Tag: jordynne grace

WWE NXT live results: TNA Knockouts title on the line

Posted on by Chris Aiken

NXT’s Halloween Havoc fallout episode takes place tonight with a card highlighted by two women’s title matches.

The TNA Knockouts Championship will be on the line with Kelani Jordan defending against Jordynne Grace. A former TNA star before arriving in NXT, Grace is looking to reclaim a title that she has held three times before.

New Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey also has a title defense scheduled, taking on Lash Legend.

A new number one contender for men’s Speed Champion El Grande Americano will be determined in a tournament final. The matchup pits Axiom against Jasper Troy.

Plus, former No Quarter Catch Crew members Tavion Heights and Myles Borne meet in singles action.

We should also get appearances by NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley, Women’s North American Champion Blake Monroe, and NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState following their Halloween Havoc title wins.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

NXT is on the air from the Performance Center in Orlando in front of a live studio audience. The results and happenings at NXT Halloween Havoc are recapped in a video package. It somewhat reminded me of WCW Halloween Havoc in 1999 since both shows were overbooked.

After the canned intro, Trick Williams is in the television control room ranting and raving at production staff. Trick is hijacking the show like he is NWO in 1996. He screams about this being his house, and he runs things. He orders no one touch any buttons as he storms his way into the building, and Trick grabs a microphone on his way to the ring.

Trick says to shut up because grown folks are talking. He then proceeds to say he beat NXT Champion Ricky Saints “like a bum.” Trick calls Saints a bum numerous times, prompting NXT General Manager Ava to interrupt Trick’s diatribe.

Ava tells Trick a temper tantrum will get him nowhere. Ava insists there is no controversy from the title match, and Trick simply lost. Trick strongly disagreed. He rants some more, and Trick claims to the fans support him. The studio audience chants “Trick got whopped,” which plays on common chant during Trick’s segments and matches.

Trick cuts a promo listing some of his recent victories over the likes of Carmelo Hayes, Ethan Page and Pete Dunne. That includes some fights in the “underground” and last man standing. With that, out comes Ricky Saints with his NXT championship belt in hand. Saints runs to the ring while yelling into a microphone, saying that it is tough talk for “a guy that got his ass whipped on Saturday.”

Saints rushes into the ring with security rushing in close behind him. Saints and Trick have a silly pull-apart brawl, as this feud seemingly must continue.

— Sponsored by an insurance company, a video package hypes the Speed tournament final with Axiom against Jasper Troy, which is up next.

Axiom vs. Jasper Troy in of the WWE Speed Championship Number One Contender’s Tournament

—

On commentary, the announcers likened this to tales old as time where speed meets brute strength. That includes David against Goliath. Booker T also likens the match to “The Tortoise and the Hare”. Sure, Booker.

That was indeed David against Goliath, except the Goliath character won this time. The match was short of course, given the time limit. There was some cat and mouse. Axiom used his speed, but this match was more about getting Troy over. For the finish, Troy gives Axiom a Black Hole Slam. Troy then pins him to become the number one contender to the WWE Speed Championship. His opponent, El Grande Americano, was sitting in the crowd watching the match.

Match result: Jasper Troy defeated Axiom via pinfall in the finals of the WWE Speed Championship Number One Contender’s Tournament.

— Sol Ruca is backstage talking with Ava. Alongside them is Zaria. Ava says Ruca is making “progress” with her injury, but not sure when Ruca will be cleared to compete. Ruca forfeits the WWE Speed Women’s Championship to Ava, much to the dismay of Zaria. Ruca had also declined to have anyone sub for her, and Zaria storms off.

— The Culling is heading towards the ring.

New women’s champ spins the wheel to make a deal

Newly-crowned NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley is joined by The Culling, as they celebrate her win with an in-ring promo. Paxley shouts “We did it!” as chants of “Tatum” fill the sound stage. She dreamed of this moment, she says before calling Halloween Havoc the greatest night of her life. Paxley goes to cut a babyface promo, much to the chagrin of her heel faction.

Paxley wanted to share the win with everyone. Not because of who holds the title, but what the title represents. Paxley talks about the journey getting there, and how she made the most of her opportunity. If a creepy weirdo like her can become the women’s champ, then anyone can. Paxley wants to be a fighting champion.

Izzi Dame, Paxley’s stablemate in The Culling, interjects trying to talk sense into Paxley. Dame does not picture Paxley as a fighting champion, and Tatum can lose the title fast as she won it. Dame mention it took Paxley four years and countless title challenges, and Dame insists that Paxley make challengers earn their shot like Paxley did.

Paxley dismisses Dame’s concerns, and Paxley herself insists this is going to be amazing. Paxley mentions fans were upset about no wheel at Halloween Havoc, so she brought it back to determine a challenger. A gleeful Paxley hurries to the wheel gimmick that is on the entrance ramp. Notably, Dame’s name is not on the wheel. Paxley says they would never fight over the title as she wants nothing to come between their friendship.

Paxley spins the wheel and it stops on the name of Lola Vice. Paxley is pumped up, and her first title defense is set for later tonight.

— Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey enlists the help of Wren Sinclair to be her second for the title match that is up next.

Kendal Grey vs. Lash Legend for the Evolve Women’s Championship

—

Grey really shined here. They were given a lot of time, and this could possibly be among the longest matches in the career of Lash Legend. Especially so with no smoke and mirrors.

The match goes through a commercial break. Legend lands a big boot, and she is standing tall as the show cuts to commercials. The big boot spot would play a part in the finish. As they go home, Legend misses a big boot. Grey counters to deliver her flatliner finisher (“Shades of Grey”), and she scores a pin on Legend. And still…

Match result: Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey defeated Lash Legend via pinfall to retain her title.

—

Myles Borne vs. Tavion Heights

—

Good match that was given time, as it went through a split-screen commercial break.

Josh Briggs is at ringside at the announce desk for guest commentary, and Briggs goes on to play a part in the match. Heights finds himself outside the ring near the desk. He exchanges sharp words with Briggs, and Briggs jumps on the apron after Heights rolls into the ring. Briggs is knocked off the apron by Heights, but the distraction allowed Borne to clothesline Heights out of the ring. Borne follows up with a plancha on both.

Back in the ring they are going back-and-forth down the home stretch, when Borne counters a belly-to-belly into an inside cradle. Borne scores a pinfall with the small package.

Match result: Myles Borne defeated Tavion Heights.

Borne and Heights shake hands after the match, but they are soon each attacked in post-match angles. Briggs brawls with Heights at ringside as security tries to break them up. Meanwhile, Trick Williams rushes into the ring with a metal folding chair. Borne takes a chair shot from Trick, and Trick grabs a microphone.

Trick against calls out Ricky Saints as he rants and raves. Trick is ranting and looking towards the entrance ramp. “Stone Cold” Ricky Saints jumps the barricade for a surprise attack on Trick. They have a pull-apart brawl. I have lost track of the number of pull-apart brawls on this show. Please give it a rest. Security could use a break.

— Chelsea Green in a cameo appearance is talking with Ethan Page backstage. Page, who is still NXT North American Champion, hypes up their mixed tag team title match on a AAA show this Sunday. As they talk, Thea Hail walks by and name drops Joe Hendry. Say his name and he appears, and he does appear by jumping out of a trash bin like a jack in the box. As Page and Green leave, Hail comes back to push Hendry away as he rides in the trash bin. This was an odd skit.

Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice for the NXT Women’s Championship

—

This was more of an angle than a match, as the heel trio of Fatal Influence interfere to render a no-contest. Former champ Jacy Jayne is joined by her cohorts, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, as they surround the ring. Vice and Paxley get back-to-back trying to fight off the heels. However, they are no match for the heel trio. Paxley is held so that Jayne can deliver a Rolling Encore. Both Paxley and Vice are laid out in the ring as the heels pose in the ring.

Despite the numerous pull-apart brawls throughout the night, security was nowhere in sight on the Fatal Influence run-in. No security rushing to the ring, even though they rushed to the ring earlier in the show. Maybe they were too tired from all the other pull-apart brawls. Or they could be busy still trying to break up Trick and Saints. Nevertheless, the heels just run amok here on the babyface champ and her new friend. This sets up a trios match with Fatal Influence against Paxley, Vice and Dame next Tuesday on NXT.

Match result: NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley and Lola Vice wrestle to a no-contest after interference by Fatal Influence.

— New NXT North American Women’s Champion Blake Monroe cuts a promo in bathtub. This includes product placement with Maybelline. Monroe reveals her first title defense is in New York City for the “Gold Rush” specials held from The Theater at MSG.

— Darkstate has a confrontation with Je’Von Evan, which helps set up Evans teaming with Leon Slater against the heels in a tag title bout.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Sol Ruca and Zaria as they are leaving the building. Zaria blurts out that she is entering the Speed tournament, and she vows to win the title back for Ruca. They are then interrupted by Jacy Jayne and company. Jayne then cuts a promo on regaining the women’s title she lost.

Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace for the TNA Knockouts Championship

—

The match goes through a commercial break. Jordan rams Grace’s leg into the ring steps just before the show cuts to the break.

They do a close near fall on a Spanish Fly, and Grace kicks out at the nick of time. At that point, there is a commotion at ringside. The fight between Ricky Saints and Trick Williams spills out into the aisle, which interrupts the match that is still going in the ring.

With the referee distracted by the melee at ringside, Jordan retrieves her Knockouts title belt. Jordan stares at the title belt, and she throws it down like she thought better of using it to cheat. Grace rolls her into German suplex for another near fall. Jordan got a shoulder up.

Saints and Trick fight their way into the ring, where Saints spears Trick. More brawling before a Cactus Jack clothesline sends them both out of the ring. Security rushed in trying to separate them. Meanwhile, Jordan grabs the title again. Grace goes to grab Jordan, and Jordan turns around with a belt shot. Hit by the title belt, Grace sells like she is knocked out. Jordan then covers her for the winning three count.

Match result: TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall to retain her title.

Two title matches set for next WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two title matches are set for Tuesday’s NXT.

The TNA Knockouts title will be on the line when Kelani Jordan squares off against Jordynne Grace. The two had a confrontation at Halloween Havoc, trading insults back and forth before Grace said she wanted to challenge for the title next. Jordan responded by saying the title carries way more weight than her. Grace slapped Jordan, who reacted by telling Grace that she’ll regret that.

Kendal Grey will be defending the Evolve Women’s title against Lash Legend. After the two exchanged words on Tuesday, they did so again at Halloween Havoc, this time with Lash issuing a challenge. Grey agreed to a title match for Tuesday.

Former members of the NQCC will meet when Myles Borne takes on Tavion Heights. After both shared their gripes about their recent issues with Josh Briggs with Ava, the NXT GM suggested the two face off on Tuesday.

Here is the update lineup for Tuesday’s NXT:

WWE NXT (October 28)

  • TNA Knockouts title: Kelani Jordan defends against Jordynne Grace
  • WWE Evolve Women’s title: Kendal Grey defends against Lash Legend
  • Men’s Speed Tournament finals: Jasper Troy vs. Axiom
  • Tavion Heights vs. Myles Borne

WWE NXT Showdown live results: NXT vs. TNA

Posted on by Jeff Moss

In a feud building for months, the rosters of WWE NXT and TNA will do battle on tonight’s Showdown special on The CW.

Two eight-person Survivor Series-style tag team matches are on tap as are two title bouts.

On the men’s side, Team NXT (Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne & Je’Von Evans) take on Team TNA (Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater). Joe Hendry will be special guest referee.

For the women, it will be Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice) vs. Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade). Jordynne Grace will be special guest referee.

In a winner takes all bout, NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState defend against TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys while NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against Mustafa Ali who is getting the opportunity he earned before his WWE run ended.

The Dudley Boyz/Team 3D will appear on the show.

**********

This is it, friends! It’s all over but the shouting as NXT takes on TNA in what is totally not an invasion, it’s a SHOWDOWN!

With two massive elimination matches, a winner-take-all tag title bout and a defence of the NXT North American Title, it promises to be quite the Showdown indeed. And what’s on the line when these two companies clash, you ask? Why the ultimate prize in professional wrestling:

BRAND SUPREMACY!

-The Men’s Team NXT and Team TNA were shown arriving to work, all at the same time (presumably carpooling) and the Women’s Teams were shown preparing as well.

NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState vs TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys

The tag team Champions vs Champions, Title-For-Title, Winner-Take-All match led off the show with the Hardys entering to a massive ovation while the Dudley Boys watched from the crowd alongside TNA President Carlos Silva. The Hardys set a hardcore tone off the top by wearing all white after Labor Day

Darkstate arrived in full force though, with all four members coming to ringside and jumping the Hardys before the match could even begin. The Hardys cleared the ring, but were still surrounded by DarkState until the Ref sent Cutler James and Saquon Shugars to the back, leaving Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin

The Hardy’s kicked off the match with an exctended double team on Lennox before separating and leaving Jeff and Griffin to face off. Griffin used his size to control Jeff who tagged in Matt. Osiris hoisted him up, but tagged in Lennox. Matt went for a Twist of Fate, but didn’t realize that Lennox was now legal, so Lennox was able to knock him to the mat.

