In their first title defenses, Damian Priest and Breezango retained their respective championships on last night’s NXT.
Priest defeated Timothy Thatcher in the main event of last night’s show to retain the NXT North American Championship. Earlier in the episode, Breezango defeated former champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) to retain the NXT Tag Team titles.
Shotzi Blackheart impressed but lost to NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in non-title action last night. It was announced that Shirai’s challenger for NXT’s next TakeOver special will be determined by a number one contender’s battle royal on next Wednesday’s NXT. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Blackheart, Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Indi Hartwell, Xia Li, and Kacy Catanzaro were featured on the match graphic for the battle royal.
It was also announced that a five-man “gauntlet eliminator” match on next week’s NXT will determine Finn Balor’s challenger for TakeOver. The participants for the gauntlet eliminator haven’t been revealed. The rules are that two wrestlers will start in the ring, another will be added every four minutes, the only way to be eliminated is via pinfall or submission, and the last man standing will challenge for Balor’s NXT Championship at TakeOver on Sunday, October 4.
Two title matches will take place on tonight’s episode of NXT.
The North American Championship will be on the line as Damian Priest defends against Timothy Thatcher. After winning the title in a five-way ladder match at TakeOver XXX last month, this will be Priest’s first defense of the championship.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) will get their rematch for the NXT Tag Team titles against Breezango. Tyler Breeze & Fandango became the NXT Tag Team Champions by defeating Imperium three weeks ago.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will be in non-title action against Shotzi Blackheart. Shirai and Blackheart worked together to lay out Robert Stone and Aliyah last week, but Blackheart then set her sights on Shirai’s title.
With WWE confirming that NXT’s next TakeOver special will be held on Sunday, October 4, the build to the event will kick off tonight. That may include finding out who will be the first challenger for Finn Balor’s NXT Championship. Balor won the title by defeating Adam Cole last week. Cole showed Balor respect and said the better man won, but Cole said the outcome will be a lot different if he gets another shot at the title.
Plus, NXT general manager William Regal will make two “major announcements” and Drake Maverick & Killian Dain will team against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with a women’s match set up last week.
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeated Shotzi Blackheart in a non-title match
Shirai pinned Blackheart after a moonsault press in a good match.
Blackheart offered to shake hands before the match, but Shirai slapped her hand away. Blackheart shined early on as she grounded Shirai on the mat. Shirai got a rope break, and she sidestepped when Blackheart went for a wrecking ball dropkick. Shirai then did an Asai moonsault to the floor before a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Heat on Blackheart during the commercials, but she began a comeback when the show returned from the break. Shirai cut her off and applied a crossface. Blackheart escaped, and then she dodged an attempted Tiger Feint Kick. Blackheart with a senton, followed by a Tiger Suplex. Blackheart then transitioned into a Cattle Mutilation. Shirai was able to escape.
Shirai delivered the Tiger Feint Kick and a missile dropkick for a near fall. Blackheart fought back to give Shirai a Super Frankensteiner off the ropes for a near fall. Blackheart went on to counter a superplex, but Shirai also countered to give Blackheart a scary back suplex on the apron. Blackheart still managed to kick out at two.
Shirai with running knee strikes, and she followed with a moonsault press to score the pinfall. They shook hands and embraced after the match.
Announced for next week on NXT is a women’s battle royal to determine a number one contender.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Desmond Troy
Ciampa pinned Troy after a draping DDT in a squash.
Ciampa during his entrance wore a mask similar to something members of Los Ingobernables de Japon would wear to the ring.
Cimapa rocked Troy at the outset. He catapulted him throat first into the bottom rope, and then Ciampa executed the Widow’s Bell before scoring the pinfall.
Jake Atlas entered stage left after the match, and he cut a promo challenging Ciampa to a match next week. Ciampa sat in a folding chair in the middle of the ring to listen, and he smirked at the challenge.
Drake Maverick was interviewing while arriving to the building. Maverick says “everything is going to be fine” even though his tag partner for tonight seemingly wants nothing to do with him.
A great vignette had new NXT Champion Finn Balor cutting a promo talking up himself, and also putting over the title. He talked his previous reign as champion when he helping to build the brand. The future is a lot different he said. He doesn’t need the brand, he made the brand. Now the brand need him. Balor said him being champion makes the title the most imporant in the game. He fought for 20 years to be champion, and now people have to fight. He said for challengers to line up, but they “bettter look both ways before crossing ‘The Prince'”.
Kushida defeated Austin Theory
Kushida submitted Theory with the Hoverboard Lock. Once again Kushida was super aggressive, showing a mean streak.
Theory cut a promo before the match saying he is a future first ballot Hall of Famer. He made a open challenge. Enter Kushida to take him up on the offer.
Kushida struck as soon as he got in the ring, sending Theory scrambling outside. Kushida grounded Thoery when he got back in the ring. Thoery was soon able to cut him off.
Theory missed a standing moonsault, and Kushida fought back to make a comeback. Kushida did his signature cartwheel dropkick, and also a handspring kick. The fight spilled outside.
Theory posted himself, and Kushida targeted the arm with a shoulder breaker on the floor. Back in the ring, Kushida stomped on Theory. Kushida then applied the Hoverboard Lock, and Theory tapped out. Kushida acting slighty heelish did not break the hold immediately. The referee had to pry him off Theory.
At home with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae where LeRae cut a promo on Tegan Nox. Gargano was mad they were having to spent their fourth wedding anniversary watching television in the guest room, all because Nox broke their TV in the living room. LeRae brought up the battle royal, but Gargano interrupted her because he found a new TV online. When they both win titles and have a new TV, the good times will start.
NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) defeated Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) to retain their titles
Breeze pinned Aichner to win the match. This was pretty good.
Imperium rushed the ring to attack Breezango before the bell. Early on Imperium worked over Fandango. Barthel & Aichner proverbially cut the ring in half. The heat continiued through a commercial break.
Fandango was finally able to make a hot tag, and Breeze ran wild. Aichner bumped and fed. Breeze applied a single leg, and Barthel tried to make a save to no avail. Aichner countered Breeze, but Aichner still ate a superkick for a near fall broken up by Barthel.
Aichner fougth back to execute a brainbuster. Fandango broke up a pinning attempt. They all began fighting on the floor. Aichner went for a second brainbuster, but Fandango made a save. Fandango then superkicked both Aichner & Barthel.
Fandango missed a Bobby Eaton flying legdrop, and Barthel hit him with a superkick. Aichner with a gutwrench German suplex for a two count.
Another hot tag led to Breeze again looking to run wild. He was cut off and suplexed. Breeze was then hit with a PK. Imperium went for the European Bomb, but it was broken up. Breeze with a hurricanrana on Aichner, and he hooked the legs to score the pinfall.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter defeated Xia Li & Jessi Kamea
Catanzaro pinned Li to win the match for her team.
