Tag: Tommaso Ciampa

WWE NXT live results: Four-way match to determine new champion

Posted on by Chris Aiken

A new champion will be crowned as NXT’s revamp begins tonight.

With Samoa Joe vacating the NXT Championship due to injury, the winner of a fatal four-way match on tonight’s show will become the new NXT Champion. Pete Dunne, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight are facing off in the match.

The four-way match was originally set to decide a challenger for Joe. Dunne, Ciampa, O’Reilly, and Knight had all emerged as potential challengers for the NXT Championship following Joe winning the title from Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver 36 last month.

The show will also feature the wedding of Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis. Plus, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro will face Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne, B-Fab will make her in-ring debut, and Ridge Holland and Julius & Brutus Creed will be in action.

The revamp is being called “NXT 2.0.” It will include NXT’s new logo and a new set making their official debut tonight.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

It’s a new day … Yes it is!

Big E of New Day is the WWE Champion, and it is also a new day for NXT. Tonight NXT has a new look, and a new NXT Champion is crowned.

Let the reboot begin. The lead-in on USA Network is the Western movie Tombstone. Pretty sure the lead-in to NXT on USA has never been a Western. Tonight is already different. Not too different in some ways. USA airs an ad for Monday Night Raw just before the NXT show starts.

NXT 2.0 opens with promos from the contenders in the fatal four way match for the NXT Championship. Tommaso Ciampa began by saying tonight is Goldie 2.0. Pete Dunne in a snarling promo says he will put down the other contenders. Kyle O’Reilly talks about being one win away from achieving a goal that is 16 years in the making, and says it’s “about damn time” he wins the NXT title.

LA Knight closes out the opening promos with a shot at former champ Samoa Joe. Knight claimed the medical reason for Joe vacating the title was due to him losing his manhood, because he was scared of Knight. Now three others are stuck in that same spot. Bron Breakker (Bronson Steiner) walks in wearing a signature Steiners singlet. He told Knight he wanted to prove himself. Knight warned Breakker he would “beat the brakes off this cross eyed halfwit.”

The new canned intro featuring music from Wale is an improvement in my opinion. The new graphics are a bright change of pace. Very vibrant. The remodeled set and the new layout of the arena looks much better than the previous soundstage.

Bron Breakker defeated LA Knight  

Breakker (Bronson Rechsteiner) upset Knight in the opener to NXT 2.0. 

Breakker fittingly looks like a Steiner, especially with his 1990s singlet. Its color pattern matches that of NXT 2.0. 

Knight’s new moniker is the “Million Dollar Mega Star.” He works over Breakker at the start of the match, but Breakker soon fights back. Breakker gives Knight a belly-to-belly suplex, but Knight tries to cut him off. Breakker fires up once more to pick Knight up for a gorilla press, and Breakker drops Knight into a powerslam. Breakker then covers Knight for a three count.

NXT roster members are backstage congratulating Breakker on his shocking win.

Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs

Aichner pins Jensen to win the match. 

Jensen & Briggs cut promos in an inset picture tthat woukd have fit it on an episode of Wrestling Challenge in 1987. They got to shine early on and often in this present day match. When Jensen climbs the top rope, but Barthel distracts him. That allows Aichner to give Jensen an avalanche butterfly suplex, and Aichner covers him for a pinfall. 

Great promo from Hit Row puts over B-Fab. 

B-Fab (with Hit Row) defeated Katrina Cortez

B-Fab pins Cortez in a short enhancement match. Cortez got some offense, until she leapt off the middle rope. B-Fab with a high kick boots Cortez in the face, and B-Fab pins her.

After the match, B-Fab went to cut a promo. She is interrupted by Elektra Lopez, who was again dressed like Carmen Sandiego. Where in the world? She was also flanked by El Legado del Fantasma. Lopez and B-Fab had words with each other.

Austin Theory returns to NXT in a backstage skit with Johnny Gargano, Cameron Grines and Odyssey Jones. Theory surprised Gargano by returning after previously running away. Theory says every wedding needs a priest. So Theory brought Damian Priest with him. Gargano is glad to see him and all, but Priest is not an actually priest that can officiate the wedding. Theory is confused by this.

Breakout turn for Carmelo Hayes

Samantha Irvin interviews the Breakout tournament winner, Carmelo Hayes, in the ring. Hayes says life is great, and he now has “the juice.” But he admits there is a target on his back, so he called a friend to help watch his back. That friend is Trick Williams.

Trick tells Carmelo that he is proud of him, but Trick has a bone to pick with him. Trick says Carmelo is acting too humble, yet Trick claims he and Carmelo are “bouty bouty.” Hayes flips a switch, and he cuts a heel promo proclaiming himself as “The Chosen One.” When ‘Melo shoots, Hayes says he does not miss.

Duke Hudson entered the set ready for a match that was apparently next. Hudson stops on his way to the ring, and Hudson tells Hayes he “got lucky” when Hayes beat Hudson in the tournament. Hudson then saunters past them on his way to the ring.

Trick says stuff like that stops tonight. Trick removes his shirt, and he jumps Hudson. Hayes joins in on giving Hudson a beatdown.

Mandy Rose has a new look she is debuting tonight. 

Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro defeated Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne via disqualification

Mandy Rose ran in for a DQ.

During the match it was TO THE BACK like an old episode of Impact. Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland jump Kyle O’Reilly in a sneak attack backstage. Meanwhile, the women’s tag match rolls on until Mandy Rose runs in. 

Rose is dressed in all black from her cut-off shorts to her leather jacket and boots. Rose was also wearing a beanie on her head, waiting for the big reveal. She attacks Catanazaro, and the referee calls for the bell.

