Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
Showing posts with label Timothy Thatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Timothy Thatcher. Show all posts
Dustin Starr interviews Carlito at the announce desk. Carlito says Buff Bagwell told him to check out Memphis Wrestling, and after what he has seen, "Memphis Wrestling...is cool." Suddenly, Justin Case shows up and says he is tired of all the WWE Superstars showing up and that there is only one WWE Superstar here: "The Problem" Aaron Roberts. He also says that if Carlito keeps on, he will have a big problem, and if he were Carlito, he would turn around and leave. Carlito takes some bites out of his apple, and while Justin Case sees the apple spit coming, Carlito spits the apple at him anyway.
Colton Cage beats CJ Money by disqualification after Main Event Bradley gets involved in the match. After the match, Main Event Bradley attacks Colton Cage, but he is chased out of the ring with a metal folding chair by CJ Blaine.
Justin Case - still with apple on his face - is seen on the phone outside of the WrestleCenter.
Jake Brewer announces that after what happened in last week's main event, Sycho Simon will face off against Big John Dalton at the Tupelo County Fair on September 5th in a No Rules Match, and Buff Bagwell will be in Big John Dalton's corner. All three men will also be at Autozone Park for Memphis Wrestling Night on September 6th.
Wonderboy and The Shocker beat The Disorderlies (Disorderly #1 and Disorderly #2).
Backstage, we hear from Big Mama and Raven Black. Big Mama says she has seen everything and says she is tired of The Vybe Check's (KJ Rockett and Sevyn Cruz) games, and challenges them to another match.
Marko "Hangtime" Harris beats Sevyn Cruz.
We see video footage of Brother Bruce kneeling in a field and turning into a werewolf. We then see the message "Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs."
We hear from Timothy Thatcher, who says that he is here to battle Tim Bosby. He says that Bosby shows lots of promise, yet youth is wasted on the young and wants to know where his experience is. Thatcher plans to give Bosby the wrestling lesson of his life.
We see footage from Tupelo Supershow.
Tim Bosby beats Timothy Thatcher in a WWE ID Challenge Match.
Kylie Rae beats Aria Bennett, Chantel Monroe and "The Real Deal" Zayda Steel in a Play-In Fatal 4-Way Match to enter the Fatal 4-Way Match for the Evolve Women's Championship. During the match, Bryce Donovan gets on the ring apron and distracts the referee, but when the referee catches Jackson Drake placing Zayda Steel's foot on the rope during a pinfall attempt by Kylie Rae, the rest of The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake, Bryce Donovan) gets ejected from ringside.
We hear from Keanu Carver, who says that it ends between him and Harlem Lewis tonight. He hopes that Harlem Lewis has taken his best shot, because he is not one to be played with and he will become the first Evolve Champion.
We hear from Harlem Lewis, who says that Keanu Carver does not know anything about him and that Carver has been in his way, and that Carver will find out that he is the only alpha male in Evolve.
The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake, Bryce Donovan, "The Real Deal" Zayda Steel). Brad Baylor says that nobody cares about Brinley Reece or Dani Palmer, and Ricky Smokes declares that the only woman anyone cares about in Evolve is Zadya Steel, who he says is the only woman who deserves to be in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the Evolve Women's Championship. Baylor says Jackson Drake should be in the Fatal 4-Way for the Evolve Championship, then says he is not too worried because after he and Smokes get done beating down "Super" Sean Legacy, Prime Minister Stevie Turner will have no choice but to replace Legacy with Drake.
Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) beat "Super" Sean Legacy and Timothy Thatcher.
Backstage, we hear from Kali Armstrong, who calls out Kendal Grey for attacking her from behind after she hit her with a chop block despite being "a Mighty Mouse badass." She warns her, Wendy Choo and Kylie Rae that next week is her moment after calling her shot and being the best on Evolve. She says she may be brash and confident, but she is used to winning, and next week, she will make history again when she becomes the first-ever Evolve Women's Champion.
Backstage during the commercial break, Kendal Grey, Carliee Bright, Masyn Holiday and Chantel Monroe are backstage having hear what Kali Armstrong has had to say. Kendal says that Kali thinks she is already champion in her own mind, and Masyn admits that Kali can hit hard. Kendal says she is not afraid of physicality due to putting women twice her size on the mat in amateur wrestling, but Chantel tells her to keep dreaming as this is not amateur wrestling and that she is not winning the Evolve Women's Championship before leaving the locker room. Masyn says "the real Chantel" could be cool, but nobody will know for sure until she drops the act.
Keanu Carver beats Harlem Lewis in an Evolve Championship Play-In Match to enter the Fatal 4-Way Match for the Evolve Championship.
General Manager Stevie Turner - now known as "Evolve Prime Minister" - shows up and announces that she is finalizing a huge announcement before "The Vanity Project" - Zayda Steele, Jackson Drake, Bryce Donovan and Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) - show up and take the microphone. Drako Knox is watching from the VIP section wondering what is going on before Baylor says that The Vanity Project are "five future superstars" as he puts the entire faction on a pedestal and takes a liking to the name their faction has been given. He tells everyone to remember this moment, because The Vanity Project will take over Evolve. Stevie Turner, who finally has another microphone, states that she is the law around here and is the "Evolve Prime Minister," then demands that Jackson Drake have his match against "Super" Sean Legacy right now.
"Super" Sean Legacy beats Jackson Drake. During the match, the rest of "The Vanity Project" (Zayda Steele, Bryce Donovan, Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) get involved in the match only to be ejected from ringside.
In footage from earlier today, Kyle Rae tells Wendy Choo that she is no stranger to darkness and that she has overcome every obstacle that life has thrown her way in and out of the ring. She says that the darkness under her blanket was a little different, and while she has no idea who she is or what happened to her, she will not let that darkness consume Wendy. She says she can overcome Wendy, and she is not afraid to face her again. Kylie then challenges Wendy to a match next week.
Harlem Lewis and Keanu Carver have a face-off. Harlem says it is coming down to them and that he will be the first person leaving with the Evolve Championship around his waist. Carver says he has smashed everyone in his path. Lewis says Carver has yet to beat him. Evolve Prime Minster Stevie Turner shows up and puts them in a match, not as competitors, but as a tag team in a match against Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes). Carver says that Turner has just signed Swipe Right's death warrants and that Lewis will be next if he gets in his way.
Zara Zakher beats Aria Bennett. After the match, Chuey Martinez interviews Zakher. After Zakher says that she is always the underdog, the lights go out, and Wendy Choo's teddy bear appears on the apron bearing a note stating "KYLIE, I ACCEPT."
The Vanity Project (Zayda Steele, Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) appear in the VIP Section. Baylor says they have just gotten off the phone with his parents' lawyer and that although they were ejected from ringside, they have every right to be in the VIP Section.
Carlee Bright beats Kalyx with a reversal into a Sunset Flip. After the match, The Vanity Project (Zayda Steele, Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) cannot be removed from the VIP Section.
Bryce Donovan beats Timothy Thatcher with a Black Hole Slam following the distraction by Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes).
Backstage, Evolve Prime Minister is watching. As she states that Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) will be trouble, Harlem Lewis and Keanu Carver show up. Lewis says they will not be a problem for long, and Carver says the problem will stop after he beats the brakes off of Swipe Right.
