Cook’s WWE NXT Review 9.8.26

Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest episode of WWE NXT on the CW! We’ve got some big time action tonight, as Kelani Jordan defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Miss Jaida Parker! Jackson Drake defends the NXT North American Championship against Tavion Heights! We’ll have a six-man tag team match to set up a triple threat for next week!

If you already subscribe to the 411MANIA Wrestling Newsletter, earlier today you received some of my thoughts on Bayley’s return to WWE along with the tragic passings of Andy “The Butcher” Williams & “Superstar” Bill Dundee. If you don’t already subscribe, do so right now! Yes, before we get to the show because if you’re like me you won’t remember to do this a minute from now.

Cook’s WWE NXT Review 9.8.26

Then. Now. Forever. Together!

We’re in Orlando! Vic Joseph & Booker T are our hosts. Split screens are shown of the six competitors in the upcoming tag team match. Kelani Jordan & Jaida Parker are WALKING!

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Jaida Parker: Jaida will be appearing on WWE Radio tonight after NXT, at least if she loses she’ll have plenty of time to calm down. Jaida & Kelani tieup, headlock by Jaida, Jaida with a shoulderblock off the ropes. Jaida shrugs off a hip top and dropkick and gets a nearfall. Kelani takes Jaida down by the hair but misses a flip. Jaida shoves Kelani down, Kelani flips out of a suplex and sends Jaida into the corner and stomps her down. Kelani with some shoulderblocks in the corner. Kelani hits a crossbody, goes for a sunset flip and that leads to a series of rollups. Jaida blocks the rana and hits a sitout powerbomb for two. We go to Non-Stop NXT!

Jaida stomps on Kelani, slides out of the ring and Kelani kicks her doqn. Kelani does the old Cactus Jack jump out of the ring and hit a spinning neckbreaker spot. Kelani rolls Jaida into the ring, hits a legdrop. Jaida with some punches, Kelani responds with the neckbreaker. Kelani with some forearms around a seated Jaida and then a cravate. Jaida tries to flip out but Kendal holds on. Jaida breaks it and goes up top, Kelani follows her.

Full screen sees Jaida block the Spanish Fly and hit a leg lariat from the top. Punches back & forth. Clotheslines by Jaida, then a short-arm clothesline. Kelani with an elbow out of the corner, she gets dropped off the middle rope, Jaida hits a blockbuster and then a flacon arrow for two. Kelani flips out of a suplex, hits a crossbody, Jaida rolls through and then locks her in the Rings of Saturn. Kelani rolls over into a two count to break the hold. Jaida props Kelani on the second turnbuckle, but Kelani avoids the butt splash and hits Jaida with a legdrop. Kelani with the Asai moonsault to the floor. Back in the ring, 450 is avoided, Jaida hits a modified Samoan drop and props Kelani in the corner, hits the butt splash. Jaida goes for a hip attack, Kelani avoids it and hits the split legged moonsault for three!

Winner: Kelani Jordan (9:53 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
There were a lot of things I liked about this match. Kelani was really on point as she usually is, and Jaida was keeping up with her. I think they went through some things way too quickly and didn’t pause to tell the story. Doing a little less just to let things breathe a little bit would have resulted in a more satisfying match to me.

A crazed Wren Sinclair appears and attacks Kelani! She attacks the hot blonde referee! She hits Kelani with a kendo stick repeatedly! Officials come out to break it up. Wren’s still mad over Kendal Grey being taken out last week, which is understandable.

We see Romeo Moreno & Noam Dar requesting a match with the Creed Brothers from Robert Stone yesterday.

Myles Borne posted a social media video telling Tavion Heights that maybe he was wrong about the whole thing. Tavion watches the video on his phone with Hank & Tank. Tavion needs to focus on the North American Championship tonight, so his issue with Myles can wait.

Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs. Brutus & Julius Creed: The Creeds have new cammo inspired tights. Romeo & Julius start. Julius dominates early and brings him in the corner. Tag to Brutus, a suplex into a backbreaker. Brutus tosses Romeo down. Romeo kicks Brutus, Brutus tries to smack Romeo but Dar tags in and they hit a high-low. Some double teaming by Romeo & Noam lead to double submissions until Brutus throws Noam onto Romeo & Brutus. The Creeds charge and end up over the top rope. PKs, then a dive to the floor by Romeo is followed by one by Noam. Julius rams them into the apron, but then misses a charge and hits the steps. Noam dropkicks Julius against the steps.

