Last week, NXT featured Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn draw for the second time, failing to determine the #1 Contender for Finn Balor’s NXT Championship. Tonight, hopefully this will be settled. Also, NXT features two tag team matches: American Alpha vs. Blake & Murphy, and Bayley & Carmella vs. Eva Marie & Nia Jax.
American Alpha vs. Blake & Murphy (w/Alexa Bliss)
Last week, American Alpha teamed up with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady to take on Blake and Murphy, as well as Dash and Dawson. American Alpha ended up being on the winning side last week, and now these two teams square off without any other teams with them.
After Jason Jordan nearly rips Blake and Murphy apart, he tags Chad Gable in for the launching back suplex double team for the win. Winners: American Alpha
Backstage Segment
General Manager William Regal is backstage to announced the solution to the #1 Contender issue. In two weeks, Sami Zayn will face Samoa Joe in a 2-out-of-3 falls match so that a definitive #1 Contender will be decided. Also, Regal announced that there is a big name wrestler coming to NXT next week. WWE has already announced on their website that both Austin Aries (known for his time in TNA and Ring of Honor) and Shinsuke Nakamura (known as arguably the biggest name in current Japanese wrestling) have been signed to NXT, so one of them should be on NXT next week.
Apollo Crews vs. Christopher Gerard
It has been a while since the NXT fans have seen Apollo Crews in action, or a meaningful feud. He is one of the most talented in-ring performers on the roster, with his impressive strength and speed. He had a decent feud with Baron Corbin a couple of months ago, as well as a very good match with Finn Balor earlier this year.
For those that don’t know Christopher Gerard, he is known on the independent scene as Biff Busick. I’m not sure if this is a one time match like when Rich Swann faced Baron Corbin, or if this is a more long-term deal.
Gerard (Busick) puts in a good effort, but Apollo Crews ends up hitting the toss-up spinning sit-out powerbomb for the win. Winner: Apollo Crews
Backstage Segment
Video from a security camera outside the Performance Center showed the current NXT Tag Team Champions attacking Enzo Amore in the parking lot. Before Dash and Dawson could get Enzo Amore completely out of the picture, Colin Cassady ran out and saved his tag team partner.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bull Dempsey
Tommaso Ciampa entered the NXT scene along with Johnny Gargano, and both have been very impressive in the last few months. Bull Dempsey, however, has been turned into a comedy character with his “Bull-fit” gimmick, where the running joke is that he is not actually fit. I don’t see this match going well for Bull Dempsey, considering the fact that he left NXT earlier this month.
After a pretty decent match, Tommaso Ciampa locks in a modified armbar for the win. Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Bayley & Carmella vs. Nia Jax & Eva Marie
A few weeks ago on NXT, Bayley defended her NXT Women’s Championship against Carmella, who earned the opportunity by winning a NXT Women’s Battle Royal. Even though Bayley won the match, Carmella and Bayley have stayed best friends. After both women celebrated their match in the ring, Nia Jax and Eva Marie attacked Carmella from behind, then attacked Bayley as well. Tonight, Bayley and Carmella have their shot at revenge.
Nia Jax had been pretty dominant since her NXT debut, but after losing to Bayley at NXT TakeOver: London, she has shifted out of the spotlight. Her partner, Eva Marie, has been slowly improving, but still has a long way to go to polish her in-ring skills. That said, Eva Marie has been doing a good job with her character, which she has had a lot of practice with on Total Divas.
Nia Jax hits three consecutive leg drops on Carmella, and Eva Marie tags herself in to get credit for the pinfall. Winners: Eva Marie & Nia Jax
To end the show, William Regal announces that next week on NXT, Finn Balor will take on the man who currently holds the record for longest NXT Championship title reign, Neville.
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