A tag team match has been added to WrestleMania 40.
WWE made official on SmackDown Lowdown that Rey Mysterio will team with the newest member of the LWO Dragon Lee against Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio. The match comes after the events of Friday’s SmackDown which saw Mysterio challenge Dominik & Escobar after a confrontation between members of LWO and Legado del Fantasma turned into a brawl.
Mysterio recently made his return to WWE after Escobar put Mysterio out of action by attacking his knee. The two faced off on SmackDown last week which ended when Dominik interfered on behalf of Escobar, allowing him to score the victory.
Here is the updated card for WWE WrestleMania 40:
WWE WrestleMania 40 —
Night one:
The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
Night two:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre
Night to be announced:
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Sami Zayn
Triple threat match: United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
Six-pack ladder match: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), The Miz & R-Truth, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate
The North American title match for Vengeance Day is official.
Oba Femi will defend the title against Dragon Lee on February 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. After Lee defeated Scrypts on Tuesday’s NXT, Femi appeared and told Lee that he had thought about his challenge from last week, and decided to accept it.
A six-person tag match will also take place with Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, & Adriana Rizzo taking on OTM (Lucien Price & Bronco Nima) and Jaida Parker. While Scrypts was wrestling Lee, D’Angelo, Stacks, and Rizzo attacked OTM & Parker at ringside, allowing Lee to score the win.
Earlier in the show, it was shown that Parker had attacked Rizzo inside Stacks & D’Angelo’s favorite restaurant, with OTM threatening employees.
Here is the updated card for NXT Vengeance Day on February 4:
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov defends against Trick Williams
NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria defends against Roxanne Perez
NXT North American Championship: Oba Femi defends against Dragon Lee
Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, and Adriana Rizzo vs. OTM & Jaida Parker
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals: Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin vs. ???
Lee announced on X Monday evening that due to visa issues, he was stuck in Mexico and as a result will not be able to make it to Tuesday’s NXT New Year’s Evil event. However, he did promise the No Quarter Catch Crew a “big surprise” for Tuesday’s show.
“Feliz año nuevo! Sad news to kick off the year, but due to visa issues I am unable to leave Mexico right now,” he wrote. “Por eso, I will miss @WWENXT New Years Evil… But the LWO has a big surprise for the NQCC and the NXT Universe tomorrow night.”
On last week’s NXT, a six-man tag was set up with Lee and the LWO’s Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde against the No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp). On the December 19 edition of NXT, Lee defeated NQCC’s Charlie Dempsey and Gallus’ Joe Coffey to retain the NXT North American Championship. The NQCC attacked Lee after the match, but Wilde & Del Toro came out for the save.
Here is the updated card for next week’s NXT New Year’s Evil:
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov defends against Trick Williams
NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria defends against Blair Davenport
Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley – if Stratton wins, Henley must become her servant
NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament finals: Oba Femi vs. Riley Osborne
Arianna Grace vs. Roxanne Perez
???, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro vs. Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp
Looking to be a fighting champion, Dragon Lee puts his North American title up for grabs on NXT tonight.
Dragon Lee will defend his championship against a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew. The group consists of Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp, and Myles Borne.
At NXT Deadline earlier this month, Lee defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the North American Championship. He’s already made one successful title defense against Tyler Bate. Lee is also set to defend the title against Butch on SmackDown this Friday night.
A grudge match will take place as Tiffany Stratton goes one-on-one with Fallon Henley. Thea Hail & Jacy Jane vs. Kiana James & Izzi Dame is also set, along with Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Gallus.
Plus, the first round of the Men’s Breakout Tournament will continue with Lexis King vs. Dion Lennox and Tavion Heights vs. Luca Crusifino.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
A taped episode of NXT opens with a grudge match several weeks in the making.
Fallon Henley defeated Tiffany Stratton
Henley pinned Stratton in a good match, albeit short. Not long, but it did not need to be. Stratton dropped the fall, so she got a lot offense in return. Stratton attacks Henley after the match to keep the feud going.
Setting up the finish, they were trading near falls. Henley kicked out of a powerbomb, and they began exchanging cradles with each reversing the other. Henley won the match when she scored a pinfall after a reversal.
Stratton attacks Henley after the bell. Henley’s head is rammed into the announce desk. Stratton drags Henley backstage, and Stratton continues to pummel her.
Calling her trash while doing so, Stratton wipes a mop on Henley’s face. Stratton then dumps a full trash can on Henley. Stratton calls her a loser and she leaves.
