Styles defeated Daniel Bryan in the finals of WWE’s Intercontinental title tournament on the June 12 edition of SmackDown. Prior to Styles becoming Intercontinental Champion, Gulak defeated him on SmackDown last month.
An “exclusive interview” with Matt Riddle has also been announced for tomorrow’s SmackDown. The segment will take place in the ring and the interview will be conducted by Michael Cole.
Riddle made his SmackDown debut by confronting Styles during Styles’ Intercontinental title presentation two weeks ago. He then defeated Styles in a non-title match. Last week, Riddle was one of the wrestlers who helped lay out Baron Corbin at the end of the show.
The feud between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy will continue with Sheamus presenting a toast to Hardy on tomorrow’s SmackDown. That segment was also originally scheduled for last week.
After it was confirmed that multiple people in WWE tested positive for COVID-19, the format for last week’s SmackDown changed. In addition to new content, the show featured a tribute to The Undertaker following his apparent retirement from in-ring competition. The tribute included Undertaker and Styles’ Boneyard Match from WrestleMania 36 being re-aired.
Tomorrow’s SmackDown and the July 10 episode of the show are set to be taped at the WWE Performance Center today.
On the Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Jim Valley recaps the latest ramifications from the #SpeakingOut movement, Matt Riddle’s Friday debut on WWE SmackDown, IWA Mid-South’s controversial Friday return in a very confined environment with no social distancing and few masks, the home for many Portland, OR, wrestlers is closing down, and much more.
In a dizzying two days of sexual abuse and misconduct accusations throughout the pro wrestling industry, three WWE talents issued denials Friday afternoon as the company released their own statement outlining a zero tolerance policy toward domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault.
From WWE:
“Individuals are responsible for their own personal actions. WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Upon arrest for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately suspended. Upon conviction for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately terminated. WWE’s ability to fine, suspend or terminate a WWE talent will not be, however, limited or compromised in any manner in the event incontrovertible evidence of such illegal misconduct is presented to WWE.”
“The allegations by this independent female performer are completely false and another attempt to harass and humiliate Mr. and Mrs. Riddle and to try to tarnish their reputation in the community. We have been aware for the last two years of this performer stalking the Riddle family. In 2019, our firm had drafted a pleading against this performer to seek an injunction for cyberstalking in the Circuit Court for Orange County, Florida.”
Riddle’s debut in-ring performance for WWE SmackDown Friday is still moving forward as planned.
Following accusations of abuse Thursday from a female that included pictures of bruising, co-NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin issued a denial Friday via three tweets which are combined below for clarity:
“I didn’t even want to address the hurtful allegation made against me, but for the sake of my followers and friends on this platform that may for whatever reason be unsure, I’m going to address this once. The recent allegation made against me is completely and utterly false and I deny it entirely. This is a case of a malicious personal agenda being executed against me on the back of a very brave telling of true experiences by other women. I completely denounce it. This is all I will say on the matter, and I am now working with a legal team to help decide how to proceed from here.”
Devlin has been off WWE TV due to pandemic related travel issues.
“The current story that has been released by Violet O’Hara/Claire-Michelle Oldfield is neither accurate nor true. This is a completely false allegation and whilst I’ve done other things in my life that I deeply regret, this isn’t an accurate or truthful portrayal of events. This is something I strongly deny and is something I’ve been in the process of speaking to a legal team about.”
He later added over several tweets:
“Regarding the other statements from people like Laura, Natalie who have spoken out about the way they were made to feel, and others that have come forward about unwanted messages, I have no excuse. It’s inappropriate, it’s an embarrassment and it’s an absolute shameful way to act from someone in a position of trust. I sincerely apologise for my actions and any hurt I’ve caused. I have no justification of my actions in the slightest. In these situations, I have failed people as a friend, as a fiancée and as a decent human being.”
On the day he was set to make his WWE SmackDown in-ring debut, Matt Riddle was accused of sexual abuse by a former co-worker.
