WWE is back with a new episode of NXT for the second straight week. Thus, it’s time to look ahead starting with tonight’s episode of NXT.
The company is building up this show around the Second Chance Gauntlet Match featuring Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Deonna Purrazzo, Shotzi Blackheart, Dakota Kai, and Xia Li.
The winner of this contest will earn the final spot for the six-woman Ladder Match that will determine the new #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Title.
In the likely main event, Keith Lee makes his next title defense against Damian Priest vs. Dominik Dijakovic in a Triple Threat Match.
WWE holds this show in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University. WWE is advertising the following items for tonight’s broadcast:
The final spot for the six-woman Ladder Match will be filled with a Second Chance Gauntlet Match featuring Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Deonna Purrazzo, Shotzi Blackheart, Dakota Kai, and Xia Li.
The Velveteen Dream vs. Bobby Fish – Singles Match
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee vs. Damian Priest vs. Dominik Dijakovic – Triple Threat Match
Join us here later tonight for our WWE NXT Results and post-show Takeaways feature.
Rhea Ripley is a big metal fan and a fan of the band Motionless in White (MIW). The lead singer of the band is Chris “Motionless” Cerulli and some fans may have noticed similarities between the singer and the current NXT Women’s Champion. Ripley herself commented on how her look has “morphed” into his during a recent interview with Loudwire.
“It’s quite funny because I’ve realized over the last two years, I’ve been morphing myself into Chris Motionless and I never realized it. We’ve got the same haircut, we wear practically the same makeup. I’m like, ‘This is terrifying.’”
The singer noted on Twitter, however, that it is he who is morphing into Rhea Ripley:
Ripley also noted that she is a big fan of the band and listens to them while working out regularly. She also noted she is a fan of the band Falling in Reverse which features Paige’s current partner, Ronnie Radke.
“Guilty pleasure — I loveFalling in Reverse. Ronnie Radke is just amazing. They’re the two bands I keep going back and forth on.”
Ripley also mentioned during the interview that she is not overly fond of the music selection backstage in NXT. She also noted that if Ruby Riott was still on the brand then she’d at least have someone to talk music with.
“Not really, actually. I don’t think I talk to anyone about music,” Ripley said when asked if she has conversations with anyone backstage about music. “If Ruby Riott was still in NXT, I feel like I’d talk to her a lot about it. I’m stuck in the locker room listening to country music, normally. That’s what everyone else plays. [Laughs] Either that or R&B. I’m like, ugh, I’m just gonna sit in the corner and be quiet.”
The full interview from Loudwire can be found here.
NXT North American Champion Keith Lee has reflected on sharing the ring with current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.
The two monsters had a confrontation during January’s Royal Rumble matchup. Upon his entrance, Lesnar audibly remarked to his advocate Paul Heyman, “Who is this motherf—er?”
According to Lee, he felt that he was right where he was supposed to be.
“In that moment it felt like that was where I was supposed to be,” Keith told SuperSport. “Even though I feel like it was slightly unexpected the reaction that I got from 42,000 people. They really wanted Keith Lee to show out. They got something special in my opinion… Maybe in the future, there is a chance that there is Keith Lee versus Brock Lesnar in a one on one match. I feel like I’m one of the few that can go toe to toe with him… Hopefully, that can come to fruition.”
Lesnar isn’t the only top-tier Superstar Keith Lee has shared the ring with. Back at last year’s Survivor Series event, he had a moment with “The Big Dog” Roman Reigns. Lee was a member of Team NXT; Reigns was a member of Team SmackDown. Reigns would eventually defeat Lee, securing the Survivor Series victory for SmackDown.
Brock Lesnar defends the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre next weekend at WrestleMania 36.
The news of Roman Reigns pulling out of WrestleMania 36 made a lot of headlines yesterday and latest reports have now revealed two more names which have been removed from the show.
PWinsider is reporting that the current United States Champion Andrade suffered a rib injury on this week’s episode of Raw and he was not cleared to compete at the WrestleMania tapings which took place later in the week.
Andrade was expected to team up with Angel Garza on WrestleMania and the duo was scheduled to challenge the Raw Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits at the event.
