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Unfortunately, the wrestling world lost a great man in Pat Patterson earlier today. WWE NXT started the show with the entire roster alongside trainers and Triple H on the stage before showing us a video package. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" rang out, a song Patterson loved to sing at gatherings and special events, while we were shown some fantastic images of the late great legend amongst the family and friends he made in the business.
It was incredibly touching, and the only way to open the show after losing one of the greatest wrestling minds to ever grace the earth. Rest In Peace, and thank you, Pat Patterson.
Following that touching tribute, Johnny Gargano was sitting at the commentary desk for the first match of the night, a tag team bout featuring NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff. Curt Stallion was originally supposed to be his partner, but he was laid out by Legado Del Fantasma. Damian Priest stepped up and even ran into the group backstage after stating he'd be joining Ruff, one of his opponents on Sunday.
Damian Priest and Leon Ruff vs Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza and Santos Escobar) on NXT
Leon Ruff started the bout with NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar. Oddly enough, the top cruiserweight dwarfed the NXT North American Champion. That would be odd, of course, if the champion wasn't Leon Ruff.
Escobar overpowered Ruff early on, and though Raul Mendoza lost Leon Ruff for a few moments when he tagged in, Legado Del Fantasma dominated him. A knee to the jaw sent Ruff into his corner, where Damian Priest tagged himself in.
Escobar wanted nothing to do with the Archer of Infamy, sacrificing Mendoza instead. Mendoza was crushed with a leaping back elbow, sending him to the floor. Unfortunately for Mendoza, he couldn't escape Priest's unrelenting punishment.
At least, not until Ghostface appeared in the crowd. This allowed Mendoza time to tag in Escobar, who hit the distracted Priest with The Arrow from the Depths of Hell.
Legado Del Fantasma kept the big man off his feet following that, leaving one of NXT's top dogs struggling to get out of no man's land. Some serious shots to the knees left Priest hampered and unable to throw any of those patented kicks of his.
Eventually, a catching flatliner planted Mendoza, allowing Preist to tag in Leon Ruff, though he clearly didn't want to. Escobar tagged in as well but was unable to keep up with the NXT NA Champion's incredible speed. A neck breaker dropped Escobar, but the pin was broken up by Mendoza.
Priest had enough time to recuperate, and tagged in for some nasty blows to both Mendoza and Escobar. A right hand sent the NXT Cruiserweight Champion to the floor, and Mendoza's dive was countered by another. Priest set up for The Reckoning and was blind tagged by Ruff.
Priest allowed it, spiking Mendoza with The Reckoning. Ruff finished things with The Frog Splash, earning a big victory ahead of NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Results: Leon Ruff and Damian Priest defeated Legado Del Fantasma via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B-
At TakeOver, Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest will challenge Leon Ruff for the NXT North American Championship. As they stared Gargano down, two Ghostfaces appeared behind him in the crowd. How many of these masked Superstars are there?
We got a hype package setting up the WarGames match at NXT TakeOver this Sunday between The Undisputed Era and the self-proclaimed Kings of NXT. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Roddy Strong, and Kyle O'Reilly were in a limo looking back at the years they've had on top. However, now they're in a new situation.
The Era is fighting from underneath this time around. Still, there's no group better at taking advantage of whatever card they hold better than those four men. They haven't lost their confidence, and at WarGames, Team McAfee may in fact be the underdogs.
Candice LeRae and her team predicted that they'd be heading into NXT TakeOver: WarGames with the advantage, as Raquel Gonzalez would take on Shotzi Blackheart in a ladder match for that very opportunity. As of this moment, Blackheart's team only consisted of Ember Moon and Rhea Ripley.
August Grey vs Cameron Grimes on NXT
Ahead of his Strap Match against Dexter Lumis on Sunday, Cameron Grimes looked to make an example of August Grey. Bouncing the Thatch-as-Thatch-Can student off the corners, Grimes followed up with a knee to the gut, doubling his opponent over.
Grey managed to stun Grimes long enough with a lucky shot to hit a springboard crossbody for a near fall. A school boy almost gave Grey the win. Grimes kicked out and planted him with a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam before crushing him with the Cave In.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated August Grey via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: C
After the match, Grimes told Lumis that he made a mistake wanting to be strapped up to him on Sunday. He wrapped one around Grey, and whipped the former EVOLVE star repeatedly with the leather.
