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 feature several matches and segments of interest, highlighting a one-on-one match between Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox.
Additionally, the quarterfinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will continue with two matches. On the other hand, Kelani Jordan and Wren Sinclair will sign the contract for their title match at NXT Halloween Havoc. As always, we invite you to comment on the article to give your opinion on what happened on the show.
WWE NXT starts on Netflix!
We see Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox arriving at the venue, who will headline tonight's event.
Tony D'Angelo is in charge of opening tonight's show. With a microphone in hand, Tony calls for Grayson Waller to address him face to face. The NXT Champion quickly responds to the call. Waller heads to the ring, where his Halloween Havoc opponent awaits. The Australian acknowledges that since his return to NXT, he always knew they would end up facing each other. Waller reminds the fans that he shares a history with Tony. Both signed with WWE at the same time, and even represented NXT 2.0 in WarGames. However, they have never faced each other one-on-one. Grayson also recalls his statements when he returned to the brand, specifically that one of his goals is to deal with some demons. Well, one of them is defeating Tony.
D'Angelo states that Waller has always resented him for being an athlete and not an independent wrestling scene fighter. When they both started their careers in NXT, nobody knew who they were. Now, however, they have become big stars. "But I never liked you," says D'Angelo. And it's because Grayson always cared more about viral moments than championships. "Now I care about both," the Australian replies. He acknowledges that he has always resented Tony. In fact, he still does, because D'Angelo was privileged. Grayson claims he had to guide Tony during his participation in WarGames because he was completely unaware of the match rules. Why should he do that for a talent that clearly wasn't at his level? "No matter how good I was in the ring. You were chosen. That made me feel resentful, and I'm glad I felt that way, because it made me more eager, made me stronger, and made me a champion", says the Australian.
D'Angelo describes the Australian as a hypocrite. Yes, maybe now he's a tougher guy and a bit more evil, but he's still the same man who hides behind a witty phrase or a meme on a sweatshirt, because he desperately needs attention. "You're a troll", says Tony. "That's called having personality. I think you left yours in the old hat you used to wear", Grayson replies. D'Angelo takes this comment as a clear example of what he just said. "That's not being a hypocrite. This is psychological warfare. The most amazing thing is that you haven't even realized that I mentally won this match months ago", says Waller before promising him that at Halloween Havoc he will drag him into deep waters.
Tony recalls the 2.0 era of NXT, where all the debut talents were dragged into deep waters. D'Angelo also recalls that WarGames was his third match. And still, he was able to help the team achieve victory. But none of that matters now. Tony points out that many of his peers from that time have become established superstars on the main WWE roster: Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, Carmelo Hayes, Solo Sikoa, etc. D'Angelo and Waller are two original talents from that time. Their paths may have been different, but now it all comes down to a one-on-one between them.
Waller acknowledges the leadership D'Angelo has shown in NXT, which includes winning all the male titles of the brand, and even defeating the unstoppable Oba Femi twice. Something not even Brock Lesnar has achieved. But none of that matters now, because Tony will never be able to defeat him to take away the championship. A title that means much more on his waist than any previous reign. Tony quickly interrupts to make it clear that he is perfectly capable of defeating him. "Do you want to solidify your legacy? Do you want to keep that title? At Halloween Havoc, I'm going to make you go through a real hell! Go get your swimsuit. I'm going to see if you can swim in deep waters when there's a shark around", says D'Angelo. Both men face off as the segment comes to an end.
We see a pre-recorded video before the show. Izzi Dame enters the women's locker room to pick up a box from Zaria's locker. Inside is the decoration she used a couple of weeks ago to bother the Australian. "I picked up the decorations. I had put a lot of effort into this," says Dame. Layla Diggs and Skylar Raye suggest to Izzi to leave Zaria alone. Layla believes Dame is provoking the Australian in order to get a shot at her championship. Izzi assures her that's not the case. Diggs hopes it's true, because that belt will be hers. And it's because Layla could never cash in her title opportunity due to an unfortunate injury. Izzi doesn't care at all about Diggs' plans, but hopes she doesn't interfere in her affairs. Layla asks what she's up to with the Australian. Dame believes it's very obvious: she will tear her apart piece by piece to show the world who she really is. "And if I have to get rid of distractions like you, I will," says Dame before leaving.
