NXT UK has new Tag Team Champions as Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen won the belts on Thursday’s show.
The titles were declared vacant at the beginning of the show after Ashton Smith revealed he suffered a ruptured MCL when winning the titles, leading to he and Oliver Carter relinquishing them.
That led to a four-way elimination match being made for Thursday’s show featuring the brand-debuting Briggs & Jensen against Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz, Mark Andrews & Wild Boar and Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja).
Briggs & Jensen and Teoman & Raja were the final two teams as the Americans hit a high/low on Raja to get the pin and title win in their promotional debut.
It’s the first taste of gold in either NXT or NXT UK for Briggs & Jensen. They become the seventh tag team champions in NXT UK history.
The match happened Wednesday during the first night of TV tapings. It’s unknown how long the duo will stay on the brand and what direction things will take during Thursday’s taping.
Smith’s timetable for a return is unknown. He and Carter had a short reign as champions, roughly three weeks in TV time, after defeating Moustache Mountain for the titles earlier this month.
An NXT 2.0 team is getting a shot at the NXT UK Tag Team titles.
On the NXT UK episode that airs next Thursday, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen will challenge Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship. It will be Smith & Carter’s first defense since winning the titles.
Carter & Smith became NXT UK Tag Team Champions by defeating Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) and Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja) in a triple threat match on NXT UK two weeks ago.
Fallon Henley, who is aligned with Briggs & Jensen in NXT 2.0, will also be appearing with them on NXT UK.
A promo from Briggs, Jensen, and Henley aired on NXT UK this week. Briggs said it will be an honor to face Carter & Smith.
Briggs & Jensen’s team debuted following last September’s NXT 2.0 rebrand. The story of their partnership is that they bonded after getting into a bar fight with each other.
Briggs & Jensen are currently feuding with Von Wagner on NXT 2.0.
It’s also been announced that NXT 2.0’s Sarray will be in action against Nina Samuels on NXT UK next Thursday.
NXT 2.0’s Wagner, Lash Legend, Ivy Nile, and Damon Kemp have also recently appeared on NXT UK. They took part in April’s NXT UK television tapings.
Before heading to SmackDown, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will have a North American Championship defense tonight.
The rivalry between Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma will culminate as Scott defends his North American Championship against Santos Escobar on tonight’s NXT. It will be Scott’s first title defense since winning the North American Championship from Bronson Reed this June.
In the WWE Draft, Hit Row (Scott, Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis & B-Fab) were selected by SmackDown. The post-draft rosters don’t officially go into effect until Friday, October 22.
At NXT’s Halloween Havoc special episode later this month, Tommaso Ciampa will put his NXT Championship on the line against Bron Breakker. That match will become a triple threat if Joe Gacy defeats Ciampa in their non-title bout tonight.
Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner will team up tonight as they face Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland. Holland was also selected by SmackDown in the draft.
Plus, there will be a new edition of Lashing Out with Lash Legend. Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile will also make her in-ring debut.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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North American Champion Isaiah Swerve Scott arrives to the building along with B-Fab and Top Dolla. Scott is wearing headphones, so he is unaware when Legado del Fantasma jumped Hit Row. Santos Escobar attacks Swerve, leaving him laying. B-Fab and Top Dolla were then kidnapped by Legado del Fantasma. I personally haven’t hardly ever seen a wrestling show open with a kidnapping.
Joe Gacy, sitting in a chair, cut a promo from the ring. Using a lot of buzzwords like “safe space” and such, he said a lot without really saying anything at all. Calling the fans “snowflakes,” he dedicated the match to them before vowing to win. At least that’s what I think he meant. The announcers acted as if they had no idea either, so I don’t feel too bad being somewhat lost.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defeated Joe Gacy in a non-title match
Ciampa pinned Gacy clean.
While the match was decent enough, the first half wasn’t all that exciting either. Ciampa is a ring general, but Gacy is able to cut him off several times. Ciampa was fired up after the show returned from a commercial break.
After trading strikes, Gacy gets a near fall. Follows that up by missing a moonsault. Ciampa looked to end it, but Gacy counters him for a roll-up and a two count. Ciampa soon cut off Gacy, and Ciampa delivers a Fairy Tale Ending. Ciampa then covers Gacy for a clean pinfall.
Ciampa was attacked by Harland, who was sitting in the crowd during the match. Gacy was grabbed by the throat, but he stroked the Harland’s face, and he let Gacy live. Zero time to digest what just happened, because here comes the Toxic Attraction trio.
