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This week's episode of NXT featured, not just an NXT North American Championship bout, but two No.1 Contenders matches as well. Damien Priest would defend his title in the main event against Dexter Lumis.
However, Candice LeRae and Shotzi Blackheart also faced off for a future NXT Women's Championship bout at Halloween Havoc in a few weeks time. Breezango also learned who their new challengers would be when The Undisputed Era faced off against Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan tonight. We also saw the in-ring return of Toni Storm, and more matches announced for Halloween Havoc.
NXT started with one of the best matches of the night. The Undisputed Era faced off against One-Two aka The Brit-Am Brawlers for a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. It's one of the most underrated rivalries in WWE, and we got another fantastic chapter tonight.
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Kyle O'Reilly said that they never got their hands on Ridge Holland, but if they did, he'd be in the same hospital bed he's in now. As far as who helped Holland, they'll find the culprits and give them a serious beating. Tonight is the second coming of the Golden Prophecy. All they have to do is take out Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, two of the hardest hitting Superstars in the company.
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No. 1 Contenders Match: The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong) w/ Kyle O'Reilly vs One-Two on NXT
Oney Lorcan and Roderick Strong started the bout. The Star Destroyer caught Strong in an incredible leaping headscissor takedown, transitioning to an arm wrench and moving to his corner.
Danny Burch was in, and NXT's Guvnor went right after Strong's arm. A nasty armbreaker and some wrenching on the shoulder left Strong in a lot of pain, but he managed to tag out to Bobby Fish.
Burch and Fish went back and forth in a good brawling trade, with Burch getting the upper hand. Fish was cut off from his side of the ring as Burch continued to hit repeated armbreakers. Lorcan tagged in for a double Russian leg sweep and caught Strong running in with a double suplex for a two count on Fish.
Fish, eventually, got to his corner, but The Undisputed Era struggled to put a stop to the momentum of the Boston Brawler. They did manage to counter a double running blockbuster, launching Lorcan up for a back body drop, finally taking over the match for the first time tonight.
The multi-time NXT Tag Champions tore Lorcan apart throughout the commercial break as Breezango watched on. Fish got a little cocky, though, and missed a diving headbutt, allowing Lorcan to tag out to Burch.
Burch launched Fish into Strong and then popped the former NXT NA Champion up for a powerbomb, giving Burch a two-count. A double dropkick off of Bret's Rope lit up all of UE. Lorcan, recovered, tagged back in and nearly decapitated Roddy with a nasty running uppercut.
The double blockbuster connected, and One-Two set up for their elevated Implant DDT. Fish broke it up, leading to Lorcan taking Fish to the floor. A devastating headbutt and decleating clothesline demolished Roderick Strong.
The Impaler DDT spiked Strong for the pin, but Fish yanked Lorcan off the pin. Fish sent Lorcan into Burch, and a flash knee strike from Strong was enough to knock Burch out for the three.
Results: The Undisputed Era defeated Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
We got an update on Finn Balor, who underwent surgery on his jaw. William Regal said that they'll give it a few weeks before deciding what to do with the NXT Championship. Hopefully, The Prince of NXT will be able to recover fast enough that we won't need another title vacated.
We got a vignette of Ember Moon, with the Shenom saying that the second the doctor cleared her, she knew NXT was her home. She could've been drafted to RAW or SmackDown, but needed to come home to what she considered the best women's division in all of professional wrestling.
Whether it's Dakota Kai, Rhea Ripley, or the NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai, it doesn't matter who it is. Ember's Law will help her regain the NXT Women's Championship.
Ashante "Thee" Adonis vs Jake Atlas on NXT
Jake Atlas, more aggressive than before thanks to that Tommaso Ciampa feud, didn't allow Ashante "Thee" Adonis to showboat too much, rocking him with an enziguri when he tried to comb his hair. However, a big standing dropkick caught Atlas right on the jaw.
Adonis was distracted, however, by Legado Del Fantasma on the ramp, allowing Atlas to roll him up with a small package or the win.
Results: Jake Atlas defeated Ashante "Thee" Adonis via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: D
Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde were fought back by both competitors but was joined by Santos Escobar. However, Adonis and Atlas had bacckup in the form of Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, who got three chairs into the ring.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano had some good reasons why Dexter Lumis shouldn't be given a shot at the NXT North American Championship tonight.
Austin Theory vs Johnny Gargano on NXT
The Future Face of NXT outwrestled Johnny Wrestling early on, but some gloating allowed Gargano to hit Austin Theory with some nasty shots to the jaw. A chop to the chest and an arm drag took Theory down as Gargano worked over the shoulder.
