Athena has nothing but praise for Asuka and holds her in high regard for the influence on her wrestling career. She expressed hope that they will share the ring one final time.
In an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Athena relived her wrestling rivalry with Asuka. She recalled their first meeting at Shimmer Women’s Wrestling and then clashed in the NXT ring for the Women’s Championship.
“Oh, man. Like Asuka is one of those people, that’s a forever rival for me. Like when we were back on the indies, we actually ended up wrestling at Shimmer Women’s Wrestling. That’s where we met. We had one of the hardest hitting matches I think I’ve had in my career then, and then fast forward to WWE NXT for the NXT Women’s Championship. Asuka is my yin to my yang. I really hope she’s not stepping away. I’ve actually been trying to get a hold of her because I lost a whole bunch of people’s numbers when I switched my phone and everything.”
She referenced Asuka as a living legend that audiences still remain unaware of her capabilities and wrestling impact.
“But man, talk about someone who’s just the epitome of what legendary status is or what a living legend is. I, to some extent, don’t feel like people really understand how much she’s done for wrestling as a whole. Like from grinding on the indies to being like an independent contractor in Japan to getting signed to WWE. Not only that, like just excelling in WWE in every form and facet from match to match, but never changing who she was as a person, a character. I couldn’t be more proud, more happy for her. I hate her in that same breath, of course.”
Athena expressed interest in a final match with Asuka to conclude their rivalry out of respect for her legendary career. She emphasized how important competing against Asuka was in shaping her as a performer and wrestler.
“I also feel like I have to have one more match eventually and hope that this isn’t it. This isn’t the long goodbye, if you will. But like, Asuka’s one of those people that I wouldn’t be who I am as a performer, as an athlete, if she wasn’t in my life. If she wasn’t on the opposite side of the ring. I don’t think I would have gotten anything really if I didn’t have that experience with her.”
Asuka teased retirement after her WWE Backlash match against IYO SKY after a 22-year wrestling career. On the following edition of Raw, she bid farewell to SKY in a passing of the torch moment.
On the other hand, after Athena’s WWE release in 2021 she returned to the independent circuit before debuting on AEW. In December 2022 she captured the Women’s ROH Championship and continues to hold the title with her reign surpassing the 1250 day mark.
Athena talked to us about her rivalry with Asuka and said she would like to have one more match with her.
“Oh, man. Like Asuka is one of those people, that’s a forever rival for me. Like when we were back on the indies, we actually ended up wrestling at Shimmer Women’s… pic.twitter.com/J8VzsKn8yv
A unique Women’s Tag Team title match is set for next week’s WWE NXT.
It was announced on Tuesday that Katana Chance and Kayden Carter will defend the titles against Alba Fyre in a 2-on-1 match. After Isla Dawn cost Fyre a match against Sol Ruca, she was about to attack the referee with a baseball bat backstage when the champions came in to stop her. Instead of calming her down, however, the champions ended up getting challenged to a match by Fyre. The announcers later explained that Fyre had refused to find a tag team partner for the match.
Elsewhere, Tiffany Stratton will face Indi Hartwell after a vignette was shown of Hartwell taking over Stratton’s dressing room. Elektra Lopez will also be in action, taking on Wendy Choo.
Segments announced for next week include a Thea Hail award ceremony after she picked up a win over Valentina Feroz on Tuesday’s show. Lopez had come out prior to the finish of the match and handed Feroz a pair of brass knuckles. Feroz refused to use the weapon, but the distraction ultimately cost her the match.
A Vengeance Day summit between new Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, Gigi Dolin, and Jacy Jayne will also take place. Perez, along with Lyra Valkaria, defeated Toxic Attraction on Tuesday’s show.
The new lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team titles: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter (c) vs. Alba Fyre
Athena and Stokely Hathaway, formerly Ember Moon and Malcolm Bivens in WWE, made their AEW debuts at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
Both debuting talents were given the customary All Elite graphic on social media by Tony Khan, the company’s traditional way of announcing full-time signings.
Both Athena and Hathaway debuted in the same segment at the PPV. Hathaway provided a distraction for Jade Cargill to allow her to pin Anna Jay in the TBS Championship match. Athena came to the ring to side with Jay and Kris Statlander as the three squared off with Cargill, Red Velvet, and Kiera Hogan.
