NXT restarts the race towards title contention!

Io Shirai still reigns but The Johnny Gargano Way did grab the North American title! Who will be next to challenge the champions of NXT?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez; Kai wins.
• Kushida VS Cameron Grimes; Kushida wins.
• Drake Maverick & Killian Dain VS Ever-Rise; No Contest.
• Shotzi Blackheart VS Toni Storm; Storm wins.
• Tommaso Ciampa VS Velveteen Dream; Ciampa wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez!

The Moon is out and ready to rise again! But #CobraKai isn’t going to let the Shenom do it at her expense! The Evil Genius is still atop the NXT Women’s Division, but will the winner here move up to challenge her next?

The bell rings, Ember and Dakota circle and the fans rally already. Ember and Dakota tie up, go around, and Ember puts Dakota in a corner. Ember rams Dakota in then arm-drags her, but Dakota holds on to arm-drag back! Dakota dribbles Ember off the mat but Ember turns things around to clamp onto the arm. Dakota endures, fights up, trips Ember up and drops down for a headlock. Ember fights up, pries free and has the double wristlock. Dakota resists but Ember throws forearms. Ember brings Dakota up, Dakota turns around to get the arm and wrench back. Ember moves around but Dakota keeps her down. Ember fights up, Dakota arm-drags her back down but Ember headscissors!

Fans rally as Dakota moves around. Dakota hops up, headstands then jackknifes, ONE as Ember gets out. Ember wants the underhook and has the butterfly stretch! Raquel coaches Dakota up as Dakota fights to her feet. Dakota pries free, wrenches to a wristlock, and then a hammerlock. Dakota and Ember fight for control, Dakota gets Ember down to a knee but Ember keeps fighting. Ember gets up, around and wrenches to a wristlock. Dakota throws Ember down by her hair! Ember is right up to throw Dakota down by her hair! Fans fire up as the two start shoving. Dakota runs into a leg sweep! Ember runs to BOOT Dakota down, then drops a back senton!

Dakota scrambles away but Ember runs in. Dakota slips out, ducks the punch but Ember avoids the shoulder! Ember grabs Dakota and brings her through the corner! The ref counts but Ember keeps trying. Dakota resists and then YANKS Ember into the crossbars! Ember is stuck, Dakota grabs an arm and pulls! The ref counts, Ember lets go at 4 and Ember flops into the ring. Dakota stomps Ember, clubs her, then goes after the arm again. Ember endures and fans rally up. Dakota clubs the arm, Ember kicks her away, but Dakota is right back after Ember with a hammerlock. Dakota throws Ember into buckles, then STOMPS the arm! Dakota drags Ember up to snapmare and go after the arm again! Ember endures as Dakota pulls her into a short arm scissor!

Fans rally, Ember fights her way back up and works for a cover, only for Dakota to shift! Dakota has an inverted armbar, but Ember endures and powers up! Ember has a cover, TWO, DEAD LIFT BOMB! Raquel can’t believe Ember had that kind of power! Dakota hurries to her feet but Ember boots back! Ember ducks a kick to give a kick then more kicks, enziguri! Dakota wobbles, Ember fires up, but Ember runs into a forearm! Dakota runs but dodges Ember, only for Ember to springboard back kick! Dakota THRUST KICKS back, but runs into another sweep! Ember drags Dakota to the apron, spins her and ROCKS her with a forearm! Ember tells Dakota that was the receipt, here’s the interest! Ember BOOTS Dakota down! Fans fire up as Ember goes into the ring and Dakota crawls.

Ember shakes out the bad arm before she builds speed, and she DIVES! Direct hit and Dakota hits boards! Ember keeps moving, and she DIVES again, only to CRASH ‘N’ BURN! Both women are down as NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Ember arm-drags free of an armlock to then reach up and headscissor Dakota to  ropes! Fans fire up as Dakota flounders and runs, into a SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ember grits her teeth as she drags Dakota by a leg. Dakota kicks back and hard, then stalks up behind Ember. Dakota runs, Ember dodges but Dakota wheelbarrows and victory roll facebusters! Cover, TWO! Dakota is shocked and frustrated as Ember survives! Fans rally up as both women slowly rise. Dakota fireman’s carries but Ember slips off, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Dakota brings Ember back up and whips her to a corner, but Ember comes back with a FLYING CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans are still rallying but Raquel is very worried.

Dakota crawls but Ember follows, even with a bad arm. Dakota throws a forearm from the mat but Ember returns it! Ember even eggs Dakota on, daring her to take a free shot. Dakota tries but it’s a trap! CROSSFACE! Dakota endures, pries at the hold, but Ember cranks back and grinds her forearms in harder. Dakota rolls to a cover, TWO and to a ghost pin! TWO and Dakota has the ghost pin, TWO! They keep trading ghost pins, TWO! FUJIWARA on the bad arm! Dakota has Ember now, cranks back hard, but Ember endures and reaches for ropes! Ember uses a leg for the ropebreak but Dakota just cranks back harder and harder! Dakota lets go at 4 but she’s still frustrated.

