Timothy Thatcher’s Fight Pit record improved to 2-0 last night.
In the second-ever Fight Pit match, Thatcher defeated Tommaso Ciampa in the main event of last night’s NXT. Thatcher also defeated Matt Riddle in the first Fight Pit match in May 2020.
The Fight Pit match can only be won by knockout or submission. Thatcher submitted Ciampa with a stretch muffler while Ciampa’s other leg was between the cage and the ring post.
In a post-NXT video, Ciampa learned that Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy are out of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. 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 that there’s an opening in the Dusty Classic.
The first round of the men’s Dusty Classic continued with Kushida & Leon Ruff defeating NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory and Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado defeating Imperium last night. The women’s Dusty Classic also kicked off with Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter upsetting Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez.
The second-ever Fight Pit match headlines tonight’s episode of NXT.
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher will face off inside the NXT Fight Pit tonight. The match was originally supposed to happen at NXT New Year’s Evil two weeks ago, but it was postponed due to Thatcher suffering a minor injury.
Thatcher also took part in the first Fight Pit match, defeating Matt Riddle in May of last year.
The inaugural women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic kicks off tonight with Mercedes Martinez & Toni Storm facing Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter in a first round match. The full bracket for the women’s Dusty Classic was revealed earlier today. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, Gigi Dolin (Priscilla Kelly) & Cora Jade (Elayna Black), Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon, Marina Shafir & Zoey Stark (Lacey Ryan), Aliyah & Jessi Kamea, and Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez will also take part in the tournament.
Tonight’s show will also feature two more first round matches in the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Kushida & Leon Ruff will take on NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory. Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner will face Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Beth Phoenix was back ringside at the announce desk alongside Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett.
The is opening with a first round match in the Dusty Classic
Leon Ruff & Kushida defeated Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory to advance in the Dusty Classic
Kushida pinned Gargano in a really good match. Not only do Kushida & Ruff advance to round two of the tournament, but Kushida also scored a clean pinfall on the NXT North American Champion.
After the bout got going, The Way began to work over Kushida. They got heat on him until he fell backwards into his corner, allowing Ruff to make a hot tag. Ruff into the ring with a springbaord missile dropkick and a Tito Santana flying forearm.
Ruff was cleaning house on The Way when Theory caught him in a Torture Rack. He the spun Ruff around and dropped him into a sit-out powerbomb. Ruff kicked out for a near fall as the show went to a picture-in-picture commercial break. Now it was Ruff’s turn to be the babyface in peril.
The Way with some nifty double-team moves on Ruff. He still was able to fake out Theory, and Ruff dropped him with a springboard cutter. That allowed for another hot tag.
Much like Ruff on the earlier hot tag, Kushida came into the ring off the top rope. He hit Gargano with a flying ax handle. Theory tried to make a save, but instead ate a handspring back elbow from Kushida. Gargano was knocked off the apron, and Kushida a moment later caught him with a flying tornando DDT off the apron.
Back in the ring, Kushida went for his armbar. Gargano countered him. Kushida with a counter of his own was able to apply a cross-armbreaker. Theory was able to make a save, breaking the hold.
Theory with a ushigoroshi and a superkick on Kushida, but he still kicked out. Ruff with a save by flying in out of nowhere to counter a double-team. He ran down the top rope, and Ruff dived onto floor. Meanwhile, Kushida is targeting Gargano’s arm.
Kushida in the closing moments dropped Gargano with a punch, and then he hooked him for a suplex. Kushida trapped an arm in a hammerlock postion as he executed a snap suplex. Kushida then bridged up to score a pinfall.
Pete Dunne in a vignette cut a promo on NXT Champion Finn Balor.
Malcolm Bivens was backstage near the office of William Regal. He was there to lobby for Tyler Rust. McKenzie Mitchell was asking Bivens a question when Rust came out of Regal’s office. Rust said he had a match later on with Bronson Reed. Bivens was clearly upset by this, but he tried to make the best of it.
Kross won a quick squash match. Kross twice with a Saito suplex, and then he smacked Adonis in the back of the neck with a forearm smash. Kross then covered Adonis for a pinfall.
Desmond Troy was in the ring checking on Adonis, so Kross choked him out with a Straight Jacket.
A vignette featured MSK. Formerly known as The Rascalz, Nick Carter and Wes Lee are now in NXT. This looked like a fresh act that is unlike any other team in NXT.
Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez cut a promo threatening Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter ahead of their match later on.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado) to advance in the Dusty Classic
Dorado pinned Barthel for Lucha House Party to advance into the second round. Fun match.
No entrance for Lucha House Party, but they still won the match.