Friday morning on Twitter, indie wrestler Candy Cartwright outlined a May 2018 incident where she and Riddle were in a van with three other wrestlers. After the others had fallen asleep, Riddle overtly propositioned her for sex. She refused, but said Riddle grabbed her throat and threatened her with “What if I just made you?” She said she eventually gave him oral sex to get out of the situation.
WWE released a statement to several media outlets regarding the situation, saying “We take any allegation of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter.”
At this point, Riddle’s match is still set to air on Friday’s show.
The accusations come the day after a number of wrestlers (many from the United Kingdom) were accused of sexual assault and wrongdoings via social media, sparking the #SpeakingOut movement. It began with David Starr, but NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin was also accused, resulting in WWE releasing the same statement Thursday night.
Riddle has not responded to any of the allegations publicly. A day after an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani dropped, Riddle was scheduled to appear on Bubba The Love Sponge’s show Friday morning, but it’s unclear if that happened.
WWE has set the date for Matt Riddle’s first appearance as a member of the SmackDown roster.
At the end of a hype video that aired on SmackDown tonight, it was revealed that Riddle will debut on next Friday’s episode of the show. It was officially announced two weeks ago that Riddle was being called up to SmackDown.
In Riddle’s final appearance for NXT, Timothy Thatcher defeated Riddle in their fight pit match on May 27.
Riddle & Thatcher’s partnership imploded in the match where they lost the NXT Tag Team titles to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner last month. Thatcher was Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is back in the United Kingdom due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kurt Angle was the referee for the fight pit match and appeared in a backstage segment on SmackDown that week to announce that Riddle was being called up. Angle said in an interview with Comic Book Resources that WWE offered him a job to be Riddle’s manager. Angle said he would have loved to manage Riddle, but he turned the offer down because it just wasn’t the right time for him.
“I think that Matt Riddle is going to be one of the faces of the [WWE], he has all the ability. His personality is great. At first, it’s a little odd. But once you get to know him, he’s very likable,” Angle said. “And that’s what he’s going to get from the fans. They’re going to love this kid. And he proves it in the ring. He’s phenomenal in the ring. There’s no doubt about that. But his whole bro gimmick thing works really well. And he’s going to do extremely well. WWE has offered me a job to manage him. Unfortunately, I turned it down due to a few different reasons, but I would have loved to manage him. It just wasn’t the right time.”
While he was the person to announce Matt Riddle’s call-up to SmackDown, it looks like Kurt Angle could have played a bigger role in Riddle’s main roster career.
Angle revealed in an interview with Comic Book Resources that WWE offered him a job to be Riddle’s manager. Angle said he would have loved to manage Riddle, but he turned the offer down for a few different reasons and it just wasn’t the right time.
“I think that Matt Riddle is going to be one of the faces of the [WWE], he has all the ability. His personality is great. At first, it’s a little odd. But once you get to know him, he’s very likable,” Angle said. “And that’s what he’s going to get from the fans. They’re going to love this kid. And he proves it in the ring. He’s phenomenal in the ring. There’s no doubt about that. But his whole bro gimmick thing works really well. And he’s going to do extremely well. WWE has offered me a job to manage him. Unfortunately, I turned it down due to a few different reasons, but I would have loved to manage him. It just wasn’t the right time.”
“You never know [laughs],” Angle said when CBR brought up the possibility of him and Riddle reuniting in the future.
Angle appeared in a backstage segment on SmackDown last week and officially announced that Riddle is joining the show’s roster. A hype video for Riddle then aired following Angle’s announcement.
Angle was also the special guest referee for Riddle’s fight pit match against Timothy Thatcher on NXT last week. Thatcher defeated Riddle in what was Riddle’s final match in NXT.
Angle, who had been working in a behind-the-scenes role with WWE since the end of his in-ring career, was part of April’s WWE releases.
Matt Riddle is officially joining the SmackDown roster.
