Tag: Oba Femi

WWE NXT live results: Three championship bouts

Posted on by Chris Aiken

A slate of title matches is set for tonight’s episode of WWE NXT on The CW Network.

In his first defense since becoming NXT Champion, Oba Femi defends against Eddy Thorpe in tonight’s main event. Femi won the title from Trick Williams at New Year’s Evil two weeks ago in a triple threat match that also included Thorpe. Now Femi and Thorpe will attempt to settle their issues one-on-one.

Ridge Holland gets his shot at the men’s NXT North American Championship tonight when he challenges Tony D’Angelo. The Heritage Cup will also be on the line as Lexis King and Charlie Dempsey once again face off for the trophy.

Plus, new NXT Women’s Champion Giulia will make an appearance following her victory at New Year’s Evil. She dethroned Roxanne Perez to win the title.

We’ll see if WWE has any follow-up tonight after Perez was confronted by Bayley last week.

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

**********

Corey Graves is back on commentary alongside Vic Joseph and Booker T.

NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo (with The Family) defeated Ridge Holland to retain his title

Lots of closed fist punches back and forth from the start. The match goes through a commercial break with a split-screen. As the show cuts to commercial, out comes Shawn Spears.

During the break, Holland posted D’Angelo twice. Holland then smacked an arm on the ring post, and Holland went to work on the arm. Holland is working the arm as the show returns from the break.

D’Angelo makes a comeback, and “The Don” gets a near fall with a fisherman’s buster suplex. Slugfest starts again, before D’Angelo is dropped on his head. “The Don” still comes back with a spear. Spears soon gets involved in the match.

Spears jumps on the apron and gets punched by D’Angelo. That brings out Spear’s goons, which includes Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance. They brawl with The Family at ringside. That takes the referee’s attention away from the the ring.

That allowed Izzi Dame to suddenly interfere, after she got in the ring. She boots Holland in the face with a high kick. D’Angelo delivers a spinebuster, and he covers Holland for a three count. Dame at ringside says she and “The Don” are now even.

A locker room skit sets up two singles matches for Wes Lee. One against Dion Lennox for tonight, and another next week with Trick Williams. In the skit, Williams gives Lee an open hand slap.

Bayley is up next for a monologue. Her and Roxanne Perez has an altercation in a cliffhanger angle from last week. Bayley is here to address that.

Bayley said she was there last week to talk with Perez, because Bayley cares about all that Perez has done. That that got her was a slap in the face.

Bayley goes on to talk about Perez confronted her from the front row on Raw and Smackdown. At some point, Bayley name drops Giulia. So, out comes Giulia to join Bayley.

Giulia says Perez may not look up to Bayley, but Giulia herself does. Bayley and Giulia sing each other’s praises until they are interrupted by Cora Jade and Perez.

Both Perez and Jade cut promos on Bayley. Perez claims the current NXT exceeded anything the Four Horsewomen did, and that is really way Bayley is here. That ignites a brawl, and the fight is on. The heels powder as Bayley and Giulia stand tall. This angle clearly sets up a tag team match.

Cut to the women’s locker room, where Kelani Jordan is arguing with Jaida Parker. Karmen Peterovic wants to calm them down since she is in love now.

Cut back to ringside and the brawl between the two teams is on again.

Wes Lee defeated Dion Lennox

Lee pinned Lennox in a short match that was more of a backdrop for the angle that followed with Trick Williams. Lennox did get a close near fall, but Lee strikes with a Cardiac Kick. Lee then covers Lennox for a pinfall.

Lee in a post-match promo says he is going to handle Trick next week since Trick slapped him earlier. That brings out Trick, and he is a house of fire. Williams drops Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, who both were at ringside with Lee.

Trick then storms into the ring and lays out Lee. Trick grabs the microphone and accepts the challenge for next week at Center Stage in Atlanta.

Lexis King is the focus of a video package, and he defends the Heritage Cup up next.

But first, an interview with Stephanie Vaquer. Sarah Schreiber conducts the interview. Vaquer cuts a decent promo. It is not her fault they do not have her in a focused angle.

NXT Heritage Cup Champion Lexis King defeats Charlie Dempsey (with No Quarter Catch Crew) to retain the cup

This match got a lot of time, but that was somewhat a given with the round system. The match went through a commercial break, and they did a fall during the break. When the show returned from the break, Vic Joseph on commentary remarked how that shows you have to pay attention during the split-screen break.

King is saved by the bell in the first round. Dempsey applied a crossface chicken wing that would make Bob Backlund proud. Time runs out on the round with King still locked in the hold. The closing moments of this round were really good.

A camera shot shows brass knuckles in King’s corner as the show cuts to commercial. That is when they did the finish during the break. King scores a pin he counters a sunset flip into a pinfall. King is up 1-0.

Dempsey evens the score in round 3, as Dempsey scores pin using a butterfly suplex. Between rounds, King teases using the brass knux. But he thinks better of it.

Later on, King fires up and leaps over the ropes with a flip dive on No Quarter Catch Crew. They go back-and-forth in the closing moments. After deciding against the knux, King still wins with a heel move. King with a mule kick low blow, and the ref didn’t see it. King then executed the Coronation, and King scores the deciding pinfall.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Naomi cut promos on Meta-Girls (Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson). Next week in Atlanta, Meta-Girls challenge for the tag titles in a featured match.

Karmen Petrovic enters with her love interest, Ashante “Thee” Adonis. Petrovic has a match up next.

Andre Chase is followed around in a skit, but he is depressed. Some trainees are watching old Chase promos, but Chase is still super depressed.

Karmen Petrovic defeated Jaida Parker

Petrovic rolled up Parker to score the pin, after interference by Kelani Jordan. Parker looked strong throughout much of the match.

Jordan shows up and she goes to slap Parker, but Parker blocks the slap. The referee is right there the whole time, but somehow this is not a disqualification. Petrovic then rolls up Parker, and the referee counts the pin.

Petrovic celebrates after the match with Adonis.

A locker room skit has Sol Ruca and Zaria talking with Meta-Girls. Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolan are also there. This was a waste of time I will never get back.

Brooks Jensen & Niko Vance defeated Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino

Vance pinned Stacks to win the match. For the finish, Jensen with a somersault kick and Vance follows up with a lariat. Stacks does a flip to sell it, and Vance covers him for the pinfall. This was a great way to introduce Niko Vance.

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom are being interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura interrupt the interview. Briggs is upset they went to TNA when Briggs claims they had “next” up. This did not go anywhere as the director cuts away to a brawl happening backstage. Then, the show cuts to commercial.

More melodrama after the break, this time within The Family. Stacks is upset that “The Don” was not out there with them. D’Angelo responds that Stacks has been Underboss for a while now. He needs to figure it out on his own. “The Don” then leaves.

Ethan Page is cutting a sadistic promo on Je’Von Evans in a video package sponsored by an insurance company. Would have made sense if it was medical insurance, but it was automobile insurance.

Evans is then in GM Ava’s office. Evans is still selling his jaw, but he wants a match with Page. Ava says he is still hurt, which he clearly is selling like he is hurt. Evans can barely talk. Ava then brings in Cedric Alexander, who is booked against Page in a match next week at Center Stage.

In comes Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Apparently, next week at Center Stage is “The Grayson Waller Effect” in Atlanta. What have we done to deserve this?

