The new NXT Champion, Ricky Saints, heads to the ring to celebrate his big win at No Mercy.
The crowd chants: “You deserve it!” and “Ricky! Ricky!”.
Saints says he has had a lot of doubt and sleepless nights.
“If there is one thing about me I am going to stand on business,” says Saints about believing in himself.
He waves the belt in the air before saying: “THIS right here is absolute proof that the only person you need to worry about is you! The only person you need to keep betting on is you! Because there is only one person you have got to see when you go to sleep and that’s yourself!” shouts Saints before he is interrupted…byt Fatal Influence, well, NXT’s Women’s Champion, Jacy Jayne.
Jayne says they have bigger things to worry about like TNA trying to take over NXT.
Jayne is interrupted by GM Ava. She has decided that they are the team captains for NXT and they have to pick the members of those teams.
“I need the best women and men in NXT,” says Ava.
She is then interrupted by TNA Director or Authority, Santino Marella.
He gets a very warm welcome.
“I don’t trust Tricky Williams so he isn’t going to be my captain. How can you trust a guy with the name Tricky?” says Marella.
Marella introduces Mike Santana and NXT’s Kelani Jordan, the TNA Knockouts World Champion, as his captains.
As they all square off in the center of the ring, Marella says he doesn’t call this an invasion. Both promotions have been working well together. This is a showdown to him.
Jayne calls the selection of Jordan as ridiculous.
The announces are now referring to the “invasion” as a “showdown”.
J’Von Evans runs into TNA X-Division Champion, Leon Slater backstage. Evans is worried Slater isn’t alone. Slate promises he is. He don’t play like that. They praise and compliment each other. They cannot wait to compete at Bound for Glory. The Culling arrives. They wants to know why Evans is associating with an TNA talent. He is warned about being friends with the enemy. Slater and Evans, of course, challenge The Culling to a match. They leave to get their respective bosses to sign off on it.
Lyra Valkyria starts chatting with Tatum. Lyra made something for Tatum. She made her a Lyra doll. Tatum chucks the one she was holding, a doll of Izzy, and screeches. The Culling drag Tatum off.
Jaida Parker versus Lash Legend
Legend charges the ring, doesn’t even wait for the bell to ring. She charges Parker in a corner. Parker battles back with punches, kicks but a big haymaker takes her down. Legend spike Parker with a stalling suplex. Parker spears Legend into the ring. When she heads back inside Legend pulls her back out. Parker gives Legend a Samoan Drop on the floor.
Legend misses a splash. Jaida hits a blockbuster.
Backstage, peering through a window, we see Santino Marella in an office, on the computer and on the phone. It seems like Santana is giving Slater a tongue lashing.
Parker goes to run off the ropes but Legend grabs her by her trunks. Parker elbows her way out. Splash in a corner and high steps by Parker. Legend no sells it. She is furious. Big boot to Parker’s face. Parker rolls out. Legend whips Parker into the steel steps and the barricade.
Parker counters Legend’s finisher and pins her with Hipnotic.
Winner: Jaida Parker
A gathering in the male locker room has Saints and J’von shaking hands. The mood sours when TNA Champion Trick Williams enters the room. Saints informs Williams that he is on the team along with J’von. Evans. Saints then announces Myles Borne, who just happens to be standing behind them. Williams thinks they need muscle and strength. Jasper Troy steps up but Williams turns to Josh Briggs. Evans refuses to team with Briggs. Saints tells Evans that Briggs is a good choice even if he doesn’t like him either. Evans walks away. Saints tells Williams he will sort Evans out. Saints and Williams agree that Briggs and Borne should battle it out to see who joins Team NXT.
NXT North American Champion Ethan Page takes centrestage. He pats himself on the back for his latest title defence. He calls out Dr. Wagner Jr. A vehicle arrives outside. Page believes it is Warner and demands he come to the ring. Instead, it is Mustafa Ali. Ali is welcomed home by the fans. Ali has an issue with Page holding that belt. Page says if it isn’t Ali under that Dr. Wagner mask then he doesn’t owe him a thing. Ali agrees but NXT does. He earned an opportunity at that title and never received that match at No Mercy last year.
“Instead of a championship match I got a phone call! A phone call that told me my services were not longer required. Here we are 749 days later and I am still waiting for the championship match I earned!” says a passionate Ali pumping up the fans.
