Three matches, plus a “final accord” segment have been announced for next week’s WWE NXT.
Prior to facing Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship at Heatwave on August 16, Zoey Stark will face Cora Jade on the August 9 NXT episode. Stark won a 20-woman battle royal to become number one contender to Rose’s title on the July 19 NXT.
Also set for next week, Trick Williams will face Wes Lee in an NXT UK-style rounds match. Lee looks to be next in line to face Carmelo Hayes for the NXT North American title, but needs to get through Williams first.
Additionally, Nikkita Lyons will be in action against Kiana James next week. The two delivered dueling promos on each other in backstage segments this week.
A “final accord” segment is also set for next week, with Tony D’Angelo and Santos Escobar. Escobar returned on this week’s show to cost D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo a shot at the NXT Tag Team titles.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo on her weekly NXT post-show focusing on WWE NXT 2.0. The show has now established a theme, we break down the matches and stories and keep you updated on what’s going on in the new NXT!
Topics Rundown:
The clear theme of NXT
IMPERIUM vs. Diamond Mine = BANGER
Toxic Attraction: Kay Lee Ray feud with Mandy Rose
Raquel Gonzalez vs Cora Jade
Pete Dunne challenges Tony D’Angelo to a steel cage match
Sarray: Sailor Moon inspiration
Cameron Grimes Spongebob jokes
Naughty innuendos..it’s like that!
The Brian Kendrick to debut on AEW Dynamite
Wendy Choo in singles action!
Get to know Nikkita Lyons
Matches announced for next week
Ciampa and Breakker vs. Legado Del Fantasma
Denise will return Wednesday night to chat AEW Dynamite and then she will close out the week on Friday by discussing AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown!
Riddle and WALTER will be on opposite sides of a six-man tag team match at NXT New Year’s Evil.
WWE has announced that Riddle & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will face Imperium (WALTER & NXT Tag Team Champions Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) at New Year’s Evil next Tuesday. The show is a special episode of NXT. It’s airing live on USA Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Barthel & Aichner won the NXT Tag Team titles from MSK at Halloween Havoc this October. After MSK’s loss, Riddle was revealed as their shaman as they tried to get back on track and get back to the NXT Tag Team titles.
Last week, Riddle encouraged MSK to call out Imperium tonight and said he’d be on the show with them. Barthel & Aichner also teased that WALTER would be appearing. Riddle and WALTER were both on the show via video to set up next week’s six-man tag match. When MSK called out Imperium for an NXT Tag Team title rematch, WALTER said they weren’t worthy. Riddle then challenged Imperium to face him and MSK in a six-man tag match next week.
This will be WALTER’s first televised match in WWE since losing the NXT United Kingdom Championship to Ilja Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 this August. WALTER was also in action at WWE’s house show tour of the United Kingdom in November.
Riddle & Randy Orton are the current Raw Tag Team Champions. They’re set to defend their titles against The Street Profits at WWE Day 1 this Saturday.
Riddle won’t be the only main roster star at New Year’s Evil. WWE has also announced that AJ Styles, who is feuding with Grayson Waller, will be appearing at the show.
Here’s the updated New Year’s Evil card:
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Bron Breakker
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defends against Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade in a triple threat match
Title unification match: NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong
Riddle & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs. Imperium (WALTER, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)
Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner are getting a Tag Team title shot at NXT WarGames.
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) will defend their titles against O’Reilly & Wagner at WarGames this Sunday. The title bout was confirmed when O’Reilly & Wagner defeated Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde in a number one contender’s match on NXT tonight.
This will be Imperium’s first title defense since becoming NXT Tag Team Champions. They won the titles from MSK in a Lumberjack-O’-Lantern match at Halloween Havoc last month.
Though O’Reilly was initially hesitant to form another tag team after the way that Undisputed Era broke up, his partnership with Wagner began to form following the premiere episode of NXT 2.0 this September. Wagner made his debut on that show and saved O’Reilly from an attack by Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland.
Here’s the updated card for NXT WarGames:
WarGames match: Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne & LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller & Tony D’Angelo
WarGames match: Io Shirai, Raquel Gonzalez, Cora Jade & Kay Lee Ray vs. Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne & Dakota Kai
Hair vs. hair match: Cameron Grimes vs. Duke Hudson
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong defends against Joe Gacy
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defend against Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner
Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel are the new champions, defeating MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) at tonight’s NXT Halloween Havoc event. After a back-and-forth competitive match, Aichner pinned Lee after he hit a brainbuster on Lee and after both he and Barthel laid out Lee with an Imperium bomb.
