Posted on 8/21/124 by Bob Magee
The show begins with footage from “earlier today” where
Karmen Petrovic is attacked by Izzi Dame. Referees and
officials pulled Dame away, but Petrovic’s status for the
gauntlet match tonight is now in question.
Chase U opens with the show from the sound stage at the
Performance Center in Orlando, and members of the student
body enter through the crowd. Thea Hail, Riley Osborne, Duke
Hudson, and the new NXT Tag Team Champions — Andre Chase &
Ridge Holland — come through the studio audience on their
way to the ring to celebrate winning the tag titles.
Andre Chase says it is a new year for Chase U, with new
students, new classrooms, and new champions! Thea Hail is
proud of Holland. Duke Hudson congratulated them, while also
giving Holland a back hand compliment. Chase also gives
Holland props, and Chase thanks him on behalf of the entire
student body.
Since something like this in NXT cannot go uninterrupted,
out come the former tag champs — Nathan Frazier & Axiom. The
dethroned champions offer Chase U a mild congratulations.
While the former champs do say Chase U were the better team
on that day, Axiom contends Chase U is not the better team
everyday. Axiom proclaims he and Frazier as the best team in
NXT. Frazier & Axiom with their tone and demeanor are the
antagonists here, though not really heels.
Frazier is about to ask for a rematch when Holland
interjects. Holland cuts a promo on Chase U being the little
engine that could. That is what they taught him. He came to
NXT to find himself, but he found himself more lost. But
Chase U stood by his side. Holland continues giving props.
Holland says he busted his ass for six years and he is
finally a champion, but last week was about more than him.
Their mission statement is mission accomplished.
Frazier still insists on a rematch for the titles, but
Osborne speaks up to say they will have go through himself
and Hudson. Axiom & Frazier are then challenged by Hudson to
a tag match. If the former champs win, they “maybe” get a
rematch at No Mercy.
Frazier & Axiom accept the challenge from Hudson, and they
go to leave. Hudson stops them by saying Chase U is always
ready. Hudson & Osborne then rip off their tearaway pants
like they are Latin Lover, and Chase U is in their wrestling
gear ready for a match. Good thing Frazier & Axiom were
already in their gear. Hope they stretched beforehand, as
their match begins posthaste.
Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne
(with Chase U)
Axiom pinned Osborne, which sets up a tag title rematch at
No Mercy.
The match goes through a commercial break. Osborne does a
flip dive over the ropes, and Chase U is jubilant as the
show cuts to a break. The action continues after the break,
with the former champs getting heat on Osborne as the show
comes back from the break.
Hot tag to Hudson, and he cleans house. Hudson gets a near
fall, and Osborne soon tags back in. Together they do a
combo move that ends with Osborne giving Frazier a
blockbuster-type move. Axiom jumps in to break up the
subsequent pinning attempt. Osborne goes for a shooting star
press, but Frazier moves. Osborne rolls through, and he runs
through a wicked sequence with Frazier. They both
springboard for an inverted Spanish fly of sorts.
Phoenix splash by Frazier. Nobody home. Frazier comes back
with a superplex and float over for a combo where they then
execute ReDRagon’s Enter the Dragon finisher. Frazier then
leaps over the ropes to dive on Hudson, while Axiom hooks a
leg to cover Osborne for a pinfall.
Cut to a backstage skit in GM Ava’s office, where Stevie
Turner and Robert Stone are bickering again as they try to
impress Ava. Izzi Dame enters the office, and she assumes
she is taking Petrovic’s place in the match later. Instead,
Ava says Brinley Reece is added to the match.
After a commercial break, Reece is in the locker room is
excited for her match. Wren Sinclair chimes in, and she
summons No Quarter Catch Crew.
Wendy Choo defeated Lola Vice
Choo pinned Vice after using a loaded pillow. The
underhanded finish clearly sets up a rematch, with Vice
looking to get her win back. NXT North American Women’s
Champion Kelani Jordan did a run-in, only to get clocked
inadvertently by a back fist from Vice. Jordan falls to the
mat, and Vice checks on her. Meanwhile, Choo grabs the
loaded pillow. Choo smacks Vice with the pillow before
scoring the pinfall.
Despite Choo having a campy zombie gimmick, they have a
serious match. It was very physical at time, and the match
goes through a commercial break. Vice look strong before the
break, but Choo is working her over when the show returns
from the break. Vice makes a comeback just before Jordan
runs in.