The Hardys fought back with Jeff taking on both Lennox and Griffin for a few moments before stepping on the gas with Lennox and dropkicking him. Jeff went for a Twist of Fate, but Lennox picked him up and put him on the ring apron (The Hardiest part of the ring!) where he and Griffin went high/low on him.

DarkState isolated Jeff in their corner and dropped some double teams on him before Lennox put a headlock on in the middle of the ring. Jeff tried to power out, but Lennox pounded him and hit a standing crossbody. Jeff tried for a tag, but Griffin cut him off.

Lennox came in for a double team and hit an absolutely nasty DDT on Jeff. Griffin begged off and Lennox continued the assault solo. The Dudleys continued to watch, much like us all.

Griffin tagged in and he and Lennox traded shots on Jeff in the corner. But, Jeff scrambled up the ropes and hit a spinning senton from the top turnbuckle on both members of Darkstate. That gave him the chance to get the hot tag to Matt who hit a DDT of his own on Griffin. He then pounded Lennox’ face into the turnbuckle while the crowd chanted Delete.

Matt hit a Plot Twist on Lennox, but Griffin broke up the pin at two. They hit a double slam on Matt, but Jeff broke that up at two. Osiris got Matt up on his shoulders while Lennox climbed the ringpost for a Doomsday Device, but Matt countered and hit a twist of fate on Lennox, then one on Griffin before taggin in Jeff.

Jeff hit a picture perfect Swanton Bomb on Lennox and pinned him 1-2-3 to retain the TNA Tag Titles and win the NXT Tag Titles!

Match Result: The Hardys defeated Dark State

Absolute banger of an opening match! Darkstate is always a powerhouse and the Hardy’s are somehow getting better with age. Loved it!

Women’s Elimination Match: Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice) vs. Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, Mara Sade and The IInspiration – Jess McKay and Cassie Lee)

Between the NXT Women’s Champion (Jayne) the Women’s North American and Speed Champion (Ruca), the TNA Knockouts Champion (Jordan) and the TNA Women’s Tag Champions (Lee & McKay), there is a literal ton of gold in this match. Also, on a personal note, I could not be more excited to see Lee and McKay back in an NXT ring. I miss that iconic twosome.

Special guesrt referee Jordynne Grace was shown in the ring as Team TNA made their way to the ring. This also prompted the first “Shucky ducky, quack quack” of the evening from Booker T. Vice led the intros for Team NXT and once everyone had arrived the match was set.

Jayne and Jordan kicked things off with Jordan getting the upper hand with a quick pin attempt. Jayne tried one of her own and the two wrestled around until Jordan shoved Jayne who bounced off the ropes and caught a blind tag from Vice.

Jayne reluctantly ceded the ring to Vice who was met by Lee and McKay who took her down and posed, iconically. Mckay stayed legal long enough to tag in Sade who dropkicked Vice. Vice responded with a waistlock, dragging her to the NXT corner for a tag and double team with Parker.

Sade fought back though and she and Parker traded blows in the middle of the ring. Lee made an iconic run in and all 8 women started brawling while Grace tried to regain control. The IInspiraiton ate a dive on the outsdie from Jayne, but Sade followed her out and Jordan went up top for a splash on the outside before Ruca flipped over the top rope and took everyone out.

Grace seemed all right to let the fight move to the outside, but was ready when Parker and Sade went back into the ring, making them legal I suppose. Parker hit a swinging neckbreaker on Sade after getting a yellow and red card from Grace.

Ruca tagged in and hit a superkick on Sade. She got her up in a stalling, stalling, stalling suplex and then flipped into a pin for two. Ruca tagged in Parker and Team NXT took turns taking shots at Sade in their corner.

Sade flipped it though, pulling Ruca back to the TNA corner where McKay and Lee tried to double team her, but she hit a double dropkick instead. Lee stayed legal and Ruca held her back until she got a blind tag crom McKay who joined Lee in double teaming Ruca.

McKay took shots at Ruca while a wave broke out in the crowd. Sade tagged back in and slowed the pace down, nailing Ruca with a knee to the back of the head. McKay and Lee tagged back in and tried a double flapjack, but Ruca reversed it into a double DDT.

Hot tags were made in both corners and Jordan charged Jayne who cleared the ring with a bunch of stiff shots. She hit a cannonball in the corner on Jordan and followed it up with a top rope senton. Jordan hit a cutter on Jayne which brought in Parker who hit a blockbuster on Sade then drove Lee into the corner with her shoulder.

Parker set Lee and McKay up in the corner and drop slammed them both. Sade hit a reverse x-factor on Parker though and went up top for a moonsault that missed Parker by about a foot. Parker hit a falcon arrow and got a pin, but Jordan broke it up and a brawl broke out.

In the confusion, Sade grabbed Parker from behind and pinned her for the first elimination. Ruca followed that with a blockbuster on Sade, eliminating her and evening the odds again. Jayne tagged in for an extended period, taking offense from all three remaining members of Team TNA in succession, but kicking out of any pin attempts.

Grace continued calling the match down the middle as Jayne put a fist into Mckay’s stomach and made a hot tag to Vice. Vice cleared house with kicks, putting McKay in one corner and Jordan in the other to deliver repeated butt-based blows.

Lee tagged in and Vice caught her with a back fist and a pin to eliminate her. Vice then grabbed McKay in a back submission hold and she tapped, leaving Jordan as the only member of Team TNA remaining.

The IInspiration caused a distraction on the outside on their way out, drawing Grace away from the match which caused her to miss Jordan pinning Jayne. Jayne sent Jordan to the outside and kicked her in the face, seemingly injuring her ankle.

Vice tagged in but collided with Jayne. Jordan grabbed Vice in an angle slam and got the pin to eliminate her, leaving Ruca and Jayne as the last members of Team NXT. This was all so chaotic, even the ring announcer was confused.

Jordan and Ruca battled in the ring, with Jordan hitting a facebuster on Ruca for a two count. Jordan went up top, but Ruca followed and the Jordan hit a spanish fly before trying a 450. She missed as Ruca got the knees up. Ruca hit a soulsnatcher on Jordan but Jayne tagged herself in and made the pin to give the victory to team NXT.

Match Result: Team NXT defeated Team TNA

Whew! Normally, I don’t really go for these elimination matches, but this one was a ton of fun. Everyone got a moment to shine and the muddiness that these matches can sometimes have was nowhere to be found. Also, I’ll say it right now for those in the back: Jacy Jayne is destined to be a superstar.

-Backstage, Matt Cardona was talking to NXT GM, Ava. He was looking for a spot on Team TNA and was asking Ava for some reason, but was interrupted by Josh Briggs who demanded a match against Cardona next week to pay him back for interfering in his match last week. Ava said she would work it out with Santino.

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs Mustafa Ali

Ali is a fantastic performer who’s run in WWE just never seemed to work out. It’s pretty exciting to see him back in an NXT ring and facing off against Page, the greatest Canadian alive (I’m legally bound to say that).

With the intros out of the way, Page and Ali locked up with Page sending Ali to the corner. Ali, who looks absolutely jacked these days, shoved him out of the corner and the two started trading wristlocks. The two put on a technical clinic for a few moments with Ali coming out on top with a cutter and a standing moonsault.

Ali dragged Page out of the ring and began slamming his hand against the apron. Page got a back elbow on Ali and then yelled at the commentary team. Ali hit a spinning DDT on page on the outside and threw him back into the ring.

Ali started going up top, but Page tripped him and wrapped his leg around the ringpost. Ali fell to the outside, writhing in pain. The ref checked on him and Page pulled him up to knock him down with a forearm shot before tossing Ali back into the ring for a big elbow drop or three.

Page tried to slow things down with a headlock, but Ali powered out of it. Page hit a Confidence Breaker, but only got a two count. He put Ali in a chinlock, working the tweaked neck. Ali fought out of it though and went to answer back but Page turned him over with a lariat.

They ended up on the top turnbuckle and Page tried for a superplex. Ali knocked him off and when Page tried again, he hit a sunset powerbomb from the top rope. He went up top again, but Page hit the ropes, knocking him onto the turnbuckle. Page went for a backbreaker over the turnbuckle, but Ali blocked it, so Page settled for snakeyes on the turnbuckle and superkick for a two count.

Ali collapsed after kicking out of the pin and Page started talking trash. Ali hit a dropkick and dodged a couple of charges from Page. PAge got a knockout blow sending Ali into the corner for another two-count.

Page went for the Ego’s Edge, but Ali wormed out of it and clapped his ears. Ali hit a tornado DDT out of the corner, but Page kicked out at two. Ali dragged Page to the corner and went up top for a 450. Page got out of the way though and delivered a kick to Ali’s head.

Page tried for the Ego’s Edge again, but Ali countered with a hurricanrana. Ali ducked two clotheslines and went springboard, but Page caught him and went for a twisted grin. Ali wormed out though and the tow remained at a stalemate.

Ali sent Page out with a headscissor and then dove through the ropes onto him, knocking Page over the announce table. Ali pulled Page back into the ring and went up top, but his foot was tangled in the mic cord. While he tried to get it off, Page shoved Ali off the top rope all the way to the barricade.

Page tossed Ali back into the ring and hit a twisted grin to get the pin and retain the NXT North American Championship.

Match Result: Ethan Page defeated Mustafa Ali

What an incredible match! That could be a match of the year contender for NXT. Page and Ali put on a back and forth clinic that should be studied. There was no point where I was able to tell who was going to win and it came down to bad luck for Ali. Killer match heading into the main event!

-In the back Hijo del Dr Wagner jr was interviewed about his issues with Ethan Page. They were interrupted by Lexis King who accused him of being Tavion Heights. Wagner left and Heights appeared behind King, shaking his head.

-After a break, the women’s Team NXT was shown celebrating in the back and by celebrating, I mean they looked at each other and went “oh yeah, we all hate each other” and parted ways. Ruca was left and approached by Zariah and Blake Monroe. Monroe said that their friendship wouldn’t last and that she was coming for one of Ruca’s titles.

Men’s Elimination Match: Team NXT (Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne & Je’Von Evans) vs Team TNA (Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater)

The Main Event of the evening looked so good on paper that I was able to stop asking myself “why is the TNA champion on team NXT?” and just enjoy these 8 men at the top of their game beat the hell out of each other. Joe Hendry acted as the special referee for this match and earlier in the evening was shown talking to both teams.

Team TNA entered first with Kazarian and Moose getting big cheers as they came through the crowd. After a break, Team NXT arrived with Evans and Borne coming out first, followed by Williams and finally Saints.

Evans and Slater kicked things off with a battle of the bouncy. However, before they could do anything, Kazarian and Williams blind tagged in and started brawling. Borne tagged in and hit an atomic drop and neckbreaker on Kazarian. Kazarian then pushed Borne into hit team’s corner where they started wailing on him. That brought in Team NXT and a full brawl commenced.

When the dust settled, Kazarian and Borne continued in the ring, with Moose trying to cause a distraction and missing. Kazarian hit a modified fame-ass-er and then a cutter to pin Borne and get the early elimination.

Both teams retreated to their corners as a disbeliving Borne headed to the back. Saints stared daggers at Santana and they started fighting with Santana hitting a headscissor, but missing with a charge to the corner. Saints put him down and tagged in Evans who went with strikes to soften up Santana.

Santana reversed it into a backdrop though followed by spinning Evans around with a backhanded chop. He set up Evans in the TNA corner and chopped him again before Moose tagged in. Moose jersey’d Evans (Canadians will get it) and hit a big dropkick before dragging him to the TNA corner and a waiting Kazarian.

Kazarian sent Evans into the opposite corner and slammed him. He followed that with a springboard leg drop, but Evans kicked out at two. Evans tried to battle back, but Kazarian went for a pin using the ropes. Hendry saw it though and called off the pin.

Williams tagged in and went to chokeslam Slater who got out of it and delivered a high kick. Williams caught Slater on the charge and slammed him, followed by a big kick. Williams slowed the pace and set up Slater in the corner for some chops. Slater ducked the third one and hit a Lethal Injection-style cutter.

Santana tagged in to face Saints and dropped him with a cutter. Williams stood up and he and Santana had a staredown ahead of their upcoming match at Bound For Glory. Williams tagged in Evans and Evans cleared the ring and began bouncing around with X-Division Champion Slater.

Evans started diving over the ropes onto each member of Team TNA. Unfortunately, when he got to Moose, Moose caught Evans in midair. Evans got out of it though and headed back into the ring where Slater was waiting and rolled him up for a three count. With Evans eliminated, Team NXT was down to two;. Williams and Saints.

Slater and Kazarian double teamed Williams with Kazarian making the pin attempt. Williams kicked out and Kazarian bounced Williams’ head off of Moose’s foot. Moose tagged Slater in and Team TNA started working William’s ankle. Slater hit a crossbody and delivered some punches before tagging in Kazarian.

Willams began fighting back, but Kazarian put him back down with a high kick. He began stomping Williams and hanging him up on the ropes. Moose tagged in and charged, but Williams dodged it. He want for a tag to Saints, but Kazarian pulled him off the ring apron. Moose took advantage, but Williams hit a back cutter. Saints got back up on the ring and tagged himself in to face Slater.

