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Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
The CW and Netflix will air a new episode of WWE NXT tonight, with Vic Joseph and Booker T at the commentary table, live from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The show will serve as a prelude to "Invasion," the special event that will pit NXT against TNA next Tuesday, and will feature several matches and segments of interest, including the selection of talents that will participate in said special event.
Additionally, Ricky Saints will make his first appearance as the new NXT Champion. On the other hand, Lash Legend and Jaida Parker will try to resolve their issues in a rematch. As always, we invite you to comment on the article to give your opinion on what happened on the show.
WWE NXT begins on Netflix!
The show starts with a video recap of the last episode of NXT, which ended with the TNA invasion. After that, we see a video recap of NXT No Mercy.
Ricky Saints is the one to open the show. "The Absolute" heads to the ring with the NXT Championship in his hands. Once in the ring, Ricky poses with the belt before asking for a microphone. "You deserve it!" chant the fans. Saints thanks them for that. Ricky recalls his victory over Oba Femi at No Mercy, as well as the promise he made when he arrived at NXT: that he would compete in the main event of each brand's PLE event and win the top title. And now he's here with the championship in his hand. And that is a reality. The fans applaud. Saints acknowledges that it hasn't been an easy road. Everyone, even himself, wondered if he could do it. "So I ask all of you, did I do it?! Did we do it!?" exclaims Ricky. He points out that he is always ready for business. That's why he always bets on himself. He bet everything on Ricky Saints at No Mercy and won. "This right here is the absolute proof that the only person you should worry about is yourself. The only person you should always work for is yourself, because there is only one person you always have to see when you go to sleep, and that's yourself!", exclaims "The Absolute" as he points to the NXT Championship.
Jacy Jayne interrupts the segment.
Jayne congratulates Ricky on his victory. However, as happy as she is for him, the truth is that they now have something more important on their hands. The fans boo the NXT Women's Champion. Jacy advises Saints to ignore them before reminding him that TNA threatens to take control of NXT... even though the WWE brand has two of the company's championships in its possession. "I mean, if I were them, I'd be pretty mad too," Jayne says mockingly. Jacy is about to continue her speech, but...
Ava appears on the scene.
The NXT General Manager heads to the ring. For once, Ava agrees with Jacy. Both champions have more important things to deal with, because she has decided that they will be the captains of the NXT teams, and that they will personally choose the rest of the members. A complex task for which they will have to set aside their pride and differences with other talents to form the best possible teams.
Santino Marella interrupts on the entrance ramp.
"Santino, Santino!" chant the fans. The TNA Authority Director thanks them for the reception before addressing Ava. Marella believes that his counterpart has had a great idea, so he will do the same. He will name two captains and they will choose their teammates. However, he will leave Trick Williams aside, as he has no trust at all in his World Champion. That's why he has chosen another man: Mike Santana, who makes his entrance. The fans greet him with "boricua" chants. Santino takes the floor to indicate that there is someone in NXT he does trust. And that is Kelani Jordan, the new Knockouts World Champion, who will captain the TNA women's team. Jordan makes her entrance. Jacy extends her arms, surprised by her dressing room partner's "betrayal."
Ava, Marella, and their captains stand face to face in the ring. Ava hopes the teams will be formed by the end of the night. Marella wants to clarify something. "Let me say one thing. This is not an invasion. We have been working wonderfully together for months. This is more like a showcase for NXT and TNA. No, no, no, no... More like a showdown. A showdown between NXT and TNA", says the Authority Director. Jacy interrupts to ask him to resolve a doubt. Marella has Trick Williams as World Champion, but he doesn't include him in his team. However, he names Kelani as captain, who has been in NXT for years and has also won the Knockouts World Title! "ten seconds ago." "Please, tell me how this can make sense. It's ridiculous!" exclaims Jayne. Saints interrupts his partner. "Jacy, Jacy, wait. We don't need to worry about them. We have to focus on our teams," says "The Absolute" before turning to Mike. "Santana, buddy, I'll see you at the end of the night," says Saints. And so we reach the end of the first segment of the program.
