Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin are the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament winners.
The duo defeated Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams in the opener of Sunday’s NXT Vengeance Day premium live event, with Breakker hitting a spear on Hayes for the win. As a result of their victory, Breakker & Corbin have now earned a future NXT Tag Team title match against current champions Stacks & Tony D’Angelo.
Just prior to the start of the tournament, Corbin suggested to Breakker that they team up. Breakker seemed reluctant about the idea, but eventually agreed. They defeated Gallus and the team of Nathan Frazer & Axiom to reach the finals.
Although Williams wanted to focus on his NXT Championship match against Ilja Dragunov at Vengeance Day, he eventually agreed to team with Hayes, saying he could wrestle twice in the same night if need be and become a triple crown champion. They defeated Edris Enofe & Malik Blade as well as the Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro) to make it to Sunday’s tournament finals.
John LaRocca and I are back with another episode of The Fight Game Podcast.
We kicked things off with a discussion about whether our wrestling fandom is the same after the sordid details that came out in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. We compared it to other times where we had to deal with similar situations in our fandom.
We then got to the rest of our Top 5 which included:
How CM Punk’s injury changes this year’s WWE WrestleMania
An opportunity for WWE to make someone new
A very sleepy AEW Dynamite and a preview for a big Dynamite next week
Shawn Michaels believes Bron Breakker still has work left to do in NXT.
Breakker entered the Royal Rumble on Saturday and later stated that he believes the WWE main roster is now his home. Nick Aldis also appeared to receive a phone call from Breakker during a segment on last night’s Raw, possibly teasing the 26-year-old could be headed to SmackDown.
Michaels appeared on the Battleground podcast recently and was asked about Breakker’s recent comments regarding the main roster.
Michaels said:
Well, look, he may feel like that’s his home but he’s still got work here in NXT to do whether he likes it or not.
Strange enough, that’s our job, our job is to lose talent but I got to tell you, I’m going to have trouble letting him go.
I can assure you that there is more left for Bron Breakker here in NXT one way or another.
He’s an incredibly talented, very gifted young man. As far as I’m concerned, he’s young and, as we say, full of piss and vinegar. If he wants to double-time it he can certainly do it but I’m not letting him go that easy.
Breakker is also scheduled to team with Baron Corbin in the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic on Sunday at NXT Vengeance Day.
On today’s Wrestling Observer Radio., Breakker’s future was addressed by our own Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez.
“They’ll probably finish him up on Sunday, I’m going to guess, or soon thereafter,” Meltzer said.
“Too bad because, man, that team that he had with Corbin was great. What a team those guys were. I mean, he should be a singles star on the main roster and a champion,” Alvarez added.
“He’s absolutely ready to be a singles star on the main roster,” Meltzer continued.
Breakker’s appearance in the Rumble was as a late replacement for Brock Lesnar, who was withdrawn from the match following reports stating he’s the “UFC Heavyweight Champion” referred to in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. It is not clear if Breakker will be slotted into the rest of what was planned for Lesnar in the coming months, however.
Bron Breakker says he’s proven that he deserves to be on the WWE main roster.
Breakker was a surprise entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday. He tossed out Ivar, Omos, Finn Balor, and Jimmy Uso before being eliminated by Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio.
He spoke with Cathy Kelley after the match.
Breakker said:
What an opportunity tonight was for me to make a statement and I thought I did that tonight, 100 percent. But I know things didn’t go my way, but I’m not done with The Judgment Day by any means.
He continued:
I think tonight I proved that I belong on the main roster. This is my home now, and I’m ready for the work. I’m ready to prove to my peers and to the people and to everyone out there who believes in me that this is where I belong, this is what I was born to do. And I’m here, I’m ready to go.
Breakker still has at least one more match in NXT, however. After beating Axiom and Nathan Frazier in the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Breakker’s team with Baron Corbin will wrestle in the tournament finals at NXT Vengeance Day on February 4.
Our own Dave Meltzer noted on Saturday’s Wrestling Observer Radio that Breakker had not originally been planned for the Rumble. He was a late replacement for Brock Lesnar, who was withdrawn from the match following his mention in the recent lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis.
Bron Breakker replaced Brock Lesnar in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.
Lesnar had been scheduled to return to WWE on Saturday’s show. However, following allegations involving the 46-year-old listed in the recent lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, the decision was made to remove him from the Rumble.
I think most people know this but Brock Lesnar was scheduled to return at the Rumble and this was a change, obviously, that was made because of the lawsuit. So, the change was made probably Friday, most likely, perhaps Saturday morning.
Bron Breakker, because of that, and the fact that the match was pretty much scripted out already, Bron Breakker essentially fulfilled the Brock Lesnar role. He came in when Brock Lesnar was going to come in, he threw out the guys Brock Lesnar was going to throw out, he got thrown out exactly how Brock Lesnar was going to get thrown out.
Meltzer later added that Breakker had not originally been planned for the match.
Brock was going to be in their looking impressive so they needed someone to fill those shoes. There weren’t a lot of guys that they would give that spot to.
Breakker entered the match at number twenty and eliminated Omos, Ivar, Finn Balor, and Jimmy Uso. He lasted just over 5 minutes before being eliminated by Dominik Mysterio.
Controversy surrounding Lesnar began on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal broke the story of former WWE employee Janel Grant’s lawsuit accusing McMahon of sexual abuse and exploitation. The lawsuit states McMahon used a sexual encounter with Grant as a bargaining chip during contract negotiations with Lesnar.
The lawsuit reads:
That December, McMahon gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the WWE star, the lawsuit said. The wrestler asked her to send a video of herself urinating, the suit said, and after she did, he called her a “b—.” That same month, the suit said, the star expressed a desire to “set a play date,” but a snowstorm disrupted his travel plans.
Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin are going to WWE NXT Vengeance Day.
Breakker & Corbin defeated Axiom & Nathan Frazer in a semifinals match in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic on Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode to advance to the tournament finals at Vengeance Day set for Sunday, February 4.
They now await the winner of next week’s Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams vs. LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro matchup in the finals.
The odd couple pairing of Breakker & Corbin has gone 2-0 in this year’s Dusty Classic with wins over Gallus in the quarterfinals, and now Axiom & Frazer in Tuesday’s semifinals. Hayes & Williams defeated Edris Enofe & Malik Blade in their quarterfinals matchup. Wilde & Del Toro defeated Chase U’s Andre Chase & Duke Hudson to earn their spot in the semifinals.
The Dusty Classic winners will receive a future shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship currently held by Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.
Two teams have advanced in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin and Axiom & Nathan Frazer won their first round matches on Tuesday. Breakker and Corbin defeated Gallus, while Axiom & Frazer defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. They will now face each other in the semifinals.
The rest of the tournament bracket was also revealed on Tuesday. Next week’s matches will see Chase U (Riley Osborne & Duke Hudson) take on LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro), while Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams will face Edris Enofe & Malik Blade. The finals will take place at NXT Vengeance Day on February 4.
Earlier on NXT, Hayes told Williams that he had secured the final spot in the tournament. Williams wasn’t sure about entering, instead wanting to focus on his future NXT Championship match. He warmed up to the idea, however, once Hayes brought up that Williams could become a double champion.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is making its return after no tournament was held in 2023. The winners of the 2022 tournament were The Creed Brothers for the men’s tournament and the team of Kay Lee Ray (Alba Fyre) and Io Shirai (IYO SKY) in the women’s tournament.
The road to the 2024 Dusty Cup begins on WWE NXT tonight.
On tonight’s NXT episode, the first two matches in the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will take place. Former rivals Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin are teaming up for the first time ever against Gallus. In the other tournament match, Axiom & Nathan Frazer are facing Hank Walker & Tank Ledger.
The team that wins the Dusty Classic earns a shot at the NXT Tag Team titles. Those belts are currently held by Tony D’Angelo & Stacks, who have a title defense against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price tonight.
Cora Jade vs. Gigi Dolin and Blair Davenport vs. Nikkita Lyons have also been announced.
Plus, we’ll get a look at Tiffany Stratton’s day working as a ranch hand for Fallon Henley. Stratton had to work on Henley’s farm for 24 hours as a stipulation of her loss to Henley last week.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The shows begins with a recap from New Year’s Evil, which was last week’s episode. Opening the show is a grudge match that started as a fight in the parking lot.
Nikkita Lyon is jumped “moments ago” by Blair Davenport. They are supposedly separated, and each goes to their locker room. The two start brawling again after they have their gear on, and they conveniently brawl their way on to the sound stage.
They brawl to the ring just in time to be the opening match on a nationally televised episodic professional wrestling program of sport entertainment.
Blair Davenport defeated Nikkita Lyons
Davenport pinned Lyons, after Davenport targets an injury. Their fight ends up outside the ring. Lyons goes for a roundhouse kick, but Davenport moves out of the way, and Lyons smacks the ring post with her leg. That spot would lead into the finish, playing off a previous injury suffered by Lyons.
As Lyons was going back through the ropes, Davenport strikes with a chop block on Lyons’ injured knee. Davenport then delivers her knee strike finisher, and Davenport covers Lyons for a three count.
Cody Rhodes voiced over a video package that hyped the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The tag tournament is set to begin after a commercial break.
When the show returns from the break, Carmelo Hayes is in the locker when he gets “good news” for himself and Trick Williams. Yet, Williams questions whether he wants to hear the news.
Hayes goes on to ask if Williams knows how long Ilja Dragunov will be out. Williams does not know, so Hayes tells him that Hayes secured them the last spot in the Dusty Classic. Williams is again unsure, as Williams says he still needs to focus on his upcoming title match with Dragunov.
Hayes continues to hype up Williams, vowing they will win the tournament. Then, they will go on to win the tag titles. Trick will win the singles belt, and Hayes proclaims him “Two Title Trick” ahead of time. Williams like the sound of that.
Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker defeated Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey) in a first round mach if the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Corbin pinned Mark Coffey to win the match. Corbin & Breakker advance to the semifinal round.
In a spot similar to the opening match, Corbin smacks the ring post. This time it was an errant punch by Corbin. Gallus capitalizes after Corbin punches the ring post, and they target Corbin’s hand.
Gallus works over, until a hot tag brings in Breakker. Gallus bumps all over for Breakker. They do a convoluted spot where Breakker does a suplex on both Wolfgang and Coffey.
For the finish, Corbin executes End of Days on Coffey, and Corbin covers Coffey for a pinfall.
Fallon Henley is at a horse barn, waiting on Tiffany Stratton to arrive for her role as a ranch hand. Stratton is late, but Henley is ready to make her work hard. Stratton arrives dressed like she on the set of Barbie. Stratton refuses to wear the work clothes Henley has for her, despite Stratton having trouble walking in high heels. Stratton is also freaking out by the thought of “mucking” the stalls, and any mention of horse manure. To be continued…
NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria is in the ring for a monologue. Valkyria wonders who she will face in four weeks at the next NXT PLE. Valkyria announces a 20-woman battle royal to decide the number one contender, but with a “twist” as Valkyria puts it. When the battle royal comes down to the final four, it becomes a fatal four-way. Why? Because why not, I guess.