Page calls it a “sob story” and doesn’t care. Unfortunately, Ali has already spoken to GM Ava and Santino. Next week at Showdown he will get his title match. They brawl. Ali drop kicks Page to the floor.
In the women’s locker room Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey hock cosmetics. Jayne enters the room. She doesn’t like Sol Ruca but she needs winners on her team. Lola Vice throws her hat in the ring but so does Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid…and the rest of the locker room. Jacey declares that Fallon and Lola will fight it out to be on Team NXT. Zaria asks to speak privately to Ruca.
Myles Borne versus Josh Briggs
Borne pushes back against Briggs’ strength. They go head to head pushing and shoving. Borne gets up Briggs for a back suplex and a two count. Borne leaps over the ropes onto Briggs on the floor. Saints and Williams are watching backstage. Briggs uses his big boot to choke Borne in a corner.
Back to the makeshift TNA office in the back. Matt Cardona is yacking with Santina and the others.
A massive chokeslam only gets Briggs a two. Borne kicks out of two backbreakers in a row. Both Briggs and Borne are rocked, fall to the canvass. Briggs rips the steel chain off his neck. Matt Cardona leaps up onto the apron to stop Briggs from using it. The official takes away the chain. Borne with Borne Again for the win.
Booker wonders why Matt Cardona did that. He is suspicious.
Winner: Myles Borne
Backstage, Jordynne Grace gives some friendly advice to TNA Knockouts World Champion, Kelani Jordan. Grace hopes she will carry the title with pride. Grace says that TNA means a lot to her. She doesn’t trust Jayne and would rather be on a team with Jordan. Like others in the back, Kelani is not sure she trusts Joe Hendry or Grace.
“You don’t know where I stand? Me and Joe Hendry?” asks Grace.
Hendry enters the conversation but Santana calls him out saying he has “one foot out of TNA”. Santana pulls Jordan away. He has some people she needs to meet.
Hendry tells Grace he isn’t sure they will be picked. Grace says they have to be part of it somehow.
Lola Vice versus Fallon Henley
Fallon tries to get under Vice’s skin. A running a forearm stuns Vice. A bulldog almost takes her head off. A series of suplexes and machine gun kicks sends Fallon to the floor. A back fist out of nowhere pins Fallon. Jacey shakes her head in frustration.
Winner: Lola Vice
Jacey confers with Fallon backstage. Lainey Reid is back again. She will do anything Fatal Influence needs. She reveals that she disobeyed doctor’s orders by helping Jacey out. She tosses her the hood. Lainey says that one was free and Nyx never belonged in Fatal Influence anyway.
J’Von Evans and Leon Slater versus The Culling
Man, these young dudes are just incredible. Evans and Slater work well to the point of splashing The Culling on the floor together. Slater though gets backdropped over the top rope hitting the steel steps on the way down. Ouch!
Evans is out to check on Slater as the official wonders what to do. The Culling continues the attack on Slater. The Culling mock Evans as they are doing so. Evans finally gets in. He gets bouncy on everyone. Slater runs across the ring, dives over the steel post onto The Culling on the floor. Insane! Evans dives on Vance on the floor as Slater pins Spears with a Swanton 450.
Winners: J’Von Evans and Leon Slater
Cameras go to the parking lot outside. TNA superstars drive up in a car with more walking around it. Kelani Jordan is with them. Santino Marella tries to restore some order. TNA meets them outside. They start arguing, shoving back and forth. They head inside the building and to the stands as the main members of each team get in the ring.
Williams calls himself the co-captain. Saints is pissed off. He tells Williams to “slow his roll”.
“I am the captain and you are riding shotgun!” says Saints.
The NXT Men’s team is: Myles Borne, Ricky Saints, Trick Williams and J’von Evans.
The TNA Men’s team is: Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose and Leon Slater.
The NXT Women’s team is: Jacey Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker and Lola Vice.
The TNA Women’s team is: Kelani Jordan, The Inspiration and Mara Sadè. When Mara is being introduced, Kelani jokes calling her…Jakara…but stops short and calls The Inspiration…iconic.
Santana punches Williams and everyone begins brawling. Shawn Michaels is out and stands there smiling.
