Date: 02/15	7:00 PM
Views: 585

Nickolye's WWE NXT recap for February 15, 2022 at 8 PM ET! If February 14th is for Valentine's, then February 15th is for VENGEANCE! Tonight is a big show as Santos Escobar challenges Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship. Tonight's the finals for the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, so which team will have their names etched on the trophy and earn a future NXT Tag Team Title match? Also, Cameron Grimes proclaimed that 2022 will be when he acquires gold, so will he win the North American Championship from Carmelo Hayes? NXT has a makeover in 2.0 fashion. Hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for the latest updates!

Mandy Rose: "Happy Vengeance Day bitches."

* Steel Cage Match w/ Weapons: Pete Dunne vs. Tony D'Angelo

Dunne starts with a step-up enzuigiri and throws D'Angelo into the steel cage a couple times, then takes a chair and BREAKS it over the back of D'Angelo! Dunne grabs a trash can, D'Angelo tackles him, suplexes him onto the trash can, takes down more weapons, and whacks him on the back with a kendo stick. As D'Angelo opens a toolbox, Dunne slams it shut on D'Angelo's fingers and stomps on it, then wrenches his fingers with an actual wrench! Dunne climbs up for the cricket bat, but D'Angelo sprays him with a fire extinguisher, drags him across the top of the cage, then SUPLEXES DUNNE FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE! D'Angelo covers and gets the first near-fall of the match. "This is awesome!"

D'Angelo cuffs Dunne's hands behind his back with bind, pries his mouth with a hammer, Dunne headbutts him, kicks him in the midsections, and does a no-hand triangle! D'Angelo counters with a powerbomb, DDT, covers for 2, and the crowd wants tables. D'Angelo sets up for a powerbomb to the table, but Dunne counters with a guillotine, so D'Angelo cuts Dunne's cuffs open to free himself, then throws him head-first into a trash can lid. Dunne attacks him as he goes for the crowbar, then hits a running powerbomb through the leaning table, and covers for 2.9! Dunne stomps on the crowbar, cracks the cricket bat over his back, hits The Bitter End, and gets the 1-2-NO! D'Angelo blocks the crowbar with a lowblow, hits the spinning fisherman's suplex, and covers for the 1-2-KICKOUT!! "This is awesome!" Dunne pulls out a hidden crowbar, hits D'Angelo with it, hits The Bitter End again, and gets the 1-2-3! WINNER: PETE DUNNE!

We cut to Cora Jade waking up at 5 AM to a phone call from Raquel González to get ready to train for the Dusty Cup, then we get a training montage of these two. Afterwards, Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett promote the Women's Dusty Cup which will start next week. McKenzie Mitchell segues to talk about the finals for the men's side of the tournament. Earlier today, Malcolm Bivens and The Creed Brothers said they are ready to take that cup "because it is Diamond Mine forever." After that, also from earlier, MSK made their own comments praising their opponents but they plan to become 2-time Dusty Cup champions. Also also from earlier today, Camelo Hayes arrived with Trick Williams, as well as Cameron Grimes. That title match is later, but for now, it's time for our first title match!

* NXT Women's Tag Team Championship: Toxic Attraction {C} vs. Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta

Toxic Attraction start the match earlier by attacking them from behind and superkicking them! Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin both dive off the apron at both women, then they throw Pirotta into the ring to get the match officially started. Pirotta gives Jayne a fallaway slam, Hartwell tags in, covers for 2, hits a European uppercut and kicks her in the head for a 2-count. NXT Women's Champion Mandy Rose distracts the referee for Gigi and Jacy to get the adventage double-teaming, and she even gets involved by throwing Indi back into the ring, but this time the referee catches her and EJECTS her from ringside before a commercial break!