Valkyria is interrupted by Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez. Vice still has her contract she can cash in at any time. Vice and Lopex confront Valkyria. There is a terrible back-and-forth dialogue by Valkyria and Vice. Valkyria issues a challenge for a title match right now. They square up just about the time Lopez blindsides Valkyria. Lopez and Vice jump Valkyria, until Tatum Paxley runs in for a save. Paxley fights off the heels, and they flee. This would seem to clearly set up a tag match.
NXT North American Champion Dragon Lee is talking with Ava when they are interrupted by Lexis King. Lee signs a contract for a title match tonight, without letting a lawyer look at it first. That is a horrible business decision, but not as horrible is these skits tonight. Another horrible skit set up the next bout.
Josh Briggs defeated Oro Mensah (with Noam Dar, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend)
Briggs pinned Mensah, in what was a showcase match for Briggs. Noam Darr interfered at one point. He tried again, and it backfired on him. That led to Mensah missing a kick in a corner, and Briggs hits him with a Stan Hansen Western Lariat. Briggs hooks and leg and covers Mensah for a pinfall. Briggs glares a Dar after the match, so they are clearly setting up a match there.
A video montage shows Tiffany Stratton doing chores around the barn. Stratton is then ordered to bath a horse. When Stratton thinks she is done, she is then made to “muck” the horse stalls. She is basically being forced to clean up manure and such. To be continued…
NXT Tag Team Champions The Family (Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo with Adriana Rizzo) defeated OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price with Scrypts) to retain the titles
The match goes through a commercial break. Modified Doomsday Device on the floor by OTM, and Stacks is in trouble as the show goes into the break. Stacks is being worked over as the show returns from commercials.
Hot tag to Tony D, and he cleans house. However, Tony D is soon cut off. Stacks fights his way back into the ring.
Scrypts tried to interfere, but his interference was thwarted by Rizzo. Stacks does a dive moments before Tony D executes a fisherman’s buster suplex. D’Angelo then pins Price to win the match and retain the titles.
Oba Femi is being interviewed by Kelly Kincaid when they are interrupted by Lexis King. They is some bickering and bad dialogue.
Another backstage skit sets up a match between Ridge Holland and Joe Coffey.
Cora Jade defeated Gigi Dolan
For the finish, Dolan went for her crucifix bomb finisher. Jade grabs the referee to counter the move. Jade then delivered a double-arm DDT, and Jade covered Dolan for a pinfall. Jade continues to get a big push.
Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledger in a first round match in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
This was a good match that was fun to watch. Lots of action throughout. Hank & Tank have charisma as a team. Too bad they can’t seem to get a push.
A parade of dives and high spots led into the finish. As they go home, Frazier executes a Phoenix Splash on Walker. Frazier then covers Walker for a pinfall.
Axiom & Frazier advance to the semifinals where they meet the team of Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker.
Back at the barn, where Tiffany Stratton is cleaning the horse stalls. Fallon Henley and her friends laugh and mock Stratton. Henley says Stratton is done, yet the stall still looks dirty. Whatever. Stratton is cutting a promo, only for her to slip in horse manure. Stratton takes a bump into a water trough.
The skit ends with an angry Stratton kicking, screaming and splashing water, while Henley and her friends walk away. Jimmy Garvin and the Von Erich did this whole angle far better in World Class, or at least I remember it that way. Tonight’s version was not even funny.
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade cut a promo on Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams ahead of their Dusty Classic match next week. Someone doing a personal trainer gimmick bursts in wanting to train Enofe & Blade. She promises they will have six-packs in no time. They show her they already have six-packs.
Dragon Lee defeated Lexis King to retain the NXT North American Championship
Dragon Lee has now apparently been dubbed “the future of lucha libre.”
Trey Bearhill came to ringside to cause a distraction. He has an ongoing beef with King.
King is working over Lee when King begins to taunt Lee. That fires up Lee, and he makes a comeback. They go on to trade near falls.
Lee counters King just before the finish, where Lee does a title-a-whirl into a slop drop. Lee the covers King to win the match and retain the title.
Oba Femi marches down to ringside after the match. Femi cashes in his contract for a title match, thus starting an impromptu title match.
Oba Femi defeated Dragon Lee to win the NXT North American Championship
Dragon Lee took the fight to Femi, but Femi was too much. Lee even got a near fall, only for Lee to take a Last Ride powerbomb. Femi then covered Lee for a three count. And new…
Oba Femi celebrates by holding his newly won North American title belt over his head, as he stands over a fallen Dragon Lee.
Two more have advanced to the Iron Survivor Challenge matches at Deadline next month.
Kelani Jordan and Bron Breakker qualified on Tuesday’s NXT. Jordan was the first to qualify, hitting a split-legged moonsault on Kiana James for the win. The finish of that match had James being distracted by Roxanne Perez, who rang the bell early. Breakker, meanwhile, defeated Eddy Thorpe to advance after pinning him with a spear.
It was announced later in the evening that two ‘last chance’ qualifying matches will take place on next week’s NXT. Those two matches will be Carmelo Hayes vs. Eddy Thorpe vs. Joe Coffey vs. Tyler Bate and Fallon Henley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Thea Hail vs. Kiana James.
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler announced his choices for the qualifying matches earlier this week. Other WWE Hall of Famers who have made matches for the Iron Survivor Challenge include JBL, Lita, and Mick Foley.
Here is the updated card for NXT Deadline, which takes place December 9 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov defends against Baron Corbin
NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio defends against Wes Lee
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Dijak vs. Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs vs. Bron Breakker vs. ???
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend vs. Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan vs. ???
The Undertaker made his presence felt at the end of Tuesday’s NXT.
