Dolph Ziggler became the new number one contender to the NXT Championship last night.
The main event of last night’s NXT saw Ziggler defeat Tommaso Ciampa in a number one contender’s match. Ziggler got help from his tag team partner Robert Roode, who was disguised as a cameraman. While the referee wasn’t looking, Roode hit Ciampa with his camera. Ziggler then gave Ciampa a superkick and pinned him to get the victory.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker was barred from ringside for the Ziggler vs. Ciampa match. He ran out after the match to save Ciampa from an attack by Ziggler and Roode. Breakker got on the microphone and challenged Ziggler & Roode to face him and Ciampa in a tag team bout next week.
Breakker then challenged Ziggler and Roode to find their balls and fight them right then and there. The show ended with officials trying to break up a brawl between the two teams.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews the February 22nd edition of WWE NXT 2.0 on Speak Now Pro Wrestling! This week included a match between Tommaso Ciampa and Dolph Ziggler, the start of the Women’s Dusty Cup tournament and more!
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode will be facing two of NXT’s top talents on next week’s show.
Ziggler and Roode will meet Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa. Also announced is Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa and Carmelo Hayes vs. Pete Dunne for the NXT North American Championship.
The end of tonight’s NXT saw Roode interfere in the main event. Disguised as a cameraperson, Roode struck Ciampa with the camera, allowing Ziggler to pick up the win and a future title match against NXT Champion Breakker. Both Ziggler and Roode jumped Ciampa after the match, with Breakker coming out to clear house. Breakker then issued the challenge for next week.
Dunne came out tonight during a celebration speech from Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams after Hayes defeated Cameron Grimes on last week’s NXT. Dunne issued a challenge for the title. Williams tried to refuse the match, but Hayes said he doesn’t back down and accepted.
Solo Sikoa ran in to make the save after Imperium went after The Creed Brothers and Maclom Bivens during a celebration ceremony for the Creed Brothers, who won the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament on last week’s show. Sikoa managed to prevent Imperium from getting near Bivens. Bivens thanked him backstage, but Sikoa was not interested in anything he had to say.
Raw’s Dolph Ziggler comes to NXT tonight with a shot at the NXT Championship on the line.
In the main event of tonight’s show, Ziggler and Tommaso Ciampa will meet in a number one contender’s match. The winner will get a future shot at Bron Breakker’s title.
Ziggler and Ciampa have been feuding since Ziggler crashed a championship summit between Breakker and Santos Escobar two weeks ago. Last night, Ciampa teamed with Finn Balor to defeat Ziggler & Robert Roode on Raw.
Plus, tonight’s show will also feature a grudge match between LA Knight and Grayson Waller, the start of the 2022 women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and the NXT debut of Nikkita Lyons.
Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend & Amari Miller and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro are tonight’s two women’s Dusty Cup matches.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with NXT Champion Bron Breakker entering the soundstage a week after his first successful title defense. Dressed in blue jeans and a jean vest, Breakker enters the ring for a promo.
Breakker begins by talking about his win over Santos Escobar last Tuesday. Breakker then shifts his monologue to towards the near future.
Plugging the next NXT supercard, Breakker says the brand is finally going “back on the road” over WrestleMania weekend. NXT Stand & Deliver takes place April 2 on a Saturday afternoon.
Dolph Ziggler interrupts Breakker’s speech. Ziggler cuts a promo on Breakker. They banter back-and-forth.
Somehow, Ziggler is now an authority figure. He says Breakker has the night off. Ziggler goes on to say that Breakker is barred from ringside during Ziggler’s match later tonight.
This comes after Ziggler interfered in the title match last week. Ziggler does not retaliation for his own interference. Good thing he somehow an authority figure. The reason remains unclear. Go figure.
Grayson Waller (with Sanga) defeated LA Knight
Waller pins Knight after outside interference from Sanga. Knight lays out both Waller and Sanga after the match.
Knight got to shine before a commercial break. Waller was crotched on the top rope, and Knight made the rope buck as Waller was forced to ride out the storm. Not sure I’ve seen that spot in this century, but it was staple of old school wrestling.
Waller turned the tide during the break, and he was working over Knight when the show returns from commercials. Waller gets a near fall after a flying elbow drop. ‘Getting a few more two counts, Waller looks to punish Knight.
Sit-out slam of some sort gets Waller another two count. Waller gets a running start going for a move. He springs into the ring, and Knight catches him in mid-air.
Knight makes a comeback, and he is fired up. Stomping mud holes and walking ’em dry, and whatnot. Knight goes her his finisher, but Sanga from ringside reaches into the ring to grab the arm of Waller.