Mat wrestling at the start, until the lucahdores went to the air. Metalik did a swan dive off the shoulders of Dorado. Imperium fought back with high impact moves. Lucha House Party fired up again, but Dorado was caught on a dive. Aichner then smashed him into the ring apron, and Dorado took a scoop slam on the floor before a commercial break.
After the break, Dorado created separation with a tornado DDT. That led to a hot tag where Metalik flew into the ring with a flying crossbody. He then walked down the top rope, and Metalik springboarded into a hurricanrana. A double sprinboard into a quebrada netted Metalik a close two count.
Metalik was soon cut off, and Imperium with a spike DDT on him. Dorado jumped in to make a save. Lucha House Party with a combo made up of a missile dropkick/Code Red for a near fall. Another save, but by the heels this time.
Lucha House Party dropped with stereo power moves. Lucha House Party still came back with more flying moves. That led into Metalik doing an Asai moonsault off the top rope to the floor. Dorado was looking at the carnage on the floor when he was hit from behind by Barthel. Roll-up for a two count. Dorado answered back with a superkick. He followed with a shooting star press, and Dorado covered Barthel for a pinfall.
Lucha House Party in the next round meets El Legado del Fantasma.
Alexander Wolfe appeared after the match, which got the attention of Imperium. No follow-up though. The announcers threw to a weigh-in with Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. They had a pull-apart scrum.
Beth Phoenix in a speech introducing the Women’s Dusty Classic.
Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro defeated Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez to advance in the Women’s Dusty Classic
Catanzaro fought from underneath to pin Storm. The babyfaces also had help from the returning NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. She attacked Martinez at ringside.
Heat on Catanzaro before a commercial break. Kaycen Carter after the break with a hot tag. Everybody jumps in the fray. The smoke cleared, and Storm punished Carter with a half crab.
Io Shirai ran in and she threw Martinez over the announce table. Storm was distracted, and she was outnumbered with Martinez out selling. Catanzaro with a multiple rotation dive, and she crashed down on top of Carter. Catanzaro then covered Storm for the pinfall.
Catanzaro & Carter were pumped up in a post-match interview backstage after the match.
William Regal and Finn Balor had a meeting that seemed straight out of The Sopranos. Balor needs a tag team partner. Regal said to keep your enemies close.
Reed pinned Rust after the Tsunami. Rust got in some offense, but Reed otherwise dominated the match.
Finn Balor was backstage saying some people around here owe him a favor. This is like an episode of The Sopranos.
After a commercial break, Balor was seen going into the Undisputed Era locker room. He confronted Kyle O’Reilly and asked if was in. O’Reilly said he was in. It’s a deal. Balor and O’Reilly will team next week against Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar was cutting a promo about being the champ, and he began to explain what a true champion is. He put himself over all the other champs in NXT. Escobar kept putting himself over until changing the subject to Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza. That brought out Lucha House Party for a Gordon Solie Pier Sixer.
They were brawling when Curt Stallion ran in to helo even the odds for Lucha House Party. This might have something to do with 205 Live. Yes, that show still exists. I know, it’s hard for me to believe too. I hear it’s good so somebody somewhere watches it.
Stallion challenges Escobar for the Cruiserweight title next week on NXT.
Also announced for next week is Dusty Classic quarterfinal matches. Those bouts include Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ruff & Kushida. Also, MSK meets Drake Maverick & Killian Dain in another tournament match. Besides tourney matches, the other tag match for next week is Balor & O’Reilly vs. Burch & Lorcan.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Tommaso Ciampa in the Fight Pit
Thatcher repeated as winner of a Fight Pit match. He submitted Ciampa in a match that was much different than the first Fight Pit.
The match started with them on the platform above the Fight Pit. This was basically a scaffold match for the first few minutes. They both dropped down into the pit during a picture-in-picture commercial break.
They took turns working over each other’s shoulder. Ciampa whipped Thatcher into the side of the cage. Thatcher answered back with suplex, and he went back to targeting an arm. He snapped Ciampa’s fingers.
Ciampa fought back, but Thatcher applied a rear naked choke. Thatcher with a low blow to break the hold. The referees was down on all fours as Ciampa dragged Thatcher over him for a draping DDT.
They traded strikes in the closing minutes. Ciampa rammed Thatcher’s head into the cage, and then Ciampa executed the Fairytale Ending. Ciampa applied a sleeper, but Thatcher countered by ramming Ciampa’s head into the cage.
They were figting in a corner when Ciampa’s leg became trapped in the cage. With Ciampa hanging upside down, Thatcher applied a modified stretch muffler with Ciampa’s leg still trapped in the ropes. Ciampa tapped out.
WWE has set a new date for Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher’s Fight Pit match.
