A unified North American Champion was crowned on the first NXT episode of 2022.
At New Year’s Evil on Tuesday night, Carmelo Hayes defeated Roderick Strong to unify the NXT North American Championship and NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Hayes was North American Champion going into the match, while Strong held the Cruiserweight title.
With the titles being unified, Hayes will be recognized as the NXT North American Champion going forward.
Hayes pinned Strong after hitting his diving leg drop finishing move from the top rope. There was a spot leading into the finish where Strong hit an X-Plex from the top on Hayes. Hayes was able to put his arm on top of Strong and try to pin him after they both landed, but Strong kicked out.
The title unification match was set up by Hayes and Strong both calling themselves the true champion in NXT.
Hayes has been North American Champion since winning the title from Isaiah “Swerve” Scott last October. After winning last year’s NXT Breakout Tournament, Hayes cashed in his title shot contract on Scott to win the North American title.
NXT’s final stop before New Year’s Evil takes place tonight.
Tonight’s show will feature a contract signing for one of the three title matches that’s been confirmed for next Tuesday’s New Year’s Evil event. NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong will make their title unification match official.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bron Breakker and NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose vs. Raquel Gonzalez vs. Cora Jade are also set for New Year’s Evil.
Ahead of next week’s title match, Gonzalez & Jade will team up against Rose’s Toxic Attraction stablemates Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne tonight.
Raw star Riddle will make an appearance as MSK call out NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium tonight. Brian Kendrick will return to the ring against Harland, Tiffany Stratton will make her NXT in-ring debut, and WWE will follow up on Grayson Waller’s appearance on Monday’s Raw. Waller will kick off tonight’s show after continuing his feud with AJ Styles on Raw.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Grayson Wallers opens the show with an in-ring monologue. He talks about being at Monday Night Raw last night, saying he bought tickets as a Christmas present to himself. Waller throws to a recap from Raw, with Waller confronting AJ Styles.
Waller continues to cut a promo on Styles. He buries Styles’s theme song. Waller insults the fans for cheering Styles. Waller says there is no brighter star than himself.
Waller changes the subject to his match tonight on NXT. Waller was supposed to wrestle Dexter Lumis, but he is supposedly not cleared to compete. Waller mocks him for being injured, and Waller goes on to say there is a replacement. Waller insists whoever it is will find out about the “Grayson Waller Effect.”
Out comes Odyssey Jones as the replacement. Jones cuts a short promo on Waller, and Jones calls him a “bitch.”
Grayson Waller defeated Odyssey Jones
Waller pins Jones after Jones hit an exposed turnbuckle. Waller won by using a stunner as his finisher. AJ Styles announces after the match that he faces Waller in a match at New Year’s Evil.
Jones was looking dominate as the show cut to a commercial break. Tide turns during the break, and Waller is in control as the show comes back from commercial. Jones soon begins to fight back, but Waller cuts him off.
While trying to block a powerbomb, Waller pulls off a pad off that was covering the turnbuckle. Waller still takes the powerbomb, but the a turnbuckle is now exposed in a corner. Jones missing a splash, and he smashes into the exposed turnbuckle. Waller then flips into the ring, and Waller delivers a Stone Cold Stunner. Waller covers Jones for a three count to win the match.
AJ Styles appears on the video screen after the match. Styles tells Waller he will see him at New Year’s Evil.
McKenzie Mitchell is backstage interviewing Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade. They have a match later against Toxic Attraction. Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray enter the scene the argue about who should be the challengers at New Year’s Evil. They are all bickering among themselves when NXT Champion Mandy Rose appears on a monitor.
Rose takes it upon herself to book a tag match between the bickering challengers. Winners of the tag match are the two that will challenge Rose in a triple threat match at New Year’s Evil. Rose says she is champion so she can make calls like that. Anyway, this was silly. Yet it does set a tag match for later tonight.
Waller is mad backstage, and he bumps into MSK.
A hype video highlights Tiffany Stratton ahead of her debut later in the show.
Xyon Quinn in a pre-tape promo gives Elektra Lopez an ultimatum. She must pick between him or Santos Escobar.
Cameos by WALTER and Matt Riddle during Imperium-MSK confrontation
MSK comes to the ring for a promo. Matt Riddle was supposed to be with them this week, but Riddle appears on the video screen to say “plans change.” He is with them in spirit. There were some weed jokes. Riddle tells them to challenge Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Out comes Imperium to confront MSK. Imperium dismiss MSK, and say they will remain champions. MSK wants a title match right here tonight. WALER interrupts by appearing on the video screen. WALTER cuts a great promo putting over Imperium as the champs.
Riddle dials back in and he appears in a split screen with WALTER. Riddle challenges WALTER to a six-man tag match next Tuesday at New Years’s Evil. WALTER accepts the challenge, and a trios match is set for next week.
Harland was supposed to wrestle Brian Kendrick, but Kendrick did not come out for his match. Why advertise a match before a commercial break, and then not deliver it minutes later. Bait and switch, much?
Harland (with Joe Gacy) defeated Andre Chase.
Harland wins after a referee stoppage.
Andre Chase enters the ring to confront Joe Gacy and Harland. Chase bickers with Gacy until Gacy reveals that Chase is Kendrick’s replacement. Harland mauls Chase in a complete squash. Harland is squashing Chase when the ref stops the match, awarding the bout to Harland.
A student from Chase University runs in to check on Chase. Harland pulls the students out of the ring, throws him over his shoulder, and Harland basically kidnaps the long haired student.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Fallon Henley
Stratton pins Henley after a flatliner. Not a good match. Stratton has potential, but the act is not ready for national television. She also seems miscast.
Her theme song even calls her a “daddy’s girl,” so safe to say this Olympian is now a stereotypical rich girl. This gimmick might work if WWE still referred the female roster as Divas. The gimmick is very outdated, and very one dimensional.
Tony D’Angelo narrates a video recapping his beating of Pete Dunne. D’Angelo beat up Dunne with a crowbar. D’Angelo warned Dunne not to return, or the next beating will be more severe. Basic mob story from every mob TV show you have ever seen.
