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Welcome to another action-packed episode of NXT!
An incredible main event tonight saw the NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium defend their titles against the Undisputed Era. Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly were looking to get back on track and hoped to re-establish their dominance on NXT.
William Regal had a major announcement tonight regarding the NXT North American Championship. Dexter Lumis was apparently injured last week, and his condition may end up keeping him out of the ring. What does that mean for the ladder match? All that and more tonight!
We started off the match with Dakota Kai vs Rhea Ripley. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Kai turned her back on Team Ripley, attacking Tegan Nox in the process before leaving Ripley and Candice LeRae on their own in a 2-on-4 disadvantage. Tonight, both battled to see who deserved to challenge for Io Shirai's NXT Women's Championship
Rhea Ripley vs Dakota Kai (No.1 Contender's match for the NXT Women's Championship)
Rhea Ripley utterly dominated Dakota Kai early on, focusing on her back and ribs with backbreaker, shoulder thrusts and more. Kai struggled to break away from the corners of the ring where Ripley punished her with chops.
A powerful delayed vertical suplex earned Ripley a near fall. Kai screamed and begged as Ripley continued to bully her, squeezing the air out of her with some body scissors. Eventually, Kai escaped and avoided another suplex, trying to take Ripley to the floor.
Ripley shook off Kai and kicked her in the jaw. An electric chair face buster into the apron nearly knocked out Kai, but she somehow managed to kick out. Eventually, Kai was able to send Ripley into the turnbuckle with a drop toe hold, finally giving her a chance to get in some offense. The Captain of Team Kick kept Ripley off her feet, hoping to ruin that power advantage.
A pump kick caught Ripley in the jaw, but the former NXT Women's Champion kicked out. It wasn't enough to keep Ripley out, who caught Kai with a cravate hold and pelted her with knee strikes. A leaping dropkick laid Kai out, and another electric chair facebuster planted Kai. Again, Kai kicked out.
As they both made it to their feet, Ripley through hands while Kai pelted Ripley with kicks, including a scorpion kick that nearly took Ripley off her feet. A pop-up flapjack halted Kai's momentum and nearly put her away. Still, she had enough to counter a Riptide attempt, spiking Ripley with a perfect DDT.
The Kairopractor was denied, and Ripley managed to lock in the Prism Lock. Kai rolled through, again tossing Ripley's face into the turnbuckle. Kai followed up with a running face wash. Ripley fought out of the corner, but as the ref looked at Dakota Kai, Mercedes Martinez rocked Ripley with a big boot into the turnbuckle.
Kai picked up the pieces, hitting the G2K for the win.
Results: Dakota Kai defeated Rhea Ripley via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A
Mercedes Martinez followed up after the match, beating Ripley down further. Looks like the Robert Stone Brand is going after everyone that wronged...well...Robert Stone.
Bronson Reed vs Shane Thorne on NXT
Bronson Reed let Shane Thorne throw his best shots, but the resident Thicc Boi of NXT was completely unphased. A dropkick, though, sent the big man to the floor, where a suicide dive finally dropped Bronson Reed off his feet.
Thorne quickly lost control, though, and a full nelson slam on the apron laid The Mighty One out. As Reed moved to the top, Thorne shook it off and followed him, setting up for a superplex.
Reed shoved him off, but Thorne landed on his feet and rocked Reed with a great running dropkick. As Reed laid in the corner, a cannonball senton connected as well. The Shining Wizard connected, but Thorne still couldn't put Reed away.
Reed caught Thorne with a headbutt, dazing him for a military press. A senton connected, but Thorne kicked out. Thorne bounced back, landing a great roundhouse. Still, he couldn't trade blows with NXT's Thicc Boi. A big clothesline turned Thorne inside out.
Thorne was dropped with a running death valley driver, followed by the big Tsunami splash off the top, giving Reed another strong win.
Results: Bronson Reed defeated Shane Thorne via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
We saw footage from earlier in the day of Breezango making their way to NXT. However, they were attacked by Legado Del Fantasma before they could enter Full Sail. Fandango was kidnapped in the process.
