WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 12/6): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more
SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.
•Top Stories of the Week
- Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported this week that WWE has come to terms with Jonah Rock out of Australia and that he will join Walter, Trevor Lee, ACH, and Shane Strickland at the Performance Center in January.
- It was announced this past Wednesday on NXT that there will be a fatal 4-way in three weeks for the right to challenge Shayna Baszler for her NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver Phoenix. Bianca Belair has already claimed one of the spots, with the other three yet to be determined.
- It was reported on this weeks NXT that Hanson, one half of NXT Tag Team Champions War Raiders, was diagnosed with broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, and torn ligaments after their match at WarGames. However, he did wrestle at live shows both November 30th and December 1st so maybe it’s just an angle.
- Two big matchups have been announced for next Wednesday’s NXT. The Unisputed Era’s Bobby Fish will take on EC3 in a one on one bout and Ricochet will defend his NXT North American Championship vs. unnamed opponent. Could literally be anyone because the roster is loaded with contenders.
•NXT Live Event Results
Nov. 29 Ocala, Fla.
- Keith Lee won battle royal to face Tommaso Ciampa for NXT Championship in the main event.
- Dakota Kai and Mia Yim beat Aliya and Chelsean Green
- Fabian Aichner beat Mansoor Al-Shehail
- The Forgotten Sons beat Stacey Ervin Jr. and Punishment Martinez and Matt Riddle
- Velveteen Dream beat Kona Reeves (w/Vanessa Borne)
- Babatunde Aiyegbusi beat Marcel Barthel
- Rhea Ripley beat Reina Gonzalez to retain her NXT UK Women’s Championship
- Tommaso Ciampa beat Keith Lee to retain his NXT Championship
(Results courtesy of F4WOnline.com)
Nov. 30 Jacksonville, Fla.
- Kassius Ohno beat Ric Boog
- Aliya beat Jessie Elaban
- Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly beat Jeet Rama and Saurav Gurjar
- Fabian Aichner vs. Marcel Barthel ended in a double contout
- War Raiders beat Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch
- Matt Riddle beat Riddick Moss
- Shayna Baszler and Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke beat Lacey Lane and MJ Jenkins and Mia Yim.
- Johnny Gargano beat Keith Lee
(Results courtesy of F4WOnline.com)
Dec. 1 Tampa, Fla.
- Danny Burch beat Saurav Gurjar
- Deonna Purrazzo beat Xia Li
- Fabian Aichner beat Riddick Moss
- War Raiders beat Dan Matha and Kona Reeves (w/ Vanessa Borne) by DQ
- Velveteen Dream beat Luke Menzies
- Nikki Cross and Mia Yim beat Vanessa Borne beat Lacey Evans
- Babatunde Aiyegbusi beat Punishment Martinez
- Keith Lee beat Dominik Dijakovic
- Heavy Machinery beat Undisputed Era (Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly)
(Results courtesy of F4WOnline.com)
•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: NXT TakeOver Phoenix
NXT Takeover Phoenix
January 26, 2019
Phoenix, AZ (Talking Stick Resort Arena)
Projected Lineup:
- Tomaso Ciampa (Champion) vs. Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream
- Undisputed Era (Champions) vs. War Raiders
- Ricochet (Champion) vs. Adam Cole vs. EC3
•Upcoming Events
- Friday Dec. 7 – Havert L. Fenn Center (Fort Pierce, Fla.)
- Friday Dec. 7 – Shopko Hall (Green Bay, Wis.)
- Saturday Dec. 8 – Venice Community Center (Venice, Fla.)
- Saturday Dec. 8 – Roy Wilkins Auditorium (St. Paul, Minn.)
- Sunday Dec. 9 – Hy- Vee Hall (Des Moines, Iowa)
- Thursday Dec. 13 – Orlando Live Events (Casselberry, Fla.)
- Friday Dec. 14 – Citrus Springs Fla.
- Saturday Dec. 15 – Minnreg Hall (Largo, Fla.)
- Friday Jan. 4 – Center Stage Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia) – JUST ADDED
- Saturday Jan. 5 – Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (Spartanburg, South Carolina) – JUST ADDED
- Saturday Jan. 5 – Crystal River Armory (Crystal River, Fla.)
- Sunday Jan. 6 – Durham Armory (Durham, North Carolina) – JUST ADDED
- Friday Jan. 18 – University Area CDC Gymnasium (Tampa, Fla.)
- Saturday Jan. 19 – Citrus Springs (Citrus Springs, Fla.)