Bivens was released by WWE in April after turning down a contract extension offer. He had served as exclusively as a manager on the NXT brand since debuting in 2019, and was most recently aligned with the Diamond Mine stable.
As Ember Moon, Athena wrestled in NXT from 2015 to 2018, capturing the NXT Women’s Championship once. She had a main roster WWE run from 2018 to 2020, then returned to the NXT brand in October 2020, where she would go on to capture the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles with Shotzi Blackheart. Athena was released by WWE in November 2021.She has made sporadic appearances on the indie scene since, and currently holds the Warrior Wrestling Women’s title.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with a shorter show than usual since technical issues eliminated the first two live segments, but still, ALL THE NEWS, Ember Moon talks leaving WWE, AEW Dynamite recap and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Athena (FKA Ember Moon) has opened up about her final months in WWE.
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, she detailed her frustrations with the company beginning with when her former tag team partner, Shotzi Blackheart, was moved to Smackdown.
“My last four months was just one of those moments that I wasn’t having fun anymore. It started with Shotzi being gone and Shotzi being drafted,” Athena says in the clip. “I was sitting at home and I got a phone call saying, ‘Hey, we don’t want you to be upset but Shotzi just got moved to Smackdown and she is debuting with Tegan Nox as a tag team.'”
“I was like, ‘But we’re the tag team and we have merch and we’re doing fun things and we had just finally gotten into our groove.'”
She continued to say that she spoke to Triple H shortly after and he expressed that he wasn’t sure what was happening. She also mentioned that members of the writing team told her they had no idea her and Shotzi had been a team in NXT.
The decision was then made that she would turn heel.
“I was like, ‘Hey, let me go on a losing streak, let me get super frustrated, and let me turn,” she continued.
“Then the first match happens and then I’m off TV for four weeks.”
The planned heel turn kept getting pushed back after Triple H took leave following his cardiac event last September.
“Then Hunter disappeared. I was supposed to do a match with Sarray and I ended up getting a rash on my arm. I had an allergic reaction to something that they thought was something else, so they pulled me from the match.”
She was then asked to turn heel in a 205 Live match against Cora Jade.
“They go, ‘You’re turning in this match but we want to make it subtle.’ So, they kind of turn me but they don’t. Then there was a lot of confusion on what was supposed to happen.”
“I was like, ‘I don’t know if I turned heel or not.’ Then [I’m] off TV for three weeks and I have the match with Mandy and they’re like, ‘We’re finally pulling the trigger on this.’ I get a note that week saying, ‘Hey, in two weeks, we need you to dye your hair fire colored again, we need you to get the red contacts, you’re going back to the old Ember Moon character. This is per Vince [McMahon]. You’re going to turn heel but you’re going to turn heel as your old character.'”
Two weeks later, Athena had shot a video for her return when she was told that she would not be returning to TV.
“I get the video ready, I’m ready to show everyone after TVs and they’re like, ‘Hey, we have some bad news. Vince is pulling you off TV indefinitely.’ I just kind of sat there and was like, ‘What did I do wrong?'”
She then got emotional talking about her frustration at the time.
“When you care about something and you care about this business so much more, not just for yourself but for everyone involved, it hurts so much more,” she continued.
Athena then mentioned there had been a meeting about talent dressing sexier and looking more like Mandy Rose as well. The accumulation of frustrations led to her wanting to quit.
“On some level, I knew that I was leaving,” she continued. “I had already gone and bought an extra bag and kept it in the locker room so I could pack all my stuff and leave. It had been there for like a month.”
Yim and Athena were both released by WWE on November 4 of last year. They officially became free agents when their non-compete clauses expired last month.
Athena returned to the ring at a show for Warrior Wrestling in February, while Yim has yet to have her first match since being released.
“To those wondering why I’m not back in the ring yet.. February is a busy month. With the wedding and the move, I decided to not take any bookings until March to focus on getting everything handled at home first,” Yim tweeted last month. “So don’t worry, I’ll see you all in the ring in March.”