MSK held the NXT Tag Team titles for over 200 days, winning them in a three-way tag team match back at TakeOver: Stand and Deliver on April 7 of this year. This is Imperium’s second reign with the titles, winning them for the first time back in April of last year.
Two other titles changed hands on tonight’s NXT. Mandy Rose pinned Raquel Gonzalez to win the NXT Women’s Championship, and her Toxic Attraction stablemates Gigi Dolan and Jacey Jayne defeated Io Shirai & Zoey Stark and Persia Pirotta & Indi Hartwell in a three-way ladder ladder match to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles.
A new title match has been added to the lineup for NXT Halloween Havoc.
MSK will put their NXT Tag Team titles on the line against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner at Halloween Havoc next Tuesday. The match will be a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match.
On NXT two weeks ago, MSK retained their titles in a fatal four-way elimination match against The Grizzled Young Veterans, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, and Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams. Barthel & Aichner then attacked MSK after the match was over.
Barthel & Aichner were in action on NXT tonight, defeating The Creed Brothers. MSK attacked Barthel & Aichner after the match and told them that they’d see them at Halloween Havoc.
Tonight’s NXT also featured a match to determine the host for Halloween Havoc. LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller to be confirmed as the host of the show.
The updated card for Halloween Havoc is listed below:
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Bron Breakker
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match: NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Mandy Rose
Scareway to Hell ladder match: NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Io Shirai & Zoey Stark defend against Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta and Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match: NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner
Despite this match’s short runtime, Chen was still able to come across as sloppy in-ring.
An opening grappling sequence led to arm drags by Chen. A dropkick from Blade stopped Chen’s momentum. The match then transitioned to the mat, where Blade maintained control.
Chen regained footing in the match after an awkward takedown followed by a superkick. An even more awkward slam left Blade prone for an inside cradle guillotine drop, leaving Chen with the win.
Amari Miller defeated Valentina Feroz
For some reason, this match was performed with a heavy focus on groundwork. It was forgettable, to say the least. This was a rematch, and Miller’s win leaves the pair tied; I assume a rubber match is coming soon.
Feroz took the match to the mat as soon as it began. As soon as the pair was standing, Miller returned the favour with an arm drag, bringing the action back to the canvas. Miller was generally unable to maintain control of Feroz while on the mat, but she could fight off an armbar.
Feroz tossed Miller a few times before the pair traded pin attempts. After kicking out, Feroz stepped away, allowing Miller to catch her with a knee strike, pinning her for the win.
It’s hard to give a delimited synopsis of this match because everything in it was good.
Barthel and Baxter opened the match with a zestful back and forth. After catching Baxter with a pair of thunderous strikes, Aichner tagged into the match. Against Aichner, Baxter was able to slow Imperium’s control before tagging Jiro into the match. Jiro and Baxter together were able to secure match control for their team.
Jiro and Baxter set up for a double tope, but Imperium cut them off via sudden clotheslines. Imperium then hung Baxter in the ropes to deliver a double dropkick. From this point on, Baxter was under heavy fire from both members of Imperium. Baxter scratched and clawed to regain some momentum by tagging in his partner, and was eventually able to do so.
Jiro unloaded with strikes and dives. A moonsault led to a near fall. Baxter then tagged back into the match before trying again for the double tope; this time, it worked.
As the teams re-entered the ring, the referee became occupied with some kind of distraction. This allowed Imperium to single out Baxter, delivering the Imperium bomb that resulted in an Imperium win.
Final Thoughts:
I see no reason why anyone who isn’t covering this show would choose to watch it live; at least, that was my takeaway before the main event. The first two matches were utterly forgettable. The main event was great. That is what this show needs more of if it has any future whatsoever.
Two tag team matches have been added to tonight’s episode of NXT.
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will be in action tonight as they face The Robert Stone Brand’s Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in a non-title match. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain will also take on Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner on tonight’s show.
WWE uploaded an interview with Robert Stone, Aliyah, and Kamea ahead of tonight’s NXT. Stone vowed that Aliyah & Kamea would defeat Blackheart & Moon and become the official number one contenders to the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles. Aliyah said she and Kamea can’t wait to show the world that they can defeat Blackheart & Moon twice.
Indi Hartwell said on last week’s NXT that William Regal had agreed to give her and Candice LeRae a shot at Blackheart & Moon’s NXT Women’s Tag Team titles, but when Hartwell & LeRae will be getting their title shot wasn’t announced.
