No. 1 Contender spots on the line in first-ever Iron Survivor Challenges
A historic Iron Survivor Challenge is taking shape, and a loaded field of competitors is ready to give it an unreal debut at NXT Deadline.
Date:
December 10, 2022 8:00 pm
Location:
Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, FL, US
Available on:
Peacock, WWE Network (outside of the U.S.)
Card
NXT Title Match
Apollo Crews vs. Bron Breakker (c)
NXT Tag Team Titles Match
The New Day vs. Pretty Deadly (c)
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match
Axiom vs. Grayson Waller vs. Joe Gacy vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. JD McDonagh
*Winner earns future NXT Title shot.
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match
Zoey Stark vs. Cora Jade vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James vs. Indi Hartwell
*Winner earns future NXT Women’s Title shot.
Isla Dawn vs. Alba Fyre
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– The WWE NXT Deadline Kickoff pre-show opens live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. McKenzie Mitchell welcomes us, and she’s joined by Sam Roberts and Denise Salcedo. The panel hypes tonight’s card. We go backstage to Kelly Kincaid, who is with Roxanne Perez. She’s drawn the #1 spot in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge match. She’s not happy but not sad either, and said she doesn’t know what the best position is because the match is new. She’s ready to get in the zone. Zoey Stark walks up and reveals she drew #2. Stark says she hopes Perez likes her time in the penalty box. We go back to the panel for a discussion on the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge, which will open the show. Sam predicts Stark to win, while Salcedo and the fans online go with Perez. Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes interrupt from backstage. Trick praises Hayes, and Hayes hypes himself up, but he won’t reveal his spot in the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. The panel discusses tonight’s main event, and Sam goes with JD McDonagh as the winner, Salcedo and fans online predict Hayes will win.
We see NXT Champion Bron Breakker arriving earlier today, and we also see Apollo Crews arriving. McKenzie sends us to a break. We go backstage to Kiana James and her assistant, who has everything ready for tonight. The assistant leaves and Brooks Jensen walks up with roses, and lots of awkward energy. James snaps at him and asks him what he’s staring at, she has a match to get ready for. Jensen thanks her for the VIP Deadline tickets and says he knows she will kill it. He’s about to leave so she can get ready, but she asks if the roses are for her. He says they are, then he places them in her locker, and turns to leave but she stops him and says next time she sees him he needs to be wearing a shirt that actually fits. Jensen promises to burn his shirt in a bonfire, and get a new shirt. We get a video on Isla Dawn vs. Alba Fyre now. Salcedo and Rosenberg both predict Dawn to win, but fans online go with Fyre.
We get a video package and discussion on tonight’s match for the NXT Tag Team Titles. Sam goes with Pretty Deadly to retain, while fans and Salcedo predict The New Day will win. Kincaid approaches JD McDonagh backstage now. He’s reading a book about the human body. JD says he’s studying how to hurt people, and he’s excited about having more than one person to inflict pain on tonight. We get a video for the NXT Title match. Sam goes with Apollo Crews to win gold, while Salcedo and fans online predict Bron Breakker will retain. The panel goes over the card one more time and that’s it for the Kickoff pre-show.
– The inaugural WWE NXT Deadline Premium Live Event opens up with a video package. We’re now live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida as Vic Joseph welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. The crowd is fired up as we go right to the ring.
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Cora Jade vs. Kiana James vs. Indi Hartwell
We go right to the ring to Alicia Taylor, who goes over the rules for the first-ever Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge match. The match has a 25 minute time limit, and the winner will become the new #1 contender to NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose. Out first comes Roxanne Perez at #1. Zoey Stark is out next at #2. She glances over at the penalty box, then heads to the ring.
The bell rings and fans start chanting for Perez. There’s a scoreboard on the bottom of the screen to count the points each competitor wins, and the person with the most will be the winner. They go at it and Stark goes for an early pin attempt. Fans do dueling chants now as they tangle, then break and talk some trash. They lock up again and Stark takes it to the corner.
