On NXT tonight, Santino Marella has a chance to win his first WWE gold in 13 years.
The 51-year-old Marella is challenging Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship on tonight’s show. It’s a match that was set up last week when Marella confronted Page, who had just introduced a Canadian flag-inspired design for the North American title belt. Marella said the title deserves to be held by someone with dignity, honor, class, and pride.
Marella is currently an on-screen authority figure in TNA Wrestling with the title of Director of Authority.
A couple of women’s division matches have also been announced for tonight with Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley and Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx scheduled to take place. Legend and Parker are both angling for a title shot against NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, who now also holds the TNA Knockouts Championship as well.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens on a somber note with a ten-bell salute to Hulk Hogan, while members of the NXT roster stand in the ring and at ringside. A music video tribute to Hogan follows the ten-bell salute. After that is an early commercial break.
Back from the break, a recap highlights the previous episode of NXT, which sets the stage for tonight’s card. Opening the show is a women’s match.
Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx (with Fallon Henley and TNA Knockouts & NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne)
Parker pinned Nyx after a running hip attack. Nyx got some offense, but Parker made an impressive comeback. The result was a coordinated push of Parker to set her up to challenge Jayne in a title match. The match itself was largely good as Parker looked strong.
Jaida Parker defeated Jazmyn Nyx
— Je’Von Evans passes by The High Ryze at the start of a backstage skit, and Evans clowns on them. Evans then meets Chase U on Evans’ way to the ring for a monologue. Andre Chase is telling Kale Dixon and Uriah Connor to essentially take the bulls by the horns. That would lead into a later skit with Hank & Tank.
Confrontation sets up Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans for later tonight
Evans begins with a monologue, where he begins by talking about getting advice from Undertaker last week. Evans is going after the biggest dog in the yard.
Out comes TNA World Heavyweight Champion Trick Williams in jeans that sparkle bright. The biggest dog has arrived, and he offers advice not to tug on Superman’s cape or try Trick Williams. That leads to Evans saying he was not talking about Trick when he calling out the biggest dog in the yard. Instead, Evans was talking about NXT Champion Oba Femi.
High Ryze soon interrupts to interject in the conversation. Playing off the skit from earlier, Wes Lee is flanked by Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. Lee has Trick’s back, and Lee cuts a promo on Evans. There is some bickering back and forth before Evans responds by decking Lee. Outnumbered, Evans is jumped by High Ryze and Trick. This sets up a singles match tonight with Lee against Evans. Lee and company stand over a prone Evans.
— In a comedy skit, Uriah Connors and Kal Dixon have chairs in hand outside the locker room of NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank. They intend to rush in and attack Hank & Tank, and they barge in. Instead of an assault, there is a comedy where Hank says all they had to do was ask. In comes Andre Chase, who is apologetic as he did not mean for his students to attack with chairs. This all was mildly funny, but more importantly, it sets up a tag title match for next Tuesday on NXT.
Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights
Heights pinned Dempsey after a belly-to-belly suplex. In winning, Heights can now leave No Quarter Catch Crew.
The match goes through a commercial break, and it was very good as well. Wren Sinclair was again at ringside, and she teased tossing in a the towel once more. She ultimately didn’t, and Heights made a comeback after Dempsey is working a leg.
Double down as the show cut to commercial. After the break, Dempsey targets the leg. Heights’ leg is smashed in the ring steps. Dempsey then goes to work with a half crab. Heights eventually hulks up into a comeback. He fights back and gets a near fall with a small package. Moments later, Heights counters Dempsey to execute a belly-to-belly suplex. Heights then covers Dempsey for a pinfall. Heights in now free to leave No Quarter Catch Crew.
Tavion Heights defeated Charlie Dempsey
— Trick William instructs High Ryze to finish off Je’Von Evans. In exchange, High Ryze wants Trick to use his pull to get them a tag team title match. Up walks Santino Marella, who chides Trick for thinking he was pull. Marella is the stroke in TNA. But do not worry about that, Marella says as he takes off his TNA badge. Tonight, Marella is a WWE superstar looking to win the NXT North American title. Marella also does his gimmick where he mispronounces the name of Ethan Page.
— Blake Monroe is heading to the ring for a monologue.
Blake Monroe promo turns to chaos
Monroe first cuts a promo on Booker T for mispronouncing her name last week. Monroe then shifts to cutting a promo on Jordynne Grace.
Monroe shows a picture on the big screen of Grace working as an extra, with Monroe chiding Grace’s appearance. Monroe then shows a recent picture, and she makes a crack at Grace about needing a gym membership instead of a title match.
Monroe then insists she herself is championship material. Monroe shows photos of her modeling days.
