Results c/o Dylan Kaplan who estimates a crowd of 400
– Patrick Clark beat Dan Matha
– Nikki Glencross beat Liv Morgan
– Josh Woods beat Bronson Mathews
– Mojo Rawley and Hugo Knox beat Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton
– Noah beat Oney Lorcan (the former Chris Girard/Biff Busick)
– Alexa Bliss beat Adrienne Reese
– Austin Aries beat Wesley Blake
NXT returns to Fort Pierce on July 7th.
Submitted by Josh Baker
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.
Results c/o Wayne Mason who estimated a crowd of 200
– Josh Woods beat Noah
Woods was able to score the win via submission.
– Cezar beat Bronson Matthews
Cezar wins with an inverted stomp facebreaker.
– Adrienne Reese beat Mandy Rose
Good match. Reese hit the off the top rope stunner for the win.
– Nick Miller beat Alexander Wolfe
Both men had their tag partners in their corner. Miller picked up the win with a sit out powerbomb.
– Hugo Knox beat Tucker Knight
Hugo was back to being a heel tonight and got the win with a spinning neckbreaker.
– In ring interview with Mada from Tough Enough. He mentioned wanting to be NXT champion and then becoming the first ever Egyptian-born WWE champion.
– Steve Cutler beat Chris Girard
Cutler takes this one with a lariat in a hard hitting match.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka beat Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax in a three-way to retain.
Great match. Bliss would try to pick her spots and not get involved when Jax had control. Asuka was able to submit Bliss with the Asuka Lock.
Image c/o Maryann Mason and results c/o Wayne Mason who estimated a crowd of 300.
– Tucker Knight beat Josh Woods
Knight stole this one with a roll up.
– Alexa Bliss beat Liv Morgan
Bliss wins it with the Sparkle Splash. The Tampa crowd was giving Morgan the business for being from Jersey but she rolled with it.
– Dan Matha beat Steve Cutler
Crowd is all over Matha lately, calling him “Mr. Clean” due to his white trunks and shaved head. Big Dan won it with a big boot.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka and Adrienne Reese beat Mandy Rose and Nia Jax
Asuka Lock on Rose for the win.
– Noah beat Cezar Bononi
Big sit-out slam by Noah for the win.
– In ring interview with Brazillian talent Adrian Jaoude, the Ollympic hopeful who is still working at the Performance Center.
– Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe beat Mojo Rawley and Hugo Knox
Hugo is back to being his happy dancing face persona to team up with the hype man Rawley. However they were no match for the power of Fulton and Wolfe.
– Austin Aries beat Wesley Blake
Pre match, ring announcer Mike Rome introduced Blake as “Murphy” to set him off and continue the ongoing break-up story. Aries wins it with the Last Chancery to send everyone home happy.
By Chris Roberts
– 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.
According to WWE officials, there is nothing to read into the sudden disappearance of the NXT show over SummerSlam weekend from the WWE and Ticketmaster schedule.
The show was scheduled for 8/20 at the Barclays Center, the first of three straight nights WWE was running the building with NXT, SummerSlam and Raw. All three nights sold out last year, and last year’s NXT show drew easily the biggest crowd in NXT history with more than 13,000 fans.
On Tuesday, WWE officials said that Ticketmaster would be updating the page with new logos and information and that the show is still on.
When it appeared that the next major show had disappeared, there were performers in NXT concerned yesterday because they haven’t been told anything, and the 6/8 TakeOver show is billed as “The End”.
Obviously, it would make no sense to drop NXT as the training facility is the key to the future of the company and they need to run live events to give the upcoming wrestlers ring experience before they start in televised matches or move to the main roster.
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.
I’m here in Lakeland, FL, with a sold out house of approximately 350.
– No Way Jose beat Hugo Knox
Jose was frustrating Knox with his dance moves before catching Knox with the fiesta fireball and the half nelson slam for the win.
– Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton beat TM61
The heels kept control over the faster face team. There were a few impressive hope spots, but the big men were able to hit a double team finish for the win. It started as somewhat of an assisted DDT yet went in to a back suplex of sorts.
– Tino Sabbatelli beat Patrick Clarke
Very impressive showing by Tino early on showing off his athletic ability with leapfrogs and dropkicks. He hit a crossbody and for the finish, he used a new maneuver similar to what Big Show has used in the past: a reverse DDT position before turning and driving him down with an elbow.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha beat The Authors Of Pain
The match built to the always impressive Jordan hot tag where he even suplexed the big men. Spear, dropkick, and the assisted suplex with Gable for the win.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka beat Alexa Bliss
This was a very good match as Bliss continues to elevate herself in the ring. Asuka would get the advantage, yet would get cut off at every turn by the ever aggressive Bliss. Asuka Lock for the win.
