Jacy Jayne is a two-time NXT Women’s Champion after the first week of NXT Gold Rush.
The main event of the first of two Gold Rush events saw Jayne regain the belt, defeating Tatum Paxley after an attack by Izzi Dame.
It was one of four championship matches on the card and the only one resulting in a new champion.
RESULTS:
*AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles: Ethan Page & Chelsea Green © over Joe Hendry & Thea Hail
*Women’s North American Championship: Blake Monroe © over Sol Ruca
*NXT Tag Team Titles: Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin © over Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater
*NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne over Tatum Paxley ©
New NXT Women’s Champion
The card was headlined by Tatum Paxley defending her title against the former champion. Members of Fatal Influence and The Culling were in the respective corners and incorporated throughout the match.
Izzi Dame attempted to help Paxley on two occasions by sliding a chair and the championship, but Paxley would not use either for the advantage. Paxley used an O’Connor roll, and when Jayne kicked out, sent Paxley to the floor. The champion was blocked by Shawn Spears and Niko Vance, which led to the blindside attack by Dame with a running boot. Paxley was sent into the ring and hit by the Rolling Encore, and Jayne regained the title.
The high point of the match was Paxley kicking out of the Rolling Encore minutes earlier, which generated the loudest reaction and the audience behind Paxley.
The turn by Dame was teased since the alliance was formed, and should give Paxley an interesting program and flesh out her character further.
DarkState Retains
Je’Von Evans came up short for the second consecutive night, teaming with Leon Slater as they failed to win the NXT tag titles.
Evans sold for most of the match and built to a hot tag to Slater. The X Division Champion hit a dive over the corner and landed on the DarkState members. Evans followed with a cutter and Frog Splash for a near-fall on Griffin.
When DarkState had Slater on the mat for a cover, Evans leaped with a springboard splash, missed DarkState, and splashed his teammate, which led to a Doomsday Device and the champs retained.
The match had its moments, and Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin showed some good signs in the match. Evans did a lot of the heavy lifting through his selling, and Slater with his comeback. The ending suggests a hint toward Evans and Slater having tension, and it’s only a matter of time before they have a rematch.
Zaria Throws in the Towel
Blake Monroe retained the Women’s North American title in a story-driven match with former champion, Sol Ruca.
The set-up was that Ruca was not 100% but wanted her title back and worked with a still-injured knee, complete with a brace. Monroe targeted the knee and removed the brace.
Ruca did an effective job adapting her offense to reflect the injury and did an impressive one-legged kip-up. After a chop block, Monroe used a half-crab and transitioned to a calf crusher. Zaria panicked and went to the timekeeper’s area and discovered a HIDDEN TOWEL and, despite a protest from Ruca, threw it in and cost Ruca the match.
Later, Ruca was in the locker room and furious over Zaria’s decision. She defended the decision, stating Ruca wasn’t going to escape the hold and would miss a year of action because of her stubbornness, and to concentrate on Zaria going for the Speed title next week. The backstage segment was really well done, and they’re presenting a plausible argument for Zaria, even if the audience thinks she’s jealous of Ruca.
Canadian Content
Ethan Page & Chelsea Green retained the AAA Mixed Tag Titles in the opener against Joe Hendry & Thea Hail in a fairly basic match.
Hendry’s big move against the AAA champions was using a ‘rana on Page. Hail constantly went for the kimura lock, applying it to Page and Green during the match.
Green was really over to this audience in New York, and they cheered her at various points and felt like the most popular of the four, including Hendry.
Page saved Green from the Kimura and took care of Hendry as Green caught Hail with the Unprettier and won clean.
Page and Green are a great act, and they wore matching Canadian gear.
Next Week
The following is advertised for next week and is being taped tonight:
- Trick Williams vs. Myles Borne
- TNA Knockouts Championship: Kelani Jordan © vs. Lei Ying Lee vs. Jordynne Grace
- Speed Championship (Vacant): Zaria vs. Fallon Henley
- EVOLVE Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey © vs. Lainey Reid
- EVOLVE Men’s Championship: Jackson Drake © vs. Sean Legacy
- John Cena announces participants for the Iron Survivor matches at Deadline