Contract signing for Unification Match
A table and chairs is set up in the ring. Wade Barrett is assuming host duties. Malcom Bivens, flanked by Diamond Mine, leads the NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong to the ring. Bivens cuts a great promo as usual.
Trick Williams leads NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes to the ring. The two sides bicker back-and-forth. The implied joke is the white dudes had no idea what anyone else was talking about. The segment eventually got serious as Strong and Hayes cut promos on each other, which builds up their unification match. Great talking segment.
The segment was winding down when Biven began to berate Williams. That makes Williams angry, so he gets in Bivens’ face. The Creed Brothers grab Williams from behind, and the Creeds put Williams through a table with a spinebuster.
Solo Sikoa defeated Santos Escobar (with Legado del Fantasma)
Sikoa pins Escobar to remain undefeated in NXT. Best match so far on this show.
This bout was set up earlier in the show during a backstage skit. Escobar felt that Sikoa disrespected his faction and Elektra Lopez. Sikoa refused to apologize, and he instead challenged Escobar to a match.
Very much an American style match, with almost no hint of Escobar being a luchador. Somewhat of an old school match with a methodical pace at the start. Might have fit right in on the undercard of a MSG show in late ’70s.
Sikoa was looking strong when Legado del Fantasma causes a distraction. Escobar blindsides the distrated Sikoa, and Sikoa is down selling as the show cuts to a commercial break.
Escobar is working over Sikoa as the show returns from the break. Escobar seemingly in total control, until he signals for the Three Amigos. Sikoa counters an attempted suplex, and Sikoa explodes into a comeback.
Sikoa thwarts interference by Legado del Fantasma, but doing so distracted Sikoa. Escobar with a chop block takes out the knee of Sikoa. Escobar follows with a super Frakensteiner. Escobar looked to be bleeding from the nose.
Xyon Quinn enters the ringside area to confront Elektra Lopez. Escobar sees him, and Escobar goes flying through the ropes with a dive on Quinn. Escobar rains down some punches on Quinn. Escobar sternly points a finger at Lopez as he reenters the ring.
Back in the ring, Escobar walks into a superkick from Sikoa. Superfly splash off the tope rope, and Sikoa covers Escobar for a three count.
Harland and Joe Gacy are atop the building with the unnamed student they kidnapped earlier in the show. Harland teases throwing the student off the top of the building, but Harland and Gacy leave instead. They sparred the student, so whatever that means.
Sikoa was doing a backstage interview after winning his match, and Boa out of nowhere attacks Sikoa. Boa with the Meng deathgrib chokes out Sikoa, and Boa also hits a camera operator.
A great video package hypes the NXT title match next week at New Year’s Evil. Bron Breakker challenges NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa in a rematch next Tuesday.
Von Wagner defeated Malik Blade
Wagner pins Blade in a glorified squash match. Robert Stone was watching along from a monitor backstage. This comes after Wagner to lost a match to Edris Enofe last week in what was an upset win.
Blade got some offense, but very little. The match was mostly all Wagner. Blade did make a short comeback that included a flying crossbody. Wagner quickly cut him off, yet the go on to tease another upset like last week.
Wagner goes on to execute a twisting double underhook suplex, and Wagner covers Blade for a pinfall.
Wagner went to again attack Blade after the match, but Edris Enofe appears at ringside to pull Blade out to safety.
Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade defeated Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray
The winners go on to the triple threat title match next week against NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose at New Year’s Evil.
Convoluted match with a convoluted storyline, and it fittingly had a convoluted finish. All around it was a convoluted mess.
They match went through a commercial break. Just before the break, Kay Lee Ray leapt off the top rope with a dive to the outside. Shirai follows with an Asai moonsault to the floor. The match peaked here. All downhill from there.
Jade gets worked over for a long while, building to a hot tag to Gonzalez. People seemed out of place at times. Eventually, Gonzalez tags in to run wild on KLR. Counter by KLR, but she still falls victim to a chokeslam by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez fell back into her corner, and Jade makes a bling tag. Gonzalez and Jade begin to bicker over the blind tag. Shirai tries to capitalize with a flying crossbody, but Gonzalez catches her. Gonzalez tosses Shirai out of the ring.
Next came by far the dumbest thing on the show. Jade goes to cover KLR, and Jade’s own partner breaks up the pin. Gonzalez then starts yelling at Jade for trying to win the match. Gonzalez is apparently mad that Jade is stealing her pinfall. So dumb, but it gets dumber. First, let me explain:
If Jade had scored the pin, then her and Gonzalez win the match. Thus they go on to the title match next week. Gonzalez apparently knows this, because moments later she helps Jade score a pinfall. Yet, Gonzalez was originally mad that Jade was trying to score a pin. Why?
KLR capitalizes on the bickering by going for an O’Connor Roll. Gonzalez breaks up the pin by pushing Jade into a counter. Jade then cradles KLR to score the deciding pinfall.
Gonzalez and Jade go on to New Year’s Evil for a title match against Mandy Rose. Appearing on the video screen after the match, Rose cuts a promo on Gonzalez and Jade. Her promo was almost as convoluted as this main event segment.
WWE is set to unify the NXT North American Championship and NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
On NXT tonight, it was announced that North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong will face off in a title unification match at New Year’s Evil. The show is a special episode of NXT. It’s airing live on USA Network on Tuesday, January 4.
Hayes agreed to the match after being challenged by Strong. Both have been calling themselves the real champion in NXT.
A contract signing for the title unification match will take place on NXT next Tuesday. The contract signing will be hosted by Wade Barrett.
Hayes vs. Strong is the third match that’s been announced for New Year’s Evil. The updated lineup for the event is listed below:
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defends against Bron Breakker
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defends against Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade in a triple threat match
Title unification match: NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong
Bron Breakker’s road to a potential rematch against NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa continues tonight.
