Battlelines have been drawn, but who will #CrossTheLine?

The tension in the NXT TNA crossover has erupted into a battle, and now both Ava Raine and Santino Marella prepare their teams for INVASION!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Jaida Parker VS Lash Legend; Jaida wins.
• Men’s Team NXT Tryout: Myles Borne VS Josh Briggs; Myles wins and is on Team NXT for NXT VS TNA: Showdown.
• Women’s Team NXT Tryout: Lola Vice VS Fallon Henley; Lola wins and is on Team NXT for NXT VS TNA: Showdown.
• Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater VS Shawn Spears & Niko Vance; Je’Von & Leon win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Ricky Saints is here!

The fans fire up as The Absolute NEW NXT Champion returns to Orlando! Ricky holds up the belt then grabs the mic. The fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and Ricky says, “Thank you. Y’know, I said that every giant needed to rest, and at No Mercy, I did that when I put Oba down. And you know what else is funny? You guys have been with me since day one since I came here, and I don’t know if you remember this or not, but February 8th, I stood in this ring and I said reality was me headlining every NXT PLE. Reality was me winning the NXT Championship. Well damn, baby, I feel like reality is right here, standing in front of all y’all!”

The fans cheer Ricky on again, and he continues, “It has not been an easy journey to this point. There have been a lot of empty nights, a lot of doubtful nights, a lot of times when the question was asked, ‘Can Ricky do it? Could I do it?’ So I ask all of you, did I do it?” “YES!” “Did we do it?!” “YES!!” The fans cheer and Ricky says if there’s one thing about him, he will always stand on business. That is why when it came down to it, Ricky put all his chips on the line, bet on himself, and took on Oba Femi. Saints walked out of Fort Lauderdale the NEW NXT Champion! This proves right here that the only person you ever have to worry about is yourself!

The only person you need to keep betting on is yourself! Because there’s only one person you always gotta see when you go to sleep, and that’s yourself! But wait, here comes The Fatal Influence. Jacy Jayne applauds Ricky and says, “Congratulations! As happy as I am for you, we have bigger things to worry about.” The fans boo but Jacy tells the idiots to pipe down, THE champ is talking. And like she said, they have bigger things to worry about now. Like how TNA is trying to take over NXT! Even though NXT has both their titles. Maybe if Jacy was in TNA, she’d be upset, too. But oh well!

But as she was saying, no one likes to talk about themselves more than she does, so- She is interrupted by Ava Raine! And Ava says for once, Jacy took the words right out of her mouth. And Jacy is right, they all have more important things to worry about. Because Ava has decide that both the champions are team captains for NXT. Ava says that means they both have the very important task of helping decide who is on the team. And for this, Ava needs them both to put their pride and differences aside, because Ava needs the best team! The best women and men in NXT need to- Santino Marella interrupts!

The fans cheer as the Milan Miracle, the TNA Director of Authority, returns to NXT. Santino tells Ava that she has a great idea. He will let his captains decide their teams, as well. Speaking of capitans… Let him just say this: He doesn’t trust “Tricky Williams” at all, so he is NOT the TNA captain! How can you trust a man who is named TRICK!? But here is his Men’s Captain, MIKE SANTANA! The fans fire up for the Boricua Badass as he steps out on stage to join Santino. Santino continues by saying there is someone on NXT who he does trust as team captain of TNA! That’s right, the NEW TNA Knockouts Champion, KELANI JORDAN!

The fans fire up for this historic move as the Standout is now Total Nonstop Action coded! She fist bumps Santana and stands with Santino, and while Jacy is upset, Ava admits that is a smart move. Team TNA steps into the ring, Ava says as she was saying, they all need to finalize these teams by the end of tonight for next week. Santino says okay, but he wants us to realize this is not an invasion. They’ve been working together wonderfully for months now, so this is more like… a showcase! No! A Showdown! Yes, a showdown of NXT VS TNA. See you later at the summit. Wait, Jacy wants to get this right. Santino has Trick as TNA World Champion, but he’s not a captain?

And yet Kelani Jordan, who only just won that title like 10 SECONDS ago, IS a captain? How does that make sense? The fans boo Jacy but Ricky says hold up, we don’t need to be concerned about who they’ve got, just about who NXT’s got. He tells Santana, see you later tonight. How ’bout that? The Absolute is ready for whoever Santana brings, while Toxic Jacy and Standout Kelani look ready to throw down now! Who will be chosen for this historic showdown?

Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater run across each other backstage.

The Young OG and the Man from the 0121 say sup, but Je’Von is worried. Surely a TNA star isn’t here alone. Leon assures Je’Von, he got here early, he’s here alone. Well, okay. But no cap, Bound For Glory ’bout to be a movie! They’re about to have the youngest dream match in wrestling history! Facts! And Leon says he knew it was only a matter of time before they fought over the X-Division Championship. But then The Culling has to step in. Shawn Spears says it would of course be Je’Von of all people talking to a TNA talent just days before the showdown. Niko Vance says they don’t make friends with enemies. Or did Je’Von miss that class?

