WWE NXT: Results, Highlights and Grades for Nov. 13

WWE NXT graced our screens again as the Wednesday Night Wars continue. Here’s what happened.

The show did a phenomenal job, keeping to its reputation of delivering high quality matches while progressing storylines as a healthy pace. Let’s take a look at the events of tonight’s episode of WWE NXT.

Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush for the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship 

With the NXT universe chanting his name, Rush embarked on his first title defense.

Garza started with his patent fake handshake, leading to a super quick exchange between the two speedsters. This turned up the heat on the showboating, culminating in Garza taking off his pants in front of Rush’s family. This was met with a dive to the outside by Rush.

The two continued to exchange strikes with lighting speed with a great exchange leading to Rush diving to the outside and Garza countering into a scoop slam. Garza took his time with the momentum change and slowed the pace. He was able to get a few two counts, but Rush would not stay down for long. Short sequences that gave the scent of a comeback were halted by Garza.

The Luchador enjoyed employing a mixture of holds and striking combos to naturalize Rush, until the champion delivered a beautiful springboard back elbow. This gave him a window for a pinfall attempt, and more importantly, and change to get back into the match. Garza did not let Rush off easy, with an insane counter. Rush went for a springboard stunner that Garza deflected with a vicious dropkick.

This started off a chain of the two going back and forth with crazy move after move. Lio delivered a beautiful swinging Neckbreaker, but Garza had the spot of the night with his Moonsault PowerSlam. Eventually, Rush is able to hit the Rush Hour (a beautiful Spanish Fly).

He followed this by landing the Springboard Stunner on his challenger, but went to the well too many times. Garza countered a second one with the Wingclipper. They had me convinced he would get the 3 count, but Rush barely kicked out. Garza decided to put the stakes and tried a Wingclipper off the top rope, but Rush counted with a leg scissor take down, setting up for the Final Hour Frog Splash.

1-2- No, Garza kicked out!! I was shocked to see this, but Rush goes for another Final Hour off the top rope and connects. He gets the three count, but there is controversy. Garza got his foot on the rope, but the ref didn’t see it.

The match was so much fun, but the finish left a sour taste in my mouth.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars.

Backstage Segment

We were shown footage from outside the arena of Tegan Nox and Rhea Ripley found on the ground, having been attacked. No one knows who did it.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1194790628346875909

Xia Li vs Aliyah (accompanied by Vanessa Borne)

The two met again for a women’s singles exhibition (their first on the USA debut). The two started off to a quick exchange, showcasing both competitors well. Li got some good displays of striking and power moves before a spot where Vanessa Borne tried to pull out Aliyah but instead is pulled in.

Li barely lost any momentum in the match or control. The biggest Aliyah offense move was when Aliyah was on the outside of the ring ropes. The ref was not paying attention, and, when Li approaches the ropes, Aliyah grabbed her hand and dropped to the outside. Luckily, Li was able to bounce back from any set back and easily regain control.

Eventually, Li won with a devastating Roundhouse Kick to the face. During her celebration, a medic runs out from the back to treat Aliyah, who is bleeding from the kick.

No much to report with this match, as it was a glorified squash match.

Rating: 2 stars

In-Ring Promo

Finn Balor walked out to the ring to address the NXT Universe. He talked about how NXT is changed from when he was there, and he is extremely disappointed. Balor hates that Gargano is considered the “Heart of NXT.” He hates how the wrestlers in NXT complain about being hurt or don’t suck it up and fight. He insulted Matt Riddle, saying he wasn’t here tonight. To his surprise, the Original Bro attacks him from behind.

The two got into a brawl, which led to Balor escaping through the audience. Riddle grabbed a mic and claimed he is here.

The Undisputed Era came out to the ring saying “Wrong Place, Wrong time,” proceeding to surround the ring and Riddle.  Before they are able to attack him, Tomasso Ciampa and Keith Lee ran out to back up the OB. The two groups of men exchanged some words, which was delightful because Keith Lee got some great mic time. Lee called out Adam Cole for a fight. Roderick Strong defended Cole, claiming he needs a night off after his work on SmackDown. Instead, Strong challenged Lee, who gladly accepted.

Keith Lee vs Roderick Strong

Coming off the commercial break, Lee and Strong were going at it, with Lee winning early control. Lee was showing off with a cocky pinfall (one foot on the chest) and followed it up with a slow, methodical offense. Roddy tried to fight back, but Lee fended off the attack.

