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

Another Wednesday, and another edition of WWE NXT. Heading into this week, there are so many volatile components in the NXT Universe, so let’s take a look at what’s happening tonight.

Last week, former NXT Champion Finn Balor said, “My future will become my past.” What exactly did he mean by this? Look for an answer to this question tonight.

Also, after last week’s main event, Pete Dunne will likely be looking for some retribution against Damian Priest. Priest came out with a victory against Dunne last week, but it was only due to a low blow, and Dunne is not likely to take that lightly. Also, how will the Beast of Belfast Killian Dain factor into this feud? We’ll see if this story develops tonight.

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In the women’s division, Rhea Ripley will take on Bianca Belair for the first time ever on NXT. Belair could prove to be Ripley’s biggest challenge yet outside of NXT UK, but both women are looking to throw their hats in the ring to become the #1 Contender for Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship.

After The Undisputed Era took out Velveteen Dream last week, Roderick Strong thought that he was out of his NXT North American Championship defense again when he caused a disqualification end to the Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic #1 Contender match. However, NXT General Manager William Regal subsequently scheduled a Triple Threat match where Strong will defend his title against both Lee and Dijakovic tonight. Will Strong find a way to escape with his title, or will we see a new NXT North American Champion crowned tonight?

It’s all tonight, and we will start coverage when NXT goes live on the USA Network tonight at 8:00 PM EST!

Opening Segment

Recaps some of the action last week, with an emphasis on Finn Balor, The Undisputed Era, and Tommaso Ciampa.

Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair

Ripley and Belair lock up and neither woman can get the upper hand in a power game. Ripley and Belair struggle for leverage against each other, into a knuckle lock test of strength. Belair’s athleticism sends Ripley into the corner and Belairr hits her with a spear into the corner. Ripley takes Belair out with a double stomp from the corner and they are back on even ground.

Belair is able to hit a waist-lock takedown onto Ripley, but Ripley fights her way up. Belair goes for a suplex on Ripley, but Ripley fights out of it and hits a delayed vertical suplex onto Belair. Ripley gets sent out of the ring by Belair. Ripley gets on the top turnbuckle, and Belair throws her off the onto the mat, then covers her for a 1 count.

Belair locks in a half-nelson, but Ripley gets up and gets Belair into a fireman’s carry. Belair gets out and hits a suplex for a 1 count. Belair continues to work away at Ripley’s head, throwing her down to the mat and covering her with a crossface for a 2 count. Belair locks in an abdominal stretch, but Ripley escapes and hits a hip toss on Belair. Belair catches Ripley running by grabbing her head and slamming her down face first, as we go to a picture-in-picture commercial.

Belair taunts a downed Ripley, then slams her face-first into a turnbuckle. Belair grabs Ripley and attempts to slam her into a corner again, but Ripley fights back. Belair eventually sends her into the turnbuckle face first and Ripley is down again.

Belair continues to taunt a fatigued Ripley, covering her for a 2 count, and going right into a modified sleeper hold. Ripley fights up to a vertical base and sends Belair into the corner, but Belair goes right back after Ripley, taking her down with a clothesline.

We return from commercial and Ripley is fighting out of the corner, catching Bianca Belair in midair with a huge boot. Ripley hits a dropkick to the side of Belair’s head for a 2 count. Now in control of Belair, Ripley hits a series of ripcord clotheslines, followed by a dropkick. Ripley goes for a leg-based submission, but Belair gets to the ropes and rolls out of the ring. Ripley follows her to the outside and hits a cannonball.

Rhea Ripley rolls Belair back into the ring, but Io Shirai comes out of nowhere and hits a tiger kick onto Ripley, taking advantage of a distracted Ripley and rolls her back into the ring, with Belair getting a 2 count. Io Shirai is outraged on the apron, but Candice LeRae comes down and pulls Io Shirai off of the apron, evening the odds. Ripley hits the Riptide on Bianca Belair for a 3 count and a victory.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

We get a recap of The Undisputed Era’s attack on Velveteen Dream, explaining how we have a triple threat North American Championship match in tonight’s main event.

