Midweek wrestling

TNA XPlosion

-Commentators:  Mike Tenay & Jeremy Borash.
-Austin Aries d. Frankie Kazarian with the brainbuster.

WWE NXT

Commentators:  Byron Saxton, S. William Regal, & Renee Young.  Ring announcer:  Kendall Skye.

Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady vs. Alexander Rusev & Sylvester Lefort:  Enzo and Big Cass enlighten us, as usual...the opposition is thus deemed S-A-W-F-T.  This will be our first look at Lefort as an in-ring competitor...so where's Scott Dawson tonight?  Rusev starts by overpowering Cassady...then Amore gets more of the same.  Lefort applauds his partner's efforts...but Rusev mows HIM down as well!  Rusev quickly locks Cassady in the Accolade(camel clutch) for the submisison...and our mystery blonde appears to nod her approval.

Jason Jordan vs. Aiden English:  Jordan barely gets his name mentioned in his big in-ring return from injury...not a good sign for him.  We get our traditional serenade from the Artiste on the way to the ring...he even sings a lullaby as he holds Jordan in a sleeper, well played.  English finishes with his version of the Side Effect, now called the Director's Cut...and we do get an encore.  Roses are thrown into the ring as English takes a bow...Regal even stands to applaud.

After last week's show:  Adrian Neville warns Corey Graves that their issue isn't over yet...

NXT Women's Champion Paige Knight vs. Summer Rae(w/ Sasha Banks)(non-title):  Summer pinned Paige in a recent tag match, so we've got this match...not for the belt since Emma Tayla is the official number-one contender.  Paige immediately shifts into attack mode...Summer seeks refuge on the floor and uses Sasha as a human shield when Paige gives chase, allowing her to get in a cheapshot.  Paige re-enters the ring with a sunset flip and Summer blocks with the ropes for two, only for Paige to complete the move for two.  Regal and Renee seem to be hitting it off nicely at the broadcast table while Byron(getting used to the commentary thing again after a long layoff) feels like the third wheel.  Sasha trips up Paige but the ref sees it and ejects her from ringside...whoops.

Paige barely misses a beat in her control of the bout...but a nicely-timed legsweep by Summer leads to a bad landing on the ring apron for the champ.  Summer goes after the leg for a little while, but Paige catches her flying bodyscissors out of nowhere for a snap cradle DDT!  Paige goes on offense but runs into a spinning kick...for two.  Summer trash-talks but Paige surprises her with a sidekick to the midsection...Paige Turner hits and that's the ballgame!  Sasha is quick to re-enter with an attack from behind, but Emma is right behind her for the save...Paige goes to help but Emma turns around blindly with a clothesline and takes out Paige!  Cue tense staredown...

Luke Harper does his own talking in a vignette...he's facing Kassius Ohno again next week.

Also next week:  Rusev vs. Lefort.

C.J. Parker vs. Tyler Breeze:  Breeze attacked Parker last week and cut off some of his dreadlocks...this feud now continues.  Parker's not in a good mood for once...and Breeze starts the match on the floor.  C.J. chases him around the ring and back between the ropes...NOT THE FACE~!  The fans are as partisan as ever as they seem to like Breeze more than Parker...and Parker adds to the facial assault with a headbutt.  AIRPLANE SPIN~!  Parker lines him up for the uppercut palm strike(Third Eye?) but Breeze bails to the floor again...

C.J. keeps up the pressure but Breeze avoids the double-knee in the corner, pulling him backwards to the mat off the second turnbuckle.  Now it's finally Breeze in command, though he stops to fix his hair with the help of his camera phone.  He goes to the top rope but gets caught and slammed to the mat...I smell a comeback!  Parker rushes Breeze and pummels him(NOT THE FACE~!) before taking him out with a jumping side kick(a la Booker T)...for two.  Tyler stops him with a jawbreaker and goes for a powerbomb, but Parker blocks it and then ducks a Beauty Shot(spinning heel kick).  Third Eye hits out of nowhere and C.J. gets the big win!  Parker's not done as he brings in scissors to return the haircut favor...but Tyler regains his wits and gets out of the ring before any amateur hairstyling occurs.

TNA Impact

-Commentators:  Mike Tenay & Taz.
-With A.J. Styles "gone", Dixie Carter announced an eight-man tournament to crown a new Heavyweight Champion.  Participants so far:  James Storm, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, and Chris Sabin.
-The Bro Mans(Robbie Eckos & Jessie Godderz) d. James Storm & Phil Gunner to retain the Tag Team Titles.  Storm tried to suplex Jessie into the ring, but Robbie E tripped him and held the foot as Jessie fell on top for the pin.
-Ethan Carter III d. Norv Pernum with the One-Percenter(headlock driver).
-Brutus Magnus won a mini-Royal Rumble for the final tournament spot.  Entries:  Sting, Frankie Kazarian, Mike Knux, Eric Young, Christopher Daniels, Manik, and Brutus Magnus.  No one was eliminated until all seven were in the ring; Manik headscissored Knux out but was eliminated by Kazarian right after that.  Kazarian eliminated Young with an assist from Daniels.  Magnus clotheslined Daniels out as Sting grappled with Kazarian on the ropes, then Magnus dumped both Kazarian and Sting for the win.
-Gail Kim(w/ Lei'D Tapa) d. O.D.B. to retain the Women's Title; a distraction by Tapa allowed Gail to roll up O.D.B. and hold the ropes for the cheap win.
-After his return at Bound For Glory, Abyss made another appearance to assist Eric Young against Daniels & Kazarian.
-First tournament match next week:  Hardy-Sabin in Full Metal Mayhem.  The rest of the brackets are Storm-Roode, Angle-Aries, and Joe-Magnus.
-Bobby Roode d. Kurt Angle.  Angle hit a pop-up superplex but appeared to injure himself on the landing(similar to Bound For Glory), so the referee stopped the match and declared Kurt unable to continue.