– Bayley and Liv Morgan beat Nikki Storm and Lana
Fun match. Lana worked the crowd before the match, saying how this small town shows her how far she’s come. At one point, Bayley set up Nikki for a middle rope hangsman stunner. Lana avoided as much contact as possible and let Nikki take the punishment. Once Lana was knocked off the apron, there was a Belly To Bayley on Nikki for the win.
– Andrade cien Almas beat Elias Samson
Pre-match song by Drifter was booed down and led to a big reaction for Andrade. Teased dive by Andrade in to the tranquilo taunt for a big reaction. Drifter’s offense consisted of headlocks and simple slams. Manny got fired up and hit the running corner knees for the win.
– In-ring segment with Buddy Murphy saying and singing that he wants Alexa back, even saying she’s a ten…which leads to Tye Dillinger interruptiing and superkicking him out of the ring.
– NXT Champion Samoa Joe beat Tye Dillinger
Very good match as expected. Joe put a beating on Tye throughout the match, but Tye would kick out for convincing near falls and even escaped the Koji clutch. Joe was really laying in chops on Tye. Joe hit all his signature stuff before setting up the muscle buster for the win.
I’m at Winter Haven FL for NXT Live in front of a sold out house of approximately 350.
– No Way Jose beat Tucker Knight
Entertaining match with Jose using new baseball inspired moves like setting Knight in the corner and running the three corners like bases before a slide in drop kick. The ref even made the safe sign for the home run. Jose won it with his finish.
– Peyton Royce beat Liv Morgan
Fast action by Morgan including a big monkey flip out of the corner and spinning headscissor rana. Peyton worked holds and won it with a fisherwoman suplex.
– Chris Girard beat Buddy Murphy
Very good match with a lot of crowd interaction “You Got Dumped!” “Blake Is Better!” “Where’s Alexa?” solid support of Girarad for all his running uppercuts. Major combination at the end including running to the buckles for uppercuts and a huge spinning neck breaker for the win.
– Mojo Rawley beat Elias Samson
Comedy spots early on to upset Drifter. The hammer man dance and a lot of wiggling. Mojo won it with a running clothesline in to the corner.
– NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha beat The Authors Of Pain
Big heels got a lot of heat on Chad Gable to set up the Jason Jordan hot tag. Assisted German Suplex for the win.
– Adrienne Reese beat Nikki Storm
Strong match, Nikki had control most of the match, talking trash, keeping Adrienne grounded. Finish was the top rope diving stunner.
– In-ring promo with Mandy Rose she says that she is a bikini model champion. This got a lot of heat and “Wannabe Diva” chant.
– TM61 beat Angelo Dawkins and Patrick Clarke
Well-paced match, TM61 hit their double team spinebuster for the win.
– NXT Champion Samoa Joe beat Andrade Cien Almas
Great match. Joe is the dominant champion so he cut off the fired-up Andrade at every turn. Andrade hit the moonsault into a standing moonsault for a near fall in his best hope spot. Joe caught Andrade in the clutch out of nowhere for the submission victory.
Hulk Hogan. Ultimate Warrior. Ric Flair. Sting. Bret Hart. Shawn MIchaels. Steve Austin. The Rock. John Cena.
For many people, these are the names that drew them into professional wrestling and made them fans of this crazy industry.
But it took announcers to help us to make sense of what was happening in the ring. Whether that was Gordon Solie, Gorilla Monsoon, Tony Schiavone, JIm Ross or today’s Michael Cole and Mauro Ranallo, fans relied upon them to put the words to what we were seeing in the ring.
Over the last few weeks, WWE released several wrestlers, but it also released some announcers and interviewers. One of them was RIch Brennan, best known for his time commentating on NXT and SmackDown.
But there is more to him than that. He has commentated on other sports and has been a professional wrestling referee. He worked for Booker T and set up countless rings and technical equipment while on the road with NXT. And he has been produced by the aforementioned Cole. Yes, you read that correctly.
I recently talked with Brennen and we discussed all of the above, plus how he got into WWE, whether he has any bitterness towards them, calling matches without knowing what is happening versus being aware of key points beforehand, whether he had to ‘unlearn’ his commentary style when he joined WWE, his deep appreciation for MIchael Cole, calling big matches in NXT, what the future holds for him in and out of wrestling and much, much more.