t have any legitimate contenders to take the tag straps off them, but we’ll see how the rest of the summer plays out. Owens selling his leg was interesting and I wonder if that means he’ll be selling it moving forward and it will put the team’s matches in doubt. For now, these four worked really well together and Pretty Deadly have come a long way in a short amount of time on WWE’s main roster.
Zayn and Wilson started the match with Zayn getting the best of things at first before Wilson worked a side head-lock. Zayn came right back with an arm-drag and took back control. Prince got in a cheap shot on Zayn, which gave Wilson control. Prince tagged in and took Zayn to the outside, where Prince slammed Zayn off the commentary table. The show then went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Wilson covered Zayn for a two-count. Wilson worked a side head-lock on Zayn. Prince tagged in, but Zayn almost instantly got the hot tag to Owens, who came in and stomped Prince. The action spilled to the outside and Owens landed clotheslines on both members of Pretty Deadly. Back in the ring, Owens hit a cannonball on Prince. Owens went to the top and landed a Swanton and pinned Prince until Wilson broke it up.
Owens went for a Stunner, but Prince pushed Owens away and Owens was selling a leg injury. Prince worked Owens’s leg and Wilson tagged in to land a Dirty Martini for a two-count. Prince tagged in and landed a double-team move for a two-count. Zayn broke up the pin and Owens suplexed Prince to get the hot tag to Zayn, who landed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Wilson for a two-count. Wilson was the recipient of an Exploder and a Helluva Kick and Zayn pinned Wilson for the win.
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– Adam Pearce was talking backstage until Sheamus interrupted him. Ridge Holland spoke up and Pearce told Holland he can face Austin Theory later tonight. If Holland wins, he’ll get a shot at the U.S. Title. Austin Theory’s music then hit and we went back to the ring.
Austin Theory defeated Ridge Holland [2:56]
The story here was Holland had a bad throat and Theory’s dropkick hit Holland in the throat for a win. But … three minutes? Really? The finish felt like it came out of nowhere and it was even more bizarre considering how hot the crowd was for Holland and the Brutes. So the match was fine for what it was, but it didn’t last long enough to leave much of an impression.
The two locked up to begin the match. Holland had control early. Holland landed a long-stalling suplex for a one-count. Theory got control with a kick to Holland’s leg. Holland fired up and hit a series of suplexes on Theory. Eventually, Theory found his way onto the apron and that led to Theory hitting a roll-through dropkick for the win.
After the match, Theory attacked Holland until Sheamus ran out for the save.
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– A Karrion Kross vignette aired with Kross calling AJ Styles out. Kross said he beat Styles in only three moves. Kross said next week will be checkmate for Styles.
– A video recapping the Bloodline saga aired.
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Bayley defeated Shotzi to keep her spot in the Money In The Bank match [3:31]
In a weird way, it was easy to think this could go either way because SKY was the one to accept the challenge for Bayley, but in hindsight, of course Bayley was going to keep her spot in the MITB match because my guess is we see the implosion of Damage CTRL Saturday afternoon. Still, Shotzi didn’t look like she might suffer a catastrophic injury here, so that’s a win all around.
Shotzi had control early. Bayley rolled to the outside and Shotzi dove to the outside, taking out IYO SKY, who accompanied Bayley. Back in the ring, Bayley it a Bayley-to-Belly for a two-count. Shotzi hit a DDT as the crowd, two minutes into the match, was still doing the Bayley chant. Shotzi hit a step-up enziguri. Shotzi tweaked her knee while doing it and Bayley came back with a roll up and a two-count. Shotzi hit a reverse bulldog and went for a pin, but SKY put Bayley’s foot on the rope for the break. Bayley then landed the Rose Plant for the win.
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– Shotzi confronted Bayley backstage after a commercial break and Bayley, along with SKY, suplexed Shotzi onto a table before cutting Shotzi’s hair.