As Grimes turned away to brag to the NXT Universe, Dexter Lumis swapped places with Grey. One good lashing with the strap was enough to send Grimes to the ramp, writhing and crying out in pain.
Jake Atlas vs Tony Nese on NXT
It was revealed by commentary that Jake Atlas dedicated this match to the late great Pat Patterson. One of the newer NXT Superstars, Atlas had a serious struggle against a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion in Tony Nese. Atlas, not one to shy away from a tough fight, rocked Nese with a dropkick and a suicide dive to the floor.
However, when he rolled Nese inside and move up top for his rolling DDT, Nese rocked him with a pop-up uppercut, sending him crashing to the mat. The Premier Athlete battered Atlas, hitting a series of cravate knees before locking in a Torture Rack. Atlas escaped and laid out Nese with a discus lariat.
A striking combination and German suplex dropped the NXT and 205 Live veteran for a near fall. Atlas slapped himself, psyching himself up to put Nese away. Nese made it to the ropes before Atlas could end the match.
A throat shot allowed Nese to hang Atlas up on the top rope but missed the triangle moonsault. Nese countered the sunset flip, though, nearly kicking Atlas' head off with a spinning roundhouse to the jaw. Somehow, Atlas kicked out.
Atlas avoided the Running Nese and stunned Nese with a leaping jawbreaker. After that, the Cartwheel DDT spiked Nese, giving Atlas a much-needed win, and a massive one at that over a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
Results: Jake Atlas defeated Tony Nese via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: B+
Jake Atlas said that often life takes you three steps back when you take one step forward. For that, Atlas tends to take giant leaps instead. He's back on track for a shot at the NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar if he can keep this pace up.
The Kings of NXT make a final address before TakeOver: WarGames
On behalf of the Kings of NXT, Pat McAfee showed his respect to the legendary Pat Patterson before quickly moving on to trash The Undisputed Era. McAfee claimed The Era's "night out on the town" was one of the worst he'd ever seen, and if you know McAfee's classic stories from his NFL career, he knows what he's talking about.
Nostalgia was running wild with them, and McAfee decided to walk down memory lane himself, telling all about how much money Team McAfee was worth. He paid Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch, and Pete Dunne a lot of cash to join him, not to mention the Mercedes he gave Ridge Holland.
This Sunday is about showing One-Two and Pete Dunne the respect that they deserve. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, they're putting The Undisputed Era through a grinder. The NXT Universe may want Pat McAfee to get what's coming to him, but that's just not going to happen.
The Kings of NXT broke The Undisputed Era's spirit. Pete Dunne chimed in to say that on Sunday they're putting an end to The Era once and for all.
We got another glimpse into what's happening with Xia Li and Boa, who was away from NXT and going through some intense training and/or torture. They were repeatedly forced under freezing water over and over again, then beaten with kendo sticks as the screen cut to black.
The Grizzled Young Vets were set to take on Ever-Rise next, but Matt Martel and Chase Parker were blindsided by the former NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel claimed to be the true top team in the NXT tag team division.
They'll regain the gold soon. For now, they're here to put Zack Gibson and James Drake in their place.
Imperium vs The Grizzled Young Veterans on NXT
Zack Gibson started off with Marcel Barthel. While Barthel dominated Gibson one-on-one, James Drake caught him with a cheap shot as he hit the ropes, saving his partner from further punishment.
Drake and Barthel battered one another with stiff European style strikes. Fabian Aichner tagged in, though, and brought the match to the side of Imperium. Crushing Drake with some nasty hammering blows.
Drake was able to avoid a suplex, tagging in his partner. Gibson delivered a pair of nasty clothesline to both members of Imperium, but Aichner refused to stay down, dropping him with a fireman's carry slam. Gibson and Aichner countered hip tosses until they were both falling over the ropes and to the floor.
Back from the break, The Grizzled Young Veterans were demolishing Fabian Aichner on their side of the ring. The former NXT Tag Team Champions, though, again turned things around as Barthel entered the bout, laying Zack Gibson out with the double corner dropkick.
