Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley will team up tonight on AEW Dynamite with William Regal in their corner.
AEW head Tony Khan revealed the news today on Busted Open Radio, but did not reveal who their opponents will be.
“I’m very excited to have William Regal in AEW and I think it’s going to be great. He’s going to be tremendous as a mentor. Really, one of the things out of (Revolution) the fans were really excited about was to see what would happen next with Moxley and Danielson. So here we are: they are officially going to team up tonight,” he said.
Khan said he will be posting more announcements for tonight’s show on social media.
Khan also spoke about Paige VanZant possibly signing an AEW contract on Dynamite tonight. Dan Lambert promised PVZ would sign with the company so long as AEW granted Scorpio Sky a TNT title shot.
“Scorpio Sky is somebody I had offered a spot to in the Face of the Revolution ladder match. He had gone so long on this streak and I did see the case he was making that he really deserved a shot at the title. What put me over the top was Dan Lambert said if I would give Sky this match on the first Dynamite after the PPV, he would bring Paige VanZant to the show and she was going to sign with AEW. So, as I understand it from Dan, that’s what’s going to happen tonight,” he said.
Here’s the current lineup for AEW Dynamite from Fort Myers, Florida:
TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defends against Scorpio Sky
Thunder Rosa vs. Leyla Hirsch in an AEW Women’s World Championship eliminator match
Bryan Danielson & Jon Moxley (w/William Regal) vs. TBA
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Monday News Update
Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw and the latest WWE news. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected]
We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw in Cleveland regarding the Main Event taping and any dark matches or anything else notable from the live show to [email protected]. We’re also looking for reports on last night’s WWE show in Allentown, PA.
We are looking for your thoughts on AEW Revolution, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]m.
AEW
Regarding the name William Regal, there is a trademark for entertainment services and merchandise to the name owned by Darren Matthews, which of course is William Regal. He got it on 2/9. There is an entertainment service mark owned by WWE in 2007 and still showing as a live registration. Anyway, Tony Khan continually called him Lord Regal last night so I presume that will be his TV name. We got reports from a number of movie theaters and in almost every report they said his appearing was the biggest pop of last night’s show (thanks to Justin Hemmings).
We have nothing conclusive at this point regarding the AEW PPV number, but a positive sign is that AEW Revolution was the No. 4 most searched topic on Google yesterday with 200,000. Granted, UFC was 2.3 million the day before and in total 2.8 million. The only things ahead of the AEW PPV were UFC (which was first two days in a row), Manchester United and Outlander.
Tay Conti who debuts for AAA on 3/26 in Tijuana in a mixed tag with Sammy Guevara as her partner, said that she will be wrestling at one of the TripleMania shows this year.
WWE
Raw is tonight in Cleveland, the city that both Miz & Logan Paul grew up in, so they may be big-time babyfaces in the building. Or may not. Both are advertised to appear on the show. The three-way tag title match with Chad Gable & Otis vs. Randy Orton & Riddle vs. Seth Rollins & Kevin Owens is scheduled to open the show. Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa are both backstage so one would expect a segment building tomorrow’s three-way and involving Dolph Ziggler. Breakker vs. Ciampa vs. Ziggler for the NXT title headlines the show tomorrow night and the new thing is to do angles as much as possible before the big audience on Raw to help build the smaller audience of NXT. Breakker has never appeared on Raw before. Edge will also do a promo to explain his heel turn on A.J. Styles. They announced a worked neck contusion injury from last week’s show.
Other Wrestling
There was a big scare regarding Gran Guerrero taking a super power bob for the finish of his match with Euforia to decade the vacant Mexican national heavyweight title on Friday night at Arena Mexico. He went out on a stretcher, but apparently he was okay since he wrestled the next night.
The AAA show over WrestleMania week in Dallas will air as a FITE TV iPPV show.
Rev Pro from yesterday in London, UK: Yota Tsuji b Misterioso, Rhia O’Reilly b Hyan, Dan Moloney & Lee Hunter b Ricky Knight Jr. & Robbie X, Shota Umino b Luke Jacobs, Alex Windsor retained the British women’s title over Allysin Kay. Alex Coughlin b Mark Davis of Aussie Open, TK Cooper & Chuck Mambo b Michael Oku & Conor Mills to keep the tag titles. O’Reilly issued a challenge to Windsor for the next title match.
