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NXT Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: MSK vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans
The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions made it to the finals of the 2020 NXT Dusty Cup last year, falling short to The BroserWeights. Tonight, they found themselves in the finals again against newcomers to the brand MSK.
Zack Gibson and Nash Carter kicked off the match, with Gibson getting the best of his opponent. James Drake was in next and was caught with a springboard corkscrew press by Carter. A running uppercut in the corner set up for a slingshot dropkick from Wes Lee and a Bronco Buster from Carter.
Gibson got back in the bout, but couldn't keep up with the speed of MSK, who lit up the inaugural NXT UK Tag Champions with a series of strikes. A plancha over the top took out the Grizzled Young Veterans, but Gibson avoided the second dive, rocking Carter with a clothesline.
The Vets slowed things down significantly, bringing things down to their pace while keeping Carter very far away from his corner. Carter was forced to stay on the mat as Drake and Gibson moved in and out, and any time he got to his feet there was a stiff clothesline waiting for him.
Gibson dragged Lee off the apron when Carter broke away, and as Lee tried to get back in the ring, he inadvertently distracted the referee. GYV rocked Carter with a missile dropkick/flatliner combination for a near fall.
After several more minutes, Carter finally made it to Wes Lee who came in like a house of fire. After sending both of his opponents to the floor, Lee leapt over the ring post for an insane tope con hilo. Back in the ring, a handspring axe kick struck Gibson right on the dome for the closes two-count of the night.
Drake prevented Lee from diving off the top, allowing Gibson to rush in and knock him to the mat. Lee countered a powerbomb, however, turning it into a rolling facebuster. Carter was in next, and MSK rocked Gibson with a slingshot superkick.
Carter rocked Drake with a dropkick, knocking him to the floor. Gibson was all alone, and Carter lit him up with some great punches. A springboard cutter planted Gibson, only for a two. Lee was back in, but another handspring axe kick was countered with a running knee.
Gibson planted Lee with the Helter Skelter, and a 450 Splash from Drake almost put MSK away. The NXT rookie refused to quit, though, leaving GYV questioning what they could do to put them away. The Doomsday Device was countered, with Lee rolling Drake up for a two-count.
It was time for Ticket to Mayhem, but Carter saved Lee. After sending GYV into one another, MSK hit Hot Fire Flame over Drake onto Gibson. A poison rana spiked Drake on his head. MSK leapt onto Drake with a Swanton Bomb and Spiral Tap, but Drake somehow found it in himself to kick out.
On the floor, Gibson held Lee up on his shoulders, allowing Drake to hit a suicide dive/Doomsday Device on Lee. There was no way he was getting back up, and Carter was forced to face off against GYV all alone.
Carter pelted Drake and Gibson with rights and lefts, but was ultimately caught with a powerbomb/backstabber. It wasn't enough. MSK would not be denied the NXT Dusty Cup. Ticket To Mayhem was blocked again, this time by a recovered Lee. A pair of superkicks rocked GYV.
Drake was planted with the spinebuster/springboard neckbreaker, and MSK picked up the biggest win of their career.
Results: MSK defeated Grizzled Young Veterans via pinfall at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
Grade: A+
From debuting in NXT's highly anticipated tournament, to picking up wins over some of the best tag teams NXT had to offer, to knocking off a duo like the Grizzled Young Veterans in the NXT Men's Dusty Cup Finals. What a run for Wes Lee and Nash Carter so far.
