By JCH
Hello loyal readers, I am pushed for time this week. England are in the Cricket World Cup Semi Final; I have a photo assignment due this weekend and I have a Stag do starting tomorrow lunchtime. Also, I didn’t wake up early as I stayed up unil 1am finishing a season on Championship Manager 01/02 whilst watching Heartbreak High.
This week’s review may be slightly shorter in an effort to get it out before Monday especially with this weekend’s massive amount of wrestling.
We open up with Io Shirai. She is looking pretty sharp in her new dark outfit, with dark entrance to solidify her heel turn. She takes her time getting to the ring. She gets massively booed in the face by F.R.G. Side note, my friend Sal from Dallas who I go to Mania with met F.R.G at Slammiversary and F.R.G gave Sal his front row chair. Top bloke by the sounds of it. Hope to catch him in Tampa and tell him about his cult status with myself.
Anyway, Io gets booed by the crowd, says she doesn’t need friends and she doesn’t need the crowd and leaves.
Doubling down on the new character. Simple and effective.
Velveteen Dream is hosting a press conference.
‘Who will your next challenger be’
‘The Dream did not approve that question.
‘Roderick Strong is calling you out for the title’
‘He is not deserving or ready to face Dream one on one’
Dream ends the press conference.
Street Profits vs 1s and 2s for the NXT Tag Titles is our Main Event.
Here comes Damian Priest. It is a week full of blackout entrances so far. He’s taking on Blanco Loco
Damian Priest vs Blanco Loco
Kick, Jumping elbow in the corner, Falcon Arrow. Loco punches Priest. Loco comes off the ropes into a clothesline, then is thrown into the ropes for another clothesline. Beauty of a cyclone kick and a rolling cutter called ‘The reckoning’. It is OVER.
Evolve Promo for Evolve 100
Killian Dain promo. Longer this time as he tells us his story. He is the only serving male member of his high school class. He’s had everything taken from him and he’s pissed off by the sounds of it. It was good.
Boa vs Jordan Miles
Boa is doing it for China. He is a Jujitsu standout. Jordan Miles (formerly ACH) says he’s been holding back for this moment.
Miles offers his hand, Boa with a bow.
Boa throws a nice-looking kick early doors, that Miles ducks.
Boa starts off with side headlock takedowns. On the 3rd one Miles blocks it and they struggle for the ascendancy. Until Miles springboards off the ropes to escape a wrist lock. Cartwheel escape, backflip into a dropkick from Miles.
Miles with a wristlock and has a ridiculous big smile on his face. Boa fights out. A series of avoiding moves ends with Boa punting Miles in the chest. Now working the Muay Thai clinch with big knees to the mid-section. Big kick to the bag as Miles is hung dip in ropes and as he starts to fall down a HUGE axe kick. Beautiful by Boa.
Boa targeting the ribs. Boa escapes a hold and kicks Miles right in the throat. Then hits a beautiful release butterfly suplex. Looked great with the air time Miles got. Boa moves from a submission to an armbar. Miles escapes by rolling into a pinfall. Boa starts punting him in the chest again. Fourth attempt Miles catches the leg and hits. Big slap. Then explodes with kicks off his own. Miles heating up running forearm, basement dropkick, spinning clothesline and a 450. The Midnight star. It is over.
Good match that. Miles looking crisp and exciting and Boa, in what was the first time I think I’ve seen him, looked like he had something about him. Some very nice strikes. I wonder what his jumping knee is like?
Jordan Myles vs Angel Garza. YES PLEASE.
Shayna interview responding to being called out by Mia Yim.
The Queen of Spades mocks Mia’s story by saying ‘it’s the most common story in the fight game. “If I didn’t find this sport I’d be in jail” it needs more than just a story to impress her. And when you’re in the ring with Shayna the story is the same. Tap, Nap or Snap’
I bloody love Shayna. More good points made and done with that irresistible confidence.
Keith Lee video package. He’s been here a year. He has to be more than he has been. Limitless is not enough he will become infinite. Was a good package. He seemed focused and determined,
William Regal interview - People from every brand have been coming to face Kushida. That continues Next week as Smackdown Live’s Apollo Crews will be on NXT to face Kushida.
Adam Cole will defend his title next week.
1s and 2s vs Street Profits
Will the Forgotten Sons get involved in this? Hope not. Should be good as it is. Danny Burch’s mantra is a pint and a fight make for a hell of a night. I’d agree with half that Danny. Or a pint and watching someone else fight.
We start with handshakes and the 1s and 2s in charge until a dual flapjack on Burch, followed by one on Lorcan who lands on Burch. Great double team from the Profits. Lorcan and Burch take a minute to regroup on the outside.
Burch and Lorcan back in and things are more aggressive now. Double Russian leg sweep on Dawkins. 1s and 2s up their strike game and quick tags as they isolate Dawkins. Double suplex for a pin attempt. Burch with a crossface on Dawkins. Ford has had enough; he walks in and boots Burch out of the hold. Face-off between Burch and Ford.
Burch takes his frustration out on Dawkins. Aggressive ground and pound until he misses a senton off the top and in comes Montez and Oney. Montez with big clotheslines off the hot tag. Alabama Slam on Lorcan, Dropkick on Burch, belly to back suplex, standing moonsault from Ford. This guy is a STAR. Ford hits sliced bread using Dawkins body as a turnbuckle.
Profits setting up Lorcan for the doomsday type finish, but Lorcan pushes Ford into Angelo. Tag to Burch. Shotgun Dropkick. Half and half from Oney. Burch covers. Kick out at 2.5. Burch German on Ford who falls into his own corner.
All breaking down. Uppercut from Lorcan, Ford with a dropkick Big nut from Burch and a spear from Dawkins. Everyone is down. Ford and Lorcan up. Battling inside. Ford runs at Lorcan on the ropes, Lorcan ducks and Ford turns it into a huge splash to the outside to take out Burch.
Lorcan looks for a dive of his own but is met by Dawkins at the ropes. Dawkins hits a Spinebuster on Lorcan and the massive Frog Splash from Ford and it is over.
ReDRagon come out after to clap the Profits. Next feud. Excellent.
Great sprint between these two teams. Part of the tag team resurgence on NXT.
Really enjoyed this week show
Io solidified character change
Shayna and Dream addressed challengers
Good Breakout Tournament match
Punishment showcase
Very good Tag main event
A month away from Takeover Toronto and looks like we have a few matches lined up?
Predictions
ReDRagon vs Street Profits
Mia Yim vs Shayna Baszler
Roderick Strong vs Velveteen Dream
Does that leave Cole vs Gargano again?
Io vs Candice?
Riddle, Kushida, Keith Lee anywhere?
Exciting to find out.
Stars of the Week
1. Montez Ford
2. Jordan Myles
3. Angelo Dawkins
Montez Ford Award
Boa - nice debut for the lad. Impressed me with strikes. That Axe kick. Boom.
Stars Table
1. Johnny Gargano 16
2. Matt Riddle 12
3. Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Ricochet 10
6. Kyle O’Reilly, Bianca Belair, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong 9
10. Mia Yim, Bobby Fish 7
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