Non-Stop NXT starts with some planning. Brutus is tossed into the ring, they stomp his hands & feet, then they make a wish. A cover by Noam gets two. Noam with some kicks, Brutus blocks and tosses him over his head. Brutus clubs away on Noam. Gutbuster by Brutus. Brutus knocks Romeo off the apron then gets Noam in a spinning backbreaker into a slam. Brutus is flipped by Julius onto Noam for two. Brutus continues smacking Noam around, hits a vertical suplex and then a chinlock.

Noam fights out when we return full-screen, but Brutus takes him down again. Julius tags in, they hit a combo backstabber/fallaway slam. Noam kicks Julius down, but now he’s in a bearhug. Julius misses a charge, Noam runs around the ring and eventually tags Romeo. Some strikes by Romeo, then a flying clothesline. Brutus gets German suplexed. Romeo hits the top rope missile dropkick on Julius. Springboard splash by Romeo. Noam tags back in, they kick & slam Julius for two. Romeo tags back in, Noam gets tripped and yanked out of the ring by Brutus. Julius hits a big powerbomb on Romeo for two. Nearfall for Romeo is broken up by a Brutus splash from the top. Noam tossed out again, he & Brutus fight on the floor until Noam is tossed into the barrier. Romeo gets clotheslined down by Julius, that leads to a double sitout slam for the three count.

Winners: Brutus & Julius Creed (12:13 via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***
One can see why the Creeds got a ton of hype when they got called up to the main roster the first time, these guys can go. Unfortunately the tag team division on Raw was probably the worst place for a good tag team to end up during that time. As the commentators talked about, NXT should be the perfect place for the Creeds to regain some steam and hopefully be in a good spot to succeed next time they’re on Raw or SmackDown. Noam & Romeo have pretty good chemistry going too.

Earlier today, William Regal & Fit Finlay told BirthRight to take care of Zilla Fatu. Regal wants Charlie to do it since he has history with Zilla’s father Umanga. (I know it’s actually Umaga, don’t yell at me because British people like adding letters to words. If only they’d just speak English like the rest of us.)

Wren Sinclair explains to Robert Stone why she attacked Kelani, but Stone has no time for her explanation and suspends Wren!

William Dempsey says that enough is enough. He’s unappreciated around here and has spent too much time keeping quiet. He doesn’t do the dives, flips & catchphrases. He’s about actions over words. He hasn’t sold out or compromised his ideals so he can play the game. When he was asked to form BirthRight, it was too good an offer to pass up. They want to make the business what it should be. He’s the best damn grappler in this entire company. They get make to look like fools every week. Last week their one shred of credibility was taken away. He’s fed up with being treated like a joke and will force people to take him seriously. The company favors football players over actual wrestlers. It’s time for the people who deserve it to come and take it. Nobody back there can step up to them, especially Zilla Fatu. He’s got something they need, and they can put him on the path to being a superstar. They’re all the same, they’ve spent time in their fathers’ shadows when they don’t need to. Charlie suggests that Zilla come out and accept the offer.

Zilla says hello and likes what Charlie is saying. The majority of it is true. He does have a chip on his shoulder over who his father is. He can’t grapple with Charlie, but he can turn it up. Zilla appreciates the invite but won’t get lost in the sauce. He’s not just one of the ones, he’s the one. His answer is “hell no”.

Uriah Connors says that now they’re telling him, and BirthRight attacks Zilla. Zilla fights back until Arianna slaps him. The distraction leads to Lexis hitting Zilla with a chair. The announce desk is cleared, and they do a four-man powerbomb on Zilla through it. Charlis rips his shirt off and BirthRight talks some smack.

Naraku warns Shiloh Hill that questioning the mist will only lead to doom & despair. He’s felt the red & green mist, Shiloh can stop now or experience every color and every effect. Darkness awaits.

Saquon tells Mason & Tony he’s got it all figured out and won’t need any help. Tony wants them to stay out of his way, they’ve both tried to attack him before. Mason says they want all the same things and are all on the same page. Tristian Angels appears and calls Mason the weak link and just got his first win recently. Saquon points out that Tristian couldn’t beat Zilla last week, and Tristian says that Saquon is and will always be a follower.

