Hey y’all, sorry I am late to the review. It was hard getting my daughter to bed last night and the Daniel Bryan retirement still has me reeling. Let’s just get to NXT! I’m excited to see Bayley! My cousin asked me the other day, “Now that Bryan is retired who is your favorite active wrestler?” I thought for a moment and broke it down to three people. Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens, and Bayley. I realized that I like all three for different reasons. Sasha because of her wrestling ability, Owens because I have followed his career for years and love to see him succeed, and Bayley because of her connection to the crowd and way she can bring emotion out of me. The passion all three of them have for wrestling also helps the case. What is funny is, for me, Daniel Bryan had all of those qualities rolled into one. That really puts into perspective how special of a talent Daniel is.
NXT Opening
A video package starts the show with the voiceover guy saying “besties go head to head” I’m very intrigued in how this story will turn out and how the match will be told.
They are not in Full Sail?!? They are still in Orlando, but at CFE Arena which looks to double the size of Full Sail.
Baron Corbin vs. Johnny Gargano
There isn’t a stage so the entrances will be a bit different. The look of the arena is very pleasing to my eye!
Huge “Johnny Wrestling” chants to start the match. I’m guessing a Gargano loss because the story they are telling is “Baron is visibly upset with losing the number one contender match”
Gargano’s plan of attack is to keep his distance and strike quickly. His goal seems to be, do not get caught by Baron. After Johnny does a 10 punch in the corner, Baron is able to throw him to the mat.
Corbin is in control and throws Johnny HARD into the turnbuckle flipping the man inside out. I can’t get over how nice the sound and visual style of this episode is. I really enjoy CFE Arena. It makes the show feel more important.
Corbin had a back and forth with the referee and said “I’m doing just fine little man.” Which got a laugh from the crowd. Corbin keeps the pressure on Johnny and doesn’t let Gargano create distance. Johnny is able to work his way to the back of Baron and apply a chokehold. Corbin has slowed down enough for Johnny to hit a beautiful slingshot spear. It got a one count.
Baron took a bit to stand up and Gargano bum rushed him. Baron turned that into a Deep Six and instead of pinning him he screamed in Johnny’s face. Rookie mistake.
Corbin picks Gargano up by his throat and Johnny was able to connect with a superkick. That got the closest two count I have seen in a while. Corbin rolls to the outside, dazed and confused. Johnny chases him around the ring and Corbin dives back in.
Johnny gives chase and runs right into the End of Days for a desperation victory.
And I’m Like… F’n Johnny Gargano is amazing. I have yet to see a match that wasn’t entertaining with him. Corbin wins in dominating fashion, yet still looked like he could lose control of the match at any moment. I think that was a nice tidy match that was entertaining and fun.
Sami Zayn is interviewed about his match with Samoa Joe for the number one contender. Sami thinks that he is disappointed in the fact that he didn’t win the match but understands Regal’s decision. He said he is looking forward to next week because he has never had a one-on-one match with Samoa Joe.
Sami knows how tough winning the NXT Title was the first time, and did not expect this go around to be any easier.
And I’m Like… didn’t know it will be their first match ever. That honestly gets me way more excited for the match. I don’t know if either can beat Finn Balor though.
VaudeVILLAINS vignette.
The Hype Bros. vs. Local Talent (Corey Hollis and Skyler)
I don’t like when we aren’t introduced to the local talent. I am ok with no entrance but at least have Tom or Corey tell us who they are.
Zack Ryder is fired up! Corey Graves transferred his hate for the Vaudevillains to The Hype Bros. Florida is all about Mojo tho! They hype for the “he ain’t hype” spot.
Ryder and Mojo debut a new double team move where Mojo Irish whips Ryder to the ropes and Ryder does and baseball slide type kick. Tom Phillips name drops Corey Hollis and says his partner is Skyler something.
Ryder makes a hot tag and Mojo hit three consecutive shoulderblocks, then a running splash into a corner, followed by a Hyper Drive, a Broski Boot and a Hype Ryder for the win.
And I’m Like… It’s cool how Hype Bros are setting up a 5 moves of doom for their team. I think I am ready to see this team get called up, or get in a feud. I think they are ready for it. Mojo really saved Zack Ryder.
Bayley says it’s harder to keep the championship than win it. She says she is proud of Carmella, but Bayley is not ready to let go of the title yet. Carmella points out how many huge title matches Bayley has been in. Mella says this is the biggest match of her career “who knows if I will ever get this opportunity again?” Carmella says that when the bell rings and Bayley cuts her off with “May the best woman win.”
Alexa Bliss vs. Cameron
Alexa’s theme song sounds like an industrial level of Sonic the Hedgehog.
As Cameron comes out, I wonder who to cheer for? Is it the lesser of two evils? Cameron sings her theme song as she comes out…
If I were either of these girls I would be so nervous to have this match. How are you gonna be able to top Bayley and Carmella being two “diva” type characters.