Stark twists the arm up and works Perez over. Perez turns it into a headlock as the dueling chants pick back up. They trade counters again as the clock hits 2:30. Perez is trying for the back-slide but Stark blocks it. Perez counters a side-slam and takes Stark down for close calls on the mat. Perez with an arm drag, then she grounds Stark by her arm. More back and forth between the two. The music hits and out comes Kiana James at #3.
James rushes the ring and starts fighting. Perez goes down and James counters Stark for a 2 count. Stark rocks James with a right hand. James counters a move and nails a kick to the head for a 2 count as Perez breaks it up. James tangles with Perez, then gets frustrated and starts yelling at her. James rocks Perez against the ropes. Perez blocks a hip toss but James rocks her an scoops her to the shoulders, but Stark dropkicks them both down. James steals the pin for 2 as Stark pulls her off. Stark drops James. Perez dodges a superkick and rolls Stark for 2.
Perez takes control of Stark at the 7:00 mark. Stark rocks Perez with a big enziguri to send her out to the floor. James sends Stark out but Stark trips her. Stark grabs Perez and slams her face into the steel ring steps. Stark stomps Perez’s face into the steel steps now as fans boo. Stark rolls Perez back in but James thrusts Stark on the apron, then sends her into the ring post. Stark falls back to the floor. James covers Perez for 2. James with a knee to the back of Perez now.
Vic says James has a VIP Party going on in the back, which is what she invited Brooks Jensen and others to earlier. Perez counters James but in comes Stark, who collides with James. Perez back-drops James as fans cheer her on. Perez drops Stark a few times, then gets fired up for a big pop. Perez rocks James in the corner but Stark superkicks Perez, then turns her inside out for a 3 count to earn the first pin.
Perez goes into the penalty box now. Stark goes to work on James. The timer counts down and at the 10:00 mark here comes Cora Jade at #4. Jade stops to quickly taunt Perez in the penalty box, then she rushes the ring to unload on both opponents for a 2 count on James. Jade goes from corner to corner with high knees on both opponents, then stomps on Stark’s back. Jade drops James for 2.
Perez is let out of the penalty box, and she goes right to work on Jade. James goes for Perez but it’s countered for a 2 count. Perez attacks Stark but James pulls her off. Perez fights them both off. Perez unloads on James and Stark while they’re both in the same corner. Perez with a 2 count on Stark as James breaks it up. James works Perez over now. Perez goes for Pop Rocks but Jade rushes back in to stop it. Jade covers James for a 3 count. James goes to the penalty box for 90 seconds.
Perez and Jade have words now. Jade shoves her and slaps her. Stark with a missile dropkick to Jade. Perez covers for 2. Perez and Stark go at it now, but they stop to both deck Jade at once. Stark takes Perez down for a submission but she resists. Jade comes in to apply a submission on Stark, breaking the hold Stark had on Perez. Perez with a head scissors on Jade while she has the hold on Stark. James leaves the penalty box and covers Perez for 2, then Stark for 2. James kicks Stark and Jade in the back, then goes to work on Perez. James tosses Perez to the floor, then rams Stark back into the corner. James with more offense in the corner, then she rocks Jade with an uppercut. The timer counts down and at 15:00 here comes Indi Hartwell at #5.
Fans pop for Indi as she clans house. Perez drops Indi for a 2 count. Indi drops Perez on the top rope, then levels her with a big boot for a 3 count at 16:02. Everyone has a point except for Perez and James. Perez goes to the penalty box. Stark levels Indi for a 2 count. Stark works Indi over while she’s down now. Jade attacks Stark and they trade big strikes now. Jade superkicks Stark, but Stark superkicks her back. Stark with a German suplex for a close 2 count. Jade sends Stark to the floor. James and Stark immediately go at it on the floor. James with a big moonsault from the top of the barrier for a big pop. She hits Stark with the follow-up as well.
