Slammiversary is at the end of this month, but TNA seems to be in no hurry to put a card together.
Impact this week was devoted to a pair of Champions Challenge matches that theoretically set up title contests down the road, but neither involves any of the company’s biggest names.
So what we had was two hours action that often felt aimless. Tessa Blanchard wrestled Harley Hudson. Santino Marella laced up the boots to face his future son-in-law Stacks. Fabian Aichner made his in-ring debut but didn’t come out of it looking any stronger than he did going in.
And they plugged a Hardys-Righteous match for next week by giving it a wacky name and some cryptic promo time without actually explaining what the rules were or why it mattered or why you should tune in.
Look, this was a skippable TV show, but I’m going to do my best to cover it in an entertaining manner.
A match for the International title is set for Genesis.
In a social media video on Friday, Santino Marella responded to claims by his daughter Ariana Grace that Stacks can beat up anyone they put in front of him. He made a four-way match for Genesis where Stacks will now defend the TNA International title against Eric Young, BDE, and a mystery person “who made their name in the great state of Texas.”
Late last year, Grace stunned TNA fans by turning against the TNA Director of Authority, choosing fiance Stacks over her own father. She later said she was tired of living in her father’s shadow and being known as Santino Marella’s daughter. She also accused him of choosing the wrestling industry over her.
Stacks won the title back at Final Resolution on December 5, defeating Steve Maclin. His most recent title defense was on Tuesday, defeating Shiloh Hill on NXT.
Current TNA Genesis 2026 lineup for January 17th, 2026 | Garland, Texas
TNA World Champion Mike Santana defends against Frankie Kazarian in a Texas Death match with Nic Nemeth as special referee
TNA Knockouts Champion Lei Ying Lee defends against Zaria
TNA International Champion Stacks defends against Eric Young, BDE, and TBA
Joe Hendry vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Moose in a three-way
Mustafa Ali vs. Elijah
JDC vs. Eddie Edwards in JDC’s retirement match.
TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) defend against The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)
After Tavion Heights won the Speed number one contenders tournament, he will get his match against Jasper Troy on next week’s show. Both confronted one another during an Ethan Page promo where Josh Briggs, Heights, Troy, Stacks, and Hill all came out to exchange words. In the same segment Hill announced his TNA International title match against Stacks for next week’s show as well.
The segment ended, typically, in a brawl. Somewhere along the line Hill grabbed Stacks’ fiance Arianna Grace and the two danced. Hill’s tooth fell on Grace the process, causing her to flee the ring in disgust.
A no disqualification match will also take place, with Joe Hendry facing Dion Lennox. After DarkState jumped Hendry during a concert, he asked Ava this week to put him in the match against Lennox. Ava said she’d sign off if he would find two guys who could back him up. Hendry asked OTM, who seemed reluctant at first, but after Hendry pointed out they’d be one step closer to the tag team titles, they agreed.
Lola Vice will also be in action, taking on Kelani Jordan. The two ended up fighting backstage after Jordan overheard Vice talking about her.
WWE NXT (January 13)
No disqualification: Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox
TNA International title: Stacks defends against Shiloh Hill
Men’s WWE Speed Championship: Jasper Troy defends against Tavion Heights
A X Division title match is among the matches set for next week’s NXT.
Ava and Santino Marella were talking with Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater backstage when Stacks and Arianna Grace appeared. Grace whispered something in Santino’s ear, who then brought up the possibility of his future son-in-law getting a X Division title match. Slater agreed to the match, which was later set up for next week.
Ricky Saints and Trick Williams will meet next Tuesday in a contract signing after the two continued to trade words on Tuesday. Williams balked at the idea of facing Saints at Halloween Havoc, appearing via video saying he’d do it on his own time. After Williams eventually did emerge and attack Saints backstage, Ava told the NXT Champion that they would meet next Tuesday at a Halloween Havoc contract signing to make their match official.