Oba Femi is heading to the ring for his match when he crosses paths with Trick Williams backstage. They exchange glances just before the show cuts to a commercial break.

After show returns from the break, Diamond Dallas Page is shown sitting front row ringside.

NXT Champion Oba Femi defeated Edddy Thorpe to retain his title

This wasn’t Flair-Steamboat, but thank goodness it wasn’t another skit. It was actually pretty good too, especially by the end. At least for action. Psychology might be another story.

For a champion who’s nickname is “The Ruler”, Femi ends up selling a lot. Maybe too much, but as champ I guess he has to give the illusion he might lose. Him selling so much takes away from his aura. Thorpe cuts off Femi before the show’s final commercial break, and Femi is in peril during much of the picture-in-picture. Why is Femi fighting from underneath?

Back from the commercial break, and comeback by Femi. Led to a near falls after Femi delivers a spinebuster. Thorpe counters an attempted chokeslam with a triangle. Femi tries to power out, but Thorpe counters that into a hurricanrana. Two count for Thorpe.

Thorpe again counters Femi. This time Thorpe uses a stunner after blocking a suplex attempt. Thorpe climbs to the top rope and he leaps off with a mighty flying elbow drop. Near fall.

Thorpe and Femi trade strikes and moves. Femi goes off his feet after Thorpe gives him a snap German suplex. Thorpe goes for another flying elbow, but Femi blocks it to deliver a chokeslam. Thorpe gets a shoulder up to break the count at two and three quarters.

Femi posted himself on a missed charge in a corner. Femi looks to be in trouble, until he tossed Thorpe across the ring. Femi then executes his pop-up powerbomb, and Femi covers Thorpe for a pinfall.

The psychology seemed way off in this match, but the work itself was really good. Grayson Waller & Austin Thoery were watching from a perch overlooking the ring. They are trying to jaw with Femi. Meanwhile, Trick Williams is in the ring to confront Femi.

Williams then drops Thorpe when Thorpe goes for a cheap shot. Williams an Femi are face-to-face as the show goes off the air.

WOL: Corey Graves, NXT, Oba Femi rules, Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the latest on Corey Graves and where Bryan predicts this ends up, a look at MAX and Netflix number, OBA FEMI RULES, NXT thoughts, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Oba Femi to defend WWE NXT title on next week’s episode

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two title matches are set for next week’s WWE NXT, including Oba Femi’s first televised defense of the NXT Championship.

An in-ring promo segment on this week’s episode set up both title bouts for next week, as new NXT champion Femi was interrupted by Eddy Thorpe, North American Champion Tony D’Angelo, and Ridge Holland.

As D’Angelo and Holland paired off in a brawl, Thorpe attacked Femi, laying him out. Femi later demanded a title defense against Thorpe for next week in a backstage segment with NXT GM Ava.

D’Angelo defending the North American title against Holland was also made official for the Tuesday, January 21 episode.

Femi won the NXT title in a triple threat on last week’s New Year’s Evil special in a triple threat involving Thorpe and former NXT Champion Trick Williams. His first defense of the gold was on an NXT house show this past Saturday against Jasper Troy.

The announced card for next week:

WWE NXT, Tuesday, January 21 —

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Eddy Thorpe
  • NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defends against Ridge Holland

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from New Year’s Evil

Posted on by Chris Aiken

With new champions crowned, the fallout from New Year’s Evil takes place on WWE NXT tonight.

It’s a new era with NXT Champion Oba Femi and NXT Women’s Champion Giulia now at the top of their divisions. Tonight, Oba Femi will appear for the first time as champion. We’ll see if either Trick Williams or Eddy Thorpe want a shot at the title following last week’s triple threat.

A “special look” at Giulia is set to air tonight. Roxanne Perez — who dropped the NXT Women’s Championship to Giulia — will appear tonight and address her future.

An NXT Tag Team title match is part of the card with Axiom & Nathan Frazer defending against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price.

Plus, there will be a pair of number one contender’s matches. Stephanie Vaquer faces Shotzi with a Women’s North American Championship shot on the line. And Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn determines the next challengers for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.

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

**********

NXT is back at its regular home on a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando, where NXT is filmed before a live studio audience.

Opening the show is new NXT Champion Oba Femi, who enters and takes center stage in the ring with his title belt over his shoulder. Femi talks about taking his rightful place on the throne. Femi mocks past speeches about others not believing they would accomplish it, but Femi always knew he would become champion.

Since day one, Femi was backed by dynasty. Femi runs down his accolades in NXT, liking it him being backed by dynasty. And he was backed by dynasty when he won the NXT Chamionship. All of this is now his, dubbing himself “The Ruler” of NXT.

The crowd almost ruins the moment with a “you deserve it” chant, as Femi shifts to Trick Williams. Femi at first puts over Trick as the former champion, until saying Trick has a ceiling. Femi boasts he has no ceiling. As for Eddy Thorpe, he “is a real of work, isn’t he?” Femi likens him to a bug that will not die. Femi issues a “final warning” to Thorpe, telling him to go annoy someone else in the locker room.

NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo interrupts Femi, because hardly any monologue in NXT can go interrupted. Unless you are The Rock, and only The Rock. Anyway, “The Don” congratulates Femi on getting the big seat, but D’Angelo took exception to Femi noting he was the longest reigning North American champ. D’Angelo reminds Femi that “The Don” is the only person he has not beat, and D’Angelo says if they met that he would leave as “The Double Title Don.” This how you know Vince is indeed gone for good. The use of the word “title” in a nickname.

Femi mentions that D’Angelo got knocked out by Santa Claus, and D’Angelo says he will take care of Ridge Holland. Speak of the devil. Holland then interrupts to taunt D’Angelo with a photograph from the Santa incident. D’Angelo sarcastically says he’ll sign the photo as he exits the ring, heading towards Holland. They met up and a melee ensues. As they brawl at ringside, in runs Eddy Thorpe to ambush Femi. Thorpe is booed by the crowd, as he DDT’d Femi. Thorpe then wraps a strap around his fist. The kind of strap used in a strap match. Thorpe punches Femi with what I guess is supposed to be a loaded fist, but it was just a strap around his fist. Thorpe then grabs the title belt, and he poses with it as he stands over Femi.

A backstage skit sets up Ethan Page against Dante Chen for later tonight.

NXT is on the road at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta on January 28. The famed Center Stage was the site of countless television tapings for WCW beginning in 1989 through the mid-90s. ROH also taped television at Center Stage in the Sinclair days.

Shotzi defeated Stephanie Vaquer to become number one contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship

Shotzi pinned Vaquer after outside interference from NXT Women’s North American Champion Fallon Henley. Jacy Jayne also interfered during the match, but she got a double headbutt for her trouble. Henley hit Vaquer with a belt shot, and Shotzi cradled Vaquer for the pinfall.

The match went through a commercial break. While there was a number one contender’s match last week, there was another this week. Why not? Vaquer won a shot last week, and somehow lost that title shot this week. Unless this sets up a triple threat, because that is not overdone at all in the slightest. The champ did cost Vaquer the match with outside interference.

Kelani Jordan slaps Cora Jade in a backstage skit. This would seem to set up a singles match between the two, as Jordan keeps teasing a heel turn.

