Adam Cole turned against another one of his Undisputed Era stablemates in the main event angle of last night’s NXT.
Going into last night’s show, Cole had promised to explain why he turned against Kyle O’Reilly and attacked NXT Champion Finn Balor. Cole said he had every intention of doing that, but seeing the footage of what he did to O’Reilly made him sick to his stomach. Cole said the NXT Championship is very important to him and he was pissed off that O’Reilly got opportunity after opportunity to go after the title while continuing to fail. But Cole said that doesn’t excuse his actions and he’s ashamed of himself.
Cole said he was dead wrong for doing what he did to O’Reilly and claimed that he hates himself for it. Cole said he was going to try and do everything in his power to fix it.
Roderick Strong then came out to the ring and questioned why Cole only feels bad now after not letting him know what was going on for 10 days. Strong said Undisputed Era was a brotherhood built on trust and love, but Cole shattered that when he attacked O’Reilly. Strong said O’Reilly is going to heal — and he doesn’t know if he can save Cole from what O’Reilly is going to do to him.
Balor then made his way down to the ring, shoved Strong out of the way, and started brawling with Cole. Strong came to Cole’s aid, then Cole gave Balor a superkick while Balor’s attention was turned to Strong.
Cole told Strong to listen to him and said that he was sorry, but Strong dropped Cole with a clothesline. Cole again apologized and said he wanted things to go back to normal. Strong said he shouldn’t have hit Cole. He called Cole his brother and said he loves him. They hugged — but Cole then gave Strong a low blow, called him stupid, and said Strong is dead to him. Cole laid out Strong with a superkick.
Undisputed Era imploded with Adam Cole laying out Kyle O’Reilly in the show-closing angle of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
After Finn Balor retained his NXT Championship against Pete Dunne in the main event of tonight’s TakeOver event, Balor was attacked on the stage by Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch then beat down Balor in the ring until Undisputed Era (Cole, O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong) ran out and chased them off. O’Reilly helped Balor up and told him how much he respects him. Undisputed Era posed in the ring and Balor was about to do his own pose, but Cole then dropped him with a superkick.
O’Reilly was furious with Cole and said what he did to Balor was “bullsh*t.” Strong tried to keep the peace between his stablemates, but Cole then laid out O’Reilly with a superkick as well. The show ended with Strong looking conflicted after what Cole had done.
Balor retained his NXT Championship against O’Reilly at TakeOver 31 in October and at NXT New Year’s Evil last month. Balor & O’Reilly defeated Lorcan & Burch on NXT three weeks ago after O’Reilly agreed to team with Balor.
Balor became NXT Champion by defeating Cole for the vacant title in September. The title had been vacated by Karrion Kross after he suffered a separated shoulder during the match where he won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee in August.
Undisputed Era weren’t in action at TakeOver: Vengeance Day tonight. Cole & Strong made it to the quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic before being eliminated. Undisputed Era member Bobby Fish underwent triceps surgery in December. Dave Meltzer reported at the time that Fish was expected to be out of action for about eight weeks.
Two matches have been announced for the final NXT episode of 2020.
WWE has announced that Johnny Gargano will defend his North American Championship against Leon Ruff on NXT next Wednesday (December 30). Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne is also set for the episode.
With help from Austin Theory, Gargano regained the North American Championship by defeating Ruff and Damian Priest in a triple threat match at TakeOver: WarGames earlier this month. Gargano had lost the title to Ruff in November. In storyline, Gargano was trying to break his title defense curse by facing Ruff. Ruff got the win after a distraction by Priest.
Next week’s Gargano vs. Ruff match will be the first title defense of Gargano’s current North American title reign. He’s a three-time North American Champion.
Ruff got another surprise win on NXT tonight when he pinned Timothy Thatcher with a cradle as Thatcher was going for a submission. Thatcher had promised to take liberties with Ruff and told Tommaso Ciampa to come and fight him. Thatcher attacked Ruff after the match until Ciampa made the save.
Gargano & Theory defeated Ruff & Kushida in a tag team match on last week’s NXT. Theory pinned Ruff in that match. The Way (Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Theory) didn’t appear in person on this week’s show, but they were featured in multiple “A Very Gargano Christmas” segments.
After losing to Kyle O’Reilly last week in a match to decide NXT Champion Finn Balor’s challenger for New Year’s Evil, Dunne attacked Strong at ringside during the Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream main event on tonight’s NXT. Dunne laid out Strong by hitting the Bitter End on the apron.
Next week’s NXT will also include the announcement of the 2020 NXT year-end awards. Plus, the episode will feature the final build to NXT New Year’s Evil. New Year’s Evil is taking place on Wednesday, January 6.
A Tag Team title match is set for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Breezango will put their NXT Tag Team titles on the line against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish on tonight’s show. Strong & Fish became the number one contenders to Breezango’s titles by defeating Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch last week.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner this August.
Two other matches have also been announce for tonight’s show. Tommaso Ciampa, Kushida, and Velveteen Dream will face off in a triple threat match. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Jake Atlas & Ashante “Thee” Adonis will team against Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a six-man tag.
WWE will also continue setting the stage for next week’s Halloween Havoc episode of NXT. Three matches have already been announced for next Wednesday: Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae for the NXT Women’s Championship, Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship, and Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez. Halloween Havoc host Shotzi Blackheart revealed last week that Shirai vs. LeRae and Priest vs. Gargano will have stipulations chosen by Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a three-way dance.
