NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly teamed up on last night’s episode of NXT.
Balor & O’Reilly defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match in last night’s main event. Pete Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch attacked Balor and O’Reilly after the match, with Dunne snapping Balor’s fingers. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong ran down to make the save, then Balor found himself side-by-side with Undisputed Era as they stared down Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch.
Balor defending his NXT Championship against Dunne appears to be the direction for NXT’s next TakeOver special on Sunday, February 14. The build to a possible Women’s title match at that event also continued with Toni Storm, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai, and Mercedes Martinez taking part in a three-way brawl last night.
The quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic began with MSK defeating Drake Maverick & Killian Dain and The Grizzled Young Veterans defeating Kushida & Leon Ruff. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory attacked Kushida and Ruff after their loss until being scared off by Dexter Lumis.
Plus, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez booked their spot in the women’s Dusty Classic semifinals by defeating Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in a first round match last night.
NXT Champion Finn Balor has enlisted the help of his most recent title challenger for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Balor & Kyle O’Reilly will team up against NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match. On NXT two weeks ago, O’Reilly and Undisputed Era came to Balor’s aid after he was attacked by Pete Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. Balor then helped O’Reilly when he was attacked by Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch later in the night.
Balor went to NXT general manager William Regal last week and said he wants to face Dunne, but he knows the game Dunne is playing. Balor wanted to face Lorcan & Burch first, but Regal told Balor he would have to find a partner. After initially saying he only has enemies now, Balor said there were some people around here who owed him a favor. Balor went to Undisputed Era and asked if O’Reilly was in to team with him. O’Reilly agreed.
The quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will kick off with Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain taking place tonight. The first round of the women’s Dusty Classic will continue with Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Aliyah & Jessi Kamea.
Plus, Santos Escobar will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Curt Stallion. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a Dusty Classic tournament match.
MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) defeated Drake Maverick & Killian Dain to advance in the Dusty Classic tournament
Carter pinned Maverick, and MSK advances to the semifinals.
As the match got going, MSK cut off Maverick and kept him in their corner. Quicks tags and teamwork by MSK. Hot tag to Dain, and he cleaned house. Teamwork by Maverick & Dain with double-team moves. Nearfall broken up by Lee.
MSK cuts off Dain and they look to capitalize, but Dain hulked up. Dain shoved Lee off the turnbuckles, and Lee tumbles to the floor before a the show goes to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Maverick & Dain work over Lee during the commercial break. They were still in control when the show returned from the break. Hot tag to Carter, and he was on fire. MSK with their assisted standing moonsault. Carter with an Asai moonsault to the floor.
Lee rolled up by Maverick for a two count, and Maverick soon eats a back elbow. Tag to Carter and MSK execute their Hart Attack/Blockbuster combo. Carter then covered Maverick for a pinfall.
The NXT Tag Team Champions arrived at the building. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan are in the main event later on tonight.
Curt Stallion had a sit-down interview conducted by McKenzie Mitchell. Stallion talked about making towns from West Texas to Chicago. I saw him in some of those Texas towns. He talked about seeing shooting stars and following that stardom, or something like that. He will get a rocket strapped to his back, and the “Lone Star” will become a Superstar.
Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai defeated Jessi Kamea & Aliyah (with Robert Stone) to advance in the Women’s Dusty Classic
Gonzalez pinned Kamea in this first round match. Gonzalez & Kai move on to the quarterfinals.
Aliyah tried to match-up with Gonzalez, but she soon tagged it. Kamea soon found herself tied up by Gonzalez in a Gory Special. Kamea escaped to fire up on Gonzalez, but Kai caused a distraction. Kai tagged in, but Kamea soon scoop slammed her. Kai was reeling after teamwork by The Robert Stone Brand.
Aliyah went for a baseball slide, but Gonzalez pulled Kai to safety. Aliyah then ran into a high kick from Gonzalez. Power moves by Gonzalez for a near fall. Kai with a face wash for a two count. Assisted double stomp by Kai for another two count.
Kai caught with a swinging DDT, allowing Aliyah to tag out. Kamea jumped into the ring, but she ran right into a lariat from Gonzalez. Kamea then took a chokeslam bomb by Gonzalez, and Gonzalez covered her for a pinfall.
Rust won via submission. The match was mostly all Rust, except when he became distracted by his own manager. Rust quickly came back with a Rings of Saturn to submit someone possibly named Rios.
Bivens took a selfie after the match.
Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) defeated Leon Ruff & Kushida to advance in the Dusty Classic
Drake pinned Ruff, and Grizzled Young Veterans advacne to the semifinals.
The Vets had an early advantage, but Kushida & Ruff soon fired up into a series of double-team moves. Drake & Gibson were reeling as the show went to a commercial break.
