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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing WWE NXT coverage from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
I am filling in for Eric Lewis this week. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to him and everyone else up there!
On the call are Booker T and Vic Joseph!
We see a recap of Wren Sinclair winning the battle royal last week. They showed Sinclair entering the PC.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: WWE NXT Tag Team Champions The Vanity Project vs. Mini Vikingo & Chaz "Starboy" Hall.
Hall and Baylor opened the match with a flurry of rapid-fire pin attempts, with Hall catching Baylor with a hurancanrana. Vanity Project regained control when Smokes tagged in and rocked Hall with a forearm, allowing the duo to isolate Hall and cut the ring in half. Hall eventually created an opening to tag in Mini Vikingo, who immediately made an impact with a slingshot corkscrew crossbody on Smokes. Vikongo followed up with a hurricanrana before using Hall as a springboard to deliver a standing shooting star press to Smokes. Hall and Mini Vikingo then struck matching superhero flip poses, drawing attention to their chemistry. However, Mini's ensuing staredown with Myka left him vulnerable, allowing Baylor to blindside him with a clothesline. Smokes then caught Hall on the apron with a clothesline, sending him crashing down.
Mini Vikingo created an opening by hitting Baylor with a standing Spanish fly, allowing Hall to capitalize on the hot tag and clean house with a barrage of strikes. Hall showcased his impressive agility, taking out both opponents with the Eddy Gordo backflip kick before planting Smokes with a standing Red Arrow for a nearfall. Hall kept the momentum going by launching himself over the top rope in an inverted dive onto both opponents at ringside. Mini Vikingo continued to impress, connecting with a tightrope springboard 450 on Smokes for a strong nearfall. Booker T noted that if Mini Vikingo had more weight behind the move, it would have been enough to secure the victory. Baylor soon turned the tide, catching Hall out of the air and planting him with a side slam. Mini Vikingo broke up the ensuing pinfall attempt before immediately drilling Smokes with a Poisonrana. Hall countered beautifully, reversing a suplex attempt into a hurricanrana before following up with a suplex of his own on Baylor. Vikingo then delivered an impressive reverse Phoenix Splash to Baylor for another nearfall. Following the commercial break, Mini Vikingo used a hurricanrana to send Baylor crashing into Smokes before taking out Jackson Drake with a corkscrew plancha. However, Smokes thwarted Hall's attempt at a dive by getting his knees up. Vanity Project capitalized on the opening, hitting Hall with their Scorpion Death Drop and double-stomp combination to secure the pinfall.
Your winner, Vanity Project!
Saquon Shugars said Tristan Angels looked like a clown. He said he should be fighting champions. Grayson Waller showed up and told him he's talented but he's not willing to do whatever it takes to win. He said he'll watch the main event to see his next challenger for the title, something Sugars knows nothing about. Shugars told him to watch the monitor and as he walked to the ring, said he would show the kangaroo what he was all about.
In GM Robert Stone's office, Kali Armstrong was told she would be challenging AAA Reina de Reinas Champion La Catalina tonight.
Tristan Angels vs. Saquon Shugars
Shugars took it to Angels with a series of dropkicks off the top rope, but Angels turned the tide by driving him into the corner and unloading with shoulder thrusts. Shugars grabbed a wristlock, but Angels powered out of it. Shugars sent him into the ropes, only for Angels to reverse the whip and send HIM off the ropes instead. Shugars countered with an atomic drop and followed up with a leg drop for a two count. Shugars stood on Angels’ head, but Angels rolled through and stomped him. He followed up with a snake eyes, then tried to remove a turnbuckle pad. Shugars interrupted him and sent him to the outside. Angels responded by tossing chairs into the ring until the referee told him to stop. ngels reluctantly tossed the chairs aside. Shugars left the ring, but Angels sent him crashing into the steps. He tossed Shugars back into the ring and continued the assault in the corner. Angels whipped him into the opposite corner, followed up with a suplex, and scored a two count. Shugars tried to steal a pin with a roll-up, but couldn’t keep Angels down. Angels went for a suplex, but Shugars escaped, only to walk straight into a big boot. Angels attempted a neckbreaker, but Shugars grabbed the ropes to block it. Angels then connected with a backstabber and followed up with an elbow drop for another two-count. He tried to lock in a sleeper hold, but Shugars backed him into the corner before sending him to the outside. Angels climbed back into the ring, where Shugars caught him with a knee to the midsection. Shugars followed with a backbreaker into a face slam for a two-count before heading to the top rope. He lost his balance and crashed down, then opted to charge at Angels and send him over the top rope to the floor instead. Angels retaliated by hurling Shugars into the barricade before throwing him back into the ring, where he connected with a slam and went for the pin.
Your winner, Tristan Angels!
