Tag: NXT results

WWE NXT live results: Santino Marella challenges for North American title

Posted on by Chris Aiken

On NXT tonight, Santino Marella has a chance to win his first WWE gold in 13 years.

The 51-year-old Marella is challenging Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship on tonight’s show. It’s a match that was set up last week when Marella confronted Page, who had just introduced a Canadian flag-inspired design for the North American title belt. Marella said the title deserves to be held by someone with dignity, honor, class, and pride.

Marella is currently an on-screen authority figure in TNA Wrestling with the title of Director of Authority.

A couple of women’s division matches have also been announced for tonight with Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley and Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx scheduled to take place. Legend and Parker are both angling for a title shot against NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, who now also holds the TNA Knockouts Championship as well.

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

**********

The show opens on a somber note with a ten-bell salute to Hulk Hogan, while members of the NXT roster stand in the ring and at ringside. A music video tribute to Hogan follows the ten-bell salute. After that is an early commercial break.

Back from the break, a recap highlights the previous episode of NXT, which sets the stage for tonight’s card. Opening the show is a women’s match.

Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx (with Fallon Henley and TNA Knockouts & NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne)

Parker pinned Nyx after a running hip attack. Nyx got some offense, but Parker made an impressive comeback. The result was a coordinated push of Parker to set her up to challenge Jayne in a title match. The match itself was largely good as Parker looked strong.

Jaida Parker defeated Jazmyn Nyx

— Je’Von Evans passes by The High Ryze at the start of a backstage skit, and Evans clowns on them. Evans then meets Chase U on Evans’ way to the ring for a monologue. Andre Chase is telling Kale Dixon and Uriah Connor to essentially take the bulls by the horns. That would lead into a later skit with Hank & Tank.

Confrontation sets up Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans for later tonight

Evans begins with a monologue, where he begins by talking about getting advice from Undertaker last week. Evans is going after the biggest dog in the yard.

Out comes TNA World Heavyweight Champion Trick Williams in jeans that sparkle bright. The biggest dog has arrived, and he offers advice not to tug on Superman’s cape or try Trick Williams. That leads to Evans saying he was not talking about Trick when he calling out the biggest dog in the yard. Instead, Evans was talking about NXT Champion Oba Femi.

High Ryze soon interrupts to interject in the conversation. Playing off the skit from earlier, Wes Lee is flanked by Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. Lee has Trick’s back, and Lee cuts a promo on Evans. There is some bickering back and forth before Evans responds by decking Lee. Outnumbered, Evans is jumped by High Ryze and Trick. This sets up a singles match tonight with Lee against Evans. Lee and company stand over a prone Evans.

— In a comedy skit, Uriah Connors and Kal Dixon have chairs in hand outside the locker room of NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank. They intend to rush in and attack Hank & Tank, and they barge in. Instead of an assault, there is a comedy where Hank says all they had to do was ask. In comes Andre Chase, who is apologetic as he did not mean for his students to attack with chairs. This all was mildly funny, but more importantly, it sets up a tag title match for next Tuesday on NXT.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights

Heights pinned Dempsey after a belly-to-belly suplex. In winning, Heights can now leave No Quarter Catch Crew.

The match goes through a commercial break, and it was very good as well. Wren Sinclair was again at ringside, and she teased tossing in a the towel once more. She ultimately didn’t, and Heights made a comeback after Dempsey is working a leg.

Double down as the show cut to commercial. After the break, Dempsey targets the leg. Heights’ leg is smashed in the ring steps. Dempsey then goes to work with a half crab. Heights eventually hulks up into a comeback. He fights back and gets a near fall with a small package. Moments later, Heights counters Dempsey to execute a belly-to-belly suplex. Heights then covers Dempsey for a pinfall. Heights in now free to leave No Quarter Catch Crew.

Tavion Heights defeated Charlie Dempsey

— Trick William instructs High Ryze to finish off Je’Von Evans. In exchange, High Ryze wants Trick to use his pull to get them a tag team title match. Up walks Santino Marella, who chides Trick for thinking he was pull. Marella is the stroke in TNA. But do not worry about that, Marella says as he takes off his TNA badge. Tonight, Marella is a WWE superstar looking to win the NXT North American title. Marella also does his gimmick where he mispronounces the name of Ethan Page.

— Blake Monroe is heading to the ring for a monologue.

Blake Monroe promo turns to chaos

Monroe first cuts a promo on Booker T for mispronouncing her name last week. Monroe then shifts to cutting a promo on Jordynne Grace.

Monroe shows a picture on the big screen of Grace working as an extra, with Monroe chiding Grace’s appearance. Monroe then shows a recent picture, and she makes a crack at Grace about needing a gym membership instead of a title match.

Monroe then insists she herself is championship material. Monroe shows photos of her modeling days.

Lola Vice interrupts Monroe’s monologue, and Vice cuts a promo on Monroe. Vice talks about representing WWE in AAA and dancing with Nikki Bella at Evolution, instead of talking selfies in the locker room (which is a dig at Monroe).

Out next to interrupt the interruption is Jaida Parker. She cut a great promo about not chasing clout, she is chasing the championship.

Jordynne Grace’s music blares, but out comes Kelani Jordan instead. Not the “Jordan” you were expecting, Jordan says with a smirk. Jordan also says to expect the unexpected in WWE. Jordan hen proceeds to cut a promo on Monroe. Jordan basically challenges Monroe to a match.

Monroe accepts the challenge by threatening to put Jordan in a “local medical facility” next week. Monroe headbutts Jordan, which ignites a huge brawl. Vice and Jordan send Monroe and Parker packing, and Monroe begs off by hugging Parker, who shoves Monroe away.

— In a backstage skit with The Culling, Shawn Spears informs Tatum Paxley she has a title match next week against NXT North American Champion Sol Ruca. The Culling will be in Paxley’s corner to ensure she wins the title.

Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley (with Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne)

Much of the match is overshadowed by a main roster run-in, as Nia Jax attacks Legend. When he fight spills outside the ring. Nyx tries to interfere, but Legend knocks her down with a punch. Legend also thwarts interference from Jayne, as Legend drops Jayne with a pump kick. Suddenly, Jax ran in to attack Legend from behind.

At a random point during the match, an image of Joe Hendry flashes across the screen. This would also happen in a later match on the card.

A stunned Legend is then rolled into the ring, where Henley executes a Rocker Dropper (famouser). Henley then covers Legend for a three count.

Fallon Henley defeated Lash Legend after interference by Nia Jax

In a post-match attack, Jax furthers her assault on Legend. Jax does a Bonsai Drop on Legend after the match.

— Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura get into an argument backstage, and they were separated. Stacks chimes in and gets slapped by Inamura. This sets up a match for next week with Inamura against Stacks.

Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee (with High Ryze)

TNA Champion Trick Williams is ringside for guest commentary.

They wrestle through a commercial break, and they had a great match. Big dive by Lee over the ropes to the floor before the commercial break, which leaves the babyface in peril. The high-flying action continues after the show returns from the break, and the bacyface fights back.

In the highlight of the match, Evans goes coast-to-coast with a flying dropkick as Lee is tied in a tree-of-woe. Great near fall when Evans delivers a frog splash on Lee. The finish came soon after as they go home.

Interference by Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, but they are thwarted after a dive by Evans. Lee hits his finisher, but Evans gets a toe on the middle rope to break the hold. The idea allows Lee to save some face as he hooked Evans leg too much, which causes it to make contact with the rope. Regardless, the hold is broken.

For the finish, Evans delivers two cutters. The last cutter includes a double springboard off the ropes. Evans then covers Lee for a pinfall. Best match on the show by far.

Je’Von Evans defeated Wes Lee via pinfall

— Vic Joseph sits down with Myles Borne, who tells his emotional story of overcoming serious health conditions as a baby. Borne addresses Lexis King, accusing him of stirring the pot. Borne showcases his positive mental attitude as he describes his battles as a child on a ventilator, where he lost 90% of his hearing. Borne talks about how he could read lips to help understand people. Borne then dismisses King and tries to block him out.

— In a corresponding skit after a commercial break, Lexis King cuts a promo in Ava’s office. King again accuses Borne of faking his deafness. This sets up a match between Kind and Borne for next week on NXT.

— The Fatal Influence trio bicker in a TMZ-style interview. Suddenly, Nia Jax hijacks the interview to cut a promo on Lash Legend. Jax says Legend does not measure up.

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs. Santino Marella

Marella with a series of near falls at the start of the match, but Page escapes. The match also includes another mysterious video clip of Joe Hendry.

Heat spot as Page works over Marella. Fighting back, Marella does an airplane spin. Double down from there, and both are seemingly out. They rise and Marella counters Page’s finisher. Marella tries to rally, but he is dropped by a kick.

Page off the top rope with an attempted splash, but Marella gets his knees up. Comeback by Marella and he is firing up. Plancha by Marella, and he rolls Page back into the ring. Out comes The Cobra, but Page uses the referee to shield him. The ref is shoved aside. With the ref’s back turned, Page pokes Marella in the eye. Page then delivers a Twisted Grin, and Page covers Marella for a three count.

Ethan Page defeated Santino Marella to retain the North American title via pinfall.

— Closing the show is a skit with Tony D’Angelo seated at a restaurant. The cliffhanger is Tony D is seemingly being attacked when the show goes off air.

WWE NXT live results: The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams

Posted on by Jeff Moss

NXT is on the road in Texas tonight — and one of the biggest legends in WWE history is scheduled for an appearance in his home state.

The Undertaker will appear live on tonight’s NXT episode in Houston for a confrontation with Trick Williams. The segment stems from Williams recently insulting the Performance Center recruits who are on Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. In a promo on Monday’s Raw, Williams took shots at The Undertaker and threatened to knock him out tonight.

Tonight’s show is also a homecoming for Wren Sinclair, who will be the opponent for Blake Monroe’s NXT TV singles debut.

An NXT Championship bout is part of the card with Oba Femi defending his gold against Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs in a triple threat. Plus, Ricky Saints will be in action against Jasper Troy.

We’ll have an appearance by NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne following her winner-take-all victory over Masha Slamovich at TNA Slammiversary. Jayne won the TNA Knockouts title in that match and is now a double champion.

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

**********

It’s busy times for WWE’s formerly-black-and-gold brand! The NXT roster has been through The Great American Bash, Evolution and TNA Slammiversary since it’s last episode an there are doin’s a-transpirin’!

-There was a nice nod to Ozzy Osbourne (RIP!) off the top as the traditional footage of wrestlers arriving for work kicked off the show. The card was run down with Vic Joseph and Corey Graves and Booker T arriving to a great Houston ovation. Booker announced that the show would begin with an 8-person surprise Mixed Tag Team match!

Mixed Tag Team Match: NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Zaria and NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley)

The Culling jumped their opponents off the bell, but things settled down with Hank and Spears facing off. A quick tag to Vance and he and Hank traded punches until Spears tagged back in. Hank Sent Spears face first into the turnbuckle and Tank tagged in with a Senton.

Spears got a quick tag to Paxley and she and Zaria went back and forth. Ruca jumped in to cut off Dame interfering and the men came back in. Then, it broke down into a straight up brawl culminating with a 4-person slam and quadruple splash from the Hank, Tank, Zaria and Ruca side.

Hank and Tank isolated Spears in their corner and traded tags to try and take him out. Spears ducked Tank and Vance hopped in with a devastating clothesline. Vance worked the arm of Tank and Dame added a kick to the face through the ropes for good measure.

Vance and Spears double teamed Tank while the crowd chanted for Ruca. Vacne went to the top rope and tried a headbutt, but Tank dodged it and reached for a hot tag. Spears cut it off though and he and Tank battled in the center of the ring.

Paxley and Ruca were tagged in next and Ruca took out Paxley and Dame with a little help from Zaria. Zaria went for a pin, but Dame broke it up. The men tagged back in and Tank used Hank as a weapon to take out Vance. Spears began superkicking anything that moved.

Dame went up top and flung herself onto Hank and Tank on the outside. Not to be undone, Ruca did the same thing to Spears Paxley and Zaria were in the ring and Spears tried to interfere, but Zaria hit him with a face breaker. Paxley tried for a quick rollup, but the lights went out and DarkState appeared int he crowd!

When the lights came back on, Paxley had Zaria in a pin and got the 1-2-3 to give the Culling the win.

Match Result: The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley) defeated Sol Ruca, Zaria and Hank & Tank

Super fun match to kick things off! Ruca is really popular with the NXT crowd and I’ve always been a big Shawn Spears fan. I like the Culling a lot and they are a great foil for Hank & Tank in the tag division!

-Jordynne Grace was shown arriving to the arena. She was met by NXT GM Ava who said that she was not allowed in the building. Grace promised to get her hands on Blake Monroe anyways.

-NXT Women’s Champion & TNA Knockouts champion Jacy Jayne came to the ring with the rest of Fatal Influence, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. Jayne grabbed a mic and celebrated her win, declaring herself the best. She was very adamant she did it all by herself to prove everyone wrong. She is a history maker!

Suddenly Lash Legend’s music hit and the Legend herself joined the conversation. Legend congratulated Jayne and said that Jayne was about to begin her fall from the top. Legend said that it’s time for her moment, and suddenly more music!

Jaida Parker came down to the ring. Parker declared that she has a direct line to the NXT Women’s title and Legend can step aside. Jayne said that they should figure it out for themselves and Fatal Influence jumped Parker and Legend. Parker and Legend cleared the ring and began jawing at each other as the segment slammed into:

-Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints having a conversation in the back about Jasper Troy. Evans gave Saints some advice: Don’t over think it.

Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy

Saints fought Ethan Page at the Great American Bash in a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match. When that match spilled over into the back, Saints and Page stumbled onto Troy, who was either eating his lunch or angrily leaning against a wall lamenting a loss to Je’von Evans. Troy decided to take that out on Saints and NXT GM Ava made this match so that they can properly destroy each other. 

If you’re just joining us, Troy is a very big, very angry man. Saints needed to use his quickness and agility to get around the big man, but it didn’t work well off the top. Troy sent Saints into the corner and Clotheslined him on the ring apron (the most revolutionary part of the ring!).

Troy hoisted Saints up on his shoulder and hit a spinning slam for the first near fall of the match. Troy grabbed Saints again and threw him out of the ring. Saints clutched his wrist as Troy exited the ring, picked him out and carried him back into the ring.

Saints tried his hardest to fight back, but a trio of big splashes from Troy left him writhing in the ring. Troy added one more splash for good measure, but Saints managed to kick out. Troy punched Saints in the stomach so hard his wrist tape started coming off.

Every time Saints started gaining some offense, Troy would hammer him back down. Troy began literally throwing Saints around the ring, hoisting him up on his shoulders. Saints wriggled free, but Troy decided a Bear Hug was in order and Troy ragdolled him.

Saints got desperate and bit Troy on the head. Saints lured Troy out of the ring and laid some haymakers on him. Troy tried to punch back but Saints ducked and Troy hit the ring post. Troy shoved Saints back into the ring, favouring his hand.

Saints went up top and hit a high crossbody followed by a spinning DDT. It wasn’t enough though as Troy kicked out at 2. Keeping up the momentum, Saints sent them both outside over the top rope. Troy got to his feet first and began menacing the Ref. Saints used that to hop on Troy’s back and they battled up the entrance ramp.

The Ref tried to get them back into the ring, but the entry ramp collapsed on Saints! Troy hit a senton bomb on him through the collapsed metal ramp! The ref began a count in the ring and Troy staggered back, just beating the count and getting the win over Saints!

Match Result: Jasper Troy defeated Ricky Saints via Countout

Wow! The collapse of the ramp may have been a little premature, but IF they needed to call an audible, they did it seamlessly. Troy is an awesome force and I think if they can give him some good creative, he’ll be a big star.

-Next, tribute was paid to 2021 Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne who’s involvement with WWE goes all the way back to Wrestlemania 2.

The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams

Over the weekend, Williams defeated Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a Triple Threat Match at TNA Slammiversary to retain the TNA World Championship. However, his mouth got the best of him and he badmouthed the Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. Taker, lacking things to do with his time these days, would like a word with the TNA Champion about it. 

Williams made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic. Williams talked about his victory at Slammiversary and said that he was undeniably the greatest TNA Champion of all time. Williams said that he will drop anyone in his way. Williams said that the LFG team told on him to the Undertaker. Williams gave taker props, but he’s never held down two brands at the same time like Williams. He then said that LFG has made the Undertaker soft. He then called Taker down to the ring.

A giant DONG rang out, but quickly switched to the American Badass music and out strode the Undertaker. He walked to the ring (stepping around the hole Ricky Saints left in the ramp) and got a mic. The music faded and Taker stood silently, considering what he would say while the crowd chanted for him.

Eventually, Taker began speaking, calling Williams a Dead Man Walking. Taker admired William’s cowhide leather outfit and said that Williams had it all… except respect. Taker said that Williams just isn’t the same guy with the TNA title as he was with the NXT title. NXT Williams was hungry, he said. He had that “daawg” in him.