The big reveals comes when Rose showing her new hair color. Out with the blond, Rose in now a brunette. 

Sarray ran in to run off the heel trio. This leads to a trios match.

Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne defeated Sarray, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro 

Rose covered Carter to win the six-woman tag match. Rose also faced off with Sarray during the match, but their issues remain unsettled.

The heels work over Catanzaro, proverbially cutting the ring in half. Hot tag to Carter, and she runs wild. Rose fed into her, and Carter got a nearfall. Jayne jumps in to break up the count with a superkick. A melee ensues. When the smoke settles Sarray is facing off with Rose.

Rose has beef with Sarray due to the injury angle from a few weeks ago. Rose was getting vengeance when Carter cuts her off. Carter is briefly distracted trying to dodge an attack by Jayne. That allows Rose to strike. Rose delivers a knee strike, ans she covers Carter for a pinfall.

A commercial tie-in with an insurance company promotes WWE Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez.

William Regal is joined by interview correspondent McKenzie Mitchell for an announcement about the main event. Kyle O’Reilly is out of the fatal four way. Replacing O’Reilly in the title match is Von Wagner (Cal Bloom), who by the way is the son of retired pro wrestler Wayne Bloom. No relation to Dr. Wagner. 

Ridge Holland defeated Drake Maverick (with Grayson Waller)

Holland pins Maverick in a glorified squash match.

Holland mauls Maverick. The underdog tries to fight back, but to no avail. Northern Grit by Holland, and he covers Maverick for an easy three count.

Ciampa in a backstage promo mentions it has been 908 days since Ciampa had Goldie, which is his pet name for the NXT Championship belt. 

Tony D’Angelo is coming soon to NXT. In a vignette he talks about being in the mafia without saying he is the mafia. D’Angelo mentions his great amateur wrestling background, but that does not pay. He is now in the family business. D’Angelo is also coming to NXT, where he says the money is at.

Julius & Brutus Creed (with Diamond Mine) defeated Dan Jarmon & Trevor Skelly

The Creed Brothers won handily in another squash match.

Slower pace than their debut where they pummeled two enhancement wrestlers. Make no mistake, they pummel two job guys this week, just more slowly. They took their time more so this week. 

In a post-match promo, the Diamond Mine get into the ring. Malcolm Bivens introduces the audience to the newest member of Diamond Mine. She is Ivy Nile.

NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida interrupts Bivens promo to tell Bivens they talk too much. Bivens challenges Kushida to a title match against Roderick Strong. Kushida accepts the challenge, thus making a title match for next week.

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Pete Dunne, LA Knight and Von Wagner in fatal four way to win the vacant NXT Championship

Ciampa won the title after pinning Knight in a really good match. Started out like a standard WWE fatal four way, but got much better from there.

Similar to other fatal four ways in WWE, it starts with two wrestlers ending up outside the ring so two could face off in the ring. At least at first things were typical, as the match gets wilder as it goes on.

Wagner looks like a powerhouse. He got to shine just before the show cut to a commercial break. Knight during the break took out Wagner by sending him crashing into the ring steps. Not for long as Wagner was soon back in the ring.

Highspots galore with everybody getting to look strong at some point or another. Lots of action and a quick pace throughout. Ciampa executed a Widow’s Bell on LA Knight for a near fall, and Ciampa followed up that with a corkscrew flip dive over the ropes to the outside. 

Wagner with an Olympic slam on Dunne for a close two count. That would not be his only near fall. Another came just before the finish. Knight is able to give Dunne a superplex, only for Wagner to jump in with a suplex on Knight for another two count. Ciampa punts Wagner to break up the count. 

Fairy Tale Ending finisher by Ciampa, and he covers Knight. 1…2…3. 

“Goldie is coming home,” proclaims Vic Joseph on commentary. No wonder Goldie was mentioned so much by that name throughout the show. Nice touch to remind viewers of the name.

While the title match was billed as the main event, the wedding is closing the show.

The wedding of In-Dex

NXT roster members file in as guests to the wedding. Johnny Gargano, playing the father figure, walks Indi Hartwell down the aisle. As the ceremony begins we learn some middle names. Lumis’ full name is Dexter Gaylord Lumis, and Hartwell’s full name is Indi Ophelia Hartwell. 

The official presiding over the ceremony does the “dearly beloved” routine, and then he asks who is here to give Hartwell away. Gargano begins to cut a promo, but Candice LeRae has to stop him. Gargano ask Austin Theory is if he has the rings. Theory says “we’re in a ring, silly.” 

Ikemen Jiro stands up wearing his flashy sports jacket and trunk. Almost everyone in the ring raises their hand. Lumis looks around while opening his coat to reveal a hatchet. Everyone puts their hand down. 

Hartwell reads her vows. She tells Lumis he is misunderstood, and many people see him as a creep. She sees him as her “cuddly teddy bear.” Some people see Lumis as a stalker. What she sees is a “caring man with a well-groomed mustache, and tight clothes that never takes his eyes off me.” She says Lumis is called a freak.

“Damn right he’s a freak.” Indi says. “Dexter’s my freak,” Indi says. She goes to say she remembers that night he climbed into the Gargano’s house late at night.

Lumis quickly covers the microphone, cutting off Indi’s story. Gargano is in disbelief. Indi says Dexter is cute when he is upset like that. She also put him over for never losing a staring contest. She says they understand each other, and she loves him. The guests pop with applause.

Now it was Dexter’s turn to recite his vows. The crowd is hushed. The building grows quiet at the notion that Lumis may deliver a spoken word. Lumis instead gives a thumbs up.

The wedding officiant calls out Lumis, saying Hartwell poured her heart out to him. He cannot believe Lumis has nothing to say. The officiant is now causing a scene. Is his name Ken?