Heat on Ruff after the break as The Vets kept him from making a tag. Finally, Ruff was able to tag out. Kushida flew into the ring off a hot tag, and he was on fire. The Vets traded places, and Kushida tied up Gibson too.
Kushida cut off, and he takes a Doomsday Device! Kushida managed to kick out for a near fall. Handspring back elbow takes down The Vets.
Ruff flew into action with with springboard missile. He then sailed through the ropes with a tope suicida. Ruff launched himself off the turnbuckles for flip dive to the floor. However, Ruff missed a swanton bomb.
Ruff takes a Ticket To Mayhem, and Drake covered Ruff for a pinfall.
Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory attacked Kushida & Ruff after the match. The Way jumped them, and Kushida was laid out by Gargano. Dexter Lumis appeared at ringside, and that frightened Theory.
Curt Stallion was supposedly attacked backstage. William Regal asked him what happened, and Stallion blamed El Legado del Fantasma. The match for the NXT Cruiserweight title is now off. Champion Santos Escobar was being interviewed backstage when Regal confronted him. Regal said Esobar will defend against Stallion next week, and if Stallion is attacked again there will be “serious consequences” for the rudos.
Toni Storm during an in-ring promo talked about NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. Storm wanted to become the first person to win the Women’s Dusty Cup, but Shirai took that from her (when Shirai attacked her in a match last week). Stormed vowed revenge, and she also is looking to become the champion.
Shirai came to the ring to confront Storm. Shirai said she will fight her anywhere, and Shirai said she did not like Storm. They started to brawl, and Shirai knocked Storm out of the ring. Mercedes Martinez in a sneak attack jumped Shirai. Martinez with a tree slam, but Shirai made a comeback with springboard missile dropkick.
The brawling continued, and Storm delivered several hip attacks on Shirai. She grapped the belt, and Storm posed with it while Shirai was down selling.
A vignette focused on Imperium.
Undisputed Era were interviewed backstage about their tournament tag match next week. Adam Cole & Roderick Strong were very confident they will defeat Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher.
Bronson Reed defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Reed pinned Scott after a splash off the top.
Scott very aggressive at the start until he was tripped up on the apron. Reed flew through the ropes with a tope suicida before a commercial break. Impressive. Somehow, Scott was in control when the show returned from the break. Miraculous.
Reed soon swatted away Scott as he blocked Scott’s attempted flatliner. Reed with a Death Valley Driver, but Scott managed to kick out.
Scott cut off Reed when he climbed the turnbuckles. Scott fell backwards with an avalanche shoulder breaker on Reed. Scott with a 450 splash for a near fall.
Reed hulked up and dropped Scott with a headbutt. Superfly Splash off the top rope, and Reed covered Scott for the pinfall.
Tommaso Ciampa was cutting a promo when Timothy Thatcher pulled up a chair beside him. They vowed to defeat Undisputed Era next week in a Dusty Classic tournament match.
NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan in a non-title match
O’Reilly submitted Burch to win the match. A brawl erupted after the match when Pete Dunne showed up.
Great grappling and mat wrestling from the outset. Back-and-forth action with quick tags by both teams. Burch & Lorcan took a powder as the show went to a picture-in-picture commerial break. The action didn’t let up, even during a smaller split-screen.
Burch & Lorcan began to get heat on O’Reilly. They looked to target his injured jaw. Balor came in to clean house, but he was soon trapped in a corner. Balor suffered a shoulder breaker done by Lorcan. The heel tag champs worked over the singles champion.
Balor was eventually able to create separation. Hot tag to O’Reilly, and he mowed down the heels with kicks. Burch tried to fight back. He went up to the middle rope, and Burch leapt off into a missile dropkick. O’Reilly caught him upon impact, and O’Reilly had him trapped in a heel hook. Burch tapped out.
Normally the champions losing a non-title match would set up a tag title bout. Maybe not here, as the focus was more on an upcoming singles title match.
Pete Dunne hit the ring to brawl with Balor. Lorcan & Burch helped to jump Balor. O’Reilly tried to make a save, but the numbers were too great to overcome. Dunne knocked down Balor with a cheap shot. Dunne also snapped Balor’s fingers.
Adam Cole & Roderick Strong ran in to make a save, and the heels fled the ring. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch had a staredown with Undisputed Era as the show went off the air.
Next week’s NXT will feature NXT Champion Finn Balor teaming up with his most recent title challenger.
On tonight’s NXT, it was announced that Balor & Kyle O’Reilly will face NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match next Wednesday.