This year’s WrestleCon convention begins on March 31 and ends on Saturday, April 2. The updated SuperShow lineup is listed below:
Minoru Suzuki vs. Biff Busick
The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) vs. The Rottweilers (Low Ki & Homicide)
Bandido vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Timothy Thatcher
Mia Yim vs. Athena
Atsushi Onita, Jonathan Gresham, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson), Michael Oku, Black Taurus, and PCO set for action
Ember Moon’s first announced match following her WWE release has been announced.
Moon, going under the name Athena, will face Thunder Rosa for the Warrior Wrestling Women’s Championship in Cicero, Illinois on February 12 at Cicero Stadium. She had previously used that name prior to signing with WWE. A video showing Athena confronting Rosa was posted along with the announcement.
In the video, Athena confronted Rosa, saying that she accepted Rosa’s open challenge for the championship, but told Rosa that it wouldn’t be the result that she wanted.
Tonight’s announcement marks the first announced post-WWE match for Athena since being released from her WWE contract on November 4. She had most recently been wrestling on the NXT brand, with her final match being a loss against Mandy Rose on the October 5 edition of NXT.
February 2 marked the end of the 90-day no compete clause for those who were released on November 4 including Keith Lee, Nia Jax, Karrion Kross, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado, among others.
Shortly after WWE’s quarterly investors call wrapped, the company began making cuts to their talent roster, citing “budget cuts” as the reason.
From the main WWE roster, Keith Lee, Mia Yim, Nia Jax, Karrion Kross, Eva Marie, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik, Harry Smith, and B-Fab were released.
From the NXT roster, Scarlett, Ember Moon, Franky Monet, Jessi Kamea, Katrina Cortez, Jeet Rama, Oney Lorcan, Trey Baxter and Zayda Ramier have been let go.
Mass releases have become a regular occurrence in WWE throughout 2021 as they made 13 roster cuts on August 6, another 14 on June 25, six on June 2, eight on May 19, and 10 on April 15.
Kross and Lee are both former NXT Champions. Lee had been rebranded as “Bearcat” Keith Lee on Raw. Kross had not been accompanied by Scarlett on the main roster as he had been in NXT.
Jax is a former Raw Women’s Champion and a two-time former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Her pairing with Shayna Baszler was the focus of the women’s tag division in WWE throughout much of this year.
Scarlett stated on Twitter that she has a 30-day non-compete clause following here release, while Oney Lorcan stated on YouTube that his non-compete is 90 days.
Mandy Rose is set for action on tonight’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that Rose vs. Ember Moon will kick off tonight’s episode of NXT. The match comes one week after Rose set her sights on the NXT Women’s Championship by attacking Raquel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Franky Monet in the main event of last week’s NXT. In an angle following the match, Toxic Attraction (Rose, Gigi Dolin, and Jacy Jayne) beat down Monet, Jessi Kamea, and Robert Stone on the ramp. Toxic Attraction then surrounded the ring as Gonzalez was in it. Gonzalez tried to fight them off, but Toxic Attraction’s numbers advantage was too much.
Rose laid out Gonzalez with a knee strike and then posed with the NXT Women’s title belt.
Rose and Gonzalez also had an interaction earlier on last week’s show where Rose said the NXT Women’s Championship looks good on Gonzalez, but it’ll look a lot better on her.
Moon last wrestled on 205 Live two weeks ago, defeating Cora Jade. Moon was on a four-match losing streak prior to that.
Here’s the updated card for tonight’s NXT:
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans, Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Ember Moon will be in action on this week’s episode of 205 Live.
WWE has announced that Moon vs. Cora Jade will take place on 205 Live this Friday night. It will be the second time Moon has ever wrestled on the show. She also took part in a women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic match on 205 Live earlier this year.
“Moon recently revealed that she’s seeking a different approach after losing four consecutive matches, while the 20-year-old Jade is in search of an early career-defining victory at the expense of the veteran,” WWE wrote. “Will the former NXT Women’s Champion employ a win-at-all-costs strategy to break out of her funk, and will it be enough to defeat the upstart?”
Those four straight losses started when Moon unsuccessfully challenged Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: In Your House this June.
