Tonight’s live WWE NXT is the go-home for this weekend’s Vengeance Day premium live event.
After turning on Sol Ruca last week, Zaria will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne for the title. Zaria confronted Jayne last week after her attack on Ruca helped Jayne retain, saying that if she didn’t grant her a title match, what happened to Ruca would happen to her.
Ricky Saints will make an appearance for an Absolute Experience segment. Starks will face NXT Champion Joe Hendry this Saturday.
The women’s Speed title tournament continues with Wren Sinclair taking on Nikkita Lyons with the winner advancing to face Thea Hail.
Before their match at the PLE, NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame and challenger Tatum Paxley will have a face-to-face while Jaida Parker and Blake Monroe will have their own confrontation ahead of Saturday.
In a trios bout, Hank Walker, Tank Ledger and Shiloh Hill will take on the Vanity Project (Jackson Drake, Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor).
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NXT is back in the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
Opening the show is the new NXT North American Champion Myles Borne, and he enters wearing a suit and holding his recently won title belt over his shoulder. Borne gets into the ring for an opening monologue. He would eventually be confronted by former champ Ethan Page, who is looking for a rematch with Borne. But first, the studio audience chants “you deserve it” at Borne.
“Damn it feels so good to hold this title and hear my name announced as champion,” Borne begins his address.
Borne remarks how a new champ will usually will soak up the moment and tell a sob story, but not this time. Borne says instead of thanking the fans and his family for their support, he wants to thanks his biggest haters. Borne thanks Ethan Page, who remarked in their feud that Borne lacked a “killer instinct” within himself. That poured gasoline on a fire inside of Borne and unleashed a demon.
If you push him, Borne says he will push back. He is no Boy Scout, and Borne says his is no angel. If you had to show that demon side of himself to keep the title, then so be it.
Borne ended his monologue by posing with the title after ending with his new catchphrase: “Can you hear me now?”
Ethan Page then interrupts and confronts Page. The former champ says he can hear Borne, but all he heard was Borne thanking him. Page insists Borne should repay him with a rematch for the title. Page claims Borne got lucky last week in winning the title. Page brags about himself and his accolades since arriving in NXT.
“If there is anybody in this locker room that deserves a rematch, it’s the guy that carried this brand for the last two years,” Page boasts.
Borne tells Page he knew Page would come out here. If Page wants a rematch, Borne says he will go talk with NXT General Manager Robert Stone. Page wants the match tonight.
Out comes GM Stone, and he is happy to book a rematch, but they should take the time to put on wrestling gear. Page roars with a challenge to fight right now, as Borne is taking off his suit jacket and unbuttoning his sleeves. Stone agrees to book the impromptu match, and he calls for a referee as a hockey fight breaks out.
Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship
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They fight is on with him dressed in slacks and dress shoes. They at least both remove their jackets. The fighting soon spills outside the ring, and the roll onto the broadcast booth. Borne is fired up as he pummels Page on the desk, while the show itself cuts to its first commercial break.
The fighting continues through a split-screen break, and the show returns to the break with a production snafu that took a few seconds to swipe away from picture-in-picture. Meanwhile, Borne rips Page’s clothing trying to keep Page from fleeing the ring. Page eventually had his pants torn away, and he was wrestling in his boxer briefs.
Page with a loaded punch for a near fall. Borne kicks out and a moment later counters Page’s finisher as they go home. Borne applies an ankle lock, which is a callback to an injury angle in their feud. Page kicks free, and his shoes come off in Borne’s hands.
For the finish, Page fumbles with his ripped pants. Borne still has one shoe in his hand that he conceals from the ref, while giving Page’s pants to the referee. The ref goes to get rid of the pants by tossing what is left out of the ring with his back is turned to Borne. He smacks Page with his own shoe, and Borne executes his Borne Again finisher. Borne then hooks a leg to pin him. Great match. And still…
Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Ethan Page via pinfall to retain his title.
— Sarah Schreiber is a roving reporter who tries to interview Zaria, but she does not want to talk while arriving at the building. Also outside are Darkstate, who are waiting for Tony D’Angelo. Robert Stone convinces them to go inside the building. Great timing because Tony D’Angelo arrives in a sports car, and he retrieves a crowbar from the trunk before heading inside.
Jaida Parker brawls with Blake Monroe
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Out comes Blake Monroe to cut a promo on Jaida Parker, who then interrupts Monroe and confronts her. That leads to a brawl where Parker stands tall when the smoke clears.
