Tag: The Undertaker

A loaded-up edition of WWE NXT takes place tonight.

With the show going head-to-head against AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday, WWE has announced a stacked card for tonight’s NXT. It includes appearances by John Cena, Paul Heyman, Cody Rhodes, and Asuka. It’s also been teased that The Undertaker will be showing up tonight.

Cena and Heyman will be in opposite corners for a match between Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker. Cena will be in Hayes’ corner, while Breakker will have Heyman by his side.

Rhodes is set to make a “special announcement” when he appears tonight.

Asuka will be in action on the show, taking on Roxanne Perez. It’s Asuka’s first NXT match in four years.

Butch, Ridge Holland & Tyler Bate vs. Gallus in a Pub Rules match has also been announced.

The first 30 minutes of tonight’s show is airing commercial-free. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Opening the show is the entrance of Cody Rhodes. Wearing a suit and tie, Rhodes enters the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando. The live studio audience sings along to his theme song. 

Rhodes began his monologue by addressing the audience, doing his line where he asks what we want to talk about. He goes on to say he never thought he would be in a NXT ring, but here he is. 

Cody moves on to his announcement, or rather announcements — plural. Rhodes talks about tournaments in NXT, which leads to him referring to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The studio audience chants “DUSTY” at Cody, just before Cody announces the Dusty Classic is coming back.

Rhodes has one other announcement. Shawn Michaels made Rhodes the guest general manager. Vic Joseph on commentary says Rhodes now has “the pencil,” which is an insider term for being the booker.

Out comes NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov to join Cody in the ring. Dragunov apologizes for interrupting Rhodes, but Dragunov wanted to welcome Rhodes to NXT. Dragunov puts over Rhodes, and Dragunov basically says he wants to be like Rhodes. 

Interrupting them is WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio. Dom cuts a promo putting himself over while he is heavily booed by the studio audience. Dom insults Dragunov, and Mysterio says he is “the one true” champion. Mysterio then insults Cody. Bad idea to insult the booker.

Dragunov responds by saying his father worked in prison, so he knows how to “turn a barking dog into a sweet little puppy.” Rhodes whispers something in Dragunov’s ear, just before Dom challenges Dragunov to a NXT title match tonight.

Rhodes says what he is hearing is Dom does not want to put his own title on the line. That comment led to Ripley interjecting to say Dom has carried WWE on his back for the past year. Dragunov cut off Ripley, and Dragunov accepts the challenge to a NXT Championship match. Rhodes make it official, and the match is set for later on. 

But Rhodes is not done yet, as he also has one last impromptu announcement. Rhodes adds LA Knight as the guest referee tonight in the NXT title match, to counteract Judgment Day.

Kelly Kincaid is backstage as a roving reporter. She reports those in the NXT women’s locker room have all gathered around the monitor to watch the next match.

Shotzi Blackheart joins Booker T and Vic Joseph at the announce desk for guest commentary on the next bout. Blackheart announces she is set to return as the host for Halloween Havoc, and Scarlett is also joining Blackheart as a co-host.

Asuka defeated Roxanne Perez

Asuke pinned Perez in a good TV match. Perez got to shine at times. She was going for a cradle when Asuka trapped her in the Asuka Lock. Perez rises to her feet, and she escapes the submission hold. However, Perez is hit with some kicks. Asuks measure for one final kick, and that drops Perez. Asuka then covered Perez for a pinfall.

In a show of respect, Asuka bows to Perez before leaving the ring. Perez is then jumped by Kiana James in a sneak attack from behind. Blackheart leaves the announce desk to make the save. Blackheart sends James packing, and Blackheart checks on Perez.

Butch, Tyler Bate & Ridge Holland defeated Gallus (Mark Coffey, Wolfgang & Joe Coffey) in a “Pub Rules” six-man tag team match

Bate pinned Joe Coffey, after Coffey took a Shield powerbomb through a table. Wild brawling throughout with plenty of weapons. The babyface team wrestled in their usual ring gear, while Gallus dressed in jeans and t-shirts like this was a bunkhouse match. Gallus also taped their fists.

This was basically what used to be called a “hardcore match,” where weapons are littered around the ring for no good reason other than to be used in combat. 

For the “pub” part, there was a table set up on whiskey barrels like a bar. Gallus all three lift Butch and put him through the table, just before the show cuts to its first commercial break.

They fight through a split-screen break, and the show returns to full screen with a standoff. That led into a slugfest. The babyface trio all do the Sheamus forearm spot to Gallus. Less weapons are used when the show returns from the break. 