It was announced tonight that Ciampa and Thatcher will face off in a Fight Pit match on NXT next Wednesday. The match was originally supposed to take place at NXT New Year’s Evil last week, but it was postponed due to Thatcher suffering a minor injury.
On tonight’s NXT, it was announced that Thatcher has been cleared to compete and the Fight Pit match will take place next week. Wade Barrett conducted an interview with Ciampa and Thatcher on tonight’s show.
This will be the second-ever Fight Pit match in NXT history. Thatcher was also involved in the first Fight Pit match, defeating Matt Riddle in May 2020.
Next week’s NXT will also feature first round matches in both the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:
Fight Pit match: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher
Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first round match: Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez vs. Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter
Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first round match: Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory
Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first round match: Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) vs. Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado
Storm & Martinez vs. Catanzaro & Carter will be the first match in the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
The men’s Dusty Classic kicked off tonight with Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong defeating Breezango, the debuting MSK (formerly known as The Rascalz’s Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) defeating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas, and The Grizzled Young Veterans defeating Ever-Rise.
One of the matches originally scheduled for tonight’s NXT New Year’s Evil event has been postponed.
Ahead of tonight’s show, WWE announced that Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher’s Fight Pit match will no longer be taking place at New Year’s Evil. It was noted that Thatcher suffered a minor injury and isn’t able to compete tonight.
NXT general manager William Regal said Thatcher should be back to action soon and the Fight Pit match will happen as soon as he heals.
WWE had stopped promoting the Fight Pit match for tonight prior to the postponement being officially announced.
When it takes place, Ciampa vs. Thatcher will be the second-ever Fight Pit match in NXT history. The first Fight Pit match took place in May 2020 and featured Thatcher defeating Matt Riddle. Kurt Angle was the special guest referee for that match.
New Year’s Evil is airing on the USA Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time tonight. The episode will be “presented with fewer interruptions and more action.” Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Kyle O’Reilly
Karrion Kross vs. Damian Priest
Last Woman Standing match: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar defends against Gran Metalik
The second-ever NXT Fight Pit match will take place at New Year’s Evil.
On tonight’s episode of NXT, WWE announced that Tommaso Ciampa will face Timothy Thatcher in a Fight Pit match at New Year’s Evil. Thatcher was also involved in the first Fight Pit match, defeating Matt Riddle this May. Kurt Angle was the special guest referee for Thatcher vs. Riddle.
Ciampa defeated Thatcher in their match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames earlier this month. Thatcher cut a promo on tonight’s show and said he did the courtesy of asking Ciampa for another fight, but Ciampa walked away from him and showed him no respect. Thatcher said he was going to take liberties against Leon Ruff later in the episode. Thatcher said that if Ciampa is the man he says he is, he’ll come and fight Thatcher.
Ruff got a surprise win by pinning Thatcher with a cradle as Thatcher was going for a submission. Thatcher beat down Ruff after the match, but Ciampa ran out to make the save. Ciampa laid out Thatcher with the Willow’s Bell DDT and then told Thatcher that — if he wants a fight — Ciampa will see him in the Fight Pit.
New Year’s Evil is the first NXT episode of 2021. It’s taking place on Wednesday, January 6.
Here’s the updated New Year’s Evil lineup:
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Kyle O’Reilly
Karrion Kross vs. Damian Priest
Last Woman Standing match: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez
Fight Pit match: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher
A few announcements have been made for tonight’s post-TakeOver WarGames episode of NXT.
An appearance by NXT Champion Finn Balor will kick off tonight’s show. Balor hasn’t wrestled since suffering a broken jaw during his match against Kyle O’Reilly at TakeOver 31 this October. This will be Balor’s second in-person appearance since that event.
Two matches have also been announced for tonight. Tommaso Ciampa will face Cameron Grimes and Ember Moon will take on Raquel Gonzalez. Moon vs. Gonzalez will be tonight’s main event.
Ciampa and Grimes were both in action in singles matches at TakeOver: WarGames this past Sunday. Ciampa defeated Timothy Thatcher, while Grimes lost a strap match to Dexter Lumis. Gonzalez and Moon were on opposite sides of the women’s WarGames match.
Tonight’s NXT will feature a special look at the “Casualties of WarGames.” In the men’s WarGames match, Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) defeated Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch) when O’Reilly pinned Lorcan. The women’s WarGames match saw Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Gonzalez & Toni Storm) defeat Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Moon, Rhea Ripley & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) when Gonzalez pinned Shirai.
On his post-TakeOver media call, Paul “Triple H” Levesque said LeRae suffered a possible broken arm in WarGames and Fish suffered a laceration on his elbow. Levesque said other injuries at the show looked to be limited to bumps and bruises.
WWE has rounded out the card for NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
It was announced on tonight’s episode of NXT that Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher will take place at TakeOver: WarGames this Sunday. This is the fifth match that’s been confirmed for the event.
