Posted on 2/11/126 by Bob Magee
It’s a Tuesday, which means it’s a new era in NXT and we are
ready to kick it off!
After a recap of the events of last week, his name was said,
and he appeared, with the NXT crowd firmly believing in Joe
Hendry!
The new NXT Champion came down to the ring to address the
crowd. To start things off, Hendry said his own name, but a
second Joe Hendry did not appear. The crowd chanted “you
deserve it” as Hendry confessed that he had a small moment
of doubt in the ladder match in which he won the title.
Hendry said that the crowd believing in him gave him the
energy to climb the ladder and win the title. Hendry listed
his accomplishments in wrestling as steps towards winning
the NXT title. Now that he’s champion though, the climb
doesn’t stop and Hendry said that he and everyone else are
going to take NXT to new heights.
Suddenly, he was interrupted by The Vanity Project. The
three living Ken Dolls came to the ring and Evolve Champion
Jackson Drake addressed Hendry, suggesting he start a
podcast, because Hendry is mid at best.
Drake reminded Hendry that The Vanity Project took him out
once because he simply doesn’t belong. Hendry rightly
pointed out that they failed as the crowd chanted “shut the
hell up” at Drake.
Hendry said that he has no problem kicking Drake’s ass and
defending the NXT title and then a brawl broke out. Hendry
fell victim to the damn numbers game as the Vanity Project
beat up Hendry 3-on-1. Drake picked up the NXT belt and
mocked Hendry’s pose with it.
The scene changed to Sol Ruca and Zaria in the locker room
getting ready for their match tongiht. Ruca said that they
need to get back to ZaRuca being fun. Zaria said that Ruca
has had a ton of chances at the NXT Women’s title so why
cant it be her time? Zaria stomped off with Ruca looking
concerned.
-After a break, Robert Stone was approached by Keanu Carver.
Carver was mad that Drake seemed like he was getting a shot
at Joe Hendry before he did. Stone said HBK wants chaos and
he’s going to give it to him. Carver went to stomp away, but
Stone stopped him for a second before letting him go.
Jaida Parker vs Blake Monroe
Parker cut a short promo on her way to the ring about how
she’s great. This match would be Monroe’s first real match
since losing the NXT Women’s North American Championship to
Thea Hail back in December.
Parker jumped Monroe right off the bat, shoving her into the
corner. Monroe threw her robe at her and slid out of the
ring. Parker followed, but Monroe went right back in to gain
the high ground. The two took turns whipping each other into
the corners until Parker landed a German suplex for a two
count.
Parker locked in a body scissor hold the Monroe struggled to
get out of. Finally, Monroe rolled through to the ropes that
loosened Parker’s grip. Monroe brought Parker down with a
Thez press, then threw her into the turnbuckle, face first.
At this moment, it was announced that Joe Hendry would face
Jackson Drake for the NXT Title tonight!
Parker and Monroe fought to the outside with Monroe smacking
Parker’s head off the announce table. Monroe stomped her and
threw Parker back into the ring. Monroe hit a suplex into a
cover, but Parker kicked out. Monroe took off her elbow pads
and went for another suplex, but she couldn’t get Parker up
and transitioned into a modified DDT.
Monroe clubbed the dazed Parker and tried for another
suplex, but Parker contered it. Monroe went off the ropes
with a sling blade and locked on a crossface. Parker got out
of it and Monroe worked her over in the corner.
Monroe hit a dropkick and went for another, but Parker
caught her and laid in a back elbow. Parker stared throwing
shoulder blocks and a samoan drop before sending Monroe to
the corner. She stacked her up on the ropes and dropped her
posterior onto Monroe.
Monroe escaped the ring and Parker followed, throwing hands.
She sent Monroe into the steps, but Monroe threw a head butt
at her as the ref counted both women out.
Match Result: Jaida Parker vs Blake Monroe went to a
countout no contest
Parker continued to beat on Monroe, throwing her around and
back into the ring as NXT security once again proved how
inept they are. Parker kicked one of the guards where the
sun doesn’t shine and kicked another through the barricade
at ringside. Monroe escaped into the crowd as the segment
ended.
