WWE NXT Results – September 23rd, 2020

Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE NXT. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST.

Tonight’s show looks to really set up the building blocks for the next NXT TakeOver, which is only 2 weeks away from Saturday. Three matches have been announced, two of which have major championship implications, so let’s run down the announced card.

First up, in non-title action, Jake Atlas looks to get his revenge on Tommaso Ciampa when they go head-to-head in a rematch from two weeks ago. Atlas has made himself the target of Ciampa’s unbridled rage over the past two weeks, but tonight Atlas will try to get in a few hits of his own on Ciampa.

For the first multi-person match tonight, there will be a battle royal to determine the #1 contender for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship. Rhea Ripley, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart, Kayden Carter, Kacy Catanzaro, Aliyah, Xia Li, and Indi Hartwell are the announced participants for tonight’s match, but we will see if any other names make themselves known tonight.

Finally, we will have a match that William Regal has dubbed a Gauntlet Eliminator match, which will determine the #1 contender for Finn Balor’s NXT Championship. The 5 competitors for tonight’s match are Bronson Reed, Kushida, Kyle O’Reilly, Timothy Thatcher, and Cameron Grimes. One of these five will take on Balor at the next NXT TakeOver, but find out who it will be in tonight’s match.

Tonight’s edition of NXT is sure to set the stage for the next TakeOver, and we will begin coverage when NXT goes live at 8:00 PM, EST!

Opening Segment

Battle Royal to Determine the #1 Contender for the NXT Women’s Championship

We see backstage video of Candice LeRae after she attacked Tegan Nox ‘s knee with a steel pipe and production cart, presumably taking her out of the Battle Royal.

LeRae and Ripley get their own entrances for the match. Raquel Gonzalez is shown staring daggers into Ripley while Ripley enters the ring.

The match starts and there are many more competitors than were announced at the start of the match. Ripley makes the first elimination of the match, one of the unknown names. Raquel Gonzalez eliminates a competitor named Raven.

Rhea Ripley eliminates another unnamed women, tossing her entirely over the top rope, with her face nearly hitting the guardrail. Rhea Ripley eliminates Marina Shafir, the first name that we are familiar with, and Gonzalez eliminates a competitor named Avery.

Gonzalez scores her third elimination by eliminating a third competitor. Gonzalez eliminates a woman named Rita, giving her the most eliminations in the match. Ripley eliminates a woman named Emily, giving her four eliminations.

Gonzalez hits Catalina with a big boot to the face, eliminating her from the match. Aliyah shoves Kacy Catanzaro out of the ring, but Catanzaro lands on her back, with her feet not touching the floor. Catanzaro gets to a handstand and places her feet back in the ring, saving herself from elimination, and we go to commercial break.

Back from commercial and Kacy Catanaro is using the guardrail and the plexiglass to save herself from elimination. Indi Hartwell is tying to eliminate Catanzaro’s teammate, Kayden Carter, but Raquel Gonzalez uses the distraction to eliminate Carter. Carter puts Catanzaro on her back, though, and carries her back into the ring.

Raquel and Ripley brawl in the ring, and Raquel picks up Ripley. Ripley pulls Gonzalez over the top rope by her head, bringing her feet to the ground. Gonzalez pulls Ripley down with her, eliminating both women.

Indi Hartwell tries to eliminate Catanzaro again, but Catanzaro pulls Indi out of the ring. Dakota Kai pins Catanzaro in the corner and Kai hits her with a facewash kick, eliminating her.

The field of competitors has shrunk to three: Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, and Shotzi Blackheart. Kai runs at Blackheart to hit a facewash kick on her, but Shotzi ducks it and eliminates her, making it to the final two.

Shotzi takes Candice down with a reverse slingblade and tries to dip LeRae over the top rope, but LeRae holds on. Blackheart hits her with a step-up enziguri. Blackheart goes for a senton, but Candice dodges and hits a neckbreaker. Cnadice tries to eliminate Blackheart, but Blackheart holds on.

Blackheart goes to the top rope and Candice follows. Shotzi picks up Candice and puts her on the apron. Candice pushes Shotzi down onto the apron. Shotzi knocks Candice silly, but Candice lands on the steel steps, avoiding elimination. Shotzi goes down to the steel steps to try and push Candice off the steps, but Candice hits Shotzi with a monkey flip, winning the match.

Winner: Candice LeRae

Johnny comes out and celebrates with Candice, and we are told that he will be facing Damian Priest for the NXT North American Championship at TakeOver.

Backstage, Priest is asked about his match with Johnny at TakeOver, and he says that, as long as he is champion, the title will keep slipping through Johnny’s fingers. Priest is then asked about his opponent tonight, Austin Theory, and Priest says that Theory is talented, but he isn’t worried about losing to Theory.