They do collar and elbow pretty well. The ring microphones are on high and you can hear everything the girls say. They don’t call spots or anything but there is a little bit of trash talk and yelling at the refs.
Notice Cameron’s tie…. Her offense is vicious though, a sliding split kick to Alexa’s face. Cameron is doing good at being bad because when Alexa starts do to some offense the crowd cheers. Alexa answers back with even more vicious offense and stomps on her head repeatedly.
I am saying it right now, Cameron is better than Eva Marie. Maybe not at garnering a crowd reaction, but wrestling ability? Hell yeah!
Alexa Bliss goes for a double knee move but ends up like pinching Camerons arm… She doesn’t know what to do after that so she goes up top for a Sparkle Splash for the win. She then yells in Cameron’s face.
And I’m Like… WAAY better than I expected. Cameron suddenly has moves and knows how wrestling works!! Alexa has a bit of work to do but overall I can’t complain. I am looking forward to both of these girls future matches. Watching superstars progress is a joy.
Big Cass and Enzo Amore give Dash and Dawson a reminder that they are not done with the champions. Cass and Zo do a Drake impression by going
Back 2 Back.
Gable and Jordan come in mid-cover song. Enzo says “Back to back like a couple of lethal weapons” and Gable comes in saying “Gable and Jordan from ’87” Cass gets made Gable doesn’t know the words to the Drake song.
American Alpha says 2016 is the Olympic year. Enzo asks if they are referencing themselves. Gable says yes they are. Cass questions if that is what Gable really was trying to say. Gable responds with a brilliant line “I’m layered, I’m real deep like that” Then Jordan says they are going back to back against Dash and Dawson and Blake and Muprhy next week. Everyone gave Jordan props for bringing everything around. Chad gets his towel out and says “we are ready willing and, you ready everyone?” Everyone says their own name except Enzo who says “Skywalker”.
And I’m Like… This is promo gold here. They might not be that relevant with a song that is a few months old but the way it all tied in and seemed off the cuff was special. These teams are so much fun.
The Drifter vs. Jesse Sorenson
What is Elias Samson about?!?! It’s nice to see Jesse Sorenson back in the NXT Universe.
Elias has yet to lose under this new gimmick. Tom and Corey say that there isn’t much known about this guy except he plays guitar outside of the arena. Graves says he goes to Pittsburgh and asks real musicians and panhandlers about Elias but no one knows who he is. Graves says “they said a guy that looks like the Drifter was by the jukebox playing Nickleback”
“Drift Away” chant from the crowd as Elias is hyper aggressive. You can see how amazed he is that he is actually getting a chant and his character is working a bit.
The more offense Elias shows the more Corey Graves starts becoming a Samson fan. Elias does a very subtle but beautiful thing. He normally does a top rope elbow drop, but he notices he is too far away, so he just jumps as high as he can and does a normal elbow drop. “Nickleback” chant from the NXT Universe.
Samson shushes the crowd and “Boo” then Samson hits his neckbreaker move for the win.
And I’m Like… He won Corey Graves over during this match. He is slowly getting crowd reactions. His face shows how much he enjoys hearing the crowd respond. I think his gimmick is we don’t know what he is about. He needs to release some music videos or singles to explain his character. That would be fun, we don’t learn about him for a while through the show, but through his music.
Apollo is interviewed about his regrets in his loss to Finn. He said he didn’t have regrets because he gave everything he had. He now knows what it means to be the best, and knows what he needs to do to get there. Apollo says the next time you see him in the ring, he will be a different Apollo Crews.
NXT Woman’s Championship
Carmella vs. Bayley (c)
I don’t like Carmella doing her talking routine before the match. This is her biggest match of her life, she should be focused on the task at hand and not winning over the crowd. She is dancing and having a blast..
Speaking of having a blast BAYLEY “there ain’t no stopping us now” The crowd pops huge for her. She has won so many people over and when she loses the belt it better mean something. By the way, giving out snap bracelets is the coolest. Bayley should bring gel pens ands glitter to the ring also, be 90’s girl all the way. Where my Lisa Frank at? Oh yeah its the Diva’s title!
HOLY SHIT!! You see who is in the crowd? A group of girls no older than 10… That is so cool for wrestling, I rarely see girls in the crowd that are there as a group. This division will be so spectacular in a decade. Witnessing history never gets old.
Carmella is taking deep breaths to calm herself down and looks nervous. Bayle looks confident and slightly relaxed. Corey echoes my thoughts about Carmella being too excited for this match. She needs to focus and not bob her head.
The ladies hug to an ovation to start the match, showing their friendship. “HEY Bayley I know, you can be my girl” started a little bit but “let’s go Bayley” takes off and Bayley claps along using Carmella’s hand while Bayley has Carmella in a standing arm submission.
