The NXT 2.0 Rewind: 10.19.21 – “The Road to Halloween Havoc”

Previously on the NXT 2.0 Rewind: Carmelo Hayes cashes in his Breakout Tournament contract to win the North American Championship, Ivy Nile has her in-ring debut, and for the first time we see the image of a man named Solo Sikoa.

We start with a look at Melo’s win last week before we head into Orlando’s Capitol Wrestling Center. Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett greet us before we head in-ring to ring announcer Alicia Taylor who introduces NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes with Trick Williams. Trick says that the introduction sounded so nice he needs to hear it twice and prompts Alicia to run it back as the fans chant “you deserve it.”

Melo tells us he waited patiently for months before pulling a swerve on Swerve. “When I shoot, I don’t miss.” From this point on, he’s calling the shots and calls himself the leader of the new school. He says as long as the title is around his waist, THIS is the “A” championship. Johnny Gargano interrupts as the fans chant “welcome back.” He introduces himself and says he has had his eye on Carmelo as the fans chant for Johnny Wrestling. He’s had a lot going on with weddings and such but he’s lost his way and is trying to figure out what is next for him. “I think what’s next for Johnny Gargano is going back to doing what I was put on this planet to do,” saying there is a first time for Melo to miss. Trick interrupts and tells Gargano that Indi has been shooting in Melo’s DMs all week. Trick turns around to find Dexter Lumis, who tries to choke him out before Melo makes the save. Melo leaves his belt behind and Gargano scoops it up. And now he’s spent half a year planking on television.

Odyssey Jones vs Andre Chase

As the men enter, you may notice the famed Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal wheel in the entryway. These two men have been pestering each other for weeks. The crowd is largely behind Odyssey, but you can see a section in the crowd wearing Chase University tees. Chase dropkicks and then stomps Jones, trying for a cover but being tossed across the ring. Odyssey scoops up Andre for a big slam and gets the easy pin.

Odyssey Jones pins Andre Chase. Not a lot to this, but the crowd was loud as they seem to be at the CWC. These two will be in very different spots this time next year.

Malcolm Bivens leads Diamond Mine backstage, telling us that he was minding his own business earlier and heard so many people asking for championship opportunities. He knows the Creeds have earned an opportunity, but from this point forward they are just going to take the opportunities they want.

“Fear the wheel,” text on screen tells us. Next Tuesday, Halloween Havoc.

Imperium (Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner) vs Diamond Mine (Brutus Creed and Julius Creed with Malcolm Bivens, Ivy Nile, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong and Hachiman)

Just five years later, one of these four will become one of Mexico’s hottest wrestlers (allegedly). Aichner and Barthel double team Brutus to start us off before Brutus is able to suplex Marcel across the ring. Barthel hits Brutus with big chops and an uppercut. Brutus powers Barthel into his own corner and tags in Julius as Vic reminds us that somewhere WALTER is watching. Strong grabs Barcel’s boot, giving Julius the chance to suplex him down from the top rope. Julius throws Marcel across the ring with a suplex and both Creeds show some impressive fireman’s carries. Julius tosses Brutus on top of Marcel but only for a two count. Marcel finally gets the hot tag to Aichner and catches big Brutus on his shoulders, squatting him on his shoulders and tossing him. Kushida and Ikemen Jiro appear to brawl with Diamond Mine, allowing Marcel to roll up Brutus for the pin.

Marcel Barthel pins Brutus Creed, Imperium defeat Diamond Mine. Hey, this was a hell of a tag team match. The Creeds continue being beasts and Imperium looked great here as well.

NXT Tag Team Champions MSK attack Imperium after the match (mostly to booing and “you suck” chants). They throw out a challenge to Imperium for next week’s Halloween Havoc.

We take a look at Von Wagner and Kyle O’Reilly taking a little vacation together. They jog through the forest lifting and chopping branches to train before sharing some drinks.

Here’s a vignette on Sk8tr Girl Cora Jade. We’ll see her next.

