Pretty Deadly state of the Commonwealth address
Pretty Deadly came out dressed as a mix of royalty and judges from a courtroom. They talked as “British” as they possibly could, including saying lines from William Shakespeare plays. They then talked about how they have beaten every tag team on NXT and therefore, they should be declared as NXT Tag Team Champions for ever. The Brawling Brutes then came out to them to ask them why the champs had been talking rubbish about Sheamus on social media. PD said that they were hacked by Kevin Owens which was funny before the Brutes got into the ring and challenged them to a match for later on in the night. This was pretty good, Pretty Deadly are genuinely funny.
Grade: B
The North American Championship picture
When we came back from the Ad break, Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne were attacked by Alba Fyre. It was then time for the former A Champion Carmelo Hayes to take on Oro Mensah. Both men have already qualified for the NXT North American Championship ladder match so this was done to showcase what both men can do. We already know that Carmelo Hayes is the future of this company, but it was nice to see that Oro Mensah has some potential too. Mensah also hit a lovely springboard moonsault from the middle rope for a close near-fall. However, the slightest interference from Trick Williams cost the Ghanaian highflyer as Carmelo Hayes took advantage and won with the Axe Kick to prove he still doesn’t miss. It also put an end to his questionable losing streak. Overall, this was pretty solid.
Grade: B-
Backstage, Duke Hudson took the mic out of Brutus Creed’s injury. Brutus was angry but both his brother and Ivy Nile held him back before Julius Creed challenged the Duke to a match for later on in the night. We then came back down to ringside where Carmelo Hayes was on commentary for the North American Championship Qualifying match between Andre Chase and Von Wagner. This was fine but Von really isn’t that good. He just does the same stuff as fellow big men in WWE. Andre Chase was over with the crowd as per usual and at one point, Thea Hail dropped Mr. Stone, but it wasn’t enough as Von Wagner won with a version of the powerslam. For me, the wrong person won this match.
Grade: C-
Backstage segments, Wendy Choo VS Lash Legend
After the North American Championship qualifying match, Wes Lee attacked Carmelo Hayes who was still on commentary and the two brawled before officials broke it up. Nathan Frazer was then backstage with Sanga before Sanga told him that he hopes that Frazer wins the North American Championship at Halloween Havoc. When Frazer left happy, Veer Mahaan returned to NXT to come face to face with his old his tag partner. If they become a team again, we have a genuine threat for the tag titles. Grayson Waller then arrived and asked the security team to keep him safe from Apollo Crews. It was then time for Lash Legend to take on Wendy Choo. The match was fine, Legend is getting better whilst you can tell that Wendy Choo is more experienced. I was expecting Lash Legend to win this match, so I was pretty surprised when Wendy Choo hit her finishing manoeuvre to get the win. However, Wendy Choo is being booked as a more serious competitor at the moment, so her winning does actually make sense.
Grade: C-
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Number 1 contenders' match
Wes Lee cut a promo about how he isn’t finished with Carmelo Hayes. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo then interrupted him to tell Wes that he will make him pay for injuring the Don. This is the first time I have ever seen Stacks without people around him. The suspended Gallus then cut a pre-taped video promo which doesn’t actually make any sense. They said when they come back, they want more than just tag team gold. The KC’s (Katana Chance and Kayden Carter) talked about their friendship, from Carter always wanting to be a professional wrestler whilst Chance fell in love without after competing in American Ninja Warrior. This was actually 1 of a number of really good video promos to air on last night's NXT. Back in the ring, Toxic Attraction battled Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark for the right to be called the number 1 contenders for the KC’s titles. Toxic Attraction didn’t look like their normal self’s in-ring, something commentator Wade Barrett brought up which meant the team of Lyons and Stark were able to take advantage. They said on commentary that Lyons is the best striker in NXT but for me, it’s Stark. Some of her kicks were right on the money. In the end, Zoey Stark hit her awesome finishing move before she tagged in Lyons who got the win after connecting with the leg drop. It made sense for them to win but they shouldn’t beat Chance and Carter.
Grade: C+
Ilja Dragunov’s awesome video promo, the Grayson Waller Effect returns!
