NXT UK Superstar Trent Seven has spoken about WWE’s entertainment diversity in a recent interview with The Mirror. During the interview, Seven shared his belief that WWE offers “the complete package.”
Seven explained how everyone approaches wrestling from a different angle, depending on what you grew up with. He noted how if you grew up watching wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, “you might see it [WWE’s current product] as the most amazing thing the you have ever watched.”
He juxtaposed this with fans who may be more traditional, preferring the more competitive shoot-style matches. For Seven, however, WWE can offer something for everyone:
“I believe that now, the product that we offer, from WWE to NXT UK, there’s such a complete range of entertainment that I don’t think it can be pigeonholed,” Seven explained. “WWE is the complete package as far as entertainment goes.”
Trent Seven Compares WWE To John Wick
During the interview, Seven was asked about those who point that wrestling is scripted. The NXT UK Superstar compared the wrestling industry to Hollywood, noting how he watches movies as a “form of entertainment.”
“I don’t go into a movie like John Wick pretending that it’s real, and that’s the whole point. I go into it as a form of entertainment. I believe as far as professional wrestling goes, there isn’t a more complete form of entertainment.”
Trent Seven recently appeared on an episode of WWE’s black-and-gold brand, NXT. He competed in a losing effort to Finn Balor.
Current NXT Champion Adam Cole has revealed that he didn’t predict Undisputed Era becoming as big as they have become. The stable, who feature on WWE’s black-and-gold brand, has become a firm staple on NXT, with its members often holding gold. At one point, the entire stable held all of NXT’s championships.
“I didn’t expect it,” Cole revealed to SportsBible when asked about Undisputed Era’s success. “I’m confident in myself and all of us. I’m very confident in our abilities. I know that if given the chance — like the chance that we have now — that we would succeed.But yes, if I’m being totally honest, I did not expect this to turn into one of the… seriously, the best factions in WWE.”
Cole commented on how he would look out at a TakeOver event and see so many people adorned in Undisputed Era merchandise. He described their teamwork, in-ring ability, and group dynamic as a “one-in-a-million scenario.”
Undisputed Era’s Organic Popularity
His Undisputed Era teammates were also a part of the interview. Bobby Fish added to Adam Cole’s comments, noting how success can’t necessarily be predicted. Instead, their popularity has been an organic process.
“[Undisputed Era], from the inception, has evolved and turned into different things along the way,” Fish said. “Like we talked about it before when there was three and then adding Roddy and Roddy was the only option for this and it caused us to evolve. And you don’t evolve when you’re just sitting in your comfort zone. So like if you plan it all, that doesn’t work.”
The Undisputed Era recently wrestled in a losing effort against NXT UK’s Imperium. The two teams clashed at WWE’s recent Worlds Collide event.
The new WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Jordan Devlin, has spoken about his commitment to NXT UK, despite the fact he is allegedly primed for a major international push now that he is a reigning champion.
“NXT UK has made stars out of guys like the British Strong Style, Travis Banks and myself,” Devlin said to TV Insider. “For us to be able do independent dates in the UK as well and get people to come and see us. It’s really good for the UK scene. It has breathed life into us. To have the UK Performance Center as well and learn from the best minds in the business… NXT UK has grown so much in the last three years.”
He admitted that, three years ago, he couldn’t imagine the growth they’ve achieved. Devlin then stated how he’d like NXT UK to become a brand that tours all across Europe and not just within the United Kingdom. He highlighted how he’d love WWE to host an NXT UK TakeOver Dublin event before reiterating his interest in taking their show on the road.
Jordan Devlin And Finn Balor
Devlin also reflected on his long-time friendship with the black-and-gold brand’s Finn Balor. “The Irish Ace” actually trained with Balor years ago when Balor was 21-years-old, and Devlin was only 12. The two faced off against each other at the original NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool event last year.
“He was the best wrestler in Ireland then and probably now,” Devlin shared.” He was the person I most aspired to be like. He was always the guy I wanted to measure up to and up with. He went from Ireland to Japan to train, as did I. He went to New Japan Pro Wrestling. I went to Zero-One. He went to the States and WWE. I was a couple of years behind him when WWE signed me. We’ve been running the same path for a long time.”
He shared how he’s always aspired to be like Balor, noting how the two share the same work ethic. Being such an inspiration to him, it’s unsurprising that Devlin looks back fondly on their match at TakeOver Blackpool.
Jordan Devlin has some significant supporters within WWE, and will reportedly defend his championship across all of WWE’s brands. He is currently scheduled to appear on this week’s episodes of NXT as well as 205 Live.
The Undisputed Era has reflected on their recent busy schedule during an interview with Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT. The NXT stable not only invaded NXT UK’s recent TakeOver: Blackpool II event, they also competed against NXT UK’s Imperium group at WWE’s recent Worlds Collide.
Looking back on their invasion at TakeOver: Blackpool II, current NXT champion Adam Cole shared how their surprise appearance was a memorable moment. “With Blackpool, that was one of those moments that you remember forever. We never lose sight on stuff like this,” Cole said. “I love surprises in wrestling, that’s one of my favorite things. So to be involved in something where everyone in that building had no idea we were there and then we showed up, then there’s that reaction like ‘oh my god, they’re here’ and they’re really excited – that’s one of the most coolest things.”
