Hello and welcome to another episode of NXT on CW.
Vic Joseph and Booker T started the show of introducing clips from last week’s episode. It was a heartbreaker, that’s for sure. And speaking of broken hearts, Chase U’s entrance theme played, possibly for the very last time.
And…it was Ridge Holland. Holland burst through the Chase U flag, grabbed a mic and said “I told you so.” Everybody booed him like he was Shawn Michaels in 2005 after teasing the return of Bret Hart during Michaels’ feud with Hulk Hogan.
IYKYK.
Holland said he’ll see Trick at Deadline, then dropped the mic and skedaddled.
Back to Vic and Booker as Vic went over the matches for this evening, the first of which was All Ego Ethan Page taking on Axiom.
All Ego Ethan Page versus Axiom (with Nathan Frazier)
Axiom started the match off hot with a crucifix pin attempt. Luckily, Page is not a vampire so a crucifix did not defeat him. Axiom also attempted his Golden Ration superkick, but Page rolled out of the ring to avoid it.
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Axiom hit a huracanrana on Page, which sent him to the announce table, from the ring apron. Axiom attempted a submission chokehold, but Page reversed it into a rollup pin attempt. Page then hit Axiom with a big mafia kick. As they were last week, several tag teams were shown watching the match on a monitor. Does this mean what I think it does?? (Nick from the Future: Yes, yes it does).
Axiom hit a standing Spanish fly (like a reverse flip Rock Bottom) on page for a two-count. Axiom went to the top rope, but Page nailed him with an uppercut. Page lifted Axiom out of another submission attempt and power bombed him, followed by some holds focusing on Axiom’s back.
Axiom nailed Page with a move I don’t know the name of and followed that up with a Super Spanish Fly (like a reverse flip Rock Bottom from the top rope) for a nearfall.
A bit of back and forth, but Page got the upper hand when he used the top turnbuckle to backbreaker Axiom. Backbreak Axiom? To break Axiom’s back?
Page performed a backbreaker on Axiom, using the top turnbuckle.
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Axiom hit his signature move, followed by his Lionsault DDT but Page kicked out of a pin attempt, and hit some forearm shots. Axiom put Page in a sleeper hold, but All Ego broke through it using the corner turnbuckle. Page then suplexed Axiom into said turnbuckle.
Page set up the Ego’s Edge to finish the match, but Axiom countered it with a Frankensteiner. Axiom tried to gain the advantage but Page hit him with his inside-out lariat for the win!
Ethan Page defeated Axiom to earn a spot in the Iron Survivor Match at NXT Deadline
Following the match, Ethan Page was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Page said if you bet against All Ego, you’re going to lose money every single time, which isn’t altogether true but that’s okay! He said he always finds a way to win, which is also not altogether true but that’s okay! Page said he found a way to win against a great champion (Axiom) and that nobody wanted him to qualify fore the match. Nathan Frazer then big leagued Page (and Axiom, honestly). He cut off Page and said that the Iron Survivor match is his type of match. Page, calling the kettle black, said that Frazer’s mouth is going faster than his body. Page said he was more impressed by the one who actually carried their team (Axiom).
Wes Lee then made his entrance and, incidentally, inferred that this was his type of match (it’s a good thing all these guys are in this match, since it’s their type of match and all). Then Je’Von Evans came out and said the Iron Survivor match was HIS type of match. Just kidding. He just said the match looked hype. Which means good. I think. Evans said he’s gonna spend a lot of time in the penalty box. Then, Bronco Nima and Lucien Price came out and said they didn’t give a hoot about the Iron Survivor. Nima said that he and his partner weren’t cool with Axiom and Frazer forsaking the tag division for single’s gold. Then, a bunch of other tag teams ran out and the inevitable brawl took place. BRB, gotta go tell Past Nick something.
Okay I’m back! And so is Lola Vice, who spoke with Stephanie Vaquer backstage. She said that she had to make sure Stephanie Parker didn’t advance in the Women’s Iron Survivor match. Wren Sinclair showed up and tried to talk that ish to Lola Vice, but Vice said she was going to use Sinclair as an example, saying fists don’t lie. Neither do hips.
