The battle lines have been drawn in NXT 2.0!

While Carmelo Hayes puts “The A Title” up against two opponents, Tommaso Ciampa looks to put new crop of NXT in its place, starting with Grayson Waller!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tommaso Ciampa VS Grayson Waller; Ciampa wins.
• Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta; Catanzaro & Carter win.
• Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS Malik Blade; Escobar wins.
• Mandy Rose VS Cora Jade; Jade wins.
• Joe Gacy VS LA Knight; No Contest.
• Ivy Nile w/ Diamond Mine VS Yulisa Leon; Nile wins.
• Grizzled Young Veterans VS Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen; Briggs & Brooks win.
• NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams VS Pete Dunne VS Johnny Gargano; Carmelo wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Grayson Waller cuts into the intro!?

He says the fans don’t care about the has-beens! We’ve got the fastest rising star right here! But you know who wasn’t in that open? Tommaso Ciampa! “One of the greatest NXT Champions of all time, but he ain’t larger than life!” He ain’t a superstar like Waller. But the fans turn all the time, like on John Cena. But Cena’s killing the game in Hollywood. Speaking of Hollywood, what about The Rock? The biggest star in the industry but the fans booed him out of town. And don’t even get Waller started on Roman Reigns! Roman main evented WrestleMania after WrestleMania, gave his all, and the fans booed him! But now Roman’s Head of the Table and killing it!

So all that teaches Waller is that “all you Twitter freaks, with you’re 80 thousand tweets and three followers don’t matter! Superstars do!” John Cena, Roman Reigns, The Rock, and now, Grayson Waller. But Ciampa interrupts! Will the champion make sure Waller is seeing stars when he turns that shine into shiners?

Tommaso Ciampa VS Grayson Waller!

The bell rings, Waller goes to the ropes for defense. Fans chant, “Ciampa’s gonna kill~ you!” Waller comes back, circles with Ciampa, tests the water with kicks but Ciampa shrugs it off. Waller gives another kick, then toys with Ciampa before slapping him! Ciampa just smiles, but Waller gets mad and shoves him! Waller wants Ciampa to respect him, but Ciampa SLAPS and stomps Waller to the corner! The ref counts and backs Ciampa off but the fans fire up as Ciampa goes for more! Ciampa goes side to side to KNEE WASH Waller! The fans want that “One More Time!” so Ciampa KNEE WASHES Waller again!

Waller goes out, Ciampa CHOPS him into taking a seat! Then Ciampa puts Waller in and in a corner for another CHOP! Ciampa climbs up to rain down rights on Waller’s head! Waller trips Ciampa up at 7 to then get a NECKBREAKER! Waller rains down rights on Ciampa, but lets off while fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at him. Ciampa gets up, Waller throws EuroUppers. Waller JABS Ciampa, whips him to ropes, but Ciampa reverses and elbows Waller down! Ciampa drags Waller up, CHOPS him then whips him to ropes. Waller ducks and then turns Ciampa for another NECKBREAKER! Fans rally for Ciampa but Waller gets up and drives in a knee.

Waller throws a body shot then chokes Ciampa on the ropes! The ref counts, Waller lets off at 4, but then he pulls Ciampa against the ropes! The ref counts, Waller lets go and fans chant “YOU SUCK!” again. Waller CLUBS Ciampa down, drives in another knee, then brings Ciampa up to DECK him with a right. Ciampa goes to a corner, Waller run sin but into a BOOT! Ciampa dodges Waller, ducks the leg lariat, but runs into a SPINEBUSTER! Waller sets up, pulls off his armband and copies the People’s Champion, drop step and BALLER flop as Ciampa moves! Ciampa comes back to rally with lariats! And a corner clothesline! And another!

Ciampa runs, dodges and then clotheslines Waller out of the ring! Waller bounces off the desk, Ciampa goes out to CLOBBER him again! Ciampa brings Waller up and TOSSES him over the desk! Waller lands in an armchair and Ciampa sits on the desk to pat himself on the back while NXT goes picture in picture.

Ciampa hears the crowd going nuts as he puts Waller back in the ring. Ciampa runs to BOOT Waller down, then he stomps Waller on the head. Ciampa stomps Waller more, CLUBS him on the head, then brings him around to stomp again. Waller staggers up, Ciampa JABS! And JABS! And DECKS Waller with a right! Waller sits up in a daze, Ciampa gets him up to snapmare for a chinlock. Ciampa CLUBS away on Waller’s chest again and again and again! Then he runs, into a LEG LARIAT! Both men are down but Waller pats himself on the back, mocking Ciampa! Waller stomps Ciampa, scrapes his sole off Ciampa’s face, then drags him back up.

Waller ROCKS Ciampa and Ciampa goes to a corner. Waller stomps him, CLUBS him, and throws body shots. Waller whips corner to corner, and hits a BIG corner clothesline! Waller stands on Ciampa in the corner, the ref counts and he lets off at 4. Waller taunts Ciampa, slaps him around, and gives him toying kicks. Waller stands Ciampa up but Ciampa CHOPS! Waller throws a forearm, Ciampa CHOPS again! Waller DECKS Ciampa with the forearm, then drives elbows in. Waller stands on Ciampa’s head at the ropes but lets off again. Waller drags Ciampa up, and CHOPS him as NXT returns to single picture. And CHOPS!

Ciampa ducks to CHOP and CHOP and CHOP again! Ciampa whips corner to corner, Waller stomps himself but the two collide head to head! Waller stays up, hops up the ropes, leaps, but into a KNEE! Both men are down and fans fire up again. Waller drags himself up but Ciampa CHOPS him! Waller CHOPS, Ciampa CHOPS then shoves. Waller elbows back, hops up but Ciampa ducks the leap frog to DDT! Ciampa gets Waller back up, underhooks, but Waller trips him to a jackknife! Cover, TWO! Waller drags Ciampa down to a press, TWO! Roll up, but Ciampa rolls through to KNEE Waller back! But Waller ROCKS Ciampa with a right! Fireman’s carry, WIDOWMAKER! Cover, TWO!!

Waller drags Ciampa to a drop zone and goes to the corner. Waller is up but Ciampa ROCKS him first! Ciampa ROCKS Waller again, climbs up, but Waller resists the superplex. Waller throws body shots, shoves Ciampa down then adjusts, but Ciampa CHOPS! Ciampa goes up and gets Waller for a SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!?! Waller survives and Ciampa is frustrated. Fans are loving “NXT! NXT!” as Ciampa CHOPS Waller! And CHOPS him again! And again! Ciampa brings Waller up but avoids the jab to backslide! Waller rolls through but into underhooks! Waller fights, cravats and throws knee after knee!

Waller torture racks and ROLLING SENTONS! Waller staggers, goes to the corner and BALLER ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives Waller’s best shot and he can’t believe it! “This is Awesome!” as Waller builds peed to FLY and take out Ciampa! He puts Ciampa in and somersaults, but into a roll-up! Waller ends up in the ropes, WILLOW’S BELL! Ciampa underhooks and hits FAIRY TALE ENDING! Cover, Ciampa wins!

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall

Waller may be right that he’s the future of NXT, but the present is Ciampa! Will the NXT Champion continue to be a gatekeeper for all those that think their time is now?

LA Knight watches backstage.

McKenzie asks his response, and he says we just saw what happened out there. This is how it goes down. Knight could’ve cost Waller the match but Knight knew Waller would do that himself. McKenzie says you have to give Waller some credit for that match, but Knight will. While Waller went out there and lost, the fans were chanting, “Waller Sucks!” And he DOES suck! That is just a fact of life. But then Joe Gacy comes in to say those facts are destructive and harmful. The reality is, we should be building each other up, not tearing each other down. Knight says what’s really harmful is the build-up of Knight wanting to tear Gacy down.

Gacy says have no fear, the safe space is right out there and it is always open. Why make it sound so perverse, creep? Open the safe space, because there won’t be microaggressions. There might be ruthless aggression, but what you can bet 100% on is Gacy getting his ass stomped! And that’s not an insult, that’s just a fact of life YEAH. Gacy says they should leave the hostility in the locker room. But will Gacy bring out his own animosity when the Million Dollar Megastar pushes him in the ring?

Toxic Attraction arrives.

NXT Media is already there waiting and it annoys Mandy Rose already. What do they want to know about? Mandy’s match tonight? Or the big match at WarGames? Speaking of Cora Jade, what is she even doing with that skateboard? She doesn’t belong in the ring with Mandy, and she can barely skate on that thing. What a poser. Like she even knows Tony Hawk. Dakota Kai then walks in and they ask what she wants. She fidgets a bit but at least she’s on their team. Mandy says she won’t even need Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne out there, because after she deals with Cora, Io Shirai and Raquel Gonzalez are gonna have another void to fill.

Whoa, what happened here? A mess of stuff. Is this someone’s rage room? What a freak. The ladies move on, Dakota knocks over a glass. But Kay Lee Ray smashes the bottle! Will KLR look to do the same to the toxic women’s champions?

Cameron Grimes heads to the ring!

But he isn’t in a good mood at all. After what Duke Hudson did to humiliate him, he’s fixed his hair and beard by having to go shorter on all sides. Grimes gets the mic while fans chant “To The Moon!” for him. Grimes is already emotional as he says, “I grew up in a very small town in North Carolina. And every day, I would have people that would push me down, that would tell me I wasn’t good enough.” But Grimes showed them that he was good enough. That if he scratched and clawed, it didn’t matter how many nights he slept on a concrete floor or how many dimes scraped just for chump change, he’d show all those people that Cameron Grimes holds it down!

Fans fire up and chant “To The Moon!” even more. Grimes made it in this industry, and even struck it rich. “But through all that, I kept this hair and this beard to remind me of my humble beginnings. To remind me of those times I was crying, by myself. To remind me of those times where I had NOTHING!” Duke Hudson took that from him. Duke humiliated him, Duke embarrassed him, but where Duke really messed up is that he angered him. Duke Hudson, come to the ring right now because Grimes is done talking! But Duke talks via video. He’s getting himself a trim at the barber’s. Duke says he didn’t recognize Grimes.

