I am just helping the wife but the daughter to bed. Let’s get to it before some cries take me away from the laptop.
NXT Opening-
We go from intro theme to
American Alpha vs. Blake and Murphy
This was a match that was hyped last week. Corey Graves was talking about how deep this tag division is, deeper than it has ever been in NXT.
Jordan got one of his legs caught after a kick attempt, every time Murphy tried to sweep him he jumped with the greatest of agility. Jordan tags Gable in and Gable surgically takes down Murphy and Blake with wrestling moves.
Blake was showing some of his athleticism but it had no chance up against Gable’s athleticism and countering ability. Gable should call out Ricky Steamboat and they can have an arm-drag off (arm-drag race).
Murphy went on a leapfrog and seems to have seriously hurt his knee. He motions to Blake as the crowd is quiet in worry. Blake runs in and Murphy ‘miraculously’ gets better and chop block Chad’s leg. “Save The Gable” chant.
I still don’t know what Blake and Murphy are about other than the dubstep version of a wrestling tag team. Then again I don’t know what dubstep is about so maybe that is it.
Jordan was waiting for a while but was able to get the hot tag. He suplexes everything in sight, even belly-to-bellies Blake on top of Murphy. They follow that up with their finisher that is not named.
And I’m Like… Those are the third former NXT Tag Team champions American Alpha has beaten. They are so getting the titles at Takeover, no way a team gets built this much just to lose to Dash and Dawson. I am afraid the team I’ve dubbed Carolina Wrecking Crew are the Stan Stasiak of the NXT tag division. The problem for me is that the main roster tag division is weak once again so I would like American Alpha to not peak just yet by winning the belts. The sooner they are called up the sooner we won’t hear the creative chants and applause for Gable, Jordan, and how they can wrestle.
Emma and Dana Brooke are interviewed about Carmella and Asuka. Dana Brook says Alex the Interviewer isn’t important. Dana says that last week was all about Bayley, Carmella can not do a thing. Emma says Carmella doesn’t have the skills to beat Bayley. Emma says Blue Pants doesn’t even work here and beat Carmella. Dana ends the promo with “bada bing unluckiest girl in the ring” signature head pat and we are done.
Special look at Asuka in NXT
We start off by seeing Asuka smiling after getting slapped. She taps out Dana Brooke and then we see her kick all the ass NXT had to offer.
Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan
Ok, seeing that Liv Morgan had no entrance this is a showcase. One problem I have is Nia’s entrance. The lyrics are “I’m not like most girls” outside of her weight, based on Breaking Ground. Nia is like most girls, she is girly, she gets nervous for her debut, she wants to be the best, she knows how to do make-up, and is in love with her mom.
Corey Graves also is just…. he doesn’t want to talk and just wants to “enjoy” the girls in the ring… stop it. I might not be like most guys but I don’t see how talking about how attractive these girls are helps at all. Like tonight in the main event if someone says “Damn look at Baron Corbin, I love his leather pants and how he is fitting in them” does that help the story or the match at all?
This match was definitely a showcase. Nia had her way with Liv. It would be like me wrestling my two month daughter. Sometimes when I hold her and she is fussy, she bangs her head into my chest, I just reposition her and she really can’t do anything about it. Liv tries to fight but there is really nothing she can do.
And I’m Like… That match existed, it furthers the belief that Nia is unstoppable to most of the woman’s division in NXT, except for the champ Bayley. Eva is still her manager too, which would be a cool change if Eva never wrestled again and just managed.
Carmella cuts a promo on Emma and who she calls “Little Miss Piggy” Dana Brooke. She says she can handle it all by her self. She kept her eastern accent but she was ALL BIDNESS. Cass then took over and brought up Dash and Dawson. Cass says “all fluff and no stuff? Well, it appears to me that you’ve been stuffing your faces because of all that fluff you have behind those belts.” Enzo said he was on edge since London, he didn’t have a Merry Christmas because he didn’t come home with titles. “ya get tuned up, and I’m putting the Midas touch on it. We don’t give a damn about you, we don’t give a damn about anything you got to say. You are looking at stars, finish your cup of average Joe and move the hell on.”