Je’Von says they just goofy. These two will see who is the best at Bound For Glory. And as for the showdown, if they’re on the teams, then so be it. Niko says if Je’Von and Leon are the best, test that against them tonight. Je’Von and Leon both say, “I’m down.” Leon says time to go talk to Santino & Ava. Je’Von agrees, and they head out. Lyra Valkyria now walks in, says hey to Slater on his way out, and then Tatum says hi to Lyra. Lyra says hi, and also says hello to Izzi and the “scary men.” But Lyra has a gift for Tatum. She has been working on understanding her friends better, so she made Tatum a little something.

Really? What is it? Well, Lyra stayed up all night, but surprise! A Lyra Barbie! Tatum loves it! They hug, and Izzi says time to go. The Culling heads out, but will Tatum be having so much fun having Izzi and Lyra as her friends? Or will the mutuals be less than civil with each other?

Jaida Parker VS Lash Legend!

Just as Miss Parker had a shot on goal with the Women’s Speed Championship, The Bougie Bully blocked the way. Jaida got her back for it later, but now this is about finally settling the score. Will it be a goal for Jaida? Or will it be a slam dunk from Lash?

The moment Lash is in the ring, she rushes Jaida and RAMS her! The ref rings the bell, Lash RAMS Jaida into the corner again and again, but she stops as the ref counts. Lash argues with the ref, but then Jaida BOOTS Lash! Jaida fires hands, kicks a leg out, then runs, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Lash eggs Jaida on. Lash brings Jaida up, reels her in, and suplexes to then hold Jaida up! The fans fire up for the SLAM! Cover, TWO! Lash THROWS Jaida out to the apron, then runs up, but Jaida dodges! Jaida KICKS Lash down, storms in, but Lash DECKS her! Jaida goes back to the apron and Lash shakes out her hand.

The fans rally, Lash goes out, but Jaida RAMS Lash into the apron! Jaida crawls into the ring, but Lash drags her back out! Jaida throat chops! Jaida fireman’s carries, to SAMOAN DROP to the floor! The fans fire up while both women are down, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Lash whips Jaida to ropes. Jaida grabs ropes, ELBOWS Lash away, then runs up, but into a BACKDROP! Jaida sunset flips it, but Lash waves her arms to stay up! Lash leans back, but Jaida pushes her the rest of the way down! Cover, TWO! Lash grabs a leg, works to turn Jaida over, and has the HALF CRAB! Jaida endures, reaches out, and the fans rally up. Jaida powers up, fights forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Lash lets go, but then she drags Jaida back. Lash runs but Jaida moves, the splash FLOPS! Jaida hurries to run, BASEMENT BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up while both women are down!

Lash and Jaida crawl, we get a peek at Santana talking with Leon while Santana is making calls, they’ve got a “TNA War Room” going for the team draft. Jaida and Lash rise up, the fans duel, and Jaida ducks, dodges, and CLOBBERS Lash! Lash staggers to a corner, Jaida runs up to BACK DOBY BLOCK! Then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Lash survives, but Jaida gets moving. But Lash yanks Jaida back! Some fans get a nice view, but Lash then has a SLEEPER! Jaida RAMS Lash into a corner, fires elbows, but Lash holds on! Jaida RAMS Lash again, gets free, and “This is Awesome!” as Jaida puts Lash in the ropes.

Jaida CLUBS away on Lash, then runs side to side, TEARDROP! High step it! But Lash rises! PUMP KICK! Jaida tumbles out but Lash hurries after her! And she sends Jaida into the steel steps! Then into the barriers! Lash puts Jaida back in the ring, hauls her up for the rack, LASH- NO, Jaida arm-drags free! Lash hotshots off ropes, and into a HIP-NOTIC!! Cover, Jaida wins!

Winner: Jaida Parker, by pinfall

Jaida threw a bit extra into that one! She finally puts this one away, will Miss Parker get back to a title opportunity? How about being on Team NXT at the same time?

Ricky Saints is greeted by the locker room.

A lot of the guys, even Lexis King and Jasper Troy, like how that belt looks on him over Oba Femi. They all high-five, until Trick Williams walks in. Trick says excuse him, but the #TrickNA World Champion is here! He is also the co-captain! Uh, what? Trick says there are a lot of guys here, he and Saints have to talk about the team. They need to be undeniable! Saints wants Trick to go back to the part about being “co-captain.” Well, Trick had to humble himself, they need two more guys. Just two, that’s it. Wow, uh, we love the enthusiasm, Trick, but if he’s gonna be on Team NXT, he needs to know there are only two spots left.

