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Welcome to PWInsider’s coverage of NXT, airing on The CW Network in the United States and on Netflix internationally. Vic Joseph and Booker T on the call.
NXT opens with a new theme, “Shebang” by Drake. The show opens with a promo for the main event 20-woman battle royale to determine the #1 contender for the NXT women’s championship. The match will include wrestlers from six brands, with the winner facing NXT Women’s Champion
Cut to a backstage promo from BirthRight against Zilla Fatu. “You’re either with us or against us,” says Lexis King.
Then Zilla Fatu with a promo from a different hallway, and we’re off to ringside where Fatu is about to enter.
Match #1: Zilla Fatu vs Lexis King from BirthRight
Fatu attacks King as he’s on his way to the ring. Fatu dominates early with power moves and splashes in corners. King tries a leg takedown but Fatu just stares at him before attacking.
They trade chops and blows, with Fatu getting the advantage.
BirthRight pulls King out of the ring to help him escape Fatu. They gather outside the ring with King, and Fatu with a splash from the top onto all of them. Back in the ring, King distracts the ref while the other BirthRight members distract Fatu. This allows King to kick the rope, delivering a low blow to Fatu as he’s trying to re-enter the ring.
King maintains control for a while until Fatu rallies, delivering a huge Samoan drop. Fatu maintains the advantage, but BirthRight are getting involved and distracting him. Fatu knocks them off the apron. King with a super kick, but Fatu shrugs it off. Fatu with a Triple Z for the pin.
Your winner, Zilla Fatu!
The other members of BirthRight are in the ring attacking Fatu. Charlie Dempsey grabs a chair and starts smashing Fatu in the gut and the back. Fatu rolls out of the ring and BirthRight swarms him. They toss him into the ring steps. They lift the top section of steps, put Fatu’s hand in between the two sections and smash his hand.
“Booker, this is too far!” says Vic. “For what?!”
We go to a backstage interview, Emily Agard talking to NXT Women’s Champ Kelani Jordan about the upcoming battle royale to determine her challenger at Halloween Havoc.
Jordan says 20 women are trying to get her attention, but Reina Volcan already has it. Jordan says it’s one thing to attack the champ from behind, it’s another to outlast 20 other women. Chantel Monroe appears next to Jordan, says she’s a show-stopping diva who will take the title. Layla Diggs shows up and says it’s her time. Jordan wishes them well but says she’ll be the one making a moment at Halloween Havoc.
After a commercial break, a WWE Radio promo, etc, we see this week’s NXT Focus, a promo with DarkState’s Dion Lennox. Dion says Cruz Montana’s words last week were powerful. He understands why people relate to Cruz. But Dion says Cruz acts like he had a rough life. Dion says that Cruz put himself into trouble by putting toxins in his body - “probably the same ones your mama was selling,” he says with a laugh.
Dion says he is a machine that never runs out of gas. Says he wasn’t dealt a better hand than Cruz, but Dion simply made better choices. Dion says his family set him up and he had to deliver, feeling a pressure to deliver for them and his community that Cruz would never understand. Dion says he was disciplined. Said he wanted to party with his friends and be a “loser” like Cruz, but he kept delivering and succeeded in two sports. “It me two years to make it to NXT TV. It took you 20.”
Dion says Cruz will never beat him. He’s going to send Cruz back to “that dark place.”
Promo ends and we cut to a backstage shot of Cruz Montana watching the promo. He’s unimpressed. Lizzy Rain walks in and says Dion has guts. Cruz tells her she has a big opportunity tonight in the battle royal and wishes her luck.
TNA Knockouts Champion Xia Brookside walks up to Cruz and says she’s surprised Cruz would support Rain. “You have really changed,” she says, and walks away.
And we head back to the ring!
Match #2: Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match - Hank & Tank vs Shido Ash and Victor Zanov
We’re subjected to clips of Hank and Tank in a recent bellyflop competition in a pool as they make their way to the ring. Then EVOLVE’s Ash and Zanov come to the ring. We’re shown a pre-tape where the duo talks about their Olympic backgrounds. Ash and Hank start. It’s Hank’s power versus Ash’s speed and finesse.
The early part of the match saw the EVOLVE team simply outwork Hank and Tank. Hank with a roll up for a 2-count. The Creeds are shown watching the match backstage.
Tank in for a hot tag and he’s mowing down Ash and Zanov with clotheslines. Tank with a huge backdrop on on Zanov who rolls outside. Tank with a leaps onto both of them. Hank appears and tosses Ash away.
Tank with a swanton on Zanov, and Hank and Tank go for tag offense but Ash grabs Tank’s ankle from ringside so he can’t move, and Zanov with a powerslam onto Hank. Ash drags Tank outside and joins Zanov to attack Hank in the ring. Zanov is bleeding on his face, but I do not know when he was injured.
They are all in the ring and it’s chaos. Hank and Tank with their sandwich/powerslam finish for the win.
Your winners, Hank and Tank!
