They’re showing videos before the show starts. Every time time Roman Reigns is show, he got booed.
– No Way Jose beat Angelo Dawkins in a fun opener
– Elias Samson vs. Andrade Cien Almas ended when Samson legit hurt his ankle. The ref stopped the match, but Almas refused to have his arm raised. Samson got a supportive “Drifter” chant from the fans as he was being led out.
– Tye Dillinger beat Tino Sabatelli in a decent match. Tino seemed nervous, but looked okay.
– NXT Tag Champions American Alpha beat The Revival to retain. Great, great match, and exactly what you’d expect from these guys. Gable and Jordan got huge pops for everything they did.
– Nakamura vs. Buddy Murphy was after intermission. Nakamura got an absolutely deafening reaction when he came out. The match was good as Murphy is underrated. Nakamura won with the Kinshasa.
– Carmella and Bayley beat Peyton Royce & Darla. Fun match, but not much to it. Bayley was very over.
– NXT Champion Samoa joe beat Finn Balor. Good match, ended with Joe pinning Balor with his feet on the ropes. Balor sent Joe packing afterward to send the crowd home happy.
– No Way Jose d. Tino Sabbatelli with the full nelson slam
Crowd loved Jose and was into him. A perfect performer for a good opener.
– Carmella d Peyton Royce with her triangle choke
This was okay, a cool down from the previous match. Some “How you doin’” chants early on.
– Tye Dillinger d Buddy Murphy with The Perfect 10 neckbreaker
Before the match, Dillinger talked about Regal finally giving him a match for TakeOver. Crowd was into chanting 10. Murphy mocking Dillinger most of the match. Good, but lots of stalling.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha d The Revival with Grand Amplitude
Easily the best match on the show. Started fast, had some very close nearfalls at the end. Not as good as the Dallas match, but very very good. I would say it was better than any of the matches on the main house show they had 3 months ago too.
Intermission
– Andrade Almas d Angelo Dawkins with a running knee into the corner
Almas didn’t have a titantron, not even his hype-up video, so most people had no idea who he was. Dawkins could not keep up and it was pretty ugly. He was the worst possible first impression opponent, but Almas showed signs of brilliance with his flying and got an okay reaction after the match.
– Bayley d Daria Berenato with the Bayley to Belly
Bayley is really popular with the fans. This was disappointing because Daria needs some work, and Asuka was advertised for the show but didn’t show up. Strange that she nor Nia Jax were on the show, but Bayley is but supposedly out with injury in storyline. Also kinda just okay, but Bayley was able to shine through with her offense at the end.
– Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor d Elias Samson and NXT Champion Samoa Joe
Nakamura pinned Samson with the Kinshasa. Nakamura had the biggest reaction of the night. Samson with the most heat. Joe with a mixed reaction, and Balor with the 2nd biggest entrance pop. Very good 15 minute match. Balor and Joe story was told well with Joe ducking out and Balor getting into his face even while taking care of Samson.
Overall I thought it was just as good if not better than the 2/28 main roster house show. With the smaller arena and the more active crowd, it was a pleasant experience.
The Big News: One week before TakeOver, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe had a heated backstage interview.
The Medium News: In their first bit of physicality, Nia Jax laid out Asuka with a power bomb.
The Little Beaver Sized News: The Revival got punked out at the beginning of the show, lost the main event, and then got punked out by American Alpha.
The show started with the former NXT tag champs The Revival coming out for a promo. Next Wednesday at NXT TakeOver: The End ,they will challenge the current champions American Alpha.
Dash and Dawson say that they will be the first ever 2-time tag champions. Dawson called Gable & Jordan excellent amateur wrestlers, but they are great professionals. When The Revival win, Jordan & Gable can go wipe their tears away as the new champs celebrate.
This brought out Tomasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano. Ciampa said that the entire crowd knows AA is better than them, and they can’t even beat Gargano and Ciampa. Revival laughed at this and called the interrupting duo “undersized bearded guys” and “good hands”, which was pointed out that that is a criticism about The Revival.
Dawson told them to go back to wrestling in bingo halls, while Ciampa brought up them losing in Dallas. Dash told Gargano & Ciampa to come bother them when they have actually accomplished anything. The Revival started walking away when Gargano mocked them. The #1 contenders got back in the ring…and immediately got dropkicked right out of it!
