Will NXT 2.0 belong to Imperium?

New name, same Ring General! Will GUNTHER and Imperium crush Diamond Mine? Or are the Creed Brothers going to win over the NXT Tag Team Champions?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Imperium VS Diamond Mine; Imperium wins.
• Cora Jade VS Raquel Gonzalez; Gonzalez wins.
• Sarray VS Kayla Inlay; Sarray wins.
• LA Knight VS Joe Gacy w/ Harland; Gacy wins.
• Wendy Choo VS Amari Miller; Wendy wins.
• Draco Anthony VS Andre Chase w/ Bodhi Hayward; Chase wins.
• Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa VS Legado Del Fantasma; Bron & Ciampa win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Imperium VS Diamond Mine!

NXT opens with Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner and GUNTHER! Will they crush the Creed Brothers and Roderick Strong to prove their dominance? Or will Julius, Brutus & Roddy show who runs NXT 2.0?

The trios sort out, but Imperium strikes! They beat down Diamond Mine, Gunther kicks Strong out and Barthel throws out Julius. The bell rings, Brutus and Aichner brawl, Aichner headlocks. Brutus powers out, they ram shoulders, and neither man falls. Brutus waistlocks to SLAM Aichner, then he deadlift gut wrenches for a suplex! Brutus gets Aichner to the corner, tag to Julius and the Creed brothers mug Aichner! Tag back to Brutus, the brothers mug Aichner again, but Aichner kicks Brutus. Aichner CHOPS and CHOPS, then kicks again. Aichner whips, Brutus reverses but Aichner dodges and catches Brutus!

Aichner fireman’s carries for a ROLLING SENTON! Fans fire up, Aichner drags Brutus up but Brutus powers him back. Barthel tags in, Aichner whips Brutus and Barthel arm-drags Brutus down. Barthel grinds the armlock but Brutus endures. Brutus fights up, fans rally, and Brutus arm-drags. Barthel holds on and drags Brutus down. Brutus gets up, picks up Barthel and he hits a SPINEBUSTER! Brutus rains down forearms, then tags Julius. The Creed Brothers surround Barthel, they throw KNEE after KNEE into Barthel, and Bivens likes what he sees. Julius CLUBS Barthel with a crossface forearm, then hauls him up.

Barthel slips off the shoulder, ROCKS Julius and snapmares to run and PENALTY KICK!  Fans fire up as Barthel runs in but into an elbow. Barthel blocks the boot, shouts, “NEIN!” and then GAMANGIRI to a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Barthel goes up to FLYING EUROUPPER! Cover, TWO! Bivens coaches Julius but Barthel brings him to the corner. Gunther tags in, he KNEES and EuroUppers Julius. Fans still chant “WAL~TER! WAL~TER!” Julius throws hands, Gunther CHOPS him down! Gunther CLUBS Julius, clamps on and brings him up to scoop and SLAM! Gunther stomps Julius, tags Barthel, and Barthel covers, TWO!

Barthel clamps on with a cobra clutch and he grinds Julius down. Julius arm-drags free, facelocks and HALF HATCH suplexes! Hot tags to Strong and Aichner! Strong rallies on the Pride of Italy, then catches him for a half nelson BACKBREAKER! Fans fire up, Strong DECKS Gunther! Strong fires off big elbows on Aichner, then runs side to side! Forearm after forearm, but he slows down, still shaky from that ambush. Gunther tags in and CLOBBERS Strong! Fans rally for “WAL~TER!” as NXT goes picture in picture.

Strong crawls, Gunther looms over him and dares him to stand. Strong drags himself up the ropes, only for Gunther to stomp him down! Gunther stands on Strong, lets off as the ref counts, then KICKS Strong out of the ring! Gunther goes out to put Strong in and tags Aichner. Aichner covers, TWO! Aichner KNEES Strong in the back, clamps on with a chinlock and he thrashes Strong around. Strong endures, fights his way up, and throws body shots to get free. Strong BOOTS Aichner, but Aichner blocks to reel Strong in for a LARIAT! Aichner looms over Strong, but Strong crawls to ropes. Aichner tags Barthel and they both stomp away on Strong at the ropes!

Barthel gets in, paces and kicks Strong around. Barthel brings Strong up for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Barthel keeps Strong down with a chinlock! Tag to Gunther, and he stomps Strong in the ribs. Gunther drags Strong up, digs his elbow into Strong’s forehead then JAMS it in. Gunther wants after Strong but Strong gets to the ropes. Strong drags himself up, Gunther runs in and BOOTS him to the corner! Tag to Aichner, Imperium mugs Strong, and Aichner drags Strong back up. Aichner scoops and SLAMS Strong, then drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Aichner is annoyed but he drags Strong back up.

NXT returns to single picture and fans are dueling. Aichner has a facelock but Strong throws body shots. Aichner shoves Strong, blocks his boot, but Strong ducks the lariat to tag in Julius! Julius rallies on Barthel and Aichner, CHOP BLOCK for Barthel, to a SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Tag to Brutus, the brothers fire each other up, gut wrench SLAM onto Barthel! Cover, TWO! Brutus looms over Barthel, talks some trash, and brings him up,. Barthel hits a JAWBREAKER! Hot tag to Aichner, he fireman’s carries Brutus, but Brutus fights free. Brutus shoves Aichner, tags Julius, and the brothers DOUBLE SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Gunther CHOPS it apart!

