Tiffany Stratton and Dijak have qualified for the Iron Survivor Challenge.
Stratton defeated Fallon Henley on Tuesday’s NXT to become the first person to qualify, pinning Henley with the prettiest moonsault ever. Later in the show, Dijak defeated Tyler Bate to qualify, pinning Bate after hitting the feast your eyes.
As a result, both now qualify for the women’s and men’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches, which will take place at NXT Deadline on December 9 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mick Foley announced both qualifying matches over the weekend; it was revealed on Tuesday’s show that WWE Hall of Famer Lita will announce the next qualifying matches next week.
JBL and Jerry The King Lawler will also choose qualifying matches in the weeks to come.
Last year’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches saw Roxanne Perez and Grayson Waller win the women’s and men’s matches respectively. Perez went on to win the NXT Women’s Championship, while Waller failed in his efforts to win the NXT Championship.
After a huge episode last week, tonight’s NXT will set the stage for Halloween Havoc.
Halloween Havoc is a two-week event taking place on October 24 and October 31. Tonight, we’ll find out Ilja Dragunov’s NXT Championship challenger for Havoc. Carmelo Hayes, Baron Corbin, and Dijak are facing off in a triple threat number one contender’s match.
Dragunov won the NXT Championship from Hayes at No Mercy.
A “Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royal” on tonight’s show determines which team will challenge Tony D’Angelo & Stacks for the NXT Tag Team titles at Halloween Havoc.
NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch is defending her title against Lyra Valkyria at Halloween Havoc week one. Valkyria faces Tegan Nox one-on-one tonight.
Nathan Fraizer looks to be the next challenger for NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio after the two got into an altercation after Raw.
Last Tuesday, Cody Rhodes served as the special guest general manager of NXT. Rhodes has teased that he made one final decision as guest GM last week that will be revealed tonight.
Opening the show is the 10-team battle royal. The Creed Brothers get an entrance, but few others do. NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo are on perch overlooking the ring. The tag champs are seated at a table eating a pasta dish, while they watch the gimmick match that will determine their next challengers.
Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson) win the Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royal to become number one contenders
Chase U found themselves as one of the final two teams in the battle royal, setting up an immediate tag team match against Humberto Carillo & Angel Garza. Chase & Hudson go on to win the tag bout, after interference by the Creed Brothers.
If you have seen a battle royal, you have seen much of the early portion. Battle royal spots galore, with a few stories woven into the match. For example, the Creeds eliminated Gallus, which plays off a previous rivalry. The finish itself sets up the Creeds against Carillo & Garza as an upcoming program.
Another future match set up is Butch & Ridge Holland against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price. All four were tied up in a wad when Scyrpts jumped on top of the pile. Everybody went tumbling over the ropes, eliminated both teams. They all brawl at ringside as the match continues in the ring.
That left three teams remaining in the ring. Julius Creed dumped Humberto Carillo over the ropes, eliminating Carillo & Angel Garza. Or so it seemed. The referees apparently missed the elimination, as the refs were all busy trying to stop the brawl at ringside. Garza & Carillo rush back in and throw out the Creeds. The refs actually see that elimination, and the Creeds are out.
The final two teams came down to the Chase & Hudson against Garza & Carillo. With two teams remaining, now the match becomes a traditional tag match. Out comes Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne with pom poms, acting as cheerleaders for Chase U.
The tag bout goes through a commercial break, and Carillo & Garza are in control after the break. They work over Chase, and Hudson is also knocked off the apron. When Chase finally creates some separation, Hudson is not there for the tag, as Hudson is still selling on the floor. Hudson would eventually get back in the corner for a hot tag.
Hudson cleans house after the hot tag. Hudson is on fire. Chase recovers and joins in the fun, while flying back into the ring with a high cross. Chase is on a roll, but Hudson is given a DDT on the floor. Chase fights on, but he is now outnumbered by the other two.
The Creed Brothers run down to ringside. Brutus Creed distracts the referee while Julius Creed interferes in the match. Julius pulls Carillo out of the ring. That allows Chase to cradle Garza for a pinfall. Chase U is victorious. They go on to challenge the tag champs at Halloween Havoc.