Dakota clubs Ember, then talks trash about Ember returning to NXT. Dakota stomps the arm, and then SLAPS Ember! Ember just gets mad! Ember glares at Dakota, shrieks with fury, and SLAPS away on Dakota! And throws forearms and knees, and a windmill of fists! Dakota gets to a corner, Ember is after her with a whip! Ember runs in to hit the back body block! And then TOSSES Dakota across the way! And then corner clothesline! Ember snapmares Dakota then climbs a corner. But Raquel distracts on the apron! Dakota BOOTS Ember down! Ember is stuck up top, Dakota drags Ember out, DRAPING G T K!! Cover, Dakota wins!!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall

Give another huge assist to #RickyDesperado! Big Mama Cool helped #CapKota keep pace in the title hunt. Dakota tells Ember that she’s not the same person she was when Ember was last in NXT. Will this Dakota earn herself another shot at Io Shirai?

Backstage interview with Cameron Grimes.

He’s very jumpy, though, and Mackenzie spooks him. She just wants to know how he’s doing since last week’s Haunted House of Terror match. Grimes says he’s doing fine. Whatever loss happened doesn’t really matter. IT wasn’t a pinfall or submission. There were zombies or something. Grimes keeps looking around, but he claims he’s over it. Last week was last week. Tonight is tonight. Grimes will Cave-In Kushida tonight. The ref comes up to tell Grimes it’s time, but Grimes freaks out because it was the same ref that was a zombie last week! Will Grimes work up the nerve to have a normal match this time?

Backstage interview with Shotzi Blackheart.

Firstly, Mackenzie gives her congratulations on hosting such a great Halloween Havoc last week. Tonight, she handpicked the returning Toni Storm as her opponent, and why is that? Shotzi says Halloween Havoc was a blast, and after volunteering as host, William Regal allowed her this special treat. Shotzi has always been a big fan of Toni’s as one of the best, as well as a Mae Young Classic winner and former NXT UK Women’s Champion. Tonight’s match is a huge test of Shotzi’s skills, so that’s exactly why she wants this match. Toni, “Welcome to the ball pit!” Will Shotzi #TCB, Take Care o’ Bidness against such an accomplished opponent?

Kushida VS Cameron Grimes!

The Time Splitter has moved past The Velveteen Dream and Tommaso Ciampa, who are still stuck in the past against each other. Grimes is also stuck on his horrifying past, but will it keep him from focusing on the Super Junior?

The bell rings and the two circle. Grimes stays back at the ropes, and seems to be on the lookout for anything creeping and crawling. He comes back, but Kushida dropping down to use his leg guard only freaks Grimes out, it’s like the zombies and their spider walking! Grimes stays at the ropes but Kushida backs off. They circle and tie up, Kushida gets a leg then the waistlock. Grimes counters with a judo throw then wristlock, but Kushida moves around to get around and roll him up. ONE, but Kushida is right on Grimes’ arm. Kushida throws elbows in while wanting the Hoverboard but Grimes again powers him over with a fireman’s carry takedown. Cover, ONE, but Grimes has a facelock.

Kushida pops out, facelocks back, and holds on as Grimes rolls. Kushida then floats all over Grimes and goes back to a facelock. He shoots the half to cover, ONE, but Kushida keeps Grimes down with the armlock. Kushida chinbars while he armlocks, but Grimes fights up. Grimes drop toeholds and floats to a fish hooking chinlock! He also goes after the ears and stomps Kushida down! Grimes throws European Uppercuts then whips corner to corner. Kushida reverses but Grimes goes up and over, then runs to speed things up. Kushida hip tosses to the ARMBAR! Grimes flails, resists, moves and gets a cover, ONE! Kushida has the arm again, Grimes clasps hands and rolls, but Kushida changes that to a Jim Breaks Special! Kushida makes Grimes’ arms bend back for a double omoplata and SNAP!

Kushida stalks Grimes, gets the arm and goes after it. Grimes grabs ropes but Kushida hits a BULLDOG on the arm! Kushida dropkicks Grimes down then covers, TWO! Kushida is right after the arm but Grimes gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Kushida lets off but Grimes kicks him in the head! Kushida wobbles and Grimes kicks low. Kushida CHOPS back, but Grimes throws a forearm! Grimes wrenches and wrangles Kushida down to the mat. Kushida fights up, rolls, and wrangles Grimes with a chinbar. Grimes endures as Kushida keylocks the arm, stands on it then STOMPS it! Then arm-drags to get the arm for a high wristlock! Grimes endures, fans rally and Grimes moves around. Kushida just steps over for a mounted armlock.

Grimes fights up, Kushida wrenches but Grimes forearms him in the back! And then again! Grimes keeps after Kushida with big forearms, then waistlocks. Kushida counters the suplex to a victory roll, TWO! Kushida dodges, tilt-o-whirls, but into a LAWN DART HOT SHOT! Grimes hurries to cover, TWO! Grimes grows frustrated as NXT goes picture in picture.

Grimes stomps Kushida in a corner, brings him around and clubs him with elbows. Grimes stands on Kushida’s hand and grinds the fingers! Then he drops a knee on Kushida’s head and digs that in, too! The ref reprimands, Grimes stops but he still glances around just in case. Grimes brings Kushida up, Kushida fights back with elbows and clubs Grimes. Kushida fires off forearms but Grimes yanks him into buckles! Kushida gasps and sputters and Grimes cheers himself on. Grimes gets up, runs in but Kushida catches him for a BUCKLE SHOT! Kushida fires himself up as Grimes flounders around. Kushida throws haymakers, Grimes knees low and whips, but Kushida kicks back! Grimes LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Grimes argues with the ref but the count is the count. Grimes looms over Kushida and wrenches the neck. Kushida endures, so Grimes fish hooks his face! The ref counts, Grimes lets off and then paces about. Grimes stomps Kushida, stomps him more, then puts him in a corner. Grimes throws EuroUppers, Kushida staggers to the other corner, so Grimes is on him with KICKS! Kushida staggers to another corner, Grimes RAMS into him with his shoulder! And again! And then another KICK! Kushida staggers and Grimes kicks the legs out! Grimes stands on Kushida’s head and gloats but lets off at the ref’s count.