Saints hit a Falcon Arrow, but Slater kicked out at two. Saints went off the ropes, but Kazarian hit him in the back, giving Slater a chance to hit his Utopia slam. Saints went to tag in Williams, but but Williams hopped off the apron, refusing the tag. Williams wandered away from the ring as Kazarian took out Saints.

Williams walked to the back, leaving Saints to fend for himself against all four members of Team TNA. Kazarian put on a rear naked choke and tried to transition to a crossface, but Saints rolled it over and pinned him to get the first elimination for Team NXT.

Slater dove in to try and finish Saints off, but Saints kicked out. Slater set him up in the corner and charged, knocking him down. He went up top for a swanton, but Saints got his knees up, and turned Slater over for a pin and second elimination.

Moose took his turn next, sending Saints to the outside. Santana threw him back into for a slam and a senton from the TNA veteran. Saints kicked out at two, much to Moose’s surprise. Moose went for a powerbomb, but Saints reversed it into a DDT. He went for the pin, but Santana broke it up.

Santana started throwing hands at Saints, sending him staggering to the corner. He chopped Saints then hit a big slam, but Saints kicked out again. Santana went for a powerbomb but Saints flipped out of it a delivered a superkick.

Moose went for a spear, but Saints dodged it and hit Santana. Santana shoved Saints into Moose who hit a powerbomb and then Santana follwed up with a big slam to get the pin and eliminate the NXT Champion.

Match Result: Team TNA defeated Team NXT

-After the match, Santino and Ava were seen talking in the back. The GM’s congratulated each other and Ava asked Santino to bring the Knockouts division to NXT next week for a Battle Royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Title.

Man, that was a good night of wrestling. The Men’s Elimination match was a little bit slower than the Women’s, but PPV quality stuff from all four matches on the card. TNA and NXT are a great fit and there’s some great stuff teased for next week!

Jordynne Grace added as guest referee for NXT vs. TNA Showdown match

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jordynne Grace has been announced for Tuesday’s NXT vs. TNA Showdown.

She will be a guest referee for the Women’s Survivor Series style match on the show between Team TNA and Team NXT.

On Thursday, Grace posted a video to social media criticizing both NXT’s Ava and TNA’s Santino Marella for her being left off the show.

She said:

“There is no NXTNA without Jordynne Grace. There is no partnership. There are no cross promotional champions. As a matter of fact, there is no Showdown without me setting the stage for it two years ago. And you guys let your team captains pick their team members and they chose wrong.”

Ava responded to Grace in a video posted on Saturday.

“Alright Jordynne, you’re right. You made some pretty good points. And you know what? I agree with you. I don’t think that there would be this NXT TNA crossover partnership without everything that you’ve done starting two years ago. So I have decided that you are going to be the special guest referee for the Women’s Survivor Series style match on Tuesday.”

The updated lineup for the show is below.

WWE NXT vs. TNA Showdown lineup:

  • Team NXT (Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne & Je’Von Evans) vs. Team TNA (Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater)
  • Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice)  vs. Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade) w/ Jordynne Grace as referee
  • Title for title: NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState vs. TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys
  • NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against Mustafa Ali
  • Joe Hendry appears
https://twitter.com/avawwe_/status/1974581272417824785

WWE NXT No Mercy live results: Oba Femi vs. Ricky Saints title match

Posted on by Jeff Moss

WWE NXT holds its latest premium live event with tonight’s No Mercy from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In the main event, WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against former North American Champion Ricky Saints. Femi has defended the title ten times since winning it in January while this is Saints’ first shot at the top prize.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne puts her title on the line against Lola Vice who is looking for her first title run.

In a weaponized steel cage match, the rivalry between Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe will continue.

The men’s NXT North American Championship will be on the line as Ethan Page defends against Tavion Heights while WWE Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca defends against Lainey Reid.

The show is rounded out by Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans, fresh off challenging WWE U.S. Champion Sami Zayn on SmackDown.

Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 6 PM Eastern.

**********

Welcome in friends and I have some great news! All the wrestlers working tonight made it to work OK and I know this because camera crew met them at the door as is legally mandated and the footage was shown to open NXT No Mercy!

Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs

The show kicked off with one of my personal NXT favourites, Evans taking on Josh Briggs. What I know about Briggs is this: he’s a bad friend and has a Green Lantern tattoo. Aside from that though, Briggs had a definite size advantage over Evans, but Evans fought Oba Femi to a standstill at Heatwave, so he can bring it with the biggest of them.

Evans opened the match by kicking Briggs square in the face and punching him repeatedly. That upset Briggs, who grabbed Evans a threw him over the ropes. Briggs went to charge Evans, but he moved and Briggs ended up hitting the steel steps.

Back in the ring, Evans had Briggs on his heels, hitting high-flying moves and hurricanranas. Once Briggs got himself back together though, he grabbed Evans and threw him into the corner a few times. He then stood on Evans, working his heels into the small of his back.

Evans was favouring his hip during this mask due to an attack from Briggs on Smackdown last night. Briggs worked this with a series of backbreakers. Evans flopped like wet spaghetti, but managed to get to his feet. Briggs continued the assault with a few more throws into the corner.

Evans began fighting back, but Briggs overpowered him again. Evans tried to use the ropes to springboard but Briggs got to him first and sent him flying off the apron into the barricade, further injuring that hip.

Back in the ring, Briggs hit a side slam but whiffed on the splash afterwards. He began stomping Evans, but then stopped to mug for the crowd. Evans got to his feet and they began throwing hands, with Evans turning it into a snap suplex.

Evans tried a couple of lariats to get Briggs off his feet and the third one connected. Evans hit a series of spinning heel kicks and sent Briggs reeling into the corner. Evans brought the scrap from there, raining down punches on Briggs. He then went up top, but Briggs saw it coming and rolled out of the ring.

Evans changed his aim and hit a big dive anyways. Tossing Briggs back into the ring, Evans hit a frog splash from clear across the ring and got a 2.5 count before Briggs kicked out.

Briggs began clubbing Evans, including a huge lariat that flipped Evans clear over. Evans came back with a bunch of flying forearms and Briggs nailed a big boot to keep the back and forth going. Briggs hit a flipping knee and tried for a cover but only got a two count.

Briggs pulled Evans into the corner and went to climb to the top turnbuckle. He dragged Evans up with him and tried for a chokeslam, but Evans flipped right over it and sent Briggs to the mat. He kicked him in the face and went for a spingboard, but Briggs caught him with a chokeslam.

Briggs charged Evans who pulled the rope down and dove after him. Briggs caught him in midair with a lariat, then put him back in the ring for another one. It was almost a three count, but Evans got his foot on the rope and the ref called it off.

Briggs tried to go up top again, but Evans grabbed his ankle and began slapping him. Briggs went to chokeslam Evans again, but Evans turned it into a cutter and went up top for another fast frog splash. That got to Briggs and Evans made the pin, 1-2-3.

Match Result: Je’Von Evans defeated Josh Briggs

Great opening match. It was fast-paced and went as long as it needed to. Briggs has real potential as a Kevin-Nash style big man and Evans is the best underdog since Sami Zayn. Good stuff all around.

-Footage was shown of Trick Williams beating up Dominick Mysterio in a match for the North American Title at No Mercy 2024. Dragon Lee was the ref. Trick won. I have no idea why they showed this. (EDIT: Later I figured out they were showing these during international commercial breaks. I’m smart that way.)

They then showed some footage of the TNA incursion (we don’t say “invasion” in WWE. Too many bad memories) of NXT last Tuesday, which made more sense. Footage was also shown of Kelani Jordan winning the TNA Knockouts title at Victory Road last night.

Women’s Speed Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Jaida Parker

Lainey Reed was originally scheduled for this match, but declared not medically cleared earlier today. Ruca wanted to defend the title anyway, so NXT GM Ava found a new opponent in Jaida Parker.

For those that don’t remember or couldn’t bring themselves to download X, the Speed titles were created as an X-exclusive title. The matches would be released on X and they were subject to a five-minute time limit. Now, once you get all the jokes about lasting long enough out of the way and put aside the horrible X promotion, it’s kind of a fun deal. So, it was great to hear that the titles would be moving to NXT after everyone realized the X was a cesspool of misery and broken dreams.

Ruca won the Women’s Speed title from the inaugural champion, Candice Le Rae April and this will be the first NXT defence of the title at a PLE. Incidentally, the Men’s speed title is currently held by El Grande Americano, who won it in May and it hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

The match started and the clock started ticking. The two traded quick pin attempts, and Ruca hung Parker up on the ropes before flipping her out of the ring. Parker tried to regroup, but Ruca dove off the steps onto her.

Ruca tossed Parker back into the ring, but Parker rolled back out. Ruca went for a baseball slide, but Parker caught her and hit her in the throat at 3:32.

Ruca hit a back stabber, but Parker recoverd and set Ruca up for some offense in the corner. She hit a falcon arrow, but Ruca kicked out at 2:47. Parker didn’t waist time and went for a tilt a whirl, but Ruca reversed it and planted a big knee in Parker’s chest.

Parker tried to go up the entrance ramp, but there was only two minutes left. Back in the ring, Ruca hit a DDT, but only got a two count at 1:43. They got to their feet and Parker caught Ruca in a Samoan drop. Ruca rolled out and pulled Parker with her at 1:03.

Ruca started wasting as much time as possible and went for another dive, but Parker dodoged it and threw her back into the ring. Lash Legend arrived and that distracted Parker before she rolled back into the ring just in time to get caught by Ruca for a pin. Ruca wins and retained the Speed Title with 0:11 on the clock.

Match Result: Sol Ruca defeated Jaida Parker

-Footage was shown from last week’s NXT of Joe Hendry being interviewed. He was interrupted by the DarkState who told him that they were going to give him a 4-on-1 beatdown if he doesn’t back off. They said he’s either with them or against them and left, leaving Hendry pondering that.

Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe

These two have been at each other’s throats for months and this would hopefully be the big blow off of their feud. They made a big deal about the cage being “weaponized” which I assumed meant that it was going to be used later in a argument or something.

Instead though, it meant that there were kendo sticks, garbage cans, Official Slim Jim Tables and chairs (painted pink) attached to the cage that the participants could use. So it wasn’t the cage that was weaponized and more the… weapons, that were weaponized.

The bell rang and they charged each other with Grace sending Monroe into the cage first. Monroe grabbed a kendo stick though and beat Grace with it. Grace got it away from her and returned the favor. She then hit a spinebuster on a chair. Grace set the chair up and put Monroe in a boston crab, setting the chair over her so Grace could have a seat for more torque.

Grace set up a chair in the ropes and picked up Monroe. Monroe bit Grace and sent her shoulder first into the chair and then face first into the cage. Monroe worked Grace’s wrist into the chain link, wrenching the already injured joint. She then pulled down a pink garbage can and clobbered Grace with it. There was a curling iron and hair dryer in the can, but they got ignored.

Monroe worked the hand of Grace again, then hit an inverted Russian leg sweep onto the kendo stick. Monroe then went to the aforementioned hair dryer and used the cord to tie Grace to the middle rope. Monroe pulled a bag off the cage that held a pair of scissors. Monroe then started cutting off chunks of Grace’s hair, with Grace powerless to stop it.

Grace freed herself from the hairdryer cord and threw a Thez Press to beat the heck out of Monroe. She hit a series of lariats and went for a powerbomb, but Monroe got out of it and started scaling the cage. Grace pulled her down onto the top rope and hit a samoan drop from way up high.

Grace took a moment to mourn for her curly locks and then grabbed what looked like a wieght belt from the cage and beat up Monroe with it. She set up a trash can, but Monroe reversed it and sent Grace face first into the metal. Monroe grabbed the lid and hit a dropkick with it, sending Grace into the cage.

Monroe pulled another bag off the cage and emptied it’s contents which were diamonds. She grabbed Grace and tried to slam her, but Grace reversed and slammed them both onto the diamonds.

Grace got to her feet first and grabbed a garbage can. Setting Monroe up on the top turnbuckle, Grace climbed up, but Monroe slipped out and hung Grace up in a tree of woe. She put the garbage can over Grace’s head and then double stomped it from the top rope.

Monroe then grabbed the Official Slim Jim Table to the crowd’s delight. She tried to jam Grace’s face into the table leg, but Grace reversed it and sent Monroe into the cage like a battering ram. Grace finished setting up the Official Slim Jim Table and put it in the corner. She grabbed Monroe, but Monroe punched her and scaled the cage. Grace met her up there and got her into an electric chair position.

Monroe wormed out of it and the two climbed to the top of the cage where they traded punches. Monroe produced a bag with powder and threw it into Grace’s eyes. Grace slunk down to the top rope, and Monroe tried for a powerbomb, but Grace turned it into an air raid crash and put both women through the table.

Grace landed on top of Monroe, so the ref counted 1-2-3 and gave her the victory.

