NXT Results: Former RAW Superstar's return match ends in disaster; Top Champions save Ciampa after main event

NXT kicked off with the match between Mandy Rose and Sarray. Rose was accompanied by Gigi Dolin and Jayce Jayne, who joined her at ringside.

This was Rose's first match on the black and gold brand since she made her move from RAW.

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Mandy Rose vs. Sarray on NXT

Rose was cautious as the match started and managed to take Sarray down before being hit with a Fisherman's Suplex. Sarray missed a crossbody off the ropes before Rose took her to the corner and unloaded on the Japanese star.

Sarray tried for a submission, but Rose broke free with a poke to the eyes. Rose was on the ropes and took a huge dropkick to the face before being tossed out of the ring. Jayne ran to the timekeeper's table to grab a towel to cover Mandy's face, as if she had suffered a legitimate injury. The trio walked off as Sarray got the win via count-out.

Result: Sarray def. Mandy Rose

Grade: C

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Tommaso Ciampa was in a backstage promo on NXT and said that he had no issue with how Ridge Holland won his bout against Timothy Thatcher last week, but his issue was with the post-match beatdown. He said that a motivated Ciampa was a dangerous one before walking out.

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Kyle O'Reilly vs. Duke Hudson on NXT

Hudson had an early advantage before O'Reilly tried for a Sleeper Hold but failed to lock it in. Hudson sent Kyle into the corner and taunted him before landing a Gutbuster. O'Reilly fought back with some big kicks and hit a Dragon Screw leg-pull.

O'Reilly locked in a Guillotine Choke, but Hudson rammed him into the corner to break it. Duke landed a flurry of moves for a near fall before Kyle went on the ring apron and worked on Hudson's leg. O'Reilly landed a flying knee off the top onto Hudson's knee before locking in a Heelhook for the win.

Result: Kyle O'Reilly def. Duke Hudson

Grade: B

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Ilja Dragunov was out next on NXT, and he limped his way to the ring to celebrate his United Kingdom Championship win. The crowd chanted, "you deserve it," and Dragunov said that he wanted the fans to know that he was still alive and that he felt more alive than ever before.

Ilja added that the Ring General had fallen and said long live the Czar to conclude the segment.

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Kay Lee Ray was in a backstage interview on NXT and said that she was capable of anything, and the others in the locker room, like Dakota Kai and Ember Moon, could not match up to her.

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Carmelo Hayes was backstage on NXT and had an exchange with Santos Escobar.

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Imperium vs. Drake Maverick & Grayson Waller on NXT

Waller started the match with Aichner in the ring, who was dominating, and tagged Barthel in before Waller managed to land a few strikes. Barthel regained control for Imperium and kicked Grayson all over the ring as the match went on.

Imperium vs. Drake Maverick & Grayson Waller on NXT (contd...)

Waller tagged in Maverick, and he took control off the hot tag, sending Barthel over the ropes before working on Aichner as NXT went on. Waller tagged himself in and was kicked in the head before Barthel tossed Drake, leaving Imperium to hit their finisher on Waller in the ring.

Result: Imperium def. Drake Maverick & Grayson Waller

Grade: B

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Jayne and Dolin took Sarray out backstage before NXT continued.

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LA Knight vs. Johnny Gargano on NXT

Knight planted Gargano on the mat early on before Johnny hit a hurricanrana and an inverted atomic drop. Gargano followed with a dropkick and hit some chops in the corner before Knight managed to get a running elbow before being sent outside for a big dive.

After a break on NXT, Gargano got a near fall off a backslide before Knight took him to the corner. Gargano got another near fall before the former Million Dollar Champion punched him off the apron, and Lumis caught him at ringside.

LA Knight vs. Johnny Gargano on NXT (contd...)

Gargano came back with a superkick on NXT, and Lumis held out his hand before Johnny reached for him. Knight used the distraction to catch Gargano from behind with his finisher for the win.

Result: LA Knight def. Johnny Gargano

Grade: B+

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NXT Tag Team Champs MSK went to William Regal's office to say they wanted to give Danny Burch and Oney an opportunity since they were stripped off the belts. Regal made the match for next week.

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Raquel Gonzalez vs. Jessi Kamea on NXT

Gonzalez started strong and hung Jessi on the ropes before Kamea sidestepped a kick and sent the champ into the corner. Kamea got a few big moves and worked on the champ's leg.

Gonzalez returned with a dropkick but was having trouble staying on her feet because of the injury. Raquel managed to connect with the Chingona Bomb and pick up the win regardless of her injured leg.

Result: Raquel Gonzalez def. Jessi Kamea

Grade: B

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Ember Moon fired back at Kay Lee Ray for underestimating her and challenged the former NXT UK Women's Champion to a match next week.

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Samoa Joe was backstage on NXT and said that he wanted to set a precedent with the Title and to set a benchmark for what it takes to secure the gold. He wants to see who in the locker room would risk it all for the top prize.

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Roderick Strong vs. Ikemen Jiro on NXT

Strong dominated from the start and sent Jiro outside before tossing him into the ring steps. Back in the squared circle, Strong hit a backbreaker for a near fall before locking in a submission move. Jiro was dropped from the top rope before Strong kicked him into the mat.

Jiro got some momentum and took Strong down with a big strike before bouncing him off the top rope. Ikemen got a near fall off a springboard moonsault before taking another backbreaker.

Strong hit one last backbreaker before getting the win.

Result: Roderick Strong def. Ikemen Jiro

Grade: B-

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Io Shirai and Zoey Stark were backstage on NXT with Carter and Catanzaro when Io said that she hated all three of them but Zoey was in her team so she had to tolerate her.

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Grimes was backstage as NXT continued and the Grizzled Young Veterans came out to mock him with a fake Million Dollar title. Grimes dropped the belt on Gibson's foot before tossing money at him and walking off.

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Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland on NXT

Ciampa took Holland to the mat early on but he was overpowered and took a belly-to-belly suplex from the big man. Ciampa got a knee strike in the corner before Dunne and his crew dragged Holland out of the ring.

Back after a break, Ciampa hit a big kick and a knee strike but took an uppercut. Ciampa hit some big lariats in the corner before nearly getting the pin. Holland reversed a finisher attempt and got the Alabama Slam before both men went at each other with strikes.

Ciampa hit the Air Raid Crash for another near fall before taking a headbutt.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland on NXT

Ciampa was tossed out of the ring on NXT before Holland threw him into the barricades. Holland dragged Ciampa back into the ring and the two were brawling on the apron before The Blackheart countered a big move and hit some knee strikes to the head of Holland. Ciampa went for Willow's Bell and landed it for the big win on NXT!

Result: Tommaso Ciampa def. Ridge Holland

Dunne attacked Ciampa after the match and took him out with the help of Lorcan and Burch. MSK walked out and took on the duo before joining Ciampa in the ring as Dunne and his group escaped backstage before NXT went off the air.

Grade: A

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Episode grade: B

We got some great matches tonight on NXT with Gargano and Knight and Ciampa and Holland in a hard-hitting main event. Raquel Gonzalez took on Jessi Kamea in a singles match, Ilja Dragunov made his first appearance as NXT UK champion, and Samoa Joe shed some light on his future plans in the black and gold brand.