Lumis snatches the officiant in a chokehold, and Lumis puts him to sleep in the middle of the ceremony. This is the equivalent to a ref bump in a wedding, and a first for me. Never seen such in all my days. What in tarnation? The man presiding over the wedding is choked out.

Gargano starts a chant for William Regal, urging Regal to preside over the wedding. Regal looks mortified at the thought.

Beth Phoenix jumps into the ring. She has history in this storyline, as she helped play matchmaker. Phoenix in the past urged Hartwell to make a move on Lumis. Now they are getting married and Phoenix is saving their relationship once again. Phoenix has been a strong supporter of In-Dex. 

Phoenix says she got ordained as a minister, so she can now preside over the ceremony. Phoenix says lets cut to the chase. Andre Chase stand up to interrupt. He is taken out by a nerve hold from Odyssey Jones.

Hartwell says her “I do” when Phoenix asks her. Phoenix asks Lumis. Long pause. Phoenix says we can take that as a “yes” from Lumis, but Lumis grabs the mic. Lumis says “I do,” and the crowd goes wild.

Phoenix pronounces them husband and wife. “You may kiss the bride.” The couple kiss for a happy ending.

New NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa is watching the wedding from a backstage monitor. He is approached by Bron Breakker. They shake hands in a show of respect, yet the moment is tense. They have an awkward staredown as the show fades to black. 

The wedding ended on a happy note, which is very unlike the chaos of wrestling weddings of the past. If viewers on USA Network still wanted to see a wedding end in chaos, they could have stuck around after NXT. Tombstone was the lead-in before NXT, and the movie aired again on USA Network after NXT went off the air. The movie opens with the heel faction ruining a wedding, after NXT had closed their show with a happy wedding.

WWE to crown new NXT Champion on Tuesday night

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new NXT Champion will be crowned this Tuesday night.

With Samoa Joe vacating the title, WWE has announced that the winner of Pete Dunne, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight’s fatal four-way match on Tuesday’s episode of NXT will become the new NXT Champion. The four-way match was originally supposed to determine a number one contender to Joe’s title.

Joe posted a video on Sunday night announcing that he was relinquishing the NXT Championship effective immediately. Joe said that, due to certain injuries, WWE medical informed him that they’d like him to step away from the ring for a “brief but still indeterminate” amount of time.

Joe said he’d be back shortly to collect the NXT Championship from whoever wins it.

At TakeOver 36 last month, Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship. Joe was then confronted by Dunne, O’Reilly, and Knight on the post-TakeOver episode of NXT. Ciampa also got involved in that segment and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.

NXT’s revamp will kick off with this week’s episode. The revamp is being called “NXT 2.0.”

Here’s the updated lineup for Tuesday’s episode:

  • Fatal four-way match to determine new NXT Champion: Pete Dunne vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. LA Knight
  • NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Franky Monet
  • The wedding of Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis

WWE NXT to determine Samoa Joe’s first challenger next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A fatal four-way number one contender’s match will determine the first challenger for Samoa Joe’s NXT Championship.

Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, LA Knight, and Pete Dunne will face off in an NXT Championship number one contender’s match on NXT next Tuesday. The announcement was made by general manager William Regal on tonight’s episode of the show.

Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship at TakeOver 36 last month. It’s Joe’s third NXT Championship reign. His first two reigns with the title were in 2016.

Dunne, Knight, and O’Reilly all confronted Joe on NXT following his title win. Ciampa also got involved and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.

Ciampa defeated Holland on NXT last week, Knight defeated Johnny Gargano, and O’Reilly defeated Duke Hudson.

WWE has also announced that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will defend her title against Franky Monet on NXT next Tuesday. Plus, the show will feature the wedding of Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis.

Next week’s NXT will mark the official start of the brand’s revamp. It will include the debut of NXT’s new logo and a new look for the Capitol Wrestling Center being revealed.

WWE NXT video highlights: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

An NXT veteran picked up a win in last night’s main event.

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Ridge Holland on NXT last night, hitting Willow’s Bell to get the pin. Ciampa was then immediately attacked by Pete Dunne after the match. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch held up Ciampa for Dunne to lay him out, but MSK made the save for Ciampa. Wes Lee and Nash Carter brawled with Lorcan and Burch and ran Dunne and Holland off.

MSK will defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Lorcan & Burch next Tuesday. The match was made after Lee & Carter went to NXT general manager William Regal and said they wanted to give Lorcan & Burch a title shot.

Lorcan & Burch had to vacate the NXT Tag Team titles this March after Burch suffered a separated shoulder.

Also on last night’s NXT, Johnny Gargano lost to LA Knight when Gargano was distracted by Dexter Lumis trying to give him a high-five, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez faced off with Jessi Kamea in non-title action, Kyle O’Reilly took on Duke Hudson, Ikemen Jiro answered Roderick Strong’s open challenge, and Mandy Rose lost by countout to Sarray after taking a dropkick to the face.

New NXT United Kingdom Champion Ilja Dragunov also cut a promo on last night’s show, and there were sit-down interviews with NXT Champion Samoa Joe and Kay Lee Ray.

