WWE NXT returned to the Performance Center after two weeks of being on the road for their launch on the CW Network. Tonight’s show featured the in-ring debut of Stephanie Vaquer on NXT television, a Gentleman’s dual between Oro Mensah and Lexis King. a new number one contender for the NXT Champion Trick Williams and much more.
Read all the top moments and highlights of the show.
Tony D’ Angelo Opens the Show, Raises a Toast
The show opened with Tony D’Angelo, who was already in the ring with his newly-won NXT North American Championship. Tony thanked his “family,” and toasted former champion Oba Femi. Tony said that Oba was the longest-reigning North American Champion and so he used Oba’s biggest strength against him. Besides, ya know, his literal strength. It was his pride. And that’s what won Tony the match. He baited Oba. Of course, like a certain TNA-turned-NXT star, if you say his name he’ll appear. Oba Femi came out and congratulated Tony on his win, but said it wouldn’t happen again. Then, he spun the wheel and made the deal for Halloween Havoc — it would be a Tables, Ladders, and Scares match. Because puns.
Speaking of weirdly-ruled matches, Byron Saxton interviewed Oro Mensah about his Gentleman’s Duel match coming up with Lexis King. They went over a bunch of the rules of this duel, and then King himself came out and said that he didn’t want to make his father proud by cheating. He said it was going to be a fair match. And Oro didn’t believe him.
Believe us when we say that Stephanie Vaquer is a star, though. Because she is. And she proved it in her match against Wren Sinclair, who came to the ring with the rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew.
Stephanie Vaquer def. Wren Sinclair
The match was more of a showcase for Vaquer than a competitive match, but that’s exactly what it needed to be. Vaquer showed off some of her moves and then won with a package back-breaker. Pack-Breaker?
After the match, of course, Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez jumped Vaquer until Giulia made the save. She cleared the ring and then Vaquer challenged the women to a tag match at Halloween Havoc.
Following that, we cut to a backstage segment with Trick Williams and Kelani Jordan. Trick said he knows that this reign will be better than the last, and Jordan said she’s waiting for GM Ava to pick her opponent. The two fist-bumped and then the camera panned over to Fallon Henley who said it was time to talk to Ava!
Lexis King def. Oro Mensah — Gentleman’s Duel
Next up was Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah in a Gentleman’s Duel.” Unfortunately, there were no muskets, nor gloves that they slapped each other with.
Instead, it was a just a typical match with rules similar to WCW when Cowboy Bill Watts was in charge. Real ones know.
The two tried to get a rhythm but the “rules” kept preventing them. They both hit each other with dueling (heh) crossbody blocks as we went to commercial. Luckily, they found their rhythm during this section of the match, and hit each other with a variety of kicks, strikes, and strong grapple moves. Oro hit a huracanrana, followed by a powerslam, but King kicked out. Then King it a Michinoku Driver, also for a two-count. Then it was a slingshot lariat from Oro, a superkick from King, another lariat from Oro and then a series of attempted pinning combinations that King, eventually, came out on top of. Lexis King defeated Oro Mensah and the two shook hands, Ring of Honor style. But Oro looked shocked! Aghast! Flabbergasted! Absolutely gobsmacked!
The next segment saw Cedric Alexander and Je’Von Evans talking backstage. Nathan Frazer and Axiom arrived on scene and the team bickered with Cedirc. Then, Wes Lee showed up and told Je’Von Evans that he wasn’t ready for the NXT Championship. Everybody argued with each other and then it was time for the next match!
Nikkita Lyons def. Lola Vice
After a video package of Nikkita Lyons, where she said the comeback is always better than the setback, Lola Vice made her entrance, followed by Lyons who did some light chucking before the match began.
Once the bell rung, these two really slugged it out. Actually, they karate’d it out. Wait. *checks notes* it was Tae Kwon Do. There were punches, kicks, tackling and twerking. Lola Vice performed a variety of well-executed roundhouse kicks, followed by her hip attack and an axe kick. During the match, Jaide Parker stood on the apron and ate a thrust kick for her troubles. But when the referee wasn’t looking, Parker hit a SCARY looking Hip-notic, which allowed Lyons to take advantage, hit a Vader Bomb bodysplash, and get the win.