Tito Santana was announced as a member of the International Pro Wrestling Hall of fame. Santana will be there on Sunday night when they reveal their 13 person class of 2022, as well as for induction weekend 8/26 to 8/28 in Albany, NY.
The New Japan Cup update is that today, Shingo Takagi beat Tomohiro Ishii, so he faces Tanga Loa on 3/13. Chase Owens beat Jado, so he faces Tiger Mask on 3/13. Evil beat Ryusuke Taguchi and he faces Tama Tonga on 3/13. Hiromu Takahashi beat Sho, so he faces Minoru Suzuki on 3/13.
New Japan posted the 2019 New Japan Cup match with Kazuchika Okada vs. Sanada on its YouTube page as the free match of the week.
The Dragon Dia vs. Takuma Fujiwara Brave Gate match is free on YouTube from Saturday. Fujiwara is someone to pay attention to regarding 2022 Rookie of the Year, even though he’s in a tough year since we already have Bron Breakker and Hook.
UFC
Regarding Cain Velasquez not being allowed out on bail at all in today’s hearing, a number of major MMA figures including Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Henry Cejudo, Scott Coker, Ryan Bader and Kamaru Usman along with WWE’s Rey Mysterio along numerous others have written letters to judge Shelyna Brown asking that she change her decision.
Gunnar Nelson is expected to face Takashi Sato on the 3/19 show in London. Sato replaces the injured Claudio Silva.
Cynthia Calvillo is moving back to 115 pounds for a 6/4 fight with Brianna Fortino. Fortino used to fight under the name Brianna Van Buren and hasn’t fought in two years.
Other MMA
LFA announced a show on 3/25 in Commerce, CA at the Commerce Casino & Hotel at 10 p.m. Eastern on UFC Fight Pass. Ozzy Diaz (6-1) faces Bruno Assis (12-5) for the middleweight title in the main event.
AEW president Tony Khan says to expect both on-screen and behind-the-scenes roles for new signee William Regal.
Regal debuted at Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view in a post-match segment with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. In speaking at the post-show press conference, Khan said he expects Regal to contribute to the company in multiple ways.
“I think he can contribute on-screen in a major way to both Bryan Danielson, and also he has a history with Jon Moxley,” Khan said. “And also behind the scenes, I’m really excited to have him here. I think Lord Regal can teach all of us, everyone here, a lot.”
Khan said that he was surprised that Regal was released by WWE, and was excited to bring him on board.
“When he was released, I was very surprised, but also very eager to bring him here,” said Khan.
News of Regal’s WWE release broke on January 5, and Khan said that his deal came together very recently.
“It came together very recently and I think it fits very well with everything we’re doing here in AEW all-around,” Khan said.
“I was very surprised to see that he had been released and was going to be available. I have tons of respect for his mind, and I think he’s going to be a very valuable person here in AEW.”
William Regal made his AEW debut tonight at Revolution, forming an alliance with Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson.
Moxley and Danielson engaged in a bloody brawl at tonight’s pay-per-view, ending after Moxley reversed a triangle choke into a pinning combination. After the match, Danielson argued with the referee and later got into Moxley’s face. Regal, who was referred to by his WWE name, came in and separated the two, slapping them both to calm them down. Eventually, he was able to bring them together, shaking hands.
Tony Khan confirmed on social media that Regal had signed with the company.
Regal was released by WWE on January 5 after being part of the company for the last 22 years, both as an in-ring talent and later as a part of the NXT developmental brand, serving as the on-screen general manager.
Danielson suggested to Moxley last month on Dynamite that they form a faction together, saying they bring in younger talent such as Daniel Garcia and Lee Moriarty into their fold. Moxley told Danielson that he wasn’t saying no, but not saying yes, saying that if he were to team up with anyone, he wanted to bleed with them first. Danielson later agreed to a match for Revolution.