More coverage from last night —

WWE NXT video highlights —

Sarray vs. Mandy Rose

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Duke Hudson

NXT United Kingdom Champion Ilja Dragunov feels more alive than he’s ever felt before

Arash Markazi interviews Kay Lee Ray, KLR vs. Ember Moon set for next week

Interviews with Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes get interrupted

Drake Maverick & Grayson Waller vs. Imperium

Johnny Gargano vs. LA Knight

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Jessi Kamea

Sit-down interview with Samoa Joe

Ikemen Jiro vs. Roderick Strong

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland

NXT fallout: Raquel Gonzalez knows she has a target on her back

NXT fallout: Franky Monet is one step closer to where she knows she’s going to be

NXT fallout: McKenzie Mitchell attempts to get a status update on Mandy Rose

Daily Update: Ric Flair, CM Punk, Tommaso Ciampa

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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WON NEWSLETTER: August 30, 2021 Observer Newsletter: CM Punk debuts in AEW, SummerSlam review

An amazing weekend for pro wrestling as AEW on 8/20 featured the return of C.M. Punk, while WWE the next day at SummerSlam brought back Becky Lynch and Brock Lesnar.

The Punk return was one of the most amazing television wrestling moments in history. Never before has a show been announced with simply a name, The Last Dance, just a few weeks ahead of time, in a building the size of the United Center in Chicago, and sold out instantly.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • The October 1st edition of SmackDown, which was to take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been moved to the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • PWInsider reported that The Miz was not backstage at any point last night during the Raw tapings.
  • Matches taped for this week’s Main Event includes Jeff Hardy vs. Cedric Alexander and Mansoor & Mustafa Ali vs. Lucha House Party.
  • Tommaso Ciampa clarified his comments about not wanting to go to the main roster. He told Fightful that it wasn’t because of creative, but rather because of the travel. “It’s the load. I think people misconstrued it as ‘he hates Raw or SmackDown.’ No, when I talked to (Lilian Garcia), it was a month or two after I had neck surgery, neck surgery that was potentially going to end my career. We were discussing home and road life and I said, ‘I don’t think I can handle traveling 300 days out of the year.’ I physically would need a lighter load and NXT provides a lighter load. That’s where I was at. If somebody told me today, ‘You have to travel 300 days for work,’ then, okay, the job is not for me.”
  • Charlotte Flair talked to DAZN about wanting to become the female John Cena. “First, I want to say there will never be another John Cena,” she clarified. “He has meant that much to the industry. But I do know when I first started, and to this day, that is who I want to mold myself after and be like. Unfortunately, I am a bad guy on camera, and Cena is the ultimate good guy. But I never lose that density or passion of wanting to embody WWE, wanting to do as much on the outside, for instance, media and the Special Olympics. There’s so many community events that we take part in. I hope to be mentioned in the same sentence as him. He’s John Cena. I’m a talent in the same company as him. Not even a peer but as a co-worker, and I still say it like that. He’s John Cena. Yes, I want to be the female John Cena. And if people say that, then I’m going to continue, even if I don’t feel like I’ve gotten there yet, but I’m going to continue to work as hard and feel that I want to be that way with everything I do.”
  • Sheamus spoke to ComicBook about his current run in WWE.
  • Asuka on Twitter: “I finally got new teeth! It took 6 months since I lost my teeth. Thank you Dr. Byron M Blasco.”
  • The company has trademarked the term ‘Von Wagoner’.
  • John Cena has been announced for the New York Comic Con the weekend of October 7 and C2E2, aka the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo the week of October 10.
  • Matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins from the August 31, 2020 edition of Raw, Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay in a stretcher match from Cyber Sunday 2007, and Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley from NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way.
  • Jeff Hardy turns 44 today.

Other Wrestling

  • Ric Flair on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette denied that he would be going to AEW, though he did say he would be in Chicago this weekend. “I can also tell ya, people started rumors -I’m not going to get into it; no need for that – ‘Oh, he’s going to AEW. He and Tony Khan are friends.’,” he said (h/t WrestlingInc). Yeah, we are friends. But I haven’t heard a word from Tony,” Flair said. “If he asks ya, tell him I’m around.”
  • CM Punk appeared on ESPN’s SportsNation to talk about his return to pro wrestling and his AEW debut. He said that one of the things that made him interested in AEW was the way they handled Brodie Lee’s illness and death last year. “They kept is so secret,” he said. “To see everyone in the company band together just to keep a secret about someone’s health, I was just blown away by that. That made me go “Oh, so there’s something to that locker room.”
  • In an interview with The New York Post, Punk talked about facing Darby Allin at All Out. “I think he’s the perfect opponent. … I’m kind of approaching it like I’m quasi-new guy, but old head coming back into this thing,” he said. “From an artistic storyline perspective, I can’t go after Kenny [Omega] right way. He’s the (world) champion. It wouldn’t make any sense. I never wrestled in this organization. Darby is a lot of things. He’s a fantastic talent, he’s a great personality. Within the AEW storytelling, he’s a very compelling character that the fans like. I just think he’s like the perfect foil right now. It’s a spotlight on, yes this CM Punk’s first match back in seven years. It needs to be a good match, right? I need a good dance partner. Darby is probably one of the best guys for the role, honestly,:
  • Awesome Kong spoke to Belle to Belles about retiring from wrestling following her appearance at NWA Empower. “Well, for a while now I’ve been trying to figure out a way to say goodbye [to] wrestling and I thought it’d be a nice bookend way to wrap up a good career, I would say,” she said (h/t Post Wrestling). “It’s been a good career, and then to have a moment with Gail [Kim] and to say I saved your tookus.”
  • This week’s Road to AEW Dynamite.
  • The latest vignette for Ruby Soho.
  • The third episode of Starz’s Heels drew 94,000 viewers, a series low. It drew a 0.03 rating in viewers 18-49, up from the 0.02 rating the premiere drew.
  • Fightful Select reported that Acey Romero has requested his release from Impact Wrestling.
  • The schedule for the second half of the third season of Dark Side of the Ring:
    Plane Ride from Hell on 9/16
    The Double Life of Chris Kanyon on 9/23
    Blood & Wire: Onita’s FMW on 9/30
    Bikers, Bombs, and Bedlam Johnny K9 on 10/7
    The Many Faces of Luna Vachon on 10/14
    Extreme & Obscene: Rob Black’s XPW on 10/21
    The Steroid Trials on 10/28
  • Britt Baker on Twitter: “I can confirm @AdamColePro has no cavities. @WONF4W @Fightful @PWInsidercom @WrestlingInc”
  • Taiji Ishimori will make his GCW debut on September 24 for GCW’s Get Lost A Lot event.
  • Lee Moriarity will debut for ROH on September 12, when he teams with LSG and John Walters to take on Homicide, Chris Dickinson, and Tony Deppen.
  • Dean Muhtadi, formerly Mojo Rawley, spoke to Cultaholic covering his release from WWE.
  • The latest episode of Sammy Guevara’s vlog.
  • An interview with Yota Tsuji about his graduation from young lion status.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Chris Jericho becomes first AEW World Champion