Duke asks what Grimes even has to be angry about? Last week, Grimes won a lot of money off Duke. And he got a free haircut! Grimes wants Duke to show up but Duke says he is helping transform Grimes. Duke is changing Grimes from the troll that lives under the bridge to a decent, normal human being. Then how about he get in the ring and they can be human beings as they settle it!? Duke says no. That’s not gonna happen. Sorry, not sorry. Duke is smug but Grimes says he gave Duke a chance to show all the people here how big them balls are. But Duke’s just proven that he’s gutless and nutless. But if Duke wants to talk big stakes, then lets put it all there! Let’s go all in!

If Duke wants the rest of Grimes’ hair, let’s do this! NXT WarGames, Grimes VS Hudson, HAIR VS HAIR!! Duke says he wouldn’t mind taking more off the top. Duke stands up and says, “You’re on.” And at WarGames, Duke will take the rest. He has Grimes’ hair in a bag?! That’s weird… But will Duke make Grimes into a Carolina cue ball? Or will Duke have to be smug when completely clean shaven?

Pete Dunne speaks.

“I’ve waited too long to hold a championship in NXT. So I don’t care how many geezers ya put in front of me. Tonight, it changes. And Johnny, you’ve stood in my way too many times before. So I’m about to put you out and send you packing. And Carmelo, leader of the new school. Are you mad? It’s about time I make you pay your dues. Tonight, the Bruiserweight, the baddest man in NXT, becomes North American Champion!”

Backstage interview with Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta.

McKenzie knows they’re about to have a match, but she was hoping for a medical update on Dexter Lumis. Indi says he has a fractured hand, broken fingers, and will be out for a month. Melo & Trick took away Lumis’ ability to draw, the way he expresses himself. So tonight, Gargano will take that title from Melo. Is Indi okay? Persia’s up for another handicap match if Indi wants to sit this one out. No, Indi’s fine. Okay, then. Indi dedicates this one to Dexter! Will Indi get back in a good mood with a win over the party palooza duo?

NXT, here’s a Tiffany Epiphany.

“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness must have been poor. Daddy has paid for my tennis lessons since I was a little girl. And now, I have the best serve at the country club. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth because ugh, silver is tacky. Daddy said I’m ready to take over NXT and he’s never wrong.” Tiffany Stratton is coming to NXT, who will she be serving up L’s to in the ring?

Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta!

Best friends take on best friends, but only one team will be celebrating a victory tonight! Will KC Squared be the life of the party in the NXT Women’s Tag Division? Or will the impressive Aussies win this one for Dex?

The teams sort out and Kayden starts with Persia. Kayden waistlocks, headlocks but Persia powers out. Kayden ducks and dodges but still gets run over by a shoulder! Persia drags Kayden up, Indi is too mopey to tag in! Kayden gets away and Persia tags Indi in. Kacy tags in, she waistlocks but Indi throws her off. Indi gets Kacy up but Kacy RANAS Indi to the corner! Kacy tags Kayden, Indi shoves them both away! Kayden whips Kacy in to trip Indi up, then Kayden springboard dropkicks! Persia coaches Indi up but Kayden brings her up. Indi CLUBS Kayden, whips her to ropes but Kayden holds ropes to boot back! Kacy tags back in to shoulder in, then Kayden table tops her!

Kayden and Kacy coordinate, wheelbarrow suplex SPLASH! Cover, Persia drags Kacy off! Kacy and Persia argue, the ref counts, and Kacy goes back to Indi. Kacy brings Indi up, Indi blocks the whip to whip Kacy to the corner. Indi stomps Kacy, tags Persia and Persia brings Kacy up. But Kacy fires off kick after kick after kick! Persia keeps Kacy from Kayden to scoop and SNAKE EYES! Persia then drags Kacy around, tags Indi back in, and they whip to tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER to LARIAT! Cover, Kayden drags Indi off! That’s payback on Persia but Indi tags Persia in. Persia gets Kacy up with a bearhug and squeezes tight! Then she RAMS Kacy into the corner!

Persia runs in but Kacy dodges! Persia POSTS herself, and Indi’s all mopey again! Persia tags her in while she’s not paying attention, and then Kacy tags Kayden! Kayden dodges Indi’s boot to SUPERKICK Persia off the apron! Kayden comes back but into a SIDEWALK SLAM! Indi looks at the ring too long, she isn’t covering! Kayden gets a ghost pin, TWO!! Kayden facelocks Indi, drags her up but Indi RAMS her into the corner and knocks Kacy down! That still counts as a tag, but Indi hoists Kayden up top. Kacy gets up, Kayden shoves Indi down, and then Kacy gets a boost for the SUPER SPLASH! Cover, KC Squared wins!

Winners: Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter, by pinfall

Now that was a stage dive! But will these two continue to dance their way to the top? As for Indi, can she get over Dexter being away at home for the next month?

Andre Chase gives his students a tour of the Capitol Wrestling Center.

