Last week, there was a special 2-hour long edition of NXT. Instead of a regular episode from Full Sail University, they showed a house show from a few weeks ago where NXT went to Osaka, Japan. #DIY would retain their NXT Tag Team Championships against Tajiri and Akira Tozawa, Asuka retained the NXT Women’s Championship against Nia Jax, and Shinsuke Nakamura captured his second NXT Championship from Samoa Joe.
Tonight, NXT showcases another house show from their international tour, but this time it is from Melbourne, Australia. #DIY defend the NXT Tag Team Championships for the second week in a row against TM61, and to main event the evening is another NXT Championship match we have already seen: Shinsuke Nakamura defending the NXT Championship against Samoa Joe in a steel cage match.
The Revival vs. Riddick Moss & Tino Sabatelli
Riddick Moss and Tino Sabatelli are fairly new to NXT, with their most recent appearance being in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Their opponents, The Revival, are the only two-time NXT Tag Team Champions in NXT history and were the best tag team of 2016. While they still have a title rematch in store, #DIY are defending the belts against the Australian team of TM61 later on.
Dash Wilder tags Scott Dawson in the middle of being on the receiving end of an atomic drop, and the two take advantage of Riddick Moss’ confusion to hit the Shatter Machine. This win will help keep their momentum going until they cash in their Tag Team Championship rematch. Winners: The Revival
Elias Samson & Bobby Roode vs. Tye Dillinger & Buddy Murphy
Here’s a hometown Superstar everyone forgot about: Buddy Murphy. When (Wesley) Blake and Murphy lost the NXT Tag Team Championships – yes, they were Tag Team Champions – , the two split ways, and their valet Alexa Bliss moved to the main roster where she is currently one of the best things about SmackDown Live. Since the team split, it has been a difficult journey for both Blake and Murphy to find themselves as singles competitors. Hopefully, having a match in his hometown alongside the incredibly popular Tye Dillinger will help him out.
Buddy Murphy dives over the top rope to take out Bobby Roode, and Tye Dillinger hits the Tye Breaker on Elias Samson to pick up the victory. Winners: Tye Dillinger & Buddy Murphy
Liv Morgan vs. Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay
The race for the #1 Contender’s spot for Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship is a tight one, and these three women are probably the closest in line. Ember Moon is undefeated since her debut at TakeOver: Brooklyn II, when she defeated Billie Kay. However, she does not have to be involved in the finish to lose the match. It is in her benefit that both Moon and Morgan have issues with Billie Kay, so it could turn into a one-on-one match.
Billie Kay hits Liv Morgan with a powerbomb, and turns around only to get hit by the Eclipse from Ember Moon, who further strengthens her argument to be the next #1 Contender. Winner: Ember Moon
#DIY vs. TM61 – NXT Tag Team Championships
If it was not for The Revival, #DIY would easily be the best tag team of the last year. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa had two “Match of the Year” candidates at TakeOver: Brooklyn II and TakeOver: Toronto against the Revival, with the second being where they captured the Tag Team Championships. Since then, they successfully defended the titles against Tajiri and Akira Tozawa and if they can’t win their match tonight, they eventually have to take on The Revival.
TM61 debuted with a bit of hype surrounding them, but they lost the excitement around them for most of the year. When they competed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, however, their performances helped them regain some popularity with the crowd. Shane Thorne and Nick Miller would lose the tournament in the finals to the Authors of Pain, but they have a huge opportunity tonight in their first championship match.
#DIY dispels of Shane Thorne, and finish the match by hitting their patented superkick/knee strike combination on Nick Miller to retain the gold. Winners, and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: #DIY
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe – NXT Championship (Steel Cage Match)
Just like last week, NXT is showing us a match we have already seen. Nakamure retains, and finally moves on to his match at TakeOver: San Antonio against Bobby Roode. Winner, and STILL NXT Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