Undertaker said that TNA Williams isn’t that guy anymore. With his current attitude, he won’t keep the TNA Championship for long. Taker said that he tries to teach his LFG team to not have an attitude and Williams interrupted, saying he doesn’t give a damn about the LFG team! No one is as good as he is!

Undertaker offered Williams one more piece of advice: Don’t step to an OG (Taker being the OG). Williams looked terrified as Undertaker promised to make him famous. Williams tried to sucker punch Taker, but he immediately goozled him and hit him with a vintage Taker chokeslam! The segment ended with Williams lying in the ring.

-Back from a commercial, Fatal Influence were discussing who would take on Jaida Parker and Lash Legend. Michelle McCool joined them and made some suggestions. They headed off to Ava’s office to make things official.

Blake Monroe vs. Wren Sinclair

Monroe had a heck of a week going back to Great American Bash. There, she made her NXT/WWE in-ring debut in a tag match with Jordynne Grace in an eventual loss to Fatal Influence. Then, at Evolution, she turned on Grace, costing her the NXT Women’s Title in a match with Jacy Jayne. Grace had promised to be out there somewhere looking for revenge and caught in the middle is Sinclair, who was big-upped by her friends in the No Quarter Catch Crew earlier in the show.

The two locked up and Monroe took control, sending Sinclair to the corner. She raked Sinclair’s head along the ropes and and had her until Sinclair hit a big back elbow. Sinclair tried to employ the technical style of the NQCC and it threw Monroe off at first.

Monroe regained control with a sling blade followed by a tight chinlock while wrenching her arm behind her. Sinclair fought out of it with an armdrag and some big chops. Monroe sent Sinclair face first into the ropes and then a big head butt.

Monroe hit a big slam and pinned Sinclair, getting her first NXT singles victory.

Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Wren Sinclair

After the match, Monroe grabbed a mic but before she could say anything, Jordynne Grace appeared through the crowd and headed right for Monroe. Grace battled security allowing Monroe to grab her from behind and DDT her into a steel chair!

The match was pretty good, essentially a glorified squash, but I’m loving the feud between Grace and Monroe. They are both excellent at this pro wrestling thing and I can’t wait to see them go one on one.

-Back from commercial, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page was in the ring with a podium. Next to him was a second podium with a belt under a black cloth. Page said that he would be bringing more class to the title than the 17 Americans that had previously held it.

Page talked about his parents being immigrants from the Ukraine and that he was born in Canada. He unfurled a set of Canadian flags and said that the title would no longer represent the continent of North America, because America is a lie. It should represent the pure dominance of Canada over the rest of North American.

Page said the was born in Canada but made in America which makes him the greatest North American alive. He tossed the NXT North American Championship Belt to the side and unveiled a new version of it with a Canadian flag as the strap.

Page listed the various reasons that he feels Canada is better than America or Mexico, including hotter women, cleaner air and being nice to each other. He said that the USA is in HIS North America and as the North American Champion, he takes great pride in holding the title. But that pales in comparison to the pride he feels about being Canadian.

He then asked the audience to rise as he sung the Canadian National Anthem. He began singing but was cut off by an arriving Santino Marella, TNA Director of Authority!

Marella made his way to the ring and said that Page should be ashamed of himself. Marella lives in Canada and he said that Canadians don’t think like Page. He said that Page couldn’t relate to the people of North America because he is a “bumhole boy.”

Page said that Marella should go back to TNA and Marella said that someone with dignity, honor and pride should hold the North American title. He then challenged Page to a match next week. Page said that he wouldn’t do that, he’d do it RIGHT NOW!

Page turned around and Marella had the cobra ready for him! Page grabbed his new belt and bailed as the Commentary team speculated about the match happening next week!

-Backstage, Trick Williams was looking around every corner for the Undertaker, trying to avoid him. That set him up to run into NXT Champion Oba Femi though and the two stared each other down as the show went to commercial.

-Back from Commercial, Yoshiki Inamura met with Je’Von Evans. Inamura was wondering if he’d been a bad friend to Josh Briggs. He likes Briggs, but not always how he thinks. Evans said sometimes you can love someone, but not like them.

-The scene transitioned to the No Quarter Catch Crew lamenting Wren Sinclair’s loss. Suddenly, Bubba Ray Dudley appeared. He congratulated Wren on a good match and said that he was going to set up a match between Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he can leave the Crew.

Then, Lexis King wandered by and accused Dempsey of not really being deaf. Dempsey left and that was the end of the segment. Weird.

-Then, the match was made official: Next week, North American Champion Ethan Page will defend his title against TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella!

NXT Championship Triple Threat Match: Yoshiki Inamura vs. Josh Briggs vs. Oba Femi (c) 

At Great American Bash, Femi and Inamura had a slugfest that saw Femi retain the NXT title. The bigger issue was that Briggs, Inamura’s best friend, kept trying to interfere on his behalf. Not wanting to win the title in a “dishonorable” way, Inamura wasn’t pleased with Briggs’ interference. Briggs thinks Inamura was being “too nice.” The question is will they work together in this triple threat? Or will Femi be able to stand back and let these two take each other out? 

Off the bell, Femi sent Briggs to the outside and he and Inamura began clubbing each other in the corners. Femi flipped Inamura over which allowed Briggs to jump in a get a quick splash. Femi bounced between Inamura and Briggs before sending them into opposite corners.

Imamura got a big slam on Femi but during the count, Briggs “inadvertently” stepped on the Ref’s hand, breaking the count. In the confusion, Femi delivered a double Chokeslam to both men. Femi focused on Briggs, but Briggs sent Femi into the corner and Inamura began stomping him.

Inamura went for a cover and Briggs stepped towards him to break up the pin, but Femi kicked out and the two eyed each other. Briggs then introduced a chair into the ring. Inamoura did not like that dishonorable move and Briggs slammed him onto Femi for his trouble. Inaumra then returned the favor and the two began working together.

Briggs went for a cover, but Inamura didn’t break it up. Femi kicked out and stalked Briggs into the corner, setting him up on the second rope. Inamura grabbed Femi from below in an Electric Chair position. Inamura threw him backwards and Femi dragged Briggs down with him.

Briggs went for a quick cover, but Femi kicked out. Briggs seemed to think that Inamura caused the kickout and the two got angry at each other. Inamura was sent out of the ring by Femi, who was then chokeslammed by Briggs, resulting in a two-count.

Briggs and Femi fought in the ring and Inamura returned, charging at Femi. Femi leapt into the air and Inamure speared Briggs by mistake. Inamura then lifted Femi and hit a sit-down powerbomb. The ref started counting, but Briggs pulled him out. The ref jumped back in and tried to count again, but Briggs put Femi’s arm on the ropes.

That made Inamura mad and he screamed at Briggs while laying Femi out for a big splash. As he mad the pin though, Briggs broke it up with a moonsault. Briggs went for the cover, but Femi kicked out at two.

Briggs and Inamura had enough at that point and started trading chops and punches. Inamura gave as good as he got and Briggs hit a massive lariat. That brought Femi back in who hit a powerbomb on Briggs and got the pin to retain his title.

Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs

After the match, Briggs ran over Inamura at ringside. The scene switched to the back where Je’Von Evans was still trying to figure out what he is going to do next. The Undertaker approached and offered him some advice: Keep going after the biggest dog in the yard. Evans considered that as the show went off the air.

Great triple threat main event tonight! The story was obviously the dissolving of the friendship between Briggs and Inamura, but Femi looked great as always. He didn’t steal a victory, he earned it through smarts and picking his moments. NXT is chock full of talent right now and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from Great American Bash

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The fallout from Great American Bash takes place on WWE NXT tonight — and the episode will also help set the stage for TNA Slammiversary.

At Sunday’s TNA pay-per-view, Trick Williams is defending his TNA World Championship against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a triple threat match. But those three will be teammates tonight when they take on DarkState in a six-man tag. The bout comes after DarkState left Hendry and Santana laying at Great American Bash. Williams claimed that he had nothing to do with his upcoming challengers being attacked.

Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe defeated Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley in the Great American Bash main event. The partnership between Grace & Monroe didn’t last long, though, with Monroe betraying Grace the next night at WWE Evolution. The turn helped cost Grace her NXT Women’s Championship challenge against Jayne, who now has a winner-take-all match against TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich at Slammiversary.

An appearance by Jayne will kick off tonight’s show.

The D’Angelo Family implosion continues as Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, and Luca Crusifino look to settle business in a triple threat match.

Plus, Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong defends against Karmen Petrovic.

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

**********

The show is on the air from a sound stage at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando in front of a live studio audience.

A recap of The Great American Bash catches up viewers on the happenings at the PLE last Saturday. Opening the show from the sound stage is the entrance of the trio known as Fatal Influence. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne is flanked by Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz.

NXT Women’s Champ Jacy Jayne addresses the audience

Jayne first apologizes for her raspy voice, and she blames it on Jordynne Grace hitting her in the throat over the weekend. Jayne goes on to address the “elephant in the room,” which is her not doing well at The Bash.

Jayne blames her partners, and she especially casts blame on Nyz. Jayne says Nyz did her best, but her best is not good enough next to someone like Jayne herself. Luckily for Nyz and Henley, Jayne says they redeemed themselves at Evolution, where Jayne shocked the crowd again by winning.

Henley chimes in to put over Jayne. Henley says Jayne will be champion for a long time to come. Jayne also says she will do what no person has done before, like this Sunday when she goes one-on-one with the TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich. Jayne insults Slamovich until Slamovich interrupts the in-ring promo.

Slamovich gets in the ring to confront Jayne and Fatal Influence. Slamovich’s microphone was not working well, so Henley gave her a microphone. Slamovich says the only reason the interference of Blake Monros is the only reason Jayne retained her title at Evolution. Slamovich vows to be the first TNA wrestler to hold the NXT Women’s Championship.

Jayne scoffs and starts cutting a promo on Slamovich when Jayne is interrupted by the entrance of NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria. Ruca cuts a promo on Jayne, and Ruca says her money is on Slamovich. Zaria adds that Ruca was the MVP of this weekend. Okay, sure.

Zaria and Ruca get in the ring to confront Fatal Influence. Nyx gets to cut a promo. Soon thereafter, a brawl erupts. The babyfaces clear the ring of the heel trio. This sets up a six-women tag team match, which is officially announced after a commercial break.

— Tony D’Angelo is the focus of a video package that recaps The Family’s history in NXT. The title of part one is “Birth of the Don.” More to come later in the show as they hype the “family business” triple threat match for later tonight.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. Darkstate (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, & Saquon Shugars with Cutler James)

During the entrance of Darkstate, Santana leaps over the ropes with a tope con hilo. Besides getting knocked down before the bell, Darkstate has lost almost all of their mystique. They are just another faction in NXT at this point.

The tag bout goes through a commercial break with a heat spot. The heel faction works over Santana. When the show returns from the break, Hendry cleans house after a hot tag.

Darkstate are all thrown out of the ring. Santana and Hendry then deck Trick when she starts cutting a promo on them. Santana and Hendry then do stereo dives outside the ring.

Suddenly, TNA faction known as The System run in to brawl with Darkstate, Hendry and Santana join in as the referee calls for the bell. No official word on the actual result, so I’m guessing a no contest.

Match Result: No finish after outside interference

— A skit in the locker room sets up a match between Karmen Petrovic and WWE Evolve Champion Kali Armstrong. Arianna Grace is also involved in the skit.

— Jordynne Grace arrives to the building, and Vic Joseph on commentary says she “looks pissed.”

— Part two of the Tony D’Angleo saga is titled “Enter the Underboss”.

WWE Evolve Champion Kali Armstrong vs. Karmen Petrovic

Shortly after the match starts, Jordynne Grace runs down to ringside and trips Armstrong. Grace gets into the ring and suplexes Petrovic. Grace calls out Blake Monroe, and Grace demands that Monroe immediately come to the ring.

Match result: No contest when Jordynne Grace runs in

Out comes Stevie Turner and Robert Stone, who are presumably acting under the authority of Ava. Turner and Stone argue with Garce until a video package starts playing, which tells the story of Monroe turning on Grace. The video includes a narration that seems like a ripoff of Toni Storm’s current gimmick. In this particular video, Monroe is a bathtub. She invites everyone to her NXT debut next week.

Grace goes berserk in the ring when she attacks Stone and Turner. Grace clotheslines Turner and gives Stone a spinebuster. Security comes out trying to wrangle Grace.

— Team Undertaker from LFG are talking backstage when in walks Trick Williams. He yells at them to move out of his way. Williams bullies them and leaves. Not sure what this skit accomplishes, but Team Undertaker gets a call from The Undertaker himself as the show cuts to a commercial break.

— NXT General Manager Ava talks with Jasper Troy about him attacking people. If he wants to prove himself in NXT, Ava says to do it in matches she approves for him. Troy defends himself by saying Saints entered his territory. Ava says this is NXT, where they settle things in the ring. (Sure Ava, of course they do considering this show begins with two matches that ends in a no contest due to run-ins.) Ava books a match for next week with Troy against Saints next Tuesday in Houston.

— “Rise & Fall of the Family” is the title of for part three of the D’Angelo Family saga. This hypes the triple threat that is up next on NXT.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Lash Legend, who brags about being one of the last two remaining in a battle royal at Evolution. She was thrown out by Stephanie Vaquer, but Legend still brags on herself in this interview. Jaida Parker interrupts her to brag about her performance in the battle royal. Both Legend and Parker vow to confront the women’s champion in Houston.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. Luca Crusifino in a “family business” triple threat match

D’Angelo turns his back to both of his opponents after the opening bell, lulling Stacks into an attack. “The Don” fights off both Stacks and Crusifino. Stacks goes to retrieve a hidden crowbar, only to discover that D’Angelo found and disposed of the weapon.

The fight eventually spills outside. D’Angelo and Crusifino are fighting on the apron when Stacks knocks them off the ring apron. From there, the match goes through a split-screen commercial break. The triple threat continues after the show returns from the break.

In a big high spot, “The Don” with a hip toss sends Stacks into a flip dive over the ropes. Crusifino catches him on the floor. Stacks retrieves a crowbar, and D’Angelo blocks it only to for Stacks to send him crashing in the steps.

They do some clever triple threat spots that includes a double German suplex. The also do a Tower of Doom spot where Crusifino powerbombs D’Angelo while Stacks takes a superplex.

Crusifino gets his time to shine, and he gets a near fall on Stacks. Crusifino grabs the crowbar, but Stacks posts him and takes the crowbar. Just as Stacks is about use the crowbar as a weapon, D’Angelo strikes out of nowhere with a spear. D’Angelo spears Stacks through a gimmicked section of the wall in a stunt. Stacks then comically shoots out of the hole like a bullet after presumably being launched by D’Angelo.

D’Angelo gives Crusifino a spinebuster on the announce desk, and D’Angelo roll into the ring to give Stacks a spinebuster. D’Angelo then covers Stacks for a three count.

Match result: Tony D’Angelo wins via pinfall

— Wren Sinclair defends her throwing in the towel for Tavion Heights last week. Up walks Charlie Dempsey to gloat. Sinclair reveals she is booked in a match next week against Blake Monroe. The match is in Sinclair’s home state of Texas, but I do not like her chances for winning against a debuting Monroe.

— Josh Briggs is heading to the ring for a monologue.

NXT Champion Oba Femi confronts Josh Briggs

Briggs begins with an in-ring promo where he bemoans no getting a NXT title shot. Briggs mentions his pal Inamura getting a shot, but Briggs has yet to get his own title match.

Out comes Oba Femi to confront Briggs. Femi says Briggs’ presence in Femi’s title defense against Inamura raises some doubts. Yet, Femi insists “The Ruler” would have always won. But now people are questioning the validity of Femi’s win because of Brigg’s involvement. Femi says Briggs ruined the match.

When Femi accuses Briggs of being jealous of Inamura, Briggs snaps back by cutting a promo on Femi. Briggs says Femi might know Inamura as a man of honor, but Briggs is not.

Inamura comes through the crowd with a microphone in hand. Inamura gets into the ring while saying Briggs does not speak for him. Briggs and Femi bicker some more. Femi says Inamura deserves a rematch, but scoffs at the idea of Briggs getting a shot.

Inamura stops Briggs to say he will do what it takes to win, but Inamura will do so with honor. Briggs suggests a triple threat match for the NXT title next week in Houston. Femi asks if that is really what Briggs wants, and Briggs jumps Femi. A brawl erupts in the ring, where Briggs inadvertently elbows Inamura. When officials and referees pour out, they must separate Briggs and Inamura. Looks like a triple threat title match is set for next Tuesday.

— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is the focus of a video package where he brags about retaining the title against Ricky Saints at The Bash.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Saints, and Saints cuts a promo on Jasper Troy ahead of their match next week in Houston.

