NXT Results – Sep. 23, 2020 – Gauntlet Eliminator Match

Sep 23, 2020

September 23, 2020
Winter Park, Florida (Full Sail University)
Commentary: Tom Phillips and Beth Phoenix
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

#1 Contender (Women’s Championship) Battle Royal: Candice LeRae won, last eliminating Shotzi Blackheart
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Jake Atlas via Fairy Tale Ending
Danny Burch & Roderick Strong defeated Raul Mendoza & Fabian Aichner via cutter by Burch on Mendoza
Damian Priest defeated Austin Theory via The Reckoning
Ridge Holland defeated Antonio de Luca via brainbuster
#1 Contender (NXT Championship) Gauntlet Eliminator Match: Kyle O’Reilly defeated Kushida, Bronson Reed, Timothy Thatcher, Cameron Grimes, last eliminating Grimes via knee bar

In memory of Joe Laurinaitis “Road Warrior Animal” 1960-2020.

#1 Contender (Women’s Championship) Battle Royal

Participants include: Shotzi Blackheart, Aliyah, Kayden Carter, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Indi Hartwell, Gia, Catalina, Raven, Ellie, Marina Shafir, Avery, Taylor, Rita, Kacy Catanzaro, Xia Li, Candice LeRae, Rhea Ripley

Some people are already in the ring for the Battle Royal. Moments ago, Tegan Nox was attacked by Candice LeRae. LeRae ran a crate into Nox’ surgically repaired knee. Nox screamed in pain and will not make it to the Battle Royal.

The bell rings, and a brawl breaks out with all the women. Raquel Gonzalez focuses on Shotzi Blackheart. Ripley lifts a woman named Gia up by the neck and wildly sends her over the top rope. Gonzalez mixes it up with a woman named Raven and quickly eliminates her. Blackheart and Aliyah are brawling. Ripley lifts a woman named Ellie up and viciously sends her over the top rope. Ellie hit the floor hard!

Hartwell is attempting to eliminate someone. Ripley gets Marina Shafir over the top rope and head-butts her off. That’s three eliminations for Ripley. Gonzalez knocks Avery to the floor for her second elimination. Gonzalez puts Taylor on the apron and kicks her off. Taylor takes a flat back bump off the apron to the floor! A woman named Rita attacks Gonzalez, but Gonzalez lifts her up with one arm to send her over the top rope for her third elimination. Gonzalez stomps on Catalina in the corner. Ripley grabs a woman named Emily and puts her on the apron. Emily shoulders her back, but Ripley big boots her off. That’s Ripley’s fourth elimination. Catalina attacks Gonzalez and goes to the second rope, but Gonzalez big boots her over the top rope to the floor. Gonzalez has four eliminations.

Ripley slams Aliyah in the corner. Robert Stone shouts instructions to Aliyah from ringside. Aliyah fights back and knocks Ripley down to a knee. Aliyah trips Catanzaro on the apron and kicks her to the floor. Catanzaro’s feet don’t touch so she does a handspring and “walks” back to the ring, pulling herself back in.

We come back from the break to see the women brawling. We see Catanzaro at ringside hanging on the guardrail. Catanzaro leaps off and jumps to the stairs. Hartwell scares her back, and Catanzaro jumps back to the barricade. Carter is knocked to the apron and reaches for Catanzaro. Gonzalez eliminates Carter. Carter helps Catanzaro back into the ring.

Ripley and Gonzalez get into a shoving match in the ring. Gonzalez ducks a kick and puts her in the electric chair. Gonzalez goes to dump her over the top rope, but Ripley pulls her over. Both women fall to the floor and are eliminated! They brawl before referees break them up.

Hartwell tries to eliminate Catanzaro, but she swings around the ring post. Catanzaro then hits a hurricanrana on Hartwell over the top rope to eliminate her. Kai and LeRae attack Catanzaro. The final four is LeRae, Catanzaro, Blackheart, and Kai. Kai big boots Catanzaro to the floor to eliminate her. LeRae and Kai double-team Blackheart. Blackheart knees LeRae back and sidesteps a big boot from Kai. Blackheart then eliminates Kai with a back body drop.