Barthel & Aichner defeated Ever-Rise on NXT last week. After being attacked by Imperium earlier this month, Dain came out to ringside and confronted Imperium’s Alexander Wolfe during Barthel & Aichner’s match against Ever-Rise. But when Maverick then ran out and went to fight with Wolfe, Dain carried Maverick away. Dain and Maverick argued in a post-show video and Maverick asked Dain if he was going to join Imperium. Dain told Maverick no and walked away.
Dain and Wolfe were formerly stablemates in SAnitY.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
Sit-down interview with Adam Cole
Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory (if Reed wins, he gets a future shot at Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship)
Mercedes Martinez vs. Dakota Kai
Kushida & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon vs. Aliyah & Jessi Kamea
Drake Maverick & Killian Dain vs. Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian AIchner)
In their first title defenses, Damian Priest and Breezango retained their respective championships on last night’s NXT.
Priest defeated Timothy Thatcher in the main event of last night’s show to retain the NXT North American Championship. Earlier in the episode, Breezango defeated former champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) to retain the NXT Tag Team titles.
Shotzi Blackheart impressed but lost to NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in non-title action last night. It was announced that Shirai’s challenger for NXT’s next TakeOver special will be determined by a number one contender’s battle royal on next Wednesday’s NXT. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Blackheart, Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Indi Hartwell, Xia Li, and Kacy Catanzaro were featured on the match graphic for the battle royal.
It was also announced that a five-man “gauntlet eliminator” match on next week’s NXT will determine Finn Balor’s challenger for TakeOver. The participants for the gauntlet eliminator haven’t been revealed. The rules are that two wrestlers will start in the ring, another will be added every four minutes, the only way to be eliminated is via pinfall or submission, and the last man standing will challenge for Balor’s NXT Championship at TakeOver on Sunday, October 4.
Two title matches will take place on tonight’s episode of NXT.
The North American Championship will be on the line as Damian Priest defends against Timothy Thatcher. After winning the title in a five-way ladder match at TakeOver XXX last month, this will be Priest’s first defense of the championship.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) will get their rematch for the NXT Tag Team titles against Breezango. Tyler Breeze & Fandango became the NXT Tag Team Champions by defeating Imperium three weeks ago.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will be in non-title action against Shotzi Blackheart. Shirai and Blackheart worked together to lay out Robert Stone and Aliyah last week, but Blackheart then set her sights on Shirai’s title.
With WWE confirming that NXT’s next TakeOver special will be held on Sunday, October 4, the build to the event will kick off tonight. That may include finding out who will be the first challenger for Finn Balor’s NXT Championship. Balor won the title by defeating Adam Cole last week. Cole showed Balor respect and said the better man won, but Cole said the outcome will be a lot different if he gets another shot at the title.
Plus, NXT general manager William Regal will make two “major announcements” and Drake Maverick & Killian Dain will team against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with a women’s match set up last week.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Shotzi Blackheart in a non-title match
Shirai pinned Blackheart after a moonsault press in a good match.
Blackheart offered to shake hands before the match, but Shirai slapped her hand away. Blackheart shined early on as she grounded Shirai on the mat. Shirai got a rope break, and she sidestepped when Blackheart went for a wrecking ball dropkick. Shirai then did an Asai moonsault to the floor before a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Heat on Blackheart during the commercials, but she began a comeback when the show returned from the break. Shirai cut her off and applied a crossface. Blackheart escaped, and then she dodged an attempted Tiger Feint Kick. Blackheart with a senton, followed by a Tiger Suplex. Blackheart then transitioned into a Cattle Mutilation. Shirai was able to escape.
Shirai delivered the Tiger Feint Kick and a missile dropkick for a near fall. Blackheart fought back to give Shirai a Super Frankensteiner off the ropes for a near fall. Blackheart went on to counter a superplex, but Shirai also countered to give Blackheart a scary back suplex on the apron. Blackheart still managed to kick out at two.
Shirai with running knee strikes, and she followed with a moonsault press to score the pinfall. They shook hands and embraced after the match.
Announced for next week on NXT is a women’s battle royal to determine a number one contender.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Desmond Troy
Ciampa pinned Troy after a draping DDT in a squash.
Ciampa during his entrance wore a mask similar to something members of Los Ingobernables de Japon would wear to the ring.
