Hey everyone, let’s get into some wrestling. I don’t really want to talk much about our new landlords or our apartments lack of hot water.
NXT Opening
We see a video that highlights the skills of our main event competitors, Neville and Finn Balor.
The Vaudevillains vs. Hugo Knox and Tucker Knight
The Villains come out dressed like some dog snatchers of the 20’s. Their music is jolly though, who knows if they are good or bad. They might just show a mean streak because that’s what they believe they need to get back on top of NXT Tag Team mountain.
I recognize Hugo and Tucker from Breaking Ground as Nia Jax’s friends. Hugo is rocking some purple polkadotted trunks. Aiden shows a little aggression while yelling at Hugo saying “This is how a real man does it boy!”.
The double team moves of the Villains are different than before, heavy on attacks now. There is smack talk and roughneckedness. I just don’t see how the Villains can get boo’d.
Tucker received the hot tag from Hugo, only I didn’t realize it was a hot tag. I was watching this as a squash match and wasn’t realizing they were telling a story. Even Corey Graves was singing the praises of the Vaudevillains. Hugo was the face in peril and Tucker was hitting shoulderblocks and stuff but he got put away quick to the Whirling Dervish.
And I’m Like… Tom Phillps spoke a lot about the Hype Bros. during this match so I am thinking the Villains are getting built up as competition for the Hype Bros. I know The Revival and Enzo and Cass are feuding so a second feud in the tag division is welcomed. The Villains haven’t spoke much, so I am not sure of their motivations to become as aggressive as they are. It is a welcomed change though.
Dana Brooke and Emma Interview
Dana says Deonna is a nobody because she lost to Asuka and doesn’t look like Emma or Dana. Emma says she is gonna impress in her match tonight and Dana pats dude on head.
Finn Balor video package
We see a Finn video set to his theme music. This video makes him look like a complete star. It shows that he is different, he is championship material, and one of the most unbeatable guys in NXT. They show fans dressed as Finn, they show all the arms going in the air to Finn’s entrance. The video ends with Byron saying “Finn’s future will continue as the face of NXT”
And I’m Like… Two quick segments to put over the characters. We know Emma and Dana are full of themselves and even though they lost to Asuka, their confidence never waivers. Finn being the end-all-be-all of NXT has never been more apparent.
Tom takes us back to last week were The Revival attacked Enzo in the parking lot. Cass ended up making the save and now we are getting reactions to the parking lot brawl.
Cass and Enzo talk
Cass calls The Revival gutless and says they will be NXT Tag Champions.. Enzo just stirs in the back like a mini Staten Island Brock Lesnar.
The Revival speaks
They say that twice now Enzo and Cass have jumped them from behind. Dawson says “catchphrase kings” which I think is a great name, not even derogatory. They say the closest Enzo and Cass come to the belts is spit shining them.
And I’m Like… Gotta love the well built feuds. Also gotta love that this match will be had at the Roadblock special event headlined by HHH and Dean Ambrose for the WWE Title. That is so cool that these one off shows like Beast in the East and Roadblock features NXT people.
Emma w/ Dana Brooke vs. Santana Garrett
Who is this Santana? She gets a full entrance and is all smiles. Corey says we have seen her before and now I feel bad for not remembering anything she was in. Emma was saying she will impress and Santana got an entrance plus a pretty good crowd chant. That makes me think we might get a surprise victory.
Due to crowd reaction I sense that Santana was well known before her time in NXT. Emma does not care though because she is taking it to Garrett and continually ramming her head into the turnbuckle.
Emma is in control with kicks to the knee and a butterfly suplex. Then Emma does her face point taunt and Dana also points to Emma’s face while screaming “We Run NXT”.
“Santana” chants from the crowd. It doesn’t help much though because Emma is still doing what she wants in the ring. Even if Santana gets a blow or two in Emma is quick to hit a huge strike to gain the advantage again.
There was a headbutt by Santana that got hair or something in Emma’s eye. She was rubbing her eye, having Dana look at it even. Emma quits playing around and starts in with a bow and arrow stretch with some knees to the back of Garrett.
Emma is a treasure in NXT. She can win or lose convincingly. She never won the title so she still has something to prove in the division. She also has enough star power where if someone is against her and beats her, it means something. She also does a pretty sweet tree of woe move with kicks to Santana’s back.
Emma does the Emmalock and instead of doing the Emma dance taunt she does the point to the face taunt.
And I’m Like… That match was fun, I don’t think Santana left much of an impression. I will try hard to remember who she is, but she seemed basic and bland in this match. Being able to put up a fight against Emma shows something though. I wonder what the story with Dana and Emma are, unless it’s setting up a Deonna build.
Nia Jax and Eva Marie are with William Regal. He says after watching their interview he agrees that they need to be treated like big stars. Regal arranges for the next tag match to be against Bayley and Asuka… Eva and Nia look pretty upset.
William Regal welcomes Austin Aries to NXT
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived is in NXT. He is from Minnesota so he has to be a favorite of mine because hometown teams.
The reaction for Aries was loud and he was yelling “THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!” Then…
Corbin attacks his indie ass because Baron hates being overshadowed and anyone that has performed on the indies, or Ring of Honor because Corbin thinks any indie is ROH.
After the End of Days on Austin Aries Corbin raises up Aries’ t-shirt and screams “an eye for an eye.” Throws the shirt at Regal.