Joe Gacy tells us that last week was a setback and perhaps 2.0 isn’t a safe space after all but his mission hasn’t changed. He promises to not be triggered by microaggressions and will speak for us as a coalition. “Take my hand.” We see Harland putting his hand up against the glass to Gacy’s as Gacy says, “Follow me, little snowflake.”

Cora Jade vs Elektra Lopez (with Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde)

Pre-match, Escobar calls Carmelo a lucky son of a bitch. Cora rides out on her skateboard to interrupt Elektra’s attempt at a promo which is rude but Wade tells us that 20-year olds like Cora don’t have respect. Elektra slams Cora repeatedly as the Legado men laugh at ringside. Elektra chokes Cora in the corner and tosses her across the ring. Elektra clotheslines Cora down and Cora rolls her up with a cradle, getting the shock win.

Cora Jade pins Elektra Lopez. This is week two of Cora not being able to do anything in the ring but winning with a shock win. Perhaps it’ll get better.

Mackenzie Mitchell is with Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker and asks the big question, “can you two co-exist?” CAN THEY CO-EXIST. Ciampa tells Bron that he’ll follow his lead tonight.

Winner Spins The Wheel to Determine Halloween Havoc Stipulation: NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Io Shirai vs Persia Pirotta vs Jacy Jayne

These three will all compete next week with their partners for the Tag Team Titles as Wade tells us there isn’t much of an advantage in winning and spinning the wheel because it is a wheel and it is going to land where it lands. Fair. We start fast and furious with the three trading corner splashes and flying dropkicks as the fans chant for Io. Pirotta scoops Jacy on her shoulders, Io dropkicks them to the mat and tries to lock a submission. Pirotta lifts and slams her out of it, knocking Pirotta to the outside. Jacy runs and attempts to leap outside onto her but catches her feet on the ropes, tumbling to the floor as Wade declares, “HORRIBLE.” Io springboards out onto Persia and we head to break.

After that break, we learn that the medical crew determined Jacy was unable to continue so we are down to two. Persia overpowers Io for a bit before Io rolls her into a near fall with a cradle. Persia shoves Io around and the fans haven’t stopped chanting for Io this entire time. Io charges in and Persia catches her, powerbombing her for a two count. Persia is looking great here. Io finds a way to hook a Crossface on Persia, Persia lifts Shirai to the air but Io locks on a suplex. Io bounces up top and hits the Over the Moonsault for the three.

Io Shirai pins Persia Pirotta to spin the wheel. The Jacy stuff was ROUGH, but the Io/Persia match ended up being a lot of fun. Persia was very impressive here and Io is Io.

And now, the wheel. The choices on the wheel:

Weapons Wild Match

Trick or Street Fight

Insane Asylum Match

Boiler Room Brawl

Chucky’s Choice Match

Buried Alive Match

Ambulance Match

Lumberjack O’Lantern Match

Casket Match

Scareway to Hell Ladder Match

Coal Miner’s Glove on a Pole

NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Zoey Stark joins Io on stage to spin the wheel as Indi Hartwell joins her partner in the ring. The wheel lands on Scareway to Hell and it indeed is scary putting a few of these women into a ladder match.

We go backstage to find Legado stomping down Trey Baxter before Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs run up for the save.

Tony D’Angelo tells us that the streets are talking about his big debut as we again hear the screaming man in the trunk of his car. Allegedly.

Via vignette, Solo Sikoa tells us the streets made him. The territory has changed but the beatings will remain the same for those who step to the street champion of the island.

Ikemen Jiro finds Kushida at the urinal, scaring him. Kushida thinks he needs “style strong” like Jiro and Jiro dumps Kushida’s luggage, pulling out his Back to the Future gear. Kushida taps his watch and the lights turn blue. Sure.

Tony D’Angelo vs Ru Feng

Hey, a new face. Ru Feng was a Chinese wrestler signed to a developmental contract who ended his career spanning six years at 27 matches in 2022. This was his first official WWE-branded match after a few years of competing under the name of Roger. He’d have one more on NXT, a handful on 205 Live and Level Up, and never won a match under the WWE umbrella. His last match was a 2022 loss to Javier Bernal on Level Up before leaving the business.

