NXT: Eric Bischoff mediates before Deadline

NXT comes to Minneapolis, Minnesota this Saturday for Deadline, featuring of course the seasonal men and women’s Iron Survivor Challenges – “the most exciting 25 minutes in all of wrestling” as Vic Joseph justifiedly states. Attempting to make Ridge Holland versus Trick Williams for the NXT Championship exciting has been, no pun intended, Bubba Ray Dudley and the death of Chase University. Tonight, the initiative continues with the return of Eric Bischoff, who mediates a face-to-face between the competitors.

Jaida Parker vs Wren Sinclair vs Kehlani Jordan vs Cora Jade – Iron Survivor Qualifier 

These four get a second chance, one of which is heading to Deadline on December 7 as the fifth competitor in the Iron Survivor Challenge. They merry-go-round momentum, and the always spunky Parker hits a double hip drop before commercial. Jade delivers the obligatory Tower of Doom, and the women trade near-falls as NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez watches the monitor. Jordan hits a two-for-one Frog Splash and DDT, but Parker breaks up her pinfall attempt following a 450 Splash. Lola Vice arrives to backfist the latter and inadvertently hits Sinclair, knocking her into a victory to the delight of Orlando’s No Quarter Catch Crew fans. With kudos to both the continuously-improving Sinclair and her opponents, this was  a cleaner multi-women match than last Saturday’s.

Winner: Wren Sinclair

After getting pressed by Shawn Michaels last week, Eddy Thorpe clears the air by saying NXT General Manager Ava and the former rewatched their scuffle. Ex-rival Lexis King advises him to control his emotions, but Thorpe obviously rejects the phoniness. 

Jaida Parker storms ringside after another Lola Vice brawl, demanding that the ropes be removed for NXT Underground immediately. “We gotta run this sh- back,” a muted Parker says following break as referees tear down the ring. Ava rejects the demand, a little late, and Parker knocks out Vice without the symbolic brick.

Dion Lennox and Brinley Reece try calming Karmen Petrovic over Ashante “Thee” Adonis and Nikkita Lyons’ text exchange. In comes a bouquet of roses from Adonis, who in his note claims Lyons was before Petrovic.

Tag Team Battle Royal 

NXT Tag Team Champions Axiom and Nathan Frazer argue over priorities before finding out their challengers at Deadline. Weeks of reinvigorating brawling within the division brings The Family, OTM, Gallus, Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, No Quarter Catch Crew, Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura, and Hank Walker and Tank Ledger to the plate. Pro Wrestling Noah’s Inamura stands out as a stocky hoss, Dupont shakes Walker and Ledger’s hands after elimination, and Channing Lorenzo gets tossed into the pile of casualties before break. Igwe refuses to shake the aforementioned team’s hands and inadvertently eliminates Walker, leaving Gallus as the last complete duo. To a standing ovation, Wolfgang and Mark Coffey are eliminated shortly after, and OTM’s Lucien Price, NQCC’s Myles Borne, and Ledger are the final three. They trade exceptional right hands and moments of shine, and Borne consecutively dumps his opponents for the biggest, deserved victory of his career.

Winners: No Quarter Catch Crew

“I’m back and better than ever” rings out for Eric Bischoff, who credits himself for “revolutionizing the industry.” He calls NXT a revolution, less valid with the introduction of his first guest Ridge Holland. NXT Champion Trick Williams follows, and Bischoff gives his flowers to both before mediating down the middle. Orlando drowns out Holland’s impassioned words, which are immediately nullified by Williams aptly calling him bland, vanilla, and boring. They eventually throw hands, and Holland hits The Redeemer on the announce desk, leading medical staff to stretcher out Williams.

Sarah Schreiber announces that Williams is heading to the hospital, alongside NXT General Manager Ava, who notes being uncertain about Deadline’s NXT Championship match this Saturday.

Nikkita Lyons vs Karmen Petrovic

Commentary calls Ashante “Thee” Adonis’ flirting a “tangled web,” which evidently has produced many lower, lower midcard feuds. He eventually accompanies Petrovic ringside and eats a forearm from Lyons, ultimately allowing the former to hit Silent Slice for victory. “You pushed me,” says Petrovic, who of course still isn’t happy with Adonis.

Winner: Karmen Petrovic

In the back, Shawn Spears commends his new protege Niko Vance but admits to missing “one more thing.” Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin walk in, ironically calling Spears creepy. After, a very successful No Quarter Catch Crew celebrates their respective victories, and Wren Sinclair coins the “Wren-QCC.”

Izzi Dame vs Gigi Dolin

Dolin makes her in-ring return after saving Paxley from Fatal Influence last week, and Spears shortly appears ringside. Eastern Michigan University gets a shoutout for Dame’s collegiate volleyball career, and she big boots Paxley for the fun of it. Dolin hits the Gigi Driver for three, and Spears stands there menacingly.

Winner: Gigi Dolin

X-Pac meets Je’Von Evans and praises his work, wishes him luck in the Iron Survivor Challenge, and too-sweets him. The list of supportive legends with careers longer than Evans’ age grows!

Lexis King vs Axiom vs Cedric Alexander vs Eddy Thorpe – Iron Survivor Qualifier

Once again, four competitors compete for a second chance to become the fifth competitor in the Iron Survivor Challenge on Saturday. Ethan Page joins the commentary booth, and Wes Lee and Evans spectate from opposing sides of the building. Pinfalls and reversals fly at quick speed, but Alexander folds harshly on his ankle from a lariat. Supposedly fine thereafter, deja vu hits with another Tower of Doom spot proceeding break. King matches his competition with an outside dive and Swanton, and maneuvers land consecutively leading to Axiom’s Avalanche Spanish Fly and armbar combo on Thorpe. Alexander breaks it with a splash, Axiom hits King with Golden Ratio, and Thorpe steals the pin for victory. Unbothered by Axiom’s loss, Nathan Frazer gloats against Thorpe as challengers Myles Borne and Tavion Heights poetically loom behind.

Winner: Eddy Thorpe

In the office with Stevie Turner and Robert Stone, Ava calls in saying that Trick Williams insists his NXT Championship match remains for Saturday. Cora Jade claims that Kehlani Jordan cost her tonight’s earlier fatal four-way, and Thorpe sends the petty message that he’ll be the Iron Survivor. “Is it just me, or is everyone really pissed off?” Turner asks before she and Stone spot something intriguing…

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez reminds everyone she’s still champ by entering the ring. She tediously talks down the five women’s Iron Survivor Challenge competitors, who succinctly interrupt without microphones: Sol Ruca, Zaria, Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia, and Wren Sinclair. The No Quarter Catch Crew member gets thrown a bone, standing tall with the belt amidst a brawl.

Cameras cut to the back where officials find Thorpe floored. King, Alexander, Axiom and Frazer accompany his side, but a certain “Ruler” is surely the culprit.