Something wicked this way comes.

With Halloween Havoc on the horizon, Ricky Saints and Trick Williams will sign on the dotted line for their NXT Championship match!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• TNA X Division Championship: Leon Slater VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo w/ Arianna Grace; Leon wins and retains the title.
• WWE Speed Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament: Jasper Troy VS Zachary Wentz; Jasper wins and advances to the next round.
• WWE Speed Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament: Axiom VS Sean Legacy; Axiom wins and advances to the next round.
• OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank; OTM wins.
• Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame w/ The Culling VS Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid w/ Fallon Henley; Jacy & Lainey win.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Culling is here!

The fans cheer for Tatum Paxley as she leads Izzi Dame, Shawn Spears & Niko Vance to the ring. The fans cheer, “You Deserve It!” for Tatum as she is the NEW #1 contender. Tatum has the mic to say, “Guys… I FRIGGIN’ DID IT!” The fans cheer Tatum on and she’s so excited. Tatum says she outlasted 19 other women and finally has her 1v1 shot for THE NXT Women’s Championship! The fans cheer that, and Tatum says it has been four YEARS in NXT. Four YEARS that we’ve seen her at her lowest. She’s lost friends, become isolated, but there has been one friendship that’s been consistent. One that’s always had her back! And that’s the WWE UNIVERSE!

The fans cheer, and Tatum says they stood by her, and now she’s on her way to her first PLE! How fitting it is that her first PLE is also the scariest night of the year, Halloween Havoc! Everything is going just right. She couldn’t be happier! She has The Culling, she has her bestie, Izzi, and Izzi cared for her when the others were just using her. Izzi stayed by her side, so Tatum promises to bring gold to The culling! Tatum knows she came up short, but she knows they have her back. She WILL become NXT Women’s Champion! They hug, but then Fatal Influence shows up. The fans boo as Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid walk out on stage.

Jacy has a mic to tell everyone that’s enough. Is Izzi gonna tell Tatum or is she gonna make Jacy do it? No? Nothing? Okay. No problem, Jacy will be the “bad guy” like always. Tatum, you don’t stand a chance in Hell on Saturday! But y’know what? Jacy gets it. It’s Spooky Season~! Tatum has Izzi and the entire WWE Universe. But trust Jacy when she says deep down, everyone is thinking the same thing: There’s no chance Tatum walks out with the title. The fans boo, and Jacy says she may have started as the “most beatable champion,” but day in and day out, match after match, Jacy’s beaten it into everyone’s brains that when it matters most, you can’t beat Jacy.

So Tatum, please, tell us what makes you any different? Just having the support of these losers out here? Newsflash, weirdo: You’re not special, you’re barely even average! And if we’re being honest here, Tatum should’ve let Izzi win. At least Izzi would stand a chance. Izzi doesn’t refute that… But Tatum says first of all, she knows what Jacy is doing. She can’t get between them! And second, out of everyone here, Jacy should know what Tatum is feeling. How hard it is to get to the top! Jacy took so long to where she is right now. And Jacy came in with one of the most dominant factions in NXT history, and they all won gold!

People expect Jacy to do it again. But Tatum? Not a chance! Not a chance that Tatum wins, just like Jacy said! The creepy little weirdo should just run off and hide, right? But just like Jacy, Tatum kept getting better! The fans cheer as Tatum says she’s been training day in and day out. She just didn’t have the spotlight to show it! She had an empty ring, day after day, night after night, failure after failure. But on Saturday night, you bet your ass it’s finally Tatum’s time to become NXT Women’s Champion! The fans fire up for that! But Fallon taunts “Tater Tot” being all riled up. This is only gonna make it that much sweeter when she loses.

Fallon just hopes The Culling doesn’t bail Tatum when she fails them again! Izzi says that’s so rich coming from Fallon. Aren’t Fallon & Jacy the ones who ditched their “friend” a few weeks ago? Unlike the Influence, The Culling is stronger than ever. And Tatum is nothing short of the greatest addition to the group! So call her what you want, but The Culling will always accept Tatum for exactly who she is! The fans cheer but Jacy just sarcastically says, “Wow.” Jacy says she used to have so much respect for Izzi, really. A strong, independent, confident woman. In Jacy’s opinion, the real leader of The Culling.

But since Tatum’s been around, things have felt a bit different. Izzi’s not a babysitter rather than a leader. Izzi tells Jacy to believe her she is in full control of HER group. Tatum calms Izzi and says she knows her friends support her. Meanwhile, The Influence only has each other’s backs when it is convenient. Tatum also knows her friends are happy for her. Can Jacy say the same? Because Izzi & Tatum are willing to prove that tonight. Izzi is a bit surprised by that, but Fallon says that’s just fine, Tater Tot! Cuz Lainey is ready to step up! Right, Lainey? She nods, and Jacy tells Tatum, “Be careful what you wish for, weirdo.”

Then Fallon & Lainey rush up! But Tatum & Izzi are ready! They ROCK and CHOP and BOOT the Influence first! The fans fire up as then Tatum & Izzi pinball Jacy with mule kick, FOREARM, FOREARM, and HEADBUTT! Tatum drags Jacy up, but the Influence saves her from the Cemetery Drive! Will these teams still throw down later tonight? And what about this Saturday when Tatum and Jacy get to wreak some Halloween Havoc?

