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WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights Before No Mercy
The September 26 edition of WWE NXT was the go-home show before No Mercy, designed to set the stage for an event that should be unforgettable.
Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov would sign the contract for their rematch on Saturday, while Becky Lynch spoke just days before her Extreme Rules bout with Tiffany Stratton.
Butch and Joe Coffey have fought through a competitive field to become the final two in the Global Heritage Invitational, but who will challenge Noam Dar for the Heritage Cup?
Dijak and Eddy Thorpe were set to finish their heated rivalry in a strap match. Who would finally win when the odds were even?
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger battled Bronco Nima and Lucien Price for an NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity. Which developing team would get the shot of a lifetime?
The gold brand needed to use Tuesday's show to set the stage for one of its biggest events to date.
Global Heritage Invitational Final: Butch vs. Joe Coffey (w/ Gallus)
1 of 9Joe Coffey hit Butch with every big shot in his arsenal, but The Bruiserweight stayed in the fight.
As the Gallus leader fumed outside, Butch sent him into the steel steps and then hit the Bitter End in the ring to win.
Butch vs. Joe delivered as expected, though this could not live up to the Brawling Brute's previous performances with Axiom and Tyler Bate.
That mainly comes down to structure, as this felt too much like a showcase rather than a heated battle. The story of the match was inconsistent.
Still, this still ranks among the best matches Coffey has had in NXT. He was clearly the focal point of the action and looked more like the NXT UK destroyer he used to be.
At the end of the day, Butch needed this win. It's likely his NXT run will end after No Mercy, so the brand needs to use him to his fullest. He will push Noam Dar to a career-highlight match.
Result
Butch def. Joe by pinfall to win the Global Heritage Invitational and earn a Heritage Cup match at No Mercy.
Grade
B
Notable Moments
- Meta-Four showed off their final look of the invitational, fully inspired by Ocean's 11.
- Wolfgang took a cheap shot with a right hand to Butch. When Mark Coffey attempted to get involved as well, the referee threw out Gallus.
- Joe caught Butch with a crossbody into a lifting German suplex and the Glasgow Sendoff. The Bruiserweight fought back but ran into a clothesline.
- The Gallus leader connected on a Glasgow Sendoff into All The Best for The Bells, but Butch managed to kick out.
Trick Williams vs. Joe Gacy (w/ Ava)
2 of 9Trick Williams made quick work of Joe Gacy, countering the Upside Down with a running knee.
After the match, Kelly Kincaid interviewed him, and he promised to win his own gold.
This wasn't much of a match, but given the relative position of Gacy and Trick in NXT, that makes sense. Trick may be the most popular midcard talent in NXT, and he's ready to capture his own gold.
Since Dragon Lee was unable to beat "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio in two matches, Trick may be the best man left to dethrone the NXT North American champion.
However, Schism needs a complete reset that may take months to pull off.
Result
Trick def. Gacy by pinfall.
Grade
C
Notable Moments
- The entire crowd was alight for Trick, chanting "Whoop That Trick."
- Kincaid asked Trick about Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov, which upset him. He changed the subject.
- Later, Trick headed to Shawn Michaels' locker room with a request.
Baron Corbin vs. Josh Briggs (w/ Fallon Henley)
3 of 9Josh Briggs matched the strength of Baron Corbin, but the former Lone Wolf was too fast for him.
He planted Briggs with an End of Days to take the victory.
Corbin then called out Bron Breakker, who headed to the ring and took the first shot with a right hand. Officials had to break them up.
This was the second squash match of the night, highlighting one man with future aspirations while another is falling into the background.
Briggs could have gotten more in this match, but the goal was to put over Corbin for his battle with Breakker. This angle has little heat despite the booking attempting to sell that.
Both men are still heels. There is no real rhyme or reason for why they hate each other beyond clashing egos. NXT could have done more to sell this.
Result
Corbin def. Briggs by pinfall.
Grade
D+
Notable Moments
- Fallon Henley was the only person in the building convinced Briggs had a chance.
Out The Mud (w/ Scrypts) vs. Hank and Tank
4 of 9Hank Walker and Tank Ledger started off hitting hard and delivering big shots.
However, a distraction from Scrypts allowed Bronco Nima and Lucien Price to steal the win with an assisted slam.
This would have been an engaging sprint with a couple more minutes, but after a burst of offense from Hank and Tank, Out The Mud stole it with one move.
While OTM has potential, the group including Scrypts is too corny to take seriously. In a tag team division loaded with talent, Nima and Price must show they are more than just big guys.
Result
OTM def. Hank and Tank by pinfall.
Grade
C-
Notable Moments
- NXT was certain to emphasize the new name for this group: Out The Mud or OTM.
- The Family welcomed Angel and Humberto and The Creed Brothers to their dinner table.
- OTM joined dinner late before The Family offered all three other men a Fatal 4-Way title match at No Mercy.
- NXT showed a complete vignette for Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton.
- Blair Davenport warned Gigi Dolin that she did not let people get back up when she attacked them. Later, she assaulted her in the locker room.
Strap Match: Dijak vs. Eddy Thorpe
5 of 9Dijak brutalized Eddy Thorpe, throwing him around the ring and into the barricade outside.
Finally, the embarrassment was too much for Thorpe, who fought back and hit a diving elbow wrapped in the strap to win.