At WarGames, Breakker pinned Ciampa to win the match for Team NXT 2.0. Breakker then appeared on last week’s NXT and issued a challenge to Ciampa. Breakker pointed out that they each had a win against each other and challenged Ciampa to put the NXT Championship on the line against him.
But Malcolm Bivens appeared instead and challenged Breakker to face Roderick Strong on tonight’s show. Breakker accepted, saying that he doesn’t care who he has to run through to get to Ciampa.
Strong retained the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Joe Gacy at WarGames.
Tonight’s NXT will also see Gacy’s associate Harland make his in-ring debut. Cora Jade will face off with Dakota Kai, Cameron Grimes will take on Duke Hudson in a no holds barred match, Tony D’Angelo will be in action against Andre Chase, and Boa will face Edris Enofe.
Plus, Grayson Waller will address his attack on Johnny Gargano from last week. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with Grayson Waller’s arrival to the building. A crowd gathered in the parking lot heavily booed him, and they chant that he sucks.
Cameron Grimes enters the CWC for his no DQ grudge match against Duke Hudson. Grimes pulls a weapons-filled trash can out from underneath the ring, and Grimes throws the plunder into the ring.
Hudson enters wearing gold trunks and a blond wig that was held in place by amateur wrestling headgear, which is a gimmick that is decades old in pro wrestling. Good to see it return, even if it is cheesy.
Cameron Grimes defeated Duke Hudson in a no holds barred match
Grimes pins Hudson in what appears to be a blow off to their feud. Grimes even rips off the wig after the match.
Weapons came into play early and often during the match. Trash cans, matching lids, kendo sticks, metal folding chairs, and tables were all used during the match. The soundstage itself is used as a weapon at times. Hudson went for a Razor’s Edge on the floor, but Grimes counters to send Hudson crashing into the barricade.
Hudson cut off Grimes with an uranage slam onto an unfolded chair. Grimes kicked out of a pinning attempt, then the show cut to a commercial break with a split screen. A poker table was set up during the break, and they teased a superplex through the poker table as the show returns from commercial.
Grimes counters the superplex attempt, and Grimes leaps off the top rope with a flying crossbody for a near fall. Trading near falls, Hudson blocks a Cave In. Hudson then powerbombs Grimes through the poker table.
Hudson grabs hair clippers, and he teases cutting Grimes hair. For some reason, Hudson becomes mesmerized by the clippers. He stares a hole through them like a goof, allowing Grimes to kick him in the face. Grimes executes a poison rana. In taking the bump, Hudson rolls through into a seated position on a chair. Grimes delivers a Cave In, and Grimes hooks a leg. One … two … three.
Grimes rips the wig off Hudson’s head after the match, revealing that Hudson is indeed now bald.
McKenzie Mitchell was interviewing Cora Jade when Dakota Kai interrupts to rant about Raquel Gonzalez. Kai warns Jade about Gonzalez, and Kai acts crazy. ‘
A pre-taped segment features a double date between tag teams. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are waiting for their dates when Kayden Carter arrives driving a jacked-up pickup truck. Kacy Catanzaro is riding shotgun. The women’s truck was bigger and more cool than the dudes. Off the go in the pickup truck to a country music concert. They danced and the guys were smitten by the women’s line dancing.
Grayson Waller is in the ring to explain himself.
Waller begins by spoofing Johnny Gargano’s speech from last week. Waller said he was trending everywhere, and that is what happens when you bet on yourself. Waller says he cemented himself as a WWE Superstar after attacking Gargano. Waller then buries the fans before showing a bunch of hate tweets directed at himself.
Waller singles out Vic Joseph, a friend of Gargano. Waller trash talks Joseph for not saving Gargano last week. Waller concludes by saying all he needs to succeed is himself.
A promo from Diamond Mine leads into the next match, but first it’s time for Lashing Out with Lash Legend.
Legend is joined by Jacket Time. Kushida and Ikemen Jiro were wacky. This was odd.
Ivy Nile (with Diamond Mine) defeated Amari Miller
Nile won an enhancement match via submission.
Nile was dominate for much of the match as she stalks Miller. Nile went on to cut off a comeback by Miller, and Nile submits Miller with a neck crank. Nile looked like a killer in winning the match.
MSK with their shaman bro, Matt Riddle. We finally get to see what’s in the bag. Inside were various items, and Riddle pulls all sorts of ridiculous stuff from a fanny pack. Riddle says all this stuff is a distraction.. They need to let go and clear their minds if MSK want to regain the tag team titles. After being asked who do they clear their minds, Riddle pulls out scooters. They all happily ride away. This was wacky but very fun.
Harland (with Joe Gacy) defeated Guru Raaj
Harland easily wins a short squash match after mauling Raaj. Put a hockey mask on him, and Harland could be Sid Vicious as Lord Humongous.
Hip hop artist and actor Westside Gunn was ringside. Vic Joseph on commentary says Gunn is there specifically to see the debut of Harland. I am skeptical.
Harland mauls Raaj before using a high angle side slam for his finisher. Harland handily pins Raaj for an easy three count.
Gacy asks Harland after the match if he feels better. Apparently, Harland did not yet feel better. Harland again attacks Raaj after the bell. Raaj is pummeled until Gacy calls off Harland. GAcy then leads Harland away.
Later in the show after a commercial break, Harland throws Brian Kendrick down a flight of stairs.
LA Knight cut a promo… yeah.
Cora Jade defeated Dakota Kai
Jade upset Kai for a underdog victory. NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose joined the announce team for guest commentary. Rose attacks Jade after the match, and they did an injury angle with Jade.
Rough start to the match, and haphazard. Jade was a babyface in peril as Kai works her over. Jade eventually makes a comeback, but Kai cuts her off yet again.
Kai gets a shovel from underneath the ring, because that is now her gimmick. The referee takes the shovel away from Kai. In the meantime, Jade rushes in to roll up Kai for an upset pinfall.
Kai attacks Jade after the bell. Raquel Gonzalez runs in to make a save, and she brawls with Kai.
