The following contains spoilers for this week’s WWE Main Event.
This week’s edition of WWE Main Event will see a pair of NXT stars in action in former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Pete Dunne.
Ciampa defeated T-Bar while Dunne picked up a win over Akira Tozawa in matches taped prior to WWE Raw Monday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
Prior to last Friday’s SmackDown, the 36-year-old Ciampa and 28-year-old Dunne wrestled against each other in a dark match.
Both have appeared on the main roster before, mainly on house shows. This is the first Main Event appearance for either man.
On WWE NXT, Ciampa is coming off a title loss to Bron Breakker at last Tuesday’s New Year’s Evil while Dunne’s last outing was a mid-December win over Tony D’Angelo.
It’s unknown whether there is interest in moving Ciampa or Dunne up to the main roster.
A new NXT Championship match has been added to tonight’s WWE house show event in Madison Square Garden.
It was announced on Madison Square Garden’s Twitter that Tommaso Ciampa will defend the NXT Championship against Pete Dunne.
“JUST ANNOUNCED: @NXTCiampa defends his #WWENXT Championship against @PeteDunneYxB TONIGHT at #WWEMSG!,” they wrote.
Already scheduled for tonight’s show are two cage matches. Becky Lynch will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair, while Big E will defend the WWE Championship against Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens in a triple threat match.
Ciampa in recent weeks has been feuding with Bron Breakker, rekindling their initial feud over the NXT Championship. The two will meet again in another title match at New Year’s Evil, a special edition of NXT that will take place on January 4. Pete Dunne, meanwhile, was laid out at the end of last Tuesday’s NXT, where Tony D’Angelo assaulted Dunne after Dunne defeated him.
A date has been set for Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bron Breakker II.
WWE has announced that Ciampa will defend his NXT Championship against Breakker at New Year’s Evil. The special NXT episode is airing live on USA Network on Tuesday, January 4.
Ciampa and Breakker each have a win against each other heading into the title match. Ciampa retained the NXT Championship against Breakker at Halloween Havoc, but Breakker pinned Ciampa to win the men’s WarGames match at NXT WarGames.
Breakker challenged Ciampa to an NXT Championship match after getting the win at WarGames. Last week, Ciampa attacked Breakker following Breakker’s win against Roderick Strong. Ciampa laid out Breakker by giving him Willow’s Bell on top of the NXT Championship belt.
During a promo segment on tonight’s NXT, Ciampa said Breakker has earned a title rematch — but he exposed Breakker’s inexperience when they faced off at Halloween Havoc. Ciampa said Breakker isn’t ready to be a champion in his NXT. Ciampa slapped Breakker and told him reality is going to hit at New Year’s Evil.
Breakker responded by picking up Ciampa for a press slam, but he put Ciampa down instead of hitting it. Breakker told Ciampa that blood is in the water — and this shark is going to eat Ciampa alive at New Year’s Evil.
New Year’s Evil will also feature a triple threat NXT Women’s Championship match with Mandy Rose defending her title against Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa launched an attack on his next challenger last night.
After Bron Breakker defeated Roderick Strong in the main event of last night’s NXT, Ciampa attacked Breakker as he was leaving the ring. Ciampa laid out Breakker by giving him Willow’s Bell on top of the NXT Championship belt.
Ciampa said Breakker won the battle at WarGames, but the NXT Championship is the war. He welcomed Breakker back to the deep end and warned him that this is where the sharks swim.
WWE has yet to officially announce Ciampa and Breakker’s title match. They each have a win against each other, with Ciampa retaining against Breakker at Halloween Havoc but being pinned by him in the men’s WarGames match. Breakker issued a challenge to Ciampa on last week’s post-WarGames edition of NXT, but Malcolm Bivens appeared instead and set up Breakker’s match against Strong.
According to Tommaso Ciampa, Rick Steiner was supposed to be at NXT Halloween Havoc last month until the appearance fell through.
Halloween Havoc took place on October 26 and was headlined by Ciampa defeating Steiner’s son, Bron Breakker (Bronson Rechsteiner), to retain the NXT Championship. Ciampa told TalkSport that Steiner was supposed to be at the show until pulling out at the last minute.
“So, [Rick Steiner] was meant to be at Halloween Havoc,” Ciampa said. “He pulled out last minute. Maybe because I retained, but I won’t say that’s why [laughs]. I would love to be friends with him.
“I said to Bron ‘I don’t want to meet your dad, I want him to be my buddy.’ I want us to exchange numbers and whatever Rick Steiner does. He’s probably not a big phone guy, I don’t know [laughs]. But I just wanna be friends with him.”
The NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc was Breakker’s first loss since debuting on the premiere of NXT 2.0 in September. He originally indicated that “Rex Steiner” was going to be his WWE in-ring name before being given the name Bron Breakker.
Breakker also had a brief interaction with horror series character Chucky at Halloween Havoc, a callback to his father taking part in a segment with Chucky on WCW Nitro in 1998.
Breakker quickly defeated Andre Chase on last week’s NXT and then cut a promo where he vowed to get another shot at the NXT Championship. Breakker said Ciampa is the man in NXT, but he’s going to win the NXT Championship from Ciampa or die trying.
Ciampa and Breakker are both currently part of WWE’s house show tour of the United Kingdom. Ciampa retained the NXT Championship against Breakker in London on Saturday. The four other tour stops Ciampa and Breakker are part of feature triple threat NXT Championship matches between Ciampa, Breakker, and Sami Zayn.
Two of NXT’s top stars will be working dates on WWE’s next tour of the United Kingdom.
It was announced today that NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker will be appearing at WWE’s house shows in Liverpool (Sunday, November 7), Leeds (Monday, November 8), Nottingham, (Tuesday, November 9), and Manchester (Wednesday, November 10). Ciampa, Breakker, and Sami Zayn will be wrestling in triple threat matches for the NXT Championship at the shows.
All four of the events Ciampa and Breakker are wrestling at are SmackDown-brand house shows.
Ciampa defeated Breakker to retain the NXT Championship when they faced off in the main event of Halloween Havoc this Tuesday. It’s the first time Breakker has lost in NXT. He made his debut on the premiere of NXT 2.0 last month.
Ciampa also became NXT Champion on the NXT 2.0 premiere, defeating LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and Von Wagner in a fatal four-way match. The title was vacant going into that match after being vacated by Samoa Joe.
WWE’s tour of the UK starts in Brighton on Wednesday, November 3 and ends with the Manchester event. There are three Raw house shows, one event that’s branded as a supershow house show, and four SmackDown house shows.
Former NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER and Raw’s Finn Balor are also advertised for the events in Liverpool, Leeds, and Nottingham. Universal Champion Roman Reigns and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos aren’t advertised for the tour.
United States Champion Damian Priest will defend his title against Balor, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens at the supershow in London on Saturday, November 6.
Halloween Havoc returns for the second straight year on tonight’s special episode of NXT.
The NXT Championship will be on the line in the main event as Tommaso Ciampa defends against Bron Breakker. WWE has been building to the title match since Breakker made his debut on the premiere of NXT 2.0 last month. That was also the night that Ciampa became NXT Champion.
Three Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal matches are also set for tonight. Raquel Gonzalez defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Mandy Rose, MSK put their NXT Tag Team titles on the line against Imperium, and Io Shirai & Zoey Stark face Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta and Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles.
The Women’s Tag Team title match will be a Scareway to Hell ladder match. The stipulations for the other two matches haven’t been determined yet.
Plus, horror movie character Chucky will be a special guest on the show, there will be a new edition of Lashing Out with Lash Legend, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams will head to a haunted house in an attempt to get Hayes’ NXT North American title belt back from Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis, Solo Sikoa will debut, and a mysterious wrestler will appear.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
A cross-promotional canned intro opens tonight’s special supercard with narration by Chucky. The talking doll ran down the lineup for tonight’s card. The Chucky tie-in is part of USA Network promoting the new Chucky television series on the cable channel.
Kicking off the show is a triple threat tag team ladder match for the NXT Women’s title. Chucky also cut a promo hyping the bout just before the bell.
Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne defeated Io Shirai & Zoey Stark and Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta in a Scareway to Hell Ladder Match for the NXT Women’s Championship to win the titles
Toxic Attraction won the titles in a stunt show. Not the best ladder match, but far from the worst. Seemed tame at first, but there were some crazy spots in the later portion of the bout.
The match aired commercial free. This bout was basically a big melee. Ladders became weapons early on and throughout. Fairly safe spots when the ladders were used as weapons. Nothing was too crazy until Shirai, until almost everyone sprang onto a ladder. Parade of high spots, including Stark doing a dive off a ladder to the outside.
Shirai got to shine at several points. The later half part of the match was a collection of sequences of them climbing the ladders, only to be thwarted. Pirotta powerbombed Dolan on a ladder, but a powerbomb moments later was countered by Jayne. She then was thrown back onto a ladder by Shirai, who followed up with a double springboard moonsault on the ladder.
