Two matches have been announced for Tuesday’s edition of WWE NXT.
Eddy Thorpe vs. Dijak is now scheduled for the show. Thorpe interfered during the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge last night at Deadline, costing Dijak a chance to win the match.
Eddy Thorpe I swear on my children with God as my witness that I’m going to absolutely end you once and for all.
Also announced for Tuesday is a six-person mixed match pitting Meta Four’s Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, & Lash Legend against Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, & Fallon Henley. This comes after the two groups were involved in a backstage brawl last night at Deadline.
The 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout tournament will also begin on Tuesday. Riley Osborne, Keanu Carver, Tavion Heights, Dion Lennox, Luca Crusifino, Myles Borne, Trey Bearhill, and Oba Femi have been featured in videos promoting the tournament.
WWE NXT on December 12, 2023, announced lineup:
Eddy Thorpe vs. Dijak
Meta Four’s Lash Legend, Oro Mensah & Noam Dar vs. Fallon Henley, Josh Briggs, & Brooks Jensen
Roxanne Perez and Kiana James will meet inside a steel cage after the two fought in the open of Tuesday’s NXT, competing in a four-way last chance match to qualify for the Iron Survivor Challenge. Both ended up falling into the announcer’s table towards the end of the match, allowing Fallon Henley to secure the win to advance. Later inside the trainer’s room, the two fought again. Ava said she will go to Shawn Micheals and confirm the match for Saturday.
Ava later met Carmelo Hayes backstage, who told Hayes that his match against Lexis King was good as official. Following an NXT Anonymous video showing Carmelo Hayes on his phone shortly before Trick Williams was attacked backstage back in October, Williams again became suspicious of Hayes. Williams confronted him, asking if he was working with King. Williams said he’d prove himself by taking on King at Deadline.
A kickoff match will also take place before the show, with Axiom facing Nathan Frazer. The two were having a match on NXT Tuesday when all five of the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge participants entered the ring, causing the match to be thrown out.
Here is the updated card for NXT Deadline:
NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov defends against Baron Corbin
NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio defends against Dragon Lee
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Dijak vs. Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs vs. Bron Breakker vs. Tyler Bate
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend vs. Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Fallon Henley
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Two good matches this week, with an appearance from the very talented Axiom to boot, made this a very pleasant experience indeed.
Nikki Cross defeated Kiana James (5:07)
This was a good five-minute match where James was able to get over who she is as a character, whilst also showing off her moveset.
Kiana James hasn’t appeared on Main Event in over a year. Believe it or not, she wrestled Asuka the last time she worked an episode. Asuka is a dream opponent for anyone on Raw, let alone on this minnow of a show.
James plays the heel really well, she appears to be a businesswoman who has the power to manipulate anyone who stands in her way. She’s got a great smile and so if they wanted to turn her babyface later down the line, that’d work too.
She hit a great-looking belly to back suplex, but unfortunately, they stuck a body scissors spot in the middle, which always look a little bit hokey for my taste. Credit to Cross who sold it like the move was squeezing the life out of her.
The finish saw Cross go for a bulldog, but she was posted as James halted it. James hit the 401K but Cross kicked out. After some back and forth, Cross used a swinging DDT and The Purge to get the win.
Akira Tozawa defeated Axiom (8:48)
This was an excellent match by Main Event standards. Tozawa is always value for money and here despite winning, he played his role just right to allow Axiom to get over with the live crowd.
Axiom has only had the opportunity to appear on a main roster show once before and it was this one in December last year. He was able to work with Mustafa Ali and they were tremendous together.
It was nice to see here that they resisted the temptation to put him up against a giant, like a Bronson Reed, and instead went with something that would be far more entertaining.
This was a really carefully crafted match. It had everything you would want: a ton of grappling and intricate mat work early on, some high spots and some late drama before the victor was crowned.
It’s hard to believe that they haven’t worked together before, because the timing was there. Before the break, they worked really hard on the mat and then Axiom did a springboard moonsault onto Tozawa on the outside as they went to the ads.
Tozawa was in control after the commercials and did a sweet spot where he did a kip up into a German before heading up to the top rope.
In the end, the top rope played a big part in the finish. They fought up there and did a wicked-looking Spanish Fly for a near fall before Tozawa got the upper hand and used the senton to get his hand raised.
Tiffany Stratton’s title reign faces a challenge from Kiana James tonight.