-A Tatum Paxley vignette aired next, in which she lamented
losing control in her feud with Izzi Dame. She promised to
walk out of their feud as a new Tatum Paxley, the one that
she wants to be.
-Back from break, Vic Joseph and Booker T noticed that the
main character from the upcoming movie “Psycho Killer” was
sitting in the audience. He wasn’t doing anything. He was
just sitting there, much to the confusion of the kid in the
seat next to him.
Speed Tournament Match: Eli Knight vs Josh Briggs
The winner of this match would advance to the finals of the
tournament and take on LeFleur.
Knight had the advantage over Briggs as he has a much fast,
lighter style. Knight driopkicked Briggs out of the ring and
then one-hop moonsaulted onto him on the outside. Briggs
went back into the ring and delivered a clothesline and back
breaker as the clock passed two minutes.
Briggs kept the clubbing strategy going, heading for a
chokeslam, but Knight rolled through into a superkick. The
final minute began as Knight hit a second moonsault and
pinned BRiggs 1-2-3 to advance to the finals.
Match Result: Eli Knight defeated Josh Briggs
After the match, LeFleur came down to the ring to
congratulate Knight, but so did Speed Champion Jasper Troy,
who if you don’t know, is a very big man. He took out both
Knight and LeFleur and the scen switched to DarkState
heading to the ring.
-Back from commercial, Robert Stone approached Lola Vice who
was getting tended to in the medical area. He and Vice
discussed her upcoming match. with Kelani Jordan, and then
someone ran in and said Stone needed to come to another
area. Jordan appeared and attacked Vice as the camera
switched to Keanu Carver destroying the backstage area.
-In the ring Dion Lennox said he’s coming for the NXT Title
no matter who wins. Cutler James gabbed the mic and said
that Tony D’Angelo is a fool for calling them out as they
have taken him down before and they will do it again. Osiris
Griffin then reminded the Culling that they needed to stay
out of DarkState’s business. Saquon Shugars echoed that and
then Shawn Spears and Nico appeared on a balcony.
Spears and Nico said that they know DarkState’s weaknesses
and they are the hunters, with DarkState being the hunted.
Then the lights went out and spotlights lit up OTM in the
crowd. Nima and Price said that everyone should watch out
because they aren’t missing twice.
Then Hank and Tank came out saying that they are the ones
who deserve a shot at DarkState’s NXT Tag Titles. Everyone
started brawling then, leaving Cutler and Lennox in the
ring. Tony D’Angelo appeared out of nowhere and dropped them
both, ending a tornado of a segment that made very little
sense. Classic WWE Promo Parade.
-Back from break Kelly Kincaid asked Robert Stone what he
was going to do about the tag scene. He quickly made a tripe
threat match between Hank & Tank, the Culling and OTM for
next week. He then went into his office where Shiloh was.
Before he could say much of anything, Ethan Page showed up.
Stone said that he wants to have a good relationship with
Page.
Page liked that and noted that he is one away from breaking
the title defence record for the NXT North American
Championship. Stone said that he should face Miles Bourne.
PAge shrugged that off and Shiloh wandered back in with a
machete. Stone made the match for next week, Shiloh vs Ethan
Page for the NXT North American Championship.
NXT Champion Joe Hendry vs Evolve Champion Jackson Drake
Hendry’s first title defense started with him getting
dropkicked into the corner. Drake scrambled up for a swanton
as well and made the cover. Hendry kicked out at two and
Drake started laying in the kicks. He hit a standing
shooting star press, but Hendry picked him up for a pair of
big slams.
Hendry threw Drake with a back body drop that sent him to
the outside. Hendry went to he outside and Drake hit him in
the throat. Hendry recovered and threw him back into the
ring for a headlock takedown. Hendry threw a back elbow and
hit a scoop slam for a two count.
Drake worked Hendry into the corner, but Hendry countered
and bounced his head off the turnbuckle. Hendry hit a
stalling suplex and went for a cover, but Drake kicked out
at two. Drake tossed Hendry to the outside where the other
members of Vanity Project threw him into the steps. The ref
saw it though and ejected them from ringside.