Pete Dunne, Lorcan & Burch confronted Balor on NXT last week. Dunne said Balor told him to get in line for a title shot, but he’s not waiting anymore. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch attacked Balor until O’Reilly and then the rest of Undisputed Era ran out to make the save. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch also attacked O’Reilly at ringside during last week’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong vs. Breezango main event. Balor tried to get involved and fight off Dunne, Lorcan & Burch, but he and O’Reilly were both laid out.
Balor went to NXT general manager William Regal on tonight’s show and said he wants to face Dunne, but he knows the game Dunne is playing. Balor asked Regal to let him start with Lorcan & Burch. Regal responded by telling Balor that he wasn’t going to let him face Lorcan & Burch on his own. Balor said he doesn’t have friends anymore — all he has is enemies. Regal reminded Balor of the old saying to keep your enemies closer.
Balor later went to Undisputed Era and asked O’Reilly if he’s in to team with him next week. O’Reilly agreed and the match was made official.
Balor retained his NXT Championship against O’Reilly at both TakeOver 31 in October and New Year’s Evil earlier this month.
Here’s what’s been announced for next week’s NXT:
Non-title match: NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly vs. NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar defends against Curt Stallion
WWE has announced which two matches will be taking place on the first 205 Live episode of 2021.
Mansoor vs. Jake Atlas is set for tonight’s New Year’s Day edition of 205 Live. Curt Stallion & Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) vs. Ariya Daivari & The Bollywood Boyz (Sunil & Samir Singh) is also set for tonight’s show.
Mansoor is undefeated on 205 Live. He defeated Raul Mendoza on last week’s show.
Atlas was most recently in action when he lost to Isaiah “Swerve” Scott on NXT last week. That was a rematch after Atlas had won their previous meeting. Scott refused a handshake after that match and then used a headbutt to help him get the win in their rematch.
Stallion became the number one contender to Santos Escobar’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship by winning a fatal five-way match on 205 Live in November. Stallion has yet to get his title shot. Escobar is defending the Cruiserweight title against Gran Metalik on NXT New Year’s Evil next Wednesday.
Ever-Rise and The Bollywood Boyz have recently been feuding with each other. Parker defeated Samir Singh in a singles match on 205 Live last week.
205 Live airs on the WWE Network at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Fridays.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line in a street fight this coming Wednesday night.
WWE has announced that NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will defend their titles against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick in a street fight on Wednesday’s NXT. Both teams were part of a four-way brawl on the most recent episode of NXT.
Lorcan & Burch accompanied Pete Dunne to the ring for his match against Kyle O’Reilly on NXT this week. O’Reilly was accompanied by Adam Cole & Roderick Strong. But before the bell rang, Dain & Maverick attacked Lorcan & Burch and a brawl broke out. Cole & Strong and Breezango also got involved and the four teams brawled to the back.
Pat McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan & Burch interrupted a match between Dain & Maverick and Ever-Rise on NXT last month. Dain ended up having a car door slammed into his head by Dunne. Dain lost to Dunne on NXT last week after being distracted by Lorcan & Burch attacking Maverick at ringside.
Lorcan & Burch have been NXT Tag Team Champions since aligning with McAfee and winning the titles from Breezango on the October 21 episode of NXT.
For this coming Wednesday’s show, WWE has also announced that NXT Champion Finn Balor and O’Reilly will “both take a special look back” at their title match from TakeOver 31. Balor retained against O’Reilly in that match but broke his jaw in two places. O’Reilly defeated Dunne on NXT this week to become the number one contender to the NXT Championship. O’Reilly will challenge Balor for the title at NXT New Year’s Evil on Wednesday, January 6.
Here’s the updated lineup for Wednesday’s NXT:
A Very Gargano Christmas
NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defend against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick in a street fight
NXT Champion Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly look back at their title match from TakeOver 31
The Undisputed Era are officially set to face off with Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in WarGames.
After tonight’s episode of NXT went off the air, WWE uploaded a video with NXT general manager William Regal announcing that Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) will face McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan & Burch in a WarGames match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames next month. The event is taking place on Sunday, December 6.
Tonight’s NXT ended with Undisputed Era making their return and brawling with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. All four members of Undisputed Era had been attacked by McAfee and his associates in recent weeks.
In the main event segment of tonight’s NXT episode, NXT Champion Finn Balor made his return for the first time since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw last month. McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch interrupted Balor and surrounded him. Balor said it’s easy for the mice to play while the cat’s away, but the cat is back and look what he’s just dragged in. The lights then went out and Undisputed Era appeared. They brawled with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch as the show went off the air.
WarGames will be McAfee’s second-ever professional wrestling match. The former All-Pro NFL punter made his in-ring debut in a loss to Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX this August.
Undisputed Era have been part of every men’s WarGames match that has taken place in NXT. TakeOver: WarGames has been held annually since 2017.
