NXT’s Great American Bash began last night and featured NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai and Sasha Banks facing off in their first-ever singles match against each other.
Shirai defeated Banks in last night’s main event, which was non-title and featured involvement from Bayley and Asuka. After Bayley interfered, Asuka came out to the ring and spit green mist in Banks’ eyes. Banks kicked out of a pinning attempt by Shirai, but Shirai connected with a moonsault from the top rope to get the win.
Last night’s show also featured Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong in a strap match, Rhea Ripley vs. Aliyah & Robert Stone in a handicap match, Timothy Thatcher vs. Oney Lorcan, and Mia Yim vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Dakota Kai in a fatal four-way elimination match to determine Shirai’s first challenger.
Plus, a Prime Target special feature built up the winner-take-all title vs. title match between NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee for Great American Bash night two next Wednesday.
NXT’s Great American Bash kicks off tonight with a big first-time-ever singles match.
Tonight’s show will feature NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai facing Sasha Banks in a non-title match. After attacking Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley following their Women’s Tag Team title defense on NXT two weeks ago, Shirai declared that this is her NXT.
Bayley will also be in Banks’ corner tonight.
A number one contender for Shirai’s title will be decided by a fatal four-way elimination match between Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai on tonight’s show. WWE hasn’t announced when the winner will be getting their title shot.
Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong in a strap match, Rhea Ripley vs. Aliyah & Robert Stone in a handicap match, and Timothy Thatcher vs. Oney Lorcan are also set for tonight. Ripley will have to join the Robert Stone Brand if she loses.
Night two of the Great American Bash will take place next Wednesday and will feature NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee in a winner-take-all title vs. title match. WWE will finish building to that tonight.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The GAB set features two sports cars parked by the entrance ramp. One is a modern sports car, and the other is a classic. The red, white, and blue ropes are back for one night as part of them keeping with the patriotic theme.
Mountain Dew sponsored the show, and the soft drink brand was plugged throughout the show. Please drink responsibly, kids. That is a lot of sugar.
The show opened with the elimination match.
Tegan Nox won a fatal four way elimination match over Dakota Kai, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae to become number one contender
Nox won the match to become the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. The order of elimination was LeRae (pinned by Yim), Yim (pinned by Kai), and Kai (pinned by Nox to win the match).
LeRae looked strong from start. She was on fire, and she did a springboard plancha to the floor at one point among other things. There was one scary spot early on with Kai taking a bump on the apron with LeRae. LeRae got in a lot of offense before Yim and Nox briefly teamed up. Yim with a codebreaker, and then she covered to eliminate LeRae via pinfall.
Mia Yim was next to run wild. She fired up into doing two tope spots after sending the other two outside with hurricanranas. Nox tried to catch Yim with a crucifix, but Yim kicked out to escape. Yim delivered Sole Food to Nox, but Nox fell out of the ring before Yim could pin her. Kai snuck in and caught Yim with an O’Connor roll, and Kai bridged into a cover to eliminate Yim via pinfall.
Kai worked over Nox for heat. The were exchanging strikes as the planted crowd did a half-hearted “yay/boo”. Better than no crowd noise I guess. The crowd chanted “NXT” much louder a few moments later. They also beat on the plexiglass like fans would do with the tin banners at ROH shows. That was a nice touch. Almost music to my ears.
Nox fired up on Kai and showed a lot of determination. Lots of fire too. They traded some near falls. Kai showed her mean streak, and Nox never backed down. Nox went for a Shining Wizard, but Kai avoided it to catch Nox in a crucifix. Nox kicked out, but Kai transitioned into her submission finisher. Nox was able to escape, and she executed the Molly Go Round with a 360 off the top rope into press. Nox then hit the Shiniest Wizard, and she covered Kai for the deciding pinfall.
Many of the commercial breaks are picture-in-picture, but not all.
Damian Priest cut a promo on Cameron Grimes, and he challenged him for a rematch.
Sasha Banks vs. Io Shirai later on tonight will be seen commercial free.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan
Thatcher submitted Lorcan after they put on a clinic.
They grappled early on and they grappled often, and it was great. There were takedowns, leg locks, arm locks, counters, reversals, two counts, and chain wrestling. Lorcan was the first to use strikes as he hit Thatcher with chops. They went into an Irish whip spot, and Lorcan was knocked over the ropes before a commercial break.
Thatcher set up this belly-to-belly spot that was a thing of beauty for its authenticity. There was a fighting spirit exchange. Lorcan caught Thatcher in a half crab. That was notable because Thatcher talked about how painful that hold was in a skit last week.
Thatcher eventually worked his way into applying a Fujiwara armbar in the middle of the ring. Lorcan was forced to tap out, but Thatcher would not break the submission. He finally did break the hold just as his face broke out in a sadistic smile.
Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah & Robert Stone
Ripley submitted them both and was put over very strong.
Robert Stone had a ring jacket and gear like he was cosplaying as boxer Marc Mero from the Attitude Era. He also had athletic goggles like he was Horace Grant back in the day. He did an Ali shuffle, and Ripley then proceeded to beat up him.
Aliyah with a title-a-whirl headscissors helped turn the tide for a moment, but Ripley powered out on a second attempt a few moments later. Stone jumped into the ring to break up a pinning attempt, only to beg off and flee. There was a cat-and-mouse spot before Stone crashed and burned on a plancha. Ripley was distracted with Stone, allowing Aliyah to fly in and wipe out Ripley with a dive before the show cut a commercial break.
After the break both Stone & Aliyah were getting heat on Ripley. Stone was applying a Boston crab as Aliyah applied a crossface. There was more man-on-woman violence that WWE usually allows, but it was all tandem offense with Aliyah and Stone both. They gave Ripley a double suplex. That led to a spot a few seconds later where Ripley reversed a second attempted suplex. Ripley then began her comeback.
Ripley cleaned house, and she manhandled Stone. Ripley applied her standing leglock finisher on both Stone & Aliyah simultaneously for a stereo Prism Trap. The heels tapped out, and Ripley stood tall looking like a badass.
Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong in a strap match
Lumis submitted Strong to win the match. The rules were pin and submission inside the ring, instead of the touching all four corners nonsense. The pin and submission rules made for a better match.
Strong was apprehensive, and fought not to get hooked to the strap. Lumis strapped them together and Strong begged off, but there was nowhere to run. Strong bumped around and made Lumis look like a killer.
Strong was eventually able to cut off Lumis — but not for long as Strong took a big bump off the middle rope. They fight spilled outside the ring, and they fought up the ramp to the stage. Lumis opened the trunk on a car parked as part of the set. Strong started to freak out at the sight of the opened trunk, and he peppered Lumis with knees and kicks. Strong gave Lumis an Olympic slam on the floor. From there Strong took over on offense.
Strong grounded Lumis, and he dashed a hope spot. Strong taunted Lumis as he whipped him with the strap. Lumis threw a Western Lariat as he began a comeback. A running bulldog netted him a two count, and then Lumis executed a slingshot suplex. Lumis whipped Strong with the strap. Lumis went for his submission finisher, but Strong escaped to set up him giving Lumis a superplex for a near fall.
Strong hogtied Lumis with the strap, and then he applied the Stronghold. Lumis not only esacped, but was taking over on offense when Bobby Fish ran in to attack Lumis. Fish sewpt the leg of Lumis, and Strong followed with a running high kick. Lumis kicked out, and he hulked up. Fish was suplexed and knocked around by Lumis. Strong was sent colliding into Fish.
