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The fallout from NXT Halloween Havoc on today’s episode of Speak Now!
We had a lot of stuff to talk about on tonight’s show including two tag team title matches, Wes Lee as new NXT North American Champion, Ava Raine joins The Schism, JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov in the main event, and more!
NXT’s third annual Halloween Havoc event takes place tonight, streaming live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The show will be headlined by Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh for the NXT Championship. But it could be Austin Theory who walks out of Halloween Havoc with the NXT title. Theory appeared on NXT earlier this week and teased cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase.
Two other title bouts are also set for tonight. Mandy Rose is set to put her NXT Women’s Championship on the line against Alba Fyre, while the vacant NXT North American Championship will be up for grabs in a ladder match. Carmelo Hayes, Oro Mensah, Wes Lee, Von Wagner, and Nathan Frazer are the ladder match participants.
Grudge matches round out the remainder of the Halloween Havoc card. Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade will meet in a Weapons Wild match, Julius Creed takes on Damon Kemp in an ambulance match, and Apollo Crews faces off with Grayson Waller (stipulation to be determined).
Tonight’s pre-show begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and features McKenzie Mitchell, Sam Roberts, and an appearance by Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca.
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Kickoff Show —
The kickoff show panel was McKenzie Mitchell, Sam Roberts, and Dave LaGreca.
The main hosts of Halloween Havoc were Shotzi and Quincy Elliott. They spun the wheel, and it was determined that Apollo Crews vs. Grayson Waller would be contested in a Casket Match. Apollo was thrilled by the news, but Waller was concerned.
In an online exclusive promo, Alba Fyre was confident in facing Mandy Rose. Back live, Rose wasn’t worried about the match, but the rest of Toxic Attraction tried to get her to take Alba seriously. (The movie character “Chucky” was seated behind them.)
NXT Halloween Havoc report —
Shotzi and Quincy Elliott introduced the show.
Wes Lee defeated Carmelo Hayes (w/ Trick Williams), Nathan Frazer, Von Wagner, & Oro Mensah in a Ladder Match to win the vacant NXT North American Championship [19:55]
This was an awesome five-way ladder match with tons of cool, innovative spots and fast-paced action. I think Lee winning is an absolutely inspired choice as I feared they’d go with the safe choice in Melo, who is ready to move on from this title picture.
After everyone jockeyed for position at the start, it was Frazer and Mensah left in the ring. Frazer took out Mensah and climbed the ropes before re-directing to dive onto Wagner. He worked together with Mensah to take out their opponents with a ladder, then when Mensah got taken out, he drove Melo into the ladder. Mensah stopped Frazer’s climb, then Lee stopped Mensah from doing the same.
Mensah backdropped Melo onto a ladder but ran into a dropkick from Lee. Wagner re-entered the fray and took out Lee with a boot. Frazer tried to take a ladder from Wagner but was powerbombed into it for his trouble. Melo dispatched Wagner and climbed a ladder. In a great spot, Frazer sent Melo crashing from the ladder with a dropkick before running right into a ladder-assisted senton from Lee.
Melo recovered, but Frazer countered a springboard into an inverted Spanish Fly onto a ladder. There was a parade of big moves, including Melo clotheslining Lee and himself to the floor. Mensah was left in the ring, so he set up a ladder and climbed. Trick Williams met him on the other side and dumped Mensah onto the other four men. Mensah took a nasty landing.
Robert Stone ran out and climbed. He and Trick were at the top of the ladder; Stone hit Trick with a shoe, but Trick overturned the ladder, sending Stone crashing to the floor. Back in the ring, Wagner continued to use the ladder as a weapon. Out on the outside, Wagner pulled a bigger ladder out from under the ring and inadvertently ended up striking or nearly striking a woman in the front row; luckily everyone seemed to be okay. He set up the ladder as a bridge between the apron and the barricade.
Lee got involved and Wagner ended up prone on the ladder, so Frazer sent him through it with a frog splash. There was another parade of big moves, with Melo springboarding off the barricade and Lee hitting a cannonball splash off the steel steps. Lee produced another giant ladder, which Wagner set up. Wagner press slammed Lee from the ring onto the announce table, which didn’t break. So nasty.
Wagner climbed, but Frazer met him at the top and stomped him down. Wagner got Frazer in powerbomb position, leading to Frazer pulling Wagner out of the ring on a headscissor takeover. Mensah took Wagner out with a wild tackle, then he and Frazer repeatedly struck Wagner with a smaller ladder to permanently eliminate Wagner from contention.
Back in the ring, Frazer and Mensah climbed to the the top and fought each other to reach the ladder. Mensah eventually pushed Frazer down, but Melo showed up and pulled Mensah down. Melo climbed to the top, but Lee climbed a giant ladder and sprung up to send Melo to the mat. They both fought while standing on a ladder bridge in the ring; Lee finally took out Melo with a meteora onto the bridge. That bought Lee enough time to climb the ladder and win the championship.
– After the match, Lee broke down in tears and was showered with “You deserve it!” chants.
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JD McDonagh was shown meditating backstage.
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NXT Women’s Championship: Mandy Rose (c) (w/ Toxic Attraction) vs. Alba Fyre PRE-MATCH SEGMENT
This was indescribably stupid and a complete waste of time.
It was a cinematic match. Rose, Dolin, and Jayne drove up to Alba’s location. Rose played the straight woman as Dolin was excited and Jayne was terrified. Zombiez tried to scare them, but Rose no-sold it.
They entered the building with flashlights and continued to bicker. Rose decided it would be a good plan to split up, which Jayne didn’t like. The camera followed Jayne, who was taken out by Alba. Dolin, meanwhile, met Chucky and some monsters at a table. Alba surprised her as well, but Dolin put up more of a fight than Jayne. Eventually, however, Alba shut Dolin in a freezer.
Finally, we caught up with Rose, who encountered Alba after being startled by an organ. Alba attacked her with a baseball bat, and her monstrous associates prevented Rose from gaining the upper hand. Outside, Alba shut Rose in her car and whacked Toxic Attraction with the bat. She drove off, and then we came back to the arena, where the announcers were stunned.