— On social media, Undertaker confirms an appearance next Tuesday on NXT.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Zaria & TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich vs. Fatal Influence (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyz)

For some reason, Lexis King is watching the match in the stands with the live studio audience. He is also wearing headphones. Ava takes exception to this, so she confronts him in the middle of this match. Ava rips off the headphones and yells at him.

Meanwhile, Sol Ruca was shinning in the match. The heel trios works together to underhandedly gain the upper hand on Ruca. Fatal Influence are in control as the show cuts to a picture-in-picture commercial break.

Hot tag and Zaria is a house of fire. Zaria is soon cut off, but she makes a quick comeback. Slamovich tags in and cleans house. Slamovich is also cut off by the heel trio.

Out comes The Culling with Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley. In the ensuing commotion at ringside, Ruca knocks down Paxley, and Zaria does a running senton off the apron on Dame. Ruca is yelling at Shawn Spears and Niko Vance at ringside. NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank run down to fight with Spears and Vance. Meanwhile, Ruca and Zaria brawl with Dame and Paxley. The leaves Slamovich at a disadvantage, as the heels have a three-on-one advantage. That does not stop Slamovich.

Slamovich is holding her own, and she delivers a brainbuster on Jayne. Slamovich then covers Jayne for a three count.

Match result: Slamovich, Ruca & Zaria win when Slamovich pinned Jayne

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!

WWE NXT live results: Great American Bash go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

After airing a taped episode last Tuesday, WWE NXT is back live tonight ahead of a loaded weekend of pro wrestling ahead.

Tonight, NXT is a go-home show ahead of PLEs this weekend, which includes the Great American Bash on Saturday and WWE Evolution. Both shows feature wrestlers from the NXT roster.

General manager Ava is set tonight to announce the NXT wrestlers who will be competing in the Evolution Battle Royal.

Ricky Saints is looking for an NXT North American Championship rematch against Ethan Page. To get that opportunity, he needs to defeat The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Jackson Drake) in a gauntlet match.

Gold will be up for grabs tonight with NXT Tag Team champs Hank Walker & Tank Ledger putting their tag titles on the line against Shawn Spears & Niko Vance of The Culling.

At Great American Bash, there will be a contract signing to make Trick Williams, Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana’s triple threat TNA World Championship match official for Slammiversary. Tonight, Hendry & Santana will have to get on the same page as they team up against Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe.

Plus, Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights meet in a high-stakes match where Heights will be allowed to leave No Quarter Catch Crew if he wins.

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

**********

The show is opening with a gauntlet match from the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. The mastermind of this match is NXT North American Ethan Page, who enters the sound stage ahead of The Vanity Project. Page joins the announce team for guest commentary alongside regular commentators Vic Joseph, Booker T and Corey Graves.

Ricky Saints runs the Vanity Project Gauntlet

The first two matches feature the tag team of Swipe Right in singles matches.

Ricky Saint defeated Brad Baylor in a gauntlet match

Saints pinned Baylor after springing off the top rope into a tornado DDT.

Ricky Saints defeated Ricky Smokes in a gauntlet match

Smokes gets heat on Saints as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break. Smokes works over Saints during the break, but Saints makes a comeback after the show returns from picture-in-picture.

Saints glares at Page at ringside, which almost costs Saints. Smokes rolls up Saints for a two count. Moments later, Saints uses an inverted atomic drop to set up a roll through that Saints used to cradle Smokes for a pinfall.

Ricky Saints defeated WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake in a non-title gauntlet match

Saints pinned Drake after a Roshambo. Drake got heat on Saints, and Drake got a near fall. Nonetheless, Saints makes a triumphant comeback to complete the gauntlet.

In winning, Saints gets to pick the stipulation for his title match on Saturday against Page. Saints vows to “dog walk” Page all over Atlanta, and Saints in a post-match promo informs Page their match for The Bash is falls count anywhere.

Match Result: Ricky Saints ran the Vanity Project Gauntlet

-NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca is chatting in a locker room with her pal Zaria. Lainey Reid eavesdrops on their conversations and takes exception. Up walks Kelani Jordan to cut a promo on Reid, which sets up a singles match later on with Reid against Jordan.

-Jordynne Grace reluctantly agrees to do a glamour workout with Blake Monroe. Grace rolls her eyes when she arrives at the spa for the “workout” with Monroe. The vignette continues later in the show.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights

They had a good long match that goes through a commercial break.

Wren Sinclair is ringside for this clash between No Quarter Catch Crew, and she threw in the towel to end the match. If Heights won, he could leave No Quarter Catch Crew. Instead, Dempsey wins after targeting the leg of his own stablemate.

Dempsey was cranking on the leg when Sinclair threw in the towel to stop the match. Heights never gave up. The finish teased further dissension within No Quarter Catch Crew.

Match Result: Charlie Dempsey defeated Tavion Heights

-The NXT Tag Team Champions — Hank & Tank — are backstage dancing with Je’Von Evans when Evans is ambushed by Jasper Troy. Evans is slammed against a roll-up door. The tag champs try to pull Troy off Evans as he smashes Evans again.

Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont (w/ Wes Lee)

Santana pinned Dupont to win the match, despite interference by TNA World Champion Trick Williams. After the match, Williams joins High Ryze in a beatdown on Hendry and Santana.

The tag bout goes through a commercial break. Santana and Hendry both do dives at one point. As they go home, Wes Lee gets on the ring apron to distract the referee. Meanwhile, Trick Williams runs down to ringside and sends Hendry crashing into the metal ring steps. After glaring at Tick, Santana rolls through a missed stomp to deck Lee with a right hand. Lee takes a Bobby Heenan bump off the apron. Soon thereafter, Santana delivers a spinning lariat on Dupont. Santana then covers him for the pinfall.

Trick joins with High Ryze in attacking Hendry and Santana after the match is over. The four heels leave the TNA babyfaces laying prone on the mat, and the NXT heels stand over the TNA faces.

Match Result: Joe Hendry & Mike Santana defeated Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont (w/ Wes Lee)

-Yoshiki Inamura is the focus of a vignette, which features Keiji Mutoh, Naomichi Marufuji, Ulka Sasaki, IYO SKY, and Kaito Kiyomiya all wishing luck to Inamura in his title challenge against NXT Champion Oba Femi at The Bash this Saturday.

Inamura, dressed in a suit and flanked by Josh Briggs in a leather vest and t-shirt, heads to the ring for confrontation with Oba Femi. But first comes more commercials.

-After the commercial break is a pre-tape promo from Darkstate where they threaten to interfere in TNA matches along with NXT.

Oba Femi, Yoshiki Inamura & Josh Briggs in-ring promo

Inamura and Briggs enter the ring, followed by NXT Champion Oba Femi. Inamura cuts a promo on Femi, with Inamura calling Femi his greatest challenge. Inamura says he is supported by Briggs and his family, and he vows to fight with honor. Femi responds by asking if Inamura is ready to lose with honor.

Briggs says Inamura grabs the mic and cuts a promo on Femi on behalf of Inmaura. Briggs also vows to make sure Inmaura wins, because it’s their only chance. Femi tells Briggs this is not his fight, and they start brawling. Briggs is sent outside the ring by Femi, only for Inamura to bodyslam Femi. Referees and producers run in to break things up as Inamura honorably backs away.

-Blake Monroe tries getting Jordynne Grace to enjoy a spa day, much to Grace’s chagrin. Grace eventually enjoys the spa.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lainey Reid

Jordan pinned Reid after springboarding into a split-legged moonsault. After the match, Thea Hail runs down to ringside to fight with Reid. They seem set for a singles match.

Match Result: Kelani Jordan defeated Lainey Reid

-Je’Von Evans is in the trainer’s room when he is again attacked by Jasper Troy.

The Family sitdown meeting

My local over-the-air channel is glitching as Adrianna Rizzo calls a sit-down meeting with Stacks, Luca Crusifino and Tony D’Angelo. After all that time she was missing, Rizzo shows up unexpectedly. Rizzo wants to bring The Family back together, but they are having none of it.

Rizzo does have one more item to discuss in the meeting. Rizzo then announces a triple threat match next Tuesday on NXT. She calls it the “final battle” in the family business.

-Jasper Troy rushes into the ring to issue a challenge to Je’Von Evans. Out comes Evans to fight with Troy, and they have a pull-apart brawl.

-Tatum Paxley joins The Culling in a vignette where they cut a promo on Hank & Tank ahead of the tag title match later on.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defend against The Culling (Niko Vance & Shawn Spears) (w/ Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley)

Tank pinned Speaars to win the match. Paxley and Dame interference in the match, leading to Sol Ruca & Zaria to run down to ringside. They had a good tag bout. The title match goes through a commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Vance with a shoulder tackle sends Hank bumping over the announce desk.

Paxley joins in the fun by distracting the referee. That allows Dame to boot Tank in the head. Spears then gets a near fall on Tank.

Sol Ruca runs in to jump Dame. Zaria also appears and she carries Paxley away. That counteracts the interference as Hank & Tank run wild. For the finish, Spears takes a bullet for Vance, and Spears takes a finisher from Hank & Tank with a powerslam/spear combo. Tank then covers Spears for a three count. And still…

Match Result: NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated The Culling to retain

NXT Women In-Ring Summit

NXT General Manager Ava is heading to the ring for a “summit” of sorts.

Ava first puts over the first Evolution. She was in high school at the time, but it inspired her. Ava goes on to put over the women on that show and what they have done since.

Ava also announces the six entrants from NXT in the battle royal at Evolution on Sunday. Those six are Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley.

Out comes the Fatal Influence trio to interrupt. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne cuts a promo while flanked by Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz. They are soon interrupted by Jordynne Grace.

Grace cuts a promo on Fatal Influence for trying to steal the spotlight. Yet another interruption as Lash Legend enters to cut a promo.

Stephanie Vaquer is out next to interfere, and she is super over with the live studio audience in attendance. Vaquero cuts a promo of her own.

In a surprise cameo, Natalya enters with Maxxine Dupri introducing her. Natalya also cuts a promo.

Jaida Parker is next to cut a promo. She then rushes into the ring and a huge brawl erupts. Hyping the battle royal on Sunday, the show goes off the air with the women brawling in the ring.

WWE NXT live results: Number one contender’s match

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s WWE NXT on The CW continues the march toward this month’s Great American Bash will feature a number one contender’s match in addition to TNA’s Joe Hendry in action.

Jasper Troy and Yoshiki Inamura will do battle for the right to challenge NXT Champion Oba Femi at the Bash. Troy is coming off a loss to Femi last month while Inamura battled Femi once on a live event, also last month.

Hendry returns to NXT for the first time since May when he battles Wes Lee. Hendry is preparing to challenge TNA World Champion and NXT member Trick Williams in addition to Mike Santana at this month’s TNA Slammiversary.

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page and Ricky Saints will meet with NXT GM Ava as another match between them looms in the distance.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King, Thea Hail vs. Lainey Reed, and Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca round out the show.

**********

Opening the show is the entrance of TNA World Champion Trick Williams, and he joins the announce team for guest commentary alongside Vic Joseph, Booker T and Corey Graves.

Joe Hendry defeated Wes Lee (with Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe)

Hendry pinned Lee after a chokeslam. Williams was on commentary, but other than stare down with Hendry, he did not play into the match itself. Yet, the match still featured a run-in.

The match goes through a commercial break. Just before the break, Hendry takes a wrecking ball dropkick from Lee on the floor. Hendry then counters to clothesline Lee. Hendry then has a stare down with Trick Williams at ringside. Those two meet in a title match at TNA Slammiversary in triple threat that also includes Mike Santana, who runs in later in this match to aid Hendry.

When the show returns from the break, Igwe and Dupont distract Hendry. That allows Lee to hit Hendry with a dive. Lee then casually springboards off the middle rope into a Phoenix Splash. From there, Hendry counters a tilt-a-whirl with a vertical suplex. It’s off to the races from there. Hendry manages to counter Lee again.

Santana runs down to ringside to counteract interference by Igwe and Dupont. Hendry deliver a chokeslam soon thereafter, and Hendry covers Lee for a pinfall.

Luca Crusifino comes to ring wearing a suit. He calls out Tony D’Angelo to clear the air. “The Don” accuses Crusifino of costing him the Heritage Cup in a match last week. They then accuse each other of hitting the other in the face.

Crusifino goes on to talk about how he left college and turned down offers to join a law firm in order to instead chase his dream in WWE. Crusifino says he as never done anything to doubt D’Angelo, and that is loyalty.

Out comes Heritage Cup Champion Stacks to interrupt the bickering to himself bicker with other two. Stacks sarcastically thanks Crusifino helping him win the Heritage Cup. Crusifino yells at Stacks to shut up. This is between Crusifino and D’Angelo. “The Don” chimes to to agree, and Crusifino decks D’Angelo with a right.

Stacks enjoys the sight of a decked D’Angelo, and he puts his arm around Crusifino while taunting D’Angelo. Crusifino then suddenly decks Stacks. The plot thickens.

NXT Champion Oba Femi is interviewed backstage by Kelly Kincaid. He comments on Jasper Troy against Yoshiki Inamura in a match later today. In walks Inamura, flanked by Josh Briggs. Inamura gets a promo that concludes with him saying he will see Femi at Great American Bash.

Myles Borne defeated Lexis King

Borne pinned King to win the match, which was set up in a skit last week with University of Florida football players George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp. They were front row ringside for this match, and the celebrated after the match with Borne. For the finish, Borne does the Florida Gator chop before a Zig Zag and a pinfall.

Darkstate is featured in a pre-taped promo where each member gets to talk and threaten the NXT roster.

Lainey Reid defeated Thea Hail

Reid pinned Hail in a disputed finish. Not only did Hail have her hand under the plane of the bottom rope, but Reid was also holding the rope for illegal leverage. Moments before the finish, Reid tries to cheat by putting her feet on the ropes. For the finish itself, Reid delivers a knee strikes and covers Hail for the disputed finish. A rematch is plausible.

No Quarter Catch Crew is featured in a skit that sets up Charlie Dempsey against Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he leaves the Crew. This is such an odd stipulation. Just leave if you want. Dempsey says when he wins, he does not want to hear about it again. Dempsey also heeled on Wren Sinclair in the skit.

Jasper Troy cuts a promo vowing to win tonight against Inamura, and then Troy vows to win the NXT title at Great American Bash.

Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame (with The Culling) defeated NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca & Zaria

Dame pinned Ruca to win the match, which could also set up a title match with the champ dropping a fall. Paxley aligned herself with The Culling throughout the story of the match.

Ruca & Zaria are in sync most of the match until they go home. The tag bout goes through a commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Ruca & Zaria do a cool tandem spot that includes a dive to the floor and military press outside the ring. They do other tandem spots, including a modified take on the old Quebecers finisher. However, miscommunication and aDamen inadvertent spear tease dissension.

Just before the finish, Zaria accidentally spears Ruca after Paxley saves Dame. For the finish itself, Dame uses a sit-out powerbomb to score a pinfall on Ruca. With Dame pinning a champion, that would seem to set a title match in the near future.

In a skit from the office of NXT General Manager Ava, Ricky Saints meets with NXT North American Champion Ethan Page. Flanking Page is Vanity Project from Evolve, which includes WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake. This skit sets up Saints in a “Vanity Project gauntlet” next week. If Saints runs the gauntlet, he can pick a stipulation for his title rematch against Page.

Chasu U is featured in a vignette. Andre Chase apologizes to Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon for tough love. Chase has Dixon booked in a singles match next week. Chase wants Dixon to promise he will listen to Chase.

Joe Hendry is being interviewed by Kelly Kincaid when Santana also joins them. Hendry and Santana agree to fight against High Ryze.

Backstage in a skit, NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank agree to put their titles on the line

Yoshiki Inamura defeated Jasper Troy in number one contender’s match

Inamura pinned Troy clean with a flying body press. In winning, Inamura earns a title match against NXT Champion Oba Femi at The Great American Bash.

So much for Troy’s big push. They figuratively cut his legs off here with a clean loss after several weeks of a pushing him. Inamura also kicked out of Troy’s finisher, which was a black hole slam. Inamura fired up in the closing moments. He then climbed the turnbuckles and leapt off with a splash to score the deciding pinfall.

Femi comes out after the match to have a stare down with Inamura on the entrance ramp. Meanwhile in the ring, Je’Von Evans springboards in to attack Troy. That is payback from a previous angle involving the two, and it also indicated a direction for both Evans and Troy.

Jordynne Grace is headed to the ring for a monologue. She starts by saying getting to this point (in NXT) is the hardest thing she has done. It reminds her that she thrives under pressure. So is heading into Evolution and is in the ring this time and not on the sidelines. She gets to compete alongside the best women’s wrestlers in the world.

Grace goes on to say for sake of being honest, she fears being vulnerable. She thought a lot and asked herself if she really belongs in WWE. She says the audience knows her journey. She did not grow up wanting to be a WWE superstar, but Gracy says she did everything she could to get here. She became someone WWE could not ignore.

