WWE NXT 2.0: Dolph Ziggler defeats Tommaso Ciampa in main event

‘Twas the week after NXT Vengeance Day. The first round of the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is set to take place. LA Knight & Grayson Waller will clash. And Tommaso Ciampa takes on Dolph Ziggler in a no. 1  contender’s match for the NXT Championship.

Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend & Amari Miller

Cora Jade & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz

Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro

Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai vs. Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta

After a brief recap package of Vengeance Day, this week’s show kicks off with the NXT Champion Bron Breakker.

Bron gives Santos Escobar his props. Last week he put up a he’ll of a fight. Soon after, Ziggler shows up and makes some delusional proclamation that he gave Wilt The Stilt some advice once.

Anyway, He says Bron is barred from ringside during his no. 1 contenders match, so that means no retribution for that superckick… At least for tonight.

LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller

Waller starts the match by doing what Waller does. Running away and doing that goofy little shuffle he does

His shtick doesn’t last too long as Knight eventually gets his hands on the football and delivers some damage.

The picture/picture break is coming up, so that probably means Waller will have the upper hand when it’s over. That sort of thing is common.
Sure enough, we’re back and Waller is in control. The fans think he still sucks, though. So there’s that.
Waller was doing pretty good till he let his cockiness get the better of him. He went outside the ring… Ran… Or should I say lightly jogged back in and got backdrops for the effort.
He still won with help of pulling LA’s tights. He got beatdown after the match, following his win. So, that’s always fun to see.

Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend & Amari Miller

The next match features Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend and Amari Miller

We got an interview from Toxic Attraction before the match starts. They have a lounge now, so there’s that. They have some harsh words for the combatants in the Dusty Classic; namely Kay Lee and Io. They say they’ll be watching the action from their boujee lounge.

The match started with a mixed match of strength, as Lash proved to be a little too strong for Io. She still managed to get the upper hand soon after.

Legend and Miller were game but KLR and Up made short work of them. They’ve advanced.

Dante Chen vs. Duke Hudson

Duke gets jumped from behind by Chen. This is how the match starts. Don’t start thinking Chen is the heel here. Chen just wanted to give The Duke his receipt.
He gets some offense in, but much like the last match, this one doesn’t go very long.
Hudson wins with a razor’s edged powerbomb… at least I think that’s what it’s called.

Trick Williams vs. Cameron Grimes (Also, the Pete Dunne/Carmelo Hayes Segment)

Carmelo and Trick Williams were going through their usual shtick. Then Pete Dunne shows up. “You say you’ve beaten everyone, but you haven’t beat me, Dunne says.”
At first, Hayes turns down Dunne’s challenge but changes his mind.
But wait! Grimes still has some unfinished business. He attacks both Hayes and Trick.
After a commercial break, it’s not a tag match but a singles affair. Trick Williams takes on Cameron Grimes.
Grimes wins via Cave In after a relatively lengthy and competitive match with Williams.

Nikkita Lyons Debut

She’s facing Kayla Inlay in her first match and the NXT fans seem to be behind her. That’s a good sign. Lyons wins the match in impressive fashion with a spinning roundhouse kick and a split for good measure.

The Creed Brothers are the 2022 Men’s Dusty Classic Champs.

Malcolm gets on the mic and talks some nice. Of course, you know it’s directed at Imperium. Since The Creed Bros won the Dusty Classic, they’ll be challenging Imperium for their titles.

This trash-talking doesn’t last long, as Imperium makes their way to the ring. WALTER… Gunter… Gunther… oh, whatever. He corrects Malcome in regard to his name. A brawl between the two teams starts. Gunther gets his hands on Malcome, Solo Sikoa attacks Gunther before any damage is done.

Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro

We get a few more camera shots of Toxic Attraction just so you know they’re still watching. They heel it up for the camera as only they can.

Tatum is having a hard time with Kacy and Kayden in the early stages. Things look better when Ivy makes the tag. Kayden and Kacy were able to withstand the punishment and win in the end.

Ivy sinks the Dragon Sleeper on Tatum after the match. Well, guess that stable was short-lived. Not sure whether Strong told Ivy to let go, though.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Old school wrestling from both men to start it out. Ziggler shows off some mat skills, Ciampa counters with his striking game.
Lots of counters from the jump. Ciampa really wants Ziggler’s face to get better acquainted with his knee.

When he finally connects, he sits on the outside of the ring does what you’d expect. Yes, that’s right a little pat on the back.

We get back from the break and there are far fewer counters and far more suspenseful near falls.
The fans are definitely into this one and sometimes, that can play a huge factor in bumping up a somewhat decent match to a 5-star bout. Not saying this match would’ve sucked without them, but their appreciation for both competitors is a nice touch.

Some guy who’s pretending to be a cameraman hits Ciampa with a camera. Sure enough, the camera guy was none other than Robert Roode. Ziggler wins the match, as a result of the Roode interference. But hold up. Bron makes the post-match save for Ciampa. It seems Bron and Ciampa will take on The Dirty Dogs next week on NXT 2.0