As Revival retreated, they challenged Gargano & Ciampa for tonight.
******
Shinsuke Nakamura did a promo for his match with Austin Aries at TakeOver. He said Aries will bow down to the King of Strong Style.
******
Tye Dillinger pinned Buddy Murphy
It is time for the Perfect 10, and it is also time for Murphy to get his first name back! He lost his manager and his tag team partner, but at least he is facing NXT’s most pushed jobber. Dillinger has won two tv matches as the Perfect 10 up to this point.
The fans were not into Murphy at all and it seemed the only thing they cared about in regards to Dillinger was chanting 10. Tye finished Murphy off with a Fireman’s Carry, but slamming the back of Murphy’s head on his exposed knee which looked close enough to an AA.
******
We had a sit down interview with Finn Balor and Samoa Joe, moderated by Corey Graves.
Balor said he worked for so long at becoming NXT Champion that he didn’t expect the walls to come crumbling down in Lowell, Massachusetts. Joe countered by saying he finally got what he deserved. Joe had to jump through ridiculous hoops (which to an extent he did). Balor said Joe came in with a sense of entitlement and there are 100 guys in the Performance Center who deserve a title shot ahead of him.
Joe scoffed at that and brought up everything starting last August with Finn asking Joe to be his partner in the Dusty Classic and then not saying anything when William Regal wouldn’t give him a title shot afterwards. Balor tried bringing up that they knew each other for a decade, and Joe brought that up and continued to ask why he had to do all these things to get title shots.
Balor noted this is his first ever cage match, but his first ever ladder match was TakeOver:Brooklyn when he beat Kevin Owens. Joe said he would have beaten Balor in Dallas, but they kept having doctors pull him off, giving Finn a chance to recover.
Graves brought up Balor being the future and Balor said he is living in the now, living in the present, and he wants that championship belt. Joe said this is about showing people their place and he will show Balor his place. Graves tried to wrap it up which caused champion and challenger to stand up and go face to face one last time.
This was an excellent segment.
******
Austin Aries submitted Elias Sampson
Aries is 7 days away from a match with Shinsuke Nakamura, a man who defeated The Drifter about a month ago. Sampson has been a lot more aggressive in the ring lately. It helps that he’s been doing so many house show matches with the likes of Nakamura and Balor.
Aries looked good here as well (I know, what a shock) and won with the NXT debut of the Last Chancery. After the match, Aries cut a promo saying that after next week, he will show the spotlight should shine on him.
******
The same video package as last week aired to build up the impending debut of Andrade Cien Almas, which will take place next week at TakeOver.
Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa defeated The Revival
This is the main event wrestling match. They note that The Revival is trying to become the first ever 2-time tag champs. However, Neville is a 2-time champion, teaming with Oliver Grey and then the aforementioned Graves. The announcers spent most of this match discussing the tag team title match at TakeOver.
The heels cheated to get the heat on Ciampa. Ciampa and Gargano were running wild on the #1 contenders. However, Dawson attacked Ciampa behind the referee’s back when Dash was the legal man. Dash and Dawson do an excellent job of playing defense and giving their opponents so many hope spots on getting the hot tag, so the opponents always make the tag at the best possible time.
Gargano got the hot tag and looked great until he got dropped with a DDT. The finish showed that somebody has been watching The Wrestling Classic recently. In a page right out of Randy Savage vs. Dynamite Kid, Scott Dawson gave Gargano a Superplex, but Gargano tied up Dawson for the pin!
After the match, Revival took out their frustrations on the men that beat them, including giving Gargano the Shatter Machine. They went to break Gargano’s leg, but American Alpha ran in for the save.
******
Next week is NXT TakeOver: The End, featuring…
Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor for the NXT Championship in a Steel Cage Match
Asuka vs Nia Jax for the NXT Women’s Championship
Austin Aries vs Shinsuke Nakamura
American Alpha vs The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Andrade Almas debuts
That is a lot of A names, eh?
******
The final segment of the show was the official contract signing for the Women’s Championship match next Wednesday.
Nia Jax spoke first, mocking Asuka because all she has done is kick a few girls in the head and while Asuka beat Bayley, Nia broke Bayley. Unlike all the other girls, Nia is the future and is not scared of Asuka.