Trick Williams meets Carmelo Hayes in the locker room. Hayes apologizes to Williams, but Trick says no need. They are good. Williams asks Hayes if he really saw who hit him. Hayes says he did not see him, but nobody hit him as hard as Dragunov. So it must be him.
Hayes proposes that they make the NXT title match at New Year’s Evil as triple threat match. Williams ponders why would they do that. Hayes responds they do not have to fight each. They can get revenge and take the title home with them.
Williams tells Hayes he does not even really know if who attacked him, and Williams goes on to say he won at Deadline to earn himself a shot. Hayes says it does not matter who wins the title. Williams wants to win the title one-one-one just like Hayes did. Williams tells Hayes he wants Hayes to help him train.
Meanwhile, NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is headed to the ring for a monologue. Dragunov starts by saying he does not know how he got caught up in the Hayes and Williams saga.
Dragunov goes on to talk about winning the title. He is a human who sacrifices himself because that title deserves it. Suddenly, Dragunov is interrupted, because seemingly nobody can finish a monologue in NXT without an interruption.
Out comes Ridge Holland to the ring. He is looking to redeem himself after many setbacks. Holland wants to prove himself. Holland says Dragunov can help. Dragunov asks if he is asking for a title shot. Holland replies that he will basically work his way up the roster to a shot. This is the first chapter in Holland’s redemption.
Dragunov is impressed by Holland, so he grants Holland a match tonight. Williams confronts Dragunov backstage after a commercial break. Williams is upset that Dragunov gave someone else a match. Dragunov says the champion dictates to the challenger. Williams warns Dragunov he is only champ until New Year’s Evil.
Lexis King defeats Dion Lennox in the first round of the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament
King took the fight to Lennox, but Lennox fought back. King flees the ring and grabs the Breakout contract that was on display at ringside. As if that is legally binding. No matter, as Lennox went outside to cut off King. Maybe it was ploy by King, as he is the one to cut off Lennox when they were back in the ring.
King rams Lennox shoulder first into a ring post. King then executes a swinging neckbreaker. Vic Joseph on commentary called the move a “coronation,” while Booker T calls it a “sleeper.” It assuredly was not a sleeper hold. Regardless, King then covers Lennox for a pinfall.
Trey Bearhill runs out after the match. He rushed the ring looking for revenge on King, who jumped Bearhill last week. That led to King replacing Bearhill in the tournament. If the match was this week, and Bearhill is okay to do a run in. Then, why did King replace him in the first place? Just because he attacked him last week? That makes little sense.
In a vignette, Eddy Thorpe challenges Dijak to a NXT Underground match next week.
Kiana James & Izzi Dame defeated Thea Hail & Jacy Jane
Despite being a taped show, there is a production error with the graphics. Izzi Dame was billed on a graphic as being “with” Kiana James, as if Dame was in James’ corner instead of her tag partner.
Hot tag to Hail, and she runs wild. The Chase U section was cheering her on, but that distracts her. Apparently, the distraction was mainly Hail’s crush being in the crowd. James cuts off Hail, but Hail is able to counter. However, a bling tag is made and Hail is unaware. Hail locks in a Kimura lock on James, but James is not legal. Dame is legal, and she boots Hail in the face with a high kick. Dame then covers Hail for a pinfall.
Andre Chase and Duke Hudson are grambling in a dice game with Bronco Nima and Lucien Price. This sets up a tag match for next week, and Chase is doubling down his bets in hopes of paying off his debt.
NXT North American Champion Dragon Lee defeated Charlie Dempsey (with Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp & Myles Borne) and Joe Coffey (with Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) to retain the title
This started off as a open challenge where Lee thought he was facing someone of Gulak’s stable. Gallus interrupts, and Joe Coffey tells Lee to pick between Coffey and Dempsey. Lee says both, making the match a triple threat.
For some reason, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang are at ringside dresses in attire that made them look like the Killer Bees tag team. The yellow-and-black striped shirt are probably supposed to look like soccer jerseys, but looks like the Killer Bees to me.
Lots of action as one can imagine in the match itself. It goes through a commercial break. Even more action after the break, with some nifty three-way spots. Some really good stuff, aside from some corny gimmick with Joe Gacy.
Still not sure what to make of Joe Gacy’s new gimmick. Last week he was doing the Black Top Bully heckling gimmick. This week he stole Hornswoggle’s gimmick. Gacy appears from underneath the ring. Moments later, Joe Coffey is dragged underneath the ring, presumably by Gacy.