This is the second WarGames match that’s been announced for next month’s TakeOver event. Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LeRae will be the captains of the two teams in this year’s women’s WarGames match.
Three title matches will be taking place on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Johnny Gargano has vowed to break his title defense curse and successfully defend the NXT North American Championship tonight. Gargano promised to face a “worthy opponent” that will be determined by the Wheel of Challengers.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line as Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defend against Breezango. Breezango are getting their rematch for the titles after losing them to Lorcan & Burch three weeks ago. Lorcan & Burch aligned with Pat McAfee and got help from him to win the titles. McAfee, Lorcan, Burch & Pete Dunne are now calling themselves the Kings of NXT.
Santos Escobar defends his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Jak
e Atlas. Atlas has been out for vengeance against Legado del Fantasma since Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde cost him a non-title match against Escobar two weeks ago.
After Candice LeRae got involved in her match last week, Toni Storm will face LeRae tonight. Storm defeated Shotzi Blackheart last Wednesday after Blackheart was distracted by LeRae appearing on the video screen. LeRae then destroyed Blackheart’s tank.
Plus, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Xia Li is set for tonight’s show. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a Veteran’s Day video.
Gargano opened the show in the ring. He revealed a wheel of challengers, telling people in the crowd to “respect the wheel”. He admitted that the first time he won and defended the title, he lost. But then he became NXT Champion. He eventually spun the wheel and somehow, it landed on a spot with “Leon Ruff” written hastily on white paper. And thus, the match began.
Leon Ruff defeated Johnny Gargano to win the NXT North American title
This was kind of a squash match (until the finish) but Ruff looked good in the spots he was given. This was far more about Damien Priest and Gargano.
Gargano dominated early, chopping Ruff in the corner. Ruff avoided a charge, switched positions around the turnbuckles and dropped Gargano with a dropkick. Gargano regained heat by throwing Ruff off the apron into the steel steps.
Gargano continued the assault outside the ring, throwing Ruff into the cage containing the crowd nearby. Damien Priest then appeared. Gargano initially mocked Priest, but when Priest emerged outside of the cage area, Gargano re-entered the ring.
Ruff tried to gain on this by rolling up Gargano, but Gargano kicked out. Gargano instead lawn-darted Ruff in the corner. He mocked Priest long enough for Ruff to counter with a crucifix bomb to pin Gargano and in the title. Yes, Leon Ruff has won the title.
Gargano was stunned by this development, to say the least. Ruff put the championship around his waist to celebrate, but as the referee held his hand up, the belt fell down, as you see, he’s very skinny.
Leon Ruff was being interviewed when Damien Priest came up to him and told him to take the black Challenger outside. Ruff exited as Gargano came in pissed and had to be restrained. Gargano acted like he never came up with the wheel stipulation in the first place.
In a WWE Network exclusive, Jake Atlas said he was tired of the numbers game. He got out of his car and attacked Legando del Fantasma with a pipe.
Santos Escobar defeated Jake Atlas to retain the NXT Cruiserweight title
This was perfectly fine, but nothing overwhelmingly great. A really good TV title match. There were a lot of things I liked about Atlas that seem lost in translation when going into the WWE Universe, and I will leave it at that.
Escobar controlled early. Atlas made a comeback. One of Legando del Fantasma tried to use the crowbar while Atlas was on the apron, but Atlas fended off both men. He got a nearfall with a springboard blockbuster.
Back from commercial, Escobar was back on offense as Legado del Fantasma tripped up Atlas during the break, and were thrown out. Escobar propped up Atlas and hit a hurricanrana off the top rope, followed by a frog splash. Atlas made a comeback, hitting a hurricanrana of his own. Escaobar, however, got heat back after pushing Atlas off the top rope and into the announcer’s table ringside. Escobar then threw Atlas into the steel steps.
Atlas came back with a dive, then followed in the ring with a rollup for a near fall. Escobar dropped Atlas into the middle rope then cut him off with a superkick. Atlas came back and tried for the cartwheel DDT, but Santos blocked it, double hooked the arms and drove Atlas face first into his knee, pinning Atlas to retain the championship.
Dexter Lumis was shown completing a drawing of Cameron Grimes running away from a zombie referee while Raquel Gonzalez was walking to the ring.
A video package was shown of Candice LeRae destroying Shotzi Blackheart’s tank. Blackheart said she wasn’t looking for payback or revenge, she was looking to kick Candice’s ass.
Gonzalez came out to the ring, but when it was time for Xia Li to come out, Boa arrived instead. Boa told Gonzalez that Li would not be able to wrestle her. Gonzalez was pissed and kicked Boa straight up in the temple. She threw him around ringside before throwing him back into the ring and delivering a big boot and a one-armed powerbomb.
