Tag: ethan page

Ethan Page says AEW ‘didn’t know what they had’ in him

Posted on by Ian Carey

During a recent interview with Busted Open Radio, Ethan Page discussed his time in NXT and departure from All Elite Wrestling.

Page was removed from the AEW roster page in early May 2024 and debuted in NXT later that month, attacking Trick Williams and starting a program that would lead to him becoming NXT Champion. He’s continued to play a pivotal role on the brand since. 

After NXT last night, Page spoke with Bully Ray on Busted Open After Dark and said that AEW didn’t know what they had in him. 

“They didn’t know what they had, and now they do. I’m gone. These guys have me. They have the ability to do whatever it is that they want, and they have chosen to open a door for Ethan Page to absolutely kick wide open,” Page said.

Page also said he can relate to Penta, who recently left AEW and made his WWE debut on Raw this week. 

Page continued:

“I can relate to Penta, especially family-wise, getting to see him on Raw with his family in the front row, his daughter specifically in tears. It was almost a flashback to me winning the championship in my home country of Canada in Toronto, my daughter in the front row, finally getting to see her dad fulfill his dream of being a champion, the champion in the company he’s always wanted to be in. So yeah, I can only imagine how Penta felt last night, debuting WWE, Monday Night Raw, Netflix, who knows how many millions of people were watching? It had to feel good.”

Shortly after his departure from AEW last year, Page described his experience in the company as “chaotic and unorganized” compared to NXT. 

Also during his appearance on Busted Open, Bully asked Page about his segment at New Year’s Evil with The Rock last week. 

Page responded:

“I did not expect Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to interrupt me. But on top of it, if a superstar of that caliber could pick anybody on the NXT roster to brush shoulders with, to get to know, to get to be in the presence of and understand what they bring to the table, if I’m the Final Boss, I’m gonna see what’s up. So yeah, there’s part of me that was shocked. But the other part after the fact, no, he’s a very strategic man and that was a very good move by the Final Boss.”

Page’s entire appearance on Busted Open After Dark is available here. 

WWE NXT live results: Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice, year-end awards

Posted on by Jeremy Peeples

The final televised pro wrestling show of 2024 has arrived with tonight’s WWE NXT which will feature the brand’s year-end awards.

Former NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan will take on the hard-hitting Lola Vice. Jordan made her presence felt last week by attacking Cora Jade with a kendo stick after Jade’s loss to Stephanie Vaquer.

Former NXT Champion Ethan Page will be in action against Cedric Alexander. Page has experienced an attitude change as of late after bloodying up Je’Von Evans to send a brutal message.

Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe will take on Andre Chase, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger.

In a three-way tag team match made after the chaotic events of last year’s show, Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson will face Gigi Dolin & Shotzi, and Kayden Carter & Katana Chance.

After Izzi Dame interrupted a Sol Ruca backstage conversation with Zaria last night, Dame and Ruca will go one-on-one to round out the show.

**********

NXT returns to the Performance Center and Kelani Jordan is the first person out to close out 2024 with her match against Lola Vice.

Kelani Jordan defeated Lola Vice

Jordan started off strong with a headlock takeover before Vice escaped and Jordan landed a crossbody for 2. Vice recovered to grind away with a camel clutch before they each exchange armbars on the mat while Booker T quotes MC Hammer. Vice took Jordan down in the corner with a series of kicks before landing a hip attack. Vice hit a three amigos before landing some kneeling kicks, but eating a slick kick from Jordan to even things up.

Jordan landed a series of rope-bound strikes to Vice before Vice snatched a rear naked choke before Jordan slammed her in the corner and then sat back to break it up. Cora Jade ran down and Jordan ran Vice into her before a Backlund Bridge wins it for Jordan. Stephanie Vaquer went to attack Jade, but Vice accidentally backfisted Vaquer when Jade moved.

An NXT Match of the Year nominee video package aired with Femi vs. Briggs vs. Dijak winning. A Fatal Influence hear no evil/see no evil/speak no evil video package airs to hype up New Year’s Evil. An NXT Spotlight video airs with Giulia hyping up Roxanne Perez as a worthy NXT Women’s Champion – but she needs to put her own name in the history books like Asuka and Charlotte while clips from MARIGOLD air. The NXT Moment of the Year is Joe Hendry being in NXT while being a TNA Wrestling roster member.

Sarah Schreiber interviewed Cedric Alexander about facing Ethan Page tonight and Je’von’s jaw was wired shut and the goal is for him to eat solid food – let alone get back in the ring and he’ll take his anger out on Page before Page tells him that he wished the texts warned him about Page before he takes him out and puts him next to Evans. They brawled out to the ring and their match is going on right now instead of later.

Ethan Page defeated Cedric Alexander

Alexander started off heavy with a slugfest and stomping a mudhole in Page in the corner. Page landed a corner combo before eating a dropkick to the knee and a basement dropkick to the neck for 2. Lowpe from Alexander hit hard on the floor but Page landed a codebreaker “to tha snout” according to Booker T for 2 before a dropkick landed another 2 for Page. Alexander landed a snap Michinoku Driver for 2 before falling to a Page cutter. After the match, Page grabbed a toolbox and slammed it on Alexander’s hand.

Tyreik and Tyson chat with Hank and Tank about wanting the tag gold before Wes Lee and Shawn Spears intervene and Spears left Hank and Tank high and dry. Shotzi and Gigi Dolin are out for a women’s triple threat tag match.

Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend defeated Shotzi & Gigi Dolin and Katana Chance & Kayden Carter in a triple threat tag

Dolin and Carter start off hot with a basement superkick by Carter. Legend came in and tosses Carter off her back before hoisting Carter up in a Backlund lift. Chance and Carter took Legend down and got 1 off a Chance cover. Shotzi and Jackson went at it quickly with a butterfly suplex getting 2 for Jackson. Gigi came in and both she and Shotzi landed a series of attacks to Jackson. Shotzi got the cloverleaf on, but Jackson got to the rope.

Carter landed a big boot to Dolin before Chance hits a rana to the floor and she and Carter land a stereo dive to Dolin and Shotzi. Carter landed a basement superkick to Legend before Chance goes into the drop zone for 2 before everyone breaks it up. Jackson landed a missile dropkick to Chance before Carter blind tagged in and ate a dropkick from Jackson. Dolin hit an enzuiguri and set up a dive from Shotzi that landed short. Legend and Jackson set up a shoulder-walking dive to the floor that hits before a Dolin crucifix bomb got 2.5. Jayne distracted Dolin and the Meta Girls hit a double-team cutter for the win.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre chat about the Meta Girls and brag about beating them before getting gold back. Backstage, Lola and Stephanie argue before Kelani Jordan stirs things up. Eva puts Cora Jade in a fatal 4-way at New Year’s Evil. Backstage, Lexis King chats with Eva and she says it’s a grey area if he can win it via DQ and at New Year’s Evil, there will be a sudden death rematch and Lexis hands the cup back to Eva. NXT Tag Team of the Year Award goes to Fraxiom, who bring up being rivals and now being friends. Zaria and Sol Ruca chat backstage before Ruca’s match and we get a little look at some WWE ID signings in the crowd.

Izzi Dame defeated Sol Ruca

Ruca got an armdrag and drop toehold off a long collar-and-elbow tieup. Ruca ties her up on the corner and rides her like a surfboard. I think I saw Nick Bockwinkel do that on the AWA back in the day. Dame sidestepped the Sol Snatcher for 2. Zaria came down to give Ruca some moral support before Ruca hits a springboard spinning shoulderblock. Ruca corner high kick hits and a moonsault met the knees of Dame. Ruca wanted a moonsault off the top to the floor but Dame put Zaria in the path of it! The I-Drive/Sky High hit and gave Dame the win. Spears looked on menacingly.

The NXT Women’s Superstar of the Year is Roxanne Perez and she says she’s brought people from all over the world – Mexico, Japan, and TNA, and no one can stop her. Andre Chase came out for Hank and Tank!

Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe defeated Andre Chase, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger.

Dupont slugged away on Tank before Igwe tagged in and ate some offense on Tank. Chase ran in for a corner forearm before Tank landed a corner charge. Hank and Tank would have been a riot in Memphis with Lance Russell calling their matches. Igwe stomped away on Tank before Tank hit a spinebuster and Chase landed a swanton dive to the floor. Lee went for a satellite DDT on Hank but turned into a front choke before eating an overhead belly to belly and a northern lights suplex and then a giant suplex by Hank!

