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It was time for the second edition of WWE NXT Super Tuesday 2, and it got underway with Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett welcoming the fans to the incredibly special show.
The biggest match on the card was set to go first.
Finn Balor kicked off the show as his music hit and out came the Prince. Adam Cole was out next for the Sudden Death match to crown the new NXT Champion.
Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor (WWE NXT Championship Match) on NXT
The match got underway following the pre-match introductions. They locked things up and began jockeying for position. Balor pushed Cole into the corner before the referee broke the hold.
Finn took Cole down with a front face lock. The UE leader tried to grapple his way out, but Balor was one step ahead as he pinned Cole down with a side headlock. Balor wasn't letting go of the side headlock. Back up on the feet, Cole sent Balor into the rope, and Finn came back to connect with a shoulder block.
Cole finally reversed the hold but got caught in another headlock. Balor won the early feeling-out round. The stalemate ended, and we were back to square one.
Cole got in the hammerlock, and Balor was on the back foot now. Balor reversed it with the arm drag takedown. He rested his knee on Cole's face. Adam Cole took Balor down with an arm drag takedown as well. He, however, had his head caught in the middle of Balor's feet.
The battle of holds ended as Cole connected with a dropkick. The longest reigning NXT Champion began to connect with the strikes.
Cole got the first pinfall attempt in the match following a neck breaker. He settled for a two-count. The NXT episode cut to a commercial break.
Balor was on top back from the break as Cole was in a side headlock. The pace of the match seemed slow and methodical, but it was bound to pick up soon.
Cole created some separation. He came charging in but got rocked with an elbow strike. Finn then slammed Cole into the mat before dropping another elbow for a two-count.
Balor sent Cole into the corner and stomped a mudhole on his opponent. Finn cracked Cole with a solid basement dropkick. He covered, and Cole kicked out at two.
Back in the corner, Balor drove his shoulders into the guts of Cole. He followed it up with a chop as Cole was in a great deal of trouble in the NXT title match. Balor whipped Cole into corners and followed it up with chops.
Adam Cole finally mounted a comeback, and it began with a couple of clotheslines. He dropped Balor with the pump kick. The fans were noisy, and it added to the intensity of the match on NXT.
Cole blocked a German Suplex attempt and connected with a knee. He then hit a backbreaker for a two-count. An insane back-and-forth exchange ensued which ended with Balor hitting the Slingblade. Cole and Balor were going move-for-move, and it didn't take long for the 'This is Awesome' chants to reverberate on NXT.
Cole pulled his knee cap down for The Last Shot, but Balor had other ideas. He sent Adam to the outside and unleashed a series of kicks to his face.
Cole still had some life in his as he stopped a charging Balor with a superkick out of nowhere. Both men were laid out on the outside as NXT to the second commercial break of the match.
Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor (WWE NXT Championship Match) on NXT (contd...)
Balor was up on the top rope for the Coupe De Grace, but Cole wasn't home on the landing. The Panama City Playboy locked in the Figure Four Leg Lock. He screamed for Balor to give up, but the Prince crawled his way to the bottom rope to break the hold in the NXT title match.
Cole stared a hole into Balor, but he got caught in another sling blade. Balor set Cole up in the corner with the double dropkick. Balor finally connected cleanly with the Coupe De Grace. He covered Cole. 1..2..kickout! Much to the surprise of everyone watching, Cole kicked out of the Coupe De Grace!
The commentators said that it was a first-time-ever phenomenon. Nonetheless, Cole locked in another Figure Four Leg move. Balor reversed it into a roll-up pinfall for a two. Cole got up and connected with a quickfire superkick. He then stunned Balor with The Last Shot. Finn Balor was the one who shocked everyone this time by kicking out of Cole's finisher.
Cole went up looking for the Panama Sunrise. Balor caught Cole and delivered an inverted, reverse 1916.
Balor was struggling with his knee. Both men were then perched up on the top rope. The sequence ended with Balor dropping Cole with the 1916 from the top rope. He covered Cole and got the three-count. And just like that, Finn Balor is your NEW NXT Champion.
Result: Finn Balor def. Adam Cole to be become the new NXT Champion
Grade: A
Balor stood on the ramp with the NXT title around his waist. Balor is now a 2-time NXT Champion. The Prince has taken over his kingdom once again.
Rhea Ripley cut a backstage promo on NXT in which she hyped up her Steel Cage match which was scheduled to take place later on in the night against Mercedes Martinez.
Triple H and William Regal congratulated Balor backstage. Adam Cole and Balor shared a classy moment backstage as the Undisputed Era leader gave his respect to the new Champion. Balor ended the segment by stating that the title was why he returned to NXT.