Channing Lorenzo talks with Arianna Grace backstage.

Stacks asks Miss NXT what that was with “Pops,” aka Santino Morella, giving the passive aggressive title last week. She asks what he means, and Stacks says how Santino referred to him as the “future son-in-law.” Has Arianna been talking about them? Arianna is bashful and says she dropped some hints. Then, how about this? She can accompany him to the ring tonight, and they can formalize the relationship with that X-Division Championship? Anything for him, “Channy.” No, remember, at work, it’s Stacks! Don’t embarrass him in front of the guys. They head out, and we see Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater were watching this. “Dayuuuumn…”

Je’Von says that’s nasty. That’s who Leon has to worry about? Leon says that’s what he was saying. But hey, he’s ready. He wants to find tag opponents for them to go crazy~ against at Halloween Havoc. Je’Von says no, bro-bro, focus on the X-Division title. Slow down, you doin’ too much. He on something. Nah, Je’Von just playing! But yeah, they can focus on Halloween Havoc after Leon beats Stacks’ ass! Straight fire~! The Young OG & The Youngest In Charge head out, will Leon still be Mr. X after tonight?

TNA X Division Championship: Leon Slater w/ Je’Von Evans VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo w/ Arianna Grace!

NXT returns as Leon makes his entrance, Je’Von backing him up. The introductions are made, the title is raised, and we see who’s got that real X-Factor!

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Leon waistlocks, but Stacks goes to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Leon lets go slowly, but Stacks ELBOWS him away! The ref reprimands that cheap shot but Stacks wrenches and wristlocks. Leon rolls, handsprings, and arm-drags free! Then he runs up to spin and arm-drag again! Stacks goes to a corner, Leon runs up, MONKEY FLIP! Stacks goes tumbling away and the fans fire up! Leon runs in at the corner, jumps up, but Stacks denies Leon another flip. But Leon boots Stacks away, sunset flips, but Stacks stomps him down! The fans boo but Stacks drags Leon up to bump off buckles.

Stacks throws hands as we see Trick Williams arriving backstage. The fans boo Stacks, the ref counts, and Stacks lets off in a huff. Stacks then pie faces and taunts Leon. Stacks whips Leon corner to corner hard, Leon drops to his knees, and Stacks storms up. Stacks UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS again, then whips corner to corner. Leon hits hard and the fans boo again, but Stacks just snarls. Stacks runs up, but into a BOOT! Leon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Then he kicks, btu Stacks blocks! Stacks ducks the enzigiri but not the REWIND HEEL! Leon whips. Stacks reverses, but Leon handspring BACK ELBOWS!

The fans fire up while Stacks tumbles out of the ring! Leon rushes the ropes to PLANCHA! Down goes Stacks and Arianna is freaking out! The fans fire up, Leon & Je’Von take a headset to cue us to commercial. The fans cheer while Je’Von literally sits on the desk, and NXT indeed goes to break.

NXT returns again and Stacks has Leon in a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally for Leon, he fights free, and he jumps up to RANA and cover! TWO!! Stacks escapes, BODY BLOWS, then suplexes to hang Leon out, and Leon SLINGSHOTS from the ropes! CEMENT SHOES!! Cover, TWO!! Leon survives but Stacks HAMMERS away on Leon! Stacks drags Leon up to back suplex FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Stacks is annoyed, but Je’Von coaches his friend on. The fans chant, “Let’s Go, Leon!” “Stacks, You Suck!” Stacks fireman’s carries, Leon slips free, but Stacks ROCKS him! Stacks hits an atomic drop, to fireman’s carry! GUT BUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!

Stacks is shocked and Arianna is frustrated but Leon is just that tough! The fans rally up, Stacks drags Leon up, and Stacks tries another back suplex, but Leon sunset flips it! TWO! Leon rises up to slip around, BLUE THUNDER UTOPIA! Je’Von says that was beautiful! Stacks crawls to Arianna, but Leon rushes up! Stacks shoves Leon back, Leon dodges and handsprings, but that knocks Arianna off the apron! Je’Von is there for the save! Arianna is safe, but Stacks is upset! Leon runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Leon storms out and Je’Von apologizes! But then Leon rushes out, only for Stacks to RAM him into the steps!

Stacks puts Leon in the ring, Arianna smiles, and Stacks runs up on Leon. Leon BOOTS him away, goes up, and CROSSBODIES! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Leon gets up to LEG LARIAT! Then he BOOTS Stacks against ropes! Leon whips Stacks out of the ring, then goes corner to corner! Leon FLIES over the corner! Down goes Stacks and the fans are thunderous! Leon puts Stacks in the ring, goes up a corner, and hits the SWANTON 450 SPLASH!! Cover, Leon wins!

Winner: Leon Slater, by pinfall (still TNA X-Division Champion)

Je’Von celebrates with his guy after that breathtaking victory! Je’Von then gets a mic to have the fans give it up one more time for Leon. The fans cheer, and Je’Von says but hey, they gotta cut straight to business. Je’Von wants to go to the desert, to Halloween Havoc! Leon says same! And the fans already saw what magic they create across the ring. But listen to this: What if they stood on the same side? Je’Von says that’s fire~! But hey, Je’Von is thinking that if the Young OG & The Youngest In Charge are in a tag match, it gotta be a movie! And they don’t care if it’s a team from NXT, from TNA, or even from- AAA!? Mr. Iguana y La Parka have arrived in NXT!

