NXT begins almost immediately with Tyler Breeze coming to the ring as he is set to face Jaxson Ryker of the Forgotten Sons. The main event this week will be Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne squaring off in preparation for their triple threat match (with the Velveteen Dream) for the NXT North American championship, which will take place at NXT TakeOver: Toronto II.
Tyler Breeze vs Jaxson Ryker
The match is the result of an altercation that took place between Ryker, Cutler, Blake, and Breeze. Once the bell rings we see a bit of apprehension on the part of Prince Pretty, but he and Ryker lock up. After Ryker gets the early advantage, he tosses Breeze into the corner. Breeze gets a side headlock, but Ryker attempts to break out, only to be hit with an uranage. Ryker hits Breeze repeatedly with chops and kicks in the corner.
Mauro Ranallo said Ryker was using the Canadian-born Breeze as a Crash Test Dummy, which was the name of a 90s Canadian rock band. (Look it up, trust me). Ryker is systematically beating on Breeze, whether it’s kicks to push him off or a backbreaker. However, Breeze hits a surprise roll-up for the three count and the win.
Winner: Tyler Breeze
All three members of the Forgotten Sons start beating down Breeze. Ryker signals for a move until Fandango comes to the aid of Breeze, making a big return after recovering from injury.
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We see highlights of Candice LeRae attacking Io Shirai, who has been attacking her former allies. LeRae is waiting in the parking lot for her.
They announce the second semi-final for the NXT Breakout Tournament of Bronson Reed and Cameron Grimes is coming up. The winner will face Jordan Myles in the finals.
NXT Breakout Tournament (Semi-Finals)
Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes
Reed comes to the ring followed by Grimes. Ranallo called Grimes ‘country power,’ a curious nickname, but we’ll give him some lee-way. The two men lock up and we see Reed position Grimes in the corner until he tosses him off and to the floor. Reed locks in a rear chinlock on Grimes, eventually working his way back to his feet. Grimes retaliates with forearms and locks in a side headlock of his own. Grimes hits the ropes and attempts to take Reed down, but is hit with a crossbody.
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Once back in the corner, Reed rocks Grimes with chops, forearms, and boots. Grimes runs out of the ring, luring the big Aussie after him. Once back in the ring, he regains control of the match. He attempts to lock in an armbar, maintaining the advantage over the big man and wearing him down. Reed pushes Grimes off him and hits a power slam off the ropes. Both men are getting back to the feet, and Reed drops elbows and then a splash, followed by a senton splash. There is a pinning attempt, but Grimes put his foot on the bottom rope. Reed attempts to drag Grimes into the ring only to get caught, and both men start hitting each other with all they have. Reed is seemingly in control, but Grimes hits a double standing stomp, wiping him out. He makes a pin for the three count and the win.
Winner: Cameron Grimes
Grimes advances to the finals of the Breakout Tournament to face Jordan Myles.
We are shown that next week we will witness Prime Target: TakeOver, featuring the feud between Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano.
After the break, Nigel McGuiness says Matt Riddle has a response to Killian Dain attacking him the previous week. Riddle challenges Dain to a match that is made official for next week.
NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler comes to the ring with a purpose. She immediately addresses Mia Yim and how she attacked Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir from behind over the last couple of weeks. She says they are professionals and not thugs that do these sorts of things in the street. Baszler calls Yim a ‘street rat,’ saying that she won’t last long in her world.
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Yim comes out and tells Baszler she hasn’t seen anything. She goes on to say that Baszler isn’t recognizing game and that she is bringing a fight that she can’t train for. Baszler calls Yim street trash, holds the title above her head and walks out.
William Regal approaches LeRae saying she won’t find what she is looking for her. LaRae says she wants Io Shirai, and to that Regal says that she can have a match with her at NXT TakeOver: Toronto II.
After another break, McGuiness speaks of the upcoming NXT Tag Team Championship match between the Street Profits and the Undisputed Era. He says there will be a contract signing next week.
Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne
Strong makes his way to the ring for his one-on-one match against the Bruiserweight. Dunne arrives and like Strong is set to go. After an early lock-up, both men attempt to jockey for position. Strong ties up Dunne with a front face lock until Dunne wrenches on the fingers of ‘The messiah of the backbreaker.‘ Strong hits Dunne with a couple of kicks but Dunne attempts to fight back.
After a couple of chops by Dunne, Strong takes the Bruiserweight down. However, Dunne picks up the pace and wipes out Strong with a dropkick. He contorts the arm of Strong and stomps on his shoulder. He is going for blood, but Strong regains control. He gets Dunne in a torture rack position and turns it into a backbreaker. He follows with a side backbreaker ala Bret Hart. He continues working on the back with some kicks, stomping on the chest of Dunne in the process.
He brings Dunne to his feet, but that was all he needed to hit an array of kicks until he is taken out with a dropkick. Strong hits chop after chop then hoists Dunne to the top rope and attempts a superplex, but the Bruiserweight reverses it and hits a dropkick. After a whip into the corner, Dunne hits a penalty kick after an x plex. He attempts a pin but to no avail. Dunne stomps on the hands of Strong, then escapes of a German suplex attempt by landing on his feet. Strong rolls outside of the ring and Dunne follows, only to be dropped on the apron back first.
Back in the ring Strong attempts a pin, but only gets a count of two. He once again lifts up his opponent and hits a fury of strikes and then a knee in the corner. Strong has been selling his left arm, hand, and shoulder throughout this match. Dunne come back with strike after strike and attempts a pump handle slam/bitter end, but Strong reverses it only for Dunne to then counter with a DDT. Both men are slow to get to their feet and exchange strikes. Dunne climbs to the second rope only for Strong to block it, but the bruiserweight takes him down to the mat. Soon it is Strong’s turn to climb to the second rope, but Dunne hits a powerbomb. Strong comes back with a tiger driver and goes for the ‘Stronghold’ but clutches his hand. Dunne locks in a triangle and then grabs Strong’s hand and starts tearing at the fingers, causing a submission.
Winner: Pete Dunne
It is rare that you will see Roderick Strong tap, but a damaged left arm led to his defeat. After the match, Velveteen Dream makes his way to the ring but is caught with the ‘Bitter end’ after having his own fingers grabbed and tortured.