Cimapa rocked Troy at the outset. He catapulted him throat first into the bottom rope, and then Ciampa executed the Widow’s Bell before scoring the pinfall.
Jake Atlas entered stage left after the match, and he cut a promo challenging Ciampa to a match next week. Ciampa sat in a folding chair in the middle of the ring to listen, and he smirked at the challenge.
Drake Maverick was interviewing while arriving to the building. Maverick says “everything is going to be fine” even though his tag partner for tonight seemingly wants nothing to do with him.
A great vignette had new NXT Champion Finn Balor cutting a promo talking up himself, and also putting over the title. He talked his previous reign as champion when he helping to build the brand. The future is a lot different he said. He doesn’t need the brand, he made the brand. Now the brand need him. Balor said him being champion makes the title the most imporant in the game. He fought for 20 years to be champion, and now people have to fight. He said for challengers to line up, but they “bettter look both ways before crossing ‘The Prince'”.
Kushida defeated Austin Theory
Kushida submitted Theory with the Hoverboard Lock. Once again Kushida was super aggressive, showing a mean streak.
Theory cut a promo before the match saying he is a future first ballot Hall of Famer. He made a open challenge. Enter Kushida to take him up on the offer.
Kushida struck as soon as he got in the ring, sending Theory scrambling outside. Kushida grounded Thoery when he got back in the ring. Thoery was soon able to cut him off.
Theory missed a standing moonsault, and Kushida fought back to make a comeback. Kushida did his signature cartwheel dropkick, and also a handspring kick. The fight spilled outside.
Theory posted himself, and Kushida targeted the arm with a shoulder breaker on the floor. Back in the ring, Kushida stomped on Theory. Kushida then applied the Hoverboard Lock, and Theory tapped out. Kushida acting slighty heelish did not break the hold immediately. The referee had to pry him off Theory.
At home with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae where LeRae cut a promo on Tegan Nox. Gargano was mad they were having to spent their fourth wedding anniversary watching television in the guest room, all because Nox broke their TV in the living room. LeRae brought up the battle royal, but Gargano interrupted her because he found a new TV online. When they both win titles and have a new TV, the good times will start.
NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) defeated Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) to retain their titles
Breeze pinned Aichner to win the match. This was pretty good.
Imperium rushed the ring to attack Breezango before the bell. Early on Imperium worked over Fandango. Barthel & Aichner proverbially cut the ring in half. The heat continiued through a commercial break.
Fandango was finally able to make a hot tag, and Breeze ran wild. Aichner bumped and fed. Breeze applied a single leg, and Barthel tried to make a save to no avail. Aichner countered Breeze, but Aichner still ate a superkick for a near fall broken up by Barthel.
Aichner fougth back to execute a brainbuster. Fandango broke up a pinning attempt. They all began fighting on the floor. Aichner went for a second brainbuster, but Fandango made a save. Fandango then superkicked both Aichner & Barthel.
Fandango missed a Bobby Eaton flying legdrop, and Barthel hit him with a superkick. Aichner with a gutwrench German suplex for a two count.
Another hot tag led to Breeze again looking to run wild. He was cut off and suplexed. Breeze was then hit with a PK. Imperium went for the European Bomb, but it was broken up. Breeze with a hurricanrana on Aichner, and he hooked the legs to score the pinfall.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter defeated Xia Li & Jessi Kamea
Catanzaro pinned Li to win the match for her team.
Carter and Li started with the match with chain wrestling. Catanzaro & Carter with a sequence of double team moves and quick tags. Kamea cut off Catanzaro and briefly got a heat on her.
Carter came in off a hot tag, and she cleaned house. Catanzaro tagged back in for the finish. Catanzaro had a crucifix on Li, and Carter hit Li with a big boot. Catanzaro then flipped over into a cradle to score the pinfall. Great teamwork by Catanzaro & Carter.
Kamea shook hand with them after the match, but Li refused to do so. She stormed off instead.
Drake Maverick approached Killian Dain backstage before their match. Dain said they were not partner, and Maverick was on his own. Maverick said “see you out there.”
Tegan Nox cut a promo on Candice LeRae.
Drake Maverick & Killian Dain defeated Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) via disqualification
Fish used to chair to cause the DQ. The story here was focused on Dain & Maverick
Maverick started the match without Dain, who at first did not come out to team with Maverick.
Outnumbered, Maverick was pummeled from the start. Maverick fought back, only for Undisputed Era to pummel him some more. Dain was shown backstage watching the match on a monitor, and he was chuckling at Maverick’s predicament.