However, he was replaced by an NXT star in the match and Post Wrestling is reporting that former Evolve Champion Austin Theory worked as the substitute for the Mexican star.
Another star that was removed from the show is the former champion Murphy and reports state that he was “not cleared to appear,” though it doesn’t provide any further details.
Murphy was not scheduled for a match at WrestleMania but he was expected to be at ringside for the announced Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens match at the show.
It’s likely that the company had to make changes to their plans for the bout because of Murphy’s removal and it would be interesting to see if they brought in Samoa Joe to play a part in the story.
Viewership data is in for this week’s battle in the WWE NXT vs. AEW Dynamite Wednesday Night War. AEW won in total viewers. NXT didn’t crack the top 50 shows on cable for the night.
Here is the breakdown of the live and same-night DVR viewership, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:
WWE NXT Viewership
NXT on the USA Network averaged 669,000 viewers, which is up from 542,000 last week. In the 18-49 demo, they drew a 0.20 rating, up from the 0.16 rating that the show did last week.
The episode featured Cameron Grimes vs. Tony Nese, Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs. Brendan Vink & Shane Thorne, Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong, Tyler Breeze vs. Austin Theory, Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter, Aliyah vs. Io Shirai, and Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa having to answer to Triple H.
AEW Dynamite on TNT was watched by 819,000 viewers, down from the 932,000 viewers last week. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite pulled in a 0.34 rating, down from the 0.35 rating that the show did last week.
AEW Dynamite featured such as Darby Allin vs. Kip Sabian, Jake Hager vs. Chico Adams, the in-ring debut of Brodie Lee, Cody vs. Jimmy Havoc, Kenny Omega vs. Sammy Guevara for the AAA Mega Championship, Matt Hardy and Chris Jericho having a one-on-one confrontation and more.
Mandy Rose joined Corey Graves for this week’s episode of After The Bell. The 28-year-old Superstar discussed a number of topics from her career, including the atmosphere backstage at NXT when first started in the company.
“I’m trying to remember as when I first came in, there was for sure, you know that type of divide a little bit.”
Mandy Rose
Mandy Rose broke onto the national wrestling scene as a contestant on the 2015 season of WWE Tough Enough. “Coming in through Tough Enough, it was a little different” she revealed. “Because I feel like a lot of the cast members on Tough Enough had different backgrounds. Like there was football player, there was, you know, I think Patrick was actually the only wrestler on Tough Enough as I remember (Velveteen Dream)?”
She continued, Yeah, I don’t know, I’m trying to remember as when I first came in, there was for sure, you know that type of divide a little bit. And you know we always kind of got issues especially from fans.”
Mandy Rose on Fan Negativity
Tough Enough was a fast track to WWE for Mandy Rose. However, it was not an entirely smooth ride. She found that some fans did not appreciate that she was not a lifelong wrestling fan. In fact, the negativity from some fans continues to this day.
Mandy would elaborate further, saying “it was like, ‘Oh, you didn’t grow up watching this’ or ‘you didn’t want to always do this for your whole life’ and ‘you don’t belong here’ type of thing. I kind of just was always like whatever, just don’t give them reaction. Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of us may still get that in all the hate and all, you know. Just because I didn’t grow up doing this, or I didn’t always want to be a wrestler? Doesn’t mean that you know I didn’t fall in love with it. It kind of drives me and makes me more competitive than I even am to prove those haters wrong and kind of show them that I can do this.”
Mandy Rose is currently involved in a romantic storyline with Otis of the Heavy Machinery tag team. It is widely regarded as one of the best angles on WWE television.
WWE had been airing strange vignettes on NXT from the past few weeks. There was a lot of speculation that Killer Kross could be behind the promos and this doubt was confirmed during the latest episode of the show.
The final segment of this week’s episode of NXT saw Triple H
bringing both Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa face to face for a
confrontation and the Game then announced that in 2 weeks, he will find an
empty building for the two to fight in and end their feud.
However, as soon as he was finished, another ‘coming soon’ teaser appeared on the big screen at the entrance ramp, leaving the stars in the ring puzzled.
