On Sunday’s Wrestling Observer Radio (subscription needed), our Dave Meltzer reported that he was told WWE NXT standout Io Shirai will be out for two months with an undisclosed injury.
The WWE-produced Injury Report video acknowledged that the 29-year-old tweaked her knee this past Wednesday on NXT TV in her match with Toni Storm. Shirai grabbed her right knee after a Storm dive to the outside during a skirmish with Bianca Belair and NXT champion Rhea Ripley.
She has not had a history of knee injuries and it’s still unclear what specifically is wrong.
After other injuries found during medical examinations initially delayed her signing, Shirai has been in NXT since 2018. She has yet to win a title while there, but has competed for the title several times and has been pushed as a key part of the promotion.
Ahead of Worlds Collide, Toni Storm will be in action on tonight’s go-home episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that Storm will face Io Shirai on NXT tonight. The match comes in advance of Storm challenging Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship at Worlds Collide this Saturday.
Shirai made it to the final two of the number one contender’s battle royal on last Wednesday’s episode of NXT. Bianca Belair eliminated her to win the match and will challenge either Ripley or Storm for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16.
The North American Championship will be on the line as Roderick Strong defends his title against Keith Lee on tonight’s NXT. The semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will also take place. It will be Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne vs. Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner).
A ladder match with WarGames implications is set for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Mia Yim and Io Shirai will face off in a ladder match on NXT tonight. It will decide which team gets the advantage in the women’s WarGames match at TakeOver.
Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae & Yim) will face Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Shirai, and a partner) at TakeOver: WarGames on November 23. The men’s WarGames match will be Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, and a partner vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish).
After The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) appeared last week, WWE is teasing whether or not tonight’s show will feature any involvement from Raw or SmackDown wrestlers.
A Cruiserweight Championship match is also set. After Angel Garza defeated Tony Nese in a number one contender’s match last week, he’ll challenge for Lio Rush’s Cruiserweight title tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show is opening with a title match.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush defeated Angel Garza to retain his title
Rush pinned Garza after two frog splashes in a match that was action packed. This was a typical WWE match in many ways, and in other ways in was unlike most WWE matches on the main roster. They did some unique spots, but the match followed a WWE pattern. Still a really good match.
Rush’s wife and childern were sitting front row ringside for the match. Garza heeled on them in the early portion of the match as he hopped the guardrail, and then he did the Latin Lover gimmick where he rips his pants off. He did this in front of Rush’s wife and kids. Rush torpedoed through the ropes with a tope suicida seeking revenge.
Rush was a house of fire, but Garza countered a second tope into a powerslam on the floor. The show cut to commercial, and Garza dominated through the break. He did a slingshot reverse suplex at one point, but we only got to see with in small split screen with no sound as a commercial blared. This split screen gimmick during commcerials is really so annoying.
Garza dashed some hope spots during the break, but Rush made a comeback when the show returned from commercial. Rush did a handspring back elbow for a two count. Garza soon cut him off as they began trading strikes. Rush springboarded off the bottom rope attempting his finisher, and Garza got him with a vicious shotgun dropkick for a close near falll.
Garza missed a quebrada, and Rush capitalized with a cool swinging Unprettier for two and half. They did an avalanche spot where Garza did a fallaway slam moonsault. Rush moments later cut off Garza with Rush Hour (running Spanish Fly).
Rush hit his finisher — the Come Up — and then he went for second attempt. Garza countered that into his finisher — the Wing Clipper. Rush still managed to kick out.
Garza was going for an avalanche version of his finisher when Rush countered into a Frankensteiner. Rush then executed a frog splash for two. With Garza draped in the ropes, Rush did a second frog splash to score the pinfall.
Rhea Ripley and Tegan Nox were laid out in a hallway selling an attack by mystery assailants. Officials poured in to check on them as they show went to commercial.
Xia Lee defeated Aliyah (w/ Vanessa Borne)
Lee pinned Aliyah after a roundhouse kick in a short match. This was as showcase for Lee, but not sure it accomplished what they wanted it to. accomplish. They seemed green.
Borne caused a distraction at one point. That allowed Aliyah to gain a momentary advantage, but not for long. Lee fired up. Aliyah raked the eyes — only to get mowed down with a roundhouse kick.
Aliyah was treated in the ring for a bloody nose, as a towel was brought into the ring and held to her face. The announcers played it up so not sure if that was work. The kick sure looked legit.
The next segment established a new feud and furthered existing feuds. First there was Finn Balor coming to the ring to cut a promo on NXT. He asked condescending questions about what happened to his NXT. He used to love this place, and now he thinks its a joke.