Ethan Page defeated Dante Chen

Page pinned Chen in what was more of an angle than a match. Page jumped Chen before the bell, and Chen hardly had a chance. Chen did get some offense as he fired up on Page, but Page cut him and nailed him with a cutter. Page then scored the pinfall. An injury angle after the match was longer than the match itself.

Page attacks Chen after the bell. Page drags him outside the ring, and Page pins Chen’s leg between the ring steps. Page then Pillmanizes the leg. Chen sells big, and Page smirks. Suddenly, Je’Von Evans then runs to to make a save. Evans peppers Page with punches, but one punch to Evan’s injured jaw drops him. Evans spits up blood as Page taunts him.

My CW feed was spotty for a bit during what appeared to be a backstage skit. The picture on my screen was in and out like a fiddler’s elbow, but I do believe Ashante “Thee” Adonis and Karmen Petrovic are courting again.

New NXT Women’s Champion Giulia is featured in a good video package.

Champions from the main roster are back in NXT, with DIY here for a cameo. Sarah Schreiber interviews the WWE Tag Team Champions Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano. They came “home” to NXT to see Fraxio, whom are being dubbed the greatest tag team in the history of NXT.

Meta-Girls (Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) defeated Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) in a number one contenders’ tag team match

Legend pinned Fyre to win the match, and Meta-Girls become number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

The tag match itself went through a commercial break, and then seemingly lasted forever. Meta-Girls did some cool tandem moves, including Legend picking up Jackson with a military press and then tossing Jackson on top of their foes.

As the match is winding down, Meta-Girls are on a roll when Legend spills outside when she is low-bridged over the top rope. Jackson has to play Ricky Morton until Legend gets back on the apron for a hot tag. Meta-Girls then execute a tandem cutter finisher, and Legend covers Fyre for a pinfall.

NXT General Manager Ava presents Lexis King with his version of the Heritage Cup trophy. Charlie Dempsey and Wren Sinclair confront King. There is some bad acting, which seems to set a rematch for the trophy. Loud banging noises distract everyone, and Ava goes to look outside where she finds Tony D’Angelo brawling with Ridge Holland.

TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich is seen watching the show from front row ringside. Later on, TNA Genesis is plugged on commentary.

Cora Jade defeated Kelani Jordan

Jade pinned Jordan to win the match. Jordan let her anger consume her, giving in to the dark side of the force. That, and a eye rake, cost Jordan the match.

Jordan continues to show a mean streak. Late in the match, she was super aggressive with Jade trapped in a corner. The referee a few times got between them to break it up. The last time as the ref is pushing Jordan away, Jade rakes Jordan’s eyes. Jordan is momentarily blinded, and Jade capitalizes with a double-arm DDT. Booker T on commentary referred to the DDT as “gnarly”, and he is not wrong.

Eddy Thorpe with a wicked promo he shot with his own cellphone. From there, the show cuts to a Red Cross PSA related to the wildfires in California. Odd transitional, but the video of the devastation is unbelievable.

Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura confront Fraxiom in a backstage skit. The tag champs are getting ready for their match, but Briggs says he and Inamura “got next.” As Fraxiom is leaving, in walks OTM to confront Briggs & Inamura. They exchange words. In a comedy bit playing off the language barrier, Inamura thinks OTM (“Out the Mud”) are into mud wrestling. Fighting soon breaks out, leading to a pull-apart brawl. Seems to set up a tag match, but first OTM has another tag match in the main event.

Trick Williams tweeted that he needs to figure out his next move.

NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) defeated OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) to retain their titles

Axiom pinned Nima to win the match. And still…

WWE Tag Team Champions DIY are seen watching the match from a perch overlooking the ring. Lots of high flying and tandem high spots from Fraxiom, and some cat-and-mouse against their larger foes. Nima & Price with power moves at times, and they look good. Fraxiom carries their match, but OTM hold their own well. The match begins to break down with all four fighting around the ring.

Outside the ring, Price looks to utilize the announce desk. Price clears the desk, but he gets cut off in the process. Meanwhile, Nima shoves Frazier off the ropes a few times as they were fighting atop the turnbuckles. Frazier manages to do a back flip and land on his feet, while Axiom makes a bling tag beforehand. Frazier climbs the turnbuckles in another corner, and Frazier jumps off the top rope with a flying body press on the announce desk, thus driving Price through the table. Meanwhile, Axiom with a Spanish Fly on Nima, and Axiom signals for a Golden Ratio. Axiom delivers the Ratio, and he hooks a leg to cover Nima for the deciding pinfall. Good match.

Roxanne Perez is headed to the ring for a monologue. Cut away to the parking lot where someone has arrived to the building. They get out but all we see is their feet as the show cuts to its final commercial break.

After the commercial break, Roxanne Perez is in the ring for a monologue. Perez begins by saying when she first won the NXT Women’s title for the second time (which is not bad math, as there was an angle), no one thought she would be champion for 276 days.

With every title defense she made history, and all she wanted to do was make women’s wrestling something special. She wanted NXT to be on a main event level, and this is the “best” women’s division in wrestling today. But her stands Perez without her title, because she was beaten last week.

Perez congratulates Giulia, and Perez says the people got what they wanted — which was Perez dropping the title. Perez then heels by saying what is most sad is what the NXT women’s division has become with Giulia as champion. The NXT women’s division is “lost” without Perez. She adds that neither NXT nor the fans deserve her.

Perez name-drops the Four Horsewomen, saying they needed four, but Perez only needs one (herself). That is the cue for Bayley to interrupt. She was the mystery person that arrived earlier in the show. Huge pop for Bayley, as she enters the sound stage to confront Perez.

Bayley tries to give Perez some advice, but Perez dismisses the advice. Bayley insists the division will be fine without them. Perez eventually cuts off Bayley, and Perez says Bayley is like all the others Perez used to look up to. Perez says Bayley broke records, but Perez broke those records. Perez sarcastically tells Bayley that now Perez should be Bayley’s role model. Bayley responds by saying Perez is going nowhere, while Bayley proclaims she will win the title on Friday. With that, they were running out of time. So, Perez slaps Bayley across the face, and a brawl ensues as the show abruptly goes off the air.

Oba Femi, Roxanne Perez, Giulia segments announced for WWE NXT

Posted on by Ian Carey

Several segments have been added to the lineup for tonight’s WWE NXT episode. 

The new NXT Champion, Oba Femi, is now scheduled to “address the NXT Universe” on the show. Femi pinned former champion Trick Williams to win the NXT Championship last week at New Year’s Evil in a triple-threat match that also involved Eddy Thorpe. 

Former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is advertised to “address her future” on Tuesday’s show. Perez lost her championship to Giulia at New Year’s Evil last week. 

WWE has also announced a “special look” at new NXT Women’s Champion Giulia tonight. 

Three matches have been announced for tonight’s show. However, only two are listed on WWE.com’s preview of this week’s episode, with no mention of the Meta-Four vs. Unholy Union match announced last week. 

WWE NXT announced lineup for Tuesday, January 14, 2025:

  • NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship number one contender’s match: Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship number one contender’s match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Shotzi
  • NXT Champion Oba Femi to address the NXT Universe
  • Roxanne Perez to address her future
  • A “special look” at new NXT Women’s Champion Giulia

Oba Femi offers advice to WWE NIL prospects: ‘Show your strengths’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

As a success story from WWE’s NIL program, new NXT Champion Oba Femi has some advice for other college prospects.