Backstage, NXT General Manager Ava tells Stevie Turner that he has been phenomenal for the past couple of weeks regarding the matches she has pitched, the talent she has acquired and even getting a champion from the original EVOLVE on the show. She says it is time for the next step in Stevie Turner's journey, and has Chuey Martinez head out to the ring for a special announcement. Chuey Martinez announces that Stevie Turner is the new General Manager for Evolve. Stevie Turner says it is an aboslute honor to be named the new general manager, and the fact that Ava put her trust in her and not Robert Stone makes it that much sweeter. She says that if the last few weeks ahve been anything to go by, this is the place where pro wrestling evolves, and it will continue to be that way under her leadership. She says that everything is up for grabs and wants to know who will take the top spot, who will achieve championship contendership, and who will be the face of Evolve. She says that all comes down to who impresses her as well as the fans, then kicks things off with two men who were going at it last week: Wolfgang and Sam Holloway. As everyone else leaves, Keanu Caver and Harlem Lewis bump into each other and have an argument, and when Luca Crusifino gets between them, all three men get separated by officials.
Wolfgang beats Sam Holloway with a top rope Swanton Bomb to the back despite his back being hurt and giving out during the match following a slam into the ring apron. After the match, Joe Coffey speaks towards the camera, asking General Manager Stevie Turner if she remembers him knocking out Jordan Oasis before demanding that anyone who wants a scrap with Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang) be sent their way.
In backstage footage from earlier this week, Aria Bennett meets with Layla Diggs. Neither of them liked losing their debut matches in Evolve, and Aria proposes they bring their resources together and make some music in the ring.
Carlee Bright is seen in the VIP Section.
Kendal Grey beats Zara Zakher by submission with a cross arm breaker after Zara rolls out of a pinfall attempt following a spinebuster. After the match, as Kylie Rae consoles Zara Zakher, both Kylie and Zara see Wendy Choo's teddy bear in the corner.
Drako Knox shows up at the announce table, saying last week was the biggest opportunity of his life and that he feels alive in the ring and feels a hunger that he has not felt since his college football days. Drako says that connecting fist to face is a good feeling. He says that last week may not have turned out like he wanted, but he can handle that and learn; what he cannot handle is "that big goof" in the VIP Section showing him up. Drako says that Tate Wilder is out with an injury and that he is out here by himself, but if anyone thinks they can show him up, he can handle that, and demands that he and the long-haired man from last week settle things in the ring. Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) is seen entering the VIP Section.
Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) and Ice Williams are seen in the VIP Section.
Aria Bennett and Layla Diggs beat Haze Jameson and Kalyx. During the match, Haze Jameson gets a swig of champagne during from the VIP Section, leading to her being distracted as Layla Diggs gets the win. After the match, Kalyx angrily shoves Haze Jameson away.
We see a vignette of Timothy Thatcher's accomplishments in the original EVOLVE, and it is revealed that he is "Super" Sean Legacy's opponent for the next match. We then get a closer look at "Super" Sean Legacy, who has wanted to be a professional wrestling since high school and was picked on a lot and told that he could not do it. Legacy says he sees himself as a role model, as someone once told him that they were told they could not but is now doing it because of him.
"Super" Sean Legacy beats Timothy Thatcher. After the match, Timothy Thatcher gives Sean Legacy a sarcastic clap, then Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes) confront Sean Legacy in the ring. All of a sudden, Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel show up to stand by Sean Legacy, and Ice Williams reluctantly stands with Swipe Right before standin with Legacy, Cappuccino and Cartwheel, much to Swipe Right's chagrin.
Jon Moxley - accompanied to the match by his father Dan - beats "Hangman" Adam Page after stacking Page up as Page has him in the Bulldog Choke. After the match, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta show up and stop things from getting physical after the match. Moxley keeps daring Page to hit him, and Page keeps flipping him off.
We see a video package for Samoa Joe vs. Darby Allin in a no holds barred match for the TNT Championship later tonight.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Jamie Hayter, The Butcher, The Blade and The Bunny. The Bunny says she, The Butcher and The Blade congratulate Hayter on beating Emi Sakura, then says Hayter does not back down from a challenge. The Bunny then challenges Hayter to an eliminator match, which Hayter accepts. Suddenly, Toni Storm and Saraya are seen attacking Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. on a nearby monitor.
The Acclaimed ("Platinum" Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) beat The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd). After the match, The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn) show up. Colten congratulates The Acclaimed, then wants an answer to The Gunns' challenge for the tag team titles. Anthony Bowens asks the fans if The Gunns deserve a tag team title match, to which the fans disagree. "Daddy Ass" Billy Gunn stops both teams from getting physical, then says he is sick and tired of this and tells both teams to get physical. Austin dares Billy to turn their back on him and Colten and drown his sorrows in a pill bottle. Billy Gunn goes from leaving the ring to getting back in the ring, then asks The Gunns if they have what it takes before stating they will see next week when the tag team titles are on the line.
Backstage, Alex Marvez interviews "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry. He says Hook had his back when no one else did, but he has been done the tag team thing already and that this year, he will be a champion all by himself.
Konosuke Takeshita beats "The Machine" Brian Cage.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews The Jericho Appreciation Society. Chris Jericho tells "Absolute" Ricky Starks that he lost to them, not a baseball bat, then has an idea of how Starks can challenge them. Sammy Guevara introduces "the Garcia-Guevara Gauntlet." Daniel Garcia says Starks will have to beat Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, then either him or Guevara. If Starks can still get through, he will face Chris Jericho, who is ready to whip Starks' ass.
We hear from The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson). Kenny Omega tells Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) to bring AR Fox to shoot their shot, and tells them not to miss as The Elite does not miss. Suddenly, Matt Hardy, "All Ego" Ethan Page, Stokely Hathaway and Isiah Kassidy show up. Ethan Page challenges The Elite to a match against him, Kassidy and Matt Hardy on Rampage. Omega accepts.
"The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson beats Timothy Thatcher. During the match, referee Stephon Smith gets sandwiched into the corner, and MJF shows up ready to interfere only to be attacked and chased to the back by Konosuke Takeshita. After the match, MJF and Takeshita continue to brawl backstage. Security and officials have to break the brawl up. Renee Paquette shows up and announces that next week, Takeshita will face MJF in a AEW World Championship Eliminator Match as per Tony Khan.
We hear from The Mogul Affiliates (Swerve Strickland, Parker Boudreaux, ???). Swerve Strickland says Dustin Rhodes is standing in his spotlight, then says that next week, he will take out Brian Pillman Jr. We also find out that the tattooed man's name is "Trench."
It is announced that "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson will face Rush next week.
Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Rush, Jose the Assistant and "El Perro Peligroso" Preston Vance. MJF shows up with a suitcase full of money. He hands it to Jose, then says he has five more for Rush if he can beat Bryan Danielson by any means necessary. Rush tells MJF they have a deal, then MJF tells Rush that he does not have to like him and that all he has to do is get the job done.
Jade Cargill retains the TBS Championship against Red Velvet and goes 50-0 after the referee is distracted by Kiera Hogan attacking Leila Grey at ringside and other referees ejecting Kiera Hogan from ringside.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Jamie Hayter when Ruby Soho shows up. As Britt says she is doing good, Ruby Soho says that she had nothing to do with the attack on her despite her friendship with Saraya and Toni Storm. Britt does not believe her.
Samoa Joe beats Darby Allin in a no holds barred match to become TNT Champion for a second time after hitting an avalance Muscle Buster into exposed wooden ring boards. After the match, Wardlow shows up and attacks Joe in the ring. Joe escapes the powerbomb symphony and escapes, then security tries to keep him away from Joe only to get attacked as the show ends.