Asuka said Nia talks too much and if she’s not afraid of Asuka, she should be. Nia pushed her away, so Asuka began throwing punches and kicks. However, Nia caught one of her kicks, lifted Asuka in the air, and planted her with a power bomb!
That is it for this week. Thank you for reading and remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
I’m here at Cocoa Beach, FL, with approximately 250.
– Patrick Clark beat Dan Matha
The big guy Matha used his strength early, even putting Patrick in a camel clutch. We had a double down where Patrick kipped up and made his way to the top for an impressive missile dropkick for the win.
– The Authors Of Pain best Chris Atkins and Noah
The larger heels destroyed the happy faces before the bell even rang. Once order was restored, the match officially started only for the Authors to continue their onslaught and take the dominant win.
– Adrienne Reese beat Mandy Rose
This was a very good match as they both hit some impressive moves. Mandy hit a great looking running knee and a kick behind Adrienne’s head. Adrienne caught Mandy with a snap rana from her back, a beautiful middle rope springboard crossbody, and finally hit the off the top rope spinning stunner for the win.
– Angelo Dawkins beat Tucker Knight
Mean Guy Match as they used power and holds to work each other over. Dawkins got his feet on the ropes to steal the pin.
– Tye Dillinger beat Buddy Murphy
Pre-match, Dillinger took the mic and said Murphy has been through a lot lately. The crowd taunted him with a “He got dumped” chant so Dillinger went with it and then the “She’s A Ten” chants when Alexa was brought up. Dillinger even asked if Murphy could give her his number. Funny stuff.
Very good match with Murphy working over Tye’s arm, there was an inside out crossbody by Tye to Murphy on the floor. The finish was a great superkick followed by the exposed knee to the back of the head. Post match, Murphy stayed down until the doc could check on him, but he was able to make his way to the back on his own. He simply got his bell rung.
– Nia Jax and Lana beat Daria and NXT Women’s Champion Asuka
Nia did most of the work as expected. Lana would tag in when she had the advantage, and kept it very simple, yet fun. Asuka and Nia traded action and holds, and the bearhug by Nia was the hold of choice to keep Asuka grounded. Daria and Lana mixed it up at one point and traded kicks. Lana plays to her flexibility and attempts high kicks for most of her offense. Nia scored the win over Daria with a tree slam. Post match, Lana played it up as she was proud of her victory, pointing at kids and mocking them with thumbs down and sad faces.
– Elias Samson beat Chris Girard
Hard-hitting match with Drifter using some new offense other than the headlock like a crossface, spinebuster, and a running knee. Girard went for a running uppercut but was caught with the spinning neckbreaker for the win.
– Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura beat The Revival
Amazingly entertaining match with The Revival taunting everything and playing the foil to these amazing superstar wrestlers. Balor at live events is much more confrontational and sassy towards his opponents: instigating conflicts between Dash and Dawson, throwing each over the top rope, laughing at them and leading crowd chants. Shinsuke laid in some hard knees and strikes to some great reactions.
Finn ran Dash corner to corner then struck him with vicious chops. Dawson got one for his trouble as well. The finish was a double pin with Finn hitting the 1916 when Shinsuke hit the Kinshasa on each of the Revival. Post match, Finn did Nakamura’s Yeaoh! pose on the ropes. They also Too Sweeted and Finn put up the guns.
The Big News: Austin Aries will face Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: The End
The Medium News: Nia Jax won a Triple Threat match and will now face Asuka for the Women’s Championship, also at Takeover.
The Little Beaver Sized News: TMDK debuted, changed their name to TM61 and, shockingly, lost their debut.
Welcome to the only article you’ll read today that has absolutely nothing to do with the Brand Extension! However if you read this, you will probably become familiar with some of the future guys and girls of Raw and Smackdown.
*******
The show kicks off with NXT General Manager announcing that Bayley is not cleared to compete, so she will not be facing Asuka at NXT TakeOver: The End. Tonight, there will be a triple threat match with Carmella, Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax and the winner will get the title shot at TakeOver.
There is a new intro video, which culminates in showing all three champions, as opposed to just the NXT Champion.
*******
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defeated TM61
Gargano and Ciampa are announced as two of the competitors in the Cruiserweight Classic, and are facing the debuting TM61: Shane Thorne and Nick Miller tonight. They are the former TMDK, so are they now The Mighty 61? Despite their new name, they cut an inset promo saying The Mighty Don’t Kneel.