Hot tags to Strong and Gunther! Strong fires off CHOP after CHOP but Gunther KNEES low. Gunther reels Strong in but Strong slips out of the bomb. Gunther catches the knee! Strong dodges the chop, SICK KICK! Fans fire up, hot tag to Brutus! Brutus and Strong CHOP Gunther, but Strong is dragged out and sent into steps! Julius CLOBBERS Barthel, Aichner BOOTS Julius! Brutus CLOBBERS Aichner! Fans are thunderous as big Brutus gets in, swings on Gunther, but into a SLEEPER! Brutus arm-drags free! He ROCKS Gunther, but Gunther swats his lariat away! Brutus still goes for a leg but Gunther just powers him to turn and CLUB him down!

Gunther gets Brutus up, POWERBOMB!! Cover, Imperium wins!

Winners: Imperium, by pinfall

The Ring General is still powerful, no matter his name! And with this victory, will the mat and all of NXT be sacred?

LA Knight speaks.

“All right, pipe down, that’s all I need to hear. Let me talk to you. Grayson Waller’s trying to avoid the inevitable. He’s trying to avoid what’s coming to him.” Restraining order, a bodyguard, and an impressive one, too. The guy’s gotta 7 foot tall! But it wouldn’t matter if the guy was 17 feet tall, Knight is coming for Waller. But then Joe Gacy says “Mr. Knight” has a lot of anger in his heart. Harland once had to move on from a restraining order unfairly put on him, too. So if Knight is open to it, Gacy can help Knight grow and move on from this, just like he did for Harland. Wow, Gacy would do that for Knight?

Well Knight has a better idea. They should all move on together to the ring and if they play their cards right, Knight will have more restraining orders, one from Gacy and one from Harland after he stomps their asses. That’s not an insult, that’s a fact of life, YEAH! Gacy says Knight is the troubled one. But will Gacy and Harland have the solution to the problem they perceive is L A Knight?

Toxic Attraction heads to the ring!

Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne, aka the NXT Women’s and Women’s Tag Team Champions, strut their way out and show off the gold. They all get mics, and Gigi starts by calling out Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta. “Even the most unworthy of people fall into luck sometimes.” Some call last week a fluke, but Gigi thinks of it as a death sentence. Jacy says at Vengeance Day, the tag titles will be on the line. Indi & Persia get their shot, and Toxic Attraction get their vengeance! Unlike- Kay Lee Ray interrupts Mandy, but that’s probably who Mandy was going to say. KLR says it’s Mandy’s turn to give her the title match.

How about no? Well, KLR figured Mandy would say that so… “Let’s have some fun!” How about KLR gets in there and bash their brains. No, put the bat down and the tag champs will leave. KLR puts the bat down, fans chant, “Not the face!” as Gigi & Jacy exit. KLR says she is the longest reigning woman’s champion of the modern era. And if there is anyone deserving, it’s her. But Mandy doesn’t care about that, she wants to talk about herself. Does KLR even know Mandy’s accomplishments before this? Mandy has been the face of multiple international campaigns, flaunted across billboards and magazine covers. Bikini World Champion, and the epitome of what every woman aspires to be and what every single man wishes they could be with.

Is she done? Cuz, all of that doesn’t compare to any in-ring skill. KLR was champion for 649 DAYS! She dominated an entire continent while Mandy was slipping on her ass at WrestleMania and sucking the face off of Otis! Well look at her now! She’s the hottest thing in WWE, and that’s a fact! Unlike all the fugazees that claim to be. This is what the company wants and needs in a champion. And KLR doesn’t really understand so Mandy will be completely transparent in the nicest way possible: “All the talent in the world will never replace this.” She means her figure. KLR tells Mandy that by the end of tonight, she’ll have her title match.

Mandy doubts that, but KLR gives her a SLAP!! And then she gets the bat back to chase off Toxic Attraction! Will the Scary Queen of Scots break into a title match

Backstage interview with Cora Jade.

#GenerationJade is moments away from a match with Raquel Gonzalez. Why does she want this match? To prove she is tough enough. They could win the Women’s Dusty Cup, but the only thing in the way is Raquel doubting Cora. Cora might get her ass kicked, but she’ll prove she can hang with the best. Aw, how cute. Raquel walks in and asks if Cora still wants this match. Yes, she does. Then good for her. Raquel heads out first, will she be the only one walking back to the back?

Toxic Attraction hurries out of the arena.

They tell NXT Media to hurry up with the questions because they gotta get going with that crazy lady running around the with bat. Is Mandy not going to give KLR her title match? Uh, no! Did you not hear her out there? KLR does not deserve an opportunity. They get in the car, and Mandy says KLR is not even on her level. She doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring with her. So please, get outta the way. But the car door won’t open. KLR already got in the driver seat! KLR says she’ll be back for Mandy later. KLR drives off with Gigi and Jacy!! What is she gonna do to the tag champs!?

Cora Jade VS Raquel Gonzalez!

NXT returns and Cora makes her entrance. Big Mami Cool is amused seeing the spunky skater girl running around the ring, but the bell rings and Raquel says this is Cora’s last chance to leave. Cora runs but bounces off Raquel! Is this just to waste Raquel’s time? Cora dodges, kicks but Raquel blocks to CLOBBER Cora! Raquel waistlocks, picks Cora up and throws her around, but Cora slips out the back and kangaroo kicks! Cora dropkicks to put Raquel in a corner, then runs in to forearm smash! Cora runs corner to corner again, but Raquel blocks the monkey flip! Raquel turns it around into a BACK DROP! Raquel drags Cora to a cover, TWO!

