NXT 1/13/2021: Three 1st Round Matches in the Dusty Classic; Gargano vs. Lumis; Shotzi vs. Candice!
Here's what's on tap for tonight:
First Round of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Undisputed Era vs. Breezango
First Round of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Ever-Rise vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
First Round of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: MSK vs. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott & Jake Atlas
Non-Title Match: Dexter Lumis vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT North American Champion) w/ Austin Theory
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell
NXT Champion Finn Balor addresses the NXT Universe
We're in the Capitol Wrestling Center and kicking off tonight's show with highlights from last week's NXT New Year's Evil.
Let's start with some women's action!
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell
LeRae talks trash to start and pushes Blackheart. Blackheart takes her down and takes control early. They trade counters and Blackheart hits a cross body from the top for a near fall. Blackheart grounds LeRae and works an arm bar. LeRae makes it to the ropes. LeRae goes to the middle rope and Blackheart pulls her off which makes LeRae hit the turnbuckle neck first. More counters and Blackheart gets control with another arm submission. LeRae gets to her feet and takes Blackheart to the corner. Both ladies battle in the corner and Blackheart pulls LeRae shoulder first into the turnbuckle. They go to the outside. Hartwell steps in between them allowing LeRae to get the upper hand as we go to a picture in picture break.
LeRae maintains control during the break and gets a near fall. LeRae works the neck of Blackheart. LeRae sends Blackheart to the corner and snap mares her out of it. Near fall for LeRae. LeRae continues the beat down until Blackheart turns the tide in the corner. Cradle by Blackheart for a near fall. LeRae regains control. LeRae with a slap and chops in the corner but misses a charge.
Back from the break, Blackheart takes control on that missed charge. Step up enziguri by Blackheart for a near fall. More kicks by Blackheart and LeRae falls to the middle rope. SENTON BY BLACKHEART!! 1...2...NO!! Both ladies go to the apron. LeRae avoids slice of bread but BLACKHEART DDTS LERAE ON THE APRON!! A SUICIDE DIVE BY BLACKHEART TAKES OUT LERAE AND HARTWELL ON THE OUTSIDE!! Near fall for Blackheart back in the ring. LeRae avoids a charge in the corner. Drop kick by LeRae followed by a super kick! 1...2...NO!! LERAE LOCKS IN THE GARGANO ESCAPE!! Blackheart turns it into a near fall. Blackheart counters it into a face breaker!! High knees by Blackheart in the corner and another DDT!! Blackheart goes to the top. She knocks Hartwell off the apron!! LeRae goes up to meet her. LERAE HITS BLACKHEART WITH SWINGING NECK BREAKER OFF THE TOP TO WIN!! Good match by the ladies. Hartwell gets the assist which makes Blackheart look alright with the loss via distraction.
W: Candice LeRae via pin @ 11:06
NXT Champion Finn Balor is shown backstage. We'll hear from him next!
We see Pete Dunne and NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch arriving.
NXT Champion Finn Balor is in the ring with a mic. Balor says he's still NXT Champion. He wants to talk about Kyle O'Reilly for a second. Balor says he's great but not on Balor's level. Balor says O'Reilly stepped up but got put down again. Balor put the red "x" on his chest because he knows he's the target. Balor says they stopped manufacturing the cloth he is cut from. HERE COMES PETE DUNNE WITH THE TAS CHAMPS LORCAN AND BURCH!! Dunne asks if Balor is going to question what's next? Dunne knew it would come down to Balor and himself. Dunne says Balor is the poster boy for European wrestlers but that's because Dunne hasn't taken it. Dunne refuses to wait anymore. THEY ATTACK!! Balor fights them off for a minute by the numbers are too much! KYLE O'REILLY COMES TO BALOR'S AID!! ALONG WITH THE REST OF UNDISPUED ERA!! THEY CLEAR THE RING!! Balor gets to his feet and stares down the UE. Balor backs out of the ring and leaves.
McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Johnny Gargano. Gargano says after he beats Dexter Lumis tonight, The Way will win both Dusty Cups. Gargano goes on a rant until AUSTIN THEORY HANDS GARGANO AN ENVELOPE FROM LUMIS!! It's drawings of Gargano and Theory crying!
The 2021 Dusty Cup starts next!
William Regals welcomes us to the Dusty Cup.
First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Ever-Rise vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
We start with Gibson and Martel. Martel slaps him and bails to the corner. Parker tags in and Gibson goes on the offensive. Drake tags in and takes down Parker. Parker fights to his feet and they go off the ropes. Hip toss by Drake. Drake talks trash and they trade counters. Parker rips Drake to the mat and stomps. Drake bails out of the ring. Gibson tries to calm Drake down. Gibson tags in. Lock up and Gibson takes Parker down and decks Martel on the apron. Good double team by GYV on Parker. Martel gets knocked off the apron. Drake tags back in and delivers strikes in the corner followed by a bulldog. A stiff punch sends Parker out of the ring. Gibson tags in and delivers a back breaker on the apron. Gibson with a big slam on Parker which he turns into a single leg crab. Parker fights free with kicks to the head. Gibson stomps him and takes him to the corner where Drake tags in. More good team work by GYV. Near fall there for Drake. Parker continues to get isolated and Gibson comes back in. Parker fights out of the corner with kicks. Drake stops the tag. Punches by Parker and he finally tags Martel! Martel goes wild on both Drake and Gibson. Drake is sent upside down into the corner and a nice belly to belly by Martel! Drake trades strikes but Martel with a clothesline. Parker tags back in. Nice double team but Gibson breaks up the cover. More double team to Gibson now. Martel tags in. Gibson pulls Parker to the outside. GYV turns the tide. Gibson tags in. TICKET TO MAYHEM ON MARTEL ENDS IT!! Definitely the right pick to win as they should be one of the favorites to win it all!
