Last week’s episode of NXT featured the entire second round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Tonight, we move into the semifinals. Also, NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will participate in a contract signing with his challenger for NXT TakeOver: Toronto, Samoa Joe.
#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (Semifinals)
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa has an easier time getting to the semifinals than The Authors of Pain. #DIY was scheduled to take on the current NXT Tag Team Champions, The Revival, but the tag champs would back out due Scott Dawson apparently injuring his leg in twenty different ways. The Authors of Pain actually competed to get to the third round, defeated the makeshift team of No Way Jose and Rich Swann. Going into this match, The Authors of Pain are still undefeated.
Gargano and Ciampa have Akim down for the count, but Paul Ellering distracts the referee. While the referee is distracted, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder appear from under the ring and lay out Johnny Gargano outside the ring. This leaves Tommaso Ciampa vulnerable in the middle of the ring, where the Authors of Pain finish him off with the Last Chapter. Winners: The Authors of Pain | Eliminated: #DIY
SAnitY (Sawyer Fulton & Alexander Wolfe w/Eric Young & Nikki Cross) vs. TM61 – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (Semifinals)
Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe were one of the many debuting teams in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but they have made it surprisingly far. They decimated Tye Dillinger in the first round (Bobby Roode retreated during the beating, leading to their match at NXT TakeOver: Toronto), and got a surprise victory over Kota Ibushi and TJ Perkins last week. TM61 won their second round match, but since one of their opponents was out of action, it was singles action between Shane Thorne and the recent NXT signee Roderick Strong. Whoever wins this match takes on the Authors of Pain in the tournament finals on November 19th in Toronto.
Nick Miller is about to get hit by a double team, but Shane Thorne breaks it up and sends Sawyer Fulton out of the ring. Miller takes advantage of the confusion, getting a jackknife cover over Alexander Wolfe to advance to the finals. Winners: TM61 | Eliminated: SAnitY
Match Announcement
At NXT TakeOver: Toronto, The Revival will defend the NXT Tag Team Championship against #DIY in a 2 Out of 3 Falls match.
Rachael Evers vs. Ember Moon
According to Tom Philips, this is not the first time that we have seen Rachael Evers, but she probably didn’t make a lasting impression. Ember Moon, on the other hand, has impressed since her very first match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II when she defeated Billie Kay. Moon possesses a unique agility that is uncommon in WWE’s women’s divisions. On top of that, she has a mystique about her reminiscent of Mortal Kombat.
Rachael Evans gave it her all, but she had no chance. Ember Moon had a heavy arsenal loaded with quick strikes, and it was only the precursor to the twisting stunner that lays out Evers. It is clear that when Asuka assumedly defeats Mickie James at TakeOver, Ember Moon is going to be the next holder of the NXT Women’s Championship. Winner: Ember Moon
Match Announcement
A few weeks ago, Andrade “Cien” Almas attacked Cedric Alexander after the two men lost their first round match in the Dusty Classic. William Regal announces that next week, Almas and Alexander will go head to head.
Contract Signing (NXT Championship)
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way to the ring, and William Regal has put security guards in the ring to prevent a brawl from starting (because that worked so well last time). Samoa Joe doesn’t join them in the ring, and instead sets up his own table on the stage.
Right before Nakamura signs the contract, he attacks the security guards and powerbombs one of them through the table.