And one of ’em just went to Je’Von Evans! Yessir! Trick says yeah, he won’t lie, he likes The Young OG. Well okay not really, but for the sake of NXT, they do need The Young OG. Now, just make sure Je’Von bounces all over them boys on TNA. Ricky holds up his hand as Je’Von’s about to speak, and Ricky promises Je’Von will. But for the last spot, there’s another guy that Ricky could tell is all in on this. And that man is… Myles Borne! Je’Von high-fives Myles, Trick says that’s a good pick, but maybe Ricky isn’t hearing what Trick is saying. They need power, size, and- Jasper Troy steps up. But Trick votes for Josh Briggs!

If they’re going to war, they need a man like Briggs! Je’Von says hell no, that man is a goofball! Je’Von ain’t teaming with that guy. Everyone starts yelling, Saints says hold on! It isn’t about grudges. This is for NXT! They need all the help they can get against TNA’s four. And while Saints himself doesn’t like Briggs, he IS a solid choice. Je’Von says say less, then leaves. Trick says c’mon now, they were just getting to talking. Saints says he can handle that. Trick says okay then! As co-captain, Trick suggests Myles and Briggs battle it out like men to truly be Team NXT. Okay, okay, Saints does like that idea. It’s on!

And so the tryout match is set! Will Myles prove he is born to be NXT? Or will the Bullhead Brawler be the muscle that buffs up the team?

Ethan Page is here!

The fans boo and taunt All Ego as he walks out here, still NXT North American Champion. Ethan kisses the Maple Leaf strap and grabs the mic to say, “Well… I seem to have done it again. Ladies and gentlemen, ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page, the greatest North American Champion, and Greatest North American ALIVE turned away another dangerous challenger, another dangerous threat. Last Saturday, I turned away an Olympic-level threat when I defeated Tavion Heights and showed him that there truly is a talent gap when it comes to Olympic athletes and the greatest North American athlete to ever step in a WWE ring.”

The fans boo but Ethan says, “Now I think we take our business south of the border. While everyone else in NXT is worried about TNA coming in here and stealing all of their glory, I have a… Medical professional who is coming after my glory: Dr. Wagner Jr. is trying to come after MY championship, and you’re a doctor? Pal, the only doctorate you have is in pissing me off, and you’re doing a bang-up job at it! So why don’t you keep it up-” Wait, a car pulls up! Could it be? Someone in a fine suit and tie steps out, and Ethan says this is perfect! Wagner said they’d meet again soon, so why not come on out here and end this?

Wait, wait, wait, that’s not Dr. Wagner Jr, nor Dr. Wagner III, the man who Ethan meant to call out! That’s MUSTAFA ALI! He returns to NXT and the fans chant, “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!” Ali says, “Citizens of NXT! I hope no one minds my unannounced arrival here. But Mr. Page… Listen, my good man. I have no issues with anything that you said, but… I do have an issue with what you’re holding.” Ethan says, “Oh, okay, okay, hold on. I don’t have any issues with you. Frankly, I’m just hoping that you’re out here to announce to the world that under that mask, you in fact are Dr. Wagner III.”

But short of that, Ethan has no interest in him, and sure as hell doesn’t owe Mustafa a thing. Well, Mr. Page, you are correct, you don’t owe Ali a thing. But NXT does. The fans cheer that! See, it wasn’t that long ago that Ali EARNED his opportunity at the NXT North American Champoinship. yes, sure, there were twists and turns, but that opportunity never came. Ali started to wonder, maybe he’s just cursed. Maybe he is. But then, on this day, this very night two years ago, NXT No Mercy, Ali was promised his NXT North American Championship. His dream was on the horizon, but on that day, the sun did not rise for Ali!

Instead of a title match, Ali got a pohne call! A call that told him his services were no longer needed. And here we are! 749 DAYS LATER, Ali is still waiting for the match he EARNED! The fans cheer that! Ethan is flustered, but he wants to get this right. This is the part where Ali cries, right? Hell of a sob story! But ALi might wanna pick someone who wants ot hear it, Etahn ain’t the guy. Ali doesn’t know what kind of man Ethan takes him for, thinking this is him crying for a match. No, Ali isn’t going to cry. But Ali will politic! And that is exactly what Ali did! He spoke to Ava and Santino, and well, next week…

At NXT VS TNA: Showdown, will not only will it be Team VS Team, it will not only be DarkState VS Hardys, Titles For Titles… But next week, Ali gets to end the curse! Next week, All Ego defends his North American Championship against MUSTAFA ALI!! The fans cheer and Ethan is all upset. He isn’t surprised! Every wrestler around the world is coming after Ethan! Ali wants to say he’s cursed? Every challenger for Ethan’s title is cursed! But this IS a great story! Ali’s triumphant return two years in the making, trying to finally claim what he never could! But next Tuesday, Ethan will disappoint everyone!

But don’t worry, Ethan won’t call him on the phone to fire him. Ethan will just wish Ali the best on his future endeavors! Ali fires hands! Then he dodges a cheap shot with the belt to DROPKICK Ethan out! The fans fire up for Ali, but Ethan runs away with his title! Will justice finally be served? Will Ali finally have gold in NXT? Or will the Egomaniac just steal his smile with a Twisted Grin?

