It looks like the main roster will have a lot to live up to at the Royal Rumble because they'll have to follow some of the greatest wrestling that we'll get in 2020. On the pre-show, Kay Lee Ray defeated Mia Yim, putting NXT UK ahead at 1-0.
In what many would consider a dream match, our main event features the two most dominant factions in both NXT and NXT UK. The Undisputed Era and Imperium are set to clash in a climactic eight-man tag team match. Every match on this card is to prove which brand is truly superior. NXT knocked off both SmackDown and Raw at Survivor Series, but their reign may be short-lived.
We kicked off the night with what most would more than likely perceive as the match of the night. "The Prinxe" Finn Balor against Ilja Dragunov.
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Finn Balor vs Ilja Dragunov
The former Universal Champion brought the young up-and-comer to the mat, but Dragunov was able to trade control, leading to a stalemate early on. Dragunov eventually drew first blood with a running crossbody.
After being taunted, Balor sent Dragunov to the floor and followed up with a dropkick through the ropes. Back on the inside, though a Walter-esque chop and a senton nearly earned Dragunov a shocking win.
Balor's patented enziguri on the apron was countered with a clothesline, and he was met by a springboard crossbody on the outside. However, another dive from Dragunov was avoided, allowing Balor a chance to breathe.
Inside the ring, a snapmare/dropkick combination left Dragunov dazed. Balor struggled to keep his opponent on the mat, doing his best to quell any chances to build momentum for Dragunov. Balor stomped a hole into the chest of Dragunov, nearly getting himself disqualified. The 1916 was reversed, as Dragunov took Balor over with a suplex before building up steam with a series of running and rolling clotheslines.
A brutal rising knee to the jaw almost ended Balor's night, but he was able to kick out just in the nick of time. Balor reversed a Death Valley Driver, sending Dragunov into the mat and hitting a jumping double stomp. He shook it off, leading to a striking trade between both men.
Dragunov avoided the 1916 but was hit with the reverse DDT. A slingblade connected. Dragunov countered the shotgun dropkick, though, with another jumping knee to the jaw. A high-angle teardrop suplex earned him a two-count.
After hitting the "61-line," Dragunov hit a coast to coast on Balor, who was draped on the bottom ropes. The senton from the top, though, was blocked with Balor's knees. After the Coup de Grace, Dragunov was sent back to the locker room with the 1916.
Results: Finn Balor defeated Ilja Dragunov via pinfall.
Cathy Kelly was at ringside with the two tag teams who've advanced to the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, the Grizzled Young Vets and the Broserweights. With some breaking news, Kelly revealed that the winning team would go onto NXT: Portland for a shot at the Undisputed Era's NXT Tag Team Titles.
Zach Gibson said that, individually, Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle are at the top. However, as a tag team, their resume leaves a lot to be desired. Matt Riddle responded by saying everyone should be excited and happy because of Kelly's announcement. He's smiling, and he knew that his "Bro from another Mo" was smiling ear to ear. When he looked beside him...Pete wasn't smiling. Riddle assured this was his happy face, though.
Dunne followed up, promising that Riddle would smoke the competition and the Grizzled Young Vets' dreams would come to a Bitter End.
Next up was the NXT Cruiserweight Championship match. Angel Garza would defend his title against three of the best cruiserweights in the world.
NXT Cruiserweight Championship Fatal-4-Way Match: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs Jordan Devlin vs Travis Banks vs Angel Garza (c)
Isaiah Scott struck first, sending Banks into the corner while rocking Devlin and Garza. The Cruiserweight Champion responded well, but was hit by three superkicks when attempting to remove his tights.
Devlin slammed Banks and Scott into each other with a reverse DDT/Uranage combination. Scott recovered first, spiking Devlin with a rolling flatliner, sending Banks to the floor with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, and rocking Garza with a series of kicks.
