WWE NXT Results (9/12): Becky Lynch Vs. Tiffany Stratton, IIja Dragunov Vs. Wes Lee, More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage of "WWE NXT." We've got a big episode tonight so on with the show!
We open with a video package recapping last week's main event between Bron Breakker and Von Wagner, including the aftermath that saw Breakker apparently squash Wagner's head with the steel steps. We also get some hype for the number-one contender match tonight between Wes Lee and Ilja Dragunov, and highlights of Tiffany Stratton's defense of the "NXT" Women's Title against Kiana James last week, which was followed by Becky Lynch announcing that she'll challenge Stratton for her title tonight.
Outside the arena, Becky Lynch is shown walking through the parking lot, thankfully without incident.
Wes Lee vs. Ilja Dragunov – "NXT" Championship #1 Contender's Match
The winner here faces "NXT" Champion Carmelo Hayes at No Mercy. After a brief feeling-out process, this match heats up with Lee hitting a pair of dives to Dragunov on the outside. Dragunov retaliates with a German suplex on the arena floor that sends Lee back-first onto the top of the announcers' desk. With that, we head into the picture-in-picture break.
Back from the break, Dragunov is in control and pounding away on Lee in the corner. Lee fires up and we get an extended exchange of forearm strikes in the middle of the ring, which Dragunov gets the better of. Lee responds with a series of kicks and a double stomp and both men are down.
Lee chops away at Dragunov in the corner, but Dragunov blocks the last chop attempt and returns fire. Dragunov charges right into a Spanish Fly and that gets a two-count for Lee. Dragunov hammers away with elbows but can't hit a German suplex. Lee tries a handstand head-scissor takedown, but Dragunov just kicks him in the gut to block it and delivers a lariat for another near-fall.
Dragunov grabs a waistlock but Lee elbows out of it. Lee goes for the Kardiak Kick but gets caught by Dragunov who spins with Lee on his shoulder only for Lee to reverse that into a tornado DDT. Dragunov rolls out to the floor. Lee follows him out with a dive over the corner post. He rolls Dragunov back into the ring and climbs to the top turnbuckle. Dragunov recovers and climbs up to meet him. Dragunov brings Lee in with a superplex from the top turnbuckle and lands his diving forearm on the downed Lee. That gets a close two-count. Dragunov sets up for Torpedo Moscow but Lee meets him with a knee. Dragunov rebounds with a vicious strike to the back of Lee's head and that gets the pin.
Ilja Dragunov defeats Wes Lee
Dragunov is the new number-one contender and "NXT" Champion Carmelo Hayes makes his entrance. He stands in the entrance aisle and jaws back and forth with Dragunov in the ring.
We got footage of Tiffany Stratton arriving at the arena earlier today.
Vic Joseph and Booker T solemnly toss us to a video package recapping the aftermath of last week's main event between Bron Breakker and Von Wagner where Breakker appeared to squash Wagner's head with the steel steps. We see footage of all the people and commotion around ringside, including Shawn Michaels running out and urging Breakker to leave. We see medical personnel putting Wagner on a stretcher and taking him out of the arena and into an ambulance.
Back to Vic and Booker, who says he's never seen anything like that before. Vic says Wagner was diagnosed with a "minor skull fracture" and there's no timetable for his return.
We see Baron Corbin walking backstage. He'll be out to address fans next.
Baron Corbin Addresses The NXT Universe
Back from the break, Baron Corbin makes his entrance. Vic says even Corbin was taken aback by Breakker's actions last week.
Corbin gets the microphone and says normally he doesn't like the fans and they don't like that. He says tonight is different. He says he was sitting ringside and saw something so vicious the TV truck had to cut the feed to black. He says Breakker crushed Wagner's skull with the steel stairs. Corbin admits he doesn't like him but says that Wagner's journey is real and Von will never be the same again. Corbin says he knows Breakker is backstage and he calls him out. Breakker's music hits and here he comes.
Breakker makes it out on stage and Corbin says that's far enough. Corbin says what Breakker did last week is hard for him to put into words. Corbin breaks into a smile and says it was "freakin' awesome!" Breakker joins him in the ring and he and Corbin have a good laugh at Wagner's expense. Breakker gets serious and says he didn't do what he did last week to win Corbin's approval, he did it to end Wagner's career. Breakker says he didn't just like the feeling. He loved it.
Corbin says he appreciates the fact that Breakker was willing to get his hands dirty. Corbin says he was trying to be nice and was going to offer to pay Breakker's fine but now he's having second thoughts. Corbin reminds us about ending Kurt Angle's career at WrestleMania and beating Gable Steveson just weeks ago, as well as facing The Undertaker and Roman Reigns. Corbin says Breakker should want his respect. Breakker says he doen't need it or want it and challengers Corbin to a match at No Mercy. He tells Corbin to call his family and friends because he's going to leave No Mercy the same way Wagner left the arena last week.
