On NXT tonight, Chase U make their first Tag Team title defense.
Andre Chase & Duke Hudson won the NXT Tag Team titles from Tony D'Angelo & Stacks at NXT Halloween Havoc last month. Tonight, D'Angelo & Stacks get their rematch. The match comes after Chase U received a letter last week informing them that they're under investigation.
The road to NXT Deadline continues tonight with two more Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying bouts. This week's matches were selected by WWE legend Lita. Roxanne Perez faces Lash Legend, while Trick Williams takes on Joe Coffey.
Tiffany Stratton and Dijak have already qualified for the Iron Survivor Challenge matches at Deadline, which is taking place on December 9.
Also tonight, Wes Lee faces off against Baron Corbin. Both wrestlers are aiming to become the next challenger for NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov.
NXT Women's Champion Lyra Valkyria will take part in a Warriors Tea Ceremony with Xia Li tonight. Alpha Academy are also set to appear as Noam Dar's guests on Supernova Sessions.
The opening video package spoofed an old news reel, while also spoofing the recent controversy with American football coach Jim Harbough. Reporters met Chase U on their way into the building, as Andre Chase appears to be under investigation.
Chase himself looked disheveled, while Duke Hudson was beaming with school pride. Jacy Jayne wore big sunglasses and a hood. She mostly looked down, as did Thea Hail. The Chase U student section among the studio audience also seemed bummed out. Some students would later walk out during the opening match.
Chase U has to defend the tag titles in tonight's opener, but they all look as if they would rather be anywhere else.
The Family (Tony D'Angelo & Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo) defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson with Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail) to win the titles
Tony D & Stacks recapture the tag titles in an entertaining match. It was far more about the story of the match, rather than the moves. Nevertheless, they still got plenty of high spots in as well.
Chase U were not fairing well from the start, and they were in more trouble as the show cuts to its first commercial break. Just before the break, Tony D hiptosses Stacks over the ropes into a flip dive on Chase & Hudson.
Hudson seemingly had to carry Chase U on his back in this mach. He struggled to make a tag. Hudson finally got close enough to make a tag, but Chase was too distracted with the students walking out on the match. Chase soon thereafter came in after a hot tag.
Chase ran wild briefly, but he was cut off. Meanwhile, the studio audience chants "walkout" during the bout. Hudson does a nifty slingshot German on Stacks. He goes for the same on Tony D, but that end up costing Hudson more.
Tony D trips up Hudson and rams him into the ring steps. Flying off the apron is Chase with a somersault senton to wipe out the Tony D. Chase is unable to capitalize, and The Family is able to execute the old Power & Glory (Paul Roma & Hercules) finisher on Chase for a near fall. Hudson is able to make a save by breaking the count.
Chase makes a comeback, and he sets for his version of the Garvin Stomp. Where he can complete that, he is distracted by more students walking out. Chase takes the Bada Bing Bada Boom finisher, and Stacks covers Chase for a three count. The Family has regained the tag straps.
It is Lita's turn to book some matches this week for the Iron Survivor qualifiers. She does a cellphone video where she runs down her matchmaking picks. Lita books Roxanne Perez against Lash Legend. She also books Trick Williams and Joe Coffey in a match on the men's side.
Meta-Four faced off with Alpha Academy in a Supernova Sessions talk show segment. Noam Darr is hosts Supernova Session alongside Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson and Oro Mensah. The Heritage Cup trophy is in a glass case with a chain criss-crossing it so no one can steal it again. That was silly, which fit the vibe, as this whole segment was beyond silly.
Silly or not, the talk show gimmick sets up a Heritage Cup Championship match for next week with Dar defending against Gable. To start the segment, out comes Alpha Academy — Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri. There is some silly banter and bickering, before Dar is goaded into accepting a challenge to put the Cup on the line.
They all play this so over the top. Dar then tries to cheap shot Gable, but Gable ducks. Gable then headbutts Dar, laying him out on a couch that was part of the set. Borrowing some phrasing from Jim Ross, this segment was goofy as a pet raccoon. Really, the whole show has been that way so far.
Meta-Four would hang around for the next match.
Lash Legend (with Noam Dar, Oro Mensah & Jakara Jackson) defeated Roxanne Perez in an Iron Survivor qualifying match
Legend pinned Perez, after a bunch of outside interference by Jakara Jackson and Kiana James. In winning, Legend qualifies for the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline.
Jackson interfered at one point, and the referee ejects her and the rest of Meta-Four from ringside. Apparently, not for long, though. Legend works over Perez, until Perez eventually makes a comeback. Legend cuts her off again, but she is unable to capitalize.
