Welcome, Henrinites, to another edition of the NXT Grapevine! NXT TakeOver: Toronto is in the history books, and we're already on the road towards NXT TakeOver: San Antonio this February. We get our first taste of how that card will shape up through the episodes taped today, which should be good for the whole month of December.
As is customary, we'll put a SPOILER WARNING here. The matches below have yet to be aired, so do not read them if you want to be spoiled. Do also note that things may be filmed out of order every now and then, so expect some changes and cuts when these matches hit the WWE Network.
***START OF SPOILERS***
Airing on December 7:
- NXT Tag Team Champions DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) came out, but were immediately interrupted by The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar). Paul Ellering talked about how the Authors should be the NXT Tag Team Champions, before The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) came out to ask for their rematch. The Authors push the Revival down before Ellering reiterated that they would become the next NXT Tag Team Champions.
- SAnitY (Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe) def. No Way Jose and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann. Midway through the match, Big Damo showed up and attacked Jose. Young apparently stomped on Sawyer Fulton's jacket before the match, as he was not with them this week.
- Ember Moon def. Kimber Lee.
- Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight def. two local talents.
Thoughts: Wow, what happened to Sawyer Fulton? From the looks of it he may have landed in trouble, as he's suddenly been pulled from SAnitY. Anyway, Big Damo is a BIG plus for NXT, and it's nice to know we'll be seeing him soon.
Airing on December 14:
- It is announced that 4 matches will take place to determine the participants in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination match to determine the new #1 Contender to the NXT Championship. In the first match, Tye Dillinger def. Eric Young via DQ due to Nikki Cross interfering. After the match, Big Damo came out again and laid out Dillinger, before walking past SANitY.
- Andrade Cien Almas def. No Way Jose in the second qualifying match for the Fatal 4-Way.
- Roderick Strong def. Elias Samson in the third qualifying match for the Fatal 4-Way. Samson came out and sang a song before the match to massive heat from the crowd.
- Bobby Roode def. Oney Lorcan to become the last person qualifying for the Fatal 4-Way match.
- Peyton Royce def. Sarah Bridges (formerly known as Crazy Mary Dobson).
- Shinsuke Nakamura def. Patrick Clark.
Thoughts: I like that Strong is getting a decent amount of exposure to kick off his NXT stint, and a Fatal 4-Way Elimination match between Strong, Roode, Dillinger and Almas sounds must-watch. Meanwhile, Big Damo seems to not be with SAnitY, which is a nice way to build some tension rather than just having him join outright.
Oh, and Prince (Clark) vs. Michael Jackson (Nakamura) should be entertaining.
Oh, and Prince (Clark) vs. Michael Jackson (Nakamura) should be entertaining.
Airing on December 21:
- Billie Kay (w/ Peyton Royce) def. Daria Benerato. After the match, Kay and Royce said they are sending a message to the entire Women's Division, before challenging NXT Women's Champion Asuka.
- The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) def. Johnny Vandal and Anthony Bowens via ref stoppage. Paul Ellering then said that it didn't matter if they have to face DIY or the Revival—they will be taking the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio.
- Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match: Bobby Roode def. Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong and Andrade Cien Almas to become the #1 Contender for the NXT Championship. Strong eliminated Almas first, but was eliminated soon after by Dillinger. Roode then eliminated Dillinger to win the match.
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) (c) def. The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) to retain the championships.
Thoughts: It's a Merry GLORIOUS Christmas as Bobby Roode looks set to challenge for the NXT Championship in San Antonio! He's been painted as an absolute star since arriving in NXT, so we all knew this was coming. It also seems like we're set for DIY vs. The Authors of Pain in February, and hopefully that'll be as good as the DIY-Revival matches we've been treated to this year.
Also, someone challenged Asuka again. Why has no one learned from the last time this happened?
It's definitely an interesting set of tapings, and we're beginning to see how NXT TakeOver: San Antonio is shaping up. It's worth noting that several wrestlers did not make any appearances in this set of tapings—NXT Champion Samoa Joe, NXT Women's Champion Asuka and TM-61 are just some of the names absent (though Joe does appear on this week's NXT). With rumors that NXT may be taping some of the segments from the Australia tour this month, we might get some added footage that'll be put in the next couple of shoes.
Also, someone challenged Asuka again. Why has no one learned from the last time this happened?
It's definitely an interesting set of tapings, and we're beginning to see how NXT TakeOver: San Antonio is shaping up. It's worth noting that several wrestlers did not make any appearances in this set of tapings—NXT Champion Samoa Joe, NXT Women's Champion Asuka and TM-61 are just some of the names absent (though Joe does appear on this week's NXT). With rumors that NXT may be taping some of the segments from the Australia tour this month, we might get some added footage that'll be put in the next couple of shoes.
***END OF SPOILERS***
Are you excited to see the next couple of episodes of NXT? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