On the outside, Scott dropped Devlin with a Death Valley Driver. Garza dove over Banks who was sitting on the apron, flying into Scott. Banks followed with a diving stomp to the champion's chest.
Banks took time striking all three men with vicious chops to the chest. The Kiwi Buzzsaw lived up to his name, tearing into each man with destructive kicks. Inside the ring, Scott and Garza were hammered with a series of high angle roundhouse kicks by Banks. Garza was tossed into the corner, and as Scott rushed in, Banks tripped him up, sending him cannonballing into the champ.
Devlin rushed in only to get dumped onto the other competitors with a release belly-to-belly suplex. As Banks was left on the apron, Devlin spiked Swerve with a tornado DDT, but as he rolled up Swerve, Banks dove onto him to make the save.
Garza finally got in some serious offense, pelting all three men with kicks. Banks and Devlin jumped onto the champion, who caught both men, allowing Scott to jump in with a diving double stomp! Scott set up Garza for the House Call, but Devlin stopped it with a superkick.
Devlin rocked Banks with a headbutt only to get caught in a Canadian Destroyer! Garza moved to the top, where he was met by Scott. Devlin soon joined them, leaving all of them in a precarious position. The Irish Ace was able to take both men over with a double Spanish Fly!
Before he could capitalize, Banks rushed in with the Slice of Heaven and the Kiwi Crusher, but Devlin kicked out! Banks then set his sights on Scott. Swerve hammered Banks with chest chops and countered a headscissors with a Michinoku Driver! Banks somehow kicked out.
Banks was lifted in the air, allowing Garza to hit a dropkick. from the top, which in turn saw Scott spiked with the reverse hurricanrana. Garza hit the Wing Clipper on Scott, only to be knocked out momentarily with a headbutt from Devlin.
Devlin dropped Scott with the Devlin Side for the win, giving us a brand new NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
Results: Jordan Devlin defeated Isaiah "Swerve" Scott via pinfall.
Moustache Mountain vs #DIY
Johnny Gargano and Tyler Bate started the bout off. The former NXT Champion was caught by Bate following an incredible mat-based exchange. Bate let him go, before both men tagged in their respective tag team partners.
Trent Seven and Tommaso Ciampa circled one another before Seven showed Ciampa how to twirl a proper moustache. Ciampa responded by simply flexing some muscles that Seven doesn't exactly carry.
Both men looked for a DDT early, leading to a roll-up from Seven which nearly ended the match early. Bate then tagged in, leading to a flex off between the Psycho Killer and the Big Strong Boi. A test of strength saw Ciampa get taken overhead by the inaugural UK Champion.
Finally tired of playing around, Bate went for Bop and Bang, only to be caught by a punch from Ciampa. Seven was knocked off by Ciampa, as Bate was sent to the floor with a jumping knee in the ropes. Gargano followed up, taking out Seven with a killer kick.
After both members of Moustache Mountain were sent over the announce tables, DIY sat on the apron and clapped for themselves, patting each other on the back. Back inside, Ciampa bounced Bate's head off of Gargano's feet. They kept Bate on their side of the ring, leaving Seven in his corner hoping for a break.
Bate escaped a back suplex and tagged in Seven, who dropped Ciampa with a flapjack and spiked Gargano with a DDT. A strong paint brush to the face sent Gargano to the floor and a powerbomb on Ciampa gave him a near fall. A lariat earned him another close call from Ciampa.
Ciampa avoided the 7-Star Lariat and responded with a jumping knee. Gargano and Bate tagged in, where Johnny Wrestling took both members of Moustache Mountain down with a DDT/Flatliner combination. A slingshot spear nearly ended Bate, but he was just able to kick out.
Ciampa held the ropes open as Gargano flew through for a suicide dive. With Trent Seven and Tyler Bate moving through the ropes, Ciampa and Gargano spiked them with Willow's Bell and the slingshot DDT, respectively.