Triple H has previously shared how he believes it was the fans who helped keep their invasion a secret. He noted how, if fans see unannounced Superstars, he thinks they will keep it to themselves. He believes they don’t ruin the surprise for other members of the WWE Universe.
Undisputed Era Versus Imperium
Their invasion angle would help fan the feud between themselves and NXT UK’s Imperium stable, led by WALTER. Roderick Strong spoke about what it was like to face off against them, explaining how “[…] it was kind of an opportunity to raise their stock against us and that’s special. Those kind of moments mean a lot to me. Where we can help elevate these guys as well because we’re in that position. You know, being in the position that we’re in is great, but what we can do with the ‘power’ of it is what is really freaking cool.”
Unfortunately, Imperium member Alexander Wolfe would be legitimately knocked out during their bout. Despite being a man down, however, Imperium would emerge victorious from their clash.
Rhea Ripley shared the touching moment that she had with WWE COO Triple H after her match at NXT TakeOver: War Games on November 23, 2019.
The WarGames match at the event involved Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai) and Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Kay Lee Ray). Ripley was the one who won the match by performing the Riptide on the Baszler through two chairs.
Ripley was interviewed by talkSport recently and was asked about Triple H’s reaction on her performance. Ripley recounted the moment after the WarGames match when she went backstage and saw Triple H in tears of happiness.
“Yeah, they were. And it was really, really cool. I remember coming back from War Games – because that was all the same weekend – coming back from the War Games match and having Triple H there almost in tears of happiness. He hugged Candice [LeRae] and I and I was just like ‘this is a dream to me!’ [laughs]. I’m like, you’re the reason I started wrestling, started watching wrestling, it’s so, so cool. And he was just so proud of all of us because he knows we were all stressed with the mad weekend, so to make him proud is just so awesome.”
She also talked about the Survivor Series match where she won the triple threat match with Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. Ripley cradled Charlotte when she was using the Figure Eight move on Banks.
Rhea Ripley was asked whose idea the finish was, and she revealed that it was Charlotte’s. “It was Charlotte! She’s so smart, she was coming up with the coolest things. I felt so stupid [by comparison]. I took so much credit for it and I was like ‘yes, give me the credit’ [laughs].”
The NXT Women’s Champion most recently beat NXT UK star Toni Storm at the Worlds Collide event from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Ripley will be defending the title next against Bianca Belair at NXT TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Match Recap: Dragunov controlled the match early and trapped Balor in a Headlock. Balor broke free and connected with a Dropkick. Ilja battled back and leveled Finn with a Crossbody off the ring apron. Balor took control and beat down Dragunov in the corner of the ring as the crowd cheered him on. Dragunov hit Balor with a series of chops and followed it up with a knee to the face for a near fall.
Ilja hung up Balor on the bottom rope and connected with a Coast to Coast Dropkick for a near fall. Dragunov went for a Senton but Finn got his knees up. Balor hit a Dropkick and followed it up with Coupe de Grace. Finn then connected with the 1916 for the pinfall victory.
Jordan Devlin Captured The Cruiserweight Championship
Angel Garza defended his Cruiserweight Championship against Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Jordan Devlin, and Travis Banks in a Fatal 4-Way Match.
Match Recap: Travis Banks dominated the match early and isolated Isaiah in the ring. Banks planted Isaiah with a German Suplex and then threw him on top of Garza in the corner. Travis leveled Devlin with a Suicide Dive and followed it up with a Cannonball onto Isaih and Angel in the corner.
Garza and Scott traded chops in the middle of the ring. Isaiah got the better of the exchange but turned around into a Dropkick from Devlin. Banks planted Devlin with a Destroyer and all four superstars were down on the canvas as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Banks hit Devlin with Slice of Heaven and then the Kiwi Crusher but somehow Devlin was able to kick out at two.
Angel connected with Wing Clipper on Scott but couldn’t go for the cover because Devlin hit him with a headbutt. Jordan followed it up with a Side Suplex/Driver for the pinfall victory. Jordan Devlin is the new Cruiserweight Champion.
Match Recap: Gargano took Bate to the mat and applied a Headlock to start things off. Bate escaped and Gargano went for a kick but Tyler caught him. Tyler let him go and the two superstars shook hands before tagging out. Ciampa and Seven circled each other and traded poses before shaking hands.
Ciampa leveled Seven with a shoulder tackle and Bate tagged in. Ciampa connected with a knee to the face that sent Tyler to the outside. Tommaso and Gargano then launched Bate and Seven over the announce tables before giving themselves a round of applause on the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Tommaso isolated Bate in the corner and applied a Headlock. Tyler escaped and tagged Trent in. Seven planted Ciampa with a Powerbomb and followed it up with a Lariat for a near fall. Tyler tagged in and hit the Tyler Driver 97 but Ciampa was able to kick out. Johnny locked in the Gargano Escape on Bate as Ciampa locked in an Armbar on Seven. Trent and Tyler broke free and slammed DIY to the canvas with a couple of Airplane Swings. DIY knocked Bate to the outside with a couple of Superkicks and then hit Meet in the Middle on Trent Seven for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: Why cant we get tag team wrestling like this on RAW or SmackDown? Both of these teams are excellent and this match was awesome.
