Date: 02/22	7:00 PM
Views: 446

Nickolye's WWE NXT recap for February 22, 2022 at 8 PM ET! Dolph Ziggler has been showing up in NXT because he has the sudden desire to be the NXT Champion. However, Tommaso Ciampa has gotten in his way and tonight they finally go one-on-one. The women's division split into tag teams to enter the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and the first-round matches begin tonight! Also, Grayson Waller cannot run anymore as he will have to finally face LA Knight in a grudge match! NXT has a makeover in 2.0 fashion. Hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for the latest updates!

We start with clips from NXT: Vengeance Day last week. Dolph Ziggler attacked Bron Breakker in the main event, and Tommaso Ciampa thwarted him from doing any more damage, leading to tonight's main event.

NXT Champion Bron Breakker opens the show. Breakker: "Vengeance Day was a tough fight and Santos Escobar is a tough opponent, but I proved to EVERYBODY over my dead body will somebody take this championship away from me! And I can't think of a better weekend to try than WrestleMania weekend because NXT is going back on the road Saturday April 2nd, Dallas, Texas - Stand & Deliver! I'm giving you guys a heads up, so we can be just as loud there as we are right here in Orlando! And I promise I will walk into WrestleMania weekend the NXT Champion and I will walk out of NXT: Stand & Deliver STILL the NXT Champion. As far as the main event tonight goes..." Speaking of the main event, Dolph Ziggler comes out to interrupt the champion. Ziggler: "Congratulations on your first NXT Title defense, you never forget your first. Now let me give you some championship advice. You listening kid? I know I'm not the champ, yet. But you cannot be making promises that you can't keep. Stand & Deliver is a ways away kid, you gonna make it there? Hell yeah! You are a FordF350, you are a badass, you're gonna make it there. Will you make it there as champ? I don't think so. Laugh it up all you want. Tonight I stomp out the last few breaths of Ciampa, and who knows? Maybe it's tonight, maybe it's next week, hell maybe good ol' DZ throws Bron Breakker over his shoulder, put you on my back and carries your ass all the way to Stand & Deliver! And I can do, I do a lot of cardio. Just know when I decide the title is right for that title to be mine, it will be mine."

Breakker: "You know what? I think I owe you a receipt for kicking me in the face last week, so why don't you bring your skinny ass to the ring right now?!" Ziggler: "That's right, that superkick on your mouth was on the button last week. That's what I thought. Hey, 7 to 10 business days you'll get the taste back in your mouth. You got that going for you, which is nice. You are a bit of a hothead and I accually appreciate it, and it's endearing to me. It's not your fault, it's in your genes, and I'm not just referring to your Canadian tuxedo." Breakker: "Hey, shut up! They don't pay me to dress up, they pay me to kick peoples' ass, pal!" Ziggler: "You are a hothead, I get it! Listen, you are the champ. You are the guy... in Orlando. Make no mistake, the second I walked through that door I was the biggest damn star in this business and this building. So tonight, you get the night off. I say what we're doing. You get the night off, you're welcome, and you're gonna sit in the back. No cheap shots in my match, you are barred from ringside in my mathc. No cheap shots, no monkey-see-monkey-do, no receipts. You sit in the back on your ass and watch me do what I do better than anybody else in this business!"

We go back to Vengeance Day last week where LA Knight proved to a couple of officers that Grayson Waller broke the rules of issuing a restraining order, so now they will have a match next! Waller heads out first with Sanga, followed by Knight who's ready to kick his ass.

* Grayson Waller vs. LA Knight

Waller ducks out the ring at the bell to act tough standing next to Sanga, but Knight is not concerned about it so he chases him all around the ring. He finally gets his hands on Waller and hits a slingshot shoulder tackle. Waller side-steps him for the advantage, but Knight tosses him up and crotches him on the top rope, then shakes the rope and drops him with a forearm smash. Waller lands in front of the announce table and Sanga checks on him before our first commercial break.

We get picture-in-picture here and Waller takes his time getting back in the ring, Knight brings him in, hits a short-arm clothesline, and puts him in a rear chinlock. Waller escapes and goes for a sunset flip but Knight drops down and gets a 2-count, then Waller clotheslines him for a 2-count. Waller puts him in a neck twist submission but Knight starts to fight back.

When we come back full screen, Knight throws him out the ring, jaws at Sanga, and Waller takes advantage by throwing him into the steel steps. Back in the ring Waller covers for 2, delivers a suplex, hits a diving elbow drop for a near-fall, spinning back elbow for another 2-count, and a fireman's carry spinebuster for another near-fall. Knight counters the rolling stunner with a back suplex, hits a flying clothesline, gives him a back body drop, beats him down and hits a jumping neckbreaker. Sanga holds Waller's hand to block the BFT, Waller rolls him up and grabs the tights to secure the 3-count. WINNER: GRAYSON WALLER!