CONTACT INFORMATION

Daily Update: Samoa Joe, Tommaso Ciampa, Eddie Kingston

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WON NEWSLETTER: June 28, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Hell in a Cell review, NJPW LA show announced

A look at the WWE’s last PPV of the Thunderdome era and what did and didn’t work on the Hell in a Cell show is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer.  We’ve got the booking, future direction for Money in the Bank, update on MITB tickets, star ratings, poll results and match and performer of the week.

Also in this issue:

A new lawsuit against UFC and why it is a potential game changer along with what would be almost a sure thing if it’s successful regarding WWE, what the claims are, and if it’s successful what it says about payment of money to athletes.

New Japan running shows in the United States, a look back at  the early shows in Southern California, who is and isn’t on the cards and more.

Becky Lynch returning, SummerSlam ticket sales, WWE return to MSG, WWE ticket sales, FOX and NBCU suggestions for WWE programming, Montez Ford surgery, Karrion Kross and Bronson Reed tryouts, Shayna Baszler talks angle, International TV ratings, controversy over writer with no product knowledge continued and reaction internally, Rey Mysterio talks angle he doesn’t want to do, Kushida talks Kyle O’Reilly, Titus O’Neil talks his award nomination, plus next week’s TV shows, WWE’s biggest YouTube videos from this past week and WWE company market value.

Saturday’s UFC show with match-by-match coverage, future directions for the talent, business notes and more

Changes being worked on for the Nielsen ratings and who isn’t happy about them and why, television vs. streaming in 2021 and a comparison using AEW programming.

Suwama’s vacating the Triple Crown, how it will be decided, and then look back at how the three belts, the United National, PWF and International belts all formed, when, their rules, their history and the creation of the Triple Crown more than 30 years ago.

A feature on the death of former bodybuilding star turned pro wrestler Melissa Coates.

More into detail on the ratings than any other source, how many different viewers the shows had, breakdown of who watches the shows and how they watch, DVR numbers and how long the average fan watches.

Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Samoa Joe talked to Ryan Satin about his WWE release, his return, and his new role in NXT. When asked if he is planning on an in ring return, he made it clear that he is, saying “Absolutely. We’ll just say, yes, we’ll leave it at that.”
  • Joe also talked to Sports Illustrated about his release. “A younger me would have handled this much, much differently,” Joe said. “I know when I got the call, and it’s hard to explain, but I really was nonplussed about the whole thing. Johnny [Ace] called me and gave me the token speech, and it’s hard for Johnny because he has to make a lot of calls. At the same time, there were already discussions between myself and Hunter from a while ago. This is something Hunter had wanted. So essentially, when I got released, I understood their logic and reasoning. For me, I didn’t miss a beat. I was ready to take on whatever came next, and that’s what I was ready to do.”
  • WWE filed a trademark for “Nikki ASH” on June 25, a term Cross used on last night’s Raw to describe herself as “almost a superhero”. They also filed a trademark for “Happy Corbin” and a trademark on the World Class Championship Wrestling logo.
  • Sports Illustrated has an article on John Morrison and his inclusion in the upcoming Money in the Bank ladder match.
  • Morrison also spoke to TVInsider on his recent return to WWE. When asked about his current direction, he replied: “In wrestling, things never really go the way you expect. I was really excited to come back and work with Miz. In the [WWE] Chronicle documentary that talks about my return, Dolph Ziggler is walking toward me while cameras are following. All I did for my debut was open the door and say, “I’m sorry. Miz doesn’t feel like talking right now.” Ziggler gives me a high five after and says, “Sweet debut bro.” Did that go how I expected? No. Everybody thinks of ideas on the basis they see themselves as main event guys. I certainly do. But since have  go the way I liked? Definitely, yes.”
  • Tommaso Ciampa did the media rounds speaking to The Sportster regarding interest in wrestling WALTER again.
  • Ciampa also spoke to PWInsider. When asked if he still has plans to go the main roster, he said he would rather see where his career takes him. “It’s a tough one for me to answer, because I don’t know that… That’s not how I work, as far as goals go,” he said. “When I was a kid, it was different. When I was a kid, I wanted like, “Oh, I want to be on WrestleMania and stuff.” For sure, those were the goals. Because I was signed at 20, 21, and released, and then did a bunch of independents, and toured around the world, and just found myself and grew as a performer. It’s just all these different experiences I had, and it just became more about the journey than anything, and it became more about just becoming better, a better performer.  So when Johnny and I came to NXT and our first thing was doing the Dusty Classic in 2016 or something, even then, I mean, it was just, for me, it was like, “Oh, cool, here’s an opportunity to get in the ring with new different people, fresh people, get in front of different audiences and grow as a performer.” And obviously it keeps snowballing, but… The Raw brand is fantastic. Great roster, lots of talented men and women. Same thing with SmackDown, same thing with NXT. I’d love to get in there with everybody. It’s just more about me doing things that, I don’t know, help my own legacy at the end of it, that helped me, as a performer, grow and get better and stuff. There’s no door that’s closed, but at the same time, there’s no weird carrot that’s dangling in front of me, where I’m like, “Oh, that’s what I got to do.” It’s just going with the flow of it all and making the most of every opportunity that’s presented to me, essentially.”
  • Here is behind the scenes footage featuring Bianca Belair prior to the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event.
  • Titus O’Neil is holding a ‘Back to School Bash’ that will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on August 7. The event helps title one schools in Hillsborough County to make sure all students have backpacks and school supplies.
  • Full matches added to WWE’s YouTube page today include Randy Orton vs. Edge from WWE Vengeance 2004, John Cena vs. Cesaro from the June 29, 2015 episode of Raw and Becky Lynch & Natalya vs. Charlotte Flair & Dana Brooke from WWE Money in the Bank 2016.