In the ring, Lee is one-one-one with Dempsey. Lee executes Operation Dragon (running sliced bread-type move) and Lee covers Dempsey for a pinfall.
Gulak and his crew jump Lee after the mach. Wilde and Cruz of the LWO run down to make a save. They run off Gulak and his crew. This would seem to set up a tag bout or possibly a trios match.
Tavion Heights defeated Luca Crusifino in a first round match in the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament
Heights won after pinning Crusifino with a belly-to-belly suplex. This match looked so indie. Crusifino’s gimmick is he is a lawyer. It was so indi-rific. This did not belong on national television, but it was nonetheless.
Height advances to the semifinals, where he faces Oba Femi.
A video package hypes the upcoming title belt with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria defending against challenger Blair Davenport.
Nikkita Lyons defeated Tatum Paxley
Lyons pinned Paxley in what was Lyons return match after being away for so long. It was an okay match, and not pretty at times. Paxley works on arm, but this was more of a showcase match for Lyons. She made a comeback, and Lyons delivers a combo kick to set up the pinfall.
Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey) defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledger
Mark Coffey pinned Walker to win the match. The finish involved the tag rope. Ledger tried to tag in, while Walker was being worked over in the ring. However, Ledger was not holding on to the tag rope, so the tag did not count. Meanwhile, Walker gets booted in the face, and Coffey covers him for a three count.
Joe Coffey is inexplicably back from being dragged underneath the ring, as he was in Gallus’ corner. His eyes dart around, and he keeps looking scared of something. Joe Gacy was in the Chase U student section for whatever reason. What the heck is up with Gacy’s new gimmick?
Dijak accepts the challenge by Eddy Thorpe for NXT Underground.
Tiffany Stratton cuts a promo on Fallon Henley, and Stratton challenges Henley to a stipulation match. If Stratton wins, Henley becomes Stratton’s servant.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov vs. Ridge Holland in a non-title match ended in a no-contest
At least I think it was no-contest. It was not made clear, as they did an injury angle. This plays off others being injured in a Holland match, which includes legit injuries such as Big E suffering a broken neck.
Holland DDT’s Dragunov into the mat, and Dragunov sells like he is seriously injured, The referee checks on Dragunov, and out comes medical staff with a stretcher. Dragunov is placed in a neck brace and carried away on a stretcher. Holland is distraught over having caused the injury. That is the cliffhanger angle that closed the show. To be continued next week on NXT.
At Deadline on Saturday night, Dragon Lee defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the North American title. Dragon Lee was a late replacement in the match after Wes Lee, who was originally supposed to challenge Dominik, had to be pulled from the show due to a back injury.
Rey Mysterio was on commentary for the match and rooting for Dragon Lee to defeat his son. Near the finish, there was a moment where Dominik went for a 619 but took too much time taunting his father. That led to Dragon Lee being able to avoid the move. Lee followed up with a sit-out powerbomb and an Asai DDT to get the victory.
This is Dragon Lee’s first title reign in WWE. He and Rey Mysterio hugged as Dragon Lee celebrated his victory after the match.
It was announced on NXT this past Tuesday that Dragon Lee would be taking Wes Lee’s place at Deadline. Wes Lee is undergoing back surgery and is expected to be out of action for 8-12 months.
The NXT North American title match for Deadline has been changed.
Wes Lee is out of the match after announcing on NXT Tuesday he’s out of action with a back injury. Walking to the ring with a crutch, Lee said that he needed surgery. Dominik Mysterio came to the ring and celebrated having a day off on Saturday. Lee responded by saying he’d still be defending the title at Deadline. Rey Mysterio then appeared on the video screen and said he would be in the corner of Dominik’s challenger at Deadline, Dragon Lee, who then came to the ring and chased off Dominik to end the segment.
On commentary, Vic Joseph later said that Wes Lee would be out 8-12 months due to his back surgery.
Lee had recently returned to TV, winning a four-way match in the main event of last week’s NXT to earn a North American title match against Dominik Mysterio.
Here is the updated card for NXT Deadline:
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov defends against Baron Corbin
NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio defends against Dragon Lee
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Dijak vs. Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs vs. Bron Breakker vs. Tyler Bate
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend vs. Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Fallon Henley
WarGames returns to the main roster for tonight’s WWE Survivor Series from Chicago (8 PM EST on Peacock/WWE Network).