The other members of Toxic Attraction, Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolan, enter to distract Jade. Mandy Rose then jumps Jade, and Rose delivers a shoulder breaker to apparently injure Jade.
Tiffany Stratton is backstage. We do not see her face, but we do see her telling Grayson Waller that her daddy says he is bad. Io Shirai also ranted in Japanese to Waller. He thinks the women like him, but they do not.
Raquel Gonzales and Dakota Kai were still fighting backstage, because this feud must continue.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Andre Chase
D’Angelo pinned Chase to win the match. D’Angelo has Pete Dunne’s mouthguard in a case like it is a trophy, so that is building to a match in the near future. Dunne confronts D’Angelo after the match.
Chase is the Brooklyn Brawler of NXT, only with a classier gimmick. Chase is supposed to be a smart teacher. However, the character seems pretty dumb. He loses a lot too.
Chase got a lot of offense, but to no avail in the end. D’Angelo pulls Chase’s sweater over his head like a hockey fight. D’Angelo signals for the finish. He then delivers a northern lights suplex. D’Angelo then transitions into a twisting fisherman’s buster, and D’Angelo scores a pinfall.
D’Angelo cut a promo after the match, and Pete Dunne interrupts to confront him. Dunne wants to fight, but D’Angelo insults him instead. D’Angelo says they can settle things next week. He goes to sucker punch Dunne, but Dunne counters to snap the fingers of D’Angelo.
Dunne then smashes the case containing his mouthguard, and Dunne retrieves his property.
Bron Breakker basically kicks Grayson Waller out of the babyface locker room.
Boa defeated Edris Enofe
Boa gets heat on Enofe, shining him up for a quick comeback. Boa cuts off a Enofe, and Boa applies a death grip like he was Meng. Boa then delivers a roundhouse kick, and Boa pins Enofe.
Raquel Gonzalez was backstage cutting a promo on wanting to end Dakota Kai for good. Gonzalez challenged Kai to a street fight.
Grayson Waller steals LA Knight’s car, but not before apparently attacking Knight. He was laid out in the parking lot as Waller drove away in Knight’s car. Grand theft auto and assault is a heck of way to get heel heat.
Jacket Time (Kushida & Ikemen Jiro) defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson)
Jacket Time actually got a win. Please let them get a push. This was a fun tag match, and the best bout on the show so far.
Grizzled Young Veterans with heat on Kushida, as they work him over. Led to a hot tag to Jiro, and he cleans house on the heels.
The Creed Brothers appear on the stage to watch while it was in progress. Creed Brother have a quick standoff with Grizzled Young Veterans, causing a distraction. The babyface team capitalizes on the distraction. Jiro and Kushida fly with stereo dives outside the ring.
Jiro with senton off the top rope, and he pins Drake to win the match.
Confirmed for next week on NXT is a street fight with Gonzalez against Kai. Also announced for next Tuesday is D’Angelo vs. Dunne.
Bron Breakker defeated NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong (with Diamond Mine) in a non-title match
Breakker pinned Strong clean in a really good match. This beats out the tag match for best match on this show. Tommaso Ciampa attacks Breakker after the match, so their title program is back on the front burner.
Great grappling to start the match. Roddy Strong is also so dang great.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams watch the match from a perch above the ring. They distract Strong as the show cuts to a commercial break. The match continues with a split screen, and Strong proceeds to tie up Breakker. Strong is soon reeling as Breakker fights back. Strong jumps on Breakker to apply a camel clutch.
Breakker makes a comeback as the show returns from the break, but Strong with a suplex dashes the hope spot. Breakker goes on to break a Strionghold, and Breakker explodes into a flurry of offense that leads to a Frankensteiner.
Strong answers back with a flurry of his own, leading to a near fall. Strong executes a superplex, followed by a butterfly suplex that was very much like Scott Steiner. Breakker kicks out because he is the real Steiner in the match, even if we cannot call him a Steiner.
Strong went for a bulldog, but Breakker blocks the move to deliver a slam. Breakker with a gorilla press slam that he turns into a powerslam, and upon impact he covers Strong. A three count later and Breakker cleanly pinned the Cruiserweight Champion.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa runs in after the match to attack Breakker. Ciampa gives Breakker a Widow’s Bell onto the title belt. Ciampa yells in Breakker’s ear and Ciampa poses over Breakker as the show goes off the air.
On the road to a potential NXT Championship match against Tommaso Ciampa, Bron Breakker will face off with Roderick Strong.
WWE has announced that Breakker vs. Strong will take place on next Tuesday’s episode of NXT. The match was made after Strong’s manager Malcolm Bivens interrupted Breakker on tonight’s show.
Breakker pinned Ciampa to get the win in the men’s WarGames match on Sunday. Breakker then cut a promo on tonight’s NXT challenging Ciampa to an NXT Championship match. But Bivens instead made his way out alongside Diamond Mine’s Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile. Bivens challenged Breakker to face Strong next week. Bivens said Breakker may have his sights set on Ciampa, but Strong’s sights are on Breakker.
Breakker accepted the challenge, saying he doesn’t care who he has to run through to get another title match against Ciampa.
Ciampa retained his NXT Championship against Breakker at Halloween Havoc this October.
WWE has also announced that Harland will make his in-ring debut on NXT next Tuesday. His opponent hasn’t been revealed.
Harland (real name Parker Boudreaux) debuted on NXT this October and is aligned with Joe Gacy. Strong defeated Gacy to retain the NXT Cruiserweight Championship at WarGames.
Here’s the full list of what’s been announced for next week’s NXT:
Bron Breakker vs. Roderick Strong
Harland’s in-ring debut
No holds barred match: Cameron Grimes vs. Duke Hudson
Tony D’Angelo vs. Andre Chase
Boa vs. Edris Enofe
Grimes vs. Hudson is a rematch from NXT WarGames. Grimes defeated Hudson in a hair vs. hair match at that show.
Joe Gacy is getting a Cruiserweight title shot at NXT WarGames.
WWE has announced that Roderick Strong will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Gacy at NXT WarGames on Sunday, December 5. The show will air live on Peacock/WWE Network.
