'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwj/2gAIAQEAAAAADqH/AP/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/2gAIAQIQAAAAD//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAIAQMQAAAAb//EACEQAAICAQIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRAAYHEhMWIiZh/9oACAEBAAE/AOHsnsFdaSBJumCXLuvkG5g2VOdUYN8yUq7xdttG0alWkltBiPuDr//EABkRAAIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIEAAMRI//aAAgBAgEBPwBpKho+w7P/xAAZEQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAMRElH/2gAIAQMBAT8AJq3I1f/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's been an incredible road for Keith Lee, who stood in the spotlight with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins at Survivor Series. Tonight, the Limitless One looks to finally earn his first championship in the company when he faces NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong.
We continued the epic Dusty Classic this week, kicking off the night with the Undisputed Era's Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly taking on the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions, the Grizzled Young Vets.
Undisputed Era (Fish & O'Reilly) vs Grizzled Young Veterans
Zack Gibson started the bout, trading shots with UE's top striker Kyle O'Reilly. Liverpool's #1, with the help of James Drake, managed to take over, dividing O'Reilly from his tag team partner.
A distraction from Fish, however, allowed O'Reilly to damage Drake's knee with a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes. The Era swapped between two strategies: battering Drake with precision striking and tearing apart his knee.
A counter jawbreaker from Drake allowed him to tag in Gibson. The Grizzled Young Vets took out the rest of the Era after connecting with a drop toe hold/dropkick combination on O'Reilly. Gibson then held O'Reilly over his knees on the outside for a springing Drake to deliver a gruesome backbreaker/elbow drop.
The Vets lost control once Fish managed to tag in, with the multi-time champion launching Gibson into Drake with an exploder suplex. He then countered Gibson's Ticket to Ride with a heel hook. Drake broke it up, but was launched out to the floor as O'Reilly tagged in. Chasing the Dragon earned them a two-count.
A four-man brawl puts O'Reilly and Gibson on the floor while Drake and Fish took each other on in the ring. O'Reilly quickly rolled back in, and the Era nearly ended the Dusty Classic hopes for the Vets. However, Imperium appeared, distracting Fish & O'Reilly.
A Ticket to Mayhem dropped O'Reilly, sending the Vets to the finals.
Results: Grizzled Young Veterans defeated the Undisputed Era via pinfall.
If you're keeping count, that's two back-to-back upset victories for the GYV in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Shotzi Blackheart cut a promo on Shayna Baszler, claiming she was too unpredictable to be defeated by the Queen of Spades. Last week she eliminated the former champion from the battle royal to declare Rhea Ripley's #1 contender. Later on tonight, she looks to defeat her in the middle of the ring.
Next up was Toni Storm taking on Io Shirai in another exciting dream match presented by NXT. Both women have a claim to the title, they believe. A victory for either one tonight would put them one step closer to Ripley.
Toni Storm vs Io Shirai
Storm got into Shirai's head for a moment, but the Joshi Judas was able to take out the former NXT UK Champion with a dropkick following a pair of backflips. Always impressive.
Shirai pelted Storm with a series of knife-edge chops before bringing her to the mat with a side headlock. She continued to build momentum as we went into a commercial break.
As we came back, Shirai was stomping a mudhole in the corner. Storm managed to counter a running knee with a boot before dumping Shirai on her head with a German suplex. Following a lariat, Shirai kicked out.
Storm Zero was blocked, but Shirai was met with another nasty lariat that turned her inside out. Before we could get an ending to this match, though, Bianca Belair attacked both women, looking to send a message to Rhea Ripley.
Results: No contest.
Ripley made her way to the ring where a waiting Belair took her to the mat with a double-leg takedown. Ripley turned it around, only to be taken out by Shirai. Belair and Ripley were taken to the floor where an Asai Moonsault from Shirai connected.
As she was celebrating, Toni Storm launched herself into Shirai, ending the segment as the only woman standing. The crowd was none too pleased with her holding the NXT Women's Championship.
Backstage, the Era were fuming over their loss to the Grizzled Young Veterans. Adam Cole got everyone on the same page, reminding them that Keith Lee was the target tonight, and Imperium would pay for what they did when the two groups met at Worlds Collide this Saturday.
Ilja Dragunov sent a message to Finn Balor, saying that he's invincible, and at Worlds Collide, he will not miss. Finn Balor entered the arena, looking to send his own message with his opponent Joaquin Wilde.
Finn Balor vs Joaquin Wilde
Balor was quick to drive Wilde into the mat, slamming him down and shoving his boot into Wilde's face and chest with repeated stomps.
Wilde received a vicious standing dropkick, setting up for the shotgun dropkick in the corner. Wilde was launched into the turnbuckle, bouncing off into the middle of the ring. Balor then connected with the Coup de Grace before planting him with 1916.
Results: Finn Balor defeated Joaquin Wilde via pinfall.
At Worlds Collide, Balor faces Dragunov. At NXT TakeOver: Portland, he finally takes on Johnny Gargano. If all goes according to plan, Balor could catapult himself to a title opportunity by Wrestlemania weekend.
Cathy Kelly interviewed Shayna Baszler backstage after her return to the brand last week. Baszler said that Shotzi didn't kick start her career when she eliminated her. She dug herself an early grave. Tonight is the start of the path that leads the Queen of Spades back to the title, where she'll become "Shayna 3-time."