Ciampa tagged in while Gargano took out Seven. A knee to the back of a diving Bate set up for Project Ciampa. Bate broke out for the slingshot clothesline and Tyler Driver '97. Johnny Gargano and Trent Seven rushed in to break/save the pin, leading to Ciampa reversing the pin for a near fall.
Gargano tagged in and was caught with an exploder suplex, but left his feet up to counter a senton. Bate avoided the Garga-No Escape momentarily, but was eventually caught. Seven rushed in only for Ciampa to trap him in a bridging armbar.
Moustache Mountain powered out, dizzying their opponents with dual airplane spins. A back drop/clothesline combo gave Bate a two-count. Seven held onto Gargano for the slingshot clothesline, but Gargano ducked, taking Seven out.
Ciampa tagged in and DIY set up for their finish. They were instead caught by Bop & Bang from both members of Moustache Mountain. Ciampa was caught in a burning hammer/knee drop, but kicked out. Ciampa was held down by Seven for Bate's corkscrew senton, but Ciampa yanked Seven on top of him.
Bate broke the pinfall, leading to a stand off between all four men. Punches were thrown..and clotheslines, and knees, oh my! Bate was knocked out with a superkick, allowing Ciampa and Gargano to Meet in the Middle, knocking out Seven.
Results: DIY defeated Moustache Mountain via pinfall.
After the bout, DIY and Moustache Mountain shook each other's hands, showing that they'd earned each other's respect.
Prior to the next match, we saw Mercedes Martinez and Dakota Kai in the audience. Tegan Nox assaulted her former best friend, forcing security to separate her and Kai. Bianca Belair was also in attendance.
Next up is the NXT Women's Championship, and a classic rematch of one of the best rivalries in NXT UK, Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm.
NXT Women's Championship: Toni Storm vs Rhea Ripley (c)
Storm had Ripley on the ropes early with a running dropkick and a series of right hands, but the champion shook it off and nearly chopped Storm to the mat. A hammerlock side kick sent Storm to the corner. Almost immediately, Storm got back in as she shot Ripley into the middle turnbuckle with a German suplex! Ripley rolled to the floor immediately, trying to shake off the stinger.
Storm rolled out and brought the champion back in before locking in an STF in the middle of the ring. A DDT spiked the champion, giving Storm a two-count. Ripley's neck was constantly targete, but she eventually made it back to her feet where she traded blows with Storm.
The Champion picked up some momentum with clotheslines and cravate knee strikes. A snapmare/dropkick set Storm up to be met by a jumping pump kick. A pendulum facebuster planted Storm, allowing Ripley to lock in the Prism. Storm made it to the ropes and countered the Riptide for a crossbody.
Storm Zero was blocked. A German suplex saw Ripley just barely kick out. Ripley again took over with a straight kick to the jaw and a dropkick, but it was short lived following a headbutt. Storm moved to the top rope for a frog splash.
Ripley rolled out and rushed in for the Riptide, retaining the title.
Results: Rhea Ripley defeated Toni Storm via pinfall.
At NXT TakeOver: Portland, Bianca Belair will challenge Rhea Ripley for the title. Belair stood at ringside, talking trash with the champion.
Undisputed Era vs Imperium
The main event kicked off with Fabian Aichner and Kyle O'Reilly representing Imperium and the Undisputed Era. O'Reilly hammered Aichner with a series of elbow strikes to the jaw but was caught in a powerslam. Marcel Barthel tagged in, setting up a pop-up uppercut.
O'Reilly managed to get to Roderick Strong, tagging in the former North American Champion. A backbreaker/elbow drop combination hurt Barthel, but a few throat chops sent Strong into Imperium's corner. Alexander Wolfe was in next, but Strong was easily able to bring him to his side of the ring.
Bobby Fish tagged in, and the Era dropped Wolfe with a double front suplex, which saw Wolfe land flat on his face. A kick from Fish seemingly gave Wolfe a concussion, forcing the ref to momentarily stop the match so he could be assisted to the back by the medical staff.