For the finish, Lumis wrapped up Strong in the strap and then spun him around with a Rainmaker/uranage combo. Lumis then applied his submission finisher The Silencer, and Strong tapped out for a mostly clean finish — although Lumis did have the strap wrapped around Strong’s throat in the process.
A “Prime Target” featurette hyped the champion vs. champion winner take all main event next week with North American Champion Keith Lee against NXT Champion Adam Cole.
Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano were being interviewed backstage when LeRae suddenly stormed away to start a brawl with Mia Yim. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott tried to break up the fight, and Gargano got in his face. They had a shoving match, which likely sets up a match soon.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar was flanked by Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde — or El Legado del Fantasma as their new stable is called — for a promo in the ring. Escobar bemoaned the state of lucha libre. It is now a sideshow act he says. El Legado del Fantasma is going to rediscover the true roots of lucha libre in their image. They are going to restore its honor, and they will leave a legacy. They are going to build a empire.
Drake Maverick wearing a neck brace suddenly interrupted the segment as he came to the ring. He rushed into the ring, and proceeded to get his butt kicked trying to get ahold of Escobar. The henchmen held Maverick so Escobar would have a free shot. Tyler Breeze & Fandango ran down for a save. Breezango cleared the ring of the henchmen, and Esobar powdered out. Fandango challenged El Legado del Fantasma to a match next week on night two of The Great American Bash. The match was made official after a commerical break.
Also announced for next week is Mia Yim vs. Canice LeRae in a street fight.
Cameron Grimes in a great promo blew off the challenge by Priest, and he instead called out either Lee or Cole — whoever wins the double championship. Grimes is the top contender and wants a title match.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Sasha Banks (with Bayley) in a non-title match
Shirai pinned Banks in a long pay-per-view caliber match. They went all out –and there were a few mishaps — but this was pretty darn great overall. The closing minutes were stellar. Bayley interfered, and Asuka made a surprise appearance to make a save as she interjected herself in the match. Asula also used green mist.
Banks arrived riding in a convertible alongside her tag team championship partner, Bayley. Also joining them on the ride was her pet corgi.
They started methodical and soon quickened the pace from there. Shirai with a missle dropkick sent Banks rolling outside, and then Shirai flew through the ropes with a high cross on the floor.
Shirai was looking for a superplex of some sort when Bayley distracted her by honking a car horn. Banks tripped up Shirai and covered her for a near fall. Banks went on to give Shirai a double knee drop for another near fall.
Banks continued to work over Shirai for awhile, until flying headscissors by Shirai caused some separation. Banks tried to cut her off, but Shirai was able to execute a Super Frankensteiner.
There was a double down, and then Shirai started to mow down Banks with tackles after they rose to their feet. Shirai with a flapjack that led into the Tiger Feint Kick. She followed with a springboard missile dropkick for a near fall.
Banks countered a double underhook, and she went to set up her submission finisher. Shirai avoided the hold, and they went into an awkward German suplex spot.
Shirai was caught in the Bank Statement, but Shirai was able to counter by cradling Banks. They traded cradles momentarily before Shirai hit Banks with a double stomp. Shirai went into her finishing sequence as she delivered double knees in a corner. Shirai climbed the ropes seemingly going for her moonsault press, but Banks tripped her up and tied her in the tree-of-woe.
Banks began to taunt Shirai with Shirai hanging helpless upside down in the corner, and Banks slapped her across the face. Banks measured her for a running knee strike — only for Shirai to dodge the move and Banks went crashing into the corner.
Shirai went for a moonsault press, but Banks rolled out of the way. Shirai ran into a kick from Banks, and Banks flew off the ropes into a meteora. Shirai kicked out at two and a half.
Banks avoided a second attempt for a Tiger Feint Kick. They were trading strikes with Banks inside the ropes and Shirai on the apron. Shirai went for a springboard, but Sasha caught her with a kick instead. Banks followed with a sunset flip through the ropes into a powerbomb where she smashed Shirai into the plexiglass.
Banks gloated at ringside with Bayley before she climbed the turnbuckles. Banks went for a frog splash, and Shirai countered to catch her in a crossface. Banks was struggling to make the ropes when Bayley tossed one of the tag team championship betls into the ring. As the referee was removing it from the ring, Bayley with an illegal cheap shot struck Shirai. That broke the submission hold.
Bayley got in a tug-of-war with the referee over the title belt. Meanwhile, Banks went to retrieve the other tag strap. As Banks went to grab the belt, Asuka suddenly appeared to stop her from using the belt. Asuka spat green mist in Banks’ face, and Shirai with a schoolgirl for a two count. Shirai dropped Banks with a palm strike, and then she wiped out Bayley with a wrecking ball dropkick. Shirai then moonsaulted back into the ring on Banks, and she covered Banks for the pinfall.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai and Sasha Banks are set to face off in their first-ever singles match against each other.
WWE has announced that a non-title match between Shirai and Banks will take place on Wednesday’s NXT. The show is the first night of NXT’s Great American Bash.
Banks & SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley retained their Women’s Tag Team titles against Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart on the June 17 episode of NXT. After the match, Shirai attacked both Banks and Bayley and said this is her NXT.
After Shirai accepted the challenge, NXT general manager William Regal tweeted that the match is official: “It seems the past and the present are in conflict once again and the #WWENXT Universe will have the pleasure of seeing it happen. It is OFFICIAL. This Wednesday, on night 1 of #NXTGAB, it’ll be #NXTWomensChampion @shirai_io vs. @SashaBanksWWE in a non-title match! #WeAreNXT”
Shirai became NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House earlier this month.
The Great American Bash will begin on Wednesday’s NXT and then conclude the following week. It’s going against both nights of AEW’s Fyter Fest.
Here’s what’s been announced for the Great American Bash thus far:
Night one (July 1) —
Non-title match: NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks
Number one contender’s fatal four-way match: Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim
Strap match: Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong
Two-on-one handicap match: Aliyah & Robert Stone vs. Rhea Ripley (Ripley must join the Robert Stone Brand if she loses)
Night two (July 8) —
Winner-take-all title vs. title match: NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee
In the main event of TakeOver: In Your House tonight, Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match to win the NXT Women’s Championship. Charlotte had Ripley locked in the Figure Eight at the end of the match, but Shirai hit a moonsault from the top rope on Ripley and pinned Ripley to win the title.
Charlotte had been NXT Women’s Champion since winning the title from Ripley at WrestleMania 36.
This is the first title that Shirai has held in WWE.
Shirai previously challenged Charlotte for the title on an episode of NXT last month. Charlotte got disqualified in that match for using a kendo stick. Ripley then made her return to NXT television, starting the three-way feud that led to tonight’s title match.
Ripley hit an avalanche Riptide on Charlotte during the match tonight, but Shirai broke up the pin. Ripley put Shirai in the Prism Trap, but Charlotte then used a kendo stick.
This was the second time that a women’s match has main evented an NXT TakeOver event. The only other women’s match to headline a TakeOver was Bayley and Sasha Banks’ 30-minute iron man match at TakeOver: Respect in 2015.
For the first time in more than 20 years, In Your House makes its return tonight in the form of an NXT TakeOver special.
Three title matches are set for the show. The NXT Championship will be up for grabs as Adam Cole puts his title on the line against Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl. If Dream loses, he can’t challenge for the NXT title again as long as Cole is champion.
