NXT is on the road in Texas tonight — and one of the biggest legends in WWE history is scheduled for an appearance in his home state.
The Undertaker will appear live on tonight’s NXT episode in Houston for a confrontation with Trick Williams. The segment stems from Williams recently insulting the Performance Center recruits who are on Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. In a promo on Monday’s Raw, Williams took shots at The Undertaker and threatened to knock him out tonight.
Tonight’s show is also a homecoming for Wren Sinclair, who will be the opponent for Blake Monroe’s NXT TV singles debut.
An NXT Championship bout is part of the card with Oba Femi defending his gold against Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs in a triple threat. Plus, Ricky Saints will be in action against Jasper Troy.
We’ll have an appearance by NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne following her winner-take-all victory over Masha Slamovich at TNA Slammiversary. Jayne won the TNA Knockouts title in that match and is now a double champion.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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It’s busy times for WWE’s formerly-black-and-gold brand! The NXT roster has been through The Great American Bash, Evolution and TNA Slammiversary since it’s last episode an there are doin’s a-transpirin’!
-There was a nice nod to Ozzy Osbourne (RIP!) off the top as the traditional footage of wrestlers arriving for work kicked off the show. The card was run down with Vic Joseph and Corey Graves and Booker T arriving to a great Houston ovation. Booker announced that the show would begin with an 8-person surprise Mixed Tag Team match!
Mixed Tag Team Match: NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Zaria and NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley)
The Culling jumped their opponents off the bell, but things settled down with Hank and Spears facing off. A quick tag to Vance and he and Hank traded punches until Spears tagged back in. Hank Sent Spears face first into the turnbuckle and Tank tagged in with a Senton.
Spears got a quick tag to Paxley and she and Zaria went back and forth. Ruca jumped in to cut off Dame interfering and the men came back in. Then, it broke down into a straight up brawl culminating with a 4-person slam and quadruple splash from the Hank, Tank, Zaria and Ruca side.
Hank and Tank isolated Spears in their corner and traded tags to try and take him out. Spears ducked Tank and Vance hopped in with a devastating clothesline. Vance worked the arm of Tank and Dame added a kick to the face through the ropes for good measure.
Vance and Spears double teamed Tank while the crowd chanted for Ruca. Vacne went to the top rope and tried a headbutt, but Tank dodged it and reached for a hot tag. Spears cut it off though and he and Tank battled in the center of the ring.
Paxley and Ruca were tagged in next and Ruca took out Paxley and Dame with a little help from Zaria. Zaria went for a pin, but Dame broke it up. The men tagged back in and Tank used Hank as a weapon to take out Vance. Spears began superkicking anything that moved.
Dame went up top and flung herself onto Hank and Tank on the outside. Not to be undone, Ruca did the same thing to Spears Paxley and Zaria were in the ring and Spears tried to interfere, but Zaria hit him with a face breaker. Paxley tried for a quick rollup, but the lights went out and DarkState appeared int he crowd!
When the lights came back on, Paxley had Zaria in a pin and got the 1-2-3 to give the Culling the win.
Match Result: The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley) defeated Sol Ruca, Zaria and Hank & Tank
Super fun match to kick things off! Ruca is really popular with the NXT crowd and I’ve always been a big Shawn Spears fan. I like the Culling a lot and they are a great foil for Hank & Tank in the tag division!
-Jordynne Grace was shown arriving to the arena. She was met by NXT GM Ava who said that she was not allowed in the building. Grace promised to get her hands on Blake Monroe anyways.
-NXT Women’s Champion & TNA Knockouts champion Jacy Jayne came to the ring with the rest of Fatal Influence, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. Jayne grabbed a mic and celebrated her win, declaring herself the best. She was very adamant she did it all by herself to prove everyone wrong. She is a history maker!
Suddenly Lash Legend’s music hit and the Legend herself joined the conversation. Legend congratulated Jayne and said that Jayne was about to begin her fall from the top. Legend said that it’s time for her moment, and suddenly more music!
