Tonight’s go-home episode of NXT ended with NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai being confirmed as the final member of Team Shotzi for NXT TakeOver: WarGames. It will be Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & Shirai) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm) at NXT TakeOver: WarGames this Sunday.
Blackheart defeated Gonzalez in a ladder match in tonight’s main event, earning Team Shotzi the entrance order advantage in WarGames. Gonzalez appeared to have the match won after both WarGames teams and Indi Hartwell got involved, but Shirai appeared and jumped on Gonzalez’s back as she was climbing the ladder. Shirai sent Gonzalez outside and then hit a moonsault from the top rope onto a pile outside of the ring. Blackheart was the last person left standing. She climbed the ladder and retrieved the briefcase to win the WarGames advantage for her team.
Team Shotzi posed together to close tonight’s show.
Shirai had been laid out by Team Candice on NXT last week.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: WarGames:
WarGames match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) vs. Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch)
WarGames match: Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm)
NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff defends his title against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match
The NXT Women’s Championship was on the line as two of the top stars on the brand faced off last night.
Io Shirai retained the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Rhea Ripley on last night’s episode of NXT. After powerbombing Ripley through the announce table, Shirai followed up with a moonsault to get the win after Ripley beat the count back in.
After the match, Shirai and Ripley shook hands and hugged.
It was announced last night that NXT TakeOver: WarGames will take place on Sunday, December 6. Undisputed Era made their return in last night’s main event segment and will face Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in this year’s men’s WarGames match. The women’s WarGames match will see Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LeRae captain teams as they face off against each other.
Two of the top stars in NXT will face off for the NXT Women’s Championship tonight.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends her title against Rhea Ripley on tonight’s episode of NXT. Shirai issued the challenge to Ripley two weeks ago, saying Ripley is the one challenge she must face to show that this is her NXT. Ripley accepted and vowed to end this year as champion.
Ripley lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36. Shirai then became champion by defeating Ripley and Charlotte in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House this June.
After last week’s shocking title change, Johnny Gargano will get his rematch for the NXT North American Championship against Leon Ruff. Gargano tried to break his title defense curse by facing Ruff last week, but Ruff won the North American Championship after Gargano was distracted by Damian Priest.
NXT Champion Finn Balor will appear for the first time since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw last month. Balor will give an update on the future of the NXT Championship.
Plus, Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes in a blindfold match and Ember Moon & Toni Storm vs. Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez are set for tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with new NXT North American Champiob Leon Ruff and a recap of his title win. Ruff came out with the belt before a video package began to tell the story of his journey. Johnny Gargano interrupted Ruff, and Gargano cut a promo on him. He then hit Ruff with a cheap shot before the bell rang to start their title match.
NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff defeated Johnny Gargano via disqualification to retain his title
Ruff retained after interference by Damian Priest led to a DQ.
Gargano got heat on Ruff from the start, but Ruff fought back. He fired up on Gargano. That led to Ruff doing a flip dive over the ropes. Gargano cut him off, and then he twice threw Ruff like a lawn dart into a corner.
Gargano was measuring Ruff for an attack when Damian Priest entered the scene. His presence distracted Gargano, and Ruff rolled him up for a near fall. Ruff missed a senton bomb, and he ate a superkick from Gargano.
Gargano delivered the One Final Beat, and he covered Ruff. Priest came down to ringside, and he pulled Ruff out of the ring to break the count. Priest apologized to Ruff before knocking him out with a forearm smash. Priest striking Ruff led to Gargano being DQ’d, so Ruff retains the title. Gargano was not happy to say the least.
Cameron Grimes was cut a cocky promo ahead of his match tonight.
Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes in a blindfold match had no finish
Grimes punched the referee, but it was by mistake. So that could be a DQ, or maybe not. Nothing was announced as being official. Your guess is as good as mine.
They put the blindfolds on, which were more like sacks over their heads than a typical blindfold. Grimes was freaking out as he ran into things while bumping around the ring. Lumis just stood like a statue.
Grimes ran into the referee, and he thought it was Lumis. So Grimes decked him, and then he began stomping on the ref. The official was also the zombie Grimes had been terrified of in recent weeks.
Grimes took off his blindfold, and saw it was the referee that he knocked out. He tried for a sneak attack on Lumis, but Lumis sidestepped him. Lumis peppered him with punches, and Lumis also took his blindfold off.
Lumis stalked Grimes when he tried to flee. Lumis threw Grimes into the barricades. Grimes hopped a chainlink fence, and he fled the scene.
Damian Priest was backstage being scolded by William Regal, and Priest said he was just joking around. Leon Ruff interrupted to confront Priest. He asked Priest to his face if Priest thought he was a joke. Priest tried to apologize, but Ruff slapped him across the face. Ruff then stormed off, and Regal told Priest that he deserved the slap.
A video aired announcing NXT TakeOver: WarGames for Sunday, December 6. Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LeRae will captain teams against each other.
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro
LeRae pinned Carter to a win a showcase match for the new heel team.
Heat on Catanzaro until Carter tagged in to clean house on the heels. LeRae eventually got the better of Carter, and then LeRae executed the Wicked Step Sister to score a pinfall.
A vignette hyped the return of Arturo Ruas ahead of his match up next.
Kushida defeated Arturo Ruas
Kushida pinned Ruas in the best match so far. Although that is a low bar, this was still good while it lasted. They grappled and exchanged strikes in a believable manner.
Ruas went for a leg takedown, but Kushida countered by falling backwards and bridging into a pinning combination for a three count. They hyped up Ruas’ return, and then beat him clean. Interesting strategy for getting him over.
Ember Moon & Toni Storm defeated Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
Storm pinned Kai to wn the match for her team. The babyfaces were attacked after the match by LeRae & Hartwell.
Storm was getting worked over at the start, but she made a comeback on Kai. Moon tagged in, and the babyface team cleared the ring before a commercial break. The heels turned the tide during the break, and Storm was getting worked over again when the show returned from commercial.
