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.

Four matches have been announced for tonight’s episode of NXT, including two championship matches! Let’s take a quick look at the card for tonight’s show.

First up, a match that was announced via Twitter, Toni Storm will face off against Candice LeRae. After last week’s match, Storm has found herself caught in the middle of a budding feud between LeRae and Shotzi Blackheart, and Storm is looking to avenge Blackheart after LeRae destroyed Shotzi’s tank last week.

Also in women’s action, Xia Li will be taking on Raquel Gonzalez. Li’s letters from Boa have become more and more prevalent over the past weeks, even being directly referenced by William Regal last week before Li made her challenge. Will Li receive another letter tonight, and can she reverse her recent misfortune and pick up a win?

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For the first championship match on tonight’s card, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano will defend his recently-won championship against a mystery opponent. In Gargano’s NXT career, he has always lost singles gold in his very first defense after winning it, so Gargano looks to break that curse tonight, though we do not know who he will be defending against. One has to wonder if we will be hearing from Damian Preist, as we haven’t seen much from him since his loss at Halloween Havoc two weeks ago.

Finally, in tag team action, half of The Kings of NXT, NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, will defend their titles against former champions Breezango. Breezango cannot be happy about the nature in which they lost their titles weeks ago, but in a match against the Kings of NXT, you can almost guarantee that Lorcan and Burch have something up their sleeve. Will Undisputed Era make their return tonight to even the odds?

Four matches filled with drama all happening tonight, and we will begin the coverage when NXT goes live at 8:00 PM, EST!

After cable issues, we joined the feed just in time to see the end of Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship defense.

Leon Ruff was Gargano’s challenger, and Ruff rolls up Gargano for a surprise 3-count, making Leon Ruff the new NXT North American Champion. Ruff retreats up the ramp where Damian Priest was watching the match, and Priest raises Ruff’s hand, celebrating Gargano’s embarrassing loss, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Leon Ruff is celebrating his win. Damian Priest warns him that Gargano is coming for him, so he gives him car keys and tells him to run. Ruff high tails it out of the arena, and Gargano does indeed come backstage, blaming Priest for his loss. William Regal and referees separate Gargano from Priest.

NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar (w/Raul Mendoza and Joquin Wilde) vs. Jake Atlas for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship

As Atlas comes down the stage, we see Atlas arriving at the arena, attacking Legado del Fantasma upon their arrival at the arena. So this match for the championship was made for tonight.

Escobar looks very confident, unimpressed with Atlas. Escobar sidesteps atlas and pushes him into the corner. Atlas chases Escobar outside, tossing him back in the ring. Escobar catches Atlas with a Pele kick, picks him up and gets him in a front facelock.

Esocbar hits a snapmare on Atlas, then stalks him. Escobar lays into Atlas with kicks and chops, but Atlas turns the tides and does the same. Escobar tosses Atlas to the mat, then picks him up and hits a Russian Leg Sweep. Escobar locks in a scissor headlock.

Escobar transitions to a headlock, then pushes Atlas into the ropes and hits chops again. Escobar whips Atlas into the corner, then drops him face first on the mat. Escobar kicks Atlas in the head and chest, but Atlas still gets to his feet.

Escobar strikes and kicks at Atlas, knocking Atlas to his knees. Escobar continues to kick away at Atlas’ body. Escobar locks in a submission on Atlas’ head, then picks up Atlas. Atlas fires back with chopes and strikes, forcing Escobar into the corner. Atlas tosses Escobar into the middle of the ring and hits a flying forearm smash on Esocbar’s face.

Atlas runs at Escobar and Escobar dumps Atlas to the apron. Atlas throws Escobar into the ring post. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde attack Atlas with a steel pipe, but Atlas evades the attacks. He instead kicks the pipe out of their possession, then uses it on both of them.

Atlas gets back on the apron and Escobar runs at Atlas, but Atlas dazes him with an enziguri. Atlas hits a blockbuster on Escobar from the apron and pins Escobar for two. Atlas tosses Escobar outside of the ring to stand with the rest of Legado del Fantasma, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and Wilde and Mendoza are being ejected from ringside. Escobar still has the upper hand on Atlas, shoving his boot into Atlas’ face. Atlas sits in the corner and Escobar kicks away. Escobar tosses Atlas into the corner, then hits a double knee strike to the face.

Escobar places Atlas on the top rope, then hits a hurricanrana from the top rope. Escobar goes to the top and hits a frog splash on Atlas, pinning him for two. Escobar picks up Atlas and tosses him into the ropes, but Atlas comes back with a hurricanrana of his own, then hits a dropkick on Escobar.

Atlas hits Escobar with a forearm and a German suplex, then a kick to the head. Atlas pins Escobar for two. Atlas picks up Escobar, chopping at his chest. Escobar climbs to the top rope holding Escobar’s arm, and Escobar pushes Atlas to the floor.

Escobar runs out of the ring and gives chase. Escobar tosses Atlas into the steel steps. Escobar picks up Atlas and tosses him again into the steel steps. Escobar gets back in the ring and Atlas breaks the count at 8. Escobar runs out of the ring on the opposite side, and Atlas hits a dive onto Escobar to the outside.

Atlas rolls Escobar into the ring and rolls up Escobar for two. Atlas gets Escobar in an inside cradle, pinning him for two. Escobar picks up Atlas for the Phantom Driver, but Atlas escapes. Escobar hits Atlas with a clothesline, pinning him for two.

Atlas hits a knee strike to Escobar and a standing moonsault, pinning Escobar for two. Atlas goes for the Rainbow DDT, but Escobar blocks, hitting Atlas with a double underhook slam into Escobar’s own knee, pinning Atlas for three.

Winner: Santos Escobar

Backstage, Dexter Lumis is drawing a picture of the zombie referee chasing Cameron Grimes.

Raquel Gonzalez is seen walking towards the ring, and her match with Xia Li is next, after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, we see Candice destroying Shotzi’s tank. Shotzi talks about how upset she was because of what her tank means to her. Shotzi says they aren’t even, and she is looking to “kick Candice’s ass.”

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Xia Li

Before Li comes out, Boa comes out to approach Gonzalez in the ring. He stands in front of her and tells her that Xia isn’t here and they won’t have their match.

Raquel screams, “She called me out!” Boa says, “I’m really sorry,” and starts to leave the ring. Gonzalez attacks Boa, kicks him, tossing him into the fence and plexiglass around the ring.

Gonzalez doesn’t let up as Boa enters the ring, trying to get away. As Boa gets to his feet, Raquel hits him with a big boot to the face. She picks him up and hits a single arm powerbomb on Boa and stands over him, taunting him. Raquel walks to the back, looking disgusted.

Boa is in the ring looking like he is in pain. Suddenly, the lights go out with a spotlight on Boa. A video of a white dragon appears, circling Boa the ring. A mysterious man walks down the ramp, hands Boa a letter, makes a strange marking on the back of Boa’s hand.

Boa bows to him and the man returns the bow. Boa looks to be in pain or some type of anguish, clutching his hand that the mystery man marked. Boa stares between his hand and the entrance that the mystery man came through, and then we go to commercial.

Backstage, August Grey, Timothy Thatcher’s student, is being interviewed about why he attacked Thatcher. Before Grey can answer, Thatcher attacks him. Thatcher tosses Grey into Lumis’ drawing of Cameron Grimes and the zombie referee. Referees separate Thatcher from Grey.

Dexter Lumis suddenly appears behind Thatcher. Regal separates them, and Thatcher says, “I’ve got no problem with you,” before walking away.

Toni Storm vs. Candice LeRae

Candice gets Storm in a headlock. Storm pushes Candice off and gets a headlock of her own, taking LeRae to the mat. LeRae rolls up Candice rolls up Toni, but Storm kicks out and gets LeRae in an armbar on the mat.

Candice reverses and gets a wristlock in on Storm. Storm tries to escape, but LeRae tosses Storm to the mat by her hair. LeRae pins Storm for two, then gets a headlock in on Storm again.

Storm fights to her feet and Candice goes for a suplex, but Storm blocks and hits a suplex of her own, then hits a basement dropkick an inverted atomic drop on LeRae. LeRae gets to her feet and Storm hits LeRae with a big boot. Candice goes to the outside and sits against the steel steps. Storm runs at LeRae, but LeRae dodges and Storm runs into the steps back first as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and LeRae goes to hit a moonsault on Storm. Storm rolls out of the way and hits a headbutt on LeRae, knocking them both to the mat. They both get to their feet, and Storm lays into LeRae with strikes and a German suplex.

Storms runs at LeRae, hitting a series of clotheslines and fisherman’s suplex, briding into a pin for two. Storm goes to the top rope, but Candice blocks. LeRae climbs to the middle rope, but Storm tosses Candice to the mat. Storm dives at LeRae, but LeRae dodges and hits Storm with a superkick, pinning her for two.

Storm kicks LeRae into the corner, but LeRae rolls up Storm. LeRae gets her feet on the ropes for leverage at teh two count, and Storm is unable to kick out.