Carter and Li started with the match with chain wrestling. Catanzaro & Carter with a sequence of double team moves and quick tags. Kamea cut off Catanzaro and briefly got a heat on her.
Carter came in off a hot tag, and she cleaned house. Catanzaro tagged back in for the finish. Catanzaro had a crucifix on Li, and Carter hit Li with a big boot. Catanzaro then flipped over into a cradle to score the pinfall. Great teamwork by Catanzaro & Carter.
Kamea shook hand with them after the match, but Li refused to do so. She stormed off instead.
Drake Maverick approached Killian Dain backstage before their match. Dain said they were not partner, and Maverick was on his own. Maverick said “see you out there.”
Tegan Nox cut a promo on Candice LeRae.
Drake Maverick & Killian Dain defeated Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) via disqualification
Fish used to chair to cause the DQ. The story here was focused on Dain & Maverick
Maverick started the match without Dain, who at first did not come out to team with Maverick.
Outnumbered, Maverick was pummeled from the start. Maverick fought back, only for Undisputed Era to pummel him some more. Dain was shown backstage watching the match on a monitor, and he was chuckling at Maverick’s predicament.
The match went through a commercial break, and Maverick was still in peril. William Regal confronted Dain backstage, and Regal laid a guilt trip on Dain like Granny would on Bryan Alvarez. It worked as Dain came out to help Maverick.
Dain told Maverick to “take it like a man”, Dain went to leave. Undisputed Era began talking trash, so Dain turned around to confront them. Dain began to wreck shop on Undisputed Era.
Fish hit Dain with a chair for the DQ. Maverick took the chair away from Fish, and Fish walked into a pump kick from Dain. Undisputed Era fled the scene.
Maverick shoved Dain and screamed at him they were a team. Dain knocked him out with a punch, and Dain left.
Jake Atlas was outside leaving the building when he was approached for an interview. He asked about challenging Ciampa, and it being a “bold move”. Atlas began to explain why it was bold when, out of nowhere, he was attacked by Ciampa. Kyle O’Reilly ran in to confront Ciampa and break up the fight. Ciampa said he would see Atlas next week, and he also told O’Reilly he would see him soon too.
William Regal announced a new gimmick match called the “Gaunlet Eliminator Match”, which will determine a new number one contender for the NXT Championship. Two wrestlers start in the ring. Every four minutes another wrestler enters the match. Eliminations are via pinfall or submission. The winner goes on to face Balor for the title at TakeOver in October. The gauntlet match takes place on the next episode of NXT.
Cimapa vs. Atlas was officailly announced for next week on NXT. A women’s battle royal is also official for next Wednesday.
NXT North American Champion Damian Priest defeated Timothy Thatcher to reatin his title
Priest pinned Thatcher in a really good match. This was Priest’s first defense of the North American Championship.
Plenty of grappling at the outset, and it was good stuff. They traded shoulder blocks and strikes. Priest went outside to regroup. They fought on the floor where Thatcher sent Priest into the steps. Thatcher then gave Priest a double underhook suplex on the floor before the show cut a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Thatcher during the break grounded Priest, and he began working an arm he had previously targeted earlier in the match. Priest has about to begin a comeback, but Thatcher cut him off. When the returned from break, Priest then fired up in a comeaback.
Priest with his flying back elbow, and a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Thatcher went for an armbar, but he got kicked in the head instead. Priest missed a springboard senton. Thatcher caught Priest a Fujiwara armbar. Priest escaped, and he was able to escape an attempted half crab.
A moment later and Thatcher applied the half crab. Priest fought free, only to get caught in Fujiwara armbar. Priest got a rope break. Thatcher went for a double underhook, and Priest countered to goozle Thatcher. Priest was still selling his arm, though, and was unable to lift Thatcher.
Priest hoisted up Thatcher and dropped him into a uranage or something like that. The announcers called it a jumping flatliner. Priest used that move in the past, so maybe that is what they were going for here. Anyway, Priest followed with a South of Heaven chokeslam for a two count.
Thatcher again went for the armbar, and Priest countered into a spin kick. Priest leapt off the top rope with a spinning heel kick. Priest then executed The Reckoning, and he covered Thatcher for the pinfall to retain the title.
Two more matches involving champions have been announced for next week’s episode of NXT.
In his first defense of the title, Damian Priest will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Timothy Thatcher next week (Wednesday, September 16). NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will face Shotzi Blackheart in non-title action on the episode.
NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango defending their titles against Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) is also set for next week.
Priest became NXT North American Champion by winning a five-way ladder match for the title at TakeOver XXX last month. Thatcher then confronted Priest two weeks ago, said the way Priest acts is embarrassing, and declared that he wants the first shot at Priest’s title. Last week, Thatcher defeated Bronson Reed.
Thatcher broke down film of Priest during his Thatch-as-Thatch-can seminar on NXT tonight. Later in the episode, Priest was interviewed about next week’s match. Priest said there’s no chance he’s losing the North American title in his first defense.
Robert Stone went to destroy Blackheart’s tank on NXT tonight but got caught by Blackheart. Aliyah attacked Blackheart and accidentally knocked her into Shirai. Blackheart and Shirai teamed up to lay out Aliyah and Stone. Blackheart then picked up Shirai’s title belt. She went to give it to Shirai but pulled it away. Shirai took the title belt and told Blackheart she likes her — so don’t make Shirai hurt her.
After airing on Tuesday for two straight weeks amid the NHL playoffs, NXT will be back on Wednesdays starting next week.
WWE has announced a new addition to the lineup for Tuesday’s episode of NXT.
Timothy Thatcher vs. Bronson Reed is now set for NXT this Tuesday. It will be the first time either has wrestled since their respective matches at TakeOver XXX.
Thatcher lost to Finn Balor at TakeOver. Reed was part of the ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship that was won by Damian Priest.
On last week’s post-TakeOver episode of NXT, Thatcher confronted Priest during a backstage interview. Thatcher called the way Priest acts embarrassing and said he should get the first shot at Priest’s North American title.
Reed did an interview last week and was asked about Thatcher wanting the first shot at the North American title. Reed pointed out that he’s actually beaten Priest before. The returning Austin Theory then interrupted Reed and insulted him. Reed responded by slapping Theory.
This Tuesday’s NXT will be headlined by Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole in a four-way 60-minute Iron Man match for the vacant NXT Championship. The episode will also feature Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango in a six-man street fight.
NXT is airing on Tuesday the next two weeks due to the NHL playoffs.
Coming out of last night’s go-home episode of NXT, a new match has been added to the card for TakeOver XXX.
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher is now official for this Saturday’s TakeOver show. Thatcher interfered in last night’s main event, costing Balor his second chance qualifying match against Velveteen Dream. Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano, and Dream will be the five wrestlers in the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver.
Balor and Thatcher were part of the same original triple threat qualifying match last month. As Thatcher had Balor in a leg lock, Dexter Lumis applied his Silence choke on Thatcher and Thatcher passed out.
Lumis has been removed from the TakeOver ladder match due to injury.
This will be Thatcher’s first TakeOver match.
The TakeOver XXX pre-show will begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday. The main card will then start at 7 p.m. Eastern. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
NXT Champion Keith Lee defending against Karrion Kross
Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defending against Dakota Kai
Ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship (Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano, and Velveteen Dream)
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
Triple threat number one contender’s tag match: Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Breezango vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch (pre-show)
The next participant for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX will be determined on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Finn Balor, Timothy Thatcher, and Dexter Lumis are facing off in a triple threat qualifying match on tonight’s show. The winner will join Bronson Reed as the first two wrestlers to qualify for the TakeOver ladder match. It will determine a new North American Champion after Keith Lee vacated the title last week.
Reed defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in last week’s qualifying match. Tonight, Gargano and Strong will face off in singles action.
Lee will make an appearance tonight and address Karrion Kross. NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai will team with Tegan Nox against Dakota Kai & Candice LeRae in the opening match, new Robert Stone Brand member Mercedes Martinez will face Shotzi Blackheart, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will take on Jake Atlas, and NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) will be in non-title action.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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A music video telling the Rocky IV story told last week with Keith Lee as Rocky, Dominik Dijakovic as Apollo, and Karrion Kross as Drago.
From the arena at Full Sail, the show opened with a women’s tag team match.
Kai blindsided Shirai with a sneak attack during her entrance. A melee started as the other two women joined the brawl. They fought to the ring and the match was on.
Hot take alert: Io Shirai is tremendous, and she only gets better. The match went into another gear when Shirai tagged in. Kai cut her off, and the heels began to briefly work over Shirai. LeRae and Kai made some quick tags, and they were keeping Shirai on their side of the ring. But that was all for naught as Shirai soon regained the advantage. Did I mention she was great?
LeRae tripped up Shirai, and Kai hit Nox with a big boot. LeRae sent Nox into the ring steps before the show cut to picture-in-picture commercials. Heels got heat on Nox during the break, and some dashed some hope spots. After the commercial break, LeRae bonked heads with Nox. They both fell to the mat, but it created separation. Shirai after a hot tag ran wild on Kai. She did a series of backflips into a dropkick.
Shirai knocked LeRae off the apron with a palm strike. Shirai then springboarded into a missile dropkick, but Kai kicked out on a pinning attempt. Shirai set up for her moonsault press, but Kai tripped her on the turnbuckles. They fought perched on the ropes, and Shirai leapt off into a double stomp. Kai made a blind tag to an unwitting LeRae. Shirai delivered a Tiger Feint Kick, and followed with a missile dropkick off the top.
Shirai struck LeRae with double kness in a corner. Shirai shifted focus to leap out of the ring for a tope on Kai. Nox rushed into the ring to deliver a the Shiniest Wizard on LeRae. Shirai off the top with a moonsault to score the pinfall.
Clips aired from Pat McAfee’s podcast showing the angle with Adam Cole. Another clip showed Triple H on the show saying it was all a misunderstanding. They are going to sort it out later in the show.
Screenshots showed how the next match was set up on social media. The show is at least beginning far stronger than it did last week. Good tag match to start the shpw, and now a match that surely will be really good.
Johnny Gargano defeated Roderick Strong
Gargano pinned Strong clean in a really good match. It ended just as it was getting really good.
The match began with them grappling on the mat as they kept countering and reversing each other. Mauro Ranallo was putting the match over as an instant classic as the opening minutes unfolded. The fight spilled outside, and Strong took a bump on the floor before the show cut to commercial. Gargano was in control when the show returned from the commercial break. Strong fired up into a backbreaker, and he began to pummel Gargano.
Lots of great stuff in this match. Gargano went for his slingshot DDT, but Strong instead caught him for another backbreaker. Gargano was reeling when Strong placed him on the turnbuckles. Gargano jumped off the middle rope into the arms of Strong, and Strong delivered a Black Hole Slam. More great counters, and Gargano applied his submission finisher. Strong escaped by countering into a cradle.
More really great counters. Gargano on the outside with a tilt-a-whirl sent Strong crashing into the guardrail. Gargano then posted him, and he bashed Strong into the plexiglass. Gargano then jumped back into the ring with his slingshot DDT, and he covered Strong for the pinfall clean as a sheet.
Dakota Kai in a backstage interview said she was done being a team player. She was done with Candice LeRae. Does this mean she is done with Raquel Gonzalez as well? Anyway, Kai wanted to be number one contender. Rhea Ripley confronted her to make a challenge. Ripley wants the next title shot, and Kai said she was going to talk to Mr. Regal about it. Ripley with a smirk said go talk to him.
Timothy Thatcher in a backstage interview addressed his triple threat match later on. His opponents will be schooled in Thatch-as-Thatch-can wrestling. Finn Balor wants a push. Thatcher said the only “push” he knows is when he pushes his shoulder into Balor’s kneecap as he dislocates Balor’s leg. Thatcher then spoke about Dexter Lumis and his thousand mile stare. Lumis in the background appeared out of nowhere stalking Thatcher, who was unaware.
All four members of Undisputed Era were backstage. Kyle O’Reilly was trying to hype them up. “Undisputed Era is back in business, so back to changing the business,” O’Reilly said.
Mercedes Martinez (with Robert Stone & Aliyah) defeated Shotzi Blackheart
Martinez looked strong pinning Blackheart in this short match. Blackheart also got to shine at times.
Martinez was dominate from the start until Blackheart with counter used an inside cradle for a two count. Blackheart fired up, and she got another two count with a Code Red. Blackheart was cleaning house when Martinez cut her off with a spinebuster.
Martinez a super back suplex off the turnbuckles. Martinez then executed an Air Raid Crash to score the pinfall.
A vignette hyped the arrival of Ridge Holland. He debuts next week.
NXT Champion Keith Lee came to the ring for a promo. He was serious in saying he wanted to get something straight. He talked about Dijakovic, saying he was going to be fine. Lee then spoke to Karrion Kross. Lee was cutting a promo on Kross when he cursed by calling out Kross’ “bull****”. Lee said that meant nothing if Kross would not confront him face-to-face. Lee called out Kross. Instead, Cameron Grimes interrupted Lee.
Grimes strolled on stage and needled Lee with a promo on him. Grimes proclaimed he was taking the NXT Championship and “going straight to the moon!” Grimes was telling Lee to look him in the eye when Lee turned around to grab Grimes by the throat. He bieled Grimes into the ring with a chokeslam. Lee sandwiched Grimes with a Stinger splash.
The ligths dimmed and a spotlight lit up Scarlett in a red evening gown. She wore black gloves with claws on them like she was Catwoman in Batman Returns. She has a sinister look.