- SATURDAY JAN 26. – WWE NXT TAKEOVER PHOENIX – TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA (Phoenix, Arizona)
•Latest TV Highlights: 12/5 NXT TV Report
- (1) Matt Riddle beat Punishment Martinez by submission (4:13 – 7:23)
•Riddle attacked from behind by Kassius Ohno (8:44) - Ricochet video package/backstage interview (9:41 – 11:35)
- Heavy Machinery video package (12:37 – 14:08)
- (2) The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler) beat Rumberto Carillo and Raul Mendoza by pinfall (16:58 – 21:49)
- Cathy Kelly backstage interview with Velveteen Dream (23:11 – 24:34)
- Undisputed Era taped segment from the back of a freaking moving van (25:56 – 27:32)
- (3) Shayna Baszler beat Dakota Kai by submission (30:36 – 36:43)
•Post match attack by Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke (37:58)
•Io Shirai clears the ring (38:20 – 39:04) - Dijakovic video package (40:14 – 41:28)
- NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa in ring promo (43:18 –
•Interrupted by Aleister Black (45:36 –
•Interrupted by Johnny Gargano to set up future Steel Cage Match (48:16 – 52:58)
•NXT in the media
- Fantastic column on the performance center, mainly focusing on two future stars Matt Riddle and Rhea Ripley. Also in the column was some great insight from performance center trainers Matt Bloom and Robbie Brookside. Brookside discussing his background in British wrestling, “”You’d come [into the ring and] they tied you up in a knot and dragged your face [on the mat]. Then you come out and the promoter and the wrestlers would have a go at you, and then basically point at the door and say, ‘Get out — you don’t belong here.’ I don’t mind telling you — I cried a lot when I was on my own. You’d be hurt — your elbows, your neck, either side on the bottom of your spine. You’d get salt in your tea, you’d get WD-40 if you fell asleep in the car. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.” Check out the column: LINK
- Strongly suggest checking on the new series on YouTube revolving around the arrival of the King of Bros Matt Riddle. The WWE is going to great lengths to promote Mr. Riddle in every imaginable way. Check it out here: LINK
•Latest NXT Podcast – “PWT Talks NXT” PWTorch Livecast
In this episode, Kelly Wells, Tom Stoup, and Justin James cover the Black/Gargano/Ciampa segment and awkward live moments, who might be filling future main event spots, Dakota Kai’s rising stock, and more.
-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice
•Top NXT Tweets of the Week
Ciampa tweet of the week
January 14th of 2016 was my first ever live event with NXT.
I wrestled Sami Zayn in Milwaukee.
I was unsigned at the time.
Tonight, I walk into that same building as The Champ.
A lot has changed in 3 years. One thing remains the same…
Milwaukee is MY HOME.#NXTMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/a8TPg6sj2H
— BLACKHEART (@ProjectCiampa) December 6, 2018
The green pancakes are a must for children (and bros) during the holidays.
It’s always time for Green Pancakes somewhere Bro 🤙 #kingofbros #bro #stallion #ihop #ihob pic.twitter.com/X8XFR9ZOfr
— matthew riddle (@SuperKingofBros) December 2, 2018
File this under: I’m not a heel, but I play one on TV.
I've been asked this A LOT.. so I finally compiled a list of my favorite (non Marvel, Star Wars) @Disney Characters.. (there are a few others but these spring to mind first) pic.twitter.com/TRLNTKWtMj
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) December 4, 2018
Amen Oney…Amen.
Angelic pic.twitter.com/gjFvKuaMlf
— ONEY Lorcan (@_StarDESTROYER) December 4, 2018
•Thoughts and Comments:
- It sure is awesome that NXT values their tag team division. It appears that Heavy Machinery is getting a slight push with some televised wins and a video package this week. The main roster should take notes on how to utilize tag team wrestling.
- Get Jaxson Ryker off of The Forgotten Sons! The man is a star in the making, but is lost in the shuffle as part of this trio. Someone also explain to me how they wrestle on TV and he’s not one of the two in-ring competitors!
- The “Ronda’s shadow” chant by the Full Sail crowd at Shayna Baszler was A+. A main roster feud between these two former stablemates could/would/should be awesome.
- I know Daniel Bryan is getting a ton of praise for his recent heel work, but you have to give credit where credit is due… Tommaso Ciampa is WWE’s 2018 best heel by a wide, wide margin. That “mamma mia” line this week was gold, as was Mauro’s face when he said it.
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OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 11/28): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.