Gacy interrupted Strong and his Diamond Mine stablemates while Malcolm Bivens was cutting a promo on NXT last week. On tonight’s show, Gacy was set to face LA Knight until Knight was attacked by Grayson Waller. Gacy started to speak in the ring but was then confronted by Diamond Mine.
Bivens said Diamond Mine was going to steal the spotlight from Gacy like he did to them last week. Bivens wanted Gacy to get out of the ring so that Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile could have her match, but Gacy refused.
Gacy, who plays a woke heel in NXT, said he has no respect for Strong. Gacy said Strong’s name alone is an example of toxic masculinity, and the NXT Cruiserweight Championship is an example of exclusivity and weight shaming. Gacy said the Cruiserweight division is meant to divide.
Strong told Bivens to make it so his next title defense would be against Gacy. Bivens announced that the match would be happening at WarGames.
Gacy thanked Bivens and said he looks forward to resolving this issue together as one. Bivens wanted Julius & Brutus Creed to attack Gacy, but he called them off after Gacy’s associate Harland appeared.
Strong won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship from Kushida this September.
Ahead of WarGames, “Joe Gacy’s all-inclusive invitational” will take place on NXT next Tuesday.
Here’s the updated card for NXT WarGames:
WarGames match: Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne & LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller & Tony D’Angelo
WarGames match: Io Shirai, Raquel Gonzalez, Cora Jade & Kay Lee Ray vs. Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne & Dakota Kai
Hair vs. hair match: Cameron Grimes vs. Duke Hudson
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong defends against Joe Gacy
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defend against either Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner or Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde (O’Reilly & Wagner will face Mendoza & Wilde in a number one contender’s match on NXT next Tuesday)
Chase now wrestles in slacks, a button-down, and a university sweater; I’m not sure why.
Chase gained an early lead that lasted through the duration of the match. While he was on offense, Chase played to the “student section”, a group dressed in matching university sweaters.
Blade escaped ground control late in the match, launching a rally that even yielded a near fall. Chase cut it short with a forearm and hammerlock DDT, leading directly to the finish.
Indi Hartwell defeated Valentina Feroz
Nothing special in this one.
Hartwell gained control following the opening bell. While Hartwell’s dominance was significant, Feroz managed to secure arm control after Hartwell failed to follow up. Feroz continued to focus on Hartwell’s arm throughout the match.
As Feroz was fighting for an armbar, Hartwell powered through, turning the submission into a slam in her favour. A spine buster from Hartwell finished out the sequence and the match.
Roderick Strong defeated Draco Anthony
This was a good main event. It was structured to be simple and easy to follow, but it delivered between the ropes.
Anthony gained control over Strong early on, forcing Strong into the arms of Diamond Mine (who accompanied him to the ring). After his time on the outside, Strong was able to catch Anthony and take control of the match.
Anthony regained footing by overpowering Strong on the mat. What followed was a sequence of solid offense from Anthony that lasted until he gave Strong a tiny parcel of space. From left field, Strong hit a jumping knee, leaving Anthony out for the count.
This show almost felt like a parody of pro wrestling—from the theatrics of Boa to the “‘backer chewin’ good ole boys” of Briggs and Jensen to the 405 pounder challenging the cruiserweight champion on a show built around a weight limit. It wasn’t a bad episode per se, but it certainly felt extra phoney this week.
Boa defeated Jeet Rama
Rama’s wrestling led to control in his favour early into the match. Rama was unable to maintain his advantage, however, as Boa began to connect with unanswered strikes. The strikes escalated for some time, eventually leading to a head kick. Boa pinned Rama to close a dominant match.
Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs defeated Kegan Scott & Taylor Garland
In other news, Jensen and Briggs are country boys now…with flannels, belt-buckles, and all.
Jensen and Briggs squashed their opponents. A double powerbomb left them with a quick win.
Roderick Strong (with the Diamond Mine) defeated Odyssey Jones
This was a fun match, especially in its closing sequence.
Jones used his 200lb+ weight advantage to take control of Strong early into the match. Tossing the cruiserweight champion around with ease, Jones seemed to be unstoppable.
Strong found himself on the outside of the ring after minutes of Jones’ domination. Hachiman at ringside distracted Jones long enough for Strong to gain some control finally. Strong chopped the leg of Jones to open up the match in his favour for the first time. Strong turned his attention fully to keeping Jones grounded.
When Strong failed to keep Jones grounded, Jones proved to be tenacious. It took a throat punch from Strong to end Jones’ second offensive sequence. Strong then connected with multiple strikes before landing a knee that dropped Jones. Strong was then able to pin Jones for the victory.
On tonight’s NXT, Roderick Strong defeated Kushida to win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. The finish of the match included interference by all of Strong’s Diamond Mine stablemates.
Kushida had the Hoverboard Lock applied on Strong during the match, but Diamond Mine manager Malcolm Bivens put Strong’s foot on the bottom rope to cause a rope break. While the referee was distracted by Bivens and Hachiman, Julius & Brutus Creed pulled Kushida out of the ring. Ivy Nile then jumped off the steel steps and hit a strike on Kushida.
After the Creed brothers threw Kushida back in the ring, Strong hit a jumping knee strike and End of Heartache to win the Cruiserweight title.
Grayson Waller interrupted Diamond Mine as they were celebrating in the ring after the match. Waller challenged Strong to a Cruiserweight title match on next Tuesday’s NXT, and Bivens accepted on Strong’s behalf after consulting with him.
Waller (formerly known as Matty Wahlberg) joined the WWE Performance Center this April.
Waller has been a regular on 205 Live since making his WWE debut. He’s also been aligned with Drake Maverick in NXT.
Kushida and Strong’s Cruiserweight title match was originally scheduled for last month, but it couldn’t take place then due to Kushida testing positive for COVID-19.
Following last Tuesday’s premiere, the second week of WWE’s “NXT 2.0” revamp takes place tonight.