The fans are fired up as Parka is dancing it out, and he hands the mic to Senor Iguana. Iguana says, “Correct me if I’m wrong, you guys are planning on having Halloween Havoc without La Parka and Mr. Iguana, and La Yesca? You see, we just spoke to Ava, and she just had the very same idea. We two VS you two on Saturday.” The fans love that idea! Iguana continues, “And FYI… AAA has taken over Mexico, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and this Saturday, Prescott Valley is next.” Will things be caliente in Arizona?

Zachary Wentz speaks.

“If there was ever a championship meant for me, it’s that WWE Speed title. And Jasper Troy, he’s legit, but big man… Smoke ’em if you got ’em. And unfortunately for you, I’ve got all of ’em.”

Jasper Troy responds.

“Speed has never been my game, but I only need a few seconds. Wentz, when I catch yo, I will break you, destroy, and advance. That Speed title is mine!” The first round of the Men’s Speed Tournament will begin tonight, but will Wentz have an impact on the bracket? Or will that bracket be completely busted by the LFG Season 1 Champion?

WWE Speed Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament: Jasper Troy VS Zachary Wentz!

NXT returns as Wentz makes his entrance, followed by Troy’s. Los Americanos, Bravo & Rayo, watch from the crowd as scouts for the champion, El Grande Americano. The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Troy storms up but Wentz dodges him. Wentz then dodges again, and again, then waistlocks. Troy swings Wentz around to wrench but Wentz rolls, rolls and kips up to then flip, but Troy whips him to the corner. Wentz SUPERKICKS, then goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Troy stumbles, wobbles, but Wentz runs up to fire body shots and KICKS! And KICKS! And SUPERKICKS! Troy sputters, Wentz runs to DOUBLE STOMP!

Troy just gets up in a huff! Wentz runs and he CROSSBODIES Troy and himself out of the ring! Wentz hurries, we hit the orange phase at two minutes! Wentz DIVES, but into Troy’s arms! Troy THROWS Wentz to the apron, but Wentz PENALTY KICKS! Wentz TORNILLOS and down goes Troy! The fans fire up with Wentz and he hurries back up. Ninety seconds left as Wentz has Troy in the ring, for a SWANTON! Cover, TWO! Troy survives, Wentz runs up again, but Troy THROWS his springboard away! BODY CHECK! Troy drags Wentz up, whips again, and BLACK HOLE SLAM!! One minute as Troy covers, Troy wins!

Winner: Jasper Troy, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Just as Troy promised, it’d only take him a moment to turn all the momentum around! Axiom VS Legacy is still to come, who will face Troy in the finals next Tuesday?

Kelani Jordan walks up to the locker room.

And she finds all her stuff is thrown out into the hall? The TNA Knockouts Champion is upset, but then Lola Vice is keeping her out? Lola says sorry, mamacita, but you chose your side at Showdown. Kali Armstrong says, “Hope you’re happy.” Even Karmen Petrovic goes along with this. Jordynne Grace walks in and says she can’t believe they’re doing this. Jordynne knows if any of them were in Kelani’s position, they’d be shouting for TNA from the rooftops. Jordynne helps Kelani with her things but Kelani says doesn’t need Jordynne coming to her defense. Jordynne’s why Kelani lost at Showdown, remember?

Jordynne says she’s just trying to help. But then Jaida Parker opens the door and drops the last of Kelani’s things. Jaida says that’s everything, bye~! Jordynne says she was in Kelani’s position before, and she knows that while Kelani had one successful title defense- Kelani says of course, let’s make it about Jordynne like always. One title defense? The audacity. Y’know what? Kelani thinks Jordynne is her biggest fan. No, wait, Jordynne is jealous of Kelani! Cuz Kelani now holds what Jordynne once did. Plus, Jordynne’s never been champion in NXT, unlike Kelani. Kelani gathers her things on her own, will Jordynne just leave her to the wolves then?

DarkState speaks.

Osiris Griffin says, “Looks like Team Extreme got an extreme DarkState beatdown, huh?” Dion Lennox says Matt & Jeff Hardy were riding real high after becoming double tag champs. But they thought they were just gonna move on from DarkState after that? HELL NAH! Saquon Shugars says, “You don’t just move past DarkState, fools.” The Hardys found out real fast when they were down on the pavement last week. Cutler James says the worst thing they could’ve done was single DarkState out. Now their fun is over. DarkState doesn’t care about the “greatest tag team of all time,” because they are the here and now!

Osiris adds that putting the Hardys down for good will be a whole lot sweeter when they take the tag titles back at Halloween Havoc. And on Saturday, you find out once again, when DarkState strikes- The Hardys hack the signal!

Matt tells DarkState that those are strong words from a group of renegades. But if you think you got the better of The Hardys last week, you didn’t. They’re more naive than they realize. The Hardys have been around the block, both together and separate, teammates and rivals. They’ve been through it all. Hola, Senor Benjamin. The Hardys knew DarkState weren’t going away. Dare they saw, they knew DarkState would come~! And they sit there, thinking they’ve got The Hardys right where they want ’em? Vulnerable? Weak? BROKEN~? But dare Matt say, broken is where the Hardys thrive. They step into the infamous Lake of Reincarnation!