Blackheart throws LeRae over the top rope, but she hangs on. Blackheart kicks LeRae back and hits a facebuster. Blackheart sends her over the top rope again, but LeRae knocks her back. Blackheart connects with a step-up enzuigiri and goes for a splash against the ropes, but LeRae moves and hits a neckbreaker off the ropes. LeRae puts her over the top rope, but Blackheart hangs on. Blackheart kicks her down and goes to the top rope. LeRae cuts her off and climbs the ropes, but Blackheart punches her to the apron. They both fall to the apron. LeRae and Blackheart are fighting around the ring post. Blackheart bounces her off the ring post, and LeRae falls to the stairs. Blackheart tries to knock her to the floor, but LeRae flips her off the stairs to the floor!

Winner: Candice LeRae

Candice LeRae will face Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver. Johnny Gargano runs down to the ring to celebrate with his wife. They pose on the turnbuckles together.

Backstage: Damian Priest

Sarah Schreiber is backstage with NXT North American Champion Damian Priest. She asks for his reaction to facing Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver. Priest says as good as Gargano is, his reign of infamy isn’t coming to an end. As long as he’s champion, the title will slide through Gargano’s hands like at TakeOver XXX. She asks about facing Austin Theory tonight. Priest says he’s good, but it sucks for him that he has to face him tonight. Priest says he’ll see Schreiber at the afterparty.

Backstage: Fandango, William Regal

Earlier today, “Sherlock-dango” convinces William Regal to make an odd couple tag match to determine the #1 Contender to the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jake Atlas

The bell rings, and they lock up. Ciampa powers him to the corner and goes for a chop, but Atlas ducks. Atlas chops and punches Ciampa. Ciampa quickly elbows him back and sends him to the apron. Ciampa goes for Willow’s Bell, but Atlas gets out and pulls him out of the ring. Atlas punches Ciampa down against the steps. Atlas then lifts the ring apron up. Atlas goes for a guillotine catapult into the metal ring structure, but Ciampa fights out. Ciampa gets in the ring and viciously clotheslines Atlas down to stop the momentum.

Ciampa beats on Atlas and shouts that he’s the main event. Ciampa sends him sternum-first into the corner, but Atlas responds with a right hand. Ciampa fights back, but Atlas catches him with an inverted atomic drop followed by a dropkick. Atlas sweeps the feet and stomps him. Atlas punches away at him before getting up. Atlas blocks a kick and grabs a waistlock. Atlas pushes him to the corner and hits a big pump kick in the corner. Atlas goes to the top rope, but Ciampa gets out of the ring. Atlas gets on the apron and kicks him. Atlas then goes to the top rope and hits a moonsault block to the floor.

Atlas gets him in the ring and comes off the top rope with a blockbuster for a near fall. Atlas sets up for a cartwheel DDT, but Ciampa avoids it. Ciampa quickly follows up with Willow’s Bell. Ciampa covers, but gets up at the one count. Ciampa doesn’t want to beat Atlas yet. Ciampa talks trash about Atlas saying he was hungry last week. Ciampa says security won’t save Atlas. Ciampa hits a modified Fairy Tale Ending for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Tommaso Ciampa

Video: Ridge Holland

Video Package: Ridge Holland talks about how vicious and tough he is.

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

The winning team will face each other to become #1 Contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. The commentators are confused about the stipulation.

Roderick Strong starts against Fabian Aichner. Aichner puts him in the corner and whips him across the ring. Strong slingshots over him, but Aichner fights back with a scoop slam. Aichner tags Mendoza in with a rough slap. Mendoza knees Strong in the face and hits a springboard moonsault off the second rope for a two count. Strong quickly tags Danny Burch in. Burch hits Mendoza with a snapmare and applies a chin lock. Mendoza fights up. Burch goes for a tilt-a-whirl slam, but Mendoza lands on his feet. Mendoza leaps at him, but Burch picks the leg. Mendoza runs in and slams Burch off the second rope.