Killer Kross Finally Appears On NXT TV
The video featured the same images we have seen in previous videos over the weeks, but this time the newest WWE signee Kross also made an appearance.
The video had a promo as well. It was believed to be in the voice of Scarlett Bordeaux who was also recently signed by the company to the development brand.
The promo as seen below, is believed to be in Romanian and roughly translates to: “Only the man will win and if you lose, the weaker man is done. Now you’ll all see pain … there’s a very dangerous man coming. The clock ticks at midnight and the end is near.”
There is no word yet on when Killer Kross will make his NXT
debut or where the match between Ciampa and Gargano will be held but we’ll keep
you posted on the matter.
This week’s episode of NXT saw injured star Io Shirai making her in-ring return for the brand and she won a big match up during her comeback on the show.
This week’s episode of the Black And Yellow brand was
expected to see Xia Li competing against Aliyah for a spot in the announced #1
contenders ladder match for the NXT Women’s Championship.
However, Li was attacked by someone backstage before the match can take place. After it was declared that she was unable to compete on the show, officials announced that Shirai has been cleared for in-ring action.
The Japanese star was then sent to the ring for the match. She went on to defeat Aliyah and earn herself the spot in the upcoming ladder match. You can check out some photos of the bout below:
Io Shirai suffered a leg injury during a match with Toni Storm on the January 22 episode of NXT. At the time, it was reported that she will stay out of action for two months.
With this win, the returning star has joined Chelsea Green, Tegan Nox, and Mia Yim in the list of confirmed names for the upcoming ladder match.
The winner of the bout is expected to receive a shot at the title after WrestleMania, where the current champion Rhea Ripley will defend her championship against the winner of 2020 Royal Rumble, Charlotte Flair
The March 25, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University.
The show was headlined by Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong in a singles match. Here are the 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
WWE NXT Results (3/25)
Tyler Breeze def. Austin Theory
Killian Dain def. Tehuti Miles
Cameron Grimes def. Tony Nese
Io Shirai def. Aliyah – Ladder Match Qualifying Match
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch def. Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink
Candice LeRae def. Kayden Carter
Matt Riddle def. Roderick Strong
Qualifying Matches
Aliyah vs. Xia Li and Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter in qualifying matches for the Ladder Match to determine a new #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Title took place on this show.
Li was attacked backstage and replaced by Io Shirai, who went over on Aliyah while LeRae went over Carter. Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, and Tegan Nox have already secured spots in the bout.
This match was slated to take place at the NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay special on WrestleMania 36 weekend. However, that event was canceled. Now, this Ladder Match is slated to take place on an upcoming episode of NXT TV.
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will make her next title defense against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36.
Thus, the winner of this match will face the new #1 contender down the line at a date that has yet to be announced.
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong
Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong in a singles bout was the biggest match on the card of this interesting show.
It was exactly what you would expect to see in a hard-hitting affair. This seemed to be and played out as a match with two top names that could deliver a fine match. Riddle won the match.
It appeared that WWE is building up to a rematch between The Undisputed Era and Riddle & Strong for the NXT Tag Team Titles.
While it won’t take place at NXT TakeOver: Tampa, don’t be surprised to see it play out on NXT television.
After the match, two unknown stars managed by Malcolm Bivens came out and attacked Riddle.
WWE NXT Champion Adam Cole had a special message for fans on this show. He cut a promo from his phone while poolside on vacation.
He talked about while poolside, he had been thinking about his altercation with the Velveteen Dream and how it got him flustered but then he was thinking why he would ever be flustered.
Cole then listed off his accomplishments in WWE from being the first-ever North American Champion, the first winner of the WarGames Match in NXT, and now the longest-reigning NXT Champion.
Cole stated that Dream hasn’t done anything to earn a shot at him or his title. However, The Undisputed Era wants a shot at the experience and vowed that Dream would suffer a loss to Bobby Fish when they wrestle.
Soooooo long overdue, and well deserved. It’s good to be the champ…excuse me, the LONGEST REIGNING champ ? https://t.co/NhZNvT3qSb
WWE didn’t waste any time in getting to in-ring competition with Tyler Breeze vs. Austin Theory in a singles match.
