Finn Bálor takes on The Velveteen Dream

Finn Bálor looks to show The Velveteen Dream why he's the greatest NXT Champion of all time, El Hijo del Fantasma's debut highlights continued Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament action and Tegan Nox joins forces with Shotzi Blackheart to battle Dakota Kai & Raquel González this Wednesday night on USA Network at 8/7 C!





- Tonight's WWE NXT episode opens on the USA Network with a look back at last week's show.

- We're live with Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton. We see video recorded earlier with officials in the back in regards to the potential locker room incident with Finn Balor. Referees are looking around at Balor's gear, concerned. Tom says NXT General Manager William Regal has pulled Balor from tonight's main event with The Velveteen Dream. Byron wonders if Balor is just playing mind games, or where he's at.

- We go to the ring and The Velveteen Dream makes his way out. Dream starts to address Finn Balor but the music interrupts and out comes NXT Champion Adam Cole.

Cole says the winner of Balor vs. Dream was to move closer to a NXT Title shot and this is just all too convenient for Dream. Cole says he knows what Dream has done but it's not going to work, he will never get a title shot. Cole says he has no idea what happened to Balor, but he knows exactly what will happen to Dream. Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong suddenly attack Dream from behind in the ring.

Cole joins in as The Undisputed Era, minus Kyle O'Reilly, triple teams Dream and beats him down. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee eventually makes the save. They try to mount offense on Lee but he keeps fighting all three off. Lee stands tall with Dream in the ring as his music hits. They taunt The Undisputed Era, who has now retreated to the stage.

- Still to come, the tournament to crown the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion continues. Also, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae will be here.

Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez

We go to the ring for tonight's opener and out comes Shotzi Blackheart driving her tank. Tegan Nox is out next. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez are out next as Alicia Taylor does the introductions.

Nox and Raquel start off. Nox ducks a running big boot to begin. Nox ends up going for an early 1 count. Shotzi tags in and takes control of Gonzalez. Kai tags herself in and tangles with Shotzi. Blackheart with an arm drag and a kick to the arm. Shotzi with a reverse Slingblade and some screaming out. Blackheart launches herself at Kai and then tags Nox back in.

Nox launches herself at Kai in the corner and tags Shotzi right back in. They double team and sends both opponents to the floor. Nox assists Shotzi up to the top rope, then helps send her flying to the floor to take out Kai and Gonzalez. Shotzi stands back up and howls out as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Shotzi gets beat down in the corner. Kai tags in with a 2 count. Kai misses a big boot in the corner as Shotzi moves. Kai grabs the leg to stop the tag but Shotzi kicks her back. Nox tags in as does Gonzalez. Nox takes out Kai and goes to work on Gonzalez in the middle of the ring. Nox with more strikes and a clothesline to stun Gonzalez. She keeps on but Gonzalez is still standing.

Nox with a headbutt that rocks them both. Gonzalez sends her into the corner but misses a running elbow. Nox comes back with an uppercut and a big kick to the face but Gonzalez is still on one knee. Nox goes up top and stops Kai from charging on the apron. Nox leaps but Gonzalez catches her in mid-air, then hits the fall-away Slam. Shotzi tags herself in and hits a big seated senton from the top on Gonzalez for a 2 count.

Kai runs in but Nox stops her and sends her to the floor. Kai brings Nox out to the floor. Shotzi and Gonzalez go at it in the ring now. Gonzalez catches Blackheart with a big one-armed powerbomb in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.

Winners: Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai

- After the match, the music hits as Gonzalez and Kai stand tall in the ring. We go to replays.

- Tom announces tonight's new main event with Finn Balor being out - Cole and Strong vs. Dream and Lee.