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey talk in the locker room.

One, they’re talking Maybelline’s great new foundation. And also, Wren remembers Charlie Dempsey advised her not to do anything crazy. Though, she does feel tempted to add a few more ladies to the NQCC. Jacy Jayne storms in and tells everyone to listen up. She is in charge of Team NXT, she has to be extremely careful who stands by her side. And after what we saw a few minutes ago, Jaida Parker is a strong candidate. Which brings Jacy to Sol Ruca. She was successful in her title defense, is still double champion, and whether Jacy likes her or not, this isn’t about personal feelings but about winning. And right now, we need winners.

Sol says she’s in, so that’s one member. Lola Vice steps up and says if Jacy wants to win, she needs Lola on her team, too. No one has ever hit Jacy harder than Lola, and as much as Lola hates to say it, she will also put her differences aside to defend NXT. Fallon says that’s cute, Lola, but the last spot on this team is going to Fallon. Lainey Reid steps up to say Jacy cannot trust Lola. Lola says she already gave Lainey two warnings, don’t make it a third. Fallon still insists she gets the fourth spot. The locker room argues, Jacy shouts them all down. Everyone remember who the captain is: JACY! So tonight, Fallon VS Lola in their own tryout match.

Lola accepts the terms, and everyone heads out. Zaria wants to talk with Sol real quick, so they go off the other way. Will it be the Toxic Cowgirl or Vice City that joins the team? And what does the Agent of Change need to talk with the Surfer Double Champ about in private?

NXT hears from The Hardy Boyz!

Jeff says, “Next week, we return to the dimension of NXT. Last time we were there, we beat Fraxiom when the titles were not on the line. This time, they are, and we’re gonna fulfill another destiny. I’m bringing some light with me to a very dark state.” Matt tells DarkState they are big and bad, and they’re not even sure which two are stepping up to go for the titles. But there will be a ringside ban to make sure it is a fair fight. And everyone knows that when it is a fair match, The Hardys are the greatest team in the world! Their mission is to cement their legacy as the Tag Team GOATS, and they do that by winning the WWE titles they have not won, and those are the NXT Tag Team Championships!

The Hardys know this is historic, monumental, NXT Tag Team Championships VS TNA Tag Team Championships, Winners Take All! It is time for the DELETION of DarkState! Who will win this massive Showdown to be THE best team between both brands?

Men’s Team NXT Tryout: Myles Borne VS Josh Briggs!

It was Lights Out for Lexis King with Myles Borne last week, but apparently that loss to Je’Von Evans isn’t enough to deny how big and bad the Bullhead Brawler can be. Will Briggs redeem himself here tonight? Or will Myles stand loud and proud on Team NXT?

The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Briggs SHOVES Myles, but Myles gets up to shove Briggs. Briggs hears the fans taunt him with song, but he grabs Myles by the throat! Myles pops free of the choke slam to headlock, but then Briggs powers up and fires body shots. Briggs powers out, he and Myles RAMS shoulders, and then they go forehead to forehead. They talk trash, then Briggs swings. Myles wrenches to UPPERCUT, and BIG back suplex! Myles runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Myles eggs Briggs on while Briggs bails out. Myles builds speed to FLY! Down goes Briggs and the fans fire up with Myles!

Myles gets Briggs up and into the ring, then he goes up a corner. Briggs wobbles, Myles CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Myles stays cool, and we see Tricky and Ricky watching this one. They already like what they see, and Myles runs upon Briggs. Briggs ELBOWS Myles away, bumps him off buckles, then bumps him off more buckles! The fans boo but Briggs stomps Myles down. Briggs digs his boots in, the ref counts, and Briggs stops at 4. Briggs paces, he brings Myles up, and he snapmares. We get another look at the TNA War Room, and Matt Cardona is in there now! Is TNA about to make the team Complete?

Back to the ring, Briggs CLUBS Myles down, covers, TWO! Briggs is annoyed, and he kicks Myles around. The fans still sing, “Briggs, Go Away~! Briggs, Go Away~!” Briggs stalks Myles to a corner, then he ELBOWS Myles again and again. The ref counts, Briggs stops at 4, and Briggs brings Myles up again. Briggs THROWS Myles across the way! But Myles is right up! The fans fire up and Myles eggs Briggs on! Briggs runs up, Myles dodges, hurdles, but the Briggs CROSSBODY finds him! And then the CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Myles survives and Briggs is seething as NXT goes picture in picture.

Briggs taunts the fans, drags Myles up, and then DECKS Myles! Briggs paces around Myles, soaks up the heat, then stands Myles up to DECK him again! Myles sputters while Briggs walks around. Briggs stands Myles up to whip, but Myles grabs ropes. Myles dodges to then JUMP NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Myles clamps onto Briggs with an armlock and grinds him down. Briggs endures, fights up, and he whips Myles away. Briggs scoops but Myles slips free to arm-drag! Myles hurries to wrangle Briggs back into an armlock! Briggs endures, even as Myles shifts to a hammerlock. Briggs endures, fights around, and rises up to fire body shots.

