Coming out of Halloween Havoc, two matches are set for next week’s episode of NXT.
WWE announced tonight that Tommaso Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream and Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai will take place on NXT next Wednesday. Promos by Ciampa and Moon building up their matches for next week aired on Halloween Havoc tonight.
Ciampa has been feuding with Dream since Dream interrupted his match against Kushida earlier this month and accidentally hit Ciampa. Kushida defeated Ciampa and Dream in a triple threat match on NXT last week. After Dream hit Ciampa with the cast on his arm, Kushida gave Ciampa a German suplex and pinned him to get the win.
In his promo on tonight’s NXT, Ciampa spoke about taking back what fate took away from him and getting back to the top of NXT. Ciampa said that starts with Dream. Ciampa called Dream a 25-year-old prodigy who can’t seem to get out of his own way. Ciampa said if you hit him with a cast once, shame on you. If you hit him with a cast twice, you’re a dead man.
Moon defeated Jessi Kamea on NXT last week but was attacked by Kai after. Moon had previously teamed with Rhea Ripley to defeat Kai & Raquel Gonzalez. Moon pinned Kai in that tag match after hitting her with The Eclipse.
Moon said during her promo on NXT tonight that Kai stepping up is exactly what she wanted. When Moon left NXT, Kai was afraid of her own shadow. But Moon said Kai is now one of the best in the world. Moon said Kai has a pretty sick kick, but she isn’t going to like this receipt.
WWE’s internal roster has confirmed the five members of Raw’s RETRIBUTION stable.
John Pollock of Post Wrestling reported tonight that Dio Maddin, Mia Yim, Shane Thorne, Mercedes Martinez, and Dominik Dijakovic are in WWE’s internal roster and have been appearing in promos in the last couple of weeks, with Martinez and Dijakovic being used in speaking roles. Dave Meltzer has confirmed this report.
RETRIBUTION did a promo tonight talking about the machine and how everyone is bad for liking the machine. The promo ended with a number of extras appearing wearing the same RETRIBUTION apparel.
Yim and Martinez have both been used on NXT television in recent weeks. Martinez lost a steel cage match to Rhea Ripley on last week’s NXT. A storyline after the match had Robert Stone, her manager, filing a restraining order and ended up cutting ties with Martinez.
Neither Dijakovic or Shane Thorne have been used on NXT television recently. Thorne was briefly used as part of a tag team with Brendan Vink on Raw earlier this year that lasted a few weeks. Dio Maddin was brought up as part of a new Raw commentary team last year, but was dropped and eventually resumed training at the WWE Performance Center.
The build to NXT’s next TakeOver special officially kicked off last night.
After becoming a double champion two weeks ago, Keith Lee announced at the start of last night’s NXT that he’s vacated the North American Championship. Lee said he doesn’t want to limit the roster’s opportunities and wants everyone to get the same opportunities he had. Lee said he wants as many people as possible to get a chance to win the North American title.
NXT general manager William Regal announced that there will be a series of triple threat matches to determine the five participants for a ladder match to crown the new North American Champion at TakeOver XXX. The first triple threat match took place with Johnny Gargano, Roderick Strong, and Bronson Reed facing off last night.
Finn Balor vs. Dexter Lumis vs. Timothy Thatcher on next week’s NXT will decide the second participant for the ladder match.
TakeOver XXX is set for Saturday, August 22.
WWE also continued heading into the direction of Lee defending his NXT Championship against Karrion Kross. Kross defeated Dominik Dijakovic in last night’s main event. During the match, Kross put Dijakovic’s head between the ring and the steel steps and then kicked the steps into Dijakovic’s head. Lee came out to ringside as Kross was hitting strikes on a defenseless Dijakovic, but Dijakovic pleaded with him not to stop the match.
As Lee watched on, Kross locked Dijakovic in the Kross Jacket to get the win. Lee checked on Dijakovic after and had a staredown with Kross to close the show.
A “huge announcement” is set to be made on tonight’s episode of NXT.
NXT general manager William Regal will make the announcement at the start of tonight’s show. He tweeted today: “Serving as the General Manager [of] #WWENXT has been an incredible honor. To see the men and women of this brand over the last couple of months has been inspiring and invigorating. Tonight’s major announcement will be yet another step forward for @WWENXT”
The last time that a major announcement was hyped for NXT, it was Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Road Dogg announcing TakeOver: In Your House for June. NXT’s next TakeOver special was scheduled to be TakeOver: Boston during SummerSlam weekend next month. An official announcement regarding that event has yet to be made.
Three matches have also been confirmed for tonight’s show. Karrion Kross will face off with Dominik Dijakovic, Dexter Lumis will take on Killian Dain, and Shotzi Blackheart will face Aliyah.
**********
The show opened with William Regal saying that Keith Lee had a message, and Regal then threw it to Lee. Lee talked about recently winning the NXT Championship and the North American Title. Lee was again able to pay homage to his late trainer, “Killer” Tim Brooks. This week there was even B-roll showing a graphic memorializing Brooks.
Lee went on to say he was “limitless”, but he would bot be “limiting” to the NXT roster. He knows how hard they work for opportunities. Make no mistake, he will defend the NXT CHampionship as much as he possibly can — but he is relinquishing the North American Championship. He wants as many people as possible to have an opportunity at winning that title.
Regal admired Lee for his “wonderful and noble gesture.” Regal also announced a series of triple threat matches. Winners of those matches advance to ladder match at TakeOver on August 22 to decide the new NXT North American Champion.
Dexter Lumis defeated Killian Dain
Lumis submitted Dain clean in the middle.
Lumis was in control with whatever it is his gimmick is supposed to be, and the fight spilled outside. Lumis seemingly for no reason turned his back to Dain, glared in the direction of the referee. When Lumis turned back around he walked into a flying crossbody on the floor from Dain. From there, Dain worked over Lumis through a commercial break.
Lumis fired up after the break, and he executed a spinebuster followed by a bunch of punches. Lots of punching in this match actually. Lumis executed a back suplex, kipped-up, and then leapt into a legdrop. I shouted “look at him” at the TV like I was David Crockett calling this one.
Dain soon cut off Lumis and dropkicked him into a corner. He followed with a cannonball, a powerbomb and a flying elbow for a two count. Lumis answered back moments later with an uranage. Lots of clubbering. Lumis flew off the top with a senton bomb. Lumis applied his sleeper hold finisher, and Dain passed out. The referee checked the arm, and then called for the bell.
Lumis stared into the distance after the match as his creepy music played.