Toxic Attraction enters the scene for an in-ring promo. Mandy Rose challenges NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez to a title match at Halloween Havoc. Rose called herself “the baddest bitch in the game.” Also, Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne vowed to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. As soon as the trio was done speaking, the theme music hit for the next match.
Xyon Quinn defeated Malik Blade
Quinn pinned Blade in a short match. Nothing bad, but another unexciting match.
It was mostly all Quinn for much of the way, but Blade got to shine just before the finish. Blade delivered a missile dropkick, and he got a near fall after a roll-up. Quinn again used the flying forearm for his finisher, and kind of setting it up like Roman Reigns does the Superman punch.
Ciampa was doing a backstage interview when he was confronted by Grizzled Young Veterans. They looked to bully Ciampa, but Bron Breakker walked in to have Ciampa’s back. Breakker says he stands by Ciampa’s side until Halloween Havoc because he wants Ciampa at his best in their title match.
Ivy Nile (with Diamond Mine) defeated Valentina Feroz
Nile submitted Feroz in her debut match on NXT.
Not a particularly good match, but Nile looked impressive. She did a lot of power moves, showing off her strength. Nile won with a torture rack where Nile was squatting with Feroz on her shoulders. Feroz tapped out.
Malcolm Bivens cut a promo after the match as Diamond Mind flanked Nile. Bivens called her a pit bull on the loose. Bivens also put over the Creed Brothers, claiming they are the most dominate team in the promotion. Bivens then gave a grand intro to NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong.
Diamond Mine was interrupted by Ikeman Jiro, who is great by the way. The heels cleared the ring, excpet for Julius Creed. He got in Jiro’s face and cut a promo on Jiro, so Jiro kneed Creed in the face. The show cut to a commercial break with a tease of a match between the two. Sure enough, they were wrestling in the show returned from the break.
Julius Creed defeated Ikeman Jiro
Creed pinned Jiro after a sliding lariat.
Creed was manhandling Jiro as the match was joined in progress. Jiro made a comeback. He and his suit jacket fired up on Creed. No Place Like Home moonsault by Jiro for a nearfall. Jiro followed up with an Asai moonsault. However, Creed caught him on a springboard. Creed then nailed Jiro with a sliding lariat, and Creed covers him for a pinfall.
Diamond Mine attack Jiro afterwards for a post-match beatdown. Kushida ran down to make a save, except Kushida was also on the receiving end of a beatdown at the hands of Diamond Mine.
A vignette highlighted Raquel Gonzalez, and she cut a promo on Mandy Rose. Gonzalez upped the stakes, challenging Rose to Spin the Wheel and Make the Deal.
Lashing Out with Lash Legend featured talk about the WWE Draft. There was a Squid Game joke. Legend put over Hit Row. Legend also wants nothing to do with Tony D’Angelo.
Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner defeated Ridge Holland & Pete Dunne
Wagner pinned Holland in a match that showcased Wagner. He was made to look like a killer. It sort of worked out that way.
Focus was mostly on Wagner and Holland. O’Reilly and Dunne were almost playing second fiddle to the big guys in the match. It pains me to type that last sentence.
Wagner cleaned house before the show cut to a commercial break. Holland is working over O’Reilly when the show is back from the break. Ring is cut in half as the heels keeps O’Reilly from making a tag. O’Reilly is finally able to make it to his corner, but Wagner is not there because Wagner was knocked off the apron.
Hope spot for O’Reilly, but he was soon mowed down by Holland. Wagner made a save. Hot tag to Wagner, and Wagner was a house of fire on Holland. Wagner yelled for O’Reilly to “finish him.” So, O’Reilly leapt off the ring apron with a flying knee on Dunne. Wagner with a modified butterfly suplex on Holland, and Wagner covers him for a three count.
In the second kidnapping of the show, Tony D’Angelo apparently put a producer in the trunk of a car because the producer big leagued D’Angelo.
Duke Hudson defeated Grayson Waller
Hudson upset Waller with a handful of tights. Okay match, and the feud will probably continue judging by the finish.
Waller was made to look like a superstar, and he even got an in-set promo where he talking about being a boxer. On the other hand was Hudson, who got no entrance. Hudson was introduced like he was The Gambler on an episode of WCW Worldwide. That made Hudson’s win all the more surprising.