With that, Adam Cole and Walter came in. Cole avoided chops and used Fish to distract the UK Champion. In UE's corner, Walter was hammered by several opponents. However, when Roderick Strong tagged in, a massive big boot turned everything around in Imperium's favor.
Barthel was back in, stomping a mudhole inot Strong in the corner. Cole managed to tag in just as Strong was bounced off the ropes, chopping Barthel's leg out from under him. The Era tore apart Barthel in the corner, all the while taunting Walter and Aichner.
O'Reilly tried to knock Walter off the apron, but he was unphased. Barthel tagged the UK Champion, allowing the big man to take on the UE by himself and nearly knocking O'Reilly out with one stiff chop to the jaw. Strong came in to try and drag Strong away, but was pulled in, as we saw Walter launch them both into the corner with a double German suplex.
Barthel tagged in, and he and Aichner delivered a vicious elevated jumping DDT. O'Reilly kicked out, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. The remaining members of Imperium took their time breaking O'Reilly apart piece by piece. A running seated senton crushed O'Reilly's ribs, as Walter dragged O'Reilly's nearly lifeless body to his side.
O'Reilly fought off Walter after getting a second wind, but a massive chop nealy left him unconscious. Barthel hung O'Reilly up, as he and Aichner hit their patented double corner dropkick.
O'Reilly was able to escape and tag in Strong, who took on all three members of Imperium. Hammering Walter while knocking Aichner and Barthel to the floor with wrecking ball dropkicks, he set Walter up for the multiple running elbows. Walter responded with a clothesline, but Strong escaped a Powerbomb and took out a now Aichner with a Tiger Bomb. Aichner fought out of the Stronghold.
Fish tagged in but was taken out by a spinebuster/penalty kick combo from Aichner and Barthel. The European Bomb was blocked, and Fish sent Aichner into a seated Barthel with an exploder suplex. Cole tagged in, attempting the Panama Sunrise. Barthel avoided it and the Ushigoroshi, but an enziguri finally took him down. Cole's Ushigoroshi connected, but a massive boot to the back of the head from Walter broke the pin.
With Aichner and Barthel out, it left Walter in a four-on-one situation. The Era jumped him, taking him to the floor in hopes of driving him through a table. Walter nearly sent O'Reilly through with a powerbomb, but Cole took out his leg.
Still, Walter was able to fight off the Era by himself. That was until Fish stunned Walter on top of a table, allowing Strong to bring the big man through another table with the Olympic Slam! Back inside, Barthel escaped a neckbreaker, hitting a leaping European uppercut. O'Reilly rushed in only to be planted with a catching brainbuster from Aichner.
Back in, Cole caught a leaping Aichner with a superkick that somehow didn't earn him the win. A gutbuster from Strong and a running knee to the jaw of Barthel saw the Era get another near fall. O'Reilly and Fish hung up Barthel's leg in the ropes, setting up a heel hook in the ring. Barthel managed to squirm to the ropes. O'Reilly refused to break the hold, allowing Aichner to connect with a triangle moonsault to save his tag team partner.
Walter made it to the apron as the Era took out Aichner, allowing Barthel to tag in. Walter's chops rang out, as he clobbered Cole, O'Reilly, and Fish. Cole responded with two superkicks. The Last Shot was countered with another massive chop.
Walter dragged Strong through the ropes and powerbombed him. A big splash from the top connected, only for Cole to come in with the Last Shot. Barthel broke up the pin just in time!
All seven men recovered, making it to their feet before they rushed each other in a massive brawl. Aichner and Barthel were sent to the outside while the NXT Tag Team Champions hit No Man's Land on Walter. Cole was unable to follow up as Barthel took him out.
Aichner hit a springboard crossbody on Cole, O'Reilly, and Strong, allowing Walter send Fish into the corner with a running dropkick and spike him on the inside with the Powerbomb.
Results: Imperium defeated Undisputed Era via pinfall.