Vic and Wade tell us about the online explosion talking about Tony D after his first match and how the chef’s kiss emoji is all over Twitter. “Let’s go Tony,” the fans chant as Tony works a headlock on Feng. Tony suplexes Feng and then nails a Perfect Plex into a pin for the easy win.

Tony D’Angelo pins Ru Feng. Just a squash, but Tony D continues to be hot. Perhaps he’ll quickly work his way to the NXT Championship. It’ll certainly happen in the first year or two of his NXT run, right?

Post-match, Samantha Irvin joins Tony in the ring for some words. She asks about the disappearance of producer Mark and he doesn’t know nothing about nothing. He slides a few bills in her hand, tells her get something nice, and to forget about it.

Duke’s Poker Room. Duke Hudson wins. Yay.

Legado attack Brooks and Jensen in the back on their way to the ring and then make their entrance.

Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza with Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez) vs Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs

We come back from break and the match is in progress, so Jensen and Briggs have survived the attack. The numbers game helps Legado get the early advantage and work the shoulder of Briggs. They work him over in their corner for a while including Mendoza dropping a nice flying splash to the back of Briggs. Jensen gets the hot tag and tosses Wilde into the air before chopping away at him in the corner. Jensen gets a big powerslam before Santos hops onto the apron for the distraction. Jensen runs out to slug Escobar but comes back in to the double team of Legado, taking a kick to the head and being pinned.

Raul Mendoza pins Brooks Jensen, Legado del Fantasma defeat Briggs & Jensen. This was mostly a Legado beat down and you’re not missing a lot by skipping it.

We take a look at Raquel Gonzalez riding her motorcycle and Mandy Rose being generally hot around a pool. Next week, these two will battle for the NXT Women’s Title.

That mysterious hooded figure is still digging a grave. Thry throw cards, a crutch, and a mirror into a grave. Next week they’ll be at Halloween Havoc. We love mysterious people wearing hoodies in this company.

Melo and Trick search for the North American Title, finding a glowing locker with a piece of artwork. It’s an invitation for a haunted house next week and Melo says they’ll be there.

Winner Hosts Halloween Havoc: L.A. Knight vs Grayson Waller

The winner will host next week’s Halloween Havoc and probably will not be quite as good at it as Shotzi was. Five years later, one of these men just made a big return to NXT and the other is heading into SummerSlam. The fans are loud for Waller here as he rolls up Knight and almost gets him. Waller knees at Knight and dodges him in the corner, Knight stomping him during a rollup attempt. Waller nails Knight with several rights and and big Rock Bottom. He heads up on the second rope and Knight ducks, booting Waller and landing the BFT for the pin. Knight heads to Halloween Havoc.

L.A. Knight pins Grayson Waller to become the host of Halloween Havoc. This was quick and fine.

NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa & Bron Breakker vs Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake)

Ciampa starts on fire, taking down both Veterans with running clotheslines. He nails Gibson with a knee strike while staring at Bron on the apron. After a break, we return to Ciampa trying to escape a commercial break headlock at the hands of Drake. Gibson pulls Bron off the apron and this causes Ciampa to not be able to get the tag he needs. GYV double team Ciampa for quite a while A long while. Ciampa slaps Bron’s hand for the tag and friends, I don’t know if they can co-exist. Bron suplexes Drake and pulls down the strap, hooking the Steiner Recliner. Gibson kicks Bron in the head and Bron shoves him right out of the ring, powerslamming Drake for the pin.

Bron Breakker pins James Drake, Ciampa & Breakker defeat GYV. This was too long and the heat segment stretched on approximately fifteen years, but I get what they were going for.

Ciampa walks down the aisle with his championship but looks back at Breakker in the ring who is yelling for him to hold onto that championship tightly. Ciampa comes in for the stare down and we are out for the week.

A good episode this week. For the first time since 2.0 launched, we had minimal introductions of new faces. The hype for next week’s big Halloween Havoc episode was all over as well and they even found a way to have matches AND hype the show. Raw 2026 could learn a few things. Nothing really stands out as a match you need to rewatch, but the women’s triple threat is interesting both for the train wreck before the break and the actual good stuff afterwards.

Next week, Halloween Havoc!