Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature the final build for next week’s Halloween Havoc special.
* Kushida vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Velveteen Dream
* Breezango defends the NXT Tag Team Titles against Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish
* Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza, Joaquin Wilde, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar) vs. Jake Atlas, Isiah “Swerve” Scott and Ashante “Thee” Adonis
* The final build for the Halloween Havoc edition of NXT next week
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode from the Capitol Wrestling Center will be headlined by a NXT North American Title match, with more focus on returning Superstars like Ember Moon, Toni Storm and Dexter Lumis.
WWE has announced that Lumis will challenge NXT North American Champion Damian Priest in tonight’s main event. There will also be new #1 contenders to NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango crowned as Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish take on Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.
A new promo for tonight’s show teased more from Moon, Storm and Lumis, who have made their returns since the “Takeover: 31” event.
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air live on the USA Network from the new Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, formerly known as the WWE Performance Center.
This will be the first episode to air from the renovated CWC. The show will feature fallout from last Sunday’s “Takeover: 31” event.
Triple H held a media call last week and teased a “game changing” look and feel for NXT TakeOver: 31.
“So this Sunday’s TakeOver will have a very unique look and feel, something totally different that hasn’t been done so far,” Triple H said. “You’ll find out more on Sunday, but it will be very unique, and I think hopefully, at least for us, game changing.”
It was later reported WWE was moving all NXT tapings — including tonight’s TakeOver — from the NXT Arena on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Since RAW and SmackDown headed to the Amway Center (WWE ThunderDome) that left the WWE PC available for NXT.
Sports Illustrated is reporting the Performance Center has a newly remodeled TV set, and will now be known as the Capitol Wrestling Center. This is a tribute the the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, founded by Jess McMahon in 1953 and run by Vincent J. McMahon.
“It’s a historic callback to where this all began,” Triple H said about the new name. “We gutted the Performance Center and it’s now rebuilt, so it feels like we’re going back to the beginning. To me, it feels like we’re going back to 1953. Just like then, we’re doing something different and new, taking the business to a whole new level.
“The Capitol Wrestling Center captures the feel and the vibe of NXT. We will have all the bells and whistles of the ThunderDome, but we’ll keep that NXT feel. It’s edgier, darker and raw — you’re walking into the ultimate heavy metal soundstage.”
Along with the virtual fans, there will be fans in attendance in a limited capacity of around 100 people at tonight’s show.
“There will be a contingent of fans in attendance, some of which will be talent, others will be friends and family and some will be fans,” Triple H stated. “We will take every safety precaution that there is. All of this was signed off by our medical staff. Everybody that walks in the building will be PCR tested, take a questionnaire and be medically screened. There will be plexiglass pods with fans that are in groups, and the groups will vary in size. Everyone will wear masks, and each group will never be near anyone else.”
Triple H also noted there was talk of running NXT at the ThunderDome, but he was resistant as he wanted NXT to keep its own unique feel. The move to the Capitol Wrestling Center does not mean WWE’s relationship with Full Sail has ended.
“We are not severing our relationship with Full Sail,” Triple H confirmed. “I’m very proud of all we’ve done there. This move is the right decision for us from a tech standpoint, but I look forward to returning there soon and the partnership remains strong.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Winner: Damian Priest
KUSHIDA vs. The Velveteen Dream
Winner: Kushida
NXT CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Winner: Santos Escobar
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LaRae
Winner: Io Shirai
– After the match, the music hits as Shirai recovers. We go to replays. Shirai raises the title in the middle of the ring now. NXT UK Superstar Toni Storm suddenly appears on the big screen and congratulates Shirai. Storm also wants to make sure Shirai and everyone else has their head on a swivel because as of right now, Storm is back in NXT. She promises to turn NXT upside down and inside out, and reminds everyone that NXT has, and always will be, Toni Time. She will see us soon. Shirai nods her head and gives a thumbs up to end the segment.