Ciampa first confronted Thatcher on NXT two weeks ago, but Thatcher said he had no problem with Ciampa and backed away. The confrontation came after Thatcher defeated August Grey and then attacked him following the match.
Ciampa then brought out a chair and sat at ringside for Thatcher’s match against Kushida last week. Thatcher was distracted by Ciampa, leading to Kushida getting the win by submitting Thatcher with the Hoverboard Lock. Ciampa looked into the camera and said that maybe Thatcher has a problem with him now.
On tonight’s NXT, Thatcher presented a Thatch-as-Thatch-can session in the ring. The subject of the session was dealing with distractions. Ciampa appeared and Thatcher again insisted that he has no problem with Ciampa. Ciampa called Thatcher a disappointment. Thatcher said he wasn’t going to be goaded by Ciampa, but he then took Ciampa down. Ciampa fought back and dropped Thatcher with a punch, but Thatcher’s student started brawling with Ciampa. Thatcher took advantage of that by attacking Ciampa and putting him to sleep.
Thatcher was then interviewed backstage and was asked if he set up Ciampa. Thatcher claimed that he didn’t know his student was going to do that and said he was impressed by his student taking initiative. Thatcher said Ciampa learned about distractions tonight — and Sunday at TakeOver he’ll learn about respect.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: WarGames:
WarGames match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) vs. Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch)
WarGames match: Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm)
NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff defends his title against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match
Tommaso Ciampa, Kushida, and Velveteen Dream are set to face off on NXT this week.
WWE has announced that a triple threat match between Ciampa, Kushida, and Dream will take place on NXT this Wednesday night. This is the second match that’s been announced for the episode. Breezango will also defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish on the show.
Kushida defeated Dream at NXT TakeOver 31 earlier this month and showed off his new vicious side by attacking Dream both before and after the match. WWE put out a storyline injury update after the match saying that Dream suffered a fractured wrist but was “medically cleared as tolerated.”
On the post-TakeOver 31 edition of NXT, a singles match between Kushida and Ciampa was interrupted by Dream. Ciampa won by disqualification when Dream went to hit Kushida but accidentally struck Ciampa instead.
A video aired on NXT last week where Ciampa rewatched Dream’s interference in his match against Kushida. Ciampa issued a warning to Dream, declaring that “he’s dead.”
WWE has revealed the opening segment and first match for this week’s TakeOver 31 fallout edition of NXT.
After making her return to the brand at TakeOver 31, Ember Moon will kick off this Wednesday’s NXT. WWE has also announced that Kushida vs. Tommaso Ciampa will take place on the episode. The announcement of the match noted that it’s scheduled as the first bout on NXT TV this week.
Moon returned to NXT after Io Shirai retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Candice LeRae at Sunday’s TakeOver event. Moon was revealed to be the former champion who WWE had been hyping was returning to NXT to take what’s theirs.
Following two weeks of vignettes airing on NXT TV, another began to play after Shirai’s title defense at TakeOver. Moon rode to the Performance Center on a motorcycle, entered the building, and stood on the stage. Moon then took her helmet off, revealing that the former champion was her. She smiled at Shirai but didn’t say anything.
Moon wasn’t the only returning wrestler to confront Shirai at TakeOver. After the title match but before Moon’s appearance, former NXT UK Women’s Champion Toni Storm appeared on the video screen. Storm announced that she’s coming to NXT and said she’ll be seeing Shirai around.
Kushida defeated Velveteen Dream at TakeOver 31. He showed off his more vicious demeanor against Dream, including attacking Dream after the match was over. Ciampa wasn’t in action at TakeOver but defeated Jake Atlas on NXT two weeks ago.
Tommaso Ciampa is set for action on next week’s episode of NXT.
WWE announced tonight that Ciampa vs. Jake Atlas will take place on NXT next Wednesday. The match was set up when Atlas confronted Ciampa on tonight’s show.
Three weeks ago, Ciampa returned to NXT television and quickly defeated Atlas. He continued to destroy Atlas after the match, including giving Atlas a DDT on the floor after he had been put on a stretcher. Ciampa had been off TV since losing to Karrion Kross at TakeOver: In Your House this June.
Ciampa squashed Desmond Troy in their match on tonight’s NXT. Ciampa went to get a steel chair after, but the returning Atlas made his way out to the stage and cut a promo on Ciampa. Atlas said he could have jumped Ciampa from behind, but he’s not a coward. Atlas challenged Ciampa to a match for next week and said he’ll show Ciampa how dangerous he can be. Ciampa responded by smirking at Atlas.