The NXT Women’s Championship will be on the line in a triple threat match between Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Io Shirai. Charlotte has been champion since winning the title from Ripley at WrestleMania 36.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee is also defending his title against Johnny Gargano. On NXT last week, Candice LeRae & Gargano defeated Mia Yim & Lee after Gargano stabbed Lee in the eye with his car keys.
Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) will make his TakeOver debut against Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor is taking on Damian Priest, and Yim, Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart will face LeRae, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez in a six-woman tag match.
The event starts at 7 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a 30-minute pre-show prior to that.
**********
NXT TakeOver: In Your House pre-show:
Former WWE announcer Todd Pettengil appeared the pre-show. He hosted many of the original In Your House pay-per-views in the mid-’90s.
Scott Stanford, Sam Roberts and Pat McAffee hyped up the show early on. McAffee was off-set, sitting at his own desk.
Before they started, Sam Roberts explained that right now is the “golden era” for NXT and then compared the current scene to the idea of social darwinism. Yikes. Not the best term to use on television around these days.
The announce team continued running down tonight’s card. They showed a short clip of Tomasso Ciampa walking outside the venue.
Pat McAffee talked about the Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano match later on. He Gargano a scumbag and made fun of his clothes and his recent heel-ish behavior of late.
A promo montage aired for Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. They aired clips from the angle lead-up and included the segment where commissioner William Regal explained the stipulations to Cole over Skype. Dream vowed to capture the belt in tonight’s Backlot Brawl.
Sam Roberts said that Bret Hart vs. Hakushi from the first In Your House was his all-time favorite match of the series.
A promo montage aired for Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. They aired clips from the angle lead-up and included the segment where commissioner William Regal explained the stipulations to Cole over Skype. Dream vowed to capture the belt in tonight’s Backlot Brawl.
Sam Roberts said that Bret Hart vs. Hakushi from the first In Your House was his all-time favorite match of the series.
A package of Johnny Gargano and Candace LeRae aired next, followed up with more clips from NXT TV forwarding the current angle between Gargano and Keith Lee, or Gargano/LeRae vs. Lee/Mia Yim.
Stanford explained how Lee was still angry over Gargano using his car keys on Lee’s eyes. Roberts explained that this would be the first time we’ve seen Garagno “like this,” as a heel, and that his recent mean-streak would help him beat Lee tonight. Announcers then went over the women’s trios match of LeRae’s team vs. Mia Yim’s team.
A package for Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest was next. “Attack the guy, get the push,” Balor explained. Roberts said that this might the “low-key most important match tonight.”
The final montage on the pre-show focused on Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s title tonight. In the voiceover narration, it was explained to the audience that this was a “battle for valor.”
NXT TakeOver: In Your House
Todd Pettengil reappeared. He did the voiceovers for tonight’s show and sounds exactly the same. I feel like I’m watching an episode of WWF Mania.
Code Orange performed next.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House
*****
Six-woman tag team match: Mia Yim, Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox defeated Candace LeRae, Dakota Kai, & Raquel Gonzalez
The venue was designed to look like an In Your House event in the ‘90s. It worked in a setting like this.
There was a “this is awesome’ chant before the match by staff behind the plexiglas in the crowd. Forcing chants here isn’t necessary.
Yim and LeRae were the first in, though LeRae tagged out before the two even touched. Reina Gonzalez was in next.
Nox and Kai were really good together in this. Kai clearly relishes the heel role she’s in these days.
Shotzi Blackheart did a dive to the floor but Gonzalez caught and ragdoll’d her. Yim followed up with a dive, then LeRae did a springboard plancha. Nox did a somersault senton from the top onto all wrestlers.
Employees in the crowd chanted “N-X-T!” once this part of the match wrapped.
Kai, and later Gonzalez, worked over Blackheart back in the ring.
Blackheart finally tagged out to Yim after taking a beating for a few minutes. Yim pinned LeRae with a bridging dragon suplex for two. LeRae responded with a release German suplex and the two were out for a few moments.
After Gonzalez used a falling power bomb on Nox, LeRae and Yim ended up brawling on the floor and into the backstage area. This allowed Blackheart and Nox to take out Gonzalez; Nox then pinned Kai clean with the Shiniest Wizard running knee-strike.
Finn Balor defeated Damian Priest
Balor jumped Priest before the bell and landed a shotgun dropkick that sent Priest to the floor. The bell rang soon after, and Priest was able to shift the momentum early. Early on, he started throwing the steel steps around ringside, as though he had a plan for them. He sidewalk-slammed Balor onto the apron from one of those steps next. Balor going above and beyond for Priest in this match.
Priest taunted Balor while he used a half-nelson facelock on him. Balor countered out of it with a jawbreaker. He landed a perfect flying forearm next, then brought the match back out to the floor. Balor went nuts with stomps on Priest, who was prone against the crowd barricade.
Priest used a gigantic Broken Arrow (aka Falcon Arrow) on Balor. Balor rallied back with a standing double stomp and the two were both out.
Priest did a box jump onto the apron towards the end of this. He then grabbed Balor and did a Razor’s Edge onto the edge of the apron.
Balor made another comeback late and took Priest out with a Slingblade. Priest countered with a few high roundhouse kicks. Balor came back at Priest with another shotgun dropkick, but when he went for the Coup de Grace off the top, Priest grabbed him by the throat, climbed to the ropes, then did a huge flying sit-out chokeslam … for two.
The employees chanted a lot while both sold for a minute after the nearfall. The final spot saw Priest try using another Razor’s Edge on Balor, this time to the floor on the aforementioned steel steps, but Balor escaped and kicked him, which knocked Priest to the floor. I think the idea here was for Priest to land flat onto the steel step, but because it was in a horizontal position, Priest landed on the middle and lower part of his back. It made a loud thud when he hit the steel and it looked rough, more like something you’d see on MTV Jackass.
Balor took care of Priest back in the ring, and finally put him away with the Coup de Grace diving double-stomp for the win. Balor stared Priest down after the match.
NXT U.S. Championship match: Keith Lee (c) vs. Johnny Garganno
Before Gargano got to the ring, we saw him inside the In Your House set, designed like the interior of an actual house. There was a framed picture of Dok Hendrix hanging inside the place, which Gargano shot a thumbs-up gesture to before heading to the ring.
The backside of Keith Lee’s tights read “BLACK LIVES MATTER” in pink and black letters.
Keith Lee threw some high roundhouse kicks early on in the match but missed. Since Gargano couldn’t get an early advantage on Lee, he rolled to the floor. Lee went after him, which is where Gargano got a few sneaky licks in. When he tried kicking Lee’s head off but missed, he kicked the steel steps. Him and Lee then had a funny staredown, Gargano in the role of chickensh*t heel.
Gargano ran away and tried going back into the house, which was apparently locked. Lee krept up on him and we saw the scene from the “security cam” point of view, in black and white, as if we were also inside the house. Cool idea here.
Garganno did a great job making Lee feel invincible. He chipped away at Lee back in the ring by climbing on top of him in the corner and laying in punches, then tried wearing Lee down to the mat with a cobra clutch.
When Gargano went for a slingshot spear, Lee stepped to the side and dropped a knee on Gargano in response.
The two lots traded forearms next. Lee went for a pop-up power bomb, but Gargano held on and turned the hold into an armbar. Lee used a Rampage Bomb to break the hold. He took Gargano’s head off with a standing lariat for a close two.