In one of the triple threat matches mentioned earlier, tonight’s qualifier is Roderick Strong vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed. They all faced off in a backstage skit that was right off an episode of Monday Night Raw.
Breezangio spoofed The Mountie during their entrance. They had gear that made them look the modern rebirth of The Quebecers. At one point Fandango put on his cosplay Mountie hat, saluted, and did what the announcers called a “Mountie dive”. I don’t recall that. Was that a thing? I don’t remember The Mountie doing dives. Not even when Jacques was a Fabulous Rougeaus.
Breezanngo delivered stereo superkick, and Breeze scored the pinfall for the easy victory in an enhancement match.
Dominik Dijakovic in a backstage interview said last week in a brawl Karrion Kross “smashed my head against the concrete,” but tonight “he’s getting a fresh Dominik Dijakovic”. I don’t think that is how head injuries work, but there I guees is creative license and all. Dijakovic vowed to knock Kross unconscious.
Shotzi Blackheart defeated Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Balckheart pinned Aliyah clean in this grudge match. Stone still wore a walking boot selling his foot injury. He also got involved during the finish, and Blackheart ran over his other leg with the tank after the match.
Blackheart has a new thing where she hollers “welcome to the ball pit.” After screaming this again later in the match, she delivered a blow that Gorilla Monsoon would have certainly questioned as being below the bread basket.
Aliyah cut off Blackheart for the heat. Aliyah did a cool spot where she did a combo of Northern Ligtht suplexes for a pinning attempt. Blackheart with a comeback that led into a backdrop driver for a near fall. Aliyah countered with a roll-up, and her feet on the ropes for leverage. The ref caught her in the act.
Stone got on the apron, and Blackheart booted him in the face. He took a big bump. Blackheart leapt off the top with diving senton, and then she covered Aliyah for the pinfall.
Stone was selling his leg after the match. Blackeart got into her tank, and she ran over his good leg. Mercedes Martinez ran down and attacked Blackheart. She stared at Stone, but she did not help him. Martinez backed away as Aliyah in a comical way kept trying to lift the tank off of Stone’s leg.
A vignette hyped Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
Bronson Reed defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in a triple threat match to qualify for a ladder match at TakeOver
Reed pinned Strong in the closing minutes of an exciting match. Reed in winning this match qualifies for the ladder match at TakeOver to decide the next NXT North Amercian Champion.
Reed played Goliath against two Davids. Reed manhandled them before a commercial break. When the show returned from the break, Reed was still mowing them down. Then came a wicked looking spot where Strong hit Reed with a running knee strike on the apron. Strong then splatted on the front, and it looked awfully painful.
Strong and Gargano sort of teamed up on Reed. They begrudgingly joined forces to work, but Reed still hulked up. Strong dashed his hopes with a leg lariat. Reed powered out to backdrop Strong. Gargano then catapulted Strong into a low blow on Reed. That put Reed out of the match momentarily.
Gargano with a slingshot spear on Strong, quickly followed Gargano launching himself into a tope. Strong countered him a moment later with a backbreaker. Reed rejoined the match, and he cleaned house like a bull in a glass warehouse.
Reed threw around Strong and Gargano. When Reed went to gorilla press Gargano, Strong came with a blingside chop block. Strong was able to lift Reed for an Olympic Slam, but Gargano tossed Strong outside trying to steal the pin. Reed nevertheless kicked out.
Reed was tied in the ropes and Gargano was able to tee off when Strong caught Gargano with a backbreaker. Strong then hit Reed with a flurry of strikes. Gagrano again sent Strong outside. Gargano with a baseball slide, and Strong with a wheelbarrow counter. They started trading strikes when Reed wiped them both out on a dive to the outside.
After a commercial break, Reed lifted both Strong and Gargano on his shoulders for a Samoan Drop. They built to a heckuva spot. Reed had Gargano in an electric chair. Strong went to execute a Doomsday Device. Gargano ducked so Srong missed, and Gargano gave Reed a poison rana. Strong went to steal the pin, but Gargano broke that up.
Strong assisted Gargano in giving Reed a powerbomb off the apron to the floor. That in effect took Reed out of the match…or did it?
Strong rocked Gargano with a wrecking ball dropkick. Strong got a near fall soon thereafter. An attempted Gargano Esacpe was countered by Strong into a Boston crab. Gargano sent Strong into the corner like a lawn dart. Strong answered back with a backbreaker. Gargano responded with a slingshot DDT.
Gargano was going for a cover when flew off the top rope into the picture with a splash on Strong. Reed then pinned Strong to win the match and qualify for the ladder match at TakeOver.
Timothy Thatcher pinned Oney Lorcan
Thatcher pinned Lorcan after a clever pinning combination. This was great!
This was tremendous as a pure wrestling match. It was also night and day different from the previous match on the show. The triple threat was all action. This match had action too, but it was much more technincal. The realism made this stand out from anything else on the show. ‘
Thatcher targeted an arm throughout the first half of the match. The irony is Thatcher was posted shoulder first sandwiching his arm into the ring post. The show cut to commercial, and Thatcher somehow had an advantage when the show returned from the break.
They were both fighting for wrist control when Lorcan countered by sweeping the leg. Lorcan applied a half crab, which is a callback to previous segments with Thatcher. Lorcan in another callback applied a Fujiwara armbar.
Thatcher used a fish hook to escape, but Lorcan answered him with a suplex for a near fall. Thatcher was reeling as Lorcan peppered him with chops.
Lorcan fought for a wrist lock, but Thatcher had a clever counter. He swept the leg while still in the hold, and Thatcher got into a pinning combination with Lorcan’s shoulders both down on the mat. The referee counted three to end a beautiful and believable match.
Robert Stone was backtsage selling his leg. Mercedes Martinez approached him to say she needed someone to handle the big matches, look over the contracts, and handle all the “crap” she doesn’t care about that is outside the ring. Martinez wanted to focus on what she does best — hurting people in the ring. Stone accepted her offer. Martinez warned him not to overstep his boundries, or she vowed to break both his legs. They shook hands, and Stone welcomed her to The Robert Stone Brand.
Finn Balor in a vignette cut a promo setting his sights on the North Amercian Championship. Next week he faces Timothy Thatcher and Dexter Lumis in a triple threat match qualifying match.
Kross submitted Dijakovic as Keith Lee watched his friend get choked out.
Early in the match, Dijakovic powered out to attempt his finisher. Kross with a counter to escape. Dijakovic with strike knocked Kross out of the ring. The announcer put over how Kross sold the spot since hardly anyone has gotten that kind of offense on him since he debuted in NXT.
