This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Amelie Arena in Tampa, Florida before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Not much to get excited about in the opener this week, but the Creed vs. Crusifino match at the top of the show was a lot of fun by the end.
Xia Li defeated Gigi Dolin (5:46)
This was fine, but nothing special. Dolin is still winless in 2024, while Xia Li picked up her first win of the year.
Watching Li here showed just how much presentation is key in wrestling sometimes. She brings so much energy to what she does that it masks what is otherwise quite basic stuff in the ring.
Li has started to plait her hair and the bottom halves of them are dyed blonde. They whip around her when she works and, together with her face paint, create a colorful image. She’s made a way to make herself stand out.
Dolin worked from underneath for a lot of the match but showed a lot of fight. Li applied a camel clutch that looked brutal on Dolin’s neck and back, but she managed to escape and fired up with strikes and a clothesline.
Dolin looked like she was setting up for her finisher as she had Li in an abdominal stretch position, but she escaped and used a spinning leg lariat to get the win.
The finish looked a bit soft as it didn’t connect, but otherwise, this was fine.
Julius Creed (w/Brutus Creed) defeated Luca Crusifino (6:25)
The Creed brother has enjoyed a run of singles matches on this show over the last month or so and has impressed. The debuting Luca Crusifino was just the latest to get thrown around by a ridiculously strong wrestler with the surname Creed.
Crusifino currently plies his trade on NXT Level Up and so this match marked his first outing on a main roster TV show. He is tall and lean and looks like he could do some serious damage. He was largely methodical throughout this one, playing the heel, but certainly didn’t look out of place here at all.
The highlight of the match was undoubtedly the spot after the ads where Creed fought his way out of several chin locks to explode with six – yes, six – German suplexes in a row. Each was made the more impressive by the kip-up that Creed did between each. I don’t think some people will realize how difficult that is to do.
The crowd certainly appreciated the effort and straps came down. Creed hit a beautiful standing shooting star press, but it was a false finish as Crusifino kicked out at two.
He kicked out at Creed’s left leg and then hit him with a kind of fisherman’s suplex into a neckbreaker which looked cool. He lay across Creed, exhausted, but Creed also kicked out.
The finish saw another German followed by a clothesline to end a fun match between these two.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Given the news coming out of WWE this week, it remains to be seen what will happen to a show like Main Event, but it feels even more inconsequential than ever that this was a perfectly mediocre show this week.
Chelsea Green w/Piper Niven defeated Gigi Dolin (5:09)
This was fine, but nothing special. Niven interfered so that Green could get the win, but that’s pretty much what you would expect.
Dolin worked Main Event last month, getting a debut win against Elektra Lopez, but essentially played babyface in peril in this one until she was cheated out of a win.
Green was an excellent heel throughout, in a role that clearly suits her and that you can tell she enjoys. She was slow and methodical, asking the crowd at one stage here to ‘get your cameras ready for this one’.
Weirdly, Green and Dolin were wearing similar ring gear to the point where you’d think that they were a tag team that had just split.
Green used a chin lock and the crowd rallied behind Dolin who managed a roll-up for a two-count. They both collided and went down with Dolin getting up first and nailing Green with a German.
After a dropkick and another two-count, Dolin looked set to go home but Niven interfered, allowing Green to hit an UnPrettyHer for the win.
They got going after the commercials in this one and both worked hard, but it didn’t top the work that Julius Creed and Apollo Crews put in on the show last week.
Brutus Creed earned his first main roster singles win here against a returning Myles Borne in his third Main Event bout of his career. Borne looks good in flashes, but they are yet to give him a win on this show.
It was Borne who took the early going and they started slow, but built to a spot where Creed went up to the top rope. He was knocked to the outside with a slick dropkick from Borne as they went to an early break.
There was some back and forth after the ads, with Borne using some ground and pound and locked in the dreaded chin lock. The crowd did at least play along and cheered on Creed to break the hold.
Creed got some hope spots in with clotheslines and a Samoan Drop, followed by a standing moonsault, which was enough to earn him a two-count. Borne used his Orton-esque power slam but got blocked looking for a suplex.
In the end, Creed planted Borne in position with a powerbomb and then, despite Borne getting back to his feet, finished him with a top rope cannonball. It’s a soft-looking finisher from a really strong dude, but otherwise, you can’t help but be impressed by the Creed brothers.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Two simple matches this week, but again Main Event delivered fresh talent to make it a more interesting show.
Gigi Dolin defeated Elektra Lopez (4:58)
This was a very straightforward affair from two pretty new faces. They worked hard and Dolin got the win in her debut.
While this was Dolin’s Main Event debut, it was Lopez’s second appearance and second loss. She worked the show back in March in a losing effort against the now-former WWE employee, Dana Brooke.
There was some nice banter between Saxton and Barrett on commentary, referring back to their FCW days, which brought some color to this one. It felt as though they piped in a ‘let’s go Gigi’ chant, but it could have been legitimate.
Both had their moments, with Dolin’s coming from a basement dropkick where they slowed down the hang time she got before she landed it. Lopez was more the slow, methodical heel, but certainly had the look of a main roster talent here.
In the end, they exchanged near falls, but Dolin was plucky enough to hit Lopez with a kick to the head so that she could use her Gigi Driver for the win. It looked a little sloppy but it’s a creative-looking finisher.
Apollo Crews defeated Javier Bernal (7:41)
This was a good match in the end, after a slow start. The crowd liked the near falls at the end, but it was another week and another win for Crews who continues his dominant run against NXT talent on Main Event.
Like Gigi Dolin, Bernal made his debut here, but it wasn’t his first taste of main roster action. He appeared on Raw back in May in a tag team squash at the hands of Sanga and Veer. Singles action allowed Bernal a way better platform to show what he could do.