A backstage segment on this week’s NXT established a romantic relationship between Jade and Trey Baxter. Jade kissed Baxter and told him to cheer up after his loss to Dante Chen.
Oney Lorcan vs. Xyon Quinn and Ikemen Jiro vs. Malik Blade have also been announced for Friday’s 205 Live. Blade (real name Joshua Dawkins) made his WWE in-ring debut in a loss against Boa on 205 Live last week.
Sarray has a new opponent for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Ahead of tonight’s NXT, WWE announced that Ember Moon was declared unable to compete on the show by the NXT medical staff. Moon was supposed to face Sarray tonight. Dakota Kai will now take Moon’s place against Sarray.
Sarray vs. Kai will be the opening match of tonight’s show.
Moon tweeted about not being able to compete tonight: “This has been an extremely rough month, I am angry and gutted! I was really looking forward to this match and getting back on track but just got another pothole in the road. I’m sorry!
Kai will challenge her former tag team partner Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver 36 on Sunday, August 22. Kai turned against Gonzalez two weeks ago and laid her out with a kick. After Kai explained her actions last week, Gonzalez will respond to Kai tonight.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
NXT general manager William Regal will mediate a face-to-face segment with Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will respond to Dakota Kai
Ilja Dragunov appears
NXT Breakout Tournament semifinal match: Odyssey Jones vs. Trey Baxter
A special look at the feud between NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe
The card for tonight’s episode of NXT has a few new additions.
WWE announced this afternoon that Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai, Dexter Lumis vs. Santos Escobar, and Bobby Fish vs. Tyler Rust will take place on NXT tonight. The episode will be headlined by Karrion Kross defending his NXT Championship against Johnny Gargano, with Samoa Joe serving as the special guest referee.
Moon defeated Kai by disqualification when they faced off on NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House last month. The DQ was due to interference by Kai’s tag team partner Raquel Gonzalez. Gonzalez then retained her NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Moon at TakeOver: In Your House.
On NXT two weeks ago, Io Shirai & Zoey Stark defeated Gonzalez & Kai and Shotzi Blackheart & Moon in a triple threat tag team number one contender’s match. Shirai & Stark went on to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles from Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell at NXT Great American Bash last week.
Lumis reunited with Hartwell when he carried her to the back after last week’s NXT Women’s Tag Team title match.
Rust is part of NXT’s Diamond Mine stable. In a video that WWE posted today, Fish answered an open challenge that was issued by Diamond Mine’s manager Malcolm Bivens. Fish thought the open challenge was for a match against his former Undisputed Era stablemate Roderick Strong, but Bivens said Fish would be facing Rust.
After Cameron Grimes unsuccessfully challenged for LA Knight’s Million Dollar Championship at the Great American Bash, WWE has announced that Grimes’ butler duties will begin tonight. Grimes having to be Knight’s butler was a stipulation of him losing last week’s Million Dollar title match.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Johnny Gargano (Samoa Joe will be the special guest referee)
NXT Breakout Tournament first-round match: Ikemen Jiro vs. Duke Hudson
NXT’s final build to the Great American Bash takes place tonight.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell will be putting their titles on the line at the Great American Bash next Tuesday. Tonight, Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai, and Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will face off in a triple threat match to determine their challengers.
An NXT Tag Team title match between MSK and Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher has been made official for the Great American Bash. The two teams will take part in a face-to-face segment tonight.
Mercedes Martinez will team with Jake Atlas tonight as they take on Tian Sha’s Xia Li & Boa in a mixed tag team match. Cameron Grimes will also be in action tonight.
Plus, NXT will follow up on last week’s debut of the Diamond Mine. Roderick Strong, Tyler Rust, and Hideki Suzuki are part of the faction and are being managed by Malcolm Bivens. Strong attacked NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida at the end of last week’s show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Io Shirai & Zoey Stark defeated Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in a triple threat number one contender’s tag team match
Shirai pinned Kai to win the match, earning Shiari and Stark a title shot at the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship against The Way at The Great American Bash.
One wrestler from each of the three teams in the ring at once, so three wrestlers were legal at a time.
