Tag: Nxt Halloween Havoc 2022

October 31, 2022 Observer Newsletter: AEW completes All Out fight investigation, NXT Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The investigation into what happened after the All Out press conference on 9/4 in Chicago was completed last week and ended with Chris Guy (Ace Steel) being let go, the company working on a buy-out of C.M. Punk’s contract with AEW, and with the imminent return of the Young Bucks & Kenny Omega to in-ring activities.

The Bucks, Omega, and Don Callis were all brought to the 10/26 Dynamite tapings in Norfolk, VA. They were at the show but none appeared on television. Early in the show, a video package aired showing a clip of the midnight Japanese time on the night of December 31, 2018, when The Bucks & Adam Page released the BTE episode announcing the birth of AEW, the first public disclosure the company was being formed, the first press conference in Jacksonville from a week later, as well as clips of the Bucks & Omega’s title wins. A quick clip would air followed by graphics where they would then disappear, basically telling the story they were the ones there from the start and had disappeared. The announcers never spoke about it or acknowledged it.

A logical return would be at Full Gear on 11/19 in Newark, NJ, in a match against trios champions Penta & Fenix & Pac since the Bucks & Omega had just won the tournament to become the first champions when they were suspended. There has been nothing said or hinted to me that would be the time or place or match. But it does seem to make the most sense as a first match back.

Subscribers can read this week’s issue here.

WWE NXT Halloween Havoc media call notes: Events outside PC, T-Bar, NXT Japan & Mexico

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Following Saturday’s NXT Halloween Havoc, Shawn Michaels took part in a media call lasting around 30 minutes. He talked a variety of subjects including tonight’s show, hoping to run events outside of the Performance Center in 2023, the possibility of NXT Japan and Mexico, T-Bar, and more.

Getting out of the WWE Performance Center

Michaels on the media call said he hoped that they start running premium live events outside of Orlando starting in 2023. He said he hopes to start with big shows, then later with other touring shows.

Additionally, Michaels brought up that there have been talks of NXT Japan and NXT Mexico. Announcements regarding them may be coming in 2023.

On Halloween Havoc

Michaels praised the main event, saying that he was a big fan of both JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov since they were in NXT UK, saying they could go.

Regarding the cinematic portion of the show between Toxic Attraction and Alba Fyre, Michaels indicated they wouldn’t do those type of segments too much, but tonight’s cinematic match fit in with the Halloween Havoc theme.

Michaels also praised Wes Lee, who won the NXT North American Championship on Saturday’s show. Micheals said that Lee “had to deal with some tough stuff” and that they get along well because they are so emotional. He said that “losing his friend hurt a great deal”.

Michaels additionally cited Nathan Frazer as having a breakout performance on Saturday’s ladder match.

T-Bar

Michaels seemed to confirm that the tease seen on tonight’s show with a burning mask was related to T-Bar, who formerly wrestled in NXT as Domink Dijakovic. He mentioned that they lost him in 2020 on short notice when he ws called up to the main roster. Michaels said that they see what is discussed on social media and praised head writer of NXT Johnny Russo for what he called a “quick tease”.

Michaels additionally said that whenever they get someone back from the main roster, they find the situation as if they were like “a fun new toy.”

NXT’s next premium live event, Deadline, will be held on December 10.

Wes Lee wins North American title at NXT Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Wes Lee is the new North American Champion.

Lee won the title in a ladder match at Saturday’s Halloween Havoc, defeating Von Wagner, Carmelo Hayes, Oro Mensah, and Nathan Frazer in a match that had many big spots, including Wagner throwing Lee from the ring to the announcer’s table. The finish had Lee and Hayes fighting on the ladder. Lee took out Hayes with a meteora on top of a ladder propped up on the ring ropes, then grabbed the title for the win, earning his first singles title victory in NXT.

The North American title was vacated after Solo Sikoa was stripped of the title, as he was not originally scheduled to be former champion Carmelo Hayes’ opponent. Shawn Micheals, instead of giving the title back to Hayes, made a ladder match for Halloween Havoc.

On Tuesday’s NXT, Lee and Mensah were attacked backstage by Hayes and Trick Williams prior to their scheduled match. Despite being attacked, the two faced Hayes and Williams anyway, eventually losing. 

