|
March 2nd, 2016 On commentary tonight, at the CFE Arena in Orlando, are Tom Phillips and Corey Graves. Opening Segment Tag Team Match: The Vaudevillains vs. Hugo Knox and Tucker Knight It’s Knox in the polka dot trunks versus Aidan English to begin. Knox with the first big hit, lands a dropkick on English. When he goes over to Gotch in the corner, English seizes upon the distraction and puts him in his place. Double team chop to the chest and punches to the head bring Simon Gotch into the match for his first shift. He secures a chinlock on Knox, transitions into a European uppercut and then flops Knox on to the turnbuckle. The two Vaudevillains exchange tags and then take turns smashing into Knox in the corner. Gotch attempts a suplex but Knox falls out of it to tag in Knight. The big man goes to work on Gotch, catching him off guard with a few hits but it doesn’t last. In fact, Gotch quickly regains control, tags English and they set off on their double team finisher, ending with the Whirling Dervish and a pinfall on Knight. Winners: The Vaudevillains via pinfall in 4 minutes One cool point for The Vaudevillains continuing to display a tough, no-nonsense attitude in the ring. Although they are former tag champions, they find themselves in the middle of the pack in what is a very competitive nXt tag team division. Winning matches like this one help the group gain momentum to square off against the other top teams. Who would you like to see the Vaudevillains face next? Backstage, Alan Reyes is with Emma and Dana Brooke, who are there to talk about the nobodies of the Women’s Division, like Purrazzo and Garrett. Brooke does her tap on the head to Reyes to close the segment. Coming Up: Finn Balor vs. Adrien Neville Promo: A hype package for the nXt Champion, Finn Balor Second Segment Promo: We see video footage from outside the WWE Performance Center earlier today. Dash & Dawson, now going by the moniker, “The Revival” assaulted Enzo Amore in what was an unprovoked attack. Colin Cassady made the save. The two teams had words for the nXt cameras. Big Cass calls Dash & Dawson gutless for their attack. Next time they fight, they’ll be standing over them as the new Tag Team Champions. Dash & Dawson call them cowards. They won the championships the hard way, by being the best. If they want the titles so bad, maybe they can spit-shine them. We get breaking news that Dash & Dawson aka The Revival will defend the nXt Tag Team Championships against Enzo & Big Cass at WWE Roadblock, the Network Special in Toronto, next Saturday, March 12th. Nice! Singles Match: Emma w. Dana Brooke vs. Santana Garrett Emma and Santana lock up and find their way to the turnbuckle where the ref breaks the hold. Emma takes the lead, aggressively bashing Santana’s head into the opposite turnbuckle. Santana tries to stop her at one point but Emma kicks her in the back of the knee. This provides an opening for Emma’s next move: a double underhook suplex. She follows this up with her patented “step on my opponent’s hair” trick. Emma kicks at her a little before picking her up. Santana tries to fight back, punching Emma a few times but when they run off the ropes, Emma lands a jumping double front kick. She is firmly in control of the match as she stretches Santana’s arms behind her back, pulling hard. Accompanying the submission are a few choice knees to the back, too. Santana attempts another rally, fighting back with a knee, a high kick and a clothesline. Side Russian leg sweep and she starts slamming the mat for the crowd to get behind her. Emma’s in the corner and Santana goes for a handspring backflip corner splash. Nifty move there. Unfortunately, Emma’s not fazed by it. She puts Santana into the tree of woe and lays into her, getting help from Dana Brooke who kept her in place. Fairly soon after, Emma puts the Emma Lock on Santana and this match is over. Winner: Emma via submission in 6 minutes One cool point for the continued dominance of Emma in her singles matches. Although she may not be challenging for the championship at this point, she’s definitely a top contender. In fact, she may just be the dark horse of the Women’s division at present. How long will she have to wait to get her next chance at the title? Perhaps as long as it takes for a new champion to be crowned? Asuka vs. Emma sounds pretty interesting to me. Backstage, nXt General Manager William Regal is with Eva Marie and Nia Jax in his office. Regal says they’re both big stars and they need to be treated accordingly. So, Regal’s arranged for their next match to be against Bayley and Asuka. The two ladies don’t look thrilled about that booking. Third Segment We return to GM Regal standing in the ring and he’s there to introduce us to one of nXt’s biggest signings to date. The lights go down, a new theme hits the speakers and the fans cheer as Austin Aries walks down the aisle! The Greatest Man That Ever Lived has arrived to WWE nXt! He takes his time, soaking in the adulation of the fans when all of a sudden he gets clobbered from behind. It’s Baron Corbin, unleashing a furious assault on the newcomer. As GM Regal looks on, he delivers End of Days to Aries on the floor. Corbin picks up Aries’ discarded t-shirt and yells at Regal, “an eye for an eye!” Regal looks on, very unimpressed, as nXt referees check on Aries. Two cool points for Austin Aries. I’ve watched a lot of his TNA matches the past few years and he is a true in-ring talent. He’s an exciting addition to the nXt roster and a feud with Baron Corbin should hopefully help both guys improve their stock. Corbin, especially, continues to get a bad rap from fans who aren’t convinced he’s ready for the main roster. A win over Aries and a few good quality matches may go a long way towards changing their minds. Coming Up: Finn Balor vs. Adrien Neville Fourth Segment Singles Match: Steve Cutler vs. Elias Samson Graves suggests that Samson was probably in a crappy cover band before he came to nXt as the two lock up. Quick and aggressive pace to this match. Cutler jaws at Samson a little which seems to cue a little more rage from Samson. He executes an offense heavy on striking (elbows, punches, clotheslines). After a particularly vicious elbow, Samson stops and pretends to play his guitar, as if he’s somewhere else in his mind. The fans boo and Graves lambasts him as he comes back to consciousness