Winner: Candice LeRae

Storm attacks LeRae but the masked figure comes out and it is a two-on-one attack on Storm. Shotzi comes out and attacks the masked person, but Candice and the masked figure take Shotzi out. As they celebrate, Candice tells the masked figure to take of their mask. It is Indi Hartwell. Hartwell and LeRae stand tall in the ring.

Breezango are backstage and are very serious. They are upset that Pat McAfee cost them the titles. They say, “Pat McAfee isn’t a wrestler. He doesn’t understand what we do.” Tyler Breeze says that tonight, it “won’t be fun Breezango,” and they will be two-time NXT Tag Team Champions, and NXT goes to commercial.

Back from commercial and Timothy Thatcher is already in the ring, set for a match with Dexter Lumis.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Dexter Lumis

Lumis immediately hits a Thesz Press, but Thatcher escapes and runs out of the ring. Thatcher stalks around the ring before re-entering. Thatcher goes for a single leg takedown, but Lumis blocks twice. Thatcher hits Lumis with an uppercut, then takes Lumis down, but Lumis pushes Thatcher off with a kick.

Thatcher picks the ankle and goes for an ankle lock, but Lumis pulls at Thatcher’s ear, forcing Thatcher to break the lock. Thatcher hits Lumis with a belly to belly suplex, but Lumis is not phased. Thatcher locks in a front face lock. Lumis pushes Thatcher into the ropes, forcing a break.

Thatcher hits another uppercut on Lumis and Thatcher goes back to work on Lumis’ right ankle. Lumis catches Thatcher in a headlock momentarily, but Thatcher escapes and locks in a bow and arrow stretch on Lumis’ back. Lumis escapes and hits Thatcher across the face with forearm strikes.

Thatcher retreats to the corner, but Lumis follows and hits Thatcher with a spinebuster. Lumis hits a dropkick on Thatcher. They lock up and Lumis tosses Thatcher over the top rope to the outside.

Lumis chases Thatcher, but Thatcher kicks Lumis in the misection, then lays into Lumis with strikes to the face. Thatcher breaks the referee’s count, then lays back into Lumis. Thatcher picks up Lumis and Lumis hits a series of uppercuts on his own, but Thatcher tosses Lumis shoulder first into the ring post and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Thatcher is in control of Lumis in the ring. He hits an uppercut and a double underhook suplex on Lumis, pinning him three times, getting a two count the first two times, and one count once.

Thatcher locks in a hammerlock while driving a knee into Lumis’ head. Lumis moves his head from under Thatcher’s knee, but Thatcher lays into the arm, transitioning to Lumis’ left arm, tossing it into the mat. Lumis tries to fight back, but Lumis is too weak.

Thather picks up Lumis and hits a double underhook. looking for another suplex perhaps, but Lumis blocks, taking Thatcher to the mat and hitting a legdrop on Thatcher. Lumis tosses Thatcher into the corner and hits a clothesline followed by a bulldog.

Lumis goes to the top rope. Thatcher gives chase and blocks Lumis. Thatcher and Lumis trade body blows. Thatcher goes for a superplex, but Lumis tosses him to the mat. Thatcher gets back to his feet and jumps to the middle rope. Lumis tosses Thatcher to the mat and hits a Swanton onto Thatcher.

Lumis catches Thatcher and looks for The Silence. Lumis sees Cameron Grimes get to the apron, and Lumis shoves Thatcher into Grimes, knocking Grimes off the apron. Thatcher catches Lumis in a crucifix pin, getting the win.

Winner: Timothy Thatcher

Grimes immediately rushes into the ring and attacks Lumis. He puts a burlap sack onto Lumis head, then tosses him out of the ring. Grimes hits a big boot to the blinded Lumis. Grimes hits Lumis with a forearm to the face. Lumis grabs a chair and swings but misses.

Grimes takes the chair and sets it on the outside. He sets Lumis in the chair and hits Lumis with a Cave In while Dexter is in the chair.

Backstage, Johnny Gargano approaches William Regal. He says that he has calmed down and he asks Regal to throw out the match with Leon Ruff. Regal says no, and Gargano admits that he rigged the wheel that landed on Ruff and he is still the NXT North American Champion. Regal says that the decision stands and Ruff is still champion.

A prime target segment on Rhea Ripley and the NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai is up next, after this commercial break.

Tommaso Ciampa cuts a promo backstage. He talks about how he has faced a lot of tough guys and seen a lot of tough guys, training with Killer Kowalski and Harley Race. He runs down the NXT locker room, saying how everyone thinks that they are tough.

