Both NXT Tag Team titles are on the line next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions The New Day will defend the titles against Briggs and Jensen, while Kayden Carter and Katana Chance will defend the Women’s Tag Team titles in a three-way against Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley.
Additionally, Carmelo Hayes will face Axiom, Zoey Stark will take on Nikkita Lyons, and Apollo Crews will return after his loss at NXT Deadline this past Saturday.
The New Day came out during Tuesday’s show to celebrate their title win when Pretty Deadly interrupted, wanting a rematch. The New Day said they would consider it if they could recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Briggs and Jensen came out and did just that, earning themselves a title match.
A match between Dolin & Jayne vs. Nile & Paxley that took place Tuesday ended when the three teams ended up brawling. Later in the show, the three teams fought again, with officials having to separate them.
Here is the lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Tag Team titles: The New Day defend against Briggs and Jensen
NXT Women’s Tag Team titles: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defend against Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley
IYO SKY has commented on her recent name change, main roster call-up, and what her time wrestling Asuka in Japan has meant to her career.
The 32-year-old spoke with Tokyo Sports recently and said that she’s been busy since her return at SummerSlam last month.
“My life has changed in a good way. It’s been less than a month (since my promotion), but I’ve been so busy that I don’t even know how much time I’ve spent (laughs),” reads a translation of her comments.
SKY also commented on her name change from Io Shirai to IYO SKY.
“I think it is a good name because the ‘sky’ in it conveys the image. The first letter of ‘Io’ was capitalized and the second letter was lowercase ‘Io.’ So it looked like a lowercase L and O (lo), or like a number, and some people misread it. Now it’s all capitalized ‘IYO,’ which I think makes it easier to understand.”
SKY made her main roster debut at SummerSlam alongside Bayley and Dakota Kai. She says that the three of them had been training in Orlando together before making their returns.
“Yes, all three of us made our comeback to the ring at the same time, although in different situations, so we have a strong bond. In fact, the three of us practiced together in Orlando (Florida) before our return,” she said.
SKY and Dakota Kai defeated the team of Asuka and Alexa Bliss in the semifinals of the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament on Raw this week. Asuka and SKY have a long history together in Japan.
“It was a period of my career that was very important for me,” SKY said. “I learned a lot from her, and she was like a big sister to me, and she has been ahead of me in the WWE as well. I am proud to be categorized as Japanese, but the fans tend to focus on Asuka-san. I want to break through that and express something different.”
SKY also spoke about the ankle injury she suffered at NXT Stand & Deliver in April that kept her out of action until her return at SummerSlam.
“I hit my foot on the announcer’s table and broke my right ankle and had to have surgery. I was referred to a ‘master ankle surgeon’ in Alabama, who is a WWE official. Now I have one bolt in to hold the bone in place. I was unable to put any weight on my right leg for about a month, and I had to use a crutch and a wheelchair. It took me about three months to be able to put my full weight on it,” she said.
With Paul “Triple H” Levesque now in charge of creative, the WWE women’s division has been bolstered.
Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Io Shirai (now going by the name IYO SKY) all made their returns at SummerSlam on Saturday night. They took part in an angle where they confronted Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
Belair retained her title against Becky Lynch in the opening match of SummerSlam. The returning Bayley then made her way out but stopped at ringside. She was joined by Kai and then Shirai before entering the ring. Bayley, Kai, and Shirai went face-to-face with Belair, but Lynch then stood side-by-side with Belair. That led to Bayley, Kai, and Shirai backing off.
Before Bayley, Kai, and Shirai appeared, Lynch showed respect to Belair by shaking her hand after their match ended.
This was Bayley’s first appearance on WWE television since suffering a torn ACL in July 2021. The injury happened right before WWE returned to touring in front of live crowds.
Kai was released by WWE this April as part of a round of NXT roster cuts. She had taken part in main roster dark matches prior to her release but was never called up to the main roster while Vince McMahon was in charge.