When we come back, Hartwell fights back against Jayne and lays in a big right-hand swing, and they drop each other for a double-down. Both sides make the hot tags, Pirotta clotheslines Dolin, avalanche in a corner, German suplex, and Jayne jumps on her back. Pirotta fights off both women, carries both on her shoulders for a double Samoan drop, and covers Dolin for a near-fall! Hartwell tags in for a double spinebuster/mat slam combo, she covers for 2, Jayne breaks the count, Pirotta fights her out the ring, and Jayne sends Pirotta into the steel steps. Jayne trips Hartwell on the ropes, Dolins takes advantage with a question mark kick, covers for 2, Jayne tags in, they hit a legsweep/roundhouse combo, and Jayne covers for the victory. WINNERS and STILL NXT Women's Tag Team Champions: TOXIC ATTRACTION!

Backstage, Amari Miller and Wendy Choo are talking about their Valentine's Day, Wendy asks if she has a partner for the Dusty Cup, Amari already committed, so Wendy actually asks Dakota Kai to be her partner. Dakota argues with herself about it, and Wendy leaves her to finish discussing it with herself.

Grayson Waller shows up, tells his bodyguard Sanga to wait for him outside, and tells two police officers he will have LA Knight ready to be arrested. Breaktime.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are in the bar discussing for Jensen's date went, Jensen describes his time with Kayden Carter. Briggs tries to inform Jensen that he was put in the friend zone because she said he's "like a brother" to her.

LA Knight heads to the ring and asks for a microphone. Before he can even say a word, Grayson Waller comes out with two officers and security guards, and shows the officers why he wants Knight arrested while narrating the whole time claiming it caused him emotional trauma. Waller is ignoring the fact that he brutally attacked him first with revisionist history. Knight takes the mic and wants to give his side, and he has his own video evidence from two weeks ago where HE was attacked by Waller in the first place! Knight explains that on Page 2 even though Knight cannot touch him, waller was not allowed to touch him either. Waller claims that in Australia it's only one way, but right now he's not there and so the officers leave! Knight clotheslines Waller, stomps a mudhole in him, Sanga shows up, Knight knocks him down and throws Waller into him. LA Knight: "It's officially open season on Grayson Waller! Next week, you, me, your ass gets stomped out by the one, the only with everybody saying L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!"

Persia Pirotta is dejected with Indi Hartwell in the locker room and they vow to win the Dusty Cup as a back-up plan. Dexter Lumis shows up, Indi hugs him, and Persia feels lost when Dexter and Indi take off... until Hudson Duke shows up, saying "I know what'll cheer you up." Persia leaves with Hudson, and we leave this open for interpretation while we go to a commercial break.

Tommaso Ciampa stews backstage about other superstars who ignore his body of work. "Dolph Ziggler thinks he is better than Tommaso Ciampa! Do you know what I think? I think he has mistaken my loyalty for fear. Tonight, it's not about that. It's about Bron Breakker vs. Santos Escobar for the NXT Title, the same NXT Title that Dolph Ziggler wants, the same NXT Title that I want. It's quite the predicament, and I'm sure that Dolph Ziggler will be watching, and I know that I will be watching. After all, this is my home."

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams praise the former as "the A champion" as he makes his way to the ring to defend his title.

* NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes {C} vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes reiterates he will go "TO THE MOON!" Hayes shoots the moon and kicks it away. They lock up collar-and-elbow, Hayes with a side headlock, clean break in the ropes, Grimes picks the leg, clean break, they wrestle around trading holds, and Grimes gets a 1-count. Grimes with a rear waistlock, switches to an armlock, flips him by the arm, Hayes reverses the armlock, Grimes counters, Hayes with a front facelock, Grimes counters to a side headlock and hits a shoulder block. Hayes leapfrogs over him, Grimes cartwheels over him, and tells Hayes to "Kiss my grits!" Grimes chops him, kick to the chest, gives him a back body drop, and argues with Trick Williams. Hayes uses that slight distraction to kick him in the midsection and takes advantage with a big clothesline. Grimes sends him out the ring, Hayes blocks a kick, slams him onto the apron, hangs him in the ropes, kicks him in the back of the head, then hits a springboard legdrop! Hayes takes time to admire his work while we go to a commercial break.