Lee went for Bg Bang Catasrophe but Gargano countered it into a sunset flip pin. Lee landed what Tom Phillips called a “one-armed spinebuster” which is also known as a chokeslam.
Gargano finally spiked Lee headfirst on the floor with a flying tornado DDT, but he had trouble getting Lee back into the ring because he was too big, so Gargano rolled back into the ring and broke the count, which the ref scolded him for.
Gargano went back to the floor to get Lee back into the ring, but Lee was back up. He used a pounce that sent Gargano flying through the plexiglass near the audience area.
Candace LeRae came out to distract Lee, but Mia Yim followed her out. When those two started fighting, Gargano gouged Lee’s eyes again with keys. Two-count. Before Lee could get up, Gargano superkicked Lee in the head. Two-count.
After landing a Spirit Bomb, then a power bomb into Big Bang Catasrophe for the emphatic win.
Backlot Brawl for the NXT championship: Adam Cole (c) defeated Velveteen Dream
Adam Cole came to the match in a giant truck with a slick Undisputed Era design painted on the sides. He cut a short promo on top of the truck until Velveteen Dream rolled up in a yellow Lamborghini. He dressed like Negan from The Walking Dead and carried with him a baseball bat not unlike Negan’s “Lucille.” Dream also had a picture of Hulk Hogan airbrushed on his jacket.
This was a part wrestling, cinematch. HD cameras were in use. It looked kind of cool, honestly.
The black NXT ring was in the center of a circle of parked cars. Each of the car’s lights were turned on, lighting up the ring. There were also spotlights shining down from the “neighborhood” set they filmed on. It’s an interesting arrangement, much better seen than read about.
Cole went to smash Dream with his belt before the match, but Dream rolled him up for two.
Cole then shouted “I’m leaving!” and rolled out of the ring with his belt and into a car. Dream started hitting the car with his bat until Cole got out.
The two were brawling in the lot when an SUV rolled into the scene.
“Did anyone order an Uber?” A female voice came from inside the vehicle. Dream tried throwing Cole into the Uber, but they ended up on the ground soon. Uber was gone after this.
The two walked and brawled around the set until Cole escaped from the lot. Dream shouted “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” like he was in Cape Fear.
Cole doused Dream with a fire extinguisher when he jumped out from behind a door. He was hiding. Cole yelled at Dream and called him stupid.
Dream rallied back and landed a double ax-handle off the apron to the ground. We could see a lot of extra production staff around ringside trying to keep things lit.
Dream brought out a ladder planned on jumping off it until the rest of Undisputed Era showed up in a sedan. They honked their horn then went after Dream, who was still on the ladder. Then, Cole’s three teammates started tossing him folding chairs to use on Dream.
“Tortured Artist” Dexter Loomis then appeared from nowhere and took care UE, scaring them to the back after pounding on them for a bit.
Cole’s arm was scarred, bleeding and filled with glass by the end of this. When he went for the Panama Sunrise back in the ring, Dream countered it into the Dream Driver.
Next, Dream landed the Purple Rainmaker flying elbowdrop onto Cole, who was sitting on a chair. Two-count.
Cole landed a low blow on Dream while Dream trash-talked him, then used the Panama Sunrise onto a pile of steel chairs for the win. Cars honked their horns, then Cole celebrated on top of his Undisputed Era truck. “Nobody can beat me for this! Nobody!” It wasn’t perfect, but it felt fresh, if anything.
Todd Pettengil spoofed his old 1-900-WWE-SHOP segments from back in the day; it was actually an ad for WWE Shop online. DX then appeared and pretended like they didn’t know how to use a computer, joking around that they’re old. It was hokey but so were the original events. It was clever.
Ciampa landed elbows early on, but Kross no-sold them, then landed a hard standing front kick into Ciampa’s face in the corner. Kross then launched him from the corner with a uranage-stype suplex.
On the floor, Kross picked Ciampa up with two hands and slammed him back-first against the apron. Kross tossed Ciampa twice more with his overheard arm-clutch suplex, then washed Ciampa’s face with his knee in the corner. Mauro Ranallo made a UWFi in reference to Kross’ style.
Ciampa tried chopping his way out of harm’s way, and after a bit of effort, he was able to plant a running knee into Kross’ face, then tried pinning him after a draping DDT for two.
Kross returned Ciampa’s attack, first spinning him into the air with an inverted F-5, then forced Ciampa to pass out in the Kross Jacket, a modified neck crank submission. The referee called for the bell once Ciampa was out.
“Karrion Kross just routed Tomasso Ciampa!” Great call from Tom Phillips after the match.
This was probably the best match on of the night, or at least the most effective, and Kross truly came across like a monster. IMPACT really should have let him use more of his shoot-style offense, because in 2020, that’s the kind of stuff that will help guys get over inside the ring, not just the size.
Io Shirai defeated Charlotte Flair (c) and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat match to become NXT Women’s champion
Flair rolled to the floor and insisted that Shirai and Ripley start the match off. Ripley went after Flair on the floor, so Shirai went after Ripley. From here, the match was underway.
Flair took over early on, chopping both her opponents and talking trash at them until they both fought out. No alliance here, though, as Shirai and Ripley went right back after each other.
Ripley went for a somersault senton off the apron but missed when Flair side-stepped out of the way. Flair then smashed Ripley into the barricades ringside.
Shirai shot back with a frankensteiner off the apron to the floor on Flair.
Flair had a Boston crab on Shirai for a while. Ripley finally returned to the match and took out Flair. Shirai landed a 619 to Flair next; Ripley had been knocked to the floor again.
Flair took Ripley and Shirai out with a double spear for two separate two-counts. She then went for a double moonsault but took too long: Ripey moved and Shirai got her knees up while Flair was on her way down.
The three then exchanged high spots and submissions. Shirai landed a big springboard dropkick on Ripley, then landed the Bullet Train knees attack. As Shirai celebrated, Flair caught her with Natural Selection, then locked Shirai into the figure eight until Ripley dragged Flair to the floor.
Shirai then landed an absolutely perfect plancha onto Ripley.
Flair took Shirai and threw her into the event monitors on set. Ripley smashed a plant on Flair.
Shirai then did a goregeous-looking cross body block from the top of the In Your House doorway. She got great hangtime.
Shirai tried a top-rope Frankensteiner but Ripley blocked it; Flair then ran over and booted Ripley in the face. Ripley fought back and landed the Riptide to Flair from off the ropes. Shirai broke up the close two-count.
Ripley caught Shirai in the Prism Lock, but Flair broke it up when she brought a kendo stick into the ring and whacked both Ripley and Shirai with it. She then put Ripley into the Figure Eight leglock, but before Ripley could tap, Shirai landed a moonsault off the top onto Ripley and pinned her. Since Flair was still entangled inside the Figure Eight, she couldn’t break the pinfall attempt. Shirai “didn’t quite get all of it” with regard to that final moonsault, but it’s negligible, as much of this match was really good.
Final thoughts:
No show today will come close to perfect due to world’s condition right now; real fans aren’t even allowed to attend yet.
But if you’ve been jonesing for a solid night of modern wrestling, this was a pretty much a success.
It wasn’t the greatest night of pro wrestling ever, but it did the trick. And there weren’t any bad matches, which is still par for the course for TakeOver shows.
I imagine the most-talked about match might be the Backlot Brawl. As mentioned earlier, it wasn’t a perfect match, but it felt and looked fresh, which is what every company needs right now the plan is to continue running empty venues. The match itself wasn’t great, but was creative enough to keep me distracted from Dream’s wrestling.