Meanwhile, Grimes tried a sneak attack. Lee was having none of that, and he deposited Grimes with a Spirit Bomb. A promo from Kross played on the video screen. Kross presented Lee with two choices. One was the easy way where Lee gives Kross a title shot. The other option was the hard way, and Kross cautioned Lee he did not want to see that. “Everyone will suffer,” Kross warned. Lee told Kross to pick the time and place, and Lee will “whoop that ass”.
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) in a non-title match
Ever-Rise got to shine for a moment before getting shut down. Imperium with some tandem offense to finish the job. Parker took the European Bomb (Doomsday Uppercut), and Aichner pinned him.
Imperium were about to cut a promo when Undisputed Era ran down to attack Imperium. The four members of Undisputed Era ganged up on Imperium to lay them out.
A personality profile featured the backstory of Bronson Reed and his journey to NXT. This really babyfaced him. He proved his worth by winning the triple threat match last week, and he qualified for the ladder match. For Shawn Michaels the “boyhood dream” came true. Bronson said the “Thicc Boi dream” will come true at TakeOver.
William Regal addressed the angle from earlier in the show with Lee and Kross. Regal said he would not be bullied into making a match.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Jake Atlas
Scott pinned Atlas clean in a good competitive match.
The story going into the match was Atlas has something to prove after coming back from an injury. Lots of acrobatics in this match. Looked like a dance until a taunt by Atlas turned up the intensity. The match went through a commercial break, and the pace quickened again when the show returned from the break.
Atlas with a blockbuster had Swerve on the defensive, and then Atlas spiked Swerve with a bulldog DDT for a near fall. Swerve fought back to roll through and catch Atlas with a flatliner for a two count. They set up an avalanche spot where Atlas came off the top with a corkscrew fireman’s carry slam. That led to a near fall where Swerve kicked out. Atlas wenf for his cartwheel DDT, but Swerve blocked it.
Swerce kicked Atlas out of the ring, and Atlas was left hanging upside down from the ropes. Swerve delivered a House Call on the floor. Swerve then executed the JML Driver to score the pinfall.
Damian Priest reacted to the announcement of his triple threat qualifying match being against Oney Lorcan and the debuting Ridge Holland. Priest said there is no scenario where he does not walk out of TakeOver as the North American Champion. There was a jump cut here, but that may have just been a glitch on my television.
Besides the triple threat with Priest vs. Lorcan vs. Holland being announced for next week on NXT, a title match was also made official. Next week Imperium defend the NXT Tag Team Championship against Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish from Undisputed Era. reDRagon reunites!
Dexter Lumis defeated Timothy Thatcher and Finn Balor in a triple threat match to qualify for the North American Championship ladder match
Lumis choked out Thatcher to win the match via referee stoppage. The Lumis push must continues for what it’s worth. Lumis in winning becomes the next entrant in the ladder match at TakeOver for the vacant North American Championship.
Balor and Thatcher squared off with each other at the outset as Lumis stoically watched them. Lumis stood there like a statue as Thatcher and Balor were brawling at ringside. They got back into the ring, and they ran into some Undertaker chops from Lumis. He sent them outside, and Lumis went for a tope con giro. Balor and Thatcher moved, but Lumis impressively landed on his feet.
The three-way fight continued in the ring where Lumis tossed them around. Balor cut off Lumis and targeted his leg. Thatcher jumped back into the match as he went to work on Lumis. This match was not playing to Thatcher’s strenghs, but Thatcher still looked good. Not the usual Thatcher clinic, though.
Thatcher knocked Balor off the top rope before the show cut to picture-in-picture commercials. Balor got some revenge during the break, but Lumis knocked him off the apron with a lariat. When the show returned from the break, Balor and Thatcher were squaring off in the ring. Thatcher with a cradle for a two count.
Thatcher was wearing down Balor when the realization really set in for me that this match would have been so much better as a singles match between them. Lumis eventually rejoined the match. He took out Thatcher with a bulldog, but Balor dropped him with a Pele kick. They rose to their feet after a triple down. Balor was dominating when Thatcher tripped him. Thatcher then crotched Balor on the ring post.
Thatcher then posted Balor’s leg, and he applied a leglock. Lumis broke it up, and he stalked Thatcher. Lumis delivered a spinebuster. Thatcher fought back with a kick. Thatcher turned his attention to Balor, and Thatcher torqued Balor’s knee with a dragon screw in the ropes. I did not pop for it like when Tanahashi does it, but it took Balor of the match…or did it?
Lumis went for his submission finisher, and Thatcher struggled to escape. Balor flew in out of nowhere with a double stomp to break up the hold. Balor went to cover Lumis, but Thatcher pulled him off. They began to fight again.
Thatcher applied the ankle lock, and Balor looked to be in trouble. Lumis sneaked up behind Thatcher like a scene from a “B” horror movie. Thatcher still had ahold of Balor’s leg as Lumis trapped Thatcher in his submission finisher. Thatcher passed out, and Lumis was declared the winner. Lumis basically choked out the submission master. That was a negative to me, but Lumis nevertheless qualifies for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver.
Finn Balor, Dexter Lumis, or Timothy Thatcher will be the next wrestler added to the NXT North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX.
WWE announced tonight that Balor, Lumis, and Thatcher will face off in a triple threat qualifying match on next Wednesday’s episode of NXT. The winner will join Bronson Reed as the first two wrestlers to be confirmed for the five-man ladder match to crown a new North American Champion at TakeOver XXX.
After hyping a huge announcement for the episode, tonight’s NXT opened with Keith Lee revealing that he’s vacated the North American Championship. Lee said he doesn’t want to limit the roster’s opportunities and wants to make sure everyone gets the same opportunities he did.
NXT general manager William Regal then announced that there would be a series of triple threat matches to decide the participants for a North American title ladder match at TakeOver XXX.
Lumis defeated Killian Dain on NXT tonight and Thatcher defeated Oney Lorcan. Video of a promo from Balor addressing next week’s triple threat match also aired on the show.
TakeOver XXX is taking place on Saturday, August 22.
After asking for the match on Twitter Sunday, NXT General Manager William Regal gave Oney Lorcan his wish shortly thereafter: a match against Timothy Thatcher on this Wednesday’s kickoff to the NXT Great American Bash.
This will be Thatcher’s first match since defeating Matt Riddle in their Fight Pit match on the May 27 episode of NXT. He’s been seen in recent weeks with his “Thatch-as-Thach-can” wrestling school vignettes.
These two aren’t strangers as they have worked together on the indies over the years, but this will be their first clash in NXT.
NXT announced last Wednesday they were reviving the Great American Bash for the next two weeks, going head-to-head with AEW’s Fyter Fest over the same time period. Here’s what’s been announced for the Great American Bash thus far:
Night one (July 1) —
Non-title match: NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks
Number one contender’s fatal four-way match: Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim
Strap match: Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong
Two-on-one handicap match: Aliyah & Robert Stone vs. Rhea Ripley (Ripley must join the Robert Stone Brand if she loses)
Timothy Thatcher vs. Oney Lorcan
Night two (July 8) —
Winner-take-all title vs. title match: NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher faced off in the NXT fight pit last night.