Blair Davenport challenges Gigi Dolan to a match at Halloween Havoc.
Lexis King is the focus of another vignette. He talked about how wrestlers in the locker room would tell him they loved his father Brian Pillman. King said he lied to them, saying he loved his father too. King in reality doubts he love him. King says he is no one’s shadow. This is the start of his career, not the continuation of someone else’s career. King vows to make his name bigger than his father. King debuts next week.
Triple threat match becomes a fatal four way … or so it seems
Carmelo Hayes, in street clothes and a leather jacket, comes to ring for a monologue. Hardly anyone ever gets to finish an in-ring monologue in NXT, so Hayes faces several interruptions. Hayes is bragging about him being in the ring last week with John Cena and Undertaker. Hayes is supposed to be a babyface, but there is a subtle heel element in the way he brags.
Baron Corbin, also wearing a leather jacket, interrupts Hayes. Corbin accuses Hayes of being a fanboy. They bicker about it, with Corbin basically accusing Hayes of marking out for the legends. Their bickering is interrupted by Dijak, which leads to even more bickering.
Dijak storms the ring, and he too is wearing a leather jacket. Dijak bickers with Hayes and Corbin. Suddenly, NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov appears on the Titantron, and he announces the triple threat match set for later in now a fatal four way. Dragunov then reveals the fourth possible contender.
Out comes Trick Williams, and Hayes is in shock. He is shook. His associate is now going against him in a number one contender’s fatal four way. Williams comes out wearing a letterman jacket. Although it was not completely leather, it does have leather sleeves. Join the meeting of the leather. Williams jacket was way too small for him, though.
Dijak and Corbin try to pit Williams and Hayes against each other. Williams is accused of stabbing Hayes in the back. Corbin jumps Williams, and Dijak jumps Hayes. Williams and Hayes throw the other two out of the ring. There is a tease Hayes will turn on Williams, but they instead embrace in a united front.
After all this, turns out the fatal four way would become a triple threat again. In a swerve after a Tonya Harding angle later on, Williams would be taken out of the match by an unknown assailant.
Tiffany Stratton and Fallon Henley have words in a locker room skit
Karmen Petrovic defeated Jaida Parker in a first round match of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament
Petrovic submitted Parker to win the match. Petrovic advances to the next round, where Petrovic meets Lola Vice.
In an in-set promo, Petrovic says she is bringing her 23 years of combat experience along with her 3rd degree black belt. Petrovic also had a sword for her entrance.
They tried, but the match probably went too long. Arguably, they are probably not ready for a live match on national television. Both still show a lot of promise.
In a locker room skit, Natalya surprised Tegan Nox. Nattie will be in Nox’s corner for her match tonight, just like Nox had Natte’s back last night on Raw.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Tegan Nox (with Natalya)
Valkyria pinned Nox to win the match. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven came down to ringside just before the finish. This was a much better match than the previous women’s bout. Levels above even.
The match goes through a commercial break. When Green & Niven come down to ringside, Nox leaves the ring to briefly argue with them alongside Nattie. Nox then gets back into the ring, and she runs through some spots before Valkyria hits her with a spin kick. Valkyria then covers Nox for a pinfall.
In a post-match promo, Valkyria cuts a promo on NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Valkyria is clearly the next contender for the title. Lynch appears on the video screen, and Lynch responds to Valkyria. Great promo by Lynch. She welcomes Valkyria to “the big time.” They meet next week in the main event of the first week of Halloween Havoc.
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes bicker in a locker room skit, but they make some amends. However, there is tension heading in their match tonight.
An announcement plugged ticket going on sale for Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. I could not think of a worse time to visit the Middle East than right now.
Gigi Dolan responds to Davenport’s challenge from earlier. Dolan ups the stakes, making it a “Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal.” Dolan then spins the wheel and makes the deal. The wheel stops on a “light out match,” thus setting up a gimmick match for Halloween Havoc.
Von Wagner is focus of a vignette showing him doing physical therapy. Wagner in storyline is recovering from the injury angle weeks ago. Mr. Stone was helping to motivate a depressed Wagner.