Bron Breakker in the ring laid out Carmelo Hayes after their match on Tuesday and said he was the only bad ass in the WWE. The Undertaker’s gong then sounded. Undertaker came out in his American Bad Ass persona and told Breakker that someday he was going to be a special talent. However, that day wasn’t today. He then laid out Breakker, hitting him with a chokeslam. He then told Breakker he was going to give him some advice: there is always a bigger, badder bad ass around the corner, and he just met the baddest of them all.
The show ended with Undertaker helping Hayes to his feet, both posing in the ring to end the show.
The Undertaker has only made sporadic appearances since being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020, having his final match with AJ Styles that same year. His last appearance in WWE was back in January, appearing on Raw is XXX in a segment with Bray Wyatt.
John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.
As with most podcasts of late, CM Punk was the topic du jour. We opened up talking about his final days in AEW and whether he would go back to WWE, or if WWE would even be open to taking him back.
Here’s what else we talked about:
How AEW is doing a tournament for their top belt vs. how NXT is doing a tournament
The end of Bron Breakker and Von Wagner on this week’s WWE NXT
Jey Uso leaving SmackDown and joining Raw
What trade we would make between AEW and WWE
We also continued our getting to know your podcaster segment with a question about who we would love to invite over for dinner.
Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker will square off on Tuesday.
Shawn Micheals made the announcement Friday afternoon on Twitter that the two will face off on Tuesday’s NXT. The winner of that match will be the next to challenge Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship at The Great American Bash, which takes place on July 30.
“Following their brawl on@WWENXT this week, @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR will take on @bronbreakkerwwe next Tuesday with the winner challenging @Carmelo_WWE for the NXT Championship at the Great American Bash. #WWENXT,” Michaels wrote.
Two weeks ago, Breakker ended that week’s NXT by storming out of Michaels’ office. On this week’s show, he wondered what would be next for him when Dragunov came to the ring. He said he would be the next to face off against Breakker as the two had a brawl.
Here is the lineup for Tuesday’s NXT:
Number one contender’s match: Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov
Finn Balor & The Judgment Day appear
Stacks vs. Joe Coffey – if Stacks wins, Tony D’Angelo is freed from jail and they earn NXT Tag Team title match
Cora Jade vs. Kelani Jordan
Tiffany Stratton vs. Ivy Nile
Andre Chase & Duke Hudson vs. Charlie Dempsey & Drew Gulak
NXT Gold Rush kicks off tonight with one of WWE’s top stars in action.
Seth Rollins comes to NXT tonight to defend the World Heavyweight Championship on week one of Gold Rush. Bron Breakker called out Rollins for the title match and is now getting his shot.
Rollins may not be at 100 percent after being attacked by Finn Balor on Raw last night, but Rollins is choosing to still defend his title. The winner of Rollins vs. Breakker will face Balor at Money in the Bank next month with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
Tonight is the first part of the two-week Gold Rush event. Before their NXT Championship match next Tuesday, Carmelo Hayes and Baron Corbin will go face-to-face tonight. There will also be a Chase U pep rally for Thea Hail ahead of her NXT Women’s Championship match against Tiffany Stratton next week.
Wes Lee defends the North American Championship against Tyler Bate tonight in a match where Mustafa Ali will be the special guest referee. Dana Brooke vs. Cora Jade is also set, and there will be a triple threat match to determine the number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Opening the show is footage for earlier today of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and his challenger, Bron Breakker, arriving at the Performance Center. They meet tonight in the main event.
A video package introduces the first week of a two-part special, dubbed NXT Gold Rush. Kicking off the show love from the soundstage at the PC in Orlando is the first of several title bouts over two week of Gold Rush.
Wes Lee vs. Tyler Bate for the NXT North American Championship with Mustafa Ali as special guest referee
Lee pinned Bate in a really good opener. Ali plays a part in the finish as the guest referee.
The action was good from the start, then came shenanigans. Ali’s intentions are questioned early on, as he does a fast count on both Lee and Bate. We are not talking Nick Patrick at Starrcade either. Ali was indeed counting fast. Moments later, Ali drastically slows down his count. Slow like a Bronko Lubich count. That all begins to draw the ire of both champion and challenger.
The frustration with Ali boils over and spills into the story of the match. Lee and Bate lock up very aggressively, and they both tumbled out of the ring while tied up. The show cuts to a commercial break, but the match continues in a split-screen. Upon returning from commercials, Lee and Bate are rising after a double down.
They wrestle on and the action leads to near falls. They each counter the other in a flashy sequence of high spots. Both take a plunge off the turnbuckles, and Lee takes a bumps onto the floor.
Lee is nearly counted out, but Ali breaks his count. Ali jumps out of the ring and revives Lee. Ali then gets into the ring and revives Bate. Ali leaps into the ring and goes for his finisher. Ali is still holding Bate, and Ali moves just in time for Lee to deliver a Cardiac Kick. Lee then covers Bate for a pinfall, and Ali’s hand hits the mat three times.
Ali raises both Lee and Bate’s hands after the match. Ali celebrates like he won. Bate and Lee notably flash a confused look towards Ali.
Gigi Dolan is the focus of a vignette. That leads to Kiana James cutting a promo on Dolan in an interview with McKenzie Mitchell.
Recapping Raw from last night, footage shows Finn Balor jumping Seth Rollins in sneak attacks where Balor targeting Rollins’s ribs.
Chase U pep rally for Thea Hail
Duke Hudson is in the ring to welcome Thea Hail to a pep rally in her honor. Out comes Thea Hail flanked by Chase U students and cheerleaders. Hail is over with the live studio audience.
Hail says her title shot next week is the biggest match of her life. Hail talks about others on the NXT roster with collegiate accomplishments, and Hails says the biggest thing she accomplishments last year was graduating from high school. Hail goes on the say she did not want to go the college route. She wanted to be a WWE superstar.