The main event triple threat was really good, but of course would have been that much better with a crowd. Flair was outstanding in this. Shirai was perfect aside from the weird landing on the moonsault finish. Ripley felt like a natural in this, which is impressive since three-way matches never feel smooth. It was well put-together.
Overall, it was a solid supercard from the NXT crew, with Io Shirai’s title win as the only real surprise of the night.
Before their NXT Women’s Championship match at TakeOver: In Your House, Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai will face off with Charlotte Flair in a tag team match.
Ripley & Shirai vs. Charlotte and a partner of her choosing has been announced for Wednesday’s episode of NXT. Charlotte will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Ripley and Shirai in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 7.
The tag match was set up by Ripley and Shirai both tweeting that they don’t want to wait until TakeOver to get their hands on Charlotte. NXT general manager William Regal then tweeted today: “I understand the desire for competition…so ahead of the #NXTWomensChampionship match at #NXTTakeOver, @shirai_io and @RheaRipley_WWE will team up against @MsCharlotteWWE and a partner of her choosing THIS WEEK on @WWENXT”
Ripley and Shirai faced off in the main event of NXT this week, but Charlotte interrupted the match and laid both of them out.
Here’s the updated lineup for Wednesday’s NXT episode:
Cage fight: Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher (Kurt Angle will be the special guest referee)
Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai vs. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and a partner of her choosing
Triple threat match: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas (the winner advances to the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals from Group A)
NXT Champion Adam Cole and William Regal will have a “live negotiation”
The NXT Women’s Championship will officially be on the line in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House.
WWE announced via TVGuide.com today that Charlotte Flair will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai in a triple threat match at the Sunday, June 7 TakeOver special. The announcement comes after Charlotte interrupted Ripley vs. Shirai in the main event of NXT this week and laid both of them out.
Her match against Shirai on NXT this Wednesday was this first time Ripley has wrestled since losing the NXT Women’s Championship to Charlotte at WrestleMania 36. WWE has been building to the triple threat match since Ripley made her return to NXT television after Charlotte got disqualified in a title defense against Shirai on the May 6 episode of NXT.
“Having the opportunity to be in the ring with two of the brightest stars, in my opinion, who have just started their future… I’m really excited to be a part of it,” Charlotte told TV Guide.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross is the only other match that’s been officially announced for NXT TakeOver: In Your House so far. Damian Priest cut a promo challenging Finn Balor to a match at the special on NXT this week, and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee also issued a challenge to Johnny Gargano.
On tonight’s SmackDown, Charlotte will face SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a non-title champion vs. champion match.
Two top contenders in the NXT women’s division are facing off tonight.
In her first match since losing the NXT Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36, Rhea Ripley will face Io Shirai tonight. The winner will likely be in line for a shot at Charlotte Flair’s NXT Women’s Championship.
Charlotte got disqualified for using a kendo stick while defending her title against Shirai two weeks ago. Ripley then returned and attacked Charlotte, but she also got into an argument with Shirai.
Group action in NXT’s interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament will conclude with Kushida (2-0) vs. Drake Maverick (1-1) and Akira Tozawa (2-0) vs. El Hijo del Fantasma (1-1) airing tonight. Kushida, Tozawa, and Fantasma can all advance to the finals with a win. If Maverick wins, Kushida, Maverick, and Jake Atlas will be tied in Group A.
Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis is also set for tonight. Last week, all four members of the Undisputed Era agreed that Strong would be the one to take care of their issues with Lumis.
Plus, Karrion Kross will be in action to kick off the show.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show began with a cold open that went right into the wickedly cool entrance of Karrion Kross & Scarlett. The new name for their pairing is Fall & Pray.
Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) defeated a guy named “Liam”
The enhancement talent didn’t even get a proper introduction, and then he was slaughtered and submitted. “Liam” was written on his tights so I guess that is his name.
Kross with series of suplexes like Taz back in ECW. Kross was ruthless in this very short match. He applied the Kross Jacket and Liam tapped out.
Tommaso Ciampa entered stage left to confront Kross. He was there to address Kross attacking him in a skit from several weeks ago. Ciampa also announced that he will meet Kross at TakeOver: In Your House.
Ciampa understands why Kross attacked a main attraction. He wanted to get attention and be special. Ciampa put him over as special by listing some of his many attributes in a condescending manner. Ciampa went to get into the ring, and Scarlett held the ropes open for him. He cautiously got in the ring to face off with Kross.
At this point Ciampa informed Kross they would meet at TakeOver. Ciampa said that was special. “Welcome to the main event,” Ciampa said slowly before he sauntered out of the ring.
El Hijo del Fantasma defeated Akira Tozawa in an Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament match
Fantasma pinned Tozawa after a really good television match, and Fantasma advances to the finals from Group B.
They started the match with grappling in a knuckle lock. The grappling continued with some slick sequences. They traded chops and built to Tozawa doing a flying hurricanrana off the apron. He followed with a somersault senton off the apron before a commercial break.
Fantasma began to fight back after the break. He splashed Tozawa on the apron, and he looked to gain an advantage. Tozawa cut him off with a German suplex, and he went to climb the turnbuckles. Fantasma tripped up Tozawa, but Tozawa springboarded onto the top rope — only to be lifted in a fireman’s carry and dropped on the turnbuckle by Fantasma.
Tozawa sold big, but he caught Fantasma with a bulldog. Tozawa then leapt off the top with senton bomb. Fantasma rolled out of the ring to avoid a pin, and then he kicked out of another.
Fantasma sent Tozawa over the ropes with a dropkick, and then Fantasma torpedoed into a dive through the ropes. It was the kind of fantastic tope he was known for before he signed with WWE.
Fantasma rolled Tozawa into the ring to finish the match. Tozawa used an octopus trying to block the Phantom Driver for a moment, but Fantasma muscled him into his finisher and covered him for the pinfall.
Fantasma with the win advances to the tournament finals. He finished with a 2-1 record in the tourney.
Timothy Thatcher cut a promo on Matt Riddle. Thatcher said last week he left the “Matt Riddle circus”. He added that he enjoyed ripping and wrenching at Riddle’s legs. No fluke pins next time as Thatcher challenged Riddle to a match that can only end via knockout or submission.
A vignette profiled Shotzi Blackheart. She was on a tank and she explained that some people drives cars or take Uber, but she likes tanks. This particular tank was named “Dirty Blomb”. She is like a tank because she said tanks “don’t give a s***”. She added that tanks are “bad to the bone” and indestructible. They make their own path
Blackheart was raised by her dad, who she called a “motorcycle riding bad ass” that introduced her to rock ‘n’ roll music. That led her to punk rock, and she joined a band. She likened punk rock to pro wrestling.
She showed what she was going to do with the NXT women’s division by driving a tank over a bunch of cars. This was a great segment.
Mia Yim defeated Santana Garrett
Yim pinned Garrett in a short match after using Protect Ya Neck. Candice LeRae & Johnny Gargano confronted Yim in an angle after the match that set ups a mixed tag match with Keith Lee.
Garrett heeled on Yim to gain an early advantage. She did a handspring back elbow into a corner, and floated over on a suplex to get a two count. Yim cut her to deliver a Dragon Suplex.
Yim hit her with a series of kicks to set up the Protect Ya Neck, and Yim covered her for the pinfall.