Briggs whips, then scoops, SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Myles survives and Briggs seethes, but Briggs shakes out his arm. Briggs kicks Myles, then clamps onto him with a chinlock. Myles endures and fights to his feet as NXT returns to single picture. The fans rally as Myles fires body shots, then haymakers! Myles kicks, Briggs blocks, but Myles ENZIGIRIS! Myles runs up, but Briggs puts him on the apron! Myles ROCKS Briggs, then goes up, only for Briggs to ROCK him! Briggs climbs up, but Myles fires back! Briggs staggers away, Myles adjusts, and he leaps, but Briggs gets under! Briggs comes back to scoop and BACKBREAKER!

Then Briggs underhooks, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Myles survives and Briggs is seething. The fans taunt Briggs with “Briggs, You Suck!” Briggs elbow drops but misses as Myles moves! Myles dodges again and Briggs hits buckles! Myles keeps moving and he LARIATS! Briggs stays up, Myles LARIATS him down! Myles whips Briggs into a corner, then whips him corner to corner! Then SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Briggs survives but Myles scoops, only for Briggs to slip free! Briggs ELBOWS Myles, runs, but Myles slips around! SAIDO! The fans fire up with Myles and he hits a CODE BREAKER!

Briggs staggers, but he rebounds to BOOT Myles down! The fans rally up as both men crawl, and Briggs undoes the chain! Briggs wraps it around his fist, he winds up, but MATT CARDONA stops him! The fans fire up as this helps the ref see the chain! The ref confiscates the chain, Myles hits the DROPKICK! Then BORN AGAIN!! Cover, Myles wins!

Winner: Myles Borne, by pinfall (qualifies for Team NXT)

Cardona shrugs then hurries away. Did Cardona do this to make sure the right man won? Or to improve TNA’s odds of winning?

Jordynne Grace talks with Kelani Jordan backstage.

As she tells The Standout, The Juggernaut knows for herself that winning the Knockouts Championship is legendary. Grace held that a long time, it is a prestigious title, she hopes Kelani can carry it with pride. Kelani says of course she will. Grace also wants Kelani to know that TNA means a lot to Grace, she does not trust Jacy Jayne. She’d rather be on that team with Kelani. Kelani gets that. But this is what everyone is talking about right now! No one really knows where Jordynne Grace, nor Joe Hendry, stand on this. Their past is TNA, their future is NXT. Uh, wait, they don’t know where Grace stands? Or is it just Joe?

Because Joe Hendry- “Say his name and he appears!” The Inspirational One steps out from the other room! And he asks what Kelani means by that. He understands the logic, but he and Grace- But then Santana steps in and wants to get to the bottom of this, too. Hendry and Grace seem like one foot in, one foot out. And there is no way that next week, Santana is leaving this up to chance. Did Kelani figure out her team yet? She says she’s close. Santana says same for him. But he has some people he’d like her to meet. Who? Everybody! Santana leads the new champ away, and Hendry says it doesn’t seem like either him or Grace are getting picked.

Grace says they gotta be part of this somehow! What will the Juggernaut and Inspirational One do to be part of the Showdown?

Women’s Team NXT Tryout: Lola Vice VS Fallon Henley!

Speaking of the Showdown, Vice City almost won her No Mercy showdown with the NXT Women’s Champion, if not for a masked individual who we may or may not already know. But that is the past, and we can only move forward. Will Lola at least get to knock out a Toxic Cowgirl before facing TNA’s Knockouts? Or will Team NXT be under the Influence?

NXT returns as The Fatal Influence makes their entrance. The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around on the ropes, the ref counts, and Lola backs off. Fallon shoves Lola, mocks the hips, but Lola TACKLES and jackknife bridges! TWO, and Lola ghost pins, TWO! Lola waistlocks, then she flips Fallon to a cover, TWO! Lola has the arm but Fallon fights around. Fallon pulls hair, the ref reprimands, but Lola wrenches to THROW Fallon away! Fallon staggers up, but she kicks low. Fallon whips, Lola reverses, but Fallon ELBOWS her! Fallon runs, waistlocks, and sits Lola down to CALF KICK! Cover, TWO!

Fallon drags Lola up, whips her to ropes, then blows past her, but Lola KICKS the leg out! Fallon flounders away, Lola storms up and KICKS her in the corner! And KICKS! And KICKS! The ref counts, Lola steps back, and she stalks Fallon along the ropes. Lola whips Fallon, then KICKS her down! Jacy barks at Lola from the apron, Fallon runs up, but Lola ROCKS and KNEES and repeat! Lola then runs up in the corner, but Fallon dodges. Fallon blocks boots, puts Lola in ropes and CLUBS her. Fallon runs to SLIDING GERMAN! Fallon talks trash, then she ROCKS Lola at the ropes! Fallon storms in, runs, and SLIDING FOREARMS!

