Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (5/30/23)
It’s about to get TOXIC!
Tonight: Jacy Jayne, Gigi Dolin, and a WEAPONIZED STEEL CAGE!
NXT returns from the Battleground, but another battle is about to begin! The Toxic War between Gigi and Jacy ends, inside a cage, the walls lined with weaponry! Who will be left standing as the Toxic Victor?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Weaponized Steel Cage: Gigi Dolin VS Jacy Jayne; Gigi wins.
- Wes Lee & Tyler Bate VS The Dyad w/ Ava Raine; Wes & Bate win.
- Joe Coffey VS “Stacks” Channing Lorenzo; Joe wins.
- Cora Jade VS Ivy Nile; Cora wins.
- NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams VS Noam Dar w/ Oro Mensah, Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson; Melo wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Weaponized Steel Cage: Gigi Dolin VS Jacy Jayne!
What was once one of the most dominant duos in the NXT Women’s Division was torn apart by ambition and pride. Where one thought they were closer than sisters, the other only saw herself as the star and everyone else as a side character. This is going to end one way or another, but will it be the Toxic Avenger or the Toxic Traitor that comes out on top?
But wait! Jacy attacks Gigi during her entrance! And then RAMS her into the steel! And then into steel steps! Fans boo but Jacy takes Gigi’s jacket from her, throws it at her, then throws Gigi into the steel again! Jacy says it’s all about her, and she SMACKS Gigi off more steps, and Gigi’s head also hits the underside of the door! Jacy makes Gigi take a seat, to SLAM the door shut on her! And again! And again! Jacy howls but fans boo, and Jacy drags Gigi into the cage. Jacy then closes the door, the bell rings, and Jacy stalks Gigi. Jacy has a duffel bag, and she brings out a LEATHER STRAP! She LASHES Gigi!
Jacy LASHES Gigi more and more, then howls again. Gigi writhes, Jacy gets a chair, but Gigi gets a trash can lid! Gigi kicks Jacy low, SMACKS her on the back, and now Jacy writhes. Gigi runs, but Jacy drop toeholds her onto the chair! Jacy drags Gigi through the chair, runs, but Gigi avoids the ax kick! Gigi comes back with a ROUNDHOUSE! Jacy takes a seat, Gigi CROSSBODIES her down! Gigi drags Jacy up, RAMS her into the steel, then RAMS her into the other side! Gigi gets that strap for herself now, and she LASHES Jacy! And again! And again! And again! Then she just throws the strap at Jacy before getting a trash can lid.
Gigi brings the can around, puts it on Jacy, and then Kawada Kicks away on it! Jacy falls over, Gigi takes the can off her, and fans fire up. Gigi has Jacy against ropes, digs the can into her, and says this is what Jacy wanted! Gigi SLAPS Jacy, runs, and dropkicks the can into Jacy! Cover, TWO! Jacy is still in this, and Gigi snarls. Gigi looks for something else to use as fans rally behind her. Gigi gets the strap and CHOKES Jacy with it! Gigi says Jacy ruined everything! They were like sisters! Gigi lets Jacy go, gets more trash cans, and she sets one down. Fans chant “We Want Tables!” but Gigi gets the bat! It has a rose on it!
Gigi JAMS Jacy with the baseball bat, then DIGS the thorn covered side into her! Gigi climbs up to CHOKE Jacy with the bat and again shouts that Jacy ruined everything! Gigi then takes aim, waits on Jacy to get up, but Jacy avoids the homer to SPINEBUSTER Gigi on the can! Fans are shocked while NXT goes picture in picture.
Jacy talks trash on Gigi, stalks her, and brings her up. Jacy RAMS Gigi into steel, then RAMS her into more steel! Jacy then grinds Gigi into the chain link like it’s a cheese grater! Jacy lets off to revel in the moment, then she steps back in through the ropes. Jacy talks trash on the fans and on Gigi, and then stalks her to ropes. Jacy KICKS Gigi in the face! Jacy gets a chair, wedges it in a corner, and then goes back for Gigi. Jacy brings Gigi up to whip, but Gigi stops herself! Gigi ELBOWS Jacy, runs and BOOTS her down! Gigi then gets another trash can, and she wedges that in another corner.
Gigi goes to Jacy, kicks her low, and whips, but Jacy reverses! Gigi blocks, Jacy kicks low, then blocks a kick to LARIAT Gigi down! And SENTON! Cover, TWO! Gigi is still in this but Jacy rains down fists on her! Jacy eggs Gigi on, taunts fans, then gets a steel chain! Jacy wraps that around her first, gives it a kiss, and FULL METLA BODY SHOTS! And then another! And another! Gigi falls over while Jacy swings the chain. Jacy grinds as she sits Gigi up, and wraps the chain around Gigi’s face! Gigi can only endure as the chain digs into her nose and mouth! NXT returns to single picture as fans rally back up.
Gigi fights, powers up, and swings Jacy into the steel chair! Jacy goes down and fans fire up! Jacy staggers up, Gigi roars, and Gigi ROCKS Jacy, KICKS her and KNEES her! Ripcord and STO! Cover, TWO!! Gigi is frustrated but she pounds the mat. Fans rally up, Gigi gets another chair, and she puts that down at center. She gets that chair from the corner, and another chair, and another chair, and she piles them together. Gigi brings Jacy over, half nelsons, but Jacy fights! Jacy whips, spins Gigi, and then NECKBREAKER on the chair pile!! Both women writhe but Jacy covers, TWO!! Gigi survives and Jacy is beside herself!
Fans rally up, Jacy clears the chairs out of the way and she throws a forearm on Gigi. Gigi comes back with a haymaker! Jacy throws a forearm back! Gigi throws a forearm of her own! Fans rally, Jacy throws another forearm but Gigi fires a flurry! Gigi wrenches, hooks Jacy up, but Jacy dosidos her into the TRASH CAN! And then SUPERKICKS! Just like the night she betrayed Gigi! Jacy runs in, CANNONBALL into the trash can! Cover, TWO!!! Gigi survives again and Jacy is at a loss for words. But then Jacy just grins and rains down fists on Gigi! Fans chant “We Want Tables!” and Jacy drags the table out!
Fans actually chant, “Thank You, Jacy!” and she says shut up, she’s not doing it for them! Jacy sets the table up near a corner, and she goes back to Gigi. Jacy suplexes but Gigi blocks! Gigi throws body shots, turns things around, but Jacy blocks the suplex! Gigi CLUBS Jacy, KNEES her low, and then drags her up to whip. Jacy reverses and sends Gigi into the steel! Jacy then brings Gigi up, bumps her off buckles, and brings her up the corner! Fans fire up as Jacy dribbles Gigi off buckles and the steel! Jacy says this is all about HER, and she reaches the very top rope. But Gigi HEADBUTTS in return!
Jacy wobbles, Gigi SMACKS her off the steel again and again! Jacy stays on the top rope but Gigi clinches, CHOKE SLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!! High stack, Gigi wins!!
Winner: Gigi Dolin, by pinfall
The Toxic Avenger finally ends the Toxic War! Fans chant “YES! YES! YES!” What is next for Gigi now that she’s gotten past her past?
Backstage interview with Wes Lee.
McKenzie Mitchell is with the North American Champion and notes we’re just 48 hours removed from his win in a Triple Threat. He is now the longest reigning North American Champion, with TEN successful defenses. Has it sunk in yet? Now that she says it, yes! He is PUMPED! But he’s also sore. Comes with the territory. Back when he won the title at Halloween Havoc, he had no idea how this ride was gonna go. But through the multiple multi-mans, the open challenges and the unforeseen odds- “Sunday’s victory proved nothing!” The Dyad storms in to say Joe Gacy wants to send a reminder.
Wes says okay, he’ll bust them all! But then Tyler Bate steps up to say that if they want to fight Wes, they fight him, too! The Dyad backs off, and Bate tells Wes that as he said on Sunday, that was all business. He still has Wes’s back, if he’ll have him. Wes says he appreciates that. They fist bump, but will Rip Fowler & Jagger Reed still try to send that “message” from The Schism?
Tony D’Angelo gets his mug shot.
He isn’t happy about it, either. But what will happen should The Don have to go to court?
Gallus talks backstage.
They’re of course happy to be NXT Tag Team Champions, but Wolfgang admits, The Creed Brothers are tough. But no one can stop Gallus! They never stop. The Creeds are done, so who steps up to their kingdom next? Well, Tony D and Stacks had next, but uh, Tony can’t do too much with his hands cuffed. “It wasn’t me, officer! I swear! I’m a nice guy!” Fogedaboutit! But Stacks storms in! He knew it was them! They ratted on Tony! Don’t get the wrong idea, Stacks, it wasn’t them. But what is he gonna do without his daddy? Better question: Ever heard that snitches get stitches?
Stacks fires off on Gallus, but he gets mugged 3v1! The refs rush in, but Gallus still throws Stacks into shelfs! The refs tell Gallus they are EJECTED from the building! Gallus is fine with that, they did the damage. But who is going to be next if The Family is busy with their own problems?
Carmelo Hayes is here!
Fans cheer as Trick Melo Gang heads to the ring, because the NXT Champion is still HIM! Trick gets the mic to get to business. They went to Melo’s hometown, Melo went to Battleground, and he left still champion. Fans cheer that, and Melo says he did that. Now listen, Battleground was exactly that: a battle. So he will paint a picture: Melochussetts was going crazy! Bron VS THOUSANDS! Big Spear, Melo still alive. Nothing But Net, #AndStill! And one thing everyone needs to realize, sometimes you gotta take shots to make shots. When it comes to this NXT Championship, Melo don’t ever miss!
Trick says Melo don’t lie, either! Battleground is another brick in the foundation of the HIM Dynasty. But wait, NOAM DAR is here? Dar and his squad walk out, and Dar tells Melo, “Well done! Congratulations! You managed to escape your hometown still champion. And Melo, you weren’t the only one to retain their championship.” Fans boo as Dar says HE defended HIS NXT Heritage Cup, “the most coveted prize in NXT.” But Melo only just managed to beat Bron. Dar beat Dragon Lee not once, but twice. Thank you.
Trick tells “Mr. Supernova” that we don’t have time to talk about how it took four of them to cheat Dragon Lee. Fans cheer that! But there is time to talk about Dar coming out to interrupt Trick Melo Gang. Interrupting Trick Melo Gang is a super no-no. Melo says he saw that match, Dar really is like that. But there’s levels to this. That trophy puts Dar on a high level, but this NXT Championship puts Melo on the HIGHEST level. Dar may’ve “beat” Dragon twice, but Melo bets he couldn’t even beat Melo once. And that’s all it is, and that’s all it- NO NO NO NONONO! SHH! The adults are talking, Trick.
Fans boo as Dar tells Melo that that almost sounded like a challenge. Is Melo challenging Dar, even though that’d be the biggest mistake of his life? If Melo is building a dynasty, then step up! Put the NXT Championship on the line TONIGHT! Trick says whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Dar is trying to take advantage of Melo while he’s tired. DUH! Well done, Captain Obvious. But hey, straight up, what does Melo say? Oh, wait, Lash was right! Melo is just counting the minutes, making it easy, because he doesn’t have what it takes to compete at the highest level night in and night out, like Dar.
But actually, it must be hard to miss when he has… What’s Lash calling it? Low management! No, no, if Dar wants it, then he’s got it! TONIGHT! Fans fire up, but did the Supernova Squad just get the better of HIM?
Cora Jade talks with the other women in the locker room.
They all saw her match with Lyra in the tournament, right? Lyra headbutted her right in the eye! Cora was basically blind half the match! And if she could’ve seen, SHE would have gone to Battleground, and SHE would be NXT Women’s Champion. Literally everyone else goes, “Um…” Cora says fine, but the only one to be celebrated is HER! Her accomplishments, her star power. But nooo~, we all let Cora get screwed over. She deserves to be champion! But in walks Ivy Nile. We’ve all had it with the whining. Injuries are part of the game, so suck it up and get over it. Everyone would’ve loved to have been in that tournament, too.
Cora tells Ivy not to give her attitude just cuz her guys couldn’t get the job done and Ava whipped her ass. Ivy says at least they were all in that fight. Where was Cora on Sunday? Just sitting here bitching about it. Cora says she’s not scared of Ivy, but does anyone believe that?
Axiom watches footage on his phone.
Reggie walks over and says, “What’s up, Ax? Tell me you’re watching Battleground.” Axiom says yes, but then sees who he’s talking to. Axiom stands right up but Reggie tells him to chill, he means you no harm. Then what does he want? See, “Reggie!” Everyone always calls him that, and that is his given name, but growing up, a lot of people called him “Scrypts.” Who? His family? And why “Scrypts?” Definitely not his family. And he won’t get into it right now, that’s a story for another day. Then what does Scrypts want? He appreciates what Axiom did for him. Wait, what? When he took the mask off! It opened Scrypts’ eyes!
It was like Scrypts was living in a cave, watching shadows on the wall. But now, he is living in the sunlight, seeing what is meant to be seen. And Dabba-Kato trying to take Axiom out after their match last week, Scrypts couldn’t stand by. He jumped into action to help Axiom since Axiom helped him. And Scrypts just wants to thank him. Scrypts/Reggie leaves, and Axiom says, “Any time.” Is Scrypts going to go from a would-be archenemy to a new ally?
Wes Lee & Tyler Bate VS The Dyad w/ Ava Raine!
The Cardiac Kid & Big Strong Boi are standing together again against Rip Fowler & Jagger Reed. The Schism isn’t done with Wes, but will their tree get chopped down?
NXT returns as Bate makes his entrance, followed by Wes. The teams sort out and Reed starts with Bate. They circle, tie up, and Reed wrenches an arm to a wristlock. Bate rolls, rolls back, then uses a leg to get free and knuckle lock. Bate whips and WRINGS Reed out, then wrenches the arm again. Reed pulls hair to put Bate in the corner and Rip tags in to ROCK Bate! Rip ROCKS Bate again, puts him in a corner, but Bate boots then KNEES back! Bate goes up to FLYING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up and Bate wrenches Rip to tag in Wes. Wes slingshots to sunset flip! TWO! Rip gets Wes in the face with that kickout, then he ROCKS Wes!
Rip scoops, Wes slips off but Rip bucks the O’Conner. Things speed up, Wes slides and headscissors! Wes runs in, tilt-o-whirl CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Wes facelocks Rip, tags Bate, and Bate goes up to AX HANDLE the arm! Bate wrenches the arm, tags Wes back in, but Rip shoves Bate into Wes! Rip CLUBS Bate, tags Reed, and the Dyad brings Bate up to whip to the corner. Reed runs in but into a BOOT! Bate goes up and over Rip, under Reed, and baits them in for Wes’s FLYING ARM-DRAG HEADSCISSOR COMBO! Fans fire up as Wes & Bate DOUBLE DROPKICK The Dyad out!
Fans fire up as The Dyad get back in and the four stare down. But then Wes & Bate see MUSTAFA ALI in the perch!? The Beacon is here, but why!? Ali heads down to ringside while NXT goes to break.
NXT returns as Jagger grinds Bate down with a chinlock. Fans rally up, Bate fights up, and we see Ali is on commentary now. Bate powers the hold open but Reed KNEES him in the back and tags Rip. They double suplex and hold Bate up but Bate throws knees! Bate knees and knees and DOUBLE KNEES, to then get free! Bate DOUBLE RANAS The Dyad! Fans fire up, Bate dodges Reed but Rip ROCKS him! The Dyad set Bate up but Bate BOOTS Reed away! He ends up in the corner with Rip, Wes tags in to rally on The Dyad! SUPERKICK for Reed, ELBOW for Rip, BOOT for Reed, and a flurry of fists for Rip!
Wes snapmares and DROPKICKS Rip and fans fire up! Reed storms up but Wes elbows him away. Victory roll and jump, DDT for Rip! Reed runs in but Wes ducks the enziguri to wrench and fire off fast strikes! DOUBLE STOMP on Reed’s back! Rip runs in but is sent into the corner! ENZIGURI, then snapmare! Wes flips but Rip dodges! THROAT CHOP! Fans boo but Ava cheers, and Reed tags in. Reed and Rip aim, but Bate gets up, Rip DECKS Bate, but Wes fires off haymakers and CHOPS on The Dyad. The Dyad kicks back, double whips, but Wes ducks ‘n handsprings to DOUBLE PELE!! Tag to Bate!
Bate and Wes each have a corner, they each aim at a Dyad, for DOUBLE TORNILLO!! Wes then FLIES to take out Rip! Bate gets Reed for the TYLER DRIVER 97!! Cover, Bate & Wes win!
Winners: Wes Lee & Tyler Bate, by pinfall
That was definitely a big strong victory, and then Ivy gets at Ava!! The Creed Brothers rush out, but The Dyad goes after them! It is a chaotic brawl, more refs rush out to stop this, but fans want to “Let Them Fight!” And then Gacy gets in to CLOBBER Wes and Bate! Gacy stomps away on Wes, but Ali jumps in! Ali DECKS Gacy! Fans fire up as Ali DECKS Gacy again! Ali TOSSES Gacy out hard, and he throws off his jacket! The Beacon stands with Bate and Wes, will they join forces to chop down The Schism’s tree?
Drew Gulak & Charlie Dempsey lead another Chase U class.
The Philly Stretcher says, “The name of the game is leverage.” Collar ‘n’ elbow, let’s go. Then you get the headlock. Thea Hail watches closely but Duke Hudson tells her that while he’s all for pushing yourself, but Gulak was the one who made her cry. She doesn’t have to take this class, he can give her a pass. No, she has to do this for herself. She never wants to feel that way again! They think she’s weak, but she’s not! She wants to prove it! She wants to get in there! Let her go! LET HER GO!! Thea, let HIM go! Yeesh. But okay, give ’em hell. Okay okay okay! She jumps in, Gulak tells the one guy, “Submission wrestling is the backbone of success. Good job.”
Dempsey taps Gulak’s shoulder and says, “Speaking of success. Look who decided to join.” Well, so nice of Thea to join in. But no crying this time or running away, okay? Loud and clear, sir. She can do this. Alright. Everyone done. She circles with Dempsey, what will her grade be in this test?
Tiffany Stratton heads to the ring.
The Center of the Universe is the NEW NXT Women’s Champion, and given all the pictures of herself in the ring, this “Tiffybration” is only about herself. Tiffany gets the mic to say, “Raise your hands if you’re not surprised that Tiffany Stratton is the NEW NXT Women’s Champion~!” She knows she isn’t. This Sunday, she claimed her rightful spot at the “Tiffy top” of NXT. Fans do cheer, and Tiffany says this title has been held by future hall of famers: Charlotte Flair, Asuka, Bayley, Rhea Ripley, the list goes on and on. And tonight, she shows everyone what it means to be a true champion.
Fans cheer that, and Tiffany says “Honestly, when I think of what a champion is, it is me! Nobody in that locker room can do what I can do. And when I look in the mirror, I think to myself, I am the epitome of what a true WWE Superstar is! So to continue on in my Tiffybration, I would like to invite up the entire NXT Women’s locker room so they can all recognize me as their Women’s Champion. Ladies?” No one comes out. Fine, no one wants to know who her first opponent is gonna be. Do the fans do? “YES!” “Aww, you guys actually think I care what you think.” Tiffany asks the locker room to come out, and finally they all walk out.
Tiffany says she knows they’re all starstruck, and that they all have the same question: “What is next for Tiffany Stratton? Who will I give my first title defense to? And to be honest, as everyone is out here, I can’t help but think to myself that I’m gonna be champion for a long, long time. I mean, I might as well retire as champion. Nobody can sit with me. Not you, not you, and I don’t even know why you’re out here,” Thea. Oh, and it is DEFINITELY not Lyra. Sorry not sorry. This is getting so awkward, she invited them all out here. Hah, JK! Luckily for them, on her way home, she had a Tiffany Epiphany!
She thought to herself, she should give them all an opportunity at the #TiffyTitle! So next week, there will be a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to determine her challenger. Good for you all. “But TBH, it doesn’t matter who’s gonna win, because I’m gonna beat all of you to it. I am gonna beat all of you to it, because as far as I know, and for as long as I want, it is Tiffy Time.” Tiffany raises the belt, and confetti and balloons fall. But then Thea gets in to SLAP Tiffany! Fans fire up, and then both Roxie and Fallon get in! They pinball Tiffany with forearm shots! And SOBATS! Lyra gets in, too, but Tiffany scurries away!
But Lyra WRECKS her with a dropkick! Tiffany is furious but she’s the one who just turned the entire roster against her. Who will have their moment and get their shot at the Center of the Universe?
Trick Williams is on the phone backstage.
He says it is going down, but Melo will be alright. They’ll pull up afterward. Just keep the bottles on ice and the jacuzzi hot. Lash, Jakara & Oro walk over. Lash says they call him Trick Willy. Well, you heard that right. Then your boy is about to get whooped by Dar. A shame, though, cuz they kinda cute. Kinda? Hey, now! They may disagree on the match, but in the looks department, Trick Melo don’t miss. And y’all can leave, button your lips, move your hips, he’ll holler. Oro wants Trick to understand what the ladies are saying: Melo should’ve taken the night off.
Trick recognizes Oro. He saw that match, Oro was in Dar’s corner, this must’ve all be his plan. Oro’s a real shyster, y’know that? And Miss Jackson the Distraction, and Lash is a distraction herself. Bet they’d like to hit Trick with a bucket. Trick would like that, huh? Trick says he’s watching all y’all! Don’t try him! Will Trick Melo Gang be ready for everything the Supernova Squad is bringing?
Dani Palmer is in the ring.
“I cannot leave, I cannot leave this ring, until I find out who this attacker is! Whoever’s been wreaking havoc in this division said that they’d reveal themselves TONIGHT! You attacked me, and you attacked my best friend, Sol, and now she’s out for a year! I’m done waiting. I’m not going anywhere until you show your face!!” The attacker is on the tron, watching the footage of her handiwork. Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo, Sol Ruca, Dani Palmer, Roxanne Perez. Dani gets anxious, but the person is RIGHT BEHIND HER!! She attacks Danni, drags her up, and suplexes for a FALCON ARROW!!
IT’S BLAIR DAVENPORT! The Top Gaijin is back, and she gives Dani a KAMI-GOYE!! Targets of the Heir, beware! Who will be next on the list for Blair?
NXT shares footage from after the show last week.
Eddy Thorpe returned backstage and encountered Malik Blade & Edris Enofe. They congratulated him on the great effort against Tyler Bate. It’s tough, but so are you. And if Bate were to win the title, he could be looking at Eddy as next. Eddy says that’s nice of them to say, but he wishes he had that one back. Nah, they all feel down after a loss. You learn more after a loss than you do a win. But Damon Kemp gives a sarcastic clap. Kemp was watching, and he has to admit, he was impressed. But Eddy can’t win without cheating, huh? Eddy rushes Kemp but Kemp gets away, will the Alpha Wolf get back at the Golden Gopher in their rematch?
Joe Coffey VS “Stacks” Channing Lorenzo!
Gallus was poking fun at The Don, and the Underboss wasn’t going to stand for it! Mark Coffey & Wolfgang were sent home, but will the Iron King still be on top? Or will Stacks make Joe fogedaboutit?
The bell rings and Stacks SHOTGUNS Joe! Stacks stomps Joe in the corner, the ref counts and Stacks lets off. Joe gets up to CLUB Stacks in the back, and throw body shot after body shot! Stacks still tackles Joe and rains down forearms! Stacks headlocks, but Joe fights up, only for Stacks to KNEE Joe again, and again, and again! FIST DROP! Cover, TWO! Stacks clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Joe, but Joe fights up. Stacks hits a headlock takeover, Joe keeps his shoulder up but Stacks pushes the arm down, TWO! Stacks throws hands, Joe is down again, TWO! Joe rolls Stacks to a cover, TWO!
Stacks still has the headlock, but Joe fights up. Joe powers out and hip tosses Stacks hard! Stacks staggers up to ropes, but Joe runs in to fire haymakers. Fans rally and Joe whips Stacks corner to corner hard! Stacks bounces off buckles, Joe drops knees on his back! And then an elbow on the ribs! Cover, TWO! Stacks is hanging tough but Joe drags him up. Stacks throws body shots but Joe knees low. Joe ROCKS Stacks, RAMS him, then HIP TOSSES! Stacks flounders to ropes but Joe digs his laces into Stacks’ face. Stacks throws body shots, ROCKS him, and wrenches an arm to HIP DROP it! Cover, TWO!
Stacks keeps cool, he brings Joe up but Joe scoops to SLAM! Stacks writhes, Joe shakes out the arms and checks his ears. Joe runs in but Stacks put shim on the apron! Stacks DROPKICKS Joe off the apron! Fans fire up and Stacks eggs Joe on. Joe tells Stacks that HE’s the rat, but Stacks goes out to ROCK him! Stacks has Joe on the defense as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Joe has Stacks in body scissors. Stacks powers back to a cover, TWO and Joe keeps on the squeeze. Fans rally as Stacks endures, and Stacks pries at the hold. Stacks pushes back again, ONE, and now Stacks is free! Stacks gets the legs but Joe kicks him away! Joe and Stacks stagger up, Stacks rushes in but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Joe drags Stacks up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Joe drags Stacks up but Stacks throws hands! Stacks ROCKS Joe, brings him in, DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Stacks rises, Joe crawls, and Stacks runs in to rally with haymakers!
Fans fire up as Stacks dodges Joe to UPPERCUT him down! Joe staggers around, Stacks runs in at the corner to UPPERCUT again! Joe staggers out of the corner, Stacks gets him for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The Iron King is hanging tough but Stacks tells him vaffanapoli! Stacks goes up the corner, but Joe UPPERCUTS him first! Joe climbs up, clinches, SUPER OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY!! Cover, TWO!?! Stacks survives and fans fire up! Joe is furious and he drags Stacks up. Joe whips, Stacks reverses, but Joe goes up and around, but into a back drop! Fans fire up, Stacks runs in and clotheslines Joe and himself out of the ring!
Fans fire up while both men are down on the outside. A ring count starts, both men stand at 3 of 10. Stacks runs in to UPPERCUT Joe against the apron! We’re at 7, Stacks runs in, but is sent into the steps!! Joe drags Stacks up and in, aims from the corner, GLASGOW SENDOFF!! Joe keeps moving, ALL THE BEST FOR THE BELLS!! Cover, Joe wins!
Winner: Joe Coffey, by pinfall
Stacks fought hard to protect Tony D’s honor, but The Iron King still crushes him. Will NXT still be Gallus’ kingdom?
NXT shares more footage from after last week’s show.
Robert Stone asked Von Wagner, “What the hell was that, man?!” What the hell was what? Luca deserved everything he got out there! That’s not what Stone meant. Von got disqualified! He wants to get suspended? Fined? Have his free agency status revoked? That could happen if you keep acting like this! Von says Luca was running his mouth the last two weeks, on Von and on Stone. Von finally just shut it! Then don’t take what Stone’s about to say the wrong way. But whatever went on in Von’s past, he has anger issues. If Von isn’t gonna listen to Stone, then it is time to talk to a therapist.
A therapist? What the hell is that gonna do? So that they can take Von’s hard earned money? No, look, Stone can pay for it. He’s just asking Von do this for him. Von thinks about it, pats Stone on the shoulder, and says he’ll still think about it. Is Vicious Von going to finally get past his past?
NXT shares footage of Ilja Dragunov.
It was before Battleground on Sunday that he called home and assured his son, Constantine, that he’ll make it home in one piece. He made sure Constantine know he loves him. “Is it the pain that keeps searching for me? Or am I the one who searches for pain? Or maybe, I am the pain. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Because tonight, the world shall know pain.” Dragunov put on his gear, brought back the red contact lenses, and prepared for the war that was ahead of him. Last Man Standing with Dijak was truly the definition of pain. And in the end, Dragunov stood tall. The Czar will return next week, what will he be searching for when he does?
Cora Jade VS Ivy Nile!
Selfish, arrogant, entitled. Sound familiar? The Generation of Jade may have a black eye, but as she sees it, she’s still the most important part of NXT. Will she prove herself right? Or will the Diamond Pitbull make her see she’s just a punk?
NXT returns as Ivy makes her entrance. She already got into a scrap with Ava Raine, maybe that was just a good warmup. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, and Cora claims Ivy touched her bad eye! But then she ELBOWS Ivy! Cora laughs at Ivy but Ivy grabs that finger! Cora kicks low, headlocks, but Ivy powers out. Things speed up and Ivy goes to hip toss but Cora turns it around. Ivy blocks that to CLOBBER Cora! Ivy grabs an arm, steps through, drags Cora down, cover, ONE! Ivy wrenches Cora to an ELBOW BREAKER, and then she YANKS the arm. And YANKS it again!
Ivy WRINGS Cora out again, then brings her up to a fireman’s carry. Cora fights free with elbows and throws Ivy down by her hair! The ref reprimands, Cora laughs at Ivy, then runs to ELBOW her against ropes! Cover, TWO! Cora kicks Ivy around, taunts her, then throws her down by her hair again. Cora gives more toying kicks, CLUBS Ivy, then brings her around to TOSS her out to the apron. Fans duel as Cora brings Ivy in to CLUB her! Ivy is in the ropes, Cora puts some stank on the CHOP! It gets Ivy in the face!! Cora runs to SHOTGUN Ivy down! Ivy flops down, Cora covers, they’re in the ropes so Cora has to pull Ivy away. Cover again, TWO!
Cora is upset but she throws Ivy down by her hair again. Cora clamps on a chinlock and she squeezes tight. Ivy endures, fans rally up, and Ivy arm-drags free! Cora comes back but into a roll-up, TWO! Cora swings, Ivy blocks to KICK! KICK! And ROUNDHOUSE! Cora staggers, Ivy whips her to a corner. Ivy runs in around the way, CALF KICK! Snapmare and cover, TWO! Ivy drags Cora back up to fisherman, but Cora cradle counters! TWO!! Ivy escapes but Cora kicks low. Cora wrenches the hair to throw Ivy back down! Fans rally, Cora runs, IMPLODER- NO, Ivy dodges the stomps and Cora jams a knee!
Ivy gut wrench SLAMS Cora! But here comes AVA! Ava grabs Ivy while the ref checks Cora! But Ivy gets the DIAMOND DRAGON on her! But Cora SHINING WIZARDS from behind! Cora gets Ivy up, FUTURE SHOCK!! Cover, Cora wins!
Winner: Cora Jade, by pinfall
Ivy is feeling rather #Jaded after that, but that’s more because Ava came back for more. Will the Generation of Jade look to go after the gold during #TiffyTime?
Hank ‘n’ Tank talk backstage.
Hank is sorry but how is the shoulder? Better every day. How’s Hank’s wrist? Better every day. But in all seriousness, they crushed it. Tank says Hank deserved that win, though. And at the end of the day, it worked! They’re tighter than ever! There’s this energy going back and forth! That connection! That’s what Hank was gonna say. Whoa, there’s the connection! Okay, let’s test it. First word that comes to mind, no thinking. Favorite food? On three- Wait, wait, “One two, go,” or “one two three, then go?” After three. Okay, okay. Favorite food. One, two, three, CHICKEN PARM! GASP!
Favorite animal? One, two, three, HONEY BADGER! Whoa… Favorite sauce on your wings. One, two, three, BUFFALO!! YES!! Edris & Malik walk over and say if they’re talking sauces, ya boi could eat. Bro, they just did eat! All they’re talking about is, ever since Tank ‘n’ Hank beat the tar outta each other, they’re like this! Fingers crossed. Tight. Oh, okay, after one match. It takes a bit longer than that, y’know that right? Oh, really? Watch this. Best movie of all time. One, two, three, JAWS! Okay, okay, they can do that. Edris & Malik go with “favorite day to work out.” One, two, three, MONURDAY. Monday VS Saturday.
No, try this. Pizza topping. One, two, three, PINEAMI! WHAT? Pepperoni VS Pineapple! Hank ‘n’ Tank let them argue this out, but Edris says they’re not gonna fight. But Malik says that could help them! Will each of these tag teams figure out their synchronicity over the Summer?
Backstage interview with Diamond Mine.
McKenzie finds Ivy & The Creeds, and she says there was just another altercation between Ivy and Ava. Ivy says yeah, and she’s sick of this crap! Ava, if you wanna be part of the game, step up! And for that matter, the Creeds tell The Dyad they can get it, too! Four roots, one stupid tree! But speaking of, Ava & The Dyad storm over! Refs rush in already as everyone is shouting, will the Diamond Mine look to crush The Schism once and for all?
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams VS Noam Dar w/ Oro Mensah, Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson!
Two champions triumphant at Battleground now collide to see who is truly at the very top. Will the Melobration continue into the Summer? Or will Supernova 11 have double swagger when he has double the championships?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Dar can beat HIM!
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Dar wrenches and wristlocks but Melo rolls, wrenches and wrangles Dar down. Fans rally, Dar rolls and stands to clinch and put Melo on the ropes. The ref counts, Dar swings but Melo dodges to CHOP! Melo headlocks, he grinds Dar down, but Dar fights up. Dar brings Melo down to a knee, pops out the back, and he wrenches to a wristlock. Dar shouts he’s the champ, then SLAPS the hand! Melo kips up, wrenches back, and arm-drags to an armlock! Fans chant “LOCK IT IN~!” as Trick makes the motion. Dar powers up and out to headlock, but Melo powers out of that.
The two RAM shoulders, neither falls, so Dar kicks a leg then KICKS Melo down! Dar talks more trash but fans boo. Melo swings, Dar gets around but Melo ELBOWS him away! Melo runs and springboards, FLYING LARIAT! Fans fire up but Dar bails out to regroup with his group and NXT goes picture in picture.
Melo dares Dar to get back in but Oro, Lash & Jakara all coach Dar. Dar gets up, catches his breath, tells Melo to be patient, and takes his time returning. Dar slithers in, circles with Melo again and they tie up. Melo arm-drags Dar to a corner and then storms up. Melo CHOPS Dar, Dar staggers but Melo bumps him off buckles. Melo follows Dar to another corner, and CHOPS him down! Dar goes to the apron, Melo drags him up and SLINGSHOT SUPLEXES Dar in! Melo does crunches in the ropes while Dar writhes. Melo then goes to Dar to snap suplex low and hard! Cover, TWO! Dar’s team cheers him but Melo drags him up.
Dar wrenches to sweep the leg! Melo clutches a knee and Dar rains down fists! Dar grabs the arm to stomp it! Dar taunts Trick, follows Melo to a corner and fires off hands. Dar RAMS into Melo, the ref counts, and Dar wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Dar snapmares Melo, gets the legs and ties them up, but Melo boots him away! Melo arm-drags to another armlock. Melo digs his knee into Dar’s face and Dar endures. NXT returns to single picture as fans chant “LOCK IT IN~!” Dar fights up, tries to arm-drag but Melo smothers it. Dar ROCKS Melo, whips him, but Melo reverses. Melo runs in to ROCK Dar!
Melo whips corner to corner, runs in, blocks boots and puts Dar in the ropes to ENZIGURI! FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO! Dar is still in this but Melo brings him up. The corner teams argue, Dar elbows Melo! Melo whips, Dar reverses, they dosido and Melo goes out to the apron. Dar swings but Melo blocks. Dar ducks to sweep the legs again! Dar runs to SHOTGUN Melo off the apron! Fans fire up, Dar goes out and taunts Trick while he puts Melo in. Cover, TWO! Dar aims from a corner, Melo sits up, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Melo is still in this but Dar’s team coaches him again.
Dar drags Melo up, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Dar grows frustrated but he drags Melo back up. Melo throws body shots, ROCKS him, ROCKS him again, but Dar ducks to step and SUPER FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Melo survives but Dar argues with Trick. Dar brings Melo up, throws knees, but Melo rolls Dar up! TWO, and Dar UPPERCUTS! Melo rebounds to tilt-o-whirl, FACEBUSTER! Both men are down and fans fire up again. Dar and Melo slowly rise, and Dar swings. Melo counter punches! Dar KICKS a leg, Melo CHOPS! Melo CLOBBERS Dar, and CLOBBERS him again!
Melo spins Dar, KNEE SMASH and a LARIAT! And a SUPERKICK! Dar staggers around, Melo runs to BOOT him down! Melo brings Dar up, whips, but Dar reverses to wrench. Melo ducks the kick, pump handle and SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives but Melo fires up. But Lash AND Jakara bark at him in the corner! Trick tells the ladies to stop that, but they get in Trick’s face now. But then Oro runs up, so Trick DECKS him!! Fans fire up but the ref tells Trick he’s EJECTED! Fans boo, he didn’t even start nothing! Trick still accepts the decision, though Team Dar rubs it in his face.
Dar sneaks up but Melo rolls Dar up! TWO, and Dar boot fents to BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Into CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR!! Melo powers up to stand and he rains down fists! Melo is free, and he grabs the arm! CROSSFACE!! Dar crawls, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Melo lets off fast to drag Dar back. Dar kicks the leg out, then stands. Melo ROCKS Dar, but Dar ROCKS Melo! Melo ROCKS Dar again, Dar ROCKS Melo again! Melo gets the edge but Dar kicks the leg! Melo blocks a kick but Dar ELBOW JABS! Dar spins, Melo ducks the heel kick but the BACKHAND connects!
Dar reels Melo into the facelock, but Melo SUPLEX CUTTERS! Dar flops over, Melo goes to the corner! Fans fire up as Melo climbs, but Lash distracts! Oro trips Melo! Fans boo as Team Dar keeps at it, but here come NATHAN FRAZER & DRAGON LEE! They got screwed by Team Dar so they go after Oro! Fans fire up but Dar tells them to back off! But Melo goes up, SUPER CROSSBODY on Dar and Oro! Fans are thunderous as Melo puts Dar in! Melo goes up, aims, NOTHING BUT NET!!! Cover, Melo wins!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)
An assist off the bench from Frazer & Dragon, Melo dunks on Dar! Put that on a poster, but who will- WAIT! BARON CORBIN?!? Corbin is back in NXT and he CLOBBERS Melo on the ramp! Corbin puts Melo in the ring, rains down fists, and fans boo as hard as they’ve ever booed before! But Corbin hits Melo with END OF DAYS!! Will the Lone Wolf look to bring an end to the HIM Dynasty?
My Thoughts:
A great episode of NXT, especially for an aftermath episode. They didn’t have quite the “Aftermath Syndrome” Raw was falling into, they were able to take things from Battleground and build upon them, not just recap them. I really liked that Dragunov vignette for the Last Man Standing match, and I look forward to what he’ll have to say next week. And while I was wondering what was next for everyone else, we got that for pretty much all the titles.
Wes Lee & Tyler Bate have a very good match with The Dyad, and of course there’s story overlapping with Schism and Diamond Mine, but I love that Mustafa Ali is part of the next “callback” (a main roster star coming back to NXT for a minute). Wes VS Ali would be amazing, but feels like something they’re gonna put on free TV. And Gacy clearly wants another shot, maybe he and Wes have a 1v1 feud going towards Great American Bash in late July. Wes has hit the record for defenses and apparently days as champion, so maybe he’s soon to drop the title so he can eventually move up. And I would hope we’re getting another Mixed Tag blowoff involving Dyad & Ava, but this time against Diamond Mine.
Also in connection to the Diamond Mine story, Ava attacking Ivy gives Cora a good rebound win after losing in the tournament. Cora is definitely nailing her Heel persona, but she’s gonna have to wait until a Face is champion again. Tiffany’s celebration being ruined was of course going to happen, and the contender battle royal will be really good. But after Gigi won that awesome cage match, I’m thinking she’s a frontrunner for challenging Tiffany. And while Dani Palmer called out the attacker and then got attacked, I feel like it should be Roxanne Perez or maybe a returning Nikkita Lyons should have the real feud with Blair Davenport. Nikkita would count as Blair’s first victim, it’d make make the most sense for her to want revenge.
Good promo from Gallus, Mark Coffey does an excellent Italian American/New Yorker impersonation. Stacks of course points the finger at Gallus, it’s kinda who I thought it was. But that would be too easy, so it’s not them. Stacks VS Joe Coffey was great stuff, Stacks is really coming into his own, but I figured Joe was winning that. Joe Coffey himself should really get in on like the North American Championship story, he hasn’t held anything in his WWE career, so he’s gotta get something. And since he has Gallus, Wes’s loss could be protected cuz Gallus helps Joe cheat and win the belt. Though that feels like how they might play Gacy getting the belt, if he gets the belt.
Good promo from Axiom and Reggie/Scrypts, and obviously last week established Reggie wants to be Axiom’s friend now. Him insisting he’s still Scrypts is an interesting choice, though. Good backstage promos that were “last week.” We’re of course getting Eddy VS Kemp round 2, and I liked Hank ‘n’ Tank having mind sync. Good stuff from Von and Stone, and I do like that Von’s story is starting to turn into a sort of PSA for normalizing therapy and taking care of mental health and emotional stability. But as I see it, either the therapy has no effect and Von stays a rage monster, or therapy makes Von too much of a pacifist and Stone tells him to unleash the righteous fury so he can win against bullies.
Great combining of stories with Dar stepping up to Melo here tonight. Great match, but I figured Melo was going to retain the title. I also figured Dar’s new little group was going to do everything they could to help him, and in turn we would see Dragon and Frazer turn things around on them. I would think Frazer gets next on Dar with Dragon as the cornerman now. And after Ali already made a splash, I did NOT think we were getting a second callback in the form of Corbin. Corbin and Ali do have a thing in common that they never held titles while in NXT, so maybe Corbin thinks he can tear down Melo to finally have the NXT Championship. But it’s not happening, Melo is definitely beating Bum Ass Corbin to make it through to Great American Bash.
My Score: 8.6/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Nothing is over until Carmelo Hayes says it’s over!
Not able to accept his loss at Stand & Deliver, Carmelo Hayes drags Trick Williams into the cage! Will Trick ever be able to get past… HIM?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four VS DIJAK; Dar wins.
- Sol Ruca VS Lola Vice; Lola wins.
- Ridge Holland VS Joaquin Wilde; Ridge wins.
- Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS Je’Von Evans; Dragunov wins.
- Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Tatum Paxley; Tatum wins.
- Malik Blade & Edris Enofe VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament; AOP wins.
- Josh Briggs VS Ivar; Ivar wins.
- Steel Cage Match: Carmelo Hayes VS Trick Williams; Trick wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four VS DIJAK!
The Meta Four’s idea to parody #HardJustice obviously didn’t make Dijak laugh, but it’s the Scottish Supernova who will take the heat for it. Will Dar teach Dijak to have a sense of humor? Or will “Mr. PLE” prove he’s no joke?
The bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Dar gets around to headlock, but Dijak powers out. Dar RAMS shoulders but Dijak doesn’t budge! Dar kicks, kicks, bobs ‘n’ weaves and he kicks Dijak’s leg out! Dijak ducks the buzzsaw to choke grip! Dar choke grips, but that’s not as effective. Dijak SHOVES Dar into a corner, but Dar avoids the haymaker to KICK, KICK and KICK! Dijak blocks,. Dar SLAPS! Dar grabs an arm to wrap around ropes, but Dijak shoves him away. Dijak storms up on Dar, brings him up, reels him in, but Dar wrenches to KICK the arm! BACKHAND! Dijak wobbles, Dar runs up to CLOBBER him! Cover, ONE!!
Dar clamps onto Dijak’s arm and he pulls it back. The fans rally as Dijak fights up and rolls through. Dijak avoids the sweep, whips Dar to ropes, but Dar holds ropes to bail out. The Meta Four coaches Dar and fans him off, but Dijak storms out! Dar slips back inside, but Dijak BOOTS him! Dijak then springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Dijak covers, TWO! Dar stays in this and the fans rally up. Dijak drags Dar up, whips him to ropes, then scoops Dar, but Dar tilt-o-whirls into a GUILLOTINE! Dijak endures, powers up, and he RAMS Dar into the corner! Dar holds on! Dijak powers up again, but Dar throws headbutts!
Dijak pries the body scissors to KNEE Dar, and FLING him out of the ring!! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” while NXT goes picture in picture.
Dijak snarls while Meta Four checks Dar. They fan him but Dijak storms out after him. Dijak drags Dar up, stands him up against barriers, and CHOPS! Dijak talks trash, Dar shoves him back, but Dijak storms up. Dar fires forearms, but Dijak knees low! Dijak CHOPS Dar and Dar spasms from the pain! Dijak brings Dar around, puts him in the ring, but Dar bails out the side. The Meta Four get in Dijak’s way but he just pushes through. Dijak drags Dar up to then scoop, only for Meta Four to get in the way again! Dar slips free, and he POSTS Dijak! Meta Four taunts Dijak, then Dar KICKS Dijak against the apron!
Dijak gets in the ring, Dar pursues, and Dar stomps Dijak around. Dar KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Dijak wobbles, Dar reels him in, but Dijak’s too big for a fisherman suplex! Dijak throws body shots and then suplexes Dar away! Both men are down while Dijak catches his breath. Dijak rises, and he takes aim as Dar stirs. Dar stands, into the choke grip! But Dar ROCKS Dijak with a left hand! Then roll into CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR! Dijak endures, even as Dar twists the ankle! Dijak fights around, sits up, and the two start throwing hands! NXT returns to single picture as Dar and Dijak go back and forth!
Dijak ROCKS Dar again and again, but Dar fires a flurry in return! The fans rally for Dijak as he roars, and he ROCKS Dar again and again and again! Dijak is free, and he KICKS Dar in the face! Meta Four panics, Dijak watches Dar rise. Dijak hobbles up to ELBOW Dar down! And ELBOW again! Dijak runs, breaks through the lariat and FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up while Dar flounders to a corner. Dijak storms up and puts Dar in the corner to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, repeat! Meta Four freaks out as it’s TIME TO FLY! The fans are thunderous behind Dijak while Dar flounders around.
Dijak aims, spins, but Dar jumps on! GUILLOTINE, but Dijak pries the hold open fast! Dijak choke grips, and he brings Dar up for HIGH JUSTICE!! Cover, TWO?!? Dar survives and Meta Four is very relieved. Dar sputters while the fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” Dijak drags Dar back up, reels him in, but Dar fights with elbows! The fans rally, Dar reels Dijak in and still wants the fisherman! Dijak throws body shots, so Dar wrenches to KICK the leg! Dar reels Dijak in again, but Dijak throws more body shots. Dijak shoves Dar, Dar stops himself then dodges the boot! Dijak gets hung up, Dar goes up to FLYING LARIAT!
Dar hurries to get Dijak in, FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Dijak survives, but Dar ARMBARS!! Dijak flails, reaches out, but Dar keeps changing his grip! Dijak stacks Dar, TWO! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Dar flounders. Dijak runs up, but Dar dodges, so Dijak hits buckles and tumbles up and out of the ring! Dar runs up to CLOBBER Dijak into the steel steps! The fans boo but Dar runs up to DROPKICK! Dar puts Dijak in, Dijak staggers to his feet, into the BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Dijak survives and the fans fire up! Dar is beside himself, fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this is just the opener!
Dar aims from the corner, Dijak rises, and Dar runs in, into a SUPERKICK! Dar QUESTION MARK KICKS! Dijak roars, spins, into the HAYMAKER! Dar runs, into the CYCLONE BOOT!! The fans are thunderous and Dijak storms around! Dijak calls his shot, but Oro gets on the apron! Dijak swings on Oro, Oro ducks it, but then Dijak SUPERKICKS! NOVA ROLLA!! Cover, Dar wins!
Winner: Noam Dar, by pinfall
The numbers game wins again as Main Man Mensah bites the bullet! Will Dar use this momentum to make his way towards a title opportunity?
Ilja Dragunov meets with Ava Raine.
The Czar visits the NXT General Manager in her office as she brings up that next week is the start of the two-week Spring Breakkin’. Yes, and he adds that it’ll be the last week of Trick Williams in NXT as Dragunov will defend this title. Yes, well, we’ll see. But tonight’s main event is Trick VS Melo in a Steel Cage, and yet Dragunov doesn’t have a match. That doesn’t seem fair given the title match. Well, she’s the GM, she can do what she must. Then that means Dragunov will be in action! But… he does get to pick his opponent. He welcomes that challenge.
But then he wants her to send a message to the entire NXT locker room that whoever stands eye to eye with him first will be the one to have that match with the Mad Dragon. Dragunov heads out while Ava sends the message, who will take this Open Challenge as their opportunity to reach the top?
Tatum Paxley speaks.
“I always wanted to be good. That’s every little girl’s dream: fitting in, playing with dolls, living the life just like the ones in the fairytales. But then I realized… no matter how good I am, nobody wants to play with girls like Tatum Paxley. The cool girls didn’t wanna be my friend. But I didn’t need them. I found the one thing that would be good to me as long as I was good back. It didn’t matter who held it, because I will always be there for it. Charlotte, Bayley, Asuka, Shayna, Kairi, Rhea, Iyo, Raquel, Roxanne, Indi, Tiffany, Becky, Lyra…
“Oh, Lyra. I loved you. I wanted to be you, because you were the closest thing to good as there was! And I was a good girl because I fought hard to keep that championship with you! You were the only one that really let me in, and that title made us real best friends. We were so close! But then, you lost the one thing that I love most, the NXT Women’s Championship. Lyra, you broke my heart. So what is Lyra to me now? Nothing. And I see now that Roxanne is the coolest girl in class. But I can’t have that anymore. It needs to be me. Lyra, my sweet dove, you’re in my way.” Twisted Tatum’s come to play, but will she be the one that’s good enough to challenge the champion?
Sol Ruca VS Lola Vice!
The Sol Surfer was just telling it like it is, and that upset the Mayor of Vice City. Will Lola cause Sol to wipe out before Spring Breakkin’? Or will Sol continue to ride a wave of momentum towards title opportunities?
NXT returns as Sol makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Lola wrenches and clamps onto the arm, but Sol cartwheels and lifts Lola! Sol slams Lola down then has the cording hold. Lola headscissors, Sol kips free then trips Lola to flip over her! Lola sits up into the mule kick! Cover, TWO! Sol clamps onto an arm, wrenches, then wristlocks. Lola wrenches back, kicks then mule kicks! Sol goes to a corner, Lola storms up and whips, but Sol goes up and up and over! Sol keeps moving, Lola drops down but Sol handsprings through the hip toss to FACEBUSTER! Then DROPKICK!
Lola goes to a corner, Sol runs in but Lola dodges to BACKHAND! The fans rally while Sol sits up in a daze. Sol stands, Lola fires off lightning kicks! Lola puts Sol in a corner, goes to the far corner and reminds us, “I’M A LATINA~!” She shakes her hips then HIP ATTACKS! Cover, TWO! Lola gets in Sol’s face, saying she’s the next champ, then she AX KICKS Sol down! And KICKS her in the side! Lola storms up on Sol, brings her around to KICK and KICK, then she brings Solo up. Solo ROCKS Lola, ROCKS her again, but Lola BODY BLOWS! Lola clamps on with a SLEEPER! Sol endures, fights up and has Lola as a backpack!
The fans rally as Sol RAMS Lola into buckles! Lola jumps back on for the SLEEPER! Lola’s still a backpack, so Sol swings and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Sol flounders to the corner, Lola runs up, but Sol dodges! Sol CLOBBERS Lola, CLOBBERS her again, then springboards to CROSSBODY! Sol scoops Lola and POWERSLAMS! Then STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Solo keeps cool and the fans rally. Sol goes to the apron to springboard, but she has to roll through as Lola moves! Lola runs up, Sol dodges and goes up! Lola anchors legs, Sol kicks her away and FLYING SUNSET FLIPS! TWO, and Lola stands! Sol ducks a kick to SUPERKICK!
Solo goes up and up and then CARTWHEEL- BLAIR HITS THE ROPES! The ref reprimands, but Lola HEEL KICKS Sol down! Cover, Lola wins!
Winner: Lola Vice, by pinfall
Blair with the assist there as Lola scores major points. It’s buenas noches for now, but then Natalya tells Lola hey! Natty’s on the tron and says Lola kept Natty from winning a title she never held before. Well now, Natty will fight Lola on her turf, in her match, to test her. So now is Lola’s chance to show us what she’s got. Time for Lola to show us her heart. In two weeks, Spring Breakin Night 2, Natty VS Lola… in NXT UNDERGROUND!! The fans fire up as the BOAT is looking to sink Vice City, but who will move on to be a step closer to title opportunity?
NXT Anonymous is watching…
This was yesterday as Ridge Holland talked with Ava about his in-ring return. Only for Joaquin Wilde to storm up and tell Ridge to just admit who he really is. Ridge put hands on Wilde to RAM him into the wall and shout “You don’t KNOW who I really am!” Ava reprimanded Ridge for his outburst and Ridge stormed off. Ridge is clearly still working on his inner rage, but will he let all of it out on Wilde tonight?
Arianna Grace meets with Gigi Dolin.
The self-appointed Miss NXT says there is still so much to work on with “Giorgina” before Spring Breakin’. Surely she’ll be late. But no, Gigi is actually early, to Grace’s surprise. Yeah, because the sooner they start, the sooner they get this over with. Arianna isn’t gonna make her bow and curtsey or whatever, is she? They’ll get to etiquette later. The first essential is the dress. Time to go show shopping! Think of your body as a canvas. The way Gigi dresses now… Makes people think she’ll kick their head in if they get too close? Yes. And what a horrifying vision that is! They need to strive for peace, not the opposite.
That prize is within their grasp, they just need to change Gigi’s attire and soften that rather… harsh exterior. Gigi sighs and says fine, but at least make it black. It goes with everything, she already has shoes that match. Black? No, no, no! Why not? Arianna says she’ll take the lead. Gigi just needs to open her mind and allow elegance to come right in. They’ll have Gigi looking like Arianna in no time! Gigi sighs, but just how bad can this get?
Ridge Holland VS Joaquin Wilde!
Yorkshire Grit is starting to loose his grip on his emotions. His bad mood made him sloppy and that’s how he accidentally hurt Cruz Del Toro. But will there be no accidents with what Wilde’s gonna do to get payback? Or will he push Ridge one step too far?
The bell rings, Ridge asks what Wilde wants from him about Cruz’s hand. Wilde fires off forearms! Ridge SHOVES Wilde, CLOBBERS him, and says what happened with Cruz was an accident! Ridge grabs at Wilde, Wilde slips under, and Wilde kicks low to UPPERCUT! Wilde runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then goes up and up to TORNILLO CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE, but Wilde DROPKICKS Ridge out! The fans fire up with Wilde, he PLANCHAS but Ridge moves! Ridge pushes Wilde, Wilde stops from hitting post, so Ridge UPPERCUTS! Ridge fires forearms, but then Wilde ducks! Ridge hits post, then Wilde SUPERKICKS!
Ridge gets in the ring, Wilde runs in, but Ridge puts him on the apron! Wilde ducks one lariat but not the RIGHT! Wilde falls off the apron but fans boo Ridge as he huffs and puffs. Ridge keeps insisting Cruz’s hand was an accident. Wilde gets in, Ridge traps him in ropes to UPPERCUT again and again! Ridge BOOTS Wilde down, covers, TWO! Ridge clamps onto Wilde with the armlock and he grinds the shoulder. Wilde fights up, throws body shots, but Ridge traps the arms! Ridge HEADBUTTS and Wilde ends up in a corner. Ridge runs in to SPLASH, then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Wilde flounders, Ridge runs up, but Wilde dodges!
Wilde runs back in, ELBOWS, then runs to come back, but Ridge POUNCES! Ridge drags Wilde up, throws knees, then reels him in. Ridge hoists Wilde up, but Wilde DDTS! The fans rally, and Shawn Spears appears on stage. The Chair Man insists that the truth is painful, and Ridge storms up. Wilde ELBOWS Ridge, fires off haymakers then whips, but Ridge reverses. Wilde springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Then JAWBREAKER! Then POP-UP BOOT! Ridge staggers, Wilde spells it out, “L! W! O!” But Ridge runs back up! Wilde goes Matrix to then NECKBREAKER! Ridge bails out and the fans fire up with Wilde!
Wilde builds speed, and DIVES, into a POWERSLAM!! Ridge drags Wilde up and into the ring, hauls him up into a PACKAGE DDT! Cover, Ridge wins!
Winner: Ridge Holland, by pinfall
Wilde may have let his emotions get the better of him, but Ridge is still conflicted. Spears smiles, is Ridge’s “truth” about to come to light?
Josh Briggs visits the medical center.
He’s getting his ribs checked and he says he feels much better now. Though, it’s still a bit painful to breathe and move around, is that normal? Yes, especially given those ribs were broken. Briggs needs to be careful until he’s truly 100%, but he’s “cleared as tolerated.” Briggs thanks the doc, but then Ivar checks in. Ivar asks if Briggs is good and Briggs says yeah, he’s cleared and ready to go after Oba Femi again. Ivar says he likes the grit, but he’s been in this room so many times before. Take it from Ivar, give it a couple more weeks so he can fully heal up. In that time, Ivar can have his match with Oba, and then when Ivar wins the title, Briggs is first up. How’s that sound?
Briggs says absolutely not. Ivar can go back to Raw and get his ass kicked by Sheamus again. Okay, okay, Ivar sees how this is gonna go. Then tonight, Ivar VS Briggs, winner fights Oba. Briggs says then go put on the war paint and he’ll see Ivar tonight. The Viking Raider and the Blue Collar Brawler are ready to throw hands, but who will get their hand raised at the end of the night?
Brinley Reece posts to TikTok.
She wants everyone to know she, Malik Blade & Edris Enofe are all going to work out at the Performance Center and wants them to join in. #BrinActive! They pump up to take on “Ohp.” Who? Y’know, A O P. Oh, Authors of Pain… But Edris says knowing their luck, by the time AOP is done with them, they’ll be SOL. Brin puts it together she’s been saying it wrong, but yeah they are scary. But who cares! She’ll be in their corner! Edris says no she’s not! Malik smooths it over by saying they can’t let their bad juju rub off on Brin. Edris says they need any kind of luck right now. They have been losing and losing!
Malik calms Edris down and says they just have to believe. Brin says exactly! Believe in the lift! Let’s go! Well, Brin’s always positive, will Edris ever see things her way? Or will Akam & Rezar write them off completely?
Andre Chase finds Thea Hail backstage.
She thanks him for coming to talk. He appreciates her wanting to meet, even with her match against Tatum tonight. After last week, they need to talk this out. They sit, and Thea says Jacy wasn’t lying about that bet. Nope. Last July, Chase was already knee deep into his gambling. At the time, he had things under control. Which is why he felt right betting on Thea against Tiffany Stratton. He knew deep down, Thea could do this. Thea could become the youngest NXT champion in history, so when asked if he was for or against, he went all in on Thea. But then seeing her suffer, her refusing to tap out, tears flowing down her cheeks, Chase had to throw in the towel.
In that moment, he didn’t care what it cost him, he just wanted Thea to be okay. Then why didn’t he tell her? She treated him so badly after that! Why didn’t he say something? Because she didn’t sign up for that, she just wanted to win a title. Then what about the towel? Honestly, he just hoped she would understand where his heart is, both that night and every night. He’s always in Thea’s corner. Then she is sorry! She hugs him and he says it’s okay. Chase U looks stronger than ever, but will there be another chance at a title for Thea in the future?
The D’Angelo Family is here!
The fans cheer as The Don leads Stacks, Rizzo & The Legal Eagle out to the ring, having finally returned to NXT after his loss at Stand & Deliver. Tony feels a little better showing off the new suit, then he gets the mic. Tony says after he and Stacks lost the tag titles, he talked about rapid growth in the family. He never said it was gonna be easy, but he knew it was worth it. And if you ask him how, when he’s not NXT Champion, Tony thinks about where they were a year ago. They made Pretty Deadly disappear, but they faced serious allegations. Now he looks at Stacks and the Consigliere, Luca Crusifino, both ready to crack skulls and add gold to the family.
Tony looks to Adrianna, the future of the NXT Women’s Division! And at Stand & Deliver, he went toe-to-toe with one of the toughest men in NXT history! Tony and Dragunov had a fight, one of the hardest fights Tony has ever gone through, and Tony lost. But this is about going one more round when you can’t. Toughness comes from longevity, and he’s here to tell you- Well, No Quarter Catch Crew interrupts first. Charlie Dempsey has the mic to tell Tony he doesn’t appreciate their dealings from last week were made public. What kinda business is he running here? Is Dempsey talking to Tony? Oh yeah, he sure is!
NQCC get in the ring but Tony tells them they came to the Family to take care of one of their own, all because they didn’t have the cajones to do something themselves! No problem, they’re the experts. Yeah, well, when it comes to taking someone out- Oh oh oh, stunad! No specifics, okay? There’s people watching. Yeah but Tony said- Hey, Charlie, didn’t Tony just say no specifics? Tony says they’re No Quarter, right? Well, Tony hasn’t gotten his full quarter, so when’re they gonna pay up? What? Payment? Wasn’t this for the good of the business? There was trash that needed to be taken care of, and they did that. It did the industry some good while they were at it.
Luca tells Mr. Dempsey that they’re still on the hook for services rendered. But the Don has a suggestion: They can either settle the debt, or it gets handled the way the D’Angelo Family always does it. Damon Kemp says no way, this was supposed to be done for the- Whoa, whoa, Damon, no one was even talking to you. Tony says he’ll say this to all three. Tony doesn’t do this for charity, or about feelings. This is about business, and in his business there is a code that you don’t betray. So listen up. It doesn’t matter who NQCC think they are, but they wanna come out here and interrupt him? Don’t think so.
Charlie tells Tony, “Is there anything else you wanna say to me? Is that it?” Tony says that Heritage Cup looks pretty nice. Oh does he? Well, don’t look at the cup, look at Charlie. That cup represents the competition and skill that takes place in this ring. It doesn’t need to be held by some two-bit gangster in wrestling boots! Charlie didn’t have a problem with that when Tony took care of this situation. So is Charlie gonna pay up? Over his dead body that some lowlife scumbag disgraces that cup! Scumbag? Well… Tony takes off the suit jacket, and says how bout this? They brawl! The fans fire up as The Family clears the ring of the NQCC!
The battlelines have been drawn, is The Family about to test that Catch Clause?
Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS ???
The NXT Champion is just fine with facing anyone in the back ahead of facing Trick Williams one last time next week! But then who will step up to be the “tune up?” Lexis King, Joe Gacy, and a lot of others rush out here! They all brawl, but in from the crowd side, it’s JeVon Evans! Ya boi bouncy~, and he quite literally jumps to the front of the line! Dragunov likes the Young OG’s guts, but will he beat those guts right outta him here tonight?
The bell rings and Evans fires forearms with Dragunov! The fans fire up as they go back and forth over and over! Dragunov fires boxing elbows but Evans BOOTS! Dragunov BOOTS, Evans rebounds to spin but Dragunov ducks the kick! GERMAN SUPLEX! Dragunov holds on, he drags Evans up, and GERMAN SUPLEXES again! The fans chant “DAT BOI!” “BOUNCY~!” but Dragunov drags him up again. Evans pries free, elbows, but Dragunov rebounds to PELE! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Evans flounders to a corner, Dragunov runs in, but blocks a boot! Dragunov blocks another try, puts that leg in the ropes, and then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS!
The fans fire up while Evans slumps down, and Dragunov scrubs him with his boot! Dragunov runs side to side, but into a SUPERKICK! The fans fire up again as Evans has Dragunov dazed! Dragunov stands, he ROCKS Evans, but Evans ROCKS Dragunov! Evans blocks a chop to CHOP, then repeat! Evans CHOPS, CHOSP and CHOPS, the fans “WOO~” again and again. But Dragunov block sone, to HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! Then GERMAN SUPLEX, but Evans lands out of it! Evans runs to SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Evans and Dragunov rise again.
Evans winds up to KICK! Dragunov wobbles, so Evans KICKS again! Evans goes up and rebounds, but Dragunov turns Rana into POWERBOMB! Evans grits his teeth as he sits up, but Dragunov runs and runs and runs to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Evans survives being turned inside-out but Dragunov nods. The fans rally for “NXT! NXT!” as Dragunov brings Evans up. Dragunov fireman’s carries, but Evans fights free! Dragunov hits buckles, Evans reels him in but Dragunov fights with elbows and knees! CONSTANTINE- SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Dragunov survives that sudden turn around and the fans are loving it!
Evans aims from a corner as he goes up and up, but Dragunov CHOPS first! And SLAPS Evans right to the apron! Evans BOOTS back, springboards, but into a CHOP!! Dragunov sits Evans up so he can run and KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Evans survives and the fans are thunderous! Dragunov reels him in, “This is Awesome!” as Evans fights the bomb, and DDTS! Dragunov flounders out of the ring, Evans goes to the far side. Evans snarls as he gets to his feet, and he builds speed to FLY!! Direct hit at the ramp! Evans puts Dragunov in, hurries up again, and FROG SPLASHES onto knees! Roll through and deadlift, Dragunov powers Evans up to a fireman’s carry!
Dragunov then hits a CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Dragunov goes to the corner, “UN! BE! SIEG! BAR!!” TORPEDO MOSCOW!! Cover, Dragunov wins!
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall
The Young OG showed guts and ability beyond his years, but he’s still a little early if he wants to be champion. Dragunov does show Evans respect, will we see this showdown again one day?
Backstage interview with Karmen Petrovic.
Kelly Kincaid is with Karmen to speak on Natty facing Lola in the first-ever Women’s NXT Underground match. Will Karmen help her train? 1000% yes! Karmen will get Natty training, but her schedule is so crazy right now. She’s on the WWE Europe tour, but then in walks Lola. Lola says Karmen can help Natty all she wants, but Natty is entering Lola’s world, and will be playing by Lola’s rules. Sure, Natty has guts, but she can’t handle the Latina Heat. Karmen can be in her corner, teach Natty all she knows, but it won’t mean a thing. Just wait until you see who Lola has in her corner. See you at next week’s contract signing. Adios~!
Sol talks with Ava backstage.
Blair cost Sol nine months of her career, a year of Wendy Chu’s, so much of Nikkita Lyons’, and Sol’s match tonight! Sol NEEDS to end this. Ava hears that, but Sol already had her match with Blair. No, not just another match. Sol wants Blair in NO DISQUALIFICATIONS! Is that what she wants? Sol says she will not stop until Blair has to be carried outta here. Sol storms off, is she going to wash Blair away with the tide? Or is this all playing right into Blair’s hands?
Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Tatum Paxley!
The fire is back inside the top prospect, and she’s ready to blaze a trail back to title contention! But will we all hail Thea? Or will the twisted outcast not stop until she’s the one on top of NXT?
NXT returns and Tatum makes her entrance. The bell rings and Thea rushes up. Tatum slips around, waistlocks and SLAMS, then floats around to smile right in Thea’s face. Thea is creeped out and backs up, but Tatum slithers up. Thea rushes in again, but into another waistlock. Thea arm-drags free, runs up, but into a scoop! Thea arm-drags Tatum, runs up to back body block, then runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Tatum goes Matrix! Thea leaps over, the two stare down, and the fans fire up. Tatum reaches out but Thea grabs that arm! Thea SPLASHES down on it, and Tatum flounders to a corner. Thea runs in but only gets buckles!
Tatum scoops Thea to BACKBREAKER! Thea writhes, Tatum has Thea on ropes and bends her against them! The ref counts, Tatum lets off, but she KNEES Thea down. Thea goes to the corner, Tatum runs up, and she BODY CHECKS Thea into the buckles! Tatum digs Thea into the buckles but lets off as the ref counts. The fans rally for Thea and she fires forearms! Thea whips, Tatum reverses to knee low! Tatum grins as she GUT WRENCH PLEXES! Cover, TWO! Tatum top mounts Thea to say she’s the next champion, but Thea hits with body shots. Tatum hooks Thea’s legs and turns over, SPLADLE CHINLOCK! Thea endures as gravity does all the work!
Thea fights her way out, then fires forearms! Tatum hits back, and says the title is hers! Thea HEADBUTTS Tatum down! Tatum goes to ropes, comes back, but Thea wrenches for the ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Thea whips and CLOBBERS Tatum! And CLOBBERS her again! Thea mule kicks a leg out, runs and ROLLNG NECKBREAKERS! But wait, is that Jazmyn Nyx? Jazmyn is mocking the “nerd” but Thea tells her “SUCK IT!” Thea scoops Tatum, POWERSLAM! SENTON! Thea shakes the ropes, but Jacy trips her up! The fans boo and Tatum ghost pins, Tatum wins!
Winner: Tatum Paxley, by pinfall
It seems no one can leave well enough alone, can they? Thea makes Jacy pay with a TOPE SUICIDA!! The fans fire up as Thea rains down fists on Jacy, but Chase and Riley get in there! Jacy hits Thea back but refs rush out to stop this! And then IN the ring, Lyra goes after Tatum! They brawl, refs have to divide and conquer, but the Morrigan is enraged! Will Thea humble the toxic Jacy once and for all? Will Lyra have vengeance on the two-faced Tatum?
Backstage interview with Roxanne Perez.
Kelly Kincaid says it looked like there was going to be a Stand & Deliver rematch between her and Lyra, but after- Oh, yeah, that freak finally turned on little her “girlfriend.” But it doesn’t matter how obsessed Tatum is with the title, or if Lyra has a chip on her shoulder, they can destroy each other for all Roxie cares. Beat each other to a pulp! Roxie will sit back, be entertained, and whoever makes it out of that fight in one piece maybe, just maybe, gets a title match. Wow, that was super easy. Like, what’s Ava even complaining about? Roxie sees it: Spring Breakin’, Roxie defends her title 1v1 against-
Ava walks in and says Roxie is so right. She made Ava’s job even easier! Why choose? Triple Threat! Roxie VS Lyra VS Tatum! NO! Of course Ava does this! Everyone is against Roxie, so why not Ava? Ava wants Roxie to lose her title without actually losing! Well, Roxie said Ava’s job is easy, but surely Roxie will do great. Ava leaves, Roxie is fuming, but will Roxie have no choice but to eat her words?
Malik Blade & Edris Enofe VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament!
It’s getting harder and harder to find the silver lining for Malik & Edris, and this time, platitudes like “there’s always next time” might not apply. That’s because Akam & Rezar, backed by Paul Ellerin, Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux, might just write their Final Chapter! Will Malik & Edris survive to fight another day? Or is there no upside to facing AOP?
NXT returns as Malik & Edris make their entrance, minus Brin like Edris said. The teams sort out, Akam starts against Edris. They tie up, Akam RAMS Edris into the corner and fires off hands! Akam swings, Edris dodges and fires off hands! Akam shoves Edris, Edris tags Malik and then Edris DROPKICKS Akam! Malik goes up to AX HANDLE! Akam stays up, Malik fires more hands! Tag back to Edris and he goes up, so he can AX HANDLE! Akam is still up, he headlocks, and Rezar tags in as Edris powers out. Akam whips, pop-up to Rezar for the CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO!
Edris survives and Rezar is already furious! Rezar HAMMERS away on Edris, then paces around. Edris drags himself to ropes, but Rezar is right on him. Tag to Akam, the AOP stand Edris up and Akam runs to KNEE Edris low! Rezar CLUBS Edris down, Akam clamps on and makes Edris look to Malik. Akam dribbles Edris’ face off the mat! Malik reaches out, the fans rally, but Rezar tags in. AOP gets Edris up, pops up and KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Edris survives and the fans rally again. Rezar seethes as he drags Edris away. Rezar reels Edris in, TOSSES him to a corner, then runs in, only to get buckles! Hot tag to Malik!
Malik dodges Rezar, BLASTS Akam and fires off on Rezar! Rezar stays up, swings, but Malik dodges to DROPKICK! Rezar tumbles out, Akam storms in but Malik SUPERKICKS! Malik builds speed, Edris tags in, Malik FLIES! AOP catches Malik!! But Edris FLIES but Malik’s thrown at him!! The fans go nuts as AOP are still monsters, and then AOP get a man each. SUPER COLLIDER!! Cover, AOP wins!
Winners: The Authors of Pain, by pinfall
The Final Testament makes up for their loss at WrestleMania, if only in part. But will they not stop until they’re once again wearing NXT gold? Speaking of, Nathan Frazer & Axiom are here! AOP attacked the champs last week so the dynamic duo want to return the favor, except the refs stand in the way. Will the Undeniable Hard-Hitting Truth be able to take the fight to the Final Testament?
Arianna & Gigi visit Lauren Nicole.
The shopping begins, and Gigi can’t believe Arianna thinks Gigi would actually wear anything from here. Like, what is this frilly halter top? Arianna wants “Giorgina” to understand that to become a princess, she must act, think and believe that she truly IS a princess. And Arianna for one thinks Gigi has all the makings to be one. OMG look at that dress! Arianna rushes over to grab the big green one. What does Gigi say? She hates it already. Like, so much. Nonsense! She’d look breathtaking in it! Well, Gigi could make it her own. Yes, Giorgina! Such a fast learner! Then Gigi has some ideas. She’ll try it on.
Arianna is ecstatic that Gigi is taking this seriously! Gigi slips into a dressing room, and there is definitely sounds of tearing. When Gigi comes out, she’s given the outfit a makeover! Yeah, Gigi does look good. She just had to “Gigi” the dress up a bit. She’ll wear it out, thanks. Spring Breakin’, here she comes! Arianna’s paying. Do they take credit?
Josh Briggs VS Ivar!
JBL’s seal of approval means a lot to Briggs, and he wants to finally prove JBL was right to give him the nod. He may have failed to take the North American title at Stand & Deliver, but will he fight his way to another shot here tonight? Or will the raid crash the party at Spring Breakin’?
NXT returns and Briggs makes his entrance, taped up quite a bit around the ribs. The bell rings, the two run up and Ivar BOOTS! Ivar whips, Briggs reverses but Ivar rolls off Briggs’ back! Ivar then cartwheels to dodge and he LARIATS Briggs down! The fans fire up, Briggs goes to a corner and Oba is watching as Ivar fires ELBOW after ELBOW! The fans chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” and Ivar whips Briggs to ropes. Briggs blows through the lariat to BOOT Ivar down! The fans fire up as Briggs storms up and whips back. Briggs scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Briggs clutches the ribs, this is perhaps all double-edged right now.
Briggs powers through the pain, but runs up into a SEATED SENTON! The fans fire up while Briggs sputters. Ivar storms up on Briggs, drags him up and CLUBS him, but Briggs throws body shots. Ivar CLUBS Briggs again, has him on ropes, and then HEADBUTTS! Ivar runs, into an ELBOW! Briggs choke grips, but Ivar breaks free to BODY SHOT! Briggs sputters, Ivar reels him in, underhooks for the Canadian Rack! Briggs slips free, ELBOWS, and runs, into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Briggs coughs and sputters, Ivar underhooks for the TIGER DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Briggs survives and stuns Ivar!
Ivar storms around, goes to a corner and climbs up. The fans rally as Ivar aims for the VIKING- NO, Ivar rolls through the splash as Briggs dodge! BOSS MAN SLAM! TWO! Briggs’ bad ribs probably held that move back, but Briggs isn’t gonna stop! Briggs gets Ivar up, wrenches, and GUT BUSTERS! Briggs huffs, puffs, runs, and RAMS Ivar! Ivar tumbles out of the ring, and Briggs roars as he fights through the pain! Briggs goes to the apron, and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! Down goes Ivar and Briggs rises! The fans are torn as Briggs reels Ivar in. Ivar fights the lift to RAM Briggs into steel steps!
Briggs hobbles up, into the HEEL KICK! Ivar puts Briggs in, goes up the corner again, for the DOOMSAULT!! Cover, Ivar wins!
Winner: Ivar, by pinfall
Perhaps Briggs should’ve listened to Ivar earlier, he was nowhere near 100% and therefore had no chance of stopping the War Beard. Will Ivar raid right through The Ruler and take his throne?
Kelly Kincaid asks Oba his opinion on this win, and Oba just says, “Interesting.” Oba leaves, and he apparently clobbers Oro without a second thought! Main Man Mensah is upset that this keeps happening, when will he get his shot at The Ruler?
Steel Cage Match: Carmelo Hayes VS Trick Williams!
After he failed to Stand & Deliver, Melo could not stand the fact that Trick was going back for THE NXT Championship. Trick’s getting his shot at Dragunov one way or another, but will Melo make sure Trick doesn’t have a leg to stand on? Or will this be Trick finally saying goodbye and good riddance to HIM?
Before the match, Kelly Kincaid is with Melo at gorilla. He cuts her off to tell Trick that this ain’t over until Melo says it is. Trick thinks he’s gonna be a champion, that he’s gonna make it out of the cage in one piece, but Melo will make sure that doesn’t happen. Melo gave Trick everything he has here, and now he’s taking it all away from his ungrateful ass! Melo heads out, his personal security following behind. Then Trick makes his entrance and the fans go wild! NXT is ready to see Trick whoop Melo one more time because there’s no escape. The bell rings, the two storm up, and Melo shoves Trick. They circle, Trick runs up but Melo dodges!
Melo goes to bump off the cage but Trick blocks. Melo then blocks Trick trying that, then Melo gets space. Melo rushes up, Trick headlocks but Melo powers out. Things speed up, melo jumps but into a scoop and SLAM! Trick then scoops to SLAM again! Trick scoops again, but Melo slips free to shove. Melo runs up, Trick dodges and Melo jumps up, but Trick brings him off the cage. The two circle again, Melo kicks low then runs, but he rolls off Trick’s back and Trick DROPKICKS! Trick scoops to SLAM again, then covers, TWO! The fans chant “Melo Got Whooped!” Trick whips, Melo holds ropes to stop himself, but Trick runs up to ROCK him!
Trick whips, Melo holds ropes again, then he sidesteps to SMACK Trick off steel! Melo runs, springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Melo then gets a baton from a security guard! Melo SMACKS Trick with the stick! Then SMACKS him again! And AGAIN! Trick writhes, the fans boo, but Melo SMACKS Trick down again! Melo mockingly conducts the booing while NXT goes picture in picture.
Melo taunts the fans, then he CHOKES Trick with the stick! Trick fights up, pulls the stick away, but Melo knees low! Melo JAMS Trick, SMACKS him on the back, then swaggers around. Trick slowly rises, Melo talks more trash as he winds up, but Trick blocks the stick! Melo kicks low, winds up again and SMACKS Trick low! Melo tosses the stick away to whip Trick, but Trick reverses and back drops! Melo flounders to ropes and Trick stands. Trick runs up, but into a drop toehold! Melo KICKS Trick, CLUBS away, then has the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Trick rolls through to a cover, TWO! Melo CLOBBERS Trick!
Melo drags Trick up, wraps his arm around ropes and pulls! Trick can only suffer until Melo lets go. Melo puts the other arm around ropes to pull on that, then he has a SLEEPER! Trick endures, the ref reprimands, but Melo lets go when Melo wants. Melo SMACKS Trick off the steel! Cover, TWO! Melo seethes, he drags Trick around, and he ROCKS Trick. Trick ROCKS Melo back! Melo ROUNDHOUSES Trick, CLUBS him, and stomps away! Melo fires off wild shots while NXT returns to single picture. Melo has Trick in a corner, climbs up to stand on Trick’s head, and then stomps the arms against the ropes!
The fans boo, Melo SLAMS Trick’s arm against the steel, then SLAMS the arm again! The fans boo but Trick hits back! Melo stomps Trick, YANKS the arm against ropes, then stalks Trick. Melo whips, Trick blocks, then Trick whips. Melo reverses to ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Melo is frustrated but he clamps onto Trick’s bad arm. The fans rally as Trick endures, and Trick powers his way around. Melo brings Trick down to an ARMBAR! Trick powers his way to a cover, TWO! Melo lets Trick go to kick, whip, but Trick blocks! Trick reverses, but Melo reverses back to send Trick into steel!
Trick falls back, but Melo gets him up. Trick stops from hitting steel, but Melo kicks him through ropes to stomp him against steel! The fans boo but Melo soaks it up. Melo drags Trick back up, runs side to side, and he SPLASHES Trick against steel! And then SPLASHES him against steel again! Melo goes again, but Trick drops and Melo splashes into steel himself! The fans fire up while Trick rises! Melo kicks Trick, Trick blocks the whip to ROCK Melo. Trick whips Melo, Melo goes up but Trick follows! Trick clinches, SUPER BOOKEND!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Trick rises, the fans rally, and Trick pounds the mat.
Trick ROCKS Melo, Melo fires back! They go back and forth, Trick gets the edge, then whips Melo for the LEG LARIAT! LEG LARIAT! FLAPJACK! The fans fire up, Melo staggers and Trick aims! Trick spins but Melo rushes up to LA MYSTI- NO, Trick stops that to INVERTED SUPLEX! Trick kips up, the fans fire up with him, and he whips Melo into steel! And more steel! And more steel! And then the fourth wall! NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives but Trick lets the hair down! Trick drags Melo around, cartwheel and ripcord, but Melo arm-drags! Melo runs, but he’s sent into steel again!
Trick storms up, but Melo HOTSHOTS the bad arm! Melo climbs, aims, but Trick catches the three pointer for the BOOKEND! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives but Trick isn’t done with him! Trick fireman’s carries, but Melo DDTS! Cover, TWO! Trick is still in this but Melo stays on him. FIRST 48! Trick rebounds to LEAPING LARIAT! Melo comes back to V-TRIGGER! “This is Awesome!” as both men are down! Melo goes to the corner, Trick rises at center, and Trick runs up after Melo! SMACK off the steel! But Melo gives it back! Trick SMACKS Melo, Melo SMACKS Trick! They dribble each other off the steel again and again!
Trick and Melo wobble, but then Trick CHOPS! Melo CHOPS! Melo SMACKS Trick off steel, headlocks, SUPER BULLDOG but Trick superhero lands out of it! Trick shakes his head, Melo is furious, and Melo runs up! Trick dodges to SPIN KICK! But the personal guards climb the cage! Trick BLASTS a couple off the side, but there’s still another! Trick hurries to get that guy, but the fourth gets in with a chair!! Trick kicks that guy first then TOSSES Him around! And this is a BIG guy! Trick sees the guy stagger to the door, and BOOTS him out! Trick closes the cage, but Melo has the chair!! Trick dodges, runs up, FULL METAL TRICK SHOT!! Cover, Trick wins!!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall
Melo tried to stack the deck but Trick’s shot don’t miss! And now, Trick climbs the cage to be level with the perch, where Dragunov is watching! Spring Breakin’, NXT Championship, and if Trick loses, he must LEAVE NXT. Will Trick’s final chance be the one chance he needs to finally be on top of the world?
My Thoughts:
A great NXT here as the go-home to Spring Breakin’ 2024. Great opening match from Dar and Dijak, and while the fans were super behind Dijak, of course Dar wins thanks to help from Meta Four. Dar is definitely being primed for some kind of title opportunity past Spring Breakin’, but Oro kinda got the karma for cheating when Oba Femi again clobbers him while simply exiting a room. Good promo from Briggs and Ivar to set up Briggs VS Ivar, which was a great match. The promo helped us understand how beat up Briggs is, so logically, Ivar would win. Oba VS Ivar is going to be great stuff, and I would think Oba wins.
Good NXT Anonymous promo to add heat to Ridge VS Wilde, and of course Shawn Spears shows up during that match. Ridge wins, though it’s hard to say he was that more brutal with Wilde than any other match, but maybe Ridge is going to end up more and more unhinged. Really good #gymtok promo from Brin, Malik & Edris, but of course AOP demolishes Malik & Edris in the match. Axiom & Frazer wanted after AOP but that’s rather reckless when AOP are both physically bigger than Bron and Corbin. I’m sure Axiom & Frazer find a way to win, but this is gonna be pretty brutal for the champs.
Great stuff in the Women’s Division building towards both the top title and the coming Women’s North American Championship. Great match from Sol VS Lola but we should’ve known Blair would mess Sol up. Then Natty calls out Lola, so we’re going to get awesome stuff out of both the “Beach Brawl” No Disqualification match and the NXT Underground match. And then really good promo where Mr. Chase and Thea finally make amends for last year, and good promo from Tatum putting the twist on how her character’s been this entire time. Kinda some long term storytelling with how Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn always sensed that darkness in Tatum.
Tatum VS Thea of course got Jacy & Jazmyn interfering, there has to be one final blowoff of Jacy VS Thea for Spring Breakin. And Lyra going after Tatum was great stuff, and Roxie was good in her promo. The Triple Threat was a wild move but Roxie might have a point, she could lose that title without being pinned, and then she gets drafted away. We saw Roxie be part of the Raw After Mania, maybe that’s where she’s headed. After all, we know Melo’s gonna end up on SmackDown. Great Steel Cage main event, and again I like that it was a use of the No Escape stipulation. Trick of course won, he’s got momentum going into what is surely his win next week.
As such, Dragunov might end up drafted away after he loses, and if so, his match tonight was even more awesome for him giving Je’Von Evans some shine in the Open Challenge tonight. Evans is definitely ahead of the curve, he’s going to be a big name very soon. The only real rough spot from tonight would probably be the D’Angelo Family interacting with NQCC. They made good points but the flow needed to be ironed out for it being live in front of the fans. For one, we’re getting a big Six Man Tag, and that will then give Tony D’Angelo momentum going into a Heritage Cup match with more than likely Dempsey.
But I think part of the awkwardness in the promo was them having to work-shoot away the Gulak issue. From how things were worded, NXT is siding with Ronda, as Gulak wasn’t even directly named in this whole thing, but they made it sound like he was the problem. Gulak wasn’t part of events during Mania Weekend or anything since, though there’s nothing on him being fired or suspended. we’ll just have to wait and see how this goes.
My Score: 8.8/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Xplosion Results & Match Ratings: 4.12.2024
Okay now, I’m just happy Kevin Knight gets a little time to shine. with New Jersey’s own Steve Maclin!
Xplosion has been a waste of time since the new regime took over completely, and I can’t really see anything special about this episode. Still only promoting 1 match, prolly have an old match, an ICYMI and Gia’s interview.
It looks like the Around the Ring interview will be with Rosemary. So maybe that will be interesting, and I was recently talking about what’s been up with Kevin Knight since the Referendum match; so its nice to see him around. Knight shouldn’t win, but as long as he looks good, we might finally get a match worth sitting through old footage and a useless Top 5.
Ratings:
Steve Maclin vs Kevin Knight: Maclin wins via KIA – ** 1/2
Results:
TNA+Throwback Moment: Team 3D vs Motor City Machine Guns, Genesis 2007
Now I’ve said many times that I’m tired of all the clips and vault matches, but I’m also a MCMG fanboy…and this was prime TNA, so I’m at least amused. Plus to validate the match, we’ve got MCMG versus The System coming up on iMPACT!, so its just a nice old match to get the blood pumping.
Don West, You’ve Got to be Kidding Me! Trending Topics of the week:
5. New Full Blooded Italians.
4. Hammerstone vs Alexander, Last Man Standing
3. Myron Reed returns to The Rascalz
2. Nic Nemeth beating Alex Shelley
1. Jonathan Gresham officially signs with TNA
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, this Top 5 is legitimately a waste of air. Its just dumb dirt sheet highlights mostly from 2 weeks ago because their filming schedule makes the topics old and uninteresting.
Gia’s Around the Ring interview is with Rosemary. She stays in gimmick, not quite as over the top as the one Alicia Atout interview from a few years ago, but Gia is leading “the demon” on why they picked Courtney. They talk about Gia visiting the Undead Realm and that they still don’t know where Taya is. She also reveals a Bunny top of her cane, and very obviously hints to Allie. So I wonder if this is her trying to speak it into existence or if it’s actually a hint. Did something finally make a point for foreshadowing in storylines?
TNA+Throwback Moment: MCMG vs Beer Money, 2 out 3 Falls, 8.12.2010 iMPACT!
Steve Maclin vs Kevin Knight
So basic opening, but when Maclin tries a Hip Toss, Knight also attempts to counter it and it looks really ugly and car crashy. Nothing dangerous, just a fall down “didn’t get all of it” kind of spot. If that’s the only misstep, at least it was at the beginning.
Maclin tries to slow things down, but a huge Twisting Crossbody off the rope keeps things going for Knight. Another miscue where Knight tries to dodge a Chop in the corner, but is hella slow and eats the chop to the eyes. I mean in a way the ugly execution makes the match feel more like a dirty brawl from the 80s, but with how choreographed everything is nowadays, its just odd. Maclin whips Knight to the ropes, Knight jumps over the rope to the outside, revels in his landing, turns around and eats a SCUD Missile from Maclin!
Fully in control, Maclin is working over Knight until Knight catches him with a desperation strike and then rides the momentum into a few nice High spots. There is a locomotion Cradle spot which is also a little wonky to put it nicely, Knight tries to jump on Maclin for a Jumping DDT, but Maclin shrugs it off and heads to the corner. Knight charges, Maclin throws him over his shoulder but Knight catches himself and lands on the ropes, Maclin just shoves him forward to crotch him on the top buckle, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs into KIA, and Maclin wins.
Overall Score: 4/10
Given this the old Bret Hart special. The main event was tolerable if not sloppy, the throwbacks having the Machine Guns made the fanboy side of me giddy, but I still hate all the old footage stuff. The main reason for the higher score than the last few weeks is as I already said, decent main event and my hope the convenient Bunny on the cane is foreshadowing and not just acknowledging. Depending on availability, Su Yung could always return to TNA with an “Undead Bunny”. Hell the possibility of a Suzie and Allie tag team is comedic gold.
But we’ll see if that goes anywhere. Its also sad when a 4 is a pretty big upgrade to the last month or so of these shows. Xplosion really is a waste of damn time when I have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find crumbs of entertainment.
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!