Last NXT before Christmas. Not sure what they’re doing next week. Probably some review show of sorts. Doubt I’ll review a review show. We get a video hyping Gargano vs Black - Steel cage TONIGHT. Back of the Net.
First up is Io Shirai. The Genius of the Sky is joined by Dakota Kai as they take on the debuting Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Should be interesting, considering how well the rest of the Four horsewomen have taken to wrestling, the bar is high for Duke and Shafir.
IO SHIRAI & DAKOTA KAI v JESSAMYN DUKE & MARINA SHAFIR
I’ve just realised I don’t know which heel is which. But one of them especially. I think Shafir comes out doing a stupid O’Reilly type walk again. I already love her! She has the more jovial attitude and the Let’s Play shirt, whilst Duke’s rocking the Let’s Fight shirt and is a bit more serious. Nice touch.
Mauro tells us Shafir is the first ever Moldovan to be in the WWE. Good nugget. Kai punts the face off Duke in the early going. Shafir using the ground and pound, posture up, significant strike combo I like to use on UFC 3.
Shafir and Duke isolate Kai and work some nice quick tags and double team combos. Lovely Handstand back heel kick from Kai. Hot tag to Io Shirai, who destroys Shafir with a hot combo involving a 619, springboard dropkick and a double running knees to the corner. Kai then punts Duke off the apron. Io top rope moonsault and it’s over.
Experience overcomes raw talent. The match finished pretty quickly once Io got in. She looks like she is the one they have the big plans for. I would predict she will be in the NXT Title match at Wrestlemania. Loving the kicks from Dakota again. I always enjoy her work. Decent showing from the newbies. Good solid if slightly short opener.
MATT RIDDLE & KASSIUS OHNO RECAP
Recap of Matt Riddle and Kassius Ohno interactions from 2 weeks ago. What does he have to say about it?
He is not happy with Ohno attacking him from behind, but he’s not surprised as Ohno needs all the advantages he can get. He dares Ohno to face him in the ring, then walks off - as always, he’s wearing flip flops. What a guy.
AARON MICKEY v DOMINIK DIJAKOVIC
They’ve pronounced it Die-Jer-Ko-Vic not Die-Jak-O-Vic. OK!
Showcase match for Dijakovic - who Percy informs us the coaches say ‘has a bad attitude’. Dijak had a run on the UK Indy’s last year. He really is an impressive specimen. Rocks some impressive high-flying stuff as well as power if they let him. Hits the torture rack sort of into a Go To Sleep he calls Feast Your Eyes and this one is over.
Nice start of a build for Dijakovic who they look like they have plans for. Seems like he will be filling the void left by Lars Sullivan as he moves on up as NXT’s resident monster.
HEAVY MACHINERY PROMO
Heavy Machinery promo that they’ve played last week or two. Considering they are getting called up I presume they don’t win the titles off the Era. Speaking of the Tag Team division, sadly Nick Miller was released last week.
Allegedly, there was no bad blood but he has a new child back in Australia, so wanted to go back there. Real shame as the Mighty match last week was awesome.
Next week, Machinery get their title shot vs Undisputed Era. Guess I will be reviewing next week’s show. Maybe a day late as I will be with family away from my computer until next Friday.
WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT
Regal announces Io gets the fourth spot in the no.1 contender match. Sharai vs Belair vs Evans vs Yim. That should be quality. My prediction would be Belair. Possibly Io. Little bit early for Yim and Evans has been advertised for main roster.
HEAVY MACHINERY v SOME GOOBERS
Tune up match for Heavy Machinery who Percy says are undefeated in six months! Dozovic ate a 32oz steak for Thanksgiving. I once ate a 32 oz steak from the Great Big Texan Steak House. It was an effort.
Machinery killing the Goober squad when the Era turn up on the ramp. They hit the compactor whilst looking at the Era then stop the pinball… then pick the other Goober up and Compactor on him.
Then they pick both of them up. Double Compactor and the pin as they stare down the Era. Kyle shows a split second of vulnerability before going back to jerk jock. He is bloody amazing. He does the little things so well. Up there with Lorcan for most underrated wrestler on the roster.
Sidenote - the Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong (9 months) Bobby Fish (3 months) have been nominated for the Wrestling Should Be Fun WWE Tag Team of the Year award. Look out on the Twitter for upcoming polls to cast your votes for many year-end awards.
