Posted on 3/26/125 by Bob Magee
The first of three title matches opens the show on tonight’s
televised card. The title bout is also the first defense by
Stephanie Vaquer of her newly won NXT Women’s Championship,
while also being the first of two title defenses for Vaquer
on this episode of NXT.
NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer defeated Jaida Parker
to retain her title
Vaquer pinned Parker with a wheelbarrow victory roll, after
a distraction by Jordynne Grace. The Fatal Influence trio
jumped Vaquer after the match.
They wrestled through the first commercial break on the
show. This was a good opener and a competitive match.
Despite losing by pinfall, Parker gets to save some face
because of the distraction by Grace.
Last week Parker jumped Grace, so Grace has a reason for
vengeance. However, costing Parker the title because of a
distraction seems heelish. But whatever. Parker and Grace
had to be held apart by officials at ringside. That
apparently kept the officials unable to stop the post-match
run-in.
Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx)
jump Vaquer after the match. The heel trio lays out Vaquer
and stands over her. Later in the show, Vaquer is set to
defend a title against Henley.
A couple backstage skits lead us into, and back from, a
commercial break. In one skit, Trick Williams and Je’Von
Evans have a tense dialogue in a locker room. Trick again
insults Evans.
Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson argue with Gigi Dolan & Tatum
Paxley in the women’s locker room. NXT General Manager Ava
enters to help settle the dispute. Hopefully that involves a
match to settle the score.
Ricky Saints joins Vic Joseph for a sit-down interview,
which was interrupted and crashed by NXT North American
Champion Shawn Spears. The acting by Saints was fantastic
here, instead of the usual campy nature of the backstage
skits on the show.
The interview starts off with Saints talking about his
arrive to NXT and other perception of him, but they are soon
interrupted by Spears. Joseph is run off by Spears, and
Spears takes over the interview with Saints. This allowed
Saints to shine, as his acting was very good.
Saints goes back-and-forth with Spears as they trade verbal
jabs. Spears brings up their past, which included some
references that were very inside baseball. The rest of The
Culling appear at the end of the segment, as Spears issues a
warning to Saints. Great segment. This appears to be Saints
next program, and for a title no less.
Wes Lee is watching on a monitor backstage with Tyriek Igwe
and Tyson Dupont. They soon head towards Gorilla, as they
have a tag match up next.
Hank Walker & Tank Ledger are also headed to the ring. In a
cameo, they run into the Motor City Machine Guns. Hank &
Tank are offered some encouraging words from MCMG.
Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont (with Wes Lee) defeated Hank
Walker & Tank Ledger
Dupont pinned Walker clean to win the match after a double
team finisher. Dupont & Ledger got a dominate win, as Hank &
Tank remain underdogs.
GM Ava checks on Stephanie Vaquer in the trainer’s room, and
Vaquers vows to defend both titles tonight.
NXT Heritage Cup Champion Lexis King defeated Je’Von Evans
via count-out to retain the title
Second cheap finish in a title match on this show. The
earlier title bout had a distraction, and this match
featured blatant interference by NXT Champion Oba Femi. He
powerbombed Evans on the ring apron, and Evans could not
answer the 10 count.
The match was plenty good, and they were even plenty of time
as it went through a commercial break. But again, the finish
was a cheap way out. The heat is supposed to go on Femi I
guess, but it was still a lame finish. The post-match angle
sort of made up for the finish.
Dark State teases a run-in, complete with a light show. Very
kind of them to give Dark State a light show, considering
Dark State are invaders and all. Why they are here, who
knows? They are there, but they just glare at the ring.
Evans starts brawling with Femi in the ring. Trick Willaims
runs down to make a save.Trick and Femi a have a great pull-
apart showdown, but not before Trick inadvertently hits
Evans with a flying knee strike. Meanwhile, Dark State looks
on.
Gigi Dolan & Tatum Paxley defeated Lash Legend & Jakara
Jackson
Paxley pinned Jackson after Cemetery Drive , which is the
name of the double team finisher from Dolan & Paxley. They
are set to challenge for the TNA Knockouts tag teal titles
on an upcoming episode of Impact, so they went over strong
here.
Tony D’Angelo is sitting down with The Family in a vignette.
This was like something out of The Sopranos. D’Angelo asks
Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo if he is good. Stacks says he is
indeed good except for the situation with Dark State.
D’Angelo asks Stacks if he can trust him. Stacks tells “T”
that he can always trust him. A stone face “Don” stares into
the distance as Stacks leaves the room.
Ethan Page defeated Andre Chase (with Kale Dixon & Uriah
Connors)
Before the match, Ricky Saints blows past Page on his way to
the announce desk for guest commentary. The actual match
itself was set up with a locker room skit where Chase sticks
up for Dixon when Page tries to bully him.
Page pinned Chase clean after a Twist of Fate. Just before
that, Chase kicked out after a super powerslam. Chase fought
valiantly, but Chase delivers “Twisted Grin” before scoring
the deciding pinfall. They had a long match that was good
for the most part.
Saints has words with Page after the match, after Page eggs
it on. Suddenly, Shawn Spears ambushes Saints. The rest of
The Culling then move in to stand over Saints, who is laid
out at ringside by Spears. This angle sets up a North
American title match for next week with Spears defending
against Saints.
Dark State cuts a promo that was originally uploaded to
social media.
A fired up Trick Williams cuts a promo on Oba Femi, but
Trick comments on Je’Von Evans. Trick refers to the knee
strikes on Evans as “collateral damage”, and Trick calls
Evans a “distraction” from Trick’s goal of regaining the NXT
title.
Trick also cuts a promo on Femi, saying Femi knows where to
find him next week. Trick is asked about Dark State, and
Trick says that is none of his business.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer
defeated Fallon Henley (with Fatal Influence) to retain the
title
Vaquer pinned Henley after interference from Nyz backfires
on the heels. Really good match. Henley should be on the
main roster. The trio of Fatal Influence jumps Vaquer after
the match, and Jordynne Grace runs down to make a save.
Jaida Parker also runs in to brawl with Grace.
Parker shoves Grace into Vaquer, after Grace and Vaquer had
a mild tug-o-war over the NXT title belt. Grace brawls with
Parker, and Grace sends Parker outside the ring. Vaquer then
spins Grace around for a face-to-face stare down.