This was a really good debut match. Honestly, this is probably the best debut match for someone since Sami Zayn debuted three years ago against Cesaro. Ciampa got the hot tag and he didn’t fare very well either at first. The new duo hit a really nice combination where one used a moonsault and the other used a fist drop on Ciampa.
This match went through a commercial break and Gargano & Ciampa got a good amount of offense on Thorne after the break. Thorne hit a beautiful dropkick before tagging out to Miller. Ciampa went for a slingshot sunset flip, but Miller caught him and TM61 hit a double team neck breaker, but only got a 2 count. Ciampa and Gargano got a surprising win over the debuting duo with their combo superkick/knee strike.
*******
We got a video package building to the Samoa Joe-Finn Balor cage match at NXT Takeover: The End, which concentrated more on Samoa Joe.
*******
Bayley cut a promo and flat out said it sucks that she can’t compete at NXT TakeOver: The End against Asuka. Before she could continue, Nia Jax walked up and mocked her for losing, adding she should give Nia credit for putting her out. Nia shoved Bayley away, so Carmella and Alexa both walked up, causing Nia to walk off. Carmella and Alexa exchanged words and then Bayley wished Carmella luck.
*******
A video aired for the impending debut of Andrade “Cien” Almas, the former Manny Andrede. He was shown taking off his mask, but had his back to the camera.
*******
Austin Aries came out to the arena for a promo. He said the phrase “The Best” is the most overused term in sports. Everyone is the best…until the next person comes along, which is why Austin always called himself The Greatest. Austin says that timing is everything and when he walked into NXT there were other people grabbing attention, so the fans picked up on it and began chanting for Nakamura. He announced that after Joe and Balor finish their business, he is challenging the winner for the title.
This brought out Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura did his full entrance while Aries stood there bemused. Nakamura spoke Japanese, stopped and asked Austin if he understood Japanese and Aries said he didn’t understand Nakamura in a funny line. Nakamura then said the NXT Championship wasn’t coming to greatness, it was coming to the King of Strong Style.
Out comes Mr. William Regal who made Aries vs Nakamura at Takeover in 2 weeks. They shook hands afterwards and the match is on!
*******
American Alpha cut a promo on The Revival, who they will face at NXT Takeover: The End, but they know what to expect. Dash & Dawson will go out and punch them in the face, but this is not a boxing match, it’s a wrestling match and they are the best tag team around.
*******
No Way Jose defeated Jonathan Oregon
No Way Jose is back. Apparently on May 14, he did a No Way Jose Day on Twitter and posted pictures of himself all day, which people apparently loved. Go figure. Byron Saxton reported on WWE.com that No Way Jose is his nickname and Corey Graves pointed out exactly what everyone is thinking regarding that stellar reporting.
Jose is nonstop movement, so it makes sense that he uses an Airplane Spin. Oregon, who had Vandal written on his butt, got 3 seconds of offense. Jose did his windup into a punch to the face before winning with the Cobra Clutch Slam.
After the match, Jose went over and danced with Tom Phillips and Corey Graves. Phillips made an ass out of himself and Graves refused to, however he was drawn into dancing. Remember when Mahabali Sheera did his dance at Bound for Glory and it somehow made like 6 guys to do it with him? This was similar, but not nearly as asinine.
*******
To combat the Samoa Joe video earlier, we got a NXT Takeover: The End main event video that focused more on Finn Balor.
*******
Asuka said it doesn’t matter who wins in the main event because she will defeat them at NXT Takeover: The End.
*******
In a #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match, Nia Jax defeated Carmella and Alexa Bliss
Carmella was trying to give a cue to Alexa that they should take Jax out at the bell, but Bliss decided to roll outside instead and watch the other two ladies compete. Nia slammed Carmella down, so Alexa tried to sneak up with some sort of top rope move. However, Nia turned around and stared Alexa down before she tried anything.
Jax got posted and fell outside, so the two perky blondes squared off momentarily while the monster recovered. Alexa grabbed Carmella by the throat and did a leg trip, followed by a moonsault for a 2 count when Nia came in to drop an elbow, however Alexa moved and Nia landed on Carmella. Something funny to note is Nia was on her knees and was almost taller than Alexa, who was standing up. Alexa actually got a near fall with a Sparkle Splash on Nia at one point.