Monroe claims that Parker interfering in Monroe’s speed match last week was reassurance for Monroe. She was reassured because Parker still needs her. Monroe remarks that worst thing anyone can do in NXT is interrupt her. Monroe keeps cutting a promo on Parker until Parker confront her.
Parker cuts a good promo on Monroe, and Monroe tries to retort. Parker cuts her off, and basically says without her gimmick Monroe is a “mediocre bitch.”
Jaida then slaps Blake hard across the face, and they begin to brawl. Monroe is sent packing as the studio audience chants for Miss Parker.
— The Vanity Project trio (NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes along with WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake) approach Ricky Saints and Ethan Page in a locker room skit. The heel trios apologizes for not having Page’s back in his impromptu match. They are told that is okay, and they can leaves. Saints then leaves after saying he must get ready for his performance tonight. This was a dumb and unnecessary skit.
— Another skit sets up Jasper Troy against Eli Knight and Sean Legacy in triple threat match. The winner meets Speed Champion Elio LeFluer in a title match.
Nikita Lyons vs. Wren Sinclair in the Speed tournament match
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Sinclair won with Cattle Mutilation with seconds remaining in the three-minute time limit. In winning, Sinclair moves on to the tournament final to face Thea Hail. Whoever wins that match challenges WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley.
Match result: Wren Sinclair defeated Nikkia Lyons via submission to advance to the tournament final.
— NXT Champion Joe Hendry and North American Champion Myles Borne interact in a backstage skit. Hendry makes a joke about being deaf and immediately apologizes for it. Borne mocks Hendry with his pose and they laugh it off.
— Kelani Jordan goes to Shayna Baszler’s dojo to train for her Underground match. This was a cool cameo for Baszler, and it builds up the gimmick match between Jordan and Lola Vice at Vengeance Day.
Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame face-to-face
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Paxley and Dame face off in a pre-taped segment where they sit across from each other in front of a dollhouse. Dame first cuts a promo on Paxley, but Paxley responds with a confident response. Paxley then walks away before Dame flips out and wrecks the dollhouse in a fit of rage.
Shiloh Hill, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Jackson Drake) in a six-man tag team match
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Good match that goes through two commercial breaks. Vanity Project jumps the babyface trio during their entrance. The trios match unofficially begins before the bell, and the match gets underway during a commercial break. Much of it airs in picture-in-picture, and what started as a brawl settles into a traditional six-man tag when the show returns from the break.
Heat on Walker as the heel trio works him over. Hot tag to Tank, and he cleans house on Vanity Project. At ringside, Hank is posted by Jackson Drake. Nevertheless, Tank fights off the heels. As the fighting against spills outside the ring, Tank is trapped in the ring steps by the team formerly known as Swipe Right. Drake then dropkicks Tank from behind, and Tank looks dead as the show cuts to another commercial break.
Hot tag after the show returns from the break, and Shiloh Hill runs wild. Hill is soon cut off and Vanity Project gets a near fall on him. Hank and Drake tag in and face off. Drake lifts Hank to deliver a Burning Hammer.
Parade of high spots in the closing moments. Hank with a Bossman slam on Drake to set up a tandem spot where Hank & Tank sandwich Drake with stereo splashes. Hank & Tank then sail through the ropes with a tope each. Meanwhile, Hill leaps through the ropes to spear Drake in the ring. Hill then executes his combo finisher where he does Saito suplex into a falling neckbreaker. Hill then covers Drake for the deciding pinfall. In winning the match for his team, Hill gets a pin on the Evolve champ. That should set up a title match in the near future.
Match result: Shiloh Hill, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes via pinfall when Hill pinned Drake.
— Before the six-man competitors can exit, Blake Monroe pounces on the announce desk for a promo. She is now dressed in all black as she broods over Jaida Parker. Monroe announces a street fight with her and Parker for Vengeance Day.
Out comes Jaida Parker to once again confront Monroe. They are pulled apart by the winners of the six-man a tag and a slew of referees.
— Darkstate is backstage and they are livid. Osiris Griffin is down selling an apparent ambush by Tony D’Angelo. Darkstate all yell at Robert Stone. Saquon Shugars and Cutler James stay with Griffin while Dion Lennox vows to call out D’Angelo. Lennox is heading to the ring as the show heads into a commercial break.
