WWE NXT wrestler Brooks Jensen has paid tribute to the recently passed away Dennis Condrey.
A founding member of the Midnight Express tag team, Condrey, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026.
AEW World tag team champion Dax Harwood made a social media announcement about Condrey’s passing before launching a GoFundMe to help cover the financial expenses of his funeral service.
Shortly after, the wrestling industry came together to pay their respect to the late wrestling veteran. Several WWE stars, including William Regal, Nick Aldis, and Adam Pearce, paid their tributes. Several other notable entities in the industry also paid their homage. Shortly after, WWE NXT wrestler Brooks Jensen also joined the list.
Sharing an Instagram story, Jensen first uploaded an old image of a young Condrey before revealing his wrist tape from one of NXT’s recent live shows. Jensen’s white wrist tape had the name Dennis Condrey mentioned in black, making it easily visible.
A budding 24-year-old WWE star wants to finish John Cena’s because of a personal vendetta.
Earlier tonight, on the November 1st edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE announced the ‘Last Time is Now’ tournament to secure John Cena’s final opponent. Soon after the announcement, 24-year-old NXT star Brooks Jensen expressed his interest to face the legend in his farewell bout.
However, Jensen’s motivation wasn’t just about opportunity, it was a long-held personal grudge and vendetta. Explaining his situation on social media, the youngster wrote, “It’s been 22 years since John Cena screwed my fathers career over… maybe my time is now.”
It’s been 22 years since John Cena screwed my fathers career over… maybe my time is now #SNMEhttps://t.co/7FRSDrqGPH
Jensen is the son of former WWE star Bull Buchanan, who acted as Cena’s hypeman named ‘B²’ during his Doctor of Thuganomics run on SmackDown in 2003. However, not long after, Cena turned his back on Buchanan. While the Leader of Cenation became one of the most popular stars in the industry, Buchanan was soon sent back to OVW and later released.
Looking to avenge his father’s humiliation, Jensen publicly teased going after Cena while dropping several other crypic posts about his father’s partnership with the 17-time World Champion.
More about John Cena’s ‘Last Time Is Now’ Tournament
The ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament is scheduled to begin on November 10th and will feature 16 men across Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and some participants not employed with WWE.
The winner of the tournament will get to face Cena in his final-ever match on the December 13th edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington D.C..
Dave Meltzer of WON had previously reported more details about the tournament, including who the eventual winner may be: Gunther.
Jelly Roll’s performance at WWE SummerSlam is receiving positive reviews from many.
The singer-songwriter was pinned by Logan Paul in his tag team match alongside Randy Orton against Drew McIntyre and Paul on the show.
Brooks Jensen posted to social media on Sunday to say Jelly Roll trained “as hard as the greats” leading up to the event and that he was proud to have trained with him over the past several weeks.
“He may not have won his match, but he won the hearts and respects from the WWE universe. What we do day in and day out is not for the faint of heart. Time, dedication, endurance, and strength are just 60% of what makes a WWE Superstar. The other 40% comes from a love of the game, resilience, and passion. All that said, he trained and worked as hard as the greats and for that I couldn’t have been more proud to share those 4 corners for the past several weeks. He’s a star in and out of the ring. Hell yeah!”
Jordynne Grace also commented on Jelly Roll’s performance, writing, “Jelly Roll top 3 celebrity wrestlers.”
Before SummerSlam, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo talked about training with Jelly Roll for the match, noting that he broke his finger on his first day of training and “worked his ass off.”
“I’ve been at the PC for 3.5 years. I’ve seen plenty of D1 ATHLETES take a couple of bumps and give up in a few weeks because they can’t handle it. The training. The grind. BROKE them. Jelly Roll, BROKE his finger day 1 of training and he taped that finger up and was punching me in the face with it the next day. We pushed him hard. Expecting more from him everyday and he delivered. He smiled and sang through every minute of training and then grabbed the broom and swept the ring. I’ve watched him commit every ounce of energy he had to this #SummerSlam match tonight. He may not consider himself an athlete, but he’s got that Mamba Mentality. He worked his ass off for this. Tonight, @JellyRoll615 is a @WWE Superstar and he’s gonna put on a show for the whole world.”
Fightful Select is also reporting that Jelly Roll “impressed many” with his work ethic.
Jelly Roll commented on his own training during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, noting that he was training at the WWE Performance Center every day.