Kushida defeated Tommaso Ciampa and Velveteen Dream in a triple threat match
Kushida pinned Ciampa in an exciting match. This was a wild brawl even before the opening bell. Ciampa attacked Dream during his entrance, and the fight was on. Kushida soon joined the brawl. Dream got pummeled, and Ciampa stomped on his hand in a cast. Dream begged off.
Ciampa executed a double DDT to plant both Kushida and Dream. Ciampa in firm control until Kushida got a two count with a sunset flip. Dream cut off Kushida, and he attacked both Kushida and Ciampa. However, Dream instead took a big bump after a forearm by Ciampa.
The pace quickened into a great series of sequences, and then the show cut to commercial. Kushida was running wild when the show returned from the break. Kushida applied an armbar on Dream at ringside, targeting the hand in a cast. Ciampa stomped on them both to break the hold.
Kushida gave Ciampa a shoulde breaker on the floor, and then Kushida went to work on the arm. Kushida applied an armbar, but Dream break it up with a flying elbow drop out of nowhere. Dream countered a Pedigree, but still got rolled up by Ciampa for a near fall.
Ciampa went to argue with the referee, but he ate a superkick from Dream. Kushida jumped in to break up a pinfall. Kushida and Ciampa teamed up to beat up Dream, and then they began to fight. Kushida exploded into a series of several flip dives over the rope. Ciampa cut him with Widow’s Bell, but the pin was broken up.
The closing minutes were really good. The action was back-and-forth. Ciampa with an O’Connor Roll on Kushida, and Kushida kicked out. Dream hit Ciampa with the cast, and Ciampa fell backwards into a German suplex from Kushida. Holding on to the bridge, Kushida pinned Ciampa.
Undisputed Era cut a promo backstage ahead of their tag team title match later on. Adam Cole joined them virtually via a tablet.
Wade Barrett challenged Vic Joseph to a Halloween costume contest for next Wednesday.
A video package hyped Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez for next week on the Halloween Havoc episode.
Ember Moon defeated Jessi Kamea
Moon submitted Kamea in a showcase match.
Moon taunted Kamea at the outset, and Kamea surprised her with a two count. Moon turned up the intensity, leading to a standing moonsault for a near fall. Moon then applied a crossface. She also applied an ankle lock.
Kamea with a counter to break the hold, and Kamea with a comeback. A springboard flying elbow drop netted Kamea a near fall. Moon came off the ropes to cut her off with a flying codebreaker. Moon tied Kamea in a new submission finisher, and Kamea tapped out.
Dakaot Kai ran in after the match to attack Moon. Kai laid her out with a kick, and she fled the scene.
Bobby Fish was apparently attacked backstage, but he says he did not see his attacker. This seems to happen a lot in NXT. Anyway, Fish with the injury was removed from the tag title match later on. Kyle O’Reilly will take his place to team with Roderick Strong in the championship bout.
Bronson Reed defeated Austin Theory…Twice
Reed pinned Theory in back to back matches. The first went a few minutes, and the second match laster seconds.
Theory worked over Reed momentarily, until Reed came back with a powerslam. Reed then flattened him with a senton. Theory tried to cut off Reed, but Theory instead took a Nestea Plunge off the top rope. Reed followed with a big splash off the top rope, and he covered Theory for a pinfall.
Theory after the match cut an angry promo saying he was the future of WWE. He challenged Reed to get back into the ring. Theory wanted to fight him until Theory beat him.
Reed got back into the ring, and he pinned Theory in seconds after a Samoan Drop.
Xia Li and Kacy Catanzaro were backstage in a face-to-face interview ahead of their match later on. Li said it was the biggest match of her career and she has to win.
During the commercial break, Austin Theory said he quit. He threw his bag into an SUV, and he sped away.
The bell rang to start the match, and Legado del Fantasma ducked out of the ring like they were Jay White or KENTA in G1. The babyface trio went out after them, and a brawl erupted on the floor. The babyfaces cleaned house, the action returned to the ring.
Atlas with a Three Amigos in tribute to Eddie Guerrero, which I always love to see. Atlas kept shining with cool set of lucha moves. Adonis faked out the heels teasing a dive, and then Swerve with a corkscrew flip dive off the top to the floor.
The show cut to the commercial with the babyfaces standing tall. The heels were in control when the show returned from break, and they worked over Adonis. A dropkick created separation, and Adonis able to tag out.
Atlas like a house of fire after a hot tag. Escobar cut him off, but Swerve jumped in to fight Escobar as they’ve been in a program. The match broke down briefly as they set up a stunt, with a flip dive/Spanish Fly spot.
Swerve got a near fall on Mendoza. Momenta laters, Mendoza countered to send Adonis colliding into Swerve. Esobar sailed through the ropes with a tope. Atlas caught Escobar with a cartwheel DDT on the floor. Meanwhile, Mendoza & Wilde double team Adonis. Wilde then covered Adonis to score a pinfall.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were at their kitchen table. They had a wheel, and LeRae wanting to practice spinning it ahead of their “Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal” matches next week. Gargano freaked out after spinning it twice. The first time it was a buried alive match, and the second time the wheel stopped on a casket match. Gargano was distraught, and he stormed off.
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) defeated Drake Maverick & Killian Dain via disqualification
Maverick used a chair to break up a submission hold, causing the DQ.
Ever-Rise got heat on Maverick, as they worked him over for a few minutes. Dain after a hot tag mauled Ever-Rise. Parker with a chop block on Dain, and then Dain was trapped in a half crab.
