With TakeOver: Toronto getting closer and closer, NXT is starting to kick it into high gear. We saw two championship matches last week, and tonight, we see two top women square off, as well as the return of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Eric Young vs. Tye Dillinger
Tye Dillinger has been feuding with SAnitY for a couple months now, including a loss to Eric Young at TakeOver: San Antonio. Dillinger has refused to join the unstable group but Eric Young and company will not take “no” for an answer. After an attack on Dillinger, No Way Jose and Roderick Strong (who apparently are friends with the Perfect 10) helped him even the numbers game, and that backfired tonight.
The match was supposed to start, but Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe drag a beaten Roderick Strong to the entrance ramp. Dillinger leaves the ring to check on his friend, alongside No Way Jose. They don’t care about the numbers game and try to attack SAnitY, but the disadvantage gets the best of them and SanitY stands tall.
Backstage Segment
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay won the “NXT Breakout Star of the Year” award (even though they are two people), and they are scouring the WWE Performance Center in search of a place to show it off. They run into Ember Moon and make fun of her workout, and Moon challenges them to a fight. While she doesn’t get one there, Moon faces Kay later tonight.
Video Package
We get a video package promoting a wrestler who is walking in a church of some kind, but there is no indication of who he is. Perhaps we will find out more in the coming weeks.
Hoho Lun vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
Hoho Lun may be unfamiliar to NXT viewers, but this is not the first time he is competing in front of the WWE Universe. Lun was one of two Chinese competitors in the incredible Cruiserweight Classic, and while most of his colleagues have transitioned to either NXT or 205 Live (or as EVOLVE Champion if you’re Zack Sabre Jr.), Lun is just starting to make his return to WWE television.
Unfortunately, Lun faces Andrade “Cien” Almas, who has had a change of attitude which has increased his aggression, and has led to him winning more matches. Lun gets some offense in, but a hammerlock DDT is all Almas needs to put the Cruiserweight away. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Billie Kay (w/Peyton Royce) vs. Ember Moon
Asuka successfully retained the NXT Women’s Championship against Peyton Royce last week, so General Manager William Regal is using this match to help determine who will challenge the undefeated champion next. Moon is undefeated in her own right, while Kay can only seem to get victories with the help of Peyton Royce.
Peyton Royce tries to interfere when Ember Moon heads to the top rope, but Moon scares her down from the apron. Moon hits the Eclipse stunner on Kay, who appears to have a neck injury after the match. Winner: Ember Moon
The Revival vs. The Ealy Brothers
This is the second match of the night to never get started. The Revival have been messing with the Authors of Pain for weeks in pursuit of the NXT Tag Team Championships, and the tag champs aim to retaliate this week. Akam and Rezar attack the Ealy Brothers from behind before they get in the ring, and they are unable to get to Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder since the former 2-time champs scurry out of the ring.
Announcements
After tonight’s women’s division match, William Regal has decided a match for NXT TakeOver: Orlando. Asuka will defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Ember Moon.
Next week, Bobby Roode will defend his NXT Championship for the first time when he takes on the recently returned Kassius Ohno. The winner of that match will defend the title against Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: Orlando.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins
Since his knee injury that cost him the NXT Championship, Shinsuke Nakamura returns to in-ring action for the first time against someone who is as technically skilled as it gets. Perkins is the first Cruiserweight to compete in a singles match outside of the division, and it is refreshing. Having Cruiserweights compete with other WWE Superstars can help add variety to Raw and showcase different styles of their ring work.
Coming off the injury, Nakamura looked as good as ever. He battles with Perkins primarily in submission wrestling, but it is the Kinshasa knee that gives him the win. Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