And stepping out of those cool waters, it is indeed BROKEN Matt & Brother Nero~! Rebel plays on the piano, and everything is WONDERFUL~! State of Dark, you have awoken the Broken! Breaking them only made them stronger! And at Halloween Havoc, it shall be a BROKEN RULES MATCH! That is to say, there are no rules! For in the Broken Universe, anything is possible, and anything goes! DarkState, you will simply fade away and be classified OBSOLETE! They are sentenced to DELETION~! The Hardy Family all chants, “DELETE! DELETE! DELETE!” as one. Will the Broken power of the Hardys break DarkState?

Sol Ruca arrives, on crutches!

Zaria walks beside the NXT Women’s North American Champion, and she is in rough shape. Zaria asks Sol if she’s sure she wants to do this, but Sol says yes, she’s sure. They continue on towards gorilla, are we about to get some very bad news?

NXT returns with Ava Raine in the ring.

The NXT General Manager is with ZaRuca, and she has a mic to say, “Sol, I know that we spoke earlier, and you know how I feel, but you said you wanted to address the WWE Universe, so the floor is yours.” Sol has a mic of her own, and she says, “Clearly, I’m not walking around like I usually do. Unfortunately, on SmackDown on Friday, I got injured in our tag team championship match against Charlotte & Alexa.” Sol is already emotional as she says she didn’t come out here to put blame on anyone. Injuries happen, they’re part of the game, and you just have to move on. With that said, Sol is not cleared to compete, nor to defend her North American title against Blake Monroe.

Sol doesn’t know when she will be cleared, she just knows it won’t be before Saturday. Ava says she knows what Sol is trying to say, but Ava isn’t sure she has to do this. What about the Speed title? Sol says she doesn’t want to hold up one division, let alone two. She won the North American title in a ladder match at Stand & Deliver because Stephanie Vaquer said there are so many woemn waiting for an opporutnity. That hasn’t changed. Sol will earn this back. But then Blake interrupts! The fans boo as The Glamour has crocodile tears as she says she’s so sorry for Sol. How unfortuante! But don’t worry about the future of the North American Championship, because Blake’s right here.

The fans are torn as Blake goes right to the ring, and says she was supposed to have a match at Halloween Havoc. Therefore, she’s the #1 contender. And if Sol can’t defend the title, the champion should just be Blake. The fans boo but Blake says she came to NXT to make it glamorous! She’ll make that title just as glamorous! But Zaria says no, Ava can’t take a single thing Blake says into consideration. Blake does NOT deserve to be handed a title, especially not one Sol busted her ass for, defended time and time again! This is N X T, they do NOT give handouts! Blake says yes, well done, Zaria, fighting all of Sol’s battles for her.

Maybe one day, Zaria can try doing something for herself. Until then, this brand needs a champion. And who better than Blake? The fans boo but Sol tells Zaria that she hates to say this, but Blake’s got a point. We don’t know when Sol will be back! Zaria says no, THAT is the point! We don’t know when Sol will be back! A few months, or even just a few weeks! Zaria says y’know what? Don’t worry about this. Zaria has Sol’s back on this. Blake says yes, yes, we get it! They’re friends! Who cares? Zaria tells Blake to shut her mouth! The fans cheer that! Blake is upset, but Zaria tells Sol that ZARIA can defend the title against Blake!

Blake is flabbergasted as Zaria says she can defend the title in Sol’s honor! What does Ava think? Blake says don’t dare answer that! Blake again mocks the friendship: Zaria loves Sol, Sol loves Zaria, and this is the only way Zaria can even get a title! Ava tells Blake that Zaria asked Ava, not Blake. And though unconventional, she really likes the idea. Sol, it is still your title, it is still your choice. Sol thinks on it, and Sol says she fought so hard to get this title. But there is no one in this world that she trusts more. So yes, she’ll allow it. Then it is official! It will be Blake VS Zaria for the Women’s North American Championship!

Blake is irate, she gets in Ava’s face, but then Zaria spins Blake around to fireman’s carry! And DELTA FORCE! Blake flounders, Ava is pleased, and Zaria holds up the belt. Will Zaria win that belt for herself but also for Sol? Or will the Woman From Hell rear her ugly head?

Axiom speaks.

“The rate of change in an object’s position over time. Nobody understands speed like I do, not even my tag team partner (Nathan Frazer). But today is not about that, today is about Sean Legacy. And I’ll tell you, I’ve been watching Evolve, and I am very impressed. But I will warn you, it will be a whole different realm of speed when you share the ring with me tonight.”

Sean Legacy responds.

“Hey, look, in my opinion, I think Axiom’s the best in-ring competitor in WWE. But I like my chances in this style of match. See, I’ve got three minutes. Three minutes to throw everything I have at him. I wanna bring the Speed Championship to Evolve every Wednesday night, and to the WWE ID Program. Most importantly, I wanna make the Speed Championship super.” We’re about to see a comic book come to life, but who will be victorious as they join the WWE Speed Universe?

NXT Anonymous is watching.

