As WWE NXT moves toward Halloween Havoc and builds a fresh look for the brand, the October 4 edition presented a few big matches.

Toxic Attraction faced familiar rivals in a six-woman tag team clash, with Alba Fyre, Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark looking to take Mandy Rose's group down a peg. Von Wagner and Andre Chase would fight for a spot in the NXT North American Championship ladder match.

"The Grayson Waller Effect" returned for its second episode with heated rivals Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade appearing as guests on the show. Bron Breakker was certain to appear as he built more hype for his Triple Threat with JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov.

Tuesday's show had a degree of mystery behind it as it needed to keep building NXT's next pay-per-view on October 22. It was important to go big while continuing to deliver solid contests.

Pretty Deadly Address the State of the Commonwealth

Pretty Deadly questioned who could challenge the NXT tag team champions, announcing they would be lifetime titleholders. Ridge Holland and Butch interrupted to challenge Elton Prince and Kit Wilson.

This was a surprise. The two Brawling Brutes feel almost too big right now to be in NXT, but their group's feud with Imperium is one of the hottest on SmackDown. That said, like AJ Styles and Natalya before them, they can help elevate the talent on the brand.

Pretty Deadly could use fresh challengers. NXT has a talented but limited tag team division, and the feuds with both The Creed Brothers and Josh Briggs-Brooks Jensen have been mostly played out. This can be a fun short angle.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• The set got an overhaul with a gold-and-white design that matches the new logo.
• With Vic Joseph on vacation, Byron Saxton and Sudu Shah joined Wade Barrett.
  
• Pretty Deadly came out in full royal cosplay including white make-up and wigs.
• The Brawling Brutes said they wanted to fight Pretty Deadly due to their comments on social media, but Prince and Wilson blamed all of the Kevins (Nash, Patrick and Owens) for hacking their account.
  

Carmelo Hayes vs. Oro Mensah

Oro Mensah looked to make a splash, but the numbers game was too much. Trick Williams distracted Mensah to set up Melo for a diving axe kick for the win.

This was a fine match but came off rushed. With Mensah hoping to prove his worth in NXT, this loss in a short match takes away from his mystique. He did not need to win, but he hardly looked like a threat.

Currently, he is the odd man out in this match. Everyone else who has qualified could legitimately win. The A Champion likely has the lowest odds only because he has already held it for much of the past year.

Result

Melo def. Mensah by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Mensah hit a springboard moonsault on The A Champion for a near-fall.
  

NXT Ladder Match Qualifier: Von Wagner vs. Andre Chase

Andre Chase tried to use every trick in his arsenal to pull off a surprise win. However, it did not pay off as Von Wagner put him away again with a fireman's carry slam.

While Chase vs. Wagner was never going to be a match that got people talking, this was easily their best work together. The hype Chase U has built gave this bout more energy than the previous squashes despite it being only a bit more competitive.

It may have been a better idea to have Chase in the ladder match as he is a more interesting character. However, Wagner needed a big win to right his path in NXT.

Result

Wagner def. Chase by pinfall to qualify for the NXT North American Championship ladder match.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Chase U stopped Robert Stone's interference, and the distraction nearly allowed Chase to pull off the win with a leg drop pin.
  
• Hayes watched on commentary closely, but after the finish, Wes Lee dived onto The A Champion.
• Backstage, Lee explained that he still owed Melo more. He was interrupted by Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo, who warned him that payback was coming.
  
• Sanga told Nathan Frazer that he hoped he won the ladder match on October 22. Veer Mahaan walked up to Sanga, seemingly indicating the two could be teaming again.

Wendy Choo vs. Lash Legend

While Lash Legend talked a big game and controlled the match early, Wendy Choo caught her when it mattered. Choo ducked a big boot and then hit a Vader Bomb to win.

While this bout will be forgotten quickly, it may be the best Legend has looked yet. She has struggled to get it together in the ring, but WWE has committed to her by keeping her on television.

If it pays off, she could become a major success story for the developmental program. For now, she is not on Choo's level in terms of overall talent.

Each time Choo competes, she looks more like the complete package, even with a gimmick that can limit her.

Result

Choo def. Legend by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Legend caught Choo outside the ring with a spinning backbreaker.
  
• Gallus warned everyone in NXT that they would be back and after gold once their suspension was lifted.

• Ilja Dragunov talked about the agony of vacating his NXT UK Championship and promised to make up for not being the man who defended NXT UK at Worlds Collide.

• JD McDonagh talked up how he would out-think his competition.

• Bron Breakker was interrupted by Javier Bernal, who talked his way into a match with the NXT champion next week.

No. 1 Contender: Toxic Attraction vs. Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne acted like their win was a foregone conclusion, but they could not overcome the fire of their opponents. Zoey Stark hit her modified GTS and then tagged in Nikkita Lyons for the split-leg drop for the win.