The lights then went out and an image of a Chinese dragon appeared. An old guy came to the ring and delivered Boa a note. He then put black marking on his hand before leaving. Boa sold his hand like the marking had some sort of power on him.
August Grey was about to explain why he confronted Timothy Thatcher last week when Thatcher jumped him and applied a front facelock. He then threw Grey into Lumis’ drawing. Lumis stared at him.
Candice LeRae defeated Toni Storm
This was one of the better matches of the night. There was some good wrestling, save for the cheap finish.
Things started off with some chain wrestling. Storm held on and applied an armbar. Storm continued to build up momentum until she went for a running hip toss, but instead went into the steel steps, giving an opening to LeRae.
Back from break, Storm cut off LeRae as both tried to recover. Storm hit a fisherman’s suplex, She went to the top rope, but LeRae met her there and went for a twisting neckbreaker, but didn’t catch her. Storm countered with a legdrop off the top rope, but LeRae dodged. LeRae tripped Storm into the turnbuckle then rolled her up, pinning her using the ropes for leverage.
Storm attacked LeRae after the match when the Scream person came out and helped her assault Storm. Blackheart came out to even the odds, but the Scream person laid her out with a kick. The Scream person then took off the Scream mask, revealing….Indi Hartwell. Hartwell and LeRae posed in the ring, cementing her alliance.
Breezango said it would not be fun Breezango coming out. Breeze promised they would regain the titles.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Dexter Lumis
This was fine. I was expecting a lot worse, but it was just your typical WWE TV match.
Lumis immediately took down Thatcher with a Thesz press as Thatcher recovered on the outside. Lumis gained control, putting Thatcher in a submission. He then laid out Thatcher with a spinebuster, but favored his arm after. He hit a dropkick and sent Thatcher to the floor. Thatcher regained control outside of the ring, but Lumis started to make a comeback until Thatcher shoved Lumis bad arm first into the post.
Back from commercial, Lumis cut off Thatcher and went to the top rope slowly. Thatcher cut him off with a European uppercut, but Lumis shoved him off and hit a swanton bomb. Thatcher shoved Lumis into Cameron Grimes, who was on the apron, then rolled him up for the win.
Grimes jumped Lumis after the match, but Lumis rose and stared down Grimes. He went for the attack, but Grimes cut him off and choked him with a burlap sack. He then connected with a knee into the corner. Lumis tried to fight back with a chair, but ended up sitting in it as Grimes laid him out with a double foot stomp. Grimes told Lumis that he wasn’t scared of him.
Gargano told William Regal he had calmed down and wanted to reverse the results. Regal told him no. Gargano was mad and said it was a goof, a joke. Regal said the decision stood and Leon Ruff is the new North American champion. Gargano didn’t like hearing that.
Ciampa promo. He mentioned that he has been in this business for 16 years and remembers being trained by the likes of Harley Race and Killer Kowalski. He said times have certainly changed, and everyone is talking. Bark enough and people begin to feel to their bite. He never thought he would be the last of a dying breed, but this culture, the 2020 locker room culture, is going to change. Ciampa is that change.
They aired a Prime Target segment covering the rivalry between Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley. That match will take place next week.
Pat McAfee. Pete Dunne, Danny Burch, and Oney Lorcan came out. McAfree put over Pete Dunne attacking Roderick Strong and Killian Dain. He talked about getting text messages from Tom Brady and others as he headed to Florida, thinking about what he was going to say. He buried the announce team and finished the promo by saying “let’s do this”. He’s really great in this role.
Cameron Grimes was elated about laying out Dexter Lumis. He said he was afraid of him, but then he covered him up Lumis’ creepy eyes. He said he was going somewhere where he’s gotta be, very happy about his actions.
NXT Champion Finn Balor, who has been out with an injured jaw, will appear on next week’s show.
Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan defeated Breezango to retain the NXT Tag Team titles
Good main event. The McAfee stable act immediately has some good main event level presence. After months of feeling forgotten, the tag team division in NXT seems to be shaping up.
Burch and Lorcan immediately started by taking Breezango outside of the ring to the floor. Fandango manages to get the upper hand on Burch as he tagged in Breeze. He hit a snap suplex and tagged in Lorcan, who was taken to the corner and worked over by Breezango. Burch was thrown into McAfee, who was at the announcer’s table, as they headed to the break.
Burch worked over Breeze while commercials ran. McAfee was at ringside as Breezango regained control. Fandango went for a sunset flip powerbomb on Lorcan, but when McAfee tried to catch the referee’s attention, Drake Maverick came in and laid out Lorcan, letting Fandango hit the top rope leg drop for a nearfall.
Dunne came in and sent McAfee into the ring so he could send Breeze off the apron. Burch it tagged in, which Fandango didn’t see. Burch headbutted Fandango, allowing him to be set up for an elevated DDT, giving the win to the champions.