Baron Corbin vignette about him hating people from the Indies and being dominate.
Vaudevillians get one more of those “we are turning heel” videos.
Bull Dempsey vs. Alex Riley
HOLY SHIT! Alex Riley is still a thing? I remember one time I cheered for him, he just turned on the Miz and had this dope ass entrance song. What is crazy is he has been around for a while and is still like a jobber of NXT. Corey Graves says Alex Riley and Tom Phillips follow themselves on Tinder.
Phillps bring up that Riley is still a wrestler and not a commentator because of his feud with Kevin Owens where he gave up his commentating position. The crowd is pretty much dead… No chants or cheers, I think we all feel the same.. What?!? Alex Riley?!? What is he about?
Alex is dominating though, speaking of are people still a thing.
Marcus Louis?
Corey Graves says Riley looks a little crazy. Riley wins with a spinebuster and flying knee. Doesn’t garner much of a reaction other than some woo’s and claps..
And I’m Like… Tom Phillips says that is not the Alex Riley that he remembers. If it’s the “I’m going crazy gimmick” I’ve seen enough of that in PPW . This is kind of and interesting angle to take though. I’m not sure where it can go but I’m sure NXT won’t let us down… Will they?
Elias Sampson is the Drifter and we just see him playing guitar before he wrestles… If his gimmick is meaningless guy that you see staring into candles and lamps at coffeehouses, he is FUCKIN NAILING IT. There is no substance to those people other than “I have a guitar so I am deep and different”, so there should be no substance to him right? It’s hard for that kind of character to garner a reaction but that is why he is The Drifter and not that Folk Singing Superstar.
Alex Riley isn’t talking to anyone we know. He starts with “what? You surprised to see me? For the last four months I’ve been making calls, writing e-mails, sending texts all the way to Stamford. Letting them know how I have been feeling when, when I will be back. You know how many responses I got? Zero. I have had a lot of time on my hands, I have watched a lot of WWE Network and NXT. You know what I see every week and three weeks leading up to it. Sami Zayns return THE EXACT DAY. I know what Apollo Crews had for breakfast three days ago. I don’t see Alex Riley anywhere? I guess that is what hard work and 8 years in this business gets you. So to answer my question, you are surprised.”
Tom Phillips says “Riley is back whether you like him or not.”
And I’m Like… I was surprised that I was into that. Him being in a dark room resembles his mood, it feels cheesy but Alex Riley feels cheesy all the time. He never really had a character other than “himself Alex Riley”. Maybe “disgruntled employee” will be a thing… Maybe they can Eva Marie him and saddle him up with Baron Corbin or something.
Elias Sampson vs. Local Talent
Elias knows how his theme song goes, as he sits on the top of the rope and takes his shirt off when the song turns up a notch. Graves doesn’t understand why we need Elias in NXT.
Elias is doing a kind of slow and menacing wrestling style that is nuanced with quick rapid strikes and attacks. Almost psychotic, Corey Graves says “he has a lot of deep seeded issues based on the aggression he’s showing.” Sampson does a Randy Orton type backwards slide into the turnbuckle where he channeled his inner Raven. Sampson hit a fast neck breaker for the win.
And I’m Like… This episode is reminding me of an episode of Mid-South wrestling. There is so much going on, so quickly, and the matches last mere minutes. I swear if there is a screwy finish in the end, NXT just tried to copy Mid-South for one hour.
Mojo asks Zack Ryder what is with the Vaudevillains. Mojo is fighting with Zack Ryder. Zack says Mojo can’t talk anymore. Mojo sends Zack Ryder Zubas cause chicks love them. He tells Ryder he watches him sleep and knows he sleeps in Zubas. Ryder doesn’t want Mojo to watch him sleep anymore. They are some weird dudes… or bro’s or whatever.
Samoa Joe had a hype video too… he says he is getting what is owed to him and everyone has been warned.
We see a two months ago video of Finn vs. Apollo that Corbin interfered on, one of the few non-finishes in NXT so the out side interference meant something. That is a hype video for the rematch next week. It will be non-title.