A graphic said that there’s one last spot in the Men’s Iron Survivor match.
Cut to backstage, where Ashante Thee Adonis was talking to Nikkita Lyons. He said that Nikki was trying to hop aboard, but that he has baggage now. Which is a really weird way to refer to somebody that you like. Nikkita said that Ashante DID text her, which he didn’t deny. Even though last week, he did. Adonis said he texts all his shawties. Unfortunately, Karmen Petrovic heard this, and pushed Adonis…presumably for lying to her last week, and calling her baggage this week.
Lola Vice versus Wren Sinclair
Vice began the match with a slew of amateur wrestling moves, including an Alligator Roll, which Sinclair tried to reverse into a pinning attempt, to no avail. Lola hit the Three Amigos but Sinclair hit an arm wrench slam.
Sinclair had the advantage for a bit, but Vice got back into it with some kicks. She was shot back down by Sinclair, who hit a short-arm lariat and a dropkick.
Charlie Dempsey told Sinclair to step on Vice’s arm while it was on the steel steps. Sinclair dropkicked Vice, which sent her into said stairs. Then they both got back in the ring but Vice hit a spinning back fist outta nowhere! to pick up the win.
Lola Vice defeated Wren Sinclair
Vice looked into the camera and said that it wasn’t over between her and Jaida Parker and that they were going underground very soon. Buried alive match? They’re gonna go spelunking together? What!?
Adriana Rizzo asked Tony D’Angelo where Stacks and Lucca were, and Tony said they were “doing their own thing.” She then asked Tony about his leg, and Tony said it was fine.
CUT TO Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen warming up. Because foreshadowing.
CUT TO Tatum Paxley playing with her dolls. Jacy Jayne and Jasmyn Nyx entered the scene to bully Tatum and throw her dollies on the ground, which was rude. What’d they ever do? When the two left, Tatum said that Jayne’s “past will haunt her.” Tatum exited screen left (or right. Whatever.) and somebody picked up the orange-haired doll. Who could it be? Who is somebody from Jacy Jayne’s past that could haunt her? Who is somebody with orange hair from Jacy Jayne’s past that could haunt her? Who is somebody with orange hair from Jacy Jayne’s past that recently returned to action on NXT house shows that could haunt her?
WHO…ya know what, nevermind. It’s probably Gigi Dolin.
Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen made their entrance, followed by Tony D and Adriana Rizzo.
Tony D’Angelo (with Adriana Rizzo) versus Shawn Spears (With Brooks Jensen…and probably eventually Nicco)
Tony D started the match with some offense, offering his right hands to Shawn’s face. He ran to the rope but then started to limp. Spears took the advantage and focused on Tony’s leg.
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Spears was still working on D’s leg. D eventually recovered and hit a superplex on Spears, but still sold his hurt leg. A PIP showed that the NXT wrestlers were still brawling with each other, this time in the NXT parking lot. Which means somebody is assuredly going to die.
Tony hit Spears with a Belly to Belly suplex. He tried to hit the ropes again, but once again, his leg failed him.
In a classic wrestling move, Spears used a classic wrestling move, the figure-four-leglock, on Tony’s injured leg. Despite the obvious anguish that Tony D was in, he refused to submit. The ref attempted to count when Tony’s shoulders were both on the mat, but D continued to kick out. Eventually, Tony D’Angelo made his way to the bottom rope to relieve the submission attempt.
Tony pulled off his boot to relieve the pressure, but also to hit Spears with it. D’Angelo hit a spear on Spears for a nearfall. D attempted a spinebuster, but the legbuster was already in full effect. Both men traded rollup pin attempts, but eventually Tony D hit a spinebuster on Spears for the victory!
Tony D’Angelo defeated Shawn Spears to retain the NXT North American Championship
After the match, Jensen and Spears attempted to beat up Tony D’Angelo, but he fought them off. Eventually, however, Nicco (or Niko?) made his way to the ring and sent Tony out of the ring with a clothesline. Spears and his comrades stared at Adriana Rizzo as the segment concluded.