Stark went for a twisting splash, but she came up a bit short. Stark was then given a spinebuster on the ladder by Hartwell. Shirai shoved Hartwell off the ladder, and she was on the verge of winning when the ladder was tipped over by Hartwell. Shirai crashed hard into a ladder bridged between the apron and the announce desk.
Hartwell was able to kick Jayne off the ladder, but Dolan climbed up the other side. Dolan booted Hartwell off the ladder, and Dolan grabbed the title belts hanging above to win the match.
Next up is part one of cinematic feature where Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams go to a haunted house that is Dexter Lumis’ place. Lumis was there with Johnny Gargano. The zombie ref was also there, along with other creatures of the night. Hayes and Williams were in search of the NXT North American Championship.
Grayson Waller cut a promo on saying he was the new host. He buries LA Knight for not being there. Waller was dressed as Dracula. Out comes Joe Gacy, who gives Waller a hug. Gacy also said some buzzwords before his match.
Joe Gacy defeated Malik Blade
Gacy pinned Blade in a glorified squash match that also featured Harlan. During the bout, Harlan was shown through the building like he was Michael Myers. He came to ringside and grabbed Blade by the throat.
Gacy after the match told Harlan he could trust him, and they left together.
A vignette hyped Kay Lee Ray. No respect for her on NXT 2.0. She is pissed off and everybody is going to pay. It’s time to rage!
Waller was making the rounds at a backstage costume party.
Malcolm Bivens cut a promo announcing an open challenge from the Diamond Mine. Bivens is a great talker, but I was more impressed here by the use of a label mic instead of handheld one. It allowed for Bivens to be more natural in his delivery I thought.
Odyssey Jones answered the open challenge after a commercial break. Bivens scoffed, saying Jones was under the weight limit to challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. So it was a non-title bout instead.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong defeated Odyssey Jones in a non-title match
Strong pinned Jones after outside interference. The finish still came out of nowhere, and it was just as the match was heating up.
Strong used his technical skills to ground Jones with holds, but Jones was seemingly too powerful. Jones was making a comeback with power moves when the Creed Brothers interfere. Jones swatted them away, but the distraction allowed Strong to hit Jones with a jumping knee strike. Strong then covered Jones for a three count.
Imperium promo with subtitles.
The ongoing costume party was raging backstage. Elvis took a chokeslam through a table. I am not making that up.
Mandy Rose defeated NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez in a Trick or Street Fight to win the title
Clean sweep for Toxic Attraction as Rose pinned Gonzalez to win the title, albeit after outside interference. This also featured the return of Dakota Kai in an angle after the match.
This was Spin the Wheel Make the Deal, and the wheel stopped on “Chucky’s Choice.” Chuck picked a street fight. Gonzalez got a special entrance as she entered the building riding a motorcycle.
Early in the match and a kendo stick came into play as they brawled around ringside. The match went through a picture-in-picture commercial break. More brawling at ringside when the show returned from the break. Rose trapped Gonzalez in a chair, and Rose kicked her over in the chair. More kendo stick shots.
Gonzalez recovered as Rose was digging around under the ring for blunder. Wearing a hockey mask like Jason, Gonzalez sprayed Rose with a fire extinguisher. Snake eyes by Gonzalez as she drops Rose face first on chairs set up on the top turnbuckle. Gonzalez proceeded to pummel Rose.
Ring steps were set up on the apron by Gonzalez, only for her to go crashing into the steps Rose cut off Gonzalez. Rose got a near fall. Moments later, Rose was speared through a table. Gonzalez got a near fall.
A mysterious figure cloaked in black suddenly appeared at ringside. It looked like the person from the recent teasers at the graveyard. She even had a shovel. Gonzalez was hit from behind with the shovel, and Rose boots her in the face. Rose then covered Gonzalez en route to stealing the title via pinfall.
The cloaked figure stood over Gonzalez after the match, and the figure revealed herself as Dakota Kai.
Back to the haunted house, where Williams and Hayes were still searching for the title belt. Andre Chase was also there. They told him to lead the way. Lumis and Gargano began to scare them. Zombies grabbed at them. They got spooked. Hayes and Williams finally fought the title, but it was trap. Lumis and Gargano jumped them. Williams and Hayes fled. They were attacked by more zombies. Gargano and Lumis scared them one more time. Williams and Hayes ran away. This was silly, but sill funny at times.
