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Welcome to PWInsider’s coverage of tonight’s NXT. We’re live from Orlando on The CW in the U.S. and on Netflix here in Canada and internationally.
The show opens with a video recap of last Wednesday’s show, followed by partners Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno and then their opponents NXT Tag Team Champions The Vanity Project. They’ll face off for the tag belts tonight.
Vic Joseph is ringside and he welcomes Wade Barrett on commentary tonight.
There’s static and “Cult of Personality” hits. The crowd erupts. Walking backward down the aisle is …
NXT Men’s Champion Grayson Waller. He turns, smiles to the camera and his own music hits. Waller then confidently walks to the ring. “Were you expecting someone else?” he asks the booing crowd. Waller says he’s surprised how quickly he’s made the championship important again. He says he pinned the best in world last week. CM Punk will go down as one of the greats, “and I beat him,” Waller says.
Waller says he’s made the men’s championship important again. He says he beat Tony D’Angelo and he’s now standing by a bridge, waiting to put on his concrete shoes, referencing Tony last week. Waller keeps bragging about beating Punk and wonders who his next challenger will be.
Shiloh Hill’s music hits.
Shiloh walks to the ring and says he’s been watching Waller closely. Shiloh tells Waller that despite Waller’s claim that no one in the NXT locker room would talk to him upon his debut in NXT, one person did. Hill says he talked to Waller the day after his debut. Waller admits that’s true; Hill did talk to him. Waller says his criticisms of the NXT locker room were not directed at Hill, but Hill doesn’t quite buy it. Hill says he is standing up to Waller now and challenging him for the title.
Waller tells Hill he isn’t ready, and he leaves the ring with Hill in it. As Waller walks backward up the aisle, Mason Rook suddenly appears and attacks Waller. He tosses Waller back in the ring and Hill hits him. Rook hits his rolling slam to lay out Waller.
We’re then shown EK Prosper and Kam Hendrix each walking through the backstage area, on their way to the ring for the opening match. Each cuts a quick promo on the other.
We’re shown a clip from “earlier” where John Cena approaches Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno. He talks about their respective backgrounds and congratulates them on their recent success. He invites them to enter the John Cena Classic on Dec. 14. He then gives each of them a briefcase with books and other items inside. They’re elated.
We’re then shown Vanity Project in their locker room, reacting with dismay. They’re hysterical that Dar and Moreno are in the Cena Classic and they aren’t. The NXT Tag Champs Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes are arguing when North American Champion Jackson Drake tries to calm them down. They merely get angry with him. Myka Lockwood interrupts and yells, “Y’all are pissed? Let’s do something about it!” and she leads them out of the locker room.
Match #1: EK Prosper vs. Kam Hendrix
They lock up, with the larger Hendrix getting the power advantage. Hendrix puts on an arm bar but the faster Prosper is able to counter. Kam is trying to keep things slow, EK is trying to fly and use speed.
EK with a huracanrana. He is flying around Kam, who exits the ring. Kam is trying to regain control but EK is simply too fast … until Kam destroys him with a clothesline. It’s very much power versus speed and agility in this match.
Kam tries to suplex EK back into the ring, but EK counters with a knee to Kam’s head. Kam ends up outside the ring and EK with a moonsault from the second rope to wipe out Kam.
After a break, Kam is in control again. He has EK in a headlock midring. EK breaks it by pushing Kam into the turnbuckles. He can’t gain momentum as Kam fights back. Kam with a one-armed powerbomb of sorts on a sore EK.
EK is now fighting back. He gets a few clotheslines and then a superkick before hitting a springboard moonsault. Two count. EK’s back is sore, but he’s trying to keep going. EK with a roundhouse kick on Kam. EK goes for another springboard but Kam nails him with a kick for a two-count. EK barely kicks out.
Both are groggy. EK with a perfect superkick. Both are laid out. EK goes to the top, but Kam grabs the ropes, knocking EK off. Kam with the Death Valley Driver for a two-count. Kam goes for powerbomb, but EK with a dropkick. Kam charges EK who moves, sending Kam face-first into the ringpost. EK goes to top for a huge moonsault for the three-count.
Your winner, EK Prosper!
As EK celebrates and heads up the aisle, Kam is ringside, throwing chairs, irate that he lost. Eventually, referees lead him away.
In the NXT Focus, we see Tony D’Angelo somehow still standing in the dark outside, near running water. Myles Borne walks up to him, asking D’Angelo if he’s still thinking. Tony tells him that he’s done thinking. Borne asks what he’s going to do next. Tony says he’s going to go to work.
After a break, we see all of Vanity Project attacking Dar and Moreno, laying them out with trash cans and more, presumably placing their title opportunity tonight in doubt.
Match #2: Wren Sinclair vs. Izzi Dame
Wren and Izzi lock up, but they’re soon trading blows and it’s fast paced for a moment until they start trading holds. Wren is trying to injure Izzy’s fingers, grabbing and pulling them repeatedly.
