NXT notes: Mauro Ranallo, Bobby Fish, Jessika Carr

Image: JJ Williams

– With Mauro Ranallo missing the episode after the tweet Corey Graves sent during TakeOver: WarGames, Tom Phillips filled in on commentary during tonight’s NXT and called the show with Nigel McGuinness and Beth Phoenix.

Phoenix noted that Ranallo wasn’t there and said they were looking forward to seeing him next week. WWE didn’t give an explanation for his absence. As a cover for Ranallo not appearing at Survivor Series after Graves’ tweet, Michael Cole had said that Ranallo blew out his voice calling TakeOver but would be back on NXT this week.

On the episode of his After the Bell podcast that was released today, Graves said that he never meant to offend, disrespect, or disparage anyone with his tweet and apologized if it was taken that way. Graves had posted during TakeOver: “Just for the record guys, I know you wouldn’t know it, but there’s actually a WWE Hall of Famer AND a former Ring of Honor Champion on commentary. I’d imagine they have a lot to offer. #NXTTakeoverWarGames”

– After taking a press slam from the ring to the outside onto Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish was removed from the Tag Team title match on tonight’s NXT due to injury. The move happened near the start of the match, with Roderick Strong coming out in street clothes and replacing Fish during a commercial break.

O’Reilly & Strong retained the titles by defeating Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic.

– It was announced after tonight’s show went off the air that — starting on Friday — referee Jessika Carr is moving from NXT to SmackDown. Carr gave a farewell speech to the crowd:

NXT’s Twitter account posted a tweet thanking Carr: “An inspiration for women everywhere. Thank you for everything, @WWELadyRefJess. We’ll miss you. #ThankYouJess #WeAreNXT #WWENXT”