The John Report: WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2022 Review
This is the WWE NXT Halloween Havoc Premium Live Event featuring three title matches along with unique stipulations on a card with six matches.
It’s time for Halloween Havoc. In the past couple of years, it was just a USA Network TV special and now it’s a Premium Live Event. My archive of NXT Premium Live Events/Takeover shows is on TJRWrestling right here if you want to read any of them from the past. I’m watching on WWE Network here in Canada and it’s on Peacock for those of you in the USA. Let’s get to it.
During the Kickoff Show, they did “Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal” for the Apollo Crews-Grayson Waller match and it landed on Casket Match.
NXT Worlds Collide
WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida
October 22, 2022
The opening video was narrated by the evil doll Chucky since there’s a Chucky show on USA Network.
It started with Quincy Elliott and Shotzi welcoming us to the show. Shotzi had on a Joker-like costume while Elliott had a wig on. They were in the WWE PC building as usual where NXT’s TV show takes place.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T at ringside.
The ladder match was up first with Nathan Frazer out first while the North American Title was hanging above the ring. Oro Mensah was next followed by Wes Lee, and Von Wager (with Robert Stone). The two-time NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes was last with Trick Williams standing on the platform talking about his buddy a bit. Wagner is easily the biggest guy in the match.
Ladder Match for the Vacant NXT North American Championship: Nathan Frazer vs. Oro Mensah vs. Von Wagner vs. Carmelo Hayes
Lee hit a superkick on Hayes. Wagner splashed Mensah and tossed Frazer onto Mensah. Frazer and Mensah superkicked Wagner out of the ring. Frazer with a running forearm on Mensah. Frazer jumped off the top with a cross body block on Wagner on the floor. Frazer brought a ladder into the ring, Hayes, jumped over the ladder, but then Frazer/Mensah knocked Hayes and Lee down with the ladder. Hayes knocked Mensah out of the ring. Frazer launched Hayes into a ladder that was against the turnbuckle. Frazer did the first ladder climb up the match, Mensah pulled Frazer down and tossed Frazer across the ring for a bump to the floor. Mensah hit a spinning kick on Lee. Hayes back in with Mensah giving Hayes a back body drop onto a ladder. Lee dropkicked Mensah onto a ladder. Lee kicked a ladder that was against Wagner in the corner. Wagner came back with a boot to the face leading to Lee doing a flip bump. Wagner sent Mensah into a ladder and knocked down Frazer with the ladder. Wagner gave Frazer a Powerbomb onto a ladder that was against the ropes. Hayes back in, Wagner punched Hayes, but then Hayes flipped over leading to a bulldog into the mat. Hayes tried a climb, Frazer hit him with a missile dropkick and Lee jumped off the ropes with a ladder onto Frazer on the mat. The fans chanted “holy shit” and then “this is awesome” after that. Mensah with an ax kick onto Lee, Mensah dropkicked Wager and a moonsault on Lee on the ladder. Hayes with a kick to the head of Mensah and a leg drop driving Mensah onto a ladder held by Williams. Frazer jumped onto the middle rope with Lee leading to a Spanish Fly style slam onto the ladder! That was a great spot from two incredible athletes. Wagner with a Chokeslam on Frazer and Lee got back into it with a few kicks on Wagner. Hayes hit a running clothesline on Lee over the top to the floor. Mensah climbed the ladder, but Trick Williams tilted the ladder, so Mensah bumped over the top onto the four guys on the floor. Williams and Mr. Stone each climbed up the ladder, Stone even hit Williams with a shoe and Williams pushed the ladder so Stone bumped onto the top leading to Stone bumping to the floor. Stone is a former wrestler known as Robbie E, so he is fine doing a bump like that. The fans chanted “NXT” for them.