Grimes whips Kushida corner to corner hard and Kushida bounces off buckles! Grimes double guns to show off his power, then he stalks Kushida to the corner. Grimes stomps as NXT returns to single picture but the fans rally for Kushida. The ref counts, Grimes lets off but Kushida boots back! Both men throw forearms back and forth but Kushida KICKS and KICKS and whips. Grimes reverses but Kushida handsprings to back elbow! Kushida fires up, runs in but misses in the corner. Grimes walks into an enziguri! Atomic drop and whip, hip toss and cartwheel basement dropkick! Kushida baits Grimes in then gets Grimes with a PELE! Grimes wobbles, but dodges the Penalty Kick to whip. Kushida reverses to put Grimes on the apron and he handspring kicks Grimes down!

Fans are fired up as Kushida goes up top! Kushida sees Grimes get in so he just adjusts and leaps, crossbody! Cover, TWO! Kushida has the wrists, he stomps but Grimes avoids it to roll him up! Grimes holds the pants, TWO!! Kushida walks into the SUPERFOREARM! Kushida FAST BALL, but Grimes uses that to backslide! Kushida slips off into a DEAD LIFT SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Kushida survives and Grimes is exhausted! Fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Both men slowly rise and Kushida gets to a corner. Grimes hoists Kushida up top, CHOPS him, then climbs up to join him. Grimes goes to the very top, but Kushida hits back with body shots! Kushida crotches Grimes and FAST BALLS!

Kushida sits Grimes back up, has the arm for a HOVERBOARD DRIVER!?! Grimes clutches that arm while Kushida fires up! PENALTY KICK to the arm! Then a waistlock, but Grimes standing switches! Grimes RAMS Kushida into a corner and the ref! O’Conner roll, but no one to count! Kushida kicks out all the same, and he sends Grimes into the ref! The ref tumbles out of the ring, Kushida gets up and Grimes sees what happened! Kushida gets the arm, tornado takedown to the HOVERBOARD! Grimes is tapping but the ref can’t call it down on the outside! Kushida lets go when he realizes what happened, and he shouts to the ref.

Grimes crawls to the opposite side, then runs at Kushida. Kushida dodges him, but then Grimes dodges Kushida, COLLISION COURSE! Grimes covers but again, no ref to count! Another ref comes out, but it’s the “zombie” ref! Grimes is too scared to stay put, and he gets CAUGHT to the HOVERBOARD! Grimes taps, Kushida wins!!

Winner: Kushida, by submission

The Haunted House of Terror still haunts Grimes, and that helps Kushida stay alive! Will the Time Splitter be the one heading for championship gold next?

Toni Storm speaks.

“I respect Shotzi Blackheart. Unlimited passion, unlimited energy. Heck, who doesn’t love Shotzi Blackheart?” Toni is flattered to be chosen, but Halloween is over and Shotzi chose the wrong woman. This is a new Toni Storm. More aggressive, more tenacious, and even more Toni. Toni will use Shotzi as a springboard to the top of the NXT Women’s Division. Will the Lightning From Down Under strike tonight?

Io Shirai speaks.

“Everyone wants to know what’s next for Io Shirai. To show this is MY NXT, there is still one challenge I must face: Rhea Ripley.” After all, it was a Triple Threat at In Your House, so they need to settle this 1v1. “Rhea, I’m not afraid of nightmares.” But will even the Evil Genius wipeout against the Riptide?

Drake Maverick & Killian Dain VS Ever-Rise!

The last time these two teams, which Rockstar Spud and Big Damo are finally becoming, it ended in a disqualification. But that actually made Dain like Maverick, so they’re going to take on Matt Marthel and Chase Parker again to see if they can’t win clean. Will Maverick finally win over Dain while also finally winning a match?

Marthel talks a lot of trash as the two teams stare down, but already Maverick and Dain agree on hitting first! The bell rings to get this brawl on record! Dain throws Marthel out and moves Maverick aside to get after Parker. Dain ROCKS Parker with EuroUppers then whips him to the corner. Dain tags Maverick in rather strongly, then whips Parker to ropes. Maverick is used as a weapon to trip Parker up! Dain then drops a back senton, then scoops Maverick for human weapon, senton slam! Cover, TWO! Marthel talks trash again but Maverick swings haymakers! Marthel backs off but Parker rams Maverick in! Marthel tags in and Ever-Rise mugs Maverick!

Marthel bumps Maverick off buckles, throws forearms then looms over him. Tag to Parker as fans rally, and Ever-Rise combine for the running KNEE backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Parker throws haymakers on Maverick then clamps a claw onto the shoulder. Maverick endures, fights up but Parker wrangles him back down. Maverick continues to endure, Marthel cheers as Parker throws in elbows. Parker clamps down even harder, but Maverick fights up. Parker elbows him again, bumps him off buckles, then throws big body shots! Maverick gasps for air but Parker throws haymakers. Maverick counter punches! Parker wobbles but runs into a boot! Maverick reaches, Marthel shouts but Parker is dumped out! Maverick goes outside and leaps to club Parker down!

