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It's the first live episode of NXT of the new year and it's the start of the Dusty Classic.
The seemingly annual tag team tournament will be a bit different this time around as the tag teams of NXT UK will compete against the teams of NXT of America. In fact, many of the NXT "prime" tag teams are cobbled together. There's Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle and Kushida with a mystery partner. But then you have the established teams like Undisputed Era and Forgotten Sons.
On this week's episode we'll have the tag champs face off as Undisputed Era takes on Gallus. The other matchup for this week is Forgotten Sons taking on Imperium.
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Rhea Ripley ended 2019 with a monstrous win over Shayna Baszler to win the NXT Women's Champion. Now that there is a new champ, who will step up to Ripley in the new year?
As for the midcard title, the NXT North American Championship, the new number one contender will be determined tonight. Keith Lee, Damian Priest, Dominc Dijakovic and Cameron Grimes will go at it in a Fatal Fourway to determine Roderick Strong's next opponent. Lee has a ton of momentum since Survivor Series, but the other three men in the match have all put in work in recent weeks. Whoever comes out on top will have a hard time taking on the Undisputed Era member.
Since it's the first NXT of the new year a lot is expected to go down so here's a rundown of what happened on January 8 episode.
...
NXT RECAP
Opening Segment
- Rhea Ripley starts the night with a promo. She says that she has a lot of memories from defeating Shayna Baszler. She remembers celebrating with the Full Sail faithful when she's interrupted by Toni Storm.
- Storm says she's proud of Ripley, but reminds Rhea she beat her twice. She says that this Sunday she'll become NXT UK Women's Champion and then at World's Collide she'll be a double champion if Rhea accepts.
- Rhea accepts the challenge when Kay Lee Ray shows up. Kay says that there is no way Toni will win this Sunday when Io Shirai interrupts.
- Io Shirai talks in Japanese before pointing to the NXT Women's Championship and says, "mine."
- Bianca Belair gets in the ring and says she's better than Kay Lee Ray, Io and says that Toni doesn't belong here. She says she's definitely better than Rhea, before Ripley smacks Bianca's hand out of her face.
- Candice LeRae comes out but Rhea stops the music. Ripley asks if Candice wants to fight. LeRae nods her head. Rhea says "so do I" before she hits Bianca. Candice goes after Io and Toni goes after Kay Lee Ray.
- A referee comes out and tells the ring announcer that there's a six-woman tag match happening now.
Rhea Ripley, Toni Storm and Candice LeRae vs Kay Lee Ray, Bianca Belair and Io Shirai
- During the match, Bianca tags herself in when Shirai is about to finish off Toni Storm. Shirai drop kicks Bianca and leaves the match, which leads to the finish.
- Ripley pins Belair after a Riptide
- After the match, Toni Storm and Rhea are jawing at each other when Candice walks up to Ripley with the championship. She smiles and hands it to Rhea before lifting both Toni and Ripley's arms.
Ciampa Video Package
- Ciampa says that he listened to himself and became NXT Champion. He was the greatest NXT Champion of all time. But then he had to relinquish his title.
- He says Adam Cole took his life, and Ciampa wants his life back
Imperium vs Forgotten Sons - Dusty Classic Round 1
- Imperium wins via pinfall after a European Bomb
Matt Riddle Interview
- Riddle is asked about how he teamed up with Pete Dunne for the Dusty Classic. He says he just saw Dunne backstage one day and they gave each other a look and they knew they had to team.
Austin Theory vs Jaoquin Wild
- Theory wins via pinfall
Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish) vs Gallus
- Undisputed Era wins via pinfall after Total Elimination
- The finish was set up when Adam Cole hits Wolfgang with a kick while the referee was distracted.
Johnny Gargano Promo
- Gargano tells Balor that he always talks about retracing his steps. But he needs to retrace his steps back to him.
- Balor comes out and says that if Gargano wanted a match, he just had to ask and they have it at Takeover: Portland. Balor warns Gargano that he might not make it to Takeover.
Mia Yim vs Kayden Carter
- Yim wins via pinfall after a Protect Your Neck
- After the match, Chelsea Green attacks Mia Yim. Robert Stone comes out and says his brand will take over NXT in 2020.
Cameron Grimes vs Damian Priest vs Dominic Dijakovic vs Keith Lee
- Winner becomes number one contender for the NXT North American Championship
- Keith Lee pins Grimes after a Spirit Bomb
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