Mensah tried a climb, Wagner stopped that and Wagner hit all of his opponents with a ladder. Wagner tried setting up a ladder bridge, so Lee kicked Wagner onto the ladder. Wagner was laying on the ladder, Frazer jumped off the top and hit a Frog Splash onto Wagner to break the ladder. The fans chanted “holy shit” for that with good reason! There were some more dives by the guys on the floor as they took turns doing spots. Lee hit a somersault off the steel steps onto Hayes on the floor. Lee grabbed a giant ladder from under the ring. Wagner was back up even though he was put through a ladder and the fans chanted “no” as Wagner set up a ladder. Wagner pulled Lee down a ladder and Wagner launched Lee over the top onto the commentary table! The table didn’t break, but it looked like a rough bump for Lee as he slid off the table and got to the floor. Wagner climbed, Frazer stopped him with punches and kicks. Wagner caught Frazer, but Frazer sent Wagner out of the ring. Wagner sent Frazer into the barricade. Mensah splashed Wagner into the barricade. Wagner and Mensah knocked Wagner over the barricade briefly, then Wagner was back up. Frazer and Mensah teamed up to smash a ladder onto Wagner repeatedly. Frazer and Mensah each climbed the tall ladder in the ring and they fought near the top. Mensah shoved Frazer down and Hayes set up a ladder bridge. Frazer pulled Mensah off the ladder and sent Mensah out of the ring. Hayes was close, so Lee hit a springboard punch to the back to stop Hayes. Lee knocked down Hayes with a ladder, but Hayes was back up to stop Lee. Hayes and Lee were standing on the ladder bridge as they exchanged punches. Lee jumped off the ladder with the Meteora (double knees) on Hayes on the ladder bridge. Lee climbed up to the top of the ladder and pulled the title down to become the NXT North American Champion. The fans cheered for Lee, who celebrated on the ladder. It went 19:17.
Winner AND NEW NXT North American Champion: Wes Lee
Analysis: ****1/4 That was a terrific match. I’m happy with the result of Wes Lee winning his first singles title in WWE. It wasn’t my prediction, but I’m certainly fine with it. They did a lot of innovative high spots from start to finish and some big bumps by everybody involved, even the allies outside the ring. I thought maybe Lee and Hayes could have done a bigger spot before the finish, but I think the idea was that Lee rocked Hayes enough with the double knee ladder spot, so that was enough for Lee to get back up and pick the win. I actually picked Wagner to win due to the size advantage as well as a belief that I thought they wanted to push him, but I’m certainly fine with being on. Even though Lee won, I thought Frazer was the star of the match because he’s such a talented guy that can do it all and knows how to be innovative as well. I enjoyed the match a lot.
Wes Lee celebrated with the title while the fans cheered him. The fans loved it and Lee was showing a lot of emotion.
Analysis: Wes was a tag team guy for a lot of years, but now he’s thriving as a singles star. They really didn’t put him over that much in the past although now you can say this was his breakout win. I’m happy for Wes.
A video aired promoting WWE Crown Jewel in two weeks on November 5th.
There was a video about Bianca Belair.
They showed JD McDonagh in the locker room getting ready
There were some masked guys carrying a casket out to ringside.
A promo from Alba Fyre was shown with Fyre inviting Rose to fight somewhere. Earlier on the Kickoff Show, Mandy said she was going to fight her there and bring her back to finish her in the ring.
They showed Mandy Rose driving up to the haunted house with Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin, so all of Toxic Attraction was there. Jacy was scared while Rose and Dolin were ready to fight. There was a creepy dude that touched Jayne, so she punched him down. The girls walked toward the haunted house, then the door opened and Alba Fyre could he beard saying: “Mandy, let’s play.” Rose suggested they split up, then Jayne was freaking out and Dolin mocked Jayne for being afraid with Dolin saying she loved Halloween. Rose said they were splitting up while Jayne didn’t want to split up.
Jayne was shown walking down a hallway looking nervous and Fyre got a hold of Jayne, so Fyre pulled Jayne back to some room. Dolin sat down at a table with some creepy figures including Chucky. Fyre was there, so she attacked Dolin. Fyre fought with Dolin, some weird guy scared Dolin and Fyre kicked her into something that looked like a fridge, so that was it for Dolin.
Rose was shown walking into a room where she kicked some ghoul down. Rose touched a key on an organ, then as she walked, there was some random music playing and Fyre appeared out of nowhere. Fyre drove Rose into a wall and Rose hit Fyre with the bat. Rose near fell into some well, then some creepy dude said “don’t fall in” and Fyre choked Rose out. Fyre put Rose in the back seat of the car that the Toxic Attraction girls arrived in. Fyre hit Jayne and Dolin with a bat. Fyre drove away from the Haunted House with Rose in the car, so we are supposed to think they were coming to the building.