The match went through a commercial break, and Maverick was still in peril. William Regal confronted Dain backstage, and Regal laid a guilt trip on Dain like Granny would on Bryan Alvarez. It worked as Dain came out to help Maverick.
Dain told Maverick to “take it like a man”, Dain went to leave. Undisputed Era began talking trash, so Dain turned around to confront them. Dain began to wreck shop on Undisputed Era.
Fish hit Dain with a chair for the DQ. Maverick took the chair away from Fish, and Fish walked into a pump kick from Dain. Undisputed Era fled the scene.
Maverick shoved Dain and screamed at him they were a team. Dain knocked him out with a punch, and Dain left.
Jake Atlas was outside leaving the building when he was approached for an interview. He asked about challenging Ciampa, and it being a “bold move”. Atlas began to explain why it was bold when, out of nowhere, he was attacked by Ciampa. Kyle O’Reilly ran in to confront Ciampa and break up the fight. Ciampa said he would see Atlas next week, and he also told O’Reilly he would see him soon too.
William Regal announced a new gimmick match called the “Gaunlet Eliminator Match”, which will determine a new number one contender for the NXT Championship. Two wrestlers start in the ring. Every four minutes another wrestler enters the match. Eliminations are via pinfall or submission. The winner goes on to face Balor for the title at TakeOver in October. The gauntlet match takes place on the next episode of NXT.
Cimapa vs. Atlas was officailly announced for next week on NXT. A women’s battle royal is also official for next Wednesday.
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest defeated Timothy Thatcher to reatin his title
Priest pinned Thatcher in a really good match. This was Priest’s first defense of the North American Championship.
Plenty of grappling at the outset, and it was good stuff. They traded shoulder blocks and strikes. Priest went outside to regroup. They fought on the floor where Thatcher sent Priest into the steps. Thatcher then gave Priest a double underhook suplex on the floor before the show cut a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Thatcher during the break grounded Priest, and he began working an arm he had previously targeted earlier in the match. Priest has about to begin a comeback, but Thatcher cut him off. When the returned from break, Priest then fired up in a comeaback.
Priest with his flying back elbow, and a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Thatcher went for an armbar, but he got kicked in the head instead. Priest missed a springboard senton. Thatcher caught Priest a Fujiwara armbar. Priest escaped, and he was able to escape an attempted half crab.
A moment later and Thatcher applied the half crab. Priest fought free, only to get caught in Fujiwara armbar. Priest got a rope break. Thatcher went for a double underhook, and Priest countered to goozle Thatcher. Priest was still selling his arm, though, and was unable to lift Thatcher.
Priest hoisted up Thatcher and dropped him into a uranage or something like that. The announcers called it a jumping flatliner. Priest used that move in the past, so maybe that is what they were going for here. Anyway, Priest followed with a South of Heaven chokeslam for a two count.
Thatcher again went for the armbar, and Priest countered into a spin kick. Priest leapt off the top rope with a spinning heel kick. Priest then executed The Reckoning, and he covered Thatcher for the pinfall to retain the title.
Imperium are getting their rematch for the NXT Tag Team titles next week.
WWE announced tonight that Breezango will defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner on NXT next week (Wednesday, September 16). Breezango defeated Barthel & Aichner to win the titles two weeks ago.
On tonight’s NXT, a video package aired building up Breezango vs. Imperium for next week. Breezango mentioned that it took them five years to become champions. Imperium said Breezango are nothing but a joke. They said Breezango holding the titles is a joke to the sport and everything Imperium stands for. Imperium vowed that they’ll make Breezango’s Tag Team title reign the shortest in NXT history. Breezango promised to keep the titles.
Breezango took part in a six-man street fight on NXT last week, teaming with Isaiah “Swerve” Scott against Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde). Barthel & Aichner got involved in the match and attacked Breeze, but Fandango and Scott made the save by hitting stereo dives off a forklift onto Legado del Fantasma and Imperium. Scott got the win for his team by pinning Escobar.
After airing on Tuesday for two straight weeks amid the NHL playoffs, NXT will be back on Wednesdays starting next week.
Breezango have won their first Tag Team titles in WWE.
On tonight’s post-TakeOver XXX episode of NXT, Breezango defeated Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) to win the NXT Tag Team titles. Tyler Breeze countered the European Bomb and hit superkicks on Barthel and Aichner. Fandango then hit a double leg drop from the top rope on Barthel and Aichner and pinned Aichner to win the titles.
