Opening packages fire up and taper down and then we’re in the thick of things as the live crowd welcomes Hideo Itami to the ring area.
Hideo Itami vs. Bull Dempsey
Bull tears into the ring ready to rumble. After the bell, he pounds Itami in the corner and stops his smaller opponent from hitting offense off the ropes. Bull keeps Hideo in check, covering him a few times but falling short of a near fall. The pace slows and Bull keeps it mostly on the mat. Hideo struggles to put up some resistance and eventually gets things moving in his favor, tipping the scales with a dropkick in the corner and hitting one more for good measure. The pinfall follows shortly thereafter.
Result: Hideo Itami defeats Bull Dempsey via pinfall.
Post-match, Tyler Breeze ambushes Itami on the ramp. Hideo gets back up and takes their brawl into the ring. Tyler slips out to fight another day.
WWE rolls some coming attractions and then they show a nice video package welcoming THE Brian Kendrick to NXT. The Lucha Dragons are up next.
The Lucha Dragons vs. Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan
Before things get started, Solomon Crowe interrupts with a warning advising he won’t stop until he gets to the top of NXT. Then we go back to the ring for the bell.
Jordan mixes it up with Sin Cara who tags out. Kalisto gets manhandled by Jordan who then brings in Dillinger. Kalisto gets Tye back to the other corner and the Dragons double-team him. Sin Cara comes back in for a short stretch and then tags Kalisto who keeps control of the situation. Jordan wants in, but Tye tells him to “relax” and holds off on the tag. By the time Dillinger makes it back to his corner, Jordan bails on him, leaving Tye at the mercy of the Lucha Dragons. They hit some cooperative lucha moves and pick up the win easily from there.
Result: The Lucha Dragons defeat Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan via pinfall.
After the match, Dillinger refuses top leave the ring until Jordan comes out and explains himself. He says he’ll fight anyone else who comes out until he gets to Jordan. Then Baron Corbin’s music hits. And then, the bell rings.
Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin
Dillinger tries for a headlock but Corbin destroys him with a quick power move. It’s over in about 15 seconds, including the ref’s three-count.
Result: Baron Corbin defeats Tye Dillinger via pinfall.
Backstage, Charlotte says she’s ready for Sasha Banks when they meet for the title next week. We also hear from Tyler Breeze who assures everyone that he is going to squish Hideo Itami like a bug.
Bayley vs. Becky Lynch
The crowd mostly supports Bayley But Becky gets on top and makes her presence known with a pump-handle slam. She keeps control for a few minutes until Bayley roars back and briefly takes the fight outside. They get back in the ring and although Becky gets some momentum, Bayley goes ballistic, taking Lynch on to the mat and peppering her with blows to the brain. She gets a near-fall after a move off the top but can’t get the pin due to a hurt shoulder. Becky capitalizes by locking in a submission move and getting the tapout win.
Result: Becky Lynch defeats Bayley via submission.
Rhyno talks backstage about ripping folks apart to get to the top and then we take a break…
Finn Balor vs. The Brian Kendrick
Kevin Owens is on the mic with the announce team for this one. The guys in the ring get into it right from the bell. Balor puts Kendrick on the mat and works him in the arm bar. Kendrick gets Balor into a headlock but Balor escapes. Kendrick starts to get moving but tweaks his ankle for a moment as he flips himself into the ring. It might’ve been a ruse, though, as he quickly turns the tables on Balor and takes him down. Balor isn’t having it, though, and fights back, chucking Kendrick outside.
At the announce table, Kevin Owens and Alex Riley take some verbal shots at one another before Owens storms off, saying he doesn’t want to “do something stupid.”
After a break, Balor keeps the heat on Kendrick although Kendrick makes a bold statement when he lands a tornado DDT off the top rope. Balor reels from that as Kendrick goes up top again and hits a nice dropkick. A spike suplex doesn’t put Balor down for the count, as he kicks out at two. As they get up, Kendrick goes for a finisher and Balor takes him down with a huge clothesline. The “sling blade” follows and then the coup de grace puts Kendrick away for good.
Result: Finn Balor defeats The Brian Kendrick via pinfall.
After the bell, Owens comes out and acknowledges the win. Then he strolls over to the announce table and rips A-Ry out of his seat and tosses him over the desk.
