The new NXT theme by Wale plays and we already have new video to go with it, folding in new faces (especially Bron Breakker) with the likes of established NXT stars like Cameron Grimes, Johnny Gargano, and new NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa.
Speaking of which, when we open NXT 2.0 9/21 in the Capitol Wrestling Centre, Ciampa comes down to a ring occupied with fresh talents. Carmelo Hayes is there with Trick Williams. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, as well. Odyssey Jones looms ever so large and Joe Gacy stands between Odyssey and Bron Breakker. Ciampa hypes up the crowd for the 2.0 version, saying that the passion hasn’t changed with the paint job. He gets them excited for the new names. He gets them excited for the commentary. And he gets them excited for the excitement that they bring to what he now declares is “The A Show.”
You know who else is excited? Cameron Griiiimes! Cameron Grimes. He let’s the new champ know he’s interested in the title when Joe Gacy politely interrupts him. LA Knight is much less polite but Odyssey Jones calls him out for losing twice in one night last week. Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland come out to make it a party. The Bruiserweight suggests they’re all just “a bunch of geezers afraid to throw the first punch.” The champ proves him wrong and starts the brawl! The locker room sends out more such as The Grizzled Young Veterans and Duke Hudson. At the end, Breakker and Ciampa are the last ones standing.
We get pulled away from the ring to the backstage area where some of the women are being pulled apart by NXT officials. Meanwhile, Dunne and Holland attempt to retake the ring but Ciampa and Breakker repel them. Breakker gets a live mic and tells them to grow some balls and face he and Ciampa in a tag match later because the fans want the fight to continue.
Roderick Strong vs Kushida (c) for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Malcom Bivens and all of Diamond Mine accompanies Strong out to the ring. Definite strong style (no pun intended) to the start with Kushida making diving Inoki kicks, judo and collar and elbow grappling, and a scramble off every takedown. After the commercial break, Kushida starts in on Roddy’s left arm and jams it down off the top rope before a running kick. Roddy tries to fight out with suplexes and hard right elbows but Kushida has the Hoverboard Lock on in the middle of the ring.
Just when it looks like Roddy will tap, Bivens gets his foot on the bottom rope the calls the referee’s notice. As the ref converses with Bivens, The Creed Bros yank Kushida out of the ring so Ivy Nile can hit a Supergirl punch off of the ring steps and then send him right back in. High knee, vertical suplex into a backstabber, and a 1-2-3 cover.
Winner and new NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Roderick Strong
As Diamond Mine celebrates, Drake Maverick’s buddy, Grayson Waller, bops out with a challenge for the new champ. Malcom Bivens is insulted with this but grants him the title match for next week.
Tony D’Angelo is out on the docks talking about business, family, and his future in NXT.
Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs tell us how they became friends and show us the bar security camera footage of their bar fight to prove it. Having earned each other’s respect, they’re out to earn the same from all of NXT.
Kay Lee Ray vs Amari Miller
Amari had harsh words backstage with KLR before in the back but seems all bubbly smiles on her way to the ring. She’s quick, getting in offense early on the Scotswoman. Kay Lee turns it around and blocks a spin kick to load up the Gory Bomb.
Winner: Kay Lee Ray
McKenzie Mitchell is with Bron Breakker when his tag team partner, Tommaso Ciampa, asks this “big fish” if he’s ready to sink or swim. Breakker is all hyped for the fight, especially with the champ. The eager youngster lets his attention fall on Goldie a bit too long for Ciampa’s liking, though.
Tall and tattooed Xyon Quinn is headed to the performance center with two fine young ladies when another trainee rudely attempts to walk past the girls through the door. Quinn gives him a lesson in chivalry by way of denting the door with his head.
Trey Baxter vs Dante Chen
The commentators are talking about WWE’s first superstar from Singapore but Trey Baxter doesn’t want to be over looked either. He takes it to the newbie quickly and nearly pins him off of a small package but Chen stands up with him. From there, he drops down into a seated position similar to Angel Garza’s Wing Clipper and that’s all he needs.
Winner: Dante Chen
Andre Chase welcomes us to “Chase University.” He gives his students a lesson in Odyssey Jones’ failure in the NXT Breakthrough Tournament. When questioned about how Jones beat Chase in the same tournament, Chase promptly invites the student to “Get the [bleep] out!”
Beth Phoenix and the announce team update us that Kyle O’Reilly will be week-to-week after reinjuring his ribs following Pete Dunne’s locker room attack last week. Triple H is said to be recovering well.