Bernal has an interesting look. On the one hand, his jacket is kind of reminiscent of Shawn Michaels in the early 90s, after he went solo. But he also has the mannerisms of Edge as well. This isn’t to say he works like either of those two gentlemen, but the influence is clear to see.
Crews looked none too impressed with Bernal, but once they started to work together there was a slickness in what they did. After an early back and forth, Bernal knocked Crews off the apron and we went to an early commercial break.
After the ads, Bernal was in control and locked in a head scissors. A better rest hold than usual chin lock, but still a pet peeve for these short matches.
The highlight of the match was when Crews looked like he was going home, having hit the standing moonsault he went up top, rolled through and got nailed by an elbow. Bernal went for a cross body and got caught, so reversed it into a tornado DDT. The crowd thought it could have been the finish, but Crews kicked out.
Crews then got the win with a head kick and a top rope splash to keep his streak going.
The couple announced the news via social media on Tuesday. Yesterday, Dolin posted a video of the couple on a Disney Cruise and revealed that Wentz proposed during the trip.
Dolin wrote:
Disney Wish Cruise: Halloween On The High Seas Part One This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Sorry, not sorry, I am fully a Disney adult, because I was a Disney kid
And for me it’s filled with nostalgia, warm fuzzies and family memories for generations and I have been lucky enough to find a guy who is the exact same way. It was the most amazing weekend of my life.
I have been through a lot of heartache and so has @ZacharyWentz over the years. With each other we found peace, a best friend, we found home. And of course, he popped the question on the first night at The Rose. (Very fitting)
There’s so much I could say, but the bottom line is my heart is so full, I couldn’t have asked for a better human. Now it’s time to take on the world because “Adventure is out there!” Stay tuned for part two and three. Happy Halloween!
Disney Wish Cruise: Halloween On The High Seas Part One 🎃🛳️🌊🖤 This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Sorry, not sorry, I am fully a Disney adult, because I was a Disney kid. *see the rest 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/TN3VwIwRhW
Both Wentz and Dolin had the week off from their respective promotions. Dolin lost to Blair Davenport in a Lights Out match at Halloween Havoc night one last week and Wentz took part in Impact Wrestling’s Chicago TV tapings last weekend but did not travel with the promotion for its UK Invasion tour.
One of NXT’s most intense rivalries is set to culminate tonight in a stipulation match.
Nearly four months after the implosion of Toxic Attraction, Gigi Dolin will battle Jacy Jayne inside of a weaponized steel cage. They have a 1-1 record against each other during their feud.
Tonight’s show is also set to feature the fallout from NXT Battleground. We’ll hear from Carmelo Hayes, who retained his NXT Championship by defeating Bron Breakker in the Battleground main event. A new challenger for Hayes may emerge tonight.
Tiffany Stratton was crowned the new NXT Women’s Champion at Battleground, defeating Lyra Valkyria in the finals of a tournament. Stratton will be holding a “Tiffybration” to celebrate her victory.
Plus, we’ll find out the identity of the mystery attacker who has targeted wrestlers like Nikkita Lyons, Sol Ruca, Wendy Choo, and Roxanne Perez in recent months. The hooded figure most recently attacked Perez last week.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Opening the show is the cage match full of weapons. A video package recapped the feud so far between Dolan and Jayne.
Jayne ambushes Dolan during Dolan’s entrance. Jayne pummels Dolan, and then she pulls her through the cage door to officially start the match.
Gigi Dolan defeated Jacy Jayne in a weaponized cage match
Dolan pinned Jayne in a hard-fought win where both took a beating. Lots of weapons as advertised, with tables, chains, chairs, baseball bat, and a table for the finish.
After the pre-match ambush, Jayne has a distinct advantage. Jayne grabs a leather strap, and Jayne whips Dolan with the strap. Dolan recovers, and she has a receipt for Jayne using the strap.
They brawl around the cage, with weapons such as trash cans being used, along with a baseball bat wrapped in thorns from a rose. Jayne cuts off Dolan and gives her a spinebuster on a trash can, just before a split-screen commercial break.
The brawling continues through the break, and Jayne is using a chain as a weapon as the show returns from commercials. Dolan fights back, only of her to take a neckbreaker on a pile of metal folding chairs. Dolan kicks out for a near fall.
Dolan appears to be bleeding from lacerations on her back. They trade strikes with both on rubber legs. Dolan is sent crashing into a trash can. A table is set up in the ring. They fight while perched on the turnbuckle, and Jayne takes a Nestea Plunge off the top rope. Jayne crashes through the table. Dolan fold her up and covers Jayne for a pinfall.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee is doing an interview with McKenzie Mitchell when he is confronted by The Dyad. Tyler Bate rushed into the scene to have Lee’s back. This would seem to set up a tag team match.
Tony D’Angelo is seen having his mugshot taken at a police station. Cut to Gallus backstage at the Performance Center, and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo storms in to confront the three members of Gallus. Stacks accuses Gallus of ratting on D’Angelo. A scuffle ensues, and Stacks is beaten down by Gallus. Referees and officials pour in to break up the beatdown. Mark Coffey and Wolfganag are ejected from the building. Stacks and Joe Coffey would met later on in a singles match.
Noam Dar challenges NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes to a match later tonight
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams are heading to the ring for a promo. They first talk about Hayes retaining the title over Bron Breakker at Battleground. Hayes is boasting about his win when he is interrupted by the entrance of Noam Dar and his entourage.
