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Last week we kicked off the Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Tonight, we finished up the first round of matches, featuring Kushida, Tony Nese, Jake Atlas, Drake Maverick, El Hijo del Fantasma, and Jack Gallagher.
Prior to NXT, Finn Balor reportedly disappeared, with his gear thrown around the locker room. As far as his match with Velveteen Dream tonight, NXT GM William Regal has removed Balor from the match.
Dream kicked off the night, claiming that he had been stood up by The Prince. Before he could continue, NXT Champion Adam Cole walked out to remind Dream that he's not worthy of a title shot, something that was believed to be a guarantee should he beat Balor tonight.
Cole claimed Dream was responsible for Balor's disappearance. As Dream was focused solely on the champ, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong ran in from behind, laying him out with a few dirty cheap shots.
The Undisputed Era looked to put Dream down, but they were interrupted by the North American Champion, Keith Lee. The Limitless One tossed the trio around with ease, saving Dream from an untimely "mishap."
Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox vs Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
Tegan Nox attempted to take out Raquel Gonzalez with an early cover. Gonzalez fought it off, but was surprised by Shotzi Blackheart. The tandem of Blackheart and Nox were able to stall Gonzalez, forcing a tag to Dakota Kai.
Blackheart planted Kai with a reverse sling blade before tagging in Nox, with both women hitting their own running senton splashes on the Captain of Team Kick. Gonzalez rushed them, but they were able to send both her and Kai to the floor, where Blackheart dove off the turnbuckle. Blackheart howled into the night as her opponents tried to get off the floor.
Kai and Gonzalez were able to take over during the break with a superkick from Kai laying out Blackheart. Though, she would make her way to Nox, who ran in to send Kai crashing to the floor. Gonzalez was peppered with punches, kicks, and clotheslines but managed to stay on her feet.
A headbutt stunned Gonzalez, and an uppercut/step-up enziguri combo set up for a dive. A distraction from Kai, though, allowed Gonzalez to catch Nox for a fallaway slam. Blackheart tagged, diving onto the powerhouse with a seated senton. Gonzalez would manage to put her away, however, with a one-armed powerbomb.
Results: Raquel Gonzalez defeated Shotzi Blackheart via pinfall.
Grade: B-
Though Finn Balor was unable to compete tonight, William Regal managed to make use of the Vainglorious One. Velveteen Dream will team with Keith Lee later on tonight when they face the Undisputed Era in tag team action.
Last week, Drake Maverick was one of many WWE Superstars that were released as part of what's been dubbed "Black Wednesday." Maverick's heartfelt and emotional response to the news on Twitter led to a huge groundswell of support for the former GM of 205 Live.
Maverick has promised that he'll fight harder than he ever has in these next three matches. It's all he has left, and if he has to leave WWE, he'll leave as the Cruiserweight Champion.
Jake Atlas vs Drake Maverick
Drake Maverick took Jake Atlas to the mat with a single leg takedown before looking for a tequila sunrise. Atlas broke away before it was locked in. After avoiding some offense from Atlas, a dropkick and a hurricanrana sent the newcomer to the floor.
Back on the inside, however, Atlas overpowered Maverick, driving him spine first into the corner. he continued to wear down the former 24/7 Champion, but Maverick managed to make it back to his feet and send Atlas shoulder first into the ring post.
Kicks and uppercuts pelted Atlas, and a dropkick to the knees launched Atlas face first into the turnbuckle. A missile dropkick set up for the Tequila Sunrise. Atlas, again, escaped, rolling to the outside. Maverick didn't let him get much time to breathe, as he followed with a suicide dive.
Atlas was rolled back in where a diving elbow drop to the face nearly put him away. When Maverick went for the Dudley Dog, Atlas shook him off, rocking him with a superkick. Maverick's heart saw him dominate the majority of this match, but the cartwheel DDT off the ropes would end up putting the underdog away.