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Apollo Crews defeated Grayson Waller in a Casket Match [11:06]
Two straight incredibly bad segments that made no sense. I guess there was some passable action at the end? That’s it.
They had a rapid back-and-forth exchange at the start, with Apollo getting the upper hand on an Asai moonsault. As Apollo beat Waller down on the announce table, Waller grabbed a pen and stabbed at Apollo’s face, allowing him to gain control of the match. He kept up his attack on Apollo on the floor.
The two jockeyed for position on the top rope, with Waller pushing Apollo into the casket. For some reason, the match wasn’t over. Then the lights went out. When they came back on, eerie music played and druids brought out another casket. Apollo had recovered, and he attacked Waller with the steel steps. (I have literally no idea what happened there or what it was supposed to be.)
There was a new casket set up on the side of the ring. Waller eventually got Apollo fully in the casket, but Apollo fought back when Waller tried to shut the door. They both escaped the area. Apollo landed a diving crossbody on Waller out on the floor. Apollo nearly had Waller in the casket, but Waller hit a rolling cutter to buy himself a breather.
Apollo recovered to hit a double-knee facebuster and nearly shut Waller in the casket. He was eventually able to chokeslam Waller into the casket for the win.
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A Chase U segment played, where Andre Chase was frustrated with some of his students’ performance on a “history of Halloween” assignment. He revealed that Duke Hudson is a new transfer student. Duke answered an extra credit question correctly, which angered Bodhi Hayward.
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Pretty Deadly were backstage. They’re not worried about defending against Malik Blade and Edris Enofe this week. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance walked up and said they were the best tag champions on the brand.
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Roxanne Perez defeated Cora Jade in a Weapons Wild match [13:23]
Yet another bad hardcore match on this show. This was pretty comparable to Liv Morgan vs. Ronda Rousey at Extreme Rules — lots of plodding, slow, boring brawling. The major high spot came across so contrived, and the fans were more behind Cora, the heel, than they were behind Roxanne.
Roxanne attacked right away with a skateboard. She dominated early on and set up a table as Cora crawled under the ring. When Roxanne pulled Cora out from under the ring, Cora sprayed her with cold spray and swung her into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cora attacked with a chair and a trashcan.
On the outside, Cora choked Roxanne with a rope. She produced a chain, but Roxanne avoided the shot and came back with the rope. Back inside, Roxanne hit a kendo stick-assisted Russian legsweep for two. Roxanne maintained control until Cora gained some space and ran into the stands.
They eventually met each other on a high platform of some sort. Cora slammed Roxanne on the hard surface and pulled away the barrier. Roxanne fought back and had a chance to send Cora crashing down, but they weirdly re-adjusted and both fell down through ladders. (I think it was supposed to look like Cora pulling Roxanne down, but it just looked like they both jumped off together.)
Eventually, they made their way to the ring, where a pile of chairs was set up. Roxanne backdropped Cora onto it and hit the Pop Rocks through the chairs for the win.
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There was a segment with show hosts Shotzi and Quincy Elliott coming out to the ring. They started to do some schtick, but then Lash Legend interrupted. She has a problem with someone from Smackdown hosting the show, when Lash feels she’d do it better. Shotzi got in her face and hit her with a DDT.
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There was a Schism video promo. They have a new member who will “remove his mask.”
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Julius Creed defeated Damon Kemp in an Ambulance match [14:52]
Finally, more good stuff beyond just the opener! This was way more intense than most safety-proofed WWE hardcore matches with some wild bumps and weapon shots. Both of these guys have a ton of potential.
If Julius loses, his brother Brutus will be forced to leave NXT. Julius exploded right out of the gate, disarming Kemp’s chair and hitting a head-and-arm suplex out on the floor. They moved to a backstage area where an ambulance was set up. Julius nearly shut Kemp into it, but Kemp blocked the door from shutting with a crutch and used it to attack Julius.
Back towards the ring, Julius recovered by spraying Kemp with a fire extinguisher. Kemp fired back with a back suplex on the floor and tossed Julius into the steel steps. They moved back in the direction of the ambulance, where Kemp sent Julius into the vehicle and nearly got it closed.
Julius fired up and drove Kemp into the ring post, but back inside the ring, Kemp planted Julius on the steel steps with a spinebuster. On the outside, Julius fought back and trapped Kemp in a wheelchair with a crutch before sending him into the steps again.
They fought for control of a stretcher, leading to Kemp sending Julius into the post once again. They started chucking things at each other, including the ring bell. Kemp dropped Julius in a laundry cart and repeatedly pushed it into the ambulance. He threw Julius back into the ambulance, but Julius would not let Kemp shut the door, putting his fingers in the way.
Julius exploded out of the ambulance and slammed Kemp through a table. He repeatedly whacked Kemp with chair shots and dropped him on a stretcher before clotheslining him through a chair. Julius carried Kemp to the ambulance and slammed it shut to win the match.
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As the ambulance from the previous match drove away, we saw Mandy Rose’s Range Rover pull up with Alba Fyre driving it. Rose tried to escape into the building and then the ring, and when they both entered, the match was under way with a referee and everything. No Toxic Attraction.
NXT Women’s Championship: Mandy Rose (c) defeated Alba Fyre [6:24]
I didn’t understand this at all. Rose’s reign has been the exact same for literally a full year, with constant distraction and interference finishes interspersed with bad, boring wrestling. They finally do something different — still really bad, but different — and then they end up doing the same distraction ref bump finish as always! What is the point?! Remember when this belt was a highlight of NXT TakeOver while being held by people like Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Asuka, Shayna Baszler, Ember Moon, Kairi Sane, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai…?
Alba dominated at the start until Rose got an opening by pushing Alba off the top rope to the floor. Rose was in control for a long time considering she had been kidnapped/incapacitated/scared out of her mind by Alba for the previous 90 minutes. Simultaneous clotheslines led to a double down.
Rose hit a spinebuster for two. Alba came back with a powerbomb for two of her own. She climbed the ropes and hit a swanton bomb, but both of Toxic Attraction pulled the official out of the ring. Alba superkicked Jayne into the official and Dolin and hit a Gory Bomb, but there was no official to count.