We come back from the break to see Aichner applying a chin lock to Burch. Burch fights up, but Aichner comes back with a back suplex and poses. Mendoza tags himself in and stomps away at Burch. Mendoza clubs Burch’s back and chokes him on the top rope. Mendoza taunts Strong and continues to punch Burch. Mendoza takes Burch down for a two count. Mendoza applies a modified head and arm sleeper to Burch. Burch fights up and tries for a sunset flip, but Aichner tags in. Aichner kicks Burch and knocks Strong off the apron. Burch gets out of a slam and boots Aichner back. Strong blind tags in.

Aichner viciously clotheslines Burch before Strong, the legal man, wipes Aichner out with a clothesline followed by a heel kick. Strong takes him down and boots Mendoza. Strong then slams Aichner onto Mendoza. Strong connects with an Olympic Slam on Aichner, but Mendoza breaks up the pin. Aichner goes for a suplex, but Strong gets out. Mendoza knees Strong, and Aichner takes him down for a two count. Aichner is holding his back in pain. Strong elbows out of a slam, but Mendoza tags in. Mendoza takes Strong down and sends him across the ring. Strong puts him on the apron, but Mendoza knocks him down and kicks Burch away. Mendoza goes to the top rope, but Strong knees him. Burch tags in. Strong kicks Aichner away while Burch slams Mendoza off the ropes with a cutter for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Danny Burch and Roderick Strong

It’ll be the Undisputed ERA facing Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan to decide who will face Breezango for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Backstage: Austin Theory, Johnny Gargano

Austin Theory is backstage with Sarah Schreiber. Johnny Gargano comes up and asks Schreiber why she’s bugging him. Gargano says Theory has all the talent in the world to be a major player around her. Gargano tells Theory to bring Damian Priest down to his level. If he softens him up before NXT TakeOver, Gargano won’t forget it. Schreiber wishes Theory luck, but he laughs it off.

Damian Priest vs. Austin Theory

The bell rings, and they lock up. Priest quickly wrenches Theory’s arm and brings him down to a knee. Theory twists out and kips up before wrenching Priest’s arm. Priest fights out and hits an arm drag. Theory quickly retreats to the corner and smiles. Theory comes out of the corner and grabs him, but Priest applies a side headlock. Theory whips him off and viciously elbows him in the face. Priest reverses a whip and hits a leaping back elbow. Theory drops Priest on the apron, but Priest grabs his hand. Priest goes to the top rope and walks on it before hitting a cross-body block! Priest takes him down and applies an arm bar. Theory fights up and hits a drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckles. Theory attacks him and hits a back suplex for a one count.

Theory takes him down and hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Theory goes for the ATL, but Priest gets out with a bell clap. Priest follows up with the flatliner. Priest charges him, but Theory knocks him over the top rope.

We come back from the break to see Theory punch Priest back before connecting with a rolling thunder dropkick for a near fall. Theory applies a modified chin lock, but Priest fights up. Theory chops the chest, but Priest responds with a right hand. Priest hits a spinning kick and crushes him with a big clothesline. Priest stomps on the mat and hits a leaping elbow to the head. Priest follows up with a toss falcon arrow for a near fall.

Theory ducks a spin kick, but Priest elbows him back. Theory sidesteps an avalanche back elbow and forearms him. Theory hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Priest rolls out of the ring to recover. Theory follows him outside and talks some trash. Priest grabs him by the throat and goes for South of Heaven. Theory gets out and attacks him. Priest responds with a cyclone kick. Priest hits a vicious crucifix powerbomb on the apron! Priest gets him in the ring and hits the Reckoning for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: NXT North American Champion Damian Priest

Replays are shown of the conclusion of the match. Priest poses with the spotlight on him. All of a sudden, Johnny Gargano superkicks him down. Gargano stands over the fallen champion and mocks the bow and arrow pose.