Match Result: Jordynne Grace defeated Blake Monroe

Dang! That was a cool cage match. Silly name, but awesome match none the less. I’ve never seen that hair spot in a cage match which was awesome. The diamonds instead of tacks was a great touch. That was really, really fun.

-Next, NXT GM Ava addressed the situation between TNA and NXT. She announced that NXT and TNA will compete in two 5-on-5 Survivor Series style matches (one Men’s one Women’s) and a Tag Team Title match between The Hardy Boys and DarkStake (winner takes all). There must be a finish in that match as everyone will be banned from ringside. It will all happen on October 7th on NXT TV and yes, it will be called “Invasion.”

-Then Lash Legend came out from the back. She cut a promo on the recently announced Invasion. She lobbied hard to lead Team NXT in the Women’s match. Jaida Parker took exception to that and jumped her from behind. They fought and were pulled apart.

-Lainey Reed was interviewed in the back about how she had to give up her shot at the Speed Championship. It was an ankle injury that took her out, but she will be back. Lola Vice interrupted the interview to tell her that sucks. Reed said that Vice had no chance to win her match tonight and Vice said she was bringing the title to Vice City.

NXT North American Championship Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. Tavion Heights

So, if Tavion wins the title here, does he have to pay the tariffs on it? Or if Page wins, does he have to pay them to get it back over the border? Just asking.

Off the bell, the two locked up and Heights brought some real agression to Page. Page responded with a headlock and Heights sent him into the ropes as “USA” chants broke out. The two started throwing shoulders with neither getting the advantage.

Heights kept coming at Page though, dodging kicks, dropping punches and then dropkicking Page out of the ring. On the entrance ramp, Page hit a big backdrop on Heights, leaving him writhing in pain. He dragged him back into the ring and dropped some big elbows before playing to the crowd.

Heights scrambled to the corner and Page landed a big back body drop. He continued the beatdown, working Heights into the corner and charging, but Heights moved and went for a suplex. His back gave out though page capitalized with a waist lock, wrenching his back. This went on for a while.

Heights finally shook page off and sent him into the corner. Heights went up, but PAge climbed the ladder and hit a backbreaker over the steel of the turnbuckle. Heights landed on the outside and was checked on by the official.

Page went outside and sent Heights back into the ring. He yapped at the announce team and turned his back on Heights, who found his second wind and hit a bunch of big lariats and high kicks. Heights locked in an ankle lock, but Page was able to get over to the ropes.

Heights tried a backslide, but Page kicked out. He picked up Heights in the Ego’s edge and then put on a an Olympic Boston Crab. Heights made it to the ropes though and it seemed like Page’s ankle gave out. Heights went up top, but Page clocked it and joined him. He went for a suplex, but Heights put on a sleeper hold. Page countered and sent him to the mat.

Page hit a twisted grin in the ring and got the pin, retaining the North American title.

Match Result: Ethan Page defeated Tavion Heights

Heights looked really impressive here, but as a Canadian I am legally mandated to be excited that Page won. I’m serious though, Heights looked great in this match.

-After the match, the AAA Latin American champion, El Hijo De Dr Wagner Jr appeared on the big screen, challenging Page.

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Lola Vice

Jayne arrived doing her best 1994 HBK impression for her 4th defence of the NXT Women’s Championship. Also, Fallon Henley was there. Booker T could barely contain his excitement.

The crowd was clearly behind hometown hero Vice, chanting for her as the match started. Jayne slapped on a headlock and Vice worked it into a head scissor. Jayne went back to the headlock, transitioning to a wristlock. Vice tried to flip out of it, but Jayne put on a third headlock then started throwing shoulders and sentons.

Vice managed to catch Jayne with an armbar before moving into a headlock of her own. She threw Jayne into the ropes and kicked her back to the mat. Jayne whispered something in Henley’s ear before booting Vice in the stomach. She sent Vice to the corner and stomped her.

Jayne set Vice up for some chops and then threw her into the ropes. Vice came off them with a shot to the stomach followed by a suplex. Vice put on a chinlock and wrenched the neck of Jayne. Jayne turned it into a chinbreaker to make some space and the two traded pinning attempts.

Vice sent Jayne into the ropes and kicked her in the stomach as she bounced back. On the third, one, Jayne left the ring and Vice followed, smacking Jayne’s face on the announce table. Henley got involved, distracting Vice enough that Jayne could throw her into the steel stairs. She followed that up with a cannon ball and tossed Vice back in the ring.

Jayne hit a slingblade and went for a pin, but only got a two count. She suplexed Vice and delivered some hard kicks to the back, working the body part that took the brunt of the stair shots. She went for another kick, but Vice caught her leg and delivered a few of her own.

Henley got up on the apron and Vice charged her, but that just left her open for Jayne to deliver a backstabber. Jayne put her knee on Vice’s back and pulled her up in a chinlock in the middle of the ring. Vice managed to stand up and back Jayne into the corner. Jayne came right back out and went for a pin, but Vice reversed it into an arm submission.

Vice began throwing kicks, sending Jayne into the corner. Vice, the spiritual sucessor of Rikishi introduced some Butt-based offense, but Jayne rolled out of the ring where Henley was. Vice dove through the ropes to take out Henley, but that exposed her to a pump kick from Jayne.

Jayne tossed her back into the ring but missed with a discus elbow and Vice landed a big kick. She went for the pin, but at two, Henley pulled the ref out of the ring. He ejected her from ringside and when he got back, Vice had the Squeeze locked in on Jayne.

Jayne rolled through, avoiding the submission and the two traded chops. Jayne got a backfist in, but Vice kicked out at two. Bothe women lay on the mat as the “this is awesome” chants rained down on them.

Jayne got up first and kicked Vice in the head, sending her to the corner for some back elbows. Jayne yapped at Vice’s family at ringside and when she turned, Vice grabbed her for a DDT into a guillotine choke. Jayne got up though and sent Vice to the corner.

Vice responded with her feet and climbed to the top turnbuckle. A high kick from Jayne stopped her in her tracks and Jayne grabbed her for a suplex from the top followed by a big running knee. Vice kicked out at two though, to the surprise of Jayne.

Jayne left the ring and grabbed the title belt, presumably looking for the DQ. The ref pulled it away from her and Vice rolled her up for two. Vice hit a superkick and Jayne hit some high strikes. A flurry of kicks and backfists from Vice sent JAyne to the mat, but Vice’s momentum took her out of the ring.

Suddenly, someone in black jumped the guardrail and flattened Vice on the outside. Jayne writhed in the ring and Vice made it back in at 9, just beating the count. Jayne hit a rolling encore to the dazed Vice and got the pin to retain the title.

Match Result: Jacy Jayne defeated Lola Vice

I really liked this match. It was hard hitting and fast with a ton of near falls. Jayne makes a terrific heel champion and Vice has star power to spare. Great work here.

NXT World Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Ricky Saints

Ricky Saints is an excellent professional wrestler. So is Oba Femi, but Femi has the advantage of also being a murder monster who has dominated NXT for months now. Saints (200lbs) has a 110lb size difference from Femi (310lbs), but see the aforementioned “being really good at wrestling.” This should be an excellent match.

Femi went for Saints off the top, but Saints had it scouted and hit a few jabs to the face. Femi grabbed him and threw him at the ground for a few minutes before sending him to the corner. Saints put a big boot up and sent Femi staggering, but Femi was right back and pressed him against the ropes.

Femi started throwing European uppercuts and dropped Saints down into a headlock. Saints got his leg up though and across the throat of Femi to break the hold. Femi slammed Saints then started clubbing his back. Saints ducked underneath and threw some chops. Saints hit a boot to the gut and then a kick to the face to knock Femi off his feet.

Saints went up top, but Femi caught him on the way down. Saints wriggled out and hit a dropkick, stunning Femi momentarily. He sent him outside then charged for a dive, but Femi was waiting and hit a massive shot to Saints through the ropes that echoed through the arena.

Femi got back in the ring and slowed the tempo down. He hit a big backbreaker on Saints, followed by another and then a third. Saints kicked out at two though. Femi put him in the corner and laid some shots into Saints stomach, followed by a big clothesline that sent Saints through the ropes.

Femi pulled Saints back in then punched him so hard he flew back out, seemingly knocked out on the entrance ramp. Saints got back in at 7, beating the count, but Femi used that the drop him on the top rope and hit another European uppercut. Femi put his knee on Saints’ back and pulled him up in a chinlock.

Saints got out of it and went for a crossbody, but Femi caught him and hit a backbreaker before laying him out over the turnbuckle and pressing down, folding him in half. Saints snuck a shot in and Femi staggered back. Saints went off the ropes, but got caught again and chokeslammed into next year.

Femi charged, but Saints moved and tried a rollup. Off of that, he hit a high knee and then charged in with a forearm and a few more for good measure to get Femi into the corner. Saints tried to pick up Femi and on the second try got him up for a samoan drop. Femi kicked out at two.

Saints went for a spear, but Femi swatted him out of mid air and hit another big uppercut. They ran the ropes again and this time, Saints landed the spear, but Femi kicked out at two.

Saints went up top, but Femi ran over an punched him. He climbed the ropes and Saints clubbed him, slid underneath and landed a big powerbomb. He fell on top of Femi and got a near fall.

They both got to their feet and began trading shots. Femi powered up and Saints collapsed in the middle of the ring before he could touch him. Femi got close and Saints popped up. He laid in a few shots, but Femi threw him off. Saints charged and Femi grabbed him and threw him across the ring. He tried to pick up Saints, but Saints turned it into a rollup and got a two count.

Saints wearily rolled out of the ring and Femi followed. He pulled everything off the announce table and picked up Saints. He threw him onto the table and set him up for a powerbomb, but Saints countered and DDT’ed Femi on the table. Somehow it did not break.

Saints hit a tornado DDT and crawled back into the ring. Saints charged Femi on the ring apron, but Femi swatted him down like a fly. Back in the ring, Femi hit a Fall From Grace, but Saints somehow kicked out.

Femi went for another Fall From Grace, but Saints turned it into another DDT followed by a fourth spinning DDT and pinned Femi 1-2-3! Ricky Saints is the new NXT Champion!

Match Result: Ricky Saints defeated Oba Femi

Wow! I did not see that coming! Saints won and won clean over one of the most dominant champions NXT has ever had. Absolutely stunning. Maybe WWE has bigger plans fo Femi, but Saints earned the hell out of that title.

Daily Update: Masha Slamovich, Tiffany Stratton, Gail Kim

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • A look at the build and the importance of Wrestlepalooza and All Out. We look at the shows and the stories behind the shows as well as what to look at as well as comments from ESPN execs on WWE, debuts of new services and other hilarious notes.
  • Betting odds for both shows
  • WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, the fallout of the announcement, will AEW counter, should AEW counter, and what affect the going to Saudi Arabia in 2027 has already had for WrestleMania in 2026.
  • Terrence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez as TKO gets into boxing, what can be improved on judging, real numbers as well as made up numbers and realities the night shows about sports in general
  • A look at the CMLL anniversary show and its stories
  • Full coverage of Worlds Collide
  • Andrade fired by WWE, a look back at his career
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling TV shows this past week, including Netflix numbers and what they mean in reality, segment by segment and what we can learn, competition, and much more.
  • Brody King & Bandido go to Arena Mexico as AEW tag team champions but it doesn’t go right.
  • CMLL has two Arena Mexico crowds of 16,000 over the next week and a third big show as well
  • The unique Thursday show.
  • CMLL featuring women more prominently next month and Mercedes Mone returns
  • Surprise on AAA television this past week
  • Actress has just started training to be a pro wrestler after playing the role of one
  • All Japan completes Oudou tournament
  • NOAH N-1 tournament
  • Unique NJPW PPV main event
  • US team at the world championships
  • FTC investigating Ticketmaster for for price gouging
  • Notes on the deaths of Tom Gerbasi and Nacho Barrera
  • Former wrestling personality injured in accident
  • First black world champion being honored
  • Why Conor McGregor pulled out of the race for President of Ireland.
  • TKO plans for 2026
  • More on Turki Alalshikh
  • Death of Ricky Hatton
  • Gable Steveson accuses Craig Jones of trying to fix a fight
  • Boxer sues over brain injuries
  • Paul Levesque talks talent recruitment
  • Lots of injury updates

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Oba Femi vs. Trick Williams title vs. title main event from NXT, which ended without a definitive winner as the TNA roster invaded.
  • In an interview with Undisputed, Jordynne Grace discussed her WWE goals:
    • I feel like I’ve had an entire career already, but now that I’m in WWE, I’m just getting started. I’d love to main event WrestleMania. That’s the ultimate goal for every wrestler.
    • I also want to maximize my time in NXT. I want to circle back and finally win the NXT women’s championship, and I want to learn as much as I possibly can from Shawn Michaels.
  • NXT wrestler Adriana Rizzo, who is out of action with a torn ACL and meniscus, noted that she is expecting to make her return in spring 2026.
  • Booker T & Brad Gilmore spoke with Trick Williams on their Hall of Fame podcast.
  • Good Karma Wrestling interviewed Jacy Jayne.
  • Going Ringside asked Tiffany Stratton about WrestleMania 43 being held in Saudi Arabia:
    • I’m excited. The last time we were there, I believe, we went on this little safari adventure. And I hope we get to do that again because that was super fun. But I think Bianca [Belair] mentioned women are making history over there, and I can’t wait to be a part of that myself. So I’m super excited, and I can’t wait.
  • WWE Evolve authority figure Stevie Turner hyped that she will be making a big announcement on tonight’s episode: “I feel like it’s time to shake it up a bit so I’m gonna make a HISTORY MAKING announcement Tonight on #WWEEvolve!”
  • A new episode of Undertaker & Michelle McCool’s Six Feet Under podcast premiered today with them reacting to fan comments.
  • The Miz was a guest on No-Contest Wrestling.