They go through the top of the line medical center. Oh, what do we have here? They encounter Cameron Grimes, and Chase says this is a #TeachableMoment. “Never make a decision when you’re angry, because it can and will cost you a match. Or in this case, your hair and your self respect.” Grimes gets in Chase’s face and tells him to go to hell. Don’t listen to him. They continue on, but will Chase’s students actually learn something useful?

Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS ???

The Emperor of Lucha returned to help show Xyon Quinn and all of NXT what happens when they upset Legado Del Fantasma. Will Escobar’s return to action get him back on track towards a title?

NXT returns and Escobar’s opponent is the hometown hopeful still trying to establish himself. The bell rings, Escobar and Malik circle. They tie up, Escobar puts Malik in a corner, then SLAPS him! Escobar says this is his ring, Malik is nothing! They circle, tie up, Escobar waistlocks and throws Malik around. Malik fights up from the mat, Escobar SLAPS him again! Malik grits his teeth, ties up with Escobar, but Escobar whips him away. Malik rebounds and cartwheels to dodge! Malik then slides under and dropkicks Escobar down! Escobar comes back and kicks away on Malik in the corner! Escobar snapmares then KICKS Malik in the back!

Escobar stomps away on Malik at the ropes, the ref counts but Escobar lets off at 4. Fans rally and duel as Escobar kicks Malik again. Escobar gets Malik up, suplexes, but Malik slips free and sunset flips, TWO! Escobar ROCKS Malik and then hammers away on him. Escobar knees away on Malik in a corner, then brings him around for an EXPLODER into the buckles! Escobar goes corner to corner, “SI! SI! SI!” and DOUBLE KNEES! Malik staggers into a fireman’s carry, PHANTOM DRIVER! Cover, Escobar wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

A dominant victory for Escobar, and Elektra Lopez has the mic to say, “No one says no to Legado Del Fantasma.” They offered Xyon Quinn the opportunity of a lifetime! And he said no!? Well look what happened to him. They never needed him anyway. And now that their leader, Santos Escobar, is back, Legado is stronger than ever. Joaquin Wilde adds that now that Legado is back at full strength- Here comes Von Wagner & Kyle O’Reilly! Kyle apologizes for interrupting but these two are here for the same reason: The NXT Tag Team Championships! Raul Mendoza laughs and says too bad! Legado already beat them!

Von tells the “Amigos” that they may think they’ve had success so far, but look at the tape, dumbass. Von’s foot was on the rope. So as far as they’re concerned, they have unfinished business. That’s one hell of a point. But here comes Imperium! They’re up in the stands, and Fabian Aichner tells Marcel Barthel that this is rather sad, but it’s in Italian. Barthel says that not only are these people much more ignorant, they’re also less intelligent! They don’t know Italian, they barely know a second language. But what Fabian was saying was that everyone should be ashamed, fighting like little children!

Kyle and his big friend, Lurch, really think they should challenge the champions? Kyle says, “Si, bueno.” And the lucha clowns really think they can step up to Imperium? The truth is, neither team will be able to stop the absolute standard bearers of this division! And the era of Imperium will continue no matter what! It doesn’t matter who is first, so the chumps can go figure that out while the champs will defend these titles at WarGames! Aichner and Barthel have sent their message, who gets to respond in two weeks?

Zoey Stark & Io Shirai walk over to Cora Jade.

Stark just wants to talk to Cora, but then Raquel Gonzalez walks in and bumps Shirai into Stark. Whoa, back up! Chiquitas, don’t think Raquel forgot about Stand & Deliver. Shirai talks back in Japanese but Stark keeps the peace. They need to get on the same page. Raquel points out Shirai doesn’t even get along with Stark. Why she gotta bring that up now? Cora speaks up and asks if they’re really gonna do the “Can they coexist?” thing. It’s so boring and old, outdated even. They are a team, but there’s a problem: They don’t have a fourth. So Cora will leave it to them to go find that fourth while Cora kicks Toxic Attraction ass.

That’s something the other three can agree on. It would be Stark if she wasn’t hurt, but can they find someone who can get along with the rest of them?

Backstage interview with Tony D’Angelo.

McKenzie says he requested this time to share his thoughts on tonight’s Triple Threat main event. Oh, ‘ey! The business is booming! Forget about it! He’s got the numbers are all over the place, he’s got the bets right here. That paizano, Gargano, then the tough guy fugazi, Petey Poppins. But Tony’s money is on Carmelo Hayes. Does McKenzie got some money she wants to put down? No? Well, inside track is that Petey ain’t got a chance. They could turn that one karat ring on her finger into two, ya follow? Call his guy Hedge, put the bet in, and trust him. Thank you for your time. Back to the three stooges at the desk, oh!

Mandy Rose VS Cora Jade!