Results: Jake Atlas defeated Drake Maverick via pinfall.
Grade: A
Kushida vs Tony Nese
Though Tony Nese proved his power advantage early, taking Kushida to the mat, the top tier mat technician was able to out-wrestle Nese on the canvas. As he escaped, Nese caught Kushida with a shot to the throat before hanging him up on the upper ropes.
On the outside, Nese bounced Kushida off the barricade, managing to even send him through one of the walls. As Kushida set up for the handspring back elbow, Nese slid under him, taking out his arm and again launching him through one of the guardrails.
Inside the ring, Nese set up for the triangle moonsault, but Kushida rolled out of the way. The handspring back elbow connected this time, and Kushida followed up with the hip toss cartwheel dropkick. The two cruiserweights traded strikes, leading to Nese attempting a pump handle slam.
Kushida countered it, trapping Nese in the Sakuraba Lock. Nese fought through the pain, turning it into a northern lights suplex for a near count. Nese followed that with a beautiful 450 Splash. Kushida kicked out.
Nese brought Kushida up top, but the Time Splitter was able to synch in the Sakuraba Lock again. Falling to the mat, Kushida kept the hold in place, forcing the submission finish.
Results: Kushida defeated Tony Nese via submission.
Grade: A-
Backstage, Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher about their win over the Undisputed Era last week. Riddle said that, though "T-Time" is a fantastic partner, he missed his old friend Stallion Pete. Still, he knew that the people would love Thatcher and his beautiful blue eyes.
...Thatcher reminded Riddle that his eyes were, in fact, brown, but that didn't matter. Stallion Riddle was excited about their partnership, and had a plan to prove just how beautiful Thatcher is next week. Whatever that is...it'll be must see.
Another vignette played for Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux, this time with a voice-over from Scarlett. She stated that doomsday was upon us. They've warned the NXT Universe for over a month now. Soon, we'll know what they have in store for the Black and Gold brand.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were seated at home, enjoying a nice romantic dinner together when Gargano cut a promo on his beloved NXT. Well, the brand he thought he loved. Gargano called NXT a toxic community, claiming to be tired of waving the NXT flag when nobody appreciates his work.
Candice LeRae chimed in, saying that she's been unappreciated since day one. She ate second, so others could eat first. However, whenever she needed help, nobody came to her aid. The couple decided that they were tired of getting stabbed in the back, and there's nobody they can trust beside each other.
They cannot fix NXT. It's time to tear it down and rebuild it in their image. Soon, they'll make history as the first-ever married couple to reign as NXT Champion and NXT Women's Champion.
Another vignette aired, this time for Io Shirai, the No.1 contender to Charlotte Flair's NXT Women's Championship. Shirai said that she wants to prove to the Queen just how great she truly is, and that the Joshi Judas bowed down to no one.
Drake Maverick was interviewed backstage, saying that while everyone in the tournament is fighting their opponents, he's facing his opponents and himself. The loss seemingly damaged his hopes, making him wonder if everyone was right about him.
After winning the NXT Women's Championship, Charlotte Flair stated that the first woman she wanted to face on the Black and Gold brand was none other than Mia Yim, the woman who helped propel her to stardom five years ago. Yim hadn't yet accepted that challenge, but would surely accept an opportunity to face the champion, right?
Mia Yim vs Jessi Kamea
Mia Yim and Jessi Kamea traded shoulder blocks and kip-ups, with Yim getting the upper hand in the beginning. Kamea bowled over Yim with a wheel kick before hammering her with right hands.
A springboard twisting elbow earned Kamea a two-count. Yim began to build momentum, rocking Kamea with a superkick and bringing her to the mat with a neckbreaker. An STO set up for the Protect Ya Neck, which put Kamea down for the night.
Results: Mia Yim defeated Jessi Kamea via pinfall.