OTM made their return on Tuesday, taking out both Hank & Tank and Chase U, immediately cementing themselves back as one of the top teams in NXT. It was later confirmed their first match in months would take place next week when they take on Hank & Tank.
The start of the Men’s Speed Championship tournament will also begin next week. SmackDown’s Axiom will face Evolve’s Sean Legacy while TNA’s Zachary Wentz will face Jasper Troy.
WWE NXT (October 21):
Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams Halloween Havoc contract signing
TNA X Division title: Leon Slater defends against Stacks
OTM vs. Hank & Tank
Men’s WWE Speed tournament: Axiom vs. Sean Legacy
Men’s WWE Speed tournament: Zachary Wentz vs. Jasper Troy
Another WWE couple is celebrating the holiday season with an engagement.
NXT wrestlers Arianna Grace (Bianca Carelli) and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (Mitchell Lavalley) are now engaged to be married. The couple shared the news on social media Friday morning after Lorenzo proposed to Grace at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
“Yes to forever,” Grace wrote. “Last night was so perfect, and I am so in love. Excited to share… we are engaged!!!!!!!! Woooohoooo!!!!!”
Grace is the daughter of former WWE wrestler/current TNA Wrestling authority figure Santino Marella. She’s been a comedic character in the NXT women’s division since signing with WWE in 2022.
Lorenzo, a former NXT Tag Team Champion, is a member of Tony D’Angelo’s The Family faction.
The NXT roster has had an end-of-the-year break with its Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve episodes being taped in advance. The show will be back live on January 7 with its annual New Year’s Evil episode.
Tony D’Angelo and Stacks have regained the NXT Tag Team titles.
The open of Tuesday’s show saw Chase U fail to retain their titles, with D’Angelo and Stacks picking up the win after a double spinebuster, pinning Chase. Throughout the match, members of Chase U in the crowd were seen walking away, apparently losing faith in Chase U while they are under investigation for reasons that have yet to be made clear.
Chase U had held the titles for only two weeks, winning them from D’Angelo and Stacks back on the first night of Halloween Havoc on October 24.
Last week’s show saw D’Angleo and Stacks hand Jacy Jayne an envelope, with Jayne being surprised by the contents in the envelope. Chase found out and wasn’t happy Jayne had found out what was in the envelope. When Thea Hail and Duke Hudson walked into the classroom, Chase pretended that everything was fine.
Later in the week, Shawn Micheals wrote on X that he wanted to see Chase in his office. A video on WWE’s YouTube page Tuesday revealed that Chase U was now “under investigation”.
On NXT tonight, Chase U make their first Tag Team title defense.
Andre Chase & Duke Hudson won the NXT Tag Team titles from Tony D’Angelo & Stacks at NXT Halloween Havoc last month. Tonight, D’Angelo & Stacks get their rematch. The match comes after Chase U received a letter last week informing them that they’re under investigation.
The road to NXT Deadline continues tonight with two more Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying bouts. This week’s matches were selected by WWE legend Lita. Roxanne Perez faces Lash Legend, while Trick Williams takes on Joe Coffey.
Tiffany Stratton and Dijak have already qualified for the Iron Survivor Challenge matches at Deadline, which is taking place on December 9.
Also tonight, Wes Lee faces off against Baron Corbin. Both wrestlers are aiming to become the next challenger for NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov.
NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria will take part in a Warriors Tea Ceremony with Xia Li tonight. Alpha Academy are also set to appear as Noam Dar’s guests on Supernova Sessions.
The opening video package spoofed an old news reel, while also spoofing the recent controversy with American football coach Jim Harbough. Reporters met Chase U on their way into the building, as Andre Chase appears to be under investigation.
Chase himself looked disheveled, while Duke Hudson was beaming with school pride. Jacy Jayne wore big sunglasses and a hood. She mostly looked down, as did Thea Hail. The Chase U student section among the studio audience also seemed bummed out. Some students would later walk out during the opening match.