Grace is interrupted by the Fatal Influence trio consisting of NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz. Jayne taunts Grace by mocking her “sob story” about her journey. Jayne mocks by saying Grace might bench press more than her, but Jayne tells Grace she could never carry the women’s division. Keep flexing and a title might fall into her arms, but Jayne says it will not be her title.

Jayne claims she is at the top of her game. The live studio audience drowns her with boos, and Jayne taunts them too. Grace eventually cuts off Jayne and tells her to shut up. Grace starts saying a vow to become the champion when Jayne goes for a sneak attack. Grace tries to fight them off, but Grace is overcome by the odds.

Jayne and Henley are jumping Grace when Blake Monroe runs down for a save. Monroe and Grace clean house and clear the ring as the heels flee. Out comes Ava, who bickers with Fatal Influence. Ava books a match for The Great American Bash with Monroe & Grace against Jayne & Henley. The two heels — Jayne & Henley — rush into the ring after the announcement and they brawl with Monroe & Grace. The babyfaces again clean house on the heels before the show goes off the air.


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.

WWE NXT live results: Two championship matches

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Newcomers challenging for gold is the theme tonight on WWE NXT.

Jasper Troy, the male winner of WWE LFG season one, has attempted to make an immediate impact in his NXT career by targeting Oba Femi. Tonight, the two will face off with Troy challenging Femi for the NXT Championship.

A North American title match is also set with WWE ID wrestler Sean Legacy challenging Ethan Page, who is coming off a successful defense against Laredo Kid, Je’Von Evans, and Rey Fenix in a fatal four-way at Worlds Collide. Legacy has impressed in NXT and on Evolve. A title win could secure him a permanent spot in WWE.

The Culling’s Shawn Spears & Niko Vance are teaming up against Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura tonight. Plus, another tag match will see Tony D’Angelo & Luca Crusifino take on Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe.

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

**********

NXT opens with some wrestlers arriving at the Performance Center in Orlando for the live broadcast tonight. One of those arriving is NXT Champion Oba Femi. He is suddenly ambushed by LFG winners Jasper Troy.

Troy attacks Femi and smashed him into a Ford crossover in the parking lot. Troy stomps on Femi. Troy then chokeslams Femi onto the hood of the Ford, smashing the glass and denting the hood.

From the parking lot, we go to the sound stage at the PC with the entrance of “All Ego” Ethan Page.

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defeated Sean Legacy to retain his title

Page pinned Legacy in a really good opener. The closing minutes were great. Ricky Saints ran in after the match to attack Page, and they had a brawl. During the match itself, Legacy was given a lot of time to shine.

Legacy is getting to shine just before the show cuts to its first commercial break. Page bails out of the ring as the show cuts to picture-in-picture on CW. Page regains momentum when the show returns from the break, until Legacy hits Page with a missile dropkick.

The action really heats up down the home stretch. Legacy takes a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle, and and he takes a bump on the floor. Page teases powerbombing him on the announce desk, but Legacy escapes. Page posts himself, and Legacy dropkicks him. Legacy with a tope con hilo, and Legacy is on fire.

For the finish, no water in the pool when Legacy goes for a springboard 450 splash. Page then delivers a Twist of Fate (which he calls “Twisted Grin”), and Page covers Legacy for a three count. And still…

Ricky Saints rushes into the ring after the match, and Saints jumps Page. Saints and Page brawl their way out of the ring and off the sound stage.

In a contrived skit in the office of NXT GM Ava, Lainey Reid twice slaps NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne. Reid then rushes away, leading to Jayne putting her title on the line in a match against Reid.

Izzi Dame explains why she culled Brooks Jensen from The Culling, with the blessing of cult leader Shawn Spears.

Psycho Clown and Octagon Jr. from AAA make a cameo appearance sitting ringside with the live studio audience.

Shawn Spears & Niko Vance (with Izzi Dame) defeated Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura

Vance pinned Briggs with some help from Spears. Good tag bout, and they planted seeds for the eventual split of Briggs & Inamura. They get along so great and make such a good team, bookers are bound to split them up.

Hot tag to Inamura, who cleans house. Briggs blind tags back into the match, and he drops Spears with a big boot. Briggs climbs the ropes, and Spears grabs at his leg trying to trip him up. Although Briggs kicks Spears away, the misdirection allowed Vance to recover. Briggs is crotched on the top rope, and Vance executes a Dominator on Briggs. Vance then scores the pinfall.

Meanwhile in the principal’s office, Ava yells at Ricky Saints for jumping Page earlier tonight. Saints is not even cleared for action, selling his throat as he still cannot even talk. Ava orders Page to leave the building.

Roving reporter Sarah Screiber says the NXT title is still on tonight, even with Oba Femi still in the trainer’s room.

Chase U is back in business after Andre Chase addresses his two new students. If they want to do this, they are doing it the right way. Be there on time and follow the rules.

Blake Monroe (Mariah May) is the focus of a vignette.

Lash Legend defeated Wren Sinclair

Legend pinned Sinclair after a botched finish. That pretty much sums up the bout. Kelani Jordan is on guest commentary for the match. The match and Jordan’s involvement was set up in a Tik Tok video.

Lainey Reid is the focus of vignette sponsored by an insurance company. Reid talks about her success as a barrel racing champion in rodeo and also a track athlete. Reid vows to win the women’s title tonight.

Sarah Screiber interviews Jasper Troy about him attacking Femi. Troy dismisses any worry Femi will not be able to compete. Troy insists that Femi is a warrior, and he will sill face Troy tonight. Troy is “counting on it!”

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne (with Fatal Influence) vs. Lainey Reid

Jayne pinned Reid to win the matc. They wrestle through a commercial break, and they are given a lot of time. They also had a good match where they worked hard. Fallon Henley caused a distraction at ringside, which allowed Jayne to deliver a roaring elbow (called a “Rolling Encore” on commentary). And still…

Suddenly, Ava is in a perch overlooking the ring. Ava announces that Jayne will defend her title at Evolution against the winner of a eight-woman tournament. Several wrestlers then surround the ring and glare at the champion, who is still in the ring.

AJ Francis and KC Navarro introduce themselves as a team known as First Class as they boast to Yoshiki Inamura & Josh Briggs. In walks Elijah (The Drifter), who strums his guitar and cuts a promo on First Class.

Luca Crusifino tells an unknown caller he will take care of something. Up walks Tony D’Angelo, who overhears some of the phone call. “The Don” seems to distrust Crusifino.

Mr. Iguana (along with his hand puppet named La Yesca) is sitting in the front row alongside El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

High Ryze (Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont with Wes Lee) defeated The Family (Luca Crusifino & Tony D’Angelo)

Dupont pinned D’Angelo to win the match. Stacks runs in during the match, which plays a part in the finish.

During the match came “breaking news” that Blake Monroe will sign her NXT contract next Tuesday on NXT.

Before cutting to a commercial break, Crusifino does a flip dive out of the floor. However, “The Don” still seems skeptical of Crusifino. High Ryze gets heat on Crusifino when the show returns from the break.

They build to hot tag, where an eager D’Angelo tags into the match. He runs wild until Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo runs in with a crowbar. Stacks is pulled into the ring by D’Angelo. Stacks begs off, but not before dropping the crowbar.

After “The Don” throws Stacks out of the ring, he turns around to see Crusifino holding the crowbar. Crusifino pleads his case, but D’Angelo is certain Crusifino was about to turn on him. D’Angelo and Crusifino are sent crashing into each other. D’Angelo then takes a double-team finisher from Dupont & Igwe. Dupont then covers D’Angelo for a pinfall.

TNA Champion Trick Williams is interviewed by Sarah Screiber, and Williams cuts a promo where he announces a six-man tag match next week. Trick teams with First Class against Briggs, Inamura & Eilijah. Part of this was set up in a skit earlier in the show. That skit made little sense at the time it aired, but it makes so much more sense now that a six-man match is announced.

NXT Champion Oba Femi defeated Jasper Troy to retain his title

Femi pinned Troy in a hoss fight. Femi’s ribs are bandaged for the match, selling the injury angle from earlier in the show. They work the ribs during the match. Femi is sent into a corner, and the middle turnbuckles pops off before the final commercial break, leaving the middle rope hanging limp.

They fight continues after the break, with the middle rope back in place. Femi takes a backdrop on the ring apron, and he sells big. They go on to trade near falls.

Comeback by Femi and he tosses Troy around, only for Troy to cut him off. Femi fought back with a spinebuster for a two count. Chokeslam by Troy for two. Black Hole Slam by Troy, but Femi kicks out.

Femi gets his knees up when Troy goes for a Vader bomb. Femi charges at Troy with a Cactus Jack clothesline that sends them back over the top rope. Femi sends Troy crashing into a gimmicked barricade that collapses. Fall From Grace by Femi, but Troy still kicks out at two and a half. A second Fall From Gracy by Femi is enough, and Femi then covers Troy for the deciding pinfall.

WWE NXT live results: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana TNA title match

Posted on by Josh Nason

After winning the TNA World title at NXT Underground, Trick Williams now brings the gold to familiar soil in his first title defense on tonight’s WWE NXT.

Williams will defend against TNA’s Mike Santana who made his show debut last week with a win over Tavion Heights which was preceded by a face-to-face with Williams.

In a singles match, Myles Borne will attempt to be let out of the No Quarter Catch Crew as he takes on faction leader Charlie Dempsey in bout held under Heritage Cup rules. A win gives Borne an allegedly clean exit from the group.

LFG season one winner and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Tyra Mae Steele will make her NXT TV in-ring debut.

In a trios bout, Andre Chase University (Andre Chase, Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon) will take three members of DarkState to be named.

**********

North American Title Summit

The show started out with Je’Von Evans in the ring with TNA’s Laredo. WWE NXT North American Champion Ethan Page then made his entrance and said the summit was a farce, Rey Fenix wasn’t even there, and he already had a title match made with “some Evolve kid” in Sean Legacy.

Page was about to leave and Legacy’s music hit. He said he’s got next and is going to love “kicking Page’s ass” after he becomes the first WWE Evolve Men’s Champion Wednesday.

The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake and Ricky Smokes) then came down to the ring and backed up Page. This led to a huge brawl.

– Vikingo was shown in the crowd.

Chase U (Andre Chase, Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors) vs. Darkstate (Cutler James, Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin)

James, Lennox and Griffin picked up the win after a triple power bomb to Dixon.

Winners: Darkstate (Cutler James, Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin)

-Laredo, Legacy and Evans were talking with Ava Rain backstage, complaining about Vanity Project aligning with Page. She then booked an match and said they should find a partner….who just happened to walk in in the form of Dragon Lee.

-TNA World Champion Trick Williams did a backstage promo to hype the main event.

-In earlier goings on, Tyra Mae Steele was commanding some attention in the locker room when Arianna Grace had enough and questioned if her Olympic medals were actually gold. After she left, Steele said she found her first opponent (for tonight).

Charlie Dempsey vs. Myles Borne under Heritage Cup rules

The stips here were that if Borne won, he was allowed to leave the No Quarter Catch Crew. Best of three falls rules applied here.

This ended in the fourth round when Borne nailed Dempsey with a dropkick, scoring the third pin and the victory by a two-to-one margin. Dempsey refused to shake Borne’s hand afterward.

Winner: Myles Borne

-The Culling were with Shawn Spears when Izzi Dame came in and nailed Brooks Jensen with a chair. She said their match originally scheduled for tonight has been moved a week and said Jensen has never fully been committed to their cause which Spears agreed with as they all left Jensen laying.

Arianna Grace vs. Tyra Mae Steele

This was Steele’s NXT TV debut after being crowned a winner on the first season of LFG. She showed off some of her wrestling skills which Grace couldn’t hang with. The end came after a series of lariats, a fireman’s carry into an AA followed by a German suplex with a bridge for the pin and win.

Winner: Tyra Mae Steele

– Mike Santana did a promo hyping the main event.

The Jacy Jayne era begins with a surprise

Fatal Influence came out to celebrate the kickoff of Jayne’s NXT Women’s title reign, putting herself and Fallon Henley over as starting in the business together. She said she and Henley had a long talk and decided it was “time to run the play with the slap heard ’round the world.”

This brought out a barrage of women eager to challenge for the title:

  • Lainey Reid jumped the barricade and that Jayne was the most beatable champion of all time.
  • Lola Vice then came out and said it was her time.
  • Jordynne Grace then came out and indicated the same.
  • Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend and then Thea Hail made their cases before a massive brawl broke out.

Then, the lights went out.

Mariah May’s surprise debut

The former AEW Women’s World Champion was in the balcony with a spotlight on her. She said the best women’s division in the world got “a lot more glamorous.” She was never mentioned by her name, so it seems like a change is coming ala Ricky Starks/Saints.

-Stevie Turner was talking to the women’s WWE Evolve roster about what it would be like when they got called up.

-Ricky Saints has a larynx contusion.

-Ethan Page was with Vanity Project and said he will take Laredo and Dragon Lee’s masks just like he took Starks’ voice.

-Mr. Iguana, Aerostar, and Octagon, Jr. were shown in the audience.

Dragon Lee, Je’Von Evans, Laredo & Sean Legacy vs. Ethan Page and Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Jackson Drake & Ricky Smokes)

This went through a commercial break and featured a lot of action as you might expect. The end came with a tope con giro from Evans followed by an Asai moonsault from Laredo. While Legacy and Page were having a striking battle, Lee got Baylor in the tree of woe and hit Operation Dragon for the win.

Winners: Dragon Lee, Je’Von Evans, Laredo Kid & Sean Legacy

-Backstage, NXT Champion Oba Femi was with Robert Stone and Steve Turnier, waiting for his contract signing with Jasper Troy. Troy showed up and the two exchanged words before an untimidated Troy signed it.

-Sol Ruca and Zaria ran into a morose Tatum Paxley and her doll. They offered her help as did Izzi Dame who suggested she should purge anyone she can’t trust.

-Luca Crusifino wanted to chat with Tony D’Angelo and revealed he got them a tag match against High Ryze to prove his loyalty. D’Angelo wasn’t happy about this because he didn’t know to which Cruisifino retorted that they’re not really a family anymore.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams defends against Mike Santana

The winner here moves on to defend against Elijah at this Friday’s TNA Against All Odds. Elijah was at ringside.

This went through one commercial break. The beginning of the end was Santana nearly getting the win after a 450 splash to which Williams barely got his fingers on the ropes to break up. Williams got out of the ring and tried to provoke Elijah into hitting him with his guitar so he could get DQ’d.

Out of nowhere, First Class showed up and KC Navarro pulled Santana out of the ring, followed by a AJ Francis Slam. They threw him back in and after a Trickshot, it was over.

Winner: Trick Williams retained the TNA World title over Mike Santana

Williams, Navarro and Francis posed together to close the show as new allies have been made.

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from Battleground

Posted on by Chris Aiken

New TNA World Champion Trick Williams is set to appear as the fallout from Battleground takes place on WWE NXT tonight.

Williams made history on Sunday, becoming the first WWE-contracted wrestler to win the TNA World Championship. With help from a well-placed belt shot, he defeated Joe Hendry to become champion. We’ll hear from Williams tonight for the first time since his victory.

Mike Santana has declared that he wants to be the savior of TNA and is coming after Williams’ title. Tonight, Santana makes his WWE debut against Tavion Heights. The match was set up at Battleground in a confrontation between Santana and No Quarter Catch Crew.

A couple of title matches are also part of tonight’s lineup. After successfully defending against Jordynne Grace at Battleground, Stephanie Vaquer already has her next challenger. She’s putting the title on the line against Jacy Jayne after Jayne slapped her in the face on Sunday.

Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page for the North American Championship is kicking off the episode. The winner will defend the title at Worlds Collide against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

Plus, WWE LFG winner Jasper Troy will be in action, Tatum Paxley faces Jaida Parker, and more.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Opening the show is a title match and horde of security at ringside. NXT North American Champ Ricky Saints enters the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. After him is his challenger, Ethan Page. They brawl before Mike Rowe can finish the ring introductions, and the security team rushes into the ring to break them up.

With a pull-apart brawl ongoing in the ring, Rowe does an abbreviated introduction before the bell sounds to officially start the title bout. The winner defends the title at When World Collide.

Ethan Page defeated NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints to win the title

Page pinned Saints to win the championship in a really good opener. Since neither of these wrestlers had a match on the PLE last weekend, this was essentially their PLE match in they had plenty of time and high drama. They wrestled through a picture-in-picture commercial break.

The fight spilled onto ringside, where Page went to grab a metal folding chair. Members of the security team spots him from using the chair. The horde of security then holds back back Saints and Page from brawling at ringside. Is brawling at ringside suddenly banned?

Out comes NXT General Manager Ava to sort out this mess. Instead, she gives a message to the announce team. Ava then leaves ringside, and the announcers are even more confused than before. The referee does his best Big John McCarthy, and the fight resumes at ringside as security steps aside.

