We’re live from the empty closed-set NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida as Tom Phillips welcomes us. He’s joined by Byron Saxton.
Finn Balor vs. Fabian Aichner
We go right to the ring and out first comes Finn Balor as Alicia Taylor does the introductions. Fabian Aichner is out next with Marcel Barthel, representing Imperium.
Balor stares the two down as they enter the ring. The bell rings and Balor has some trash talking as they lock up and trade holds. Balor takes it to the mat and they tangle. They eventually go back to their feet, still trading holds. Aichner controls Balor some and tosses him across the ring. Barthel provides a quick distraction from the floor, allowing Aichner to level Balor and work him over.
Balor comes back and dropkicks Aichner. Balor shoots a stare out to Barthel and goes to work on Aichner in the corner. Balor with a big chop. They run the ropes on each other and Aichner catches Balor on his shoulders. Balor slides out and drives Aichner into the mat. Barthel tries to provide another distraction but the referee warns him and Balor stares him down. Balor unloads on Aichner while he’s down. Balor sends Aichner to the floor and rocks him through the ropes, sending him back into the barrier. Balor stands tall at ringside as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Balor remains in control. Barthel almost interferes again. Aichner ends up catching Balor with a big tilt-a-whirl backbreaker in the middle of the ring. Aichner with more offense but he can’t put Balor away. Aichner works Balor over and stomps away in the corner again. Aichner whips Balor hard into the turnbuckles and he goes down. Aichner with some trash talking while booting Balor around. Aichner keeps control and launches Balor into the corner again. Balor goes back down and Aichner stays on him, talking trash and delivering another big chop.
Balor turns it right around in the corner and unloads with aggressive offense. Balor stares out at Barthel again. Balor with more offense. Aichner turns it right back around and delivers more strikes. Aichner clotheslines Balor for another 2 count in the middle of the ring. Balor dodges a powerbomb and hits a double stomp to the chest. Balor with a Slingblade.
Barthel gets on the apron again as the referee warns him. Balor swings and turns back around to Aichner on him. Aichner overpowers and hits a big powerbomb with one arm. The referee checks on Aichner in the middle of the ring as Barthel levels Balor on the floor. Aichner charges into the steel steps but Balor moves and Aichner crashes into the steel. Balor with a Slingblade on the floor to Barthel. Balor waits and then hits the running dropkick to send Barthel through the barrier.
Aichner approaches and rocks Balor from behind. Aichner rolls Balor back into the ring. Aichner goes to the top and goes for a moonsault but misses. Balor with the dropkick but he barely connects, if at all, sending Aichner back into the turnbuckles. Balor goes to the top and hits Coup de Grace. Balor immediately follows up with 1916 for the pin to win.
Winner: Finn Balor
After the match, Balor stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays. Balor is on the stage now. He looks into the camera and delivers a message to NXT UK Champion WALTER, saying that this was just a little preview of what will happen the next time their paths cross.
– We see The Velveteen Dream backstage under his purple light. He’s in deep thought, thinking about NXT Champion Adam Cole.
– Still to come, Charlotte Flair is here. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Tom hypes Tegan Nox vs. Raquel Gonzalez for tonight. We see recent events between Nox and former partner Dakota Kai, which led to Nox wanting revenge on Gonzalez for helping Kai.
– Tom sends us to a video package from NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Flair talks about her reign and big win over Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36. She gives some props to Ripley and says she will not apologize for her own greatness. Flair says winning this title will solidify her legacy because she will do what no one else has done before – dominate all 3 different eras of sports entertainment – the past, present and future. She names wrestlers from the generations she’s defeated, starting with Natalya in NXT. She also names Nikki Bella, Paige, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. Flair says she’s been the most dominant competitor in the women’s revolution for the past 5 years. Flair also touts pinning the others in the WWE Horsewomen, and defeating RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Carmella, ending Asuka’s streak, and how she left Ronda Rousey a broken woman. She says now we come to the future. All she’s heard is about NXT having the best women’s division and they proved that at Survivor Series 2019. Flair says she’s coming to NXT to run through the best women’s division in WWE. She knows Ripley will want another shot, and then Io Shirai is the #1 contender. Candice LeRae is hungry and she’s had her eye on Mia Yim because that was her first-ever NXT opponent. Now look at their careers. Flair wants to give a “lottery ticket” to Yim and then NXT General Manager William Regal can line them up one by one and after she defeats them all, there will be no argument, just a fact – that she is the greatest of all-time.