Hayes has been in control during the break, most notably due to Trick Williams getting in some cheap shots behind the ref's back. Grimes starts to fight back now, hits the rotation slam, and Williams freaks out as both men are down. Grimes kips up, Hayes is surprised, they trade punches, Hayes chops him in the throat, Grimes jumps into a hurricanrana, clotheslines him, coounters a tilt-a-whirl into a spinning urinage, and gets 2.5! "This is awesome! This is awesome!" Hayes blocks a German suplex, hits a lungblower, hits the springboard clothesline, covers for a near-fall, and can't believe that Grimes kicked out at the last minute. "I am the A champion." Hayes hits a pump kick, Grimes superkicks him, covers, 1-2-2.99! Grimes kicks the champion in the chest, Williams jumps on the apron to talk trash, Grimes knocks Hayes into Williams, hits the Poison 'Rana, jumps to the apron for a PK to Williams, goes up top, hits a high diving crossbody, and gets 2.999!!

Hayes rolls out the ring, Grimes goes for the Cave-In from the apron but Williams takes the bullet instead! Hayes shoves Grimes head-first into a corner of the barricade, looks at his title vowing not to lose it, gets them both back in the ring, hits a tilt-a-whirl facebuster, shoots the half, and covers for a near-fall! Hayes locks in the crossface, Grimes crawls to the ropes, Williams pulls the ropes away, Hayes tries to rolls him back to the center, but Grimes counters to get a 2-count, tosses him onto the apron, Hayes with a reverse hotshot on the top rope, then hits the diving scissors kick to the back of the head for the 3-count! WINNER and STILL NXT North American Champion: CARMELO HAYES!

We get a video package for MSK and The Creed Brothers gearing up for their final match in the tournament. The finals for the Dusty Cup is next after the break! When we come back, Kay Lee Ray wants Io Shirai to let off some aggression by smashing some glass and chinaware while preparing for the women's side of the tournament. Zoey Stark shows up noting the mess they've made, and Io smashes her cup. Io tells Zoey, "I like her."

* Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: MSK vs. The Creed Brothers

Nash Carter and Brutus Creed start the match for their respective teams. They wrestle around, Julius Creed tags in for a fireman's carry, and Brutus adds a fireman's carry into the ropes. Carter blocks a German suplex, lands on his feet, Wes Lee with a shoulder thrist after tagging in, MSK hit double-team kicks and stomps, the referee orders Brutus to stay on the apron, and Wes Lee hits a tope con hilo to Julius on the floor! Julius comes back with a facebuster, drops him on the ropes, and hits a shoulder block to knock Wes Lee off the apron and onto the announce table! MSK are down on the ground while The Creed Brothers control the ring before a commercial break.

As the match continued during the break, The Creed Brothers remain in control. Brutus crashes into the bottom turnbuckle, Wes Lee escapes his madness, both teams tag out, Carter goes after Julius Creed, trips him in mid-air, kicks and a legsweep, penalty kick, and a superkick to Brutus. Carter calls for a push, so Lee pushes him off the apron for a moonsault to Julius on the floor! Back in the ring, Carter hits a Swanton Bomb and dropkicks Brutus off the apron, Lee hits the corkscrew senton bomb, but Julius kicks out at 2. Another "This is awesome" chant happens before Julius catches Carter and dumps him on the apron, Lee trips him down, catapults him into a superkick and meteora by Carter, and Brutus breaks the count. Malcolm Bivens looks on from ringside nervously. Lee kicks Brutus in the head, Brutus kicks him back, Carter hits a running knee to the back, Julius catches Carter off a suicide dive attempt, and hits the rolling slam on the floor! Back in the ring, Julius takes the straps down, hits the sliding lariat, and covers for 3!! WINNERS of the 2022 DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CLASSIC: THE CREED BROTHERS!!