Rhea Ripley defended her NXT Championship against Toni Storm tonight at Worlds Collide.
Match Recap: Toni Storm hit a German Suplex that sent Rhea flying into the turnbuckle. Storm followed it up with a Suplex for a near fall. Ripley battled back and booted Storm in the face. Rhea locked in a Standing Cloverleaf submission hold in the middle of the ring but Storm was able to break free.
Rhea went for the Riptide but Storm countered into a Crossbody for a two count. Strom made her way to the top rope and went for a Frog Splash but Rhea got out of the way. Rhea hit the Riptide for the pinfall victory. After the match, Ripley and Bianca Belair traded some words. Ripley will defend her title against Belair at NXT TakeOver: Portland.
Opinion: Ripley and Storm had the impossible task of following the match between DIY and Mustache Mountain. This match was decent but I was expecting a lot more.
Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, Roderick Strong) battled Imperium (Walter, Alexander Wolfe, Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner) in the main event of WWE Worlds Collide.
Match Recap: O’Reilly took Aichner down and applied a Leg Lock but Fabian quickly was able to reach the ropes. Imperium took control and isolated Roderick Strong in the ring. Undisputed Era battled back and took turns beating Wolfe down in the corner of the ring. It appeared that either Strong or Fish accidentally caught Wolfe with a shot to the head and Alexander was attended to by the medical staff outside the ring. Wolfe was then removed from the match due to injury.
Imperium beat the hell out of Roderick Strong in the corner of the ring. Roderick escaped and tagged Cole in. Adam Cole planted Marcel with a Backbreaker. Walter tagged in and hit a German Suplex on O’Reilly and Strong at the same time. Walter connected with a Senton on O’Reilly and then brought him to the corner. Kyle tried to escape but Walter leveled him with a chop to the chest that echoed throughout the arena.
Roderick tagged in and walked into a Clothesline from Walter. O’Reilly, Fish, and Strong surrounded Walter and beat him down in the corner of the ring. Roderick Strong then slammed Walter through the announce table with a ridiculous Olympic Slam as the crowd chanted “mama mia!”.
Back in the ring, Aicher connected with a Brainbuster on O’Reilly. Cole hit Barthel with a Superkick and then a Neckbreaker for a near fall. O’Reilly went after Marcel’s knee with a Dragon Screw and then a Leg Lock in the middle of the ring. Barthel battled through the pain and crawled to the bottom rope. Aichner climbed to the top hit Kyle with a Moonsault.
Walter tagged back in and hit a series of chops and followed it up with a Powerbomb on Roderick Strong. Walter followed it up with a Splash but Cole came out of nowhere and hit the Last Shot. Cole went for the cover on Walter but Barthel broke it up at two. A brawl broke out that culminated with Aicher taking everyone out with a Frog Splash outside the ring. Back in the ring, Walter hit Bobby Fish with a Dropkick and then a massive Powerbomb for the pinfall victory.
We're going to need scientific confirmation that @FabianAichner is, indeed, human.
Opinion: I thought this match was great and it is even more impressive when you think of how both of these teams had to improvise due to the injury to Alexander Wolfe. Overall, Worlds Collide was another terrific NXT event and once again the main roster has a tough act to follow tomorrow night.
NXT UK Superstar Toni Storm is confident that the NXT Championship is in her future. Speaking with WWE.com following her matchup against Io Shirai, Storm addressed the woman who interfered in her bout, Bianca Belair, before turning her attention to the champion, Rhea Ripley.
“Bianca Belair can go and get in line with the rest of them. Because I picked up the NXT Women’s Championship, and I held it up, and it looked good,” Storm said. “And all that is is just a little preview to what’s going to happen at Worlds Collide. And I can’t wait to step in the ring with Rhea Ripley and make some magic.”
Storm’s match this week ended in disqualification thanks to Belair. Ripley would quickly insert herself into the fray before Shirai took both her and Belair out. The skirmish ended with Storm holding the NXT Championship. Toni Storm faces Rhea Ripley for the championship this Saturday at Worlds Collide.
Worlds Collide Card
Mia Yim vs. Kay Lee Ray
#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate)
Fatal 4-Way Match for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship Angel Garza (c) vs Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs Jordan Devlin vs Travis Banks
Finn Balor vs Ilja Dragunov
NXT Championship Match Rhea Ripley (c) vs Toni Storm
Imperium (WALTER, Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel and Alexander Wolfe) vs The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong)
Current WWE United States Champion Andrade and his fiancee Charlotte Flair were recent guests on Seconds Out. During the conversation, Andrade spoke about how he didn’t have much difficulty adjusting to WWE’s in-ring style. He credited his international experience with helping him make the adjustments. Andrade did, however, share some frustrations he experienced during his time in WWE’s Performance Center.
Andrade’s WWE PC Frustrations
Andrade confessed that he had difficulty with WWE’s demanding schedule. He compared it to his time wrestling on the indies and in Mexico, explaining how “you have your time” there. However, upon signing with WWE and moving to America, you’re suddenly locked into their regimented schedule, where “[…] you need to go the gym, you need promo, you need all this schedule. I don’t like schedules.”