LeRae & Gargano came out after the match cutting a promo on Yim. They went to surround Yim, but Yim knocked Gargano off the apron. Yim brawled with LeRae until Gargano low-bridged a the middle rope, and Yim tumbled to the floor.
Keith Lee ran down to make a save, and LeRae & Gargano fled the scene.
Cameron Grimes from the great outdors cut a promo on Finn Balor. Grimes put over himself for beating Balor last week on NXT (without mentioning the interference by Damian Priest). He said it was “Grimes’ time!”
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Drake Maverick. He said he’d heard of all of the cliques and underdog stereotypes. He was tried of feeling sorry for himself. Tonight he is facing one of the best of the juniors, and he has to do one thing only — and that is win.
Roderick Strong defeated Dexter Lumis
Strong pinned Lumis out of nowhere in a match where Lumis no-sold much of the way. Lumis got his heat back after the match, and Velveteen Dream ran in after the match to attack Adam Cole.
Instead of an entracne down the ramp, Lumis crawled out from underneath the ring. This Dexter Lumis gimmick is no buys. He no sold like Nailz, but with less charisma.
NXT Champion Adam Cole & Bobby Fish accompanied Strong to the ring, but they left before the match started. They would return afterwards.
They were grappling at the start, and Lumis was getting the better of him. Strong took a powder as Lumis stalked him.
Strong fired up on Lumis, but to no avail as Lumis no sold. Lumis executed a running bulldog, and Strong bailed out of the ring. Lumis gave chase and fell into Strong’s trap. Strong dropped Lumis on the apron with a backbreaker before a commercial break.
Strong was in control when the show returned from break. Strong had Lumis grounded. Lumis no sold like he was Undertaker. They traded strikes and Lumis dropped Strong.
Strong came back with an Olympic Slam for a two count. Lumis no sold. Strong went for the Boston crab, but Lumis kicked free.
Lumis countered a second attempt at an Olypmic Slam, and he caught Strong with a Thesz Press. Lumis was a house of fire. He did a slingshot suplex, but Strong kicked out at two.
Strong with a series of strikes and kicks took Lumis to his knees, but he kept no-selling strikes. He asked for more. Lumis then caught Strong with a spinebuster.
Strong went for the Stronghold, and Lumis tried to kick free again. This time Strong hooked the legs and cradled Lumis for the pinfall.
Lumis choked out Strong at ringside after the match. Cole and Fish ran down to attack Lumis. Velveteen Dream ran down to jump Undisputed Era. He laid out Cole and then Dream leapt off the top turnbuckle with a flying elbow drop on the floor. There appeared to be an edit with a camera cut so they did the stunt safely.
Akira Tozawa was walking through the parking lot when Fantasma drove up to him in an SUV. Fantasma got to out to shake Tozawa’s hand. It could have been a set-up as a SUV roared into the scene and two masked men got out to attack Tozawa. They sped away from Fantasma came to Tozawa’s aid.
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeated Ever Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
Lorcan & Burch won quickly in a short match. They were intense like the Steiners. Lorcan hooked in a half crab for the submission as Burch applied a crossface.
Matt Riddle cut a promo on Timothy Thatcher where Riddle accepted the challenge issued by Thatcher. He named the place and said they could meet in a cage.
Drake Maverick defeated Kushida in an Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship match
Maverick pinned Kushida when he rolled him up to counter the Hoverboard Lock. Maverick’s win created a three-way tie for first place in Group A.
It began very back-and-forth until Kushida nailed Maverick with a basement dropkick to an arm. Maverick tried to fight back, but Kushida hit him with a handspring back elbow. Kushida grounded Maverick and targeted an arm.
Jake Atlas came down to ringside where watched the match intently. Kushida continued to work the arm, and he cartwheeled into a dropkick for a commercial break.
They were trading strikes as the show returned from the break. Maverick made a comeback, and he jumped off the top with a missile dropkick. Maverick followed with a Code Red for a near fall.
Kushida targeted the arm, and Maverick ran into a punch and a palm strike. Kushida went back to work on the arm. Maverick was thrown out of the ring, but he beat the count.
Maverick tried to fight, but Kushdia kept picking him apart. Maverick was really selling the arm, but he wouldn’t quit when the referee asked him. Kushida wrenched on the arm, and Maverick screamed in pain until he got a rope break.
Kushida was perched on the turnbuckles. Maverick went for a flying bulldog, but Kushida transitioned into a Hoverboard Lock upon impact. Maverick countered by rolling up Kushida in a cradle for the pinfall.
Maverick is now tied for first in the tournament with Kushida and Atlas. That sets up a triple threat match next week, and the winner of that match advances to the finals.
Byron Saxton after the match came out to announce the match on behalf of William Regal. That made the triple threat match official.
Also made official for next week is Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher in a cage fight.
Damian Priest cut a promo on Finn Balor, and Priest said he had a match with Balor at TakeOver. Ciampa vs. Kross was another match officially announced for TakeOver.
Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley went to a no contest
Charlotte Flair ran to to attack both Shirai and Ripley, so the match was thrown out. It was good while it lasted.
Ripley overpowered Shirai at the outset. Shirai raked Ripley’s back, which only to anger Ripley. She nailed Shirai with a series of short-arm clotheslines and a ripcord dropkick.
Ripley toyed with Shirai, but Shirai countered and delivered a double stomp to change the momentum before a commercial break.
They were running through some good sequences as the show resumed. Shriai applied a crossface, but Ripley escaped by ramming Shirai into a corner.
They did a superplex spot that netted Ripley a two count when Shirai kicked out. Moments later Shirai again applied a crossface, but Ripley got a rope break.
Shirai with a Tiger Feint Kick that she followed with a tope through the ropes. As Shirai and Ripley were down selling, NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair’s theme music blared to signal her arrival.
Shriai and Ripley continued to fight as Flair looked on. Shirai with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors sent Ripley crashing into Flair at ringside. Shirai rolled Ripley back into the ring, and she charged into corner with a running knee strike.
Shirai used a DDT for a near fall. At that moment Flair rushed into the ring to attack Shirai with a high kick. Flair then speared Ripley. Flair stood tall as the show closed.
Surely this leads to a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s Championship, presumably at TakeOver: In Your House.
The former NXT women’s champion is returning to action next Wednesday as she looks to make a statement and a step toward getting another shot at the title.
Rhea Ripley wll face Io Shirai in the former’s first match since losing the title to Charlotte Flair at last month’s WrestleMania. She returned on last week’s show after the Flair-Shirai title match, saving Shirai when Flair was attacking her leg after she was already disqualified. However, Shirai didn’t take kindly to Ripley’s presence and the two got into a pull apart backstage, setting up next week’s match.
In other action:
While not formally announced, it was mentioned during an Undisputed Era segment and hinted on Kyle O’Reilly’s Twitter that Roderick Strong will face Dexter Lumis. Lumis made his presence felt during last week’s Adam Cole-Velveteen Dream NXT title match as he prevented Strong and Bobby Fish from interfering on Cole’s behalf.
The interim NXT Cruiserweight title tourney will roll on with two matches as Kushida will look to stay unbeaten (2-0) in Group A action against Drake Maverick (1-1) while El Hijo del Fantasma (1-1) will face the also unbeaten Akira Tozawa (2-0) in a Group B match. Isaiah Scott was eliminated from contention Wednesday as he fell in defeat to the also eliminated Jack Gallagher in a Group B match.
For the first time since losing the NXT Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36, Rhea Ripley was back on WWE television tonight.