Wolfgang goes for a flip dive over the ropes, and he hits his back hard on the apron. The babyface trio did a triple submission spot. Moments later, Butch accidentally hit Bate with a kick. Wolgang then powerslams Butch, and Mark Coffey piles on top of Wolfgang as they both cover Butch. In flew Bate with a swanton to break up the pin.

Another table is set up in the ring by the babyfaces, but the heels would seemingly be the first to put someone through it. Joe Coffey puts Butch on the table, and Coffey leaves the ring to retrieve a mug of beer. Coffey gets back into the ring with the beer, and he is standing over Butch when Bate makes a save. Bate takes the mug away from Coffey, and Bate hits Coffey with the mug. Glass shatters, and Butch snaps one of Coffey’s fingers. The babyface trio then do the Shield powerbomb, as they put Coffey through a table. Bate then covers Coffey for a three count.

A video package hypes Becky Lynch defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Lyra Valkyria at Halloween Havoc.

McKenzie Mitchell is interviewing Valkyria backstage when they are interrupted by Tegan Nox. God forbid anyone finish an interview or monologue on NXT. Nox wants another title shot at Valkyria, and Nox says Valkyria’s title shot can wait. Valkyria cuts a promo on Nox, basically punking her out.

Jone Cena enters the soundstage like the superstar he is, and it is very surreal to see Cena on an episode of NXT. Of course, his promo is interrupted by someone, but Cena gets a monologue before Bron Breakker interrupts.

Cena puts over being in NXT, and he puts over NXT, along with putting over the NXT crowd. The studio audience thanks him with a chant, and someone in the crowd also did a dueling chant of “Cena sucks” when the rest of the audience chanted “thank you Cena!”

Cena begins talking about being in Carmelo Hayes’ corner later tonight, and out comes Breakker to interrupt the monologue. The studio audience chant at Breakker, telling him he sucks. Breakker is apparently delusional, as he says the crowd is there to see him, not Cena.

Breakker is cutting a promo on Cena, as the studio audience chants “bulls**t” at Breakker. That is bleeped out on USA Network.

Cena takes the high road, wishing Breakker luck in his match tonight. Cena extends his arm for a handshake. Breakker looks down at Cena’s hand, and Breakker looks back up just before attacking Cena. 

Breakker is drops Cena with punches, and Breakker measures for a spear. Cena avoids the spear, and he lifts Breakker in a fireman’s carry. Breakker escapes and hightails it out of the ring.

NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo meet up with Cody Rhodes in a backstage skit. The Family pitches an idea to Cody for a 10-team battle royal. The final two teams remaining in the battle royal would then have a tag match. The overall winners would  go on to face The Family at Halloween Havoc in a tag title match. Rhodes likes the idea, and he books the battle royal for next week. Rhodes also gives it a name — the “Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royal.”

Baron Corbin, in a backstage interview, cuts a promo about the NXT title match later tonight. Thankfully, the theme song for LA Knight interrupts Corbin, and he stops talking. LA Knight then enters the soundstage.

NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defeated NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio (with Rhea Ripley) to retain the NXT Championship, with LA Knight as guest referee 

Dragunov pinned Mysterio to retain the NXT title. Knight pretty much called it down the middle, until he got involved by thwarting interference by Judgment Day. Baron Corbin and Dijak would also get involved in a post-match angle.

When Dom got in trouble, Ripley jumps on the apron to distract Knight. That allowed Dom to cut off Dragunov with a thumb in the eye. Dragunov is down selling as the show cuts to a commercial break.

Dragunov makes a comeback when the show returns from the split-screen break. Meanwhile, the studio audience chants “YEAH” in reference to Knight. Dragunov takes a hard chop from Dom, and that awakens a beast. Dragunov chops down Dom. 

Dragunov dodges a 619, but takes the move on a second attempt by Dom for a near fall. Dragunov fires up again, leading to a superplex. Dom rolled out to apron as Dragunov teased doing one of his finishers. Dom gives Dragunov a DDT on the apron, but Dragunov fights back yet again. Dragunov powerbombs Dom, and Dragunov follows up with the H-Bomb finisher. 

Dragunov is going to deliver his other finisher when Finn Balor and Damian Priest run in. Instead of calling for a DQ, LA Knight fights off Judgment Day. Ripley goes to hit Dragunov with a belt shot, but Dragunov ducks. Trick Williams runs down to grab Ripley off the apron. Meanwhile, Dragunov levels Dom with Torpedo Moskau. Dragunov then scores the deciding pinfall.

Corbin comes out to confront Dragunov. Before Corbin can get in the ring, Dijak jumps Dragunov and hits the champ with a sneak attack. Dijak leaves Dragunov lying in the ring, and Dijak then confronts Corbin. Dijak apparently believes his is the next challenger because he attacked first. Not sure that is how that works, but whatever.