When the show returns from the commercial break, the fighting at ringside continues with Saints and Page brawling over the announce desk. Security breaks them apart and the ref yells at them to get back into the ring. With some separation between them, Page strikes with a Diamond Cutter on the floor. In taking the move, Saints comes crashing down on a folding chair. Saints sells big while clutching his throat, but he manages to crawl back into the ring and take a Razor’s Edge. Saints still somehow kicks out.

Still selling his throat, Saints valiantly fights back as the babyface in peril. Saints gets a near fall on Page, while still selling his throat. The live studio audience begins a “Ricky” chant when Saints eats a boot from Page. The match rolls on and Page counters Saint’s finisher. In doing so, Page maneuvers over to the ropes , where Page snaps Saints injured throat on the top rope. Page follows up with a Diamond Cutter. Page the hooks a leg and covers Saints for a three count. And new…

Referees and officials check on an injured Saints in the ring, while Page poses with the North American title belt on the ramp.

Sarah Schreiber interviews Fatal Influence, and the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Jacy Jayne cuts a promo on Fallon Henley. Jazmyn Nyx looks on behind Jayne.

Mike Santana is the focus of a personality profile introducing him to the NXT audience ahead of his upcoming match.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura are back together again, and Briggs returns Inamura’s leather vest to him. Briggs suggest they set their sights on the NXT tag team titles, or Inamura suggest something “even bigger” for them.

Mike Santana defeated Tavion Heights (with No Quarter Catch Crew)

Santana pinned Heights after a roaring lariat. The bout itself goes through a commercial break, and they had a pretty good match. In Height’s corner was Charlie Dempsey, Wren Sinclair and Myles Born, but they played little into the match. Dempsey looked strong in winning, and he shakes hands with Heights after the match. Dempsey was disgusted by the display of sportsmanship from Heights.

The trio now known as High Ryze is the focus of a video package. That trio includes Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, and Tyriek Igwe.

Up next is the aftermath from the fallout between Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. For that we get some bad acting when Luca Crusifino sits down with D’Angelo. Crusifino professes his innocence to “The Don”, but D’Angelo says he cannot trust anyone. Crusifino insists D’Angelo can trust him.

New TNA Champion Trick Williams is heading to the ring for a celebratory monologue. Trick is victorious and boastful, but he heels on the studio audience when they try cheering for him. Tricks mocks them by asking if they feel stupid for singing along with “Average Joe” on the previous episode of NXT.

Trick boasts about himself and the title win, and Trick lists luminaries that were champions of TNA. Trick then says he is better than all of them. Trick heels on the crowd from turning their back on him, so he is going to TNA. Trick wants to change the name of TNA to “Trick-N-A”.

Santana interrupts Trick and confronts him in the ring. Santana is there to take up for TNA, and Santana takes exception to Trick trying to tear it down. Trick yells at Santana in response, basically telling Santana to know his place. Santana proceeds to cut a promo on Trick, and Santana calls Trick a “pretender” as a wrestler, a rapper and a champion.

Santana vows to take the TNA title from Trick. They are interrupted by TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella, who appears on a video screen. Marella informs Trick that he will indeed be a fighting champion. Trick is booked to defend the TNA title next Tuesday on NXT against Santana.

Santana rocks Trick with punches, and Santana sends Trick packing. Santana then poses with the TNA title belt.

In a locker room skit, Ava informs NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer that she is booked in a tag match at When Worlds Collide, and Ava instructs Vaquer to find a tag partner. Vaquer agrees, but first she has a title match tonight. Lola Vice enters the scene offering to team with Vaquer.

Jaida Parker defeated Tatum Paxley

Parker pinned Paxley after a hip attack. This match was set up with a skit last week that also involved Thea Hail, who runs in after this match to attack Parker.

Setting up the finish, Parker threw on of Paxley’s dolls into the ring. Paxley brought the dolls to ringside before the match. Parker threw the red haired doll (probably symbolizing Gigi Dolan) into the ring. Paxley retrieves the doll. Parker then ambushes Paxley with the Hip-notic finisher, and Parker covers Paxley for a three count. Hail jumps Parker after the match, so they are clearing headed for a singles match between them.

Featured in a hype video is Jasper Troy, whose debut match on NXT television is up next..

Jasper Troy defeated Dante Chen

Troy pinned Chen in a glorified enhancement match. Chen did get a burst of offense just before the end, but Troy wiped out Chen. Tory then delivers a Black Hole Slam, and Troy scores a pinfall.

NXT Champion Oba Femi then gets Troy’s attention, with Femi perched on a stand overlooking the ring. Femi says he could have jumped Troy like Troy did to Femi last week, but Femi does tell Troy to enjoy his five seconds of fame because those five seconds are over now that Troy is in Femi’s sights.

Charlie Dempsey wants Myles Borne and Tavion Heights to pull back and focus on the group. Borne takes exception and says he is not going back. They agree to match with Borne against Dempsey. If Borne wins he can leave No Quarter Catch Crew. Why not just leave the group? He is an independent contractor after all. Oh wait… never mind. Must not be that kind of independent contractor.

New NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is the ring to celebrate his title win earlier in the show. After a hard fought win, Page appears with a scratch on him. He was not even selling the match at all.

Out comes Je’Von Evans to interrupt Page, because almost no monologue in NXT can go uninterrupted. Anyway, Evans announces that Page will defend the North American title against Evans at When World Collide, but that is not all.

Evans then introduces Laredo Kid, and he enters through the crowd. Laredo Kid says he is the most complete luchadore you will ever see. Kid is apparently added to the title match, but that is not all.

Out comes Rey Fenix, who cuts a promo on Page as he announces a fatal four-way match for the title at When Worlds Collide. It is Page defending against Evans, Laredo Kid and Femix. The winner then on a later date faces Sean Legacy, who won a number one contenders match last Tuesday.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and her pal Zaria offers some kind words to Tatum Paxley in a backstage skit. Meanwhile, looking on is The Culling faction.

Jacy Jayne (with Fatal Influence) defeated NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer to win the title

Jayne pinned Vaquer thanks in part in outside interference from Fallon Henley. They teased more dissension within Fatal Influence, but ultimately it was Henley that helps Jayne win the title. The title change was quite a surprise.

Let in the match, Henley jumps on the apron to cause a distraction. This was similar to a spot Jayne did in Henley’s loss last week on the previous episode. Much like last Tuesday, it backfires on Fatal Influence. Jayne collides with Henley, and Jayne is then superkicked out of the ring. At ringside, Henley and Jayne argue. Jazmyn Nyz tries to keep the peace, but to no avail. Both Henley and Jayne shove Nyz aside as Vaquer leaps off the top rope with a high cross.

Back in the ring, Vaquer counters Jayne. Vaquer then does her signature head scissors spot much to admiration of Booker T on commentary. Vaquer then catches Jayne in a tarantula armbar. Henley swings around the ring post with Tiger Feint Kick to break up the armbar. Jayne then hits Vaquer with a roaring elbow, and Jayne covers the champion for a three count. Disbelief abounds on the title change. Even Mike Rome is in shock as he announces the winner. And new…

WWE NXT Battleground live results: Joe Hendry vs. Trick Williams TNA title match

Posted on by Marc Quill

For the first time ever, the TNA World title will be on the line on a WWE event as Joe Hendry defends against former NXT Champion Trick Williams on tonight’s NXT Battleground from Tampa, Florida.

The two were on opposite ends of a tag team match at Friday’s TNA Under Siege.

Reigning NXT Champion Oba Femi will defend against Myles Borne following his recent battle royal victory in hopes of his fifth successful title defense.

The red-hot women’s division keeps rolling as NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace. Vaquer has three successful defenses while this is Grace’s third-ever shot at the title.

In her first title defense, NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca will defend against former champion Kelani Jordan.

Former allies turn enemies as Tony D’Angelo battles “Stacks” Lorenzo.

The main card is rounded out by Josh Briggs, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen & Niko Vance).

**********

Countdown to Battleground

– After the WWE signature open, we were welcomed to the WWE Studios in Stamford for the kickoff by hosts Megan Morant and Sam Roberts. The two discussed the card to come for tonight’s show. We then got a video package for the Stephanie Vaquer versus Jordynne Grace match for the NXT Women’s Championship.

– We got a sitdown interview with Sol Ruca and Zarya ahead of Ruca’s Women’s North American Title match against Kelani Jordan. After the interview, Morant and Roberts talked about Hank and Tank and Josh Briggs versus The Culling.

– Myles Borne was interviewed about his NXT Title Match against Oba Femi, as we then had Morant and Roberts discussing Borne’s chances of overcoming the dominant NXT Champion. The subject soon turned to Tony D’Angelo versus Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.

– Our esteemed hosts talked about Joe Hendry defending the TNA World Championship versus Trick Williams before they tossed to an AJ Styles-narrated video about this match. After a final rundown of the card for the evening, Morant and Roberts signed off as the actual Battleground PLE was set to begin in minutes.

**********

WWE NXT Battleground 2025

– Vic Joseph’s voice over shots of several NXT stars arriving to the Yuengling Center welcomed us to tonight’s show as we then went to the cold open for the evening. Joseph was joined on commentary by Booker T and Corey Graves.

NXT Women’s North American Championship: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Kelani Jordan

As the bell rang, we got some fast-paced back and forth action between Ruca and Jordan, with flips and skillful dodges a’plenty. Ruca offered a hand to Jordan, who accepted. She then followed that up with a surfboard stance over Jordan’s body. Ruca caught Jordan in an STF momentarily, but the challenger made an escape. Ruca carthweeled over Jordan and hit a superkick afterwards. The stalling suplex from Ruca was followed by a modified moonsault as the two competitors then got into an exchange of pinss.

Jordan wriggled out of an attempted Samoan Drop from Ruca and turned it into a Crucifix Bomb pin attempt, but to no avail. Jordan took advantage by stopping an attempted springboard dive from Ruca to clip her foe. Jordan slammed Ruca with a spinning modified Samoan Drop, but Ruca kicked out again. The single-leg Boston Crab by Jordan managed to keep Ruca grounded, but the Women’s North American Champion made her escape.

On the apron, Ruca leapt up to the top rope and hit an impressive avalanche X-Factor that ended up being a rough landing for her and Jordan. Ruca began to pick up some steam with a running slam, followed by a knee to the face. Jordan scurried to the apron and caught Ruca with a kick as she then dragged her onto the apron. A kick from Jordan sent Ruca to the floor, as the feisty challenger followed up with a diving springboard moonsault.

Jordan tried for a dive from the top rope, but Ruca caught her and then delivered a modified Backstabber with her feet against Jordan’s back. The innovative Women’s North American Champion then soared with an impressive diving moonsault over the top rope. Ruca appeared to be attempting her take on Zaria’s Zone of Destruction, but Jordan countered and then hit her Frog Splash. One, two… not quite. Both Ruca and Jordan found themselves up the top rope as the latter attempted an avalanche Poison Rana, but Ruca landed on her feet. Ruca once again paid tribute to her partner with a Spear, but Jordan just kicked out at two.

Another skirmish on the top turnbuckle led to an avalanche Spanish Fly by Jordan. One, two… Ruca kicked out! Jordan and Ruca traded strikes for a good while until Ruca got the better of her foe. Jordan reversed her fortunes and looked to have Ruca dead to rights for her One of a Kind Moonsault, but Zaria pulled Ruca out of harm’s way. The referee saw this and had Zaria ejected from the match for her troubles.

Ruca headed up to the top rope once more with Jordan down and out and hit a super Sol Snatcher for the one, two, three, and the first successful defense of her Women’s North American Championship.

Sol Ruca def. Kelani Jordan via pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s North American Championship.

A hot opener to kick off the action at Battleground. It’s insane how much chemistry Ruca and Jordan have and I enjoyed this one greatly. The Sol Snatcher continues to be one of my favorite finishing moves in WWE and seeing Ruca find new variaions to hit this move will never stop being impressive.

**********

– NXT General Manager was seen chatting with AAA’s Dalys and Chik Tormenta before we went backstage to Sarah Schreiber interviewing Mike Santana. The TNA star made it clear that he wanted a shot at whoever wins Joe Hendry vs. Trick Williams tonight as Charlie Dempsey interrupted proceedings. Tavion Heights seemed to reach an agreement with Santana for a challenge of some kind for Tuesday’s NXT. During this segment, Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne were seen arguing in the background.

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Hank & Tank (Hank Walker & Tank Ledger) & Josh Briggs vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Brooks Jensen)

Briggs didn’t waste any time going after Vance to start off this match. He floored Vance with a huge clothesline before he amde the tag to Ledger. The NXT Tag Champions showed some nice teamwork to leave Vance stunned. As things broke down, the trio of Hank and Tank and Briggs left The Culling rocked with stereo dives to the outside.

Vance took back control with a rough Irish Whip on Walker that sent him crashing hard into the ringpost. This gave The Culling the opportunity to assert their will on Walker, with Vance laying it in on his opponent with repeated stomps. Spears found himself tagged into the match as he continued to work over Walker in the middle of the ring. Spears took too much time to taunt Briggs and Ledger, which allowed Walker to momentarily find some daylight., A back bodydrop by Walker on Jensen allowed him to tag his championship partner into the match.

Ledger was a house of fire as he unleashed his wrath on the Culling with a diving cannonball to the outside on Vance, followed by a shoulder block on Spears in the ring. Hank and Tank dropped Spears with a double superplex, but they got hit with simultaneous splashes from Vance and Jensen. Briggs hit a diving splash on the prone Spears, but found his pin broken up by the other two Culling members.

Jensen caught Ledger with a kick to the face and looked to hit a double team move on Ledger in the form of a double stomp/Dominator combination. One, two… Walker somehow managed to break it up in the nick of time thanks to an apparent mess-up on the referee’s part.

Briggs with the blind tag as Hank and Tank took out Spears with a double shoulder block. Briggs looked to have his former friend dead to rights, but Vance and Izzi Dame provided a distraction and a roll-up from Jensen nearly had the match won, but Briggs kicked out. The NXT Tag Team Champions entered the fray and crushed Jensen with the sandwich, followed by the double team slam to secure the win.

After the match, The Culling tried to attack the victorious trio. Spears ordered Dame to get a chair to finish the assault, but the hand of Yoshiki Inamura stopped Dame from doing so. Inamura then entered the ring to attack The Culling with the chair and turn the tide for his allies. The faces stood tall in the ring in the aftermath of the melee.

Hank Walker, Tank Ledger, and Josh Briggs def. The Culling via pinfall (Ledger pinned Brooks Jensen)

Just a fun six-man tag match and seeing Yoshiki Inamura return was a great moment and a nice surprise for sure. Hank and Tank continue to be impressive in terms of having an explosive offense to get the crowd on their feet.

**********

– As Ethan Page talked about his upcoming North American Championship Match against Ricky Saints on Tuesday’s NXT, Ava interrupted and informed Page that he and Saints would be kicking off the show, with the winner set to defend the North American Championship at Worlds Collide on June 7th.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo

D’Angelo responded to Stacks talking trash to him at the start of the match with a slap to the face, followed by some hard punches to the face. As Stacks stood on the apron, D’Angelo threw him back into the ring and looked to continue the punishment. Stacks responded with a kick to the gut as he then got his licks in on his former friend. D’Angelo countered Stacks as he threw him over his shoulders and right over the top rope.

At the ringside area, D’Angelo threw Stacks against the LED barricade and then right into the ringpost afterwards. He yelled into Stacks’ ears, “All you had to do was listen to me!” Stacks gained the advantage with a cheapshot, as he then hit D’Angelo with a dropkick that sent The Don’s back against the steel steps. As the action spilled back into the ring, Stacks targeted D’Angelo’s ribs in the corner. He flew right into D’Angelo with a running cannonball, but that got a near-fall.

Stacks wrapped his legs around D’Angelo’s ribs with the body scissors submission hold. D’Angelo fought out of the hold and rocked Stacks with bunches of punches, but got hit in the ribs in the process. Stacks drove his knee to the back of D’Angelo’s head and looked to have the victory. One, two… The Don kicked out just in time. D’Angelo fought back and threw Stacks with an overhead suplex as he then mounted a comeback of his own.

D’Angelo scored a satisfying spinebuster on Stacks as he then threw a series of uppercuts to his betrayer’s ribs. Stacks recovered, but he missed on the knee stomp, which opened him up to a deadlift German suplex from D’Angelo. Stacks managed to kick out at two, however. Stacks caught D’Angelo in a triangle submission, but D’Angelo used his strength to slam him with a powerbomb. D’Angelo battered Stacks with punches to the face until he abruptly stopped the attack, apparently showing some sort of remorse at his actions.

