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NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opener: Grizzled Young Veterans vs Ever-Rise
Matt Martel and Chase Parker tried to throw the former NXT UK Tag Team Champions off their game with their horribly ineffective trash talk, which led to Zack Gibson and James Drake getting the best of Chase Parker.
Drake hit an arm drag, kneeing Parker in the face mid-toss. Parker responded by pulling Drake down by his hair and stomping him out. Gibson pulled him to the floor, and Drake was infuriated as Parker continued to dish out some verbal barbs. Gibson calmed him down, and the Grizzled Young Vets regained composure. Some incredible tandem offense dropped Parker, and Drake launched himself off of Gibson for a dropkick to Matt Martel.
A sidewalk slam/elbow drop on the apron left Parker completely out of it. Gibson planted Parker with a release back suplex before locking in a modified single leg Boston Crab. Parker broke away but found himself in GYV's corner. Two splashes in the corner connected, and Gibson sent Parker into a rolling heel kick by Drake.
Martel finally tagged in and took the fight to the 2020 NXT Dusty Classic finalists. After rocking Gibson on the apron, Martel launched Drake with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. However, as Ever-Rise set up for their double flapjack on the top turnbuckle, Gibson saved his partner. Ever-Rise managed to hit a pop-up/spear combination on Drake, and the step-up elbow drop on Gibson.
Again, Gibson saved Drake from Ever-Rise's finish, this time by pulling Parker to the floor and chopping the throat. Matt Martel couldn't escape NXT UK's first tag champs, and Ticket To Mayhem knocked them out of the tournament.
Results: Grizzled Young Vets defeated Ever-Rise via pinfall on NXT.
Grade: A-
Backstage, Shotzi Blackheart wasn't thrilled about her loss tonight. However, she's looking ahead to the Women's NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Her partner? Former NXT Women's Champion Ember Moon. That's right, it's time to join the Shenom in enforcing Ember's Rule.