The NXT Women’s Champion is very confident in herself, but #GenerationJade is hoping to take advantage of that ego. Will Cora fire the first shot before going into WarGames?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Cora waistlocks but Mandy throws her off. They tie up again, Cora powers Mandy back but Mandy throws her down! Mandy taunts Cora as “Just a little girl,” but Cora ROCKS her with forearms! Cora has Mandy on ropes but Mandy knees low! Mandy whips, Cora blocks the hip toss to a takedown, ONE! Cora kicks but Mandy blocks, so Cora ENZIGURIS! Mandy flounders to a corner, Cora runs in but no shining wizard! SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Mandy drags Cora up, puts her in a corner and throws big forearms! The ref counts, Mandy changes to stomps, then she brings Cora up to suplex! Cover, TWO!

Mandy mocks Cora while getting a neck wrench. Cora endures, fans rally and duel, and Cora fights up, only for Mandy to throw her down! Mandy puts on a body scissor squeeze! Cora endures, Mandy clamps on a chinlock! Cora endures, pushes back to a cover, TWO! Cora is free, but Mandy kicks low. Cora blocks suplex to a cradle, TWO! Cora gets up, and she rallies with clotheslines and elbows! Cora ducks and dodges to RANA Mandy to a corner! Cora fires up, runs in and SHINING WIZARDS! Snapmare and cover, TWO! Cora keeps her focus, goes up the corner, but Mandy avoids the missile dropkick! Cora crawls, Mandy waits for her to get up, but KLR struts out with a BAT!

KLR grins but Mandy grows concerned as KLR starts beating the bat on the apron. And the post! And then the timekeeper’s laptop! Mandy wants KLR out of here but KLR tosses the bat to the ref! Cora rolls Mandy up, and WINS!!

Winner: Cora Jade, by pinfall

Give the assist to KLR! Mandy can’t do anything while KLR has her aluminum equalizer, but is this a sign KLR wants in on WarGames?

Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams speak.

Trick knows Melo knows what he’s about to say. “The disrespect stops tonight!” It should’ve stopped last week. They must not know who Melo is. “I am the A Champion! I am the leader of the new school. And Johnny Gargano, he wants to say he’s been here for five years. You say it like it’s a good thing. Well I’ve been here for five months, and look at all I’ve been able to accomplish. And Pete Dunne, he says he’s got 10 years experience on me, and we’re the same age.” Well Dunne looks 40! And it isn’t about experience, Pete. You can rock with the Old School, but you gon’ fall with the Old School. Tonight, Melo is the one with everything to lose, but keeping these suckers relevant.

You don’t chase Melo, Melo chases y’all. On HIS show, the A SHOW, the A TITLE, Melo is everything he says he is. And when he shoots, he won’t miss.

Joe Gacy speaks.

“Have no fear of community, for connection needs two people. I am the provider, and we will bring for a new sense of belonging. Let me go open the eyes of the blind.” Harland reaches out his hand, but will he have a part to play when Gacy takes on LA Knight?

Cora Jade regroups with Shirai, Stark and Raquel.

They’re happy that Cora won against Mandy, but she asks if they talked to KLR about that. No, none of them did. KLR walks over and says, “I’m in.” They need a fourth, and that’s her. Oh and, she’ll be the one in the advantage ladder match next week. Well hell yeah! Will the Scary Queen of Scots secure this rag tag team a big win over Toxic Attraction and Dakota Kai?

Joe Gacy VS LA Knight!

Mr. Inclusion himself waits in the ring, and Knight makes his entrance, only for Waller to attack from behind! So much for leaving hostilities in the locker room! The megastar and the 21st Century Success Story fire off, but the refs come in to break them up. Knight pretends to cool off, only to rush Waller! Gacy gets a mic to apologize for that. He wishes we could’ve shown Knight how to handle his anger peacefully, but that was just not meant to be. So Gacy will take this time to discuss how we can fix- Diamond Mine makes their way out? Malcolm Bivens says this match isn’t happening. And since Gacy tried to steal the spotlight from them, maybe they do the same to him!

Do you hear that? The “Ivy Hive” is buzzing cuz Ivy Nile is getting in the ring! So Gacy can take his ass and step out of the ring. Gacy tells Mr. Bivens that he respects that Ms. Nile has a match, but respect is not something Gacy has for the Cruiserweight Champion, Roderick Strong. Mr. Strong’s name alone is an example of toxic masculinity. And the Cruiserweight Championship is an example of exclusivity and weight shaming. The Cruiserweight title triggers those of a certain body type who find- Fans tell him to “Shut the Hell up” but Gacy criticizes the Cruiserweight Division as something that divides.

Strong says whatever to what Gacy said. Anyone that knows Strong knows that he fears no one! He doesn’t care about Gacy or about the weight limit. What Strong knows is that his next money match is standing right here. Bivens, let’s make this happen so that Strong can embarrass the DORK! Well what the champ wants, he gets. But don’t worry, Bivens will cross the T’s, dot the I’s, and make sure the contract is signed, sealed and delivered! WarGames, Strong beats Gacy down! Gacy thanks Mr. Bivens and looks forward to resolving this issue together as one. Alright. Julius, Brutus, take out the garbage. The Creed Brothers step up, but then Harland appears!

Well alright, maybe not. Strong says this is happening at WarGames. Will Diamond Mine be the ones cracking as Gacy and his fearsome friend come for them?

MSK continue looking for the shaman.

