Following an impressive victory in triple threat competition, Finn Balor became the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Not only will Balor challenge titleholder Adam Cole, but Rhea Ripley will square off with Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship. These matches, and more, will be covered in this week’s edition of the Inquisition!
Match 1: Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole (c) (NXT Championship)
Balor takes down Cole early in the match, keeping a headlock applied. They exchange strike attempts before Cole takes advantage. Balor hits a basement dropkick for a one-count before applying an armbar. He chops Cole in various corners and follows up with another basement dropkick for a two-count. Balor proceeds to viciously stomp Cole, who rolls to the outside. However, Balor takes him out with a baseball slide. Cole catches Balor on the apron with a kick to the knee. Back in the ring, Cole plants Balor with a neckbreaker and follows up with punches.
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Now in control, Cole applies a headlock of his own. Balor escapes, only to be caught in the knee with another basement dropkick. Cole hits a neckbreaker for a two-count and quickly applies a headscissors. Balor explodes out of the corner, taking down Cole. The challenger hits running chops in the corner. Cole reverses a headlock with a backstabber! 1… 2… Balor kicks out! Balor fights back with a sling blade. Cole catches a running Balor with a superkick! 1… 2… Balor kicks out again! They exchange strikes once again, Balor flooring Cole with a pele kick! Nonetheless, Cole rolls over to cover Balor for another two-count.
Following a faceoff, Cole catches Balor with a ushigoroshi! 1… 2… Balor powers out! Balor lands a standing double stomp followed by a running dropkick into the corner! The challenger climbs to the top rope, only for Cole to catch him with a kick to send him to the outside. On the outside, Balor back body drops Cole before dropkicking him into the barrier! Back in the ring, Balor misses a flying double stomp, which allows Cole to follow up with the Last Shot! 1… 2… Balor somehow kicks out! After another exchange, Balor gets the advantage. He finally lands the Coup de Grace! He goes for 1916….
On the stage, Johnny Gargano appears! Cole takes advantage with a groin shot followed by the Last Shot for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Adam Cole
Following the match, Gargano grabs a steel chair from the front row. He enters the ring, confronting a pleading Balor. Gargano proceeds to wail on Balor with the chair. The attack spills to the outside, Gargano continuing to punish Balor with the chair. Balor escapes through the crowd. Gargano kneels on the ramp, the same spot where Balor laid him out with the 1916 several weeks ago, before exiting through the stage.
Match 2: Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain
The match begins with Dain tackling Priest in the corner. Priest fires back with a series of punches, cornering Dain. Priest catches Dain with a kick from the apron. He tries for a suplex, but is unable to do so due to his injured ribs. Dain lands a running crossbody and unloads on Priest’s ribs. Dain squeezes Priest around the midsection before applying a bear hug. He follows by propping Priest on the middle rope and hitting a running kick, sending him to the outside. The action spills to the outside, where Dain’s focus on Priest’s ribs continues. Back in the ring, Dain covers Priest for a two-count.
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Dain applies a chinlock on Priest. However, Priest fights back with a series of kicks. Dain quickly regains control, hitting a gutbuster. He follows up with a senton across the back. Dain hits a suplex for a two-count. Though Priest attempts to fight, Dain fires back as we cut to commercial. The show returns to Priest regaining momentum, hitting a leaping back elbow on Dain. Priest follows up with a flurry of strikes followed by a running back elbow in the corner. Despite his injured ribs, Priest powers Dain up for a suplex!
The action spills to the outside, where Priest lands a tope on Dain! In the ring, Priest lands South of Heaven for a two-count. Dain catches Priest with a kick to the ribs, attempts a powerbomb, and hits an elbow drop for a two-count of his own. Dain lands a corner splash and hoists Priest in the electric chair. Priest goes for a victory roll for a pinfall attempt. Dain catches Priest with a senton. Priest catches Dain’s Vader Bomb attempt with his knees and lands The Reckoning for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Damian Priest
It’s announced that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will return in 2020!
Match 3: Cameron Grimes vs. KUSHIDA
On his way to the ramp, KUSHIDA tauntingly wears Grimes’ hat. Once the bell rings, KUSHIDA works the wrist of Grimes. They exchange holds, KUSHIDA getting the better of the exchange. KUSHIDA applies an armbar before Grimes hits a shoulder tackle. KUSHIDA hits a hip toss and transitions into another armbar. With Grimes on the outside, KUSHIDA hits a baseball slide. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA lands a flying chop. KUSHIDA cinches the octopus stretch and rolls him up for a pin as the show cuts to commercial.
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NXT returns to Grimes in control of KUSHIDA. Grimes executes a toss, sending KUSHIDA across the ring. Grimes kicks KUSHIDA in the back before applying a chin lock. He continues to attack KUSHIDA’s back with forearms before executing a pendulum backbreaker. KUSHIDA fights back with a handspring back elbow. He unloads with a series of strikes, including a Sliced Bread for a two-count. KUSHIDA applies an armbreaker, Grimes reaching the ropes. Grimes reverses a Hoverboard Lock attempt by sideslamming KUSHIDA.