Other Wrestling

  • Eddie Kingston spoke to WrestleZone about the speech he gave at the end of Saturday’s Dynamite. “Let’s all calm down,” he is quoted as saying. “You think I’m going to go bury the locker room that I work for? No, plus I love our locker room. I love AEW. What do you want from me? They’re paying me! They’re putting me on national television after – it’ll be 20 years in October. Of course I’m gonna rah-rah AEW. Relax. Relax. I expect people from the other joint if they’re allowed to mention our names, they’ll probably do the same thing cause you know what I mean? They want their home team to win. It’s just like the NFL or Major League Baseball, man. You wanna go with your home team, AEW’s my team. That’s my squad.”
  • Jake Lee’s first Triple Crown title defense will be on July 22 for a show in Korakuen Hall. Shuji Ishikawa and Shotaro Ashino will have a match on July 11 to determine the next challenger.
  • On the latest Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette, the former IIconics Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce) and Jessica McKay (Billie Kay) noted that both are unable to currently work due to ongoing green card issues. “The difficult thing for us is, we still don’t have our green cards, so we’re not allowed to work until we get those or until we find sponsorship anywhere else,” Lee said. “We’re so excited, we have all this freedom and so many ideas, but pump the brakes because we can’t do any of it.”
  • CyberAgent, which is the parent company of DDT, NOAH, and Tokyo Joshi Pro, has begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine to wrestlers and employees of each company. 
  • Sports Illustrated has a story on inclusivity in professional wrestling in rural Georgia.
  • AEW’s Santana has filed trademarks for “BornNasty” and “Mike Santana”.
  • Jay White did an online meet and greet via Tokon Shop Global.
  • Lita did a virtual signing at the Asylum Wrestling Store.
  • The Miami Herald has an article of AEW returning to the road.
  • Mount Pleasant Daily Voice has an article on Michael Cammett, a pro wrestler that drowned over the weekend along with two other people. Slam Wrestling has an additional column on his passing.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Stan Hansen stripped of AWA World title

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tag Team title match announced for NXT Great American Bash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line at the Great American Bash.

On tonight’s NXT episode, it was announced that MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher at the Great American Bash. The show is taking place on Tuesday, July 6 and is a special episode of NXT.

Ciampa & Thatcher were set up as the top contenders to MSK’s titles by defeating The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) in a tornado tag match in the main event of last week’s NXT.

Ahead of Great American Bash, there will be a face-to-face segment with MSK and Ciampa & Thatcher on NXT next Tuesday.

MSK have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles in a triple threat match against The Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver this April. The titles were vacant heading into that match.

It was also announced tonight that NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell will defend their titles at the Great American Bash. Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai, and Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will face off in a triple threat tag match on NXT next Tuesday to determine LeRae & Hartwell’s challengers for the Great American Bash.

Here’s the updated Great American Bash card:

  • Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
  • NXT Tag Team Champions MSK defend against Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defend against either Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai, or Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon

Tornado tag match announced for next week’s WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A tornado tag match is set to take place on next week’s episode of NXT.

Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher will face off with The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) in a tornado tag match on NXT next Tuesday. The match was announced after a challenge that was issued by The Grizzled Young Veterans on tonight’s NXT.

The Grizzled Young Veterans were in action on NXT tonight, facing August Grey & Ikemen Jiro. During the match, Ciampa and Thatcher came out to ringside and watched on from steel chairs. The Grizzled Young Veterans were momentarily distracted but still got the win.

After the match, The Grizzled Young Veterans reiterated that they’re done with Ciampa & Thatcher and are focused on MSK’s NXT Tag Team titles. Ciampa said The Grizzled Young Veterans won’t be getting a title shot unless they go through Ciampa & Thatcher first. Ciampa and Thatcher threw their chairs toward Gibson & Drake.

The Grizzled Young Veterans then challenged Ciampa & Thatcher to a tornado tag match for next week. Ciampa & Thatcher accepted the challenge and went to go after The Grizzled Young Veterans, but Gibson and Drake bailed out of the ring.

Ciampa & Thatcher defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans when they faced off on NXT last month. Two weeks later, interference by The Grizzled Young Veterans led to Ciampa & Thatcher losing a match against Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde.

Next Tuesday’s NXT will be the post-TakeOver: In Your House edition of the show. TakeOver: In Your House is taking place this Sunday.

Ciampa & Thatcher vs. Grizzled Young Veterans added to WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new match has been added to the lineup for this week’s NXT.

WWE has announced that Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher will face The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) on NXT this Tuesday night. Both teams have stated that they want to challenge MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) for the NXT Tag Team titles.