After a few graphics hyping what was on the show, we went straight to the match. Just like with RAW and SmackDown, WWE had the hard camera showing the entrance ramp in the background.
This comes after the low rated edition of NXT which featured no live matches but rather three video packages last week.
As seen on the show, Breeze ended up going over, which some could see as an interesting move considering Breeze hasn’t been used in a prominent role since Fandango was sidelined due to injury.
It was a fine opener with both guys shining. Theory is still someone to keep your eye on but he’s still missing something that’s keeping him from being a main time player.
The continuation of the ongoing program between NXT North American Champion Keith Lee, Damien Priest and Donovan Dijak took place on this show.
It all started with Lee apologizing to Dijak for thinking that he was the one who attacked him two weeks ago, which led to Lee laying him out at the time. Dijak claimed that Lee took the food off the plate of his family.
This led to Priest coming out to the ring and saying that his eyes are on the prize which is the North American Title. He said that his name will live forever but he needs the title to do so.
Lee said that them fighting over the title doesn’t matter because the champion is standing right here. Priest tried to attack them but Lee and Dijac fought him off. Dijak took them both out with an outside dive.
With NXT TakeOver: Tampa being off, it’s just a matter of time before a three-way is booked.
Triple H Addresses Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
‘The Game’ Triple H. Image Credit: WWE.com
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa had to answer to Triple H. In the final segment of the show, Triple H began to cut a promo about this feud before Ciampa came out.
Ciampa told Triple H to bring out Gargano and that everything has been said that needs to be said. Triple H told them that there will be no physicality. Gargano said that he doesn’t understand why he was fined when Ciampa started the brawl two weeks ago. He refused to get into the ring.
Triple H said that he’s the reason that both of them are still here because William Regal wanted to fire them. Triple H stated that he gets their beef but it needs to end.
He said that it should end on the biggest stage in the world. Gargano said it should’ve ended last year but Ciampa broke his neck. Gargano said in two weeks, they can finish it once and for all. Triple H said that he will find an empty building and a referee there to say it’s over.
When this is over then it’s over. One will walk out and one will leave. Triple H said that if their feud continues after this match then both of them will be gone from NXT.
At the end of the segment, there was a teaser video for the arrival of Killer Kross.
WWE will be presenting a different yet big episode of its weekly NXT television program. Thus, it’s time to look ahead starting with tonight’s episode of NXT.
The company is building up this show with an appearance by Triple H for two reasons. First, he’ll address the canceled NXT TakeOver: Tampa event and scheduled matches for that event being shown on upcoming episodes of NXT TV.
Also, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa will have to answer to him for their brawl at the Performance Center two weeks ago.
In the likely main event, Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong is slated to take place.
WWE holds this show in Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center. WWE is advertising the following items for tonight’s broadcast:
Triple H to address the canceled NXT TakeOver: Tampa event
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to answer to Triple H
Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong
Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter – Ladder Match Qualifying Match
Aliyah vs. Xia Li – Ladder Match Qualifying Match
Tyler Breeze vs. Austin Theory
Adam Cole has a special message for fans
Join us here later tonight for our WWE NXT Results and post-show Takeaways feature.
Returning WWE Hall of Famer Edge has shared which NXT Superstar he would love to clash with. During an interview with Sportskeeda, Edge praised several of black-and-gold brand talents. It was Keith Lee, however, that he would want to compete against.
“There are so many talents, you can seriously point to everyone on the roster,” Edge said. “Obviously (Tommaso) Ciampa and I have a very close relationship, we’re both ‘neck’ guys for a lack of a better term. So he’s picking his brain a lot and I love it because he cares a lot and he’ll try the ideas too. I love [Johnny] Gargano.”
Edge On Which Superstars Set An NXT Template
Edge shared how he believes Balor is the guy who is “dialed in” right now. He argued that Balor returning to NXT has allowed him to discover what he’s supposed to do. He added how Balor and Gargano “set the template” for what an NXT matchup should be.
Edge also praised Velveteen Dream. He labelled him a “raw, completely natural character.”