Ripley made her return after Charlotte Flair’s title match against Io Shirai on tonight’s episode of NXT. Charlotte got disqualified for hitting Shirai with a kendo stick. There was then a post-match angle where Charlotte attacked Shirai’s leg, but Ripley returned and attacked Charlotte until Charlotte bailed.
Shirai yelled at Ripley after that, with Ripley responding by telling her to shut up.
Ripley then did an interview outside of the building where she said she’s sick and tired of Charlotte. Ripley said Charlotte defeated her at WrestleMania, but that was just one night and she’d like to see Charlotte try to do it again. Ripley called the NXT Women’s title her championship. Shirai then came up to Ripley and they started arguing. They shoved each other and began brawling until being separated by officials.
Before losing the title to Charlotte at WrestleMania 36, Ripley had been NXT Women’s Champion since defeating Shayna Baszler in December.
Shirai had won a six-woman ladder match last month to become the number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship.
Two titles will be on the line on tonight’s loaded up episode of NXT.
In a match that was originally being built to for TakeOver: Tampa, Adam Cole will defend his NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream. The NXT Women’s Championship will also be up for grabs as Charlotte Flair defends against Io Shirai.
Charlotte became the NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36. Shirai was confirmed as her first challenger by winning a six-woman number one contender’s ladder match on NXT last month.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett are set to officially arrive on NXT tonight. WWE has confirmed that Kross will be making his NXT in-ring debut on the show, but his opponent has yet to be revealed.
After a challenge that was issued by Dominik Dijakovic last week, Johnny Gargano and Dijakovic will face off on tonight’s show. Plus, Finn Balor will make an appearance and call out the person who attacked him in the locker room two weeks ago.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Tom Phillips opened the show welcoming viewers to the show. He was in the arena while Mauro Ranallo and Beth Phoenix were doing commentary remotely for the second week in a row. All three announcers were calling the show.
Johnny Gargano defeated Dominik Dijakovic
Gargano pinned Dijakovic with the help of an exposed turnbuckle. He played smarmy heel, and his wife came to ringside during the match to help cause a distraction.
Dijakovic overpowered Dijakovic at the outset. He was ragdolled Gargano throughout the match. Gargano at one point playe possum when he began selling his knee. It was a red herring as he then targeted the knee of Dijakovic.
Gargano’s wife — Candice LeRae — came to ringside. Her presence distracted Dijakobvic, allowing Gargano to shove him over the ropes to the floor. Gargano followed with a tope suicida before the first commercial break on the show.
Gargano was applying a sleeper when the show returned from the break. Dijakovic soon escaped to make a comeback. He mowed down Gargano with a cyclone kick for a two count.
LeRae interefed at one point, and her husband countered a slam into a schooboy. Gargano held the trunks, but Dijakovic still kicked out.
LeRae distracted the referee so Gargano could attempt to take a pad off of a turnbuckle. Gargano walked into a guzzle, and Dijakovic with a sit-out chokeslam for a near fall.
After a slight botch into a back flip, Dijakovic leveled Garganow with a superkick.
Gargano escaped Feast Your Eyes, and he used a hurricanrana to send Dijakvoic into the exposed turnbuckle. Gargano then executed his slingshot DDT — now called “One Final Beat” — and he covered Dijakovic for a three count.
Imperium stablemates Fabian Aichner & Marthel Barthel cut a promo explaining why last week they attacked Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher. Imperium then formally challenged the NXT Tag Team Champions to a title match.
Akira Tozawa defeated Jack Gallagher in an Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament match
Tozawa pinned Gallagher in a rather short match compared to other matches in the tournament so far. Tozawa improves to a 2-0 record in the tourney, and Gallagher drops to 0-2 in Group B.
The fight spilled outside the ring where Tozawa countered Gallagher to give him a DDT on the apron. Tozawa captialized with a senton bomb off the top to score the pinfall.
Tozawa in a post-match interview talked about El Hijo del Fantasma next in the tourney. He said he has never faced Fantasma in a match before, but Tozawa vowed to defeat him.
Chelsea Green (with Robert Stoane) defeated Xia Li
Green pinned Li in a short match after interference from Aliyah
Li was a house of fire at the start. Aliyah came to down to ringside and interfered by causing a distraction. Aliyah has history with Li stemming from an angle where Li in storyline broke Aliyah’s nose.
Li kicked Aliyah off the apron, but she fell victim to the I’m Prettier finisher. Green then covered her for the pinfall.
Veleveteen Dream cut a promo on Adam Cole ahead of their title match later in the show.
Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) defeated Leon Ruff
Kross won in a complete squash. He gave Ruff a couple Saito suplexes before locking in his submission — the Kross Jacket — and Ruff quickly tapped out.
Kross had a wickedly cool entrance that was in black-and-white before the picture turned to color. He and Scarlett look to be getting a monster push.
A video package hyped Io Shirai vs. Charlotte Flair in a title macth happening later in the show.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher. She asked them about Imperium wanting a title match. Riddle said it wasn’t up to him, it was up to Thatcher.
“I think you knock them out, I’ll tap them out,” Thatcher said to Riddle.
Io Shirai defeated NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair via disqualifaction
Flair hit Shirai with a kendo stick for the DQ. Considering the two involved, this was a disappointment — especially with the cheap DQ finish.
Although Shirai won, Flair retained her title on a technicality since the title cannot change hand via DQ. Rhea Ripley returned after the finish to make a save, but Shirai did not seem pleased by that action.
Shirai used her speed and agility to outwit Flair at the outset. Flair soon trapped Shirai in a headscissors to ground her. Flair then began to work over Shirai.
Shirai fought back, but Flair cut her off before a commercial break. Shirai with a missile dropkick as the show returned from commercial.
Flair took a Super Frankensteiner as Shirai got a near fall. Flair again cut off Shirai, and Flair then went for a moonsault press. Shirai moved as Flair crashed and burned.
Shirai with a Tiger Feint Kick, and she followed with a double knee strike in a corner. Flair kicked out at two. Shirai went for a moonsault press, but Flair got her knees up. Flair hit her with a big boot, but Shirai kicked out on a subsequent pinning attempt.
Shirai with a flying headscissors sent Flair crashing into a turnbuckle. Flair rolled outside, and Shirai went to the top rope. Shirai missed a moonsault off the top rope to the floor.
At ringside Flair retrieved a kendo stick and nailed Shirai with it. The referee called for the DQ, but Flair continued her attack.
Flair targeted a leg and posted Shirai. Suddenly Rhea Ripley rushed out to make a save.
Ripley attacked Flair, and Flair fled the scene.
Shirai screamed at Ripley, and Ripley told her to shut up. Shirai followed Ripley up the ramp as Ripley was leaving.
Ripley was being interviewed backstage when Shirai confronted her. They had a shoving match and a pull-apart. This will probably set up a match between the two.
Kushida defeated Jake Atlas in an Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament match
Kushida submitted Atlas with an armbar in a fast-paced — albeit rather short — match. Kusida improves to 2-0 in the tornmment, and Atlas is now even at 1-1 in Group A.
The action started quickly. Kushida began working an arm. He leapt off the top with a somersaullt senton to the floor.
Kushida with a palm strike that allowed the announcers to mention Jushin Liger.
Atlas created separation and then hit a shining wizard for a near fall. Atlas a moment later flew through the ropes with a tope.