The NXT Women’s Championship will be up for grabs when Stratton faces off with James on tonight’s NXT episode. Last Tuesday, James put herself in position for the title shot when she defeated Roxanne Perez, Gigi Dolin, and Blair Davenport in a fatal four-way number one contender’s match.
While James is Stratton’s opponent for tonight, it appears that a match between Stratton and WWE main roster star Becky Lynch is looming. A confrontation between the two took place during Payback on Saturday.
North American Champion Dominik Mysterio will be the special guest referee for Dragon Lee vs. Mustafa Ali. Both Lee and Ali are angling for a shot at Dominik’s title.
A no DQ grudge match between Bron Breakker and Von Wagner is among the other matches set for tonight. The show will also include Ilja Dragunov vs. Oro Mensah, the return of Angel & Humberto, and more.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Opening the show is the women’s title match, which would lead into a major announcement concerning next week’s main event.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defeated Kiana James to retain her title
Stratton pinned James, after an eye poke and Stratton’s moonsault finisher. Becky Lynch appears after the match in a taped promo, where she announces she is challenging for Stratton’s title in the main event next Tuesday on NXT.
The match itself was well choreographed, and also seemed timed out well. James got to look strong, but not necessarily at Stratton’s expense.
Moments before they went home, Stratton grabs James’ loaded bag. Stratton goes to hit James with the loaded bag, but James ducks. James delivers her 401k finisher, but Stratton kicks out for a near fall.
Stratton had used underhanded tactics earlier in the match to shift the advantage in her favor. She does so again to set up the finish. Stratton pokes James’s in the eyes, and Stratton then sets up for her finisher. Stratton executes her “Prettiest Moonsault Ever,” and Stratton covers her for a pinfall.
Becky Lynch appears on the Titantron after the match. Lynch cuts a promo on Stratton, and Lynch announces she is challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship. Stratton defends her title against Lynch next week on NXT.
Diamond Mine is back together and back in NXT. The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile are in their gym in a skit where the NXT Tag Team Champions meet up with them. The tag champs, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks, are talking with the Creeds when Malik Blade and Edris Enofe interrupt. They take exception to the Creeds wanting a tag title shot so soon after returning. An argument ensues. To be continued…
Ilja Dragunov defeated Oro Mensah (with Noam Dar, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend)
Dragunov pinned Mensah in a really good match. The style of the bout is much different than the opener, and it was more fluid. Mensah brought the fight to Dragunov, which also plays to Dragunov’s strengths.
They fight through a commercial break, and the battle continues after the shoe returns from the a split-screen. Dragunov makes a comeback after delivering his Grüße aus Moskau lariat. Dragunov goes into a chain of suplexes for a near fall. He is soon cut off by Mensah, and he hits a spinning heel kick for two and half.
Mensah then begins to mock Dragunov, which infuriates Dragunov. He hulks up, and Mensah is powerbombed. Dragunov signals her his finisher, and he delivers Torpedo Moskau. Dragunov then covers Mensah for a pinfall.
Wes Lee enters the soundstage after the match is over. He gets in the ring to confront Dragunov, and Lee tells Dragunov that his hopes for a title shot must wait. The two have been bickering in recent weeks over which one of them is the next contender for the NXT Championship. So they bicker so more about it, until their argument is interrupted by the champion himself.
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes confronts the two, and he says he talked with Shawn Michaels about the situation. The live studio audience chants for a triple threat match. Instead, Hayes says HBK booked a number one contender’s match for next week. Lee against Dragunov is set for next Tuesday, and the winner faces Hayes for the NXT title at No Mercy.
Nathan Frazier is interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell, and Frazier addresses his viral moment from last week, where he clotheslined himself on the top rope.
Blair Davenport, Thea Hail, Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolan are backstage in a skit. This bit of community theater helps set up a match later on between Dolan and Hail. Dolan warns Hail about befriending Jayne. Hail responds by saying she is a grown women that can take care of herself.
Nathan Frazier defeated Duke Hudson (with Andre Chase) in a Group B match in the Global Heritage International tournament
Frazier pinned Hudson, thus giving Frazier two points in Group B. He bounces back with a win tonight, after a lose in his first tourney match. Hudson suffers a lose, after winning his first tourney bout.
They had a good match. Just before the finish, Hudson went for a Razor’s Edge. Frazier counters to escape the move, which leads to Frazier hitting a Phoenix Splash.