The fight spilled outside the ring. Dijakovic rocked Kross with a kcik. Kross soon cut him off nonetheless. Kross planted Dijakovic with a DDT before a commercial break.
Dijakovic tried to fire up, but Kross dashed that hope with Saito suplex. Kross went for his submission finisher, but Dijakovic escaped for the time being. Dijakovic made a comeback with a series of strikes. Dijakovic with a sit-out chokeslam got a near fall. Dijakovic followed with a tope con giro over the ropes to the floor.
Kross sent Dijakovic crashing into the ring steps. Kross measured before he took a running start to kick the steps, which supposedly smashed Dijakovic in the head. Kross eventually rolled Dijakovic back into the ring. Kross got in the mount and repeatedly hit Dijakovic with strikes. Dijakovic was almost defenseless. Keith Lee had apparently seen enough, and he came out to ringside.
There was a scene right out of Rocky IV when Apollo Creed doesn’t want to stop the match against the monster heel. Lee was Rocky Balboa having to watch his friend beaten down. Dijakovic pleaded not to stop the match, saying it was his call. Well, yeah, his and the referee. The ref bless his heart kind of looked like a goof in this match as he could have stopped the match several times, and he could have counted both out also during the ring step spot. But no, he was helpless in watching Kross torture Dijakovic.
They went back to Rocky IV, as Kross grabbed Dijakovic in his clucthes to finish the job. Kross applied a sleeper, and Lee had to sit by and watch as his friend was choked out. Lee got in the ring to check on Dijakovic.
Three of NXT’s top stars are set to face off in a triple threat match with the North American Championship on the line.
Keith Lee defending his North American Championship against Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano will headline tonight’s episode of NXT. It will set the stage for a winner-take-all champion vs. champion match, with the winner facing NXT Champion Adam Cole with both titles on the line on the July 8 NXT episode.
For the first time since his dominant win against Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver: In Your House, Karrion Kross will be in action on tonight’s show. Kross will face Bronson Reed, who issued a challenge to Kross last week after quickly defeating Leon Ruff.
Kross also has his eyes on the NXT Championship. Two weeks ago, Scarlett warned Cole that his time as champion is running out.
Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes will also air tonight. Priest defeated Killian Dain last Wednesday but — after punching Grimes the previous week — found his tires slashed in the parking lot later. Grimes then drove by and mocked Priest.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show opened with an angle from “an hour ago” in the parking lot at Full Sail. Cameron Grimes had apparently attacked Damian Priest, and Priest was slumped over the seat of his car with his legs hanging out the open door. He was selling his back. Referees rushed to his aid, and one asked Priest where it hurt. Priest screamed it was his back in an unintentionally funny line as he was obviously already selling his back.
Cameron Grimes was seen gloating about the incident as he went inside the building, and he would also be opening the show in the ring. He cut a promo on Priest claiming that he no-showed the biggest match of his career. Grimes lied and said Priest slashed his own tires last week, and now he is acting like someone beat him up in the parking lot. Grimes said he wrestled Finn Balor with a broken jam after Priest punched him several weeks ago.
Grimes claimed Priest was afraid to wrestle him, and Grimes insisted that a referee declare him the winner of his scheduled match with Priest. At that moment, Priest hobbled to the ring with officials trying to dissuade him from getting into a fight. Priest has his ribs and back taped, and he still rolled into the ring. Grimes attacked him as Priest was rollimg inside and the match was on.
Cameron Grimes defeated Damian Priest
Grimes pinned Priest with the Cave-In after working over his back in a short match. Priest fought valiantly, but the injury from the sneak attack “an hour ago” was too much to overcome.
Grimes targeted the back, and Priest would fight back. Grimes powdered and waved off the match as if he was leaving the scene. Priest went to give chase, but it was a trap. Grimes would target the back again as he sandwiched Priest into the ring apron. Priest shot back with a kick, amd then he went for a Razor’s Edge on the floor. Grimes countered the move and delivered a double stomp to Priest’s back. Back in the ring, Grimes used to Cave-In to pin Priest in the middle of the ring.
Robert Stone was trying to convince Rhea Ripley to join the Robert Stone Brand. He told Ripley that her putting him in a trash can last week hurt his heart as well as his body, but he thought it was tough love. Stone said Aliyah has already signed with his stable, and Stone had a “golden ticket” for Ripley that allowed her a second chance to come aboard. He used a train metaphor and then started repeatedly hollering “choo choo”. So Ripley punched him in the gut, and threw him into a dumpster. Aliyah ran up to angrily confront Ripley before slapping her. Ripley no sold the slap and smirked. Ripley said Aliyah just got a “golden ticket” for a match later on.
Next was a vignette that was the second installment of aTimothy Thatcher training seminar. Much like the first installment, Thatcher stretched and tortutred some wrestlers like he was Stu Hart in The Dungeon.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar (with Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) defeated Jake Atlas in a non-title match
Escobar pinned Atlas clean despite Atlas looking strong down the stretch.
Atlas got to shine early on as he had Escobar on the ropes. Mendoza & Wilde caused a distraction that allowed Escobar to shove Atlas off the apron into the dasher boards before the show cut to commercial. After the commercial break, Escobar was working over Atlas.
Escobar was working more of a WWE style than when he was under the mask as Fantasma for his first few bouts in NXT. The WWE storyline is he unmasked because he wanted to be more than a lucahdor. Of course, Escobar had already previously unmasked in Mexico in an apuesta match working for AAA. Escobar also now wears an armband as part of his gear. The armband has a symbol representing his new heel stable, because apparently that is what heel stables in WWE do ever since Nexus.
Atlas made a comeback and started to clean hosue on Escobar with a flurry of moves. That included a standing moonsault for a two count. Atlas moments later also moonsaulted to the floor so he could wipe out the henchmen at ringside. Atlas springboarded back into the ring, and he soon caught Escobar with a headlock DDT for a near fall.
Soon thereafter Atlas was cut off while climbing the turnbuckles. Escobar then executed the Phantom Driver, and he covered Atlas for the pinfall.
An Undisputed Era skit was a sequel to their hijicks last week. This time Roderick Strong faced his fear and got in the trunk of a car after he was talked into at the kayfabe doctor’s office. Adam Cole told Strong he was face Dexter Lumis in a match tonight, and Strong suddenly looked worried.
Malcolm Bivens was with Indus Sher. He cut a promo on Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan. This looks to set up a match soon between the two teams.
A great video package hyped the upcoming champion vs. champion match in a few weeks on NXT.
Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter
Kai submitted Catanzaro to win the match.