Tonight was also Shirai’s call-up to the main roster. She had been out of action since April due to an injury. Dave Meltzer reported earlier this month that Shirai’s WWE contract was set to expire soon and she hadn’t signed a new deal at that point. Meltzer added that “those who know [Shirai] from Japan said she went to WWE with the goal of making the main roster and believe she would stay with a main roster deal.”
Levesque tweeted “…and we’re just getting started” after Bayley, Kai, and Shirai appeared at SummerSlam.
Job Listing: Onlamp php/mysql developer. Experience with vbulletin and drupal/WordPress a plus. Email [email protected] with subject PHP DEVELOPER with resume.
Full coverage of Money in the Bank, business numbers and analysis, crossover fans with AEW, SummerSlam show and business and a look at the SummerSlam card.
The last two months of business for WWE and AEW, including major notes regarding both companies as far as arena success and a change in momentum going forward, as well as major gains by wrestling in what age groups.
New Japan talks its business when it comes to training young talent, goals for G-1, women’s matches in New Japan, return to the UK, joint show with Stardom and changing from old traditions.
UFC 276 coverage and what comes next for the champions, controversies, rundowns of the fights and business notes.
The life of Masashi Aoyagi, one of the key players in the start of the Japanese indie scene, as well as in the connection of karate to pro wrestling
The career and controversies of the retiring UFC star Donald Cerrone
The story of PWG and its influence on the changes in pro wrestling and what we were taught that was no longer valid to modern fans. A look at 19 years of some of the best matches ever held and top stars before they became famous.
The most detailed look at pro wrestling on television and ratings over the past week
More on sports rights fees and Tony Khan talks negotiations
Realities of pro wrestling on television
The next ROH PPV show
AEW sets international ratings record
Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Looking back at WWE working with promotions on a joint promotion show
Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW
Big E update
Tyson Fury/WWE update
Israel Adesanya wants to do WWE
WWE & UFC head-to-head several more times this year for major shows
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Tuesday News Update
WWE
Io Shirai wrote on Twitter the word “rumors” with a face vomiting emoji. It was reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that she has yet to re-sign with the company.
The Butcher is the guest on this week’s The Sessions with Renee Paquette.
Soundshpere has an interview with Max Caster where he says that a diss track is being made for The Gunn Club, who turned on The Acclaimed on last week’s Dynamite. “The track is DONE,” he said. “The song is called ‘Trash Day’ because we are gonna take out the trash when we get our hands on The Ass Boys there. I am not psyched with how that all turned out.”
The first of a three part documentary series on Ric Flair’s Final Match has been uploaded.
Slam Wrestling has an article on Virgil. In regards to his health, Slam Wrestling says he has suffered two minor strokes, stage one gastrointestinal cancer (not colon cancer), and the onset of dementia.
Former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai could be on the verge of becoming a free agent.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Io Shirai’s contract with WWE is set to expire next month if she doesn’t sign a new deal. Shirai hasn’t signed WWE’s newest contract offer, and Meltzer notes that Shirai “had told people in Japan that when her contract was up she wanted to return to Japan and be closer with her family.”
Meltzer wrote:
Io Shirai has not signed her newest contract offer. She will be a free agent next month if she doesn’t sign her new deal. She had told people in Japan that when her contract was up she wanted to return to Japan and be closer with her family. Unlike with Kairi Sane, who had to wait until the end of her contract because she left mid-contract and agreed to work as a WWE rep in Japan so she could move back home, Shirai would be free and clear. There is no expectation in Stardom that she will definitely return at that point, but legally she could.
Shirai signed with WWE in 2018 and has been part of the NXT roster since. She worked a couple of dark matches prior to SmackDown events earlier this year.
Shirai is a one-time NXT Women’s Champion and a one-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.
Due to injury, Shirai hasn’t wrestled since this April. Meltzer reported last week that Shirai was expected to return to the ring “relatively soon.”
Io Shirai and Zoey Stark are expected to return from injury “relatively soon.”