Shawn Michaels: WWE has ‘every intention’ of running NXT specials outside Florida

Posted on by Ian Carey

NXT specials, such as Saturday’s Halloween Havoc, could soon be hosted outside the WWE Performance Center. 

WWE’s senior vice president of talent development creative, Shawn Michaels, recently spoke to TV Insider about the future of the brand. During the discussion, he was asked about the possibility of holding NXT events in traditional arenas and away from the Performance Center. 

“Absolutely. As you mentioned, we started with the Florida loop, or the coconut loop, as we call them. We’ve briefly discussed getting out for our premium live events,” Michaels responded. “Do we want to do that at the end of the year or start at the beginning of the new year? We had Stand & Deliver for WrestleMania weekend, which is the first time many of our talents were out of the Performance Center.” 

“It’s certainly something we want to get back to. We have every intention of doing that. We’re actually having talks on how we want to go about executing that. This will go beyond shows in the state of Florida for certainly premium live events but regular live events. As you know, that is part of the developmental process. They have to get out there and perform on the main roster all around the world. They might as well get their feet wet in NXT.”

The NXT brand resumed touring in Florida back in June for the first time since March 2020. 

Two matches added to WWE NXT Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two new matches have been made for NXT Halloween Havoc on October 22.

Alba Fyre will face Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship. Meanwhile, Apollo Crews will face Grayson Waller in a singles match.

On Tuesday’s NXT, Fyre told Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne backstage that after she kidnapped Mandy Rose and took her on a “joyride” last week, she was eventually given a match for the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc. Later in the show, Fyre was attacked by Sonya Deville, who later reiterated backstage that she had Toxic Attraction’s back. Fyre will meet Deville in a match next week.

In a vignette that aired on Tuesday, Crews said that he has waited two months for his match against Waller, and promised that after Halloween Havoc he will be leaving Waller in the dark.

Here is the lineup for Halloween Havoc, which will air on Peacock:

  • NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Mandy Rose vs. Alba Fyre
  • Grayson Waller vs. Apollo Crews
  • Ladder match for the NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Oro Mensah vs. Wes Lee vs. Von Wagner vs. Nathan Frazer
  • Weapons wild match: Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade
  • Ambulance match: Damon Kemp vs. Julius Creed – if Julius loses, Brutus Creed will have to leave NXT

Triple threat NXT Championship match set for Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A triple threat match for the NXT Championship has been added to October 22’s Halloween Havoc.

Tuesday’s NXT opened with both Ilja Dragunov and JD McDonagh laying claim to being the next contender for the NXT Championship. Bron Breakker came out and addressed both men. McDonagh suggested that Breakker and Dragunov face each other, with the winner facing him. Breakker rejected that suggestion and instead called for a triple threat match at Halloween Havoc, which was eventually confirmed.

Dragunov made his return to NXT last week, confronting McDonagh after he won a number one contendership match, defeating Tyler Bate. Dragunov on NXT tonight said he never lost the NXT UK Championship as he had to vacate it earlier in the summer due to injury.

Here is the lineup so far for Halloween Havoc:

  • NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh
  • Ladder match for NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Oro Mensah vs. Wes Lee vs. two other participants

Wes Lee qualifies for WWE NXT Halloween Havoc ladder match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Wes Lee has qualified for the North American Championship ladder match at NXT’s Halloween Havoc event next month.

On Tuesday’s show, Lee defeated Tony D’Angelo to qualify. The finish of the match had Lee give D’Angelo a drop toe hold into the middle turnbuckle. D’Angelo was unable to get up due to what appeared to be a knee injury upon landing and the referee stopped the match, awarding the win to Lee.

Lee will now join Carmelo Hayes and Oro Mensah in the ladder match, which will take place on October 22.

Last week’s NXT saw Solo Sikoa vacate the North American title after Shawn Micheals said he had to, since he was not a choice in the North American title match. Micheals told Hayes, who attempted to get the North American title back, that he would be inserted into a ladder match to determine the next North American champion. Later in the show, Oro Mensah made his NXT debut, defeating Grayson Waller to qualify.