Category: NXT

Johnny Gargano Addresses Fans After NXT WarGames Amidst Rumors Of WWE Exit

It appears fans will have to wait until Tuesday’s NXT to know if Sunday’s WarGames event was Johnny Gargano’s final outing in WWE.

After Sunday’s show went off the air, fans at the Performance Center in Orlando, FL chanted “Thank You, Johnny” and “Please Don’t Go” to show their appreciation for Johnny Wrestling.

As seen in the video below, Gargano addressed fans after Team Black & Gold (NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, Gargano, Pete Dunne, LA Knight) lost to Team 2.0 (Bron Breakker, NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo, Grayson Waller) in the main event.

“Candice [LeRare] is going to be really upset that I just blew our undefeated streak,” Gargano began. “Our WarGames record in our house, so I mean that’s… I’m in trouble when I get home. Trust me, guys.”

An emotional Gargano proceeded to thank fans for their overwhelming support.

“You guys are saying ‘thank you’ to me when, really, I want to say ‘thank you’ to all of you,” Gargano said. “Without all you, there wouldn’t be a Johnny Wrestling, and that’s true. You guys know I love you right back. But, with that love, I am an open book to you guys, and I’m always 100% honest and 100% authentic with you. Because I feel like you guys aren’t just fans, we’ve know each other for such a long time, you guys are like my family. This is like my family.”

In conclusion, Gargano stated that he would address his WWE future on Tuesday.

“And, right now, I’m beat up, I’m sore, I’m tired, I’ve got a lot on my mind,” Gargano admitted. “But, I want to tell you guys everything and will tell you guys everything this Tuesday night. OK? Thank you. And we’ll come right back here Tuesday night and I’m gonna tell you guys everything, OK?”

Gargano’s WWE contract was previously set to expire on Friday, Dec. 3. However, he would sign a one-week extension to participate in the WarGames match. His contract expires on Friday, Dec. 10.

Johnny Gargano also tweeted a “thank you” message to his peers after Sunday’s event. You can watch a video of him addressing fans below.

https://twitter.com/theangleradio/status/1467709383488458757
https://twitter.com/JohnnyGargano/status/1467726092702294018

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT WarGames Results 12/5/2021

WOMEN’S WARGAMES MATCH
Team Gonzalez (Raquel Gonzalez, Io Shirai, Cora Jade, Kay Lee Ray) defeated Team Kai (Dakota Kai, NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose, NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne)

NXT TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH
Imperium (c) defeated Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner

– After the match, fans are chanting “thank you Kyle!” He bows to the crowd and thanks them. Wagner is seething behind him. Wagner attacks but it backfires and O’Reilly takes Wagner down. O’Reilly stands over Wagner and yells at him. Fans chant his name as O’Reilly exits, yelling some more at Wagner.

HAIR VS. HAIR MATCH
Cameron Grimes defeated Duke Hudson

– After the match, Grimes is immediately all smiles as the music hits. Hudson is shocked and disappointed as the referee orders him to the other ring where the barber’s chair is set up. Hudson tries to retreat but Grimes rolls him back in. Hudson drops Grimes with a clothesline. Hudson places Grimes in the chair as fans boo. Hudson grabs the clippers and turns back around but Grimes kicks him in the face. Grimes nails the Cave-In for a pop. Grimes shows off the clippers as fans cheer him on. Grimes puts Hudson in the chair and shaves some hair off, most but not all, and Hudson quickly retreats. Grimes takes a seat in the chair as his music starts up. Hudson retreats as Grimes gets one last “to the moon!” pop from the crowd.

NXT CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
Roderick Strong (c) defeated Joe Gacy

– McKenzie Mitchell is backstage with Kyle O’Reilly, asking what happened after their loss to Imperium when Von Wagner tried to attack him. O’Reilly says he’s been in the business for a long time and if Wagner thinks he didn’t smell that turn coming from a mile away, Wagner is as dumb as he looks. Kyle says this is the first time he hasn’t been in WarGames and he’s hungry for some steel, so he challenges Wagner to a Steel Cage match on Tuesday’s NXT. O’Reilly storms off.