Tony D’Angelo addressed his opponent for the evening, Myles Borne, and said he wasn’t going to get the job done. D’Angelo declared that he decides who walks and who takes a swim.
Izzi Dame and Nico were hanging out in a dark corner, discussing Zaria. Dame said that Zaria is broken, but she doesn’t want to fix her. She wants her to remain interesting. Dame said Zaria has forgotten what it’s like when someone forces her to look in the mirror. This is about more than just titles; it’s about Dame exposing Zaria.
Wren Sinclair came to the ring and was announced as the top Contender to the NXT Women’s Championship. She grabbed a mic and said that she’d normally keep her head down and play it safe, but last week she did something the old Wren would never have done: take a risk. Sinclair said that even though she was scared last week, she now realizes she doesn’t have to hide or overthink everything. Sometimes, you just need to be scared enough to know that something matters. Sinclair said she’s realized how quickly everything she’s worked for can be taken away, so she needs to start taking chances. She admitted that she was technically suspended, which led to NXT Women's Champion Kelani Jordan coming out and declaring that Sinclair’s win shouldn’t count because she was suspended. She said Sinclair hadn’t earned her title shot and didn’t deserve it. Jordan refused to face Sinclair at Halloween Havoc. She’d take on anyone else, but not Sinclair. Jordan acknowledged that Sinclair had taken a risk, but argued that she’d done it while pretending to be someone else, which was sad. NXT GM Robert Stone then came out and lifted Sinclair’s suspension. Stone asked the audience whether Sinclair deserved the title shot, and they chanted their approval. So, apparently, that settles it: Wren Sinclair vs. Kelani Jordan for the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc. Well, OK.
Lizzy Rain was speaking with Cruz Montana backstage, with Montana trying to cheer her up after her recent loss. He then picked up the phone and spoke to someone about how people use his story against him and how the person on the other end of the line helped make him the man he is today. HOMICIDE? Dion Lennox attacked Cruz from behind and said he’d redial the phone. He revealed it was Cruz’s mother, telling her he was going to beat Cruz’s ass and send him back to that dark place until he’d have no choice but to call his mom.
AAA Reina de Reinas Champion La Catalina vs. Kali Armstrong
Kali opened with a shoulder tackle and mocked Catalina’s dancing, but Catalina answered with an armdrag and some dancing of her own. Catalina connected with a hurrancanrana and a boot before knocking Kali off the apron with a hip attack. Kali caught Catalina out of the air and slammed her to the mat before exposing the concrete floor. Catalina responded by tossing Kali over the steel steps and hitting a seated senton. Catalina scored a near fall with a roll-up before landing a missile dropkick, a basement dropkick, and a series of running strikes. She followed up with a hip attack and a Gory Slam for another near-fall. Kali hit a modified release Blue Thunder Bomb for a near-fall. Catalina answered with another rollup attempt and a draping hip attack, but Kali countered with a swinging powerslam. Catalina dodged the Kali Connection and dumped Kali onto the exposed concrete. She then connected with the Knee Plus to score the pinfall victory.
Your winner and still Champion, La Catalina!
Wren Sinclair spoke with Myles Borne backstage, noting that they’d both done similar things, but Borne had been more selfish. Borne argued that at least he’d be NXT Champion in the end. Kendal Grey then showed up and announced that she’d been medically cleared. Hopefully that means no more therapy sessions!
They aired a video piece on the WWE Microdrama. Ethan Page got a lot of time.
EK Prosper was backstage trying to cheer up Mini Vikingo and Chazz Hall when the Vanity Project showed up to talk trash. EK questioned why Myka was hanging around the men’s locker room, and she replied that she goes wherever they go. Hall challenged Vanity Project to a tag match, but Smokes said they needed to focus on the Dusty Classic. Drake cut in and declared that the match would be an easy win.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic: Fraxiom vs. Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno
Dar locked Frazer in an ankle lock, but Frazer reached the ropes to break it before applying a crossface of his own. Dar grabbed the ropes to escape, and Moreno tagged in. Axiom entered for Frazer and caught Moreno with an armdrag before setting up a surfboard, but Moreno escaped and the two reached a stalemate. Axiom switched gears with a punch and dropkick, only for Moreno to answer with a kick and allow Dar to tag back in. The challengers double-teamed Frazer and sent him to the outside, but Axiom helped even the odds by blocking their double kick off the apron. All four men traded strikes until they were laid out on the mat. Frazer and Dar remained legal, with Frazer landing a suplex before missing a crossbody. He rolled through and tagged Axiom, but Moreno suplexed Axiom and sent Frazer outside before diving onto him. Dar and Moreno then double-teamed Axiom for a two-count. Dar trapped Axiom against the ring post, but Axiom countered with a submission attempt. Dar reversed it into an ankle lock, only for Axiom to reach the ropes.