Cameras look outside and Pat McAfee’s crew rolls up! “Well, well, well. The show has arrived!” Maverick puts Parker in but Parker clobbers him! McAfee takes the camera to frame his team the right way, and Danny Burch says McAfee’s a natural. Marthel tags in, Maverick fights Ever-Rise off! He throws Parker out but Marthel rams his shoulder in over and over! Marthel throws haymakers, brings Maverick around and hits a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Pete Dunne leads the way as he, the NXT Tag Team Champions, and McAfee head inside. Parker tags in, Ever-Rise mugs Maverick, but here come McAfee’s boys! They’re attacking Parker and Maverick!

No Contest

Dain gets in but he gets mugged 3v1! McAfee is still rolling as Maverick and Dain try to fight 3v2! Fans boo as Maverick and Dain get beat down! Dain tries to fight back against the champs but Oney and Burch club away on him. Dunne gives Maverick some Danielson Stomps! Oney drags Dain up for him and Burch to keep hitting and Dunne adds on! McAfee is getting it all from his camera, too. Dunne BOOTS Maverick down! The three then coordinate and get Dain up, LONDON TOWER! McAfee tells his boys to smile for the camera! “Smile if you’re the greatest four man group in wrestling! Say cheese~!” Dunne doesn’t smile but that’s just how he is. Will these four continue to do what they want, when they want and to who they want in NXT?

NXT returns and McAfee’s crew is still in the ring!

Fans boo as McAfee has the mic. “You are looking at the greatest four men to ever come together in the history of the wrestling business! We run NXT now, and there’s no question about it!” The thing about them that makes them different is that they’re “not a bunch of scumbags.” Not Danny, not Oney, not Pete, and definitely not McAfee! “We are men of class! We are professional.” So as the new kings of NXT, it is only right they pay tribute to the previous group that used to run NXT, the Undisputed Era. “Tonight, we will hang their banner in the rafters to commemorate an incredible run in NXT that we ended.” And let’s take a trip down memory lane as they do so.

In 2017, this group of Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and “mustached stooge” Bobby Fish came along, and they took over NXT like no one had done before! They and their “stupid hand signal” won a bunch of stuff, they were “over” with all the “stupid, stupid, stupid fans,” everyone loved them. So much success there, they needed a new member. What did they do, Pete Dunne? What did the UE do to him specifically? “Roderick Strong taught me a very valuable lesson: You’ve got to trust the right people in this business.” McAfee is “the right people,” btw. Dunne decided to return the favor and he taught Kyle the exact same favor Roddy did. See those biceps, dude? Dunne is back, ripped and shredded, and with a vendetta to settle!

So again, Roderick betrayed Dunne and joined the UE, and then those four “raised the level of everything in NXT.” They won all the titles, had success after success. “Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered.” They got greedy, wanting more and more and more, “and NXT changed their entire business philosophy to make the Undisputed Era look like they’re the greatest thing ever, leaving everybody else by the wayside.” All the incredible talent backstage did not matter anymore because the UE got a push like the world has never seen before. Right, Oney? Yeah! “What about us?” What about Oney and Danny? A combined 30 years in this business! People looked down on them! Told them they weren’t good enough! People told them they’d never be on the same level as the Undisputed Era! But now look at them.

McAfee says the UE will never reach the level of Danny and Oney ever again! The UE was allowed to do whatever they wanted, like bullying people and taking advantage of them, as well as manipulating the “simpletons” think they were unstoppable. All it took was one run-in with McAfee. NXT TakeOver: XXX, Cole beat McAfee, but in scumbag fashion, he showed McAfee no respect. None! So obviously, TakeOver: 31, Ridge Holland literally dumped Adam Cole’s lifeless body, but sadly breaks his leg, so McAfee signs Oney and Danny, knowing that they hated the UE, too. Then Dunne was the ace in the hole, who has hated the UE for years because Strong was a scumbag to him! This group coming together was the easiest thing McAfee has done in his entire life.

“Now it’s time for our reign to begin. Now it’s time to honor the past while recognizing that the future is much, much better.” They will now raise the UE banner into the rafters, “and never ever hear from those four little dirt bags ever again.” The “thingy” lowers, and then McAfee realizes, their group is a “democracy.” They should all have a say in whether or not they go through with this. McAfee did, but talking about the UE and all the “despicable things they have done,” he’s not sure. But they’re a team, so they should vote. If you’re in favor of raising the banner, say “Aye.” No one says anything. So then, if they’d rather throw the banner into the trash, say “Aye.” AYE! Trash can it is! The UE’s name will never be something that is glorified! This banner, like Vic Joseph’s FACE, will end up where it belongs: the trash!

McAfee puts the banner in the can, “as a sign of something that should’ve never existed. Something that’s more dumb than anything else in the history of wrestling, and something that we will never, ever, ever hear from again, after we laid waste to all of them.” Congrats to the UE on being official DEAD! “Pete Dunne, light their asses on fire, sir!” Dunne squirts a LOT of lighter fluid on the banner, then throws a lighter in! BOOM! Danny and McAfee warms their hands from that fire. McAfee tells the fans, “You’re welcome,” and says the fans on the screens of the “tron thingy” are the worst. These four are the greatest, everyone else sucks! Cheers. McAfee’s crew heads out, will “the kings of NXT” continue to do what they want week after week?