Shirai hasn’t wrestled since NXT Stand & Deliver on April 2. Speculation regarding her injury began when photos of her wearing a walking boot circulated later that month. The exact nature of her injury is unknown, however.
Stark hasn’t wrestled since NXT Halloween Havoc on October 26. She posted to social media on November 9 and revealed that she had surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus. In storyline, her injury was said to be due to an attack by Toxic Attraction.
“Io Shirai and Zoey Stark, who have both been out with injuries, are expected to be back relatively soon,” he wrote.
Shirai and Stark won the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Way at The Great American Bash on July 6, 2021. They eventually dropped the belts to Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jane at Halloween Havoc.
The women’s Dusty Classic winners threw a wrench into the plans for NXT Stand & Deliver last night.
Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray were crowned as the winners of the 2022 women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo in the finals on last night’s NXT. When confronted by Toxic Attraction after the match, Shirai and KLR revealed that they aren’t cashing in their title shot for an NXT Women’s Tag Team title match — they’re going after Mandy Rose’s NXT Women’s Championship.
Rose will defend her title against Cora Jade, Shirai, and KLR in a fatal four-way match at NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 2. Jade helped Shirai and KLR even the odds in a brawl against Toxic Attraction to close last night’s show.
Bron Breakker is challenging Dolph Ziggler for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver. Last night, Breakker defeated Ziggler’s tag team partner Robert Roode in a singles match. Ziggler then laid out Breakker with a superkick on the ramp after the match was over.
Solo Sikoa and Grayson Waller became the latest wrestlers to qualify for the NXT North American Championship ladder match at Stand & Deliver. Carmelo Hayes will defend his title against Santos Escobar, Sikoa, Waller, and one more challenger to be determined. Cameron Grimes, Roderick Strong, and A-Kid are facing off in a last-chance qualifying match next Tuesday.
Plus, Gunther vs. LA Knight was added to the card for Stand & Deliver.
Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray are the winners of this year’s women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
Shirai and Kai defeated the team of Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai in the finals of the tournament that took place tonight on NXT. The finish of the match had Shirai pinning Choo following a moonsault.
After the match, Toxic Attraction came to the ring and congratulated the team on their win. Mandy Rose told them, however, they wouldn’t be defeating Gigi Dolin and Jacy Janye for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles. Ray agreed, with the two instead proposing that they be added to the Women’s Championship match at Stand & Deliver on April 2. The show ended with everyone, including Cora Jade, brawling.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez won last year’s tournament on February 14, defeating Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart. They eventually became the first-ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions the following month.
LA Knight will meet Gunther at Stand & Deliver, while the NXT Women’s Championship match will now be a fatal four way.
Knight and Gunther will meet following a confrontation on tonight’s NXT. After winning the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Shirai and Ray told Toxic Attraction that instead of cashing in their NXT Women’s Tag Team title match, they would add themselves to the NXT Women’s title match at Stand & Deliver.
The LA Knight and Gunther match was set up tonight after Gunther had defeated Duke Hudson. Gunther was cutting a promo upset that he had been overlooked when Knight came out. Gunther insulted Knight, saying that his mouth got him championship matches, but has never been able to get the win. Knight said he came out here to challenge Gunther and started to attack him. The rest of Imperium attacked Knight, but MSK arrived and took care of Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel as Knight eliminated Gunther from the ring.
After Shirai and Ray defeated Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai, Toxic Attraction came out and congratulated the team. Mandy Rose told them, however, that Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne wouldn’t lose their titles. Ray and Shirai agreed, instead proposing the four way championship match at Stand and Deliver. The show ended with Toxic Attraction, Shirai, Ray, and Cora Jade brawling in the ring.
Here is the current card for NXT Stand & Deliver, which will take place April 2 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas:
Dolph Ziggler vs. Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship
Imperium vs. The Creed Brothers vs. MSK for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Mandy Rose vs. Cora Jade vs. Kay Lee Ray vs. Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Tony D’Angelo
LA Knight vs. Gunther
Carmelo Hayes vs. Santos Escobar vs. Grayson WAller vs. Solo Sikoa vs. TBA in a ladder match for the NXT North American Championship
The finals of this year’s women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has been set.