The WarGames match itself has gone through many different eras with some being far better-reviewed than others. Only time will tell how this stage in WarGames history will compare with others, but last year felt like a good start.
You can break up the match’s history into the following five periods:
Crockett era
Early-90s WCW
Late-90s WCW
NXT
WWE main roster
Crockett-era WarGames matches are typically the best-reviewed with the first two on the 1987 Great American Bash tour both receiving five stars from Dave Meltzer. It continued to be hugely popular for JCP and then WCW in the early 90s, but things took a considerable dip in the Attitude Era.
By the time the Ultimate Warrior ran in during the 1998 edition, it was safe to say the event’s aura was not what it once was. I once heard reports another WarGames match was held in Vince Russo-era WCW, but I am either unable or unwilling to confirm.
The NXT era of WarGames that followed is tough to beat in terms of match quality. Meltzer never did give five stars for any of them, but several came close and very few were rated under four with the 2021 women’s edition arguably being the only one to disappoint.
The new era of WarGames on the WWE main roster started strong last year. That Survivor Series currently holds a 7.51 rating on Cagematch, making it the fourth highest-rated show (out of 37) in the event’s history.
The WarGames matches provide a new way for WWE to shape storylines heading into the Royal Rumble and ultimately WrestleMania season. It’s already going way better than the “brand supremacy” format we had for years, although that is not a high bar.
This year’s WarGames matches are all about shaky alliances and pending double crosses. Someone is turning on someone — it’s just not clear who those people are just yet.
Betting odds were obtained from Betonline on the week of the show.
Men’s WarGames match: Drew McIntyre and Judgment Day (JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & Damian Priest) vs. Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso & Randy Orton (-450 favorites)
One thing to keep an eye on here is Priest and the Money in the Bank briefcase. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Priest leave Saturday with the WWE World Heavyweight title belt. Rollins could be in a particularly vulnerable spot after the match, although Priest could be too badly beat up himself to cash in as well.
The drama in this year’s men’s WarGames match is kind of interesting. It all comes down to who is willing to forgive Uso for the Bloodline costing them matches against Roman Reigns with McIntyre being the only holdout.
In McIntyre’s mind, he’s right and the babyfaces are wrong. He thus feels justified joining up with a gang of similarly disenfranchised rapscallions in Judgment Day. It creates an interesting dynamic, but I’m not expecting him to remain with Judgment Day after Saturday. He could do something during the WarGames match to show he has no alliances with anyone which could factor into the finish, too.
In terms of match quality, this should be very good. It will be a special match for Rhodes, so expect him to try and make it memorable.
The babyfaces will likely win with McDonagh taking the fall for Judgment Day. What comes after that could be very interesting, however.
Prediction: Rhodes, Uso, Zayn, Rollins & Orton (with Priest possibly cashing in his MITB and defeating Rollins afterward)
This match has the closest odds of any on the card. It’s basically a pick ’em and there are several different ways it could end.
They have teased that the other members of Damage CTRL are gearing up to kick Bayley out of the group, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen. That feels like it could be a red herring or possibly even a red rooster.
One of the first things Paul “Triple H” Levesque did when he got the creative reins after Vince McMahon’s “retirement” last summer was to have Bayley form this group. She has talked openly about wanting to create the first real big female faction in WWE. I don’t know why either of them would decide to abandon the plan now. It seems more likely to me that the big turn in the match could come from the babyface side.
The alliances on the babyface team are possibly even shakier than with Damage CTRL. Flair strikes me as someone who could turn back heel at any time and it wouldn’t surprise me if she does it in WarGames, maybe setting up another feud with she and Lynch.
If I had to make a prediction, and for this article I do, I think the finish of this match involves Flair and Lynch not being on the same page somehow and it costing the babyfaces. Damage CTRL then leaves Chicago a more unified group moving forward.
Prediction: Damage CTRL
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther (-5000 favorite) defends against The Miz
Miz is not going to dethrone Gunther, but WWE has crafted an interesting little angle for the two.
The story that was set up in Gunther and Miz’s promo battle on Raw is that Gunther does not respect Miz as a wrestler. This lined up with his recent comments about Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, and other “showmen.”
The segment brought back memories of the Miz and Daniel Bryan having a similar debate on Talking Smack with Gunther taking Bryan’s role criticizing Miz for his soft style while Miz defends the WWE approach.
