The NXT 12/11 Episode kicks off with NXT Champion, Adam Cole, in the production truck, raging about the triple threat match that pits Finn Bálor vs Keith Lee vs Tommaso Ciampa for a title shot next week. A title shot that Cole says that none of them has earned.
Lio Rush (c) vs Angel Garza for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Lio Rush is all over Garza from jump street owing to Garza’s repeated mind games and shows of disrespect. Popular with the ladies, Garza has taken a page out of Ravishing Rick Rude’s playbook and turned his attentions towards Lio Rush’s wife at ringside. Angry and aggressive is not Lio Rush’s wheelhouse and Garza knows it. Getting the advantage early after setting his trap, Garza is control throughout most of the match. Garza uses Lio’s own moves against him but turnabout is fair play and El Angel almost gets his wings clipped! Somehow, the finish doesn’t come after one of the most insane outside dives I’ve seen outside of the old FMW death matches followed by a Wing Clipper by Garza. He’s incredulous that Rush was able to kick out but recovered when he realizes that the champ is in perfect position for a reverse full nelson. Mauro Ranallo invokes Angel Garza’s late uncle, Hector, as the new champ is crowned.
Your winner by submission… and NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion… Angel Garza!
Promo package by NXT Women’s champ, Shayna Baszler, compares herself to a classic Mustang while everyone else is trying to be a Tesla. They’re all flash while she’s there to bash, thrash, and crash. She runs down her impressive list of victims and lets Rhea Ripley that she joins them after their title match next week.
Finn Bálor is reviled that he has to be in a triple threat match tonight to earn a title shot. Keith Lee has “been relevant since War Games” and Tommaso Ciampa calls the belt Finn made famous, “Goldie.” Next week, he’s taking the shot he earns tonight and his past becomes his future and he becomes a two-time NXT champion.
Our NXT announce team gives us a look at what happened during the commercial break. Angel Garza lets us know about the four loves of his life: wrestling, the love and support of the WWE/NXT Universe, his family, and his girlfriend. He pulls the lovely lady into the ring and, on the spot, proposes to her in the center of Full Sail University. She gladly accepts and that is one hell of a face turn.
Raul Mendoza vs Cameron Grimes
Last week, Grimes blindsided Mendoza and took his spot to take on Kushida (and losing a close one in that contest.) Grimes viciously attacked Kushida at the WWE Performance Center last night in his frustration. Mendoza goes in on Grimes as he’s still strutting for the crowd. Grimes is known for his quick victories with that double stomp and Mendoza wants to do the same to him. The former Carolina Caveman of Impact gets his feet back under him but Kushida shows up to distract him before he can put away Mendoza. Grimes misses one pop-up and, on the second, Mendoza turns it into a Frankensteiner and pin! 1-2-3 and Kushida slips away with Grimes’ leather top hat as Mendoza slips out to celebrate his win.
Your winner by pinfall… Raul Mendoza!
Mia Yim is chomping at the bit to take on Dakota Kai after being betrayed at War Games and NXT UK’s Travis Banks is ready for action as well.
Jackson Ryker (w/ Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake) vs Travis Banks
The “heavy artillery” of The Forgotten Sons faction vs The Kiwi Buzzsaw and they certainly live up to their monikers. Banks unloads immediately with furious striking but Ryker slows him down with a few well-placed shots and handles him like cheap luggage for a few minutes. Banks gets opened up over his left eye but manages to hit his “Slice of Heaven” enziguri, stunning Ryker for three seconds but that’s all it takes.
Your winner by pinfall… Travis Banks!
