March 18th Episode of NXT

By Ryan Joy
Updated: March 18, 2020
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March 18th Episode of NXT

Results for the March 18th Episode of NXT will begin at 10:00 PM Eastern.

Note: I did not attend this show live, but I do average one live show per week. Follow the Minutes to Bell Time Instagram to see my experience as it happens. Read about my live show experiences here.

March 18th Episode of NXT Results

Summary

The first hour covered the long feud between Ciampa and Gargano.
In the second hour, NXT aired a profile on Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley.
While the show didn’t have any original matches, the video packages were very good. If new fans need something to watch to learn about the NXT talent, this is a good introduction.
With WrestleMania being announced as a two night event, it seems that the featured people on this show may have a match at WreslteMania.

Tom Phillips and Triple H are Hosting From Stamford

Gargano and Ciampa Retrospective

The story begins with a video package showing Ciampa and Gargano’s tryout for NXT. Gargano and Ciampa talked about how they were both denied contracts. They were both in the same boat and helped each other through that hard time. When they were both put in the Cruiserweight Classic, Gargano won a great match.

Next came the tag team (DIY). Gargano’s submitting to the Revival weighed heavily on Ciampa, and Gargano felt bad about it. They went on to win the Tag Titles at NXT TakeOver Toronto.

–Commercial Break–

Their tag team title run was fun. They were living their dream touring Australia and Japan. Ciampa says he had two shoulders that needed to be repaired. Gargano said he thinks Ciampa’s needs changed. AOP took the titles away on their first try, and they couldn’t get them back. Gargano said they had a championship hangover. They came up short of winning the tag titles at TakeOver Orlando. Ciampa and Gargano admit that Gargano was the star. Gargano’s star power bothered Ciampa.

–Commercial Break–

NXT TakeOver Chicago is the night they will never forget. AOP won the match. After the match, Ciampa attacked Gargano on the stage. Ciampa immediately went away for nine months to come back from surgery. With Ciampa out, Gargano rose as a singles competitor. He lost against Andrade, and Ciampa attacked him after the match.

In order to get another title shot, Ciampa put his career on the line. Ciampa interfered to cost Gargano his career. The crowds chanted Johnny’s name at Ciampa until the two met at NXT TakeOver New Orleans. If Gargano won, he would get his career back. Johnny won the match. Ciampa and Gargano had another match, and Ciampa won. After the victory, Ciampa won the NXT championship. They had a last man standing match, and Johnny Gargano made a foolish mistake giving Ciampa the win.

The two went their separate ways with Gargano winning the North American Championship. All of a sudden, Ciampa needed neck surgery. Ciampa relinquished the title.

–Commercial Break–

Johnny says fate stepped in, and he defeated Cole for the vacant NXT Championship. Ciampa congratulated him after the match, and they were friends again. Ciampa said it felt right to put it all behind them, and Johnny lost the title in his first defense. Gargano watches as Ciampa comes back to a hero’s welcome. He reforms DIY, but Ciampa wants the NXT Title back.

–Commercial Break–

Tom Phillips and Triple H Welcome us Back

Hunter says Ciampa tried to find ways to come back and contribute. They go back to the Gargano and Ciampa documentary. Ciampa said he swore he was going to take Goldie back at NXT TakeOver Portland. They recap Ciampa challenging Cole for the title. He had to take out the undisputed era and overcome low blows, but Gargano came out and hit Ciampa with the title belt. Adam Cole got that victory.

Gargano said he came out to support Ciampa, but when Gargano looked into Ciampa’s eyes. . .he saw the guy from Chicago. The next chapter is the brawl at the Performance Center from last week. Ciampa says they just might fight forever.

Phillips and Triple H Introduce the Finn Balor Portion of the Show

Triple H says Balor came back, he got the Prince – the Finn Balor he always wanted. The show recaps Finn Balor’s NXT career including the win against Kevin Owens. Finn talks about how NXT signed Prince Devitt in 2014, and he beat everyone and held the NXT championship for 292 days.

–Commercial Break–

Back from commercial, they show Finn Balor getting drafted to Raw. Balor defeats Kevin Owens, Rusev, and Cesaro on his first night. He even beat Roman Reigns on his way to SummerSlam. Finn Balor becomes the first ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam. He had to relinquish the title and take nine months off. When he comes back, the atmosphere changed.

He says Lashley, Corbin, and Jinder Mahal had the best matches of their career with Finn Balor. Brock might have beat Finn at Royal Rumble, but Brock made him realize what he was missing. Brock beat Finn, but he brought the passion back to Finn Balor. Finn had to go back to the only place he could feel that passion: NXT.

–Commercial Break–

Finn said he needed to stop pleasing everyone else and start pleasing himself. They then recap Gargano vs. Balor from NXT TakeOver Portland. He plans to fight Walter and plenty of other NXT superstars.

–Commercial Break —

Phillips and Triple H Introduce Rhea Ripley Portion of the Show

A video package for Rhea Ripley begins, and she says NXT is like her mosh pit. When Rhea started just before the Mae Young Classic, she felt like a little fish in a big pond. Ripley said she kept getting compared to Charlotte, Toni Storm, and Lana. Heading into the second Mae Young Classic, she changed her look and everything about herself.

A recap is shown of Rhea Ripley becoming the NXT UK Women’s champion. Ripley had gone through everyone in NXT UK and Shayna had been through everyone in NXT. That brought Ripley forward to challenge Baszler.

–Commercial Break–

In the next segment, Ripley is shown defeating Charlotte and winning the first women’s War Games. She says that after Survivor Series weekend, everyone knew Rhea Ripley. Ripley won the title on NXT television in December. When Charlotte won the Royal Rumble, Ripley knew that she wanted to challenge Charlotte. Ripley says nobody wants to see Charlotte vs. Becky or Charlotte vs. Bayley.

After Ripley defeats Bianca Belair, Charlotte attacked Rhea and agreed to the challenge. Ripley says she has the home field advantage because WrestleMania takes place at the WWE Performance Center.

March 18th Episode of NXT Preview

The Below Preview is based on announcements from last week’s NXT broadcast. WWE.com has not posted a preview, so all of it is subject to change.

The March 18th Episode of NXT takes place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE moved the event from Full Sail University to the WWE PC and no fans will be in attendance. The show begins at 8:00 PM on the USA Network. Minutes to Bell Time coverage does not begin until 10:00 PM Eastern.

WWE announced earlier this week that the next major NXT event (NXT TakeOver Tampa) would not occur as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How this impacts tonight’s show and whether any further details will be revealed tonight is anyone’s guess.

Candace LeRae vs. Mercedes Martinez for a Spot in the NXT TakeOver Number One Contender’s Ladder Match

Tegan Nox and Chelsea Green have already qualified for the ladder match. Tonight’s match determines a third competitor as either Candace LeRae or Mercedes Martinez. The ladder match is supposed to take place at NXT TakeOver. Perhaps they will announce a change to that schedule tonight.

Adam Cole’s Championship Celebration

Adam Cole has surpassed Finn Balor’s record as the longest reigning NXT Champion. I don’t know what the celebration actually means, but we’re having one tonight.

March 18th Episode of NXT

March 18th Episode of NXT