Analysis: That was unique. They have done the Haunted House thing in NXT before, so we got to see it again here. It’s a way to do something different on the show. I thought there were some good moments while it was also a bit cheesy at times too. Normally I like anything with Mandy, but I wouldn’t call this a great segment. If you liked it more than me that’s certainly fine. I don’t think a show with six matches on it really needs something like that.
A video aired about the Apollo Crews match against Grayson Waller.
Casket Match: Grayson Waller vs. Apollo Crews
The way to win this match is by putting your opponent in the casket at ringside and shut the lid. I missed the first minute or say to come back with Waller hitting an elbow drop off the ropes. Crews sent Waller out of the ring and hit a moonsault onto Waller on the floor. Waller charged at Crews, who hit a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. They were in the ring briefly, then back out of the ring and Crews sent Waller onto the table. Waller used Vic’s pen to hit Crews in the eye. The eye has been a part of the story between them. They were battling on the apron, Waller was on the turnbuckle, Crews went after him there and Waller did a thumb to the eye. Crews bumped onto the casket and landed in the casket. Booker thought the match was over, but it was not because the referee told Waller you had to put the guy in the casket, not just have him land there. The lights went out in the building, then the lights came back on and the druids brought another casket towards the ring. Crews was back up looking fine as he sent Waller into the steel steps. Waller avoided an attack with the steps on the floor, but Crews caught Waller and Crews hit a fallaway slam on the floor. Crews hit a moonsault off the middle step onto Waller on the floor. They had a much larger casket at ringside this time. Crews hit corner clotheslines followed by some repeated stomps in the corner. Crews lifted up Waller leading to a slam onto Apollo’s two knees. Crews rolled Waller into the open casket at ringside, but Waller got back up to stop the lid from shutting. Waller slammed the casket lid onto Apollo’s back a few times. Crews prevented the lid from closing and they were both in the casket as they exchanged punches and knocked eachother down into a seated position. Crews tossed Waller onto the floor. Crews hit a Frog Splash off the ladder onto Waller on the floor. Waller was on the apron, Crews kicked him in the head and Waller jumped back into the ring with a Stunner. Waller teased a Tombstone, Crews countered and Crews did a move where he drove both knees into Waller. Crews pushed Waller into the casket and Waller blocked it again. They fought on the apron again, Crews sent Waller into the turnbuckle and Crews hit a spinebuster into the casket. Crews closed the casket to get the win at 12:58.
Winner by pinfall: Apollo Crews
Analysis: *** This was a good match where they worked hard and fought around the ring a lot. I wouldn’t call it great or anything like that. Some big bumps by both guys in the match. That spot where Waller thought he won by sending Crews through the casket was a nice fake tease of the finish. Crews winning was the right result because this was the end of the rivalry and it made sense for the face to win.
There was a Chase U skit with Duke Hudson joining the “class” with Bodhi Hayward saying he didn’t like it. Andre Chase had a lecture about Halloween Havoc teaching history to the class. Bodhi got something wrong while Duke got it right. Bodhi told Andre he didn’t trust Duke, Andre said he didn’t trust him either, but Andre told Bodhi to prepare better for class. Bodhi said he’ll be better on Tuesday.
Analysis: It’s a way to have a storyline with Chase U instead of just having Chase yelling at the students for getting things wrong.
There was a commercial for Raw promoting Bianca Belair facing Bayley.
A video package aired about Bobby Lashley.
There was a commercial for WWE Shop.
They showed Alba Fyre driving the car with Mandy Rose in the back. Alba is such a nice kidnapper that she lets a camera guy into the car.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly were interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell where they talked about being the best tag team in NXT. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance walked in with their titles. Both teams are defending their titles on NXT this Tuesday.
Cora Jade made her entrance for the Weapons Wild Match. They did not get a video package even though this has been a long feud. Roxanne Perez was next.