And they spot Myles Borne talking with Tavion Heights. Myles says he had all this momentum. He beat Lexis King, he made it on Team NXT, and then BOOM, he gets eliminated first. Tavion says c’mon, who does Myles think he’s telling? Tavion had Ethan Page’s number, had it 2-0, but then when he finally gets his title match, he drops the ball. This was supposed to be their time to shine! Josh Briggs then barges in saying grown men are crying. Just look at them! Shut up. You’re looking for a way to be popular and successful, but you’ll be looking for a long time.

Last week, Briggs beat The Internet’s Favorite, Matt Cardona, spoiling the return fans waited for these last five YEARS. Briggs is glad he pissed off the fans! But y’know what? Briggs thought Ethan smartened Myles up, but guess Myles didn’t hear what he said. And as for Mr. Olympian, is he gonna wait another four years before he gets gold? There is only room for one at the top, and it ain’t either of them. It’ll be Briggs. But hey, at least the fans like you, right? Myles and Tavion admit that Briggs has a point… But will one of these two run through The Bullhead Brawler to take that number one spot?

WWE Speed Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament: Axiom VS Sean Legacy!

NXT returns as Undeniable Truth and Super Sean are already in the ring. The bell rings, we’re on the clock, and Legacy dodges Axiom’s dropkick! Legacy hurries to cover, ONE, but he ducks an enzigiri! Legacy suplexes, Axiom knees free, but Legacy SHOTGUNS Axiom down! Legacy then hits a SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Axiom scrambles, the fans rally, and Legacy hurries after him. Legacy torture racks, Axiom slips free, but Legacy fights the waistlock. Legacy bucks Axiom, Axiom kips up, and Axiom HALF ‘N’ HALF PLEXES! Then BASEMENT GAMANGIRI! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally, Los Americanos continue to watch, and Legacy BOOTS from the corner! Legacy QUEBRADAS as we enter the orange phase, and he hits a SAVING GRACER! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives but Legacy sees the clock is ticking. Legacy hurries out, springboards in, but Axiom catches the 450 into an omoplata! RINGS OF SATURN, but Legacy rolls, only to end up in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Legacy flails as we drop under 90 seconds! He stacks Axiom, TWO, but Legacy deadlifts Axiom! Axiom lets go to ENZIGIRI! Legacy wobbles, Axiom brings him around, but Legacy powers out! STANDING SPANISH FLY!

Both men are down, the fans fire up, and we hit the red phase’s final minute! Axiom brings Legacy up, he and Legacy fire hands! Axiom then slips around, but Legacy bucks the O’Conner! SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! We hit 35 seconds as Axiom DROPKICKS back! Things keep moving, Legacy ROCKS Axiom! Legacy then uses the slingshot to BOOT Axiom down! Legacy hurries up at 17 seconds! Axiom ROCKS Legacy! Up, up, and SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, AXIOM WINS!!!

Winner: Axiom, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

THREE SECONDS TO SPARE! Los Americanos mockingly applaud Axiom as he moves on. But will one week be enough time for Axiom to plan Troy’s downfall?

Ethan Page speaks.

“El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. How’s my Spanish? I’ve been working on it. But you must be feeling real good about yourself right now. This Saturday is the match you wanted, a Day of the Dead match, where anything goes. All Ego’s done his research on you, and yeah, I’m in for a fight at Halloween Havoc. You have survived cage matches, battles in Japan for NOAH, classics in AAA and Mexico. You have risked your career and put your body on the line, all to defend the honor of your mask. Well, pal, this Saturday, we’re fighting for something more important than your mask. We are fighting for MY North American Championship!

“You have a family legacy to uphold. A tradition set forward by your father, the same man who put your Latin American Championship around your waist at TripleMania. And by the way, in his prime, your dad couldn’t touch me. And neither will you in Prescott Valley, Arizona. This is your match, your rules.” Ethan shows he has Canadian themed Day of the Dead face paint as he says when it comes to him and his continent, Wagner will be the one left for dead in the desert. Will this Egomaniac show he’s more than just a joker this Saturday? Or will he NOT be the Greatest North American Wrestler in history anymore?

OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water that is the NXT Tag Division, these sharks smelled the blood! Lucien Price & Bronco Nima caught us all off guard with their return last week, but will they not stop until they are truly out the mud? Or will the Big Belly Bandits run them off the road with a HONK HONK?

Hank ‘n’ Tank don’t wait to sort out, they go after OTM at the ramp! The fans fire up for the brawl, Hank ROCKS Price but Price SMACKS him off the apron! Nima ROCKS Tank, Price puts Hank in the ring, but he and Tank just switch it up! They DIVE onto Nima & Price! The fans fire up and Tank puts Price in the ring. The bell finally rings, Tank storms up, but Price fires body shots! Price whips Tank to a corner, runs up, but Tank dodges! Tank tags Hank then LARIATS Price! Hank SPLASHES Price to then BULLDOG! Then Tank SENTONS! Tank BLASTS Nima, Hank covers Price, TWO! The fans rally as Hank stalks Price.

Price YANKS Hank into the ropes! Then he CHOKES Hank, but stops as the ref counts. Price argues with the ref, and that lets Nima HOTSHOT Hank! Price then LARIATS Hank down! Tag to Nima and they stomp away on Hank. Nima covers, TWO! Nima drags Hank up to DECK him, and we see Ricky have a word with Ava as she has the contract in hand. Nima bumps Hank off buckles, bumps him off buckles again, then climbs up to CHOKE Hank! Price has a sinister grin but the ref counts. Nima stops at 4, then BODY BLOWS Hank! Tag to Price, Nima sends him in and Price LARIATS! Nima BLASTS Tank, then Price feeds Hank to Nima’s JUMP STOMP!

