The January 15, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from the Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University.
The show was headlined by the #1 Contender’s Battle Royal for a shot at the NXT Women’s Title that is held by Rhea Ripley.
WWE NXT Results (1/15/20)
- Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne def. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Bout
- Grizzled Young Veterans def. Kushida & Alex Shelley – Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Bout
- Isaiah “Swerve” Scott def. Lio Rush and Tyler Breeze – #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match
- Bianca Belair won the #1 Contender’s Battle Royal for the Women’s Title
Here are the 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne Advance
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne beat Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a first-round match of the Dusty Rhodes Classic tag team tournament as one of the hyped bouts featured on the show.
They were the expected winners in this contest and rightfully so. This is a dynamic team with Riddle and Dunne. Obviously, these two have had their own accomplishments on their own. Also, they are two of the biggest stars in NXT right now.
Thus, with this combination, it’s perfect for this tournament as WWE has brought together these singles stars who wouldn’t be a tag team under any other circumstances. This is what makes the tournament so special.
Although there are several teams who could realistically win the tournament, I think it’s a safe bet that Dunne and Riddle have a real chance at winning. That could be altered due to the possibility of a heel turn.
Dunne has been a babyfaces for quite some time now but his value is being a heel. WWE could turn Dunne should they want to have him feud with Riddle.
DIY Reunion
Tommaso Ciampa came out in the latter stage of the first hour of the show to cut a promo where he told NXT Champion Adam Cole that he was on his hit list. He noted that he is taking back his life with goldie.
The Undisputed Era ran out to the ring and a brawl broke out. This was after the group took out Keith Lee in the opening segment. Johnny Gargano ran out to make the save and stood tall with his good friend.
This was a good segment to continue further the build to what will likely be Ciampa challenging Cole for the NXT Title at NXT TakeOver: Portland. At this same show, Gargano will battle fellow former NXT Champion Finn Balor in a singles match.
It was also a nice moment as DIY reunited with Gargano and Ciampa.
Obviously, with WWE moving the next takeover special to next month as Worlds Collide will replace the show, WWE had to delay some of the top matches on the card and the build for those feuds being a slow build instead of a fire.
Kushida & Alex Shelley vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
Kushida & Alex Shelley battled the Grizzled Young Veterans in a first-round match of the Dusty Rhodes Classic tag team tournament.
As seen on the show, the Grizzled Young Veterans ended up winning the contest. This was a fine match but for hardcore fans, it was a special moment.
The reason for that is to see Shelley work not only in a WWE ring but on WWE programming. He’s gone through a lot in his career that spans over many years and various promotions such as ROH and Impact Wrestling.
With that said, a feel good moment aside, I never saw these two winning the whole tournament. However, it was nice to see WWE actually do something with Kushida on television for one night as he has felt like he was just floating into the wind.
WWE needed another set of heels in this tournament, which is why Grizzled Young Veterans likely went over.
Angel Garza Receives One Challenger
WWE confirmed this afternoon that NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza will defend his title in a Fatal 4-Way Match at WWE Worlds Collide on Saturday, Jan. 25, during Royal Rumble weekend in Houston, Texas.
Garza’s challengers will include one member of the NXT roster and two NXT UK Superstars. The first challenger was determined when Lio Rush, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Tyler Breeze squared off in a Triple Threat Match.
As seen in the match, Scott ended up winning it and as a result, has earned the right to compete in this contest. Good for him.
This was a last-minute thrown together match that had a purpose but came across as a match with good workers just for the sake of having a good wrestling match. With that said, it didn’t take away from the match, which was good, but WWE hasn’t done much to build up any challengers for the title.
This was a step in the right direction. Garza as the champion was and still is a good move on WWE’s part. That doesn’t change the fact that the title is still seen as an afterthought and Garza shining brighter than the actual title.
#1 Contender Crowned
WWE held a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal for the Women’s Title that saw the likes of Shayana Baszler, Kacy Catanzaro, Mercedes Martinez, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Vanessa Borne, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart and Xia Li compete in the contest.
In the match, Bianca Belair emerged as the winner. Now, she will take on NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley at the NXT TakeOver: Portland show on Sunday, February 16, 2020 in Portland, Oregon at the Moda Center and will air on the WWE Network.
Blackheart was the one to eliminate Baszler. The final two were Shirai and Belair.
The NXT women’s division has talent but there was a backlog of talents who could be in the mix but with Baszler being the champion for such a long time and beating most of them, it eliminated the possibility of contenders.
Now that Ripley is the champion, the door is once again wide open with new challengers and fresh matches.
Make no mistake about it though, it appears that Baszler is still a possibility for Ripley and a rematch could be looming. Perhaps at the TakeOver show on WrestleMania weekend.