Malcolm Bivens can't believe it!! He's almost crying as he's in shock! The Creed Brothers hold up the Dusty Cup in celebration as Malcolm Bivens is super proud of his team. We get another vignette for Nikkita Lyons, and she makes her NXT 2.0 debut next week.

The NXT Tag Team Champions Imperium are standing in the ring. Gunther speaks first, the crowd chants "Walter" at him, and they congratulate The Creed Brothers on winning the tournament and earning the opportunity at the NXT Tag Team Championship. They claim the brothers are not ready to endure the pain coming their way, and Gunther wants to set his sights on championship gold so he will be watching the main event title match with great interest. Solo Sikoa interrupts and says he doesn't give a damn about them. He's used to finding the biggest man and smacking the taste out of his mouth, so that's what he's about to do. "I don't care how you say your name. I'm about to wipe this mat with the Ring General, and then make you my BITCH." Gunther holds back Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel out of respect.

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler gets interviewed about Raw last night where Tommaso Ciampa splashed water in his eyes. Ziggler makes a little fun of Ciampa showing up on Raw, and next week he wants to show up to Ciampa's home (NXT), make himself at home, and he will be watching the main event title match too. Legado Del Fantasma all head to the ring before the break. We get a commercial for NXT LVL UP this Friday at 10/9C exclusively on Peacock.

backstage, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams are still hurting. Pete Dunne shows up and congratulates him on still being the North American Champion... for now. Next week, the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament commences, LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller finally happens, and also it'll be Tommaso Ciampa vs. Dolph Ziggler!

* NXT Championship: Santos Escobar vs. Bron Breakker {C}

The proper title match introductions, the bell dings, the main event match is underway, and here we go! They lock up, Breakker backs him into a corner, Escobar tries to shove him, Breakker doesn't budge, so he shoves his challenger way across the ring. Escobar with a rear waistlock, Breakker counters with a side headlock, and hits a shoulder block. Escobar dropkicks him, Breakker gets back to his feet, side headlock, gator roll, delivers a delayed vertical suplex, kips up, barks to his freaks in the crowd, and Escobar rolls out the ring to his crew on the outside. Escobar leapfrogs over him, misses a back swing, Breakker clotheslines him, hits a backbreaker, Joaquin Wilde gets on the apron to distract him, and Escobar hits Breakker in the back of the head then hits a suicide dive! Escobar throws the champ into the steel steps, back into the ring, covers for 2, hits a neckbreaker, and gets another 2-count. He hits a neckbreaker in the ropes, hits a senton, covers for 2, boots him in the face, hits a running meteora, and gets yet another 2-count.

Escobar pulls him onto the steps, works over his back, shoves his head into the ringpost, brings him back into the ring, elbow drops to the back of the head, and pulls his arm back with a knee to the head then switches to a rear chinlock with a knee to the back. Escobar gloats and runs his mouth, while allows Breakker to wake up, block a punch, gets in a couple of strikes, hits shoulder tackles, hits a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam, and this time Raul Mendoza gets on the apron. Breakker knocks Mendoza off the apron, hiptosses Wilde into the ring, clotheslines him back out, Elektra Lopez gets up to distract the referee, and DOLPH ZIGGLER SUPERKICKS BREAKKER!! Escobar crawls to make the cover and gets 2.9! Ziggler throws a fit at ringside, slides in the ring, Ciampa pulls him back out, and they start brawling out of sight! Escobar scowls at the champ, hits a tornado DDT, goes up top, Breakker avoids the frog splash, Escobar rolls through to pick him up, Breakker blocks the Phantom Driver, hits the running tackle, takes the straps down, hits the military press powerslam, covers, and gets 1-2-3! WINNER and STILL NXT Champion: BRON BREAKKER!!

What a chaotic ending! What a match! What a show!