In a sense, it is Miz is representing WWE and “sports entertainment” against Gunther who is representing professional wrestling. Since the match is taking place in WWE, Miz is the babyface. To further the babyface/heel divide here, Gunther also commented on Miz being bullied in school for having WWE Superstars as his heroes. I suppose this would be in contrast to the professional wrestling fans at Miz’s school who must have been considered the cool kids.
WWE has attempted to turn Miz babyface only a small amount of times in his very lengthy career. Up until last Monday, none of them had gone very well at all. However, he did manage to get some sympathy from the crowd on Raw — something I don’t believe he’s ever received before in his 17-year WWE run.
Prediction: Gunther retains
WWE World Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley (-3000 favorite) defends against Zoey Stark
The betting world is not giving the challenger much of a chance in this one. She is listed as the second-largest underdog on the card after Miz and I can’t say I disagree.
Ripley is basically the most valuable player on Raw right now. She’s all over the show, taking part in Judgement Day’s business in addition to fending off challengers to her title. I don’t see her championship reign ending anytime soon.
Prediction: Ripley retains
Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar
This was made on Friday’s SmackDown when Carlito was “seriously injured” during a brawl on the show where Escobar jumped Carlito from behind. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis later pulled Carlito from the match and inserted Lee instead.
Whether it’s against Carlito or Lee, the purpose of this match is to establish Escobar as a top star and rival for Rey Mysterio. I’m expecting their feud to run through to WrestleMania, so it would be quite the choice to have Escobar lose here.
It’s now or never for Escobar. The 39-year-old has been with the company since 2019, having spent most of it in NXT. However, Levesque has confidence in the guy and is putting him in the most important, and likely lucrative, angle of his career. He seemingly checks all the boxes and this is his chance to get to the next level.
Dragon Lee is replacing Carlito at Saturday’s Survivor Series.
An angle took place on Friday’s SmackDown that took Carlito out of his match against Santos Escobar. After Carlito called out Escobar, the two ended up brawling outside of the ring. As they were being separated, Escobar ran into the crowd and jumped Carlito from behind. As Carlito stumbled his way backstage, Carlito was again attacked by Escobar when Lee made the save.
Later, Nick Aldis was interviewed and said that Carlito was seriously hurt and out of his match at Survivor Series, and would have to postpone the match as a result. Lee entered and asked Aldis not to postpone the match, saying he wanted to face Escobar. Aldis agreed to the match.
Escobar turned on the LWO after he attacked Rey Mysterio following the events of Crown Jewel. In the weeks since, Escobar has made it clear he no longer wanted any part of the LWO, telling the rest of the group that he no longer needed them and hoped that Mysterio’s leg injury was serious enough that doctors would have to amputate the leg.
Here is the updated lineup for Saturday’s Survivor Series:
WWE Survivor Series, Saturday, November 25, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —
Men’s WarGames match: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh) & Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, and Randy Orton
With his call-up to SmackDown, Dragon Lee has officially signed a new WWE main roster contract.
In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Lee signed his new main roster deal last week. Lee made his SmackDown in-ring debut last month and was then added to the SmackDown roster page on WWE’s website.
Meltzer wrote:
Dragon Lee signed his new main roster deal last week. Basically it made it worth it to him of having signed the NXT deal rather than the offered AEW deal. As noted, he went to people who knew the U.S. scene who told him he’d be lost in the shuffle in AEW. Previously people would have said not to go to WWE given their track record with all the wrestlers who came from Mexico besides Alberto Del Rio.
Lee signed with WWE in December 2022 and debuted for NXT this March.
Before his official main roster call-up, Lee faced Dominik Mysterio on an episode of Raw this September.
Lee picked up a victory over Cedric Alexander on SmackDown last week.
Lee’s brothers Rush and Dralistico are both signed to AEW.
Dragon Lee’s call-up to the WWE main roster looks to now be official.
WWE’s website now lists Lee as a member of the SmackDown roster. Lee was in action on SmackDown last Friday, defeating Austin Theory. It was Lee’s second straight week appearing on the show.
Lee won his match against Theory after getting help from Cameron Grimes. After Grayson Waller interfered to help Theory, Grimes took out Waller at ringside. That caused a distraction that led to Lee pinning Theory.
Lee also wrestled on the September 25 episode of Raw. He lost an NXT North American Championship match against Dominik Mysterio that night.