Cathy Kelley catches Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate outside on the way into Full Sail Arena, asking Dunne about his loss to Priest, and Dunne says that a receipt is coming to Priest. Kelley asks about Killian Dain, and Dunne says that he doesn’t care about Pete Dunne. Then we go to a commercial.

Back from commercial, and we get a video package about Tommaso Ciamp’s return from injury and his quest to reclaim “Goldie.”

Tyler Bate is shown in the crowd at ringside.

Matt Riddle vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes goes for the Cave In immediately, but Riddle dodges and goes for the Final Flash, but Grimes dodges. Riddle takes down Grimes with a waist lock. Riddle is able to ground Grimes, but Grimes grabs Riddle’s hair and gets the advantage. Grimes goes a pin, but Riddle reverses into a Bromission. Grimes rolls, and Riddle goes for an armbar, but Grimes rolls it into a pinfall attempt.

Riddle’s striking gives him an advantage on Grimes, hitting him with a series of strikes in the corner, then am exploder suplex, a Broton, and PK for a 2 count. Grimes gets Riddle in the corner and goes for a strike, but Riddle dodges and takes Grimes down for a 2 count.

Riddle hits a jackhammer on Grimes for a 2 count. Riddle hits a Broton onto Grimes for a 2 count. Riddle went for a series of kicks on Grimes’s chest, taking Grimes down with a single huge kick. Riddle goes for a double wristlock, but Grimes uses leverage to turn it into a pinfall attempt. Grimes went a PK, but Riddle dodged. Grimes hits a backflip and catches Riddle, hitting a German suplex into a pinfall attempt for a 2 count, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Riddle hits a ripcord knee on Grimes, followed by a Bro to Sleep and a German suplex for a very close 2 count. Riddle hits a Broton on Grimes, but Grimes catches Riddle with a kick. Riddle returns with a PK, but Grimes hits a huge slam on Matt Riddle for a 2 count. Grimes goes to the top rope, but Riddle hits him with a forearm strike, then hits a superplex onto Grimes for another 2 count.

Riddle goes to the top rope, and goes to hit a Floating Bro, but Grimes gets his knees up. Riddle hits a Final Flash kneestrike and a superkick onto Grimes, but Grimes hits a body slam on Riddle for a 2 count. Grimes goes for a Cave In, but Riddle catches Grimes and hits a powerbomb. Riddle hits another Final Flash kneestrike followed by a BroDerek for the 3 count and the win.

Winner: Matt Riddle

After the match, Cameron Grimes got in the face of Tyler Bate, and Bate laid out Cameron Grimes.

We see a recap from 2 weeks ago when The Forgotten Sons took on Breezango. The Forgotten Sons were set to take on Breezango and Kushida tonight, but with Kushida injured, Breezango must now find a 3rd partner.

We see Dominik Dijakovic warming up for the main event backstage, and then we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, William Regal announces that tonight Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai will face Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, and the winner will take on the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors for the Tag Team Championships next week.

The Forgotten Sons vs. Breezango and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Isaiah Scott is the replacement tag team member for Breezango, and Breezango have another entertaining pilot-themed entrance.

Tyler Breeze and Jackson Riker start things off, and Riker throws Breeze down. Breeze tags in Scott, and Scott gets a waist lock in on Riker, but Riker throws him off. Scott tags in Fandango, and but he is also taken down by Riker’s strength. Steve Cutler tags in and gets a headlock in on Dango, but Fandango clotheslines Cutler over the top rope and sends him to the outside and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Tyler Breeze is in against Jackson Riker. We see a clip from during the commercial break where Riker hit a uranage on Breeze on the apron. Riker tags in Wesley Blake. Blake locks in a headlock on Breeze, and Blaker gets Breeze back into the corner, tagging in Jackson Riker.

Riker hits Breeze with a series of strong strikes, then takes him down with an axe handle chop for a 2 count. Riker tags in Blake and tags in Fandango while Blake tags in Cutler. Dango hits a powerslam on Blake and tags in Scott, but Cutler tags in Jackson Riker and hit a series of top rope maneuvers on Scott and go for the pin, but Breezango break up the pin.