After the match, Vic Joseph talked about football which I don’t care about, and then we cut to backstage where Andre Chase was looking like Bum Ass Corbin. Looking like a teacher that was fired for inspiring his students too much, which led to them standing on their desks reciting “Oh Captain! My Captain!,” Chase was packing up his belongings while a sad soundtrack played in the background. Chase left his office and saw his nameplate on the door, which only depressed him further. (DENISE NOTE: PLEASE LEAVE THIS PART!!! 😂)
As Chase was walking away, somebody yelled out “Hey! Mr. Chase!,” which caused Chase to turn around and smile. This was a silly segment but also, like, strangely heartwarming? Anyway, if you haven’t already (or even if you have) go watch the Dead Poets Society. Then listen to the Tortured Poets Department. Then watch The Holdovers. After NXT, of course.
After that piece of cinema, we’re expected to just watch a wrestling match again?? Luckily, it’s between two outstanding competitors.
Giulia vs. Kelani Jordan for a spot in the Women’s NXT Iron Survivor match
Jordan attempted a wristlock, but Giulia escaped. Jordan hit a crossbody but Giulia kicked out. Giulia tied up Jordan in a hammerlock, as well as a headlock takedown. Then, both women traded pinfall attempts and finally kicked out. As the crowd cheered them on, the two shook hands. But then Jordan transitioned it into an Irish Whip, though Giulia wouldn’t budge. She hit Jordan with a huracanrana and then locked in a Rings of Saturn.
Jordan broke the hold by turning it into a pinfall attempt on Giulia. Giulia then hit a headbutt and another huracanrana on Jordan, but Jordan came back with a stomp. She attempted her One of a Kind move, but Giulia escaped to the apron, and then dumped Jordan to the outside.
Giulia attempted the double stomp, but Jordan moved and then both women started trading blows.
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Jordan hit a plancha on Giulia after the commercial break, and hit some heavy strikes. Both women kept brawling, even as they ascended the top rope. Giulia knocked Jordan off the top with a headbutt, and attempted a missile dropkick. Jordan dodged it and once again attempted her moonsault, but Giulia countered it into a Triangle Joke. Jordan lifted Giulia up and then power bombed her for a two-count.
PIP showed Roxanne Perez watching the match. Both women got to their feet and traded blows. Giulia nailed a Hammerlock Michinoku Driver, but Jordan rolled with it into a nearfall pin attempt. Alas, Giulia hit a Northern Lights Bomb on Jordan for the 1-2-3. What. a. match.
Giulia defeated Kelani Jordan to earn her spot in the Women’s NXT Iron Survivor match
Cut to backstage! Ava was lambasting the losers of the Iron Survivor qualifying matches. Eddy Thorpe said it wasn’t fair that he had to fight everyone. Lexis King said he was just happy to be there (or something). Ava said that Axiom and Frazer will defend their titles at Deadline, which caused Axiom to whine that it wasn’t fair that they have to defend their titles AND (possibly) compete in the Iron Survivor challenge. Frazer told Axiom that he still has to qualify. And then the tag team brawl made its way back to backstage. Eddy Thorpe yelled at Ava more, and even grabbed her wrist. She screamed at him not to touch her, and then a random tag wrestler bumped into a door, which slammed into Ava, sending her to the floor.
Shawn Michaels was shown checking on Ava after the break. Ava blamed Eddy Thorpe, and when Thorpe went to check on her, HBK shoved him against a garage door and told him not to touch Ava.
Trick Williams made his way to the ring and said that the medics are still checking on Ava. He said she’ll be fine, because her “bloodline” was strong. Get it? Cause she’s The Rock’s daughter? And The Rock is a part of The Bloodline?
Trick said he was bummed to see Chase U end. While people in the crowd were crying, Ridge Holland was laughing and smiling, proud of what he did. Trick said he came up in NXT with people who loved the brand; people like DIY, Tiffany Stratton, Bron Breakker, Ilja Dragunov, etc. Even people like Carmleo Hayes.
