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For years, NXT was the #1 program on the WWE Network, giving the more hardcore fanbase consistent top tier wrestling. WWE Superstars like Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe and more made their start with the company by working the Black & Gold brand in the Full Sail Arena, giving the WWE Universe hundreds of instant classics to look back on.
Tonight, NXT made its move to live television, joining Raw on the USA Network, and they kicked off the legendary episode with one incredible match. Shayna Baszler has yet to find a challenger for her NXT Women's Championship at this point, leading to General Manager William Regal making a #1 contender's match between four of the best female Superstars on the roster.
Io Shirai vs Bianca Belair vs Mia Yim vs Candice LeRae
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LeRae moved right to Shirai as Belar sent Yim outside. LeRae attempted a dive onto Shirai but was dropped with a shoulder block from Belair. The Est. of NXT dropped her with an incredible military press slam.
Shirai attempted to get back inside only to be knocked off the apron with a handspring kick into the ropes and rebounding for a moonsault. Belair's pinfall was broken up by Mia Yim. Belair then set her sights on Yim, only for the pinfall to again be broken up, this time by Shirai.
Shirai took Yim out with a TIger Feint Kick and LeRae with a kick to the jaw, finally dropping Belair with a springboard dropkick. However, Yim recovered and took out both Belair and Shirai via a tornado DDT/enziguri combination. LeRae finally got some offense in, breaking up the pinfall and dropping Shirai face-first on the apron with a facebuster.
As LeRae moved out to brawl with Belair, Yim crashed into them with a suicide dive. Not to be outdone by her competitors, Io Shirai leapt onto them from the top rope, taking them all out thanks to a beautiful moonsault as we cut to commercial break.
Back from commercial, we saw a Tower of Doom with LeRae bringing Shirai, Yim, and Belair down to the mat. LeRae was back to her feet first and locked Shirai in an Iron Octopus stretch. However, Yim broke it up thanks to a massive boot to the face. Belair spiked her with a spinebuster, but when she turned around, was met by the Queen of the Sky who took her down with a double underhook backbreaker.
As Yim rolled outside, LeRae sent Shirai out as well with a German suplex. Belair countered the Poison Rana with a KOD attempt, only for Yim to rock her with a series of punches. The Code Blue connected but Shirai broke up the pinfall.
As Yim and Shirai battled back and forth, they were leveled by a massive pair of spears from Belair. She finally connected with the KOD, but a Protect Ya Neck by Yim sent her outside. Shirai sent Yim crashing to the ground floor with a dropkick, but the HBIC made it back up in time to push her off the ropes before she could hit a moonsault.
LeRae moved up top to brawl with Yim, leading to a Poison Rana. A springboard moonsault ended the first NXT match on the USA Network, and pushed Candice LeRae to the #1 contender's spot.
Results: Candice LeRae defeated Mia Yim via pinfall.
LeRae celebrated at the top of the ramp only to be met by Shayna Baszler, backed up as always by Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke. Baszler attempted to punk LeRae, but she didn't back down, staring Baszler in the face even as the Henchwoman loomed behind her.
Adam Cole was seen backstage with Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong of the Undisputed Era. The group was only one title away from fulfilling the Undisputed Prophecy. With Cole as the NXT Champion and Fish & Kyle O'Reilly draped in NXT Tag Gold, the last title they had to collect was the NXT North American Championship.
However, that would be easier said than done, as Strong must now dethrone the Vainglorious One, The Velveteen Dream.
Keith Lee and Dominic Dijakovic have been battling back and forth for quite some time now. Years, in fact. However, their NXT rivalry has only produced two matches thanks to an unfortunate injury to Dijakovic earlier in the year. Recently, Dijakovic returned, defeating Lee and putting the record at 0-1-1, with the first match ending in a no contest.
Next week, the third battle will take place as Lee and Dijakovic will go to war once again, this time on the USA Network.
On the WWE Network later tonight, during the second hour of NXT, Matt Riddle will battle Killian Dain in a Street Fight.