Drake brought Hendry back into the ring and stomped on his
hand. Hendry threw a few uppercuts, but Drake sent him back
outside. He launched Hendry into the ringpost and strutted
over to throw Hendry back into the ring.
Drake slowed things down, looking for a big move to get a
pin. Drake hit a neckbreaker, but it wasn’t enough and
Hendry kicked out. Drake whipped Hendry off the turnbuckles,
but again no joy. Drake hit a chinbreaker, but nope, Hendry
kicked out.
Hendry fought out of a headlock and hit a twisting
neckbreaker on Drake. Hendry threw some hard right hands
before laying Drake out with a clothesline. Hendry hit a
fallaway slam and went for a Standing Ovation. Drake
countered it and Hendry hit an Angle Slam.
Drake landed a snap suplex for a 2.5 count but Hendry kicked
out. Drake went up to the top turnbuckle and leapt off, but
Hendry caught him in a powerbomb and then a Standing
Ovation. Hendry made the pin 1-2-3 to get the victory.
Match Result: Joe Hendry defeated Jackson Drake
After the match, Ricky Saints arrived in the official WWE
Black Run-In Track Suit and beat up Joe Hendry, standing
tall as the segment ended.
-Backstage, Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey discussed their
upcoming match. They said that no matter who gets the pin,
they are getting the win tonight.
-Back from break, because we haven’t heard from them enough,
DarkState was shown in the back yelling about various
members on the NXT Roster. Cutler promised to handle the
D’Angelo problem next week and reminded everyone to stay
focused on their plans.
Hank & Tank vs The Vanity Project (Ricky Smokes & Brad
Baylor)
Hank and Tank came back down to the ring after the Promo
Parade of earlier and The Vanity Project came back down
after beeing thrown out in the previous match. Lots of
coming and going in this episode.
Tank and Baylor started off with Tank winning the momentum
battle with hip gyrations. He scooped up Baylor for a slam
and then locked in an Arm bar. Tank continued working the
arm and tagged in Hank. They doubled teamed Baylor, throwing
him into the corner.
Hank went off the ropes and Smokes kicked him in the back,
giving Baylor a chance to tag him in. He put a headlock on
Hank woul fought out of it and sent him off the ropes. Tank
tagged back in to make the cover, but Smokes kicked out at
two.
Tank set up Smokes in the corner so Hank could tag in and
splash him. The two traded tags beating up the isolated
Smokes, but couldn’t get a pin. Tank bounced Smokes’ head
off the turnbuckles and fed him some punches in the corner.
Hank went for a scoop slam, but Smokes got out of it and
tagged in Baylor. Baylor stomped him in the corner while
Smokes posed on the ringpost. Baylor choked Hank on the
ropes then distracted the ref so Smokes could have a go. The
two double teamed Hank, using quick tags to wear him down.
Hank dodged a charge in the corner and got a hot tag to Tank
who threw Baylor and Smokes around the ring. He sent Baylor
to the outside then charged at him, but Baylor moved and
Tank went right into the ring post.
Smokes threw Tank back into the ring and tagged in Baylor
for a bulldog. Baylor laid some clubbing blows across Tank’s
back, keeping him from getting a tag to Hank. Smokes tagged
in a kept up the pressure. Tank started throwing hands back,
but couldn’t get an opening for a tag.
Finally, Tank leapt across the ring and brought in a fresh
Hank who cleared the ring. Hank hit a spinning side slam on
Smokes off the ropes for a long two count. Hank picked up
Smokes and threw him off the ropes for a wheelbarrow slam.
Baylor flew in taking out Tank on the far side.
Baylor picked up Hank and Smokes knocked him down for a two
count. Tank got involved and sent Smokes to the outside,
diving after him. Hank slammed Baylor in the ring and Tank
joined him for a hug slam.
Smokes flew in off the ringpost taking out Hank and Tank hit
Baylor with a lariat. OTM and the Culling came out for no
reason causing a distraction that allowed Jackson Drake to
run in and cheap shot Tank in the ring. Baylor rolled him up
and got the win for Vanity Project.
