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Former wrestler, broadcaster and trainer Les Thatcher and I talk about the implosion of the Undisputed Era in NXT, Sting getting physical before his return at AEW Revolution, and the debut episode of Young Rock.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
Undisputed Era imploded with Adam Cole laying out Kyle O’Reilly in the show-closing angle of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
After Finn Balor retained his NXT Championship against Pete Dunne in the main event of tonight’s TakeOver event, Balor was attacked on the stage by Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch then beat down Balor in the ring until Undisputed Era (Cole, O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong) ran out and chased them off. O’Reilly helped Balor up and told him how much he respects him. Undisputed Era posed in the ring and Balor was about to do his own pose, but Cole then dropped him with a superkick.
O’Reilly was furious with Cole and said what he did to Balor was “bullsh*t.” Strong tried to keep the peace between his stablemates, but Cole then laid out O’Reilly with a superkick as well. The show ended with Strong looking conflicted after what Cole had done.
Balor retained his NXT Championship against O’Reilly at TakeOver 31 in October and at NXT New Year’s Evil last month. Balor & O’Reilly defeated Lorcan & Burch on NXT three weeks ago after O’Reilly agreed to team with Balor.
Balor became NXT Champion by defeating Cole for the vacant title in September. The title had been vacated by Karrion Kross after he suffered a separated shoulder during the match where he won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee in August.
Undisputed Era weren’t in action at TakeOver: Vengeance Day tonight. Cole & Strong made it to the quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic before being eliminated. Undisputed Era member Bobby Fish underwent triceps surgery in December. Dave Meltzer reported at the time that Fish was expected to be out of action for about eight weeks.
WWE has announced the first two matches for the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
This year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will begin with Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & Roderick Strong) vs. Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) and The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) taking place on NXT next Wednesday (January 13).
WWE has yet to reveal the full list of teams and the bracket for this year’s Dusty Classic. On tonight’s New Year’s Evil episode of NXT, it was announced that Curt Stallion & August Grey, Killian Dain & Drake Maverick, Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner), Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde), and Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory will also be taking part in the tournament.
The team that wins the tournament will receive the Dusty Cup and a shot at the NXT Tag Team titles. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch are the current NXT Tag Team Champions.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first took place in 2015. With the exception of 2017, the tournament has been held every year since then. It was announced on New Year’s Evil that the first-ever women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be taking place soon.
Finn Balor & Samoa Joe, The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar), Undisputed Era’s Cole & Kyle O’Reilly, Aleister Black & Ricochet, and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne are the teams that have previously won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Undisputed Era will collide with Team McAfee and Team Shotzi will face off with Team Candice at NXT TakeOver: WarGames tonight.
In this year’s men’s WarGames match, Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) are facing Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch). Team McAfee will have the WarGames advantage after Dunne defeated O’Reilly in a ladder match two weeks ago.
This will be the second-ever match that McAfee has had. He lost to Cole at TakeOver XXX this summer.
Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai are on Team Shotzi for the women’s WarGames match. Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm are on Team Candice. Team Shotzi has the advantage after Blackheart defeated Gonzalez in a ladder match this past Wednesday.
Three more matches are also set for tonight. Leon Ruff will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match, Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes will face off in a strap match, and Tommaso Ciampa will take on Timothy Thatcher.
TakeOver begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time. There will also be a pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. It will be hosted by Wade Barrett and Sam Roberts and will include an appearance by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
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Show Report —
The pre-show was the typical assortment of video packages and talking-head discussion, hosted by Sam Roberts and Wade Barrett. The highlights were the Black Sabbath-soundtracked video package for the men’s War Games match and Ariel Helwani’s interview breaking down War Games as a concept.
WarGames: Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Toni Storm, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez) defeated Team Shotzi (Io Shirai, Rhea Ripley, Ember Moon & Shozi Blackheart)
This match started really slow with some questionable booking and psychology, but the good effort and stunt-work from these women turned it into an entertaining match by the end.
Team Shotzi has the man advantage, and she’s got a new tank. Dakota Kai and Ember Moon were the first two entrants.
Kai quickly applied a sleeper hold, but Moon flipped out of it. Moon hit a nice headscissor takedown out of a suplex attempt as they traded running offense. Kai got the advantage after something like a capoeira kick. She laid in ground and pound until Moon landed another headscissors. Moon followed it up with a running splash, driving Kai into the cage.
Moon went for another dive, but Kai cut it off and laid in Kawada kicks. Kai then hit the Kai-ropractor as the five-minute call allowed Shotzi Blackheart to enter the match. Blackheart grabbed a toolbox and a crowbar before making her way into the match.
The psychology got strange here, with the babyface team maintaining a two-on-one advantage. Blackheart attacked Kai with kicks as Moon recovered. Kai, the heel, fought off both opponents until being overwhelmed by the numbers advantage. Kai and Blackheart made their way to the top turnbuckle, but Moon put Kai in the electric chair and Blackheart landed a dropkick.
Raquel Gonzalez was next. She hit power moves on both opponents, concluding the flurry with a powerbomb on Blackheart into the cage. Gonzalez picked up Kai in the fireman’s carry and spun around, using Kai as a weapon. Kai hit an assisted diving double clothesline over the gap between the rings before Rhea Ripley entred the match.
Ripley and Gonzalez faced off, but Kai attacked Ripley. Ripley fought off both opponents and hit a series of power moves on Kai as her partners took care of Gonzalez. Moon hit a diving lungblower and Blackheart hit a Code Red on Gonzalez before Ripley opened Blackheart’s toolbox and pulled out a hammer. Using the hammer as a weapon, Ripley beat down Kai, but Gonzalez fought off both Blackheart and Moon.
Gonzalez and Ripley brawled with each other until Toni Storm entered the match and downed Ripley with a German Suplex. Storm brought in kendo sticks and attacked Ripley with one. Ripley was whipped into an exposed turnbuckle. Team Candice beat down their opponents until two simultaneous Tower of Doom spots happened, leaving all six wrestlers down.
Io Shirai was the final entrant for Team Shotzi. She pushed a ladder into the ring until Gonzalez prevented her from entering the match. Shirai almost made her way into the ring after throwing more plunder in and hitting a dropkick con-chair-to, but Gonzalez popped right up and forced her back out. Storm used her belt to tie the cage door shut.
The clock counted down and LeRae was the final entrant. Shirai wanted a fight on the outside but was jumped by Indi Hartwell, who is LeRae’s associate. LeRae entered the ring and Hartwell locked it with a chain, leaving Shirai stranded outside.
Team Candice beat down their opponents with weapons. LeRae wanted a pinfall attempt, but the official wouldn’t count because Shirai hadn’t entered the ring. Shirai appeared on the top of the structure, placing a trash can over her own head, and diving onto all seven competitors.
Shirai grabbed the hammer and attacked all four opponents. She landed a Ripley-assisted DDT and a tiger feint kick. All four of Team Shotzi took out an opponent before Shirai landed a moonsault on Gonzalez, but Team Candice broke up the pinfall.
Moon looked like she was about to attack Storm with a wrench until LeRae broke it up and applied a Garga-No Escape. Blackheart applied Cattle Mutilation on Storm, forcing the submissions to break. There was a parade of weapon shots and offense, concluded with Shirai landing a missile dropkick through a chair into Kai.
Kai fired up and sent Shirai into the turnbuckle before putting the trash can back over Shirai. She landed a diving double stomp, but Moon broke up the pinfall. Moon attacked with a chair before repeatedly driving Moon’s head into a set-up chair. She draped Kai over the chairs and landed the Eclipse through them, but Storm broke up the pin.
Storm hit Storm Zero through a trash can on Moon, but Shirai broke up the cover. Ripley applied her modified deathlock and Shirai landed a dropkick on Storm, but Storm kicked out at two. LeRae took out Shirai with a brainbuster and Ripley with a thrust kick through a trash can lid before facing off with Blackheart.
They climbed opposite sides of a ladder, but Blackheart knocked LeRae off. Blackheart then landed a diving senton onto LeRae through a chair, incapacitating them both.