“I have quietly been living in Orlando for about three or four weeks at the PC. Showing up every day like a piece of furniture over there. They can’t kick me out. I’m there from the moment I wake up till it closes almost. Matt Bloom’s my coach.“
I’ve been at the PC for 3.5 years. I’ve seen plenty of D1 ATHLETES take a couple of bumps and give up in a few weeks because they can’t handle it. The training. The grind. BROKE them.
Jelly Roll, BROKE his finger day 1 of training and he taped that finger up and was punching me… https://t.co/7TXflPPhcz
A new match has been added to the lineup for next week’s edition of WWE NXT.
Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen in a non-title match is scheduled for the show. The match follows a segment from this week’s episode that saw Jensen and Shawn Spears visit D’Angelo in his restaurant. Spears and Jensen stated their intentions to challenge for D’Angelo’s NXT North American title before leaving and later being seen with Niko Vance from NXT Level Up.
“After a tense faceoff at the restaurant owned by NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo, Brooks Jensen will contend against The Don of NXT. Jensen will seek to secure a chance to become NXT North American Champion for himself and Shawn Spears. Can Jensen get himself one step closer to glory?”
The lineup for the Tuesday, November 19 WWE NXT:
NXT Championship number one contender’s match, winner faces Trick Williams at Deadline: Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland [Chase U must disband if Chase loses]
Karmen Petrovic & Ashante Adonis vs. Brinley Reece & Dion Lennox
Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen
Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matches continue
Jensen’s last match on WWE programming was a win over Malik Blade on the August 20 episode of NXT. Lennox last wrestled on WWE programming during the August 20 NXT as well, dropping a singles bout to Ashante Adonis.
Three matches are now confirmed for Tuesday’s show. CM Punk is also advertised to make a special announcement and NBA star Tyrese Haliburton is scheduled to appear.
The announced lineup for the Tuesday, September 17 WWE NXT:
CM Punk makes an announcement
Ethan Page & Trick Williams NXT Championship contract signing
NBA star Tyrese Haliburton appears
Lola Vice vs. Jacy Jayne
Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley vs. Wendy Choo & Rosemary
Brooks Jensen will officially return to WWE NXT on next week’s episode.
Shawn Michaels announced in a pre-taped promo on this week’s show that Jensen will return to NXT for a sit-down with GM Ava on next week’s episode.
In his promo, Michaels addressed the storyline that has played out in recent months — primarily on social media — where Jensen has portrayed a loose cannon-type character, drinking to excess, crashing Raw and SmackDown tapings, and interrupted NXT TV segments.
Michaels said that he believes in second chances, and that Jensen will sit down with Ava next week to discuss his future. Michaels said that Jensen has not been released by WWE as Jensen had hinted at on social media, but that NXT management had told Jensen to take time off to get his head together after splitting from Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley in storyline.
A tag team bout was also teased for next week’s episode, with The OC’s Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows issuing a challenge to OTM’s Bronco Nima & Lucien Price for a match during a backstage promo.
The lineup for the Tuesday, July 9 WWE NXT, the first episode following Sunday’s Heatwave PPV:
Brooks Jensen sits down with NXT GM Ava
Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Bronco Nima & Lucien Price
A worked shoot storyline involving former NXT UK Tag Team Champion Brooks Jensen continued at Tuesday’s WWE NXT TV taping.
A storyline pitting Jensen against NXT management has unfolded on Jensen’s social media profiles in recent weeks, with the former Tag champ posting about crashing an NXT house show and WWE SmackDown and Raw tapings and “not being allowed into the building.” Jensen also teased that he been released:
Jensen confronted NXT commentators Booker T and Vic Joseph at Tuesday’s taping during a commercial break before being escorted away by security as the storyline continued:
Jensen has specifically targeted NXT authority figure Shawn Michaels in the course of the storyline, including posting a “Bret [Hart] would book better” sign:
Jensen’s longtime tag team partnership with Josh Briggs was dissolved at the end of 2023 with a blow-off match between the two taking place on the February 20 NXT episode, a bout won by Briggs. Jensen’s last NXT match took place on the March 12 episode as he lost a North American title match to Oba Femi.
Heavy drinking also appears to be a major part of the storyline, with Jensen posting numerous times about his alcohol consumption:
WWE NXT’s Brooks Jensen has issued an apology for wearing an Ole Anderson shirt on NXT TV after learning of Anderson’s history of racism.
In a social media post, a fan asked Jensen why he felt it appropriate to wear a shirt supporting Anderson. Anderson, who passed away last month, had a documented history of using racial epithets and allegations of racism in his treatment of Black wrestlers, notably Thunderbolt Patterson, Tony Atlas, & Teddy Long, as reported in this Ringer article.