- Tom sends us to a video on Drake Maverick, featuring the emotional Twitter video he posted after last week's release from his WWE contract. The video also features new footage where Drake discusses his last 3 WWE matches in the cruiserweight tournament. He is giving everything he has in these matches to make sure he wins. He has to. He says he's not done with anything and if he goes out, he's going out swinging and going out as the NXT Interim Cruiserweight Champion. Drake will face Jake Atlas tonight. Back to commercial.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match: Jake Atlas (0-0) vs. Drake Maverick (0-0)

Back from the break and out comes Jake Atlas for the next Group A match in the tournament to crown a new Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Tom leads us to a video package on Atlas. Out next comes Drake Maverick, in one of his final WWE matches as he was released last week but allowed to work the tournament. Drake is all business on the way to the ring. He stops and looks at the NXT Cruiserweight Title belt, which is on display at ringside.

They lock up and Atlas strikes first. Drake comes back with a headlock. They tangle and Drake rolls Atlas but he rolls through and misses a kick. Atlas gets the upperhand and taunts Drake as they break. Drake says he needs this but Atlas needs it just as bad, he says. Drake goes for a takedown and grounds Atlas on the mat as they tangle some more. Atlas avoids the Tequila Sunrise and they break again.

They lock up again and Drake rocks Atlas with a big kick. Atlas comes out of the corner and sends Drake to the apron. Drake fights back in and hits a dropkick. Atlas is still on his feet. Drake charges but Atlas catches him in position for a powerbomb. Drake hangs on and sends Atlas over the top rope to the floor. Drake is on the apron. Drake follows and brings it back into the ring. Drake charges but Atlas catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a quick pin attempt. Atlas keeps control and lets Drake recover in the corner.

Atlas grabs Drake from behind and slams him face-first on the mat. Drake tries to fight out of a hold and eventually sends Atlas face-first into the top turnbuckle. Atlas charges again but misses in the corner as Drake sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Drake with more strikes now, sending Atlas back in the corner. Drake takes out the leg again as Atlas charges, sending him into the turnbuckles. Drake with a high knee in the corner. Drake goes on with a big dropkick. Drake applies the Tequila Sunrise but Atlas gets free, rolling to the floor. Drake charges and nails a suicide dive through the ropes, taking Atlas down. Drake brings it back in the ring and goes to the top. Drake with the flying elbow drop to the face for another close 2 count.

Atlas counters a cutter from the corner and levels Drake with a big superkick. Atlas goes to the top but Drake cuts him off and rocks him. Drake climbs up but Atlas blocks a hurricanrana. Atlas nails a huge cartwheel DDT from the top and covers for the pin to get a win in the tournament.

Winner: Jake Atlas (1-0)

- After the match, Atlas stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays. Tom shows us an updated look at the tournament standings. Atlas and Akira Tozawa are the only competitor with wins. McKenzie Mitchell interviews Atlas on the stage. He says he's on top of the world now. Drake comes walking by with an official and they have a moment. Atlas says Drake gave him the fight of his life but people are going to know his name and he will become the next champion.

- Still to come, Tony Nese vs. Kushida in more tournament action. Back to commercial.

- Back from the break and we get a video package on the feud between Damian Priest and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee with new comments and footage from both.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match: Kushida (0-0) vs. Tony Nese (0-0)

We go back to the ring for tonight's second match in the round robin tournament to crown an Interim Cruiserweight Champion, this one for Group A. Kushida is out next and we get a video package on him. Tony Nese is out next. Tom also leads us to a video on Nese. Nese says as far as he's still concerned, he's still the champion because he wasn't pinned in last year's Triple Threat.

The bell rings and they go at it, then break for some trash talking from Nese. They lock up again and Nese slams Kushida. Kushida turns it around on the mat. Tom reminds us NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin is stuck in the UK and unable to defend, which is why this tournament was created. Kushida with more offense and some showing off to mock Nese. Nese turns it around and grounds Kushida with a submission in the middle of the ring. Kushida turns it around and focuses on the arm now, keeping Nese grounded.