Perez leaves the penalty box and sends James into the steel ring steps. Perez goes in and leaps off the top at Indi but Stark breaks the pin up. Stark, Perez and Jade go at it. Jade is sent out. Stark and Perez go at it but Perez rolls Stark up for a 3 count. Perez has her first point now. Stark is headed to the penalty box at 18:50. James is the only one with no point as of now.
James and Jade go at it now. Perez breaks up a pin attempt. All four competitors in the ring are down at 19:25 as fans chant “NXT!” now. They go at it with Jade and Hartwell spilling out to the floor. Perez and James go at it in the ring. Indi with a suplex to Jade at ringside. Perez sends James into the ring post after they also go out to the floor. Perez and Indi slowly enter the ring and face off as Stark leaves the penalty box. Stark clotheslines them both, then levels Jade as she rushes back in.
Stark rocks Indi with strikes, then drops her. Stark drops a knee to Indi, then uppercuts Perez in the corner, and uppercuts Jade in the opposite corner. James comes in to attack but rolls to the floor to avoid Stark. Perez drops Stark and nails a suicide dive on Indi. Jade takes everyone down on the floor, except for Stark. Stark runs the ring and springboards out, taking down all four opponents for a big pop at the 22:00 mark.
Stark brings James back in and goes to the top. Stark goes for the corkscrew but has to roll through. Indi drops Stark but James drops Indi. Perez with a Backstabber to James. Jade cuts Perez off and beats her down. Perez counters and hits Pop Rocks on Jade for a 3 count. Perez is now in the lead at Jade goes to the box at 23:15.
Perez sends James to the floor. Indi stops Perez from pinning Stark. James comes in and tries to pin Indi. They all trade pin attempts now. Indi goes to powerbomb Perez but Perez makes them tumble to the floor. Stark superkicks James. Stark goes to the top but James cuts her off. James climbs up as Jade screams from the penalty box with 10 seconds left. James climbs up with Stark for a huge Spanish Fly. James covers but Jade rushes in to break the pin up. Jade covers Stark for 2. Jade covers James but Perez steals it. Perez and Jade tangle now. Jade drops her with a DDT but Perez rolls to the floor to avoid a pin as the timer hits 25:00.
Winner and New #1 Contender to NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose: Roxanne Perez
– After the match, Perez rolls to the floor to celebrate as the music hits. Booker is thrilled for his former student. Fans chant for Perez as we go to replays. Perez celebrates to the entrance-way while the other four competitors sit up in the ring. Perez ended the match with 2 points, while James had 0 points, and the other three competitors had 1 point each.
– Back from a break and McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley. Nile talks about how she’s just looking out for The Creed Brothers, and wants them 100% for Indus Sher. Paxley comments on how big Nile’s heart is, despite her tough exterior. NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance and Kayden Carter walk up with friendly words, including how Nile did the ring thing for The Creeds. Nile thanks them but says don’t mistake her kindness for weakness. Nile says she and Paxley had a few stops & starts but they are here. Paxley says they will be seeing the champs very soon. The champs tell them they know where to find them if they want it, they don’t run from any team, especially one they’ve kind of started to respect. See you soon.
– We see footage of Apollo Crews and NXT Champion Bron Breakker arriving earlier today.
– We get a video package for the next match.
Isla Dawn vs. Alba Fyre
We go back to the ring and out first comes Isla Dawn. Vic says the referee in this match is the same one who was sprayed by Dawn’s mist last week. Out next comes Alba Fyre with her baseball bat.
The bell rings and they go at it. Dawn with a stiff shot that angers Fyre. Fyre attacks and they tumble out to the floor. Fyre unloads, then slams Dawn onto the announce table as the referee counts.
Dawn brings it back in the ring and nails a kick to the head from the floor. Dawn comes back in and keeps Fyre down until she eats a superkick. Fyre with a sliding knee for a 2 count. Fyre pulls Dawn into a submission now. Dawn tries to break free by bending the fingers back. Dawn with a 2 count. Fyre rolls Dawn up for 2. Dawn blocks a Gory Bomb and rams Fyre back into the turnbuckles. Dawn stomps away in the corner now.