Chase U has to defend the tag titles in tonight’s opener, but they all look as if they would rather be anywhere else.
The Family (Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson with Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail) to win the titles
Tony D & Stacks recapture the tag titles in an entertaining match. It was far more about the story of the match, rather than the moves. Nevertheless, they still got plenty of high spots in as well.
Chase U were not fairing well from the start, and they were in more trouble as the show cuts to its first commercial break. Just before the break, Tony D hiptosses Stacks over the ropes into a flip dive on Chase & Hudson.
Hudson seemingly had to carry Chase U on his back in this mach. He struggled to make a tag. Hudson finally got close enough to make a tag, but Chase was too distracted with the students walking out on the match. Chase soon thereafter came in after a hot tag.
Chase ran wild briefly, but he was cut off. Meanwhile, the studio audience chants “walkout” during the bout. Hudson does a nifty slingshot German on Stacks. He goes for the same on Tony D, but that end up costing Hudson more.
Tony D trips up Hudson and rams him into the ring steps. Flying off the apron is Chase with a somersault senton to wipe out the Tony D. Chase is unable to capitalize, and The Family is able to execute the old Power & Glory (Paul Roma & Hercules) finisher on Chase for a near fall. Hudson is able to make a save by breaking the count.
Chase makes a comeback, and he sets for his version of the Garvin Stomp. Where he can complete that, he is distracted by more students walking out. Chase takes the Bada Bing Bada Boom finisher, and Stacks covers Chase for a three count. The Family has regained the tag straps.
It is Lita’s turn to book some matches this week for the Iron Survivor qualifiers. She does a cellphone video where she runs down her matchmaking picks. Lita books Roxanne Perez against Lash Legend. She also books Trick Williams and Joe Coffey in a match on the men’s side.
Meta-Four faced off with Alpha Academy in a Supernova Sessions talk show segment. Noam Darr is hosts Supernova Session alongside Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson and Oro Mensah. The Heritage Cup trophy is in a glass case with a chain criss-crossing it so no one can steal it again. That was silly, which fit the vibe, as this whole segment was beyond silly.
Silly or not, the talk show gimmick sets up a Heritage Cup Championship match for next week with Dar defending against Gable. To start the segment, out comes Alpha Academy — Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri. There is some silly banter and bickering, before Dar is goaded into accepting a challenge to put the Cup on the line.
They all play this so over the top. Dar then tries to cheap shot Gable, but Gable ducks. Gable then headbutts Dar, laying him out on a couch that was part of the set. Borrowing some phrasing from Jim Ross, this segment was goofy as a pet raccoon. Really, the whole show has been that way so far.
Meta-Four would hang around for the next match.
Lash Legend (with Noam Dar, Oro Mensah & Jakara Jackson) defeated Roxanne Perez in an Iron Survivor qualifying match
Legend pinned Perez, after a bunch of outside interference by Jakara Jackson and Kiana James. In winning, Legend qualifies for the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline.
Jackson interfered at one point, and the referee ejects her and the rest of Meta-Four from ringside. Apparently, not for long, though. Legend works over Perez, until Perez eventually makes a comeback. Legend cuts her off again, but she is unable to capitalize.
Suddenly, Jackson appears again despite being ejected earlier on. She distracts the ref while Kiana James runs in to interfere. That costs Perez the match, allowing Legend to hit Perez with a high kick. Legend goes on to do a chokeslam/powerbomb pop-up combo, and she covers Perez for a pinfall.
NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria meets Xia Li for a tea ceremony. The wackiness continues on this show. I liken this to a modern day version of wacky sketch on Tuesday Night Titans. Regardless, the tea ceremony is apparently how Li’s ancestors challenged their rivals. This sets up a title match next Tuesday where Valkyria defends against Li.
McKenzie Mitchell is interviewing Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Mitchell is so good in her role. She is the new Mean Gene, maybe even better.
Mitchell asks them about the elephant in the room, referring to Williams punching Hayes last week. Williams claims the punch was not intentional, and Hayes acts like he is over it. Hayes does say he will be in Williams corner for his match, which is up next.