The show begins with Cameron Grimes and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Biase entering the arena after leaving the back of a limousine. Grimes and DiBiase then make their way to the ring. DiBiase talks about how he came to NXT to look for the special someone who was worthy of being a Million Dollar Champion and carrying on his legacy, and how that someone had to be strong of body, mind and heart. He says that strength of heart is important, and says that Cameron Grimes is no quitter, and because of that, Cameron Grimes is a champion right now. Grimes admits DiBiase first drove him nuts, as he was looking only at his money and thought he was something, but says he did not have the accomplishment to make him something. When he was LA Knight's butler, he knew that he had to do something, and at NXT TakeOver 36, he became the Million Dollar Champion. Grimes then asks "Where does Cameron Grimes go now?" Grimes and DiBiase agree that they both have to go to the moon, then laugh as smoke and dollar bills with Cameron Grimes' face on them spray throughout the arena.
Hit Row (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla, B-Fab) is seen entering the arena.
Ridge Holland beats Timothy Thatcher. After the match, Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland attack Thatcher, and when Tommaso Ciampa jumps in, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch attack him, and Ridge Holland lays him out. As Holland leaves, Thatcher pulls Ridge out of the ring. Ridge attacks Thatcher, but Dunne soon holds him back.
Backstage, Arash Markazi interviews Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo Hayes says that he has never seen himself as an underdog, and that he worked hard to beat men twice his size just to get to the finals of the NXT Breakout Tournament. Carmelo says that when it comes to Odyssey Jones, you cannot prepare for a man like him. He says he cannot get ahead of himself when it comes to winning the finals.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Dexter Lumis and Indi Hartwell. After Indi Hartwell talks about their time together, Dexter produces an invitation to the wedding, which takes place on September 14th.
Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter beat Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Raquel Gonzalez. Raquel says she meant every word she said, and says that while Dakota Kai is tough, it is not over between them if she knows her well enough. She also says she has been waiting for Kay Lee Ray and knows about her NXT UK Women's Championship reign, and says that she will beat anyone who challenges her, Franky Monet shows up and says she will take Raquel's shine and title.
Backstage, Arash Markazi interviews Odyssey Jones, who says tonight is the biggest night of his WWE career, and that he never thought things would come to fruition for him so quickly. He plans to be the best man he can be just like every other night, and that he does not know what is next for him after this. He also admits Carmelo Hayes is his toughest opponent yet, but he has to win.
Kay Lee Ray beats Valentina Feroz.
Samoa Joe is seen entering the arena.
Backstage, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are not in the mood for an interview. Suddenly, they are met by Mandy Rose, who asks them to come with her and never look back if they do not want to lose again. They follow Mandy.
Samoa Joe heads to the ring. Joe talks about how he stood across the ring from the most dominant champion in NXT history and beat him to become the first-ever three-time NXTHe says that being a three-time champion should be cause for celebration, but experience tells him that to be champion, one must be king in the land of savages, where there is no time to celebrate. Joe says he has noticed that the air is more palpable, the handshakes colder and the stares bolder, then asks who in the locker room is waiting to step up. His challenge is answered by Pete Dunne. Champion. Dunne heads to the ring in street clothes and says Joe has faced him enough times to know the truth, and says that he is the baddest around here, not Joe. Dunne tells Joe to head to the back and tell General Manager William Regal to make the match. Dunne then says "Don't make me provoke," then LA Knight shows up, says Joe is afraid of him and says he would have beaten Karrion Kross in 43.5 seconds before challenging him for the NXT Championship, saying he will be Joe's first and last challenger. Dunne threatens to break Knight's fingers if he gets in the ring, but Knight says he is just here to chat. Suddenly, Kyle O'Reilly shows up and says the only thing Knight has a chance of winning is a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin knock-off vest competition. He then says he respects Joe, then says he has earned a title match and does not have to talk his way into one when he is suddenly attacked by Ridge Holland. Dunne tries to cheap shot Joe, but Joe sees him coming and Dunne is attacked from behind by Tommaso Ciampa. Ridge Holland punches out Ciampa, then LA Knight rushes at Joe only to be headbutted out of the ring.
Backstage, Cameron Grimes and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase leave the arena, then Grimes tells DiBiase that the Million Dollar Championship is his legacy and hands it back. DiBiase tells Grimes that he should have it to remind him of who he is. When Grimes finds out that the belt suddenly feels lighter and cheaper, he checks the back only to find out it is a replica title. DiBiase laughs as the white limousine speeds off.
Backstage, Kyle O'Reilly is approached by Duek Hudson, but as soon as Hudson insults him, O'Reilly slaps him. Hudson attacks him, but O'Reilly strikes back, and referees and officials have to hold both men back.
General Manager William Regal watches the next match from ringside.
Carmelo Hayes beats Odyssey Jones to win the NXT Breakout Tournament after reversing a pinfall attempt by Jones into a crucifix pin. Both men shake hands after the match, then General Manager William Regal congratulates Hayes with a contract for a match for any championship of his choice, then Hayes thanks Odyssey Jones for putting a fight before stating that when he calls his shot, he does not miss.
We hear from Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Ridge Holland. Pete Dunne says he does not care who stakes their claim to the NXT Championship, as he knows that Joe knows he will beat him. Danny Burch says things will change after five months on the shelf, and Oney Lorcan says he and Burch will be champions again. Ridge Holland says that he will put Tommaso Ciampa on the shelf just like he did Timothy Thatcher, then says that they started this and that they will end this.
We hear from Boa, who says another victim will fall to Tian Sha (Xia Li, Boa, Mei Yinh).
Next week: Ilja Dragunov returns to NXT!
In a stunning upset, Xyon Quinn beats Boa with a clothesline in his NXT debut. After the match, Xyon Quinn jumps over the barricade to leave after seeing Mei Ying at the stage. (Xyon Quinn is formerly known as rugby standout Daniel Vidot.)
Backstage, Johnny Gargano tells General Manager William Regal to cancel Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis' wedding. Regal refuses. When LA Knight shows up complaining about Samoa Joe and Tommaso Ciampa, Regal kicks him and Gargano out of his office.
We hear from Malcolm Bivens as Roderick Strong teaches a masterclass with Julius and Brutus Creed, which is also overseen by Hachiman (who is mentioned by name for the first time). Bivens says Roderick Strong will be in the ring next week to show what kind of champion he truly is against KUSHDA.
Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) beats Hit Row (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla) in a six-man tag match. During the match, B-Fab shoves Santos Escobar into the ring post behind the referee's back, and is then confronted by Electra Lopez, who hits B-Fab with a pipe before tossing it to Swerve, distracting him. Electra Lopez is also heard saying the word "Familia." This allows Escobar and Legado del Fantasma to get the win.
Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan beat Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher after Ridge Holland returns for the first time in some time and takes out Timothy Thatcher from behind the barricade. After the match, Ridge Holland attacks Thatcher while Dunne and Lorcan hold Ciampa back, then headbutts Ciampa.
We see a vignette for Carmelo Hayes.
We hear from Hit Row (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla, B-Fab), who not only mock Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza), but also speak Spanish as they say that they are the new kings of the jungle, yet they have other teams like Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) talking trash about them.
Samoa Joe heads to the ring and tosses a chair and a table inside. He places a contract on the table, then says he could talk about Karrion Kross all night but knows he is a gutless coward. He then asks General Manager William Regal to join him in the ring. Regal joins Joe in the ring, and Joe says that he knows Regal is angry after last week, and proposes that instead of firing Karrion Kross, they can solve all their problems in three easy steps. Samoa Joe tenders his resignation from NXT management and provides a contract that reactivates him as a member of the active NXT roster. Regal signs the documents. Samoa Joe then produces a contract for Samoa Joe vs. Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver 36. Regal signs this contract as well. Both men then shake hands.
We see a vignette for Josh Briggs.
In footage from earlier this week, Cameron Grimes and L.A. Knight head to a golf course. Grimes annoys Knight and even makes bets that Knight can't do things (to the tune of $10,000) to the point that Knight has a bad swing.
