WWE NXT: Results, Highlights and Grades for October 30, 2019

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Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Team Kick

As both teams hit the ring, I can’t help but think that the Kabuki Warriors need a darker, more aggressive theme to match their new character. With both Sane and Asuka’s themes mashed together, it sounds something that a college student put together for an Introduction to Radio Broadcasting class and Sane’s “Pirate Princess” theme doesn’t really fit. Regardless, Sane and Asuka get a warm welcome and a welcome back chant from the Full Sail crowd.

For the third straight match, we begin with a physical edge. The thing that stands out to me is how much better The Kabuki Warriors are as a heel tag team. They have an intimidating look and seem like they’ve completely lost their mind which makes them terrifying to any team that steps into the ring with them. Perhaps this is too much channeling of Io Shirai’s transformation, but it works well with Asuka and Sane.

After The Kabuki Warriors take the advantage heading into a commercial break, Team Kick returns the favor as Nox tags Kai into the match. After Kai gets caught on the apron, Asuka hits her with a dragon screw along the ring ropes and everyone at Full Sail gasped knowing Kai had just recovered from a torn ACL (However, it is interesting that Asuka targeted the knee without the brace, but again, we’re nitpicking and that’s probably for the best.)

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Kai does a tremendous job of selling her knee as Sane and Asuka spend the next several minutes trying to stretch her it into oblivion. Even Nox does a good job expressing concern for her partner and friend as she struggles to find her way to the corner for a tag for an entire segment.

Eventually, Nox gets tagged in and delivers a chokeslam to Sane and delivering alternating uppercuts in the corner to both Kabuki Warriors. Nox sets up Asuka for The Shiniest Wizard, but Asuka counters with a knee bar. Nox counters into an armbar, before it’s broken up by Sane. Kai runs in to knock down Sane with a kick and all four women are on the mat.

Kai and Asuka battle in the ring before Sane distracts the referee and Asuka spits the green mist in Kai’s face. Asuka hits Kai with a kick before tagging in Sane of the Insane Elbow to retain the tag titles.

Winners: The Kabuki Warriors

Another physical battle and it almost seemed like Kai struggled way too long to get the hot tag to Nox. Either way, both ladies sold really well throughout and put together an entertaining match with two established performers on the main roster, a huge step forward for Team Kick.

Grade: 4 out of 5 stars

After The Kabuki Warriors leave, Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke hit the ring to add insult to injury. The trio throws Kai, who is still blinded by the mist, out of the ring and set up Nox for Baszler to stomp her arm, but Ripley appears for the second time tonight. This time, Io Shirai shows up from behind to attack Ripley. Candice LeRae and Bianca Belair show up and we have a full-blown brawl on our hands.

Eventually, Ripley and Baszler lock eyes and start fighting in the middle of the ring. It’s quickly breaking down and we have 10 women throwing hands in the ring.

Wait a second. 10 women brawling out of control? Isn’t there a 10-person match scheduled at the next Takeover? WAIT!!! THERE’S WILLIAM REGAL!!! AND WE’RE GETTING A WOMEN’S WAR GAMES MATCH!!!!  Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir, Io Shirai and Bianca Belair will take on Rhea Ripley, Dakota Kai, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae and

This is downright exciting. After using The Undisputed Era for the first two installments of NXT’s War Games match, they’ll use the most compelling division on their show while keeping the men’s titles open to be defended in Chicago. I love it and it also helps give the women in this match the spotlight this feud deserves.