Mia Yim vs Dakota Kai
Dakota Kai has long been known as the captain of #teamkick but Mia Yim is the one putting the boots to her early on. Constant attacks on the surgically repaired knee of Dakota Kai and dropkick after dropkick after dropkick from every angle and elevation. Mia kicks out after Dakota’s round-the-ring corner kick and the Kiwi kick queen won’t be put away by Yim’s signature Code Blue. Dakota goes to grab the knee brace of Teagan Nox that she keeps as a trophy to use as a weapon. The referee stops her but it distracts both ref and Mia Yim long enough for her to expose the turnbuckle. A go-behind and a good shove puts Mia Yim face first into the steel and Dakota Kai in the winner’s circle.
Your winner by pinfall… Dakota Kai!
Dakota takes too long getting out of the ring and Mia Yim recovers to take her revenge by thrashing her at ringside. They’re all over the production area and Mia Yim hits a belly-to-back suplex off the risers and own onto a table that buckles from the impact! Mama Mia Yim, indeed!
Keith Lee says that opportunity was all he required. He is done with his alliance with Tommaso Ciampa and done playing with Finn Bálor. They will fall and all will bask in his glory.
Breezango vs The Singh Brothers
The Singhs make good use of quick tag work and expert sleight of hand to get the advantage on Tyler Breeze but once the hot tag is made there is some devastating offense to be had (including a scary-looking power bomb on the apron!) Top rope leg drop gets the win.
Your winners by pinfall… Breezango!
Rhea Ripley takes us on her journey, from the aspirations of a 16-year-old hopeful to the Mae Young Classic to NXT UK gold to the first all-women’s War Games to Survivor Series.
Next stop: Shayna Baszler.
Kayden Carter vs Bianca Belair
The Philippine Spitfire vs The EST. Bianca has Carter on her back before she even bothers to take her earrings out. Carter manages to stick-and-move with some Lucha influence but makes the mistake of trying to use power on who may be the strongest woman in WWE since Beth Phoenix. Belair womanhandles Carter for a bit but taking the time to taunt her makes for a major miscalculation but the rally is stopped dead in its tracks by a K.O.D.
Your winner by pinfall… Bianca Belair!
Tommaso Ciampa says that no prince and no glory can deny him in his quest to regain his “Goldie.”
Finn Bálor vs Keith Lee vs Tommaso Ciampa in a #1 Contender’s Match for NXT Championship
Adam Cole is ringside for this contest. At first, it seems like Lee and Ciampa are in a contest to see who can beat up on Bálor. Ciampa becomes a man possessed and starts dropping high impact moves on both opponents, even using the demonic Irishman as a weapon on Keith Lee. Bálor spends much of the match making attacks of opportunity in-between freight train rampages by Lee. Huge spots include a pop-up power bomb stopped by a flying stomp and an avalanche Air Raid Crash that starts on the second turnbuckle but then goes to Keith Lee’s shoulders before crashing to end on the canvas. In the end, Keith lee has Tommaso Ciampa dead to rights but Finn Bálor has dead aim with the Coup de Grace.
Your winner by pinfall and #1 contender for Adam Cole’s NXT Championship… Finn Bálor!
Top Five Takeaways from this week on NXT:
New Japan Pro Wrestling bought out Stardom, former home to many of WWE’s female stars including Dakota Kai. If Triple H and NXT are interested in keeping her around (and I would) we’re likely to see more of her new villainous persona. If not, the same will happen except it will be with the goal of elevating the constantly improving Mia Yim.
With all the past concerns about his maturity and his mouth, it’s a good look for the fan community to recognize how Lio Rush has helped elevate the cruiserweight title and his ability to do so in a short amount of time.
The Forgotten Sons have rare quality. Despite largely being used as enhancement talent, they are able to present a legitimate threat up and down the card as group or as individuals.
Whatever little spot on Bianca Belair that they’re still trying to polish up, they may just want to let it go. There are few women in the industry that match her level of athletics and charisma or her pacing and ring awareness. She reminds me of Victoria, Moolah, and Taya Valkyrie all mashed up together.
Despite the finish. Despite the plans they may have for NXT in coming months, it’s become apparent that Keith Lee has become “that dude.” They’re ready… and so is he.