Grayson Waller was in the ring plugging his Twitter handle like Mean Gene would plug a 900 line back in the day. Waller was interrupted by LA Knight. He stormed to ring dressed as Dracula just like Waller. Knight and Waller were arguing about who was the real host. Solo Sikoa interrupts to confront them. Sikoa got into the ring, and Knight pushed Waller into Sikoa. Waller was thrown out of the ring, and Knight begged off.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) in a Lumber-Jack O’Lantern Match to win the titles
Imperium won the titles when Aichner pinned Lee clean. Really good match with an exciting finish. Best match on the card so far.
A spin of the wheel determined this was a lumberjack match. Wrestlers in Halloween costumes surrounded the ring acting as lumberjacks, except for the Creed Brothers. They were not in costume. Imperium got into a skirmish with the lumberjacks at ringside, leading to MSK doing stereo dives to the outside. The bout continued through a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Lots of action after the show returned from the break. MSK was running wild until they were cut off by Aichner. He displayed some strength by lifting both of MSK for a rolling fireman’s carry slam.
Lee leaped over the ropes for a flip dive where all the lumberjacks caught them. Carter then gave Barthel a cutter off the top rope onto a pile of bodies on the oustide.
Great sequences late in the match where everyone was trading strikes. Barthel took a Canadian Destroyer, followed by an assisted standing moonsault from MSK. Barthel was able to kick out for a near fall.
Double team moves by Imperium at the finish. Aichner with a brainbuster on Lee to set an Imperium Bomb, and Aichner covered Lee for a pinfall to win the titles.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defeated Bron Breakker to retain his title
Ciampa pinned Breakker to retain the title. Good match.
Breakker broke the fourth wall during his entrance as he looked into a camera. He also said he was winning “the strap” tonight. Brother, they don’t call it a strap around here. He was not wrong, though.
Ciampa with a slightly different look had paint on his face and torso. He got manhandled by Breakker early on during the match. Ciampa soon cut off Breakker, and Ciampa begins to work him over. Breakker came back with a Rick Steiner powerslam.
The match continued through a commercial break. Ciampa regained an advantage during the break, and he took control. Ciampa pulled back the mats around ringside, exposing the bare floor. Ciampa went to suplex Breakker on the floor. Breakker blocked it, and he suplexed Ciampa on the floor. Breakker was seemingly now in control, but Ciampa was able to cut him off.
Comeback by Breakker with a flurry of power moves. The crowd was barking at Breakker, and he barked back. Don’t bark too soon. Breakker went to jump off the middle rope when he slips. Breakker slipped off the rope and splatted in the ring.
Willow’s Bell netted Ciampa a two count. Breakker moments later fought back to break out a Frakensteiner. The fight soon spilled outside the ring. They fought near the area where the bare floor was exposed. Ciampa DDT’d Breakker on the exposed floor.
Breakker was busted open and bleeding from his forehead. Ciampa delivered a Fairy Tale Ending, but Breakker kicked out at two and half. Ciampa nailed Breakker with a trifecta of knee strikes. Ciampa delivers another Fairy Tale Ending, and this time he got a three count. Ciampa retains.
Final Thoughts
This was arguably the best episode of NXT since the reboot. It being a supercard with a Halloween theme helped in making it so enjoyable. The matches for the most part were also good, evenif some at times more stunt shows than wrestling matches. Enough smoke and mirrors to get the job done.
All the titles changed hands except the one most everyone assumed was going to change. Some new matches were set up during the show. All in all this was a strong effort for what is now again a developmental brand. This might not end up being the best wrestling show of the week, but it is far from the worst. Maybe NXT 2.0 has finally found its footing and its place.
Probably the best thing of the night came after the show. Denise Salcedo dressed as Scott Steiner for her recap show on the F4W YouTube channel. Holla if a ya’ hear me.
One week before their NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc, Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker teamed together in the main event of last night’s NXT.
Ciampa & Breakker defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans when Breakker pinned James Drake after hitting a powerslam. Despite getting the win, there were moments of dissension between Ciampa and Breakker during the match.
Ciampa slapped Breakker to tag him in after Breakker was fighting with Zack Gibson on the floor and not available for a tag when Ciampa was going for it. Breakker then seemed like he may have been trying to hit Ciampa, but Ciampa moved out of the way and he hit Drake instead.
The show ended with Ciampa and Breakker going face-to-face after their win.
It was revealed last night that the triple threat NXT Women’s Tag Team title match at Halloween Havoc will be a “Scareway to Hell ladder match.” Io Shirai spun the wheel to determine the stipulation for the match after defeating Persia Pirotta and Jacy Jayne. Jayne was taken out of last night’s triple threat match after suffering an injury.
