NXT Inqusition for (11/27/29)

By
Robbie Sutter

On this episode of NXT, we witness the fallout of TakeOver: WarGames. In addition to two hellacious WarGames match, we bore witness to a shocking turn, to say the least. Dakota Kai, who was brought into the women’s match following a backstage attack on Mia Yim, shocked all when she viciously attacked Tegan Nox. The fallout of said event, and more, will be discussed in this week’s Inquisition!

This week’s show cuts to Josiah Williams, aka Wrestle and Flow, who opens with a celebration! Williams raps while the NXT talent celebrate at ringside and in the crowd. The Undisputed Era cut the celebration short, however, NXT Champion Adam Cole with a mic in his hand. As Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and Matt Riddle enter the ring, Cole attributes NXT’s success to The Undisputed Era. Cole says that The Undisputed Era is NXT. They dominated the weekend and they are just getting started, Cole calling themselves the “iron men” of the brand. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly will defend the NXT Tag Team Championship later tonight against Lee and Dijakovic.

Ciampa cuts off Cole, telling them that WarGames was the beginning of the end of The Undisputed Era. After directing his attention to Roderick Strong, Ciampa shifts to Cole and “Goldie.” Ciampa tells “Goldie” that war is over, “Daddy won,” and that no one will stand in his way to win the NXT Championship. This brings out Finn Balor, saying he stands in Ciampa’s way. Ciampa challenges Balor, saying that the “Prince” just met his match in the “King.”

Lee takes the mic, telling Fish and O’Reilly to get in the ring because “it’s basking season.”

Match 1: Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic vs. The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) (NXT Tag Team Championship)

The Undisputed Era jump Lee and Dijakovic early on. Lee starts to fight back, lifting Fish over his head to launch him into O’Reilly on the outside. The show cuts to commercial and returns to Strong taking the place of Fish, who was taken out of the match due to an injury sustained by the aforementioned attack. Dijakovic launches O’Reilly into his corner and tags Lee. O’Reilly goes for a leaping tackle, only for Lee to shake him off. Lee grabs Strong and lifts him by his arm before slamming him on top of O’Reilly.

Lee chops O’Reilly and tackles him again. Strong enters the ring and attacks with numerous chops, which leads to O’Reilly joining the attack. Dijakovic joins in to event the odds and faces off with Lee, their past rivalry on display. Nonetheless, Dijakovic and Lee work to team up on the champions. With O’Reilly and Strong on the mat, Dijakovic suplexes Lee on the champions! As the legal man, Dijakovic starts to fight back against the champions before Strong catches him with a chop block, working the leg. Dijakovic tries to fight back, only for Strong to catch him with a low running dropkick before we cut to commercial again.

NXT returns to O’Reilly in control of Dijakovic, continuing to work the leg. Dijakovic launches O’Reilly with his legs, but Strong is tagged. Dijakovic makes the hot tag to Lee, running through double kicks and clotheslining the champions! Lee attacks them in separate corners before tossing O’Reilly into Strong. O’Reilly breaks up a powerbomb attempt, but Lee tosses them overhead! Lee goes for a dive, but stops short. Strong catches Lee on the apron and O’Reilly follows up with a running knee! They roll Lee back in the ring as Strong goes for the rope. Lee avoids a top rope maneuver and catches O’Reilly with a headbutt.

Lee makes the weary tag to Dijakovic, who attacks Strong in the corner. Dijakovic lands a big clothesline on Strong. O’Reilly is tagged in and counters a chokeslam into a triangle hold. Dijakovic lifts O’Reilly and catches Strong, landing a powerbomb/chokeslam combination! 1… 2… O’Reilly kicks out! Dijakovic goes for Feast Your Eyes but Strong breaks up the attempt. Dijakovic goes for Feast Your Eyes on Strong this time, but O’Reilly rolls up the challenger for a two-count. On the outside, Lee attacks the challengers, only to be taken down by the champions. Dijakovic hits a senton off the top rope on The Undisputed Era!

Back in the ring, O’Reilly focuses on the bag leg of Dijakovic. Nonetheless, he lands a double chokeslam! Cole comes down the ramp, but Lee absolutely launches him into the crowd to an audible “holy shit” chant! The Undisputed Era hit the High Low Combination on Dijakovic for the 1… 2… 3!

