On the road to WrestleMania weekend, a special edition of WWE NXT takes place tonight.
Carmelo Hayes and Tony D’Angelo are set to face off in a number one contender’s match on tonight’s NXT Roadblock. The winner earns an NXT Championship shot against Ilja Dragunov at Stand & Deliver next month.
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) are in NXT for a WWE Women’s Tag Team title defense against Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley. The winning team will defend their titles against Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark on Raw next Monday.
That isn’t the only Tag Team title match scheduled for tonight. NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin will put their belts on the line against Chase U.
One week after making his return, Shawn Spears will be in action. An Asylum match between Dijak and Joe Gacy has also been announced.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
This supercard edition of NXT opens with an introductory video package, hosted by Lexis King. He is driving a sports car, and he uses a lot of automobile metaphors relating to the show being called “Roadblock”. King, along with video highlights, run down the top matches on the card.
Kicking off the show is an “Asylum” cage match from a soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando. It is basically a weapons-filled cage match, and “asylum” is an apparent reference to whatever Joe Gacy’s character is supposed to be.
Dijak defeated Joe Gacy in an Asylum (cage) match
I still do not understand the Gacy character, but this was still a heckuva match. Lots of weapons and such, so this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Yet, it is not ultra-violent or bloody like some hardcore matches.
Inside the cage are gimmicks that include a chair, table, door, fire extinguisher, kendo stick, straitjacket, and a mystery box of some sort with “DO NOT OPEN” stenciled on the side. The box was a Looney Tunes gag. Dijak opens the lid, and a boxing glove on a spring hits Dijak in the gut. That gag led into a near fall for Gacy, but Dijak kicks out just before the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
Just before the show returns from the break, Gacy craters a trash can with a Nestea Plunge. When the show does return from break, Dijak is climbing the cage. Dijak then does a moonsault off the top of the cage. Big pop, a near fall, and a “holy s***” chants follow.
Dijak puts the straitjacket on Gacy, but Gacy still fights back even with his arms restrained behind his back. The tease a superplex, but it was instead Dijak’s turn to take a Nestea Plunge in a bit of an irony. The heel falls backwards through a table he set up. Gacy follows up with a senton bomb for another near fall.
Gacy escapes the straitjacket, only to be leveled with a lariat. Dijak takes duct tape, and he tapes over Gacy’s head so that he is blind. Dijak uses a kendo stick to assault a seemingly helpless Gacy, but Gacy fights back. Gacy takes the kendo away from Dijak and hit him with it. Dijak tosses Gacy through a door propped up in a corner. I was seen doors used like this on the indies, but not sure I have ever seen it in a WWE ring.
Gacy kicks out of a near fall, and Dijak responds by executing Feast Your Eyes. Dijak then covers Gacy for the deciding pinfall.
In a locker room skit with The Family, Tony D’Angelo asks Luca Crusifino to be his consigliere. Crusifino agrees.
A different skit sets up a match a match for later on between Fallon Henley and Blair Davenport.
NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin defeated Chase U (Duke Hudson & Andre Chase with Thea Hail, Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyz & Riley Osborne) to retain their titles
Breakker pinned Chase, in what was another good match on this show. An angry Thea Hail stormed off after the match for some reason. Later in the show, Hail has a pull-apart screaming match with Kiana James and Izzi Dame.
The champs start out strong, but Chase U has a rally before the match goes through a commercial break. The tide turns during the break. Breakker does a Super Frankensteiner, and Chase takes a big bump for it.
The “Wolf Dogs” work over Chase, but Chase still kicks out for a near fall. Hot tag to Hudson, and he runs wild. The champs bump and feed, until they make a bling tag. Hudson counters before he can be blindsided. Chase & Hudson do a Gory Special/Flatliner combo for a two count on Corbin.
Breakker jumps off the apron with a flying clothesline that sends Hudson tumbling over the announce desk. Meanwhile, Corbin is seemingly in control of Chase in the ring. Not for long, as Chase counters Corbin. High cross by Chase for a two count on Corbin.
For the finish, Corbin gives Chase a Deep Six, and Breakker follows with a spear. Breakker then covers Chase for a three count. Wolf Dogs retain.
In a backstage interview, Carmelo Hayes puts over his personal security force. Hayes vows to beat D’Angelo tonight, and then go on to win the NXT title.
Shawn Spears defeated Uriah Connors
Spears pinned Connor after a C4. This was a short enhancement match to showcase the returning Spears. The “10” gimmick is long gone, but Spears does bring his chair gimmick from AEW. However, he still does not play it like a guitar like La Parka in WCW. That to me is a real shame.
Rather, Spears’ character is more serious. He cuts a promo after the match, and he name drops Ridge Holland. That looks to be Spears’ first program in NXT since his return. Spears almost flubbed some lines, but he recovers. He is supposed to be brooding I guess, since they used a split lighting technique on his face.
Holland comes out to confront Spears, and they brawl. Holland pummels Spears, and Spears slides his metal folding chair over to Holland. Spears then dares Holland to hit him with the chair. This plays on Spears’ promo, where he likened himself to a mirror that exposing people for what the really are inside.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka) defeated Tatum Paxley & NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria to retain their titles
Sane pinned Paxley to win the match. Another solid bout on the show. Roxanne Perez runs in after the match to attack Valkyria.
