The John Report: WWE NXT 09/06/22 Review
This week’s WWE NXT featured Wes Lee facing JD McDonagh, Ricochet was against Trick Williams and the high fliers Nathan Frazer & Axiom started their best of three series. Plus, Bron Breakker & Tyler Bate teamed up in the main event.
It was the follow up show to the NXT Worlds Collide from Sunday. Bron Breakker remains the NXT Champion, Mandy Rose is still the NXT Women’s Champion and Pretty Deadly won the NXT Tag Team Titles as well. The NXT UK Titles will be gone now.
As usual, I’ll go summary style for the matches on most of the show and play-by-play for the main event.
This episode is taking place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. My WWE NXT Review archive is here. Let’s get to it.
There was a video recapping what happened at NXT Worlds Collide on Sunday.
Tyler Bate made his entrance in non-wrestling gear for a promo. The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett as usual.
Let’s Hear from Tyler Bate
The crowd was cheering for Bate as he thanked them all from the bottom of his heart. Bate thanked the fans for backing NXT UK from the very beginning and he wanted to thank Bron Breakker. Bate said that Bron said he proved he’s not just Breakker by name, but Breakker by nature. Bate said that he was grateful to share that magical moment with the fans. Bate talked about how he’ll forever be in the history books as the first and last NXT UK Champion while saying he hopes he represented NXT UK to the best of his ability.
The Gallus trio showed up for a promo telling Bate saying that he let the UK down and let the whole locker room down. They even added that Bate let all of Europe down. Joe Coffey wondered what happened to the “big strong boy” and Bate replied that they didn’t keep their end of the bargain either while asking about their Tag Team Titles. Gallus made their into the ring saying there were three of them and one of Bate, Gallus beat up security guys that tried to break it up. That led to Bron Breakker making a save with a clothesline for Wolfgang, a clothesline for Mark Coffey and a belly-to-belly suplex for Joe as well. Bate punched Joe out of the ring.
Breakker said that on Sunday, worlds collided and tonight those worlds are going to unify. Bron said he’s standing with Tyler because they are going to kick Gallus’ ass.
Analysis: A simple way to set up a tag team match. Bate is a very likable babyface that has earned the respect of the crowd due to his incredible matches. The Gallus trio are very effective working together as a heel group. Having Breakker make the save to set up a tag team match made logical sense since he respected Bate.
The tag team Pretty Deadly had the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Titles celebrating their win at Worlds Collide while claiming they are the best team of all time. Lash Legend was happy about the win while the guys told her to frame the NXT UK Tag Team Titles and Pretty Deadly left with the NXT Tag Team Titles.
The Toxic Attraction team of Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne made their entrance for tag team action.
(Commercial)
A commercial aired for Smackdown this Friday telling us to acknowledge a bigger and badder edition of The Bloodline with Solo Sikoa. Braun Strowman will also appear on Smackdown in Seattle.
They showed some comments from Meiko Satomura (after she was talking to Roxanne Perez) after Worlds Collide and Cora Jade interrupted her. Jade trash-talked Meiko asking for a match, but Meiko said she’s facing Roxanne Perez.
The lovely Mandy Rose was not with her team because she posted on Instagram with her two titles strategically placed while Rose is on “vacation” according to her.
The team of Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. were in action again after losing at Worlds Collide and at Raw as well.
Toxic Attraction – Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne vs. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.
Nikki hit a running clothesline on Dolin followed by Doudrop tagging in with a clothesline. Jayne tagged in for the first time with some offense and Nikki came back with a dropkick, corner splash and a bulldog. Nikki went up top for a move, Jayne tripped her up and Nikki bumped to the floor. Jayne hit a dive on Nikki on the floor and Dolin kicked Doudrop as well leading to a break.
(Commercial)
The Toxic ladies were in control as Jayne hit a cannonball on Nikki in the corner for two. Jayne hit a neckbreaker to prevent Nikki from tagging out. Doudrop tagged in soon after that as she hit a senton elbow on both opponents for two. Doudrop hit her own corner splash on Dolin and then a splash off the ropes for two. Nikki trapped Jayne against the apron in the Finlay spot. Doudrop hit a Michinoku Driver and a running splash on Dolin for the win. Doudrop was bleeding from the nose. It went 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.