Sean Maluta vs Cameron Grimes
Grimes won his first match on USA in an instant, catching Maluta running to the corner with a leaping double foot stomp.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Sean Maluta via pinfall.
Cameron Grimes has been on a roll since losing in the finals of the NXT Breakout Tournament. Though he failed to capture a title opportunity, he's consistently impressed the NXT roster and the WWE Universe. After his performance tonight, one has to wonder if he may be in line for an opportunity sooner rather than later.
Damien Priest has gone undefeated since repackaging himself earlier this year and has even taken out top talents like Keith Lee with ease. One has to wonder if the Archer of Infamy could be on his way to championship gold in the near future. And if he is, who can stop him? We got a vignette of Priest, giving the USA Network a preview of things to come.
It's all come down to this. It took Adam Cole and the rest of the Undisputed Era some time to get to this point, starting 2019 off by losing all of their gold. However, nine months later, and Cole sits atop the ladder as the face of the brand while Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish are now 3-time NXT Tag Team Champions, a record in NXT. All that the Era needed was for Roderick Strong to break the back of the North American Champion.
NXT North American Championship Match: Roderick Strong vs Velveteen Dream (c)
Strong attempted to wrestle Dream to the ground. The Champion managed to successfully defend the double leg takedown, catching himself in the corner. Dream got in the head of Strong after blowing him a kiss, leading to a wrist lock on the Messiah of the Backbreaker.
Dream was only able to keep Strong down for a few seconds before he made it back to his feet, leapfrogging over the Vainglorious One. Strong was sent outside, however, and paused to re-enter the ring as Dream taunted him.
Back from the commercial break, Dream dropped Strong with a pair of shoulder tackles, following up with a pin attempt. Strong kicked out and rushed him, but Dream was able to easily maneuver around the UE member. A double axe handle from the top rope took Strong outside, where he was met with another axe handle. However, as Strong was rolled inside, he knocked Dream off the turnbuckle, sending him careening to the floor.
A backbreaker on the barricade left Dream grasping his spine and sternum. Strong followed up with a wrecking ball dropkick and drove him spine first into the apron. He followed Dream inside, attempting a quick pin. Dream kicked out. Strong locked in a rear-naked choke, but Dream rolled over for a pinfall counter. Strong released the hold and followed the champion around with a series of chops to the chest.
The chops left Dream down on all fours, allowing Strong to connect with a strong boot to the spine. Another pinfall was broken up and Strong immediately locked him in a headlock. Dream managed to break away following a jawbreaker, but a backbreaker from Strong cut off his momentum.
Strong attempted to use the ropes for a pinfall only for the referee to immediately spot him. He went back to the well, spiking Dream on his knee with a uranage-backbreaker. Strong attempted the Strong Hold, but when Dream refused to turn over, went for a slingshot into the corner.
Dream countered with a Sharpshooter attempt, only to be kicked to the outside. As Strong leapt through the ropes for another wrecking ball dropkick, Dream dodged and sent the challenger into the steel steps. And with that came the final commercial break of the first hour.
When we returned, Strong had Dream in the corner, pelting him with more chest chops and taking him to the top for a superplex. Dream fought him off with a series of punches and followed up with another double axe handle. A pair of clotheslines and a boot to the jaw set Dream up for a superkick on Strong. He wasn't able to get the pinfall, though, leading to an attempted Dream Valley Driver. Strong escaped but was spiked with the DreamDT. Again, Strong kicked out.
Strong rolled away to avoid another double axe handle, leading to a moment on the apron where Dream was left hanging in the ropes following a flash knee to the jaw. An attempted double-arm suplex was prevented, but Strong stunned Dream with another running knee strike. Dream was then left tied up in the ropes, allowing Strong to batter him with a series of running elbow strikes. A double underhook powerbomb failed to put away the North American Champion.
Strong locked in the Strong Hold finally, hoping to force the Vainglorious One to admit he wasn't as good as he thought he was. Dream never gave in, and after nearly a minute in the hold, crawled to the ropes to break it up. Following that, the Undisputed Era rushed ringside, trying to pump Strong up for his impending title victory.