The match breaks down into a melee with everybody involved, leading to a parade a dives before a commercial break. All the babyfaces flew. Shirai with an Asai moonsault, Blackheart did a tope suicida, Moon off the middle rope with a somersault senton, and Stark springboarded into a flying cross body.
Gonzalez looked to be dominate after a commercial break, but Shirai and Blackheart fought back and tagged out. Stark, Moon and Kai traded near falls after tagging in. Stark and Shirai teamed up to target Kai. Shirai springboarded into a missile dropkick for another near fall. Blackheart broke up the pin with a senton. Blackheart & Moon with momentum on their side were in control.
Blackheart applied cattle mutilation on Kai, but Gonzalez was able to make a save. Babyfaces ganged up on Gonzalez. She was seemingly out out of the way for a tower of doom spot. Gonzalez jumped back in to break up the tower of doom. Gonzalez ragdolled and mowed down the babyfaces. Shirai was finally able to cut off Gonzalez.
Kai off the top rope with double foot stomp on Blackheart. Kai then turned around into a double knee strike from Shirai. Kai countered a crossface, and she superkicked Shirai. Kai could not capitalize, and Shirai struck with a butterfly backbreaker. Gonzalez again jumped in for a save. This time Gonzalez covered Kai, taking the proverbial bullet for her. Shirai with a moonsault press on Gonzalez & Kai.
Blackheart with a senton bomb on Gonzalez. Stark with a modified GTS on Blackheart. Eclipse by Moon on Stark. Got To Kick from Kai to Moon. Kai countered Shirai for a roll up that netted a two count. Kai was then dropped by a plam strike, and Shirai executed a moonsault press. Gonzalez was not there to make a save this time. Shirai then covered Kai for the deciding pinfall.
To the back! Johnny Gargano attacked NXT Champion Karrion Kross, and there was a pull-apart brawl. Lots of screaming, as Kross was very upset by this sneak attack.
A video package retrospective looked back on the Breakout Tournament from 2019. In 2021, the Breakout Tournament returns in two weeks time on NXT.
NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed was backstage when McKenzie Mitchell asked him about the tournament. Reed was in the tourney in 2019. So was Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. He interrupted Reed, and Scott was flanked by Hit Row. Scott challenged Reed to a title match tonight. Reed accpeted the challenge, setting the stage for a North American title match.
NXT Champion brawls with The Way
NXT Champ Karrion Kross stormed to the ring, and he dared Johnny Gargano to face him. Gargano confronted Kross, setting up a grudge match. This was also a distraction by Gargano as Austin Theory ran in to attack Kross. Despite the sneak attack, Kross easily fought off Theory.
Kross then went after Gargano, and Kross attempted to bash Gargano with the ring steps. Officials poured out for a pull-apart. They pried Kross away from Gargano. As security held back Kross, Gargano with a cheap shot superkicked Kross. Even the security team took a bump on that one. Superkick, indeed.
Gargano and Theory feld the scene. Kross told Samoa Joe he was doing a helluva job. Not sure who are the protagonists here, but it was pandemonium nonetheless. During a commercial break, Gargano and Theory did the Earl Hebner gimmick of speeding away from the building in a waiting vechile.
Roderick Strong (with The Diamond Mine) defeated Asher Hale
Strong submitted Hale in a short match. First match for the Diamond Mine on NXT stable since they debuted together last week. In winning Strong looked… well, very strong.
In Strong’s corner were Malcom Bivens, Tyler Rust and Hideki Suzuki. This was a showcase match for Strong, who has slightly changed his look. He is still great in the ring. Also great to finally see Bivens in a featured role. He was very vocal at ringside.
Bivens in a promo after the match declared that Diamond Mine is “open for business, and this is just the beginning, baby!”
Up next was another enhancement match like this was an episode of Superstars from the 1990s.
Cameron Grimes defeated Ari Sterling
Grimes pinned Sterling after a Cave In. Fun match while it lasted.
Sterling got to shine getting some offense on Grimes, including a wicked springboard moonsault where he jumped from inside the ring over the ropes. Grimes fought back, but Sterling continued to look strong. Sterling missed a 450 splash, and Grimes struck with a Cave In. Grimes then covered Sterling for a pinfall.