Noam Dar is flanked by Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend. Jackson is carrying Dar’s Heritage Cup trophy. Dar and Hayes exchange words. Dar shushes Williams, much to Williams’ chagrin. Dar goes on to challenge Hayes to a NXT title match tonight. Dar claims Hayes is practicing load management like in the NBA. Hayes takes exception to that remark, and Hayes accepts the Dar challenge for a title bout later on.
Cora Jade and Ivy Nile have a confrontation in a locker room skit. Jade was sporting a black eye from her match on Sunday. This skit sets up a singles match later tonight with Nile against Jade.
An unmasked Scrypts thanks Axiom for unmasking him. It allowed Scrypts to “open his eyes,” and he apparently became a very friendly guy. Axiom seems confused, but he still accepts the thanks.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee & Tyler Bate defeated The Dyad (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid with Ava)
Bate pinned Reid to win the match. While Ava was at ringside, The Dyad continue to be distanced from Joe Gacy and Schism. Nevertheless, Gacy does a run after the match, although it was to set up something with Mustafa Ali.
This tag bout goes through a commercial break. The Dyad is working over Bate as the show returns from the break. Mustafa Ali is now at ringside at the announce desk for guest commentary.
Ali says he is a “free agent,” so he can appear on any brand. Ali also says he now obsessed with winning a championship after coming so close to winning a title at Battleground.
Meanwhile, Wes Lee cleans house after a hot tag. Lee is eventually cut off by The Dyad. Lee makes his own comeback, and he tags out before climbing the turnbuckles. Bate also climbs the ropes, and Bate leaps off into his signature corkscrew swanton. Simultaneously, Lee does a corkscrew senton of his own. Bate executes a Tiger Driver ’97 on Reid, and Bate covers him for a pinfall.
Ivy Nile runs down to ringside after the match, and she attacks Ava. Nile and Ava brawl, and out comes The Creeds. They brawl with The Dyad. Joe Gacy runs in and blindsides Wes Lee. Ali rushes into the ring to make a save, and Gacy powders. Ali then raises the hands of Bate and Lee.
A determined Thea Hail convinces Duke Hudson to let her train with Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey. Those two have picked on Hail, and Hail has a point to prove with them.
“Tiffybration” Crashers
New NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is out for a monologue. The “Tiffybration” in the ring includes a bunch of posters of Stratton in various poses. Stratton calls out the entire NXT roster to announce the first challenger to Stratton.
Stratton rambles on as she brags about herself. She eventually gets around to announcing a number one contender’s battle royal for next week to determine Stratton’s first challenger. Stratton brags some more, and a bunch of confetti falls from the ceiling.
As Stratton basks in the cofetti, she is jumped several of the other women wrestlers. An upset Stratton has a tantrum after being booted from the ring. Confetti is still falling as Stratton cries crocodile tears.
Trick Williams is backstage when he is confronted by a trio of Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend and Oro Mensah. They exchange words in a wacky skit.
Blair Davenport returns
Dani Palmer hijacks the show, as she she has gotten into the ring with a microphone. She cannot wait any longer for the unknown attacker to reveal themselves tonight. Palmer is mad that the unknown assailant attacked her and Sol Ruca. The lights go dark in the soundstage except for the Titantron. A video recaps the history of results attacks.
Palmer is watching the video play when she is attacked from behind by someone wearing a hoodie. The unknown attacker beats down Palmer, and then she reveals herself as Blair Davenport (Bea Priestley). Not sure if it was the campy Black Scorpion vibe or what, but this seemed to get over like a fart in church.
A backstage skit set up another match between Damon Kemp and Eddy Thorpe, as Kemp provokes Thorpe. Their return match is next Tuesday on NXT.
Joe Coffey defeated Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
Coffey pinned Lorenzo to win. The match goes through a commercial break. Coffey and Stacks both go outside over the ropes after a Cactus Jack clothesline. Stacks seems to be on a roll, but he misses a charge and crashes into the ring steps. Coffey capitalizes with the Glasgow Sendoff and a roaring lariat. Coffey then covers Lorenzo for a pinfall.
In a skit from last week, Mr. Stone is upset that Von Wagner got himself disqualified in his match. Stone tells Wagner he was issues with anger management, and Stone tries to convince Wagner to see a therapist.
Ilja Dragunov is the focus of a great vignette that shows his match at Battleground against Dijak, as seen from Dragunov’s perspective. Dragunov returns to NXT next Tuesday.
Cora Jade defeated Ivy Nile
Jade pinned Nile, after a double arm DDT and interference by Ava. Nile shows a lot of fire from the start. Ava runs in during the match looking to interfere. Nile catches Ava in a Dragon sleeper, but that leaves Nile open to an attack by Jade. Nile takes the Jade’s Cactus Jack double arm DDT, and Jade covers her for a three count.
A wacky backstage skit showed tension between Edris Enofe and Malik Blade as they begin to question their chemistry as a team. This is because Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are beginning to discover they have an uncanny chemistry.
McKenzie Mitchell is acting as a roving reporter looking for comment from Diamond Mine, and she finds Ivy Nile and the Creeds. Nile cuts a promo on Ava and challenges her to a match next week. The Creeds also issue a challenge to The Dyad for a match next Tuesday. Ava and The Dyad then rush in to confront Diamond Mine for a pull-apart scuffle.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeated Noam Dar (with Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) to retain his title
Hayes pinned Dar to retain the championship. Baron Corbin ran in after the match to attack Hayes, seemingly setting up a new title program. Dar’s entourage also interfered in the match, and Trick Williams was ejected from ringside. Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazier both come down to ringside to counteract the interference of Dar’s faction.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break, which was the last break on the show. The champ fired up into a springboard just before the show cuts to commercials. Hayes was on fire again when the show returned from the break.
Dar cuts off Hayes to briefly turn the tide. Dar gets several near falls, but Hayes keeps kicking out. Double down leads to them trading strikes. Hayes with another rally.