Moon ran wild after a hot tag, she nailed Gonzalez with a superkick. Moon then leapt off the second rope to hit a flying codebreaker. Moon went for a cover, but Kai broke up the count. Moments later, Gonzalez mowed down Moon with a high kick.
Heels got heat on Moon until a hot tag brought Storm back into the match. Storm delivered a series of German suplexes, and then a fisherman’s buster for a two count broken up by Gonzalez. Moon came back in to take out Gonzalez. Storm and Kai collided with a double clotheslines, leading to a double down.
Kai and Storm exchanged strikes. The referee became distracted, and Gonzalez posted Storm. Moon saw it happen, and she leapt through the ropes for a tope on Gonzalez. Kai went to drag Storm to the center of the ring, but Storm with a counter that trapped Kai in an inside cradle for the pinfall.
LeRae & Hartwell after the match attacked Moon & Storm. They rolled the babyfaces back into the ring so Kai & Gonzalez could lay them out. This looks to be leading to the women’s War Games match.
Timothy Thatcher defeated August Grey
Thatcher submitted Grey in a short match. Tommaso Ciampa confronted Thatcher after the match.
Grey got in some brief offense at the start, and then Thatcher picked him apart. Thatcher stretched Grey until Grey made a brief comeback. He tired a rope walk into a springboard, but Thatcher cut him down with an uppercut. Thatcher went on to lock in a front facelock, and Grey tapped out.
Thatcher reapplied the submission hold after the bell. Cue Ciampa’s music, and Ciampa came to the ring to confront Thatcher. He had a staredown with Thatcher, who told Ciampa he had no problem with him. Thatcher then backed down, and he left the ring.
In a later interview, Ciampa said he wanted to fight Thatcher.
Gargano Attacks Priest; Ruff Stands Tall
Damian Priest came to the ring for a match, and Johnny Gargano attacked him from behind during Priest’s entrance. They brawled in the ring and around ringside. Leon Ruff ran in, and he seemingly by mistake (in storyline) hit Priest with a dropkick. A tilt-a-whirl headscissors from Ruff then sent Gargano crashing into Priest. Ruff superkicked Gargano.
An angry Priest went after Ruff, but he sidestepped Priest. Ruff dropkicked into each other, and Ruff backdropped Gargano over the ropes on to Priest. Ruff stood tall and held his title belt high overhead. Priest and Grargano both rushed the ring, but Ruff slipped past them.
During a commercial break, Ruff told Regal he would face both Gargano and Priest in a match.
Wade Barrett announced he won’t be doing commentary on next week’s episode. Replacing him for next Wednesday is Kevin Owens on guest commentary.
Boa had not reported to the PC since last week, so William Regal went to Boa’s home to check on him. Through the dark circles around his eyes, Boa warned Regal “she’s coming.”
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Rhea Ripley to retain her title
Shirai pinned Ripley to retain. This was a helluva stiff match, and it was pretty good too.
Ripley was in control at the start. She dominated with her power. Ripley dropped Shirai on the apron, and Shirai took a hard shot. During the picture-in-picture commercial break, Ripley stalled while medical staff checked on Shirai.
Like the NWO arriving to Nirto in the middle of the show, Finn Balor supposedly arrived to the building during this match.
Shirai made a comeback and she fired up on Ripley. Somehow Ripley suffered a cut, and she bled from the ear. Ripley ate a stiff shotgun dropkick, yet she still managed to escape a crossface.
They fought on, and Shirai targeted an arm. Shirai went to work on the arm, including a shoulde breaker spot on the apron. The match went through another picture-and-picture commercial break.
The show returned from the break with Ripley giving Shirai a superplex as the momentum had shifted in the match. Ripley kept selling her shoulder, but she was still in control. Ripley applied her inverted cloverleaf submission hold, and she turned it into a giant swing. Shirai managed to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.
Shirai countered the Rip Tide, and Shirai locked in a cross armbreaker. Ripley got a rope break. Shirai with a Tiger Feint Kick, and then she delivered a missile dropkick for a near fall.
Barrett on commentary said “this entire audience is on the their feet.” Well, the live crowd has no seats. So they sort of have to remain standing during the show. [Insert Toru Yano shrug.]
Shirai missed a moonsault, and Ripley hit her with a lariat for another near fall. Shirai again countered the Rip Tide, and she spiked Ripley with a DDT.
Ripley was on the apron when Shirai went for a sunset flip powerbomb. Ripley tried to block it to no avail. Shirai powerbombed Ripley through an announce desk. Ripley teased a countout, but she managed to break the count.
Soon as Ripley got back into the ring, Shirai came off the top rope with a moonsault. Shriai then covered Ripley for a pinfall to retain the title.
Finn Balor Speaks; Undisputed Era Returns
NXT Champion Finn Balor entered the ring for a promo. He congratulated Shirai on her win, as she has just left the ring. Balor said he broke his jaw in two places. Now he has three plates in his jaw that say he is a “bad son of a…” Before Balor could finish his curse word, Pat McAfee and company interrupted him.
McAfee said Balor is in their house now, and McAfee continued to brag about all of the people in NXT they took out since Balor was away. McAfee and his heel faction surrounded Balor, and McAfee told Balor to hand over the title.
Balor said when the cat is away the mice will play. The cat is back, and look what he dragged in…
Undisputed Era made a surprise return, and they were in full force. Adam Cole was back alongside Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong. They rushed the ring for a melee with McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch.
Cole laid out McAfee with a kick at ringside. The brawling continued as the show went off the air. Looks like they’ll settle this in War Games.
Two of the top wrestlers in NXT will face off for the NXT Women’s Championship next week.
WWE has announced that NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will defend her title against Rhea Ripley on NXT next Wednesday. A Prime Target special feature building up the match aired on tonight’s episode of NXT.
