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It's the go-home show for NXT, but that didn't mean the Black and Gold Brand was taking tonight easy. Kushida, the man facing The Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver, had a warm-up match tonight against Tony Nese.
We also saw Finn Balor and Kyle O'Reilly come face to face days before their NXT Championship bout, with Shawn Michaels as the mediator. Speaking of Undisputed Era members, Adam Cole also addressed the NXT locker room with an impassioned speech.
Our main event featured the NXT North American Champion and NXT Women's Champion in a tag team match against NXT's Power Couple. Would Damian Priest and Io Shirai pick up some much-needed momentum against the Gargano Family?
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We kicked off the night with an epic clash between Shotzi Blackheart and Dakota Kai.
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Shotzi Blackheart vs Dakota Kai w/Raquel Gonzalez on NXT
Dakota Kai and Shotzi Blackheart traded pinfall attempts early on. Blackheart hit a reverse atomic drop and split-legged leg drop, Jeff Hardy style. An arm breaker and a double arm-trapped kicking combination left Kai down for a two-count.
A modified Indian deathlock allowed Shotzi to work over all four of Kai's extremities. Kai finally responded, dropping Blackheart with a brainbuster. She pressed her knees against Blackheart's face in the ropes but missed a boot. Blackheart tried to take advantage, only to be distracted by Gonzalz.
A backbreaker connected, leaving Blackheart writhing in pain. Kai turned up the heat, locking in a bow-and-arrow submission. Blackheart escaped, and stopped a face wash in the corner for a diving sunset flip.
Kai kicked out and waylaid Blackheart with a huge big boot for a two-count. Blackheart responded with a kicking combination ending with a step-up enziguri. Kai was left no the second rope where a running senton crashed into the Captain of Team Kick. A beautiful bridging tiger suplex put Kai down for two.
Blackheart avoided a Go 2 Kick, but was booted in the face while stuck in between the ropes. She responded with a kick to the knee, dropping Kai face first on the apron. Blackheart and Kai traded elbows, and Kai got seemingly got the upper hand with the scorpion kick.
However, Blackheart responded with a switchblade kick that set up a Sliced Bread No. 2 on the apron, leading to both women landing on their heads. Back inside, Gonzalez tripped up Blackheart before she could follow up, leading to Rhea Ripley rushing Kai's bodyguard.
Kai missed the big boot in the corner once again and was rolled up with a schoolboy for the win.
Results: Shotzi Blackheart defeated Dakota Kai via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A+
Tom Phillips interviewed both the NXT Cruiserweight Champion and his challenger, Santos Escobar and Isaiah "Swerve" Scott respectively. Swerve stated that he's the only one in the entire WWE to hold a victory over Escobar.
Escobar called Swerve a parasite. All he does is complain about what is and isn't fair. At TakeOver, it's going to be a fair match, and he's going to put an end to Swerve's quest for the title.
Swerve couldn't believe it, claiming that there's always a bag of tricks surrounding Santos Escobar. The NXT Cruiserweight Champion said they're all excuses. When it comes down to it, Swerve can't deliver in the big matches.
Another vignette showed the mystery man or woman on their way to NXT TakeOver this Sunday, this time riding a motorcycle. Who could it be? We'll find out on October 4th.
We got a video package showing Kyle O'Reilly's path to the NXT Championship. The Undisputed Era showed their support for Kyle, who said he'd been looking to wrestle Finn Balor for years. When he came to America, Balor had gone to Japan. When he followed, Balor left for NXT. O'Reilly joined NXT and Balor was already on RAW.
Now, they're both finally in the same place. It's time for Kyle O'Reilly to get his dream match and take the NXT Championship. What's that mean for the Undisputed Era? It's the start of the second Golden Prophecy. Shawn Michaels will mediate meeting between champion and challenger tonight.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae said that Candice had to tear Tegan Nox's ACL. After all, she broke their TV. Eye for an eye. TV for a...leg. Anyway, tonight the Power Couple of NXT will take on Io Shirai and Damian Priest mere days before challenging for their titles at NXT TakeOver.
Cameron Grimes vs Joey Pistacio on NXT
Cameron Grimes held a gauntlet match to prove himself, first by crushing Joey Pistacio into the mat with a surprise Cave In.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Joey Pistacio via pinfall on NXT.