Stacks took advantage of this and sent D’Angelo right against the ringpost back-first. He appeared to have D’Angelo dead to rights with a running knee strike, but D’Angelo dodged out of the way, which caused Stacks to crash into the ringpost instead. D’Angelo hit the Forget-About-It fisherman suplex, but Stacks kicked out at two. Stacks woke up and dropped D’Angelo with a guillotine legdrop across the middle rope.

Stacks tried to look for his crowbar against one of the ringposts, but couldn’t find it. This allowed D’Angelo to take advantage once more iwth some strikes to the face. Stacks tried to beg off, but to now avail. He got dropped with a spinebuster from D’Angelo. Suddenly, Luca Cruisifino appeared at ringside, to D’Angelo’s confusion. This allowed Stacks to go low with a trip to Dick Kick City on D’Angelo. The Underboss put an end to this match with a running Busaiku knee to the back of D’Angelo’s head.

After the match, Cruisifino entered the ring and wanted to embrace D’Angelo, but got pushed aside by the defeated Don.

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo def. Tony D’Angelo via pinfall

As hard hitting a match as you’ll certainly get. Both men sold the struggle between former friends quite well, in my opinion. Cruisifino’s appearance at the end, his first since apparently being left in the desert by Stacks adds some intrigue to this mafioso storyline on NXT.

**********

NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace

Vaquer and Grace started off with a respectful handshake as the bell rang. We then got a test of strength as neither woman could take a clear advantage to start off. Grace took over with a pair of shoulder blocks, followed by an arm wrench. The two competitors then traded pins, which ended with a stalemate between Grace and Vaquer.

Grace missed with the chop in the corner, which gave Vaquer the opening she needed to gain momentum with a suplex, followed by a back drop. The NXT Women’s Champion looked to have Grace set up for the Devil’s Kiss, but Grace rolled her and Vaquer out of the ring and used her strength to slam Vaquer onto the commentary table. Grace threw Vaquer onto the barricade before she brought her champion foe back into the ring.

The challenger trapped Vaquer in a Boston Crab, but Vaquer reached the ropes in time to break the hold. Grace tried to use her strength to great success as she slammed Vaquer on her back. Grace hit a World’s Strongest Slam, but missed on the subsequent Vader Bomb attempt. As Vaquer headed up top, she caught Grace in a rope-assisted armbar, followed by the springboard crossbody. Vaquer had Grace prone in the corner long enough for the running Meteora. This left Grace stunned long enough for the Devil’s Kiss, much to the delight of the crowd (and Booker T). One, two… not yet.

Grace wanted to get Vaquer in a submission, but the NXT Women’s Champion fought out of it. Grace tanked a strike from Vaquer, as she hit her with a spinebuster, followed by a sitdown package powerbomb. Vaquer kicked out at two as the crowd had justified “this is awesome” chants for this match. Vaquer roared back with a suplex and a DDT on Grace, but that couldn’t put her resilient challenger away for the three. Grace used her power to block an Irish whip attempt from Vaquer, as the action headed to the top turnbuckle.

With Vaquer stunned, Grace hit a superplex/Jackhammer combo in an iimpressive show of strength. One, two, Vaquer kicked out! Vaquer used a bridge attempt to try for the SVB, but Grace fought out of it. A series of wild counters soon followed as Grace looked for Beast Mode to no avail. A kick to the head of Grace by Vaquer allowed the NXT Women’s Champion a moment to create some needed separation. Grace grabbed Vaquer from ringside and wanted to hit a powerful slam on the outside, but she got shoved right into the barricade to break it apart.

Vaquer threw Grace back into the ring and hit the SVB. Is this one over? One, two… Grace kicked out at 2.9999999999! The crowd was left incredulous at this turn of events. Vaquer and Grace, both battle-worn, traded back and forth strikes. In the corner, Vaquer twisted Grace’s leg with the dragon screw as she then headed up top. Grace intercepted her opponent as she and Vaquer jockeyed for position. Grace got sent to the mat, as Vaquer took flight and hit the Spiral Tap to get the three and the successful title defense in amazing fashion.

After the match, Dalys and Chik Tormenta were seein in the front row keeping a close eye on the victorious Vaquer.

Stephanie Vaquer def. Jordynne Grace via pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship

One hell of a title match right here. Vaquer and Grace left it all on the line and it made for what has been the clear match of the evening. Just some solid action from Vaquer and Grace and the crowd was well into the action from start to finish.

**********

Ricky Saints in-ring promo

Sarah Schreiber was in the ring as she introduced NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints for an interview.

Saints talked about how Ethan Page must be obsessed with him and that he was tired of Page getting into his business. Which meant, that if he had to start NXT on Tuesday to end this business with Page, then so be it. As the subject turned to the North American Title defense at Worlds Collide, Ethan Page himself tried to sneak in for the attack, but Saints met him at the pass to foil the ambush. Security officials stood in to keep Page separate from Saints. This prompted the North American Champion to take off from the top rope and fly right onto Page and the security corps.

**********

NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne

Borne and Femi with the test of strength to start off as the challenger avoided Femi’s offense, culminating with Borne landing on his feet as Femi attempted to throw him high. Borne seemed to have Femi flatfooted with a dropkick, which prompted the NXT Champion to respond with a rageful shoulder block. Femi sent Borne into the corner and thrusted his shoulder onto his opponent’s ribs, but Borne refused to back down.

Borne soared from the top rope with a crossbody, but Femi responded by throwing his foe across the top rope. Femi slowed down the pace to his advantage with a suplex, as he began to go to work on Borne. Femi went after the back of Borne with clubbing blows as the fans were split on who they wanted to see to come out on top of this contest. Femi seemed to relish in punishing Borne as the assault continued, but the challenger created some much-needed separation with a dropkick to the face of Femi.

The comeback for Borne was all too fleeting as Femi once again made a target out of his back with a backbreaker. Femi nearly took Borne’s head off with a vicious clothesline. Borne refused to go down as he mounted on Femi’s back and applied the sleeper hold. Femi managed to escape by ramming Borne’s back against the turnbuckle.

Femi wanted to hit a suplex from the apron, but Borne blocked and hit the third dropkick of the match. The NXT Champion stopped a planned dive by Borne with a punch, as he followed that up with the double knees to the gut of Borne. One, two, not yet. Femi applied a championship chinlock on Borne, but he couldn’t hold it for long. Femi’s attempt at a shoulder charge was missed when Borne dodged at the last second, which sent Femi crashing into the ring post. This gave Borne the opportunity to finally take advantage with a dive to Femi outside the ring.

Diving crossbody by Borne to Femi wasn’t enough to end things just yet. Femi got sent to the turnbuckle as Borne hit a Randy Orton-style powerslam for another near-fall. Borne missed with the moonsault, but he countered Femi. Another set of counters allowed for Femi to catch Borne with the chokeslam. One, two… Borne kicked out!

Borne stunned Femi with the DDT in the middle of the ring, but he couldn’t connect with the splash. Femi’s attempt at Fall From Grace was countered into a pin by Borne, but that wasn’t the finish just yet. Borne delivered a powerful German suplex on Femi as he took flight from the top rope with the diving splash. One… two… Femi just kicked out at the last possible second. Blow for blow, Femi and Borne traded strikes as the challenger struck Femi with a dropkick. Roaring uppercut by Femi was followed by the Fall From Grace. One, two… 2.99999! An angered Femi tried to rock Borne with repeated uppercuts, but found himself in a roll-up attempt that he kicked out of.

Femi threw Borne like a sack of potatoes, followed by consecutive Fall From Grace powerbombs to leave no doubt in this hard-fought title defense.

After the match, Femi appeared to show respect to Borne’s efforts as he gave him a nod of approval before he walked off.

Oba Femi def. Myles Borne via pinfall to retain the NXT Championship

Certainly an intensely fought championship match that got only more intense as things picked up and they really did a great job in making you believe that Borne would somehow score a miracle victory. Borne showed that he could really go and he was the standout of this one, even in defeat. Don’t sleep on this match. I liked it a lot.

**********

– We went backstage as we saw Stephanie Vaquer arguing with Dalys and Chik Tormenta, as we once again got a peek at Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley yelling at one another in the background. This eventually spilled into Jayne slapping Vaquer in the face, which only caused things to become more chaotic.

This Week on NXT (5/27/25)

  • NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Ethan Page
  • LFG Season 1 winner Jasper Troy’s in-ring debut
  • Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker
  • TNA’s Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights

TNA Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams

The crowd inside the Yuengling Center erupted in cheers as the match got underway, clearly excited at this main event. Williams shoved Hendry aside, but got sent outside for his troubles. Hendry followed that up with a dive to the outside that flattened Williams in short order. Insied the ring, Hendry maintained control with a shoulder block, followed by a stalling suplex, Early pin attempt by Hendry saw Williams kick out at two. Hendry with the side headlock takeover on Williams, but the challenger responded in kind with a fallaway slam. With a kip-up, Williams mocked Hendry with signature pose, followed by the Book End for a near-fall.

Williams headed up top, but Hendry ran up and hit a super fallaway slam for a close near-fall. Hendry used his speed to catch Williams with a couple of pinfall attempts, that the challenger kicked out of at each turn. Williams and Hendry exchanged strikes a’plenty, as Williams delivered a Booker T-style axe kick in the aftermath of the exchange. Williams paid tribute to the third man of the NXT commentary team with a Spin-a-Roonie, but this opened him up to a Rock Bottom by Hendry. One, two, not just yet.

The challenger got the better of Hendry with a series of kicks as he headed up top and looked for a Blockbuster. Hendry rolled through and used his strength to slam Williams down right in the middle of the ring. Williams sent Hendry outside and threw him into the steel steps. Inside the ring, Williams kept up the momentum with an unusual neckbreaker on Hendry. Williams rolled under a Hendry clothesline and hit a proper neckbreaker on the TNA Champion, but only got a two-count out of it. Williams squeezed away at Hendry with a body scissors, but the Scotsman powered out of it and dropped Williams with a suplex.

As both men struggled to get back on their feet, Hendry got up first and hit Williams with a flurry of offense to believe in. He connected with the fallaway slam as the champ did his signature pose. Hendry connected with the Standing Ovation, but Williams got his foot on the bottom rope at the very last second.

Hendry looked like he was going to hit an Attitude Adjustment, but Williams escaped. The fight headed out of the ring, as Williams threw Hendry face-first onto the base of the steel steps. Williams then hit a uranage onto the announce table as he followed that with a Trick Shot knee inside the ring. One, two… Hendry barely kicked out!

Williams introduced the TNA Championship and looked to use it as a weapon. The referee stopped him before he could do any damage. In the confusion, Hendry tried to roll him up, but Williams kicked out. Williams fought out of the Standing Ovation with a thumb to the eye, as he then slammed Hendry face-first onto the TNA Championship belt! Williams followed this up with one more Trick Shot knee for the three and that’s it, over. NXT’s Trick Williams is your new TNA World Champion.

Trick Williams def. Joe Hendry via pinfall to win the TNA World Championship

Certainly an interesting finish that won’t help dissuade the potential of WWE having bought out TNA Wrestling, but all that aside, it was a good main event that showed just how much these two wrestlers who have been often been accused of being nothing more but flashy entrances can really go. I was surprised at how much I was invested in this main event match.

It’s clear that NXT Battleground won’t be the biggest wrestling show of this evening (and that’s okay), but what we got was once again an enjoyable show from the silver-and-black brand of WWE. Just another solid set of matches (with the Vaquer vs. Grace title match being my favorite of the night) and certainly not a bad way to spend a Sunday night.

WWE NXT live results: Battleground go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

On the last WWE NXT episode before Battleground, Joe Hendry and Trick Williams will both give musical performances.

The TNA World Championship will be on the line when Hendry defends against Williams at Sunday’s NXT Battleground PLE. We’ll hear from both of them tonight as Hendry performs a live concert and Williams delivers a rap aimed at Hendry.

Two titles have also been confirmed for Battleground, with Oba Femi vs. Myles Borne for the NXT Championship and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jordynne Grace for the NXT Women’s Championship. Those are not the only title bouts scheduled for Battleground.

Looking to earn a shot at NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Kelani Jordan will go one-on-one with Zaria on tonight’s show. The winner tonight challenges Ruca for the title this weekend.

Also tonight is the ongoing dramatic storyline between Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo, as the future of The Family lies in the balance.

A triple threat match between Je’Von Evans, Ashante Adonis, and WWE ID wrestler Sean Legacy is also part of tonight’s lineup. Shawn Spears will face off against Josh Briggs in singles action, and there is also a tag match between Chase U’s Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors and OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price).

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

**********

Among those arriving to the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando is NXT North American Champ Ricky Saints. He saunters into the sound stage down the aisle. Saints is there for guest commentary, alongside the regular commentators Vic Joseph, Booker T, and Corey Graves.

Ring announcer Mike Rome introduces the three wrestlers in the opening match.

Sean Legacy defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis and Je’Von Evans in a triple threat match

In an upset, Legacy won a thrilling opener. Adonis dropped the fall. Evans was able to save face after an Ethan Page run in at ringside. Page attacked Saints, and a bunch of security tried to pull them apart. Evans sailed over the top rope to dive on the group at ringside.

Meanwhile, Adonis missed a splash off the top. Legacy capitalizes and executes his “Shambles” finisher on Adonis. One. Two. Three. Legacy wins. The match was good, and it includes some great near falls.

Page and Adonis continue to brawl at ringside after the match is over.

NXT General Manager Ava is in her office with Stevie Turner and Robert Stone. Ava sends the two to find Page, as Ava is apparently upset about the brawl at ringside.

Ava then turns to WWE LFG winners Jasper Troy and Tyra Mae Steele, as they have signed their NXT contracts. Troy vows to make an impact.

Jordynne Grace is a subject of a video package hyping her match against NXT Women’s Champ Stephanie Vaquer this weekend.

Meanwhile, Vaquer is backstage talking with Lola Vice. Vaquer leaves and in walks Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne) to insult Vice. Clearly tension within Fatal Influence, as Jayne dares Henley to have a match with Vice after Henley snipes at Jayne.

Out comes Trick Williams for a live performance, but first he insults Joe Hendry’s mother. That is definitely a heel move. William raps about “never backing down to an average Joe.”

After the rap song is over, Hendry is seen strumming his guitar backstage.

Josh Briggs is interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Briggs says things are not as fun without his friend Yoshiki Inamura. Briggs dedicates the next match to him.

The entrance of The Culling takes the show into a commercial break. The next match begins during picture-in-picture. The bout was joined in progress when it returns from the break.

Shawn Spears (with The Culling) defeated Josh Briggs

Spears pinned Briggs after outside interference from The Culling. The referee is distracted by Brooks Jensen, who is Briggs former tag team partner. Niko Vance tries to attack Briggs, but Vance is thwarted and send crashing into the ring steps. Izzi Dame then kicks Briggs in the head, and Spears uses a small package to score a pinfall.

Jensen and Vance jump Briggs after the match in a post-match attack. NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank run down for a save when they rescue Briggs. This would seem to set up a six-man tag team match.

Kelani Jordan has word backstage with Zaria and Sol Ruca.

Andre Chase is joined backstage by Uriah Conner and Kale Dixon. The new Chase U then heads towards gorilla.

Thea Hail, with a bandage over her eye, confronts Tatum Paxley in a backstage skit. Hail is trying to empathize with Paxley when Jaida Parker ambushes Hail. Parker taunts Paxley and calls her stupid.

OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) defeated Chase U (Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon with Andre Chase)

While Chase U was able to shine at a times, OTM won in dominant fashion. OTM execute their finisher and Price scores the pinfall.

Up next is a face-to-face between NXT Champion Oba Femi and his challenger at Battleground, Myles Borne.

Borne is well dressed in a nice suit, and Femi is also dressed nicely in business casual with his title belt over his shoulder.

Femi ponders if Borne is brave or stupid, or possibly both. Borne is now number one contender and that is admirable, but Femi says it is also misleading. This is a cruel world, but good things do not always happen to good people. Femi knows in his heart that Borne is a good person, but this is not a Disney movie. Borne does not get a happy ending or a dream come dream.

Femi says Borne’s dream will die this Sunday. The dream was his big wins the last two weeks, but the dream is over. Soon Borne will understand he is “standing in the ring with the ruler, destroyer, the bringer of war.” Femi vows to me merciless and relentless. Borne’s fate will end in destruction at the hands of Femi.

Borne calmly responds to Femi with a helluva promo. Borne might be in the ring by himself, but he is not alone. Borne says he was No Quarter Catch Crew to help him train night and day. They are not the only one that have his back, as Borne insists he is carrying with him an entire community.

Borne says every kid who fills different, or every parent who worries their child will not fit in. Borne is going to make a statement, so he dares Femi to underestimate him. Doctors and nurses underestimated him. His opponents in amateur wrestling underestimated him. Borne says even “some coaches in my NXT tryout underestimated me.” But he proved them all wrong.

Borne says Battleground will be the toughest match of his career, but his whole life has been a battle. Borne agrees this is not a Disney movie, but “every ruler falls.” Borne might be hard of hearing, but “they are all going to hear the one-two-three loud and clear.”