Jaida Parker came down to the ring. Parker declared that she has a direct line to the NXT Women’s title and Legend can step aside. Jayne said that they should figure it out for themselves and Fatal Influence jumped Parker and Legend. Parker and Legend cleared the ring and began jawing at each other as the segment slammed into:
-Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints having a conversation in the back about Jasper Troy. Evans gave Saints some advice: Don’t over think it.
Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy
Saints fought Ethan Page at the Great American Bash in a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match. When that match spilled over into the back, Saints and Page stumbled onto Troy, who was either eating his lunch or angrily leaning against a wall lamenting a loss to Je’von Evans. Troy decided to take that out on Saints and NXT GM Ava made this match so that they can properly destroy each other.
If you’re just joining us, Troy is a very big, very angry man. Saints needed to use his quickness and agility to get around the big man, but it didn’t work well off the top. Troy sent Saints into the corner and Clotheslined him on the ring apron (the most revolutionary part of the ring!).
Troy hoisted Saints up on his shoulder and hit a spinning slam for the first near fall of the match. Troy grabbed Saints again and threw him out of the ring. Saints clutched his wrist as Troy exited the ring, picked him out and carried him back into the ring.
Saints tried his hardest to fight back, but a trio of big splashes from Troy left him writhing in the ring. Troy added one more splash for good measure, but Saints managed to kick out. Troy punched Saints in the stomach so hard his wrist tape started coming off.
Every time Saints started gaining some offense, Troy would hammer him back down. Troy began literally throwing Saints around the ring, hoisting him up on his shoulders. Saints wriggled free, but Troy decided a Bear Hug was in order and Troy ragdolled him.
Saints got desperate and bit Troy on the head. Saints lured Troy out of the ring and laid some haymakers on him. Troy tried to punch back but Saints ducked and Troy hit the ring post. Troy shoved Saints back into the ring, favouring his hand.
Saints went up top and hit a high crossbody followed by a spinning DDT. It wasn’t enough though as Troy kicked out at 2. Keeping up the momentum, Saints sent them both outside over the top rope. Troy got to his feet first and began menacing the Ref. Saints used that to hop on Troy’s back and they battled up the entrance ramp.
The Ref tried to get them back into the ring, but the entry ramp collapsed on Saints! Troy hit a senton bomb on him through the collapsed metal ramp! The ref began a count in the ring and Troy staggered back, just beating the count and getting the win over Saints!
Match Result: Jasper Troy defeated Ricky Saints via Countout
Wow! The collapse of the ramp may have been a little premature, but IF they needed to call an audible, they did it seamlessly. Troy is an awesome force and I think if they can give him some good creative, he’ll be a big star.
-Next, tribute was paid to 2021 Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne who’s involvement with WWE goes all the way back to Wrestlemania 2.
The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams
Over the weekend, Williams defeated Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a Triple Threat Match at TNA Slammiversary to retain the TNA World Championship. However, his mouth got the best of him and he badmouthed the Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. Taker, lacking things to do with his time these days, would like a word with the TNA Champion about it.
Williams made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic. Williams talked about his victory at Slammiversary and said that he was undeniably the greatest TNA Champion of all time. Williams said that he will drop anyone in his way. Williams said that the LFG team told on him to the Undertaker. Williams gave taker props, but he’s never held down two brands at the same time like Williams. He then said that LFG has made the Undertaker soft. He then called Taker down to the ring.
A giant DONG rang out, but quickly switched to the American Badass music and out strode the Undertaker. He walked to the ring (stepping around the hole Ricky Saints left in the ramp) and got a mic. The music faded and Taker stood silently, considering what he would say while the crowd chanted for him.
Eventually, Taker began speaking, calling Williams a Dead Man Walking. Taker admired William’s cowhide leather outfit and said that Williams had it all… except respect. Taker said that Williams just isn’t the same guy with the TNA title as he was with the NXT title. NXT Williams was hungry, he said. He had that “daawg” in him.