But wait! Dain is back for revenge! He goes after McAfee but Dunne, Oney and Danny go after him! They mug him 3v1 against the SUV, then put him between the door. Dunne BOOTS it closed on Dain!! McAfee is stunned. He likes it, though, they can talk about this later. McAfee tells the “big hairy bastard” that he shouldn’t have even tried. McAfee has a quick reminder: “We’re the greatest. You suck.” Bye! They drive off into the night, and Dain’s bleeding from the mouth! Will even the Belfast Beast suffer under this new era?

NXT hears from Johnny Gargano.

“There’s a lot of nasty rumors being spread about me.” Some people were saying Gargano hates wheels? No! Everyone knows Gargano loves wheels! He spins a wheel in the Game of Life! All the spins are coming up Johnny. “As a matter of fact, the only thing I love more than wheels, is making history.” First Triple Crown Champion in NXT history! First TWO-TIME North American Champion! Lover of wheels, maker of history, that’s Johnny Gargano, ladies and gentlemen. Gargano gets a call, and it’s… GHOST FACE?! “I’m in your house.” Oh! Well, wait, duh, you’re right next to him! Your turn, dude. You’re just delaying the inevitable. Easy for Gargano to say, “everything’s coming up Johnny.” Yeah, finally!

But it hasn’t always been that way. The minute Gargano won the title, everyone thought, “Oh, it’s gonna be another short Johnny Gargano title reign. He’s probably gonna lose it his first defense, just like he always does!” NO! That is the one blemish on his legacy, but next week, he kills that curse! Gargano defends his title against a worthy opponent. No c’mon, spin the wheel. Ghost Face takes their turn, and wow, not good. Gargano laughs and says they suck. Gargano spins and gets a big result! The winner is: Johnny! “Just like it always is, Johnny wins! Wheels love Johnny and Johnny wins!” What kind of victory dance is that? Good game, Ghost Face! But who is that behind the mask? And who does Gargano feel is worthy of a match?

Shotzi Blackheart VS Toni Storm!

NXT’s Tank Girl chose the MYC winner and former NXT UK Women’s Champion for this match to test herself as much as to test “the new Toni Storm.” Will Shotzi pass that test with flying colors? Or will she fail to last against #ToniTime?

Shotzi doesn’t ride in on her tank? And she blames Toni for it?! Shotzi shoves Toni but the ref keeps the peace. Toni and Shotzi are fired up and the ref rings the bell! Toni dodges, ducks a kick and waistlocks but Shotzi swings an elbow! Toni ducks that, atomic drops and CHOPS! Toni runs and BOOTS Shotzi down! Shotzi gets to a corner but she slips to the outside as Toni turns in! Shotzi ROUNDHOUSES Toni back, then springboards, but FALLS! Toni gets her right up to throw a EuroUpper! Toni drags Shotzi up, whips her but Shotzi slides under and enziguris back! Toni staggers, Shotzi trips her up and gets the legs! “Welcome to the ball pit!” Leg splitter leg drop! Shotzi drags Toni up, whips but Toni reverses. Shotzi boots back, climbs up and headscissors Toni into buckles!

Shotzi runs in for the CANNONBALL but only gets buckles! Toni comes back to hip attack! Toni drags Shotzi to a cover, TWO! Toni keeps her cool as she drags Shotzi up to CHOP her to a corner! Toni throws EuroUppers then brings her up for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Toni looms over Shotzi, brings her up and throws big forearms but Shotzi throws them back! Shotzi runs and tilt-o-whirls into a small package! TWO, Toni BOOTS Shotzi down again! Shotzi gets to ropes but Toni brings her up. Toni throws more EuroUppers, Shotzi staggers about but Toni stomps her in the corner. Toni snapmares, covers, TWO! Toni keeps on Shotzi with a neck wrench, fans rally as Shotzi endures, but Toni shifts side to side.

Toni shifts to a chinlock, Shotzi fights up but Toni wrangles her down. Cover, TWO, and Shotzi gets to a corner. Toni cravats and cranks to a snapmare. Toni keeps on the head and neck with more wrenching, then she brings Shotzi around to a facelock. Shotzi fights up, Toni throws her down to a cover, TWO! Toni keeps on Shotzi with that facelock and fans rally. Shotzi fights up, fans are thunderous as she fights back. Toni clubs her down, and half hatch suplexes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi is still in this as NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Shotzi fights up. Toni hits back and whips Shotzi to a corner, but Shotzi goes up and over. Shotzi rolls and comes to shotgun dropkick Toni into the corner! Shotzi runs in to corner splash then shoves Toni for the SLING DOG! Shotzi KNEES Toni, then QUESTION MARK KICKS! Toni wobbles and flounders, Shotzi runs to BALL PIT CANNONBALL on the ropes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi drags Toni back up, but Toni resists the suplex. Toni elbows away and Shotzi backs off. Shotzi comes back but the enziguri misses, Toni reels Shotzi in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Toni holds on but Shotzi elbows back! Shotzi cravats and goes up, but no Sliced Bread, just another GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shotzi narrowly escapes and fans fire up!