The Grayson Waller Effect with Logan Paul
The crowd booed both guys to begin the segment. Paul said his dreams won’t end until the WWE Champion is “gold around my belt.” So, there’s that. Paul said he might not even ever cash in the briefcase if he wins it and almost instantly, LA Knight’s music hit. Knight received a massive pop had a microphone in his hand. Knight said Paul was given a lot while wasn’t given anything. Knight said Paul was standing in his ring. Paul was booed as soon as he started talking. Paul made fun of Knight for wrestling for 20 years in a lackluster career. Paul told the crowd they were drunk and to go home after they chanted for LA Knight.
Santos Escobar’s music hit and Escobar came to the ring in an LWO shirt (London World Order). Escobar said they have to get one thing straight, there’s going to be two MITB winners in the LWO. Butch’s music hit and Butch ran to the ring and took out Paul. Paul and Butch fought over the commentary table as the show went to break.
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Butch defeated LA Knight and Santos Escobar [3:34 of TV time]
This was fine enough, but I have no idea how long the actual match was because it started during the break. As such, this was a triple threat that had a lot of potential on paper, but it was clear this was only going to be used to set up the MITB match. That in mind, it worked. Knight is so gosh darn over that if he doesn’t go over at MITB, I think London burns. Probably not. But, really. At some point, the WWE decision-makers are going to have to take notice and it feels like the most obvious time is Saturday in London.
The match started during the commercial break, and when the show came back, Knight hit a DDT on Escobar as the crowd went nuts for him again. Butch landed a German Suplex on Escobar before Knight hit a wild back suplex on Butch for a two-count. Escobar landed a running knee on Knight. Eventually, Knight hit his leaping elbow for a two-count on Escobar. Knight went to the outside to jaw with Paul. Escobar took out Paul and hit Knight with a knee. Escobar went to the top, but ran into a bunch from Butch. Butch hit the Bitter End for the win.
After the match, Butch set up a ladder, but Knight cut Butch off. Then Paul cut Knight off. Then Butch cut Paul off. Butch then climbed up and grabbed the MITB briefcase to pose for the crowd.
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– AJ Styles spoke backstage. Styles accepted Kross’s challenge from earlier in the show.
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Charlotte defeated Asuka via DQ [7:32]
Ehhh. I want more from these two. You had to know we wouldn’t get a clean finish, but the match itself wasn’t much to write home about. I’m a huge fan of Asuka’s work and while Charlotte seems to be hit or miss, she always seems to show up for Asuka. Throwing a nothing-happening match like this out there is at least a tiny bit disappointing. This must mean we’re working toward a triple threat at SummerSlam between Belair, Asuka and Charlotte for the WWE Women’s Championship. That’s fine. But on our way there, it’d be great if these one-on-one matches ceased. It’s a waste of talent.
Bianca Belair was sitting in the front row with a ticket. The two opened by exchanging strikes. Charlotte tried to pin Asuka a few times, but Asuka was under the ropes. Charlotte hit Asuka in the face with a kick, but Asuka came back with a BackStabber before the show went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Asuka went for the arm bar, but Charlotte got out of it. Asuka rolled up Charlotte for a two-count. Charlotte landed a spear, which was enough for a two-count. Asuka went to the outside and Charlotte climbed to the top rope. Charlotte went for the moonsault from the top and just barely nicked Asuka on the way down, but Asuka sold it. Charlotte hit some chops and tried a boot, but Asuka moved and Charlotte hit Belair, who was in the crowd. Belair regrouped and jumped the rail to attack Asuka and end the match.
After the match, Belair attacked Charlotte and laid her out. Belair hit the KOD on Asuka, slamming her onto the commentary table, but the table didn’t break. Because of that, Belair did the same with Charlotte and the table still didn’t break. Belair stood tall to end the segment.
**********
The Bloodline Segment
After stalling, Paul Heyman gave Roman Reigns a microphone. Reigns told London to acknowledge him. Reigns said it’s been a long time. Reigns said for two years, he’s allowed his cousins to say “We the ones.” Roman said the truth is they ain’t the ones and only Roman is the one. Roman reiterated he is the head of table. Roman said a family that “betrays you sucks.” Roman talked about giving the Usos a second chance, and he said he will give the Usos an infinite amount of chances. All the Usos have to do, he said, is come out and apologize and move on.
