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After some heartbreak last week, we continued the NXT Interim Cruiserweight Championship Tournament this week. Drake Maverick had another opportunity, hoping to advance to 1-1, when he faced off against former champion Tony Nese.
Candice LeRae's wicked side emerged in-ring tonight when she faced off against Kacy Catanzaro. What does the newly dubbed Poison Pixy have in store for NXT's Women's Division?
After months of attacks by the Archer of Infamy, Keith Lee hoped to finally put an end to it all when he defended the NXT North American Championship against Damian Priest. It was another hoss fight for Lee, who's proved himself to be the best big man in sports entertainment at the moment.
We kicked off the show with another Cruiserweight Tournament bout. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and El Hijo del Fantasma faced off, both favorites in the round robin affair.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott (0-1, Group B) vs El Hijo del Fantasma (1-0, Group B)
El Hijo del Fantasma wrapped his opponent up with a near fall early on. Isaiah Scott kicked out, refusing to go 0-2 in this tournament. A striking combination sent Fantasma to the floor.
Fantasma avoided a dive, and a step-up enziguri turned Scott inside out. Scott responded, however, tossing Fantasma from the ropes to the ring with a springboard hurricanrana. On the outside again, a running boot off the apron nearly took Fantasma's head off.
Scott grounded Fantasma, holding him on the mat with a hammerlock. The newcomer broke away, and countered a diving sunset flip, rolling through for a dropkick. He took Scott up top and dumped him with a super Frankensteiner.
Fantasma followed up with a frog splash, but Scott kicked out. They traded chops, with Scott getting the better of the Luchador. A deadlift German suplex spiked Fantasma. He was unable to capitalize with a cover, and attempted a dive. Fantasma rolled in the ring and responded with an Arrow from the depths of Hell.
As Fantasma looked to finish off Scott, though, Swerve rolled him up for a pin, earning his first victory in the round robin tournament.
Results: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott defeated El Hijo del Fantasma via pinfall.
Grade: B-
Both competitors walk out of the match at 1-1.
Scott said he respected Fantasma, and they've battled before they were a part of the Black & Gold brand. One more match, said Scott, and he would be able to prove that this was Swerve's House.
Dominik Dijakovic addressed the attitude of Johnny Gargano, stating that he and Candice LeRae are just playing the victim, and don't respect anyone. Dijakovic then challenged Gargano, hoping to shut him up next week.
During the break, El Hijo del Fantasma was once again a target of a kidnapping attempt. Once again, he fought his would-be kidnappers off.
Candice LeRae made her entrance, sporting some new music and a new look. Gargano accompanied her to the ring, hyping her up on the mic.
Candice LeRae vs Kacy Catanzaro
Catanzaro's agility gave her a short advantage early on. However, LeRae lifted her knees as Catanzaro went for a spinning body splash. The Poison Pixy slammed Catanzaro with a wheelbarrow facebuster before going for the Garga-No Escape.
LeRae was rolled up, however, and when she kicked out, became irate. She laid into Catanzaro with a punching combination before driving her face into the mat with the Wicked Step Sister.
Results: Candice LeRae defeated Kacy Catanzaro via pinfall.
Grade: C
After the match, LeRae locked in the Garga-No Escape. Johnny Gargano looked on from the mat, kicking his feet like a love-sick school girl.
Damian Priest cut a promo on his opponent tonight, Keith Lee. The Archer of Infamy said that, after his attack last week, he knew the Limitless One was limited in his breathing capacity. Tonight, Lee would bask in the glory of Priest as he's crowned the new NXT North American Champion.
The NXT Tag Team Champions, Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher were out next. Riddle said, unlike most thrown together tag teams, he and Thatcher have been through a lot. Winning the Dusty Cup and the NXT Tag Team Titles (Thatcher wasn't a part of any of that).
Riddle wanted to prove how much he knew about Thatcher by taking part in the "Newly-Bro Show" featuring Byron Saxton. In the introductions, it was revealed that Thatcher had pulled a man's eyeball out through their throat so...that's cool.
First Question: What did Matt Riddle have for breakfast?
Thatcher's answer? No idea.
Riddle revealed that was the right answer, as even he couldn't remember what he had for breakfast.
Second Question: What is Timothy Thatcher's favorite TV show.
Thatcher revealed that he did not, in fact, own a television. Byron asked if he'd ever consider it, and he said if the price was right, he would. Riddle's answer...Price is Right! Two for Two.
Third Question: Where's the craziest place Thatcher has ever "done it."
Thatcher assumed Saxton meant wrestling, and said he had a three-way bout in a laundromat. Riddle's answer? Three-way on a washer.
Before they could get to the speed round, Imperium's Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner laid out Riddle and Thatcher. Riddle was dumped on the concrete with a release back suplex. Thatcher managed to take on their assailants in a two-on-one situation for a little bit, but eventually the numbers were too much.
Imperium dropped Thatcher with the European Bomb.
Adam Cole addressed Velveteen Dream once again, stating that the Vainglorious One didn't deserve a shot at the NXT Championship. However, he's tired of Dream's antics and will defend his title against Dream in a title match next week.
Mia Yim vs Charlotte Flair
Charlotte Flair dominated Mia Yim early, out wrestling the Blasian Baddie for a few moments. However, Yim avoided a big boot and lit Flair up with a kicking combination followed by a tornado DDT from the apron.