Later on tonight’s show, Ciampa ambushed Atlas while he was being interviewed in the parking lot. Ciampa attacked Atlas until being stopped by officials and Kyle O’Reilly. O’Reilly told Ciampa to save it for next week and said this wasn’t the time or place. Ciampa said he’ll see Atlas next week — and he’ll be seeing O’Reilly too.
NXT Champion Finn Balor and NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai’s challengers for TakeOver will be determined on next Wednesday’s NXT. A gauntlet eliminator match will decide Balor’s challenger, while a number one contender’s battle royal will decide Shirai’s challenger. TakeOver is taking place on Sunday, October 4.
Last night’s four-way 60-minute Iron Man match to crown a new NXT Champion ended in a two-way tie.
Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor, and Adam Cole faced off in the Iron Man match and all had won one fall heading into the final minute. Ciampa hit an Air Raid Crash from the middle rope on Gargano, but Balor then flew in with a Coup de Grace to pin Ciampa and take the lead with less than 20 seconds left.
Balor appeared to have the match won, but Cole hit him with a Last Shot and pinned him just before time expired.
William Regal then came to the ring and declared that Balor and Cole will face off in a one-fall-to-a-finish singles match next week. The winner will become the new NXT Champion.
Next week’s NXT is airing on Tuesday again due to the NHL playoffs. The episode is being called Super Tuesday part two and will also feature a steel cage match between Rhea Ripley and Mercedes Martinez.
The NXT Championship will be up for grabs in a four-way 60-minute Iron Man match on tonight’s special Tuesday edition of NXT.
Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor, and Adam Cole will face off in the Iron Man match for the vacant NXT Championship. The match was announced by William Regal last week after Karrion Kross had to vacate the title due to injury. Just days earlier, Kross defeated Keith Lee in the main event of TakeOver XXX to win the NXT Championship but suffered a separated shoulder in the process.
Regal said that Gargano, Ciampa, Balor, and Cole were chosen because they’re all former NXT Champions. Ciampa returned to NXT television last week and destroyed Jake Atlas.
Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) will face off with Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango in a six-man street fight tonight. Timothy Thatcher vs. Bronson Reed is also set for the show.
NXT will also air on Tuesday next week due to the NHL playoffs.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
A memorial graphic honoring “Bullet” Bob Armstrong opened the show.
Wade Barrett once again joined Vic Joseph in Full Sail at the broadcast booth for commentary. Beth Phoenix remotely also provided commenatry.
“Super Tuesday” then began with a six-man street fight.
Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) & Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated El Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Scott pinned Escobar to win the match for his team. At one point the babyfaces did dives off of a forklift. Some of this was good, but I have already watched plenty of hardcore matches like this in the ’90s. At least this match had a fun forklift spot. The most extreme spots happend during the commercial break. Go figure.
The rudo trio wore street clothes, while the babyfaces wore their wrestling gear. Swerve did wear a t-shirt, though.
The rudos attacked before the bell, and a huge brawl erupted around ringside. Weapons like chairs, trash cans, and tables came into play. Rudos dominated in the beginning, but the babyface trio soon made a comeback.
Eventually the fighting entered into the ring. They were all having a serious brawl until the rudos were sprayed with a fire extinguisher. That is always a silly spot, which was made even more silly by the babyfaces dancing before the show cut its first commercial break. No picture-in-picture.
Some crazy spots happened during the break that were replayed when the show returned. The rudo trio did a triple Van Terminator with Breeze stuffed into a trash can. Fandango also went through a table.
Less brawling and more high spots down the stretch. Escobar did his signature Fantasma tope.
Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner of Imperium suddenly ran down to attack Breeze & Fandango. Imperium lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to Breezango in a match last week. El Legado del Fantasma joined Imperium in attacking Breeze.
Out of nowhere a forklift arrives at ringside. Fandango and Scott stood on a wooden pallet riding on the forks, and they were lifted high above the ring. Both did a flip dive into the ring off the forklift onto a pile of bodies. Breezango then did dives of their own.
Scott with a modified Michinoku Driver (similar to Escobar’s Phantom Driver) on Escobar to score the pinfall.
LeRae pinned Catanzaro in a short, but fairly good, match. LeRae won with a leglock/curb stomp combo. LeRae cut a promo after the match.
Catanzaro got to shine at the outset. LeRae cut her off with a neckbreaker. Cantanzaro rolled outside the ring, and Carter came to her aid. The announcers on commentary debated the benefit of having a friend at ringside. My Spidey senses detect a possible heel turn among those friends down the line.
They traded near falls before LeRae began to work over Catanzaro. Soon thereafter Catanzaro with a comeback got another near fall. LeRae cut her off to tie up Catanzaro and give her a curb stomp (not Seth’s move). LeRae then covered Catanzaro for the pinfall.