Dragon Lee did so well with Dominik that it looks like he’s now on the main roster. The nature of the deal he signed did indicate he’d be on the main roster after one year in NXT to begin with, but the match with Dominik may have sped up his timetable. He was legitimately debating between AEW and WWE last year when both made their offers and WWE did indicate main roster money in the deal for year two. Lee asked around and was told that AEW was oversaturated with talent and WWE would be best for him. In Mexico, a lot of people were looking at how Dragon Lee and Bandido, who started at similar times, did, respectively. Bandido was slowed down by injuries but at this point Lee is ahead.
WWE announced the signing of Lee in December 2022. Lee signed a three-year deal with the company. He made his WWE debut on NXT this March.
Dragon Lee’s tour of all three WWE brands will continue on the Friday, October 6 SmackDown show.
After challenging for the NXT North American Championship on this week’s Raw, then competing in a number one contender’s match for the same title on this week’s NXT show, Dragon Lee appeared in the crowd on Friday’s SmackDown show and was announced for a match on next week’s episode. Lee will be in action against former United States Champion Austin Theory.
Also announced for next week’s SmackDown, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & Damian Priest of The Judgment Day will make an appearance on the show. Balor & Priest retained their titles on Raw this week with a victory over former champs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
The Friday, October 6 SmackDown is WWE’s final stop before the Fastlane pay-per-view on Saturday, October 7.
Next week’s announced SmackDown lineup:
Dragon Lee vs. Austin Theory
The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor & Damian Priest will appear
Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair are set to team up on SmackDown tonight.
WWE has announced that tonight’s SmackDown will feature a tag team match with Belair & Charlotte taking on Damage CTRL (IYO SKY & Bayley). The episode is taking place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
On last week’s SmackDown, Damage CTRL interrupted a match between Charlotte and Asuka. SKY and Bayley attacked both Charlotte and Asuka and caused the match to end in a no contest.
SKY became WWE Women’s Champion by cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Belair at SummerSlam earlier this month. Belair had just become champion by defeating Asuka and Charlotte in a triple threat match.
WWE has also confirmed that Santos Escobar will be joining Rey Mysterio on The Grayson Waller Effect tonight. Last Friday, Mysterio subbed in for Escobar and defeated Austin Theory to become United States Champion. Escobar wasn’t able to compete following an angle where he was attacked by Theory.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s show:
Edge vs. Sheamus (Edge’s 25th anniversary celebration)
Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY & Bayley)
The Grayson Waller Effect with guests Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley will be wrestling on next week’s NXT.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Rhea Ripley laid out the challenge to Lee and Valkyria, upset that it wasn’t enough for Valkyria to get an endorsement from Ripley. Mysterio had successfully defended the North American title against Dragon Lee on last week’s show thanks to help from Ripley.
A match between Baron Corbin and Von Wagner is also set. Wagner confronted Corbin on Tuesday’s show, with Mr. Stone running down Corbin. Corbin responded by saying that he wanted to hear what Wagner had to say. Wagner said that Corbin could bring any of his eight characters to the ring next week, promising that he would ‘table’ Corbin. After the talking ending, Corbin attempted to cheap shot Wagner, but Wagner countered with a clothesline out of the ring.
In a video posted on social media following NXT, Ava challenged Ivy Nile to a match at Heatwave, saying after she gets done with Nile, The Creed Brothers will be forced to reveal themselves.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will also make an appearance on next Tuesday’s show.
Here is the updated lineup for next Tuesday’s Heatwave:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes defends against Wes Lee
Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams
NXT Heritage Cup: Nathan Fraszer defends against Noam Dar
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley vs. Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria
With his father in the corner of his challenger, Dominik Mysterio defends the NXT North American Championship tonight.
Rey Mysterio will be in Dragon Lee’s corner as Lee challenges Dominik for the North American title on tonight’s NXT episode. Dominik will have Rhea Ripley at ringside to help counter Rey.
Dominik is making his fourth title defense since winning the NXT North American Championship from Wes Lee last month.
Mustafa Ali and Axiom both want to be next in line for a shot at Dominik or Lee. A singles match between Ali and Axiom is taking place on tonight’s show.
Still claiming to be the Heritage Cup Champion despite the title belonging to Nathan Frazer, Noam Dar will defend his trophy against Tyler Bate tonight. Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner, Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan, and Ivy Nile vs. Kiana James are among the other matches set for the episode.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The show opens with a pre-taped promo, where NXT North American Champion Dominik and WWE World Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley are backstage at Raw last night. They cut a short promo on Dragon Lee, who is challenging Dominik for the North American title tonight..