The team of Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray will take on Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai in the finals. This is after Shrai and Ray defeated Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter, while Choo and Kai defeated Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade. It was not said when the finals would take place.
During the Choo & Kai vs. Gonzalez & Jade match, Gigi Dolan struck Gonzalez in the knee from behind with a foreign object. Gonzalez’s knee buckled towards the finish, allowing Kai to pick up the victory with a foot stomp off the top rope. Later in the night, Jade attacked Mandy Rose, who was in her own personal lounge watching the second semifinal match.
Shirai & Ray defeated Catanzaro & Carter after Ray connected with the KLR bomb on Carter, with Shirai getting the pinfall following the moonsault.
The teams of Kay Lee Ray & Io Shiral and Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter have advanced in the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
Ray & Shirai defeated Lash Legend and Amari Miller on tonight’s NXT after a moonsault press from Shirai on Legend. Later in the show, Catanzaro and Carter defeated Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley, with Paxley taking the fall after a 450 splash/neckbreaker combination from Catanzaro and Carter. As a result, the two teams will face each other in the semifinals of the tournament.
The two other remaining opening round matches will have the team of Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta face Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai, while Cora Jade & Raquel Gonzalez will face Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz.
The first women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic took place last year. In the finals, Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez defeated Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart. Kai and Gonzalez were later named the first NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Four NXT talents are reportedly scheduled to be part of Friday’s SmackDown tapings.
PWInsider reported this afternoon that Io Shirai, Dakota Kai, Roderick Strong, and LA Knight will be at the SmackDown tapings this Friday in Kansas City, Missouri. This would mark Shirai’s first main roster match since Survivor Series 2019.
Dakota Kai worked dark matches prior to Raw and SmackDown back in November 2021. Since then, she has returned to NXT with a new, more unhinged character. She most recently lost to former tag team partner Raquel Gonzalez in a street fight on the December 21st edition of NXT.
Strong and Knight had a match prior to last week’s SmackDown, with Knight defeating Strong. The two then had matches on the Main Event tapings that took place Monday night prior to Raw, with Strong losing to T-Bar and Knight defeating Cedric Alexander. Both men also appeared in a digital exclusive on WWE social media, with Knight confronting the team of Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.
A WarGames challenge was made on last night’s NXT.
Last night’s show ended with Io Shirai challenging Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) and Dakota Kai to a WarGames match. Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade will be two of Shirai’s partners.
A grudge match between Gonzalez and Kai headlined last night’s NXT, but it ended in a disqualification when Toxic Attraction ran in and attacked Gonzalez from behind. Jade made the save and used her skateboard as a weapon, but Toxic Attraction and Kai’s numbers advantage was too much.
Zoey Stark’s music then hit. Stark wasn’t able to get involved due to her recent knee surgery, but she handed one of her crutches to Shirai. Shirai used the crutch to take out Toxic Attraction and Kai. After Shirai, Gonzalez, and Jade stood tall in the brawl, Shirai got on the microphone and shouted “WarGames” at the heels.
NXT WarGames is taking place on Sunday, December 5.
Tonight’s NXT 2.0 closed with a WarGames challenge from Io Shirai.
A match between Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai ended in a DQ when Toxic Attraction came down and jumped Gonzalez. Cora Jade came in to make the save with her skateboard, but the numbers game was too much. Zoey Stark, in crutches, then brought out Io Shirai who cleared the ring with one of Stark’s crutches. Shirai then made the WarGames challenge to Toxic Attraction and Kai, who retreated to the back.
Since NXT’s relauch, Toxic Attraction have quickly dominated the NXT women’s division, with Mandy Rose defeating Raquel Gonzalez to win the NXT Women’s title at Halloween Havoc after Kai took out Gonzalez. Jacey Jayne and Gigi Dolan, meanwhile, won a ladder match featuring then-champions Zoey Stark and Io Shirai to win the titles. The following Tuesday, Toxic Attraction took out Stark by attacking her leg backstage.