Other Wrestling

WWE NXT Heatwave live results: Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans, three title matches

Posted on by Jeff Moss

In another busy day of wrestling, WWE NXT closes up the weekend with Heatwave live from Lowell, Massachussetts.

The headliner will see reigning WWE NXT champion Oba Femi defend against top prospect and high flyer Je’Von Evans. This will be Femi’s ninth title defense and his second defense in which Evans is involved.

In a three-way for the TNA Knockouts title, reigning double champion Jacy Jayne will defend against Ash by Elegance and former champion Masha Slamovich.

In a grudge match, Jordynne Grace will finally get her shot at going one-on-one with Blake Monroe.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defend against two members of DarkState (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars or Cutler James).

In a three-way to determine the next contender for the NXT Women’s title, it will be Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice.

The main card is rounded out by Chelsea Green & Ethan Page vs. Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights.

**********

To quote the immortal Robin Williams in the film Good Morning, Vietnam: “It’s damn hot. Real hot. Hot. My shorts, I can cook things in them. Little crotch-pot cooking.” Which can only mean it’s time for NXT Heatwave!

After the traditional mandatory footage of wrestlers arriving to work, Heatwave kicked off with a confrontation that was definitely more than lukewarm.

NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender Match: Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

Jacy Jayne can’t hold onto that NXT Women’s Championship forever and the next in line to try and take it from her will be determined in this match. Given her popularity, one would probably safe in saying that this was Lola Vice’s match to lose, but WWE does love itself an “unexpected” win.

The match started with Vice and Jordan teaming up to kick Parker out of the ring. Vice and Jordan went went back and forth after than until Parker rejoined the fray, knocking both women’s heads together like proverbial coconuts.

Parker stacked Jordan and Vice up on the second rope in the corner and dropped a hit on both. Parker tossed Jordan out of the ring to hit a Samoan drop on Vice. Jordan got right back into it though, climbing the ringpost, but missing the splash on Vice. She made good on the following leg drop though.

Jordan hit a split-legged DDT on Vice, but only got a two count. She went back up top, but Parker shoved her off the ringpost. Parker and Jordan fought on the ring apron (the most #1 contender part of the ring!) with Parker taking a superkick from Jordan. Jordan then hit a corkscrew over the top rope onto both Vice and Parker.

Jordan hit what looked like a Lethal Injection but with the splits on Vice, but Vice kicked her off and locked in a dragon sleeper. Parker joined and both she and Jordan received a flurry of soccer kicks from Vice, before throwing multiple hips in the corners.

Vice tried another dragon sleeper on Jordan but Parker interrupted her fun with a blockbuster. Parker laid out Jordan with a spinebuster that was so good it made Booker T mumble something about Ron Simmons.

Parker and Jordan continued to battle in the ring and Vice joined in, literally kicking Parker in the butt. Jordan and Parker were on the top turnbuckle, when Vice scooped them up for a double suplex off the ropes.

All three tried to stagger to their feet, with Vice and Parker locking up. Parker subdued her with a back elbow in time to catch Jordan coming off the top rope. Parker got the knees up though, but was taken out by Vice. Jordan put Vice on her shoulders and hit a big spin. She went up top for a 450, but Vice scouted it and put her in a sleeper submission.

Just as Jordan was about to pass out, Parker broke it and Vice rolled her up to get the 1-2-3 and become the new #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Title!

Match Result: Lola Vice defeated Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan

Great opener! It was indeed Vice’s match to lose, but Jordan in particular looked really good while she did it. Parker’s lack of finesse might have cost her here, but she was a force to be reckoned with all throughout.

-Next, multiple promos for Evolve, a show that I had literally forgotten was on, aired to remind me that Evolve, was in fact, still on.

-The Culling joined us from therapy(?) next, discussing how Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame are going to tag against Wren and a mystery partner next week.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs. DarkState

The first title match of the night featured mystery partners as well, seeing how we didn’t know which members of DarkState would be taking on Hank & Tank. It turned out to be Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox, but Shugars and James stayed at ringside.

Hank and Tank were on fire off the top with quick tags and heavy work on Darkstate. A quick double team on Tank from Griffin and Lennox changed the favor though. All four men entered the ring and a brawl broke out. Hank and Tank took out Griffin and Lennox, then hit a stereo dive through the ropes to take out all four members of DarkState.

Once things settled down, Hank and Lennox fought in the ring. Hank went up top, but Lennox pulled him down and beat him on the steel ring steps. He bounced Hank’s head off the ring apron then tagged in Griffin, who felt the need to do it again. A few times.

Hank got an elbow into Griffin’s gut though and tried to crawl to a tag. Griffin got to him though, preventing the tag and hitting a big powerslam. Lennox tagged in and the two sent Hank into the corner face-first.

Lennox squeezed on a chinlock, but Hank powered out, still too far away for a tag. Finally, Tank got the tag he craved, and he took out Griffin and Lennox with some spingboard moves. Shugars climbed up to cause a distraction, but Tank took him out and then hit at Bubba-Bomb on Lennox.

On the outside, Hank took a beating from the three members of DarkState, while Lennox hit a spinebuster on Tank. Griffin and Lennox isolated Tank in their corner, trading quick tags until Tank fought them off and hit a swanton from the top rope on both men.

Hank dodged multiple attacks on the outside and got the tag from Tank. Hank hit a Bossman slam on Lennox then splashed the reamaining three on the outside. Shirts came off and Hank and Tank hit their big slam on Lennox. James pulled Hank into the ropes crotch-first though, which allowed Lennox and Griffin to hit a Doomsday Device and win the NXT Tag Team Championship!

Match Result: DarkState (Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox) defeated Hank & Tank

I did not see that coming! Though, the next time someone takes on DarkState they may want to even those numbers up. Either way, it’s cool to see a group like DarkState with some gold and now we get to see what other havoc they can wreak as champions.

-Lexis King and Ava were shown talking in the latter’s office. Ava said that Miles Borne and King will have a blindfold match on Tuesday’s NXT episode.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Ash by Elegance

Always cool to see TNA titles up for grabs on NXT shows! Also, fun to have Ash By Elegance back in NXT.

Ash and Slamovich zeroed in on each other off the top, but Jayne soon got involved and Ash was sent to the outside. Jayne hit a blockbuster on Ash on the outside, but jeft herself open to a corkscrew through the ropes from Slamovich.

Back in the ring, Slamovich and Ash fought with Slamovich hitting a series of kicks on Ash. She went for a move off the ropes, but Jayne grabbed her and Pele’d Slamovich off the ring apron. Jayne hit ASh in the corners, but only got a two count.

Jayne hit a standing senton on Ash, but that brought Slamovich back in just in time to eat a kick from Jayne. Ash caught her second wind and hit a blockbuster on Jayne for a near fall. Ash hit a handspring into the corner on Jayne who climbed the ringpost, allowing Ash to grab her for a sit-down powerbomb.

Slamovich tried to get involved, but Jayne hit her from behind. Slamovich responded with a dropkick and then a couple of hell-of-a-kicks in the corners. Then a series of dueling cannonballs and a white noise into the corner.

Ash bailed, leaving Slamovich and Jayne trading punches. Jayne hit a huge knee and pulled Slamovich into the ring for a neckbreaker, but Ash broke up the pin. Ash then disposed of Jayne and turned her attention to Slamovich, hitting a moonsault that missed. Jayne was right there with one of her own though, but only got a two-count.

Jayne put Slamovich on the ring post and hit a big hurricanrana followed by a big kick. Ash broke up the pin though with a meteora and tried to pin Jayne. Fatal Influence put her foot on the ropes, causing a shouting match with the Elegance Brand at ringside. The ref tossed Fatal influence and Slamovich tried to get a quick pin on Ash in the confusion, but it was only a two.

Ash took out both women on the outside and dragged Slamovich back in, but eat a kick. Slamovich went back to the kick, but Ash caught it and returned the favor. Ash hit a tornado DDT and then a moonsault, but Jayne interrupted with a high knee to Ash for another near fall.

Jayne hit a rolling encore on Slamovich, but the Elegance brand pulled Jayne out. Ash hit a swanton on Slamovich in the ring and got the 3-count to bring the Knockouts Championship back to TNA!

Match Result: Ash by Elegance defeated Jacy Jayne and Masha Slamovich

Great fun, its amazing how far Ash By Elegance has come since her NXT debut. Jayne has superstar written all over her and Slamovich is a veteran not to be messed with. Three distinct wrestlers, each showcasing their best talents. More of this please!

-Wow, they really went with it, huh? All right. A promo for “Wrestlepalooza” in September aired and then, Ricky Saints and Je’von Evans had a chat about Evans’ title match tonight. Saints said that he and the WWE Universe believe in Evans. Saints asked for the first shot at the title should Evans win.

Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe

A VERY long recap of the relationship between Monroe and Grace aired before this match. The TLDR version is that they were friends, then Monroe turned on Grace at Evolution. So, they aren’t friends anymore.

Off the bell, Monroe delivered a big slap to Grace and then did the smartest thing she could and tried to run away. Grace chased her though as Monroe tried to hie behind the announce team. Grace dragged to the ring and started pummeling her.

Grace flipped Monroe with a big back slam followed by a twisting suplex. Monroe tried to get away again, bailing from the ring. Grace followed and backslammed her on the floor. Grace put Monroe on her shoulders and climbed the ring steps. Monroe wiggled free though and ripped Grace across the steel steps.

Monroe jumped back in the ring to break the count and Grace followed. Monroe took her turn to stomp and pummel ending with a pin attempt for two. Monroe hit a dropkick on Grace against the ropes, sending her back to the outside. She then wrapped Grace’s arm around the ring post, wrenching and twisting it before tossing her back inside.

Monroe tried to get a submission with an armbar, but Grace reversed it. Monroe stepped over Grace, working her arm for another submission, but Grace stood up and using the ropes, reversed it into a suplex.

The two began trading punches with Grace favoring her arm. Monroe took advantage and tried to hook her, but Grace put her down with a clothesline. Grace landed a spinebuster and jackhammer, but Monroe kicked out at two.

Grace hit a flapjack, but Monroe had grabbed the bottom turnbuckle, tearing the pad off. Monroe kicked out of the ensuing pin and hit a side russian leg sweep into a reverse armbar, continuing to wrench the arm of Grace.

Grace hit a back body drop and a bridge suplex, but Monroe kicked out at two. Grace began stomping Monroe and the two started trading head butts. Monroe hit a Nasty Suplex, but Grace kicked out at two. Monroe seemed distressed, unsure how to put Grace away for good.

Grace tried to lift Monroe, but her arm gave out on on her. Monroe pulled her up to the top of the ringpost, but Grace reversed it into a sit-down powerbomb from the top rope. Somehow, Monroe kicked out at two.

Monroe then stomped Grace into that exposed turnbuckle, crushing her head against it. Monroe then hit a DDT and got the pin.

Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Jordynne Grace

That was a NASTY match. It got really really rough and there were a couple of spots that made me wince. Not becuase they were badly done, but because they were so hard and intense. These two could be on the edge of “Fight Forever” status.

-Backstage, Jaida Parker lamented her loss tonight when Lash Legend appeared. The two jawed at each other and a pullapart brawl ensued.

-Further backstage, Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence were backstage, with Jayne screaming at her minions for costing her the Knockouts title. Lola Vice, Sol Ruca and Zaria arrived to make fun of her, with Jayne claiming she was sick and leaving.

Chelsea Green & Ethan Page vs. Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights

Before the match, it must be stated that Chelsea Green is a treasure and should be protected at all costs. Also, I am a Canadian and as such, I’m legally bound to liking Ethan Page (for some reason, there are tariffs on American wrestlers? I don’t get it either).

Green and Steele started things off and for those not in the know, in WWE Mixed Tag Matches, women fight women and men fight men, so a tag changes the players on both sides. Heights joined Steele in the ring and they hoisted Green and Page on their shoulders and tossed them out of the ring.

The crowd began chanting for “Can-a-da” at this point which, in complete honesty, was surprising. Page turned that around by grabbing a mic and promising not to sponsor the crowd for Canadian citizenship. Then he got in the ring to wrestle Heights, landing several stomps and elbows.

Page grabbed a headlock on Heights and tossed him into the ropes. Heights changed direction and bounced back into a clothesline. Page and Heights knocked noggins and Green sprinted across the ring to dropkick Steele off the apron.

Page tagged in Green and the crowd erupted. Green tried to slap Heights who caught her hand, leaving her open to a spear from Steele.

