Posted on 10/01/125 by Bob Magee
NXT is on the air in front of a live studio audience on a
sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
Opening the show is the entrance of the new NXT Champion,
and Ricky Saints enters dressed in street clothes while
holding his title belt.
Team captains announced for Showdown
“You deserve it” chants from the audience as Saints begins
his monologue. Saints talks about winning the title from Oba
Femi at No Mercy. Saints then reflects back to February when
he debuted in NXT, and the reality of him headlining NXT
shows and winning the title. Saints gets excited when saying
reality is here standing in front of the crowd (as the new
champ).
“Ricky” chants from the crowd. Saints says the journey has
not been easy, and the question was whether Saints would do
it. He asks the crowd if he did it, if we did it? The
audience pops of course.
Saints put all of his chips on the line and bet on himself,
and he walked out as the new champion. That is proof the
only person to worry about is you. The only one to bet on is
you. There is always one person you must see when going to
sleep, and that is yourself. I think he meant looking in the
mirror, but you get the picture.
Saints is suddenly interrupted by theme music for Fatal
Influence, followed by the entrance of NXT Women’s Champion
Jacy Jayne. She congratulates Saints on winning the title,
but Jayne says they have bigger things to worry about
(likely meaning TNA).
The studio audience loudly boos Jayne, and she calls them
idiots before telling them to shut up. Jayne goes to say TNA
is trying to take over NXT. (The hostile takeover plot is so
1996, yet here we are.)
Jayne is interrupted by the NXT General Manager Ava, who
says Jayne took the word out of her mouth. They do have more
things to worry about. Ava informs them she appointed them
as the team captains for NXT. That means they will decide
who is on their team.
Ava asks them to put their differences, and their pride,
aside because Ava needs the best team. Ava needs the best
men and women in NXT. Before Ava can finish speaking, she is
interrupted by Santino Marella. He is an authority figure
for TNA.
Marella says Ava has a great idea, and he will also allows
his team captains to pick their teams. Marcella then says
“Tricky” Williams will not be his captain. Trick Williams
holds the TNA Word Championship, but Marella says he cannot
trust a man named “Tricky” to be captain.
Marella then introduces Mike Santana as captain of the TNA
team. Marcella also introduces TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani
Jordan as the captain of the women’s team for TNA. That is
interesting because Jordan is actually a wrestler from NXT.
Jordan won the title at TNA Victory Road last Friday.
The authority figures and the team captains face off in the
ring. Marcella says this not an “invasion” since the two
promotions have worked together for months. Marcella this is
more of a “showcase” or a “showdown” between the two
promotions.
Jayne objects to Marella picking Jordan as team captain, as
Jayne says that does not make sense. Saints interjects to
say they need to focus on their own teams. Saints tells
Santana he will see him later on.
— Before and after a commercial break is hype Saturday
Night’s Main Event, with advertising focusing on John Cena
and tickets soon going on sale.
— TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater meets up backstage
with Je’Von Evans. They are cordial, and they are hyped
about their title match set for TNA Bound For Glory. They
are interrupted by Shawn Spears and The Culling. Spears and
Niko Vance take exception to Evans being friendly with a TNA
talent. That led to Vance challenging Evans and Slater to a
tag team match later tonight.
Lyra Valkyria walks up as Evans and Slater leave. Valkyria
has a new doll she gifts to Tatum Paxley. Paxley throws her
other blonde doll behind her, and Izzi Dame catches it with
a look of disgust on her face.
Jaida Parker vs. Lash Legend
This was a rematch from a few weeks ago, and this was much
better this time around. They added some heat to the feud as
Legend cost Parker a recent title match.
The match goes through a commercial break. Parker with a
Samoan Drop, and Legend takes the bump on the floor just
before the show cuts to a commercial. Legend is working a
leg as the show returns from the break. Parker gets a rope
break and fights back.
Comeback by Parker, and she executes a twisting neckbreaker
for a two count. Moments later, Legend no sells one of
Parker’s signature moves, and Legend lands a big boot.
Outside the ring, Legend sends Parker crashing into the ring
steps. Back in the ring, Legend goes for her finisher, but
Parker blocks it. Parker follows up with a running hip
attack, and Parker covers Legend for a three count.
Match result: Jaida Parker defeated Lash Legend via pinfall.
— TNA World Champion Trick Williams is in the NXT locker
room. He wants to be co-captains with NXT Champ Ricky
Saints. After scoffing at such, Saints announces Je’Von
Evans as his first pick. Evans is pumped up. Myles Borne is
the second pick, and Trick says they need more size. Jasper
Troy rattles his chain like Hercules Hernandez, as if to say
he wants the spot. Trick instead suggests Josh Briggs. Evans
objects, and Evans calls Briggs goofy and selfish. Evans
storms off as Trick suggest Briggs against Borne in a match
tonight. The winner is added to the team, and Saints likes
that idea.
Mustafa Ali returns to challenge Ethan Page
North American Champion Ethan Page enters the sound stage
for a monologue. Page proclaims himself the greatest North
American Champion ever, and Page says he beat an Olympic
threat. Page claims that proves there is a talent gap
between him and the Olympics.
While Page says everyone else is worried about TNA, Page has
problems south of the border. Page brings up his feud with
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., who holds the AAA Latin American
title.