Gonzalez was playing monster heel at the outset as Catanzaro & Carter used teamwork to try and take Gonzalez off her feet. They used some nifty double team moves, but Gonzalez was still able to tag out. The double team offense by the babyfaces continued as Carter catapulted Catanzaro into a Thesz press on Kai for a two count.
Kai cut off Catanzaro, and the heels got heat on Catanzaro. Carter jumped in to break up a pinning attempt at one point. Carter then soon ran wild after a hot tag, and she got some near falls on Kai. The babyfaces again went for the catapult into the press, but this time it was on Gonzalez and she was too powerful. She caught Catanzaro for a huge powerbomb. Kai then tagged in to apply her new submission hold, and Catanzaro tapped out.
Kai looked into the camera after the match and called out NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. That could possibly be Shirai’s first title program was champion as Kai is set for a fatal four way next week to determine a number one contender.
Reed was a house of fire at the start, but Kross quickly cut him off. Kross gave Reed an exploder suplex, but Reed got up to fight back. Reed answered back with a German suplex, and then they went into a Frye-Takayama sequence.
Kross took some splashes in a corner from Reed, but that only served to light a fire in him. Kross with a Northern Lights suplex into a floatover and a lariat. Next came a Saito suplex, and that was followed by the Kross Jacket for the submission.
McKenzie Mitchell in an interview backstage asked NXT Champion Adam Cole which challenger he would like to face out of the triple threat match later on. A smug Cole said he would face whoever. He called the question stupid before saying he was making room on his mantle for one more championship.
A vignette hyped the return of Mercedes Martinez. She is awesome, and I hope she gets a push.
Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Ripley tossed around Aliyah like a ragdoll. Aliyah tried some heel tactics, but Ripley cut her off easily several times. Ripley applied her standing scorpion submission hold, and was seemingly on the verge of victory when Stone threw his shoe at her.
Ripley chased Stone around the ring, and she caught him the ring where she ripped off his sports jacket. Stone fled and rolled out of the ring as Aliyah went to roll-up Ripley — only Ripley blocked her attempt and delivered the Rip Tide. Ripley then covered Aliyah for the pinfall.
Ripley looked strong in winning, but she went from feuding with Charlotte Flair — who at the time was the most pushed women’s wrestler in the company — to now in a comedy feud with a male manager that is doing a loser gimmick. I was hoping this match would be the end of it, but nope. More to come on this later.
Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong (with Bobby Fish) via countout
Strong would get in the ring aiming to lock up, but then fear would overcome him and he would bail out of the ring. Fish tried to encourage him, but Strong was having none of it. Lumis went after Strong as he slowly stalked him. Strong trippe himself at ringside, and then he ran into the plexiglass as he tried to flee. Strong got to his feet and he ran out of the building. The referee counted him out.
Fish was left at ringside, and Lumis locked him in his sleeper hold. Fish escaped his clutches, and he fled the scene as well. Undisputed Era really kind of looks like geeks in this feud.
Stone and Aliyah were video chatting with William Regal. Stone said they deserved a rematch with Ripley next week. Regal agreed they both deserved a match, so he booked a two-on-one mixed handicap match with Stone & Aliyah against Ripley in a match next Wednesday on NXT. Ripley entered the picture and she agreed. The match is on for next week. If Ripley loses, she has to join the Robert Stone Brand.
Also announced for next week is a fatal four way number one contender’s match to decide a challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship with Mia Yim vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Dakota Kai.
A gimmick match was also announced for the next epiosde with Roderick Strongs meeting Dexter Lumis in a strap match.
The episode next week is also being branded as “The Great American Bash” based around Independence Day in the United States. The Bash name originated from a series of summer events from Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid-1980s, and the name was later used for PPVs in WCW until 2000. WWE would also use the name for PPVs before retiring it several years ago. Now it’s back for a NXT show that goes head-to-head with the first week of Fyter Fest.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano in a triple threat match to retain his title
Lee pinned Balor to retain in the exciting conclusion of a great triple threat match.
Although the handicap match was booked for next week, this first half of this match was basically turned into a handicap match with twos Davids against a Goliath.
The first part of the match was a showcase for Lee to look like a powerhouse. Balor and Gargano bumped and fed for him before the show cut to commercial. Lee was still striking them down as the show returned from the commercial break. The two smaller wrestlers both tried to ride Lee while applying sleeper holds. Lee threw them off his back, but just as soon as he could throw one then the other other would jump on his back.
Lee finally went down with Balor applying a sleeper, but Lee powered out to break the hold. He was back to his feet and back to power moves. Gargano and Balor were trying to take Lee off his feet when he snatched them both in his clutches before supexing both them over his head.
Balor again applied a sleeper, and Gargano simultaneously applied a leglock — but neither were to no avail. Lee flung Balor off of him like a school kid would toss a backpack off his shoulders, and then he mowed down Gargano with a forearm strike.
The fight spilled outside the ring, and Balor struck with sling blade to Lee on the floor. Gargano followed with a rolling senton off the apron on Lee. Before the show cut to its final commercial break, Lee was sent crashing into the steps and he was down selling. Balor and Gargano were fighting in the ring as the show returned from the break. They picked up the pace.
Balor with a tope con giro flying over the ropes onto Lee, and then Balor followed that with a Final Cut on Gargano for a near fall. Balor with a sling blade looked to set up his finishing sequence. In a call back to a previously infamous spot, Lee rose up on the apron into the camera frame behind Balor. Lee took out both Balor and Gargano with a slingshot crossbody.
Lee was smashing them both, when Balor suddenly struck with a double stomp out of nowhere. Balor went for the 1916, but Lee broke it up and picked up Balor in an electric chair. Balor escaped to apply a sleeper. Gargano jumped back into the fray, and he executed a slingshot DDT on Balor for a near fall. Lee broke up the count, and Gargano caught him in a guillotine. Lee took a tornado DDT, and he rolled outside.
Gargano flew through the ropes with a tope on Lee. Gargano then went for a tope on Balor, but he was blocked. Balor teased giving Gargano the 1916 on the floor (which was a call back to the spot where Gargano legit suffered an injury many months ago). Lee broke them up with a Monty Brown pounce.
Lee went to powerbomb Balor, but Balor countered into a delivering a double stomp. Gargano intercepted Balor only for Gargano to take a shotgun dropkick that bounced him off of Lee, and Lee fell on Gargano in another call back to a spot from a few weeks ago. Balor climbed the turnbuckles, and Lee got him in a guzzle. Gargano jumped in to strike Lee, which also crotched Balor. Gargano then rolled up Lee and put his foot on the middle rope for illegal leverage. Lee still managed to kick out.