Weapons Wild Match: Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade
It’s 21-year-old Cora against 20-year-old Roxanne, who turns 21 in a few weeks. They are young women in this industry. Perez brought a skateboard, which was Jade’s weapon in the past, but now the heel Jade has black kendo stick. Jade tried to run away, Perez hit her with the skateboard and they went back into the ring with Perez sending Jade into the skateboard. Perez sent Jade on the skateboard out of the ring. Perez hit a suicide dive onto Jade. Perez set up a table against the barricade. Perez was hiding under the ring, Perez pulled her out and Jade sprayed something into Roxanne’s eyes. Jade swung Perez into the barricade a few times. Jade brought a bunch of weapons into the ring including four chairs and a trash can. Jade hit Perez in the back with the trash can followed by a kick while the can was on Perez. Jade kicked Perez out of the ring. Jade hit Perez with a broom. Jade used a rope that she put in Perez’s mouth while pulling back on Perez’s head. Jade tried a chain attack, but Perez avoided it and Jade hit the steps with it. Perez sent Jade into the steel steps. Perez jumped onto Jade followed by some weak looking punches. Both women could improve the form on their worked punches. Perez hit a forearm to knock Jade down. Perez worked over Jade repeatedly with a kendo stick along with a legsweep using the kendo stick for a two count. Perez hit two running uppercuts, but Jade blocked the Pop Rox move. Jade hit a running knee for a two count. Jade went to the turnbuckle, Perez went after her and Perez hit a top rope hurricanrana for a two count. Jade left the ring to try to run away. Jade went into the crowd, then they climbed up to the platform in the back part of the building. Jade gave Perez a body slam on the platform. Jade looked down on the table under the platform so Jade took the barricade off. Booker: “What the hell?” He likes that phrase. There was a table under them. Perez got back up with punches, then Perez stopped herself, Jade got a hold of Roxanne and they both bumped backwards onto a table. There were actually two tables beside eachother, but they only hit one table. They were about 12 feet high or so.
Jade and Perez slowly got back up at the same time with the referee talking to them, which is probably the referee telling them how much time was left. They went into the ring with Jade saying “you were never my friend.” Jade went for a move on the chairs, but Perez hit a back body drop onto the chair. Perez said “you were always my friend.” Perez hit the Pop Rox on Jade onto the chairs for the pinfall win. It went 12:25.
Winner by pinfall: Roxanne Perez
Analysis: **3/4 It was a slightly above average match. I think what hurt the match is that they didn’t go for pinfalls enough. There were some of them by the end, but not enough for my liking. The table spot off the platform was a big move. I thought they should have sold it even longer than they did. That was followed by the referee giving them the time cue and they went home about one minute after that. They tried their best, but had some spots that didn’t look great while some of the weapons were silly. A broom? The rope? The chain wasn’t even really used. I think the right person won since Cora won the last match, so it makes sense to have the face Perez get the victory here.
Roxanne Perez celebrated the win with a smile while Booker was happy because he helped train her before she was in WWE.
A commercial aired for Crown Jewel.
There was a video about The Miz.
They showed a mask being tossed into a fire. I don’t know what that was for. (Update: Rumor is it’s for Dominik Dijakovic aka former T-Bar returning to NXT. That’s cool.)
Ilja Dragunov was shown getting ready while a Chucky doll was shown looking at him.
Vic was on camera talking about how the final Premium Live Event of the year is NXT Deadline on December 10th. We knew that a few days ago, but it’s official now.
Let’s Hear from Shotzi and Quincy Elliott
Shotzi made her entrance for a promo in the ring. It was Beetlejuice outfit. Those are some short shorts. I’m not complaining. Shotzi recapped what has happened while telling us there’s more to come. When Shotzi mentioned her co-host, the fans chanted “Quincy” and the “Super Diva” Quincy Elliott made his entrance in a banana costume. Elliott said he was the pitch of the bunch.
Lash Legend interrupted complaining about how she should have been the host. Elliott pointed out that Lashing Out was canceled a long time ago. Legend said that she would be a better host than Shotzi. Elliott said that hearing Lash on the microphone is more horrifying than anything that can happen at Halloween. Shotzi told Quincy that he is her Scream Queen and she loves him, but she can handle this. Shotzi headbutted Legend and Shotzi hit a DDT. Shotzi and Quincy danced to celebrate.
Analysis: It was just a way to get the hosts on the show with Lash Legend as the heel that was easily beaten up. Quincy had some good lines. Shotzi is a likable face for sure.
A video aired about Charlotte Flair.
There was a video of Joe Gacy’s Schism group talking to the red-hooded figure. Gacy said that this Tuesday on NXT, the red-hooded person will reveal who they are.
There was a video package about the Julius Creed-Damon Kemp match showing the Diamond Mine history and Kemp turning on the group.