The title match was set up by a challenge that was issued by Shirai last week. A video aired on last week’s NXT where Shirai said Ripley is the one challenge she must face to show that this is her NXT. A promo by Ripley aired later in last week’s show, with Ripley accepting Shirai’s challenge and vowing to end this year as NXT Women’s Champion.
Shirai won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Charlotte Flair and Ripley in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House this June. Charlotte was champion going into that match after winning the title from Ripley at WrestleMania 36. Shirai pinned Ripley to win the title.
Next week’s NXT will also feature an appearance by NXT Champion Finn Balor. WWE is hyping that Balor will address his kingdom for the first time since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw last month. After Balor had surgery, WWE said they were going to give it a few weeks and see how Balor recovers before deciding what to do with the NXT Championship.
A big NXT Women’s Championship match looks to be on the horizon.
In a video that aired on NXT tonight, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai declared that she wants to face Rhea Ripley in a one-on-one title match. Ripley responded later in the show and accepted the challenge.
When the Shirai vs. Ripley title match will be taking place hasn’t been revealed.
Shirai said during her promo tonight that Ripley is the one challenge she must face to show that this is her NXT.
Ripley said she’s wanted to face Shirai since losing the NXT Women’s Championship this June. Ripley said Shirai is terrified of losing the title — and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Ripley vowed to end this year as NXT Women’s Champion just like she did in 2019.
Shirai became NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Ripley and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House this June. Shirai pinned Ripley to win the title. Charlotte was NXT Women’s Champion going into that match after winning the title from Ripley at WrestleMania 36.
Shirai and Ripley both got wins at NXT Halloween Havoc last week. Shirai retained the NXT Women’s Championship against Candice LeRae in a Tables, Ladders & Scares match. Ripley defeated Raquel Gonzalez.
For the first time in 20 years, Halloween Havoc makes its return tonight.
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal will decide the stipulations for tonight’s title matches. NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai is defending her title against Candice LeRae, while LeRae’s husband Johnny Gargano is challenging Damian Priest for the NXT North American Championship.
Shotzi Blackheart is the host of tonight’s show. Coal miner’s glove on a pole match, blindfold match, casket match, Chamber of Horrors, biker’s chain match, buried alive match, devil’s playground match, boiler room brawl, Shotzi’s choice, weapons wild match, trick or street fight, and TLS match are the stipulation options on the wheel.
Three other matches have also been announced for tonight. Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez will collide as they face off on tonight’s show, Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes will meet in a Haunted House of Terror match, and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar will take on Jake Atlas in a non-title match.
Plus, Pat McAfee will make an appearance after returning to NXT last week and helping Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch win the NXT Tag Team titles.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a look at the impressive Halloween set design, and Shotzi Blackheart was screaming on the stage. She made sparks fly with a metal grinder, and then a rock guitarist started shredding on a guitar.
The guitar solo became the entrance theme for NXT North American Champion Damian Priest. He was in the ring, which had orange ropes for this speical episode.
An inflatable jack-o-lantern was on the stage for Johnny Gargano’s entrance. He sliced it open, and it began to deflate. Not a fan of Halloween I guess.
Blackheart spun the giant wheel on the stage, and the wheel landed on a “Devil’s Playground Match”. The stipulation is essentially a no DQ falls count anywhere match
Johnny Gargano defeated Damian Priest in a Devil’s Playground Match to win the NXT North American Championship
Gargano pinned Priest to win the title after interference by someone in a Scream costume.
Priest began to pummel Gargano at the start, and he whipped Gargano into a corner. Priest followed with Stinger splashes, and he also was wearing Mechanix gloves like Sting used to wear as his Crow persona.
Gargano eventually managed to cut off Priest, and Gargano sent him crashing into the ring steps. Gargano pulled out a kendo stick from underneath the ring, and Priest grabbed a baton. They faced off with weapons before a commercial break.
The brawling continued through the break. Priest picked up the ring steps, and he hit Gargano with the steps. Gargano tried to crawling up the ramp to escape, but Priest wrapped him up in the deflated jack-o-lantern.
As the show returned from commercial, Gargano leapt off the stage into a senton on Priest. Gargano hit Priest with a kendo stick as the brawl moved back into the ring. Gargano went for a kick, and Priest clubbed him in the leg with a banton. Priest then gave Gargano a sit-out chokeslam for a near fall.
Gargano caught Priest with a kick, but Gargano sold his leg. He went for a tope, but Priest grabbed him by the throat. Gargano countered a chokeslam, and he sent Priest into the chainlink fencing around ringside.
Gargano with sliced bread on the ring steps for a near fall. Priest went on to counter Gargano, and Priest suplexed Gargano onto the announce desk. They brawled near the Halloween set. A mannequin scared Gargano, allowing Priest to gain an advantage. They brawled backstage, and Gargano rammed Priest into a roll-up door.
Gargano dumped trash on Priest, and the he put the trash can over Priest’s head. Gargano followed by sandwiching Priest with a cart. The show cut to commercial with Gargano in control. During the break, Gargano used a crowbar to apply the Gargano Escape. Priest teased tapping, so I guess submissions count anywhere along with falls counting anywhere.
After the break, Gargano climbed onto the stage that held the wheel gimmick. Priest connected when he flung a trash can at Gargano. Moments later, Gargano countered Priest to deliver a superkick. Gargano repeatedly hit Priest with a metal trash can. Priest came back with a kick, and then kicked the trash can into Gargano’s face like a Van Daminator.
Someone in a Scream costume from behind hit Priest with a metal pipe. Gargano with a DDT to Priest on the stage. The person in the Scream costume handed Gargano a tombstone, and Gargano hit Priest with it. The tombstone shattered, and Priest fell off the stage. Gargano then pinned Priest to win the title.
Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett were at ringside on commentary. Joseph was dressed as Waldo from Where’s Waldo. Barrett said he dressed as his favorite superstar, Bad News Barrett. He said he had some bad news for Joseph, and Barrett declared himself the winner of the costume contest.