BirthRight (Lexis King, Arianna Grace, Uriah Connors, and Charlie Dempsey) carry out a promo in the venue's parking lot to address The Wagner Brothers. King points out that every match they have is a generational struggle. "Unfortunately for the AAA Tag Team Champions, it is our birthright to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic", adds Dempsey. The faction heads inside the venue to end this brief segment.
Chantel Monroe stars in a promotional video prior to her official arrival on the NXT roster. Monroe describes herself as "The Reflection of Perfection," ensuring that she attracts all eyes. "The NXT women's locker room better pay attention. When I step into the ring, it's not just a match, it's a whole experience," says Chantel to end this video.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic - Quarterfinals
The Wagner Brothers (El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno) vs. BirthRight (Charlie Dempsey and Lexis King) (with Arianna Grace and Uriah Connors)
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Dempsey start the fight. Both men test their strength through a series of locks, blocks, and counters. Charlie kicks El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., who ends up in his corner. Galeno and King receive the tag from their partners. Lexis delivers several chops to Galeno, but he remains unfazed. Galeno knocks down Lexis with a shoulder tackle. After that, he tags his brother. Both brothers combine perfectly against King.
Galeno crushes Lexis with a senton. King is thrown out of the ring. Dempsey tries to intervene, but is quickly thrown out of the ring. The Wagner Brothers try to dive onto their opponents, but Arianna gets in their way. Galeno argues with Grace. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. gains momentum on the ropes on the opposite side of the ring to jump over Galeno and Arianna, landing on the rest of the BirthRight members. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. brings Lexis back into the ring to continue the fight.
Dempsey and King join forces to surprise El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. The BirthRight members take turns attacking the masked wrestler. Lexis punishes his opponent with the help of the ropes, forcing the referee to intervene. Uriah takes advantage to illegally hit the Mexican. King continues to attack El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. Lexis hits Galeno in his own corner to provoke him. The referee must intervene once again to prevent Galeno from entering the ring. King takes El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. to his corner, where he and Charlie kick him illegally.
Dempsey traps El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. in a ground submission hold. The Mexican stretches one of his legs to touch one of the ropes, thus forcing his release. Charlie catches his rival in a headlock. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. manages to escape to start an exchange of punches with his opponent. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. knocks down Dempsey with a side slam. Both men are left lying on the mat. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Charlie head to their respective corners to tag their partners.
Galeno enters with everything, taking care of both opponents at the same time. Galeno crushes Lexis with an ultra-charged splash. 1..2..NO. Galeno brings his rival to his corner to tag his partner. Galeno assists El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. to apply a dropkick on Lexis. 1..2..NO. Charlie interrupts the count. Dempsey receives the tag without El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. noticing. Charlie tries to catch El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. in a submission hold, but Galeno prevents it, causing King's intervention.
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Charlie continue the fight. Lexis and Dempsey execute a combo superkick + Dragon Suplex on the Mexican. King covers him. 1..2..NO. Galeno interrupts the count. Charlie catches Galeno in a Guillotine Choke, but his opponent frees himself by executing a suplex. Both end up outside the ring. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. jumps with a frog splash on Lexis, but he receives it with his knees.
Suddenly, Zilla Fatu appears on the scene to hit Connors. Grace confronts the Samoan, who stares her down. Terrified, Arianna escapes into the ring, where King was trying to execute The Coronation on El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. Meanwhile, Galeno gets rid of Charlie at ringside. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. escapes Lexis's clutches to apply a Fallaway Slam. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. executes a Wagner Driver on King for Galeno to finish him off with a Diving Splash. 1..2..3.
