At tonight’s set of NXT tapings leading into next month’s NXT TakeOver: War Games II, some big news came out of Full Sail University. We had two of the newest recruits make their TV debuts, plus NXT General Manager William Regal made a huge announcement for the PPV’s main event.
MIA YIM MAKES HER TV DEBUT
The personification of hard work paying off. #WWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/qgIkKYHano
— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) October 17, 2018
Mia Yim was quietly signed by the WWE following the tapings for the Mae Young Classic and has been working the NXT Live Events since the end of September. The indie superstar, who as Jade won the IMPACT Knockouts Championship in 2016, has long been rumored to join the WWE and will soon be making her televised debut with the yellow brand. Yim wrestled two matches, one against Aliyah and the other against Bianca BelAir.
MATT RIDDLE MAKES HIS TV DEBUT
Bro #WWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/W78y9Sggx4
— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) October 18, 2018
Indie star and former UFC fighter Matt Riddle got the “TakeOver attendance” intro at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV this past summer after he signed with WWE in late August. He started on the NXT Live Event circuit September 21 and has been tearing up the rounds since. He also made his NXT TV debut tonight at the tapings, facing recent UK recruit Luke Menzies.
Scoop #29: Matt Riddle has debuted on NXT TV pic.twitter.com/vIGwQ8RxT1
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) October 18, 2018
MERCEDES MARTINEZ RETURNS TO NXT
https://twitter.com/smFISHMAN/status/1052713572013416448
Not only a 17-year veteran of the indie scene, Mercedes Martinez has been an absolute stand out star in both Mae Young Classics – her match against Meiko Satomura in this year’s edition was one of the best matches of the year. She’s competed for just about every possible women’s promotion – SHIMMER, Shine, RISE, Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) and more – and last year had a two week feud against Ember Moon in NXT following the last MYC. Hard to say if this appearance is more of a one shot deal like last year or if the former 2x SHIMMER Champion has jumped to NXT – of late, the WWE has decided not to announce new signings to NXT, such as Mia Yim, Chelsea Green and Punishment Martinez.
HERE’S JOHNNY!
Just in time for NXT TakeOver: War Games II, it appears that the NXT Whodunnit of “Who Attacked Aleister Black?” has hit the big unveiling, as it was revealed that Johnny Gargano – who has recently turned to the darkside following his defeat to arch-nemesis NXT Champion Tomasso Ciampa – was the one behind the attack on the former NXT Champion. Most likely will set up a grudge match between the two at War Games II.
Scoop #20: Dream insults Lars and Lars chokes him with a single hand
Nikki runs out, says he’s coming, and Aleister Black comes from the crowd and knocks out Lars with a kick
Gargano runs out and super kicks Black pic.twitter.com/tWV6Gf3Xq1
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) October 17, 2018
Scoop #21: Johnny Gargano puts on his hood, implying he was the one who took out Aleister Black
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) October 17, 2018
WAR GAMES TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Scoop #33: Undisputed Era, War Raiders, and Ricochet are having a brawl outside pic.twitter.com/yHVrd90NNn
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) October 18, 2018
Following another melee between Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong) and Ricochet, Pete Dunne and the War Raiders (Hanson & Rowe), William Regal announced that it would be a 4-on-4 War Games match at War Games II between the two sides. With the announcement, it would appear that Bobby Fish has finally been cleared to wrestle following a leg injury he sustained back in March.
Scoop #36: Regal announces this is the War Games Match
The Undisputed Era
Vs
War Raiders
Ricochet
Pete Dunne— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) October 18, 2018
