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May 31st, 2017 On commentary tonight, at Full Sail University, are Tom Phillips, “Showtime” Percy Watson, and Nigel McGuinness Opening Segment Tommaso Ciampa walks down the ramp, no music, with crutches as the fans boo. He awkwardly gets into the ring and he’s got a serious expression on his face. A “Psycho Killer/Ciampa sucks” chant builds steam. Fans boo before Ciampa begins to speak. He asks for Johnny Gargano to come to the ring but then he remembers Johnny’s not here. He’s about to talk about how it feels to be replaced when a “you suck” chant starts up. He admits that he sustained an injury before Takeover: Chicago but he knew he was going to fight anyway. That’s what #DIY does. But the fans started to replace Ciampa with dream partners for Gargano. Ciampa wasn’t about to let that happen; he wanted to fight. And they fought…and they lost… and he got injured in that match. He decided he had to keep fighting though, for Johnny and for the fans. At the end of that match, he was afraid that Gargano wouldn’t hesitate to replace him. He didn’t want to become an afterthought. So if he was going to go away for a long, long time due to injury, Gargano would too. #DIY was supposed to be special; fans and wrestlers together, living their dream, searching for their moment. Takeover: Chicago was supposed to be that moment. It wasn’t the fans’ moment though…it was HIS moment. Ciampa amps up here and says this ring is not replaceable. Ciampa is not replaceable. Gargano is not replaceable. The fans, however, ARE replaceable. He promises each and every one of them that when he returns, he’ll be the most dangerous S.O.B. in nXt. One cool point for Ciampa for getting some major mic time to share his feelings about the fear of being replaced by Gargano. By concluding with a promise of a return, he provides an acceptable point for fans to digest. It’s their fault he acted the way he did and he’s upset #DIY didn’t get their moment at Takeover: Chicago. For now, the pending Gargano/Ciampa battle is on hold. How long it takes Gargano to respond is a big unknown. Coming Up: Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong vs. Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe of SAnitY, and, up next, UK Champion Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch Promo: A short promo on Danny Burch is shown, featuring in-ring highlights and interview footage Second Segment The commentators acknowledge that Ciampa needs major knee surgery but there is no medical update on Johnny Gargano. Earlier today, nXt cameras are on board with nXt Champion Bobby Roode as he travels in Florida. His glorious celebration is today but we’re not invited. Instead, next week, he’ll return to FSU. Non-Title Match: Danny Burch vs. “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne (UK Champion) From the opening grapple, it’s Dunne throwing Burch down to the mat and twisting the left hand and wrist. Burch with an arm twist, takedown into a chinlock. He transitions to a side headlock. Dunne gets back to his feet as Burch tries to wrench in the lock further. Dunne breaks free but he feels the wrath of Burch who twists one of his fingers, forcing Dunne to retreat to the ropes. Hard rights are exchanged in the centre of the ring. Shoulder tackle by Burch. Off the ropes, Dunne takes to the air but Burch catches his leg and takes him down. Dunne is pissed! He replies with a loud punch to Burch’s head. Burch is dazed on the mat. 1-2- kickout by Burch… Commercial Break On the return, Dunne stomps on Burch’s neck and forces his knuckles into the back of his head. A “Bruiserweight” chant gets going but it’s Burch on the offensive. Dropkick from the middle rope. European uppercut. Burch goes to the ropes and Dunne meets him there with a hard punch. Into the corner, Dunne rushes, misses and Burch pops out with a rainbow kick to the head. He follows that up with an exploder suplex! Burch knocks out Dunne with a right hand and pins him for almost 3. Dunne’s still in this. Headbutt by Burch takes Dunne down again. 