Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE NXT. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST

Tonight, the Wednesday Night Wars kick-off, as NXT and AEW: Dynamite go head-to-head in a ratings war, and WWE are pulling out all of the stops to make sure that fans tune in to the USA Network tonight.

First, “The Velveteen Dream Experience,” as WWE call it, is coming to the USA Network. Velveteen Dream will be looking to bounce back from his crushing defeat at the hands of Roderick Strong and the Undisputed Era, but how will he do so?

Johnny Gargano will go up against the man that has been calling him out for the past month, Shane Thorne. This will be Johnny Wrestling’s first in-ring competition since his loss to Adam Cole in the NXT Championship Match at TakeOver: Toronto 2.

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In the Women’s Division, Candice LeRae will look to dethrone Shayna Baszler from the top of the women’s division in a match for the NXT Women’s Championship. Will Candice be the one to finally take out Baszler, or will The Queen of Spades add one more name to the ever-growing list of conquered opponents?

In the second NXT championship match, The Street Profits look to regain the NXT Tag Team Championships from the Undisputed Era as Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins take on Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly in a match for the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Finally, in what is presumably the main event, King of the Bros Matt Riddle will take on the leader of the Undisputed Era, Adam Cole, in a match for the NXT Championship. Cole has had multiple successful title defenses so far, so will Matt Riddle just become another victim of Adam Cole, or will the Original Bro capture his first NXT Championship?

In case you decide to check out AEW’s television debut, we’ll have all of the action from NXT as it happens, and we will begin to coverage when NXT goes live at 8 PM EST!

Opening Segment

A video package hyping up NXT, and specifically, the Undisputed Era. The package shows highlights from NXT matches, proclaiming the black and gold brand as something “different.”

Mauro Ronallo tells us that the first 30 minutes will be commercial-free, and we are starting with the NXT Championship match!

Matt Riddle vs. NXT Champion Adam Cole for the NXT Championship

During Riddle’s entrance, Ronallo talks about how Riddle easily dispatched of Adam Cole in the fujiwara armbar as NXT went off USA Network last week.

Adam Cole comes to the ring along, with the rest of the Undisputed Era notable by their absence. His right wrist is taped; is this a target for Riddle or a red herring from Cole?

Riddle immediately goes after Cole and takes him down, going after the fujiwara armbar immediately, but Cole gets to the ropes. Cole gets Riddle in the corner and goes after Riddle, but Riddle deadlifts Cole into three gutwrench suplexes.

Riddle’s kicks easily dispatch Cole and send him to the outside. Riddle reaches between the top and middle rope to go after Cole, but Cole catches him with a leaping roundhouse kick, dumping Riddle to the outside. Cole follows it up by throwing Riddle into the steps, then rolling Riddle back into the ring.

Cole grounds Riddle with a back elbow, then a hanging neckbreaker and gets a two count. Riddle misses with some strikes, Cole hits Riddle with an ushiguroshi for a two count. Cole gets Riddle in a triangle hold, but Riddle gets leverage into a bridge pin for a 2 count.

Cole strikes Riddle with a bicycle kick, dazing Riddle. Riddle fights back and lands a series of strikes on Cole, and follows it up with a Broton and a PK for a 2 count. After a series of reversals, Riddle hits a Final Flash Kneestrike and a fisherman buster for a 2 count, and follows it up with an Everest suplex for another 2 count.

Cole hits a huge backstabber on Riddle for a very close 2 count, which gets a “Mamma Mia” chant from the crowd. Riddle and Cole exchange suplexes and strikes, with the chain ending with another ushiguroshi from Cole for an extremely close 2 count, barely getting his shoulder up in time.

Riddle kicks Cole in the head on the apron, but Cole is able to hit Riddle with a bicycle kick, knocking Riddle out of the ring. Cole follows Riddle to the outside, but Riddle hits Cole with a knee strike. Riddle goes for a Floating Bro to Cole, but Cole gets his knees up in time to reverse. Cole hits the Panama sunrise for a 2 count.