Maverick fired up after being taunted by Martel at ringside. He grabbed a steel chair, and used it hit Parker. That caused a DQ, and Maverick ran off Ever-Rise while swinging the chair. Dain at first looked upset like he usually is with Maverick, and Maverick looked worried about it.
Dain was happy, though. He screamed that it was awesome how Maverick used the chair to hit Ever-Rise. They are finally friends! Their wacky theme song started playing. That was too much for Dain, and he left the ring. One day at a time.
The show cut backstage like a TNA “to the back” segment, and Roderick Strong was laid out. O’Reilly left to go check on his friends at the hospital. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will now replace Undisputed Era in the tag team title match later on.
Kacy Catanzaro defeated Xia Li
Catanzaro cradlled Li for a flash pin in a short match. An angry Li attacked Catanzaro after the match. Kayden Carter came down to the ring, and Li attacked her too.
Raquel Gonzalez ran in out of nowhere and leveled Li with a lariat. Gonzalez presslammed Catanzaro, and she threw her on to Carter. Gonzalez gave Carter a chokeslam, and then she cut a promo threatening Rhea Ripley.
Cameron Grimes was great in a backstage interview. He was cocky until finding out his match next week against Dexter Lumis was a “Haunted House of Terror” match. That scared Grimes, but he would not admit it.
Timothy Thatcher was back with a Thatch-As-Thatch-Can seminor, and this session was live in the arena. Thatcher asked his student what is name was, and he replied that it was Anthony. Thatcher called him “Andrew”, and the stretching soon began. This was great! Stu Hart would love this.
“Andrew” was grew angry after Thatcher tortured him with a hold. Thatcher said that is how you learn. On with the seminor, where “Andrew” shot on Thatcher. Smirking at “Andrew”, Thatcher invited a referee into the ring. Thatcher then dropped “Andrew” with a cheap shot forearm. A bell rang, and match was on…
Timothy Thatcher defeated “Andrew”
Thatcher punished “Andrew”, and then he submitted him with a half crab. Thatcher after the match kicked him out of the ring. “Class dismissed,” Thatcher said into the camera.
A vignette hyped Johnny Gagarno challenging NXT North American Champion Damain Priest.
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeated Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) to win the NXT Tag Team Championship
Burch pinned Breeze to win the titles after outside interference by Pat McAfee under a mask. They were having a good match, although it was not very eventful until the finish.
Breezango caught Lorcan & Burch with stereo superkicks. Fandango went to the top turnbuckle. A masked man wearing a silver face covering — who apparently was hiding under the ring — got involved to shove Fandango off the top rope.
Breeze walked into a low blow from Burch. Fandango was then given an assisted draping DDT, and Burch covered Breeze for a pinfall.
The masked man got into the ring to raise the hands of the new champions. He then unmasked to reveal himself as Pat McAfee. He is apparently now aligned with Burch & Lorcan.
Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish are the new number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles.
In the opener of tonight’s episode of NXT, Strong & Fish defeated Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a number one contenders match. Strong & Fish will challenge for Breezango’s NXT Tag Team titles on NXT next Wednesday.
Strong pinned Lorcan at the end of tonight’s match after hitting a jumping knee strike. Lorcan had assisted Burch in hitting an elevated DDT on Strong leading into the finish, but Fish broke up the pin. Fish sent Lorcan into Burch and knocked Burch off the apron, then Strong hit the knee strike to get the win.
The Strong & Fish vs. Lorcan & Burch number one contender’s match was set up by Strong & Burch teaming together last month to defeat Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza. In storyline, Fandango pitched a match where one member of Undisputed Era would team with one member of Lorcan & Burch against one member of Imperium and one member of Legado Del Fantasma. The winners would then face off in a tag team match to determine Breezango’s next challengers.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Imperium this August.
It also appears that Xia Li will be in action on NXT next Wednesday, though her opponent hasn’t been announced. There was a backstage segment on NXT tonight where Li and Boa lobbied for NXT General Manager William Regal to give Li a match next week. Regal said he would take it under consideration.
The show opened with Undisputed Era coming out for an in-ring promo. The group included Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong. Adam Cole was still out of action selling his injuries from TakeOver. O’Reilly was noticeably acting like a leader, and he did all the talking.
Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong (with Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan
Strong pinned Lorcan to win a fantastic tag match. With the win, Undisputed Era becomes number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Early on, Lorcan and Strong did some cool grappling based on a headscissors. Burch tagged in, and he started torturing Strong’s arm. Fish was next to tag in, but he was also worked over. Burch & Lorcan with double team moves, and they got heat on him.
Undisputed Era with a comeback just before the show cut to commercial. When the show returned from the break, Undisputed Era had cut the ring in half. A hot tag to Burch, and Burch proceeded to clean house.
Fish made a save for Strong, and Undisputed Era regained the advanatge. Burch landed a double flying dropkick on both Strong & Fish. Lorcan then ran wild off a hot tag. He executed a double blockbuster. Fish jumped in to make a save, but he was overpowered as Burch & Lorcan were on a roll.
A big melee leads to Burch giving Strong an ax bomber. Burch & Lorcan spiked Strong with a double-team DDT, and Lorcan went to cover Strong. Fish again made a save to break up a count. Fish made Lorcan collide with Burch, and Strong followed with a jumping knee strike that leveled Lorcan. Strong then covered Lorcan for a pinfall.