They break and Nese with a cheap shot. Kushida fires back with a stiff strike, then unloads. Nese with a throat shot to cut him off. They tangle and Nese gets launched over the top to the floor but Kushida goes down in the ring. Nese drags Kushida out to the floor and launches him into the barrier. Nese sends Kushida through the barrier now. Nese brings it back in for a 2 count. Kushida fights back with strikes but Nese sends him to the apron. Kushida goes to the top and hits a flying clothesline to Nese. Nese blocks the handspring back elbow and sends Kushida to the mat. Nese brings Kushida back to the floor and sends him back into the barrier. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Nese has Kushida down in a body scissors. They trade aggressive strikes on the mat. Kushida fights free. Nese fights back but Kushida chops him and sends him to the apron. Kushida gets caught over the top rope and goes down. Nese with a springboard moonsault but Kushida moves out of the way. Kushida with more strikes and the handspring back elbow. Kushida with a big hip toss into a cartwheel and dropkick while Nese is down.

Kushida winds up and drops Nese with the big right hand. Kushida with a kick tot he arm. More back and forth with Kushida getting the upperhand. Nese catches Kushida for a pump-handle slam but Kushida counters and turns it into the Sakuraba Lock in the middle of the ring. Nese counters into a suplex and bridges it for the close 2 count. Nese goes to the top, selling a left arm injury. Kushida runs with a handspring kick to Nese up top. Nese sends Kushida back down to the mat and follows up with a 450 but Kushida still kicks out at 2.

Nese exposes his knee while Kushida is down in the corner. He charges but Kushida leaps up with a palm strike. Kushida goes on and drops Nese near the corner. Kushida goes to the top but Nese jumps up with a palm strike of his own. Nese climbs up with Kushida now. Nese puts Kushida on his shoulders but Kushida fights out. Kushida with the Sakuraba Lock up high on the top turnbuckle. He flips back into the hold from the top, back on the mat, making Nese tap out for the win.

Winner: Kushida (1-0)

- After the match, Kushida stands tall and raises his arms in the air as his music hits. We go to replays as Tom praises Kushida. Kushida poses on the ropes as we get an updated look at the standings. El Hijo del Fantasma will debut later tonight against Jack Gallagher.

- McKennzie Mitchell is backstage with Timothy Thatcher and NXT Tag Team Champion Matt Riddle. Riddle mentions how he misses his partner Pete Dunne. She asks how their new tag team is going after Thatcher was picked by Dunne to be Riddle's temporary partner for last week's successful defense over The Undisputed Era. Thatcher says they still have a long way to go because their styles are different. Riddle comments on how beautiful Thatcher is but gets his eye color wrong. Riddle says they will show everyone just how beautiful of a man Thatcher is next week. Thatcher asks what he has in mind but Riddle isn't telling, he just says to trust him.

- Still to come, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are here.

- Back from the break and we get a new video on Karrion Kross and his mystery lady friend. She says hey told everyone they were coming. She goes on as we see flashes of last week's attack to Tommaso Ciampa. Saxton confirms this is Scarlett, but doesn't say Scarlett Bordeaux, just the first name.

- Tom sends us to the home of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. It looks like dinner time as Gargano is at a table. He brags on his recent win over Tommaso Ciampa. He says he and Candice are doing great because they're not living in a fairytale, they're living in reality. Candice serves them dinner at the table. Gargano says NXT is the true fairytale because it's become a toxic wasteland where good people get taken advantage of and bad people are thriving. He talks about how he was always asked to do media, sign merchandise, record a Happy Birthday video for some stupid kid. He always said "yeah, no problem" and NXT is just a cookie cutter world where people take advantage of someone's kindness. He's tired of doing all this while Ciampa gets what he doesn't deserve. He deserves everything and he's sick and tired of waving the NXT flag on a mountain of un-appreciation. Candice has a new darker look. Candice, who has a new darker look, says that's the NXT way. She says she's been unappreciated since she set foot in the place. LeRae says she sacrificed for the other women and ate second so they could eat first. When she needed anyone, they weren't there for her. She kept telling herself people would change but that didn't happen. She found it to be enlightening because she's no longer eating second. Gargano talks them both up and says this isn't a new attitude because they've known how good they are for a long time. They were given nothing, table scraps, while everyone else was given everything. They decided to keep their personal and professional lives separate but it got them nowhere but stabbed in the back over and over. They only trust each other now. They tried to fix NXT so now all they can do is tear NXT down to rebuild it in their image. It's not just the Johnny Gargano Way, it's their way, he says. He goes on and says they will make history as the first married couple to reign together as the NXT Champion and NXT Women's Champion. They toast to when the good guys win and get what they deserve... when they get what they deserve. The video featured some menacing edits with black & white cuts. It ends with another look at a photo from their wedding day.