Lee got in plenty of great strikes and has many opportunities to show his strength. One spot had Strong jumping off the top rope for a Crossbody. Lee caught him, leading Strong to try and elbow his head. Lee persevered and landed the slam. We do see Lee put a hold, but Strong eventually got out.

Strong delivered a furry of calculated strikes to bring Lee to his knees. This eventually failed, as Lee “hulked up” and regained position. One sequence showed Roddy going for a running drop kick off the ropes, and Lee slapped him down. Lee eventually tried to set up Roddy on the top rope for Superplex, but Strong was able to slip out and knocked the big man, giving him some breathing room.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1194795564774256640

After a commercial break, the two were back in the ring trading strikes. This time around, Strong was putting up a fight, able to put up an offense and work against the big man. This continued, even though Lee got a few moments of a potential comeback. The battle moved to the outside and back inside the ring, with an attempted pinfall and submission hold.

This was a very good sequence because Strong showed more of his smart, technical wrestling. That is, until he started trash talking Lee. Lee grabbed his hand, and quickly took over the match with a flurry of power moves, including a standing Belly-to-Belly.

Lee eventually went to the top rope, attempting to pull off some maneuver. Strong countered and delivered some stiff strikes and multiple attempted Superplexes. Strong finally delivered a Superplex to Lee, getting a chorus of “Mammia Mias” and a near 3 count. Roddy tried to capitalize and put Lee in the Stronghold. Lee fought him off and made it to his feet. This led to an exchange of strikes that eventually resulted in both men laid out on the floor.

Undisputed Era came out to the ring, attempting to interfere. They were ambushed by Ciampa, who took out a few members, and Matt Riddle, who did the same. Ciampa is met by a Adam Cole Superkick, and Riddle is ambushed by a slingblade done by Finn Balor.

Lee was distracted by that and got kneed by Strong. Lee was able to survive a few attacks, and eventually got the upperhand by hitting a Jackhammer (or Supernova) on Strong for the 3 count.

After the win, Lee was ambushed by the UE. The UE fought off Ciampa, until they are met by Dominik Dijakovic. The towering Croatian came in and cleaned house. After dispensing the UE, he went to Ciampa, exchanging words and eventually a handshake. Then, Dijakovic and Keith Lee were face to face and shake hands.

Rating: 4 3/4 stars

Backstage Segment

We were shown footage yet again from outside the arena of women having been attacked. This time, we saw Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke, and Candice LeRae lying on the floor.

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Bronson Reed

A feeling out process was how this match starts off, which some nice exchanges that showcase the two wrestlers. Having the two fight was interesting to see the mixture of styles. Scott’s high-speed offense got some hits and separation but was continually stifled by Reed’s strong, physical strikes.

At one point, Scott threw Reed into the ropes and dropped to the ground, hoping Reed would go over him. Instead, the big man sat on Scott’s back, pinning the man to the ground. Reed followed this up with some Banzai drops before throwing Scott around the ring and outside. This ended up working against him with Scott uses a momentary break to push Reed into the ring post before the commercial break.

We came back to the two in the ring as Scott fights his way out of a hold. Scott picked up the pace and was able to get in some consistent offense, culminating in a Flatliner and a two count.

The two continued to exchange strikes until Bronson eventually got on the top rope. This proved to be a mistake as Scott climbed to the top, attempting a move. After some fighting on the top rope, Scott eventually delivered a DDT out of the corner from the second rope. This gave Swerve another 2 count against the big man.

Reed got some separation at some point, eventually hitting a Sit-out Spinebuster. Eventually, he delivered a driver, almost getting a close 3 count. The two went back and forth, and eventually, Swerve hit a kick to the back of Reeds head for the 3 count. After the win, Scott and Reed shook hands and showed good sportsmanship.

Announcement

An announcement was made for War Games. Finn Balor will go one-on-one with Matt Riddle, and Dijakovic is officially in the Men’s War Game match. This means Riddle is out of the War Games match, leaving Ciampa to find a fourth member.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1194806718552653824

Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain

Before the match started, Dain was attacked by Damian Priest. This led to a brawl between the three competitors. They were eventually surrounded by a team of security.

This gave Priest an advantage. Dain was pushed into the steel steps. At one point, Dunne is being held back by security, and Priest got a kick in on Dunne. Priest eventually took a security guard, put him in a Crucifix hold and threw him out into a sea of people. Dunne and Dain got up and attacked each other, which led to Priest jumping out and delivering a great dive against the two competitors.