Femi — real name Isaac Odugbesan — was part of WWE’s inaugural NIL class. A shot putter at the University of Alabama, he officially joined the WWE Performance Center in 2022. Just over two years removed from his first match, Femi became the NXT Champion last week by defeating Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe in a triple threat match at New Year’s Evil.

The Takedown spoke with Femi after his title win and asked him what advice he would give to college athletes entering WWE through the NIL program. Femi said recruits should focus on their strengths and show what they’re good at. After that, they can work on expanding their skillset.

“Show your strengths. A lot of people try to balance it all on day one. No, show them what you can do,” Femi said. “Work on what you can’t, and then when you can do what you can’t, then show that too. That’s my big thing. Consistently delivering. Nobody cares [about] the reason you didn’t deliver… Do what you know. That’s my advice for anyone who’s NIL.”

Femi added that he hopes his story can show college athletes that WWE is a viable career path for them.

“I’m just happy that I get to be the example,” he said. “I get to be the mold, the prototype, the one who made it. When people look at my story, they can [see] this is a viable option.”

The WWE NIL (Next in Line) program was established in 2021. Athletes who sign NIL deals are able to partner with WWE while still in college, opening the door for a potential in-ring career after they graduate.

Femi pinned Williams in last week’s triple threat after Thorpe had introduced a steel chair to the match. We’ll see the fallout of Femi’s title win on NXT tonight as the show builds to next month’s Vengeance Day PLE.

This is the second championship that Femi has held since joining WWE. Last year, he had a reign with the NXT North American title.

Daily Update: Hunter Q. Robbins III, Satoshi Kojma, Oba Femi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The highlights of the issue:

  • The WrestleMania direction
  • First WWE show on Netflix
  • John Cena, The Rock, Undertaker and more and what things on the show garnered the most interest
  • Businessnotes on the show
  • Positives, negatives and goals of the show
  • How the show did on Netflix and deciphering what the different numbers mean
  • How advertising works comparing television vs. streaming
  • Hulk Hogan reaction
  • Changes on the show
  • Run time change
  • TKO looking at getting into the boxing business with Saudi Arabia
  • Kenny Omega returns for the Tokyo Dome show
  • In depth on New Japan business concerns and Bushiroad CEO Takaaki Kidani speaks on a number of issues
  • The business of the two Dome shows
  • Takaaki Kidani talks about his thoughts about a future WrestleDynasty show
  • Zack Sabre Jr. does something unprecedented and a list of all  non-Japanese who have won an NJPW Tokyo Dome main event
  • The Chris Charlton story in depth
  • Did the injury to  Douki change the finish?
  • Where do Young Bucks rank among most world tag team title reigns in history
  • A look at the career of the late Rick  “Hangman” Harris/Black Bart
  • Who had the most four star matches of 2024 and the most in history
  • Who has the most of the top 250 matches of all-time on Cagematch
  • Explaining how ratings are changing and how to reevaulate numbers
  • How many homes have access to the different services
  • Quality of watching on MAX vs. TBS
  • Tourist board putting on a major international show
  • Another big business week for CMLL
  • New Year’s Dash notes
  • Notes on the next major New Japan shows
  • New Japan bodybuilding contest
  • The death of Gilbert Cesca, one of the best technical wrestlers that you never heard of
  • Germany has a prime time major celebrity wrestling show featuring Claudio Castagnoli
  • Malakai Black news
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEw shows
  • Streaming numbers and International TV ratings
  • How did TNA debut on SportsNet in Canada
  • GFL announces lots of women stars’
  • Paul Levesque talks planning WrestleMania and The Rock
  • Update on Bill Goldberg
  • Nick Khan and Dwayne Johnson stock transactions this week
  • How much does WWE help the USA Network

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Sunday Update

— Both of our weekend shows are up on the site now. We went into detail on the Vince McMahon story, understanding the changes in ratings and how to evaluate Raw and Dynamite, Battle in the Valley, Black Bart and more on our show with Garrett Gonzales. We also talked about the weekend shows, the latest news last night with Bryan Alvarez.

— We are sorry to report the death of Robin Hunt, who was early ECW manager Hunter Q Robbins III, at the age of 57. He was the first manager of Sabu in the company before Bill Alfonso. He later produced independent movies after leaving wrestling.

— The only weekend match internationally that we heard a lot of raves for was Blue Panther vs Hechicero on Friday night at Arena Mexico. Last night’s show in San Jose had two very strong matches in Gabe Kidd vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Zack Sabre  Jr. vs. Hechicero. New Japan also did a great job with the Sumie Sakai retirement.

— We are doing a weekend poll on NJPW Battle in the Valley, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— In Google searches over the last 48 hours, the UFC show did 200,000 in total. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had a video on Tik Tok from a flight he was on go viral, did 200,000 while Mackenzie Dern, who beat Amanda Ribas in the first UFC main event of the year, did 100,000.

— We’re looking for reports from last night’s NXT show in Jacksonville, results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— For those voting in the awards this year, people involved in counting noted that some are listing Oba Femi for Rookie of the Year. The list of those who are eligible for the award is in the January 6 issue. For Rookie of the Year, you had to have not wrestled a match for a major promotion prior to September 1, 2023. Femi debuted November 1, 2022, or ten months before the cut off.

— Athena & Hanan & Koguma beat Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe & Thekla on yesterday’s Stardom show in Aiichi.  On today’s show in Aichi, At han & Hazuki & Koguima & Momo Kohgo beat Kamitani & Watanabe & Thekla & Ruaka via DQ.  Athena faces Thekla for the ROH women’s title tomorrow at Korakuen Hall.

— There was a huge pickup in sales for Raw in San Jose tomorrow night. As of this morning they were past 11,700 and look like they will sell out. Given nothing special has happened such as new matches to lead to a big upswing in ticket sales, it probably has to do with the Netflix debut and aura regarding the product. It will probably sell out with the walkup and this was not tracking to do anywhere close to that. Announced is Finn Balor vs Damian Priest in a street fight, Lyra Valkyria vs. Dakota Kai for the women’s IC title in the tournament final, Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser and Chad Gable vs. ? (believed to be the debut of Penta). C.M. Punk will be at the show.

— Satoshi Kojima was burned in the face by the pyro after his match with Matt Riddle on last night’s MLW show in North Richland Hills, TX. The pyro was for the celebration of Riddle winning the MLW title. Pyro shot right into his face. He was in a lot of pain and everyone freaked out, but he was okay.

— MLW from last night in North Richland Hills, TX: The show legit sold out. MLW claimed 2,400 was the attendance which we can’t verify but the sellout is legit:  Neon b Virus, Okumura b Dark Panther, Bobby Fish b Ariel Dominguez, CW Anderson & Brock Anderson b Paul London & Paul Walter Hauser in a tornado match, Tom Lawlor b Minoru Suzukli, Mads Krugger won a Gravity Gamble ladder match over Matthew Justice, Brett Ryan Gosselin, Akira and Mr. Thomas, Mistico b Barbaro Cavernario 2/3 falls to keep MLW middleweight title, Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. b Blue Panther & Dark Panther, Delmo Exo b Janai Kai to retain her hair and win the women’s featherweight title, Donovan Dijak b KENTA, Averno won three-way over Mascara Dorada and Esfinge, Matt Riddle b Satoshi Kojima to win the MLW title.