Carmelo Hayes beats Josh Briggs to advance to the semi-finals of the NXT Breakout Tournament. Duke Hudson guests on commentary in the middle of the match.
Last week in a network exclusive, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Franky Monet, Robert Stone and Jessi Kamea. Frank says she plans to go for the NXT Women's Tag Team titles with Jessi Kamea, then Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter show up and tell Franky to go to the back of the line. After Carter and Catanzaro leave, Franky and Jessi Kamea both agree that they are annoying.
In footage from earlier today, Cameron Grimes annoys L.A. Knight again, and Knight's ball lands in the water. As Grimes gets the ball, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase shows up and says that guys like L.A. Knight will hang him up to dry and that he is born to be a champion, not a butler. He tells Grimes that the Cameron Grimes he knows is a fighter, and to think about that.
In backstage footage from moments ago, Ridge Holland says that Timothy Thatcher is not the first person he has smashed up and that he will not be the last.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez head to the ring. Raquel talks about how she has dominated every single person who has stepped up to the plate, then asks who is next. She then says "Keep 'em coming." Dakota Kai says that Raquel Gonzales debuted eighteen months ago and has been unstoppable ever since, and that Raquel is the most dominant woman in NXT history, having defeated former champions in a list of opponents that will continue to go on. She says that the NXT women's division is the greatest because of one woman, and says that with NXT TakeOver 36 being four weeks away, she wants to know who wants to face Raquel. When nobody shows up, Dakota Kai says that nobody is willing to face her, and that she will always have her back as long as she is champion. As Raquel has her back turned, Dakota Kai lays Raquel out with a kick to the face. Raquel feels betrayed as Dakota Kai walks up the ramp.
We hear from Adam Cole, who says that everybody has been trying to attach themselves to him recently, with Kyle O'Reilly continuing to talk about him and Bronson Reed calling him his "rebound." Cole says that Bronson Reed lost the North American Championship for a reason, then says that Reed will not get back to the top at his expense.
In footage from earlier this week, Zoey Stark tells Io Shirai they should be training together. Io Shirai is reluctant, as he does not like Zoey, but eventually agrees.
Backstage, Mandy Rose is seen talking to Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne.
Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter beat Franky Monet and Jessi Kamea after Robert Stone throws a shoe at Franky Monet and tells her to finish Kayden Carter.
In footage from last night, Wade Barrett interviews Roderick Strong and Malcolm Bivens. Roderick says that when you compete at a high level, the game is 90% mental and 10% physical, and everyone knows his 10% is better than everybody else's 100%. He says he could not get through the drama of The Undisputed Era until he got a call from Malcolm Bivens, who reminded him of who he was. Bivens says he is the best, and that he is the one to bring Roderick back to NXT. On the subject of Bobby Fish, Malcolm Bivens can get one anywhere, and says that Bobby Fish vs. Roderick Strong is a big money match. Roderick says that when he finishes Bobby Fish next week, it is over.
In backstage footage from moments ago, Dakota Kai refuses to explain her actions.
Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) beat Hit Row (Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla) after Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) attack Swerve, sending him into a ring post. After the match, Legado del Fantasma attack Top Dolla, and Swerve swing a steel chair at them to get them to retreat.
Backstage, Indi Hartwell, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae wonder why Austin Theory has walked off. Suddenly, Indi gets a drawing from Dexter Lumis of Lumis being with The Way, which Gargano and Candice disapprove of. Indi Hartwell proposes a match between Lumis and Gargano, and Gargano also proposes that if he wins, Lumis can never be mentioned again. Hartwell brings the match to General Manager William Regal.
In footage from earlier today, Cameron Grimes and L.A. Knight are met by Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake), who are impatient as they wait on Grimes and Knight. They bet $20,000 - double what Grimes claims Knight owes him - that Knight can't get the ball over the water. Knight cannot do it, but Grimes does, and accidentally hits Knight in the process as he sinks a hole in one. Afterwards, Grimes has Knight go after Grizzled Young Veterans, telling him they hit him.
Next week: Joe Gacy vs. Trey Baxter in the first round of the NXT Breakout Tournament!
Adam Cole beats Bronson Reed after rolling out of the way of the Tsunami. During the match, it is announced that Hit Row (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla) will face Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) next week. After the match, Adam Cole is hit from behind with a chair by Kyle O'Reilly, who then hits Cole with a vertical suplex on the ring steps.
General Manager William Regal heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Regal says he has been with NXT since the very beginning in some forms, and has sat at the announce table for the first few years and watched NXT become what it is, the competitors that came through and the tours around the world that it had. With tears in his eyes and with great sadness, he talks about how his family even saw the show with him and how any time not spent with his family was spent helping to make NXT what it became, and thanks the fans for their support through the years. He then says that with the chaos from Sunday, he has given all that he can give to the fans and feels he cannot give the fans what they deserve anymore. Before Regal can make his big announcement, Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up. Kross says he and Scarlett knew this day would come and that they did not know when, and that they had to see and feel this for himself. He then calls Regal "completely pathetic" for crying and told him that he knew he was losing control of the NXT roster. He then says that when he retained the NXT Championship on Sunday, Regal knew he could control the place through chaos and violence. Kross then tells Regal to tell the people that he is leaving and then turn around and leave and never come back. Kross also demands Regal say that he was right and that he conquers all, then all of a sudden, two months after his WWE release, Samoa Joe appears and gets in the ring. Samoa Joe says that Regal wanted to speak with him, and Regal says that because of his love for NXT, NXT deserves a General Manager who can hold the position with the integrity it deserves, and asks Joe to be the new General Manager of NXT. Samoa Joe declines, then explains that in the seven years Regal has been on NXT, he has scoured the planet and brought in the best talent, including himself, and plucked NXT from obscurity and made it an international phenomenon. Joe says that Regal has cast a large shadow and has big shoes to fill, then says he cannot accept. He then admits that while he made Regal's life hell while he was in NXT, he always afforded him respect and wants to ensure respect is afforded to Regal from everybody. Regal considers this an interesting idea, but mentions that Samoa Joe cannot be a competitor and cannot lay a hand on anyone unless provoked. Joe accepts Regal's offer, then asks Kross what he is doing in the ring. Joe then says "Tick tock, young champion," and Kross and Scarlett leave the ring. Regal and Joe then shake hands.
We hear from Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake). Zack Gibson says they heard what Timothy Thatcher had to say and that he and James Drake are used to being looked down upon, and Drake says there will be no excuses tonight in their Tornado Rules tag team match. Gibson says that he and Drake cannot wait to kick their heads in.
Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) beat Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel). After the match, Imperium attack Breezango and hit Breeze with the European Bomb. They then drape an Imperium banner over a laid-out Breeze. After the match, Imperium attack Breezango and hit Breeze with the European Bomb. They then drape an Imperium banner over a laid-out Breeze.
Backstage, General Manager William Regal and security hold Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly apart. Regal puts them in a match at NXT Great American Bash in three weeks as well as in individual matches next week where they get to pick their opponents. As Cole says he should be fighting O'Reilly, O'Reilly punches Cole, and Samoa Joe soon steps in. After Joe keeps O'Reilly away from Cole, Cole shoves Joe, and this leads Joe into putting Cole in the Coaquina Clutch. He then says tells security to tell Cole that Regal wants his decision when he wakes up. (The security guards in this segment are all played by future NXT Superstars: Bron Breakker, Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, Trick Williams, Tony D'Angelo and Von Wagner.)
We see a screen with a battery indicator charging and starting at 1%.
We hear from Santos Escobar, who says that he had the North American Championship in his hands, but Bronson Reed had to put him through a wall. He says that this was the only thing that Reed could have put him down with, and he will face him one-on-one and become the next North American Champion.
