Last week on NXT, we saw the match from an Osaka, Japan house show where Shinsuke Nakamura won back the NXT Championship from Samoa Joe to become the second two-time NXT Champion ever (the first was Samoa Joe). Tonight, we see Samoa Joe cashing in his rematch at a Melbourne, Australia house show that took place last week. This time, the two meet inside a steel cage.
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe – NXT Championship (Steel Cage Match)
This is only the second steel cage match in NXT history, with the first also including Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe was victorious in that cage match, where he successfully defended the NXT Championship against the first-ever WWE Universal Champion, Finn Balor (remember that?).
Nakamura was planning on leaving through the cage door to win the match, but he decides to finish the match inside the ring. He closes the door, then hits Samoa Joe with two Kinshasa knee strikes to lay out Samoa Joe once and for all, retaining the NXT Championship. This very well might have been the last time we see Samoa Joe in NXT. Winner, and STILL NXT Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
Backstage Segment
A few weeks ago on NXT, Ember Moon, Liv Morgan, and Aliyah teamed up to take on Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, and Dario Berenato. Kay and Royce kept tagging Berenato in even though she was beat up from the match, and ate a stunner from Ember Moon so her partners could claim that they didn’t lose the match.
Berenato approaches Kay and Royce backstage, and challenges one of them to a match next week for what they did to her (she doesn’t care who she faces).
Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young (w/Nikki Cross & Alexander Wolfe) – Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match
This match is the first of four that will start to help determine the #1 Contender to Shinsuke Nakamura’s NXT Championship. Whoever wins this match will be the first NXT Superstar confirmed for a fatal four way match next week, where the winner of that match will be the #1 Contender.
Tye Dillinger knocks Alexander Wolfe off of the apron, then Nikki Cross storms the ring and attacks Dillinger from behind. Dillinger dispels all of SAnitY, well… most of SAnitY. Dillinger thinks that he’s safe, when Damo (the man who attacked No Way Jose last week) attacks him from behind and lays him out after a brutal senton. Winner (via disqualification): Tye Dillinger
No Way Jose vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas – Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match
This is the second of four qualifying matches, and this one is between two up and coming NXT Superstars who would make waves becoming the #1 Contender for the NXT Championship. No Way Jose and Andrade “Cien” Almas have seen some ups and down over the past couple months, so winning this match is the first step leading to something potentially career changing.
Almas kicks out of a pop-up right hook, then wraps Jose up like a pretzel to hit a very unusual DDT, gaining his spot in the fatal four way match next week. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Elias Samson vs. Roderick Strong – Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match
This is an interesting pairing when thinking about a potential future NXT Champion. We have Elias Samson, who has possibly the worst gimmick in all of WWE (The Shining Stars are close), and we have Roderick Strong, who is wrestling his third or fourth match in NXT.
The Drifter has a strong start, but Roderick Strong hits Samson with a swift running boot to pick up the victory. Winner: Roderick Strong
Oney Lorcan vs. Bobby Roode – Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match
There is one spot left in the #1 Contender’s Fatal Four Way match, and it will either go to Oney Lorcan or Bobby Roode. Lorcan and Roode are two very different Superstars. Roode is all about showmanship, seen in his “glorious” entrance. Lorcan doesn’t care about being flashy, but instead he will he hard and hit often.
Lorcan misses a Blockbuster, then Roode capitalizes with a spinebuster and a lifting DDT to put Lorcan away and take the final spot in next week’s Fatal Four Way match. Winner: Bobby Roode
