NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler, looks to put the Head Baddie in Charge in her place! Will the Queen of Spades make Mia Yim Tap, Nap, or Snap?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Taynara Conti & Xia Li VS Aliyah & Vanessa Borne; Aliyah & Borne win.
• Keith Lee VS Dominik Dijakovic; Double Count-Out.
• Shayna Baszler VS Mia Yim; Baszler wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Johnny Gargano heads to the ring!

But he’s no longer Johnny Champion as he lost the NXT North American Championship to Velveteen Dream. However, Gargano doesn’t seem too down about it as he picks up a mic. “This has been a pretty interesting past couple of weeks, hasn’t it?” Gargano showed the WWE Universe what NXT is all about as a new call-up to the main roster, but last week, he had one of the toughest matches in his career against Velveteen Dream. He won the NXT North American Championship in Phoenix and said Johnny Wrestling was back. Johnny Wrestling was back, having climbed the mountain and become “Johnny Champion”. But he failed his first test as champion. Fans chant “Johnny Failure!” to rub it in. Gargano failed himself and he failed the fans.

But he still feels like a champion, he just doesn’t have a championship. Therefore, Gargano realizes the only reason he’s had any success around here- Tommaso Ciampa appears! THE NXT Champion doesn’t want to hear the fans and their chants. Ciampa tells Gargano this is about the two of them. They both learned that Gargano is at his best with Ciampa by his side. They won on Raw together, they won on SmackDown together. Fans chant “DIY! DIY!” as Ciampa says that them teaming together, the outcome is already decided: they win. But Gargano refused to have Ciampa help him, and went against Dream alone. And Gargano lost. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Gargano took a long time to finally come around that they need each other. “This is destiny.” Ciampa still has “Goldie” while Gargano has nothing, but they both know that it doesn’t have to be this way. William Regal announced the return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. So think about this: that’s where this all began. Ciampa and Gargano have been up and down together, but the Tag Team Classic was the start of it all. And this year, the winner goes to TakeOver: New York for a tag team championship match. TakeOver: New York can be their moment. Just like Phoenix, New York can end the same way: “DIY! DIY!” If Gargano and Ciampa work together again, TakeOver: New York ends with them, side-by-side, as champions.

Fans are divided and Gargano is conflicted. Gargano puts the mic down to shake Ciampa’s hand! Is this real!? Is DIY truly back together?! Will they take over the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic to then take back the tag titles?

Backstage interview with Ricochet.

The One and Only did very well alongside Aleister Black on Raw and SmackDown, but they’ve also held their own against the Undisputed Era in NXT. Ricochet says that while he and Aleister have been making noise on the main roster, they won’t forget what the Undisputed Era’s done to them. But they did learn that when you fight one member of the Undisputed Era, you fight them all. Ricochet doesn’t sweat it, because he has Aleister watching his back and vice-versa. Then how do they plan on taking care of business with the Undisputed Era? Well, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly are in the Dusty Rhodes Classic, so the King of Flight and Dutch Destroyer are going to go talk with Regal before the brackets are finalized. Will Ricochet and Aleister get in? And will they get revenge on the Undisputed Era by kicking them out?

DIY heads out, but Candice LeRae finds them.

Ciampa leaves her and Gargano to talk this out. “Again, huh?” But Candice doesn’t want to hear any excuses. Gargano better know what he’s doing. Gargano wants Candice to trust him, but she doesn’t say anything more. Will Candice soon be saying “I told you so”?

Taynara Conti & Xia Li VS Aliyah & Vanessa Borne!

Before getting run over by stampeding Horsewomen, the Cat’s Meow and The Vision seemed to form an alliance and screwed over the Brazilian black-belt beauty. But now Taynara has an ally of her own in the spicy striker! Will Aliyah and Vanessa be left black and blue by the pair of black-belts?

Teams sort out and Taynara starts with Vanessa. They tie up and Taynara gets a waistlock. She swings Vanessa out for a judo throw. Taynara swings a clothesline but Vanessa gets a waistlock. Taynara standing switches but Vanessa elbows free. Vanessa kicks but Tayanra catches it. Taynara says “Latinas sweep better!” before spinning Vanessa around for a boot! Vanessa scrambles to the corner but Taynara runs in for a shining wizard! Taynara monkey flips Vanessa and rolls back to a mount cover, TWO! Fans rally up for both sides as Taynara whips. Vanessa reverses but Taynara slips through the ropes. Taynara catches Vanessa’s kick again, and grapevines for a draping kneebar! The ref counts and Taynara lets go at 4.