We get our first look at Trey Baxter (formerly known as Blake Christian), who makes his NXT debut tonight.
KUSHIDA retains the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Trey Baxter with the Hoverboard Luck. During the match, Kyle O'Reilly watches from the stage. After the match, Kyle O'Reilly tells KUSHIDA he is not here to accept his open challenge for the Cruiserweight title and is here to issue one of his own, saying he wants a match with him for next week. KUSHIDA accepts.
Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Franky Monet and Presley. She says that she is here to give the fans what they want, and will give an encore of her world premiere next week. Suddenly, Franky meets up with Jessi Kamea and Aliyah. When Robert Stone shows up, Franky Monet says that they would do better if they listen to him, and Robert Stone says "Great minds think alike."
We hear from Mercedes Martinez, who admits that while she felt the wrath of Tian Sha on Sunday, then says she is the wrong person to mess with. She says that Boa will feel the steel again if he messes with her, and says she and Xia Li are 1-1 and she is ready to go again. She also says that Mei Ying won't have time to get out of her chair, for she will knock her right out of it.
"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase heads to the ring. DiBiase says he has finally found somebody most worthy of continuing his legacy. We then a video package of LA Knight, who won the Million Dollar Championship Ladder Match on Sunday. LA Knight pulls up at the arena in a white Corvette convertible and heads to the ring. LA Knight says it is not often that one gets to meet their heroes, and even rarer to share the ring with them. He then says that he does not know how to describe how he feels about continuing DiBiase's legacy, saying he took the idea very seriously. He then says that despite being banged up, living up to that legacy and winning the Million Dollar Championship was "100% worth it." He talks about growing up watching DiBiase and becoming a big fan of him. LA Knight says he wanted DiBiase in the ring to express his gratitude and appreciation, and thanks him. He says this is the greatest moment in his wrestling career, and says it would be the honor of his life to crown him Million Dollar Champion. DiBiase places the Million Dollar Championship on LA Knight's shoulder, then shakes his hand before he and LA Knight laugh. LA Knight says that he now has everything he wants and that it is time to drop everything he does not need. He then punches out DiBiase and beats up DiBiase's security before declaring himself the true Million Dollar Champion. Eli Drake continues to stomp on DiBiase until Cameron Grimes runs in and knocks Eli Drake out of the ring. Grimes then checks on DiBiase.
Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai. She says that they have unfinished business with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell and that Dakota wants gold. Dakota Kai says they will take out Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter tonight before becoming NXT Women's Tag Team Champions for a second time.
The battery indicator returns, this time charged to 11%.
Backstage, Samoa Joe and General Manager William Regal hold Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon back as Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez head to the ring.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez beat Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter.
In footage from earlier today, Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) says Hit Row (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla, B-Fab) are a bunch of tough guys for breaking their house on their pre-pre-show, which they are now rebuilding, and says if they knock the door to ask for a taste, they had better be ready for Ever-Rise to answer.
The battery indicator is now at 21%.
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly at NXT The Great American Bash in three weeks is now official.
Io Shirai heads to the ring. Io says that she is back and that she feels good, but when she announces her next target, Candice LeRae shows up. Candice says things have change since she has been gone, and that she is no longer an uncrowned champion while Io Shirai is back to the bottom after no longer being an unbeaten champion, saying she will have to earn her opportunities. Candice says that Io Shirai picked the wrong time to screw with her, then Io is attacked from behind by Indi Hartwell. Io overpowers them both and hits Indi with the Tiger Feint Kick, but the numbers game eventually takes over. Indi Hartwell goes for a top rope elbow drop onto the announce table, but she is stopped by Zoey Stark, who fights off Candice and Indi. Io Shirai then hits Candice and Indi with a springboard double drop kick to clear them out of the ring.
Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Samoa Joe and General Manager William Regal. The scene then shifts to Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher heading to the ring, and Thatcher messes with MSK by snatching Nash Carter's popcorn bucket and taking it with him.
We see another vignette for Diamond Mine, which opens next week.
Backstage, Mckenzie Mitchell interviews Samoa Joe and General Manager William Regal, but they are interrupted but Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory, who sing Samoa Joe's praises. Samoa Joe tells them to get out. Pete Dunne then shows up and stares down with Joe.
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher beat Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) in a Tornado Rules Tag Team Match with a double submission to James Drake after Ciampa puts Gibson through the announce table with an Air Raid Crash.
Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews General Manager William Regal and Samoa Joe. Regal says things will be a little different around here, and Joe says this will be the first night of many.
Toni Storm beats Zoey Stark. After the match, Franky Monet shows up to advertise her in-ring debut next week.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza). Joaquin wants their tag team title shot, then Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa show up and say MSK have never beat them and that Wilde and Mendoza will never beat them. This leads to Wilde and Mendoza challenging them to a match, which Ciampa and Thatcher accept.
Backstage, Cameron Grimes treats Jake Atlas like a valet. When Atlas says that "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase is the only one with a spot, Cameron Grimes challenges him to a match.
Candice LaRae and Indi Hartwell are on a spa trip after winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. Unbeknownst to Indi and Candice, Dexter Lumis is massaging Indi and overhearing them as Indi tells Candice she was right about him.
We see another Prime Target video package for Killer Kross vs. Finn Balor for the NXT Championship next week.
Before the next match, Cameron Grimes shows everyone "the real Ted DiBiase," and we see a video package that makes "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase look like a chump. Suddenly, everyone chants "DiBiase," and this makes Cameron Grimes angry enough to give Jake Atlas the psychological advantage at the beginning of their match.
Jake Atlas beats Cameron Grimes. During the match, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase's white stretch limousine shows up outside of the arena. Later on in the match, as Cameron Grimes calls for the Cave-In after taking Jake Atlas down from mid-air, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase shows up, distracting Grimes. This allows Jake Atlas to get the win with a Sunset Flip. After the match, Grimes chases after DiBiase and finds his stretch limo. DiBiase opens the window and says "Not bad, kid. But you're still no Million Dollar Man!"
In footage from last night, Bronson Reed talks about his pro wrestling debut fourteen years ago before addressing his match against Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship in a steel cage while inside a steel cage. Bronson says that he will not let Johnny Gargano deny him of his destiny and that he will tell his wife that he did it after fourteen years.
Backstage, Arash Markazi interviews Pete Dunne. Dunne says that he has some unfinished business to take care of and some matches that he wants to have again, and that he lets his work speak for itself ever since being NXT UK Champion. Dunne also says that anyone who has a match with him leaves differently than when they came in. He says that he mixes traditional British wrestling with the style he has picked up from traveling the world, and says his connection with the fans brings a new dimension to what he does. Dunne says that he is just taking opportunities as they come, and he says that it is time to go after the NXT Championship and conquer the United States.
Killian Dain beats Alexander Wolfe after Wolfe gets caught taking a steel chair from Marcel Barthel. After the match, Aichner and Barthel attack Wolfe from behind and hit him with the European Bomb.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai. Raquel says she ahs no problem with Mercedes Martinez, and Dakota says she would rather kick Mercedes' head off. As Dakota says she and Raquel will go for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships again, Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) show up and insult them while plugging Ever-Rise Live. This leads to Chase Parker getting slapped by Raquel.
Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza) beat Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher after Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) show up and attack Ciampa behind the referee's back.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Bobby Fish, who says that last week had less to do with Kyle O'Reilly and more to do with Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan, who put him on the sidelines for months. Fish says he is back now and that there is a debt to be paid, and he plans to start with Pete Dunne, saying that he is the only match-up he is interested and that they have unfinished business before calling Dunne out for next week.
