When we return, we see Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn talking and acting pleased with themselves for how things have gone tonight. They also mention that co-hosts Scarlett and Shotzi have settled the issue in the other room.

We hear some noise and the camera pans over to show Von Wagner and Robert Stone walking backstage. Wagner vows he’s fighting Bron Breakker in a match next week. Stone tries talking him out of it. Wagner insists but gets a headache.

Now we return inside the CWC where Vic Joseph and Booker T run down the lineup for next week’s show, which includes qualifying matches for the 2023 Iron Survivor Challenge, Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner, Noam Dar vs. Akira Tozawa for the Heritage Cup and Lyra Valkyria will address the NXT Universe.

Back inside the CWC, the theme for the challenger hits and out comes former world champion Carmelo Hayes. He heads to the ring and settles inside the squared circle to a huge pop from the Orlando crowd.

The theme for the reigning and defending NXT World Champion hits and out comes Ilja Dragunov to an equally big pop. “The Mad Dragon” settles in the ring and it’s time to get this trilogy bout between Dragunov and Hayes started.

WWE NXT ring announcer earns his pay check by handling the pre-match ring introductions for the champion and the challenger, and then the bell sounds to get this one officially off-and-running. After some early back-and-forth action, we see Dragunov settle into the offensive lead as we head into a mid-match commercial break.

As we settle back in from our final commercial time out of the evening, we see Dragunov hitting Hayes with everything but the kitchen sink. He turns him inside-out with an enormous clothesline and then nearly power bombs him through the ring for a close near fall attempt.

Hayes hits a crazy tilt-a-whirl into a hurricanrana that sees him start to take over on offense. He hits an insane springboard into a DDT on Dragunov on the hard part of the ring apron that sees “The Mad Dragon” spiked on the tip-top of his head. Ouch.

Back in the ring, Hayes leaps off the top-rope for a big splash for a close near fall attempt. Dragunov starts to fight back into the offensive lead once again, as his mouth is busted open and bleeding. He nearly finishes Hayes off on a few attempts, but Hayes keeps hanging on to keep this one alive.

Dragunov hits an H-Bomb out of nowhere, but he didn’t get all of it and is down as well as Hayes, so he can’t capitalize to try and finish this one off. Dragunov looks for a standing submission, but Hayes avoids it. Dragunov does a 6-1-9 flip through the middle ropes right into a big kick from Hayes.

“The Mad Dragon” hoists Hayes up on his shoulders as he stands outside of the ring ropes on the hart part of the ring apron. He leaps in the air and throws Hayes, connecting with a crazy death valley driver on the hard part of the apron. They both crash and burn on the floor as fans break out in a thunderous “This is Awesome!” chant.

The champ pops up and lets out a war scream before heading over and clearing off the commentary desk. He heads back over, picks up Hayes and lays him out across the top of the cleared off commentary desk. He climbs up on top of the ring barricade and turns around. He leaps and connects with an H-bomb that puts Hayes through the table.

We hear the fans break out in a loud “Holy sh*t!” chant, which of course, is censored off the broadcast on the USA Network. The follow-up “NXT! NXT!” chant does, however, make the air. Dragunov is slow to get up, but when he does, he picks up Hayes and rolls him into the ring. He slowly rolls in after him and both guys are slow to get back to their feet.

When they do, Dragunov charges over and blasts Hayes with a running knee in the corner of the ring as he laid slumped over against the turnbuckles. Dragunov heads to the top-rope and leaps right into a code-breaker attempt from Hayes, but Dragunov catches him and stops the impact.

He muscles Hayes up but Hayes counters. Dragunov survives and counters with an H-bomb right into a pin attempt, which Hayes somehow kicks out of. The fans break out into a loud “Fight Forever!” chant. Dragunov heads to the top-rope again and he looks for a super H-bomb but Hayes catches him coming down with a code-breaker that connects this time.

Hayes heads to the top-rope and looks ready to finish this one off when out of nowhere, Trick Williams’ theme hits. Out comes Trick grilling Hayes in a very non-friendly fashion. Hayes looks at him like he’s seen a ghost as fans chant “Whoop that Trick!” Dragunov capitalizes on the distraction and super-plexes Hayes off the top-rope.

He follows up with torpedo moscow for the pin fall victory to retain his title in an excellent main event. Dragunov celebrates the big win with his title held high in the air as the fans show him love. The commentators talk us through some of the incredible match highlights and replays. After that, we see Dragunov with his title at the top of the entrance ramp.

The fans are chanting “Whoop that Trick!” as the camera returns to ringside and we see a very serious looking Trick Williams hop onto the ring apron staring at Carmelo Hayes, who is still down and out in the ring. The theme for Dragunov dies down and Trick walks over to Hayes as he is still laid out. Hayes looks up from the ground at Trick, who scoops him up and then gets in his face.

We hear the commentators yell about something going on in the back. The camera shoots back to show Baron Corbin beating down NXT World Champion Ilja Dragunov while yelling, “I told you!” as referees try to separate the two. That’s how night two of WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2023 goes off the air. Thanks for joining us!

Winner and STILL NXT World Champion: Ilja Dragunov