LeRae in her post-match promo talked about Tegan Nox. She heeled on the crowd for booing her, claiming she was being sincere. LeRae invited Nox to dinner at her house so they can settle their differences.
Remember when Nox was in that skit delivering pizzas? Maybe she can bring a pizza as a gift. As a guest never arrived empty handed. Be courteous. Just some advice.
Rhea Ripley in a fiery promo challenged Mercedes Martinez to a cage match.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Bronson Reed
Thatcher submitted Reed with the Fujiwara armbar after interference from Austin Theory. This was pretty dang good until the run-in. That was already done earlier on the show. Very unoriginal part of an otherwise good match.
Reed was a monster, but Thatcher targeted an arm. Reed fought back to drop Thatcher with a stiff-looking forearm. Moments later Reed did a dive through the ropes for a tope to the outside.
Theory ran down for a sneak attack on Reed. Theory jumped Reed, and then he rolled him back in the ring. Thatcher barred the arm, and Reed tapped out to the Fujiwara armbar.
Mercedes Martinez accepted Ripley’s challenge, so a cage match between the two is official for next Tuesday on NXT.
Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor vs. Tommaso Ciamp in an iron man match for the vacant NXT Championship ended in a tie
Balor and Cole tie with two falls each
Great match with an infuriating finish. After a whole hour the matched ends with a tie. No sudden death like WrestleMania XII. Instead this builds to a singles match next week for the title.
Cole against Balor to decide the new NXT Champion in a singles match, or at least that is the idea. They already baited and switched on a new champion, so maybe we get a winner next week. I won’t guarantee anything. I hope that it requires less notes than this long match, but I wrote a lot of notes so here goes for what it’s worth.
Did I mention there was a tie? A freaking TIE! After an hour of build up, we get a tie. FFS. SMH.
Ciampa cleaned house early on. He sent Balor crashing into the guardrail, knocking the barricade down. Ciampa kept going around the ring kicking butt. Balor cut him off, and those two soon sqaured off in the ring.
Cole threw Ciampa outside the ring, and Cole went to jump Balor. Instead, Balor went to work on Cole. Gargano soon rushed into the ring to cut off Balor with a sneak attack. Gargano went on to target Cole’s arm.
Cole made a comeback as he fired up on Gargano. Cole then set his sights on Balor. Soon Balor was making a comeback as he ran wild on everyone.
Lots of neckbreakers in this match, and also variations of neckbreakers. Fifteen minutes into the match and no falls scored by anyone, but they had some near falls.
A parade of high spots led to quadruple down. That transitioned into a Tower of Doom superplex spot with Cole, Ciampa and Balor. Gargano sneaked up behind Ciampa to crotch him on the ringpost.
Balor countered a tilt-a-whirl to give Gargano the 1916 for a near fall. Balor went for his Coup de Grace, but Gargano rolled out of the way. Ciampa then caught Balor to deliver an Air Raid Crash for a two count.
The show cut a picture-in-picture commercial break as the action continued in the ring. Cole pulled down a knee pad and set up for The Last Shot on Ciampa. He instead ate a superkick from Gargano, and then was caught in the Gargano Escape. Ciampa at the same time then caught Balor in an armbar submission hold.
Cole and Balor squared off when the show returned from break. Cole offered a too sweet, and Balor gave him a too sweet in return. Cole tried to talk Balor into them each fighting someone else. Balor agreed at first, but he instead threw Cole out of the ring. Cole landed outside on Gargano. Balor followed with a tope con giro on both of them.
Balor ran around the ring to hit Ciampa with a shotgun dropkick that sent Ciampa crashing into the timekeeper’s table. Balor also dropkicked Ciampa on the floor. He then leapt off the top rope with the Coup de Grace on Cole, and Balor covered Cole to score a pinfall.
Balor was the first to score a fall, and he took the lead on the scoreboard at about 25 minutes into the match.
Balor kept cleaning house as the show cut to another picture-in-picture commercial break. Ciampa cut off Balor during the break. Cole went for a Panama Sunrise, but Ciampa countered to deliver Project Ciampa. Balor broke up the pin. Project Ciampa on Gargano, and Balor again broke up the pin. Now it was Balor’s turn as he took Project Ciampa, but Balor kicked out on a pinning attempt. This all took place in inset box during a commercial break, and it was arguably the best sequences in the match. Go figure.
When the show returned from break, Ciampa was attempted to catapult Cole like he did to Jake Atlas in an angle last week. Balor flew through the ropes with a wrecking ball to save Cole. Ciampa executed the Willow’s Bell draping DDT on Balor, and then gave Balor the Fairy Tale Ending. Gargano rushed into the ring to throw Ciampa out of the ring, and Gargano stole a pinfall on Gargano.
