WWE NXT RESULTS: With Toxic Attraction Causing Pre Event Havoc, Dakota Finds Trust in an Old Friend (March, 29th 2022)
Welcome all to the last WWE NXT report before this weekends events, which include the next NXT Pay Per View event, Stand and Deliver, going down this Saturday. With that said, the alterations made lately to Mandy Rose’s singles title defense also leaves fans pondering as to what will happen with the Dusty Classic over and no teams yet stepping up in KLR and Io’s place to challenge for the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships. That WILL be answered, PLUS a double dose of womens action as Nikkita Lyons competes ahead of a future showdown with Lash Legend, and its current streak versus momentum as Ivy Nile battles Tiffany Stratton.
The first womens moment is a video package to highlight two of the contenders to Mandy’s NXT Womens Championship, Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray, having recently been added to what was originally a singles bout. Kay Lee Ray recalls Mandy Rose having said lately that she’d fight Cora Jade as well as any other woman, and furthermore, with her NXT Womens Title on the line. With Mandy seemingly believing shes the greatest womens champion of all time, KLR knew Mandy would accept the proposal to make her match a fatal four way. KLR adds that they have never seen a group like Toxic Attraction, while Io reflects on how the stable cost KLR the title, took out Zoey Stark and they teamed together to get payback for those moments. She believes Toxic Attraction will crumble and it will be hilarious. KLR says they are no strangers to being champions, as Io has been NXT Womens Champion and an NXT Womens Tag Team Champion, while the Scot herself has been NXT UK Womens Champion for a total of 649 days. When she becomes champion, she wont need help to remain champion like Mandy does. She will make sure the title is around the waist of the best competitor in the world. Io says KLR is right, but the best competitor in the world she is referring to is her. She will win on Saturday, even if that means beating KLR. KLR warns the current partner in a friendly matter that shes looking forward to seeing her try and wishes Io the best of luck in her own language. Io tells KLR may the best woman win and KLR returns the same phrase back.
A little later, Dakota Kai glances around backstage in search of Wendy Choo, even asking her fellow superstars as to whether they’ve seen her, only to get a no. Dakota soon traces Wendys belongings, but Wendy is nowhere to be found. With Wendy not in sight, Dakota lifts up and goes through the belongings, beginning to panic.
Meanwhile, in the ring is Ivy Nile of the Diamond Mine, all set for her match with Tiffany Stratton, Malcolm Bivens nearby in Ivy’s corner. A separate segment enters where Ivy confronts Tatum Paxley, who is cleaning down the Diamond Mines wrecked dojo. She asks Tatum what shes doing, and Tatum insists shes only trying to help. Tatum begins to lift one of the punching bags, but Ivy knocks it down, then telling her that to be a part of Diamond Mine, you have to kick ass, not kiss ass. She demands Tatum to get the hell out and Tatum, without a word, makes her exit, dragging away the punching bag as she disappears from sight. Then its back to present time, as out comes Tiffany Stratton, who recently picked up a win over Sarray, credit to early momentum as a result of a pre match attack. It was revealed that after the match that Sarray had found the necklace that Tiffany had ripped away from her.
Late into the match, a cocky Tiffany Stratton is battered by a series of kicks from Ivy, also taking a superman punch in the corner from the sole female member of the Diamond Mine. Ivy adds a jumping kick to that corner offense then stretches out Tiffany in the center of the ring before planting her against it via a curbstomp. Tiffany bails from the ring only to be tossed back in by Ivy, who receives a clothesline for her advances. Just as it looks like Tiffany might be in charge of the match, the familiar magic mist of Sarray takes form, and the stronger version of Sarray distracts Tiffany from the apron. Tiffany yells at Sarray that shes about to give a preview of what shes going to do to her, but Ivy escapes her move set up and counters into her finishing submission that Tiffany taps out to. Ivy wins the match.
There is also later a hype package for KLR and Io’s fellow championship contender, Cora Jade. Cora mentions that there is so much more to her upcoming match than just revenge. Its about turning a pipe dream into a reality. In high school, she sat not taking notes about maths, but writing down her dreams. She even graduated early to focus on becoming a WWE superstar. When she held Mandys title in her hands, it was like everything stopped. The same title Paige won, that the likes of Sasha, Charlotte, Bayley and Asuka held, and the list goes on with the likes of Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley. Cora moves her focus to the reigning champion, Mandy Rose, mentioning how the head woman of Toxic Attraction cares about nothing but herself. The women before Mandy carried the title with dignity, and Mandy sure as hell knows that Cora is coming for her. Last week, her climb admittedly got harder because shes not just going up against Mandy anymore, but two of the most dominant women in WWE. She knows that at Stand and Deliver she must give everything that she has, and the odds are against her, but math was never really her thing. She knows shes the underdog but that makes it all the more sweeter when she becomes the next NXT Womens Champion.
