Hola NXT fans and welcome to this week’s NXT Redux. As we saw last week, Ruby Riot is on a mission to settle the score against Billie Kay and Peyton Royce after the Iconic Duo managed to get the better of Ruby using their number games two weeks ago.
As per William Regal, Ruby can have her match against the Iconic Duo under the condition that she is able to find a tag team partner to stand alongside her. So who will team up with Ruby Riot? Let’s find out.
The women kick off this week’s program and while Iconic Duo make their entrance as a collective team, Ruby Riot is riding solo.
Female referee Jessika Carr is overlooking this unofficial handicap match that starts off with Riot bringing Kay to the mat with a single leg takedown. Riot then turns her attention to Royce and takes her down as well when she tries to make a run-in attack.
The numbers game get the better of Riot when Kay wins control with a forearm. She makes a tag to Royce and the Iconic Duo add insult to injury when they mock Riot for not having a tag team partner. But what’s this? From the NXT crowd, Nikki Cross appears and slowly makes her way to ringside for a better glimpse of the ongoing match.
Meanwhile in the ring, the Iconic Duo continue with the double team attack on Riot, landing a double front suplex that earns them a two count. Riot manages to find an opening for an escape after avoiding a forearm shot from Kay that hits Peyton instead. Riot retreats to a corner to recover and in a surprise move, Nikki Cross jumps from ringside and onto the ring apron to tag herself in this match!
A fired up Ruby goes for the attack, shooting Kay down with clotheslines and a running cross body Royce! Cross finishes up her tag team partner duty by taking Kay out with a swinging fishermen neck breaker, tagging Riot back in the match and disappearing back into the NXT crowd.
A confused Riot carries on with the match, climbing up a turnbuckle and puts Billie away with a Diving Senton from the top rope for the three count. Post match, Riot is still scanning outside the ring for any sign of Cross.
We move on to a special look back at Asuka’s NXT career with special comments from Ember Moon, Corey Graves, Bayley and Charlotte Flair who all praise the Empress of Tomorrow. My heartstrings are touched again! We’re still rooting for you as you make your way to Raw Asuka!
GM @RealKingRegal says he will soon have an update on how he plans to crown a new #WWENXT #WomensChampion! pic.twitter.com/utVQsISx24
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 14, 2017
Backstage, Christy St. Cloud asks William Regal the million dollar question: What are the plans to crowning a new NXT Women’s Champion?
The NXT GM pretty much gives us the same answer he did last week in that he has a lot to think about but will let us know of his plans in the coming weeks.
Well, we already got a BIG hint after the Mae Young Classic Finale and already KNOW that Kairi Sane will challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Houston.
Thoughts: This was actually a fun week for the women. I’m liking that NXT have found ways to change up the Ruby Riot vs. Iconic Duo to keep me interested. What started off as a backstage teasing segment has led back and forth match-ups featuring these three women, Riot wanting to vent on her own despite Regal’s advice and now Cross’ surprise involvement. Continuity is key!
The tag match was all right but the real story being told was whether anyone would stand by Riot in her time of peril. Since she didn’t quickly jump at the chance of helping Riot, I don’t think we can rule this as a full on face turn for Nikki Cross. Maybe Cross getting involved was a way for her to hold a ‘favor’ over Riot, maybe it was just for kicks to be more involved in NXT Women’s division versus managing SAnitY or maybe Cross just wanting to look good ahead of an opening spot at the NXT Women’s Championship. There are different ways things can go from here for Cross and here’s hoping we get more answers in the weeks ahead.
Speaking of the NXT Women’s Title scene, things are certainly going to shake-up at the next set of NXT tapings. With Kairi Sane already in the running, I’m expecting we’ll see a lot from her leading all the way to TakeOver: Houston. As far as who she will face, I’m predicting some sort of mini-tournament taking place that will include a mix of NXT’s new generation of female stars, now that the Mae Young Classic is over, as well as some of the regular featured women of NXT. Regardless of how things form come TakeOver: Houston, we’ve entered a new post Asuka Era in NXT and I’m hoping whoever emerges as the next NXT Women’s Champion can continue to carry prestige to the title in her own way.
What did you think of this week’s episode of NXT? What are your thoughts on Nikki Cross coming to the aid of Ruby Riot? What would you like to see happen at the next set of NXT tapings? Let us know in the comments below!
