NXT TakeOver: New Orleans will air this Saturday night on the WWE Network. Tonight’s episode of NXT was the go-home show for the PPV during WrestleMania weekend. The Authors of Pain battled Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong in the final round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
The team that wins the tournament will be granted a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Bobby Fish of Undisputed Era has not been medically cleared to compete at NXT TakeOver. Kyle O’Reilly will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships on Saturday night, with his partner most likely being Adam Cole of Undisputed Era. Adam Cole is also a part of the Ladder match for the new North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. This issue was brought up during tonight’s episode.
Tonight we will be the 2time #DustyClassic winners!!! #AOP #AuthorsOfPain #NXT pic.twitter.com/PkWzJPCHkh
— Albanian Psycho (@Rezar_WWE) April 4, 2018
Undisputed Era Will Defend The NXT Tag Team Championships In A Triple Threat Match At NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
The finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic kicked off this week’s episode of NXT. Paul Ellering accompanied The Authors of Pain down to the ring. The new team of Roderick Strong and U.K. Champion Pete Dunne came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Dunne stopped at the top of the ramp to admire the Dusty Rhodes Cup that awaited the victors of the match.
Roderick Strong and Akam started off the match. Akam slammed Strong to the mat and quickly tagged in Rezar. Strong connected with a chop and retreated to the corner. Dunne didn’t back down from the challenge and tagged himself in. Dunne and Rezar locked up as NXT went to a commercial break.
When NXT returned, Akam tagged back in and beatdown Pete Dunne. Pete battled back with a couple of chops, but Akam shrugged them off and blasted Dunne with a few fists to the face. Akam applied a side Headlock but Dunne reached the ropes to break the hold. Akam kneed Dunne in the ribs a few times in the corner and tagged Rezar back into the match.
Rezar clubbed Dunne across the back and taunted Strong on the ring apron. Rezar kneed Dunne in the face and tagged in Akam. Akam went for the cover but Dunne kicked out at two. Rezar tagged in and stomped on Dunne’s face for another two count. Rezar bashed away at Dunne’s head for another two count.
#AOP @Akam_WWE & @Rezar_WWE are looking UNSTOPPABLE right about now… #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/XV0cZcczkK
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018
Akam tagged in and lost focus for a moment and Dunne capitalized. Dunne snapped back one of his fingers and dove across the ring to tag in Strong. Roderick entered the ring fired up as Rezar tagged in at the same time. Strong knocked Akam out of the ring and sent Rezar to the turnbuckle.
Strong connected with a series of forearms to the face and then Dropkicked Rezar to the canvas. Strong hit a Dropkick through the ropes to Akam and followed it up with an Olympic Slam to Rezar for a two count. Strong kneed Rezar in the face and tagged in Dunne. Pete connected with an Enziguri and then climbed to the top rope. Dunne connected with a stomp to Rezar’s back for another two count.
Pete Dune went for the Triangle but Rezar lifted him up and Akam tagged in. AOP teamed up for a Neckbreaker on Dunne and went for the cover but Strong broke it up. Strong Clotheslined Rezar out of the ring and tagged back in the match. Dunne hit another Enziguri to Akam and followed it up with a Bitter End. Strong went for the cover but Rezar dove into the ring and broke it up at the last second.
Strong and Dunne knocked Rezar to the mat and then both booted Akam in the face. They then both ran into boots to the face by Akam and Rezar and all four Superstars crashed to the canvas as the crowd chanted “NXT!”.
When the #DustyCup is on the line… you leave it ALL in the ring! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/2TjlLT3gsS
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018
Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly rushed the ring and attacked both teams. The referee called for the bell as Undisputed Era beatdown Strong & Dunne as AOP rolled out of the ring. It was then announced that the referee ruled this as a double disqualification as Undisputed Era retreated up the entrance ramp.
NXT GM William Regal came down to the entrance ramp and stated that Cole and O’Reilly were not smart enough. Regal then announced that Undisputed Era will now defend their NXT Tag Team Championships against Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong and The Authors of Pain in a Triple Threat match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Regal added that the winner of the match at TakeOver will win the Dusty Cup and the NXT Tag Team Championships.
#WWENXT GM @RealKingRegal just raised the stakes in a BIG way for The #UndisputedERA, #AOP, and @PeteDunneYxB & @roderickstrong! #NXTTakeOver #DustyClassic pic.twitter.com/FWsV5kTcmZ
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2018
Later on NXT, Cole and O’Reilly caught up with Regal outside Full Sail. Cole complained about being in a 6-man Ladder match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans and thought it was ridiculous that Regal expected him to compete in both matches. Regal said that they had 3 options:
- Cole can compete in both matches
- Cole can back out of the Ladder match for the North American Championship
- Kyle O’Reilly can defend the NXT Tag Team Championships by himself
#WWENXT GM @RealKingRegal has spoken!