Hail also gives props to Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak, who were both also in the ring for the pep rally. Hail asks permission from Hudson to curse as she vows to give NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton an “Andre Chase-sized ass whooping!”
Stratton interrupts the pep rally, and she mocks and insults Hail. Hudson responds to Stratton by putting over Hail. Hudson tells Stratton that although she might not believe in Hail, but everyone else believes in Hail. Stratton scoffs, and she steps towards Hail while pointing a finger at her. Stratton is telling Hail she will not tap out Stratton, when Hail suddenly catches Stratton in a kimura lock. Stratton repeatedly taps the mat. Hail releases the hold, and Stratton slinks away.
Ava tries to play peacemaker as Joe Gacy blames himself for losing last week. Meanwhile, a skit with Diamond Mine seems to set up another mixed tag team match with Schism.
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledger and Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen (with Fallon Henley) in a triple threat match to determine the number one contenders
Blade pinned Ledger to win a fun three-way match. All three times got their moment to shine, and the finish played out really well. Blade & Enofe in winning earn a title shot next Tuesday against NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus.
A lot of stuff going on with three teams being involved in one bout. The match goes through a split-screen commercial break.
Briggs & Jensen are on a roll in the closing moments of the match. They execute a Hart Attack on Ledger. Jensen with a heel kick knocks Walker off the apron. Briggs goes for a cover, but Enofe leaps off the top rope with a flying elbow drop that breaks up the pin cover. Blade follows up with a frog splash on Ledger, and Blade pins Ledger to win the match.
Damon Kemp informs Eddy Thorpe that Kemp has finally decided on a gimmick match for their next bout. Thorpe goes against Kemp in a Raw Underground match on NXT in two weeks time. I’m guessing no Shane O’Mac this time around for Raw Underground.
Roxanne Perez attacks Blair Davenport, and Perez is pulled away by referees and officials.
World Champ Seth Rollins is in the locker room with his title belt slung over his shoulder when in walks Nathan Frazier carrying the Heritage Cup trophy. Rollins congratulates on winning the trophy. Rollins makes some jokes abot Frazier having to tote around a big trophy from now on.
When Frazier leaves, Rollins is confronted by NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. They all cackled together. They part ways with shared admiration.
Cora Jade defeated Dana Brooke
Jade wins via referee stoppage. The story of the match is Brooke injuring her knee, and Jade targets the knee to win the match. Brooke fought valiantly, and she never submitted.
Brooke is caught up in the ropes when Jade delivers a running knee. Brooke screams out in pain, selling her knee. She continues the match as she counters Jade’s DDT finisher. Brooke looks to make a rally when she attempts gymnastics that set up the Muta elbow. Brooke’s knee buckles, and sells big. Trainers enter the ring to check on Brooke as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
Brooke is placed on a stretcher during the break. Jade taunts Brooke on the stretcher, and Brooke slaps Jade across the face. Brooke will not be stretchered out, as she gets off the stretcher to continue the match.
Jade targets the injured knee, but Brooke is able to fight back. Brooke goes for a Vader Bomb, but no water in the pool. She crashed down on her injured knee. Jade capitalizes by applying a single leg crab. Brooke is unable to reach the bottom rope, but Brooke will not tap out. The ref calls for the bell and stops the match, awarding it to Jade. Brooke leaves the ring on a stretcher, still selling her knee.
Von Wagner reveals a childhood struggle in a heart-wrenching segment with Wagner and Mr. Stone. Wagner shares with Stone the story of Wagner overcoming trigonocephaly as a child. Wagner at 15 months old endured surgery for over 14 hours. Wagner and Stone are both emotional as Wagner gives credit to their parents for supporting him. Wagner goes on to relive stories of him being picked on in school as a kid. Wagner and Stone bond over Wagner sharing his story.
Gable Steveson has a cameo on NXT. Eddy Thorpe is a locker room with numerous other wrestlers. Thorpe is watching footage from past versions of Raw Underground, as Axiom and Scrypts look on. In walks Steveson, and offers to help Thorpe train for the Underground. Steveson remarks that if anyone knows Damon Kemp, it is Steveson (who is Kemp’s brother in real life). This does not seem like a one-off cameo.
Carmelo Hayes and Baron Corbin face-to-face
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes is heading to the ring for a segment where he and Baron Corbin will talk out their differences. That is a unique way to settle an issue on a wrestling show. Joining Hayes is Trick Williams. Corbin is already in the ring when Hayes and Williams enter. Corbin cuts off their entrance.
Corbin does not care to see Hayes pose. Corbin tells Hayes that posing won’t help in retaining his title. According to Corbin, being the NXT Champion “doesn’t mean you’ve made it.” Corbin tells Hayes there is nothing he can do next week that he has not already seen.
Hayes responds by mocking Corbin for also having never seen a reign with the NXT title, nor has Corbin seen the respect of the audience. Corbin retorts that they are no longer in Hayes’ hometown (like in their last match when Hayes retained his title). Corbin also says he does not care if people on the internet think Hayes is cool. Corbin does not care what anyone thinks.
Hayes talks about other main roster wrestlers coming to challenge him. Hayes says he “sent them packing.” Hayes says the only difference between those others and Corbin is “not a damn thing!”
Hayes brings up Happy Corbin, and Corbin says that character bought him a $1.8 million house. Corbin says his eight career is something the NXT roster can only dream. Corbin offers to compare WrestleMania moments. Corbin calls himself “a main event player on the main roster for nearly a decade.” This is fast becoming very inside baseball.