to continue his assault on Cutler. Vertical suplex, followed by a jumping elbow to the sternum. Jumping knee to the jaw and this match is close to being done. Samson asks the crowd to be quiet and then delivers his signature neckbreaker before pinning Cutler for the win. Winner: Elias Samson via pinfall in 3 minutes One cool point for Samson who is developing consistency with his moveset while revealing glimpses into just how quirky and bizarre his personality is. If this continues a little longer, his persona should be established enough for fans to be invested in the guy...enough to see him wrestle in his first major feud. Backstage, the Hype Bros are talking to one another. Mojo Rawley says he’s glad they lost their first match to the Vaudevillains because now they have something to sink their teeth into. They’ll show the Vaudevillains they’re messing with the wrong team, according to Zack Ryder. There’s no derailing the Hype Train. Mojo says maybe we rough them up so bad that the Vaudevillains can’t say anything. As the two lads leave, the Vaudevillains creep out from behind the curtain, smirking at one another. Guess that answers my question from above. We’ve got ourselves a certified tag feud here! Promo: A hype package for Neville is shown, showcasing his aerial attack skills. Final Segment Next Week: Sami Zayn faces Samoa Joe in a 2 out of 3 falls match to determine the #1 Contender for the nXt Championship Singles Match: Finn Balor (c) vs. Adrien Neville The two stars posture a little before the tieup. Balor brings Neville to the mat with an armlock but it is quickly twisted by Neville, tumbling out of it, to bring Balor down by the arm. Balor replies with a side headlock, trying to wear Neville down early. Neville sends Balor off the ropes and is met by a shoulder block. Off the ropes again, Neville does a hip toss, followed by a cartwheel before kicking Balor in the chest. Great speed from Balor to get back to his feet and embrace Neville with a headlock. Short-lived though. Balor lands a dropkick of his own after a tumbling sequence but he cannot follow it up with any offense. Neville responds quickly with a few strikes of his own, then a snap suplex and a quick cover for a 1 count. Neville throws Balor hard into the turnbuckle, slowing the pace of the match and... We go to commercial. Neville pins Balor for a 2 count upon our return to the match. After a brief resthold, a powerful clothesline from Neville surprises Balor and the former nXt champion seems like he’s in control of this match. Whoops! Spoke too soon. He charges at Balor in the corner but Balor lifts Neville high over the turnbuckle and he lands hard on the arena floor below. Adrenaline has kicked in though and it doesn’t prevent Neville from hitting Balor with a moonsault to the outside a few moments later. The referee gets to 9 before both wrestlers return to the ring. Neville gets a 2 count on Balor and then secures a chinlock while Graves mentions how submissions are not his strength, but it’s what he needs to do to wear down Balor. Both men back on their feet striking one another with punches and slaps until Balor lands a Pele kick. The referee reaches a count of 7 before the two can get to their feet. Very even contest here. A series of turnbuckle throws and slaps from Balor sends Neville retreating to the outside where he receives a dropkick to the face. Balor runs the apron and soccer kicks Neville’s face. He rolls him into the ring for a 2 count and the two men catch their breath. Balor picks up Neville, the latter responding with kicks and then a German suplex. He picks up the dead weight of Balor for a bridging German suplex pinning attempt for a 2 count. Sweet move there. What else do these men need to do to win? asks Graves. Phillips says it’s about pride tonight as Neville ascends the ropes, jumps off as Balor evades the attack. Neville with an enziguri and he climbs the turnbuckle again. Balor with an enziguri of his own, followed by a somersault plancha over the top rope on to Neville! He tosses Neville into the ring, ascends the turnbuckle for a coup de grace but Neville hits the ropes, forcing Balor to halt his progress. As Balor sits, in pain, on the top rope, Neville steps up to join him. Both men balance precariously on the rope and it’s a hurricanrana by Neville! Opposite corner of the ring, Neville attempts the Red Arrow but rolls out of it when he sees Balor moved. Slingblade by Balor but he can’t follow it up. Neville with a unique roll up attempt and bridging pin for a 2 count. Neville attempts another kick; Balor catches his leg and clotheslines the crap out of him. Balor connects with the coup de grace! He doesn’t pin him though. Instead, he connects with Bloody Sunday and then the 1-2-3 pin and win. Winner: Finn Balor via pinfall in 14 minutes Post-match, Balor, title over his shoulder, claps for Neville’s effort tonight as fans chant his name for a great match. Neville raises Balor’s hand and leaves the ring. To conclude, backstage, Rich Brennan is flanked by Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn to discuss next week’s #1 Contender’s match. Joe insults Zayn’s attitude and says he made Zayn’s return possible. Zayn says Joe’s success won’t be at his expense anymore. Joe says he’ll take Zayn’s career away, which shuts up Zayn and that’s how the show ends. One cool point for Neville’s nXt return. Balor provided him a very equal opponent in terms of physical stature, speed and skill. Neville had some great moments with his suplexes, the moonsault to the outside, and the missed Red Arrow, of which I’m still not sure how he so efficiently rolled out. Two cool points for Balor who was the better wrestler in this match, executing a few excellent comebacks, soccer kicks and dropkicks, and demonstrated how tough his opponent is, requiring two separate finishing moves to win. For some, this match may have been hard to watch, seeing as how there were few moments where momentum was clearly in one person’s favour. This was very much a back and forth match, but I thought that was fitting since you don’t want your champion to be dominated, nor should a main roster talent be dominated by the nXt champ at this point. Did you like the show? Better than Monday Night Raw? Feel free to share your thoughts on the night, as well as your cool point suggestions on tonight’s episode. Peace!
|
