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We got another explosive episode of NXT this week, headlined by a stellar main-event between Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas and Roderick Strong. We also got a battle royal to determine the 4th person in the NXT Women’s Championship Fatal-4-Way match.
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs Riddick Moss and Tino Sabatelli
Lorcan and Burch made their debut as a tag-team and from first impressions, these two are a match made in heaven. Although their run together didn’t get off to the best start, these two can become a top NXT tag-team in the future.
Most of the match was a back and forth battle from these two teams with Burch and Lorcan using their hard-hitting style to their advantage with Moss and Sabatelli using their power to get back in the game.
In the closing sequence, Lorcan took on both Sabatelli and Moss and looked to be on a roll after running Blockbuster on Sabatelli. He then charged at Moss who hit him with a Fallaway Slam onto the turnbuckle before knocking Burch off the Apron.
Moss and Sabatelli then hit Lorcan with a their finisher for the win.
Riddick Moss and Tino Sabatelli def. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch (via pinfall)
Battle Royal (for a place in the NXT Women’s Championship match)
The level of talent in this match was incredible. Notable names included Candice LeRae, Billie Kay, Mercedes Martinez, Bianca Belair and Nikki Cross, who was given another shot after Taynara Conti cost her a place in the title match at TakeOver.
Cross came in last and immediately charged at Conti, eliminating her soon afterwards. Conti didn’t take lightly to this and pulled Cross out, slamming her into the barricade before being led to the back. Peyton Royce, who was at ringside, sent Cross into the steel steps to add insult to injury.
Rhea Ripley was the next to be eliminated and was sent packing by Bianca Belair, who eliminated Zeda soon afterwards.
Sage Beckett took out Dakota Kai next and Dakota was soon joined by Aliyah. Cross returned to the fray at this point and leapt off the top rope onto most of the remaining competitors. She followed it up with forearms to just about everyone before eliminating Vanessa Borne, Sage Beckett, Abbey Laith and Santana Garrett in quick order.
Sarah Logan followed next, eliminated by Martinez and Belair. Candice followed this by eliminating Lacey Evans.
Belair showed off her superior power as she lifted Candice LeRae and tossed her out of the ring. With 4 competitors left, Billie Kay avoided elimination by grabbing onto Belair’s hair. She regretted this soon after as Belair whipped her with her hair.
Martinez and Belair traded blows on the apron but were both eliminated by Nikki Cross. Cross herself was almost eliminated by Billie Kay but she reversed the Shades of Kay to leave Kay in a precarious position near the ropes. Cross came back to eliminate Kay to be the one heading to TakeOver.
Nikki Cross wins
Cross and Royce were soon joined by Ember Moon and Kairi Sane. One of these 4 women, will be the next NXT Women’s Champion.
We caught up with Drew McIntyre after this. Drew was talking to reporters when Zelina Vega interrupted, asking why he hadn’t responded to Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas. Drew replied that Andrade should have stared him right in the eyes, like Roderick Strong had. When he did, Drew would agree.
Aleister Black vs Unknown
Black was in the middle of his entrance when Velveteen Dream attack him from behind and flung him into the steel steps. Dream then tied Black up in the ropes and screamed at him to say his name. Black replied with a kick to the head of Dream before freeing himself. He then looked to hit the Black Mass but it missed Dream who slinked away.
Match never began
Roderick Strong vs Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas
What a match. This was one of the best matches of the week, easily comparable to anything from TLC, possibly other than the madness of the actual TLC match.
Strong and Almas let it all hang out in a hard-hitting affair. They started off back and forth with reversals before Almas was caught by one of Roddy’s trademark backbreakers. He followed it up with a chop that was so loud that the sound reverberated through Full Sail, shocking even Vega. Almas soon regained the upper hand as we headed to a break.
Almas was continuing his vicious assault when we came back. Chop after chop was followed by an armbar assisted by the ropes. Strong desperately fought back, somehow managing to send Almas through the ropes. Almas came back in and the two started trading strikes before Roddy hit a leaping lariat to take Almas down.
Almas returned the favour with a boot in the corner. Strong replied with a Boston Crab assisted by the ropes. It looked brutal. Strong followed it up slamming Almas onto the apron.
Almas got back into the game by hitting a tornado DDT. He then hit the double knees and went for a Hammerlock DDT but Strong blocked it. Strong went for another running double knees but Strong got a knee up, stopping Almas in his tracks.
Strong followed it up with a back suplex before driving Almas out of the ring with a clothesline. One wrecking ball dropkick later, Strong was with Almas at ringside. After he rolled Almas back in, Vega hit him with a hurracanrana off the apron, sending Strong head first into the steel steps.
Almas rolled Strong into the ring and hit the Hammerlock DDT for the win. Vega definitely earned her money tonight. What an assist.
Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas def. Roderick Strong (via pinfall)
After Vega and Almas cut a promo from the commentator’s table, The Undisputed joined Roddy in the ring and invited him to join them as the fans roared in approval. Cole offered Strong an armband and he accepted it. What a way to end the show.
We learnt after the show, that Andrade will be challenging Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver.