Kiana James, who has a new entrance routine, enters the soundstage for a grudge match set up last week.
Shotzi defeated Kiana James
Shotzi pinned James, thanks in part to interference by Roxanne Perez.
The match runs through a commercial break. There was a wacky DDT spot on the apron, and thankfully no one was injured doing it.
Just before they go home, Roxanne Perez appears at ringside. She goes over to James’ loaded bag. Perez pulls out a brick from the bag, but Perez puts drops the brick back into the bag as James snatches the bag away.
Perez is on the apron arguing with the referee about the loaded bag. Shotzi takes the bag away from James, and Shotzi waffles James with the bag. Shotzi then does an Eddy Guerrero spot where she tosses the loaded bag to James, and Shotzi takes a phantom bump. The ref turns around to see James holding the bag, and the ref has a tug-o-war over the bag with the ref.
The ref takes the bag away, and James then runs shoulder first in the ring post. Shotzi leaps off the top rope with a back senton, and Shotzi covers James for a three count.
Akira Tozawa is in a wacky skit with Oro Mensah and Lash Legend, who are the phone with Noam Dar. Jakara Jackson is out with an injury, and Dar is taking care of her. Meanwhile, Tozawa wants it known he is looking for Dar.
Next up is a Tonya Harding angle. Trick Williams was ambushed, and he is down selling his knee like Nancy Kerrigan. Carmelo Hayes is there to check on Williams, and Hayes acts like he is super concerned, but he supposedly does not know who jumped Williams.
Reporter Kelly Kincaid offers an update after a commercial break. Williams was taken to a local hospital, and he is out of the main event. The fatal four way is now once again a triple threat match.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio. Nathan Frazier interrupts and starts a brawl with Dom. They brawl around the backstage area. They brawl their way on the set and into the ring. Frazier is getting the better of Dom, and Frazier sets up for Phoenix Splash. Rhea Ripley runs down and pulls Dom out of the ring, as “Mami” saves her man.
A skit with Shotzi and Roxanne Perez sets up another Spin the Wheel gimmick. Perez spins the wheel, and it stops on “Devil’s playground match.” That stip is added to the grudge match at Halloween Havoc between Perez and Kiana James.
Arianna Grace, dressed like she won a beauty pageant, cuts a promo in the ring. Grace, wearing a sash that reads “MISS NXT,” talks about Jakara Jackson being injured. Grace wants to “gracefully” accept her bye in the tournament now that Jackson is out. The bookers have other ideas.
Arianna Grace defeated Brinley Reece in first round match of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament
Grace cheated with an eye rake just before the finish. Grace then suplexed Reece, and she pinned her to advance. Grace now moves on the semifinals, where Grace meets Kelani Jordan next week at Halloween Havoc.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Bron Breakker, and Mr. Stone walks in to interrupt Breakker. Stone cuts a promo on Breakker over Von Wagner’s condition. Breakker laughs at Stone, and that angers Stone even more.
Breakker dares Stone to do something about it. Stone blurts out a challenge for a singles match at Halloween Havoc. Breakker accepts the challenge, and Breakker threatens to put Stone in the hospital. So, it’s Stone against Breakker at Halloween Havoc.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Dijak and Baron Corbin in a number one contender’s triple threat match
Hayes pinned Dijak to win the match. Good match, and easily the best bout on tonight’s card.
The early portion of the bout is Hayes basically having a handicap mach against the two larger men. Dijak and Corbin eventually tangle with each other. Hayes still attacks them both like he is a David facing two Goliaths.
After a commercial break, the match is more typical of a triple threat, with more fighting among all three. Several near falls along the way, as they run through a bunch of high spots.
Hayes teases his finisher, but Corbin pulls Hayes down off the top rope. Corbin gives Hayes a Spicolli Driver on the floor. Even more near falls as they get back in the ring, and several were really good near falls. They build to a Tower of Doom, in which Corbin does an avalanche German on Dijak while Hayes powerbombs Corbin.
Closing moments were great, as Dijak went for Feast Your Eyes. Corbin counters to deliver End of Days on Dijak. Before Corbin can capitalize, Hayes leaps in for Nothing But Net on Corbin. Hayes then covers Dijak and hooks a leg for the deciding pinfall.