Grade: C-
After the match, Charlotte Flair came out, NXT Women's Championship in tow. Flair wanted an answer to her challenge, wanting to know if Yim was ready to face her again. Yim accepted and was proud of the Queen for how far she'd come in five years.
Charlotte left with the final word, saying that she'd love to finally help make Yim a star, a backhanded comment that didn't go over the head of the HBIC.
Chelsea Green and Robert Stone were so close to becoming the #1 contender to Charlotte Flair a few weeks ago. Though she lost, Stone knew that Chelsea had everything it took to be a star and that she's more than a pretty face. In fact, she's the true face of the NXT women's division. In no time, she'll be standing at the top of the mountain, with gold around her waist.
Jack Gallagher vs El Hijo del Fantasma
Jack Gallagher looked to get in the mind of his opponent, going for the mask of El Hijo del Fantasma multiple times. Fantasma responded with a dropkick that caught Gallagher right on the mouth.
Gallagher responded with a fireman's carry slam, burying his elbow into the face of his opponent as he went for the pin. Fantasma broke out and was sent to the floor where he was slung into the barricade. Fantasma back in the ring, faked out Gallagher on a dive before leaping over the ropes for a cross body, crashing onto the former Gentleman.
The British Brute regained the upper hand by hanging Fantasma up on the top rope before brawling around the ringside, all the while tearing at the mask. On the inside, Gallagher managed to trap his opponent in a modified armbar, hoping to prevent him from building any steam.
The two cruiserweight took turns trading blows, but Fantasma found himself on top once again after a nasty superkick sent Gallagher to the floor. Fantasma's Arrow from the Depths of Hell, a high speed lawn darting suicide dive, nearly sent Gallagher to the ramp.
As Fantasma set up to put Gallagher away with a victory roll, Gallagher broke out and caught him with a headbutt. However, Fantasma kicked out. Avoiding the Gentleman's Dropkick, Fantasma drove Gallagher into the mat with the Samoan Driver for the win.
Results: El Hijo del Fantasma defeated Jack Gallagher via pinfall.
Grade: B+
El Hijo del Fantasma's debut in NXT was a victorious one, as he put away a very tough opponent, putting himself on the board in the round robin Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament.
As Fantasma was walking to his car he was nearly caught by, what I'll now be referring to as Two Masks in a Van. Luckily, he was able to fight off his two assailants, forcing them to drive off without their prey.
For the love of God, why haven't they gotten any security for that parking lot?
Velveteen Dream & Keith Lee vs The Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Adam Cole) w/Bobby Fish
The ref sent Bobby Fish to the back while Keith Lee and Velveteen Dream took out Adam Cole and Roderick Strong. As Dream and the ref were distracted by Fish, Damian Priest snuck up behind Lee, catching him twice in the throat with a nightstick.
The refs checked on the North American Champion as the Undisputed Era took out Dream. Cole booted Dream in the jaw and Strong dropped him with an Olympic Slam, giving the champ a two-count.
Strong worked over the spine of Velveteen Dream with backbreaker and various submission holds. At this moment, an unexpected partner showed up in Dream's corner, Dexter Lumis. Lumis stared on as Dream caught Strong with the Dream Valley Driver.
Adam Cole ran in to prevent the tag, but couldn't hold Dream back. Lumis laid into both members of the Era, lighting them up with some heavy right hands.
A Thesz Press took out Cole, while a rolling spinebuster put away Strong. As Bobby Fish ran out, Lumis tagged out to Dream before diving onto both Fish and Strong.
Dream moved to the top and hit the Purple Rainmaker, picking up a win over the NXT Champion.
Results: Velveteen Dream defeated Adam Cole via pinfall.
Grade: A
The strange and unpredictable Dexter Lumis stepped up when Keith Lee was taken out, and may have found an ally, should he ever need one, in the Vainglorious One.
Episode Rating: A
The ending to the main event was truly shocking while Gargano and LeRae have announced their true intentions.