Tank comes in and ran wild and slugged Igwe on the apron and a cartwheel clothesline! Lee landed a superkick on the floor to take down Tank. Chase slugged away on Igwe mid-ring before hitting a Russian legsweep. Chase wanted the Chase U stomps, but fell into a deep depression and tagged out before walking out on Hank. Hank got a schoolboy but ate a Lee high kick and Igwe landed a stunner to win it.

Ashantee tried to call Carmen Petrovic and it goes right to voicemail and he expresses his love for her and says he misses her. Nikkita Lyons chats him up and he turns her down. Spears congratulates Dame before Tony D tells him to get away from her. Andre Chase told Kale Dixon backstage that Chase U is dead before Oba Femi came out to accept the Male Superstar of the Year award before saying it really doesn’t matter and he is the captain now and you can see him win the title at New Year’s Evil.

Trick Williams came down to show the fans some love like they’ve done for him and Femi is beatable – and because he is so beatable, that’s why they have a triple threat. Thorpe smashed the award on Trick’s head and held the title high. This was a solid by-the-numbers build towards New Year’s Evil – but Oba Femi came off as the biggest star of the three in the closing segment.

Ethan Page bloodies Je’Von Evans after ‘lost my smile’ speech on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Ethan Page lost his smile, but it was all a ruse.

Page attacked Je’Von Evans on NXT following a ruse where he said he had lost his smile, with Evans coming out to convince Page to change his ways. Page wrapped a chair around Evans’ neck, stomping on it. Blood immediately poured out of Evans’ mouth as the show cut to commercial.

Over the last several weeks, Page went through a series of losses, including losing the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline and soon after to Tony D’Angelo in a match for the North American title.

Page, who appeared despondent backstage on Tuesday, interrupted Evans and Hank & Tank as they were talking so he could walk to the ring. He gave a passionate promo bringing up his daughter, son, and wife, saying that he wanted to provide for his family. Like Shawn Micheals in the same building back in 1997, he said he had lost his smile. Evans interrupted and said he and the crowd wanted to see the real than Page, the one who has joy for his wife and children. Page then dropped the ruse and attacked Evans.

JNPO wrestling year in review series: Bad cage jumps, flamethrowers & restaurant fights

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Josh Nason’s Punch-Out nears the halfway mark in my annual 12-part pro wrestling year in review series with a stop in May featuring returning guest Andrew Thompson of Post Wrestling.

Andrew & I go deep (two hours and 30 minutes~!) into happenings like:

  • AEW Double or Nothing which saw the use of flamethrowers, an unfortunate landing off a barbed wire cage jump by Adam Copeland, the return of MJF and the in-ring debut of Mercedes Mone
  • Two international WWE PLEs
  • Some moving and shaking with big WWE contracts
  • Lots of early AEW TV rights headlines and rumors, and WWE TV developments
  • Marigold’s debut show
  • The surprise NXT debut of Ethan Page…and lots more in WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and the wrestling world.

Click here to listen

Here’s the rest of the series:

Ethan Page: Having Shawn Michaels as my WWE NXT boss is ‘the best’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Ethan Page is enjoying his time in WWE NXT so far.

Page debuted for the brand this spring, attacking Trick Williams on the May 28, 2024, episode. He’s been a featured part of the show since.

Page recently spoke to Sports Illustrated about working with Shawn Michaels, Terry Taylor, Fit Finlay, and others since joining the company. 

“Imagine starving for 18 years and then someone just gives you the keys to a grocery store. And they go, go ahead, you can have as much as you want. How much you’re going to take? I’m going to take as much as I can,” Page said of the resources WWE provides at the Performance Center. “I mean, yeah, I will pick the brains of anyone that I feel I should. I absolutely love working with Terry Taylor. I think his views on wrestling, I don’t know if they just align with mine, but it’s just what he says to me, makes sense, and it’s already made me (better) and I’ve only been here six months. I think it’s made me a better performer, a better wrestler, mentally, physically, in the ring as well.”

“I mean, Finlay, another guy that I feel — How are you not asking questions? I’ve never had a boss (Shawn Michaels) with that resume before. I’ve never had a boss that had a successful wrestling career first and then tried to guide others to have successful wrestling careers. So there’s like a perfect mutual respect there. I mean, it’s coming from the mouth of one of the greatest of all time, arguably the greatest of all time. So yeah, this is like a kid in a candy store where I’m being paid to walk around the candy store and eat candy. That’s just, that’s what it is. It’s the best.”

As far as who he’d like to face in the future, Page is interested in financially lucrative bouts against some of the biggest names in WWE.

“I mean, it looks like whatever is going to put the most amount of money in my pocket,” Page said of what a main roster run looks like for him WWE. “I’m 35. I gotta stack that cash up quick. I got two kids, hot Colombian wife. I’m just trying to make sure everyone’s happy and taken care of. For that to happen, I probably gotta brush shoulders with guys like Punk who screwed me. So, if he needs a special guest referee, I’m pretty special. I’d love to return the favor.”

“Me and Cody have history. I mean, it’s personal history. Even if I’m the only one that saw it. I’d love to get in there with him. Randy’s one of my favorite wrestlers growing up. I’m grown now, so I’d love to handle that. John Cena, he can get some too. He’s on a little bit of a time crunch, so that would be nice, Royal Rumble. Put that on the bucket list. WrestleMania, you said it. Let’s definitely do one of those. Then, there’s this show happening in Toronto. I think it’s called Elimination Chamber. Six guys got to be in that match. I don’t know. You could pick five, make one of them me, that’d be great. How long you want this list to be? I could go all day.”

The full interview is available here.

Page will be in the Iron Survivor match on Saturday’s PLE. Nathan Frazer, Wes Lee, and Je’Von Evans have also qualified, with a fifth participant TBD.



WWE NXT live results: Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying continues

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying continues on WWE NXT tonight for both the men’s and women’s matches.

Wes Lee, Je’Von Evans, and Nathan Frazer have already secured their spots in the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. Tonight, one of the last men’s spots will be confirmed as Axiom takes on Ethan Page.

Either Giulia or Kelani Jordan will earn their place in the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge as they face off in a qualifying match tonight. Sol Ruca, Stephanie Vaquer, and Zaria are the first three participants confirmed.

The Iron Survivor Challenge matches are being held at NXT Deadline on December 7 and will determine new number one contender’s for the NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship.

A pair of North American title bouts are set for tonight’s NXT episode. Fallon Henley defends her women’s North American Championship against Tatum Paxley. Shawn Spears challenges Tony D’Angelo for the men’s title belt.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show begins with a recap from last week, showing the fall of Chase U. Opening the show from the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando is the Chase U theme song. The live studio audience pops, but their cheers would soon turn to jeers.

Busting through a Chase U banner is Ridge Holland. He smirks as the studio audience showers him in boos. Holland gets into the ring and grabs the house microphone. All he says is, “I told you so.” That was in reference to the disbanding of Chase U. Holland then says he will see Trick Williams at Deadline, meaning he is challenging for the NXT Championship at the next NXT supercard.

Holland soaked in the jeering from the crowd, and although his promo was brief, Holland had a ton of heat in front of this audience.

Ethan Page defeated Axiom (with Nathan Frazier) in a Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match

Page pinned Axiom to win the match and qualify for the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline. They had a pretty great match. After the match was an in-ring interview with Page, that led into a large brawl with multiple tag teams. Page and Axiom were given plenty of time and they made the most of their match. Page targeted Axiom’s lower back during the match.

The match itself goes through two commercial breaks. When the show returns from the first break, Page goes flying into the announce desk. Meanwhile, a bunch of the tag teams on the roster are watching the match from a monitor backstage.

Before the second commercial break, they are fighting atop the turnbuckles. Page gives Axiom a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle, and Axiom falls to the floor as the show goes into a break. Upon returning from the commercial break, Page and Axiom do a Rey Mysterio-Eddy Guerrero spot from their famous classic match at Halloween Havoc. In the spot, Axiom springboards off the top rope into a back flip and a DDT on Page.

In setting up the finish, they do another Rey Mysterio spot. This one was Rey against Psicosis, where Page goes for a super splash mountain and Axiom reverses into a hurricanrana. Axiom then measures for his finisher, but Page counters with a lariat that turns Axiom inside out. Page then covers Axiom for a three count.