Theory eventually made it to his feet and caught Gargano with a big clothesline, setting up for a standing moonsault. Wade Barrett made an important note about his losing streak, stating that he's only been losing to top NXT stars.
Gargano was sent face-first into the turnbuckle with a drop toe hold. Theory followed that up with a slingshot rolling dropkick. Again, Theory's arrogant nature allowed Gargano time to recover. Gargano avoided the ATL and rocked Theory with the step-up enziguri on the apron. The slingshot spear connected as we cut to commercial break.
When we returned, Gargano had Theory in an abdominal stretch. Theory managed to break away and planted Gargano for a slingshot boot to the chest. A suplex connected, and Theory set up for a fisherman suplex. Gargano escaped.
Theory's rolling dropkick was almost countered, but Theory stopped on a dime and caught Gargano's foot. He gave Gargano a taste of his own medicine, as Gargano rolled right into a superkick. A fisherman neckbreaker to Theory's knee really frazzled the NXT Triple Crown Champion.
Gargano escaped another ATL attempt and moved up for a crossbody. Theory caught Gargano but again missed the ATL. Mr. All Day countered Gargano's sunset flip, earning a two-count.
Again, though, the trash talk put Theory in hot water with the former NXT Champion. Gargano and Theory traded strikes, ending with Gargano hitting a superkick right on the button. Gargano lawn darted Theory into the middle turnbuckle and hit a sliding rear forearm.
One Final Beat later, and Theory was on his back staring at the lights once again.
Results: Johnny Gargano defeated Austin Theory via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Raquel Gonzalez cut a promo on Rhea Ripley, claiming to be the biggest and baddest woman on the roster.
She challenged the former NXT Women's Champion to a match at Halloween Havoc, but Ripley didn't wanna wait two weeks. They were separated by security.
No. 1 Contenders Match: Shotzi Blackheart vs Candice LeRae on NXT
Two of Io Shirai's best competitors faced off for a shot at the NXT Women's Championship tonight. Shotzi Blackheart hit a step-up enziguri and blocked a rope hanging neckbreaker from Candice LeRae. Blackheart also avoided a baseball slide, taking LeRae out with a suicide dive.
Back inside, Shotzi hit a spin-out facebuster on her knee. LeRae gained the upper hand with a running knee in the corner, squashing Blackheart's face into the middle turnbuckle. A jackknife pinfall earned NXT's Poison Pixie a two-count.
LeRae battered Blackheart, tossing her from corner to corner and choking her out. As they found themselves on the apron, LeRae countered a Sliced Bread No. 2, sending Blackheart face-first into the ring post. LeRae followed up with a facebuster on the apron.
During the break, though, Blackheart got the upper hand, and we came back to LeRae taking a mean bulldog from NXT's Tank Girl. Blackheart hit her senton on the ropes for a two-count.
As Blackheart went for her diving Senton Splash, LeRae put her knees up, nearly getting the win. Blackheart chased LeRae up top, but LeRae slid through her legs for an elevated German suplex. A superkick and a pinfall gave LeRae yet another close call.
Blackheart was able to catch LeRae with a bridging tiger suplex but failed to get the victory. A backstabber to Blackheart set LeRae up for her La Quebrada. Blackheart kicked out again and locked in a seated reverse Full Nelson, but just couldn't get that submission from LeRae.
The host of NXT Halloween Havoc rocked LeRae with a step-up enziguri and moved up for the Senton Splash again. LeRae stood up but was crushed with a diving seated senton instead. LeRae managed to roll to the floor to avoid the big splash. As BlackHeart set up for a suicide dive, LeRae was yanked out of the way by Indi Hartwell, who also handed LeRae brass knuckles.
With the referee's view obscured, LeRae rocked Blackheart with the knuckles, giving her the victory and sending her to NXT Halloween Havoc.
Results: Candice LeRae defeated Shotzi Blackheart via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
LeRae will challenge Io Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship in two weeks. She handed the knuckles to Hartwell before celebrating on the ramp.
NXT's odd couple was backstage where Drake Maverick was trying to sell Killian Dain on new merch he was working on producing. Dain wasn't excited about it, nor their name that Maverick created. "The Furry and the Fury" didn't sit well.
They'd try it out tonight, though, when they faced former NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium.
Next up, though, was the in-ring return of Toni Storm. It's Toni Time!
Robert Stone and Aliyah were out to talk about expanding the Robert Stone Brand. Unfortunately for them, this was also the night Toni Storm returned to NXT.
Aaliyah w/Robert Stone vs Toni Storm on NXT
Toni Storm was going full speed from the get-go, pelting Aliyah with a big running dropkick. Aliyah avoided an attack in the corner and responded with a boot to the jaw. Robert Stone cheered on as Aliyah battered Storm and dropped her with a neckbreaker.
