Halloween Havoc 2020

Haunted houses, wicked witches, and frightening fights, NXT is live from the Capitol Wrestling Center with a special edition of it’s weekly television show! The ghosts and ghouls are out and about as NXT is having it’s spookiest night of the year: Halloween Havoc! The night started with Johnny Gargano’s fear of wheels actually not coming back to bite him. He was able to get some assistance from a person in a Scream mask to win the NXT North American Championship for the second time, defeating Damien Priest.

The “Spin The Wheel, Make A Deal” stipulation, spun by tonight’s host Shotzi Blackheart, allowed the two men to compete in a Devil’s Playground Match. In just a few moments, the wheel and Ms. Blackheart will decide the fate of two others in the main event of the broadcast. That main event will be the NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defeating his belt against “The Poison Pixie” Candice LeRae!

For a bit of background, these two have been a thorn in each other’s sides since the summer of 2019 when Io viciously attacked Candice after two failed attempts at beating Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Championship. Io Shirai would begin to don a “scary mask” and show no fear and, most importantly, no regret for her actions. She would defeat Candice at Takeover: Toronto and then again in one-on-one action on the October 30, 2019 episode of NXT; almost one year ago.

The two have crossed paths randomly throughout the last year in multi-person matches, with the most recent being a mixed tag team match between the Gargano’s and Io and the now former North American Champion Priest. While Priest and Shirai were able to defeat the Gargano couple a few weeks ago at NXT Takeover 31 both in singles matches, with Priest already dropping his belt, will this Halloween curse end Io’s reign too?

The sinister sounds of Candice LeRae’s theme song begin to play around the arena as the challenger makes her way out. She does her theatrical hand motions and seems focused as she walks to the ring. Some fans bang on the plexiglass while Candice walks by, but she ignores them. Her multi-colored ring gear looks to be a play on Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe she too can have premonitions when anything bad is about to happen, and hopefully for Candice that “anything” is the end of Io’s title reign.

“The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the NXT Women’s Championship! Introducing first, the challenger: from Riverside, California - Candice LeRae!” announces Alicia Taylor, NXT’s ring announcer.

Candice steps through the ropes, walks across the ring to climb the corner, and poses for the crowd with her winged vest making her look like an evil angel; or maybe even her actual nickname of the “Poison Pixie.”

Suddenly the lights go out and a single flickering spotlight shines on the stage and it’s NXT’s favorite musical artist: Poppy!

“I’m Poppy,” says Poppy. The heavy guitar to her hit song “Scary Mask” kicks in and Io Shirai walks out to the cheering crowd. This song is like an anthem to Io as she slowly slips the hood off her head and Poppy starts to sing.

“I’m never gonna take it off, so don’t touch me, never gonna take it off, stop looking at me!” Poppy repeatedly sings to the crowd as Io walks to the ring with the NXT Women’s Championship around her waist. Io circles Poppy before rolling into the ring, throwing her right leg over the top rope, and smiling to the camera. She hops down and drops to her knees in the center of the ring as Poppy finishes her song standing behind her.