Sarah Schreiber interviews Page in the ring after the match. Page cuts a promo where he gives props to Axiom, while Page also says to not bet against him. Page vows to be the Iron Survivor.

Nathan Frazier jumps into the ring to confront Page. Frazier cuts a promo on Page, but Page gets Frazier to inadvertently put down Axiom. Frazier immediately tries to backtrack his comment.

Wes Lee is out to interrupt. Lee boasts about himself winning the Iron Survivor. Out comes Je’Von Evans for another interruption.

OTM is out for yet another interruption. They do not care about the Iron Survivor, but they do not like the tag team champions chasing a singles title. Several other tag team are behind OTM. Similar to last week, a huge brawl erupts, and the NXT Tag Team Champions, join the melee. All of the teams would continue to brawl throughout the show.

Lola Vice defeated Wren Sinclair (with Charlie Dempsey)

Vice pinned Sinclair after a spinning back fist. Sinclair was working Vice’s injured hand, and Dempsey coached Sinclair into trying to smash Vice’s hand on the ring steps. Sinclair was reluctant, and Vice biels Sinclair off the steps. Vice then takes a rough bump into the steps as Sinclair drop kicks her. Back in the ring, Sinclair goes for a roll-up, but Vice kicks free. Vice then blasts Sinclair with a spinning back fist, with Vice using her good hand. Vice then covers Sinclair for a pinfall.

Vice cuts a stern promo after the match, where she challenges Jaida Parker to an Underground match.

Fatal Influence bully Tatum Paxley in a backstage skit where Paxley as playing with dolls. Paxley offers a cryptic warning to Fatal Influence as a mysterious hand picks up Paxley’s doll.

NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo (with Adrianna Rizzo) defeated Shawn Spears (with Brooks Jensen) to retain his title

D’Angelo pinned Spears after a spinebuster. They had a pretty dang good match. Spears worked a leg. Lots of body parts being worked over tonight, which would make the Minnesota Wrecking Crew proud. Anyway, this was a good match. The heels jump D’Angelo after the match, and Niko Vance runs to attack D’Angelo. Niko is aligned with Spears and Jensen, forming a trio.

The title match itself goes through a commercial break. D’Angelo has sold his knee in previous weeks, and it plays into this match as well. Spears targets the injury, and they do spots related to the injury. “The Don” manages to execute a superplex, but his knee soon buckles again. Spears locks in a figure-four leglock. D’Angelo breaks free, and they trade near falls with roll-ups. D’Angelo then counters with a pop-up spinebuster, and “The Don” covers Spears for a pinfall.

Jensen and Spears try to attack D’Angelo after the match, but “The Don” fights them off. Niko runs in and jumps D’Angelo, leaving the champ laying on the mat. The heel trio glare at Rizzo as they stand over D’Angelo.

The tag team are brawling outside the building.

Andre Chase is packing up stuff from Chase U in a vignette paired with sad music.

Giulia defeated Kelani Jordan in a Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying match

Giulia pinned Jordan after a Northern Lights bomb. This was another good match on the show that got a lot of time. This is a very wrestling-heavy show, and I’m loving that. This match also goes through a commercial break, and Giulia was such a talented wrestler. Jordan held her own.

NXT General Manager Ava takes a bump in a backstage skit. It begins with Ava announces a last chance qualifier for the Iron Survivor Challenge, which is a fatal four-way that takes place next week. Eddy Thorpe is upset and thinks it is unfair for him to face multiple opponents.

Ava then talks with Nathan Frazier & Axiom, and Ava tells them she has booked a battle royal next week to determine the number one contender’s to their tag titles. More tag team arrive to argue among themselves.

Thorpe tries to talk again with Ava, but she tries to go into the trainer’s room. Thorpe grabs her hand to stop Ava, and Ava yells at him to never grab her. Someone hits the trainer’s room door, and the door smacks into Ava. She takes a bump on the floor.

After a commercial break, Ava is still selling the bump. She is sitting up with the trainers checking on her. Shawn Michaels is there as well. Thorpe comes in to plead his case, and HBK flips out on him. Michaels shoves Thorpe backwards into a roll-up door. They glare at each other after Michaels tells Thorpe to get of there .

NXT Champion Trick Williams enter the sounstage for an in-ring monologue. Williams addresses Ridge Holland, which hypes their title match at Deadline. Williams mentions past NXT stars and acts, talking about how they build up the NXT brand. Williams then says Holland only tears things down.

Out comes Ridge Holland to interrupt and confront Williams. Before Holland can say much he is interrupted by Eric Bischoff, who is appearing “via satellite” from Cody, Wyoming. Bischoff announces he is coming to NXT next week. He is hosting a talking segment with Holland and Williams next Tuesday on the go-home show for Deadline.

In a backstage skit, Charlie Dempsey informs Wren Sinclair that she is in a fatal four-way next Tuesday for a final spot in the Iron Survivor (similar to the men’s last chance qualifier). Sinclair wonders how she can win, but Dempsey seems to have faith in her.

NXT North American Champions Fallon Henley (with Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx) defeated Tatum Paxley to retain her title

Henley pinned Paxley after a famouser. The heel trio tries attacking Paxley after the match, which leads to the return of Gigi Dolan.

The match itself goes through a commercial break. Just before the break, Paxley has Henley reeling and on the ropes. Henley powders, and her partners in Fatal Influence cause a distraction. As Jayne and Nyx distract Paxley, Henley swings around the ring post to hit Paxley. The show cuts to its final commercial break with Fatal Influence gloating over their actions.

Paxley makes a comeback well after the show returns from the commercial break. Paxley gets near falls in the closing moments. Paxley climbs the turnbuckles, but Jayne causes another distraction to hinder Paxley. Moments later, Paxley connects with a 450 splash, but Henley kicks out.

As they go home, Henley kicks out of an O’Connor Roll. Paxley then hits Jayne with a wrecking ball dropkick. Henley tries to capitalize on Paxley being distracted again, but Paxley counters Henley. Paxley goes for her finisher, but Henley counters that. Henley then runs the rope and uses a flying famouser to drop Paxley. Henley then covers Paxley and hooks a leg for the deciding pinfall.

Fatal Influence goes to gang up on Paxley after the match, but Gigi Dolan returns to make a save. Dolan’s theme song blares as Dolan sneaks up on Fatal Influence. Dolan cleans house, and Paxley joins in. The two babyfaces stand tall as the show goes off air.

WWE NXT live results: Halloween Havoc go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode is the final stop before Halloween Havoc.

Five days out from their NXT Championship rematch, Trick Williams and Ethan Page will meet for a face-to-face confrontation. Page defeated Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee last week to earn a shot to reclaim the NXT title from Williams. He then left Williams laying to close the episode.

As determined by the Halloween Havoc wheel, it will be a Devil’s Playground match between Williams and Page this Sunday.

IYO SKY & Kairi Sane of Damage CTRL are in NXT tonight for a match against Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson. Another tag match will see Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer team up against Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne.

Giulia & Vaquer will also be partners at Halloween Havoc, facing Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade.

Oba Femi takes on Luca Crusifino tonight ahead of challenging Tony D’Angelo for the NXT North American Championship in a Tables, Ladders & Scares match at Halloween Havoc. Also set for tonight is Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show begins with footage from earlier today of wrestlers arriving to the building. First was NXT Champion Trick Williams and challenger Ethan Page. Then, the participants of the women’s tag match arrive. Their match is opening the show from a sound stage at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson defeated IYO SKY & Kairi Sane via disqualification (I think)

Piper Niven & Chelsea Green interfere and run-in to attack Jackson & Legend for the DQ. Green & Niven then proceed to jump Sky & Sane as well. So the whole match might have been thrown out as a no-contest. Not sure since there was no official word. The finish was a cheap way out of doing an actual finish. Otherwise, this was a good match.

During the match, they played up the height difference with Legend against Sane. Legend went on to lift both Sky & Sane at the same time, and she “dribbled” both on the ropes. Sane counters Legend, and send both her and Jackson out to the floor. Sane jumps off the apron with a flying elbow, and Sky follows up with an Asai moonsault. Despite the height differences, Sky & Sane are standing tall as the show cuts to its first commercial break.

They come back from the break with a double down and hot tag to Sane. She is a house of fire, and she leaps off the top rope with a high cross for a two count. Sky & Sane do their pop-up flying elbow combo. The match continues, and it was getting good when Niven & Green run-in.

