We begin with a review of Sunday’s Takeover 31 from the new Capitol Wrestling Center.
We are in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, and Beth Phoenix. Ember Moon was supposed to kick off the show, but apparently plans changes as we are ready for our first match of the night.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. KUSHIDA
They lock up and KUSHIDA slaps Ciampa. CIampa slaps back and KUSHIDA goes for the leg and he takes Ciampa to the mat. KUSHIDA with a front face lock and floats over and pats Ciampa on the top of the head. Ciampa with a crucifix for a near fall. KUSHIDA with a hip toss and cartwheel followed by a drop kick. Ciampa goes to the floor and KUSHIDA sends him back into the ring. KUSHIDA with an elbow and a running divorce court. Ciampa with a forearm and he drop kicks KUSHIDA when KUSHIDA goes for a handspring move.
Ciampa with a back breaker. Ciampa gets a near fall. KUSHIDA with forearms in the corner and the referee warns him. KUSHIDA with more forearms. Ciampa with a hard Irish whip. Ciampa with forearms across the chest and he applies a rear chin lock. CIampa with a neck breaker. CIampa with a knee drop. Ciampa with a reverse chin lock. Ciampa with a knee to the head but he cannot hit a neck breaker when KUSHIDA escapes. KUSHIDA goes for the arm but Ciampa escapes and sends KUSHIDA to the apron. KUSHIDA goes to the floor and Ciampa kicks KUSHIDA Into the announce table. KUSHIDA gets back into the ring and he kicks Ciampa off the apron with a handspring kick.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ciampa chops KUSHIDA In the corner. KUSHIDA with forearms and Ciampa with a punch. Ciampa puts KUSHIDA on the turnbuckles. Ciampa sets for a Air Raid Crash off the turnbuckles but KUSHIDA gets back to the turnbuckles. Ciampa with an elbow to knock KUSHIDA to the apron. Ciampa looks at the announce table area and he connects with a forearm. KUSHIDA drops the arm on the turnbuckle and then he sends Ciampa back into the ring. KUSHIDA with a kick to the arm and an enzuigiri. Ciampa sets for Fairy Tale Ending but KUSHIDA blocks it. KUSHIDA sends Ciampa into the turnbuckles and hits a German suplex followed by a kick.
KUSHIDA goes for a cross arm breaker but Ciampa blocks the application. KUSHIDA turns it into a triangle but Ciampa with a one arm sit out power bomb but he cannot capitalize. Ciampa and KUSHIDA exchange forearms. KUSHIDA with kicks and Ciampa with a kick to the head. Ciampa with a fisherman’s buster for a near fall. Ciampa sets for Fairy Tale Ending but KUSHIDA goes for the wrist lock. Ciampa with a punch and KUSHIDA with a back slide but he rolls through and Ciampa kicks KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA with a punch and he kicks Ciampa in the back.
KUSHIDA with a Hoverboard Lock on Ciampa. Velveteen Dream with a double sledge off the turnbuckles and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa (by disqualification)
After the bell, Dream turns back to KUSHIDA but KUSHIDA attack him and unloads. They brawl and go to the floor but KUSHIDA stays on Dream. Dream retreats and runs away over the barrier. Alicia Taylor announces the winner as KUSHIDA looks on from the ramp. Ciampa recovers in the ring and his music hits but neither are satisfied with the result.
— Still to come, Ember Moon is here. Back to commercial.
In the Arena:
Back from the break and Ember Moon is in the ring with a mic. She thanks everyone for the pop and says she’s surprised they let her talk tonight because it’s been a while.
Moon says she’s been in isolation for 14 long, hard months. She’s back now and she sees a lot of things have changed in NXT. Moon took her bike and rode on the long road, for miles and miles and miles, and she found clarity. She found who the real Ember Moon is. She found a thing called Ember’s Law, as corny as it sounds, she says. Ember’s Law says no one can walk over her or tell her what to do, because she’s going to do what she wants to do, because she’s Ember Moon, damn it. She says one thing that is absolutely the same is: mama wants some gold, baby. The music interrupts and out comes NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai.
Moon stares Shirai down as she marches to the ring. Fans chant for Shirai as she takes the mic. Before Shirai can speak, the music interrupts and out comes Rhea Ripley to the stage. Ripley loves Moon’s new attitude and says yeah she does deserve a title shot. Raquel Gonzalez suddenly attacks with Dakota Kai and they drop Ripley on the stage. They continue but Moon runs up and makes the save. Referees and NXT General Manager William Regal rush out to break it up. Regal announces tonight’s main event – Moon and Ripley vs. Kai and Gonzalez. There appears to be a bit of tension between Moon and Ripley.