Je'Von Evans meets Leon Slater backstage. They praise each other before their title match at Bound For Glory, where they could make history as the youngest competitors in a Dream Match. Shawn Spears and Niko Vance approach them. The members of The Culling don't understand why Evans is fraternizing with the enemy. Je'Von points out that Leon is not his enemy. They will face each other at Bound For Glory to see who is the best. And if next week they must be on opposite teams, so be it. "If you're the best, why don't you prove it tonight against us?" Vance asks. Je'Von and Leon accept the challenge. After that, they leave in search of Ava and Santino Marella to request the match to be scheduled. Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley join their teammates, at which point Lyra Valkyria appears. Tatum is happy to see her. Lyra gives her friend a doll dressed like the Irishwoman. Paxley drops the doll she was holding to take Valkyria's. "I love it!" exclaims Tatum as she hugs Lyra. Dame soon separates them to take Paxley with her. The entire Culling leaves the place, leaving Valkyria behind.
Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker
Lash runs to the ring to launch an attack. Legend applies several corner spears on Jaida before knocking her down with a European uppercut. Lash applies a Stalling Suplex. 1...2...NO. Parker tries to recover, but her rival prevents it. The action moves to ringside. Jaida surprises Legend with a direct throat attack before executing a Samoan drop. Her opponent's back hits the ground.
Parker takes Lash back into the ring. Once there, she focuses her punishment on her opponent's damaged back. Jaida hits Lash's head against one of the turnbuckles. Parker continues with several corner spears, forcing the referee to intervene. Lash surprises Jaida from the apron area before throwing her against one of the posts.
Lash knocks down Parker with a clothesline. After that, she pounces on her to hit her head against the canvas repeatedly. Legend throws her rival against one of the turnbuckles before executing another clothesline. 1..2..NO. Jaida tries to recover, but ends up receiving a backbreaker. Lash traps Jaida in a submission hold. Parker frees herself to surprise her opponent with a sunset flip. 1..2..NO.
Lash traps Parker in a Half Crab. Jaida crawls to the ropes to free herself. Parker dodges a splash to respond with a spinning neckbreaker. Jaida continues her offensive to apply another spinning neckbreaker. 1..2..NO. Parker gains momentum, but Legend grabs her swimsuit to stop her, preventing her from executing her finisher.
Jaida immobilizes Lash in one of the corners to execute The Silencer. Parker celebrates with the fans, a moment that Lash takes advantage of to surprise her with a big boot. Parker falls to ringside. Legend goes after her to throw her against the metal stairs and the audience barrier. After that, he takes her back into the ring, ready to execute her Lash Extension, but Jaida escapes his clutches to push her against the ropes. Legend hits the second rope. Parker executes the Hipnotic to end the fight. 1..2..3.
Winner: Jaida Parker
We see Ricky Saints gathered with part of the male roster in the locker room. Je'Von Evans appears on the scene to greet "The Absolute" and congratulate him on his title victory at No Mercy. They are soon interrupted by Trick Williams, who proclaims himself the "co-captain" of the NXT team. Saints doesn't care, but if Williams wants to be on his team, he has to accept that Je'Von will also be there. Ricky proposes Myles Borne as the fourth member of the team. However, Williams disagrees. Trick believes they need someone stronger, like Jasper Troy or Josh Briggs. Evans doesn't agree to fight alongside Briggs. Je'Von, Josh, and Trick start arguing. Saints tells them to be quiet before reminding Evans that he is the team captain. Additionally, they must set aside their differences for the upcoming battle. On the other hand, Trick is right. As much as he can't stand it, the truth is that Briggs is a good candidate for the team. Upset, Je'Von leaves. Trick shouts at him, asking him to come back. Saints points out that he will deal with Evans later. Williams suggests that Briggs and Borne face off one-on-one later that night. The winner will get the last spot on the NXT team. "Yes, yes. I like that," says Saints. And so we reach the end of this segment.
Ethan Page makes his entrance. "All Ego" is proud to have overcome a new threat, this time of Olympic level, to make clear the difference between a mere Olympic athlete and the greatest North American athlete to ever step into a WWE ring. However, it seems that now he will have to attend to his affairs on the other side of the border. While the conflict between TNA and NXT takes all the focus, he has to deal with a "medical professional," El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., who is after his NXT North American Championship. Page mocks the Mexican, pointing out that he is not even a real doctor. His only doctorate is in annoying him, and he's doing a great job. Suddenly, we see a car arriving at the venue. A man gets out, but we don't see his face. Ethan assumes it's the Mexican. "It's perfect. You said you'd see me soon, Wagner. Tonight is the perfect opportunity. Come out here and let's end this!", exclaims "All Ego".