Niven grabs Jackson, pulls her out of the ring, and Niven clotheslines her at ringside. After the DQ, Niven & Green get into the ring to jump Sky & Sane. The heel duo leaves the Damage CTRL pair laying in the ring, along with Jackson & Legend. Green & Niven embrace and admire their handiwork.

Video clips from an angle shot from social media show Hank Walker & Tank Ledger hyping up the arrival of a special guest. I had a sudden flashback to wrestling of a my youth with a race car driver as a special guest on the show, and this ain’t Thurman “Sparky” Plugg neither. This guy’s name is apparently Cole Custer. This is shoot name, but it is so fitting on NXT. He is a NASCAR driver, and apparently quite successful.

In a confrontation with Cole, Hank, and Tank, the two members of OTM and Jaida Parker take exception to an outsider being featured on the show. This sets up a tag match later tonight with OTM against Hank & Tank, with the race car driver front row ringside. Parker is also up next in a singles match.

Karmen Petrovic and Ashante “Thee” Adonis are in skit straight out of the Ruthless Aggression era. Adonis thinks Petrovic is playing hard to get when Petrovic dodges his advances.

A video package hypes NXT at the 2300 Arena, playing up the ECW aspect.

Jaida Parker defeated Tatum Paxley

Parker pinned Paxley after a hip attack finisher. Paxley got some offense, but this seemed more about getting Parker over. They still had a competitive match, and Paxley got some near falls. Lola Vice runs down the aisle to try and presumably fight with Parker, but security holds her back.

Lexis King tries to talk his way into a Heritage Cup title match with Charlie Dempsey.

Je’Von Evans has words with NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom, and then Evans runs into Wes Lee in a backstage skit. Cedric Alexander has to hold back Evans.

Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer are featured in a mini-doc that explores their history and arrival in NXT.

Tonya Harding angle of sorts, as Adrianna Rizzo is attacked backstage by a mystery assailant. The D’Angelo Family scramble as Luca Crusifino heads to the ring for the biggest match of his NXT run. D’Angelo stays behind to stay with Rizzo.

Oba Femi defeated Luca Crusifino

Femi pinned Crusifino after his powerbomb finisher. After the match, Femi zip-ties Tony D’Angelo to a ring post, and Femi makes him watch as he powerbombs Stacks through a table.

In the match itself, Crusifino took the fight to Femi, but Femi shrugged it off. Femi looked like a killer here. Femi gives Crusifino a Last Ride powerbomb, and Femi covers him for a pinfall.

In a post-match angle, Femi attacks both Crusifino and Stacks after the match. Stacks goes to check on Crusifino, but Femi tosses Stacks out of the ring. The beatdown by Femi on Crusifino continues.

Tony D’Angelo runs in trying to make a save. Femi sends him crashing into the ring steps. Femi then takes zip-ties, takes a long while, and he eventually zip-tied D’Angelo to a ring post. D’Angelo is forced to watch as Femi powerbombs Stacks through a table propped up on the barricade.

A vignette reveals the name of Zaria for the wrestler formerly known as DELTA.

In another vignette, Andre Chase cuts a promo on Ridge Holland. Chase reveals their match at Halloween Havoc is an ambulance match, playing on Chase doing an injury angle and leaving in an ambulance some time back. Holland would respond with a promo of his own later in the show.

NXT Champion Trick Williams and Ethan Page have a face-to-face confrontation ahead of their title match at Halloween Havoc. This segment went seemingly forever. It was good at points, but Page came off as more sympathetic character than Trick, which is probably not the point.

Page cuts a promo on Williams about he and Williams having a different path to NXT. Page did not have a Performance Center nor the greatest minds in wrestling coaching him like Trick has in NXT. Trick tries to interject, but Trick does not come off well. Not helping him is Page cutting a helluva promo on him.

Page asks Trick if he has ever been busted open. Page goes on to ask Trick if his flesh has ever been torn by a weapon. Has he ever tasted the mixture of blood and sweat. That copper and salt taste that is queasy, except it happens so many times you start to like it.

Page continues is promo on Trick, saying he is all flash with no fake confidence. Page attacked Trick last week to show him what was in store with The Devil’s Playground. Trick has the look, but Page insists Trick does have that devil in him. Page does. He has the devil in him.

Trick responds by mentioning all of his hard-fought opponents, but Page is not impressed. Page vows to win the title.

Sol Ruca defeated Karmen Petrovic

Ruca pinned Pertrovic after a Sol Snatcher. Ashante Adonis is in the crowd, and Petrovic is distracted by him. That costs her the match.

Nikkita Lyons is talking backstage with Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont. Oba Femi walks by and gives Lyons a faux fur coat she dropped, and there was an enchanted moment between them.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger (with Cole Custer) defeated OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price with Jaida Parker)

Ledger pinned Nima to win the match, thanks in part to interference by Cole Custer. He was wearing a racing helmet at ringside, and Custer hit Nima with the helmet like he was Jimmy Hart managing the Nasty Boys in ’92. Except this time around that is somehow a babyface spot.

Lola Vice also ran in, and she kept Jaida Parker from interfering. They brawled at ringside, furthering their feud. In the ring, this was quite a hoss fight until the run-in and interference. After Custer hit Nima in the back with the helmet, Hank & Tank execute their Collision Course finisher. Ledger then covered Nima for the pinfall.

Nathan Frazeir demands a match with him and Axiom against Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander in a backstage skit with NXT GM Ava. That match was later made official as a NXT Tag Team Championship match for next week.

Ridge Holland’s response to Andre Chase is the focus of a vignette hyping their ambulance match.

Tony D’Angelo cuts a fiery promo on Oba Femi, threatening to kick his ass this Sunday.

On their way to the ring, Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer pass IYO SKY & Kairi Sane in the backstage area.

Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer defeated Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne with Jaxmyn Nyz)

Vaquer pinned Jayne to win what was arguably the best match on the show. However, it was yet another bout on the show with outside interference. That was a crutch in the booking tonight. Regardless, they had a good match.

The match itself goes through a commercial break. Nyz interferes to help the heels, and the babyfaces are in peril as the show cuts to its final break. More fast-paced action as they return from the break, with Giulia getting the shine. Hot tag to Vaquer, and she runs wild.

Nyz tries to interfere, but NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan runs in to make a save. Jordan lays out Nyz. In the ring, Giulia lands a running knee to set up the finisher. Vaquer with a package backbreaker on Jayne, and Vaquer covers her for a pinfall.

Lots of stuff in a very short time post-match, as they scramble to get everything in before the show goes off air.

Jordan raises the hands of Vaquer & Giulia after the match. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade stand on a perch overlooking the ring, and they exchanged words with Vaquer & Giulia. Meanwhile, Fatal Influence is on the ramp, where Jacy Jayne spins the wheel. It spots on “Spinner’s Choice,” but they are cut off before making a choice.

Suddenly, the lights go out and a Zaria vignette plays, and she appears live in the sound stage as the show goes off the air.

Trick Williams, Ethan Page segment announced for WWE NXT

Posted on by Ian Carey

A new segment has been added to the lineup for Tuesday’s edition of WWE NXT.

WWE has announced that “we will hear from both” NXT Champion Trick Williams and Ethan Page on the show as they get ready to face each other in a Devil’s Playground match at Halloween Havoc.

Page lost the title to Williams on the October 1 episode, with CM Punk serving as special guest referee. He then earned another shot at the belt on last week’s show when he won a triple threat match against Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans.

The announced lineup for the Tuesday, October 22 WWE NXT: 

  • Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer vs. two members of Fatal Influence
  • IYO SKY & Kairi Sane vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson
  • Oba Femi vs. Luca Crusifino
  • Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley
  • Appearance by 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer
  • We will hear from both NXT Champion Trick Williams and Ethan Page

The lineup for WWE NXT Halloween Havoc set for Sunday, October 27 on Peacock:

  • Devil’s Playground match: NXT Champion Trick Williams defends against Ethan Page
  • Tables, Ladders, and Scares match: NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defends against Oba Femi
  • Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade

WWE NXT live results: Triple threat number one contender’s match

Posted on by Chris Aiken

After two weeks on the road to kickstart the CW era, WWE NXT is back at the Performance Center tonight.