Storm managed to roll Aliyah up for a near fall, and began building momentum with a pair of inverted atomic drops. A German suplex sent Aliyah to the corner, and a running hip attack and sliding clothesline set Aliyah up for Storm Zero.
Results: Toni Storm defeated Aliyah via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C+
Backstage, NXT General Manager William Regal said that, regardless of how she did it, Candice LeRae is the No. 1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship. That match will have "big stakes" though he doesn't know what yet.
He also confirmed the NXT Halloween Havoc match between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez. Before he could continue, he was stopped by Boa and Xia Li, the latter of whom requested a match next week in order to put herself back in winning ways.
Imperium vs Drake Maverick and Killian Dain on NXT
Killian Dain rushed to the ring, ignoring Drake Maverick's tag team entrance and demanding to start the match himself. Dain slammed Fabian Aichner and tagged Maverick, launching him overhead onto Aichner. Once Dain left the ring, though, the former NXT Tag Team Champions took over.
Imperium beat Maverick into the mat, as Aichner and Marcel Barthel took turns pelting the former 205 Live GM. Maverick managed to get to Dain, who bowled over both Aichner and Barthel in a nasty two-on-one assault.
A double exploder was blocked, and Imperium managed to put the big man down with a spinebuster/penalty kick combination. Aichner's suplex was countered with one of Dain's own, and Maverick reached out for the tag. Dain accepted, and Maverick lit up Aichner with a series of strikes.
A step up knee rocked Aichner. However, Barthel distracted him by sending Dain into the steel steps, allowing Aichner to catch him for a big slam. The European Bomb connected, folding up Maverick like an accordion.
Results: Imperium defeated Drake Maverick and Killian Dain via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Ever-Rise came out to bully and beat Maverick, but they were bowled over by Dain, who again saved Maverick. As Maverick cowered, thinking Dain was about to hit him, Dain leaned in and said "Nobody hits you but me."
Drake Maverick's plan has worked, they're a full fledged tag team!
Two matches were made official for NXT Halloween Havoc, while the NXT Tag Team Titles were set to be defended next week.
NXT North American Championship match: Dexter Lumis vs Damian Priest (c)
Damian Priest locked up with NXT's Tortured Artist, with both men dragging each other through the ropes. They quickly threw the wrestling out the door and moved right to a brawl. After minutes of back and forth striking, Priest took Dexter Lumis off his feet with a series of kicks to the head.
A Broken Arrow connected, but Lumis kicked out at two. During the break, Lumis took Priest to the floor, where they continued to throw bombs at one another. Priest dumped Lumis face-first onto the apron, and it seemed that Lumis had finally met his match in NXT's Archer of Infamy.
Back inside, Lumis countered a dive from the NXT North American Champion with an uppercut to the jaw. Lumis dropped him with the clothesline/bulldog combination and followed that with the rolling monkey flip combination.
Priest countered for South of Heaven, but Lumis evaded, planting Priest with the spinebuster. Priest escaped Lumis's Kata Gatame and planted him with the elevated flatliner. Preist followed that with an ankle lock, leaving Lumis screaming in pain. As Lumis moved to the ropes, Priest yanked him away.
Somehow, he fought out but was stunned with a bell clap. The roundhouse connected, but Priest couldn't hit the Razor's Edge. Lumis dropped him with a backdrop and hit a kip-up leg drop for a two-count, turning things around in a big way.
Lumis moved up top, but his Senton Bomb missed. Priest crawled up to his feet using the ropes and almost decapitated Lumis with a clothesline. The Cyclone Kick missed, and Lumis locked in the Kata Gatome.
Priest's foot made it to the ropes. He crawled to the floor, and Lumis followed, bouncing him off the plexiglass. As he sent Priest back inside, Cameron Grimes hit the Cave In on the apron.
Priest, not knowing what happened, planted Lumis with South of Heaven for the win.
Results: Damian Priest defeated Dexter Lumis via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Cameron Grimes tried to get inside to do further damage, but Priest made the save, spiking him headfirst with the Reckoning. As Priest moved to the top of the ramp, he was attacked by Johnny Gargano, who hit Priest with a steel chair.
He tossed the chair to Priest before hitting a superkick, laying out the NXT North American Champion. NXT GM William Regal came out to make the Gargano Family's matches official. Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano will challenge for the NXT Women's and North American Titles respectively.
However, Regal said that the stipulations of their matches would be determined by the host of NXT Halloween Havoc, Shotzi Blackheart, who revealed that they would be spinning the classic Halloween Havoc wheel in two weeks. That's right, it's a return of Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal.