Tonight’s show will be headlined by Kushida defending his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Roderick Strong. The match was originally scheduled to take place last month, but Kushida wasn’t able to compete due to testing positive for COVID-19.
A new NXT Champion was crowned last week as Tommaso Ciampa defeated LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and Von Wagner in a four-way match. The debuting Wagner replaced Kyle O’Reilly in the title match after making the save for O’Reilly when he was attacked by Dunne and Ridge Holland earlier in the show.
Bron Breakker made his debut by defeating Knight in last week’s opening match. At the end of the episode, Breakker congratulated Ciampa on his title win. Ciampa also congratulated Breakker on being victorious in his debut, but the two had a tense staredown as Breakker looked at Ciampa’s title belt.
Ciampa will kick off tonight’s show.
We’ll also hear from Fatal Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) tonight. Plus, video packages will spotlight Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen and Ikemen Jiro.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Time for week two of NXT 2.0, and the show begins with a recap of last week.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa opens the show for his first appearance since winning the title last Tuesday night. Ciampa gets into the ring that is filled with several of the new characters on the NXT television, which includes Bron Breakker, Odyssey Jones, Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs.
Ciampa seems very happy to be NXT Champion, and Goldie is talking to him. Ciampa pauses to listen to Goldie. “I missed you too,” Ciampa says to Goldie.
Ciampa cuts a pep rally promo hyping up NXT 2.0 like he was the team captain, which in essence he is as the brand’s top champion. At the conclusion of his promo, Ciampa declares that NXT is the “A” show, and then he leads the crowd in a chant proclaiming “we…are…N-X-T!”
Cameron Grimes enters the scene. Grimes tells Ciampa that the championship is just the fuel Grimes himself needs for going “TO THE MOON!” Grimes is interrupted by Joe Gacy, but LA Knight is out to interrupt Gacy and the rest of the crew assembled in the ring. Odyssey Jones thankfully tells Knight to shut up.
Another interruption as Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland enter the ring to confront the group in the ring. Dunne looks around at a bunch of “geezers” who are all too scared to throw the first punch. In steps Ciampa to hit Dunne with a punch, causing a domino effect that results in a melee. Huge brawl that was a Gordon Solie Pier Sixer. Ciampa and Breakker clear the ring as the last two standing.
I had a terrible flashback to TNA when the show cut TO THE BACK! Kay Lee Ray, Elektra Lopez, B-Fab and one other woman were involved in a pull-apart brawl. Officials ran in to break up the scuffle.
Breakker grabs a microphone, and he says the audience wants to see this fight continue on. Breakker is the son of Rick, but he sounds like Scott Steiner. Breakker was addressing Dunne and Holland when he yells, “How about you two little bitches grow a set of balls and face me and Ciampa in a tag team match tonight?”
Wild opening to NXT, and up next is a title match.
Roderick Strong (with Diamond Mine) defeated Kushida to win the NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Strong pinned Kushida after interference by Diamond Mine. Strong and company cheat to win the title.
Kushida gets the better of Strong in a grappling battle early on. Kushida targets an arm, softing up Strong for a submission. Strong counters a cross armbreaker, yet Kushida continues his attack on the arm. Strong rolls out of the ring to powder out before a commercial break.
Strong apparently recovers to gain the upperhand as the show returns from the break. Kushida is fighting from underneath. Rally by Kushida into a collection of his signature offense. Palm strike by Kushida, but Strong is able to counter a moment later.
Kushida fights back to block a superplex, and Kushida comes off the top with an avalanche shoulder breaker. Strong soon answers back with back breakers. Series of measured strikes by Strong, but Kushida counters while trying to Hoverboard Lock. Strong seems trapped in the submission hold when Malcolm Bivens puts Strong foot the ropes. The referee is alerted to the foot on the ropes, and the hold is broken.
The ref is further distracted by Bivens. The Creed Brothers proceed to pull Kushida out of the ring. Ivy Nile hits Kushida with a strike. The Diamond Mine send Kushida back into the ring to the waiting arms of Strong. A falling backbreaker by Strong, and he covers Kushida for a pinfall. Strong and company steal the NXT Cruiserweight title.
Grayson Waller interrupts the Diamond Mine’s celebration. He challenges Strong to a title match next week on NXT. An angry Bivens consults with Strong, and Bivens accepts the challenge for next Tuesday.
Tony D’Angelo is in another vignette hyping himself as a Mafia figure.
In a different vignette, Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs tell the story of how they met at a bar. They got into a fight, beat the heck out of each other, and they have been close friends ever since. Heartwarming story.
Kay Lee Ray defeated Amari Miller
Miller got an inset promo before the match, but not much else during it. Ray wins handily with a Gory Bomb, and Ray pinned Miller.
Breakker is backstage, and he is pumped up to team with Ciampa. There is still some underlying tension with Ciampa being the champ.
A unnamed mean guy with manners arrived to the building with two women. He opens the door for them, but some geek tries to cut ahead of the women. The mean guy is upset by the geek’s lack of manners, so the mean guy beats up the other guy.
Dante Chen defeated Trey Baxter
Chen wins a very short match. Baxter was looking strong, but Chen came back with a small package. Chen transitions from the cradle into a guillotine choke bomb. Chen then covers Baxter for a three count.
Andrew Chase is doing some sort of upgraded Dean Douglas gimmick. He was teaching a class of students at what he calls “Chase University.” The first lesson was on Oydessey Jones losing in the finals of the Breakout Tournament. A students named Steve asks a question in pointing out that Chase lost to Jones in the semi-finals of the tournament. Chase flips out and starts cursing at the student. Chase throws things around, and he kicks the students out of class.
The announcers offer well wishes to Triple H on his recovery from surgery.
Cameron Grimes defeated Joe Gacy
Grimes pinned Gacy in another short match. Good while it lasted.
Gacy before the match cut a promo while sitting down in a chair inside in the ring. Gacy’s gimmick is he does conflict resolution. He uses his male privilege to get what he wants. He understands that life is not fair. He believes we can achieve unity and tolerance. Gacy says we can also achieve peace in this safe space.