Vignette

Video Package: A really neat video showcases a performer moving around like it’s a video game going for the title. He says he’s coming back to take what is his. The date “10.4.2020” appears on the screen, the day of NXT TakeOver.

Video: Shane Strickland

Video Package: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott wants another shot at Santos Escobar’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship

Ridge Holland vs. Antonio de Luca

De Luca comes out of the gates swinging, but Holland quickly forearms him down. Holland sends him into the ropes, but De Luca kicks him in the face. De Luca hits the ropes, but so does Holland. Holland runs him over with a pounce before hitting an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Holland hits a second overhead belly-to-belly suplex. De Luca tries to fight back, but Holland viciously head-butts him down a few times. Holland hits Northern Grit (scoop brainbuster) for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Ridge Holland

Backstage: Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano, Damian Priest

NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai says she doesn’t like Candice LeRae and never will. LeRae walks up to her and taunts her, saying Shirai can’t beat her. Johnny Gargano gets in Shirai’s face until Damian Priest attacks him. Referees separate them.

Next Week

Shotzi Blackheart will take on Dakota Kai next week on NXT.

#1 Contender (NXT Championship) Gauntlet Eliminator Match
Kushida vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bronson Reed vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Cameron Grimes

Kushida vs. Kyle O’Reilly

They start off with some mat work. They twist around with head-scissors and chin locks before O’Reilly slams him down. Kushida comes back with a dropkick to O’Reilly. Kushida twists away at O’Reilly’s arms before hitting an arm breaker. Kushida takes O’Reilly down and twists at the arm. O’Reilly sweeps Kushida’s feet and kicks away at the legs. Kushida quickly kicks him in the injured left arm and kicks him. O’Reilly blocks a kick and kicks him in the hamstring. We’re :15 seconds away from finding out the third entrant. O’Reilly and Kushida are exchanging punches.

It’s Bronson Reed.

Kushida vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bronson Reed

Reed takes O’Reilly down and press slams Kushida into him. They both get up in the corner, and Reed avalanches them. Reed puts Kushida on the top rope and puts O’Reilly on his shoulders. Reed grabs Kushida and is holding both men. Kushida gets down and goes for a whip. Reed whips him, but Kushida comes back with a handspring back elbow to O’Reilly and Reed. Kushida knocks Reed down to a knee. O’Reilly goes for an arm bar to Kushida, but Reed goes for a stomp. O’Reilly grabs Reed’s leg and takes him down for a submission. Kushida hits O’Reilly with a standing moonsault. Kushida applies a Hoverboard Lock to O’Reilly, but Reed lifts Kushida up for a suplex. Reed follows up with a senton splash on O’Reilly.

Reed takes O’Reilly down with a scoop slam and goes to the top rope. Kushida tries to stop him, but Reed punches him back. O’Reilly attacks Reed and climbs the ropes. Kushida joins them on the ropes in the corner of the ring. They punch Kushida away. Kushida then hits them with a handspring double kick. O’Reilly falls to the floor, and Reed is woozy on the ropes. The referee checks on Strong. As he does, Velveteen Dream hits Kushida with a Dream Valley Driver! Reed follows up with a big splash off the top rope to eliminate Kushida.

Kushida has been eliminated from the match by Bronson Reed.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bronson Reed vs. Timothy Thatcher

Timothy Thatcher runs down to join the match, but Reed punches him to the floor.

We come back from the break to see Reed hit O’Reilly and Thatcher with German Suplexes.

Cameron Grimes enters the match.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bronson Reed vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes hits Reed with a cross-body block off the top rope. Grimes checks on his hat and kicks Thatcher back. Thatcher quickly takes him down for an arm bar. Grimes superkicks Thatcher, and Reed avalanches Grimes. O’Reilly kicks Reed, but Reed knocks him out of the ring. Grimes hits a wild slingshot sidewalk slam to O’Reilly. Reed then clotheslines Grimes down. All four men are down.