Mustafa Ali appears on the scene
"Welcome back!" chant the fans. Ali steps into the ring to address Ethan. "Mr. Page, listen good man. I have no problems with anything you've said, but I do have problems with that", he says while pointing to the NXT North American Championship. Ethan also has no problems with Mustafa, although he can't rule out that he's not El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. So, if he has nothing to say, he also has nothing to talk about with him, nor does he owe him anything. Mustafa agrees with that. Page doesn't owe him anything, but NXT does. Ali recalls that today, exactly two years ago, at No Mercy, he had a match scheduled for the North American Championship. His dream was right there, on the horizon, but it never came true. And that led him to think he was cursed. "Instead of a title shot, I got a phone call. A phone call to tell me my services were no longer needed. And here we are. 749 days later and I'm still waiting for the title shot I EARNED!", exclaims Ali. "Mustafa, Mustafa!" chant the fans.
Page mocks Ali, asking if now comes the part where he cries while telling his sad story. However, he should find someone who wants to listen to him, because he won't. "Mr. Page, I don't know what kind of man you think I am. Do you think I would enter this ring to cry for a title shot? No. I'm not going to cry for a title shot. I'll politic to get it", replies Mustafa before informing Ethan that he has already spoken with Ava and Santino Marella, who have granted him his opportunity at NXT Showdown. "Next week I'll be able to end the curse because Ethan Page will defend the North American Championship against Mustafa Ali", he says. "You know what? I shouldn't be surprised. I shouldn't be surprised that wrestlers from all over the world, from every company, come after me. You say you're cursed? Every challenger for my North American Championship is, mate. This is a great story. A triumphant return after several years, trying to reclaim not what you could. Next Tuesday you'll be disappointed. But don't worry. I won't call you on the phone to say goodbye. What I'll do is wish you the best for your future projects," says "All Ego". Furious, Mustafa attacks Page. He tries to use the championship as a weapon, but Ali dodges it to respond with a dropkick. Ethan ends up at ringside. The title remains on the apron. Page and Mustafa go after it, but it's the former who reaches it first. A pained "All Ego" raises the title on the entrance ramp while Ali poses in one of the corners. And so we reach the end of this segment.
Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley make their entrance in the women's locker room. Jayne informs her teammates that Ava has named her captain of the NXT team. That said, she announces that Jaida Parker has earned her spot after her victory over Lash Legend earlier tonight. Jacy addresses Sol Ruca, who not only successfully defended her WWE Speed Championship at No Mercy but also remains a double champion. And although she doesn't like her, she needs her on her team. Ruca accepts. Lola Vice steps forward to apply as the fourth woman on the team, assuring Jacy that she won't find anyone stronger than her. Additionally, she is willing to set aside her differences to help her win next week. Fallon advises her to save the speech, as the last spot is hers. Lainey Reid appears on the scene, indicating to Jayne that she shouldn't trust Vice. "Lainey, I've warned you twice. There won't be a third," says Lola. All the women in the locker room start arguing. Jacy orders them to be quiet, reminding them that she is the captain. That said, she proposes that Henley and Vice face off one-on-one later that night. The winner will be part of the team. Jacy and Fallon leave the locker room. Meanwhile, Zaria asks Sol to accompany her for a private conversation.
The Hardy Boys carry out a video promo to address DarkState, their opponents for next week. Matt Hardy reminds them that at NXT Showdown, only two of them can be in the ring, so the match will be fair. And when it comes to clean and fair fights, there is no better team than The Hardys. "We have the mission to cement our legacy as the greatest of all time. The GOAT tag team. We need to do it by winning the only WWE tag team championships we have never conquered: the NXT Tag Team Championships", says Matt before promising that next week they will "delete" DarkState.
Myles Borne vs. Josh Briggs
Briggs quickly knocks Myles down. Meanwhile, the fans urge him to leave. "Stay, Myles! Briggs, get out of here!" they chant. Borne catches Josh in a headlock. Briggs soon escapes only to receive a side suplex. Myles finishes off his opponent with a sliding forearm. Briggs ends up ringside, where he takes a beautifully executed dive. The action returns inside the ring, where Myles launches himself with a diving crossbody. 1..2..NO.
Briggs recovers and throws Borne into one of the corners. Josh kicks his rival in the corner, forcing the referee to intervene. The fans continue chanting "Stay, Myles. Briggs, go away", enraging Josh, who keeps punishing Borne in one of the corners. Myles tries to recover, but Briggs surprises him with a chokeslam. 1..2..NO.