Hayes becomes number one contender, and he goes on to face Dragunov in a title match in the main event at Halloween Havoc in two week’s time.
Lyra Valkyria is seen watching the match from a monitor in a locker room. Valkyria takes a picture down from her locker of her with Becky Lynch. Valkyria rips up the picture, and Valkyria vows to win the women’s title next week.
Jade Cargill then appears on the screen, and Cargill points to her wristwatch as the show comes to a close. Her time is soon.
A match to determine the next contender for Carmelo Hayes is set for next week’s NXT.
Wes Lee will challenge Dijak next week in a match that will determine Hayes’ opponent at NXT Heatwave in two weeks. Lee confronted Hayes after they lost a match against Oro Mensah and Noam Dar on last week’s show. On this week’s show, Lee passed by Trick Williams in the parking lot and told him to tell Hayes he’d take care of him after he took care of Dijak. After Lee left, Williams had a confrontation with Drew Gulak, setting up a match between them for next week as well.
Tony D’Angleo and Stacks will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against The Dyad. The two teams had a confrontation as The Dyad were looking for The Creed Brothers backstage. Later, The Schism attempted to interrogate Ivy Nile as to the whereabouts of the Creeds when D’Angelo and Stacks made the save.
Dana Brooke is set to meet Blair Davenport. After Kelani Jordan lost a match against Davenport on this week’s show, Brooke confronted Jordan backstage about not using her ‘killer instinct’ and said she would challenge Davenport next.
Here is the current lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Championship number one contender’s match: Wes Lee vs. Dijak
NXT Tag Team Championship: Tony D’Angelo and Stacks defend against The Dyad
A Last Man Standing match has been added to NXT Battleground.
Ilja Dragunov will battle Dijak on May 28 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The two have been feuding for the last several weeks, with Dijak at one point jumping Dragunov backstage, pinning him down on top of a sliding door as he attacked him.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Dragunov walked up to Dijak and dared Dijak to “break him”. Throughout the show, Dijak was seen torturing Dragunov. Despite the torture, a battered and bruised Dragunov was still defiant, telling Dijak that he was “not even close” when asked if he had enough. The last vignette shown on Tuesday had Dragunov telling Dijak that he was still standing.
Here is the updated lineup for NXT Battleground:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Bron Breakker
NXT Women’s Championship finals: Tiffany Stratton or Roxanne Perez vs. Lyra Valkyria or Cora Jade
NXT Heritage Cup: Noam Dar (c) vs. Dragon Lee
NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee (c) vs. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy
In this week’s issue *Complete Royal Rumble coverage *Match and performer of the week *Highlights of the Rumble *The story of the Reigns-Zayn angle *Why Reigns vs. Zayn won’t be happening at WrestleMania *Records set at Royal Rumble *How many people watched Royal Rumble on Peacock *The 15 largest gates in pro wrestling history *PPV crossover with Full Gear and Survivor Series *Elimination Chamber update *Wrestlemania update *Return of Pat McAfee *WrestleMania sponsorship *Nick Khan talks WWE sale *Khan talks about the next rights deals *More on the Vince McMahon investigation and how much it cost WWE so far *WWE business numbers for 2022 *A look at the career of Fedor Emelianenko as he has his retirement fight *What pro wrestler brought Fedor into prominence *What former pro wrestling promotion did he first become a star in *A look at hs glory days in Pride *Who is the best heavyweight ever *The life and times of Lanny Poffo *His career high points *Winning the world tag team title at the age of 20 *Feuding with his brother *The big name historically Randy Savage was to feud with that never happened *The funeral of Jay Briscoe *Another new lawsuit filed trying to get Vince McMahon out of power *Legendary enhancement wrestler Kenny Jay passes away and the night he had a match with Muhammad Ali *Why he never became a bigger star *The story behind his match with Ali *2022 Wrestling Observer Awards allot *The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week *International TV ratings for AEW and WWE *Streaming ratings for AEW & WWE *Ticket sales for upcoming shows *One of the oldest titles in history defended on Jericho cruise *Keiji Muto struggles through retirement matches *New Japan changes with New Japan Strong *Mercedes Mone talks her new Japan debut *Hiroshi Hase in controversy over doing a wrestling match last month *Why Kota Ibushi did Bloodsport *Thought on AEW doing house shows *Difference between AEW and WWE fans *Thoughts on MJF vs. Takeshita *New A&E wrestling schedule
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Sunday Update
We’ve got two weekend shows up on the site. Our Friday show was with Adam Cole talking about all kinds of different things related to his career, his recovery from concussions, and growing up as a fan. Last night we did a show covering NXT Vengeance, the Friday shows, Fedor’s retirement and Lanny Poffo. Bryan and I will be back tomorrow night covering the latest news.
