Last week on NXT, Rich Swann and No Way Jose, as well as Austin Aries and the debuting Roderick Strong, advanced to the second round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Tonight, we close out Round One, and Asuka returns to in-ring action.
DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Tian Bing & Hoho Lun – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Match (Round One)
It’s almost refreshing to see Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa back in action. From the first Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, to the Cruiserweight Classic, both Johnny Wrestling and the Psycho Killer have been very fun to watch.
While we are very familiar with DIY, we know little to nothing about their opponents. Hoho Lun was one of two Chinese wrestlers competing in the Cruiserweight Classic, but he didn’t do much after losing in the second round. His partner Tian Bing, is the first-ever WWE Superstar from China, and he makes his television debut in this match.
After Ciampa disposes of Tian Bing off of the apron, he tags in Gargano for the superkick/knee strike combination on Hoho Lun. DIY advances to the second round where they will face their most recent rivals, The Revival. Winners: DIY | Eliminated: Tian Bing & Hoho Lun
Aliyah vs. Billie Kay (w/Peyton Royce)
Billie Kay and Peyton Royce want to make a statement in the NXT Women’s Division, and they have been showing their dominance by picking on Liv Morgan. After defeating Liv Morgan a couple weeks ago, Billie Kay looks to continue her recent success against Aliyah.
Billie Kay has the match in her favor when Liv Morgan starts attacking Peyton Royce at ringside. This distracts Kay long enough for Aliyah to get the roll-up and steal the victory. Winner: Aliyah
After the match, Morgan goes after Kay, and the four women brawl. Aliyah tried to help Morgan, but Royce and Kay would get the better of it, laying both Morgan and Aliyah out.
This was a segment that gave direction to all four women involved. Morgan, Kay, and Royce all continue their rivalry, and Aliyah picks up her first victory. This is a good step in continuing the development of the NXT Women’s Division.
Noah Potjes vs. Tye Dillinger
Noah Potjes is one of those NXT wreslters who you think you’ve seen before, but you can’t be too sure (After fact checking, we saw him on the June 9th edition of NXT where he lost to Andrade “Cien” Almas). Tye Dillinger used to be one of those guys, but now he is getting the featured time he deserves. Dillinger teamed up with Bobby Roode in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but Roode walked away from the Perfect 10 when the going got tough. Dillinger ended up getting beaten down by SAnitY, and is out for revenge on Roode.
Dillinger wins this match like clockwork, finishing off Potjes with the Tye-Breaker (or as Mauro Ranallo would yell, “USHIGOROSHI”) for a dominant victory. Winner: Tye Dillinger
After the match, Dillinger gets interviewed at the stage not long before getting attack from behind by Bobby Roode. Roode makes quick work of Dillinger, planting him on the stage with his signature lifted DDT.
Thea Trinidad vs. Asuka
Well, Thea Trinidad was doomed from the start. She makes her NXT debut against the undefeated NXT Women’s Champion. Unless Trinidad is getting the biggest push in professional wrestling history, she should not have high hopes for the result of this match.
After toying with Trinidad, Asuka hits a German suplex, then rolls through into a Fujiwara Armbar which forces Trinidad to tap out. Winner (via submission): Asuka
After the match, NXT General Manager William Regal appears on the stage to make a huge announcement. Since Asuka has destroyed everyone in NXT, Regal had to scour the world for Asuka’s next competitor. At NXT TakeOver: Toronto, Asuka will face a former WWE Women’s Champion (and TNA Knockout’s Champion): Mickie James.
Mustafa Ali & Lince Dorado vs. Kota Ibushi & TJ Perkins
Both teams in this match are consisted of men who faced each other in the Cruiserweight Classic. Kota Ibushi was originally supposed to team up with Hideo Itami, but Itami suffered a neck injury that will keep him out of action for a couple months. With Itami out, it’s hard to say that Ibushi could have found a better partner as a replacement (I mean, other than John Cena) than the WWE Cruiserweight Champion. After tonight’s tournament match, TJ Perkins heads to Raw‘s Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View where he will defend the Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick for the second time.
Mustafa Ali tags himself in, but immediately has to tap out to TJ Perkins’s patented kneebar. Perkins and Ibushi advance to the second round, where they will face SAnitY. Winners: Kota Ibushi & TJ Perkins | Eliminated: Mustafa Ali & Lince Dorado