Joe Gacy lets the fans know that, tonight, the ring is a “safe space.” He says that he is about conflict resolution and that he can do it without his male privilege. He’s going to show everyone that peace can be achieved, his way.
Cameron Grimes vs Joe Gacy
Gacy locks up in slacks, belt, and button down shirt. He’s mostly keeping it clean with straight mat grappling but, after some kicks and taunts by Grimes, comes into the corner with an avalanche and big uranage. Flying forearms from Grimes but a handspring rebound clothesline from Gacy gets the crowd’s attention. Gacy runs right into a Cave-In, though, and the stonks keep going. To. The. Moon!
Winner: Cameron Grimes
After the match, Gacy offers a handshake and even an awkward hug.
A look at Von Wagner sees him training using a sledgehammer and a giant tractor tire. His “unconventional means” are meant to make him “an unconventional man.”
Elektra Lopez vs Anna Scheer
The pig-tailed Scheer doesn’t get a lick in as the larger Lopez runs her over with multiple shoulder blocks. A Black Hole Slam and a Blue Thunder variation end it.
Winner: Elektra Lopez
After the match, Santos Escobar talks up Elektra and Elektra runs down Hit Row’s B-Fab. When she tells B-Fab to “get your skinny ass out here,” all of Hit Row faces off with Legado del Fantasma. This allows B-Fab to sneak in and get the first shot in on Elektra. To the men’s credit, they don’t get involved until the ladies are about to roll out of the ring. The crowd chants “Let them fight!” but both groups keep the ladies apart for now.
In the locker room, Trey Baxter is mulling his loss to the debuting Dante Chen. A kiss from Cora Jade reminds him that he’s still a superhero to her.
Robert Stone Brand runs into NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Gonzalez. Gonzalez tells Franky Monet that she has gotten their recently-scratched title match reinstated for next week. Franky tells her to enjoy her last week as champion. After Raquel walks off, Lash Legend congratulates Franky but says it doesn’t compare to her new talk segment, Lashing Out, debating next week.
Odyssey Jones vs Cary Millman & Darren Chiapetta
The people love Odyssey. He whoops up on his opponents in this handicap match until Andre Chase comes out to watch. This distracts Odyssey for a bit but not enough as he flattens both opponents with a cross body and then a splash from Brett’s rope for the win.
Winner: Odyssey Jones
After the match, Andre Chase comes into the ring with a steel chair but Odyssey catches the swing and breaks the chair! Chase beats feet out of the ring.
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams let Grayson Waller know that, if he does manage to beat Roderick Strong for the cruiserweight title, he may not hold it for long. After Grayson walks off, Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, and Jacey Jayme walk by. Trick and Carmelo are more than appreciative, even after Gigi mimes stabbing Trick with a rose.
Ikemen Jiro gives us a look inside his closet and all of his colorful “handsome jackets.” He says that, even though fans associate Japanese superstars with “strong style,” he wants everyone to see him and think “style strong!”
Mandy, Gigi, and Jacey are in the ring and now collectively known as “Toxic Attraction.” Mandy says that she thought she would be NXT’s Golden Goddess as a gift to the fans. When her face was injured, the fans showed no support and so she gives none back. Gigi and Jacey say they needed Mandy’s injury was the catalyst they needed. “Chaos without direction is just an accident waiting to happen.” They’re not waiting anymore and they’re bringing their chaos to the entire women’s division.
In the back, McKenzie watches on the monitor with NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Zoey Stark & Io Shirai. Zoey and Io say that they’re not worried and Io offers a tag team title shot for Gigi & Jacey. Zoey is a little concerned that it wasn’t a team decision but admits that it makes sense. Persia Pirotta steps into frame (freaking heck, is she tall!) She tells the champs that there’s a long line of contenders and that, once her honeymoon with Dexter Lumis is over, her best friend and fellow Aussie, Indi Hartwell, would love to team up and challenge for the straps.
Main Event of NXT 2.0 9/21 Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland vs Tommaso Ciampa & Bron Breakker
Chants of “Ciampa’s gonna kill you!” breakout immediately as he and Dunne start out but, after an even exchange, it splits into “Let’s go Ciampa!” and “Bruis-er-weight!” Both men tag in their partners and a quarter ton of Clydesdale hits the ring. Holland looks freaked out when he’s thrown around the ring by Bron. Good teamwork by Ciampa and Breakker on the tag but Holland manages to tag Dunne in blind and slam Ciampa down hard. It makes easy pickings for Dunne who goes after Ciampa’s small joints like a skilled butcher.