Balor claimed he built this place, and then a “bunch of little boys moved in.” They cry on social media about being injured. Balor name dropped Matt Riddle. Suddenly, Riddle ran in to attack Balor. They brawled around ringside and Balor fled the scene through the crowd.
Riddle cut a promo on Balor and called him a “putz”.
Undisputed Era like a pack of wolves came out to surround Riddle. Tomasso Ciampa and Keith Lee stormed out to have Riddle’s back.
Adam Cole started cutting a promo on them when Lee shut him up. Lee then called out Cole. Roderick Strong chimed in and said Cole needed a night off. Strong then told Lee to fight him. Lee accepted the challenge, and the match was on after a commercial break.
Keith Lee defeated NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong in a non-title match
Lee pinned Strong with a jackhammer in a really good match with a lot of run-ins.
Lee dominated the match at the outset using his power advantage. Strong cut him down with kicks to the legs, but he couldn’t knock down Lee with shoulder tackles. Lee rose to his feet and absorbed some chops. He then laid out Strong with a double overhead chop.
Strong cut off Lee before a commercial. After the break, Strong had Lee reeling as he brought the fight to him. They fought at ringside where Strong delivered a wrecking ball dropkick. A sick kick netted Strong a two count. Strong grounded Lee briefly until taunts fired up Lee.
Lee mounted a comeback as he bieled Strong across the ring. Strong still kicked out. Moments later they did a superplex, and Lee kicked out.
Strong went for the Boston crab, but Lee powered out. They traded strikes. Strong was hitting his running forearms when Lee turned him inside out with a lariat.
Undisputed Era came to ringside. They were attacked by Ciampa and Riddle. Cole hit Ciampa with a dropkick on the floor. Riddle did a flying forearm on the floor. Balor ran in to attack Riddle as he gave him a slingblade on the outside. Balor stomped on him and dropkicked him into the steps.
Lee was distracted by the run-ins. That allowed Strong to deliver a jumping knee strike followed by an Olympic slam for two. Lee then countered to deliver the jackhammer for a pinfall.
Undisputed Era jumped into the ring to attack Lee after the match. Ciampa and Riddle rushed into the ring to make the save, but the babyfaces were still outnumbered by the heels.
Dominik Dijakovic ran down to even the odds. He cleaned house on Undisputed Era. He executed a double chokeslam, and then he picked up Cole to deliver Feast Your Eyes. Dijakovic insinuated that he wanted on the War Games team. Dijakovic and Lee had a brief staredown teasing their ongoing rivalry, but they put their differences aside for the sake of War Games.
Candice LeRae was apparently attacked outside the building by an assailant(s). The who-done-it mystery continues.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Bronson Reed
Swerve pinned Reed after the House Call.
Reed used his size advantage to ground Swerve. He suplexed Swerve out of the ring at one point — only for Reed to get posted before a commercial break.
Swerve made a comeback after the break. Swerve popped up into a leaping flatliner for a near fall. They teased doing an avalanche tombstone, but Swerve countered into a draping DDT.
Reed cut off Swerve for a two count on a piledriver. They were trading counters until Swerve delivered the House Call to score the pinfall.
Cathy Kelley made an announcement that changed the TakeOver card. Finn Balor now faces Matt Riddle in a singles match at TakeOver. Also on that card, Dominik Dijakovic replaces Riddle in the men’s War Games match.
A vignette hyped The Forgotten Sons.
Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain never started
Damian Priest attacked Dain on the stage during his entrance. Priest was wearing pants that looked to have came out of Diesel’s closet in 1994. There was even silver and black fringe. Real nice.
Dunne joined the fight and all three brawled around ringside. During the pull-apart brawl, Priest springboarded into a flip dive that wiped out everyone. This continues the build towards a triple threat.
Cathy Kelley was interviewing Mia Yim when Dakota Kai confronted her to stay she had Yim’s back no matter what happens tonight. Kai also said there was no hard feelings between them after Yim was chosen over Kai for the women’s War Games team.
Announced for next week is a men’s ladder match for the War Games advantage with Adam Cole against Dominik Dijakovic.
Io Shirai defeated Mia Yim in a ladder match
Shirai won the match to give her team the numbers advantage at War Games. Kay Lee Ray ran in to help Shirai win the match. Yim was busted open during the match,
Early on they both went for the ladder. Shirai did a tope to the outside. She was also the first to take a bump on the ladder as Yim dropped her with a wheelbarrow. As the fight continued on the floor, Shirai kicked the ladder into Yim face.