But before the next bout, Mitchell also interviews Bron Breakker. They are interrupted by Dijak. This seems to set a future match with Dijak opposing Breakker, which could quite possibly include them both being in the Iron Survivor.
Trick Williams (with Carmelo Hayes) defeated Joe Coffey (with Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) in an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match
Williams pinned Coffey. This was the first match so far that was not wacky. It was far more serious, and the worked. The studio audience seemed very into it. In winning, Williams qualifies for the Iron Survivor at Deadline.
Williams is over huge with the studio audience, and Williams looks strong as the match gets under way. Williams punches both Mark Coffey and Wolfgang at ringside, but that ends up backfiring on Williams. Joe Coffey is able to ambush Williams.
Williams is in trouble and in peril as the show cuts to a commercial break. Coffey works over Williams, and Coffey grounds Williams with holds. Comeback by Williams, but Gallus again interfere. This time around, Hayes comes to Williams’ aide as Hayes tries to trip up Wolfgang. In doing so, a low bridge is inadvertently created, and Williams goes crashing to the outside.
Hayes is seemingly trying to help Williams back into the ring when Coffey comes flying out through the ropes with a tope. Hayes steps away, leaving Williams to take the brunt of it. Coffey gets a near fall on Williams in the ring with a signature combo. Williams out of nowhere delivers a jumping knee strike, and Coffey is pinned for a three count.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov and Wes Lee met in a backstage skit. The wackiness returns. That did not take long, and neither did this skit.
The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Btuch) vs. OTM (Lucien Price & Bronco Nima with Scrypts)
Butch pinned Nima to win the match. Thankfully, this was another match that was not silly. OTM looked better than ever. It helps to be in the there with some vets. This was arguably the best match so far in the short careers of Price & Nima. Brawling Brutes carried the match, and it was good.
Joe Gacy is still trying to find his purpose, and he cuts a promo about it. Gacy shows he is finally at the Performance Center, and he is on the roof. Not sure where this is going, but I can only hope for a monster truck tug-o-war on the roof like this is Halloween Havoc ’95.
Gigi Dolan defeated Arianna Grace
Dolan pinned Grace in match that seemed like filler. This match was set up with a locker room skit that featured some terrible acting.
Grace tries to cheat by putting her feet on the ropes during an attempted pinning combination. The ref caught her in the act, and she was admonished over it. Dolan then executes her finisher on Grace, and Dolan covers Grace for a pinfall.
A pretty good video package told the story of Von Wagner and Mr. Stone, from when they met as both were pictured together in a photograph from their signing day with WWE. After the video package, Mr. Stone invites Wagner to Thanksgiving dinner at Stone’s home. Wagner accepts the invite, but he wants them to hold the asparagus.
Eddy Thorpe is being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when they are interrupted by Drew Gulak and company. Charlie Dempsey threatens to stretch Thorpe in a match. Those two tangle in a bout next week.
Andre Chase is being hounded by reporters when Jacy Jayne makes a save, and they speed away.
Baron Corbin defeated Wes Lee
Corbin pinned Lee in what was arguably the best match on the show. In some ways, the match did not fit the show as it was not wacky enough. It was mostly serious. Corbin is apparently headed into a title program.
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio agreed in a skit earlier in the show to have Corbin’s back. Mysterio involvement would then help Corbin win the match.
Mysterio basically took a bullet for Corbin when Lee leaped over the ropes with a flip dive. Lee then jumps Mysterio, only for Lee to nearly get counted out. Lee barely breaks the count as he rushes back into the ring, where Lee is caught in the clutches of Corbin. Lee takes the End of Days, and Corbin covers Lee for a pinfall.
Corbin pummels Lee after the bell, which brings out NXT Champ Ilja Dragunov to make a save. Corbin is able to thwart the champ, and Corbin poses over Dragunov with the title belt.