Winners: The Wagner Brothers
Zilla enters the ring to expel Connors from it. After that, he hits Lexis, making him fall to ringside. Fatu prepares to execute a Triple Z on Dempsey, but he blocks it by hitting the Samoan's injured hand. Despite everything, Zilla manages to surprise him with a samoan drop. Fatu continues to threaten his enemies as the segment comes to an end.
Osiris Griffin and Cutler James watch a threatening message from Cruz Montana to Dion Lennox on a screen. Griffin and James believe their partner has gone a bit too far this time. Lennox assures them they don't have to worry. "Cruz is a different guy. You can't think small with him. In moments like this, there will be some casualties," says Dion. James doesn't understand what he means. Lennox points out that his promise still stands. He will take Montana back to the dark place he came from. For that, they must follow a plan. Lennox takes his partners away to inform them about it.
Kam Hendrix stars in a promotional video. In it, he describes himself as the most complete athlete in NXT. To prove it, he performs a series of exercises on a football field, such as catching three balls in a row without dropping them at any time or doing it without his vision. "I am the future. Lights, camera (Kam), Action," he says to end his promo.
Tavion Heights makes his entrance in the ring. Heights recalls what happened in the past few weeks with his former partner, and former best friend, Myles Borne. Tavion acknowledges that he made a mistake believing in Borne's words of remorse, as it only led to him being stabbed in the back again. And that's something that won't happen again. That said, he boasts about what happened in last week's main event. A match he could watch from the front row while Myles showed the world he's not who he thinks he is. "I am exactly who I claim to be. And the most amazing thing is that I haven't given you any trouble yet, Myles, you damn traitorous bastard!", exclaims Tavion. Suddenly, Borne bursts into the ring to attack Heights from behind. Both men start a fight that moves outside the venue. Several officials and security members must intervene to separate them.
The Vanity Project head to Robert Stone's office when they run into Chantel Monroe. She asks them if they saw her promotional video. Ricky Smokes replies that he enjoyed it... personally. Myka Lockwood suggests to her partner not to get distracted. That said, she reminds the rest that they have matters to attend to with the General Manager. The faction arrives at Stone's office, where he is on the phone. "I hate you so much... so much, Stone," says Smokes after missing his chance to flirt with Monroe. Robert informs them that the match they agreed upon last week with Chazz "Starboy" Hall, EK Prosper, and Mini Vikingo has been canceled because the latter doesn't have medical clearance. Smokes and Brad Baylor celebrate the news, as they can now focus on their semifinal match in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Jackson Drake, on the other hand, will use the opportunity to debut his new glasses. Stone, however, has other plans for him, as next week he will defend the North American Championship against EK Prosper. With this unexpected announcement for the faction, we reach the end of the segment.
Izzi Dame vs. Layla Diggs
Izzi traps Diggs in a headlock. Layla frees herself, only to be knocked down with a shoulder tackle. Both women struggle. Izzi throws Diggs against one of the corners before applying a powerslam. Layla catches Dame in a wristlock. Izzi frees herself but falls back into her opponent's clutches. Dame surprises Diggs with a big boot.
Izzi charges at Layla. She dodges, causing her rival to fall to ringside. Diggs tries to dive onto Izzi, but she stops her with a right hand. Diggs shows off her agility by leaping onto her opponent with an improvised standing moonsault. Layla brings Dame back into the ring to knock her down with a beautifully executed bodyslam. After that, she finishes her off with another standing moonsault. 1..2..NO. Dame throws Diggs against one of the corners to regain control.
Izzi executes a backbreaker on Layla before throwing her against one of the corners. Dame performs a clothesline on her opponent. 1..2..NO. Diggs tries to counterattack, but Izzi doesn't allow it. Dame catches Layla in a submission hold. Diggs throws several punches to free herself. Layla uses her agility to dodge an attack from Dame and immediately respond with a Pelee Kick. Diggs continues her assault on Izzi, delivering a flurry of kicks.