Jackson and Legend cause a distraction at ringside, drawing the attention of Hayes and Williams. Mensah tries to sneak up on Williams, only to get clobbered by Williams. The referee then ejects Williams from ringside.
Dar lands a back elbow for another near fall. When Hayes kicks out, Dar transitions into applying a knee bar. Hayes fights to break the hold, and Hayes escapes to apply a crossface. They rise to their feet to again exchange strikes.
Dar lands another back elbow, but Hayes answers back a moment later with a suplex into a cutter. Hayes climbs the turnbuckles, and Mensah interferes by shoving Hayes off the top rope.
Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazier rush to ringside, and they confront Mensah about his interference. Dar rolls out of the ring and to Mensah in arguing with Dragon Lee and Frazier. Hayes then leaps off the top rope with a high cross off the top to the floor.
Leaping back into the ring, Hayes jumps off the top rope with his flying legdrop finisher. Hayes covers Dar for the deciding pinfall, and Hayes retains his title.
While Hayes is celebrating his win and posing with his title belt, Baron Corbin suddenly runs in for a surprise attack on Hayes. The announcers on commentary were certain to mention Corbin was a free agent. Corbin jumps Hayes and delivers an End of Days. As the show goes off the air, Corbin lifts the title belt overhead as he stands over a fallen Hayes.
A weaponized steel cage match is set for next week’s WWE NXT.
Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin will meet in a weaponized steel cage match on Tuesday following NXT Battleground on Sunday. The two have been feuding for most of the year, ever since Jayne turned on Dolin on an episode of Ding Dong Hello back in February.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Dolin came out and called out Jayne, who appeared in the crowd. Jayne said she couldn’t wait to take care of her. She told Dolin she turned on her because she grew tired of carrying her and challenged her to a steel cage match. Dolin agreed as long as there were weapons inside the cage. Jayne agreed to the added stipulation, making the match official.
The two first met in a singles match back on March 7, with Dolin winning. The two next met on the May 2 edition of NXT, with Jayne defeating Dolin in front of Dolin’s brother.
The road to crowning a new NXT Women’s Champion begins tonight.
With Indi Hartwell vacating the title and being called up to Raw, NXT is holding a tournament to decide its new Women’s Champion. The tournament begins tonight with two first-round matches: Gigi Dolin vs. Tiffany Stratton and Lyra Valkyria vs. Kiana James.
Roxanne Perez, Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Cora Jade are the other tournament participants. The finals will be held at NXT Battleground on Sunday, May 28.
Gold will be on the line tonight as Gallus defend their NXT Tag Team titles against The Dyad. In addition to that, the show will feature a grudge match between Trick Williams and Bron Breakker.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak, Tyler Bate vs. Charlie Dempsey, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger, Eddy Thorpe vs. Damon Kemp, and Duke Hudson vs. Javier Bernal are scheduled for tonight as well. Plus, we’ll hear from Nathan Frazer as he presents a new edition of Hard Hitting Home Truths.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The show opens with a recap of Indi Hartwell vacating the NXT Women’s Championship. The tournament to determine a new champion starts tonight.
The eight wrestlers in the tournament are lining the aisle ahead of the first match in the tourney. Tiffany Stratton is out to kick off the show, and she also cuts a promo on a pre-taped cutaway. Gigi Dolan also cuts a promo in a pre-tape.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Gigi Dolan to advance in NXT Women’s Championship Tournament
Stratton pinned Dolan to win a quarterfinal match. Stratton advances into the semifinals, where she faces the winner of Jacy Jayne vs. Roxanne Perez.
Stratton works an arm during much of the match, but Dolan fights back. Stratton goes right back to targeting the arm. Stratton then goes for a rolling fireman’s carry slam, but it goes terribly wrong. Dolan takes a ugly bump on the mat. Stratton then executes the “Prettiest Moonsault Ever,” and Stratton covers Dolan for a pinfall.
Gallus is heading to the ring to defend their NXT Tag Team Championship. Meanwhile, The Schism is gathered to send The Dyad into battle. The Dyad head for the ring. Joe Gacy stays behind, taking Ava’s advice to focus more on himself. Gacy tells Ava to guide The Dyad as he would in his place.
Trick Williams is at the barber shop with NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. Those gathered in the barber shop give Williams a send-off as he leaves for his match tonight, when Williams will face Bron Breakker in the main event. Williams calls it his biggest test.
NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey) defeated The Dyad (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid with Ava) to retain their titles
Gallus is strong out of the gates as the fighting breaks out before the bell sounds to start the match. They wrestle through a split-screen commercial break. The Dyad were running wild when the show cut to commercials, and they were getting a near fall when the show returns from the break.
Suddenly, there is a wacky backstage skit with Diamond Mine. They are watching the match on monitors, and The Creed Brothers are joking around by wearing blue masks that mock the ones worn by The Schism. Ivy Nile is having none of that, and she snaps the masks on the Creeds’ face. She yells at them to quit messing around. Then, back to the tag match inside the soundstage.
Ava causes a distraction, which causes Nile to run in and jump Ava at ringside. The Creeds run out and try to pry Nile off Ava. The two women brawl on the floor, while Gallus is in the ring executing their tandem finisher. Wolfgang then covers Reid for a pinfall.
A mysterious teaser on the show gives me Black Scorpion vibes. It is more likely a character makeover of sorts for Wendy Choo.
Duke Hudson (with Thea Hail) defeated Javier Bernal
Hudson pinned Bernal in a glorified enhancement match. It was set up with a skit before the match where Bernal disrespects Chase U. Thea Hail steals the scene in that skit. Andre Chase is not there as he was written off the show, but his character is still mentioned in the skit.