Later is the latest in the Legado Del Fantasma versus Briggs/Jensen and Fallon saga as Raul and Joaquin compete against Briggs and Jensen, Elektra Lopez and Fallon Henley in the corners of the respective sides. To the chagrin of the heel side, the teamwork of Briggs and Jensen leads to the team prevailing, standing tall alongside Fallon.
Then backstage are the reunited duo of Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta, attached to their phones. Persia mentions that Will Smith is still trending (coming off the slap at the Oscars to Chris Rock) and Indi moves to another topic. She asks if Duke Hudsons chest is still cut up after being chopped by Gunther. Persia denies it, because shes been rubbing lotion on his chest all week, and shes sure he will make it up to her with a romantic WrestleMania weekend plan in the Big D. Indi says the Big D stands for Dexy, but is told by Persia not to be jealous when Dusia is the talk of the weekend. Indi gestures to her ring and suggests that the talk of the weekend will be on NXT’s hottest couple, InDex. Persia welcomes them both finding out who the hottest couple really is in NXT once and for all, and Indi is admittedly listening. Persia suggests they get into their Texas best, grab their men then leave it up to the WWE Universe to decide whose the hotter couple. Indi hears out her Texas Showdown and accepts, with Persia telling the “second best” that she will see her in Dallas before departing.
Then, not too long later, out to the ring come the title clad trio of NXT Womens Champion Mandy Rose and NXT Womens Tag Team Champions GiGi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. Mandy holds the mic once in the ring, and states that this Saturday at Stand and Deliver, she was supposed to fight Cora Jade one on one, but instead KLR and Io got a little win and totally took what she said out of context, manipulating her words. Yes, Mandy said she’d fight any woman, but never said at the same damn time. Mandy, however, denies that shes scared, and adds that shes never scared. She also feels that the WWE Universe should remember who the hell Mandy Rose is, the baddest b**** in the game with the greatest backup the entire company has ever seen. Toxic Attraction has dominated the entire division for the passed six months and they’ll continue to do so. This Saturday, Mandy vows to humiliate Cora Jade, rid NXT of Io Shirai once and for all and send KLR back under the bridge she came from. After she beats all three, she will cement her legacy of becoming the greatest NXT Womens Champion of all time. Before greatness is witnessed on Saturday, there is business to be taken care of, as Mandy name drops Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai. She did them a favor by taking out the most dangerous team in the tournament in Raquel and Cora. They practically handed Wendy and Dakota the tournament, and all Wendy and Dakota had to do to complete that was to beat Io and KLR. But they failed. So Wendy apologised for not getting the job done, and the aftermath is soon revealed, as Jacy pulls out torn pieces of Wendys belongings and her slushie cup.
GiGi mocks the crowds booing over the group evidently harming Wendy Choo, then declaring that Toxic Attraction has beaten everyone. Io and KLR forfeited their shot, and its not like Dakota can find little sleepy head Wendy to go against them. They literally run the division. Jacy questions who is left to challenge them, but its a trick question, because there is no one left. They have beaten and embarrassed everyone whose stepped foot in front of them, and come Saturday at Stand and Deliver, they will walk in as Womens Tag Team Champions and watch Mandy beat three other bimbos at the same damn time. Mandy backs Jacy’s proclamation and adds her own, that they hold all the gold and walk out with all the gold because they arent just Toxic Attraction, but THE Attraction.
Cue Dakota Kai’s music and a livid Dakota Kai rushes to the ring, dodging an attack by GiGi and taking down Jacy. Dakota takes down Mandy also and focuses mostly on her, only to be pounced on by GiGi and Jacy as the numbers game overwhelms a lone Dakota Kai. To the shock of everyone, the entrance music of Raquel Gonzalez hits and out comes the former partner of Dakota Kai to clear out the members of Toxic Attraction. Mandy and Jacy try to grab Raquel late on by her hair but Dakota pulls Jacy away and throws her out of the ring, while Raquel appears to have fought back and cleared off Mandy. As Toxic Attraction stand on the ramp utterly shocked, Dakota, after some thoughts, leaps into Raquels arms and gives her a welcome and warm embrace. Dakota and Raquel are reunited, posing with Jacy and GiGi’s Womens Tag Team Championships, challenging the members of Toxic Attraction for the gold at Stand and Deliver as part of the Kickoff Show.
And later we have the presence of Sofia Cromwell, poised at the barricade to watch Von Wagners match against Bohdi Hayward, who has Andre Chase in his corner. Robert Stone is also in Von Wagners corner. Kushida and Ikemen Jiro are on Commentary. She watches as Von Wagner takes over the match, all while Ikemen Jiro is in awe of her. While Bodhi gets to make a comeback later on, Von Wagner ends up picking up the win.
Post Match, Sofia stays behind the barricade and plays witness to Von Wagner targeting both Kushida and Jiro. Von Wagner throws Jiro into the ring and slams him to the mat, then leaves the fans gasping and booing as he tears apart Jiros jacket. Von Wagner then makes an exit with Robert Stone after devastating Jiro and his jacket, both sides trading glances with Sofia Cromwell as they make their way out.