Waller delivers a stunner leading into the finish. He tried to follow up with a springboard, but Hudson tripped him up. Hudson then covered Waller, hooked a leg, and held the tights to get the pinfall.
A vignette highlighted Imperium.
Spin the Wheel Make the Deal was made an official stipulation for the Women’s title match at Halloween Havoc.
Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta defeated Sarray & Amari Miller
So much for Sarray getting any sort of push as this was a glorified squash match. Pirotta picked up Miller in a fireman’s carry, and Miller took a facebuster from there. Hartwell then springboarded into the ring with a flying elbow drop, and Hartwell covered Miller for a pinfall.
Pirotta after the match called out the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. Out comes the champs, Io Shirai and Zoey Starks. Shirai rants in Japanese, and she doesn’t like anyone. Toxic Attraction interrupts them. Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne brawl with the champs, and a melee ensues involving all three teams.The champs cleaned house and stood tall.
Grayson Waller was backstage being a player. Cameron Grimes talked to him, and Waller gave Waller advice on dating women. Waller introduced Grimes to online dating apps. Remember when Grimes was a featured star on NXT? Those were good times.
NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Santos Escobar to retain his title
Scott pinned Escobar to retain, but that would not be Scott’s last title match before leaving for Smackdown.
In a receipt from earlier in the show, Scott jumped Escobar before the bell. Escobar was on rubber legs as the bout began. He took a powder, but Scott went out after him with a Fosbury Flop over the ropes the floor.
Scott worked over Escobar, and Scott looked in complete control. Escobar eventually countered Scott, and Escobar soon flew through the ropes with a tope before the show cut to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Tide had turned when the show came back from the break. Escobar was working over Scott. A comeback by Scott led into him firing up. On a roll through, Escobar with another counter cut off Scott. Frog splash by Escobar for a near fall.
They fought on the apron, and Escobar is given a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Scott follows up with a 450 splash, but Escobar gets his knees up to block the 450.
Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde run in, and they jump on the apron to cause a distraction. Camerlo Hayes and Trick Williams run down to pull Legado del Fantasma off the apron. Hayes and Williams beat up Mendoza and Wilde. Meanwhile, Escobar hits an exposed turnbuckle, and Scott delivers a JML Driver. Scott then pinned Escobar to retain.
Hayes after the match lifted the hand of Scott, but it was a trap. Hayes leveled Scott with a short-arm clothesline. Hayes is cashing in his Breakout contract.
Carmelo Hayes defeated NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott to win the title
Hayes quickly springboarded into a flying clothesline. Scott kicked out at two and half. Hayes floored Scott with a scissor kick, and Hayes climbed the turnbuckles. Hayes leapt off the top with a guillotine leg drop, and he covered Scott for a pinfall to win the title.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line as MSK defend against Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams, and The Grizzled Young Veterans in a fatal four-way match. The match was originally announced as an eight-man tag before being changed.
Tonight’s show will also feature Odyssey Jones vs. LA Knight, Indi Hartwell vs. Mei Ying, Ikemen Jiro vs. Joe Gacy, Cora Jade in action, the debut of Tony D’Angelo, and Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon.
Rose vs. Moon will kick off tonight’s show. Last week, Rose set her sights on the NXT Women’s Championship as Toxic Attraction attacked Raquel Gonzalez following her title defense against Franky Monet. Rose laid out Gonzalez with a knee strike and then posed with Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s title belt.
We may also find out what’s next for NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker, who are on a collision course toward a match against each other.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with Vic Joseph explaining that the original eight-man tag was turned into a four-way tag team match because nobody could get along.
Mandy Rose (with Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolan) defeated Ember Moon
A fine, albeit short match. Not feeling hopeful for Ember’s future in this new NXT.
Moon gained control early in the match, putting Rose in a tree of woe position. The rest of Toxic Attraction pulled her out of the ring. Moon responded with a tope suicida that took out Jayne. Rose cut off Moon as she was re-entering the ring and hit a reverse suplex for a two count. Rose was in control until Moon cut her off with a punch.
Moon went to the middle rope and connected with a codebreaker for a nearfall. She missed the Eclipse then walked right into a knee strike by Rose and was pinned.
On commentary, Beth Phoenix said that Adam will handle their business, in reference to the angle on SmackDown where Seth Rollins invaded Edge and Beth’s house.
Legado Del Fantasma bragged about taking out Hit Row, who are now moving to SmackDown as a result of the Draft. Escobar challenged Swerve for the NXT North American Championship.