— We see Drake Maverick arriving to the building earlier today. Drake’s asked where he and Killian Dain have been. Drake talks about how they’ve been planning and strategizing like tag teams do. He says big things are in the pipeline for their tag team. Dain appears and tells Drake once again that they are not friends or a tag team. Drake wants Dain’s phone number but Dain says there’s a reason he’s not getting it. Drake reveals that he and Dain will face Ever-Rise tonight. Dain is furious at Drake for getting the match made. Dain storms off and Drake tells him to wait and hear his entrance music. Back to commercial.
— We are back and Io Shirai is asked why didn’t she help Rhea Ripley. She says Ember Moon and Rhea Ripley are not her problem. The title is her problem.
— We take a look at what happened after the main event on Sunday with Ridge Holland.
— Adam Cole says a few weeks ago, if you mess with the Undisputed Era, you mess with all of us. Sunday was not the best night. Kyle says he lost, but Roddy says it was the performance of a lifetime. Adam says it was nothing to be ashamed of. Adam tells Ridge he doesn’t know why he did what he did, but he does not care. You broke my ribs and you are a dead man. That is undsiputed.
Drake Maverick and Killian Dain vs. Chase Parker and Matt Martel
Dain has them turn off their entrance music. Dain tells Drake to stop whistling on his way to the ring.
Dain tells Drake to get on the apron. Parker starts for his team. Drake wants to tag in and Dain obliges but it is with a lot of force. They lock up and Parker with a wrist lock. Parker with a tag to Martel. Drake with punches but Martel with a forearm. Drake kicks Martel and hits a leg lariat. Drake gets a near fall. Drake with a wrist lock but Martel keeps Drake from making the tag. Martel with a Northern Lariat. Martel punches Drake. Parker tags in and they hit snake eyes for a near fall.
Dain breaks up the cover and Martel calls Dain a fat bozo. Dain pushes Martel down and he pulls Drake by the hair to make the tag. Dain with clotheslines to everyone and he hits a cross body on Martel. Dain gets Parker up for an accordion slam followed by a back senton. Dain goes to the turnbuckles and Drake tags in. Drake goes to the turnbuckles and Dain pulls him off. Parker sends Drake into Dain and Parker with an O’Connor Roll. Dain with a bicycle kick and then he power bombs Drake onto Parker for the three count.
Winners: Killian Dain and Drake Maverick
After the match, Drake dances like he has the spirit of Jonathan Coachman and Byron Saxton in him. Dain sends Drake to the mat with one punch and leaves the ring. Dain grabs Drake and carries him to the back while officials check on Martel.
— We take a look at the return of Toni Storm at Takeover.
— We see Toni in Cancun three weeks ago. She says she could go focus and be alone. She says she is preparing. She says this is the longest time that she has been off in 10 years. Two years ago she was on top of the world. She won the Mae Young Classic and beat Io Shirai. When was the last time you heard about me? It was calculated. I needed a change of scenery. This Toni Storm is like nothing you have seen before,
— We are back with Candice and Johnny walking their dog and they talk about how Sunday was embarassing. They said they had their matches won and they deserve a rematch. Johnny says they need to reassess things. Candice says things need to change. They return to their garage and they get a new 65 inch TV from Indi Hartwell. Johnny is happy to get a new TV while Candice wants to know why would Indi send them a tv.
Austin Theory vs. Leon Ruff
Ruff with a take down for a near fall. Ruff avoids a clothesline but Theory with an elbow to send Ruff into the turnbuckles. Theory with an Irish whip but Ruff goes to the apron to avoids Theory and hits a drop kick and a running neck breaker. Ruff with a rebound clothesline for a near fall. Ruff slips on the top rope and Theory with a knee and the ATL for the three count.
Winner: Austin Theory
Austin says that is what happens when you have the proper time to warm up. Last week, you caught me ice cold Adam. I am proving why I am the future of NXT. This is a warning to everyone. Austin Theory is the future of NXT and there ain’t a damn thing you can do about it.
Dexter Lumis makes his way to the ring and we have a match!
Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis
Lumis blocks a kick and connects with an uppercut. Lumis iwth punches but Theory with a forearm. Lumis with a Thesz Press followed by punches. Theory goes to the floor and Lumis follows. Lumis punches Theory and sends Theory back into the ring. Lumis with an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall.
Lumis kicks Theory in the corner. Lumis with cross faces to Theory. Theory with a forearm but Lumis fires back to regain control. Lumis with a slam. Lumis follows with an elbow drop for a near fall. Lumis with a nerve hold. Lumis sends Theory to the floor. Lumis goes to the apron and Theory trips Lumis on the apron. Theory sends Lumis into the ring steps. Theory wtih a forearm and he stomps on the shoulder. Theory with a back elbow. Theory with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Theory with an arm bar and chin bar.