Frazer tagged in and exploded with a Sling Blade and a second-rope Spanish Fly on Moreno. He charged again, but Moreno pulled down the ropes to send him crashing outside. Moreno followed with a dive, but Frazer moved, leaving Moreno to crash into the announce table Frazer went up top, but Dar avoided the attack and knocked Axiom out of the ring. Fraxiom regrouped and double-teamed Dar for a two count. Axiom and Dar traded strikes before Dar locked in an armbar. Frazer made a blind tag and leapt from the ring post, only for Dar to catch him in a triangle choke. Frazer stood up, allowing Axiom to drop Dar with a dropkick. Frazer followed with a frog splash, but Dar kicked out at two. Fraxiom hit a high-low on Dar, but Moreno broke up the pin. Axiom grabbed Moreno, who reversed the hold and suplexed Frazer. Dar then German suplexed Axiom, and Moreno connected with a springboard kick before heading to the top rope. Axiom cut him off with a kick and hit a Spanish Fly from the ring post. Frazer followed with a splash, but Dar broke up the pin by trapping Axiom in an ankle lock. Frazer kicked Dar in the face, prompting Moreno to return the favor, while Axiom dove onto Dar on the outside. Frazer hit a superplex on Moreno, and Axiom went for the cover, but Moreno kicked out. Frazer tagged in and held Moreno in place while Axiom climbed to the top rope. Moreno fought free and took Axiom out, then Frazer attempted a springboard attack, only for Dar to catch him with a back elbow. Dar and Moreno followed with a double-team maneuver, and Dar covered Axiom for the pin. Nice upset.
Your winner, Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno!
This was a hell of a match.
AAA Tag Team Champions Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno were interviewed backstage about their participation in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They said they were humbled and honored to be part of the tournament. Birthright then interrupted, with Ariana Grace claiming they’d make good additions to the group, but Birthright weren't taking applications. Galeno and Dr. Wagner fired back with a warning in Spanish before walking off, leaving Birthright wondering what they’d just been told.
Myles Borne vs. Tony D'Angelo - Winner will challenge Grayson Waller at NXT Halloween Havoc
D’Angelo opened with a clothesline before following up with a series of slams. Borne rolled to the outside, and when D’Angelo followed, he actually jogged away from him. Borne eventually slid back into the ring and stomped D’Angelo as he tried to get back in. That didn’t stop D’Angelo from attempting a suplex, but Borne countered with an elbow. D’Angelo came off the ropes, only to get caught with a body slam. Borne sent him into the corner for a splash, but D’Angelo answered with a suplex of his own. Borne took the fight back to the outside, where he introduced D’Angelo to pretty much every piece of ringside furniture available, throwing him into the barricades, the apron, the ring post, and the steps.
Borne tossed D’Angelo back into the ring and went for the cover, but only got two. He climbed to the top rope, but D’Angelo knocked him off and sent him crashing to the outside. D’Angelo then returned the favor, throwing Borne into the barricades and everything else he could throw him into before clearing off the announce table. D’Angelo followed with a spinebuster inside the ring. Borne rolled back out, only for D’Angelo to backdrop him onto the steps. D’Angelo followed that up with a suplex on the floor before tossing Borne back into the ring for another cover. Borne kicked out. Borne nailed him with a suplex, then hit a second in an attempt to finally put D’Angelo away. D’Angelo kept kicking out. Borne landed a dropkick, stomped D’Angelo near the ropes, and dropped a knee for another two-count. He continued wearing D’Angelo down with knees and suplexes, but still couldn’t put him away. Borne started throwing punches, which seemed to have the unfortunate side effect of Hulk-ing D’Angelo up. Tony fired back with a series of German suplexes followed by a bulldog. He then planted Borne with a powerslam, but could only manage another two count.
D’Angelo went for a powerbomb, but Borne caught him with a high knee on the way up. Borne then launched himself off the top rope, flying directly into a spear from D’Angelo. Tony went for the cover, but Borne kicked out again. D’Angelo attempted a chokeslam, but Borne tried to counter with Borne Again. Tony caught him, however, and turned the exchange into a powerbomb for yet another two-count. Borne fired back with an Angle Slam and looked ready to capitalize, but then he got distracted by a cameraman wearing a full-face covering. Angle alert! D’Angelo took advantage of the distraction, slammed Borne, and scored the pin.
It's WWE NXT Champion Grayson Waller vs. Tony D'Angelo at Halloween Havoc.
The cameraman climbed into the ring and revealed himself to be Tavion Heights. He slammed Borne before dragging him to the outside and powerbombing him through the announce table. Guess they will face off at Havoc as well.
Robert Stone wandered into his Office and discovered a note reading, “Make me the host of Halloween Havoc or you are cursed.” Obviously, Papa Shango is back, right? No? Abdullah the Butcher? No? ONITA? No? OK, obviously Danhausen.
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