LA Knight defeated Odyssey Jones
Basic match, but I thought Jones looked very good here for what they want him to do. The finish was WWE 101 booking where the guy is on offense for the bulk of the match then loses after taking one move, which is ludicrous.
Crowd chanted for Jones as the match started. Jones splashed Knight and threw him around like a ragdoll in the ring. Knight exited the ring as Jones stalked Knight, who found an opening by tripping Jones, sending him to the middle turnbuckle.
Knight remained in control until he tried to bodyslam Jones, who responded by splashing Knight in a counter. Jones hit a knee to the gut when Andre Chase appeared on the apron to distract Jones. This allowed Knight to plant Jones with a reverse cutter for the win, with Chase holding down Jones’ foot.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Cameron Grimes, who put over all the current romances going on in NXT. He said that he was on a search to find a lucky lady. Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland walked in. Dunne said he was the baddest man in NXT. He challenged Grimes to a match. Grimes ignored him and instead started to chat with some ladies nearby.
Kyle O’Reilly walked up to Von Wagner in the locker room and asked why he’s had his back for the last two weeks. Wagner referred to himself in the third person strangely and said that O’Reilly has heart. O’Reilly said after the last year, he doesn’t trust anybody and told Wagner to stay out of his way.
Tommaso Ciampa came out for a promo. He said Halloween Havoc returns October 26 on NXT, and the champ needs an opponent. He mentioned one man in particular who says he’s not a patient man and that he wants to be the flag bearer in NXT. Ciampa said actions speak louder than words. He asked who had the balls to take the NXT title from him.
This brought out Bron Breakker. He told Ciampa that he’s shown nothing for respect for him. He wants to be the NXT Champion. He said he has the biggest balls in the locker room and that he and the crowd want the title shot. Ciampa said the difference between him and Breakker is that Breakker wants the NXT title, but Ciampa needs it. He told Breakker that he has three weeks to go from an intern to a PHD, accepting his challenge.
It is hilarious that Breakker is a Steiner with a capital S, looking like his father, wrestling like a Steiner and cutting promos just like Scott, yet everyone on TV is banned from stating the obvious. The WWE Universe is a universe completely disconnected from ours.
Joe Gacy in a backstage promo said that while social media crashed, he knew one platform that won’t crash: NXT 2.0. He will use the ring as our safe space, conflict can be resolved peacefully and that yes, there can be two winners.
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta were talking about how many condoms Hartwell used during her honeymoon backstage when they opened a creepy door they saw was filled with smoke. Mei Ying and Boa were inside, with Boa telling them to get out.
Joe Gacy defeated Ikemen Jiro
Another short match. They are 100% into this Gacy gimmick.
Gacy offered a handshake, with Jiro accepting. After Ikemen connected with a strike, Gacy told Jiro to hit him again. Commentary mentioned that Gacy has received national attention as a result of what WWE thinks are woke promos. Gacy hit a clothesline in the corner, then a suplex. Ikemen cut him off with a sloppy DDT then used his jacket for a comeback.
Ikemen hit a nice hurricanrana off the top rope but missed a knee strike. Gacy springboarded off the ropes then planted Ikemen with a clothesline for the win.
After the match, Gacy lifted Ikemen to his feet and hugged him. Ikemen looked confused. As Gacy was walking to the back, a creepy bald man stared at him in the stands. Turns out, the creepy bald man was in fact Parker Boudreaux, who looked unrecognizable. He is going under the name Harland in NXT.
Cora Jade, whose gimmick is “skateboarder”, is up next.
Duke Hudson is now a professional poker player. In Duke’s Poker Room, we don’t discriminate, you see. THIS IS 1990s WWF SUPERSTARS.
Cora Jade defeated Franky Monet
Another short match. Like with Ember, I think things aren’t looking good for Franky if she isn’t called up soon.
Cora Jade came to the ring on a skateboard with a song that was straight up off of a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game from 1999. Virginia Perry, who was supposed to wrestle her, was suddenly jumped by Franky Monet, who was just standing there for…reasons?
Monet was in total control from the start, hitting knees in the corner. Trey Baxter suddenly popped up at ringside supporting Jade. Jade missed a splash in the corner and tried to rally back but Monet cut her off. Monet went for her finish but Jade rolled her up and pinned Monet.
All the tag teams in the tag team title match attacked one another backstage. Vic Joseph said that the title match was now elimination style.