OTM is all fired up, the fans duel, and Price looms over Hank. Hank rises up slowly, grasping at Price. Price THROWS him to the corner! Price hits a three point stance, runs in, and LARIATS! The fans duel, Nima tags in, and Nima fires BODY BLOWS! Nima whips Price in again, but Hank dodges! And dodges! Hot tag to Tank! The fans fire up as Tank rallies on OTM! Then he cartwheels to dodge and LARIAT! The fans fire up, but Nima is back! Tank gets around, atomic drop! Nima hobbles, Tank goes up, up, and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! Cover, Price breaks it! But Hank is in again, only for Price to clinch and URENAGE!

Price fires up, the fans are with him, but Tank storms up! Tank blocks a shot to KNEE Price down! But Nima scoops to POWERSLAM! Tag to Price and OTM drags Tank up. GOURD SPINE BUSTER! Cover, OTM wins!

Winners: OTM, by pinfall

Price & Nima are back on the attack and they win one on former NXT Tag Team Champions! But they aren’t done! They TOSS Tank out onto Hank! Then Nima pulls the steel steps apart! And Price clears the desk! Nima RAMS Hank down with the steps! The fans are torn as OTM drag Tank up, and they DOUBLE POWERBOMB him through the desk! Hank ‘n’ Tank are left down and out, will nothing stop OTM from taking over NXT?

Wren Sinclair is on the phone.

She talks with Charlie Dempsey, saying she’s glad he’s having a good time in Japan wrestling for NOAH, and she has been enjoying the new Maybelline products, but yes, she knows, don’t do anything stupid. Bye, Charles. Ugh. Guess he was busy. But she’s pretty sure he misses her, too. Lash Legend says she doubts that. Wren says Charlie at least misses the NQCC. He won’t admit it, but ever since the group broke up, he hasn’t been himself. Lash knows what she means, right? So when Charlie returns, Wren just wants to be sure he has something to return to. Lash says Wren just said she wasn’t gonna do anything stupid.

It won’t be stupid! It’ll be a NQCC resurgence with a more feminine flair. It’ll be the true WrenQCC. See? Stupid. Bye. But then Kendal Grey is there and says, “Excuse you.” The NEW Evolve Women’s Champion won’t let the Bougie Bully, well, bully Wren. Or anyone else, for that matter. Aw, Kendal, we know you’re feelin’ yourself after finally winning a title, but she should let Wren fight her own battles before Lash boots her back to Evolve. Kendal says she has no problem fighting Lash or anyone else who thinks they can run their mouths without any consequences. Ooh~, little girl, you better watch it.

Lash leaves, Wren is worried, but will the Arm Breaker soon be a game changer on more than just Evolve? Or will Lash pump the brakes on Kendal’s rise?

Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame VS Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid w/ Fallon Henley!

So what if she’s a weirdo? She’s still a winner! But will Tatum and her bestie best the Toxic Rockstar and the Southern Charm? Or will The Culling be in a tizzy as they end up under The Influence?

The teams sort out, Tatum starts against Lainey and the fans rally up. They circle, tie up, and Lainey KNEES low! Lainey CLUBS Tatum, headlock punches her, then puts her in the corner. Lainey ROCKS Tatum, mocks the fans cheering, then whips. Tatum reverses, runs up, and she ROCKS Lainey! Tatum whips corner to corner, runs in again, but into BOOTS! Tatum gets up, but Lainey clinches to short arm LARIAT! Lainey winds up, but Tatum avoids the elbow drop! Tatum KNEE SMASHES Lainey, but Jacy tags in. The fans cheer as we get our Halloween Havoc preview. Jacy and Tatum circle while Jacy talks trash.

Then Jacy sucker punches Izzi! Tatum runs up, Jacy dodges, but then Tatum dodges. Tatum ROCKS Jacy, ROCKS Her again, but Jacy hits back! Jacy blocks a kick, ducks the lariat, and returns to RANA Tatum! The fans rally for “Tuesday Addams” but Jacy runs in, only for Tatum to dodge! Tatum kicks low, underhooks, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Jacy flounders to a corner, Tatum runs up, CROSSBODY in the corner! Izzi tags in and she pulls Tatum into Jacy to squeeze her tight! The ref counts, Izzi lets go, and Izzi brings Jacy around for a short arm LARIAT! Cover, ONE, but Izzi drags Jacy up.

Izzi scoops Jacy to SLAM her! Izzi then pushes Jacy down, cocky cover, TWO! Izzi talks trash on Lainey, Lainey talks trash back, but Izzi UPPERCUTS Jacy. Jacy fires a body shot but Izzi CLUBS her for it. Izzi scoops, Jacy slips free but Izzi bucks the O’Conner. Izzi then sidesteps, but Jacy arm-drags! Cover, TWO! Jacy CLOBBERS Izzi, then drags her over, tag to Lainey. The Influence mugs Izzi, the fans boo, but Izzi then scoops Lainey for a BACKBREAKER! Izzi runs up, RAMS Lainey, tag to Tatum! Izzi scoops Lainey to SLAM, and then Tatum JUMP ELBOW DROPS! Tatum hurries to suplex, but Jacy makes the save!