Lee fired up to flatten Gargano with the Big Bang Catastrophe. Balor jumped off the top with a Coup de Grace on Gargano to break up the subsequent pinning attempt. Balor the ran into Lee, and Lee with another Big Bang Catastrophe. Lee then covered Balor for a clean pinfall.
NXT Champion Adam Cole had a staredown with Lee after the match where each held up their respective title belts. They meet in two weeks time in a title-for-title champion vs. champion match that runs head-to-head with week two of Fyter Fest on July 8.
Three matches have been announced for next Wednesday’s episode of NXT:
– NXT North American Champion Keith Lee puts his title on the line against Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor in a triple threat match
The winner will advance to face NXT Champion Adam Cole in a winner-take-all title vs. title match on the July 8 episode of NXT.
– Karrion Kross vs. Bronson Reed
Reed quickly defeated Leon Ruff on NXT tonight and then issued a challenge to Kross. It will be Kross’ first match since his dominant win against Tommaso Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
On last week’s NXT, Scarlett sent a warning to Cole on behalf of Kross. She placed an hourglass in the ring and turned it over, signifying that Cole’s time as NXT Champion is coming to an end.
– Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes
Priest defeated Killian Dain on NXT tonight. Later in the show, Priest found his tires slashed in the parking lot. Grimes then drove by and mocked Priest.
Priest punched Grimes last week after Grimes did an interview where he called Priest a loser for not defeating Balor at TakeOver: In Your House. Grimes tried to get out of his match against Balor later in the show by faking that he may have broken his jaw, but NXT general manager William Regal made Grimes still wrestle. Balor defeated Grimes in the match.
It appears that Matt Riddle isn’t the only NXT star coming up to the WWE main roster.
On the Saturday night Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that Dominik Dijakovic will be called up to the Raw roster, but is unsure when that will be.
The call-up was originally reported by WrestleTalk without the brand he was heading to.
His last match was on the April 29th NXT in a loss to Johnny Gargano. It was just the second match for the 6’7″ Dijakovic since the end of February, the other being a loss in a triple threat North American title match involving Keith Lee and Damian Priest on April 1st.
The 33-year-old has been in NXT since he signed a developmental deal in the summer of 2017 following four years in Ring of Honor and Chaotic Wrestling (Massachussetts). The former Donovan Dijak hasn’t held a title in either NXT or ROH, but did win the latter’s Top Prospect Tournament in 2015.
WWE is loading up the card for next week’s episode of NXT.
In the second title match that’s been announced for the show, Charlotte Flair will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Io Shirai. NXT Champion Adam Cole defending his title against Velveteen Dream is also set for next week.
This will be the first time Charlotte has defended the NXT Women’s Championship since winning it from Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36. Shirai became the number one contender to Charlotte’s title by winning a six-woman ladder match on NXT three weeks ago.
Charlotte defeated Mia Yim in a non-title match on NXT tonight. Shirai then confronted Charlotte and set up the match for next week.
Also announced for next Wednesday’s NXT are:
Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic. The match was announced after Dijakovic cut a promo issuing a challenge to Gargano tonight.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett will officially arrive in NXT. That was hyped in a video that aired tonight, with Scarlett saying that time’s up and the clock stops on NXT next week.
Finn Balor will call out the person who attacked him last week. Balor was supposed to face Velveteen Dream in last week’s main event, but there was an angle where Balor was attacked in the locker room and left the premises before the show went on the air.
A triple threat North American Championship match was the first TakeOver: Tampa bout to take place on NXT television.
Keith Lee retained his North American title against Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest in last night’s main event. Priest tried to use a nightstick in the match, and Dijakovic hit his knee on it when hitting Feast Your Eyes on Priest. Lee then sent Priest over the top rope and pinned Dijakovic after giving him the Big Bang Catastrophe.
The show also featured Dakota Kai winning a second chance gauntlet match to determine the final participant for next week’s number one contender’s ladder match. Shotzi Blackheart eliminated the first four wrestlers, but Kai defeated Blackheart after she was distracted by having to fend off interference by Raquel Gonzalez.
Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, and Kai will be the wrestlers in the number one contender’s ladder match. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano is also airing on NXT next week.
Tonight marks the start of some matches that were originally scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa airing on NXT.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee will defend his title against Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest in a triple threat match. The match was announced after a brawl between the three wrestlers on NXT last week.
The number one contender’s ladder match that was set for TakeOver will air on NXT next week. Tonight, a second chance gauntlet match will determine the final participant for the ladder match. Dakota Kai, Kayden Carter, Xia Li, Aliyah, Shotzi Blackheart, and Deonna Purrazzo will face off to determine who gets the last spot.
Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, and Candice LeRae have already qualified for the ladder match. The winner will challenge either Rhea Ripley or Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship at some point in the future.
Velveteen Dream vs. Bobby Fish is also set for tonight. Last week, Adam Cole sent in a video message, said Dream doesn’t deserve a shot at his NXT Championship, and challenged him to face Fish.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Tom Phillips and Sam Roberts are on commentary. Roberts was playing heel.
Velveteen Dream defeated Bobby Fish
Dream pinned Fish with the Dream Valley Driver. This match went through a few commercial breaks, but still wasn’t that long. Dream is working his way through the Undisputed Era faction as he chases NXT Champion Adam Cole.
Dream got to shine until Fish countered a suplex into a sleeper. Fish peppered Dream with strikes, and Dream powdered. Fish gave chase, and Dream cut him off.
After springboarding into a flying ax handle, Dreams moments later climbed the turnbuckles. Fish rolled outside, and Dream came off the top with an ax handle to the floor.
Fish smashed Dream into a guardrail at ringside just before the show cut to its first commercial break.
Fish started working a leg when the show returned from break. The show went to commercial again not long after being back.
When the show returned again Fish was applying an ankle lock. Dream escaped to catch Fish in a fireman’s carry, and Dream was seemingly going for one of his finisher. Fish escaped amd applied a sleeper.
Dream countered the sleeper, and Fish ran into a DVD out of nowhere. Dream then covered him for the pinfall.
Dream cut a promo after the match saying if Cole put down his video games and opened his third eye, then he realize that play time is over. Dream warned Cole that he will work harder than ever.
Malcolm Bivens introduced viewers to his “associates” from Bivens Enterprises. They are Rinku and Saurav. They are a new monster heel tag team. :Last week they attacked Matt Riddle and left him laying.
Dexter Lumis defeated Jake Atlas
Lumis submitted Atlas in an enhancement match.