We're shown updated brackets for the Dusty tournament. Another first-round match is coming up later.
Cut to a shot of NXT Champion Grayson Waller walking down stairs, looking smug after his first title defence last week. Vic Joseph suddenly sounds alarmed and tells the cameras to cut to a different scene. BirthRight is shown in a backstage area, attacking Sean Legacy and Dorian van Dux with pipes. Uriah Connors looks into the camera and says, they took out Zilla and now it looks like Legacy and DVD aren't making the Dusty Classic. Stacks says if you mess with BirthRight, they will leave their mark.
Grayson is on his way to the ring. He's thrilled with the outcome from last week when he defeated EK Prosper in the open challenge. He said he's up to any challenge. He praises EK for the match last week. Says he got the "Grayson Waller rub" last week, and one day EK will get the chance to hold the championship. He says there's no man who can take the title from him now. Waller said he is restoring the NXT Championship to its former glory. Then he asks who is next. Myles Borne's music hits.
Waller passes a microphone to Borne. Borne says he deserves to be a champion and now that he doesn't have the "dead weight" of Tavion Heights, it's time to pursue the one championship in NXT that he's never held. Borne says he has learned to be selfish and ruthless, just like Waller has learned. Waller says finally someone is learning and listening from him. Tony D'Angelo's music hits. He has a mic and says he has unfinished business with Waller. He says Borne chose the wrong time to make his move. Waller says to Tony that there was an open challenge and "where were you?" Tony says he knows Waller would've made excuses last week if he tried to take the open challenge. So he's taking his shot now.
Waller suggests that Borne and D'Angelo "figure it out" next week, and whoever is leftover can face him later. They seem to agree when Borne steps forward to Waller, then turns and punches D'Angelo, knocking him down. Coins spill in the ring and we realize that Borne had a roll of coins in his hand. Borne and Waller face off. Looks like we'll see Tony and Borne next week to earn a shot at Waller.
We see Shiloh Hill walking to the ring for his match against Naraku.
After a lifetime of commercials, we see EK Prosper backstage, looking down and thinking to himself.
Suddenly, William Regal walks up to EK, shaking hands with him and introducing himself. Regal asks EK why he seems upset. EK says he is disappointed in losing his shot against Waller last week. Regal says EK should never look down upon himself. He has championship material written all over him and he will be a star, he just has to keep working.
We see Robert Stone hurrying by, talking into his phone and trying to figure something out. Regal calls out to him. Stone stops to talk, says he and Regal need to talk about BirthRight. He's trying to find replacements for Sean Legacy and DVD in the Dusty Classic match later tonight. Regal says he noticed that Stacks and Connors were eliminated from the tournament, but his "lad" Charlie and Lexis were never entered into the tournament. Stone says he can't reward bad behaviour. Regal says sometimes you have no choice. Stone relents. Charlie and Lexis are in the tournament.
Match #3: Shiloh Hill vs Naraku
Hill and Naraku lock up a few times, feeling each other out. Naraku attacks and tosses Hill from the ring, but Hill skins the cat and is back in. Hill with a headlock takedown.
Naraku with a neckbreaker. He has Hill in a headlock and is punching him in the face. Naraku with a forearm to Hill's face. Hill falls outside. He turns it around with a big forearm of his own. Back inside, they're trading big blows. Clotheslines and they're both down. Hill heads to the top, but Naraku stops him. They're fighting on top, Hill pushes Naraku down. Hill with flying clothesline and a cover, but Naraku kicks out. More back and forth. Naraku with series of headbutts. Senton from Naraku. Hill kicks out of a pin attempt. Naraku with a crossface, but Hill escapes at the ropes.
Naraku is dominating but then misses a senton in the middle of the ring.
Hill is rallying. He starts swinging fists at Naraku, then a big boot.
Naraku goes for mist, but Hill ducks and the ref is hit with blue mist. Ref is hurt and calls for bell. Hill and Naraku go up the aisle fighting as Booker screams for a medic for the ref.
I believe Naraku was disqualified due to the mist, but that was not made clear on commentary.
We cut to Kendal Grey's latest therapy appointment. Therapist asks how she's doing. Kendal says she should be in the battle royale tonight. She blames herself for her injury. For offering Kelani Jordan the shot. For exposing the post at Heatwave. Her therapist asks if she is always so hard on herself. Kendal says yes. She works so hard and is so hard on herself so she never has to feel the hurt of not being good enough. Before anyone could tell her that she wasn't good enough, she had already told herself. "And when you live like that for a long time, you stop learning how to celebrate, you stop learning how to be proud of yourself. I've realized my biggest opponent has always been myself." The therapist asks what that tells her. She says she has to fix it. She says the therapy sessions aren't so bad. Therapist says there is no finish line, and they are always there to support. But after Kendal's 3 referred appointments, she seems to be doing OK, and it's a good place to stop.