Winners: The Undisputed Era

Backstage, Candice LeRae is interviewed regarding Kai’s actions at TakeOver: WarGames. LeRae says that Kai destroyed a “sister” of hers in Tegan Nox and didn’t expect it. Tonight, Kai wrestles Nox’s “pissed off big sister” in LeRae.

Match 2: Shane Thorne vs. Mansoor

They jockey for position to begin, Mansoor executing a headlock takedown. Thorne attacks Mansoor in the corner, to which Mansoor responds with chops of his own. Mansoor rolls up Thorne for a one-count and follows up with a standing moonsault. Thorne is sent to the outside and Mansoor goes for a suicide dive. Mansoor is caught by a side suplex before rolling him back in the ring. Thorne goes for a quick pin, to which Mansoor kicks out. Mansoor fights back with a series of forearms and Thorne catches Mansoor with another side suplex. 1… 2… Mansoor kicks out!

Mansoor superkicks Throne, sending him out of the ring, and follows up with a successful dive! In the ring, Mansoor lands a springboard neckbreaker for the 1… 2… 3!

Winner: Mansoor

Match 3: Candice LeRae vs. Dakota Kai

LeRae counters Kai’s techniques to begin and lands a running low kick, following up with punches. Kai avoids a middle rope moonsault by escaping to the outside. LeRae lands a low dropkick to the back of Kai’s head followed by a suicide dive. Back in the ring, LeRae hits a step-up senton for a two-count. Kai attacks LeRae in the corner. From the outside, Kai slams LeRae into the ring post before doing the same to her head against the apron. Kai hits a running kick to the face of LeRae. 1… 2… LeRae kicks out!

Kai lands another running kick as we cut to commercial. NXT returns to Kai attempting a running corner kick, LeRae evading the attack. LeRae lands a series of kicks, but is caught by a sit-out powerbomb by Kai! 1… 2… LeRae kicks out! On the ring apron, LeRae backdrops Kai! The official starts to count, making it to 7 before they reeneter the ring. LeRae ferociously attacks Kai in the corner and lands a jumping tornado DDT for a two-count. Kai hits a headbutt followed by a running corner kick. LeRae counters with a kick to the neck as both competitors collapse to the mat.

Kai catches LeRae on the top rope. LeRae goes for a sunset bomb. Kai attempts to counter with the knee brace, but LeRae lands the move for another two-count. Kai evades and follows up with Kai-Ropractor! 1… 2… LeRae kicks out! Kai kicks LeRae in the face several times and hoists her on her shoulders. LeRae rolls through with a pin attempt for a two-count of her own. LeRae lands the Gargano Escape! Kai crawls to the ropes, but LeRae rolls over. This time, Kai escapes to the outside. LeRae goes for another dive, but Kai catches her with the knee brace! The official calls for the disqualification!

Winner: Candice LeRae

Kai, clearly nonplussed by losing, viciously attacks LeRae on the outside! The official takes the knee brace. Kai takes a steel chair to continue the attack, but Rhea Ripley runs down to make the save, kicking the chair out of her hands! Ripley runs off Kai and checks on LeRae.

Backstage, Ciampa is interviewed by Cathy Kelly regarding his main event match against Balor. Ciampa says that Balor can call himself whatever he wants. However, Ciampa says that he’s the one who made the NXT Championship prestigious and Balor standing in his way is a mistake.

The show returns to a video package featuring Cameron Grimes. He says that he scratched, clawed, did things he shouldn’t have, and will continue doing so. Grimes says he will cave in the competition on NXT.

Match 4: Akira Tozawa vs. Lio Rush (c) (NXT Cruiserweight Championship)

Tozawa and Rush start the match slow. Tozawa lands a running shoulder tackle, but Rush nips up soon after. Rush hits a shoulder tackle of his own. They counter one another’s moves, reaching a temporary stalemate. Tozawa and Rush shake hands, but go for kicks, catching one another’s legs. They slowly lower the legs before the match kicks back up. Tozawa chops Rush on the top rope and finishes with a hook. The match spills to the apron. Rush goes to German suplex Tozawa off the apron. Tozawa counters and fights out of another attempt, landing an apron senton before we cut to commercial.