As Corbin is leaving, Dragunov would crawl over to grab a microphone. Dragunov then vows to defend the title against Corbin at Deadline.
The Street Profits made a surprise appearance on Tuesday’s NXT.
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes was seen talking to Stacks and Tony D’Angleo when the Profits walked up, pointing out that they were all champions. Montez Ford said that he liked what Hayes was doing, with Angelo Dawkins wondering what Hayes would be doing next, saying there were plenty of people lining up to challenge. Hayes said he appreciated them, but said he wanted to erase that asterisk from his record. He then left as the Profits turned their attention to Stacks & D’Angelo, teasing a possible match between the two teams.
When the show ended, Hayes walked into Shawn Micheals’ office, saying they needed to talk.
Recent weeks have been Street Profits form an association with Bobby Lashley, choosing to wear suits. After interrupting a match between The Brawling Brutes and Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows, they have defeated both teams in the last two weeks, most recently defeating The Brawling Brutes in a match dedicated to Terry Funk on this past Friday’s SmackDown.
A Tag Team Championship match will kick off Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode.
WWE announced on Monday that Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo defending the Tag Team titles against The Dyad’s Jagger Reid & Rip Fowler will start this week’s NXT show.
The Dyad have been feuding with The Creed Brothers over the last several months of NXT programming, including winning a Loser Leaves NXT match against The Creeds on the July 4 NXT episode. The Creeds have yet to be reinstated, but D’Angelo & Stacks came to Creeds ally Ivy Nile on last week’s episode to set up the Tag title bout.
A total of four matches are set for Tuesday’s episode, including a Wes Lee vs. Dijak bout to decide the number one contender to Carmelo Hayes’ NXT Championship.
Trick Williams vs. Drew Gulak, plus Dana Brooke vs. Blair Davenport are also set for Tuesday’s NXT show.
The current lineup:
WWE NXT, Tuesday, August 15 —
NXT Championship number one contender’s match: Wes Lee vs. Dijak
NXT Tag Team Championship: Tony D’Angelo and Stacks defend against The Dyad
Santos Escobar made a surprise appearance on Tuesday’s NXT, wrestling in the main event.
Escobar teamed with Tony D’Angleo and Stacks to take on all three members of Gallus. With Escobar’s help, Stacks & D’Angelo won the match. All three men celebrated as NXT went off the air.
Tuesday’s show opened with Stacks and D’Angelo pulling up in the Performance Center’s parking lot when all three Gallus members attacked Stacks & D’Angelo, furious over their Tag Team title loss at Great American Bash on Sunday. D’Angelo said they would take them all on later, and would bring in a third person. Later, as D’Angelo and Stacks made their way to the ring, D’Angleo revealed he had called an old friend, that friend being Escobar.
Last year, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks were embroiled in a feud with Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro. The feud came to a head last August, when D’Angelo defeated Escobar in a match where Escobar would have to leave NXT if he lost.
Tony D’Angelo and Stacks are the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
D’Angleo and Stacks defeated Gallus on Sunday’s Great American Bash to win the titles for the first time. The finish had Gallus attempt to distract the referee so Wolfgang could use a weapon on Stacks. However, D’Angleo made the save when Wolfgang made the cover. Eventually, D’Angleo used a crowbar to knock out Joe Koffey and together they hit their finish on Wolfgang to win the match.
D’Angelo, Stacks, and Gallus have been involved in a months-long storyline where D’Angelo was thrown in jail on unspecified charges. Both Stacks and D’Angleo assumed that it was Gallus that ratted D’Angelo out. They then concocted a plan where Stacks pretended to be disloyal to D’Angelo in order to fool Gallus into giving Stacks a match where if he won, they would get a tag title match and D’Angelo would be freed from jail. If they lost D’Angleo would remain in jail until his trial. Stacks ended up winning the match, freeing D’Angelo from jail.
Gallus had been champions since February when they defeated champions The New Day, Pretty Deadly, and Chase U to win the titles for the first time.