It was confirmed on tonight’s SmackDown that Riddle is coming to the brand. Kurt Angle made an appearance in a backstage segment on the show and announced the news. Angle said he was there to announce the next superstar that’s going to become the next face of SmackDown.
Angle said Riddle is someone who he’s gotten to know over the past few months and has a very bright future, and he even got to see Riddle up close and personal when he refereed Riddle’s last match in NXT. A video then aired hyping up Riddle’s arrival.
With Angle as the special guest referee, Timothy Thatcher defeated Riddle in a “cage fight” in the main event of NXT this week.
Dave Meltzer reported earlier this week that Riddle’s call-up to the main roster was imminent and he was likely headed to SmackDown.
After transitioning to pro wrestling following his career in the UFC, Riddle won Rookie of the Year in the 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. He signed with WWE and joined NXT in 2018.
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher faced off in the NXT fight pit last night.
The match was refereed by Kurt Angle and could only be won by knockout or submission. With a call-up to SmackDown looking imminent for Riddle, Thatcher got the win when Riddle passed out in a choke.
It was announced that Velveteen Dream will challenge for Adam Cole’s NXT Championship at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 7. if Cole wins, Dream can’t challenge for the title again as long as Cole is champion.
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair teamed up with Chelsea Green against Charlotte’s TakeOver challengers Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai last night. The finish was Charlotte rolling up Shirai while using the ropes for leverage.
The build also continued for title matches between NXT North American Champion Keith Lee and Johnny Gargano and NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium and Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch.
According to Dave Meltzer from the post-Raw edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Matt Riddle is likely heading to SmackDown following his impending call-up which could be as early as this week.
Meltzer said Riddle was “performing” Monday at the Performance Center which he surmised could be for this Friday’s show or next week. WWE was originally scheduled to tape two editions of Raw Monday and two editions of SmackDown Tuesday, so it’s unclear what Riddle was doing yesterday.
Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez were curious why Riddle wouldn’t be tabbed for Raw as Paul Heyman is a big fan of his. Meltzer thought it might be something to do with Brock Lesnar as the two got into a backstage argument at this year’s WWE Royal Rumble.
It’s expected that Riddle will feud with Baron Corbin on SmackDown since Corbin eliminated him at the Rumble.
Riddle will face Timothy Thatcher in a “cage fight” with Kurt Angle as special guest referee on this Wednesday’s NXT.
A story on the life of Shad Gaspard is the lead in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We cover the circumstances of his tragic death, notes from his family and friends, his acting career, his childhood, his thoughts about MMA, what world champion MMA fighter did he tell to pursue MMA before pro wrestling, and look at his wrestling career.
Whether Vince McMahon is doing an end-around to get out of paying people money owed and then restarting the league. We look at why the people he owes money to believe that is the case.
The new issue also covers:
A preview for Double or Nothing II.
Update SummerSlam, more on Ric Flair’s new deal, more on Drew Gulak leaving WWE, brand-to-brand changes, IC title tournament, key person in directing television shows leaving, Backlash update, In Your House update, Jim Cornette’s comments on Becky Lynch and Dana Brooke, Seth Rollins and Dana Brooke respond, Glenn Jacobs talks shutting down businesses, WWE star nominated for major sorts award, Lio Rush talks leaving WWE, Nikki Bella talks her back, sports ratings for the past week, Canadian ratings for recent weeks, top amateur star talks going to WWE, WWE market value right now and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
Complete coverage of this past week’s UFC show.
A feature on the career of Kevin Randleman, the newest UFC Hall of Fame inductee, nothing his amateur wrestling days, his fighting days and his pro wrestling days. We look at his most famous fights and biggest pro wrestling matches.
A lot more looking back 21 years ago to the tragic death of Owe Hart. We look at comments by Martha Hart and Jerry McDevitt and go back through the legal proceedings.
The highest television rating for any pro wrestling match in history and the legend of Kim Il, a forgotten South Korean sports legend.