— Kushida will be back as a regular in MLW now that his TNA contract has expired.

— Chris Jericho will be at a Q&A tomorrow night as they are screening the movie “Dark Match” at 7 p.m. at the IFC Center in New York. Jericho will be doing a live Q&A after the movie airs.

— WAPA in San Juan is no longer airing Smackdown after 20 years. So for those without cable, the show is no longer available there. (thanks to Leonardo Mendez Toledo)

— Shinya Aoki, who has been a pro wrestler in Japan after making his name in MMA, was announced for the ONE show on 3/23 at the Saitama Super Arena in a fight with Eduard Folayang. Aoki beat former UFC star John Linekelr in his last fight one year ago.

— There is a very interesting NFL debate regarding Jim Tyrer in the Hall of Fame. It mirrors a lot of pro wrestling debates on  Chris Benoit (thanks to Danny Lu)

— CAC President and former pro wrestling star Brian Blair turned 67 today.

— Limitless Wrestling tonight in Heron, ME has Matt Cardona vs. Dezmond Cole, B3CCA vs. Gabby Forza and Anthony Green vs. John Walters among the top bouts.

Eddy Thorpe, Lola Vice earn future WWE NXT title shots

Posted on by Josh Nason

New contenders for WWE NXT’s top two titles were crowned over the weekend at a pair of live events.

Eddy Thorpe earned an opportunity at new NXT Champion Oba Femi during Saturday’s NXT live show in Jacksonville, Florida, after winning a battle royal.

Thorpe is coming off a title shot on this past Tuesday’s New Year’s Evil where Femi won the title in a three-way with then-champion Trick Williams and Thorpe. He also had a title shot in December which ended in a double pin.

On Friday in Dade City, Florida, Lola Vice earned a future shot at new NXT Women’s Champion Giulia by also winning a battle royal. After the win, the champion came out to confront Vice. The challenger has had several opportunities at the title in the past (Roxanne Perez, Lyra Valkyria) but has never held the gold.

When the match happens, it will be their first-ever meeting.

It’s unclear if these wins will be recognized on TV or just be honored at future NXT live events in Florida.

Oba Femi wins WWE NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Oba Femi is the new NXT Champion.

At NXT New Year’s Evil, he defeated Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe in a three-way match to become the new champion. This ends Williams’ reign with the championship after 93 days, when he defeated Ethan Page for the title during NXT’s premiere on the CW back on October 1.

The finish had Williams going for the trick knee as Thorpe looked to use a steel chair. However, Femi saw Williams coming and threw him into Thorpe, colliding into both Thorpe and the chair. Femi then hit the pop up powerbomb to win the title.

After the match, Femi exited the ring and met with Giulia on the stage, who earlier in the night won the NXT Women’s Championship. Both of the new champions held their titles high as the segment ended.

Femi had earned the title match after winning the Iron Survivor Challenge during the Deadline premium live event last month. Thorpe, who had originally qualified for the Iron Survivor match, faked an injury to take himself out and instead managed to talk his way into a title match against Trick Williams before exposing his ruse to GM Ava. After the controversial ending to their title match that saw a double pin, Thorpe was added to the New Year’s Evil title bout, making it a three-way.

Earlier at New Year’s Evil, Thorpe was seen laid out again as Ava came to investigate. She didn’t believe Thorpe this time around, but Femi backstage later admitted to attacking him as revenge over Thorpe’s attack on both him and Williams on last week’s show.

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from Deadline

Posted on by Chris Aiken

With both Iron Survivor Challenge winners set to appear, the fallout from Deadline takes place on WWE NXT tonight.

Giulia and Oba Femi were victorious on Saturday, winning the respective Iron Survivor Challenge matches. They are now in line for title shots next month at NXT New Year’s Evil. Giulia will be challenging Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship on January 7, while Femi will face NXT Champion Trick Williams.

Femi was a surprise addition to the men’s Iron Survivor field at Deadline, replacing Eddy Thorpe following an angle where Thorpe was taken out by a mystery attacker.

A singles match between Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee is part of tonight’s lineup. They were entrants in the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline and then got into an altercation after the match.

Plus, Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley team up against Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx of Fatal Influence.

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

**********

After a recap of Deadline, NXT opens with the entrance of Giulia. She won the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline, and she enters the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando in front of a live studio audience.

Giulia gets her shot at the NXT Women’s Championship as the next challenger to Roxanne Perez. Their title match is set for New Year’s Evil in January. Giulia gets in the ring on tonight’s show to address the audience as the next challenger.

Giulia starts with a monologue where she is vowing to win the title, when Giulia is interrupted by Perez. The champ cuts a promo on her challenger. Perez says neither Giulia, nor anyone else on the roster, is on her level. Perez boasts about defeating Giulia in a previous match.

Giulia challenges Perez to fight right now, when out comes Perez’s cohort Cora Jade. While Jade claims Giulia will not even make it to New Year’s Evil, and the director cuts to the backstage area where Stephanie Vaquer. The two heels hints at being responsible.

Giulia throws a forearm strike Perez and the fight is on, but Giulia is outnumbered. Plus, Cora Jade has a weapon. Jade hits Giulia with her trusty kendo stick. Giulia is in peril when out runs Kelani Jordan to make the save. Jordan evens the odds. The heel duo powders, and sets up a tag team match for tonight’s main event.

A backstage skit sets up a NXT North American Championship match with Tony D’Angelo defending against Ethan Page. The skit begins with “The Don” taking pity on Page, and D’Angelo offers him a title match. Page at first declines, and Page dismisses the North American title.

When “The Don” opens up the challenge to others in the room, Page suddenly changes his tune. Page now wants a match, sarcastically saying if he cannot beat the North American Champion then Page’s career is basically over. With that backhanded compliment of the title, Page thanks D’Angelo for the match.

“Raw is Netflix” teaser plugs the start date as “1.6.25”, while NXT cuts to its first commercial break.

Lexis King wants another shot at the Heritage Cup, and Charlie Dempsey says he will think about it. From there, Dempsey goes to talk with his crew. They are visited by OTM, and there is a confrontation. This also sets up a match with Jaida Parker against Wren Sinclair, with them also involved in the skit.

Je’Von Evans defeated Wes Lee

Evans pinned Lee clean after a tornillo body press. This was a good match, and not even the high spot fest you might think. There was still plenty of flying, though. Lee is more aggressive early on, and he clearly the heel. Lee also has a new look and hair style.

The match goes through a commercial break. Evans kicks off after taking Lee’s finisher. Just before that, Lee tries to cheat by putting his feet on the ropes for added leverage in a pinning combination. The referee catches Lee in the act, and Lee bickers with him. Moments later, Lee regroups to deliver the Cardiac Kick, but Evans kicks out. From there, they proceed to go home.

Evans hits Lee with a superkicks to set up the finis, and then Evans does a double springboard into a tornillo splash. Evans then covers Lee for a three count and a decisive victory.

A video package highlights Josh Briggs and his new tag team partnership with Yoshiki Inamura. Clips show Briggs in Japan, as they tell the story of Briggs teaming up with Inamura. They will soon arrive in NXT.