He said Chase U helped NXT get to where it’s at (CW?) and that all Ridge Holland knows is how to destroy things. Trick said if Ridge becomes champion, everything that they did to build the Silver and Gold brand will die! Die! Die like, say, the WWE’s biggest competitor in the ’90s? Ridge Holland came out and said that, coincidentally, everywhere he goes, controversy follows.
As if summoning the devil himself, my close, personal friend Eric Bischoff appeared on the screen! Bischoff said he wants to get a closer look at things and so he’ll be at NXT next week. He wants to find out how bad Ridge Holland wants it, he wants to know how Ridge and Trick…tick. Bischoff said that, after he’s done with the two of them, they’ll want to destroy each other.
Backstage, Wren Sinclair apologized to Charlie Dempsey for losing. Two wrestlers whose names I don’t know….brb looking at Twitter….Tavion Heights and Myles Borne entered the scene and said they were going to be in the Tag Team Battle Royal next week. Dempsey said that Wren is in the last chance match for the Iron Survivor qualifier. But instead of being grateful, like Lexis King, she complained and said she can’t beat four other women! Her boys encouraged her through it though.
Back to Vic Joseph, who said that both Eric Bischoff and his former nWo-ite, Sean ‘Syxx-Pac’ Waltman would be at NXT next week. Vic reminded Booker T that he was in the nWo with Waltman once, and Booker said he was only in it for a week, because Shawn Michaels quite literally (super)kicked him out. CONTINUITY!
Fallon Henley versus Tatum Paxley for the NXT Women’s North American Championship
Like many an NXT match before them, this bout began with a series of chain-wrestling maneuvers. Henley seemingly won it, and then hit her cowgirl pose, which allowed Paxley to roll her up for a two-count. Paxley locked in an armbar (ARMBAR!), which Henley turned into a jackknife pin that Pax kicked out of. Can I call her Pax? I’m calling her Pax. Pax hit a big kick on Henners (nope, that doesn’t work) – Pax hit a big kick on Henley to send her to ringside. Jacy Jayne started talking smack and called Paxley a freak. Henley took the opportunity to kick Paxley into the ringpost.
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Both women traded strikes and Henley hit a big clothesline, followed by a headlock. Sidenote: I only noticed this week but, thinking back, it’s really cool to see so many NXT wrestlers using “simple” moves to great effect.
After some strikes between both women, Paxley hit a crossbody block on Henley, which sent her into the corner. Paxley then hit her Burning Hammer (Masato Tanaka represent!) for a two-count.
Henley recovered and hit an Exploder Suplex for another two-count. Henley attempted a Blockbuster but Paxley countered it and then hit a 450 splash. She tried to continue the momentum with a Lightning Spiral, but Paxley got out of it and hit a wrecking ball dropkick. She tried to hit her finisher, but Henley held onto the ropes to block hit, and then hit a Rocker Dropper (She SHOULD call it a RockHer DropHer, if she doesn’t already) for the win.
Fallon Henley defeated Tatum Paxley to retain the NXT Women’s North American Championship
After the match, Fatal Influence continued to beat down Tatum, but then, in a move NOBODY saw coming because it definitely wasn’t hinted at earlier in the show, Gigi Dolin’s music hit!
Vic Joseph asked, “Is she here!?” And yes, Vic. Yes she is. That’s why her music played.
While Fatal Influence looked to the ramp, Gigi Dolin snuck up behind them and took ’em down. Gigi and Tatum cleared the ring and celebrated as the show came to a close.
Super fun show, with some really great matches. The women continue to shine, but Shawn Spears and Tony D’Angelo and Ridge Holland and Trick Williams and lots of others are doing great work as well. Next week will see Eric Bischoff return to pro wrestling and this writer, for one, is very excited. Bischoff is, was, and always will be a divisive character but there’s no denying his heat, even when he’s in his sixties. See you next Tuesday! e