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.

Off of the heels of one of the strangest episodes of NXT in recent history, we continue to move forward on the Road to WrestleMania. 3 matches have been announced for tonight’s episode of NXT.

First up, after brutally demolishing Austin Theory last week, Tommaso Ciampa will take on Theory for the first time on NXT television. This will be Ciampa’s first match since Johnny Gargano betrayed him at NXT TakeOver: Portland, and Ciampa will undoubtedly be looking for someone to take his anger out on tonight. Theory is a promising up and coming star, but has he bitten off more than he can chew tonight in the form of the psycho killer?

Following the actions of Cameron Grimes at an NXT Live event on Friday night, Dominik Dijakovic will take on Grimes in singles action. Grimes accused Dijakovic of whining and complaining, while saying that he himself deserved bigger and better things. A win here would certainly put Grimes in the North American Championship picture, but will he be able to overcome Dijakovic?

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Finally, in what will likely be tonight’s main event, Charlotte Flair will return to Full Sail to take on Bianca Belair, one-on-one. After Belair called her out during Kayden Carter and Chelsea Green’s match, Charlotte took to Twitter, announcing her intentions to come to NXT tonight. A win would put Bianca Belair in the conversation for the WrestleMania match with Rhea Ripley, or will The Queen shut the mouth of The EST of NXT?

Also on tonight’s show, Finn Balor will likely announce his next move. Last week, Balor said that he would announce his future plans tonight. After decimating everyone in his path, from Matt Riddle to Johnny Gargano, one has to wonder what’s next for Finn Balor. We will find out tonight.

All of this and more on tonight’s episode of NXT, and we will begin coverage when NXT goes live at 8:00 PM EST!

Opening Segment

The opening recap largely focuses on the Roderick Strong/Velveteen Dream main event but also shows Jordan Devlin, Tommaso Ciampa, Grizzled Young Veterans, Finn Balor, The Broserweights, Bianca Belair, and more.

Charlotte Flair is shown arriving outside Full Sail, with William Regal greeting her.

Dominik Dijakovic vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes goes for a leg takedown, but Dijakovic’s size is too much. Dijakovic grounds him with a headlock, grinding Grimes’ momentum down to a halt. Dijakovic runs the ropes and catches Grimes in a fireman’s carry, going for a Feast Your Eyes. Grimes escapes, but Dijakovic goes for a chokeslam, but Grimes reverses out again and grounds Dijakovic with a dropkick.

Grimes focuses an attack on Dijakovic’s midsection with knee strikes and kicks to Dijakovic’s leg, but Dijakovic hits Grimes with a Cyclone Kick for a very close 2 count.

Dijakovic gets Grimes in a corner and strikes away at his face and chest, then following it up with elbows and chops, finishing with a pendulum backbreaker. Dijakovic hits a splash on Grimes from the middle rope, covering Grimes for two.

Dijakovic continues his assault and picks Grimes up for a suplex, but Grimes escapes from behind, hitting a hurricanrana on Dijakovic. Grimes goes for a diving crossbody on Dijakovic, but Dijakovic catches him and tosses his body over the top rope to the outside. Dijakovic gives chase to the outside, but Grimes catches Dijakovic with a PK from the apron on the outside, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Grimes has a deep hold on Dijakovic’s left arm. Dijakovic fights to his feet and whips Grimes into the ropes, but Grimes kicks Dijakovic on the run. Grimes and Dijakovic trade blows, but Dijakovic finally hits a huge elbow into Grimes head, and follows it up with a suplex on Grimes.

Dijakovic goes back on the attack with a superkick and an inside out lariat, covering Grimes for two again. Dijakovic signals for a chokeslam, but Grimes escapes a hits a forearm smash and a superkick on Dijakovic. Grimes follows it up with a German suplex bridging into a pinfall attempt for two.

Dijakovic rolls to the apron and Grimes slides into Dijakovic, but Dijakovic evades as Grimes slides to the outside. Dijakovic hits a moonsault on Grimes and rolls Grimes back into the ring. The referee checks on Grimes in the ring and while the ref is distracted, Dijakovic is taken out on the apron from a nightstick attack to the knee by Damian Preist, who escapes into the crowd.