Lumis was billed as being from an “undisclosed location”. Maybe he’s from the same place that AEW is taping Dynamite. Lumis entered the ring with possessed look on his face. I guess his gimmick is he is like Dexter from the drama of the same name.
Lumis pummeled Atlas from the start. Roberts on commentary referred to it as a dissection.
Atlas made a comeback as he fired up on Lumis. Atlas flew through the ropes with a tope, but Lumis soon cut him off. Lumis ended it shortly thereafter. A side slam set up a chokehold that led to the submission.
A spooky vignette hyped Killer Kross.
A re-air of a previous segment showed Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano wrecking the Performance Center in a wild brawl from three weeks ago. There were actually fans there when this was taped. It seemed like ages ago.
Ciampa and Gargano meet in a match next week on NXT that they are billing as “Black Heart vs. Rebel Heart: One Last Beat”. And then the next match on the show had a “Blackheart”. No relation.
Dakota Kai won a gauntlet match over Shotzi Blackheart, Deonna Purrazzo, Kayden Carter, Xia Li and Aliyah
Kai in winning becomes the final entrant in the women’s number one contender’s ladder match. Blackeart looked to run the entire gauntlet — until Kai dashed her hopes thanks to interference by Raquel Gonzalez. Blackheart looked strong despite losing in the end.
Shotzi Blackheart defeated Deonna Purrazzo
They grappled at the start, and Purrazzo went on to take most of the offense. By WWE logic that meant she was losing, and she did. Blackheart shoved her off the turnbuckles, and followed with a senton off the top rope to score the pinfall. Purrazzo was eliminated.
Xia Li ran down as the next entrant, and she went right to work on Blackheart before the show cut to commercial.
Blackheart defeated Xia Li
Blackheart submitted Li with hold similar to cattle mutilation. Li was rocking Blackheart with kicks, but Blackheart cut her off to eliminate Li via submission
Blackheart defeated Aliyah
Blackheart used the same submission hold on Aliyah after a chicken wing suplex.
Blackheart defeated Kayden Carter
They were having a back-and-forth match, but Blackheart pinned her after a senton off the top rope.
Dakota Kai quickly ran down to attack Blackheart as the next mactch in the gauntlet began.
Dakota Kai (w/ Raquel Gonzalez) defeated Shotzi Blackheart
Kai worked over Blackheart, and Gonzalez would also interfere behind the referee’s back. Blackheart would make a comeback. She did a dive on to Kai and Gonzalez, and then howled like a wolf.
Gonzalez plucked her off the apron, but Blackheart escaped her clutches to send Gonzalez crashing into the ring steps. The distraction still allowed Kai to strike. She delivered her Go 2 Kick finisher, and covered Blackheart. She advances to the ladder match next week.
A great video package was a hard sell for the NXT Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania. Rhea Ripley defends the title against Charlotte Flair on the two-part card that airs this weekend.
Kushida defeated Joaquin Wilde
Kushida submitted Wilde in a fun match to watch.
Kushida with a flurry of his uniquely cool offense in the early portion. Wilde was able to ground him before a commercial break.
Wilde after the break got a few near falls, but Kushida would kick out and soon fought back. A handspring back elbow led into a cross armbreaker for the submission.
Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic vs. Damian Priest in a triple threat match to retain his NXT North American Championship
Lee pinned Dijakovic to win the match after Priest used a baton on Dijakovic just before of the finish. This was good, but it was far from how great a match at TakeOver would likely have been received. It was still good for what it was.
A melee at the start led to a standoff before the show cut to commercial.
Lee was outside selling after the break, which left Priest and Dijakovic in the ring. They ran through some spots, and Dijakovic was sent outside. Lee got back in the ring to square off with Priest.
Dijakovic jumped back in and picked up Lee in an electric chair. Priest then with a spin off off the top connected with Lee for a modified Doomsday Device. That left all three down selling.
Priest and Dijakovic gave Lee a double chokeslam. Priest with a Razor’s Edge sent Dijakovic sailing over the ropes into the arms of Lee. Priest followed with a springboard into a flip dive to the outside, and that highspot led into the last commercial break of the show.
Dijakovic went to suplex Priest, but Lee caught Priest in mid-air. Lee then used Priest as a battering ram to hit Dijakovic, and Lee powerbombed Priest onto the back of Dijakovic. Priest took a Spirit Bomb that netted Lee a near fall. Dijakovic broke up the pinning attempt.
Lee dispatched Dijakovic with a chokeslam from hell. Priest would give Lee a Super Frankensteiner. Dijakovic then struck with a flying elbow drop on a prone Lee.
Priest and Dijakovic knocked out each other with kicks. They both fell in a heap on to Lee for a two count, and Lee kicked out.
Dijakovic with a corkscrew moonsault press for a near fall on Lee.
Priest retrieved an expandable baton from underneath the ring. Dijakovic went for Feast Your Eyes, but Priest was able to use the baton to block it. Dijakovoc sold his knee.
Lee swooped in to deliver the Big Bang Catastrophe, and he covered Dijakovic to retain his title.
Dominik Dijakovic will be in action on tonight’s episode of NXT.
During this morning’s edition of WWE’s The Bump, it was announced that Dijakovic vs. Cameron Grimes will take place on NXT tonight. This is the third match announced for the show, joining Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Austin Theory.
Dijakovic vs. Grimes was set up by Grimes going after Dijakovic on Twitter, along with an angle where they got into a confrontation backstage at an NXT house show. Grimes complained about not getting opportunities and said he’s sick and tired of watching Dijakovic drop the ball every week.
Dijakovic unsuccessfully challenged Keith Lee for the NXT North American Championship at TakeOver: Portland. Last week, Dijakovic came to the ring after Lee squashed Kona Reeves. Dijakovic cut a promo saying he isn’t ready to move on yet — and he told Lee they both know Dijakovic had him beat at TakeOver.
Lee said Dijakovic was making excuses, but Lee agreed to face him again if Dijakovic can talk NXT general manager William Regal into it.
An appearance by Finn Balor is also being advertised for tonight’s NXT.
The card for NXT TakeOver: Portland is now up to six matches.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee will defend his title against Dominik Dijakovic at the TakeOver special. The match was announced after Dijakovic defeated Killian Dain on NXT tonight.
On last week’s NXT, Dijakovic defeated Damian Priest after both interrupted Lee and wanted the first shot at his title.
Tonight’s Dijakovic vs. Dain match was set up by an angle where Dain confronted Dijakovic at the Performance Center over who should be next in line for a shot at the North American title.