Bernal is getting heat on Hudson, and Hudson hulks up like The Hulkster in ’86, brother. Hudson also does a Dusty Rhodes flip, flop and fly. Hudson also does a German suplex where he jumps into the ring from the apron to execute the suplex. For the finish, Hudson gives Bernal a Razor’s Edge, and Hudson covers him for a three count.
Mr. Stone is bonding with Von Wagner when Stone again brings up a childhood picture of Wagner in the hospital. A geek nearby cracks a joke about Wagner related to the photo. Wagner snaps and guzzles the unnamed geek.
A backstage confrontation between The Creeds and Gallus seems to set up a tag title match in the near future.
Eddy Thorpe defeated Damon Kemp
Thorpe pinned Kemp in what Vic Joseph on commentary called a “hard fought win.” That was the story of the match, but it was not exactly an exciting match. Thorpe made a comeback as they went home, and he gives Kemp a German suplex. Thorpe follows up with a leaping elbow drop, and Thorpe covers Kemp for a pin.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Kiana James ahead of her tournament match later tonight. James has her sights set on the women’s title.
After a commercial break, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Bron Breakker in his locker room. Breakker heels on Mitchell. Breakker then threatens to put Trick Williams in the hospital just like he did with Carmelo Hayes.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Dijak via disqualification
Dijak hit Dragunov with a metal folding chair for the DQ.
The match starts as a slobberknocker as they exchange vicious chops like this was Wahoo McDaniel vs. Ric Flair, but maybe even more stiff. The battle on from there. Dijak gets a nearfall on a high kick, and a frustrated Dijak then takes a folding chair from the timekeeper.
An angry Dijak brings the chair in to the ring. The referee pleads with Dijak to ditch the chair, but Dijak instead gives Dragunov a chair shots. Dragunov feeds him his back for more shots from the chair, but the carnage is not over.
At ringside, Dijak traps Dragunov underneath the ring steps. Dijak then stands on the steps as Dragunov sells like his being choked by the steps. Usually, the steps are in two pieces, but here they were attached as one piece to facilitate the angle.
Charlie Dempsey (with Drew Gulak) defeated Tyler Bate (with NXT North American Champion Wes Lee)
Dempsey pinned Bate after interference by both Joe Gacy and Gulak. Gacy comes to ringside during the match, and he gets into argument with Lee and Gulak. Bate does a dives over the ropes to the floor that wipes out Gulak and Gacy. A moment later, Gulak causes a distraction, which allows Gacy to clobber Bate. Dempsey then uses a Dragon suplex and a bridge to pin Bate for a three count.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Dragon Lee, who begins to talk about Noam Dar. Dragon Lee interrupts Dar with a video message. Dar invites Dragon Lee to be a guest on Dar’s Supernova Sessions talk show. Dragon Lee says he will be there.
Briggs pinned Tank in a hard-hitting slobberknocker.
Hank & Tank brings the fight to the Briggs & Jensen, but Briggs & Jensen soon fight back with tandem offense. They are all smacking leather and throwing haymakers. Tank apparently lost a tooth, but not to fret, he spat it out and put it in his singlet for safe keeping.
Tank then takes a Hart Attack finisher from Briggs & Jensen. Briggs then covers Tank for the deciding pinfall. The two teams exchange fist bumps after the match in show of sportsmanship.
Hard Hitting Home Truths with Nathan Frazier talks about the international talent on the NXT roster in a wacky news magazine segment. This reminded me of the defunct Talk Soup show on E! decades ago, mixed with a Sean Mooney Event Center segment from the old episode of Superstars.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Kiana James to advance in the NXT Women’s Championship Tournament
Valkyria pinned James in a quarterfinal match. Valkyria now advances to face Tiffany Stratton in the semifinals.
The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. James works over Valkyria throughout the bout, until Valkyria begins a comeback. James cuts off Valkyria, and James gets a near fall with a Last Ride powerbomb. Valkyria comes back with a counter and a roundhouse kick. Valkyria then scores a pinfall.
In a skit at a pub, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks want a tag title shot against Gallus. Joe Coffey takes exception to Tony D and Stacks wanting the next title shot. Coffey basically threatens The Family with a club. Tony D warns him about such things, but Stacks points out they are outnumbered. The Family leave, but something tells me this story is far from done.
Bron Breakker defeated Trick Williams
Breakker submitted Williams with a Steiner Recliner. Carmelo Hayes runs in after the match to make a save Williams from a post-match beating, but Hayes himself catches a beating instead.
Breakker is a heel, so gone are the colorful singlets. He now rocks a solid black singlet with lettering outlined in white. His name on the front and “MEANER THAN EVIL” written on the back.
In the match itself, Williams was on a roll at the start. Williams boots Breakker out of the ring. They fight on the floor, and Williams looks to send Breakker flying into the timekeeper’s area. Breakker counters, and he backdrops Williams on the announce desk.
Breakker has cut off William’s momentum, and Breakker begins to maul him. Breakker goes for a pin at on point, but he breaks the count to do push-ups as a taunt.
Williams gets a hope spot, but Breakker dashes the hope with a Steiner powerslam. Breakker toys with Williams and taunt him some more. Willaims fires back and catches Breakker with a neckbreaker.
Double down leads to them trading strikes. Williams with a rally and he does a short-arm uranage slam for a near fall. Breakker then blocks a wind-up kick, and Breakker does his military press/powerslam combo.
Wiliams has more fight left in him. He again goes for a wind-up kick, but Breakker mows down Williams with a spear. Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, and Breakker applies the Steiner Recliner. Williams taps out, and Breakker wins via submission.