Raquel smiles, amused with Cora again. Raquel drags Cora up, Cora throws forearms but Raquel whips her to a corner hard. Cora bumps off buckles, Raquel bumps her off them again. Raquel stomps Cora, throws forearms, and gets in Cora’s face. “You wanna win the Dusty? You gotta show me something!” Raquel brings Cora around, Cora throws body shots and runs, but into a Raquel’s SWINGING SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Cora survives but Raquel stays cool. Raquel drags Cora back up, reels her in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Raquel clamps onto Cora’s shoulders and squeezes tight!

Cora endures, fights her way up and hits a JAWBREAKER! Raquel staggers, but she BOOTS Cora down! Fans duel but Raquel CLUBS Cora on the back. Raquel tells Cora that the fans want her to do something, and then Raquel gut wrenches Cora to a Canadian rack! Raquel bends Cora’s arms way back! But Cora still endures, so Raquel RAMS her into a corner! Cora ends up on the top rope, Raquel taunts her, and Cora SLAPS Raquel! Cora BOOTS Raquel, leaps, but into Raquel’s arms! Raquel swings Cora gain, but Cora makes it an IRON OCTOPUS! Raquel endures, stays on her feet, and powers her way around to SLAM Cora down!

Raquel climbs up the corner, VADER ELBOW FLOPS as Cora moves! Cora runs in again, but gets caught for another scoop! Raquel runs at a corner, Cora slips off, and she POSTS Raquel! Roll up, TWO!! Cora grits her teeth, takes aim, SUPERKICK! Cora drags Raquel up and throws haymakers! Cora knuckle locks, runs to the corner to go up and up and RANA! Fans fire up with Cora, but Raquel blocks the kick. Cora ENZIGURIS! Cora hurries to get up, runs in at the ropes, but Raquel blocks shining wizard into CHINGONA BOMB!! Cover, Raquel wins!

Winner: Raquel Gonzalez, by pinfall

Ricky Desperado destroyed Cora, but somehow Cora drags herself to the ropes. Raquel storms up on Cora, and offers a hand! Raquel helps Cora up, and says, “Let’s go win the damn thing!” Is Raquel actually giving Cora a chance? Are they going to enter the Women’s Dusty Cup and win it all?

Sarray speaks.

“2021 was my first year in NXT, but everything didn’t go as planned. At one point, I wanted to give up. But at that time, I found my grandma’s necklace. I thought I should never give up, I have something to do here.” Sarray is coming back with renewed passion and energy! The Warrior of the Sun is ready to rise again, and she’s up next!

Pete Dunne speaks.

“Hey, Tony! How’s the hand doing? What did you say? You said there’s 16 different ways to hurt somebody with a crowbar? Well with that cricket bat, I only needed one. So as you dip your hand in ice, think about how I took the advice of your cousin, Julio. ‘When you’re taking care of business, you gotta handle it by any means necessary.'” Dunne handled his business. But don’t get it twisted. He can do that with a cricket bat, a steel chair, brass knuckles, just about anything he gets his hands on. So Tony, tell Dunne how he wants to do this. They should settle this where it started: inside a STEEL CAGE!!

Sarray VS Kayla Inlay!

From bookish school girl to Warrior of the Sun, the transformation is complete! But will the comeback start here? Or will she be eclipsed right from the start?

The bell rings, Sarray offers a handshake. Kayla slaps it away, so that’s a no. Sarray nods, that’s fine by her. They circle, tie up, and Kayla wrenches to a wristlock. Sarray rolls, wrenches back, fans rally up behind her, but Kayla powers through to wrench back. Sarray headlocks, Kayla powers out, but Sarray handsprings over her to keep moving and arm-drag her down! Fans fire up with Sarray, and she runs corner to corner at Kayla for a back elbow! Sarray wrenches, arm-drags, and then rolls to get Kayla back up! Wrench and arm-drag back the other way! Kayla flounders, she dodges Sarray’s attack and stomps away in the corner!

Kayla brings Sarray around to bump off buckles, then she rams into her with shoulders. Kayla handsprings back, runs in and RAMS into Sarray again! Snapmare and cover, TWO! Fans rally but Kayla clamps onto Sarray with a rear bearhug. Sarray endures as Kayla leans on her. Sarray fights up, throws back elbows and is free to flying-mare! Sarray fires up, runs in and ROCKS Kayla with a forearm! And then another! Kayla staggers about, Sarray ROCKS her again! Sarray whips, follows Kayla then victory rolls to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fans fire up as Sarray digs her boots into Kayla at the ropes. The ref counts, Sarray runs and SUNRAY DROPKICK!

Sarray drags Kayla up, she’s not done! SUN PLEX! Cover, Sarray wins!

Winner: Sarray, by pinfall

Red hot as she was when she first arrived, the Warrior of the Sun gets back on track! Will she continue to shine all the way to the top?

Duke Hudson speaks.

“The only way to get ahead in this place is by striking first. It didn’t matter that it was Dante Chen. I saw an opportunity, so I took it.” Duke was addicted to the felt and the long game, but look where that got him. So now he’s only addicted to one thing: inflicting pain and suffering. Dante, you won the first hand. Duke’s done playing games. “When you control your own destiny, you don’t need to calculate odds. When you take matters into your own hands, you eliminate the luck.” Duke buzzes his hair short again, and says he makes his own luck now. Will the streamlined and sinister Duke Hudson put the hurt on Dante Chen and many, many more superstars?

Tommaso Ciampa speaks with Bron Breakker backstage.