The match was refereed by Kurt Angle and could only be won by knockout or submission. With a call-up to SmackDown looking imminent for Riddle, Thatcher got the win when Riddle passed out in a choke.
It was announced that Velveteen Dream will challenge for Adam Cole’s NXT Championship at TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 7. if Cole wins, Dream can’t challenge for the title again as long as Cole is champion.
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair teamed up with Chelsea Green against Charlotte’s TakeOver challengers Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai last night. The finish was Charlotte rolling up Shirai while using the ropes for leverage.
The build also continued for title matches between NXT North American Champion Keith Lee and Johnny Gargano and NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium and Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch.
A “cage fight” between Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher headlines tonight’s edition of NXT.
After their partnership imploded two weeks ago, Riddle and Thatcher will face off in a cage match that can only be won by knockout or submission. WWE posted pictures of the fight pit that is being used for the match.
Kurt Angle, who was part of last month’s WWE releases, will return as the special guest referee for Riddle vs. Thatcher.
Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai will take on NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and a partner of her choosing. The match comes in advance of Charlotte defending her title against Ripley and Shirai in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 7.
The build to TakeOver will also continue with NXT Champion Adam Cole and general manager William Regal having a live negotiation tonight. Cole has said he wants to make sure Velveteen Dream disappears forever and stays out of the Undisputed Era’s business.
Plus, a triple threat match between Kushida, Drake Maverick, and Jake Atlas will decide who advances to the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals from Group A. The group ended in a three-way tie last week after Maverick defeated Kushida. The winner of the triple threat match will advance to face El Hijo del Fantasma in the finals.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show is opening with the triple threat match to decide who advances to the cruiserweight tournament finals from Group A.
Drake Maverick defeated Jake Atlas and Kushida to advance to the finals of the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Maverick pinned Atlas in a nifty finish where Kushida had Atlas in a submission hold, and Maverick jumped in to cover Atlas.
Atlas got to shine early on with a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle to the floor on Kushida, and then he springboarded into a blockbuster for a near fall on Maverick. Kushida soon fired up for a cartwheel dropkick and a couple of palm strikes.
They teased a Tower of Doom, but ended up doing something way better before the show cut to its first commercial break. Kushida with an O’Connor Roll had Atlas rolled up for a cover. Maverick went to break it up, and Kushida — still cradling Atlas with his legs — gave Maverick a German suplex into a bridge. Kushida’s bridge had a dual cover on both Atlas and Maverick for a double near fall. That was pretty damn cool.
All three were trading strikes when the show returned from break. Maverick sidestepped the other two, and he capitalized with a missile dropkick. Atlas was kinocked off the apron, leaving Kushida and Maverick in the ring. Kushida dived off the top turnbuckle for a flip dive on the outside to wipe out Atlas.
Kushida with a tornado DDT that he transitioned into an armbar. Maverick countered to cradle Kushida for a two count. Atlas got back into action with a reverse suplex on Kushida, but he posted himself charging at Maverick. Atlas then took a sliced bread from Maverick for another two count.
Kushida dropped Maverick with a wind-up punch. Atlas then caught Kushida in a German suplex. Atlas executed the Rainbow DDT on Maverick, but Kushida broke up the pinning attempt. Atlas hit Kushida with a kick. Atlas tried to climb the ropes, but Kushida tripped him up.
All three took turns fighting on the turnbuckles. Kushida did his flip off the top into the cross-armbreaker that he has done numerous times. Kushida was wrenching on the arm when Maverick jumped in to place an arm over the chest of Atlas. The referee counted Atlas shoulder down for the three count, and Maverick advances to the tournament in a creative finish.
El Hijo del Fantasma came out to face off with Maverick after the match. They shook hands as they will soon meet in the tournament finals.
Officially announced for TakeOver: In Your House is Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai vs. Charlotte Flair in a triple threat for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae came to the ring cutting a promo. Gargano says he is being misunderstood. The “Gargano Way” isn’t about eliminating people, but instead he claims it is about making NXT a better place. He said there were at least a few “good hands” there, and he wanted to give people a chance. So he announced tonight for the first time is the “Johnny Gargano Invitational”.
Gargano will give a young wrestler the chance of “stepping in the ring with the greatest performer of a generation.” After a drum roll, he announced the first participant as Adrian Alanis.
Johnny Gargano (with Candice LeRae) defeated Adrian Alanis in the first ever “Johnny Gargano Invitational”
Gargano offered to shake hands, but that was a red herring to set up a sucker punch. Alanis fought back — only for him to run into a superkick. Gargano then applied the Gargano Escape, and Alanis quickly tapped out.
Gargano & LeRae’s celebration was interrupted by a skit from Mia Yim & Keith Lee. They were spoofing the Garganos’ skits from their dinner table. They made fun of the flashlight spot from the previous skits. This was a great.
Yim prepared LeRae’s favorite kind of dinner — takeout. Tegan Nox delivered them a pizza, but she had eaten it all but one piece.
Yim & Lee then got serious by cutting a promos to hype up their upcoming mixed tag team match.
Maverick was being interviewed backstage when Kushida approached him to encourage Maverick, and Maverick promised him the first title shot when he wins the title. That was nice of him.
NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium cut a promo on Danny Burch & Loney Orcan. Good stuff.
Gonzalez pinned Blackheart after interference by Kai. Tegan Nox and Candice LeRae also got involved in an angle at ringside during the match.
Blackheart used her quickness to counter Gonzalez in the early portion of the match. Gonzalez soon cut her off. Meanwhile, Kai got in Blackheart’s mini-tank and went to drive it around ringside.
Tegan Nox ran down to make a save for the tank. She shoved Kai out of the tank, and Blackheart in the ring got a near fall with a roll up off the distraction.
After a commercial break, Gonzalez was working over Blackheart. Gonzalez with a powerslam for a two count, and she then applied a bear hug. Gonzalez dashed a hope spot using a backbreaker for another two count.
Blackheart made a comeback and then took a nasty bump doing a trust fall to the outside. She landed hard on the floor.
Nox was checking on her when LeRae ran down to confront Nox. Maybe LeRae was upset about the pizza too. Regardless, they argued while the referee tried to separate them. Why? They weren’t even actually interfering in the match. This might have been distracting, but was it illegal? Really this just a lame excuse for the ref to miss seeing the ensuing interference.
Meanwhile, Blackheart was trying to finsih the match when Kai interfered. The ref finally got back into the ring. Gonzalez with a side slam, and then she covered Blackheart for the pinfall.
A great vignette hyped up the TakeOver match between Finn Balor and Damian Priest.
Charlotte Flair has a mystery partner for a tag match against Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai. However, the mystery won’t last much longer because that match is next! Who could it be?! Turns out it was Chelsea Green. It did make her seem important.