Breakker again applies the Recliner after the match is over. Out comes NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes, who in an earlier skit left the barber shop to be in Williams’ corner. Hayes rushes into the ring to make a save. However, Breakker cuts down Hayes out of mid-air with a spear. Hayes went for a springboard off the middle rope, and Breakker speared him.
Breakker stands over Hayes and talks trash while holding the title belt overhead. Breakker throws the belt down on Hayes, and Breakker poses in a defiant stance as the show goes off the air.
WWE has added another match to the lineup for NXT this week.
Cora Jade will face Gigi Dolin in singles action on the show. Jade cut a promo on Dolin and several members of the NXT women’s division on last week’s episode. She told Dolin to get out of NXT and “don’t let the door hit your Instagram-famous ass on the way out.”
This will be Jade’s first televised match since January’s New Year’s Evil, although she wrestled on NXT house shows in Gainesville and Largo, Florida this weekend. Last month, our own Dave Meltzer reported that Jade was an out with an “undisclosed injury.”
This will be Dolin’s first televised match since the ladder match for the NXT Women’s title at Stand & Deliver. She defeated Tatum Paxley on the house show in Gainesville on Saturday.
WWE NXT 4/18 announced lineup:
The Grayson Waller Effect with Carmelo Hayes
NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) defend against The Dyad (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid) and The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) in a triple threat match
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee defends against Charlie Dempsey
The Carmelo Hayes era of NXT officially kicks off tonight.
A new NXT Champion was crowned as Hayes defeated Bron Breakker in the main event of Stand & Deliver over WrestleMania weekend. We’ll get Hayes’ first appearance as NXT Champion tonight.
Though interference by Trick Williams helped Hayes win the match, Breakker still showed respect for Hayes after his title win. Tonight’s NXT should provide some clarity over what’s next for Breakker.
NXT also has a new Women’s Champion after Indi Hartwell won the title in a ladder match at Stand & Deliver. Plus, Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated Fallon Henley & Kiama James to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee and Tag Team Champions Gallus both retained their titles on Saturday. Gallus won after getting help from the returning Joe Coffey.
Announced for tonight is the NXT TV in-ring debut of Dragon Lee, who is taking on Nathan Frazer. Dijak vs. Odyssey Jones and Pretty Deadly vs. Tony D’Angelo & Stacks have been made official as well.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with new NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell first appearance on NXT since winning the title this past Saturday. Ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduces her as the new champ, and the live studio audience chants “You deserve it” for her.
Notably, the first 30 minutes of the show is “commercial free” tonight.
Hartwell gets in the ring to address the audience. This eventually leads to Zoey Stark interrupting her, but Hartwell first gives a heartfelt speech about finally winning the title. She goes on to say the first person that deserves a shot about her title is former champion Roxanne Perez.
Stark interrupts Hartwell, and Stark insults Hartwell by saying she is not on the same level as past NXT women’s champs. Stark claims we now have a champ that is easily beatable, and Stark challenges Hartwell to a title match tonight. Hartwell agrees to the title bout. That will not be the only title match on the card.
In an angle shot for social media, Axiom respectfully challenges NXT North American Champion Wes Lee to a match, and that looks official for tonight’s card.
Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) defeated Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
Prince pinned D’Angelo, after some trickery and an exposed turnbuckle. This tag team match was set up with an angle from Saturday at Stand & Deliver, where Tony D cut a promo on Pretty Deadly when they, acting as host of the show, asked a question “The Don” took exception to.
There is a spot late in the match where Prince is dragged to the center of the ring. He grabs the ring skirt and pulls it into the ring. That would come into play moments later when Pretty Deadly did a switcheroo, after Prince bonks heads with D’Angelo. Prince’s face is covered by the skirting, and Wilson switches places with him.
One is a blond, and the other a brunette, but they wore matching gear. With their faces and hair hidden, they look similar. Wilson begs off, pleading that he is not the legal man, which he was not indeed. D’Angelo is distracted with Wilson, allowing Prince to send D’Angelo into an exposed turnbuckle. Prince then rolls up D’Angelo for a tainted three count.
Jacy Jayne in a video package cuts a pre-taped promo on Gigi Dolan. Jayne threatens to break Dolan.
Dijak defeated Odyssey Jones
Jones pinned Dijak with a moonsault press. This hoss fight was set up last week in a battle royal. Dijak won clean as a whistle.
Dijak at one point gives Jones a Spicolli Driver for a near fall. Jones kicked out, but he would not kick out after Dijak immediately follows up with a moonsault press.
Dragon Lee is the focus of a hype video ahead of his match that is up next.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes is shown arriving to the building alongside Trick Williams.
NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus in an interview with McKenzie Mitchell brag about themselves. The returning Joe Coffey vows to wins a singles title to go along with the tag belts the other two hold.
Dragon Lee defeated Nathan Frazier
Lee pinned Frazier in a great television match. This was Lee’s in-ring debut on NXT TV, after he first debuted in a NXT ring at Stand & Deliver.
The start of the match is interrupted by the return of Noam Dar, who is toting his NXT UK Heritage Cup. Dar comes to ringside and cuts a promo where he also brags on himself. Dar says he will decide who to defend his Heritage Cup against as he sees fit. Dar then watches the match from ringside.
Frazier was a great opponent for Dragon Lee to showcase his style to the NXT audience. They worked well together, and they eventually quickened the pace just before stalemate that led into a commercial break.
The match continues during a split-screen break. They slow down, but not for long. Dragon Lee during the break takes a bump off the turnbuckle where he tumbles to the outside. Please save that for the full screen.
They build to some high spots off the top, and Lee soon fires up with a flurry of offense. They go back to the top rope, where Lee jumps off for a draping double foot stomp.