Across the ring, Storm broke up yet another pinfall on Kai. Gonzalez backdropped Ripley into the cage before attacking Shirai. Shirai went for a Frankensteiner between the rings, but Gonzalez caught it and slammed her through a propped-up ladder, pinning the NXT women’s champion.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Timothy Thatcher
Like the opener, this lacked focus at the start. It appeared they were going for something closer to MMA simulation, but when it turned into a straight-up wrestling match after Ciampa’s comeback, the action was great.
They performed chain wrestling at the bell. Thatcher found an opening and landed palm strikes. He went for an armbar, but they were in the ropes. They each briefly landed offense before their opponent evened it back up. Ciampa hit hammer fists before making Thatcher’s leg the focus of his attack.
Thatcher was sent to the outside, but upon re-entry, Thatcher downed Ciampa with an uppercut. The official took a long time checking on Ciampa after that, but Ciampa said he was good to go. Thatcher kept up the attack with suplexes before locking on a facelock.
Ciampa’s head was driven into the ring apron. He bit his way out of another facelock, but Thatcher hit a belly-to-belly suplex, but the official wouldn’t count as Thatcher’s leg was under the ropes. The official checked on Ciampa after another uppercut. Ciampa fought out of another suplex and attacked with chops, but Thatcher chopped him down.
Thatcher went for his butterfly suplex, but Ciampa backdropped him out of it. They exchanged forearms until cracking heads against each other. Ciampa built momentum with an extended series of clotheslines before perching Thatcher on the top turnbuckle and landing a superplex for two.
Ciampa went for the Fairytale Ending, but Thatcher countered with a throat chop. Thatcher applied a front sleeper as Ciampa faded, but Ciampa pushed them both outside the ring. Ciampa barely made it back into the ring at the nine count.
Two running knee strikes allowed Ciampa to lock on a bulldog choke. One of the knee strikes busted open Thatcher’s ear, and it was bleeding quite a bit. Thatcher reached the ropes and flatted Ciampa with a German suplex. He hit another and considered his next move.
They made their way to the ring apron. Ciampa fought out of a German attempt but was downed with a forearm. He caught Thatcher coming back in and went for Willow’s Bell but Thatcher dropped to the floor and bounced Ciampa off the ropes.
Back in the ring, Ciampa went for a backslide, but Thatcher escaped to the apron. Ciampa tied Thatcher in the ropes and laid in chops before hitting Willow’s Bell for the pin.
Dexter Lumis defeated Cameron Grimes in a strap match
This went way too long for the story they had, which was mostly just a standard wrestling match and brawl with the strap added in for some unique moments.
Grimes brought his own strap, but it was a ruse, allowing him to attack Lumis before the strap had been tied. Grimes beat down his opponent on the outside, sending him into the barricade and attacking with the strap. Back in the ring, Lumis finally avoided a strike and downed Grimes with a Thesz press.
Lumis put on the strap and the match was officially under way. They played tug-of-war with the strap, and Lumis used his power advantage to yank Grimes towards him and hit a clotheslime. Grimes rolled to the floor before Lumis could whip him and tried to escape out of the ringside area, but Lumis used the strap to pull him back in.
Grimes was thrown into the barricade multiple times until Grimes returned the favor on Lumis. Grimes then dropped Lumis over the barricade, buying him time to recover. Lumis creepily tried to climb back in, but Grimes cut him off and yanked him over.
Using the strap as an assist, Grimes laid in strikes on the outside. Grimes grabbed bag that the other strap was in, put the bag over Lumis’s head, and whipped him with the unused strap. Lumis hit a spinebuster and pulled the bag off his head. He tried to tie Grimes up with the strap, but Grimes pulled Lumis into the WarGames support structure. Grimes hit two soccer kicks, but Lumis caught a third and yanked Grimes onto the floor.
Back in the ring, Lumis repeatedly whipped Grimes with the strap. Grimes fought out of a bulldog and hit a German suplex into the turnbuckle. He then grabbed a chair and attacked Lumis with it. Grimes set up the chair and sat down, taunting Lumis, before Lumis pulled Grimes into a fallaway slam.
They traded strikes and Lumis gained the upper hand. He went to the top rope, but Grimes pulled him down and hit a backflip powerslam. Grimes went for the Cave-In through the chair, but Lumis avoided it. They had an exchange until Lumis used the strap to trip Grimes headfirst into the chair. Lumis then applied the head-and-arm choke, blinding Grimes with the strap, and Grimes submitted.
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While the announcers spoke, the lights flickered and a video of a vulture aired. It ended with the words “Tick tock.”
It looked like this was for Karrion Kross.
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NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano defeated Leon Ruff (c) and Damian Priest to win the title
This match was absolutely absurd and ridiculous, but it was a ton of fun. The contest was high-energy throughout with some really innovative action, although some won’t like the smoke and mirrors with Ruff leaving the match momentarily and interference on behalf of Gargano.
Priest was sent outside right away as Gargano laid into Ruff with big moves. Ruff used some unique springboards to evade some offense before using those same springboards to hit a hurricanrana. Priest told Ruff to get out of his way and sent him outside, but Ruff fired back in with a diving dropkick on both opponents. Priest wouldn’t fight Ruff, but Ruff attacked with kicks.
It looked like Priest would hit Ruff with a chokeslam, but Gargano stopped it as he and Ruff attacked Priest. Gargano took out Priest with a dive and told Ruff to do the same, but it was a ruse, as Gargano cut him off with a slingshot spear.
Priest pulled Gargano to the outside and caught a Ruff dive. Ruff ignored Priest’s demands, so Priest hit a Razor’s Edge on Ruff through the plexiglass barricade. The officials checked on Ruff as Priest sold concern. Ruff was taken to the back, and Gargano took advantage with a tornado DDT on the floor.
Gargano went for the One Final Beat on the ramp, but Priest cut it off and landed a spinning heel kick for two. Gargano avoided a Razor’s Edge and landed Sliced Bread for two. They avoided each other’s strikes before Gargano hit a couple kicks, but Priest fired up and leveled Gargano with a lariat for a double down.
Ruff ran back in and landed a dive on Gargano. He laid in ground and pound while keeping Priest at bay before landing a step-up dive to both men on the floor. Back in the ring, Ruff hit a nice springboard cutter on Gargano for two before heading to the top rope.
Gargano popped up and yanked Ruff down. Gargano had a bloody nose or lip. Ruff used the Tyler Bate ring rebound to flatten Gargano with a lariat for two. He went up top, but Priest was in the way. Priest said that Ruff was out of chances and downed Ruff with a boot before hitting a flatliner on both men.
Priest went corner to corner with body splashes before tossing Ruff into Gargano with the Broken Arrow. Gargano escaped a Razor’s Edge and posted Priest’s shoulder before sending Ruff into Priest with a lawn dart. Gargano tied Priest up in the other ring’s ropes and went for another lawn dart, but Ruff hit a crucifix bomb for a great near fall.
Ruff climbed the ropes, but Gargano rolled out of the way of the frog splash and locked on the Garga-No Escape. Priest escaped the ropes and broke it up before climbing the ropes and hitting a spinning heel kick on Gargano. Ruff avoided a corner splash, but Priest shrugged off clotheslines. Gargano landed a superkick, but Priest turned the One Final Beat into a chokeslam.
Three Ghostface killers appeared, but Priest fought them all off. Another three appeared, and Priest took them out with his step-up dive. Priest then landed a corner tope on the other three. Gargano tried to take advantage, but Priest caught a dive attempt and slammed Gargano. Ruff landed a frog splash on Gargano, but Priest barely broke up the cover in time.
Ruff took the fight to Priest, but Priest flattened him with a spinning knee. Priest caught Gargano and went for the Reckoning, Gargano hit a thrust kick, but Priest hit a cyclone kick. Priest set up for the Reckoning again, but another Ghostface appeared and attacked Priest with a lead pipe. Ruff tried to take advantage with a roll-up, but Gargano kicked out at two. Gargano then hit the One Final Beat to pin Ruff and win the championship.