The movie “My Dad is a Heel Wrestler,” starring Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight for Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw and the latest wrestling news. You can send email questions for the show to [email protected]
The state of emergency restrictions in Tokyo are being lifted. Buildings will be reopened for sports events. As far as pro wrestling is concerned, we haven’t heard anything directly but there should be some news in the next few days.
Tonight’s Raw will have NXT wrestlers and company staff acting as fans. They needed something new because with the head-to-head competition of the season debut of Titan Games, which stars Dwayne Johnson, on NBC, that could have brought numbers down to record lows coming off last week’s second lowest in history performance. The MVP lounge with Drew McIntyre plus Nia Jax vs Natalya vs. Charlotte Flair for the next Raw women’s title shot at Asuka is on the show.
Also announced for Raw is Ric Flair giving his thoughts on the Randy Orton/Edge match prior to Backlash and an interview with WWE 24/7 champion Rob Gronkowski.
Matt Riddle’s main roster debut right now is scheduled to be imminent, so his cage match with Timothy Thatcher could either be his blow-off or lead to it.
There was a hilarious Vanguard One funeral on BTE that came out today. Actually the most newsworthy is that Marty Scurll does a cameo in the final segment and The Young Bucks wore an ugly outfit that was basically a spoof on one of the comedy outfits WWE creative came up with for The Revival on the way out.
There are a lot of questions about the future of the TV show Terrace House after the suicide death of Hana Kimura this past weekend.
Independent wrestling shows with crowds took place over the weekend in Tennessee. Bert Prentice ran USA Championship Wrestling on Friday night in Dickson, TN before 150 fans with city officials on hand to make sure everything ran according to guidelines. Prentice also ran Saturday in Jackson, TN also with a city official present. Greg Anthony’s Pro Wrestling Mid South ran Saturday night in Dyersburg, TN at the Herb Welch Wrestleplex before 100 fans were shut down at intermission when local police came, allegedly after being tipped off by a rival promotion complaining about them running a show with crowds. There was a new order that allows noncontact sporting events and activities and other social gatherings but also had this wording which seems to ban pro wrestling, and now everyone doesn’t know whether it’s allowable. This was the ruling that got Anthony’s show shut down:
“Contact sporting events and activities, where there is a requirement or substantial likelihood of routine close contact and adequate social distancing is not feasible, are prohibited, but this does not apply to collegiate or professional sports conducted under the rules or guidelines of their respective governing bodies. This also does not prohibit training or otherwise practicing the elements of such sports that do not involve close contact with persons.”
WWE
WWE is taping Raw & Smackdown for this week today and will tape next week’s shows tomorrow.
The next episode of Undertaker’s Last Ride will air on 6/14 on the WWE network.
There is no Dark Side of the Ring new episode, but there will be an After Dark episode at 9:30 p.m. talking about Owen Hart. So WWE will be unopposed this week on FS1 tomorrow and run the Florida Championship Wrestling documentary at 10 p.m. which previously aired on the WWE Network.
Kurt Angle referees Matt Riddle vs.Timothy Thatcher in a cage match on NXT next week as well as a three-way with Kushida vs. Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas for the A block in the cruiserweight classic tournament, an angle with Adam Cole likely to set up the NXT Takeover title match as well as Charlotte Flair & mystery partner vs. Io Shirai & Rhea Ripley.
UFC
Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz has been added to the 7/11 UFC lineup.
AEW
Mike Tyson will be on Wednesday’s show that will also include a Battle Royal for the first shot at Cody’s TNT title, as well as the announcement of the date of Fyter Fest, which will headline with Jon Moxley vs. Brian Cage for the AEW title.
Matt’s wife Dana said that he has a broken rib. What I was told is that Matt wasn’t getting X-rays because he wants to avoid the hospital but that it feels the same as when he fractured a rib in the past. This injury took place on a stadium dive last Wednesday and he worked with it on Friday night when filming Stadium Stampede.
PCW in Melbourne has announced a 6/27 show but with governmental rules attendance will be limited to the first 50 people.
