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The special Super Tuesday edition of NXT kicked off with the six-man tag team Street Fight between Legado Del Fantasma and the team of Breezango and Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott.
Wade Barrett was back as part of the NXT announce team alongside Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix. The match got underway as soon as the Superstars involved in the first match of the night made their respective entrances on NXT.
#1 Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango & Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott (Six-man Tag Team Street Fight) on NXT
Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde didn't allow the babyfaces to complete their entrances as they hit twin dropkicks off the apron.
Legado del Fantasma was all over the babyfaces as the table was laid out. Swerve and Breeze were sent crashing into the barricade as Fandango fought Santos Escobar.
Breeze created some separation with the backbreaker. Swerve also got some reprieve as he drop kicked Mendoza into a steel chair that was positioned in the corner.
The babyfaces took control of the chaotic match as there was utter carnage all around. Fandango placed the ladder in between his head and did the classic rotation. Swerve got the first near fall of the match over Mendoza after an innovative double team move by Breezango.
Fandango introduced the fire extinguisher, and Breeze cooled down the members of Legado as the show cut to a commercial break.
We got back from the break, and a replay of a Triple Trash compactor spot by Legado was shown. It was an incredibly well-time spot. Fandango was also sent crashing into a table which was placed at ringside.
Escobar flew through the air with a heat-seeking missile suicide dive on Swerve on the outside. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel of Imperium showed up and attacked Tyler Breeze. There are no rules in a street fight, and the heels took full advantage of the stipulation.
While the heels worked on Breeze, Fandango and Swerve were up high on a forklift.
Dango and Scott flew off the forklift and took out the heels in the ring. Breezango then wiped out Wilde, Mendoza, and Imperium with a well-timed dive on the outside.
Back in the ring, Swerve had cornered Escobar, and he hit the Cruiserweight Champion with the JML Driver for the three-count.
Swerve and Breezango celebrated the win as the show cut to another commercial break.
Results: Breezango & Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott def. Legado del Fantasma
Grade: A
That was an insane match to kick off NXT's Super Tuesday show.
Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor were shown preparing backstage for their NXT title main event.
A vignette aired in which Tegan Nox spoke about the change in Candice LeRae's demeanor. Nox said that she is ready to sit down to work on the issues between herself and LeRae. The video package ended, and a singles match between Candice LeRae and Kacy Catanzaro was up next on NXT.
#2 Candice LeRae vs. Kacy Catanzaro (w/ Kayden Carter) on NXT
LeRae and Catanzaro jockeyed for position in the early goings of the match. They exchanged stiff elbows before Catanzaro showcased her athleticism.
LeRae stunned Kacy with a brutal neck breaker. She followed it with a dropkick, which sent Kacy to the outside. Carter gave Kacy some words of encouragement, and the action resumed.
Catanzaro rolled up LeRae for a two-count. LeRae weathered the storm and sent Catanzaro into the corner. She hit a running back attack and got a two-count. Catanzaro fought back and connected with a flurry of strikes in the corner.
She hit LeRae with an acrobatic flip heel kick to the back, which got her a near fall. LeRae, however, was the superior wrestler as she locked Catanzaro in a standing surfboard submission. LeRae then stomped Kacy's face straight into the mat and that was enough to get her the pinfall on NXT.
Results: Candice LeRae def. Kacy Catanzaro
Grade: C -
LeRae took the microphone after the NXT match and addressed her tensions with Tegan. She said that the dynamic between Carter and Catanzaro reminded her of her friendship with Tegan. LeRae admitted that she wanted to hash things out with Tegan Nox before inviting the latter to her house for dinner.
Rhea Ripley challenges Mercedes Martinez on NXT
Rhea Ripley cut an intense promo directed towards Mercedes Martinez in a backstage NXT segment.
The former NXT Women's Champion challenged Martinez to a Steel Cage match, and that sounds like a show-stealer!
#3 Bronson Reed vs. Timothy Thatcher on NXT
Reed and Thatcher made their entrances for what was expected to be a very physical matchup on NXT.
Both men locked up in the middle of the ring and Reed tasted initial success with a slam. Reed locked in the side headlock, but Thatcher wiggled out to the back. Timothy connected with a few uppercuts and Reed responded with right-hand strikes. Thatcher came back with a kick but Reed answered with stiff forearm strikes.
The back-and-forth action ended with a crushing Senton from Reed on Thatcher. He hit a big clothesline before taking Thatcher to the corner.
Timothy expertly hurt Reed's elbow and shoulder, and he began working on Reed's left arm. Reed powered his way to the feet, and they exchanged lefts and rights in the middle of the ring.
Reed picked up the pace as he hit a suicide dive on Thatcher to the outside. Reed was clutching onto his left hand as Timothy was sent back into the NXT ring.