Then along comes the pre main event, Nikkita Lyons having her second singles match since debuting for the main NXT brand, and against recently announced signee Sloane Jacobs, formerly known as the Notorious Mimi. Its rather so a squash for the newcomer, facing a barrage of kicks, suplexes and samoan drops. More kicks follow by Nikkita right before she plants herself atop Sloane with her split leg drop for the three count. Nikkita wins the match.
Post Match, Nikkita completes the victory celebrations and has her attention turned to Lash Legend, as the charismatic superstar pops up on the tron. She congratulates Nikkita, and sarcastically of course, on the victory, one that deserves two slaps and a clap. It was as impressive as a goldfish blowing bubbles, and after Stand and Deliver, Nikkita and herself have some unfinished business to take care of. Nikkita is Okay, but she aint Lash Legend, and when she steps to her, she will see why Lash is more athletic than her, more talented than her and more importantly more of a superstar than her.
(Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray Promo)
(Ivy Nile w/ Malcolm Bivens vs Tiffany Stratton feat Sarray)
(Cora Jade Promo)
(Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs w/ Fallon Henley vs Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde w/ Elektra Lopez)
(Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta Backstage Segment)
(Mandy Rose, GiGi Dolin, Jacy Jayne and Dakota Kai Segment; Raquel Gonzalez Returns)
(Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai Backstage Exclusive)
(Bohdi Hayward w/ Andre Chase vs Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone feat Ikemen Jiro, Kushida and Sofia Cromwell)
(Sloane Jacobs vs Nikkita Lyons feat Lash Legend)
Thoughts On:
Ivy vs Tiffany: Tiffany losing was the most logical ending to this match to be honest, especially at the hands of Sarray. Tiffany easily womanhandled the schoolgirl version of Sarray and with Sarray having reobtained her necklace, the stronger version was bound to be back and causing more Havoc, so creatively it makes sense. There’d be no reason to sacrifice Ivy and her winning streak to take Tiffany forward ahead of an inevitable showdown with Sarray.
Toxic Attraction/Dakota/Raquel Segment: Strong promo work from everyone involved, though Mandy and Jacy still stand as the strongest mic workers from the lot. I dont know why Wendy suddenly isnt on TV, whether its COVID, injury or something else, its not my place to say, but i never saw a Dakota and Raquel reunion coming, especially because they feuded only a few months ago and because Raquels return goes against the timetable Cora mentioned for Raquel to recover. I also noticed GiGi got physical but again didnt bump so is Jacy doing all the work on Sat or is GiGi only doing a small amount of bumps or are they taking precautions with her for some other reason? Anyway, as someone who was a fan of the Dakota and Raquel partnership, im actually all for this, as much as KLR and Io shouldnt have sacrificed their Dusty Classic shot because if they were to do that, they shouldnt have gone over everyone else in the first place. WWE NEED to explain why Dakota and Raquel are back together rather than leave fans to speculate and fit the pieces of the puzzle. Personally, id first mention that because Raquel is a tough woman and a powerhouse that she recovered sooner because of simply being tough, of being harder to take down, while, in the case of Dakota, id either go with the direction of Wendy being the one who taught her to trust again in bonds and friendships, or Dakota herself has taught herself to trust, and has overcome what her past self, her darker self, did and put aside what that version did, though that version could still live in her head and take over again someday. With Dakota evidently a babyface now, i very much doubt they’ll have an angle anytime soon that causes her to crack and turn. Its likely Raquel will turn and cause Dakota to mistrust this time, or this is a one and done and Raquel goes up to the main roster, or takes Dakota with her. Or Dakota and Raquel win the belts and Wendy Choo is fast tracked to the main roster. What i would absolutely LOVE though, as much as apparently some in the back dont seem to find it fitting to have the Mei Ying character as a part of the current NXT, that taking out Wendy brings out her past version, Mei Ying, and she plays into costing Toxic Attraction the belts. Sure, Mei is meant to live in Boa now, but its not like we’ve seen Boa on the main NXT in a while, even though the possession stuff could have taken him in all sorts of directions. If the Fiend, Alexa Bliss and Dakota Kai can have split personalities, so can Wendy Choo, so while shes absent, why not bring that past version back? Heck, she could possess Boa even more if back but turn him into a babyface ass kicker. Then they can cross between Mei and Wendy in segments like they did with the Fiend and Bray Wyatt.
Sloane vs Nikkita: Congrats to Sloane on her debut, who some may have seen on AEW TV and at other promotions as Notorious Mimi prior to her signing with the WWE. Of course this was an expected squash as WWE continues to enhance Nikkita, all while continuing the angle with Lash Legend. With the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships narrowly making it onto Stand and Deliver, obviously Lash vs Nikkita had to be left until after Stand and Deliver.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 