We are told that Tommaso Ciampa will take on Jake Atlas up next, right after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, we see Fandango explaining how they will determine the #1 contenders for the NXT Tag Team titles: one member from the Brit-Am Brawlers will team with one member of Undisputed Era, and one member of Legado del Fantasma will team with one member of Imperium. Those two teams will face off, with the winning team then competing against each other to determine the #1 contender.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jake Atlas

Ciampa and Atlas lock up early. Ciampa tries to chop at Atlas, but Atlas blocks and land strikes. Ciampa hits Atlas with a forearm smash and Widow’s Bell, but Atlas dodges and pulls Ciampa out of the ring. Atlas stomps away at Ciampa and Atlas sets up to hit a slingshot on Ciampa in the same way that Ciampa hit one on Atlas.

The referee comes out and pulls Atlas away, and Ciampa kicks Atlas away. Ciampa runs back in the ring and tries to run from Atlas. Atlas comes back, but Ciampa takes him down with a huge clothesline. Ciampa stomps on Atlas, taunting him.

Ciampa whips Atlas into the corner, but Atals with back with a few strikes, an inverted atomic drop, and a dropkick. Atlas mounts Ciampa and punches away at him. Ciampa creates some separation, but Atlas comes back and hits him with a pump kick in the corner.

Atlas goes to the top rope as Ciampa rolls out of the ring. Atlas kicks Ciampa, then hits Ciampa with a moonsault. Atlas rolls Ciampa back in the ring and hits a blockbuster on Ciampa, pinning him for two.

Atlas goes for his Rainbow DDT, but Ciampa kicks Atlas’ arm out from under him. Ciampa picks up Atlas and brings him to the outside, hitting him with Widow’s Bell. Ciampa could put him away, but he instead gives up the pin at one. Ciampa taunts Atlas, saying “Security ain’t gonna save you. Kyle ain’t gonna save you.” Ciampa picks up Atlas and hits the Fairytale Ending on Atlas, pinning him for three.

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa

Ciampa walks up the ramp and away to the back.

We get a video package hyping up Ridge Holland.

We learn that after the break, Roderick Strong and Danny Burch will take on Fabian Aichner and Raul Mendoza. The teams of the winning team will take on each other at a later date to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Tag Team Championship. That match will happen right after this commercial.

Back from commercial, we are reminded about the Gauntlet Eliminator happening later tonight. Cameron Grimes, Timothy Thatcher, Bronson Reed, Kushida, and Kyle O’Reillyall cut short promos on the match tonight.

Fabian Aichner and Raul Mendoza vs. Roderick Strong and Danny Burch

Strong and Aichner start things off, but Aichner is able to maintain control of Strong, hitting him with a backbreaker and a scoop slam. Mendoza tags in a and hits a springboard moonsault, covering him for two. Strong pushes Mendoza into the corner, then tags in Burch.

Burch grounds Mendoza with a headlock, then tries to take down Mendoza, then is able to take him down by the ankle, covering him for two. Burch hits Mendoza with an enziguri, then goes to the top rope. Aichner runs at Burch sitting on the top rope, but Burch pushes him away. This distraction gives Mendoza enough time to pull Burch off the top rope, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Aichner has Burch in a headlock. Aichner hits Burch with a back suplex, then kicks away at Burch. Aichner picks him up and tosses him into the corner. Raul Mendoza makes the blind tag, and kicks away at Burch.

Mendoza picks Burch up and chokes him on the top ropes, then he taunts Roderick Strong. Mendoza covers Burch for two, then locks in a modified chicken wing submission. Burch fights to his feet, then goes for a sunset flip on Mendoza.

Mendoza makes the blind tag to Aichner, and Aichner takes on Strong and Burch. Strong gets back to his corner and makes the blind tag, clearing house of both Aichner and Mendoza. Strong hits Aichner with an Olympic Slam, then covers Burch, but Mendoza breaks up the pin.

Aichner picks up Strong in a fireman’s carry, then tags in Mendoza. Strong is able to drop Aichner out of the ring, but Mendoza comes back and lays into Mendoza with strikes. Mendoza goes to the top rope and Strong gives chase, knocking Mendoza silly. Strong tags in Burch. Strong takes Aichner out of the ring, and Burch hits Mendoza with a cutter from the top rope, then pins Mendoza for three.

Winners: Danny Burch and Roderick Strong

Burch tries to shake hands with Strong after the ring, but Strong ignores him and walks out.