Dijakovic is writhing in pain on the outside and just barely makes it back into the ring before the ten count. Just as Dijakovic gets in the ring, Grimes hits him with a Cave In, covering him for three.

Winner: Cameron Grimes

William Regal is backstage saying that starting next week, there will be a series of matches to determine the number #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay, and that match will be a ladder match.

Up next, Finn Balor is live in Full Sail, after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, and we Dijakovic assisted to the back by medical staff and WWE personnel.

Finn Balor comes out and walks down to the ring. He grabs a mic and talks about he is “The Guy” when the bell rings. He runs down his list of accomplishments and says that, while everyone is trying to peak for WrestleMania, he has been at his peak for 20 years. He asks, “What’s the next move for the Prince?” While running down the list of people he has faced since returning to NXT, Imperium’s music hits.

Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel come down to the ring. Barthel says that there is something that Finn hasn’t done, and the NXT UK Champion WALTER sends his regards. Balor takes down Barthel and Aichner. Balor tries to dropkick Fabian Aichner, but Barthel intercepts him and they take out Finn Balor, driving his head into the steel steps with a kneestrike. Barthel and Aichner pose over a downed Balor.

We see a video package hyping up Austin Theory and his match with Tommaso Ciampa, then we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Bianca Belair is shown arriving backstage. She talks about how she is going to give it to Charlotte Flair tonight.

Xia Li vs. Mia Yim

Yim and Li shake hands to begin the match. Li tries to connect with some kicks to Yim, backing Yim into the corner, but Yim retaliates with a dropkick. Yim hits another basement dropkick on Li, covering her for two.

Li kicks Yim away when Yim tires to pick up Li, but runs at her and lays on the pressure in the corner with her boot. Yim goes for a rolling senton, but Li evades. We see a graphic in the corner that announces Bronson Reed versus Killian Dain later in the night.

Li goes for a dropkick, but Yim evades and connects with Eat Defeat on Li. Dakota Kai’s music hits, and Kai and her new friend Raquel Gonzalez come out. Kai gets on the mic and talks about how she took out Yim from the WarGames match. While Yim is distracted, Xia Li rolls up Yim for the victory.

Winner: Xia Li

Mia Yim is stunned at her loss, but doesn’t have much time to process it as Gonzalez comes down to the ring and attacks Mia Yim. Xia Li tries to come to the rescue, but Gonzalez is too much and is able to easily dispatch both Yim and Li. Kai and Gonzalez taunt the crowd as they go to the back.

Tommaso Ciampa is shown backstage, preparing for his match with Austin Theory next, after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, and Velveteen Dream cuts a promo backstage about how he beat Roderick Strong last week, but that isn’t enough. He calls out William Regal and asks for Regal to give him Roderick Strong in a steel cage next week.

Austin Theory vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Theory and Ciampa lock up. Theory tris to take Ciampa down with a shoulder block, but Ciampa stops him. Theory takes down Ciampa with a dropkick, then picks him up and hits Ciampa with fists. Ciampa hits Theory with a boot to the face, then takes him down with a double ax handle.

Ciampa locks in a headlock on Theory on the ground, but Theory gets to his feet. Theory goes for a dropkick, but Ciampa evades and sends Theory to the outside. Theory tries to get back in the ring, but Ciampa goes for Widow’s Bell. Theory blocks and brings Ciampa to the outside. Ciampa tries to toss Theory into the barricade, but Theory block and they both reenter the ring.

Theory takes down Tommaso Ciampa with dropkick, covering him for two. Ciampa rings Theory’s bell, then hits a neckbreaker on the top rope on Theory, sending him to the outside. Ciampa tosses Theory facefirst into the ringpost and taunts from the ring apron as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Ciampa hits Theory with an elbow. Theorytakes down Ciampa and hits him with a standing moonsault, covering him for two. Ciampa fights to his feet and takes down Theory with a series of lariats and a release German suplex. Ciampa goes for Fairytale Ending, but Thoery escapes it.

Theory goes for Rolling Thunder, but Ciampa catches him with a knee to the face, covering him for two. Ciampa chops away at Theory’s face, them gets him position for an avalanche Air Raid Crash. Theory escapes and both men trade blows in the middle of the ring. Theory hits Rolling Thunder into a blockbuster, follows it up with a buckle bomb, then hits Ataxia for a very close two count.