Knight attacks Waller post-match, hit sthe BFT to Sanga, and Waller eats a BFT as well for good measure!

Earlier today, Dakota Kai was roaming the halls and she spots a sleeping Wendy Choo to chew her out about being in the Dusty Cup with her. Wendy apologized for not telling then claims she told her "friend" thinking Dakota is talking to an imaginary person. Dakota recalls her bad track record with friends, but Wendy still accepts her and walks off. Wade Barrett and Vic Joseph talk about the Women's Dusty Cup coming up. Toxic Attraction will be heading to the ring while we head to a commercial break.

Cora Jade took Raquel González to a high-wire adventure park to start her version of training, and Raquel has a fear of heights. Raquel is having a tough time at it, and when it came time for ziplining she overcame her fear after that adrenaline rush. Toxic Attraction are sitting high up in the balcony in their own Toxic Lounge and they make fun of Cora and Raquel, as well as Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray.

* Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic QuarterFinals: Kay Lee Ray & Io Shirai vs. Amari Miller & Lash Legend

Io and Lash start the match, Lash grabs her hair, Io hits a headscissors and the tiger feint kick, and connects with a missile dropkick. Amari tags herself in, misses an elbow drop, Io hits a flapjack, KLR gets the tag, kicks her in the back and Io dropkicks her. KLR gets a 2-count, AMari counters a suplex with an inside cradle for 2, and connects with a roundhouse kick. Lash tags in for a pump kick, KLR superkicks her, and hits the KLR Bomb! KLR tags out, hits a springboard moonsault, then Io hits the Diving Moonsault, and they get the victory! WINNERS and Advancing to the Semi-Finals: KAY LEE RAY & IO SHIRAI!

Dante Chen gets interviewed next, has words for Duke Hudson, and vows to get his vengeance tonight. Commercial for WWE Elimination Chamber. After the break, Josh Briggs tries to console Brooks Jensen after being put in the friend zone, and helps him record a video for dating apps.

* Duke Hudson vs. Dante Chen

Chen attacks Hudson on his way to the ring! Chen is getting his vengeance, indeed! The bell dings, Chen splashes him in a conrer, Hudson throws him out the ring, Chen slams his leg on the apron, wraps it around the ringpost, but Hudson pulls him into the ringpost. Chen fights back, hits a pump kick, forearm smash, neckbreaker, avalanche, DDT, and covers for a near-fall. Hudson drops him on the top turnbuckle, boots him in the face, hits a cross powerbomb, and covers for 3. WINNER: DUKE HUDSON!

After the break, Trick Williams and the NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes head to the ring. Hayes reminds us then when he shoots he don't miss. Tonight he's having a "Melobration" but before that he says he called all his shots last week and again calls himself "the A champion." Williams hyped him up and talks about being in Dallas in April, but before Hayes can say any more, out comes Pete Dunne. "What are you on about? You say you beat everyone, but you haven't beat me. To be fair, you're the A champion, and I don't think that the absolute best should just sit on the sidelines during WresteMania season." Dunne continues by challenging to put the title on the line next week. Williams tells him no, but Hayes will not back down from a fight. Williams runs his mouth about Cameron Grimes, and Grimes is here to attack them and send them out the ring! Hayes and Williams plan to attack him but we go to commercials.

* Trick Williams vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes hits a shoulder block, avoids a leapfrog, throws him out the ring, kicks him in the chest, and chops him up for a 1-count. Grimes slams his head on the top turnbuckle, Williams punches him over and over, uppercut, flying clothesline, and beats him down now. Williams with a body slam, dropkick, puts him in a chinlock, and keeps him down in a submsiion hold. Grimes fights back, kicks him in the face, misses the Cave In, and Williams hits another pump kick. Grimes hits a swinging sidewalk slam, gets a near-fall, superkicks him outside the ring, lands a diving crossbody, goes "to the moon" with the Cave In, and gets the 3-count. WINNER: CAMERON GRIMES!

Briggs Jensen stumbles over his words trying to record video for dating apps. We get another video package for Nikkita Lyons, and she's up next. After the break, Andre Chase is hosting a Chase U class, he has words for Von Wagner, and demonstrates a teachable moment.

* Nikkita Lyons vs. Kayla Inlay

Lyons does an armdrag, does a roundhouse, brings her down with an armbar, hits a shoulder block, and does a hiptoss. Inlay blocks a suplex, rakes her face along the top rope, shoulder thrusts to the midsection in a corner, then Lyons does a sunset flip for 2. Lyons punches her in the gut, combo kicks, hits a German suplex, kips up, hits a spinning kick, and splits on her for the pin and win. WINNER: NIKKITA LYONS!

Backstage in the locker room, Persia Pirotta loved every second of Duke Hudson's match, he pulls her in and they start making out until Indi Hartwell walks in. Duke tells Indi that it's not gross because she used to do that with him, but Indi says that was a long time ago. Cue sad face Dexter Lumis, and Indi tells Duke "I despise you." After the break, we get words from Robert Stone calling Andre Young stupid for challenging Von Wagner. Next week, they will go one-on-one.

The Creed Brothers come out to celebrate their huge victory of winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Malcolm Bivens praises his team, talks down about Imperium, reminds all that Imperium never won the Dusty Cup, nor have they defended the NXT Tag Team Titles in weeks. Imperium come out, Gunther demands respect, Bivens calls him Gunner, and Gunther corrects him with anger. The Creed Brothers battle with Aichner and Barthel, while Gunther comes after Bivens. Solo Sikoa makes the save as he superkicks Gunther and stands over him!

Briggs and Jensen continue backstage, Fallon shows up to take Jensen's picture for him, to which he asks Briggs why the video, and Briggs tells him, "To be honest, your disasterous love life is my favorite form of entertainment."

After commercials, Joe Gacy is interviewed with Harland. We get video of them approaching Draco Anthony, Joe said something that upset him, and Harland stepped in front but he was held back. Next week, Draco and Harland will have a match.

* Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic QuarterFinals: Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro

Tatum has the power, Kayden has the quickness, Kacy has the athletism, and Ivy has the strength. Ivy and Tatum overpower them, Ivy hits a diving elbow drop for 2, blocks the tag, but Kayden eventually gets the hot tag and kicks her in the head. Ivy hits a spin kick, Kacy breaks the count, Kayden superkicks Tatum, Kacy hits the 450 Splash as Kayden hits a neckbreaker, and they get the win. WINNERS and Advancing to the Semi-Finals: KACT CATANZARO & KAYDEN CARTER!

After the match, Ivy Nile is choking out her partner Tatum Paxley! Roderick Strong stops her and they back off. Solo Sikoa gets interviewed and he'll face Gunther next week. Malcolm Bivens thanks him for his help, but Sikoa didn't do it for him.

* Dolph Ziggler vs. Tommaso Ciampa

They lock up, Ciampa with a rear waistlock, Ziggler reverses, Ciampa counters with a top wristlock, gets a knee on the back of his head, and Ziggler is not amused. They lock up into the ropes, clean break, Ciampa side-steps the superkick, Ziggler blocks the Fairytake Ending, they both evade big kicks, and they have a standoff. Ziggler headbutts him, covers for 2, then puts him in a chinlock while raking the eyes. Ziggler takes him down via armbar, Ciampa clotheslines him repeatedly, running chop, and hits the roaring elbow. Ciampa throws him out the ring, hits a running knee to knock him off the apron, and we take our final commercial break!

We get picture-in-picture here, Ciampa is in control, brings Ziggler back into the ring, starts punching him, but Ziggler drops him on the turnbuckles and hits a hangman neckbreaker. Ziggler hits a jumping elbow drop, covers for 2, and remains in control throughout the rest of the break.

When we come back, Ziggler has him in the chinlock, Ciampa fights out, they trade punches and chops, Ciampa catapults him into the turnbuckles, and clotheslines him for a 2-count. They duke it out again, Ciampa stomps him down in a corner, Ziggler dropkicks him, Ciampa with a hard punch, Ziggler hits the Famouser and gets a near-fall! Ciampa hits a big boot, hits Project Ciampa, covers for 2.5, hits the running knee, and Ziggler get his foot on the bottom rope! Ciampa hits a kneedrop to the thigh, Ziggler rolls out the ring, shoves him into the ringpost, and hits the Zig Zag on the floor! The referee starts his count, Ziggler throws him in at 8, rolls in at 9, Ciampa side-steps the superkick, Ziggler counters the Fairytale Ending with a schoolboy rollup for 2, and locks in the sleeper hold! Ciampa doesn't quit yet, rolls over and stands, drops him down, and gets 2.99! They battle on the apron, Ciampa hits a big boot, and hits the air raid crash on the apron! Ciampa rolls him back in, gets on the apron, and the "cameraman" attacks Ciampa from behind with a camera! Ziggler hits the superkick and covers for 3! WINNER: DOLPH ZIGGLER!

The cameraman is revealed to be Robert Roode making his return to NXT! The Dirty Dawgs celebrate in the ring and they beat down Ciampa. Bron Breakker makes the save and clears the ring! "You guys wanna do 2-on-1, huh?! How about next week it's us two vs. you two?! How about this? You find your balls and we'll fight right now!" The Dirty Dawgs feign leaving, but they get back in and it's chaotic mayhem! Ziggler and Roode are fighting Breakker and Ciampa as we close for the night!