Toxic Attraction will look to continue their dominance over NXT tonight.
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne will face off with Io Shirai, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro in six-woman tag team action on tonight’s episode of NXT. The match was made after Carter and Catanzaro saved Shirai from a beatdown by Toxic Attraction on last week’s show.
It was revealed last week that Dolin and Jayne had attacked Zoey Stark backstage. Shirai confronted Rose, but Toxic Attraction ganged up on her and had the numbers advantage. Carter and Catanzaro then made the save for Shirai.
Stark recently underwent surgery after suffering a torn ACL and torn meniscus at Halloween Havoc.
The team of Jacket Time (Kushida & Ikemen Jiro) will take on Diamond Mine’s Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) tonight. Plus, Kay Lee Ray faces Sarray, Pete Dunne will make an appearance, Cameron Grimes and Elektra Lopez will be in action, we’ll hear from NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker on WWE’s UK tour, and The Grizzled Young Veterans will hone their “urban training” skills.
This was a fun opener. It was nice to start with a match instead of a long promo. They worked hard, and the fans got into the match by the end.
Mandy Rose gained the early advantage for her team after knocking Shirai off the apron. The heels then cut Carter off from her team and isolated her on their side of the ring. Jacy Jayne caught Carter with a neck breaker for a near fall. She followed up with an enziguri, but Carter recovered and tagged in Shirai.
Shirak hit a standing moonsasult into a double-knees for two-count. Catanzaro hit a slingshot senton on Jayne for a near fall, but the heels backed her into their corner. Catanzaro recovered and hit a dive to the floor on Rose. Carter then hit a cross body onto Gigi Dolin and Jayne. Shirai went for a dive, but Rose cut her off to take over.
During the break, Shirai caught Dolin with a cross face. The heels took over by isolating Catanzaro in their corner.
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. Rose slowed the pace down with the body scissors on Catanzaro. Catanzaro broke free, and Shirai got the hot tag. She ran wild on Dolin and stomped her in the corner.
Shirai finally got her hands on Rose and hit running double knees in the corner. She followed up with a huge moonsault on Rose for a very close near fall. The heels briefly took over until Carter tagged back in the match.
Carter rolled through and rocked Dolin with a superkick. The fans broke into a loud “This is awesome” chant. Carter climbed the top rope, but Jayne jumped on the apron to distract her. Catanzaro and Shirai attacked Rose and Jayne at ringside. Dolin then yanked Carter off the top rope and hit her finisher for the win.
After the match, Toxic Attraction posed on the stage with the titles.
In the back, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Pete Dunne. She asked about Tony D’Angelo’s comments from last week. Dunne told D’Angelo to come and find him. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams approached. They got in Dunn’s face. Dunne became furious and challenged Hayes to match later.
Toxic Attraction were still posing on the stage. Kay Lee Ray’s music hit, and she made her way to the ring passing by Toxic Attraction.
MSK continued on their journey. They’ve been walking for a long time, apparently. They joked about joining the mile-high club, which they might think means something else.
Kay Lee Ray defeated Sarray (4:51)
Ray and Sarray had a good short match.
Ray jumped Sarray at the bell and beat her down. Sarray fought back with an arm drag and hit a double foot stomp. She rocked Ray with a forearm, but Ray fired back with a series of forearms as well.
Sarray missed a splash in the corner, and Ray hit a DDT for a close two-count. Sarray rolled up Ray for a near fall and transitioned to a half-crab. Ray fought back and made it to the ropes to break the hold. Ray rocked Sarray with a superkick, but Sarray fired back with a kick to the head.
Sarray missed a dropkick and Ray sent her to the floor. Ray then hit the KLR bomb on the announce table and hit a second KLR bomb in the ring for the win.
In the back, Joe Gacy discussed his upcoming match with Boa. He thinks Boa feels he has to hide who he really is.