Grimes was on fire until Gacy cut him off. Grimes recovers quickly, but Gacy does a handspring off the ropes into a lariat that levels Grimes. Gacy went to capitalize, but Grimes out of nowhere delivers a Cave In double stomp. Grimes goes on to cover Gacy for a pinfall. Gacy hugs Grimes after the match.
Highlights from the wedding last week. The honeymoon of Dexter Lumis and Indi Hartwell is featured next week on NXT.
Elektra Lopez (with Legado del Fantasma) defeated Anna Scheer
Lopez was a bully in the match, and she won easily after a sit-out powerbomb. Lopez pinned Scheer to win the match.
Santos Escobar in a post-match promo put over Lopez, saying she completes Legado del Fantasma. Lopez then says what she did tonight was just a taste of what she will unleash on B-Fab and the rest of the NXT 2.0 roster. Lopez calls out B-Fab.
The theme music for Hit Row plays in the arena, and the male members of Hit Row walk down the entrance ramp. It was a distraction. B-Fab hit the ring after coming through the crowd, and B-Fab attacks Lopez. They brawl in the ring.
Trey Baxter was backstage, and he was down in the dumps over his loss earlier in the show. His girlfriend, Cora Jade, tries to cheer him up. She kisses him, and he seems to feel better about things.
Franky Monet confronts NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez. Their title match is now scheduled for next week on NXT. Someone named Lash Legend also says she is debuting next Tuesday in a talking segment similar to Piper’s Pit.
Odyssey Jones wins a two-on-one handicap match
Jones won a handicap match very easily. Jones was not match for two men, or at least no match for these two unnamed jobbers. Jones with a splash off the top rope on both before he wins bu pinfall.
Andrew Chase tries to attack Jones after the match. Chase was swinging a chair, but Jones took it from him. Chase then begs off and leaves the ring. Jones stands tall.
Ikemen Jiro is featured in a vignette. Please push this guy. Pretty please.
Toxic Attraction promo
The Toxic Attraction trio is in the ring for a promo. Mandy Rose cuts a heel promo flanked by Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne. Jim Valley might be pleased to know that Mandy Rose turned heel beacuse of the fans. Now she and the other two do not give a damn what you think. Behind the beauty is a beast.
Dolan says the pain of her past fuels her aggression. She and Jayne needed purpose, which is where Rose comes in. Together the trio is headed to the top of NXT.
Jayne says Toxic Attraction aren’t just pretty faces. They won’t just sit back and wait for an opportunity. What they want is the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. Jayne promises an “ass kicking” for the current champs.
The champs, Zoey Stark and Io Shirai, are backstage. Shirai accepts the challenge on behalf of the team. The title match is seemingly set for next week. The champs bicker amongst themselves when Persia Pirotta confronts them. Pirotta says when Indi Hartwell returns from her honeymoon, she wants to regain her tag titles. Seemingly this means Pirotta is Hartwell’s new tag partner.
Three title matches announced for next Tuesday on NXT:
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship: Zoey Stark & Io Shirai defend against Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne (with Mandy Rose)
NXT Women’s Championship: Raquel Gonzalez defends against Franky Monet (Robert Stone & Jessi Kamea)
NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Roderick Strong in his first title defense against Garyson Waller
Time for the main event of this week’s episode.
Bron Breakker & NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defeated Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland
Breakker pinned Holland to win the match for his team. Kyle O’Reilly ran in to interfere in the match, which set up the finish.
Ciampa and Dunne face off to start the match. Next in is Breakker and Holland, and Breakker displays his power by suplexing Holland. Breakker also suplexes Dunne. Team work by Breakker and Ciampa.
Blind tag by the heels allow for Dunne to hit Ciampa with a sneak attack. Dunne targets Ciampa’s hand and arm with joints locks. Comeback by Ciampa, and the fight spills outside. Ciampa posted Holland into the ring steps, and Ciampa slings Dunne across the announce desk.
Ciampa is seemingly in control, until he his blindsided by a spear from Holland, just before the show cuts to its final commercial break. Dunne is stomping on Ciampa as the show returns from the break. Ciampa answers back with kicks of his own, yet Holland soon tags in.
The heels work over Ciampa, but he counters Holland to give Holland a suplex. Hot tag to Breakker, who runs wild. Breakker exploded in the ring into a flurry of power moves and supexes. Breakker applies a camel clutch on Dunne, but Dunne is able to escape the hold by targeting Breakker’s finger.
Finger break spot as Dunne stomped on Breakker’s hand. The heels are back in control when Ciampa jumps in to break up a pinning attempt. Ciampa and Dunne echange strikes in the ring despite not being the legal men.
Holland gives Ciampa an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, and then Breakker gives Dunne an overhead belly-to-belly. Breakker and Holland face off like two bulls colliding in the ring. They hit each other with lariats, but neither sell it. Gorilla Monsoon would surely have called this the unstoppable force against immovable object. Double down after both clothesline the other.
The heels tried to use a club, but Ciampa jumped in to make a save. Nevertheless, Ciampa is soon knocked out of the ring. Breakker went to press slam Dunne, but Holland rakes the eyes.
Kyle O’Reilly ran down to ringside. O’Reilly grabbed the club, and he hit Holland with Holland’s own club. O’Reilly rolled Holland back into the ring for the finish. Meanwhile, Ciampa gives Dunne a Willow’s Bell. Breakker with a gorilla press into a powerslam on Holland, and Breakker covers Holland for a three count.
Roderick Strong has his opponent for this week’s NXT.
WWE has announced that Strong vs. Ikemen Jiro will take place on NXT this Tuesday night. The match was confirmed after Jiro accepted Strong’s open challenge over the weekend.
Strong was supposed to challenge for Kushida’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship two weeks ago, but it was announced that Kushida wasn’t cleared to compete and the match wouldn’t be taking place. Strong instead issued an open challenge and lost to Ilja Dragunov.