1-2- kickout again. Burch is frustrated. He slams the mat before returning to Dunne. He took too much time though and Dunne gets him with a snap suplex. Running kick to the head. Nasty. Dunne follows it with an X-Plex (release suplex) and covers his opponent for 2.5 counts. Burch is still in the fight, folks! Burch reverses a Bitter End into a pinfall attempt. Unsuccessful. Off the ropes, huge clothesline from Burch but he’s too exhausted to pin Dunne. Both men are down on their backs. Dunne rolls under the ropes to the apron. Burch hulks up. He catches Dunne with a right hand as he springs over. Awkward landing for the champ. Burch picks up Dunne through the ropes and…draping DDT! Vintage Orton! 1-2- kickout again. Burch beckons for Dunne to get to his feet. He misses his running kick and gets German suplexed into the turnbuckle. Dunne connects with the Bitter End finisher and it’s all over. Winner: Pete Dunne via pinfall in 9 minutes Post-match, Dunne gets on the mic. He’s had to watch a boy carry his title since January. History will remember that the championship reign didn’t really begin until he won at Takeover: Chicago. He puts the belt in his mouth and does his signature pose. One cool point for Dunne who trashed Tyler Bate in his post-match promo, calling him a boy. Them’s fightin’ words! Great wrestler and, yet, he’s effective at getting people to dislike him. Like me. One cool point for Burch for the Vintage Orton move. Brave of him to pull that out of his arsenal. Backstage, Velveteen Dream is asked about his debut but he says the ambiance isn’t right. It has to be perfect for him and then maybe he’ll talk. He walks away. Up Next: Andrade “Cien” Almas is in action Third Segment Promo: Paul Ellering narrates a promo of highlights showing the destruction caused by nXt Tag Team Champions, Authors of Pain. All has been foretold in the Book of Pain. They forged a new destiny with the Book of Pain but it is now closed. The Book of Dominance has opened. Singles Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Cezar Bononi Almas jumps out of the corner with a dropkick on Bononi. He stomps on him in the corner and follows that with a running knee smash. Almas is all business so far. He dishes out an overhand slap to the chest of Bononi. Ouch. Knee to the abdomen. Bononi finally fights back with righthands. Big knees to the mid-section. He goes for a powerslam but Almas counters with a backbreaker and clothesline to the mat. Kick to the chest as Bononi struggles to his feet. More kicks and a snapmare, followed by a running kick to the head. Bononi tries to shake it off. He gets whipped into the corner again for a clothesline and a stomping. Almas takes his time walking to the opposite corner. He does his trademark run, stop, yell and slap to the chest. Insult to injury there. Almas poses for the fans before grabbing Bononi’s head. He positions him for a suplex. Bononi counters and rolls up Almas tight in a small package. 1-2-3! Wow! Upset victory! Winner:Cezar Bononi via pinfall in 2 minutes Post-match, Almas is furious. He picks up a chair at ringside and slams it on the mat. A minute later, however, Almas is laughing it off as he walks up the ramp. One cool point for Bononi because he got the surprise win. I’m not sure if this leads to another appearance in the near future. Stay tuned, I guess. Almas continues to get talked up by the announce team about his “extra-curricular activities” and his strange attitude where he’s ultra-competitive and then easy-going simultaneously. I’m keen to see where that’s going. Up Next: Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong vs. Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe of SAnitY Final Segments Earlier today, at the WWE Performance Center, it’s the Iconic Duo, asking for a little space from the camera. They are looking for an Iconic do-over of the room but then Ember Moon walks into view. Royce and Kay say Moon has ruined their train of thought. They talk about beating her up as a trainer asks Moon to sign off on being medically cleared. Moon says “see you soon” to the girls. In Two Weeks: Asuka defends her Women’s Championship in an elimination match against Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot Recap: We see footage of Hideo Itami’s tantrum following his match against Bobby Roode at Takeover: Chicago. Ohno tries to calm him down, tries to relate to him but Itami swears at him instead. Earlier today, Itami asks for forgiveness from Ohno in the parking lot. They shake hands. Next Week: Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan Tag Team Match: Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong vs. SAnitY (Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe) Ohno is sporting a retro