Corbin says Breakker has a lot to learn and slaps him in the face. Breakker slaps him back. They slap each other in the face some more until security rushes the ring to pull them apart.
We go backstage to find Brooks Jensen, Josh Briggs, and Myles Borne warming up for their match. That's coming up next.
Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen & Myles Borne (with Fallon Henley) vs. Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp & Drew Gulak
Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen & Myles Borne (with Fallon Henley) vs. Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp & Drew Gulak
Briggs and Jensen quickly take control of the match, leaving Jensen in the ring to beat up on Kemp, who escapes just long enough to tag in Gulak. Gulak grabs a headlock on Jensen and tags in Dempsey but Jensen overwhelms them. Borne tags in and hits a jumping neck breaker on Dempsey. They quickly tag out and we're back to Kemp and Jensen who hits a running strike on Kemp for a pinfall attempt that's broken up by Kemp's teammates.
All six men start brawling and spill out to the floor. In the midst of the melee, Borne rams Jensen into the ringpost and rolls him back into the ring where Kemp finishes him off for the pin.
Charlie Dempsey, Drew Gulak & Damon Kemp defeat Brooks Jensen, Josh Briggs & Myles Borne
This was clearly the plan all along as Borne celebrates after the match with Dempsey, Gulak, and Kemp.
We head to Chase U, where Andre Chase is worried about Thea Hail after last week. He asks Duke Hudson to reach out to her. Hudson discovers that Hail has shut off the location tracking on her phone.
We switch over to Hail and Jacy Jayne who appear to be in the "NXT" cafeteria hoping that some boys come over and start hitting on them. Sure enough, a couple of random guys approach them, but they start making fun of how young Hail is, so Jayne stands up for her and they both lay out these two guys and send them packing.
Hail is dissatisfied with her outfit and says next week, they're going shopping.
Back in the arena, Dana Brooke makes her entrance as we head to break.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Dana Brooke (with Kelani Jordan)
Back from the break, Lyra Valkyria is in the midst of her entrance.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Dana Brooke (with Kelani Jordan)
Valkyria grabs a waist lock to start off the match but Brooke escapes, only to run into an enziguri from Valkyria. She follows her out with a dropkick but Brooke cuts off Valkyria as she's trying to get back into the ring.
Valkyria rallies with some kicks and a clothesline. She slams Brooke and delivers more strikes. Brooke escapes a Northern Lights suplex attempt and whips Valkyria into the corner. Brooke tries to follow her in but Valkyria moves. Valkyria goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits her frog splash from the top and that gets the pin.
Lyra Valkyria defeats Dana Brooke
Valkyria tries to be a good sport after the match and extends her hand. Brooke shakes it. When Valkyria turns her back to leave Brooke tries to attack her but Jordan stops her.
We get an announcement that the "NXT" Women's Breakout Tournament is coming soon.
Backstage for an interview with Eddy Thorpe. He's still upset at Dijak. Dijak appears on a backstage monitor and we see him outside somewhere with a strap and he starts whipping a tree trunk. Back to Thorpe who decides this interview is over.
A quick check of the Global Heritage Invitational and it's time for a match from Group A. Tyler Bate makes his entrance.
Tyler Bate vs. Axiom - Global Heritage Invitational (Group A)
We check in backstage where Dominik Mysterio bumps into Carmelo Hayes. Mysterio says Hayes can't beat Dragunov but Hayes accuses Mysterio of ducking Dragon Lee. Mysterio says his North American Championship is now the "A Championship." Hayes challenges him to a match next week. Mysterio walks away, seemingly non-committal about that idea.
We get a backstage interview with Becky Lynch. She says her time in "NXT" was all about surviving, but now she's back ready to walk out as champion. Kiana James interrupts and says she doesn't want Lynch there and Becky is lucky it's not her against Lynch tonight or she'd beat her up. Lynch says she plans to be around "NXT" a whole lot more.
Back to the arena and Axiom makes his entrance for our Global Heritage Invitational match.
Tyler Bate vs. Axiom – Global Heritage Invitational (Group A)
Meta Four is watching from their stage in the crowd.