They’re stressing out but the car is making up for it. This is good stuff. Wes Lee & Nash Carter wanna just chill and kick it. But are they going too fast? Uh oh… They get pulled over. Think fast! What to do with the stash? Hold it! What? No! But then the officer knocks on the window and asks how they’re doing. Hello ocifer. Uh, officer. What’s the speed limit here? 35? Were they going 40? 45? No, seven. They were only going seven. Whoa… The officer asks they get out of the car for a check. They don’t wanna go to jail! They’re too pretty! Guys, please open the bag. The moment of truth… But then someone who is actually speeding goes by! MSK gets lucky here! They gotta go.

Ivy Nile w/ Diamond Mine VS ???

NXT returns and Ivy’s opponent is Yulisa Leon. The bell rings and Leon circles with Nile. Nile rushes in but Leon gets away. And then Leon dodges again. Leon shows off her dance moves but Nile trips her up! Nile then waistlocks and drags Leon down to grind her into the mat. Nile does push-ups off Leon’s back! The crowd counts along, Nile stops at 5 to facelock. Leon slips out to hammerlock but Nile fights up to drop toehold. Nile has the arm and grinds Leon’s shoulder. Leon fights up, chinbars, but Nile thrashes the arm. Leon whips free but Nile steps off the bottom rope to LARIAT! Nile then runs in to ONE FOOT DROPKICK Leon down!

Nile gets Leon with another facelock, and she wrenches to NORTHERN LIGHTS! But Leon sunset flips! Nile drops to get the headscissor necklock! Leon endures, kicks, Nile squeezes and does crunches! Leon kicks around, Nile SLAPS her on the stomach. Leon pushes back, TWO! Another try, TWO! Leon fights up to her feet for a high stack, TWO as Nile throws her away. Leon handsprings through, waistlocks and O’Conner rolls, TWO! Nile has it, rolls it through tot he DRAGON SLEPER! Leon taps, Nile wins!

Winner: Ivy Nile, by submission

The behind the back grip did Leon in, Nile is ready to crush the rest of the division! Will we see her do that all the way to the gold?

Solo Sikoa speaks.

“NXT is the perfect battleground right now. It reminds me a lot of the streets that I come from.” One day, Solo is with Down Since Day One, then the next, he was all alone. It didn’t matter if he had someone with him, he was always by himself. So he’ll fight anyone. Size, speed, old, new, it doesn’t matter. You’ll all drop down to the Street Champion of the Island!

The Grizzled Young Veterans talk backstage.

It all culminates tonight. This is the one. But then they bump into someone on their phone. Whoa, c’mon, lad. Watch where you’re going. They pickpocketed the guy! Bonus. Whoa, Knight and Waller are still brawling! The refs still can’t stop them! What will it take for these two to put this to rest?

Boa speaks.

“I don’t know how to control it. Mei Ying has passed on her strength and spirit. It comes and goes. I have no control over it. But once controlled, you will fear Boa!” The spirit of Tian Sha is powerful, what will happen once Boa has tamed it?

Grizzled Young Veterans VS Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen!

Zack Gibson & James Drake want to apparently scam their ways to the top, but they’re up against two good ol’ boys who’d rather fight! Will Briggs & Brooks be ready for anything Liverpool’s Number One & Mr. Mayhem try?

The teams sort out, Drake starts with Brooks. They circle, tie up, Drake throws hands! Drake goes to buckle bump but Brooks stops that to bump, cop, forearm and BULLDOG! Tag to Briggs, he and Brooks double whip to double shoulder Drake down! Briggs gets Drake up, wrenches and puts Drake in the corner. Tag to Brooks, Briggs hotshots Drake, then he and Brooks slide out to DOUBLE HAYMAKER! They high-ten, Brooks goes in to keep Drake from Gibson with more haymakers and JABS! Brooks does a two step to then DECK Drake! Brooks talks up his strong left hand, but Gibson blocks the corner splash. Drake SLAPS Brooks!

Drake runs for it, but he baits Brooks into the trap! Brooks grabs at Drake, Drake kicks him away and Gibson tags in! Brooks trips Drake but Gibson knees Brooks into ropes! Gibson smothers Brooks in the mat while talking trash, Gibson gets Brooks up to short arm LARIAT! Gibson headlocks, Brooks fights up but Gibson wrangles him down. NXT shows us that Knight and Waller are still fighting backstage! Brooks reaches, Gibson KNEES Him low then put shim in the corner. Brooks forearms but Gibson gets him in the sleeper! Brooks back suplexes out! Brooks crawls for his corner, Gibson gets his foot and drags him away. Tag to Drake and he grinds Brooks down with a facelock.

Brooks fights up, Drake digs in his heels to keep him back, but Brooks powers up to back drop free! Hot tag to Briggs! Briggs DECKS Gibson, rallies on Drake and BOOTS him down! Then a BOOT to Gibson! SIDEWALK SLAM and a SPLASH for Drake! Briggs fires up, corner splashes then CLUBS Drake, into a double underhook. Drake lips out of the suplex but his leg jams! The ref has Briggs back off, but Gibson climbs the corner! The ref tells Gibson to get down but Briggs BOOTS him! Drake is up but Briggs blocks his boot to see the leg isn’t bad at all. Briggs gets Drake up, BUTTERFLY BACKBREAKER! Tag to Brooks, Brigs runs, HIGH LOW! Cover, Brooks & Briggs win!

