As usual, this week’s episode of NXT has a surprising amount of action lined up. Ruby Riot takes on the Iconic Duo in a handicap match, Lio Rush makes his first appearance in WWE, Kairi Sane debuts in NXT after winning the Mae Young Classic, and Drew McIntyre defends the NXT Championship against Roderick Strong.
Ruby Riot vs. The Iconic Duo
Over the past several weeks, Ruby Riot has had her fair share of issues with Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Riot faced the Iconic Duo in a tag team match a couple weeks ago but since she couldn’t find a partner, it was essentially a handicap match until Nikki Cross decided to make herself Riot’s partner.
Luckily for Riot, Cross decides to show up again as her partner. Riot makes the best of the situation and ends up putting Billie Kay away with the short-arm Pele kick. Winners: Ruby Riot & Nikki Cross
Announcement
After what Lars Sullivan did to Oney Lorcan last week, Danny Burch (Lorcan’s competitive rival) challenges Sullivan to a match for next week, which is accepted.
Lio Rush vs. Aleister Black
A few weeks ago, it was announced that WWE had signed the 22-year old high-flying “prodigy” Lio Rush. Rush is known for his time in Ring of Honor and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), where he captured the CZW World Heavyweight Championship. In his NXT debut, he takes on Aleister Black, who is still undefeated since debuting a few months ago.
Unfortunately for Rush, his debut never begins, thanks to the Velveteen Dream. While Black is coming down to the ring, Velveteen Dream attacks Rush and taunts Black. Dream demands that Black give him attention, but he refuses and just sits calmly in the center of the ring. Dream says that he is going to “make” Black say his name.
Kairi Sane vs. Aliyah
Over the past two months, Kairi Sane made a name for herself in front of the WWE Universe by being the first, and only, Mae Young Classic Winner. To win the historic tournament, Sane defeated Tessa Blanchard, Bianca Belair, Dakota Kai, Toni Storm, and Shayna Baszler. Aliyah was not part of the tournament, but she has been regularly featured on NXT for the past year or so. At NXT TakeOver: Houston, Sane will face three other women (who are currently unknown) to compete for the vacated NXT Women’s Championship.
Once Sane gets some offense in, it keeps snowballing until Aliyah cannot take any more. After laying Aliyah out in the corner of the ring, Sane climbs to the top turnbuckle to hit the In-Sane Elbow, unsurprisingly picking up the win. Winner: Kairi Sane
Announcements
One of the qualifying matches for the NXT Women’s Championship Fatal Four-Way match will take place next week, with Liv Morgan taking on Nikki Cross and Peyton Royce in a Triple Threat match. Also, next week will feature a rematch from NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III when Johnny Gargano gets another chance to defeat Andrade “Cien” Almas.
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Roderick Strong – NXT Championship
Ever since Roderick Strong stopped feuding with SAnitY, he had been chasing after two things: Bobby Roode and the NXT Championship. Strong failed to capture the title while Roode was the NXT Champion, but he would then defeat the Glorious One a couple weeks after NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III. Strong issued a challenge to McIntyre, who as a fighting champion, accepted. This is Strong’s second chance to capture the NXT Championship and while McIntyre needs to focus on Strong during this match, Adam Cole could possibly be a factor in this as well.
Both men go back and forth for pretty much the entire match until Roderick Strong lands the Sick Kick. This rare finishing move failed to put the champion away and Drew McIntyre took advantage to powerbomb Strong into the ring post. McIntyre finishes the match with the Claymore running kick to score the win and to retain the NXT Championship. Winner, and STILL NXT Champion: Drew McIntyre