With Sanga holding Waller, Knight misses on his attempted finisher. Waller then cradles Knight, grabs a handful of tights, and Waller steals a pinfall on Knight.
Waller wins the match, but the fighting continues. Sanga tries to run in, but Knight sidesteps him. Knight delivers his BFT finisher to both Sanga and Waller. Knight is the last man standing, as he leaves them laying.
Dakota Kai wakes up Wendy Choo. Kai was upset that her and Choo were in entered into the Dusty Cup tournament. This was wacky.
Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez in another team building skit went to an adventure park. Last week Gonzalez was in her element making Jade work out at the gym. This week Jade was in charge, and they did spots at the adventure park. They zip-lined, and Jade helped Gonzalez conquer her fear of heights. They look to be a great team as they enter the tournament.
Toxic Attraction are sitting on a set on the soundstage that looks similar to Shawn Michaels’ Heartbreak Hotel. They are there to watch the next match, which kicks off the Women’s Dusty Cup tournament.
Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray defeat Lash Legend & Amari Miller to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Shirai pins Legend to win this quarterfinal match. Shiari & Kay Lee Ray advance to the semifinals.
Legend & Miller did not even an entrance, foreshadowing their fate. They still got some offense, but not for long. Short match, which was probably for the better.
Kay Lee Ray executes a Gory Bomb on Legend, and KLR follows with a springboard moonsault. Tag to Shirai, and she follows with a moonsault press on Legend. Shirai then covers Legend for a pinfall.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews Dante Chen, and Chen vows revenge on Duke Hudson after an attack on a previous episode.
Duke Hudson defeats Dante Chen
Hudson pins Chen clean.
Chen jumps Hudson before the bell, attacking Hudson during his entrance. Chen targets a leg, and he wraps the leg around a ring post. That backfires, as Chen is himself posted.
Chen fights back, and he gets a two count on Hudson. Soon thereafter, Hudson cuts off Chen. Hudson boots Chen with a high kick, and Hudson then gives Chen a Splash Mountain slam, and Hudson covers Chen for a three count.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams are out for the next segment, which is a celebration of Hayes victorious title defense last week.
Hayes put over himself for having the best match on Vengeance Day. Williams adds more praise, and they begin to talk about NXT in Dallas when there is an interruption.
Pete Dunne interrupts them, and he enters the ring to confront Hayes and Williams. Dunne challenges Hayes to a match next Tuesday on NXT. Williams tells him no, but Hayes says he does not back down. The match is on next week.
Williams gets in a dig at Cameron Grimes, which cues Grimes to run in. Grimes storms the ring, and he cleans house. Grimes clears the ring, and he clotheslines Williams over the top rope to the floor. Grimes stands tall as the show cuts to a commercial.
In a match made “official” during the commercial break, Grimes against Williams is joined in progress after the show returns from break.
Cameron Grimes defeats Trick Williams (with Carmelo Hayes)
Grimes pins Williams after a Cave In, and Grimes seemingly has sights set on a rematch with Hayes.
Grimes was getting to shine as the match is joined in progress. Williams soon cuts off Grimes, and Williams begins to pummel Grimes.
A grounded Grimes fights to his feet, leading to a comeback for Grimes. Missing a high spot off the top rope, Grimes is rocked with a boot.
Grimes and Williams trade strikes, and Grimes plants Williams hard onto the mat with a side slam. Near fall led into Grimes signaling for his finisher, but Williams rolls outside.
Grimes leapt off the apron, but he misses a double stomp. Nonetheless, Grimes hits Williams with a superkick. Grimes follows up with a flying crossbody off the top rope.
Cave In by Grimes, and Grimes scores a pinfall on Williams. Hayes at ringside cannot bare to watch the referee count three.
Briggs & Jensen in a skit were trying to make a video for a dating app. It was to help Jensen, or was it Briggs? I’m not sure. They even did a joke where they mixed up their own names. Personally, I keep calling them Brooks & Dunn by mistake.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker tells Tommaso Ciampa he will be out there watching the match later, which goes against of Ziggler’s orders. Anyway, Ciampa was giving him the silent treatment, so Breakker goes to leave. Ciampa stops him to say he wants a rubber match, and Breakker agrees.
Class is in session at Chase University for a lame skit. Andre Chase cut a promo on Von Wagner, while also verbally abusing a student.
Nikkita Lyons defeats Kayla Inlay
Lyons pins Inlay in a showcase match for Lyons.
Lyons is described as a singer, model, dancer, and fighter. This was the character’s in-ring debut on NXT.
The match was mostly a squash, but Inlay briefly got some offense after cutting off Lyons. That was to no avail, as Lyons comes back with a fury.
Lyons delivers a jumping spin kick, and then she drops a leg into the splits over a prone Inlay. Three count, and Lyons wins.
Persia Pirotta was making out with Duke Hudson backstage when Indi Hartwell walks in. Hartwell is grossed out, and Hudson chides her by saying she used to like it.
Hartwell says that was a long time ago, and Hudson responds by saying it does not have to be. Dexter Lumis overhears this, and he looks sad. He leaves with his head down. Hartwell chases after him yelling it is not what it seems.
Robert Stone and Von Wagner cut a promo on Andre Chase.
Imperium confronts Diamond Mine
The Creed Brothers, along with Malcolm Bivens, enter the ring to accept the Dusty Cup trophy after winning the tag team tounrament. They are here to celebrate their win. As usual, Bivens delivers a great promo.
Bivens insults Imperium, prompting Imperium to interrupt the celebration.
Gunther leads the NXT Tag Team Champions, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner, to the ring. Good promo by Gunther.
Creed Brother and the tag champs start to brawl, and Gunther grabs Bivens. Solo Sikoa runs down to save Bivens. Sikoa lays out Gunther with a kick, and Sikoa stands over Gunther.
Back to the skit with Brigss & Jensen. Turns out Briggs was ribbing Jensen the whole time, and there was no need for a video. They just needed a picture. Whatever, bros.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter defeat Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Catanaro pins Paxley to win this quarterfinal match. Catanzaro & Carter advance to the semifinals where they will meet Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray.
Toxic Attraction again watch the tournament match from afar.
Catanzaro & Carter had new matching gear, and a new entrance routine where they shoot blasters into the air.
Nile & Paxley work over Catanzaro, building to a hot tag. Carters runs wild after tagging in.
Cater & Catanzaro go on to execute their tandem finisher where Catanzaro does a 450 splash. Catanzaro then covers Paxley for a pinfall.
Upset with Paxley, Nile attacks Paxley after the match. Roderick Strongs calls her off, and Nile spares Paxley for now.
Solo Sikoa is being interviewed backstage when Malcolm Bivens tries to bond. Sikoa is having none of it.
LA Knight cuts a promo on Grayson Waller.
Dolph Ziggler defeats Tommaso Ciampa
Ziggler pins Ciampa after outside interference by Robert Roode in disguise. Bron Breakker makes a save after the match, setting up a tag match for next week.
Best match on the show by far. Nothing else even remotely came close to being this great.
Ciampa is wearing long tights, or “long boys” as they are sometimes called on a competing sports entertainment television show.
This bout began with grappling at the start. They wrestled to a stalemate. Thumb in the eye by Ziggler, and the dirty tactic allows Ziggler to ground Ciampa.
More dirty tactics by Ziggler, as Ziggler continues to punish Ciampa. Eventually, Ciampa fights back as Ziggler bumps and feeds into Ciampa’s flurry of offense.
Ziggler is laid out at ringside as the show cuts to a split screen commercial break. Ziggler turns to tide during the commercials, and Ziggler is again punishing Ciampa as the show returns from the break.
They trade strikes before Ziggler is catapulted into a corner buckle. Ciampa follows with a lariat, but Ziggler kicks out for a near fall.
Ziggler answers back with a dropkick out of nowhere, and Ciampa is on rubber legs. Ziggler lands a famouser for a close two count, leading to a double down.
Ziggler signals for Sweet Chin Music, stomping his foot on the mat. Ciampa cuts him off with a superkick of his own. Falling backbreaker by Ciampa for two and half.
Ciampa hits a running knee strike, and Ciampa goes for another cover. Foot on the ropes by Ziggler to break the count. The fighting soon spills outside the ring.
Ciampa is sent crashing into the ring post, and Ziggler gives Ciampa a Zig-Zag on the floor at ringside. They tease a double count-out, but both make it safely back into the ring to break the count.
Ciampa is selling his left arm being numb, and he cannot pick up Ziggler for the Fairy Tale Ending. Ziggler counters Ciampa, and Ziggler applies a sleeper on Ciampa.
Ciampa is fading fast, but Ciampa makes a final gallant stand. Ciampa breaks the sleeper, and he gets another close near fall on Ziggler.
Slugfest on the apron, and Ciampa gives Ziggler an Air Raid Crash on the apron. Ciampa rolls Ziggler into the ring. When Ciampa goes to roll back into the ring, he is attacked from behind by a camera operator.
The cameraman hits Ciampa in the back with a camera. Ciampa wobbles around, and he walks into a superkick. Ziggler then gets a tainted three count on Ciampa.
