WWE NXT
Episode 525
#WWENXT
Original Air Date: September 11, 2019
Event Date: August 15, 2019
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Outside the Venue
Rhea Ripley arrives at Full Sail University.
Intro Video
“All Out Life” by Slipknot
Match 1
Damian Priest vs BOA
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Damian Priest wins via pinfall after The Reckoning
Time: 2:35
Match Thoughts
This was pretty much a squash. BOA tried to do stuff, but Priest didn’t move much.
Video
A look at the feud between Roderick Strong and Velveteen Dream, and the demise of Dream’s couch.
Ring Area
Johnny Gargano heads to the ring. Gargano is here to address his future in NXT. He talks about how much he loves NXT and how he, along with the fans and other superstars, helped build it up to what it is today. Johnny has made his choice about where he goes from here. Tonight, Johnny Gargano officially… gets interrupted by Shane Thorne.
Shane Thorne wonders if all of this is really necessary. Couldn’t he have just sent out a tweet or something? Thorne says NXT is going to be just fine without Gargano. In fact, with Thorne in charge, it will be even better. Thorne tells Johnny to take a bow and take a walk. Gargano walks towards the ropes, but before he exits, he says he’s not going anywhere. Gargano kicks Thorne in the head, then he spells out NXT in the air.
Video
The Forgotten Sons are savage.
Match 2
Pete Dunne vs Angel Garza
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Pete Dunne wins via submission by snapping Garza’s fingers
Time: 8:03
Match Thoughts
Good match. Garza got more offense than I expected, but that’s a good sign for his future in NXT. Garza is good, and I liked seeing him do well against a star like Pete Dunne.
Backstage
Rhea Ripley prepares for her match.
Backstage
Shayna Baszler warms up.
Video
Earlier this week, the Street Profits visited Central Park. They look forward to heading to Madison Square Garden for RAW, but they miss their NXT Tag Titles. They want to make a statement on the first live NXT by taking back the tag titles.
Match 3
Raul Mendoza vs Cameron Grimes
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Cameron Grimes wins via pinfall after a jumping double stomp
Time: 3:50
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was short, but this was a good exhibition for Grimes.
Backstage
Candice LeRae enters William Regal’s office. She’s upset that Regal keeps rewarding Io Shirai and tells him that Shirai might not even make it to the number one contender match. Regal agrees, and he adds LeRae to the match set for next week.
Video
A look at Dakota Kai. She’ll be returning to NXT soon.
Match 4
Rhea Ripley vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Shayna Baszler wins via DQ when Ripley hits Baszler with a chair
Time: 5:25
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. I liked the action, but it was cut short by the appearance of Duke and Shafir, as well as the usage of a steel chair. This was more of an introduction and a statement for Ripley than anything else.
Backstage
The Undisputed Era says their prophecy of gold will be fulfilled next week live on the USA network.
Show Impressions
After the previous two weeks, this week felt a little light. I still enjoyed it fine, but it didn’t feel like a lot happened. Everything now is building up for the move to the USA network, and it felt like this episode was kind of the leftovers of the final taping before moving to the new format. Nothing was bad (though Priest’s match wasn’t great), but the show just felt good enough.
Match of the Night
Pete Dunne vs Angel Garza
I was hoping the main event would deliver more, but it looks they’re saving the real match between Baslzer and Ripley for later.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-09-11