Gargano and Balor were then tied at one fall apiece with less than 30 minutes remaining in the match.
Cole with a Last Shot on Ciampa, but he kicked out. Ciampa answred back seconds later with a Western Lariat. Cole went on to superkick Ciampa and everyone else. Cole with a Panama Sunrise on Gargano to score a pinfall.
Cole, Gargano, and Balor each have scored one fall apiece at this point with 25 minutes remaining in the match. Ciampa with a goose egg so far, but not for long.
Ciampa with a double Willow’s Bell on Gargano and Cole at the same time. Ciampa then delivered the Fairy Tale Ending on Cole, and he covered him for a pinfall.
All four were tied at one fall with just over 20 minutes left to go.
The match turned into a slugfest for a few minutes, leading to a stalemate quadruple down. Ciampa got to his feet and started to wreck shop on everyone.
Cole took out Ciampa’s knee with a superkick before another picture-in-picture commercial break. Cole applied the figure-four leglock during the break. Balor broke up the hold, and then Balor applied his own version of the figure-four on Ciampa. Cole back in to break up the hold, and he attempted applyhing his own version again. Ciampa countered with an inside cradle for a two count. Cole kicked out, and he then applied a figure-four.
Gargano broke it up to apply the Gargano Escape on Ciampa before the show returned from break. Balor started throwing chops like Wahoo McDaniel. He went to give Ciampa an Irish whip, and Ciampa buckled selling his knee. Balor targeted the leg.
Balor missed a Coup de Grace, and he walked into stereo superkicks. Less than ten minutes remained in the match as Gargano twice flew through the ropes with a tope. Gargano went for a third tope, but Balor blocked it. They teased a 1916 on the floor, which was a callback to a spot that legitimately injured Gargano in the past. This time it was Balor’s turn as Gargano countered him to deliver a tornado DDT on the floor.
The show cut to its final commercial break as Gargano was trying to drag Balor into the ring. Cole cut him off, and Cole with an ushigoroshi for a two count.
Cole missed a Last Shot as the show returned from break, and he was trapped in a Gargano Escape. The hold was broken up.
Ciampa with the same catapult spot he gave Atlas last week. This time it was Gargano taking it. Ciampa was trying to finish things when Gargano caught him in small package for a two count.
Under two minutes remaining and Ciampa was in control. Under a minute and Ciampa with avalanche Air Raid Crash on Gargano. Upon them landing, Balor flew in with a double stomp on Ciampa to score a pinfall as the clock ticked below 20 seconds. Balor is up by a fall with seconds to go.
With under 10 seconds remaining, Cole hit Balor with a Last Shot to score a pinfall as time expired. Cole and Balor tie with two falls each. After all that we get a tie finish.
William Regal came to the ring to make an impromptu announcement. He held the NXT title while saying next week Cole and Balor meet in a singles match to decide the next champion. Regal said “one fall to a finish”, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
A whole hour just for a freaking tie. Feels like Ralphie in A Christmas Story when he waits so long to finally get his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, only to find out it was just a crummy commercial.
Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. We’ll see ya’ next week.
WWE has revealed how the next NXT Champion will be decided.
After Karrion Kross had to relinquish the NXT Championship due to injury, William Regal announced tonight that a four-way 60-minute Iron Man match on next Tuesday’s episode of NXT will decide the new champion. Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Finn Balor, and Adam Cole will be the four wrestlers vying for the title.
Regal said Gargano, Ciampa, Balor, and Cole were chosen because they’re all former NXT Champions.
Ciampa returned to NXT television tonight and quickly defeated Jake Atlas. He destroyed Atlas after the match, including giving Atlas a DDT on the floor after Atlas had been put on a stretcher. This was Ciampa’s first appearance since the aftermath of his loss to Kross at TakeOver: In Your House this June.
Balor and Cole both got wins at TakeOver XXX, defeating Timothy Thatcher and Pat McAfee in their respective matches. Gargano was part of the ladder match for the North American Championship that was won by Damian Priest.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee in the main event of TakeOver XXX but suffered a separated shoulder during the match.
Due to a conflict with the NHL playoffs, next week’s NXT will air on Tuesday (September 1) instead of Wednesday. It’s being called the Super Tuesday edition of the show.
The post-TakeOver XXX episode of NXT will feature Tommaso Ciampa’s return to television.
A video aired on tonight’s TakeOver special announcing that Ciampa will return to NXT TV this Wednesday.. It will be the first time Ciampa has appeared since the fallout of his match against Karrion Kross at TakeOver: In Your House.
Kross defeated Ciampa at TakeOver: In Your House this June. On the NXT episode after that event, a video aired with Ciampa leaving the building hours after the show. An interviewer asked Ciampa what was going through his mind, if Kross was tougher than Ciampa expected, and if Ciampa was ready for Kross. Ciampa didn’t respond to any of the questions.