He stated how Dream has just tapped into his character and makes for an entertaining watch. Edge then turned his attention to current NXT Champion Adam Cole and Keith Lee.
“You got your workhorses like Adam Cole who’s just out there week-in, week-out, night after night in the grind and you just got to tip your hat to that guy,” Edge said. “Keith Lee is so impressive – I’d love to be able to get in the ring with that guy and just show him exactly what he is and how he can be.”
Edge is set to face off against Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36. The “Show of Shows” takes place on April 4 and April 5.
The NXT Takeover: Tampa Bay event that was set for WrestleMania weekend is not taking place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to Sports Illustrated, matches originally scheduled for Takeover: Tampa Bay will take place on NXT’s weekly Wednesday night TV show on the USA Network:
“Beginning Wednesday, April 1, NXT will add some additional excitement to its weekly TV programming by airing the matches planned for TakeOver on a weekly basis.”
Only one match had been confirmed for NXT Takeover: Tampa Bay at the time of the show’s cancelation: a ladder match to determine the #1 contender to the NXT Women’s Championship.
In addition to the women’s ladder match, other bouts that were all-but-confirmed include NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream and Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa.
All of these matches are expected to be taped this week, as part of WWE’s marathon taping schedule from the Performance Center.
WWE.com has since confirmed that ‘NXT founder’ Triple H will take part in this week’s NXT broadcast to address this news.
Current WWE NXT UK Champion WALTER has praised WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, calling “The Beast Incarnate” the “most successful and best wrestler.” The Imperium leader shared his thoughts during an interview with SPORT1, where he was asked who he believes is the best wrestler on the planet.
WALTER confessed that a question like that is difficult to answer, reasoning that it’s hard to judge as pro wrestling is not a “competitive sport.”
“Wrestling is not a competitive sport, it has a lot to do with personal taste. For me, Brock Lesnar is at the top of the food chain worldwide,” Walter shared. “He is the most successful and best wrestler. He is financially the most successful but does not have to work as much as others. He is not over-present and you can not see enough of him. He is very smart and is currently at the top for me.”
WALTER has previously shared how he believes Lesnar is the smartest man in pro wrestling right now. He also shared his interest in a potential clash between the two of them.
There are no plans at the time of writing for WALTER to defend his championship at WrestleMania 36. Lesnar, however, will be clashing with the winner of the 2020 Royal Rumble Drew McIntyre. The two will compete for Lesnar’s WWE Championship.
WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 4 and April 5 from multiple locations including the WWE Performance Center.
Adam Cole has broken the record for the longest single-reign with the NXT Championship. As of this writing, Cole has spent 295 days with the title, topping the previous record of 292 set by Finn Balor in 2015.
Cole defeated Johnny Gargano to win the title at TakeOver: XXV on June 1st, 2019 from Bridgeport, CT. He commented on his accomplishment in the below Tweet:
Officially, I stand before you as the LONGEST REIGNING NXT Champion of all time. This championship means everything to me, because it shows the world how good Adam Cole really is. I’ve had quite a few “first evers” in my career. But this? This is #Undisputed#AdamColeBayBay#UEpic.twitter.com/5OzhYzUGjT
There have been 18 total reigns with the NXT Championship. Seth Rollins was the inaugural champion having won the title on July 26th, 2012 defeating Jinder Mahal in the finals of a tournament.
Viewership data is in for this week’s battle in the WWE NXT vs. AEW Dynamite Wednesday Night War. AEW won in total viewers. NXT didn’t crack the top 50 shows for the night.
Here is the breakdown of the live and same-night DVR viewership, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:
WWE NXT Viewership
NXT on the USA Network averaged 542,000 viewers, which is down from 697,000 last week. In the 18-49 demo, they drew a 0.16 rating, down from the 0.21 rating that the show did last week.
The episode featured three video packages that covered the Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano feud, NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair, and former NXT Champion Finn Balor. Triple H and Tom Phillips hosted the show.
AEW Dynamite Viewership
AEW Dynamite on TNT was watched by 932,000 viewers, up from the 766,000 viewers last week. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite pulled in a 0.35 rating, up from the 0.26 rating that the show did last week.
