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This week's episode of WWE NXT saw several top-tier matches as different wrestlers brought everything they could to the event.
The night started with an insane Falls Count Anywhere match between NXT's Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and Leon Ruff and only continued from there. The main event saw a title change in the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship match, while some other wrestlers decided to get into brawls on the show instead of waiting for their official matches next week.
There was also another incredible match as Sarray and Zayda Ramier, both newcomers to WWE, looked to continue the momentum of their debut.
Some wrestlers managed to stand out from the crowd on the night and create a huge impression on the audience. The following are the five top performers from this week's episode of NXT.
#5 Leon Ruff had a star-making performance on NXT despite losing
When the match started, Leon Ruff looked like he was out of his league. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott was dominating him. The two looked like they didn't belong in the same ring. Things didn't last that way for too long.
Ruff managed to get everyone behind him as he pushed against Swerve, bringing out an incredible series of offensive moves. He was brutally punished, but for all the punishment he took, Ruff kept coming back. He hit Swerve with a dangerous-looking Crucifix bomb, as well as an immense Poison-Rana from the apron to the floor.
The only reason Ruff didn't continue his domination was thanks to the presence of AJ Francis at ringside. The match was Falls Count Anywhere, and Ruff hit two sharp springboard cutters. Unfortunately, interference from Francis saw Ruff lose the NXT match as Swerve took advantage and got the win on the night.
#4 Sarray went 2-0 on WWE NXT
Sarray and Zayda Ramier were two of NXT's newest debuts on the women's roster. Both had picked up a win in their first matches for the promotion and were competing against each other this week to see who went 2-0 in their NXT record.
The performances from both were rather impressive as Ramier looked good early on getting the STF in. The move almost made Sarray submit, but she reached the ropes and hit moves of her own to get back into the match.
Ramier made it to the ropes as well, when later in the match Sarray put her in the Muta Lock. Both women got desperate as they looked to get the all-important win.
The pace of the match picked up, as both women started to break out their moves one after the other. Ramier avoided a move resulting in Sarray landing on her head. For a moment, it looked like Ramier had the advantage and would win her second NXT match, but it was not to be.
Sarray hit a German Suplex followed by a Sleeper Suplex to defeat Ramier and get the win. Sarray is now 2-0 on NXT.
#3 Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher used unusual tactics on NXT
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher are not your typical NXT wrestlers. Both brutal singles stars, together they form an unusual tag team, who are ready to pull out all the stops to defeat anyone they face.
This week's episode of NXT saw the two wrestlers face The Grizzled Young Veterans. The match was a hard-hitting one, as both teams looked to get a win on NXT. The Grizzled Young Veterans were aiming to impress, and they did so at various points in the match.
Once Timothy Thatcher used Wade Barrett's shoe, the match was over, as odd as it may seem. The commentator had lost his shoe over the course of the match. Thatcher made the best use of it and he hit Zack Gibson with the shoe across the face, practically knocking him out.
Thatcher followed the strike with the shoe with a Fujiwara Armbar. The move saw Gibson submit and Thatcher and Ciampa came away with the win once again, looking like the better team.
#2 Isaiah "Swerve" Scott defeated Leon Ruff on NXT
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott faced Leon Ruff in the opening bout of this week's NXT in a Falls Count Anywhere match. The match was by far the best of the night and saw both superstars give the performances of their lives.
Swerve's original cool and calm demeanor might not have lasted too long, but for as long as it did, he looked unbeatable. He attacked Ruff repeatedly and didn't give the smaller superstar any way to fight back.
Ruff managed to mount an offense and came back into the match. Using his athletic abilities, he looked at times to be as good as Swerve.
Swerve was desperate at times, and even narrowly avoided being hit by a box thrown at him by Ruff.
However, AJ Francis' presence at ringside helped Scott do what was needed. Francis intervened at a key moment, attacking Ruff and stopping his assault on Swerve. Scott ended up hitting the JML Driver after that to put Ruff away and get an incredible win on NXT.
#1 The Way (Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae) became the new NXT Women's Tag Team Champions
NXT's main event saw Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell face Shotzi Blackheart and Embert Moon in an attempt to win the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship.
The match was brutal, to say the least. They brought out all the stops, with ladders and tables coming into play. Blackheart, in particular, didn't hold anything back. She dove on LeRae as she lay on a ladder propped between the ring and the barricade. On top of that, she also climbed up the truss next to the commentary table to flatten Hartwell through the table.
Unfortunately for Moon and Blackheart, all their efforts were not enough. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell managed to put Ember Moon through a table and LeRae hit the Wicked Step Sister on a steel chair to win the match and the titles.
The Way are now the new NXT Women's Tag Team Champions, ending Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon's title reign at 55 days. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae are now the two women to beat in the NXT Women's Tag Team division.
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