OPTION 1: @AdamColePro competes in the #LadderMatch AND The #TagTeamChampionship Match.
OPTION 2: @KORcombat defends the gold on his own.
OPTION 3: Cole withdraws from the NXT North American Title Match.What lies ahead for #UndisputedERA? pic.twitter.com/AvhtpZ2Cy2
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018
Kairi Sane Defeated Vanessa Borne
Kairi Sane faced Vanessa Borne on this week’s episode of NXT. Borne slammed Sane to the mat to start off the match. Vanessa shouted that Kairi wasn’t special and the two Superstars locked up.
Borne stomped on Sane’s foot and applied a Wrist Lock. Sane countered and threw Borne across the ring with an Arm Drag. Sane went for a roll-up for a one count. Borne responded with a Flap Jack and then elbowed Sane in the back of the head a few times for a two count.
Vanessa slammed Kairi’s head into the turnbuckle a couple of times and then bashed her head into the bottom turnbuckle for a two count. Sane ducked under a Clothesline and decked Borne with a Clothesline. Sane got fired up and connected with a sliding Clothesline in the corner. Sane climbed to the top rope and connected with a flying elbow for a two count. Sane quickly climbed back to the top but Borne tripped her up.
Borne went for a Superplex but Sane pushed her and Vanessa got caught up in the ropes. Sane delivered a Double Stomp and followed it up with the Insane Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory.
The #PiratePrincess prevails! What's next for @KairiSaneWWE? #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/jxkXMEcxzX
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018
Lacey Evans Trashed The NXT Women’s Division
Lacey Evans made a statement and said that NXT GM William Regal needs to stop allowing “societal trash” in NXT. Evans brought up Nikki Cross and complained that she kept getting opportunities in NXT. Evans stated that NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon has never made a difference in NXT and hasn’t shown the strength of a woman, other than jumping off the top rope.
A reporter brought up Dakota Kai and Evans dismissed her as if she was nothing. Lacey called Kairi Sane a “pathetic pirate princess” and said that she planned on taking Sane’s opportunity away from her.
It was later announced that Lacey Evans will face Kairi Sane next week on NXT.
Killain Dain & Lars Sullivan Were Interrupted By Dream, EC3, Cole And Ricochet
Lars Sullivan battled Killian Dain in the main event of this week’s episode of NXT. The two giant Superstars had a brief stare down before locking up in the ring. Dain connected with a right hand and Sullivan seemed to enjoy it. Sullivan clubbed Dain across the chest a coupe of forearms and Dain responded by booting Lars out of the ring. Sullivan slammed Dain into the ring apron as NXT went to a commercial break.
Quite Large Sullivan pic.twitter.com/NSlVTbrsGH
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 5, 2018
When NXT returned, the action had returned to the ring and Sullivan was still in control. Lars clubbed Dain with a flurry of forearms and then started bending Dain’s neck in the middle of the ring. Killian powered to his feet but Sullivan stopped his momentum with a knee to the midsection. Dain lifted Sullivan up in a Fireman’s Carry and dropped him to the mat.
Dain connected with a running Senton and went for a Vader Bomb, but Sullivan was able to get his knees up. Lars leveled Dain with a Clothesline and then made his way up to the top rope. Dain got up and punched Sullivan in the face. Killian joined Sullivan on the top rope and the two started trading punches. Dain and Sullivan connected with a headbutt at the same time and both Superstars crashed to the floor.
Velveteen Dream came down to the ring and climbed to the top rope. Adam Cole joined the party and got into the ring. Dream hopped down as Cole posed and shouted “Adam Cole baybay!”. EC3 came down to the ring and started barking at Dream and Cole. Sullivan and Dain got back into the ring as Ricochet’s music hit.
Ricochet sprinted down to the ring and flipped off the ropes and posed in the middle of the ring. The crowd chanted “Ricochet!” as NXT went off the air with the 6 Superstars staring at each other in the ring. Ricochet, EC3, Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Lars Sullivan and Killian Dain will compete in a Ladder match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans this Saturday night to crown the first NXT North American Champion.
The #OneAndOnly @KingRicochet has ARRIVED! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/vtgfNuc0ex
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2018
The following video packages were aired during tonight’s episode of NXT to promote NXT TakeOver: New Orleans this Saturday night:
Here is the card for NXT TakeOver: New Orleans:
- NXT Championship: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aleister Black
- NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: EC3 vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Adam Cole vs. Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Ricochet
- NXT Women’s Championship: Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
- Unsanctioned Match: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano
- NXT Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: Undisputed Era (c) vs. Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne vs. The Authors of Pain
Join us on SEScoops for live coverage of NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on Saturday, April 7th.