Headlining tonight’s episode is a triple threat number one contender’s match to determine who will challenge for the NXT title at Halloween Havoc. It will be Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans with the winner advancing to face champion Trick Williams at the Sunday, October 27 PLE.

Stephanie Vaquer arrived in NXT last Tuesday and will have her first televised match tonight, taking on Wren Sinclair. Last week, Vaquer provided backup for Giulia against the duo of NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade.

New NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo will hold a celebration following his victory over Oba Femi last week.

Plus, Nikkita Lyons is back in action against Lola Vice, Oro Mensah and Lexis King collide in a Gentleman’s Duel, and there will be a grudge match between Riley Osborne and Ridge Holland.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show opens with new NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo seated in the ring at a table with a red tablecloth. His newly won title is propped up on the table next to a glass of wine. A lone spotlight shines down on “The Don” as he begins the show with an opening monologue.

D’Angelo says he wants to toast his glass to the former champion, the man who D’Angelo says broke him. D’Angelo goes on to say he baited Oba Femi, and D’Angelo used his pride against him. Tony D. then did the unthinkable and beat Femi for the title.

As “The Don” lifts his glass in a toast to Oba Femi, the theme song for the former champion blares over the loud speakers. Oba Femi enters the sound stage to confront Tony D’Angelo. After the entrance of Femi, the house lights are up as D’Angelo stands in the ring to meet Femi. Flanking Tony D. are Channing Lorenzo, Adriana Rizzo and Luca Crusifino.

Femi has to admit that D’Angelo got him. Femi congratulates D’Angelo on winning once, but it will not happen again. Femi says he is reclaiming his title at Halloween Havoc, and Femi adds that The Family will not be there (meaning they are likely barred from ringside). Femi exits the ring, and goes to the spin the wheel, and make the deal.

The wheels stops on TLS, which is Tables, Ladder and Scares. I get it, because of Halloween and all, but did they really need a silly name for such a serious rematch. Then again, I get scared for the wrestlers’ safety during most TLC matches, so maybe “scares” is more accurate.

Byron Saxton interviews Oro Mensah, ahead of the Gentlemen’s Duel. Lexis King interrupts Mensah, and King continues the pompous gimmick. King promises the best man will win.

Stephanie Vaquer defeated Wren Sinclair (with No Quarter Catch Crew)

Vaquer pinned Sinclair after a her finisher where she does a package piledriver into an ushigoroshi. Vaquer looks strong in her television debut, but Sinclair got some time to shine. Sinclair even got a near fall, but Vaquer cuts off Sinclair and catches her with a dragon screw. From there, they go home into the finish.

Vaquer got to showcase a lot of her offense, as this was character development for Vaquer. The live studio audience was receptive to her, and even more so after the angle that followed the match.

NXT Champion Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade run down to jump Vaquer. They begin to pummel and stomp Vaquer, when Giulia runs down for the save. Giulia fights off the heels, as Vaquer joins her in clearing the ring of the heel duo. Perez & Jade powder, but a tag match seems near. Vaquer would go on to issue the challenge for the match at Halloween Havoc.

NXT Champion Trick Williams chats backstage with NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan, and they are overly friendly with each other.

Lexis King defeated Oro Mensah in a Gentlemen’s Duel match

King pinned Mensah with a cradle bridge. The rules of this gimmick match includes the old NWA rule where a wrestler cannot throw their opponent over the top rope. Also, a three count rule instead of a five count. No fighting on the floor, and they cannot strike their opponent on when they have four points of contact on the mat.

Although it was his own rules, they teased King being disqualified for almost throwing Mensah over the top rope. This was a pretty good match with the rules in place. For the finish, Mensah blocks The Coronation, and Mensah gets a near fall with a crucifix. King escapes and uses his feet to cradle Mensah, and King bridges into a pinning combination. The ref counted three, and Mensah wins the match.

Cedric Alexander & Je’Von Evans are chatting backstage with the NXT Tag Team Champions, Nathan Frazier & Axiom. In walks Wes Lee to interrupt, and gets into an argument with Evans ahead of them meeting in the triple threat main event.

After a commercial break, the show comes back with a series of video packages and plugs. Nikkita Lyons is the focus of a hype video. Her opponent tonight, Lola Vice, gets an entrance before the show cuts again to a commercial break. The entrance of Lyons comes after the break, in what is Lyons return bout on NXT television.

Nikkita Lyons defeated Lola Vice

Lyons pinned Vice, thanks in large part to interference by Jaida Parker. Although Lyons won, the heat was more on Parker, as Vice against Parker is an ongoing program.

Just before they go home, Vice fires up with a series of kicks. Vice signals and executes a hip attack. In runs Jaida Parker to interfere. Parker distracts Vice, and Vice knocks Parker off the ring apron. The distraction allows Lyons to hit Vice with a superkick. At ringside, Parker hits Vice with a hip attack. Vice is rolled back into the ring, where Lyons executes a Vader splash. Lyons then covers Vice for a pinfall.

Meeting with NXT GM Ava in her office is Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jaxmyn Nyx) barge in to interrupt them. Ava offers a North American title match to Fatal Influence if they can beat Vaquer & Giulia in a match next Tuesday. Fatal Influence agree. Freebird rules I guess, as we do not known which two of Fatal Influence will face Vaquer & Giulia.

Riley Osborne gets a full entrance with Thea Hail, and the show cuts to commercial. Enjoy while you can, kid. Ridge Holland arrives after the show returns from the break, and he proceeds to pummel Osborne.

Ridge Holland defeated Riley Osborne (with Thea Hail)

Holland pinned Osborne in a decisive win. A post-match beatdown by Holland leads to the surprise return of Andre Chase. He runs in to make the save.

Osborne strikes before the bell, as he dives on Holland during Holland’s entrance. It was all downhill for Osborne from there, but he looked good in the ring while putting over Holland. Setting up the finish, Holland does a gutwrench into a Sid Vicious powerbomb. Holland then hoists up Osborne for the Redeemer DDT, and Holland easily covers Osborne for a pinfall.

Osborne got some hope spots, and he also executed a tornado DDT on the floor. They fought near the announce desk, which would foreshadow a key moment in the post-match attack. Holland would attack Osborne again after the bell. Holland is pummeling him, and Holland teasing putting Osborne through the announce desk. Suddenly, Andre Chase runs down and is a house of fire. Chase sends Holland packing, and Chase sends Holland out of the ring.

Byron Saxton is interviewing Tatum Paxley, and they are discussing Paxley’s feud with Wendy Choo. Jaida Parker, flanked by OTM, interrupt the interview, and she steals Saxton away for a promo of her own. Parker is cutting a promo on Vice when Paxley takes exception to Parker’s interruption. This would seem to set up a match between the two.

Brooks Jensen (with Shawn Spears) defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis

Jensen pinned Adonis after a draping DDT and a few distractions. Karmen Petrovic causes a distraction at ringside, and Shawn Spears also interferes to set up the finish.

This match itself was set up earlier in the show with a skit where Jensen stomps on roses that Adonis had given to Karmen Pertrovic. She appears at ringside during the match with a bag. Petrovic empties the bag on the ring apron, and the tattered rose pedals fall out. This distracts Adonis, and ultimately costs him the match. But maybe he at least has romance with Petrovic, who appears to be turning heel.

For the finish, Adonis is already distracted by Petrovic as he climbs the turnbuckles. Spears jumps on the apron and grabs the top rope, which trips up Adonis. He is crotched on the top turnbuckle, and Jensen strikes with a draping DDT. Jensen then covers Adonis for a three count.

Another video package hypes the arrival of DELTA, although she is still not identified by name.

Lexis King is gloating about his win tonight with Charlie Dempsey and company. King passe by Tony D’Angelo and The Family. Luca Crusifino wants to face Oba Femi in a singles match, and “The Don” gives his blessing to the match.

Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane against Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend in a tag team match is announced for next Tuesday on NXT. Another women’s tag match is confirmed for next week, with Giulia & Vaquer teaming against two members of Fatal Influence.

Ethan Page defeated Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee in a triple threat number one contender’s match

Page steals a pin from Evans, and Page pins Evans in the process. Clever finish to put heat on Page, while keeping Evans strong. Lots of action and other clever spots, albeit at a rapid pace. Page ambushes Trick Williams in a post-match angle where they spin the wheel.