Some mat work to start as both men show off their skills. Axium maneuvers into a side headlock. Bate escapes and appears to be a step ahead of Axium before Bate knocks Axiom out of the ring with a European uppercut. Axiom comes right back in and he's fired up now. He knocks Bate out of the ring then goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a moonsault to Bate on the floor. Axiom rolls Bate into the ring and goes back to the top turnbuckle for a diving crossbody for a pin attempt. Bate powers out with a fireman's carry into an airplane spin. Axiom rolls out of the ring and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Axiom slams Bate down from the top turnbuckle. Vic tells us Axiom is favoring his knee. Bate catches Axiom charging in and slams him down. He follows with a running moonsault but Axiom catches him in an arm submission. Bate powers out and hits a big right hand but then charges right into a Spanish Fly. Bate tries a European uppercut from the second turnbuckle but Axiom catches him in a sleeper hold. Bate powers out with a fireman's carry and another airplane spin but this time Axiom reverses into a poison rana. Bate responds with a brainbuster for a near fall.
Bate climbs to the top turnbuckle. Axiom cuts him off and climbs up with him. Axiom hits a Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle for a close two-count. Axiom grabs a submission out of the kickout. Bate powers out but Axiom reverses that only for Bate to come off the ropes with his rebound lariat. Tyler Driver 98 follows and gets the pin. Those two points for the win are Bate's first in the tournament.
Tyler Bate defeated Axiom
Backstage, we get an interview with Butch who will face Bate next week. Butch recounts his long history with Bate and says no one brings out the bruiser in him like Bate.
We go to the locker room where Tiffany Stratton is warming up for her match tonight.
Back to the arena, the Creed Brothers make their entrance. They're in action next.
Creed Brothers (with Ivy Nile) vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
We get a video from earlier today, as Joe Gacy explains to Ava that their tree is dying and they now stand alone.
Backstage, we see Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes chatting. Williams says he can relate to being alone. Hayes confirms that he's got a match against Mysterio next week. Williams offers to be in his corner but Hayes says he's got this. Wes Lee is now lurking in the background. Williams and Hayes are still cool. Lee is cleaning out his locker as Williams and Hayes part ways.
Back in the arena, Edris Enofe and Malik Blade make their entrance.
Creed Brothers (with Ivy Nile) vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
Blade starts off against Julius and hits a dropkick and a dive onto Brutus on the outside. Enofe quickly hits a splash on Julius for a near-fall. We see Angel and Humberto watching from the crowd.
Brutus tags in and the Creeds hit a double-team move on Enofe for a near-fall. Brutus hits a Samoan drop followed by a standing moonsault and a running senton for a near-fall. Enofe manages to make the tag to Blade and he hits a cross body from the top turnbuckle on Brutus and tags Enofe back in for an elevated double-team blockbuster for a near-fall.
Enofe pounds forearms down on Brutus and then hits a Famouser. Enofe talks trash and hits the ropes and Brutus responds with a body tackle that sends Enofe flying. Julius and Blade both tag in and Julius unloads with belly-to-belly suplexes on both of his opponents. He hits a big spine buster on Enofe and then catches Blade coming off the top turnbuckle. Julius holds Blade up in a powerbomb position and Brutus hits his Brutus Ball off the top turnbuckle and that gets the pin.
Creed Brothers defeated Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
After the match, we see Angel and Humberto making faces from the crowd. Two other teams are in the entrance aisle and start fighting their way to the back.
In the locker room, Lyra Valkyria visits Becky Lynch, who tells her she's making her homeland proud.
Nathan Frazer vs. Akira Tozawa - Global Heritage Invitational (Group B)
Backstage, Roxanne Perez is talking to some other women about the Women's Breakout Tournament. They're interrupted by Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice. Lopez says Perez is causing problems in the locker room. Vice gets in Perez's face. Sounds like Vice is in the Breakout Tournament.
Vic confirms that Bron Breakker will face Baron Corbin at No Mercy.
Back to the arena, and Nathan Frazer makes his entrance. Vic calls this a "must-win" match for Frazer. Akira Tozawa is out next.
Nathan Frazer vs. Akira Tozawa – Global Heritage Invitational (Group B)
Tozawa quickly grabs a wristlock. Frazer uses his speed to escape and we get a stalemate. Frazer grabs a headlock to take down Tozawa but Tozawa reverses it. Frazer comes flying off the ropes with a dropkick but Tozwa avoids his springboard attempt. Tozawa avoids a kick and hits a German suplex and a running kick. Tozawa goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick that sends Frazer to the floor. Tozawa follows with a suicide dive. He rolls Frazer back into the ring and goes to the top turnbuckle but Frazer runs up the ropes to cut him off, hits a superplex, and immediately follows up with a vertical suplex into a spinning neckbreaker to get the pin and the win.
Nathan Frazer defeated Akira Tozawa
Frazer and Joe Coffey are now tied atop Group B at four points apiece.