Having had years of experience before stepping into a WWE ring, Andrade admitted he had problems attending lessons covering the basics:
“When you would workout with the guys who have never wrestled in their life? I’ve been wrestling for nine years in this moment and some of these guys don’t know a wrist lock, or waist lock, or head lock,” Andrade explained. “I stay in the corner and say, ‘Ugh! Three hours?’ Because the class is three hours.”
He continued,” I have to stay in the ring because I’m learning headlocks, or a spot, or a little wrestling. And I’ll say, ‘Okay, Norman Smiley, next.’ People are standing in the ring while he says, ‘A headlock is this, a headlock is this, a headlock is this.’ Norman Smiley keeps saying wait, wait, and he understands because he speaks Spanish and says, ‘Hey, tranquilo, tranquilo, tranquilo, relax, wait, wait.’”
“After that, you stay in promo class and between promo class with the English and Spanish,” Andrade continued. “Sometimes when I have my English class, I don’t get home until like 5 or 6 PM when I start my day at 8 AM. I think, ‘Oh, I’m so tired.’ From Monday to Thursday or Friday for one year? Whew, I’m so tired. It was a hard time for me but for now, I’m here. I have a beautiful lady that’s a superstar, my belt, and a good life.”
Andrade is scheduled to defend his United States Championship this Sunday at Royal Rumble against Humberto Carrillo. He recently retained his championship against Rey Mysterio in a Ladder Match.
Kacy Catanzaro made a surprise return during last week’s episode of NXT. She participated in a Women’s Battle Royal in an effort to become number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship.
In a video uploaded to the WWE Performance Center YouTube channel, Catanzaro discusses her hiatus away from the black-and-gold brand. At the time, several reports were suggesting Catanzaro would be leaving WWE due to an injury. Whilst away, she remained under contract with the promotion, who never publicly acknowledged her employment status.
Kacy Catanzaro’s Mindset
During the video, Catanzaro opened up about the doubt she had regarding being a part of WWE. Where she had other viable options, including gymnastics and American Ninja Warrior, she wasn’t confident in her decision to be a part of the company.
“Coming into something new like this, I think that it is fair to have moments when you’re not sure. You know, physically, mentally I wasn’t sure this was the right place for me,” Catanzaro confessed.
During Kacy Catanzaro’s time away from NXT, she was able to rehab and take care of herself both physically and mentally. Catanzaro admitted how she did some “soul searching” that, ultimately, led her back to WWE. Armed with this new mindset, she is excited to see what she can achieve during this next chapter of her wrestling career, admitting she missed the feeling of competing and the reactions of the NXT fans.
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WWE Backstage analyst CM Punk has shared who he thinks “should” win this year’s Royal Rumble matchup, naming NXT’s Keith Lee. Punk stressed that there is a difference between who he thinks should win the Rumble match as opposed to he thinks is going to win before fantasy booking his choice:
“Keith Lee from NXT should win the Royal Rumble,” Punk said. “I think he had a tremendous showing at Survivor Series, and he, to me, is a big fish in a little pond right now.”
He continued, “Not to say NXT is little by any means, but I think you need to follow up on stuff like this. You strike when the lightning’s hot. You see the little moment he had with [Roman] Reigns right there [at Survivor Series], that already feels like it was two years ago. We gotta get going with Keith Lee here. I think he needs to chuck Brock over the top rope and he needs to win that whole thing.”
When it came to his prediction for the Women’s Royal Rumble matchup, Punk went with “The Boss” Sasha Banks.
CM Punk’s fellow Backstage analysts also provided their predictions. Paige chose Otis and Kairi Sane; Christian picked current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Shayna Baszler. Renee Young sided with Drew McIntyre but didn’t provide a pick for the Women’s Royal Rumble.
WWE’s Royal Rumble event takes place this Sunday at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
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NXT Superstar Keith Lee has been making waves in WWE’s black-and-gold brand in recent months. Despite his current success, however, at one point WWE wasn’t interested in bringing Lee into the fold, with WWE rejecting Lee three times. Speaking with Corey Graves on his WWE podcast, After The Bell, Lee opened up about how the rejections affected him.
Keith Lee’s Rejections
“About three years in (being a wrestler), some people know him as Lance Archer, some people know him as Lance Hoyt, was in the WWE and said to somebody that I should be one to look out for,” Lee said. “Then, I got invited to do some work. In my case, I got thrown into a barricade by one Mr. Triple H and also got poked in the eye by Shane McMahon and punched in the face by Vince. That was my introduction to the bosses of today.”
He continued, “At some point, I gained interest in that first meeting and ended up with my first try out. That was in 2008. I was turned down. In 2011, I did some extra work, and I got asked to come back for another tryout. I was also turned down. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do-wrestling wise going forward. In 2013, when the Performance Center first opened up in the fall, I was part of that first class. Then, I was turned down a third time, so, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to continue wrestling.”
Conversations With Legends
Lee credited conversations with wrestling legends Dusty Rhodes, William Regal and Jim Ross as helping him to refocus on his ambitions. He believes that, if he hadn’t spoken with Rhodes and Regal, he may have quit pursuing wrestling. Lee explained how, following those conversations, he committed to being himself. He no longer wanted to subscribe to the idea of what a big guy “should be,” instead choosing to embrace what made him different as an athlete.
“After that talk, I decided to just listen to myself and bet on myself. At the end of the day, it was the greatest decision I’ve ever made.”