MEN’S WARGAMES MATCH
Team New School (Bron Breakker, NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo, Grayson Waller) defeated Team Old School (NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, LA Knight)

WWE NXT WarGames 12/5/2021

DATE: December 5, 2021 8:00 pm
LOCATION: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
AVAILABLE ON: Peacock, WWE Network (outside of the U.S.)

CARD

MEN’S WARGAMES MATCH
Team Old School (NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, LA Knight) vs. Team New School (Bron Breakker, NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes, Tony D’Angelo, Grayson Waller)

WOMEN’S WARGAMES MATCH
Team Gonzalez (Raquel Gonzalez, Io Shirai, Cora Jade, Kay Lee Ray) vs. Team Kai (Dakota Kai, NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose, NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne)

NXT CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
Joe Gacy vs. Roderick Strong (c)

NXT TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH
Kyle O’Reilly and Von Wagner vs. Imperium (c)

HAIR VS. HAIR MATCH
Cameron Grimes vs. Duke Hudson

Beth Phoenix Reveals WWE NXT Announce Team Departure

WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix is moving on from the WWE NXT announce team.

Phoenix took to Twitter today to announce that Sunday’s WarGames event will be her final night on NXT commentary with Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett. She confirmed that she will remain a part of WWE, but she is stepping away from the weekly WWE gig to spend more time with family.

Phoenix thanked Joseph, Barrett, Nigel McGuinness, Tom Phillips, Mauro Ranallo, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Michael Cole. She also said the brand will always be a part of her.

“Ahead of WarGames, I wanted to share that this Sunday will be my final night in NXT,” she wrote. “While I will remain a part of WWE, I have made the choice to step away from the weekly broadcast booth to spend more time with my family. This was not an easy decision, as I have loved my three plus years and 135 episodes with NXT and am incredibly proud of the brand. I will forever be grateful to Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, Nigel McGuinness, Tom Phillips, Mauro Ranallo, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Michael Cole, and my entire NXT family both in and out of the ring for the amazing opportunity. NXT will always be a part of me and Auntie Betty will always be a part of NXT. Leave the porch light on for me!”

Phoenix, who is married to WWE Hall of Famer Edge, joined the NXT commentary team back on May 15, 2019. She recently got into the country music business, releasing her “Stone Rose & Bone” debut EP on November 12.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Producer Scotty Too Hotty Hints Changes To NXT Why He Asked For WWE Release

Former WWE star and current producer Scotty Too Hotty posted that he’s asked for his release from WWE and cites his principles as the reason.

It appears as though former WWE Superstar and current producer Scotty Too Hotty is leaving WWE. He posted a message on social media Tuesday afternoon and noted that he would never “be part of something solely for the paycheck” and relayed to the WWE Universe that he requested his release.

While he didn’t come out directly and say that the changes to NXT and the rebrand are the reason for his desire to leave his job with WWE, it certainly sounds as though Scott Garland (Scotty Too Hotty) is not a fan of the new-look NXT. He referred specifically to the product he was involved with the “black and gold brand” and said producing the stars of NXT (not NXT 2.0) was a highlight of his life. In a message he addressed to WWE fans, he wrote:

“Today I have asked for my release from World Wrestling Entertainment. 30 years ago I stepped into a WWE ring for the very first time. I have lived my dream 100 times over. Some of my most special memories will be from the last five years working with NXT. The black and gold brand was something special and I am proud to have been a small part of that. I always promised myself that I would never be part of something solely for the paycheck and that was where I was at. I told myself that I would walk away if I ever got to that point, so that is what I have chosen to do.”

Even though it was not confirmed that his release was granted, members of the WWE roster and other producers were quick to jump on his timeline and wish him the best. It is assumed that his request has been granted and that he is no longer a part of NXT.

While it could have been the mass layoffs or other reasons, it appears Scotty was not a fan of the direction NXT was and is headed. He’s getting a lot of support from fans who are congratulating him for doing what he thinks is right and not wanting to be a part of a product he doesn’t believe in.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 11/23/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will feature more build to the upcoming WarGames event.

