By John Moore, Prowrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Aired October 31, 2018 on WWE Network
Taped October 17 in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University
The intro teaser for this week’s NXT recapped the Aleister Black attacker mystery featuring Nikki Cross, Aleister Black, William Regal, and Johnny Gargano. The NXT theme aired. Clips of Shayna Baszler as NXT Women’s Champion were added…
Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson, the 205 Live commentary team, checked in on commentary. Joseph reminded viewers that Mauro Ranallo will return to commentary at NXT Takeover LA…
Nikki Cross made her entrance to start the show…
1. Nikki Cross vs. Mercedes Martinez. Martinez was more technical while Cross was more feral, as expected. This clash of styles led to an early stalemate. Cross managed to power Martinez down in an armbar. Martinez made it to a vertical base to hit Cross with a snug Fisherman Suplex. Cross countered a facelock into a sleeper on Martinez. Martinez escaped the lock. Martinez took down Cross with a simple and effective pull from the top rope. Martinez tenderized Cross with elbows so she could lock in a Guillotine Choke.
After the separation, Cross had a rally of strikes. Cross hit Martinez with a corner splash and bulldog. Cross caught Martinez with a crossbody. Cross was bleeding from the nose for a cool and gruesome visual. Martinez blocked the Purge with a spinebuster. Martinez spiked Cross with two Saito Suplexes. Martinez followed up with a release German Suplex. Cross blocked a Fisherman buster into an arm pull. Cross slapped herself in her face and hit Martinez with a few moves leading into the Purge to pick up the win.
Nikki Cross defeated Mercedes Martinez via pinfall in 6:19.
While Martinez was getting up, Cross got on all fours to star and smile at her. Martinez looked a bit surprised…
John’s Thoughts: A holding pattern match, but a good one to showcase two talented women with nothing to do in the bigger picture of WWE at the moment. I’m surprised Cross in particular wasn’t on the Evolution show because she would have added a lot of energy to the show.
After Cross’s theme played Candice LeRae entered the ring to complain at Cross for some reason. LeRae kept saying “it’s not funny” as Cross went up the ramp laughing. Candice was wearing all black gear and black lipstick. Cross tried to leave off stage but was blocked by Aleister Black. Cross backtracked so Black could enter the ring with LeRae, which he did. Of mic, Black asked “Where’s John”. LeRae said he’s not here. Black went up to LeRae and said “his future is gone”…
A recap aired of The Mighty vs. The Street Profits from last month… [c]
2. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “The Mighty” Shane Thorne and Nick Miller. The Mighty mocked the Street Profit entrance with their stolen Solo cup and Ford’s jewelry. Dawkins made Thorne flinch early on. Dawkins trapped Thorne in several corners and hit some punches on Thorne. Thorne escaped with a drop toehold so he can tag in Miller. Dawkins turned the tide with a flap jack. Ford hit Thorne with a cool dropkick and then fended off both Mighty guys with kicks. Ford took down the Mighty with a double shotgun dropkick. Dawkins flew about a feet above the ropes to hit The Mighty with a Tope Con Hilo.
Thorne distracted Ford a bit so Miller could hit him with a spinebuster. Mighty went into the isolation game on Ford. Ford tried to fight his way out but Thorne hit Ford with a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Ford kicked out of Thorne’s jackknife pin which McGuinness noted beat Ford last time. Ford jumped over Thorne to tag in Dawkins for the hot tag. Dawkins bulldoged Miller and clocked Thorne with a right hand. Thorne broke up the subsequent pin attempt. Ford tagged in and went for the frog splash but the mighty prevented it. The Mighty hit Ford with a Tower of Power for a good nearfall.
Dawkins broke up the pin and hit Miller with a sky high. Thorne went for a deadlift suplex but ate a high kick from Ford. Ford hit Throne with the Frog Splash for the win.
The Street Profits defeated The Mighty via pinfall in 7:06.
Regal was interviewed by Cathy Kelley who asked Regal for his announcement. Regal announced Tommaso Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream for the NXT Championship. Black walked into Regal’s face. Regal booked Black vs. Gargano. Black said Gargano’s future will fade to black…
A Matt Riddle teaser aired…
John’s Thoughts: A great tag team match and the best match of the feud so far. That said, I’m not to fond of the booking path they’re taking. I thought the match should have ended at the Tower of Power spot. Instead, the Profits win and keep this in parity booking level. The profits could have gained with a loss and The Mighty lose more often then win.