- Tom sends us to a video package on Io Shirai, who is the current #1 contender to NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. She bows to no one. Back to commercial.

- McKenzie approaches Drake Maverick backstage for comments. He says Jake Atlas was great. An emotional Drake comments on how he fights his opponent and himself in matches. He stares down while sitting on the stairs and says maybe everyone was right about him. That's the end of the segment.

Jessi Kamea vs. Mia Yim

We go back to the ring and out first comes Mia Yim. Jessi Kamea is out next.

The bell rings and they go at it. Yim unloads in the corner and then drops Kamea on her face after some trash talking. More back and forth but Yim keeps control. Kamea kips up and drops Yim with a shoulder. Yim then kips up and talks some more trash. Yim ends up dropping Kamea with a shoulder. Yim goes on and drops Kamea for a 2 count.

Kamea turns it around again and levels Yim with a big shot to the face. Kamea works Yim over while she's down on the mat. Kamea takes Yim back down and slams her head on the mat. Kamea with a springboard corkscrew elbow for another close 2 count. Kamea charges in the corner but misses as Yim moves. Kamea goes for a missile dropkick but botches it and Yim moves.

Yim comes back with a clothesline and another shot. Yim with a neckbreaker. Yim with more offense and the standing STO. Yim keeps control and hits Protect Ya Neck to the face for the pin to win.

Winner: Mia Yim

- After the match, Yim stands tall as Tom wonders if the recent words from Charlotte Flair have motivated her. We go to replays. The music interrupts and out comes the NXT Women's Champion. They talk about a potential match and Flair gives her a back-handed compliment, also revealing that they will apparently have a match next week. Yim isn't impressed with Flair's words. She shakes her head as Flair walks off.

- Tom sends us to a video package on Jack Gallagher for tonight's tournament match.

- Back from the break and Robert Stone is at the pool, talking up The Robert Stone Brand. He praises Chelsea Green, who is wearing a bikini. She joins him in the chair next to him and they talk about how she's better than the other NXT women. Stone agrees. She says she will be the next NXT Women's Champion and Stone agrees to end the segment.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match: Jack Gallagher (0-0) vs. El Hijo del Fantasma (0-0)

We go to the ring for the next Group B match in the tournament to crown an Interim Cruiserweight Champion as Jack Gallagher makes his way out. El Hijo del Fantasma is out next to make his official TV debut. He's wearing a different mask from last week's promo, but closer to his normal look. The announcers talk about Fantasma being a second generation talent.

The bell rings and they go at it. Gallagher takes control early on and grounds Fantasma, taunting him. Fantasma fights up and unloads, taking Gallagher down with a dropkick and then grounding him. More back and forth for a few minutes with Gallagher getting more offense in. They end up on the floor and Gallagher launches Fantasma into the barrier. Gallagher breaks the count and goes back out, grabbing Fantasma by the mask. Gallagher works over Fantasma as the referee counts.

Gallagher breaks the count again and goes back out to rock Fantasma. Fantasma lands a big kick to the face from the apron. Fantasma fights back and flips Gallagher over the ropes to the floor. Fantasma runs the ropes, puts on the brakes for a fake, then launches himself over the top to take Gallagher down on the floor. Fantasma stands tall and regroups as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Gallagher continues to control Fantasma. He brings it back in the ring and grounds Fantasma again. Fantasma mounts more offense and drops Gallagher off the ropes. More back and forth now. Fantasma superkicks Gallagher out of the ring. Fantasma runs the ropes and nails a big dive out to the floor.

