WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 14

The October 14 edition of WWE NXT promised a massive show with title implications. Multiple No. 1 contenders were to be crowned for NXT Halloween Havoc while one big title match was announced for the main event.

NXT North American champion Damian Priest has been afraid to face absolutely no one, but Dexter Lumis is a unique prospect. Losing his title opportunity to injury, the enigmatic Superstar had a chance at his first taste of gold.

The host of Halloween Havoc was looking to also main event the show in a match with Io Shirai, but she needed to defeat Candice LeRae. The Poison Pixie got one up on Blackheart before in a battle royal, but this time, it was one on one.

A pair of future contenders to the NXT Women's Championship were also in attendance. Ember Moon had an exclusive sit-down interview while Toni Storm was set for her first action in months.

Fandango and Tyler Breeze have been waiting for top talent to step up to them, and the time was right. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch earned an opportunity to face Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish. The winner got a shot at the NXT tag team champions.

While his wife fought for an opportunity at gold, Johnny Gargano had a score to settle. The Rebel Heart stepped up to Austin Theory, hoping to be another veteran to shut up the young talent.

This show promised much on a jam-packed night of action. Who would earn a chance at gold? Who would fall woefully short?

No. 1 Contender: Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch vs. Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish

Credit: WWE.com

Kyle O'Reilly warned whoever injured Adam Cole that payment was coming. He also set the stage for a second "golden prophecy" beginning with Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish becoming NXT tag team champions.

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch used physical offense to take an early lead, but Undisputed Era got crafty to take the lead. Fandango and Tyler Breeze watched closely as Strong and Fish isolated Lorcan until Lorcan dodged a diving headbutt and get the hot tag to Burch.

The British Superstar landed a headbutt on The Messiah of the Backbreaker followed by an elevated DDT with his tag team partner's assistance, but Fish saved the pinfall. Undisputed Era caught Lorcan alone, and Strong finished the match with a jumping knee.

Result

Strong and Fish def. Lorcan and Burch by pinfall to become the new No. 1 contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B+

Analysis

As expected, Lorcan and Burch put on a show with Undisputed Era to start the night. Both teams brought their all to a match with massive stakes. While it wasn't as good as the original UE match versus the brawlers, it was still great for television.

It seems likely Undisputed Era is set to break up. Strong and Fish remain heels while Cola and O'Reilly are playing the faces. The group in its current form has run its course. There are several money matches in pitting the Undisputed Era members against one another.

Ember Moon Interview; Jake Atlas vs. Ashante "Thee" Adonis

Ember Moon explained in an interview that she only wanted to return to one brand when she knew she was cleared for action: NXT. She named the many women she was willing to go through to become the NXT women's champion.

Ashante "Thee" Adonis showed off his natural confidence when he went after Jake Atlas from the start. However, Atlas was just a little faster than his opponent. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde distracted both men, leading to Atlas catching Adonis with an inside cradle for three.

Afterward, the member of Legado del Fantasma tried to attack Adonis. Instead, Atlas dived onto both to send them running. Santos Escobar joined his friends before Isaiah "Swerve" Scott appeared with steel chairs for each man. The cruiserweight trio stood firm against Legado del Fantasma.

Result

Atlas def. Adonis by pinfall.

Grade

C

Analysis

NXT is cycling at the moment with Moon, who continues to cut the same promo. However, it was good to keep her in the spotlight until she is ready to go after Io Shirai. She cannot be on NXT every week, but she should remain a focus each week all the same.

Adonis vs. Atlas was forgettable mainly due to short run-time. One of the men has been barely established outside of 205 Live while Atlas is still developing. This needed more of a hook and certainly more time.

The cruiserweight feud between Swerve and Escobar continues despite Escobar defeating Scott twice. Maybe he has a better chance with Atlas and Adonis behind him, but it still seems unfortunate for the cruiserweight division that no one else can get a chance at the NXT cruiserweight champion.

Johnny Gargano vs. Austin Theory

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae explained in an interview ahead of their matches that they were confident they would be champions soon. The Rebel Heart was more focused on Damian Priest vs. Dexter Lumis than Austin Theory.

Theory took advantage of Gargano's arrogance early, managing to overwhelm him with focused offense. However, The Rebel Heart was still a few steps ahead once he realized Theory was a real challenger.

Just as The Rebel Heart seemed to be turning the match into a clinic, "All Day" caught him with the ATL. Theory caught him with a superkick, but Gargano refused to stay down.

Gargano ducked a pair of ATL attempts then connected on a superkick into a lawn dart. Finally, The Rebel Heart put the contest away with the One Final Beat.

Result

Gargano def. Theory by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Analysis

This was the best match of Theory's NXT career. Gargano brought out the best in him. This was fast-paced fun throughout. The two both showed off their personality, and Gargano was able to play the babyface while not losing his opportunistic character. This is a match that should be revisited at some point.