Charlotte Flair & Chelsea Green (with Robert Stone) defeated Io Shirai & Rhea Ripley
Flair pinned Shirai with her feet on the ropes.
Mauro Ranallo on commentary honored the memory of Hana Kimura during Shirai’s entrance.
Flair let Green start the match, which kept Flair away from her upcoming challengers. Shirai wiped out going for a Tiger Feint Kick, and Green leapt through the ropes with a tope on Shirai.
With Shirai hurt, Flair was now more than willing to tag into the match. Shirai with a recepit on Green when Shirai dived through the ropes to splash Green. Reversing a whip, Green sent Shirai crashing into the guardrails before a commercial break.
Flair was working over Shirai when the show returned from the break. Shirai ducked a chop and Flair hit Green with the chop by mistake. Green shook it off, and got back into the match.
Ripley was a house of fire after a hot tag, and Green fed into her. Flair twice in the matter of moments jumped in to break up pinning attempts. Flair went for the figure-four, but Shirai made a save. Shirai tagged in and she had Flair reeling for a near fall.
Shirai with roll up into a double stomp on Flair, and she followed with a Tiger Feint Kick. Green pushed Flair out of the way to take a bullet for her when Green got in the path of a springboard missile dropkick from Shirai.
Ripley was knocked off the apron, and Flair rolled up Shirai with a schoolgirl. Flair put her feet on the ropes for added leverage, and she got the pinfall on Shirai.
In a Zoom meeting, NXT Champion Adam Cole and General Manager William Regal had formal negotiations. Cole was of course a heel that kept insulting Regal. Cole wanted Regal to agree that Velveteen Dream never gets another title shot against Cole after he beats him at TakeOver. Regal agreed to the stip so Dream’s challenge at TakeOver is now is “last” shot at winning the title from Cole. The NXT Championship match and the stip are official for TakeOver.
A vignette profiled Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch. This was great character development. The feature concluded with them meeting in a bar to drink water. They toasted to what they hoped will be a victory over Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championship at TakeOver.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Leon Ruff
Scarlett came out to ringside scouting Ciampa ahead of his match against Karrion Kross at TakeOver. With Ciampa distracted, Ruff rushed in to schoolboy Ciampa looking for a quick upset. Ruff continued to shine until eating a knee strike from Ciampa.
Ciampa pummeled Ruff, and then he exeuted the Fairy Tale Ending to score the pinfall.
On the Titantron, Kross cut a promo on Ciampa after the match. This was like the scene in a comic book involving a super villian. I guess it worked. I’m intrigued.
Announced for next week on NXT is the finals in the cruiserweight tournament with Maverick vs. Fantasma. Also on the next episode is Mia Yim vs. LeRae in a singles match, and a “Prime Target” feature on the title matches at TakeOver.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Matt Riddle in a cage fight with Kurt Angle as special guest referee
Thatcher won via ref stoppage after he choked out Riddle with a sleeper.
The set for this was amazing. There were no ropes, and the ring was surrounded by a huge caged structure. There was a catwalk platform on top of the cage, which basically made it a scaffold match within a cage fight. The announcers referred to the set as the “fight pit”.
The fight could only be won by a 10-second knockout or via submission.
They started the match on top of the platform as they stood on opposite corners of the catwalk. Riddle leapt off the catwalk and rolled through into the ring, and the fight was on.
Thatcher went down first when Riddle springboarded off the side of the cage into a disaster kick. Thatcher was able to get to his feet to break the ten count, but he was spitting up blood. He spat out what was sold as his teeth.
Angle put on latex gloves and went to check to see if Thatcher could continue. A doctor also came to check on Thatcher, and the doctor said he could continue just as the show went to a commercial break.
They were grappling when the show returned from break. Riddle went for another springboard off the cage, but this time Thatcher countered trying for a Fujiwara armbar. Riddle escaped — only for him to take a suplex a moment later. Thatcher then applied a half crab. Thatcher transitioned into a crossface.
Riddle was able to break a ten count and get to his feet. A grappling battle developed on the ground with both going for submission holds. Riddle escaped the guard, and he mounted Thatcher for ground and pound.
Thatcher went for a triangle, and Riddle deadlifted him. Riddle went to powerbomb Thatcher into the cage, but Thatcher instead broke free to climb atop the platform. Riddle joined him on the catwalk and the cage fight suddenly turned into a scaffold match. There was a even a “Skywalkers” reference for all of the old school Starrcade fans to enjoy.
They were trading strikes on the platform when Thatcher caught Riddle in an ankle lock. Riddle kicked free, but no water in the pool on an attempted senton. They were teasing high spots off the apron, and Riddle hit Thatcher with a ripcord knee strike. Thatcher tumbled off the platform into the ring.
Riddle backflipped off the platform into a Floating Bro into a the ring on Thatcher. Riddle landed a flurry of kicks, but he crashed into the cage when Thatcher sidestepped a charge. Thatcher then locked in a sleeper. He was riding Riddle like a jockey as Riddle took him on a tour of the cage trying to break the hold. Riddle eventually fell backwards to sandwich Thatcher into the mat.
Thatcher nevertheless again applied the sleeper, and Riddle was trapped. Angle raised Riddle’s arm, and his limp arm dropped three times. Angle stopped the fight for techincal submission.
On NXT this week, Thatcher cut a promo challenging Riddle to a match that can only be won by knockout or submission. He said they could have the match anywhere Riddle wants, and Riddle responded later in the show by accepting the challenge and saying their match would take place inside of a cage.
Thatcher filled in as Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Riddle & Thatcher lost the NXT Tag Team titles to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner on the May 13 episode of NXT when Thatcher walked out of the match.
After their partnership imploded, Riddle then defeated Thatcher in the main event later on that episode. Riddle managed to reverse a submission attempt into a pin, but Thatcher then attacked him after the match.
Here’s the updated lineup for Wednesday’s NXT:
Cage fight: Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher (Kurt Angle will be the special guest referee)
Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai vs. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and a partner of her choosing
Triple threat match: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas (the winner advances to the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals from Group A)
NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT general manager William Regal will have a “live negotiation”
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher will face off in a “cage fight” on next week’s NXT.
On NXT tonight, Thatcher challenged Riddle to a match that can only be won via knockout or submission. Thatcher said they could have the match anywhere Riddle wants, and Riddle cut a promo later in the show where he accepted the challenge and said the match would take place inside of a cage.
The match was then announced for next week and was billed as a cage fight.
Thatcher filled in as Riddle’s temporary partner while Pete Dunne is unable to travel and defend the NXT Tag Team titles, but Riddle & Thatcher lost the titles to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner last week when Thatcher walked out on Riddle.
Thatcher did an interview after walking out on Riddle last week. He said Riddle was too focused on doing game shows and throwing his flip flops. Riddle confronted Thatcher and they got into a brawl and had to be separated by officials. Thatcher attacked Riddle again backstage later and hit him with a television monitor.