After the match, Triple H posted a picture with Breezango and congratulated them on their win: “Two Superstars who’ve been ready to have their collective “breakout” moment. Congratulations to the NEW @wwenxt tag team champions, @mmmgorgeous and @wwefandango. #WWENXT”
Breezango became the number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles by defeating Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch and Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match on Saturday’s TakeOver XXX pre-show.
Barthel & Aichner had been NXT Tag Team Champions since defeating Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher for the titles in May.
Imperium are also part of the NXT UK brand. NXT UK will return with new episodes starting on Thursday, September 17.
WWE has revealed the lineup for this Wednesday’s post-TakeOver XXX edition of NXT.
Three matches have been announced for the episode. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar will defend his title against Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Breezango will challenge Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) for the NXT Tag Team titles, and NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will team with Rhea Ripley against Dakota Kai & Reina Gonzalez.
Scott defeated Escobar earlier this year in NXT’s Cruiserweight title tournament. He’s the only person who’s beaten Escobar in WWE. Last week, Scott almost got another win over Escobar in a six-man tag match but wasn’t the legal man after he accidentally tagged in Tyler Breeze when he was knocked into Breeze.
Breezango became the number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles by defeating Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch and Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat tag match on Saturday’s TakeOver XXX pre-show.
Despite interference by Gonzalez, Shirai retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Kai at TakeOver. Gonzalez attacked Shirai after the match until Ripley made the save and went face-to-face with her. After Gonzalez and Kai backed away, Ripley took a look at Shirai and her title belt before leaving.
New NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Scarlett will kick off Wednesday’s show. Tommaso Ciampa will also return to television on the episode. Plus, we’ll find out what’s next for new NXT North American Champion Damian Priest.
Pro Wrestling Sheet has reported that Stu Bennett (formerly known as Wade Barrett in WWE) will be doing commentary for this week’s NXT.
Kyle O’Reilly returns to the ring as the Undisputed Era challenge Imperium for the NXT Tag Team titles tonight.
Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner are defending their titles against O’Reilly & Bobby Fish on tonight’s show. The match was announced last week after all four members of Undisputed Era attacked Barthel & Aichner following their non-title win against Ever-Rise.
After an angle on his radio show last month, Pat McAfee will appear tonight and address his confrontation with Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole.
A couple of matches with TakeOver XXX implications are also set for tonight. Dakota Kai and Rhea Ripley are facing off in a number one contender’s match. The winner will challenge Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver on Saturday, August 22. Plus, Damian Priest, Ridge Holland, and Oney Lorcan will meet in a triple threat qualifying match tonight to determine who will advance to the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver.
Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis have already qualified for the ladder match. It will feature five wrestlers in total.
NXT Champion Keith Lee vs. Cameron Grimes in a non-title match and Reed vs. Shane Thorne are also set for tonight. Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Opening the show is a number one contender’s match to decide the next challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Dakota Kai defeated Rhea Ripley to become number one contender
Kai pinned Ripley after interference by Mercedes Martinez. Kai now goes on to challenge NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in a title match at TakeOver. Martinez again attacked Ripley after the match.
Ripley was dominate at the outset. She took her time, but was still super aggressive. Kai was reeling and scrambling when Ripley grounded her on the mat with a body scissors. Kai with some counters got a two count, but she would pay for it taking a lariat.
Ripley executed a delayed vertical suplex earlier in the match. When she went for a second attempt, Kai countered and tried to trip Ripley to no avail. Kai ended up in an electric chair, and Ripley dropped her face first on the apron. Somehow Kai kicked out, and the show cut to picture-in-picture commercials.
Kai during the commercial break used a drop toehold to sent Ripley into a turnbuckle. From there Kai went to work on Ripley. Kai hit some of running kicks, but Ripley kicked out on a cover. Ripley went on to make a comeback after the break.
Ripley fired up. She planted Kai with a facebuster for a two count. Kai would fight back as they traded strikes and kicks. Ripley with a flapjack for another two count. Ripley with a pump handle went for the Ripe Tide, and Kai countered to spike her with a DDT. Ripley still managed to kick out.
Ripley went for her Prism Trap submission hold, but Kai was able to escape. Ripley blocked an attempted superplex, and she knocked Kai off the aprons. Kai fell back into the ring when suddenly Mercedes Martinez runs into boot Ripley in the face. Kai capitalized to deliver the Go 2 Kick, and Kai covered Ripley for the pinfall.