Cameron Grimes called for Joey Strong, who was launched across the stage by Ridge Holland. He stepped up to Cameron Grimes, putting a stop to Grime Time with a headbutt.
Ridge Holland vs Cameron Grimes on NXT
Ridge Holland absolutely oblitereated Cameron Grimes with huge forearms, clotheslines, and kicks. After refusing to answer the ref's five-count, Holalnd was disqualified while stomping Grimes into a pancake.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Ridge Holland via DQ on NXT.
Grade: C
Backstage, Austin Theory claimed that he should've been in the NXT Gauntlet Eliminator last week. It took Kyle O'Reilly fifteen years to get an NXT Championship opportunity, but Theory already took part in WrestleMania at the age of 22.
O'Reilly is the future? Not according to Austin Theory.
Kushida appeared in a vignette revealing that he'll be stepping up his game a notch. At NXT TakeOver, he'll punish Velveteen Dream. The new Kushida is vicious, and at TakeOver, he'll be victorious.
Kushida vs Tony Nese on NXT
The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion attempted to gloat over his muscles but was rocked with a leaping enziguri for his arrogance. Kushida followed up with a series of kicks but was halted by a chop to the throat. Nese brought Kushida down with a slingshot into the top rope.
Tony Nese set Kushida up for the Pumphandle Slam, but Kushida caught his arm, turning it into a leaping arm breaker. A second one severely weakened the Premier Athlete's arm.
Kushida trapped Nese's arms and stomped him into the mat. After that, the Hoverboard Lock was locked in, and that's all she wrote.
Results: Kushida defeated Tony Nese via submission on NXT.
Grade: B-
After the match, Velveteen Dream appeared on the screen to taunt Kushida.
Backstage, Cameron Grimes was hobbling around backstage in pain when he walked into Dexter Lumis.
Definitely bad news for Grimes. If he thought Ridge Holland was a problem, he's gonna have an even worse time when it comes to The Tortured Artist.
Adam Cole was out next, going over the highlights of The Undisputed Era. Three years of domination in NXT, the Undisputed Prophecy, they've done it all. Cole said that backstage, once upon a time, if anyone crossed UE, they knew that they would pay.
The NXT locker room, however, seems to have forgotten what The Undisputed Era used to be. So it's time to instill that fear in the locker room once again. Who did Adam Cole have in mind? Austin Theory.
After Theory's comments about Kyle O'Reilly, Cole was furious and demanded a match with the self-proclaimed Future of the WWE. Theory had two options.
- Face Adam Cole in a match.
- Get jumped by Undisputed Era.
Theory, in his best entrance, chose option one. Fun fact, Austin Theory faced the Undisputed Era a few times during his time as EVOLVE Champion last year.
Adam Cole vs Austin Theory on NXT
Adam Cole laid into Austin Theory early on, pelting Mr. All-Day with chops and boots before planting him with a neckbreaker. Theory rolled to the floor, but that only made things worse.
Cole launched Theory into the steps, and when Theory tried to catch Cole in the ropes, the former NXT Champion evaded his grasp, following up with a leaping enziguri. A hangman's neckbreaker inside gave Cole a two-count.
Theory struggled to get any offense in during the early moments, but continued to taunt Cole and the UE, calling them Undisputed Crap. During the break, Theory managed to take over.
A standing moonsalt connected, giving Theory a two-count over the longest reigning NXT Champion of all time. Cole wasn't on the defense too long, as he caught Theory with a backstabber.
A pump kick and an Ushigoroshi dropped Theory for another nearfall. Theory managed to plant Cole with a torture rack blue thunder bomb, but couldn't put Cole away. As Theory bounced off the ropes, he was caught by a superkick in mid-air.
A second superkick mid-slingshot set Theory up for the Last Shot, putting the kid away for three.
Results: Adam Cole defeated Austin Theory via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
After the match, Adam Cole got right into the camera and said that Kyle O'Reilly was born ready for his opportunity at NXT TakeOver. He'll shock the world, but he won't shock Cole. He's NXT Champion material.
Io Shirai and Damian Priest were interviewed about their main event match later on in the night. Priest wasn't too worried about NXT's Power Couple.
After all, the NXT North American and NXT Women's Champions are the Rockstars of NXT.
Kayden Carter w/Kacy Catanzaro vs Xia Li on NXT
Both women took turns going for pins, with Kayden Carter managing to keep the pace with Xia Li. Carter caught a seated Li with a springboard dropkick for a two-count.
Li dragged Carter to the floor, dropping her off the apron to the ground below. Back inside, a rough striking combination earned Li a two-count. Carter sent Li into the corner an began to fire up.
Chops and punches pelted Li, as Carter followed up with a victory roll-superkick for a nearfall. Li responded with a sunset flip, but couldn't get the win.
Carter eventually managed to roll up Li for the win.
Results: Kayden Carter defeated Xia Li via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
After he match, Kayden Carter attempted to shake the hand of Xia Li. However, NXT's heavy hitter shoved her to the mat before walking away. What's gotten into Xia Li?
NXT Champion Finn Balor and Kyle O'Reilly meet
Shawn Michaels was seated in the ring with the NXT Championship in front of him. HBK asked for both men to shake hands, which they happily obliged. After all, there are no hard feelings between these two.
Michaels said that Finn Balor is definitely at the peak in his career, but he's facing off against the best-kept secret of NXT. Balor stated that Kyle O'Reilly is in no way a secret. He's one of the greatest wrestlers on the planet. He's a tag team specialist, but he's an incredible singles competitor, something we've seen outside NXT.
O'Reilly felt that Balor was being smug, but needed to understand that he was facing certain defeat at NXT TakeOver. Balor asked if The Undisputed Era would be joining Kyle O'Reilly. The multi-time NXT Tag Team Champion said that this wasn't about UE, it's about his ability as a competitor.
Shawn Michaels asked if there was really any power struggle going on in The Undisputed Era. O'Reilly denied it. When it came to being the underdog in this fight, O'Reilly thought it was bulls***. Balor has never faced anyone like him, because there is no one like Kyle O'Reilly.
Balor finished the talks saying that O'Reilly has the ability to take that NXT Championship off of anyone. Well, anyone except Finn Balor.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae vs Damian Priest and Io Shirai on NXT
The Gargano Family attempted to jump their opponents during their entrances, leading to the Power Couple of NXT being forced to the floor. When the match officially started, Johnny Gargano avoided a series of massive swinging blows from the NXT North American Champion.
A big boot would nearly take Gargano's head off, however, and a series of clotheslines in the corner and a sidewalk slam saw Gargano roll to his corner for safety. Damian Priest tagged Io Shirai, forcing Candice LeRae to enter the fray.
Candice blocked a German suplex, bringing Shirai down with a school boy for a two. As Shirai powered out, she planted LeRae with a flapjack and dropkick. Johnny Gargano rushed into the ring hoping to save LeRae from trouble.
It didn't work out that way, as Priest rolled in and sent Gargano into the corner with a roundhouse. The Archer of Infamy followed up with a running elbow. Gargano rolled out just as Shirai hit LeRae with a double knee strike in the corner. As they recovered on the floor, Priest took Shirai up on his shoulders for a big dive over the ropes.
During the break, of course, LeRae took over, but as we returned she was spiked with a German suplex. Gargano and Priest tagged in, with the latter dishing out some more heavyweight hits to his challenger at NXT TakeOver. The Broken Arrow hit for a two-count.
Gargano broke up a kicking combination but was stunned by a fresh Io Shirai's springboard dopkick. LeRae rushed in, but was immediately trapped in a crossface. Gargano pulled Shirai off of his wife, and followed up with a superkick to Priest. LeRae hit a wheelbarrow facebuster but missed her springboard moonsault.
Shirai connected with the double underhook backbreaker. Gargano rolled in to push Lerae out of hearms way of the moonsault. Priest laid him out with a bell clap and cyclone kick, and Shirai followed up with the Over the Moonsault.
Priest tagged in, but a low blow from LeRae allowed Gargano to hit One Final Beat for the win.
Results: Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae defeated Damian Priest and Io Shirai on NXT.
Grade: A-
Did we just witness a spoiler for NXT TakeOver this Sunday?
Episode Rating: A
NXT had some solid matches tonight with Kushida showing he is all set for Dream. Cole and Theory put on a clinic as well.