Damon Kemp entered with a steel chair that said “Julius” on it. Julius Creed was on his own for the match and he threw some pumpkins at Kemp. Julius jumped off the top with a missile dropkick.
Ambulance Match: Julius Creed vs. Damon Kemp
The way to win the match is to put your opponent in the back of an ambulance and close the door. The stipulation is that if Julius loses then his brother Brutus must leave NXT.
Julius hit Kemp with a German Suplex and a tackle out of the ring. They went fighting into the backstage area where an ambulance was parked. Julius sent Kemp into the door, but Kemp used a crutch to keep the door from closing. Kemp was throwing objects out of the ambulance. Kemp hit Julius in the ribs with a crutch. Kemp hit Julius with a fire extinguisher to the ribs, but then Julius got a hold of the extinguisher and sprayed it onto Kemp. They walked around the ring with Kemp hitting a suplex on the floor. Kemp sent Julius into the steel steps. They got into a slugfest in the back hallway near the ambulance. Kemp kicked Julius in the knee to knock Julius down on the floor. Kemp slammed the ambulance door on the right arm/shoulder/head of Julius and Kemp did it a second time. Kemp lifted up Julius into the ambulance, but Julius kicked the door into Kemp’s face. They were back at ringside with Julius tackling Kemp so that Kemp went back first into the ring post. Kemp kicked Julius down on the floor while the steel steps were brought into the ring. Kemp hit a uranage on Julius on the steel steps. The steel steps were against the ring apron, so Kemp sent Julius into the steps. Kemp had a wheelchair, Julius drove it into Kemp, who bumped into the barricade. Julius pushed Kemp into the steel steps and you can tell that Kemp hit the steel with his hands. Julius with forearms to the chest and knocked Kemp down on the floor. Julius with a foot stomp off the apron while Kemp sprayed the fire extinguisher at Julius. Julius rolled a stretcher into Kemp’s ribs and then Kemp shoved the stretcher into Julius, who bumped into the ring post. The fans chanted “use the pumpkins” at the wrestlers. Julius kicked the chair away, then Julius threw the ring bell and Julius hit Kemp with a ringside table. Kemp gave Julius a hiptoss into a bin. Kemp rolled the bin into the ambulance two times in a row. Kemp put Julius in the ambulance, but Julius used his hands to keep the door open. Kemp slammed the door three times on Julius’ hands. Julius tackled Kemp, then he tossed Kemp onto a table and an elbow smash drove Kemp through the table. Julius hit Kemp in the back with the steel chair in the back ten times in a row. After that, Julius hit one more chair shot to Kemp’s back. Julius picked up Kemp, there was a bit of a slip on the left and Julius got through it with Julius giving Kemp a Powerbomb onto the stretch. Julius hit a clothesline into a chair on Kemp. Julius carried Kemp, put him in the ambulance and Julius shut the door. The ambulance drove away with Julius as the winner of the match. It went 14:09
Winner: Julius Creed
Analysis: *** This was a very physical match between two guys that know eachother well. It’s a tough match to do without any nearfalls because the only way to win was by going into the ambulance. Kemp got plenty of offense, but with the stipulation they put on this match, it was obvious that Julius was going to win. I liked a lot of the spots they did and the finishing sequence by Julius was impressive because it showed off just how powerful he is.
After the match, Julius was seated in a chair in the ring while Brutus celebrated with his brother along with their Diamond Mine ally Ivey Nile. They showed the ambulance driving out of the arena.
The white Range Rover was shown driving up to the building. It was Alba Fyre driving up to the building along with Mandy Rose. They were outside the building as Rose kicked Fyre and they walked into the building.
Mandy and Alba went fighting out near the ringside area, so there was a referee and the title match started from there.