The cameraman takes off his disguise, revealing himself as Bobby Roode. Bron Breakker runs down to make a save, and the heels flee.
Breakker challenges Roode and Ziggler to a tag team match next week on NXT. Breakker then dares them to fight tonight. The heels rush the ring, and ends with a wild brawl as a cliffhanger.
The next challenger for Bron Breakker’s NXT Championship will be determined this Tuesday.
WWE has announced that a number one contender’s stipulation has been added to Dolph Ziggler and Tommaso Ciampa’s match on this Tuesday’s episode of NXT. When the winner will be getting their title shot against Breakker hasn’t been revealed.
After a feud between Breakker and Ziggler started on social media, Ziggler crashed a championship summit with Breakker and Santos Escobar on NXT two weeks ago. Ciampa also got involved in the segment and brawled with Ziggler.
Last week, Breakker retained his NXT Championship against Escobar on a special Vengeance Day edition of NXT. Ziggler interfered during the match and dropped Breakker with a superkick while the referee was distracted, but Ziggler was then taken out of the equation when Ciampa fought with him at ringside.
Ciampa also made an appearance on Raw last week and caused Ziggler & Robert Roode to lose to The Street Profits. Ziggler gave Ciampa a superkick after the match.
Breakker won the NXT Championship from Ciampa at New Year’s Evil last month. Last week’s Breakker vs. Escobar match was Breakker’s first title defense.
After airing on Syfy for two straight weeks due to the Winter Olympics, NXT will be back on USA Network this Tuesday. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
Number one contender’s match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Tommaso Ciampa
LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller
Women’s Dusty Classic first-round match: Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend & Amari Miller
Women’s Dusty Classic first-round match: Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, before Monday’s Raw. Kevin Patrick returned to the announce table after he had been replaced by Jimmy Smith last week.
Veer Mahaan defeated Apollo Crews (w/Commander Azeez) (5:03)
There wasn’t much to this one. They used Azeez to try to distract Mahaan, but his unbeaten run continued here.
Crews and Azeez are pretty forgettable as an act and them working this show really doesn’t help matters. Crews had really found a groove at one point last year, but the brakes have been slammed on that now.
This was slow and labored with Mahaan stupid enough to get distracted by Azeez. Crews tried to get some of his stuff in, but it was cut short.
Crews dodged the Million Dollar Arm, but Mahaan is still using his unnamed DDT finisher, catching Crews with it to take him to 7-0 since adopting his new name.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated T-Bar (8:30)
Ciampa won in a rematch from last month, but this went longer than it needed to after far too much of the match being taken up by rest holds.
Last time out on Main Event, Ciampa had posted a nasty looking elbow injury on his social media accounts. That was over a month ago and he has worked dark matches and NXT since then without favoring any kind of damage.
The crowd was really into Ciampa, but this match felt much longer that the time it ended up running. They made it look like they were working hard even though it wasn’t much of a spectacle.
They did have a good near fall toward the end where you could tell that the crowd thought it might be over. T-Bar used a big boot and Ciampa kicked out at two and three-quarters.
T-Bar went for the Eyes Wide Shut, but Ciampa wriggled out and hit a high knee. He got the win with a really ungainly looking inside cradle and fled the ring after the bell to celebrate.
Final Thoughts:
After the excellent tag match on last week’s show, we returned to mediocrity again on Main Event. Mahaan’s Raw debut is still a running joke, if you can call it that, and you have to worry for the likes of Ciampa who is surely way too good to be sporadically working this show.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews the February 15th edition of NXT Vengeance Day. This was a really good episode of NXT 2.0, check out the show to find out why!
Topics Rundown:
Weaponized Steel Cage match — Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo
Raquel and Cora Jade prep for the Dusty Cup tournament
Persia & Indi challenge Toxic Attraction for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Will Wendy Choo wants to partner with Dakota Kai
LA Knight and Grayson Waller feud continues
NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Cameron Grimes
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Dolph Ziggler, as well as two other matches, have been announced for next week’s NXT.
Also announced for next week’s show is the start of the Women’s Dusty Cup, LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller, and the debut of Nikkita Lyons.
Ziggler was interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell on tonight’s NXT Vengeance Day event. Ziggler put over Ciampa’s popularity in Florida and told Ciampa that he would end his hopes of winning the NXT Championship back.
The two confronted one another on last week’s episode of NXT after Ziggler had interrupted a championship summit between Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar. Ciampa cut off Ziggler and the two brawled. On tonight’s show, Ziggler came out during the main event between Breakker and Escobar, but Ciampa prevented Ziggler from interfering as the two brawled to the back.
