Welcome to WrestlePurists’ Coverage of the October 3rd Episode of WWE NXT
The show kicks off with a No Mercy recap package. We then get Becky Lynch heading to the ring.
Becky Lynch In Ring Promo
Becky says she isn’t medically cleared to compete but neither is Tiffany Stratton. She said Stratton gave her everything she had. She says she wants to elevate the NXT Women’s Championship to heights that it’s never been.
Out comes Lyra Valkyria. Lyra says the first episode of NXT she ever saw was Becky’s first match in the company. She calls Becky the man and asks her if she knows what she’s done for Irish wrestling and for her life as well. She says Becky inspired her to always go the extra mile. She says her career came full circle when she stood side by side with Becky but couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to stand face to face. Becky says that she believes Lyra might be ready for her. This brings out Indi Hartwell followed by Roxanne Perez. Roxanne says she is sick of standing in the back and waiting for her shot. She wants her title shot at Halloween Havoc.
Becky says that she will sit on commentary while the three of them settle this in a triple threat with the winner getting a shot at the belt at Halloween Havoc Night One.
We then get an video package showing the various women that will take part in the Women’s Breakout Tournament.
Butch & Tyler Bate Defeat Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang)
This was a solid tag team matchup here to start off tonight’s in ring action. Butch and Bate win with some excellent tandem offense. Butch gets the pinfall.
After the match, Joe Coffey jumps in the ring and the three on two beat down begins. However, suddenly, out runs Ridge Holland who evens the odds and helps clear the ring.
Ilja Dragunov In Ring Promo
First of all, this man is OVER with this NXT crowd. Lots of music conductors in the audience as soon as the theme hit the loud speakers. Ilja says you can welcome him as the Mad Dragon, or The Czar but especially as the new NXT Champion. He says at No Mercy, Melo brought the fight. He said he pushed him to his limits. He says he is barely even able to stand tonight but he still stands as the champion. He says he wiil protect the promise he made and this belt with his life. Long Live The Czar.
This brings out Trick Williams. Also, massively over with this audience. Trick congratulates Ilja on his win at No Mercy. He says he is here to introduce himself as the new NXT North American Champion. He thanks Ilja for pushing him to a level he had never been before at Heatwave. Ilja says that he is proud of Trick for winning at No Mercy.
Out comes Carmelo Hayes. Hayes asks why he’s thanking Ilja when it was him that came up with Trick and always told him he could be a champion. He says winning the belt is one thing but defending it is another. Williams asks if he thinks he can’t beat Dominik tonight. Melo says that wasn’t what he meant. Melo says that Trick needs to be more focused on Dom.
Out comes Dominik Mysterio. Trick asks him why he is always taking orders from Mami. He says he’s gonna whip Dom. Dom says that he is all man and that he promised Mami that he was bringing the title back home Trick says that isn’t happening. Melo tells Trick that he will be in his corner tonight. Dominik asks how Trick can be so tall and still be in Melo’s shadow. Trick declines Melo’s help tonight and says he is going to defend his title on his own.
NXT Women’s Championship Number One Contender’s Triple Threat Match – Indi Hartwell Roxanne Perez Lyra Valkyria
We were blessed with Becky Lynch on commentary for this triple threat, and she delivered. She is just an enjoyable personality in any capacity.
These ladies pulled some time tonight. It looked like Perez was going to win but Kiana James came out and pulled Perez out of the ring. Becky stood up from the booth and kicked James immediately. Lyra took advantage and hit a splash onto Indi Hartwell to secure the pinfall victory. Lyra will take on Becky, Night One at Halloween Havoc for the NxT Women’s Championship.
Backstage, we see Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes. Bron says that after Melo lost at No Mercy, the crowd turned on him in favor of Ilja Dragunov. Bron says he knows how that feels. He says that Melo should channel that anger and rage onto the roster, especially Trick Williams. Melo tells him to keep Trick out of this. Bron says that Trick wasn’t there for Melo after the match in a way a best friend should be. He says he understands how that feels too.
We return from commercial to Ilja Dragunov getting pictures with his new title. Baron Corbin shows up. He says that he was the only one to beat Ilja in the last year. He says that because he beat Bron Breakker at No Mercy, he’s the one who is next in line for a title shot. Ilja says that he disagrees. Corbin tells him to take pictures with his belt while he can because he’s coming for it.
Gigi Dolin Defeats Blair Davenport
HBK really pushing the women’s division tonight, and it continues with this matchup. Dolin wins by pinfall with a roll-up after some chair shenanigans.
Mackenzie Mitchell is interviewing Kiana James. Kiana says that Roxanne Perez has always been treated as the golden child of NXT. She says she couldn’t let Roxanne win another championship and that her goal is to always be seen above Roxanne Perez. She says that if Perez wants a match against her, she has to get through her opponent next week. She then reveals the opponent to be Asuka! I am INTRIGUED. Roxanne Perez vs the Empress of Tomorrow!
We are then intoduced to each participant in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament.
NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament Match: Kelani Jordan Defeats Izzi Dame
An impressive start to the tournament. Kelani wins this back and forth battle with a springboard moonsault.
Backstage, Andre Chase and Duke Hudson fund Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne. Chase and Hudson offer their support for the ladies upcoming tag match. Thea isn’t interested, but Jacy suspiciously says that she thinks it’s a great idea. She tells them to come down for the match and even leads a “Chase U” cheer. Andre doesn’t seem convinced.
We see the CRT TV vignette that is very clearly Brian Pillman Jr flipping through various eras of pro wrestling history.
Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne Defeat Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez
Hail and Jayne win this match by submission when Hail locks Lopez in a kimura.
We then see Carmelo Hayes in the parking lot. He says that he isn’t taking Bron Breakker’s advice and instead he’s taking John Cena’s. He then announces that Cena is going to be in his corner for his match next week against Bron!! What??!?
Cody Rhodes will make an announcement on NXT next week as well!? Good Lord, what an absolutely loaded show! Obviously going head to head with AEW next week has top brass pulling out the big ones. I love this business. Let’s go!
NXT North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio Defeats Trick Williams
All of Judgement Day came out to the ring for this one. These two gave us a solid pro wrestling main event. Looked like the match was over when Rhea slid Dom the belt and he hit the DDT onto it, but Trick kicked out. After even more shenanigans, Finn Balor hits Trick with a tag belt and Dom hits a frog splash for the victory.
Paul Heyman ends the show with a parking lot promo. Heyman says that Roman has asked him to counter John Cena next week, so he is going to be in Bron Breakker’s corner!! This is insanity!!
Final Thoughts
Next week’s show will be the most loaded episode ever, with John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Paul Heyman and Asuka all slated to appear. About as can’t miss as you can possibly get. I. Can’t. Wait.