Jensen wore the Anderson shirt on the March 12 edition of WWE NXT as he challenged North American Champion Oba Femi.
The fan wrote:
so @BrooksJensenWWEwhy do you think it’s appropriate to wear a t-shirt of a massive racist in 2024
Jensen responded, noting that he was unaware of Anderson’s history:
Livin, learnin, and lovin – thanks guys
I will never support any racism, hate, or bullying. While I respected Ole for his wrestling it was news to me after wearing the tshirt that he was associated with these allegation’s. Ive noticed my “looks” and where I’m from are frequently stigmatized with the underbelly of our society (i.e racists) but this mullet just likes to give love and party. My apologies to anyone who knew the allegations prior and were offended by the shirt. I’m learning and this was noted.
Two matches have been added to the lineup for WWE NXT this week.
Dana Brooke vs. Lyra Valkyria has been booked for the show. Brooke is coming off a loss in tag action on August 29 when she and Kelani Jordan lost to Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice. Valkyria’s last match on WWE programming was a victory in mixed tag action with Dragon Lee over Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley on August 22.
WWE has also announced a six-man tag match for Tuesday’s show. Charlie Dempsey, Drew Gulak & Damon Kemp will team together to wrestle Brooks Jensen, Josh Briggs & Myles Borne.
A pair of Tag Team title matches will take place on tonight’s episode of NXT.
After winning the NXT Tag Team titles at Deadline, The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will make their first defense tonight. They’re taking on Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen.
New Day became champions by defeating Pretty Deadly at Deadline. Last week, Kingston & Woods offered Pretty Deadly a rematch — but it came with the condition that Pretty Deadly would have to say the Pledge of Allegiance. When Pretty Deadly refused, Briggs & Jensen stepped in and said the Pledge of Allegiance instead.
The NXT Women’s Tag Team titles will be contested in a triple threat match tonight. The match will feature champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter, Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin, and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley. It will be Toxic Attraction’s first appearance since Mandy Rose was released by WWE.
A grudge match between Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark, Carmelo Hayes vs. Axiom, and an appearance by Apollo Crews have been announced for the show as well. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show is opening with what is on paper a good opener.
Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeated Axiom
Hayes pinned Axiom after interference from Trick Williams. The match delivered as a good opening bout.
They started off hot and then settled things down. Hayes does a springboard off the middle rope, and Axiom catches him with a dropkick as the show cuts to a commercial break. Axiom hits Axiom with a springboard lariat just before the show is coming back from the break. Hayes has Axiom grounded as the show returns, but Axiom soon fires up.
Hayes fights back and applies a crossface. Axiom with a nifty counter on Hayes, followed by a flying body press. Hayes gets a shoulder up to break the count, but Axiom transitions into a triangle. Hayes with a deadlift powerbomb to break the hold, and he had him in a pinning combination, but the referee didn’t count.
They both springboard there way to top rope, where Axiom executes superduper Frankensteiner. Trick Williams suddenly interferes and jerks down Axiom. Hayes capitalizes by leaping off the top rope with guillotine legdrop. Hayes then covers Axiom for a tainted victory. Axiom takes out Williams after the match with a dive to gain a measure of revenge.
Grayson Waller in an interview with McKenzie Mitchell says he wants his title shot tonight. He is supposed to be the next challenger for NXT Champion Bron Breakker. Mitchell informs Waller that Breakker is not even in the building tonight. He is on a media tour. Waller calls out Breakker anyway, challenging the champion to meet him in the ring tonight.
Tony D’Angelo is backstage with Stacks for a skit where D’Angelo says he has a North American title shot against Wes Lee. D’Angelo tells Stacks to inform Dijak to stay out of the way. That will probably not end well for Dijak.
Next up is a grudge match several weeks in the making.
Zoey Stark defeated Nikkita Lyons
Starks pinned Lyons, after Stark cheats by holding the bottom rope. Could be an excuse for a return match, possibly at the next supercard.
This grudge match starts with a slugfest and them trading strikes. Stark soon baits Lyons into leaving the ring, and Stark sends Lyons crashing into the ring steps. Stark then begins to work over Lyons, as Stark controls the match.
Lyons begins to a comeback, and Lyons rolls up Stark with an O’Connor Roll. Stark counters the roll-up, and Stark bridging backwards. Stark grabs the bottom rope for illegal leverage, and the referee doesn’t see it as he counts to pinfall.
Cora Jade is being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when Wendy Choo attacks Jade. They are pulled apart by officials.