Austin Theory is interviewed backstage about his match with Damian Priest, but before she can say much, Johnny Gargano cuts off his interviewer. Gargano says that Theory has a lot of natural talent, enough to be a “major player” in NXT. He says that if Theory is able to soften up Priest ahead of Gargano’s title match at TakeOver, he won’t forget it. Then, we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and we head right into our next match.

NXT North American Champion Damian Priest vs. Austin Theory

Priest and Theory lock up, then they trade wristlocks until Priest is able to take Theory down with an armdrag. Theory gets in a waist lock, but Priest transitions into a headlock. Theory is able to push Priest off, then rock him with a huge elbow.

Priest runs the ropes and hits Theory with a leaping back elbow. Priest then hits a crossbody on Theory from the top rope, using an “Old School” setup, reminiscent of Undertaker’s Old School move. Priest bars Theory’s arm, but Theory takes Priest down with a drop toehold.

Theory takes Priest down with a belly-to-back suplex, then pins Priest for two. Theory picks up Priest and hits him with a clothesline, then hits a standing moonsault, covering Priest for two again.

Theory picks up Priest again and sets up for the ATL, but Priest escapes, hitting Theory with a Bell Clap, then a ripcord flatliner. Priest waits for Theory to get up, then jumps to the middle rope. Before he can springboard off of the rope, Theory pushes him over the top, sending Priest to the outside, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Theory hits a rolling thunder into a dropkick, covering Priest for two. Theory locks in a headlock, but Priest fights to his feet. Theory kneed Priest in the midsection, but Priest is able to fight back with kicks and a strike to the face.

Theory hits his leaping elbow smash in the corner, then hits a toss falcon arrow on Theory, covering him for two. Priest stalks Theory, then geos for a leaping roundhouse kick. Theory dodges, and then dodges a leaping elbow smash in the corner, transitioning into a blue thunder bomb, then covering Priest for two.

Priest rolls out of the ring, but Theory gives chase. Theory lands some forearms smashes on Priest, but Priest hits him with his Cyclone Kick. Priest then hits Theory with Razor’s Edge onto the apron, then finishes Theory off with The Reckoning in the ring, pinning Theory for three.

Winner: Damian Priest

As Priest is celebrating in the ring. Johnny Gargano runs into the ring and hits a surprise superkick on Priest. Gargano mimicks shooting Priest with a bow and arrow.

We get a mysterious video package advertising the return of someone on October 4th. We see this someone grabbing the NXT Championship from a glass case, saying that the championship has been “in isolation” for too long. The voice also says that the person has “returned” implying that the person will be a former NXT competitor.

Ridge Holland is in action up next, right after this commercial break.

Back from commercial, and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott cuts a promo on Santos Escobar. Scott says that he is the better competitor than Escobar and challenges him to a match against Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, without the presence of Legado del Fantasma.

Ridge Holland vs. Antonio De Luca

De Luca runs right at Holland, but Holland takes him down quickly with a huge pounce. Holland hits him with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Holland picks him up and hits him with another overhead suplex.

Holland picks up De Luca again, and De Luca hits him in the face. Holland is enraged, who hits a series of headbutts on De Luca, then hits De Luca with Northern Grit for the pinfall victory.

Winner: Ridge Holland

Io Shirai is interviewed backstage about Candice LeRae. Shirai responds, saying that she doesn’t like Candice. Before Io can say too much, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae appear and get in Io’s face. Damian Priest walks through the doors and attacks Gargano. The duos of the Garganos and Io and Priest are pulled apart and separated from each other by referees.

Kushida and Kyle O’Reilly are shown backstage and we are told that those two will start the Gauntlet Eliminator match, and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and we are shown that Shotzi Blackheart will face off against Dakota Kai next week.

Gauntlet Eliminator Match between Kyle O’Reilly, Kushida, Cameron Grimes, Bronson Reed, and Timothy Thatcher

We are told that every four minutes, a new competitor will enter the match, and the only way to eliminate someone is via pinfall or submission.

O’Reilly and Kushdia trade submission attempts, with Kushida focusing on O’Reilly’s arm and O’Reilly focusing on Kushida’s leg. O’Reilly hits Kushida with a pump kick, and Kushida hits O’Reilly with a basement dropkick. Kushida goes right back at O’Reilly’s left arm.

Kushida takes O’Reilly down to the mat, but O’Reilly is able to bring Kushida down as well. Kushida and O’Reilly get to their feet and trade blows until Bronson Reed comes down to the ring.

Kushida and O’Reilly are both taken down by Bronson Reed, and Reed picks up Kushida and tosses him into O’Reilly. Then, he gets both men in a fireman’s carry, but Kushida escapes and hits a double back elbow on O’Reilly and Reed. Kushida hangs up Reed in the middle rope, but O’Reilly grabs Kushdia in an armbar.