Layla executes a running knee strike on Dame in one of the corners before following up with a faceplant. Diggs finishes her off with a frog splash. 1..2..NO. Layla seeks height once again, but this time Izzi makes her fall. Subsequently, Dame surprises her opponent with a crucifix slam. 1..2..NO. Izzi and Diggs exchange punches. Dame surprises Layla with a neckbreaker before finishing her with a spinning faceplant. 1..2..NO.
Izzi dodges a spinning kick from Diggs before responding with a big boot. Dame climbs to the top of one of the turnbuckles to launch herself at her opponent, but this time Izzi stops her with a spinning kick. Layla now heads to the top of the turnbuckle to execute a moonsault. However, Izzi dodges it and responds with a devastating running knee strike. 1..2..3.
Winner: Izzi Dame
Zaria appears on the scene to interrupt Izzi's celebration. With a microphone in hand, the Australian makes it clear that she has had enough of this storyline. She doesn't know what Dame is trying to accomplish by bringing her past to light, but if her goal is to earn a title opportunity, all she had to do was ask. With that said, Zaria offers to put the NXT Women's North American Championship on the line at Halloween Havoc. In return, all she asks is that Izzi put an end to her mind games once and for all. Izzi snatches the microphone from the champion. "I'd gladly accept that match, Zaria, but don't bother putting that little title on the line. I'll see you at Halloween Havoc, princess," Dame says before leaving the ring. Izzi heads up the entrance ramp as Zaria watches in surprise.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic - Quarterfinals
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs. The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed)
Ledger and Julius start the match. Both men grapple in the center of the ring. Julius catches his opponent off guard with a clothesline to the back of the neck, giving his team the advantage. The Creed Brothers work together against Tank. He manages to escape his opponents and tag in Walker. Ledger and Hank take turns striking Brutus. Brutus throws Walker into one of the turnbuckles before hitting him with a double underhook facebuster. 1..2..NO. Furious, Brutus continues raining punches down on his opponent as he lies on the mat.
Hank manages to reach his corner and tag in Ledger. However, Ledger soon falls prey to his opponents. Hank tags back in and takes Julius down with a shoulder tackle. Julius recovers and takes Hank down to the mat. He then tags in Brutus. The brothers team up against Walker. Brutus hits a knee drop on Hank. 1..2..NO. Walker takes Brutus down and tags in Ledger, who storms into the match.
Tank climbs to the top of one of the turnbuckles, but Julius knocks him down. The Creed Brothers regain control of the match. Julius hits a gutbuster on Ledger before trapping him in a submission hold. Tank breaks free, only to be sent crashing out of the ring by a dropkick from Julius. Julius brings his opponent back into the ring and continues the assault. Ledger dodges a clothesline from Julius and tags in Walker, who comes in firing on all cylinders.
Hank unleashes a powerful offensive against both opponents, inside and outside the ring. After taking Brutus down next to the steel steps, Walker returns to the ring and hits a Black Hole Slam on Julius. Hank and Tank prepare to crush Julius in the center of the ring. Brutus intervenes, pulling Walker out of the ring. Ledger quickly rushes to his partner's aid. Both men take Brutus out, leaving him out of the equation. Walker and Ledger return to the ring and hit their combined finisher on Julius. Tank goes for the cover. 1..2..3.
Winners: Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
The entire BirthRight faction expresses its frustration to Robert Stone following their elimination from the tournament, which they consider unfair. The General Manager reminds them that all four male members of the faction have lost their matches, so there is nothing he can do about it. Charlie Dempsey then requests a match against Zilla Fatu. Stone can't help them with that either, as the Samoan has not been medically cleared. Annoyed, Dempsey points out that Fatu seems healthy enough to interfere in their matches. Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey walk past them. "Charles, you don't deserve anything. Robert, you're doing a great job," Sinclair says before continuing on her way. Wren is excited about the contract signing for her match at Halloween Havoc. Grey, meanwhile, wants all the attention to be on her partner, so she will stay backstage. Chantel Monroe approaches them and asks if they've seen her promotional video. Grey and Sinclair say they have. "It was something..." Wren says, unsure how to finish the sentence. "Yes, it certainly was," a pleased Monroe adds before walking away. Once they're alone again, Kendal wishes Sinclair good luck before saying goodbye.