It was awkward to promote only two matches for this show and then change one of them, but this would have been the better bout to market. With the higher stakes, this felt so much bigger than a traditional six-woman tag.

It was a strong match for the NXT women's division though clearly formulaic. Lyons and Stark had to win as the fresher and more legitimate immediate challengers, but it would be a shame to end the reign of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter so soon.

Result

Lyons and Stark def. Toxic Attraction by pinfall to become the new No. 1 contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Toxic Attraction arrived in the building, only to be ambushed by Alba Fyre, who kidnapped Mandy Rose and drove off. This led to a match change.
• Carter and Chance talked up the history that brought them to finally capturing the NXT Tag Team Championships. They were showed watching backstage.
• Lyons planted Jayne with a spinning heel kick then tagged in Stark, who walked into big forearm from Jayne to barely escape a finish.
  

'The Grayson Waller Effect' Featuring Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez

"The Grayson Waller Effect" quickly got out of hand as Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade could not stop arguing. Apollo Crews appeared to pull Waller under the ring and causing his eyes to bleed while security barely kept Perez and Jade apart.

This was a fun segment featuring NXT's hottest angle. Jade and Perez have made this feud matter in a way that feels more important than the NXT Women's Championship currently.

Waller was great as the indignant host who could not get control of the action. His feud with Crews may not be interesting, but hopefully their second match makes more impact.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• On his way into the building, Waller demanded security protect him from Crews.
• Waller got to the point of yelling at his guests to stop talking so that he could speak.
• Waller announced, in two weeks, Jade and Perez would compete in Pick Your Poison matches then would fight in a Weapons Wild bout at Halloween Havoc.

Julius Creed vs. Duke Hudson

Julius Creed made quick work of Duke Hudson after a low running lariat. Afterward, an injured Brutus Creed beat down Hudson. Damon Kemp appeared and challenged Julius to a match at Halloween Havoc.

This was no real match, rather a heated segment in which Julius added a win to his record. While Julius and Hudson could have a legitimately good contest at some point, this was the time to fully commit to how dangerous The Creed Brothers can be.

The match with Kemp will be a huge test for both men. They have massive upside, but they have not competed in a singles match at this level. It could be a surprise hit or a forgettable brawl.

Result

Julius def. Hudson by pinfall

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• As a trainer was checking on the bruised shoulder of Brutus, Hudson walked in to mock Brutus. Julius took offense and challenged Hudson to this match.
  
• Kemp convinced Julius to agree to a match where Brutus would leave NXT if Julius lost. Kemp did agree to fight Brutus again if Julius won and to make it an Ambulance match.
• Axiom talked about what it would mean to win his series with Nathan Frazer.
  

Xyon Quinn vs. Hank Walker

Hank Walker tried his best to overcome Xyon Quinn, but the more he lost balance, Quinn capitalized. He planted his opponent with a running forearm smash for the win.

There was nothing wrong with this squash match, but it hardly made an impact. Quinn got a needed win. Walker began his unique NXT journey as the security guard who proved his worth.

While Quinn got a win for once, it is likely short-lived as he will struggle to defeat Quincy Elliott in their likely upcoming match. Hopefully, Quinn can at least push him to show more in the ring.

Result

Quinn def. Walker by pinfall.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Elliott warned Walker to be careful against Quinn backstage. After the match, Elliott protected Walker from a further attack by the heel.
• This was Walker's first official match as a signed NXT talent.
  
• A masked man tried to pass out buttons for The Schism but struggled, leaving Joe Gacy disappointed. Cameron Grimes tried to make the man feel better, but it was a trap. The Schism attacked Grimes backstage then invited the man to join Schism.
  

NXT Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly (c) vs. Brawling Brutes

The Brawling Brutes were too dangerous for Pretty Deadly to overcome until Imperium hit the ring. The distraction allowed Elton Prince and Kit Wilson to win with Spilt Milk on Ridge Holland.

Once more, the main event of NXT was far and away the best match of the night, though this was hardly a surprise. The Brawling Brutes are explosive competitors who have been waiting for chances like this to show off.

Pretty Deadly challenged them to compete at a level not far removed from their war with The Usos. It is just a shame the messy finish took away from an otherwise great title bout. Pretty Deadly survived and immediately move onto unfortunately lesser competition.

Result

Pretty Deadly def. Brawling Brutes by pinfall to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen as well as Edris Enofé and Malik Blade found The Brawling Brutes backstage and asked for a title shot if Butch and Holland won. The show ended with both teams clearly challenging Pretty Deadly.
• Wilson tried to stop Holland with a sleeper hold, but the Englishman marched into the corner and set up Butch for a sunset flip powerbomb off the hot tag.
  
• Prince pushed Wilson off his back into a lungblower on Butch for a near-fall.
• Holland took out Prince as Pretty Deadly went for Spilt Milk, and Prince barely saved Wilson after the Bitter End.