by JCH
Apologies for the late posting this week. I did finish this review on Thursday but suffered an ankle injury before I managed to edit/add photos.
NXT this week comes from Bel Air, Maryland. Main event is Undisputed Era vs the 1s and 2s, who are going by the BritAm Brawlers according to Nigel. Also Kushida meets Drew Gulak in a submission match.
Out first is Candice Lerae and Io Shirai who will be taking on Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, who are accompanied by the great Shayna Baszler
Lerae and Shirai vs Duke and Shafir
Jessamyn and Marina have new gear and a new entrance. I like it. Candice all over them both at the start sends the former MMA stars to the outside where she hits a basement dropkick on Duke and catches Marina with a slide kick as she tries to throw her back in the ring.
Duke distracts Candice on the top rope and Shafir takes advantage putting the horsewomen in control . Candice escapes a Shafir submission and armdrags her towards Shirai in the corner. Io reaches for the tag and Marina gives her a look and then just boots her off the apron. Brilliant.
They continue control on Candice until she throws Jessamyn into Marina. Jessamyn tries to knock Io off the apron as well, but Io ducks. Enziguri from Candice and here comes Io. Shirai all over Duke then she looks at Baszler as she sets up for the Shayna arm stomp. Call back to Shayna doing this to Kairi and making Io watch. Shayna is furious, breaking her normally calm demeanour as Io breaks the arm of Jessamyn.
She hits the double knees in the corner and walks over Duke as she sets up for the Moonsault. Shayna runs down and pulls Jessamyn out of harms way so Io hits the moonsault to the outside onto Baszler. Candice is back and takes out Duke and Shafir with a Tope to the outside. Io throws Shayna into the steps and the bell rings as they fight outside. Io and Shayna brawling in the crowd, whilst Lerae, Duke and Shafir battle on the ramp. Eventually the battle moves backstage.
Cracking start.
Continuing the Shirai and Lerae vs Horsewomen feuds. Headlined with Baszler vs Shirai.
Short Velveteen Dream selfie video.
Damian Priest promo video. He is here next week.
Drew Gulak vs Kushida - Submission match
Slick mat grappling to start. Ends with Kushida riding Gulak and giving him a patronising slap to the back. Kushida working the shoulder and arm, weakening Gulak for the Hoverboard lock. Gulak resorts to strikes to get the upper hand but Kushida’s speed get him away and back in control. Gulak gets out of a submission attempt with a reverse bodyslam, then another and he picks Kushida into a Gory bomb submission type thing, stretching the back, eventually Kushida rolls through and Gulak transfers into a sort of stunted cloverleaf. Gulak targeting the back.
Then he starts to target the arm of Kushida. Mauro pointing out how important the arm is to apply the submissions. Pace again the key to Kushida as he confuses Gulak with his quick movement and hits the cartwheel dropkick and then runs up the apron to kick Gulak in the corner.
Kushida comes close to getting an armbar, but just struggles to get full extension. Gulak has the next big attempt with what I think was a really deep kneebar which he adds to by stamping on the back of Kushida. They then fight on the apron where Kushida hits a Rana on Gulak back into the ring. Excellent stuff.
Boo/Yay striking exchange from the floor to their feet. Kushida with the vicious PK to the arm followed by an arm drag into the hoverboard lock and Gulak taps immediately. Really putting over the move.
Kushida gets the crowd to applaud Gulak and then offers his hand. Gulak has some words for Kushida before finally accepting the handshake. He then leaves looking frustrated whilst Kushida soaks up the adoration of the crowd.
I enjoyed this more than their previous encounter, but I was distracted for that one. Both good.
Vanessa Bourne and Aaliyah promo. They rundown Mia Yim for thinking she is next in line for a title shot. They call her a lower and have got her a care package. Three books to study fashion, English and grammar. They tell her when she has studied and levelled up to a higher then they may get in the ring with her. Good promo work from these two as they continue to nail their character.
Some video package about the Saudi Arabia show. Apparently Mansoor won the battle royal. I did not watch this show. I will not watch this show.
1s and 2s vs Undisputed Era
The crowd are cheering 1,2. They know. Oney and Kyle start us off and have a bit of mat wrestling before just wailing on each other. Slaps in the corner, chops, kicks to the face, forearms. This is beautiful. Strong and Burch come in and start brawling as well.
The Era bail to the outside to Lorcan hits a dive over the top. Burch and Kyle in the ring now. Lorcan half and half, Burch right hand and Strong makes the save. Lorcan back in as they beat up the Era before Strong throws them into each other and Kyle manages to get the tag.
Strong now in control of Lorcan with a trademark backbreaker before tagging Kyle back in. Quick tags from the Era as they isolate Lorcan and the frantic pace from the beginning slows. O’Reilly with jujitsus and submissions on Lorcan before they get back to the strikes from the beginning, blockbuster from Oney and we get tags.
Here comes Danny Burch. All over Strong finishing with an exploder suplex. O’Reilly blind tag but Burch avoids the axe kick and hits a headbutt and a big powerbomb. Crossface from Burch but Strong pulls him to the ropes. Now Kyle and Burch with a strike exchange. Huge pendulum lariat from O’Reilly. Then a chop/brainbuster double team but Lorcan tackles O’Reilly into the pin to break up the 3 count.
All four men are up now and just twatting each other. All men are down and the crowd is on its feet, here comes Jaxon Ryker. Taking out security.
Strong and Kyle look at Ryker, Burch from behind. Pushes Kyle into Roddy then roll up O’Reilly for the win. The Era are furious with Ryker. Are they positioning Ryker to run through the Era to get to Adam Cole?
3 strong matches this week on NXT, Stars of the week will be difficult to choose.
We are in rest mode following a Takeover. Where are we heading…well it appears to be Io Shirai and Candice LeRae and the Horsewomen will be continuing their feud. Mia Yim will be battling with Vanessa Bourne and Aaliyah. Is there a Forgotten Sons - Undisputed Era feud in the reckoning? 1s and 2s for the tag titles? Where does Kushida go now he’s done with Gulak? Riddle, Dream, Keith Lee - plenty of pieces to fall into place and I look forward to seeing how they go
Stars of the week
1.1s and 2s
2.Strong and O’Reilly
3. Io Shirai
Was really tough to choose 3 stars this week, I thought it was a really strong top to bottom show and on another week anyone could have picked up star points
Montez Ford Award
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir - Shayna’s cronies continue to impress me as they improve.
Top 10 Stars
1. Johnny Gargano 16
2. Matt Riddle 10
2. Ricochet 10
4. Kyle O'Reilly 9
5. Bianca Belair 8
5. Io Shirai 8
7. Shayna Baszler 7
7. Mia Yim 7
7. Adam Cole 7
10. Kushida 6
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