This wakes up the champ and the violence roller coaster starts. He slide tackles Dunne, boots Holland, tosses Holland into the steps, and Dunne over the announce table in a matter of seconds. He celebrates too much though as Holland recovers to shoulder block him up and over the announce table himself. Dunne and Holland try to isolate Ciampa. It doesn’t take, though, as Ciampa and Holland exchange suplex attempts and both have to tag their partners.
Breakker is on fire, dropping both opponents with shoulder blocks and spinning belly-to-belly suplexes. Once Holland is out of the ring and the straps come down, Breakker locks in the [redacted] Recliner! Dunne jams his fingers to get out of the hold and tags in Holland who hits an Alabama Slam in the middle of the ring. Save by Ciampa!
Blackheart and Brusierweight exchanging right hands. Holland with an overhead belly-to-belly on Ciampa. Breakker does the same to Dunne. Breakker and Holland drop each other with simultaneous clotheslines. Dunne goes for the truncheon but Ciampa tosses it out of the ring. Dunne kicks him out. Breakker presses Dunne overhead but gets a headbutt from Holland before he can slam him down. Holland grabs the truncheon on the outside but Kyle O’Reilly runs in and cracks him one! He sends Holland back into the ring. Willow’s Bell on Dunne. Press powerslam on Holland!
Winners: Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa
After the match, Bron intercepts the NXT Championship belt when the ref brings it into the ring. He hands it to Ciampa but very hesitantly. As the two pose on the turnbuckles, it’s Ciampa’s turn to keep a focused eye on Breakker.
NXT Takeaways from NXT 2.0 9/21
The Good from NXT 2.0 9/21:
- Lots of new faces being seen and a fantastic job was done showcasing them over the two hours. Joe Gacy didn’t get a win but he got a match and an in-ring promo. Trey Baxter got beat but he got a kiss from a pretty girl. Andre Chase didn’t get a match but he had a vignette. Ikemen Jiro and Xyon Quinn weren’t featured but they got seen. Odyssey Jones and Bron Breakker look like they’re top priorities but established stars like LA Knight, Ciampa, Dunne, and Cameron Grimes are who they have to work with to prove it.
- They managed to load next week’s card with title matches, mostly emphasizing the women, and it seemed to flow fairly well.
- “What about the storytelling?” They explain Briggs and Jensen’s partnership with a 45 second vignette, Odyssey Jones’ attitude with a one-liner, and the eventual Breakker vs Ciampa challenge with a few looks.
The Bad from NXT 2.0 9/21:
- They did A LOT in this episode. Plenty of vignettes and cuts to the back. Four in-ring promos. And seven (that’s SEVEN!) matches! While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, there’s no such thing as a free lunch and that time had to come from somewhere. The matches were shorter than many NXT faithful are used to and longing for. Multiple twenty-minute bangers on one show are going to be few and far between if ever again.
- Oh man. Some of these names are terrible. Especially the legacy wrestlers. Bull Buchanan’s kid is a hoss at 20 years old. Don’t tell me that you plan on calling him “Brooks Jensen” if and when he’s holding the US Title someday.
The Ugly Truth from NXT 2.0 9/21:
- I feel bad for Von Wagner already. Even if laissez-faire, the word is out that Vince likes him and that’s a kiss of death. Randy Orton. Drew McIntyre. Roman Reigns. Once it’s known that the boss has found a tall and muscular young man to concentrate on, there are fans that will reflexively and viciously push back against Vince’s big sweaty muscle man… at least until he steps away and comes back in the best shape of his life. Funny how that works out. Then again, a lot of those fans aren’t watching WWE product anymore. Not a win/win in my estimation.
- “WWE is the land of the giants.” It’s an old maxim. The fears of the faithful were that their beloved NXT would follow suit. In tonight’s episode, we saw ten talents who were Division I competitors or pro athletes. And, you know what? That’s not a bad thing in and of itself. Odyssey Jones is already over. The Creed Brothers are doing well. Bron Breakker has “star” written all over him. “The look” alone shouldn’t make or break someone. And that door should swing both ways.
- And as for, “no more indie wrestlers,” do you really want Jon Gresham or EFFY or Jordan Oliver under the WWE umbrella? Is that really the best place for them where they can continue and expand on what they’re loved for now? The greatest part of today’s explosion on the indie scene is that talented people can make a living outside of the WWE. Maybe we should start appreciating that for what it is.