Updated Group B standings:
Frazier – 2 points
Joe Coffey – 2 points
Duke Hudson – 2 points
Akira Tozawa – 0 points
Back in the Diamond Dojo, Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are talking with the Creeds. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price enter the scene to start an argument with Walker and Ledger.
Tyler Bate defeated Dabbo-Kato
Bate pinned Dabbo-Kato clean in the middle of the ring, as a David conquered a Goliath. Dabbo-Kato lost another match clean, so he is not much of monster anymore, despite them portraying his as such.
Bate tries jumping Dabbo-Kato before the bell, with mixed results. Dabbo-Kato would not go down, but Bate kept bringing the fight to him. Bate eats a big boot, and Dabbo-Kato begins to manhandle Bate.
Bate eventually fights back, and he keeps trying to knock Dabbo-Kato off his feet. When Dabbo-Kato still will not go down, Bate instead lifts Dabbo-Kato off his feet.
In a feat of strength, Bate lifts Dabbo-Kato into a fireman’s carry. Bate does an airplane spin, and Dabbo-Kato is slammed to the mat. Bate shakes off his dizziness before climbing the turnbuckles. Bate leaps off into a corkscrew senton bomb. Bate then covers Dabbot-Kato for a clean three count.
Dominik Mysterio is headed to the ring in a referee shirt with black and purple stripes.
A backstage skit in the women’s locker room leads to a shuffle between Roxanne Perez and Kiana James. They did a Punk and Perry pull-apart, which would seem to set up a singles match between Perez and James.
Mustafa Ali defeated Dragon Lee with NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio as guest referee
Ali pinned Dragon Lee, after a fast count by Dom. In wining the match, Ali earns himself a title shot against Dom at No Mercy.
The announcers scatter at one point, when Dragon Lee torpedoes through the ropes with a tope suicida. Ali quickly recovers from being sent sailing over the announce desk. Ali flips over the desk to do a Buckshot Lariat on the floor. Ali follows up with a tornado DDT for a near fall.
They go on to trade near falls. Dragon Lee gets a two count after a German suplex. Ali with a jackhammer for another two count. Ali goes for a 450, but no water in the pool. He rolls through, only to take a Liger bomb for another near fall.
Dragon Lee complains to Dom about the count, as Lee argues Dom was counting too slow. Ali rushed in to catch Dragon Lee in a victory roll. Dom drops to the mat and does a fast count. Ali scores a pinfall, after Dom rapidly slaps the mat three times.
Ali drops Dom with a right hand after the match. Ali still remains somewhat of a tweener. Is he a heel or a face? Time will tell.
Butch and Axiom wrestle to a time limit draw in a Group A match in the Global Heritage Invitational
With the match ending in a draw, each receive one point apiece. They also had a really good match.
The bout goes through a commercial break. They trade chops after the break, and Axiom makes a comeback for a near fall on Butch. Axiom goes for a standing moonsault, but Butch counters him to catch Axiom in a triangle. Axiom gets a rope break, but he eats strikes and stomps from Butch.
Axiom continues to fight back. They each reverse crossface submission hold. Axiom goes for a triangle of his own, but Butch escapes to give Axiom a snap German. Nevertheless, Axiom comes back with flurry of offense. He goes for a springboard, only for Butch to cut him off with a knee strike. Butch with a Liger bomb for another near fall.
By this point, under five minutes remain in the time limit. They each are rushing to try and finish the other. Axiom delivers the Golden Ratio, but Butch get his arm out of bounds, under the plane of the bottom rope, to break the count.
Axiom goes for a submission hold with the time limit under 30 seconds. Butch snaps Axiom’s fingers to break the hold. Butch with the Bitter End with seconds remaining. He is unable to capitalize, and time expires. The bell sounds, and the match is a draw.
Updated Group A standings:
Butch – 3 points
Axiom – 1 point
Charlie Dempsey – 0 points
Tyler Bate has yet to have his first tourney match
Von Wagner in a taped promo is seemingly addressing Mr. Stone. However, the camera pans out to reveal Wagner is talking to the announce desk, as he now has a Sabu gimmick where he likes putting people through tables. Stone walks ups, and Wagner vows Breakker will get “tabled tonight.”
The skit in the Diamond Dojo continues with more tag teams bickering among themselves. This one led to brawl. Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza confront the tag champs. Carillo and Garza then brawl with D’Angelo and Stacks.