We see the mystery figure arrive to the building on a motorcycle, with the same interface we’ve seen over the past few weeks in the teaser promos. Shirai is shown watching in the ring. The mystery person enters the arena and stands on the stage as the lights come up. They remove their helmet and it’s Ember Moon, making her return to TV. She stares back at the ring and acknowledges the crowd as Shirai looks on to end the segment.
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly
– After the match, the crowd gets louder as the music hits. Balor, with blood also coming from his mouth now, snatches the NXT Title belt from the referee and stands tall. Balor puts the belt around his waist as we go to replays with the referee raising his arm. We come back from replays and Balor is approaching O’Reilly, who is still down in the corner. Balor extends his arm to help O’Reilly up and O’Reilly lets him. They do a show of respect as the “NXT!” chant breaks out. O’Reilly raises Balor’s arm in victory as they stand together.
We suddenly see Ridge Holland standing on the other side of the barrier, staring at O’Reilly and Balor. He has a knocked out Adam Cole over his shoulder. Balor and O’Reilly turn and see Holland standing there with Cole. Holland drops Cole over the barrier, to the floor at ringside. A furious Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish run down to check on Cole but Holland has disappeared. The 31st Takeover event goes off the air with Balor and The Undisputed Era tending to Cole at ringside, furious at Holland getting away.
DATE: October 4, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET (Preshow at 6:30 PM ET)
LOCATION: Full Sail, Winter Park, Florida
AVAILABLE ON:WWE Network (first month free for new subscribers)
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LaRae
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
NXT CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
KUSHIDA vs. The Velveteen Dream
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature the final build for Sunday’s NXT “Takeover: 31” event.
There has been a recent COVID-19 outbreak in WWE NXT and at the WWE Performance Center, which led to changes on Wednesday’s TV show. It’s been reported that the outbreak may have started with a WWE Performance Center Coach, but that was not confirmed.
In an update, PWInsider now reports that there was no training in Florida on Thursday, and there’s no word yet on when training will resume.
It’s believed among several sources that this coronavirus outbreak started after a NXT wrestler threw a party that other trainees attended. There have been a number of positive tests this week, among trainees and staff members. It was noted that talents have been advised to sequester themselves.
WWE issued the following statement on this latest COVID-19 outbreak in NXT:
“As part of ongoing testing protocols, WWE completed its second round of weekly COVID-19 testing on Tuesday. Individuals that tested positive will quarantine for 14 days, receive medical care, and then will only be cleared when they are symptom-free and test negative. Additionally, extensive contact tracing has taken place and other individuals have been placed in 14-day quarantine, and will then only be cleared after they test negative.”
Next week’s Takeover go-home edition of NXT TV as taped on Wednesday, so the next live NXT event will be the Takeover event on Sunday, October 4. This gives the company 9 days from today to see if talents who missed this week’s tapings will be free & clear to return to work.
It was reported earlier this week, via Wrestling Observer Radio, that some main roster workers had gotten sick due to this latest outbreak in NXT, and that RAW and SmackDown plans could be impacted. PWInsider reports that as a safeguard to prevent further spread of the virus, talents and staff working at the Performance Center or on NXT tapings will not be allowed to work RAW or SmackDown tapings at the Amway Center in Orlando until further notice.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
A mysterious vignette aired on WWE NXT Wednesday night for what appears to be a former champion.
The video began with night vision footage of someone walking through a backstage warehouse towards a glass case holding old versions of the NXT title belt inside.
“I’m not sure what happened. I helped create something out of my own blood,” a distorted voice said over the footage. “Years and years of dedication, only to be taken over by paper champions. These NXT Championships have been in isolation for far too long. Now, I’ve come back to take what is mine.”
The person then breaks the glass case and grabs one of the belts before the video ends teasing the date of NXT TakeOver on October 4.
The only two former NXT champions who are still in the company, but not doing anything on television at the moment are Bo Dallas and Bobby Roode.
Watch the full teaser below.
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