Fantasma brings it back in the ring and keeps fighting in the corner. Fantasma with a running uppercut. Fantasma with a quick roll-up out of nowhere for 2. Gallagher goes for the mask again and counters a pin attempt, rolling Fantasma up for 2. They tangle and Gallagher connects with a big headbutt for 2. Gallagher can't believe he kicked out, showing frustration now. Gallagher charges and misses a dropkick in the corner. Fantasma scoops him on his shoulders. Gallagher goes for the mask again and hits knees to the face but Fantasma responds by dropping him with a big Samoan Driver for the pin to win.

Winner: El Hijo del Fantasma (1-0)

- After the match, Fantasma stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays. Tom shows us the current tournament standings. McKenzie interviews Fantasma on the stage and he takes the mic, cutting a promo in Spanish.

- Still to come, our tag team main event. Back to commercial.

- Back from the break and the following are announced for next week - NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Mia Yim in a non-title match, plus Damian Priest vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee with the title on the line.

- Tom shows us footage of an incident that happened during the break. We see El Hijo del Fantasma outside in the parking lot when a SUV speeds up and stops. The masked men hop out, the same ones that previously kidnapped Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde. They try to abduct Fantasma but he fights them off. They get back in the SUV and drive off as Fantasma yells at them.

The Velveteen Dream and Keith Lee vs. The Undisputed Era

We go to the ring for tonight's main event as The Velveteen Dream makes his way out first. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee is out next. Out next comes The Undisputed Era - NXT Champion Adam Cole and Roderick Strong with Bobby Fish. They pose as Lee and Dream stare them down.

The bell rings and The Undisputed Era tries a sneak attack. The brawl kicks off and Fish tries to assist from the floor. Dream goes out and has words with Fish as the referee gets in between them. Damian Priest appears at ringside and hits Lee twice in the throat with his nightstick while the referee isn't looking. Lee gasps for air as Dream brings the referee over to check on him. They call for help from the back.

Referees are out to check on Lee as Cole taunts them. It looks like Cole or Strong may be running at Dream to attack him on the apron but we cut to commercial.

Back from the break and Strong has control of Dream. Lee is nowhere to be seen after he was taken to the back to be checked out due to the attack by Priest. Strong and Cole take turns on Dream in their corner now. Strong with a big Olympic Slam and more offense on Dream. Cole tags in and keeps control. Cole brings Dream back to the corner and Strong tags back in. Strong works Dream around and drops him with a big backbreaker in the middle of the ring. Strong looks for a pin attempt but hits another big backbreaker. Dream kicks out again.

Dexter Lumis suddenly appears on the apron in place of Lee. Strong and Cole keep control on Dream but he fights back. Dream blocks a slam by Strong and hits the Dream Valley Driver. Dream sees Lumis reaching for a tag now. Cole tags in but Lumis also gets the hot tag. Lumis unloads on Cole and Strong.

Lumis keeps control, unloading with strikes on Strong in the corner. Lumis with a Thesz Press on Cole. He mounts Cole with more big strikes. Lumis with a big Spinebuster next. Fish runs back down after previously being banned from ringside. Lumis leaps out and takes down Strong and Fish on the floor, allowing Dream to hit the Purple Rainmaker on Cole in the middle of the ring. Dream covers Cole for the pin to win.

Winners: Dexter Lumis and The Velveteen Dream

- After the match, Lumis and Dream are officially announced as the winning team. We go to replays. Dream stands tall and poses in the middle of the ring while his music plays. Lumis stares him down from ringside, like only Dexter Lumis can. Dream continues his celebration as we see The Undisputed Era re-grouping on the stage. NXT goes off the air.