Josh confronts the fans before knocking Myles out with a right hand. Briggs keeps hitting his opponent until he is surprised by a neckbreaker. 1..2..NO. Myles traps Josh in a wristlock. "Come on, Myles!" the fans chant. Josh frees himself, only to be knocked down with an armdrag. Myles catches Briggs again in a wristlock. Josh breaks free to execute a slam, followed by a splash. 1..2..NO.
Briggs traps Myles in a headlock. Borne throws several elbows to break free. Myles strikes Briggs with an enzuigiri before climbing to one of the corners. Briggs dodges Myles to counter with two consecutive spinning backbreakers. 1..2..NO. Josh can’t believe it. Myles dodges an elbow drop and counters with a clothesline, followed by a scoop powerslam. 1..2..NO.
Briggs recovers, only to receive a side suplex. Myles follows with a codebreaker, but Briggs responds with a Big Boot. Briggs removes the chain from his neck, ready to use it against his rival. Suddenly, Matt Cardona appears out of nowhere to prevent Josh from using it. The referee notices this and snatches the chain from Briggs. Myles takes advantage of the distraction to strike him with a dropkick before delivering a decisive ZigZag. 1..2..3.
Winner: Myles Borne
Cardona mocks Josh from the stands while Myles celebrates on the entrance ramp.
Jordynne Grace talks with Kelani Jordan backstage. Grace hopes Jordan will carry the Knockouts World Championship with pride! Kelani promises she will. “The Juggernaut” confesses she doesn’t trust Jacy Jayne, and would like to be on Jordan’s team. Jordan, however, can’t include her, since no one in NXT or TNA fully trusts either her or Joe Hendry, as they don’t know which brand they are loyal to.
Say his name and he’ll appear…
Joe Hendry appears after being mentioned. The Scotsman understands Kelani’s point of view but assures her that both he and Jordynne… Mike Santana appears, interrupting Hendry. Santana points out that both Joe and Jordynne seem to have one foot in NXT and the other in TNA. That’s why he’s not willing to risk it heading into Showdown. Santana asks Jordan if she has picked her team members yet. Kelani says she’s almost done. Mike asks her to accompany him to introduce her to some people. “Who?” asks Jordan. “Everyone,” Mike replies. They walk off together. Joe and Jordynne believe that, at least, one of them should be chosen to participate in the Survivor Series matches. And thus we reach the end of this segment.
Lola Vice vs. Fallon Henley (with Jacy Jayne)
Lola and Fallon grapple, taking the fight to the mat. Henley takes Vice down and then kicks her head. Lola answers with a tremendous kick. Vice keeps kicking her opponent on the ropes. A back elbow finishes with Fallon lying on the canvas. Jacy attempts to distract Lola, but she remains alert to avoid a surprise attack from Henley.
Fallon takes control, using the ropes to her advantage. Henley pins Vice on them before delivering a sliding German suplex. Fallon throws Lola into a corner before hitting a flying facebuster. 1..2..NO. Vice counters with several kicks. Lola continues with a suplex, followed by a Saito suplex.
Another flurry of kicks ends with Fallon ringside. Lola attempts to follow, but Henley surprises her by moving the ring skirt. Vice falls backward onto the apron. Fallon brings Lola back into the ring, where her opponent surprises her with an unstoppable spinning back fist. 1..2..3.
Winner: Lola Vice
DarkState sends a message to The Hardy Boys ahead of their “title vs title” match next week. The faction acknowledges that anyone would be honored to share the ring with the legends, but that doesn’t apply to them. DarkState's mission is to strike hard at anyone who stands in their way, and The Hardys are no exception. At NXT Showdown they will finish off the legends, because when DarkState attacks, no one is safe.
Jacy Jayne talks with a sore Fallon Henley backstage. Jayne apologizes, saying she shouldn’t have forced her to wrestle Lola Vice. Lainey Reid appears. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself,” Reid says. An annoyed Henley doesn’t understand what Reid wants from them, especially since she doesn’t yet have medical clearance. “I would do anything you need. I didn’t have medical clearance but nothing stopped me Saturday,” Reid answers before handing a balaclava to Jacy. “Was it you?” asks a surprised Jayne. “Yes,” Reid confirms she was the woman who attacked Lola Vice at No Mercy. “Oh, and as for Jazmyn Nyx, that was a gift. She was never part of Fatal Influence,” she adds before walking away. Jacy and Fallon look at each other in silence, still shocked by Reid’s revelation.