Reporter Sarah Schreiber is standing outside the trainer’s room looking for an update on Stephanie Vaquer. Out walks Kelani Jordan and Giulia. They cut promos, with Giulia first ranting in Japanese. Jordan then cuts a promo in English.

Sol Ruca is in the locker room talking with Zaria. Whatever aura Zaria had with her cool debut several weeks ago is gone, as she is now doing wacky skits like everyone else. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson confront Ruca and Zaria, which would clearly seem to set up a tag match.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont

Some heat on Tank about halfway through the match. That set up a hot tag spot, and then they go home after Hank runs wild. Bossman slam by Hank, and then he and Tank do their combo powerslam finisher. Tank then covers Tyson to win the match.

Tyson goes to shake hands with Hank & Tank after the match. Tyriek refuses any handshakes, and he storms off clearly upset over the loss.

Oba Femi is headed to the ring for a monologue since winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. Femi vows to reclaim his “rightful position on the throne,” and Femi goes to address NXT Champion Trick Williams. With the mention of his name, out comes Trick to confront Oba.

Williams and Femi go face-to-face when Eddy Thorpe suddenly interrupts them. Thorpe says will not ignore what Femi did to him (alluding to a Tonya Harding angle, which was the cliffhanger that ended the previous episode of NXT).

“Me and my people have been through enough,” Thorpe says to Femi as Thorpe gets into the ring. Thorpe confronts Femi and accuses Femi of attacking him. Femi tells Thorpe to shut up, and Femi asks Thorpe if he actually Femi attack him. Thorpe says no, as someone jumped him from behind. But whoever was powerful, and the only person with that kind of strength is Femi.

Femi blows off Thorpe, who was coming off like a jerk as well. Trick then cuts a promo on Femi, hyping their match at New Year’s Evil. Femi responds by saying the only reason Trick is the number one guy is because Femi allowed it. Femi says whenever he was ready, he could take the title. Femi then promises and swears to Trick that 2025 will be the end of his era.

After Femi leaves the ring, Thorpe rants at Trick. Thorpe is just an annoying heel? Why? He is a really great wrestler. Maybe then him be that. Otherwise, he is so unlikable in his current role as a serial complainer. Williams cut a promo on Thorpe, and then Williams punks him out. Williams decks Thorpe with a punch, after Williams sets up a match with Thorpe for next week.

Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne & Jaxmyn Nyz with NXT Women’s North American Champion Fallon Henley) defeated Gigi Dolan & Tatum Paxley

Jayne pinned Paxley, after some outside interference by Henley. Paxley drops the fall, so she at least got a hot tag in the match. Henley interferes by shoving Paxley off the top turnbuckle. “Rolling Encore” by Jayne on Paxley, and Jayne folds up Paxley for the pinfall.

The heel trio attacks Paxley after the match. Dolan tries to make a save, but Dolan is also beaten down by Fatal Influence. Shotzi Blackheart suddenly returns, and she cleans house. Together with Paxley and Dolan, the babyface trio boots the heels out of the ring. This would seem to set up a trios match, so maybe a six-woman tag coming soon.

NXT Tag Team Champions were in a few backstage skits. The final one on this episode reveals that Axiom is booked to work twice next week, in a mix-up with Frazier. Axiom got himself booked in singles match with Oba Femi. However, Frazier also pitched an idea to defend the titles. NXT GM Ava booked them in a tag title match next week. Now Axiom has to wrestle Femi in a singles match, and then help defend the tag titles alongside Frazier in a tag bout against unnamed opponents.

Lots of plugs and ads on the show for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defeated Ethan Page to retain the title

D’Angelo pinned Page clean after a spinebuster. Finish was good in that it came out of nowhere, but not a shock nor fluke pin. D’Angelo countered the Razor’s Edge by Page, and “The Don” executes the spinebuster.

The match goes through a commercial break, which also marked the return to NXT of the split-screen break. Not much happened other than some rest holds anyway. The match was good nonetheless.

Football personality Ryan Leaf has a cameo in a backstage skit with Lexis King. This is a tie-in with CW’s football coverage. Up comes Charlie Dempsey to tell King he is granted a Heritage Cup match, but only if King can survive a training session with Dempsey.

Ethan Page is depressed and upset with himself. Page says he is lost and ashamed of himself. Page then sulks away.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade vs. Kelani Jordan & Giulia

Perez & Jade, in matching gear, jump Jordan & Giulia before the bell. Eventually, they get in the ring and the bell sounds to officially start the match.

They wrestle through a commercial break. They built to Perez facing off with Giulia. Soon thereafter, Jordan does a frog splash for a near fall. Moments later, Jordan does a plancha to the outside on Jade. as Jade is being rolled back into the ring, Perez grabs Jordan to deliver Pop Rocks on the floor. After Jordan is rolled into the ring by Perez, Giulia leaps off the apron with a missile dropkick on Perez. Giulia and Perez brawl at ringside, while Jade drops Jordan with a butterfly DDT. Jade then covers Jordan for the deciding pinfall.

After the match, Stephanie Vaquer’s theme music blares, while Jade stands in the ring with her trusty kendo stick. With Jade watching the entrance ramp, Vaquer sneaks behind Jade to ambush her. Jade bumps and feeds, and then Jade powders. Vaquer then chases Jade through the studio audience.

Meanwhile in the office of the General Manager, Ava is singing a contract along with Eddy Thorpe. Next week, Thorpe challenges Trick Williams for the NXT Championship. Thorpe boasts that he deserves this shot.

Ava tells Thorpe they are still looking in to who attacked him. As Thorpe signs the contract, he reveals the Tonya Harding angle from last Tuesday was all a ruse. Thorpe staged the attack to get the title shot. He worked everyone apparently, and now he has a title shot next week.

Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans, Oba Femi appearance set for WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans will meet on Tuesday.

After losing to Oba Femi in the men’s Iron Survivor challenge at Deadline, Evans was interviewed and despite the tough loss, was in good spirits. Lee confronted him, asking Evans why he wasn’t upset about his loss. Lee ended up smacking Evans, leading to a brawl. NXT GM Ava later said that whatever issues they had could be resolved on Tuesday.

Femi will also be seen on Tuesday, speaking after winning the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. In a surprise, he was the final entrant in the match, replacing Eddy Thorpe who had been attacked at the end of NXT. The final moments of the match saw him chokeslam both Lee and Nathan Frazer to put him ahead.

Another match announced for NXT is Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin taking on Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx. Two weeks ago on NXT, Dolin made her return, taking out former partner Jayne and the rest of Fatal Influence after they attacked Paxley.

Here is the card for NXT:

  • Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans
  • Oba Femi will appear
  • Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs. Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx

Oba Femi returns, wins men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at WWE NXT Deadline

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Oba Femi emerges victorious.

Femi made his return to NXT on Saturday, appearing as the final mystery entrant in the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. After scoring a pinfall earlier in the match over Je’Von Evans, Femi chokeslammed Wes Lee and Nathan Frazer, pinning them both to earn three points overall. In the final seconds of the match, Evans laid out Femi with a springboard cutter in an attempt to tie, but wasn’t able to cover before time ran out. Femi is now the number one contender for the NXT Championship as a result of his win.