Riddle managed to pin Thatcher to get the win when they faced off in last week’s main event, but Thatcher attacked him after and put him in the Fujiwara armbar twice.
On next week’s NXT, Kushida, Drake Maverick, and Jake Atlas will also face off in a triple threat match to determine who advances to the finals of NXT’s interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament from Group A.
Wednesday’s NXT on USA show kicked off with a title change as Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner) defeated Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher to win the NXT tag team championship.
The beginning of the end started when Riddle monkey flipped Marcel Barthel into the corner, accidentally hitting Thatcher in the process. An incensed Thatcher then walked out on Riddle leaving him to face Imperium two-on-one.
Riddle held his own against both men temporarily, but the numbers game was too much. Barthel and Aichner hit the European Bomb finisher (spinning back elbow from the top rope) for the pin and win, the first NXT gold for either man.
Afterward, Thatcher was doing a promo backstage where he explained that he was tired of Riddle’s antics and Riddle interrupted, resulting in both men needing to be pulled apart. It was later announced that the two will face off later in the show.
Riddle and Pete Dunne had won the titles in February, but with Dunne unable to travel due to the pandemic, Thatcher was put in his place although he was never officially recognized as a champion.
A Tag Team title match, Finn Balor in action, an appearance by Rhea Ripley, and a major announcement are set for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Matt Riddle and his temporary partner Timothy Thatcher are defending their NXT Tag Team titles against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner tonight. After being attacked by them two weeks ago, Riddle & Thatcher accepted a challenge from Barthel & Aichner last week.
Balor is facing Cameron Grimes on tonight’s show. Last week, Balor issued a warning to whoever it was that attacked him in the NXT locker room. He also got into it with Grimes and dropped him with a slingblade and a double foot stomp after Grimes threatened to slap the taste out of his mouth.
We’ll hear from Ripley after she returned for the first time since WrestleMania 36 last week. WWE looks to be building an NXT Women’s Championship feud between Charlotte Flair, Ripley, and Io Shirai.
Plus, WWE has promised that there will be “a major announcement on tonight’s show regarding NXT.” The announcement will be made by Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Third week in a row for the commentary team of Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix and Tom Phillips on the call. Safe to say this could be a permanent team
The show is opening with a tag team title match. They did more typical WWE-style ring introductions instead of dimming the lights like they tend to do for title match intros on NXT.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher to win the titles
Barthel pinned Riddle to win the tag team titles after Thatcher walked out on Riddle during the match.
Thatcher and Barthel started the match with some slick grappling. Aichner tagged in, and Barthel began brawling with Riddle at ringside. That drew Riddle away from the corner when Thatcher was trying to make a tag, and Thatcher seemed annoyed Riddle wasn’t there for him.
Riddle eventually tagged in moments later. Barthel got his knees up when Riddle went for a senton, and Riddle looked in trouble as the show went to a commercial break. Imperium was working over Riddle when the show returned from break.
Riddle was trying to create separation when he gave Barthel a monkey flip that sent Barthel crashing into Thatcher, and Thatcher took a bump off the apron. Thatcher grew angry with the second miscommunication of the match. Thatcher walked out on Riddle, and the match became an impromptu handicap match.
Riddle was fighting off a double team, but he was outnumbered. Imperium executed the European Bomb (uppercut Doomsday Device), and Barthel covered Riddle to win the titles.
In a post-match interview backstage, Mckenzie Mitchell asked Thatcher about him walking out. Thatcher was cuting a heel promo on Riddle when Riddle confronted him. They got into a pull-apart brawl. The new has apparently worn off for the Newly-Bros.
Tegan Nox defeated Indi Hartwell
Nox pinned Hartwell after delivering the Shiniest Wizard.
Hartwell gained an early advantage with an aggressive start. Hartwell went for a springboard, but Nox caught her with a gozzle. Nox gave her a chokeslam, and Ranallo called her “Lady Kane”.
Nox with a cannonball in the corner, and she followed with a flying crossbody off the top. Nox delivered the Shiniest Wizard, and covered Hartwell for the pinfall.
After a recap of the angle from last week in the women’s title match, Rhea Ripley in a pre-tape promo said WrestleMania didn’t quite grow her way. She said Charlotte Flair winning the title sickened her. She mentioned Io Shirai not being able to get the job done in defeating Flair, and Ripley said she would be the person to bring the title back to NXT. If Ripley has to beat that into Shirai, then she said so be it.
Ripley warned Flair she isn’t finished with her. As a “stupid old man used to say,” Ripley said talking about Ric Flair, “we’ve only just begun.” Ripley said the NXT Women’s Championship belonged to her.
Riddle was backstage video chatting with Regal, and he said Regal had booked a match with Thatcher for later in the show. Thatcher burst into the room to attack Riddle. He grabbed a monitor and nailed Riddle in the back with it. Riddle was down selling as the scene ended.
Jake Atlas defeated Tony Nese in a Group A match in the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Atlas pinned Nese after a cartwheel DDT. Atlas improved to 2-1 in the tournament, and Nese dropped to a winless record of 0-3.
Nese was playing spoiler as he came into the match with a losing record of 0-2. Byron Saxton interviewed Atlas before the match. Atlas said he hoped Drake Maverick wins to force a tie bewteen them, but Atlas then said he had to focus on his match. Atlas had to “take care of businees” in his match with Nese.
Atlas countered Nese with some flips and a cartwheel. Nese cut him off when Atlas began grandstanding. They traded strikes as Atlas fired up on Nese, and then Atlas hit a step-up enzuigiri for a near fall. Atlas bled slighty from a cut above his eyebrow.
Nese tripped up Atlas when he went climbed the turnbuckles. Nese was talking trash and paid for it was as Atlas knocked him off the turnbuckles. Atlas stood on the top buckle, and he did a cartwheel on the rope into a DDT. Atlas then covered Nese for the pinfall.
Kyle O’Reilly returned the show in the form of a Zoom call with the rest of his Undisputed Era stablemates. Thay joked around, and all four agreed that Roderick Strong should be the one to face Dexter Lumis.
A cool vignette with Karrion Kross & Scarlett hyped their characters. This was tremendous. They looked maniacal as heavy metal music played. They signaled out Tommaso Ciampa so that looks to be their first program.
Another good vignette profiled Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in an interview cut a cocky promo. Scott said if he can’t win a match in the tournament then you should quit wrestling altogether. That was a shot at his opponent’s losing record.
DX — Triple H & Shawn Michaels — were backstage at the Gorilla Position cutting a promo when Road Dogg popped up from behind the monitor. Michaels was wearing a bandana over his face, and Road Dogg was also wearing a face mask — but he took his off. That could be a first for WWE television with the face coverings during the pandemic. They were reminiscing about the anniversary of the first In Your House.