Back at the spa, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell find out their credit card has been declined due to an unpaid charge to a florist. Indi takes this as a sign that Dexter Lumis still loves her after she realizes that the flowers given to Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart came from Candice.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano says that Bronson Reed is not on his level, and that he will leave him laying like he did Karrion Kross two weeks ago and show him why he is the NXT North American Champion.
Sarray beats Aliyah.
Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart says that it is far from over with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, and that Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai need to remember who took the NXT women's tag titles from them. They say it is time to get gritty and wild, and that they are getting back on track.
We see another vignette for Diamond Mine.
Hit Row (Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla) beat "The Premier Athlete" Tony Atlas and Ariya Daivari. After the match, Hit Row (Isaiasays that they are taking shots and taking spots, then Isaiah "Swerve" Scott says that he will be watching tonight's NXT North American Championship match closely.
Backstage, General Manager William Regal announces that Legado del Fantasma will face MSK for the NXT Tag Team Championships in two weeks, and that he will be bringing new competition to the cruiserweight division and watching the women's division closely. He also announces that Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart will face Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez next week.
Franky Monet makers her world premiere next week!
Next week: Cameron Grimes and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase have a "Million Dollar Face-Off!"
Bronson Reed beats Johnny Gargano in a steel cage after fending both Gargano and Austin Theory off throughout the match to become the NXT North American Champion fourteen years after his pro wrestling debut.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott beats Leon Ruff in a Falls Count Anywhere Match after Ruff jumps off a ladder only to be caught by AJ Francis, a member of Swerve's entourage.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory walk in on a meeting between General Manager William Regal and Scarlett. As Gargano demands time with Regal, Theory admites the size of Scarlett's fingernails.
Cameron Grimes beats Asher Hale (formerly known as Anthony Henry on the independent circuit and as Duke Hudson in NXT).
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro, who are focused on the NXT women's tag team titles and will be watching tonight's street fight closely. Suddenly, Frankie Monet and Presley show up, and after Monet says that the two of them are "so cute," tells them that taking the NXT women's tag titles will take a lot longer than they think.
Backstage, Cameron Grimes is met by Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) as he celebrates tonight's win by going to the VIP Room at the local club.
Before the next match, James Drake says Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher it was not a good idea to encourage the "swamp creatures" in the crowd to hate them, as he and Zack Gibson are a gift to NXT. Gibson says that nobody needs to see the fans' "dirty webbed toes" and tells the fans to put their shoes back on and shut up or else they will be on the next plane out of America, saying they should be celebrated.
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher beat Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) by submission after Thatcher hits Gibson with one of Wade Barrett's shoes.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory are met by General Manager William Regal, and Gargano wants out of his North American Championship match against Bronson Reed. It doesn't happen. Also, Theory gets a match against Karrion Kross next week.
Backstage, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott states that he said he would beat Leon Ruff, and that this is exactly what he did, before leaving with his entourage.
We get a closer look at Sarray and Zayda Ramier, who will both face each other later tonight.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett head to the ring. Kross talks about how he made things crystal clear three weeks ago only to be met by people who said they were not afraid of him. He says he is not afraid of them, either, and decides to give the fans a fight. He says that as NXT Champion, he does not have to prove anybody wrong, and that his challengers have to get in the ring and prove themselves right. He then says he will divebomb Austin Theory on his head and leave him face down next week, then Kyle O'Reilly shows up. Kyle O'Reilly says Karrion Kross thinks everyone should be afraid of him due to sheer dominance, then says he is not afraid of him and that this is the match that he wants and that Kross wants, too. Suddenly, Pete Dunne shows up. Pete Dunne says he does not care about the match, the new Kyle O'Reilly or Karrion Kross as NXT Champion, for he is the baddest man in NXT. He dares the two of them to prove him wrong, then Finn Balor shows up. Finn says he has been there and done that with O'Reilly and Dunne, then punches Kross only to get punched himself. Dunne then goes for a cheap shot only to get tossed out fo the ring, then everyone goes after Kross until security shows up. Kross ends up being the last one in the ring, and a member of security eats a Doomsday Saito. As Kross stands in the ring, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory try to ambush him and eventually succeed, with Gargano dropping Kross with the North American title.
In footage from during the break, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory leave the arena.
Sarray beats Zayda Ramier.
Backstage, Walter talks to the rest of Imperium (Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel, Alexander Wolfe) virtually.
We see another vignette for "Diamond Mine."
Backstage, Sarray shakes hands with Zayda Ramier. When Toni Storm tries to attack Zayda, Zoey Stark stops her.
Before the next match, LA Knight says he will give new meaning to the name "Jake Atlas" when he punts Jake so far down the street that he will need an atlas to find his ass.
LA Knight beats Jake Atlas.
Backstage, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell are in the locker room. Candice LeRae notices that Dexter Lumis is watching them and distracting Indi.
Backstage, Toni Storm says that Zoey Stark is pissing her off and does not deserve to be in the same ring as her, for she is a future champion while Zoey is a future nobody that everybody will forget, and after getting Zoey in the business, she will take her out of it.
Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) is in the ring. Santos Escobar says that the fans saw his road to the top, and that last week, the fans saw a premonition of his recovering what is rightfully his: the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Joaquin Wilde says they have not forgotten about MSK, saying that they beat and embarrassed MSK, and Raul Mendoza says that they want MSK for the NXT Tag Team Championships. Escobar says the measure of a man is not what he can do for himself, but what he can do for his brothers. Suddenly, KUSHIDA shows up on the video screen and tells Escobar he made a big mistake last week, and next week, they will face off for the Cruiserweight title. Escobar tells KUSHIDA he is on.
Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez are interviewed in separate rooms. Mercedes says she is hungry and has something to prove next week, and that Raquel does not intimidate her. Raquel says that Mercedes is going to get her ass kicked, but Mercedes says Raquel is champion because of a wrestle like her and what she has had to go through, going so far as to call her "cookie-cutter." She says that Raquel was molded after the blueprint that she created, but Raquel says that the blueprint was low and that she picked it back up and surpassed her accomplishments in a year. Mercedes says that she will end her championship reign in one night, but Raquel tells her she will be the first challenger but not the last.
Backstage, Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart finds Presley in Shotzi's tank, then find out that Presley has used the tank as a bathroom.
Outside of the arena, Cameron Grimes heads to the Vanguard Theater. When he tries to get into the VIP Room, he finds out the room has been rented out, then a white limousine shows up and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase shows up. Ted DiBiase shows up and says he has bought the whole place instead of just renting out a room. Grimes curses his bad luck.
The Way (Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell) beat Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon in a Street Fight to become the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions!
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch beat Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher after Ciampa is distracted by the presence of Imperium (Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel, Alexander Wolfe) on the stage.
Roderick Strong is in the ring. He throws down his Undisputed Era dog tags, which breaks into pieces, then angrily calls out Adam Cole, telling him to come out if The Undisputed Era (Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, Strong) meant anything to him. Finn Balor shows up. Finn Balor says Cole is not going to come out for him and give him an explanation, but Strong says that The Undisputed Era was doing fine until Finn Balor shows up, and blames what is going on on him. Finn says it is not his fault, and says it is because of the NXT Championship that The Undisputed Era fell apart. He then challenges Adam Cole to a match for the NXT Championship next week, then tells Strong he will always be a follower and never a leader. After Finn Balor tells Strong to get more greedy and selfish and to get a killer instinct, Strong attacks Finn Balor, and referees quickly rush in to separate both men.
In footage from a central Florida psychiatric center, Austin Theory is taken to therapy along with The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Theory, Indi Hartwell). When Indi Hartwell start showing attraction towards Dexter Lumis, Johnny Gargano gets angry and is kicked out of the room by the therapist.