ROH is doing a trivia night on Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern on Zoom. Any one or team interested in playing can e-mail [email protected] Deadline to sign up is 9 a.m. Thursday morning and teams should be 3-10 players..
Bill Apter talks to Al Snow about Shad Gaspard, who he helped train.
Mick Foley has a nice story about how he was trained in the past by woman wrestler Susan Sexton.
On NXT this week, Thatcher cut a promo challenging Riddle to a match that can only be won by knockout or submission. He said they could have the match anywhere Riddle wants, and Riddle responded later in the show by accepting the challenge and saying their match would take place inside of a cage.
Thatcher filled in as Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Riddle & Thatcher lost the NXT Tag Team titles to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner on the May 13 episode of NXT when Thatcher walked out of the match.
After their partnership imploded, Riddle then defeated Thatcher in the main event later on that episode. Riddle managed to reverse a submission attempt into a pin, but Thatcher then attacked him after the match.
Here’s the updated lineup for Wednesday’s NXT:
Cage fight: Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher (Kurt Angle will be the special guest referee)
Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai vs. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and a partner of her choosing
Triple threat match: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas (the winner advances to the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals from Group A)
NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT general manager William Regal will have a “live negotiation”
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher will face off in a “cage fight” on next week’s NXT.
On NXT tonight, Thatcher challenged Riddle to a match that can only be won via knockout or submission. Thatcher said they could have the match anywhere Riddle wants, and Riddle cut a promo later in the show where he accepted the challenge and said the match would take place inside of a cage.
The match was then announced for next week and was billed as a cage fight.
Thatcher filled in as Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel and defend the NXT Tag Team titles, but Riddle & Thatcher lost the titles to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner last week when Thatcher walked out on Riddle.
Thatcher did an interview after walking out on Riddle last week. He said Riddle was too focused on doing game shows and throwing his flip flops. Riddle confronted Thatcher and they got into a brawl and had to be separated by officials. Thatcher attacked Riddle again backstage later and hit him with a television monitor.
Riddle managed to pin Thatcher to get the win when they faced off in last week’s main event, but Thatcher attacked him after and put him in the Fujiwara armbar twice.
On next week’s NXT, Kushida, Drake Maverick, and Jake Atlas will also face off in a triple threat match to determine who advances to the finals of NXT’s interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament from Group A.
Wednesday’s NXT on USA show kicked off with a title change as Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner) defeated Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher to win the NXT tag team championship.
The beginning of the end started when Riddle monkey flipped Marcel Barthel into the corner, accidentally hitting Thatcher in the process. An incensed Thatcher then walked out on Riddle leaving him to face Imperium two-on-one.
Riddle held his own against both men temporarily, but the numbers game was too much. Barthel and Aichner hit the European Bomb finisher (spinning back elbow from the top rope) for the pin and win, the first NXT gold for either man.
Afterward, Thatcher was doing a promo backstage where he explained that he was tired of Riddle’s antics and Riddle interrupted, resulting in both men needing to be pulled apart. It was later announced that the two will face off later in the show.
Riddle and Pete Dunne had won the titles in February, but with Dunne unable to travel due to the pandemic, Thatcher was put in his place although he was never officially recognized as a champion.
A Tag Team title match, Finn Balor in action, an appearance by Rhea Ripley, and a major announcement are set for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Matt Riddle and his temporary partner Timothy Thatcher are defending their NXT Tag Team titles against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner tonight. After being attacked by them two weeks ago, Riddle & Thatcher accepted a challenge from Barthel & Aichner last week.
Balor is facing Cameron Grimes on tonight’s show. Last week, Balor issued a warning to whoever it was that attacked him in the NXT locker room. He also got into it with Grimes and dropped him with a slingblade and a double foot stomp after Grimes threatened to slap the taste out of his mouth.
We’ll hear from Ripley after she returned for the first time since WrestleMania 36 last week. WWE looks to be building an NXT Women’s Championship feud between Charlotte Flair, Ripley, and Io Shirai.
