NXT 2.0 – AUG 9
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter won last week’s fatal four-way for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. Cora says she’ll put Zoey Starks away. Zoey replies, “Mandy Rose can put up all the hurdles she wants, but I’ll win at Heatwave.”
The first match in this week’s edition of NXT 2.0 is Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James.
Nikkita Lyons vs. Kiana James
Before the match begins, we are shown an interview with Zoey Starks and Nikkita Lyons from earlier in the day, about their spot in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament. Zoey says they have the advantage as the unknown team in the tournament.
They may be on different paths in #WWENXT, but @ZoeyStarkWWE & @nikkita_wwe are ready to shine in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament. pic.twitter.com/hKz76v5gaq — WWE (@WWE) August 9, 2022
Kiana locks up with Nikkita, the referee begs them to separate, and they shove each other away. Kiana releases go and runs for the ropes, but Nikkita blocks her. Kiana rests by the ropes while Nikkita poses. Lyons has Kiana’s kick scouted, but Kiana elbows her in the face. Nikkita fights Kiana’s suplex. Nikkita tackles Kiana to stop her arm drag.
Kiana ties Nikkita’s leg around the middle rope, Nikkita fights her off with a shot to Kiana’s back, Kiana punches Nikkita in the face. Kiana gathers momentum from the bottom rope and kicks Lyons’ leg as she falls. In commentary, they say Kiana researched her opponent, Nikkita, and targeted a past injury. Kiana focuses on Nikkita’s left leg, and commentary notes that Nikkita is pairing with Zoey in the tournament, therefore Zoey’s participation depends on Nikkita’s health.
Kiana slides out of the ring, she hits Nikkita with the apron, Nikkita kicks her to separate herself, and she lands by the barricade. While Kiana recovers, Lyons slams her face on the apron. Nikkita tries to kick Kiana, but Kiana moves out of the way, Lyons hits her leg on the steps, and Kiana kicks Nikkita’s leg.
Kiana really takes focus on Nikkita’s left leg throughout the match, even setting up a submission. Kiana kick Lyons in the face, Nikkita fights back. Lyons starts to find her position, elbowing Kiana to have some distance, Lyons kicks Kiana three times and sets up for a suplex. Lyons runs to set up a cannonball maneuver, but she misses Kiana and recovers as much as she can and goes for a pin attempt. Kiana places her hand on the ropes to break up the pin. Kiana goes for a roll up, using the ropes as leverage, the referee stops it once he realizes this. Lyons goes for a spinning kick and her split finisher for the victory.
After the match, Kiana takes the purse she took with her to the ring, hitting Lyons with it
.@kianajames_wwe has some more numbers for @nikkita_wwe to crunch. 😮#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/SyUQnX6VCj — WWE (@WWE) August 10, 2022
Astrid’s Point
This match really gave a heel character feel to Kiana James, it’s probably one of her best performances as a heel as she focused on Nikkita’s leg through the match. I knew Nikkita was going to win as the victory does give her momentum towards the tournament too.
Lash Legend backstage
We observe Lash backstage throughout the night, first conversing with Malik Blade about how amazing she looks, etc., before being led to the match. After that, she’s still talking to Malik when Edris Enofe arrives. Pretty Deadly tells Malik and Edris not to interrupt a lady and that they’ll show them how it’s done afterwards.
Thea Hail, Arianna Grace and Andre Chase segment
Chase is seen in an office with Arianna Grace, saying, “We’ll get this settled.” Arianna says Thea hurt her, so Chase begs for an explanation. Thea says she was playing outside with Bodhi when she called “duck” and Arianna didn’t.
Grace says, “You damaged my flawless face, I’m a pageant queen, how can I wear a crown now?” Chase claimed they’ll settle their problems in a ring, Thea is enthusiastic for her first NXT match, and Arianna’s lawsuit talk angers Andre. Grace argues he can’t settle their issues in the ring in Chase U, but he claims he can because it happened on campus.
Arianna Grace vs. Thea Hail (with Bodhi Hayward and Andre Chase)
Arianna yells at Thea’s black eye. Grace misses the show because she swings as Thea rolls. Graces avoids Hail’s third arm drag after two. Arianna kicks Thea, but she clutches Grace’s legs, causing her to fall face-first. Thea’s face hits the top turnbuckle post when Grace overpowers her. Arianna picks up Hail, reverses the shot, and has her land on the canvas. She rubs Thea’s face on the canvas until the referee stops her.
Hail tries to break up Grace’s hold on Thea’s left arm as Grace continues to dominate her. She pushes back and Grace breaks the submission. Thea elbows Grace in the face and splashes her. Thea throws a low drop kick and a neck breaker while she’s powered up. Hail moonsaults and pins. Thea ducks and reverses Grace’s shot, but the referee stops her because Arianna is pointing to her black eye. Grace kicks Thea, putting her on her shoulders for the Wasteland finisher.