Reed tries to break things up, but O’Reilly catches Reed’s leg and locks in a kneebar. Kushida breaks up that hold with a Hoverboard Lock on O’Reilly, but Reed breaks that hold up with a senton.

Reed continues to keep Kushida and O’Reilly down. Reed goes to the top rope, but O’Reilly gets to his feet and hits a leaping forearm to Reed’s face. O’Reilly tries to hit a flying armbar, but Reed blocks. Kushida hits a springboard heel kick on Reed and O’Reilly on the top rope, sending O’Reilly off of the turnbuckle to the outside.

The referee checks on O’Reilly on the outside, and while the referee is distracted, Velveteen Dream runs in and hits Kushida with a Dram Valley Driver. Reed sees the downed Kushida and hits a Tsunami Splash on Kushida, pinning him and elminating him. Timothy Thatcher enters the match and runs down to the ring as we go to commercial break.

Back from commercial and Reed takes down Thatcher and O’Reilly with suplexes as Cameron Grimes comes down to the ring. Grimes takes down everyone, hitting a moonsault on Thatcher and a PK on O’Reilly. Grimes hits O’Reilly with a ura nage, and Reed takes Grimes down with a clothesline, and all four men are down in the ring.

Thatcher rolls out of the ring and find Kyle O’Reilly, bringing him to the apron. Thatcher and O’Reilly trade blows on the apron. Reed geos after Thatcher, but Thatcher gets Reed in a headlock. Grimes hits Thatcher with a superkick, and Reed tosses Thatcher to the outside. Reed is the only man standing in the ring, as all other four men have went to the outside.

Reed goes outside and brings Timothy Thatcher back into the ring. Reed hits Thatcher with a death valley driver, pinning Thatcher for two. O’Reilly comes in the ring, and Reed hits O’Reilly with a powerbomb, covering O’Reilly for two. Cameron Grimes gets into the ring and chops and strikes away at Reed.

Grimes is able to take Reed down to the mat and covers him for two. Reed gets back to his feet and tosses Grimes across the ring. Grimes rolls out of the ring and ends up in a scrum with O’Reilly and Thatcher on the outside. Reed hits a suicide dive over the top rope onto all three men on the outside and we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Thatcher and Grimes are trying to take out Reed. Reed is able to fight them off, but O’Reilly comes in the ring. Reed takes O’Reilly down with a power slam and places O’Reilly on the top rope. Reed is caught by Thatcher and Grimes, but picks up Grimes and tosses him into Thatcher.

Reed goes to the top rope, but Thatcher gives chase and goes to the middle rope. Thatcher goes for a superplex, but Reed pushes him off. Reed goes for a Tsunami Splash on Thatcher, but Thatcher rolls out of the way. O’Reilly hits a diving knee from the top rope onto Reed, the pins him for the elimination.

O’Reilly and Thatcher trade ankle and toe holds, but Grimes runs in and hits a suplex on O’Reilly. Thatcher hits Grimes with a belly to belly suplex of his own. Thatcher gets O’Relly in a reverse full nelson, but O’Reilly breaks the hold and they trade blows. O’Reilly hits Grimes with an enziguri, but Thatcher catches O’REilly in a standing sleeper.

Grimes goes for a superkick on O’Reilly, but O’Reilly catches the leg and goes for an ankle lock. However, Thatcher’s sleeper makes O’Reilly release the hold. O’Reilly gets Thatcher rolled in to a pin, but Thatcher kicks out at two. Grimes runs at O’Reilly, but O’Reilly dodges Grimes and Grimes gets dumped to the outside.

O’Reilly and Thatcher trade blows, and O’Reilly rolls Thatcher up twice, getting the elimination in the second pinfall attempt. As soon as O’Reilly gets to his feet, Grimes runs in and hits a Cave In on O’Reilly. O’Reilly reaches the bottom rope with his foot during a pinfall attempt.

Grimes trash talks O’Reilly. Grimes hits O’Reilly with his Spanish Fly-style body slam, covering O’Reilly for two. O’Reilly and Grimes trade blows and kicks. O’Reilly hits Grimes with a leaping knee and a dragon screw. Grimes hits O’Reilly with a kick to the back of the neck. Grimes goes for a Cave In, but O’Reilly ducks and picks Grimes’ leg, locking a heel hook. Grimes immediately taps out, giving O’Reilly the win.

Winner: Kyle O’Reilly

Adam Cole and Roderick Strong come out to celebrate with O’Reilly in the ring. Finn Balor comes out and stands at the top of the ramp and points a finger gun at O’Reilly as NXT goes off the air.