Plus, WWE has promised that there will be “a major announcement on tonight’s show regarding NXT.” The announcement will be made by Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
———-
Third week in a row for the commentary team of Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix and Tom Phillips on the call. Safe to say this could be a permanent team
The show is opening with a tag team title match. They did more typical WWE-style ring introductions instead of dimming the lights like they tend to do for title match intros on NXT.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher to win the titles
Barthel pinned Riddle to win the tag team titles after Thatcher walked out on Riddle during the match.
Thatcher and Barthel started the match with some slick grappling. Aichner tagged in, and Barthel began brawling with Riddle at ringside. That drew Riddle away from the corner when Thatcher was trying to make a tag, and Thatcher seemed annoyed Riddle wasn’t there for him.
Riddle eventually tagged in moments later. Barthel got his knees up when Riddle went for a senton, and Riddle looked in trouble as the show went to a commercial break. Imperium was working over Riddle when the show returned from break.
Riddle was trying to create separation when he gave Barthel a monkey flip that sent Barthel crashing into Thatcher, and Thatcher took a bump off the apron. Thatcher grew angry with the second miscommunication of the match. Thatcher walked out on Riddle, and the match became an impromptu handicap match.
Riddle was fighting off a double team, but he was outnumbered. Imperium executed the European Bomb (uppercut Doomsday Device), and Barthel covered Riddle to win the titles.
In a post-match interview backstage, Mckenzie Mitchell asked Thatcher about him walking out. Thatcher was cuting a heel promo on Riddle when Riddle confronted him. They got into a pull-apart brawl. The new has apparently worn off for the Newly-Bros.
Tegan Nox defeated Indi Hartwell
Nox pinned Hartwell after delivering the Shiniest Wizard.
Hartwell gained an early advantage with an aggressive start. Hartwell went for a springboard, but Nox caught her with a gozzle. Nox gave her a chokeslam, and Ranallo called her “Lady Kane”.
Nox with a cannonball in the corner, and she followed with a flying crossbody off the top. Nox delivered the Shiniest Wizard, and covered Hartwell for the pinfall.
After a recap of the angle from last week in the women’s title match, Rhea Ripley in a pre-tape promo said WrestleMania didn’t quite grow her way. She said Charlotte Flair winning the title sickened her. She mentioned Io Shirai not being able to get the job done in defeating Flair, and Ripley said she would be the person to bring the title back to NXT. If Ripley has to beat that into Shirai, then she said so be it.
Ripley warned Flair she isn’t finished with her. As a “stupid old man used to say,” Ripley said talking about Ric Flair, “we’ve only just begun.” Ripley said the NXT Women’s Championship belonged to her.
Riddle was backstage video chatting with Regal, and he said Regal had booked a match with Thatcher for later in the show. Thatcher burst into the room to attack Riddle. He grabbed a monitor and nailed Riddle in the back with it. Riddle was down selling as the scene ended.
Jake Atlas defeated Tony Nese in a Group A match in the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Atlas pinned Nese after a cartwheel DDT. Atlas improved to 2-1 in the tournament, and Nese dropped to a winless record of 0-3.
Nese was playing spoiler as he came into the match with a losing record of 0-2. Byron Saxton interviewed Atlas before the match. Atlas said he hoped Drake Maverick wins to force a tie bewteen them, but Atlas then said he had to focus on his match. Atlas had to “take care of businees” in his match with Nese.
Atlas countered Nese with some flips and a cartwheel. Nese cut him off when Atlas began grandstanding. They traded strikes as Atlas fired up on Nese, and then Atlas hit a step-up enzuigiri for a near fall. Atlas bled slighty from a cut above his eyebrow.
Nese tripped up Atlas when he went climbed the turnbuckles. Nese was talking trash and paid for it was as Atlas knocked him off the turnbuckles. Atlas stood on the top buckle, and he did a cartwheel on the rope into a DDT. Atlas then covered Nese for the pinfall.