Dream responded by laying out Strong with a punching combination and a back body drop. Strong sent him into the ropes with a drop toe hold, though, taking out the referee as well. Though the DVD connected. Strong wasn't able to be pinned. The End of Heartache finally hit after the Undisputed Era interfered, but Dream kicked out.
Another Dream Valley Driver spiked Strong. However, as he went up for the Purple Rainmaker, Cole rocked him with a superkick while the rest of the Era distracted the referee, allowing Roderick Strong to finally put away Dream with another End of Heartache.
Results: Roderick Strong defeated Velveteen Dream via pinfall.
With that, the Undisputed Prophecy was finally fulfilled. Every member of the Undisputed Era is now draped in championship gold.
Thanks to her win earlier tonight, Candice LeRae will challenge Shayna Baszler for her NXT Women's Championship in two weeks on October 2nd.
Pete Dunne vs Arturo Ruas
Dunne tried to wrestle the Brazilian grappler to the ground, and after a short feeling out process, both men were left on the mat attempting to get ahead of the other. Ruas made it back to his feet and took the Bruiserweight down with a leaping body scissors takedown into an armbar. Dunne escaped, leading to a few punches being traded between the two.
Ruas locked Dunne in a hammerlock but had his barefoot stomped by Dunne, allowing him to break away and leveling him with a clothesline. The joint manipulation came in here, with Dunne bending his fingers backward and setting him up for a stomp to his elbow. A second stomp met only canvas as Ruas escaped and leveled Dunne with a capoeira kick.
Dunne's classic game plan came back to bite him as Ruas took a chance on some joint manipulation, working over the former UK Champion's fingers. Dunne responded with a series of chops to the chest, but a huge kick to the left knee left Dunne face down on the mat.
Ruas looked for a roundhouse kick, only for Dunne to catch his foot and snap his toes. Dunne followed up with a step-up enzuigiri in the corner and a release German suplex. A double stomp to Ruas's fingers setup for a roundhouse to his head. A second to the back of the head allowed Dunne to plant him via X-plex. Ruas kicked out.
Dunne tried to force a tap with a triangle choke. Ruas escaped and stunned him with a massive roundhouse kick followed by a German suplex with a bridge. Dunne kicked out at two. Dunne recovered, though, and attempted a second triangle choke. Ruas refused to tap, leading to Dunne snapping Ruas's fingers. He held out as long as he could, but Dunne's vicious submission was too much to bear.
Results: Pete Dunne defeated Arturo Ruas via submission.
Later on tonight, we'll see a #1 contender's match for the Cruiserweight Championship, pitting Oney Lorcan against Lio Rush, a man who hasn't been seen in nearly half a year.
Xia Li vs Aliyah w/Vanessa Bourne
Aliyah was trapped in a headlock but sent Li into the corner. Li set up with a handstand on the top rope, landing on the apron and delivering a few kicks to the head. Bourne gave Aliyah a pep talk, giving her the courage to go after Li with a kick of her own, doubling her over.
Li was able to recover quickly and battered her opponent, sending her in the corner with a shotgun dropkick. A series of spinning back kicks rocked Aliyah, who struggled to get up, only to be dropped face-first by a leg trip. A running spinning roundhouse to a kneeling Aliyah ended the match.
Results: Xia Li defeated Aliah via pinfall.
Denzel Dejournette vs Kushida
Before Dejarnet could get a shot at Kushida, NXT UK's Imperium invaded the ring. Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner, and Alexander Wolfe destroyed the young Superstar, ending him with the European Bomb.
Results: No contest.
Following the beatdown, NXT UK Champion Walter's music hit, with the big man making an official entrance at the top of the ramp. The rest of Imperium stood in the ring awaiting the Ring General. Walter grabbed a mic to reveal the reasoning for their appearance, claiming that they were here to put an end to those who took the sport lightly. Before he could continue, Kushida came out.