Austin Theory attacked Reed from the back as the referee had his back on what was happening on the outside.
Thatcher took advantage of the interruption by locking in the Fujiwara Armbar on Reed's injured left arm and forced him to tap out on NXT.
Results: Timothy Thatcher def. Bronson Reed via submission
Grade: B -
Adam Cole was seen getting ready for the NXT title match with his Undisputed Era buddies surrounding him backstage. A focussed Tommaso Ciampa was shown next as Beth Phoenix revealed that the main event was up next on the other side of the commercial break.
Back from the break, Martinez accepted Ripley's challenge for a Steel Cage match, and it would take place on next week's episode of NXT, which would also happen on Super Tuesday NXT 2.
#4 Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (4-Way 60-Minute IronMan Match for the NXT Championship) (Superstar with most pinfalls and submissions wins)
Johnny Gargano was the first to make his way to the NXT ring, followed by Adam Cole, Finn Balor, and last but certainly not least, Tommaso Ciampa.
Gargano exited the ring right after the bell was rung as he let the other three men do all the dirty work. Cole and Balor got right into the action before Ciampa took them both out with several strikes.
Balor came in with a series of chops on Cole and Ciampa.
Ciampa sent Balor out of the ring before Gargano cut in. He sent his former tag team partner to the outside before hitting a running knee. He connected with one on Balor as well before getting into a ringside brawl with Cole. NXT's most sadistic man was on top.
A recuperated Balor turned things around as he kicked Ciampa before sending Cole into the barricade.
Ciampa and Balor were the two men in the ring. Ciampa wore Balor down with a chin lock. He followed it up with a few rights and a kick before going back to the chin lock.
Balor stopped Ciampa in his tracks with a spinning elbow. Cole got into the ring and tossed Ciampa out. Balor and Cole were going at it now. He rammed his shoulder into the guts of Cole.
Cole hit a few strikes to Balor's midsection. Gargano sneaked into the ring and took control of the proceedings with southpaw strikes on top of Cole. He then hit Balor with a neck breaker. He mocked Balor with the latter's signature gesture. Gargano dropped Balor on his head for a two-count in the NXT title match.
Cole was back in the ring now, and Gargano worked for a submission move. He mocked the UE before kicking Cole in the left arm. We were eight minutes into the match with Gargano caught in the abdominal stretch. Cole broke out of it and hit a few clotheslines before dropping Gargano with a neck breaker. Cole's left arm was giving him some discomfort as Balor got into the ring on NXT.
Cole had Balor in a headlock before executing another neck breaker. Ciampa tried to roll into the ring, but Cole kicked him out. Cole sent Balor into the corner, but Finn got his feet up in the fast-paced NXT title match.
Balor hit a crossbody on Cole. Ciampa tried to take advantage, but Balor dropped him to the mat as the show cut to a commercial break on NXT.
Continued on the next page...
Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (4-Way 60-Minute IronMan Match for the NXT Championship (contd...)
Cole and Gargano were now in the NXT ring. Johnny furiously attacked Cole in the corner with chops and lefts. He sent cole to the other side. Cole connected with a stiff knee before hoisting Gargano on his shoulders. He dropped Gargano's head on his knees.
Cole looked for the Panama City Sunrise on Gargano, but Balor was in the ring, and Gargano got out of the way. Cole hit Gargano with a superkick. Ciampa took Balor out before catching a superkick from Cole.
Adam hit an Enziguri, but Ciampa responed with a knee to the face. All four men were down on the mat as 'NXT' chants reverberated across Full Sail.
A few seconds passed, and Cole was on the top turnbuckle. Balor stopped him in his tracks and went up for the Superplex. Ciampa Powerbombed Balor down to the mat with Cole getting hit with a suplex. A tower of bodies crashed to the mat.
Gargano and Balor were the two men standing in the ring now as Johnny drove in the shoulder in the corner. Balor hit the 1916 on Gargano for a near fall.
Balor had the momentum as he hit the sling blade followed by the dropkick in the corner. Balor went up for the Coupe De Grace, but Gargano wasn't home. Ciampa came in and caught Balor and dropped him with an Air Raid Crash for a two-count.
The show cut to a picture-in-picture commercial on NXT.
Gargano and Ciampa had a brief staredown. Cole and Balor dumped them out of the ring before having a faceoff themselves. They did the iconic too sweet hand gesture, and Cole tried to work out an agreement. Balor wasn't having none of it as he blindsided Cole.
Balor hit all men with dropkicks on the outside. He rolled Cole in and hit the Coupe de Grace to pick up the first pinfall of the match on NXT.