Pete Dunne returns to join up with Pat McAfee
McAfee came to the ring to cut promo. He was flanked by new NXT Tag Team Champions — Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch. McAfee buried the fans before talking about Adam Cole. He was upset about losing to Cole.
McAfee claimed he was unable to come back and “handle” Cole because McAfee had other media projects. So McAfee said he gave Ridge Holland a Mercedes for attacking Cole. After Holland was injured, McAfee said he tried to recruit Burch & Lorcan. They turned him down until they lost to Undisputed Era, and then they came back to make a deal to align with McAfee.
Kyle O’Reilly interrupted them, and he marched towards the ring. Pete Dunne made a surprise return to presumably have O’Reilly’s back. Dunne had two chair. He gave one to O’Reilly. They squared off with McAfee’s squad. Dunne then turned on O’Reilly, and he hit him with a chair. Dunne is seemingly aligned with McAfee and company.
The heels beat down O’Reilly. Burch & Lorcan gave him a draping DDT on a chair, and the heels stood over O’Reilly.
Cameron Grimes was upset and scared to get in a van. The vechile was supposed to take him to the Haunted House of Terror. Grimes wanted to ride shotgun, but a zombie was in the seat. That scared Grimes. Michael Hayes popped out of the van as “Badstreet USA” played over the speakers. Grimes reluctantly got into the van, and it sped away.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Esobar defeated Jake Atlas in a non-title match
Esobar pinned Atlas with help from henchmen at ringside. Two matches so far, and both ended after outside interference. This cruiserweight match was also rushed, and it was very short. Just as it got going, it ended.
Esobar wore a Phantom costume, simialr to what Rey Mysterio wore in his classic match against Eddie Guerrero at Halloween Havoc in 1997. Escobar also had half of his face painted like a sugar mask to commemorate Dia de Muertos.
Atlas was in trouble at the outset, but he soon made a comeback. He got some near falls on Escobar, and Atlas executed a handstand DDT. He went to cover Escobar, but Escobar’s henchmen put his feet on the rope to break the count. Atlas responded by doing a running flip dive on to Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde.
Mendoza put on what was seemingly a loaded mask, and he gave Atlas a headbutt. After Atlas was rolled back into the ring, and Escobar delivered his new finisher. Escobar then covered Atlas for a pinfall.
Cameron Grimes vs. Dexter Lumis in a Haunted House of Terroris “to be continued”
This was like a B-level horror movie, except with no finish. At least not yet.
The van from earlier arrived at a haunted house, and a frightened Grimes climbed out. Grimes tried to act tough, he kept getting scared. Lumis was seen lurking around as Grimes wandered around the house.
Grimes approached a referee to ask about the rules. The ref spooked him, and Lumis then appeared out of nowhere. Grimes was able to escspe his clutches, and Grimes ran away.
Lumis stalked Grimes like a horror movie villian. Grimes locked himself in a bathroom, and he saw the silhouette of a naked women taking a shower. Suddenly, Grimes felt very romantic. He took off his vest and went to get into the shower with the woman. She was a zombie that jumped out at him. He fled in fear.
Grimes ran around saying he was done. He wanted out of the house when Lumis grabbed him from behind. They brawled for a bit before Grimes was able to again escape the clutches of Lumis.
Grimes grabbed a weapon from the ktichen, but he was overtaken by more zombies. He ran to the van, and he got in. Lumis was in the van, which scared Grimes. A freaked out Grimes ran away into the darkness. To be continued…
Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Gonzalez
Ripley pinned Gonzalez for the first clean finish on the show. Ripley looked strong, as did Gonzalez until she dropped the fall.
They exchanged strikes and slaps. Slugfest from the start, until Gonzalez began to stomp Ripley. Gonzalez would not leave her feet at first, even as Ripley hit her with some clotheslines. They mirrored each other several times.
Ripley eventually hit Gonzalez with a dropkick that sent her out of ther ring. Ripley followed with a wrecking ball dropkick, and then a somersault senton off the apron. Gonzalez soon countered Ripley, and she powerbombed Ripley into the chainlink fencing.
The show cut to a commercial break with Gonzalez in control. Gonzalez was applying a Gory Special as the show returned from break. Ripley fought back for a hope spot. Gonzalez cut her off for a two count.
Ripley created separation with a backdrop, and Ripley made a comeback. Ripley with a dropkick for a near fall as she fired up. She applied her inverted cloverleaf submission hold, but Ripley sold her back that was worked over earlier in the match. Ripley had to let go.
Gonzalez delivered a Tour of the Islands, and Ripley kicked out at two. They fought on the turnbuckles, and Gonzalez sent Ripley crashing to the mat with a avalanche overhead suplex. Ripley again kicked out for a near fall.
Ripley countered Gonzalez with a flying headscissors, and Ripley followed with the Rip Tide. She then covered Gonzalez for a pinfall.
Cameron Grimes was seen running down the road. He was apparently headed for the Capital Wrestling Center.
Drake Maverick was backstage dressed as Hollywood Hulk Hogan. He was flexing and such when McKenzie Mitchell approached him for an interview. Maverick began by saying “Let me tell you something Mean Gene.” Mitchell told him she was not Mean Gene. Maverick broke character, took off his sunglasses, and he asked her if she could just play along. It’s Halloween after all.
Someone entered the scene dressed as The Giant (Big Show) from WCW. He was joined by someone else dressed as The Yeti. They sandwiched Maverick to recreate the infamous finish of Halloween Havoc in 1995. Killian Dain entered through a curtain dressed as The Shockmaster. The Yeti and Giant fled.
Maverick was upset that Dain did not trip like The Shockmaster. Dain said he moved the cord. Maverick told him he was no fun, and Maverick put on the helmet Dain was wearing. Maverick then tripped and fell. That was the joke.