Ciampa was cutting a promo when Gacy walked up to him and said he had toxic energy. He speaks for a voice struggling to be heard and basically said he wanted a title match. Ciampa said if Gacy beats him next week, he can be in the Halloween Havoc title match. Ciampa told Gacy that the ring won’t be a safe space for him next week.
Raquel Gonzalez looked mad as she was walking into the Performance Center.
Pete Dunne defeated Cameron Grimes
I liked this while it lasted, but it did not last long, the theme to most NXT TV matches these days.
Grimes started in control, but Dunne cut him off with a clothesline. He manipulated Grimes’ fingers but Grimes fought back, only to get taken down. Dunne missed a knee in the corner, allowing Grimes to make his comeback. He went to the top rope with a clothesline for a nearfall.
The two traded offense until Holland took Dunne out of the ring. O’Reilly was the latest person to appear out of thin air to attack Holland, who responded by throwing O’Reilly over the announce table. Amongst all the confusion, Dunne was able to hit the Bitter End on Grimes for the win.
O’Reilly jumped Dunne after the match, but he and Holland quickly took him out like he was nothing.
Tony D’Angelo, who has connections, is up next.
Hit Row vignette. Top Dolla made it clear they were not running away from Legado Del Fantasma. B-Fab told Elektra next time she won’t be so nice. Swerve accepted Escobar’s North American title challenge.
Von Wagner was shown helping O’Reilly to his feet after he was laid out.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Malik Blade
Not good at all. D’Angelo is nowhere near close to be on NXT television. However long this match went, it needed to be cut in half.
D’Angelo came to the ring wearing a velvet tracksuit. The crowd liked D’Angelo. Blade cut him off, hitting a dropkick that sent him out of the ring. D’Angelo was able to make a comeback. D’Angelo is not ready for NXT TV by any stretch of the imagination. Blade cut him off again and hit a crossbody for a nearfall. D’Angelo tripped Blade into the turnbuckle, hit a belly-to-belly suplex, then pinned Blade with a northern lights suplex, then slowly followed with a twisting fisherman’s buster.
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams talked about the tag team title match. Hayes brought up he didn’t even cash in his Breakout title contract. Williams clarified they were bout it bout it.
Indi Hartwell defeated Mei Ying
Bad. Add the 10,000 year old lady who was trained by dragons to the list of people not long for this version of NXT.
The two had a very long feeling out process until Ying was able to take control with a neck hold, then eventually a nerve choke. Mei Ying shoved Hartwell into the turnbuckle outside of the ring. Persia Pirotta was the 36346th person to appear out of thin air and distracted Mei Ying, leaving the opening for Hartwell to post her in the corner. This allowed Hartwell to pin Ying after a springboard elbow.
Backstage, Lash Legend said if you thought last week’s show was great, next week she will spill some hot tea that will make the Urban Meyer story seem tame. I am not a football guy, but Meyer I believe is a coach for the Jaguars. Who owns the Jaguars? Hmm. Anyway, Tony D’Angelo walked in and wanted to be part of next week’s show. Lash seemed interested, then talked about how she shut down Facebook and Instagram yesterday.
A Diamond Mine promo aired introducing every member of the stable, I guess for those who are new. Considering last week’s rating, there are not many new people watching this.
Raquel Gonzalez came down to the ring for a promo. She dared Mandy Rose to try and touch her title again. This brought out Toxic Attraction. Rose said she used to admire Gonzalez, but now she just comes off as desperate, knowing her title reign is about to come to an end. She said Toxic Attraction are taking over. Gigi Dolan said that they are championship material, and you can’t stop but look in awe of us. Gonzalez brought up the stitches she gave Dolan last week, which Dolan did not like.
Jacey Jayne said that we can add jealousy to go with being desperate. Jayne said that they are all over Raw and SmackDown and we are the face of NXT. Soon, they’ll be holding all the gold in NXT. They are not just Toxic Attraction, they ARE the attraction.
The trio then circled around the ring as Rose asked if they should have some fun. Zoey Stark and Io Shirai entered for the save, daring Toxic Attraction to attack. They backed down as the babyfaces stood in the ring.
O’Reilly was icing his shoulder when Von Wagner walked up to him and said whether he likes it or not, he is the only one that has O’Reilly’s back and they are taking on Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland next week.