Bron appreciates the assist last week, though he didn’t ask. But Ciampa says the mountaintop is a very lonely place. You don’t understand it until you get there. Bron is now part of a small circle of men and women who do understand that. This is about respect. And Ciampa wants to make sure Bron remains NXT Champion. Well alright, they’ll handle business tonight. They’ll rip Legado in half! Ready? Yeah. They’re gonna kick some ass. Ciampa and Bron fist bump, will they be standing tall in tonight’s main event?

Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams head to the ring!

The North American Champion and his right hand man get the mics and Trick says, “Hey, hold on, Melo. Let me get this straight. Last week, Cameron Grimes comes out here and beats a distracted D’Angelo, and now he thinks he’s ready for The A Champion?” He ain’t ready. Grimes was better of wasting time with poker than coming out here with the champ and getting dish ragged up and down the ring. Melo says the old him would verbally put Grimes in a grave. But it is important for him to explain that even though the fans don’t take Grimes serious and see him as a threat, believe it or not, Melo does. He really does. Hard to believe, but he does.

That is why Melo goes harder in the gym, puts more work in the ring, and still finds time for OllieJayy, because that’s what the A Champ does! And Melo IS the standard. He sets the bar on NXT. So even if Melo is looking down on you, he always will. That’s all it is, and that’s- Grimes interrupts! Grimes has a mic, but he wants to make sure he heard Melo right. These people don’t care about Grimes? Well, he could be wrong, but they’re not chanting “A Champ.” Grimes is pretty sure he’s hearing, “TO~ THE~ MOON!” And also “Whoop That Trick!” Trick tells the “low down, raggedy, two-footed bum,” that two things are for certain: Melo don’t miss, and trickin’ ain’t easy.

So Trick is gonna take his boot off and whoop that slimy- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Cameron ain’t slimy, he’s grimy. But if we wanna poke some fun, what about Melo’s hair? Did he go to the barber and ask for the pineapple under the sea? Melo’s looking like SpongeBob’s house! Then that makes Trick Squidward, right? But Grimes caught these clowns on OllieJayy’s Instagram, and they were in awe of her Bikini Bottom. Don’t you bring her into this! Trick says this is how they’ll do this. Trick says Grimes is a bum, his momma’s a gold digger, his daddy’s a boot licker, and if they wanna fight, they can fight! Grimes never been ’bout it ’bout it!

Grimes asks Trick to slow down. He isn’t sure what all that was, but the question back is, “Am I fighting you? Or am I fighting you,” Melo? Melo takes off the glasses to say he’ll put it like this. This is all it’s gone be: at Vengeance Day, Grimes finds out that Melo is him, and he will shoot for the moon and take the stars as casualties. OO-OOO~! Trick & Melo exit the ring, but Grimes says, “Hey, uh, Melo. Yo, Melo. It’s funny you were talking about the stars. Because at Vengeance Day, it’s only gonna be a one star match. And that one star is going TO~ THE~ MOON~!” These two are set to collide in two weeks, who gets the rocket strapped to their backs when they strap the North American title around their waist?

Edris Enofe & Malik Blade talk backstage.

They’re doing great in the Dusty Classic, but to keep up with the other teams, they gotta have a tag team name. Edris’ idea is, “Team Edris & Malik.” Yeah, Team Malik & Edris. Uh, no. Wait, they’re both bold, they’re both brave, and they’re both confident! Team BB- OH, no, wait. Well, okay. How about, Mandy Rose? Every week… Hey, if she walked in right now, what would Malik say to her? Uh… “Hey, Mandy. It’s Malik, one half of your favorite tag team, and I was wondering-” Wait, Mandy actually walks in and falls into Malik’s lap!  “Thank you!” Mandy needs help! She’s chasing her! Who?

KLR storms in with her bat! Edris fires up for the girl fight! KLR drags Mandy’s jacket off her but Mandy runs away! KLR pursues, and Edris wants to chase after them both! Malik says he needs a minute. Huh? Oh… Malik is a gentleman, but he’s still a man. Will Malik & Edris be able to calm down and think clearly on a tag team name? And what about the coming Dusty Classic showdown with MSK?

Backstage interview with Diamond Mine.

McKenzie knows they struggled with Imperium, but Bivens asks her, “What do you know about struggle?” Without struggle, there is no progression, and they are still moving forward because they will win the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Julius adds that they’ve been champions at every level. The bigger the stage, the better they perform. Brutus agrees, and adds that Diamond Mine strives for perfection. They will face Imperium again, but it’ll be for the tag team titles. But then Grizzled Young Veterans walk in and sarcastically applaud. Isn’t Bivens supposed to be managing these dopes? They’ve got fights right, left, back and front when they should focus on the Dusty Cup.

All this group achieved tonight was making GYV’s journey back to the finals that much easier. See you next week, mates. Pip pip cheerio to you, too, fellas. See you next time, nerds! But is Diamond Mine sssoooon to be kicked out of the Dusty Classic at the hands of Zack Gibson & James Drake?

LA Knight VS Joe Gacy w/ Harland!

The Million Dollar Megastar doesn’t much care for playing nice and considering someone else’s feelings. But will he be feeling unstoppable as he goes after Grayson Waller? Or will Mr. Inclusion make sure Knight thinks before he speaks from now on?

