Posted on 10/22/125 by Bob Magee
NXT is on the air before a live studio audience from the
Performance Center in Orlando.
The Culling open the show with an in-ring promo where Tatum
Paxley celebrates her win last week on NXT. Izzi Dame is at
Paxley’s side. Shawn Spears and Niko Vance flank them, as
Paxley recites a promo where she is giddy with excitement.
While they are soon interrupted by the Fatal Influence trio,
Paxley gets a few minutes of spotlight. Dame and Jayne
eventually get in each other’s face, potentially setting up
a match between the two.
At first, the studio audience chants “you deserve it” for
Paxley. She gushes over them and their support. She also
puts over her friendship with Dame, whom she called her best
friend. Paxley could not be happier than being with The
Culling, and Paxley promises to bring a singles title to the
faction.
From there, enter Fatal Influence. A tirade from Jayne
follows where she says Paxley has no chance in winning the
title. Jayne cuts a scathing promo on Paxley, then she tries
to sew dissension between Paxley and Dame. That is when Dame
verbally gets into it with Jayne.
A brawl eventually erupts and Fatal Influence are sent
packing. Glares are exchanged. The tension builds ahead of
Halloween Havoc.
Leon Slater (with Je’Von Evans) vs. Stacks (with Arianna
Grace) for the TNA X-Division Championship
This was a really good television match with a lot of
action. The match goes through a commercial break, and
Slater gets to shine just before the show cuts to
commercials. High flying and a plancha to the outside by
Slater. Evans is hyped at ringside, and he celebrates with
Slater. They are near the announce desk, and Evans gets on
the headset to send the show to break.
When the show returns from the break, Stacks is working over
Slater. As Slater makes a comeback, Arianna Grace jumps on
the apron to help Stacks. Slater hits the ropes with a
handspring, causing Grace to go sailing off the apron into
the waiting arms of Evans. A jealous Stacks freaks out like
Randy with Liz, and Slater pays the price by taking a bump
on the announce desk.
On the home stretch, Slater runs corner to corner with a
flip dive over the ring post to the floor. Slater flew back
into the ring with a 450 splash, and Slater covers Stacks
for a clean three count. Great way to open the show.
Match result: TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater defeated
Stacks via pinfall to retain the title.
Afterwards is an in-ring promo from Slater and Evans. They
want to team together at Halloween Havoc against a team from
anywhere. Out comes Mr. Iguana and La Parka to answer the
challenge, which looks to set up a tag bout for Halloween
Havoc this weekend.
Mr. Iguana is over huge with the crowd, as is La Yesca.
Iguana questions whether they could have even have Halloween
Havoc without them. They already spoke to NXT General
Manager Ava, and the tag bout is booked for Halloween Havoc.
— Zachary Wentz and Jasper Troy each hype their match in
pre-tape promos, before the show cuts to a commercial break.
Jasper Troy vs. Zachary Wentz in a first round match in the
WWE Speed Men’s Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament
—
Being a “Speed” match, the match was short, yet packed with
action. They made to most of their time. Wentz gets some
near falls, but he ultimately is pinned clean. Troy with a
swinging uranage slam, and he covers Wentz for a clean pin.
Match result: Jasper Troy defeated Zachary Wentz to advance
in the tournament.
— TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan is banned from the
NXT women’s locker room, and the roster dumps her belongings
on the floor outside the door. Jordynne Grace tries to help
Jordan, only for Jordan to cut a promo on her.
The Hardys transforms into “Broken” characters in vignette
Darkstate is cutting a promo when they are supernaturally
interrupted by Matt and Jeff Hardy from their family
compound. The brothers go into the Lake of Reincarnation,
and they emerge again as Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero.
Broken Matt announces they will face Darkstate in a “Broken
Rules” match at Halloween Havoc, and Darkstate is scheduled
for deletion. Delete…delete…delete!
— Clips from Smackdown show Sol Ruca suffering a knee
injury. Cut to present day, and Ruca is walking with a
crutch backstage alongside Zaria. On Ruca’s knee is a large
brace. Ruca is headed to the ring to address the audience
after a commercial break.
Sol Ruca vacates title; new Women’s North American
Championship match set for PLE
—
An emotional Sol Ruca talks about her injury, and she does
not know when she will return. Ruca was basically saying she
would vacate her titles when Blake Monroe interrupts her.
Ruca at the moment held both the NXT Women’s North American
title, along with being the WWE Speed Women’s Champion.
Monroe gets into the ring and offers sarcastic condolences.
Monroe then lobbies for the North American title. Zaria
takes exception to Monroe wanting to simply be awarded the
championship, as Ruca fought to win and defend the title.
Monroe accuses Zaria of fighting all of Ruca’s battles, and
even Ruca herself says Monroe has a point. Ruca goes on to
talk about not knowing how long until she is cleared, but
Zaria assures her that Zaria has got it until then.
This all sets up Zaria subbing for Ruca in a title match
against Monroe at Halloween Havoc. Monroe gets into it with
Ava, and Ava checks her. Ava then makes the match official
for the PLE. Monroe seethes at Ava, and Zaria steps in to
give Monroe a F-5. Zaria then snatches the belt from Ruca,
and Zaria poses with the title belt.
What started as an emotional speech from Ruca turned into a
contrived angle by the end.
Axion vs. Sean Legacy in a first round match in the WWE
Speed Men’s Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament
—
While the earlier Speed match was good, this bout was even
better. Great finish where it came down to the wire, with
seconds remaining as they go home. Los Americanos are
watching the match from ringside seats.