A promo from Malcolm Bivens aired on NXT last week. Bivens called Strong the uncrowned NXT Cruiserweight Champion and said Strong would issue another open challenge on this Tuesday’s NXT.
On Saturday, Jiro posted a video where he announced that he’ll be answering Strong’s open challenge. Jiro said Kushida is his idol, and Kushida will beat Strong once he’s healthy. Jiro said he wants to beat Strong too.
Jiro has been a regular on 205 Live since signing with WWE last December. He’s also had three matches on NXT, including losing to Duke Hudson in the first round of the NXT Breakout Tournament. Jiro lost to Ridge Holland on NXT four weeks ago.
This Tuesday’s NXT was taped at the WWE Performance Center last week. Here’s the updated lineup for the episode:
One of the title matches that was scheduled for tonight’s NXT will no longer be taking place.
NXT general manager William Regal announced this afternoon that NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida isn’t cleared to compete on tonight’s show. Kushida was supposed to defend his title against Roderick Strong tonight. There will instead be a Diamond Mine open challenge to kick off the episode.
“Unfortunately after a medical examination, officials learned @KUSHIDA_0904 is not cleared to compete tonight,” Regal wrote. “When I informed @Malcolmvelli and @roderickstrong, they expressed Roderick’s desire to compete. Therefore, #WWENXT will begin with a #DiamondMine open challenge.”
Tonight’s episode of NXT was being billed as “Title Tuesday.” The show will feature an NXT Tag Team title match with MSK defending against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner.
Tonight’s NXT is the go-home show for TakeOver 36. The TakeOver event is taking place this Sunday.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s show:
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Imperium
NXT Breakout Tournament semifinal match: Duke Hudson vs. Carmelo Hayes
Face-to-face segment with NXT Champion Karrion Kross and Samoa Joe
Mixed tag team match: Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis vs. Jessi Kamea & Robert Stone
Interview with NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai
Prime Target special feature: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
The Diamond Mine arrived in the show-closing angle of last night’s NXT.
The returning Roderick Strong was revealed as part of Diamond Mine as he attacked NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida at the end of last night’s show. Strong, Tyler Rust, and the debuting Hideki Suzuki appeared together and were wearing Diamond Mine tracksuits. They’re being managed by Malcolm Bivens.
Kushida lost a non-title match to Kyle O’Reilly in the main event of last night’s NXT. A brawl between O’Reilly and Adam Cole then broke out when Cole tried to attack O’Reilly after the match. With Kushida left alone in the ring, he was attacked by Strong. Bivens threw Kushida’s Cruiserweight title belt on top of him after the attack. Bivens declared that this is Diamond Mine.
Weeks of teaser videos had aired leading into the debut of Diamond Mine. They showed unidentified athletes working out at an MMA gym.
Before returning last night, Strong had resigned from NXT in an angle this April. His resignation came after the breakup of Undisputed Era.
Rust hadn’t appeared on NXT since March prior to last night.
Suzuki joined the WWE Performance Center in a coaching role earlier this year. WWE wrote about Suzuki when he signed with the company: “Hideki Suzuki joins the WWE PC’s coaching staff. The Hokkaido, Japan, native trained in catch-as-catch can wrestling at Japan’s Snake Pit under the legendary Billy Robinson before stepping into the ring for Big Japan Pro Wrestling, Wrestle-1 and Zero1, among others. In 2017, Suzuki was named the MVP of Japanese independent wrestling by Samurai TV.”
Roderick Strong returned to NXT tonight as part of the brand’s newest faction.
After several weeks of teaser videos, it was revealed that the Diamond Mine would be opening on tonight’s NXT. The show ended with Strong, Tyler Rust, and Hideki Suzuki appearing in Diamond Mine tracksuits as Strong attacked Kushida. Malcolm Bivens appeared with Strong, Rust, and Suzuki as Diamond Mine’s manager.
Kushida lost to Kyle O’Reilly in the main event of tonight’s NXT. Adam Cole then tried to attack O’Reilly after the match. With the brawl between O’Reilly and Cole leaving Kushida alone in the ring, he was then attacked by Strong. Bivens threw Kushida’s NXT Cruiserweight Champion on top of him after the attack. Bivens declared that this is Diamond Mine.
Tonight was Strong’s first appearance on NXT since an angle where he resigned from the brand this April. Strong handed in his resignation following the implosion of Undisputed Era.
Suzuki is a former star for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. It was announced in April that he had joined the WWE Performance Center as a coach. Tonight was Suzuki’s NXT debut, but he wasn’t identified by name.
Rust’s appearance tonight was the first time he’s been on NXT since March.
The teaser videos leading into Diamond Mine’s debut showed unidentified athletes working out at an MMA gym with phrases like “Pressure Makes Diamonds” appearing on the screen.
Ahead of next week’s NXT Championship match, Finn Balor was in action against one of Adam Cole’s former friends last night.
Balor defeated Roderick Strong in non-title action in the main event of last night’s NXT. The match was set up when Balor interrupted Strong earlier in the show. Strong wanted an explanation for why Cole turned against him last week, but Balor came to the ring instead. Balor announced that he’ll be defending his NXT Championship against Cole next Wednesday.
Strong blamed Balor for Undisputed Era’s issues, but Balor said the NXT Championship was the reason their “so-called brotherhood” broke apart. Balor and Strong then brawled after Balor said that Strong will never be a leader and will always be a follower.
Balor and Cole had a staredown when Cole came out to the stage after last night’s main event. WWE also uploaded a post-show video where Balor and Cole had a confrontation in the ring.
The Women’s Tag Team titles were on the line as Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defended against women’s Dusty Classic winners Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez last night. But the match ended in controversy when — after the referee was knocked down when Gonzalez went to give Jax a big boot — WWE authority figure Adam Pearce brought a Raw referee out to the ring. Despite Kai not being the legal person, the referee called for the bell when she passed out in the Kirifuda Clutch.
Following the ending of the Women’s Tag Team title match, NXT general manager William Regal said that he’ll make an announcement that will “change the landscape of NXT” next week.