These girls are shown to be even and hit dropkicks on each other at the same time. Bayley is able to take advantage do to her being superior. She lands a few blows and a knee drop for two.
These NXT shows do so many types of wear down holds that I don’t know the name of. Do most people learn the move names because of commentary or is there some website to tell us?
Carmella hits a sloppy hurricanrana but Bayley rebounds quickly. I realized how much noise Bayley makes while wrestling. She is legit like Mick Foley with all the grunts in her offense. Carmella is doing a rough job at selling how injured she is. She does dump Bayley rather aggressively over the top rope. Carmella sits and catches her breath as Bayley recovers on the outside.
Carmella sees Bayley stirring and keeps looking back and forth at the ropes and at Bayley. Carmella isn’t known for high flying, but her body is selling the fact that she is contemplating throwing safety out the window and diving at Bayley to capitalize on her momentum. She did it and started FREAKING out, that must have been exhilarating! She looks around at the crowd who are chanting “Bayley”. Carmella looks at Bayley and looks confused, she makes it seem like she is running out of ideas on how to beat Bayley, showing the characters inexperience .
Then in unintentional comedy the WWE Network has a bottom of the screen ad with Randy Orton! LOLOL there is a little Roman Reigns that shows up too and Carmella looks anxious about it. (that took me out of the match a bit!
I come back to attention as Carmella is looking back and Bayley and the ropes again as the crowd chants “one more time” Carmella tries to dive at Bayley once again. SHE HITS IT. She doesn’t celebrate this time but tosses the champ back into the ring for a nearfall.
Carmella gets three “two’s” from her pin attempts. She is showing us how desperate she is to win this match. Bayley is showing pain and trying to catcher her breath. The crowd chants “this is wrestling.”
Carmella screams “HOW.. YOU.. DOOOIINN!?!?” and does her signature bronco bust to Bayley. Carmella follows that up with her finisher attempt but Bayley counters that into a pin. Carmella counters that into a pin of her own and Bayley counters that into a pin. Then Carmella runs and does a sunset flip pin but Bayley COUNTERS THAT into a pin for the WIN!!
And I’m Like… She didn’t have to use a Bayley to Belly to win! Carmella stepped her game up so much! I have to be honest and say I thought that once 3 of the 4 horsewomen left for the main roster, the NXT woman’s division might lack a little bit. I knew Bayley and Asuka would be the anchors. Now looking at this division though, you have: Bayley, Asuka, Emma, Dana Brooke, Billie Kay, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, and Peyton Royce already proven their wrestling worth. You got Cameron impressing us on the bottom rung with Alexa Bliss and Eva Marie. Now Carmella has moved up in the main event echelon of NXT. She has the skills and deserves to be up there. I like the finish of the match with Bayley not showing that she had a challenge on her hands. She got beat up sure, but Bayley was confident she was gonna win throughout. Carmella sold how her emotions changed throughout the match, excitement, worry, frustration, daredeviling, and at the end sadness and gratitude.
Dumbledore claps all around!!
Someone is SCREAMIN and Bayley looks over, its Eva and Nia beating the Staten Island out of Carmella. Nia does a Samoan style headbutt also! Nia just carries Carmella into the ring to boo’s from the crowd. Eva lines up Carmella for a Nia leg drop, two leg drops. That sign guy in the red hat is the dude people on the internet say is a WWE fan plant…
The crowd chants “you can’t wrestle” and boo Eva. Asuka shows up and the building EXPLODES. Asuka is wearing the most bad ass shirt. There are Asuka masks in the crowd. Asuka doesn’t have to do anything and stares Nia down. The crowd boo’s as Nia backs away and the crowd chants “Asuka”. That shit was powerful!!!
It’s not done either Asuka looks at Bayley and the crowd ERUPTS in Yes! chants. Asuka walks away smiling and the crowd applauds because it’s NXT’s version of 80’s Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior, we don’t need a heel!
And I’m Like… That will be such memorable sequence for me. I legit got goosebumps. Thank you Bayley, Thank you Asuka, and hell thanks to Carmella, Nia, and Eva for being perfect set pieces.
Samoa Joe closes the show with a promo. He tells Sami Zayn that Sami is not a grateful person. Joe says he saved Sami’s live. “what I gave you, I will have to take away.” He says it is inevitable that he will be the next NXT champion.
And I’m Like… Top to bottom, loved the show. My spirits towards wrestling changed within the hour. I will still get upset about not being able to see Daniel Bryan perform his craft, but there is so much potential in NXT and WWE as a whole, I can’t help but get excited!
Until next time, you all have a wonderous day!!
Please share and like and comment and stuff, I would greatly appreciate it, AND you will get all the cool points for the day.
-Jake