Undertaker said that TNA Williams isn’t that guy anymore. With his current attitude, he won’t keep the TNA Championship for long. Taker said that he tries to teach his LFG team to not have an attitude and Williams interrupted, saying he doesn’t give a damn about the LFG team! No one is as good as he is!
Undertaker offered Williams one more piece of advice: Don’t step to an OG (Taker being the OG). Williams looked terrified as Undertaker promised to make him famous. Williams tried to sucker punch Taker, but he immediately goozled him and hit him with a vintage Taker chokeslam! The segment ended with Williams lying in the ring.
-Back from a commercial, Fatal Influence were discussing who would take on Jaida Parker and Lash Legend. Michelle McCool joined them and made some suggestions. They headed off to Ava’s office to make things official.
Blake Monroe vs. Wren Sinclair
Monroe had a heck of a week going back to Great American Bash. There, she made her NXT/WWE in-ring debut in a tag match with Jordynne Grace in an eventual loss to Fatal Influence. Then, at Evolution, she turned on Grace, costing her the NXT Women’s Title in a match with Jacy Jayne. Grace had promised to be out there somewhere looking for revenge and caught in the middle is Sinclair, who was big-upped by her friends in the No Quarter Catch Crew earlier in the show.
The two locked up and Monroe took control, sending Sinclair to the corner. She raked Sinclair’s head along the ropes and and had her until Sinclair hit a big back elbow. Sinclair tried to employ the technical style of the NQCC and it threw Monroe off at first.
Monroe regained control with a sling blade followed by a tight chinlock while wrenching her arm behind her. Sinclair fought out of it with an armdrag and some big chops. Monroe sent Sinclair face first into the ropes and then a big head butt.
Monroe hit a big slam and pinned Sinclair, getting her first NXT singles victory.
Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Wren Sinclair
After the match, Monroe grabbed a mic but before she could say anything, Jordynne Grace appeared through the crowd and headed right for Monroe. Grace battled security allowing Monroe to grab her from behind and DDT her into a steel chair!
The match was pretty good, essentially a glorified squash, but I’m loving the feud between Grace and Monroe. They are both excellent at this pro wrestling thing and I can’t wait to see them go one on one.
-Back from commercial, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page was in the ring with a podium. Next to him was a second podium with a belt under a black cloth. Page said that he would be bringing more class to the title than the 17 Americans that had previously held it.
Page talked about his parents being immigrants from the Ukraine and that he was born in Canada. He unfurled a set of Canadian flags and said that the title would no longer represent the continent of North America, because America is a lie. It should represent the pure dominance of Canada over the rest of North American.
Page said the was born in Canada but made in America which makes him the greatest North American alive. He tossed the NXT North American Championship Belt to the side and unveiled a new version of it with a Canadian flag as the strap.
Page listed the various reasons that he feels Canada is better than America or Mexico, including hotter women, cleaner air and being nice to each other. He said that the USA is in HIS North America and as the North American Champion, he takes great pride in holding the title. But that pales in comparison to the pride he feels about being Canadian.
He then asked the audience to rise as he sung the Canadian National Anthem. He began singing but was cut off by an arriving Santino Marella, TNA Director of Authority!
Marella made his way to the ring and said that Page should be ashamed of himself. Marella lives in Canada and he said that Canadians don’t think like Page. He said that Page couldn’t relate to the people of North America because he is a “bumhole boy.”
Page said that Marella should go back to TNA and Marella said that someone with dignity, honor and pride should hold the North American title. He then challenged Page to a match next week. Page said that he wouldn’t do that, he’d do it RIGHT NOW!
Page turned around and Marella had the cobra ready for him! Page grabbed his new belt and bailed as the Commentary team speculated about the match happening next week!