Match Result: The Vanity Project defeated Hank & Tank
-Back from break, Sean Legacy was interviewed. He was beaten
up by Keanu Carver earlier and last week, Carver put him
through a barricade. Legacy stated emphatically that he
wants to fight Carver. He issued a challenge for two weeks
from now.
The Vanity Project then approached Robert Stone, demanding
to be included in the tag match next week. Stone made the
match a fatal four way and then Miles Borne showed up to
complain that he didn’t get a North American title shot.
Stone said that maybe it’s time Borne did something “out of
character.” That seemed to resonate as the segment ended.
It was also announced that Cutler James vs Tony D’Angelo
will take place next week.
ZaRuca (Zaria & Sol Ruca) vs The WrenQCC (Evolve Women’s
Champion Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair)
Finally, the previous segment ended and the Main Event
began. Whoever scored the pin in this tag team match will
become the #1 Contender to Jacy Jayne’s NXT Women’s
Championship.
Grey tried to scoop up Ruca off the bell, but Ruca kicked
out and threw her off the ropes. Grey dodged kicks from
Ruca, but got rolled up for a two count. After a reset, Grey
put on a waistlock. Ruca reversed it and slammed her on the
mat.
Ruca sent Grey to the corner, but Grey dodged the charge and
Sinclair made a tag off the ropes. Sinclair worked Ruca’s
arm, trying to take away the Sol Snatcher. Ruca twisted out
of it and sent Sinclair to the corner. Zaria tagged in and
Ruca used her as leverage to splash Sinclair in the corner.
Ruca grabbed a blind tag and went for the pin, but Zaria
broke it up.
Ruca hit a facebuster on Sinclair for a two count, while
Zaria glared at her. Sinclair sent Ruca off the ropes and
Zaria grabbed a blind tag. Sinclair ents her off the ropes
and hit a dropkick. Grey tagged in for a double stomp to the
gut on Zaria.
Zaria threw Grey into the corner and Sinclair got a tag for
an attempted double team Zaria countered though and hit a
double suplex on them. She begrudging tagged in Ruca and
then began to work together. Ruca went for a cover and her
partner Zaria broke it up.
All four women fought in the ring, Sinclair and Grey
clotheslining Ruca and Zaria to the outside. Sinclair hit a
splash from the top turnbuckle and Grey hit a moonsault from
the opposite side, taking out Ruca and Zaria twice.
Sinclair threw Ruca back into the ring and went for a cover
but could only get a two count. Grey tagged in and assisted
Sinclair with a splash before suplexing Ruca. Ruca hit a
heel kick and tagged in Zaria who pounded her shoulder into
Grey’s midsection in the corner. Zaria threw her with a
scoop slam, but couldn’t get a three count.
Grey fought back with some shots to Zaria’s gut, but ate a
pump kick off the ropes. Zaria hoisted Grey up in a Torture
Rack, bending her until Grey hit a back elbow, followed by a
backstabber. Grey went up top for an around the world DDT,
but couldn’t get the pin.
Ruca grabbed a blind tag as Sinclair tagged in. Sinclair
threw a bunch of lariats and a snap suplex before landing a
facebuster on Ruca. Ruca dodged a charge and suplexed
Sinclair before laying her out with a dropkick from the top
turnbuckle.
Ruca threw a big knee and cover, but Sinclair was able to
kick out. Ruca rolled her up, but Sinclair sent her to the
corner where Zaria made a blind tag. They argued, with
Sinclair using the opening to lay shots onto Zaria.
Zaria fought back with a suplex and Grey tagged in. Grey
grabbed an arm bar on Zaria in the middle of the ring. Zaria
countered with a rollup and then hoisted Grey up again. Grey
countered with a DDT and superkicked Zaria into Ruca on the
outside.
All four started fighting in the ring and Ruca hit a Sol
Snatcher on Grey. Zaria pinned Sinclair and Ruca pinned
Grey. The ref counted 1-2-3, but Ruca was the legal woman,
so she gets the #1 Contendership.
Match Result: ZaRuca defeated The WrenQCC
After the match, Ruca offered her hand to Zaria who slapped
it away. Jacy Jayne’s music hit and Fatal Influence came out
to the ring to stir the pot further. Jayne and Ruca had a
staredown while Zaria glared holes in them both.