Dawn keeps control and exposes the top turnbuckle now without the referee seeing. Fyre counters and rolls Dawn up for 2. Dawn nails a running Meteora for another close 2 count. More back and forth now. Fyre dodges a knee and fights to her feet but Dawn stuns her in the corner again. Dawn drops Fyre and goes to the top for the flying double knees. Fyre kicks out just in time. Dawn is sent to the floor. Fyre runs the ropes and leaps off the top, taking Dawn down again at ringside. Fyre lands hard as fans chant “NXT!” now.
They bring it back in the ring and trade big strikes in the middle of the ring. Dawn rocks Fyre and scoops her but Fyre turns it into a tornado DDT for a close 2 count. Dawn is a bit frustrated now. Dawn blocks the Gory Bomb again, then nails a suplex for a 2 count. Dawn goes to the top but Fyre knocks her out to the floor and she lands hard. Fyre nails a suicide dive now.
Dawn scoops Fyre on the floor but Fyre slides out. Fyre with the Gory Bomb on the floor. Dawn brings it back in for a close 2 count. Fyre is frustrated now. Dawn laughs at her while they’re both down. Fyre unloads with strikes first. Fyre with a Gory Bomb in the middle of the ring. Dawn grabs the leg of the referee but he gets away. Fyre goes to the top for the Swanton Bomb and she hits it. Fyre covers but the referee is having some sort of health issue it appears, from Dawn grabbing his leg. Dawn attacks but Fyre drops her with a superkick. She covers again but the referee is down and having trouble with black stuff coming out of his mouth.
Another referee rushes out to make the 2 count. Dawn rocks Fyre, then sends her face-first into the exposed turnbuckle. The referee didn’t see it as he’s tending to his colleague. Dawn grabs Fyre, rolls her eyes in her head, then drops Fyre in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winner: Isla Dawn
– After the match, Dawn stands tall as the music hits. We go to replays. Dawn is alone in the middle of the ring now, speaking to the spirits.
– Back from a break and McKenzie is backstage with The New Day. Xavier Woods says they came to NXT because they’re always looking for new competition, and Pretty Deadly is the only thing standing in the way of them becoming Triple Crown Tag Team Champions. Kofi Kingston gives some praise to Pretty Deadly and says they have an aspirational mindset, but unfortunately for them, so does The New Day, and that’s to become Triple Crown champions. The New Day gets fired up and heads out.
:nxttag:
NXT Tag Team Titles Match: The New Day vs. Pretty Deadly
We go to the ring and out first comes The New Day to a pop – Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Out next come NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly – Elton Prince and Kit Wilson. We get formal ring introductions from Alicia Taylor.
Pretty Deadly are dressed in Santa Claus-like attire. Woods starts off with Wilson, rolling him up for 2. The crowd is fired up for The New Day. Wilson stalls some but then he locks up with Woods and they go at it. Woods with a big chop.
Wilson drops Woods to boos. They run the ropes and Woods leaps over Wilson a few times, then sweeps him. Woods with a senton for a 2 count. Kingston comes in and they double team Wilson. Kofi covers for 2. Wilson pleads from his knees but Kingston grabs him. Wilson struggles for a tag. Prince comes in and tags but the referee tells him to get out. Wilson drops Kofi with a cheap shot while the referee is dealing with Prince. Prince tags in and they double team Kofi now. Prince covers for 2.
Prince works Kofi over in the corner now. Kofi levels Prince coming out of the corner, then taunts him with some twerking. Prince is furious. He also twerks in the middle of the ring to show Kofi up. Fans chant “twerk-off!” now. Kingston does it again unfortunately. Prince attacks but Kofi ducks and drops him for a 2 count. Woods tags in for the double team while Prince is down. They drop several moves and Woods covers for 2.
