NXT Results – Aug. 22, 2018 – Pete Dunne vs. Zack Gibson

Results by Chris Aiken of f4wonline.com

August 22, 2018
Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

Bianca Belair defeated Deonna Purrazzo

Belair pinned Purrazzo, who was wrestling in her first televised match for NXT since signing with WWE, after delivering her finisher. Belair did a lot of trash talking in the match. They traded holds in the opening moments. Purrazzo made a comeback when Belair missed a moonsault. When Purrazzo went for an armbar, Belair countered to set up the finish. Belair turned a torture rack bomb into a falcon arrow to score the pinfall.

Backstage: EC3

Highlights of Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 led to a short post-match interview with Dream. EC3 had much more to say when he gave his thoughts on moving forward after losing to Dream.

Backstage: Pete Dunne, Ricochet

NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne crossed paths with new NXT North American Champion Ricochet. The Undisputed Era confronted Ricochet during a post-match interview. Dunne entered the scene to help back down Undisputed Era. This set up a match for next week’s episode with Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong facing Ricochet & Dunne.

Backstage: Shayna Baszler, Ronda Rousey, Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke

Alongside Ronda Rousey, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke, Shayna Baszler did an interview after losing the NXT Women’s Championship to Kairi Sane at TakeOver. Baszler said Sane didn’t beat her, Baszler lost. Baszler claimed that she’s still the better fighter.

NXT United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne defeated Zack Gibson to retain his title

Dunne pinned Gibson after executing the Bitter End in a stellar match. They told a simple story with intricate spots mixed in. This was a rematch from Royal Albert Hall, where Dunne also defeated Gibson in June.

They traded wristlocks at the outset. After a few high spots, it was back to a wristlock. Dunne targeted the fingers. That would play into the finish. Likewise, Gibson worked an arm early on. Dunne would continue selling the arm throughout the match.

There was a cool double handstand spot. Gibson fought dirty in playing heel. He grounded Dunne with a Cobra Clutch. Dunne soon fired up with strikes — then he used an X-Plex to transition into an armbar. Gibson got a rope break and powdered.

Dunne leapt off the second turnbuckle into a moonsault on the floor. Gibson begged off. Nonetheless, Dunne delivered a double foot stomp. Dunne followed with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Gibson struck down Dunne with a kick on an attempted quebrada. Gibson hit Dunne with an avalanche codebreaker for a two count.

Dunne stomped on Gibson’s hands. Gibson struck down Dunne with another codebreaker. A stalemate on dueling lariats led to a double down when both went for dropkicks. The fight went to the top rope. In mid-air, Gibson countered a superplex into an avalanche brainbuster.

In a callback to earlier in the match, Gibson went back to work on the arm. He applied a wristlock. Dunne struggled towards the ropes. Gibson blocked a rope break — only for Dunne to bite down on the bottom rope to break the hold. A seething Gibson begin stomping a mudhole. Dunne lost his mouthpiece.

A lariat from Gibson had Dunne reeling. Gibson grabbed the mouthpiece and went to throw it into the crowd. Dunne blocked Gibson’s throw. Clamping on his hands, Dunne did the finger break spot. Dunne then delivered the Bitter End to score the pinfall.