NXT North American Championship Match: Jackson Drake (c) (w/The Vanity Project) vs. Tavion Heights: I dunno, I kinda don’t mind the Vanity Project theme. It’s catchy. Tavion lifts Jackson over his head and drops him a couple of times. Tavion dominates on the mat, Jackson gets to the ropes and gets a quick rollup. Elbow by Drake, Heights responds with a clothesline. Slam by Heights. Heights catches Drake in the corner, but Drake punches him in the back and elbows him. Heights sends Drake outside, but Smokes trips him. Heights decks Smokes, but Drake takes advantage and sends Heights over the top rope to the floor.

Non-Stop NXT sees Drake roll Heights back in the ring and pose with his title belt. Back in the ring, Drake sends Hgihts down, choke him on the ropes and hit a hip attack. Jackson with a decapitator on the bottom rope, then he stands on Heights’ neck. Jackson stomps Tavion down in the corner and chokes him from outside. Suplex and a cover by Drake, and then a chinlock. Heights fights out and drives Drake into the corner.

We return, Jackson misses a move off the top and sells his ankle. He removes the shoe, which leads to an ankle lock by Tavion. Jackson kicks him and rolls outside. Chop black by Tavion when Jackson rolls inside. He goes back outside, and then sends Tavion into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Jackson with some repeated elbows, he still can’t stand on that leg. Tavion goes for the ankle, Jackson kicks him away. Tavion with some forearms and clotheslines. Backdrop by Tavion, then a sling blade. Jackson fights back, a bridging German suplex gets two. Running forearm in the corner by Drake, then a running kick. Jackson with some kicks on the apron, Tavion responds with a German suplex on the apron! Two count for Tavion, Jackson gets a crucifix for two. Double big boot, Tavion runs into a knee strike! Jackson goes up top, he hits a 450 for the three count!

Winner: Jackson Drake (11:39 via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***
I thought Jackson did a nice job selling the ankle, maybe a little spotty at moments but still good overall. It was kind of weird because I was expecting more Vanity Project interference than we got, but Jackson largely wrestled clean and deserved the victory at the end by overcoming adversity. I guess heels must overcome stuff sometimes too.

The Vanity Project celebrate in the aisle while Tavion stands in the ring and sees Myles Borne! Myles is making his way through the crowd, but Tavion doesn’t want to hang around and chat.

Keanu, EK & Cruz discuss their upcoming match. Cruz tells EK & Keanu to forget their beef. Robert Stone appears and Keanu is much nicer to him than he is to Cruz or EK.

Zaria is WALKING!

Zaria makes her way to the ring. She talks about shedding Sol Ruca’s dead weight several months ago and points out what she’s done since then. At Heatwave she put to rest every doubt of who Zaria is. She found her redemption and was the one holding two titles above her head. The Speed title is in the past where it belongs, and she’ll be the most dominant North American Champions NXT has ever seen.

Izzi Dame wants to know what that means. Zaria won one triple threat and now she’s the most dominant? She doesn’t buy the façade Zaria is building. She sees through Zaria’s act and Zaria’s become everything she claimed to hate. Izzi will expose Zaria’s true self one step at a time and show everyone who the true Zaria is.

Thea Hail comes out and says nobody cares what Izzi has to say. Jaida has inspired her to be all she can be. Izzi says it’s boring, she’ll let them fight it out since she only cares about the woman behind it. Thea wants to prove she isn’t a one hit wonder. Zaria says that Thea depends on others thinking for her. Thea says Zaria is jealous that she has a real friend. Zaria says that friends will always turn their back on you and Thea needs to learn that. Thea says Zaria needs to get over Sol, and that leads to a fight. Zatia with a headbutt, but Thea fights back, sends Zaria into the corner and locks in the Kimura! Zaria taps out and Thea celebrates.

Myles talks to Hank & Tank about Tavion. They say he needs to apologize in person. Tavion just lost a huge title match, so it wasn’t the right time. Myles says he’ll apologize next week, and Hank & Tank support that.