— Dr. Martin talks with Lola Vice about a fracture in her right hand. The doctor points to an x-ray as he explains the injury to Vice. Dr. Martin advises Vice to not compete, and he says there is great risk in Vice doing the Underground match. Vice shakes her head and tells the doctor she cannot be out that long. She is the most reliable wrestler on the roster, and she vows to continue. Vice promises not to hurt her hand again, and Vice says she signed away any liability to WWE. The doctor reluctantly agrees with Vice, but he insists she come see him again after her match.
— Dion Lennox is headed to call out Tony D’Angelo. Lennox does just that from the ring. Instead of being the hunter, Lennox is now the hunted, as pointed out by D’Angelo when he addresses Lennox. D’Angelo is standing in a perch overlooking the ring as he cuts a promo on Lennox and Darkstate.
D’Angelo no longer has the over-the-top Italian accent. D’Angelo proceeds to cut a good promo on him seeking vengeance against Darkstate. Fittingly enough, D’Angelo clashes with Lennox this Saturday at Vengeance Day.
Lennox threatens to meet D’Angelo in the parking lot, and D’Angelo responds by saying bring it on. D’Angelo threatens to beat him up in the parking lot before dragging his lifeless body back into the ring to beat him.
— Sarah Schreiber interviews NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, alongside her stablemates Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid of Fatal Influence. Jayne cuts a promo where she mentions the breakup between Sol Ruca and Zaria. Jayne teasing interference by Fatal Influence as she vows to retain the title. Jayne wants “smooth sailing” heading towards Stand & Deliver.
— NXT Champ Myles Borne talks with Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights in a backstage skit. Borne thanks them for his time as stablemates in No Quarter Catch Crew. Borne leaves and Dempsey laments how unsuccessful they are compared to Borne. In walks Lexis King and his cohorts Uriah Connors, Arianna Grace and Stacks. They are still trying to recruit Dempsey into their faction, much to the chagrin of Heights.
Jacy Jayne (with Fatal Influence) vs. Zaria for the NXT Women’s Championship
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Despite me hating the finish, this was a great to watch before a run-in. They had a good, long match that went through a commercial break. Before the show cut to commercials, Jayne sandwiches Zaria in the ring steps with a cannonball senton on the floor. Zaria was in control beforehand, as she looked strong at the start of the match. Henley and Reid interfere, which allows Jayne to gain an underhanded advantage ahead of the commercial break.
Superplex spot soon after the show returns from the break. Jayne takes the superplex from Zaria, and a slugfest soon develops. They trade strikes and momentum rises for Zaria. They then trade near falls.
Near fall after Zaria lands a lariat. Jayne runs into a knee before taking German suplexes from Zaria, and Zaria runs into a flying knee from Jayne for another near fall. Zaria ducks Jayne’s finisher and delivers a spear. Zaria goes for her finisher, but Jayne escapes and waffles Zaria with a Rolling Encore.
Double down as Sol Ruca runs down to the entrance ramp. Ruca clotheslines Reid and superkicks Henley at ringside. Ruca then jumps into the ring and springboard into a dual Sol Snatcher that drops both Jayne and Zaria. The referee calls for the bell. No official word, but I assume a no-contest. The mach this thrown out. Really good match until the interference by Sol Ruca. The finish seems to set up a triple threat, which must be one of the most over-booked gimmick matches in modern wrestling.
Match result: NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and Zaria wrestled to a no-contest after interference by Sol Ruca.
— Ricky Saints is heading to the ring for his concert performance.
— Robert Stone is interviewed in his office. Glitch in the feed on my local CW affiliate, so I missed much of this interview.
Ricky Saints’ Absolute Experience
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Spoofing the concert segments made famous by The Rock from years past, Saints gets in the ring and sits down. He pick up a guitar and hypes up the concert to come. He proceeds to do a terrible rendition of Joe Hendry’s theme song, with new lyrics from Saints. This was deliberately terrible. It was also hard to watch. It was dying a death.
Saints orders a roadie to get him a different chair. That failed to save the segment. Saints next complains about the microphone, and he orders a roadie to fix the mic. The segment drags on with Saints complaining about his guitar. He wants another guitar as well. Saints is handed a different guitar by a roadie, but the roadie will not unhand the guitar. Surprise, it’s Joe Hendry! He saves the segment with a guitar shot on Saints. The guitar shatters on the back of Saints.
Vanity Project runs in to save Ricky Saints from Hendry’s finishing move. Myles Borne runs down to help Hendry clean house and clear the ring of heels.
The NXT Champion and the North American Champion stand tall and celebrate in the ring in the final scene on the go-home episode ahead of Vengeance Day.