Yim targeted a hand, but Shirai soon cut her off. Shirai charged forwards with the ladder, but she missed. They brawled at ringside as each fought to grab the ladder.
Yim suplexed Shirai onto the ladder before a commercial break. The split screen was back for the main event. They teased throwing each other into the ladder that was propped in a corner. This led into a double down.
They were trading strikes when the show returned from break. Shirai did the Tiger Feint Kick as they cotinued fighting over the ladder. Yim countered a charge by suplexing Shirai, and Shirai clipped the ladder taking an ugly bump.
Yim was the first to set up the ladder in an attempt to climb it to victory. Yim seconds later was sent crashing into the ladder. Shirai sandwiched her between the ladder. Shirai then brought a second ladder into the match.
Shirai springboarded into a missile dropkick into the ladder that Yim was holding. Yim was busted open, and she bled heavily. The match ground to a halt as referees came into the match to direct traffic while also checking on Yim.
Slightly off-camera, a trainer tended to Yim in the ring. Meanwhile, Shirai slowly set up the ladder and even more slowly she began climbing. Yim rushed in to pull her off the ladder. The Baddie was back. Shirai gave her a suplex off the ladder.
They fought while perched on the turnbuckles, and Yim was shoved off as she tumbled to the floor. Dakota Kai came down to ringside to check on Yim. Just as Kai helped Yim to get back on her feet, Shirai leapt off the middle turnbuckle with a moonsault to the outside.
Shirai was climbing the ladder when Kai jumped into the ring to cut off the climb. Kai gave Shirai a sit-out powerbomb, and then she rolled Yim back into the ring.
NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray suddenly ran in to attack Kai. She sent her crashing into the ring steps. Kay Lee Ray then pushed over the ladder, and Yim took a bump over the ropes onto a ladder bridge. Ray helped Shirai climb the ladder, and Shirai pulled down a briefcase to win the match.
Kay Lee Ray appears to possibly be the unnamed fourth member of the heel women’s War Games team. She was celebrating afterwards with Shirai and Bianca Belair when NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler walked on to the stage to take in the scene.
Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley suddenly appeared for a sneak attack on Baszler, and Bayley proceeded to hit her with a chair shot to the back. The show abruptly went off the air with Mauro Ranallo shouting about the ambush.
The theme tonight on NXT was sneak attacks. Everybody is doing them!
Two matches have been confirmed for next week’s episode of NXT.
Mia Yim and Io Shirai will face off in a ladder match on next week’s show, with the winner earning the WarGames advantage for their team at TakeOver. Angel Garza will also challenge for Lio Rush’s Cruiserweight Championship on NXT next Wednesday.
Yim will be on Team Ripley in the first-ever women’s WarGames match, while Shirai will be on Team Baszler. The match will be Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae & Yim vs. Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Shirai, and a partner.
Yim was announced as the final member of Team Ripley after coming out with a kendo stick and making the save for Ripley, Nox, LeRae, and Dakota Kai during a brawl on tonight’s NXT. In a backstage segment later in the show, Kai was disappointed when she wasn’t chosen to be the final member of Team Ripley.
The WarGames match at TakeOver will begin with a member of each team facing off. The advantage will decide which team gets to have their next member enter first.
TakeOver: WarGames is being held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on Saturday, November 23.
Garza defeated Tony Nese in a Cruiserweight title number one contender’s match tonight. Rush came out to the stage and offered Garza a handshake after, but he slapped Rush instead.
Two matches that were set up by angles on tonight’s NXT have been made official for next week.
Tyler Bate vs. Cameron Grimes and Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae have both been announced for next Wednesday’s NXT. The Women’s Tag Team titles will also be defended in NXT for the first time, with Asuka & Kairi Sane defending against Dakota Kai & Tegan Nox next week.
Bate was shown arriving to Full Sail with Pete Dunne on tonight’s episode. Later in the show, Bate was sitting in the front row for Matt Riddle vs. Grimes.
After Riddle won, Grimes refused to give him a fist bump. Riddle then fist bumped Bate. Grimes and Bate argued, and Bate laid out Grimes with a punch after Grimes shoved him.
Shirai interfered and attacked Rhea Ripley during Ripley’s match against Bianca Belair tonight, but LeRae came out to neutralize Shirai. Ripley defeated Belair after hitting Riptide.
A fourth participant has been added to the number one contender’s match for next week’s live episode of NXT.
It will now be Mia Yim vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae in a fatal four-way match next Wednesday (September 18). The match was originally announced as a triple threat prior to LeRae being added.