Frazier cuts of Dragon Lee for a near fall. Frazier misses a Phoenix Splash, but he rolls through. They trade strikes and kicks. Lee gets a near fall on a wickedly cool spot where he reverses a running Spanish Fly, and Lee turns it into a sit-out powerbomb. Lee measures and delivers a running knee strike, and Lee covers Frazier for the pinfall.
A segment is set up for next week in a skit that aired tonight. Duke Hudson will be awarded a MVP trophy in a ceremony next Tuesday on NXT.
The new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre, are the focus of a vignette where they practice witchcraft, or something like that. They dare and curse any team trying to take the titles from them.
North American Champ Wes Lee does a backstage interview with McKenzie Mitchell. Lee puts over his opponents from this past Saturday, but Lee says he was most impressed with Axiom.
NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell defeated Zoey Stark to retain her title
The match goes through a commercial break. Stark is in control as the show returns from the break. Hartwell fight back, and Hartwell leaps off the top rope to deliver a flying elbow drop.
Trade strikes and Stark goes for a springboard. Hartwell counters into a spinebuster for a near fall. Starks cuts off Hartwell, and Starks executes her finisher on Hartwell. However, Hartwell takes the bump by falling through the ropes to the outside.
Stark has to leave the ring and roll Hartwell back into the ring. Stark goes for a cover, but Hartwell counters with a crucifix and a three count. The champ retains her title.
Tiffany Stratton comes out on stage after the match, and Stratton gestures towards Hartwell. Stratton want a title shot.
As Hartwell is having a staredown with Stratton, Hartwell is blindsided by a sneak attack. Cora Jace jumps Hartwell from behind, and Jade parades around holding the title belt overhead. Jade also has words with Stratton on her way out.
Kiana Jame is yelling at Brooks Jensen in the locker room. She was angry Jensen did not help her cheat in the tag title match last Saturday In walks Fallon Henley and Josh Briggs. Henley wants to know what is going on. Henley asks James if she is really mad at Jensen for not cheating when James herself is cheating on Jensen. James admits to “dating around” and seeing other people.
James claims her and Jensen were never an “exclusive” couple. James says things changed when they shared their first kiss, but James claims that changed on Saturday when her and Henley lost the tag titles. James storms off, and Jensen is heartbroken. Jensen then yells at Henley and Briggs, ordering them to stay out of his relationships. Briggs makes a remark at the end of the skit alluding to a women’s tag team match next week.
A tribute graphic is shown honoring the memory of Butch Miller.
Ivy Nile defeated Tatum Paxley
Nile submitted Paxley in a grudge match between former teammates. The Creed Brothers celebrate with Nile after the match.
This match was set up in an angle several weeks ago when Paxley turned on Nile during a tag match. The former tag partners now meet here in a grudge match. They have a competitive match, but it is rather short. Nile eventually applies a Dragon Sleeper, and Paxley tapped out.
Ilja Dragunov is doing a backstage interview when he is interrupted by Von Wagner. Mr. Stone rushes in, and he is upset with Wagner. Stone says he will get Wagner booked in a match against Dragunov, but if Wagner loses, Stone is done as his manager.
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee vs. Axiom to retain his title
Lee pinned Axiom in a really good match. They wrestled through a commercial break. Good action during the bout where they fly around, but they also use some submission holds and such. Great counters. These two work well together.
As they go home, Axiom missed the Golden Ratio. Lee then follows up by landing the Cardiac Kick, and Lee covers Axiom for a pinfall to retain the title
They embrace after the match in a show of good sportsmanship. Lee then leaves the ring. Axiom is alone in the ring when a cryptic promo from Scrypts plays over the loud speakers. When Scrypts tries a sneak attack, he is thwarted by Axiom. Scyrpts springboards into the ring out of nowhere, but Axiom seems knocks him out of the air with a dropkick.
In a locker room interview with McKenzie Mitchell, Nathan Frazier believes he can turns things around despite his loss earlier tonight. Frazier has a “moment of enlightenment” where he says “when your perspective changes, your reality changes,” and he is sure that is what happened to him tonight. Very profound, whatever it means.
Hyped as “coming soon” to NXT is Tank Ledger, Dani Palmer and Oba Femi.
Announced for next Tuesday on NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre defend their titles against former champs Kiana James & Fallon Henley
Ilja Dragunov vs. Von Wagner in match where Mr. Stone walks away if Wagner loses
Cora Jade explains her action
MVP (no, not that MVP) trophy presentation for Duke Hudson
Bron Breakker cheap shots Carmelo Hayes
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes is headed to the ring, alongside Trick Williams, to celebrate the new title reign. This looks to be the segment that closes the show.
Williams cuts a promo first where introduces the new champ. Great back-and-forth between Hayes and Williams. Hayes says he is the NXT champ, “and I am him,” which is his new catchphrase. Williams proclaims “this is the him era.”
Hayes spoof a famous lyric to a rap song, before Hayes goes on to put over Bron Breakker as one of Hayes’ greatest and toughest opponents. Hayes says he truly respects Breakker, and Hayes calls him out to the ring to address him in person.
Breakker comes out to join Hayes and Williams in the ring. Hayes thanks Breakker on behalf of everyone at NXT. Breakker says the title holds a great legacy, and it was his duty to pass the torch when the next guy in line wins the title.
Breakker congratulates Hayes, and Breakker goes to leave. Hayes pulls him back into the ring and they embrace with a hug. Breakker raises Hayes hand, and in a something a seasoned viewer could see coming a mile away, Breakker cheap shots Hayes with a lariat. Breakker guzzles Williams, and Breakker picks him up for a military press into a powerslam. Breakker then spears Hayes, and Breakker lets out a primal scream.