Atlas went for a springboard off the top rope, but Kushida caught him in an armbar upon impact. Atlas tapped out.
Kushida in a post-match interview vowed to be the next champion. He pointed to the watch drawn on his wrist tape, and said “time will tell”.
Finn Balor is next with a promo segemt. Balor said he once thought the biggest snakes in this place were in the office, but now he is not sure. He alluded to a theory that you attack “the guy” and you get the push.
Balor went on to say after the smoke and lasers, you have to get in the ring with “The Prince” where there is nowhere to hide. Balor said he was patience man, but warned whoever attacked him. Instead of a push “it will be squash.”
Cameron Grimes defeated Denzel Dejournette
Grimes pinned Dejournette in a very short match.
Grimes went for double stomp at the start, but Dejournette sidestepped him. Dejournette — who wore a singlet and has an amateur wrestling background — threw around Grimes with overhead suplexes. Grimes cut him off with the Cave In double stomp, and he covered Dejournette for the pinfall.
Grimes cut a promo after the match where he brought up Finn Balor. He was cutting a promo on him when Balor came out to confront him.
Grimes was saying he would slap Balor, but he was unaware Balor was walking up behind him. Balor stared a hole through him, and dared Grimes to slap him in the face. Grimes was backpedaling at first before he tried to cheapshot Balor.
Balor ducked a punch and hit Grimes with a double stomp. Balor then gave him a slingblade, and Grimes fled.
Balor looked into the camera and said there is a “snake hiding in the long grass” in the locker room, but he vowed to find him and chop off his head.
A video package hyped the NXT Championship match that was next.
NXT Champion Adam Cole defeated Velveteen Dream to retain his title
Cole pinned Dream to win the match. Undisputed Era tried to interfere, but Dexter Lumis made a save.
Dream was in control early on, but fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book as Cole caught him trying to come back into the ring. Cole pulled down a kneepad and went for the Last Shot, but Dream countered with an Arn Anderson spinebuster.
Dream was back in control when Cole attempted a Panama Sunrise. Dream with a counter and a DDT for a near fall before the show went to its final commercial break.
Cole cut off Dream momentarily, but Dream fought back as Cole bumped and fed. Dream springboarded into an ax handle for a two count.
Dream with a superkick for another near fall. Dream went to the top rope and rolled through on a dive when Cole moved out of the way.
Cole turned the tide using a backstabber, but Dream kicked out at two. Cole with an enzuigiri and a ushigoroshi for another near fall.
They traded strikes until Cole sent Dream outside the ring. Dream went for a flying ax handle, but Cole countered with a superkick. Cole was down selling and Dream fell on him for a pinning attempt, but Cole kicked out.
Undisputed Era stablemates Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish came to ringside looking to interfere. Dexter Lumis crawled out from underneath the ring to block their path. He must have been hanging out with Hornswoggle I guess. Lumis was fighting out Fish and Strong when he sent Strong flying into the referee.
After the ref bump, Dream jumped off the top with flying elbow drop. However, there was no ref to count the fall. Dream counted to three, and then looked around as he hollered for the ref. That was dumb because the ref was down selling right there in front him.
Fish and Strong were double-teaming Lumis outside the ring as Dream tried to revive the ref. Dream then wiped out Strong and Fish with a double flying ax handle off the top rope to the floor.
Dream got back into the ring where he walked into a superkick. Cole then delivered The Last Shot, and he covered Dream for the pinfall to retain his title.
In my opinion this was this show was completely skippable aside from maybe the debut of Karrion Kross. Even that match was short as was most of the other matches. This was very lackluster episode.
WWE is loading up the card for next week’s episode of NXT.
In the second title match that’s been announced for the show, Charlotte Flair will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Io Shirai. NXT Champion Adam Cole defending his title against Velveteen Dream is also set for next week.
This will be the first time Charlotte has defended the NXT Women’s Championship since winning it from Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36. Shirai became the number one contender to Charlotte’s title by winning a six-woman ladder match on NXT three weeks ago.
Charlotte defeated Mia Yim in a non-title match on NXT tonight. Shirai then confronted Charlotte and set up the match for next week.
Also announced for next Wednesday’s NXT are:
Johnny Gargano vs. Dominik Dijakovic. The match was announced after Dijakovic cut a promo issuing a challenge to Gargano tonight.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett will officially arrive in NXT. That was hyped in a video that aired tonight, with Scarlett saying that time’s up and the clock stops on NXT next week.
Finn Balor will call out the person who attacked him last week. Balor was supposed to face Velveteen Dream in last week’s main event, but there was an angle where Balor was attacked in the locker room and left the premises before the show went on the air.
Io Shirai is first in line for a shot at Charlotte Flair’s NXT Women’s Championship.
Shirai became the number one contender to the title by winning a six-way ladder match on NXT tonight. Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai were the other wrestlers in the match. It was originally scheduled to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa.
Shirai and LeRae were vying for the briefcase at the end of the match. As they were fighting at the top of the ladder, Shirai raked LeRae’s eyes and sent her crashing onto a ladder that was set up on the middle rope in the corner.
After suffering a knee injury in January, Shirai returned to action on the NXT episode that aired on March 25. She tweeted about her return: “Although I hurt my knee and couldn’t wrestle, I shocked the medical trainers by fully recovering within two months. Thankfully no permanent damage at all!! Time for Io Shirai to rampage again!”
Charlotte defeated Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36 to win the NXT Women’s Championship. It’s her second reign with the title. She previously held it from May 2014 to February 2015.
WWE hasn’t announced when Shirai will be getting her title shot.
The full lineup is set for NXT’s number one contender’s ladder match.
By winning a second chance gauntlet match on NXT tonight, Dakota Kai became the final wrestler to qualify for the ladder match. The ladder match is airing on NXT next Wednesday and will feature Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, and Kai.
Shotzi Blackheart defeated Deonna Purrazzo at the start of the gauntlet match tonight. Blackheart then eliminated Xia Li, Aliyah, and Kayden Carter before the match came down to her and Kai.
Blackheart avoided interference by Raquel Gonzalez, but the distraction allowed Kai to get the win.
The ladder match was originally supposed to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano will also air on NXT next week, with their match being billed as “Blackheart vs. Rebel Heart: One Final Beat.”
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is defending her title against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36. The winner of that match will defend their title against the ladder match winner at some point in the future.
Io Shirai returned to action on NXT tonight and qualified for the upcoming number one contender’s ladder match.
A qualifying match between Xia Li and Aliyah had originally been announced for the episode, but there was an angle where it was shown that Li had been attacked backstage. Aliyah was happy about the attack and wanted to win by forfeit. It was then announced that Li wasn’t cleared to compete — but the returning Shirai was.
Shirai defeated Aliyah with a moonsault.
This was the first time Shirai has wrestled since she suffered a knee injury on January 22.
In tonight’s second qualifying match, Candice LeRae submitted Kayden Carter with the Gargano Escape. Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Shirai, and LeRae have now qualified for the number one contender’s ladder match. The final spot will be decided when Li, Aliyah, Carter, Dakota Kai, Deonna Purrazzo, and Shotzi Blackheart face off in a second chance gauntlet match next week.
The ladder match was originally scheduled to take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa. WWE has announced that — starting next Wednesday — the matches that were planned for TakeOver will air on NXT television over the next several weeks. The ladder match is airing in two weeks (Wednesday, April 8).
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is defending her title against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36. WWE hasn’t announced when the winner of the ladder match will be getting their title shot.