KUSHIDA fights back with a release German suplex. Grimes hits a bridging German suplex of his own! 1… 2… KUSHIDA kicks out! KUSHIDA hits a handspring kick, sending Grimes to the outside. From there, KUSHIDA lands a top rope senton on Grimes! The action returns to the ring, specifically the top rope. KUSHIDA lands another handspring kick followed by a victory roll from the top! 1… 2… Grimes kicks out! KUSHIDA evades the Cave-In, but is eventually caught with a second Cave-In! Grimes covers KUSHIDA for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Cameron Grimes
The show cuts to a video package featuring Io Shirai, who will be in action next!
Match 4: Io Shirai vs. Santana Garrett
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Shirai takes control with a headlock followed by a shoulder tackle. Garrett rolls up Shirai for a two-count. Garrett rolls up with a legscissors takedown, which Shirai rolls through of. Shirai is caught by a kick to the head. Shirai hits a flapjack and attacks Garrett in the corner. Garrett avoids the double knees and hits a Russian leg sweep for a pin attempt. She follows up with a handspring back elbow in the corner followed by a suplex for a two-count. Garrett transitions into a Muta Lock, which Shirai escapes from. Shirai regains control, landing the double knees in the corner followed by the moonsault for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Io Shirai
Match 5: Pete Dunne vs. Travis Banks
Dunne takes control of Banks’ hand early on. He follows up with a takedown, rolling up Banks for a pin attempt. Banks takes control for a pin attempt of his own. Banks takes down Dunne and unloads with a series of kicks. Dunne fires back with multiple chops. He delivers a spinkick to Banks, who rolls to the outside. Dunne drops Banks on the apron as we go to commercial. The show returns to Dunne dropping Banks with a forearm. Banks fires back in the corner, concluding with a cannonball. With Dunne on the outside, Banks lands a suicide dive!
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The match returns to the ring, where Banks lands a missile dropkick. Banks follows up with a double stomp in the corner. 1… 2… Dunne kicks out! He catches a flying Banks with a forearm. Dunne lands an X-Plex on Banks for a two-count of his own. From the top turnbuckle, Banks goes for a sunset flip powerbomb. Dunne counters and hits an enziguri. Banks counters the Bitter End with a DDT! He goes for Slice of Heaven, which Dunne counters with a vicious stomp into the canvas. Banks fights back, hitting the Kiwi Crusher! 1… 2… Dunne kicks out!
Dunne catches Banks in the corner with a powerbomb. However, Banks fights back in the corner. Dunne lands an avalanche X-Plex and finishes off Banks with the Bitter End for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Pete Dunne
Following the match, Dunne and Banks fist bump in a show of respect.
The show cuts to a backstage interview with Dakota Kai, who says she defeated Mia Yim last week, despite being put through a table. Kai says she will beat everyone else until she becomes NXT Women’s Champion.
After the commercial break, it’s announced that Roderick Strong will hold a North American Championship Open Challenge next week. On the same show, Lio Rush and Keith Lee will team up to face Damian Priest and Tony Nese.
Match 6: Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler (c) (NXT Women’s Championship)
Ripley and Baszler jockey for position to start. Baszler goes for a stomp on the arm, but Ripley catches the foot. Ripley corners Baszler. She proceeds to boot the champion and whip her into the corner. Baszler is ejected to the outside as we cut to commercial. NXT returns to Ripley in the corner, dropping Baszler on the top turnbuckle with the electric chair drop. Ripley follows up with a series of knees. Baszler goes low before unloading with strikes. Ripley fires back with a dropkick, sending Baszler into the corner. The challenger lands a superplex! 1… 2… Baszler kicks out!
Baszler hits a series of strikes, but Ripley counters with a German suplex! Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke race down the ramp, but Ripley is able to neutralize them with a running senton off the apron. Baszler capitalizes with a knee to Ripley’s jaw. The champion proceeds to stomp Ripley’s arm against the steel steps. Ripley rolls back into the ring, where Baszler awaits with several kicks. Baszler wrenches the arm and manipulates the fingers. The weakened Ripley rolls to the outside as the show cuts to commercial once more.
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NXT returns to Baszler focusing on Ripley’s arm, executing a vicious stomp. Baszler continues the attack with kicks to Ripley’s chest. Ripley catches Baszler’s leg and hits with a right hand. She dropkicks the champion into the corner, inadvertently hitting the referee in the process. Ripley goes for the Riptide, but the official is unconscious, unable to make the count. Ripley misses an apron senton and Baszler capitalizes with a sleeper hold. Baszler grabs a chair and brings it into the ring. With both wrestlers in the ring, they fight for the chair in question. Baszler DDTs Ripley onto the chair! 1… 2… Ripley kicks out!
Ripley rolls out of a Kirifuda Clutch attempt. Baszler locks in the hold for a second time! Ripley crawls to the ropes, but Baszler wrenches back, reapplying the hold. Baszler restricts Ripley’s arm as she keeps the hold applied. Ripley is fading! The official lifts Ripley’s arm, but she takes hold of the official’s shirt. Ripley isn’t out! She fights out of the Kirifuda Clutch, rolling through and stomping away on the champion. Ripley cinches The Prism! Baszler fights out of the hold and lands a step-up knee strike in the corner. On the top turnbuckle, Ripley headbutts Baszler and lands the avalanches Riptide! 1… 2… 3! A new NXT Women’s Champion is crowned!
Winner: Rhea Ripley
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The new champion celebrates in the ring, joined by several NXT fans. Ripley is hoisted on their shoulders in a proverbial mosh pit as this week’s episode comes to a triumphant close.