Gonzalez, Stark, and Shirai were backstage talking about how they didn’t like Toxic Attraction more than they didn’t like each other. Hartwell and Pirotta walked up and told the Tag Team Champions that they wanted a title match as well. I guess Johnny Garango and Candice LeRae have just disappeared and we’re moving on from The Way.
MSK defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake), Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs, and Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams to retain the NXT Tag Team titles
This had no choice but to be the best match on the show. Everyone looked good, even Jensen and Briggs. They are clearly green, but they looked good and did what they needed to do to be the powerhouse team in the match.
Everyone tagged in early and did their stuff. Most of it looked good. Briggs and Jensen ended up gaining control, and allowed Wes Lee to hit a running tope con hilo to the floor, taking out Hayes and Williams. MSK pinned Williams with an assisted neckbreaker off the top rope, scoring the first elimination.
Back from the break, Zack Gibson of the Grizzled Young Vets controlled Wes Lee. Drake was tagged in and took control, but MSK cut them off, with Nash Carter hitting a moonsault off the turnbuckle and to the floor, taking out the GYV. Jensen was able to tag in and quickly pinned Gibson with an assist from Briggs. That left MSK and Jensen & Briggs.
Briggs hit Lee with a big boot, with Jensen planting him with a side Russian leg sweep at the same time. The two controlled Lee, hitting a double chokeslam. Carter hit a big crossbody to the floor, taking out Jensen. In the confusion, Lee was able to get a victory roll over Briggs for the pin and to retain the titles.
Jensen and Briggs grabbed the titles after the match. They gave them to MSK as they left, establishing themselves as babyfaces. As they were leaving, Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner) ran in and attacked MSK. Jensen and Woods came in and chased away the heels, helping MSK to their feet as the show ended.
Final Thoughts:
Well, let’s see what I can remember.
I said this on Twitter as the show was going on, but this was like if WCW Nitro booked by Vince Russo had a lovechild with 1992 WWF Superstars. Goofy gimmicks, wrestlers not even close to being ready for national television, 2 minute matches and lots of tall, good-looking people are all over this show. It’s hard to absorb anything when so much happens. I think it’s the end result of a bunch of corporate people plus Kevin Dunn and Bruce Prichard trying to figure out how to draw in the 18-49 demographic. This is what they think will work. I guess we’ll see if they’re right.
On the plus side, we have some things announced for Halloween Havoc in a few weeks and there’s a clear direction. So there’s that. The old NXT guard isn’t going to like this. But WWE doesn’t want the old NXT guard. They’ve given that floor to AEW to run away with after years of attempting, and utterly failing, to thwart them. WWE corporate wants…this. And this is what they’ll get.
Six debuts took place on NXT tonight as part of the launch of NXT 2.0.
The new look NXT made its debut tonight after being promoted for several weeks both on NXT and in WWE. Throughout the show several new names appeared on the program. They include:
Brooks Jensen, who teamed with Josh Briggs tonight in a losing effort against Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner). Jensen is Ben Buchanan, the son of former WWE star Bull Buchanan. He was announced as having signed with WWE last month.
Trick Williams was introduced as a friend of Carmelo Hayes. During a promo, Hayes said that Williams would have his back going forward. Williams told Hayes that he was being too humble. Hayes agreed with Williams, declaring himself “The Chosen One”. After a confrontation with Duke Hudson as they were leaving, William and Hayes jumped Hudson from behind, laying him out. Williams is Matrick Belton, who has a football background and trained at the CZW Wrestling Academy. He signed with WWE in February of this year.
Tony D’Angeloappeared in a vignette and talked about being from Chicago. He said he had an amateur wrestling background, but there was no money in that. Rather, there was money in NXT. D’Angelo is Joe Ariola, who has an amateur wrestling background and wrestled for the University of Buffalo, qualifying for the NCAA tournament in 2016. He was also signed in February of this year.
Ivy Nile was introduced as the newest member of the Diamond Mine. She appeared in the background during a vignette last week, but made her TV debut tonight. She is Emily Andzulis, who competed in the first season of NBC’s The Titan Games. She was signed in January of 2020.
Also debuting on tonight’s show is Bron Breakker, aka Bronson Rechsteiner, son of Rick Steiner. He defeated LA Knight after challenging him in the opening minutes of tonight’s NXT. Von Wagner is Cal Bloom, son of former WWE and AWA star Wayne Bloom. He replaced Kyle O’Reilly in the fatal four way match to determine a new NXT Champion after O’Reilly was jumped backstage by Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland.