Shotzi Blackheart could be Io Shirai's next NXT Women's title challenger
It all started with Robert Stone trying to destroy Shotzi Blackheart's tank backstage on NXT.
Aliyah somehow managed to get caught by Io Shirai and Shotzi Blackheart. Robert Stone got taken out by Blackheart and Aliyah fled to the ring with Shotzi and Shirai on her trail.
Shirai and Blackheart took out Aliyah and Stone with moonsaults from the top rope.
There was an interesting moment after the assault angle as Blackheart hesitated to give Shirai the NXT Women's title. Io Shirai warned Blackheart that she'd hurt her before taking the belt and going up the ramp. Blackheart vs. Shirai seems to be the next title, feud.
Tegan Nox visits Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano - Part 1
Tegan Nox visited Candice LeRae's house for dinner to settle their differences. Johnny Gargano put on his smiling face - as much as he didn't want to, before opening the door for Nox.
Nox, LeRae and Gargano then sat at the dinner table to talk as the show cut to a commercial.
Timothy Thatcher was back with another breakdown of his, and Damian Preist was the man in focus. Thatcher is scheduled to face Priest for the NXT North American title.
Velveteen Dream vs. Ashante "Thee" Adonis on NXT
Dream wasn't impressed with Adonis's wardrobe choices. Velveteen was caught on the back foot early on as Adonis dropped him with a snappy DDT.
Dream hit the Dream Valley Diver in the centre of the ring and picked up the win following a brief fight from his opponent.
Result: Velveteen Dream def. Ashante "Thee" Adonis
Grade: C
Dream took the microphone after the match, but he got blindsided by Kushida, who hadn't been seen since Dream's attack from weeks ago.
The NXT officials tried to stop Kushida, but the Japenese Superstar had snapped. This wasn't the Kushida that the NXT fans have gotten used to seeing!
He sent Dream's arm crashing into the steel ring post before locking in an armbar near the apron. Kushida laid Dream out to end the segment.
A video package aired to hype next week's NXT Tag Team Championship match between the new Champions Breezango against Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner of Imperium.
Tegan Nox visits Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano - Part 2
The second segment of the Tegan Nox-Candice LeRae saga aired on NXT. Johnny Gargano let the two have their discussion as he left to check on his kid.
LeRae then explained to Nox the 'Gargano way of life' and how she has now unleashed a different side of herself. Nox had a problem with the so-called 'Gargano way of life' as she felt that wasn't the true LeRae.
Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory on NXT
This was Austin Theory's first match since June. Both men made their way to the ring, and the Colossal One was focussed on dismantling his rival.
Theory showboated in the early goings as Reed caught him in a side headlock. Theory couldn't power his way out of the hold.
Austin created some separation, but he got mowed over by a Reed shoulder tackle. Theory went for a dropkick, but Reed wasn't home. Bronson then hit the Springboard back elbow on Theory for a two-fall.
Reed was dominating the proceedings as he got in a neck lock. Theory couldn't catch a break as he got taken down again with a shoulder block in the NXT match.
Theory tried to take Reed down, but he got pancaked for all his troubles. Outside the ring, Reed took Theory out with a running flip off the apron. The NXT episode cut to a commercial break as Theory bounced around the ring which would have made The Rock proud.
Back from the break, Theory had Reed in a chin lock.
However, Bronson used his power to drop Theory on his back.
Both men got back to their feet, and they traded rights and lefts. Reed unloaded several strikes before sending him into the ropes. He connected with the inverted atomic drop followed by the elbow to the head.
Reed rocked Theory with the Avalanche splash in the corner. He followed it with the Death Valley Driver for a two-count.
Theory reversed the momentum with a partial Belly-to-back suplex. Theory, however, hurt his back in the process.
Austin Theory attempted an ATL, but he couldn't handle Reed's weight. Austin's knees gave up, and he dropped to the mat with Reed crashing onto him. Reed went up to the top rope and delivered the Tsunami splash for the win on NXT.
Result - Bronson Reed def. Austin Theory
Grade - B+
Adam Cole gave Balor credit for being the better man in their NXT title match. However, he warned the new King of NXT that he wouldn't be defeated if he gets another crack at the Championship.
Mercedes Martinez sends a message to Rhea Ripley
Mercedes Martinez cut a backstage promo ahead of her Steel Cage NXT main event match against Rhea Ripley.
Roderick Strong (w/ Bobby Fish) vs. Killian Dain on NXT
Strong used Bobby Fish as a decoy to get some early advantage, but it didn't last long. Dain used his power to crack Strong with strikes to the body. He then sent Strong into the corner.