We get a backstage interview with Coffey, who says he's been the favorite in this tournament since the start. He predicts he'll beat Duke Hudson to secure the top spot in Group B. Hudson interrupts and says if he beats Coffey, it'll be a three-way tie at the top of Group B and there would be a three-way match to decide the winner of the group.
Backstage, we see Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton making their way down the halls of the arena for their match, which is up next.
NXT Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
We go backstage for an interview with Mustafa Ali. He asks that no one try to undermine his tainted win last week over Dragon Lee. Here's Lee to interrupt and point out that there was a fast count by special guest referee Dominik Mysterio that gave Ali the win. Ali promises to give Lee the first shot at the North American Title after he beats Mysterio at No Mercy.
Backstage, Wes Lee is asked about his loss. He says he cleaned his locker out, says "I'm done" and walks out the door. Before we can take that in, the camera whips around to show a hooded figure attacking Blair Davenport and we discover it's Gigi Dolin. Security pulls them apart.
Next week's episode will have Carmelo Hayes vs. Dominik Mysterio, Roxanne Perez vs. Lola Vice, plus Tyler Bate vs. Butch and Joe Coffey vs. Duke Hudson in the Global Heritage Invitational.
Back to the arena, and Becky Lynch makes her entrance. Big-time feel for this main event and a huge test for Tiffany Stratton, who's out next. We get the full introductions from ring announcer Alicia Taylor.
"NXT" Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
Fans are on their feet for the bell. Vic says, "Welcome to the big time."
Lockup to start and Stratton powers Lynch into the corner and we get a clean break. Stratton kicks Lynch and grabs a side headlock. Drop down by Lynch but Stratton cartwheels out and uses a Matrix bridge to avoid Lynch. Lynch responds with her own cartwheel and goes for the Disarmer. Stratton is able to escape.
Stratton gets the better of another lockup with a knee to the gut. She bounces Lynch off the ropes and hits a forearm to the back. Lynch answers back with her own forearm but Stratton recovers and hangs Lynch over the top rope and knocks her off and down to the arena floor.
We go to a picture-in-picture break.
Stratton and Lynch spent much of the break brawling on the floor, where Stratton gained control and sent Lynch back into the ring for some shoulder thrusts in the corner. Stratton catches Lynch coming off the ropes with a slam and a pinning attempt, but Stratton gets overzealous and charges into an elbow from Lynch as we return from the break.
Lynch hits a charge into the corner. Lynch goes to the top turnbuckle, hits a missile dropkick, and covers for a two-count. Lynch goes for the Disarmer but Stratton escapes again and hits a sitout spinebuster for another two-count.
Stratton looks for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Lynch cuts her off. Stratton avoids a charge into the corner and pulls Lynch's neck down across the top rope. Stratton climbs to the top turnbuckle but Lynch cuts her off and lands a series of punches, Stratton reverses the superplex, sending Lynch facefirst to the mat and following with a Swanton Bomb for a near-fall.
Stratton picks up Lynch but Lynch slips out the back and goes for an armbar in the center of the ring. Stratton manages to reach the bottom rope with her foot and then rolls over to power up Lynch but Lynch counters with a headscissor takedown for a two-count. Stratton hits a running double stomp for another two-count.
Stratton waits for Lynch to get up and tries for a Manhandle Slam but Lynch reverses it. Stratton goes for the PME again and Lynch runs up and catches her with a Russian Leg Sweep from the second turnbuckle for a near-fall. Both women are down until Stratton rolls out to the floor. Lynch tries to kick her from the apron but Stratton blocks it and pulls Lynch off and into the ring steps. Stratton clears the announcers' desk and picks up Lynch for a powerbomb but Lynch hangs onto the ringside barricade to escape. She kicks Stratton away and Stratton falls onto the desk. Lynch comes off the barricade with a leg drop. The table does not break!
Lynch rolls Stratton into the ring, hits another leg drop from the second turnbuckle and that gets two. Lynch locks on the Disarmer. Stratton fights to the ropes to break it and powers up Lynch onto her shoulder. Lynch tumbles off to the apron and creates space to climb to the top turnbuckle. Stratton avoids Lynch coming off the top and hits a sitout powerbomb on Lynch for a two-count. Both women are down.
They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Stratton reverses the Manhandle Slam into a rollup for a two-count. Stratton tries for the PME again, misses it, but lands on her feet. Lynch is waiting for her and catches her with the Manhandle Slam and gets the pin!
Becky Lynch is "NXT" Women's Champion!
Becky Lynch defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the "NXT" Women's Championship
Lynch celebrates with the title as we go off the air.