Backstage, Cameron Grimes tries to use him money to get the arena named after him when General Manager William Regal tells him that he has a potential lawsuit on his hands from hitting a crew member last week. As Grimes tries to pay Regal off, Regal puts Cameron Grimes in a match with Bronson Reed later tonight.
Finn Balor vs. Roderick Strong is official for later tonight.
Ember Moon beats Aliyah after Robert Stone and Jessi Kamea's interference attempts continuously backfire.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher says Imperium (Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel, Alexander Wolfe) keeps throwing their past in his face, but Tommaso says the past is the past.
We see a video package chronicling the history and feud between Toni Storm and Io Shirai. Toni Storm and Io Shirai square off for the NXT Women's Championship next week.
Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. During the match, Raquel inadvertently takes out the referee as she hits Nia with a big boot. Baszler has Dakota in the Kirifuda Clutch when Adam Pearce sends in Raw referee Shawn Bennett, who calls for the bell when Dakota Kai is out while still in the Kirifuda Clutch despite not being the legally tagged-in participant for her team at the time.
Back in therapy, Austin Theory says that Dexter Lumis just wants a friend. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell get kicked out texts from Johnny Gargano - who is still outside - as well as Indi being attracted to Lumis. After Theory are the therapist are the only ones in the room, the therapists asks Theory to tell what really happened after Dexter Lumis kidnapped him.
We hear from Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, who says that Leon Ruff is handed the NXT North American Championship while he has to scratch and grind for opportunities. He says that this is NXT, not prep school, and that Leon Ruff does not want to tangle with him, for he is "just different" and he just does not care anymore.
LA Knight heads to the ring. Knight says he was waited too long to stand in an NXT ring and talk to the fans, then says he is not here to talk about childhood dreams when this is business and his business is beating his opponent. He says that Tom Brady wishes he was half the man he is, and says that while he did not come here the first round draft pick or "the guy," he will be setting trends and records. He tells all comers to face him, as he will simply beat them, for he did not come here to do anything fancy and that he gets the job done because he is "the last of a dying breed." He says that when the time comes for the coronation, he just wants to be called LA Knight, as "the GOAT" is thrown around too loosely. LA Knight stays in the ring as Bronson Reed heads to the ring for the next match. LA Knight then leaves the ring.
Cameron Grimes beats Bronson Reed after LA Knight shows up, throws Cameron's hat into the ring, then knocks Reed off the top rope behind the referee's back.
General Manager William Regal is seen questioning Adam Pearce backstage, although no words can be heard.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Kayden Carter, who says it angers her to see Kacy Catanzaro out of action and that she does not know when she will be back. As for Xia Li, she doesn't care about her and is going to take her out. She says that Kayden Carter has pushed her button and that she will be showing no fear or hesitation before challenging Xia Li to a match next week.
Back at therapy, Austin Theory tells the therapist about what happened between him and Dexter Lumis - a few days in a room with boarded-up windows where Theory eat cereal and watched cartoons all day - then finds out from the therapist that Dexter Lumis did not like him at all. Theory runs out of the room crying. Johnny Gargano then runs into the room, and after everyone else in The Way leaves, Gargano pays her off, revealing that this was a ruse between him and the therapist. After Gargano leaves, the therapist counts the money, then says "What a bunch of idiots."
Before the next match, Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza) attack Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) before they can get in the ring. When Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) clap and cheer Legado del Fantasma, they run away when Legado del Fantamsa rush into the ring. Ever-Rise is then attacked by Santos Escobar, who slams Parker's head into the ring steps before climbing into the ring. Escobar says not to mistake last week's defeat for weakness, for the beating Legado del Fantasma has handed out is what awaits anyone who does.
We see a video package for next week's NXT Championship match between Adam Cole and Finn Balor.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews General Manager William Regal, who says that due to the end of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match from earlier tonight, he will soon make an announcement that will shake up the landscape of NXT.
Finn Balor beats Roderick Strong. After the match, Adam Cole stares down Finn Balor from the stage.
MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) beat Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza) to advance to the finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Xia Li is up next!
We hear from Mercedes Martinez, who says that twenty years of hard work will pay of Sunday and that the NXT Women's Championship is her destiny and the reason that she came back. She says that Toni Storm is a little girl who is not ready, and tells Io Shirai that her days as champion are numbered and will come to an end on Sunday.
Before the next match, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter show concern for Xia Li when Cora Jade attacks her from behind.
Xia Li quickly beats Cora Jade. After the match, Kcy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter try to reason with Xia Li, and Kayden confronts the woman in the chair on the stage before being tossed off the stage by Xia Li, who apologizes. The woman on the chair then grabs Boa, and Xia Li attacks Catanzaro.
Backstage, General Manager William Regal is suddenly met by Scarlett, who says that if he were to show up, it would not be good. She then says "Escobar...time's up...next week." Regal makes a match between Escobar and Karrion Kross for next week.
Johnny Gargano is seen in a wheelchair with a sling on his left arm as he is backstage with The Way (Candice LeRae, Austin Theory, Indi Hartwell).
The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Austin Theory, Indi Hartwell) heads to the ring, with Gargano being placed in his wheelchair. Gargano says his being in the wheelchair in a result of a deadly attack by KUSHIDA at General Manager William Regal's office last week, which resulted in a broken arm. Gargano says he has four fractures in his arm, and says the situation is bad due to how he feels about wheels are the crowd chants "Johnny Wheelchair," and Gargano says he cannot defend the North American Championship against KUSHIDA at TakeOver. He then says KUSHIDA should be suspended indefinitely for attacking him, then General Manager William Regal shows up and says the medical team cleared Gargano yesterday. Gargano says he went to his own doctors, who found breaks in his arm. Regal reveals that not only is the X-ray is not Gargano's, but that it is for a right arm, not his left, then says that either Austin Theory can be his surrogate in the match or Gargano can forfeit the North American Championship right now. Gargano says he will rehab, but Regal says that whatever happens, he will have to confer with KUSHIDA first. Suddenly, KUSHIDA is in the ring. KUSHIDA strikes, and Gargano inadvertently reveals his left arm is not even hurt. Indi Hartwell has to hold Candice LeRae back.
Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart beat The Way (Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell) to advance to the finals of the women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and face Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day after Indi Hartwell takes a bullet on a top rope senton from Shotzi for Candice, even though Indi is the legal participant for The Way. After the match, Dakota and Raquel confront Shotzi and Ember on the stage. General Manager William Regal shows up and says that the winners will receive an opportunity for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
We hear from Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher says last week's war with The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and Roderick Strong) was tough and brutal, but it is the way they like it. Ciampa admits Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) are tough, then says he and Thatcher will take the Dusty Cup.
Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Santos Escobar, who says that while Karrion Kross gave him the gift of time, time is relevant. When Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza show up, he tells them not to apologize, for it is an admission of weakness. Santos Escobar tells Wilde and Mendoza they can make their tournament loss up to him by paying Karrion Kross a visit and making sure he does not make it to their match next week.
We see a video package chronicling the feud between Finn Balor and Pete Dunne.
KUSHIDA beats Austin Theory by disqualification after he is superkicked by Johnny Gargano. After the match, Gargano attacks KUSHIDA and tells him he will never have the NXT North American Championship before he and Theory take the boots to him. Gargano makes it clear he wants to break KUSHIDA's arm, but suddenly, Theory is dragged underneath the ring when he throws KUSHIDA into the ring. Gargano drags Theory out, but finds out he dragged Dexter Lumis out instead. Theory crawls out from underneath the ring only to encounter Lumis, then runs into the ring and into an Hoverboard Lock. Gargano goes after KUSHIDA, but he gets a Hoverboard Lock, too. When Theory tries to save Gargano, Lumis locks in Silence on Theory. KUSHDA then raises the North American title up in front of a downed Gargano.