Jayne and Dolin took out Alba, and Rose hit Kiss The Rose for the win.
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NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 contenders Zoey Stark and Nikkita Lyons were backstage. Stark talked about her journey, and Lyons said she’d do it for her. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe appeared, and the two teams hyped each other up ahead of their title matches on Tuesday.
NXT lineup (10/25) —
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NXT Championship: Bron Breakker (c) defeated Ilja Dragunov & JD McDonagh [23:34]
Awesome main event and probably the best Bron match yet. Dragunov and McDonagh are still incredible in-ring talents. After a somewhat slow start, this turned into a crazy hard-hitting affair with a real big-fight feel, and the dynamic of the two powerhouses vs. the despicable weasel was a ton of fun.
Dragunov went right at McDonagh, then Bron did the same, as they essentially ended up fighting for the privilege of beating up on McDonagh. The Irishman took advantage of their infighting and targeted Bron. There was a lot of two-in, one-out fighting as one man would cut off another as they had control on the third. Bron and Dragunov had a long exchange as McDonagh would try to sneak out a win with a quick roll-up.
At one point, when McDonagh tried to get involved, Dragonov cut him off and laid in hammer-and-anvil elbows for the near-stoppage. He then hit a running Death Valley bomb on McDonagh onto Bron in the corner before landing a coast-to-coast dropkick on both.
Bron and Dragunov laid into each other with a slugfest in the center of the ring. McDonagh was proud of himself for being the last one standing, but Dragunov popped up and pursued him out of the ring, chasing him into a backdrop from Bron. Both Bron and Dragunov traded punches and chops on McDonagh before tossing him out of the ring.
Dragunov turned his attention to Bron, who fired up with a hard clothesline. He pressed Dragunov up but was cut off by a headbutt from McDonagh. They were all down until Breakker and McDonagh made their way to the top turnbuckle. Bron landed a Frankensteiner, sending McDonagh into Dragunov.
The three all traded strikes. Dragunov crushed McDonagh with a senton before Bron sent him to the outside with a spear. McDonagh then hit an Asai moonsault on both opponents. Back in the ring, Dragunov powerbombed Bron for a near fall, crushed him with a forearm for another near fall, and then McDonagh hit a 450 splash on Dragunov for yet another near fall.
McDonagh hit Bron with a sheer drop brainbruster for another near fall. Dragunov countered the Devil Inside into repeated German suplexes. Bron then popped up and hit both opponents with a double German. He landed the diving bulldog on Dragunov, followed it up with the military press powerslam, but McDonagh pulled him off and covered Dragunov for a great near fall.
Bron dispatched McDonagh and set up for a Spear, but Dragunov countered it into a rising knee. Dragunov landed a diving senton and landed Torpedo Moscow. He covered and had it won, but McDonagh stopped the official from counting “three.” Dragunov and McDonagh traded strikes until they both left the ring, where McDonagh countered a running clothesline into a Spanish Fly on the floor.
McDonagh produced a chair and swung it at Dragunov’s foot, but Dragunov avoided landed and hit a step-up diving headbutt. Back in the ring, it was Bron and Dragunov. Dragunov laid in strikes, but Bron wouldn’t go down until Dragunov hit a German and an overhand lariat. He called for Torpedo Moscow but was cut off by a Bron Spear for the win.
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Final Thoughts —
This show was practically the definition of “hit-and-miss.” The hits (the opener, the main event, Julius vs. Kemp) all had a super tight layout and exciting, hard-hitting wrestling. The misses (Rose vs. Alba, Apollo vs. Waller, Roxanne vs. Cora) all featured genuinely awful moments and some baffling booking. Still, the show’s high marks proved that NXT continues to have a decently bright future after the failed 2.0 experiment.
This is a very busy episode of Speak Now Pro Wrestling hosted by Denise Salcedo.
There was a lot that occurred on AEW Dynamite which unfortunately included Hangman Adam Page being stretchered out, a great promo exchange between MJF and William Regal, and a lot more.
Plus on the NXT side of things, we had a very entertaining go-home show leading into WWE NXT Halloween Havoc. Tune into the show for a good time!
Another main roster wrestler is set to appear on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Kevin Owens announced this morning that he’s headed to NXT tonight to moderate a segment with Bron Breakker, Ilja Dragunov, and JD McDonagh. The segment will be the final build to Breakker, Dragunov, and McDonagh’s triple threat match for the NXT Championship at Halloween Havoc.
Tonight. @WWE @WWENXT @ShawnMichaels @bronbreakkerwwe @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR
@JDMcSomethingIDontCareWhatever pic.twitter.com/2WIfAlQnTq— Kevin (@FightOwensFight) October 18, 2022
Owens said Shawn Michaels invited him to tonight’s NXT to make sure the in-ring segment with Breakker, Dragunov, and McDonagh doesn’t devolve into pure chaos. Owens claimed he’ll make sure there’s no fighting of any kind.
McDonagh became the number one contender to Breakker’s NXT Championship by defeating Tyler Bate last month. But Dragunov made his surprise return after that match, confronting both Breakker and McDonagh. It was Dragunov’s first appearance since having to relinquish the NXT United Kingdom Championship due to injury this July.
Halloween Havoc is airing live on Peacock/WWE Network this Saturday.
Appearances by Raquel Rodriguez, Rhea Ripley, Sonya Deville, and The OC have also been confirmed for tonight’s NXT. The show is going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, which was moved to Tuesday this week due to a scheduling conflict with the MLB playoffs.
A tag team match with Wes Lee & Oro Mensah facing Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams has been added to the card for tonight’s NXT as well. Lee, Mensah, and Hayes will be three of the participants in the ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship at Halloween Havoc.
The updated card for tonight’s show is listed below
WWE NXT (Tuesday, October 18) —
A triple threat match for the NXT Championship has been added to October 22’s Halloween Havoc.
Tuesday’s NXT opened with both Ilja Dragunov and JD McDonagh laying claim to being the next contender for the NXT Championship. Bron Breakker came out and addressed both men. McDonagh suggested that Breakker and Dragunov face each other, with the winner facing him. Breakker rejected that suggestion and instead called for a triple threat match at Halloween Havoc, which was eventually confirmed.