On cue, the Usos’s music hit. Jimmy said they are past apologizing. Jimmy said that now it’s about consequences. Jey said once Roman loses, Roman will be the only one out. Jey said Roman won’t be the Tribal Chief anymore after he loses. Jey and Jimmy said they both don’t want to be Tribal Chief. The Usos said they got someone in mind and the crowd chanted Solo. Roman and Solo had a stare down. Roman told everyone to shut up and the Usos laughed. Jey climbed onto the apron. Roman jawed at Jey. Jey face-palmed Roman and Jimmy super-kicked Roman. The four brawled. Security ran down to break it up and Roman hit Jey with a Super Punch. Roman beat up security … but then Jey hit a splash over the top rope onto Roman and the group to close the show.
NXT Gold Rush concludes with four title matches taking place tonight.
Week two of Gold Rush will see Carmelo Hayes put his NXT Championship on the line against Baron Corbin in tonight’s main event. Hayes is less than 24 hours removed from making his Raw debut, where he lost a non-title match against Finn Balor.
The NXT Women’s Championship will be up for grabs to kick off tonight’s show. Tiffany Stratton is defending her title against Thea Hail. Hail earned the shot by winning a number one contender’s battle royal three weeks ago.
NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus are set to defend their titles against Malik Blade & Edris Enofe. The Heritage Cup will also be contested tonight with Dragon Lee challenging Nathan Frazer.
A match between Gigi Dolin and Kiana James has been announced for the show as well. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The second week of Gold Rush begins with footage from “earlier today” of Baron Corbin arriving to the building driving his Porsche. Also arriving is NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams.
A canned intro recaps the events and feuds leading up to week two of Gold Rush.
Thea Hail enters the soundstage to pomp and ballyhoo, flanked by Duke Hudson. Hail has such good presence, and she had a look of sheer determination. This is her biggest match to date. The champion enters next, and the show is set to open with a women’s title match.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defeated Thea Hail (with Duke Hudson) to retain her title
Stratton pinned Hail with a roll-up to retain, despite Hail having made Stratton tap out. The referee was distracted by the antics of Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak, which costs Hail the match. Dempsey and Gulak then turn on Hudson, and beat him down. That leads to the surprise return of Andre Chase for the save.
Dempsey and Gulak come down to ringside during the match to watch their trainee, Hail. They would go on to play into the finish, costing Hail her first title match.
Hail is a babyface in peril as the show cuts to its first commercial break. Hail is making a comeback as the show returns from the break. She does the Chase U version of the Garvin Stomp.
In the closing moments, Hail counters Stratton to apply a Kimura. Dempsey interferes by pulling the bottom rope out and away from Stratton’s reach, so that Stratton cannot break the hold. Hail breaks anyway, so she can yell at Dempsey for interfering in her match. Hudson gets involved in the yelling. Meanwhile, Gulak jumps on the apron to argue with the referee.
With Hail distracted by her corner, Stratton tries to ambush her. Hail again counters Stratton to apply a Kimura. Stratton taps out to the armlock, but the referee does not see it as he is distracted by Gulak. Hail breaks the hold and goes to get the referee. Stratton from behind with a roll-up on Hail for a three count.
Dempsey and Gulak jump Chase after the match. They are beating down Chase when Andre Chase makes a triumphant return to NXT. Chase makes a save, then he and Hudson clean house on Dempsey and Gulak. This clearly sets up a tag team match for the near future.
A great video package highlights Ilja Dragunov and introduces a new moniker dubbed “Unbesiegbar.”
A skit from last week showed Kelani Jordan meeting Dana Brooke while Brooke is getting her knee iced in the trainer’s room. Both gymnasts, they have encouraging words for each other.
NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) defeated Malik Blade & Edris Enofe to retain their title
Wolgang pinned Enofe to retain the titles, after interference by Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.
Joe Coffey is still missing, after he was kidnapped last week by Stacks. The show must go on, so Gallus is here defending their tag titles.
The tag title bout goes through a split-screen commercial break. Gallus is working over Blade when he finally tags out. Enofe runs wild after the hot tag. He went to jump off Coffey’s back, but he slipped. Despite the botch, they wrestle on.
Enofe gets several near falls. Enofe and Blade with tandem offense that including Blade doing a Superfly splash, and Enfoe following that with a Savage flying elbow drop. Wolfgang breaks up the count, leading into the finish.
Wolfgang gets tied in the ropes, as Stacks suddenly appears at ringside. Blade goes for a plancha, but Coffey knocks him out in mid-air. Enofe is also at ringside, and he is laid out by Stacks. Enofe is hit with a flying uppercut from Stacks, knocking Enofe backwards into the metal ring steps.
Blade is knocked out, and Enofe is on rubber legs. Gallus with their double team finisher on Enofe, and Wolfgang covers him for a pinfall. All while Stacks looks on, and the announcers are “in shock” at what they see with Stacks helping Gallus retain the title.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews the Meta Four group. They dodge all questions from Mitchell about Noam Dar losing the Heritage Cup.
Losers leave NXT set for next week
The Schism is having a family meeting in the ring with them all sitting on stools. Ava called for the meeting, and she wants to have open and honest communication. Joe Gacy gives his blessing for them to do so.
Jagger Reid speaks to say he and Rip Fowler are worse off since they joined Schism. Gacy responds by saying Fowler would not be able to speak up for himself before joining Schism, because his partner would not let him talk before.
Fowler and Gacy have a weird argument about inclusivity. This segment was dying a death when The Creed Brothers thankfully interrupted the family sit-down.
The Creeds are joined by Ivy Nile as they confront The Schism. More community theater dialogue, which leads to them setting up another match. Gacy books The Dyad in a loser leaves town match against The Creeds for next Tuesday. The losing team must leave NXT.
Another vignette features the up-and-coming tag team of Lucien Pierce and Bronco Nima.
A backstage skit teases Axiom getting a shot at the Heritage Cup.
WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has a cameo as she confronts NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams in another backstage skit. Ripley warns Hayes and Williams about butting into Judgment Day business.
Ripley cautioned Hayes and Williams, “”Next time you boys want to jump into our business, you’ll become our business.”
NXT Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazier defeated Dragon Lee to retain the trophy
Frazier won 2-1 after five rounds. This was a great match.
Tag team partner Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon are on opposing sides here, as they are acting as seconds in the corners of Lee and Frazier. Feroz has taken a liking to Lee, while Leon favors Frazier.
Good action, but not falls in rounds one. They quickened the pace greatly as the round ticks down to zero.
Frazier scores a pinfall in round two. Lee was on a roll as he executes a Super Frankensteiner, but Frazier holds on upon impact to roll up Lee for a three count. Clever fall.
Lee is more determined than ever at the start of round three. The show cuts to a commercial break, and it returns with round four in progress. Lee would go on to even the score, after Lee scores a pinfall in the fourth round. Lee deadlifts Frazier into a sit-out powerbomb to get the pin.
Round five starts off hot, as they pull out all the stops. They do a superplex spot and transition into a sit-out powerbomb spot for the best near fall of the show so far. Lee gets another near fall in the closing moments. Frazier and Lee then trade near falls back-and-forth with mere seconds left in the fifth round. Fraziers hooks Lee’s leg to score a three count at the last second. Frazier wins 2-1 to retain the cup.
A video packages showed highlights from Raw Underground, which is coming to NXT.
A vignette then shows Eddy Thorpe training for Underground with the help of Olympian Gable Steveson. They are watching clips of Damon Kemp, who Steveson says he knows. In reality, Kemp is Gable’s brother, but that was not acknowledged here.
Thorpe and Steveson train in a montage of clips, and Thorpe invites Gable to be in Thorpe’s corner. Steveson then says he will wave to Kemp’s parents, with a wink and nod to the real backstory.
Mustafa Ali approaches NXT North American Champion Wes Lee in the locker to offer an apology. Ali apologizes for slapping Lee in a match last week, when Ali was a special guest referee. In comes Tyler Bate for comedy with Ali. This leads to Ali saying he wants a title shot against Lee, and Bate offers to be the guest ref. There is bickering back-and-forth between Bate and Ali, so Lee shows himself out and he leaves. This skit sets up a match next week with a Ali against Bate.
Mr. Stone finds Von Wagner backstage after he was looking for him. Wagner missed a meeting with Stone, and Stone finds Wagner upset about his childhood struggles. Wagner storms off.
Gigi Dolan defeated Kiana James
Dolan pinned James to win the match, and James got her heat back afterwards by jumping Dolan. James would also pour paint on Dolan.
The match was long enough it went through a commercial break for whatever reason. James retrieves her purse, trying to use it as a weapon. The ref stops James, and James walks into a high kick. Dolan then executes her crucifix bomb finisher, and she covers James for a pinfall.
James jumps Dolan after the bell, amd James hits Dolan with her loaded purse. James pulls out jars filled with paint from her purse, and James pours orange and blue paint on Dolan.
Joe Coffey is visiting Tony D’Angelo in prison, and Coffey tells Tony D that Stacks turned on him. Coffey claims that Stacks sold out Tony D, and Coffey has proof in the form of a recording on his cellphone. Coffey plays the recording for Tony D.
Blair Davenport attacks Roxanne Perez in an angle on socia media. That leads to a match next Tuesday with Davenport against Perez.
Lyra Valkyria hits Jacy Jayne in a goofy backstage skit. It ends with Rhea Ripley standing over Jayne, and Ripley calls Valkyria a “bad ass.”
The Dyad are upset with Joe Gacy booking them in a loser leaves town match, and Ava tries to convince Dyad they should trust Gacy.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeated Baron Corbin to retain his title
Hayes pinned Corbin after Nothing But Net. Decent enough match. Hayes took a beating and fought from underneath, leading to a rally and a win.
Corbin goes for End of Days seconds into the match, and Hayes counters Corbin. Moments later, Hayes leaps off the top turnbuckle into a splash on the outside, just before the show cuts to a commercial break.
The fighting spilled outside again as the show returns from the break. Hayes is turned inside out taking a big boot from Corbin. Hayes is reeling as Corbin works him over in the ring. In between working him over, Corbin tears off his cut-off t-shirt to show he is indeed a tough guy.
Hayes counters an attempted superplex, and Hayes does an frog splash for a near fall. Hayes fires up with strikes on Corbin. Hayes executes his Fade Away guillotine leg drop. Corbin is on rubber legs. Hayes springboards into a falling DDT that was somewhat botched, but they got a near fall out of it anyway.
Corbin briefly cuts off Hayes, only for Hayes to get another two count on Corbin. Hayes goes for a codebreaker, which he attempted successfully earlier in the match. Corbin blocks it the second time around, and Corbin gives Hayes a Spicolli Driver. Corbin then does a chokeslam into a backbreaker on Hayes for a close near fall.
They fight on the floor, where Corbin catches Hayes on a dive and powerbombs Hayes on the announce desk. Corbin pounds on Hayes and rolls him back into the ring, but Hayes kicks out at two and half.
Hayes fights back, and he counters Deep Six. However, Hayes in unable to counter End of Days. Nevertheless, Hayes manages to kick out once again. Corbin goes another End of Days, and Hayes counters him. Hayes DDT’s Corbin on the apron. Hayes then leaps off the top rope with Nothing But Net, and Hayes covers Corbin for the deciding pinfall.
Hayes celebrates and poses with his title belt while the announcer hard sell the card for next week, as the show is going off the air. A cliffhanger in the closing moments show Bron Breakker barking in Shawn Michael’ office. Breakker storms out after saying no one can control him. Whatever that means.
The NXT Championship match for NXT Gold Rush night two is set.