Regarding the story about WWE allowing NXT talent to work indies, this is basically what we’ve heard. Shawn Michaels on the post-show press conference said that it was just a one-time favor for Booker T, that Ivy Nile will be working a show for Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling show in Texas this coming Saturday night. We ere told by those in WWE that right now this only relates to Booker’s promotion. However, there are other independent promoters who have been told that if it goes well, they could open the door to working with them. Given Nick Khan has talked about a WWE sale within three months, any decision today could be completely different with new ownership anyway.
Even though it looked broken X-rays showed Dijak’s finger wasn’t broken last night.
The fast nationals for last night’s Bellator show on CBS were 928,000 viewers and an 0.15 in 18-49. This would not include the West Coast (except the Las Vegas market) which aired the show out of prime time. But the number was a major disappointment. The final number will be up a little from that number. Bu it won’t be a good number for CBS prime time. Last Saturday in the same time slot the network did 2,492,000 viewers and 0.22 in 18-49. They didn’t announce a return date which wasn’t a good sign. The show aired at different times. The actual rating won’t come out until Tuesday morning. In Providence, RI it didn’t run due to a local telethon. Las Vegas ran it on a three-hour tape delay. (thanks to Arya Witner)
We’re looking for your thoughts on these shows: *NXT Vengeance Day from last night *New Japan New Beginning in Sapporo from Saturday *New Japan New Beginning in Sapporo from Sunday *Stardom anniversary show in Osaka You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports from tonight’s WWE house show in Pensacola, FL, and last night’s MLW TV tapings from Philadelphia. We’re looking for results, finishes, angles, etc. to [email protected]
There was just under 5,000 tickets out for the Pensacola show tonight.
WWE results from last night in Columbus, GA: Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa b Butch & Ridge Holland Candice LeRae b Piper Niven with a small package Braun Strowman & Ricochet b Ludvig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci Gunther b Sheamus to keep the IC title Bray Wyatt b LA Knight in a black light street fight Charlotte Flair won over Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville to keep the Smackdown women’s title. Flair beat Deville with the figure 8 Bianca Belair b Bayley via DQ to keep the Raw women’s title when Iyo Sky interfered. Becky Lynch made the save Belair & Lynch b Bayley & Sky when Belair pinned Bayley after the KOD Cody Rhodes b Seth Rollins with crossroads (thanks to Jordan Ferguson)
As of earlier today, last night’s UFC show headlined by Derrick Lewis’ loss to Serghei Spivac had 200,000 searches making it the single most searched for item on the Internet. Bellator was No. 11 at 100,000. The NXT Vengeance show failed too crack the top 20, and that would be 20,000. During the week, no other item relating to wrestling, boxing or MMA hit the top 20 any other day.
For last night’s UFC, there was a controversy in the Doo Ho Choi vs. Kyle Nelson judging. Dana White said he thought Choi won. Judge Adelaide Byrd gave Choi all three rounds but with he point docked that would make it 29-27. Eric Colon had it 28-28 with Choi winning the first and Nelson the second and third even with the point docked. Chris Lee gave Choi the first, Nelson the second and had the third even with the point docked. 82 percent of the reporters cards were 29-27 for Choi.
REELZ TV has a documentary on Chyna from 9-10 p.m. I was interviewed for the piece over the summer. At 10 p.m. they have a documentary on Owen Hart and at 11 p.m. they have a documentary on Roddy Piper. This all leads up to Tuesday’s debut of MLW at 10 p.m. on the station.