Hayes makes some comparisons of his own. At 26 years old, Hayes says he won the breakout tournament and cashed it in successfully for a championship. Hayes mocks Corbin for getting cut from the Arizona Cardinals at 26. Hayes gives credit to the old guard from NXT black-and-gold, but Hayes vows to create new expectations of his own. Hayes talks about what he has build in this house, and Hayes says he had to build a new roof on this house because he tore it off too many times.
Hayes does his “HIM” catchphrase. Corbins responds by saying Hayes is a nobody. Corbin says this is normally when he would jump Hayes and leave him laying. Hayes takes off his title belt ready to fight. Corbin says he will not do that. Corbin plots that he will win the NXT title, leave in his Porsche, go home to his big house, and Corbin’s hot wife will pour him a glass of win from a bottle Hayes cannot even afford. Hayes goes to respond again, but Corbin cuts him off to say the lesson is over. Corbin punked out Hayes, and then Corbin leaves.
A backstage skit sets up a match for next week, where Nathan Frazier defends his Heritage Cup trophy against Dragon Lee.
Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend (with Oro Mensah & Noam Dar) defeated Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon
Mensah interfered during the match, and he goes to interfere again when he is wiped out by a dive by Leon. However, that distracts Feroz. She gets back into the ring, only to walk into a high kick from Legend. Feroz then takes the fall, as Legend covers her for a pinfall.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defeated Bron Breakker to retain the title
Rollins pinned Breakker to win a really good match. Rollins was over like a superstar … because he is indeed a superstar. The studio audience sang along with Rollin’s theme song as played, and then they sang it some more themselves.
Rollins and Breakker start off hot. Rollins goes for a pedigree, but Breakker counters him. Rollins then plays matador as Breakker charges at him like a bull. Low bridge and Breakker tumbles outside the ring. Rollins with a flying knee off the apron just before the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
Breakker cuts off Rollins during the break, and Breakker is in control as the show returns from commercial. Frankensteiner by Breakker, and he suplexes Rollins. Breakker targets the Rollin’s ribs that were injured last night on Raw in an attack by Finn Balor.
Breakker dashes a hope spot, and he goes back to the suplex. However, Breakker posts himself when Rollins sidestepped a charge into a corner. Comeback by Rollins and he fires up as the studio audience sings his theme song. Rollins does a trifecta of dives through the ropes. Rollins then sets up for The Stomp, but Breakker rolls out of the ring.
Rollins looks to set up a table spot at the announce desk. Breakker tries to cut him off, only for Breakker to eat a superkick. Rollins then climbs the turnbuckles for a frog splash with Breakker laid out on the announce desk. The desk collapses on impact as the show cuts to its final commercial break.
They are back in the ring by the time the show returns from the break. They counter each other, and Breakker eats another superkick. Rollins goes for a frog splash, but he misses as Breakker rolls out of the way. Rollins sells his ribs upon impact. Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, and Breakker applies the Steiner Recliner. Rollins reaches the bottom rope to break the hold.
They go on to trade near falls. Super Frankensteiner by Breakker, and he follows up with his military press/powerslam finisher. Rollins gets a shoulder up for a close near fall. Breakker signals for a spear, but Rollins blocks it with knee strike. Rollins delivers a pedigree for another near fall. Rollins signals for The Stomp, but Breakker blocks that with a spear for yet another two count.
Breakker climbs the turnbuckles and leaps off. Rollins has one final counter, and Breakker eats one final superkick. Rollins then delivers The Stomp. Not done yet, Rollins gives Breakker a second Stomp, and Rollins covers Breakker for a three count. The champ retains his title.
Rollins is celebrating and posing with his title belt as the show is seemingly about to go off the air. The copyright graphic even pops up on the bottom of the screen, when suddenly Finn Balor runs in to ambush Rollins. Balor attacks Rollins, and Balor also fight off security. Balor looks to deliver a Coup de Grace. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams run down to make a save. Balor flees the ring. He and Rollins have glare at each other as the show fades to black.
Seth Rollins accepted Bron Breakker’s challenge on Tuesday’s NXT.
Breakker came out and told Rollins to come out and accept his challenge. After Ilja Dragunov attempted to come down and confront Breakker, Rollins appeared on the video screen as Dragunov was dragged away by security. Rollins at first scoffed at the idea of facing Breakker, but then liked the idea of returning where it all began. He accepted the offer for next week.
The end of last week’s NXT saw Breakker call out Rollins, issuing a challenge for him to defend the championship on NXT programming. Rollins became the first NXT Champion back in 2012.
On Tuesday’s show, Shawn Michaels announced that the next two weeks of NXT will be a special event called Gold Rush. Next week’s show will be headlined by the World Heavyweight title match. The second show two weeks from now will see Carmelo Hayes defend the NXT Championship against the winner of a match between Baron Corbin and Ilja Dragunov that will headline Tuesday’s show.
One week after issuing a challenge to Seth Rollins, we’ll hear from Bron Breakker on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Last Tuesday’s show ended with Breakker challenging Rollins to come defend the World Heavyweight Championship against him in NXT. Rollins has yet to give his answer. We’ll see if that changes when Breakker appears tonight.
While we don’t know if Rollins will be on the show, we do know that free agents Mustafa Ali and Baron Corbin will be in action tonight. Ali will team up with Wes Lee & Tyler Bate in a six-man tag team match against Joe Gacy & The Dyad. Corbin is battling Ilja Dragunov in singles action.
Thea Hail became the number one contender to Tiffany Stratton’s NXT Women’s Championship by winning a battle royal last week. A match between Hail and Cora Jade has been announced for tonight.
Malik Blade vs. Edris Enofe, Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley, and a Heritage Cup match between Noam Dar and Nathan Frazer have also been announced for tonight’s show. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
A tribute to Iron Sheik begins the show.
