Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa went to war in the Fight Pit, but “The Professor of Pain” claimed victory in a brutal battle. Elsewhere, Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter shocked Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez in the Women’s Dusty Classic thanks to a little help from Io Shirai, Kushida & Leon Ruff and Lucha House Party advanced in the men’s tournament, Karrion Kross destroyed another opponent, and more.
Photos | Highlights
WWE NXT results, Jan. 20, 2021
Leon Ruff & Kushida def. Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First-Round Match
The Way got off to a strong start, but Leon Ruff instantly changed the pace in he and Kushida's favor upon tagging in, putting Austin Theory on his heels. Ruff later found himself in desperate straits against the more powerful Theory, eventually breaking free from his grasp to tag in Kushida. NXT's resident Time Splitter once again got the better of Johnny Wrestling, pinning him for the second time in recent weeks, this time to advance to the second round.
Karrion Kross def. Ashante "Thee" Adonis
Yet another opponent proved to be little more than chum in the water for Karrion Kross. NXT's doomsday deviant decimated Ashante "Thee" Adonis with no hesitation or wasted movement, flattening him with two Doomsday Saitos. Stalking Adonis back up to hs feet, Kross put him to bed with a huge forearm blow to the back of the neck. Afterward, Kross targeted Desmond Troy, Adonis' tag team partner in the Dusty Classic, leaving him lying as well after putting him out with the Kross Jacket.
Lucha House Party def. Imperium in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First-Round Match
Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado came out hot with dynamic tag team offense until Imperium took control behind a more methodical pace. But they could not keep Lucha House Party grounded for long, as The King of the Ropes dazzled with a springboard hurricanrana and a springboard moonsault on Fabian Aichner. Metalik & Dorado later followed with a spectacular missile dropkick-sunset flip combination, only to net a near-fall after Marcel Barthel broke up their cover.
Metalik knocked Imperium into disarray with a hurricanrana that sent Barthel careening into Aichner, then took out Aichner for good with a moonsault to the outside. Back in the ring, Dorado blasted Barthel with a huge superkick before connecting with a Shooting Star Press for the victory.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Cater def. Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez
As expected, Mercedes Martinez enforced her will early, nearly ending the bout in short order with a near-fall broken up by Kayden Carter following a huge powerslam. Once tagged in, Carter was the sparkplug her team needed as she battled Toni Storm.
Io Shirai proved to be the ultimate difference-maker, though, as the NXT Women's Champion pulled Martinez off the apron and achieved payback against her recent nemesis. With Storm isolated in the ring, Catanzaro hit a jaw-dropping twisting senton off the top rope to make good on her team's promise to pull off the huge upset.
Bronson Reed def. Tyler Rust
Maybe Tyler Rust should have heeded Malcolm Bivens' advice after all. Rust was unable to overcome Bronson Reed, who showcased his awesome strength and repeatedly overpowered Rust out of the ring completely. Reed picked up the win after hitting the Tsunami splash.
Timothy Thatcher def. Tommaso Ciampa in the Fight Pit
The latest chapter in this bitter rivalry began on the platforms high above the Fight Pit, both competitors battering each other with vicious strikes with the threat of plummeting below looming as a constant threat. Eventually, the battle made its way down, with Tommaso Ciampa stomping on Timothy Thatcher's fingers as he clinged to the scaffolding above the Pit.
Thatcher answered by digging deep into his sadistic bag of tracks, splaying Ciampa's fingers and potentially fracturing his digits. But The Blackheart turned the tables by launching Thatcher into the cage, even while severely favoring his left hand.
Ciampa had to resort to a low blow to escape a sleeper hold, making use of the match's stipulations. Ciampa also got creative, using the referee's back in impromptu fashion to elevate Thatcher for Willow's Bell, but Thatcher beat the ensuing 10-count.