Sacramento Kings-themed jersey this time, purple and black. Killain Dain is at ringside to support his stablemates. Young and Strong begin and Strong wastes no time attacking. They trade punches, using the whole ring to move around and continue the fight. Strong leaps over Young, running the ropes and then hits Young with a neckbreaker against his knee. Young tags in Wolfe as the fans chant “Roddy”. Ohno tags in and he and Strong hit Wolfe with consecutives splashes in the corner. Wolfe lands a punch to the nose of Ohno and tags in Young. Young throws Ohno into the turnbuckle and throws a hard right hand at him. He tries to slam Ohno into the turnbuckle again but Ohno stops him and kicks him. Irish whip is reversed a few times until Ohno flips over the top rope, landing feet first on the apron. Young approaches and gets a big boot to the mid-section. Ohno knocks Wolfe off the apron with an uppercut. But Ohno pays for that, thanks to Dain, tripping him off the apron. This allows Wolfe and Young to resume control of Ohno. Gutbuster by Wolfe, followed by a top rope elbow to the back of the neck by Young. This gets them a 2 count. Young throws Ohno into the turnbuckle again. He clubs him on the back until Ohno clubs him. Young dumps Ohno to the outside and gets the referee to focus on Strong as Dain attacks Ohno. Commercial break. Young has Ohno in a headlock as the referee asks if Ohno will submit. Ohno does not and he gets to his feet, punching Young in the mid-section to break the lock. Young knocks him back down for a 2 count. He drags him to his home corner, tagging in Wolfe. Wolfe stomps on Ohno, cutting off the ring to their quarter. Young tags back in to continue administrating the punishment. Quick tag by Wolfe who revs up the engine for a running uppercut, followed by an underhook suplex. 1-2- kickout by Ohno. Chinlock by Wolfe as the fans clap for Ohno to break free. Ohno stumbles backwards towards the corner, hoping Wolfe will let go. He doesn’t until Wolfe throws him into the home corner. Ohno punches Young, kicks Wolfe away but gets hit with another kick. Pinfall attempt is unsuccessful by Wolfe. He tags in Young. Neckbreaker and a 2 count pinfall attempt. Young screams in Strong’s face as the referee gets in between them. Meanwhile, Ohno has time to catch his breath. Enziguri on Young, sending him collapsing into his corner. Wolfe tags in. Strong tags in and he’s flying. Running clothesline. Angle slam. Crowd is hyped. He charges at Wolfe, gets thrown over him to the ring apron and connects with a knee to the side of Wolfe’s head. Young approaches and is slammed on to the ring apron. Running high knee to the head of Wolfe. Wolfe is stunned. Strong lifts him up for a twisting front slam, face-first on to the canvas. And the cover… 1-2-3…No! Wolfe puts his leg on the bottom rope. Strong elbows Wolfe hard, sending him stumbling to his own corner where Young tags himself in. Strong doesn’t see it though and succumbs to a surprise neckbreaker. 1-2- kickout by Strong! Young holds Strong’s arms back. Wolfe goes for a kick but Ohno has entered the ring and catches Wolfe’s leg. Ohno kicks Wolfe right out. Young kicks Ohno in the head, sending him out. Young pulls back Strong’s arms and calls for Dain. Suddenly, No Way Jose rushes down the ramp to attack Dain from behind, sending him into the ringpost. Meanwhile, Ohno with the spinning elbow smash to Wolfe. Strong counters a suplex attempt by Young and hits him with one of his own, ending in double knees to the back. It’s called End of Heartache and that marks the end of the match, with Strong pinning Young. Winners: Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong via pinfall in 10 minutes Post-match, Ohno and Strong embrace No Way Jose and walk up the ramp, celebrating. One cool point for Ohno, Strong and the surprise return of No Way Jose. SAnitY has now lost its last 3 matches. It’s great redemption for the good guys and kudos for it happening in an enjoyable tag match. It’s rough for nXt’s resident stable though and they’re going to need to turn it around to maintain their edge. My hope is that this alliance of Ohno, Strong and Jose continues, no matter which feuds these wrestlers individually take on. That kind of attention to history would be well appreciated by fans. Looking forward to your thoughts, cool point suggestions, and comments. Peace!
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