Thea Hail (with Jacy Jayne) defeated Gigi Dolan
Hail submitted Dolan after outside interference by Blair Davenport.
Hail is still billed as representing Chase U, but Jayne is in her corner instead of the Chase U faction. Jayne also stops Hail from doing her Chase U pose during Hail’s entrance routine.
Hail wrestled with more of an edge. Although not a heel style, Hail was far more aggressive. During the bout, she is trying for an armbar. Hail ends up posted shoulder first.
Suddenly, Blair Davenport runs in and attacks Dolan at ringside. Davenport targets Dolan’s arm with a shoulder breaker. Davenport then rolls Dolan back into the ring, where Hail traps Dolan in a kimura lock. Dolan taps out, and Hail wins via submission.
In a backstage skit, Lyra Valkyria is giving Kelani Jordan a pep talk when in walks Dana Brooke. She takes exception to Valkyria giving advice to Jordan. This sets up a match with Valkyria against Brooke, with Jordan stuck in the middle.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton cuts a promo on Becky Lynch ahead of their title match next week. Stratton calls Lynch a “bitch” to conclude the promo, and the live studio audience gasp at the curse word.
Bron Breakker defeated Von Wagner (with Mr. Stone) in a no disqualification match
Breakker pinned Wagner in what Gorilla Monsoon would have likely called the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. It was a for sure a hoss fight. Breakker gets his heat back after the match with an injury angle, which ends the show on a cliffhanger.
Wagner was wearing pants instead of his usual long tights. Not sure if that is a new look, or just something he wore for what is essentially a street fight. Breakker wore his usual singlet and gear.
The fight spills outside early on, and they brawl near the announce desk. They bang around on the desk, and Wagner throws Breakker over the table. Wagner teases putting Breakker through the desk, but they get back into the ring instead. Not for long, as the fighting quickly spills out of the ring just before the show cuts to its final commercial break.
Metal folding chairs and kendo sticks are soon used as props. During the split-screen break, Wagner teases pulling a table from underneath the ring. Breakker cuts him off, and Breakker goes to pull out the table. The studio audience cheers, so Breakker heels on them by sliding the table back underneath the ring.
The show returns from the break with Breakker repeatedly hitting Wagner with a kendo stick. Stiff shots in safe places. Wagner blocks one shot, and he fights back. Breakker cuts him off with a lariat. Wagner takes more shots from the kendo sticks, but Wagner eventually fight backs.
Breakker takes a few big boots from Wagner, but he blocks a third attempt. Breakker then does a sit-out powerbomb by Wagner. As the studio audience chants for tables, Wagner goes to pick up Breakker. Wagner buckles to his knees, selling his ribs from all the earlier shots from the kendo stick.
Breakker with a flying bulldog that drives Wagner into a chair laying on the mat. Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, and Breakker applies a Steiner Recliner, while using the kendo stick as a crossface. Wagner then hulks up to break the hold. Wagner reverses the kendo stick to crossface Breakker with it.
They trade lariats. Breakker drops Wagner into a gut buster, and Breakker charges at Wagner for what an attempted spear. Wagner moves out of the way, and Breakker crashes into a chair wedged in a corner. Breakker crawls over to another folding chair. As Breakker gets his hands on the chair, Wagner stomps on the chair as he towers over a downed Breakker.
Wagner has a kendo stick in his hand as Breakker gets to his feet. Breakker spat in Wagner’s face, and Wagner responds with a series of shot from the kendo stick. Wagner shatters a kendo stick on Breakker’s back. Wagner tosses aside the splintered stick, and he hits Breakker across the back with chair shot. Chokeslam by Wagner for a near fall.
The fight spills outside the ring again, where Wagner sends Breakker crashing through a gimmicked wall. Breakker is dragged out as Wagner teases putting Breakker through the announce desk. Breakker fight back, but he takes a pop-up powerbomb on the desk. The booth implodes as Breakker is put through the desk.
Wagner follows up by rolling Breakker into the ring. Breakker counters a fireman’s carry, and he hits Wagner with a low blow. Wagner then turns around as Breakker delivers a spear. Breakker goes in to score a three count on Wagner.