Dragunov made his return to NXT last week, confronting McDonagh after he won a number one contendership match, defeating Tyler Bate. Dragunov on NXT tonight said he never lost the NXT UK Championship as he had to vacate it earlier in the summer due to injury.
Here is the lineup so far for Halloween Havoc:
A former NXT United Kingdom Champion made his return in the show-closing angle of last night’s NXT.
For the first time since having to vacate the NXT UK title due to injury, Ilja Dragunov appeared on WWE programming last night. He confronted NXT Champion Bron Breakker and JD McDonagh after the main event of the episode.
In that main event, McDonagh defeated Tyler Bate to become the number one contender to Breakker’s NXT Championship. But McDonagh wasn’t the only person with their eyes on the title. As Breakker and McDonagh were going face-to-face, Dragunov’s music hit and he made his way out to the ring. The show ended with a staredown between all three.
There was also a significant development regarding the NXT North American Championship last night. Shawn Michaels informed Solo Sikoa that he would have to relinquish the title, and it was announced that there will be a five-way ladder match at NXT Halloween Havoc on Saturday, October 22 to crown the new North American Champion.
Sikoa defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the North American title last week, but Sikoa wasn’t supposed to be in the match. Wes Lee, who won a fan vote for the right to challenge Hayes, was taken out of the title match when he was attacked backstage by Hayes and Trick Williams.
Hayes and Oro Mensah (former NXT UK Tag Team Champion Oliver Carter) are the first two wrestlers to be confirmed for the Halloween Havoc ladder match. Lee and Tony D’Angelo will face off in a qualifier next week.
More coverage from last night —
WWE NXT video highlights —
Shawn Michaels forces Solo Sikoa to relinquish North American Championship
Nathan Frazer vs. Axiom (second match in best-of-three series)
Alba Fyre will take Mandy Rose’s title and burn her empire to the ground
Damon Kemp reveals he’s sabotaged Diamond Mine from the beginning
Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Toxic Attraction
The Schism are done waiting for acceptance
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade vs. The Dyad
Meiko Satomura thinks Roxanne Perez will be a champion soon
Wendy Choo vs. Cora Jade
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams get interrupted by Chase U
Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward vs. Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Gallus don’t want Briggs & Jensen joining their card game
Sanga vs. Von Wagner
Wes Lee will face Tony D’Angelo in a North American title qualifier next Tuesday
North American title qualifying match: Oro Mensah vs. Grayson Waller
Brutus Creed will attempt to end Damon Kemp’s career next week
Bron Breakker honors Connor’s Cure Thriver Landon “The Conqueror” Chase
Sol Ruca is coming to NXT next week
Tyler Bate vs. JD McDonagh number one contender’s match, Ilja Dragunov returns
NXT fallout: Carmelo Hayes is ready to become a three-time North American Champion
NXT fallout: Oro Mensah reacts to making his NXT debut
NXT fallout: Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark are coming for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles
NXT fallout: Xyon Quinn gives Quincy Elliott some advice
The main event of tonight’s NXT is set determine who gets another shot to dethrone Bron Breakker.
Tyler Bate and JD McDonagh meet tonight in an NXT Championship number one contender’s match. Bate and McDonagh are Breakker’s two most recent challengers. Breakker retained the NXT title against McDonagh at Heatwave last month, and then Breakker defeated Bate at Worlds Collide to unify the NXT Championship with the NXT United Kingdom Championship.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom’s best-of-three series resumes tonight. Axiom currently leads the series 1-0.
Also set for tonight are: Wendy Choo vs. Cora Jade, Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) vs. Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley, Sanga vs. Von Wagner, and the NXT debut of Oro Mensah. Mensah (Oliver Carter) is a former NXT UK Tag Team Champion.
We’ll also see if there’s any follow-up to last week’s tease of a different look, as the last episode ended with the NXT 2.0 logo morphing into something new.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The graphics for the shows are slightly different. The logo itself is new, but it
The show begins with a recap of last week, ending with Solo Sikoa supposedly winning the NXT North American Championship. However, it is a Dusty finish.
The opening scene is like something out of a telenovela.
Shawn Michaels voiced over the introductory recap. He would also appear in person as an authority figure in a skit that opens the show, where Sikoa and Carmelo Hayes report to Michael’s office.
Solo Sikoa vacates NXT North American Championship
Sikoa has the North American strap held over his shoulder, as he and Hayes begin to bicker back and forth. Michaels quickly cuts them off.
Michaels tells Sikoa that last week he competed in a match he was not sanctioned to be in, and Michaels points out Sikoa was not even a choice in the fan voting.
Michaels says the result where Sikoa won the North American title cannot stand, and Sikoa must forfeit. Michaels empathizes with Sikoa, saying he was been there and it sucks, but “rules are rules.”
Sikoa says he gets it, and he hands the belt to Michaels. He goes on to wish Sikoa luck wherever his career takes him on the main roster.
Before leaving, Sikoa turns to Hayes and says, “Told you I had next.”
Hayes smirks, and he replies, “Yeah, you had next.”
Hayes thanks Michaels for making the right decision, assuming he is the rightful champion.
Michaels says he tried to work the system, and he chides Hayes.
“Anytime you think you’re bigger than the business, the business is going to slap you in the face,” Shawn says to Hayes.
Michaels announces Hayes he will have to chance to qualify for a title match in six weeks at Halloween Havoc. Michaels hints at qualifying matches, but did not get into specifics. He says Hayes could join four others in getting the chance to compete in a ladder match for the North American Championship at Halloween Havoc.
Nathan Frazier defeats Axiom in the second match of a best-of-three series
Frazier pins Axiom to tie their series with one win apiece. Breathtaking finishing sequence as Frazier executes a superplex, and he hangs on to roll through and deliver a twisting suplex. Frazier then backflips off the top rope into a Phoenix splash.
Really good match, and their chemistry seems better in this second match of their series. They decide the winner of the series when they meet in a third match.