Rampage right now is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Eastern on 2/17 due to NBA programming (thanks to David Wolf)
Reader Brian Mazza wrote this to us after last night’s show on Lanny Poffo: “After listening to your podcast today with Mary Fries on Lanny Poffo, it reminded me of a very touching story from a meeting I had with him. I was helping out a friend who managed the Pro Wrestling HOF in Amsterdam, NY. Lanny came for a signing one weekend, and I was there to help manage things with my then 4 year old twins, Sam and Sophia (they may have been 3, this was either in 2014 or 2015). Anyway, I was wearing a Boston Red Sox cap or shirt when I met Lanny, and he wanted to know my twins’ names, and all about them. He took the time to ask if we’d like to hear a poem he wrote about Boston and the Red Sox.. He started and stopped, searched for his words, acting almost a bit embarrassed he had to stop to remember something. Then it clicked for him, and he rattled off the most amazing poem about Boston, the Sox, Ted Williams, Yaz, Fenway Park, and all that goes with it’s long history. It was absolutely amazing. I didn’t know what to say other than thank him and tell him how incredible that was. He finished off with asking if he could give my daughter Sophia a kiss on the cheek, and he did. She and Sam were very shy but mesmerized by his voice and rhyme. It was something that I will always remember, mainly for how he took something so random as a Red Sox hat and he went through his mental rolodex to pull out an amazing poem he had created. Truly one of a kind, and so great to my young kids.”
Bill Goldberg and the Young Bucks have been announced for autograph signigs at WrestleCon in Los Angeles over WrestleMania weekend.
Other Notes
American X Wrestling, which is Kevin Kelly’s promotion in Allentown, PA, has announced American Dreams on 2/18 at the Hamburg Field House. One of the events will be a tug of war with the Stars of Special Olympics in Pennsylvania vs. AXW wrestlers
Amanda Leve was awarded a PFL contract in the featherweight division after beat beat Mongolia’s Naranjargal Stend-Ayush on the Friday night show. The judging panel of Randy Couture, Paige VanZant and Tyron Woodley awarded Leve a contract.
Combat FC announced hat Michelle Waterson will make her debut with the group as an announcer on this Friday’s show in Boston. The show will air on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. Eastern with Waterson working with Sean Wheelock.
House of Glory dedicated a show on Friday night in Queens, NY to Jay Briscoe with these results: Mane Event b Amazing Red & Brian XL to keep the tag titles, Mighty Mante b Nolo Kitano to keep the cruiserweight title, Violette b Viva Van to keep the women’s title , Encore won six-way over Lio Rush, Smiley, Daron Richardson, Ichiban and Raheem Royal, Low Ki b Detective James, Charles Mason b Bryan Keith to keep the Crown Jewel title, Jacob Fatu b JTG t keep the HOG title. Next show is 3/10. Kushida debuts on that show along with Fatu and The Mane Event.
Sami Callihan’s Wrestling Revolver from Friday night in Dayton, OH: Evil Uno b Jake Crist, Marina Shafir b Blair Onyx, Mike Bailey won over Madman Fulton, Gringo Loco, Jessica, Jarrett Diaz and Tyler Matrix, Wheeler Yuta b JT Dunn under Pure rules, Steve Maclin b Crash Jaxson in a no DQ match to keep the Revolver title, Ace Austin & Chis Bey b Jake Manning & Dan the Dad to win the Revolver tag titles, Billie Starkz b Allie Katch, Alex Shelley b Rich Swann to keep the Remix title, Myron Reed & Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz b Mance Warner & Manders & Matthew Justice. Next show is 3/4 n Clive, IA.
