by JCH
Apologies for the lack of NXT reviews the last two weeks. Life has been kicking my ass. Not really in a bad way, just been super busy with school work and weddings and stag dos. I’ve got to one IWL show, which was great, Haven’t seen a G1 show since Night 5 and caught Arisa Hoshiki vs Hazuki from Stardom. Recommended. Features one of the best kick outs ever.
Due to being in Spain and the Network being weird I didn’t even see last weeks show and I still have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it, so today may be a slightly abridged version. Although based on the length of some of my writing you may appreciate that.
Regal is in the ring for a Tag Team Championship contract signing. He introduces the Street Profits, who dance to the ring. They then stop Regal’s intro for the era and Montez gives a mocking introduction of his own. I’ll say it again, Montez Ford oozes charisma (and to check if DVD is reading, has arguably the best Frog Splash ever seen in a WWE ring). Bobby cuts a promo, setting up Kyle for a corny joke at the Profits expense. Kyle is the only person who can pull this off.
Profits rundown the accomplishments of the Era. Kyle doing the moustache pose when they mention Moustache mountain is a particular highlight. Montez switches gears from the comedy to a rousing speech which has the crowd chanting win along with him like a Mighty Ducks huddle.
The contract is signed, no punches are thrown and no tables are broken. Maturity from the NXT guys.
I have very high expectations for that match.
Video package for the triple threat match for the NXT North American Championship. - I fancy the Era are winning all the titles on Saturday.
Is Dunne moving over full time now?
Video package for Mia Yim vs Shayna Baszler.
This package is very good. Shayna as always smashing it. She has that heel trait of believing she is in the right down. Maybe too well as she’s making me think she is in the right as well. Simple story here - Mia is the underdog who has scrapped and clawed for everything to get to where she is. Shayna again delivering that quiet confidence suggesting Mia isn’t on her level.
Regular readers will know I’m a huge Shayna fan and she always delivers, This should be good. The card for Saturday has crept up on me, but it is very strong!
Joaquim Wilde vs Shane Thorne
Thorne is unhappy at not being in the breakout tournament so wants to take out the people who were in it.
The opening few minutes of this match is just Wilde hitting different arm drags and holds on Thorne. Shane keeps trying to manoueveur out of them but Wilde always has another counter to keep in control. This eventually ends when Thorne lifts Wilde out of a guillotine into a brain buster and then takes control, grounding Wilde. Nice striking exchange ends with Wilde’s upside down double boot, he follows up with a tope through the ring post and a Hughe tope conhiro. Thorne breaks the count at 9, before rolling back outside. Wilde gets caught going to meet him and Thorne smashes him into various implements outside the ring. Thorne rolls Wilde backs in and hits a strong looking running, jumping knee for the 3. Currently leading JCH’s Knee of the night.
Video package for Candace Lerae vs Io Shirai - Game on.
Video package for Harley Race
Matt Riddle vs Killian Dain
Dain suddenly flies out of nowhere and takes out Rids as he is walking to the ring. Cannonball from Dain into Riddle lying on the steel steps. Dain then walks off. The match hasn’t started yet. Riddle looks absolutely out of it on the floor.
Video package for NXT breakout tournament. Features Garza faking out F.R.G on a hi-five. Jordan Myles vs Cameron Grimes on Next weeks NXT. So I presume the match will be recorded pre-Takeover.
Video package of Breeze vs Forgotten Sons featuring Fandango.
Interview with Breezango - Fandango says they have been so busy policing everyone else, they forgot to police themselves. They need a makeover. They will take on the Forgotten Sons. Also next week.
Video Package for Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano. Just realised
Cole
Fish
O’Reilly
Strong
CFOS. Are the undisputed era responsible for the NXT theme tunes????
Street fight, Wrestling match. Only Regal knows the 3rd fall??? He’s not telling anyone. I reckon it will go to the Third fall.
Nice feature on Gargano as a locker room leader, footage of different NXT talent asking him for advice or talking about him.
Rest of it is split between footage of Cole defending the title on the road and Gargano talking to WWE talent about the match. First Rollins, then Balor.
Fans/trainers/Kevin Owens/Breeze/ chat about the match.
Decent feature. About 10 minutes long.
Interesting episode of NXT to return to. It had one match and a lot of video packages. Not dissimilar to a post takeover edition. I think it’s probably skippable, but as someone who has missed the last episode or two it pulled the Takeover card together nicely.
Stars of the Night
1. Montez Ford
2. Joaquim Wilde
3. Kyle O’Reilly
Montez Ford Award
Killian Dain - another big beating on the Bro paints the Beast of Belfast as a big threat.
JCH Knee of the night - Shane Thorne.
Top 10 Stars
1. Johnny Gargano - 16
2. Matt Riddle - 13
3. Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Ricochet, Kyle O'Reilly - 10
7. Bianca Belair, Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Kushida - 9
Comments