Breakker attacks Wagner after the match with chair shots. Breakker sends Wagner crashing into the ring steps. Breakker then picks up the top section of the steps. With Wagner’s head resting on the bottom section of the steps, Breakker appears to smash Wagner’s head with steps. In a cliffhanger ending, the show fades to black amid screams of horror.
The angle continued on social media, with Wagner being carried away on a stretcher. His head was heavily bandaged, while he was strapped down and wheeled away.
John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.
We hit on our top five topics of the week as there was a lot to choose from thanks to last week’s AEW All In and two wrestling shows this weekend (AEW All Out and WWE Payback).
Here’s what we talked about:
Thoughts on the CM Punk and Jack Perry situation, and whether or not they should be suspended for All out
An AEW Dynamite that didn’t make a lot of sense because of illnesses and travel issues
An All Out card that, on paper, looks lacking
A WWE Payback card that is the most ho hum show in their current hot run
LA Knight’s character being made fun of by The Miz
Kiana James is the new number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship.
James defeated Gigi Dolin, Blair Davenport, and Roxanne Perez in the main event of Tuesday’s NXT to earn a championship match on next week’s show against champion Tiffany Stratton. The finish had Perez lay out Davenport with pop rocks, but Gigi Dolin came in and laid out Perez. James then ran in and laid out Dolin with a codebreaker to win the match.
A number one contenders match to determine Dominik Mysterio’s North American title challenger is also set for next Tuesday. After Ali made a claim to Dragon Lee that he should be the next challenger, Mysterio and Rhea Ripley announced the two will compete in a number one contender’s match for next week Instagram post. It was also announced that Mysterio will serve as the special guest referee.
Other matches set for next week include Bron Breakker taking on Von Wagner in a no disqualification match and Ilja Dragunov facing Oro Mensah after Dragunov had an encounter with the Meta-Four on Tuesday. A match that was originally set for Tuesday, Tyler Bate vs. Dabba-Kato, has been moved to next week as well.
Angel & Humberto, who have been seen in recent weeks contemplating their futures in a series of vignettes, will also return next week.
Here’s the current card for next week’s WWE NXT:
NXT Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton defends against Kiana James
NXT North American number one contender’s match: Dragon Lee vs. Mustafa Ali with special guest referee Dominik Mysterio
Two matches have been added to the lineup for NXT this week.
WWE announced today that Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan, and Ivy Nile vs. Kiana James will take place on Tuesday’s show.
Jordan called out Davenport in a social media post over the weekend after Dana Brooke told her to find her “killer instinct” on last week’s show.
“Dana told me to call somebody out and find my killer instinct and I’ve been thinking about her advice over and over again, so why not take it? I’m calling out one of the most feared women in NXT, Blair Davenport,” Jordan said in a video posted on 8/5.
Nile comes into her match against James following a loss to Tiffany Stratton in her last match on the 7/11 show. James defeated Gigi Dolin in her last televised match on 7/18.
A Women’s Tag Team title match has been added to NXT Stand & Deliver.
Kiana James and Fallon Henley will defend the titles against Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn, who defeated Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley and Katana Chance & Kayden Carter on Wednesday’s show to become the new number one contenders. Later in the show, Kiana James was attacked by Fyre and Dawn after she failed to qualify for the women’s title ladder match at Stand & Deliver.
In addition, a five-way match for the NXT North American title was added after Wes Lee’s open challenge on NXT went awry, causing a number of wrestlers to brawl around the ring. In a video posted by the NXT Anonymous Twitter account, Lee demanded Shawn Michaels give him ten of the best NXT has to offer at Stand and Deliver. Micheals said he would give him four, making it a five-way match for Los Angeles.
After losing their NXT Tag Team title match earlier in the show, Pretty Deadly wondered in a backstage interview how they would get to Stand and Deliver. They eventually decided they would host the show.
Here is the updated lineup for NXT Stand and Deliver:
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
NXT Women’s title ladder match: Zoey Stark vs. Gigi Dolin vs. ???
NXT Women’s Tag Team titles: Kiana James & Fallon Henley vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
NXT North American title: Wes Lee vs. ??? vs. ??? vs. ???
Kiana James and Fallon Henley are the new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
James and Henley defeated Katana Chance and Kayden Carter at NXT Vengeance Day on Saturday. The finish had James push Chance off the top rope. Henley countered by hooking up Carter with her feet. James, from the outside, then held onto Carter’s feet as Carter was pinned, with Henley unaware of James’ assistance. Chance and Carter’s run with the titles ends after 186 days.