Martinez attacked Ripley again after the bell, and Martinez executed an Air Raid Crash after the match. Ripley’s nose was bloodied in the melee.
Pat McAfee talked to Shawn Michaels earlier in the day. That is all we know. Subject matter was unclear, but maybe it was about Adam Cole.
Bronson Reed defeated Shane Thorne
Reed pinned Thorne in a battle between Aussies. This match was set with Thorne talking trash on social media.
The traded strikes at the start, and Thorne was able to gain an early advantage. He clotheslined Reed over the ropes, and Thorne followed with a dive through the ropes. The briefly fought on the floor where Reed gave Thorne a full nelson slam on the apron. Thorne was back up a moment later to cut off Reed as he climbed the turnbuckles.
Thorne with a shining wizard got a near fall, and Reed would soon make a comeback. Reed with a military press and senton netted him a two count. They clubbed each other trading strikes until Reed turned Thorne inside out with a lariat.
Reed with a Death Valley Driver set up the flying body press off the top rope. Reed then covered Thorne for the pinfall.
Breezango arrived to the arena earlier in the day when they were assaulted in broad daylight by El Legado del Fantasma. Santos Escobar and his henchmen kidnapped Fandango, and they fled the scene in a SUV.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed The Robert Stone Brand about Martinez interfering the match earlier in the show. Robert Stone said Ripley may be done with them, but they are not done with her.
Damian Priest defeated Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland in a triple threat qualifying match
Priest pinned Lorcan to win the match. Priest in winning qualified for the third spot in the ladder match at Takeover for the vacant NXT North American Championship. This was a good match, and they protected Holland as he still looked strong despite not winning the match. Lorcan instead took the fall.
Priest got to shine early on as he got the best of both Lorcan and Holland. Priest with a flatliner on Holland had him down selling, and Priest then squared off with Lorcan. They fought for a few moments until Holland charged back into the ring. He sent Priest outside, but Lorcan also knocked Holland out of the ring. Lorcan then leapt over the ropes into a flip dive.
Holland got to display his strength as he tossed Loracn overhead with a suplex. Holland then suplexed Priest and stood tall before the show cut to a commercial break. When the show returned from the break a slugfest had developed between Priest and Holland. Loran flew into both with senton, and Lorcan followed that with a double blockbuster.
Lorcan hooked Priest in a half crab. Priest kicked free, but he ate an uppercut for a two count. Holland cut off Lorcan with a Monty Brown pounce. Holland with a gutwrench powerbomb on Priest for two.
A triple down led into the closing minutes. Holland and Lorcan in a fighting spriit exchange. Lorcan went on to counter Priest, but that left him wide open for Holland to wipe him out. Priest then wiped out Holland with a chokeslam. Priest then executed The Reckoning on Lorcan, and he covered him for the pinfall.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Cameron Grimes in a non-title match
Lee looked very string and stoic in this where he pinned Grimes.
Grimes stalled and played cat-and-mouse with Lee. Grimes kept getting mowed down and manhandled by Lee. Grimes took a Harley Race bump in a corner, and he flipped out of the ring to the floor. Grimes set a trap for Lee, and he rammed him into the ring steps. Grimes then springboarded into an Asai moonsault to the floor. The show cut to commercial with Lee down selling.
Lee was firing up in a comeback as the show returned from the commercial break. Lee mauled Grimes, but Grimes was able to avoid a Spirit Bomb. That just delayed the inevitable as Lee picked up Grimes in a fireman’s carry. He was seemingly going for a jackhammer when Grimes countered into a small package. Grimes a moment later with schoolboy tried to cover Lee with a foot on the ropes for leverage. Lee still kicked out.
Lee caught Grimes on a flying crossbody, but Grimes would catch Lee with a one-man Spanish Fly. Grimes went for the Cave In, but Lee blocked it. Lee chopped down Grimes, and nailed him with a some short arm clotheslines. Lee with a Spirit Bomb scored the decisive pinfall.
The arena lights went out and Scarlett’s voiced boomed over the loud speaker. Karrion Kross then appeared on a video screen with a message for Lee. Kross had attacked and laid out several wrestlers. He message was he wants a title match.
William Regal announced that Dexter Lumis suffered on ankle injury, and Lumis is out of the ladder match at TakeOver. Since neither Johnny Gargano nor Finn Balor dropped the fall in their qualifying match, they both want consideration. There is also Ridge Holland on tonight’s show having lost without losing a fall. Therefore, in two weeks time the three wrestlers just named and a fourth from the other upcoming qualfying match will face off in two different singles matches. The two winners advance to the ladder match.