There was a segment on this week’s NXT episode where LeRae went into William Regal’s office and asked him to explain why he keeps rewarding Shirai’s behavior. Regal agreed with LeRae and made the match a fatal four-way.
Regal said he might change it to a fatal five-way if Ripley defeated NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler in their non-title match in this week’s main event. Baszler won by disqualification when Ripley stopped Baszler from using a steel chair and used it herself instead. Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke had come down to the ring and distracted Ripley before that.
WWE has yet to announced when the winner of the number one contender’s match will challenge for Baszler’s title.
For the September 18 and September 25 episodes of NXT, the first hour will be live on USA Network and the second hour will be live on WWE Network. NXT will then move to airing live on USA Network for the full two hours starting on October 2.
Velveteen Dream defending his North American Championship against Roderick Strong has been announced for the USA Network portion of next week’s episode, while a street fight between Matt Riddle and Killian Dain will be on the WWE Network part of the show.
During this week’s NXT episode, it was also teased that The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) will challenge for Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish’s Tag Team titles next Wednesday.
The North American Championship will be on the line when NXT debuts on the USA Network in two weeks.
WWE has announced that North American Champion Velveteen Dream will defend his title against Roderick Strong on the debut of NXT on USA Network on Wednesday, September 18.
For the first two weeks of NXT on USA, the first hour will air live exclusively on USA Network. The second hour won’t be on USA and will instead air live on WWE Network.
The first two-hour NXT episode on USA will be on Wednesday, October 2, which is the same night that AEW debuts on TNT.
Dream retained the North American title by defeating Pete Dunne and Strong in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: Toronto last month. After Strong hit the End of Heartache on Dunne, Dream broke up the pin and then pinned Dunne to retain his title.
Every member of Undisputed Era aside from Strong is currently a champion in NXT. Adam Cole holds the NXT Championship, while Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish hold the NXT Tag Team titles.
A triple threat number one contender’s match has also been announced for September 18, with Mia Yim, Bianca Belair, and Io Shirai facing off to determine a challenger for Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship. It wasn’t specified that Yim vs. Belair vs. Shirai would be part of the USA Network broadcast.
Candice LeRae and Io Shirai will be facing off at NXT TakeOver: Toronto.
LeRae vs. Shirai was announced for the special on tonight’s episode of NXT. LeRae was waiting for Shirai in the parking lot, but William Regal told LeRae that Shirai wasn’t allowed anywhere near the building tonight. LeRae asked to face Shirai at TakeOver, and Regal granted her request.
Shirai turned heel against LeRae on the June 26 episode of NXT. Shirai lost a steel cage match against NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler on that show. After the match, Shirai attacked LeRae and beat her down with a steel chair.
Their storyline then continued on last week’s episode, with LeRae attacking Shirai while Shirai was facing Kacy Catanzaro. LeRae went and got a steel chair, but Shirai was able to get away from her.
Baszler will defend her title against Mia Yim at TakeOver.
TakeOver: Toronto is taking place at the Scotiabank Arena on August 10, which is the Saturday of SummerSlam weekend. Here’s the updated card for the special:
NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against Johnny Gargano in a two-out-of-three falls match (one fall will be a street fight, the other will be a normal wrestling match, and William Regal will pick the stipulation if it goes to a third fall)
NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler defending against Mia Yim
NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream defending against Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne in a triple threat match
NXT Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) defending against The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kairi Sane will all be challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship at next month’s TakeOver special.
Shayna Baszler defending her NXT Women’s title against Shirai, Belair, and Sane in a fatal four-way match has been announced for TakeOver: New York. The event is taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on April 5, which is the Friday of WrestleMania week.
The match was announced after an angle on this week’s episode of NXT TV. Baszler interrupted Shirai and Belair’s number one contender’s match and caused it to end in a no contest.
Baszler was on commentary for the match and then left the announce table to attack both Shirai and Belair. Sane tried to make the save, but the angle ended with Baszler having choked out all three with the Kirifuda Clutch.
Baszler is a two-time NXT Women’s Champion. Her current reign began when she defeated Sane for the title at Evolution in October 2018. At TakeOver: Phoenix this January, Baszler retained her title by defeating Belair.
WWE has announced two matches for next week’s episode of NXT television.
Next Wednesday’s post-TakeOver: Phoenix episode will feature a tag match with Kairi Sane & Io Shirai facing Four Horsewomen members Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) will also face The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler with Jaxson Ryker) on the show.
Those matches are expected to be taped before NXT TakeOver: Phoenix at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona this Saturday.