Kushida, with a mic in his hand, rushed to ring, saying that this was his time and they were stealing it. The Time Splitter easily disposed of three-fourths of Imperium. He then stunned Walter with a leaping back kick, rocking the UK Champion before escaping Imperium's wrath. With that, it looks like Kushida has challenged Walter.
Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contender's Match: Oney Lorcan vs Lio Rush
Rush was blindsided by Lorcan, who battered him with three running elbow strikes and a running blockbuster, nearly getting a pinfall within the first minute of the match. Rush kicked out at two.
The Half-and-Half was blocked, and Rush sent Lorcan to the apron for a handspring kick, followed by three bullet speed suicide dives, leaving Lorcan stunned on the floor. Back inside, Rush pelted Lorcan with a few strikes and took him over with a springboard hurricanrana. A Matrix-like dodge set Rush up for a leaping kick to the side of the head. Lorcan kicked out at two.
As Lorcan sat kneeling in the ring, Rush battered him with kicks. Lorcan caught one of the kicks, however, and sent Rush over with a dragon screw leg whip. Rush was then launched into the corner, landing awkwardly in between the top and middle pad. A few uppercuts absolutely rocked the Man of the Hour. Another one dropped Rush off the ropes, sending him crashing to the floor below.
Back inside, a gutwrench sit-out powerbomb nearly gave the Star Destroyer the victory. Rush was able to break out and fought back to his feet, trading blows with Lorcan. Lorcan countered by picking his leg and trapping him in a single leg Boston crab. Rush rolled around and kicked Lorcan in the jaw. However, as he got back to his feet, a gunshot like chop nearly brought Rush to his knees. A body slam gave Lorcan the near fall again.
Lorcan continued to batter Rush, but some trash talk allowed him to recover. As he was sent into the ropes, he rebounded with a springboard stunner. Lorcan barely broke out in time. Rush set up for the Frog Splash, but Lorcan rolled out, leaving him to land awkwardly on his bad knee. Lorcan battered him again with painful elbow strikes. Another single leg Boston crab saw Rush fight out.
A spinning back kick was blocked by Lorcan, who locked in the single-leg Boston crab for a third time. Rush screamed in agony as Lorcan continued to tear away at his left knee. Lorcan turned the maneuver into an STF. It seemed that Rush had faded away, but he managed to wiggle his leg free and reach the ropes.
Lorcan grabbed Rush by the jaw and attempted to paint his face with a series of slaps. Rush dodged and countered with some high-speed strikes. However, it only angered the Brawler more, who slapped the taste out of Rush's mouth.
Lorcan ran in for another blockbuster. However, Rush caught him in a standing Spanish Fly and finished the match with the Dragon's Call Frog Splash.
Results: Lio Rush defeated Oney Lorcan via pinfall.
Street Fight Matt Riddle vs Killian Dain
Dain leveled Riddle before the bell even rang with a running big boot. Riddle responded with a German that Dain was able to immediately stand up from. An exploder suplex put the big man down, though. However, it wasn't for long, as he blocked the Broton with his knees.
Riddle found Dain outside going for a kendo stick and managed to disarm the big man, battering him with his own weapon. Dain would send Riddle over the barricade as he ran at him, though, leaving Riddle broken on the concrete. A few shots with the kendo stick left Riddle's back blood red.
Dain and Riddle brawled to the backstage area where the Forgotten Sons were waiting. Riddle rushed Dain near an NXT truck, but Dain sent him headfirst into the truck. Walter was seen near the brawl and suddenly jumped Riddle, leading to an all-out brawl between Imperium, Dain, Riddle and the rest of the NXT roster.
Dain and Riddle broke away, getting back into the arena as the locker room continued to clear. As the ringside arena was filled with bodies, Riddle and Dain made it inside the ring. However, security decided to step in at this moment, trying to break up the brawl.
Results: No Contest.
The ring filled with NXT superstars. The Street Profits, Imperium, Dominic Dijakovi, even Eric Bugenhagen, with every Superstar looking to get some screen time on this monumental episode of NXT. The final image we saw was Killian Dain leap dive onto five Superstars as the first two-hour NXT came to a close.