They showed highlights of Bron Breakker competing on the UK Tour and promising to win the NXT title.
Joe Gacy defeated Boa via DQ (3:23)
They didn’t get a lot of time and had a weak DQ finish.
Boa briefly had the early advantage, but Gacy took over. Gacy hit a side slam, and suplex Boa fired up and hit a series of knees. Suddenly, the lights went out, and Boa viciously attacked Gacy against the ropes. Boa refused to break the hold, and the referee called for the bell.
Gacy laughed in the camera and acted like he planned everything.
They showed the Jacket Time promo for last week. The Diamond Mine watched the promo as they trained. Malcolm Bivens demanded that the Creed Brothers defeat Jacket Time tonight.
In the back, McKenzie Mitchell tried to interview Sola Sikoa, but Grayson Waller and LA Knight interrupted. Sikoa challenged them both to match later.
The Creed Brothers (w/Dimaond Mine) defeated Jacket Time (7:42)
This was a fun short match that the fans enjoyed. Kushdia was the highlight of the match.
The Creed Brothers gained the early advantage and isolated Kushida in their corner. Kushida fought back and hit a double handspring elbow on the heels. Ikemen Jiro and Kushia then regained control and knocked the Creed Brothers off the apron. Jacket Time posed in the middle of the ring before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Kushdia ran wild and scored a near fall. Kushdia and Jiro hit a double dropkick on Julius. Jiro hit an elbow off the top for a close near fall. Brutus went after Kushdia as Julius ripped off Jiro’s jacket to a chorus of boos.
Jiro tried to fight back, but Roderick Strong interfered, and Julius hit a gut-wrench powerbomb to win.
After the match, Odyssey Jones ran out for the save and attacked the Diamond Mine.
Toxic Attraction were in the parking lot bragging about being the champions. Rose noted there was nobody worthy of challenging for her title. Suddenly, Raquel Gonzalaz drove up on her bike. She told Rose to keep her belt warm, and she drove to the ring.
Raquel Gonzalaz And Dakota Kai Segment
Gonzalaz jumped in the ring and repeated to Rose to keep the belt warm. She’s going to deal with Dakota Kai first and then is coming for her title. She then demanded that Kai come to the ring. Kai slowly walked out and talked about how good it felt to hit her in the back with the shovel at Halloween Havoc.
Suddenly, Cora Jade ran out and attacked Kai. Gonzalaz got in Jade’s face and noted she gets to face Kai first.
Adam Chase held a seminar at Chase University. They discussed mental toughness until he yelled at one of his students and kicked him out.
Cameron Grimes defeated Ru Feng (1:45)
This was mostly a squash match to showcase Grimes. He looked good in the match and was good in the post-match angle as well.
Grimes had the early advantage and mocked Feng. Feng fought back and slowed the pace down with an abnormal stretch. Grimes fought back with a hip toss. Grimes fired up and ran wild on Feng. He rocked Feng with a running boot in the corner. Grimes followed up with a flying crossbody for a near fall. He then hit the double foot stomp for the win.
After the match, Duke Hudson came to the ring and got in Grimes’ face. He demanded to know if Grimes duped him and called him a hick. Grimes mocked Hudson and bragged about winning. Hudson promised that he’d never lose again to someone that looks like a rotten troll living under a bridge. The fans gave Hudson the “What” treatment and chanted it for the first half of his promo.
Grimes wondered why Hudson had to resort to name-calling. Grimes promised that he holds it down, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in Duke’s poker room, in the ring, or on wall street. Grimes noted he likes to play dumb, but last week, he played Hudson.
Hudson then challenged Grimes to a poker showdown next week in the ring.
Triple Threat Match: Solo Sikoa defeated Grayson Waller and LA Knight (5:00)
This was a fine triple threat match, but they didn’t get a lot of time.
Waller and Knight argued until Sikola took them both out. Waller charged at Sikoa, but he moved, and Knight pulled down the rope. Sikoa then brought Knight back in the ring, but Waller pulled down the rope on Knight and he fell to the outside.