The Toxic Attraction trio is heading to the ring. Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolan have a match tonight, and they are joined by NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose.
Why Kemp Why
A pre-tap segment with Damon Kemp has him doing a sit-down interview. He explains his treachery. Kemp admits he framed Roderick Strong for being “on the take” with Tony D’Angelo. It was a swerve, as Kemp reveals he was the one accepting money from D’Angelo.
Strong found out, so Kemp attacked Strong to silence him. Kemp goes on to say he will only face the Creed Brothers in a one-on-one match, with the other brother basically being barred from ringside.
Ivy Nile is in the locker room, and she is angry about the revelations by Kemp. Tatum Paxley sympathizes with her, but Paxley tells her to focus. Nile fires back that she is focused.
Toxic Attraction (Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolan with Mandy Rose) defeat Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley
Jayne pins Nile to win the match, after Jayne & Dolan deliver tandem kicks.
Nile drops the fall, as the story of the match is her being preoccupied by Kemp’s admitting why he turned on Diamond Mine.
Vic Joseph on commentary notes that Jayne & Dolan have once again put the women’s tag division “on notice” with their win tonight.
The Schism speaks
The trio known as Schism is in the ring. First, the duo of The Dyad addresses the audience. There is a lot of jibber jabber about joining their little cult.
Joe Gacy addresses Cameron Grimes, and Gacy cuts a promo on Grimes for not joining Schism. Gacy warns Grimes the “wrath of Schism is imminent.”
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade run in, and they brawl with The Dyad. This leads into a tag team match.
The Dyad (Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler) defeats Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
Reid pins Enofe to win the match.
The match goes through a commercial break, and there is heat on Blade as they show returns from the break. Builds to a hot tag, and Enofe runs wild on The Dyad duo.
Enofe & Blade get a near fall after a double team move, which is like a Hart Attack where Balde execute a guillotine legdrop. The Dyad soon cuts them off.
A low bridge sends Blade tumbling over the ropes, and Enofe is double teamed by The Dyad. Reid jumps off the back Fowler into a Canadian Destroyer on Enofe.
They Dyad then deliver their tandem codebreaker finisher, and Reid pins Enofe to win the match.
Clips highlight the in-ring NXT debut of Quiny Elliott.
Raquel Gonzalez is featured in a clip for Hispanic Heritage Month.
A vignette with Roxanne Perez focuses on her match last week with Meiko Satomura. Aside from the great match, Cora Jade jumped Perez after the match in a sneak attack. Jade is then seen heading to the ring, with her kendo stick in hand, for a match that is coming up next.
Cora Jade defeats Wendy Choo
Jade pins Choo after an evenflow DDT.
Choo is now a far more serious character, and she fights hard despite taking a loss. Choo is attacked after the match by Lash Legend.
In the closing moments, Choo gives Jade a German suplex. Choo misses on a charge in corner, as she is tripped up. Jade then delivers a Jake Roberts DDT, and Jade covers Choo for a three count.
Lash Legend runs in after the match, and she levels Choo with a pump kick.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews NXT Champion Bron Breakker. He first thanks the fans for voting him the top superstar in NXT.
Breakker then discusses the number one contender’s match set for tonight. Breakker weighs in by putting over both, but Mitchell presses him to make a prediction for the main event tonight. Put on the spot, Breakker picks Tyler Bate to win the number one contender’s match.
Trick Williams is giving Carmelo Hayes a pep talk, as Hayes stands next to a ladder. Hayes and Williams then head towards gorilla. From there, they are heading to the ring.
Kelly Kincaid interviews Oro Mensah ahead of his in-ring debut tonight on NXT. Mensah’s match is now a qualifying match for the championship ladder match at Halloween Havoc. Mensah vows to qualify for the North American title match.
Chase U confronts Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Hayes is mad about losing the title. He demands the firing of the referee, the time keeper, and the music director that took part in the match he lost. Hayes declares he is still the rightful champion.
The theme song of Chase U interrupts the venting session. Andre Chase enters the soundstage alongside Thea Hail and Bodhi Hayward.
Chase teases delivering his catchphrase. Much to the chagrin of Williams, Chase drops the line, calling Hayes’ lost last week a “teachable moment.” With that, a brawl erupts. This leads to a tag team match.
Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward (with Thea Hail) defeats Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams
Chase pins Hayes to win, in what Vic Joseph on commentary screams is a “TEACHABLE MOMENT!”
Chase remains over huge with the live studio audience, he finally gets a much deserved win here. Jubilation from the Chase U cheering section seating with the studio audience.
Chase looked in peril, as he feeds into Hayes. Chase counters Hayes when Hayes goes for a springboard, and Chase uses his legs to tie Hayes into a cradle for a three count.
Gallus is playing cribbage when they are confronted by Briggs, Jensen, and Fallon Henley. Geek security team separates the two factions as they yell at each other.
Von Wagner (with Mr. Stone) defeats Sanga
Wagner pins Sanga in an anti-climatic finish. Mr. Stone interferes to turn the tide in Wagner’s favor.
Gorilla Monsoon would likely dub this an unstoppable force meeting the immovable object, and it was indeed a hoss fight.
They clubbed each other a bunch, as they traded blows.
Wagner is booted off the apron, and Sanga clotheslines him on the floor. Mr. Stone interferes, as he jumps into hands of Sanga. Stone is lifted for a chokeslam, but Wagner saves Stone. Wagner rams Sanga into the ring steps.
Wagner struggles to lift Sanga, before picking Sanga up in a fireman’s carry. Wagner then slams Sanga to the mat, and Wagner covers Sanga for a pinfall.
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo in a promo reveals he is facing Wes Lee next week in a qualifying match.
Cameron Grimes cuts a heated promo on Joe Gacy.
Oro Mensah defeats Grayson Waller in a North American Championship qualifying match
Mensah pins Waller after a distraction by Apollo Crews. In winning, Mensah qualifies for the ladder match at Halloween Havoc.
Mensah has some flashy moves and a good vibe, but this did little to explain or establish his character. At least he wins, albeit with help from a distraction.
