Mandy Rose’s first NXT match ends abruptly after a kick to the face

Mandy Rose was moved to NXT back in mid-July. Since then, she’s appeared on and off in backstage scenes, eventually recruiting Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne to her side after their tag loss last Tuesday.

Tonight (Aug. 31) was her first in-ring action on the black-and-gold brand*. She faced Sarray with Dolin & Jayne in her corner, and worked what felt like her longest match since her feud with former partner Sonya Deville at last year’s SummerSlam. It was a back-and-forth affair until a pair of dropkicks from the Japanese Superstar ended things. The second one sent Rose tumbling out of the ring, and ended up abruptly ending the match when Gigi & Jacy covered Mandy’s face and rushed her to the back.

There were reports last week Rose may have been legitimately injured in this match (which was taped last Tuesday), and the finish did seem to catch the announce team off guard. From the replays, the kick itself didn’t seem to catch Mandy flush, so if she was hurt, it was probably on the follow through and fall out of the ring.

We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks? I feel a Dashing Cody Rhodes-esque gimmick coming on...

Keep up with everything that happens on tonight’s NXT here.

UPDATE: Jayne & Dolin jumped Sarray backstage, so whatever shape Mandy’s in, this feud will continue.

* I can still call it that for a couple more weeks.