Astrid’s Point
Overall, great showing for both ladies. For Arianna, I liked seeing her show off her power over Thea and beginning to find herself within her character. For Thea, I loved seeing her take that energy from the crowd as they chanted for her and showing her quickness during this match.
Yulisa Leon, Valentina Feroz & Sanga backstage
Yulisa and Valentina ask Sanga for advice after losing last week’s fatal four-way. Katana and Kayden arrive and say they respect the ladies, they’re fighting champs, and they have no issue defending the belts against them. The women don’t want a title match. Sanga thinks they remind him of Katana and Kayden because “they came near many times but never gave up” They appreciate his advice to cleanse their brains, achieve balance, and perspective.
Astrid’s Point
The segments with Sanga, Yulisa and Valentina have been one of my favorite parts as it’s nice to see the ladies have a mentor/friend relationship with one of the fellas backstage as it doesn’t involve any romance between them, and I like seeing different storylines between the male and females on screen.
Tiffany Stratton & Wendy Choo Backstage segment
Tiffany enters her locker room; Wendy is behind the door. Wendy turns off the lights, she has night googles and is able to attack Tiffany in the dark. She turns on the lights, Tiffany is on the floor as Wendy exits the room.
Astrid’s Point
I would have preferred seeing a promo from both ladies more importantly Wendy Choo, not being able to see the attack itself doesn’t work for me. I am hoping they face off soon so they’re able to move on from this chapter.
Pretty Deadly vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade
During the match, Pretty Deadly is posing outside the ring, Josh and Brooks along with Fallon are entering the arena. Pretty Deadly enters the ring, Malik goes on to take advantage and tag in Edris. Enofe is fired up against Pretty Deadly, he goes for an elbow from the top rope, Prince interrupts the pin attempt.
Prince goes to get a chair; Malik runs from his corner and dives on to Prince causing him to let go of the chair. Kit has the chair in his hands, Josh goes to take it away from him, Kit moves out of the way while Josh is holding the chair which causes Edris to get hit with it. Josh falls on to Brooks on the floor, Prince takes care of Malik on the outside. Kit tags in Prince for their finisher and victory.
Lash comes out of nowhere to kick Fallon and stand alongside Pretty Deadly.
The trio you never knew you needed…#WWENXT @lashlegendwwe @EltonPrince_PD @KitWilson_PD pic.twitter.com/NBSZ50dlFC — WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 10, 2022
Astrid’s Point
Tying this with the earlier Lash Legend segments, I didn’t picture her aligning herself with Pretty Deadly as they don’t need someone to talk for them and she doesn’t need that either from them, so I wasn’t sure how this benefits them. Maybe sometime soon we see Josh, Brooks and Fallon vs Pretty Deadly and Lash Legend.
Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne Promo/Vignette
We get a recap from Katana and Kayden’s victory last week; Gigi and Jacy reflect on their run as tag team champions. “When you lose something so dear, you can either reflect or you can rebel,” Gigi says. We get a split screen, Jacy on the left going to a record shop and Gigi on the right going to a bar. “Rock music is the soundtrack of my life, it’s my release, rock music speaks to me because it doesn’t give a damn about who you are and what you do and that’s me,” Jacy says.
“I don’t play by anyone else’s rules because when I do things my way, I thrive and I’m never going to change, ever,” Gigi says. “Toxic Attraction lives that rockstar life, seductive, sadistic and successful. We are wounded but a wounded animal is the most dangerous kind of animal. We are Toxic Attraction, and we shatter your false reality,” both Gigi and Jacy say.
Astrid’s Point
I loved this promo, seeing each lady in their favorite atmosphere, Gigi at the bar and Jacy at the record shop. It looks like a change is coming for Toxic Attraction and it’s interesting to see that the vignettes do not include Mandy Rose as part of them either, does she join them after Heatwave next week?
Cora Jade vs. Zoey Stark with Mandy in commentary
Zoey and Nikkita are backstage before the match. Nikkita says she earned her W earlier tonight and now it’s Zoey’s turn, that Cora won’t stand in her way of gaining the NXT Women’s Championship just like no one will stand in their way of getting the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Zoey grabs Cora’s hands and tackles her when she tries to shoot Cora again. Cora kicks Stark to separate from her. Stark attempts for a kick, but Cora avoids and rolls up.
Back-and-forth roll-ups with kickouts. When Stark prepares for a third arm drag, Cora jumps to the ropes, leading the referee to instruct Zoey to back off.
Cora alerts the referee that Zoey is approaching, so he pushes her away. Jade kicks Starks in the stomach, and he hits the canvas with a shot to Zoey’s back. Jade kicks Stark and chokes her briefly before attempting a pin.