Tag Team Match
The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) (with Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame) vs. Je'Von Evans & Leon Slater
Leon and Spears begin the match. Slater traps Shawn in a headlock. Spears frees himself only to receive a dropkick. Slater unleashes a barrage of punches on his opponent in one of the corners. Leon knocks Shawn down with a spinning kick. Vance receives the tag. Niko tries to surprise Leon with a running powerslam, but TNA talent frees himself to knock him down with a dropkick. After that, he tags in Je'Von.
Evans and Slater team up on Niko. Meanwhile, we see Tatum sitting on the metal steps playing with Lyra Valkyria’s doll. This angers Izzi, who orders her to pay attention. However, Paxley heads to the commentary table to continue playing. Meanwhile, Shawn takes down Je'Von with a spinebuster. Back to ringside to see Dame losing patience with Tatum. Izzi snatches the doll from her and forces her to return backstage with her. The fans boo Dame.
Meanwhile, Je'Von and Leon clear their opponents from the ring before launching both with a dive in parallel. Action returns inside the ring. Shawn and Leon trade chops. Spears throws Slater over his head. The TNA talent hits his head on the metal steps. Vance receives the tag. Niko goes after Leon to stomp on his head. Vance brings him back inside the ring, where he hits him with a slam. 1..2..NO. Shawn gets the tag to continue punishing Slater.
Leon blocks a kick from Spears to respond with a body drop. Vance gets the tag to keep attacking Leon. Niko traps his rival in a Full Nelson. Leon frees himself with a Stunner, but Shawn gets the tag and slams him, preventing him from reaching his corner. Slater uses his kicks to escape his rivals and tags in Evans.
Je'Von handles both his opponents at once. Evans eliminates Shawn with a springboard enzuigiri before executing a frog splash on Vance. 1..2..NO. The action continues. Niko surprises Je'Von in one of the corners to deliver an Alabama Slam. 1..2..NO. Evans escapes his opponents to tag in Slater, who launches himself at Shawn and Vance over one of the corners.
Slater knocks down Spears with a spinning slam. 1..2..NO. Vance interrupts the count. The match descends into chaos. Je'Von drops Vance with a running knee strike. Shawn delivers a superkick to Evans. Slater dives on Spears, but he hits him with a knee. Evans attempts a double springboard Cutter on his opponents, but they block him. Now Leon tries, and succeeds! Je'Von finishes them with another double springboard cutter. Vance ends up ringside, taking a dive from Evans. Meanwhile, Slater finishes off Spears with a Swanton 450. 1..2..3.
Winners: Je'Von Evans & Leon Slater
Evans and Slater are celebrating in the center of the ring when something catches their attention. We see the arena screen, where a large part of the TNA roster is arriving in the parking lot. Santino Marella tries to calm them down, but there’s little he can do. The NXT talent, led by their two captains, soon appears, leading to a tense face-off with the TNA stars. Eventually, both groups are separated and enter the arena through different doors.
Accompanied by Ava, Ricky Saints leads his team toward the ring. Meanwhile, the TNA talent makes their entrance through the crowd. The talent from both companies surrounds the ring. Inside are the team captains, Ava, and Marella. The tension at ringside keeps rising as each brand's roster takes position.
Ava takes the mic to remind everyone that NXT Showdown will be a historic event. After running through the card, Ava asks Trick Williams and Ricky Saints to name their teammates. Trick tries to speak, but Saints interrupts him. "You might be the TNA World Champion, but Team NXT is Absolute. I'm the captain and you're riding shotgun," Ricky declares before announcing his team members:
Team NXT – Men
Next up is Mike Santana, who says many of his teammates would love to turn this place upside down. But he can only bring three of them to war, and they are...
Team TNA – Men
Jacy Jayne is next to speak. But before doing so, she has a message for Kelani Jordan. "When I was Knockouts World Champion, I still represented NXT. So you can stand there pretending to be all innocent, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re nothing but a two-time traitor," says Jayne. She then announces her team:
Team NXT – Women
Finally, it's Kelani Jordan's turn. "Jacy, you can believe whatever you want, but I accepted every responsibility when I became Knockouts World Champion – even if that means going against NXT, and especially if it means I get the chance to shut you up," Kelani says before announcing her team.
Team TNA – Women
Mike Santana grabs the mic once more. "Let me be completely honest with you for a second. Next Tuesday, we’re going to take over the night, and TNA is going to win Showdown just like I’m walking out of Bound For Glory with that title and bringing it home!" Mike declares in front of Trick Williams before landing a right hand on him. The attack sparks a new all-out brawl between brands. Shawn Michaels appears at the entrance ramp, smiling as he watches the chaos unfold within his brand.
