Fans may remember that NXT Superstar Ricochet was reportedly injured after he missed a dive during an NXT live event in Paris earlier this summer. Despite this, he continued to wrestle and even worked a match against The Velveteen Dream during NXT Takeover: Chicago. With his next Takeover match against Adam Cole for the North American Championship just days away, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has reported that Ricochet’s injury has not healed yet. While The Observer reiterated Triple H’s claims from a few months ago when he said that Ricochet’s injury wasn’t too serious, it was noted that he is still in pain and will be competing in fewer matches in the days leading up to the upcoming Takeover show.
Another NXT star who has been on the rise lately has been Jessamyn Duke. Duke is one of the Four Horsewomen of MMA who joined WWE earlier this year and has been training at the Performance Center. She and fellow Horsewoman, Marina Shafir, were both set to make their official NXT in-ring debuts during some NXT live events recently, but Shafir is the only one between them who has wrestled so far. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this is because Duke recently received a minor injury, which has delayed her official in-ring arrival. Despite this, it was also noted that officials have been impressed with Duke, so it does seem likely that she will officially begin her wrestling career sooner rather than later.
WWE brought in Austin Aries for a period of time to compete on the NXT brand before he was promoted to the main roster and worked on Raw and 205 Live as a member of the cruiserweight division. Aries was released from the company last year and has since returned to the independent wrestling circuit and Impact Wrestling, where he is currently the world champion. To hype up this year’s return to the Barclays Center for NXT Takeover: Brooklyn next weekend, WWE recently uploaded a short video showing Aries defeating No Way Jose at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II from 2016 before he was attacked by a returning Hideo Itami. Aries commented on the tweet by laying into WWE for the creative booking of himself, Jose, and Itami.
Ahh yes, my reward after giving @WWENoWayJose the best feud and match of his @WWE career. My first meaningful win in @WWENXT and any equity I’d earned is immediately discredited. And what’s either guy done since? Great success?
Do post more @WWENetwork clips of me.
RESPECT. https://t.co/rXWpGjQcbQ
— Austin Aries (@AustinAries) August 10, 2018