Waller got a lot of offense, and he was seemingly in control when Apollo Crews appears at ringside to confront Waller. Crews has kayfabe blood dripping from the eye that Waller targeted in a previous match between the two.
Waller is distracted by Crews, allowing Mensah to leap through the ropes with a dive. Spinning heel kick by Mensah, and then he covers Waller for a pinfall.
The Creed Brother are training in their dojo. They are arguing over which one gets to face Damon Kemp in a singles match. They eventually agree that Brutus Creed will meet Kemp in a singles match next week.
Next week on NXT:
JD McDonagh defeats Tyler Bate in a number one contender’s match
McDonagh pins Tyler to become the number one contender. Fantastic match. NXT Champion Bron Breakker confronts McDonagh after the match, they are joined by Ilja Dragunov making a surprise appearance to end the show.
Breakker is at ringside as a guest commentator during the match.
Grappling at the outset, and they build to a double down. That leads into the final commercial break on the show.
They wrestle through the split-screen commercial break. Bate is trapped in a Boston crab, but McDonagh is eventually forced to break the hold. McDonagh takes a Harley Race bump over the ropes to the floor, and Bate follows up with a dive in front of Breakker at the announce desk.
Bate with a standing shooting star for a near fall. Bate gets another near fall after giving McDonagh an airplane spin. McDonagh soon cuts off Bate, and Bate is sent outside the ring after a low bridge. McDonagh follows up with a beautiful Asai moonsault. 450 splash by McDonagh for a near fall. Another two count for McDonagh, after he drops Bate into a brainbuster.
They trade strikes as a slugfest develops, and McDonagh is on rubber legs. He recovers to counter a Tyler Driver. Bate with some counters of his own, and Bate springs off the ropes into a running Spanish Fly from McDonagh. Clever spot as McDonagh seems to have gotten the advantage, until Bate decks him, and McDonagh crumples to the mat.
“Fight forever” chants from the studio audience.
They tease an avalanche Tyler Driver, but Bate is countered by a headbutt from McDonagh. Spanish Fly off the top, and McDonagh then delivers The Devil Inside. McDonagh covers Bate for a three count, and McDonagh wins to become the number one contender for the NXT Championship.
Breakker gets into the ring for a standoff with McDonagh. Suddenly, Ilja Dragunov returns in a surprise appearance. Dragunov gets in the ring and he confronts Breakker and McDonagh. The show closes with a triple staredown, as the plot thickens.
The fallout from Worlds Collide took place on last night’s NXT.
After facing off in the main event of Worlds Collide, NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Tyler Bate were partners last night. Breakker saving Bate from an attack by Gallus led to Breakker & Bate teaming up against Joe & Mark Coffey in the main event. Breakker took out Joe Coffey with a spear at the end of the match, then Bate pinned Mark Coffey after hitting the Tyler Driver ’97.
As Breakker and Bate celebrated, JD McDonagh ambushed them and laid out Bate. McDonagh retreated through the crowd before Breakker could retaliate.
McDonagh had defeated Wes Lee earlier in the night. The show also saw Meiko Satomura, Ricochet, and Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. pick up wins to rebound from their losses at Worlds Collide.
More coverage from last night —
WWE NXT video highlights —
Bron Breakker saves Tyler Bate from Gallus’ attack
Pretty Deadly call themselves the greatest tag team of all time
Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. vs. Toxic Attraction
Apollo Crews isn’t afraid of the unknown
Wes Lee vs. JD McDonagh
NXT 2.0 will celebrate its one-year anniversary next week
Meiko Satomura vs. Roxanne Perez
Damon Kemp says Diamond Mine never gave him the respect he deserves
Arianna Grace is the solution to Kiana James’ problem
Ricochet vs. Trick Williams
Cameron Grimes rejects an offer to join the D’Angelo family
Sol Ruca is coming to NXT soon
Fans will pick the stipulation for next week’s NXT Tag Team title match
Nathan Frazer and Axiom’s best-of-three series begins
“The SuperDiva” Quincy Elliott will debut on NXT next week
Fans will also choose Carmelo Hayes’ challenger for next week
Javier Bernal argues with Hank Walker and NXT security
Bron Breakker & Tyler Bate vs. The Coffey Brothers
NXT fallout: Roxanne Perez reacts to facing Meiko Satomura, responds to Cora Jade
A solid episode of NXT 2.0 took place this week that featured an awesome match between Roxanne Perez and Meiko Satomura, Toxic Attraction in action, JD McDonagh attacking Tyler Bate, Bate and Breakker teaming, and much more!
If you want to stay up to date with the happenings of NXT 2.0, tune into Speak Now Pro Wrestling with Denise Salcedo!
Title bouts and grudge matches make up the card for tonight’s special Heatwave edition of NXT.
The NXT Championship, NXT Women’s Championship, and NXT North American Championship will all be on the line tonight. Bron Breakker defends his NXT Championship against JD McDonagh, Zoey Stark challenges Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship, and Carmelo Hayes and Giovanni Vinci clash with the North American title on the line.
Former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade will face off for the first time tonight. Last month, Jade betrayed Perez and cost her a shot to become NXT Women’s Champion.
Tonight’s show also features what may be the final chapter in the rivalry between Legado del Fantasma and the D’Angelo family. Santos Escobar will take on Tony D’Angelo in a street fight tonight. If Escobar wins, all of Legado del Fantasma is free from the D’Angelo family. If D’Angelo wins, Escobar is banned from NXT.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show begins with Paul Heyman narrating a video package where he runs down the card for tonight’s supercard. Heyman voicing over the intro to a show titled “Heatwave” is fitting since Heyman presided over several “Heatwave” supercards in ECW during the late ’90s.
Aside from some different graphics, the soundstage basically looks the same as it does every week. However, the live studio audience seems to have a ton of energy, and they make it feel more like a supercard than the setting itself. The crowd is lively from the start.
Opening bout on the card is a title match. Two foes that are often portrayed like heels clash in this bout, so shades of grey type of storytelling.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeats Giovanni Vinci to retain his title
Hayes pins Vinci despite interference from Williams backfiring on them. Really good opener to kick off the show.