NXT Women’s Championship: Mandy Rose vs. Alba Fyre
Fyre was aggressive right away. Fyre was on the top for a move, but Rose knocked Fyre off the top to the floor. Rose slammed the back of Fyre’s head into the commentary table repeatedly. Back in the ring, Rose was in full control as she did a snapmare into a kick to the back. Rose sent Fyre into the turnbuckle followed by some kicks to the body. Rose choked Fyre across the bottom rope. Rose charged, Fyre hit her with a back elbow and Fyre ran off the ropes leading to a double clothesline spot that knocked them both down. Fyre with a kick, then a front suplex and kicks to the body. Fyre charged, Rose caught her and hit a spinebuster for two. Rose went for a power move, Fyre got out of it and Fyre hit a sitout slam off the shoulders for two. Fyre went up top and hit a Swanton Bomb for two, but Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin were there. Jacy pulled the referee out of the ring. Fyre kicked Jayne off the apron onto the referee and Dolin on the floor. Rose went for a knee, Fyre avoided it and Fyre hit a Gory Bomb. Fyre tried a pin, but there was no referee, so Fyre put the referee back into the ring. Jayne and Dolin hit a high/low kick on Fyre. Rose hit her Kiss By The Rose knee for the pinfall win at 7:17.
Winner by pinfall: Mandy Rose
Analysis: **1/4 It was okay for the shortest match on the show. The interference of Jayne & Dolin was predictable since Rose has had help from them in the past. They did the spot where Fyre had the match won, but there was no referee and it took two moves after that for Rose to get the win. I expected a longer match, but if you count the Haunted House bit then they got plenty of screen time. It was a typical “numbers game” finish for the heel because faces are often outsmarted in WWE match finishes. I’m certainly fine with this result because I didn’t think they built Fyre up well as a challenger. Rose’s reign continues.
Mandy Rose celebrated with Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin as the Toxic Attraction trio gloated about their win.
Another commercial aired for Raw promoting Bianca Belair facing Bayley in singles action.
There was a video about Cody Rhodes.
A commercial aired for Crown Jewel hyping up Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar at that show on November 5th.
Zoey Stark and Nikkita Lyons were interviewed by Mckenzie Mitchell as they talked about winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe walked into the screen saying they are going to win the Tag Team Titles as well.
The announcers talked about Crown Jewel in two weeks from tonight.
This Tuesday on NXT:
* NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance vs. Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark
* NXT Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly vs. Edris Enofe & Malik blade
* Shotzi vs. Lash Legend
A video package aired for the main event triple threat match for the NXT Title.
The entrances took place for the main event with JD McDonagh up first followed by Ilja Dragunov and the NXT Champion Bron Breakker was last. The wrestlers stood in the ring for the championship introductions by Alicia Taylor, who always does a great job.
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov
Dragunov hit JD with a running boot to the head. Bron pulled Dragunov back and Bron punched JD a few times. Bron and Dragunov kept on pulling eachother off, so JD took control knocking both guys down. JD with a leg drop to Bron’s head, JD sent Dragunov out of the ring and JD hit a snap suplex on Bron for two. Dragunov charged, JD sent Ilja into Bron and JD hit a Northern Lights Suplex on Dragunov for two. Bron was out of the ring, so JD and Dragunov exchanged chops. JD hit a uranage slam on Dragunov for a two count. JD with a hard whip that sent Dragunov into the turnbuckle. Bron went back into the ring, JD pulled the rope down and Bron bumped over the top to the floor. JD tripped up Dragunov leading to a twisting splash onto Dragunov. Bron got back into it with a double clothesline on both guys. Bron hit running clotheslines on both guys and Bron hit an overhead belly to belly suplex on JD. Bron caught Dragunov and gave him an overhead suplex as well. JD got a rollup on Bron for a two count. Dragunov hit Bron with a forearm to the back, but Bron came back with another suplex into a slam. JD broke up the pin and bailed to the floor again. Dragunov countered a Bron move with a sleeper hold, then Dragunov elbowed Bron in the head and JD was back with forearm to the back. Dragunov took down JD leading to elbow smashes to the head/chest of JD. Dragunov hit Bron with a running boot to the head. Dragunov hit a running knee on Bron in the corner. Dragunov with a knee drop off the ropes on Bron. Dragunov slammed JD off the shoulders onto Bron against the turnbuckle. Dragunov jumped off the top with a Coast to Coast dropkick on both guys. That was impressive. Bron and Dragunov exchanged uppercuts, which turned into a slugfest. JD watched it happen and JD clapped for them because he liked seeing his opponents beat eachother up. Bron and Dragunov stared at eachother, then they looked at JD, so Dragunov ran at JD and Bron hit JD with a back body drop in the ring. Dragunov and Bron took turns punching JD, Dragunov with a hard chop to JD and Bron/Dragunov together tossed JD over the top to the floor. Dragunov elbowed Bron a bunch of times, then a clothesline and Bron came back with a hard clothesline of his own. JD back in with a headbutt on Bron, so all three guys were down again.