Toni drags Shotzi up, reels her in and underhooks, but Shotzi resists! Shotzi wrenches the arm, reels Toni in, SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Toni survives and Shotzi is seeing why Toni is as accomplished as she is! Shotzi gets up, runs, but Toni HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi survives again and Toni can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous as Toni goes up to the top rope! Shotzi hits her first and Toni is on the apron. Toni shoulders in and forearms, but Shotzi hits back! They brawl with the ropes between them, and Shotzi CHOPS! And SLAPS! And throws big forearms! And a ROUNDHOUSE! Toni wobbles, Shotzi goes up and brings Toni around, APRON TORNADO DDT!! Both women crash down and fans are losing their minds! The ref starts a ring count but neither woman stirs until 5!

Shotzi gets up first at 6, drags herself up with the apron skirt, and in at 8! Toni is given a reprieve, and Candice LeRae talks on the titantron!? She says she knows what happened to Shotzi’s tank! They left it in the middle of the road! Who would do such a thing? But Candice will “watch” the tank for her. You can trust Candice. Toni sneaks up on Shotzi with a body scissors take down! EURO CLUTCH! TONI WINS!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall

Candice’s “help” just helped Toni! Candice says that’s too bad. But the tank is still here. Though, how much longer can Candice keep watch? She keeps hearing cars and someone might come this way. Oh no! There’s one coming! Candice asks they stop, and it’s a huge Hummer, too. Candice goes to the driver, and then hops in? Who was driving it before, then? “These are the things that happen when you put your nose in other people’s business.” Candice is running Shotzi’s tank over with the Hummer!! Shotzi is freaking out as the tank is scraped along underneath!! And it was GHOST FACE who brought the Hummer here!

This is what Shotzi gets for keeping the NXT Women’s Championship from Candice! “We’re even!” Toni tries to comfort Shotzi, but that’s not going to fix her tank. Will Shotzi avenge her tank and crush the Poison Pixie in return?

NXT Media catches up with El Legado del Fantasma.

Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza arrive, and the reporter tells them that a lot of people feel it’s rather telling that they had to cheat to defeat Jake Atlas. “A lot of people? What are you talking about?” Escobar pinned Atlas fair and square. Who cares about other people? But then Atlas pulls up fast, and he has a tire iron! He swings and hits Mendoza, keeps Wilde back, but gets back into his car before things get out of hand. Escobar smirks, because he knows he has gotten under Atlas’ skin. But will Atlas still find a way to get even with the Leader of Leaders?

NXT presents another Thatch As Thatch Can.

The Professor of Pain, Timothy Thatcher, has a new student this week as he welcomes to another live session. This is Akeem. And today’s lesson is reversals. Last time, Thatcher and Anthony Greene showed us that “anyone can get lucky and catch a hold.” But you have to be prepared at all times when you step inside the four ropes. So to start, the front guillotine. The cutting bone of the forearm on the windpipe. He puts Akeem in, cranks tight and Akeem already taps. In pro-wrestling, a windpipe crush is illegal. At least, that was always the impression Thatcher had. You go after the carotid artery. But apparently if someone, Greene, wants to play tough guy, you just grab whatever you can.

So now, the reversal of that hold. Thatcher allows Akeem to put him in the facelock. The key is to block the cutting bone with a hand, move to the side and spin around. The opponent will surely try to wrangle you down to the ground, but as you do you keep moving to the side, turning your head. Now, he can crank how hard he wants and there’s no pressure on you. But Thatcher shows that you can apply pressure with your forearm into the opponent’s face and crossface him. Then you pop out, get the arm, to a top wristlock! Akeem taps already, but Thatcher of course holds on. “Now, we have to know the difference between him tapping because because you’ve crushed his soul, or because he’s just trying to lull me into a false sense of security.” Thatcher goes DEEPER and Akeem definitely tapes because of the pain!

Akeem gets upset as Thatcher finally lets go. Top wristlocks go after both shoulder and elbow. Thatcher asks if Akeem is fine. He is. They can get someone else. No, he’s okay. Does he want water? Get him some water! Well alright, he’ll be fine. This time, Akeem will try to escape. Thatcher puts on the guillotine, Akeem uses his hand as instructed, and they move around. Thatcher will go down, Akeem rolls to his side. Very good. They keep moving around. Use the forearm for the crossface. There. But you see, what Akeem doesn’t know is that you can push him forward, get a leg, and have the ankle lock! Specifically, an Achilles lock! Akeem taps, and Thatcher says you always have to be prepared for anything! Akeem keeps tapping and Thatcher finally lets go.

Anthony Greene is back! Or, Austin Gray now! Either way, he’s throwing clubbing forearms on Thatcher! Thatcher hits back, but Gray DECKS him! He dares Thatcher to come back, and then he SUPERKICKS him out to the barriers! Thatcher tumbles up and over and glares back at Gray! Gray’s no longer green, but will he and Thatcher be black ‘n’ blue after it’s said and done?

Backstage interview with Xia Li.

She has been receiving letters delivered by Boa, but what are those about? Xia explains they are letters from her family, so it is very personal. But what matters is that Xia needs to turn things around. Is there anything she can share about what’s in the letters? No, it’s not anyone’s business. But then why- William Regal comes by, and he has another letter! Xia reads this one, and she looks even more worried than she did before. She needs a match next week, against Raquel Gonzalez. Is she sure about that? Yes. She dishonored her, so she has to. Well if that’s what she wishes, then Regal will arrange it. What is it that has Xia so anxious to fight the big fight?

Rhea Ripley speaks.