W: Grizzled Young Veterans via pin @ 7:58
Commentary talks about the last woman standing match from last week between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez. A video package and highlights of the match are shown. It was fantastic and I recommend checking it out. Raquel says she's the new baddest bitch.
Up next is Lumis vs. Gargano!
Shotzi Blackheart is backstage with McKenzie. Shotzi isn't happy about the loss but she is focusing on the women's Dusty Cup. She introduces her partner and IT'S EMBER MOON!! They plan on going on the way balls to the wall!!
Non-Title Match
Johnny Gargano (NXT North American Champion) w/ Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis
The bell rings and Gargano holds up Lumis' drawing and asks Lumis if it's funny. Gargano rips it and is hit with right hand by Lumis followed by a Lou Thesz press!! Lumis crawls towards Gargano and Gargano bails. Lumis stalks Theory allowing Gargano to attack but Lumis quickly regains control. Lumis goes to the top but Gargano cuts him off. With both men on the top, Lumis blocks a superplex with body shots. A couple head butts by Lumis and a right hand knocks Gargano to the mat. Lumis misses a swanton! We go to a break.
We're back with Gargano wearing down Lumis with a rear chin lock. During the break, Gargano hit Lumis with the sling shot spear. Gargano delivers knees to the back of Lumis. Gargano continues to work on the back of Lumis. Gargano runs into a spine buster by Lumis!! Lumis begins building momentum with a clothesline and a bulldog! Sling shot suplex by Lumis! Lumis with a belly to back suplex and he gets a near fall. Kip up by Lumis and he hits a leg drop for another near fall. Gargano blocks Silence! Gargano goes to the second rope and jumps but Lumis catches him. Gargano with a crucifix pin for a near fall. Super kick by Gargano followed by another kick for a near fall. Both men are on the knees now trading punches. Lumis gets to his feet and goes off the ropes but Theory trips him. GARGANO LOOKS FOR ONE FINAL BEAT BUT LUMIS STOPS! GARGANO TRIES AGAIN AND LUMIS BLOCKS!! Theory gets on the apron and LUMIS PUTS THEORY IN SILENCE!! GARGANO USES THE DISTRACTION TO ROLL UP LUMIS FOR THE WIN!! Alright match but I expected better honestly.
W: Johnny Gargano via pin @ 11:12
Post match, LUMIS LOCKS THEORY IN SILENCE BUT GARGANO SAVES HIM! They attack Lumis on the outside. Gargano grabs a chair BUT KUSHIDA MAKES THE SAVE AND LOCKS GARGANO IN THE HOVERBOARD LOCK!! GARGANO TAPS!! LUMIS HAS THEORY IN SILENCE!! Kushida picks up the North American title and throws it at Gargano.
McKenzie is backstage with Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. They claim they still run the place. Dunne is tired of Kyle O'Reilly getting in his way of the NXT Championship. Dunne wants O'Reilly taken out.
Earlier today, Wade Barrett sat down with Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher is now cleared and the fight pit match will be next week. Ciampa wants to know the injury and Thatcher says don't worry about it. Barrett asks why Ciampa requested this match. Ciampa says sometimes you need to go into enemy territory. Thatcher says Ciampa knows nothing. Thatcher claims he has no problem with Ciampa. Ciampa calls Thatcher a piece of garbage. Thatcher says this isn't Takeover and he will own Ciampa in the fight pit. Thatcher questions whether Ciampa still has it and Ciampa says Thatcher has no idea what he can do. Barrett wishes them best of luck next week.
Another match in the Dusty Classic is next!
McKenzie is with the UE. Cole and Strong aren't worried about Lorcan and Burch costing them their match. O'Reilly says he will be ringside. Cole says they will advance and that's UNDISPUTED!!
First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Jake Atlas & Isaiah "Swerve " Scott vs. MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee)
MSK is the team formerly knowns as the Rascalz from Impact. We start with Atlas and Carter. Some good chain wrestling to start and we get a standoff. More chain wrestling before Swerve tags in. Carter has great athleticism and hits a nice corkscrew cross body for a near fall. Lee tags himself in. Lee works the arm of Swerve but Swerve catches him with a knee and takes him to his corner. Atlas tags back in. Chops by Lee. Lee hits an elbow by Swerve low bridges Lee out of the ring. Atlas dives to the outside sending Lee into the table. Carter comes around from his corner and things are breaking down on the outside. Lee takes out everyone with a tope as we go to a break. Vic Joseph calls MSK "rascals" before the break. I see what you did there Vic!