Fallon Henley is in her family’s bar with Briggs & Jensen. Kiana James and her assistant walk to take inventory of the place. Turns out, James paid off the bar’s tax bill, so James can somehow now legally take the bar. That seems suspect, but that’s the storyline.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Toxic Attraction (Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolan) and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley in a triple threat match to retain their titles
Carter pinned Nile in a match with a lot of action, and it also ends with a Bret Hart finish.
The match goes through a commercial break. Carter & Chance do a stereo plancha just before the show goes to break. The action is fast paced when the show returns from the break, with Carter getting to shine.
Paxley is on Carter’s shoulders as both are on the top rope. Chance makes a blind tag, and then she executes a super Frankensteiner on Paxley with Paxley still on Carter’s shoulders.
Superkick party and a flurry of other strikes, and everybody goes down selling. Moments later, Nile assists Paxley in executing a corkscrew body press on Jayne for a near fall.
Chance is on the top rope going for her finisher, but she is shoved off by Paxley into the waiting arms of Toxic Attraction at ringside. Nile then applies her modified Dragon sleeper. Similar to the finish Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII (and later Hart vs. Steve Austin at Survivor Series ’96), Carter kicks off the ropes to counter the hold, catching Nile in a pinning combination. The champs retain.
Oro Mensah in a vignette is at a nightclub being cool.
New NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez sat down with Booker T for an interview. Booker was really great here, much more serious than he usually seems on commentary. Perez is also great in telling her story, talking about her journey to winning the title. Perez trained under Booker at his wrestling school, so Booker is probably the best person for this interview. Good stuff here.
Apollo Crews comes to ring for a monologue. He is soon interrupted by Carmelo Hayes, who says he is next in line for a NXT Championship title shot. They banter back and forth, as they insult each other. This leads to Crews challenging Hayes to a match.
In a comedy skit, NXT Tag Team Champions New Day are in the locker room when in comes Pretty Deadly. They have a bunch of Christmas gifts they got for New Day, which is a list New Day made in order for Pretty Deadly to get a title shot. The list includes a bunch of wrestling memorabilia, and Pretty Deadly did not get it all, so no title shot.
Alba Fyre is walking backstage when Isla Dawn in a sneak attack blows red powder in Fyre’s eyes. Fyre sells big, and she is blinded by the powder. She is later cleared to compete by the head trainer.
Edris Enofe, Mailk Blade and Odyssey Jones are going clubbing, and they invite Ava Raine to go with them. She turns them down, while in walks The Schism. The group all now has matching t-shirts, which are seemingly on sale via WWE Shop. Wacky is see a cult with branded merchandise.
Elektra Lopez defeated Indi Hartwell
Lopez pinned Hartwell after she hit her with brass knux. This match was set up last week after a backstage brawl. With the tainted win by Lopez, maybe they run it back?
Lopez worked over Hartwell, until Hartwell made a comeback. Lopez cuts off Hartwell, and Lopez pulled out brass knux she had hidden. Lopez hits Hartwell with the knux, and Lopez covers Hartwell for a pinfall.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee in an interview with McKenzie Mitchell talks about next week’s title match against Tony D’Angelo. Lee also mentions Dijak. Lee vows to remain champion.
Sol Ruca vs. Alba Fyre never begins
The match never got past the ring introductions. Isla Dawn in a sneak attack jumps Fyre before the match. Dawn puts Fyre’s arm between the ring steps, and Dawn uses Fyre’s own baseball bat to smash the steps onto the Fyre’s hand.
A skit with Chase U has the students giving Andre Chase gifts for Christmas. Duke Hudson forgot to get a gift, so he cons another student. Hudson steals a gift, and he gives the stolen gift to Chase. They have a group hug, and Hudson smirks.
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen are cutting a promo when Kiana James walks in to interrupt. Jensen is wearing a sweet Terry Gordy t-shirt. James must’ve been even more impressed by the cool shirt than I was, as she wishes Jensen good luck. Their courtship continues, much to the chagrin of everyone else.
Drew Gulak was doing a training session when Hank Walker comes by the ask Gulak for advice. Gulak invites Walker to observe a seminar Gulak is teaching next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defeated Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs (with Fallon Henley) to retain their titles
Woods pinned Briggs to win a good match. Easily the best television match for Briggs & Jensen.
Briggs gets to shine with power moves. Kingston & Woods go for dives, but Briggs cuts them both off. He mows them down with lariats. Jensen jumps in for a combo where Briggs connects with a big boot. Kingston manages to kick out for a near fall. More near falls for Briggs & Jensen. Briggs with a moonsault press off the top rope for a two count. Big pop for that spot.