Number One Contenders Match
Baron Corbin vs.
Samoa Joe vs.
Sami Zayn
Hey… y’all check out Baron’s leather?!?
Before the match starts the NXT Universe is “ole’ing”. Corey points out there is no countout and no DQ. Tom wants to wonder who that helps the most. That is a good question. I would say Sami because he is the smallest dog in the fight. Sami went for a suicide dive on Corbin but Joe pulled Zayn’s leg and started working him over outside. Samoa Joe even rolls in the ring and out the ring to “break the count” even though the ref isn’t counting. It’s just muscle memory.
Joe takes Corbin out after he is done with Sami. Guess what Joe does? Rolls in and out of the ring lol.
It’s weird that this is a recording and Sami came out at the Rumble. Usually any accomplishment a person has the commentators talk about it, I would be sure that Sami would get lot’s of Royal Rumble talk if this was a live episode.
There are commercial breaks. I understand why they are there. NXT is the most or one of the most popular shows on the Network. Might as well put over your other shows when you can. At the same time, NXT is your bread and butter on this sandwich, and your cutting out the middle and expecting me to appreciate the rest of the sandwich. Bitch I want my sandwich whole, that’s when I get satisfied. These “road trip” commercials take me out of my element.
Sami tries for another dive to the outside but this time Corbin tries to stop him. Zayn throws Corbin over the top and then was able to land his plancha on both men. Sami chooses Baron as the guy to throw in. Corbin makes Sami wish he chose Joe when Baron hit Deep Six on Sami for two.
Samoa Joe beat up Baron and Sami and hit a senton on Sami who was on Corbin. Joe throws Sami into the turnbuckle and the way Zayn sells it has me falling in love. Just rams his head into the turnbuckle and Sami just crumbled. He has Bret Hart levels of selling.
Joe was sick of playing around went for a Muscle Buster on Zayn, Corbin was able to make the save after a back and forth struggle. Corbin throws Joe out and tries to superplex Sami, Zayn throws Baron off and is able to turn a small sequence into a Blue Thunder Bomb. This triple threat is like a mini-one on one match. Every guy has paired off with each other and done some moves. The third guy surprise attacks and then they trade places. It isn’t bad but it keeps the constant action up, and the pace slowed down .
Joe was taking it too Baron Corbin and Corbin was able to End his Days. Sami got up to break the pin attempt. Corbin knew he lost if it wasn’t for Sami so he freaks out and beats the alabaster off of Zayn. As Corbin is screaming Sami takes advantage and is able to Helluva kick Corbin. That would have been a three count but Joe tSincook Sami out of the ring. Sami retaliates by shoving Joe into the steps. Everyone is exhausted.
I know Sami is from Canada but his version of the Sharpshooter looks like it was taught to him by The Rock. Kevin Owens gots him on that move. Joe sees that and runs in and instead of breaking up the Sharpshooter, Joe applies the crossface. That makes it so both competitors had their back to the other, and Baron tapped out quick because it was a painful move. The referee hasn’t made a decision though.
The crowd wants these two to hug it out, but that ain’t gonna happen. Tom is asking who Baron tapped out to? It’s ok cause Regal is out to settle matters.
Regal says he can’t give an answer until he reviews the tape and makes a better decision. As Samoa Joe makes it up the ramp he says sorry to Sami Zayn.
And I’m Like… It was a wonky finish… it’s not a bad finish or a non-finish, it was just wonky. Since Finn is facing Crews next week, look for a Joe vs. Sami match next week or I the future I am guessing. I really thought Baron would advance and a Joe/Zayn feud would start because neither have happened yet from a long term feud stand point. Oh well, gotta wait til next week. This is one of those “building” shows, where everything is good, but It doesn’t have that emotional impact we will feel come Takeover.
Thanks for the read, I appreciate it. The daughter was crying a bit in the middle of the blog there, but the night ended fine.
If you read this, you get Some Cool Points.. If you read and shared on your social medias you get ALL THE COOL POINTS.
Have a good one
-Jake