WWE has announced which match will be kicking off the NXT Great American Bash main card.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be up for grabs in the opening match of Sunday’s main card. Gallus’ Mark Coffey & Wolfgang are defending their titles against Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.
Stacks earned the Tag Team title shot when he defeated Joe Coffey on the July 11 edition of NXT. With his victory, Stacks also freed D’Angelo from jail.
In storyline, D’Angelo was in jail after being set up by Gallus. Stacks tricked Gallus into believing that he would betray D’Angelo, but Stacks revealed that he wasn’t a snitch and defeated Joe Coffey to earn D’Angelo’s freedom.
A homecoming celebration took place on NXT after D’Angelo was freed. It ended with Mark Coffey being put through a table.
On NXT earlier this week, D’Angelo & Stacks defeated Bronco Nima & Lucien Price.
The Great American Bash main card streams live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The pre-show for the event begins at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Here’s everything that’s been announced for the show:
NXT Great American Bash (Sunday, July 30) —
NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Ilja Dragunov
Stacks defeated Joe Coffey on Tuesday’s NXT. As a result of the stipulations agreed to beforehand, D’Angelo will be released from jail and they will receive a future NXT Tag Team Championship match against Gallus. If Stacks had lost, he would have remained in jail until his trial.
The story of the match was that Stacks had led Gallus into believing that he would betray Tony D’Angelo by taking the pinfall. However, Stacks revealed that it was a swerve, telling Gallus that he wasn’t a snitch. The finish had Gallus being ejected after Stacks tricked Wolfgang into holding a crowbar in the ring, ejecting Gallus from ringside. Stacks then won the match with a big boot.
D’Angelo had been in jail for the last several weeks for unspecified crimes, though it was implied that Gallus was behind setting up D’Angelo. On a recent episode of NXT, Joe Coffey revealed to D’Angelo that Stacks had been talking to Gallus behind his back, leaving D’Angelo stunned and not knowing if he could trust Stacks ahead of this week’s match.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line tonight — but who Matt Riddle will be teaming with isn’t known yet.
It was announced on WWE’s The Bump today that Riddle will be teaming with a temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. Riddle and his partner will defend their titles against the Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish tonight.
When he comes back, Dunne will return to being NXT Tag Team Champions with Riddle if he and his partner haven’t lost the titles.
Finn Balor’s feud with Imperium will continue as he faces off with Fabian Aichner tonight. NXT’s interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament is also set to begin.
WWE will follow up on Io Shirai becoming the number one contender to Charlotte Flair’s NXT Women’s Championship. The build to an eventual Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream NXT Championship match will also continue tonight. Cole has challenged Dream to meet him for a face-to-face chat.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton are back on commentary and in Full Sail.
Finn Balor defeated Fabian Aichner (w/ Marcel Barthel)
Balor pinned Aichner despite interference by Barthel.
Balor’s feud with Imperium continues as does the build towards him challenging WALTER for the NXT UK Championship — even if that match cannot place takes for an indefinite amount of time due to the ongoing pandemic. Balor is slowly working his way through Imperium before meeting the boss.
Aichner would try to gain control at the outset, but Balor kept thwarting his attempts. Balor flew through the ropes with a dropkick to the floor, and then he looked directly into the camera. Balor pointed finger guns like was still in the Bullet Club as the show went to its first commercial break.
Barthel at ringside interfered by grabbing Balor’s foot shortly afte the show returned from break. That gave Aichner breathing room to use a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker that turned the tide. Balor soon fired up and fought back. A double stomp by Balor led into a sling blade.
Barthel caused a distraction that allowed Aichner to schoolboy Balor. Although Balor got his shoulder up to break the count on the roll-up, Aichner deadlifted him — and then he heaved Balor across the ring for a powerbomb.
Barthel pulled Balor outside and propped him against the ring steps, but Balor was able to move out of harm’s way. Aichner collided with the steps when he tried charging at Balor. Aichner then took a sling blade on the floor. Balor dropkicked Barthel into the barricade and it collapsed under his weight.