Wilson tags in and leaps off the top but Woods dropkicks him in mid-air. Woods with a back splash to Wilson. Kingston tags in and they double team Wilson with corner moves now. Kofi covers for 2 in the middle of the ring. Kingston and Wilson tangle now as fans chant for Kofi. Kofi sends Wilson to the floor. Kofi runs the ring and goes to leap out but Prince blocks him on the apron. Kofi dropkicks Prince to the floor. Kofi then runs and leaps out, taking out both champs on the floor for a big pop. Even Booker is impressed.
Kofi rolls Wilson back in, then drops Prince on the floor. Wilson rocks Kofi coming back in. Wilson drops Kofi over the top rope, then runs and knocks him to the floor. Prince is waiting on the floor, and he sends Kofi face-first into the ring post. Pretty Deadly poses at ringside to boos. Prince grounds Kofi with a boot to the face in the middle of the ring now as fans boo. Prince chokes Kofi on the middle rope as the referee warns him. Wilson tags back in for the double team, hitting him while Prince holds him up. Wilson stomps Kofi as fans rally for The New Day. Wilson drops a leg but Kofi moves. Wilson stays on Kofi as fans rally for him. Kofi keeps reaching for the tag and taking shots at Wilson. Wilson sends him into the corner where Prince is.
Kofi leaps for the tag again but Wilson stops him. Kofi counters a move and drops Wilson with a big DDT. Fans rally for Kofi. Prince and Woods tag in at the same time. They go at it and Woods nails a forearm. Woods with a corner clothesline on Prince. Wilson charges but Woods moves and he almost hits his partner. Woods dropkicks Wilson to the floor. Prince tries to roll Woods from behind but Woods sends him to the middle rope, then nails the running splash to his back, also dropping Wilson through the ropes at the same time. Woods kicks Prince as he charges. Woods with the tornado DDT for 2.
Prince and Woods tangle in the ring now. Prince drops Woods for a 2 count. They trade punches in the middle of the ring now. Prince kicks the knee out from behind, then nails a forearm to the back of Woods’ head. Wilson tags in and they hit a big double team from the corner with Prince launching Wilson off his back into Woods. Wilson covers Woods for 2. Kofi comes in but the referee is busy trying to get him out. Prince brings a title belt in and they try to get Woods to look guilty with it, but it backfires on him. The hot potato with the title belt ends when the referee turns back around and both teams are down with the belts. Fans chant “NXT!” now.
Both teams point at each other and the referee tosses the belt out. Fans chant “this is awesome!” now. Wilson rocks Woods with the other belt but he kicks out just in time and fans go wild. Kofi ends up dropping Wilson at ringside with Trouble In Paradise while Prince and Woods trade offense in the ring. Woods rocks Prince, then Kofi tags in for Midnight Hour. They nail it and Woods tags back in to make the cover for the pin to win the titles.
Winners and New NXT Tag Team Champions: The New Day
– After the bell, the fans go wild as The New Day begins celebrating. The music hits and we go to replays. The celebration continues with the fans to end the segment.
– NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are backstage with Edris Enofe, Malik Blade and Odyssey Jones. The male Superstars pass on an invite to go out and party. Jones says usually they’re down but they have to train some more because he has to face Von Wagner on Tuesday, and he has to take care of business but after that, they’re ready to party. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne walk up and taunt the champions, insulting them for offering a title shot to Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley. They brag about pinning the champs in the recent six-person match, and say they only want to defend against tag teams they can beat. Nile and Paxley suddenly attack Toxic Attraction and a brawl breaks out. Jones, Enofe and Blade try to restore order.
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Match: JD McDonagh vs. Axiom vs. Grayson Waller vs. Joe Gacy vs. Carmelo Hayes
Back from a break and we go back to the ring for the first-ever Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge as Alicia Taylor goes over the rules. JD McDonagh is out at #1. Axiom is out at #2.