New Million Dollar Champion LA Knight interrupted Grimes’ celebration. Knight said nobody gave a damn about Grimes. Then why is Knight trolling him if nobody gives a damn? Anyway, Knight went on to call Grimes a “natural born loser.”
Grimes proceeded to cut a promo on Knight, and Grimes challenged Knight to a match next week for the Million Dollar title. Knight at first declined the offer, until Knight added another stipulation. Knight would put the belt on the line, but if Grimes loses, then Grimes has to become Knight’s butler. Looks like the match is on for The Great American Bash.
The NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions — Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell — confronted their challengers. Io Shirai & Zoey Stark were being intervied backstage when they were interrupted by LeRae & Hartwell. LeRae warned Stark that Shirai is a sore loser, teasing Shirai would turn on Stark when they lost. Shirai shot back at LeRae to say LeRae had naver beaten her, and Shirai vowed her and Stark would win the titles. “We’ll see about that,” LeRae exclaimed, and she stormed off with Hartwell in tow.
Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole face-to-face
Cool Kyle comes to the ring for a monologue. He was actually cutting a really great promo, but this is WWE so somebody seemingly always has to interrupt promos like this. Out comes Adam Cole. They are joined by Samoa Joe.
Cole and O’Reilly cutting promos on each other seemed like old hat at first, but business picked up when Cole insulted O’Reilly wife. O’Reilly was overcome with rage at Cole mentioning his wife. They were about to brawl when Joe stepped in between them. Joe said not now, but Cole would not listen.
Cole charged at O’Reilly, and they go to the mat. O’Reilly catches Cole in heel hook, and Cole screamed in pain. Cole begged Joe to stop O’Reilly. Much like Cole ignored Joe, then Joe in turn ignored Cole’s pleas. Joe left the ring with Cole still pleading for mercy as O’Reilly cranked on the hold. Finally, Joe ordered the security team to break up the fight.
Tian Sha vignetted highlighted the faction before their upcoming mixed tag match tonight.
Hit Row bumped up Swerve ahead of his title challeneg later on.
The charging battery is now above 70%.
Xia Li & Boa defeated Mercedes Martinez & Jake Atlas in a mixed tag team match
Li & Boa won after a referee stoppage. Martinez was rocked by a kick, and the match ended soon thereafter. The ref stopped the bout, ruling Li & Boa as the winners.
The match started with a wild brawl. Of course, the men and women only faced off against each other as per usual in a WWE mixed tag. Mei Ying watched from her throne at the top the stage. Martinez yelled at her before a commercial break.
Li hit Martinez with a roundhouse kick at one point. Martinez went down like she was knocked silly, and Li went for a cover. Martinez got her shoulder up, but she looked out of it. The referee backed Li away, and Martinez rolled out of the ring. Off camera, the ref checked on Martinez, and then the ref stopped the match.
MSK face off with Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa
Everyone brought a steel folding chair to the ring, and they had a literal sit down. There was tension, but things seems rather cordial at first. They soon grew angry with each other. Honestly, I had trouble with my television feed during this segment. When things cleared up, the two teams were no longer seated. They were in each other’s faces.
MSK wanted the challengers to put some respect on their name. Lee was cut a great promo, and Carter then slapped Thatcher. “Toothless Timmy”, as Ciampa called him, was incensed by the slap. Thatcher lunnged at Carter, but Ciampa held Thatcher back. Ciampa told MSK to bring their pride and their titles next week at GAB. Ciampa vowed he and Thatcher will take both. This week MSK got a free shot on Thatcher, but Ciampa said next week they would not be so lucky.
General Manager William Regal was being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when Regal was approached by Sarray. She wanted a match against Toni Storm, and Regal basically said he would consider it.
Johnny Gargano did not leave the property despite speeding off in a SUV earlier in the show. Gargano instead stayed around to attack Karrion Kross in the parking lot. Kross was leaving in his car when Gargano attacked him, seemingly leaving Kross laid out on the ground. Gargano was gloating when Kross caught him in a Kross Jacket sleeper, and Gargano was choked out by Kross. Samoa Joe would later step in to pick up Gargano like a child in trouble as recess. Joe remarked to Gargano that he possibly pushed Kross to far.