Baron Corbin defeated Ilja Dragunov to become the new number one contender for the NXT Championship. He defeated Dragunov after Bron Breakker entered the ring and distracted Dragunov, who got the upper hand. However, Dragunov then walked into the End of Days and was pinned. As a result, Corbin will now face Hayes for the title on the second night of NXT Gold Rush on June 27.
After the match, Corbin celebrated when Hayes entered the ring and attacked Corbin, eventually laying him out with the nothing but net guillotine leg drop.
Corbin and Hayes have been feuding with one another since Corbin returned to NXT earlier this month, laying out Hayes. On last Friday’s SmackDown, Hayes and Trick Williams confronted Baron Corbin as he was making his way to the ring, eventually having to be pulled apart by security.
Tiffany Stratton will defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Thea Hail in two weeks as well. Hail won a battle royal on last week’s TV to become the new number one contender.
Another match set for the second night of NXT Gold Rush will see Gallus defend the NXT Tag Team titles against the winners of a three-way tag team match between Edris Enofe & Malik Blade, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, and Hank Walker & Tank Ledger that will take place on next week’s show.
The end of NXT saw main roster star Baron Corbin attack NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes.
Hayes, who accepted a challenge from Noam Dar earlier in the show, had successfully defended the NXT Championship against Dar when Corbin entered the ring and gave Hayes his End of Days finish. NXT ended with Corbin holding Hayes’ NXT title.
As part of the 2023 WWE Draft Corbin was made a free agent, allowing him to be on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Corbin has appeared sporadically on WWE TV since losing his association with JBL, mostly losing matches or seen complaining backstage. He most recently lost to Cameron Grimes in Grimes’ first match on WWE SmackDown.
Earlier on Tuesday’s NXT, Mustafa Ali made a surprise appearance and reiterated he was a free agent. After Joe Gacy attacked Wes Lee and Tyler Bate following a match, Ali came in for the save, raising the hands of both Lee and Bate.
According to a report from PWInsider, the former WWE Champion is not scheduled to appear regularly on WWE programming moving forward.
JBL had been used as a manager in recent months after taking on Baron Corbin as a client in October. Corbin has not been pushed in the time since, however, and hasn’t won a match since defeating Akira Tozawa on the November 14, 2022, edition of Raw. Including house shows, he’s lost 17 straight matches.
JBL dropped Corbin as a client in a backstage segment following his loss to Dexter Lumis on Raw this week. The 56-year-old was quite adamant that his legacy was being hurt due to his association with Corbin.
JBL said to Corbin:
There ain’t no “we.” I headlined WrestleMania, I sold out arenas all over the world, I was must-watch television. You are channel-changing television.
That sound you hear when you get in the ring, that’s remote controls around the world changing the channel to watch anything but you.
And I don’t give a damn about you. I give a damn about the fact that my Hall of Fame legacy, my championship laden career has lost all credibility because of you.
Modern day wrestling God? I’ll tell you what you need, not some cute litte shirt, is a red nose and floppy shoes because you are a clown. You do not belong near me.
You do not belong near me.
You can’t polish a turd, I tried.
JBL was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2020. He’s a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, European Champion, and won the Tag Team Championships on three occasions with Ron Simmons. He was voted Best Gimmick in 2004, and Worst Television Announcer in 2014 & 2015 in the annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.
Baron Corbin, reverting back to that name, has been traded to Raw and is now aligned with JBL.
JBL introduced Corbin as the newest member of the Raw roster on Monday’s show. He explained that with Rey Mysterio moving to Raw, a trade has been made, with Corbin now officially on the Raw brand. Corbin proceeded to defeat Dolph Ziggler following the End of Days.
After introducing Corbin, JBL said that Corbin could succeed in any era, including the Attitude Era. He also said that Ziggler had been stealing money from WWE for years, and that Corbin was the current Wrestling God, a term JBL frequently used himself during his run as a main event star.
Corbin was last seen in early September, losing to Shinsuke Nakamura on the September 2 episode of SmackDown. Later in the show, as Corbin was sulking in the parking lot backstage, JBL pulled up next to him in his white limo and told him to get in.