Another Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match was announced for Halloween Havoc last night, with MSK set to defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner next Tuesday. Plus, LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller to be confirmed as the host for Halloween Havoc.
The final episode of NXT before Halloween Havoc takes place tonight.
Ahead of their NXT Championship match next Tuesday, Tommaso Ciampa will team up with Bron Breakker against The Grizzled Young Veterans. The match was set up in a backstage segment on last week’s show. After The Grizzled Young Veterans confronted Ciampa, Breakker challenged them to a match. Breakker said he’ll stand by Ciampa’s side until Halloween Havoc because he wants to beat Ciampa at his best.
Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta, and Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne will face off in a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles at Halloween Havoc. Tonight, one member of each team will take part in a triple threat match. The winner will spin the wheel to determine the stipulation for the tag title match at Halloween Havoc.
Raquel Gonzalez vs. Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc will also be a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match. WWE will finish building to that match tonight.
A host for Halloween Havoc will be determined as Grayson Waller faces LA Knight tonight. Plus, Odyssey Jones vs. Andre Chase, Cora Jade vs. Elektra Lopez, The Creed Brothers vs. Imperium, and Tony D’Angelo in action are set for the show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show opens with the new NXT North American Champion, Carmelo Hayes. He is joined by Trick Williams, who tonight is playing the role of Hayes hype man. Williams introduces Hayes to the audience.
Hayes talks about pulling a swerve on Swerve himself, referring to Hayes cashing in his contract last week en route to winning the title. Hayes says the North American title should be referred to as the “A” championship by everyone.
Out comes Johnny Gargano to interrupt Hayes’ monologue. Gargano sarcastically congratulates Hayes. Gargano has been busy with other things lately, but Austin Theory is on Raw, Indi Hartwell is married, and Candice LeRae is at home pregnant. Gargano says he lost his “Way,” and he’s trying to figure out what is next. He thinks wrestling Hayes is what is next for Gargano.
Gargano challenges Hayes to a match. Williams chimes in to tell Gargano he needs to worry about his “daughter” (meaning Indi Hartwell). Williams claims Hartwell has been “shooting in ‘Melo’s DM’s all week.” Gargano played along, and Hayes implies Gargano should be more upset since that is his “daughter.” Gargano says he is right, and here is his “son-in-law.”
Dexter Lumis appeared behind the two heels after sneaking up on them. Lumis grabs Williams in a choke, but Hayes drags Williams out of the ring as the heels powder. This surely sets up a tag team match, and it also sets up for a singles title match down the road.
Odyssey Jones defeated Andre Chase
Jones pinned Chase clean in a short and basic match.
Dean Douglas may have been a better teacher gimmick than Chase, and Dean Douglas was pretty lame. In this match, Chase cuts off Jones early on, but Jones hulked up moments later. Jones showed off his power and strength. Jones bounces off the ropes and splashes Chase before hooking a leg for a pinfall.
Malcolm Bivens is backstage leading Diamond Mine to the ring. Bivens says he see how things are done in NXT. Diamond Mine will no longer ask for an opportunity, they will instead just take it.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner) defeated Creed Brother (Julius and Brutus Creed with Diamond Mine)
Barthel rolled up Brutus to pin him after a interference by Ikemen Jiro and Kushida.
Not sure Imperium fits in the revamped NXT, but they still are really good at wrestling. They were doing well in this match until NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong jumped on the apron to interfere. That allowed the Creed Brothers to gain the underhanded advantage on Barthel.
Hot tag to Aichner, and he cleans house. Aichner did a cool spot where he used a rolling fireman’s carry slam on Julius, leading to a near fall that was broken up by Brutus. He counters Barthel to deliver a gutwrench powerbomb. Aichner jumps in to break up the count.
Ikemen Jiro and Kushida run down to ringside, and they begin brawling Diamond Mine. Brutus is distracted by the brawl at ringside, allowing Barthel to pin Brutus with an O’Connor Roll.
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK run in after the match to attack Imperium. They clean house on Imperium, and challenge them to a tag title match at Halloween Havoc.
O’Reilly and Wagner train in the woods
In a pre-taped skit, Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner train in the forest. O’Reilly on his bicycle meets Wagner at the edge of the woods. Wagner arrives in a pickup truck, and Wagner was wearing camo. He tells O’Reilly where they are going they won’t need a bike.
Off to the woods they go, where they train with a fallen log. They carry it around, and they also do other exercises with the log. They swing an ax into a tree. By a campfire at night, Wagner does some twelve ounce curls with a longneck beer bottle. He gives O’Reilly a beer, and they cheers to kicking ass together.