Fallon grins while the fans boo, and Jacy coaches Fallon to focus. Fallon drags Lola up, whips her to a corner, then runs up again to THROW her back in. Fallon stomps a mudhole, then snapmares to run up and YEEHAW FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Lola stays in this but Fallon clamps on with a cravat. The fans rally as Lola endures the neck wrench, and Lola snapmares Fallon away. Fallon returns but into a KICK! And KICK! And then Lola wrenches, kicks low, and snap suplexes! Then she wrenches to SAIDO! The fans fire up with Lola and she winds up to LIGHTNING KICK! Then she BOOTS Fallon outta the ring!

Fallon sputters as she stands, but Lola goes to the apron. Fallon TRIPS Lola up! Jacy applauds as Fallon puts Lola in the ring. Fallon runs, but into an URAKEN!! Cover, Lola wins!

Winner: Lola Vice, by pinfall (qualifies for Team NXT)

Jacy has a look that says, “Why’d I even bother?” Lola says buenas noches to Fallon, and now she is Team NXT! Will Lola be just the spice needed for NXT to overcome TNA? Or will Lola, Jacy, Jaida & Sol not be ready for who Kelani Jordan chooses from the other side?

DarkState speaks.

Saquon Shugars says, “DarkState VS The Hardys. Next Tuesday, winners take all.” Osiris Griffin knows, “Everyone in NXT would say it is an honor to have a match with The Hardy Boyz. They were the ones who reinvented tag team wrestling.” Cutler James says, “Yeah, not us. What we started doesn’t stop for anyone.” Saquon says the only reason they came together was for moments like this. They forced everyone’s hands. They aren’t “happy to be here, bask in the moment.” Osiris says they ARE the moment!

Dion Lennox says it doesn’t matter if it is your first day on the job or you’re the best tag team on the planet, they been told they hit whoever, and the old heads ain’t no different! And you ain’t gotta guess! Osiris & Dion took the NXT titles, they’ll do the same to TNA. And Saquon says they’ll make it easy for the Hardys. We all know the Hardys have been champions “eight million times,” so it should be nothing for DarkState to take those belts from them. The DarkState Takeover continues. And that is not a threat, that’s a guarantee! When DarkState strikes, ain’t nobody safe! Will that be the same for when Matt V1 and The Charismatic Enigma show up for the Showdown?

Fatal Influence regroups backstage.

Jacy tells Fallon it’s alright, that was on her for putting the match together. Lainey walks over and says Jacy shouldn’t be so hard on herself. Fallon asks what is Lainey’s obsession with Fatal Influence? She wasn’t cleared on Saturday, still not cleared tonight. Lainey says she’d do anything to help. Oh, that’s cute. Lainey says hey, not being cleared didn’t stop her from going against doc’s orders on Saturday. What? But she wasn’t in the Speed match. That’s not what she mean. She hands over the ski mask! That was her!? Yep. Same goes for Jazmyn Nyx. Though, that she did for free. Nyx never really belonged in Fatal Influence.

Lainey leaves having confessed to her crimes! Is it only a matter of time before Lola gets after her for it?

Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater VS Shawn Spears & Niko Vance w/ The Culling!

While the Showdown next week is about NXT VS TNA, and while the Young OG is gonna battle the Youngest In Charge for the X-Division Championship on the other side of it, they still respect each other. That didn’t sit well with The Culling, so The Chair Man and his right hand man want to put the young lions to the test. Will The Culling expose the painful truth that neither Je’Von nor Leon is ready? Or will both Je’Von and Leon get BOUNCY~?

NXT returns as Leon makes his entrance. Leon joins Je’Von in the ring, and then The Culling makes their entrance. Spears starts against Leon and the two circle. They tie up, Leon headlocks, but Spears pulls hair. Spears body blows, then he wrenches to back suplex, Leon lands out and DROPKICKS! Spears stumbles, Leon LARIATS in the corner. Leon goes up, and he rains down fists. The fans count, Leon adds “HEY!” but he only makes it to 9 before Spears carries him off the corner. Leon fights free, and he comes back to LEG LARIAT Spears down! Spears scrambles and tags Niko, and Niko scoops! Leon slips free to DROPKICK!

The fans fire up as Leon tags Je’Von and he fires hands on Niko! Je’Von then runs to BOUNCY~ RANA! Then DROPKICK! Je’Von clamps onto Niko with an armlock, the fans cheer him on, and Je’Von wrenches to tag in Leon. Leon goes up, and he AX HANDLES the arm! Leon wrenches, but Niko whips. Leon reverses, Niko ducks, and Niko CLOBBERS Leon! Izzi tells Tatum to stop playing in the corner and to pay attention to the match. Niko drags Leon over, tags Spears, and Spears drags Leon up, only for Leon to CHOP! Leon tags Je’Von, Je’Von runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Spears rains down fists on Je’Von, but even he’s distracted by Izzi scolding Tatum.