Cut to the parking lot at the Performance Center, where Dragon Lee is arriving with Rey Mysterio. Rey tells Dragon Lee to show Dom was humility in their title match later on.
“Limited commercial interruption” on the show tonight, so there is that.
Mustafa Ali defeated Axiom
Ali pinned Axiom after a subtle heel tactic. In winning, Ali now looks to be the next challenger for the North American Championship. Excellent opener, and a hot way to kick off the show.
A lot of great sequences throughout the match. Clever counters and reversals to go along with stellar high spots, as well as some scary spots. Ali has been playing subtle heel for a few weeks, and he turned it up a notch in this match.
Just before the finish, Ali and Axiom are fighting on the turnbuckles, when Ali grabs a handful of Axiom’s mask. Ali plays it off like he inadvertently grabbed the mask. Inadvertent or not, Ali then shoves Axiom off the turnbuckles as Axiom.
After shoving Axiom off the turnbuckles, Ali rolls him back into the ring. Ali executes a 450 om Axiom, and he covers him for the pinfall.
Ali looked into a camera, and he cut a promo declaring himself the next challenger for the North American title.
The Schism were creeping around backstage looking for the Creed Brothers, and they apparently attacked several wrestler. Joe Gacy vows Schism will find the Creeds tonight or they turn NXT “upside down.”
Blair Davenport defeated Kelani Jordan
Davenport pinned Jordan after delivering the Bea-trigger. This match was set up after Jordan cut a promo on social media calling out Davenport. This was somewhat at the behest of Dana Brooke, who told Jordan to challenge someone in order for Jordan to find her killer instinct.
Dana Brooke ran in after the match swinging a leather belt, and she chased Davenport around and through the ring. Davenport fled the whipping. Brooke then almost struck Jordan with the belt, but stopped short.
If this was a Southern wrestling promotion, Brooke trying to whip Davenport with a belt would set up a country whipping match. Not sure what it means in NXT, but I guess a strap match is possible. All speculation of course.
Tyler Bate defeated Noam Dar (with Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) to win Dar’s “Heritage Cup” trophy
Nathan Frazier is the rightful holder of Heritage Cup, but Dar has been parading around with his own replica version of the trophy. The replica of the cup was the one up for grabs in this match.
Round one of this bout was a stalemate, as neither won a fall. After going the distance in the first fall, Bate goes up by a fall. Bate scored a pinfall after delivering a Tyler Driver ’97.
The third fall was joined in progress after a split-screen commercial break. Under 30 seconds when the show returns from the break. Double down and a near fall at the bell to end the third round. Both were down selling when Bate draped an arm on Dar for a count as time expired. Like famed wrestler AC Slater, Dar was saved by the bell.
Dar targets a leg in the fourth round. Bate tries to ride the clock and keep from tapping out, but Dar had him trapped in a knee bar. Bate taps out with about 40 seconds remaining on the time clock. Dar then refused to break the hold, and the referee had to step in to separate them. Nonetheless, Dar won round four by submission, so the bout is tied 1-1 going into the fifth and final round.
Mensah interfered a few times, including late in the fifth round. Bate and Dar trade near falls in the closing moments. Dar countered an attempted Tyler Driver ’97, and Dar cradled Bate. Reversing the cradle, Bate then pinned Dar’s shoulders to the mat for a three count.
There is a lot of wrestling so far, but fear not. That changes with a bunch of talking segments.
Tank Ledger and Hank Walker are backstage when they confronted by The Dyad and Schism. Ledger and Walker are them jumped by Schism for not knowing the location of the Creeds.
Ilja Dragunov is interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Dragunov says he is heading to the ring, hopeful that Trick Williams will confront him in the ring.
A skit in the locker room set up a match between Wes Lee and Dijak. They both want to challenge Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship. Dijak jumped Lee, which clearly sets up a grudge match.
Ilja Dragunov calls out Trick Williams, and Williams confronts Dragunov in the ring. They banter with each other, and they took a long time to set up a match between them. Looks like Dragunov against Williams at the Heat Wave special in two weeks time.
Charlie Dempsey and Drew Gulak are being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Dempsey and Gulk were supposed to face Walker and Ledger in a match tonight, but they were beaten down by Schism. In comes Damon Kemp wanting to challenge Dempsey and Gulak to a match. He is scoffed out as he does not have a partner. In walks Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, setting up a match with Dempsey and Gulak.