So we are informed NXT Champion Finn Balor is indeed injured, which we knew. He also had surgery, which some of us might have known. What we still do not know is the fate of the NXT Championship. William Regal was quoted as saying “they are going to give it a few weeks”, and see the progess of Balor. So basically they are taking the wait-and-see approach.
A vignette profiled Ember Moon and her journey back to NXT. This did more to get Ember Moon over than her entire run on the main roster. Great stuff.
Jake Atlas defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis
Counters and reversals in the opening stages of the match. Adonis with a really nice dropkick. They got into a slugfest. Meanwhile, Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde came to ringside. Adonis was distracted, and Atlas caught him in a small package to score a pinfall.
Wilde & Mendoza attacked Adonis after the match. Atlas made a save for Adonis, and they sent the heels packing. Santos Escobar entered stage left. He looked at his henchmen with disgust. He then removed his sunglass, and he marched to the ring.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott came out of the crowd carrying three chairs. He backed up Atlas & Adonis, the three babyfaces stood ready for the heels. The rudos thought better of it, and they backed down.
Johnny Gargano defeated Austin Theory
Gargano pinned Theory in a really good match.
Gargano outwrestling Theory in the first part of the match. Gargano toyed some with him, as Theory was reeling. Theory soon fired up, leading to a standing moonsault for a near fall. Gargano tried to cut him off, but Theory rolled through knock down Gargano with a dropkick.
Theory got the better of a striking exchange. Gargano with a comeback to deliver a spear, and then the show abruptly went to a commercial break. Gargano was stretching Theory in a cobra twist when the show returned from break.
Theory flapjacked Gargano, and he exploded into a flurry of offense. Theory blocked a superkick, but he hit Gargano with a superkick. A neckbreaker netted Theory a two count.
Gargano went to cut off Theory. Gargano flew off the ropes with a flying crossbody. Theory caught him, rolled through, and got him in a fireman’s carry. Gargano countered into a sunset flip. Theory hooked the legs for a false finish much like Okada was used in G1.
They traded strikes, and Gargano rocked Theory with a superkick. Gargano throws Theory into the corner like a lawn dart. Gargano executed One Final Beat, and he covered Theory for a pinfall.
Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez almost got into a brawl backstage, and officials had to separate them.
Candice LeRae defeated Shotzi Blackheart
LeRae pinned Blackheart for a tainted victory, thanks to a set of brass knux. She also had help from a new friend. With the win, LeRae becomes number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship
Blackheart was on fire at the start, and she shined early on. She sailed through the ropes with tope suicida. Blockheart with a cool combo dropping LeRae from a fireman’s carry into a jawbreaker on her knee.
LeRae cut off Blackheart, and she worked her over. LeRae with some great heel tactics. Blackheart reversed a suplex, and they fought on the apron. Blackheart posted, and then takes a codebreaker of sorts on the apron. The show cut to a commercial with both down and out. The show returned from break, and they were fighting in the ring with renewed energy.
Blackheart with strikes had LeRae wobbly, and Blackheart hit a senton for a near fall. Climbing the turnbuckles, Blackheart off the top rope with a senton bomb met double knees from LeRae. Blackheart was still able to kick out at two.
LeRae with a super German suplex, and she followed that with a superkick. Blackeart still kicked out, and she answered back with a Tiger Suplex for a two count. LeRae struck with a backstabber, and then a lionsault. Nevertheless, Blackheart kicked out again.
Blackheart with a modified version of cattle mutilation, forcing LeRae to seek shelter in the ropes. Blackheart with flying Thesz press, and she climbed the ropes again. LeRae rolled outside the ring. Indi Hartwell was watching the match from ringside. She handed LeRae a set of brass knux.
LeRae punched Blackheart with the knux, and she covered Blackheart for a tainted pinfall victory.
Drake Maverick showed Killian Dain new ideas he had for matching gear and a team name. Dain was not impressed, but he grew angry when he found out they were booked in a tag team match tonight against Imperium.
Toni Storm defeat Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Strom was back with a vengeance. She kicked butt in a showcase match.
Storm with tons of fire at the outset. Aliyah got some offense, but this was about making Storm look like a badass. Success!
Storm finished the match with a running lariat and Storm Zero. She then covered Aliyah for the pinfall.
William Regal announced that Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez is offical for the “Halloween Havoc” episode of NXT. Xia Li approached Regal to ask about making a grudge match. Regal several times told her he would take it into consideration.
Heat on Maverick as Imperium pummeled him. Hot tag to Dain, and he mows down Imperium. The numbers get the better of Dain, and he is taken down with a double team. Dain rallied to tag Maverick.
Maverick was running wild, while Dain got shoved into the ring steps. Maverick off the top was caught in the arms of Aichner, and Aichner dealifted him into a brainbuster. Imperium then executed a Doomsday uppercut, and Barthel covered Maverick for the pinfall.
Ever-Rise came out after the match to bully Maverick. They were picking on him when Dain leveled them with dual lariats. “Nobody hits you but me,” Dain screamed to Maverick. That does not seem healthy.
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest defeated Dexter Lumis to retain his title
This show was going so well, and then came a Dexter Lumis match. Not a bad match, but I just don’t get this gimmick at all. He looks mean and intimidating, but he also has a silly moustache. Who can take that seriously? And his hometown is Recluse, Wyoming. Seriously? That’s almost as convenient as Bunkhouse Buck being from Bucksnort, Tennessee. What isn’t convenient is a commute from Wyoming to the Capital Wrestling Center in Florida. No wonder Lumis is so upset every week.