West Coast Pro from last night in San Francisco: Alan Angels & Kevin Blackwood b Chupacabra & Lazarus, Abigail Warren b Allie Katch, Super Best b Jordan Cruz, Vinnie Massaro & Bret the Threat b ?, Masha Slamovich b Brooke Havoc, Lee Moriarty & G-Rogue & Alpha Zo b Jack Cartwheel & Starboy Charlie & Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey b Vie To, Nick Wayne d Titus Alexander 30:00. There was a guy in a megaphone at the show who made a lot of noise and the promotion announced today that megaphones are banned from future shows. They announced 3/4 at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco with Slamovich vs. Sandra Moone plus Lita as a special guest. They announced a 4/7 show featuring Aja Kong. (thanks to Joe McClelland)
Warrior Wrestling on 2/18 in Chicago at Thalia Hall has El Hijo del Vikingo defending the Lucha title against Black Taurus and Aramis in a three-way match.
NXT held a media call with Shawn Michaels following the Vengeance Day premium live event to discuss the fallout from Saturday’s show.
When asked about NXT wrestlers possibly doing independent dates moving forward following the news that Ivy Nile would be working Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion, Michaels said that the booking was just “a one night deal”. He said it was just something where they were helping Booker T out with his upcoming show.
Regarding Dijak, Michaels said that x-rays were taken and, as it turns out, his finger was not broken and was being put back into place.
At one point during the media call, Grayson Waller stormed in and confronted Michaels, running him down and asking why he “wasn’t the guy”. He was eventually taken away by head trainer Matt Bloom. When Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful asked Michaels what that was about, Michaels said that there was “an incident coming back from Gorilla” between him and Waller, and Waller was “perturbed” at him.
The call finished with discussion on the participants involved in the Women’s Tag Team title match. Michaels said that both Kiana James and Fallon Henley have improved during their time in NXT, and putting them together seemed like “one of those things that worked”. He also said that Katana Chance and Kayden Carter’s futures are still “very bright” and have been the most consistent tag team in NXT.
NXT’s next live premium event will be Stand and Deliver, which will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 1.
One week after making his return, Dijak is set for action on NXT.
WWE has announced that Dijak will be in action on tonight’s NXT episode. His opponent for the match hasn’t been revealed.
Weeks of teasers led to Dijak returning to NXT on last week’s episode of the show. Wes Lee retained his NXT North American Championship against Carmelo Hayes in the main event but was then attacked by Dijak. The show ended with Dijak laying out Lee with Feast Your Eyes.
Dijak was known as T-Bar on the main roster before returning to NXT with a character change.
Tonight will be the first time Dijak has wrestled since defeating Cedric Alexander on an episode of WWE Main Event this September.
The updated lineup for tonight’s NXT is listed below:
X-Pac, Alundra Blayze, Molly Holly, and Road Dogg will help Shawn Michaels reveal the participants for the Iron Survivor Challenge matches at NXT Deadline
Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) vs. Katana Chance, Kayden Carter & Nikkita Lyons
The former T-Bar reemerged last night, setting his sights on the NXT North American Championship.
Wes Lee retained his North American title against Carmelo Hayes in the main event of last night’s NXT episode. After the match, Dijak appeared behind Lee, lifted him up into the air, and laid Lee out with Feast Your Eyes.
Dijak was previously known as Dominik Dijakovic when he was in NXT. Teasers building to Dijak’s return began airing at Halloween Havoc last month.
NXT also included the reveal that former WWE 24/7 Champion Reggie is Scrypts, a mysterious character who made their in-ring debut last night. The masked Scrypts defeated Guru Raaj, then left a calling card on Raaj’s chest.
Plus, it was confirmed last night that Apollo Crews will challenge Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship at NXT Deadline on Saturday, December 10.
Dijak returned to WWE during Tuesday’s NXT, attacking Wes Lee.
After Lee had successfully defended the North American title against Carmelo Hayes, what looked like cage bars closed on the video screen. Lee turned around and walked into a chokeslam by Dijak, who was referred to only by his last name.
Promos for the returning Dijak were seen starting at Halloween Havoc last month. The first promo showed T-Bar’s mask being burnt. Subsequent promos showed Dijak talking about bringing hard justice to NXT.
Dijak, under the name Donovan Dijakovic, originally wrestled in NXT from 2017 to 2020 before being called up as part of the Retribution stable under the name T-Bar. Once the group was disbanded, he remained a team with Mace until Mace was traded to SmackDown as part of the 2021 WWE Draft. Dijak had mainly been wrestling on Main Event prior to his NXT return.