Tatum dodges Jacy, Izzi ROCKS Jacy! Tatum fires hands on The Influence, then DROPKICK ARM-DRAG COMBOS! The fans fire up as Tatum then builds speed, and she WRECKS Fallon as the Cowgirl takes the bullet for Jacy! Jacy then anchors Tatum in the ropes for Lainey to DRAPING NECKBREAKER! The fans boo, Izzi protests, but The Influence soaks up the heat as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again as Tatum escapes a suplex! Lainey hurries to keep Tatum from Izzi, but Tatum ducks the lariat! Tatum ENZIGIRIS Lainey down! The fans fire up as both women crawl for their corners, hot tags to Jacy and Izzi! Izzi LARIATS Jacy, DECKS Lainey, repeat! Lainey dodges once but the BOOT finds her! Izzi shoves Lainey into Jacy at the corner, and she BACK BODY BLOCKS them both! Izzi then goes up, up, and DOUBLE CODE BREAKERS! The fans fire up as Izzi then has Jacy, VOLLEYBALL SPIKE CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Jacy survives but the fans fire up behind Izzi. Izzi brings Jacy up, whips, but Jacy SATELLITE DDTS!

Izzi flounders, Tatum tags in, and Tatum goes up, up, and leaps over Jacy! Jacy SUPERKICKS in return! Tatum staggers around, but she blocks a shot, ducks a roundhouse, and pump handles for a LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, LAINEY BREAKS IT! The fans boo, but Izzi runs up! She blocks a kick, but Lainey’s SUPERKICK hits! Izzi rebounds to LARIAT Lainey down! They flounder out of the ring and the fans declare, “This is Awesome!” Tatum and Jacy run up, Tatum ROCKS Jacy! Jacy ROCKS Tatum! Then mule kicks! Jacy runs, Tatum dodges to roll her up, TWO! Jacy is up, but Tatum ENZIGIRIS! Jacy falls, but Fallon is on the apron!

Tatum reels Jacy in, Izzi BLASTS Fallon! Then Izzi runs, but Lainey trips her up! Izzi DECKS Lainey, but Jacy ripcords and ROLLING ENCORES!! Cover, Influence wins!

Winners: Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid, by pinfall

Then Fallon & Lainey RAM Izzi into the apron! And into steel steps! Jacy grins as her girls mug Izzi, then they all flank Tatum. The fans call for Lyra, but Jacy tells Tatum she will NEVER be a champion, she’s only ever gonna be a weirdo! Jacy winds up, but Tatum BOOTS her first! Tatum fires off on Fallon & Lainey! Tatum dodges Lainey to DROPKICK her down! Then she DECKS Fallon! She dodges Jacy, hooks her up, CEMETERY DRIVE!! Tatum stands tall, she picks up the belt, but will this be the story at Halloween Havoc? Or will Jacy ruin all of Tatum’s fun?

NXT returns with Ava back in the ring.

The NXT GM stands with the table, but also extra security, as she says, “This Saturday at Halloween Havoc, two of the biggest superstars in NXT go one-on-one for the first-time-ever, with the NXT Championship on the line. Now last week, backstage, things got absolutely out of hand, but I told both superstars just keep it together until the contract signing. So let’s make it official. First, please welcome the challenger, Trick Williams.” The fans are torn as the former NXT Champion, and now the former TNA World Champion, makes his way to the ring. Ava then welcomes out THE NXT Champion, Ricky Saints.

The fans cheer for The Absolute as he makes his entrance, strutting from stage to ramp to ring. They sit at the table, and Trick has a mic to say, “Like I said last week, Ricky, I do things on my time. I don’t go out running just cuz someone screams my name. I wait for my moment. I wait for my spotlight. And that’s why I am the main event. But I guess that’s our problem with all this whole thing, huh? I mean, Ricky, you mad just because even though you are the NXT Champion, Trick Williams is still the man in NXT, I’m still the main event.”

The fans are torn, but Trick says that’s why he left Ricky hangin’ at Showdown. It was to prove one thing: There is only one man who can pick NXT up and put it on his back, and that’s Trick Williams. But don’t get it twisted. It ain’t cuz he loves NXT. Let’s be real. Trick don’t owe NXT nothin’! He don’t owe TNA nothin’! He is loyal to one man and one man only, even without a title, he is loyal to Trick Williams! Trick loves himself some Trick! And since he loves Trick and since Trick loves him, he will do what is best for Trick, and that is become a three-time, excuse me? A three-time… What was that? A THREE-TIME, OOH YEAH~, NXT Champion, let’s talk about it!

Trick signs his part of the contract and Ricky says yes, hurry up and sign that for him, player, because Ricky has something he wants to say. Ricky is a very emotional guy, he wears it on his sleeve, he owns it, he is not upset by that. He knows exactly who he is, and he has not changed for anyone. But can we say the same about Trick? That title right there can either make you complacent or ambitious. For Ricky, he’s only been more focused. But what did the title do to Trick? A guy who ushered in the Whoop Dat Era, one of the most exciting times here in NXT, but guess what? Trick lost the plot along the way.

