WWE NXT
Episode 537
Original Air Date: December 4, 2019
Event Date: December 4, 2019
(aired live on USA)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Video
Last week, NXT celebrated their Survivor Series victory by going to war with each other.
Ring Area
Mauro Ranallo is welcoming us to the show when Killian Dain issues an open challenge in the middle of the ring. Pete Dunne quickly answers that challenge.
Match 1
Killian Dain vs Pete Dunne
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Killian Dain wins via pinfall after both men fall backwards off the second rope and into the ring
Time: 11:10 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Both men seemed to want to hurt their opponent, but they each went about it a little differently. Dunne focused on joint manipulation while Dain just threw Dunne around. There were some rough-looking shots taken and thrown by both guys which made this match feel fairly brutal at times. This felt like a grudge match.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley asks Dakota Kai for a few words. Kai is ready to take Rhea Ripley out tonight, just like she took out Mia Yim.
Ring Area
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong head to the ring. Cole gloats about how great November was for the Undisputed Era. He’s also angry about how the members of the NXT roster have been treating them after everything they’ve done for NXT. He’s particularly upset with Keith Lee and Finn Balor. Cole demands answers from Balor, and he won’t leave the ring until he gets some.
Instead of Balor, Keith Lee heads to the ring. Kyle O’Reilly talks about Keith Lee making moments, but what does he have to show for it? Where’s his gold? Where are his wins? Keith Lee looks at all the gold in front of him and wonders which title he should take first. Cole threatens Lee, but Lee strikes first.
Lee fights off the Undisputed Era. As Cole walks up the ramp, Tommaso Ciampa attacks him from behind. Ciampa rolls Cole into the ring, but Strong and O’Reilly save him before Lee can give him a powerbomb. In the ring, Lee paces while Ciampa picks up the NXT Title Cole dropped on his way out.
Backstage
An angry Xia Li vows to show Shayna Baszler how a warrior fights.
Video
KUSHIDA shares some moments with his wife and daughter while he was away recovering from a broken wrist. Tonight, KUSHIDA returns!
Match 2
Xia Li vs Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: Stephon Smith)
Result: Shayna Baszler wins via submission with the Kirifuda Clutch
Time: 4:03
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was short, but I liked the fight from Xia Li. Lee brought a lot of kicks that seemed to force Baszler to hesitate, but once Baszler got close, the match was pretty much over.
Outside the Venue
Kassius Ohno says he’s had a career renaissance recently. As the greatest British wrestler alive, Ohno is here to teach someone in NXT a lesson.
Match 3
Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake w/ Jaxson Ryker vs Adrian Alanis & Leon Ruff
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Wesley Blake pins Adrian Alanis after a tandem diving stomp (Cutler) and inverted DDT (Blake)
Time: 1:20
Match Thoughts
Squash.
Ring Area
After the match, Jaxson Ryker hits Leon Ruff with an ugly chokeslam onto the edge of the ring apron.
Backstage
Rhea Ripley warms up for her match tonight.
Ring Area
Dakota Kai comes out for a match with Rhea Ripley. Ripley comes out to the stage, but she doesn’t enter the ring. Instead, she compliments Kai on her setup at WarGames. However, Ripley has the setup tonight. Ripley brings out Mia Yim who runs to the ring and beats up Dakota Kai. After a pummeling from Yim, Kai finally starts to fight back at ringside. Her advantage is short-lived though. Yim continues to beat up Kai as the two women head out through the crowd.
Back in the ring, Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke attack Rhea Ripley. The numbers are too much for Ripley. Baszler puts Ripley in the Kirifuda Clutch. Ripley fights valiantly, but she is eventually put to sleep by the champ. Baszler tells Ripley that she’s going to get her title match, because that’s exactly what Baszler wants.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley welcomes Tommaso Ciampa and Keith Lee. Tonight’s main event will be a six-man tag match, and Dominik Dijakovic will be teaming up with Ciampa and Lee.
Video
Finn Balor says everyone wants a piece of the prince, but they’re all playing checkers while he’s playing chess. Balor is about to checkmate Adam Cole.
Video
A look at Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
Match 4
Kassius Ohno vs Matt Riddle
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Matt Riddle wins via pinfall after the Bro Derek
Time: 9:16 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Ohno took an early advantage with some very smart wrestling, but Riddle was able to hit some big moves throughout the match to slowly turn the tide. This was fun.
Ring Area
KUSHIDA heads to the ring for a match. Raul Mendoza comes out next, but he is blindsided by Cameron Grimes. Grimes heads to the ring, and a new match begins.
Match 5
KUSHIDA vs Cameron Grimes
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: KUSHIDA wins via pinfall with a wheelbarrow victory roll
Time: 4:15
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was short, but KUSHIDA looked strong against someone who’s been on a hot streak. KUSHIDA attacked Grimes with punishing holds and quick offense. I liked it.
Video
A look at the feud between Angel Garza and Lio Rush.
Match 6
Kyle O’Reilly (Tag Champ) & Roderick Strong (NA Champ) & Adam Cole (NXT Champ) vs Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic & Tommaso Ciampa
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Keith Lee pins Adam Cole after the fireman’s jackhammer
Time: 9:15 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Fast and fun. Finn Balor even made an appearance to make this already good match even better.
Ring Area
After the match William Regal comes out to the stage. He announces that next week, Finn Balor, Tommaso Ciampa, and Keith Lee will compete in a triple threat match to determine the next contender for the NXT Title.
Show Impressions
Good Show. I like how the challengers for Cole’s title are converging without any real indication of who might realistically get the next title match.
Match of the Night
Undisputed Era vs Ciampa & Lee & Dijakovic
A very fun main event with some title implications.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-12-04