Lumis was giving Priest a run for his money. Maybe that moustache isn’t so silly after all. Priest answered back with strikes, and he landed a high kick that dropped Lumis. Priest with a flying elbow smash, and Falcon Arrow for a near fall.
Priest ran roughshod over Lumis during a commercial break. Lumis cut off Priest as the show returned from the break. Lumis with a spinebuster for a two count. Priest with a scissor kick, and a flatliner for a near fall.
Priest applied an ankle lock, but Lumis escaped. Lumis countered a Razor’s Edge, and he gave Priest a side suplex. Lumis with a kip up into a legdrop, and that got him a two count. Lumis crashed and burned on a senton bomb. Priest hit him with a lariat, but Lumis countered to apply his vice finisher. Priest the toe of his boot on the bottom rope to break the hold.
Lumis was on a roll when Cameron Grimes ran in to give Lumis a Cave In on the apron. Priest, seemingly unaware of the interference, then used South of Heaven to score a pinfall.
The closing scene had a lot of stuff going on. Priest first put on his leather vest, and then he gave Grimes a Reckoning.
Gargano in a surprise attack jumped Priest on the stage as he was leaving. He hit Priest with a chair. Gargano kicked the chair into Priest’s face, laying him out. LeRae came out to join her husband on the stage. Regal entered the scene to address them.
Regal said that LeRae is facing Io Shirai in a title match at Halloween Havoc. He also said Gargano is set to face Priest in a title match on that night as well. Regal then threw to Blackheart, who is the host of Halloween Havoc. She announced that both of the couple’s titles matches will be SPIN THE WHEEL, MAKE A DEAL!
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.
Killian Dain is set to face off with a member of the Undisputed Era on NXT this week.
WWE announced today that Dain vs. Roderick Strong will take place on this Tuesday’s episode of NXT. This is the fourth match to be announced for the show. It will also feature Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole for the vacant NXT Championship, Rhea Ripley vs. Mercedes Martinez in a steel cage match, and Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory.
On an episode of NXT last month, Undisputed Era interrupted a match between Dain and Drake Maverick and attacked them both before Cole cut a promo on Pat McAfee. Kyle O’Reilly then defeated Maverick on NXT two weeks ago. Strong and Bobby Fish tried to attack Maverick after the match, but Dain came out to the ring to make the save. Maverick thanked Dain for saving him, but Dain then laid out Maverick with a clothesline.
Amid the NHL playoffs, NXT aired on Tuesday last week and is again airing on Tuesday this week. The NXT title match between Balor and Cole will open this Tuesday’s episode. Ripley and Martinez’s steel cage match will main event the show.
The build to TakeOver XXX continued on last night’s NXT.
The episode was headlined by Finn Balor, Timothy Thatcher, and Dexter Lumis facing off in a triple threat qualifying match to determine the next participant for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX. Lumis got the win when Thatcher passed out in his Silence choke. Lumis applied the move as Thatcher had Balor locked in a leg lock.
Bronson Reed and Lumis are the first two participants to qualify for the five-man ladder match.
Reed became the first wrestler confirmed for the ladder match when he defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in a triple threat last week. Last night, Gargano and Strong faced off in singles action.
NXT Champion Keith Lee responded to Karrion Kross and they appeared to set up a match for TakeOver, but William Regal later said he won’t be bullied into making title matches and noted that they’ll have to be earned.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai & Tegan Nox defeated Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae in last night’s opener. Next week, there will be a number one contender’s match between Kai and Ripley to determine Shirai’s challenger for TakeOver.
Plus, the Undisputed Era attacked Imperium, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott took on Jake Atlas, and new Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez faced Shotzi Blackheart.
Three matches have been made official for next week’s episode of NXT.
– Dakota Kai and Rhea Ripley will face off in a number one contender’s match on NXT next Wednesday. The winner will challenge for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver XXX on Saturday, August 22.
Shirai retained her title against Tegan Nox in the main event of NXT two weeks ago but was then laid out by a kick to the face from Kai. On tonight’s NXT, Shirai teamed up with Nox and defeated Candice LeRae & Kai after Kai forced LeRae to tag back in.
Kai did a backstage interview later on tonight’s NXT and said she isn’t a team player anymore. Kai declared that she’s the number one contender to Shirai’s title, but Ripley then confronted Kai. Ripley said the next shot at Shirai’s title is hers and she doesn’t mind going through anyone who thinks otherwise.
– In another match with TakeOver implications, Damian Priest vs. Ridge Holland vs. Oney Lorcan is set for next week’s NXT. The winner will qualify for the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver XXX.
Holland, a former rugby player whose real name is Luke Menzies, is part of the NXT UK brand.
Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis have already qualified for the ladder match. It will feature five wrestlers in total.
– The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line next Wednesday as Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defend against the Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish). Imperium defeated Ever-Rise on NXT tonight but were then attacked by all four members of Undisputed Era after.
A new match has been announced for this week’s episode of NXT.
NXT general manager tweeted today that Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong is set for NXT this Wednesday: “After the comments made by two of our competitors this past week, I am making it OFFICIAL for tomorrow’s episode of #WWENXT on @USA_Network… Tomorrow night’s episode of @WWENXT will now feature @roderickstrong taking on @JohnnyGargano one-on-one!”
Gargano and Strong both took part in a triple threat qualifying match on last week’s NXT to determine the first participant for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX. Bronson Reed defeated them to qualify for TakeOver.
Gargano hit the One Final Beat DDT on Strong in the qualifying match and put his arm over Strong to pin him, but Reed hit a splash from the top rope to break it up. Reed then pinned Strong to get the win.