We hear from Toni Storm, who says that five months ago, she predicted she would become NXT Women's Champion, and here she is. She tells Mercedes Martinez it is rude to involve herself in other people's business, then says she has repeatedly beaten Io Shirai. She says that she will walk away as NXT Women's Champion on Tuesday, and that Martinez and Shirai will go to the back of the line because it is Toni Time.
We see a vignette for Imperium (Walter, Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel, Alexander Wolfe).
Backstage, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza are laid out, and Karrion Kross tells Santos Escobar that he should have taken him out himself and that he will do to him what he just did to Wilde and Mendoza.
Cameron Grimes is seen parking in front of the arena with a white Ferrari and handing $100 bills to security and other people on the way to the ring. He talks about Timothy Thatcher took him out two months ago, then says he went home to figure out how to Cave-In Thatcher and got good at video games during his downtime, then found GameStop and put his money in it. He says he was at the right place at the right time and the stock went to the moon, and now he has so much money he has no idea what to do with it except to invest in Dogecoin, which has only made him more rich. After mentioning Elon Musk and pulling up in a Ferrari, he says that he is so much there is nobody who can tell him anything anymore. He says that General Manager William Regal can kiss his grits if he thinks he will wrestle Dexter Lumis or zombies. He says that money is power, and that he has so much money, "it ain't even funny...it's hilarious!"
Backstage, Johnny Gargano says he tried to do KUSHIDA a favor tonight, but on Sunday, his match with KUSHIDA for the NXT North American Championship is happening so he can prove he is "Johnny Freakin' TakeOver." He says that KUSHIDA had better be ready to wrestle the match of his life, because TakeOver is his world.
We hear from Io Shirai, who says she is looking forward to Sunday's Triple Threat Match after having won the NXT Women's Championship in one. She says toni Storm is just another challenger and that Mercedes Martinez's journey will end. Shirai says her journey will never end and that she will remain NXT Women's Champion.
Before the next match, Zack Gibson says Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa are as dumb as they look after Ciampa's last tag team ended the way that it did while telling Thatcher to stick his "fake friendship" up his ass as the Dusty Cup belongs to Grizzled Young Veterans (Gibson and James Drake). This leads to Thatcher and Ciampa attacking Gibson and Drake before the bell rings.
Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) beat Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa to advance to the finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and face MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee). After the commercial break, Ciampa is out of the match and being checked on in the back following Grizzled Young Veterans' attack on his neck before the break. Ciampa comes back, but despite a valiant effort, Gibson stops Willow's bell cold so he and Drake can hit Ticket to Mayhem on Ciampa so he can make the pinfall while Drake holds Thatcher down. MSK and Grizzled Young Veterans have a confrontation on the stage after the match.
The card for NXT TakeOver: Vengenace Day is announced one more time. As each match is announced, everyone involved in each match has a confrontation with each other with a referee staning in-between. Finn Balor and Pete Dunne meet in the ring with no referee.
Before the next match, Dakota Kai says that last week was a breeze and that tonight will be a cakewalk, and Raquel Gonzalez says that NXT TakeOver is their next stop.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez beat Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter to advance to the finals of the women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Wade Barrett is officially a United States citizen, and is given an apple pie and a picture of "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan by Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix.
Backstage, Alyse Ashton interviews Toni Storm, who says that Io Shirai has been untouchable for everyone but her, and says that Shirai and Mercedes Martinez cannot stop her for she is at the top of her game and that will be on display tonight.
Backstage, General Manager William Regal is seen talking with Edge.
Austin Theory beats Leon Ruff. During the match, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell show up to carry Johnny Gargano to the back only to get beaten up by Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon. Ruff then pretends to be hit in the jaw by Gargano as the ref comes back, and the referee ejects Gargano from the match. Nevertheless, Theory is still able to win the match. After the match, Austin Theory hits Leon Ruff with a second ATL, then grabs the ring bell only to have it taken away from him by Dexter Lumis, but puts him in Silence and ends up ripping out a piece of Theory's hair.
We hear from Santos Escobar, who says that Legado del Fantasma (Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) will show how powerful they are when Wilde and Mendoza reach the finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic while he retains against Curt Stallion. Escobar says that the future is bright for Legado del Fantasma while the end is near for The Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) and Curt Stallion.
We see a vignette for Tian Sha. The video package tells a tale of a son who killed his father to become emperor only to shame the family, and a daughter who fled into exile, found a dragon and underwent four grueling trials to become a powerful warrior. The daughter killed the son to attain the throne, but soon became the one thing she hated most. It is then that the name of Tian Sha was feared for years to come.
Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza) beat The Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) to advance to the semi-finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. After the match, MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) show up and congratulates Legado del Fantasma before saying they will fall to their meteoritic rise in NXT on the road to winning the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Pete Dunne enter the arena.
Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Pete Dunne head to the ring. Dunne says Finn Balor did not listen when he said he was not waiting anymore and that he snapped his fingers in response, and warns not to make him make it any clearer than that. Balor shows up and says Dunne is still hiding in line behind Lorcan and Burch. Dunne says he hides behind no one, but Finn Balor begs to differ and Lorcan and Burch leave. Dunne tells Balor to hold on to the NXT Championship, for it will be his the first chance he gets. Balor says it is on at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. Suddenly, Edge shows up and that while WWE focuses on entertainment, NXT focuses on wrestling. He says he has watches NXT for some time and has seen passion, hunger and fire in eyes and that NXT helped him find his passion to get his career back. Edge says he used that passion to win the men's Royal Rumble match and challenge any champion within in the company, and says he sees two of the best in Dunne and Balor, and a lot of himself in Dunne. Edge says Balor is operating on a different level and is in a zone that is fun to watch. He says he will watch their NXT Championship match at NXT TakeOver, for he has never had the NXT Championship. He says that if he does not make his decision for what championship to challenge for before TakeOver, Dunne and Balor's match may make him make that choice.
Backstage, Alyse Ashton interviews Johnny Gargano, saying Austin Theory showed how to win a match, and that Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell will punch their way to the women's Dusty Cup. When Gargano finds out that he is defending the NXT North American Championship against KUSHIDA at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, Gargano is furious and demands Ashton and the cameraperson follow him to General Manager William Regal's office.
When Johnny Gargano tries to meet with General Manager William Regal, Gargano runs into - and hits - KUSHIDA, who says Gargano needs an appointment. The ensuing backstage brawl is quickly broken up.
Toni Storm vs. Jessi Kamea ends with Mercedes Martinez brawling with both women. Io Shirai shows up to watch the brawl, then hits both Mercedes and Toni with a top rope moonsault to the outside.
We hear from Curt Stallion, who talks about how he got to his match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship tonight and calls the match his biggest opportunity, and says that while Santos Escobar has been running, he has him in the corner and will make everyone Texas proud.
We see a video package for Cameron Grimes, who will be live next week.
Santos Escobar retains the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Curt Stallion. During the match, Scarlett is seen watching from a nearby platform. After the match, Karrion Kross shows up and takes out Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza, then goes up to Escobar and says they have an ever-growing problem before giving him the gift of time to think about the inevitable.
Backstage, Edge fist bumps Bronson Reed, then tells an interviewer that he has yet to make a decision before Karrion Kross shows up and tells Edge that he has a big decision to make and live with for the rest of his life, as he will take back the title he never lost. Edge says words can be motivating, and tells Kross that he may not like that.
Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Io Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship is official for NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa beat The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and Roderick Strong) to advance to the semi-finals of the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. After the match, Thatcher and Ciampa are met by Grizzled Young Veterans on the stage only for Ciampa to strike Zack Gibson to close the show.