JD looks to get the jump on Axiom but Axiom kicks him. They go at it in the middle of the ring now. JD with a kneebreaker. JD grounds Axiom but is sent to the floor. Axiom goes for a suicide dive but JD uppercuts him at the ropes. JD wraps Axiom’s leg around the ring post but Axiom yanks him head-first into the post.
Axiom then nails a big dive tot he floor but they both land hard. Axiom is up first to a pop. Axiom slams JD head-first into the penalty box. Axiom brings it back in and leaps off the top but JD dropkicks him in mid-air. Fans do dueling chants now. More back and forth. Axiom counters a powerbomb and nails two big kicks but he fails to go for the pin. Axiom with a big clothesline, then a running basement dropkick in the corner after dropping JD against the turnbuckles.
JD kicks out at 2. JD levels Axiom and hits a sitdown powerbomb for a 2 count with 30 seconds left until the timer allows another competitor in. JD pounds on Axiom now. The timer goes off and out comes Carmelo Hayes at #3. Hayes unloads as fans cheer him on. Hayes drapes Axiom over the middle rope, rocks him and then hits the springboard leg drop for 2 as JD makes the save. JD rocks Hayes but Hayes counters. Axiom sends JD into a DDT attempt by Hayes but Axiom then takes them both down into the DDT. Axiom covers JD for 2.
More back and forth between the three. Hayes goes for a move on both but they superkick him at the same time. Hayes dodges a moonsault but Axiom hits JD with it. Hayes slams him on top of JD and goes on to keep control. Hayes covers Axiom for a 3 count. Axiom goes to the penalty box as fans chant for Hayes.
Hayes and JD trade offense now. Hayes twists the arm but JD rocks him. JD with a snap suplex in the middle of the ring. Fans do dueling chants. JD with a backbreaker over his shoulder. The timer counts down and here comes Axiom out of the box as Hayes and JD collie, both going down. Axiom leaps off the top with a crossbody to both opponents. Axiom with kicks while both opponents are on their knees. Hayes catches a kick and rocks Axiom in the throat. Hayes blocks a JD kick as Axiom rocks JD. Hayes kicks them both away. JD drops them both with big headbutts. The timer counts down to 10:00 and here comes Grayson Waller at #4.
Waller rushes the ring and drops Axiom and JD at once. He covers Axiom for a a3 count, then covers JD for a 3 count. Waller has 2 points. Axiom and JD go to the penalty box as Waller taunts Hayes now. Waller and Hayes unload on each other. Waller drops Hayes for 2. Hayes with a 2 count on Waller. Waller levels Hayes for another close 2 count in the middle of the ring. Waller is all smiles now.
Hayes ends up on Waller’s shoulders at ringside. Hayes gets to the apron and nails a punt kick. They both go down but Waller is in control. The penalty box opens and JD grabs Axiom but Axiom drops him. The box closes s Axiom beats JD down in the box. Axiom is on JD’s back now. JD rams him into the penalty box window but JD gets dropped. Axiom exits the box but slams the door in JD’s face again. Waller runs over and drops Axiom. Hayes runs over and drops Waller and Axiom.
Hayes brings Axiom into the ring for a big double underhook slam for 2. Hayes with another close 2 count. Hayes talks some trash out of frustration to Axiom now. Hayes hits the ropes but Waller shoves him to the floor. Waller follows but Hayes slams his face into the announce table. Waller pulls Hayes back to the floor and slams him on top of the announce table. Waller asks Booker T who is in his Fave Five now, bitch. Fans boo. Waller comes back in and slaps Axiom around. Axiom counters Waller and rolls him up for a 3 count. Waller goes to the penalty box. Axiom immediately drops JD as he rushes in. Axiom covers JD for 3, and JD goes back to the box.
