Hello everyone! Welcome! Today was a weird day. My dishwasher brought a homeless guy in, and the guy started sticking out his tongue and yelling at people. Also, we have had a guy walk out on his tab, I thought he was in today, turns out it was my cousin’s friend. I found this out because he called and wanted to know why we told my cousin he skips out on bills! Oh well, everyday is an adventure, onto NXT.
NXT Opening
The show starts with a video package on Sami and Joe and their feud leading up to this number one contender match.
Enzo and Cass and American Alpha vs. Blake and Murphy and Dash and Dawson
Enzo looks more and more like Mr. T every week. He now has the chains and a semi mohawk. He needs to do some 1-800-Collect commercials!
Enzo does his normal routine and is more hype than usual. Cass doesn’t have anything to say other then his S-A-W-F-T phrase. They are more intense and it’s nice to see because that’s where their gimmick is headed.
American Alpha gots some sweet 90’s style singlets on. I think that is a good choice as it separates Gable and Jordan from the Worlds Greatest Tag Team comparisons. This match has been building for a week and it looks like it will be lots of fun.
The match starts with Dawson and Gable. It is a beautiful way to start a match too. We got a collar and elbow that ends in a stalemate. Gable tries to take down Dawson with some wrestling but Dawson is able to wiggle away just enough to get to the ropes. It shows that they are kind of equals at the grappling game.
The match breaks down pretty quickly and all eight men start throwing punches. The chaos is settled down when the good guys simultaneously throw the bad guys over the top rope.
The show cuts to commercial and when we return Blake had a headlock on Gable. Dawson is tagged back in and the match starts to slow down with the bad guys really taking it to Chad.
I am starting to watch wrestling on mute. Partly because my daughter is sleeping at the time I am able to watch and partly because I realized I enjoy the in ring action more without the commentators.
The heels give off mannerisms that they are having fun doling out pain. Gable has been cut off from his partners for a good portion of the match but continues to fight and fight. Dash was worried that Gable was gonna make a tag so he went to punch the good guys. Cass was able to counter Dash’s punch with a punch of his own sending Dash into Gable. That led to a hot tag and Jordan lit the place up.
Jordan and Cass got all their big moves in and it looked like the end of the match when Jason Jordan and Chad Gable hit their finish on Dawson because Dash and company were taken out on the outside. Dash was able to save the pin, but not for long because Cass and Enzo hit the assisted splash for the win.
And I’m Like… in the grand scheme of things, I don’t know what this match accomplished. It was fun though. American Alpha’s new gear is unique but seems to fit them pretty well. Everyone played their parts, and it was nice not seeing Enzo get beat for most of the match.
Deonna Purrazzo is interviewed about her upcoming match with Asuka. She doesn’t talk well… She sounds like she is reading cue cards. Then Dana Brooke and Emma show up to show her how to talk and act in backstage segments.
Dana and Emma say “even Michael Jordan had an off day” in response to losing to Asuka. They remind Deonna they run NXT and Purrazzo won’t be able to beat Asuka because Emma and Dana couldn’t.
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Asuka
The entrances between these two are vastly different. Deonna has basic music and shows very little character or charisma when she comes out. Then Asuka comes out to the most bad ass song, with her flowing robe and creepy mask. One girl is a complete wrestling character, the other has a long ways to go.
Asuka doesn’t mess around and starts laying kicks into Deonna. She hits about six of them before Purrazzo fights back. Asuka runs at Purrazzo and hits a kneebar that Deonna almost didn’t escape from.
The girls start hammering each other and Asuka acts like she feeds off getting hit. She smiles and asks for more and looks to be enjoying it just enough to be scary. Deonna tries her best to overcome Asuka’s onslaught. She even tries a top rope attack but Asuka just kicks Purrazzo in the stomach for her efforts.
Asuka is putting more submissions and deliberate strikes in her offense. After a few failed submission attempts Asuka hits Deonna with multiple spinning backfists and a spinning heel kick for the three count. After the pin Asuka looks to the camera and doesn’t give her trademark smile but more of a menacing glare.
And I’m Like… Asuka adds more and more to her matches the month and she never fails to impress. She should be the next champion. I don’t know where her story would go after that, hopefully the creative in NXT have long term plans for her because she is special. They even show what happened last week with Asuka saving Bayley and Carmella only to give a smile and caress to the NXT Woman’s title.
Eva Marie and Nia Jax said they were justified in making a statement last week. Nia says if she was in the battle royal she would have won and be the top contender. Nia and Eva say Asuka better stay out of their business or she will wind up broken. It’s nice to see small cliques and teams in the Woman’s division. There is so much going on and a good amount of depth in this division!