John Cena is in the locker room talking with Carmelo Hayes. In walks Trick Williams, and he introduces himself to Cena. Hayes tries to apologize to Williams, and they do some comedy with Cena. Willaims does not look happy as Hayes leaves. Cena asks Williams if he is good, and Williams asks Cena when he knew it what his time. Cena then takes Williams under his wing to talk. 

Paul Heyman is seen talking with Ava.

Arriving to the building in a white SUV is Jade Cargill. She exits the vehicle, and she is greeted by Shawn Michaels, and they enter the building.

Baron Corbin confronts Cody Rhodes, and Corbin wants Rhodes to book a Corbin against Dragunov in a title match at Halloween Havoc. Rhodes instead books a number one contender’s triple threat match for next week with Corbin against Dijak and the winner of Hayes-Breakker later on.

Lola Vice (with Elektra Lopez) defeated Dani Palmer in a first round match in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament 

Vice pinned Palmer to advance in the tournament. Palmer had countered a triangle to have Vice in a pinning combination. Vice kicked out and then booted Palmer with a kick. A three count followed, and Vice is moving on in the tournament.

Thea Hail rejoins the class at Chase U, but Hail is joined by Jacy Jayne. Hail and Jayne interrupt the lecture by talking among themselves. Andre Chase flips out on the students and Jayne. She in turn announces that Chase and Duke Hudson will be part of the 10-team battle royal. This skit seemed like a way to get all of these people on an already loaded show.

Paul Heyman is hyping up Bron Breakker with a pep talk that only Heyman can do. As a pumped up Breakker leaves, Heyman commands his cellphone to call Roman Reigns.

Lexis King (Briam Pillman Jr.) is the focus of another vignette. King is watching old wrestling clips, which includes a bunch of Brian Pillman highlights. King heels on his father, and King talks about being unable to escape the business that inflicted so much pain on him. He will now inflict pain on it. King also says he is nobody’s “junior,” and King says he will take the name of the man that actually raised him. Thus the name change to Lexis King.

Carmelo Hayes (with John Cena) defeated Bron Breakker (with Paul Heyman)

Hayes pinned Breakker, after Cena thwarted interference from a run-in by Solo Sikoa. Undertaker returns as his “American Badass” character, complete with motorcycle, in a post-match angle.

Heyman does the ring introduction for Breakker as only Heyamn can. Hayman dubs him “Bad Ass” Bron Breakker. That would play into to the closing angle after the match.

Hayes was a house of fire at the start. Breakker was reeling as the show cuts to a commercial break. Back-and-forth after the break as they trade near falls.

They go for a high spot off the top rope, maybe a Frakensteiner, but they botch it. They try to sell it like a modified facebuster. More near falls after other high spots. 

The fight spilled outside the ring, and Breakker picks up the a section of the ring steps. Cena takes the steps from Breakker, and Cena boots him in the gut. Solo Sikos runs in, and Cena smacks him with the section of steps. Cena and Sikoa brawl their way up the ramp to the backstage area.

Hayes gives Breakker a codebreaker on the floor, and Hayes goes to follow up by climbing the turnbuckles. Hayes leaps off with Nothing But Net, and Hayes covers Breakker for a pinfall.

Breakker gets his heat back after the match by spearing Hayes. Breakker stands over Hayes and proclaims their is only one “bad ass” in NXT (which plays off the Heyman intro from earlier). When Breakker utters those words, a gong sounds and the lights flicker. A motorcycle is heard cranking up, and “American Badass” by Kid Rock plays inside the soundstage. 

Undertaker rides out on a chopper. The “American Badass” is back on his motorcycle. Undertaker gets face-to-face with Breakker in the ring. Breakker calls him an “old timer,” before also telling ‘Taker there is only one bad ass here. The studio audience chants at Breakker, cautioning Breakker that he “f’ed up” with that. 

Undertaker gets on a house microphone to tell Breakker he will be a special talent one day … but that “ain’t today.” With that, ‘Taker dropped Breakker with a right hand. Breakker then takes a chokeslam, and Undertaker stands over a prone Breakker. The studio audience chants “holy s**t,” and then they explode into an Undertaker chant. 

‘Taker gives Breakker a piece of advice. There is a always a bigger, badder bad ass waiting around the corner. Breakker just met the baddest of them all. Undertaker stands tall as the show goes off the air. What year is it?

Not sure I have ever seen any promotion hot shot a territory like WWE did with NXT tonight. It made for a fun show, but the legends and the main roster stars mostly overshadowed the NXT roster.