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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 royale and wishes her luck.
TNA Kockouts 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!
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