Scott and Wesley Blake are the legal men and Blake tags in Cutler, but Scott fights against the numbers game. Riker tags in and Scott goes to the top rope. Riker catches Scott on the top turnbuckle, but Scott hits a moonsault off of Riker onto the other members of The Forgotten Sons. Riker catches Scott when he gets back in the ring, but Scott catches Riker with a kick and tags in Breeze. Breeze tags in Dango and they hit stereo superkicks on Riker for a very close 2 count, but the other Sons break up the pinfall.

Dango lights up Riker, but both Scott and Blake tag in. Steve Cutler tags in, and Tyler Breeze takes out Wesley Blake before they can hit a tag team move on Scott. Scott hits Cutler with a huge kick to the face and Scott gets the pinfall for a 3 count.

Winners: Breezango and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Roderick Strong is shown backstage warming up for his title defense tonight.

NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush comes out to a huge ovation, but Mauro Ranallo announces that Rush will be joining the commentary team for the upcoming cruiserweight match, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Killian Dain is shown taping up his fingers outside, telling Pete Dunne that, since Dunne tried to break Dain’s fingers, Dain will try to break Dunne.

Lio Rush is sitting with the rest of the commentary booth, saying that he is here to scout the competition.

Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher

Garza fakes Gallagher out with a fake handshake offer to Gallagher, but Gallagher takes down Garza with his technical abilities. Garza gets a headlock on Gallagher, but Gallagher reverses into his own headlock, then a series of crucifix pins. Gallagher goes to catch Garza’s trunks, but accidentally rips off Garza’s pants, and Garza catches Gallagher with a dropkick.

Garza takes down Gallagher with a suplex and gets a 2 count. Gallagher fights back with a series of strikes on Garza and hits a delayed suplex on Garza, then Gallagher goes for an armbar, but Garza blocks. Garza monkey flips Galagher out of the ring, and then slides to the bottom and slips Gallagher’s back. Gallagher hits a headbutt on Garza, but Garza catches Gallagher in the corner and spikes him down and follows it up with a moonsault for a 3 count victory.

Winner: Angel Garza

After the match, Garza stares down Lio Rush from the top turnbuckle.

Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir is next, but we go to commercial first.

Back from commercial break, and we go right into the next match.

Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir (w/ NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler) for the #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

Due takes down Dakota Kai almost immediately with a kick, and Duke gets Kai in the corner, tagging in Marina Shafir and double-teaming Kai. Shafir takes Kai back in the the middle of the ring, but Shafir maintains control, getting a judo throw takedown on Kai for a 2 count. Duke tags in and hits a gutbuster running knee strike on Kai for a 2 count.

Duke does not let up, kicking Kai hard in the middle of Kai’s back. Shafir tags in, grounding Kai with an armbar. Kai fights up to a vertical base. Kai attemtps to break the grip of Shafir and tag in Nox. A kick on Shafir will do the job, as Shafir and Duke tag in. Nox gets Duke in the corner, hitting Duke with a step-up enziguri and a cannonball for a 2 count before Shafir breaks up the pin.

Kai takes Nox out, but Duke grabs a handful of Nox’s tights for a 2 count. Nox comes back immediately with a Shiniest Wizard for a 3 count and the victory.

Winners: Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai

The Kabuki Warriors appear on the screen and cut a promo on Kai and Nox mostly in Japanese. Kairi Sane ends the promo by saying, “Next week, you have no chance.”

Keith Lee is shown backstage, focused on his title match tonight.

The main event is up next, but first, a commercial break.

Back from commercial, and Cathy Kelley recaps that, next week we will have Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox against The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Also, Kelley announces Tyler Bate vs. Cameron Grimes, and Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae for next week.

Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic vs. NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong for the NXT North American Championship

Roderick Strong comes out to the ring alone, the rest of The Undisputed Era notable by their absence. Strong shows no sense of worry or nervousness regarding his title defense, as he has his typical confident swagger when he makes his way to the ring.

Roderick Strong immediately rolls out of the ring, but gets cornered by Lee and Dijakovic. Strong gets back in the ring and catches Dijakovic, but Lee takes down Strong with a pounce. Dijakovic gets back in the ring and goes after Lee, but Lee catches Dijakovic and pops him up, following it up with a powerslam, and we got to a picture-in-picture commercial.