A vignette highlights Cora Jade before her match that is up next. Before that comes a Joe Gacy skit, which at first seems like him cutting a promo. It was more than that as Harlan is apparently under Gacy’s spell. Looks like he is putting together a cult.
Cora Jade defeated Elektra Lopez (with Legado del Fantasma)
Jade sold most of the way until she pinned Lopez with a small package. On commentary the announcers during the match plugged the Queen’s Crown final this Thursday. Turns out that was ironic since this match was shorter than most of the Queen’s Crown tournament matches, which were all mostly very short.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa was together with Bron Breakker for a backstage interview. They teased not getting along in their tag match later on. What a novel concept on a WWE television show.
Grayson Waller and LA Knight wrestle later on to decide who is the host of Halloween Havoc.
Io Shirai defeated Persia Pirotta and Jacy Jayne in a triple threat match to decide who spins the wheel
Shirai pinned Pirotta after the match turned into a singles bout. Jayne left the match due to medical concerns. Shirai in winning got to Spin the Wheel and Make the Deal.
The match went through a commercial break. Before the break came a scary spot. Jayne went for a tope, but her feet hit the ropes and she wiped out on the floor. She basically spiked herself into the floor. She was okay enough to help catch Shirai on an Asai moonsault a moment later, but Jayne never returned to the match after the commercial break. Jayne was apparently pulled from the match by medical staff.
A triple threat turned into a singles match where Pirotta got heat on Shirai. Pirotta worked over Shirai, and Pirotta got some near falls. Shirai fought from underneath, and Shirai eventually made a comeback. Shirai with her signature offense, albeit with a nearly botched springboard.
Shirai was applying a crossface when Pirotta powered out. Shirai counters with a suplex, and Shirai follows with a moonsault press. Shirai then covered Pirotta for a pinfall.
Shirai spins the wheel and it lands on “Scareway to Hell” ladder match, which is a play on the “Stairway to Hell ” stipulation in the original ECW. So the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship is a triple threat tag team ladder match.
Solo Sikoa has a street fighter gimmick and he debuts next week at Halloween Havoc.Ku
Ikemen Jiro and Kushida do a comedy skit in a restroom. Jiro pulls out the Marty McFly vest, and he tells Kushida it is time to go back to the future.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Ru Feng
D’Angelo pinned Feng in a short squash match. D’Angelo broke out a Northern Lights suplex followed by a twisting fisherman’s buster, and then he scored a pinfall.
Samantha Irvin interviewed D’Angelo in the ring after the match. She asks him about the disappearance of Lash Legend’s producer, Mark. D’Angelo swears on his grandfather grave that he does not know nothing about nothing. He slipped Irvin some cash, and told her to go buy something nice and “fugetaboutit.”
Duke Hudson in a vignette was playing poker because that is what poker players do I guess. This just makes me nostalgic. Might watch some Gambler squash matches after this show.
Legado del Fantasma jumps Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen in a backstage sneak attack.
Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde) defeated Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen
Mendoza pinned Jensen after a double team finisher. The match was joined in progress with Legado del Fantasma solidly in control. Santos Escobar interfered during the match.
Jensen runs wild after a hot tag. Escobar interfered again, only to get clocked with a right hand from Jensen. Finish came after a tilt-a-whirl by Wilde, and Mendoza flew in with a leg lariat for a combo. Mendoza then covered Jensen for a pinfall.
A great video package hyped the title match for next Tuesday with Raquel Gonzalez defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Mandy Rose.
Carmelo Hayes was missing his North American title belt. He and Trick Williams were looking for it when they found a note inviting them to a haunted house hosted by Dexter Lumis.
The spooky and mysterious figure from the graveyard was burying a bunch of gimmicks in a cemetery.
LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller to become the host of Halloween Havoc
Knight pinned Waller after using the BFT (Blunt Force Trauma) finisher . Waller was making a comeback when Knight cut him off at the finish. It was an Knight match if you like that sort of thing.
Knight in winning becomes the official host of Halloween Havoc. I doubt there is hardly any way Knight is a better host than Shotzi Blackheart was last year, but we shall see.
Bron Breakker & NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson)
Breakker pinned Drake to win the match. Despite winning, Ciampa and Breakker had trouble getting along together. They meet in the main event of Halloween Havoc in a title match for the NXT Championship.
Breakker started the match with Drake, and Breakker showcased his power moves. Drake got Steinerized. Ciampa was a house of fire when he tagged into the match. Ciampa and Breakker were teasing dissension before the show cut to a commercial break.