Shayna Baszler vs Shotzi Blackheart
Shayna Baszler took Shotzi Blackheart lightly early on, but after getting tripped up with a heel hook, got serious. An ankle lock transitioned into a wrist lock, hoping to snap the new star's arm. Blackheart dumped Baszler over the top, just like the week before.
Baszler rolled back in and took Blackheart to the floor, dropping her face first on the apron with a flapjack. But as Baszler looked for the Kirifuda Clutch, Blackheart reversed with a DDT. Baszler was momentarily stunned, allowing Blackheart to deliver a series of kicks to the back of the head.
On the apron, the Sliced Bread No. 2 drove the Queen of Spades into the hardest part of the ring. Sadly, it wasn't enough to put her away. A dive from the top saw Baszler counter with the Kirifuda Clutch. Blackheart fought valiantly, but would be forced to tap.
Results: Shayna Baszler defeated Shotzi Blackheart via submission.
Baszler may have pulled out a win, but Blackheart definitely had the former champion on the ropes several times. 2020 may be her year.
The Broserweights vs Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)
Dunne had Imperium's number early and brought in Riddle for an assisted corkscrew senton. Riddle earned a two-count on Aichner. Barthel tagged in only to be sent overhead with a gutwrench suplex.
Barthel countered the Broton and chopped the Original Bro in the throat. A tag to Dunne put the Broserweights back in it, as the Bruiserweight dumped Barthel to the floor after Aichner was tagged in.
The crucifix driver gave the duo yet another close call. Dunne dropped Aichner on the apron with an X-Plex. Walter distracted Dunne, allowing Imperium to layout Dunne by driving him headfirst into the steel steps.
Back from a commercial break, Dunne stunned Barthel coming off the top with a right to the jaw. Aichner tagged in, but Dunne was able to get Riddle in, though he seemed to blow his knee out before making the tag.
Riddle came in like a house on fire, lighting both men up with a series of kicks. An exploder from Riddle set Aichner up for a double hand stomp from the Broserweights. Aichner shook it off and drove Riddle face first into Dunne.
Imperium connected with their double dropkick in the corner, but Riddle wasn't out for long. A double flash knee to both men allowed him to tag in Dunne. Imperium weren't shaken, as they spiked him with a diving DDT/wheelbarrow combination. Riddle broke up the pin.
The Broserweights got back in it when they locked in stereo submissions, Riddle with an ankle lock to Barthel and Dunne with a key lock to Aichner. Both holds were broken byt Barthel was sent outside with Dunne while Riddle drove Aichner into the mat with the Brohammer. Another two-count.
Aichner spiked Riddle with a brainbuster, but the European Bomb was reversed. Riddle sent Bartel out with a German suplex and rocked Aichner with two Final Flash knee strikes. A fireman's carry double roundhouse ended Imperium's night.
Results: The Broserweights defeated Imperium via pinfall.
After the bout, the Grizzled Young Veterans came out to confront their Dusty Rhodes Classic finals opponents. Gibson and Drake said that they'll be the team to take the trophy back to NXT UK and Liverpool.
Riddle shrugged off their promo, while Dunne reminded them that every single time they've faced him, ,they've lost. Next week, it'll end just the same.
NXT North American Championship: Keith Lee vs Roderick Strong (c)
Roderick Strong tried to go for a single leg takedown, but Keith Lee wasn't having it. The big man clobbered Strong with stiff left forearm strikes. Strong rolled away before the double chest chop.
A crossbody block crushed Strong in between Lee and the mat. The Undisputed Era managed to distract Lee long enough for the champion to recover and take out Lee's injured ankle. A wrecking ball dropkick sent Lee to the floor. From here on out, Strong targeted the ankle, trapping Lee in the ring with an ankle lock.
Banzai drops, sentons, Strong through everything but the kitchen sink at Lee's ankle. however, Lee made it back to his feet, albeit held up by the ropes. Strong delivered his drive-by offense and hit Lee with a knockout shot to the back of the head.
Lee finally got back in the match with a one-handed chokeslam, spiking Strong like a football. The Era pulled him out to the floor before Lee could go for the pin. Another distraction allowed Fish to take out Lee's leg, setting up for a DDT from Strong. Lee kicked out.
A headbutt from Lee took both men down, but allowed the big man a chance to set up for his comeback. As he moved to the top, Strong attacked the leg and brought Lee down to the mat with an avalanche Olympic Slam. Lee kicked out at one. A flying knee was blocked, and Lee pounced Strong over the top rope onto the NXT Tag Team Champions.
Back inside, Strong kicked out at two and a half. The Messiah of the (now) Anklebreaker caught his challenger in another ankle lock, this time grapevining around his leg. Lee made it to the ropes, but it seemed that the damage was already done. It wasn't enough to deter him, as he clocked Strong with a right. The Era got up on the apron, forcing Lee to take them out.
Strong caught him with a flying knee and big boot, but was caught by the big man in the Big Bang Catastrophe for the win!
Results: Keith Lee defeated Roderick Strong via pinfall.
Keith Lee stated that he would be the end to the Undisputed Prophecy, and that's exactly what happened. The Era no longer has a stranglehold on the black and gold brand.
After the match, Imperium entered the ring, and a brawl between both groups commenced. Walter chopped Cole into next week as security attempted to tear all eight men apart.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