Cole lowers the kneepad looking for the last shot, but Riddle cannot support himself on his knees. Cole goes for the Panama Sunrise again, but Riddle reverses it into a Go to Bro, a series of powerbombs, and a Floating Bro for a 2 count.

Riddle goes to the top rope, but Cole crotches him on the top rope. Riddle and Cole fight to the top of the turnbuckle, and Riddle chops Cole off of the rope. Cole catches Riddle with kicks, and hits a second Panama Sunrise. Cole went for the Last Shot, but Riddle counters into a Bromission. Cole reverses it into a pinfall attempt for 2.

Riddle locks in the fujiwara armbar on the injured arm, but Cole escapes. Riddle goes for it again, and Cole escapes, finally catching Riddle with a surprise Last Shot, getting the 3 count and the victory.

Winner: Adam Cole

As Cole celebrates, none other than Finn Balor makes his way out to the ring. The crowd greets him with a “Welcome Back” chant. Finn says that, as of now, Finn Balor is NXT. He drops the mic, and Cole retreats out of the ring. Finn throws up the “Too Sweet,” and then exits the ring.

We get a clip from an NXT live event where Shayna was watching a Candice LeRae match. Shayna and Candice hype up their NXT Women’s Championship match for later tonight. Candice and Shayna are shown warming up backstage.

Velveteen Dream is on a couch at the top of the ramp, surrounded by women. Dream is holding a mic, talking about “The Velveteen Dream Experience.” Dream calls out Roderick Strong, challenging him for the NXT North American Championship. He ends his promo by saying “Dream Over,” and shuts off the lights with a snap.

Mauro Ronallo says that, next week, Lio Rush will face Drew Gulak for the Cruiserweight Championship on NXT, and we see a short video package recapping Rush’s return to the ring and Gulak’s response to Rush’s #1 Contendorship.

Io Shirai vs. Mia Yim

Yim tries to start the match with a handshake, but Shirai is not interested. Yim gets the clear advantage on Shirai at every turn, taking the action outside of the ring. Shirai gets back in control, kicking Yim and breaking the count. Shirai goes to work on Yim and we have our first commercial break of the night.

The match continues to play in the commercial, but Shirai mostly maintains controls with various rest holds at first. Shirai blocks any attempts made by Yim for a comeback, stopping her momentum at every turn. Shirai gets Yim in an octopus hold, but Yim gets out of the hold. Shirai hits Yim with a basement dropkick for a 2 count.

Shirai mounts Yim and hits her with some strikes. Shirai goes for a double knee strike in the corner and goes for the tiger bomb, but Yim reverses it and finally hits a belly to belly overhead suplex.

Yim takes down Shirai with a series of different kicks, and uses a matchbook cover on Shirai for a two count. Yim hits Shirai with a series of PKs, but Shirai catches Yim with a hurricanrana for a 2 count. Shirai catches Yim on the middle rope, hitting Yim with a 619 and then a springboard dropkick for a 2 count. Yim hits a Code Blue for a 2 count.

Shirai rolls out of the ring, but Yim hits a tope on Shirai between the top and middle ropes as we got to another commercial break, with the match continuing in the corner.

Both women rolls back into the ring, and Yim goes for a cover for a 2 count. Yim clubs Shirai in the back of the head. Shirai pins Yim, but grabs the tights and the ref notices and stops the pin. Yim hits Shirai with Eat Defeat, and goes for the pin, but then an actual full-screen commerical begins, marking the first full commercial of the night.

Back from commercial, and Shirai and Yim are fighting on the top rope, and Shirai hits Yim with a superplex. Shirai makes a pinfall attempt, but only gets a 2 count. Shirai hits Yim with a spinning kick, then a moonsault for a 3 count and the victory.