NXT returns with Rush in control of Tozawa on the mat. Tozawa lands a fireman’s carry buster. Rush avoids a suicide dive attempt, but is caught with a running senton off the apron! Back in the ring, Tozawa lands a missile dropkick. 1… Rush grabs the rope! They exchange a series of strikes, evading one another’s moves as well. They catch one another with kicks, both wrestlers falling to the mat. Rush counters a German suplex attempt by sending him onto the apron. They fight on the apron, Tozawa catches Rush with a pump kick. Tozawa lands a German suplex off the apron!

They make their way back in the ring at the official’s count of 9. Rush counters another German suplex attempt with a roll-up. The champion misses the Come-Up. Rush follows up with a series of strikes, only for Tozawa to catch him with a German suplex. Tozawa lands a bridging German! 1… 2… Rush kicks out! Tozawa goes to the top rope for the diving senton. Rush gets the knees up and ascends to the top for The Final Hour! Rush goes back up for a second Final Hour for the 1… 2… 3!

Winner: Lio Rush

Kelly interviews Balor backstage. Balor says that, tonight, Ciampa lives in his world. He tells Ciampa to “meet the prince.”

Match 5: Xia Li vs. Vanessa Borne

Borne attacks Li in the corner to begin. Li avoids a shoulder tackle and rolls up Borne before transitioning into a powerbomb. As the match continues, NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke make their way down the ramp. Nonetheless, Li soundly defeats Borne for the 1… 2… 3!

Winner: Vanessa Borne

Li fights off Shafir and Duke. Baszler attacks Li from behind. Li starts to fight back, hitting the champion with a spinning kick. After taking care of Duke, Baszler once again lays out Li. Shafir and Duke hold up Li as Baszler delivers a running knee. They eject Li from the ring before Baszler takes the mic. Baszler says that no one had a weekend like she did, as she defeated Bayley and Becky Lynch at Survivor Series. “Rhea Ripley” chants follow. Ripley soon makes her way to the ring to confront the champion. Baszler, Shafir, and Duke make their way back up the ramp.

With a mic in her hand, Ripley says she wants to talk to Baszler face-to-face. Baszler steps onto the apron. Ripley congratulates Baszler on beating Bayley and Lynch, only to tell her Ripley never lost. Ripley says that, next time, she will beat Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship. Baszler steps into the ring, saying that while Ripley is the “Nightmare,” Baszler is the “Reality.” Baszler tells Ripley she will be napping or tapping like the rest. Ripley challenges Baszler to do so, to which Baszler responds by backing up the ramp alongside Shafir and Duke.

Next week, injured ribs and all, Damian Priest will face Killian Dain.

Match 6: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Finn Balor

Ciampa and Balor lock up, jockeying for position in the corner. Balor takes down Ciampa with a headlock. Balor cinches in a sleeper hold, to which Ciampa fights out of. Ciampa follows up with a series of strikes. Ciampa lands a suplex for a one-count. Balor hits a low dropkick and goes back to the sleeper hold. Balor tosses Ciampa to the outside and hits a baseball slide. Ciampa catches Balor’s running apron kick. Ciampa slingshots Balor into the ring post before we cut to commercial.

The show returns to Balor in control of Ciampa. However, Ciampa starts to fight back with a series of clotheslines. Ciampa catches Balor with a running knee to the face, sending him off the apron. Back in the ring, Ciampa lands another running knee for a two-count. Ciampa chops and stomps Balor in the corner before lowering his kneepad. Balor fights back with a sling blade before clotheslining Ciampa to the outside. Balor hits a running dropkick, sending Ciampa into the nearby barricade. Ciampa counters 1916 by driving Balor with the air raid crash!

The action returns to the ring, Ciampa catching Balor with a knee followed by a Project Ciampa! 1… 2… Balor kicks out! He counters the Fairytale Ending with a standing double stomp and a running dropkick into the corner. Balor ascends to the top, where Ciampa catches him with an avalanche air raid crash! 1… 2… Balor kicks out again! Cole makes his way to the ring to interfere. Balor rolls up Ciampa with the distraction for a two-count. Balor grabs the nearby NXT Championship, which the official takes from him. Nonetheless, Balor lands a reverse DDT on the title! 1… 2… Ciampa kicks out!

Cole catches Ciampa with a leaping kick from the outside behind the official’s back. Balor plants Ciampa with 1916 for the 1… 2… 3!

Winner: Finn Balor

After the match, Balor and Cole pose over the fallen Ciampa. However, Balor catches Cole with the pele kick! Balor exits the ring and makes his way up the ramp as this week’s episode of NXT comes to a close.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR