NXT Halloween Havoc piled with campy nonsense

The NXT Halloween Havoc tradition continued with Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal matches, entryway decorations, and cartoonish levels of weaponry. WWE’s silver brand brought roughly 5,000 fans into the Giant Center of Hershey, Pennsylvania, where the home state of extreme got a more sanitized version.

Headlining NXT Champion Trick Williams was previously scrutinized by opponent Ethan Page for lacking bloodshed in matches, only proving his point with questionable leakage from the mouth tonight. That instance joined other storyline contradictions and campy moments in general that could be excused for inoffensive Halloween fun.

Williams donned a “Trick Willy Wonka” outfit, Andre Chase had a Freddy Krueger-style Chase University sweater, and Mike Rome wore a Beetlejuice suit among other festivities. But the scariest sight of the night was Bubba Ray Dudley’s involvement in the main-event scene before NXT’s November 6 show at the 2300 Arena.

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Oba Femi vs Tony D’Angelo (c) – Tables, Ladders, and Scares Match for the North American Championship 

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Femi still awkwardly struts to the ring, despite losing his record-long streak to the current champion three weeks ago. D’Angelo opposingly means business, cutting off Rome to begin brawling. He spears Femi through the barricade, but the latter recuperates with steel chairs and ladders. “We want tables” rings through Hershey, and Femi heroically obliges amid his dominance – uppercutting the champion through wood.

Without The Family ringside, D’Angelo tastes his own medicine – a crowbar, and Femi later takes out Luca Crusifino and Channing Lorenzo when they arrive (nullifying the point of this storyline). D’Angelo gets zip-tied to the post as Femi stalks Adriana Rizzo, but the former intervenes with an apron spear through a bridged ladder. Femi powers up with a Fall From Grace for two, and The Family bands together four-on-one to ultimately send Femi through a table. D’Angelo retains to a nonsensical conclusion, and stipulation at that, but NXT’s no-disqualification matches are always entertaining.

Winner: Tony D’Angelo 

 

Lexis King is interviewed about his Heritage Cup Championship match against Charlie Dempsey on Tuesday, still without a cornerman. William Regal, labeled as “Mr. Regal,” offers up to ironically help King distance himself from his father’s name. “There will be a time to thank me,” Regal says.

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Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez vs Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia 

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Commentary insists this a dream match, but more appropriately, it represents a changing of guards. The newcomers show off technical acumen alongside Perez, and Jade is unfortunately a sore thumb in-ring – or bad left knee, rather. Vaquer’s comeback brings an unmatched intensity, but the opposition reverses momentum with outside dives, a top-rope hurricanrana from Perez, and Swanton from Jade. They trade drivers and suplexes, and Vaquer hits an exceptional twisting splash on Perez for the win. She presumably heads for gold consequently, deservedly so as the hands-down highlight. The lights go out, and ZARIA appears in a press box, just as abruptly and tacky as her debut last Tuesday.

Winners: Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia

 

Footage from earlier catches Je’Von Evans picking Cedric Alexander’s brain about slapping Nathan Frazer. Alexander says it’s alright to be dastardly on occasion, leading up to their NXT Tag Team Championship match on Tuesday.

NXT’s November 6 show in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena is promoted as Booker T rightfully vibes to Lil Wayne’s “Millions From Now” theme song. Speaking of ECW, Bubba Ray Dudley and Dave LaGreca join the crowd to fan-out over tonight’s show. “Go be a fan,” Dudley once said.

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Ridge Holland vs Andre Chase – Ambulance Match

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Believe it or not, Chase University consistently produces some of NXT’s best stories – anchored by the wholesome professor Holland turned on. They immediately brawl by the vintage white ambulance, where Chase utilizes a fire extinguisher and stretcher. “We want pumpkins,” Hershey says as Holland weaponizes kendo sticks and chairs in-ring. Booker T accuses Chase of running a Ponzi scheme while the professor captures Hershey with his patented C-H-A-S-E-U stomps.

Chase backdrops Holland on the exposed floor, rams him with the stretcher, and DDTs him on the announce desk for full-circle comeuppance. They both receive huge pops for those stubborn pumpkins, Chase delivers an elbow from the car, and Holland whips him into it. He delivers The Redeemer and closes the door on Chase in a much-needed victory – and fun Ambulance Match despite the incessant calls for pumpkin like a Starbucks girl in fall.

Winner: Ridge Holland

 

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom argue in the training ring, and the latter forgives his partner for goading Je’Von Evans. Ava responds in an interview, giving one-liner promotion to upcoming matches – including Jaida Parker versus Lola Vice with special-guest referee Dawn Marie on November 6.

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Fatal Influence vs Kehlani Jordan (c) – Gauntlet Match for the Women’s North American Championship

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Fatal Influence spun the wheel and made the deal, making their spinner’s choice a Gauntlet Match. Jazmyn Nyx starts for Fatal Influence, and as commentary mentions two NIL-signed athletes are in-ring – two visible rookies, in other words. A 450 Splash from Jordan puts Nyx away quickly, and the veteran in comparison Jacy Jayne steps up. Jordan’s comeback and bridging pin is met with indifference, and Jayne forearms her before Fallon Henley arrives. Hershey gets painfully quiet for once, and courtesy support sides with the champion. She hits her finishing moonsault before Nyx and Jayne interfere, and Henley connects with the Shining Wizard to finally end Jordan’s unimpressive reign. “Statement made,” Henley says before the lights go out. ZARIA once again looms – this time getting physical, taking out all of Fatal Influence single-handedly.

Winner: Fallon Henley

 

North American Champion Tony D’Angelo is interviewed backstage about his win, thanking Adriana Rizzo for her involvement. Rizzo is “coming after” whoever attacked her last Tuesday – which may or may not relate to Oba Femi giving Nikkita Lyons her ring jacket back.

Superfans Bubba Ray Dudley and Dave LaGreca are back on assignment, and the former gives a Joey Styles “oh my god!” in reference to ZARIA – who makes her in-ring debut this week. Ridge Holland interrupts to make threats, and neither offers their microphone. “Don’t let it happen again,” Dudley tells Holland.

Vic Joseph and Booker T explain the falls-count-anywhere rules of the upcoming Devil’s Playground Match. “Oh, hell no!” Booker T says when Tatum Paxley comes out of a box. Luckily enough, she spins the wheel and makes the deal a Casket Match against kidnapper Wendy Choo this Tuesday.

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Ethan Page vs Trick Williams (c) – Devil’s Playground Match for the NXT Championship

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“Whoop that trick” continues to be a nationwide movement as the NXT Champion enters with a “Trick Willy Wonka” outfit. Page jumpstarts the match, but Williams gains the cheap pop with right hands to a pumpkin-headed opponent. They brawl through the Giant Center trading pinfalls on the floor, and Page gains control with steel weaponry in-ring. Williams hits Trick Shot and Page makes an illegal rope break to the crowd’s confusion, which turns to shock with a bag of nuts and bolts that the latter slams into. Page hits Ego’s Edge through the announce desk after Williams starts questionably bleeding from the mouth – only proving Page’s earlier point of the champion shying from battle scars. They trade low-blows, and Williams’ steel-steps attack is described as his “dark place” before hitting Trick Shot for victory.

Winner: Trick Williams

 

Ridge Holland attacks the champion post-match, and Page reluctantly helps out. Bubba Ray Dudley earns a pop, evening the odds in preparation for November 6 at the 2300 Arena.