Match #4: Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic - BirthRight's Lexis King vs Charlie Dempsey vs Tokyo Bad Boys
Tokyo Bad Boys are Kento and Takuma from AAA. We see a short promo from them as they enter the ring. Kento and Dempsey start. Fast-paced, back and forth wrestling for a few moments before Takuma tags in. The Tokyo Bad Boys double team Charlie for a bit before King tags in for his second match of the night. The Tokyo Bad Boys are running wild with speed. They take out BirthRight with a dive and moonsault on the outside.
Dempsey regains control and beats down Kento in the ring. Takuma gets the hot tag. He takes out both BirthRight members. Pin attempt, but King breaks it up.
Kento spears King to the outside, Dempsey with suplex from top on Takuma.
In the ring, Dempsey throws Takuma into ring post, then grabs him with what Joseph calls a "Gotch-type" suplex for the pin.
Your winners, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Dusty Classic, BirthRight's Lexis King and Charlie Dempsey!
Vic Joseph highlighted the following right before the 20-woman battle royale:
Tony D'Angelo will face Myles Borne to determine who will challenge NXT Champion Grayson Waller at Halloween Havoc
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarter-finals begin with Vanity Project vs Chazz "Starboy" Hall and Mini Vikingo, and Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs Fraxiom.
Saquon Shugars will face Tristan Angels.
Myles Borne is in the back, talking to the camera. Says he will go through Tony D'Angelo first, then Waller.
Match #5: 20-Women's Battle Royale to determine the #1 Contender for the NXT Women's Championship
Izzy Dame is out first. Then, TNA's Indi Hartwell. Joseph notes that Indi never lost the women's championship in her NXT run. And we go to commercial.
When we're back, Vic Joseph tells us that Robert Stone confirms Tony D'Angelo will face Myles Borne next week to determine who will challenge NXT Champion Grayson Waller at Halloween Havoc.
Also next week, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarter-finals begin, with Vanity Project vs Chazz "Starboy" Hall and Mini Vikingo and Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs Fraxiom. Finally, Saquon Shugars will face Tristan Angels.
At ringside, we see TNA Knockouts Champion Xia Brookside make her entrance. Then AAA Reina De Reinas Champion La Catalina. Next is NXT Women's North American Champion Zaria. The ring is already mostly filled up. Apologies to these wrestlers; there is simply no way I will catch all of the action! Per the WWE website today, here is the complete list of competitors in this match:
Lizzy Rain
Thea Hail
Skylar Raye
Zaria
Izzi Dame
Kali Armstrong
Reina Volcan
Nikkita Lyons
Chantel Monroe
Layla Diggs
Arianna Grace
La Catalina - AAA
Indi Hartwell - TNA
Xia Brookside - TNA
M by Elegance - TNA
Heather by Elegance - TNA
Ivy Nile - RAW
Kiana James - Smackdown
Adelicious - AAA
Lady Shani - AAA
And we're off! It's a wild brawl. Layla Diggs is out first. Zaria and Dame are shoving each other, then Zaria tosses her out quickly. Dame is upset, tries to get back in the ring. Security drags her away. Wild punching and kicking in the ring, typical battle royale stuff. Vic and Booker are trying to keep up with all the names, including many they wouldn't often see. Reina Volcan is being spotlighted as a powerhouse in this match. After teasing an alliance, Elegance Brand tosses Arianna Grace. Then Thea Hail eliminates both members of Elegance.
Ivy Nile eliminated by Lizzy Rain after a battle on the ring apron. Rain and a bunch of women in the ring team up to eliminate Volcan. Volcan drags Lady Shani out of the ring and powerslams Shani on the floor before she heads backstage.
We're down to eight contenders. Zaria and Indi briefly join forces. Zaria is dominating. She gives La Catalina an F5. Suddenly, Izzi Dame is sneaks back into the ring and tries to attack Zaria, but Zaria reverses and eliminates Izzi for the second time in a single battle royale. Joseph is laughing, and Izzi is upset, but while Zaria celebrates in the ring, Kali Armstrong comes from behind to eliminate her. Zaria and Izzi begin fighting on the floor as they head to the back.
Indi eliminates Xia. Xia then drags Indi over the top by her hair, so Indi appears to be eliminated too.
Kiana James, Lizzy Rain, Kali Armstong, La Catalina are final four. Kelani Jordan is watching from the crowd.
Joseph says Lady Shani was never eliminated, but she's outside being tended to by officials.
La Catalina is out. Lots of back and forth. Kiana is out. Rain clotheslines Armstrong over the top, but they both go over and hang from the ropes. They gain footing on the apron and trade blows. Rain tries to hit Kali, but Kali doesn't budge and instead Rain falls to the floor. Kali thinks she won. She looks up at Jordan.
Then, Lady Shani re-enters the ring and eliminates Kali from behind, winning the battle royale.
Lady Shani takes off her mask, revealing Wren Sinclair! She stares up at Kelani Jordan, who is angry.
Your winner, and the #1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship, Wren Sinclair!
And we go to credits.
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