Aichner briefly cut off Balor and he went for a double springboard moonsault — but he missed. Balor with a shotgun dropkick into the corner, and he followed with Coup de Grace. Balor delivered the 1916, and he covered Aichner for the pinfall.
A Flair for the gold: The Next Generation
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair in pre-tape segment talked about winning the title. She claimed her title win “is going to soldify my legacy” because she will do what no else has done before. Flair said she is going to dominate three eras — the past, the present and the future.
She ran down her list of title wins over notable opponents. For the past five years she has been the most dominate. She beat everyone and left Ronda Rousey a “broken woman” — and now is coming to NXT to face the next generations.
“I’m coming to NXT to run through the best division in WWE,” Charlotte said.
She mentioned some challengers before saying she had her eye on Mia Yim. She wants to give Yim the first title shot, and Charlotte noted Yim was her first opponent on TV in NXT. Then she will run through everyone else.
Flair went on to say after she defeats them all there will be no doubt Charlotte Flair is “the greatest of all time — the past, present and future.”
Xia Lee defeated Aliyah
Lee pinned Aliyah to gain a measure of revenge. This match was set up after a Tonya Harding angle where Aliyah attacked Lee before her match on a previous episode.
Lee showed a lot of fire at the start. Aliyah played a cat-and-mouse game as Lee chased her around the ring. Aliyah used the referee as a shield, and then she dropped Lee with a cheapshot kick.
Aliyah worked over Lee, but Lee eventually made a comeback. Lee would deliver a spinning wheel kick before covering Aliyah for the pinfall.
Matt Riddle was supposedly on the phone with Pete Dunne — who would not reveal to Riddle the mystery partner for the tag team title match later on.
Akira Tozawa defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in a Groub B match in the Cruiserweight Championship tournament
Tozawa pinned Scott to get the first victory in the tournament. If this is any indication, this tourney is going to deliver some great matches.
They traded strikes. Tozawa took a big bump off the apron to the floor before a commercial break. Swerve had Tozawa grounded when the show returned from commercial.
Tozawa leapt off the apron with a somersault senton. Moments later Tozawa locked in an octopus hold and transitioned into a sleeper. Swerve countered a choke to deliver a brainbuster.
Swerve rallied and delivered the House Call. Tozawa kicked out and they fought on. Tozawa with an exploder in a corner, and he followed with a senton bomb off the top to score the pinfall.
Tozawa in a post-match interview said he must keep fighting and winning — and he will become the champion again.
A vignette hyped the arrival of Hijo del Fantasma. His lucha libre heritage was acknowleded as he in Spanish narrated a video package. He has a newly designed mask — presumably a design that WWE will own.
Nox pinned Gonzalez with a roll-up thanks to Shotzi Blackeart making a save when Kai interfered. This would in theory set up a tag team match.
Gonzalez dominated at the outset as she mauled Nox. Gonzalez dashed some hope spots, and Kai got involved at one point when she jumped on the apron. Kai kicked Nox, and Shotzi Blackheart ran down to jump Kai.
Blackheart waylaid Kai, and Gonzalez was distracted by the melee at ringside. Gonzalez went to chokeslam Blackheart, but Nox instead rolled up Gonzalez with a schoolgirl for the pinfall.
Basking in the glory of Keith Lee
Next up was a tremendous min-doc telling the story of Keith Lee.
Lee narrated a look back at his journey to NXT. It began when he was five years old. His grandmother introduced him to pro wrestling. She talked about the Von Erichs and the Freebirds, but it was Macho Man Randy Savage that really caught his attention.
At the age of 20 Lee decided to become a wrestler. His family did not want him to to pursue the dream — especially his father. Lee said he stole his own car so he could sneak off to do a show with Mick Foley. He was kicked out of the house for that, and he was homeless for a time.