The Conclusion of the Haunted House of Terror
Grimes finally made his way back to the CWC. He got back into the arena, and he collapsed out of exhaustion. He fell into a makeshift graveyard. Grimes soon realized he was in a graveyard, and he freaked out. A zombie woman crawled out from a grave, and Grimes freaked out even more. Another zombie crawled out, and Grimes fled to the ring.
Lumis got into the ring to surprise Grimes, and Lumis began to pummel him. Lumis dropped Grimes with a running bulldog, and a spinebuster. The ring was surrounded in a fog of smoke.
Grimes begged off as several zombies crawled into the ring. Lumis press slammed a zombie on to Grimes, and Lumis choked out Grimes. Lumis left teh ring as the zombies crawled around a lifeless Grimes. A graphic reading “The End” flashed across the screen.
Tommaso Ciampa in a pre-tape promo said he did not recognize NXT anymore. He was upset with a culture where everyone acted as if they are owed something. People want “my turn”.
Ciampa said everybody wants to blame someone else. Glass ceilings, brass rings, and such. Ciampa said he was never handed anything. He earned it, and for a time Ciampa was NXT. He wants to take it back, and it all begins with Velveteen Dream.
Ciampa called Dream a prodigy that keeps getting in his own way. Ciampa went on to call him a “dead man”.
Announced for next week on NXT is Ciampa vs. Dream. Also set for next Wednesday is Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai.
Recording artist Poppy did a live version of Io Shirai’s entrance theme, and Poppy escorted Shirai to the ring.
Shotzi Blackheart was back for Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. She spun the wheel, and it landed on a “Tables, Ladders, and Scares.”
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Candice LeRae in a Tables, Ladders, and Scares Match to retain her title
Shirai retained in a wild match with some crazy bumps.
LeRae at the outset attacked Shirai, and LeRae then went to drag a table out from underneath the ring. There was a bag on the table. LeRae opened the bag, and she was frightened by its contents. Inside were mannequin parts that were made to look bloody. Shirai chased LeRae around ringside, and she hit her with a mannequin arm.
As Shirai was chasing her, LeRae sent Shirai crashing into a ladder with a drop toehold. Shirai reversed a whip to post LeRae. They fought on top of the announce desk, and LeRae hit Shirai with a laptop.
LeRae set up a ladder bridge between the ring and the announce desk. Shirai soon cut her off, and Shirai delivered running knees to sandwich LeRae into the ring steps. Shirai put several chairs into the ring. She created a pile of chairs, which is right out of EVIL’s playbook.
The show cut to a commercial break. Meanwhile, Shirai set up a table at ringside. That is out of Sabu’s playbook.
Shirai was getting another table when LeRae went to cut her off. Shirai fought back, and she delivered a missile dropkick in the ring. Shirai went back outside the ring to finish setting up a second table at ringside.
As the show returned from the commercial break, they were fighting to climb a ladder set up in the ring. LeRae propped a ladder in a corner. Shirai dropped her with a palm strike, and Shirai with backbreaker that placed LeRae onto a pile of chairs.
Shirai missed a moonsault, and she smashed into the pile of chairs. LeRae peppered Shirai with chair shots. Shirai reversed LeRae, and she suplexed LeRae onto an unfolded chair. That looked like very painful.
LeRae moved out of the way when Shirai came charging towards her, and Shirai crashed into the ladder propped in the corner. When LeRae went to climb the turnbuckles, Shirai tripped her up. LeRae fell over the top rope, draped in a corner.
Shirai trapped LeRae’s leg in a chair, and then she used a dragon screw with the leg still caught in the chair. LeRae sold big as she clutched her leg, but she avoided a Tiger Feint Kick. LeRae then hit Shirai in the back with a chair. LeRae off the apron with Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to sent her and Shirai crashing through the two tables set up at ringside.
The mystery person in the Scream costume came to ringside. The masked person carried LeRae up the ladder looking for her to retrieve the title belt. Shotzi Blackheart ran in to make a save. She got the person wearing the Scream costume into an electric chair (the move, not the one Abdullah the Butcher was placed in back in the day). Blackheart fell backwards, and the masked person took a bump onto the pile of chairs.
LeRae was still on top of the ladder. She finally woke up as Shirai set up another ladder next to the other. They were fighting on top of the ladder when LeRae raked Shirai’s eyes. Shirai took a bump off the ladder, but she recovered enough to tip over the other ladder. LeRae went over the ropes and crashed through the ladder bridge set up at ringside. Shirai then climbed a ladder to pull down the title belt, and Shirai won the match. That was a helluva stunt show.
WWE has made their first match announcements for NXT Halloween Havoc.
Halloween Havoc is taking place on Wednesday, October 28. Candice LeRae will challenge for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship on the episode, while LeRae’s husband Johnny Gargano will challenge Damian Priest for the NXT North American Championship. Both of those are rematches from NXT TakeOver 31. This time, those two matches are going to have stipulations that will be determined by “Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal.”
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez has also been announced for the Halloween Havoc episode.
LeRae became the number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Shotzi Blackheart on NXT tonight. LeRae got the win after using brass knuckles to strike Blackheart. The brass knuckles were given to LeRae by Indi Hartwell. An alliance between LeRae and Hartwell first started to be revealed last week, with Hartwell sending LeRae and Gargano a new TV that came with a USB drive showing all of the times Hartwell helped LeRae during a number one contender’s battle royal last month.
NXT General Manager William Regal was interviewed on tonight’s show after the LeRae vs. Blackheart match. Regal said he wasn’t happy with the finish of the match, but the referee’s decision is final. Regal said he’s thinking of upping the stakes for Shirai vs. LeRae.
Priest retained his North American title against Dexter Lumis in the main event of tonight’s NXT. After the match, Gargano attacked Priest with a steel chair. Blackheart, who will be the host of Halloween Havoc, then announced the return of “Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal” to determine the stipulations for Shirai vs. LeRae and Priest vs. Gargano.