Kyle O’Reilly returned the show in the form of a Zoom call with the rest of his Undisputed Era stablemates. Thay joked around, and all four agreed that Roderick Strong should be the one to face Dexter Lumis.
A cool vignette with Karrion Kross & Scarlett hyped their characters. This was tremendous. They looked maniacal as heavy metal music played. They signaled out Tommaso Ciampa so that looks to be their first program.
Another good vignette profiled Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in an interview cut a cocky promo. Scott said if he can’t win a match in the tournament then you should quit wrestling altogether. That was a shot at his opponent’s losing record.
DX — Triple H & Shawn Michaels — were backstage at the Gorilla Position cutting a promo when Road Dogg popped up from behind the monitor. Michaels was wearing a bandana over his face, and Road Dogg was also wearing a face mask — but he took his off. That could be a first for WWE television with the face coverings during the pandemic. They were reminiscing about the anniversary of the first In Your House.
Road Dogg made a joke about pig crap that referenced the Arkansas Hog Pen Match that HHH had with Henry Godwin at an In Your House PPV in 1995. Anyway, since everyone is basically having to stay “in your house”, Triple H said on June 7th that NXT with present TakeOver: In Your House live on WWE Network.
And that was the big announcement.
Cameron Grimes defeated Finn Balor
Grimes pinned Balor after Damian Priest interfered using an expandable baton on Balor. Priest revealed himself as the attacker that had jumped Balor in a previous angle.
Grimes went for the Cave In double stomp at the outset, but Balor sidestepped. Balor was in control for a few moments until Grimes cut him off before a commercial break. Grimes had Balor grounded as the show returned from break.
Grimes dashed a hope spot with a lariat for a near fall. Grimes began to taunt Balor, and Balor fired up on him. Balor with a penalty kick running down the apron as Damien Priest walked onto the set. Balor hit Priest with a forearm smash as Priest climbed over the guardrail.
Balor used a slingblade on the floor, and he rolled Grimes back into the ring. As Balor was getting back into the ring, Priest broke out the expandable baton and hit Balor in the knee with it.
Grimes gave Balor the Cave In, and he covered him for the pinfall.
Priest after the match gave Balor his Reckoning finisher on a steal chair. He choked Balor with the legs of the chair as he indenified himself as the attacker from the angle a few weeks ago.
Editor’s Note: Due to a power outage, the rest of the live coverage is from Josh Nason.
Jack Gallagher (1-2) defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (1-2) in a Group B match in the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Before the match, Scott was hit from behind by Nese and injuring his ribs as Scott was about to enter the ring, getting even for his earlier verbal jabs at Nese’s expense.
Gallagher immediately went on the attack, but could only muster two counts. Scott regained the momentum by ducking a Gallagher haymaker and landing some body shots. Gallagher later ran and flew in the air at Scott while his opponent was in the corner, taking a nasty bump on his head when Scott moved out of the way. Scott hit a beautiful House Call kick, but that could only garner two.
Gallagher caught Scott in a guillotine choke attempt as Scott charged him off the ropes, but Scott powered out of it temporarily, only to be caught by a Gallagher counter knee strike to a suplex attempt. Gallagher followed with a Judas Effect-style spinning elbow strike to pick up the pin and win.
With his first win in the tourney, Gallagher also eliminated Scott from contention in advancing to the finals. This was a fun, short match which sets up Scott vs. Nese in upcoming weeks.
Kayden Carter submitted Aliyah
Carter was working over Aliyah’s lags early looking for submissions. A shoving match led to Carter hitting a nice looking bottom rope dropkick, but her advantage didn’t last long as an aggressive Aliyah took control. As Aliyah was dominating, Robert Stone came out to get a closer look but that eventually led to her downfall.
As she was distracted in trying to impress Scott and adjusted herself on the top rople, Carter brought her down and started laying in chops. Carter eventually locked in her good looking spinning deathlock submission for the tap in a short, but entertaining, match.