The fans boo Izzi, Tatum is just playing with the new Lyra doll. Je’Von UP KICKS Spears, DUMPS Niko out, and tags Leon. Spears whips Je’Von, Leon and Je’Von dosido and Je’Von gets around Spears to GERMAN SUPLEX! The Culling regroups outside, so Je’Von & Leon DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go Spears & Niko while the fans go wild, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and Niko has Leon in a full nelson. The fans rally as Leon endures, and he fights up to his feet! Leon pries at the hold, but Niko wrangles him back down. The fans rally even harder, and Leon rises back up to JAWBREAKER! Spears tags in, he scoops Leon to SLAM him! Then Spears goes up for the FIST- NO, Spears has to block Leon’s boot first. But then Leon KICKS him with the other foot! Leon hurries, Spears clamps onto a leg, but Leon stands up to ENZIGIRI! Tag to Niko and he anchors Leon’s leg! Niko ducks a kick but not the HEEL KICK! Leon hurries, hot tag to Je’Von!

Je’Von SUPERKIKCKS Niko, runs up to LARIAT Spears out of the ring, then he ELBOWS Niko! Je’Von whips, Niko reverses, but Je’Von DIVES onto Spears on the desk! The fans fire up as Je’Von keeps moving! GAMANGINRI to Niko! Then a springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Spears is back, Je’Von dodges, handspring and RED DOT GAMANGIRI! Then Je’Von goes up to aim at Niko, FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!?! Niko is tougher than that, but Je’Von isn’t slowing down! Je’Von runs corner to corner, but into a lift! Je’Von sunset flips it, TWO! Both men stand, SUPERMAN PUNCH from Je’Von!

Je’Von resets, runs up, but Niko pops him up! Niko BOOTS Je’Von while he’s upside-down, then he WATERWHEEL SPINEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, even as Niko tags Spears. They DOUBLE SUPLEX, but Je’Von lands out! Hot tag to Leon! Leon hangs back while Je’Von dodges The Culling! He DUMPS Niko, DUMPS Spears, and Leon runs up! Leon FLIES over the corner!! Leon puts Spears in, and then scoops for the BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, NIKO BREAKS IT IN TIME! The fans are going nuts as this one continues! “This is Awesome!” as Leon BOOTS Spears! Je’Von KNEES Niko down!

Spears SUPERKICKS Je’Von! Leon leaps, but into a KNEE from Spears! All four men are down, but Spears is up fast. Spears has Je’Von, he and Niko double whip, but Je’Von springboards! They catch the leap to DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX, but Je’Von lands out! Leon jumps over, ducks under, and handsprings to DOUBLE CUTTER!! Je’Von adds his a DOUBLE O G CUTTER!! Je’Von makes sure to FLY to take Niko out at the ramp! Leon is up top, he SWANTON 450 SPLASHES!! Cover, Leon & Je’Von win!!

Winners: Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater, by pinfall

It is just as Je’Von said, that was CINEMA! These two young legends are ready, but wait, what is going on outside? The rest of TNA has shown up to invade NXT! Santino wants everyone to calm it down, but Ricky is leading the NXT locker room in stepping right to TNA! Je’Von and Leon watch on as things are about to explode! We go picture in picture as Santino, Ava and producers all try to calm this down!

Well, the NXT VS TNA Summit is next, so everyone is barging into the building! They go from the back to gorilla to right behind the bleachers! Everyone enters and security tries to keep this under control! The authority figures get in the ring, as do the team captains. The rest of both rosters simply stand ringside. NXT returns to single picture as things have finally settled down, if by only so much. Ava says, “This is chaos, and Showdown is going to be nothing short of historic. Mustafa Ali will take on Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship. DarkState VS The Hardy Boyz, Winners Take All Tag Team Championship match.

“And of course, we cannot forget about our Men & Women’s Survivor Series style matches. Now, before this gets any more out of control, let’s make it official. For the men-” Trick stops Ava, and he has her hold on. He has been doing some thinking as the CO-CAPTAIN of Team NXT- Ricky tells Tricky to slow his roll right there. Yes, he’s TNA World Champion, but Team NXT is Absolute. He is captain, Trick rides shotgun, ya feel him? And now, to set the team straight! It will be the NEW NXT Champion, Ricky Saints! It will be Trick Williams, the TNA World Champion. It will be the Young OG, Je’Von Evans! And yes, the man coming off the win tonight, MYLES BORNE!