Coal miner’s glove on a pole match, blindfold match, casket match, Chamber of Horrors, biker’s chain match, buried alive match, devil’s playground match, boiler room brawl, Shotzi’s choice, weapons wild match, trick or street fight, and TLS match were the stipulation options listed on the wheel.
Ripley vs. Gonzalez was announced for Halloween Havoc after a challenge that was issued by Gonzalez tonight. Ripley accepted the challenge and tried to brawl with Gonzalez, but they were kept apart by officials. Ripley vs. Gonzalez is being billed as a matchup of the biggest and baddest women in NXT.
Candice LeRae is the new number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship.
LeRae won a number one contender’s battle royal on NXT tonight and will challenge Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver on Sunday, October 4. LeRae last eliminated Shotzi Blackheart to win the battle royal.
LeRae, Blackheart, Dakota Kai, Kacy Catanzaro, and Indi Hartwell were the final five in the battle royal. Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez had dominated during the match until eliminating each other. Ripley and Gonzalez then started to brawl with each other outside of the ring after being eliminated.
LeRae has recently been feuding with Tegan Nox. Nox was supposed to be an entrant in the battle royal, but video aired of an angle where LeRae attacked Nox’s knee earlier today.
This will be the second one-on-one match that Shirai and LeRae have had against each other at a TakeOver event. Shirai defeated LeRae at TakeOver: Toronto 2019.
Shirai vs. LeRae is the second match to be confirmed for TakeOver. LeRae’s husband Johnny Gargano will challenge for Damian Priest’s North American Championship at the October 4 event.
NXT Champion Finn Balor’s opponent for TakeOver will also be determined on NXT tonight. Kushida, Cameron Grimes, Kyle O’Reilly, Timothy Thatcher, and Bronson Reed are facing off in a gauntlet eliminator match to determine the challenger for Balor’s title.
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 more matches involving champions have been announced for next week’s episode of NXT.
In his first defense of the title, Damian Priest will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Timothy Thatcher next week (Wednesday, September 16). NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will face Shotzi Blackheart in non-title action on the episode.
NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango defending their titles against Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) is also set for next week.
Priest became NXT North American Champion by winning a five-way ladder match for the title at TakeOver XXX last month. Thatcher then confronted Priest two weeks ago, said the way Priest acts is embarrassing, and declared that he wants the first shot at Priest’s title. Last week, Thatcher defeated Bronson Reed.
Thatcher broke down film of Priest during his Thatch-as-Thatch-can seminar on NXT tonight. Later in the episode, Priest was interviewed about next week’s match. Priest said there’s no chance he’s losing the North American title in his first defense.
Robert Stone went to destroy Blackheart’s tank on NXT tonight but got caught by Blackheart. Aliyah attacked Blackheart and accidentally knocked her into Shirai. Blackheart and Shirai teamed up to lay out Aliyah and Stone. Blackheart then picked up Shirai’s title belt. She went to give it to Shirai but pulled it away. Shirai took the title belt and told Blackheart she likes her — so don’t make Shirai hurt her.
After airing on Tuesday for two straight weeks amid the NHL playoffs, NXT will be back on Wednesdays starting next week.
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.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai has her challenger for TakeOver XXX.
Dakota Kai defeated Rhea Ripley in a number one contender’s match on tonight’s NXT and was confirmed as Shirai’s challenger for TakeOver. After interference by Mercedes Martinez, Kai hit the GTK on Ripley to get the win.
Martinez, who is the newest member of the Robert Stone Brand, continued to attack Ripley after the match and gave her an Air Raid Crash. Ripley has feuded with the Robert Stone Brand and defeated Stone & Aliyah in a handicap match at Great American Bash night one last month. The stipulation of that match was that Ripley would have to join the Robert Stone Brand if she lost.
June’s TakeOver: In Your House event was headlined by Shirai defeating Charlotte Flair and Ripley in a triple threat match to win the NXT Women’s Championship. She’s defended the title once since then, retaining against Tegan Nox on NXT three weeks ago. There was an angle after that match where Kai laid out Shirai with a kick to the face.
Shirai & Nox defeated Kai & Candice LeRae in a tag match on NXT last week after Kai forced LeRae to tag back in.
TakeOver XXX is taking place on Saturday, August 22. A five-man ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship has also been announced for the show. Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis are the first two wrestlers who have qualified for that match.
The opening match of tonight’s episode of NXT will feature Io Shirai in tag team action.
NXT general manager William Regal sent out a tweet today announcing that Shirai & Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae will open tonight’s show: “This evening’s episode of #WWENXT will feature action befitting the black and gold brand and I’m excited to announce the match that will kick off tonight’s show: @WWENXT Women’s Champion @shirai_io will team with @TeganNoxWWE_ against @CandiceLeRae and @DakotaKai_WWE!”
Shirai retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Nox in the main event of NXT two weeks ago. After that match, the show ended with an angle where Kai laid out Shirai with a kick to the face.
Video of a promo from Kai aired on NXT last week. Kai said it felt so good to kick Shirai off the perch she put herself on. Kai said she’ll be waiting for Shirai once she returns and told Shirai to bring the NXT Women’s Championship.
Here’s the full list of what’s been announced for tonight’s NXT:
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Dexter Lumis (winner qualifies for the ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship at TakeOver XXX)
NXT Champion Keith Lee responds to Karrion Kross
Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong
Mercedes Martinez vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Jake Atlas
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) in non-title action
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae
Io Shirai’s first title defense as Women’s Champion will headline tonight’s episode of NXT.
Shirai vs. Tegan Nox for the NXT Women’s Championship is set for tonight’s show. Nox became the number one contender to Shirai’s title by defeating Dakota Kai, Mia Yim, and Candice LeRae in a fatal four-way elimination match at Great American Bash night one two weeks ago.