Thatcher and O’Reilly exchange vicious blows on the apron. Thatcher punches Reed back and applies a chin lock. Grimes kicks Thatcher in the head to knock him to the floor. O’Reilly then hits Thatcher with a flying knee off the apron. Grimes goes to attack Reed on the apron, but Reed knocks him back. Reed then launches Grimes over the top rope onto Thatcher and O’Reilly. Reed thinks about it and goes outside. Thatcher viciously chops Reed’s check and bounces him off the apron. Thatcher gets him in the ring. Reed comes back and hits him with a scary Death Valley Driver on his head and shoulders for a near fall.

O’Reilly goes after Reed, but Reed comes back with a powerbomb for a near fall. Grimes chops Reed’s chest and forearms him down. Grimes covers for a near fall. Grimes rips at Reed’s face, but Reed comes back with a beel throw across the ring. Reed hits the ropes and wipes out Grimes, Thatcher, and O’Reilly with a suicide dive.

We come back from the break to see Reed fighting off Thatcher and Grimes. Reed knocks Thatcher down and hits Grimes with an inverted atomic drop. O’Reilly runs in and attacks Reed. Reed quickly catches O’Reilly with a powerslam, a tribute to the late great Road Warrior Animal. Reed hits Grimes with a reverse DDT while slamming Thatcher onto him. Reed covers Thatcher for a near fall.

Reed goes to the top rope, but Grimes grabs the legs. Reed knocks Grimes to the floor, but Thatcher soon attacks him. Thatcher climbs the ropes to forearm Reed. Reed punches Thatcher down to the mat and tries for a Tsunami Splash. Thatcher moves. O’Reilly hits a flying knee drop off the top rope on Reed to eliminate him!

Bronson Reed has been eliminated from the match by Kyle O’Reilly.

Thatcher immediately applies an ankle lock to O’Reilly. O’Reilly twists out and puts the ankle lock on Thatcher. Thatcher fights up and twists out. Thatcher uppercuts him, but O’Reilly responds with a strike. Grimes hits O’Reilly with a German Suplex. Thatcher grabs Grimes’ leg, but Grimes kicks back at him. Thatcher hits a slingshot belly-to-belly suplex on Grimes. Thatcher slowly gets up and goes for a butterfly suplex on O’Reilly, but O’Reilly fights out. Thatcher applies a sleeper hold. Grimes goes for a superkick, but O’Reilly, still in the sleeper hold, puts Grimes in an ankle lock. O’Reilly lets go and fights Thatcher back for a near fall.

O’Reilly knocks Grimes out of the ring and takes Thatcher down. O’Reilly hits a running forearm on Thatcher, but Thatcher responds with an elbow. Thatcher hits an uppercut, but O’Reilly fights back. Thatcher crushes O’Reilly’s chest with a chop, but O’Reilly catches him with a backslide pin for a near fall. O’Reilly quickly takes him down for the elimination.

Timothy Thatcher has been eliminated from the match by Kyle O’Reilly.

Grimes immediately hits O’Reilly with the Cave In and covers, but O’Reilly gets a foot on the bottom rope! Grimes celebrates thinking he won. Grimes angrily talks trash to O’Reilly and kicks him. Grimes says O’Reilly is nothing like Adam Cole. O’Reilly angrily fights back, but Grimes crushes him with the Collision Course for a near fall.

They trade punches after slowly getting up. O’Reilly hits an axe kick and knees him in the midsection. O’Reilly grabs the leg and slams it on the mat. Grimes quickly knees him in the face and takes him down with a kick to the back of the head. O’Reilly avoids a Cave In and applies a knee bar for the submission!

Winner by Submission: Kyle O’Reilly

Kyle O’Reilly will face Finn Bálor for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver! The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole and Roderick Strong) come out and celebrate with O’Reilly. NXT Champion Finn Bálor walks out to the stage and stares at the #1 Contender, Kyle O’Reilly.