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We're on the Road to WrestleMania, and the landscape of NXT has drastically changed in the past few weeks. Velveteen Dream is back, the Undisputed Era only has one title left, and Johnny Gargano has turned his back on Tommaso Ciampa.
Tonight, we'll see Ciampa take out his frustrations on Austin Theory. We'll also see Charlotte Flair return to NXT for her first match on the brand in years. The Queen will face off against Bianca Belair in an epic singles confrontation.
What better way to kick off NXT than with one of the most dominant forces in all of WWE, Dominik Dijakovic? The NXT fans have feasted their eyes on the explosive power and athleticism of the big man. Last week, he challenged Keith Lee again for the NXT North American Championship. The Limitless One was all for it, saying if he could convince William Regal, he was down for another bout with his long-time rival.
Dominik Dijakovic vs Cameron Grimes
Dijakovic easily overpowered Grimes, who was nearly caught in a Feast Your Eyes at the beginning. Grimes managed to escape and connect with a dropkick and a few knees to the gut, taking the big man off his feet.
Grimes lost control quickly when he was caught by a Cyclone Kick. He barely kicked out in time. A pendulum backbreaker and Bret's rope splash earned Dijakovic another near fall. Grimes was caught going for a crossbody, allowing Dijakovic to knee him in the ribs before tossing him over the top rope.
Grimes seemed to be playing possum, though. When Dijakovic tossed him inside the ring, he bounced off the ropes on the other side of the ring and dropkicked him in the legs. From there, he grinded away on his opponent, keeping him off his feet as best he could.
Dijakovic was trapped in a rear chin lock, all the while getting clubbed with stiff elbows. Eventually, he was able to stand up, catching Grimes with a vicious back elbow to the side of the head. A release suplex launched him across the ring. Grimes was rocked with a superkick and turned inside out with a lariat, but managed to kick out.
It was Grimes' turn, and a forearm smash and a superkick led to a German suplex that dropped Dijakovic on his head. Still, e kicked out As Grimes bounced of the ropes for a dive, Dijakovic leapt over him, following up with a springboard moonsault.
Grimes was tossed inside again, and as the ref was checking on him, Damian Priest rushed out and took his surgically repaired knee out with a blackjack. Though he was able to beat the ten-count, he was unable to avoid the Cave In by Grimes.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Dominik Dijakovic via pinfall.
Backstage, William Regal presented the WWE Universe with an incredible announcement. At WrestleMania 36, Charlotte Flair will indeed challenge Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women's Championship. However, at NXT TakeOver: Tampa, we'll get a ladder match to determine the #1 contender to the title.
We'll begin qualifying matches over the coming weeks. Is this how Bianca Belair makes it to WrestleMania?
Finn Balor came out next to go through a list of his accomplishments. He's THE guys. Japan, Mexico? Been there, done that. Universal Championship? NXT Championship? He's done it all.
The Prince said that everyone is trying to get to their peak for WrestleMania, but he's been at his peak for twenty years straight. So the question is, who's going to get the rub from the leader of Balor Club.
Matt Riddle, Johnny Gargano, and Ilja Dragunov have all faced Balor and failed. Before he could continue, Imperium's Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel interrupt, reminding him that, among all his accolades, he's missing one vital thing. He's not won the UK Championship, and he's not faced the Ring General.
Balor tried to jump on the duo, but they easily took him out in the name of Walter.
We were treated to some footage from earlier in the day, with Bianca Belair claiming that when it came to Charlotte Flair, it's "on sight."
However, a much bigger segment...or tease...came a few moments earlier. Footage of war, destruction, and a ticking clock left the WWE Universe on the edges of their seats. Will we see Killer Kross join the Black & Gold brand?
Xia Li vs Mia Yim
Mia Yim dropped Xia Li with a dropkick, and took down the striker with a leg sweep and a kick to the jaw. Li avoided a rolling senton in the corner and followed up with a series of right hands. A pump kick sent Yim into the corner where she was hammered with a running forearm.
However, just as she set up for another big kick, se was dropped with Protect Ya Neck! Before she could capitalize, Yim was distracted by the music of Dakota Kai. Thanks to Kai, Yim was rolled up by Li.
Results: Xia Li defeated Mia Yim via pinfall.
Raquel Gonzalez rushed the ring on behalf of Kai to take out Yim. Li came to her aid only to be leveled by a clothesline. Gonzalez clobbered Yim, clubbing her with massive elbows to the back. A pumphandle powerbomb left Yim flattened in the middle of the ring.
Next week, Dakota Kai will battle Tegan Nox in a steel cage match. However, Velveteen Dream asked GM William Regal to leave the cage up so he could show Roderick Strong real pain. With that, it seems like we'll be getting two steel cage matches next week.
Austin Theory vs Tommaso Ciampa
The blue-chipper had Tommaso Ciampa on the defense early on. However, Ciampa's brawling skills were able to make-up for Austin Theory's youthful advantage. Theory was nearly caught in Willow's Bell but managed to escape to the outside.
Ciampa chased, allowing Theory to get the advantage back with a poke to the eye. Back on the inside, a picture-perfect standing dropkick took Ciampa to the mat. Theory followed up with a clothesline in the corner that left him on the apron, allowing Ciampa to hand back a personalized receipt with a hangman's neckbreaker on the top rope.
Back from a commercial break, Theory dropped Ciampa on the mat and followed up with a standing moonsault. The former NXT Champion kicked out at two. Fighting out of the Fairy Tale Ending, Theory set up for the rolling blockbuster only to get blasted with a knee strike from Ciampa. He managed to kick out just in time.
The two competitors traded strikes, leading to Theory's rolling blockbuster. A fisherman's neckbreaker earned Theory a two-count, as did Ataxia. Ciampa managed to power through the youngster's assault, and trapped him in the ropes for Willow's Bell. After that, A Fairy Tale Ending put away Theory.
Results: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Austin Theory via pinfall.
After the match, Johnny Gargano rushed the ring to brawl with his former best friend. Ciampa got the upper hand, but was distracted by Theory, allowing Gargano to catch Ciampa with a superkick. A second one knocked out Ciampa's lights as Johnny Wrestling stood tall.
We got a classic Undisputed Era promo, with Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly calling out Velveteen Dream and the BroSerweights. Next week, Roddy is going to take out Dream once and for all, then go on to regain his North American title from Keith Lee. Fish & O'Reilly will knock off the BroSerweights in no time, allowing the group to fulfill the Undisputed Prophecy for a second time.
Bronson Reed vs Killian Dain
Bronson Reed hammered Killian Dain with two big single-leg dropkicks that forced Dain to the floor. A suicide dive took Dain off his feet. However, as they moved back inside, Dain caught Reed in between the ropes and connected with a guillotine leg drop. Reed kicked out at two.
Reed avoided a running forearm from Dain, leading to the Beast of Belfast going for The Divide. Reed countered with the same, sending them both flying across the ring. Back to their feet, they traded headbutts. The resident Thicc Boi of NXT dropped Dain with a back suplex, following up with a hip attack in the corner. Dain escaped a fireman's carry and connected with a Samoan Drop.
Dain's Vader Bomb was blocked, and Reed followed up with a second rope leaping DDT and a Death Valley Driver. Dain kicked out at two. As Reed moved up for the diving headbutt, Dain rushed him for a superplex. A trio of sentons and the Vader Bomb finally put Reed away.
Results: Killian Dain defeated Bronson Reed via pinfall.
Last week, the Forgotten Sons came to the defense of the Red, White, and Blue after the Grizzled Young Vets insulted the United States. This week, Ryker led the Sons on a warpath against the former UK Tag Team Champions. After all, two-thirds of the Sons are veterans, so this was personal.
Grizzled Young Veterans vs Forgotten Sons w/Ryker
Zack Gibson started the bout with Wesley Blake. A hip toss and a series of dropkicks took out both members of the Vets, and Cutler came in for some tandem offense on Gibson.
Gibson fought out of a wrist lock and managed to tag in James Drake, who was able to brutalize Cutler. With Cutler cut off from his tag team partner, Blake was forced to watch as the Vets tore him apart.
Cutler eventually made it to Blake, who caught Drake in a beautiful powerslam. Blake then took out the Vets with dropkicks and a hurricanrana. A pair of double hip tosses dumped Gibson to the floor. The Sons launched Drake onto Gibson on the floor as we cut to commercial.
Back from the break, the Vets had taken over, with Gibson keeping Blake on the mat with a side headlock. However, as he broke out, a jumping neckbreaker took out Gibson. Cutler and Drake tagged in, with Cutler getting the better of Drake with a nasty misdirection clothesline. A double underhook backbreaker earned him a two-count.
The Boston crab was locked in right in the middle of the ring. Gibson broke it up, but was sent to the outside. Cutler spiked Drake with a fisherman driver, only for Gibson to drape his foot over the bottom rope to break up the pinfall.
After Ryker was sent into the steel steps by the Vets, Blake tagged in only to get drilled with Ticket to Mayhem.
Results: The Grizzled Young Veterans defeated The Forgotten Sons via pinfall.
Bianca Belair vs Charlotte Flair
Charlotte Flair drew first blood, driving Bianca Belair into the corner before breaking clean to "draw the line" on the mat. Belair responded well, avoiding Flair's offense in the corners and connecting with a beautiful standing dropkick.
Belair's overwhelming power definitely gave her an advantage. Flair escaped a powerslam, though, and repeatedly chopped Belair after the Est. of NXT smacked her butt in the Queen's direction. Flair took Belair down with a springboard arm drag takedown, but Belair escaped an armbar attempt.
On the outside, Flair was driven face-first into the ring post. Flair tried to follow Belair back in the ring and was caught in a small package that earned Belair a near fall. A rolling neckbreaker and a dragon sleeper had Belair in trouble, but she used the turnbuckle to escape the hold.
Flair was spiked with a running facebuster and the Glam Slam but kicked out at two. As Belair set up for a handspring off the ropes, she was hit with a kick to the gut, allowing Flair to lock in an abdominal stretch. Belair managed to counter it with one of her own out of sheer power. Though Flair escaped, she was surprised by a handspring moonsault, nearly losing to Belair.
After driving Belair into the turnbuckle, she set up for a top rope moonsault. Belair shot her feet up to counter, but it was predicted by Flair, who locked in a Boston crab. A transition to a stretch muffler further damaged Belair. Flair transitioned once again, dropping Belair with a sit-out powerbomb. Belair kicked out and dropkicked Flair through the ropes.
Both competitors traded spears, with Flair managing to pick up the win after spiking Belair with Natural Selection.
Results: Charlotte Flair defeated Bianca Belair via pinfall.
After the match, Flair snapped Belair's ankle in a steel chair and locked in the Figure-8. Rhea Ripley's music hit, but she wasn't exactly in a hurry to break up the assault as the night ended.
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