8/5 WWE NXT Preview: Imperium vs. Undisputed Era, Ripley vs. Kai
Design / Layout Credit: Bill Pritchard
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WWE has shared the following Quick Hits for tonight’s episode of NXT on WWE.com:
- Imperium to defend the NXT Tag Team Titles against The Undisputed ERA
- Keith Lee to face Cameron Grimes
- Rhea Ripley faces Dakota Kai for the chance to challenge Io Shirai
- Damian Priest, Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland battle for TakeOver XXX opportunity
- Bronson Reed vs. Shane Thorne
WWE’s full preview can be found HERE; we have included excerpts below:
Imperium to defend the NXT Tag Team Titles against The Undisputed ERA
The Undisputed ERA is trying to get its groove back, and they’ll look to do so at Imperium’s expense when Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly challenge Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner for the NXT Tag Team Titles tonight.
Since bringing the age of Imperium stateside and becoming champions, Barthel & Aichner have remained largely unthreatened — until last week.
Before Imperium could address the NXT Universe after defeating Ever-Rise, they were assaulted by Fish, O’Reilly, Adam Cole and Roderick Strong. With no championship gold for the first time in more than a year, The Undisputed ERA channeled their frustration directly at Aichner & Barthel, and now they’ll look to take their titles.
THIS WEDNESDAY: Can @theBobbyFish & @KORcombat dethrone @Marcel_B_WWE & @FabianAichner, or will #Imperium's reign continue? https://t.co/eRCsbO0Rxv
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 3, 2020
And as if that isn’t motivation enough for Fish & O’Reilly, they’ll also be looking for retribution from this past January at WWE Worlds Collide when they fell to Imperium in Eight-Man Tag Team action.
The Undisputed ERA have already made history as the only three-time NXT Tag Team Champions. Is a fourth reign imminent, or will the age of Imperium continue on the black-and-gold brand?
Rhea Ripley faces Dakota Kai for the chance to challenge Io Shirai
Dakota Kai arrogantly declared herself the No. 1 Contender to Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship, but Rhea Ripley isn’t about to let her to the front of the line without a fight.
The two will square off tonight with the winner earning the right to challenge Shirai.
Kai’s intentions have been clear for weeks. She kicked down the door with a vicious boot to Shirai’s face after her defense against Tegan Nox last month. The Captain of Team Kick delivered déjà vu last week when she again attacked Shirai, this time before they battled in tag team action.
This Wednesday.
No.1 contender match.@DakotaKai_WWE vs Rhea Ripley.
Get ready. 👹 pic.twitter.com/g55vpt7qrR— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) August 4, 2020
And once again demonstrating her self-interest in transparent fashion, Kai bailed on partner Candice LeRae during a tag team match, leaving her in the lurch for a loss to Shirai and Nox and announcing she was done “jumping through hoops” for a title opportunity.
But Ripley, a former NXT Women’s Champion, took issue with Kai crowning herself as No. 1 Contender, defiantly staking her claim to face Shirai.
Will Kai finally earn the chance she feels entitled to, or will Ripley come one step closer to becoming a two-time champion?
Bronson Reed vs. Shane Thorne
Bronson Reed is poised for a breakout summer, defeating Roderick Strong and Johnny Gargano to secure a coveted opportunity to compete for the NXT North American Championship in a 6-Man Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver XXX. But fellow Aussie Shane Thorne hopes to stop his momentum tonight on NXT.
TOMORROW: Can @ShaneThorneWWE topple The Aus-zilla in one-on-one action on #WWENXT? It's Australia vs. Australia! Tune in from 10am (AEST) on @FOX8tv! Preview: https://t.co/pweN470p0z pic.twitter.com/UhulXBGR8t
— WWE Australia (@WWEAustralia) August 5, 2020
Can Thorne topple The Aus-zilla in one-on-one action?
RELATED: Rhea Ripley on Facing Dakota Kai, Challenging Io Shirai For The NXT Women’s Title