Gargano tweeted after last week’s qualifying match: “First Finn blows it against Keith and stops me from becoming Double Champ and now Rick Strong gets squished by some guy named THICC BOI so I’m not in the North American Title Ladder Match?!!!! Triple Threat Matches SUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.”
The ladder match for the vacant North American title will feature five wrestlers in total. Finn Balor, Timothy Thatcher, and Dexter Lumis are facing off in a qualifying match on this week’s NXT.
There will be a segment on this week’s NXT where NXT Champion Keith Lee will respond to Karrion Kross after Kross defeated Dominik Dijakovic in last week’s main event. New Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez will also be in action against Shotzi Blackheart on the episode.
Three of NXT’s top stars are set to face off in a triple threat match with the North American Championship on the line.
Keith Lee defending his North American Championship against Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano will headline tonight’s episode of NXT. It will set the stage for a winner-take-all champion vs. champion match, with the winner facing NXT Champion Adam Cole with both titles on the line on the July 8 NXT episode.
For the first time since his dominant win against Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver: In Your House, Karrion Kross will be in action on tonight’s show. Kross will face Bronson Reed, who issued a challenge to Kross last week after quickly defeating Leon Ruff.
Kross also has his eyes on the NXT Championship. Two weeks ago, Scarlett warned Cole that his time as champion is running out.
Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes will also air tonight. Priest defeated Killian Dain last Wednesday but — after punching Grimes the previous week — found his tires slashed in the parking lot later. Grimes then drove by and mocked Priest.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with an angle from “an hour ago” in the parking lot at Full Sail. Cameron Grimes had apparently attacked Damian Priest, and Priest was slumped over the seat of his car with his legs hanging out the open door. He was selling his back. Referees rushed to his aid, and one asked Priest where it hurt. Priest screamed it was his back in an unintentionally funny line as he was obviously already selling his back.
Cameron Grimes was seen gloating about the incident as he went inside the building, and he would also be opening the show in the ring. He cut a promo on Priest claiming that he no-showed the biggest match of his career. Grimes lied and said Priest slashed his own tires last week, and now he is acting like someone beat him up in the parking lot. Grimes said he wrestled Finn Balor with a broken jam after Priest punched him several weeks ago.
Grimes claimed Priest was afraid to wrestle him, and Grimes insisted that a referee declare him the winner of his scheduled match with Priest. At that moment, Priest hobbled to the ring with officials trying to dissuade him from getting into a fight. Priest has his ribs and back taped, and he still rolled into the ring. Grimes attacked him as Priest was rollimg inside and the match was on.
Cameron Grimes defeated Damian Priest
Grimes pinned Priest with the Cave-In after working over his back in a short match. Priest fought valiantly, but the injury from the sneak attack “an hour ago” was too much to overcome.
Grimes targeted the back, and Priest would fight back. Grimes powdered and waved off the match as if he was leaving the scene. Priest went to give chase, but it was a trap. Grimes would target the back again as he sandwiched Priest into the ring apron. Priest shot back with a kick, amd then he went for a Razor’s Edge on the floor. Grimes countered the move and delivered a double stomp to Priest’s back. Back in the ring, Grimes used to Cave-In to pin Priest in the middle of the ring.
Robert Stone was trying to convince Rhea Ripley to join the Robert Stone Brand. He told Ripley that her putting him in a trash can last week hurt his heart as well as his body, but he thought it was tough love. Stone said Aliyah has already signed with his stable, and Stone had a “golden ticket” for Ripley that allowed her a second chance to come aboard. He used a train metaphor and then started repeatedly hollering “choo choo”. So Ripley punched him in the gut, and threw him into a dumpster. Aliyah ran up to angrily confront Ripley before slapping her. Ripley no sold the slap and smirked. Ripley said Aliyah just got a “golden ticket” for a match later on.
Next was a vignette that was the second installment of aTimothy Thatcher training seminar. Much like the first installment, Thatcher stretched and tortutred some wrestlers like he was Stu Hart in The Dungeon.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar (with Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) defeated Jake Atlas in a non-title match
Escobar pinned Atlas clean despite Atlas looking strong down the stretch.
Atlas got to shine early on as he had Escobar on the ropes. Mendoza & Wilde caused a distraction that allowed Escobar to shove Atlas off the apron into the dasher boards before the show cut to commercial. After the commercial break, Escobar was working over Atlas.
Escobar was working more of a WWE style than when he was under the mask as Fantasma for his first few bouts in NXT. The WWE storyline is he unmasked because he wanted to be more than a lucahdor. Of course, Escobar had already previously unmasked in Mexico in an apuesta match working for AAA. Escobar also now wears an armband as part of his gear. The armband has a symbol representing his new heel stable, because apparently that is what heel stables in WWE do ever since Nexus.
Atlas made a comeback and started to clean hosue on Escobar with a flurry of moves. That included a standing moonsault for a two count. Atlas moments later also moonsaulted to the floor so he could wipe out the henchmen at ringside. Atlas springboarded back into the ring, and he soon caught Escobar with a headlock DDT for a near fall.
Soon thereafter Atlas was cut off while climbing the turnbuckles. Escobar then executed the Phantom Driver, and he covered Atlas for the pinfall.
An Undisputed Era skit was a sequel to their hijicks last week. This time Roderick Strong faced his fear and got in the trunk of a car after he was talked into at the kayfabe doctor’s office. Adam Cole told Strong he was face Dexter Lumis in a match tonight, and Strong suddenly looked worried.