After the match, the main Ghostface unmasked as Austin Theory.
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The next NXT TV special, called New Year’s Evil, was announced for January 6, 2021.
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WarGames: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defeated Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch)
This was a truly epic main event, one of the best WarGames matches in history. Everyone played their parts perfectly.
Team McAfee had the man advantage. Kyle O’Reilly and Pete Dunne started.
Neither man could get a grappling advantage until Dunne landed a takedown. O’Reilly tried to turn it into a triangle before applying a cross armbreaker. Dunne fought out and caught O’Reilly in a triangle through the ropes. O’Reilly escaped and went for a kimura. He decided to go with a German suplex, but Dunne flipped out of it and hit a buzzsaw kick before moving onto small joint manipulation.
They went into another fast-paced exchange, which Dunne won with a hand stomp and another buzzsaw kick. O’Reilly popped up and applied a guillotine, but he couldn’t maintain the grip. Dunne hit a release suplex and locked on a cross armbreaker, but O’Reilly turned it into a heel hook.
McAfee acted like he wanted to be the next entrant, but Lorcan stopped him and entered them match himself. O’Reilly took the fight to Lorcan, but the two-on-one advantage overwhelmed him as Lorcan landed a half-and-half suplex and Dunne kicked out O’Reilly’s arm. Dunne held O’Reilly’s arms open while Lorcan laid in chops.
O’Reilly rolled into the other ring and caught both opponents with dragon screw legwhips as they gave chase. He then landed a diving kneedrop on Lorcan, but was immediately met with a dropkick from Dunne. Dunne and Lorcan continued their beatdown as the clock ticked down.
Fish was next in. He fought off both opponents before finishing it off with a suplex on Dunne into Lorcan. He flattened Lorcan with a spinebuster and sent Dunne into the gap between the rings, where O’Reilly hit him with a boot. Fish and O’Reilly then downed Lorcan with a DDT into a German suplex. Dunne tried to stop the attack, but his opponents easily dispatched him. O’Reilly wrestled with Lorcan and Fish wrestled with Dunne until Burch entered the match.
Burch grabbed a bag with cricket bats inside on the way to the ring. He and Dunne beat down their opponents with the bats. Burch taunted O’Reilly and was about to crack him with the bat, but O’Reilly surprised him with a heel hook as Burch frantically tapped. Dunne broke up the submission with a diving stomp, and Burch nailed O’Reilly with the bat.
Roderick Strong was next, but he was immediately laid out by Lorcan and Burch. Strong answered with clotheslines and chops before hitting Dunne with a backbreaker and Burch with an Olympic slam. Strong hit strikes on all three opponents but was cut off and sent headfirst into the cage by Lorcan. Team McAfee regained control as McAfee himself was the final entrant.
McAfee brought four tables into the ring, each of which had the Undisputed Era logo and the members’ names on them. He also brought in chairs. Finally in the match, McAfee went to the top rope as his associates set up Strong on a table. McAfee’s first move was a picture-perfect top-rope moonsault through Strong on the table.
The clock counted down and Cole, the final entrant, grabbed a fire extinguisher at ringside. He used it on his opponents and ran wild on Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch as the match was officially underway.
Cole and McAfee were the only two standing, but Dunne popped up between them. Dunne flattened Cole with a forearm smash and laid in stomps, but Cole countered the Bitter End into a DDT. McAfee caught Cole from behind, allowing Dunne to try to break Cole’s fingers, but O’Reilly stopped him with a chair shot.
O’Reilly talked trash to McAfee, accusing him of “playing pro wrestler.” McAfee was about to start a fight but Cole attacked him with a chair. The match broke down and all eight men brawled with their opponents.
Undisputed Era got the advantage until Dunne attacked Fish from behind. Fish turned the X-Plex into a sleeper, but Lorcan broke it up with a blockbuster. O’Reilly landed a knee strike, but Lorcan broke up the pinfall attempt. Lorcan and Burch hit a Magic Killer on O’Reilly, but Fish broke up the pin.
Cole had the advantage until McAfee cut him off with a chop block from behind. McAfee locked on a figure four leglock as his teammates ran interference, but Cole turned it around and reversed the pressure. Dunne broke it up with a stomp.
Lorcan and Burch set up the table with Cole’s name on it but were cut off by Strong and Fish. Dunne caught a Cole superkick and turned it into an armbar, but Cole forced Dunne’s shoulders onto the mat, so Dunne had to break. Cole then hit the ushigoroshi for a near fall.
Cole set up a table and looked to superplex Dunne through it. Fish and Strong put Burch on a table and tried to bomb Dunne through it, but the table didn’t break. Strong dove off with a splash through Dunne and Burch, breaking the table. McAfee tried to take advantage and attack Cole, but Cole sent him flying through a table.
Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch were all forced between the ropes and the cage. Undisputed Era each hit a strike on all three men.
McAfee was the only member of his team left standing. He tried to climb out of the cage, but Undisputed Era stopped him and took turns tossing him into the cage. They tried to inflict more punishment, but took too long as Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch re-entered the fray and regained control.
Everyone climbed various turnbuckles. Lorcan nailed a diving uppercut on Fish, but Cole hit a top-rope neckbreaker on Dunne and Strong hit a superplex on McAfee. All eight men were down.
It looked like everyone started to brawl, but the camera panned up and McAfee was on top of the structure. He “hit” a senton atomico in the middle of the crowd, but somehow missed everyone and splatted on the canvas. That was brutal.
Dunne and O’Reilly faced off with a strike exchange. Dunne snapped O’Reilly’s fingers and hit the Bitter End, but O’Reilly kicked out in a great near fall. O’Reilly hit a brainbuster on Dunne on the steel between the two rings, but Dunne kicked out for another good near fall.
O’Reilly set Dunne up on a chair and headed to the top turnbuckle. McAfee cut him off with a hard chair shot. He tried to attack Cole with the chair, but Cole avoided it and grabbed the chair. McAfee countered a chair shot with a low blow, but Cole hit a pump kick.
Cole wanted Panama Sunrise. Burch tried to interfere, but Strong tackled him through a table. Cole tried for a Panama Sunrise of his own, but Cole cut it off with a superkick and hit Panama Sunrise for two. Cole went for the Last Shot, but Lorcan got in the way and took it before Dunne hit Cole with the Bitter End through a chair.
O’Reilly, Fish, and Strong dispatched Dunne before hitting the High Low through a chair on Lorcan. O’Reilly then hit Lorcan with a diving knee drop through a chair to win WarGames and end the show.
A ladder match with WarGames implications headlines tonight’s Thanksgiving Eve episode of NXT.
One member of Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) will take on Pete Dunne in a ladder match tonight to decide which team will get the advantage in the men’s WarGames match at TakeOver. Undisputed Era and Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch) are facing off at NXT TakeOver: WarGames on Sunday, December 6.
The women’s WarGames match will see Shotzi Blackheart and three partners take on Candice LeRae and three partners. Tonight, LeRae will face Ember Moon in a singles match. Moon & Toni Storm defeated Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez last week, but LeRae and Indi Hartwell helped Kai and Gonzalez attack Moon and Storm after the match.
Kevin Owens will be on tonight’s NXT as a guest commentator, filling in for Wade Barrett. Owens will also host a KO Show segment with NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff as his guest.
After losing to NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai last week, Rhea Ripley will address the NXT Universe tonight. Kushida vs. Timothy Thatcher is also set for tonight’s show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show is opening with a singles match that involves particpants in the women’s War Games match.
Candice LeRae (with Indi Hartwell) defeated Ember Moon
LeRae pinned Moon after interference by Hartwell. Others got involved after the match, including Toni Storm. She went on to turn heel on Moon. The match was good despite the outside interference.
LeRae early on wanted a timeout. However, there are no timeouts in pro wrestling. So Moon dropkicked her out of the ring. Moon then sent LeRae crashing into the announce desk.
After a fallaway slam in the ring, LeRae went outside again. LeRae tried to flee, but Moon chased her down. LeRae cut off Moon when they got back into the ring, and the tide briefly turned for a few moments.
Moon landed a kick for a near fall. LeRae countered into an small package for a two count. She hit Moon with a lariat for another two. Moon kicked out again a moment later, and Moon soon fired up to rally.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez came to ringside as the show cut to its first commercial break. LeRae took advantage of a distracted Moon during the break, and then LeRae began to work her over.
LeRae applied the Gargano Escape after the show returned from break. Moon tried to break the submission hold, but LeRae caught her in sleeper. Moon countered, and then Moon made a comeback.
A suplex combo led to Moon going for her finisher. Hartwell jumped into the ring to cause a distraction, and Hartwell made a sacrifice by taking The Eclipse from Moon. LeRae superkicked Moon, and then used Wicked Stepsister before scoring the pinfall.
Kai & Gonzalez got into the ring after the match to attack Moon. Toni Storm came out seemingly to make a save. Instead, she turned on Moon. Storm attacked her, and then she threw Moon into the ring steps. Storm rolled Moon back into the ring with the heels. They left Moon laying, as Storm looks to court a spot on the heel team for War Games.
A great vignette highlighted El Legado del Fantasma.
Kyle O’Reilly to represent Undisputed Era in tonight’s main event
Undisputed Ere entered the arena for an in-ring promo. A clip before their promo showed Pat McAfee cutting a promo on his podcast. McAfee said he would not be there tonight.
Adam Cole began with a question: “Do we look dead to you?”
McAfee said his faction killed Undisputed Era. Cole said they heard that before, but they are still here. He called McAfee a coward for not being there tonight. Cole talked about how much he will enjoy facing off against McAfee in War Games.
Kyle O’Reilly chimed in to say it was fun beating up McAfee’s faction last week, Roderick Strong said he agreed. Bobby Fish also nodded his head.
Cole said they had to focus on tonight. Pete Dunne was chosen as to represent McAfee’s faction. O’Reilly, who Dunne turned on at Halloween Havoc, said he wanted the match. Everyone else agreed, so main event tonight is set with a ladder match between Dunne and O’Reilly.
Candice LeRae in a backstage interview announced her War Games team as herself, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, and Storm.
In a pre-tape ad spot, LeRae and her husband, Johnny Gargano, plugged merchandise and Black Friday.
Kushida defeated Timothy Thatcher
Kushida won via submission using an armbar. They had a great wrestling match.
Ciampa before the match walked down to ringside dragging a steel chair. Ciampa would sat in the chair at ringside to watch the match.
Ciampa looked on as Thatcher and Kushida grappled and exchanged holds. The paced quickened when Kushida landed a cartwheel into a dropkick. He went for a kick, but Thatcher blocked it. Thatcher then targeted a leg before the show cut to a commercial break.
Kushida was making a comeback when the show returned from break. Thatcher cut him off, but Kushida still fought back. Kushida applied the Hoverboard Lock, but Thatcher countered into an armbar of his own. Kushida with a counter to apply an armbar. Thatcher countered into ankle lock, and Kushida counters that into an ankle lock of his own.
Kushdia with a bridging cradle got a near fall, but Thatcher caught him in a sleeper hold. Kushida with a counter sent Thatcher outside the ring. Thatcher was bleeding from the nose.
Thatcher took a shoulder breaker on the floor. Kushida went to work on the arm, peppering Thatcher with kicks. Thatcher came back with a suplex. Ciampa suddenly stood up, and he slammed the chair closed. The loud bang helped distract Thatcher, and Kushida trapped him in an armbar. Thatcher tried to free himelf, but he was instead forced to tap out.
KO Show with special guest Leon Ruff
Ruff, who is the reigning NXT North American Champion, joined Kevin Owens for a talk show segment. Owens threw to a clip from a few weeks ago when Ruff won the title. The clip showed the title belt falling off Ruff, and it landed around his ankles. Ruff was embarrassed by the clip being shown. Owens joked that the same thing happend to him when he won the NXT title. The joke being that Owens has a much larger waistline than Ruff.
Owens changed the subject by asking Ruff what the title meant to him. Ruff said the title meant a “yes” to every “no” he has received on his way coming up. He wanted to be an inspiration. Owens congratulated Ruff on winning the title, and Owens said Ruff should be proud of himself. Owens went on to tell Ruff to needs to talk about himself with more conviction in your voice. Owens encouraged Ruff.
Ruff became fired up by Owens’ pep talk. Ruff exclaimed that he twice beat Johnny Gargano. Owens told Ruff when you say someone’s name on the KO Show, they normally appear. Sure enough, Owens was right. Out came Gargano to confront Ruff.
Gargano as he got into the ring was cutting a promo on Ruff. Owens offered him a chair, because he was a good host. Gargano yelled that he did not want a “stupid chair” as he hurled it out of the ring. Another chair was passed to Owens, and he offerend the new chair to Gargano. He screamed about not wanting a chair. Owens said the chair was not for Gargano. He had a hunch someone else would join in.
Gargano then turned his attention back to Ruff. Gargano proclaimed himself the rightful North American Champion, and Gargano blamed Damian Priest for his loss to Ruff. Owens chimed in to say he already warned about what happend when someone is name dropped. Sure enough, Priest enters the scene.
Priest cut a promo saying he was better than Gargano. Owens interrupted to ask Priest if he need a chair. Priest politely declined, and Owens asked himself why he keeps brinnging all these chairs.
Gargano shoved Ruff into a chair, and Ruff got in his face. Priest then told Ruff he had yet to receive a rematch for the title. Priest reminded Ruff that he vowed to defend the title against both Priest and Gargano.
Owens remarked that it was too bad NXT did not have Teddy Long, so he could come out and book the match. Owens then said he remembered NXT had someone for that. Cue William Regal. He booked a triple threat match for the North American Championship at TakeOver.
NXT Champion Finn Balor cut a promo in a pre-tape vignette.
Shotzi Blackeart cut a promo about War Games as Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” played in the background. The classic rock song is the theme for War Games.
Cameron Grimes defeated Jake Atlas
Grimes pinned Atlas after the Cave In. They had a good match, albeit too short.
They quickly built to a fast pace, and they went back-and-forth. Grimes then delivered the Cave In, and he covered Atlas for the pinfall.
Dexter Lumis appeared out of nowhere, and he popped up behind Grimes. A frightened Grimes recoiled in fear. Grimes fled the ring, but Lumis was not done. He threw to a video package on the LED screens. It was a video making fun of Grimes beind scared.
Lumis also had the blindfold sack from last week, and he reached into the bag to pull out a long strap. Regal later on made the match official. Grimes faces Lumis in a strap match at TakeOver.
Rhea Ripley attacked during speech
Ripley said he hug last week with Io Shirai was not part of a send-off, despite speculation otherwise. Ripley said she was still in NXT, and she vowed to win the NXT Women’s Championshiop. Candice LeRae interrupted her, and LeRae was joined with Toni Storm.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez then joined them on the stage. Gonzalez was carrying Shirai over her shoulders, presumably having been attacked by the heels. Those heels surrounded the ring, and they closed in Ripley. They beat down Ripley, and they pummeled her.
Xia Li and Boa in a skit went to a warehouse where they pleaded for forgiveness and mercy. Their plees were aimed at a mysterious figure clad in a cloak. The cloaked figure marked their hands. That looked like the weirdest night club I’ve ever seen.
Grizzled Young Veterans Return
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) were in the ring for a match when they were attacked by Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson). They laid out Ever-Rise. The assailants cut a promo, and they vowed to become the number one contenders.
LeRae in a backstage interview announced that next week on NXT is Raquel Gonzalez against Shotzi Blackheart. The match determines who gets the advantage in the women’s War Games match. Hartwell was with LeRae, and Hartwell was wearing a neck brace after taking The Eclipse earlier in the show. LeRae helped her into a waiting car. Someone dressed in a Scream costume was sitting in the back seat. So Gargano, LeRae, and Hartwell were seen along with the Scream character. So someone else is part of their group.
Pete Dunne defeated Kyle O’Reilly in a ladder match to win the advantage for War Games
Dunne won the match by climbing ladder to reach a briefcase hanging above. The win gives McAfee’s team the War Games advanatge. A masked man ran in at the finsih to help Dunne win the match.
On a side note, Dunne is so freaking shredded right now. He looks lean and mean.
They started with a slugfest before the bell. Just as the match began and the action was rising, the show cut a commercial break. They were still brawling when the show returned from break. A ladder came into play, and it was used outside the ring. A ladder was bridged between the ring apron and the barricade. That would later factor into the match.
O’Reilly took an ugly bump when Ripley shoved the ladder as O’Reilly tried to climb. O’Reilly moments later was powerbombed into a ladder. The fight continued as they fought near the ladder bridge.
They built to Dunne suplexing O’Reilly through the ladder, and it broke into pieces beneath their weight. Dunne further worked over O’Reilly as he stomped on him, and Dunne targeted a hand. He used the ladder as a weapon to punish the hand.
Dunne went to hit O’Reilly with a chair, but O’Reilly at first blocked it. O’Reilly went to throw a punch, but he hit the chair instead with his injured hand. Nevertheless, O’Reilly was still able to rally. He caught Dunne in a guillotine.
O’Reilly gave Dunne a brainbuster on a ladder, and O’Reilly climbed the turnbuckles. He leapt off, but O’Reilly missed a flying kneedrop. O’Reilly crashed into the ladder, allowing Dunne time to climb the ladder. O’Reilly pulled Dunne off the ladder using an ankle pick.
Dunne threw a kick, but he hit the ladder instead with the same injured knee he was seeling throughout the match. They traded strikes, and that led to a tug-o-war between the ladder. Dunne was struck by the ladder, and he went down.
They both climbed the ladder, and the traded punches atop the ladder. Dunne reached the briefcase hanging from the rafters. O’Reilly climbed up to cut him off, and O’Reilly reached for the ladder. Dunne grabbed O’Reilly’s fingers, and he did the finger break spot. O’Reilly fell off the ladder selling his hand. O’Reilly still managed to shove the ladder, and Dunne fell off.
A double down led to O’Reilly again climbing the ladder. Dunne fetched a chair, and several times he hit O’Reilly with the chair. Looking to climb the ladder, Dunne went up the rungs. O’Reilly tipped the ladder over, and Dunne took a Nestea Plunge onto another ladder leaned in a corner. That was a crazy bump.
Someone wearing a mask ran in to shove a ladder over, causing O’Reilly to take a big bump out of the ring. He went over the rope, and he crashed into the announce desk. Dunne easily climbed a ladder to pull down the briefcase. He won the match, and Dunne also wins the War Games advantage for his team.
This was a pretty damn good episode of NXT.
A ladder match is set for this week’s episode of NXT.
During a commercial that aired on Raw tonight, it was announced that one member of Undisputed Era will face one member of Team McAfee in a ladder match on NXT this Wednesday night. The ladder match will determine who gets the advantage in this year’s men’s WarGames match.
Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) are facing Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch) in the men’s WarGames match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames on Sunday, December 6.
After being attacked by McAfee and his associates in recent weeks, Undisputed Era returned at the end of last week’s NXT and brawled with Team McAfee to close the show. It was then confirmed that Undisputed Era and Team McAfee will face off in WarGames at TakeOver.
Ember Moon vs. Candice LeRae has also been announced for this Wednesday’s episode of NXT. LeRae will be one of the captains for the women’s WarGames match at TakeOver. It will be Shotzi Blackheart and three partners vs. LeRae and three partners.
Moon & Toni Storm defeated Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez on NXT last week. After the match, LeRae and Indi Hartwell helped Kai and Gonzalez attack Moon and Storm.
Wednesday’s NXT will feature Kevin Owens on commentary. He’s filling in for Wade Barrett on this week’s show.
The Undisputed Era are officially set to face off with Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in WarGames.
After tonight’s episode of NXT went off the air, WWE uploaded a video with NXT general manager William Regal announcing that Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) will face McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan & Burch in a WarGames match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames next month. The event is taking place on Sunday, December 6.
Tonight’s NXT ended with Undisputed Era making their return and brawling with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. All four members of Undisputed Era had been attacked by McAfee and his associates in recent weeks.
In the main event segment of tonight’s NXT episode, NXT Champion Finn Balor made his return for the first time since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw last month. McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch interrupted Balor and surrounded him. Balor said it’s easy for the mice to play while the cat’s away, but the cat is back and look what he’s just dragged in. The lights then went out and Undisputed Era appeared. They brawled with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch as the show went off the air.
WarGames will be McAfee’s second-ever professional wrestling match. The former All-Pro NFL punter made his in-ring debut in a loss to Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX this August.
Undisputed Era have been part of every men’s WarGames match that has taken place in NXT. TakeOver: WarGames has been held annually since 2017.
This is the second WarGames match that’s been announced for next month’s TakeOver event. Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LeRae will be the captains of the two teams in this year’s women’s WarGames match.
A Tag Team title match is set for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Breezango will put their NXT Tag Team titles on the line against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish on tonight’s show. Strong & Fish became the number one contenders to Breezango’s titles by defeating Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch last week.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner this August.
Two other matches have also been announce for tonight’s show. Tommaso Ciampa, Kushida, and Velveteen Dream will face off in a triple threat match. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Jake Atlas & Ashante “Thee” Adonis will team against Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) in a six-man tag.
WWE will also continue setting the stage for next week’s Halloween Havoc episode of NXT. Three matches have already been announced for next Wednesday: Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae for the NXT Women’s Championship, Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship, and Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez. Halloween Havoc host Shotzi Blackheart revealed last week that Shirai vs. LeRae and Priest vs. Gargano will have stipulations chosen by Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a three-way dance.
Kushida defeated Tommaso Ciampa and Velveteen Dream in a triple threat match
Kushida pinned Ciampa in an exciting match. This was a wild brawl even before the opening bell. Ciampa attacked Dream during his entrance, and the fight was on. Kushida soon joined the brawl. Dream got pummeled, and Ciampa stomped on his hand in a cast. Dream begged off.
Ciampa executed a double DDT to plant both Kushida and Dream. Ciampa in firm control until Kushida got a two count with a sunset flip. Dream cut off Kushida, and he attacked both Kushida and Ciampa. However, Dream instead took a big bump after a forearm by Ciampa.
The pace quickened into a great series of sequences, and then the show cut to commercial. Kushida was running wild when the show returned from the break. Kushida applied an armbar on Dream at ringside, targeting the hand in a cast. Ciampa stomped on them both to break the hold.
Kushida gave Ciampa a shoulde breaker on the floor, and then Kushida went to work on the arm. Kushida applied an armbar, but Dream break it up with a flying elbow drop out of nowhere. Dream countered a Pedigree, but still got rolled up by Ciampa for a near fall.
Ciampa went to argue with the referee, but he ate a superkick from Dream. Kushida jumped in to break up a pinfall. Kushida and Ciampa teamed up to beat up Dream, and then they began to fight. Kushida exploded into a series of several flip dives over the rope. Ciampa cut him with Widow’s Bell, but the pin was broken up.
The closing minutes were really good. The action was back-and-forth. Ciampa with an O’Connor Roll on Kushida, and Kushida kicked out. Dream hit Ciampa with the cast, and Ciampa fell backwards into a German suplex from Kushida. Holding on to the bridge, Kushida pinned Ciampa.
Undisputed Era cut a promo backstage ahead of their tag team title match later on. Adam Cole joined them virtually via a tablet.
Wade Barrett challenged Vic Joseph to a Halloween costume contest for next Wednesday.
A video package hyped Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez for next week on the Halloween Havoc episode.
Ember Moon defeated Jessi Kamea
Moon submitted Kamea in a showcase match.
Moon taunted Kamea at the outset, and Kamea surprised her with a two count. Moon turned up the intensity, leading to a standing moonsault for a near fall. Moon then applied a crossface. She also applied an ankle lock.
Kamea with a counter to break the hold, and Kamea with a comeback. A springboard flying elbow drop netted Kamea a near fall. Moon came off the ropes to cut her off with a flying codebreaker. Moon tied Kamea in a new submission finisher, and Kamea tapped out.
Dakaot Kai ran in after the match to attack Moon. Kai laid her out with a kick, and she fled the scene.
Bobby Fish was apparently attacked backstage, but he says he did not see his attacker. This seems to happen a lot in NXT. Anyway, Fish with the injury was removed from the tag title match later on. Kyle O’Reilly will take his place to team with Roderick Strong in the championship bout.
Bronson Reed defeated Austin Theory…Twice
Reed pinned Theory in back to back matches. The first went a few minutes, and the second match laster seconds.
Theory worked over Reed momentarily, until Reed came back with a powerslam. Reed then flattened him with a senton. Theory tried to cut off Reed, but Theory instead took a Nestea Plunge off the top rope. Reed followed with a big splash off the top rope, and he covered Theory for a pinfall.
Theory after the match cut an angry promo saying he was the future of WWE. He challenged Reed to get back into the ring. Theory wanted to fight him until Theory beat him.
Reed got back into the ring, and he pinned Theory in seconds after a Samoan Drop.
Xia Li and Kacy Catanzaro were backstage in a face-to-face interview ahead of their match later on. Li said it was the biggest match of her career and she has to win.
During the commercial break, Austin Theory said he quit. He threw his bag into an SUV, and he sped away.
Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Jake Atlas
Wilde pinned Adonis to win a wild trios match.
The bell rang to start the match, and Legado del Fantasma ducked out of the ring like they were Jay White or KENTA in G1. The babyface trio went out after them, and a brawl erupted on the floor. The babyfaces cleaned house, the action returned to the ring.
Atlas with a Three Amigos in tribute to Eddie Guerrero, which I always love to see. Atlas kept shining with cool set of lucha moves. Adonis faked out the heels teasing a dive, and then Swerve with a corkscrew flip dive off the top to the floor.
The show cut to the commercial with the babyfaces standing tall. The heels were in control when the show returned from break, and they worked over Adonis. A dropkick created separation, and Adonis able to tag out.
Atlas like a house of fire after a hot tag. Escobar cut him off, but Swerve jumped in to fight Escobar as they’ve been in a program. The match broke down briefly as they set up a stunt, with a flip dive/Spanish Fly spot.
Swerve got a near fall on Mendoza. Momenta laters, Mendoza countered to send Adonis colliding into Swerve. Esobar sailed through the ropes with a tope. Atlas caught Escobar with a cartwheel DDT on the floor. Meanwhile, Mendoza & Wilde double team Adonis. Wilde then covered Adonis to score a pinfall.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were at their kitchen table. They had a wheel, and LeRae wanting to practice spinning it ahead of their “Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal” matches next week. Gargano freaked out after spinning it twice. The first time it was a buried alive match, and the second time the wheel stopped on a casket match. Gargano was distraught, and he stormed off.
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) defeated Drake Maverick & Killian Dain via disqualification
Maverick used a chair to break up a submission hold, causing the DQ.
Ever-Rise got heat on Maverick, as they worked him over for a few minutes. Dain after a hot tag mauled Ever-Rise. Parker with a chop block on Dain, and then Dain was trapped in a half crab.
Maverick fired up after being taunted by Martel at ringside. He grabbed a steel chair, and used it hit Parker. That caused a DQ, and Maverick ran off Ever-Rise while swinging the chair. Dain at first looked upset like he usually is with Maverick, and Maverick looked worried about it.
Dain was happy, though. He screamed that it was awesome how Maverick used the chair to hit Ever-Rise. They are finally friends! Their wacky theme song started playing. That was too much for Dain, and he left the ring. One day at a time.
The show cut backstage like a TNA “to the back” segment, and Roderick Strong was laid out. O’Reilly left to go check on his friends at the hospital. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will now replace Undisputed Era in the tag team title match later on.
Kacy Catanzaro defeated Xia Li
Catanzaro cradlled Li for a flash pin in a short match. An angry Li attacked Catanzaro after the match. Kayden Carter came down to the ring, and Li attacked her too.
Raquel Gonzalez ran in out of nowhere and leveled Li with a lariat. Gonzalez presslammed Catanzaro, and she threw her on to Carter. Gonzalez gave Carter a chokeslam, and then she cut a promo threatening Rhea Ripley.
Cameron Grimes was great in a backstage interview. He was cocky until finding out his match next week against Dexter Lumis was a “Haunted House of Terror” match. That scared Grimes, but he would not admit it.
Timothy Thatcher was back with a Thatch-As-Thatch-Can seminor, and this session was live in the arena. Thatcher asked his student what is name was, and he replied that it was Anthony. Thatcher called him “Andrew”, and the stretching soon began. This was great! Stu Hart would love this.
“Andrew” was grew angry after Thatcher tortured him with a hold. Thatcher said that is how you learn. On with the seminor, where “Andrew” shot on Thatcher. Smirking at “Andrew”, Thatcher invited a referee into the ring. Thatcher then dropped “Andrew” with a cheap shot forearm. A bell rang, and match was on…
Timothy Thatcher defeated “Andrew”
Thatcher punished “Andrew”, and then he submitted him with a half crab. Thatcher after the match kicked him out of the ring. “Class dismissed,” Thatcher said into the camera.
A vignette hyped Johnny Gagarno challenging NXT North American Champion Damain Priest.
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeated Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) to win the NXT Tag Team Championship
Burch pinned Breeze to win the titles after outside interference by Pat McAfee under a mask. They were having a good match, although it was not very eventful until the finish.
Breezango caught Lorcan & Burch with stereo superkicks. Fandango went to the top turnbuckle. A masked man wearing a silver face covering — who apparently was hiding under the ring — got involved to shove Fandango off the top rope.
Breeze walked into a low blow from Burch. Fandango was then given an assisted draping DDT, and Burch covered Breeze for a pinfall.
The masked man got into the ring to raise the hands of the new champions. He then unmasked to reveal himself as Pat McAfee. He is apparently now aligned with Burch & Lorcan.
Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish are the new number one contenders to the NXT Tag Team titles.
In the opener of tonight’s episode of NXT, Strong & Fish defeated Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a number one contenders match. Strong & Fish will challenge for Breezango’s NXT Tag Team titles on NXT next Wednesday.
Strong pinned Lorcan at the end of tonight’s match after hitting a jumping knee strike. Lorcan had assisted Burch in hitting an elevated DDT on Strong leading into the finish, but Fish broke up the pin. Fish sent Lorcan into Burch and knocked Burch off the apron, then Strong hit the knee strike to get the win.
The Strong & Fish vs. Lorcan & Burch number one contender’s match was set up by Strong & Burch teaming together last month to defeat Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza. In storyline, Fandango pitched a match where one member of Undisputed Era would team with one member of Lorcan & Burch against one member of Imperium and one member of Legado Del Fantasma. The winners would then face off in a tag team match to determine Breezango’s next challengers.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Imperium this August.
It also appears that Xia Li will be in action on NXT next Wednesday, though her opponent hasn’t been announced. There was a backstage segment on NXT tonight where Li and Boa lobbied for NXT General Manager William Regal to give Li a match next week. Regal said he would take it under consideration.
Breezango’s next challengers will be determined on this week’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will face Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish in a tag match on NXT this Wednesday. The winning team will become the number one contenders to Breezango’s NXT Tag Team titles, though WWE has yet to announce when they’ll be getting their title shot.
The number one contender’s match was set up when Strong & Burch teamed together to defeat Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza on NXT three weeks ago. In storyline, Fandango pitched the match to NXT general manager William Regal. The stipulation was that one member of Lorcan & Burch would team with one member of Undisputed Era against one member of Imperium and one member of Legado del Fantasma. The winners would then advance to face each other in a number one contender’s tag match.
Breezango have been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Aichner & Barthel on the August 26 episode of NXT. They’ve had one title defense since then, defeating Imperium in a rematch last month.
Lorcan & Burch vs. Strong & Fish is the first match that’s been announced for this week’s NXT.
Kyle O’Reilly returns to the ring as the Undisputed Era challenge Imperium for the NXT Tag Team titles tonight.
Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner are defending their titles against O’Reilly & Bobby Fish on tonight’s show. The match was announced last week after all four members of Undisputed Era attacked Barthel & Aichner following their non-title win against Ever-Rise.
After an angle on his radio show last month, Pat McAfee will appear tonight and address his confrontation with Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole.
A couple of matches with TakeOver XXX implications are also set for tonight. Dakota Kai and Rhea Ripley are facing off in a number one contender’s match. The winner will challenge Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver on Saturday, August 22. Plus, Damian Priest, Ridge Holland, and Oney Lorcan will meet in a triple threat qualifying match tonight to determine who will advance to the ladder match for the vacant North American Championship at TakeOver.
Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis have already qualified for the ladder match. It will feature five wrestlers in total.
NXT Champion Keith Lee vs. Cameron Grimes in a non-title match and Reed vs. Shane Thorne are also set for tonight. Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Opening the show is a number one contender’s match to decide the next challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Dakota Kai defeated Rhea Ripley to become number one contender
Kai pinned Ripley after interference by Mercedes Martinez. Kai now goes on to challenge NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai in a title match at TakeOver. Martinez again attacked Ripley after the match.
Ripley was dominate at the outset. She took her time, but was still super aggressive. Kai was reeling and scrambling when Ripley grounded her on the mat with a body scissors. Kai with some counters got a two count, but she would pay for it taking a lariat.
Ripley executed a delayed vertical suplex earlier in the match. When she went for a second attempt, Kai countered and tried to trip Ripley to no avail. Kai ended up in an electric chair, and Ripley dropped her face first on the apron. Somehow Kai kicked out, and the show cut to picture-in-picture commercials.
Kai during the commercial break used a drop toehold to sent Ripley into a turnbuckle. From there Kai went to work on Ripley. Kai hit some of running kicks, but Ripley kicked out on a cover. Ripley went on to make a comeback after the break.
Ripley fired up. She planted Kai with a facebuster for a two count. Kai would fight back as they traded strikes and kicks. Ripley with a flapjack for another two count. Ripley with a pump handle went for the Ripe Tide, and Kai countered to spike her with a DDT. Ripley still managed to kick out.
Ripley went for her Prism Trap submission hold, but Kai was able to escape. Ripley blocked an attempted superplex, and she knocked Kai off the aprons. Kai fell back into the ring when suddenly Mercedes Martinez runs into boot Ripley in the face. Kai capitalized to deliver the Go 2 Kick, and Kai covered Ripley for the pinfall.
Martinez attacked Ripley again after the bell, and Martinez executed an Air Raid Crash after the match. Ripley’s nose was bloodied in the melee.
Pat McAfee talked to Shawn Michaels earlier in the day. That is all we know. Subject matter was unclear, but maybe it was about Adam Cole.
Bronson Reed defeated Shane Thorne
Reed pinned Thorne in a battle between Aussies. This match was set with Thorne talking trash on social media.
The traded strikes at the start, and Thorne was able to gain an early advantage. He clotheslined Reed over the ropes, and Thorne followed with a dive through the ropes. The briefly fought on the floor where Reed gave Thorne a full nelson slam on the apron. Thorne was back up a moment later to cut off Reed as he climbed the turnbuckles.
Thorne with a shining wizard got a near fall, and Reed would soon make a comeback. Reed with a military press and senton netted him a two count. They clubbed each other trading strikes until Reed turned Thorne inside out with a lariat.
Reed with a Death Valley Driver set up the flying body press off the top rope. Reed then covered Thorne for the pinfall.
Breezango arrived to the arena earlier in the day when they were assaulted in broad daylight by El Legado del Fantasma. Santos Escobar and his henchmen kidnapped Fandango, and they fled the scene in a SUV.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed The Robert Stone Brand about Martinez interfering the match earlier in the show. Robert Stone said Ripley may be done with them, but they are not done with her.
Damian Priest defeated Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland in a triple threat qualifying match
Priest pinned Lorcan to win the match. Priest in winning qualified for the third spot in the ladder match at Takeover for the vacant NXT North American Championship. This was a good match, and they protected Holland as he still looked strong despite not winning the match. Lorcan instead took the fall.
Priest got to shine early on as he got the best of both Lorcan and Holland. Priest with a flatliner on Holland had him down selling, and Priest then squared off with Lorcan. They fought for a few moments until Holland charged back into the ring. He sent Priest outside, but Lorcan also knocked Holland out of the ring. Lorcan then leapt over the ropes into a flip dive.
Holland got to display his strength as he tossed Loracn overhead with a suplex. Holland then suplexed Priest and stood tall before the show cut to a commercial break. When the show returned from the break a slugfest had developed between Priest and Holland. Loran flew into both with senton, and Lorcan followed that with a double blockbuster.
Lorcan hooked Priest in a half crab. Priest kicked free, but he ate an uppercut for a two count. Holland cut off Lorcan with a Monty Brown pounce. Holland with a gutwrench powerbomb on Priest for two.
A triple down led into the closing minutes. Holland and Lorcan in a fighting spriit exchange. Lorcan went on to counter Priest, but that left him wide open for Holland to wipe him out. Priest then wiped out Holland with a chokeslam. Priest then executed The Reckoning on Lorcan, and he covered him for the pinfall.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defeated Cameron Grimes in a non-title match
Lee looked very string and stoic in this where he pinned Grimes.
Grimes stalled and played cat-and-mouse with Lee. Grimes kept getting mowed down and manhandled by Lee. Grimes took a Harley Race bump in a corner, and he flipped out of the ring to the floor. Grimes set a trap for Lee, and he rammed him into the ring steps. Grimes then springboarded into an Asai moonsault to the floor. The show cut to commercial with Lee down selling.
Lee was firing up in a comeback as the show returned from the commercial break. Lee mauled Grimes, but Grimes was able to avoid a Spirit Bomb. That just delayed the inevitable as Lee picked up Grimes in a fireman’s carry. He was seemingly going for a jackhammer when Grimes countered into a small package. Grimes a moment later with schoolboy tried to cover Lee with a foot on the ropes for leverage. Lee still kicked out.
Lee caught Grimes on a flying crossbody, but Grimes would catch Lee with a one-man Spanish Fly. Grimes went for the Cave In, but Lee blocked it. Lee chopped down Grimes, and nailed him with a some short arm clotheslines. Lee with a Spirit Bomb scored the decisive pinfall.
The arena lights went out and Scarlett’s voiced boomed over the loud speaker. Karrion Kross then appeared on a video screen with a message for Lee. Kross had attacked and laid out several wrestlers. He message was he wants a title match.
William Regal announced that Dexter Lumis suffered on ankle injury, and Lumis is out of the ladder match at TakeOver. Since neither Johnny Gargano nor Finn Balor dropped the fall in their qualifying match, they both want consideration. There is also Ridge Holland on tonight’s show having lost without losing a fall. Therefore, in two weeks time the three wrestlers just named and a fourth from the other upcoming qualfying match will face off in two different singles matches. The two winners advance to the ladder match.
El Legado del Fantasma dragged a helpless Fandango into the arena. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar said every week they explain why lucha libre culture is important, and why it is art. It is not a gimmick to be exploited for merch money, but people like Fandango exist. Breezango on a previous episode had spoofed luhca libre in on of their entrances. Escobar was angry about Fandango & Tyler Breeze mocking his culture. He compared it to them spitting in his face.
Escobar said the disrespect stops right now. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde went to pummel Fandango when Breeze ran in. He was also attacked and beat down. Escobar also issued a warning to Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
A vignette highlighted Undisputed Era and their reigns as tag team champions.
Damian Priest and Bronson Reed had words outside the building, which sets up a singles match between them.
Pat McAfee joined the broadcast booth for guest commentary.
Tegan Nox defeated Indi Hartwell
Nox pinned Hartwell in a match that was more about McAfee on commentary than what was happening in the ring.
Nox got to shine early on until Hartwell cut her off. Nartwell got a near fall after a big boot. The announcers were more focused on talking to McAfee. Nox made a comeback and delivered the Shiniest Wizard to score the pinfall.
Announced for next week is another triple threat qualifying match. Kushida returns to face Cameron Grimes and a mystery opponent to decide another particpant in the ladder match at TakeOver. Priest against Reed in a singles match was also made official. Danny Burch also faces Karrion Kross in a singles match next week on NXT.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish with Adam Cole & Roderick Strong) for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Aichner pinned Fish after Undisputed Era were distracted by a Cole and McAfee at ringside.
This seemed like a tag team match Bill Watts would have booked in WCW during 1992 like with the Steiners against Doc & Gordy. No heel/babyface dynamic, just two teams “hooking it up” in a competitive matchup. McAfee on commentary was again more of the focus of this than the match itself. This tag match still got plenty of time as the subplot played out.
This was O’Reilly’s first match back in several months. He squared off with Aichner to start the match. Of course much of the focus was on McAfee and Cole being near each other.
O’Reilly & Fish were working over Barthel when Aichner tagged in to nail Fish with a spinebuster before the show cut to commercial. Fish was trying to rally as the show returned from break. Meanwhile, Cole glared at McAfee.
O’Reilly cleaned house after a hot tag. O’Reilly with a Bobby Eaton flying knee drop off the top rope targeted Aichner’s leg. O’Reilly then barred the knee, and Aichner struggled for the ropes. As Aichner reached the ropes, Fish flew in with a Harley Race diving headbutt off the top. O’Reilly kept applying the submission hold as Aichner screamed in agony. Barthel made the save with a double sprinboard into a moonsault on O’Reilly.
Cole went over to confront McAfee at the broadcast booth. Cole cut a promo on McAfee telling him to knock it off with the jokes. McAfee begged off, and Cole turned to walk away. McAfee remarked that Cole was an “angry elf”, which Cole overheard. Cole walked back to the booth, and he threw water in McAfee’s face. Cole screamed at McAfee. Roderick Strong came over to hold back Cole. Referees and officials — including Shawn Michaels and Triple H — poured out from the back to separate Cole and McAfee.
O’Reilly & Fish were distracted by the commotion, and that allowed Aichner & Barthel to strike. Fish took the European Bomb (Doosmday uppercut), and Aichner covered Fish for the pinfall.
McAfee was leaving, but he turned back around to confront Cole. McAfee told Cole that for the rest of his life Cole will be a “tiny, itty bitty, short, little bitch.” Officals held Cole back as he lunged for McAfee. Cole had crawled on top of the broadcast booth when McAfee punted him with a kick. Cole took a face-first bump landing on the floor in a heap. Triple H jumped into the melee and twice shoved McAfee.
McAfee left the scene clearly playing heel.
WWE has revealed how they’re handling the NXT Tag Team title situation.
During his appearance on WWE’s The Bump this morning, NXT general manager William Regal announced that Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne will find a temporary partner for Riddle to team with while Dunne is currently unable to travel amid the coronavirus pandemic. Riddle and his temporary partner will defend the titles against The Undisputed Era on NXT tonight.
Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish will be the Undisputed Era team in tonight’s match.
In storyline, it was said that the decision for Riddle and Dunne to find a temporary partner was made after a long conversation between Regal, Riddle, and Dunne. When Dunne is able to come back, he’ll return to holding the titles with Riddle.
Riddle & Dunne were put together as a team for this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They won the tournament and then defeated Undisputed Era (Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) for the NXT Tag Team titles at TakeOver: Portland.
Here’s the updated list of what’s been announced for tonight’s NXT:
Two title matches are set for next week’s episode of NXT.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee will defend his title against Cameron Grimes on the show. There will also be an NXT Tag Team Championship match, with Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne defending their titles against former champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish).
The North American title match was announced during a segment where Grimes interrupted Lee on tonight’s NXT. O’Reilly & Fish defeated Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch on tonight’s show and then cut a promo about wanting the NXT Tag Team titles back.
Riddle & Dunne came to the stage and said they’re down to give O’Reilly & Fish a rematch. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) then attacked Riddle & Dunne. Gibson said he couldn’t care less about O’Reilly & Fish’s rematch clause. He said — as far as the NXT Tag Team titles are concerned — it’s out with the old and in with The Grizzled Young Veterans.
Before interrupting Lee tonight, Grimes defeated Dominik Dijakovic on NXT last week. Damian Priest attacked Dijakovic’s leg with a nightstick behind the referee’s back during the match. It was teased that Dijakovic was going to lose by countout because of that, but he made it back into the ring just in time. Grimes then hit a double stomp and pinned him.
Lee became the NXT North American Champion by defeating Roderick Strong in January. He retained his title against Dijakovic at NXT TakeOver: Portland last month.
After winning this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Riddle & Dunne defeated O’Reilly & Fish for the NXT Tag Team titles at TakeOver: Portland.
Next Wednesday’s NXT is taking place at the WWE Performance Center due to Full Sail not being available. Next week is Full Sail University’s annual Hall of Fame week.
A tag team match has been added to the lineup for tonight’s NXT.
The Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish will face off with Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch on tonight’s episode. The announcement was made via a tweet from NXT general manager William Regal last night: “In addition to two cage matches tomorrow, we are going to have a knock down drag out match in the tag division with The #UndisputedERA’s @KORcombat and @theBobbyFish taking on @_StarDESTROYER and @strongstylebrit #WWENXT”
Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai and Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong are the two steel cage matches that will be taking place on the show.
O’Reilly & Fish lost the NXT Tag Team titles to Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: Portland last month. Video of a backstage segment with Undisputed Era aired on NXT last week. O’Reilly & Fish cut a promo on Riddle & Dunne, saying they got lucky at TakeOver and O’Reilly & Fish aren’t going anywhere.
Lorcan & Burch lost a non-title match against Riddle & Dunne on NXT two weeks ago.
– Dominik Dijakovic defeated Damian Priest
Dijakovic won with Feast Your Eyes. The crowd was really into Priest’s entrance.
– Bianca Belair defeated Kayden Carter
Belair got a nice pop from the crowd.
– Dexter Lumis defeated Rik Bugez
Lumis was cool and mostly dominated the match. He won with a roll-up while hooking the tights.
After the match, Bugez did his air guitar routine with the referee and ring announcer.
– Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Mia Yim & Tegan Nox
The heels got the win with a roll-up while having their feet on the ropes. Nothing special in this one.
– Finn Balor defeated NXT North American Champion Keith Lee by DQ
The crowd exploded when Balor’s music hit. The fans were pretty split during the match, but I thought Balor was more over.
There was a cool spot in this match where Balor countered the Spirit Bomb into a double stomp. The fans turned on Balor when he hit a low blow after a ref bump. He grabbed the North American title belt, but Dijakovic came down, took the belt away, and superkicked Balor. The ref saw Dijakovic with the belt and disqualified Lee.
Lee and Dijakovic had a staredown and the crowd was booing Dijakovic as he walked away.
– Kushida defeated Cameron Grimes
Kushida won by submission. The match was okay but not great.
– NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Chelsea Green to retain her title
Green had a bit of offense, but this felt like a longer squash match. Ripley got a big pop.
– Tommaso Ciampa, Velveteen Dream & NXT Tag Team Champions Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne defeated The Undisputed Era (NXT Champion Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
There were some fun spots in this one, including all four members of Undisputed Era taking a superkick at the same time. Everyone got time to shine. Ciampa hit the Fairytale Ending on Fish for the win. As he usually is in Minnesota, Velveteen Dream was very over.
After the match, Ciampa thanked the fans, roster, and Triple H on NXT’s 10th birthday. He then led the crowd in a happy birthday song.
