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After years of NXT ruling Wednesday nights on the WWE Network, we're nearing a new era for the brand. Next week, NXT will make its debut on the USA Network.
Velveteen Dream and Roderick Strong will be the two men responsible for catching the eyes of casual viewers. The Vainglorious One will battle the Messiah of the Backbreaker for the North American Championship during the first hour.
Building up to next week, tonight's episode of NXT featured some incredible competition featuring the most recent addition to the roster, Rhea Ripley. The former NXT UK Women's Champion shocked the world when she popped up in Full Sail to challenge Shayna Baszler last week. Tonight, she faced the Queen of Spades in a non-title match.
Johnny Gargano hasn't been in Full Sail since losing to Adam Cole at TakeOver: Toronto. Tonight, he finally addressed the NXT Universe, revealing what was next for Johnny Wrestling. However, he was interrupted by a Superstar looking to make his name at the expense of the former champion.
All that and more on tonight's edition of NXT! We kicked off the night with the Archer of Infamy, Damien Priest, who looked to continue his undefeated streak, faced off against Boa, a member of the eight-man Breakout Tournament that took place over the past summer.
Damien Priest vs Boa
Priest immediately backed Boa into the corner. Boa ducked a right hand, escaping to the middle of the ring. Priest continued to push him around, and when Boa came off the ropes for a shoulder block, he ran into a brick wall in the Archer of Infamy.
Boa was rocked by a right hand then taken to the corner where he was met by a mudhole stomping Priest. The release Falcon Arrow nearly sent the NXT Breakout Contender across the ring. Priest picked up Boa by the ear, forcing the striker to wake up and deliver a series of strong high kicks, followed by a running single leg dropkick in the corner.
However, Priest wasn't shaken and responded with the discus lariat. Following a rolling roundhouse kick, the Reckoning ended Boa's night.
Results: Damien Priest defeated Boa via pinfall.
Roderick Strong burned the couch of the North American Champion last week, forcing Velveteen Dream's hand. Next week, the two will battle for the title on the first edition of NXT broadcasted through the USA Network.
Johnny Gargano returned to the Full Sail Arena for the first time since that heartbreaking loss to Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. The former champion was greeted by an overwhelmingly supportive crowd who chanted "Johnny Wrestling" as he picked up a mic.
Gargano sat on the bottom rope as he was showered with love from the NXT fanbase, a crowd that considered him a hero for years. He finally addressed the rumors about his future. Would he be leaving the Black & Gold Brand for a spot on Monday or Friday nights?
He relived that night in Toronto where he fell nearly twenty feet through tables, and though he didn't come out victorious, he was still shown love by the NXT Universe. Gargano said that he loved everything about NXT, from the fans to the wrestlers in the back, and believes that it's, without a doubt, the best professional wrestling show the world has to offer.
Gargano mentioned the dozens of stars who moved to Raw or SmackDown. Every one of them had a choice, and he's made his. As of now, he's officially...interrupted by Shane Thorne. The Mighty One said that the last thing the NXT Universe needed was more Johnny Wrestling, and he feels that he deserves the spot that Gargano has maintained throughout the years.
Thorne said that this all could've been done with a little selfie and a post on social media, but that just wasn't enough. No, Gargano had to take up more time. Thorne said that NXT would be just fine without him, and would actually be elevated by himself as the shining star of the brand. He demanded Gargano bow and take a walk.
Gargano stopped before going through the ropes and revealed that he wouldn't be going anywhere, opting to stick with the brand that's supported him for so long. A superkick laid out Thorne as the fans erupted for the heart of NXT.
Pete Dunne vs Angel Garza
Pete Dunne wasn't a fan of Angel Garza's flamboyant tactics, and when Garza held his finger out to tell him to pump the breaks, Dunne attempted to go for a nasty finger snap. Garza backed away but was taken down by a single leg lock.
Garza fought out and trapped Dunne with a waist lock. The Bruiserweight was easily able to break the hold, trapping Garza's fingers and taking him to the mat to nearly bend his index finger in half. Garza responded with some joint manipulation himself, but Dunne escaped, leading to both men reaching their feet at the same time.
Garza sped around Dunne with a criss-cross, but a lariat laid him out and nearly turned him inside out. A kick to the arm left Garza wailing, and the former NXT UK Champion tried to stomp Garza's fingers but the luchador avoided it, sending Dunne outside.
Dunne rushed back inside as Garza took his tights off, revealing some baby blue trunks, and took his opponent outside. Garza set him up on the apron in a headstand, though, and rocked him with a superkick to the jaw. Dunne made it back in before the ten count and was taken to the corner where he was chopped by Garza. A running kick left Dunne's ribs battered, but he responded with a series of chest chops and a step-up enziguri.