Aliyah vs. Xia Li
We go back to the ring and out first comes Aliyah. We see what happened to Xia Li getting attacked backstage a few weeks ago, and Aliyah taking credit for it on Twitter. Li makes her way out next.
The bell rings and Li immediately kicks Aliyah to the mat. Li mounts her and unloads. Aliyah goes to the floor for a breather. Li ends up chasing Aliyah around the ring and back in. Aliyah uses the referee to stall and distract once again but then sneaks over and drops Li with a pump kick. Aliyah unloads on Li in the corner now as the referee warns her. Li shoves her back. Aliyah with a Thesz Press to mount her for more strikes.
Aliyah shows frustration over the 2 count. Aliyah grounds Li in the middle of the ring now, talking trash. Li finally fights out and sends Aliyah across the ring. Li with a roll-up for 2. Aliyah gets fired up and rocks Li. Li slides out of a hold but they continue to trade holds. Aliyah misses a splash in the corner and her recently broken nose hits the top turnbuckle.
Li unloads with offense and hits a big clothesline, then more kicks. Li with a jumping knee and a dropkick in the middle of the ring. Li with a corkscrew kick to the back while Aliyah is down on the mat. Li covers for the pin to win.
Winner: Xia Li
After the match, Xia stands tall as her music hits. We go to replays. Li poses as Aliyah sits up against the barrier on the floor and looks to be crying.
– Tom and Byron send us to a video package on the tournament to crown an Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion due to current champion Jordan Devlin being stuck in the UK and unable to defend because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament begins tonight with Akira Tozawa vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Matt Riddle is on the phone with partner Pete Dunne. Riddle wants to know who Dunne’s temporary replacement is for tonight’s NXT Tag Team Titles defense, but Dunne wants to leave it a surprise. Riddle asks, “Bro?”
Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match for Group B: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Akira Tozawa
We go back to the ring and out comes Isaiah “Swerve” Scott for the first match in the tournament to crown an Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Tom says the winner of Group A will face the winner of Group B for the finals. This is a match for Group B. Akira Tozawa is out next.
The bell rings and they lock up, trading holds. Scott with an early 1 count right after they go to the mat. They trade holds again and Scott works on the arm. Tozawa fights out but Scott counters his hurricanrana. Kushida looks to mount offense but Scott sends him into the corner and taunts him some. Tozawa with a big chop. Scott fires back with one of his own. They trade big chops. Tozawa jabs Scott in the jaw to drop him to one knee.
Tozawa goes to run the ropes but Scott chases him and uppercuts him. Scott advances but Tozawa sends him out to the floor with a pump kick. Tozawa with kicks from the apron. Scott returns to the apron but Tozawa keeps fighting. They trade shots on the apron now. Tozawa tosses Scott to the ground and the referee counts. Scott jumps up and brings Kushida to the ground with a big kick. Tozawa lands hard on the outside. We go to commercial.
We come back from the break to see Scott applying a chin lock. Tozawa fights up and hits a back body drop to the floor. Tozawa signals for a suicide dive, but Scott moves. Tozawa gets on the apron and hits a cannonball senton to the floor. Tozawa lands on his head and looks to be in pain. Tozawa gets him in the ring and hits a missile dropkick for a near fall. Tozawa fights up, but Scott elbows out. Tozawa flips through a back suplex before applying an octopus stretch. Scott powers out, but Tozawa counters into a dragon sleeper. Scott fights out, so Tozawa applies a guillotine. Scott powers him up and hits a brainbuster.
Scott sets up for his finisher, but Tozawa counters out. Scott soon takes him down with a wild counter into a German Suplex. Scott quickly connects with the House Call for a near fall. Scott puts him in the corner and onto the second ropes. Tozawa kicks him back before hitting a belly-to-belly overhead suplex into the corner! Tozawa follows up with a jumping spin kick before going to the top rope. Tozawa hits a leaping Senton Splash for the win!
Winner: Akira Tozawa
Tozawa is interviewed after the match. Tozawa says he will keep fighting and winning. He will become the Cruiserweight Champion again.
– Tegan Nox will face Raquel Gonzalez, next. Back to Commercial Break.