Green battled back and dropkicked Steele into the ropes, followed by some stomps in the corner. Green tossed Steele into the ropes, but Steele used it to her advantage and the two collided in the center of the ring. The women crawled to their corners to tag in their partners.

Heights burst out of the corner for a suplex and massive power slam. Green tried to kick Heights through the ropes, causing enought distraction for Page to get up. The men ran into each other and Heights tagged in Steele.

Steele grabbed Page and hit a gutwrench on him, followed but a spinebuster on Green. Alba Fyre of the Secret Hervice tried to get involved, but Steele suplexed her and Page at the same time and tried to put on an ankle lock. Green was the legal person though and grabbed Steele for an Unpretty-her, picking up the pin and the win for her team.

Match Result: Chelsea Green & Ethan Page defeated Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights

Loved every second of this. Green and Page were awesome and made Steele and Heights look great, not that they needed much help. Steele in particular has a ton of up side and I’d love to see her and Heights hanging out more going forward.

-Backstage, Oba Femi was approached by Josh Briggs. Briggs said that the grind of being champ is wearing Femi down. Femi responded by saying “thank you for you insignificant opinion. Now leave” which may be my new e-mail signature.

-Ava joined us next from her office to announce that the Speed Titles will be moving to NXT. Sol Ruca, current Women’s Speed Champion arrived to learn that she will be facing the winner of an NXT/WWE/AAA/??? four way match at no Mercy.

NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans

Femi is an absolute monster of a champion, but Evans is gunning for the Sami Zayn “Ultimate Underdog” title. The real question is will Kevin Owens arrive after the match to powerbomb the winner on the ring apron (the most remember-when-that-happened part of the ring!)

Evans played it cool and kept some distance between he and Femi of the top. When Femi charged, he worked around him, trying for a waistlock. Femi shook him off and Evans tried a chop. Evans tried kicks and punches, but Femi absorbed most of it. Evans tried for a bouncing cutter, but Femi caught him, sending him into the corner.

Femi began pounding on Evans, delivering hammering blows to the back and kicks to the gut. Evans relied heavily on his agility, but every time he jumped off the ropes, Femi would grab him. It wasn’t until a surprise superkick from Evans that Femi even left his feet.

Evans hit a double stomp and hurricanrana on Femi, not giving him a chance to recover. Femi rolled outside the ring and Evans tried to dive after him, but Femi caught him by the throat and smacked him into next week.

Femi then grabbed Evans in a military press and tossed him over the top rope back into the ring. Femi stepped on Evans, putting all his weight onto his stomach. Femi picked up Evans and hit a double gutbuster, but Evans kicked out at two.

Femi tried a submission tactic, but Evans struggled up and tried to suplex Femi. Femi reversed it in the air though and ended up crushing Evans under his weight. Evan slipped away and managed to kick Femi in the head, sending him out of the ring.

Femi scrambled back in though and hit a massive spinebuster on Evans before he could recover. Femi then sent Evans to the corner, whipping him against the turnbuckle. Evans crumpled after each attack. Femi sent him into the corner again, but Evans got a foot up and kicked Femi in the head.

Dazed, Femi staggered back and Evans tried to take him down, but Femi countered with a huge backbreaker followed by a chokeslam. Evans kicked out at two though, and Femi continued clubbing him around the ring.

Evans stood up in defiance and began raining punches on Femi, driving him back into the corner. Evans hit a springboard lariat, connecting this time and began bouncing around the ring hitting springboard moves and getting a two count.

Evans got caught by Femi, but reversed it into a DDT before scrambling up the ring post. Evans hit a splash, but didn’t quite connect, showing how beaten up he was. Evans went back up top and hit a picture perfect frog splash, but it wasn’t enough to get Femi down for the count.

Evans hit a german suplex on Femi, but that seemed to charge up the champion who nailed him with a massive lariat and began running the ropes. Evans interrupted with a cutter though and went up top. Femi was waiting for him to come back down though with a Eurpoean uppercut.

Femi pulled Evans to the top rope, but Evans squirmed out. Femi pushed him off the top rope, taking out the official. Femi tried a pop up powerbomb but Evans caught him with a cutter! A second ref arrived and counted 1-2-3!!

BUT!

Femi’s foot was under the ropes! So the original Ref waved off the new guy. Femi then picked up Evans and tossed him over the top rope through the announce table. He dragged Evans back into the ring for a signature powerbomb and that was it. Oba Femi retained the NXT Championship.

Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Je’Von Evans

After the match, Evans’ friend Ricky Saints came down to the ring. He stood toe to toe with Femi, indicating that he wants the next shot at the Champion.

Wow, That match had every indication of an uneventful squash, but damn did it deliver! Femi looked great as always, but he also made Evans look like he was a very worthy adversary. When Evans got that three count, I genuinely gasped in surprise. Fun night of wrestling!!

Jonathan Gresham suffered two strokes days ago, details scary situation

Posted on by Josh Nason

In a post shared on social media Thursday night, former Ring of Honor World Champion Jonathan Gresham revealed a potentially devastating medical situation where he suffered two strokes just days ago.

Gresham wrote that on Tuesday, he woke up and was unable to walk, see, move the left side of his body, and could barely talk.

“It took me 30 minutes to dial 911, but I finally did. I woke up in the hospital, couldn’t remember what had happened. They told me they had done an MRI and I had two strokes. I’ve had a lot of tests run but everything has come back clean. They’re not sure what happened, and the only thing they said was it could have been a possible complication from a bad case of COVID I had a couple of weeks ago. They said we may never know the exact reason,” he wrote.

Gresham said he taking the next two-to-four-weeks off to both recover and be medically cleared. He last wrestled at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV last Saturday, losing to Pete Dunne.

He also noted that current WWE NXT wrestler and wife Jordynne Grace “saw me get carted off from the house on our Ring doorbell camera and somehow flew from Orlando to Atlanta in time that she was there when I woke up.”

He added that he wasn’t convinced he had suffered a stroke until Grace showed him a picture (seen below) of his face.

“I never thought this would be something for me to worry about at 37 years old,” he said. “I will be back soon.”

https://twitter.com/TheJonGresham/status/1953595044469919877

Two matches announced for WWE NXT Heatwave

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two matches have been announced for NXT Heatwave.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Hank & Tank will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against two members of Darkstate at NXT’s next PLE on August 24 in Lowell, Massachussets. Meanwhile, Jordynne Grace will face off against Blake Monroe.

As Monroe was wrestling Kelani Jordan on Tuesday’s NXT, Jordynne Grace emerged in a neckbrace and chased Monroe out of the area and into a car that quickly whisked her away. In a later segment, Grace met with Ava, who said she would make a match between the two.

In the segment that followed after, Hank & Tank were wrestling Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon when all four members of Darkstate entered the ring after the match and attacked both teams. When they went to Ava to complain about the situation, the NXT GM announced that the two would defend their NXT Tag Team titles against two members of Darkstate at Heatwave.

Oba Femi will be defending the NXT Championship at Heatwave as well. He will face the winner between Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans on the August 19 edition of NXT in Philadelphia.

Here is the updated card for Heatwave:

WWE NXT Heatwave (August 24):

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Je’Von Evans or Trick Williams
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank defend against two members of Darkstate (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin)
  • Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace

Blake Monroe turns against Jordynne Grace at WWE Evolution

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Blake Monroe has cost Jordynne Grace the NXT Women’s Championship.

The end of the match at Sunday’s PLE had Jacy Jayne’s stablemates introduce the Women’s Championship into the match. Blake Monroe managed to take out Fallon Henley then Jazmyn Nyx. Henley recovered and distracted the referee on the apron as Jayne whipped Grace into the ropes. That was where Monroe struck Grace in the back with the title, allowing Jayne to connect with a punch for the win.

After the match, Monroe handed the title to Jayne and smirked at Fatal Influence as she made her exit.

Grace reacted to the turn on X, clearly unhappy.

Since making her debut last month, the former Mariah May had been feuding with Fatal Influence, who attacked Monroe during her contract signing. At Saturday’s The Great American Bash, she and Grace teamed up to defeat Jayne and Henley. In the build to their match, Grace & Monroe developed a friendship, enjoying a spa day together.

In a segment that aired during the Evolution pre-show, Monroe agreed to be in Grace’s corner for her title match.

WWE NXT Great American Bash live results: Three title matches

Posted on by Jeff Moss

WWE NXT returns with the Great American Bash — a Saturday afternoon premium live event from Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the headliner, NXT Champion Oba Femi looks to continue his run as he defends against Yoshiki Inamura who earned the shot in a recent no. 1 contender’s match.

Blake Monroe will make her televised NXT debut, teaming with Jordynne Grace to take on Fatal Influence (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley) one day ahead of Grace challenging Jayne for the title at Evolution.

In a falls count anywhere match for the North American title, Ethan Page defends against Ricky Saints.

A day after making her main roster debut on SmackDown, Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca will defend against Izzi Dame.

The high-flying Je’Von Evans will battle LFG winner Jasper Troy while TNA Champion Trick Williams, Joe Hendry and Mike Santana will sign their contracts for TNA Slammiversary.

Our coverage begins at 3 PM Eastern.

**********

It’s great! It’s American (mostly)! And someone is sure to get bashed. It’s NXT’s Great American Bash and it starts…

Wait for it…

NOW!

Je’Von Evans vs. Jasper Troy

Noted chains enthusiast, Troy, won LFG Season One and almost dethroned Oba Femi and captured his NXT Title. Evans doesn’t like that Troy is causing chaos in his structured little NXT and is looking to end the threat once and for all. 

Troy was pretty much a whole human bigger than Evans, so it wasn’t a shot that off the top, Try began ragdolling him around the ring. Evans was also wrestling with taped ribs, so he wasn’t at 100%. That didn’t stop him from slapping Troy in the face.

Evans’ agility was his greatest weapon against Troy, as he dodges a ringpost and hit a springboard at the big man. Unfortunately, Troy caught him mid air and threw him at the ground. Hard. Both men ended up on the outside, where Troy drove Evans’ back into the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring, and the earliest I’ve ever used that joke).

Troy grabbed Evans by the throat and threw him over the top rope. He then picked him up by said throat and thew him at the barricades. Back in the ring, Troy hit a splash off the ropes on a barely moving Evans. He hit another one for good measure and then put on a devastating chinlock. Yes, even a chinlock from Troy looks devastating.

Evans tried again to go high flying, but once again, Troy caught him and wracked him through a series of backbreakers. The ref checked on Evans, but as soon as he was able, Troy mercilessly attacked him again. Troy locked in an abdominal stretch and topped it off with some elbows to the gut.

Evans found a second wind though and started peppering Troy with shots. That dazed the big man and he fell to one knee. Evans tried to go up top, but his body failed him and the couldn’t make it. Troy did though, and hit a big headbutt from the second rope.

Evans started throwing hands and sent Troy to the corner. He hit s superkick and then tried a German Suplex, but couldn’t get the bigger man over. Evans tried a springboard cutter, but it didn’t land. He went up top but Troy threw him back into the ring. Troy charged, but his momentum took him over the ropes when Evans dodged. Evans dove through the ropes and hit Troy.

Back in the ring, Evans finally got that German Suplex on Troy and punctuated it with a Frog Splash. It only got him a two count. He tried again, but Troy caught him for a choke slam. Troy set him up for abig slam, but Evans wormed his way underneath and rolled up Troy for a quick pin!

Match Result: Je’Von Evans defeated Jasper Troy

Good gracious! Troy is absolutely terrifying. Evans did an amazing job of making him look like the monster he is. I loved Evans’ “never say die” attitude, even when Troy was essentaily killing him. Lopsided matches like this almost always turn into squashes, but these guys told a great story with a fun finish. Excellent kickoff to the Bash!

-The current holder of the Heritage Cup, “Stacks” Lorenzo joined us next to reveal a list of all the people he’d give a shot at the cup to, including Fat Lexis King, Randy Orton’s Kids, Koko B. Ware and Matt Bloom (A-Train). He then spoke to Bloom in the Performance Center, who advised him to keep his head on a swivel. After that, it was revealed that someone had stolen the Cup!

-Next, Sol Ruca and Zaria joined i for an interview. They said all the things the wrestlers say, but what was interesting was the brief interruption of the feed to a skull-faced stranger. It only happened for a second, and Ruca and Zaria did not acknowledge it.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca w Zaria vs. Izzi Dame w/Tatum Paxley

This match is all about friendship. Women’s North American and WWE Speed Champion Ruca wanted to be friends with Tatum Paxley, but Paxley decided that she’d rather be friends with The Culling, helping Dame pin Ruca in a tag match, Now Ruca and Dame will go one on one for the Women’s North American Championship, but it’s their friends on the outside who could make the biggest difference. 

Right off the bell, Paxley and Zaria got into it, distracting the ref. That allowed Dame to hit a quick powerbomb and pin Ruca. By the time the ref noticed though, Ruca’s foot was on the ropes.