Analysis: **3/4 It was a solid tag team match with Doudrop & Nikki picking up a big win after losing the previous two nights. Jayne & Dolin work well as a team, but it wasn’t a match where they got many nearfalls or built up with an exciting finish. Nikki took care of Jacy on the floor so that Doudrop could finish Dolin in the ring.
Apollo Crews was shown walking in the same place where they filmed Roxanne Perez last week. Crews talked about Grayson Waller doing two eye pokes (one was accidental and the other was on purpose) with Crews saying all he can do is storm ahead. Crews had some red/blood that was visible in his eye saying he’s not afraid of the unknown.
Wes Lee vs. JD McDonagh
JD got some offense going with a shoulder tackle, but Lee used his speed and quickness to break free. JD got a hair pull takedown. Lee hit a monkey flip followed by a dropkick to the floor followed by Lee doing a somersault dive over the top onto JD on the floor.
(Commercial)
JD took over during the break with an armbar, but Lee made a comeback with some kicks along with a double stomp to the back. With JD on the floor, Lee hit a suicide dive onto JD, who went crashing over the commentary table. JD even grabbed Vic’s pants while on the ground. Back in the ring, Lee got a knee to the head, but JD came back with a headbutt that knocked Lee down leading to “NXT” chants. JD held onto Lee’s hand leading to a kick to the face and the Devil Inside belly to back suplex for the pinfall win after ten minutes.
Winner by pinfall: JD McDonagh
Analysis: *** An entertaining match between two very athletic guys that matched up evenly. Since JD is pushed more than Lee, it made sense that he would win. Lee isn’t really getting pushed much as a face even though he is very talented when the bell rings.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly walked up to Tony D’Angelo and Stacks, who went to get them some Espresso. Tony asked if they got Damon to screw Diamond Mine and do it for free. Pretty Deadly claimed they did it on their own, then they left and Tony laughed about it.
Roxanne Perez entered for singles action.
(Commercial)
Next week’s NXT 2.0 is the one anniversary of the brand.
The announcers talked about how the fans can vote for who has been the biggest superstar of the last year. Wade said he’ll vote for Mandy Rose. I agree with that choice, but I assume Bron Breakker will win.
Meiko Satomura entered for her first match on NXT TV after losing the NXT UK Title at Worlds Collide.
Roxanne Perez vs. Meiko Satomura
There was a big age difference here with Meiko at 43 years old this year and Perez is 21. They shook hands to start the match. Meiko was aggressive early on with a leaping shoulder tackle and drove her knees into the jaw. Perez got an armdrag takedown, but Meiko broke free. Perez did a nice counter of a move into a Crossface submission only for Meiko to break free. Perez hit a dive onto Meiko on the floor while Cora Jade was shown watching and she wasn’t impressed. Jade left as they went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
When the match returned, Perez got a really good nearfall after a hurricanrana off the top rope. Perez thought that was it. Meiko hit an impressive jumping up kick and the Scorpio Rising kick for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Meiko Satomura
Analysis: *** That’s a good learning experience for Perez since Meiko is so talented. What I like about Perez is she sells really well, has good facial expressions and her offense looks credible. Perez is really young, so she’ll keep getting better too. I’m not surprised that Meiko got the win.
Post match, Meiko and Perez shook hands and bowed together in the ring. After Meiko left, Cora Jade went into the ring with her black kendo stick and she hit Perez in the back. Meiko went into the ring, so Jade left to the back with the crowd booing her.
Analysis: That should lead to Meiko wrestling Jade next week.
The team of Bron Breakker and Tyler Bate were shown getting ready backstage. They agreed to kick some Gallus add later in the main event.
A video was shown with Damon Kemp talking over it saying that the whole world was talking about him on Sunday, but that’s not how it started. Kemp talked about how The Creed Brothers were dominant Tag Team Champions, but he got nothing while Roderick Strong didn’t put him in the singles division. Strong claimed that he beat Brutus in college. Kemp said he stirred the drink between Julius and Roderick so he took Diamond Mine apart from the inside. Kemp smiled about how he beat up Strong in the parking lot, then The Creed Brothers shut him down when he talked to them and that led to Kemp costing them the Tag Team Titles. Kemp ended it saying: “It’s not Diamond Mine forever, it’s Damon Kemp forever.” That was it.