The confrontation deteriorated into a sheer test of well, with Ciampa landing the Fairytale Ending and applying a rear-naked choke before being rammed into the cage. "The Professor of Pain" responded with a sleeper, and with Ciampa caught in the cage, Thatcher eventually locked in a brutal modified stretch muffler on The Blackheart's surgically repaired knee to force a submission and once again plant his flag in the Fight Pit.
Tommaso Ciampa to battle Timothy Thatcher in the NXT Fight Pit
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher share more dislike for each other than perhaps anyone else in NXT. This Wednesday night on NXT, they’ll finally take their animosity to one of the most barbaric structures in sports-entertainment: the Fight Pit.
In a conflict that originated with Ciampa’s disdain for how Thatcher bullied his students, the dissension has become increasingly deep-rooted. Though The Blackheart defeated Thatcher at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, the issue was far from over.
Ciampa defeated former Thatcher student Tyler Rust, and then the following week halted Thatcher’s ruthless post-match beatdown of Leon Ruff, spiking him with the Willow’s Bell DDT.
Then Ciampa issued the boldest of challenges, saying he’d see Thatcher inside the NXT Fight Pit.
Originally scheduled to take place at NXT New Year’s Evil, this match was postponed due to an injury setback for Thatcher, but he is now medically cleared.
Like Thatcher, Ciampa is certainly one of the black-and-gold brand’s hardest hitters, so the savage structure is fitting. But with Thatcher having won the only previous NXT Fight Pit, will The Blackheart be able to prevail?
Don’t miss the return of the Fight Pit on NXT, this Wednesday at 8/7 C on USA Network!
Do Kushida & Ruff have Gargano & Theory’s number?
Johnny Gargano has tapped Austin Theory as his protégé, using him to help win and regain the NXT North American Title. Now, can they win the Dusty Cup together?
The Way will take on two foes who have given Gargano trouble in recent months in Kushida & Leon Ruff in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First-Round Match on NXT.
Ruff stunned Gargano last fall to become North American Champion before later losing the title back to Johnny Wrestling in a Triple Threat Match, thanks in large part to Theory.
Meanwhile, Kushida owns a recent victory over Gargano, pinning him in a Mixed Tag Team Match alongside Shotzi Blackheart against Gargano & Candice LeRae. And he may have his eyes on more than just the Dusty Cup if last week’s NXT was any indication. NXT’s resident Time Splitter evened the numbers game for Dexter Lumis against Gargano and Theory, forcing Johnny Wrestling to tap to the Hoverboard Lock before grabbing Gargano’s title and throwing it back in his lap.
Do Kushida & Ruff have Gargano’s number? Or will Gargano & Theory find The Way to victory?
Can Catanzaro & Carter pull off the upset against Storm & Martinez?
The first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is set to kick off, but only one team can make history as the inaugural winners.
Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter are well aware they’re considered underdogs in the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but they’re planning on shocking the world.
Their potential run to the Dusty Cup will have to go through the dangerous duo of Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez, whom Catanzaro & Carter will meet in the first round.
Storm & Martinez may represent the toughest team in the entire field, though Catanzaro & Carter own a significant chemistry advantage, as Storm, the former NXT UK Women’s Champion, is teaming with Martinez for the first time.
Tune in to NXT this Wednesday to see which team takes the first step toward history!
Lucha House Party set for intriguing Dusty Classic battle with Imperium
The Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is full of intriguing first-round matchups, but perhaps none more than the clash of styles set to take place between Lucha House Party and Imperium on NXT.
Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado made an instant impact upon their arrival in NXT, knocking off Legado del Fantasma, and Metalik nearly dethroned Santos Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Title.
Now, they’re in search of different hardware, but first they’ll have to get by Imperium, who figures to be one of the favorites to win it all. Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner are not only former NXT Tag Team Champions, but they also reached the semifinals of last year’s tournament.
Who will advance to the second round? Find out Wednesday on NXT at 8/7 C on USA Network!