NXT returns and Gacy has made his entrance. Harland exits, but Knight is still wary of him. The bell rings, Gacy swings but Knight dodges to fire off haymakers. Knight whips, Gacy reverses but Knight comes back for a RUNNING NECKBREAKER! Knight gets Gacy to a corner, stomps a mudhole into him, “YEAH!” but lets off as the ref counts 4. Knight keeps moving to KNEE Gacy down! Fans fire up, Gacy flounders to another corner, but Knight is after him. Gacy sends Knight into the buckles, corner SPLASHES then hits an URENAGE! Gacy stalks Knight, stomps him down, then rains down fists.

Gacy drags Knight up to snapmare and clamps on the arms for a modified armlock and neck wrench. Fans rally, Knight fights up, Harland stares, and Knight fires off hands. Knight whips, Gacy whips the back drop away to then ROCK Knight with a forearm! And then a BIG back suplex! Gacy soaks up the heat, he stomps Knight more, then he digs his forearm into Knight’s face. Gacy elbows Knight down, drags him up, and ROCKS Knight with a right. Gacy throws more hands, then KNEES Knight against ropes. Gacy throws body shots but Knight fires off hands! Gacy kicks Knight in the leg, then KICKS the leg again.

Gacy has Knight in a corner, puts a leg on the ropes, but the ref counts. Gacy KICKS the leg as he lets off. Gacy ROCKS Knight with a EuroUpper, then he whips Knight corner to corner. Gacy runs in but Knight dodges the splash for a JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up as Gacy staggers up. Knight dodges to scoop and POWERSLAM Gacy! Knight runs, and drops a BIG elbow! Fans fire up with Knight, he kicks and cravats but no BFT! They CLANK heads, and Knight tumbles out. SANGA appears from the crowd! But that’s just a distraction so Grayson Waller can SOMERSAULT STUNNER Knight down!

The ref doesn’t see any of that, and he starts a ring count! Fans boo Waller as hard as they can while Waller shows off his drop steps. The count is past 5, Knight flounders. The count is 9, Knight is in at 9.99!! But Gacy HANDSPRING LARIATS! Cover, Gacy wins!

Winner: Joe Gacy, by pinfall

Oh the irony! Gacy gets a win thanks to the most obnoxious man in NXT! Waller then shouts, “You think you belong in my ring, LA? You think you belong in my NXT? You don’t belong here! This is MINE now! I own NXT, and there’s nothing you can do about it, YEAH!” But Knight ROCKS Waller! Sanga clamps on with a choke grip for a CHOKE SLAM! Waller says if Knight wants to get his hands on Waller, then next week, he has to take on Sanga! And if he wins, maybe Waller will think about lifting the restraining order on Knight!

Wendy Choo wakes up again.

She stretches and heads for the ring, ready for her first singles match! But Tiffany Stratton is watching from the shadows. Does Daddy’s Little Rich Girl have a Mean Girls level plan for NXT’s resident sleepyhead?

Robert Stone speaks.

“For the longest time, I was focused on the entertainment side of this business, aligning myself with a group of talent that I thought was going to take me to the top. And then I saw a 6’5″, 255 pound athlete destroying people, and I said, ‘I gotta get connected to that.'” Stone gladly paid Von’s fines, and will gladly pay them again and again in the future, because Von Wagner is the future. A future NXT Champion, a future WWE World and Universal Champion! So who is going to stop them? No one! This is Von Wagner’s world, everyone else is just living in it.

Wendy Choo VS Amari Miller!

Two very different personalities meet in the ring, but it seems they have one thing in common: they can’t stand Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany tried to get Miller to agree with her that Wendy is a freak, using a shopping spree as a bribe. Amari said she’d think on it, but that might’ve just been to get Tiffany to leave. Will Amari still win that all expenses paid mall trip? Or will she be caught sleeping on the… eccentric Wendy Choo?

The bell rings and Wendy gets another stretch in. She dodges Amari with a roll, and then lounges on the mat. Fans cheer, Wendy looks ready to nap again. Amari grabs the legs, Wendy kicks her away and then trips Amari up! Wendy grapevines the leg, but more to snuggle with it like a pillow… Amari is annoyed but she can’t kick Wendy away. Wendy says shush, and she snoozes again. Amari kicks Wendy, so Wendy gets a standing toehold. Amari rolls, gets free, but things speed up and Amari blocks a hip toss. Amari spins Wendy around to a backslide, TWO! Wendy dropkicks Amari down and fans fire up!

Wendy runs to the corner and SUPERKICKS Amari! Amari staggers, Wendy stretches and drops a snoozing elbow! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up behind Wendy, she brings Amari up and whips. Amari gets around, sweeps the legs and runs to drop the SENTON! Cover, TWO! Amari clamps on with a cobra clutch but fans rally up. Wendy fights her way up, throws body shots and ripcords for a forearm, KICK and LARIAT! Wendy fires up now, whips Amari to ropes and hits an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Amari gets to a corner. Wendy handsprings in to SPLASH! EXPLODER! Wendy fires up more and fans are with her!

Wendy says time to go to sleep, but she means Amari! SLEEPER HOLD! Amari endures, snapmares free, and hits a CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Tiffany shows up to offer Amari the credit card, and Amari agrees to the deal. But Wendy rolls Amari up, TWO!! Amari hurries up, Wendy hits a RUNNING AX HANDLE! Cover, Wendy wins!

Winner: Wendy Choo, by pinfall

Wendy got the win though she really only just woke up, could she be the sleeper hit of NXT? As for Tiffany, she is very disappointed Amari couldn’t come through on the deal. Give her the credit card back! Wait, where is it? Wendy has it! Tiffany throws a hissy fit, will Wendy get herself a thousand refills on that cup?

Persia Pirotta goes through her phone.