And I’m Like… Beautiful!! See NXT set precedence with their previous indie guy signings and pomp and circumstance that goes with it. Corbin has openly hated indie guys and has developed his own feud against them. He also had a feud brewing with Regal because Baron thinks he deserves another shot at facing Finn Balor, Regal says no. Baron told Regal he will pay for that. Turns out Regal’s big welcoming party was pooped on.
Dumbledore claps
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Steve Cutler vs. The Drifter Elias Samson
Tom starts off by saying that Steve Cutler should be thanked because he fought in Afghanistan for two tours and fought for America. Corey says Samson should thank Cutler for giving him the ability to drift.
Corey Graves is slowly becoming a Drifter fan. With all of his aggressive moves, but then when he gets into his character work Graves turns his hate on full blast. Like when The Drifter plays ‘air guitar’ to the crowd chanting “Nickleback”.
Samson hits some elbows and slides all around the ring, does a running knee to the face then hits the swinging neckbreaker.
And I’m Like… about time to give Samson a feud. He has shown his ability to wrestle his character. He can be comfortable in the ring. He might not have the best finisher, or even a good one, but he needs a feud. These squashes can’t go on for much longer or I fear I will lose interest in him completely. Maybe y’all dig him though.
Hype Bros. Promo
Hype Bros. are talking and Mojo said he is glad he lost because now there is a challenge and Mojo learned he can’t play around anymore. Zack Ryder says “there is no derailing the Hype train” Mojo is upset that the Vaudevillains don’t say anything to them. Then out of the background the Villains show up as Mojo and Ryder leave.
Neville Video
We get a promo video on Neville. It shows that he can’t be held down, he does flippy doos and is the pioneer of the yet to happen “altitude era”
And I’m Like … At first I was not a fan of the Hype Bros. but after Mojo on Breaking Ground shining light on some kid with good grades, and that recent promo. There is a certain bafoonish appeal to those guys. The Neville video was lackluster, but that’s because most of us know who he is.
Neville vs. Finn Balor
It’s weird to see Neville back in NXT. He kind of seems like a different wrestler. He is the record holder for longest NXT Champion. Finn is on the way, but this is non-title so I think this is just gonna be a match to be a match.
Finn comes out and looks at his Balor Club video screen. It looks like the Bullet Club logo and Tom Phillips brings up Bullet Club during the entrance. Corey Graves says “he has friends around the world, no reason to dig into it” Well I am wearing my Banks Club shirt and wanna know if Nakamura will join that.
Graves says these two have faced each other in NXT before and have known each other for over a decade. It’s funny how Neville is always having matches against his friends and they are all smiles and respect. I mean Neville pulled some shady stuff against Sami Zayn last year but other than that.
We get a “this is awesome” from the crowd before they even lock up. Once locked up, Finn gains control of Nevilles arm and wrestles around for a bit. This match feels like it will be a longer one so it will start slow.
It’s weird that Finn has a headlock on Neville an the crowd really isn’t responding much. Clap at least.
Finn keeps going for a headlock so he can take the wind out of Neville and maybe counteract his speed a bit. Neville is able to reverse the headlock though and it looks like Balor’s plan has been derailed.
Neville is landing snap suplexes and many attacking strikes. He looks super strong and muscular, not only because he has muscles but because of how Finn sells the offense. Neville may be short but he is a brick house full of dynamite.
Neville gets LAUNCHED to the outside by Finn and… DAMN!
He missed the apron completely and got a huge reaction from the crowd and a “Holy Shit” chant. Neville then works his way around the ring and is able to do a moonsault onto Finn Balor on the outside to a resounding chant of “NXT”
After Finn kicks out at two, Neville puts a headlock back in. Neville must have taken a play out of Finn’s book. Finn fights out of the headlock to ZERO claps from a crowd full of wrestling fans. Boy, did they react to the Pele Kick.
Balor is throwing Neville from pillar to turnbuckle post and chasing him with knife edge chops. Finn then does a move to the outside and goes for a pin. Turns out a kick to the face doesn’t get the job done.
Neville found his momentum and hit his signature moves. Then he does two deadlift German suplexes and Balor was able to kick out at 2 and 7/8ths. Corey Graves asks “What can Neville do?” Well maybe try Red Arrow Cor.
Balor was able to reverse a Red Arrow and kick Neville to the outside. He followed that up with senton flip to the outside. Finn rolls Neville in and attempts a Coup de Gras but Neville reverses that.
Neville hits a top rope hurricanrana, then goes for Red Arrow. Balor moves, then surprises Neville with a slingblade. Now both men look desperate. Finn got sick of playing games and hit a shotgun dropkick then a Coup De Gras. After that Finn hit Bloody Sunday and got the duke. After the match is done Finn claps for Neville and the crowd follows suite and chants “Neville”. That seemed like a retirement match for Neville.
And I’m Like… That match was good. I believe these two wouldn’t be able to have a bad match. It never hit that emotional gear I was looking for, but the match was well put together and Finn Balor made it so he is the greatest NXT competitor in all of their short history. Each weeks is getting better and more exciting!
These two in a 2/3 falls match.. Samoa says it should be easy but he is next to ‘ungrateful’ Sami Zayn. Zayn says Joe’s run was predicated off of the work of others. Sami Zayn uses many syllables and big words. Joe says big words too. Joe says he is responsible for Sami still having a career because he saved Zayn from Owens. Joe says it’s ironic because next week he takes Zayn’s career away.
Thank you for the read, please like, share, or comment. You all have a good day and I will see you for oldschool!
-Jake