We are looking to grow our writing/editing team with an experienced online news writer who has a working knowledge of WWE, AEW, Impact and other organizations. MMA knowledge is a plus, but not required. This is a paid position. Email [email protected] with several links. We are not looking for inexperienced writers for this position.
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For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Goldberg, JBL, and Ron Simmons will be on The Bump tomorrow.
WWE announced that they will be holding Bout at the Ballpark this Saturday, February 12 at Globe Life Field. It will feature amateur wrestlers from “top teams in both NCAA and international competition”.
The company has filed an application to trademark the term “WWE Sunday Stunner”.
Titus O’Neil appeared during the Oscars nomination announcements at the Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy at Sligh Middle Magnet School this morning, where one of the school’s students, Kourtney Anderson, read the nominations for Best Animated Feature.
Dune, which stars Dave Bautista, was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design.
Paul Heyman spoke to NOLA ahead of SmackDown’s return to New Orleans this Friday.
Cesaro talked to WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama ahead of a SmackDown show that will take place on March 11.
This week’s AEW Road To, which focuses on the Texas Deathmatch between Hangman Page and Lance Archer for the AEW World Championship.
Charles Barkley was the guest on this week’s The Sessions with Renee Paquette, where he talked about his love for pro wrestling and thoughts on the Michael Jordan docuseries “The Last Dance”.
Larry D spoke to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about obtaining his release from Impact Wrestling. “The thing is, IMPACT! Wrestling has grown so much,” he said. “There’s so much talent that comes through there and you see the NXT crew, and you see AEW and NWA and everything. It’s easy to get lost in the mix. Where we were at creatively, I feel, from the tag team party to fitting where I’m at and in the process, I’m just told to get in the best shape I can and be prepared. That’s what I do and I’m just waiting and I’m watching the growth of IMPACT! Wrestling and the competitor in me is like, ‘Man, I absolutely love everything about IMPACT! Wrestling.’ I can’t say, ‘Aw, man. Those son-of-a-guns ruined my wrestling career. Because I think for the first time ever, like, we hear on the indies a lot, ‘Oh, it’s just business.’ I think finally for the first time in twenty years, [I understand it.] It’s just business. Which also, in turn, is the same way with me. It’s just business. I want to see myself do better. I feel that for twenty years that I’ve busted and given everything that I have to get where I’m at. The competitor in me has to step up and say, ‘Hey, I know I can play on the field.’ I know by asking my release that puts the ball in my court to do what I need to do to go where I want to go.”
A Stairway to Hell match featuring Mads Krugger and Jacob Fatu has been announced for MLW’s Superfight card on February 26 in Charlotte.
Atticus Cogar vs. Billie Starkz has been announced for GCW Believe Me on February 19.
Biff Busick vs. Wheeler Yuta was announced for Beyond Wrestling’s Munky Business on March 13.
Alex Gracia on Twitter: “Starting today, WOW and I have amicably parted ways as I did not see them as a good fit for my current goals and brand. I wish them nothing but the best and I still plan to support the current girls who are there working hard to show you that Superheroes are real.”
GCW uploaded a match between MJF and Marko Stunt from The Block is Hot event from 2018.
William Regal has commented on his release from WWE.
On Twitter, Regal thanked WWE, citing he had worked there for 21 years and credited them for saving his life.
“Thank you to @WWE for a wonderful 21 year run,” hewrote. “You gave a lad who was happy and in wonderland wrestling on a carnival have a charmed life for 21 years. No complaints and please no one waste time replying as I won’t have a bad work said against the company.I will add that @WWE saved my life in 1999 when they didn’t need to, kept my family fed and took me all around the world. You have my gratitude forever. You allowed me to live a charmed life.”
Regal re-signed with the WWE in 2000 following a short run with the company in the late 90s. He held various titles in WWE, including the Intercontinental, European, and multiple Tag Team championship runs. Most recently, he had been working as a scout for NXT and had served as the brand’s General Manager until this fall with the NXT 2.0 rebrand.
Others released as part of this week’s cuts include Road Dogg, Samoa Joe, Scott Armstrong, Hideki Suzuki, Dave Kapoor, Danny Burch, and Timothy Thatcher, among others.