Winners: Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, by pinfall

A big win over the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions! Will this help Brooks & Briggs become future NXT Tag Team Champions?

NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams VS Pete Dunne VS Johnny Gargano!

Melo wants to prove he’s THE champion of NXT, but he’s up against two men who have held titles longer than Melo’s been in NXT! Will the Bruiserweight finally make history by being the first man to have held NXT UK and North American titles? Or will Johnny Wrestling find his way back to the top?

NXT returns as Melo makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the “A Title” is raised, and we’ll see who is a champion in the end!

Melo DECKS Gargano at the bell but Dunne goes after Melo. Melo throws Dunne out but Gargano CHOPS Melo! And CHOPS! And whips, but Melo reverses. Gargano RANAS Melo down, then dropkicks him! Fans fire up as Gargano dusts himself off. Gargano gets Melo up, wrenches but Melo gets around to O’Conner Roll, kip up and Eddy Gordo kick! Dunne gets in but Melo kicks low. Melo headlocks, Dunne powers out but Melo rolls off Dunne’s back. Dunne runs and CLOBBERS Melo! Dune turns around, Gargano schoolboys but no kick as Dunne ducks! Dunne wants a crossface but Gargano slips out to go for his submission! Dunne rolls it to a cover, TWO!

Gargano headlocks, Dunne powers out, drops, hurdles but Gargano holds ropes to avoid the impact. Gargano wags his finger and fans fire up. Melo CLOBBERS Gargano then CLOBBERS Dunne! Melo shoots the three then stomps Gargano. He stomps Dunne, throws forearms, then stomps Gargano more. Melo pie faces Gargano but Dunne trips Melo! Dunne has a standing toehold, Gargano runs in but Dunne adds him on! Dunne has a leg from each man, DOUBLE HALF CRAB! Trick reaches out to help Melo slip out and escape! Gargano turns over, kicks Dunne away, then he wrenches an arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! Dunne fights but Gargano chinbars.

Melo gets in to springboard and DOUBLE FLYING LARIAT! Cover on Dunne, TWO! Cover on Gargano, ONE! Melo is annoyed but the fans are rallying and dueling. Melo gets Gargano up, CLUBS him down, but Dunne comes back to CHOP! Melo fires off on Dunne and DECKS him! Melo facelocks Gargano but Gargano fights the suplex. Gargano runs in to CHOP Melo at the corner! Headlock, BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! Fans fire up for Gargano while Trick coaches Melo up. Gargano gets Dunne for a facelock, and he kicks Melo to get the TORNADO DDT on Dunne! Dunne and Melo both bail out, but Gargano just builds speed!

Gargano DIVES and hits Dunne into the desk! Gargano gets back in to DIVE and hit Melo to the ramp! Fans fire up and get high fives from Gargano as he makes a lap around to RANA Dunne! Gargano gets back in the ring and is fired up as NXT goes picture in picture.

Gargano sees Melo getting back to the ring, so he goes out to put him in. Gargano talks trash with Trick before he goes up the steel steps. Melo runs in but into a forearm. Gargano slingshots but Melo catches him, turns him around and KICKS him in the back! Gargano is hung up, Melo springboards for the LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Melo is a bit surprised but he just goes after Dunne with stomps. Melo gets Dunne up to CHOP him, Dunne kicks back! Dunne whips Melo hard into buckles, then drags him around to stomp the leg! Melo clutches his knee, Dunne gets Gargano for a deathlock! Melo runs in, Dunne catches him, facelock to a HALF HATCH that SNAPS the deathlock!

Gargano endures as Dunne gets back up and adjusts the hold to a Queen Angelito Stretch! Dunne then lets off to STOMP the legs! Gargano writhes while Dunne DECKS Melo! Dunne stalks Gargano, reels him in but Gargano holds ropes. Dunne gets Gargano from the ropes but Gargano throws elbows. Gargano goes to ropes, Melo RAMS a shoulder in, then slingshots over then both, SUNSET GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! All three men are down as NXT returns to single picture and fans are fired up! Dunne hits Gargano while they’re still on the mat. Melo grabs Gargano by the hair to throw a forearm, then he does the same to Dunne.

Melo CHOPS Gargano, ROCKS Dunne, repeat! Melo stands up, has both opponents, but they DOUBLE FOREARM him! Then they DOUBLE LARIAT each other! And again! Gargano kicks but Dunne ducks the enziguri! Dunne BOOTS Gargano, GAMANGIRIS Melo, then reels Melo into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Melo scoots back to the corner, Gargano basement dropkicks Dunne! Melo puts Gargano on the apron and runs, into a SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Dunne stomps Gargano’s hands then BUZZSAWS! Pump handle, but Gargano DDT’s out of it! Cover, TWO!! Fans are fired up as all three men are down again!