Nia got sent outside again. Carmella tried a suicide dive, but got caught. Alexa, the annoying little pixie she is, stopped Carmella from being killed. Carmella slapped her Triangle Choke on Alexa, but Nia broke it up. Carmella got a rear choke on Nia, but Nia got out of it and eventually hit the legdrop on Carmella, picking up the win.
Nia Jax will now go to NXT Takeover: The End and challenge Asuka for the NXT Women’s Championship! Before that, Asuka came out to stare down her future challenger as the show went off the air.
*******
Next week is already the go home show for Takeover, what will happen then? Until then, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
I’m at Full Sail University in Winter Park FL for tonight’s NXT tapings.
– Dark Match: Manny Andrade beat Tino Sabbatelli
Manny had a new name, but I couldn’t hear over the reaction. (Editor’s note: Andrade “Cien” Almas). This was a very good match as Tino is much improved, and a showcase for Manny as he’s clearly the gem of the non-TV roster. Andrade teased dives to the outside, and in the end, Manny hit the running double knees in the corner for the win.
– Dark Match: NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha beat The Authors Of Pain
This was the Full Sail debut of Gzim Selmani and Sunny Dhinsa, and they did well in working the Alpha style of match. They got the heat on Gable before the Jordan hot tag. End was the Assisted German Suplex for the win for AA.
– Mr Regal announces Nia vs. Alexa vs. Carmella for the right to face Asuka for the title at TakeOver .
– Ciampa and Gargano beat TM61 (Nick Miller and Shane Thorn)
TM61 are the former TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste). Excellent match, hard hitting and fast paced. Big reactions for both teams. Ciampa and Gargano got the heat on Shane for most of it before we got the hot tag to Nick. TM61 hit an amazing double team DDT for a near fall, broken up by Johnny. Finish was the double superkick by Gargano and Ciampa for the win. The teams had a stare down post match.
– In-ring promo by Austin Aries saying he wants to be champion. Nakamura interrupts him to the loudest pop in Full Sail history. The crowd was even singing along with his music. In English, he says he wants to be the champion. Regal makes his way to the stage and makes the match for TakeOver.
– No Way Jose beat Johnny Vandal
Showcase match for Jose who was incredibly over. NWJ won with his punch and cobra clutch slam.
– Nia Jax beat Carmella and Alexa Bliss in a triple threat for the right to face Asuka at TakeOver
Very good match with Alexa outsmarting the other two. Carmella went for two dives and had her leglock on Alexa before Nia broke it up and hit her big legdrop for the win. Post match, Asuka confronted Nia in the ring and held the title above her head.
– In ring promo by The Revival who say American Alpha are a fine amateur team. They’re interrupted by Ciampa and Gargano who want a match with The Revival. Entertaining stuff, Revival was cleared out of the ring.
– Tye Dillinger beat Buddy Murphy
No Alexa or Blake with Murphy tonight. Big reaction for Dillinger. Murphy tried to work headlocks, yet Dillinger was able to fire up with a superkick and an over the knee neckbreaker for the win.
– Austin Aries beat Elias Samson
As always, major heat on The Drifter with long booing throughout his promo. Aries won via Last chancery submission. Post match, he cut a promo saying he will beat Nakamura.
– Regal is out for the women’s title match contract signing. Nia puts down Asuka and says she broke Bayley. Asuka said “You talk too much” then went off in Japanese to a huge pop. A brawl broke out and Nia powerbombed Asuka who stayed down and sold in the go home angle.
– Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa beat The Revival
Great match with a big upset surprise win when Gargano hit a superplex. Post match, The Revival beat down the indie darlings before Alpha made the save. Alpha and Revival brawled for a long time with Alpha clearing house.
– Adrienne Reese beat Nikki Storm
This probably doesn’t make tv. It was a fun match with the top rope spinning stunner as the amazing finish.
– Dark Match: Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tye Dillinger and NXT Champion Samoa Joe
We got a great dark match main event to send the crowd home happy. Amazing reactions for Shinsuke and Finn with a lot of fun spots and Shinsuke being the star that he is. Shinsuke pins Joe with the Kinshasa.