“When they talk about sacrifice,” Lee said. “I have literally sacrificed everything to make this work.”
For 13 years he was turned down “here” and “there” — but he finally made it to NXT. “Guess who stands out?” It’s him.
Lee won the NXT North American Championship and everything has come full circle. A clip showd Foley praising Lee’s work backstage after a match in NXT.
This mini-doc was a great piece of business. Highly recommend watching it, and then skipping the next match.
Dexter Lumis defeated Tehuti Miles
Lumis submitted Miles in a short match. Lumis stalked Miles, and Miles tried to fire up. Lumis cut him off and stalked him some more. Uranage led into an Anaconda Vice for the submission.
NXT Champion Adam Cole was poolside again. He scoofed at the notion he would show up tonight to confront Velveteen Dream. Cole cut a thinly veiled promo on Dream that brought up current events without actually mentioning the pandemic. Cole said nobody was worthy of a title shot.
Okay, this is BS and a complete bait-and-switch. After plugging a “face-to-face” segment, we instead got Dream responding with a promo from an empty arena. At least Cole took the heat by being a chickens**t heel. We would still get a confrontation — just not with Cole and Dream.
Dream was at a podium cutting his promo when Finn Balor interrupted him. This angle would set up a match for next Wednesday.
Balor told Dream he has remained silent — but no more. Balor said when you talk about the greatest NXT Champion — you’re talking about him. Balor warned Dream that making “ignorant comments will get you a date with the ‘Prince’.”
Dream then challenged Balor to a match next week on NXT.
Also announced for next week on NXT were three more matches in the cruiserweight tournament:
El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Jack Gallagher
Kushida vs. Tony Nese
Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas
Shotzi Blackeart & Tegan Nox against Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez was also made official stemming from the angle earlier in the show.
Malcom Bivens cut a promo flanked by Idus Sher. They want a tag team title match.
Timothy Thatcher & Matt Riddle defeated Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Roderick Strong) to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship
Thatcher substituted for Dunne and submitted Strong with an armbar.
Making his debut on NXT TV, Thatcher was revealed as the mystery partner. Dunne in a pre-tape video introduced Thatcher as his replacement. On commentary Thatcher was called “the meanest son of bitch you will ever see.”
Riddle started with Fish. They grappled for a few minutes until Fish took a suplex and powdered before a commercial.
Thatcher tagged in after the break. You’d think they would have saved that for a hot tag — but nope. Thatcher simply tagged in and started stretching Strong. Thatcher would still get a hot tag later on.
Thatcher was cut off, and Undisputed Era began to work him over. Thatcher was soon able to tag Riddle.
Riddle with a penalty kick for a two count. He then gave Fish a series of gutwrench suplexes. Strong tried to break it up, but Thatcher made the save and gave Strong a gutwrench in stereo with Riddle suplexing Fish.
Fish clipped Thatcher on the outside, and Strong took over on Riddle. Undisputed Era worked over Riddle for a few minutes. Riddle took an Olympic Slam before the show cut to its final commercial break.
The onslaught by Undisputed Era continued after the break. Riddle with a fishermam’s buster to create separation. Thatcher cleaned house after a hot tag.
Thatcher went for an armbar, but Strong got to the ropes. Thatcher with a big overhead chop. Fish jumped in to give Strong an opportunity to strike back.
Undisputed Era double-teamed Thatcher. Riddle jumped to proverbially take a bullet for the save. Thatcher traded some strikes with Strong, and then Thatcher caught Strong in the Fijiwara armbar for the submission.
Ciampa attacked
Tommaso Ciampa addressed Johnny Gargano in a pre-tape promo that closed the show. Ciampa said he was done with Gargano and Candice LeRae. He was “done with all of this” as they agreed when it was over then it was over — referring to the blow off match from last week.
Ciampa was about to say Gargano was the better man when he was suddenly ambushed by an unkown assailant. As Ciampa lay motionless, the identity of his attacker was clear — it was Killer Kross.