El Legado del Fantasma dragged a helpless Fandango into the arena. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar said every week they explain why lucha libre culture is important, and why it is art. It is not a gimmick to be exploited for merch money, but people like Fandango exist. Breezango on a previous episode had spoofed luhca libre in on of their entrances. Escobar was angry about Fandango & Tyler Breeze mocking his culture. He compared it to them spitting in his face.
Escobar said the disrespect stops right now. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde went to pummel Fandango when Breeze ran in. He was also attacked and beat down. Escobar also issued a warning to Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
A vignette highlighted Undisputed Era and their reigns as tag team champions.
Damian Priest and Bronson Reed had words outside the building, which sets up a singles match between them.
Pat McAfee joined the broadcast booth for guest commentary.
Tegan Nox defeated Indi Hartwell
Nox pinned Hartwell in a match that was more about McAfee on commentary than what was happening in the ring.
Nox got to shine early on until Hartwell cut her off. Nartwell got a near fall after a big boot. The announcers were more focused on talking to McAfee. Nox made a comeback and delivered the Shiniest Wizard to score the pinfall.
Announced for next week is another triple threat qualifying match. Kushida returns to face Cameron Grimes and a mystery opponent to decide another particpant in the ladder match at TakeOver. Priest against Reed in a singles match was also made official. Danny Burch also faces Karrion Kross in a singles match next week on NXT.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish with Adam Cole & Roderick Strong) for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Aichner pinned Fish after Undisputed Era were distracted by a Cole and McAfee at ringside.
This seemed like a tag team match Bill Watts would have booked in WCW during 1992 like with the Steiners against Doc & Gordy. No heel/babyface dynamic, just two teams “hooking it up” in a competitive matchup. McAfee on commentary was again more of the focus of this than the match itself. This tag match still got plenty of time as the subplot played out.
This was O’Reilly’s first match back in several months. He squared off with Aichner to start the match. Of course much of the focus was on McAfee and Cole being near each other.
O’Reilly & Fish were working over Barthel when Aichner tagged in to nail Fish with a spinebuster before the show cut to commercial. Fish was trying to rally as the show returned from break. Meanwhile, Cole glared at McAfee.
O’Reilly cleaned house after a hot tag. O’Reilly with a Bobby Eaton flying knee drop off the top rope targeted Aichner’s leg. O’Reilly then barred the knee, and Aichner struggled for the ropes. As Aichner reached the ropes, Fish flew in with a Harley Race diving headbutt off the top. O’Reilly kept applying the submission hold as Aichner screamed in agony. Barthel made the save with a double sprinboard into a moonsault on O’Reilly.
Cole went over to confront McAfee at the broadcast booth. Cole cut a promo on McAfee telling him to knock it off with the jokes. McAfee begged off, and Cole turned to walk away. McAfee remarked that Cole was an “angry elf”, which Cole overheard. Cole walked back to the booth, and he threw water in McAfee’s face. Cole screamed at McAfee. Roderick Strong came over to hold back Cole. Referees and officials — including Shawn Michaels and Triple H — poured out from the back to separate Cole and McAfee.
O’Reilly & Fish were distracted by the commotion, and that allowed Aichner & Barthel to strike. Fish took the European Bomb (Doosmday uppercut), and Aichner covered Fish for the pinfall.
McAfee was leaving, but he turned back around to confront Cole. McAfee told Cole that for the rest of his life Cole will be a “tiny, itty bitty, short, little bitch.” Officals held Cole back as he lunged for McAfee. Cole had crawled on top of the broadcast booth when McAfee punted him with a kick. Cole took a face-first bump landing on the floor in a heap. Triple H jumped into the melee and twice shoved McAfee.
A video highlighting Scott aired on NXT last week. He pointed out that he’s the only person to defeat Santos Escobar in WWE and said he’ll win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship from Escobar the next time they face off.
This will be the first time Imperium have wrestled since retaining their titles against Breezango on the June 17 episode of NXT. Indus Sher came out to ringside during that match, then Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch appeared and brawled with them as Imperium vs. Breezango was going on.
Tonight’s NXT will also feature Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Dexter Lumis to determine the next participant to qualify for the ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship at TakeOver XXX. NXT Champion Keith Lee will respond to Karrion Kross tonight, Johnny Gargano will face Roderick Strong, and new Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez will take on Shotzi Blackheart.