On NXT last week, The Grizzled Young Veterans cut a promo calling themselves the leaders that the NXT tag team division needs. Gibson said they’re soon to be recognized as the next NXT Tag Team Champions. Ciampa & Thatcher then interrupted The Grizzled Young Veterans. Ciampa & Thatcher also wanted to challenge MSK for the NXT Tag Team titles. The segment ended with Ciampa & Thatcher attacking Gibson & Drake.

The Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Ciampa & Thatcher when they faced off in the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinals earlier this year. MSK defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans in the finals of the tournament.

Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch had to relinquish the NXT Tag Team titles this March due to Burch suffering a separated shoulder. MSK then defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month to win the titles.

Legado del Fantasma  (Santos Escobar, Mendoza & Wilde) defeated Kushida & MSK in the main event of last week’s NXT. Mendoza pinned MSK’s Carter to get the win.

Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s episode:

  • Finn Balor returns for the first time since losing the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
  • Street fight: NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
  • Falls count anywhere match: Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
  • Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans

WALTER vs. Ciampa UK title match added to NXT TakeOver

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The NXT United Kingdom Championship will officially be on the line at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.

WWE has announced that WALTER will defend his NXT United Kingdom Championship against Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one. The match was made official after a challenge that was issued by Ciampa on NXT tonight.

WALTER and Ciampa’s feud began when Ciampa mentioned WALTER on NXT two weeks ago. After Imperium invited Timothy Thatcher to join them and said that he could bring Ciampa along too, Ciampa told Thatcher that he’s not interested in joining Imperium. But Ciampa said he was interested in facing Imperium’s general. Ciampa said WALTER was sitting safely across the pond holding onto the NXT United Kingdom Championship while the rest of Imperium did his dirty work.

On last week’s NXT, WALTER returned to the show for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. After Ciampa defeated Marcel Barthel, WALTER confronted Ciampa and then laid him out after Ciampa was attacked by Barthel and Fabian Aichner.

WALTER quickly defeated Drake Maverick by referee stoppage on NXT tonight. Ciampa then came to the ring and addressed WALTER. Ciampa said he misspoke when he said WALTER intrigues him. Ciampa said what actually intrigues him is WALTER’s NXT United Kingdom Championship. Ciampa challenged WALTER to a title match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, but WALTER initially dismissed him.

Ciampa then slapped WALTER as he was leaving the ring. Ciampa was held down by Barthel and Aichner but kept fighting back. The segment ended with WALTER chopping Ciampa and accepting his challenge for TakeOver.

Thatcher hasn’t appeared on NXT either of the past two weeks.

WALTER has been NXT United Kingdom Champion since April 2019. He also has a title defense against Rampage Brown that’s been announced for NXT UK: Prelude. That show will air the day after TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one.

TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one is airing live on the USA Network on Wednesday, April 7. On Thursday, April 8, night two will be live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else. Here are the updated cards for the event:

TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one —

  • NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Raquel Gonzalez
  • NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Tommaso Ciampa
  • Triple threat match for the vacant NXT Tag Team titles: MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs, The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
  • Gauntlet Eliminator match to determine NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano’s challenger for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two (a 12-man battle royal on next week’s NXT will determine the six participants for the Gauntlet Eliminator match)

TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two —

  • NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Karrion Kross
  • Unsanctioned match: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
  • Ladder match to determine undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar
  • NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against winner of Gauntlet Eliminator match from night one

WALTER appears on WWE NXT, lays out Tommaso Ciampa

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER made an appearance on NXT tonight and looks to be headed toward a match against Tommaso Ciampa.

After his Imperium stablemate Marcel Barthel lost to Ciampa on NXT tonight, WALTER came down to the ring to confront Ciampa. Ciampa was then attacked by Imperium’s Barthel and Fabian Aichner. He tried to fight them off, but WALTER then dropped Ciampa with a chop. WALTER laid out Ciampa with a powerbomb, then Imperium posed over Ciampa.

Ciampa had mentioned WALTER while speaking with Timothy Thatcher on NXT last week. Ciampa said he wasn’t interested in Imperium’s offer for Ciampa and Thatcher to join the group, but he was interested in facing Imperium’s general. Ciampa said WALTER was sitting safely across the pond holding onto the NXT United Kingdom Championship while the rest of Imperium did his dirty work.

A promo had aired last week where Barthel spoke about Thatcher’s history with the Imperium members. Aichner said that if Thatcher has to ask Ciampa for permission to join them, he could bring Ciampa along too. Aichner said that, out of respect for Thatcher, they’d make it work. Aichner said Imperium is taking over — no matter what.

Ciampa & Thatcher vs. Barthel & Aichner had originally been announced for tonight’s NXT, but Thatcher didn’t appear on the show. Ciampa said he assumed Imperium didn’t like Thatcher’s answer to their offer and took matters into their own hands.

Ciampa indicated on tonight’s NXT that he had attacked Imperium’s Alexander Wolfe before facing Barthel.

WALTER has been NXT United Kingdom Champion since defeating Pete Dunne for the title at NXT TakeOver: New York in April 2019. Tonight was WALTER’s first appearance on NXT US since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

An appearance by WALTER is set for this Thursday’s NXT UK episode. It was said that WALTER has requested the platform to make a statement on the show.

Lorcan & Burch vs. Ciampa & Thatcher set for WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though their scheduled title defense is off, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will still be in action on this week’s episode of NXT.

WWE has announced that NXT Tag Team Champions Lorcan & Burch will face Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher in a non-title match on NXT this Wednesday. Lorcan & Burch were originally set to defend their titles against men’s Dusty Classic winners MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) on the episode, but that is unable to take place due to Lee suffering a broken hand.