“Io Shirai wants to challenge me? Perfect.” That is what she’s wanted since June! “2020 has been complete trash. Everybody has been getting in my way, and I’ve had to prove to them exactly who I am.” Shirai says she isn’t afraid of nightmares, but everyone’s scared of something. And it’s a fact Shirai is terrified of losing her title. That’s exactly what will happen. Rhea will end 2020 the same way she did 2019: the NEW NXT Women’s Champion. Will history repeat itself for the better in NXT?

NXT has BIG matches for next week!

Not only will Gargano and his mysterious “worthy opponent” have a match over the NXT North American Championship, but Breezango is looking for payback! Will Tyler Breeze and Fandango avenge both the Undisputed Era and themselves as they have a rematch with Oney and Danny for the NXT Tag Team Championships?

Tommaso Ciampa VS Velveteen Dream!

The Psycho Killer has pointed out The Experience inevitably gets in his own way and only makes things worse for himself. Will this 1v1 grudge match be exactly what Ciampa means now that he has Dream all to himself?

Dream tries to ambush Ciampa but he’s ready for it and ducks the arm cast attack! The bell rings, Ciampa and Dream circle and feel out the grapple. Ciampa gets a headlock and holds on as Dream tries to power out. Ciampa grinds Dream down, fans rally as Ciampa is after the bad arm. Dream gets up, Ciampa throws him down and has the bad arm! Ciampa claws at the cast as he twists the arm but Dream gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Dream gets away before Ciampa can stomp the arm! Dream throws a tantrum but he slams his bad arm on the desk! Ciampa goes after Dream while he winces, and wrenches, only for Dream to throw body shots. Dream shoves Ciampa into boards then gets back into the ring.

Dream argues with the ref about the cast being a target but Dream goes back out. Ciampa kicks Dream and puts him on the barriers! Dream is stuck but Ciampa KNEES him down! Fans fire up while Dream flounders about. Ciampa, bloody eye and all, puts Dream in the ring. Dream bails back out but Ciampa smirks as he follows. Dream is on the desk, Ciampa pats him on the back and CHOPS him! Ciampa hoists Dream up to GOURD BUSTER him onto the desk! Fans are thunderous, Ciampa lines up another shot, but Dream covers up! Ciampa stops short, grabs the bad arm, and slams it on the desk! And again! And again! Dream writhes and flops off the desk but Ciampa puts him in. Ciampa pats himself on the back and smiles as fans are thunderous.

Ciampa stalks Dream but Dream throws his hat at him! Dream then attacks with kicks and chops and forearms! Dream rams his shoulder in over and over, lets off at the ref’s count, but stalks Ciampa on the ropes. Dream whips corner to corner but Ciampa reverses and sends Dream flying out! Dream ends up hitting boards and he tumbles around. Dream doesn’t want any more and he goes up the ramp! “I’m coming home, mama!” But Ciampa grabs him at the ramp! Ciampa puts Dream back in, Dream flounders up but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Ciampa keeps moving and he BASEMENT KNEES Dream down! Ciampa reels Dream in, underhooks, but Dream slips out and punches, only for Ciampa to grab the bad arm! Ciampa wrangles Dream down and STOMPS the arm!!

Ciampa stalks Dream as Dream begs the ref to stop this. Ciampa drags Dream up, Dream shoves him away and climbs up. Ciampa clubs Dream, gets the bad arm and pulls to YANK Dream into the buckles! Dream flops down, Ciampa SLAMS the bad arm on the mat! Then stomps away on Dream in the corner! The ref counts, Ciampa lets off and Dream flounders out. Ciampa goes out to stomp away on Dream against steel steps as NXT goes picture in picture!

Ciampa stomps and stomps but lets off. The fans are fired up as Ciampa THROWS Dream into boards! Ciampa grins as Dream clutches his arm. Ciampa drags Dream up, puts him in the ring and goes after the arm. Dream flounders and flails to get away but he runs into a haymaker! Dream is in a daze, Ciampa has the arm again and he drops a knee on it! Ciampa drags Dream by his arm and drops knees on it again! Ciampa drags Dream around, ROCKS him to a corner, then CHOPS him! Ciampa climbs up and rains down rights in the corner! He lets off to mock Dream’s swiveling, then tops it off with the tenth!

Ciampa watches Dream flop down and waves to him. Dream begs for mercy but Ciampa toys with him. Ciampa kicks and kicks and that upsets Dream. Ciampa CHOPS Dream, whips him corner to corner but Dream slides, only to turn around and see Ciampa ready to punch him! Dream scrambles around and begs for mercy, but he instead tries to throw Ciampa into buckles! Ciampa stops himself short, elbows Dream back, but Dream BOOTS him! Both men stagger as NXT returns to single picture. Fans are fired up as Dream climbs. Ciampa CHOPS him, CHOPS him, and climbs up to join him. Dream resists and fights back and Ciampa hops down. But Ciampa gets the bad arm! Ciampa wrenches but the ref counts. Dream rakes Ciampa’s eyes!

Ciampa staggers away while the ref reprimands. Dream ROCKS Ciampa with haymakers and jabs, then whips Ciampa to ropes. Ciampa reverses but Dream gets around to SPINE BUSTER! Fans boo but Dream poses. Dream gets mad when he realizes they’re booing, so he rains down furious fists on Ciampa! Dream lets up to smooth his hair back and encourages the fans to make noise. Dream drags Ciampa up, his cast in the crossface and then camel clutch! Dream focuses on the bad eye! Ciampa fights up, throws body shots and then haymakers. Dream kicks back then whips! Ciampa comes back but swings into an atomic drop! But he still rebounds to LARIAT! Fans fire up as Ciampa rallies with more clotheslines! And more clotheslines! And a LARIAT!