Knight confronted Waller on tonight’s NXT after Waller threatened to have Knight arrested on last week’s show. Waller brought out police officers and demanded that Knight be arrested based on breaking Waller’s restraining order. After Knight pointed out that the order was waived as a result of Waller attacking Knight first, the police officers left, leaving Waller to be laid out by Knight.
The Women’s Dusty Cup will also begin on next week’s show. No specific match has been announced and no bracket has been released.
Tommaso Ciampa appeared on tonight’s episode of Raw, confronting Dolph Ziggler.
Ciampa appeared on commentary during a match Ziggler was involved in, as he teamed with partner Robert Roode against The Street Profits. The end of the match had Ziggler distracted by Ciampa at ringside. Ziggler faked out Ciampa with a superkick motion. The two got into a brawl as a distracted Roode was taken out by a Montez Ford frog splash, giving the Street Profits the win.
Ziggler made an appearance on last week’s NXT, interrupting a championship summit between NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar. Ziggler was confronting Breakker about recent Twitter posts when Ciampa came out and argued with Ziggler, then took him out, sending Ziggler to the back.
Tomorrow’s episode of NXT will be the Vengeance Day edition of the program. Matches set include MSK vs. The Creed Brothers in the finals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo in a weaponized steel cage match, Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) and vs. Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles, Carmelo Hayes vs. Cameron Grimes for the NXT North American title, and Breakker vs. Santos for the NXT Championship.
A member of the WWE main roster made their way to NXT last night to crash Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar’s championship summit.
After weeks of back and forth on social media, Dolph Ziggler showed up on NXT last night to confront Breakker. Ziggler interrupted the title summit and set his sights on Breakker’s NXT Championship. Ziggler ran down his list of accomplishments and mentioned that becoming NXT Champion is one thing he hasn’t done.
But Ziggler wasn’t the only person to interrupt the segment. Tommaso Ciampa made his way out and ended up getting into it with Ziggler. Ciampa also wanted to be next in line for a shot at the NXT Championship after Breakker faces Escobar.
Ziggler asked Ciampa when the training wheels are going to come off for him to move on from NXT. Ciampa responded by attacking Ziggler. As they fought on the outside, Legado del Fantasma attacked Breakker in the ring and put him through a table.
Breakker is defending his NXT Championship against Escobar at NXT Vengeance Day next Tuesday.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews the February 8th edition of WWE NXT 2.0. This show features Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semi-final matches, an unexpected appearance from Dolph Ziggler, and much more!
Topics Rundown:
Creed Brothers advance to Dusty Cup Finals
Tiffany Stratton defeats Wendy Choo
Pete Dunne adds weapons to steel cage match with Tony D’Angelo
LA Knight vs. Sanga
Dolph Ziggler appears on NXT 2.0 —- Santos Escobar overshadowed
In the main event of last night’s NXT, Bron Breakker teamed with the man who he defeated to win the NXT Championship.
Breakker & Ciampa defeated Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde on last night’s show. After Ciampa took out Wilde by pushing him off the top rope and through the announce table, Breakker pinned Mendoza after hitting a powerslam.
The match was set up when Ciampa stopped Legado del Fantasma from trying to attack Breakker last week.
Santos Escobar acted like he was going to step to Breakker after last night’s match. Breakker challenged Escobar to get into the ring, but Escobar continued to say that they’re going to do things on his time.
On tonight’s NXT, Bron Breakker teams up with the man who he defeated to win the NXT Championship.
Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa will face Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde on tonight’s show. The match comes after Ciampa stood side-by-side with Breakker last week to save him from a beatdown by Legado del Fantasma.
An NXT Championship match with Breakker defending against Santos Escobar looks to be on the horizon, but Escobar has said that they’ll do things on his time.
A big six-man tag match is also set for tonight, with Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong & The Creed Brothers taking on Imperium’s Gunther, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner.
Plus, Cora Jade vs. Raquel Gonzalez and LA Knight vs. Joe Gacy will take place tonight. Gonzalez has refused to team with Jade in the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, denying her requests over each of the past two weeks.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with the entrance of Gunther and the NXT Tag Team Champions. Imperium is here, ready for a trios match against Diamond Mine.
Imperium (Gunther, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeats Diamond Mine (Roderick Strong, Julius Creed & Brutus Creed with Malcolm Bivens and Ivy Nile)
Gunther pins Brutus Creed to win a six-man tag team slobberknocker.
Gunther blindsided Strong before the bell with a boot to the face, kicking off a melee between the two factions. Strong sold the sneak attack for several minutes.
Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner are hopefully well paid, because they sure earned their money here tonight. The Creed brothers appeared to be harvesting potatoes. Then Gunther tags in, and he shut that down.
Hot tag to Strong, and he runs wild right up until the commercial break. Strong is cut off as the show cuts to commercials. During the break, Strong fires up. Still selling the big boot from earlier, a disoriented Strong wilts in the ring.
Just as stiff with themselves as others, the Creed Brothers slap each other in the face. Double team powerbomb by the Creeds for a near fall. Gunther in to break up the count, and he squares off with Strong.
Strong is able to chop and knock down the tree that is Gunther. Soon thereafter another melee develops. Smoke settles and Gunther is attempting to catch Brutus Creed in a sleeper.
Creed escapes the sleeper, but Gunther blocks a lariat with an overhand right. Gunther chops down Brutus, and Gunther follows up with a powerbomb. Gunther then covers Brutus for a pinfall.
LA Knight in a pre-tape skit is cutting a promo on Grayson Waller when he is confronted by Joe Gacy and Harland. Gacy offers Knight to help him with the restraining order against him. So, Knight cuts a promo on them too.
Housekeeping by commentary team as they plug tickets for the Raw after WrestleMania. Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett also mention NXT airing on SyFy the next two weeks.
Kay Lee Ray confronts Toxic Attraction
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose is flanked by the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne, as Toxic Attractions enter the soundstage for an in-ring promo.
Dolan and Jayne cut promos on their challengers for Vengeance Day, who are Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta.
Kay Lee Ray, carrying an aluminum baseball bat, interrupts the speech. KLR goes to get into the ring while pointed the bat in a threatening manner.
Mandy Rose promises KLR that the tag champs will leave the ring, but only if KLR puts down the bat. KLR does, so her and Rose are one-on-one in a face-to-face showdown.
KLR tells Rose that KLR herself is the longest reigning women’s champion of the modern era. Rose scoffs, saying she does not care about any of that. Rose would rather talk about herself.
Rose says she is used as part of international marketing campaigns, including seven magazine covers. Rose also says she is a bikini world champion.
KLR again puts over her own title reign, and she buries Rose for sucking face with Otis.
All of the talent in the world will never replace this,” Rose says as she points to her own body.
KLR says she will get her title match booked by the end of the night. Rose scoffs. KLR slaps Rose in the face. Toxic Attraction run in to save Rose.
During a commercial break, Toxic Attraction is leaving the building. They are stopped for an interview, and they remain arrogant. Dolan and Jayne get into the back of a SUV. Rose tries to open the driver’s side door, but it is locked. The window rolls down, and KLR is behind the wheel. She speeds away, seemingly kidnapping the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Raquel Gonzalez defeats Cora Jade
Gonzalez pins Jade to win the match, but Jade manages to win the respect of Gonzalez in the process.
The backstory is Jade wants to prove to Gonzalez that Jade would make a good tag team partner in the Dusty Classic. So, they have a singles match against each other where Gonzalez bullies Jade. Not exactly the best team building exercise, but it somehow works to bring them together in the end.
The match is all Gonzalez until Jade eventually counters her way into a comeback. Jade leapt off the top rope into the waiting arms of Gonzalez, who went for a Black Hole Slam. Jade with a counter catches Gonzalez in a Black Widow.
Gonzalez breaks the hold, but she misses a high risk move. Jade with another counter to roll up Gonzalez for a two count. Jade fires up, and she springboards into a hurricanrana.
Jade was on a roll, but not for long. Gonzalez catches Jade in mid-air, and Gonzalez then drives Jade down to the mat with a powerbomb. Gonzalez pins Jade, but the story is not yet over.
Before leaving, Gonzalez grabs Jade by the hand and tells her, “Let’s go win this.” Looks like Gonzalez and Jade will team together in the women’s Dusty Classic tournament.
Sarray defeats Kayla Inlay
Sarray pins Inlay in what is Sarray’s triumphant return to NXT.
This was mostly a showcase for Sarray, although Inlay did get some offense. Sort of relaunch for the Sarray character, and she wins handily as the crowd chants her name.
Cameron Grimes confronts Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes is joined by Trick Williams for an in-ring promo. Williams and Hayes are great together.
Cameron Grimes interrupts their promo. Grimes get into the ring, and he trades barbs with Williams. Hayes gets serious as he threatens Grimes ahead of their title match at Vengeance Day.
Grimes concludes the segment by getting in his catchphrase, as they continue the build to Vengeance Day.
Malik Blade and Edris Enofe are backstage trying to think of a team name. They throw out some ideas, and Enofe says they should ask Mandy Rose. Blade has a crush on Rose, so Enofe asks Blade what he would say to Rose if she walked in right on.
Blade beings to think what he might say. Suddenly, a panicked Rose bursts through a door, and she falls into the arms of Blade. A thrilled Blade thanks the good Lord above.
Rose tells Blade she needs help. Kay Lee Ray with a bat in hand enters the room, and she attacks Rose. They fight there way out of the room.
Enofe tells Blade they should follow them. Blade implies he cannot get up because he has an erection. That was supposed to be comedy.
Grizzled Young Veterans interrupt a backstage interview with Diamond Mine. Lots of trash talk.
Joe Gacy (with Harland) defeats LA Knight
Gacy pins Knight after outside interference by Grayson Waller and his bodygaurd.
Knight was a house of fire at the start, but he gets cut off. Gacy works over Knight for a while.
Knights begins a comeback when Grayson Waller’s new bodyguard appears at ringside. It was a trap as Waller runs in to deliver a cutter on the floor. Knight is laid out.
Knight barely gets back into the ring to break a ten count. He is met by Gacy doing a handspring into a clothesline like he was Kushida. Gacy then hooks a leg and covers Knight for a pinfall.
Waller gets into the ring after the match, and he cuts a promo on Knight while standing over him. Knight fires up on Waller, but Knight is given a chokeslam by the bodyguard, who is named Sanga.
Waller reveals the name when he says Knight will face Sanga in a match next week.
Robert Stone gives off Harvey Wippleman vibes while dressed with style like Slick. Stone cuts promo alongside his new charge, Von Wagner.
Wendy Choo defeats Amari Miller
Choo pins Miller after Miller is distracted by Tiffany Stratton.
Stratton, who is feuding with Choo, encourages Miller to “take out” Choo tonight in the match. Stratton told Miller would take her shopping afterwards as a reward, but Stratton gave Miller a credit card in a skit before the match.
In the match they do a lot of spots based around Choo sleeping on the mat. This gimmick reminds of something out of the New Generation era alongside such luminaries as The Goon and TL Hopper.
Choo uses a sleeper hold, because of course she does. Miller counters to deliver a cobebreaker for a near fall.
Stratton comes to ringside, which distracts Miller. Choo with a Tito Santana flying forearm smash, and she covers Miller for a pinfall.
An angry Stratton demnds that Miller return Stratton’s daddy’s credit card, but Miller no longer has the card. Wendy Choo now has the card, and she leaves with it. Off to buy more pajamas no doubt.
A vignette hypes the upcoming debut of Nikkita Lyons, who’s gimmick is she is a singer.
Sarray is being interviewed backstage when Dakota Kai interrupts Sarray. This appears to set a singles match between the two.
Andre Chase (with Bodhi Hayward) defeats Draco Anthony
Chase pins Anthony in what is probably the most boring segment on the show.
Chase fights from underneath, playing on what he calls a “teachable moment.”
Hayward is ringside waving a Chase University sign. Anthony takes the flag from Hayward, and Anthony stomps on the flag.
Despite not being an accredited university, Chase takes great pride in his flag. He hulks up on Anthony. Chase executes a hammerlock flatliner, and Chase covers Anthony for a three count.
Chase screams into a handheld camera at Von Wagner. Chase declares that next week he will give Wagner a “Chase University-size ass whopping.”
Mandy Rose is still running from Kay Lee Ray. Rose ends up in a kitchen somewhere in the Performance Center. A decorated cake with frosting, but no inscription, sat on the table. You might can already see where this is headed.
KLR sneaks into the kitchen, and she dumps a bowl of spaghetti on Rose. KLR then smashes the cake into the face of Rose. Not exactly a concession stand brawl in Tupelo, but a food fight of sorts. This apparently builds to a title match.
Matches announced for next Tuesday on NXT:
Dusty Classic semifinal: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Creed Brothers
Dusty Classic semifinal: MSK vs. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe
LA Knight vs. Sanga
Wendy Choo vs. Tiffany Stratton
NXT Champion Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa defeat Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde with Elektra Lopez & Santos Escobar)
Brekker pins Mendoza to win the match. Good match, and the story of the bout continues the build to a title match between Breakker and his first challenger, Santos Escobar.
Ciampa and Breakker at one point lift their opponents for stereo vertical suplexes. The babyface team is firmly in control as the show cuts to a commercial break.
Escobar at ringside interferes by sending Breakker crashing into the ring steps. The heels then begin to work over Breakker.