Lee came out to the stage and went face-to-face with Dijakovic after he defeated Dain tonight. Lee and Dijakovic then shook hands ahead of their title match at TakeOver.
Lee became the North American Champion by defeating Roderick Strong for the title on NXT two weeks ago.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Here’s what’s been announced for the show:
NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against Tommaso Ciampa
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Bianca Belair
NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defending against Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defending against Dominik Dijakovic
Keith Lee is the new number one contender to the NXT North American Championship
Lee was set up as Roderick Strong’s next challenger by defeating Dominik Dijakovic, Damian Priest, and Cameron Grimes in last night’s fatal four-way number one contender’s match. Lee will get his title shot against Strong on the January 22 episode of NXT.
The finish of the number one contender’s match was Lee pinning Grimes after hitting the Spirit Bomb.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic also kicked off with Undisputed Era vs. Gallus and The Forgotten Sons vs. Imperium taking.
New NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley kicked off last night’s show before being interrupted by Toni Storm. Storm challenged Ripley to a match at Worlds Collide. They were joined by Kay Lee Ray, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Candice LeRae, leading to a six-woman tag match.
Ripley’s challenger for TakeOver: Portland will be decided by a number one contender’s battle royal on next week’s NXT. Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor also looks to be set for Portland after their promo segment from last night.
Roderick Strong’s next challenger will be decided on Wednesday’s episode of NXT.
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes is set for Wednesday’s NXT, with the winner becoming the number one contender to Strong’s North American Championship.
The match was announced via a tweet from NXT general manager William Regal: “This Wednesday on #WWENXT, we will find a new #1 Contender for the NXT North American Championship in a #Fatal4Way as it will be @RealKeithLee vs. @DijakovicWWE vs. @CGrimesWWE vs. @ArcherOfInfamy”
NXT aired taped episodes on both Christmas and New Year’s Day. Strong issued a North American title open challenge on the Christmas show and retained his title against Austin Theory. Lee & Lio Rush also defeated Priest & Tony Nese.
The winners of NXT’s year-end awards were announced on this week’s year in review episode. Lee was named NXT’s Breakout Star of the Year for 2019.
Strong has been North American Champion since winning the title from Velveteen Dream on NXT’s USA Network debut in September.
Two title matches and the brands fallout from TakeOver: WarGames and Survivor Series are set for tonight’s NXT.
NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish will defend their titles against Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic. The match comes after Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Lee, Dijakovic & Kevin Owens) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, O’Reilly & Fish) in Saturday’s WarGames main event.
Lio Rush retained his Cruiserweight Championship in a triple threat match against SmackDown’s Kalisto and Raw’s Akira Tozawa on the Survivor Series pre-show. Tozawa wasn’t pinned in that match, and he’ll challenge for Rush’s title tonight.
Rush’s win was one of NXT’s four brand vs. brand vs. brand victories at Survivor Series. NXT won the night, with Shayna Baszler also defeating Bayley and Becky Lynch, Strong defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles, and Team NXT winning the women’s elimination tag match.
Rhea Ripley got the win for her team both at WarGames and Survivor Series. Dakota Kai turned heel and attacked Tegan Nox during the WarGames match, and WWE is teasing whether or not Kai will explain her actions tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
On the eve of American Thanksgiving let us be thankful for another night of live pro wrestling.
The show opened with hip hop artist Josiah Williams leading a slew of the NXT roster to the ring with a live rap song. The crowd got involved with call and response as video highlights from TakeOver: War Games were mixed in with the live performance at Full Sail.
Undisputed Era interrupted the concert to scold and malign everyone celebrating. They were not responsible for success, the credit instead goes to Undisputed Era according to NXT Champion Adam Cole. Those celebrating were claiming “we are NXT”, when Cole claimed Undisputed Era is the reason for NXT’s success.
Tommaso Ciampa stopped Cole’s speech. Ciampa was flanked by Keith Lee, Matt Riddle and Dominik Dijakovic. Ciampa cut a promo where he announced that Lee & Dijakovic would be challenging Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Ciampa then addressed to the NXT Championship as he called it by his pet name.
“Goldie, I told you that you had to wait because daddy was going to war,” Ciampa said. “Well, war’s over, and daddy won.”
Ciampa went on to say no one in Undisputed Era is standing in his way. Ciampa continued issuing a warning to Cole before Finn Balor entered the scene. Balor walked past Undisputed Era and said to Ciampa, “It looks like I’m standing in your way.”
Ciampa then challenged Balor to a match tonight, and Balor accepted the challenge. The match is apparently on for later tonight.
Keith Lee then gave Ciampa a vote of confidence before ordering Fish & O’Reilly into the ring for their match because it was “basking season” on NXT.
Cut to a shot of the announcers where Beth Phoenix welcomed viewers to the show. She announced that Mauro Ranallo was not there, but they were looking forward to seeing him next week . He was replaced on commentary by Tom Phillips to join Phoenix alongside Nigel McGuninness.
Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic to retain their titles
Strong as a replacement pinned Dijakovic to retain the titles. Bobby Fish started the match, but he was soon replaced by Strong.
Lee press slammed Fish over the ropes outside of the ring on to O’Reilly before a commercial break. Roderick Strong during the break replaced Fish. Strong was wearing street clothes such as jeans and shoes.
Fish was taken out of the match for “medical reasons”, and Strong was allowed to replace him because of the Freebird rule. That was the explanation for Fish leaving the match. Nigel on coommentary speculated on a possible knee injury.
The match continued while they figured everything out. Before long Dijakovic was suplexing Lee on top of Strong & O’Reilly. Strong a moment later targeted Dijakovic’s knee.
Strong was working the knee was the show went to another commercial break. This time no split screen. The show returned from break with Undisputed Era still working the leg.
Lee eventually cleaned house after a hot tag. He smashed O’Reilly & Strong with splashes and strikes. They tried to double-team him, but Lee tossed them over his shoulder. Lee teased a dive, and Strong clipped his leg. O’Reilly then delivered a flying knee off the apron.
Lee was weakened, but he soon tagged out. Dijakovic ran wild. He went for a chokeslam, but O’Reilly caught him in a triangle. Dijakovic powered out with a deadlift powerbomb while also grabbing Strong for a chokeslam at the same time. This popped the crowd and led to a close near fall.
Dijakovic went for his finisher, but O’Reilly escaped. Lee was again chop blocked at ringside, and Dijakovic made a save with a flip dive to the outside. Dijakovic with a double chokeslam in the ring as Cole tried to run-in. Lee met him with a pounce that sent Cole flying into planted fans sitting at ringside.