Great American Bash lineup for next Tuesday on NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defend against Io Shirai & Zoey Stark
LA Knight defends the Million Dollar Championship against Cameron Grimes (if Grimes loses, then he becomes Knight’s butler)
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Tommoso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
Cole-O’Reilly II
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (with Hit Row) defeated NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed to win the title
Scott pinned Reed to win the title after interference by Hit Row. Really good match, even despite the distraction at the end. The finish was very WWE, but it allowed Reed to save face. Scott becoming a champ is also really great for nis new faction. They continue to get over.
Reed displayed his power at the outset, and Reed manhandled Scott. There was a spot before the commercial break that must be seen to be truly appreciated. Scott went for a sunset flip off the ring apron. Reed countered by squishing Scott with a sit-out splash on the apron.
The tide turned during the commercial break. Scott gained the upper hand, and Scott leapt off the apron with a missile dropkick on the floor. Scott with a near fall after using the ropes for an assisted German suplex.
Scott caught Reed with a flatliner for another close near fall. Reed countered Scott’s signature kick, and they trade strikes. Scott rolled through seemingly going for another flatliner, but Reed with a counter to deliver a Spicolli Driver. That led into a double down.
Reed with a Dusty Rhodes tribute by using a bionic elbow. Scott is mowed over with a belly splash. Reed signals for his tsunami finisher as he climbed the turnbuckles. Top Dolla caused a distraction at ringside, diverting the referee’s attention. Ashante “Thee” Adonis then interfered by pulling Reed off the turnbuckles. Reed retaliated by throwing Top Dolla through the plexiglass barricade. Adonis is also tossed over the barricade as well.
Scott catches Reed trying to get back into the ring, and Scott nailed him with a kick. Scott followed up with a 450 splash, and Scott hooked a leg while covering Reed for a pinfall. Scott becomes the new NXT North American Champion.
A triple threat tag team match on next week’s NXT will determine Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell’s challengers for the Great American Bash.
WWE has announced that Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will take place on NXT next Tuesday. The winning team will challenge for LeRae & Hartwell’s NXT Women’s Tag Team titles at NXT Great American Bash on Tuesday, July 6.
The number one contender’s match was announced for next week after a brawl between Shirai & Stark, Gonzalez & Kai, and Blackheart & Moon broke out on tonight’s NXT. After Shirai & Stark defeated Aliyah & Jessi Kamea on tonight’s show, there was a confrontation between LeRae & Hartwell and Shirai & Stark. Gonzalez & Kai and Blackheart & Moon then also appeared and argued that they should get the next Women’s Tag Team title shot.
Here’s the full list of what’s been announced for next Tuesday’s NXT:
Number one contender’s match: Io Shirai & Zoey Stark vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon
Mixed tag match: Mercedes Martinez & Jake Atlas vs. Xia Li & Boa
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK will go face-to-face with Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher ahead of their title match at the Great American Bash
A couple of announcements have been made for NXT’s go-home show for TakeOver: In Your House.
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai will take place on NXT next Tuesday. Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy will also make her return to NXT as she appears on the show.
Moon vs. Kai will be part of the final build to Moon challenging for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: In Your House. The TakeOver event is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
On NXT last week, Moon & Shotzi Blackheart defeated Gonzalez & Kai in a tag team match. But there was then a post-match angle where Gonzalez knocked Moon down and had Kai force Moon to watch on as Gonzalez laid out Blackheart. Moon wanted revenge on tonight’s show and called out Gonzalez. Moon and Gonzalez brawled and Moon sent Gonzalez out of the ring, but Kai then ambushed Moon and beat her down.
Poppy has appeared on NXT multiple times in the past. She most recently performed at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April.
During a backstage interview on NXT tonight, Candice LeRae asked why they keep letting Poppy come back to NXT and said Poppy probably wants to be the next Bad Bunny. LeRae told Poppy to grow up. LeRae wasn’t happy that backstage correspondent McKenzie Mitchell was mentioning other news during her interview.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated Zoey Stark & Zayda Ramier in a non-title match later on tonight’s show.