Percy Watson and Nigel McGuinness hyped up the matches Regal just announced. Vic Joseph interrupted and cut to commotion backstage. Lars Sullivan was tossing around stuff outside of Full Sail. Sullivan said the title shot was supposed to be his. Sullivan said he’s going to rip Velveteen apart and take his spot…
Luke Menzies was already in the ring using some of WWE’s commercial music. He’s here to enhance the debuting Matt Riddle…
3. Matt Riddle vs. Luke Menzies. As usual, Riddle wrestles barefoot. Riddle went right at the left leg of Menzies. Menzies did a good job creating separation. Riddle dominated the Test of Strength. Riddle reversed into a monkey flip into a Kimura. Riddle gave Menzies a handshake and Menzies turned it into a tackle. Riddle hit Menzies with a few of his cool looking shoot kicks. Menzies countered with a suplex and got a nearfall. Menzies clubbed at Riddle’s face. Riddle hit Menzies with a CQC combo and Pele Kick. Riddle did a series of counters into a Senton.
Riddle hit Menzies with a PK. Riddle caught Menzies with the knee strike and then rained down elbows on Menzies. Riddle locked in the Bromission and Menzies tapped out.
Matt Riddle defeated Luke Menzies via submission in 3:19.
John’s Thoughts: A good debut and good showcase of Riddle’s MMA moveset. Those shootfighting kicks in particular looked great from Riddle. Menzies had his best showing so far in NXT after looking a bit generic last time. It’s easy to assume that Riddle’s going to beat Kassius Ohno very soon (probably at War Games or in the dark tapings in LA).
Cathy Kelley interviewed Shayna Baszler after WWE Evolution. Baszler reiterated that Sane didn’t beat her before, Baszler beat herself. Sane was shown being held back and suffering in the background. Baszler taunted Sane with the title belt… [c]
A Lacey Evans teaser aired to hype a match she’s having next week. Percy Watson also hyped Velveteen Dream vs. Lars Sullivan next week…
4. Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan vs. Raul Mendoza and Humberto Carrillo. Humberto (also known as Ultimo Ninja) is the nephew of Hector Garza. Mendoza ran circles around Burch with his agility. Carrillo tagged in. Burch turned the tide and traded quick tags with Lorcan for tandem offense. Carrillo took down both opponents with a double armdrag. Carrillo caught Lorcan with a nice high flying armdrag. The Lucha guys did flip dives to their opponents. Carrillo went for a very high moonsault but Lorcan got his boots into Carrillo’s face. Carrillo escaped a double suplex so Mendoza could get the hot tag.
Mendoza nailed both opponents with a slingshot missile dropkick. Burch countered with a hit toss on Mendoza. Lorcan and Burch hit their finisher on Mendoza for the victory.
Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan defeated Raul Mendoza and Humberto Carrillo via pinfall in 3:15.
Highlights from the match aired.
John’s Thoughts: A great showing from Mendoza and Carrillo and these two have the opportunity to be huge stars if treated properly (which is always questionable on the main roster). Humberto Carrillo is someone WWE might take care off because not only does he have the family history by being a Garza, but he also has a marketable babyface boy band type of look.
The show cut to an Undisputed Era NWO-style interview. Strong said he feels great to have Bobby back. O’Reilly said Fish needs to get ready for his match. Fish said he’s born ready. Adam Cole was bragging as usual but was cut off but War Raiders who emerged from the black curtain behind the Undisputed Era set. Hanson and Rowe dominated the Era. They dragged Adam Cole outside and threw Adam Cole like Kevin Nash threw Rey Mysterio, like a lawn dart into a semi. The Raiders dominated Fish. Strong turned the tables with a trash can. Ricochet ran in and did some parkour over a table to even the odds. Ricochet went right at Adam Cole.
Hanson and Rowe dominated the other Era members. Fish tried to run away but Hanson lifted Fish and slammed him into the garage gate. Ray Rowe and Roderick Strong brawled to the Full Sail arena. Rowe tossed Strong like a volley ball. Both brawling forces made it to the ring. The Era had the advantage. Pete Dunne’s theme played as Dunne made his entrance with a chair in hand. Brawling ensued. William Regal walked out and used this moment to book the War Games match between Ricochet, Pete Dunne, Ray Rowe, and Hanson vs. The Undisputed Era for an eight person War Games match at Los Angeles…
John’s Thoughts: I’ll have to say, the booking of War Games feels a bit rushed. Lorcan and Burch would have been better opponents due to their history with Undisputed Era which also is connected to Lorcan being put out of action for months. That said, this was a good setup and a great backstage brawl. The brawl was made better with the unexpected nature during Undisputed Era’s cinematic-style promos. This is going to be a great match in Los Angeles.
A solid NXT episode that was more business as usual and business is usally good in NXT. There were some good matches. There were some good introductions and enhancements as well with Carrillo and Matt Riddle getting a chance to shine. I’ll be by tomorrow with my NXT Hit List and Members Exclusive Audio Review…
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