AEW Dynamite featured such as The Inner Circle vs. The Elite the main event, Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy vs. The Butcher and The Blade, Lucha Bros vs. Best Friends, the debut of Matt Hardy, Brodie Lee’s reveal as the Exalted One, and Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford vs. Riho.
WWE programming, including WrestleMania 36 and NXT, has been relegated to the Performance Center for the foreseeable future as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.
The most recent episodes of NXT, SmackDown and Raw have taken place at the training facility, with live matches and non-wrestling segments taking place in front of an empty venue with no fans in attendance. It has made for an interesting, at times eerie, setting for pro wrestling shows.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, WWE has already changed gears on this format and will be going in a new direction for Wednesday night’s NXT broadcast.
Meltzer says it is confirmed that this week’s NXT will feature no live matches. He wrote on Twitter, “Studio setting, interviews, personality profiles, old footage.”
NXT, AEW Affected by Coronavirus
WWE announced earlier this week that the upcoming NXT Takeover show from Tampa Bay, FL during WrestleMania weekend has been canceled. The 2020 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is rumored to be taking place during SummerSlam weekend. However, WWE has yet to announce the fate of Takeover: Tampa Bay.
NXT will not feature any matches, but rival show AEW Dynamite will. Until further notice, AEW Dynamite will take place in closed-set locations. Wednesday’s show has been moved to the Daily’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, FL.
Top items hyped for AEW Dynamite include the Inner Circle vs. The Elite in a match to determine which team gets the upper hand in next week’s Blood and Guts double steel cage match. We’ll aslso see the Lucha Bros vs. Best Friends and the big reveal regarding the identity of the Dark Order’s Exalted One.
NXT has had a tough year competing with AEW Dynamite. It will be interesting to see how the two shows fare this week in light of the unique formats.
In the wake of the news regarding the status of WrestleMania 36, WWE has confirmed that two events that were originally slated to take place as part of the weekend have been postponed.
The Hall of Fame ceremony for the 2020 class of inductees was slated to take place on April 2, 2020 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The NXT TakeOver: Tampa show was supposed to go down on Saturday, April 4 from the same arena.
Pwinsider.com was able to obtain a statement from the company on Monday that confirmed these events are off. You can read the statement here:
“The WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony and NXT TakeOver will not take place as previously scheduled. We will share further details as they become available.”
This announcement comes after WWE confirmed that WrestleMania 36 will still take place as scheduled but will take place at a different location. It will now air live at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida with no live audience.
WWE never announced any matches for NXT TakeOver: Tampa. However, WWE had already confirmed several members for this year’s Hall of Fame class.
Although not confirmed, the belief is that the Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at a later date:
Batista
The nWo (Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman)
Undisputed Era members Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly have discussed what makes their teamwork so well. Joining WWE’s The Bump, the duo also explained why they believe they are one of the top teams in the world.
“What me and Bobby have is special,” O’Reilly said. “We’ve been a tag team since 2012. We’ve been all over the world. As far as I’m concerned, we’re one of the top two greatest tag teams of all time.”
His partner, Fish, added how their chemistry isn’t something people can “fabricate.” He said how the brotherhood that exists between them and their other stablemates Roderick Strong and NXT Champion Adam Cole is “real.” “I think people feel that,” he said. “I think people understand that, and that’s why we’re successful as we are.”
Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish On Making History, Dream Opponents
O’Reilly explained how, as a team, he and Fish are “the judge, jury and executioner of the tag team division.” He stressed that this has been the case when they first arrived and that it will stay that way for the foreseeable future. “We’re going to become the first, four-time NXT champions. All we do here is make history.”
With the team having proved to be so dominant in the black-and-gold brand in the past, the two have casually looked at both RAW and SmackDown for potential opponents. O’Reilly shared how he would love a matchup with The New Day or The Usos. He believes either matchup could prove to be “something very special.”
Former NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa has shared his belief that the Wednesday Night War between NXT and All Elite Wrestling absolutely matters. Speaking with Sportskeeda, Ciampa opened up about why he thinks the ratings have helped pro wrestling, claiming that both promotions ultimately “want to win.”