Spanish Fly off the top rope, and Axiom covers Legacy for
the finish, which capped off a hot match. They pulled off
the finish so well, with under 10 seconds remaining as they
do the Spanish Fly. A second remained as Axiom scores the
clean pin.
Match result: Axiom defeated Sean Legacy via pinfall to
advance in the tournament.
— The upcoming title match at Halloween Havoc with NXT North
American Champion Ethan Page defending his title against
challenger (and AAA Latin American Champion) El Hijo del Dr.
Wagner Jr. is the focus of a video package hyping the bout.
Great stuff here.
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Lucien Price & Bronco Nima
—
Hank & Tank battle OTM in a hoss fight, and the fight begins
before the bell sounds to start the match. Hank & Tank jump
OTM during their entrance. Bedlam before the bell, and that
continues as the match gets under way.
Heat on Hank, with OTM cutting him off from his corner. OTM
work over Hank, and they toy with him. However, Hank creates
separation and rolls into a hot tag. Tank in and he gets a
near fall after a flying shoulder tackle.
Hank takes an uranage slam, and he rolls out of the ring.
Tank then fights two-on-one, and he is cut off. Tank takes
an assisted spinebuster, and Price covers Tank for a clean
pinfall.
Match result: Lucien Price & Bronco Nima defeated Hank
Walker & Tank Ledher when Price pinned Ledger.
In a post-match beat down, OTM jump Hank & Tank after the
bell. Hank is hit with a shot from the ring steps, and Tank
takes is sent crashing through the announce desk. Hank &
Tank are not only pinned clean, but they are beaten up again
for good measure. Hank & Tank lost clean and were then laid
out.
— Lash Legend insults Wren Sinclair in a locker room skit
that included product placement with sponsor Maybelline.
Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey sticks up for Sinclair,
which seems to set up a match between Legend and Grey.
Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid (with Fallon Henley) vs. Tatum
Paxley & Izzi Dame (with The Culling)
—
The tag bout goes through a commercial break. The babyfaces
were fired up just before the show goes to commercial.
Paxley swings in through the ropes with a wrecking ball
dropkick on Henley. However, Reid ties up Paxley’s legs,
which allows Jayne to deliver a draping neckbreaker on
Paxley. The heels are in control as the show cuts to the
break.
Back from the break, and Dame cleans house after a hot tag.
Melee develops, and when the smoke clears there are Paxley
squaring off with Jayne. Challenger against champion, and
Paxley held her own until Henley causes a distraction.
Henley jumps on the apron to distract both the referee and
get the attention of Dame. Henley takes a bump into the ring
after Dame strikes her. Dame then goes to run the ropes, but
she is tripped up by Reid and pulled outside. In the ring,
Jayne with a Rolling Encore that drops Paxley. Jayne then
covers Paxley for a pinfall. So, the champ pins the
challenger clean ahead of their title match. Take that for
what it is worth.
Match result: Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid defeated Tatum Paxley
& Izzi Dame when Jayne pinned Paxley.
Henley and Reid jump Dame after the match, and they send her
crashing into the ring steps. Dame is down and out while
Paxley is left defenseless in the ring. The heel trio
surround Paxley. She is held by Reid and Henley for Jayne to
taunt her.
Jayne goes to hit Paxley with the title belt, but Paxley
jumps up to kick Jayne. Paxley then fights off Reid and
Henely, as they bump and feed. Paxlet then executes her
finisher on Jayne. Paxley concludes the segment by posing
with the women’s title belt.
NXT Champion Ricky Saints is heading to the ring, as is
Trick Williams. They meet face-to-face in the ring for a
contract signing.
Contract signing for NXT Championship Match at Halloween
Havoc
—
Ava is the ring with security surrounding her. She is
standing at a table when she introduces both Saints and
Trick. Ava first brings out the challenger, followed by the
champ. They take a seat on opposite ends of the table set up
in the ring.
Trick claims Saints is jealous that Trick is still the man
in NXT, despite Saints being the champion. Trick says that
is why he left Saints hanging a few weeks ago at Showdown.
Trick wants to prove he is the only one that can carry NXT
on his back.
Pivoting on NXT, Trick says to not “get it twisted” with him
and NXT. Trick says he owes nothing to NXT. Trick is only
loyal to one man, and that person is Trick himself.
“Trick Williams loves himself Trick Williams,” Trick said.
Trick vows to become a three-time NXT champ. Saints responds
by saying the title can ether make the holder complacent or
more ambitious. Saints ponders what did it do for Trick, and
Saints concludes Trick started to think he was bigger than
the NXT brand. Saints accusing Trick of wanting to leave NXT
for a long time.
Trick makes a crack at Saints about the indies. Trick boasts
he is Hollywood, thus above going to the indies. Trick
claims Saints is cosplaying as champion, and Trick vows to
kick his butt and end the “Absolute Era”.
Saints gets fired up while scolding Trick about the indies.
Saints claims Trick wants to be like him, because Saints
also claims to be more slick and more stylish than Trick.
Saints stands up to lay claim as the face of NXT.
Shoving starts as security holds them back, and Trick goes
for a cheap shot on Saints. A brawl begins to erupt, as
security tries to keep them apart. Saints and Trick both
clobber the security holding them back, and Trick boots
Saints in the face. Saints counters Trick, and Saints gives
Trick a F-5 through the table set up in the ring.
Saints then poses with his title belt while taunting a
fallen Trick.