Keith Lee faces off against Roderick Strong this Wednesday night on NXT. They will compete for Strong’s NXT North American Championship.
Jazzy Gabert is no longer with the NXT UK brand in WWE. She posted to Twitter recently that she is now a free agent. Gabert had signed with the NXT UK brand in January of 2019. She made her in-ring debut at the April 20th, 2019 tapings from Glasgow, Scotland.
“I will press the RESET button!! I will be OFFLINE for a short while! Need a change! Will change! Body, mind and soul needs a break!! 10 days of fasting, including keeping off from social media, is the first step,” Gabert wrote on Instagram. “Second one, which I look most forward too is changing my look! And i change my profession… one came to an end and one is rising like a Phoenix. Watch out for it! Thank you for being on this journey.”
Jazzy Gabert in NXT UK
Gabert had a total of 6 matches for the NXT UK brand and had a 4-2 record. She only wrestled one single’s match, however, a loss to Piper Niven in October. She teamed with Jinny successfully three times and picked up another win in a 2-on-1 handicap match. Gabert lost to Piper Niven in a single’s match and then she and Jinny lost to Rhea Ripley and Piper Niven in her final NXT UK match.
WWE NXT Superstar Chelsea Green spoke with ComicBook.com for an interview to promote the Battle Royal match that will take place on tonight’s NXT episode. The winner of the match will go on to challenge NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley at TakeOver: Portland.
Green said that she has evolved as a wrestler working since joining WWE NXT. “Every single year, I go through once the new year hits, I go through this moment where I kind of think about how far I’ve come and what’s changed,” the former Impact Knockouts Champion said.
She said that her character’s biggest evolution has been from the time she started NXT until now. I’ve been working through who I am and how to show the fans and the audience who I am in a genuine way, she said.
Green hopes that fans will see the different sides of her which she has been trying to put into her character to show to the fans.
“So, it’s been kind of a different sort of evolution this year, but I’m loving it and I’m still figuring it out. And maybe in a year, you can ask me the same question, and I’ll have a totally different response. You know?”
Green also has plans to be a fighting champion when she wins the Battle Royale and defeats the NXT Women’s Champion. She said that she will do what she did on her time on the independent scene, which is to be a fighting champion.
Green’s said goals for 2020 are to win the NXT Title and be the face of the company. “I want to be the face of this brand in any way possible, and if I have to do double duty and triple duty, and be on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT in the same week, your girl will do it.”
On tonight’s episode of NXT, Green will participate in the Battle Royal along with Mercedes Martinez, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Xia Li, Vanessa Borne, Dakota Kai, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, and Shotzi Blackheart. The winner will then go on to face Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s title at Takeover: Portland on February 16, 2020, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Velveteen Dream has been on the shelf since September. He hasn’t wrestled since dropping the NXT North American title to Roderick Strong on the September 18th, 2019 episode of NXT.
According to comments made by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Velveteen is dealing with a serious back injury.
“I know the injury was pretty serious,” Meltzer said on the show. He would also say he hasn’t heard an update on Velveteen’s condition in a long time, however.
“Back injury,” Meltzer confirmed when asked what injury Velveteen was dealing with.
Velveteen Dream Injured
When Dream went on the shelf, it was reported that he had been dealing with a back injury for some time. The injury had gotten worse before he would take time off to deal with it, however. There is currently no timetable for his return.
Velveteen Dream won the NXT North American title from Johnny Gargano this summer. Two endings to the match with Gargano were taped, one with Gargano retaining and the other with Dream winning the title.
This past Sunday saw NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II take place in Blackpool, England at the Empress Ballroom. One of the major surprises from the hyped show saw NXT’s Undisputed Era appear at the end of the event. They attacked NXT UK’s Imperium stable. Speaking during a media scrum following the end of the show, Triple H was asked about how they managed to keep their appearance a surprise.
Triple H On Fan Secrecy
“It seems to me anyways that fans of NXT, both in the US and here, they wanna be respectful, I think, to what we’re trying to do, and it seems almost like […] even if somebody tended to see them here, they would be like, “Well, I’m not saying anything, I don’t want to ruin it.” Do you know what I mean?” Triple H said.
He continued, “Because, in some ways, I think there is this moment where was have said, “NXT is your brand.” We’ve built it that way. We mean that. If you’re watching, if you’re a fan, if you’re here, you’re a part of this. [You’re] with us. We’re building it from the ground up, and I think that resonates with fans.”
Following #NXTUKTakeOver, I asked @TripleH just how difficult it was to keep Undisputed Era’s appearance a secret.
Triple H added how they don’t have issues with fans leaking Superstar sightings. He shared how he is appreciative and thankful that fans “protect the brand like we protect the brand.”
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Alex Shelley reflected on his recent WWE debut during an NXT Live Event in Pittsburgh, PA. Shelley partnered with KUSHIDA, reforming their Time Splitters tag team ahead of their Dusty Classic matchups. They faced off against the Forgotten Sons, ultimately coming out on top with the victory.
Taking to Twitter, the Superstar addressed how wrestling in WWE and their black-and-gold brand has been a dream of his. He then highlighted how the past few years haven’t been easy for him, but noted that “If a single person can draw some inspiration and strength from this? Win.”