Henley and James have been feuding for the last several months, with James having an interest in Henley’s family bar. Henley defeated James in December to retain the rights to the bar. Since then, James has developed an interest in Henley’s friend, Brooks Jensen, with Henley being suspicious of their relationship.
Henley first teamed with James on the January 24 edition of NXT, defeating Tatum Paxley and Ivy Nile. James then told Henley she got them a Tag Team title match for Vengeance Day. Henley at first didn’t like the idea, as she agreed to team with James for one time only, but later decided to agree to the match.
A new match has been added to Tuesday’s WWE NXT lineup.
In a bout announced Sunday, Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile will take on Kiana James on Tuesday’s episode.
In addition to the Nile vs. James matchup, a North American title match is set for Tuesday, with Wes Lee set to defend the NA title against former champion Carmelo Hayes.
In another women’s division contest, Wendy Choo will face Cora Jade.
The Scrypts character is also set to debut on Tuesday’s show, plus a Toxic Attraction segment will kick off the episode. Toxic Attraction’s Mandy Rose successfully defended her NXT Women’s Championship against Alba Fyre on last week’s show, with an assist from former NXT UK talent Isla Dawn.
The updated lineup for the Tuesday, November 22 episode:
NXT North American Champion Wes Lee defends against Carmelo Hayes
This week’s red-hot WWE Main Event action was taped prior to Raw in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring the main roster debut of NXT’s Kiana James.
WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke defeated Kiana James in a non-title match
Before the match, Brooke did an inset promo saying she feels like she is coming into her own and wants the competition. This was wooden and fairly awful. James, making her main roster debut, got her own promo which was slightly better, albeit full of WWE-speak.
Unlike with Duke Hudson last week, James (the former Xtina Kay) didn’t connect as a heel with the fans despite her mean scowls and heelish tactics. She has a great look and a physical presence, but is still pretty green.
Brooke won with her spinning neckbreaker to end an otherwise average match. She raised James’ hand afterward and got a forearm shiver for her troubles. Also, there was no mention of the 24/7 title being on the line and as an excellent Main Event Twitter recapper pointed out, why didn’t James just pin her for the title after the attack?
Dana Brooke shows some great sportsmanship after the match but Kiana James hits her with a forearm! So why doesn't Kiana cover her and win the WWE 24/7 title? Why doesn't someone else try to cover her and win the 24/7 Title? Why do I care? pic.twitter.com/4NneWTrR0L
– The continuing saga between sad Shelton Benjamin and R-Truth, well, continued. Truth said everyone has problems but justified his own level of crazy getting him matches against John Cena and The Rock. Benjamin sat stone faced staring straight ahead while Truth talked, eventually standing up, staring at Truth and then leaving.
– Later, Von Wagner confronted Truth about why Benjamin left: “because Truth is an idiot.” He threatened him until Cedric Alexander comes in to defend him as Truth slinks away. Why did Truth’s confidence suddenly disappear minutes after Benjamin left? Maybe this will lead to the long-awaited Wagner vs. Truth rematch.
Cedric Alexander defeated Von Wagner by DQ
Wagner’s look is improving with his longer hair and his beard, but the rest of the package is still very meh. In one forgettable spot, he was supposed to go over the top rope off an Alexander duck, but the timing was off and he just had to jump over.
Again, the excellent @WordsBig80s points out something about a neck crank that makes its way into so many Main Event matches that I will never be able to unsee:
Von Wagner applies the dreaded slight head tilt to Cedric Alexander. And wait a minute, this feels familiar? Oh that's right, THIS IS THE EXACT SAME THING DUKE HUDSON DID TO CEDRIC LAST WEEK ON MAIN EVENT. pic.twitter.com/uKwgkF2Nhl
Alexander eventually rallied from Wagner’s mid-match dominance, hitting three big topes to Wagner on the outside which livened the crowd up. Seconds later, the unfazed Wagner attempted to deliver Snake Eyes to Alexander but botched it, followed by boots in the corner. When he failed to heed the referee’s warning to step away, she called for the…DQ. In a Main Event match.
Wagner continued to beat him down and delivered his finisher. Why couldn’t he have just done that, like, 30 seconds earlier and just pinned him?
Stay tuned next week for the latest in the Benjamin/Truth storyline and whether Alexander gets revenge on Wagner.