Everyone came in to celebrate, but Drake Maverick came in for the attack. He was quickly cut off as Dunne lifted him up and slammed him on the announcer’s table. Breezango came in for the save, but were both cut off. They set it up so McAfee could connect with a running knee into the face of Breeze, who was propped up on the announcers table. The show ended with McAfee adjusting the camera to show what was left of Breezango and Maverick.
The fallout from Halloween Havoc took place on last night’s NXT.
After adding Pete Dunne to their ranks and laying out Kyle O’Reilly last week, Pat McAfee, Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch, and Dunne declared themselves the new Kings of NXT. They held a ceremony “retiring” Undisputed Era. They threw an Undisputed Era banner in the trash and lit it on fire.
McAfee, Lorcan, Burch, and Dunne interrupted a match between Killian Dain & Drake Maverick and Ever-Rise on last night’s show before their promo. Dain tried to fight back as the Kings of NXT were leaving the building but was outnumbered and had a car door kicked into his head by Dunne.
Shotzi Blackheart got to pick her own opponent last night after hosting Halloween Havoc. Blackheart chose a match against Toni Storm, but Blackheart lost after being distracted by Candice LeRae on the video screen. LeRae destroyed Blackheart’s tank as a way to get back at Blackheart for getting involved in her match against NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai at Halloween Havoc and stopping LeRae from cheating via interference.
A person wearing a Scream costume tried to help LeRae and Johnny Gargano win last week. While LeRae lost to Shirai, Gargano defeated Damian Priest to win the NXT North American Championship. Last night, Gargano promised to break his title defense curse by retaining against “a worthy opponent” next week.
Plus, Shirai issued a challenge to Rhea Ripley, Ember Moon faced Dakota Kai, Kushida took on Cameron Grimes, and Tommaso Ciampa faced off with Velveteen Dream.
Former All-Pro punter Pat McAfee returned to NXT last night and helped Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan win the NXT Tag Team titles.
Burch & Lorcan weren’t originally supposed to challenge for the Tag Team titles last night, but there were angles where Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong were attacked backstage throughout the episode. Kyle O’Reilly was going to team with Strong after Fish was attacked, but O’Reilly told NXT general manager William Regal to give Burch & Lorcan the title shot after Strong was attacked too. Fish & Strong had defeated Burch & Lorcan in a number one contenders match last week.
A masked attacker pushed Fandango off the top rope during last night’s main event. Burch low blowed Tyler Breeze and then a double-team elevated DDT got Burch & Lorcan the win.
The attacker took off his mask after the match and was revealed to be McAfee. He mocked Undisputed Era and then cut a promo after the show saying this is the start of something very special. McAfee said he, Burch, and Lorcan are the new kings of this brand and they’re nowhere near done with what they’re going to do to NXT.
This was McAfee’s first appearance on NXT since making his in-ring debut in a loss against Adam Cole at TakeOver XXX this August. He was also presumably the person who had Ridge Holland attack Cole at TakeOver 31.
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch are the new NXT Tag Team Champions after getting an assist from the returning Pat McAfee.
It was advertised that Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish would challenge for Breezango’s Tag Team titles on NXT tonight, but that match didn’t take place following angles where Fish and Strong were laid out by an attacker backstage. Kyle O’Reilly was going to team with Strong after Fish was attacked. After Strong was later attacked too, O’Reilly told NXT general manager William Regal that he should give Undisputed Era’s title shot to Lorcan & Burch. Strong & Fish had defeated Lorcan & Burch last week to become the number one contenders to Breezango’s titles.
An attacker wearing a mask appeared during tonight’s title match and pushed Fandango off the top rope. Burch hit a low blow on Breeze while the referee was distracted, then Lorcan and Burch hit a double-team elevated DDT on Breeze to win the titles. After the match, the attacker unmasked and was revealed to be McAfee. He mocked Undisputed Era and their pose to close the show.
McAfee, a sports media personality and former All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts, made his in-ring debut in a loss against Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX this August. At TakeOver 31 earlier this month, it was revealed at the end of the show that Cole had been attacked by Ridge Holland. It was later teased that someone had paid Holland to attack Cole.
Holland has undergone surgery after suffering a left ankle dislocation and fracture and a right knee patellar dislocation and patellar tendon rupture on the post-TakeOver 31 episode of NXT.
McAfee told ESPN after TakeOver XXX that he had no further commitments with WWE at the time but was open to returning.
This is Lorcan & Burch’s first reign as NXT Tag Team Champions. Prior to losing the titles tonight, Breezango had been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner this August.