-Backstage, Trick Williams was looking around every corner for the Undertaker, trying to avoid him. That set him up to run into NXT Champion Oba Femi though and the two stared each other down as the show went to commercial.
-Back from Commercial, Yoshiki Inamura met with Je’Von Evans. Inamura was wondering if he’d been a bad friend to Josh Briggs. He likes Briggs, but not always how he thinks. Evans said sometimes you can love someone, but not like them.
-The scene transitioned to the No Quarter Catch Crew lamenting Wren Sinclair’s loss. Suddenly, Bubba Ray Dudley appeared. He congratulated Wren on a good match and said that he was going to set up a match between Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he can leave the Crew.
Then, Lexis King wandered by and accused Dempsey of not really being deaf. Dempsey left and that was the end of the segment. Weird.
-Then, the match was made official: Next week, North American Champion Ethan Page will defend his title against TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella!
NXT Championship Triple Threat Match: Yoshiki Inamura vs. Josh Briggs vs. Oba Femi (c)
At Great American Bash, Femi and Inamura had a slugfest that saw Femi retain the NXT title. The bigger issue was that Briggs, Inamura’s best friend, kept trying to interfere on his behalf. Not wanting to win the title in a “dishonorable” way, Inamura wasn’t pleased with Briggs’ interference. Briggs thinks Inamura was being “too nice.” The question is will they work together in this triple threat? Or will Femi be able to stand back and let these two take each other out?
Off the bell, Femi sent Briggs to the outside and he and Inamura began clubbing each other in the corners. Femi flipped Inamura over which allowed Briggs to jump in a get a quick splash. Femi bounced between Inamura and Briggs before sending them into opposite corners.
Imamura got a big slam on Femi but during the count, Briggs “inadvertently” stepped on the Ref’s hand, breaking the count. In the confusion, Femi delivered a double Chokeslam to both men. Femi focused on Briggs, but Briggs sent Femi into the corner and Inamura began stomping him.
Inamura went for a cover and Briggs stepped towards him to break up the pin, but Femi kicked out and the two eyed each other. Briggs then introduced a chair into the ring. Inamoura did not like that dishonorable move and Briggs slammed him onto Femi for his trouble. Inaumra then returned the favor and the two began working together.
Briggs went for a cover, but Inamura didn’t break it up. Femi kicked out and stalked Briggs into the corner, setting him up on the second rope. Inamura grabbed Femi from below in an Electric Chair position. Inamura threw him backwards and Femi dragged Briggs down with him.
Briggs went for a quick cover, but Femi kicked out. Briggs seemed to think that Inamura caused the kickout and the two got angry at each other. Inamura was sent out of the ring by Femi, who was then chokeslammed by Briggs, resulting in a two-count.
Briggs and Femi fought in the ring and Inamura returned, charging at Femi. Femi leapt into the air and Inamure speared Briggs by mistake. Inamura then lifted Femi and hit a sit-down powerbomb. The ref started counting, but Briggs pulled him out. The ref jumped back in and tried to count again, but Briggs put Femi’s arm on the ropes.
That made Inamura mad and he screamed at Briggs while laying Femi out for a big splash. As he mad the pin though, Briggs broke it up with a moonsault. Briggs went for the cover, but Femi kicked out at two.
Briggs and Inamura had enough at that point and started trading chops and punches. Inamura gave as good as he got and Briggs hit a massive lariat. That brought Femi back in who hit a powerbomb on Briggs and got the pin to retain his title.
Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs
After the match, Briggs ran over Inamura at ringside. The scene switched to the back where Je’Von Evans was still trying to figure out what he is going to do next. The Undertaker approached and offered him some advice: Keep going after the biggest dog in the yard. Evans considered that as the show went off the air.
Great triple threat main event tonight! The story was obviously the dissolving of the friendship between Briggs and Inamura, but Femi looked great as always. He didn’t steal a victory, he earned it through smarts and picking his moments. NXT is chock full of talent right now and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