Dijakovic was distracted by the run-in, and he fell victim to the high low. Strong covered him to score the pinfall.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Candice LeRae about the actions of Dakota Kai. LeRae was upset that Kai turned on Tegan Nox — who is like a sister to LeRae. So LeRae issued a warning to Kai ahead of their match later on.
Mansoor defeated Shane Thorne
Mansoor pinned Thorne after a slingshot neckbreaker in the finish of a short match.
Mansoor with the shine early on, but Thorne caught him on an attempted tope. Thorne then suplexed Mansoor on the floor.
Thorne worked over Mansoor, and he also dashed some a hope spot. Mansoor still made a comeback as he this time connected with the tope. Mansoor followed with a slingshot neckbreaker to score the pinfall.
Candice LeRae defeated Dakota Kai via disqualification
Kai hit LeRae with a knee brace for the DQ. Kai before the match had carried Nox’s knee brace with her to ring like a trophy.
LeRae started strong in the match and she flew through the ropes with a tope. LeRae with a step-up senton for a two count.
Kai cut off LeRae and posted her. Kai was waylaying LeRae with kicks to the face as the show cut to commercial. Kai missed a charge after the break, and LeRae started a comeback.
As LeRae was firing up, Kai cuaght her with a sit-out powerbomb for two. LeRae went to suplex Kai on the apron, and they both crashed to the floor for a bad landing. There was another awkard spot when LeRae leapt off the top for a tornado DDT.
A double down led into them teasing a sunset bomb. Kai went to use Nox’s knee brace, but for some reason she was unable to do so. LeRae just powerbombed her instead for a near fall.
LeRae missed a springboard quebrada, and Kai hit her finisher. LeRae still kicked out at two and a half. LeRae moments later executed La Mistica and turned that into the Gargano Escape.
Kai rolled out of the ring where she retrieved the knee brace she brought to the ring. LeRae was going for a tope when Kai hit her with the brace for the DQ.
Kai continued to attack LeRae after the match. She sent her smashing into the ring steps and the barricade. Kai grabbed a chair and looked to use it when Rhea Ripley ran down to make a save.
Tommaso Ciampa — during a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley — cut a promo on Finn Balor.
A great vignette hyped Cameron Grimes.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush defeated Akira Tozawa to retain his title
Rush pinned Tozawa after two frog splashes in a hard-hitting match.
There was some fast paced exchanges to a stalemate at the start. They continued to grapple until Tozawa struck with a senton on the apron before a commercial break.
Rush somehow recovered, and he was back in control after the break. Not for long as Tozawa answered back with a somersault senton off the apron. Tozawa followed with a missile dropkick for a near fall.
There was some cool video game reversals, which led to a double down where they both kicked each other. The fight spilled onto the apron.
Tozawa gave Rush a German suplex to the floor. They teased a double count-out, but both leapt back in the ring to break the count.
There may have been a mishap when Tozawa ate a kick. His mouth guard fell out of his mouth, his knees buckled and he briefly went down to the mat. Rush went for a his springboard cutter, but no one was home. The referee checked on Tozawa, but let the match go.
Tozawa fired up for get a two count with bridging German suplex. Rush got his knees up on an attempted senton by Tozawa.
Rush executed two frog splashes before covering Tozawa for the pinfall.
Finn Balor cut a promo on Ciampa during a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley.
Xia Lee defeated Vanessa Borne
Lee pinned Borne in short match that was the backdrop for a larger story. The backstory heading into the match was Borne wanted revenege for a kayfabe injury suffered by her tag partner Aliyah at the hands of Lee.
The match was just getting underway when NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler and the Horsewomen walked on stage. Lee landed a spin kick and pinned Borne.
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir rushed into the ring to attack Lee. She was fighting with off when Baszler struck. Lee was simply outnumbered. The Horsewomen held Lee so Baszler could deliver a kick.
Baszler then cut a promo saying everybody was taking credit for NXT’s success over the weekend, but no one had a better weekend than her. Baszler put over how she defeated both Smackdown Champion Bayley and Raw Champion Backy Lynch in the same match.
The crowd heckled Baszler with chants for Rhea Ripley. Interrupting Baszler’s speech, Ripley then made her way to the ring. Baszler and the Horsewomen powdered.
Ripley said she had something to tell Baszler face-to-face, so Baszler went back to the ring to confront Ripley.
Ripley congratulated Baszler, but reminded Baszler that Ripley beat her. Next time she beat her, Ripley vowed the match would be for the title.
Baszler answered back saying she will tap and nap like the rest of them. Ripley asked, “Then why don’t you do it now?”
Baszler walked away as Ripley said of Baszler stepped into the ring that Ripley would drop her.
Announced for next week on NXT is Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain.
Finn Balor defeated Tommaso Ciampa
Balor pinned Ciampa after interference by Adam Cole.
This was billed as the first match between the two. The match was back-and-forth during much of the early portion. That is until Ciampa catapulted Balor into a ring post before a commercial break. The split screen was also back for the main event.
Balor cut off Ciampa during the break, and Ciampa made a comeback when the commercials were done. Balor crashed into the barricade when Ciampa knocked him off the apron with a knee strike. Another knee strike by Ciampa netted him a near fall.
Balor answered back with a sling blade. He sent Ciampa out of the ring, a shotgun dropkick also sent Ciampa into the barricade.
Ciampa delivered an Air Raid Crash on the floor. Balor teased getting counted out, but he made it back into the ring. Project Ciampa led to a near fall, but Balor kicked out at the last second.
Balor with a double stomp and a shotgun dropkick set up Balor climbing the turnbuckles. Ciampa thwarted him to deliver an avalanche Air Raid Crash. Balor still managed to kick out.
Cole ran in to cause a distraction, and Balor with a schoolboy got two. Cole had dropped his championship belt into the ring when he had jumped on the apron. Balor went to use it — but to no avail as Ciampa countered with a roll-up.
Balor executed a reverse DDT on the belt, but was not DQ’d because the belt being in the ring was apparently ruled accidental. Ciampa kicked out on a cover.
Cole then interfered as he hit Ciampa with a kick, and Balor hooked him to deliver the 1916. Balor covered Ciampa for the pin as Cole looked on with a smirk.
Posing over a prone Ciampa after the match, Cole clutched his championship and flashed the Undisputed Era hand sign. Balor displayed the finger guns as Cole went to pat him on the back. Balor suddenly dropped Cole with a Pele kick out of nowhere. Balor stood alone as the show faded to black.