Jordan was attacked the previous week by Choo, and Choo
stole Jordan title belt. Jordan challenged Choo to a title
match at No Mercy. Jordan and Choo are about the brawl when
Choo grabs the loaded pillow. Jordan ducks the pillow and
grabs it away from Choo. Jordan pulls the North American
title belt out of the pillow case to reveal it as the loaded
object. Jordan poses with the belt as she stands over a
fallen Choo.
Wes Lee is interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. They then cut a
split-screen promo with Sarah Schreiber interviewing Joe
Hendry. Lee and Hendry meet in a match later, which Hendry
calls the biggest match of his career. Hendry vows to win
and become number one contender.
A video package focuses on the new trio dubbed Fatal
Influence, which consists of Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and
Jazmyn Nyz. Henley and Jayne are upset they toiled on the
indies for a break, while spoiled college athletes were
courted by WWE. The only person that listened to Jayne and
Henley was Nyz. So, they are a trio now.
Jaida Parker wins the number one contender’s gauntlet match
Parker is the sole survivor, and she also survived some
potatoes. She also dished out her fair share. They all are
still green, but they managed to pull this off. Props for
that, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. In
winning, Parker earns a title shot against NXT Women’s
Champion Roxanne Perez at No Mercy.
Sol Ruca and Wren Sinclair square off to start the match as
he first participants. While this is a “gauntlet match,” it
is also similar to the Royal Rumble. After a countdown, new
participants enter the ring. Adriana Rizzo is next to enter
the gauntlet. She starts off strong, only for Rizzo to be
the first eliminated from the match. Ruca does a wacky
powerbomb, and she covers Rizzo for the elimination.
The match continues through a split-screen commercial break,
with Brinley Reece having entered the bout as the show
returns from the break. Kendall Grey enters the match,
basically making it a fatal four way for a moment. Grey runs
wild, and she pinned Reece for an elimination. Back down to
three in the ring.
Ruca puts Grey in a Romero Special, and Sinclair was
supposed to bulldog Grey as Grey powers out. But it was
mistimed. Ruca later press slams Grey over the ropes on
Sinclair. Ruca follows it with a quebrada. Ruca got to shine
a lot throughout the match.
Jaida Parker enters the gauntlet, and she is a powerhouse.
Parker goes on to pin Grey after a gourdbuster, and Grey is
eliminated. Sinclair tried to cradle Parker for a pinfall,
but Ruca breaks it up with a springboard into a cutter. Ruca
then eliminates Sinclair via pinfall.
Final two are Ruca and Parker. The studio audience rises to
their feet, and they are buzzing as the last two face off.
Parker blocks a springbaord, and Parker powers Ruca into a
Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Small package by Ruca for two
as they trade near falls.
Parker appeared to have the wind knocked out of her. Ruca
counters a powerbomb, and she falls on top of Parker. There
was talking in the ring, but the match continues. Parker is
able to get up and walk through a high spot where she
sidesteps a springboard by Ruca. Parker takes a straight
jacket German suplex. Ruca springbaords into flying body
press, but no water in the pool. Parker runs the ropes and
delivers a stiff hip attack. Parker then scores the deciding
pinfall.
Parker, flanked by OTM, cuts a promo after the match where
she vows to be the next women’s champion.
NXT Champion Ethan Page is being interviewed when he is
confronted by Pete Dunne, who threatens Page.
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Karl Anderson & Luke
Gallows
Hank pinned Anderson for the upset win. Gallows is posted
just before they go home. Hank & Tank then do a tandem
finisher, which involves Tank giving Anderson a spear as
Hank executes a powerslam. The match was decent, but the
finish was quite a surprise.
Hank & Tank celebrate with Vic Joseph at the announce desk.
Hank & Tank are rowdy, so out comes security. They merely
join in the party, as they celebrate with Hank (who in
storyline was once a part of the security team).
Shawn Spears is talking backstage with Malik Blade & Edris
Enofe. A brawl breaks out when Spears insults Brinley Reece,
and Blade gets angry. Enofe & Blade then brawl with Spears.
The camera is knocked over while Spears supposedly is given
a chair shot. Spears sells his arm as referees pour in to
break up the melee.
Ava got to attend a Slipknot concert and meet the band
Slipknot. There was some cross-promotion here, as the
announcers on commentary plug Slipknot’s tour.
No Quarter Catch Crews are in the ring to celebrate Charlie
Dempsey regaining the Heritage Cup for the faction. Dempsey
is trying to cut a promo, but Wren Sinclair keeps
interrupting him. Dempsey quotes Lou Thesz and Billy
Robinson as he begins his promo. Sinclair interjects. She is
not familiar with “Billy Thesz or Lou Robinson.” However, if
“Charles” says they are good people, then they must be good
people.