Lee charges at Dijakovic in the corner, but Dijakovic gets up a boot and gets the advantage on Lee. Dijakovic takes out Strong with a boot to the face on the apron, and then goes back to Lee. Dijakovic looks to go for a suplex on Lee, but Lee fights out of it and hits Dijakovic to the midsection.

Dijakovic again focuses on Strong just enough to keep him out of the ring, but Lee fights back with strikes to Dijakovic’s midsection, and we are back from commercial. Strong comes back into the ring, but Lee throws him out. Dijakoic and Lee are on the top turnbuckle, but Strong pushes Lee over the top rope to the outside, then hits a suplexplex on Dijakovic for a 2 count. Lee goes to get back in the ring, but Strong prevents Lee from getting in the ring.

Dijakovic takes Strong out with an elbow, then a knee from Strong takes out Lee. Dijakovic hits a suplex on Lee, and Lee lands on Strong. Dijakovic goes for the pin on Strong, but only getsa 2 count, and Lee rolls out of the ring. Dijakovic gets on the top turnbuckle and possibly looks for a moonsault on Strong. Strong rolls out of the way, so Dijakovic goes for a caonnonball on Lee. Lee catches Dijakovic in a powerbomb position, but Strong hits a wrecking ball dropkick on the pain.

Strong and Dijakovic are back in the ring on the top turnbuckle, and Dijakobic looks for a superplex, but Lee comes in and hits a Spirit Bomb tower of doom. The ring shakes so hard that the top ropes are visibly shaking, and we go to commercial again.

Back from commercial, and Lee hits a huge back body drop on both Strong and Dijakovic. All 3 men get up and trade strikes, but Dijakovic catches Lee with a boot. Strong hits a backbreaker on Dijakovic, and then a series of strikes and an Olympic Slam on Keith Lee for a 2 count.

Strong prevents Dijakovic from getting back in the ring, but Lee is dumped out of the ring. Strong goes for a wrecking ball dropkick on Le and Dijakovic, but Lee and Dijakovic out strong with a Feast Your Eyes and a pounce on Strong. Lee and Dijakovic stare at each other with an agreement to finish things.

Lee and Dijakovic sit atop the top turnbuckle. Dijakovic falls, but hits a kick and a discus boot to Lee. Djakovic hits an avalanche choke bomb on Lee for a 2 count. Dijakovic hits a huge tope to the outside onto Roderick Strong, and Lee remains in the ring. Dijakovic struggles to his feet, and hits a tope onto Dijakovic to the outside, clearing the top rope.

Lee gets to the top turnbuckle, bringing Dijakovic with him. Lee hits a Spirit Bomb on Dijakovic from the top rope, but Roderick Strong comes in with a running knee strike to Lee’s face, getting the 3 count pinfall victory.

Winner: Roderick Strong

The rest of The Undisputed Era enter the ring and celebrate with Roderick Strong, then attack Keith Lee. The crowd chants “We want Balor,” but Tommaso Ciampa’s music hits instead. Ciampa comes out, dragging a crutch behind him.

Ciampa is still outnumbered, but he gets in the ring. The Undisputed Era taunt Ciampa, and he gets close enough to hit them. Johnny Gargano’s music hits, and Gargano goes in and stands face to face with Ciampa. #DIY seem to reunite as they stare down The Undisputed Era. Finally, Finn Balor makes his entrance and comes down the ramp. Gargano and Ciampa stand aside and Balor stands between them. Ciampa ditches his crutch.

Balor hits a huge overhead kick on Gargano, and then stands aside while the rest of The Undisputed Era attack Ciampa. Balor exits the ring, and hits a huge dropkick onto Gargano on the outside, taking out Gargano and some of the fans at ringside. Finn picks up Gargano and drops him headfirst on the ramp. The Undisputed Era pose in the ring with their UE hand sign above Tomasso Ciampa, and Balor points at a downed Gargano, then turns up the ramp and backstage as NXT goes off the air.

What does this mean? Why, Finn, why? Has Balor joined The Undisputed Era? So many questions, so check back here next week for our live coverage of NXT and we hope to get the answers!

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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