Shirai won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House last month. She defeated Sasha Banks in a non-title match at Great American Bash night one.
Great American Bash night two saw Keith Lee become a double champion, defeating Adam Cole to win the NXT Championship and retain the NXT North American Championship. As he was celebrating after the match, it was shown that Karrion Kross and Scarlett were watching on. Lee will make an appearance tonight and address his title win.
Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes is also set for tonight. Last month, Grimes defeated Priest after attacking him in the parking lot before the show.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Keith Lee opened the show as the new double champion having won the title-for-title match over former NXT Champion Adam Cole. Lee now holds both the NXT Championship and the NXT North American title. He cut a great promo.
Lee loved the sound of his name being announced as a double champion so much that he had the ring announcer say it a second time. Lee then started talking about his journey to NXT, and he says there is something very special about what happens in the NXT ring. He feels it standing there holding the championship belts. He laid the belts on the mat. He is not is disbelief, and he was not fooled himself. He celebrated but it’s back to reality.
Lee went on to say he knows there is a locker room full of people that want the same opportunity. He understands the opportunity he was presented, and Lee acknowledged he did not do it alone. He mentioned “Killer” Tim Brooks, and called him more than a trainer. He was a father figure that believed in Lee when no one else did.
Lee looked into the camera to address the viewers as he acknowledged their role in helping him. They welcomed him with open arms. He talked about fans singing for him with all their love and passion, and they would tell the entire world to “bask in his glory.”
Lee is celebrating for Tim Brooks and the for the “WWE Universe”. Lee proceeded to call out Dominik Dijakovic, and he came to the ring. He was wearing a t-shirt in memory of Shad Gaspard.
Dijak was proud of him, and said this was Lee’s moment. Lee disagreed and said it was about them both and their feud. Dijakovic tested him limits like no one else. Lee wanted Dijakovic to be his first challenger, and he wanted the match tonight. Dijakovic was kind of balking, and Lee told him to “just say yes.” So Dijakovic said yes.
The title match is on for later tonight. Lee was tremendous in the this segment.
Damian Priest defeated Cameron Grimes
Priest pinned Grimes clean in this grudge match, and it was a pretty great.
Grimes tried jumping Priest at the bell, but Priest booted him in the face. Priest rocked Grimes with a flurry of strikes. Grimes ate some back elbows and a spinning back kick. The fight spilled to the floor, and Grimes caught him coming back into the ring. Grimes went to work on Priest as he gained an advantage.
The show abruptly cut to a picture-in-picture commercial, which was awkward. Priest made a comeback after the break as he fired up on Grimes. Priest mowed him down, until Grimes clotheslined Priest over the ropes. They fought on the floor, and Priest executed a Razor’s Edge that sent Grimes into the corner of the apron. Nevertheless, Grimes came right back with an O’Connor Roll for a two count. Priest answered in return with a flatliner for a near fall.
Grimes with more near falls like when he caught Priest in a small package for two. Grimes with a modified one-man Spanish Fly into a body press for another two count. Grimes got cocky, and that was his downfall. Priest hulked up and hit a cyclone kick followed by a draping version of The Reckoning. Priest then covered Grimes for the deciding pinfall.
Timothy Thatcher is back for another fun seminar. Today’s lesson is something he taught Oney Lorcan at The Great American Bash. That is that for very submission there is something to be learned. Thatcher then proceeded to torture a student with a Fujiwara armbar.
Indi Hartwell defeated Shotzi Blackheart
Hartwell pinned Blackheart in an upset after interference by Aliyah & Robert Stone. Blackheart was in control until Hartwell cut her off. Hartwell briefly got heat on her that netted her several two counts. Blackheart fired up into a comeback.
As she was running wild, Robert Stone limped out to ringside with a walking cast. Blackheart planted Hartwell with a DDT as Stone got on the apron to distract referee Aja Smith. When Blackheart climbed on the turnbuckles, Aliyah ran in to trip her up. Hartwell with a big boot, and then she covered Blackheart for the pinfall.
Tegan Nox in a backstage interview cut a heckuva babyface promo vowing to win the title later tonight when she challenges Io Shirai. Nox was a star here.
A vignette with El Legado Del Fantasma had them setting around a fancy table plotting to build their empire. They too looked like stars.
A hype video putting over Keith Lee was the new double champion preceded his first title match that was next. Much like the first hour of the show, the second hour also opens with a segment featuring the new top star of NXT. Lee on the top of the hour looking like a true superstar.
NXT Champion and North Amercian Champion Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic in a winner-take-all match to retain his titles
Lee pinned Dijakovic clean in the middle after another good match in their series. This was much different than their previous bouts. They wowed with psychology more so than with their high spots that have wowed in the past. Solid match that further made Lee look like a star, and making him the undisputed top star on NXT was a theme of the show.
They were all smiles at first doing a babyface match as they worked a deliberate pace. Gorilla Monsoon might have called it the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
Dijakovic almost caught Lee with his finisher, but Lee escaped for a stalemate that led into a commercial break. Dijakovic was working over Lee when the show returned from the commercial break. Lee soon powered out only for Dijakovic to club him some more. Lee blocked a suplex, and started he started to pepper Dijakovic with punches. Lee hit him with a Monty Brown pounce.
Dijakovic cut Lee off with a side slam for two. Dijakovic measured Lee for a roaring elbow, but Lee countered with a swinging flatliner (similar to the move Damian Priest did earlier) with Dijakovic draped on the middle rope. Dijakovic still managed to get his shoulder up to break the count.
Dijakovic with headbutts knocked Lee off the turnbuckles, and Dijakovic followed with a blockbuster for a near fall. A cyclone boot netted Dijakovic another two count. Dijakovic went for an attempted a flying ax handle, but Lee struck him down with double chops. Lee raised Dijakovic to the heavens with a chokelsam before slamming him down the mat. Lee then delivered the Big Bang Catastrophe to score the pinfall and retain his titles.