Backstage Segment

Mia Yim was interviewed before her ladder match vs Io Shirai for a War Games advantage. Yim suspected that women from Raw and SmackDown were behind the attacks. She’s interrupted by Dakota Kai. Kai said that she had no hard feelings for losing out to Yim for the last spot on Rhea’s War Games team. She reassured Yim that she had her back in case anything happens tonight during her match and walked out.

Announcement

An announcement was made for next week: Adam Cole vs Dominik Dijavoic in a ladder match to see which team will get the advantage in the Men’s War Game match

Mia Yim vs. Io Shirai for an advantage in the Women’s War Game match

Both started off the match attacking each other with quick strikes. Io went for the ladder, but Yim tried to stop her. Io evaded, threw out Yim, and dived to the outside to connect. Yim was able to get some strikes in and brought in a ladder into the ring. Before she can get the ladder in completely, Shirai drop kicked the ladder in Yim’s face. Yim recovered and pulled out Shirai. She held her by her legs and dropped Io on her face on a different ladder.

The two got back in the match and fought over the ladder. Yim pulled it out as Io tried to keep it in. A yank led to Yim pulling Io in the ropes, and Yim made a bridge with the ladder between the ring and the barricade. Io went outside and eventually returned the favor by pushing the bridged ladder in Yim’s face. During the exchange, Yim managed to injury Io’s hand, which is an injury that played a part throughout the match.

Eventually, the second ladder came back into play as the two women continued to exchange strikes and beat each other on the outside. They eventually made their way back into the ring with a ladder. They fought each other for control, leading to both competitors trying to suplex the other onto the ladder. Yim eventually succeeded and dropped Io on the ladder, but both were hurt in the process.

Yim was the first one to get up and pulled the ladder to start setting up in the corner as best as she can. She picked up Io to Irish Whip her into the ladder. Io reversed, and after some exchanges, Yim went into the ladder. Io tried to capitalize, but Yim got in a strike, sending both to the ground.

They struggled to get up while exchanging strikes from their knees. Finally to their feet, Io had control, delivering a nasty uppercut. She followed this up with a head scissors lock in the ropes, meant to set up the Tiger Fade Kick (619), which she landed.

Io went towards the ladder, but Yim was able to catch up. They continued to struggle, and Io was able to Irish Whip Yim and planted her with a Flapjack. Yim’s resiliency was a consistent theme in this match, allowing her at some point to deliver an overhead suplex to Shirai on the ladder.

Yim took the ladder and set it in the center of ring but was stopped by Io. Yim was able to deliver to roundhouse kicks to Shirai, but Shirai countered by shoving Yim into the ladder. Now fallen over, the ladder became a weapon as Shirai put Yim in between it and repeatedly shut it on Yim’s body.

Io decided to pull out another ladder, trying to set it up. Yim surprised her and connects with her finisher, “Protect yo Neck.” Yim went to pick up the ladder, but she turned around to find out that Io was able to get back up quickly and delivered a springboard dropkick. The ladder smacked Yim in the face, causing her to bleed. Io set up the ladder and went to climb up the ladder. Yim threw her down and climbed the ladder. Io stopped this by landing a German Suplex.

Io was furious that Yim was still fighting back and delivered a double knee strike to Yim in the corner. She went to the top rope, but Yim countered and set up a Superplex. The two struggled until Io knocked Yim to the outside.

Kai came to ringside to help Yim and got her up. Io used this time to deliver a Moonsault to them both on the outside. Now Io crawled to the ladder, trying to set it up. As she was climbing, Kai stopped Io from climbing up and sit-down powerbombed.

https://twitter.com/NXTUK/status/1194813915114291200

While Yim climbed up the ladder, Kai was attacked by Kay Lee Ray (the UK Women’s champ), and Ray pushed Mia Yim’s ladder, forcing her to go throw the bridge ladder on the other side. Ray helped Io to climb up the ladder and got the suitcase for the win.

Team Baszler got the War Games advantage.

The Women came out to celebrate, with Baszler on the top of the ramp clapping. She looked on proud, giving Ray the nod that she is a member of the team. Then, the NXT Women’s Champ was attacked by Bayley. Bayley slammed Shayna’s face into the ramp, before running away.

Rating: 5 stars

This ended the show.

Overall, I loved NXT, and the show continuously delivered as always. I give this show a 4 3/4 star rating.