Malcolm Bivens was with Indus Sher. He cut a promo on Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan. This looks to set up a match soon between the two teams.
A great video package hyped the upcoming champion vs. champion match in a few weeks on NXT.
Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter
Kai submitted Catanzaro to win the match.
Gonzalez was playing monster heel at the outset as Catanzaro & Carter used teamwork to try and take Gonzalez off her feet. They used some nifty double team moves, but Gonzalez was still able to tag out. The double team offense by the babyfaces continued as Carter catapulted Catanzaro into a Thesz press on Kai for a two count.
Kai cut off Catanzaro, and the heels got heat on Catanzaro. Carter jumped in to break up a pinning attempt at one point. Carter then soon ran wild after a hot tag, and she got some near falls on Kai. The babyfaces again went for the catapult into the press, but this time it was on Gonzalez and she was too powerful. She caught Catanzaro for a huge powerbomb. Kai then tagged in to apply her new submission hold, and Catanzaro tapped out.
Kai looked into the camera after the match and called out NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. That could possibly be Shirai’s first title program was champion as Kai is set for a fatal four way next week to determine a number one contender.
Reed was a house of fire at the start, but Kross quickly cut him off. Kross gave Reed an exploder suplex, but Reed got up to fight back. Reed answered back with a German suplex, and then they went into a Frye-Takayama sequence.
Kross took some splashes in a corner from Reed, but that only served to light a fire in him. Kross with a Northern Lights suplex into a floatover and a lariat. Next came a Saito suplex, and that was followed by the Kross Jacket for the submission.
McKenzie Mitchell in an interview backstage asked NXT Champion Adam Cole which challenger he would like to face out of the triple threat match later on. A smug Cole said he would face whoever. He called the question stupid before saying he was making room on his mantle for one more championship.
A vignette hyped the return of Mercedes Martinez. She is awesome, and I hope she gets a push.
Rhea Ripley defeated Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Ripley tossed around Aliyah like a ragdoll. Aliyah tried some heel tactics, but Ripley cut her off easily several times. Ripley applied her standing scorpion submission hold, and was seemingly on the verge of victory when Stone threw his shoe at her.
Ripley chased Stone around the ring, and she caught him the ring where she ripped off his sports jacket. Stone fled and rolled out of the ring as Aliyah went to roll-up Ripley — only Ripley blocked her attempt and delivered the Rip Tide. Ripley then covered Aliyah for the pinfall.
Ripley looked strong in winning, but she went from feuding with Charlotte Flair — who at the time was the most pushed women’s wrestler in the company — to now in a comedy feud with a male manager that is doing a loser gimmick. I was hoping this match would be the end of it, but nope. More to come on this later.
Dexter Lumis defeated Roderick Strong (with Bobby Fish) via countout
Strong would get in the ring aiming to lock up, but then fear would overcome him and he would bail out of the ring. Fish tried to encourage him, but Strong was having none of it. Lumis went after Strong as he slowly stalked him. Strong trippe himself at ringside, and then he ran into the plexiglass as he tried to flee. Strong got to his feet and he ran out of the building. The referee counted him out.
Fish was left at ringside, and Lumis locked him in his sleeper hold. Fish escaped his clutches, and he fled the scene as well. Undisputed Era really kind of looks like geeks in this feud.
Stone and Aliyah were video chatting with William Regal. Stone said they deserved a rematch with Ripley next week. Regal agreed they both deserved a match, so he booked a two-on-one mixed handicap match with Stone & Aliyah against Ripley in a match next Wednesday on NXT. Ripley entered the picture and she agreed. The match is on for next week. If Ripley loses, she has to join the Robert Stone Brand.
Also announced for next week is a fatal four way number one contender’s match to decide a challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship with Mia Yim vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Dakota Kai.
A gimmick match was also announced for the next epiosde with Roderick Strongs meeting Dexter Lumis in a strap match.
The episode next week is also being branded as “The Great American Bash” based around Independence Day in the United States. The Bash name originated from a series of summer events from Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid-1980s, and the name was later used for PPVs in WCW until 2000. WWE would also use the name for PPVs before retiring it several years ago. Now it’s back for a NXT show that goes head-to-head with the first week of Fyter Fest.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano in a triple threat match to retain his title
Lee pinned Balor to retain in the exciting conclusion of a great triple threat match.
Although the handicap match was booked for next week, this first half of this match was basically turned into a handicap match with twos Davids against a Goliath.
The first part of the match was a showcase for Lee to look like a powerhouse. Balor and Gargano bumped and fed for him before the show cut to commercial. Lee was still striking them down as the show returned from the commercial break. The two smaller wrestlers both tried to ride Lee while applying sleeper holds. Lee threw them off his back, but just as soon as he could throw one then the other other would jump on his back.
Lee finally went down with Balor applying a sleeper, but Lee powered out to break the hold. He was back to his feet and back to power moves. Gargano and Balor were trying to take Lee off his feet when he snatched them both in his clutches before supexing both them over his head.
Balor again applied a sleeper, and Gargano simultaneously applied a leglock — but neither were to no avail. Lee flung Balor off of him like a school kid would toss a backpack off his shoulders, and then he mowed down Gargano with a forearm strike.
The fight spilled outside the ring, and Balor struck with sling blade to Lee on the floor. Gargano followed with a rolling senton off the apron on Lee. Before the show cut to its final commercial break, Lee was sent crashing into the steps and he was down selling. Balor and Gargano were fighting in the ring as the show returned from the break. They picked up the pace.