Briggs & Jensen look to go for a Doomsday Device, but Woods shoves Jensen off the top rope. Kingston then counters Briggs to deliver a poison rana. Trouble In Paradise by Kofi on Briggs, and Kofi does a flip dive to wipe out Jensen on the floor. Woods leaps off the top rope with a flying elbow drop, and Woods covers Jensen for a pinfall. They all shake hands after the match, showing good sportsmanship.
Stacks is backstage where he is working up the courage to confront Dijak.
Grayson Waller knocked out Bron Breakker
Grayson Waller is still looking for Bron Breakker, despite being told earlier that he is not in the building.
Diamond Mine is leaving the building when they are stopped in the parking lot TMZ-style. Indus Sher interrupts to confront The Creed Brothers. Veer & Sanga want the Creeds to prove to them they are ready to compete with Indus Sher. Julius Creed vows to show them he is one hundred percent in a singles match next week, where Julius is set to face JD McDonagh.
Grayson Waller comes to the ring looking to again call out Bron Breakker. Waller cuts a promo where he rants and raves about himself. Waller puts himself over, vowing to become the greatest NXT Champion of all-time. Waller is insulting Breakker when Breakker arrives to the building in his sports car.
Breakker enters the soundstage and marches to the ring. They spoof a famous angle on WCW Monday Nitro from 1999 that involved Bret Hart and Goldberg (which itself spoofed a climatic scene with Clint Eastwood from the Western movie A Fistfull of Dollars). Breakker spears Waller, but Breakker is knocked out on impact. Waller gets up to reveal he is wearing a protective vest under his jacket.
Waller stood over a fallen Breakker, and Waller held up the title belt. Waller vowed to outsmart Breakker again when Waller becomes the new champion. Waller dropped his catchphrase as the show closed.
The next challengers for Pretty Deadly’s NXT Tag Team titles will be determined tonight.
WWE has announced that a triple threat number one contender’s tag team match will take place on tonight’s NXT. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, and The Dyad (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid) are the three teams that will face off for the next shot at Pretty Deadly’s titles.
Last week’s NXT ended with Pretty Deadly being confronted by Blade & Enofe and Briggs & Jensen. Pretty Deadly retained their titles against The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) in the main event of the episode after interference by Imperium.
At NXT Worlds Collide last month, Pretty Deadly won a four-way match where the NXT Tag Team titles and NXT UK Tag Team titles were unified.
WWE hasn’t announced when the winner of Blade & Enofe vs. Briggs & Jensen vs. The Dyad will get their title shot.
The build to Halloween Havoc continues on tonight’s NXT episode. Halloween Havoc is taking place on Saturday, October 22.
The updated lineup for tonight’s NXT is listed below:
Best-of-three series finale, Halloween Havoc North American Championship qualifying match: Nathan Frazer vs. Axiom
Triple threat NXT Tag Team title number one contender’s match: Malik Blade & Edris Enofe vs. Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen vs. The Dyad
Alba Fyre vs. Jacy Jayne
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. Wes Lee
Non-title match: NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. Javier Bernal (will kick off the episode)
Three wrestlers from NXT made their main roster debuts on Monday.
Fallon Henley, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen all competed in matches before last night’s episode of WWE Raw from the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Henley defeated Dana Brooke in singles competition. Briggs & Jensen defeated the team of R-Truth and Shelton Benjamin.
Former EVOLVE Champion Josh Briggs began training at the WWE Performance Center in October 2020. He started teaming with Jensen on the debut episode of NXT 2.0 on September 14, 2021. Jensen is the son of former WWE wrestler Bull Buchanan and reported to the Performance Center in August 2021.
Henley wrestled under her real name of Tesha Price in a dark match at the Mae Young Classic tapings in 2018, losing to Britt Baker. She then wrestled 21 matches for AEW between November 2020 and August 2021. The 28-year-old signed with WWE and made her NXT debut in September 2021.
A stipulation match headlined last night’s episode of NXT.
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen threw down with Gallus’ Mark Coffey & Wolfgang in an anything goes “Pub Rules” match on NXT last night. The weapons-filled match ended with Briggs & Jensen getting the win after hitting a high/low on Mark Coffey as he had a trash can over his head.
Following the main event, Gallus were taken away in handcuffs after punching out officials who were keeping them away from Briggs & Jensen. WWE then announced a storyline update claiming that Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang have been suspended indefinitely.
Last night’s NXT also saw the main event for Halloween Havoc become official. Bron Breakker will defend his NXT Championship against JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov in a triple threat match at the Saturday, October 22 special.
Plus, Wes Lee became the latest wrestler to qualify for the NXT North American Championship ladder match at Halloween Havoc. Carmelo Hayes, Oro Mensah, and Lee are the first three wrestlers to be confirmed for the ladder match.
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen are set to throw down with Gallus on NXT tonight.
In the main event of tonight’s show, Briggs & Jensen will face Gallus’ Mark Coffey & Wolfgang in a Pub Rules match. There was a confrontation between the two teams last week when Gallus wouldn’t let Briggs & Jensen into their cribbage game. The teams were about to brawl until officials stepped in.
The next competitor for the NXT North American Championship ladder match at Halloween Havoc will be confirmed tonight. Either Wes Lee or Tony D’Angelo will join Carmelo Hayes and Oro Mensah in the five-way ladder match to crown a new North American Champion. The title was relinquished by Solo Sikoa last week.
The Creed Brothers will look to get revenge on Damon Kemp, as Brutus Creed takes on Kemp tonight. The episode will also feature NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose vs. Fallon Henley in a non-title match, Nikkita Lyons vs. Kayden Carter, and Cameron Grimes vs. Joe Gacy.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with Ilja Dragunov entering the soundstage as he works the crowd like the conductor of an orchestra.
Notably, the show is on tape from Performance Center soundstage in Orlando. So the impending hurricane is not a concern for this show. Thankfully, this show was taped in advance. Everybody in Florida be safe, as Hurricane Ian looks to be a massive storm.
Dragunov enters the ring to deliver an opening monologue. He waxes poetically, and then Dragunov name drops Bron Breakker.
Despite name dropping Breakker, he was the one to interrupt the monologue. Out comes JD McDonagh. They have history in NXT UK.
McDonagh called Dragunov a “dirty, sneaky, little rat.” Dragunov responded by saying he once defeated and forced McDonagh out from NXT UK. McDonagh in return says Dragunov was so beaten up in their match, that Dragunov had to relinquish the NXT UK title. McDonagh sarcastically asks Dragunov how his broken ankle healed up properly.
McDonagh enters the ring and gets face-to-face with Dragunov. McDonagh tells Dragunov this is McDonagh’s time now. McDonagh instructs Dragunov to stay on the “sidelines” where he has been.
McDonagh threatens to end Dragunov’s career of he was to stop him again. Dragunov reacts to getting into McDonagh face, as Dragunov’s own face is flush with a seething rage. They are suddenly interrupted by NXT Champion Bron Breakker.
Breakker strolls out and welcomes Dragunov to NXT. Breakker calls him a “warrior” before also cautioning Dragunov that the NXT title “isn’t going anywhere.”
McDonagh pipes up, saying he is the number one contender. He says he has a good idea. The crowd chants “triple threat” at McDonagh, but he heels on them. The studio audience winds up getting the last laugh. Stay tuned.
McDonagh says he earned his shot, but he still has an idea. He suggests Breakker and Dragunov beat each other up, and McDonagh will face the winner.
Breakker scoffs at the notion like he is a character on a sitcom. Breakker goes to make a math joke, poking fun at his uncle Scott’s infamous promo. Breakker tells McDonagh he has a 33 and one third percent chance of winning. Studio audience pops.
This all leads to Breakker announcing that he will face both Dragunov and McDonagh in a triple threat title match at Halloween Havoc.
Meanwhile, a brawl erupts backstage between Gallus and Briggs & Jensen.
NXT Mandy Rose is headed to the ring, and she cuts a promo ahead of match with Fallon Henley. Rose’s promo is all about Alba Fyre.
Fallon Henley is already in the ring as the show returns from a commercial break.
NXT Champion Mandy Rose (with Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne) defeats Fallon Henley in a non-title match
Rose pins Henley clean after the “Kiss By the Rose” finisher.
Rose has her Toxic Attraction teammates in her corner, but Henley is alone. After the pull-apart brawl earlier with Briggs & Jensen, they are unable to be in Henley’s corner.
Shine, heat, and comeback for Henley. Rose cuts off her comeback with a Kiss By the Rose (jumping knee strike). Rose then covers Henley for a pinfall.
Rose cuts a promo on Alba Fyre after the match. Rose threatens Fyre with analogies about fire. Fyre interrupts Rose’s promo, as Fyre appears on the video screen.
Fyre says he does not do verbal warnings, she is more visual. Fyre lights an image on fire, spelling out a hashtag that says “AND NEW” on the ground outside the building.