They did a spot coming off the turnbuckle where Bron hit a hurricanrana off the top to knock both opponents down. They got into a three way slugfest, Dragunov was knocked down first and then Dragunov fought back including a senton splash on JD. Bron tackled Dragunov off the apron to the floor. JD kicked both opponents on the floor and JD hit a springboard moonsault onto both guys on the floor. Dragunov got back into it with Powerbomb on Bron. Dragunov with a forearm smash. JD jumped off the top with a 450 Splash on Dragunov and JD covered both guys for two count. JD sent Dragunov out of the ring and JD hit a brainbuster on Bron for two. Dragunov was back into it with two German Suplexes on JD and Bron joined in with Bron hitting a German Suplex on both guys at the same time. Bron went up top and jumped off with a Steiner bulldog off the top rope. Bron hit the press powerslam (they still need a name for that move) and JD tossed Bron out of the ring followed by JD covering for one…two…no. Great nearfall there. Bron sent JD over the top to the floor. Bron charged, but Dragunov was back up with a forearm to knock Bron down. Dragunov jumped off the top with a senton bomb. Dragunov covered with the Torpedo Moscow for one…two…and no because JD held the referee’s hand to stop the count! That was great. JD and Dragunov exchanged strikes. Dragunov hit a jumping knee on JD. Dragunov charged at JD on the floor and JD hit a Spanish Fly on Dragunov on the floor. That was an impressive spot. JD stomped on Dragunov’s foot against the steel steps. JD grabbed a chair, Dragunov avoided it and Dragunov hit JD with the Torpedo uppercut on the floor. Dragunov was holding his head selling like he had a rough landing. Bron and Dragunov got into a slugfest, Dragunov hit a few clotheslines that didn’t knock Bron down and Dragunov hit a chop. Dragunov with a kick to the head, then a German Suplex and a clothesline. Dragunov charged, but Bron hit Dragunov with a Spear and got the pinfall win 23:41.
Winner by pinfall: Bron Breakker
Analysis: **** I thought it was a great match by the end. It was a bit slow early on, but then McDonagh and Dragunov really carried the final few minutes. That’s not a knock on Breakker. It’s just my opinion that the challengers carried a lot of the match and their experience level helped a lot. The nearfalls they did were really good especially the spot where Dragunov had it won and JD stopped the count by blocking the referee from counting. That’s a brilliant spot to do at that moment. I’ve seen it before in wrestling, but it always works when people do it. I feel like the finish could have been better because all it took was one move by Bron to win. I thought Dragunov should have kicked out, then have Bron do another move and get the win that way. That’s just nitpicking on my part. I’m just saying it would have added more drama to the finish of the match. It was another match with a predictable result.
Bron Breakker celebrated with his NXT Title. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I hope they do Breakker vs. Hayes at NXT Deadline in December and I would have Hayes win the NXT Title there.
This event had a runtime of 2:51:28 on WWE Network.
Five Stars of the Show
- Wes Lee
- Bron Breakker/Ilja Dragunov/JD McDonagh
- Nathan Frazer
- Julius Creed
- Apollo Crews
Final Thoughts
I rate this show a 7 out of 10.
It was a pretty good show overall, but I wouldn’t call it great. The Ladder Match was probably the best of the night while the Breakker/McDonagh/Dragunov main event was an entertaining match as well. I just think the Ladder Match was really well put together and I’m happy for Wes Lee winning the NXT North American Title. I think every match had an obvious winner except the Ladder Match.
The show was full of babyface wins with Wes Lee winning the NXT North American Title while Roxanne Perez, Apollo Crews and Julius Creed all won their matches as faces to end their rivalries. Mandy Rose got a cheap heel win, so there was at least one of those too. Bron Breakker winning the main event was the obvious result there as well, so the faces went 5-1 on this show.
Lastly, I think there was too much filler. The videos about WWE superstars throughout the show is too much and I know they do it on main roster PLEs, but I don’t think it was necessary. (I was informed that they do it because there are different versions of the broadcast on Peacock, which I don’t have since I’m on WWE Network.) They also had the Haunted House thing, the host segment and so on. There was a lot of filler on the show. It was still under three hours. I just think they could have had a better show without some of those things.
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John Canton
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