Tegan Nox vs. Raquel Gonzalez w/ Dakota Kai
Nox quickly applies a waistlock, but Gonzalez easily powers out. Gonzalez wrenches the arm and lifts her before taking her down. Gonzalez does it again and hits a shoulder block. Gonzalez sends her into the ropes for a backbreaker. Nox ducks a clothesline, but Gonzalez catches her with the rebound in the back of the head. Gonzalez rips at the hair before tearing at the face. Gonzalez lifts her by the neck with both hands, but Nox tries to counter into a roll-up. Gonzalez quickly takes her down and stomps her in the corner. Gonzalez whips her hard into the corner. Nox chops back and goes for a whip, but Gonzalez sends her to the corner. Gonzalez sends her to the corner and blocks a boot. Gonzalez puts her on the ropes and punches her. The referee is admonishing Gonzalez while Kai kicks Nox. Shotzi Blackheart runs down and attacks Kai with her helmet. Gonzalez angrily grabs Blackheart and pulls her onto the apron for a chokeslam. Nox quickly rolls Gonzalez up for the win.
Winner Tegan Nox
– We’ll take a look at Keith Lee’s journey to NXT, next. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a pre-recorded video from NXT North American Champion Keith Lee. He talks about his grandmother getting him into pro wrestling as a fan. He made the decision to train for a career at age 20, dropping college football to pursue the business, and the rest of his family didn’t approve of it, including his dad. He was kicked out of his home and says with all of that and his career on the indies, working small shows over the years, he’s really sacrificed everything to make this work. He mentions being heavily influenced by WWE Hall of Famer Randy Savage. Lee says for the next 13 years he kept getting told no, you’re too big, and other criticism, but look at him now. He made it to the world where the best athletes are, and he stands out. He says his rivalry with Dominik Dijakovic opened everyone’s eyes and now there is something special in the air about the Limitless One. Lee thanks everyone for their love and says they haven’t seen anything yet. He talks about winning the title earlier this year and says everything has come full circle. Lee goes on and says he could’ve quit or kept fighting to become the best, which he did. Lee says that’s what being limitless is.
Dexter Lumis vs. Tehuti Miles
We go back to the ring and out comes the bizarre Dexter Lumis. Tehuti Miles is out next, who lost to Angel Garza on this week’s RAW, after recently losing to Killian Dain in his official NXT TV debut. Lumis stares Miles down as he enters the ring.
The bell rings and Miles does some friendly taunting to start. Lumis attacks and beats Miles down to take control. Miles blocks a shot and nails a pair of dropkicks. Lumis is still up but goes into the corner. He comes right back from one knee. They briefly tangle and Lumis nails a huge Spinebuster in the middle of the ring.
Lumis stalks Miles while he’s down. Lumis grabs Miles and drives him into the mat with a sitdown Uranage. Lumis goes right into the Anaconda Vice submission for the win.
Winner: Dexter Lumis
– We see The Velveteen Dream backstage again, still waiting for Adam Cole. Back to commercial.
– NXT Champion Adam Cole is shown at his pool. Cole says he hopes that “stupid” Velveteen Dream didn’t think he was actually going to show up. They need to focus on reality. Dream will never get a title show. The reality of the world is there is nobody in NXT or WWE that deserves a shot at his title. They have a lot more to focus on. The Undisputed ERA will focus on regaining what belongs to them by taking the NXT Tag Team Championship. The Undisputed ERA will be whole again.
– The Velveteen Dream makes his entrance and walks up to a podium. Dream says Adam Cole wasn’t busy today. The Dream thinks a lot of Cole. Cole fancies himself as the leader of the Undisputed ERA. Dream knows him as the last remaining champion in the Undisputed ERA. Undisputedly, Cole is the longest-reigning champion. However, it’s Dream Over.
Finn Balor all of a sudden comes up from behind Dream. Balor says he doesn’t know Dream or like him. Up until this point, he hasn’t said one single word to him. This will be his first. When you talk about the greatest NXT Champion of all time, you’re looking at him. Ignorant comments will get you a date with the prince. Balor walks off. Dream tells Balor to be a gentleman and pick him up next Wednesday night. Balor stares at him and walks off. Dream snaps his fingers, and his music plays.
Back to commercial.
– We are back and Malcolm Bivens is backstage with Rinku and Saurav. Bivens congratulates whoever wins the NXT Tag Team Championships tonight because they’re going from their shoulders to the waists of Rinku and Saurav.
– Next week, we’ll have three Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Matches. El Hijo del Fantasma will take on Jack Gallagher, Kushida will face Tony Nese, and Drake Maverick will battle Jake Atlas. We’ll also see Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox take on Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez.
NXT Tag Team Titles Match: The Undisputed Era vs. Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher
We go back to the ring for tonight’s main event as The Undisputed Era is out first, represented by Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish. There is no sign of the other members. NXT Tag Team Champion Matt Riddle is out next, carrying both titles. His partner Pete Dunne appears on the big screen as Riddle stands on the stage. Dunne said he’d want nothing more than to be there to defend, but he’s stuck in the UK. He introduces his temporary replacement and out comes the debuting Timothy Thatcher, whose signing was announced with Killer Kross a few months ago.
Fish and Riddle start things off, sizing each other up and having words. They go to the mat and tangle. Riddle with a body scissors until Fish gets to the bottom rope to break it. More back and forth on the mat now. Riddle with a 1 count and another arm submission on Fish. Riddle finally hits a big suplex to send Fish out to the floor to regroup. Strong joins Fish on the ramp as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Thatcher has Strong on the mat, grounded. Thatcher with a body scissors. Strong tries to crawl away but Thatcher gets the Bow & Arrow submission applied. Thatcher with more offense but Strong gets away and tags in Fish for the double team. Fish with offense, including a senton from the apron for a 2 count. Thatcher goes at it with Fish and then Strong for a few minutes. Thatcher takes control of Strong until Riddle tags in. They quickly double team before Riddle unloads on Strong.
Riddle with big power moves on Strong. Riddle with a series of gutwrench suplexes to Strong now. Fish runs in but Thatcher runs in to stop him. Riddle and Thatcher hit big gutwrench suplexes on their opponents at the same time. Thatcher launches Riddle onto Strong for another double team. Strong kicks out at 2. Fish takes out Thatcher from behind on the floor. Strong turns it around on Riddle thanks to the distraction. Strong with shots to Riddle and a Butterfly suplex. Fish tags back in and they keep Riddle near their corner. Fish drives Riddle into the mat for another 2 count.
Strong comes back in and works Riddle over. Strong with a big backbreaker for a 2 count. Fish is legal now. Strong and Fish double team Riddle on the floor, sending him into the steel ring steps. A light shines over to the corner as we see Dexter Lumis staring the match down. Strong spots him as does the camera man. Strong and Fish bring Riddle back in. Thatcher has returned to the apron. Strong drops Riddle and tags Fish back in. Lumis is still staring the match down.
Strong and Fish unload on Riddle with the double team. Strong with an Olympic Slam for a close 2 count. Strong shows frustration as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break, Fish punches Riddle down. Fish hits a snap suplex for a two count. Fish punches away at him before kneeing him in the face. Fish chokes him with his knee before kneeing him to the corner. Fish hits a pair of snap suplexes. Fish goes for a third, but Riddle counters into a fisherman suplex. Strong quickly tags in, but Thatcher also tags.
Thatcher hits Strong and Fish with a pair of belly-to-belly side suplexes a piece before uppercutting Strong. Thatcher strikes away at Strong. Strong viciously chops the chest, but Thatcher hits a step-up enzuigiri. Thatcher goes for a Fujiwara Arm Bar, but Strong gets to the ropes. Strong kicks him back and forearms him. Thatcher quickly slaps him in the face to take him down before setting up for a butterfly suplex. Fish distracts him. Strong kicks Thatcher in the head before tagging Fish in. Fish hits a running forearm for a near fall. Strong tags in, and they double-team Thatcher for a near fall. They pause for a few and move awkwardly before Riddle shows up. Thatcher applies the Fujiwara Arm bar to Strong for the win.
Winners by Submission and still NXT Tag Team Champions: Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher
After the match, Thatcher and Riddle stand tall with the titles as Riddle’s music hits. We go to replays. We see Fish and Strong down on the floor. Riddle tries to get his temporary partner to dance but he won’t.
– We go backstage to Tommaso Ciampa, who sets up a camera to speak. Ciampa says he’s done with this. He’s done with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and all of this. Ciampa says they agreed when it’s over, it’s over, and whoever won, wins. Ciampa says Gargano and Candice showed the world, so congratulations. Ciampa says Gargano is the better man. Someone suddenly grabs Ciampa from behind and slams him to the ground. The camera falls to the floor and all we hear is Ciampa being destroyed by someone. We see Ciampa fall on the ground face-first now. A shiny tall black boot appears in the camera shot. A bald man kneels down at Ciampa’s face, breathing hard. It’s Killer Kross. Kross gets in Ciampa’s face and warns him – tick-tock. We never see who the black boot belongs to, but it’s likely Scarlett Bordeaux’s. Kross looks up from Ciampa and stares ahead. NXT goes off the air.
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