Someone looks good to her. But then Indi and Dexter Lumis walk in. Indi is excited because they’re gonna win those tag titles! It’s gonna be Persia’s first and Indi’s second. But who was Persia looking at? Duke Hudson… Whoa, okay, friend to friend, Duke’s trouble. Persia likes trouble. Why’s Indi always on her about this stuff? Dexter, what do you think? Thumbs down? No way, those abs are a thumbs up. But Brooks Jensen walks over and wants to ask them some advice. He wants his relationship with Kayden Carter to just like Dexter’s and Indi’s. Well, okay, not exactly the same, and Brooks isn’t thinking marriage yet, but-

Indi says the biggest piece of advice is that when a guy talks too much, it’s a turn off. Really? Yep. Non-verbal communication is sexy. Watch Dexter. Indi looks at him and she’s all fired up. Whoa, how’d he…? That’s the hot tub look? That’s the hot tub look!! Brooks thinks that’ll work. He tries it on Persia, but Persia says she’s into someone else. W-Well so is he, but he’s trying to get somewhere with Kayden. He’s hoping for the “pickup truck” date but- Okay, Brooks is going motormouth again. Will he figure out how to charm Kayden before someone else does?

Draco Anthony speaks.

When everyone else’s day ends, his day begins. He goes to the Performance Center at 2 in the morning, and puts in the work. His drill sergeant said he’d never make it as a Marine, but he proudly served for four years. Tonight, he’ll make his NXT debut. And at the end of the day, when it’s you against the world, Draco will win. But will his actions speak louder than everyone else’s words?

Another new superstar is on her way.

“We all come from somewhere, right? Well, Nikkita Lyons comes from the world of entertainment.” Her dad was a bassist, her mom was a beautiful groupie, and Nikkita was the result. She grew up in a van that traveled from New York to California, from down south to the cold north while her dad worked for every cent he ever earned. People looked down on her, saying she learned about life from dirty bars and degenerate musicians. Well, that may be true, but each one of those experiences led to this moment. She’s living her truth, she’s in NXT and the most competitive women’s division in the world. If she attacks the ring like she does the mic, then you better watch out for her roar. Nikkita Lyons is coming soon!

Backstage interview with Sarray.

Having powered down back to her everyday self, Sarray dedicates her win tonight to her grandmother. Well the fans want ot know more about this necklace. When Sarray wears this necklace, she can do anything! Oh, how cute! Dakota Kai mocks the return of “the beloved” Sarray. She can tell by the way Sarray holds the necklace that it is important, just like her relationship with her grandma. But the Warrior of the Sun surely knows that no matter how strong a relationship is, the sun always sets on it. Dakota leaves and Sarray is worried, but will Sarray be able to outshine the gloom and doom of #CobraKai?

Draco Anthony VS Andre Chase w/ Bodhi Hayward!

The newest star in NXT finally has a match, but Professor Chase wants to make this a #TeachableMoment! Will Chase get through to Draco? Or has Draco already learned more than enough to make it big in NXT?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Draco powers Chase back. Chase turns things around to arm-drag Draco, and he says that was a TEACHABLE MOMENT! Draco shrugs that off as he and Chase circle again. They tie up, Draco headlocks, but Chase pries at the hold. Draco clamps on tighter, Chase pries free again to get a headlock back. Draco powers up, powers out, and jukes Chase to run him over! Things keep moving, Chase hurdles but Draco shoves and leaps, into an atomic drop! And then a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Chase keeps cool as he looms over Draco.

Chase brings Draco up, whips, but Draco reverses and scoops for a POWERSLAM! Fans cheer Draco’s strength, and he kicks Chase to a corner. Draco drags Chase up, throws big KNEES, then has him in the corner again. Draco runs in, KNEES Chase down, then RAMS into Chase with a shoulder. Draco lets off, whips Chase back into the corner, then hits an EXPLODER off the rebound! Cover, TWO! Chase is still in this as fans duel, but Draco clamps on and knees Chase in the back. Draco has the arms for a motorcycle stretch but Chase endures. Fans continue to duel, Chase fights his way up, and he stomps Draco’s foot!

Chase elbows Draco, runs, slips out of the scoop and rallies with ax handles! Chase whips, Draco reverses but Chase reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up and the student section spell out “CHASE U” as Chase stomps away. Chase brings Draco up, whips him to a corner, but Draco boots back! Draco gets annoyed and he snatches the Chase U flag away from Bodhi! Draco waves it around before he stomps it! Draco digs his boot into the flag, but Bodhi snatches it back! Chase RAMS into Draco and fires off fast hands! Fans fire up, Chase jukes the ref to ROCK Draco! Chase stomps a mudhole into Draco but lets off at 4!

Chase gets Draco up to bounce him off buckles! Chase wrenches, hammerlocks and COMPLETE SHOTS! Cover, Chase wins?!?!

Winner: Andre Chase, by pinfall

What a shocker! Draco’s actions riled up Chase, and Chase says he’s coming for Von Wagner! Will Chase teach vicious Von Wagner something about respect?

Mandy Rose is still running away form Kay Lee Ray.

She tells people to get out of her way and stop looking at her. That crazy lady… Where are her girls? Mandy chugs water, but KLR pops up from behind the counter! And she dumps SPAGHETTI on Mandy! Mandy freaks out, KLR gets the cake! CAKE TO THE FACE! Mandy falls over as a hot mess, and she doesn’t understand why KLR is doing this! Oh, you know exactly why! Will KLR humiliate Mandy into giving her the title match she wants?

Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa VS Legado Del Fantasma!

The young NXT Champion may be a second generation wrestler like the Emperor of Lucha, Santos Escobar, but that’s where the similarities end. Escobar has had Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza backing him up but Bron won the title all on his own. And now with the Psycho Killer backing him up, will Bron break Escobar’s pawns to leave him with no one? Or will Wilde & Mendoza do la familia proud?

NXT returns and Bron and Ciampa make their way to the ring. The teams sort out, Wilde starts with Ciampa. They tie up, Ciampa waistlocks and SLAMS Wilde down. Ciampa holds on, Wilde fights up to wrench out and he gets the arm to fireman’s carry. Wilde does his dance but Ciampa applauds before he kicks low. Ciampa headlocks, Wilde powers out, but Ciampa runs Wilde over! Things keep moving, Ciampa fakes Wilde out to CHOP him down! Ciampa does the macarena to mock Wilde, then he drop toeholds to the headlock. Wilde fights up, Mendoza tags in, but Ciampa is ready and gets Mendoza in a headlock.

Mendoza powers out to get the headlock but Ciampa powers out. Mendoza slides under, tilt-o-whirls then kicks low. Mendoza whips, Ciampa reverses, Mendoza goes up and over and things keep moving, Mendoza dropkicks Ciampa down! Mendoza stands Ciampa up to CHOP him! And CHOP him again! Mendoza swings but misses, Ciampa CHOPS back and now we have a CHOP fight! Ciampa kicks low, fires off haymakers and then he stomps Mendoza into the corner! The ref counts, Ciampa lets off but fans fire up. Ciampa runs in but Mendoza bails out to avoid the knee! Escobar stares down with Ciampa, but Ciampa backs off.

Mendoza gets back in, Wilde tags in, and Ciampa tags Bron. Bron gets Wilde for a facelock then headlock. Wilde powers out, Bron hurdles, ducks and catches the drop down for a deadlift suplex! Ciampa intercepts Mendoza to also suplex! Dual stalling suplexes, count to ten and SLAM! Fans fire up as both men applaud and pat themselves on the back! Fans are loving this as NXT goes picture in picture.

Ciampa exits the ring, Bron waits on Legado. Bron holds ropes open for whoever wants it, even if it’s Escobar! Escobar laughs that off, Wilde hobbles his way back in, and Wilde stays back. Bron rushes in, Wilde kicks him low and pokes him in the eye! Wilde bumps Bron off buckles, stomps him, then talks trash before he pie faces. Bron turns it around to fire off haymakers! Bron lets off to RAM his shoulder in, and again, and again! Bron lets off, scoops Wilde, carries him around, and hits a BACKBREAKER! Bron drags Wilde over, tags in Ciampa, and they mug Wilde in the corner. Ciampa snapmares to drop a knee on Wilde’s head!

Ciampa drags Wilde back up, whips him to ropes, but Wilde kicks back! Wilde whips Ciampa into the Legado corner, tags Mendoza, and Mendoza stomps away. Mendoza lets off at the ref’s count, JABS Ciampa then whips. Ciampa reverses, Mendoza ducks and CROSSBODIES, but flops as Ciampa ducks! Ciampa whips Mendoza and kitchen sink KNEES him down! Tag to Bron, they mug Mendoza, and Bron stomps Mendoza at ropes. Mendoza kicks back, tag to Wilde, and Wilde brings Bron around. Bron throws body shots, snapmares Wilde, NXT returns to single picture as Bron clamps on a chinlock.

Wilde endures, fans rally and duel, and Wilde fights up. Wilde throws body shots, then knees. Wilde runs, but into a LARIAT from Bron! Bron is fired up and fans bark with him. Escobar is annoyed as Wilde bails out, but he stays away as Bron goes out to fetch Wilde. Bron puts Wilde in the ring, Wilde distracts the ref and Escobar RAMS Bron into steel steps! Ciampa protests but Legado gets away with it as always. Wilde goes out, he puts Bron in the ring and stomps Bron down. Wilde says Bron should’ve stayed outta Legado business. Wilde SLAMS Bron’s arm down, RAMS him into the Legado corner, and Wilde runs in to clothesline!

Mendoza tags, he runs and clotheslines to then tag Wilde. Wilde clotheslines and tags! Mendoza clotheslines and tags! Wilde runs in, clothesline and tag! Mendoza runs in to GAMANGIRI! Tag to Wilde, Legado double suplex! Cover, TWO!! Bron survives the onslaught and Legado is frustrated. Fans rally and bark for Bron but Wilde stomps Bron down. Wilde pie faces Bron, paces around, and Escobar loves it. Wilde stomps Bron, shoves him to ropes and CLOBBERS him with an elbow. Cover, TWO! Wilde clamps on with a facelock and he grinds Bron down. Fans rally, Bron fights up, and he heads for his corner!

Wilde keeps Bron away with knees, but Bron endures the facelock to BACK DROP free! Both men are down and fans fire up! Bron and Wilde crawl, hot tag to Ciampa! The Blackheart rallies on Wilde with clothesline, then he gives some to Mendoza! Corner clothesline for Wilde, corner clothesline for Mendoza! He dodges their double clothesline to give DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES! Fans fire up with Ciampa, he tags Bron back in! Ciampa whips Wilde, poops him up, to Bron’s SPINEBUSTER! Fans say “This is Awesome!” But Escobar distracts Bron. Wilde tags Mendoza, Mendoza goes up and leaps, missile dropkick!

