Posted on 8/20/125 by Bob Magee
NXT is on the air and on the road. Tonight the show is live
from The Met in Philadelphia.
Before any introductions in the first match, Josh Briggs is
attacks Yoshiki Inamura in the Gorilla Position. They brawl
to their way down the aisle as the bell rings to start their
street fight. Briggs’ vest is still smoking from the special
effects as he continues to pummel Inamura, but Inamura would
soon fight back.
Yoshiki Inamura vs. Josh Briggs in a Philadelphia Street
Fight
Briggs pinned Inamura in a great opener that was a wild
brawl filled with weapons and blunder. Debris litters the
ring after the match is over after starting with an ambush
by Briggs.
They brawl around ringside. The ring is on a stage, and they
fight off the stage on the floor. Briggs suplexes Inamura on
the floor. Briggs later haphazardly starts tossing metal
folding chairs into the ring, and he uses them as weapons.
Inamura fights back in a few hope spots, but Briggs cut him
off. Briggs slams Inamura on a chair, but Briggs misses a
splash on crashes into the chair. Inamura comes back and
sends Briggs crashing into a chair that Briggs himself had
wedged in a corner. Inamura slams Briggs on chair, and
Inamura grabs a Phillies baseball bat.
Inamura tees up with the baseball bat, but Briggs rocks him
with a low pitch of the chair. The chair took out Inamura’s
legs. Briggs uses the bat for a Russian leg sweep, and he
stomps on the Phillies logo for added heat with the local
crowd. From there, the show cuts to a commercial break. They
set up a big stunt as the show returns from the break.
A section of guardrail is bridged on a collection of chairs
as the show comes back from the break. Inamura takes a
superplex on the guardrail, and he sells big. Kendo stick
and trash cans are tossed into the ring by Briggs as the
crowd chants for tables.
Briggs uses tape to tie Inamura’s arms on the top rope.
Inamura is defenseless to shots from a kendo stick. Inamura
hulks up and rips free. Inamura then chops a kendo stick in
half as he fires up on Briggs. Inamura keeps chopping before
uses “sumo strikes” to knock down Briggs. A trash can is put
over the head of Briggs, and Inamura hits the trash can with
the baseball bat. A bloody Briggs crumbles the trash can
when Inamura bodyslams him on it. The referee put son gloves
while checking on Briggs. Meanwhile, Inamura fetches a
table.
Inamura leaps off the top with a splash that puts Briggs
through a table set up in the ring. Briggs kicks out for a
two count. More tables are set up in the ring. Briggs cuts
off Inamura with a lariat loaded with a chain. Moonsault
press by Briggs that drives Inamura through a table, and
Briggs covers Inamura for a pinfall.
Match result: Josh Briggs defeated Yoshiki Inamura via
pinfall
— Sarah Schreiber interviews TNA World Champion Trick
Williams backstage in Philly. Williams brags about beating
Moose on the latest TNA sueprcard. Williams then cuts a
promo on NXT Champion Oba Femi ahead of their title match at
Heatwave this weekend.
Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy
Saints pinned Troy after a pair of tornado DDTs. This was
much more tame than the opener, which is not nearly a bad
thing. This was also nothing to write home about until the
end where they did a stunt with the ring steps. That would
have more of an effect if we had not already seen blunder in
the opening brawl.
They wrestled through a commercial break. In the later
stages of the match, they set up a spot with the ring steps.
Saints is sent crashing into the steps. Troy goes for a
senton, but no water in the pool. Troy takes a bump on a
section of the steps.
As they go home, Saints with a tornado DDT on the apron.
Saints follows up by springboarding off the top rope into a
tornado DDT in the ring. Saints then covers Troy for a three
count.
Match result: Ricky Saints defeated Jasper Troy via pinfall
Jordynne Grace face-to-face with Blake Monroe
Grace comes to the ring and begins with a monologue. She
talks about coming to NXT after traveling the world building
her reputation. Grace figured she would have won a
championship, and that has not happened yet. She knew some
of her weaknesses, but she did not think a friendship would
set her back.
Grace goes on to say she knew how wrestling friendships work
out, but she thought this was an exception. Grace never
faced exploiting her weakness like Blake Monroe did to her.
She was angry, but now she has one objective. Not revenge.
Grace wants Monroe to see herself for what she is. With
that, out comes Monroe to interrupt Grace.
They meet face-to-face in the ring, and Monroe is flanked by
several security guards. Monroe has a contract drawn up, and
if Grace lays a finger on her then their match at Heatwave
is off. They exchange words as they cut promos on each
other.
Monroe calls Grace a reject posing as a superstar. Grace
almost jumps her, but Monroe warns about the stipulation.
Grace instead warns her of what she is getting at Heatwave,
and Grace lays waste to a few security guards. Grace grabs
her by the wrist, and Grace vows to show her what ugly
really looks like.