“I’ve more to say, but wrestling for @WWE and @WWENXT specifically has been a dream of mine for awhile. I have had to do a lot of hard things in life, especially the last few years. But so have you. If a single person can draw some inspiration and strength from this? Win. Thanks.”
Alex Shelly’s Not Even Mad
Shelley shared how he had broken down on the highway following an NXT show in Warren, OH. Despite the setback, Shelley didn’t let it bother him. Instead, he stated “studying for my CSCS exam, looking up chords to @TogetherPangea songs, reading Scott Pilgrim books. Not even mad. The high I experienced this weekend was immeasurable. Thank you, NXT, Kushi, everyone.”
Broke down on the highway post @WWENXT in Warren, OH, studying for my CSCS exam, looking up chords to @TogetherPangea songs, reading Scott Pilgrim books. Not even mad. The high I experienced this weekend was immeasurable. Thank you, NXT, Kushi, everyone.
Alex Shelley will team with KUSHIDA against the team of NXT UK’s Grizzled Young Veterans. They clash in the first round of the 2020 Dusty Classic this Wednesday on NXT.
Despite his rise through the ranks on WWE’s black-and-gold brand, Damien Priest has confessed that coming to WWE made him feel as though he had only “just started.” Prior to signing with WWE, the NXT Superstar had experience on the independent circuit and with other promotions such as Ring of Honor, where he wrestled as Punishment Martinez.
“I feel like because of the knowledge that I’ve gained here, it’s like I just started,” Priest told Sporting News. “It really does feel that way and I’m still constantly asking “was that OK, is this good, how can I make this better?” like if I just started.”
Damien Priest On Needing A Game Plan
Training at the WWE Performance Center and performing in NXT has been a different experience for Priest. He highlighted how Superstars have to “explain it to ourselves as to why we do the things we do and have them make sense” as opposed to having no game plan or understanding behind their actions and character motivations.
“Before, you just go into a match or promo or appearance but there has to be more to it,” he explained. “I used to fight before I was in pro wrestling and it’s the same thing for preparation. You can’t just go out there and start swinging wildly.”
He continued, “You actually have to have a game plan, you have to have a reason and know how to defend yourself and create a game plan. It’s kind of the same thing where I never put two-and-two together and never realized that’s the way I should have always attacked this business.”
Damien Priest was unable to secure a victory this past Wednesday night on NXT. He competed in a Fatal 4 Way match up to determine the new number one contender for Roderick Strong’s NXT North American Championship.
NXT Superstar Damien Priest has been making waves since his debut on the black-and-gold brand. As well as being a top talent in the ring, Priest also has a captivating entrance. In an interview with Sporting News, Priest opened up abut refining his entrance to suit his character. He managed to achieve this with the help of a WWE Legend who knows all about attention-grabbing entrances: “The Game” Triple H.
Damien Priest On Creating Presence
Priest reflected on his love of pro wrestling growing up. For him, it was never about the flashiest moves. Instead, it was the spectacle that captured his imagination. This drive for spectacle is something Priest has attempted to showcase throughout his career, always making sure his “presence was felt a little differently than everybody else.”
“There’s no shortage of good pro wrestlers and good entertainers,” he said. “There’s so many of them nowadays. But I’ve always been adamant about the way I was presented. I wanted to make sure it was special every time. I didn’t want somebody to turn on the TV midway through an entrance and change the channel. I wanted them to be intrigued without me even performing yet in the ring. That’s how I feel in love with the business.”
Capturing The Spectacle
Priest then pointed to Legends like The Undertaker and The Ultimate Warrior and the way they could entertain the crowd before they even stepped in the ring. It was something Priest wanted to capture with his own character.
“It was mesmerizing and I wanted to make sure that was a part of what my presentation was. I had a writeup of ideas that I brought to Triple H. He was super cool, didn’t turn down any ideas, he just morphed them to make them better and was very adamant about — in agreement with me about — that my presentation had to be unique and special because there’s no shortage of guys that can go in the ring.”
He continued, “This company, especially our brand, it’s known for our go, go, go, in-ring style so that’s not an issue. The issue was creating something that stood out a little bit differently and created something a little more special which I’ve tried to do my entire career no matter where I worked. Here, with the production team we have, we’re able to do it in a way cooler way and I was excited.”
Full Entrance
Priest added how the presentation of his character with WWE’s guidance really excited him when he first signed with the promotion. He shared how, when he and other Superstars go over ideas, he will stress the importance of his full entrance.
“I’m like as long as I have a full entrance, whatever you guys need me to do and everybody starts laughing because that, to me, is so important, the presentation aspect. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to do and the way it’s perceived. People dig it and I’m glad because we worked hard at it.”
Damien Preist took part in a Fatal 4 Way on this week’s episode of NXT. The winner of the match would become the new number one contender to Roderick Strong’s NXT North American Championship. Keith Lee would emerge victorious.
WWE Superstar Kevin Owens is currently affiliated with the promotion’s red brand, RAW. Despite this brand association, Owens made a recent return to NXT. He joined Team Ciampa in their efforts against The Undisputed Era. The two teams clashed in a WarGames match this past November during WWE’s NXT TakeOver: WarGames event. Now, on the latest edition of WWE show The Bump, the former Universal Champion addressed the possibility of returning to the black-and-gold brand.