A double under hook suplex tossed Gibson overhead. Gibson blocked a diving axe handle with a throat chop, and Barthel responded in kind. Fabian Aichner tagged in while Gibson's tag team partner was still down on the ground. A knee strike/powerslam combo from Imperium nearly put Gibson away.
The Finlay Roll planted Gibson, but he was able to escape the moonsault. James Drake was in next, bringing the fight to the big man. Drake set up for a dive but was shoved off by Barthel, allowing Aichner to catch him for a suplex. Gibson barely broke it up in time.
GYV sent Barthel to the floor but was yanked off the apron by his opponent. Aichner struggled to his corner, and his partner was nowhere to be seen, as he was busy with both Gibson and Drake on the floor.
Before we could get a finish to this one, Ever-Rise ran down to lay out all four men and ruining a great NXT contest.
Results: No Contest
Grade: B-
It was another Thatch-As-Thatch-Can class with Timothy Thatcher on NXT tonight. Tonight's lesson focused on distraction, something that Thatcher dealt with last week in his loss to Kushida. Tommaso Ciampa appeared in the ring, and claimed he wasn't here to learn, he was here to teach. Class is in session.
Thatcher claimed he didn't have a problem with the former NXT Champion, leading to Ciampa goading in by calling him a disappointment. Ciampa escaped Thatcher's grasp and rocked him with a strong right, but Thatcher's student blindsided him. Thatcher was able to choke out the Psycho Killer with ease at that point, teaching Ciampa a very valuable lesson about...surprisingly...distractions.
Backstage, Timothy Thatcher was asked if that was all planned. He was glowing, stating that he had no idea he was going to do that. What we saw was a student that actually learns, and he was quite proud. On Sunday, Ciampa will have the chance to learn another lesson...respect.
Ladder Match: Raquel Gonzalez vs Shotzi Blackheart on NXT
Shotzi Blackheart attempted to chop down the tree-like legs of Raquel Gonzalez. The monster of Team LeRae fought off the flurry and locked in a modified Torture Rack before dumping Blackheart to the floor. Gonzalez brought a ladder closer to the ring but was halted by Blackheart.
Gonzalez attempted to make a big impact on the NXT Go-Home show, looking to lawn dart Blackheart into the ladder. Blackheart escaped, sending Gonzalez into the steel instead. A wrecking ball dropkick sent the ladder into her opponent's face.
Blackheart tried to bring the ladder in the ring, but Gonzalez was easily and quickly able to recover, slamming Blackheart's spine first on the ladder. Blackheart locked in a sleeper, leading Gonzalez to crush her into every part of the ring she could. Eventually, a spine shattering crash in the ring post broke the hold.
Gonzalez and Blackheart continued to fight on the floor, sending one another into the steps, ladder, and barricade. Blackheart even surprised Gonzalez with a Coffin Drop, but it wasn't enough to put Gonzalez down. Dakota Kai's greatest weapon shrugged off every bit of offense Blackheart could dish out.
Blackheart attempted to hit a sliced bread off the apron, but Gonzalez instead whipped her face-first into the side of the ring. A shot with the steel steps to the face seemingly knocked Blackheart out cold. Gonzalez took the ladder in, but as she began to climb, She was cut off by her opposing team's captain.
The Tank Girl of NXT somehow managed to take Gonzalez off the top of the ladder, but both women were left splattered on the mat below. Gonzalez struggled to get up in the corner but found herself right in front of a ladder. Blackheart hit a cannonball senton in the corner, nearly snapping Gonzalez in half.
Blackheart followed that with a diving senton to the floor, crushing Gonzalez. Team LeRae rushed down, as did Team Blackheart, trying to keep each one of their team members safe. The distraction allowed Indy Hartwell to set up a ladder. Gonzalez blasted Blackheart with a clothesline and climbed up the ladder.
At that point, the NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai launched herself onto Gonzalez, locking in a sleeper hold. Gonzalez shook her off, but Shirai managed to send her to the floor along with Team LeRae and Team Blackheart, minus Shotzi.
As Shirai took them all out with a moonsault, Shotzi Blackheart climbed up the ladder to secure the briefcase. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Team Blackheart will have the advantage.
Results: Shotzi Blackheart defeated Raquel Gonzalez on NXT.
Grade: B
Io Shirai is the fourth member of Team Blackheart. They'll go to war against Team LeRae at NXT TakeOver this Sunday.