Eddy Thorpe qualified on Tuesday’s NXT in what was a last chance four-way match featuring Cedric Alexander, Axiom, and Lexis King. However, the end of the show saw him being laid out backstage. Right before the Deadline pre-show started, NXT GM Ava announced that Thorpe would be unable to compete and would pick a replacement.

Femi hadn’t been seen since losing a Tables, Ladders, and Scares match to Tony D’Angelo on the second night on Halloween Havoc. It was a rematch for the NXT North American title after D’Angelo won the title earlier in October.

Hammerstone makes surprise WWE NXT appearance, wrestles Oba Femi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Another TNA star made a surprise appearance on Tuesday’s NXT.

Hammerstone came out to challenge Oba Femi in a match, with the storyline being that Tony D’Angelo paid him to face off against the NXT North American Champion. Despite this, Femi was able to defeat Hammerstone following a powerbomb.

In a video released by NXT Anonymous on Monday, D’Angelo was seen paying someone off to take care of Femi.

Hammerstone is best known for his run in MLW, where he was a former World Champion in the company. After leaving MLW earlier this year, he joined TNA, where he feuded with Josh Alexander. Most recently, he participated in a TNA X Divison title Ultimate X match, which was won by Zachary Wentz, who has also been making appearances lately on NXT.

Another TNA star, Jordynne Grace, appeared on Tuesday and wrestled Sol Ruca in an open challenge match for the TNA Knockouts title. That match was interrupted by Rosemary and Wendy Choo, who attacked the champion.

WWE NXT live results: Three championship bouts

Posted on by Chris Aiken

With the Olympics over, WWE NXT is back tonight to its usual home on television. NXT returns to USA Network following its Great American Bash episodes, which aired on Syfy the past couple of weeks.

Tonight, Oba Femi is scheduled to put his North American Championship on the line in an open challenge. Alpha Academy’s Otis has vowed to answer that challenge after a confrontation with Femi that took place on Raw.

An NXT Tag Team title bout is set for tonight with Axiom & Nathan Frazer defending against Chase U’s Andre Chase & Ridge Holland. Plus, the Heritage Cup will be up for grabs as Charlie Dempsey challenges Tony D’Angelo.

Wes Lee betrayed The Rascalz last week after he and Zachary Wentz fell short in a title match against Frazer & Axiom. Tonight, we’ll hear from Lee for the first time since his heel turn.

Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe has also been announced. Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show begins with a recap from Great American Bash, and that concludes with the heel turn of Wes Lee. Cut to a backstage door at the Performance Center in Orlando, and in walks Lee. He is asked by a reporter why he turned on The Rascalz. Lee answers, “It’s time to start taking what’s mine.” Then Lee walks away.

Up walks NXT Champion Ethan Page. He asks for the microphone from the reporter, then adds that was a rhetorical question. Page snatches the mic away, and he tosses aside the gimmick piece with the NXT logo. Page replaces it with one that has his own logo. Page then makes his way to the ring for an opening monologue from the brand’s top champion.

Page is cocky as he cuts a promo on his way to Gorilla. He enters the sound stage and poses with his title belt before getting into the ring. Page brags about retaining the title against the challenger Oro Mensah. Page boasts he calls himself “All Ego”, and he was ever right to do so. Page says the “Era of Ego” rolls on, and Page proclaims that no one can take the title from him. Page name drops Wes Lee, Trick Williams, and Pete Dunne as prospective challengers, but he dismisses them. Page again says it is not N-X-T, it’s “N-X-Meee!”

Because almost every monologue on NXT is interrupted, out comes Joe Hendry to confront Page. At least this is surprise appearance by a character that is hugely over. If fewer monologues were interrupted, this interruption by Hendry would mean even more. Regardless, Hendry is over with the live studio audience. He gets into the ring to confront Page.

Hendry gives Page some props for being the talks of WWE… But only for 90 seconds, says Hendry. Then Hendry appears. The studio audience chants for Hendry. Page cuts off Hendry’s promo. Page suggests Hendry take his victory from last week, “and gets your ass back to TNA.”

Page questions why Hendry is still in NXT, and Hendry replies by saying he is there to win the NXT C Championship. Studio audience chants, “We believe.”

Page mocks the audience for believing in Joe Hendry. Page says Hendry’s theme song makes him sick. Page adds that Hendry is on minute 14 of his 15 minutes of fame. What Page believes the most: If Hendry is silly enough to come after Page’s title, Page will expose Hendry for a flash in the pan.

Hendry, with a gimmicked microphone of his own with his initials, cuts a fiery promo in response to Page. Hendry has “grinded” for over 10-plus years, and Hendry says he made believers everywhere he went. Hendry vows to make Page a believer when Hendry takes his title. Hendry breaks into song like this is a musical, and the studio audience sings along with Hendry. His theme music rises and blares as Page leaves the ring. Hendry is in the ring glaring at Page when Hendry is ambushed by Wes Lee. In a sneak attack, Lee blasts Hendry with a superkick. Hendry is laid out with Lee standing over him.

Wren Sinclair was bugging Charlie Dempsey in the No Quarter Catch Crew locker room, and Dempsey insists he needs to focus on his Cup title match tonight. Dempsey adds he has waited months for this match. The idea here is Sinclair is a hindrance, but that notion is a red herring. Not only did Sinclair’s win earn Dempsey the match last week, she goes on to play a major role in the title match that is up next.

Back from a commercial break, NXT GM Ava is surrounded by the women’s roster. There is a tumbler, and Ava says there will be a gauntlet eliminator ahead of No Mercy. Robert Stone and Stevie Turner bicker as usual as they both try to take charge of the lottery itself. They spin the tumbler and draw names. Wren Sinclair, Adirana Rizzo and Sol Ruca are the first names drawn from the tumbler.

Charlie Dempsey (with No Quarter Catch Crew) defeated NXT Heritage Cup Champion D’Angelo (with The Family) to win the title

Sinclair interferes to help Dempsey win the Cup. Dempsey won the title by capturing two falls, with D’Angelo having only won one fall. D’Angelo strikes first after scoring pinfall in the second round with his twisting fisherman’s buster finisher. Dempsey captures a fall in the fourth round by cradling The Dob for a pinfall, and Dempsey scores the deciding pinfall in round five to win the match. Sinclairs trips D’Angelo on the middle rope, and The Don takes a Nestea Plunge into the ring. Dempsey follows up with a butterfly suplex before scoring the deciding pinfall.

The wrestled through the first round with no falls. The match also went through a split-screen commercial break through much of the third round with no falls. Not that it was a bad thing either. This might have been D’Angelo’s best bout as champion. Really good match overall. The finish did not feel cheap despite the interference, as they created a narrative earlier.

Up next was a wacky segment with Lola Vice and Tatum Paxley, that also involved NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan. She was talking with Vice, and they part ways. Vice runs into Tatum Paxley, who is upset no one is her friend. Is this Sesame Street? At least it went somewhere, as this skit sets up a singles match for later on.

A video package hypes up the upcoming match between Eddy Thorpe and Lexis King. The hype video is great. The follow up later not so much, at least for Thorpe. They put him over so strong in the package, only to pin him clean later on.

Lexis King defeated Eddy Thorpe

King jumped Thorpe before the bell. King is able to work over Thorpe, and King works an arm. Thorpe fights back, but King targets the arm again. King then executes his Coronation neckbreaker, and King covers Thorpe for a three count. So much for Thorpe getting a push, but King looked good as a heel here. Bell to bell, Thorpe did well. Too bad he lost clean.