Sane & Shirai defeated an enhancement team (Amber Nova & Tanea Brooks) on this week’s NXT TV. An interview with Sane & Shirai aired after that, with Duke & Shafir interrupting them to set up their match.
The Forgotten Sons attacked The Street Profits in an angle that aired on last week’s episode of NXT TV. The Street Profits had defeated The Metro Brothers before being laid out by The Forgotten Sons.
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The semifinals of the Mae Young Classic. The season finale, if you will. The winners advance to Evolution this Sunday night.
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Toni Storm defeated Meiko Satomura to advance to the finals
In case you need help understanding the age and experience difference between these two, Toni Storm was 13 months old when Satomura wrestled on WCW Monday Nitro in 1996. Satomura was already a 14-year veteran when Storm debuted in 2009.
The match began with some great mat wrestling as neither wrestler wanted to possibly make an early mistake that could cost them big. Storm took a kick to the chest, but she came back with her own running kick to take over. Satomura didn’t let it last long, using a series of leg kicks to chop down her taller opponent.
The bruises began to form on Storm’s legs, but she slapped on an STF. Michael Cole, who has called about 500 John Cena matches, called it “unique offense.” To be fair, he hasn’t seen too many good STFs.
No one believed it was the finish, even though Satomura sold it like death, but she was able to drag herself to the ropes. Storm hit a suicide dive and began grabbing her elbow. The suicide dive, the same move that injured Tegan Nox and always looks like Io Shirai is going to land on her head, is still being used here in the semifinals.
Back in the ring, Storm began kicking Satomura, but Satomura fired up and used her own kicks. Satomura hit a Death Valley Driver for the sure victory — but Storm kicked out. Storm blocked a running knee and hit Storm Zero — but Satomura kicked out! The crowd exploded at this.
Satomura blocked a second Storm Zero and hit a Pele Kick and a Scorpion Kick, but again Storm kicked out. Fans were literally jumping up and down at this point.
Finally, Storm blocked another Death Valley Driver and hit her second Storm Zero for the pin! Storm is going to Evolution. Both wrestlers kneeled and bowed to one another before hugging. Kairi Sane appeared to present roses to Storm, who could not stop crying. Triple H came out to raise Satomura’s hand on the ramp, which led to more applause and more tears.
Storm cut a promo after the match, thanking the crowd and everyone in the back for letting her dreams come true.
Storm has downed Jinny, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Mia Yim, and now Satomura. She has one more test on Sunday.
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Io Shirai defeated Rhea Ripley to advance to the finals
This match was different from the beginning as Ripley showed very little respect to her foe and was making subtle gestures to injuring Tegan Nox. Ripley used her size and power advantage early. She yanked Shirai back in an abdominal stretch. When Shirai tried to kick her way out of it, Ripley punched her right in the ribs. In an ensuing stretch, Ripley was digging her nails into the abdominal region of Shirai.
Ripley’s frustration began as Shirai wouldn’t stay down, but she cooled down and locked on a body scissors. Shirai went crazy and got out of it with a series of punches and forearms, which stunned Ripley. The advantage didn’t last long as Ripley rolled over and kicked Shirai right in the ribs. Seconds later, it was like that never happened as Shirai started to build momentum.
Shirai hit the suicide dive and, for once, didn’t have me worried that she was going to land on her head. Shirai kept the momentum going, hitting a 619 and a missile dropkick for a near fall. However, Ripley tripped her up on an attempted moonsault. Ripley hit a superplex that hurt her own back, but Shirai got out of a pumphandle move and shoved Ripley shoulder-first into the ring post. Shirai hit the double knees and a moonsault for the win!
Not as good as the opener, but still a very good match, especially when you consider this wasn’t even scheduled to be the match since Nox was supposed to beat Ripley before her injury.
Shirai and Sane embraced like long lost friends
Shirai blitzed Xia Brookside and then defeated Zeuxis, Deonna Purrazzo, and Ripley and will now be throwing down on Sunday. 32 began, 30 went to the wayside. At Evolution, only one will be left standing as Io Shirai will face Toni Storm. Who follows in the footsteps of Kairi Sane? Only one way to find out.
The show finished up with both Shirai and Storm coming out on stage and posing with Triple H, Sara Amato, and Sane as Cole closed up the show.
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That does it for this week — and that does it for the Mae Young Classic. Thank you all for reading. If nothing else, it was a fun eight weeks and now I will return to semi-retirement. It is my birthday Monday, so if you are inclined, please donate to a charity of your choice in celebration of my birth.
As for me? I have to hurry on my way. But as I wave goodbye, don’t cry because I will be back again someday.