The fans fire up as the four assemble. Santino has “Mikey” tell them who is on Team TNA. Santana says yeah, both of you better listen to what he’s gotta say. They got a locker room full of men who’d love nothing more than to turn this place upside-down! The fans cheer that! Santana says if he has three soldiers to go to war with, he knows who he’s choosing! First: a TRUE TNA OG! FRANKIE KAZARIAN! The fans cheer as the NEW TNA International Champion struts into the ring. Second: a THREE-TIME TNA World Champion, MOOSE! The Face of the Franchise steps up, and Santana says last but not least…

The man who set TNA on fire! The man that they call the Youngest In Charge! THE TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPION, LEON SLATER! Jacy goes right ahead and tells Kelani that before Kelani shows her team, she has something to say. When Jacy was TNA Knockouts Champion, she still repped NXT. Kelani can sit there and be all innocent, but as far as Jacy’s concerned, Kelani is nothing more than a two-timing traitor! The fans boo but Jacy says with that said, her team will be none other than the ONLY Double-Champ left in the building, with the most devastating finisher today, SOL RUCA! The fans cheer as Sol steps into the ring.

Jacy says then, we all saw what she was capable just earlier tonight, so she’s only got two words for ya: MISS PARKER~! Jaida steps in and the fans cheer for “MISS PARKER~!” Then last for Team NXT, someone Jacy knows very well, and from personal experience, she knows this is the hardest hitter in NXT. It is LOLA VICE! The fans cheer as Lola steps in. Kelani says Jacy can think what she wants all she wants, but Kelani takes all responsibility when it comes to being TNA Knockouts World Champion. Even if that means going against NXT. But ESPECIALLY if it means she gets a chance to shut Jacy up!

For Team TNA, Kelani has chosen two iconic women, who if you ask her, they’re the future TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions! It’s Jessie McKay (Billie Kay) and Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce), The IINSPIRATION~! The fans cheer this return to NXT, and then Kelani says for the fourth and final member, she thought long and hard on it. It had to be someone Kelani shared a locker room with. Someone with something to prove. Someone who has a chip on her shoulder! And that woman is… JAKA- No, sorry, she’s now MARA SADE~! The fans cheer another great return, and Santana says he’s gonna keep it a buck with y’all real quick.

“Next Tuesday, we’re seizing the night. And TNA is winning Showdown! The same way I’m walking into Bound For Glory, and I’m bringing that TNA World title back home where it belongs!” Then Santana ROCKS Trick with a right! The brawl is on and the fans are loving it! Everyone outside rushes inside, then things spill back outside! It is utter chaos, and SHAWN MICHAELS walks out to admire it all! HBK likes what he sees, even as refs and security struggle to restore order! “This is Awesome!” It is a fight tonight, but who will win the Showdown?

My Thoughts:

A great NXT as the go-home to the Showdown. Not Invasion, despite how perfect that is in WWE/wrestling history, but that’s because apparently Israeli government officials complained about the name, given October 7th is the anniversary of the Hamas attack. I do see the unfortunate timing stirring up the controversy, but I don’t know if I would’ve changed the event name myself. That aside, WWE & TNA did a great job adjusting for it, with Santino even saying this isn’t really an invasion, they’re all basically coworkers so this is more an exhibition, hence the new name.

Great matches up and down the card, especially with the majority of them having to do with who Team NXT would bring for both the Men’s 4v4 and Women’s 4v4. Though, a little disappointed we’re only doing 4v4, shouldn’t it be 5v5 like main roster? Oh, well. Great promos to then set up the tryout matches, and Jaida VS Lash was great, too. I’m a little surprised Lainey just out and confessed it was her at No Mercy, even though I personally realized it the moment Lola and Lainey had that interaction at the show. But this could be a reason Team NXT loses the women’s match, possibly setting up a rematch of Jacy VS Lola.

Great promos likewise for the men, with Trick calling himself “co-captain” more than a reason for Team NXT to lose the men’s match. At the same time, Showdown/Invasion acts as part go-home to Bound for Glory on October 12th, so if Trick helps NXT win, he has momentum, which favors Santana in the end. And if there’s any time Santana can win back the TNA World Championship, it should be at BFG. Je’Von & Leon VS Culling was an awesome tag match, and a great win for Je’Von & Leon ahead of both the 4v4 and their X-Division Championship match. The NXT teams are great, and the TNA Men’s Team is also great, but then the TNA Women’s Team is more like a team of former NXT women stars. But either way, great opportunity for Mara & The IInspiration in a return to NXT.

Great promo from Grace, Kelani, Hendry and Santana. Grace and Hendry want a match, I personally would love a mixed tag match from them against Arianna Grace & Stacks, because that’s also a great opportunity for real-life couple Arianna & Stacks to interact in the ring. Good promo from The Hardy Boyz, equally good response from DarkState, but I feel like something has to wonk the finish the same way Oba VS Trick had no real winner. And great promo from Ethan and Ali here to set up their match. I am so glad they’re doing this, after whatever idiot let Ali go from WWE RIGHT BEFORE the PLE. Granted, with how the brawl went Ali’s way, and Ethan still wants his match with Wagner III, I don’t see Ali taking the title, but getting this match is justice enough for right now.

My Score: 8.9/10