The match began in earnest with Ruca hitting a missile dropkick on Dame, sending her to the outside. She followed with a splash and threw Dame back into the ring for a two count. Ruca had control, but got caught by Dame who hit a bellybuster, leaving Ruca writhing.

Dame sent Ruca off the ropes for a knee to the gut and backbreaker. Ruca tried to fight back, but Dame dropped her and set her up for a knee to the back and crab submission. Ruca powered out and got some momentum, but Dame hit a big boot the face and tried a quick pin for two.

The crowd was solidly behind Ruca, who started throwing elbows at Dame. Ruca hit a backstabber and Dame rolled out of the ring. Ruca followed via moonsault, but it was hard to tell who got more hurt in the move.

Back in the ring, Ruca hit a springboard clothesline off the top rope and set Dame up on the ringpost. Dame shoved her off and hit a missile dropkick, knocking Ruca onto her back. The two stood and traded shots in the middle of the ring.

Ruca set Dame up on the ringpost and hit an X-Factor from the top rope. She tried it again, but Dame caught her by the throat and hit a big chokeslam in the middle of the ring. Dame climbed up and tried a splash from the second rope but Ruca met her with a kick instead.

Ruca fired up and hit a huge spear, but Dame got her foot on the rope during the pin. By that I mean, Paxley put it there. Zaria speared Paxley on the outside and Ruca hit a big cutter in the ring to get the 1-2-3 and retain her Women’s North American Title.

Match Result: Sol Ruca defeated Izzi Dame

That was a fun match. It lacked a little of the intensity of the first bout, but the crowd was way into it and that made it a ton of fun to watch.

-Next, a promo for Lola Vice played, touting her victory in AAA last night. From there, Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe were shown warming up for their match, before a hype package for Saints vs Page aired.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs. Ricky Saints

The latest chapter in this long-running feud is sure to be brutal. Page took the NXT North American Championship from Saints in May and then injured him, putting him out of action for months. Now that Saints is back, revenge is on his mind as well as reclaiming the NXT North American title. 

Saint’s jumped Page as the bell rang, sending him to the outside right away. He grabbed a Kendo stick from under the ring and peppered Page with shots to the back. Page grabbed a trash can lid and hit Saints, following him up into the crowd.

They battled in the aisles and the crowd chanted for Saints. Saints sent Page into the concession area where he hit him with a garbage can. Page responded by driving Saints into a pillar and locking in a boston crab. Page went for an Ego’s Edge, but Saints wriggled out and sent him face first into that pillar.

PAge charged and Saints caught him and put him through a WWE Merch table. Saints went for the cover, but only got a two. Moving back out into the crowd by the entrance ramp, Page sent Saints into the steel ring steps and grabbed a chair. He hit Saints with it and wrapped it around his neck before sending him into the ringpost.

Page threw a bunch of chairs into the ring, pausing to swing at Saints. Saints dodged though and page hit the barricade. Saints then blasted him with a fire extinguisher and stripped the banner from the steel guardrail, which he then threw on top of Page. Saints grabbed a chair of his own and delivered a shot before tossing it and the barricade into the ring.

Saints stomped Page’s head on the ring apron (the ego-est part of the ring!) and dragged him inside. Saints picked up Page and racked him on the turnbuckle, but Saints fought back and slammed Page’s head into a chair.

Saints then set up two chairs in the middle of the ring, back to back. He then suplexed Page onto the chairs, followed by another suplex onto the barricade in the corner. Somehow, Page kicked out at two.

Saints upped the ante by setting up four chairs, front to front. Page followed him up the to the top rope where they fought until he was able to Powerbomb Page onto the chairs!

Page bailed trying to escape to the back, but Saints followed, and the two battled in the green room, using a couch, a flip-flop and a sewing machine. Suddenly, Jasper Troy appeared and slammed Saints onto a road case!

Page dragged Saints back to the ring and belted him with a chair. Saints punched back and back body dropped Page onto the entrance ramp. From there, Saints hit a tornado DDT and got a two count. The two fought along the LED board, and Page hit an Ego’s Edge on Saints, throwing him off the ramp and through two tables!

Page scurried down and got the pin, winning the match and retaining his North American Title!

Match Result: Ethan Page defeated Ricky Saints

That was a killer match with all the best things that a Falls Count Anywhere stipulation can bring. Weapons, huge spots and a flip-flop. It’ll be interesting to see if Jasper Troy had a reason for interfering, or if he was just annoyed that the match interrupted his feeding time, which I assume is mostly raw meat.

-Next, it was announced that the next NXT PLE will be Heatwave, on Sunday August 24th.

TNA World Championship Contract Signing

Of all the wrestling tropes out there, my least favorite is the dreaded “Contract Signing.” These segments are rarely different from one another, “Promo, promo, signed paper, overturned table, brawl, signed paper, fight.” But I guess legally speaking, papers have to be signed, so let’s get on with it. 

Trick Williams will defend the TNA World Title at Slammiversary against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a Triple Threat Match. The Hendry and Santana want the title back in TNA, and will sign any papers they have to in order to get that done.

NXT GM Ava started the proceedings by introducing the participants, starting with Santana. Hendry followed to a great ovation and then Trick Williams came down with the TNA Title. Booker T called Hendry the “Brett Farve of wrestling” which tells me that Booker does not pay attention to football (or fraud cases).

Santana grabbed a mic and talked about how being in a WWE ring as a TNA wrestler means something to him, but the TNA title belongs in TNA. He called Williams soft and talked about respecting Hendry, but at the end of the day, Hendry is standing in Santana’s way. He then signed the contract.

Hendry spoke next, saying that he respects Santana as well, but Hendry is the one who should being the TNA title back and take TNA to the next level. He turned to Williams and warned him that he will make him believe in Joe Hendry. He then signed the contract.

Williams then said he didn’t want to ruin the moment for Hendry and Santana, but they need to put some respect on his name. Williams said that he’s the one with the stroke around NXT and TNA (I’m pretty sure no one but wrestlers use “stroke” like that).

Williams said that he doesn’t need help to defend the title and would kick both of their butts. He then signed the contract.

Wait, what’s this!? Hendry and Santana pushed their chairs back and jumped Williams, putting him through the table! What a shocking and unexpected outcome!!

-Any way, a promo for Saturday Night’s Main Event played next, but was interrupted by that masked faction, DarkState, who entered the ring and beat up Hendry and Santana who were still in the ring for some reason!

-Next a promo from Tony d’Angelo aired, revealing that he was the one who stole the Heritage Cup from Stacks! He tossed it off of a bridge and promised to win their “final” battle on Tuesday.

NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. Yoshiki Inamura w/Josh Briggs

The NXT Title could be headed to Japan! Inamura has made his bones in Pro Wrestling Noah and If he’s able to defeat Femi here, he would become the first non-WWE person to win the NXT Championship. Femi however has dominated NXT since he debuted and his winning of the NXT Championship was pretty much only a matter of time. Inamura will have his work cut out for him. 

The crowd was chanting OBA before the match even started, but once the bell rang it was clear that these two were pretty evenly matched in size and power. They locked up and Femi got the advantage with a shoulder block. Inamura moved on to a wrist lock, but Femi overpowered it. The two remained locked in a test of strength that Femi eventually won.

Femi picked Inamura up for a suplex which just energized Inamura. He charged Femi and drove him to the mat with a shoulder, followed by a big elbow. Inamura went to the top rope, but Femi rolled out of the ring, drawing Inamura down for Femi to hoist him on his shoulders.

Inamura broke free though, and dove on Femi on the outside. Back in the ring, he picked up Femi for a spinning slam. Femi responded with a slam of his own, but neither man could get more than a two count.

Femi began to take charge, tossing Inamura around the ring. He put Inamura in a back stretch over his knee, but Inamura was able to power out and counter the hold into a body slam. Femi hit a spinebuster in response. Working the body, Femi tried to get Imanura up for a suplex, but Inamura blocked it and delivered on of his own to Femi.

Inamura started delivering chops to Femi, utilizing his strong style strikes. Inamura hit another German Suplex on Femi, but only a two count. Inamura went to the top rope, but Femi dodged his dive, sending him into the ref in the corner. That allowed Briggs to hit Femi with the NXT title.

Inamura went up top, but Briggs tried to get him to make a pin. IN the confusion, Femi staggered to his feet and Inamura hit a big splash from the top rope. However, the ref was still down, so there was noone to count the pin.

Briggs tried to put the ref back in, which allowed Femi to recover and hit a choke slam. The pin was only for two though as Inamura kicked out. The big men went back to striking and punches and chops flew everywhere.

Inamura hit a modified Blue Thunder Bomb, but that only got him a modified two count. Briggs got up on the apron, but Femi wasn’t distracted and hit a pop up powerbomb to get the 1-2-3 and retain the NXT Title.

Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Yoshiki Inamura

That was a lot of big men slapping the meat! I love these slobberknockers as a certain Oklahoman used to say and Imanura kept up with the dominant Femi the whole way. I could have done without the Briggs interference, but it was still a fun title match.

-Backstage, Trick Williams asked GM Ava to do something about him getting jumped by Hendry and Santana. Ava said that DarkState got his revenge and then made the match Williams, Hendry and Santana vs DarkState on Tuesday.

-Oba Femi was interviewed in the back and he was joined be Inamura. They exchanged respect and Inamura apologized for Briggs’ interference. Briggs arrived and a pull apart broke out.

Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley) w/ Jazmyn Nyx

Monroe’s arrival in NXT threw the women’s division into chaos and resulted in Fatal Influence putting her through a table. Grace is the number one contender for Jayne’s NXT Women’s Title, and just hours before Evolution, Fatal Influence will be looking to make an impact on the division and the faces of Grace and Monroe. 

Grace and Henley kicked things off, with Grace having the obvious strength advantage. She sent Henley into the corner and after some shots hit a big spinning slam. Henley tagged in Jayne and the two traded schoolboy attempts.

Grace then tagged in Monroe in her first ever WWE/NXT match. She and Jayne locked up and traded armbreakers. Monroe dodged a senton from Jayne who rolled over and tagged Henley back in. Monroe sent her to the corner and Grace tagged in. Using Monroe as a weapon, Grace scooped her up and dropped her on Henley.

Now isolated, Henley struggled against Monroe and Grace in the corner. Monroe, the legal woman, hit a spinning slam in the middle of the ring followed by a rollup. Jayne distracted the ref and Nyx jumped in to break up the pin and give a shot to Monroe.

Now Monroe found herself isolated as Jayne and Henley tagged in and out, working her over. Monroe dodged a double team though and got a hot tag to Grace who cleaned house until Jayne got a foot in her stomach. Henley arrived for a double team, but Grace shrugged them both off, sending them to the outside.

Jayne lured Grace to the outside and delivered a huge kick as Grace rounded a corner. Tossing her back into the ring, Henley and Jayne suplexed Grace, but it only resulted in a two count. Jayne pounced on a dazed Grace and hit a big elbow and a kick square to the face.

Henley rejoined the fray and hit Grace with a back elbow off the ropes. Jayne and Henley tagged in and out, delivering shots and kicks to Grace in the corner, targeting the arms. Grace fought back, overpowering Henley into a Death Valley Driver. A hot tag was made to Monroe to took out Henley and Jayne.

Jayne tried to go up top, but Monroe got her with a head scissors and brought her back down to earth. Monroe fought Jayne on the ring apron (the most glamourous part of the ring!) and tried a power bomb, but Nyx stopped her and Jayne dragged Monroe back into ring.

Henley tagged in and hit a blockbuster on Monroe for a two-count. Monroe delivered a big headbutt to Henley and fell back into a tag from Grace. Grace worked Henley over, tossing her onto the entrance ramp. They traded shots until Henley speared Grace through the ropes back into the ring.

Jayne and Monroe tagged in and traded stiff shots. Jayne sent Monroe intot he corner, but Monroe dodged and hit a German Suplex on Jayne. Monroe went to the top rope, but Nyx managed to push her off. Suddenly Masha Slammovich appeared and took out Nyx!

All four women brawled in the ring, the Ref unable to keep control. Henley sent Grace to the outside and in the ring, Monroe at a high kick from Jayne. Grace popped up and hit a back fist on Jayne, knocking her cold and allowing Monroe to get the pin!

Match Result: Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe defeated Fatal Influence

A fun match that was worthy of being the Main Event. Loved the Slammovich cameo and thought that all involved worked really well together! Evolution should be great tomorrow, but before that, it’s Saturday Night’s Main Event!

Jordynne Grace to make film debut in ‘Welcome to Paradise’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jordynne Grace is set to make her film debut.

Variety reported on Sunday that Grace has been cast in the “genre-busting” fantasy film “Welcome to Paradise.” The film is currently in post-production, meaning Grace has already filmed her scenes.

Written and directed by Richard Summers-Calvert, the plot follows Lisa, who wakes up on a beach with no memory and is told by a creature that she has arrived at “The Carnival.”

“The surreal fantasy film blends psychological drama, dark comedy and mythic surrealism, centering on a mysterious carnival where winning may mean survival and losing could trap visitors in an alternate reality forever,” Variety described the movie.

Welcome to Paradise is currently slated for a late 2025 release on the festival circuit.