Just before the show is cutting to its final commercial break, Page backdrops Lee on the announce desk. Page is proud of himself, thinking he is clever. All of a sudden, Evans comes flying over the top rope to wipe out Page with a dive. The show cuts to commercials as Evans takes his turn to boast.

The fast-paced high spots continue when the show returns from the break. Page begins to run roughshod on both Lee and Evans. Page gets a near falls where Lee flew in to break up the count. Lee soon some time to shine, as gets a near falls. That leads to the studio audience starting a “N-X-T” chant.

All three fall for a triple down. The studio audience again start “N-X-T”, along with some “fight forever” because why not?

Evans leaps to the top rope to execute a great Spanish Fly. Evans springs off the ropes to deliver a jumping kick for a close near fall. Evans gets another near fall on Lee, after a springboarding into a cutter.

They set up a Tower of Down as they go home. Evans sticks the landing. After landing on his feet, Evans boots Page out of the ring with a superkick. Evans then leaps off the top rope with a tornillo splash. Evans seemingly has victory in his grasp when Page jumps in to roll-up Evans with a cradle for a three count. Page steals the pinfall, and becomes number one contender in doing so.

Page cuts a promo after the match, when Page calls out NXT Champion Trick Williams. Out comes Williams to face off with Page. They spin the wheel to make the deal. The wheel stops on “Devil’s Playground” for their rematch. So whatever that means. Weapons I am sure, and no disqualification. Another serious rematch is made silly with a cheesy gimmick match, and this one happens to involve the brand’s top men’s championship. I guess it is still for a good cause, which is a Halloween-themed PLE.

Trick is cool with the gimmick match, and he poses with the NXT title. Page cheap shots Trick and waylays him with a lighting fixture. Page grabs the title belt and stands over Trick as the show goes off the air.

Overall, this was good show. However, they never explained the wheel gimmick that well for those that are likely unaware. Likewise, the wheel gimmick came off so silly. It detracts from the current feuds instead of complimenting them.

WWE NXT CW premiere live results: Title matches, CM Punk, more

Posted on by Chris Aiken

With a loaded lineup, WWE NXT premieres on The CW Network with tonight’s episode from Chicago.

Hometown hero CM Punk will be in the building to serve as the special guest referee for the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams, who is looking to regain the title from Page and become a two-time champion.

To kick off NXT’s new era, the NXT Women’s Championship will be on the line in tonight’s opening match. Roxanne Perez is defending her title against Giulia — and Stephanie Vaquer has warned that she’ll be coming after whoever leaves tonight’s show as champion.

The Miz is set to make an appearance when he hosts a Miz TV segment with NXT North American Champion Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo tonight. Former best friends Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz are facing off in a street fight. Plus, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice will team up against two members of Fatal Influence.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

NXT is live from Chicago, and Shawn Michaels opens the show. With the hat he was wearing, he kind of looked like Skinner in a suit.

Shawn plays to the crowd and speaks into the house microphone. HBK goes on to unveil new NXT championship belts for the title matches tonight.

HBK says he has one question for us. Before he can say the line, the voice of Triple H interjects, “Are you ready?” Triple H gets into the ring and embraces HBK. They together ask, “Are you ready?!” Huge pop from the crowd, and we are ready for our first match.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Giulia to retain her title

Perez retains via pinfall after outside interference by the returning Cora Jade. Aside from losing the match, this was the best presentation of Giulia, and her character, since she debuted in NXT. Not sure about Giulia losing her first match, but that is very WWE.

They quickly exchange near falls early on. They wrestle to a stalemate, and they go nose-to-nose as the show cuts to a commercial break. After the show returns from the break, the match heats up even more.

The crowd really comes alive after a series of headbutts from Giulia. The action intensifies, and the crowd explodes into “N-X-T” chants when Perez sails through the ropes with a tope suicida. Giulia answers back with a super Northern Lights suplex and a bridge. Chain wrestling, and both counter their way into a crossface. They keep trading near falls.

Pop Rocks by Perez, but Giulia rolls outside the ring to avoid a pin. On the floor, Guilia gives Perez a Northern Lights. They tease a double count-out, and they both roll back just in time to break the count.

Perez gets the title belt, which is a red herring. That was to distract the referee. Suddenly, a hooded assailant attacks Giulia at ringside. The unknown attacker gives Giulia an Evenflow DDT on the floor. Giulia is rolled back into the ring, where Perez executes another Pop Rocks. Perez then covers Giulia for a pinfall. The attacker then reveals herself to be Cora Jade.

The arrival to the building from earlier today of CM Punk and Trick Williams is shown just before the show cuts to a commercial break.

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier and Axiom are playing a WWE video game, and Frazier loses his temper. Axiom tries to tell him to keep his temper in check, both in the game and real life. This was both good and silly, especially since Axiom is wearing his mask while at home on a couch playing video games.

CM Punk talks with NXT GM Ava backstage about the title match later on, and Punk reassures her about the NXT title match having a definitive winner tonight. In walks Lexis King to get some advice from Punk.

A video package recaps the history between Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, ahead of their street fight. Live in the arena, Lee makes his entrance pushing a shopping cart full of weapons as the show goes into a commercial break.

Jaida Parker and Lola Vice are warming up for their tag match. As they begin to bicker, in walks NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan trying to convince them they need each other. Parker and Vice storm off still at odds, and Jordan remarks she has another plan.

Wes Lee defeated Zachary Wentz in a street fight

Lee pinned Wentz in a brutal match. Lee attacks Wentz in the aisle before the bell, and the fight is on. They brawl at ringside, and weapons soon come into play. Wentz smashes Lee into the ring steps with a shopping cart. Chairs, kendo sticks, and a piece of plywood were shattered everywhere. Just before the show cuts to another commercial break, they both take a plunge through a plywood bridge set up at ringside.

Should be noted the days of split-screen commercial breaks on NXT are seemingly done. Fine by me. I like my commercial breaks the old fashioned way. Easier to ignore that way.

After the show returns from the break, Wentz goes coast-to-coast with a Van Terminator that smashes a trash can on Lee. Moments later, Lee takes a face-first bump on a chair. Wentz then hits Lee with repeated shots from the kendo stick. Trash can on the head of Lee, and he is smacked with the stick. Wentz delivers a senton bomb on the Lee with the can still trapped on Lee.

This was getting very brutal. It would quickly get worse when Wentz goes for a springboard. Lee shoves him off the top rope. Wentz was likely supposed to land on a table set up in the aisle. Wentz overshoots the table, and he takes a nasty bump on the floor.

More brutality and near falls. Lee wraps a chain around his hand, and Lee pummels Wentz with the chain. Wentz is seated in a chair as Lee gets on the middle rope. Lee wraps the chain around his knee, and Lee jumps off the rope on a seated Wentz. The chair beneath him craters from the meteora, and Lee pins Wentz.

MizTV with guests NXT North American Champion Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo

Miz is loudly booed. Femi enters looking even more like a superstar than usual. The live arena setting is so much better than the Performance Center. Out comes Tony D’Angelo, and he is flanked by The D’Angelo Family.

“The Don” is first to answer a question, and he gets the “what” treatment. On the other hand, the crowd chants along with Femi.

The crowd turns when D’Angelo says he grew up 20 minutes from the building on the streets of Chicago. The crowd chants for D’Angelo, while Femi says D’Angelo will never be North American Champion. Femi insists D’Angelo cannot beat him.

They get up from their chairs and they face off. D’Angelo says Femi is just a man, and Femi replies he is “inevitable” and D’Angelo is a broken man. Miz concludes the face-off by plugging their title match next week.

Cora Jade and NXT Women’s Champion have a confrontation backstage, where they tease joining forces again.

Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley with Jazmyn Nyz) defeated Lola Vice & Jaida Parker

Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan is at ringside for guest commentary alongside Vic Joseph and Booker T. This leads to them bickering about NIL athletes. Meanwhile, a tag match is going on.

The match goes through a commercial break. Parker & Vice argue just before the show cuts to commercials, which allows Henley to ambush Parker. When the show returns from the break, Vice is trapped in a body scissors. Clips from during the break show Vice getting rammed into a ring post.

The heels work over Vice. Double clothesline and a double down. Vice about to make the hot tag when Nyz distracts Parker. Henley sends Vice colliding into Parker. That upsets Parker, and she walks out on the match.

Vice is left alone with Fatal Influence, and Vice fires up. She is making her own comeback when Vice is cut off by a roaring elbow by Jayne. Her and Henley deliver stereo knee strikes on Vice, and Henley covers Vice for a three count.

After the match, Fatal Influence remain in the ring for a promo. Their win was a statement made, and Henley says they are setting their sights on the North American title. They call out Jordan, but Jordan says she did not come alone. Time for a surprise appearance.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargil get a full entrance, and they get in the ring to confront Fatal Influence. Jordan teams up with Belair & Cargill to clean house on Fatal Influence. The babyface trio stand tall.

An advertiser-sponsored video package hypes Randy Orton against Je’Von Evans for next Tuesday on NXT.

Another video package recaps the story leading to tonight’s main event.

CM Punk gets a full entrance and a big pop, as he enters for his role in the main event. He is wearing sleeveless referee shirt, along with a beaming smile.

A vignette teases the debut of a new women’s wrestler. This could be DELTA, but no name is given.

Trick Williams defeated NXT Champion Ethan Page to win the title

Williams pinned Page after a Trick Shot. They had a good match. Nothing blow away, but Trick is still over. Likewise, Punk is quite over as well if you can believe that.

The right guy won here.

Page tries to cheat early on by putting his feet on a rope, but Punk catches him in the act. Trick was looking strong, until he crashes through a gimmicked section of the barricade. The show cuts to a commercial break with Trick in peril.

Trick makes a comeback after the show returns from the commercial break, and Trick is a house of fire. The crowd comes alive as Trick runs wild. Page counters Trick at ringside, leading to Page giving Trick a Razor’s Edge on the announce desk. The desk collapses with Trick in a heap. Punk goes to check on Trick, and Punk basically refuses to administer a count-out. He had promised a definitive winner.

Several near falls for Trick down the stretch. Trick Shot misses, and Page gets a near fall of his own. Page executes a GTS right in front of Punk. Page glares a Punk while doing the move. However, Trick kicks out at two. Page for another Razor’s Edge, but Trick slips out. Trick falls into the arms of Punk, who gingerly places Trick in a corner. Page misses a charge, and he is hit with a Trick Shot. Trick then covers Page for the deciding pinfall.

A case can be made for Punk making a fast count. That, along with the other interactions in the match with Punk, would give Page an out to save face. Furthermore, a post-match scuffle could easily set up a match between Punk and Page. However, Punk is currently wrapped up in a blood feud with Drew McIntyre. They even have a big cage match this weekend if you are unaware.

Trick celebrates by climbing on the ropes and posing with the title, as confetti falls from the rafters. Meanwhile, Punk and Page get into a shoving match. Punk then picks up Page to deliver a GTS. Page is out cold as the show goes off the air with Trick wondering what just happened with Punk and Page. They quickly rushed off the air. No more overrun with them being on network television.

Overall, this was a good debut on CW. The live arena setting was much better than their usual sound stage. Hopefully, the television revenue can offset production costs enough to take the show on the road more often.

Ethan Page: It ‘was time’ to leave AEW, NXT title run has been validating

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Holding the NXT Championship has been a validating experience for Ethan Page.

Page, who has now been NXT Champion for nearly three months, joined the brand this May shortly after departing AEW. He’s scheduled for a title defense against Trick Williams when NXT premieres on The CW Network next Tuesday (October 1). In advance of that match, Page was interviewed on Insight was Chris Van Vliet.

When asked how he’s felt about his NXT run so far, Page said “validating” is the word he would use to describe it. Being booked as a top star by Shawn Michaels has been a dream come true.

“Validating? I think that’s the perfect word: validating,” Page told Van Vliet. “It’s like — imagine your whole life you have this vision of what your potential could be, and no one around you sees the same vision as you. And then, magically, the greatest wrestler of all time just has the same vision as you and is like, ‘I’ll let you do that.’ And here I am doing it. Yeah, the boyhood dream, dude.”

Page said, when he made the decision to leave AEW, he did not know that signing with WWE was a possibility. He booked a full slate of indie dates for the rest of 2024 before receiving a call from WWE.

In AEW, Page could tell he was on a “downward tick” and felt like it was time for him to make a change.

“It was time. Yeah, it was time,” he said about leaving AEW. “And I wasn’t getting what I magically got here, which was the opportunity to show what I bring to the table.”

Before next week’s CW premiere, Page and Williams will both take part in a press conference on NXT tonight (September 24).

Josh Alexander addresses impending free agency, potential Ethan Page reunion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though he does not want to leave TNA Wrestling, Josh Alexander thinks he would be doing himself and his family a disservice by not checking what’s out there in free agency.

Alexander has been with TNA/Impact since signing with the company in 2019. His deal could have been up near the beginning of 2024, but TNA picked up a one-year option on Alexander’s contract. With his contract now coming up in February 2025, Alexander spoke with WrestleManiac UK and addressed the possibility of testing free agency.

“I can’t say I want to leave TNA, you know what I mean? It’s just, I have never hit free agency. I have never been the belle of the ball or whatever. I’ve never even seen what offers are out there from another company,” Alexander said. “I signed my first contract with Impact Wrestling nearly six years ago. I re-signed three years ago. Now that one’s coming up. And I think I would be doing myself and my family a disservice by not seeing what’s out there. And, you know, if there’s something out there that gets me really excited, it’s all about what makes me happy at the end of the day.

“Everything in my wrestling career for these 19 years has been just following my heart. There’s many times I was let down or I broke my neck, or all this other stuff happened that would deter somebody from keeping to follow their dream. But for me, it was just — this makes me happy, I want to do it, I get excited doing it still after 19 years and 1,500-plus matches or whatever it’s been. So I’m just going to keep following my heart with it, and we’re going to see where that leads.”

Alexander is one of the top stars in TNA, having been a World Champion for the promotion twice. He turned heel at Slammiversary this July and has been feuding with Joe Hendry since. The two will face off at TNA Victory Road this Friday night.

The 37-year-old Alexander held the Impact Tag Team titles with Ethan Page twice from 2019-2020. Currently, Page is the NXT Champion. Alexander told WrestleManiac UK that — with the working relationship that exists between TNA and WWE NXT — he would wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to reunite with Page for a tag team match in either NXT or TNA.

“I think that we’re both very good singles competitors who have championship pedigree now as singles stars,” Alexander said. “So I don’t think it would be something that would happen in the long-term, but if there’s ever a special matchup out there, I don’t think you would throw away that chemistry that we have as a tag team to not just go out there and embarrass somebody in a tag team match.”

Ethan Page to defend WWE NXT title on CW premiere episode

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Ethan Page has his next title defense set.

During Sunday’s NXT No Mercy premium live event, general manager Ava announced that whoever won between Ethan Page and Joe Hendry in the main event would defend the NXT Championship on October 1, when NXT premieres on the CW Network.

Page successfully retained the title after hitting Hendry with a DDT on the NXT title and an Ego’s Edge, with guest referee Trick Williams counting to three.

After the match, Pete Dunne arrived at ringside and dragged Williams out of the ring, giving him the bitter end on the floor. The last moments of No Mercy saw Dunne staring down Page, who continued celebrating his win.

NXT’s move to the CW is just one of three moves WWE is making in the next few months. The last episode of SmackDown on Fox will air this coming Friday, as it will move to the USA Network on September 13. Raw will leave cable television for the first time at the end of the year, moving to Netflix starting on January 6.

WWE NXT No Mercy live results: Ethan Page vs. Joe Hendry

Posted on by Jeremy Peeples

Ethan Page will defend the NXT Championship against TNA’s Joe Hendry on tonight’s WWE NXT No Mercy from Denver, Colorado, with former champion Trick Williams as special guest referee.

This is Hendry’s first shot at the NXT title while Page is looking for his third title defense.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez will defend against Jaida Parker who won a gauntlet eliminator match to earn the shot.

Just two weeks after winning the titles, NXT Tag Team Champions Chase U (Andre Chase & Ridge Holland) will defend against former champions Axiom & Nathan Frazer in a rematch.

NXT North American Champion Oba Femi will look to continue his impressive run as titleholder as he defends against Tony D’Angelo, while NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan will defend against Wendy Choo.

Fresh off his win for the TNA X-Division Championship at Friday’s Emergence, Zachary Wentz will cross the line into NXT to battle former partner turned enemy Wes Lee.

Nathan Frazer & Axiom defeated Chase U (Andre Chase & Ridge Holland) for the NXT Tag Team titles

Chase U worked as subtle heel to start with Chase landing a knee to the stomach and Vic Joseph bringing up that if you played the game, that would have been a kitchen sink. Frazer and Ridge had a killer David vs. Goliath vibe with Frazer flipping to evade and Holland taking him down with a delayed butterfly suplex for 2. Superkick party from Axiom and Frazer led to a standing SSP to Chase by Frazer to get 2.

Holland ran wild on Frazer with a double overhook suplex, an overhead belly to belly and a Yokosuka cutter for 2. Axiom came in and ate a powerslam and diving headbutt before Frazer saved at 2.5. Chase tagged in and hit a Spanish Fly and snap tiger driver for 2.5 on Axiom. Holland wanted a double chokeslam on the floor, but ate offense and double dives to avoid that. Chase tagged in and ate an Axiom frog splash and a Frazer springboard 450 for 2!

Frazer’s superkick is avoided by Chase, but it’s turned into a gamenguri to weaken Chase for a superplex and the brainbuster/Golden Ratio hit for 2.5. Golden Ratio missed Chase and hit Frazer before a Holland Clothesline from Hell and powerbomb/backstabber hit for 2.9! An Axiom flash cradle got 2 before a Spanish Fly from Axiom and Phoenix Splash from Frazer win it! Post-match saw Holland beat up Chase U with Thea Hail pleading for him to stop – and she is perfect in this role given how he looks three times her size. Holland stared at his hands after putting Chase into the announce table with the Redeemer/Rampage.

Pete Dunne hype video sets up him starting in wrestling at 12 and being in the business for 18 years and overcoming everything, including being beaten up on a bus by a group of people who didn’t help him. Trick’s side of it focuses on his hardships and like Dunne, blended his real-life toughness with what his character has gone through. The history of Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz is recapped, largely focusing on their WWE history and not getting into Wentz’s release two years ago.

Zachary Wentz defeated Wes Lee

It started off fast with each man countering everything else because they knew each other so well. Wentz got an edge off a dropdown opening the door for a sliding dropkick. Lee swept the leg on the apron and landed some soft kicks on the floor against the LED apron. Wentz landed a handspring knee and got a nice ovation from the crowd and a TNA chant. A Wentz swanton got 2 before a Lee meteora was turned into a mid-ring Boston Crab! Cardiac kick hit for 2 on Wentz before a blockbuster DDT hit and setup some floor combat.

Wentz was sent into the steps, but avoided a meteora to send Lee into and over the steps. A Wes Lee Black Mess sent Wentz into the announce table and through it, so Wes just did the Swerve Stomp to the floor anyway. Hopefully his ankles wind up okay. Trey Miguel showed up at ringside to open the door for a Destroyer by Wentz off the apron to the floor! UFO cutter hit for the win!

Fatal Influence hype video aired after Choo vs. Jordan is advertised. Oba Femi hype video airs before Hank and Tank appear with an Instagram Live video recapping the show so far.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan defeated Wendy Choo to retain

Jordan got a quick 2 count off a Tiger Mask feint into a schoolgirl. Jordan landed a tornillo to the floor and landed right on her knees hard. A double-backflip moonsault got 2 for Jordan. Choo locked her in a tree of woe on the apron for a dropkick. Sunset flip into the buckle for Choo leads to a basement flatliner. The crowd is beyond dead here – to the point where the PC’s single ceiling fan made more noise than the fans are here. Jordan landed a Pele kick and a sitout DDT for 2.

Choo landed a power bomb and full nelson slam for 2. They go up top for a superplex in theory before they each just fall off and Choo locked on the cobra clutch. Jordan doesn’t quite fire up, but responds to avoid losing and landed a frog splash and split-leggedmoonsault to win to no reaction. This was a scary match crowd reaction-wise. After the match, Tatum Paxley jumped Wendy Choo and locked on the dragon sleeper to “stunned silence” according to Vic Joseph – so now he brings up how quiet the fans were.

-Jaida Parker hype video airs and we see Thea Hail leave with Andre Chase in an ambulance. Backstage, Ridge Holland offered no explanation for what he did. In a strange move given how many video packages have aired, Oba Femi vs. D’Angelo got none to actually build it up – but just the one to showcase Femi with Booker saying that Oba Femi passes the airport test.

NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defeated Tony D’Angelo to retain

Collar and elbow to start with Femi turning it into a headlock and then sending the Don down with a tackle. D’Angelo hits a Cactus Jack-style clothesline sending Femi and himself to the floor before landing a flying forearm mid-ring. Femi snap suplexed him down for 2 before a Bob Roop-style shoulderbreaker got 2.5. Femi boxed the ears with D’Angelo going for a belly to belly before they work to the floor for an apron DDT from D’Angelo.

Femi recovered and landed an overhead belly to belly before a Ken Shamrock-style standing side belly to belly got 2. They go back and forth on forearms before D’Angelo landed a powerslam and an electric chair drop got 2. D’Angelo got 2 off a spear, but ate a tossing back suplex and a Cactus clothesline from Femi. Femi hit the pop-up powerbomb for 2.9! D’Angelo hit a Ron Simmons-style spinebuster, but couldn’t follow up. Femi landed a powerbomb and then rolled him into a Batista bomb to win it. This was one of D’Angelo’s best singles matches yet and showed a powerhouse side that is rarely-seen while Femi sold more than usual and looked good doing so – an excellent showcase for both men who saw their stocks rise here.

Backstage, Trick Williams told Ethan Page to abide by his rules or he’ll whoop that Trick. Backstage, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz chat and Wentz says he’s got one brother left and they want the new tag champs. Roxanne Perez vs. Jaida Parker is hyped up once again before Parker gets the now-traditional one-shot big entrance.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Jaida Parker to retain

Parker and Perez got into a game of one upsmanship with escaping ground moves – with Perez flipping out of a headscissor before returning the slap from the TV interview. Perez dove to the floor and almost ate a DVD on the floor before escaping and slamming Parker’s injured ribs into the steps and then arm-trapping her before stomping her ribs into the steps again. Perez brought her in for a trio of stomps to the stomach. Roxanne reminds me a lot of a female Bret Hart here – using every part of the environment to logically take advantage of an opportunity.

A kneeling abdominal stretch keeps the edge going for Perez. The top rope tear drop that worked against Parker earlier and opened the door for Perez’s advantage finally paid off and got 2 for Parker. Parker hit a slick inverted suplex, but Perez locked on the crossface before turning it into a Rings of Saturn with elbows to the ribs before Parker powered up and Samoan dropped her. Sole butt hit for Perez but Pop Rocks is avoided and sends her to the floor where Parker missed a hip attack through the timekeeper’s barricade. Pop Rocks on the fallen barricade on the floor leads to another in the ring and a title retention for The Prodigy. Match of the Night so far.

Giulia then walked out to stare down Roxanne and boy, does she just fit in right away from second one. That will probably be the Halloween Havoc women’s title match.

-Ava announces that Hank and Tank, Gallus and the Rascalz fight Tuesday for a no. 1 contender’s tag title triple threat and the winner of the NXT Title match will have an NXT CW show debut title match. Trick came out for the main event and Booker T was on fire for this and for anything involving Roxanne. Joe Hendry went from working any job he could during the pandemic-era of ROH to make ends meet to now main eventing a WWE PLE.

NXT Champion Ethan Page defeated Joe Hendry to retain

Hendry kipped up after a headlock takeover from Page as “We Believe” chants break out. Hendry walked around with Page in a slam position before delivering a suplex for 2. Page got a front choke that Hendry turned into another suplex for 2. Page wanted a superplex, but it’s almost turned into an avalanche Standing Ovation before Page turned that into an avalanche powerslam for 2.5. Hendry hit a superplex and an Air Sabut to the floor.

Page recovers with an Ego’s Edge on the floor. Hendry landed an Ego’s Edge mid-ring for 2.5! Hendry got a fallaway slam and a huge “We Believe” chant for stomping his foot before hitting the Standing Ovation, but Page got his foot under the rope to break the count. Page shoved Hendry into Trick and hit a Standing Ovation and got 2.5 with a replacement ref counting. Page hit a DDT on the belt before Trick slid in to prevent the new ref from counting three. Page hit a low blow and a standing Ego’s Edge ala Hernandez’s Border Toss to win it.

Pete Dunne jumped Trick on the floor and landed the Bitter End on the floor to further cement their match for Tuesday.