They go back and forth until they head outside. Wren with a dropkick to Izzi, laying her out. “We’re not playing the same game anymore, Izzi,” Wren says as we go to a break.
After the break, Wren tries to pin Izzi but only gets two. She slams Izzi left shoulder first into the turnbuckle twice but Izzi stops the third attempt. Wren with a faceplant on Izzi for a two count. Wren is torturing Izzi’s left arm. Izzi is outside and Wren tries to slide into her left shoulder, but Izzi moves. She slams Wren into the turnbuckle. Izzi is able to get a snap suplex on the floor, Izzi then wraps Wren around the ring post, torturing her.
Back in the ring, Izzi with a lungblower for a two-count. Izzi keeps up the offence, but her left arm is bothering her. Izzi with a bodyslam. She goes to the middle turnbuckle but Wren with a dropkick. They’re now trading blows.
Wren with a butterfly suplex for a two-count. Wren’s back is bothering her. Wade says it’s a matter of who succumbs to their pain first.
Wren gets an inside cradle for a two-count, then Wren locks on the Final Wrench, and it looks like Izzi will tap but she rolls through and the hold is broken. It’s just chaos until Izzi hits a knee to Wren’s face and gets a three count.
Your winner, Izzi Dame!
As Izzi celebrates, Zaria hits the ring and lays out Izzi. She stands over her and holds the NXT Women’s North American Championship over Izzi.
We go to a clip from “earlier” where we see John Cena in a makeup area, inviting NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan to the Cena Classic. He gives Jordan a briefcase and tells her what a unique opportunity this is. She is deeply honoured and asks if she can give Cena a hug.
After a break, Blake Howard is interviewing Zilla Fatu backstage. He asks Fatu has recently put down BirthRight and he’s been announced as a Cena Classic entrant. Howard asks him what’s next. Zilla says that Mason Rook and Shiloh Hill have called their shots for the NXT Men’s Championship, and now he is too. He will have more to say about this later tonight.
In the ring, Kelani Jordan is in the ring with her NXT Women’s Championship. While she was humble backstage earlier when talking about entering the Cena Classic, Jordan is now bragging about beating Paige last week. She says “of course I was selected” to enter the Cena Classic. Jordan says she’s always been held to a higher standard than everyone else at NXT because people expect more from her because she is a stand out.
Jordan then says she is going to rest and “chill for a little bit.” She says we’ll see her next at the Cena Classic. The crowd boos. Kendal Grey’s music hits.
Grey walks to the ring. She says it’s good to be back. She tells Jordan that before Jordan gets to the Cena Classic, she is going to have to give Grey her title rematch. Jordan says Grey is in her rearview mirror and Kelani is now onto bigger things. They argue until NXT General Manager Robert Stone interrupts and tells the duo that what’s fair is fair and Jordan will defend her title against Grey on next week’s NXT.
We cut to a shot of outside where Tony D’Angelo appears to have arrived at the arena. He pulls up in his truck. Then Myles Borne pulls up in his own truck and says he knew he’d find Tony here. Tony walks away into the arena.
After a break, Robert Stone is outside the medical area waiting for word on Dar and Moreno after the attack earlier from Vanity Project. A trainer comes out and informs Stone that they cannot compete tonight. They’re not medically cleared.
Stone is upset. Vanity Project walks up to Stone and they’re celebrating. Stone tells them they will still be defending their titles tonight. Vanity Project is livid and whining as Stone walks away.
Match #3: Lizzy Rain vs Chantal Monroe
Monroe goes for a quick rollup to no avail. Rain and Monroe trade verbal barbs and then Rain chases Monroe around the ring. She finally catches Rain and, in the ring, she’s chopping her chest and back. Rain with a kick to Monroe’s face but then Monroe takes Rain down in the corner and hits double-knees to Rain’s face.
Monroe is toying with Rain, but Rain hits a clothesline and fishermen’s suplex. She tries for a Boston crap but Monroe gets away to the outside Rain with a dropkick to outside the ring, nailing Monroe as we go to break.
Monroe slams the back of Rain’s head on the ring apron. Monroe is controlling the match now. In the ring, she has Rain in a headlock. Rain fights out. Monroe stomping Rain in the corner.
Monroe maintains the advantage for a while as Rain tries in vain to turn things around.
Monroe sits Rain on the top turnbuckle then climbs up and tries for a superplex. Rain fights it off and hits a huge dropkick from the top rope, but her neck is hurting and she may have hurt herself further.
They’re trading fists and forearms now. Rain keeps trying to Boston crab but Monroe rolls her up for a cover. Rain finally gets a Liontamer hooked. Monroe is screaming. She gets to the ropes. Monroe with a rollup but Rain kicks out. Monroe with a stiff knee to Rain’s face, but Rain kicks out of another cover. Rain is sent face-first into the turnbuckle. Monroe rolls up Rain and grabs the ropes, but the ref catches her and breaks the count.
Monroe hits the Headbanger’s Ball and Thunderstruck kick for the three-count.