Fans fire up with the judoka but Aliyah kicks her from the apron! Taynara drags Aliyah off the apron in return! Aliyah anchors Taynara’s foot but Taynara scrapes her off. Vanessa attacks from behind, throwing Taynara down by her hair. Vanessa stomps Taynara to a corner, then stomps a mudhole in. She backs off at 4, but comes back to say Taynara is “nothing.” Vanessa SLAPS Taynara and then pushes her into buckles. She backs off, bronco buster to the back! Vanessa grinds it in and throws haymakers, but lets up at 4. Vanessa drags Taynara up and to her corner to tag Aliyah. Fans duel as Vanessa and Aliyah double Northern Light Suplex! Aliyah bridges for the cover, TWO! Aliyah keeps Taynara down with a straitjacket stretch.

Fans rally as Taynara endures. Taynara feeds off the positive fan energy in the dueling chants, and powers Aliyah to buckles. Taynara bumps Aliyah again and again, and manages an arm-drag! She hurries to her corner, but Aliyah grabs a foot. Taynara shoves Aliyah away, hot tag to Xia! Xia rallies with a SUPERKICK, then a boot! Then a swinging heel kick! Xia gives Aliyah another heel kick then covers, TWO! Xia drags Aliyah up and around to whip to a corner. Aliyah reverses but Xia goes up and over! Xia waistlocks but Vanessa tags in as Xia rolls Aliyah. Vanessa foerarms Xia down then hits Taynara! Vanessa grabs Xia for big knees and grinding her into the knee. Aliyah runs and hits a swinging neckbreaker onto Vanessa’s knee! Vanessa covers, she and Aliyah win!

Winners: Vanessa Borne & Aliyah, Borne pinning

Another surprising upset! Vanessa and Aliyah are working together well, will they soon be NXT’s top women’s tag team?

NXT shares footage of an encounter involving The Velveteen Dream.

The new NXT North American Champion was simply arriving at Full Sail when the Undisputed Era found him. Adam Cole heard Dream talking and isn’t sure what “Experience” anyone is talking about. The only thing Dream will experience is Adam Cole taking the title back. And Mr. NXT Media, why are you talking to Dream? He should be talking to the future NXT Tag Team Champions and Dusty Rhodes Classic winners, Fish & O’Reilly. Dream is impressed to see such a big mouth on such a little man. Dream is just wondering how big Cole’s mouth is when the Undisputed Entourage isn’t around. But it doesn’t matter, Dream is the champion. And he doesn’t have time for these boys. Everyone has time for Cole! Will the Undisputed Era find a way back to that North American Championship? Or will they only experience disappointment?

Cathy Kelly looks for an interview with William Regal.

The NXT GM is finalizing the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic brackets as we speak. The final four teams in will be determined very soon, but an uproar down the hall draws Cathy and camera away from Regal’s office. It’s an argument between Bianca Belair and Io Shirai! The EST doesn’t care what Io’s done, she’s not jumping ahead of her towards the NXT Women’s Championship. Referees and trainers pull the two away before things get physical. William Regal makes an announcement via Twitter that Bianca and Io will settle things in the ring in a #1 contender’s match! Who wins to take on the Queen of Spades in New York?

Keith Lee VS Dominik Dijakovic!

The Limitless One and the Croatian colossus have both been on rather impressive runs since debuting in NXT. These two towering talents finally cross paths, will Lee feast his eyes on a defeat? Or will Dijakovic be the next superstar to bask in Lee’s glory?

The bell rings and fans are already singing for Lee. Dijakovic and Lee stare down as they approach. They tie up and are even in strength. Dijakovic gets the headlock but Lee works on an escape. Dijakovic keeps wrenching but Lee powers out. They collide but neither man falls back. Dijakovic dares Lee to run and try it himself. Lee runs but Dijakovic ducks down, so Lee rolls off and speeds things up. Lee hurdles Dijakovic then hip tosses, but Dijakovic handsprings through! Fans are loving this superhuman display from “Both These Guys!” Lee offers a handshake out of respect, but Dijakovic shoves him away! Dijakovic says he doesn’t care about respect, so Lee pops him right up! Dijakovic saves himself with a monkey flip but Lee lands on his feet! Lee and Dijakovic lock eyes as fans sing “Oh~ bask in his glory~!”