WWE posted a video on Tuesday night where Lorcan & Burch confronted MSK as they were being interviewed about Lee’s injury. Ciampa then approached Lorcan & Burch and challenged them to a match against him and Thatcher. Lorcan & Burch said they’ll face anyone, but only a select few can get an NXT Tag Team title shot. Ciampa said it would be non-title because giving him and Thatcher a title match would require Lorcan & Burch to have a set of bollocks.

After Thatcher defeated Ciampa in a Fight Pit match, the former rivals became partners as they teamed together in this year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Ciampa & Thatcher made it to the semifinals of the tournament before losing to The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake).

MSK defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans in the men’s Dusty Classic finals at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day last month, but Lee suffered a broken hand during the match. There was a backstage segment where The Grizzled Young Veterans attacked MSK on NXT last week, with it being claimed that Lee suffered his broken hand when The Grizzled Young Veterans used steel chairs in the attack.

This week’s NXT will also feature Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defending their titles against women’s Dusty Classic winners Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez.

Quarterfinals set for WWE NXT men’s Dusty Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The quarterfinals of the 2021 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic are now fully set.

In the tournament’s final opening round match, Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher defeated Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari on Friday’s episode of 205 Live. It was originally announced that Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy would be Nese & Daivari’s first round opponents, but there was an angle on this week’s NXT where Adonis & Troy were taken out of the tournament. Karrion Kross defeated Adonis on NXT and then put Troy in the Kross Jacket.

Ciampa & Thatcher teaming together in the Dusty Classic was set up after they showed mutual respect for each other following their Fight Pit match on this week’s NXT. Thatcher defeated Ciampa in the Fight Pit match.

Ciampa & Thatcher will face Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong in the next round of the tournament.

The men’s Dusty Classic quarterfinals will kick off with Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain taking place on NXT this coming Wednesday. Here’s the full list of quarterfinal matchups for the tournament:

Left side of the bracket —

  • Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher
  • Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans

Right side of the bracket —

  • MSK vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain
  • Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde

In addition to receiving the Dusty Cup, the team that wins the men’s Dusty Classic will get a shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles.

Two Dusty Classic matches announced for WWE 205 Live

Posted on by Joseph Currier

This week’s 205 Live will feature first round action in both the men’s and women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classics.

The first round of the men’s Dusty Classic will conclude with Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher facing Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari on Friday’s 205 Live episode. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell will also face Gigi Dolin (Priscilla Kelly) & Cora Jade (Elayna Black) in a women’s Dusty Classic first round match on the show.

Ciampa & Thatcher teaming together in the men’s Dusty Classic was set up after Thatcher defeated Ciampa in their Fight Pit match in the main event of this week’s NXT. Ciampa & Thatcher are replacing Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy in the tournament. There was an angle where Adonis & Troy were taken out of the Dusty Classic after Adonis lost to Karrion Kross on NXT. Kross also put Troy in the Kross Jacket after the match.

The Ciampa & Thatcher vs Nese & Daivari match will decide who advances to face Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong in the men’s Dusty Classic quarterfinals. 

Cole & Strong, Kushida & Leon Ruff, and The Grizzled Young Veterans have advanced to the quarterfinals from the left side of the men’s Dusty Classic bracket. MSK, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado, and Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde have advanced from the right side of the bracket.

Along with Zoey Stark (Lacey Ryan), Dolin & Jade are both new WWE signees. Stark is teaming with Marina Shafir against Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in the first round of the women’s Dusty Classic. The team that wins that match will advance to face either LeRae & Hartwell or Dolin & Jade in the semifinals of the tournament.

The women’s Dusty Classic kicked off with Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter upsetting Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez on this week’s NXT. Catanzaro & Carter will face either Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez or Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in the semifinals.

Ciampa & Thatcher to team together in WWE NXT Dusty Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher are going from rivals to teammates for the 2021 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

WWE has announced that Ciampa & Thatcher will fill the open spot in the Dusty Classic that was created by Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy being taken out of the tournament. Ciampa & Thatcher will face Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari in the first round of the Dusty Classic.

In the main event of last night’s NXT, Thatcher defeated Ciampa in a Fight Pit match. The finish of the match was Thatcher submitting Ciampa with a stretch muffler while Ciampa’s other leg was between the cage and ring post.

WWE uploaded two videos after last night’s NXT setting up that Ciampa & Thatcher would be teaming together in the Dusty Classic. As he was being examined after the Fight Pit match, Ciampa learned that Adonis & Troy are out of the Dusty Classic after Karrion Kross defeated Adonis on NXT last night. Kross also put Troy in the Kross Jacket after the match.

Ciampa then went to Thatcher and asked why Thatcher didn’t break his leg when he had the chance to in the Fight Pit. Thatcher responded by saying that he respects Ciampa. Ciampa then told Thatcher he’s heard there’s an open spot in the Dusty Classic.

NXT general manager William Regal posted a tweet today confirming that Ciampa & Thatcher will be teaming together in the tournament: “Well, @NXTCiampa is partially correct. There WAS an opening for the #DustyClassic, but it seems you two have just filled that vacancy… good luck gentlemen. #WWENXT”

Nese & Daivari vs. Adonis & Troy had been set to take place on this Friday’s episode of 205 Live.

Nese & Daivari vs. Ciampa & Thatcher is the last remaining first round match in the men’s Dusty Classic. The winning team will face Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong in the quarterfinals.

Cole & Strong, Kushida & Leon Ruff, and The Grizzled Young Veterans have advanced to the quarterfinals from the left side of the Dusty Classic bracket. MSK, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado, and Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde have advanced from the right side of the bracket. Kushida & Ruff vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK vs. Maverick & Dain will take place on NXT next Wednesday.

The team that wins the men’s Dusty Classic will get the Dusty Cup and a shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles.