WWE NXT 2.0 Live Coverage - October 12th, 2021
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Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Santos Escobar square off for the NXT North American Title
Tonight the war between Legado del Fantasma and Hit Row comes to a head as Santos Escobar finally gets his opportunity at Isaiah “Swerve” Scott’s NXT North American Championship, Joe Gacy looks to get added to the NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc with a win over Tommasso Ciampa, and Kyle O'Reilly teams up with Von Wagner to challenge Pete Dunne & Ridge Holland.
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– Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode opens up on the USA Network with video recorded earlier today. We see Hit Row’s “Top Dolla” AJ Francis, “B-Fab” Briana Brandy, and NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott walking into the WWE Performance Center. They mention how they haven’t heard from Ashante “Thee” Adonis all week. A SUV pulls up and out hops Legado del Fantasma’s Elektra Lopez, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza and Santos Escobar. They attack and abduct B-Fab and Top Dolla, and leave Swerve laying. Santos taunts Swerve before they drive off. We cut to the opening NXT 2.0 video.
– We’re live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida as Vic Joseph welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Wade Barrett and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix. We go right to the ring for tonight’s opener with Halloween Havoc implications.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Joe Gacy
We go right to the ring and Joe Gacy is already out, sitting in the middle of the ring in his chair. He says Tommaso Ciampa is NXT Champion and that title comes with uncontrolled balance. He says he will become victorious over that walking example of toxic masculinity and championship privilege in this safe space of a ring tonight. Gacy represents all of us, all of his snowflakes, and he will bring transparent inclusivity to the NXT Title when he inserts himself into the NXT Title match at Halloween Havoc. Gacy drops the mic and out comes Ciampa for this non-title match as Alicia Taylor does the introductions. Gacy will be added to Bron Breakker vs. Ciampa at Halloween Havoc if he wins.
The bell rings and they face off. Fans chant for Ciampa and he goes to work on Gacy. Gacy fights back and drops Ciampa with a shoulder for a 2 count. Gacy grounds Ciampa now. Ciampa turns it around. More back and forth now. Gacy with a backbreaker for a quick pin attempt.
Gacy works Ciampa over some more and stands tall to boos. Gacy looks out and we see Harland (Parker Boudreaux) in the crowd again. They lock eyes and Gacy goes back to work on Ciampa. Ciampa turns it back around and delivers running knees in the corner. Ciampa with more offense until Gacy goes to the floor for a breather as fans boo. Ciampa follows but Gacy slams him face-first into the announce table. Ciampa counters and slams Gacy face-first into the table. Ciampa brings it back in the ring and unloads on Gacy. Ciampa grounds Gacy again and pounds on him as fans do dueling chants.
We get another look at Harland in the crowd as he stares straight ahead to the ring. Gacy counters Ciampa and mounts more offense, delivering a running splash in the corner and a Uranage for a close 2 count. Ciampa rolls to the apron but Gacy runs the apron and hits a senton on the edge. Gacy goes to the floor for a breather, smiling at the crowd as they boo. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Ciampa takes it to the floor but brings Gacy back in. Ciampa with a running corner clothesline, and another, and a third, then a fourth. Gacy tries to block the fifth but Ciampa ducks him and nails a big clothesline in the middle of the ring for a pop. Gacy blocks the Air Raid Crash but Ciampa keeps control. They trade big strikes in the middle of the ring now. Ciampa with a jumping knee to the face. Gacy keeps fighting and rocks him with a right forearm, then a powerbomb for a close 2 count.
Gacy goes to the corner for a moonsault but he misses. Ciampa goes for Air Raid Crash but it’s blocked and Gacy rolls him for 2. Ciampa goes on and hits a Fairy Tale Ending in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
– After the match, Ciampa stands tall as his music hits and he clutches the NXT Title belt. We go to replays. We come back to Harland dropping Ciampa at ringside out of nowhere. Gacy runs over to see why but Harland grabs him by the throat. Gacy smiles in his face and slowly caresses his face. Harland stares at him and lets him go as fans chant “who are you?” at Harland. Harland runs off and Gacy goes to check on Ciampa but Ciampa shoves him away and heads to the back. Gacy stares up from the ground and he’s all smiles.
– The music hits and out comes Toxic Attraction – Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. They head to the ring and pose together with mics. Dolin says last week they came out with one purpose – to put an end to NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez. Fans boo.
Dolin says NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Io Shirai and Zoey Stark wanted to play hero and ruin their fun, so they left the ring feeling very unsatisfied. Jayne says Shirai and Stark wants to play by the rules but Toxic Attraction could care less about the rules as they do what they want, when they want, and what they want are the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles. Jayne says their days as champions are numbered and their time is up at Halloween Havoc. Rose says Dolin and Jayne won’t be the only successful ones at Halloween Havoc because she’s challenging Gonzalez for the title.
Rose says Gonzalez got lucky last week and her luck is coming to an end. Rose says Toxic Attraction will make history at Halloween Havoc, mark her words, and they will all be wearing gold around their pretty little waists. Rose says one more thing – it doesn’t matter what hair color she has, she’s still the baddest b---h in the game. They drop the mics and the music hits for the next match.
Xyon Quinn vs. Malik Blade
Xyon Quinn immediately makes his way to the ring for the next match. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and we get a dark teaser vignette for a new character to debut at Halloween Havoc on October 26. We go back to the ring and Malik Blade is locking up with Quinn to start. They break and size each other up. Quinn drops Blade with a shoulder first. Fans do dueling chants. Quinn with a big scoop slam in the middle of the ring.
Quinn keeps control and slams Blade back into the corner for shoulder thrusts. Quinn with a powerful Irish Whip into the corner and Blade goes back down. Quinn grounds Blade with a headlock now as fans rally with chants. Blade fights back and mounts some offense. Blade with a corner clothesline and more for a close 2 count, then another. Quinn comes right back with a big chokeslam in the middle of the ring.
Quinn calls for the finish and waits for Blade to get back up now. Quinn charges with a Superman Forearm for the pin to win.
Winner: Xyon Quinn
– After the match, Quinn stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays.
– McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa. He doesn’t care about what happened earlier because Halloween Havoc and the title defense against Bron Breakker has a big fight feel. The Grizzled Young Veterans walk up and taunt Ciampa, saying they can’t wait to see him lose the title to a rookie. Breakker walks up and has a few words for James Drake and Zack Gibson. They talk some trash but back away because they’re not dressed to fight. Drake and Gibson walk away. Bron says he will have Ciampa’s back between now and Halloween Havoc only because he wants to beat Ciampa at his best. They stare each other down to end the segment.
Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz
We go back to the ring and out comes The Diamond Mine – the debuting Ivy Nile with manager Malcolm Bivens, coach Hachiman, The Creed Brothers, and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong. Nile stands tall and shows off some of her strength as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and the announcers hype WWE Crown Jewel. McKenzie is backstage with NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott now. She says no one has heard from the other Hit Row members since earlier. Scott says they will be alright and goes on to talk about how he’s taking the title to SmackDown and there’s nothing Santos Escobar can do about it. We go back to the ring and Valentina Feroz is waiting in the ring as Nile stares her down. The bell rings and they lock up, trading counters as The Diamond Mine looks on.
Feroz with two takedowns and a dropkick but Nile is still coming at h er. Nile lifts Feroz and holds her, then powers her into a big vertical suplex. Nile kips up as Hachiman cheers her on. Nile man-handles Feroz into the corner and works her over some more. Nile steps on the back of Feroz’s head, pushing it into the bottom turnbuckle now. Ivy keeps control and some fans chant her name. Feroz fights back but Nile cuts her off and scoop slams her in the middle of the ring.
Nile rolls into a submission but Feroz keeps fighting. Nile powers up with Feroz on her shoulders, stretches her and squats with her. Nile holds Feroz there for a minute or two and Feroz finally taps out.
Winner: Ivy Nile
– After the match, Nile stands tall as the music hits. The Diamond Mine joins her in the ring as we go to replays. Bivens takes the mic and says that was a message every woman in NXT needed to see. He says The Pitbull has been unleashed, and Nile didn’t come to play. Do you know who else didn’t come to play? The Creed Brothers. They are putting in work every day and proving that they are the most dominant tag team in NXT. Bivens says speaking of dominant, allow him to introduce our NXT Cruiserweight Champion, Roderick Strong. Strong takes the mic but he’s immediately interrupted by Ikemen Jiro. Jiro comes out and motions for the title around his waist. Jiro enters the ring as The Diamond Mine exits, except for Julius Creed. Julius talks some trash and calls Jiro out but Jiro drops him with a big right hand out of nowhere. The others rush the ring but Jiro retreats to ringside, taunting them as they look on. We go to commercial.
Julius Creed vs. Ikemen Jiro
Back from the break and Julius Creed is warming up in the corner as Ikemen Jiro gets ready. Creed explodes out of the corner and takes Jiro’s leg out to start. Creed with a big suplex to toss Jiro around the ring.
Creed rams Jiro into the turnbuckles, talking trash as fans boo him. Creed controls his singles debut and drops Jiro on his head again. Creed with a big gutwrench suplex. Creed continues to easily toss Jiro around with throws.
Jiro fights back with lefts and rights, then drops Creed with a clothesline as fans cheer him on. Creed counters and whips Jiro into the corner, but then runs into boots in the corner. Jiro does a handspring in the corner, then turns that into a splash for a 2 count. Jiro takes it to the floor and springboards with a moonsault as fans cheer him on.
Fans chant “NXT!” as Jiro brings it back in. Jiro flies but Creed catches him in mid-air, drops him on his head, and then nails a low lariat for the pin to win.
Winner: Julius Creed
– After the match, Creed stands tall as The Diamond Mine joins him. We go to commercial as the music hits. The Diamond Mine attacks Jiro in the middle of the ring now as fans boo. Fans pop as Kushida runs down to make the save. They beat Kushida and Jiro down now and stand tall to end the segment.
– NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez is backstage. She accepts Mandy Rose’s challenge for Halloween Havoc but says it will be a “Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal” match.
Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner vs. Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland
We go back to the ring and out comes Von Wagner and Kyle O’Reilly. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and we go to the second episode of “Lashing Out” with Lash Legend and her studio audience. She jokes about the WWE Draft and how next year it will be called WWE Squid Games. She also talks about Hit Row going to SmackDown. Someone brings up how Tony D’Angelo said last week he wanted to be on the show but they told him there was a scheduling conflict. Lash has three words for D’Angelo appearing on her show – fuhget-about-it. We go back to the ring and Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland are out. The bell rings and Dunne unloads on Wagner to start. Wagner takes Dunne down.
Wagner stays on Dunne. Dunne gets him in a Guillotine submission and goes to work bending his fingers. Wagner powers up with a big vertical suplex in the middle of the ring. Wagner drops a headbutt for a 2 count. More back and forth now. Holland comes in as does Kyle. Holland dominates Kyle and launches him overhead across the ring.
Dunne tags back in and works Kyle over while he’s down. Fans do dueling chants. Vic confirms The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Bron Breakker and NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa for next week. Dunne works on Kyle’s leg and knee now. Holland tags back in and drops a knee into Kyle’s hurt knee. Kyle tries to fight back but Holland drops him with a big right uppercut. Fans boo as Holland continues to dominate and take his time with Kyle.
Dunne tags back in and takes over on Kyle’s knee. Dunne with a cheap shot to Wagner. Kyle manages to take Dunne’s knee out. He decks Holland and unloads on Dunne with kicks and a sweep now. O’Reilly with a running right hand in the corner. Dunne counters and bends the fingers and stretches his arm. Kyle still manages to rock him and get an opening. Wagner and Holland tag in and go to work on each other, colliding in the middle of the ring. Wagner gets the upperhand and hits a big shoulder block. Holland does the same. Wagner drops Holland with a shoulder, then knocks Dunne off the apron.
Wagner keeps running wild and sends Holland out to the floor. Holland pulls Wagner out and rocks him with a right hand. Wagner whips Holland shoulder-first into the steel ring steps. Wagner yells down at Holland at ringside as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Holland has Kyle grounded in the middle of the ring as fans try to rally. Fans taunt Holland as he’s been drafted to SmackDown. Kyle tries to fight up but Holland rocks him with a forearm. Kyle applies a submission and tries for a DDT but Holland takes him to the corner. Dunne tags in and takes over, then sends Kyle into a big Spinebuster from Holland. Dunne covers for 2. Dunne knocks Wagner off the apron but turns around to a knee to the face from O’Reilly.
Dunne runs and stomps Kyle’s fingers. Kyle catches a roundhouse kick and turns it into an ankle lock. Holland tags in and levels Kyle with a clothesline to break it. Holland mounts Kyle on the mat and unloads with stiff strikes. Holland sends Kyle out to the floor. Holland scoops Kyle but Wagner runs over to make the save, taking both heels down. Kyle crawls back in the ring to make the tag but Holland stops him. Kyle manages to make the tag and in comes Wagner unloading on Holland.
Wagner with a big jumping knee and a back suplex. Wagner yells out and then fights off Dunne as he comes in. Kyle also rocks Holland from the apron. Kyle runs the apron and nails a flying knee to Dunne on the floor. Wagner and Holland trade moves again. Wagner with a big tilt-a-whirl double underhook slam in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winners: Von Wagner and Kyle O’Reilly
– After the match, Wagner stands tall in the middle of the ring as we go to replays. Kyle and Wagner appear to be on the same page now.
– We go to another Andre Chase University classroom segment. Andre’s lesson today is ring awareness. He shows how Odyssey Jones put his foot under the bottom rope in the loss to LA Knight last week, not mentioning how he put the boot under the rope. He says Jones doesn’t have the ring awareness to make it in NXT. A student named Brandon asks Chase if what he did was an illegal move to help Knight. Chase snaps on him and orders him to go down the hall to join Steve, from two weeks ago, in the dumbass class. Chase says he’s just trying to teach these kids.
– Still to come, Duke Hudson vs. Grayson Waller. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Tony D’Angelo is standing next to a car somewhere. He says the streets are talking about last week’s successful debut but he wants to give props to his opponent, but can’t get Malik Blade’s name right. He recalls being outside of the Lashing Out with Lash Legend show when a producer told him they had a scheduling conflict. Forget about it because he does things on his own time. D’Angelo says the producer was a nice guy. He walks away from the car and we hear someone trapped in the trunk.
Duke Hudson vs. Grayson Waller
We go back to the ring and Duke Hudson is waiting. Out next comes Grayson Waller, dancing to the ring. We get a pre-recorded message with Waller talking about how people ask him about his ring gear. He says he wears the gear he does because he’s a former Golden Gloves boxing champion in Australia. He goes on about being a natural predator and even though Hudson is a poker champion, Waller is all in tonight.
The bell rings and Hudson takes Waller to the corner. Waller dodges him and shows him up as fans chant his name. Waller with a headlock now. Hudson powers out but gets jabbed in the face. Hudson overpowers but Waller flips and jumps around to avoid him. Waller takes Hudson down with an arm drag.
Waller works on the arm until Hudson nails a big belly-to-belly suplex. Hudson works Waller over in the corner now. Hudson launches Waller hard into the turnbuckles and he goes down. Hudson plays to the crowd and they boo him. Hudson grounds Waller on the mat now. Waller fights up but Hudson keeps him in a hold. Waller fights free and delivers strikes.
Waller gets sent to the apron but he fights back in, then rolls into a Stunner for a big pop. They tangle and Waller rolls Hudson for a close 2 count. Hudson with a big reversal to knock Waller off the rope, and then pin him with a handful of tights.
Winner: Duke Hudson
– After the match, Hudson goes to ringside to celebrate as fans boo him. He tosses a poker chip at Waller and tells him better luck next time. Hudson makes his exit as Waller looks on.
– Legado del Fantasma is backstage with Santos Escobar as he works out. He says it’s a shame what happened to Hit Row earlier, and a shame how NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott doesn’t have his family, when Escobar does. Escobar promises Legado del Fantasma will stay in the back for tonight’s title match.
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta vs. Sarray and Amari Miller
We go backstage to Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta with Dexter Lumis. Indi stares at Lumis before heading to the ring with her partner, leaving Lumis in the back. Indi stops and shows off her wedding ring but puts it back on and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and we get a pre-recorded promo from Imperium’s Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner. They talk about and how NXT Tag Team Champions MSK are an embarrassment to our sport, and the worse champions of the tag division. They say MSK don’t even know what honor, pride and elegance mean, and Imperium is here to save NXT from that. Imperium goes on and promises to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions, because the mat is sacred.
We go back to the ring and Sarray and Amari Miller are out. The bell rings and Persia catches a crossbody from Sarray but Sarray fights off her shoulders. Persia overpowers and sends Sarray to the corner to work her over. Indi tags in and they double team Sarray. Indi with a big sideslam in the middle of the ring for a 1 count. Indi works Sarray over in the corner but has a Bulldog blocked. Sarray fights off Indi’s shoulders now. Sarray turns it around and sends Indi face-first into the turnbuckles.
Miller tags in and works Indi over with kicks. Miller levels Indi with a kick to the chest for a 2 count. Miller grounds Indi now. Fans rally now as Miller ends up on Indi’s back. Indi slams her tot he mat and in comes Persia with a big running clothesline, and another. Persia with a third big clothesline to Miller. Persia launches Miller face-first into the top turnbuckle, then levels her with a big boot.
Persia scoops Miler on her shoulders again, then drops Sarray with a boot as she runs in. Persia drops Miller and in comes Indi off the top rope with the elbow drop for the pin to win.