Dain took Roderick out with a Uranage, but Fish swept Killian off his feet on the apron when the referee wasn't looking. The episode cut to a commercial break.
Killian Dain kickstarted a comeback after being down in the match. He connected with a few clubbing clotheslines before taking Strong down with a big crossbody.
Strong caught Dain with a kick and a modified Enziguri. Dain, however, reversed it and hit a senton.
Killian went up to the top rope, but Fish pulled Strong out of the ring. Dain got distracted by Fish and Strong took advantage of the situation by connecting with a perfect jumping knee for the win on NXT.
Result: Roderick Strong def. Killian Dain
Grade: C +
The two Undisputed Era members attacked Killian Dain after the match. Drake Maverick hit the ring for the save with an iron bar in his hands. Strong and Fish got the better of Maverick before Dain got hold of the iron bar. Strong and Fish retreated.
Dain and Maverick were the only two left in the ring. A scared Maverick stayed in the corner as Dain had the iron bar in his hand. Killian threw it away before exiting the ring, but Maverick followed him.
Dain got back into the ring, and Drake offered the handshake. Killian dropped Drake with a right before the leaving the ring on NXT, Killian Dain rides solo!
Tegan Nox visits Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano - Part 3
The situation between Tegan Nox and Candice LeRae expectedly turned into a food fight of sorts.
Nox dumped a bowl of spaghetti on Gargano's head before accidentally wrecking the TV. Tegan escaped the house as LeRae followed her out of the door.
Damian Priest was involved in a backstage interview in which he spoke about his NXT North American title defence against Timothy Thatcher, which was scheduled for next week's NXT show.
NXT Main Event - Mercedes Martinez vs. Rhea Ripley (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔 - Steel Cage Match)
Martinez came out and began removing tons of weaponry from under the ring. Ripley blindsided Martinez, and the NXT main event match hadn't even officially started yet.
Ripley sent Martinez into the cage, followed by a table. The cage was locked up, and the bell was officially rung.
Martinez got the early advantage with a few strikes. She tried to use the chair, but Ripley ducked in time. Rhea sent Martinez crashing into the cage. Ripley got a little creative with her offence as she hyper-extended Martinez's arms against the cage.
Ripley was all over Martinez as she connected with a big boot. She followed it with clubbing forearm strikes to the back.
Ripley attempted the Rip Tide, but Martinez reversed it into a Fisherman's Suplex. That was neat! Robert Stone mocked Ripley on the outside as she tried to get up on her feet.
Ripley countered an incoming chair shot before going up to the top. Mercedes, however, dropped Ripley onto the steel chair for a two-count in the NXT main event.
Back from the break on NXT, Mercedes dropped Ripley with an epic German Suplex from the top turnbuckle. Ripley recuperated and chucked the chair into Martinez's face.
She followed it up with a wild dropkick. Martinez's head got stuck between in gap of the cage. Ripley went up to the top rope, and they both came crashing down with a Superplex. Martinez kicked out at two.
The atmosphere was electric at Full Sail as Ripley got back to a vertical base. Martinez fired back with forearms under the jaw. She delivered the spinebuster, and both women were laid out in the middle of the ring on NXT.
Martinez measured Ripley but missed with a kick. Ripley then dropped Mercedes on her face before locking in the reverse clover leaf.
Martinez broke the submission with quick shots to the thigh with the kendo sticks. Ripley got hold of the stick and cracked Martinez with a big shot. Robert Stone climbed up the cage but he too got a kendo stick shot from the inside from Ripley.
Rhea climbed up to get hold of Stone, but Martinez connected with a kendo stick shot to the back of Ripley. She went up and connected with a huge neck breaker on Ripley from the top.
Ripley somehow got her shoulder up before the three count! Robert Stone was lifeless on top of the cage as Marinez set up the table. Mercedes connected with a chop and a right before setting Ripley on the top. She wanted to drop Ripley through the table with the Fisherman's Suplex, but Ripley created some separation with the headbutts. Ripley then sent Martinez through the table with a Super Rip Tide from the top rope. Pinfall, 1..2..3. Rhea Ripley picked up the win at the end of the brutal match in the main event of NXT.
Result: Rhea Ripley def. Mercedes Martinez
Grade: A
Rhea Ripley ended NXT Super Tuesday 2 by celebrating the win on top of the cage.
Next week's NXT episode is also stacked with several high-profile matches.
Episode Rating: A
It was a well packaged episode and NXT was exciting from start to finish. And we have an interesting show lined up next week as NXT returns to Wednesday nights.