NXT 2.0 will be headlined by Carmelo Hayes defending the NXT North American Title against Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano in a Triple Threat tonight. WWE has announced the following line-up for tonight:

* Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta vs. Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro

* NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Grayson Waller in a non-title match

* NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose vs. Cora Jade in a non-title match

* NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano in a Triple Threat

WWE NXT Preview 11/16/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode on the USA Network will feature more build to the upcoming WarGames event on December 5.

TakeOver Branding Dropped For Upcoming NXT 2.0 WarGames Event

WWE has confirmed that NXT 2.0 will run a WarGames event in 2021. Interestingly, the TakeOver branding is absent from all promotional artwork.

WarGames is officially coming back! On December 5, NXT will play host to the carnage that is WarGames in what will be the brand’s first pay-per-view since TakeOver 36 back in August. It will also be the first pay-per-view of the 2.0 era, which may explain why the TakeOver is branding is nowhere to be seen.

The 2021 WarGames event was announced during this week’s edition of NXT 2.0. The word “TakeOver” is absent from the promotional artwork that has been shared so far, and was not mentioned in any of WWE’s social media posts regarding the upcoming event.

NXT pay-per-views have used the TakeOver branding since 2014’s inaugural TakeOver event, which went down at Full Sail University on May 29 of that year and was the second-ever pay-per-view of WWE’s then-fledgling developmental brand. The brand’s first pay-per-view was called Arrival, but after TakeOver, every subsequent NXT pay-per-view was called TakeOver followed by a subheading (typically the name of the city in which the event was taking place, or a number denoting the number of TakeOvers that have occurred up to that point).

The WarGames match concept was dreamt up by the legendary Dusty Rhodes and originally held in the National Wrestling Alliance. It later became an annual event in WCW.

Source: TheSportster

NXT’s Zoey Stark Opens Up About The Extent Of Her Legitimate Injury

Former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Zoey Stark has revealed the extent of the injury she sustained at the hands of Toxic Attraction.

NXT star Zoey Stark recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL … but she’s already on the mend and is expecting to be back stronger than ever.

In case you missed it, Stark was the victim of a brutal backstage assault at the and of Toxic Attraction’s Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne on the November 2 edition of NXT 2.0. Stark and her tag partner Io Shirai lost the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship to Dolin and Jayne in the Scareway To Hell Ladder Match at Halloween Havoc the previous week, but the title win clearly wasn’t enough for Toxic Attraction — they wanted to completely incapacitate their rivals, and the attack on Stark got them halfway there.

In Stark’s absence, Shirai has joined forces with Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro in order to do battle with Dolin, Jayne, and Mandy Rose of Toxic Attraction.

Of course, the backstage attack is just the storyline reason for Stark’s injury. The real cause of the injury is yet to be revealed, but Stark to Twitter to provide an update on her recovery.

“Sadly, I tore my ACL/Meniscus due to Toxic’s attack,” tweeted Stark. “Here’s the bad news for the ‘champs.’ Surgery went great and I’m already rehabbing. I’ll be back BETTER & STRONGER with three targets in mind! Until then [Io Shirai] [Kacy Catanzaro] [Kayden Carter] kick their ass tonight!” she added.

Zoey Stark (real name Theresa Serrano) made her debut as a professional wrestler in 2013. In January of this year, she signed for WWE and reported for duty at the WWE Performance Center. Stark and Io Shirai joined forces to defeat The Way (Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae) for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship at The Great American Bash. Shirai and Stark’s reign lasted for 112 days until they were dethroned by Toxic Attraction at Halloween Havoc.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 11/9/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will focus on Toxic Attraction as they look to continue their dominance, as seen in the teaser promo below.

WWE has announced a six-woman match for tonight’s show with NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne going up against Io Shirai, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter.

Dolin and Jayne have invited NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium to watch the match from ringside.

Kay Lee Ray has also been announced for tonight’s show in her return to action. KLR noted in her latest teaser vignette that she is “ready to rage” this week.

Another tag team match announced for tonight is The Creed Brothers vs. Kushida and Ikemen Jiro of Jacket Time.

It’s likely that NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker will not be on tonight’s NXT as they were still working the WWE UK tour as of Monday. The show in Leeds on Monday saw Ciampa retain his title over Breakker and Sami Zayn in a Triple Threat.

Source: Wrestling Inc.