They get going and the crowd comes alive as the pace and intensity soon quicken. Double down before the show cuts to a commercial break. Trick Williams distracts Vinci during the break, allowing Hayes to take over.
One highlight is Vinci executing a rolling fireman’s carry slam, and then transitioning into a springboard moonsault. Hayes at one point springboards backwards into a guillotine legdrop.
Vinci shines a ton, with more high spot highlights. Vinci does a double springboard into a flying crossbody off the top rope to the floor into the waiting arms of Hayes and Williams. Vinci does another even more impressive double springboard into a moonsault press.
Vinci goes for a cover, and Williams interferes by putting Hayes’ foot on the rope to break the count. Moments later, Hayes is turned inside out with a short-arm clothesline, and Vinci goes for a powerbomb.
Williams jumps into the ring to interfere again. Vinci powerbombs Hayes onto Williams, and Vinci gives Williams a powerbomb. Vinci then goes to powerbomb Hayes a second time, but Hayes counters him. Hayes spikes Vinci with a hurricanrana, and Hayes hooks a leg to score a pinfall.
The top singles champions meet in the parking lot after arriving to the building. NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose, who is flanked by Toxic Attraction, and NXT Champion Bron Breakker run into each other. They say we will see who remains champ after tonight.
Von Wagner, alongside Mr. Stone, cut a promo in a pre-taped vignette.
Gallus jumps Diamond Mine in surprise attack
Julius Creed in a promo from social media hints something is going tonight with Diamond Mine. The faction heads to the ring for a summit of sorts. NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers are joined by Roderick Strong and Damon Kemp.
Julius on the house mic at first puts over Strong by saying they jumped on the chance for him to coach them. However, Julius says recently someone is trying to bring down Diamond Mine, and he wants to call that person out.
Julius then calls out Strong to his face, and Strong defends himself by saying he started the group. Strong puts over the Creeds with gushing words. He calls them one of the best tag teams in WWE. Strong would put them up against the Usos any day. He calls them the future.
Julius responds by saying they are not the future, they are “now.” Julius also claims Strong will stab them in the back. Brutus asks his brother if he is sure, and Julius nods. Brutus them says he has his brother’s back. That puts the Creeds on one side facing Strong and Kemp.
Strong tells Julius to be careful with his next words. Julius then throws to a video clip from three weeks ago in an eight-man tag involving Diamond Mine. Julius claims the footage shows Strong costing them the match on purpose.
Strong grows angry and begins yelling at Julius. Suddenly, the faction known as Gallus runs in to attack Diamond Mine. Gallus is a group from NXT UK consisting of Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey and Wolfgang. They beat down the four members of Diamond Mine, and they leave them laying.
Gallus’ theme songs plays as they pose over the fallen Diamond Mine. The implosion of Diamond Mine will have to wait, as Gallus has arrived in NXT 2.0.
Cora Jade defeats Roxanne Perez
Jade pins Perez after they tussle over a kendo stick.
The grudge match begins with a melee as Perez rushes into the ring to attack Jade as the bell sounds. Perez shows a ton of fire at the start, but Jade soon cuts her off.
Perez is a babyface in peril as the show goes into a commercial break. Jade is working over Perez when the show returns from the break. Perez fights back, and they fight to a stalemate.
They trade strikes, and they go on to trade near falls. Jade retrieves the kendo stick she now brings them her everywhere she goes like she is The Sandman. Swing and miss by Jade, and Perez grabs the kendo stick.
Perez threatens to hit Jade with the stick, but she pauses to reflect on it. Ever the babyface, she decides against it, and she throws down the stick. Jade jumps her, and Jade delivers a Cactus Jack double arm DDT. The move was supposed to be executed on the stick, and the announcers on commentary sold it like it did. Jade then covers Perez for a three count.
A skit backstage leads to Gallus challenging Brooks & Jensen to a title match for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship. Looks like the tag title match is set for next week on NXT.
Apollo Crews wishes Bron Breakker luck ahead of his title match tonight. Before leaving, Crews takes a long look at the NXT Championship belt. Breakker notices Crews looking at the belt.
Tony D’Angelo (with Stacks) defeats Santos Escobar (with Legado del Fantasma) an “all or nothing” street fight
D’Angelo pins Escobar in a really good match. Probably D’Angelo’s best match so far, and Escobar was great.
Escobar strikes first by jumping D’Angelo before the bell. Escobar hurls a folding chair at D’Angelo just before the ring calls for the bell to start the match.
A hurricanrana sends D’Angelo onto the chair, and Escobar gets some early near falls. Early part of the match is all Escobar, as he is in complete control.
Stacks jumps off the apron into a senton on Legado del Fantasma, which was an odd time for such a spot it took all focus off the match itself. Stacks takes a clothesline on the floor moments later as a receipt.
D’Angelo smacks Escobar with trash can lid, and D’Angelo is in control on offense for the first time as the show cuts to a commercial break. D’Angelo works over Escobar during the break, and D’Angelo has Escobar’s arm trapped behind the ring steps as the show returns from commercials.
D’Angelo targets an arm. He also suplexes Escobar on a pile of folding chairs on the floor. D’Angelo continues to work over Escobar, and D’Angelo begins to slap him around. D’Angelo also taunts him. That fires up Escobar, and he answers back at D’Angelo with strikes.
Escobar is on fire and starts to fly. Escobar launches himself like a torpedo through the ropes into a tope suicida. Stacks on the outside went to find a crowbar that was stashed away, but Legado del Fantasma found it first, and Stacks is laid out with the crowbar. Escobar tried to get a pair of brass knux, but the knux get dropped on the mat.
Escobar goes out to ringside to get the crowbar from Elektra Lopez. She takes a bump when D’Angelo collides with her. Escobar rages after seeing Lopez, but Escobar hits him with a low blow.
Double down after they get back into the ring. The crowbar lay on one side of the ring and the brass knux on the other. They glare at each other and each glances at a weapon. They both rush to grab a weapon. Escobar grabs the brass knux, and D’Angelo gets the crowbar.
D’Angelo is first to strike, landing the final blow. D’Angelo hits Escobar with the crowbar as Escobar is throwing a punch with the knux. D’Angelo then covers Escobar for a pinfall. With the loser leaves town type of stipulation, Escobar now must leave NXT 2.0.