“It makes it a little bit more fun. It brings that competitive edge out,” said Ciampa. “I mean, I have friends over there and I also have people over there I’ve never met or ever shared a ring with. “It’s awesome to see, you know, everyone just elevating their game. Everyone just wants it. I don’t know if people say ratings don’t matter… they sure as hell matter. Like, you want to win.”
Tommaso Ciampa On NXT Airing On USA, Being A Third Brand
One of the decisions that helped legitimize NXT is WWE’s decision to reposition it as a third brand. Previously, the black-and-gold brand had long been WWE’s developmental brand. Ciampa points out how NXT airing on USA Network has also helped everyone pull together to deliver great shows.
“Now that we’re on USA, we’re doing live TV. There’s just no more ‘yea buts.’ They’re [NXT roster] doing everything that you would constitute of as a main roster player,” stated Ciampa. “I think that’s the main thing, that switch. That developmental like, stink is just gone.”
This week’s episode of NXT was broadcasted from the Performance Center and it appears that the building will be the home of the Black And Yellow brand for the foreseeable future.
Full Sail University has announced that they are shutting down all classes, labs and “group events” until the end of April after coronavirus was declared a national emergency in the United States yesterday.
PWinsider is reporting that due to this step, next Wednesday’s NXT tapings from the arena has been suspended and the show will be broadcasted from the performance center for the foreseeable future.
WWE had brought in fans in three buses for this week’s NXT episode but the plan going forward will be to tape the show in an empty arena with only the essential personnel in attendance, similar to the broadcast of this week’s episode of SmackDown Live.
While no time table for it was released, the site notes that
the current plan is to return to the Full Sail University campus for the show
when it is feasible.
NXT is not the only event that has been affected by the epidemic. After the mentioned SmackDown episode, WWE has confirmed that this week’s episode of Raw will also air from the Performance Center under similar settings.
The company has mentioned that they are monitoring the
situation and it’s likely that more events will be cancelled or rescheduled in
future. We will keep you posted on the situation.
“The actions of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to each other and to the WWE Performance Center are beyond unprofessional and UNACCEPTABLE on every level. I will be dealing with this privately with both gentlemen.”
Chaos At The Performance Center
In case you missed it, last night’s episode of NXT took place from the Performance Center. The episode ended with a heated brawl breaking out between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.
The two Superstars fought throughout the PC from the back, through to the gym and finally out to the crowd. Their clash ended after Ciampa drove Gargano through the announce table from off of a platform above the commentary area.
Their fight saw mass amounts of property damaged as Gargano and Ciampa battled one another. Gym equipment was used, mirrors were broken, walls were destroyed, and at one point Ciampa was thrown through a glass pane door. It’s believed that the two will take part in a major matchup at NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay as part of WrestleMania 36 weekend.
NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay takes place on April 4, 2020, from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
NXT Superstar Lio Rush recently joined Sports Illustrated for an interview. During their conversation, Rush opened up about his six-month hiatus from WWE before sharing his future goals in the company. He also touched on his musical ambitions outside of the squared circle.
“Craved for Blood began during my time away from the WWE when my mind was in a tenuous space, all over the place, and that’s the vibe that created the song, I went through a negative place, and I worked to harness that and put it in the song,” Rush said.
“The entire song is a code that people have to crack, A line that means a lot to me is, ‘These tricky minds deep inside, we all think alike.’ Every job has its stresses, and the entertainment field is stressful. People need to find a release. A creative outlet for me outside of wrestling is my music.”
Lio Rush On His Time Away
Following his time away from WWE, Lio Rush admitted that his return was “pretty special.” He reflected on his first run in NXT, noting that he only had a short time there.
“Some people were surprised I am a wrestler after they were only used to seeing me beside Bobby Lashley as a manager on Monday Night Raw. People know I can talk on the mic, but I want to show the world I can do it all. It’s special to be back wrestling, and I want to show I am one of the best wrestlers in the world.”