ALEISTER BLACK v JOHNNY GARGANO – STEEL CAGE MATCH
Speaking of awards, Johnny Gargano has also made the final ballot for the Wrestling Should be Fun WWE Male Wrestler of the Year award. The winners of that, WWE Female of the year, Non-WWE male of the year and Non-WWE female of the year will meet in the final twitter poll for the coveted Wrestler of the Year award.
Anyway, during this one Johnny attacks Aleister as he’s looking at the cage. To be fair to Gargano, Black had taken longer to get down the Full Sail ramp and into the cage than it takes The Undertaker to get to the ring at Wrestlemania (side note - this is long enough to cook a Chicago Town microwave pizza, we timed it one year).
They brawl in front of the crowd and our boy FRG is directing traffic, he seems to be on the side of Gargano here. They alternate beating shit out of each other until they get back to the front door. Aleister throws Johnny in and the match is on. Gargano’s first action is to climb up the cage to escape. Classic.
Who remembers the Cage match on one of the Smackdown games when you could put someone into an Irish Whip and then climb the cage as they bounced off the ropes a few times? Loved that.
Split crowd. Gargano tries to climb again before dropping down when followed and crotches Black on the top. Lovely counter sequence followed by a catapult by Gargano into cage but Black grabs onto and lands on the top rope. Slick. Top rope Moonsault to a standing Gargano. Lovely by Black!
Black hitting some awesome strikes. I’m not doing this move for move. Just watch it! I now quite want to see Alistair Black vs Dakota Kai.
Black has the match won, but he wants to cause more damage and comes back down. People usually regret that. Unless you’re Eddie Dennis. Gargano rolls into a sort of sunset flip power bomb off the ropes on Black. Superb.
More top striking. Black’s jumping knee is beautiful. Then he just starts hitting running big boots on a dazed Gargano – he then almost knees him out the door Black has to grab him to stop him winning. Desperation enziguri from Johnny again, who is pulled back in by Aleister. More strikes, Black to the middle rope.
Johnny follows his side Russian leg sweep off the middle into the Garga-No Escape. Bloody excellent. Black powers out and throws Johnny into the cage, this time Johnny holds on and immediately starts climbing as Black tries to regain his composure in middle of ring.
Basically a ‘He’s behind you’ shout from the crowd to Aleister who catches Johnny by the hair whilst both his feet are over the other side. More great stuff. They fight on the top, then top rope. Big headbutts from Johnny, Black counters by sending Johnny off the top and follows with an awesome looking meteora to a standing Johnny. German almost gets a three count.
Black lifts Johnny up with his foot, but talks too much and Johnny counters. Lawn dart into the corner, lawn dart into the cage. Johnny turns down the door and tells Aleister he absolves him of his sins. Goes for the half of the DIY meet in the middle finish but as he steps into it… gets smashed by the BLACK MASS. Wow. That was ace.
Gargano back to this feet first, shades of Bret and Shawn Ironman match. Door open. Gargano climbing, Black crawling to the door……….CIAMPA IS HERE! He slams the door in Black’s face. Johnny half hanging off the other side, watching Tommy sports Entertainment destroy Black.
Tommaso Ciampa is also up for Wrestling Should Be fun WWE Male Wrestler of the Year. Johnny has the match won, but climbs back in. DIY chants from the crowd. Black down in the centre of the ring. Tommy is calling for it. Johnny is conflicted. Will he, will he, Will he? YES! Meet in the Middle!!!!
Johnny is conflicted again. Tommaso smiles and leaves. Johnny with the Pin 1-2-3. Rebel heart plays. Ciampa claps as he walks up the ramp. Johnny isn’t sure what he’s done.
Bloody great match continuing a great storyline between these 3. There’s a great aerial shot of Black out cold and Johnny sitting there still looking conflicted. Johnny leaves the cage and we’re done.
What a main event, the show was fine up until then and the cage mage was expert. Super honoured to be covering NXT for this site. I’m not sure I could cover Raw and stay on brand with Wrestling should be Fun, but this is a breezy hour every week and I usually get something special.
STARS OF THE WEEK
Johnny Gargano
Aleister Black
Io Sharai
Dakota Kai
IMPROVED STOCK
Maina Shafir
Jessamyn Duke
Thanks for reading and have a good Christmas, guys. Keep an eye out on the Twitter for poll voting for our end of year awards.
Will be back with you a day late next week for a Tag Title match and what looks like a banging line up for the Women’s No.1 contender match!
Comments