After such a great promo by Borne, there is suddenly a run-in by Jasper Troy. Femi is attacked and slammed by Troy, but Borne runs down to make a save as Troy flees. Femi then have a standoff. Great segment aside from the errant run-in.

North American Champ Ricky Saints and Ethan Page are shouting at each other in Ava’s office. Ava also yells at them between all of the other yelling. Saints wants a match but Page will not grant him one, until Saints offers a title match. Then Page is interested. More yelling and Ava finally lays down the law. She books a title match between the two for next Tuesday.

Tony D’Angelo is focus of a video package, where he tells his perspective on his feud with Stacks.

Lola Vice defeated Fallon Henley (with Jacy Jayne)

Vice pinned Henley after Henley collided with Jayne. The match goes through a commercial break. Jayne was coaching Henley from ringside during the match. Jayne jumps on the apron at one point to argue with Vice, and Henley collides into Jayne. Vice then deliver her signature backhand elbow, and Vice scores a pinfall. Henley and Jayne argue after the match.

NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer is the focus of video package. Vaquer sits down with Kelly Kincaid for an interview that is mixed with photos and clips. Vaquer tells her story in both English and Spanish. That leads into hype for her title match on Sunday against challenger Jordynne Grace.

DarkState is the focus of a vignette where they introduce each other, and each one cuts a promo.

Kelani Jordan defeated Zaria (with NXT North American Champion Zaria)

Jordan pinned Zaria after “miscommunication” between Zaria and Ruca. In winning, Jordan earns a title shot against Ruca.

The match goes through a commercial break, and it was pretty good as they return from the break. Ruca catches Zaria in a trust fall of sorts, and they are talking at ringside when Jordan does a baseball slide to dropkick Ruca into Zaria. Moments later with Ruca on the apron, Zaria inadvertently spears Ruca. Jordan then rolls up Zaria with a schoolboy for the pinfall.

TNA Champion Joe Hendry is headed to the ring with his guitar for a live concert in the main event slot.

After the final commercial break of the show, Hendry is seated in the ring. The mat is covered in a red carpet. Hendry has some snide remarks about Trick Williams’ musical performance earlier tonight. Hendry then dedicates the next song to his challenger at Battleground — Trick Williams.

Hendry then sings a song about Trick while playing a guitar. In the song, Hendry references old footage of Trick in a haunted house with Carmelo Hayes, and the footage is spliced into the musical performance.

Henry sings and repeats a chorus:

“Whoop that Trick
Whoop that trick
Everybody else said ‘Melo’s bitch‘”

Out comes Trick to interrupt the song. Some chants of “whoop that trick” from the live studio audience were drowned out by louder chants of “Mel’os bitch” from the crowd towards Trick. That hook on the song worked like a charm.

Trick says chant if you want to, but he heard someone say “Average Joe” to Hendry. Trick hits Hendry with a cheap shot, and Trick boots Hendry with a high kick. Hendry measures for his running knee strike, but Hendry grabs a gimmicked guitar that just happens to be in the ring (not Hendry’s good guitar he played during the concert).

Hendry then hits Trick in the knee with the gimmicked guitar. Hendry then choke slams Trick with a “standing ovation” and sings one last refrain. Hendry then poses with the TNA title over a fallen Trick.

WWE NXT live results: Joe Hendry-Trick Williams contract signing

Posted on by Chris Aiken

WWE NXT tonight continues on the road to its next PLE, which is Battleground on May 25.

Joe Hendry and Trick Williams are set to clash for the TNA World Championship at Battleground. Both champion and challenger meet tonight on NXT for a contract signing.

Henry and Williams are also scheduled to compete in a tag match at TNA Under Siege on May 23 where Hendry & Elijah (the former Elias) take on Williams & Frankie Kazarian.

Myles Borne of No Quarter Catch Crew is the next challenger for NXT Champion Oba Femi. Tonight, Femi will face No Quarter Catch Crew’s Charlie Dempsey in non-title action.

Plus, Tony D’Angelo vs. Wes Lee is official for tonight.

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

**********

Opening the show is Myles Borne and No Quarter Catch Crew. Borne enters the sound stage at the Performance Center for an in-ring promo. Borne is flanked by Charlie Dempsey, Tavion Heights and Wren Sinclair.

Borne is morphing from a development wrestler into a superstar before our very eyes. Borne first talks about shocking the world by winning the battle royal last week, thus earning a title shot at the NXT Championship.

Borne shifts his monologue to address something “we have been dancing around for awhile now.” Borne says he is partially deaf, which affects the way he talks. Last week, Borne heard the crowd so crazy when he won the battle royal. Borne does not “want be to known as the deaf kid.” He wants to be judges for his “ability, not his disability.”

“That is what everyone with a disability wants to be judged by,” says Borne.

Borne goes on to admit he is the underdog at Battleground against Oba Femi for the NXT title.

“I am facing a dominant champion, but I am fighting for all the kids out there who are struggling, fighting their own fight,” says Borne. “To prove that you too can achieve success.”

Borne vows to shock the world again at Battleground against Femi. Borne says he might be hard of hearing, but he will hear is name announced as the new NXT champion.

Ethan Page interrupts the promo, since no monologue in NXT can hardly go uninterrupted. Page says “enough with all the sentimental crap” as Page also accuses Borne of “pandering to these basic civilians.”

Page gets in the ring saying Borne won the battle royal on a fluke. Page then offers to talk slow so Borne can read his lips, while Page tells Borne he cannot beat Femi. Page says he is not on Femi’s level. Page then challenges Borne to put the number one contender status on the line in match tonight.

Charlie Dempsey chimes in as he tries convincing Borne to accept the challenge from Page, and Borne agrees to the match. Out comes NXT General Manager Ava, who makes the match official for tonight. She says that match is scheduled for later, as Dempsey’s match against Femi is scheduled for right now.

NXT Champion Oba Femi defeated Charlie Dempsey (with No Quarter Catch Crew) in a non-title match

Femi pinned Dempsey with Fall From Grace. The match itself begins just before the show cuts to its first commercial break. They wrestle through picture-in-picture.

Dempsey is getting ragdolled until he targets an arm. He works Femi’s arm, and Dempsey gets a near fall after a German suplex. Dempsey then applies a short arm scissors, but Femi powers out with a feat of strength.

Comeback by Femi as he mows down Dempsey with a series of uppercuts. Femi tosses Dempsey around the ring before delivering the Fall From Grace (pop-up powerbomb). Femi then covers Dempsey for a pinfall.

Backstage in a skit, Karmen Pertrovic and Thea Heal are walking and talking when they come across a distraught Tatum Paxley. She is freaking out about Gigi Dolan leaving her, although that name is never mentioned. Paxley warns the new friends they will only be betrayed.

Ethan Page is confronted backstage by NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints. Page is warming up for his match later on, and Saints remarks that Page loves “raining on people’s parade.” Page admits to getting pleasure in stealing people’s moment. Page then insults Saints before leaving.

Wes Lee (with Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe) defeated Tony D’Angelo

Lee pinned D’Angelo, after “The Don” was distracted by a pre-taped video from Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.

The match goes through a commercial break. Just before cutting away to picture-in-picture, Lee takes a hip toss over the ropes into the waiting arms of Dupont and Igwe. “The Don” then jumps off the apron with a high cross on all three.

Few rest holds during the break, as Lee sails through the ropes with a tope suicida. Lee gets in D’Angelo’s face to taunt him about Stacks. Lee screams that D’Angelo will lose The Family. That fires up D’Angelo.

On the floor, they do a spot where “The Don” clotheslines Dupont & Igwe. Lee tries to steal a pin, but “The Don” kicks out. Lee bumps and feeds for D’Angelo. Near falls for D’Angelo after a powerslam.

Lee counters D’Angelo finisher with a hurricanrana. D’Angelo then counters Lee’s finisher, as “The Don” blocks a Cardiac Kick with a spear. Lee was almost dumped on his head. At that point, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo appears on a video screen.

Stacks is at Adrianna Rizzo’s safe house. A distracted D’Angelo is then hit with a Cardiac Kick from Lee, and Lee hooks a leg while covering D’Angelo for a three count.

As Lee is announced as the winner of the match, the pre-tape with Stacks continues to play on the video screen. Stacks vows to pay Rizzo a visit. D’Angelo rushes out of the ring and exits the sound stage.

For the second consecutive week, OTM is featured in a vignette sponsored by an insurance company.

NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer is headed to the ring. Vaquer is cutting a promo in English and Spanish when she is interrupted by two members of Fatal Influence — Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne.

Henley cuts a promo on Vaquer, and Jayne chimes in with a snide remark. Tension between Jayne and Henley as they bicker.

Out comes Jordynne Grace, and she gets in the ring to confront everyone else. There is some bickering and quick promos. Not sure what this accomplished as it just ended, but it somehow sets up a tag match for tonight’s main event.

Charlie Dempsey is backstage on rubber legs. Myles Borne tells Tavion Heights and Wren Sinclair they should take Dempsey to the trainers’ room. Borne then says he will go “take care of business.”

Cameos from LFG as Undertaker is backstage with Bubba Ray Dudley. They are with Tyra Mae Steele and Zena Sterling from LFG. This leads to a confrontation with Izzi Dame, Nikkita Lyons, Lola Vice and Lash Legend.

Tony D’Angelo orders a camera operator to follow him as they get into a SUV. They speed off, presumably heading to save Rizzo.

Myles Borne defeated Ethan Page in a number one contender’s match

Borne pinned Page clean to retain his status as number one contender.

They wrestle a methodical match through a commercial break, and they are given plenty of time. Borne not only looks similar to Randy Orton, they have the most Randy Orton kind of match they can have without Randy Orton himself.

As they go home, Page counters a Olympic slam (which they established earlier in the match as one of Borne’s big moves). Borne in turn counters Page’s finisher, and Borne delivers a standing dropkick. Borne then flips over to cradle Page’s leg for the deciding pinfall.

In a promo posted to social media, Sean Legacy politely challenges Je’Von Evans to a singles match.

Evans and Ashante “Thee” Adonis then have words in a locker room skit. Ricky Saints overhears Adonis say he can “smoke” Evans, and Saints offers to grant the winner a North American title match at Battleground. That match between Evans and Adonis is later made official for next Tuesday.

Tony D’Angelo arrives at the safe house, and he gets out of the SUV along with the camera operator. “The Don” tells the driver to go get the rest of the boys. D’Angelo is approaching the house when he is jumped by Stacks. “The Don” is hit in the legs with a crowbar, and Stacks pummels him. Stacks vows to finish the D’Angelo family for good at Battleground.

Thea Hail defeated Tatum Paxley via disqualification

Paxley is disqualified for a blatant eye poke. Hail had Paxley locked in an armbar when Paxley goes for an eye poke. The referee stops the match, but a crazed Paxley keeps going for the eye. Paxley is pulled off of Hail by a group of referees.

Kelani Jordan and Zaria argue in a locker room skit, which sets up a return match between them for next Tuesday. Sol Ruca offers the winner a shot at the NXT Women’s North American Championship in a title match at Battleground.

TNA Champion Joe Hendry and Trick Williams meet with Ava in a conference room for a contract signing which is very tame for a contract signing gimmick in WWE. Ava first puts over the history and importance of the TNA Championship.

They exchange words and both stand up, presumably to fight. Ava threatens to call security if they do not sit down. They sit, and they proceed to cut promos on each other.

Hendry cuts a heckuva promo putting over TNA, while Trick proclaims himself “Hollywood”. Trick vows to the Hendry’s fame, his TNA title and his brand. Trick then signs the contract. Hendry cuts a final promo on Trick, and Hendry signs the contract.

Josh Briggs and Shawn Spears set up a singles match between them in a locker room skit. Briggs is talking with NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank when Briggs is confronted by Spears.

In another skit, Chase U’s Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors convince Ava they need booked in a tag match. Ava agrees, and she books them in their NXT debut tag match against OTM.

Along with the matches set up for next Tuesday is a live concert from Joe Hendry, along with a rap performance by Trick Williams.

NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer & Jordynne Grace defeated Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne)

Grace pinned Jayne after Beast Mode. While good in the ring, the tag bout was not exactly a captivating main event in storyline. They set it up with a convoluted angle earlier on the show, but the wrestlers made do with what they had, and they worked hard to have a good match.

Before the final commercial break of the show, the heels are in control after a few high spots. Jayne does a somersault senton off the apron. Henley follows up with a springboard off the middle rope into a high cross on the floor.

The heels work over Vaquer throughout the break, building heat as the show returns from picture-in-picture. Hot tag to Grace, and cleans house. They build to a spot where Grace takes a bullet for Vaquer, when the heels go for a high/low combo on the champ. Grace takes stereo knee strikes, but she kicks out for a near fall.

Vaquer is down as she sells on the floor. Meanwhile, Grace is being double-teamed in the ring. Grace make her own save, and Grace fights off both heels. Beast Mode finisher on Jayne, and Grace covers her for a pinfall.

Cut away to backstage where Ethan Page has apparently ambushed Ricky Saints. Cut back to the sound stage as Grace and Vaquer pose.

Next week is the go-home show ahead of Battleground.

WWE NXT live results: Battleground challengers decided

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Title challengers for Battleground will be decided tonight on WWE NXT.

Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia headlines tonight’s card in a number one contender’s match. The winner earns a shot against NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer later this month at Battleground.

A number one contender’s battle royal is also set for tonight. The winner challenges Oba Femi for the NXT Championship on Sunday, May 25 at the Battleground PLE in Tampa, FL.

TNA Champion Joe Hendry is back in NXT for a six-man tag match. Hendry teams with NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank against DarkState. The match was set up last week when DarkState attacked Hendry.

Kelani Jordan has her sights on challenging NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, and she’ll attempt to move one step closer to making that a reality when she faces Ruca’s tag partner Zaria.

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

**********

The show begins with footage of wrestlers arriving at the building that houses the Performance Center in Orlando, where NXT is filmed before a live studio audience.

Arriving is Jordynne Grace and Giulia, ahead of their number one contender’s match. Also arriving are male wrestlers in the scheduled battle royal. A group from NXT is met by wrestlers from LFG and TNA.

Opening the show is a trios match.

DarkState (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin & Cutler James with Saquon Shugars) defeated TNA Champion Joe Hendry & NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger in a six-man tag team match

Cutter James pinned Tank Ledger to win the match, after interference at ringside by Trick Williams and Shugars. Trick brawls with Hendry to further their feud. Likewise, the finish in this trios match seems to set up DarkSate getting a title shot, since the tag champs dropped a fall to the heel faction.

Hendry poses with Hank & Tank before the match starts as part of their entrance, and they also strike a pose during the match as well. Smart booking to partner an over Hendry with a team looking to get over.

Whatever mystique DarkState had since their unique debut is fleeting fast the more they wrestle on television. They are now just another faction in NXT, albeit with a good push.

Hendry joins Hank & Tank in cleaning house before the show cuts to its first commercial break. The babyface trio strikes a pose as the show cuts to picture-in-picture. Momentum shifts, and the heels are working over Hank as the show returns from the break.

Hot tag and Tank runs wild, and he gets a near fall. Bedlam erupts and everyone gets involved. Melee with all six, when Shugars interferes at ringside. Shugars posts Hank, and Hank sells it the rest of the match.

Hendry is signaling for a finisher when Trick Williams runs down and trips Hendry. Trick and Hendry brawl their way off stage, which leaves Tank alone in the ring against DarkState. Triple powerbomb on Tank, and Cutter James hooks a leg to cover Tank for the pinfall.

Thea Hail is talking with Karmen Petrovic in a locker room skit when Jaida Parker eavesdrops on them. Parker chimes in and cuts a promo on Petrovic, which sets up a singles match between the two.

Shiloh Hill and Chris Island from LFG are seen warming up for the battle royal. Meanwhile, Timothy Thatcher (making his return to NXT television) and Sean Legacy are also warming up as they represent Evolve in the battle royal later tonight.

Kelani Jordan vs. Zaria (with NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca)

Zaria pinned Jordan to win after a stunt where Zaria speared Jordan through a section of the barricade.

The match goes through a commercial break with picture-in-picture. Jordan as a babyface in peril fought from underneath. She makes a comeback on Zaria, and they trade near falls.

Jordan gets a near fall with a tornado DDT. Jordan leaps to the top rope like Rob Van Dam by jumping from the mat all the way to the top rope. Jordan then goes for a 450. No water in the pool, but she rolls through. Zaria then cuts off Jordan with a spear.

Near falls continue in the closing moments. Jordan does an Asai moonsault. She overshoots Zaria, but Zaria sells it nonetheless. At ringside, Zaria shoves Jordan towards the barricade. Jordan is inadvertently saved by Ruca, but Zaria still spears Jordan through a gimmicked section of the barricade. Ruca acts shocked at the stunt, but Ruca cheers on Zaria as she gives Jordan the F6 finisher. Zaria then scores a pinfall.