Winners: Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta
– After the match, Indi and Persia stands tall as the music hits. Persia takes the mic and proposes they get a shot at the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles. The music interrupts and out come the champions, Io Shirai and Zoey Stark. Shirai is ranting in Japanese. She says she doesn’t like Indi and Persia. Stark and Shirai argue a bit until the music interrupts and out come Gigi Dolin and Jacey Jayne of Toxic Attraction. They don’t give a damn about anything but the titles. A brawl breaks out with all three teams in the ring. Shirai and Stark end up clearing the ring and standing tall with the titles in the air.
– Grayson Waller approaches a woman in a blue dress backstage and apparently sets up a date for later. Cameron Grimes walks up and asks Waller how he did that. Waller suggests he clean up his look, shave his chest, fix his appearance. Grimes says then where does he find the girl? Waller shows Grimes the world of dating apps and Grimes seems to be a fan. This ends the segment.
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NXT North American Title Match: Santos Escobar vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
We go back to the ring for tonight’s main event as NXT North American Champion Isaiah “Swerve” Scott makes his way out for his first title defense since winning the title back on June 29. Swerve heads to the ring and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and we get a “coming soon” teaser vignette for Solo Sikoa. We go back to the ring and Swerve waits in the ring as Legado del Fantasma’s Santos Escobar makes his way out with Elektra Lopez, Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde. They stand with Escobar at the entrance-way but he sends them to the back. Escobar is talking to the camera when Swerve attacks him out of nowhere. Swerve sends Escobar into the steel ring steps as fans cheer them on. Swerve sends a message in Santos’ face, saying this is for Hit Row. Swerve brings it in the ring as the referee checks on Santos. The bell rings and here we go.
Escobar goes right to the floor to regroup but Swerve flies out and takes him down for a pop. The referee counts but Swerve keeps control and goes to work. Swerve stands on Escobar on the apron, then exposes the top turnbuckle. Swerve stalks Escobar into the ring now. Swerve goes back to work on Swerve for a 2 count. Swerve drops a knee. Escobar blocks the JML Driver twice, then sends Swerve to the apron and takes his leg out. Swerve lands hard on the mat. Escobar ends up nailing a big suicide dive, sending Swerve over the announce table. We go to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Back from the break and “this is awesome!” chants continue as Escobar keeps Swerve down with a foot to the back. Escobar catches Swerve with a big powerslam, then a punt kick to the back. Escobar shows off and wastes some time now. More back and forth as they trade big strikes in the middle of the ring now. Swerve levels Escobar with a big clothesline. Swerve flies in with a low clothesline. Swerve waits for Escobar to get up, then rolls into a Flatliner but Escobar counters and drops Swerve face-first into the mat for a close 2 count. Escobar can’t believe it.
Fans chant “NXT!” now. Escobar with running double knees to the chest in the corner. Escobar takes Swerve up to the top as “this is awesome!” chants start up. Escobar with the big hurricanrana from the top. Escobar pays tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero with the big Frogsplash from the top but Swerve kicks out. Escobar is shocked again.
Escobar keeps control as a Triple Threat for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles is confirmed for Halloween Havoc. Escobar goes to the top with Swerve’s arm in hand but Swerve takes his legs out. Swerve drops Escobar on the edge of the apron. Swerve goes to the top for the 450 but he lands on double knees. Swerve kicks out just in time.
Mendoza and Wilde hit the apron now, distracting the referee. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams pull them off, then brawl with them at ringside and send them into the steel steps. Swerve with a big knee but he blocks the Phantom Driver. Escobar gets sent into the exposed turnbuckle in the corner. Swerve follows up with the JML Driver for the pin to retain.
Winner: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
– After the match, the Hit Row music hits as Swerve recovers and takes the NXT North American Title from the referee. Hayes and Trick also enter the ring as we go to replays. Hayes raises Swerve’s arm in the air but then levels him with a clothesline. Trick presents Hayes’ Breakout Tournament title shot and he takes it, then signs it, and hands it over to the referee to cash in. The referee has Alicia Taylor make the announcement.
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NXT North American Title Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
The bell rings while Isaiah “Swerve” Scott is still on the mat, and Carmelo Hayes hits a springboard takedown for a close 2 count as Scott kicks out. Hayes and Trick Williams can’t believe it.
Scott fights Hayes off and drops him with a right hand. Hayes with a superkick to the face. Hayes goes to the top and hits a big leg drop over the back of the head for the pin to win the title.
Winner and New NXT North American Champion: Carmelo Hayes
– After the match, the crowd goes wild as the music hits and Hayes takes the NXT North American Title belt. Hayes celebrates as Trick hypes him up. NXT 2.0 goes off the air.