Apollo Crews has words for Grayson Waller. Crews is still seeking revenge after Waller tried to supposedly blind him, although it really just an eye poke. Crews has a horrifying vision of Waller’s future.
Wes Lee enters the soundstage joined by Connor’s Cure Thriver Quinn “The King Crusher” Molitor. Lee is in action up next.
Xyon Quinn confronts Ilja Dragunov, which looks to set up a match between the two.
Wes Lee defeats Tony D’Angelo (with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo)
Lee wins via referee stoppage when D’Angelo cannot continue due to injury.
Carmelo Hays and Trick Williams are shown backstage watching the match.
The match goes through a commercial break. Just before the show goes to commercial, the referee ejects Stacks after he interferes in the match. That actually helps D’Angelo, as the distraction by Stacks allows D’Angelo to gain the underhanded advantage.
As if to begin a comeback, Wes Lee is about to hulk up when something seemingly goes wrong. D’Angelo is sent into a middle turnbuckle after taking a drop toehold. D’Angelo tries to stand, but he cannot put weight on his leg. the referee stops the match, as D’Angelo is apparently hurt.
Raquel Rodriquez is the focus of a PSA celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
A vignette highlights NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly, with a day in the life of the champs. Played up for laughs, I guess they are supposed to be funny heels. Kind of like the Honky Tonk Man as IC Champ, except their gimmicks are nothing like the Honky Tonk Man.
Sol Ruca defeats Amari Miller
Ruca pins Miller in Ruca’s in-ring debut on NXT television. Ruca does a Muta clothesline in a corner, and she turns a flip into a double legdrop before scoring the pinfall.
Ruca has plenty of potential and great athleticism, but this match is not Tom Magee against Bret Hart.
On commentary Ruca is described as “standout” college athlete from the University of Oregon, but no mention of her shoot name. She also has a gymnastics background, so they at least gave a clue as to her real name.
Gallus is backstage in a scrum with security. One security dude takes a headbutt from Joe Coffey, and Gallus is forced back into their locker room. This skit leads to Joe Coffey being banned from ringside during the main event.
Joe Gacy (with The Dyad) defeats Cameron Grimes
Gacy pins Grimes after interference by The Dyad.
The match gets under way, and it quickly turns into a brawl. Gacy is getting the better of Grimes, until Grimes comes back with a rally.
Grimes goes for a dive off the apron, but The Dyad are there attempting to block him. Grimes dives over them anyway with a somersault senton on Gacy. However, Grimes momentarily turns his attention to The Dyad.
With Grimes’ attention briefly diverted by The Dyad, Gacy is able to capitalize. Gacy works over Grimes, but Grimes soon fights back. The Dyad thwarts Grimes’ comeback as they interfere again. Grimes takes a lariat that turns him upside down, and Gacy covers him for a three count.
Grayson Waller is freaking out about Apollo Crew’s vision. He vows to hire extra security to protect himself.
An advertisement plugs NXT trading cards … in the year Two Thousand Twenty Two. What is old is new again.
Lyons pins Carter clean in the middle. So, a potential challenger has pins one-half of the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. A tag title match seems imminent.
Lyons counters Carter to deliver a roundhouse kick. Lyons follows up with her splits/legdrop combo, and Lyons covers Carter for a clean pinfall.
This match had “a lot of hype online.” Sure, Vic Joseph. Whatever you say.
A pre-taped skit featured Andre Chase giving a speech at a pep rally on the campus of Chase U. Andre Chase upset Carmelo Hayes in an impromptu match last week on NXT. C
Chase announces he faces Von Wagner next week in a qualifying match, where the winner joins the five-way ladder match at Halloween Havoc to crown a new NXT North American Champion.
By the way, Chase cut a promo on a reporter named “Dave,” saying he don not ask a five star question.
A vignette features Nathan Frazier, and it focuses on his success as a soccer player. Frazier relates that to his best-of-three series against Axiom. The third match in their series in also now a qualifying match, where the winner advances to the ladder match at Halloween Havoc.
Ilja Dragunov defeats Xyon Quinn
Dragunov pins Quinn to win the match.
Vic Joseph on commentary notes this is Dragunov’s first match back since returning from a broken ankle.
While Quinn got plenty of offense, but this was clearly about getting Dragunov over with the audience.
Dragunov fights back on Quinn, and Dragunov lands some wicked strikes. For the finish, Dragunov signals and measures for a flying back elbow. Dragunov then scores a pinfall.
Lash Legend and Wendy Choo cut promos on each other in a pre-taped, post-produced featurette.