Backstage, NXT GM Ava said she approved Vaquer and Giulia vs Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez. But then Fatal Influence appeared and demanded a title shot for the North American Championship. Ava said sure. But first they have to face Giulia and Vaquer, next week. They accepted.
Ridge Holland def. Riley Osborne (w/ Thea Hail)
Riley Osborne and Thea Hail made their entrance, as Osborne was taking on Ridge Holland.
Osborne tried to gain the advantage early, performing a Whisper in the Wind and a standing Shooting Star Press on Holland for a quick pinfall attempt. Holland kicked out and then gained the upper hand, sending Osborne crashing to the outside. Osborne hit a Tornado DDT on Holland.
Holland recovered and eventually hit a Super Belly-to-Belly Suplex on Osborne, followed by a Power Bomb, and then his Redeemer DDT (Redeemer? I barely knew ‘er!) for the win.
The crowd booed Holland mercilessly, which only made him more angry. He attacked Osborne after the match and threw him out of the ring. As the crowd chanted “You Suck” at Holland, he threatened to DDT Osborne through the announce table. Luckily, Andre Chase made the save! Chase got rid of Holland and then hugged Thea Hail.
A video of Tatum Paxley attacking Wendy Choo from the prior week aired, and then it cut to a video of Paxley creepily playing with her dollies. She said that Choo only pretended to be her friend and then stabbed her in the back. Eventually, Jaida Parker entered the scene, because NXT can’t not have a wrestler interrupt another wrestler during these backstage segments. Seriously, it was completely unnecessary. Paxley said that Parker interrupted her playtime, and Parker said that she doesn’t play around. Because puns. Again.
Brooks Jensen def. Ashanti the Adonis
Ashanti the Adonis (which is such a cool wrestler name) made his entrance to take on Brooks Jensen (with Shawn Spears). This was a good match between two up-and-coming NXT superstars, but it was interrupted when Karmen Petrovic came out to ringside and poured rose petals on the ring apron, which distracted Adonis long enough for Jensen to take advantage. Adonis got the advantage back, but then got distracted again by Shawn Spears, which led to Jensen hitting a draping DDT on Adonis for the win.
The camera cut to Adonis looking battered and broken-hearted, and then to Petrovic who gave Adonis a sly lil’ smile.
And then, in the words of Mark Henry, it was “time for the main event!”
“All Ego” Ethan Page def. Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee to become the Number One Contender for the NXT Championship
This was exactly the match you’d think it was. There was a triple threat match in AEW on Saturday, and this match wasn’t quite as good as that one, but it was still very, very good. All three men traded a series of moves and, honestly, it’s pretty hard to describe. You should just seek this match out and watch it for yourself.
In the end, after an incredible performance and a “fight forever” chant from the NXT crowd, Evans hit Lee with a Top Rope RKO that has to be seen to be believed. Evans went for the pin but only got a two count. Page attempted an Ego’s Edge, but Lee kicked Evans to break it up. Evans narrowly escaped a Tower of Doom spot and super-kicked Page, sending him out of the ring. Evans then hit his Corkscrew Splash and went for the pin but, before he could, Page snuck back in the ring and rolled up Evans for the three count.
Ethan Page grabbed the microphone and told Trick Williams he wasn’t going anywhere. He demanded that Williams spin the wheel, which he did. The wheel landed on a “Devil’s Playground” match, whatever that is, and then Page attacked Williams and hit him with a stage light. Page told Williams that he would “see the devil” inside of him, and that’s how the show ended.
Another high-octane night of great matches, storyline development, and quite a bit of hype for the Halloween Havoc special, which will air on Oct. 27. NXT once again proved itself as a hot commodity for The CW Network. But if Sam and Dean from Supernatural don’t make an appearance at Halloween Havoc, then this partnership was a total waste.
Looking for an NXT podcast? Listen to Denise Salcedo and Chinedu Ogu as they recap the October 15, 2024 edition of WWE NXT!