Breezango’s next challengers will be determined on this week’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will face Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish in a tag match on NXT this Wednesday. The winning team will become the number one contenders to Breezango’s NXT Tag Team titles, though WWE has yet to announce when they’ll be getting their title shot.
The number one contender’s match was set up when Strong & Burch teamed together to defeat Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza on NXT three weeks ago. In storyline, Fandango pitched the match to NXT general manager William Regal. The stipulation was that one member of Lorcan & Burch would team with one member of Undisputed Era against one member of Imperium and one member of Legado del Fantasma. The winners would then advance to face each other in a number one contender’s tag match.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Aichner & Barthel on the August 26 episode of NXT. They’ve had one title defense since then, defeating Imperium in a rematch last month.
Lorcan & Burch vs. Strong & Fish is the first match that’s been announced for this week’s NXT.
Ridge Holland appeared to suffer an injury to his ankle on tonight’s episode of NXT.
After defeating Danny Burch, Holland continued to attack him until Burch’s tag team partner Oney Lorcan came for the save. Holland was taken out initally, but he came back and attacked Lorcan. At one point, Lorcan went for a pescado to the floor, which Holland caught, On landing, Holland appeared to injure his ankle. Lorcan was pulled off and the referee held the X sign.
Upon return from commercial, Holland was stretchered out, giving a thumbs up sign as he was taken out of the arena.
Holland played a part in the closing angle that took place on TakeOver this past Sunday. After Finn Balor retained the NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Holland appeared with an injured Adam Cole on his shoulder. He dumped Cole on the floor, with the rest of Undisputed Era coming in asking what happened as the show went off the air.
Ariya Daivari defeated Eli Night, Bobby Flaco, and Jason Cade
Ariya Daivari took to social media promising $10,000 to any one of the three men he would face tonight. In what became a three-man gauntlet, Daivari’s money could be claimed by any of his competitors if they could pin or submit him.
Daivari wasted no time in clobbering Eli Night. Night was beaten and pinned exceptionally quickly with a hammerlock lariat being the impetus to the fall.
Bobby Flaco hit the ring with a headlock, but this lasted about two seconds. Daivari, for his troubles, obliterated Flaco. A clothesline followed by a hammerlock lariat allowed Daivari to pin Flaco.
Jason Cade sprinted to the ring which allowed him to land some quick offense on the off-guard Daivari. With dollar signs in his eyes, Cade took a risky dive which Daivari took full advantage of. A uranage flattened Cade and the night’s third hammerlock lariat allowed Daivari to secure the pin, keeping his money safe in his wallet.
Danny Burch defeated Tony Nese
Danny Burch and Tony Nese struggled for control via grappling in the early going. Neither man was proving to be superior prior to a Burch facebuster. As soon as Burch secured some kind of advantage, Ariya Daivari walked to the ring, gaining the attention of Burch. Nese blindsided Burch as Daivari joined the commentary booth.
Nese took to chopping Burch before grounding him with a chinlock. Nese continued his offense with a running hotshot before taunting Burch. Burch sprung up and delivered a chop of his own, but Nese was quick to land a dropkick, taking the match back to the mat in the process. At every point of Burch’s contention, Nese had an answer.
A Burch headbutt finally opened a window for Burch. Burch connected with a powerful offensive sequence that was punctuated with a second rope dropkick, a near fall followed. A colossal German suplex and a wind stealing lariat led to another near fall. Burch tried for a rollup, but a boot from Nese found Burch’s temple. Nese tried to follow up with a moonsault but a quick Burch caught Nese with a crossface during his descent. Nese made it to the ropes following a show of agony.
Nese and Burch entered a brief exchange following the rope break, but it was Nese who regained control. A pump handle driver led to a Nese near fall. Nese tried for a running knee, but Burch avoided it. Both Nese and Burch fell outside of the ring in the moments that followed. Burch once again became distracted by Daivari, entering a momentary squabble before kicking Daivari. Nese took full advantage once again, kicking Nese and landing a running knee once Burch was back in the ring. Nese pinned Burch for the win.
Nese and Burch are good enough together to carry what would otherwise be a trivial match. The flow was nice and the action was crisp. Overall a good match.
205 Live began with a rematch; the man formerly known as Tehuti Miles, now Ashante Adonis, was to once again wrestle the man who triggered this change in personas, The Brian Kendrick.
Kendrick in the early going looked to be regretting his words of wisdom towards Adonis late last month. Kendrick shoved Adonis, only for Adonis to pursue him with his newfound intensity. Adonis gained an early lead from this point which was lost after a big boot from Kendrick. Kendrick pummeled Adonis while avoiding all of his reversal attempts.
Kendrick eventually gave an inch to Adonis in the way of separation which Adonis fully capitalized on, landing a momentum nullifying clothesline. An Adonis spinebuster and head kick resulted in a pair of near falls. Finally, after a brief struggle, Adonis landed a DDT but taunted Kendrick in the moments following. Kendrick took advantage, secured the captain’s hook, and submitted Adonis.