Theory with a clothesline and standing moonsault for a near fall. Theory with a kick but Lumis pushes him away. Theory with forearms to the back. Theory with a front face lock. Theory with a forearm to the back and he tries for a suplex but Lumis blocks it. Theory with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Theory chokes Lumis in the corner and he kicks Dexter in the ribs. Lumis with punches to Theory and Theory with a snap mare and boot to the chest for a near fall. Lumis blocks another suplex attempt. Lumis goes for a suplex and Theory blocks it. Theory lands on his feet but he misses a clothesline. Lumis with a spinebuster. Lumis with punches and a monkey flip.
Lumis with a slingshot suplex for a near fall. Theory with a shoulder and a slingshot rolling drop kick. Lumis gets back to his feet and Theory backs up. Lumis grabs Theory before he can get out of the ring. Theory with elbows but Lumis with a sit out uranage and he chokes out Theory.
Winner: Dexter Lumis
After the match, Cameron Grimes attacks out of nowhere and immediately puts Lumis down with the Cave-In. Grimes taunts Lumis in his face as a follow-up to their run-in backstage at Takeover. Grimes is all smiles as he makes his exit to loud boos.
— McKenzie Mitchell interviews Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai backstage ahead of tonight’s main event. Raquel says she’s going to take care of Rhea Ripley once and for all tonight. Kai isn’t happy with Ember Moon coming in and acting like she owns the place, wanting a title shot from NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. Kai says Moon better get behind her in line, and they will show everyone why in tonight’s tag team match.
— Still to come, a Prime Target Championship Epilogue for the NXT Title match at Takeover. Back to commercial.
— We are back and Cameron Grimes is asked why did he attack Dexter Lumis. He says when he asks you a question, you better answer. Dexter Lumis, Ridge Holland, and everyone else better know not to mess with him. He is going TO THE MOON!
— We take a look at the main event from Takeover once again, but first we take a look at The Bump when Kyle O’Reilly appeared. He says this is a huge opportunity over his career and it has been building to this. We hear Adam Cole’s comments about Kyle. We hear Finn’s comments about how he will retain the title.
— Kyle says he took his shot at the Prince and he did not miss but Balor got in the first shot. Kyle says he felt all hope escape his body when Balor kicked him, but it would not stop him. What makes a champion is someone who is willing to continue despite having no hope.
Kyle says you come upon an opponent that brings out the best i you. Triple H says this exemplifies what NXT is about. Finn is on his way to the hospital. The doctor says that he cannot believe what they went through but neither will be ready to wrestle. Finn has a broken jaw in two places and he will be out of action for a while. Finn says people asked if this title reign will be as good as the last one and they got their answer.
— We go to comments from Ridge Holland. He says he didn’t have a Mercedes last week, but he has one now. You can thank Adam Cole for that.
— We are back and Damian Priest is asked about his after party after beating Johnny Gargano. Damian says it was a good time. What I say is not empty words. I burned Johnny’s name into this title at Takeover. Who is next? If they want this, they can get a Reckoning.
Ridge Holland vs. Danny Burch
Burch with a wrist lock but Holland with a European uppercut and snap mare. Holland goes for a cross face but Burch blocks it and he works on the wrist. Holland with a forearm and Burch fires back. Burch with punches and a European uppercut. Burch with kicks in the corner. Holland with a forearm and he sends Burch into the corner. Burch with a forearm and a missile drop kick. Burch with a waist lock and forearm but Holland with an elbow to avoid a German suplex. Burch with a German suplex and clothesline for a near fall. Burch with a chin lock but Holland with a clothesline and Northern Grit for the three count.
Winner: Ridge Holland
After the match, Holland stands tall in the middle of the ring as his music hits. He stands over Burch and stares him down as the boos pick up. Holland puts his cap back on and kicks Burch to add insult. Holland goes to leave but Burch grabs him from behind. Holland beats Burch down and drops him in the corner with a headbutt. Oney Lorcan runs down to make the save but Holland is ready to fight. Lorcan sends Holland out of the ring. Lorcan goes to check on Burch but Holland comes back into the ring. Holland beats Lorcan down and gets the best of him now as the boos get louder. A group of referees run down to get Holland out of the ring. Lorcan recovers and yells out. Lorcan runs the ropes and leaps out with a big dive, taking Holland down. Holland fights back and sends Lorcan into the apron. They bring it back in the ring and Lorcan unloads. Holland fights back and levels Lorcan with a big clothesline. The referees finally get Holland out of the ring again. Lorcan launches himself out over the top rope, taking Holland back down on the floor. Burch is still laid out in the ring as a referee checks on him. Lorcan joins them and helps Burch up to end the segment. Holland may have blew his knee out on the last dive as the “X” symbol was thrown up.