Kevin Owens’ Conditions
Owens compared the NXT Championship to the WWE Championship and Universal Championship. He noted how the way that NXT now presents itself as a third brand as opposed to developmental has helped to elevate the prestige of the belt.
He explained how, if WWE officials approached him and informed him he was to return to NXT, he would be immediately okay with that. If, however, they added that he would be returning to NXT for a championship opportunity, that would be an offer he would immediately jump on.
Returning To NXT
Several Superstars have since returned to NXT after time on WWE’s RAW and SmackDown rosters. Most notably Finn Balor, who quickly reinserted himself into the NXT Championship picture upon his return. Both Fandango and Tyler Breeze have also found themselves back in Orlando for NXT duties.
Kevin Owens recently teamed with Samoa Joe and a returning Big Show on this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW. They defeated Seth Rollins and the Authors of Pain via disqualification.
Both Triple H and former NXT UK commentator Vic Joseph have shared their excitement ahead of this weekend’s NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II event.
Taking to Twitter, “The Game” Triple H reflected on how the event takes them back to where it all began. He shared how NXT UK’s mentality gave fans and Superstars a place to rally behind and claim “THIS IS OUR BRAND.”
“Back to where it all began. Where fans and Superstars alike joined together to say THIS IS OUR BRAND. Before we return to Blackpool for #NXTUKTakeOver: Blackpool II, see how we got there. See the latest #PrimeTarget on this week’s episode of @NXTUK on @WWENetwork. #WeAreNXTUK”
Vic Joseph’s First Opportunity
Joseph, who previously worked on the NXT UK brand before being moved to RAW, added his thoughts on the event. He expressed how it was difficult for him to convey how much NXT UK means to him as a brand, given that it provided him with his first opportunity. He also shared his gratitude in how it allowed him to learn from and work closely with Nigel McGuinness.
“Hard to put into words what @NXTUK means to me. It’s where @TripleH gave me my first opportunity, where I learned from @McGuinnessNigel, where I was part of the foundation that grew into an empire! Don’t miss #NXTUKTakeOver: Blackpool II THIS Sunday on the @WWENetwork #WeAreNXTUK”
NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II takes place this Sunday, January 12th from the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England. It will be main evented by WALTER against Joe Coffey for the NXT United Kingdom Championship.
Viewership data is in for the January 1st editions of AEW Dynamite and NXT TV. AEW had a strong showing up against NXT, which aired a “2019 Year-End Awards” highlights show for the New Year’s Day holiday. The ‘Wednesday Night War’ resumes next week when both shows are live head-to-head once again.
Here is the breakdown of the live and same-night DVR viewership, courtesy of ShowbuzzDaily:
NXT TV Viewership:
NXT on the USA Network averaged 548,000 viewers this week, down from 831,000 on Christmas Day. That show ran unopposed. NXT drew did a 0.15 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic, down from 0.22.
AEW Dynamite Viewership:
AEW Dynamite on TNT averaged 967,000 viewers with a 0.36 rating in the 18-49 demo, way up from 683,000 viewers and a 0.25 demo rating back on December 18th.
This week’s Dynamite was touted as a “Homecoming” for AEW and the 2020 Season Premiere. It was a stacked show that was widely very well-received. Highlights included Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin, a 4-way match for the AEW Women’s Championship, Jon Moxley in action and a red-hot main event that saw The Elite vs. PAC and the Lucha Bros.
Check out our detailed recap of the top happenings from AEW Dynamite:
NXT Superstar Joaquin Wilde has reflected on his decade-long journey in getting signed to WWE. The Superstar shared his journey via Twitter, detailing his accomplishments, as well as his failures, as he continued to grind towards his ultimate goal.
A Wilde Decade
Looking back to 2010, Wilde shared how he had been invited to a WWE/FCW tryout camp but was ultimately rejected. The next year, he would sign with TNA. 2012 saw him win his first TNA X-Division Championship before he began DJ’ing in 2013. Wilde confessed that he only began DJ’ing as he believed it would make him “more interesting to WWE.”
His 2014 saw him DJ live on Sway in the Morning before he began training with Skayde in 2015. He then reached out to WWE, only to be rejected again. Despite this further setback, 2016 saw him continue to grow and improve, with Wilde earning his second X-Division championship. Unfortunately, this was the year he also suffered his first injury, breaking his wrist.
2017 would see him invited for a WWE Performance Center tryout. A near-death experience in Mexico, however, would force him to miss out on the opportunity. So, in 2018, he began wrestling for EVOLVE in the hope it would get him “closer” to WWE. He once again tried reaching out, only to be rejected once more.
In 2019, however, Wilde finally signed with WWE. He competed on WWE’s black-and-gold brand as well as 205 Live. He also competed in the NXT Breakout Tournament, losing in the first round to Angel Garza.
“It took me literally the entire decade to make it to WWE,” he wrote. “I never lost hope at any point, despite several rejections and setbacks throughout the journey. And after 10 years, the journey is still just getting started.”
The January 1, 2020 episode of WWE NXT aired on the USA Network and was the Year-End Awards special.
– Tonight’s broadcast opens up with a video package recapping some of NXT’s milestones in 2019.