Trick thought he was bigger than the brand, than all the fans here and everybody in the back. Trick thought he was bigger than the title. To Ricky, Trick was already ready to leave NXT a long time ago. Trick says hold on, hold on. Look at all Trick has created. It must be hard for Ricky to admit, someone like Ricky grinding for what? Decades? All on the indies. Look at Trick. Does he look like he belongs on the indies? HELL NAH! He is Hollywood! He looks good, looks like a champion! Ava says Trick needs to hold on, before this gets out of control… Ricky finishes signing his part, and Trick says when he looks in Ricky’s eyes, he doesn’t see a champion.

Trick sees someone cosplaying, doing the best they can to become a stunt double for Trick. But Trick will help Ricky out: No man on God’s Green Earth can replace Trick Williams. At the best, you can be his stand-in. And since Ricky stands in Trick’s way, Trick will whoop dat ass to get that NXT Championship. This Absolute Era will be absolutely over…! Ricky says great, he loves this! The same guy who walked into the PC one day hoping to make it, now his ass can barely fit through the doors! Don’t talk to Ricky about grinding! The stuff Ricky went through, Trick would’ve folded like the shirt he’s got on! You get what he’s saying?!

One thing about Ricky is that he can never be a Trick Williams replacement! Ricky IS the blueprint, Trick’s trying to be like Ricky! Ricky is smoother, silkier, and more stylish than Trick ever will be! Ricky is the man that is the face of NXT! DO you understand!? This is HIS house now! He’s locked in! Come Saturday, guess what? Trick will be locked out! Because this is Absolute Ricky Saints!! The two get in each other’s face, security steps in, the two back down, but then Trick SUCKER PUNCHES Ricky!! The guards take shots from Ricky, but Trick BOOTS him! Trick soaks up the heat, but Ricky fireman’s carries! F5 through the table!!

The fans are thunderous as Ricky stands tall over Tricky! But will this be how Halloween Havoc ends? Or will Trick have himself a golden treat at the end of the night?

My Thoughts:

A great go-home episode for NXT, but the go-home math does not favor any of the Faces in those singles title matches. The contract signing at the end there had Ricky put Trick through the table, so now there’s a chance Trick does become a three-time champion. Though honestly, Ricky is right, Trick’s long overdue for his main roster call-up, Ricky should win to send Trick on his way to SmackDown. Then with the Women’s North American Championship, Sol’s bad leg was a bit apparent during that tag title match as she hobbled after an awkward landing. Hopefully it isn’t too serious, but I do like the pivot to Zaria VS Blake. It felt like Zaria was going to feud with Sol over the title anyway, so this is a great way to shortcut to that.

But again, Zaria stood tall by throwing Blake around, bad sign for Zaria as Blake perhaps becomes another Heel champion for NXT. Great promo from Tatum & Izzi with Fatal Influence, which also set up our main event tag match. Fallon playing a factor in the Influence’s win was a given, really, but then Tatum standing tall pretty much on her own now signals that somehow, someway, Jacy retains. As I said last week, Izzi will surely be the reason, she was still a touch passive aggressive, but she might not even need to with Fallon & Lainey backing Jacy up as usual.

I feel like Kelani is about to go Heel, but it’d oddly be justified with how the NXT Women’s Division is turning on her. Jordynne is trying to be a friend but Kelani isn’t having it, all the more reason those two will likely fight over the Knockouts title soon enough. The irony is, wouldn’t Jordynne just lose again? Jordynne should be NXT Women’s Champion by now but whatever, other great names were also in NXT during this same stretch. At the very least, Jordynne needs to push Kelani to her limits before Kelani finds a way to win. Jordynne can then maybe move on to main roster and get in the midcard title scene.

Really good promos from Stacks & Arianna and Leon & Je’Von, and a really good X-Division title match. Vic Joseph at least mentioned the Heritage Cup being at the bottom of some river or lake, so they haven’t completely written off the Heritage Cup Division, but we need the damn thing to come back then! Just give us a vignette or two of Stacks searching with a speedboat and a metal detector or something and have him find it before the next NXT special event. As for Leon & Je’Von, Iguana & Parka showing up to accept their Open Challenge before it was even really open was great stuff, and that match really will be amazing.

Very good stuff with the Speed tournament, and I figured Jasper Troy and Axiom would each win. Wentz is in TNA, Legacy is in Evolve, and the Speed title was going to stay in main WWE either way. Now the question is, will Axiom overcome Jasper next week to challenge Americano? Hard to say but something about that would make sense. Axiom VS Americano could be some all time stuff, even for being a five-minute match. Great return match for OTM, great win for them, too. Though, them challenging for tag titles might need to wait a little longer with DarkState and Hardys being the two teams to choose from. I still want OTM to finally have their moment, but it isn’t happening if Hardys win the Broken Rules match.

And I would think they do win the Broken Rules match. We got a great promo from the Hardys and DarkState to give us the WWE return (or return in general, I suppose) of the Broken Hardy Boyz. That Broken Rules match could definitely steal the show with whatever madness that can happen. Though I think the Day of the Dead match could give it a go. Very good promo from Ethan, but I feel like he could’ve waited until Saturday to reveal his face paint. If nothing else in the status quo changes, I fully support Wagner III making history as a dual Latin American & North American Champion, that’d be some great stuff.

My Score: 8.8/10