He says that the world we live in now allows people to complain until they get what they want. He says that, two weeks ago, he told us that the culture of NXT is going to change, and he repeats it tonight. He says that Tommaso Ciampa is the change that the locker room needs, and then walks off-screen.

We then see our Prime Target segment on Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai. Rhea talks about her experience at WrestleMania, and Io talks about how her life as a champion and how she has overcome every challenger so far. We see that the match between Io and Rhea for the NXT Women’s Championship will take place next week.

The self-proclaimed Kings of NXT, Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, and the NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan come down to the ring. We see pictures from last week of the beatdown that these four put on Killian Dain.

McAfee says that it was “gorgeous” to relive the beatdown on Killian Dain. He talks up Pete Dunne and talks about how great he is. McAfee says that the “wrestling internet community” doesn’t deserve what they are about to see of Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan beating Breezango.

McAfee says that he is going to join commentary next to “stupid Vic Joseph and Bad News Barrett.” McAfee exits the ring and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Cameron Grimes is backstage saying that he was afraid of Dexter Lumis, but putting the bag over his face helped him Cave In Dexter Lumis, and he walks off.

We are told that NXT Champion Finn Balor will address the NXT Universe next week.

NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch (w/Pete Dunne) vs. Breezango

Pete Dunne is standing next to Pat McAfee at the commentary booth as McAfee says that Breezango are “a thing of the past.”

Lorcan and Burch jump Breezango, with Burch laying into Breeze and Lorcan going after Fandango. Fandango hits a back body drop on Oney Lorcan, and Breeze is able to slingshot Danny Burch face first into the fence.

Breeze tosses Burch into a waiting Fandango, and the match starts. Fandango strikes away at Burch. Fandango pins Burch in Breezango’s corner, tagging in Breeze. Breeze kicks away at Burch, then hits a suplex, floating over into a pin for two.

Burch gets a headlock in on Breeze, tagging in Lorcan. Breeze drives Lorcan into his corner and tags in Fandango. Fandango takes down Lorcan with a back elbow. Fandango goes for a suplex, but Lorcan hits a knee to Fandango’s midsection, forcing a break and tagging in Burch.

Fandango fights back and goes for a suplex on Burch. Fandango lays Burch across the top rope and Breeze and Fandango kicks Burch at the same time. On the outside, Breeze tries to hit a move on Lorcan, but Burch runs at him.

Breeze avoids the attack and superkicks Burch, then tosses Lorcan into Pete Dunne and Pat McAfee at the commentary booth. A referee steps in, stopping Dunne from coming at Breeze, McAfee looks disgusted as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Tyler Breeze slingshots Burch into the ring post in the ring. We are told that Pat McAfee and Pete Dunne are now standing at ring side. Fandango and Oney Lorcan get the hot tags.

Fandango cleans house, pinning Lorcan after hitting a Falcon Arrow. Danny Burch breaks up the pin, but Breeze hits a a superkick on Burch. Burch goes to the outside and Breeze goes to hit a dive on Burch, but Pete Dunne moved Burch out of the way.

Fandango hits a dive onto Dunne and Burch, then gets back in the ring. Oney Lorcan goes to the top rope and Danny Burch gives chase. Pet McAfee gets on the apron to distract the referee, and Drake Maverick comes down to ringside, taking advantage of the distraction to help Fandango hit a power bomb on Lorcan. Drake Maverick hits a senton onto Pat McAfee.

Fandango hits a Last Dance legdrop on Lorcan, pinning him for two. Pete Dunne takes out Drake Maverick, Dunne tosses McAfee into the ring and uses the distraction, then uses the distraction to take out Breeze, who is waiting to tag in.

Lorcan makes the tag to Burch, but Fandango can’t tag in Breeze. Fandango continue to lay into Lorcan, not realizing that Burch is legal. Burch blindsides Fandango, and they hit him with the elevated DDT, pinning him for the win.

Winners: Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch

As McAfee, Dunne, Burch, and Lorcan celebrate in the ring, Drake Maverick hits a dropkick from the top rope onto Pete Dunne. The numbers catch up to him and they take out Maverick. Fandango comes in for the save, but they take him out as well. Finally, Tyler Breeze tries to attack, but he is taken out as well, laid out on the announce table.

Lorcan and Burch stretch Breeze across the table, holding his head out off the table for McAfee to kick. McAfee punts Tyler Breeze in the head, then finds the NXT Tag Titles and hands them to Burch and Lorcan.

McAfee grabs a camera and points it at himself and the rest of his group. He says his catchphrase, “We’re the greatest. You suck. Cheers.” and 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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