When it comes to his future goals, Rush is focused on creating a bigger name for himself. He also wants to highlight that he is a hard worker and is ready for whatever may come, noting “I’m prepared for anything that comes my way.”
WWE NXT UK Superstar Ilja Dragunov discussed what his career has been like since signing with WWE. Speaking with talkSPORT, Dragunov also opened up about working with WWE Hall of Famers Triple H and Shawn Michaels, as well as sharing his ambition of facing RAW Superstar Aleister Black.
“I get the feeling people understand me and that’s very important to me, it’s why I love my work here so much,” Dragunov said. “They understand what I’m doing without really telling them a lot. And in WWE, I’ve seen absolute professionals on a whole new level that I’ve never seen before, I don’t regret a single day that I’m here.”
Ilja Dragunov On Growing As A Performer
Ilja Dragunov expressed how working with legends like Triple H and Shawn Michaels allows him to learn from the very best. Dragunov explained how his experiences in WWE are a “completely new horizon” for him. “I know things I never thought I’d know and I see them from a different perspective. I’ve grown as a performer every single day. This is the most exciting time in my life.”
Having previously faced off against Cesaro and Finn Balor, Dragunov isn’t content with that being his last crossover with a main roster Superstar. He admitted there are a lot of names he would love to face, but one stands out more than others: Aleister Black.
“I think when it comes down to European names, guys like Aleister Black, who I knew before his time in WWE. I think we would connect very well and that’s a fight people would want to see, maybe.”
Although he has since become a popular Superstar amongst the NXT faithful, there was a time when Dominik Dijakovic struggled to join WWE. Appearing on WWE’s The Bump, Dijakovic reflected on being rejected by the company after his first tryout for FCW in 2013.
“It was an interesting experience,” Dijakovic said. “It was one of those experiences that it felt like it was a lifetime ago because everything was so different about the WWE and what’s now the Performance Center. The whole facility was as big as where I’m doing this interview now. It was a couple of rings and incredibly hot…”
He continued, “It was difficult for me to accept that I didn’t have what it took at the time to be in the WWE. It was kind of like a harsh reality. At the same time, you use that as motivation, an experience, a stepping stone to learn what it takes to get to the WWE level, especially the developmental level.”
Dominik Dijakovic’s WWE Mentors, Facing Keith Lee
Now a part of the NXT roster, Dijakovic named who has helped him to grow on his WWE journey. He shared how he mostly works with Shawn Michaels and Triple H. “Those are the guys who we see every Wednesday. The Undertaker has also been here, as well as Mark Henry. Those are the guys that I’ve worked closely with.”
Turning his attention to his recent series of matches against NXT North American Champion Keith Lee, Dijakovic acknowledged the in-ring chemistry between them.
“The pressure is to never have a good match or to top a match or anything. It just naturally happens. There’s a lot of chemistry there. It works out, because he’s a big guy, and I am as well, so that correlates between the two of us. For me, the pressure is always the championship platform. I mean, I’ve been talking about the NXT North American Championship for over a year now. So, anytime that comes into play, that’s my focus and where I put the pressure on myself.”
Dominik Dijakovic recently lost a match to Cameron Grimes on NXT, thanks to the interference of Damien Priest.
William Regal has opened up about his role as NXT’s General Manager during an interview with Sportskeeda. He explained why he doesn’t consider the job a “role” compared to the previous times he’s played a General Manager on-screen. In real life, Regal is the Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting.
“For me, it’s not really a role because it’s what I do – which makes it very different than whenever I’ve done this role before,” he said. “Although it’s not exactly what I do, it is in a lot of ways, if that makes any sense. It’s the first time that has probably been… When I played that role anyway, where I am actually a big part of that and, fortunately for me that I am.
William Regal’s Request
William Regal explained how, when he was first asked to assume the role, his one request was to not be put on camera. He noted how he doesn’t need to be on camera “unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“This isn’t about me, it’s about the talent, and everyone that works in NXT, that’s what we think. It’s about the talent but you do need the odd person.”
When it comes to the role of General Manager, Regal believes there is still a place for that kind of character in today’s modern landscape. He noted how, if done right, it can still be “very valuable.”
