Tonight is the last episode of NXT before TakeOver: San Antonio this Saturday. While NXT always puts on a good-to-fantastic show with their TakeOver events, this upcoming card seems a little lackluster compared to recent NXT specials. Tonight’s episode is the last chance to get the WWE Universe excited for the show in the Alamodome, headlined by Shinsuke Nakamura defending the NXT Championship against Bobby Roode.
Ember Moon vs. Liv Morgan
Both Ember Moon and Liv Morgan are gunning for the NXT Women’s Championship. Unfortunately, neither of them are involved in the championship fatal four way match this Saturday. Ember Moon debuted in August at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, where she defeated Billie Kay. Since then, Moon has still not lost, and is the most likely name to be in the NXT Women’s Championship conversation.
Liv Morgan has been a regular on NXT television over the past few months, and she became a little too overconfident. Morgan would challenge Asuka to an exhibition match, but she would lose in under a minute. Morgan believes she’s better now, and she issued a challenge to one of the other undefeated women in NXT.
Morgan locks in a guillotine choke, but Ember Moon just throws her over the top rope to the floor. Moon throws Morgan back in the ring, then hits the Moon Landing stunner to put the New Jersey native away. After the match, they both shake hands. Winner: Ember Moon
Backstage Segment
Andrade “Cien” Almas is being interviewed by a new backstage employee, when he is interrupted by his opponent at TakeOver: San Antonio, Roderick Strong. Strong dares Almas to kick him in the face, and Almas starts walking away. Strong proceeds to answer a question of his own, when Almas turns around and sucker punches Strong. Their brawl was short, but it could give us a glimpse into the intensity of their upcoming match.
No Way Jose vs. Kona Reeves
Several weeks ago, Kona Reeves competed against the current Cruiserweight Champion, Rich Swann. The match wouldn’t be decided by the two men involved, since SAnitY decided to interfere and assault both competitors. No Way Jose would rush the ring to save Swann, who was his partner in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Last week, Reeves approached No Way Jose and he was angry that Jose didn’t bother to help him out. Reeves declared their friendship to be over, and demanded a match for tonight.
Kona Reeves wants to stop the party early on, but unfortunately for him, the party goes on. No Way Jose hits a pop-up punch, laying out Reeves for the win. Jose is about to be asked questions for a post-match interview, when he is immediately interrupted by “The Drifter,” Elias Samson. Samson sings a song specifically for Jose, but Jose and the entire NXT Universe jeer him. Samson rushes the ring, but after Jose tries to attack him, The Drifter retreats. Winner: No Way Jose
Chris Atkins vs. Eric Young (w/Nikki Cross, Alexander Wolfe, & Killian Dain)
This is the first time Chris Atkins is on NXT television, and it’s surprising he got an entrance, considering this is almost guaranteed to be a squash match. This is also the first time we’re seeing “Killian Dain,” but the man behind the name has been on before under the name “Damo.” The name change makes sense, and it fits in well with the unstable group of SAnitY.
Following a very impressive hanging choke in the corner to Chris Atkins, Eric Young picks up the victory after his signature wheelbarrow neckbreaker. This was the win that Young needed to build some momentum going into Saturday, where he takes on Tye Dillinger. Winner: Eric Young
Announcement
Last week, TM61 managed to pick a roll-up victory over former 2-time NXT Tag Team Champions, The Revival. After the match, The Revival turned their anger and frustration into a post-match beatdown, but Shane Thorne would suffer gravely. After checking in with the WWE doctors, Thorne would need to undergo knee and meniscus surgery, putting him (and essentially Nick Miller) out of action for 7-9 months.
Women’s Championship Face-Off
Before the Women’s Championship Fatal Four Way Match between Asuka, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay, and Peyton Royce, William Regal has scheduled an orderly session where the four women cut promos. Obviously, this didn’t happen. Kay and Royce team up and take on Asuka and Cross. The two latter women then fight with each other, ending the show laid out amidst several security guards.