Tag team action kicks things off this week. This was set up last week when Blake & Murphy stormed into Mr. Regal’s office and demanded a title shot while he was having a meeting with Austin Aries. Aries was told to find a partner and he did find quite the teammate in Shinsuke Nakamura.
Blake & Murphy were in disarray from the start. There was a disagreement over who would start, so Aries ran across the ring with a dropkick and almost pinned Murphy in 10 seconds. Aries and Nakamura worked very well together..,so well that I was hoping they would become a full time team, but alas that probably ain’t happening any time soon.
Blake ran away instead of dealing with Nakamura, so Nakamura gave Murphy the Kinshasa for the pin. Aries wanted the tag, but Nakamura either didn’t see it or ignored it. Blake, Murphy and Alexa argued after the match with Alexa walking off on them and then Blake walking off on Murphy.
********
Bayley was backstage and said she is not afraid of Nia Jax and while she is tough the same thing that happened in London would happen tonight and after this she is going after Asuka again.
********
We got a music video with clips of Asuka interspersed throughout.
********
No Way Jose is really excited to be on NXT, happy to show off his smile and hope people don’t underestimate him. This is just Jose being Jose and he is here to have fun, have a fiesta and have a fight.
********
Carmella submitted Peyton Royce
Backstage, Carmella cut a promo looking to the left of the camera, talking about her boys Enzo and Cass before saying she wants to be Women’s Champion. Peyton calls herself the Venus Flytrap of NXT…and no one has a clue as to what she’s talking about.
Peyton got a near fall with a kick to the face and a version of the Three Amigos where she used a Fisherman’s Suplex at the end. Carmella looked good on her comeback, picking up the win with a Flatliner, followed by the Headscissors.
********
Last Saturday night in Portland at an NXT house show there was mass chaos with Joe and Balor, necessitating the entire locker room emptying to pull them apart. This led to the announcement by William Regal announcing a cage match with Samoa Joe and Finn Balor at NXT TakeOver.
********
Blake, Murphy, and Alexa were backstage arguing. Alexa shouted that she was tired of them constantly losing, so she is dumping 470 pounds of lifeless weight in order to win the NXT Women’s Championship.
********
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defeated Danny Burch & Rob Ryzin
After being in NXT for close to a year, Gargano & Ciampa have, I believe, their first squash match. Corey Graves made a point that the fans always chant Johnny Wrestling but never chant for Ciampa.
Gargano and Ciampa made fools out of Burch for several minutes until Ryzin distracted Ciampa just long enough for Burch to take over. Even then, the heels didn’t last very long on offense. Gargano did a spear through the ropes on Ryzin before Gargano and Ciampa finished him off with a double superkick to the head.
********
Mr. William Regal was backstage and he congratulated Enzo & Cass and The Vaudevillians on being called up to Raw before booking American Alpha vs The Revival at TakeOver.
********
Nia Jax pinned Bayley
This wasn’t officially a #1 contender’s match, but it is a safe bet that the winner here will probably face Asuka at TakeOver. These two faced off in London last December with Bayley winning by tapout.
Bayley started by using the same strategy at TakeOver, working for the guillotine but constantly getting thrown off, including landing face first. Nia played monster while Bayley did everything she could to try to slay the dragon a second time, but no matter the move, Nia seemed to have a counter for it.
Nia used a tilt-a-whirl shoulderbreaker on Bayley and used that to begin an assault on her shoulder, which would prevent any attempt at a guillotine or a Belly to Bayley Suplex. Nia used a Cobra Clutch and her jumping bearhug to wear down the former champion. Bayley made her comeback using leg kicks, but she could not maintain a sustained offense. The closest Bayley got was using a crossbody off the top rope, but Nia kicked out.
Bayley finally got on the guillotine, but she was thrown off, landing awkwardly on her knee. Nia squashed her in the corner and then picked up the win with a legdrop! Nia Jax has completely dominated the former champion! What will happen if and when she gets her hands on Asuka?
Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
With the June 8 match set to be their third consecutive TakeOver main event, Joe vs. Balor has become the first program to reach that milestone since NXT started doing WWE Network specials.
Balor retained the NXT title on a December 16 special from SSE Wembley in London, and did so a second time on April 1 as part of the WrestleMania weekend activities in Dallas.