Winner: Io Shirai

As Shirai celebrates in the ring, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are shown in the crowd, and throw up a “Too Sweet.” The Street Profits are shown arriving earlier today, accompanied by Bianca Belair.

Mauro Ronalla hypes the return of Tegan Nox to NXT after her injury. A video package plays showing when her injury happened and the recovery process that she went through.

Johnny Gargano vs. Shane Thorne

The match begins, and Shane Thorne and Johnny Gargano exchange wristlocks. Throne attemps to take down Gargano, but Gargano’s technical ability allows him to outmaneuver Throne at every turn.

Thorne hits Gargano with a strike to the face and a back suplex, and we get another commercial where the match continues in the corner.

Throne attacks Gargano in the corner, but just as Gargano fights his way out, Thorne whips him into the opposite corner, using the ring post and steel steps in his offense. Gargano is able to rally a comeback, but Throne drops Gargano on the apron, back-first.

Thorne methodically stalks Gargano, hitting him in corners around the ring. Thorne hits a suplex and goes for a pin, but fails to get a one count. Throne punches and kicks Gargano and grabs Gargano by the face, and applies a headlock as the commercial ends.

Thorne catches Gargano with an uppercut and goes for more, but Gargano is able to mount a comeback. Gargano hits Thorne with his rolling kick and finishes his comeback with a tope dive onto Thorne. Gargano rolls Thorne back into the ring and hits a slingshot spear for a 2 count.

Gargano catches a cannonball and a high-angle powerbomb for a 2 count. Thorne hits Gargano with a series of PKs, then lines up Gargano for another PK, but Gargano fights back and turns Thorne inside out with a lariat. Thorne catches Gargano with a roundhouse, but hits a Poison Hurricanrana onto Thorne, then hits a DIY-style superkick for the three count and the victory.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

An advertisement runs for Smackdown this Friday on FOX.

Candice LeRae vs. NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship

Shayna grounds Candice quickly, and taunts her. LeRae hits a quick step-up enziguri and drops Baszler to the outside of the ring, following it up with a diving crossbody as we go to a commercial.

Back inside the ring, Candice maintains firm control over Shayna Baszler, getting a 2 count pinfall on her. Shayna fights back, taking down Candice and working on Candice’s arm, and then a true commercial begins, cutting out the corner screen.

Back from commercial, and Candice ascends the turnbuckle, but sends her crashing to the outside. Baszler pursues her, whipping her into the steel steps, arm first. Baszler traps Candice’s arm in the steps and stomps on her arm into the steps.

Shayna hits Candice in the midsection with knees and gets a 2 count. Baszler continues to focus on the arm of Candice, taunting her. Shayna contorts LeRae’s left arm, but reaches the ropes to break up the submission momentarily. Candice goes hits a facebuster on Baszler on the apron, and follows it up with three topes onto Baszler on the outside.

Candice rolls Shayna back into the ring and climbs the corner, but Baszler catches her with a kick and follows her up to the top, hitting a gutwrecnh suplex onto Baszler from the top rope, and another commercial begins.

During commercial, Shayna grounds Candice and goes back to work on her arm. Candice rolls up Baszler for a 2 count. Baszler takes out Candice with a knee strike for a 2 count. Shayna taunts Candice, and Candice slaps Baszler as the commercial ends. Shayna goes for the Kirifuda Clutch, but LeRae reverses it into a Kirifuda Clutch of her own. Baszler is able to lock in a hanging Kirifuda Clutch, but LeRae hits a swinging neckbreaker from the top for a two count.

LeRae goes for a moonsault, but Shayna moves out of the way and locks in the Kirifuda Clutch. Candice LeRae stands up in the hold, but collapses back down into the submission hold and taps out.

Winner: Shayna Baszler

Mark Henry, Alundra Blaze, and Stephanie McMahon are shown sitting ringside.