The timer hits 15:00 as Joe Gacy comes out at #5. Gacy taunts Waller in the box, then heads to the ring with no shirt on this time. Gacy unloads on Hayes and Axiom, going from corner to corner. Gacy blocks another shot from Axiom, then levels him for a 2 count. Gacy applies Rings of Saturn to Axiom and he taps out. Gacy has a point and Axiom is going to the box. Waller exits the box, and JD is still in the box. Waller drops Axiom at ringside, then gives him to JD as he exits the box. JD takes Axiom to the box and unloads while he’s down.
Hayes and Gacy lock eyes, then look at the clock and the scoreboard. Gacy levels Hayes and turns him inside out with a lariat. Gacy covers for the 3 count. Hayes goes to the box. Gacy fights off Waller and JD, sending them both to the floor with a springboard move. Gacy runs the ring and laps out to take them both down on the floor. Axiom is let out of the box but JD shuts the door to let him out. Axiom and the referee plead with JD. Axiom fights out over the top of the box with a kick. Axiom with a moonsault from the to of the box to take down Waller, JD and Gacy on the floor. Fans chant “holy shit!” now as Hayes watches from the box.
Hayes exits the box but Waller rocks him and brings it back into the ring. Hayes takes Waller down for a close 2 count, going right into a Crossface. Waller rolls through but Hayes tightens it. Waller tapas out and Hayes has a second point. Gacy decks Waller on his way in. Gacy pulls Hayes to the floor and drops him. Gacy brings Axiom in for a big corner splash. Axiom takes Gacy down into a scissors, then into a Triangle. Gacy tries to powerbomb up but Hayes breaks them up with a scissors kick. Axiom rocks Hayes with a kick. JD yanks Axiom to the floor and he lands hard. JD comes in and goes at it with Hayes. JD drops Hayes on his head. Gacy goes for the lariat but JD headbutts him. Waller comes back in but JD drops him for a 2 count as everyone breaks it up to stop JD from getting his first point.
JD stomps on Waller in the corner, then hits Gacy with a knee in the corner. JD stomps on Hayes, then Axiom in their corners to more boos. JD drops to his knees sin the middle of the ring but now everyone surrounds him. They all collide into him. Waller dodges Gacy but Gacy dropkicks him to the floor. Gacy slams Waller onto half of the steel ring steps. Gacy comes in and slams Hayes, then applies the Rings of Saturn. JD breaks it up. Axiom saves JD from a Gacy submission. Gacy pounds on Axiom and applies the modified Crossface. Hayes and JD break it up.
Hayes rocks Gacy, then JD headbutts Gacy at the 24:00 mark. Axiom with a big DDT to JD. Hayes springboard and flies to rock Axiom but Waller pulls Hayes too the floor to break the pin up. Waller rocks Hayes on the floor. Wale rushes back in to pin Axiom for a 3 count. Axiom goes to the box and he has no chance to win now. Waller pulls Hayes out and runs around the ring to avoid him. Waller is trying to stay alive but everyone is trying to catch him. Waller keeps avoiding Hayes and the timer runs out to give him the win.
Winner and New #1 Contender to NXT Champion Bron Breakker: Grayson Waller
– After the match, the music hits as Waller begins celebrating at ringside. We go to replays. Waller stands tall and continues his celebration as the others try to recover and look on.
– Back from a break and McKenzie Mitchell is in the back with Drew Gulak. She asks why he came back to NXT. Gulak says for some reason he feels like he hasn’t reached his full potential, he’s not pointing fingers at anyone but himself. He has a good idea of where he wants to go, he didn’t come here to complain, he came here to grind in the ring and if he sees someone with potential, someone special, either a NXT Superstar or a WWE Performance Center trainee, then he can help them and that’s even better. Gulak says there are strength in numbers. Damon Kemp walks up and introduces himself. They shake hands. Gulak knows Kemp – a great wrestler with an even more notorious attitude. Kemp takes that as a compliment. Kemp saw Gulak watching this past Tuesday on NXT, and says he will return to the ring for the first time in two months this Tuesday against Duke Hudson, and that is the match for Gulak to watch as he schools Gulak. Gulak says he has a pretty good idea of who Kemp is, but he will check the match out. He wishes Kemp good luck, then walks off.