Page is getting fired up about Wagner and doctors when he is
interrupted by a vehicle arriving to the building.
Mustafa Ali enters the sound stage, and he gets in the ring
to confront Page. Ali says he has no issue with NXT of the
fans, but he has an issue with what Page is holding in his
hand (meaning the title). Ali earned a shot at that title a
long time ago, but he was faced twists and turns instead.
Ali thought he was cursed, as on this very day two years
ago, Ali thought he was booked in a title match at No Mercy.
Instead, Ali got a phone call that his services were no
longer needed. Here he is 749 days later, and Ali still
wants the title he earned. Ali goes on to announce next
Tuesday he finally gets his title shot, as he meets Page
next week at Showdown. Ali vows to end the curse.
Page cuts a promo and Ali punches him. They brawl in the
ring, until Ali dropkicks Page out of the ring. Page fetches
his title belt and clutches it as he flees the scene.
— A locker room skit sets up Lola Vice against Fallon
Henley, with the winner being added to Team NXT.
— TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz in a pre-taped promo
talk hope their match next week against Darkstate.
Josh Briggs vs. Myles Borne
The winner gets a spot on Team NXT. The match itself goes
through a commercial break. Briggs wore a chain necklace,
which is interesting considering that is Jasper Troy’s
gimmick these days. Regardless, Briggs gets heat on Borne
before the show cuts to commercial. Briggs gets a near fall
after a chokeslam from the heavens.
Borne mounts a comeback, but Briggs cuts him off and
delivers backbreakers. Borne soon fights back with another
comeback. Powerslam by Borne for a two count. They then
trade big moves for a double down.
Briggs rips the chain off his own neck, and Briggs wraps the
chain around his fist. Matt Cardona suddenly runs in and
stops Briggs from using the chain. The referee then takes
the chain away. Borne strikes and delivers his “Borne Again”
(Zig Zag) finisher. Borne then hooks a leg and pins Briggs.
Match result: Myles Borne defeated Josh Briggs via pinfall.
— Knockout Champion Kelani Jordan is talking with Jordynne
Grace, and Grace lobbies to be on Team TNA. Jordan raises
the obvious conflict of interest. Grace by chance name drops
Joe Hendry. Say his name and he appears. Santana enters and
basically points out the conflict of interest with both
Hendry and Grace. She tells Hendry they should be somehow be
a part of Showdown.
Fallon Henley vs. Lola Vice
Jacy Jayne was ringside in Henley’s corner. The winner of
the match gets a spot on Team NXT. Henley and Vice had a
good competitive match. Henley is knocked outside the ring ,
where she trips up Vice with the ring skirt. Back in the
ring, Vice counters Henley with a spinning back fist. Vice
then covers Henley for a clean three count.
Match result: Lola Vice defeated Fallon Henley via pinfall.
— Darkstate cuts a promo on The Hardy Boyz ahead of their
match next week.
— Lainey Reid talks with Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne in a
backstage skit. Reid reveals to them she was under the mask
at No Mercy. Reid also takes credit for the phantom attack
on Jazmyn Nyx last week.This seems to set up Reid joining
the Fatal Influence faction.
Je’Von Evans & TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater vs. The
Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)
Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley are in the heel corner as members
of The Culling. The tag bout goes through a commercial
break. The babyface duo hit stereo dives as the show cuts to
a break. After the break, The Culling is getting heat on
Slater.
Hot tag to Evans, and he cleans house. Evans and Slater get
near falls on The Culling down the stretch. Just before they
went home, Eavns and Slater both springboard into stereo
cutters. Vance is taken out by a dive from Evans, before
Slater climbs the turnbuckles. Slater leaps off the top rope
with a 450 senton bomb, and Slater pins Spears.
Match result: Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater defeated Shawn
Spears & Niko Vance when Slater pinned Vance.
— TNA wrestlers arrive in the building, albeit some that are
walking up have already been there tonight. NXT talent meet
them in the parking lot for a verbal altercation as the show
cuts to a commercial break.
Summit turns into a melee
The talent that meet in the parking lot surround the ring
for a NXT/TNA “summit” meeting. Santion Marella and his
captain, Santana, are in the ring opposite Ava. She is
joined by Ricky Saints and Trick Williams.
Saints bickers some with Trick. Nonetheless, Saints
announces the men’s NXT team was Saints, Trick, Borne and
Evans.
Marella has Santana announces the TNA team, which is
Santana, “TNA OG” Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater.
Jacy Jayne cuts a promo on Kelani Jordan. Jayne then
announces the NXT women’s team as herself, Sol Ruca, Jaida
Parker and Lola Vice.
Jordan responds with a promo of her own on Jayne. Jordan
then announces the first picks for the TNA women’s team as
Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee. They are The Inspiration, but
they were formerly a team in WWE (which was not
acknowledged, yet hinted at by Jordan). Rounding out the
team is Mara Shade (who was formerly Jakara Jackson in NXT).
Santana vows that TNA will win next Tuesday, just like he
will win the TNA title at Bound For Glory. From there, a
brawl erupts. Mayhem and bedlam in the ring. As the melee
unfolds, out comes Shawn Michaels to watch the brawl.
The melee continues as the show fades to black.