Theory picks up Ciampa, but Ciampa kicks at Theory, then goes for Fairytale Ending again. Theory evades and hits Ciampa with a kick to the back of the head. Theory hits Ataxia again, covering Ciampa for two. Ciampa goes to the outside and Theory gives chase. Theory tosses Ciampa barricade to barricade like Ciampa did to Theory last week.

Theory tosses Ciampa back in the ring and Theory goes to get back in the ring, but Ciampa catches him and hits Widow’s Bell, then a Fairytale Ending on Austin Theory, covering him for three.

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa

After the match, Johnny Gargano comes through the crowd and attacks Ciampa. Gargano kicks away at Ciampa in the corner, but Ciampa hits a boot to Gargano’s face and gets the upper hand. Theory temporarily distracts Ciampa, and Gargano uses that distraction to hit a superkick on Johnny Gargano. Gargano hits a #DIY-style kick to the side of Ciampa’s face.

Ciampa rolls to the apron and Gargano sits on the apron and mocks Tommaso’s hand clap taunt. Gargano looks at the NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay logo on the ground in front of the ring and he tosses Ciampa onto it. Gargano circles a grounded Ciampa before taking out the #DIY t-shirt that was in his pocket and stares at it. Then, we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Roderick Strong is talking to the rest of Undisputed Era about how he wants Velveteen Dream in the steel cage. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly talk about how The BroserWeights got lucky in TakeOver: Portland and they will not get lucky again. Cole tells Strong that Strong will regain the North American Championship and Fish and O’Reilly will regain the tag team championships, and the prophecy will be fulfilled once again.

Bronson Reed vs. Killian Dain

Dain and Reed lock up immediately and they see that their sizes are pretty evenly matched. Dain tries to scoop slam Reed, but Reed is too big. Dain runs the ropes, but Reed hits Dain with a dropkick, sending Dain to the outside. Reed hits a tope through the middle rope onto Dain.

Back in the ring, Dain hangs up Reed in the middle rope, hitting a guillotine leg drop on Reed from the middle rope, covering him for two. Dain strong whips Reed in the corner, covering him for two. Dain continues to strike away at Reed, then locks in a seated abdominal stretch, driving his knuckles into Reed’s midsection.

Reed fights to his feet and Dain and Reed run the ropes, hitting dual cross-body blocks on each other, sending both to the mat. Reed and Dain strike away at each other, and Reed headbutts Dain repeatedly before grounding him with a clothesline. Reed hits a scoop slam, then a back suplex, and follows it up with a hip attack in the corner.

Reed gets Dain in a fireman’s carry, but Dain evades and hits a Samoan Drop on Reed. Dain goes for a Vader Bomb on Reed, but Reed gets his knees up. Reed hits a diving DDT from the top rope and a Death Drop Driver for two. Reed goes to the top rope, but Dain gives chase.

Dain hits a superplex on Bronson Reed from the top. Dain follows it up with a series of sentons, then a Vader Bomb on Reed, covering him for three.

Winner: Killian Dain

We see the Twitter video from The Forgotten Sons from last week and we are told that they are facing the Grizzled Young Veterans next, after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, and we see a video package recapping the rise of The BroserWeights.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Forgotten Sons (Steve Culter and Wesley Blake)

Before this match, Zack Gibson gets on the mic and runs down The Forgotten Sons and the USA. Gibson calls The Forgotten Sons redneck and ignorant.

Gibson and Blake lock up early on, but Blake runs the ropes and hits the dropkick on Gibson and Drake. Blake tags in Cutler, hitting tandem offense on Gibson and covering him for two.

Gibson drives Cutler into the corner and hits European uppercuts on Gibson. Gibson fights out and tags in James Drake, who hits a splash on Culter for two. Drake locks in a chinlock on Cutler, but fights to his feet until James Drake lays him out. Drake tags in Gibson and they hit more tag team offense on Cutler.

Gibson gets back into the corner and tags in Drake again, who locks in a chinlock of his own. Cutler gets to Blake and makes the tag, hitting a power slam on Drake for to. Drake escapes the ring and meets Jaxson Riker, who distracts him long enough for Cutler to get the upper hand.