Indi Hartwell is backstage when she is given some artwork supposedly from Dexter Lumis. Blair Davenport (Bea Priestley) snatches the artwork away and rips it up. Davenport, in what is her NXT 2.0 debut, declares she will be the next NXT Women’s Champion.
A hype video announces Wendy Choo vs. Tiffany Stratton in a “lights out match” next Tuesday on NXT.
A QR code shown on screen links to a picture of Zoey Stark standing over Mandy Rose with Stark holding the women’s title belt high overhead. Foreshadowing perhaps?
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defeats Zoey Stark to retain her title
Rose pins Stark, after Rose uses Stark’s own knee brace against her.
The match goes through a commercial break, with Rose working a leg. Rose targets Stark’s knee as she works her over. Nevertheless, Stark fights back.
Stark continues to sell the leg, as they fight on. Stark delivers her modified GTS finisher, but Rose rolls out of the ring to keep from taking a pin.
Stark goes for a wrecking ball dropkick, but her injured knee gets caught in the ropes. Rose kicks at Stark’s knee while Stark is trapped in the ropes. Rose then attempts to take off Stark’s knee brace.
Starks counters Rose to gets some near falls, and they go on to trade near falls. Starks takes a jumping knee from Rose, but Stark kicks out. Rose then puts Stark’s knee brace on Rose’s own knee.
With Stark’s brace on her knee, Rose hits a jumping knee strike. Rose then covers Stark for a three count, and Rose retains the title.
Quincy Elliott cut a promo proclaiming himself “The Super Diva.”
Grayson Waller bickers with McKenzie Mitchell in a backstage interview. They argue about Apollo Crews. Waller announces that next week on NXT is the debut of a talk segment called “The Waller Effect.” Waller invites Crews to be his first guest.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker defeats JD McDonagh to retain his title
Breakker pins McDonagh to win. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate confronts Breakker after the match.
Breakker during his entrance uses a sledgehammer to smash a box with “J.D.” painted on the box. This was supposed to be another special entrance for the champ, but it is lackluster. Similarly, the match is also kind of lackluster in terms of drama. It is seemingly all about making Breakker look good, often at the expense of McDonagh.
Some chain wrestling early on. Breakker lifts McDonagh into a delayed vertical suplex. Cat-and-mouse chase for a moment, and Breakker catches his prey. Standing moonsault by Breakker for a two count.
Breakker manhandles McDonagh, and McDonagh takes a lariat. He is trouble, and the champ dominates as the show cuts to a commercial break. McDonagh apparently pops his shoulder back into place during the break.
McDonagh also cuts off Breakker during the commercial break, and McDonagh is finally able to take control. Breakker fires up as the show returns from the break, but McDonagh eventually cuts him off again.
McDonagh targets Breakker’s neck, but Breakker soon begins a comeback. Breakker explodes with shoulder tackles, and he follows with a Rick Steiner powerslam.
Breakker posts himself when charging into a corner, as McDonagh sidesteps him. McDonagh then applies a crossface on Breakker, but Breakker reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Super Frankensteiner nets Breakker a two and half count. McDonagh answers back with a Spanish Fly off the top rope. McDonagh follows with a brainbuster for a close near fall.
McDonagh rolls through on a missed moonsault, and Breakker spears him. Breakker measures and delivers a second spear. Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, signaling the end of the match.
McDonagh is not done yet, though. He rises to his feet with blood pouring out of his mouth. Through bloodstained teeth, McDonagh flashes a sinister smile. McDonagh stretches out his arms, opening himself up for a third spear. Breakker obliges him, and he spears McDonagh a third time. Breakker lifts McDonagh into a miliarty press, and Breakker drops him into a powerslam. Three counts later, and Breakker retains via pinfall.
NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate appears after the match, and Bate gets in the ring to confront Breakker. Bate holds up his title belt, and Breakker holds up his title belt as their face off closes the show.
Looks like NXT UK is invading NXT 2.0, or something like that.
JD McDonagh made his return to NXT tonight, attacking Bron Breakker at the end of the show.
After Breakker had retained the NXT Championship at Great American Bash tonight, Breakker was walking to the back, holding up the title. It was then that McDonagh attacked Breakker from behind, laying him out with a side slam into a nearby table that was filled with food. McDongah told McDonagh that he was the ‘necessary evil’ in NXT as the show closed.
Vignettes for McDonagh, the former Jordan Devlin, had been airing on NXT in recent weeks. On tonight’s show another vignette aired with McDonagh saying that next week, everything about NXT would change.
McDonagh signed with the WWE in 2017, participating in the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, making it to the quarterfinals. Since then, he was primarily wrestled for the NXT UK brand. At Worlds Collide in 2020, he defeated Angel Garza to win the NXT Crusierweight Championship. However, he was unable to defend it in the United States due to COVID-19 restrictions until the following year, where he lost the title to Santos Escobar on the second night of NXT Takeover Stand & Deliver.
Back in May, McDonagh was written out of NXT UK after losing a NXT UK Championship match to Ilja Dragunov.
Jordan Devlin has received a new WWE name, and will soon debut on NXT 2.0.
IT was announced during this week’s NXT episode that Devlin will now be known as JD McDonagh, as the new character name was debuted during a video vignette.
McDonagh was portrayed as a wealthy person with a penthouse in Dublin, Ireland, who only leaves his home if it is worth his while. He was then shown driving a vintage automobile.
McDonagh was the loser in an NXT UK Championship match on the May 12 NXT UK show, which also had a loser leaves town stipulation.
McDonagh joins Pretty Deadly, Alba Fyre, and Nathan Frazer as talent that has been moved from the NXT UK brand to the NXT 2.0 brand.
As Devlin, McDonagh debuted in WWE in the NXT UK Championship Tournament in 2017. He had a stint in an earlier incarnation of NXT, holding the Cruiserweight Championship in 2020 and 2021. A pandemic-related travel ban kept Devlin out of the country and unable to defend the title on the main NXT brand for most of his run.