A video aired focusing around Ilja Dragunov. The former NXT UK Champion talked about how hard it was for him to relinquish the UK title before saying watching Worlds Collide on the side-lines was even worse. He talked about how he will beat Bron Breakker and JD McDonagh at Halloween Havoc to become the brand-new NXT Champion. This was really, really good and I honestly hope that Dragunov manages to win the championship. It was then time for my favourite talk show in all of WWE, the Grayson Waller effect. This is genuinely funny, Waller having a mini camera looking directly at him is great and the intro of the show including loads of hashtags about him including #Rebel Heart Breaker and #Phenomenal which is excellent. He also had a new featured added at the bottom of the screen where people would only talk positively about the arrogant Aussie. Comments like “We want Grayson U”, “Grayson is the future” and “Waller can beat Edge” were the best of the bunch. He then brought down his guests Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez and their feud genuinely feels important. They kept arguing before Waller got angry about them interrupting him. He then announced that in 2 weeks, Cora Jade and Roxanne would both pick each other's opponents before Waller read out a comment that said Perez VS Omos. That was a great line. Waller then did a “Grayson Waller Effect exclusive” were he spun the wheel to reveal that Cora Jade VS Roxanne Perez at Halloween Havoc will be a Weapons Wild Match. The security that Waller hired to protect him from Crews then had to break up the brawl between the two women meaning Apollo Crews could take advantage and drag him under the ring. Waller came out from under the ring with red eyes which was what Apollo had visioned last week. You might think, you’ve talked a lot about Waller and not Jade and Perez but that’s the whole point of the show. Genuinely really good tv.
Grade: A for both Dragunov and the Grayson Waller Effect
Julius Creed VS Duke Hudson
The Schism were backstage complaining at a hooded figure that they must have hired to hand out the smiley faced badges. I don’t know who this person was, but he looked the height of a child. It was then time for Duke Hudson to face Julius Creed. This was a strange match as Creed won after less than 60 seconds. It made him look amazing, but I don’t think the Duke was the right person to use in this situation. He would have been a decent option to take part in the North American Championship ladder match. Anyway, Brutus Creed attacked Hudson after the match before Ivy and Julius had to stop him. Damon Kemp was then there and he challenged Julius to an ambulance match at Halloween Havoc. Also, the stipulation states that if Julius loses, his brother is out of NXT. I’m quite intrigued to see where they are going to put the ambulance.
Grade: C on the whole (Creed’s)
Video Promo’s, Xyon Quinn VS Hank Walker
JD McDonagh cut another one of his sadistic video promos. He had a bunch of different screens that had his opponents matches on before he said he was going to let Breakker and Dragunov destroy each other at HH. He then finished his promo by saying “It’s not going to be the strongest that wins, not the heaviest hitter, but the one with the biggest brain”. I liked this, McDonagh is coming across a lot better than when he was first on NXT. Hank the Security guard was then celebrating getting a full time NXT contract before Quincy Elliott warned him about Xyon’s anger. A video then aired hyping up Frazer VS Axiom but this time it was from the superheroes point of view. Axiom said it would mean the world to him to win that match and move onto the North American Championship ladder match. This was another good promo and I’m really looking forward to Axiom Frazer 3, it’s been the best constant thing on NXT for a while. Back in the ring, Hank Walker was taking on Xyon Quinn. This match was short, and Quinn got the convincing win. Quinn is someone NXT hasn’t booked particularly well in the last year so hopefully it will change soon. Walker losing makes sense given his lack of experience.
Grade: C- for the match, B+ for McDonagh and Axiom’s promos
NXT Tag Team Championship match: Pretty Deadly VS The Brawling Brutes
Cameron Grimes was once again attacked by the Schism before Bron Breakker cut a backstage promo. He was interrupted by Javier Bernal; that match will kick-off next week's edition.
It was then time for the main event between the Champs Pretty Deadly and the Brawling Brutes. The match was pretty good, Pretty Deadly are a brilliant tag team, one of the best in the entire WWE whilst the Brawling Brutes are moving closer and closer to that level. They were awesome against the Usos and that continued that good run of momentum last night. All four men showcased their talents, and it looked like the Brawling Brutes were going to win but, for the second time in a couple of weeks, Imperium came down to the ring and cost them the championships. Pretty Deadly took advantage, hit Spilt Milk and got the win. This was a good end. However, seeing Briggs and Jensen as well as Enofe and Blade being the guys next to challenge them is a slight concern.