WWE NXT Results – Oct. 25, 2017 – Almas vs. Strong + Battle Royal

Oct 25, 2017

Results by Arya Witner of F4Wonline.com

October 25, 2017
Orlando, FL – Full Sail University
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

Backstage: William Regal

Mr. Regal began the show by announcing that due to the shenanigans that happened in her qualifying match, Nikki Cross has been entered into the battle royal for the final spot in the TakeOver Women’s title match. If you recall, The Undisputed Era sent Taynara Conti to the ring to attack Cross and take her out of that match.

Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss defeated Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan

Burch and Lorcan individually have two of the worst televised win-loss records in NXT history. Perhaps forming a tag team will lead to the success they couldn’t get on their own? Anyway, Sabbatelli & Moss brought their largeness and their matching gear to this match.

Moss caught Lorcan with a good shot early on, so Lorcan propelled himself off the ropes with a dropkick to the face. Everyone calmed down as Burch tagged in and the heels got the heat. Sabbatelli hit Burch with a dropkick and he stared at Lorcan — almost telling him how to not kick someone right in the face during said move.

Anyway, Lorcan got the hot tag and chopped down his larger foes. However, he got cut off and shockingly pinned with a combination Gory Special/bulldog. Somehow it’s shocking when a team is formed of two guys that never win and then they lose.

Women’s Battle Royal

Nikki Cross won a battle royal to earn the final spot in the NXT Women’s Championship match at TakeOver: War Games.

Vanessa Borne, Bianca Belair, Sage Beckett, Mercedes Martinez, Candice LeRae, Billie Kay, and Cross were the only women to get televised entrances. Actually, only the last three got their own theme music, as everyone else came out to the NXT theme song.

Cross went right after Conti at the bell and eliminated her first. After being eliminated, Conti pulled Cross under the bottom rope and threw her into the barricade. Peyton Royce, who was at ringside, got in on the fun and pushed Cross into the ring steps.

Rhea Ripley was eliminated when Belair picked Zeda up for a body slam and threw her legs into Ripley, who was on the apron.

Most of this match was everyone trying to eliminate everyone else. The problem with doing much of anything else was that there was a lot of bad attempted offense. Cross finally got back in and dove onto about 10 people and she then eliminated Borne, Beckett, Santana Garrett, and Abbey Laith in quick succession.

I don’t want to imply that pro wrestling may not be on the up and up, but Lacey Evans sure looked like she dove over the top rope when it was time for her elimination. Belair showed her strength by heaving the tiniest person in the match (Candice LeRae) over the top rope onto the others who were milling about.

Belair then tried to eliminate Kay, but Kay grabbed her by her long ponytail and held on, avoiding being eliminated.

Martinez looked good and seemed at times to be the most competent grappler in the ring. The finish saw Martinez and Belair go over the top and fight on the apron (which is the hardest part of the ring) and Cross ran up and knocked them off, then Kay ran up to try to toss Cross over and began celebrating like she just won the WrestleMania main event. However, Cross did not drop, got back in the ring, and gave Kay the heave-ho for the win.

Nikki Cross is going to TakeOver. After the match, William Regal got in the ring to congratulate Cross, but Peyton Royce began screaming at her. Ember Moon came down to get involved in the argument, so Kairi Sane strolled to the ring to remind everyone that she was also in that match.

Earlier: Drew McIntyre and Zelina Vega

Earlier this week, Drew McIntyre was trying to leave the Performance Center when he got harassed by people with microphones and cameras. Thankfully, someone was there to film it because Zelina Vega decided now was the best time to come and demand a title shot for Andrade “Cien” Almas. McIntyre told her the same thing he said last week — and that was for Almas to come ask him himself.

Segment: Aleister Black and Velveteen Dream

Looks like The #VelveteenDreamExperience has turned into @WWEAleister’s worst nightmare! @VelveteenWWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/MHAw1Li1iD

— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2017

As Aleister Black was coming to the ring to beat up some unsuspecting jobber, he was suddenly attacked by Velveteen Dream! Dream threw Black into the unforgiving steel steps. Dream threw Black into the ring and tied him in the ropes. Dream slapped Black and screamed at him to say his name.

Black kicked him out of the way and went for Black Mass, but Dream was able to run the other way. Dream became the first person to ever avoid Black Mass.

Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Roderick Strong

Before the match, Zelina Vega said she is a very patient woman. She has waited an entire week for a contract for a title match against McIntyre and is now still waiting. Vega vowed that McIntyre will fail as NXT Champion the same way he failed the last time he was in WWE.

This was a very good back-and-forth match with strong storytelling by both men. Almas was trying to prove he’s worthy of his first NXT title match, while Strong was trying to get some momentum to get back in the title picture.

Strong used a backbreaker on the apron, which, again, is the hardest part of the ring, but Almas got back into it and hit a tornado DDT for a near fall. They exchanged hard strikes that each blocked with their face. Strong pieced together five or six big moves in a row and they ended up outside the ring.

Almas rolled back in and distracted the referee as Vega came off the apron with a hurricanrana to Strong! Strong crashed into the ring steps, which is the third time tonight that same set of steps got abused. Back in the ring, Almas picked up the big win with a hammerlock DDT.

After the match, Vega and Almas went to the announce table, stole Mauro Ranallo’s headset, and challenged McIntyre to meet them face-to-face next week.

Strong pulled himself to his feet when suddenly we were joined by The Undisputed Era. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly hit the ring. Cole told Strong he is not a loser and that he needs to join Undisputed Era. Cole handed Strong his armband, which Strong took, but didn’t put on as the show ended with Undisputed Era walking away.

NXT Results