Hot tag to Ciampa, and he cleans house in the ring. For some tandem offense, Ciampa catapults Wilde into a spinebuster delivered by Breakker.
Escobar jumps on the apron to distract Breakker. Mendoza nails Breakker with a missile dropkick. Mendoza then executes a beautiful Phoenix Splash for a near fall on Breakker.
Mendoza misses a springboard, and he is gored by a spear from Breakker. Wilde breaks up a subsequent pinning attempt.
A brief melee erupts. Wilde climbs to the top turnbuckle. He looks ready for a dive, but is seemingly facing the wrong way. Except it was the right way for a spot, as Ciampa shoves Wilde off the top turnbuckle. Wilde crashes into the announce desk.
Meanwhile, Breakker lifts Mendoza into a gorilla press. Breakker then drops Mendoza into a powerslam. Breakker then pins Mendoza to win the match, much to the dismay of Santos Escobar.
The show ends with an angle unrelated to the main event, but it concludes story that develops throughout the episode.
Kay Lee Ray chases Mandy Rose to the ring. They brawl in the ring with KLR pummeling Rose.
KLR agrees to drop the baseball bat. Instead of using the bat, KLR opts to give Rose a Gory Bomb. The show closes with KLR holding the women’s title belt over a fallen Rose.
On last night’s NXT, Tommaso Ciampa returned to the show for the first time since losing the NXT Championship to Bron Breakker at New Year’s Evil.
Ciampa provided some backup for Breakker last night, saving him from an attack by Legado del Fantasma in the parking lot. Breakker & Ciampa will team together against Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde next week.
Santos Escobar cut a promo last night saying that he despises how fast Breakker got to NXT, despises all of the opportunities Breakker has been given, and despises the fact that Breakker won the NXT Championship before him. Breakker came out to the ring and told Escobar to issue the challenge for a title match and he’d accept, but Escobar said they’d do things on his time. When Escobar is ready, Breakker will know.
Mendoza and Wilde then attempted to attack Breakker, but he fought both of them off.
A tag team match with Breakker taking on Mendoza & Wilde was set up for next week, with Escobar saying that Breakker will have to face them on his own unless he’s able to find a friend.
Legado del Fantasma were going to ambush Breakker in the parking lot at the end of the episode, but Ciampa showed up and stood side-by-side with Breakker before they could attack. The show ended with Legado del Fantasma retreating.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before Monday’s Raw, featuring two of NXT’s top talents.
As reported on Wrestling Observer Radio earlier this week, both Tommaso Ciampa and Pete Dunne randomly were tabbed to make their Main Event debuts with little explanation. At the best of times, it isn’t the best career move to be on this show, so we shall see what happens next for both.
The Philly crowd certainly reacted well with both matches having way more noise than normal as, in fact, Main Event is normally crowd sweetened pretty severely.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated T-Bar (5:30)
The former NXT Champion was hardly put over as a superstar here as the finish protected T-Bar to some extent, but the match was fine.
Over the last few weeks, T-Bar has been picking up some decisive victories, defeating local talent in quick squash matches. So, this was something of a surprise in both opponent and outcome.
They went back and forth, but it was mainly T-Bar’s match. In the end, Ciampa reversed a backbreaker attempt, rolling through into a jackknife cover to steal the victory.
A former champion like Ciampa doesn’t belong on this show, so only time will tell what they ultimately plan to do with him.
Pete Dunne defeated Akira Tozawa (7:58)
Much like the opener, Dunne was hardly a whirlwind force to be reckoned with here, but he and Tozawa worked well together.
So, Ciampa struggled somewhat against T-Bar. Therefore, logic would tell you Dunne would debut against Tozawa and squash him, right? Wrong.
Tozawa is a sporadic regular on this show, but is genuinely excellent at playing the rag doll. Although this match ought to have run way shorter, there’s nothing massively wrong with Tozawa taking a beating for eight minutes.
Tozawa got some hope and even a near fall toward the end, but the match was otherwise Dunne working over his left arm, using a variety of armbars and hammerlocks.
Had this been Dunne’s full main roster debut, it was pretty much his greatest hits in terms of his move set, but I was hoping for a far more decisive match and fewer rest holds.
The finish was good with Dunne double stomping Tozawa’s hands before nailing him with the Bitter End. The announcers didn’t call it that, as is often the way, but Dunne posed and shrugged off the cheers at the end of the match.
Final Thoughts:
Needless to say, this was a much more interesting episode of Main Event this week. After Rey and Dominik Mysterio’s appearance last week and then two of NXT’s elite turning up this week, it become an infinitely more watchable show. But when this report goes up on the website, I can already imagine the audible groan from anyone reading.