Analysis: That should lead to a solid heel push for Damon Kemp, whose real name is Bobby Steveson, the brother of Gold Medalist Gable Steveson. I like his offensive moves a lot as a former amateur wrestler that throws a lot of suplexes. It will be interesting to see how he does moving forward.
Ricochet entered for singles action.
(Commercial)
They showed Schism backstage with their smiley faces while Kiana James was with her lovely assistant, who tossed the smiley face button in the garbage. They showed Ariana Grace backstage, then James said that Grace was exactly what she’s looking for and Grace said that she can’t stand Nikkita or Zoey. They agreed to train together at 6am, so that should lead to a tag team match. They are all pretty. That’s not a shock.
Ricochet vs. Trick Williams
The NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes was on commentary here. Ricochet was aggressive with a kick and then he slowed it down with an armbar. Trick got a bit of offense with a spin kick using his long legs as a taller guy. Ricochet countered a suplex, but Trick came back with an uppercut strike for a two count. When Ricochet tried a springboard move, Trick knocked him down and Ricochet bumped to the floor. Ricochet made the comeback with a kick along with a springboard clothesline. Hayes said Ricochet has a big ego, which is hypocritical of a guy with a big ego. Ricochet hit the Recoil knees with Trick doing a big sell for it. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press for the pinfall win after five minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricochet
Analysis: **1/4 A basic match to put over Ricochet after he lost to Hayes at Worlds Collide. It’s just like Satomura and Doudrop/Nikki winning earlier. Trick had good some offense in the match. I like seeing Trick doing some kicks and other kinds of moves using his legs because he’s a taller guy, so he should be doing that.
Post match, Ricochet had a staredown with Hayes to tease a future match.
Analysis: I don’t know if the plan is to have Ricochet stay in NXT for a little while longer or if he’ll be back on Smackdown. The match between Ricochet & Hayes at Worlds Collide was a highlight on that show.
They showed Tony D’Angelo and Stacks having some coffee and Cameron Grimes walked up to them just like at Worlds Collide. Grimes told Tony that the answer is no, not today, tomorrow or any day because Grimes doesn’t need anybody. Tony mentioned the last two guys aren’t here anymore because he ran them out (Tommaso Ciampa & Santos Escobar). Grimes said he is not like those guys, Stacks said people respect them and Grimes threw his coffee onto Stacks. That led to Tony and Stacks beating up Grimes and putting him through a table.
Analysis: Poor Grimes. At least it should set up a match for Grimes against Tony D soon.
Nathan Frazer made his entrance.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Sol Ruca coming soon. I don’t know who that is, but we’ll find out soon.
The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile were interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell. Brutus was fired up saying that they will correct what happened on Sunday and then Damon Kemp is a dead man. The NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly walked up saying that the fans can pick the stipulation for their title match next week. Julius told PD that next week he’ll take out his rage on their bitch asses.
The masked man Axiom was up next for the match against Frazier that was set up last week.
Nathan Frazer vs. Axiom
This is the first match in a best of three series between them. Frazer was trained by Seth Rollins and Axiom was previously known as A-Kid. They are great athletes, so they did some quick pin attempts with counters and then a staredown after both guys landed on their feet. The fans were chanting for both guys as they like to do. Frazer dropkicked Axiom out of the ring followed by Frazer hitting a suicide dive. Frazer’s leg hit the middle rope, but he did manage to Axiom enough to knock him down.
(Commercial)
Axiom sent Frazer out of the ring and Axiom hit a dive onto Frazer on the floor. Back in the ring, Axiom hit a cross body block off the top for two. After Axiom applied a headlock, Frazer hit a neckbreaker/suplex-style move. Frazer got some offense going with some athletic moves including a reverse DDT with an elbow drop. Axiom got an inside cradle and Frazer hit a Slingblade. Axiom tried for submission moves, but Frazer got his foot on the bottom rope. Axiom got a nearfall after a forearm to the face followed by Axiom hitting a jumping side kick for the pinfall win. It was about 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Axiom
Analysis: ***1/2 That was a very good match. These guys are great athletes and they showed it in this match. It wasn’t an exciting finish, but that’s okay because they are going to have more matches to build off of this. It was also a match where it was tough to predict the winner, so Axiom winning was fine with me because I didn’t know who would win. Maybe next time they’ll have more aerial moves in the match. Since it’s a best of three series then I assume Frazer will win the next match.