– Cathy Kelley, Pat MacAfee and Sam Roberts welcome us to the show from a studio. They hype up tonight’s Year-End Awards, and they begin talking about the Match Of The Year candidates.
– They start off the show with the #3 ranked Match Of The Year: The Tag Team Ladder Match from TakeOver: XXV between The Street Profits, The Undisputed Era, and The Forgotten Sons.
– It’s time to announce the award for Tag Team Of The Year. The award goes to all four members of The Undisputed Era. We see the Era come out to the ring in the empty NXT Arena to accept their award.
– Back from the commercial break, Sam Roberts explains that these awards are determined by the WWE Universe, WWE employees, and their partners at the USA Network.
– It’s time for the male wrestler of the year award, and it goes to Adam Cole. The Era comes out to the ring again in the empty arena, and they bask in have both awards so far. Cole gives a speech saying he’s not surprised.
– Up next is the female competitor of the year award. The award goes to Shayna Baszler. Shayna and the MMA Horsewomen come out to the ring to accept the award. Shayna says she was the most dominant champion in WWE or NXT, and she will be again.
– It’s time for the Feud Of The Year award, and it goes to Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano. Cole and Gargano both come out to the ring to accept their awards from William Regal.
– They air the #2 match of the year now – the women’s WarGames match.
– The award for Future Star Of The Year is up next. The award goes to Dakota Kai, and she comes out to the ring to accept her golden bell from William Regal.
– We see a promo vieo for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, returning in 2020. The NXT teams are: The Undisputed Era, Forgotten Sons, Riddle & Dunne, and Kushia & a mystery partner. The NXT UK teams are the Grizzled Young Veterans, Gallus, Imperium, and Andrews & Webster.
– Now it’s time for the TakeOver Of The Year award. The winner is TakeOver: WarGames, and we see a highlight video from the event.
– The award for Breakout Star Of The Year is next. The award goes to Keith Lee. We cut to a video of Triple H presenting Keith Lee with his award. Lee thanks everyone who voted, and says you ain’t seen nothing yet.
– It’s time for the reveal of the #1 match of the year: Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano from TakeOver: New York.
– We go back to the studio where Cathy, Sam and Pat talk about how highly they think of the NXT roster. It’s time for the last award now, the Overall Competitor Of The Year. And the winner is: Adam Cole. Cole and the Undisputed Era come out to the ring to accept the award. Cole cuts a promo saying that this is just the beginning of the Era of the Undisputed. The Era members hold up their awards as NXT goes off the air.
Triple H was recently a guest on Corey Graves’ podcast “WWE After the Bell.” During the conversation, Triple H commented on Tommaso Ciampa’s comments on Lillian Garcia’s “Chasing Glory” podcast where he stated he told WWE he’d retire if he was called up to the main roster.
“In his current place physically, could he handle the schedule?” Triple H asked noting the neck injuries Ciampa has endured. “Could he handle the grind and the wear and tear and everything else of a full run on Raw or Smackdown, right?”
Triple H noted that Ciampa is looking to maximize his time left in wrestling by working NXT’s lighter schedule.
“Even though (WWE’s) schedule has now dropped and has become much more manageable, especially if you have a family and everything else, but for him, he probably looks at it and says, ‘Look, if I was on the main roster, I have a run that’s this long. If I was on NXT with a lessened schedule and much more manageable, I have a run that’s this long.’ He’d rather do this for a long period of time and then transition into doing all the other stuff that he loves.”
Triple H also mentioned during the show that they are preparing to train Ciampa to work as a producer.
“When the time is right, he’ll be a phenomenal coach,” Triple H said of Ciampa. “He’ll be a phenomenal backstage producer. We’re letting him get experienced in that now. He goes to EVOLVE right now, and he’ll go there and he’ll sign autographs or whatever. But then during the day, he’s a producer.”
WWE COO Triple H and trainer at the WWE Performance Center and Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels recently appeared on the After The Bell podcast with Corey Graves. During the show the former D-Generation X members discussed a variety of topics; notably NXT and where the brand is headed.
(HB)UK
Triple H made some interesting comments regarding NXT UK, saying that the ‘Heartbreak Kid’ has actually taken over the reigns of the project over in the United Kingdom. “The one thing that Shawn isn’t even mentioning on his end, everybody has so much going on, but as NXT was evolving to USA [Network] and picking up that pace it made me have to back out of some things,” Hunter explained. “Shawn picked up the ball on the UK and basically that got pushed his way. He was such an integral part of it anyway that he just kind of latched on more to it. He’s been heading over there, what is it? Every five or six weeks we do television. He’s kind of heading over there and spearheading that. Sort of taking on the ownership of that brand totally in and of himself.”
Jim Smallman Working Under Shawn Michaels
Triple H elaborated further, mentioning how there is still a team behind Michaels at NXT’s UK division. This includes former PROGRESS Wrestling co-owner Jim Smallman; who will be leaving the company at the end of this year to join NXT UK full time. “We still have other people that are involved in it and a team over there, Jim Smallman and everybody else. But Shawn’s really been the one that’s spearheaded that project. So on top of NXT becoming this weekly thing and everything else he has also been going over there and guiding that ship so to speak. So he’s been double busy and it’s been awesome because that brand is taking off as well.”