Lola Vice interrupts Monroe’s monologue, and Vice cuts a promo on Monroe. Vice talks about representing WWE in AAA and dancing with Nikki Bella at Evolution, instead of talking selfies in the locker room (which is a dig at Monroe).
Out next to interrupt the interruption is Jaida Parker. She cut a great promo about not chasing clout, she is chasing the championship.
Jordynne Grace’s music blares, but out comes Kelani Jordan instead. Not the “Jordan” you were expecting, Jordan says with a smirk. Jordan also says to expect the unexpected in WWE. Jordan hen proceeds to cut a promo on Monroe. Jordan basically challenges Monroe to a match.
Monroe accepts the challenge by threatening to put Jordan in a “local medical facility” next week. Monroe headbutts Jordan, which ignites a huge brawl. Vice and Jordan send Monroe and Parker packing, and Monroe begs off by hugging Parker, who shoves Monroe away.
— In a backstage skit with The Culling, Shawn Spears informs Tatum Paxley she has a title match next week against NXT North American Champion Sol Ruca. The Culling will be in Paxley’s corner to ensure she wins the title.
Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley (with Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne)
Much of the match is overshadowed by a main roster run-in, as Nia Jax attacks Legend. When he fight spills outside the ring. Nyx tries to interfere, but Legend knocks her down with a punch. Legend also thwarts interference from Jayne, as Legend drops Jayne with a pump kick. Suddenly, Jax ran in to attack Legend from behind.
At a random point during the match, an image of Joe Hendry flashes across the screen. This would also happen in a later match on the card.
A stunned Legend is then rolled into the ring, where Henley executes a Rocker Dropper (famouser). Henley then covers Legend for a three count.
Fallon Henley defeated Lash Legend after interference by Nia Jax
In a post-match attack, Jax furthers her assault on Legend. Jax does a Bonsai Drop on Legend after the match.
— Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura get into an argument backstage, and they were separated. Stacks chimes in and gets slapped by Inamura. This sets up a match for next week with Inamura against Stacks.
Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee (with High Ryze)
TNA Champion Trick Williams is ringside for guest commentary.
They wrestle through a commercial break, and they had a great match. Big dive by Lee over the ropes to the floor before the commercial break, which leaves the babyface in peril. The high-flying action continues after the show returns from the break, and the bacyface fights back.
In the highlight of the match, Evans goes coast-to-coast with a flying dropkick as Lee is tied in a tree-of-woe. Great near fall when Evans delivers a frog splash on Lee. The finish came soon after as they go home.
Interference by Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, but they are thwarted after a dive by Evans. Lee hits his finisher, but Evans gets a toe on the middle rope to break the hold. The idea allows Lee to save some face as he hooked Evans leg too much, which causes it to make contact with the rope. Regardless, the hold is broken.
For the finish, Evans delivers two cutters. The last cutter includes a double springboard off the ropes. Evans then covers Lee for a pinfall. Best match on the show by far.
Je’Von Evans defeated Wes Lee via pinfall
— Vic Joseph sits down with Myles Borne, who tells his emotional story of overcoming serious health conditions as a baby. Borne addresses Lexis King, accusing him of stirring the pot. Borne showcases his positive mental attitude as he describes his battles as a child on a ventilator, where he lost 90% of his hearing. Borne talks about how he could read lips to help understand people. Borne then dismisses King and tries to block him out.
— In a corresponding skit after a commercial break, Lexis King cuts a promo in Ava’s office. King again accuses Borne of faking his deafness. This sets up a match between Kind and Borne for next week on NXT.
— The Fatal Influence trio bicker in a TMZ-style interview. Suddenly, Nia Jax hijacks the interview to cut a promo on Lash Legend. Jax says Legend does not measure up.
NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs. Santino Marella
Marella with a series of near falls at the start of the match, but Page escapes. The match also includes another mysterious video clip of Joe Hendry.
Heat spot as Page works over Marella. Fighting back, Marella does an airplane spin. Double down from there, and both are seemingly out. They rise and Marella counters Page’s finisher. Marella tries to rally, but he is dropped by a kick.
Page off the top rope with an attempted splash, but Marella gets his knees up. Comeback by Marella and he is firing up. Plancha by Marella, and he rolls Page back into the ring. Out comes The Cobra, but Page uses the referee to shield him. The ref is shoved aside. With the ref’s back turned, Page pokes Marella in the eye. Page then delivers a Twisted Grin, and Page covers Marella for a three count.
Ethan Page defeated Santino Marella to retain the North American title via pinfall.
— Closing the show is a skit with Tony D’Angelo seated at a restaurant. The cliffhanger is Tony D is seemingly being attacked when the show goes off air.