Perfect 10 Tye Dillinger vs. Alex Riley
Tye’s entrance is great, it is one of those that is fun to watch, but if you did it in real life you would be super embarrassed. Speaking of super embarrassed, Alex Riley…
Riley is selling his anger really hard. I think that is his gimmick, that he is angry for being overlooked. Riley looks at the crowd as they chant “10”
We transition from a collar and elbow to a wristlock. Alex Riley got schooled and out wrestling by Tye. After a hip toss Alex gets 10 fingers in his face and looks to be upset by the taunting.
Riley looks like he would be vicious and acts like it, but doesn’t wrestle like it. Tye is able to fight out of everything Riley throws at him, that is until a huge elbow catches Dillinger in the face. He acts all wobbley, Riley goes for a move but Tye reverses it into a pin for the win.
And I’m Like… Crowd loves Dillinger, I just can’t get into him yet. I know he is talented but the character doesn’t strike any of my chords. Riley was seething in the ring after the match. Let’s give Riley a backstage attack on Tye, let them have a nice little feud for a bit. I am still amazed Riley is there. HHH must see something in him to keep him around this long.
Finn starts his interview with a tip of the hat to Apollo Crews for an amazing match. Balor can’t make a prediction on who will win but he says he is ready to defend his belt no matter the challenger.
Corbin talks to Regal about being number one Contender. Regal says no, Baron says he is a guy that believes in eye of an eye.
Number One Contender for NXT Championship
Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn
Joe comes out first, looking mean, real mean. Joe’s wrinkles in his head always make me think he has a tattoo on his head. Nope just wrinkles.
As Sami comes out and gets the crowd hype, I have a tendency to wince when he throws his arms up.. Don’t injure yourself again!! As Sami embraces the crowd, Joe stands in the corner glaring at Zayn.
Both men are timid on the lock up. Right as Sami’s fingers touch Joe’s, Joe throws a kick that does not land. Eventually the guys go from collar and elbow to wristlock. Joe starts working over Sami’s injured shoulder, which puts Zayn at an early disadvantage.
The match starts off very slow and old school. Between one or two moves is a headlock, wrist lock, reverse chin lock. The pace quickens a bit when Sami threatens to jump on a prone Joe on the outside. Then we head straight to commercial.
We come back from commercial, the guys are still in the feel out process. Joe rocks Sami with some strikes and kicks. Sami is able to get an arm drag in but his speed is not enough to overcome Joe’s power and after a slam in the corner, Joe is in charge of the match.
Nothing Sami Zayn can do better than get his ass whopped and look like he is on the brink of collapsing. Sami has a little Dean Ambrose in him, in the sense that he won’t stop fighting no matter the opponent. Zayn, even though he loses every battle, tries and have a striking contest with Joe.
Joe is having none of back and forth striking so he puts Sami down with a multitude of attacks. Sami is able to fight back with clothes lines and his inner fighting spirit. Zayn goes for a blue thunder bomb but it appears Joe is too heavy or really good at finding a way to block the move. Zayn finally hits it but that only garners a two.
Joe is starting to hit his signature moves, Sami is still kicking out. Joe is getting visibly frustrated and starts staring at Sami and hitting the man with strike after strike after strike.
Sami was sick of getting punched so he went for a flash pin. Joe kicked out then hit Sami with a powerslam for a CLOSE three count. There was a lot of back and forth with counters and signature spots and finisher set ups.
Joe had the coquina clutch on Sami, Sami walked into a corner and the ref forced Joe to let it go though. Samoa Joe sets up for the musclebuster. Sami fights out of it and hits the Yakuza kick. He pins Joe but both Zayn’s shoulders were on the mat…
The referee looks confused and upset. He goes to talk to Tom Phillips I believe. The point is Sami was pinning Joe and Joe was pinning Sami, both men have legitimate claims at being the top contender.
Regal comes out and talks to the ref. Ref says it is a draw and the show ends in confusion. Sami is getting frustrated with all these outcomes.
And I’m Like… NXT knows how to drag out an angle don’t they? I’m not throwing shade, I am just saying this Number One contender business has been going on for a while now. So I guess we will find out more next week. That was a fun match and told a good story of Sami’s never say die attitude and Joe’s I don’t give a fuck attitude. I am excited to see where it goes.
Well it is late and the article was late.Please like and share if you could. It helps me out a bunch! Tomorrow is tax day for me, so I am not looking forward going through receipts all day. You all have a good one.
-Jake