Tony D’Angelo and Wes Lee exchange tense words in a locker room skit, which sets up a singles match between the two for next week on NXT. That bout is later made official for next Tuesday.

Trick Williams gets a full entrance before the show cuts to a commercial break. The battle royal is “next” on the show, but first another skit.

Lola Vice talks with NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a skit, and Giulia interrupts with a word of warning to the champ.

Ethan Page gets a full entrance for the battle royal.

In a surprise, “The Drifter” is back in NXT as a returning troubadour. Elias is back in WWE, although he is now billed as “Elijah” from TNA. Of course, Elijah has his guitar. The arena lights dim and a spotlight shines on Elijah as he performs a song on his way to the ring. Big pop for Elijah, and the studio audience chants “welcome home” as the troubadour himself does his catchphrase. In the form of a question: “Who wants to walk with Elijah?”

Ethan Page confronts Elijah as the bell sounds to start the battle royal.

Myles Borne wins a 25-man battle royal to become number one contender for the NXT Championship

Borne out of nowhere becomes the number one contender with the upset win, as Borne last eliminates Ethan Page and Shawn Spears en route to winning the battle royal.

The battle royal ran through two split-screen commercial breaks. An inter-promotional gimmick match, participants are from TNA and three WWE brands — NXT, LFG and Evolve. It was indie-rific at times and over-booked, but the battle royal has lots of action.

Joe Hendry gets an entrance with his theme song during the middle of the match, as Hendry confronts Trick Williams. Distracted by the entrance of Hendry, Trick is then eliminated by Elijah. Trick and Hendry then have a pull-apart brawl.

Shawn Spears eliminates Elijah, leaving five men in the ring. Je’Von Evans and Sean Legacy get to shine in a series of high spots and sequences between the two. Legacy is then eliminated by Evans, with some help from a low-bridge courtesy of Ethan Page.

Final four is all NXT. Comes down to Page, Evans, Spears, and Myles Borne, as they run through a series of entertaining spots. Borne shows fire as he gets to shine in the closing minutes. Borne then takes a springboard cutter from Evans. On a second springboard attempt, Evans goes for a double cutter on both Page and Spears. Instead, they eliminate Evans by tossing him out of the ring.

Page and Spears make a pact to team up on Borne, but Page immediately double-crosses Spears. Holding on to the top rope, Spears tries to skin the cat. Meanwhile, Borne dropkicks Page, and Page goes sailing over the ropes. On his way down, Page catches Spears with a cutter on the floor. Borne is the last man standing in the ring, and Borne wins the battle royal to become the number one contender.

No Quarter Catch Crew storms the ring to celebrate with Borne after his win. Tavion Heights rushes in to hug Borne, with Wren Sinclair in tow. Charlie Dempsey is dragging up the rear, as Dempsey looks less than thrilled with Borne getting the spotlight.

Sarah Schreiber is interviewing Jordynne Grace when they are interrupted by Izzi Dame. Lash Legend also arrives to interrupt Dame. When she becomes the number one contender, Grace will see them on the other side. Whatever that means.

Jaida Parker defeated Karmen Petrovic

Parker pinned Petrovic after a running knee strike. Setting up the finish, Petrovic misses a kick. Parker then lands the knee strike, and she covers Petrovic for a clean pinfall.

Parker jumps Petrovic after the match, and Parker signals for her signature hip attack. Thea Hail runs down to take a bullet for Pertrovic. Hail takes the hip attack from Parker, which sets up a match between Parker and Hail.

TNA Champion Joe Hendry is in NXT General Manager Ava’s office, where she announces Hendry is defending the TNA Championship in a title match against Trick Williams at Battleground. Ava notes this is the first time the TNA world title is on the line at a WWE PLE. Ava also announces a contract signing for next Tuesday on NXT.

A vignette featuring OTM is part of a promotional tie-in with an insurance company. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price cut a promo within a music video.

Wes Lee is on a phone call as Lee is flanked by Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. Lee apparently has a match booked, and he is thrilled with the news. Remarking to Dupont and Igwe, Lee borrows from Ted DiBiase’s catchphrase. “Every man has a price,” Lee says with a smirk.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura talk as part of a backstage skit. Inamura apologizes to Briggs for failing him, and Inamura informs Briggs he is heading back to Japan. Inamura gives Briggs his vest, and says “goodbye my friend.”

As Inamura leaves, up walks Brooks Jensen and The Culling. Jensen is a former tag partner of Briggs, and Jensen makes a sarcastic remark about being there before in this same position. Jensen blames Briggs for being the problem.

Charlie Dempsey, as leader of No Quarter Catch Crew, tells the group he needs their help to get ready for his match at Battleground against NXT Champion Oba Femi. Myles Borne, who actually became number one contender earlier in the show, takes exception to Dempsey claiming the title match. Insisting Borne won for the good of the group, Dempsey also insists he himself gets the title shot.

In walks Femi, and he congratulates Borne. Dempsey chimes in to again insist he will face Femi in the title match. Borne says the match is his, but he basically calls out Dempsey in front of Femi. This sets up Dempsey against Femi in a non-title match for next Tuesday on NXT.

Jordynne Grace defeated Giulia in a number one contender’s match

Grace pinned Giulia to win what was a really good bout. Clean finish and a strong match to determine the number one contender to Stephanie Vaquer, who came out after the match with her NXT title belt for a stare down with Grace.

Giulia and Grace start the bout with a safe version of Frye- Takayama, before they settle into a match. Grace and Giulia work well together, and they have a good match.

They wrestle through a commercial break, with Giulia giving Grace a neckbreaker on the floor just before the show cuts to its last break.

They trade near falls on the home stretch. Grace executes a delayed vertical suplex off the middle rope. Grace holds on, rolls through, and she powers up to deliver a jackhammer. Giulia kicks out at two and a half. Moments later, Giulia spikes Grace with a DDT. Giulia with a pump handle into a Norther Lights driver for another near fall.

They counter each other several times as they go home. Overhead suplex by Grace, only for Giulia to hulk up. Fighting spirit exchange before Grace delivers Beast Mode. Grace then hooks a leg to cover Giulia for the deciding pinfall. Grace is now the number one contender for the NXT women’s title.

NXT Women’s Stephanie Vaquer enters the ring after the match. The show ends with a staredown between Vaquer and Grace.

WWE NXT live results: Joe Hendry appears, IYO SKY in action

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s NXT episode is set to feature special appearances by TNA World Champion Joe Hendry and WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.

Invited to the show by Shawn Michaels, Hendry will be on NXT to address the ending of TNA’s Rebellion pay-per-view. Hendry retained his TNA World Championship against Frankie Kazarian and Ethan Page in the main event but was then attacked by Trick Williams.

SKY is looking for revenge after being targeted by Giulia and Roxanne Perez on Raw in back-to-back weeks. It will be SKY & Jordynne Grace vs. Giulia & Perez tonight.

A couple of titles are scheduled to be defended on the episode. North American Champion Ricky Saints has a defense against Lexis King, while new NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank will put their belts on the line against Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura.

Plus, Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo will have a confrontation after Stacks’ recent betrayal.

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

**********

The episode begins with a video package recapping the story so far in feud between Joe Hendry and Trick Williams.

Opening the show are commentators Vic Joseph, Corey Graves and Booker T from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando in front of a live studio audience.

Joseph speaks the name of TNA Champion Joe Hendry, and he appears. Such is his gimmick. Tonight, Hendry enters the sound stage wearing his WrestleMania-branded t-shirt. The live studio audience responds accordingly, as they wave their arms in unison to the beat of Hendry’s theme song.

Hendry enters the ring for a monologue. He plays to the crowd and mentions wrestling Randy Orton at WrestleMania, and then Hendry days later defended the TNA Championship. That is where Trick Williams attacked Hendry in a cliffhanger ending to the TNA Rebellion pay-per-view.

Hendry cuts a promo on Trick, and Hendry gets the crowd to chant “we believe” in him. Hendry figures that Trick knew Oba Femi was not going to give him a shot at the NXT Championship, so Hendry says that Trick is instead trying to get a shot at the TNA Championship. Hendry then calls out Trick.

Before Trick came enter, the lights so out on the sound stage. The DarkState faction appears, and they jump Hendry. They powerbomb Hendry and leave him laying in the ring as they stand over Hendry.

The show cuts away to a skit from earlier today, where WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY is in the office of NXT General Manager Ava. She booked SKY in a tag team match, and Ava asks if SKY found a tag partner. Not yet, but in walks Jordynne Grace to volunteer. SKY accepts the offer, so her and Grace will team up later on.

NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints and Lexis King prepare for their title match, which is “next” after a commercial break.

What was actually next after the break is a quick recap from last Tuesday night when Liv Morgan & Raquel Gonzalez defended the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Gigi Dolan & Tatum Paxley. That recap led into a skit from the NXT lounge.

Karmen Petrovic was talking with Dolan & Paxley when they are interrupted by Ashante “Thee” Adonis. He basically tells her to ditch the two losers because Adonis got her booked in a title match tonight. Petrovic takes exception at him calling them losers, and she also says she in not ready for a title match tonight. Adonis responds by saying she better get ready because “we” have a title match.

NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints defeated Lexis King to retain his title

Saints pinned King clean after a Roshambo. It was a good match with lots of action. The match goes through commercial break.

King jumps Saints before the bell rings to start the match. Saints soon counters King, and Saints goes on to pose atop the barricade as the show cuts to commercial.

When the show returns from the break, King gets a near fall after a Swanton Bomb. More near falls for King, until Saints attempts a comeback. King goes for his finisher, but Saints counters him. Saints spikes King with a tornado DDT, and Saints executes his finisher. Saints then covers King for a pinfall. And still…

“NXT Spotlight” sponsored by an insurance company features a vignette where Shawn Spears addresses The Culling.

Tony D’Angelo makes his first appearance in front of the studio audience since Stacks turned on him at Stand & Deliver. D’Angelo begins his monologue by saying we can all relate to betrayal. Still, “The Don” did not expect it at Stand & Deliver.

D’Angelo expected a man-to-man conversation, but not the betrayal. The Don talks about when he stuck up for Stacks when they were kids. D’Angelo insists that Stacks always had his eyes on being the boss of The Family. D’Angelo then talks about the times Stacks stepped up, so he was rewarded with being the Underboss. Yet at the same time, Stacks was impulsive. D’Angelo had to step in to show why he was still “The Don” of the The Family.

The Don says Stacks waited until the world was watching to stab him in the back. D’Angelo says Stacks will pay for his sins. The Don also mentions that Luca Crusifino is missing and Adrianna Rizzo remains in hiding.

A bunch of security enters the ringside area as the Titantron shows a pre-taped promo from Stacks. He is on bridge somewhere, which is a callback a usual meeting place for The Family. Stacks cuts a promo on D’Angelo, with Stacks saying he is tired of taking orders. Stacks also says D’Angelo has grown soft, and Stacks accuses The Don letting The Family get pushed around by groups like DarkState.

Stacks wants to become the new Don of the Family. He knows D’Angelo better than anyone, and Stacks knows that D’Angelo is losing power. Stacks questions whether D’Angelo can trust his own Family.

The security detail turns out to be henchmen for Stacks. D’Angelo cleans house on the henchmen, as what appears to be other mobster look on from the apron. They do not help D’Angelo, but he does not need any as he easily suplexes a henchman over the top rope. End Scene.

In a backstage skit, Meta-Four splits up as they all agree to go their separate ways. Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend and Noam Dar all hug and then depart as singles wrestlers. Not the only break-up on this episode, but the only amicable break-up of the night.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca (with Zaria) defeated Karmen Petrovic (with Ashante “Thee” Adonis)

Ruca pinned Petrovic clean after a Sol Snatcher. After the match, Petrovic breaks up with Adonis. She turns on him as he is barking at her about why she lost. Petrovic heard enough. When Adonis grabs her arm, Petrovic lays out Adonis with a roundhouse kick. Adonis is dazed as the studio audience chants “one more time.”

Before the next commercial break, a clip plugs a cameo appearance by Trick Williams on the CW’s All American television series.

Trick Williams enters the sound stage to address the audience. Tricks name drops Joe Hendry, but he does not appear. Trick says Hendry should be glad DarkState got to him before Trick got to Hendry. Trick says even “those punks know” that Hendry does not belong here.

Trick responds to anyone thinking he “crashed out” last Tuesday. Trick then talks about his run-in at Rebellion. He also plugs his acting appearance on All American. I remember All American when Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon hosted the show, but that is story of another time.

Trick says he and Hendry are not on the same level. Trick is Hollywood, while Hendry is “local talent” in NXT. Trick wants his title back, and he wants to challenge Oba Femi.

Ava interrupted Trick and scolds him for his recent actions. Trick says he realized after Sunday (at Rebellion) that he is bigger than NXT. He refers himself as the “biggest superstar” in NXT, along with the biggest star in TNA.

While Ava agrees to give Trick another chance at a title shot, that will come in a 25-man battle royal next Tuesday on NXT to determine a number one contender. The winner of the battle royal will face Femi at Battleground for the NXT title. A battle royal? How original.

Roxanne Perez and Giulia talk ahead of their tag match later on against IYO SKY and Jordynne Grace.

Kelly Kincaid interviews NXT Champion Oba Femi, who vows to retain the title at Battleground. The interview is interrupted by a cameo from The Undertaker. He tells Femi that NXT is Femis’ yard now, but Undertaker warns him that some guys from LFG will be coming for Femi soon. In walks Shiloh Hill, Anthony Luke and Jasper Troy from LFG. Femi says he looks forward to the challenge, and he shakes hands with Undertaker.

NXT Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura to retain their titles

Hank Walker pins Josh Briggs, and the champs retain. Rough and tumble match from the start. It was fun. The tag bout also goes through a commercial break.

After the break, Briggs & Inamura work over Hank. The match builds to a hot tag, and Tank is a house of fire. Soon thereafter, Hank is sent crashing into the ring steps at ringside. That leaves Tank at a two-on-one disadvantage.

Tank takes a chokeslam and a lariat from Briggs, and Inamura follows up with a splash off the top rope. Hank jumps into the ring to break up the subsequent pinning attempt. Moments later, Tank is again being double-teamed. Hank goes to make another save when he is scooped up by Inamura. He spins Hank around to complete the scoop slam, but Inamura inadvertently swings Hank’s feet into Briggs.

For the finish itself, Hank & Tank double-team Briggs with spear/powerslam combination. Hank then covers Briggs for the deciding pinfall, and the tag champs retain their titles. Inamura pleads his case to Briggs after the match, trying to explain the mishap.

DarkState cuts a promo that was posted on social media.

Chase University is back in a skit with Andre Chase welcoming students back to class. Chase proclaims today is a “new semester” for Chase U. Kale Dixon and Uriah Conners show up late for class, and a goody two shoes tries to call them out for being late. Chase cuts a promo on them and curses at them.

In a locker room skit, Kelani Jordan challenges Sol Ruca to a North American title match next week. Ruca is about to accept when Zaria cuts them off to tell Jordan she is not getting a title shot next Tuesday. Zaria tells Jordan she must go through Zaria to get a shot at Ruca. “Fine,” says Jordan.

Hank & Tank interact with Joe Hendry in the trainer’s room. They all three to the “honk, honk” hand gesture. This skit sets up Hendry teaming with Hank & Tank against DarkState in a six-man tag match next Tuesday on NXT.

WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY & Jordynne Grace defeated Roxanne Perez & Giulia

SKY pinned Perez to win the match. Really good tag match with a lot of action. Some storytelling within the match, but this was mostly just fun.

The tag bout begins with a melee at ringside. They all soon get in the ring. SKY and Grace get to shine early on. Eventually, Grace is cut off. She is being double-teamed when Grace suplexes both Perez and Giulia at the same time.

Hot tag to SKY for a missile dropkick. Grace and SKY work well as a team, until they are cut off. Grace has SKY on her shoulders when they are tripped up. As the show cuts to its final commercial break (which is picture-in-picture), SKY and Grace are in peril as they sell big.

Heat on SKY during the split-screen break, and the show returns with SKY in trouble. Hot tag to Grace, and she runs wild cleaning house. Perez with a save with a high cross. Everybody is down selling when SKY gets to her feet and hulks up.

Perez with a Super Frankensteiner on SKY. Giulia and Perez look to finish SKY, but Grace jumps in for a save. Grace and Giulia began to brawl on the floor at ringside. In the ring, Perez and SKY exchange a series of great near falls.

For the finish, SKY counters Pop Rocks with a backflip. SKY then kicks Perez and follows up with a moonsault press. SKY then covers Perez for a pinfall.

The show ends with a skit where Ava is talking with NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, and Ava announces a number one contender’s match for next Tuesday. Jordynne Grace and Giulia meet next week in a singles match, and the winner gets a title shot against Vaquer at Battleground.