Finn Balor - 1, Johnny Gargano - 0 , Adam Cole - 0, Tommaso Ciampa - 0
Finn Balor stood in the centre of the ring with Gargano and Ciampa on either side. Balor rocked Gargano with two perfect chops. He scooped him and slammed Gargano to the mat. Balor was in the driving seat as he pinned Gargano down in a chin lock on NXT.
Ciampa attempted to get some offence in, but Balor was on a roll as he laid both Ciampa and Gargano out and unleashed a series of stomps. We cut to another commercial break on NXT.
Continued on the next page...
Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (4-Way 60-Minute IronMan Match for the NXT Championship) (contd...)
Ciampa tried to replicate on Cole what he did to Jake Atlas on the last NXT episode. Balor didn't let it happen as he knocked Ciampa away.
Back in the NXT ring, Ciampa hit the Willow's Bell followed by the Fairtytale Ending. Gargano sent Ciampa out of the ring and covered Balor for his first pinfall of the NXT title match.
Finn Balor - 1, Johnny Gargano - 1 , Adam Cole - 0, Tomasso Ciampa - 0
Cole and Ciampa were now in the ring as the match crossed the 30-minute mark. Cole hit superkicks on Balor and Ciampa before hitting the Panama Sunrise on Gargano for the 3-count in the NXT title match.
Finn Balor - 1, Johnny Gargano - 1 , Adam Cole - 1, Tomasso Ciampa - 0
Ciampa hit the double Willow's Bell on Gargano and Cole. He then picked Cole up and connected with the Fairytale Ending to get on the scoreboard.
Finn Balor - 1, Johnny Gargano - 1 , Adam Cole - 1, Tomasso Ciampa - 1
The four competitors stood on four different corners as 'This is Awesome' Chants rung around the NXT arena. They brawled all over the place and exchanged relentless strikes.
It ended in a stalemate with all four men down. Balor and Gargano went for the double clotheslines while Ciampa and Cole went for the double superkick. This was indeed awesome!
Ciampa and Balor were now in the ring. Ciampa hit a big running knee on Balor before smacking Cole down to the floor.
He shifted his attention to Adam Cole on the outside. There was less than 17 minutes on the clock. Gargano had Cole on his shoulders on top of the apron.
Cole fought out of it and kicked Ciampa in the head. The longest reigning NXT Champion went up to the top rope, but Ciampa followed him. They traded blows. Cole slid down and hit Ciampa with a kick to the back of the left knee.
Balor initiated a chop party as he worked on all his opponents who were positioned in different corners. Ciampa was having a tough time with his left knee, and Balor locked in the single-leg Boston Crab, focussing on the left leg.
Ciampa crawled his way to the rope, but Balor got right back with the sling blade. He followed it up with the dropkick.
Balor climbed up to the top, but Gargano tried to knock him off the perch. He went in for the Coupe de Grace, but Ciampa rolled out of the way. Balor got rocked with a superkick. Gargano was now in the ring, and he first took out Ciampa with a suicide dive. He then laid out Cole. Balor, however, caught Gargano in mid-air.
Johnny reversed it into a tornado DDT onto the floor.
We were in the home stretch of the NXT title match as the show returned from a break. Gargano had Cole trapped in the Gargano escape. Cole fought through as Ciampa dragged both men to the outside.
With three minutes on the clock, Gargano and Ciampa slugged it out near the apron. Ciampa sent Gargano neck-first into the steel pole under the ring. He rolled Gargano into the ring and covered him for the pinfall. Cole pulled him out. Ciampa went for another pinfall, but this time Balor pulled his feet.
Gargano rolled up Ciampa for a near fall. Ciampa was still in control as he chopped Gargano in the corner.
Ciampa set Gargano up on the top rope with 40 seconds left on the clock. Tomasso dropped Gargano from the top rope. Balor, however, hit the Coupe de Grace on Ciampa for the 3-count.
It seemed like Balor had the win in the bag, but Cole came out of nowhere and rocked Balor with The Last Shot. He pinned Balor for the pinfall before the time ran out in the NXT title match.
Finn Balor - 2, Johnny Gargano - 1 , Adam Cole - 2, Tomasso Ciampa - 1
Results - Match ended in a tie as Finn Balor, and Adam Cole scored two pinfalls each.
Grade - A+
Confusion ensued after the NXT title match as Balor and Cole argued in the ring. William Regal came out and announced that Adam Cole and Finn Balor would face each other on next week's episode.
One fall to the finish. The winner of the 'Sudden Death' match at 'Super Tuesday NXT' 2 becomes the new NXT Champion.
Episode Rating: A
The NXT Championship match did live up to the hype while Ripley has laid down the challenge for Martinez. We are set for an exciting night next week as it will be NXT Super Tuesday 2.
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