Flair shook it off and countered a dive from Yim with a strong right hand. The Queen stomped out Yim and trapped her in the ropes, stretching out the back. Knife edge chops pelted Yim's chest as she struggled to get back in the bout.
Yim managed to escape a back suplex and trap Flair in the Tarantula. As she set up for a saito suplex, Flair yanked her hair. Elbows and boots battered the face of the HBIC. That only seemed to anger Yim, who caught Flair with the Sole Food.
Yim rolled up Flair for a near fall, and followed up with some kicks to the body. However, a dropkick was countered into a Boston crab. Yim turned it into another pinfall. When Flair kicked out, she nearly kicked Yim's head off with a big boot. The Figure-8 was countered with another pinfall.
Yim dropped Flair with an STO and set up for Protect Ya Neck. She wasn't able to connect, as Flair picked her leg, locking in the Figure-8 for the win.
Results: Charlotte Flair defeated Mia Yim via submission.
Grade: B+
As Flair left the ring, Io Shirai's music hit. The Joshi Judas, and #1 contender to Flair's title, met her on the ramp before laying down the gauntlet. Next week, Shirai will challenge the Queen for the NXT Women's Championship.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae walked in on one of the doctors checking on Kacy Catanzaro, who claimed her neck was injured. LeRae said that this was a new era of NXT and that everyone needed to get used to it.
Dexter Lumis vs Shane Thorne
Dexter Lumis took out one of MVP's newest clients, Shane Thorne, with a Thesz Press and a series of right hands. Thorne managed to set up for a tornado DDT but was tossed across the ring like he was a frisbee.
A rake to the eyes gave Thorne some room to breathe. Elbows and uppercuts only seemed to anger Lumis. Throne connected with a standing dropkick and a running cannonball in the corner. He set up for a shining wizard, but was planted with a rolling spinebuster instead.
The uranage side slam and the Arm Triangle would ultimately put Thorne down.
Results: Dexter Lumis defeated Shane Thorne via submission.
Grade: C+
We were shown some footage from last week after Drake Maverick's match against Jake Atlas, the latter of whom gave the former some advice and some encouraging words. Maverick seemed to be inspired by Atlas.
Tonight, Maverick takes on Tony Nese, hoping to advance to 1-1 and one step closer to saving his job.
Next week, Karion Kross will make his debut in NXT.
Tony Nese vs Drake Maverick
The former 205 Live GM attempted to take Nese to the floor with a single leg takedown. The Premier Athlete slapped the taste out of his mouth, saying he'd need to do something different. There's no overpowering Tony Nese.
Nese battered Maverick in the corner, and only let up when the referee pulled him off. The former Cruiserweight Champion kept up the punishment, hammering Maverick and slamming him into the mat. Any time Maverick got some offense in, Nese went to a cheap shot, usually the throat.
Maverick began to fire up after Nese's trash-talking had finally gotten under his skin. Maverick lit up Nese, pelting him with right hands that drove Nese into the corner. A dropkick bounced Nese's head off the bottom turnbuckle.
A missile dropkick connected, and Maverick nearly hit the Sliced Bread #2. However, Nese escaped and dumped Maverick with the corner German suplex, setting himself up for the Running Nese.
Maverick escaped at the last second and hit the Underdog, but only got a two-count. His elbow drop missed, as Nese rolled away, injuring Maverick's arm. Still, he kept fighting, and managed to plant Nese with a top rope wheelbarrow bulldog for the win.
Results: Drake Maverick defeated Tony Nese via pinfall.
Grade: B+
NXT North American Championship: Damian Priest vs Keith Lee (c)
Keith Lee's strength was difficult to overcome. The champion was able to dump Damian Priest to the floor with ease, and followed up by knocking him to the concrete floor. An impressive military press saw Priest get launched from behind the barricade all the way to the apron!
Priest managed to escape a powerbomb into the steps and sidestepped a charging bull in Lee, sending the champ through the barricade. Back in the ring, Priest looked to lift up Lee, but was unable to get him off his feet. However, a hangman's backbreaker took Lee to the mat for a two-count.
Lee battered Priest with a series of fists and spinning strikes before spiking him with a one-handed spinebuster. On the floor, a corkscrew splash nearly crushed Priest into the floor. Lee brought him back inside for a near fall.
Lee earned another two-count with a nasty lariat that bent Priest like an accordion. Priest escaped a Spirit Bomb and targeted the throat of the champion. Lee withstood it, breaking out of a chokeslam attempt. Lee's chokeslam was avoided, leading to a heavy kicking combination by Priest.
Priest planted Lee with the Falcon Arrow. As Lee rolled to the floor, Priest dove over the turnbuckle for an absolutely stunning dive. On the inside, a cyclone kick from the top earned Priest a two-count. Lee followed Priest to the top. A deadlift superplex couldn't put Priest away.
Somehow, Priest was able to recover and catch Lee with a chokeslam, but the champion kicked out again. Priest brought the title and his nightstick into the ring. The ref tossed the title to the floor, and Lee blocked the night stick.
A Grizzly Magnum set up for two Spirit Bombs, putting down the Archer of Infamy after a massive kaiju battle between two of NXT's best big men.
Results: Keith Lee defeated Damian Priest via pinfall.
Grade: A+
Episode Rating: Lee and Priest stole the show with an incredible main event. Two title matches and a host of other segments makes next week's episode must see!