Mendoza drags Bron to a drop zone, goes up again, PHOENIX SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Escobar is stunned but Mendoza stomps away on Bron. Mendoza whips, Bron reverses, Mendoza slips out to GAMANGIRI! Bron ducks the springboard, runs in and SPEARS Mendoza down! Cover, Wilde breaks it! Ciampa gets in to throw Wilde back out, then he does the same to Mendoza. KNEE in the ropes! Ciampa feds Mendoza to Bron, then he SHOVES Wilde off the top, onto the announce desk! Fans lose their minds as Wilde crashes ‘n’ burns! Bron gives Mendoza the BREAKKER SLAM!! Cover, Bron & Ciampa win!

Winners: Tommaso Ciampa & Bron Breakker, by pinfall

Escobar is stunned silent, jaw dropped open! He still gets on the apron to stare Bron down, and Bron dares Escobar to get in. Straps are down, Escobar says they still do this on his time. Escobar leaves with Lopez and what’s left of Mendoza & Wilde, but when will he say it’s finally time?

Mandy Rose hurries out to ringside!

KLR says Mandy doesn’t look so good. They get in the ring, Mandy still tries to get away but KLR drags her back in! KLR has a mic to say Mandy knows what KLR wants. She wont’ even wait for Vengeance Day! She wants it next week! Mandy says fine! Just put down the bat! Okay, KLR will put down the bat. Then she SUPERKICKS Mandy down! And gets her back up, K L R BOMB!! The match is set, will KLR once again become Forever Champion?

My Thoughts:

A pretty good NXT here that paves the way to Vengeance Day 2022. A very good Six Man Tag opened the night, and if anything says changing Walter’s name was a dumb move, it’s that the fans kept chanting “Walter” during the match. Imperium wins and that puts it on the Creed Brothers to win the tag tournament. GYV had a decent promo to get on Diamond Mine for focusing on other things, but I feel like this is just setting GYV up for a loss. A shame for GYV but it just feels like how things are going. Malik & Edris have a good promo, even though it was more about a team name than game-planning for MSK. This was the one time “NXThirsty” worked out to be entertaining to me. They blended it with Mandy running away from KLR, and the punchline of a boner was clever.

Speaking of, KLR chasing Mandy all night worked out as a good through story. She abducted Gigi & Jacy for the night, scared and humiliated Mandy into giving her a title match, and it isn’t even for the big themed episode. There’s a chance Gigi & Jacy screw that up for KLR, but I would hope Indi & Persia try to counteract that. The women’s tag title match will be very good, and could go either way. I like that the promo of Indi, Persia and Lumis also tied into other NXThirsty stories, like Brooks just being a lovesick puppy dog for Kayden Carter. Persia liking Duke is probably just for character and tension between Persia and Indi, not sure if anything comes of that.

Duke himself is apparently embracing the buzzcut as it represents the new chapter in his character arc. He has a good promo to hype up his grudge match with Dante Chen, that’ll be a good one. We got good interactions between Knight and Gacy, and a pretty good match, but naturally Waller & Sanga screw Knight over. Knight VS Sanga is going to be pretty good, and Knight will find a way to win, but it isn’t an official stipulation that if Knight wins, Waller rips up the restraining order, so totally expect Waller to not rip up the restraining order. Knight has to find a way to get under Waller’s skin to make Waller want the match with Knight.

Grimes has a good promo segment with Melo & Trick, and I like that for as great as Trick is on the mic, everyone’s response is to have no idea what he said. Grimes could even have a proxy match with Trick as the tune-up to the title match and it’ll be a lot of fun. We got a good promo from Robert Stone, with Von punctuating the catchphrase, but this NXT 2.0 version of Lesnar and Heyman is probably the extent of the Robert Stone Brand’s revival. Dunne had a good promo to set up what will surely be his real good-bye match, even though a Steel Cage match is rather cliché. So, it’s actually rather fitting since Vince has seized more control of NXT.

Cora and Raquel had a good match, and of course Raquel won yet still chose to be Cora’s teammate. Those two are going to go far in the Women’s Dusty Cup, and maybe even win it. Sarray got a good return win, and I’m actually a little disappointed WWE didn’t go all in on the magical girl aspect. Where was her transformation sequence before she went out on stage? But anyway, Dakota calling all these teams and other superstars out, I’m waiting for when they figure out who her next feud is with. Dakota VS Sarray would be a really good one, provided they let these two give us all they can give in the ring.

Great to see Women of Wrestling’s Faith the Lioness coming to NXT as “Nikkita Lyons,” but wow, what a way to spell that. Couldn’t they just get away with one K and an I for Lions? But Nikkita showed promise in WOW, she’ll become something really special in NXT. In tonight’s biggest shocker, the debuting Draco Anthony got the jobber non-entrance, and he in fact jobs to Andre Chase! Chase going after Wagner is good stuff, but this is clearly a feud to get Wagner going in the ring. And we got a very good main event tag match, Bron and Ciampa had good chemistry, and what a spot for the newly positioned announce desk. That was rough for Wilde.

I feel like Ciampa and Escobar should have a match to see if Escobar can earn the title match, rather than being handed a match, the very thing Escobar complains happened with Bron. Of course, a Heel is usually a hypocrite, so maybe Escobar won’t care how he gets his match. Either way, Bron VS Escobar is going to be really good, but I’m wondering why Xyon Quinn hasn’t shown up again. Maybe they’re just waiting for the best possible moment for him to screw over Escobar? That would actually be good stuff.

My Score: 8.5/10