WWE NXT
Episode 531
Original Air Date: October 23, 2019
Event Date: October 23, 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
Clips from last week’s show start this week’s show.
Intro Video
“All Out Life” by Slipknot
Match 1
Rhea Ripley vs Bianca Belair
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Rhea Ripley wins via pinfall after Riptide
Time: 9:01 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. Belair was having fun in the first couple of minutes, but the fight from Ripley turned things very serious for most of the match. This was a bout of high-impact moves. Ripley hit a lot of big boots that all looked they rocked Belair, and Belair did her best to fight back with her own power. Io Shirai came out and got involved late in the match, but Candice LeRae came out to negate Shirai’s influence. I really enjoyed this from start to finish, and it’s another example of why the women’s division in NXT is so good right now.
Backstage
Earlier today, Cathy Kelley asked Pete Dunne about his loss to Damian Priest. Dunne gave no excuses, but he said Priest would be getting a receipt. Also, Dunne doesn’t care about Killian Dain. Tyler Bate stood beside Dunne and smiled.
Video
Tommaso Ciampa talks about his injury, losing the NXT Title, and feeling like he might have lost his opportunity. Ciampa isn’t done though. He’s driven to get Goldie back.
Ring Area
Tyler Bate is in the crowd.
Match 2
Matt Riddle vs Cameron Grimes
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Matt Riddle wins via pinfall after the BroDerek
Time: 7:55 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. Both men tried to end the match early, but they both had to fight on. Grimes got a lot of offense, maybe more than I expected, but Riddle kept coming back with kick after kick and his great combinations of offense. Grimes thrived when he was countering moves and then following up, but he often struggled trying to face Riddle toe to toe. I think that made a lot of sense, and I really like how this match was done. This was definitely a step up for Grimes, and it was another very entertaining match for Riddle.
Ring Area
After the match, Riddle goes over to Grimes at ringside and offers a fist to bump. Grimes refuses, so Riddle bumps fists with Tyler Bate at ringside instead. After Riddle leaves, Grimes shoves Bate. Bate then punches Grimes in the face.
Backstage
Dominik Dijakovic says that he promised his family a championship in NXT. Tonight he fulfills his promise.
Backstage
Earlier today from YouTube, William Regal announced that Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox would face Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke tonight with the winning team facing The Kabuki Warriors next week.
Match 3
Breezango & Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs The Forgotten Sons
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Isaiah Scott pins Wesley Blake after a jumping kick to the side of Blake’s head
Time: 9:20 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Jaxson Ryker proved to be a big hurdle for Breezango and Scott to overcome, but some good teamwork and some creative offense helped Breezango and Scott thrive in this fun match. Scott definitely stood out in a very good way tonight.
Backstage
Roderick Strong is still angry about having to defend his title tonight, but he’ll do what he has to do.
Backstage
Roderick Strong warms up as the rest of Undisputed Era looks on.
Video
Outside, next to a flaming barrel, Killian Dain says he is going to break Pete Dunne.
Match 4
Angel Garza vs Gentleman Jack Gallagher
(referee: Jessika Carr; guest commentary: Lio Rush)
Result: Angel Garza wins via pinfall after Cerro de la Silla (springboard moonsault)
Time: 4:03
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was shorter than I was hoping for, and the finish surprised me with its abruptness, but it was still fun. I think Garza and Gallagher could have some really great matches together if given the opportunity. They’re both fun to watch and can keep things light, but they also both know when and how to get serious. This was just a taste of that.
Match 5
WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Number One Contender Match
Tegan Nox & Dakota Kai vs Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir w/ Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Tegan Nox pins Jessamyn Duke after the Shiniest Wizard
Time: 3:20
Match Thoughts
This was rather chaotic and short, but I liked it well enough. I don’t think Duke and Shafir are at all scary anymore, but they certainly have a unique way of moving around the ring. They’re kind of all over the place, and that brings a manic sense of tension to their matches.
Ring Area
After the match, The Kabuki Warriors appear on the screen. Asuka and Kairi Sane mock the new number one contenders and laugh at them. Kairi says they have no chance of becoming the new women’s tag champs.
Backstage
Keith Lee prepares for battle.
Ring Area
Cathy Kelley announces a few matches for next week’s episode of NXT.
Match 6
NXT North American Title Triple Threat Match
Keith Lee vs Dominik Dijakovic vs Roderick Strong (NA Champ)
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Roderick Strong pins Keith Lee after a running boot
Time: 12:19 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Great match! This felt like a wonderful step forward for both Lee and Dijakovic. The addition of Roderick Strong to their already fantastic series of matches made this a very exciting and completely memorable North American Title match. The sequences with all three men battling at the same time were extremely well done, and Lee and Dijakovic brought even more surprises to the ring. I loved this match!
Ring Area
After the match, the entire Undisputed Era attacks Keith Lee. With Lee down, Tommaso Ciampa comes out and slowly walks towards the ring. After Ciampa enters the ring, Johnny Gargano comes out and joins him. DIY faces the Undisputed Era, then Finn Balor heads to the ring. Balor stands with Gargano and Ciampa… but Balor kicks Gargano in the head.
Gargano rolls out of the ring, and Ciampa gets destroyed by Undisputed Era. Balor leaves the ring and kicks Gargano through the barricade and into the crowd. Balor follows up by hitting Gargano with an impact DDT on the metal ramp. Balor walks away alone.
Show Impressions
This was a very good show. Though a few of the matches were short, there was nothing on here I didn’t enjoy. And really, there was a lot on here that I enjoyed quite a lot. The final match leading in to the final segment was great.
Match of the Night
Triple Threat North American Title Match
I could watch this a few more times in a row.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2019-10-23