There was a backstage scene with cocky newcomer Javier Bernal arguing with some security guys and one guy named Hank from security while Gallus made their entrance for tag team action.
The Gallus trio made their entrance for the main event.
(Commercial)
A video aired featuring the “SuperDiva” Quincy Elliott, who let us know he is coming to NXT next week.
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell. Hayes said that Ricochet doesn’t have what he has and that’s the A Championship (NXT North American Champion). Hayes said that the WWE Universe gets to vote on who Trick defends the title against next week.
Next week on NXT:
* NXT 2.0 1-Year Anniversary Celebration
* NXT Tag Team Championship: Pretty Deadly (c) vs. The Creed Brothers – WWE Universe chooses the match stipulation.
* Tony D’Angelo & Stacks vs. Cameron Grimes & ???
* Zoey Stark & Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James & Arianna Grace
* Hank Walker vs. Javier Bernal
* NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs ??? – WWE Universe chooses a challenger.
Tyler Bate made his entrance for the main event followed by the NXT Champion Bron Breakker.
Bron Breakker & Tyler Bate vs. Gallus (Joe & Mark Coffey) w/Wolfgang
It’s the main event, so I’ll go play-by-play for it. Bron and Joe exchanged shoulder tackles followed by Bron hitting a running clothesline. Bate tagged in with a splash off the middle ropes. Joe got an armbar, Mark got the tag and Bate got out of an armbar leading to a dropkick. Bron and Bate each hit delayed vertical suplexes on the Coffey boys. Bron and Bate each hit standing moonsaults as well as a Steiner Brothers like pose as the show went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Bate with a headscissors and dropkick that sent Mark out of the ring. Bate hit a dive over the top onto Mark on the floor. Wolfgang sent Bate into the ring post when the referee wasn’t looking. Joe hit a backbreaker on Bate for a two count. Mark slammed Bate down while legal man Joe hit an elbow drop on Bate for two. Joe applied a bearhug on Bate along with a forearm to the back into another bearhug. Bate broke free leading to Bron getting the tag with shoulder tackles on Joe along with a powerslam. Bron with a belly to belly suplex on Joe, then Mark tagged in and Bron hit a spinebuster on Mark. Bron put Mark on his shoulders and Bate jumped off the top for a double team bulldog like the Steiner Brothers for a two count. Bate punched Wolfgang, Bron with a Spear on Joe, Bate with a clothesline and Bate hit the Tyler Driver 97 on Mark for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Bron Breakker & Tyler Bate
Analysis: ***1/4 A solid tag team match here. The Gallus boys didn’t really have many moments where it looked like they might win so I would have had them get some more nearfalls. Bate was impressive throughout the match while Bron really wasn’t in the ring much and then Bate got the win. It was all about putting over Bate after he lost at Worlds Collide, which was a running theme on this show.
After the match, JD McDonagh attacked Bate while knocking Bron out of the ring. JD hit his belly to back suplex on Bate and Bron went into the ring, so JD ran away into the crowd. JD stared from the steps in the crowd and Bron/Bate stared back at him. That was the end.
Analysis: It sets up a new rivalry between Bate and JD, so that should set up a good match whenever they do it.
Three Stars of the Show
- Bron Breakker/Tyler Bate
- Axiom
- Meiko Satomura
The Scoreboard
This week: 7 out of 10
Last week: 7
Final Thoughts
It was a solid show this week. No major angles or anything that big, but some good matches throughout the episode. I thought Bron Breakker & Tyler Bate worked really well together against Gallus and then Bate was attacked by JD McDonagh so that’s a new feud. The Frazer/Axiom match was a lot of fun.
There were two women’s matches that were decent with Meiko Satomura picking up the win against Roxanne Perez, who continues to impress me every time I see her. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. got a win after losing two straight nights before that, so that helps them a bit.
The results this week saw four different wrestlers (counting a tag team) picking up wins after they lost at Worlds Collide. I guess you could say those wrestlers were rehabbed by putting them in matches where they picked up wins. Next week is the NXT 2.0 1-year anniversary episode.
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John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
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