Cold open, meaning no canned intro aside from the “Together” montage that opens every WWE telecast. Live from the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando, Schism is in the ring with their masks on. Out next is their opponents. Kicking off NXT tonight is six-man tag team match.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, Mustafa Ali & Tyler Bate defeated The Schism (Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid with Ava)
Bate pinned Gacy to win the match. Fun opener gets the show off to a hot start.
The Dyad are a seasoned team, and that utilized their teamwork early on, but the babyface team had fire. They each got to explode with a flurry of offense. A trifecta of dives from the babyface trio leads into the first commercial break on the show.
Bate is getting worked over when the show returns from the break. The Dyad had turned the tide during the commercials, but Bate fought from underneath to execute a delayed vertical suplex.
Hot tag to Ali, and is soon tripped up. Ali briefly cleans house, but he is cut off. Bate and Lee jump in to help, and the babyfaces seem to be in charge again. Ali gets in some trouble, but in comes Lee to run wild. However, Lee is soon cut off.
Lee takes a sit-out powerbomb from Gacy where The Dyad assisted by throwing Lee into Gacy’s arms. Looked way more cool than it reads trying to describe it. The referee goes to count a pin on Lee when a second ref jumps into the ring to break the count. Lee is apparently not the legal man, as the ref missed the tag.
Ali dropkicks The Dyad out of the ring, and Bate hits Gacy with a combo of strikes. Ali does a tornado DDT onto the floor, and Lee does a tope suicida to the outside. In the ring, Bate with a Tyler Driver ’97 on Gacy, and Bate scores a pinfall.
Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak are backstage with Thea Hail. They are critiquing her win in the battle royal from last week, and Hail bickers with them. Duke Hudson walks in an breaks up the argument. Everyone leaves except Hudson. He calls Andre Chase on his phone, and says things are falling apart here.
Rollins accepts Breakker’s challenge for a World title match
Bron Breakker enters the sound stage for a monologue, wearing a suit and looking extra tan. Breakker begins cutting a promo on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Out comes Ilja Dragunov and he is fighting mad. Referees and officials hold him back and pull him backstage. People interrupt others’ promos all the time, but this time the refs were ready.
Suddenly, Rollins appears on video link to address Breakker. Rollins at first scoffs at the notion of Breakker wanting a title shot, but Rollins pauses to reflect. He says it would be good to go back home to where it all started. I assume he was not talking about Iowa, but rather NXT.
Rollins accepts the challenge, and the live studio audience pops. Breakker is beaming from ear to ear. Rollins will defend the title next Tuesday live on NXT against Breakker. Studio audience sings Rollins’ theme song as the segment comes to a close.
A video package highlights Dana Brooke, and she is then interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Brooke says she will wrestle on any brand. Cora Jade interrupts Brooke. Jade is mad that Brooke eliminated her from the battle royal last week. Jade slaps Brooke across the face, after also insulting her. Jade storms off and Brooke seethes.
Mustafa Ali is in the locker room celebrating with Wes Lee and Tyler Bate. Ali convinces Lee and Bate that Ali should be a special referee for the North American title match between Lee and Bate. After they all agree, there is a comedy bit about going to eat a vegan meal.
Thea Hail (with Duke Hudson) defeated Cora Jade
Hail won via submission, thanks to some assistance from Dana Brooke. Some hiccups in the match, but Hail looks to be improving a lot in the ring. Good all things considered.
Brooke comes down to ringside as the match is underway, and she interfered after Jade hit her with a forearm.
Hail was going for a dive when Jade cuts her off. At ringside, Jade hits Brooke, and Jade retrieves her kendo stick. The referee takes it from Jade before she can use it.
As the ref turns off to dispose of the kendo stick, Brooks gets some revenge on Jade. Brooke shoves Jade into the ring steps, and Hail rolls Jade back into the ring. Hail applies a kimura lock on Jade, and Jade taps out.
Shawn Michael via Twitter announces NXT Gold Rush, which is a two week special that begins next Tuesday with the WWE World title match where Rollins defends against Breakker. The following Tuesday in two weeks time is a NXT title match. The winner of tonight’s math between Baron Corbin and Dragunov goes on to face Camerlo Hayes for the NXT title
Noam Dar is in the ring with his stable. Dar is doing the Jerry Lawler gimmick from Summer Slam ’93. Dar is on crutches claiming an injury. Dar accuses Nathan Frazier of attacking him prior to their match tonight. Oro Mensah will replace Dar, and the Heritage Cup is still on the line even though Dar is supposedly injured.
Nathan Frazier (with Dragon Lee) defeated Oro Mensah (with Noam Dar, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) to win the Heritage Cup
Frazier wins 2-1 after four rounds to capture the Heritage Cup. Good match.
Frazier goes to an early lead after scoring a pinfall with a schoolboy roll-up just minutes into the match. Frazier is up 1-0 after round one.
Mensah jumps Frazier as round two begins. At the two-minute mark, Jakara Jackson distracts the referee. Lash Legend then interferes by holding Frazier for Mensah to deliver a spinwheel kick. Mensah covers Frazier for a pinfall to even the score at 1-1 after two rounds.
Third round is joined in progress with under a minute left, after a split-screen commercial break. Frazier goes for a pinfall, but Mensah is saved by the bell as time expires in round three.
Big high spot in the fourth round when Mensah gives Fraizer an avalanche German suplex off the top rope.
Deja vu as Jackson and Legend again attempt to interfere just like they did previously in the match. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon run down to ringside, and they pull Jackson and Legend off the apron. The two teams brawl at ringside. Meanwhile, Frazier does a double springboard into a Phoenix Splash. Frazier then covers Mensah for a three count to win the Heritage Cup.