Waller and Knight then worked together to beat down Sikoa. The fans broke into a loud “LA sucks” chant. Waller and Knight argued about giving Sikoa a superplex. They finally agreed to give Sikoa a double superplex. Instead, Sikoa slipped out and gave the heels a double powerbomb.
Sikoa missed a splash in the corner, and Knight hit a neck breaker to take over. Waller attacked Knight with knees and caught Sikoa with a superkick. The finish came when Sikoa threw Waller out of the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. He then hit the splash on Knight for the win.
In the back, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Indie Hartwell and Persia Pirotta. They discussed coming close to winning the tag team titles at Halloween Havoc. Tony D’Angelo approached and promised to defeat Dexter Lumis next week. He then gave a dead fish to Indie to give to Dexter.
Elektra Lopez and Legado Del Fantasma were on their way to the ring. Lopez hopes that Xyon Quinn is watching.
They showed highlights of NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa on the UK Tour.
Elektra Lopez (w/Legado Del Fantasma) defeated Erica Yan (1:21)
This was a quick squash match that was rough in a lot of places.
Yan tried to jump Lopez at the bell, but Lopez quickly took over. She slapped Yan hard across the face and hit a suplex. She followed up with a scary-looking sit-out powerbomb for the win.
After the match, Lopez called out Xyon Quinn and offered him a spot in Legado Del Fantasma. Quinn was flattered but turned down the offer. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde tried to stop Quinn, but he fought back. Quinn cleared the ring and had an intense staredown with Lopez.
They announced NXT War Games for December 5th. The event is only called War Games with no references to the Takeover name.
In the back, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Kyle O’Reilly. He’s not sure if he should focus on his singles career or go all-in with Von Wagner as a tag team. Imperium approached O’Reilly until Wagner showed up and the heels backed off.
Non-Title Match: Pete Dunne defeated North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (w/Trick Williams) (12:12)
Dunne and Hayes had a good fast-paced, and hard-hitting match.
Dunne rocked Hayes with a forearm right at the bell. Dunne followed up with a hard clothesline and slowed the pace down. He worked over Hayes’ arm and targeted the fingers. Hayes fought back with a kick to the face and a springboard clothesline off the middle rope.
Hayes took over and kicked Dunne in the arm. Dunne recovered and rocked Hayes with a kick to the arm as well.
Dunne sent Hayes to the apron and snapped his fingers. They fought on the floor. Hayes attempted a suplex, but Dunne reversed with a suplex on the apron.
Suddenly, Dexter Lumis showed up to join the commentators.
Back from the break, Dunne was firmly in control until Hayes hit a huge code breaker to take over. He followed up with a hard clothesline. Dunne tried fighting back, but Hayes slammed him down for another near fall. Dunne fired back with a hard forearm and a sit-out powerbomb for a very close two-count. The fans broke into a “This is awesome” chant.
Hayes leaped off the ropes, but Dunne rocked him with a hard forearm. Hayes fought back with a twisting suplex for another near fall. The fans broke into an “NXT” and “Fight Forever” chant. Hayes locked on the Gargano escape, but Dunne broke free by attacking the fingers. The fans broke into another “This is awesome” chant.
Dunne hit a release German suplex and knocked Williams off the apron. Dunne went for the bitter end, but Hayes shoved him into the middle rope. Lumis attacked Williams at ringside before he could attack Dunne.
In the ring, Hayes backed up against the ropes, and a hand appeared from under the ring. Hayes backed off as the hand grabbed at his leg. Dunne took advantage and hit the bitter end for the win.
After the match, Johnny Gargano appeared from under the ring and gave a thumbs up to Lumis. Dunne looked at Lumis and Gargano giving each other the thumbs up to end NXT.
Next Week: Cameron Grimes takes on Duke Hudson in a Poker Showdown. In a six-man tag team match, Odyssey Jones & Jacket Time take on Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong and The Creed Brothers. Plus, Dexter Lumis goes one-on-one with Tony D’Angelo.