Grizzled Young Veterans with heat on Ciampa during the break, but Ciampa created separation. However, Gibson baited Breakker so that he would chase Gibson. That left no one in the corner to tag Ciampa when Ciampa was finally able to create the separation.
The heels double team Ciampa as they cut the ring in half. Ciampa fought back. Gibson ran around the ring to get clotheslined by Breakker, but that meant that Breakker again left his corner. Ciampa was left with no one to tag.
When Breakker got back onto the apron, Ciampa slapped him. Ciampa yelled at Breakker, asking where he was for the tag. Since Ciampa had slapped Breakker, that counted as a legal tag. So Breakker gets into the ring running roughshod.
Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, and he applies a Steiner Recliner on Drake. Gibson booted Breakker in the face to break the hold, and Breakker throws Gibson out of the ring. Breakker lifted Drake into a gorilla press, and Breakker dropped him into a powerslam. Breakker then covered Drake for a three count.
Ciampa and Breakker have a staredown as the show closes.
One week before their NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc, Tommaso Ciampa & Bron Breakker will team up on NXT.
WWE has announced that Ciampa & Breakker will face The Grizzled Young Veterans in tag team action on NXT next Tuesday. The match was set up by a confrontation between Ciampa & Breakker and The Grizzled Young Veterans that took place on NXT tonight.
Ciampa defeated Joe Gacy in a non-title match on tonight’s NXT. If Gacy had won, he would have been added to Ciampa and Breakker’s NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc.
The Grizzled Young Veterans interrupted a backstage interview with Ciampa following his match against Gacy. Zack Gibson said he and James Drake can’t wait to watch Ciampa lose the NXT Championship to a rookie. Breakker then walked up and challenged The Grizzled Young Veterans to a match, but Gibson said he and Drake weren’t dressed for a fight.
Breakker told Ciampa that he’ll stand by his side until Halloween Havoc because he wants to beat Ciampa at his best.
Halloween Havoc is a special episode of NXT that’s taking place on Tuesday, October 26.
Ciampa & Breakker have teamed together once before, defeating Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland on NXT three weeks ago.
Odyssey Jones vs. Andre Chase is also set for next Tuesday’s NXT. Plus, Tony D’Angelo will be in action.
A fatal four-way Tag Team title elimination match headlined last night’s NXT.
What was originally announced as an eight-man tag match turned into MSK defending their NXT Tag Team titles against Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams, and The Grizzled Young Veterans. The match came down to MSK and Briggs & Jensen, with Wes Lee pinning Jensen to retain the titles.
Briggs & Jensen showed respect to MSK following the match. After Briggs & Jensen left, Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner jumped MSK from behind. Briggs & Jensen then returned to the ring to chase Imperium off.
Also on last night’s show, it was announced that Tommaso Ciampa will defend his NXT Championship against Bron Breakker at Halloween Havoc. The special episode of NXT is taking place on Tuesday, October 26.
Ciampa cut a promo last night, telling Breakker that actions speak louder than words. Breakker then made his way out to the ring to confront Ciampa after Ciampa asked who would have the balls to try and take the NXT Championship from him.
Breakker said he’s treated Ciampa with nothing but respect since debuting, but he wants to be NXT Champion. Ciampa said the difference between him and Breaker is that while Breakker wants the NXT Championship, Ciampa needs it. Ciampa said the NXT Championship is just a stepping stone to something bigger and better for Breakker. But for Ciampa, the title is something bigger and better.
Ciampa agreed to defend the NXT Championship against Breakker at Halloween Havoc. He said Breakker has three weeks to go from an intern to a PHD.
If Joe Gacy defeats Ciampa in their non-title match next week, he’ll be added to the NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc.
Halloween Havoc is returning to NXT for the second straight year.
WWE has announced that the Tuesday, October 26 edition of NXT will be a special Halloween Havoc-themed episode of the show. It will be headlined by Tommaso Ciampa defending his NXT Championship against Bron Breakker.
The announcement of the Halloween Havoc episode was made by Ciampa during a promo on tonight’s NXT. Ciampa brought up Breakker wanting to challenge for his title and said that actions speak louder than words. Ciampa asked who would have the balls to take his title from him, leading to Breakker coming down to the ring to confront Ciampa.
Breakker said he’s treated Ciampa with nothing but respect since coming to NXT, but he wants to be NXT Champion. Breakker challenged Ciampa to a title match at Halloween Havoc.
