WWE NXT Results and Grades 23 Sep 2020: Surprise challenger for Finn Balor’s title

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Saiyed Adeem Karim

WWE NXT Results and Grades: NXT was setting up something big for its special in a couple of weeks or so.

There were two huge matches on the show while some rivalries were to be dealt with too.

Candice LeRae and her husband Johnny Gargano
Candice LeRae celebrates after winning the women’s Battle Royal (WWE)

WWE NXT was an action-packed show and here are the results and grades from the Black and Gold brand.

Battle Royal

A women’s battle royal featuring most of the top stars on NXT was the first match on show. Rhea Ripley, Shotzi Blackheart, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae and Kacy Catanzaro were some of the participants left in the final bit.

However, it was LeRae that got the win and a shot at Io Shirai’s title at TakeOver.

LeRae wins battle royal

Grade B

This was a decent enough Battle Royal but the surprise was the winner. Ripley could have been the rival for Shirai, however, she seems to be facing Raquel Gonzalez.

LeRae vs Shirai should be a good match, and it will be interesting to see what is next.

Ciampa vs Atlas

Jake Atlas was keen on getting one up on the veteran Tommaso Ciampa and started the match on fire.

Tommaso Ciampa in action against Jake Atlas
Tommaso Ciampa in action against Jake Atlas (WWE)

However, it was the Blackheart that got the win after countering one of Atlas’ moves and hitting his finisher.

Ciampa beats Atlas

Grade B

Atlas looked good in this match and it will be interesting to see if the pair keep feuding for the coming months.

Ciampa is great in whatever he does, and he seems set to teach the younger Atlas a thing or two.

Mixed tag team madness

We got a different kind of tag team match to set up rivals for Breezango, the NXT Tag Champions.

Roderick Strong and Danny Burch teamed up to take on Fabian Aichner and Raul Mendoza.

The winning teams would then fight it out to become the contenders for Breezango and it was Strong and Burch that picked up the W.

The Undisputed Era vs Burch and Oney Lorcan is now set, and that should be a great match too.

Burch and Strong beat Mendoza and Aichner

Grade A

While this was a crazy team making idea, the match was excellent as all four men got to shine.

Priest vs Theory

NXT North American champion Damian Priest took on Austin Theory in a non-title bout. While Priest got a hard-fought win, Johnny Gargano attacked the champion after the bell.

Priest beats Theory

Grade B

Theory looked great and seems destined for big things on his NXT return. Priest as the champion hasn’t put a foot wrong but it seems set he will battle Gargano in the future.

Holland vs De Luca

WWE seems to be pushing Ridge Holland as he defeated Antonio de Luca easily. This was a squash match as Holland looked good while the jobber did have some hits early on.

Holland beats de Luca

Grade C

Holland had impressed in a match a few weeks back and NXT are trying to push him. It will be interesting to see who he faces next but it could be another squash.

Gauntlet match

The next clash was a Gauntlet elimination match to determine Finn Balor’s rival. Five men were selected for the clash and it featured Timothy Thatcher, Kyle O’Reilly, Kushida, Bronson Reed and Cameron Grimes.

It was a fun match with O’Reilly winning the match and becoming the next rival for Balor.

O’Reilly wins gauntlet match

Grade A

The Undisputed Era star is known for being a tag team specialist, so this was a pleasant surprise. Nevertheless, O’Reilly is a fantastic worker in the ring and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

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