We get a recap of Imperium and Kushida’s feud that has built over the past few weeks. Next week: Kushida vs. WALTER

Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch

Danny Burch comes to the ring without Oney Lorcan. Dunne looks ready to focus just on business. The technical ability of Dunne outmaneuvers Burch to start with, but a series of submission holds and strike attempts show that they are more evenly matched than first thought. Pete Dunne lays out Burch as we got to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Burch and Dunne are trading strikes. Dunne cathes Burch with a sitout powerbomb, but Burch kicks out at 2. Burch rolls up Dunne for a 2 count, then hits a popup powerbomb and an elevated DDT for a close 2 count. However, Dunne is able to fight back and hit the Bitter End for a 3 count and the victory.

Winner: Pete Dunne

As Dunne celebrates, the lights go out and Damien Preist launches a surprise attack on Dunne, laying him out.

Backstage, Cathy Kelly interviews Adam Cole. Cole is interrupted during his interview by the rest of the Undisputed Era who are complaining about Finn Balor. Cole says that he isn’t worried about Balor, and they need to focus on keeping their prophecy fulfilled, which means making sure that Fish and O’Reilly retain their tag team championships.

A video package showing the history between the Street Profits and the Undisputed Era is shown.

Street Profits vs. NXT Tag Team Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT Tag Team Championships

Rapper Wale accompanies the Street Profits to the ring, and the crowd seems to be more behind the Street Profits than any other act thus far tonight.

Kyle O’Reilly and Angelo Dawkins start the match off, as Dawkins is able to overpower the smaller O’Reilly. Fish and O’Reilly are definitely on the defense, as Fish comes into the match. Dawkins tags in Montez Ford and Ford chases Fish outside of the ring as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial break, and Montez Ford is showing some high-octane offense on the Undisputed Era, but Fish and O’Reilly are able to double-team him and ground him. O’Reilly comes into the match, attacking Ford’s back and mocking Dawkins with a dance. Ford gets up quickly, but his speed does not match O’Reilly’s technical skill. O’Reilly grounds Ford and tags in Fish, but Fish only gets a 2 count.

Fish and O’Reilly utilize more dynamic tag team offense. O’Reilly comes back into the match, taking down Ford with a low knee. Fish comes in and they double team him in the form of strikes, but Ford is able to fight back. Fish hits a series of suplexes on Ford for a 2 count as we go to commercial break.

Back from commercial break, and Fish is in control of Montez Ford. Ford is able to dispatch both Fish and O’Reilly, but before he can reach Dawkins for the tag, Fish pulls him off the apron. Fish comes into the match and they use some innovative double team offense, but cannot put Ford away. Fish and O’Reilly use frequent tags, wearing down Montez Ford. Fish and O’Reilly continually cheat while Ford is in holds, but Ford is finally able to make the hot tag, decking both Fish and O’Reilly. Dawkins hits a spear on Bobby Fish, but is unable to hit the tree count.

Dawkins goes for a second hit, but is cut off at the pass. Fish hits Dawkins with a lowblow while the ref is not paying attention. Dawkins tries to climb to his corner for a tag, but Ford is not there. O’Reilly gets a leg submission on Dawkins and Fish gets Ford in a guillotine choke. Ford’s guillotine choke hold allows him to inadvertently break up the submission hold on Dawkins by stumbling into them.

Fish goes for a move from the top rope, but Dawkins dives for the hot tag at the same time. Ford and Montez go for a move from the electric, and Dawkins and Ford have both been dived into. Ford goes for a move from the top rope, but Roderick Strong runs a distraction. This allows for the Undisputed Era to get the upper hand, hitting a high-low combination and pinning Montez Ford for the 3 count and the victory.

Winner: Undisputed Era

Adam Cole comes out and holds his championship belt at the top ramp and the rest of the Undisputed Era stand in the ring, holding their gold. The screen behind Cole goes black, and a familiar beep plays, as Tommaso Ciampa’s entrance music plays and Ciampa comes out and stands face to face with Adam Cole as NXT goes off the air.

Steve Carrier

Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.

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