NXT Championship: Bron Breakker VS Von Wagner
This week's NXT kicked off with the NXT Championship on the line as Bron Breakker looked to retain his gold against Von Wagner. This match wasn’t amazing or anything, but it was a solid TV title bout. Von Wagner actually looked all right during certain parts of this match but in the end, his anger cost him. He cornered the referee and when he turned around, Breakker was ready for him. Wagner managed to reverse Breakker’s Military Press Slam, but it didn’t matter as Bron smashed him with the spear to retain his championship. This gave Bron another win on his very successful title run.
Grade: C+
Zoey Stark explains her actions
A video package aired highlighting how Alba Fyre had taken out Dolin and Jayne meaning her match with Mandy Rose is going to be one-on-one. Bron Breakker was the sitting backstage catching his breath before JD McDonagh confronted him. McDonagh simply said that “You’ll never get rid of me”. Cool. Zoey Stark then came out with new graphics on her titantron before she talked about why she attacked Nikkita Lyons. She talked about what it meant to the two of them to be chosen to represent NXT in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament before Stark said that all she asked for was that Nikkita would lighten the load for Stark just a little bit. She then called herself a problem before screaming at the camera that she is “undeniable”. I thought the words that were coming out of Stark’s mouth was actually pretty solid but unfortunately, her delivery just isn’t particularly great. If she can improve that, she can be a really good heel on this brand.
Grade: B-
Lots of backstage, Indus Sher, Apollo Crews VS JD McDonagh
Andre Chase was backstage marking a paper before he asked Duke, “Why did you throw in the towel last week”. Hudson said that the reason for doing that action was because he wanted to protect Mr. Chase and the entire university. Thea Hail then walked in and said that Duke is growing on her. I really like this group. Bron Breakker was now sitting in a locker room before Apollo Crews came up to him. Crews said he was going to beat McDonagh tonight and once he does, he will turn all his attention into the NXT Championship. Indus Sher then came out for their first match back together. They absolutely destroyed the two enhancement talents so much that I don’t actually know their names. Sanga and Veer both looked awesome and they managed to get the win with their cool looking tag team finisher. After the match, they spoke about how they are celebrities in India, yet they are forgotten about in America. They said that they would take out the Creed Brothers to gain that respect. Overall, Indus Sher looked awesome in this “match”.
Grade: B-
The Creed Brothers were then seen in their Dojo where they said that they are going to make them pay. Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley then came up to them and Nile said they are targeting the wrong people before the Creed’s announced that once they take care of Indus Sher, they are coming for Pretty Deadly. Wendy Choo then cut a promo where she said that Cora Jade said things about her last week that she hasn’t heard since high school. Choo then promised to give Jade two black eyes when the two-meet next week. It was then time for another big match on this week’s NXT as former cruiserweight champion JD McDonagh took on former US and Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews. This was another good showing from JD McDonagh who is definitely the most improved superstar of 2022. Everyone who watches wrestling also knows that Apollo is very talented so this created a fun matchup. Both men put everything on the line as both men knew that a win here would most likely put themselves next in line for Bron Breakker and the NXT Championship. In the end though, Apollo Crews managed to get a massive victory by hitting this sort of choke/press slam. After the match, Bron Breakker came and stood on the ramp, so it clearly looks like we are going to get Breakker VS Crews at NXT Deadline. I think that match will be great.
Grade: B
The NXT North American Championship Contract Signing
Mandy Rose was being interviewed in the Toxic Lounge and she said that everyone predicts the wrong outcome because they don’t pick her. She then said that she is a “once in a billion superstar”. After this, Javier Bernal said he wants to choose who his next opponent is. He firstly said Axiom but he’s currently injured. He then said Dragunov, but he is currently in Germany rehabbing an injury before he finally said Gallus who happen to be suspended. I give Bernal some credit, this was actually really funny. Booker T was then in the ring to host the contract signing for next week’s North American Championship match between Wes Lee and Carmelo Hayes. Throughout this, Booker T made sure that there would be no fighting between Lee and Hayes. He aloud all three men (including Trick) to “talk their talk” and it was pretty good. Wes talked about how nice it is to be called champion whilst Melo said that Wes Lee’s best is only Melo’s start. That’s a fantastic line. After the two signed the contract, they stared down but once again, Booker T told them that there will be no fighting. Both men listened to this because they have a lot of respect for Booker. Good contract signing overall and I’m super pumped for their match next week.
Grade: B
The NXT Tag Team Title scene, Briggs and Jensen VS The Dyad
Another Dominik Dijakovic video aired and he continued to talk about all the carnage he is going to bring to NXT. Why they still haven’t fully shown his face is bizarre as it’s quite clear it’s the former T-Bar. Odyssey Jones was then backstage with Edris Enofe and Malik Blade and he asked Malik why he wears a sweater. Blade said it’s the first thing his Dad ever brought him from his favourite store. This was a nice character addition to Blade. Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley then came out as the two “country boys” were about to take on the Dyad. This match was alright; the Dyad are such a good tag team and I do think Josh Briggs has some potential. At one point, Fowler hit this crazy suicide dive onto Jensen and it looked like they both could have got seriously hurt. Also, Josh Briggs off the ropes into a clothesline move he hits on the outside is awesome. In the end though, Kiana James came out and started brawling with Fallon Henley. James then fell into Jensen’s lap which meant Briggs was left to fight the Dyad 2-on-1 meaning Fowler and Reid were able to get the victory. The Schism really are on a roll right now.
Grade: C+
Shawn Michaels has an announcement, Indi Hartwell VS Tatum Paxley
NXT cut to a pre-taped video were Shawn Michaels announced that NXT Deadline would debut a brand-new match called the Iron Survivor. It’s a 25-minute match and after 5 minutes, a new person comes out until we have 5 in total. Also, if you win a fall, you get a point but if you lose the fall, you get put in the penalty box! It sounds mad but it’s also been confirmed that the winner of both the men’s and women’s match will become the number 1 contenders for the NXT and NXT Women’s Championships. Hopefully it will be fun to watch. Indi Hartwell then took on Tatum Paxley in a pretty one-sided matchup. The ending saw Hartwell rip off the protective mask on Tatum’s face before she got the victory with a punch to the back of the head. It’s nice to see Indi winning matches but it just seems like NXT are never going to push Paxley.
Grade: C-
Another video aired were Scrypts announced that he had broken into the arena earlier on in the week. He then said he will make his debut next week. I was about to put that I have no idea who this person is but then Noam Dar popped into my head. We’ll just have to wait and see. Roxanne Perez then came up to Indi and congratulated her on her win before she questioned why she went so far to get the victory. Both women then declared that they want to be in the Iron Survivor match expect Indi was willing to do whatever it takes to get into it. I expect both of them to be in it.
NXT Women’s Championship Last Woman Standing Match: Mandy Rose VS Alba Fyre
The main event of NXT saw Mandy Rose defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Alba Fyre in a last woman standing match. This match was solid, both women really put a shift in in this match. Early on, Rose went for the “Kiss from a Rose” but Fyre blocked this by throwing a chair into her leg. After chairs, ladders and steal steps were used, Fyre hit a gory bomb on Rose onto the ring apron before she set her up on the table. She then climbed up a ladder but as she was about to hit the senton bomb off of it, Isla Dawn showed up out of nowhere and spat mist into her face before Fyre went crashing through the table that Mandy Rose had moved off of. Fyre couldn’t get up before the count of 10 meaning Mandy Rose won to retain her NXT Women’s Championship. Once again, Alba Fyre was cost which is a shame, but it will surely set her up with another feud. Also, I don’t really know anything about Isla Dawn so I’m really hoping NXT will have a video package to showcase her on next week's episode. Either way, this was a better match than the opening title bout.
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