Welcome to WrestlePurists’ Coverage of the November 7th Episode of WWE NXT.
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Noam Dar Defeats Akira Tozawa
This was good stuff. Was hoping to see Tozawa win but no issues with Noam retaining the title here. Dar wins after some shenanigans and a little outside interference. Another solid match to kickoff the show.
After the match, Oro Mensah attempts to jump Tozawa but Chad Gable and Otis take him out.
We see footage of Mick Foley, who books the first two qualifying matches for the Iron Survivor Challenge. Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton and Dijak vs. Tyler Bate will take place tonight.
Lola Vice is backstage bragging to Elektra Lopez and others about her NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament win. Kelani Jordan interrupts and is unimpressed. In comes Roxanne Perez who tells Vice she shouldn’t be making enemies.
Lyra Valkyria In Ring Promo
Lyra begins by putting over Becky Lynch and says she didn’t just meet her hero, she beat her. She says the finest prize in NXT is around her waist. She says both she and Becky brought it to Halloween Havoc. She says the locker room is packed full of hungry competitors looking to get a shot at her. Suddenly Xia Li comes through the audience. Lyra tells them to let her through. Xia asks if she saw her attack on Lynch last night. Xia says she plans on taking the title from Lyra. She then superkicks the security guard. The two argue in ring.
We then see Tyler Bate in a backstage promo. Bate talks about the Iron Survivor Challenge and his upcoming match against Dijak.
Fallon Henley is in the locker room with Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen getting hyped for her match. Henley says that Tiffy time is over.
We see Alpha Academy backstage. They are trying to help Tozawa stay focused following the loss tonight. Maxxine says they will be back next week as guests on Supernova Sessions. In comes Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp and Myles Borne. The two groups begin to argue. Otis challenges Gulak to a match tonight and he accepts.
Backstage we see an official walk out of Shawn Michaels’ office. He announces that discretion will be exercised in Von Wagner vs. Bron Breakker tonight, and that there will be a winner.
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Tiffany Stratton Defeats Fallon Henley
These ladies cooked tonight. I was very impressed with what we saw in this match. Stratton wins with the prettiest moonsault ever.
McKenzie Mitchell is interviewing Wes Lee and welcomes him back to NXT. Lee says he had to take some time off but he’s back and his head is right. He has his sites on the North American Championship. Baron Corbin walks in and begins talking trash. He asks Lee if he saw what he did to Ilja last week. Lee says that Ilja is going to smash Corbin but that he wouldnt mind doing it himself. Baron walks off.
Backstage, Kelly Kincaid interviews Bron Breakker. Bron says that tonight will be the end of the shortest comeback attempt in history when he destroys Von Wagner in record time.
We return from commercial to a pretaped promo with Dijak who says that Tyler Bate has no shot at winning tonight’s Iron Survivor qualifying match. He guarantees victory and says he will be at NXT Deadline.
Bron Breakker Defeats Von Wagner
This was a very short match. Bron wins with a spear. After the match, Bron tries to attack Stone but Von stops him and powerbombs him through the announce table. Stone and Von hug in triumph. Interesting choice putting Bron over in this one.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell asks Carmelo Hayes about Trick Williams’ shocking return. She asks Melo if he attacked Trick and he continues to deny. Melo says he will give Trick the explanation he deserves. McKenzie continues to pry, but Melo deflects and leaves.
Brawling Brutes video package. Butch and Ridge Holland talk about their childhood and how they grew up scrapping. They call out “Out The Mud.” The Brutes are coming next week.
Roxanne Perez & Kelani Jordan Defeat Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice
Before the match, Arianna Grace comes out to watch and wishes the competing women luck. Not gonna lie, this popped me. Grace has been entertaining every time I’ve seen her on screen.
Jordan and Perez win this quick tag match by pinfall.
Afterwards, Grace announces the winners and congratulates them but gets jumped by Karmen Petrovic.
We get another cryptic Joe Gacy promo. Gacy says that he has a feeling that he might know what he is supposed to do now. Interesting as always. One has to wonder what is next for this very talented performer.
In a backstage promo, Ilja Dragunov talks his match against Carmelo Hayes at Halloween Havoc. He puts over Melo and then pivots to Baron Corbin. He says the only one that can slay the dragon is the dragon himself. Is their a cooler promo in wrestling right now than Ilja Dragunov?
Otis Defeats Drew Gulak
Short but sweet. Otis pretty much dominates from the bell and wins this match by pinfall.
Backstage, Kiana James congratulates Tiffany Stratton on qualifying for the Iron Survivor Challenge tonight, then both of them agree that they are carrying the women’s division on their back.
We then catch up with Chase U. Jacy Jayne is met by members of Tony D’Angelo’s family, who have a message for Andre Chase. Jacy reads the message. She then mentions Andre Chase and Duke Hudson’s tag team title rematch with Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Chase dismisses class so he and can strategize for the match with Duke. Chase reads the message once everyone leaves.
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Dijak Defeats Tyler Bate
This was a pretty solid main event. Dijak wins by pinfall and is headed to NXT Deadline for the Iron Survivor Challenge.
Trick Williams arrives in the parking lot.
Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes Face to Face Segment
Melo says this is bigger and more important than the NXT title. He tells Trick to come out and talk about it. Melo says he understands why Trick feels the way he feels. He says roadblocks are part of the journey. He said he wanted to share his glory with Trick and without him, their would be no Melo. Trick says he has been their for Melo since the beginning. Melo says that when he won, they both won. Trick asks why Melo can’t be there for him the way he’s been their for him. He then starts to ask Melo something but Melo interrupts. He says that he was there for Trick from the beginning and that he knew that struck was destined for greatness. Trick says he wants to have his moments. He says that Melo wasn’t there for him when he was attacked. Trick says he didn’t see who attacked him. Trick asks Melo flat out if he was the one that attacked him. Melo asks if he wants the truth, before he can answer, out comes…Lexis King?? Neither Melo or Trick are impressed and want Lexis gone. But Lexis has something to say about who may have attacked Trick. Lexis antagonizing Trick causes him to swing on him, but he misses and accidentally hits Melo. Trick helps Melo up and hugs him but Melo looks into the camera with a very tense and angry face as we fade out. Seems strange to add King to this whole situation at this point.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s show felt a little flat. Still had some good moments though. Onward to Deadline.