A release German suplex sent Garza overhead, and as he tried to recover, both his hands were stomped on by Dunne. A knee to the jaw nearly put him away. Dunne attempted the Bitter End, but Garza blocked, responding with a dropkick as Dunne came back from the ropes.
Garza didn't hold onto the upper hand for long, as a sit-out powerbomb nearly spiked him on his head. A roll-up nearly gave him the win, however. Dunne kicked out but was caught climbing the top rope, managing to get caught between the top and middle with a dropkick. A pair of running kicks to Dunne's knees left him crumbling to the mat.
Dunne broke out of several pinfalls and rolled Garza over for a series of stomps to the jaw. A strong right legged roundhouse left Garza nearly unconscious. Dunne battered Garza with more chops, but as he chased him into the corner, Garza sent him overhead for a kick to the chest. Garza attempted a springboard moonsault, only for Dunne to dodge and trap him in an armbar, forcing him to tap as he snapped his fingers.
Results: Pete Dunne defeated Angel Garza via submission.
A Street Profits video from this past Monday showed the former champions in New York. The Profits were upset about not holding the titles anymore but decided the best way to kick of NXT on USA Network was to challenge the Undisputed Era for the gold.
Raul Mendoza vs Cameron Grimes
Grimes tried to end the match fast with an early pinfall, but Mendoza escaped and rolled Grimes around the ring with a schoolboy. Grimes escaped as well, but couldn't keep up with Mendoza's speed, who sent Grimes overhead with a running hurricanrana.
Mendoza ended up crashing to the ground outside as he attempted a springboard, getting taken out by a dropkick. Back inside, a clothesline set Grimes up for a near fall. Mendoza was forced to the mat with Grimes pushing down on his shoulder. He broke away, though, and sent Grimes into the corner with a series of kicks. A running single knee to the jaw left Grimes stumbling to the middle of the ring where a rope-walking dropkick gave Mendoza a near fall.
Grimes slung the middle rope into Mendoza's face as he crawled away for safety. Mendoza responded with a high kick to the head. A phoenix splash from Mendoza didn't connect, and Grimes drove him into the mat with a running double stomp.
Results: Cameron Grimes defeated Raul Mendoza via pinfall.
Backstage, Candice LeRae entered William Regal's office, demanding to know why Io Shirai was placed in the triple threat match for a shot at Shayna Baszler's Women's Championship. Regal responded by putting LeRae in the match and added that if Rhea Ripley won tonight, there would be no reason why she shouldn't be added to the #1 contender's bout as well.
A hype package played of Dakota Kai, the Captain of Team Kick, who has been out for some time following a serious leg injury earlier this year. Coming soon, Kai will return to NXT, adding some serious passion and energy to the Black & Gold Brand.
Not only will Roderick Strong & Velveteen Dream square off for the North American Championship next week. During the second hour on the Network, Killian Dain will go one-on-one with Matt Riddle in a street fight.
Rhea Ripley vs Shayna Baszler
Baszler came out of the gate looking for some joint manipulation. Ripley went to the ropes to break it up. Baszler tried to take her leg out, but Ripley wasn't having it, tripping Baszler instead and attempting a massive stomp. Baszler barely rolled away in time.
Ripley tried to go for a body slam only for the champion to slip out, trying to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler's hold was unsuccessful as she couldn't get a good grip, and Baszler finally slammed her. In the corner, a series of shoulder thrusts left Baszler gasping.
Baszler countered a suplex with a roll-up. As she made it back to her feet following a kick out, a single leg dropkick took out Baszler. However, a big boot near the ropes left Ripley hung up, allowing Baszler to take out her other leg and damage her right knee. With the Mosh Pit Kid finally on the ground, Baszler locked her in a cravate hold. Ripley easily made it to her feet, though, and sent her over with a back body drop.
Ripley failed to hit a running dropkick, allowing Baszler to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler was taken to the corner where she was knocked off the top with a dropkick. Outside, an electric chair facebuster bounced Baszler's face on the steel steps. Before she could capitalize back inside, the Horsewomen invaded the ring. Shafir and Duke were stopped by the Queen of the Riptide, though, and quite easily.
Baszler took her out from behind. Ripley blocked a chair shot, though, and battered Baszler with it instead.
Results: Shayna Baszler defeated Rhea Ripley via DQ.
Baszler and her crew stood atop the ramp as Ripley challenged her to bring it, sitting in the chair she used to force Baszler to escape.
The Undisputed Era ended the night, with Adam Cole claiming that the Undisputed Prophecy would finally come true on a history-making night for NXT. Next week, Roderick Strong would capture the final piece of the puzzle, leaving all four members draped in gold.