Trick Williams cuts a promo in a video package, hyping up a rematch with Pete Dunne. Williams vows to figure out Dunne.

Dunne is then interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Dunne blows off a rematch with Williams, and scoffs at the idea. Dunne says he is focused on the NXT Championship.

Lola Vice defeated Tatum Paxley

Vice pinned Paxley after a back elbow. Kelani Jordan was at ringside for guest commentary. Jordan is attacked by Wendy Choo, who ambushes Jordan and applies a Cobra Clutch. Vice is momentarily distracted by the sneak attack at ringside. Paxley tries to capitalize, but she comes up short on a double stomp off the top. Paxley then walks into a back elbow, and Vice covers her for a pinfall. Vice helps Paxley to her feet after the match, while Choo stands over Jordan.

Another skit with GM Ava, as they draw the last three participants in the gauntlet eliminator. The final three entrants are Jaida Parker, Kendal Gray, and Karmen Petrovic.

Wes Lee enters the sound stage to a chorus of jeers. Lee explains his turn in a monologue. He understands the hate. He gets it. He shocked the world last week. Lee says he believed he was going to win the tag titles, but Zack Wentz let him down again. The first time was two years ago when Zack let Lee down. This alludes to Wentz departure from WWE a few years ago.

Lee overcame the odds of being slotted as a tag team guy, and Lee became the North American Champion. Lee accuses Wentz and Miguel of abandoning him, while they reunited in TNA. Meanwhile, Lee broke his back to become a star.

Lee is done being a caretaker for Wentz. Lee is done wondering what Wentz will say or do. This promo was dragging by now, and was too inside baseball at times. Nevertheless, Lee had passion in his words, and anger. Lee says his partners only reunited to get the WWE rub. See, too inside baseball.

Lee goes on tease a match at No Mercy between him and Wentz. No Mercy is fitting, as Lee makes it into a pun. Lee says after he defeats Wentz, The Rascalz can do back to TNA while Lee sets his sights on the NXT Championship. While I criticized some of the booking on this show, here comes some praise. They are doing a great job of getting the NXT title over as something everyone wants to win.

Lee concludes his monologue by wishing his former partner the best in their future endeavors.

Out comes Pete Dunne to confront Lee. Dunne takes exception to Lee wanting the NXT title. Suddenly, Joe Hendry’s theme song blares. Hendry runs in to jump Lee, getting a measure of revenge from earlier. A melee ensues between Lee, Dunne and Hendry. There is a pull-apart, and this seems to set up a triple threat match.

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom are interviewed, and the appears to be on the same page again. Something tells me that does not last long, but they nevertheless vow to retain their titles this week.

NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defeated Otis (with Tozawa & Maxxine) to retain the title

Femi retains after winning a hoss fight. They do a shoulder block spot early that led into a commercial break, where Femi is knocked out of the ring by Otis. When the show returns from the break, Femi is working over Otis.

The match spills outside, and Otis takes an ugly bump on the ring steps. The referee checks on Otis, and the match continues. Otis takes a series of smashes in a corner, but he kicks out for a near fall. Otis counters a powerbomb, and he mounts a comeback. Femi cuts him off, knocking Otis out of the ring.

Femi chops Tozawa off the ring apron, which somehow causes Otis to hulk up. Otis is a seemingly unstoppable force, setting up his worm spot into an elbow drop. Otis follows up with a Vader splash for another near fall.

Otis is punching Femi in a corner, when Femi gives Otis a powerbomb. Femi then covers Otis for a pinfall. The finish was sort of anticlimactic, but Femi had to go over. Really good hoss fight here.

Brooks Jensen is cutting a promo about his downward spiral, but Jensen found a mentor. That mentor is Shawn Spears, who appears to be manipulating Jensen.

Hank & Tank cut a promo in which they reveal a match next week against The Good Brothers.

Izzi Dame defeated Brinley Reece

Dame pinned Reece in a match where they tried, but they were put on a bad spot late in the show. They set up the match in a skit earlier in the show, which played on the gauntlet eliminator. The match plodded along until the finish. Reece goes for a hand spring, and Dame cuts her down with a high kick. Dame then executes her finisher, which is sort of a combo of a fallaway slam into a uranage.

Kelly Kincaid interviews GM Ava, who makes the triple threat match official between Wes Lee, Pete Dunne and Joe Hendry. The winners gets a NXT title shot at No Mercy. In walks NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, who cuts a snarky promo about the gauntlet eliminator.

There is some hard sell for the NXT shows on the road, as Shawn Michaels plugged ticket sales for the first two weeks on The CW.

Chase U (Andre Chase & Ridge Holland with Thea Hail, Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom to win the titles

Holland pinned Axiom to win the titles. Really good bout, and Chase U certainly needed a win.

The match itself goes through a split-screen commercial break. Axiom & Frazier do a parade of dives before the show cuts to commercials. After the break, the action continues after a double down. Hot tag to Holland, who cleans house. Holland is cut off by Axiom & Frazier. Tandem and stereo moves by the defending champs. Frog splash by Axiom and 450 by Frazier, but Holland kicks out. Holland fired up, and Chase tags in to get a near fall.

Chase is perched on the top turnbuckle as Axiom & Frazier signal for their tandem finisher combo, but in runs Holland to break it up. Axiom almost kicks Frazier, playing on what happened last week. Frazier blocks the inadvertently thrown kick. That led into a false finish.

Axiom & Frazier do their tandem finisher with the superplex/Chasing the Dragon combo. Chase manages to kick out for a close near fall. Shocked face from Frazier. They go on trade near falls with Chase U. Holland & Chase do a powerbombs/backstabber combo for the last near fall.

Axiom and Holland do a Spanish Fly, which is supposed to set up Frazier doing a Phoenix Splash. However. Chase shoves Frazier off the top turnbuckle, and Frazier sails to the floor. But the announce desk broke his fall. Meanwhile in the ring, Axiom is in disbelief. Yet, he springs into action by giving Chase a shining wizard. Chase takes a bump off the apron. Holland then turns Axiom inside out with a lariat clothesline, and Holland follows up with his DDT finisher. Holland then scores a pinfall on Axiom, and Chase U win the tag titles.

Confetti fell as jubilation continues for Chase U.

Otis accepts Oba Femi’s North American title open challenge for WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Oba Femi’s challenger for NXT is set.

In a digital exclusive, Otis called out Femi, saying the NXT North American Championship looked damn good, and he’s one mean mother.

During Monday’s episode of Raw, the NXT North American Champion was in the crowd when Otis came down to the ring for a match against The Creed Brothers. The two exchanged words before he entered the ring with his tag team partner Akira Tozawa. The two would go on to lose the match after they were distracted by Ivy Nile turning on former friend Maxxine Dupri.

Femi had thrown out the challenge on last week’s NXT Great American Bash, saying he’d defend the title against anyone that was brave or foolish enough to take him on.

The announced lineup for the Tuesday, August 13 WWE NXT:

  • NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defends against Otis
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend against Andre Chase & Ridge Holland
  • NXT Heritage Cup Champion Tony D’Angelo defends against Charlie Dempsey
  • Lexis King vs. Eddy Thorpe