Zoey chops Cora, knocks her off the ropes, clotheslines her, and pins her. Zoey prepares her next move, Cora reverses it by the ropes, Zoey clings on, and Cora shoots her. Stark twice takes down Cora and attempted a pin.
Stark runs to the corner, splashes on to Cora, she went to do it again, but Cora used Stark’s momentum to take her over the ropes and Zoey landed on the apron. Cora is about to punch Zoey, but she blocks it, she sweeps Cora’s legs, using the ropes to gain momentum, she lands on Cora and goes for a pin attempt.
What a move!#WWENXT @ZoeyStarkWWE pic.twitter.com/3zNg9ADqT1 — WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 10, 2022
Zoey is on Cora, she holds on to the ropes, Zoey falls due to this. Cora uses Zoey’s hair, holds on it to it while also holding on to the ropes to keep Zoey in place, she kicks her in the jaw.
Cora pushes Zoey towards the ropes, she’s leaning on the middle rope, Cora does a spinning elbow, Cora bounces off the ropes to go again to Zoey, but she moves on time to avoid it, Cora ends up hurting herself with the ropes.
Zoey goes for a pin attempt, Cora clotheslines her while she stands up, Cora sets up a submission. elbowing Zoey while she’s holding on, Zoey rolls her up. Cora goes to kick Zoey while she’s leaning on the top rope, Zoey grabs her leg and brings her down. Cora crawls to her corner to grab the bat she has, she swings, Zoey avoided it, suplexes her instead.
Zoey clotheslines Cora multiple times, throwing elbows and a low drop kick. Zoey gets to the corner, Cora is going to kick her, and Zoey suplexes her. Stark measures Jade for a kick, Cora hits her, goes for Sliced Bread, Zoey superkicks her. Mandy cheers for Cora on commentary to weaken Zoey for next week’s bout.
Cora moves to dodge Zoey’s top rope maneuver, Zoey chases her but lands in the middle rope, and Cora kicks and DDTs her. Cora prepares another Sliced Bread, which works this time. She considers employing the bat. She tries to steal Roxanne’s bat, but Stark super kicks her, setting up her finisher and victory.
.@roxanne_wwe and @WWE_MandyRose don't want to wait for #NXTHeatwave! #WWENXT @ZoeyStarkWWE @CoraJadeWWE pic.twitter.com/zY9MqfbQrw — WWE (@WWE) August 10, 2022
Zoey signals to Mandy that her time is coming, Roxanne has Cora cornered. Roxanne goes to hit Cora, but she runs away, Roxanne chasing her. Mandy comes from behind to gain the upper hand on Stark, but she has it scouted, sets up Mandy with her finisher move which you can see below (2:37 mark) and she takes the title to raise it above her head.
Astrid’s Point
The match itself was incredible to watch and I truly love seeing the women main event a show plus Mandy Rose vs. Zoey and Roxanne vs. Cora seems like more important storylines right now. They have been focusing on both storylines simultaneously and giving them a lot more time than the world title right now.
NXT UK – Aug 11
The first women’s segment of tonight’s episode is the aftermath of last week’s main event between Blair Davenport and Isla Dawn along with the interference of Amale and Eliza Alexander. The ladies are separated backstage, Isla’s panicking that she was really close to it.
Eliza Alexander vs. Thea Hail (With Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward)
Eliza ducks, twists Thea to knock her back, and continues shooting while Thea is on the ropes. She knocks Thea off the ropes, then prepares to hit her, but she escapes it by wrapping her legs around Eliza’s neck. Eliza pushes Thea, who bounces off the ropes to counter.
Eliza tosses Thea on the ropes, grabs her arm, and clotheslines her using Thea’s momentum. While Thea recovers, Eliza hits her back and drops her with her hair. Chase and Bodhi encourage Thea in the corner as the referee separates her from Eliza. Alexander is ready to reverse it, but Thea uses her momentum to cling on to her for a quick roll up.
Eliza knees and slams Thea. Eliza snatches Thea’s hair punches her. Thea overpowers Eliza, and she throws herself back, breaking the submission.
Thea focusing on Eliza and a swinging neck breaker and pin attempt. Eliza elevates her legs to aim for a kick to Thea’s face, a pin, and victory.
Astrid’s Point
Just like her NXT debut, Thea did pretty well on her NXT UK debut, showing off her athletic ability and quickness there while Eliza builds her momentum to hopefully face Meiko sometime soon.
Amale Interview
Nina interrupts Amale’s interview about her recent loss to Blair Davenport. “I don’t care if it’s Isla, Eliza, Blair or Nina Samuels. I am prepared to go through anyone to get to the NXT UK Women’s Championship,” Amale replies.
Commenti