“Some may doubt it could work, but that’s because they’ve never witnessed something like this in the flesh,” Summers-Calvert said of the film. “This film has moments that people will have never seen, heard, or even dreamt before — and that’s what excites me most.”

Also cast in the film are Bill Nighy, Mathew Horne, Georgina Bennett, Kirk Patterson, Togo Igawa, Tracey Wilkinson, and the late British stage actor Simon Fisher-Becker, who passed away in March.

Jordynne Grace to challenge for NXT title at WWE Evolution

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Jordynne Grace is the new number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship.

Grace was victorious in the Evolution contender’s series tournament final in the main event of Tuesday’s WWE NXT TV episode, defeating Jaida Parker, Lash Legend, and Izzi Dame to earn a title shot at Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne at the Evolution PLE set for Sunday, July 13.

Jayne vs. Grace for the NXT Women’s Championship is the first match confirmed for Evolution, part of WWE’s weekend takeover of Atlanta. The city will host NXT’s Great American Bash on Saturday July 12 in the afternoon, Saturday Night’s Main Event later that day, then Evolution on Sunday, July 13.

Our full report from Tuesday’s WWE NXT is here. Here are the cards for the July 12-13 weekend in Atlanta so far:

WWE NXT Great American Bash, Saturday, July 12, 2:30 p.m. Eastern time —

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Yoshiki Inamura or Jasper Troy

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Saturday, July 12, 8 p.m. Eastern time —

  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Goldberg

WWE Evolution, Sunday, July 13, 7 p.m. Eastern time —

  • NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Jordynne Grace

WWE NXT live results: Evolution Eliminator fatal four-way

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight, we’ll find out the challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship at WWE Evolution.

A fatal four-way match between Jordynne Grace, Jaida Parker, Lash Legend, and Izzi Dame is set to headline tonight’s NXT episode. Each competitor earned their way into the fatal four-way with victories last week — and now one of them will secure a title shot at Evolution with one more win. The all-women’s PLE is taking place in Atlanta on July 13.

Jacy Jayne is the current NXT Women’s Champion, but she has Blake Monroe (the former Mariah May) eyeing her title.

Two title matches are also part of tonight’s card. To open the show, Trick Williams puts his TNA World Championship on the line against Josh Briggs. There will then be a Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing Lorenzo match later in the night to determine a new Heritage Cup Champion after Noam Dar had to vacate the trophy due to injury.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show opens with short and direct promos from the four wrestlers looking to earn a title shot for the NXT Women’s Championship. Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace all cut promos ahead of the fatal four-way later tonight.

Kicking off this WWE show is a TNA title match, which is still an odd sentence to type. Way less odd considering the TNA champion is WWE talent defending against someone else from WWE on their show.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams defeated Josh Briggs (with Yoshiki Inamura) to retain his title

For his entrance, Briggs wore a vest with a smoking skull resting on his shoulder. He and Trick have a really good opening bout, and Trick pinned Briggs to retain the TNA title. Joe Hendry returns to NXT television in a post-match angle.

The match goes through a slit-screen commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Trick gets in the face of Inamura and they jaw at each other at ringside. Trick goes to cheap shot Inamura, but he blocks Trick. Briggs then boots Trick with a big leg, and Briggs is fired up as the show heads into the break.

Trick cuts off Briggs during the break with a spin kick. Briggs with a comeback after the show returns to full screen. The action intensifies as they trade near falls. Trick counters a chokeslam, and they botch an attempted powerbomb. Briggs then completes the chokeslams for a close near fall, where Trick grabs the bottom rope to stop to break the count.

Slugfest as the trade punches and kicks. They fight on, and Briggs goes for a moonsault press. No water in the pool. Trick then hits Briggs with a running knee strike, and Trick hooks a leg while covering Briggs for a pinfall.

Trick gets the house microphone and cuts a promo in front of the live studio audience. Boasting about himself, Trick says he carried two brands. He proclaims himself as the greatest TNA champion. Suddenly, Joe Hendry’s theme song interrupts the post-match promo, along with an entrance video.

Trick squares up and looks toward the entrance ramp. Hendry sneaks into the ring behind Trick. The TNA champ turns around only to get clotheslined by Hendry. Trick bumps and feeds for Hendry, before Hendry clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.

No Quarter Catch Crew are in a skit where Tavion Heights reveals a special protective mask he will wear in his match. Charlie Dempsey assumes Heights is out of the match due to injury, but Heights is cleared to wrestle with the protective mask.

In a separate skit, Myles Borne is talking with a couple collegiate football players. Lexis King tries to interrupts by yelling at Borne, who is partially deaf. King also insults the football players, but he soon backpedals. This skit seems to set up a singles bout with King against Borne.

Je’Von Evans vs. Tavion Heights (with Wren Sinclair & Charlie Dempsey)

Evans pinned Heights to win the match. The protective mask Heights wore looks like Hannibal Lecter. Heights looked strong at times despite cleanly dropping the fall. They had a good match with a lot of action. Evans flew with a dive before the show cuts to commercial.

Soon after returning from the commercial break, they go home. For the finish, Evans leaped to the ropes with a double springboard tornillo splash. Evans then scores a pinfall.

After the match, Jasper Troy runs in to attack Evans. Troy lays out Evans with a Black Hole slam. Troy then strolls out of the ring past the No Quarter Catch Crew. Troys’ beef is apparently only with Evans.

Noam Dar is out due to an apparent injury, and he relinquishes the NXT Heritage Cup Championship. Dar was set to defend against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Instead, Lorenzo faces his arch-rival Tony D’Angelo for the vacant Heritage Cup. Winner takes the Cup in the latest in the saga of the D’Angelo Family.

Ricky Saints defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis

Saint pinned Adonis after a Roshambo. In what was basically a showcase match to get Saints over, the bout goes through a commercial break and is rejoined in progress. Saints gets to pose before the show cuts to the break. Heat spot as the show returns, and Saints makes a comeback. Saints delivers his finisher and scores a decisive victory.

Ethan Page runs in after the match to ambush Saints. Page uses a voiceover to trick Page into falling prey to a sneak attack. Page then executes Saint’s own finisher as Page gives Saints a Roshambo. Those two seem headed for a blow off match.

Darkstate is the focus of a pre-taped promo sponsored by a corporate insurance company, which kind of kills their whole gimmick. Pays well though.

NXT Champion Oba Femi is headed to the ring for an in-ring monologue. Femi with a strong promo that leads to Inamura coming out to challenge Femi.

Femi first boasts in his monologue as he puts himself over as “The Ruler” of NXT. He defeats all comers and now sits atop his kingdom. Other nights coast, but not Femi. He craves the fight, and Femi says he’s grown restless for new challengers.

Yoshiki Inamura and his striking mohawk confront Femi. Inamura talks about coming to NXT looking to chase glory. He went home when glory did not come. Inamura went home to Japan and realized what he missed, like his tag partner Josh Briggs and NXT itself. Inamura pledges his love for NXT and its fans. He wants to pay back their passion by winning the NXT Championship.

Femi responds by saying they are both strangers in a strange land. Femi then says they differ because Femi stayed and thrived here, while Inamura went back. Femi talks about the fans still embracing Inamura when he came back. Femi says that does not fool him. Femi sees Inamura as a warrior looking for the spirit of the fight, but Femi cautions that fighting for the honor of the fans is a mistake. Femi warns that Inamura will fall to the “The Ruler” like everyone else. Inamura steps towards Femi, gets in his face, and Inamura says he is ready.

Inamura was looking good until he is blindsided by Jasper Troy. Heckuva of a way to put Inamura over as a challenger. Good segment except for the dumb run-in.

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo defeated Tony D’Angelo to win the NXT Heritage Championship

Stacks won the Heritage Cup after Luca Crusifino inadvertently hits D’Angelo with the bucket.

No falls in the first round. They keep fighting after the bell sounds to end round one, and they are pulled apart by officials. Not long into the second round, D’Angelo scores a pinfall after a spear. Stacks takes a bump on the announce desk and sells his ribs before taking the spear.

Most of round three takes place during a commercial break. The show returns from the break with 20 seconds remaining in round two. Stacks with a knee drop for a near fall as the round ends. Between rounds, Stacks with a cheap shot by stomping on D’Angelo’s knee. That plays into the start of the next round.

D’Angelo buckles to the knee injured by Stacks stomping on it, and Stacks using a small package for a pinfall to end round three. That evens the score in the match a one fall apiece.d;

Luca Crusifino runs down to ringside to get in the corner of D’Angelo. The story going into the match is D’Angelo still mistrusts Crusifino, which also plays into the finish.

D’Angelo hip-tosses Stacks out of the ring, and Stacks is caught by his henchmen from his mafia crew. One of the henchmen tries to use a spit bucket as a weapon, but Crusifino blocks it. However, Crusifino inadvertently hits D’Angelo with the bucket. Stacks then delivers a shining wizard, and Stacks covers D’Aneglo to win the Cup in the fifth round.

Crusifino pleads his case to D’Angelo as Crusifino tries to help him up. An angry D’Angelo decks Crusifino, and Crusifino sells big.

The Fatal Influence trio is interviewed backstage by Sarach Schreiber. Falling Henley first cuts a promo on Blake Monroe, and then NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne cuts her own promo on Monroe. Jayne then comments on the fatal four-way later tonight. Jayne vows to retain the title at Evolution.

Jordynne Grace warms up in the locker room, as the main event is up next. Beforehand is a backstage skit that sets up a singles match between Thea Hail and Lainey Reid. Lash Legend interrupts them on her way to the main event.

NXT GM Ava and NXT North American Champion Ethan Page are in another skit, and she tells Page that he and Ricky Saints are required to be in her office next week. Suddenly, there is a commotion off camera. Ava runs to see NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank laid out.

Joe Hendry is interviewed backstage, and he vows to regain the TNA title at Slammiversary. Hendry also cuts a promo on Wes Lee, as the two are scheduled for a singles match on NXT television.

Chase U is the focus of a vignette.

Jordynne Grace defeated Jaida Parker, Lash Legend and Izzi Dame (with Tatum Paxley) in number one contender’s fatal four-way

Grace pinned Parker to win the match.

Paxley is in Dame’s corner after a skit earlier in the show where Dame invited Paxley to join her. Fatal Influence watches from a perch above the ring. NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and her partner, Zaria, run to counteract outside interference from Paxley. Zaria carries Paxley away before the show cuts to its final commercial break.

Lots of action and high spots after the break, a lot of near falls in the closing minutes. All four were given time to shine. They did a Tower of Doom spot.

The closing moments were intense. Grace picks up Parker into a torture rack, and Grace then turns it into a sit-out powerbomb. Grace then covers Parker to win the match, and she becomes number one contender. Although the match was good, it was a very contrived way to make Grace the top contender instead of building her up as such a contender. But they had a tournament and this match because why not. Regardless, Grace goes on to challenge Jacy Jayne for the NXT women’s title.

Jordynne Grace: ‘Every sacrifice I’ve made’ has led to WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jordynne Grace says the last 15 years of her career have all led to her living out a dream in WWE.

Grace started her career wrestling on Texas-based independents as a teenager in late 2012. She was introduced to the wider wrestling world at 2018’s All In event, where she took part in the Over the Budget Battle Royal. She signed with TNA, then known as Impact Wrestling, shortly after.

During an interview with Yahoo Sports, Grace said everything she’s done in her career has brought her to this point.

“It’s what I’ve been working toward, I feel like, the past 15 years. Every sacrifice I’ve made, every win, every loss, every title I won at TNA has come down to finally being able to live [my] dream as a WWE champion,” Grace said.

She added that her current goal is to give each of her opponents the best match of their career.

“I want to be the one to give whoever comes in front of me their best match, no matter what. … I always ask the person I’m wrestling with, ‘What was your favorite match?’ They would tell me, I’d be like, ‘We’re going to have a better match than that. We’re going to say it right now and we’re going to speak it into existence.’ That’s what I always want to be for that person.”

Earlier in the interview, Grace discussed her departure from TNA Wrestling and conversations she had with company management about who would take over as the face of the Knockouts division.

“I remember having the conversation about who I thought would be next,” Grace said. “Honestly, they didn’t have Masha’s name in their head at all, which surprised me, but I really [feel] that Masha was the one. … I don’t know any of the people that are really in charge, I don’t have a relationship with them. But at the time, I don’t think that her independent work and GCW work was translating over to TNA in the Knockouts Division. They didn’t get it. It didn’t click for them.”

“But I knew how good she was, and I knew how important it was for her to be the one to be the next … leader of that locker room.”

Grace also noted that it was dropping the Knockouts title in 2020 to Deonna Purrazzo that led to a turning point in her training.

“I had just won the Knockouts Championship for the first time, and Deonna Perrazzo had come over to TNA, and she won the title from me her very first weekend there. And I remember feeling so expendable and so just off-put by that, I just thought to myself, ‘Well, something has to change, because if someone can just come in here and just take my spot, I have to do something. I have to change something in order for that not to happen ever again.’ … I actually got my first [fitness] coach that following week.”

Grace’s full interview with Yahoo Sports is available here.