Afterward, Aliyah tried to make things good with an unimpressed Stone who removed her hand from his arm and walked away.
Dinner With The Garganos
This was filmed at the Gargano’s dinner table as the two ate dinner and regaled over their recent achievements. The two would talk normally and then, the camera effects would change to a split personality deal to illustrate that they are heels. Gargano did get in a “five stars” reference for Candice LeRae. LeRae talked down Mia Yim and Kacy Catanzaro while Gargano had words for Keith Lee and what happens when fans suddenly don’t like you anymore. There was also the cup used in the Gargano-Ciampa “Final Heartbeat” match under glass on the table. This was ok, but the camera effects didn’t really work.
Matt Riddle pinned Timothy Thatcher
This was obviously set up from Thatcher walking away from Riddle at the top of the show, causing him to lose the NXT tag titles to Imperium.
The early part was a grappling fan’s dream as the two basically had a sparring session of sorts that also included strikes. Both men countered each other repeatedly until Riddle caught Thatcher with a kick that sent Thatcher to the outside which took us to break.
After the break, Thatcher had the advantage with an ankle lock as we were showing that Riddle got his foot stomped on while trying a gut wrench suplex, leading to Thatcher hitting a sweet belly to belly suplex off the ropes. We would later see the foot stomp happen again as Thatcher cut off Riddle’s mid-match surge of momentum.
Thatcher continued to work Riddle on the ground with a knee to the side followed by a chinlock. More grappling, slaps, and submissions attempts followed in this absoutely grueling match.
Thatcher hit a kick gear, but Riddle rallied back to hit a Bro To Sleep. Riddle followed with a Floating Bro that Thatcher reversed into a Fujiwa armbar that Riddle reversed into a powerbomb. Thatcher turned a Riddle taunt into an armbar and eventually a kneebar attempt that looked to be the end. But, while locked in the kneebar, Riddle worked to a position where he was able to pin Thatcher, using his weight against him.
Afterward, Thatcher attacked and repeatedly locked on the armbar again. Riddle kept tapping as Thatcher maniacally looked into the camera so, as Bryan Alvarez says, this feud must continue.
This was an excellent match. If you’re a fan of the Bloodsport events, and even if you like this style in general, you will love this match.
Next Week:
Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai
Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis
Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tourney: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick
Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tourney: El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Akira Tozawa
Matt Riddle and his temporary partner Timothy Thatcher are set to defend their NXT Tag Team titles next week.
It was announced on tonight’s NXT that Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner will challenge for Riddle & Thatcher’s titles on NXT next Wednesday. The match was set up by Barthel & Aichner attacking Riddle & Thatcher during their Newly-Bros Show segment last week.
A promo where Barthel & Aichner issued a challenge to Riddle & Thatcher then aired on NXT tonight. Later in the show, Riddle & Thatcher did an interview accepting the challenge.
Thatcher made his NXT debut three weeks ago and was introduced as Riddle’s temporary partner. In their first title defense, Riddle & Thatcher retained against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish.
Riddle & Pete Dunne are the NXT Tag Team Champions, but Dunne is currently unable to travel and defend the titles due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Finn Balor vs. Cameron Grimes has also been announced for next week’s episode of NXT.
Balor appeared on tonight’s show and sent a warning to whoever it was that attacked him in the locker room two weeks ago. Grimes then defeated Denzel Dejournette with his Cave In double foot stomp. Grimes got on the microphone after and said he deserves more than he has now. He brought up Balor and said someone must have beat him to it by going after Balor first.
As Grimes was saying that he was going to slap the taste out of Balor’s mouth, Balor came back down and slid into the ring. He challenged Grimes to slap him. Grimes tried to back off at first, then went to attack him. Balor avoided it, gave Grimes a double foot stomp, and hit a slingblade.
Balor then looked into the camera and said there’s a snake hiding in the long grass backstage. Balor promised that he’ll find them and said the best way to kill a snake is to chop off its head.