A nervous Thea Hail meets Rey Mysterio in a backstage skit. Hail is then met by Andre Chase and Duke Hudson. Hail insults Chase and walks away.
Bron Breakker defeated Von Wagner (with Mr. Stone)
Breakker pinned Wagner after a spear, but Wagner powerbombed Breakker on the announce desk after the match. Gorilla Monsoon would have likely called this the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. It was definitely a hoss fight.
Wagner’s new gimmick he puts people through tables, as he was put others through the announce desk in recent weeks. Wagner even wore a t-shirt promoting the new gimmick.
Breakker went to press slam Mr. Stone after the bell. Wagner made a save, and Wagner then powerbombed Breakker on the announce desk, and it collapsed in a heap.
Eddy Thorpe was the focus of a great vignette, highlighting Thorpe’s Native American heritage in his ongoing feud with Dijak.
Charlie Dempsey & Drew Gulak (with Myles Borne) defeated Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen (with Fallon Henley)
Dempsey pinned Jensen after outside interference by Damon Kemp.
Myles Borne was in Dempsey & Gulak’s corner acting as their second. Gulak at one point asked Borne for water, and Borne said he did not bring any water. So, Gulak kicked Borne out of ringside, and Gulak ordered Borne to leave.
Damon Kemp ran down to ringside just before the finish. Kemp suplexed Jensen on the floor, and Kemp rolled Jensen back into the ring. Dempsey executed a Dragon suplex to score the deciding pinfall.
Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan are in a locker room skit that sets up Brooke against Blair Davenport in a match next week.
Kiana James defeated Ivy Nile
James pinned Nile to win the match. Nile is distracted by Ava, allowing James to deliver a finisher.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Upon returning from the break, masked members of Schism surround the ring like this is an impromptu lumberjack match.
The Schism, led by Joe Gacy, Ava and The Dyad, accosted Nile. She is violently grabbed and questioned about the whereabouts of the Creeds. In runs NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Tatum. They are swinging crowbars as the clear the ring. Them saving Nile was set up in an angle earlier in the show where Schism confronted the new tag champs.
Los Lotharios are texting each other trying to patch things up. They both are thinking about what their grandfather, Mario Segura (El Ninja), would think.
Noam Dar is with Meta-Four are in a backstage skit with Nathan Frazier and Tyler Bate. A deal is made for Bate to relinquish his replica cup he won tonight. Bate gives in back to Dar, long as Dar proclaimed it a fake cup. Dar sort of did that, but not really. This somehow sets up a match at Heat Wave between Frazier and Dar for the real cup. So, that match between Bate and Dar from earlier tonight is rendered useless. Thanks for that.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Stratton’s return to television was wasted on this goofy segment.
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio (with WWE World Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated Dragon Lee (with Rey Mysterio) to retain his title
Dominik pinned Dragon Lee to win the match, after a belt shot from Rhea Ripley. Dom tried to cheat by using the North American belt as a weapon, but Rey took that belt from him. Instead, Ripley used her belt to hit Dragon Lee, which costs Lee the match. An angle after the match closed the show.
Rey Mysterio came to the ring first before the match, and he introduced Dragon Lee. That helped make Dragon Lee seem special. Yet Dragon Lee lost in the end, but it was at least due to outside interference. The match itself goes through a split-screen commercial break.
Dom teased unmasking Dragon Lee, as Dom unlaced the mask. That fired up Dragon Lee, and he made a comeback on Dom. That led to a few near fall for Dragon Lee.
They trade strikes in the closing moments. Dom does a 619 and go for a frog splash. Dragon Lee gets his knees up to block the splash. Lee with another near fall after a Liger bomb.
Ripley slid Dom his title belt, and Dom picks up the belt to seemingly use as a weapon. Rey Mysyerio takes the North American belt from Dom. The referee is distracted by the commotion with Dom and Rey, and the ref does not see Ripley smack Lee with her title belt. Dom then executed a Michinoku Driver, and Dom covered Dragon Lee for the deciding pinfall.
Rey and Dom are face-to-face after the match, and Ripley steps in between them to get in Rey’s face. Ripley starts poking at Rey, which brings out Lyra Valkyria to jump Ripley. Valkyria had confronted Ripley in a skit earlier in the show. She brawls with Ripley while Dragon Lee superkicks Dom. The heels flee as Dragon Lee and Valkyria stand tall in the ring. Is this leading to a mixed tag?