Brutus Creed defeats Damon Kemp via disqualification
Kemp is disqualified for using a chair.
Creed meets Kemp on the entrance ramp, and the fights starts with a brawl before the bell.
Creeds throws Kemp around with suplexes. Kemp soon counters, and Kemp applies a neck vice. They work the hold for awhile like this was a house show.
Kemp mocks Creed, which in turn fires up Creed. Kemp is sent out of the ring with a Monty Brown Pounce by Brutus. Being a heel, Kemp grabs a metal folding chair. Kemp hits Creed with the chair, leading to a DQ.
Kemp pummels Creed with chair shots, and an Kemp screams at Creed after the match.
Sanga is usually the one giving out advice, but this week he gets some advice instead in a backstage skit. Sanga is given a pep talk by “Super Diva” Quincy Elliott. Xyon Quinn walks past, and Elliott tells Quinn he does not see the “X” factor in him. Elliott then giggles at Quinn as Elliott turns to leave.
Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark cut a promo vowing to win the women’s tag titles. They are confronted by Toxic Attraction, who warn Lyons & Starks that the odds are three-on-two. A shoot line of fire is ignited by Alba Fyre, as she steps in to join the side of Lyons & Starks. This seems to set up a future trios match.
Plugged for next week on NXT is The Grayson Waller Effect, with two rivals having a face off. Waller’s guests are foes Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. Also announced for next Tuesday is Andre Chase against Von Wagner in a North American qualifying match. In addition, NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly will deliver a “State of the Commonwealth Address” on next week’s episode of NXT.
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen defeats Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) in a Pub Rules match
Jensen pins Coffey after a wild, weapons-filled brawl. Gallus is handcuffed by police officers after a post-match angle, where Joe Coffey punches a referee.
Joe Coffey is banned from ringside after headbutting security earlier in the show, but he runs in during the match nonetheless.
Pub Rules basically means a hardcore match. Trash cans are scattered around ringside. Tables and chairs are also prevalent.
The two teams fought in street clothes like they are in a bunkhouse match, which fits Briggs & Jensen’s gimmick.
This is probably not the first pub brawl in pro wrestling history to start over a cribbage game. Old school fans will get that reference.
Briggs brings a rope to the ring like he is El Texano Jr. Likely only lucha libre fans will get that reference.
The brawling goes through a split-screen commercial break as the fight continues.
The two teams whip each other with leather belts. Briggs & Jensen do the Ray Traylor spot where they baseball slide out of the ring and punch their foes. Makes me nostalgic for the Big Bossman.
A deathmatch breaks out as glass soon becomes involved in the melee. Briggs & Jensen shatter beer mugs on Mark Coffey & Wolfgang.
Despite being banned from ringside, Joe Coffey runs in. He then takes a Nestea Plunge through a table at ringside. In the ring, Wolfgang is hiplocked through a table.
In the meantime, Mark Coffey is stuffed upside down into a trash can. He gets to his feet with the trash can still over his head, and Coffey stumbles around like Terry Funk trapped in the can. Briggs & Jensen deliver a high-low combo on Coffey, and Jensen covers Coffey for a pinfall.
Fallon Henley joins Briggs & Jensen in the ring to celebrate their win.
Referees pour out to keep Gallus from getting back into the ring. Joe Coffey punches a ref, and out comes a bunch of police officers. Gallus is handcuffed by police and led away as the show closes.
WWE has announced a pair of segments for the next edition of NXT.
Ahead of the Great American Bash, NXT Champion Bron Breakker will go face-to-face with Cameron Grimes on NXT this Tuesday night. Breakker vs. Grimes for the NXT Championship is set for the special Great American Bash episode of NXT that’s taking place on Tuesday, July 5.
New NXT UK Tag Team Champions Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen will also “address their shocking title win” on NXT this Tuesday. Briggs & Jensen won a fatal four-way elimination match on NXT UK last Thursday to win the vacant NXT UK Tag Team titles.
It was originally announced that Briggs & Jensen were heading to the United Kingdom to challenge Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, but Carter & Smith had to vacate the titles due to Smith suffering a ruptured MCL.
Briggs & Jensen defeated Teoman & Rohan Raja, Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz, and Mark Andrews & Wild Boar in the four-way elimination match to be crowned as the new champions.
The updated lineup for Tuesday’s NXT is listed below:
NXT Women’s Tag Team title number one contender’s match: Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade vs. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
Indi Hartwell vs. Kiana James
Sanga vs. Xyon Quinn
Nikkita Lyons returns
NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Cameron Grimes go face-to-face
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen address their NXT UK Tag Team title win