Theory continues to lose repeatedly. Hopefully, the plan is not for him to get over by being competitive alone. He needs to start winning, or he will fall to the background just as much as he did on Monday Night Raw.

No. 1 Contender: Candice LeRae vs. Shotzi Blackheart

Credit: WWE.com

Raquel Gonzalez challenged Rhea Ripley to a one-on-one match at Halloween Havoc. The Nightmare decided to get the fight started early, only for officials to keep them apart.

Shotzi Blackheart tried to outmaneuver Candice LeRae with her unpredictable offense, but The Poison Pixie knocked her into steel post then blasted her face first into the apron. The underdog fought back, even after LeRae hit her with a suplex off the second rope and a springboard moonsault.

Hitting her second wind, Blackheart fired back. Twice in a row, LeRae escaped the diving senton just barely. Indi Hartwell passed The Poison Pixie brass knuckles, allowing her to blast Blackheart for the win.

Result

LeRae def. Blackheart by pinfall to become the new No. 1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

A

Analysis

On a night that continues to deliver in the matches that matter, LeRae and Blackheart were great together. While LeRae can fully sell as a dominant heel against many women, she is perfectly suited to that role against Blackheart as a young wrestler and smaller competitor.

The two went back and forth throughout with many great moments. They did not overuse their signature offense, and Blackheart only had to show her true resilience with one defiant kick out against the springboard moonsault. This is a match to return to soon.

Toni Storm vs. Aliyah (w/ Robert Stone)

Robert Stone coached Aliyah from ringside as she gave Toni Storm a decent fight early. However, Storm managed to brush off her ring rust and plant the only current member of the Robert Stone Brand with Storm Zero.

William Regal announced Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez was official for Halloween Havoc. Xia Li with Boa begged for a match next week to turn her luck around, and the NXT general manager promised to consider it.

Result

Storm def. Aliyah by pinfall.

Grade

D+

Analysis

For a supposed squash match, Storm did not get much offense in this contest. The story told was that she was dealing with ring rust, but the former NXT UK women's champion also promised she was coming in as a new and better performer. That was not clear in this contest.

It does not help that she was fighting Aliyah. Perhaps more of her new persona will come out in the coming weeks. Storm has massive upside as a performer. She is one of the stars that can truly be the future of the company. All it will take are the right moments to shine.

Killian Dain and Drake Maverick vs. Imperium

Drake Maverick tried to convince Killian Dain to agree to his various plans for their marketing as a tag team including a name The Fury and The Furry, but The Beast of Belfast was not interested.

Dain shut down the team's theme music immediately then started the contest. He had no interest in Maverick getting into the action. However, after Marcel Bartel and Fabian Aichner wore him down, The Beast of Belfast was forced to tag in Maverick.

Imperium landed the Imperial Implosion for the victory. Ever-Rise taunted and bullied Maverick afterward until Dain ran both heels over. The Beast of Belfast told his new partner that "nobody hits you but me".

Result

Imperium def. Dain and Maverick by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Imperium has had much better recent tag team matches, but this had quite a bit of story behind it. Dain and Maverick are finding their chemistry as an in-ring team while their characters have already gelled so well. It is a fascinating dynamic.

It is a wonder that NXT can so easily create interesting tag teams while Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown struggle with all the tag team divisions. While this new team may be overshadowed in NXT, they could be top contenders on either of the other brands.

NXT North American Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs. Dexter Lumis

Dexter Lumis clearly creeped out Damian Priest, but the NXT North American champion went after him all the same. He used a hard-hitting fast-paced style that the challenger struggled to slow.

Lumis found sudden momentum with a bulldog and spinebuster. He refused to stay down to any of The Archer of Infamy's devastating offense, even an ankle lock. The height of Priest saved him from the kata gatame into the Silence.

Cameron Grimes snuck in to sneak attack Lumis, setting up the South of Heaven by Priest for the win. The NXT North American champion gave Grimes the Reckoning for getting involved.

As Priest celebrated, Johnny Gargano struck him with a steel chair from behind. William Regal announced that both Gargano and Candice LeRae would get title opportunities, but Shotzi Blackheart announced both match types would be determined with Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal.

Result

Priest def. Lumis by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship.

Grade

B

Analysis

The Archer of Infamy is a fascinating competitor to watch. As he grows more confident with the WWE style, he looks better in the ring. He works like a cruiserweight despite his size. His title reign has been a huge opportunity for him to show his talent to everyone.

This was a good match that may have been too focused on Priest. Despite the length, it often felt heavily one sided. The final stretch was especially fun as both men went all out. The right man won for now, though Lumis may soon be the right competitor to dethrone The Archer of Infamy.

The ending was certainly overly dramatic. However, it is appropriate for the ridiculous nature of Halloween Havoc.