That was a pretty good go-home segment.
Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne)
vs. Elegance Brand (Heather, M and Ash by Elegance)
Masha Slamovich is the guest referee for the match, which
was the subject of a skit earlier in the show that also
featured The Personal Concierge. Later in the match,
Slamovich ejects the Concierge from ringside.
This was a pretty good six-woman tag team match with a lot
of action, and even some drama. The later stages had some
close near falls. Ash is arguing with Slamovich as they set
up the finish. Ash turns around to take a roaring elbow from
Jayne, and Jayne then covers Ash for the deciding pinfall.
Match result: Fatal Influence defeated Elegance Brand when
Jayne pinned Ash by Elegance
— Kendal Grey is backstage chatting with Charlie Dempsey,
who is giving her unsolicited advice. Wren Sinclair walks up
and interjects in the conversation, asking how Dempsey is
giving advice to a collegiate wrestler that went 61-0.
Dempsey still cannot catch a clue and Grey leaves.
The Culling then walks up, and Dempsey’s boasting somehow
gets Sinclair booked in a two-on-one handicap match against
The Culling.
USA/Canada Peace Treaty
This segment sets up a mixed tag team match at Heatwave. The
Canadian delegation is first to enter. NXT North American
Champion Ethan Page is joined by Chelsea Green and the Green
Regime. Page knows how things work in Philly, and he has the
table removed from the ring (in a reference to ECW). Next to
enter is the US delegation of Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae
Steele.
They all take seats for the summit. Page praises Heights
before cutting a promo on him. Page accuses of Heights
getting a big head and biting off more than he can chew.
Heights did well in the Olympics, but this is pro wrestling
where we do not celebrate losers like second and third
place.
Heights responds by saying he is used to setting across from
vets, and they counted him out until Heights sent them
flying. Heights says Page is underestimating him. Heights
has done the work and is blessed by the athletic gods of
Mount Olympus. He is made in their image!
Green cuts off Height and calls him rude along with all
Americans. Green and Page are just there to peacefully
represent their country, which is full of culture and
majestic mountains. They have the superior athletes as well.
Steele cuts her off, saying we are in America and
Philadelphia. We speak our mind. Steele tells Green to shut
up. Green takes exception.
Steele says she is the first ever women’s gold medalist
(from the USA). Green counters she is the greatest United
States champ ever. Steele shows her gold medal and threatens
Green. More bickering between the group with Heights hyping
up the Philly crowd.
They all rise to their feet and yell at each other. NXT
General Manager Ava then comes up announce the two sides
will meet in mixed tag team match at Heatwave. The heel
Canadians jump the Americans, but Heights and Steele are
ready for them. Heights and Steele both apply ankle locks.
Page and Green both tap as the Secret Hervice pull them both
to safety.
— Myles Borne is talking backstage with Ricky Saints in
Borne is approached by Lexis King. This led to an angle
where King blinds Borne by spraying him in the eyes.
— Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice are talking when they are
approached by Lash Legend. They mention Vice wrestling at
Triplemania. They all vow to win the number one contender’s
match.
— Joe Hendry makes a cameo appearance in another backstage
skit. Hendry pops out of a cabinet when someone from
Darkstate mentions his name. This was supposed to be comedy.
Hendry himself was humorous.
Trick Williams vs. Je’Von Evans in a number one contender’s
match
NXT Champ Oba Femi is watching the match from a seat
overlooking the ring. Mike Santana also makes an appearance
in the crowd, which plays into the finish.
They wrestled through a commercial break. Before cutting to
commercial, Evans does a big dive to the outside. Evans goes
to follow up with a springboard. Trick blocks Evans and
shoves him backwards. Evans sails through the air and
crashes on the announce desk. The desk crumbles and Evans
sells big as the show goes into the break.
Trick is getting heat on Evans when the show returns from
the break. Evans takes a Ric Flair bodyslam off the top.
Meanwhile, Trick points at Femi like he is the WrestleMania
sign.Trick then taunts and toys with Evans.
Evans fires up and makes a comeback. Evans sails through the
ropes with a tope suicida. Evans follows up with a Five Star
Frog Splash for a near fall. They fight on and Evans goes
for a springboard cutter. Trick pop up to block the cutter.
They fight on and Evans gets another near fall with a roll
up.
As they go home, Trick boots Evans with a high kick. Trick
then gets a near fall with a fireman’s carry slam. Trick
pulls down a knee pad and measures for his finisher, but he
stops in his tracks. Trick points to the crowd and spots
Mike Santana looking on. Trick is distracted by Santana, and
Trick takes a cutter. Evans then does a double springboard
into a flying cutter on Trick. Evans scores a three count
and becomes the number one contender for the NXT
Championship.
Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Trick Williams to become
number one contender for the NXT title