Evidently, today was “No Way Day” on social media. I haven’t the foggiest what that was supposed to indicate, but it did translate into the crowd being into Jose, whom right now is a perfect opening match guy.
– Tucker Knight d. Tino Sabatelli
Knight is from Portland and carried a Trail Blazers’ “Rip City” sign to the ring. Sabatelli looks like a generic wrestler from 2005, cut from the Randy Orton/Mark Jindrak mold. As basic as a match can get, lots of armbars and chinlocks. Knight won with a rather clumsy powerslam.
– Bayley d. Nia Jax
It’s been repeated ad nauseum, but there’s something special about Bayley. When she entered the arena, a different kind of energy took over the room. She has a Dusty-esque natural everywoman charisma to her. Match was what you would expect, Nia kept using her weight against Bayley, but Bayley ended up winning with a roll up.
– Austin Aries d. Mojo Rawley
Mojo was only below The Drifter as far as drawing crowd hatred, which seemed to amuse Aries. He picked up Mojo’s shirt off the mat and threw it to the crowd, only for the crowd to throw it back. There was a funny spot where Aries and Mojo were running the ropes and Aries stopped and watched Mojo run the ropes a few times like an idiot before he noticed Aries laughing at him. Aries tapped him out.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha d. The Revival
Match of the night. Pretty much the same formula we’ve seen between these two team, but it’s a winning one. One thing I noticed is that Jordan’s facials while he’s on the apron are fantastic. He seems to be totally absorbed in the story and drama of the match and his enthusiasm draws you in. Alpha won with their finish on Dawson whom I finally figured out tonight is the bald one with the handlebar mustache.
– Shinsuke Nakamura d. Elias Samson
Drifter was easily the most hated guy on the show and he ate it up. This was a nothing match really that was just carried by Nakamura’s charisma and mannerisms. Entertaining nonetheless.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka d. Alexa Bliss
Fans responded well to the entrances of these two, but seemed a little drained after the tag match and Nakamura. Asuka tapped Bliss out after about 10 minutes.
– NXT Champion Samoa Joe d. Finn Balor
Balor was only slightly more popular than Joe, and they had a great match. Joe won with a roll up and a handful of tights. Afterwards, a brawl erupted between the two and the entire locker room (Nakamura included) came out to break it up. Once it was cleared out, William Regal came out and scolded Balor from the entrance ramp.
Notes:
Good crowd. The Moda Center was set up in the “Theater Of The Clouds” configuration, which holds about 6,500, and I would say the building was 75-80% full. Only the seats on the far ends of the upper bowls were empty. Crowd was into pretty much everything, and most of the chants were the ones you hear on the NXT TV and TakeOver shows. As Bryan noted from the Seattle show, there were a lot more women at the show than I’m used to seeing at RAW or SmackDown tapings.
Couldn’t even hear what Sampson tried singing he had so much heat. Mid match a “You like Nickelback” chant broke out which was hilarious. Jose won with his full nelson slam.
– Mojo Rawley vs Murphy
Pretty much blah but I’m not a big fan of either. Murphy’s prematch antics were like old school HHH. Mojo won, missed the finisher, crowd wasn’t too into it either.
– Bayley vs Nia Jax
Really good. Crowd was nuts for Bayley. Jax mid-match pranced around mocking Bayley which was a funny sight. Was close to being as good as their Takeover match. Bayley won with a roll up after Jax missed a tackle in the corner.
– Nakamura and Finn Balor vs The Revival
Good match. Crowd was way hot for Balor and Nakamura. Hard to tell who was more over. Nakamura must be being protected because he mainly did his big spots. Balor won hitting his finisher on both men.
– After intermission, William Regal came out to our joy saying thank you.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka vs Alexa Bliss
Surprisingly really good and the crowd bought a couple of Alexa’s near falls. Asuka ended up winning with the chicken wing.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha vs Tino and Tucker
Decent. Tino is a physical specimen but that’s about it. Gable is crazy over as well. They won with their usual finisher that I forget the name of.
– NXT Champion Samoa Joe vs Austin Aries
Best match by far. Duel chants for both throughout the match. Aries had a nice near fall hitting the 450 but Joe got his foot on the rope. Joe won with the muscle buster. After it was over Aries scooted to the ropes and put his foot on one. Then as he left, he somehow got a banana and was eating it.