BirthRight walk up to Finlay & Regal, Charlie hands Regal Zilla’s shirt. Vanity Project appear and Drake says that Regal should be proud of him with his title victory. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux appear, then the Creed Brothers appear, and then DarkState appear? I didn’t know they were still around. Looks like a lot of people that might want a Tag Team Championship match to me.

Kali Armstrong talks to Sarah Schrieber and asks who Thea Hail thinks she is asking for a North American title shot. She already beat Zaria. Lizzy Rain asks Kali why she didn’t go out there and steal the interview time like she stole Lizzy’s interview time a few weeks ago. They argue and security separates them.

Next Week: Kali vs. Lizzy! Myles Bourne Public Apology! DarkState vs. Legacy & DVD! An NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match!

Winning Team Has an NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match Next Week: Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook & Saquon Shugars vs. Keanu Carver, Cruz Montana & EK Prosper: NXT Champion Grayson Waller joins Vic & Booker on commentary. He opts to sit next to Booker instead of Vic because Vic stinks. Then he makes a Browns joke, automatically making him the best person to do guest commentary on this show in a long time. All six men brawl right away. Saquon & EK face off in the ring. EK with a quick rollup. EK hits an Asai moonsault, then a handspring into a kick gets two. Saquon dumps EK outside after Carver tags in. Saquon eventually gets a crucifix, but then runs into a POUNCE! Rook tags in and the big boys go at it. Carver lifts Rook with a suplex and gets two. Cruz tags in and gets squashed in the corner. Cross-body by Rook gets two. Tag to Tony, he & Rook eat a rolling cutter by Cruz. Tony flips out of a powerbomb, but Cruz hits a DVD for two. Tony suplexes Cruz, EK tags in and Tony throws him around before hitting a spinebuster. Saquon tags in, hits an atomic drop and an elbow to the back of the head. A vaulting legdrop gets two. Carver POUNCES Tony. Rook gets kicked down. Carver & Cruz toss EK into a rana on Saquon for two!

Non-Stop NXT sees Cruz working over Saquon. Saquon flips out of a suplex and tags Tony. Tony with a clothesline in the corner, tag to Rook and a double elbow by Tony & Rook gets two. Hard whip into the corner by Rook. Saquon back in, he rolls Cruz up for two. EK tags in and dropkicks Saquon in the back for two. Suplex by EK gets two. EK with a chinlock.

We return and Saquon kicks EK into a tag by Cruz. Carver goes for a suplex, but Saquon falls on top of him. Rook & Cruz tag in, Rook with some clotheslines. Bodyslam by Rook and a senton get two on Cruz. Rollup by Cruz gets two. Rook gets worked over in the corner with elbows. Rook is placed up top, they try a double superplex on him and hit it! EK comes off the top with a frog splash and gets two. Carver is kicked into Cruz, EK tags in and kicks Saquon off the apron. Tony tags in instead and delivers some suplexes to everyone. Bulldog for EK, then a powerslam gets two. Carver breaks it up. Cruz ends up clotheslining him over the top rope on “accident”. Saquon dives onto them on the floor. EK up top though, Tony avoids his flip and hits the spear. Chokeslam by Tony, Mason tags in, lifts Tony up and drives him into EK in the corner! I don’t think Tony will appreciate Mason’s method there, but it got the three count on EK!

Winners: Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook & Saquon Shugars (12:18 via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***
This was a fun six-man tag with a lot going on that moved things along a little bit. Cruz should be a good guy for Keanu to work with and learn a few things from. I’m not sure if I see Saquon or Mason getting a big singles title match yet so it’ll probably be Tony getting the rematch against Grayson. Mason does some fun stuff, but it looks like they’re setting him up with a Tristian Angels feud and that could be cool.

Cruz & Carver are fighting in the entranceway with security trying to break them up. Mason yells at Grayson, then Tony yells at Mason, then Saquon’s there and everyone’s yelling at each other as our live event comes to an end. So long for now!

If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on tonight’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on social media from time to time. To be honest, e-mail is a better option and you can reach me at [email protected]. I’ll be more likely to respond there.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Some solid matches tonight from NXT along with story development that made some sense. They were mentioning Halloween Havoc during this broadcast, which gives us a pretty long time for NXT to build some things for that event since it's actually on Halloween. Lots of opportunities for wrestlers here to step up and take those spots, which should lead to good television coming up.