Fans are thunderous as Dream gets to a corner. Ciampa runs in for a big corner clothesline! Ciampa hoists Dream back up top, climbs up to join him again, and brings him all the way up for a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Dream survives and Ciampa can’t believe it! But fans are still thunderous as Ciampa gets up and WRINGS the bad arm out! Dream flounders up and Ciampa reels him in, but Dream back drops and sits down! TWO, and Ciampa staggers into a fireman’s carry! But Ciampa gets ropes so Dream throws him away. Dream BOOTS then throws Ciampa out of the ring! Dream builds speed but runs into a forearm! Dream forearms back then PLANCHAS! Direct hit and Ciampa is down!

Dream drags Ciampa up, puts him in, and reels Ciampa in. Ciampa fights back, but Dream still suplexes Ciampa and himself out! A rough landing but fans are fired up! A ring count starts and climbs as both men stir. Dream and Ciampa sit up at 5, get in at 7, but Ciampa drags Dream back out. Dream SUPERKICKS then puts Ciampa back in! Dream gets a chair?! He throws that in to distract the ref, because he wants to use the cast! Dream leaps, but into Ciampa’s JUMPING KNEE! Ciampa gets Dream with a roll into the ropes, WILLOW’S BELL!! Then the underhooks, to FAIRY TALE ENDING!! Cover, Ciampa wins!!

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall

It’s Dream Over, but not in the way Dream wanted! Will Ciampa use this to make his way back to “Goldie,” aka THE NXT Championship?

My Thoughts:

Wow, this was a great NXT, and it wasn’t even with one central focus point. All four matches (that went to actual finishes) were simply highlighting the depth of the roster and the stories behind them. Getting right to Ember VS Dakota was great, it was a great match, and it was a great surprise for Ember to lose. Ember may be back but she isn’t going to steamroll opponents, and certainly not one who has been in NXT as long as Dakota has. Ember will benefit from taking her time and giving us those little dream matches she listed the other week, on a similar path to Finn Balor. Speaking of which, a little surprised we didn’t get anything on Finn, but perhaps they’re trying to let things run their course. Hopefully Finn will be 100% very soon so that he can still be NXT Champion.

Shirai and Rhea had great promo vignettes and it’s great to see we’re finally getting that match for the NXT Women’s title. That is a match that could go either way, though I’m leaning ever so slightly in Shirai’s favor. Rhea has had her accolades for NXT already, and as much as I think she and Shotzi can tear it up as a team, or as great as a Rhea VS Toni rematch could be, I feel like Rhea might end up being moved to Raw or SmackDown. Leaning towards Raw in that case, because Rhea VS Asuka could be great, and Charlotte VS Rhea in a rematch of their own would be fantastic. Of course, the same can be said for Shirai, I just feel there’s more for Shirai to still do. Maybe be part of Worlds Collide: NXT VS NXT UK II, so that we can get either Shotzi VS Kay Lee Ray or Shotzi VS Jinny, something like that.

Toni VS Shotzi was a great match, even with Candice distracting via titantron. The major thing was, RIP Shotzi’s tank! Of course, I would think that’s a stunt tank, but still. Shotzi is definitely going to go after Candice, and there’s a chance “Ghost Face” Indi Hartwell gets involved, perhaps prompting Toni Storm to step in where Tegan Nox probably would be if not for injury. Speaking of Ghost Face, I wonder if the one playing Life with Gargano was just Candice playing the part. After all, the voice was changed and that Ghost Face seemed a little on the small side. I’m still betting the big, bad Ghost Face that helped Gargano was Austin Theory. Gargano was hilarious during that segment, especially that victory dance. I wonder if he’ll do that dance when he beats the “worthy” opponent who will probably be a jobber.

Atlas trying to jump El Legado was a decent segment. That rematch is coming, too, but it’s getting pretty old pretty quickly for El Legado to help Escobar win. Thatch As Thatch Can was another good segment, and I’m glad that Anthony Greene, now Austin Gray (Grey?) is taking the fight to him. One thing NXT is borrowing from 205 Live is that the seemingly jobber guy is getting to actually do stuff, i.e. Curt Stallion taking on Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari week after week. Grimes VS Kushida was a great match, lots of great character from Grimes in regards to the Haunted House match. I have a feeling Grimes will be suffering from the trauma until he has a rematch with Lumis, assuming he finds a way to win that. Speaking of which, Lumis and Kushida are shoe-ins for actual worthy NAC contenders, but maybe that comes after Gargano “breaks the curse.”

The tag match of Maverick, Dain and Ever-Rise was a good segue into McAfee and the “kings of NXT” (apparently that IS going to be their group name) razzing on UE for a long, long time. McAfee can definitely talk and he can definitely be obnoxious, and he did all of that excellently tonight. I knew last week Dunne’s motivations were purely from the moment when Strong betrayed him in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Despite winning WarGames against UE after, Dunne still holds a grudge, and with McAfee revisiting that history just so everyone understands, that can only mean WarGames is where this ends. Dain getting “crushed” in the car door was a nice touch to add to Dunne’s new edge as a Heel. Ciampa VS Dream was borderline TakeOver levels, and that made for a great main event. I really do think that, should Finn be cleared, he and Ciampa can start a program to end 2020 and to start 2021.

My Score: 9.1/10