Gibson and Blake tag in, but The Forgotten Sons easily handle them, tossing Drake to the outside, then picking up Gibson and tossing him to the outside onto Drake, and we go to commercial break.

Back from commercial, and Blake is in the corner of GYV. Blake fights out, trying for a sunset flip on James Drake. Drake reaches Gibson for the tag, who locks in a side headlock on Blake. Blake gets to his feet and hits a jumping neckbreaker on Gibson.

Cutler and Drake tag in, and Cutler hits a backbreaker on Drake for a two count, then transitions into a Boston crab. Gibson breaks up the submission, but Cutler dispatches him and then hits a buckle bomb and fisherman driver on Drake. Cutler covers Drake, but Gibson puts James Drake’s foot on the rope, breaking up the pinfall attempt.

Riker doesn’t like that and he chases Gibson, but Drake hits a tope onto Riker. Back in the ring. Drake rolls up Blake for a two. Blake hits a dropkick on Drake and Drake tags in Gibson. Blake goes for a moonsault on Gibson, but Drake pushes him out of the way and they avoid the moonsault. They hit Cutler with Ticket to Mayhem, covering him for three.

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans

Backstage, Tegan Nox is asked about upcoming her steel cage match with Dakota Kai. Nox says that next week, Raquel Gonzalez won’t be there, and while Dakota started things in a cage, Nox intends to end things in a cage.

Charlotte Flair is shown preparing for her match with Bianca Belair, which is next, after this commercial break.

Before NXT officially returns from commercial, a perplexing short promo runs, showing war imagery and a ticking clock.

Roderick Strong vs. Velveteen Dream and Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai are both scheduled to take place in a steel cage next week.

Damian Preist is interviewed on his way out of the arena, asking him about his reason for attacking Dominik Dijakovic. Priest says that it is nothing personal, Dijakovic is just in his way for the North American Championship.

Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair

Charlotte backs Belair into the corner, but the ref forces Charlotte to break the hold. Flair draws a line on the mat, but Bianca wastes no time in crossing it. Flair continues to try and take down Belair, but Bianca continues to escape the holds and pinfall attempts.

Charlotte eventually gets Bianca in a front chancery, the whips Belair into the corner. Belair evades Charlotte with flips, then hits a nip up, before driving her shoulder into Charlotte in the corner. Belair scoops up Charlotte and tries to showboat, but Charlotte escapes and chops away at Belair in the corner. Charlotte hits an armdrag takedown on Belair, then a boot to the face, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Belair and Charlotte are fighting on the outside. Belair whips Charlotte into the barricade then gets back in the ring. Charlotte eventually follows and picks up Belair. Belair rolls up Charlotte into a small package, but Charlotte kicks out.

Charlotte hits a neckbreaker on Belair. Flair went for a dragon sleeper hold, but Belair escapes and grounds Flair with a dropkick. Bianca Belair hits a double chicken wing slam on Flair, covering her for two. Belair kicks away at Charlotte, then goes for a handspring move, but Charlotte kicks Belair in the chest, stopping Belair cold.

Charlotte locks in an abdominal stretch, grabbing Belair’s braid, but Belair reverses, and locks in an abdominal stretch of her own, then hits a handspring moonsault for two. Belair goes for a powerbomb on Charlotte, but Flair escapes behind and lands on her feet. Charlotte hits a backbreaker on Belair, then drives her face-first into the middle turnbuckle.

Charlotte goes for a moonsault, but Belair got the legs up. Charlotte instead lands on her feet and catches Belair’s legs, transitioning into a Boston Crab. Belair escapes the Boston crab, but Flair hits a seated powerbomb into a matchbox cover for two. Charlotte went for a boot to the face, but Belair avoids, and Charlotte’s foot is caught on the top rope.

Belair drops kicks Charlotte to the outside and attacks her. Back in the ring. Belair hits a spear on Charlotte, but Charlotte hits a spear of her own, covering Belair for three.

Winner: Charlotte Flair

After the match, Charlotte grabs a char and attacks Belair’s leg with the chair, then locks in the Figure Four Leglock. Ripley comes out for the save, and Charlotte leaves the ring when Ripley arrives, taunting her from the outside as NXT quickly 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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