Dunne goes to a corner, Melo goes to the opposite. Gargano runs in to forearm smash Dunne! Melo dodges Gargano to forearm Dunne. Melo comes back, to the schoolboy from Gargano, BUZZSAW ROLLING KICK COMBO! Gargano throws a forearm on Dunne, Dunne ENZIGURIS Gargano! Mello hits a CODE BREAKER! Melo gets Dunne up to suplex and CUTTER while slamming Dunne down on Gargano! Cover on Dunne, TWO! Melo is furious but fans are loving “NXT! NXT!” Gargano goes to a corner, Dunne goes to another. Melo gets up and runs in but Dunne dodges to GAMANGIRI! Then he drops a knee on Melo’s arm! And he stomps Gargano’s hands!

Gargano ducks the buzzsaw to POISON RANA Dunne! Melo gets up to BOOT Gargano! Gargano rebounds to DISCUS LARIAT! Trick is freaking out but fans are loving this! Gargano gets Melo up, scoops and LAWN DARTS to the corner! Gargano hurries to go out and PENALTY KICK Trick! But Dunne tosses Melo, only for Gargano to GAMANGIRI! Slingshot into a forearm! Dunne pump handles, BITTER END!! Cover, but Tony D’Angelo drags him out! D’Angelo RAMS Dunne into steps! Melo goes up to FLYING LEG DROP on Gargano! Cover, Melo wins!

Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)

That wise guy, Tony, just rigged the game! He and Trick aren’t sure if they should fist bump or shake hands, but they just agree that they did right by Melo. But whoa, the brawl of Waller and Knight spills back to ringside! They bump into Tony and Trick and Tony takes offense! Tony brawls with Knight, Dunne goes after Tony for that screw job! Knight and Dunne both beat Tony up, Melo goes after them, but Waller jumps on! Tony and Melo stomp Dunne, Trick stomps Gargano! They all go after Gargano! Trick puts a chair down and brings Gargano around! They wanna do him like they did Dexter! Melo goes up, but CIAMPA makes his way out! And he has a chair of his own!!

Trick rushes out but get a chair shot! Then Ciampa SMACKS Waller! Tony jumps on Ciampa’s chair but Dunne STOMPS Tony’s hand! Ciampa JAMS Tony, he and Melo have chairs, but Knight clears out Waller! Melo sees he’s all alone so he bails out! Ciampa, Dunne and Knight stand tall while Melo, Tony and Waller regroup at the ramp. Fans are chanting for it, and Ciampa helps Gargano up. DIY look to each other and nod, but wait! Here comes BRON BREAKKER! Breakker has a mic to say, “WARGAAAAMES~!” And then all hell breaks lose as the eight men brawl! Gargano has Melo, Knight and Waller, Dunne and D’Angelo, Ciampa and Breakker!

Old school VS new school, who will stand tall inside the steel?

My Thoughts:

This was a really good NXT here, with a lot set up for WarGames, but I still have one major gripe. Can’t they give Roderick Strong an opponent from the Cruiserweight Division? I know I was saying this last week, but they’re “waiving” the 205 pound weight limit just so Gacy can have a match against Strong at WarGames. I admit there was some cleverness in Gacy’s promo, even from a satirical standpoint where Gacy is reading too much in saying Roderick’s last name is somehow misogynistic when it’s the word strong. Strong VS Gacy is going to be a very good match, but Gacy can’t win. That makes the Cruiserweight title obsolete! Thought, that’s probably want Vince wants anyway because he only cares about BEEF.

Waller had his best match ever tonight against Ciampa. And speaking of Gacy, I did like that his match got cancelled because Waller went after Knight. I also liked that Knight and Waller brawled for the rest of the night all over the place. The Triple Threat North American Championship match was awesome stuff, making 2.0 feel a little like 1.0 again. I know Tony D’Angelo called out Dunne but I was kinda hoping the title match would end without interference. But hey, D’Angelo going after Dunne, Bron Breakker adding himself to things, that is going to be an awesome Men’s WarGames match that I hope “Old School” wins. It’s Dunne and DIY! And even Knight can do a match like WarGames and look good.

Of course Escobar wins to get back into things, but that was more a vehicle to plug the tag team titles. Kyle & Von VS Legado’s Wilde & Mendoza next week will be good, but I would think the Faces win to go after Imperium. Also, expect Xyon Quinn to come back and go after Escobar on the side of that match. Meanwhile, I continue to mourn the great run Grizzled Young Veterans was having in 1.0. If they’re failing to cheat and beat Briggs & Brooks, I don’t know what they’re supposed to do now. As for MSK, they had a decent promo to have further marijuana humor. I really hope we meet “the shaman” by WarGames.

I like how Indi was distracted by Dexter’s injury. It was maybe a bit cheesy but that’s been the entirety of The Way’s comedy style this whole time, including the #InDex romance. Plus, it helps build Kacy & Kayden up towards the tag titles. And as I expected, KLR is the fourth woman to face Toxic Attraction & Dakota Kai. Great promos and match moments to set that up, that is going to be a fun WarGames match.

My Score: 8.8/10