William Regal and Road Dogg are among the names released from WWE this afternoon as part of cuts at the WWE Performance Center.
Bryan Alvarez has confirmed that William Regal, Road Dogg, Timothy Thatcher, Danny Burch, Hideki Suzuki, Cathy Corino, Dave Kapoor (Ranjin Singh), Scott Armstrong, George Carroll and Ryan Katz are among the names that have been released from the company. PWInsider also reported that Chris Guy (Ace Steel) have been released.
“With the continued evolution of NXT 2.0, we’ve decided to part ways with some of the staff based in our Performance Center,” WWE said in a statement. “We thank them for their many contributions throughout the years and wish them the best.”
Regal had been working as a talent scout for the company. Prior to the NXT 2.0 relaunch this past fall, he had been the on-air General Manager of the brand. He had been part of WWE dating back to 2000, when he re-signed with the company as a wrestler following a previous stint in the late 90s. Road Dogg (Brian James) had been a producer and writer for WWE since 2014, and had recently moved to NXT.
Thatcher, Suzuki, and Burch had been on-air talents for NXT. Suzuki, known as Hachiman, had been on the January 4th edition of NXT, accompanying Roderick Strong to ringisde for his match against Carmelo Hayes.
Kapoor had formerly been a Senior Vice President of Creative for WWE and moved to Florida last year to work in NXT full-time. He was also The Great Khali’s longtime on-air manager. Ace Steel had been working as a trainer at the WWE Performance Center. Katz had been a creative producer involved in character development and vignettes and had been with the company since 2015. Armstrong had been a long time referee on WWE’s main roster before moving to NXT.
Corino, best known as Allison Danger, had started working as a coach for the WWE Performance Center last October. Carroll had joined the company last year as a producer and writer.
Following the ending of TakeOver: In Your House, William Regal will speak on NXT this Tuesday night.
WWE has announced that Regal will “address the future of NXT” on this Tuesday’s NXT episode. Sunday night’s TakeOver: In Your House event ended with Regal saying that he thinks it’s “time for a change.”
Before TakeOver: In Your House went off the air, interviewer McKenzie Mitchell asked Regal what his thoughts were on all that had transpired during the night. Regal said he’s been NXT general manager for seven years and has never seen this much bedlam. Regal said it’s complete madness and he thinks it’s time for a change.
Leading into TakeOver, NXT Champion Karrion Kross said Regal has lost control of NXT. Adam Cole had inserted himself into the NXT Championship picture by attacking Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, and Johnny Gargano during a triple threat number one contender’s match. Multiple brawls also broke out during the day of TakeOver.
Kross retained his NXT Championship by defeating O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver.
Dave Meltzer reported after TakeOver that Samoa Joe is back in NXT and could take a Regal-like role on-screen.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
NXT general manager William Regal addresses the future of NXT
Tornado tag match: Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida issues an open challenge
NXT GM William Regal’s teary admission at the end of Sunday’s TakeOver that “it’s time for change” may be foreshadowing for a former NXT Champion to take his role.
On Sunday’s post-TakeOver Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Samoa Joe has taken a behind-the-scenes job with NXT that also could include becoming the on-screen NXT GM.
“I was told (Sunday) Samoa Joe was in a Regal-like role and all of a sudden, he’s stepping down,” Meltzer said, adding that if the 53-year-old Regal is indeed done with the role, the 42-year-old Joe is the favorite to replace him.
Joe was released from WWE in April due to budget cuts, raising speculation about his next move and whether returning to the ring could be part of that equation. Meltzer said Joe is in NXT in a non-wrestling role, which he believes is because he isn’t cleared. He said it’s not impossible for him to return given other wrestlers in similar situations, but that apparently isn’t in the plans for now.
Joe spent the first two years of his WWE tenure in NXT, winning their main title twice before being called up to the main roster.
William Regal closed tonight’s NXT TakeOver: In Your House by saying that it was time for a change.
At the end of the show, McKenzie Mitchell walked up to Regal and asked him what he thought about the events of tonight’s show. Regal said he had been General Manager for seven years, and he had never seen such bedlam. He closed the show by saying that “I think it’s time for a change.”
The last few weeks have seen a number of brawls, most of which have aired first on WWE’s social media accounts. Kyle O’Reilly and Johnny Gargano brawled before the start of tonight’s show, while a brawl between Pete Dunne and Karrion Kross took place prior to the main event. Shotzi Blackheart was also held back while attempting to attack Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai.
Regal has been General Manager of NXT since July of 2014. Other General Managers of NXT in the past have included John Bradshaw Layfield and Dusty Rhodes.
Following the finish of tonight’s Women’s Tag Team title match, WWE is hyping that a major announcement will be made on NXT next week.
NXT general manager William Regal said on tonight’s show that he’ll be making an announcement that will “change the landscape of NXT” next Wednesday. The announcement is related to WWE authority figure Adam Pearce helping Raw’s Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler retain their Women’s Tag Team titles against NXT’s Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez tonight.
After NXT referee Aja Smith was accidentally knocked down when Gonzalez went to hit a big boot on Jax during tonight’s title match, Pearce ran out with Raw referee Shawn Bennett as Baszler had Kai in the Kirifuda Clutch. Despite Kai not being the legal person, Bennett called for the bell when she passed out in the Kirifuda Clutch.
Bennett tweeted after the title match: “Tonight I was assigned by WWE Official @ScrapDaddyAP to accompany him to #WWENXT . When @WWENXT referee @RefAjaWWE was incapacitated I was sent to the ring & called the action that was in front of me.”
Pearce then responded to Bennett: “I am grateful to have had you at the ready when @RefAjaWWE unfortunately went down. Don’t listen to the vitriol, Shawn. You called the action in front of you and none of us can ask any more than that. Total respect to the four incredible women in that battle! #WWENXT”
There was an angle where Regal and Pearce were shown exchanging words backstage after the finish of the Women’s Tag Team title match. Pearce wrote on Twitter: “General Manager @RealKingRegal was/is frustrated and 100% RIGHTFULLY SO. That said, accusatory finger-pointing is misguided. Neither I nor @BennettWWE rendered @RefAjaWWE unable to officiate the end of that incredible bout. Respect to the four women that laid it all on the line!”
Kai & Gonzalez got the Women’s Tag Team title shot by winning the inaugural women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Here’s the updated lineup for next Wednesday’s NXT:
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Adam Cole
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Toni Storm
Xia Li vs. Kayden Carter
NXT general manager William Regal makes an announcement that will “change the landscape of NXT”
WWE is hyping that a pair of “major announcements” will be made on tonight’s episode of NXT.
In a tweet this afternoon, WWE revealed that NXT general manager William Regal will appear on tonight’s show to make the announcements: “BREAKING NEWS: @RealKingRegal will have two MAJOR announcements tonight on #WWENXT”
Regal also tweeted: “A new episode, a new champion, and an upcoming #NXTTakeOver. I cannot overstate how grateful I am to work alongside the men and women of #WWENXT and tonight is about new opportunities.”
On NXT last week, Finn Balor defeated Adam Cole to become the new NXT Champion. The title had been vacated by Karrion Kross due to him suffering a separated shoulder during the match where he won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee at TakeOver XXX last month.
A “huge announcement” is set to be made on tonight’s episode of NXT.
NXT general manager William Regal will make the announcement at the start of tonight’s show. He tweeted today: “Serving as the General Manager [of] #WWENXT has been an incredible honor. To see the men and women of this brand over the last couple of months has been inspiring and invigorating. Tonight’s major announcement will be yet another step forward for @WWENXT”
The last time that a major announcement was hyped for NXT, it was Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Road Dogg announcing TakeOver: In Your House for June. NXT’s next TakeOver special was scheduled to be TakeOver: Boston during SummerSlam weekend next month. An official announcement regarding that event has yet to be made.
Three matches have also been confirmed for tonight’s show. Karrion Kross will face off with Dominik Dijakovic, Dexter Lumis will take on Killian Dain, and Shotzi Blackheart will face Aliyah.
**********
The show opened with William Regal saying that Keith Lee had a message, and Regal then threw it to Lee. Lee talked about recently winning the NXT Championship and the North American Title. Lee was again able to pay homage to his late trainer, “Killer” Tim Brooks. This week there was even B-roll showing a graphic memorializing Brooks.
Lee went on to say he was “limitless”, but he would bot be “limiting” to the NXT roster. He knows how hard they work for opportunities. Make no mistake, he will defend the NXT CHampionship as much as he possibly can — but he is relinquishing the North American Championship. He wants as many people as possible to have an opportunity at winning that title.
Regal admired Lee for his “wonderful and noble gesture.” Regal also announced a series of triple threat matches. Winners of those matches advance to ladder match at TakeOver on August 22 to decide the new NXT North American Champion.
Dexter Lumis defeated Killian Dain
Lumis submitted Dain clean in the middle.
Lumis was in control with whatever it is his gimmick is supposed to be, and the fight spilled outside. Lumis seemingly for no reason turned his back to Dain, glared in the direction of the referee. When Lumis turned back around he walked into a flying crossbody on the floor from Dain. From there, Dain worked over Lumis through a commercial break.
Lumis fired up after the break, and he executed a spinebuster followed by a bunch of punches. Lots of punching in this match actually. Lumis executed a back suplex, kipped-up, and then leapt into a legdrop. I shouted “look at him” at the TV like I was David Crockett calling this one.
Dain soon cut off Lumis and dropkicked him into a corner. He followed with a cannonball, a powerbomb and a flying elbow for a two count. Lumis answered back moments later with an uranage. Lots of clubbering. Lumis flew off the top with a senton bomb. Lumis applied his sleeper hold finisher, and Dain passed out. The referee checked the arm, and then called for the bell.
Lumis stared into the distance after the match as his creepy music played.
In one of the triple threat matches mentioned earlier, tonight’s qualifier is Roderick Strong vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed. They all faced off in a backstage skit that was right off an episode of Monday Night Raw.
Breezangio spoofed The Mountie during their entrance. They had gear that made them look the modern rebirth of The Quebecers. At one point Fandango put on his cosplay Mountie hat, saluted, and did what the announcers called a “Mountie dive”. I don’t recall that. Was that a thing? I don’t remember The Mountie doing dives. Not even when Jacques was a Fabulous Rougeaus.
Breezanngo delivered stereo superkick, and Breeze scored the pinfall for the easy victory in an enhancement match.
Dominik Dijakovic in a backstage interview said last week in a brawl Karrion Kross “smashed my head against the concrete,” but tonight “he’s getting a fresh Dominik Dijakovic”. I don’t think that is how head injuries work, but there I guees is creative license and all. Dijakovic vowed to knock Kross unconscious.
Shotzi Blackheart defeated Aliyah (with Robert Stone)
Balckheart pinned Aliyah clean in this grudge match. Stone still wore a walking boot selling his foot injury. He also got involved during the finish, and Blackheart ran over his other leg with the tank after the match.
Blackheart has a new thing where she hollers “welcome to the ball pit.” After screaming this again later in the match, she delivered a blow that Gorilla Monsoon would have certainly questioned as being below the bread basket.
Aliyah cut off Blackheart for the heat. Aliyah did a cool spot where she did a combo of Northern Ligtht suplexes for a pinning attempt. Blackheart with a comeback that led into a backdrop driver for a near fall. Aliyah countered with a roll-up, and her feet on the ropes for leverage. The ref caught her in the act.
Stone got on the apron, and Blackheart booted him in the face. He took a big bump. Blackheart leapt off the top with diving senton, and then she covered Aliyah for the pinfall.
Stone was selling his leg after the match. Blackeart got into her tank, and she ran over his good leg. Mercedes Martinez ran down and attacked Blackheart. She stared at Stone, but she did not help him. Martinez backed away as Aliyah in a comical way kept trying to lift the tank off of Stone’s leg.
A vignette hyped Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
Bronson Reed defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in a triple threat match to qualify for a ladder match at TakeOver
Reed pinned Strong in the closing minutes of an exciting match. Reed in winning this match qualifies for the ladder match at TakeOver to decide the next NXT North Amercian Champion.
Reed played Goliath against two Davids. Reed manhandled them before a commercial break. When the show returned from the break, Reed was still mowing them down. Then came a wicked looking spot where Strong hit Reed with a running knee strike on the apron. Strong then splatted on the front, and it looked awfully painful.
Strong and Gargano sort of teamed up on Reed. They begrudgingly joined forces to work, but Reed still hulked up. Strong dashed his hopes with a leg lariat. Reed powered out to backdrop Strong. Gargano then catapulted Strong into a low blow on Reed. That put Reed out of the match momentarily.
Gargano with a slingshot spear on Strong, quickly followed Gargano launching himself into a tope. Strong countered him a moment later with a backbreaker. Reed rejoined the match, and he cleaned house like a bull in a glass warehouse.
Reed threw around Strong and Gargano. When Reed went to gorilla press Gargano, Strong came with a blingside chop block. Strong was able to lift Reed for an Olympic Slam, but Gargano tossed Strong outside trying to steal the pin. Reed nevertheless kicked out.
Reed was tied in the ropes and Gargano was able to tee off when Strong caught Gargano with a backbreaker. Strong then hit Reed with a flurry of strikes. Gagrano again sent Strong outside. Gargano with a baseball slide, and Strong with a wheelbarrow counter. They started trading strikes when Reed wiped them both out on a dive to the outside.
After a commercial break, Reed lifted both Strong and Gargano on his shoulders for a Samoan Drop. They built to a heckuva spot. Reed had Gargano in an electric chair. Strong went to execute a Doomsday Device. Gargano ducked so Srong missed, and Gargano gave Reed a poison rana. Strong went to steal the pin, but Gargano broke that up.
Strong assisted Gargano in giving Reed a powerbomb off the apron to the floor. That in effect took Reed out of the match…or did it?
Strong rocked Gargano with a wrecking ball dropkick. Strong got a near fall soon thereafter. An attempted Gargano Esacpe was countered by Strong into a Boston crab. Gargano sent Strong into the corner like a lawn dart. Strong answered back with a backbreaker. Gargano responded with a slingshot DDT.
Gargano was going for a cover when flew off the top rope into the picture with a splash on Strong. Reed then pinned Strong to win the match and qualify for the ladder match at TakeOver.
Timothy Thatcher pinned Oney Lorcan
Thatcher pinned Lorcan after a clever pinning combination. This was great!
This was tremendous as a pure wrestling match. It was also night and day different from the previous match on the show. The triple threat was all action. This match had action too, but it was much more technincal. The realism made this stand out from anything else on the show. ‘
Thatcher targeted an arm throughout the first half of the match. The irony is Thatcher was posted shoulder first sandwiching his arm into the ring post. The show cut to commercial, and Thatcher somehow had an advantage when the show returned from the break.
They were both fighting for wrist control when Lorcan countered by sweeping the leg. Lorcan applied a half crab, which is a callback to previous segments with Thatcher. Lorcan in another callback applied a Fujiwara armbar.
Thatcher used a fish hook to escape, but Lorcan answered him with a suplex for a near fall. Thatcher was reeling as Lorcan peppered him with chops.
Lorcan fought for a wrist lock, but Thatcher had a clever counter. He swept the leg while still in the hold, and Thatcher got into a pinning combination with Lorcan’s shoulders both down on the mat. The referee counted three to end a beautiful and believable match.
Robert Stone was backtsage selling his leg. Mercedes Martinez approached him to say she needed someone to handle the big matches, look over the contracts, and handle all the “crap” she doesn’t care about that is outside the ring. Martinez wanted to focus on what she does best — hurting people in the ring. Stone accepted her offer. Martinez warned him not to overstep his boundries, or she vowed to break both his legs. They shook hands, and Stone welcomed her to The Robert Stone Brand.
Finn Balor in a vignette cut a promo setting his sights on the North Amercian Championship. Next week he faces Timothy Thatcher and Dexter Lumis in a triple threat match qualifying match.
Kross submitted Dijakovic as Keith Lee watched his friend get choked out.
Early in the match, Dijakovic powered out to attempt his finisher. Kross with a counter to escape. Dijakovic with strike knocked Kross out of the ring. The announcer put over how Kross sold the spot since hardly anyone has gotten that kind of offense on him since he debuted in NXT.
The fight spilled outside the ring. Dijakovic rocked Kross with a kcik. Kross soon cut him off nonetheless. Kross planted Dijakovic with a DDT before a commercial break.
Dijakovic tried to fire up, but Kross dashed that hope with Saito suplex. Kross went for his submission finisher, but Dijakovic escaped for the time being. Dijakovic made a comeback with a series of strikes. Dijakovic with a sit-out chokeslam got a near fall. Dijakovic followed with a tope con giro over the ropes to the floor.
Kross sent Dijakovic crashing into the ring steps. Kross measured before he took a running start to kick the steps, which supposedly smashed Dijakovic in the head. Kross eventually rolled Dijakovic back into the ring. Kross got in the mount and repeatedly hit Dijakovic with strikes. Dijakovic was almost defenseless. Keith Lee had apparently seen enough, and he came out to ringside.
There was a scene right out of Rocky IV when Apollo Creed doesn’t want to stop the match against the monster heel. Lee was Rocky Balboa having to watch his friend beaten down. Dijakovic pleaded not to stop the match, saying it was his call. Well, yeah, his and the referee. The ref bless his heart kind of looked like a goof in this match as he could have stopped the match several times, and he could have counted both out also during the ring step spot. But no, he was helpless in watching Kross torture Dijakovic.
They went back to Rocky IV, as Kross grabbed Dijakovic in his clucthes to finish the job. Kross applied a sleeper, and Lee had to sit by and watch as his friend was choked out. Lee got in the ring to check on Dijakovic.
WWE is hyping that this week’s episode of NXT will feature a “huge announcement.”
A commercial that aired during tonight’s Raw revealed that NXT general manager William Regal will appear on NXT this Wednesday to make the announcement. Further details about what it will be haven’t been revealed.
When NXT hyped a major announcement in May, it ended up being the announcement of June’s TakeOver: In Your House event. The brand’s next TakeOver special was supposed to be TakeOver: Boston on Saturday, August 22 during SummerSlam weekend. An official announcement regarding the status of that show has yet to be made.
Two matches have been confirmed for this Wednesday’s episode of NXT. Karrion Kross will take on Dominik Dijakovic, while Dexter Lumis will face Killian Dain. The match between Kross and Dijakovic looks to be part of the build to Kross facing NXT Champion and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee at some point.
Dijakovic lost a double title match to Lee on NXT last week. After the match, Scarlett appeared and dumped a broken hourglass into the ring as a warning to Lee. Dijakovic was interviewed backstage after facing Lee. He said Kross is good — but he’s not Keith Lee. Kross then confronted Dijakovic, brawled with him, and laid him out.
A “live negotiation” with Adam Cole and NXT general manager William Regal will be part of the lineup for next week’s NXT episode.
After last night’s NXT went off the air, Cole posted a video setting up the segment for next week. Cole said he wants to make sure Velveteen Dream disappears forever and stays out of the Undisputed Era’s business.
Regal then tweeted in response to Cole today: “You need not make any demands, @AdamColePro. If you would like my attention, you may have it… live next week on #WWENXT.”
Cole’s Undisputed Era stablemate Roderick Strong defeated Dexter Lumis on NXT last night. Lumis then put Strong in a choke after the match. Cole and Fish were about to attack Lumis, but Dream made the save and took them out.
Cole retained his NXT title against Dream on NXT two weeks ago. Dream got a visual pinfall on Cole when there was a ref bump in that match. He then woke the referee up and took out Strong and Fish on the outside, but Cole hit a superkick and the Last Shot to get the win when Dream came back in the ring.
Cole celebrating approaching one year as NXT Champion was originally set for next week. He became NXT Champion by defeating Johnny Gargano for the title at TakeOver: XXV last year.
TakeOver: In Your House is NXT’s next TakeOver special. It’s taking place on Sunday, June 7.
Next week’s NXT will also feature Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher in a “cage fight.” Plus, Kushida, Drake Maverick, and Jake Atlas will face off in a triple threat match to decide who advances to the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals from Group A.