Kendrick and Adonis shook hands just as they did in their match two weeks ago.
This match, in the same manner as their last, was fine in the ring and played further into the same story. The Adonis rebranding seems to be a means to further confirming the already established character of Miles following his first Kendrick match. Adonis is now more intense than ever but is still overconfident.
Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise) defeated Andrew Lockhart and Erik Lockhart
This match was a complete and total squash. Neither member of Ever-Rise gave up even an inch of offense to either Lockhart. The match was executed well enough considering its contents.
Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde (w/ Santos Escobar) defeated Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch
Oney Lorcan and Joaquin Wilde started this match with a nice progression of chain wrestling. Wilde eventually won out and was able to trade tags with his partner Raul Mendoza in hopes of furthering their advantage. Danny Burch was able to secure a tag after Lorcan fought into his corner, a tag that Burch was able to take full advantage of. After regaining momentum for his team Burch delivered a double suplex with the aid of Lorcan.
Wilde was able to interfere on behalf of his team which allowed Legado Del Fantasma to stomp Burch into the mat. Wilde and Mendoza both traded tags as they further damaged Burch. Burch dug down deep to tag Lorcan back into the match, a tag which set a passion-filled Lorcan free. Lorcan effectively shifted the match back into his team’s favor before tagging Burch back in where he, with the help of Lorcan, landed an elevated DDT. Mendoza was forced to break the pin attempt that followed.
Burch and Wilde were now on seemingly equal ground and it was Burch who was getting ahead. A massive German suplex triggered a reaction from Santos Escobar. Escobar hopped onto the apron but before anything could come of it Ever-Rise entered the ThunderDome. Ever-Rise initiated an attack on Escobar which drew the attention of Burch, which lasted no more than three seconds. Wilde was able to roll up his distracted opponent and effectively steal the win.
This match was well structured and well-executed from bell to bell. The finish, while a bit flaky, was a followup from a reasonably angered Ever-Rise. All in all, a good watch.
Ariya Daivari immediately took to striking Tehuti Miles who seemingly was unchanged following his loss to Brian Kendrick last week. Daivari, after besting Miles in a sudo-boxing exchange, called Miles trash. It was this comment that triggered a shift in Miles’s demeanor. Miles transitioned into a more brutish version of himself; a look of passion developed on his face and an uncharacteristic intensity found its way into his moves.
Daivari was able to suppress the offense following the shift in Miles’s mannerisms by ejecting him to the outside of the ring. After driving Miles into the announce table, Daivari continued his offense in the ring for some time. Miles took a flattening clothesline but mere moments later met Daivari with a DDT. Miles kipped up and let out a great roar. Daivari was then dropped with a spinebuster which almost left Miles the victor. Miles climbed to the top rope from where he lept, only for Daivari to avoid the attack and connect with a leaping forearm.
Daivari called Miles trash once again. Miles tried for a surprise roll-up, but Daivari kicked out. Daivari worked for a hammerlock lariat only for Miles to try once more for a surprise rollup which Daivari, once again, kicked out from. A Daivari superkick and hammerlock lariat followed a combination that allowed Daivari to pin Miles for the win.
Daivari extended his hand to Miles in the same way Kendrick did last week, but Daivari pulled his hand away before Miles could shake it.
This match was interesting. It, again, was playing to a new Miles, a Miles which we saw shades of tonight. A fun watch.
Mansoor defeated Colby Corino
Mansoor at every turn in the early match read Colby Corino as if he were a book. Mansoor, after an extended offensive stretch with only light resistance, climbed to the second rope. Before he could leap, Corino kicked Mansoor’s leg off the rope, resulting in a gross fall. Corino took full advantage of this opening as he laid in firm strikes and a 450 senton to a grounded Mansoor.
Corino locked in an abdominal stretch that Mansoor fought free from. A northern lights suplex from Mansoor preceded a sloppy rope assisted neck breaker. Mansoor lifted Corino for his still-unnamed one-handed electric chair driver. Mansoor pinned Corino for the win.
This match was not good. Not insultingly bad, just entirely uninteresting and occasionally sloppy.
[No Contest] Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise)
Matt Martel and Chase Parker took an early lead on Oney Lorcan with quick tags. This lead was continued following Danny Burch tagging in. Both Burch and Lorcan were met with team-based domination in the early going.
Lorcan made a hard-fought hot tag that finally moved the match into their favor. Burch completely moved the advantage back into his team’s favor. Enter El Legado Del Fantasma. The faction smashed all four members with chairs, kicks, and duct tape. In the end, only El Legado Del Fantasma stood tall