What is up with this parking lot? Where is security? How many 1 star reviews does Full Sail have with Santos Escobar always kidnapping folks?
The Robert Stone Brand was leaving the arena when they were asked why Mercedes Martinez interfered in the opening match. Stone said that Rhea Ripley may be done with the Brand, but the Brand isn't done with the former NXT Women's Champion.
NXT North American Ladder Match Qualifier: Damian Priest vs Oney Lorcan vs Ridge Holland
Oney Lorcan and NXT UK's Ridge Holland ran at each other. While they began brawling, They were laid out by Damian Priest with a pair of kicks. A bell clap to Holland allowed Priest to plant him with the leaping flatliner.
A striking combination rocked Lorcan, but he avoided a German suplex, allowing Holland to take Priest to the floor. Holland was sent out as well with a dropkick, and Oney Lorcan dove onto them with a tope.
Back inside the ring, Holland caught Lorcan coming off the ropes, turning him overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex. He couldn't capitalize, as Priest ran in for some more offense. Holland caught both Priest's arms and stunned him with some headbutts before sending him to the floor. The NXT UK bruiser stood tall as we took to the break.
When we returned, Ridge Holland and Damian Priest were trading uppercuts and clotheslines. Again, they were caught off-guard by a dive from Oney Lorcan. THe Star Destroyer set up both men in opposite corners, and after a series of running elbows, dropped them both with a double running blockbuster.
Priest went for the Windmill Kick but had his leg caught. Lorcan turned him over for the single leg Boston Crab. Priest fought out, launching Lorcan into Holland, but Lorcan used the momentum to bounce back for a running uppercut.
As he went for another dive, Ridge Holland caught him with a pounce. A T-Bone suplex planted Lorcan, but he kicked out. Holland avoided the Reckoning from Priest and planted him with a gutwrench powerbomb. Again, he couldn't get the win, this time with Lorcan breaking up the pin.
Holland was rocked by a series of European uppercuts, but Lorcan's assault was prevented by Priest. An explosive clothesline turned Lorcan inside out. Priest caught Holland with a sit-out chokeslam, and looked to finish the match with the Reckoning to Lorcan. 1-2-3!
Results: Damian Priest defeated Oney Lorcan via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B
Damian Priest has joined Dexter Lumis and Bronson Reed in the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: XXX. Who will be the last two to qualify? Next week, Kushida and Cameron Grimes will battle a mystery third opponent. We've got a few guesses as to who it could be.
Cameron Grimes vs Keith Lee in a non-title match on NXT
The Limitless NXT Champion was not in the mood for any of the games that Cameron Grimes plays. Grimes attempted to get under his skin, but Lee stalked him around the ring, not even reacting to his tactics.
The NXT Champion looked to make an example of Cameron Grimes, running through him several times over. Though Grimes seemed to be in danger, he managed to damage Lee's knee on the outside and send him knee first into the steps. An Asai moonsault took him out, putting Grimes ahead for the first time in the match.
Grimes' mouth ran a bit too long though, as he was mid- "I'm Cameron Grimes" before getting rocked in the jaw with a right hand. A crossbody cut Grimes in half, but he turned the Big Bang Catastrophe into a roll-up.
Lee kicked out of several pinfall attempts, and shook off a Superman forearm. Grimes countered a Pounce with a running enziguri, and the Collision Course turned Lee inside out.
Lee countered the Cave-In, looking for the Spirit Bomb. Lee escaped, but the Grizzly Magnum took Grimes down to the mat. A second Grizzly Magnum connected, and a series of short-arm clotheslines nearly knocked Grimes out cold.
The first-ever NXT Champ-Champ finished Cameron Grimes with the Spirit Bomb, crushing him in the middle of the mat.
Results: Keith Lee defeated Cameron Grimes via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Karrion Kross appeared on the screen after the match, and said that he hasn't seen William Regal around since he was signed. Knowing that, the only man that can give him a title match is Keith Lee.
Until then, whatever Kross does now...the blood is on Lee's hands. The camera panned out to show him choking out another NXT Superstar, Danny Burch as there was carnage and destruction seen in the background. Oney Lorcan was also out cold.
William Regal made an announcement regarding the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match. Unfortunately, Dexter Lumis will not be medically cleared. Going forward, the four competitors that aren't pinned/submitted in the Triple Threat matches will compete in two singles matches. The winners will be added to the bout at NXT TakeOver: XXX.
Legado Del Fantasma entered the building, with Fandango in-tow. The NXT Cruiserweight Champion says that their group is all about honoring the tradition of Lucha Libre, but Breezango openly mock everything in professional wrestling, including Lucha Libre.
They looked to send a message by brutalizing Fandango. Tyler Breeze rushed in to make the save, but was laid out by the numbers game. Santos Escobar turned his attention to Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, claiming that this was what was in store if he continued to speak his name.
Damian Priest was asked about the NXT North American Championship match. Priest said that it was unfortunate about Lumis, but it didn't really matter, because he's the favorite going into the match. Bronson Reed came around to wish Priest luck, leading to them talking trash in the parking lot. Next week, we'll see them face off in a one-on-one match.
Tegan Nox vs Indi Hartwell on NXT
Tegan Nox shut Hartwell up with a right to the jaw as Pat McAfee joined Tom Phillips on commentary. Hartwell dropped Nox face first on the turnbuckle and followed up with a sidewalk slam.
A big boot rocked Nox, but she was able to kick out. During the match, McAfee was asked about the issue he had with Adam Cole on his show last week, and said it was a simple misunderstanding.
Nox sent Hartwell into the corner and hit the canonboar senton. Following that, the Shiniest Wizard knocked Hartwell out.
Results: Tegan Nox defeated Indi Hartwell via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel) (c)
Fabian Aichner locked up with Kyle O'Reilly, with the returning Undisputed Era member trading big blows with Aichner in the NXT main event. A massive boot rocked, O'Reilly, but he shook it off and began taking Aichner apart with a striking combination.
Bobby Fish tagged in, but was taken out by a backbreaker, putting Aichner in control. Fish, though, regained control as Marcel Barthel entered the match, leading to the Undisputed Era tearing him apart.
Pat McAfee began talking some trash about Adam Cole, which made Beth Phoenix uncomfortable enough to leave commentary for the remainder of the night. Fish was overpowered by Aichner again when he tagged in. Adam Cole was distracted by McAfee's comments throughout the match.
Fish fought out of the corner, but a fresh Barthel ran him over with a running European uppercut. The multi-time NXT Tag Champ was taken to Imperium's corner, where he nearly escaped, but was again flagged down by tandem offense.
Aichner sent Fish into his corner, but when he ran in was dumped over the ropes. Fish moved over to tag in O'Reilly, but was halted by Aichner. Fish dumped him overhead and tagged in as Aichner tagged Barthel. O'Reilly, like a house on fire, lit up both Aichner and Barthel.
The multi-time NXT Tag Team Champion was able to easily handle Imperium in a two-on-one situation and sent Aichner to the floor with an axe kick/spinning elbow combination. Barthel's leg was O'Reilly's target, as a dragon screw and a leglock nearly forced the submission.
Fabian Aichner broke it up with a springboard moonsault. As the action boiled over, Adam Cole finally had enough of Pat McAfee and tried to chase him off of commentary. The situation broke down, with Roderick Strong and several officials, including Triple H and Shawn Michaels, trying to break them up.
The distraction allowed Imperium to plant Fish with the European Bomb, thus retaining the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Results: Imperium retained the NXT Tag Team Championship against Undisputed Era.
Grade: B+
Pat McAfee, inadvertently or not, cost Undisputed Era the NXT Tag Team Titles. He was held back, but he called Adam Cole a "tiny little b****." Cole jumped over the table, but found himself in the perfect position for a punt kick, which is perfect for legendary NFL kicker Pat McAfee.
Cole was knocked out as McAfee left for the night. Looks like we're getting a match, folks!
Episode Rating: A
The main event was truly a surprising affair while Ripley and Kai stole the show tonight. Kross is on a mission and it looks like the welfare of his fellow NXT Superstars is in the hands of Keith Lee