Ciampa said the difference between him and Breakker is that while Breakker wants the NXT Championship, Ciampa needs it. Ciampa said the title is just a stepping stone to something bigger and better for Breakker. But for Ciampa, the NXT Championship is something bigger and better.
After Samoa Joe had to relinquish the NXT Championship, Ciampa defeated LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and Von Wagner in a fatal four-way match to win the title on the premiere of NXT 2.0. Breakker (real name Bronson Rechsteiner) also made his NXT debut that night, defeating Knight. Ciampa and Breakker congratulated each other on their wins, but Breakker took a long look at Ciampa’s NXT title belt.
Ciampa & Breakker teamed together to defeat Dunne & Ridge Holland on NXT two weeks ago.
Ciampa is facing Joe Gacy in a non-title match on NXT next week. If Gacy wins, he’ll be added to the NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc.
Last year’s NXT Halloween Havoc episode was the first time WWE has used the show name since WCW went out of business.
The second week of NXT 2.0 featured NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa teaming with one of the brand’s up-and-coming stars.
Ciampa & Bron Breakker teamed together in last night’s main event, defeating Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland. The match was set up by a brawl that broke out after Ciampa kicked off the show.
Breakker pinned Holland after hitting his press slam into a powerslam. Leading into the finish of the match, Kyle O’Reilly appeared and stopped Holland from using his club as a weapon. O’Reilly then threw Holland back into the ring.
O’Reilly was taken out of last week’s fatal four-way match for the NXT Championship after being attacked by Dunne and Holland backstage.
Breakker took a long look at Ciampa’s NXT Championship belt after last night’s main event before giving it over to him.
Plus, more new faces continued to emerge last night. The NXT Cruiserweight Championship also changed hands on the show as Roderick Strong defeated Kushida.
A pair of segments have been announced for tonight’s NXT.
Following his title win last week, new NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa will kick off tonight’s episode. Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) will also “address the NXT Universe” on the show.
Last week’s premiere of NXT 2.0 saw Ciampa defeat LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and the debuting Von Wagner (Cal Bloom) in a four-way match to win the NXT Championship. The title was vacant going into that match after being relinquished by Samoa Joe.
After the match, Ciampa had an interaction with Bron Breakker (Bronson Rechsteiner) backstage. Breakker had made his debut by defeating Knight earlier in the show. Breakker and Ciampa congratulated each other on their wins, and they had a tense staredown as Breakker looked at Ciampa’s title belt.
Rose debuted a new look with brown hair on NXT last week. She interrupted a match between Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter and Dolin & Jayne, leading to a six-woman tag where Toxic Attraction defeated Sarray, Catanzaro & Carter.
Tonight’s NXT will also feature Kushida defending his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Roderick Strong. Plus, two video packages have been announced for the episode. We’ll see the story of how Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen (Ben Buchanan) became a tag team, along with part one of a look inside the life of Ikemen Jiro.
Briggs & Jensen lost to Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner on NXT last week. Jensen was making his debut in the match.
More than two years after having to vacate the title, Tommaso Ciampa is once again NXT Champion.
Ciampa defeated LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and the debuting Von Wagner in a fatal four-way match on NXT tonight to win the NXT Championship. Ciampa pinned Knight after hitting the Fairytale Ending.
The NXT Championship was vacant going into tonight’s show. Samoa Joe had to relinquish the title over the weekend due to injury. Joe said he was stepping away from the ring for a “brief but still indeterminate” amount of time but would be back shortly to collect the NXT Championship from whoever won it.
Kyle O’Reilly was originally supposed to be in the fatal four-way match, but there was an angle on tonight’s show where he was attacked by Dunne and Ridge Holland in the locker room. NXT general manager William Regal announced that Wagner would be replacing O’Reilly in the match because he was the one who saved O’Reilly from Dunne and Holland.
The 6-foot-5 Wagner (real name Cal Bloom) is the son of Wayne Bloom (former wrestler Beau Beverly). Wagner played college football at the University of Central Florida. He signed with WWE in March 2019.
Ciampa previously held the NXT Championship from July 2018 to March 2019. He had to relinquish the title then due to undergoing neck surgery.
Tonight’s show ended with a backstage segment where Bron Breakker (Bronson Rechsteiner) congratulated Ciampa. Ciampa then congratulated Breakker on his first win in NXT. The two had a tense staredown as they shook hands and Breakker looked at Ciampa’s title belt.
Breakker made his NXT debut by defeating Knight earlier in tonight’s show. Breakker and Wagner’s debuts were part of the beginning of “NXT 2.0,” which is WWE’s revamp of the NXT brand.