Back from the break, Swerve is in control of Carter. Carter connects with a back elbow and make a counter in order to tag Lee. Lee builds momentum. Strikes by Lee. Carter tags back in with connects with a nice standing moonsault! Lee tags back in but Atlas avoids a double team. Swerve tags in. German from Atlas to Lee! Swerve with a brain buster to Lee. Atlas tags in and super kicks Lee. Swerve tosses Lee up to a slam. 450 by Swerve! Atlas covers but Carter makes the save!! Swerve sends Carter to the outside. Swerve tags in as Atlas delivers shoulders to Lee in the corner. They put Lee on the top and both Atlas and Swerve go up. Carter rips Atlas off the top. Swerve and Lee come down from the top. All men are down. Carter makes a tag. Lee with a nice back rana! Carter tags back in and MSK HIT A NICE NECK BREAKER SPINE BUSTER COMBO FOR THE WIN!! Good debut for MSK. To be honest, I don't know much about them but they look great and have great athleticism.
W: MSK via pin @ 11:54
Commentary talks about the upcoming women's Dusty Cup. It begins next week! Some of the teams are Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro, Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon, and Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez.
Xia Li video package is shown. She's in action next!
A video package with Scarlett is shown backstage playing with some sort of tarot cards. Finn Balor is shown at the end as if he's their next target.
Xia Li w/ Boa vs. Unknown Jobber
Xia Li and Boa come out with the mystery person on the throne again. No name given for her opponent. Xia Li with a strike to jaw and A SWEET SPIN KICK FINISHES IT!! Squash! Post match, the person on the throne calls for Xia Li to kick some more ass and Xia Li does the bidding!
W: Xia Li via pin @ 0:23
Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter are backstage and talk about the women's Dusty Cup. Kayden says they are used to be overlooked. Kacy says they will shock the world when they win it all!
Breezango is shown heading to the ring as does the UE! It's the main event and next!
During a commercial, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and Jake Atlas had to be pulled apart from fighting. Bronson Reed is here to get in the face of Swerve!
First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Breezango vs. Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & Roderick Strong) w/ Kyle O'Reilly
Breeze and Cole start it off. They lock up and Breeze gets a head lock. Cole sends him into the ropes but shoulder knock down by Breeze. Both men run the ropes and both look for a super kick. Stand off and they shake hands. Lock up again with good chain wrestling. Another stand off. Strong and Fandango tag in. Test of strength now it quickly goes to the mat where Strong works an arm of Fandango. Fandango fights free and works the arm of Strong in similar fashion. Strong picks a leg and they go off the ropes. Spinning heel kick by Fandango for a near fall as we go to a picture in picture break.
Breeze tags in and is slammed by Strong. In comes Cole who takes Breeze to a corner and stomps him. Neck breaker by Cole for a near fall. Breeze is able to hit a kick to the midsection followed by another kick. Tag to Fandango who shoots Cole hard into a corner. Body shots by Fandango and a snap mare. Chin lock by Fandango to wear down Cole.
Cole fights to his feet but Fandango front face suplexes Cole onto the top rope. Breeze back in now and gets a near fall. Cole catches him with an elbow but Breeze prevents a tag. Breeze sends Cole to the outside. Breeze goes to dive but Cole catches him with a kick! Strong and Fandango both tag in! They slug it out and a clothesline and drop kick by Strong. Strong with a back breaker to Fandango and forearms to Breeze. Strong suplexes Breeze onto Fandango and he gets a near fall! Cole tags back in. Knees to the midsection of Fandango by Strong and Cole follows with a kick for a near fall. Cole goes for the Last Shot but Fandango avoids and tags Breeze. Pump kick to Breeze by Cole!! BREEZE WITH AN INVERTED BACK STABBER TO COLE!! 1...2...NO!! Breeze knocks Strong off the apron! Breeze sling shots Cole into a forearm but Fandango!! Strong breaks up a pin! Breeze with a jump knee to Strong. Pump kick by Cole to Fandango but Fandango turns Cole inside out with a clothesline. PETE DUNNE, ONEY LORCAN, AND DANNY BURCH ARE HERE TO ATTACK O'REILLY!! FINN BALOR MAKES THE SAVE!! DUNNE AND COMPANY TAKE OUT BALOR AND O'REILLY!! Cole finally realizes what happen! BREEZE SUPER KICKS COLE!! Strong takes out himself and Breeze with a knee! Fandango avoids a Panama Sunrise with a back drop. FANDANGO GOES TO THE TOP BUT JUMPS INTO A SUPER KICK BY COLE!! THAT WINS IT FOR THE UE!! The right team won but there was lots of extra stuff going on that seemed to overshadow the match itself.
W: Undisputed Era via pin @ 11:58
Post match, Cole and Strong check on O'Reilly while Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch watch on from the top of the ramp. End Show!
Next Week:
First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Leon Ruff & Kushida vs. Austin Theory & Johnny Gargano (NXT North American Champion)
First Round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Imperium
NXT Fight Pit: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher
First Round of the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro vs. Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez
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