Your winner, Lizzy Rain!
Backstage, Blake Howard is interviewing Mason Rook. He tells Blake that he is picking up right where he left off, pursuing the NXT Men’s Championship. He says Shiloh Hill wants a shot at the title, and Rook is looking forward to hearing what Zilla Fatu has to say about the championship tonight as well.
NXT Tag Team Champions Vanity Project head to the ring, and we don’t yet know who their challengers will be.
In the locker room, Blake Howard catches up with an angry Kam Hendrix. Kam says he’s too good to lose to EK Prosper. He looks around the locker room and says he’s the best athlete there. He sees Tony D’Angelo and says Tony has had his chance he now needs to step aside and make room. Tony walks over and tells Kam to shut his mouth. Kam backs down but when Tony turns back around, Kam attacks him. Others in the locker room drag Kam away as Tony fumes.
In the ring, the Vanity Project are waiting for their challengers. They’re looking up the aisle when Hank and Tank, the runners-up in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, attack them from behind.
Match #4: WWE NXT Tag Team Champions Vanity Project vs. Hank and Tank
Hank and Tank use the surprise to dominate the match early. Lots of double team and tag moves as Vanity Project try to get their feet under them and defend their championships.
After several minutes of Hank and Tank pounding on Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes, Vanity Project is finally able to catch them and slow things down. They isolate Tank for a few minutes, but Hank is able to tag in and wipes out everyone. Huge clothesline on Smokes and a Bossman Slam on Baylor for a two-count.
All four are in the ring. It’s chaos and double teams. Hank and Tank nearly collide but they stop. Vanity Project each get sleeperholds on Hank and Tank but they’re soon broken up. Wild action. Tank with a swanton on Baylor for a two count.
Suddenly the injured Dar and Moreno are ringside, and Jackson Drake is seemingly trying to prevent them from getting involved in the match. Moreno kicks Drake and goes to the top rope, but Tank is doing the same thing and he shoves Romeo to the outside. Hank and Tank are both going to the top to attack Baylor but Smokes pushes Tank onto Dar, Moreno and others while Myka Lockwood shoves Hank into the ring where Baylor rolls him up for a three-count.
Your winners and still the NXT Tag Team Champions, Vanity Project!
As Vanity Project celebrates outside, Dar and Moreno and Hank & Tank are being held apart in the ring.
Backstage, we see footage from last week of Dragon Lee, Saquon Sugars, Chad Gable and Sean Legacy backstage. Legacy and Sugars are arguing. Tristan Angels arrives, Gable and Lee leave. Angels, Sugars and Sean are arguing with each other.
We then see Zilla backstage. He crosses pathes with Shiloh Hill.
Layla Diggs and Thea Hail are in the locker room talking quietly to each other. Hail is talking about a challenge she’s having. She’s been “vlogging it” online and Diggs says she’s seen the videos and she’s sorry for Hail. (While she doesn’t name it on the show, Hail has been open about having alopecia, an autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss. In the promo with Diggs, Hail points out a bald spot on her scalp.)
Hail then asks Diggs to be quiet about the videos that are on public social media, because she’s not quite ready to discuss the issue with just anyone.
They turn around to see Chantel Monroe enter the locker room. They tell her “you can’t win ‘em all,” and Monroe agrees. She says Hail should know that. Monroe says she could lost every day of the week and “it still wouldn’t be as bad as this,” and she pulls back Hail’s hair to show the bald spot. Monroe walks away and Hail, angry, says “I’m done.” She leaves in a different direction.
Joseph tells us that next week’s NXT will feature NXT Women's Champion Kelani Jordan defending her title against Kendal Grey, and Tony D'Angelo vs Kam Hendrix.
Zilla Fatu makes his way to the ring. He’s wearing an orange and black John Cena Classic shirt. Fatu thanks the fans for their support. He is “blessed” to be in the Cena Classic. He begins to call out Grayson Waller but DarkState’s music hits and the three members are in the crowd. They’re closing in on Zilla.
Zilla says he thought Cruz and the 946 dealt with them last week.
Dion Lennon says Cruz is gone now, just like Dion said he would be.
Dion says Fatu was handed a golden opportunity by Cena and now he wants a title shot, something he’ll never be ready for.
As DarkState gets to the ring, BirthRight’s music hits. Lexis King and Charlie Dempsey say they’re tired of guys like DarkState trying to assert themselves.
Zilla looks at DarkState and tells them that he would be happy to meet any one of them in the ring next week. Before Zilla leaves the ring, he says “hello!” points to Perros Del Mal’s Karmen Petrovic in the crowd. Music hits and the rest of the AAA stable, Daga, Angel and Berto walk to the ring. BirthRight is on one side of the ring apron, DarkState on another and Perros Del Mal on another. Zilla is the only person in the ring, and he’s surrounded. Zilla vacates as everyone else gets in the ring and it’s total chaos.
Zilla watches from the outside as we go to credits.
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