Lyra Valkyria is the focus of a vignette as she looks to rebound from defeat.
Von Wagner and Dijak have a brief confrontation in a backstage skit, and then Mr. Stone questions Wagner about his therapy. They have a breakthrough as Wagner tells Stone he is the only person that Wagner trusts.
Axiom & Scrypts defeated Dabba-Kato in a two-on-one handicap match
Axiom pinned Dabbo-Kato to win the match, in somewhat of an upset. Dabbo-Kato is a monster heel, but Axiom and Scrypts used double team moves to get the monster off his feet. This was like two Davids against a Goliath.
Tandem dives and teamwork by Axiom and Scyrpts, including dives to the outside. Moonsault press by Scrypts, and Axiom follows up with Golden Ratio. Axiom then covers Dabbo-Kato for a pinfall. So much for Dabbo-Kato being a monster.
Humberto Carillo and Garza run in after the match, and they jump Axiom and Scrypts. Carillo and Garza beat them down and leave them laying. Studio audience chants “welcome back” for the returning heels, despite the savage beatdown.
Made official for week one of NXT Gold Rush is Wes Lee defending his NXT North American Championship against Tyler Bate, with Mustafa Ali as special guest referee. Announced for two weeks from now, Tiffany Stratton defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Thea Hail. Also on week two of Gold Rush, Seth Rollins defends the WWE World title against Bron Breakker.
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo is looking like a sleuth from an old noir film. He is searching for who ratted out and dropped a dime on Tony D’Angelo. This reminded me of the skits where Leslie Nielsen was looking for The Undertaker in 1994, except not good as that.
Duke Hudson tells Thea Hail that Hudson is throwing a pep rally for Hail next week ahead of her title shot.
Malik Blade and Edris Enofe enter the soundstage together as a team, despite them being in a match against each other.
Malik Blade defeated Edris Enofe
Blade pinned Enofe in a babyface match.
The team of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger is at ringside, along with the team of Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs. They watch the match as it plays out.
Blade and Enfoe are having a decent enough babyface match when they do a superplex off the top rope, where Enofe suplexed Blade. Reversal of a pinning attempt by Blade, and he scores a pinfall with an inside cradle.
Walker, Ledger, Jensen and Briggs gets into the ring after the match, while Enofe and Blade embrace in a show of sportsmanship and brotherhood. Everybody is getting along when Booker T suddenly chimes in.
Booker T has “breaking news” about the tag title picture. Book announces a triple threat match for next week between the three teams, and the winner gets a tag title match against Gallus in two weeks time. With that the camaraderie is over, and the three teams start brawling in the ring. Meanwhile, Garza and Carillo cut a promo on a perch looking out over the ring.
Eddy Thorpe and Damon Kemp set up another match after Kemp in a skit keeps accusing Thorpe of cheating to win.
Blair Davenport in a vignette details why she ambushed several women on the roster in recent months.
Roxanne Perez defeated Tatum Paxley
Perez pinned Paxley. Perez is seemingly leaps and bounds ahead, in terms of skill, compared to the rest of the NXT women’s roster. She goes on to win this match in what was a glorified enhancement match. Paxley got some offense, but this seemed more about showcasing Perez. She won with a sunset flip, but that could possibly be a botched Pop Rocks as Paxley fell down.
Perez cuts a promo after the match, where Perez says she is hunting for Davenport.
Fallon Henley in a backstage skit warns Gigi Dolan about Kiana James. Dolan seems hell bent on settling a score with James.
A vignette introduces the team of Lucien Price and Bronco Nima. They are coming soon to NXT.
Baron Corbin defeated Ilja Dragunov
Corbin pinned Dragunov, after outside interference by Bron Breakker. Lots of outside interference on this show, which to me made the run-in during the main event mean less.
Corbin has nicer shorts this week for his gear, but paired with the cut-off t-shirt, Corbin still looks like he is headed to play a pickup game of basketball. Not sure how Kevin Owens pulls off that look, but Corbin cannot.
Dragunov tears off the cut-off tee in response to Corbin chopping him. Dragunov rips off the t-shirt and chops Corbin for a recepit. Corbin soon cuts off Dragunov.
Dragunov counters Corbin to deliver a series of suplexes. Constantine Special by Dragunov, and Corbin is reeling as the show cuts to its final commercial break. Corbin cuts off Dragunov during the split-screen break, but Dragunov as regains control by the time the show returns from commercials.
Corbin hip-tosses Dragunov over the ropes, and Dragunov hit the edge of the ring apron hard as he takes a bump outside. While it looked painful, it also played into a subplot in the match since Dragunov came into the match with taped ribs.
Corbin exploits Dragunov’s injury, and Corbin works over Dragunov by targeting the back and ribs. Dragunov sells big, but he still fights back. Corbin keeps targeting the back, yet Dragunov still has fight left in him. He kicks out after Corbin delivers Deep Six.
Dragunov makes a comeback, and he delivers a flying kneedrop. Dragunov follows up with a back senton off the top rope, but Dragunov sells his ribs upon impact. He cannot capitalize due to the injury. They fight on, and Dragunov executes a deadlift suplex.
Dragunov was signalling for his finisher, when Bron Breakker interferes out of nowhere. Dragunov thwarts Breakker’s interference, but that distracts Dragunov. Corbin catches Dragunov with End of Days, and Corbin scores a pinfall.
Breakker brawls with Dragunov after the match, and the fight their way off the set. NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes rushed into the ring and he superkicks Corbin. Hayes then springboards into a flying forearm, and Hayes also executes Nothing But Net on Corbin as the show comes to a close.