Afterward, Hard Justice wrapped up his rival's feet in the turnbuckle and battered him with his white belt.
It took a while for the crowd to get into this one, but Thorpe woke them up when he got control. However, this couldn't help a match that never quite reached the brutal heights expected from the build.
The two used the strap consistently as a weapon but could have gotten more creative. The ceiling for this was matching Dijak vs. Ilja Dragunov. Instead, it was an OK stipulation match that felt short despite its 10-minute runtime.
It looks as though the feud isn't over, but there is hardly anything left to accomplish. Thorpe got a definitive win. Unless they are going to do another NXT Underground match, there is not much more they can do to raise the stakes.
Result
Thorpe def. Dijak by pinfall.
Grade
C+
Notable Moments
- Dijak battered Thorpe in front of his rival's family including his young niece.
- Hard Justice wrapped a white belt around his first, but Thorpe ducked the shot and began smacking Dijak with the strap to build his comeback.
Thea Hail (w/ Jacy Jayne) vs. Dani Palmer
6 of 9Dani Palmer sent Thea Hail reeling with her gymnastics background, but Hail only needed one shot.
She ducked a corkscrew moonsault and locked in the Kimura Lock.
The rebrand of Hail has been solid overall, but this performance did nothing for her or Palmer. It was a classic NXT squash where the loser did most of the work before losing to one big move.
If the goal is to make Hail look more dangerous, she needs more of a complete move set in the ring. She needs to show she is more than just a Kimura Lock.
Result
Hail def. Palmer by submission.
Grade
D+
Notable Moments
- Before the match, Blair Davenport made fun of Gigi Dolin, who was no longer able to compete after a backstage attack.
- Hail showed off her new look backstage to Chase U. Andre Chase was not happy, but Duke Hudson calmed him. She also unveiled a new entrance theme in the ring.
- Jacy Jayne made fun of Chase U behind Hail's back after the win.
No. 1 Contender: Dragon Lee vs. Tyler Bate vs. Axiom vs. Trick Williams
7 of 9This chaotic Fatal 4-Way could have anyone's way, but Trick Williams fell onto Axiom in the ring to take a surprise three, as Dragon Lee and Tyler Bate wiped each out on the outside.
Here we go. This was the NXT of the past couple months. Everyone delivered in this bout, selling the importance of the moment.
Trick was the center of the story here, desperate to win his first title opportunity. However, he was outmatched by the pure athleticism of his impressive competitors. Luckily, he was the right man in the right spot at the end.
While Bate and Axiom deserve a shot of their own, Trick had the easiest story to tell with "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio since Dragon could not finish the job yet.
The crowd will completely buy into Trick beating Dirty Dom, whether it happens or not.
Result
Trick def. Axiom, Bate and Dragon by pinfall to earn a shot at the NXT North American Championship at No Mercy.
Grade
A
Notable Moments
- Mysterio was not happy to hear about a No. 1 Contender Triple Threat match to determine his challenger at No Mercy.
- In the locker room, Trick revealed to Axiom and Bate that he had been added to the Triple Threat. They were not happy and both attacked him at the bell.
- Trick was excited to tell Carmelo Hayes about his title opportunity, but Melo was distracted with preparation for his contract signing.
- While Trick had Dragon in a Boston crab, Bate locked Dragon in an armbar. Axiom ran in and locked Trick in a headlock.
- McKenzie Mitchell followed up with Dirty Dom after the match. He told Shawn Michaels that he runs NXT now. Dragon attacked Mysterio.
Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov Sign Contract
8 of 9Carmelo Hayes faced a confident Ilja Dragunov, who mocked The A Champion's own confidence.
After Melo signed the contract, though, he delivered an emphatic statement that he would not lose.
This was a solid closing statement before Saturday's contest, though it could have been bigger. Melo could not quite sell himself as vulnerable, going back into his usual routine quickly.
The Mad Dragon is the best opponent of The A Champion's career. The two will deliver again at No Mercy. The question is: Will they deliver more than they did at the Great American Bash?
Grade
B
Notable Moments
- NXT showed an unseen figure watching early highlights of Brian Pillman's career. It seems likely this is the first of multiple vignettes for Brian Pillman Jr.
- Dragunov questioned what Melo would do if he cannot keep The Mad Dragon down with his best shot.
- Melo listed all the men Dragunov had beaten, including Trick, saying he was better than them all.
- The show ended with Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin fighting in the parking lot. They brawled back into the building and through the wall to Shawn Michaels' office.
Overall Show
9 of 9NXT has had a string of big shows recently, and it was inevitable that a down week was coming. It's disappointing this go-home show lacked the hype necessary to push No Mercy over the top.
Butch vs. Joe Gacy was good but not great, leaving the best moment of the Global Heritage Invitational in the final group round the previous week.
Dijak vs. Eddy Thorpe also did not deliver on the hype. Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton did not appear live. Dominik Mysterio was only a pre-taped interview. Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov delivered a basic contract signing at the end of a limited rematch build.
Most of the night was highlighted by squash matches that did not elevate the winners. If it wasn't for the outstanding Fatal 4-Way main event, the entire show would have delivered nothing worth revisiting.
The only feud NXT really committed to build in the last week was Baron Corbin vs. Bron Breakker, but the backstage brawl could not make up for a lack of heat over the past month.
No Mercy will make up for this easily, but that doesn't take away the sense of disappointment here.
Grade: D