With tandem moves, Asuka & Sane showcase why they are such a good team. The challengers rally just before the match goes through a split-screen commercial break.
They did some good near falls. Valkyria has to calm down Paxley at one point for being too aggressive. Later on, Valkyria inadvertently roundhouse kicks Paxley. Valkyria then walks into a back fist from Sane, and Valkyria takes a bump out of the ring. That leaves Paxley alone against the Kabuki Warriors. They do their slop drop/elbow drop combo finish, and Sane covers Paxley for a pinfall. The champs retain.
Roxanne Perez storms into the ring after the match, and she jumps Valkyria. Perez targets Valkyria arm. Valkyria sells big, and she is posted shoulder first. Perez then stomps on the arm while Valkyria is draped in the ropes. That leads to an injury angle, as a stretcher is brought out for Valkyria. She leaves the building in an ambulance.
Fallon Henley defeated Blair Davenport
Henley wins via pinfall, after interference by a returning Sol Ruca. That is an odd way to get Henley over as a babyface, but whatever. Henley does have new theme music that reminds of all the bad bro country songs on country music radio. Although, I admittedly might not be hip to what is a cool country song these days.
Davenport works an arm during the match, which might have been more effective in getting heat if we had not just seen an injury angle based on the same premise. Nonetheless, Henley makes a comeback. They take turns crashing into the ring steps as the fighting spills onto the floor.
Sol Ruca make a surprise return as she is perched on the barricade. Ruca does a cartwheel into a DDT on Davenport. Ruca then rolls Davenport into the ring, and Henley hits Davenport with a shining wizard. Henley then covers Davenport for a three count.
Thea Hail has a tag match booked next week against Kiana James & Izzi Dame, based on a skit from earlier in the show. Hail wants Jacy Jayne to be her partner, but Jayne says she is busy next week.
A goofy skit with NXT General Manager Ava, Gigi Dolan and Arianna Grace sets up a future match between Grace and Dolan. Grace will only agree to a bout if a stipulation is added to their grudge match. If Dolan loses, Grace gets to give her a makeover. Dolan accepts the stip.
Shawn Spears has a cryptic threat for Ridge Holland in a backstage interview. The match is later made official for next Tuesday on NXT.
No Quarter Catch Crew is in the ring to celebrate Charlie Dempsey having won the Heritage Cup. Dempsey is joined by Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp and Myles Borne. They reveal that although Dempsey won the Cup, the “Catch clause” stipulates that any member of No Quarter Catch Crew can defend the Cup in a match. This is basically a take off of Freebird rules.
Drew Gulak also announces they are entered in the upcoming tag team elimination tournament.
Suddenly, William Regal interrupts the Crew. Big pop for Regal for the live studio audience. They also welcome him back with chants. The crowd then starts a “that’s your father” chant directed at Dempsey, since Regal is his shoot father. Regal no sells that chant.
Regal talks about how personally he takes the Cup. Dempsey tells Regal he will defend the Cup “better than you ever could.” Regal smirks, and says he will be watching them.
The former Cup holder, Noam Dar, is in the Meta-Four lounge. He apparently has not spoken since losing the Cup. Lash Legend tries to comfort him. Dar suddenly snaps out of it, and he says the past is behind them. Dar talks about looking to the future. This was a silly skit, but it at least gave Meta-Four a new direction.
Mr. Stone is watching video of a promo Lexis King cut on social media. Von Wagner vows to smash King, but Stone tells Wager that Stone’s beef with King is personal. Stone asks Wagner to fight King alone, without Wagner in his corner.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Carmelo Hayes in a number one contender’s match
D’Angelo pinned Hayes, after a Hayes was distracted by Trick Williams theme song. Williams himself would return in angle that followed the match. The bout itself was somewhat lackluster for a main event, but it set the stage for Williams’ return. The show would end with the crowd going wild for Williams.
In the match, Hayes works over “The Don” as the match goes through a commercial break. Hayes works an arm, which is the third time we see that kind of strategy on this show. Could be a tribute of sorts to Ole Anderson, but it was nevertheless overdone on this card.
They trade near falls. Hayes makes a cocky cover after hitting his “First 48” finishing move. D’Angelo kicks out, much to the chagrin of Hayes. Climbing the turnbuckles, Hayes appears to set up for his guillotine finisher.
With Hayes perched on the top rope, cue Trick Williams’ entrance theme. Big pop from the live studio audience as Williams’ theme plays. The crowd chants “whoop that trick,” while Hayes’ personal security force awaits Williams’ arrival. However, it was swerve meant to fool Hayes.
A distracted Hayes is given a pop-up spinebuster by D’Angelo. The Don then executes his twisting neckbreaker for the finsih. D’Angelo hooks a leg and covers D’Angelo for the deciding pinfall.
The Don cuts a promo after the match, basically saying he has a “gift” for Hayes after deceiving him in the match. That gift was the actual return of Trick Williams.
Hayes’ security force is waiting for Williams to come down the ramp. Instead. Williams comes out of the crowd on the opposite side of the ring, and Williams slides into the ring. Williams jumps Hayes. The security teams tries to intervene, to no avail. Williams is a house of fire. He cleans house and clears the ring, all while the studio audience is going wild. Hot ending for the show.