Wren Sinclair makes her way to the ring. Wren brings with her the contract for her title match at Halloween Havoc, where she will have the opportunity to win the brand's top championship. Sinclair acknowledges that Kelani Jordan is "The Standard" of NXT, but that won't stop her from defeating her on October 31. With that said, she asks Jordan to come out and sign the contract.
Kelani Jordan appears on the entrance ramp. The NXT Women's Champion has a steel chair tucked under her arm. "I wanted to congratulate you on getting exactly what you wanted: an opportunity at the NXT Women's Championship. But before I sign the contract, I have a gift for you for being the number one contender. It's my best work yet," Jordan says before heading toward the Gorilla Position. Kelani returns, dragging a battered Kendal Grey behind her. Sinclair rushes to help her friend, giving the NXT Women's Champion the opportunity to retreat backstage.
Zilla Fatu speaks with Robert Stone in the General Manager's office. Zilla points out that what happened with BirthRight tonight is just a preview of what's in store for them. Stone informs him that Charlie Dempsey wants to face him in a singles match, but he doesn't know how his hand is doing. Fatu shows him the bandage. Even so, he has no problem facing Dempsey. The Samoan proposes that the General Manager bring back the Halloween Havoc spin-the-wheel gimmick and let fate decide the stipulation for his match against Charlie. With that said, Fatu leaves the office, bringing the segment to an end.
Sean Legacy talks with Romeo Moreno, Noam Dar, EK Prosper and Chazz "Starboy" Hall in the men's locker room. EK Prosper asks Legacy about Dorian Van Dux. Sean explains that his partner is still recovering from his injury and has another couple of months before he can return. Dar is confident that he will come back in great shape. Romeo, meanwhile, is convinced that EK Prosper will win the North American Championship next week. At that moment, something catches their attention. It's Saquon Shugars, who is watching his match from last week, in which he was defeated by Tristan Angels. Legacy advises him to move on from the loss. Saquon points out that he didn't ask for his opinion. Sean assures him that he was only trying to help. Annoyed, Legacy says that Shugars doesn't have everything under control, no matter how much he thinks he does, and his results prove it. Sean considers Shugars a great talent, but believes he is building his own glass ceilings that are preventing him from moving up. EK Prosper joins the conversation and sides with Legacy. Shugars, however, has nothing to discuss with a man who has already had two title opportunities. Shugars turns back to Legacy. "Look, Sean. Worry about yourself, brother. If you keep talking to me like that, they'll assign you a handicapped parking spot right next to your buddy's," Saquon says before walking away.
We see Emily Agard waiting outside the men's locker room for Cruz Montana, hoping to get a few comments from him ahead of his match tonight. At that moment, Cutler James and Osiris Griffin appear and invite Agard to join them inside the locker room. Once inside, James and Osiris bring up Montana's mother. Furious, the Puerto Rican wastes no time charging at them and delivering a brief beatdown. Several locker room members have to intervene to stop the attack. Harlem Lewis and Elijah Holyfield restrain a furious Cruz, who continues hurling insults at the DarkState members who provoked him.
Naraku addresses Shiloh Hill in a video message. "Shiloh, you refused to heed my warnings. Two weeks ago, you escaped the wrath of my mist, but you won't be able to hide from what's coming. But what shade of pain will I inflict upon you? Red burns your skin like a scorching sun. Green clouds your vision until everything becomes a blurry haze. Orange seeps into your mind with visions that will haunt you. Blue drains your strength until you're too weak to move. But there is another, even more dangerous color. Your scientific experiments won't prepare you this time. You're curious and stubborn, Shiloh, but when I unleash the black mist, this will all be over once and for all. At Halloween Havoc, darkness will fall," the Japanese wrestler says.
Shiloh Hill and Lizzy Rain talk backstage after watching Naraku's video. Rain congratulates her partner on his first appearance at Halloween Havoc. Shiloh is excited about it, but also worried, as he only has 10 days to research the black mist his opponent mentioned. Chantel Monroe appears and asks if they've seen her promotional video. Hill decides to head to his lab to begin his research. "Good luck with that," he tells Lizzy, gesturing toward Monroe. "Maybe he should look in the mirror himself, if only just once," Chantel says. Rain asks Monroe why she has spent the last two hours bothering everyone on the NXT roster. Chantel ignores the British woman's question and introduces herself formally. "I know exactly who you are, darling. How about you find out who I am next week?" Rain asks before walking away.
Dion Lennox vs. Cruz Montana
Dion launches his attack the moment Montana sets foot in the ring. Both men trade blows. Lennox hits a side slam on the Puerto Rican. 1..2..NO. Dion catches Cruz off guard with a spinebuster. 1..2..NO. Montana throws Lennox into one of the turnbuckles and delivers a loud chop. Cruz repeats the move in the opposite corner. Dion tries to fight back but ends up being taken down to the mat. Cruz crushes him with a senton.
Montana hits a devastating corner cannonball on Lennox before finishing him off with a sit-out powerbomb. 1..2..NO. Dion seeks refuge at ringside. Montana follows him, only to be thrown into the steel steps. Lennox pulls up one of the ringside mats, exposing part of the floor. He then hoists Cruz onto his shoulder, preparing to hit a powerslam. However, Montana escapes his grasp and sends him crashing into the nearby ring post.
The action returns to the ring, where Dion regains control. Lennox uses the ropes to punish Cruz, forcing the referee to intervene. Montana charges at Dion. Lennox dodges, but his opponent quickly reacts by launching himself into a springboard crossbody. Lennox takes Cruz down before hitting a splash. Dion traps Montana in a headlock. Montana tries to break free, only to be taken down again. Cruz finally escapes Dion's grasp and delivers a superkick. Both men are left lying on the mat.
Cruz unleashes a rapid offensive against Lennox, catching him with a rolling cutter. 1..2..NO. Dion escapes his opponent's grasp and takes him down with a clothesline. He then uses the ropes to finish him off with a sit-out powerbomb. 1..2..NO. Lennox takes Cruz toward one of the turnbuckles. "Your mother was a drug dealer, Cruz. She thinks you're a failure. But you know what? The worst part is that your daughter, Arianna, doesn't know her father is a bitch!" Lennox exclaims. Furious, Cruz strikes Dion. The action spills outside the ring. The referee begins the 10-count. Montana charges at his opponent, smashing through the barricade in the process. Meanwhile, the referee's count reaches 10.
Result: Double disqualification
Montana continues beating down Lennox. The referee tries to stop him, but to no avail. Several security guards rush to the scene to separate the Puerto Rican from his opponent. Meanwhile, Osiris Griffin and Cutler James help Dion to his feet and escort him backstage. Cruz breaks free from the guards restraining him and attacks DarkState from behind.
Montana takes Lennox to the exposed ringside floor and hits a powerslam. His opponent's back slams into the floor. Lennox writhes in pain. Cruz then delivers a Curb Stomp. Still unsatisfied, Montana uses the top section of the steel steps to crush Lennox, but James throws himself onto his teammate to take the impact instead.
More officials arrive to restrain Cruz. However, he takes them all out. Dion crawls toward the steel steps. Montana begins moving toward him, but two police officers suddenly appear and tackle him to the ground before handcuffing him. "What?" a stunned Cruz asks as he is held down. In the background, we see Dion smiling as he watches the scene unfold. And with that, this week's episode of NXT comes to an end.
ES
US