Suddenly, Jackson appears again despite being ejected earlier on. She distracts the ref while Kiana James runs in to interfere. That costs Perez the match, allowing Legend to hit Perez with a high kick. Legend goes on to do a chokeslam/powerbomb pop-up combo, and she covers Perez for a pinfall.
NXT Women's Champion Lyra Valkyria meets Xia Li for a tea ceremony. The wackiness continues on this show. I liken this to a modern day version of wacky sketch on Tuesday Night Titans. Regardless, the tea ceremony is apparently how Li's ancestors challenged their rivals. This sets up a title match next Tuesday where Valkyria defends against Li.
McKenzie Mitchell is interviewing Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Mitchell is so good in her role. She is the new Mean Gene, maybe even better.
Mitchell asks them about the elephant in the room, referring to Williams punching Hayes last week. Williams claims the punch was not intentional, and Hayes acts like he is over it. Hayes does say he will be in Williams corner for his match, which is up next.
But before the next bout, Mitchell also interviews Bron Breakker. They are interrupted by Dijak. This seems to set a future match with Dijak opposing Breakker, which could quite possibly include them both being in the Iron Survivor.
Trick Williams (with Carmelo Hayes) defeated Joe Coffey (with Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) in an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match
Williams pinned Coffey. This was the first match so far that was not wacky. It was far more serious, and the worked. The studio audience seemed very into it. In winning, Williams qualifies for the Iron Survivor at Deadline.
Williams is over huge with the studio audience, and Williams looks strong as the match gets under way. Williams punches both Mark Coffey and Wolfgang at ringside, but that ends up backfiring on Williams. Joe Coffey is able to ambush Williams.
Williams is in trouble and in peril as the show cuts to a commercial break. Coffey works over Williams, and Coffey grounds Williams with holds. Comeback by Williams, but Gallus again interfere. This time around, Hayes comes to Williams' aide as Hayes tries to trip up Wolfgang. In doing so, a low bridge is inadvertently created, and Williams goes crashing to the outside.
Hayes is seemingly trying to help Williams back into the ring when Coffey comes flying out through the ropes with a tope. Hayes steps away, leaving Williams to take the brunt of it. Coffey gets a near fall on Williams in the ring with a signature combo. Williams out of nowhere delivers a jumping knee strike, and Coffey is pinned for a three count.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov and Wes Lee met in a backstage skit. The wackiness returns. That did not take long, and neither did this skit.
The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Btuch) vs. OTM (Lucien Price & Bronco Nima with Scrypts)
Butch pinned Nima to win the match. Thankfully, this was another match that was not silly. OTM looked better than ever. It helps to be in the there with some vets. This was arguably the best match so far in the short careers of Price & Nima. Brawling Brutes carried the match, and it was good.
Joe Gacy is still trying to find his purpose, and he cuts a promo about it. Gacy shows he is finally at the Performance Center, and he is on the roof. Not sure where this is going, but I can only hope for a monster truck tug-o-war on the roof like this is Halloween Havoc '95.
Gigi Dolan defeated Arianna Grace
Dolan pinned Grace in match that seemed like filler. This match was set up with a locker room skit that featured some terrible acting.
Grace tries to cheat by putting her feet on the ropes during an attempted pinning combination. The ref caught her in the act, and she was admonished over it. Dolan then executes her finisher on Grace, and Dolan covers Grace for a pinfall.
A pretty good video package told the story of Von Wagner and Mr. Stone, from when they met as both were pictured together in a photograph from their signing day with WWE. After the video package, Mr. Stone invites Wagner to Thanksgiving dinner at Stone's home. Wagner accepts the invite, but he wants them to hold the asparagus.
Eddy Thorpe is being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when they are interrupted by Drew Gulak and company. Charlie Dempsey threatens to stretch Thorpe in a match. Those two tangle in a bout next week.
Andre Chase is being hounded by reporters when Jacy Jayne makes a save, and they speed away.
Baron Corbin defeated Wes Lee
Corbin pinned Lee in what was arguably the best match on the show. In some ways, the match did not fit the show as it was not wacky enough. It was mostly serious. Corbin is apparently headed into a title program.
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio agreed in a skit earlier in the show to have Corbin's back. Mysterio involvement would then help Corbin win the match.
Mysterio basically took a bullet for Corbin when Lee leaped over the ropes with a flip dive. Lee then jumps Mysterio, only for Lee to nearly get counted out. Lee barely breaks the count as he rushes back into the ring, where Lee is caught in the clutches of Corbin. Lee takes the End of Days, and Corbin covers Lee for a pinfall.
Corbin pummels Lee after the bell, which brings out NXT Champ Ilja Dragunov to make a save. Corbin is able to thwart the champ, and Corbin poses over Dragunov with the title belt.
As Corbin is leaving, Dragunov would crawl over to grab a microphone. Dragunov then vows to defend the title against Corbin at Deadline.