Road Dogg made a joke about pig crap that referenced the Arkansas Hog Pen Match that HHH had with Henry Godwin at an In Your House PPV in 1995. Anyway, since everyone is basically having to stay “in your house”, Triple H said on June 7th that NXT with present TakeOver: In Your House live on WWE Network.
And that was the big announcement.
Cameron Grimes defeated Finn Balor
Grimes pinned Balor after Damian Priest interfered using an expandable baton on Balor. Priest revealed himself as the attacker that had jumped Balor in a previous angle.
Grimes went for the Cave In double stomp at the outset, but Balor sidestepped. Balor was in control for a few moments until Grimes cut him off before a commercial break. Grimes had Balor grounded as the show returned from break.
Grimes dashed a hope spot with a lariat for a near fall. Grimes began to taunt Balor, and Balor fired up on him. Balor with a penalty kick running down the apron as Damien Priest walked onto the set. Balor hit Priest with a forearm smash as Priest climbed over the guardrail.
Balor used a slingblade on the floor, and he rolled Grimes back into the ring. As Balor was getting back into the ring, Priest broke out the expandable baton and hit Balor in the knee with it.
Grimes gave Balor the Cave In, and he covered him for the pinfall.
Priest after the match gave Balor his Reckoning finisher on a steal chair. He choked Balor with the legs of the chair as he indenified himself as the attacker from the angle a few weeks ago.
Editor’s Note: Due to a power outage, the rest of the live coverage is from Josh Nason.
Jack Gallagher (1-2) defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (1-2) in a Group B match in the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
Before the match, Scott was hit from behind by Nese and injuring his ribs as Scott was about to enter the ring, getting even for his earlier verbal jabs at Nese’s expense.
Gallagher immediately went on the attack, but could only muster two counts. Scott regained the momentum by ducking a Gallagher haymaker and landing some body shots. Gallagher later ran and flew in the air at Scott while his opponent was in the corner, taking a nasty bump on his head when Scott moved out of the way. Scott hit a beautiful House Call kick, but that could only garner two.
Gallagher caught Scott in a guillotine choke attempt as Scott charged him off the ropes, but Scott powered out of it temporarily, only to be caught by a Gallagher counter knee strike to a suplex attempt. Gallagher followed with a Judas Effect-style spinning elbow strike to pick up the pin and win.
With his first win in the tourney, Gallagher also eliminated Scott from contention in advancing to the finals. This was a fun, short match which sets up Scott vs. Nese in upcoming weeks.
Kayden Carter submitted Aliyah
Carter was working over Aliyah’s lags early looking for submissions. A shoving match led to Carter hitting a nice looking bottom rope dropkick, but her advantage didn’t last long as an aggressive Aliyah took control. As Aliyah was dominating, Robert Stone came out to get a closer look but that eventually led to her downfall.
As she was distracted in trying to impress Scott and adjusted herself on the top rople, Carter brought her down and started laying in chops. Carter eventually locked in her good looking spinning deathlock submission for the tap in a short, but entertaining, match.
Afterward, Aliyah tried to make things good with an unimpressed Stone who removed her hand from his arm and walked away.
Dinner With The Garganos
This was filmed at the Gargano’s dinner table as the two ate dinner and regaled over their recent achievements. The two would talk normally and then, the camera effects would change to a split personality deal to illustrate that they are heels. Gargano did get in a “five stars” reference for Candice LeRae. LeRae talked down Mia Yim and Kacy Catanzaro while Gargano had words for Keith Lee and what happens when fans suddenly don’t like you anymore. There was also the cup used in the Gargano-Ciampa “Final Heartbeat” match under glass on the table. This was ok, but the camera effects didn’t really work.
Matt Riddle pinned Timothy Thatcher
This was obviously set up from Thatcher walking away from Riddle at the top of the show, causing him to lose the NXT tag titles to Imperium.
The early part was a grappling fan’s dream as the two basically had a sparring session of sorts that also included strikes. Both men countered each other repeatedly until Riddle caught Thatcher with a kick that sent Thatcher to the outside which took us to break.
After the break, Thatcher had the advantage with an ankle lock as we were showing that Riddle got his foot stomped on while trying a gut wrench suplex, leading to Thatcher hitting a sweet belly to belly suplex off the ropes. We would later see the foot stomp happen again as Thatcher cut off Riddle’s mid-match surge of momentum.
Thatcher continued to work Riddle on the ground with a knee to the side followed by a chinlock. More grappling, slaps, and submissions attempts followed in this absoutely grueling match.
Thatcher hit a kick gear, but Riddle rallied back to hit a Bro To Sleep. Riddle followed with a Floating Bro that Thatcher reversed into a Fujiwa armbar that Riddle reversed into a powerbomb. Thatcher turned a Riddle taunt into an armbar and eventually a kneebar attempt that looked to be the end. But, while locked in the kneebar, Riddle worked to a position where he was able to pin Thatcher, using his weight against him.
Afterward, Thatcher attacked and repeatedly locked on the armbar again. Riddle kept tapping as Thatcher maniacally looked into the camera so, as Bryan Alvarez says, this feud must continue.
This was an excellent match. If you’re a fan of the Bloodsport events, and even if you like this style in general, you will love this match.
Next Week:
Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai
Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis
Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tourney: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick
Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tourney: El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Akira Tozawa
Matt Riddle and his temporary partner Timothy Thatcher are set to defend their NXT Tag Team titles next week.
It was announced on tonight’s NXT that Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner will challenge for Riddle & Thatcher’s titles on NXT next Wednesday. The match was set up by Barthel & Aichner attacking Riddle & Thatcher during their Newly-Bros Show segment last week.
A promo where Barthel & Aichner issued a challenge to Riddle & Thatcher then aired on NXT tonight. Later in the show, Riddle & Thatcher did an interview accepting the challenge.
Thatcher made his NXT debut three weeks ago and was introduced as Riddle’s temporary partner. In their first title defense, Riddle & Thatcher retained against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish.
Riddle & Pete Dunne are the NXT Tag Team Champions, but Dunne is currently unable to travel and defend the titles due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Finn Balor vs. Cameron Grimes has also been announced for next week’s episode of NXT.
Balor appeared on tonight’s show and sent a warning to whoever it was that attacked him in the locker room two weeks ago. Grimes then defeated Denzel Dejournette with his Cave In double foot stomp. Grimes got on the microphone after and said he deserves more than he has now. He brought up Balor and said someone must have beat him to it by going after Balor first.
As Grimes was saying that he was going to slap the taste out of Balor’s mouth, Balor came back down and slid into the ring. He challenged Grimes to slap him. Grimes tried to back off at first, then went to attack him. Balor avoided it, gave Grimes a double foot stomp, and hit a slingblade.
Balor then looked into the camera and said there’s a snake hiding in the long grass backstage. Balor promised that he’ll find them and said the best way to kill a snake is to chop off its head.
