9/9 NXT in Detroit, Mich.: Ricochet & War Machine vs. Undisputed Era in main event, Gargano vs. Lars Anderson, plus Baszler, Ciampa, Breeze, Cross

NXT LIVE EVENT REPORT
SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
ROYAL OAK (DETROIT), MICH. AT ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATER
REPORT BY JOHANNA SWANSON AND JEFFREY STEARNS, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!

They sold out show for the third time NXT has come to this venue

(1) Heavy Machinery beat Forgotten Sons (Ryker & Blake). The crowd was behind HM, especially hot for Otis, but pretty lukewarm toward the Sons (heckling them by yelling things like “We forgot about you!” and “Hey, that’s not Murphy!” at Ryker). Tucky was overshadowed by Dozer, who couldn’t be knocked off his feet and used his surprising agility to crush his opponents in the corner and then delivering the Caterpillar elbow drop. Heavy Machinery wins with the Compactor double team finisher.

(2) Dakota Kai beat Aliyah. Aliyah tried mocking Kai by kicking her back while she was down, but Kai caught the boot and then showed her how it was done, including a scorpion kick. Dakota wrapped up the match with 3 successive running big boots to Aliyah’s face with her in the corner. (Local color commentary: Someone in the crowd yells “I love you, Carmella!” to Aliyah)

(3) Tyler Breeze beat Dan Matha. Matha got heat early with a short video saying we had the worst team in the NFL (referring to the Detroit Lions). Prince Pretty showed up to huge cheers. Matha was in charge at first, throwing Tyler out of the ring multiple times and then taunting the crowd (who gave it right back, chanting “Mr. Clean!”). Tyler started to turn things around by first putting his opponent in a figure-four leglock involving the ringpost. He later used a single leg Boston crab, even pulling Matha back toward the middle of the ring, but it ended with a rope break after all. Dan was bigger and stronger, but in the end, Tyler wins with the Beauty Shot (spinning heel kick).

Next, Marcel Barthel was introduced by the ring announcer. He came out, grabbed the mic, and went to speak, but whenever he brought it within reach of his mouth, the audience showered him with boos and shouts of “Nein! Nein! Nein!” He had the crowd in the palm of his hand, teasing that he was going to leave which of course garnered cheers. He went as far as leaving the ring and walking through the curtain, only to rush back, dive into the ring, and go through the routine again.

This came to an end with the arrival of Lars Sullivan, who came out to a pop. Marcel feigned a retreat, then tried to sneak-attack Lars, but he got slammed as a result. Lars picked up the mic and told us: “I didn’t do that for you. I did it because I do whatever I want!” He welcomed a challenger to face him in “Lars territory.”

(4) Johnny Gargano beat Lars Sullivan via DQ. Johnny came out to chants of “Johnny Wrestling” (with a small contingent echoing “Johnny Failure”). On the mic, he said that one of his first NXT events was in this building (on 1/30/16 when he fought Elias Samson). Afterward, he came right at Lars. The match was back and forth, Gargano’s speed pitted against Sullivan’s monstrous power. The match ended in a DQ when Johnny was on the top rope and Lars pushed the ref into the ropes so Johnny got crotched. Lars seemed to leave but came back with a chair. Gargano disarmed him with superkicks, then got the chair and brought it down hard across Sullivan’s back.

INTERMISSION

(5) Nikki Cross & Candice LeRae (with new entrance music!) beat Vanessa Borne & Shayna Baszler. The chemistry between the faces was fun to watch, since Candice seemed cautious around her unstable partner, smiling at her and urging her to take calming breaths. For most of the match, Nikki was in the ring and the heels managed to keep her under control. Shayna did her signature stomp on the elbow. Candice managed to come in after a hot tag. What spelled defeat for the heels was when Vanessa accidentally hit Shayna on the apron, resulting in their partnership dissolving with Baszler giving her partner a running knee strike. Nikki then capitalized by delivering the Purge (swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker) and getting the pin.

(6) Tommaso Ciampa beat Dominik Dijakovic to retain the NXT Championship. The crowd was pretty quiet for the challenger at first. Ciampa got boos mixed with some fans chanting “Psycho Killer.” This was a hard-hitting back-and-forth matchup throughout. At one point Ciampa pulled up the ringside mat to expose the concrete. He prepared to deliver a hanging DDT but Dijakovic countered and slammed him onto the edge of the ring. There were several near falls, which kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, and Dijakovic started getting some “ROH” chants, but Ciampa caught him coming into the ring and delivered the DDT and rolled him up into a small package for the win. Once he left, crowd gave Dominik a standing ovation.

“it’s time for your main event!”

(7) War Raiders & Ricochet beat Undisputed Era in a six-man tag match. Ricochet wore facepaint like his partners. After entrances, right at the start of the match, the crowd showed their respect by chanting “All these guys!” At first it seemed like we’d get Ricochet face-to-face with Adam Cole in a repeat of their TakeOver battle, but Cole tagged out. In typical fashion, The Undisputed Era were wily, utilizing quick tags and triple-teaming. They also tried to break up tags for the faces by pulling them off the aprons, but when O’Reilly tried this on Hanson he didn’t budge and shook him off. He then came in and the big man demonstrated some moves I’d expect out of Ricochet including a handspring back elbow. Toward the end, Ricochet jumped off the top rope into an expertly placed superkick from Cole, who then took some bows, looking pleased with himself, before he turned around to find the Raiders and a beating. The finish came after Ricochet delivered the Vertigo (spinning Michinoku driver) and, as the referee counted the pin, he held up his hand (used here as an always available state map) and pointed at the spot where Detroit would be. After the match, he thanked the fans for their support and said “We are NXT!”

If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!

NOW CHECK OUT THIS REPORT: 9/8 NXT in Warren, Ohio: Ciampa vs. Gargano vs. Cole, War Raiders vs. Undisputed Era, Baszer vs. Candice