Dempsey goes back to boasting as he vows to make the
Heritage Cup the most valuable title in NXT. Sinclair again
interrupts. She says “Charles” will defend “our” Cup against
anyone in an open challenge. The theme music for Oba Femi
blares, and out comes the NXT North American Champion.
Sinclair is aghast, and she immediately apologizes to
Dempsey.
Femi cuts a really good promo as he threatens Dempsey. Out
comes Tony D’Aneglo for yet another interruption. Dempsey
assumes “The Don” wants a rematch for the Cup. D’Angelo
instead blows off that notion. The Don glares at Femi.
D’Angelo adds he and The Family do not forget. The Don snaps
his fingers, and The Family jumps No Quarter Catch Crew.
Meanwhile, The Don is still glaring a hole through Femi. The
melee between faction sets up a mixed trios match for next
week.
Femi brawls with D’Angelo. Femi hoists him up for a
powerbomb, but The Don counters to escape. The Don then
gives Femi a spinebuster. D’Angelo grabs the title belt and
he places it on a fallen Femi.
Ashante “Thee” Adonis defeated Dion Lennox
Adonis pinned Lennox after a superkick. I can understand
wanting to get over Adonis, but did they have to do it at
the expense of a debuting Lennox?
They did a skit before the match where three women fawned
over Lennox, much to the chagrin of Adonis. Lennox does the
Clark Kent gimmick as he wears glasses to the ring. He
removes the glasses like Clark Kent turning into Superman,
and Lennox is suddenly fired up to wrestle. Or something
like that. Regardless, he still lost clean in his in-ring
debut on NXT television. So much for being Superman.
They have a competitive match, and Lennox got some offense.
Adonis did a corkscrew tornillo splash at one point. Lennox
hulked up after being slapped across the face by Adonis.
Lennox gets a near fall after an Arn Anderson spinebuster.
Before the near fall, Lennox also delivers a receipt by
slapping Adonis across the face.
Adonis with an eye poke to counter a suplex. Adonis goes on
to trip up Lennox after he climbed the turnbuckles. Lennox
takes a Hot Shot on the top rope, and Adonis tunes up the
band like he is Shawn Michaels in 1996. Adonis measures and
delivers Sweet Chin Music. Adonis then covers Lennox for a
pinfall.
Lexis King bickers with Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson in a
backstage skit.
Joe Hendry defeated Pete Dunne and Wes Lee in a triple
threat match to become the number one contender for the NXT
Championship
NXT Champion Ethan Page provided guest commentary for the
match, and he would factor into the finish. Trick Williams
also runs in for the finish to ambush Dunne, which costs
Dunne the match. Lee was odd man out at the finish, despite
being heavily involved in the action itself before then.
While Lee got to shine at times, this match was more about
getting Hendry over as the next challenger. The Trick run in
seems to also add more to a potential grudge match with
Williams against Dunne. Likewise, Zachary Wentz jumps Lee
while looking for a measure of revenge.
The match goes through a commercial break. Hendry stands
tall before the break, and he fires up again when the show
returns from commercials. Hendry does a feat of strength
where he does a double fallaway slam on both Dunne and Lee,
or at least he sort of does it. Studio audience still loves
Hendry. The crownd claps along and chants for Hendry.
Lee does a lionsault press on both Dunne & Hendry, leading
to a triple down. Moments later, Dunne traps both Hendry and
Lee in a double joint lock. Dunne also gets a near fall. Lee
also gets a near fall, after he spiked Dunne with a tornado
DDT. They do what appeared to be a Tower of Doom spot, but
the show cut to a wide shot (so possibly the spot was
slightly botched). Nevertheless, Lee gets another near fall,
only to have his fingers snapped by Dunne moments later.
Hendry with a chokeslam on Dunne, and Hendry goes for a
cover. Page pulls the referee out of the ring like he is the
NWO on Nitro in 1998. An angry Hendry takes his frustrations
out on Lee, as Hendry chokeslams Lee on the announce desk
(which did not break). Back in the ring, Hendry delivers
another chokeslam. This time on Dunne, but Hendry cannot go
for a pin because Page is blocking a new referee from
entering the ring.
Hendry is distracted by Page, allowing Dunne to sneak in for
a Bitter End. Suddenly, Trick Williams runs in and hits
Dunne with a knee strike. Dunne is out cold as Hendry rolls
over to drape an arm over Dunne. One. Two. Three. Page saw
what was happening, but he was too late in jumping in break
up the count. Hendry scores a pinfall to win the match.
Hendry is now the number one contender.
Wentz runs in to attack Lee after the match. Security pours
into the ring to pull Wentz off Lee as the show ends.