— We go to Casa De Gargano and he is impressed with the new television. He wants Candice to see footage from a USB from Indi. Johnny points out all of the times that Indi saved her and Candice says she was a little busy in the match. Johnny says he always liked that girl. She has a bright future. Candice says she is starting to like her too.
We go to commercial.
— We are back with Thatch as Thatch Can and he says tonight’s lesson is a life session. You know that life will grind you down until you quit, but there are peaks and valleys. When the opportunity presents itself you have to strike first. You cannot let it slip through your fingers. Victory has to be at hand. That is not defined by the losses, it is defined by the everlasting pain that you inflict. Life is going to grind you down until you quit and that is what I am going to do. I’ll be damned if I am let it happen to me.
— We take a look at what happened to Ridge Holland when he went down on the pescado.
— We see Ridge Holland stretchered out of the building.
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Xia Li
Shotzi with a drop kick and splash followed by a bulldog. Shotzi with a forearm and Li blocks a forearm and she connects with punches. Li with chops. Li with knees to Shotzi followed by a back heel kick. Li iwth shoulders. Li puts Shotzi on the top turnbuckle and Li sets for a superplex but Shotzi blocks it. Shotzi sends Li to the mat and Shotzi with a back senton for the three count.
Winner: Shotzi Blackheart
After the match, Blackheart stands tall as her music hits. She poses in the corner and howls as Li sits up in the corner. Boa comes down to the ring and hands Li a piece of paper, apparently with Chinese writing on it. He talks to her and she looks surprised at the paper. Li rolls out of the ring and heads to the back as Boa follows.
We go to commercial.
Ember Moon and Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez
Moon and Dakota start things off and Moon with a boot to the head after a take down. Moon with a back senton for a near fall. Moon with a wrist lock and arm bar. Kai sends Moon to the mat and Gonzalez is tagged in. Gonzalez blocks a sunset flip and rana. Moon gets to her feet and hits a single leg drop kick and a second one that gets Raquel to her knees. Gonzalez with a splash into the corner and Kai tags in. Kai with a forearm to the back and a single leg take down for a near fall. Kai with a forearm and Moon fires back and Kai goes to the floor. Moon wiht a suicide dive.
Ripley with a splash onto Gonzalez. Ripley tags in and she gets Kai on her shoulders. Kai tags in Gonzalez and Ripley kicks Kai. Ripley grabs Kai on the floor and Gonzalez with a boot to Ripley that sends her to the floor. Raquel sends Rhea into the ringside barrier and then they return to the ring where Gonzalez gets a near fall. Gonzalez with a reverse chin lock. Rhea with punches but Gonzlaez sends Rhea to the mat. Kai tags in and Raquel with an Irish whip. Kai kicks Rhea and then tags Gonzalez back in. Raquel with a punch and Kai tags in. Kai with a kick and she makes a tag. Gonzalez with a splash for a near fall. Gonzalez gets Rhea on her shoulders for a back breaker.
Raquel turns it into a Gory Special. Rhea with an arm drag after escaping. Raquel stops Rhea from making the tag and she tosses Rhea across the ring. Rhea with a kick and Raquel stops Rhea from making the tag. Raquel with a Northern Lariat for a near fall. Kai tags in and gets a near fall. Rhea with an arm drag and Kai with a guillotine to stop Rhea from getting to the corner. Rhea tries to get to her corner but Kai stops her. Rhea sends Kai face first to the mat. Ripley kicks Kai and makes the tag to Moon.
Moon with a drop kick and back heel kick and kick to the head. Moon with forearms to Gonzalez and then he connects with a European uppercut to Kai and she tosses Kai into Raquel. Moon with a sliding flatliner and a Codebreaker to Kai for a near fall. Moon with an Irish whip but Gonzalez pulls Kai out of the corner to avoid a splash. Gonzalez tags in and Kai with a boot and Gonzalez with a power slam for a near fall. Moon with a round kick to the head and Ripley and Kai tag in. Rhea gets Kai on her shoulders and sends her face first to the mat for a near fall.
Ripley kicks Gonzalez and Kai with a kick to the knee and the KaiRoPractor for a near fall. Ripley with a back heel kick and she punches Gonzalez on the apron. Moon tags in and hits a clothesline for a near fall. Ripley stops Gonzalez from hitting a suplex on Moon. Ripley clotheslines Gonzalez over the top rope and then Kai stops Ripley. Moon with a power bomb and she goes up top and Gonzalez stops her. Kai kicks Ripley and Gonzalez over the announce table and Moon with Eclipse for the three count.
Winners: Rhea Ripley and Ember Moon
After the match, Moon stands tall as her music hits. Ripley joins her and their arms are raised as we go to replays. Ripley and Holland have a bit of friendly tension but they raise each other’s arms as the crowd cheers them on. NXT goes off the air.
