Category: NXT

AJ Styles Appears On NXT 2.0, Confronts Grayson Waller

AJ Styles showed up at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday, December 21 … but he wasn’t there for a workout. Instead, “The Phenomenal One” was there to confront the most hated man in NXT; Aussie upstart Grayson Waller.

It all went down on this week’s edition of NXT 2.0 when Styles confronted Waller, who earned the ire of the entire NXT locker room when he interrupted Johnny Gargano’s departure speech a few weeks ago, has been roasting Styles on social media over the last few days. As a result, Styles put Waller on notice and told him to expect a visit soon.

In case you missed it, Waller senselessly attacked Dexter Lumis with a steel chair following Dexter’s victory ver Trick Williams on Tuesday. As Waller gloated from inside the ring, live footage of Styles arriving at the Performance Center appeared on the screen. The arrogant Waller didn’t look perturbed in the slightest.

Following a commercial break, Styles made his way to the ring and came face-to-face with the dude who insulted his hairstyle on Instagram earlier in the week. Waller and Styles went back and forth on the mic, with Styles attempting to bury Waller by pointing out his shallow attempt to get a rub from a bigger star. Waller talked a big game and threatened to “end” the former WWE Champion.

The situation almost got physical, and Waller even took off his shirt in an attempt to goad Styles. When Styles called his bluff, Waller backed down and left the ring, telling Styles that he wants Omos to take care of Styles first.

As you might recall, Omos and AJ split on the latest edition of Raw after AJ loudly chastised Omos and Omos retaliated.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 12/21/21, AJ Styles

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will feature more build for the upcoming New Year’s Evil event.

* AJ Styles appears for new feud with Grayson Waller

* Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Gonzalez in a Street Fight

* Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo

* Trick Williams vs. Dexter Lumis

* The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Creed Brothers

* Von Wagner will appear

NXT 2.0’s Grayson Waller posted a video on Twitter this week in which he mocked former WWE Champion AJ Styles and even stole his phenomenal moniker. Styles responded to the video on Twitter and will seemingly follow up on that via a physical confrontation.

Waller questioned whether he had heard right, tweeting that Styles had better wipe his feet should he dare to show up in NXT tonight. WWE then retweeted Waller’s message, not confirming Styles is going to show up, but effectively doing so by ackowledging the whole thing. It’ll be a welcome break for Styles and a chance for him to be in a ring without having to check Omos isn’t lurking nearby.

WWE NXT Preview 12/14/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode on the USA Network will feature more build for the upcoming New Year’s Evil episode on January 4.

Johnny Gargano Reportedly Rejects Multiple WWE Contract Offers, Becomes Free Agent

Johnny Gargano will reportedly become a free agent at midnight on Thursday, December 9 after rejecting WWE’s attempts to re-sign him.

Johnny Gargano has reportedly rejected several contract offers from WWE and is set to officially part ways with the company. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that Gargano’s current WWE contract is set to expire at midnight on Thursday, December 9, at which point the former NXT Champion’s WWE tenure will officially come to an end after five years.

Gargano’s deal was initially due to expire on December 3, but he signed a brief extension that allowed him to tie up some loose ends on-screen.

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

Gargano’s last WWE match was the men’s WarGames match at NXT WarGames on December 5. Johnny Wrestling teamed up with LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and his former DIY partner Tommaso Ciampa to represent the NXT old guard as part of Team Black & Gold in a WarGames match against Team 2.0 (Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller & Tony D’Angelo).

Gargano came out to his old “Rebel Heart” theme and was wearing gear that paid homage to some of his previous outfits. He had the adulation of the crowd, and the NXT commentary team appeared to imply that this was his last match in NXT … although they also used the word “if” a lot so it’s possible that Gargano hadn’t actually made a decision by that point.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1468988825624006660

The following Tuesday on NXT 2.0, Gargano cut an impassioned, emotional promo that felt very much like a farewell speech. Tragically, the NXT stalwart was unable to finish the speech because he was ambushed and brutally beaten down by Aussie upstart Grayson Waller. Waller’s attack on Gargano seemed to cause some confusion regarding whether Gargano was actually bidding NXT farewell, or whether the whole thing was just an angle.

https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1469120452811448323

Source: TheSportster

Gargano Says Goodbye To WWE NXT, Kyle O’Reilly, Tommaso Ciampa And Shawn Michaels Say Goodbye To Johnny Gargano After NXT

Johnny Gargano’s potential NXT exit has been on the cards for a while now. As was the case with Adam Cole earlier this year, Gargano’s contract was coming to an end and WWE was keen to renew it. Again, just like Cole, Johnny Wrestling signed a short extension so that he could tie up some loose ends. In this instance, those loose ends were a WarGames match and the chance to say goodbye to the NXT Universe.

After losing what might be his final match in NXT on Sunday, Gargano promised fans he would tell them everything on NXT two nights later. That was sort of true, and it seems whatever Gargano has got going on next, he won’t be back on the formerly black and gold brand for a while. The segment ended with Grayson Waller cutting Gargano short by hitting him with a steel chair.

That might be where the episode ended, but the in-house show continued. Various other wrestlers and NXT staff came to the ring to share Gargano’s moment and say goodbye to him. Kyle O’Reilly was the first to join him, embracing his NXT peer. O’Reilly’s contract also comes to an end this week which means Tuesday’s episode could well have been a goodbye for him too.

Tommaso Ciampa was the next person to join Gargano and say goodbye. Best friends in real-life, the pair’s journey on-screen might well be one of the most iconic in NXT history. From a legendary run as the tag team DIY to their brutal and incredibly personal series of TakeOver matches. Gargano also embraced Shawn Michaels when he joined in on the goodbyes who came to the ring with the former NXT Champion’s wife, Candice LeRae.

That’s it for Gargano in NXT, at least for now. Although he promised to tell fans everything, there are still a few questions hanging over Gargano’s future. That might well be because he doesn’t know what that future holds himself. There’s a chance he could re-sign with WWE and be back for revenge on Waller, probably after the birth of his baby. However, if he allows his contract to run out later this week, Gargano will be free to show up anywhere he likes starting from December 11.

Source: TheSportster

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1468413754513702912
https://twitter.com/kimberlasskick/status/1468422957512994820
https://twitter.com/WrestlingNewsCo/status/1468425217156558851
https://twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV/status/1468569802293743621

WWE NXT Preview 12/7/21

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode on the USA Network will feature fallout from Sunday’s WarGames event.

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.