Kross defeated Keith Lee to win the NXT Championship in the main event of TakeOver XXX tonight, but Triple H said on his post-show conference call that it looks like Kross suffered a separated shoulder during the match. Triple H said Kross will be getting an MRI and they hope it isn’t anything too bad and is something they can work around or work through.
We have a feature on systemic prejudice in the U.S. as the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Also in this issue:
The Dana White/Jon Jones story, explaning the economic realities, the economic fallacies and where things stand with both men’s arguments. We look at what does and doesn’t make sense economically, why Jones and Conor McGregor and all the top draws have lost value to UFC, plus exactly what both men have said about each other and where things stand.
The economics of what Jones has drawn in the past, and the numbers of recent UFC show.
The unwritten WWE rule about not criticizing other talent in a public forum outside of storyline-related reasons, why it was broken this past week, what was said, as well as looking at the ties beween the ownerships of the different wrestling companies with Donald Trump, statements released, and the key things no talent can say.
New WWE Network updates.
Upcoming guidelines for WWE shows, Paul Levesque talks COVID testing, notes on more WWE cuts, Vince McMahon sends out memo, original Gronkowski plans and why they changed and why now.
Upcoming Backlash and Takeover shows, an update on the XFL bankruptcy, how WWE is involved and more.
Update the Kairi Sane injury, Vince McMahon bio, Drake Maverick angle, people talked about for main roster, WWE hires new man t head the Middle East business, Kurt Angle talks why he’s not returning at this point to WWE, plus we look at the current market value of WWE and poll results, as well as WWE’s own track record.
Coverage of Saturday’s UFC show with the storylines and the business news, plus match-by-match coverage.
A large feature on the retirement of Stu Saks and the westling magazine era, the life and times and the glory years of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the death of the magazine business, how VinceMcMahon tried to kill it early, and the different stages of the magazine era.
A feature on the wrestling career, and life of Danny Havoc from many of the people who knew him best in the industry.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over 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].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering the reopening of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Raw, New Day, 30 year anniversary of one of the most important matches in history and a lot more. You can send questions to the show to [email protected],
New Japan’s press conference on restarting the promotion will be at 11 p.m. Eastern right after Raw on New Japan World. The belief is the announcement will be empty arena shows starting imminently, perhaps by next week and they may announce shows with fans starting some time later.
WrestleZone reported that Dominic DeNucci, 88, who was known to have been rushed to the hospital yesterday, is going through a cardiac catheterization process.
With the special 30 for 30 on Bruce Lee last night, he was No. 7 for most searched term on the Internet yesterday with 200,000. NXT Takeover did not crack the top 20 yesterday. For UFC on Saturday, the final tally was UFC was No. 1, Conor McGregor was No. 3, Sean O’Malley was No. 5, Cody Garbrandt was No. 6, Cody Stamann was No. 8 and Chase Hopper was No. 16. It’s pretty clear the show was a much bigger deal than most had predicted it would be.
Randy Orton and Tommaso Ciampa have gone back-and-forth on Twitter. Considering WWE considers it unprofessional to attack others in the company regarding wrestling unless you are doing a program with them, you have to think about work but that’s a waste of time unless the two do a program. Plus both of Orton’s tweets were on the “slapping the leg” direction which is the same line FTR is doing with their worked shoot Young Bucks promo that they did on the Jim Cornette podcast. Why wrestlers would tell fans to look for thigh slapping is beyond me.
WWE
Johnny Gargano suffered tightness in his hips and lower back after yesterday’s match with Keith Lee according to Paul Levesque.
Tonight is the go-home show for Backlash with The Peep Show with Edge & Christian, the VIP lounge with Bobby Lashley, Asuka vs Charlotte Flair in a rematch, Viking Raiders vs, Street Profits in a Decathlon and Bayley & Sasha Banks appear to set up the three-way with the Iiconics and Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss for Backlash.
Tamina is doing a new character where she went crazy and has been in a mental institution after her loss to Bayley.
UFC
Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana and Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson have been added to a 8/1 show. If Aldana wins, she probably will get a shot at Amanda Nunes. If Holm wins, I have no idea who Nunes faces next.
MISCELLANEOUS
On the TV show “Billions” on Showtime, which Becky Lynch appeared on several weeks back, there was a reference to John Studd on last night’s show with the phrase “They seem ready to stomp him like Big John Studd.” (thanks to Joe Puccio)
A cool story on wrestling in Richmond, VA from Haystacks Calhoun to Dwayne Johnson with your expected Ric Flair and Wahoo McDaniel detours and descriptions of a promotional war in the city that got quite nasty. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