Dijakovic glares while Lee grins. Dijakovic gets up and CHOPS Lee, but Lee just laughs it off. Lee double CHOPS Dijakovic. Dijakovic boots back then leaps for a flying elbow! Lee staggers and Dijakovic kicks and forearms away. Dijakovic clubs Lee around the ring but Lee just powers up. Dijakovic throws big forearms but Lee stays standing. Fans rally as Dijakovic throws more forearms. Lee staggers and Dijakovic clubs him down to a knee. Dijakovic goes to throw another but Lee counter punches! Lee still staggers, but he comes back with a big left! Dijakovic flounders to a corner, Lee runs in for a BIG left, heavy right, and then runs to POUNCE! Dijakovic flies into buckles and fans reach a fever pitch!

Lee back suplexes but Dijakovic lands on his feet. Dijakovic forearms and CHOPS, but Lee blocks. SUPERKICK, then a choke grip, SIT-OUT CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Lee survives and fans are thunderous again. Fans cheer for “Both These Guys!” as Dijakovic hops up. Dijakovic leaps, but into the double chops! Lee pops Dijakovic up for his own choke slam! Cover, TWO!! Dijakovic survives and Lee is shocked, but the fans cheer for “NXT!” for bringing them this match. Lee gets up and aims at Dijakovic. Lee runs in but Dijakovic puts him on the apron. Dijakovic stops the buckle bump and wrenches Lee to a SUPERKICK! Dijakovic throws more elbows, then runs side to side, TORNADO BOOT!

Lee falls to the floor, but Dijakovic decides to springboard and ASAI! Direct hit wipes both men out on the ramp! Fans are thunderous all over again as the ring count begins. Lee and Dijakovic slowly sit up. They both crawl for the ring at 7, drag themselves up at 9, but can’t get in!

Double Count-Out

Fans boo, they didn’t want this match to end like this. Fans chant “We Want Regal!” for word on this result. Dijakovic and Lee return to the ring now and want at each other, but the referees keep them back. Fans want to “Let Them Fight!” but the referees insist they stop for now. Dijakovic and Lee do leave, but will we get an epic rematch to this match?

The rest of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic field is revealed!

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, having made impressive showings in the past, are in, and Moustache Mountain joins in to represent NXT UK! But most important of all, Ricochet and Aleister Black made the cut, as did the officially reunited DIY! And now, the brackets are set as well! We will have:

• Moustache Mountain VS The Street Profits
• Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch VS The Forgotten Sons
• DIY VS Undisputed Era’s Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
• Aleister Black & Ricochet VS Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner

Which four teams will make it through the first round? Who will make it all the way to NXT TakeOver: New York to take on the War Raiders?

The Boss & Hug Connection is here!

The inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions return to Full Sail to a huge ovation! Sasha Banks and Bayley head to the ring and fans chant “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!” Bayley and Sasha wonder if Full Sail missed them. And it feels good to be back. “This is why you don’t forget where you came from.” For Bayley and Sasha, their journey to become the inaugural tag team champions started in NXT. Full Sail agrees with that, “You Deserve It!” Bayley doesn’t know if the fans remember the last time they were here, but to refresh memories, it was TakeOver: Respect’s main event, the first-ever Iron Woman Match. Izzy remembers, but they’re all friends now.

But it just felt right to come back and share these titles with the NXT Universe. Their journey has only just begun, and they want these titles to be the most sought-after, talked-about titles in WWE today! Therefore, take a good look. They’ll take these titles all over the world, and that includes NXT! To the entire NXT Women’s Division, step up and maybe the Boss & Hug Connection will return to defend these titles. #BankOnThat. With Women’s Tag Team wrestling making leaps and bounds in WWE, which duo will step up to this challenge from the champs?

Shayna Baszler VS Mia Yim!

Speaking of women’s titles, the only two-time NXT Women’s Champion is always looking for a fight, and she brought one to the Head Baddie in Charge and others last week. Mia won’t stand for people stepping on her, so she looks to make Shayna put some respect on the name. Will Shayna have to protect her neck? Or will Mia #TapNaporSnap?

The bell rings and fans are strongly behind Mia. Shayna laughs it off, because fan support means nothing to her. She and Mia circle and tie up, and Shayna trips Mia. Mia says Shayna must have “lost your damn mind.” Mia gets up again and circles with Shayna again. They tie up and Shayna trips Mia again, and pie faces her! Mia gets up mad but runs into another takedown! Shayna throws big hands then toys with Mia more. Mia dodges the ground ‘n’ pound and Shayna hurts her hand. Mia ax kicks then Oklahoma rolls! TWO, but Mia’s right on Shayna with a takedown of her own! Mia grounds ‘n’ pounds but Shayna gets away. Mia builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit sends Shayna into barriers! Mia fires up with the fans and puts Shayna in the ring. Shayna bails out again but Mia boots her down!

Mia whips Shayna at steel steps! Then she takes Shayna’s hand and stomps it on the steel! Shayna is writhing, but she dodges Mia’s kick! Mia’s shin hits steel! Shayna sweeps the other leg then leaves Mia behind. Mia clutches her leg while Shayna clutches her hand. Shayna returns and puts Mia in the ring. Shayna stomps away on the bad leg! Fans boo as Shayna covers, TWO! Mia clutches her bad leg and Shayna’s right on her again. Shayna pulls the leg in a toehold but Mia endures. Fans rally but Shayna pulls back even further, and twists the foot around! Mia kicks with her good leg but Shayna turns her over for a STOMP! Mia screams and writhes, but she refuses to let the ref stop the match. Fans rally up as Mia drags herself to a corner.

Shayna is on the bad leg, but Mia swings on her. Shayna ducks the punch to get Mia in the Kirafuda Klutch! But Mia goes after Shayna’s bad hand! Mia has the fingers of the hand, spins around, but Shayna drops down for a Heel Hook! Shayna pulls on the foot but Mia drags herself towards ropes. Mia gets the ropebreak! Shayna lets go but both women are reeling from respective pain. Fans rally up and Mia hotshots Shayna! Mia hits a step-in tornado DDT! But she can’t cover from the bad leg! Shayna gets to a corner while fans rally up again. Mia forces herself to stand, then says “Click Click Boom!” But the bad leg gives out!

Shayna laughs so Mia dares her to give Mia her best shot. Shayna runs in, but Mia suckered her! Mia rolls Shayna up, TWO! Mia headbutts then throws big palm strikes. She kicks but with her bad leg, then with her good one. Mia holds her leg and forces it to Pele Shayna down! Fans are thunderous as Mia crawls to a cover, TWO!! Mia drags Shayna up but Shayna throws fast forearms. Shayna kicks the bad leg, then gut wrench slams! Cover, TWO! Fans are loving this as both women tough it out. Shayna checks her bad hand while Mia sits up. Shayna gives swift kicks, but Mia catches one, for a sit-out powerbomb on one leg! Cover, TWO!!

Mia drags Shayna up again, twists the arm, but Shayna trips her up! Point blank knee! Kirafuda Klutch! But Mia again wants the bad hand! Shayna goes after Mia’s arms with both legs! Mia is trapped but uses her good leg to move around. Mia can’t get hands on a rope, so she taps! Shayna wins!!

Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission

The Queen of Spades pulls off the win with one hand, and makes sure Mia knows it. Shayna Two-Time will find out who her next challenger is next week, but will it matter to her?

My Thoughts:

An incredible episode with lots of meaningful build towards NXT TakeOver: New York! First off, DIY is truly back together! Now that they’re in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, things just got a lot more interesting. However, them going against reDRagon, Fish & O’Reilly, in the first round is a shame. One big name team will be out of the tournament already, but it will determine a lot of what happens next for NXT and the main roster. It almost feels like a mistake. I’d assume Undisputed Era advances and faces Aleister & Ricochet, who will have a great match against the NXT USA/UK crossover team of Barthel & Aichner. On the other side of the bracket, I’d think Mustache Mountain wins but maybe Street Profits shock us, since this feels like it’s their story towards getting a shot at the titles.

Lee VS Dijakovic was incredible, even with the double count-out finish. I really hope we get this again for the post-TakeOver NXT. Either man could win and then move on to at least the NXT North American Championship. Dream and the Undisputed Era had a great segment together, too, and it seems Cole is dead-set on being NXT NAC again. Does that mean Roderick Strong will be their NXT Championship challenger by default? That would definitely be a surprise. Dream VS Cole could go either way, but will likely mirror Lee VS Dijakovic so that we still get Face VS Heel, Dream VS Dijakovic or Lee VS Cole.

Then it’s clear NXT is getting in on the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships already. First, it was a real surprise that Vanessa and Aliyah win instead of Taynara getting back at them for last week. But of the possible NXT Women’s teams, it has to be either the MMA Horsewomen’s Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir or the Sky Pirates, Kairi Sane & Io Shirai. And it’ll only be the Sky Pirates if Shirai loses to Bianca in next week’s contenders match. That match will be awesome regardless of who wins. Shayna VS Mia was practically title match worthy. The story of Mia’s bad leg and Shayna’s bad arm was great, but naturally Shayna wins to stay strong going towards TakeOver. Shayna VS Shirai or Shayna VS Bianca II will both be great, so I’m good either way.

My Score: 8.6/10