– We get a video package for tonight’s main event.
:nxtchamp
NXT Title Match: Apollo Crews vs. Bron Breakker
We see Apollo Crews and NXT Champion Bron Breakker walking backstage. The music hits and out first comes Crews. We see a brief video playing with scenes from Breakker’s title run this year. The music hits and out comes Breakker to a pop as Crews looks on. We get formal ring introductions from Alicia Taylor now.
The bell rings and they stare each other down as fans bark for Breakker and cheer some for Crews. Crews smiles. The staredown from their corners continues, but now they size each other up, then lock up. They quickly break. Crews smiles and Breakker talks some trash. They lock up again but eventually break but after a longer period of time.
Bron calls for a test of strength in the middle of the ring. We have some technical difficulties and come back to Crews showing Bron up. They run the ropes and Crews dropkicks Bron, then hits a standing moonsault in the middle of the ring for 2. Bron is on the floor now when Crews nails another big moonsault. Crews brings it back in and launches himself in from the pron with a senton for 2.
Crews grounds Bron with a submission now. Bron blocks a move and does the Gator Roll over the mat. Bron with a long vertical suplex for a pop, then a kip-up. Bron with a standing moonsault of his own for a close 2 count in the middle of the ring. Crews is on the floor now when Bron runs the ring and leaps out, taking Crews down at ringside. Fans cheer Bron on as he plays to the crowd. Bron brings it back in and goes to the top for the Bulldog but Crews dropkicks him in mid-air.
Fans chant “holy shit!” now. Crews closes his eyes and starts breathing hard. He opens his eyes and is now wide-eyed. Crews snaps and unloads on Bron now. Crews with a DVD for a close 2 count. Crews with a German suplex, holding it for another German suplex, and then a third German. Bron kicks out just in time and Crews shows some frustration. Crews goes on and hits a trio of powerbombs but Bron barely kicks out in time. Crews screams out.
Crews goes to the top for the Frogsplash and he nails it. Bron kicks out at 2, and Crews is frustrated. Fans rally now as Crews gets up first. Bron makes it to the corner but Crews runs and splashes him. Bron dodges another corner splash in the opposite corner. The referee checks on Crews while Bron recovers and gets back to his feet. Bron with two shoulder tackles. Bron catches Crews in mid-air with a big Spinebuster in the middle of the ring. Bron goes to the top as fans cheer him on. Bron flies and nails Crews with the Bulldog but Crews kicks out at 2.
Bron grabs Crews and presses him in the air but Crews turns it into a big DDT. Crews covers for 2. Bron blocks a sit-out powerbomb, then spikes Crews to the mat for a close 2 count. Fans do dueling chants now as Bron drops his straps, then yells out. Bron presses Crews up above his head but it’s blocked gain. Crews presses Bron up and into a big powerslam. Bron still kicks out at 2. Fans chant “NXT!” now as Crews sits up on his knees, frustrated. Fans chant “this is awesome!” now.
Bron and Crews meet in the middle of the ring, head-to-head, talking trash. They trade big strikes to their feet now. Crews chops Bron. Bron asks if that’s all he’s got, then yells for Crews to hit him. They unload on each other now, then collide but are both still standing. Crews with an enziguri, then a pump kick to the jaw. Crews tries to hoist Bron for the powerbomb but Bron counters, and lands on his feet behind Crews, then comes right back with a Spear for the pin to win in the middle of the ring.
Winner: Bron Breakker
– After the match, the music hits as Breakker stands tall and fans pop. We go to replays. We come back to Breakker celebrating with the NXT Title in the air as fans cheer him on. Breakker turns around to #1 contender Grayson Waller dropping him with the Stunner as fans boo. Waller picks up the NXT Title belt and kneels down, taunting Bron with it. Waller says he’s the greatest as some fans are cheering his name, but most boo. Waller poses with the NXT Title as Deadline goes off the air.