Breakker saunters out of the ring, leaving Hayes down on the mat. The audience chants “one more time” as the show fades to black, which was hilarious given that was seemingly a heel turn. Or was it? After that cliffhanger, we will find out next week.
Zoey Stark and Gigi Dolin have qualified for the ladder match for the NXT Women’s Championship at Stand and Deliver.
Stark defeated Sol Ruca to qualify, while Gigi Dolin defeated Kiana James on Tuesday’s show. Both will move on to Stand & Deliver on April 1, where they will have a chance at becoming the NXT Women’s Champion.
The future of the title became muddled after Shawn Michaels announced that Roxanne Perez’s health was “still in question” after she collapsed at the end of last week’s NXT Roadblock event, and as a result, NXT “possibly” has to crown a new NXT Women’s Champion, resulting in the ladder match for next month. Qualifying matches were announced, starting with Tuesday’s show.
Perez faced Meiko Satomura on last week’s show, successfully defending the NXT Women’s Championship. After the match she collapsed, the show ending with Perez being taken out of the ring on a stretcher. NXT later in the week announced that she had been released from the hospital.
WWE NXT is building to next week’s episode of Roadblock, join Denise Salcedo on Speak Now Pro Wrestling as she runs down the February 28, 2023 episode of NXT.
The former members of Toxic Attraction will battle at next week’s Roadblock event.
Gigi Dolin officially challenged her former tag team partner Jacy Jayne on Tuesday’s show. In the promo, Dolin talked about how as a child she was abused by her mother, and equated that to Jayne’s betrayal from several weeks ago. She promised to put the final nail in the coffin of Toxic Attraction next week.
Other new matches added to next week’s show include Bron Breakker and The Creed Brothers teaming up to take on Indus Sher and Jinder Mahal, who they have had issues with as of late. Andre Chase will also meet Joe Gacy in a singles match after Gacy interrupted a Chase U class Chase was conducting, taunting the recent issues within Chase U.
Details on the Jailhouse Street Fight were also announced between Tony D’Angleo and Dijak. The rules will be no disqualification and no countout, and the goal is to lock your opponent inside a jail cell.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Pretty Deadly said they will meet with Gallus face-to-face next week. The duo have been asking for a NXT Tag Team Championship match, but have yet to receive it.
Here is the updated lineup for next week’s Roadblock:
NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Meiko Satomura
Jacy Jayne vs. Gigi Dolin
Bron Breakker & The Creed Brothers vs. Jinder Mahal & Indus Sher
A Gigi Dolin promo, plus two matches have been added to this week’s WWE NXT lineup.
A week after returning from selling an injury at the hands of former Toxic Attraction teammate Jacy Jayne, Dolin will speak on Tuesday’s NXT episode.
Jayne turned on Dolin to break up their tag team on the February 7 NXT show, then Dolin returned the favor on the February 21 episode, attacking Jayne.
Sol Ruca will be in action on this week’s show, facing Elektra Lopez in a women’s division contest.
Also added to this week’s episode, Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen will take on Indus Sher’s Veer Mahaan and Sanga.
Wes Lee defending the North American title in an open challenge, Meiko Satomura vs. Zoey Stark, plus Carmelo Hayes vs. Tyler Bate have already been announced for Tuesday’s episode.
The lineup:
WWE NXT, Tuesday, February 28 —
Wes Lee defends the North American Championship in an open challenge
While appearing on Busted Open Radio, Jacy Jayne discussed her breakout moment from last week’s NXT.
Toxic Attraction imploded with Jayne turning against Gigi Dolin in the main event angle of NXT last Tuesday. The split had been building for weeks and finally happened after Jayne and Dolin unsuccessfully challenged Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship in a triple threat match at NXT Vengeance Day.
Jayne was asked during her Busted Open Radio appearance if she feels like she’s starting to get more credit recently and if people are now understanding where she’s coming from.
I think recently I’ve been starting to get more credit for everything, especially honestly after Mandy [Rose] left. Like, as sad as that whole situation was — and we tried to make the most of it going forward — I feel like that kind of helped me break out of this Toxic Attraction shell. Now people were paying attention to me more and listening to what I had to say. I do think it’s been — I haven’t gotten a lot of credit while we were all together. But now I’m starting to show my character and how much I’ve grown over the last year and a half, two years. I think this was honestly my breakout moment. Even at Vengeance Day, it was kind of sink or swim for us. Like, ‘Now you’re on your own. You have to prove that you can do it by yourself.’ So I went into that match with that mind frame. Like, ‘You need to kill this performance because if not you don’t know what’s going to happen going forward.’
In a scene similar to the breakup of The Rockers, Jayne sent Dolin head-first into a door when she turned against Dolin. Jayne told Busted Open Radio that she got Shawn Michaels’ blessing to “redo some history” with the angle.
So I actually didn’t really know much going into that day. They were kind of very hush-hush about everything happening. All I really knew was I was going to be on ‘Ding Dong, Hello!’ So that’s a lot of pressure having Bayley come back. It was the first time she even had that show in — I think — like two years. It was also the first time it was ever in front of a live audience because that was always done during the pandemic era. So I feel like there was a lot of pressure going into that alone.
And then kind of getting Shawn’s blessing to redo some history there. That’s a big deal for me. I didn’t want to mess it up. I didn’t want to screw up. I wanted to make a memory. I think everybody knew Toxic Attraction was going to explode soon. But to make it memorable, we had to go big. So we wanted it to be vicious. We wanted it to be memorable. We wanted people to talk about it. Not just something like, ‘Oh, that was a good segment. Yeah, whatever. Now they’re by themselves.’ Like, no, we want people to remember this and be like, ‘Oh, this is a new coming for two new superstars on a solo route.’