Balor with a tope con giro flying over the ropes onto Lee, and then Balor followed that with a Final Cut on Gargano for a near fall. Balor with a sling blade looked to set up his finishing sequence. In a call back to a previously infamous spot, Lee rose up on the apron into the camera frame behind Balor. Lee took out both Balor and Gargano with a slingshot crossbody.
Lee was smashing them both, when Balor suddenly struck with a double stomp out of nowhere. Balor went for the 1916, but Lee broke it up and picked up Balor in an electric chair. Balor escaped to apply a sleeper. Gargano jumped back into the fray, and he executed a slingshot DDT on Balor for a near fall. Lee broke up the count, and Gargano caught him in a guillotine. Lee took a tornado DDT, and he rolled outside.
Gargano flew through the ropes with a tope on Lee. Gargano then went for a tope on Balor, but he was blocked. Balor teased giving Gargano the 1916 on the floor (which was a call back to the spot where Gargano legit suffered an injury many months ago). Lee broke them up with a Monty Brown pounce.
Lee went to powerbomb Balor, but Balor countered into a delivering a double stomp. Gargano intercepted Balor only for Gargano to take a shotgun dropkick that bounced him off of Lee, and Lee fell on Gargano in another call back to a spot from a few weeks ago. Balor climbed the turnbuckles, and Lee got him in a guzzle. Gargano jumped in to strike Lee, which also crotched Balor. Gargano then rolled up Lee and put his foot on the middle rope for illegal leverage. Lee still managed to kick out.
Lee fired up to flatten Gargano with the Big Bang Catastrophe. Balor jumped off the top with a Coup de Grace on Gargano to break up the subsequent pinning attempt. Balor the ran into Lee, and Lee with another Big Bang Catastrophe. Lee then covered Balor for a clean pinfall.
NXT Champion Adam Cole had a staredown with Lee after the match where each held up their respective title belts. They meet in two weeks time in a title-for-title champion vs. champion match that runs head-to-head with week two of Fyter Fest on July 8.
WWE has announced two additions to the card for this week’s NXT.
Killer Kross and Scarlett are kicking off tonight’s show, with Kross having his second match for NXT. His opponent hasn’t been revealed.
Kross made his NXT in-ring debut by defeating Leon Ruff two weeks ago. He hit two Doomsday Saito suplexes and then submitted Ruff with the Kross Jacket.
Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis has also been announced for tonight’s NXT. Last week, a video call aired where all four members of the Undisputed Era chose Strong to be the one to face Lumis.
Lumis got involved when Strong and Bobby Fish tried to interfere in Cole’s NXT Championship defense against Velveteen Dream two weeks ago. A ref bump took place while Lumis was fighting with Strong and Fish during that match. Dream hit the Purple Rainmaker and got a visual pinfall on Cole, but there was no referee to count the pin.
Dream then woke the referee up and took out Strong and Fish. When Dream got back in the ring, Cole hit a superkick and the Last Shot to retain his title.
Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai is also set for tonight’s NXT. Plus, group action in NXT’s interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament will conclude with Kushida (2-0) vs. Drake Maverick (1-1) in a Group A match and Akira Tozawa (2-0) vs. El Hijo del Fantasma (1-1) in Group B.
WWE has revealed how they’re handling the NXT Tag Team title situation.
During his appearance on WWE’s The Bump this morning, NXT general manager William Regal announced that Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne will find a temporary partner for Riddle to team with while Dunne is currently unable to travel amid the coronavirus pandemic. Riddle and his temporary partner will defend the titles against The Undisputed Era on NXT tonight.
Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish will be the Undisputed Era team in tonight’s match.
In storyline, it was said that the decision for Riddle and Dunne to find a temporary partner was made after a long conversation between Regal, Riddle, and Dunne. When Dunne is able to come back, he’ll return to holding the titles with Riddle.
Riddle & Dunne were put together as a team for this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They won the tournament and then defeated Undisputed Era (Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) for the NXT Tag Team titles at TakeOver: Portland.
Here’s the updated list of what’s been announced for tonight’s NXT:
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong and Tyler Breeze vs. Austin Theory are both airing on NXT this week. NXT Champion Adam Cole will also share a “special message” on the episode.
“Just days ago, Adam Cole became the longest reigning NXT Champion in history, surpassing Finn Bálor’s 292-day turn as titleholder,” WWE.com wrote.
“The Undisputed ERA’s leader has a special message for the NXT Universe, and plans on sharing it tomorrow night. Just what does Cole have in store? Find out tomorrow on NXT at 8/7 C on USA Network!”
Cole celebrating becoming the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history had originally been announced for last week’s show. WWE was also building up Cole defending the title against Velveteen Dream at TakeOver: Tampa. Starting on April 1, several of the matches that were planned for TakeOver will air on NXT television over the next several weeks.
Riddle & Pete Dunne are the current NXT Tag Team Champions. They won the titles from Cole and Strong’s Undisputed Era stablemates Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish at NXT TakeOver: Portland last month.
There was a backstage segment on NXT two weeks ago where Theory insulted Breeze for not panning out as a superstar. Breeze responded by calling Theory a flash in the pan.
Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter and Xia Li vs. Aliyah will also air on NXT this week, with the winners qualifying for the number one contender’s ladder match that had originally been scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa. WWE has also announced that Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano will have to answer to Triple H after their brawl at the Performance Center two weeks ago.