Lee and Dijakovic embraced after the match when the lights dimmed. Scarlett walked through a cloud of fog with a satchel. She dumped out the broken pieces of the hour glass that Lee crushed a few weeks ago. Of course this was a message from Karrion Kross, who looks to be a challenger for Lee.
Dijakovic after a commercial break was doing a post-match interview when Kross confronted him. They got face-to-face, and a brawl erupted between the two. Kross laid out Dijakovic.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Denzel Dejournette
Thatcher submitted Dejournette in a grappling clinic.
Dejournette has an extensive amateur wrestling background so he matched well with Thatcher’s style. It made for the most realistic match on the show. Lots of chain wrestling until Thatcher locked in a half crab, and Dejournette tapped out for the submission.
Not done yet, Thatcher attacked Dejournette after the bell. Oney Lorcan ran in to make a save. Thatcher bailed out of the ring and had a staredown with Lorcan. Looks like they are set for a return match.
Robert Stone was pleading his case to Killian Dain about their coffee incident on the previous episode. Stone put all the heat on Shotzi Blackheart. Aliyah ran up to Stone to show him a picture drawn by Dexter Lumis. It depicted scenes from last week at The Bash, and one scene was Stone getting his leg run over by Blackheart’s mini-tank. Dain snatched the picture away, and looked at it. Dain grapped Stone by the lapels. and he sternly told Stone to get him a match with Lumis next week. Not sure what one had to do with the other, but it at least leads to a match.
Lumis vs. Kain was made official for next week, and also officially announced for next week is Kross vs. Dijakovic.
And now for the main event [he says in a Howard Finkel voice]…
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Tegan Nox to retain her title
Shirai pinned Nox to retain the title. Nox fought valiantly, but she ultimately fell to the champion. Nox still looked strong despite losing the match, and they both worked really hard to put on a good match. Dakota Kai attacked Shirai after the match so she looks to be the next challenger.
Nox was ready to fight, and she wanted to skip the pre-match introductions. So they did just that as Nox wore a look of determination on her face. There was some chain wrestling at the outset, and they exchanged counters and reversals. That gave way to strikes as the action intensified, and they built to a highspot that saw Nox faceplant on the apron before a commercial break.
Shirai was in control when the show returned from the break. Nox soon fought back. Shirai went for a flying crossbody, but Nox caught her to counter with a fallaway slam. Nox then bridged into a cover, and Shriai kicked out.
They would trade more near falls. Shirai with a double knee strike, and it was Nox’s turn to kick out. Nox answered back with a roll-up on Shirai. An Oklahoma roll moments later by Nox for another two count.
Shirai got heat on Nox as Nox played babyface-in-peril. She fought from underneath as Shirai worked her over. They match went through another commercial break. Meanwhile, Shirai worked the leg. Shirai also applied a crossface that Nox escaped as the show was returning from the commercial break.
When the fight spilled outside the ring, Shirai sent Nox crashing into the ring steps. Shirai went to follow up with a double knee strike, but she took too much time to gloat. Nox moved, and Shirai hit the steps knees first.
Back in the ring, Shirai picked up Nox with a double underhook. Shirai turned it into a backbreaker across her knee, and Shirai went down too selling her knees from the earlier spot. That led to a double down.
They went back to trading near falls. Nox with a small package, and Shirai with a German suplex. Shirai springboarded to the top rope, but she was tripped up and tied in the tree-of-woe. Nox with a cannonball into the corner.
Nox with a series of clotheslines, followed by another cannonball. Nox flew off the top with a diving crossbody for a two count. Nox with the Lady Kane chokeslam, and Shirai again kicked out. Shirai cut her off with a German suplex.
Shirai with her finishing sequence as she delivered doubles knees in a corner, and then the Tiger Feint Kick. Shirai launched herself into the stratosphere to deliver a missile dropkick for a close near fall.
Nox targeted one of Shirai’s injured knees in a callback to earlier. Nox planted Shirai with a sit-out gourdbuster, and Nox climbed the turnbuckles. Nox off the top with the Molly Go Round for yet another near fall. That would her last chance in the match after Nox walked into a Shotei palm strike. Shirai with moonsault off the top to score the pinfall.
Dakota Kai in sneak attack jumped Shirai after the match. Kai was stood tall over Shirai as the show faded to black.
This was a strong show with a lot of great wrestling. The booking looked to establish new stars, and Keith Lee is looking like a true superstar. He is indeed limitless.
WWE has revealed when number one contender Tegan Nox is getting her shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will defend her title against Nox on next Wednesday’s episode of NXT. It will be Shirai’s first title defense since she won the championship in a triple threat match against Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at TakeOver: In Your House last month.
Nox became the number one contender to Shirai’s title by defeating Dakota Kai, Mia Yim, and Candice LeRae in a fatal four-way elimination match at night one of NXT’s Great American Bash last week. That show was headlined by Shirai defeating Sasha Banks in a non-title match.
A video hyping Shirai vs. Nox for next week aired on Great American Bash night two tonight. Nox said she’s done with the perception of just being the comeback kid and doesn’t need sympathy. She’s here to prove to everyone why she is where she is. Nox claimed she’s soon to be the NXT Women’s Champion.
Shirai said she and Nox are very similar, but Nox can’t do it on her own and needs support to lift her up. Shirai said the only one she relies on is herself and the only thing she needs is the NXT Women’s Championship.
Nox said having friends and a support system isn’t a weakness — and she pointed out that Shirai got help from Asuka last week to defeat Banks. Nox mentioned that she’s never trained harder for anything in her life and she’s faster, stronger, and shinier than she’s ever been. Shirai said she’s at the top of her game and will be waiting for Nox next week.
Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes is also set for next week’s NXT. It’s a rematch from the June 24 NXT episode, where Grimes defeated Priest after an angle where he apparently attacked Priest in the parking lot before the show.
